June 15th, 2019
Hello! I’m delighted to be joining the TftT blogging team, taking on Mohn2’s Jumbo blogging duties. I have pretty limited experience of Times puzzles so far, which means I haven’t much to compare this one to. Still, I have the distinct feeling that I’ve been given a nice gentle induction. No complaints from me – just enjoyment. Thanks, setter!
Definitions are underlined in the clues below. In the explanations, quoted indicators are in italics, [deletions] in square brackets, and I’ve capitalised and emboldened letters which appear in the ANSWER.
| Across | |
| 1 | Break even in other school at first (9) |
| ELEVENSES — EVEN (from the clue) in ELSE (other) + the first letter of (… at first) School | |
| 6 | Old fogey’s current article into flak and slander (5-2-3-3) |
| STICK-IN-THE-MUD — IN (current) + THE (grammatical article) go into STICK (flack) and MUD (slander) | |
| 13 | Girl in Ginsberg poem a male spurned (5) |
| ERICA — [A][m]ERICA (Allen Ginsberg poem) with A (from the clue) and M (male) removed (spurned) | |
| 14 | Follow ark in travels? It's possible, but unlikely (3,3,1,4) |
| FOR ALL I KNOW — FOLLOW ARK IN is anagrammed (travels) | |
| 15 | British working with American commission (5) |
| BONUS — B (British) + ON (working) with US (American) | |
| 16 | One may appear in September morns to have changed somewhat (7,4) |
| HARVEST MOON — MORNS TO HAVE anagrammed (changed somewhat) | |
| 17 | In my case, stand at the front for hymn (5,4,2) |
| ABIDE WITH ME — WITH ME (in my case), with ABIDE (stand) at the front | |
| 18 | Figure Greek character right to interrupt repast (7) |
| NUMERAL — NU (Greek character) followed by R (right) inside (to interrupt) MEAL (repast) | |
| 20 | Retired professors from Cambridge ultimately deserve one (7) |
| EMERITI — the last letter of CambridgE (Cambridge ultimately) + MERIT (deserve) + I (one) | |
| 21 | Court at the end presented with motive for crime (7) |
| TREASON — the last letter of (… at the end) courT next to (presented with) REASON (motive) | |
| 23 | Two honourable guys employing singular valet (10,9) |
| GENTLEMAN'S GENTLEMAN – GENTLEMAN and GENTLEMAN are our two honourable guys; they are surrounding (employing) S (singular) | |
| 27 | Primate's practical joke judge ignored (3) |
| APE — [j]APE (practical joke), with J (judge) left out (ignored) | |
| 28 | Belief unacceptable across India (6) |
| NOTION — NOT ON (unacceptable) around (across) I (India, NATO alphabet) | |
| 29 | Passage which includes short argument (6) |
| THROAT — THAT (which) contains (includes) all but the last letter of (short) RO[w] (argument) | |
| 31 | Female worker getting help, we hear, for a Walter Mitty type? (9) |
| FANTASIST — F (female) + ANT (worker), then ASIST which sounds like (… we hear) ASSIST (help) | |
| 34 | Old soldiers work after hours in place employing cheap labour (9) |
| SWEATSHOP — SWEATS (old, as in long-serving, soldiers), then OP (work) after H (hours) | |
| 35 | Notorious bar, mostly clean (6) |
| PUBLIC — PUB (bar) + LIC[k] (mostly clean) I wasn’t convinced by lick = clean, which might sound a bit odd coming from a kitty (I prefer showers myself!) |
|
| 36 | Gluttonous type in car fed by girl (6) |
| GANNET — GT (car, gran turismo) containing (fed by) ANNE (girl) | |
| 39 | Eggs in surplus, according to report (3) |
| OVA — homophone of (… according to report) OVER (surplus) | |
| 40 | What's required to play Poohsticks, a prior issue now resolved? (5,5,3,6) |
| WATER UNDER THE BRIDGE — Two definitions, the first of a literal reading of the answer | |
| 42 | Girl in that place sat endlessly (7) |
| THERESA — THERE (in that place) + SA[t] (sat, endlessly) | |
| 43 | Passionate, us after a second run out (7) |
| AMOROUS — US (from the clue) after the concatenation of A (from the clue), MO (second) and RO (run out, cricket) | |
| 45 | Backache? Penny must leave plant (7) |
