Guardian Quick Cryptic 100 by Pangakupu

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This week’s 11 x 11 crossword from the Guardian intended to teach cryptic crosswords, found here

This week’s 100th puzzle is by Pangakupu, their 4th crossword in this spot, Pangakupu also sets Cryptics, Genius, Quiptic and Prize crosswords. Today we have anagrams and acrostic clues with all the letters present, plus reversals and charades mean the words come from the solvers general and cryptic knowledge.

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.

This blog continues to develop in response to suggestions. We hide the answers and the wordplay descriptions (parsing) too.   To find the solution click on “Answer” and to find how the word play works, click on “Parsing” which will reveal the hidden information. You can choose to reveal everything using the “Expand All” button. If you have partially revealed the page, refreshing it will clear that, and allow you to expand all. The definition is in bold and underlined, the indicator is in red.

For additional help click here

There is a summary of the tricks used in the first six months here and a Guardian Crossword blog called the ultimate beginner’s guide has tips which may be useful for some solvers

 

For abbreviations and clue tips click here

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. haVE ALtered for the example.
  • anagram – letters being used shown in brackets (SENATOR)* for the clue below to give TREASON.
  • anagrind – anagram indicator – in the case below it is “arranged”
  • soundalike – is indicated by “Wilde” – so in the example, Oscar “Wilde”, the playwright and author, is indicating the soundalike WILD.
  • 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.
  • reversals – the reversal element of a clue is indicated by < – so in the example clue below, VieTNAm <.
  • CAD or clue as definition– where the whole clue gives the definition, sometimes called an &lit. These are rare.
  • DBE or definition 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 – because the clues have moved on from the clue descriptions below, I am now adding more to the descriptions hidden above. Clues begin or end with a definition of the answer. The rest is one of these:

  1. Anagram Anagram of answer and hint that there’s an anagram
    ‘Senator arranged crime (7)’ gives TREASON
  2. Charade Combination of synonyms/abbrevs
    ‘Qualify to get drink for ID (8)’ gives PASSPORT (pass + port)
    These can be complicated – more above under abbreviations and clue tips
  3. Reversal Answer backwards, and a hint that we’re reversing
    ‘Deity’s pet returns (3)’ gives GOD, from DOG < (pet)
  4. Acrostic First letters of answer
    ‘Initially Get A Good joke (3)’ gives GAG (joke)

ACROSS Click on “Answer” to see the solutions
1
Promote religious figure after sound of disapproval (5)
Answer

BOOST
Parsing

charade of ST (religious figure – so abbreviation for saint) after from the clue) BOO (sound of disapproval) to give BOO + ST with ordering instructions followed.

This one I didn’t write in because I had so many alternatives in my head, so left it until I had crossers on my second pass through the clues. In crosswords, as well as a saint, a religious figure could be a nun, rev/reverend, fr/father … The sound of disapproval that immediately came to mind was TUT. There are also several abbreviations for saint – ST as here, but also S or SS – which I usually connect with Roman Catholic Churches, but are seen.
4
Sculpting stone for a start (5)
Answer

ONSET
Parsing

anagram of (STONE)* with an anagrind of “sculpting”. The surface here is smooth, using “sculpting” with “stone” suggests a statue being created.
7
Spot dealer operating today, at the beginning (3)
Answer

DOT
Parsing

acrostic (at the beginning) of Dealer Operating Today – with a surface suggesting the start of an account of a police sting operation.
8
Performing in theatre? Agent so excited (2-5)
Answer

ON-STAGE
Parsing

anagram of (AGENT SO)* with an anagrind of “excited”. There’s a question mark after the definition of “performing in theatre” as that is an example of being ON-STAGE, so it’s a definition by example (DBE).
9
Reject vote after rigging (4)
Answer

VETO
Parsing

anagram of (VOTE) with an anagrind of “after rigging” – and this feels a very topical clue with the accusations of cheating in the Gorton and Denton by-election, with attempts by Reform to have the vote declared void.
10
Famous scientist not off after amphibian (6)
Answer

NEWTON
Parsing

charade of ON (not off) after (from the clue) NEWT (amphibian) – to give NEWT + ON for this famous scientist. In cryptic crosswords, this is the first scientist I’d think of, before moving on to others. (Marie Curie was clued in last week’s prize).
13
Shed: thin, closed (4-2)
Answer

LEAN-TO
Parsing

charade of LEAN (thin) + TO (closed) for this sort of shed. TO for closed I think of as northern dialect – is the door to/closed?
15
Drops off, taking bridge the wrong way (4)
Answer

