Guardian Cryptic 28,549 by Vulcan

by

The puzzle may be found at https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/cryptic/28549.

Vulcan at his most straightforward, with a passel of clues in the Double Definition/ Definition and literal interpretation/ Definition and reference range.

ACROSS
1 VIKINGS
Six rulers are Norsemen (7)
A charade of VI (Roman numeral, ‘six’) plus KINGS (‘rulers’).
5 BALEFUL
Threatening to have no more room for packages? (7)
BALE-FULL, with the homophone suggested by the question mark,
9 RIPEN
Approach maturity in state prison (5)
A charade of RI (Rhode Island, the smallest US ‘state’) plus PEN (‘prison’).
10 WAIT FOR IT
Hang on: one way to get a tip? (4,3,2)
Definition and literal interpretation.
11 ELECTORATE
Choose to speak for everyone on the register (10)
A charade of ELECT (‘choose’) plus ORATE (‘speak’).
12 NIL
One facing op may have to take this by mouth (3)
Crypticish definition.
14 ARTICULATION
Clear speech launches ritual action (12)
An anagram (‘launches’?) of ‘ritual action’.
18 ELEVENTH HOUR
Latest possible moment for silently remembering the Armistice? (8,4)
Definition and reference to the Armistice ending the First World War, signed on 11 November 1918, and which went into effect at 11am. on that day.
21 DOT
What’s the point in Herodotus? (3)
A hidden answer in ‘HeroDOTus’,
22 PRE-RELEASE
Unofficial show for prisoner near end of sentence? (3-7)
Definition and literal interpretation.
25 TOG RATING
A measure of warmth in the direction of drain cover (3,6)
TO GRATING (‘in the direction of drain cover’). TOG is a measure of insulation efficiency.
26 OLDIE
Magazine I dole out (5)
An anagram (‘out’) of ‘I dole’; the magazine is officially The Oldie.
27 HUNGARY
Very eager to tour a country (7)
An envelope (‘to tour’) of ‘a’ in HUNGRY (‘very eager’).
28 TAKEN ON
Engaged one tank in action (5,2)
An anagram (‘in action’) of ‘one tank’.
DOWN
1 VERTEX
Former lover putting on a French green top (6)
A charade of VERT (‘a French green’ – not ‘a’ translated but ‘green’; the ‘a’ is there just for camouflage) plus EX (‘former lover’).
2 KIPPER
One in bed that‘s smoked (6)
Double definition.
3 NON-STARTER
Hopeless course, main meal or pudding suggested (3-7)
In a meal, if it is not a starter …
4 SOWER
Parable of small man in debt (5)
A charade of S (‘small’) plus OWER (‘man in debt’). The Parable of the Sower is recounted in all three synoptic Gospels (Matthew 13:1-23, Mark 4:1-20, Luke 8:4-15).
5 BE IN TOUCH
Leave play but maintain contact (2,2,5)
Definition and reference to a sport such as rugby.
6 LIFT
Free ride that takes one up and down (4)
Double definition.
7 FORENSIC
Sick conifers get such investigation (8)
An anagram (‘sick’) of ‘conifers’.
8 LET ALONE
Not to mention being undisturbed (3,5)
Double definition (or definition followed by literal interpretation?).
13 MANUAL WORK
Hard labour to created user guide? (6,4)
Definition and literal interpretation. The first word is clearly clued; the second not so.
15 INTERCITY
Train is awfully nice: try it! (9)
An anagram (‘awfully’) off ‘nice try it’.
16 REDDITCH
Socialist to abandon Worcestershire seat (8)
A charade of RED (‘socialist’) plus DITCH (‘abandon’). Redditch is a town and parliamentary costituency in Worcestershire.
17 PENTAGON
Write name on official building (8)
A charade of PEN (‘write’) plus TAG (‘name’) plus ‘on’.
19 MAIDEN
I am about to study young woman (6)
A charade of MAI, an anagram (‘about’) of ‘I am’ plus DEN (‘study’).
20 DEMEAN
Belittle church dignitary who’s holding me up (6)
An envelope (‘who’s holding’) of EM, a reversal (‘up’, in a down light) of ‘me’ in DEAN (‘church dignitary’).
23 RIGHT
Tory not initially intelligent (5)
A subtraction: [b]RIGHT (‘intelligent’) minus its first letter (‘not initially’).
24 HAKA
Starts off hostilities, a Kiwi activity (4)
First letters (‘starts off’) of ‘Hostilities A Kiwi Activity’, &lit.

