Times Quick Cryptic No 34 by Teazel

Hi everyone. I’m sorry for being late on parade today. Had an early appointment at the hospital that overran because of IT problems.

Time taken was a little over 12 minutes. A nice pleasant solve today with some friendly clues that should please the newer solvers, and one or two clever cryptic definitions. For the sheer effrontery, 1 down gets my vote as clue of the day, and I am sure a certain Mr Delfin in New York will be a bit outraged at our setter’s description of his orchestra!

Across
1 HILLSIDE – ILL (Harm) + S (self, initially) inside HIDE (skin) – The definition is where you’d find a downward path!
5 CHIC – A word that seems to be appearing a lot in the puzzles I’m tackling at the moment. CHICKEN (creature) – KEN (Ken ignored) = something that means smart.
8 SLIPPERY – As I have previously mentioned, a question mark in a clue doesn’t always mean it’s an answer that’s required. It’s usually a way of telling you that the answer is unusual and that you need to think outside the box. Here’s a good example. We have a double definition with one part, the first being cryptic. A word that means ‘not giving you a proper foothold’ is a way of describing a certain type of footwear. An eraser may be say to be rubbery and here …
9 CUTE – The definition here is ‘appealing’ and you need at word that means a reduction (in price, for example) CUT and add E, (the end of sale).
11 ANGER – Definition is ‘strong emotion’. (D)ANGER (peril with head off.
12 VERSION – V (very) + an anagram (mistaken) of SENIOR gives you a word that means translation.
13 DARNED – A word used as a mild curse (more often in the US) can also mean having repaired your socks.
15 PUPILS – A double definition clue. A word that can mean parts of the human eye and people who learn
18 PATTERN – PATTER(the spiel used by a salesman) + N (new) gives you a word for model or template of something.
19 DEVON – This held me up for longer than it probably should have done. D (DIED) + evon (November, half and reversed [over]) gives the name of a place, indicated by ‘here?’
21 TUNA – A NUT (an aficionado, brough back, i.e. reversed) Note the “A” used in both clue and indications. Definition is ‘fish’ (
22 MARMOSET – An anagram (ruined) of MORE MATS gives you the name of a member of the monkey family.
23 HEAT – This is a cryptic definition for the type of wave that you get , weatherwise, during the summer.
24 SPINSTER – Definition here is ‘old maid’. A name (again more known in the US, I think) for ‘hair grips; PINS 9forgive me as I’ve never used them!) goes inside STER(N) [almost, i.e.e incomplete, word mening severe).

Down
1 HUSBAND – I think teazel may be getting some pretty strong mail from across the Atlantic if he or she thinks of the New York Philharmonic as a US BAND. It is, in crosswordland, of course, especially with the ‘for example’ after it. Put H (hot) in front of it, and you get the name for a (marital) partner.
2 LYING – A double definition here. What you possibly do if you are resting, and telling little porkies….
3 SUPERSEDED – An anagram (badly) of USED SPEED with R (right) within (on the inside) gives a word that means ‘getting overtaken’.
4 DERIVE – Inside DRIVE (private road) goes E (final letter of LEAVE) to produce a word meaning to obtain.
6 HOUDINI – A simple cryptic definition for the surname of the master escapologist.
7 CLEAN – Double definition time again. A word which can mean completely, as in a getaway or a break; as well as being free from dirt.
10 GROUNDSMAN – G (good) + ROUNDSMAN (delivery driver, as in a milkman). Definition is one who works on (a) pitch in a sporting sense rather than a musical one.
14 ROTUNDA – Another cryptic definition – what type of building won’t have corners?
16 SENATOR – A hidden answer, indicated by taking part. The name of someone who sits in an Assembly, is hidden in CHOSEN, A TORY.
17 ENCAMP – Definition here is ‘pitch tents in’ ENC (enclosure) + AMP (a little electricity).
18 PATCH – C (abbreviation for about, from the Latin circa) goes inside (to enter) PATH (track) to give you a small bit of land.
20 VISIT – VI (a number in Rome) + SIT (take exam) gives something that means to call.

Thanks to Teazel for a lovely solve. Today’s 15×15 wasn’t too tough today either, so you may like to have a look at that.

I’m off to wrestle with an Open University essay that was due a week ago. Thank heavens for lovely friendly, supportive tutors. See you next week!

10 comments on “Times Quick Cryptic No 34 by Teazel”

  1. Today’s 15×15 took me well over an hour and it contains several words many at TftT have never heard of, so it’s not one for those just finding their feet at Quickie level I’d have thought!

    This one was straightforward though – 13 minutes.

    1. It’s odd, as I sailed through it, which I haven’t with the others this week.

      Biorhythms must be in tune!

  2. About 6 mins for this one. I found it the trickiest QC of the week so far. I thought the surface reading of 1ac was particularly good, and it was my LOI.
  3. 15 mins for me with 5 spent on the last few in the NW. So 1ac and 1dn share COD.

    Haven’t been able to access the TfTT site for most of today – is there a capacity issue?

    As for the 15×15 – I’ve got most of the NW and SE but have ground to a halt.

  4. Good steady solve with 5a and 7d being last in for some reason. However on checking I have 1 wrong as I put in slippers. I particularly liked 1d and the taking of the Michael just added to my smile on entry.
  5. Second in a row I had to solve from the bottom up. Didn’t really get the definition at 9ac but all in all an entertaining puzzle.

    I’ve decided that my meagre abilities are supplemented by a positive mental attitude, so having read the comments from today’s main xword, I’ll give it a miss!

  6. Thanks for this very helpful explanation. I am new(ish) to crosswords and had managed about half of this one.

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