Introduction
6:32. Plenty of anagrams and very few abbreviations to be found today!
Solutions
A brief summary of cryptic crosswords —feel free to skip— :
- Each clue has at least one “definition”: an unbroken string of words which more-or-less straightforwardly indicates the answer. A definition can be as simple as a one-word synonym; but it can also be a descriptive phrase like ‘I’m used to wind’ for REEL or SPOOL. A definition by example must be indicated by a phrase like ‘for example’, or, more commonly, a question mark (?). Thus ‘color’ is a definition of RED, while ‘red, for example’ or ‘red?’ are definitions of COLOR. Punctuation (and capitalization) is otherwise irrelevant.
- Each clue may also have an unbroken string of words which indicates the answer through wordplay, such as: using abbreviations; reversing the order of letters; indicating particular letters (first, last, outer, middle, every other, etc); placing words inside other words; rearranging letters (anagrams); replacing words by words that sound alike (homophones); and combinations of the above. This is by no means an exhaustive list, but the general theme is to reinterpret ordinary words as referring to letters, so that for example ‘lion’s head’ indicates the first letter of LION: namely, L.
- Definitions and wordplay cannot overlap. The only other words allowed in clues are linking words or phrases that combine these. Thus we may see, for example: “(definition) gives (wordplay)” or “(definition) and (definition)” or “(wordplay) is (definition)”.
- The most common clues have either two definitions, or one definition plus wordplay, in either order. But a single, very misleading definition is not uncommon, and very occasionally a definition can also be interpreted as wordplay leading to the same answer. Triple definitions (and more) are also possible.
My conventions in the solutions below are to underline definitions (including a defining phrase); put linking words in [brackets]; and put all wordplay indicators in boldface. I also use a solidus (/) to help break up the clue where necessary, especially for double definitions without linking words.
After the solutions, I list all the wordplay indicators and abbreviations in a Glossary.
Across
1 Colourful picture [of] attempt to follow recordings? (8)
TAPESTRY = TRY after TAPES
5 Pierrot, oddly saucy (4)
PERT = odd-numbered letters of PIERROT
8 Refusal in Paris / hearing? Balderdash! (8)
NONSENSE = NON (‘no’ in French) + SENSE (hearing, for example)
9 Press / club (4)
IRON = double definition
11 Cunning that involves group in execution method (10)
GUILLOTINE = GUILE around LOT + IN
14 He seeks to damage vehicle fellow reversed (6)
VANDAL = VAN + reversal of LAD
15 Succeed in getting, at the outset, women’s / standpoint (6)
WANGLE = first letter of WOMEN’S + ANGLE
17 One, thick-skinned, who could become richer soon? (10)
RHINOCEROS = anagram of RICHER SOON
20 Put into liquid in Verdun kitchen (4)
DUNK = hidden in VERDUN KITCHEN
21 A diet not working [as] remedy (8)
ANTIDOTE = A DIET NOT anagrammed
22 For example, 1588 play The Armada, super, finally (4)
YEAR = last letters of PLAY THE ARMADA SUPER
23 Payment by new tenant, important — one breaks into surprised expression (3,5)
KEY MONEY = KEY + ONE in MY
Down
1 Military vehicle[’s] fuel container (4)
TANK = double definition
2 Small drink brought up: time [for] larger one? (4)
PINT = NIP reversed + T
3 Apt closure ruined one taking financial risk (10)
SPECULATOR = anagram of APT CLOSURE
4 Final score: Ulster beaten (6)
RESULT = anagram of ULSTER
6 Income range is / not initially / changed (8)
EARNINGS = anagram of RANGE IS + first letter of NOT
7 Kind newspaperman made offer (8)
TENDERED = TENDER + ED
10 Silent about speaker, I agreed postponement (10)
MORATORIUM = MUM around ORATOR + I
12 Familiar Sun to Sat? (8)
EVERYDAY = EVERY DAY
13 Cabin sign I add displaying emblem (8)
INSIGNIA = hidden in CABIN SIGN I ADD
16 Meeting spirited Irishman, civil engineer? (6)
SEANCE = SEAN + C.E.
A tongue-in-cheek definition.
18 Benefit [from] changing ending of book (4)
BOON = change the last letter of BOOK
19 Group extremely blithe? Very (4)
BEVY = first and last letters of BLITHE and VERY
Glossary
Wordplay indicators
about = containment
as = linking word
at the outset = first letter
beaten = anagram
breaks into = containment
brought up = reversal in down clue
changed = anagram
changing ending = letter change
could be = anagram
displaying = hidden word
extremely = first and last letters
finally = last letters
follow = next to
for = linking word
from = linking word
in = hidden word
in Paris = in French
initially = first letter
involves = containment
oddly = odd-numbered letters
of = linking word
reversed = backwards
ruined = anagram
working = anagram
Abbreviations and little bits
attempt = TRY
civil engineer = CE
fellow = LAD
newspaperman = ED
surprised expression = MY (COR, etc)
time = T
vehicle = VAN
Edited at 2021-02-17 01:20 am (UTC)
Edited at 2021-02-17 05:40 am (UTC)
Cedric
No complaints — 1-0 to Hurley today.
