(click on the clue number to see the hint)
Click on underlined text for explanation of terms.
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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.
A word or series of words that signify the turning around (across & down clues), or overturning (down clues only) of letters.
Examples: upset, reversed, retired, in withdrawal, over etc.
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.
A question mark has been used to indicate "language abuse", that is, a word or words in a clue are used in a technically incorrect way, but the meaning can be still inferred.
Example: A indeed (?) could mean to insert A inside deed.
The clue has two parts, each one defining the answer without using cryptic devices. Ideally each definition should have no etymological relationship.
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 entire answer is the result of removing the first or last letter from part of the clue or its synonym. A truncation 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 the loss of one letter at the start or end of a word or string of letters.
Examples: beheaded, cut short, endless, nearly, largely etc.
The answer is found by removing a letter, letters, or a word (either found directly in the clue or derived) from a word or words (or their synonyms). Subtractions involving synonyms must be done with contiguous letters, that is, a word will subtract directly unless specifically indicated. A subtraction indicator is present to initiate the action.
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 type of clue that involves the mixing up of letters without the inclusion of a letter or letters. This clue will have an anagram indicator to signify jumbling and a subtraction indicator to signify the removal of a letter or letters.
A removed letter may be as seen in the clue, an abbreviation for a word in the clue, or the result of another cryptic device like taking the initial letter from a word. Removed letters may be a whole word as seen in a clue, the synonym of a word in the clue (if that synonym is contiguous within the anagram fodder), or the result of another cryptic device like taking the middle two letters from a word.
A question mark has been used to indicate "language abuse", that is, a word or words in a clue are used in a technically incorrect way, but the meaning can be still inferred.
Example: A indeed (?) could mean to insert A inside deed.
A type of clue that involves the mixing up of letters without the inclusion of a letter or letters. This clue will have an anagram indicator to signify jumbling and a subtraction indicator to signify the removal of a letter or letters.
A removed letter may be as seen in the clue, an abbreviation for a word in the clue, or the result of another cryptic device like taking the initial letter from a word. Removed letters may be a whole word as seen in a clue, the synonym of a word in the clue (if that synonym is contiguous within the anagram fodder), or the result of another cryptic device like taking the middle two letters from a word.
The entire answer is found by reversing part of the clue, or a synonym for part of the clue. A suitable reversal indicator will be present.
stuck on 8d.
2 parts – short time and recover (often used re. sport)
…and now Wall Street, I see.
Somehow I’m not surprised to see no other comments here as I write. I’ve been practising a lot with the Guardian cryptics and quiptics lately (it helps that you can check each word/letter in the online version), and this would rate with one of the best, imo.
If I’ve parsed it correctly, 10a is wonderfully ‘sneaky’ and therefore favourite among many other clues – all meticulously constructed. Last in we’re 11d and 28d which sure made me smile when the old penny dropped (literally)!
Thanks for a great puzzle, David.
Challenging as always Patrick, but that’s what we are here for.
About 75% done, several gasps of wonderment already – not least 28d…..
28d had me working for quite a while, but like Patrick I eventually heard the old penny drop.
I have had a disjointed time, but must admit to struggling with 20a and d and 21d. Once I got 20a the corner fell into place.
I am now stuck on 5a and 8d. Patrifk y our hints do not help as yet. Perhaps a bit more time to percolate.
Some wonderful clues this week. I will reserve my comments until I finalise the puzzle. After all it is only day 2.
Stuck on 5a & 2d. Have an answer for 20d but “Why So”…….
20d I assume you are happy with the full word. Take out the h and split it into two words and you will agree that it is well defined. Very unfortunate criticism if you are on stage.
Since my post I have word for 8d which includes short time, but the rest does not gel for “t0 recover”. So I will keep on my dunce hat until it warms the brain
2d is a little easier. Do not overlook the importance of the article in this clue. Mix it with the rest. Then google the answer to find broken ice. It is not something I yearn for, but would be great this summer.
Thanks Arthur – for 20d, maybe my 26a is Wrong. Needs rethink.
Second part of 8d – you are downbeaten then you *****.
Will re-ponder 2d, still clueless on 5a.
Since childhood, I have been very familiar with the penny, and the symbol used to denote it when we talked about pounds, shillings, and pence.
Sorry this comment on 28d was meant to respond to Patrick below.
2d is an anagram of a substitute for sand plus the article and aggregate primarily.
To me it sounds more like a cereal for breakfast than broken ice, but fact are facts.
5a and 8 d are works in progress. I think I may have to revisit 7d, although it seems sensible.
I do not think my 6d is incorrect. I am working on the basis that “fairly” is the definition.
Hi Richard and Arthur, re 5a – large (body) and dwelling unfinished are 2 separate components which make up the answer. Sorry if that makes it too obvious! 2d reminds me of my favourite dunking biscuits in Oz. 8d – some prevarication may result from wondering if being fair equates to ‘doing the right thing’ – and hey, Wall St is having a recovery now after a losing streak – saw it on the news this morning. 20d – politicians get a lot of these too, not just the pretty girls.
