Solving time: 8:06
It’s been a while since I last blogged a Hurley (QC2527 15/11/2023), who has conjured a pleasant mix of anagrams, hiddens, double definitions floating on a vast lake of build-it-yourself answers.
There are one or two answers which might stretch the mind a little – I’m thinking 12a, 23a and 6d (there may be some unfamiliar with this last one). I liked 10d a lot, it seems to be one of those longer words that have many innovative ways to construct it.
How did you all get on?
Definitions are underlined in bold italics, {deletions and substitutions are in curly brackets} and [directions in square ones].
| Across | |
| 1 | Clear indication of what office worker might do? (8) |
| SIGNPOST – Something an office worker might do is SIGN their POST | |
| 5 | Cutting account — bridle at heart (4) |
| ACID – AC (account) then the central letters [at heart] of {br}ID{le} | |
| 8 | Show-off problem (5) |
| POSER – Double definition | |
| 9 | Growth area’s crop cut on return — difficult to follow (7) |
| ORCHARD – Remove [cut] last letter of CRO |
|
| 11 | An attempt in the past (3) |
| AGO – A GO (An attempt) | |
| 12 | Popular coin — the writer’s stimulus (9) |
| INCENTIVE – IN (Popular) CENT (coin) I‘VE (the writer’s i.e. the setter)
From the early 15th century, INCENTIVE means “that which moves the mind or stirs the passion,”. This sense apparently was influenced by association with Late Latin’s incendere “to kindle.” The adjectival meaning, as in INCENTIVE payment, meaning “a reward meant to encourage harder work” is from 1940s U.S. war economy jargon. |
|
| 13 | Coordinated items not permitted? Well! (6) |
| OUTFIT – OUT (not permitted) FIT (Well) | |
| 15 | Run through seaside attraction and cafe on vacation (6) |
| PIERCE – PIER (seaside attraction) and outer letters [on vacation] of C{af}E | |
| 18 | Appalling meal drama that’s seen at breakfast? (9) |
| MARMALADE – Anagram [Appalling] of MEAL DRAMA | |
| 19 | Top part of personal identity (3) |
| LID – Hidden [part of] in personal identity | |
| 20 | Surprise opening by the French (7) |
| STARTLE – START (opening) by LE (‘the’ in French) | |
| 21 | In search of roof beam missing opening (5) |
| AFTER – {r}AFTER (roof beam) without its first letter [missing opening] | |
| 22 | Cold individual’s cold treat? (4) |
| CONE – C (Cold) ONE (individual) | |
| 23 | Unworried? This might suggest race (8) |
| CAREFREE – I found this by guessing the definition first, thinking of the answer first and working backwards. One way of coming up with the word RACE is to take the word CARE and make an anagram of it [FREE].
Given that the checkers are not very helpful, I suspect there might be a few disgruntled solvers here? |
|
| Down | |
| 1 | After concession, managed old singer (7) |
| SOPRANO – After SOP (concession), RAN (managed) O (old) | |
| 2 | Relish initially granting usual suspects time off (5) |
| GUSTO – First letters of granting usual suspects time off
Relish is a noun here. |
|
| 3 | One with role in trip captain worked out (11) |
| PARTICIPANT – Anagram [worked out] of TRIP CAPTAIN | |
| 4 | Put an end to outrageous cost before check (6) |
| SCOTCH – Anagram [outrageous] of COST before CH (check i.e. chess notation)
SCOTCH as a verb can mean to ‘decisively put an end to’ e.g. “A spokesman for Manchester United has scotched rumours that they’ll be sacking their manager before the end of the season. Manchester United are currently in 13th place in the Premier League.“ |
|
| 6 | Instrument Claire is playing around five (7) |
| CLAVIER – Anagram [is playing] of CLAIRE around V (five i.e. Roman numeral)
A CLAVIER – from Old French for ‘key bearer’ – originally referred to any stringed keyboard musical instrument in the late 17th century. The harpsichord, clavichord and, later, the piano bore the name. |
|
| 7 | Avoid putting daughter in learner’s place in accommodation for hunting? (5) |
| DODGE – An accommodation for hunting is a LODGE – replace L (learner) with D (daughter) | |
| 10 | Thoughtful case involving acceptable point of view (11) |
| CONSIDERATE – CRATE (case) containing [involving] ON (acceptable) then SIDE (point of view)
ON = acceptable e.g. “Feeding your birthday cake to the dog is simply not ON!” SIDE = point of view e.g. “We’ve heard from President Zelensky, now let’s have President Trump’s SIDE of the argument.“ |
|
| 14 | Note right wet weather in area (7) |
| TERRAIN – TE (Note on the Do-re-mi scale) R (right) RAIN (wet weather) | |
| 16 | Approve objective of roster at regular intervals (7) |
| ENDORSE – END (objective) then alternate [at regular intervals] letters of ‘of roster’ | |
| 17 | Feature of smartphone I deleted in America mistakenly (6) |
| CAMERA – Anagram [mistakenly] of AMER |
|
| 18 | Pleasing sound Greek character precisely reproduced (5) |
| MUSIC – MU (Greek character) SIC (precisely reproduced)
SIC is not an acronym as some believe, but a Latin adverb meaning “so, thus, in this manner”. Typical editorial usage of sic [placed in brackets to indicate it is not part of the quoted text] is to inform the reader that any errors in a quotation did not arise from editorial errors in the transcription, but are intentionally reproduced as they appear in the source text being quoted. Sic can also be used derisively to direct the reader’s attention to the writer’s spelling mistakes and erroneous logic, or to show disapproval of the content or form of the material. |
|
| 19 | Subsequently control a territory to some extent (5) |
| LATER – Hidden [to some extent] in control a territory | |
CONSIDERATE and CAREFREE took a bit of working out, but a steady, if slow, solve of the rest.
To signpost, in an office setting, means to set out how a project will develop, so, nothing to do with signing mail.