Times Quick Cryptic 1617 by Mara
I thought this was kind of tricky, and I wouldn't be surprised if this is one of those puzzles that splits us down the middle; the more experienced solvers not really noticing the sideways, superficial and distracting parts, while more novice solvers get a bit frustrated.
I hope I've interpreted the setter's intentions at 10ac correctly.
As usual, definitions underlined.
I hope I've interpreted the setter's intentions at 10ac correctly.
As usual, definitions underlined.
Across | |
1 | Practise fighting, taking knocks from behind (4) |
SPAR - reversal of (from behind) RAPS (knocks). | |
4 | Defender on the floor, stop attacking (4,4) |
BACK DOWN - BACK (defender) and DOWN (on the floor). | |
8 | Unruly perm's cut in rainbow colours (8) |
SPECTRUM - anagram of (unruly) PERM'S CUT. | |
9 | Location faculty mentioned (4) |
SITE - sounds like (mentioned) "sight" (faculty). | |
10 | But it's a dramatic work! (4) |
PLAY - cryptic definition, alluding to the fact that 'to play' is 'to not be serious about', and if we're talking about 'a dramatic work' we might might expect more serious treatment. If I'm right about this, it's a bit subtle for those learning the ropes who might prefer more justifiably Ximenian clues on the green slopes. | |
11 | Fine land around Leicester's outskirts (3,5) |
ALL RIGHT - ALIGHT (land) containing (around) the first and last letters (outskirts) from LeicesteR. | |
12 | Turning a hundred, I left line on map (6) |
TROPIC - reversal of (turning) C (a hundred), I and PORT (left). | |
14 | Eat in dining establishment (6) |
INGEST - hidden in (in) dinING ESTablishment. | |
16 | Model done with this playboy (8) |
HEDONIST - anagram of (model) DONE and THIS. | |
18 | European contradicting principle (4) |
POLE - double definition: a national of Poland, and a figurative opposite extreme (usually 'pole's apart'). | |
19 | Song recalled in Hair, Aquarius (4) |
ARIA - reverse hidden (recalled in) hAIR Aquarius. | |
20 | Tweeter's bedtime tipple? (8) |
NIGHTJAR - tweeter as in bird, NIGHT (bedtime) and JAR (tipple). | |
22 | One or two animals in the field? (8) |
SHEEPDOG - SHEEPDOG (one), or SHEEP and DOG (two); animals concievably in a field. | |
23 | Nut was obliged to protect kernel in general (4) |
HEAD - HAD (was obliged) containing (to conceal) the central letter from (kernel in) genEral. |
Down | |
2 | Much-loved dad, initially up late and reading (7) |
POPULAR - POP (dad) and the first letters from (initially) Up Late And Reading. | |
3 | Difficult — as peak may be? (5) |
ROCKY - double definition. Lovely em dash. | |
4 | Local block (3) |
BAR - double definition. | |
5 | Beef optimal, can emptied out (9) |
COMPLAINT - anagram of (out) OPTIMAL and CaN (excluding the middle letter, emptied). | |
6 | Smart running (7) |
DASHING - double definition. | |
7 | Listened to this or that, sorceress (5) |
WITCH - sounds like (listened to) "which" (this or that). | |
11 | Education somehow sold off (9) |
AUCTIONED - anagram of (somehow) EDUCATION. | |
13 | Flammable substance for glass (7) |
PROPANE - PRO (for) and PANE (glass). | |
15 | Alas, nut wrong fruit! (7) |
SULTANA - anagram of (wrong) ALAS NUT. | |
17 | Roof off cosy place, our home (5) |
EARTH - first letter removed from (roof off) hEARTH (cosy place). | |
18 | Field throw (5) |
PITCH - double definition. | |
21 | Is that funny? Silence! (3) |
GAG - double definition. |