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This is the thirty-fourth Guardian Quick Cryptic, a series of 11 x 11 crosswords designed to support beginners learning cryptic crosswords. The whole point of these crosswords is support and encouragement of new solvers, so special rules for these crosswords apply – see here – those rules include not posting solving times. There is a summary of the tricks used in the first six months here. This puzzle can be found here.
Following a number of comments we are continuing to tweak the blog. The first suggestion was to to hide the answers and the last couple of weeks, following another request, we hid the wordplay descriptions too, to mixed reviews. To find that hidden information, click on “Details” and it will pop up. The definition is in bold and underlined, the indicator is in red.
This week we have a the return of Chandler, who has set a couple of Quick Cryptic crosswords and sets Quiptics regularly. He has continued consolidating clue types learned earlier in the series using anagrams and hidden clues, which provide all the required letters, with soundalikes and charades.
A recent Guardian Crossword blog is called the ultimate beginner’s guide and has tips which may be useful for some solvers.
Fifteen Squared uses several abbreviations and jargon tricks, there’s a full list here, of which I’ve used the following in this blog:
- underlining the definition in the clue – this is either at the beginning or end of the clue
- indicators are in red.
- CAPITALS to indicate which bits are part of the answer, e.g. PASS (qualify) to get PORT (drink)
- anagram *(SENATOR) shows letters in clue being used, see clue below.
- anagrind the anagram indicator (arranged)
- charades – the description below only gives the example of words being added together, but charades can be more complicated, adding abbreviations or single letters to another word. Examples previously used in this series are: Son ridicules loose overgarments (6) S (son) + MOCKS (ridicules), Get rid of dead pine (5) D (dead) + ITCH (pine) – D ITCH, and early on DR (doctor) + IVE (I have) to give DRIVE
- soundalike / homophone is indicated by “Wilde” (Oscar, the playwright) for WILD, see below.
- CAD or clue as definition– where the whole clue gives the definition, sometimes called an &lit.
- DBE or defintion by example – e.g. where a dog might be clued as a setter – often using a question mark, maybe, possibly or e.g. to show that this is an example rather than a definition.
- surface – the meaning from reading the clue – so often cryptic clues use an English that could only be found in a cryptic crossword, but a smooth surface is a clue that has a meaning in English, which can be pointed or misleading.
TODAY’S TRICKS – from the crossword site – which can be found at www.theguardian.com/crosswords/quick-cryptic/34 – because the clues have moved on from the clue descriptions below, I am now adding more to the descriptions above.
Clues begin or end with a definition of the answer. The rest is one of these:
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- Anagram An anagram of the answer and a hint that there’s an anagram
‘Senator arranged crime (7)’ gives TREASON - Hidden word Answer is hidden in the clue’s words
‘Some have altered meat (4)’ gives VEAL - Charade A combination of synonyms
‘Qualify to get drink for ID (8)’ gives PASSPORT (pass + port) - Soundalike Something that sounds like the answer
‘Excited as Oscar’s announced (4)’ gives WILD
- Anagram An anagram of the answer and a hint that there’s an anagram
| ACROSS |
Click on “details” to see the solutions | |
| 1 | Damp weather as rule, reportedly (4) |
RAIN
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soundalike of (reportedly) “reign” (rule)
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| 3 |
Fail in dining area ahead (4,2)
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MESS UP
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charade of MESS (dining area) and UP (ahead)
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| 8 |
Two bridge players with two notes? Extremely impressive (7)
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AWESOME
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charade of A + W + E (two bridge players) + SO + ME (two notes). Bridge players use the main points of the compass, N, S, W and E. Notes here are from the SolFa scale – SO, sometimes soh, and ME, often mi. I can’t account for the A.
