Guardian Quick Cryptic 88 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 4th Quick Cryptic by Pangakupu. Pangakupu sets a range of puzzles for the Guardian, the Genius, Cryptic, Quiptic and more recently the Quick Cryptic puzzles. Today we have anagrams and hidden clues with all the letters given, which should be accessible. The other clues are soundalikes and naked words for the third time, last seen in October with puzzle 79, which all need all of the letters finding and manipulating, which can be more challenging.

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.
  • 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 descripti ons 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. Hidden word(s) Answer hidden in clue’s words
    ‘Some haVE ALtered meat (4)’ gives VEAL
  3. Soundalike Something that sounds like answer
    ‘Excited, Oscar’s announced (4)’ gives WILD (from Oscar “Wilde” the playwright)
  4. Naked words Remove first and last letters of another word for answer
    ‘Called for citrus to be peeled (4)’ gives RANG from oRANGe (citrus)

ACROSS Click on “Answer” to see the solutions
1
Rod and mast rearranged in prominent position? (7)
Answer

STARDOM
Parsing

anagram of (ROD MAST)* with an anagrind of “rearranged” to give something that could be in a prominent position, with a question mark to suggest an indirect definition. The anagram uses two words that are connected by an “and”, which is something I referred to recently as something to look out for.

5
Removing clothing in comic play to display curve (3)
Answer

ARC
Parsing

naked word (removing clothing) from fARCe (comic play)
7
IT billionaire involved in arranging a test (5)
Answer

GATES
Parsing

hidden word (involved in) in arranginG A TESt for this IT billionaire.
8
Mark of rank? Some want it less (5)
Answer

TITLE
Parsing

hidden word (some) in wanT IT LE with a question mark to indicate that this is one possible mark of rank, so a definition by example (DBE).
9
Worth rushing to catch bird? (6)
Answer

THRUSH
Parsing

hidden word (to catch) in worTH RUSHing for this family of birds. That’s not a word I’d suggest searching without the clarification of “bird”. When I was doing a lot of photography a Finnish guy I followed was recording a fieldfare nest, and found various unpleasant illnesses when he tried to check my comment that they looked as if they came from this family.
10
Period item found in herb-garden, we hear (4)
Answer

TIME
Parsing

soundalike(s) (we hear) of “thyme” (item found in herb-garden) which sounds like, say, a period in history. The grammar of the clue indicates which version is being used as it is giving definition, soundalike, indicator.

13
Group of players sounded resigned on the radio (4)
Answer

SIDE
Parsing

soundalike (on the radio) for “sighed” (sounded resigned) – again the clue is being helpful – the grammar is definition, soundalike, indicator.
14
No limits to cups etc for electric guitarist? (6)
Answer

ROCKER
Parsing

naked word (no limits) to cROCKERy (cups etc) with another question mark indicating DBEs (definitions by example) across the clue. No limits indicates a naked word because the limits – the outer letters – are removed – there are no outer letters or limits.

17
John Wayne film perhaps uncovered compound (5)
Answer

ESTER
Parsing

naked word (uncovered) of wESTERn (John Wayne film) . The perhaps is another indicator for a DBE (definition by example). John Wayne is remembered for Western films – the solution is referring to this sort of compound.

19
Actor Jeremy participating in affair on screen (5)
Answer

IRONS
Parsing

hidden word (participating in) found in affaIR ON Screen for this actor.

20
Partly scarlet and brown (3)
Answer

TAN
Parsing

hidden word (partly) found in scarleT ANd.
21
Befuddled earnest Oriental (7)
Answer

EASTERN
Parsing

anagram of (EARNEST)* with an anagrind of “befuddled”.
DOWN
1
Mention of location as something worth visiting (5)
Answer

SIGHT
Parsing

soundalike (mention of) “site” (location).
2
Changed and changed treadle (7)
Answer

ALTERED
Parsing

anagram of (TREADLE)* with an anagrind of “changed” – and this clue is using the same word as definition and anagrind to mislead.
3
Is sued dreadfully for neglect (6)
Answer

DISUSE
Parsing

anagram of (IS SUED)* with an anagrind of “dreadfully” – and the answer is referring to an adjective – a state of neglect/disuse.
4
Just a little announcement of power (4)
Answer

MITE
Parsing

soundalike (announcement of) “might” (power).
5
Political group ditching extremists, showing skill (3)
Answer

ART
Parsing

naked word (ditching extremists) from pARTy (political group) – ditching is often used to describe losing letters.
6
Railway town gang audible (5)
Answer

CREWE
Parsing

soundalike (audible) of “crew” (gang) for the railway town.
11
Sadly smokier – annoying (7)
Answer

IRKSOME
Parsing

anagram of (SMOKIER)* with an anagrind of “sadly”.
12
Cosmic struggles in Marvel publications (6)
Answer

COMICS
Parsing

anagram of (COSMIC)* with an anagrind of “struggles” – and a definition that has to be international
13
Resounding collection of pieces – delightful (5)
Answer

SWEET
Parsing

soundalike (resounding – think re-sounding) of “suite” (collection of pieces) as in a suite of music or three piece suite of furniture.
15
Substance from tree sap is a little more singular (5)
Answer

RESIN
Parsing

hidden word (a little) in moRE SINgular.
16
Recommend fast food without sides? (4)
Answer

URGE
Parsing

naked word (without sides) of bURGEr (fast food) – with a question mark to indicate a DBE (definition by example)
18
Police operation exposed metal (3)
Answer

TIN
Parsing

naked word (exposed) of sTINg (police operation)

 


 

5 comments on “Guardian Quick Cryptic 88 by Pangakupu”

  1. AlanJ
    #1 - Sat 6th Dec 25, 08:52

    Nice one!

  2. Amma
    #2 - Sat 6th Dec 25, 09:13

    Slow start but I got there. The ‘naked words’ clues are ones I never think to look out for so that was good practice.
    Shanne, surely DISUSE is a noun not an adjective (3d)?

  3. HG
    #3 - Sat 6th Dec 25, 09:21

    I thought that was a bit of a tougher QC from Pangakupu – though it got a little easier once there were letters on the board. Wasn’t keen on “stardom=prominent position”, “mark of rank=title”, “sighed=sound resigned” or “recommend=urge” among others for a puzzle aimed at beginners although nothing wrong with them for the more experienced.

    I’ve done a talkthrough solve of the puzzle which is available at … https://youtu.be/vpBXa90Aegs … tips and tactics on how to solve which will hopefully be helpful.

    Thanks to Shanne for the blog too.

  4. thecronester
    #4 - Sat 6th Dec 25, 10:04

    Great puzzle. I found the naked words and soundalikes challenging but got there in the end. Thanks Pangakupu and Shanne.

  5. HumbleTim
    #5 - Sat 6th Dec 25, 10:41

    A pleasant solve this morning. Nice trick in 7a using an anagram indicator in a hidden word clue which had me looking for an anagram of ‘a test’ before thinking again.
    Many thanks Shanne and Pangakupu

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