Quick Cryptic 64 by Maskarade

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

This week we have the ninth Quick Cryptic by Maskarade, a regular setter at the Guardian. Today we only one clue type with all the letters given – anagrams, otherwise we have double definitions, soundalikes and charades, all of which are familiar.

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. RApID for the lose the middle example, Give A Good joke for the acrostic 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 – the example confuses newbies as it’s referring to Oscar Wilde, the playwright, and “Wilde” is a soundalike of WILD, a synonym of excited.
  • 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.
  • CAD or clue as definition– where the whole clue gives the definition, sometimes called an &lit. These are rare.
  • 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 – 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 An anagram of the answer and a 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)
  3. Double definition Both halves are definitions!
    ‘Search scrub (5)’ gives SCOUR
  4. LSoundalike Something that sounds like the answer
    ‘Excited as Oscar’s announced (4)’ gives WILD

ACROSS Click on “Answer” to see the solutions
1
It has replaced the acre! (7)
Answer

HECTARE
Parsing

anagram of (THE ACRE)* with anagrind of “replaced” – but this clue is also a CAD / &lit – the wordplay is part of the clue, the whole clue is also the definition. We met the same clue in Quick Cryptic 30 by Maskarade too
5
Golf standard score father announced (3)
Answer

PAR
Parsing

soundalike (announced) of “pa” (father) – and if you haven’t come across it, golfing terms regularly turn up in cryptic crosswords, along with cricket. More about this one here

7
Agreed: make up (5)
Answer

ATONE
Parsing

double definition – this was my last one in (LOI) because I wasn’t sure that ATONE meant agreed, but according to Collins online to ATONE does mean agree, although they mark that meaning as obsolete. adding later – I’m sure we’ve met this before, but it wasn’t Maskarade that I could see – and had the same debate about AT ONE/ATONE, is it a charade or a double definition.
8
Coach – or many (5)
Answer

TRAIN
Parsing

double definition – to coach is to TRAIN and a TRAIN is made up of a number of coaches – the second definition is a bit cryptic, as is often found in cryptic crosswords.
9
Bottom, say, of a ship (3)
Answer

ASS
Parsing

charade of A (from the clue) and SS (ship – actually Steam Ship – but it’s a regular abbreviation in crosswords). Bottom, say, because it’s the American version of that synonym for botton.
11
Scandinavian to condescend, we hear (4)
Answer

DANE
Parsing

soundalike (we hear) of “deign” (to condescend)
13
Listen out for Christmas decoration (6)
Answer

TINSEL
Parsing

anagram of (LISTEN)* with anagrind of “out”
15
Daughter beside Sheffield’s river (3)
Answer

DON
Parsing

charade of D (daughter – from genealogy) + ON (beside) to give one of several three word rivers in the UK that are used extensively in crosswords. We’ve come across the Dee before, and the Po, an Italian river, but it’s worth remembering the Exe and Ure with the Don and Dee, possibly the Cam and Fal too.
16
Impede progress to basket (6)
Answer

HAMPER
Parsing

double definition – this basket is usually linked to picnics.
18
Appear at joint, reportedly (4)
Answer

SEEM
Parsing

soundalike (reportedly) of “seam” (joint – as in welding)
21
Watch body of water that’s roared (3)
Answer

SEE
Parsing

soundalike (that’s roared) of “sea” (body of water). I didn’t actually solve this clue, it went in from the crossers, so this is back parsed from the answer. Roared as a soundalike indicator isn’t one I’ve come across before. I went to watch/see the latest film does work.
23 Drive off composer (5)
Answer

VERDI
Parsing

anagram of (DRIVE)* with anagrind of “off” for this composer

24 Building grounds, it’s said, lovely to look at (5)
Answer

SIGHT
Parsing

soundalike (it’s said) of “site” (building grounds) – the grammar does work, the indicator of “it’s said” working better with the building grounds, and the soundalike has fewer letters.
25 Amateur to set the table (3)
Answer

LAY
Parsing

double definition with the first referring to members of church communities who are not ordained – I’m not sure with the current reliance of lay members of churches to keep them going that those lay members would see themselves as amateur.

26 Renault changed gear (7)
Answer

NEUTRAL
Parsing

anagram of (RENAULT)* with anagrind of “change” for the sort of gear found in a car or machinery.

