Times Quick Cryptic No 1692 by Oink

44 comments on “Times Quick Cryptic No 1692 by Oink”

1. I biffed COME OFF IT & MACHETE (isn’t ‘husband’ a DBE?), & TERMINATE, not knowing what a Dalek cries. Also DNK CONK, and forgot what CRUMBS means. No problem with BRAINSTORM. I thought of SPINNER early on, couldn’t see how it worked, so passed on, came back and thought of the fishing meaning. FLYING as in ‘flying visit’? For CONK, ‘top of Kilimanjaro’ might have been better, I suppose. Wouldn’t ‘turn back briefly’ be NRU? Maybe ‘turn briefly back’ would have been better? 5:57.
   1. My initial reading gave me “cab” (Turning “bac”), which left me bewildered by why one would get stuck in it, but fortunately I couldn’t think of a gold coin ending in B. Your suggestion would, at least to me, be open to the same interpretation. How about “briefly turn East”?
2. ….as the anagrams didn’t come easily. It would have helped if I had known conk, but I think that is a UK-only term. Fortunately, we’ve got Penfold_61 if we need some crumbs.
   1. Embarrassingly CRUMBS was my LOI!
3. Infuriating! Realised A had to go in RITA but went for RIATA for the unknown dish which was only unraveled when I finally saw what ‘get’ was doing in the clue for RAISE, which in turn had to wait until I saw the hypenation that gave me REF from the hidden. But failed to notice that my correction has still left RIITA, so a pink square in 18m and a big disappointment. I really enjoyed this one so am disappointed to have ruined it through haste. I was most pleased with myself for seeing it was an OINK and using that to get to RASHER fast and for getting CONK after being very close to thinking CONE might fit and flirting with HACHETE which isn’t a word and doesn’t fit the clue but still came close to being my answer. Also learned I wasn’t 100% on how to spell MISTLETOE, with doubt over the the T and the order of the letters – bit surprised at myself! LOI CRUMBS – lovely and hard to get from those checkers.

   Edited at 2020-09-02 06:15 am (UTC)

4. Lots of clever clues to enjoy – we finished in 15 minutes. Thanks Oink.

   FOI: ref
   LOI: conk
   COD: holiest

   Thanks to Jeremy fo the blog (yes, “exterminate” is a Dr Who reference. It’s what Daleks repeatedly utter when they chase and zap their victims)

   Edited at 2020-09-02 07:50 am (UTC)

5. I had problems getting any sort of flow to my solve today and constantly hopping around the grid wastes time. Eventually I completed in 12 minutes missing my target by 2.

   A nice puzzle, though I thought 23 was a bit weak unless, as Jeremy says, I am missing something that gives ‘regular’ some particular relevance.

6. I made the mistake of trying to do this in a rush before work with my focus getting it done rather than enjoying the ride. Unsurprisingly I struggled, especially in the NW, and the came a cropper by bunging in CONE for 1d and as time was running short I didn’t bother to question my lack of parsing. Other than that I felt off wavelength and struggled with a couple of the definitions (BRIEF and GET) and missed the anagram at 1a for a long time.
   I think this can be classified on the Templar scale as a bad day, which is entirely down to me rather than any reflection on Oink’s puzzle.
   Thanks to Jeremy for the blog
7. I did not give the QC the attention in needed after actually completing the 15×15 (a first for me).

   I made quite a few mistakes, which left the NW corner hard. I biffed my way into FAINTER for “More dull praise”, which meant that I was convincing myself REIKI must be a yoghurt dish as well as a relaxation technique. I would have mis-spelt Misteltoe(sic) without the checkers as well.

   COD – Terminate

8. A lovely one today. But it took me ages to get 1a which left the top left hand corner blank for too long.

   NHO RAITA

   “I will exterminate you “ takes me back 45 years to two small children hiding behind the sofa – the safest place from which to watch Dr Who.

   Thank you everyone for a very good start to the day. Now off to tackle the weeds smothering the beans.

   Diana

9. A good QC. I seemed to go straight through the top half and then had to hop around the rest of the grid. I finished in 12 mins so I seem to be re-discovering some of my earlier pace (or perhaps the last two days have offered slightly more straightforward puzzles?). I enjoyed this. Thanks to Oink for a good challenge with some clever clues and to Jeremy for confirmation of my parsing and a good blog. John M.
10. Tricky Oink today. I was slow to start needing COL to get going; then I made reasonable progress with a big question about SPINNER but the parsing worked.
    I’ve seen RAITA in a crossword recently but also on virtually every menu in the Indian restaurants I have visited over many years; often with cucumber.
    Finally I needed three in the NE. FLATTER REF and RAISE were my last three. 13:32 on the clock which seems OK based on the early postings.
    An excellent puzzle. COD to NURSERY as the schools are back today. I hope the teachers are OK.
    David
11. Felt very pleased with myself to start with but had to look up Crumbs which made me smile.
    Then I put strain instead of Sortie at first, but of course I knew it was wrong.