picture of the completed grid

83 comments on “Guardian Cryptic 28,549 by Vulcan”

  2. Quick solve and I needed some online help for the GK and new words such as OLDIE magazine; REDDITCH, TOG RATING.

    I liked: VERTEX, MAIDEN, WAIT FOR IT.

    Thanks, both.

    Is it also correct to parse 19ac as rev of I AM + DEN? That was my impression but now I can see that both ways can work.

    [I have now looked at The Oldie website – it looks like an interesting magazine and podcast so I am glad to have discovered it.]

  3. Yes, straightforward just as PeterO says.

    Regarding NIL, the referred-to instruction on medical charts is npo, which means nil per os, nothing by mouth.

  4. rodshaw @1
    Point taken. Your anagram took me longer to unravel than some of the clues here.

    michelle @2
    19A: Either way, take your choice. The first half is an anagram, but I was perhaps being perverse labelling it as such.

  5. PeterO @ 4 I’m glad you saw my point, but since I always like to leave a blog in an optimistic mood, then – as Scarlett O’Hara famously proclaimed (in anagram form) – its A WOMANHOODS TERRITORY (8,2,7,3).

  6. Not a write-in for this plodder. Nil reminded me of that grim movie with Ray Winstone. Meanwhile, Oldie and tog rating were dnks, and being a barely biblically literate heathen meant that Sower was a bung and ‘pray’. The SW took me longest. Thanks V and P.

  8. Yes – was quite a quick solve.

    Never heard of VERTEX or the parable of the SOWER. Thought TOG RATING was neat.

    Thanks Vulcan and PeterO

  10. Didn’t like VERTEX, which is a point where two lines intersect, not necessarily at the top. Confusion with apex I think, which is always at the top.

  11. Swift solve. VERTEX took me far too long. Probably my favourite was … wait for it … WAIT FOR IT. Gentle Monday workout. Thanks Vulcan and PeterO

  13. I wasted much too much time on 28a thinking it was 2,5. Nothing was working as I explored actions in Vietnam called Te Kanon etc. after TAKEN jumped out at me I double checked the clue and felt a bit of an idiot. The ‘to’ in the clue for MAIDEN meant I failed to parse it. I agree with the grumbles about top and vertex. The top may possibly be a vertex but a vertex can be far from the top. Of course if the item in question only had one vertex and it was at the top…. Thanks PeterO for blogging this. I was grateful it was straightforward as it left me a bit of time to finish yesterday’s Everyman. Thanks Vulcan.

  15. Thanks Vulcan and PeterO
    I spent some time trying to make 19d IMOGEN (Vulcan’s alter ego), but it would have hardly been a fair clue. I’m not convinced by NIL, and PRE-RELEASES are rarely unofficial.
    LOI 5d – I simply couldn’t think of a 2 letter word to put in front of IN TOUCH.
    Carpathian’s Quiptic is easy, but more fun.

  16. Damn. Why is it always a write-in when I could do with a ploy to avoid an unpleasant duty, and a toughie when I’m pushed for time?

    Murphy’s law of crosswords, I suppose.

    Rodshaw’s anagrams took longer than the whole thing!

    Vive la différence, say I.

    Thanks both.

  17. Neat and easy if you knew all the words. VERTEX was my downfall, but REDDITCH and the OLDIE are too UK centric for some, and TOG RATING not as widely known as you might think (maybe hotter countries don’t need to know about it?).

