Times Quick Cryptic No 189 by Joker

Author   macavity123Posted on Categories Quick Cryptic
Solving time: reasonable.

Morning everyone!

Another pleasant stroll down the tamer side of Crossword Boulevard today with some nice clues to make you smile and a couple to make you think a little.

Nothing caused me too much stress although working out how I arrived at 14 across did make me think.

Thanks to the Joker in our pack for an enjoyable solve, and it’s off to the hospital for a scan accompanied by today’s larger puzzle.

Across
7 IRISH – Hibernian is the definition. IRIS (Flower) + H (second letter of shamrock). Nice to see a clue where a flower isn’t a river!
8 OVERLAP – Def = lie on. A word sum OVER (having finished) + LAP (circuit).
10 DRIVING – Like forceful rain is the definition. R (river) with DIVING (coming down fast) around it.
11 SHALE – Sedimentary rock is the definition. Like the previous clue, this is what is called in the trade “container and contents”, SALE (disposal) with H (hard) inside.
12 ARISTOTLE – Greek philosopher is the definition. An anagram (indicated by confusing) of TO REALIST.
14 WAS – I wonder if this may prove troublesome. Lived in the past is the definiton. The western end of the American capital = WAShington (i.e. when you look at it, the first few letters, the left hand side).
15 NAN – A double definition clue. A word for your granny and a type of Indian Bread.
16 IMPEDANCE – Resistance is the definition. An anagram (wild) of CAMPED IN, plus E (eastern).
18 SHACK – Cabin is the definition. A word sum. S (small) + HACK (roughly cut).
20 RESOLVE – One of the first clues I came across when I saw my first cryptic puzzle and was taught to do them by my old Latin master at Prescot Grammar School. A double definition, with one of them slightly cryptic. A word meaning to decide and what you do if you decided to tackle this puzzle again tomorrow.
22 STRANGE – Unusual is your definition here. ST (STREET) + RANGE (compass)
23 OASIS – this may be described as an ‘all-in-clue’. The definition is the whole clue, as is the wordplay. O (round) plus the first letters (primarily) of A Spring In Sand.

Down
1 MISDIAGNOSIS – Doctor’s error is the definition. An anagram (developing) of MISSING AIDS with O (blood group) inside.
2 DIVISION – Branch is the definition. A word sum, D I (Detective Inspector) + VISION (plan for the future).
3 THAI – Language is the definition. Hidden in the phrase “Most Haitians”
4 FORGET – Definition = overlook. FORGE (counterfeit) + T (time).
5 BEDSTEAD – Laid out here? is your definition. B (first letter, start to BE) plus an anagram (also indicated by part of the definition, laid out).
6 FLEA – Parasite is the definition. F (First letter, beginning to FEED) + LEA (arable land).
9 PRESS RELEASE – Another double definition clue, with one of them cryptic. The name for an official statement is the instriction that you might find on a parachute to make it work!
13 THINKING – Another one of the same. A word meaning Imagine plus a way of describing a monarch very different to the (corpulent in pictures) image of Henry VIII.
14 WINDLASS – And another one! A word for a type of winch. If you were to get a female out of breath, apart from possibly being arrested, you would be doing this.
17 PORKER – Fat little pig is your definition. No, David Mellor doesn’t fit here. POKER (game) with R (right) inside (indicated by capturing).
19 ACRE – Piece of land is the definition. Hidden inside SACRED.
21 SHOP – Retail outlet is your final definition. SH (Quiet!) + OP (little word for work).

13 comments on “Times Quick Cryptic No 189 by Joker”

  1. 8:30 for me. I always get Hibernian and Caledonian mixed up in my head. Because of the football teams I tend to think Scottish first for both. So I was immediately trying to fit Scottish rivers into 7a, like FORTH or CLYDE. Luckily, 1d jumped out at me, so I was soon back on the right track.
    I used to indulge in a lot of skydiving back in my dim and distant past, and I don’t remember ever coming across a parachute with a release button! Still, I guess those on the back of jets and dragsters may have them.
  2. I’ve no time to offer on this one because I nodded off through sheer tiredness with about a quarter still unsolved, though on resumption this morning I wrote in the remaining answers without difficulty. My only query was over 14ac where I thought of the WAS{hington} device but couldn’t quite believe that was how it worked.

    Parachutes here and emergency landings in the main puzzle – what’s going on?

    Edited at 2014-11-27 10:02 am (UTC)

  3. 9 mins of gentle enjoyment. My COD was WINDLASS which made me chortle (especially because having already got the L and the S before looking at this clue, I spent 30 secs working with a “less” suffix so when I got there it was a lightbulb moment).

    Last clue in was DIVISION, I think because having started with 1dn and all the clues running across from it, I was then staring at a sea of “i”s and it freaked me out a bit!

    Thanks to Joker and Macavity

  4. Great fun this one, 13 brought a grin wide enough for my partner to spot, so very approriate setter pseudonym (again).
    A bit puzzled by the parachute thing. In my day you had to pull a cord thing to deploy it. (Not that I ever had to do so) and the release button was to get out of it.
    1. The question mark in a clue usually means something a bit dodgy, so I’ll forgive the release button, though I suppose someone must have manufactured one that has such as device.
      1. I think a ‘release’ button on a normal parachute would describe the very last thing a falling parachutist would wish to do. I think daveperry above has nailed it, spacecraft and drag car drivers would press a button to release the thing at the right moment.
  5. Must admit I found this a bit of a slog, possibly due to having tackled it after spending a hard day out cruising on Sydney harbour making small talk with lots of customers and consuming a fair amount of red wine (yes, a tough gig but someone’s got to do it…)

    Looking back on it, not much to frighten the horses, but required perseverance. Good QC and expertly blogged (as ever) by macavity, so thanks to setter and blogger

    1. Assuming you weren’t also in charge of the boat, that sounds like my perfect day – except the customer bit of course. Well done in struggling through 🙂
  6. Crikey. No 189, and the first time that I’ve cracked one of these start to finish, and in under 20 mins. For the last 38 weeks I’ve limited myself to an hour a day on this little diversion (and always struggled to get to the end without help – thank you, all). If it goes on like today I’ll regain my life. Or tackle the grown-ups’ version …………?
  7. Congrats Anon! As they say with regard to child rearing, the first 18 years are the hardest (but it’s actually not quite that tricky!)
  8. Another fun one from Joker – ten minutes here but with the last three spent on Impedance/windlass. Not familiar with the latter so will be prepped for next time!
  9. LOI bedstead as I always struggle when the definition is mixed up with the word play. Keeping the boating theme from nick_the_novice alive, my COD was 14dn.
    Does anyone know how I can get my iPad to ‘play’ the 15×15? It displays but the keypad doesn’t come up when I press a square.
  10. Can only echo macavity123’s opening words. For a short while thought it would be tough for a quickie, but clues were steadily solved with LOI 5dn.

    Only issue I’d have was with THIN KING, which came up last month (Rational but erroneous description of Henry VIII). A fun clue, which I really enjoyed first time round, but a bit too re-usable I thought. I don’t know what others here think about “repeat” clues.

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