    Enjoyed the puzzle but no piggy clues?

    1. … a rash judgement 😉
       1. Oh yes, rash indeed or even rasher.

          Edited at 2020-09-03 11:22 am (UTC)

12. I thought this was the hardest of Oink’s offerings so far, but then I struggled (as usual) with the long anagrams and missed a few sitters (Sortie and Nursery) first time round, so probably just me. Finished a few seconds north of 30mins with 12ac/d and 6d, Raise, which I still don’t get for ‘get’. My CoD, once I eventually saw how it worked, goes to 1ac, Come Off It. Invariant
13. I finished well within target today but came to the blog for an explanation on three clues RAISE, SPINNER and MISTLETOE. The first two went in from wordplay but with a shrug. I get the get of RAISE but still don’t understand the lure-SPINNER reference. As to MISTLETOE I was like Jeremy and Rotter looking for something more meaningful. Still, I am happy with my solve in 8:22. Thanks for the blog Jeremy.

    On edit: I looked up SPINNER in OED and it specifically mentions lure as a definition of SPINNER in relation to fishing – ‘a lure designed to revolve when pulled through the water’.

    Edited at 2020-09-02 09:53 am (UTC)

14. Just a few seconds over my target of 15 minutes this morning, which is something of an improvement for this week. I also thought the clue for MISTLETOE weak, and looked for some deeper meaning, but without success. Thanks Jeremy and Oink.
15. Are we not an ungrateful lot!? 23ac MISTLETOE was a generous gimme at the end of a reasonably tight puzzle. I first learnt of MISTLETOE in The Pickwick Papers and it was one of my dear mother’s ’12 Christmas Regulars’- along with carols, Xmas cards, the Xmas tree, Santa, presents, sherry, turkey, choux de Bruxelles (yuk!), Xmas pud, holly and the Queen’s Speech.

    FOI 19ac NACHO – hardly hidden!

    LOI & WOD 1dn CONK – I conked out!

    COD 1ac COME OFF IT!

    Time: spot on ten minutes

16. I agree with Invariant that this seemed a little tougher than the usual Oink, although the fact that I completed in 22:43 must mean that it’s still on the easier side for QCs in general. I got a little worried when the first three clues meant nothing to me, then I was buoyed by getting both 9 and 10a, only to draw a complete blank on the next three except for seeing that 16 was another long anagram. Thankfully I had an easier time with the downs and then most of the ones I’d missed presented themselves, particularly C_M_O_F_T, which was something of a pity because I biffed it and only realised what a good clue it was afterwards. I also enjoyed 5d, and 15d for reminding me of Penfold, but given the setter, COD goes to 13a (though being a veggie, I would prefer my porcine references to be living). Speaking of bacon, my 12 year old son surprised me at breakfast in a hotel a few days ago by wondering what a rasher was. Neither my disapproval, nor his ignorance seem to deter him from eating lots of them, however. And finally, I was heartened to see the word “brainstorm” still in use, as I was told during some training course or other years ago (perhaps my original teacher training in 1998), that its use should be avoided in case it caused offence to epileptics. It always seemed a rather unlikely cause of upset to me.
    Anyway, thanks Jeremy and Oink.
    1. That possible route to offence-giving was quickly debunked by epileptics. So, it’s ok, again.
17. 11 minutes – fast for me – but two were write-ins without understanding – SPINNER, MACHETE. My use of BRAINSTORM is when a small group works together to generate new ideas or solve a problem, so that led to some uncertainty. But, as a UK child of the 60s, no problems with TERMINATE!
18. An enjoyable 20 mins for me.

    Misspelt “Raita” at first which caused a few issues for the NE corner, also thought “Indiscreetly”’was spelt “Indiscretely” for some reason. DNK 13dn “Spinner”, but couldn’t see what else it could be. I did have an issue with 11dn “Brainstorm”, but if Collins allows it who am I to argue.

    A shame there isn’t a mountain called K9 – would have gone well with 5dn.

    FOI – 3dn “Ore”
    LOI – 15dn “Crumbs”
    COD – 1ac “Come off it”

    Thanks as usual.

19. It was nearly a good day but I was undone by 1d – count me in as another who entered cone instead of CONK. D’oh! Such a shame, as I thoroughly enjoyed this one, and was on course for an ok time. All the same, there was lots of fun to be had, with lovely surfaces and just enough trickery to keep you on your toes. Ticks went next to RAITA and TERMINATE. 12d reminded me that I am so glad not to be in the dating game any more!

    FOI Nursery
    LOI Mistletoe
    COD Rasher
    DNF in 11mins with one wrong

    Many thanks Oink for the fun, and Jeremy for the blog

20. Thought it a little tough for a Wednesday. Having only recently learnt of Oink’s leitmotif I was pleased to see RASHER!

    COD, perhaps TERMINATE as it did indeed bring back memories of hiding behind the sofa 🙂

    8:19 for me.

