Matilda has produced a straightforward cryptic for us this morning. All clearly clued and tractable, so fitting the bill perfectly in my opinion. What did you think?
Abbreviations
cd cryptic definition
dd double definition
cad clue as definition
(xxxx)* anagram
anagrind = anagram indicator
[x] letter(s) removed
definitions are underlined
Across
1 New York landmark could be quite a mess — that’s about right!
TIMES SQUARE
An insertion of R in (QUITE A MESS)*
9 Pub anger produces fire
BARRAGE
A charade of BAR and RAGE
10 Book reviewer half shut radio broadcast
AUDITOR
The setter is asking you to take half the letters of ‘shut’, add them to ‘radio’ and make an anagram (‘broadcast’). So it’s ([SH]UT RADIO)*
11 Observer magazine
SPECTATOR
A (rather well worn, but listen, it’s a Quiptic) dd.
12 Fancy niche accommodation for sceptic
CYNIC
Hidden in fanCY NIChe.
14 Saluted our strange type of relationship
ADULTEROUS
(SALUTED OUR)*
16 Measure heart, taking time
CENTIMETRE
An insertion of TIME in CENTRE.
19,13 Top tract of land rejected for clearance
HEADROOM
A charade of HEAD and MOOR reversed.
21 More paintings returned by former husband
EXTRA
The same structure as the previous clue: EX and ART reversed.
22 Crowd hoot wildly for time traveller
DOCTOR WHO
(CROWD HOOT)*
24 Keeper‘s dog eats rodent and duck
CURATOR
An insertion of RAT and O in CUR.
25 The matter here oddly refers to oil producer
TEA TREE
The odd letters of ThEmAtTeRhErE.
26 Hidden sign for office staff
SECRETARIES
A charade of SECRET and ARIES for the zodiac ‘sign’. Great surface.
Down
1 Driving manoeuvres go into possible speeding penalty
THREE-POINT TURNS
An insertion of TURN (‘it’s your turn/go’) in THREE POINTS.
2 Chicken may be stuffed with lemon finally, as intended
MEANT
An insertion of N for the last letter of ‘lemon’ in MEAT.
3 Smelly strongish cheese (Emmental not Taleggio) excites diners for starters
SCENTED
The first letters of the second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh words of the clue.
4 Falling out could produce equal rights
QUARREL
(EQUAL RR)* with ‘could produce’ as the anagrind.
5 Ridiculous cut bad editor’s taken
ABDUCTED
A charade of (CUT BAD)* and ED.
6 Devouring autobiography and taking it back
EATING ONE’S WORDS
A cd cum dd.
7 Someone who badly treats bear wandering around America
ABUSER
An insertion of US in (BEAR)*
8 Begins to tell jokes
CRACKS
A dd.
15 Huge performance trick
GIGANTIC
A charade of GIG and ANTIC.
16 Bully taking gin back from drunk concierge
COERCE
Matilda’s inviting you to take ‘gin’ out of ‘concierge’ and then make an anagram. (CO[N]C[I]ER[G]E)*
17 Back end awfully sore
ENDORSE
A charade of END and (SORE)* Another great surface.
18 Filling for calamari: cottage cheese
RICOTTA
Hidden in calamaRI COTTAge.
20 Goes on and on (in short dress!)
DRONES
An insertion of ON in DRES[S]
23 Arab uprising very soon
OMANI
A reversal of IN A MO. ‘Uprising’ works as the reversal indicator because it’s a down clue.
Many thanks to Matilda for this morning’s Quiptic.
Thanks, Pierre. Totally agree, the ideal quiptic. Unusual to see three answers (16a, 17 & 20d) containing an actual word from the clue, rather than a synonym (time, end, on respectively.) Loved the Arab uprising and the keeper’s dog. Thanks, Matilda, good stuff.
Thanks Matilda and Pierre
Yes, a perfect Quiptic. My favourites were OMANI and CENTIMETRE (straightforward but very neat).
May I be the first to point out that although the programme is called “Doctor Who”, the Doctor isn’t…he (or now she) is just “The Doctor”.
Thanks both. Good Quiptic. OMANI’s are suddenly very popular in Guardian crosswords.
Possible bird link in SECRETARIES?
Yes, a very nice Quiptic, just the right level.
Pierre – have you underlined the right bits in 8d? I thought it was “begins to tell” as in an interrogation, and “jokes”.
Muffin – what you say about Doctor Who is the orthodox view, but see Paul R’s comment on Pan 27,568, and the linked article, for a fuller discussion.
Perfect quiptic. Thanks Matilda and merci Pierre.
Thanks, Lord Jim. Corrected now.
Sorry, what’s the link between O and duck?
Puzzled @7
Cricket originally. A score of zero was called a “duck egg” (from the appearance of the number on the scoreboard), later shortened to “a duck”.
I agree with all the above: a lovely quiptic with some beautifully economical clues, my favourites being Omani, Endorse, Auditor and Secretaries. I couldn’t parse Tea Tree – so Pierre your ever-lucid explanation was particularly helpful – and many thanks to you and Matilda for getting my week off to a pleasing start.
Lord Jim @4
I’ve had time to track that down and follow the link – thanks. That clears everything up (NOT!)
(For anyone else interested, the link is here )