  18. Yes, gladys @17, I also thought that REDDITCH and OLDIE would test non-Poms (and we don’t use TOG RATING in Oz either). However, having (at one stage) in-laws in Brum and living for a year in Herefordshire, I drove through (or by) Redditch quite often. Then, today my son sent me an article about my Uncle George and Ronald Searle from last year’s (wait for it) Oldie. Finally, cold winters in the aforementioned Herefordshire required getting a new doona, and paying attention to its tog rating. Although quite quick, I have to say I enjoyed this (more than the Quiptic…). Thanks, Vulcan and PeterO.

  19. PeterO: strange that you used the word “passel” in your introduction, presumably before Rodshaw took us to GWTW. Scarlett used it for “a passel of brats”.

  20. It’s Monday – why the complaints?

    Like muffin I had a minor hold up with 5dn: BE IN TOUCH is ‘having left play’ rather than ‘leave play’ (which is ‘go into touch’). And ARTICULATION isn’t necessarily clear.

    But these are minor quibbles – thanks to S&B

  23. After 2 very late nights collecting teenagers from Parklife festival, this was just perfect for me. Thanks Vulcan and PeterO.
    (Muffin @15, I think a pre-release is also an unofficial show eg like a press night at the theatre or playing of a cd for selected guests before it goes on sale.)

  24. Short of actually printing the answers in the grid it’s hard to see how clues like ELEVENTH HOUR and NIL could get any easier – they’re barely cryptic at all. Somebody put Vulcan out of his misery and give hime the Quick Crossword slot he so obviously covets
    I know it’s Monday but that doesn’t mean we have to have this kind of dismal effort – recent outings by Pan, Anto et al have shown you can be on the easier side and still be fun

  25. Quick solve for me and like others slightly narked at VERTEX but as first one back for a while, I’m happy with the rest…

    [JerryG @23: you should have gone to Parklife! Octo Octa was worth it alone…]

    Thanks Vulcan and PeterO

  27. Crumbs, bodycheetah @24: that’s a bit strong. Keep in mind that The Graun caters for all levels of crosswording experience, from advanced to total beginner. This puzzle is ideal for those nearer the latter end of the spectrum.

    My solution following a fairly gentle start at The Graun is to take a look at The FT or The Indy as well.

  29. Thanks Vulcan and PeterO. I have no problem at all with being given a gentler puzzle to get me going first thing on a Monday morning. Left me more time for my morning swim!

    Neill97 @10 – I wondered about VERTEX too, but it’s listed in the usual sources as an accepted usage.

    Gervase @20 – I also had the same quibble over BE IN TOUCH. That actually held me up briefly, which is the only reason I consider it worth mentioning. It’s good for crossword clues to make you think, but not when it’s because they’re badly defined… but that’s a very minor gripe in the scheme of things.

  32. Neil97@10: there are many words which have an earlier (original?) scientific or technical meaning which drift into laymen’s usage and so loosen their semantics: VERTEX is certainly used widely to mean ‘top’.
    bodycheetah@24: it was quite an easy cryptic puzzle, indeed. But I don’t think the Grauniad and Vulcan deserve quite such a lashing. I agree with William@27 on this.
    I also muttered under my breath at the grammatical faultline with BE IN TOUCH and ‘leave play’.
    But an enjoyable puzzle overall for me.

  33. muffin@15: I entirely agree. The Quiptic, which is meant to be for beginners, is harder than this and 10 times more entertaining, not to mention better constructed.

  38. Good start to the week.

    For those that didn’t like the definition of VERTEX, Chambers has: ‘1.The top or summit’ and the ODE: 1.The highest point; the top or apex.’ I thought the superfluous ‘a’ in the clue for VERTEX was rather silly. I’m not sure it was put there to deliberately mislead. I also liked WAIT FOR IT. TILT was passel.

    Thanks Vulcan and PeterO.