DOWN
1 Treasure from wandering tribe is spoken of (5)
Answer

HOARD
Parsing

soundalike (is spoken of) of “horde” (wandering tribe) the hordes of Genghis Khan.
2
Coin, part of regalia (5)
Answer

CROWN
Parsing

double definition the coin used to be worth five shillings, hence half-a-crown coins, and the full regalia includes a sceptre, orb and ceremonial sword.
3
Zone’s live one (4)
Answer

AREA
Parsing

charade of ARE (live – they are/live, from to be) + A (one – as in a/one pack of cards)

4
Stays home for a meal, pouring tisane (4,2)
Answer

EATS IN
Parsing

anagram of (TISANE)* with anagrind of “pouring”
5
Conference fruits in twos, we hear (5)
Answer

PEARS
Parsing

soundalike (we hear) of “pairs” (in twos) – and if you’re wondering with conference fruit, there’s more here.
6
Learn about description of organ (5)
Answer

RENAL
Parsing

anagram of (LEARN)* with anagrind of “about” for the description of kidneys.
10
Save the deli? (5)
Answer

STORE
Parsing

double definition preppers STORE/save supplies in case of nuclear war, the deli? with a question mark as it is a definition by example (DBE), other stores are available.
12
Silver article for range (3)
Answer

AGA
Parsing

charade of AG (chemical symbol for silver – well Ag is, and is another Latin origin name – argentum) + A (article – as in the indefinite article in grammar)
14
Female sheep sounds like you! (3)
Answer

EWE
Parsing

soundalike (sounds like) of “you”
15
Purpose of blueprint (6)
Answer

DESIGN
Parsing

double definition with two similar meanings

16
Dirty shack that’s near Brighton Lake (5)
Answer

HOVEL/details>
Parsing

charade of HOVE (UK town near Brighton) + L (lake – abbreviation from maps).

17
Spoil tracks and join together (5)
Answer

MARRY
Parsing

charade of MAR (spoil) plus RY (tracks – abbrevication for railway)
19
Composer out of glare (5)
Answer

ELGAR
Parsing

anagram of (GLARE)* with anagrind of “out of” for this English composer who we also met last week in one of the clues, and as the identical clue #19 in Maskarade’s Quick Cryptic #48.
20
Iron, say , temperament (5)
Answer

METAL
Parsing

soundalike (say – although I think this should also be there to indicate a definition by example) of “mettle” (temperament)
22
Isaac’s son points to gold (4)
Answer

ESAU
Parsing

charade of E S (points – as in east and south) + AU (gold – the chemical symbol for gold, which again comes from the Latin, here it’s aurum) – it’s definitely worth learning the chemical abbreviations for the elements, as they do get used a lot. Particularly gold (Au) and Ag for silver.

 

 

24 comments on “Quick Cryptic 64 by Maskarade”

  1. Figured RY must be for railway hence tracks. Can only ever really recall having seen it abbreviated as RWY though. 14D seemed a bit too obvious even for a quick cryptic, would expect something that requires at least a bit of thought (maybe “Reader is said to be a sheep”…not sure how often words like “reader” or “solver” get used to mean “you” though).

    Surely it’s “at one” for agreed?

  2. Thanks Shanne. I don’t remember an earlier example of a CAD/&lit in the Quick Cruyptics.
    Agree with Dylan N @1 about AT ONE.

  3. AGA is a word I had to learn pretty early in my cryptic travels, and also ”range”. Neither is used frequently down here. Nice misdirections in that clue.

    I saw ASS, ”Bottom say”, as the character in a Midsummer Night’s Dream. I only know that as that was a set text at school and I must have been paying attention that year. I first thought it was the American soundalike, but changed my mind.

  4. 7a was also the one I wasn’t sure of and I’m still not sure if it should be a 2-3 or is an obsolete word, either are probably not ideal in a Quick.

    Some of the assumed knowledge was new to me, but the wordplay was straightforward enough to get.

    I like the Midsummer Night’s Dream explanation now that I see it, as it would be a double wordplay otherwise.

  5. Today’s a masterclass in homophones (needed to me), an interesting grid, and lots to learn, thanks Mascarade and Shanne!

    I wasn’t sure “Pa” and PAR sound alike, but if I got it, hey, they probably do. Had to google “Hove” and HOVEL, knew neither. And, despite my nickname, had difficulty with LAY after having erroneously put “Merge” in 17d.

    I think ATONE can’t be “agreed”, they are in different tenses; I rather thought “agreed” = “AT ONE”

  6. Some nice clues, with a mix of easy (e.g. as already noted for EWE) and clues requiring some thought.

    HECTARE was a great clue. Also liked TRAIN, and NEUTRAL (which could have also been LAURANT)

    Thanks Maskrade and Shanne

  7. Thanks to Shanne for the blog and Maskarade for an interesting QC – thought it was on the tougher side and while most people will be able to complete it, probably there will be some clues people can’t parse. Joining the chorus that AT-ONE = agreed; but then not sure how you classify it – charade or DD.

