Times Quick Cryptic No 153 by Hurley

Author   macavity123Posted on Categories Quick Cryptic
Solving time: Very straightforward.

Morning all

Firstly apologies for being missing a week longer than expected. I returned from a fabulous holiday to find my revamped flat a little more revamped than I thought and everything, including computer, packed away in boxes. I didn’t get back on line at home until earlier this week. Thanks to jackkt for covering for me.

This is the first Thursday puzzle I’ve blogged by Hurley and it’s a pleasant relatively easy workout, with only 4 across really holding me up. I have a few chums who are new to solving cryptics, and I will be suggesting they tackle this one to hone their skills.

Thanks to our setter, and I shall now go back to finishing off the unpacking! I have a (window) blind man coming in a little while, so I shall no doubt be making tea and coffee for the rest of the day! It’s also time to tackle today’s 15×15!

Across
1 IDLE – We start today with the answer hidden (indicated by ‘some) backwards inside YIELDING. The definition is lazy.
4 PLATONIC – This was my last one in today, as it wasn’t a particularly obvious definition to me. Definition is avoiding physicality. A word for a mixer drink (TONIC) follows PLA(N), scheme almost, i.e. missing its last letter.
8 STALWART – Resolute is the definition. An anagram (adapting) of LAW inside START (beginning).
9 TYPE – Definition is printed output. First letters (‘first of all) of “That You Prepare Early”.
10 BROGUE – Accent is the definition. B (Born) + ROGUE (rascal).
11 MORALE – Confidence is the definition. Inside ME (the setter) goes ORAL (exam).
12 STATE OF THE ART – The definition here is an American way of describing something that is up-to-the-minute. A nice word-sum clue. STATE (say) + OFT (frequently) + HEART (courage).
16 CANNES – French festival venue is the definition. Another word sum. C (Conservative) + ANNE (girl) + S (son).
17 SPRUCE – A double definition type of clue. Something that is a type of wood/tree can also mean neat and smart.
19 GLEE – Delight is the definition. G (good) + LEE (shelter).
20 EMENDING – Definition is correcting. EM is the contents, i.e. innards of MEMO and this is added to ENDING (finish).
21 ERITREAN – African here is your definition. It’s an anagram (destroyed) of RAIN TREE.
22 SEED – Definition is fancied player. A standard way of describing London is where it is on the compass (SE) and this is added to ED (journalist).

Down
2 DETER – Discourage is the definition. Take an abbreviation for a graduate (B.A.) out of the word DEBATER.
3 ENLIGHTENMENT – The definition is understanding. An anagram (supply) of HINT GENTLEMEN.
4 PEACE – Calm is the definition. A wordsum. P.E.(gym) + ACE (expert).
5 ATTEMPT – The definition here is effort. It’s a hidden answer (indicated by ‘essential’) inside BEAT TEMPTATION.
6 OUTER HEBRIDES – The name of a group of islands is the definition here, and they are revealed by solving the anagram (wandering) of TRIBE REHOUSED.
7 IMPALER – Someone who spikes is the definition. ALE (drink) inside IMP (troublemaker) + R (right).
10 BUS – Transport is the definition. B (bishop, as in chess) + U.S. (American).
13 TRAILER – Vehicle is the definition here. A wordsum clue. T (time) + RAIL (bar) + E (English) + R (resistance).
14 OBSCENE – Repugnant is the definition. O.B. (abbreviation for Old Boy) + SCENE (section of play).
15 TEE – The definition is a feature of a (golf) course. The alternate letters of THERE (shown by ‘regularly missing’.)
17 SHEEN – Brightness is the definition. SEEN (noticed) around H (hospital).
18 CANOE – We finish today with the name of a type of boat. CAN (preserve) + O (old) + E (European).

12 comments on “Times Quick Cryptic No 153 by Hurley”

  1. More apologies for the last few minutes. Editing seemed to produce all sorts of problems. Think they are fixed now.
  2. 5 mins. A QC pitched at the right level IMHO. I finished in the SW with the TRAILER/ERITREAN crossers.

    Regarding the comment from anonymous above, if an Americanisation is used I would expect some kind of reference to it in the clue, but EMENDING is not an Americanisation.

  3. Welcome back, Macavity, and it’s nice to see your inscrutable cat again. This was more straightforward than some Quickies of late, and I completed it in 10 minutes. Not that it matters a jot, but I wondered if one might just squeeze a triple out of 17ac by regarding ‘neat’ and ‘smart’ separately.

    Edited at 2014-10-09 08:37 am (UTC)

  4. Not too bad today. But emending is fine in Webster or us spelling but not English. Is Americanisation ok for crosswords. New to this so just interested.
  5. 17 mins, it took me a while to get going, but then all relatively easy.

    I agree that there is nothing wrong with emending in English usage. It is a slightly narrower definition than amend, as it usually applies only to text, where my desk could do with a bit of amendment to be honest.


  6. May I recommend solvers look at comment 18 for yesterday’s puzzle, 8th October.
  8. I was held up by PLATONIC and EMENDING (my LOI, I assumed a variant spelling so was glad for the clarification in the comments). All the rest went in without much hassle!

    Thanks Macavity.

    Edited at 2014-10-09 05:15 pm (UTC)

  9. A nice smooth solve and have to agree with Andy Burrows that it was pitched at the right level. I found the main puzzle from yesterday easier than the Quickie, which surely can’t be the right way round…

    Edited at 2014-10-09 06:56 pm (UTC)

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