Regarding the old penny, Arthur, I just plugged a gap in my knowledge by discovering the letter derived from the Roman coin, ‘dinarius’ which was apparently in use up to the Middle Ages.
Thanks Guys
20d – trying to delete “h” from incorrect place – All Good now
2d – thought it was a favourite Arnott’s biscuit too
(having just rediscovered Spicy Fruit Rolls!!!) – but unsure where the “t” comes from.
5a – still a work in progress – only word I have bears no relation to cluing
My List of Favourites is l-o-n-g this week!!!
& back to 5a – There it is at last – Love it – Thanks Patrick
2d – Once I got the right “coarse sand” the last penny dropped!!!
All Done – only Five more sleeps to next go-round.
Many Thanks
for yet another thoroughly enjoyable romp thru Cryptic Land, David
It has been a hotchpotch effort this week, only being able to snatch a clue here and there. Finally I got half an hour to sit and finish.
Like most others I had to ponder 5a . Getting 8d certainly made it easier.
I particularly enjoyed 20d. Very clever once again David. Thank you
5a I finally 5a’d it. I was not happy with my 13a, rightly so, and that helped wreck 8d. Patrick’s comments about Wall Street finally made sense. I still do not have the congrats, so there is another problem. I am not happy with my 30a. but will re-examine all with a fine tooth comb.
Hooray. This is the longest I have spent in a long time. My 30a did not make sense, and I finally twigged.
Time to recover over a coffee. I’ll be back soon with compliments about some some of the clues which I enjoyed, but which have not yet had favourable mention in the blogs.
Thank you David for a really challenging workout. Without phone a friend, it would have taken a lot longer., so bouquets to the chat group. It is a great help, and I would like to see more solvers sharing their successes and issues.
Apart from clues already mentioned.
17a raised the biggest smile. I keep going back to it.
26a Droll and very neat.
29a The clueing of this is spot on.
32a a simple but effective ploy with a container.
1d. Follow the trail of breadcrumbs.
14d Beautifully crafted.
The Wall Street hint got me 8d and then I realised it was the wrong entry at 13a that was giving me the problem with 8d and not 10a, although I still don’t understand the hint about “mostly” for 10a. Great puzzle though.
10a Michael – look to the punctuation, Took me forever to ‘get it’ too.
Thanks for this tip. I was having trouble reconciling the parsing. I thought “as well as” meant “and” , thus I had niggling doubts, not sufficient to raise an issue.
I am happy now.
“As well as” *does* mean “and”. :-S
Yes – need the entire Clue
“mostly, as well as the Queen”
Beautifully constructed Clue, one of Best Ever.
Okay I had the wrong word for the first part of the clue, and needed to get rid of two letters. I used r for the queen as in regina. Now I have checked alternatives for the truncated word which fit the clue perfectly. I thought my original parsing was “unSticklerlike” but it fit for me.
Right word, wrong reason.
Really severe prune of Favourites List required, there were so many
& many of them subject of discussion above. Couple of other notables.
1a – Great start
10a – really struggled with this, then Loved the punctuation!!!
29a – agree Arthur, a real Gem of the Setter’s Art
1d – so many delivery possibilities here Mail??? Babies???
– tried them ALL before resorting to Clue Hints
Day 4 & still subject of much discussion.
Probably most challenging in a while David.
Agree Arthur would like to see more Solvers sharing their thoughts (& struggles!!!)
Okay, I got this out over a long lunch on Wednesday in probably 1.5-2 hrs. Except I cheated: I understood how 13-ac worked, but my brain wouldn’t oblige with the needed word until I consulted a thesaurus, and then I only got 8-dn after filling in 13-ac.
I think this is one of the more difficult Sticklers of modern times with lots of tricky wordplays. There were quite a few clues I got from the definition and crossing letters before figuring out the wordplay. 10-ac (the comma!), 15-ac (“white”), 20-ac (“ace played, ignoring a”) to name just a few.
I had lots of “ah-ha!” moments and really enjoyed the whole puzzle.
Agree Steve. There was an array of tricks here, like of which I don’t recall in quite a while – if ever. Loved It.
That was difficult this week! Took a few days to get there.
I agree with all of the praise above: A particularly tough Stickler, and good fun as always. A subset of my highlights:
10a: “mostly,” – my clue of the week
15a, 1d, 2d, 23d: Nice definitions
26a: I’d question whether “milky substance usually” is strictly correct. It probably depends on which part of the world you’re in.
16d: I always love this type of clue
20d: Fabulous wordplay
I had the same quibble with 26-ac. The only drinker of the stuff that I ever make it for takes it black.
On the odd occasion that I don’t opt for an espresso, mine’s green and milk-free.
I’d agree with the clue actually. Male ones wouldn’t produce it and female ones give out after some years!