Guardian 27,215 – Rufus

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The online version of the crossword hasn’t yet appeared, so I’ve had to solve and blog in a bit of a rush. Favourite today was 11dn. Thanks, Rufus.

Edit: the crossword is now available online on the Guardian website

1ac – TIRESOME=”boring”. TIRE / SOME=”not to weary everyone”

5ac – SHEATH=”case”. (Has the)*

9ac – MOLECULE=”a little matter”. MOLE=”Spot” on the skin; plus (clue)*

10ac – GARDEN, cryptic definition using ‘culture’ in the sense of cultivation

12ac – ENNUI=”Boredom shown by the French”, cryptic definition

13ac – IDENTICAL=”perfectly agreeable”. (A client I’d)*

14ac – PEANUT BUTTER=”spread”. BUTTER=”Goat”, after PEA=”vegetable” and NUT=”fruit”

18ac – APPRECIATION, double definition =”Acknowledgement” and =”rise in value”

21ac – CARTWHEEL, cryptic definition – a rut is the track made by a cartwheel

23ac – PAPER=e.g. “the Guardian”. PA=”Father”, plus PER=”through”

24ac – LOUVRE, double definition – a turret-like structure on a roof for ventilation; =the gallery in Paris

25ac – CENSURED=”rebuked”. C=Roman numeral for 100=”many”, plus ENSURED=”made certain”

26ac – TREATY=”agreement”. TRY=”Attempt”, around (tea)*

27ac – USED TO IT=”knowing what to expect”. (Suited to)*

///

1dn – TEMPER, double definition =”Moderate”; =”one’s anger”

2dn – RELENT=”Give way”. RE=”on” [the topic of]; plus LENT=”a fast time” i.e. the fasting before Easter

3dn – SACRILEGE=”It’s sinful”. (Grace lies)*

4dn – MILLIONAIRES=”the rich”. (Airline limos)* – anagrind is ‘re-served’

6dn – HEART=”It beats”. HE=”a man” plus ART=”skill”

7dn – ABDICATE=”Abandon royal dignity”, cryptic definition with “dignity” meaning ‘office’ or ‘rank’ rather than referring to behaviour

8dn – HANDLERS=”Dogged policemen?”, members of the police that handle dogs

11dn – TEETOTALLERS, referring to golfing TEEs and TOTALLERS as people who might count scores, and to the “nineteenth hole” where golfers go drinking after a round [unless they are TEETOTALLERS]

15dn – UNOPPOSED=”No-one against”. (pound / peso)*

16dn – LANCELOT=”Knight” from Arthurian legend. LANCE=”weapon” plus LOT=fate=”fortune”

17dn – APERTURE, cryptic definition – an opening in a camera through which light passes

19dn – OPORTO=”Portuguese city” [also known as Porto]. (Poor to)*

20dn – CREDIT, double definition =”Believe”; and =”one side of the account” as opposed to debit

22dn – WORST=”Best” as a verb meaning to defeat; “strange as it may sound” referring to worst/best being opposites when taken as adjectives

 

 

42 comments on “Guardian 27,215 – Rufus”

  1. Thanks Rufus and manehi

    Less room to write on the actual paper than a printout! I hope thta this is just a hiccough and not a new policy.

    Entertaining puzzle, with MILLIONAIRES and TEETOTALLERS my favourites.

  2. Thanks both. One of those days when I am glad to be a paper subscriber. Pretty good Rufus, only CARTWHEEL is a bit weak in my opinion

  3. I thought CARTWHEEL was a dd., the other being the acrobatic manoeuvre.

    ENNUI was the weakest for me – could have been in a “Quick” crossword.

  4. A pretty routine Rufus – all pleasant enough but very straightforward, though if the online version had been available I might have used it to confirm GARDEN, which was last in.

    Thanks to Rufus and manehi

  5. Thank you Rufus and manehi.

    Enjoyed TEETOTALLER but we were not sure about ‘perfectly agreeable’ being IDENTICAL.

    Gentle start to the week.