  40. Absolutely flew in. Probably a bit on the easy side, but I can forgive that. Nothing objectionable, nothing magnificent, nice Monday fare.

  41. Sorry if this was too easy for some of you old hands. For some of us Everyman and Grauniad Mondays are the only ones we can complete.

  42. Hastily entered RIPON at 9a on the basis of a homophone (state) of ripen, leading to the former prison, now prison museum. Didn’t think that one through! Other than that, a nice gentle start to a manic day.

  44. OK so it was easy for many. A couple of quibbles aside (all mentioned/dealt with above) it was a pleasant solve with some witty clues like WAIT FOR IT and TOG RATING.

    Personally I don’t feel like , say a Paul at his most devilish every day, and with PeterO cleverly using literal interpretation etc instead of cryptic def as categories much argument is moot.

    MargEll@36 your options are not mutually exclusive. Its quite likely that both are true?

    Thanks Vulcan and PeterO

  46. Enjoyable Monday puzzle,. Favourites were OLDIE; WAIT FOR IT and VERTEX. Thx to PeterO for blogging and Vulcan for an engaging start of the week.

  47. Seems unlikely, but could the appearance of “Aachen” (a.k.a. Aix-la-Chapelle) in the central vertical unches be intentional? I’m trying to think of significant Carolingian anniversaries but without success.

  48. Good fun. I liked TAKEN ON and HAKA, and I was pleased to discover (after a FORENSIC investigation) that conifers, when ripe, also produce fir-cones.
    Thanks Vulcan & PeterO.

  49. It seems like the Boomtown Rats are providing today’s earworm for some. When I started doing these Cryptics, I always wanted to be in the ranks of those who could say, “That was too easy.” Today, I could, perhaps, but I can still remember how disheartening it can be to read that, so I won’t.

  51. I thought I’d come here to find out how exactly “unofficial show” can give you PRE-RELEASE but, other than muffin @15, no-one seems bothered by it. Am I missing something?

  52. Luckily I have been doing crosswords for too long and reading blogs like this to be bothered by solvers who have been insulted by the simplicity of the puzzle.
    To those, I would just say, I enjoyed it, so “neer”.

  55. New word today – “passel” (and no, not really new, more an awakening from the depths of memory). Truly new word “doona”.

    I have no complaint if it was “area of toys” (anag.). When that happens, I shoot over to the Quiptic, which I am about to do now. It seems 50-50 these Mondays whether the cryptic or Quiptic is harder, but I’m all in favour of the Grauniad trying to encourage the less experienced with at least one of those offerings.

    Thanks Vulcan, PeterO, and TassieTim.

  56. Ark Lark @53 It’s great that you have the option of not doing them then. Use the time to do something else instead – I’d recommend something that won’t make you feel like complaining about it afterwards, then we’ll all feel the benefit.

    A nice gentle start to the week with soime fun clues. Thanks S & B.

  57. It’s Monday and it’s Vulcan — did anyone expect an Enigmatist crossword? If easy puzzles cause such angst one can always skip them. (That’s what I do with most American crosswords.) In any event I pleasantly sailed through this until I got to the SW corner where TOG RATING, REDDITCH, and HAKA stopped me cold. Thanks to both.

  58. bodycheetah @45: “I was expressing an opinion about the crossword, not your solving abilities.” Sorry, bodycheetah, but that is a meretricious distinction. If you, or Roz, or rodshaw, or whoever, dismisses a puzzle on here as contemptibly easy, or claims that they solved it in 5 minutes including writing in the solutions, as Roz very recently did, they are implicitly holding in contempt the solving abilities of others who found the route to solving the puzzle more strenuous and challenging.

  59. So suspend disbelief for a moment and imagine the following can be done objectively. Imagine if each puzzle were labelled with a hardness adjective (or score), rather like Sudokus typically are. Would that make everybody happy?

