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Thursday, 19 May 2022

Weekend Quick Cryptic 51 - Solution

My fellow TimesforTheTimes (now at its new home!) contributors Phil Jordan, Sawbill and I are continuing to produce Quick Cryptic crosswords to fill the gap left by the Saturday Times not having one. The plan is for us to take turns, publishing one a fortnight, and this week it's Phil's turn. 
You can find a link to the crossword here and the answers below. Feel free to leave any comments or questions here as you would do on TfTT.

Before looking at the answers, if you would like some additional help, click the label below.

Hints...

 Some hints and tips:
  • The inflation at 5A is not of the economy
  • The girl at 16A is not necessarily an Essex girl

And click on this label to get the solution.

Solution...
at

15 comments:

  1. Anonymous21 May 2022 at 13:24

    This was an excellent puzzle. I had no problems until I came to 14 across and 15 down. Carelessly I initially put an unparsed RIPPING for 15 down but then corrected and got 14 across which became my COD.

    I am logged in to the new site but it looks like I am not logged on to this site.

    This is Rubeculaw.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous21 May 2022 at 14:16

      Understood and many thanks for these puzzles which I much appreciate.

      Rubeculaw

      Delete
    2. John21 May 2022 at 14:17

      Glad you enjoyed it. This site isn't connected to Times for The Times as it is my personal blog. I cheekily publish links to these crosswords on Times for the Times, but they are not official Times crosswords.

      Delete
    3. somerandomchap21 May 2022 at 16:35

      Although untimed, I made good progress throughout - until I returned to the NW corner, that is. I found myself completely stumped for ages (maybe 20 minutes or more) by MY BOY, INFORMS, REBUFFS and DYER. The erroneous enumeration in 2d tripped me up even though I had read the correction, as I promptly forgot about it and tried to find a single 5-letter word. I also thought it might be MEBOY or M'BOY. Also, I couldn't parse BANG, as I have no idea how it relates to fringe.

      My frustrations aside, I found it an enjoyable puzzle, so many thanks indeed.

      Delete
  2. sawbill21 May 2022 at 17:29

    May I do a quick blog for anyone needing help:

    Across
    1a COMBINED Company (CO)+ medical expert (MB)+ myself (I) + NED (Edward) = came together
    5a PUMP UP [back ie returned] + MP (representative) = It's a cause of inflation
    9a REBUFFS Hit (anag indicator) BUFFERS = multiple snubs
    10a AGAIN A = profit (GAIN) = not for the first time
    11a DYER Heartlessly (remove central letter of) RE{a}DY (to be manipulated - anag indicator) = he changes colour
    12a NIGERIA Song (AIR) + say (EG) + (IN) backwards = African country
    14a SADIST One who is cruel = DISASTER without hesitation {ER} + forcing (anag indicator)
    16a SANDRA She may be found in GrayS AND RAyleigh (hidden)
    19a EXPRESS Double definition Say + Fast
    21a TOSH Shot (Anag indicator) of SHOT = Nonsense
    24a IDIOT IDI (President Amin) + OT (books as in Old Testament)
    25a UNIFORM Double definition Constant + outfit
    26a KEGS At the outset (first letters of) Kelvin Easily Got Some barrels = definition
    27a RELEASES Double definition Lets out + lets out again (as in leases a flat)

    Down
    1d CART Tractor mostly = TRAC comes back (backwards) wagon = definition
    2d MY BOY Double definition Avuncular term + one's son
    3d INFORMS Double definition Tells + how scholars may be arranged (IN FORMS)
    4d EASING {c}easing (not starting) = getting less strenuous
    6d UNAIRED Double definition Not ventilated + not shown (on TV)
    7d PANDA CAR Police vehicle = definition (Z cars?) drivers (RAC) turn up (reversed) on the borders of Panama (P AND A are the edges of Panama)
    8d BANG Double definition Fringe (hair on forehead mostly in USA) + report (as in gunshot)
    13d ASTERISK Star = definition SKATER IS confused (anag indicator)
    15d DIPPING Lowering = definition beef fat D{R}IPPING when recipe {R} is mislaid (removed)
    17d ASTRIDE with one leg each side = definition I STARED gormlessly (anag indicator)
    18d ASSUME Animal (ASS) + U (you) +ME (the setter) accept without proof = definition
    20d EATS Food = definition fEd As TeSt evenly (every other letter)
    22d SHOPS Double definition Grasses up (gives name to police) + retailers
    23d AMOS Prophet = definition hiding in syrA MOStly






    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. John21 May 2022 at 19:29

      Thanks!

      Delete
    2. Anonymous21 May 2022 at 22:29

      Thank you for the blog, very much appreciated !

      Delete
    3. Anonymous22 May 2022 at 11:11

      Thanks vm for puzzle. Failed on COMBINED and DYER, but otherwise finished. Quite difficult in SW too, despite easy ASTERISK. No problem with the two you gave hints about! Liked REBUFFS, UNIFORM, EXPRESS among others.
      For some reason, I had to search for your blog on the internet as I missed the original link on the new site.
      Many thanks again, Countrywoman.

      Delete
  3. Anonymous26 May 2022 at 18:14

    Just got to this - loved it, thanks! But DNF because 2dn was shown as a 5 letter word, whereas the answer “MY BOY” is surely “2, 3” isn’t it? Am I going mad?

    Templar

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous26 May 2022 at 19:26

      I have just checked and the clue is 2,3 on the 'here' link above but 5 on the MyCrossword page. Well done for solving it despite the error.

      Delete
  4. Andrew Turner8 June 2022 at 19:40

    Just found this printed off but not tackled until this evening! Took some thinking about, eg 1a combined, I was fixed on ending 'ted' rather than 'ned'. and 12a looked like Algeria but that wouldn't parse and had a meltdown until the N rather obviously let to the correct answer. Liked 5a Pump. Late, but thanks!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. john8 June 2022 at 20:07

      Hi Andrew. Not sure why your comments had to be 'approved'. Thanks for the feedback,

      Delete
  5. Andrew Turner8 June 2022 at 19:43

    Just found this printed off but not tackled until this evening! Struggled with 1a where I was convinced it ended with TED rather than NED. Liked 5a Pump. Had a meltdown trying to parse 12a as Algeria but eventually saw the light when I had the N to start with. Late, but thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Andrew Turner8 June 2022 at 19:45

    it won't let me!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. john8 June 2022 at 20:11

      Sorry. I've just found a bizarre setting which requires comments on posts more than 14 days old to require approval. I've now switched that off... and approved your comments. Thanks for your feedback.

      Delete