  6. Thanks Rufus and manehi.

    I agree with muffin about ENNUI. I didn’t think it was even one of those CDs of Rufus, which appear to be straight definitions, but on a bit of reflection, have a slight cryptic element (did we coin a word for these? D C, perhaps – a definition + a cryptic bit as an afterthought?)

    Liked TEETOTALLER too.

  9. No problems today, over in minutes without my occasional habit of staring for ages in incomprehension at a Rufus cd.

  10. Thanks Rufus and manehi.

    Strange to do it in the paper but fairly straightforward.

    I was sure that the knight in 16 was ‘n’ but no. I liked RELENT and TEETOTALLERS.

  12. How the other half lives… On days like this, regular paper-solvers are reminded that they may be in a minority, analogue Luddites in a digital age. Does anyone have statistics, or an educated guess, as to the relative proportion of online to paper solvers – within the 15squared community, or more widely? And how many online solvers contribute to Guardian finances by, at least sometimes, buying the paper, and/or by responding to the regular plaintive appeals? Just wondering.

  13. Good fun – favourites were TEETOTALLERS, UNOPPOSED and MILLIONAIRES. Thanks to Rufus and manehi.

  14. quenbarrow @12
    To clarify, I’m a subscriber and get the paper every day, but I generally do the crossword on a printout, so that the rest of the family aren’t deprived of the back page.

  15. Thank you Rufus and manehi.

    Loved the clue for TEETOTALLERS, but it was TIRESOME waiting for the puzzle to come up, passed the time doing the Indy one since I do not get the Guardian Daily, only the Weekly (in answer to quenbarrow, I am also a supporter).

  16. For Quen, and in the interest of science; Paper version not an option for me, as I live just outside the middle of nowhere in France. So I became a subscriber to ease me conscience.

    By the way, totally flummoxed by the Genius..( but please don’t help me…..yet…)

  17. Presumably the print edition comes without the minor typo (‘it only’ for ‘it is only’) in the long-delayed online version’s clue for 9ac? I see that clue is worded correctly in the PressReader link provided by Steve Smith @7.

    On the topic of print versus online, it used to be a real pain hunting down a printed copy of a Monday Guardian just to get a Rufus crossword, because he does not appear every single Monday and the Guardian can be very hard to find on newsagents’ shelves in some places.

  18. Thanks to Rufus and manehi. As a US solver I depend on the on-line version and usually get access after 7 PM the previous night (so that I can be an early participant on this blog for the prize puzzle, assuming that I can make sense of it). Re Beery Hiker @4 I did check GARDEN (my LOI) but otherwise proceeded smoothly and enjoyed this Monday (as opposed to Sunday evening) outing.

  19. quenbarrow @12, I’m a paper subscriber too so I almost always solve on paper. If I (or Mrs Trailman) is a bit late going out for the paper – maybe once a week – then I will solve online, and about as often I will go from paper to online just to use the check button.

    John E @17, the print edition does indeed have ‘it is only’.

  20. I am a subscriber and usually solve the puzzles on paper. Today I wanted to do this on my Kindle while in the gym but–. So much for technology. I agree with Beeryhiker @4. It took me ages to see GARDEN which was LOI. I liked PEANUT BUTTER and MOLECULE.
    Thanks Rufus.
    Ps Perhaps non subscribers might consider putting their hands in their pockets to ensure that online puzzles continue. Just a thought!

  21. I prefer to solve on paper and buy the newspaper almost every day, but I do like to have the option of using the online version to double-check solutions – Rufus cryptic definitions in particular are not always obviously correct even when you have the solution.

  23. I solve online, here in the US. While I’m a fan of the Graun’s journalism, my first news sources are generally elsewhere, so taking the paper would be silly. I throw them a few bucks about every third time they come begging for it, just to assuage the guilty conscience.

    Cryptics are harder to find in the USA, of course, so I depend on the online Guardian for my daily fix. Games Magazine publishes four cryptics a month, but those are over all too soon. The other mainstream U.S. publications I’m aware of that have cryptics are monthlies to which I don’t subscribe; they publish at most one each issue. [When The Atlantic stopped publishing their monthly puzzle, I stopped subscribing to The Atlantic…okay, it wasn’t just because of that, but that was definitely the last straw.]

