Times Quick Cryptic No 1988 by Orpheus

Author   rolytolyPosted on Categories Quick Cryptic
About average difficulty today I think, although I found it trickier than yesterday’s and had to rely on a bit of biffing to arrive home at the 9 minute mark. A steady and satisfying solve, with even the potential stumbling blocks such as 19ac and the two random names clued generously enough to reduce the chance of long frustrating stares. Suited me very well – many thanks to Orpheus!

Across
7 A head turning to a starchy tuber (6)
POTATO – A TOP (a head) “turning”, TO
8 Girl unknown in part of New England (6)
MAXINE – X (unknown) in MAINE (part of New England)
9 Catch sight of article, displaying fury (8)
SEETHING – SEE (catch sight of) THING (article)
10 Knight leaves Scottish island for western US state (4)
IOWA – N (knight in chess) leaves IONA (Scottish island) for W(estern)
11 Small fish producing appalling smell (6)
STENCH – S(mall) TENCH (fish)
13 Direct course of male ox (5)
STEER – double definition
14 For example, Oscar’s sense of self-importance (3)
EGO – EG (for example) O(scar)
15 Argumentative type on the river? (5)
ROWER – cryptic hint, with a pun on row/argument.
17 Ready to accept English chef’s first guide to food preparation (6)
RECIPE – RIPE (ready) to accept E(nglish) C (Chef’s “first”)
19 Pith helmet, best quality one (4)
TOPI – TOP (best quality) I (one). News to me (I think).
20 Stale old joke involving golden-brown horse (8)
CHESTNUT – double definition
22 Woman’s husband entering compound (6)
ESTHER – H(usband) entering ESTER (compound)
23 Draw out? It’s not allowed, we hear (6)
ELICIT – “we hear” the same as ILLICIT (not allowed)

Down
1 Dimwit’s stupefying drug (4)
DOPE – double definition. The apostrophe-s is possessive in the surface reading and an abbreviation for “is” meaning equals in the cryptic – also used in 14ac, 22ac and 13d.
2 Box only initially missing from humorous drawing (6)
CARTON – O (Only “initially”) missing from CARTOON (humorous drawing)
3 Buffer created by E European monarch (8)
POLISHER – POLISH (E European) ER (monarch)
4 Self-satisfied, giving sweets up (4)
SMUG – GUMS (sweets) “up”
5 Cut out for duty (6)
EXCISE – double definition
6 Nose around primarily with doctor, finding spring flower (8)
SNOWDROP – SNOOP (nose) around W (“primarily” With) DR (doctor)
12 Slow mover upsetting to Tories (8)
TORTOISE – anagram (upsetting) of TO TORIES
13 Necromancer’s errors unexpectedly overwhelming church (8)
SORCERER – anagram (unexpectedly) of ERRORS overwhelming CE (Church of England)
16 Hang about for hearing, having influence (6)
WEIGHT – is heard the same as WAIT (hang about)
18 Inflorescence identified by Tom and family (6)
CATKIN – CAT (tom – a male cat) and KIN (family)
20 Mind vehicle at end of avenue (4)
CARE – CAR (vehicle) at/by E (“end” of avenuE)
21 Piece of furniture you reportedly can set up (4)
UNIT – U (you, reportedly) TIN (can) “set up”

56 comments on “Times Quick Cryptic No 1988 by Orpheus”

  1. … unlike for others above.

    I made it to the finish in 49 minutes, but had to resort to some long alphabet-trawls towards the end (incl. ROWER, POLISHER, DOPE, ELICIT). I regard having to trawl as a failure to parse a clue, or a failure of vocabulary or general knowledge. And it drags my time right out and puts a damper on the earlier enjoyment.

    So, to ensure enjoyment, my lovely in-house crossword coach advises me to:
    i) Broaden my vocabulary
    ii) Increase my general knowledge
    iii) Develop better parsing skills
    Should be a cinch!

    Many thanks to Orpheus and rolytoly

  2. Nothing too hard here but got stuck on polisher and dope for some reason. Under my target time for a change though.
  3. Mrs Random and I are in different counties today (and tomorrow), but we have just compared notes and she finished the puzzle in 22 minutes. She said that she didn’t really understand some of the clues and therefore had to guess a bit, but her ability to guess correctly stood her in good stead. I wish I could guess as well as Mrs R.
  5. 45.12
    I seem to have been on Orpheus’s wavelength for a change.
    I like this sort of puzzle — ones that can be solved by logic and word play, not just by remembering lots of obscure shorthand.
    Nick
  6. My fastest solve in over a month, coming in at 16:29. Not much else to say, but very enjoyable. Thanks Roly and Orpheus.
  7. Did not enjoy this one too hard for me. As a point of fact Iowa is a mid-western state not a western state. The only 4 letter western state is Utah. I guess inaccuracy is allowed in crosswords even if it is not helpful to newbies .
    1. “Western” in that clue is not part of the definition.
      You should read the prior comments before you post.

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