| LUMBAGO — P (penny) removed from (must leave) [p]LUMBAGO (plant) | |
| 47 | Sodium, for instance, contaminated a lake at mill (6,5) |
| ALKALI METAL — anagram of (contaminated) A LAKE AT MILL | |
| 49 | Charles Pooter's kid? One not easily deceived (7,4) |
| NOBODY’S FOOL — Charles Pooter is the NOBODY in Diary of a Nobody. After him is the ‘S from the clue and FOOL (kid) | |
| 51 | Wee drink ahead of a play (5) |
| DRAMA — DRAM (wee drink) before (ahead of) A (from the clue) | |
| 52 | Notice character in establishment, heading off (11) |
| RESIGNATION — SIGN (character) in [c]REATION (establishment) minus the first letter (heading off) | |
| 53 | Girl taking in Italian show (5) |
| EVITA — EVA (girl) containing (taking in) IT (Italian) | |
| 54 | Jazzman liked long tune, syncopated (4,9) |
| DUKE ELLINGTON — LIKED LONG TUNE, anagrammed (syncopated) Interesting, rather offbeat, anagram indicator … |
|
| 55 | Greek takes off with illegally obtained ammunition (9) |
| GRAPESHOT — GR (Greek) and APES (takes off, imitates) with HOT (illegally obtained) | |
| Down | |
| 1 | Rifle one always to remember? Good French one (8,3) |
| ELEPHANT GUN — charade of ELEPHANT (one always to remember?), G (good), and UN (French one) | |
| 2 | English farm animals causing witty comment (7) |
| EPIGRAM — E (English) + PIG and RAM (farm animals) | |
| 3 | Delete article in Irish Gaelic (5) |
| ERASE — A (grammatical article) in ERSE (Irish Gaelic) | |
| 4 | Playmates stupidly hiding fine lighter of mine? (6,4) |
| SAFETY LAMP – PLAYMATES anagrammed (stupidly) containing (hiding) F (fine, on pencils) | |
| 5 | Skinflint's self-esteem evil goblins lifted (7) |
| SCROOGE — EGO (self-esteem) + ORCS (evil goblins), all reversed (lifted, in a down answer) | |
| 6 | Breakaway movement Preston girl re-formed at university (8,5) |
| SPLINTER GROUP — PRESTON GIRL anagrammed (re-formed) + UP (at university) | |
| 7 | Check, having lost top copy (9) |
| IMITATION — [l]IMITATION (check) without the first letter (having lost top) | |
| 8 | Tackle aboard in fine revolutionary raft (3-4) |
| KON-TIKI — KIT (tackle, gear) in (aboard) the combination of IN (from the clue) plus OK (fine), reversed (revolutionary) | |
| 9 | Proof, after novel, a collection of religious books (3,9) |
| NEW TESTAMENT — TESTAMENT (proof) following (after) NEW (novel) | |
| 10 | Male bishop on Rhode Island, churchman from the Western Isles (9) |
| HEBRIDEAN — HE (male) + B (bishop, chess notation) before (on, in a down answer) RI (Rhode Island) + DEAN (churchman) | |
| 11 | Insect found round north in May, perhaps (5) |
| MONTH — MOTH (insect) found round N (north) | |
| 12 | Faulty cistern — mend showing perspicacity (11) |
| DISCERNMENT — anagram of (faulty) CISTERN MEND | |
| 19 | Order abroad to get discount (4,3) |
| RULE OUT — RULE (order) + OUT (abroad) | |
| 22 | “Posted”, one working inside said (9) |
| STATIONED — I (one) and ON (working) inside STATED (said) | |
| 24 | No wine to be taken into flat in sacred building (5,4) |
| NOTRE DAME — NO (from the clue), followed by RED (wine) inserted in (to be taken into) TAME (flat) | |
| 25 | Number on old piano penned by that woman, a definite loser (2-5) |
| NO-HOPER — NO (number) before (on, in a down answer) O (old) and P (piano) inside (penned by) HER (that woman) | |
| 26 | Socialist supporter quit first? (7) |
| LEFTIST — LEFT (quit) + IST (first) | |
| 30 | I overlook South African city chart placed on stack (5,8) |
| TABLE MOUNTAIN — TABLE (chart) before (placed on) MOUNTAIN (stack) | |
| 32 | “An Indian city attracting millions” – sort of clue (7) |
| ANAGRAM — AN (from the clue) and AGRA (Indian city) stuck to (attracting) M (millions) | |
| 33 | Warmth, ideal I suspect for a butterfly (5,7) |
| WHITE ADMIRAL — WARMTH IDEAL I anagrammed (suspect) | |
| 34 | Style of writing supported by editor in need of more staff (5-6) |
| SHORT-HANDED — SHORTHAND (style of writing) followed by (supported by, in a down answer) ED (editor) | |