    Today’s puzzle had some brilliant moments, and some less-than-that to offset it. I too raised my eyebrows at the utter lack of crypticness in ENNUI, and had to use the check feature on GARDEN.

  24. It would be nice if the Guardian put a message in place of the crossword. Something like “Sorry for the delay. ETA 11am”. Or perhaps that sounds too much like BA or Southern trains.

  25. Except for several weeks of the year when (usually) I am out of the country, I buy the paper nearly every day and do the paper crossword. Two relatives who read the Guardian regularly are subscribers (and they do the crossword but are not in the 225 community).

    As some-one who is typically a slow solver I was surprised, and disappointed, at how quickly I finished today’s crossword. I got the four longest answers first (because they are always the ones I look at first) in about 1 minute, and I started wondering if could write in all the answers within 5 minutes. I couldn’t. I had to stop in the NE corner with 5 clues left to solve (all of which I solved later with no difficulty except for the last one: 10a GARDEN).

    I think the clues to 10a GARDEN and 12a ENNUI could have been improved upon. (Others have made similar comments.) The idea behind 11d TEETOTALLERS was original and entertaining, and to be honest I was lucky to see it as quickly as I did. That was my favourite clue.

    The remaining clues were straightforward. The definition of 13a IDENTICAL pulled me up a bit (and I’m not the first to comment on this). If all the properties of two objects are in perfect agreement the objects are identical; saying they are agreeable is perhaps a punning use of that word.

    Thanks Rufus and manehi.

  26. Thanks to Rufus and Manehi. Some really good clues eg 14ac and 11d. I buy the paper every day, but I’m fortunate enough to live close to shops so can get a copy without much trouble

  27. AlanB: interesting. I generally look at the shortest answers first, as they’re generally easier for me. I wonder how many different solving techniques there are.

  28. I’ve never understood why dictionaries give it as ‘tee’ and not the more logical ‘tea,’ given that tea and Methodism became widespread in the 18th century.
    Although I think abstemiousness and golf should go together quite nicely.

    Never seen much point in either.

  29. I’m another who has forked out to become an online supporter. But if I’m travelling, I can’t get the crossword on my iPad through the Guardian app – they have blocked it, and want you to pay for this also.

  30. My wife is a subscriber to the app but I’m not, which pisses us off, because if we buy the physical paper we can both read it and I could do the crossword. It’s a shame that the g’s e-gurus haven’t worked out that a single purchase probably feeds more than one consumer…

  31. I’ll chip in: I bought the guardian for years purely for the crossword – I had little interest in the other content bar the obits. I rarely got to do it – too busy. Nowadays I do it online and I find I can go long periods without a crossword, and then have a frenzy of activity catching up. As with other online users, my conscience can be pricked by the upturned paw and I’ve been known to make a contribution.

    As for method, I usually cast around for a (neasier?) double+ word clue or a (neasier?) long word and work out from that. Experience has taught me that there are clues that can be solved cold and others for which crossers are needed, the problem being to work from one cold clue to another via the crossers. I think those who go through the entire clue list and then work from what they have solved cold may have the best approach, but I’m too impatient and need to check each crossed clue immediately. Strictly speaking, every clue should be capable of a cold solve but….

    Thanks to setter and blogger.

  32. Thanks Rufus and Manehi. Will always remember this one as it’s the first “proper” broadsheet cryptic that I’ve completed without any hints or cheating. Hopefully a sign of progression from quiptics/quick cryptics. TEETOTALLERS and TIRESOME were my two favourites. 10a was my last one in, and I almost gave up before getting the alternative meaning of “cultural”.

    In response to queenbarrow – I am a digital subscriber, so I read the paper every day on my iPad mini, and usually have a go at the crosswords via the app. I believe in supporting quality journalism, even if I fear for its long term future when it’s so easy to free-ride online.

    @drofle (post 29) – The website Ts & Cs reckons that you are allowed to access the Guardian from abroad, but if not I’m told that you can use a VPN to get around any geoblocking when you travel. My friend uses privatetunnel, but I believe others such as tunnelbear do the same and are very easy to set up on the iPad.

