Nutmeg always sets an enjoyable puzzle, but like most of her previous puzzles this one is, peerhaps, a liitle too difficult for a Quiptic.
Most of the definitions given are from Chambers 12th Edition. Most of the standard abbreviations used in the wordplay are shown with the unused letters in brackets e.g. M(arks). Definitions are underlined in the clue and only included in explanations where further information is given.
Across
9a Circus performer‘s juggling — I’m on later (4,5)
LION TAMER – an anagram (juggling) of I’M ON LATER
10a No entry to space station for child (5)
MINOR – NO inside a Soviet space station
11a This may simplify calculation, moving it along (7)
ANTILOG – an anagram (moving) of IT ALONG
12a Sound of seabirds is transfixing (7)
SKEWERS – sounds like skuas (seabirds)
13a Religious art primarily in churches of northern Spain (5)
ICONS – the initial letters (primarily) of the final five words in the clue
14a Taking off after hideous crime without pity (9)
MERCILESS – taking off or not as much after an anagram (hideous) of CRIME
16a Who knows what happens when the narrator fails to turn up? (6,2,7)
THERES NO TELLING – what might happen if the narrator fails to turn up
19a In Northern Ireland our cast’s supported (9)
NOURISHED – OUR inside the abbreviation for Northern Ireland and followed by a verb meaning cast or discarded
21a Insect forms slime a puppy covers over (5)
PUPAE – hidden (covers) and reversed (over) inside the clue – I think over works better as a reversal indicator in a down clue
22a Side losing marks a lot — they’re soon out of the cup (3,4)
TEA BAGS – start with a TEAM (side, like one playing football), drop (losing) the M(arks) then add a slang word for a lot or loads
23a More malicious act destroyed bank (7)
CATTIER – an anagram (destroyed) of CAT followed bt a bank or row
24a Hooligan hung over grating (5)
ROUGH – three definitions – a hooligan, to be hung over after drinking and grating or coarse
25a Bang! Ten freedom fighters swamped by rebounding din (9)
EXPLOSION – the Roman numeral for ten and the abbreviation for the Palestine Liberation Organization inside (swamping) the reversal (rebounding) of a din or racket
Down
1d Taken in after a fairy turns up in poor condition (4-6)
FLEA-BITTEN – an adjective meaning taken in or xxx after the reversal (turns up in a down clue) of the A from the clue and a fairy
2d Retreat by leaving hotel lobby in disarray (8)
BOLTHOLE – an anagram (in disarray) of HOTEL LOB(BY) after BY has been dropped (leaving)
3d They hold up discussion on board (6)
STALKS – a discussion inside a SteamShip (on board)
4d Complacent twit joins society (4)
SMUG – a twit follows (joins) S(ociety)
5d Exhausted racing driver assessed (10)
PROSTRATED – {Alain) PROST (racing driver) followed by a verb meaning assessed – former racing driver might have been a bit fairer
6d Place in danger housing a royal (8)
IMPERIAL – start with to IMPERIL (place in danger) and insert (housing) the A from the clue
7d Dictating a letter brings something on the side (6)
ANNEXE – sounds like (dictating) an X
8d Where ashes may end up from service in America? (4)
URNS – the abbreviation for the Royal Navy (service) inside the two-letter abbreviation for America
14d City‘s big case taken in half-hearted way (10)
MANCHESTER – a big case inside MAN(N)ER (way) with only one of its middle letters (half-hearted)
15d Small band meant to make an impression (6,4)
SIGNET RING – a cryptic definition of a small band used to make an impression in sealing wax
17d “Mine’s in poor shape” — famous last words! (8)
EPITAPHS – a coal mine inside an anagram (poor) of SHAPE
18d Absolute terror above board (8)
IMPLICIT – a terror or mischievous child followed by an adjective meaning above board or legal
20d Rising star gets a game — it’s part of our system (6)
URANUS – reverse (rising in a down clue) our very own star, the SUN, the A from the clue and the game of Rugby Union football
21d Regularly survey Spain for a refined fuel (6)
PETROL – start with PATROL, a verb meaning to regularly survey, and insert the IVR code for Spain in place of the A
22d Stage performance that you appear in, ultimately (4)
TURN – the final letters (ultimately) of four words in the clue
23d Hold one’s own cloak (4)
COPE – two definitions – to hold one’s own or manage and a cloak worn by priests at certain Christian ceremonies
Comments from solvers who are new to cryptic puzzles are more than welcome – and that doesn’t mean the usual suspects can’t add their thoughts as well!
I agree with Big Dave that “this one is, perhaps, a little too difficult for a Quiptic”. However, I no longer think of the Quiptic as being a “cryptic puzzle for beginners and those in a hurry.” I just consider it to be a regular cryptic puzzle. Of all the Guardian’s offerings I think the best puzzles for beginners are the Everyman and the Rufus.
My favourites in this puzzle were 14a, 25a, 8d, 19a, 22a, 7d.
I was unable to parse 22d.
New definition for me was COPE = cloak, and ‘skua’ = ‘seabird’ (thanks , Wikipedia).
Thanks for the blog, Big Dave.
Michelle
The Quiptic is still advertised by The Guardian as “a web-only, cryptic puzzle for beginners and those in a hurry”.
But then The Telegraph still advertise their Toughie as “the most fiendishly difficult daily puzzle emanating from Fleet Street” which it ain’t!
Thanks, Dave, for blogging.
Well, this Quiptic debate keeps rumbling on, doesn’t it? I too found this tricky; if it had been included as a daily cryptic I’d have said the same. But it’s a sound enough puzzle (except a fairy isn’t an elf and PROSTRATED might not have been my first choice synonym for ‘exhausted’).
Putting the advertisement for the Quiptic to one side, I think beginners and improvers can expect: a solver-friendly grid; no ninas or themes; rare use of obscure vocabulary; and generally clear clueing with no ‘look how clever I’ve been here’ stuff. And generally, I think the Quiptic delivers. And I agree with Michelle that Everyman is the other puzzle of choice for improving solvers.
Any road up, thank you to Nutmeg for this one.
Big Dave@2 and KsDad@3
I just meant that for my own peace of mind, I consider the Quiptic to be a regular cryptic. I realise what it is advertised as. If it is a “regular cryptic” in my mind, it means that I will not be tempted to discuss how “difficult” (or not) it is. I just do the puzzle, whether Everyman, Cryptic, Rufus or Prize, and judge each puzzle on its individual merit. Clearly the consistency of difficulty/easiness is impossible to control.
This is the sort of Quiptic that may dent the confidence of a beginner.
But a very enjoyable puzzle from Nutmeg!
I was in a bit of a dither about 21d – Knew it had to be Petrol or Patrol – took the easy option and left it blank! Thanks to Big Dave for that one.
Good puzzle but a bit too difficult for a Quiptic (as advertised!) I thought Rufus’s was easier.
Thanks Big Dave; I particularly liked IMPERIAL and ANNEXE.
My comment about the difficulty level is really aimed at the setter, on the offchance that she might read the review. Some setters, like Arachne and Orlando, seem to have embraced the Quiptic genre better than others.
Enjoyable puzzle but agree that it’s a bit hard for a quiptic. There again, I’m not really sure what a “Qupitic” is supposed to be.
Perhaps Nutmeg and Rufus should have been reversed today.