| 37 | Boxing belt — another lost (3,5,3) |
| THE NOBLE ART — BELT ANOTHER anagrammed (lost) | |
| 38 | Drug two Italian girls? (10) |
| BELLADONNA — BELLA and DONNA, two Italian words for females | |
| 40 | Length of most of car, and weight (tail end, then rest) (9) |
| WHEELBASE — charade of W (weight), HEEL (tail end), and BASE (rest) | |
| 41 | What may shine in darkness covering one shimmering lake? (4,5) |
| NEON LIGHT — NIGHT (darkness) containing (covering) an anagram of (… shimmering) ONE and L (lake) | |
| 43 | Skilled worker is wearing plaid, though hatless (7) |
| ARTISAN — IS (from the clue) covered by (wearing) [t]ARTAN (plaid), though without its first letter (though hatless) | |
| 44 | Maybe brother is upset over ostentatious jewellery (7) |
| SIBLING — we again take IS from the clue, but this time reversed (upset); this comes before (over, in a down answer) BLING (ostentatious jewellery) | |
| 46 | Get rid of blood group O? I succeeded in large hospital (7) |
| ABOLISH — AB (blood group) + O (from the clue), after which I (from the clue) + S (succeeded) go in between L (large) and H (hospital) | |
| 48 | Gift in bag a private secretary overlooked (5) |
| KNACK — KN[a][ps]ACK (bag) without (… overlooked) A (from the clue) and PS (private secretary) | |
| 50 | Part of play watched in the auditorium (5) |
| SCENE — SEEN (watched), as heard (in the auditorium) | |
This was a relatively easy solve, and very easy to blog. A few things, like 8dn and 20dn, merited trips to references after solving but before blogging. Thanks to the setter for a very enjoyable puzzle.
Clues are in blue, with definitions underlined. Answers are in BOLD CAPS, then wordplay. (ABC*) means 'anagram of ABC'. Deletions are in [square brackets]. Here goes.
Across
1 In delight finally see kangaroo (4)
JOEY: [se]E in JOY.
3 In dry days fungus nearly burned (10)
SMOULDERED: MOULD in SERE, D[ays].
9 Very different when calmer (7)
SOOTHER: SO, OTHER.
11 Call to Bottom: no answer, though (7)
HOWEVER: HO, WE[a]VER.
12 Desperate cricket team almost succeeded, bringing in unnamed reserve (2,4,7)
IN DIRE STRAITS: INDI[a], S[ucceeded], “bringing in” RESTRAI[n]T.
14 Animal’s pelt I put on (5)
COATI: COAT, I.
15 What can go with pear one bites voraciously? (9)
ALLIGATOR: an “alligator pear” is an avocado by another name.
17 Mark you may be left with after intestinal op? (9)
SEMICOLON: if you have half your colon removed, that’s a serious operation! A punctuation mark, of course.
19 Black cats outside monuments (5)
TOMBS: B with TOMS outside.
21 Ordering run or swimming — that doesn’t quite add up (8,5)
ROUNDING ERROR: anagram (“swimming”) of (ORDERING RUN OR*).
24 Stricken boy transfixed by one beastly noise (4,3)
LAID LOW: I “transfixing” LAD, LOW.
25 Check in a most unusual nickname (7)
SATCHMO: CH[eck] in an anagram (“unusual”) of (A MOST*)
26 Make ready a moistener for spreading (10)
MONETARISE: anagram (“spreading”) of (A MOISTENER*). “Ready” meaning money.
27 I climb, expending energy, and flag (4)
IRIS: I RIS[e].
Down
1 For insurance, a judge should be this (4,2,4)
JUST IN CASE: double definition, rich in whimsy.
2 Old radio broadcast giving introductory material (7)
EXORDIA: EX, then an anagram (“broadcast”) of (RADIO*).
4 Weed needs a break, opening letters (5-4)
MARES-TAIL: A REST breaking MAIL.
5 Conduct of drug dealer showing no pressure (5)
USHER: [p]USHER.
6 Trendiest gown tailored for important address (7,6)
DOWNING STREET: anagram (“tailored”) of (TRENDIEST GOWN*).
7 Can this be the vicar coming to call back? (7)
REVISIT: REV, IS IT?
8 Shakespeare’s lady of the night? (4)
DARK: the answer is obvious. I didn’t know/remember that Shakespeare wrote sonnets about the Dark Lady.
10 Courageous duo start to translate a bit of verse (6,7)
HEROIC COUPLET: HEROIC, COUPLE, T[ranslate].
13 Singer goes off full of love for ordinary folk (5,5)
GRASS ROOTS: GRASS, then O in ROTS.