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| 9 |
Exploit generous expert? Not altogether (3)
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USE
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hidden (not altogether) in generoUS Expert
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| 10 |
Mate leading a group of diners is easy to take (9)
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PALATABLE
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charade of PAL (mate) + (leading) + A (from the clue) + TABLE (group of diners)
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| 12 |
Arab cried after shifting obstacle (9)
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BARRICADE
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anagram of (ARAB CRIED)* with anagrind of after shifting
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| 14 |
Go downhill in spotless kit (3)
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SKI
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hidden clue (in) spotlesS KIt
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| 15 |
See clip for broadcast showing astronomical event (7)
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ECLIPSE
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anagram of (SEE CLIP)* with anagrind of for broadcast
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| 17 |
Stop rude sister in part (6)
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DESIST
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hidden clue (in part) of ruDE SISTer
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| 18 |
Some fellow early for sport (4)
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WEAR
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hidden in (some) of felloW EARly – sport in the sense of wear – so he was sporting/wearing a natty waistcoat (I think of P G Wodehouse and Jeeves for that use)
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DOWN
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| 1 |
By the sound of it, went by bike in street (4)
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ROAD
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soundalike of “rode” (went by bike)
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| 2 |
Anger found in pair, exceptionally (3)
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IRE
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hidden in (found in) paIR Exceptionally
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| 4 |
Start to enjoy opening with posh friend in the end (10)
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EVENTUALLY
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charade of E (start to Enjoy) + VENT (opening) + U (posh) + ALLY (friend) – giving an example of a more complicated charade (and one that could be found in a full Cryptic crossword). U for posh comes from the 1950s a social distinction between U and non-U (posh and not posh) language in English. It still lives on in crosswordland
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| 5 |
Son with fall gets to make a mistake (7)
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STUMBLE
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charade of S (son – from geneaology) + TUMBLE (fall)
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| 6 |
Favour quiet official with little hesitation (6)
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PREFER
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charade of P (quiet – from musical notation – piano) + REF (official – referee) + ER (little hesitation) – all the abbreviations here are regulars in cryptic crosswords.
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| 7 |
Cornmeal is cooked for underground workers (10)
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COALMINERS
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anagram of (CORNMEAL IS)* with anagrind of cooked
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| 10 |
A priest arranged socials (7)
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PARTIES
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anagram of (A PRIEST)* with anagrind of arranged.
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| 11 |
A bachelor with American journalist subjected to insults (6)
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ABUSED
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charade of A (from the clue) + B (bachelor – geneaology) + US (American) + ED (journalist – editor) – again all regular abbreviations in crosswordland
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| 13 |
Look in seaside feature announced (4)
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PEER
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soundalike of (announced) of “pier” (seaside feature)
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| 16 |
Greek character mentioned baked dish (3)
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PIE
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soundalike of (mentioned) “pi” (Greek character – Π)
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Hi Shanne, I just dropped in to see if anyone could account for the A in AWESOME. I think it’s a bit off-putting for beginners.
Otherwise, I thought it very fair. Liked MESS UP.
Thanks both.
I too came here for an explanation of the A in AWESOME. Curiouser and curiouser.
I too came here for an explanation of A in AWESOME.
Worse, clues that use points, bridge players or notes are some of my least favourite and this one manages to combine two of these.
I also wonder about 3ac. Can “ahead” and “up” be used interchangeably in a sentence? I am sure someone will be able to provide an example.
I liked COALMINERS and BARRICADE
Thanks Chandler and Shanne
Martyn @3 – Tyson Fury is ahead/up on points?
Shanne@4: I knew someone would have an answer. It was a nice example. Many thanks.
This seemed quite challenging at first pass but the hidden words and anagrams gave me enough to tackle the soundalikes and charades. I enjoyed piecing together the charades but needed help with the parsing of AWESOME and EVENTUALLY. From the above comments I can see why AWESOME defeated me. Great blog, thank you Shanne, and thanks for the puzzle Chandler.
I could not parse the A in 8ac – I parsed the rest as did Shanne: WE (two bridge players) + SO + ME (two notes). Like Martyn, I am not keen on clues using references to bridge. It is hardly a popular game anymore. I’m in my mid-60s and do not know anyone my age or younger who plays it. Surely there are other ways to clue directions NSEW?
Apologies for the missing ‘a’ in 8 across – it was originally ‘a couple of’ but was later changed. Hope it didn’t detract too much from enjoyment of the puzzle – thanks to Shanne for the great work he does in providing these detailed blogs.
Thanks Shanne.
Like Martyn@3 I wasn’t happy about the bridge players and the solfa scale notes all in the one clue..
I’m not a bridge player, but to give Chandler the benefit of the doubt regarding the A, and having a bit of a look online, could it be that two is a pair (WE)? A bit of a two-step process though, questionable in any cryptic, let alone a quick cryptic.
Oh, thanks Chandler
For anyone looking for tips and tactics, my live solve is over at … https://youtu.be/zOm4xXayMmU … I got stuck on MESS, EVENTUALLY, STUMBLE and PALATABLE for the last few mins so it’s a good example of how to dig those out.
What an amazing detailed blog.
I wish it was like that for the cryptics when I really want just a wee bit of help but not the whole answer immediately. What a lot of extra work has gone into this.
I struggled with 8a and 4d which seemed much harder than clues in previous Quick Cryptics; I didn’t know where to go with the bridge players. The only person I know who plays bridge is 80. Otherwise very enjoyable.
Couldn’t figure out which version of the word was required for 1D and as there is no clear direction of where the A comes from in 8A, I was somewhat stuck. 4D is too hard for this style of crossword, in fact I won’t be the only non-finisher this week.
