Guardian Quiptic 874/Nutmeg

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A Quiptic from our favourite Spice Girl this morning.  And a fine one it was too.  Beginners would have enjoyed this, I think.

 

 

 

Abbreviations
cd  cryptic definition
dd  double definition
(xxxx)*  anagram
anagrind = anagram indicator
[x]  letter(s) missing

definitions are underlined

Across

1  Novel written in an attic?
ROOM AT THE TOP
A cd, referencing the novel by John Braine.

8  We raged about plant inducing hay fever
RAGWEED
(WE RAGED)*  I didn’t know that RAGWEED was a culprit for hay fever, but I don’t know much about the condition.

9  Feels more animated with guns mounted
WARMS UP
A charade of W, ARMS and UP (as in on a horse).

11  Recovered goods left during attack
SALVAGE
An insertion of L in SAVAGE.

12  Tried to supply US industrial centre
DETROIT
(TRIED TO)*  You have to take ‘supply’ as ‘in a supple way’ for the anagrind.

13  Type of delivery to take out learner
DRAWL
A charade of DRAW and L.  Think ‘drawing’ a gun.

14  Reveal all and sing — it’s what we should do in the shower
COME CLEAN
A dd cum cd.

16  Botanists short of a pound? They needn’t spend much on clothes
NATURISTS
NATUR[AL]ISTS

19  Let out new clothing DI brought back
WIDEN
A reversal of DI inserted into NEW.

21  How barrister’s given instruction to sum up
IN BRIEF
A dd.

23  A room arranged by American in love
AMOROUS
(A ROOM)* plus US.

24  The woman possessed by passion’s most lavish
LUSHEST
An insertion of SHE in LUST.

25  Rascal troubled, we hear, getting stuck
IMPALED
A charade of IMP and ALED, a homophone of AILED.

26  Pays for fellers, those on the march
FOOTSLOGGERS
A charade of FOOTS (the bill) and LOGGERS.

Down

1  Algeria’s abandoned trappings of state
REGALIA
(ALGERIA)*

2  This protection‘s best of the lot!
OVERALL
A dd.

3  Hearings in case due to be rescheduled
AUDIENCES
Brilliant surface.  It’s (IN CASE DUE)*

4  Why bridegroom will go to church, dragged along
TOWED
A bridegroom would go to church TO WED, wouldn’t he?

5  Unreliable quote about a bishop getting up
ERRATIC
An insertion of RR for Right Reverend or ‘bishop’ in CITE reversed.

6  Hero and son at sea but not at sea
ONSHORE
(HERO SON)*

7  Typically Lincoln’s for living in, under pressure
PRESIDENTIAL
Referring to Abraham Lincoln, the American PRESIDENT.  A charade of P and RESIDENTIAL.

10  Reserve allocated to specific team
PUT ON ONE SIDE
Another cd cum dd.  I made things difficult by originally entering PUT TO ONE SIDE, which also works, I think.

15  Losing track of motorway carnage
MISLAYING
A charade of MI for the ‘motorway’ and SLAYING.  Something I do a lot with my car keys, wallet, mobile and sundry other items.  This often results in my children hearing bad words.

17  A small company added to bill for sauce
TABASCO
TAB for ‘bill’ followed by A, S and CO.

18  Try to slash regular charge for clothing
RAIMENT
An insertion of AIM in RENT.

19  Bear up amid very little cheer
WHOOPEE
This was my favourite this morning.  An insertion of POOH reversed in WEE.  The bear of very little brain.

20  Aimless productions? Director has a great many
DOODLES
A charade of D and OODLES.

22  Deadly soubriquet for portly gangster?
FATAL
A final dd cum cd.  Al Capone is the setters’ favourite ‘gangster’.  And if he was a bit overweight, well, he’d be …

Many thanks to Nutmeg for this morning’s Quiptic.

10 comments on “Guardian Quiptic 874/Nutmeg”

  1. Thanks Nutmeg and Pierre
    Yes, I agree with everything you say, Pierre – even down to having PUT TO ONE SIDE first! WHOOPEE also my favourite. I’ve left a post praising this on the Rufus blog.
    RAGWEED does cause some people’s hay fever, but for me the worst is rape (the plant, that is).

  2. A model Quiptic, I thought – many thanks, Nutmeg – and Pierre.

    On 10d, surely “to put TO one side” has a slightly different sense – to overlook, at least for purposes of argument.

    Start the week with a quibble and things can only get better…

  5. [As chaffinches’ natural habitat in Britain is the car park, hoopoes’ natural environment in Portugal is the golf course!]

  6. Thanks Pierre and Nutmeg

    I could not parse RAIMENT, but apart from that it seemed like a good puzzle for beginners (which includes me)

    My favourites were FOOTSLOGGERS and WHOOPEE

  7. Thanks for explaining the draw in drawl, Pierre – this was my last in. I agree – WHOOPEE was very good!

  8. Delightful, and well pitched for the slot. For 12a, I took it as “tried to” ‘supplied’ the letters needed for the answer. I like your interpretation too, Pierre, but I’m not sure which Nutmeg intended – perhaps both?

    Thanks to Nutmeg and Pierre.

  9. Thank you Nutmeg and Pierre.

    Just right for a Quiptic. As for matrixmania @7, DRAWL was my last in, thanks for the parsing, Pierre.

    My favourite clues were those for IN BRIEF, AUDIENCES, WHOOPEE, FOOTSLOGGERS, TOWED, MISLAYING and FATAL!

  10. The parsing of 5d, ERRATIC, needs to include the A. With the A, then both parts – A RR and CITE – need to be reversed. One more thing: the definition, unreliable, should be underlined. If anyone cares, several days later…

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