    My talkthrough solve of the puzzle is available at https://youtu.be/rq2bKCILAYk … certainly not a write-in so hopefully some useful tips and tactics in there.

  8. Really good fun. Romped through it in good time. Nice mixture of clues. Had to give up on 7A and 2D

    Homophones do rely on a certain accent being used in many cases and it certainly isn’t mine!

    Thanks Maskarade and Shanne

  10. I’m not seeing the AT ONE suggestion. How would you use it in a sentence? My mind’s going to AS ONE or AT ONCE as possible synonyms for agree, but I’m with Shanne on the archaic ATONE.

    Thought elements of this were a bit stickier than the average QC and enjoyed it for its challenge. Thanks to Shanne and Maskarade.

  12. Not sure about 7a but thought the Agreed: might mean that the the following had two definitions. Ie make up is A TONE of colour and ATONE is to make up for something.

    Not sure what a colon in a clue normally means though.

  13. Sorry, I didn’t have the energy to look up the familiar clues in the wee small hours, but I did know that a few had been recycled, and I’ve added that information with links.

    paddymelon @3 – Nick Bottom in A Midsummer’s Night’s Dream is the weaver of the rude mechanicals – one of the party creating the play within the play – and only has his head changed to that of an ass, temporarily, through Puckish mischief. He’s still a man. I studied it too, both as a student and to teach it.

  14. Very enjoyable and agree with others that it’s quite tricky in places. Some misdirections on anagram signals I thought, and also very clever charades. Homophones I always have trouble with, not with which is the sound-alike part but what is the synonym word. I found the grid helped a bit giving a lot of crossers and almost filling in a solution word here and there. Like others ATONE for ‘agree’ I was unsure with but it fitted the other definition word. Seeing AT ONE in the comments here feels almost right but like Holypeanut@10 I feel AS ONE sounds more like ‘agree’. Enjoyed HECTARE, HOVEL and MARRY. Thanks Shanne for explanations and Maskarade for the puzzle.

  15. For someone who’s been doing cryptics for decades and admittedly still struggling at times,cryptics have never been meant to be populist,there will always be a poser or two that will not conform to the “rules “.I thought it was well set,save,7A which is tad controversial.So,props to Maskarade and too Shanne as well.

  16. Thank you Shanne for explaining LOI and DBE ! I’m never sure about the meanings of these ( and many others too) so this was very helpful. Getting better at homophones. Needed help from the blog to understand parsing of 3 across and 17 down

  17. I think the Midsummer Night’s Dream explanation of ASS must be the intended one, as suggested by paddymelon @3, because that accounts for the “say” — the character Bottom is an example of an ass. I appreciate what you say @13 Shanne, that strictly Bottom just acquires the head of an ass, but it doesn’t seem unreasonable to refer to him as one. He does in fact say “I am such a tender ass”, and Titania says “Methought I was enamoured of an ass”.

  19. Did you know that the word Atonement was created by the Bible translator Tyndale? He was translating the Hebrew Kippur (as in Yom Kippur). He wanted it to convey at-one-ment, a sacrifice that reconciles people and God.

  20. This was what I call a slow burner. I got many random clues before warming up to Maskarade’s style. Lots of clever misdirections and plenty of practice of soundalikes. I got ATONE ok but then I’m very old!! I agree about merge Layman@5 but thanks Shanne for clarifying that RY can mean railway. Also thanks Alison@19 for that little gem about Tyndale!! Fun overall and lots of interesting comments above.

  21. I didn’t really like ‘see’ for ‘watch’ in 21 A. I agree that a trip to the cinema could be described as ‘going to watch….’ or ‘going to see…’ but they do have different meanings. The latter is the expected result of the former!
    On the other hand I was quite comfortable with At One/Atone. I thought that was a clever clue.

  22. So much British knowledge needed for this one. My little American brain struggled mightily today.

  23. I came here looking for an explanation for the connection between AGA and RANGE, and I’m still stumped.

  24. gdxpr @23 – an AGA is a make of cooking range in the UK. They go in and out of fashion, but often seen in farmhouse type country kitchens. I grew up with a series of them – we had a tiny Rayburn on a boat we lived on, another one in a cottage and an Aga in the next house. These ranges are the source of the phrase Aga Saga to describe, initially, Joanna Trollope books, but a genre of cosy literature written around idealised families in country settings.

    Agas do work as cooking ranges, requiring different techniques to work them effectively, but we also used them as heating, and they can be used to heat water. Having one in a kitchen is warm: we all used to roost along Mother Aga when it was cold, and when we were dealing with a series of power cuts after being snowed in spent our lives around it (solid fuel this one) with candles.

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