A few multi-stage charades definitely upped the difficulty for me on this one but I got there. Struggled to parse 4d, but with so many crossers I was able to work it out. I’m not opposed to a few trickier clues in these, so long as they’re not dependent on other tricky ones for crossers.
@13 Peter – it had to be ROAD as the RODE definition isn’t at the start or end of the clue.
Many thanks Chandler@8 for explaining the 8a mystery! I guess it’s too late to issue a correction – I was just thinking of those who might be working through these excellent puzzles in the future. And many thanks to Shanne for another comprehensive blog.
Was thrown by U = ‘posh’ in 4d although had parsed the rest so it had to be. Never heard of that archaic usage. Like others the A in 8a had me stumped but had to be given the rest of the clue fell out from the wordplay. For some reason I had trouble getting onto the right wavelength for this QC but got there in the end.
Thanks Chandler for the puzzle (and 8a clarification) and thanks Shanne for the detailed blog as usual.
3a. To confuse matters further I think my partner’s cycling friends call out ‘car up’ meaning car behind and ‘car down’ meaning car ahead. I find this difficult to remember and was told to recite up your b** and down your throat. Is this terminology general, or is it a very local usage?
It never occurred to me that bachelor was from genealogy – I assumed it’s in the sense of BA/BSc.
Getting there@11 Same here – I’ve definitely loaded up the answers for a puzzle I’ve yet to finish and squinted at the page to try to confirm that I’ve got the definition part right without seeing any other spoilers.
Thanks for the puzzle/explanation Chandler@8 and thanks for the write-up Shanne.
Chandler @8, you could possibly have got away with claiming that the missing A was a deliberate learning exercise, in keeping with the aims of Quick Cryptics! We do see mistakes in clues occasionally in other crossword categories, along with solvers’ quibbles and objections.
I enjoyed this, and found it fairly challenging, like HG @10 and in the same places. HG, I quite often watch your videos and find it interesting to see where we each get misdirected or struggle to see something. As I only watch after solving a puzzle, I’m often willing you to see what I have already seen! I recommend HG’s videos for solving tips, for their honesty, and for seeing that you are not alone in sometimes being baffled. (I am also impressed sometimes at the speed of seeing an answer or how a clue works.)
Loved 4d, I’d worked it out from the crossers and the surface and it was then fun to parse. I’d heard of U / non U before and seen it here every so often.
For some reason I really struggled with 6d!
(We use car up as ahead and car back as behind @gawny / 18 – lots of variations!)
I totally had a different parse for 8a.
For me in my weird parse, I couldn’t find the OM… (was looking somewhere for a yoga reference)
I had A and E as notes, and W and S as bridge positions, and E from the end (extremely) of impressive (knowing that sometimes the whole thing includes the clue…)
Solfa just didn’t come into my head.
Chandler@8, thank you for the puzzle and the much needed clarification. I thought this was pretty tough for a QC. HG@10, I watched your solve to see what you said about AWESOME and like Monkey@20 was willing you on, especially with MESS UP and STUMBLE. Shanne, thank you very much for the painstaking blog.
Have been doing QCs since they started and can’t remember one that was chewier to complete. A clue like 4D would be pushing it even for a quiptic. Thanks Shanne for the blog.
Finished it but then needed help to parse 8a ( wouldn’t have been able to do that as no bridge knowledge) and see why it was u in 4d ( which I knew but hadn’t thought of). Once again a heartfelt thanks to the setter ( Chandler ) and Shanne for the detailed blog. I am loving these quick cryptics – fingers crossed for quiptic tomorrow which are more of a challenge for me.
Like others I came here looking for an explanation of the wayward A – I’d been thinking to myself that “a couple of” instead of “two” would fix it, so thanks to Chandler for dropping in and clearing that up.
I did find this on the harder end of the QC spectrum, but still in the right territory, I think.
I’ve never played bridge in my life, but I still know that NSEW are used to label players, so I’m fine with that. On the other hand, I dislike the “doh rae me” notes clues as there doesn’t seem to be general agreement on their spelling (as Shanne alludes to in the blog).
Thanks again to Chandler and Shanne.
To answer @Gawny, my cycling club uses ‘car front’ to mean that there’s a car in front of us, and ‘car back’ to mean that there’s one coming from behind us; I know that many cyclists use ‘car up’ to mean ‘car front’ and ‘car down’ to mean ‘car behind’, but the terms are more open to mis-interpretation while out on the road, which is why we use ‘front’ and ‘back’. If some clubs, like your friends’, do indeed use ‘up’ to mean ‘behind’, then all the more reason to avoid those terms, as people do switch clubs from time to time!
8a was the only one I couldn’t parse at all and at least I know why now (I know sol-fa intimately but it’s always been spelled “mi” where I’ve seen it). The “extremely” was a distraction too, didn’t seem to add anything to the clue (I assumed it was a Wordplay indicator for first and last letters of something).
