Nutmeg has been a regular Quiptic setter since the puzzle’s inception eighteen years ago. She has delivered another thoughtful and sound offering for beginners this morning.
Abbreviations
cd cryptic definition
dd double definition
(xxxx)* anagram
anagrind = anagram indicator
[x] letter(s) removed
definitions are underlined
Across
1 Type of book that’s difficult to finance
HARDBACK
A straightforward charade of HARD and BACK to get us going.
5 Trap Scotsman returning computer peripheral
WEBCAM
And another: of WEB and MAC reversed. The reversal indicator is ‘turning’. IAN wasn’t available this morning: he’s still recovering from Burns Night.
9 Group of players with wrinkles removed from the limelight
SIDELINED
And another: SIDE plus LINED.
11 Safe stretch of water, that’s what we hear
SOUND
Not a dd, but a td: a triple definition. Neat surface.
12 Joining forces, Queen stops internees legging it
POWER-SHARING
An insertion of ER for Elizabeth Regina, or ‘Queen’ in POWS (Prisoners of War) followed by HARING.
15 Ancient God‘s aching back
EROS
A reversal of SORE.
16 Shortages briefly alarm conurbations
SCARCITIES
A charade of SCAR[E] and CITIES.
18 Pretend to stage part of play?
PUT ON AN ACT
A cd cum dd. One act would only be part of a play, wouldn’t it?
19 Very large component of management retiring
MEGA
Hidden reversed in manAGEMent.
21 Worker at counter notes price — it’s appalling
RECEPTIONIST
(NOTES PRICE IT)*
24 A bit of leg tasting strong after last of breast
THIGH
A charade of T for the last letter of ‘breast’ and HIGH.
25 Shoot mad miner in entrance
GERMINATE
An insertion of (MINER)* in GATE.
26 Go round with books in class
ROTATE
Another insertion: of OT for Old Testament in RATE.
27 Pious tear always covered up
REVERENT
And another: of EVER in RENT.
Down
1 He entertains a lot of people
HOST
A dd.
2 Conclusion of those supporting free travel?
RIDE
E for the last letter of ‘those’ underneath RID. ‘Supporting’ works because it’s a down clue.
3 Coming through arch, Nutmeg will wave
BILLOW
An insertion of I’LL for ‘Nutmeg will’ in BOW.
4 Snooty prisoner sent down?
CONDESCENDING
My favourite this morning for its clever simplicity. A charade of CON and DESCENDING.
6 Rising church still full of enthusiasm
ECSTATIC
A charade of CE reversed and STATIC.
7 Crosses bustling circus, avoiding small holes
CRUCIFIXES
A charade of (CIRCU[S])* and FIXES. ‘That’s another fix you’ve got us into this morning.’
8 Island‘s foolhardy commanders on wheels
MADAGASCAR
A charade of MAD, AGAS and CAR.
10 Doctor insured to accommodate particular health worker
DISTRICT NURSE
An insertion of STRICT for ‘particular’ in (INSURED)* for the health worker who will conduct home visits and provide care in the community.
13 Last of minor repairs to broken hospital equipment
RESPIRATOR
(R REPAIRS TO)*
14 Request to screenwriter to submit work, as afterthought?
POST SCRIPT
A cd cum dd. Although he or she would no doubt do it electronically these days, you could ask a screenwriter to POST THE SCRIPT to you.
17 Picture showing erection of bridges stolen
SNAPSHOT
A reversal of SPANS followed by HOT. Again, ‘erection’ works because it’s a down clue.
20 Like Greek character about to have a dream
ASPIRE
A charade of AS, PI, and RE.
22 PM’s spoken of “complex network, difficult to leave“
MAZE
I’ll leave you to decide whether this is referencing the vicar’s daughter’s travails with Brexit or her own increasingly tenuous hold on the leadership of the Conservative Party. Anyway, it’s a homophone of MAY’S.
23 Proceeded north in rainy season
WENT
An insertion of N in WET.
Many thanks to our Spice Girl for this morning’s Quiptic.
Thanks Nutmeg and Pierre
Very nice. SOUND caught me out, though, as I thought the “that’s what we hear” was an unnecessary homophone indicator!
Thanks both. Excellent puzzle.
I tried shoehorning IAN into 5a, thanks for explaining why he was unavailable.
A Quiptic by Nutmeg and a Cryptic by Pan – a reversal of what I would expect!
My favourites were POWER SHARING + RECEPTIONIST
Thanks Nutmeg and Pierre
Deep down inside, I had hoped Carpathian would make a reappearance today after her first Quiptic, some weeks ago, was such a success.
Alas, it’s a Nutmeg. Alas? This was actually a wonderful Quiptic, so apt for the spot.
Laste week one commenter wrote: I think that precision and correct cryptic grammar are more important for a Quiptic than a regular cryptic, so I wish this puzzle had been more carefully constructed.
This commenter must have been very happy today as there was nothing, absolutely nothing, to complain about Nutmeg’s cryptic skills.
And the blog was pretty nice, too – many thanks Pierre.
I think that Sil van den Hoek is quoting me @4, so I’ll just confirm that that’s exactly right. I found this puzzle to be very well constructed, satisfying, and enjoyable.
Just to confirm something I wasn’t sure about, is HIGH in 24a defined as “tasting strong,” in reference to this meaning (found in Chambers)?
“10 said of meat: partially decomposed or tainted.”
I think I’ve seen this meaning in past cryptics. It’s not a usage we have where I’m from (the US).
Yes, Ted, that’s exactly the meaning that Nutmeg was using. What word do you use in American English?
I think we’d say “off” or “bad” for spoiled food, and “going off” or “going bad” for food that was just beginning to spoil.
Pierre, why is commanders AGAS?
As in Aga Khan?
Only just got round to doing this one, so Chicka,precisely!