NAPS
Parsing

reversal (the wrong way) of SPAN < (bridge) – to bridge something is to span it. The clue tells us to reverse the synonym for bridge as it is in the middle of the clue with the reversal indicator at the end and the definition to start.
18
Art: mine decorated mosque tower (7)
Answer

MINARET
Parsing

anagram of (ART MINE)* with an anagrind of “decorated” – and here solvers have to ignore all punctuation – which is normal in cryptic crosswords, until it’s not. There have been a number of clues in the Everyman and Cryptics where the answer is the name of some punctuation.
19
Individual origins of outdated nuclear energy (3)
Answer

ONE
Parsing

acrostic (origins of) Outdated Nuclear Energy.
20
As a result of two performing together? Love (3,2)
Answer

DUE TO
Parsing

charade of DUET (two performing together) + O (love) – and another question mark to indicate a definition by example and another clue where punctuation is otherwise ignored.
21
Dark monstrous thing (5)
Answer

NIGHT
Parsing

anagram of (THING)* with an anagrind of “monstrous”.
DOWN
1
Afflict part of garden? Very bad (7)
Answer

BEDEVIL
Parsing

charade of BED (part of garden) + EVIL (very bad) with more punctuation to ignore.

2
Eight debuts of odd characters – totally entertaining television (5)
Answer

OCTET
Parsing

acrostic (debuts of) of Odd Characters Totally Entertaining Television – with another amusing surface suggesting a TV show with eccentric characters.
3
Implement getting plunder lifted (4)
Answer

TOOL
Parsing

reversal (lifted – in a down clue) of LOOT < (plunder). Which one is which way round is a cryptic grammar thing again: the implement is at the start of the clue, so this is the definition. The reversal indicator, “lifted” is at the end and next to plunder, so plunder is to be reversed.
4
Seafood available in different storey (6)
Answer

OYSTER
Parsing

anagram of (STOREY)* with an anagrind of “different”.
5
Clever vehicles on rails, going uphill (5)
Answer

SMART
Parsing

reversal (going uphill – in a down clue) of TRAMS < (vehicles on rails) – again the cryptic grammar tells the solvers that the definition is clever because it is at the start of the clue, with the reversal indicator (going uphill) at the end, and the word(s) to be reversed are clued by vehicles on rails.
6
Openings for Tranmere in Everton match (3)
Answer

TIE
Parsing

acrostic (openings for) Tranmere In Everton – and both Everton and Tranmere (Rovers) are football teams. For the definition, “match” – think cup matches.
11
Just beginning North American trail (7)
Answer

NASCENT
Parsing

charade of NA (abbreviation for North America, it’s recognised in the dictionaries) + SCENT (trail) – and I suspect the “just beginning” reference is deliberately misleading to acrostics.
12
Sources of sound that excellent recording equipment organises using two channels (6)
Answer

STEREO
Parsing

acrostic (sources of) of Sound That Excellent Recording Equiment Organises.
14
New version of inane Broadway musical (5)
Answer

ANNIE
Parsing

anagram of (INANE)* with an anagrind of “new version of” – and the answer refers to this Broadway musical.

16
Amid austerity, millions often need grants at the outset (5)
Answer

AMONG
Parsing

acrostic (at the outset) of Austerity Millions Often Need Grants – and a surface that makes sense / tells a little story.
17
Shock upturn in almonds or cashews? (4)
Answer

STUN
Parsing

reversal (upturn – in a down clue) of NUTS (almonds or cashews) with a question mark to show that this is a definition by example (DBE). In this clue, both the definition and word to be reversed are at the start and end of the clue, with the reversal indicator in the middle, so we’re now relying on cryptic grammar to say which is the word to be reversed and which the definition – but it’s a crossword, so crossers can also help.

18
Overturning weir? That’s crazy (3)
Answer

MAD
Parsing

reversal (overturning – again in a down clue) of DAM (weir) – and this clue the reversal indicator is at the beginning of the clue, with the word to be reversed in the middle and the definition at the end.

4 comments on “Guardian Quick Cryptic 100 by Pangakupu”

  1. Mary
    #1 - Sat 28th Feb 26, 08:06

    Got all the down clues easily (except 1D) which was a nice boost for a beginner. I got 20 and 21A but not sure why so thanks Shanne for the clarifications. I enjoyed this so thanks Pangakupu

  2. Janet Mundy
    #2 - Sat 28th Feb 26, 08:28

    20a made me laugh.

  3. paddymelon
    #3 - Sat 28th Feb 26, 08:40

    I don’t know if I have this right, but I had DOT, as in the year dot, from the beginning.

  4. paddymelon
    #4 - Sat 28th Feb 26, 08:45

    I tried to cancel my comment @3 but it didn’t work.

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