  60. As the novice this puzzle was aimed at, it was nice to almost complete a Guardian puzzle without resorting to cheating (usually do better with the Indy)

    My only real failure was BALEFUL, partly as I wasn’t convinced about the starting letter being correct from BE IN TOUCH

  62. I’m still puzzling over BALEFUL. I assume the clue indicates that “the bale is full?” Can a bale contain parcels? Am I reading it wrong? All I could think of was BOOTFUL or even possibly BAGSFUL, since a carrier bag could conceivably hold several parcels. Of course, neither yielded a word that made sense. It didn’t help that I didn’t know that meaning of baleful.

  63. SC @58 obviously you’re free to construct your own narrative around the implicit meaning of comments in this forum and impute malign intent where you see fit. Any comments about the relative ease or difficulty of a crossword are by definition subjective, personal opinion. If I were to take up skiing and join a forum, should I be disheartened or take offence if other skiers described a particular run as easy when I found it difficult?

  64. Bodycheetah @ 63 – Whataboutery. There is a difference between saying you personally have found something easy and saying that it is contemptibly easy and the person who set the challenge might to be usefully redeployed, which is what you did above.

  65. Posterntoo @62: I took BALEFUL as implying (hence the question mark) full of bales – thus having no more room for packages. I’m struggling to come up with similar examples that actually mean full of a kind of object. Lustful and remorseful, for example, are states and handful or spoonful are quantities.

  66. Two weeks ago I suggested that those who find Monday’s puzzle too easy should do something else, rather than indulge in smart-alec breast-beating here. Glad to see others saying same thing today!

  68. Lin@61

    I’d say you are correct about the surface, with the ‘up’ it’s as parsed in the blog, without it would de(ME)an instead, albeit with the same end result. I think it’s extremely unlikely that Vulcan didn’t see this, and have the option of either clue.

    My guess is Vulcan wondered why would you belittle somebody who’s giving you a hug? 😉

  69. Duff @66 I think comments, “that was easy” are ok. I’m not sure why it’s necessary to quantify how easy by saying it took 5 minutes to complete though, but to say that the setter should take up setting the quick crossword instead of setting cryptic is both insulting and patronising.
    Personally, I am disappointed that the moderators of this excellent site have not taken issue with the comment.

  70. Just to add my 2p’s-worth, most of you here have Tuesday through to Saturday for your satisfaction. Once Monday’s over for me, I’m down to a small handful of answers. A Paul (if I attempt one) will typically get 2-3 sorted.

  72. Rodshaw @1…….. AOO YES FART ? Whatever floats one’s boat, I guess. Meanwhile, many thanks to PeterO and to Vulcan. Yes this did not detain me for long, but that was equally down to Vulcan’s clear and unambiguous clueing in much of the grid. I did like TOG EATING.

  75. Duff @ 66: I’m not sure I saw your comment 2 weeks back, but I agree wholeheateldy. Monday’s are the gateway drug that will get people hooked on cryptics We need them to be there to lure in the newcomers. I’ve been doing these things for nearly 30 years now, I’m fairly good (especially with fave setters), but I really like a nice tame Monday to ease me in to the week.

    For the record I’ve spent most of my life working in videogames where the response to people struggling to enjoy something is often “Git gud” (“get good” in proper English). The idea being that if you aren’t good you don’t deserve something. It’s toxic and it’s horrible, IMO.

    Make it more accessible and more people will enjoy it. Easy Mondays are a great idea.

  76. bodycheetah@24, Vulcan also sets tougher challenges for the Guardian as Imogen.
    The Vulcan ID was created as something that would be recognised as an easier Monday solve along the lines of Rufus, and presumably the directive came from the editor.
    Adjusting the level of difficulty as a setter isn’t easy, and obviously it won’t suit everyone.

  79. Josh @77 when someone in in hospital on the day of an operation they are not allowed to eat and drink, their notes allegedly say NIL BY MOUTH but it is a bit of an urban myth really.

  83. I too was hoping to find an explanation of pre-release @muffin. I associate pre-release with a taster, a sample and definitely official.

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