Thanks Jeremy for an excellent blog as always
Edited at 2021-02-17 08:01 am (UTC)
A very enjoyable solve which I finished in 9.04 with my WOD going to BEVY and COD to GUILLOTINE.
Thanks to Jeremy
6:57.
Interested that 18D Boon gave no indication of what the last letter of Book had to be changed to. Does one not usually get an indicator? The clue might have been, for example, “Benefit from shortened book with new ending”.
Many thanks to Jeremy for the blog and glossary
Cedric
Liked 22A and 16D.
FOI TAPESTRY, LOI BOON, COD BEVY.
Thanks Hurley and Jeremy.
Templar
FOI: 5a PERT
LOI: 21a ANTIDOTE
Time to Complete: DNF
Clues Answered Correctly without aids: 9
Clues Answered with Aids (3 lives): 0
Clues Unanswered: 15
Wrong Answers: Nil
Total Correctly Answered (incl. aids): 9/24
Aids Used: Nil
What an awful puzzle this was for me. I really got nowhere with this one.
There were some answers I see here that I did not understand.
3d. SPECULATOR – I understand that one who speculates could be taking a risk, but financial? What did that have to do with it? That threw me, as I was looking for a particular aspect, that is, financial, which I could not get. I saw SPECULATOR in the anagram and even pencilled it in, but did not complete it in ink. On looking in the dictionary after giving up I saw that the second definition given was indeed related to financial risk taking. Something new learnt.
22a. KEY MONEY – I have never heard of this expression, so this was a blank for me.
I really did not enjoy this QC at all. I gave up after an hour having made very little progress. I know some would say “take a break! come back later!”, but sometimes I look at the clues and I just know I am not going to be able to answer them. In cases like that I give up, look up the answers here, and try to learn from them.
Interestingly with regard to SPECULATOR, I’ve only heard the word used in the context of gambling/investment. Obviously someone who speculates would be called a ‘speculator’, but I’ve never heard the word used that way.
Edited at 2021-02-17 10:24 am (UTC)
I thought this was generally a high quality test. My favourite was TAPESTRY (a brilliant album now 50 years old).
Time 11:48 which I was pleased with.
David
Having said that, I echo Plymouthian’s comments about the biggie – I whizzed through it in 22 minutes, which is definitely a sign that it’s very approachable – I bet the Snitch says it’s easy 😅
FOI Tapestry
COD Speculator
DNF after 25 minutes
So Hurley definitely got the better of me today! Thanks for the challenge, and to Jeremy for the blog
FOI TANK. LOI SEANCE. MORATORIUM was tricky, as others said. I did remember the expression KEY MONEY finally. Amused by WANGLE and RHINOCEROS. GUILLOTINE clever but biffable.
Thanks vm for helpful blog, Jeremy.
In the end, the overall puzzle took me 25 mins — with a good 15 mins of that in the SE corner.
As above, NHO of “Key Money” — I’m not sure it is a UK expression, but happy to be proved wrong. Both 21ac “Antidote” and 18dn “Boon” took longer than they should have.
FOI — 1dn “Tank”
LOI — 16dn “Seance”
COD — 10dn “Moratorium”
Thanks as usual.
I finished after 47 minutes, the last half-hour of which I found really hard work. Even Mrs R agreed that today’s QC was “quite stretching”, although I would have viewed her time of 26 minutes as a sprint.
many thanks to Hurley and to plusjeremy for his blog and helpful guide/glossary.
FOI – 5ac PERT
LOI – 23ac KEY MONEY
COD – 4dn RESULT
With the on-line Times Puzzle app, there is a tempting button marked “Reveal Grid” which I am usually tempted to hit after 25 minutes or so. Sometimes its a PDM, sometimes just a shrug. Today was kind of in between.
COD WANGLE. I remember Winker Watson and his Wangles from the Dandy.
Edited at 2021-02-17 01:13 pm (UTC)
FOI: tank
LOI: key money (DNF)
COD: really liked guillotine and rhinoceros
Thanks for the blog Jeremy.
Edited at 2021-02-17 03:54 pm (UTC)
But apart from NHO KEY MONEY it was a very enjoyable puzzle.
Thank you Hurley and Jeremy.
Diana
Very much enjoyed 4D as a clever example of a simple clue.
Thanks Jeremy for blog. Your list of wordplay indicators is excellent.
Edited at 2021-02-17 03:53 pm (UTC)
FOI TAPESTRY
LOI KEY MONEY
COD RESULT
TIME 4:02
FOI pert
COD tapestry ( not glorious technicolour!)
LOI wangle Took ages. When I started using an aid as soon as I got to BANGLE I realised what the answer was.
Thank you Jeremy and Hurley
Blue Stocking
Anyway finished despite misgivings!
Thanks all
John George
No idea of time, probably two SCCs!
1 1/2 courses
Similar to others, with the majority going in swiftly and then struggling with key money and LOI moratorium. I hadn’t heard of key money before but thought important must be key after I’d dismissed any possibility of tenant being an anagram. No idea what my time was as was doing it while cooking supper and after, guessing 20-30 minutes.
A classy puzzle as usual from Hurley and a helpful blog from Jeremy.
Edited at 2021-02-17 09:59 pm (UTC)