Times Quick Cryptic No 238 by Izetti – Earworm Day!

Author   macavity123Posted on Categories Quick Cryptic

Solving time: extremely straightforward

Morning all.

We are graced by the presence of the Don today and it’s one of his usual elegant and user-friendly puzzles, ideal for this slot.

Nothing too challenging here today and a couple of clues to make you smile, and a couple that inspired earworms.

Thanks to our setter for today’s challenge. Hopefully, he’ll pop in later to thank you for your kind comments. I’m off to finish my OU German essay on the impact of social media! Hmm…if only there were obvious examples!

Across
1 BARGAIN – We start with a wordsum. The definition is special deals. BAR (pub) + GAINS (profits).
5 CHAD – Land in Africa is the definition here. C (Conservative) + HAD (possessed).
9 UNCLE – A hidden answer, indicated by ‘some’. Relation is the definition. Hidden inside FUN, CLEARLY.
10 THUNDER – Atmospheric sound is the definition. THE minus E (The with E (energy) released) + UNDER (below).
11 APPRECIATION – Double definition clue. A term in ecomonics for an increase in value means the same as an expression of gratitude.
13 HUDSON – The surname of a famous explorer is needed here. It’s an anagram (troubled by) of HOUNDS.
15 BOUNCE – To jump suddenly is the definition. Time to find one of those words that you only ever see in crosswords. B (black) + OUNCE (an alternative name for the snow leopard). There is a mythical land called Crossieland where ladies called NAOMI use ETUIS and have pet OUNCES.
17 TYING THE KNOT – Getting married is your definition. It’s an anagram (errant) of KNIGHT NOT YET.
2o HOBBLES – One of the harder ones today as it relies on your knowledge of philosophers. I was setting a quiz the other day and used this name in a question. The surname of the philosopher from Malmesbury whose 1651 work Leviathan established the principles of social contract. (Thomas) HOBBES with L (front, i.e. first letter of LEG).
21 NADIR – Anagram of DRAIN, with various as an anagram indicator.
22 WEED – Not a strapping lass is the rather tongue in cheek definition (try telling a Scotsman that his daughter was one of these!). WEE (little in Scottish dialect) + D (daughter).
23 AESTHETE – Arty type is your definition. HE (fellow) inside an anagram (new) of ESTATE.

 

Down
1 BLUE – A double definition clue. A word that means sad is the name given to a sportsman at either of our two centres of of academia.
2 RECAP – Summary is your definition. It’s an anagram of A PRECIS minus IS (is put out).
3 A HEART OF GOLD – That’s my earworm for today. I shall go and dig out my Neil Young album (I have only the one!). The definition is kindness (not show kindness as you would be looking for a verb, not a noun). An anagram (change) of GREAT FOOL HAD.
4 NOTICE – Observe verdict is the definition. If some diamond jewellery were said to be fake, it could be described as this in slang (3,3). Put the two words together and you have the definition.
6 HADRIAN – Unusual when the definition is three times longer than the word play! Ruler wanting to keep the neighbours at bay is the rather nice definition. An anagram (new) of IRAN HAD.
7 DERANGED – Mad is the definition. DEED(exploit) with RANG (phoned) inside.
8 PUT A SOCK IN IT – A double definition with one half cryptic. ‘Suggestion for making shoe fit better?’ is the cryptic definition. You are looking for an expression as to what you might do to make your shoe fit a little better. I would have thought putting a sock inside means your shoe purchasing skills are rather lacking! However, it’s also what you might say to someone to be quiet.
12 CHAT SHOW – A type of TV show is an anagram (revised) of WHAT CHAOS, minus A.
14 DRIBBLE – Double definition. A word that means the same as a skills shown by footballers and something a baby does a lot. Sir Stanley Matthews was nicknamed the Wizard of this, presumably for his skill rather than his personal habits.
16 CHASTE – Pure is your definition. CASTE (group of Indians) around H (hospital).
18 OLDIE – One full of years is the rather sweet definition. OL (LO reversed, look up. Don’t forget, it’s a down clue so up is a way of saying reverse. In an Across clue up is more likely to be an anagram indicator!) + DIE (perish).
19 TRUE – Definition is being honest. T (time) + RUE (regret). Hmm… another earworm. Spandau Ballet or Neil Young. I’ll go Canadian.

16 comments on “Times Quick Cryptic No 238 by Izetti – Earworm Day!”

  1. After two days when I did not finish I was pleased to complete this one in 15 minutes. Straightforward but neat. I don’t mind challenging puzzles occasionally but this one has given me the confidence to continue learning how to solve cryptic crosswords. Thanks to Izetti and the blogger.
  2. 6.5 minutes, so straightforward but fun. Never heard if Henry Hudson (fl. 1600) but fortunately had come across his bay and his river.
  3. That’s the first time I’ve completed an Izetti puzzle and all in one sitting, I usually have to put the QC down after a first run through and let my subconscious mull things over for a bit before I make much progress.
    Only problem I had was parsing 15ac as I’d never heard of ‘ounce’ for leopard, so thanks for the clarification.
  4. I’m relieved that others so far found this easy as I really struggled with it (okay I finished in 20 minutes, but that’s twice my target time for a Quickie). I feared that after Des’s puzzle yesterday which many contributors found too hard we had two toughies in a row. Let’s hope my problems were simply down to my own tiredness and those who were discouraged yesterday feel encouraged and rejuvenated by their success with this one.
    1. I for one feel rejuvenated! 🙂 Thanks to the setter and the blogger. A really nice start to the day.
  6. Had to resort to letter circles for the long anagrams but otherwise no problems (12 minutes). DNK Hobbes but it was easy from the word play. COD to 8dn – a very useful phrase.
  7. After a few crosswords which I have found difficult, my confidence is restored today with this lovely crossword. Good balance of straightforward and more challenging clues for someone who is new to the cryptic. Thank you.
  8. A morning coffee time completion for me and I think that is the fastest I’ve ever managed against Donizetti. Marvellously elegant and amusing in places. Now what shall I do this afternoon? Thanks Don.
  10. Nice puzzle. It’s not often I finish a Quickie in half Jack’s time, but on this occasion I did. Usually I’m chuffed if I can match him. I didn’t care much for WEED (22A), a term nearly always used of a boy or man rather than a woman or girl.
  11. Very straightforward today (and probably close to a PB for me), which hopefully will encourage those who’ve found recent puzzles too tough.
  12. I don’t care if it was an easy one. It was a very nice puzzle and I’m thrilled to bits to have finished an Izetti, fully understood, in bang on 1hr. Thankyou Don. I must dash now and buy some lottery tickets before the shops shut 😊 Invariant
  13. Could someone please tell me the web address for this one? I missed it and it appears to be out of sequence.
    Many thanks.
      1. Thanks! I’ve never missed one yet, but I’m way behind at the moment. I would have been sad to break my run.

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