We are nearly at the half century of puzzles in the series; it’ll soon be time for the Times Book of Quick Cryptics, no doubt. And of course, today’s will be in there. The Don is here with a puzzle very much aimed at the entry level solvers. Nice friendly clues and nothing too demanding – everything a quick cryptic should be.
Solving time was at the quicker end of things of course, but with these puzzles I do feel we shoudln’t be concentrating on them. At the London knees-up yesterday, I did mention that it troubles me sometimes to see the quicker times published by the experienced solvers. After all, this is not aimed at you guys, but at the newbies of the solving world. Anyway, this should please all the newer solvers and it’s thanks to the Don for this challenge.
Across |
1 |
DOWN – We start with a double definition clue. The name of a county in Northern ireland means the same as to be depressed or unhappy. |
3 |
OBJECTS – Another two definitions with nice surface reading. If someone expresses disapproval about something, they do this and a description of items that are as described may be this. |
8 |
CONGRATULATED – The first anagram of the day, indicated by ‘surprisingly’. An anagram of A GOD RELUCTANT gives a word meaning ‘to be praised’. |
9 |
TAU – Greek character in a clue invariably means it’s a letter of their alphabet, and here is the case, the 19th to be precise. It’s also 3/4 of a word meaning tense or tight. |
10 |
RABBI – A hidden answer. Inside the phrase ‘DRAB BISTRO’ goes the name for a teacher within one of the world’s religions. |
12 |
TASTING – The name for the sort of event at your local wine circle is made up by what you mean when you say ‘cheers’ and a word meaning smart in the painful sense. |
14 |
LINOCUT – A type of artistic design is revealed by making an anagram (unusual) of TUNIC, OLD with the last letter removed (the edge worn away). |
15 |
ANGER – Something that means fury is another word for fisherman, minus L (line blocked off). |
17 |
ALE – Another decapitated word clue. Something you consume in a pub is the name of a drink that is rather light in colour, minus it’s first letter (lacking a head). |
20 |
POLICE STATION – Probably the clue that made me smile most today. This is a type of clue known as an ‘all-in-one’ or to give it a technical name , an ‘and lit’ clue, where the whole clue provides both the definition and indication. Hence, where you could find cops in a toilet is an anagram of the phrase (possibly is the indicator). |
21 |
RAW DEAL – A phrase that refers to unfair teatment of someone can be broked down into two words, the first meaning unseasoned, or uncooked and the second a type of wood. |
22 |
BETA – Another Greek character makes an appearance! This time it’s a word that means to help (think of the phrase ‘aid and ____’) with the first letter moved to the end. |
Down |
1 |
DOCTORAL – One of the more obscure words in today’s puzzle, though hardly as such.A description of what an honoroary degreee is in relation to what it awards it’s recipient is an anagram (excited) of OLD ACTOR. |
2 |
WIND – A double definition clue with each leading to a different pronunciation of the word. Something that means to snake or twist is also an element of weather that cannot be seen. |
3 |
OPT OUT – An expression that means to choose not to do something can be broken up into two words of 2 and 4 letters. The first meaning work and the second a rogue trader, especially associated with tickets. |
4 |
JULIUS CAESAR – The name of one of the most famous Roman citizens is an anagram (slack) of CASUAL JURIES. |
5 |
CATERING – C (Conservative) + something that means circle, put together with something referring to having eaten inside it. This gives you a word for the provision of this aforesaid food. |
6 |
SIDE – Something that a square has four of is also the name for a team. |
7 |
ARCTIC CIRCLE – A cryptic definition for a place, north of here that is an awful lot colder than we enjoy (usually!). |
11 |
BUNGALOW – A type of dwelling is revealed by taking the slang name for a bribe (especially in football) and adding A and an adjective meaning menial. |
13 |
GARDENIA – A type of shrub is revelaed by taking where you plant them and adding I (one) and A. |
15 |
TASSEL – A type of ornamental decoration is an anagram (fancy) of SLATES. ( |
18 |
SPAR – A double definition. The name for a pole or length of wood is the same as a verb meaning to box. |
19 |
NICE – We conclude today with a fairly old chestnut. The name for a place in the South of France is also a word meaning pleasant. And a cocnut-topped biscuit! |
Thanks again to the setter, and I shall be back at the weekend with a review of a recent Jumbo puzzle!
I sincerely hope we’re not planning to prohibit ‘experienced’ solvers from giving their solving times in case it discourages newcomers as that would rather defeat the object of this forum. It’s useful to have a target to aim for if one is that way inclined, and if not, then simply enjoy solving the puzzles without worrying what others are achieving.
