Times Quick Cryptic Number 343 by Izetti – Cometh the hour, cometh the Don

Author   macavity123Posted on Categories Quick Cryptic
Hi everyone

Solving time: straightforward

We are in the capable hands of Sir Don of Manley today who has produced a nice friendly puzzle that fully sits within the QC canon. Apologies about the format again. I have lost the template and editing an old posting seems to produce the gaps.

A pleasant solve with little to trouble you although 8 across needs a little knowledge which comes with regular solving. Thanks to our setter and see you next week!

Across
1 THUG – We start with a wordsum. T (first letter of TENSE) + HUG (embrace).
4 DIVISION – The definition is rift. DI (Girl) + VISION (imagination).
8 PERILOUS – Dangerous is the definition. PERI (the name of a middle-eastern fairy) + LOUS(E) [insect – minus its first letter, briefly].
9 HA-HA – Double definition. Another name for a drainage ditch is the noise made by laughter.
10 MARGIN – Profit is the definition. MAR (spoil, damage) + GIN (drink).
11 TROLLS – Mischievous types is the definition. T (first letter of TYPES) + ROLLS (bread).
12 DEMONSTRATION – Protest is the definition. DEMON (wicked person) + STATION (HQ) with R (right) inside.
16 DEGREE – Double definition – A Mathematical unit is the same as a qualification from a univesity.
17 BRANDY – Drink is the definition. BRAND (label) with Y (last letter of BREWERY).
19 TABU – A hidden answer. The whole thing defines the clue with the answer hidden inside INCANDESCENT A BUILDING.
20 TRASHING – Destroying is the definition. ASH (tree) inside TRING (place in Herts).
21 SHADIEST – Most disreputable is the definition. An anagram of HEAD SITS.
22 ROOK – Swindle is the definition. (C)ROOK [criminal, minus its first letter]

Down
2 HYENA – Animal is the definition. Y (first letter of YOU) inside HEN (bird) + A.
3 GOING TO GROUND – A double definition with one of them slightly ‘off-the-wall’ hence the question mark. A phrase that means disappearing could be described as how one travels to a sporting venue.
4 DROWN – Flood is the definition. DOWN – A county in N Ireland with R (river) inside.
5 VISITOR – Guest is the definition. SIT (take a seat) + OR (often found in crosswords, OTHER RANKS, as opposed to officers) all after VI (six).
6 SCHOOLTEACHER – Member of academic staff is the definition. An anagram (munching) of HER CHOCOLATES.
7 OTHELLO – Tragic hero is the definition. OT (old books) + HELLO (modern magazine).
10 MAD – Very angry is the definition. DAM (mother) reversed.
13 EYELASH – It’s hairy is the definition. E (end, last letter, of GAME) + YE (you) + LASH (get hit).
14 SPECTRE – Ghost is the definition. An anagram (around) of CREEPS with T inside.
15 NAY – No! is the definition. An anagram (changes) of ANY.
17 BLAST – Reprimand is the definition. B (bishop) + LAST (endure).
18 DINGO – Australian mammal is the definition. DIN (noise) + GO (journey).

10 comments on “Times Quick Cryptic Number 343 by Izetti – Cometh the hour, cometh the Don”

  1. Dave, the gaps are caused by a badly formed or missing html tag. If you send me the raw file as text I’ll have a look and tell you where it needs fixing.
  2. Marvellously helpful blog….just one minor pedantic point. The Ha-ha in landscape is not necessarily a drainage ditch nor even frequently one. It is a visual device for making the cultivated part of a garden appear to connect seamlessly to the wild landscape beyond. It also prevents large animals such as cows trampling across manicured lawns and valuable plant collections. All this of course without the visually disruptive fence.
  3. 1 hr24 mins so took me longer than normal, must be a wavelength thing LOI spectre.
    you seem to have a few typos
    8a should be “LOUS(E) [insect – minus its LAST letter”
    11a the T comes from first letter of throws
    and 19a i would have thought the definition is simply “restriction”
    thanks for the blog
    DaveG
  4. A DNF unfortunately, thanks to 8ac, in an otherwise typically testing but fair Izetti QC. For what it’s worth, 15d was my CoD. Invariant
  5. Gilbert and Sullivan’s famous operetta, Iolanthe has the alternative title. The Peer and the Peri. For those who haven’t run across it the plot involves the interaction of fairies with members of the House of Lords. It is as delightfully ridiculous as this sounds.
  6. This one was testing in places but not as tricky as the last couple. Technically I completed it but couldn’t parse 8a. COD for me was 7d and LOI 22a.
  7. I thought this was going to be fairly straightforward with the long clues going in quickly; but having spent my allotted time on it I left it with the SE corner unfinished.
    On my return I thought Blast had to be right and finally worked out 20a. So I was stopped at Tring for quite a while. David

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