    H

21. Did most of it then came back to it and managed to finish – well pleased as it was not easy. LOI CRUMBS. Guessed RAITA from clue – not heard of it.
    1. Dear Anonymous,
       Raita (Hindi) is simply Indian yoghurt (curd). Nip out any Indian Restaurant in any British local high street, for a take-away, and ask for a cucumber raita.
       Methink one needs to get out a bit more so that one can enjoy the world.
       Are you aware that ‘Paperback Raita’ is a song written by the Beatles?

       Eponymous

       1. I thought that was “Lovely RAITA, meter maid….”
22. 30 secs over target with CRUMBS embarrassingly LOI as stated above.

    I dismissed MISTLETOE on first pass as being just too obvious. Despite dictionary support I’m more familiar with BRAINSTORM being a daft idea or as Jeremy hints at a group session intended to produce a good idea.

    1. The evidence seems to show that good ideas don’t come from brainstorming sessions.
23. I really enjoyed this so thanks to Oink for providing just under 20 minutes of entertainment.
    Like others, MISTLETOE surprised me as it seemed too simple but I had to guess at RAITA (don’t eat Indian food) and SPINNER (don’t know much about fishing).
    COME OFF IT, TERMINATE and FLATTER were very clever and my COD has to be RASHER for the double meaning of ‘spots’.
    Thanks to Jeremy for the helpful blog.
24. Color me surprised, all these people not knowing CONK, including some veterans. I’m a US solver and I’m sure I only know it from cryptic crosswords!
    1. Penfold/Kevin – Hear-hear!

       Jeremy – please note that the word colour carries a ‘u’ in these parts.
       And why have you not been mugging-up on the ‘Carry-On’ films, where Sid James’ conk
       plays a leading role!?

       Edited at 2020-09-02 01:17 pm (UTC)

       1. Now wait a moment… “These parts” is New York City for me, and I speak American English, so I maintain my right to spell it the way I do. If it comes up in the wordplay, of course I spell it the way the setter intends.

          It’s a rare day when I know a word like CONK more readily than my fellow solvers and bloggers… But I probably won’t be partaking of those films… I have CONK enough for me and three others besides.

25. We are also with those that put cone carelessly for 1d. Haven’t heard crumbs for many a year, shows our ages! Otherwise the clues gave us few problems and finished well within our target, but not quite as quick as yesterday. Thanks Oink and the blog.
26. Really struggled with this one for some reason. Call it not being on the wavelength or just mid-week brain fatigue but it was around 32 mins before I finished it off. Knew all the vocabulary and there was nothing too unusual about the clueing so I don’t know what took so long. Waited for the crossers before entering MISTLETOE as I was looking for some hidden meaning in the clue which I don’t think was there. Also needed all the crossers for INDISCREETLY although I knew it was an anagram.

    FOI – 9ac RAITA
    LOI – 6dn RAISE
    COD – 7dn FLATTER

    1. Whatever the reason, it’s obviously catching!
27. … as I look at the range of comments here. Some enjoyed it, some found it tougher than expected, some complain at individual clues.

    I found this “tougher than most puzzles from Oink”, mostly enjoyable but with a few uncharacteristic question marks. I join those who could not really believe that 23A Mistletoe was as simple a clue as it seemed and spent some time wondering if “permission” gave the LET in the answer and wondering what gave the MIST..OE. More seriously I thought that cluing “at first” for flying in 4D definitely merited a MER, and “get” for raise in 6D was almost as debateable.

    On the other hand many of the other clues were top notch and my CODs were 1A Come off it and 8A Nursery – very nice surfaces both.

    No time as repeatedly interrupted but would have been on the slow side. Thanks to Jeremy for the blog.

    Cedric

    1. More seriously I thought that cluing “at first” for flying in 4D definitely merited a MER

       I thought the definition was “brief” giving an answer of flying (as in a flying visit) and the “at first” referred to the first letter of “you”.

       H

       1. Yes sorry I forgot the courtesy underline.
          1. Yes that makes more sense. Thanks. I initially read the clue as “Brief affair” = fling. A longer affair would not I thought be described as a fling, hence the need to attach brief to affair.

             Cedric

28. ….I though “crowd” instead of “host” would have been smoother at 14D.

    FOI RAITA
    LOI FLYING
    COD CRUMBS
    TIME 4:25

    Edited at 2020-09-02 05:20 pm (UTC)

29. So many comments that now I’ve read them all I can’t remember Kevin’s time. So, 2 Phils today which makes this a Very Good Day. Fun puzzle, thanks Oink and Jeremy.

    Templar

30. Which reminds me that I have never seen the term “meter maid” used in its correct sense by anyone in UK. Meter maids were comely young ladies employed in Surfers’ Paradise, QLD, Australia in the early 60s. They, clad in bikinis, patrolled certain streets after parking meters were introduced, not to penalise those who had parked, but to provide change for the meters.

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