Introduction
5 minutes… no, wait, 9:48… grrrrrrrrrrr…..
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 Bond is on alert breaking / in! (12)
RELATIONSHIP = IS ON ALERT anagrammed + HIP
Didn’t parse this while solving. Quite tricky!
8 Regressing predictably involves this drink (5)
CIDER = hidden reversed in PREDICTABLY
9 Dad swallowing an excellent remedy for ills (7)
PANACEA = PA around AN + ACE
10 Eagle in whirling descent (7)
LINEAGE = EAGLE IN anagrammed
11 Grimace [when] church pursues gain (5)
WINCE = CE after WIN
12 Xmas booze g-g-gone astray! (6)
EGGNOG = GGGONE anagrammed
Ha!
14 Clearly providing an example of this! (6)
ADVERB = cryptic definition
‘Clearly’ is an adverb.
17 Short story / being broadcast — it could be gripping! (5)
TALON = TALE without the last letter + ON
19 Island in / unsettled US area, [or] continental one? (7)
EURASIA = I in anagram of US AREA
Continental area, that is.
21 Musical drama / extremely tiresome work (7)
OPERATE = OPERA + first and last letters of TIRESOME
22 Love trapped by one obscure colloquialism (5)
IDIOM = O in I + DIM
23 Poor place the owner soon abandoned (3-5,4)
ONE-HORSE TOWN = THE OWNER SOON anagrammed
Down
1 Royal Engineers gathering [in] memory (12)
RECOLLECTION = R.E. + COLLECTION
2 Charged a lot [in] Los Angeles retreat (5)
LADEN = LA + DEN
3 Whirlwind [is] to trouble, sucking in Royal Navy (7)
TORNADO = TO + ADO around RN
4 Duck small victim [for] large bird (6)
OSPREY = O + S + PREY
5 Southern / wine brewed [for] strength (5)
SINEW = S + WINE anagrammed
6 Anger / that smoulders in RC service? (7)
INCENSE = double definition
7 One like Noah, after flood, [finding] insect? (5,7)
WATER BOATMAN = BOATMAN after WATER
This clue alone took me 4 minutes. Never heard of the bug.
13 Left in strong wind on ship (7)
GALLEON = L in GALE + ON
15 Little animals [in] sleeping quarters freeze (7)
DORMICE = DORM + ICE
16 Falling star, remote, exploded (6)
METEOR = REMOTE anagrammed
18 Elegantly simple / opener from Hitchin Town (5)
NEATH = NEAT + first letter of HITCHIN
20 Sneaky-sounding / attempt [to see] Irish county (5)
SLIGO = SLY homophone + GO
Edited at 2021-05-12 05:59 am (UTC)
Finished with ADVERB and WATER BOATMAN getting the former which made the latter a write in as I did know the insect.
Thought ONE HORSE TOWN was terrific anagram
Thanks for the ever excellent blog Jeremy and Wurm for the entertainment
Thanks to Jeremy for the excellent blog
Found RECOLLECTION difficult, as RECONVENTION seemed plausible with gathering=convention.
Lots of misdirection by Wrum, but nothing unfair. With ‘descent’ having seven letters, that clue could be read either way, and the letters of descent looked more plausible, and the ‘scented eagle’ probably exists somewhere. ALSO AT 17a ‘broadcast’ did not mean a homophone,
LOI DORMICE
COD ADVERB
Got ONE HORSE TOWN before realising it was an anagram. Liked SLIGO !
FOsI TALON, WINCE, OSPREY. LOI ADVERB.
Thanks vm, Jeremy.
Edited at 2021-05-12 08:11 am (UTC)
MY LOI was DORMICE being the last clue I read.
My favourite was OPERATE from a number of good clues.
12:27 on the clock which doesn’t look too bad today.
David
COD OSPREY — glorious birds.
Thank you Wurm and Jeremy.
Diana
Thanks Wurm and Jeremy
Edited at 2021-05-12 08:55 am (UTC)
I think I find longer clues generally easier as they are often anagrams or more than one word. I think my least favourite clue would be a short word double definition!
Also I think I read somewhere that down clues are often easier than across, but don’t know if that holds true.
Edited at 2021-05-12 08:56 pm (UTC)
What? How does the first letter of SIMPLE = H?
