(click on the clue number to see the hint)
Click on underlined text for explanation of terms.
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The structure of the answer involves either letters placed outside other letters, or letters placed inside other letters. Which type of container clue is determined by an appropriate container indicator.
A pointer that signifies the placing of one or more parts of a clue (or their equivalents) around the OUTSIDE of one or more parts of a clue (or their equivalents).
Examples: holding, keeping, embracing - anything that creates the image of containment.
The answer is found by butting together parts defined in the wordplay. There may be some positional indicators that change the order of these parts.
The structure of the answer involves either letters placed outside other letters, or letters placed inside other letters. Which type of container clue is determined by an appropriate container indicator.
The structure of the answer involves either letters placed outside other letters, or letters placed inside other letters. Which type of container clue is determined by an appropriate container indicator.
A word or phrase that defines the answer. All cryptic clues usually have a minimum of one definition which will be located at the beginning or end of the clue.
Either a mixture of letters is placed inside or outside other letters, or letters are placed inside or outside a mixture of letters. An anagram indicator and containment indicator will be present.
The answer is found by butting together parts defined in the wordplay. There may be some positional indicators that change the order of these parts.
Either a mixture of letters is placed inside or outside other letters, or letters are placed inside or outside a mixture of letters. An anagram indicator and containment indicator will be present.
Either a mixture of letters is placed inside or outside other letters, or letters are placed inside or outside a mixture of letters. An anagram indicator and containment indicator will be present.
A word or series of words that signify a mixing-up of letters.
Examples: changed, at sea, confused, all over the place - anything that indicates change or jumbling.
Either a mixture of letters is placed inside or outside other letters, or letters are placed inside or outside a mixture of letters. An anagram indicator and containment indicator will be present.
The structure of the answer involves either letters placed outside other letters, or letters placed inside other letters. Which type of container clue is determined by an appropriate container indicator.
Either a mixture of letters is placed inside or outside other letters, or letters are placed inside or outside a mixture of letters. An anagram indicator and containment indicator will be present.
The structure of the answer involves either letters placed outside other letters, or letters placed inside other letters. Which type of container clue is determined by an appropriate container indicator.
The answer is hidden among the words of the clue. No spare words should be present. A suitable hidden indicator will point to the buried text.
Examples: part of, associated with, types of.
Wow
25a is a doozy. Eventually I worked from the crosses but had the i and the u reversed. Not a word to be introduced to dinner conversations.
8d was a bit of fun and introduced me to a new concept – the double discount.
10a and 7d took a bit of work but delighted me when solved.
I thought I was going to be a complete fizzer, but gradually worked my way through.
I spent time with the clue hints this week, seeking guidance rather than confirmation.
Now I am off to Paul’s effort from the guardian. Thanks for the heads up in the blog.
aka – Adrift on The Sea of Parsing…
April 12 “Oysters” (18a) reached new heights, this weeks 25a has surpassed even that.
Eventually I will need to be talked thru this Arthur……..!
Like you needed guidance rather than confirmation from Clue Hints.
As well as your above especially 10a, others of note this week to list but a few
13a, 22a, 3d, 12d (still not quite sure how exertion embraces working animal group)
& 14d even given my know preference for another “spirit”
All I’ll say about 12-down is that the obvious construction is the right one and that “exertion” has nothing to do with it. A dictionary may come in handy.
David
Of course David. Even has further animal connotations.
This did pop into my head somewhere along the way
– then vanished just as quickly.
Now back to un-scrambling that 25a Egg……..
Minor mis-spell with 25a but still seem to have a spare “t” “u” & “s”
25a is a straight anagram (3 words) with all letters accounted for. I found it hard to keep track of the letters I had used.
12d I am not sure about the working animal. I treated this as a charade with 3 parts. I got my animal from 4 letters. I have a 2 letter word at the end which leaves 4 for the animal. I opted for an anagram (indicator – working) but the result is a plural and the clue indicates a singular. Unless somebody clues me in on an alternate I will have a long wait for clarification as I will be without computer or internet for a short time. (How will I cope?)
I like all your choices of clues – each special in its own way.
Richard clarification of 25a. David tells us that “the” is critical. It is contained as is, and the anagram is only two words.
12d. I am still musing about my animal. Is a despot an animal? That would work. Some would surely think so, but I’m not so sure whether a cryptic setter would come on board.
Big trouble is that I may be up another creek with the wrong word entirely. Next Wednesday will reveal all unless another solver contributes to the discussion.
12d think of working(hard) as separate to animal group(team-from David’s hints). Can’t think of another way to give hint without the answer.
It seems we have the same word, but differ in our parsing. David’s clue hint shows that the “working animal group” is “team”. That part of the clue is finished with, apart from whether “assembled” indicates an anagram. I rejected that concept. so the first three words are finished with. Now to parse the rest of the clue. The “in” could indicate a container (which means the team is contained in a word for “stock); it could be part of a charade (the last two letters) – I am not happy with this idea; or it could just be the lead to the definition (an issue of grammar). One dictionary defines the 5 letter word you have as “the body of descendants of a common ancestor, as a family or stock”. (as in a particular type of flu virus). Seeing that definition I am happy to use the “assembled in” as an indicator of a container (first suggestion) to come up with the word I have chosen.
It is odd that this clue should be such a stumbling block for some. Maybe we are thinking too deeply.
& that was my conclusion Arthur (see above response to David)
We were indeed – thinking too deeply.
& I have foregone unscrambling of the 25a Egg –
just not happening. Only three more sleeps………
Been a while since I had one of those,
especially since there has been more dialogue.
I like Arthur’s flu reference, works for me. I ran out of steam on 25a despite having all the crossers so I resorted to a crossword solver app.