Times Quick Cryptic No 2570 by Jalna

Author   JohninterredPosted on Categories Quick Cryptic

A fairly gentle Quick Cryptic from Jalna today, I think, with some lovely smooth surfaces. [Edit: Apologies to all who found it harder than I did, but I can only describe it as I found it and maybe I’m on form this week]. I took a while to remember the bean at 11D, but otherwise had no hold-ups, finishing in 4:23 with 12A my LOI. Thank-you Jalna

Fortnightly Weekend Quick Cryptic. Hooray! The Times has bowed to pressure and started publishing a Saturday Quick Cryptic crossword (albeit online only). But there is still no Sunday Times Quick Cryptic so we will continue the series of Weekend Quick Cryptics. This time it is my turn to provide the extra weekend entertainment. You can find the crossword, entitled “We’re happy…”,  here. If you are interested in trying our previous offerings you can find an index to all 94 here.

Definitions underlined in bold italics, (Abc)* indicating anagram of Abc, {deletions} and [] other indicators.

Across
1 At first, clubs always pursue several international players (4)
CAPS – Initial letters of Clubs Always Pursue Several.
4 Outlook in respect of English performers (8)
FORECAST – FOR (in respect of) E (English) CAST (actors; performers).
8 One occupying leadership position being stripped of power (8)
RESIDENT – {p}RESIDENT (leadership position) without the P (power). It is tempting to think the definition is “one occupying leadership position”, isn’t it?
9 Story of dog read out (4)
TALE – TALE sounds like TAIL (follow; dog) [read out].
10 A bit crazy, and it could be a can of worms! (4)
BAIT – (A bit)* [crazy]. “Can of worms” is thought to have originated in the US, in the 1950s, when live bait for fishermen was often sold in aluminium cans.
11 Money coming from specialist yields, we’re told (8)
PROCEEDS – PRO (specialist) CEEDS, sounds like, [we’re told] CEDES (yields).
12 Very short tailless mini rodents? (6)
VERMIN – VER{y} [short], MIN{i} [tailless].
14 A school bringing in second uniform in a particular capacity (2,4)
AS SUCH – S (second) U (uniform in the phonetic alphabet) in A SCH (school).
16 Noting changes in extremely recognisable call signal (8)
RINGTONE – (noting)* [changes] in the outside letters of, [extremely], RecognisablE.
18 Intense enthusiasm of some pushy people (4)
HYPE – Hidden in, [some], pusHY PEople.
19 Chance a version for testing (4)
BETA – BET (chance) A,
20 European operation creating release of CO2 maybe (8)
EMISSION – E (European) MISSION (operation).
22 A canister placed in choice metal (8)
PLATINUM –A TIN (canister) in PLUM (choice).
23 Each time at the end, the cha-cha is really simple (4)
EASY – Last letters of, [each time at the end], thE cha-chA iS reallY.
Down
2 Gallery supporting excellent film (7)
ACETATE – ACE (excellent) TATE (gallery). It’s a long time since I used acetate film  transparencies for an overhead projector, but there are other uses that continue.
3 Head of state is not, in short, a good person (5)
SAINT – [Head of] State, AIN’T (is not, in short).
4 Opponent fooled on odd occasions (3)
FOE – Odd-numbered letters of FoOlEd.
5 Reason to give people only some beer (9)
RATIONALE – RATION (give people only some) ALE (beer). A bit of a chestnut, I’d say, but the old ones are sometimes the best. Last seen here in 22 Jun 2022’s 15×15, but previously seen in several QCs.
6 Patrol boats, say, protected by cannons at each side (7)
CUTTERS – UTTER (say) in outside letters, [at each side], of CannonS.
7 When upset, young boy gets health food (5)
SALAD – AS (when) [upset] -> SA, LAD (young boy).
11 Bit of Mexican meal? One bit cooked in pot (5,4)
PINTO BEAN – (one bit)* [cooked} in PAN (pot). My only delay when solving was in remembering this bean.
13 Traveller settling finally in Antrim, possibly (7)
MIGRANT – settlinG [finally] in (Antrim)* [possibly]. Neat surface.
15 Extensive evidence of debt hidden by police officers (7)
COPIOUS –IOU (evidence of debt) in COPS (police officers).
17 Best conceivable: one business arrangement (5)
IDEAL – I (one) DEAL (business arrangement).
18 Expedition fails finally in dreadful heat (5)
HASTE -failS [finally] in [dreadful] (heat)*.
21 Whimsical, somewhat topsy-turvy belief (3)
ISM – Reverse hidden, [somewhat topsy-turvy], in lacISMihw.

89 comments on “Times Quick Cryptic No 2570 by Jalna”

  2. I struggled with this one. 25:36, so make a space at the bar in the SCC. But nothing was unfair: I didn’t spot the hidden reverse for ISM, but don’t have a problem with the word itself.

    Thanks to Jalna and John.

  3. Sorry I’m late to this party, but can anyone explain RESIDENT? Although I
    quickly thought of the answer, I wasn’t able to parse it and John’s blog doesn’t help (sorry). I note many of you considered it a chestnut whilst for others it was their LOI.

    Basically, the “leadership position” would be a presidency, not a president (who is the occupier of said position). I don’t see how this clue works.

    Thanks John and Jalna (whom I had assumed to be a her, not a him, Martinu!)

    1. Hmm. You have a point re PRESIDENT, I think. A bit of a loose definition from our setter perhaps, but maybe he/she was referring to the title rather than the individual. Definition 5 in Chambers. The title of the head of certain colleges, universities and other institutions

    2. I was curious so thought I’d find out. It would appear that the Times Quick Cryptic setter Jalna is a pseudonym (along with Gila when setting in The Independent) of Ali Gascoigne, who is a he.

      1. Well, I have to bow to your insider knowledge! I think the late feminist Jalna Hanmer probably came to mind when I saw the name.

    1. Originally from the IT industry it is used more generally now… A test, in normal working conditions (cf alpha test), of a product (eg new computer software) before it is marketed. If you ever try using Government online services for e.g. paying the road tax for your car, ypu will see “BETA This is a new service – your feedback will help us to improve it. “. Somehow nothing ever seems to get past Beta stage in their services!

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