Times Quick Cryptic No 2021 by Mara

Author   JohninterredPosted on Categories Quick Cryptic

It’s my turn to come off the blogging team substitutes’ bench again today for this crossword of the year – or is it just the year of the crossword? Yes, we’ve reached Quick Cryptic number 2021! But it’s nothing particularly out of the ordinary, just a regular neat QC from Mara today, although it was only when writing the blog that I noticed how many double definitions we had in the Down clues. I liked the dastardly spanish supporter, but COD to 17D; is it a reference to sleaze perhaps? My LOI was 24A being slightly puzzled at first by who is hugging what. You need to take care to identify the definition correctly in 13D. Otherwise, there doesn’t seem to be much to frighten the horses. Well not to me, anyway, as I got through this 4:31. Thank-you Mara. How did the rest of you get on?

Definitions underlined in bold italics, (Abc)* indicating anagram of Abc, deletions and “” other indicators.

Across
8 Different part of America: no, the reverse (7)
ANOTHER – Hidden in, “part of”, AmericA NO THE Reverse.
9 Sound feature: one installed (5)
NOISE – NOSE (feature) with I (one) inside, “installed”.
10 Belgian city banishing an idiot (5)
TWERP – AnTWERP (Belgian city) without, “banishing”, the AN.
11 Darwin’s survivors set it out in newspaper (7)
FITTEST – (set it)* “out” in FT (Financial Times; newspaper).
12 Penny I invested in bust we chose, artwork on display (9)
SHOWPIECE – P (penny) I inside, “invested on” anagram of, “bust”, (we chose)*
14 Young setter, maybe, changing nothing by going back? (3)
PUP – A palindrome, “changing nothing by going back”. And Mara is not referring to a member of his profession, but a dog, of course.
16 Backing achieved today (3)
NOW – WON (achieved), “backing” -> NOW.
18 Round chapel Sir dashed (9)
SPHERICAL – (chapel Sir)* “dashed”.
21 Cold in head of boy going fast (7)
BRACING – B (boy) RACING (going fast).
22 More dull, rug sent back by Queen (5)
TAMER – MAT (rug) “sent back” -> TAM, ER (queen).
23 Time to access food in tin, for example (5)
METAL – T (time) inside, “to access” MEAL (food).
24 Attack tree-hugging oaf (4,3)
LASH OUT – ASH (tree) being hugged by LOUT (oaf). The hyphen makes all the difference to the wordplay.
Down
1 Awful rat, Spain supporter (8)
PARTISAN – “Awful” (rat, Spain)*.
2 Very damp, old township (6)
SOWETO – SO (very) WET (damp) O (old).
3 Posh nuts in store (4)
SHOP – (posh)* “nuts”.
4 Sweet little thing (6)
TRIFLE – Double definition.
5 Swimming in water after ending in brook, jumpers say? (8)
KNITWEAR – “Swimming” (in water)* “after” “ending in” brooK.
6 Surrender? I don’t know! (4,2)
GIVE UP – Double definition.
7 One side went (4)
LEFT – And another double definition.
13 Boy slips all over the place, perhaps (8)
POSSIBLY – (boy slips)* “all over the place”.
15 Equality inspires leaders on official list in opposition (8)
POLARITY – PARITY (equality) including, “inspires”, first letters, “leaders” of Official List.
17 Fortune made breaking the law (6)
WEALTH – “Breaking” (the law)*.
19 Embrace Cambridgeshire city in a big way (6)
HUGELY – HUG (embrace) ELY (Cambridgeshire city).
20 Ordinary park (6)
COMMON – Yet another double definition.
21 Sign one’s expecting minor collision (4)
BUMP – and another
22 Check river in Hampshire (4)
TEST – And what better to finish with… a double definition!

54 comments on “Times Quick Cryptic No 2021 by Mara”

  2. … I almost escaped the SCC. But, my sundial doesn’t do seconds, so it goes down as a 20-minute solve – right on the cusp!

    I enjoyed, TWERP, SHOP, POLARITY and BUMP (my LOI), but my CoD goes to POSSIBILITY. Given the semi-awkward grid design, I was very pleased to get 1d (PARTISAN) and 18a (SPHERICAL) quickly and without any checkers. These both helped me progress at what for me was quite a breathless pace. And, for once, I did not suffer any real brain freezes – a pleasant rarity for me.

    Mrs Random is currently working on Friday’s Corelli, before turning her attention to today’s QC.

    Many thanks to Mara and John.

  3. 26 minutes today but I had the distraction of listening on Spot to Black Acid Soul by Lady Blackbird….rather fine subtle jazz….
    And I think this was a great crossword because although not easy, all clues were accessible after thought (and as the checkers assisted) which often doesn’t happen for me.
    Like Rotter, not too happy about Polarity definition but still….
    Enjoyed Bump as my COD..which was also my LOI

    Thanks all
    John George

  5. Probably my most complete solve for a while. Managed to disentangle the clues and notice the tricks. A setter Pup is one you won’t forget, if you’ve ever known one. I even had the knowledge where needed. 33 min a GN6 why not.
  6. Finally a puzzle I manage to complete in a reasonable (sub-20) time. Seems like it’s been ages. Not one of my fastest at 18:48, but no real hold ups even with my son talking to me for much of it. COD to KNITWEAR, though I liked METAL too. Thanks John and Mara.
  7. I put give in instead of give up so couldn’t get the puppy or polarity — which I don’t think I would have got anyway as I don’t know what it means. No scientist, me.
    I enjoyed the crossword though, I thought the clueing was clever and interesting and quite funny. Thanks.
  8. A day late again…. but if we’d known we would finish in 7 minutes we might have had a go yesterday! Very enjoyable puzzle — we were definitely on Mara’s wavelength.

    FOI: PARTISAN
    LOI: KNITWEAR
    COD: SOWETO

    Thanks John and Mara.

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