A workmanlike puzzle which, for me, lacked any clues with the “wow” factor.
Most of the definitions given are from Chambers 12th Edition. Most of the standard abbreviations used in the wordplay are shown with the unused letters in brackets e.g. M(ale). Definitions are underlined in the clue and only included in explanations where further information is given.
Across
1a Impress me by returning to employer (6)
EMBOSS – reverse (returning) ME and follow it with an employer
4a Fantasising about a Pisces male? (8)
ESCAPISM – an anagram (about) of A PISCES M(ale)
9a Quiet spot surrounding shelter (6)
SLEEPY – a verb meaning to spot around shelter
10a Impulsive desire to follow leader (8)
HEADLONG – a verb meaning to desire follows a leader
11a Find I have contracts to supply shopworker (5,9)
STORE DETECTIVE – a verb meaning to find and the abbreviated form (contracts) of “I have” after a supply
13a Carrier holding the loaf with variety of brown rice? (6,4)
HEALTH FOOD – a brick carrier around an anagram (with variety) of THE LOAF
14a Vile, chilly character nevertheless attracts one (4)
YETI – a word meaning nevertheless followed by (attracts) I (one)
16a The latest novel finally appears (4)
NEWS – an adjective meaning novel followed by the final letter of appearS
18a Vital process demolishing mobile mast (10)
METABOLISM – an anagram (demolishing) of MOBILE MAST
21a Not straightforward to protest against part of sentence (8,6)
INDIRECT OBJECT – an adjective meaning not straightforward followed by a verb meaning to protest
23a Has nothing against poetry, when abroad (8)
OVERSEAS – O (nothing) followed by some poetry and a two-letter word meaning when
24a Provoke Conservative to abandon party (6)
AROUSE – drop (abandon) the initial C(onservative) from a drinking party
25a Family sends out for help (8)
KINDNESS – some family followed by an anagram (out) of SENDS
26a Underwear made of mixed fibres (6)
BRIEFS – an anagram (mixed) of FIBRES
Down
1d Seasick, yet initially untroubled (4)
EASY – an anagram (sick) of SEA followed by the initial letter of Yet
2d Following complaint, leaves a nourishing drink for patient (4,3)
BEEF TEA – a complaint followed by some leaves
3d Distinct pets area developed (8)
SEPARATE – an anagram (developed) of PETS AREA
5d Mint and grass added, chopped, to a vegetable (5,6)
SWEET POTATO – an adjective meaning a (pepper)mint followed by a colloquial word for grass or cannabis and an anagram (chopped) of TO A
6d Junkie did misbehave during performance (6)
ADDICT – an anagram (misbehave) of DID inside (during) a performance
7d Love stories heard after a party (7)
IDOLISE – a syllable that sounds like lies (stories) after I (a) and a party
8d Appeal for staff to hold good when times change (9)
MAGNETISM – a verb meaning to staff or provide personnel around (to hold) G(ood) and followed by an anagram (change) of TIMES
12d Thick clothing is useless, so English student takes blankets (6,5)
DUFFEL COATS – an adjective meaning useless followed by E(nglish), L (student) and some blankets or coverings
13d Doing job to help one (9)
HANDIWORK – a job preceded by a verb meaning to help and I (one)
15d A tricky fellow? (8)
CONJURER – a cryptic definition
17d Bird moving on following vast split by lead guttering (7)
WIDGEON – ON following an adjective meaning vast into which is inserted (split by) the initial letter (lead) of guttering
19d Take in uncle I’d abandoned (7)
INCLUDE – an anagram (abandoned) of UNCLE I’D
20d Lever off end on can (6)
PRISON – a verb meaning to lever without (off) its final letter (end) and followed by ON gives a can or penitentiary
22d Rubbish found in Rome’s streets (4)
MESS – hidden inside (found in) the clue
Comments from solvers who are new to cryptic puzzles are more than welcome – and that doesn’t mean the usual suspects can’t add their thoughts as well!
I’m crying foul on 15d. I think that ‘conjuror’ is the more traditional, and I believe more common, spelling, and it annoys me to find an error displayed when that form is entered.
Otherwise harder than today’s Rufus as far as I’m concerned.
I found this a lot harder than today’s Rufus. Re: George@1’s point about 15dn, although I chose the correct one I agree that either spelling should be acceptable because the clue doesn’t contain anything to specify which is required.
I was held up in the NE at the end because I had put “lech” in at 14ac as a hidden word inside “vile” and “chilly”, and it was only when I couldn’t solve 8dn that I looked at 14ac again and saw that the answer should have been YETI, although I’m still not sure why it should be described as “vile”. MAGNETISM then became my LOI.
I agree with George that this was harder than today’s Rufus and with Dave’s assessment.
Thanks Dave; surely in 5d it is a noun meaning mint? The ‘to’ in 11a seems pretty vague to mean ‘after’ (similarly 13d.)
I would also spell ‘conjuror’ but Chambers gives the first version as conjurer.
@George – I was going say that “conjuror” looks quite old-fashioned to my eyes, but the frequency of “conjuror” vs. “conjurer” in British English is actually quite surprising. Prior to 1820, “conjurer” seems to have been most common. “conjuror” had the lead for much of the 19th century, only for “conjurer” to reclaim its place just before the beginning of the 20th century. Since 1970, however, both forms have been almost identical in terms of distribution in the UK. (In the USA, “conjurer” has always been the preferred form)
Really strange solving day where the hardest cryptics (as far as my solving experience goes)include this Quiptic and the Times new 13×13 puzzle.
Thanks to Beale and BD
@Andy B – I think the ‘vile’ in “vile, chilly character” is an indirect reference to the yeti’s other name, the Abominable Snowman. It’s still a bit of a strange clue, like you say.
@ Robi
I think you are right. I was thinking of mint in it’s modern usage as cool, nice.
Schroduck @4 – many thanks for that. I do find it interesting how spelling evolves: I still cringe when I see ‘advisor’ for instance, but, as demonstrated by Canute (or Cnut) the tide will not be turned at any individual’s behest.
Another for conjuror doing this on a piece of dead tree in the pub, too many cds for my liking tbh.
still not sure what the quiptic’s role really is unless it’s a proving ground for setters in which case why use Orlando and Nutmeg etc?
Thanks BD and Beale.