Guardian Quick Cryptic 82 by Pangakupu

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

The puzzle for this week is the 3rd Quick Cryptic by Pangakupu who sets regular Cryptic and other puzzles in the Guardian. Today we have anagrams and alternate letters with all the letters given, the other clue types are charades and reversals, that both require finding all the letters to fit the clues.

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. Get A Good joke 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”
  • 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.
  • reversal shown by < – so DOG < becomes GOD
  • 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 An anagram of the answer and a hint that there’s an anagram
    ‘Senator arranged crime (7)’ gives TREASON
  2. Charade(s) Combination of synonyms/abbrevs
    ‘Qualify to get drink for ID (8)’ gives PASSPORT (pass + port) – (see more above)
  3. Reversal Answer backwards, and a hint that we’re reversing
    ‘Deity’s pet returns (3)’ gives GOD (from DOG (pet) <)
  4. Alternate letters Choose every other letter for answer
    ‘Oddly envied First Lady? (3)’ gives EVE (from EnViEd)

ACROSS Click on “Answer” to see the solutions
1
Jumped over crushed petal (5)
Answer

LEAPT
Parsing

anagram of (PETAL) with an anagrind of “crushed”.
4
Measles, perhaps, comes to an end after setback (5)
Answer

SPOTS
Parsing

reversal (after setback) of STOPS (comes to an end) < – perhaps, because measles is an example of one of those childhood illnesses that usually comes with a rash, so a definition by example (DBE). In theory, measles is one of those not so great illnesses which is being eradicated by vaccines, but the poor vaccination uptake means we’re getting measles outbreaks again, with all the very nasty extras.
7
Exclusive period for feathers (7)
Answer

PLUMAGE
Parsing

charade of PLUM (exclusive – as in a plum job) + AGE (period).
8
Time to ignore periodic bits of hearsay (3)
Answer

ERA
Parsing

alternate letters (ignore periodic bits of) hEaRsAy, for one of the many crossword equivalents for periods of time – we had AGE above, here it’s ERA; EON also appears.
9
Returning group of hunters to be busy (4)
Answer

TEEM
Parsing

reversal (returning) MEET (group of hunters) < – as in the Boxing Day Meet tends to mean the traditional Boxing Day hunt gathering. And to be busy as in to teem with life.
10
Tension in street with wet weather (6)
Answer

STRAIN
Parsing

charade of ST (street – as in maps or addresses) + RAIN (wet weather).
12
Aluminium bottoms in collections of tracks (6)
Answer

ALBUMS
Parsing

charade of AL (Aluminium – chemical symbol for aluminium is Al) + BUMS (bottoms) – and the tracks are musical.
14
Water plant hunted animal turned over (4)
Answer

REED
Parsing

reversal (turned over) of DEER (hunted animal) < – for one of the regular crossword reversals.
17
Draw trike at odd moments (3)
Answer

TIE
Parsing

alternate letters (at odd moments) of TrIkE – for a sporting draw.
18
Creative folk in Dire Straits (7)
Answer

ARTISTS
Parsing

anagram of (STRAITS)* with an anagrind of “dire” and the witty trick here is Dire Straits was a band – and we have to split the two words to find the anagrind and anagram fodder. This is a regular trick in clue setting, because we solvers tend to read the phrase as a whole and not separate the two parts. (The link is to a track.)
20
Orders kitchen item to be returned (5)
Answer

REMIT
Parsing

reversal (to be returned) of TIMER (kitchen item) < – as in an egg timer.
21
Material beam of light working (5)
Answer

RAYON
Parsing

charade of RAY (beam of light) + ON (working) for one of a class of early synthetic fabrics. ON for working is a regular crossword trick.
DOWN
1 Drink friend knocked over (3)
Answer

LAP
Parsing

reversal (knocked over) of PAL (friend) < – drink as an animal does from a pool.
2
Entertain a source of inspiration (5)
Answer

AMUSE
Parsing

charade of A (from the clue) + MUSE (source of inspiration). The original MUSES come from Greek mythology and several crossword setters expect this to be general knowledge – Erato comes up regularly, but I’ve also seen Caliope, Terpsichore and the rest clued.
3
What cafes supply at odd places in the pass (4)
Answer

TEAS
Parsing

alternate letters (at odd places) in ThE pAsS.
4
Detective sorted out hustle (6)
Answer

SLEUTH
Parsing

anagram of (HUSTLE)* with an anagrind of “sorted out”.
5
Couple dream off and on in La Bohème? (5)
Answer

OPERA
Parsing

alternate letters (off and on) from cOuPlE dReAm – the question mark is because it’s a definition by example (DBE) as La Bohème is one example of an opera, albeit one with various characters dreaming of a better life.
6
Describing decorative glass broken instead (7)
Answer

STAINED
Parsing

anagram of (INSTEAD)* with an anagrind of “broken”
9
Attribute displayed by alternative double-crosser (7)
Answer

TRAITOR
Parsing

charade of TRAIT (attribute displayed) + (by) OR (alternative) – or for alternative is one of those bits of crosswordese that’s worth squirrelling away.
11
Translation of mutual feature of German text (6)
Answer

UMLAUT
Parsing

anagram of (MUTUAL)* with an anagrind of “translation of”.
13
Fish, amber, at sea (5)
Answer

BREAM
Parsing

anagram of (AMBER)* with an anagrind of “at sea”. Lots of fish (and plants, flowers, animals, etc) turn up in cryptic crosswords – and htis one has been helpfully clued as a fish, rather than a swimmer or any other allusive definition. Note too, as in common with the rest of the puzzle, the anagrind has been chosen to go with the rest of the clue.
15
Regular parts of least scary piece of writing (5)
Answer