Also ot a fan of “broadcast” as an anagrind particularly in a homophone-themed crossword. But still enjoyably solvable!
(just saw the comments re “car up” – I have never ever heard any cyclist use to mean “car behind” and struggle to imagine anyone would do ever so. It’s always “up” for “ahead” – – as in coming up, usually on a narrow road where some riders are likely to be using the opposite lane. Car “down” I’ve never heard either, if someone called that I’d wonder if there’d been an accident/breakdown!)
@20 Monkey and @23 Pauline – thanks for your feedback and support. When I was learning, I found it encouraging to go to the blogs and see the clues I’d struggled with were the same ones which decent solvers had struggled with. It’s very easy to imagine decent solvers never have dry spells or get blocked when you read their posts so hopefully the livesolves (especially today’s) highlight it’s not always plain sailing.
Live Solve: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHj5SHHgTMY
Little tougher this week, quite a few homophones, charades and the occasional anagram. Thanks Chandler, Thanks Shanne of Fifteen Squared. The “A” in 8 across seemed to stump quite a few people, so please do comment if you have any ideas.
Link to crossword: https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/quick-cryptic/
CrypticCruciverbalism @31 – Chandler @8 explains the missing “A” in 8A.
This was enjoyable – agree that 4d was very tough for a Quick Cryptic (honestly, wouldn’t be on the easy end of a Cryptic), though I do think that we should have some clues like that to help transition to tougher puzzles.
Figured out ‘for broadcast’ had to be an anagram indicator but it didn’t seem obviously so (first instinct was homophone indicator).
My family are all bridge players, though not me, but it does make the terminology on 8a easier! It was the notes that got me slowed down – my original parsing was the same as Zurichwelsh@22.
Still enjoying these puzzles. Agree with FinalPunch@33 that exposure to tougher clues is helpful for accessing the other puzzles. Didn’t get 4d but appreciate the construction and definitely seeing progress. Finishing these puzzles more often than not now and usually getting at least a few clues on the Sunday puzzles. Big love as ever to Shanne.
Gawny @18. I’ve been a keen cyclist for nearly 60 years, and the warning for car ahead or behind has always been the same. As has (perhaps with slightly more graphic language) the explanation for which is which.
Thank you for this, Shanne. I like the way I can look for a clue without seeing the answer.
Thanks Shanne and Chandler. Thoroughly enjoyed this puzzle. I completely kicked myself when I realized the other meaning of sport after reading the explanation. I guess sport is not used in that way so often these days. Slowly getting the hang of the bridge player clues. Maybe I will try the game one day.
This was only my third Guardian quick cryptic, after years of starting and giving up trying to learn multiple times. I’ve watched a few YouTube videos recently and thought I’d take the plunge and I’ve had an enjoyable three weeks solving these puzzles which have been pitched nicely and was very proud to finish a couple of them!
This blog has been invaluable in the explanations and the way they have been set out so thank you so much. This was actually the toughest one yet and I had to do a couple of reveals. At first I was a little downhearted but the blog and the comments have cheered me up as every clue I struggled with someone here mentioned and I completely agree that they are a great gateway to the clues in harder puzzles.
Yet another fun exercise for newcomers to get to grips with cryptics, including the accidental mistake with the missing A. It happens once in a while in the cryptics too, especially when setters decide to rework a clue to include a better device, only to accidentally drop the ball, or in this case a letter, exactly as Chandler explains at 8. Shrug, move on, check 225. Most times it’s your parsing that’s deficient, but you got the right answer, so carry on. Many folks often just bung in a synonym for the definition having got enough crossers and care little for the construct and consequently don’t see when there’s a problem.
Meanwhile, I have a treat for you all. Wednesday’s Cryptic, set by Arachne, a setter who’s been absent for a while but praised (and missed) in the regular blogs. It’s a work of art. The definitions are pretty clear, the wordplay majestic. Take your time. You probably won’t get them all and the SW corner is a little tricky, but you’ll enjoy those you can unravel, I assure you.
Meanwhile, thanks very much Chandler, a very good example of this fine series. Also to Shanne, the hidden answers and workings are a triumph.
Taffy @39 – I did see your comment on the the Arachne blog, and thought I need to add that suggestion to this Saturday’s blog, rather than post here, as some people come along later, but not many.
Shanne@40 you are exactly right in your thinking there, I just couldn’t wait to spread the joy and would have repeated it again on the next QC. Delighted that you concur and will leave it to you to spread the good news. Thanks for your wonderful efforts here.
This one felt challenging but satisfying.
Thanks to Chandler and Shanne for clearing up my confusion around the A and U, and again to Chandler for the puzzle itself. 🙂