Phil Jordan, Sawbill and I are continuing to produce our series of Weekend Quick Cryptic crosswords. We 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
. You can find an index to the complete series of crosswords here.
Before looking at the answers, if you would like some additional help, click the label below.
Hints and tips...
Some hints and tips:
- 8A is a musical clue.
- The towers in 1D aren't actually found on a Minster.
- 5D Peter is a Beatrix Potter character.
- 13D is an unusual word but the wordplay is clear
And click on this label to get the solution.
Solution and explanation of the answers...
Definitions underlined in bold italics, (Abc)* indicating anagram of Abc,{deletions} and [] other indicators.
Across
1 Evangelist's rating (4)
MARK – Double definition
3 Faint security measure? (5,3)
BLACK OUT – Double definition
8 A B C D F or G? (4)
NOTE – Cryptic definition. All the musical notes in the key of C major, but NOT E.
9 A city obsession - the possibilities are boundless (8)
ANYTHING – A NY (New York; city) THING (obsession).
11 Thinking quietly about one's image (10)
REFLECTION – Double definition.
14 Sadly inept, I use this when dressing formally (3,3)
TIE PIN – (inept I)* [sadly].
15 Maroon thread (6)
STRAND – Double definition.
17 Seeking perfection, I meet crazy ladies with nervous twitch (10)
IDEALISTIC – I, (ladies)* [crazy] TIC (nervous twitch).
20 Visibly upset, I get data processed (8)
AGITATED – (I get data)* [processed].
21 Ascetic resident of Jellystone (4)
YOGI – Double definition, the second YOGI Bear.
22 Pull up suddenly, unhappy about wrecked depot (4,4)
STOP DEAD – (depot)* [wrecked] in SAD (unhappy).
23 Unknown churchman loses his head (4)
ANON – {c}ANON (churchman) without the first letter.
Down
1 Building a minster’s towers (8)
MINARETS – (a minster’s)* [building].
2 Gave formal consent to India after I'd gone mad (8)
RATIFIED – (I (India in phonetic alphabet) after I’d)* [gone mad].
4 Dimension leading explorers never get to handle at the start (6)
LENGTH – Initial letters of Leading Explorers Never Get To Handle.
5 Thread to follow Peter’s sister (10)
COTTONTAIL – COTTON (thread) TAIL (follow).
6 Poet's overdose around six (4)
OVID – VI (six) in OD (overdose).
7 Strung as evenly, they provide marine power (4)
TUGS – Alternate letters of sTrUnG aS.
10 Late, as a polite cough may be (10)
BEHINDHAND – BEHIND HAND (as a polite cough may be).
12 Depressed actors finish off their drinks (4,4)
CAST DOWN – CAST (actors) DOWN (finish off their drinks).
13 Drawing out non-adult training (8)
EDUCTION – EDUC{a}TION (training) without the A (adult).
16 Arrived before artist could be shot with this (6)
CAMERA - CAME (arrived) RA (artist).
18 Obstructs watering holes (4)
BARS – Double definition.
19 Artist is some rising minor impressionist (4)
MIRO – Reverse hidden in minOR IMpressionist.
1 Evangelist's rating (4)
MARK – Double definition
3 Faint security measure? (5,3)
BLACK OUT – Double definition
8 A B C D F or G? (4)
NOTE – Cryptic definition. All the musical notes in the key of C major, but NOT E.
9 A city obsession - the possibilities are boundless (8)
ANYTHING – A NY (New York; city) THING (obsession).
11 Thinking quietly about one's image (10)
REFLECTION – Double definition.
14 Sadly inept, I use this when dressing formally (3,3)
TIE PIN – (inept I)* [sadly].
15 Maroon thread (6)
STRAND – Double definition.
17 Seeking perfection, I meet crazy ladies with nervous twitch (10)
IDEALISTIC – I, (ladies)* [crazy] TIC (nervous twitch).
20 Visibly upset, I get data processed (8)
AGITATED – (I get data)* [processed].
21 Ascetic resident of Jellystone (4)
YOGI – Double definition, the second YOGI Bear.
22 Pull up suddenly, unhappy about wrecked depot (4,4)
STOP DEAD – (depot)* [wrecked] in SAD (unhappy).