ESSAY
Parsing

alternate letters (regular parts) of lEaSt ScArY
16
Twirling that’s annoying lead performer (4)
Answer

STAR
Parsing

reversal (twirling) RATS (that’s annoying) <- as in word used when something is annoying.
19
Child in swoon intermittently (3)
Answer

SON
Parsing

alternate letters (intermittently) of SwOoN

 

 

17 comments on “Guardian Quick Cryptic 82 by Pangakupu”

  2. I’m fortunate to be of a certain age where I remember ALBUMS, and still have some. Also, as a former student of German, UMLAUT is familiar (a diacritic, that changes the vowel). Decorative (STAINED) glass is not that common in my part of the world, except those of us who went, or still go, to Church, or engage in art work.

  3. I steer clear of this setter’s regular cryptics, as they usually end in tears, but this was very approachable (are we allowed to say “easy”?). Only the group of hunters floored me.

  4. GDU @3. I’m impressed at Pangakupu’s/Phi’s skill at all levels. I found this offering tightly clued and entertaining.
    Have encountered some of the solutions before, but he put a novel spin on them, and gettable, as I think you’re saying. ::-)

    Hope everyone enjoys.

  5. Not too hard or easy but I did take a bit of time to figure some clues out.Stuck at 9a and had to reveal to solve the entire puzzle.Thanks to Shanne and Pangakupu.

  6. I am another who needed time to solve MEET and TRAITOR

    I thought this the most enjoyable quick cryptic for a while.

    I liked SLEUTH, PLUMAGE made me smile, OPERA, STRAIN, UMLAUT and ARTISTS got two ticks

    I have a question about TRAITOR. Despite Shane’s comment, I cannot think of a sentence where alternative can be swapped for or. Can someone enlighten me, please?

    Thanks p…u and Shanne

  7. Came here to understand the parsing of STAR. Thanks Shanne (a great blog as usual) and Pangakupu!

    Martyn @6: I would not think they are interchangeable, OR rather indicates an alternative I guess…

  8. Interesting QC today. Certainly some tougher clues in there and I got held up by the SW – TEEM and TRAITOR – along with taking a while to confirm that orders=remit.

    All this on display in my live talkthrough of the QC is available over at … https://youtu.be/OP9a1jJCwBU … tips and tactics on how to solve.

    As always, thanks to Shanne for the comprehensive blog

  9. Was doing well with this grid but then was foxed by 9a and 14a reversals. Had to reveal those! Liked ALBUMS and ARTISTS and TRAITOR. Thank you Pangakupu for the puzzle, and to Shanne for the explanations.
    BTW I’m currently in New Zealand and as it’s Pangakupu as setter do we think he’s placed a Maori Nina again? I find RUHE is a leader who signed the Waitangi Treaty?

  10. I don’t quite understand how “orders” can be a clue for “remit”. As verbs, their forms are different (third person singular vs infinitive). As nouns, the singular “remit” would need to be synonymous to the plural “orders”, but I don’t see how that can be the explanation either.

  11. Paddymelon @1 – you nearly got Romeo and Juliet. I was going to use Money for Nothing if I’d found it, but it didn’t come up immediately, and at 3am I wasn’t hanging around digging for links.

    Martyn @6 – breakfast is continental or/alternative full English. It sounds American to my ears. It’s just that in crosswordese “alternative” often means “or”, as “if” is usually clued “provided”.

    thecronester @9 – Pangakupu didn’t give us a Nina in either of the previous Quick Cryptic crosswords. He doesn’t when he sets as Phi in the Independent either, so I wasn’t expecting it. I spotted the RUHE, and wondered, but I know that as peace in German.

    majortom @10 – the REMIT for this operation are the orders for this operation (in army terms)

  12. thecronester @9, thanks for this! I don’t think Pangakupu has placed a nina in a QC before, it’s interesting…

  13. Shanne @11 – thank you very much for the explanation about remit. I’m not very familiar with army terminology, but it now makes sense.

  14. Is it the Quiptics he’s done Ninas in, and the full fat Cryptics? Maybe then RUHE is just a coincidence but it does work 🙂

  15. I enjoyed this offering, good mix of clues. Can’t remember having ever used Rats in that sense, but i am also old enough to have read the useage. Enjoyable accompliment to my coffee. Thanks Pangakupu for an enjoyable puzzle and Shanne for filling out some grey areas.

  16. Found this a tad tricker than usual. Most of the reversals didn’t spring immediately to mind, but there were plenty of crossing clues to help figure them out.

    FWIW my Dire Straits choice is Industrial Disease

    Many thanks to Pangakupu and Shanne

  17. thecronester @14 – I can only find that Pangakupu has set two Quiptic puzzles, 1341 and 1350, both in 2025, and neither of those has a Maori Nina. The stats blogs don’t note him producing Quiptics in 2023 or 2024. In the Guardian, he also sets Genius puzzles, Cryptics and, occasionally, the prize puzzle. As Phi in the Independent I have seen the odd theme, but not a regular nina numbering the puzzles in order of production, which is what happens with the Guardian Cryptic ninas, not that I’m a regular solver of the Independent crossword.

    I am not sure foreign language ninas are quite within the remit of the Quick Cryptic: we’ve had amazement expressed at the ninas we have had (Budmo #70 and Ludwig #76), and the one and only theme (Dice #55 on Easter Sunday) was greeted more with shock than pleasure.

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