    @Simon S (post 30) – You’re allowed to use your digital subscription on up to 10 separate devices, so it shouldn’t be a problem for you and your wife to both download the crossword via the app on separate devices using the one subscription. Unless I’ve misunderstood the nature of the issue?

  33. Mrpenney @27

    Very interesting indeed! There must be dozens of solving techniques.

    I have no feel at all for whether, in general, I find clues to longer answers easier or harder than those for shorter ones. The thing about getting longer ones (if they yield!) is that they give you more crossers in one go, thereby opening up more possibilities for your next move. Having got, say, one long answer, I then tend to look at words crossing it.

    One thing I am not good at, in general, is solving clues ‘off the page’ without crossers, and I think that’s why I use the technique I have just briefly (and crudely) described.

    I’m sure Eileen (the regular blogger) has told us once or twice that she normally goes through all the clues in order, filling in the answers to those that yield on that pass. That is clearly a sensible and organised way to proceed, and I don’t know why I don’t adopt it. I’m happy enough, though, doing it my way.

    Probably any technique would have got today’s crossword out quickly. After the four longest words I then went to the next longest, the four 9-letter words – because I could!

    While composing this note (through interruptions) I noticed that Alphalpha has also commented on your topic.

  34. I don’t buy the paper version. I am a Guardian Supporter. For the fee I also get the crossword Android app, additional online article and some invitations to events.

    I liked MOLECULE, TIRESOME and RELENT.

  35. Late post. To respond to your question, quenbarrow@12, and your remark, Don Morris@22, I subscribe to the online version of “The Guardian” and read articles whose headlines interest me, but I download and print off the crossword as I like the online format.

    My solve follows Eileen’s pattern – my first and subsequent passes are done in clue order, then I break that logical pattern to solve the clues where there are several crosser letters available. I don’t think I could tackle it using any other approach, so I may be a bit stuck in my ways. I’m with you, Alan B@33; I am also not very good at solving cold clues and rely a lot on the cross letters.

    I enjoyed this puzzle and agree with the positives, favourites and a couple of the criticisms already mentioned. I also liked LOUVRE 24a.

    Thanks to Rufus and manehi.

    [I have been thinking a lot about all of you on the forum who will have been shocked and frightened by the latest tragedy on London Bridge and in Market Borough, as well as those killed, injured and traumatised in those places. So hard to believe so soon after Manchester. My sympathies to all crossword colleagues and to your nation, from across the world.]

  36. Even later, and as often happens JinA says what I think. If we ever came to Australia (unlikely) it would be nice to meet :-). And thank you for voicing your thoughts on the indiscriminate acts of killing.
    Thanks Rufus and manehi.

  37. Thanks for those replies.
    Most of the responses were reasonable.
    What worries me as a Guardian subscriber(& reader for nearly 55 years) is that it is clearly in dire straits financially.
    If it went under it would be a great loss for democracy. The British Press is mostly in the hands of very right editors/owners(Murdoch,Dacre et al), The Gruniad is unique in this country in being owned by a very liberal trust.
    Don

  38. 22 down was obviously “worst” but am not familiar with “best” being a word meaning beaten.

  39. Geraldine @38
    As verbs, both ‘best’ and ‘worst’ mean to defeat, although neither is in common use with this meaning (I would say). As the clue indicated, this is ‘strange’ because as adjectives the two words are opposites.

  40. As i live in Europe and travel a lot, I can’t get the paper. I have the paying iPhone app and the paying iPad app. Find the crossword better on the iPhone and that the iPad provides a better e-version of the newspaper.

  42. Discussion of methods continued: I do a modification of Eileen’s approach. I read all the Across clues in order and put a check mark at the edge of the grid next to the ones I can solve cold, but don’t fill them in. The I read all the Down clues and write in the ones that I can solve, still cold because I have no crossers. Then I go back to Across and fill in all those which check marks and all those that I can solve now with some crossers. Then same with Down. At some point the alternation of Across and Down becomes pointless and I just fill in here and there as I can.

    My sympathies too to Manchester and London.

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