Does it discourage me when I have struggled to complete a 15×15 within an hour to come here and read that Tony S (for example) solved it, tired out after an exhausting day, in 5:21 and is disappointed with his performance? Not a bit of it! Those who are not interested in competing can simply ignore solving times, but if one wants to join in the fun, then find another contributor or contributors whose times are nearer to one’s own and use their results as a yardstick.
If it’s of any interest, my average time for completing Quickies to date is 13:42. Not brilliant for someone who has been solving cryptics for many a decade and blogging the Times for nearly 7 years.
Edited at 2014-05-15 05:55 am (UTC)
Like the two other early birds, took a little time to get going, but then worked through it steadily. I do the larger version, but don’t often finish without a cheat here and there – a lack of obscure GK lets me down. So I’m enjoying these quickies. Usually we’ll constructed, but very approachable. Congrats to the setters.
I’m with Jackkt on times. I’m not really that interested in my time, as I usually do the crosswords in patches over the day. But I do enjoy seeing how the better solvers work things out, and enjoy the blogs.
Nigel from Surrey
As for times – mine today was 14 minutes. We had a debate about showing whether the Quickie was easy/hard/fiendish ala sudoku and my conclusion was that only the times of regular contributors can give that indication for a crossword. As such, I give my time for the assistance of newer solvers – and hadn’t even thought that people of the 15×15 variety would be giving theirs for any other reason.
Yesterday’s puzzle was hard for me whereas today’s was just lovely – hard enough to make me think but accessible enough to make it enjoyable. I couldn’t tell you how long it took because I do it in several sittings. I can perfectly understand why some of you post your (unimaginably short) times but it can be just a bit frustrating and off-putting when us newbies are happy to just get a few clues right, let alone finish the whole puzzle.
Finally I’d like to congratulate today’s blogger on especially clear explanations of the answers. Sometimes, particularly with the very brief but elegant-looking explanations, I’m barely any wiser after I’ve read them! Today’s were really helpful wordy explanations perfectly aimed at the bumbling but ambitious newbie ie. me!
I mostly use an iPad, occasionally a Mac but that is only because there isn’t a print button. Call me a luddite but I prefer to use paper and a fountain pen or pencil. I can rarely do anagrams without writing the letters down randomly on a piece of paper.
Like jackkt said, always ask if you don’t get something in a blog. I often get more from the discussion about a point of confusion than I do from the solution explanation itself.
Wrt anagrams, yes I have to write them down too. And I’m sorry I forgot fountain pens. I still prefer paper and personally like a nice smooth propelling pencil and the 0.7mm Faber Castell’s SuDoku pencil with the extra-long eraser is my favourite.
Thought “cops in a toilet” was an absolute cracker of an anagram.
Thanks for an excellent blog macavity. Personally I can take or leave completion times. I love the process and challenge of doing the puzzles, and the transportation to another world far away from managing 40 half-crazed engineers that is my means of earning a crust. I don’t aspire to being a speedster – the journey is everything, the time in transit irrelevant.
That said, the times logged by regulars are a good indicator of relative degree of difficulty, which can be a useful way of monitoring progress. They are certainly not intimidating (otherwise I’d have given up golf years ago when seeing scorecards of guys getting round in 3 over par!)
As a general comment, I find this blog invaluable especially when I’m fairly certain I’ve got the answer but haven’t a clue why. Thanks for the clear explanations – I don’t kick myself as often as I used to so I think I’m improving.
I occasionally feel overawed by the ‘experts’ solving times but it’s not a deterrent.
Satisfying crossword today, thanks Signor Don(izetti) – nice one, Macavity!
LOI 2 dn clueing a tad iffy there, IMHNO. 20 ac was my COD – had me in stitches!
Edited at 2014-05-15 02:58 pm (UTC)
I toyed with zeta before seeing how the clue worked. Last ones in were OPT OUT and OBJECTS.
As a newbie I don’t really mind the times, but I do think it means people with longer times are reluctant to post their times. This means I never see anyone getting comparable times to me and so sometimes just feel slightly thick…
This was one of the easiest for me. Probably took 15 minutes. The last Izetti one I did was the devil yet the one before that was one of the first I’ve ever completed unaided. Clearly they aren’t published in the book in the order they appeared. I wonder why?
Anyway, what prompted me to finally comment: the puzzle in the book is identical to the one that you all completed, except for one clue. 1ac in the book is “Girl’s start to the day (4)” and the answer is DAWN. I see here that it was something different. Any idea why they would change it?
Well, keep up the great blog!
Berry