This puzzle also had a sting in the tail, since I thought that 1ac was an anagram of “is on alert” + SPY for Bond. Hey ho. I also didn’t get how LADEN could = “charged a lot” and had to look it up afterwards. Those two added many minutes.
FOI RECOLLECTION, LOI LADEN, COD – lots of choice in a very fine puzzle but I’ll go for GALLEON, time 11:01 which in the absence of the great man I am estimating at 2K and a Decent Day.
Many thanks Wurm and Jeremy.
Templar
FOI: 12a. EGGNOG
LOI: 19a. EURASIA
Time to Complete: DNF
Clues Answered Correctly without aids: 16
Clues Answered with Aids (3 lives): 1a, 1d, 20d
Clues Unanswered: 14a, 17a, 22a, 15d, 18d
Wrong Answers: Nil
Total Correctly Answered (incl. aids): 19/24
Aids Used: Chambers, Bradford’s
I got further than I thought I would when I first started this crossword. On my first go around the grid I only had two answered.
1a. RELATIONSHIP – I had a T present in the 5 box and so kept trying to find a word beginning with AGENT (Bond). As time went on, I realised AGENT wasn’t part of it and so had to resort to Chamber’s. First life used.
1d. RECOLLECTION – I am annoyed I did not get this one. I initially thought Reminiscence, but that did not fit. Kicked myself when I turned to Chambers and saw the answer. So obvious!
20d. SLIGO – I just could not drag this word up from the depths of my memory. Third and final life used with 4 or 5 clues left to answer. I knew I would be onto a DNF now.
17a. TALON – Gah! I did have this pencilled in but then removed it.
7d WATER BOATMAN – It took me a few minutes, but I got this one eventually. At my primary school we had a nature garden that included a beehive and a pond. We used to see water boatmen on that pond.
FOI PANACEA
LOI EGGNOG
COD ONE-HORSE TOWN
TIME 4:26
Your comments over this time have undoubtedly sharpened whatever skills I had and I’ve also enjoyed the wit and repartee from all of your contributions!
Briefly by way of background I’ve been wrestling with the Times Crossword virtually every day since 1975 and the QC from day 1. I have the occasional inspired moments, more than offset by the dumber ones but the great thing for me is that I enjoy the daily challenge so much.
Today was one of my better times (3:31) – it’s the tougher 15x15s that always seem to put me firmly in my place! I liked 12 across (eggnog) although I can’t imagine ever choosing it as a Xmas tipple – what on earth would it go with?
Looking forward to contributing a little more going forward. Meantime many thanks to all the bloggers, setters and indeed all of you for enriching the solving experience
I just couldn’t seem to parse many of the clues today, and had to rely instead on guessing words that may fit – a difficult task with so few checkers. Also, not very enjoyable as a result.
It appeared that Mrs Random was also finding it tough going, as she was concentrating hard for 50 minutes or so. However, I found out afterwards that she had completed today’s puzzle in 21 minutes, followed straight away by yesterday’s Trelawney in 29 minutes. I was speechless (probably a good thing).
Thanks to Wurm (whom I always find tough) and plusjeremy.
Saying that it took a while to get going.
FOI — 5dn “Sinew”
LOI — 14ac “Adverb”
COD — 1ac “Relationship”
Thanks as usual!
RECOLLECTION and RELATIONSHIP were my last two in, RELATIONSHIP unparsed, well, I got the anagrammed part, then entered the HIP from the whole definition, rather than solving IN=HIP
Never settled into a flow, so well done to Wurm, and thanks to plusjeremy.
7:34.
FOI: PANACEA
LOI: LADEN
COD: ONE HORSE TOWN
Thanks to Wurm and Jeremy
Oh well, at least I got there eventually, albeit with help.
FOI Panacea
LOI Relationship
COD Water boatman
Many thanks Wurm and Jeremy
FOI – 11ac WINCE
LOI – 1ac RELATIONSHIP
COD – 20dn SLIGO
Posting late today as I was working this morning and we went for a walk in the fens this afternoon where we heard several cuckoos, a booming bittern and a water vole plop into one of the drains, ditches or dykes there. Didn’t parse idiom. This was my LOI. COD anything animal related, as ever for me. Thanks for an enjoyable puzzle and blog. GW.