23 Unknown churchman loses his head (4)
ANON – {c}ANON (churchman) without the first letter.
1 Building a minster’s towers (8)
MINARETS – (a minster’s)* [building].
2 Gave formal consent to India after I'd gone mad (8)
RATIFIED – (I (India in phonetic alphabet) after I’d)* [gone mad].
4 Dimension leading explorers never get to handle at the start (6)
LENGTH – Initial letters of Leading Explorers Never Get To Handle.
5 Thread to follow Peter’s sister (10)
COTTONTAIL – COTTON (thread) TAIL (follow).
6 Poet's overdose around six (4)
OVID – VI (six) in OD (overdose).
7 Strung as evenly, they provide marine power (4)
TUGS – Alternate letters of sTrUnG aS.
10 Late, as a polite cough may be (10)
BEHINDHAND – BEHIND HAND (as a polite cough may be).
12 Depressed actors finish off their drinks (4,4)
CAST DOWN – CAST (actors) DOWN (finish off their drinks).
13 Drawing out non-adult training (8)
EDUCTION – EDUC{a}TION (training) without the A (adult).
16 Arrived before artist could be shot with this (6)
CAMERA - CAME (arrived) RA (artist).
18 Obstructs watering holes (4)
BARS – Double definition.
19 Artist is some rising minor impressionist (4)
MIRO – Reverse hidden in minOR IMpressionist.
Quite the work-out on this one, with the puzzle taking me just of 13 minutes. Main hold--ups were over EDUCTION (did not know the word but trusted the wordplay one checkers gave it away) and COTTONTAIL (oh that Peter! - took a long time as I don't read the hints before trying to solve). I also had REFLECTING for REFLECTION for some time until Cottontail came along, misled by the tense of "Thinking quietly ...". I can see it doesn't work now, but could the clue perhaps have read "Quiet thought about one's image"? Just a thought.
ReplyDeleteThose apart, some lovely clues, special mentions for BEHINDHAND (clever) and ANYTHING (quite the PDM when I saw it). And I am sure I have seen NOTE clued like that before, except I think it was "One of A, B, C, D, F or G" with One of giving the answer NOTE.
Many thanks Phil. And no recourse to any resource was needed in solving the puzzle!
Cedric
I like the alternative clue for REFLECTION. Have you ever considered compiling?
ReplyDeleteThought about it, but dismissed the idea pretty quick - I have occasionally tried the clue-writing competition that Mick Hodgkin runs each week in his Puzzles newsletter but that has convinced me that it is a lot more difficult than it looks (and it is not as if it looks easy to start with). How you, John and Sawbill maintain not only such a high standard of cluing but also such a consistency of difficulty I don't know, but it is most impressive!
DeleteLike Cedric I first put in Reflecting until I realized I couldn't see Mopsy and Flopsy's sister so had to rethink. I had Traction first before EDUCTION came to me and that finally made STRAND possible. BLACK OUT, ANYTHING, and BEHINDHAND were favourites. Also MIRO was hidden deep! Thanks, Phil(and John), another great puzzle.
ReplyDeleteThanks - glad you enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteGreat puzzle. I needed the hint about which Peter it was for PDM COTTONTAIL. DNF BARS!
ReplyDeleteBiffed EDUCTION. NHO MIRO but it had to be.
Yes, liked BLACK OUT, BEHINDHAND, ANYTHING.
Yes, was wondering about Reflecting at first.
Many thanks, John.
Forgot to sign Countrywoman.
ReplyDeleteThank you - out of interest, how long did you spend on it?
ReplyDeleteNice test. DNF on Induction - NHO Eduction.
ReplyDeleteIt's certainly not a common word, but sometimes the setter is forced to use something less obvious just to fit the grid. The parsing was, I thought, reasonably helpful.
ReplyDeleteDnf…
ReplyDeleteStruggled with this - especially 5dn “Cottontail” - still have no idea what it relates to, but I’m guessing it’s something to do with Peter Rabbit maybe? I was also another one who couldn’t work out whether 11ac was “Reflection” or “Reflecting”. Overall though, another enjoyable weekend QC.
Thanks
JamesEd46
Peter Rabbit had three sisters - Flopsy, Mopsy, and Cottontail. I hope the parsing was clear enough for those not in tune with Beatrix Potter.
ReplyDelete