16 In indexes turning up a number of revolutionaries (9)
LENINISTS: ENIN=NINE “turning up”, in LISTS.
18 Maid welcomes opening of The Alien (7)
MARTIAN: T[he] in [Maid] MARIAN.
20 Borderline character needing to keep in step? (7)
MARCHER: I biffed this without understanding the wordplay at all, but Chambers has a second definition for “march” as “border”, making a “marcher” an inhabitant or lord of a border district. Either a cryptic definition, or a double definition. Not sure which.
22 Energetic type secures wide funding for Remainer (5)
DOWER: W[ide] secured by DOER. Don’t be fooled by the capital “R”. A dower is a dowry or inheritance, paid to a widow or “remainder”. Thanks to the anonymous comment for setting me straight.
23 Litre in tankard to pick up and down (4)
GLUM: L[itre] in GUM=MUG “picked up”.
Clues are in blue, with definitions underlined. Answers are in BOLD CAPS, then wordplay. (ABC*) means 'anagram of ABC'. Deletions are in [square brackets]. Here goes.
Across
1 In delight finally see kangaroo (4)
JOEY: [se]E in JOY.
3 In dry days fungus nearly burned (10)
SMOULDERED: MOULD in SERE, D[ays].
9 Very different when calmer (7)
SOOTHER: SO, OTHER.
11 Call to Bottom: no answer, though (7)
HOWEVER: HO, WE[a]VER.
12 Desperate cricket team almost succeeded, bringing in unnamed reserve (2,4,7)
IN DIRE STRAITS: INDI[a], S[ucceeded], “bringing in” RESTRAI[n]T.
14 Animal’s pelt I put on (5)
COATI: COAT, I.
15 What can go with pear one bites voraciously? (9)
ALLIGATOR: an “alligator pear” is an avocado by another name.
17 Mark you may be left with after intestinal op? (9)
SEMICOLON: if you have half your colon removed, that’s a serious operation! A punctuation mark, of course.
19 Black cats outside monuments (5)
TOMBS: B with TOMS outside.
21 Ordering run or swimming — that doesn’t quite add up (8,5)
ROUNDING ERROR: anagram (“swimming”) of (ORDERING RUN OR*).
24 Stricken boy transfixed by one beastly noise (4,3)
LAID LOW: I “transfixing” LAD, LOW.
25 Check in a most unusual nickname (7)
SATCHMO: CH[eck] in an anagram (“unusual”) of (A MOST*)
26 Make ready a moistener for spreading (10)
MONETARISE: anagram (“spreading”) of (A MOISTENER*). “Ready” meaning money.
27 I climb, expending energy, and flag (4)
IRIS: I RIS[e].
Down
1 For insurance, a judge should be this (4,2,4)
JUST IN CASE: double definition, rich in whimsy.
2 Old radio broadcast giving introductory material (7)
EXORDIA: EX, then an anagram (“broadcast”) of (RADIO*).
4 Weed needs a break, opening letters (5-4)
MARES-TAIL: A REST breaking MAIL.
5 Conduct of drug dealer showing no pressure (5)
USHER: [p]USHER.
6 Trendiest gown tailored for important address (7,6)
DOWNING STREET: anagram (“tailored”) of (TRENDIEST GOWN*).
7 Can this be the vicar coming to call back? (7)
REVISIT: REV, IS IT?
8 Shakespeare’s lady of the night? (4)
DARK: the answer is obvious. I didn’t know/remember that Shakespeare wrote sonnets about the Dark Lady.
10 Courageous duo start to translate a bit of verse (6,7)
HEROIC COUPLET: HEROIC, COUPLE, T[ranslate].
13 Singer goes off full of love for ordinary folk (5,5)
GRASS ROOTS: GRASS, then O in ROTS.
16 In indexes turning up a number of revolutionaries (9)
LENINISTS: ENIN=NINE “turning up”, in LISTS.
18 Maid welcomes opening of The Alien (7)
MARTIAN: T[he] in [Maid] MARIAN.
20 Borderline character needing to keep in step? (7)
MARCHER: I biffed this without understanding the wordplay at all, but Chambers has a second definition for “march” as “border”, making a “marcher” an inhabitant or lord of a border district. Either a cryptic definition, or a double definition. Not sure which.
22 Energetic type secures wide funding for Remainer (5)
DOWER: W[ide] secured by DOER. Don’t be fooled by the capital “R”. A dower is a dowry or inheritance, paid to a widow or “remainder”. Thanks to the anonymous comment for setting me straight.
23 Litre in tankard to pick up and down (4)
GLUM: L[itre] in GUM=MUG “picked up”.
