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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.
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.
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.
A type of clue where the WHOLE clue defines the answer, and the WHOLE clue also is the wordplay (a mechanism to derive the answer through various cryptic devices). "&lit" is short for "and literally".
To qualify as an &lit, a clue must have no unused components either in the definition or the wordplay - it must be readable one way as a definition, and another as the wordplay.
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.
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.
The answer is found by using the sound of a word or phrase. Sounds-like indicators point the way.
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 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 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.
A word or series of words that signify the removal of a letter, letters, word or words (or their equivalents) from other parts of the clue (or their equivalents).
Examples: taken from, decreased by, less.
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.
A pointer that signifies the placing of one or more parts of a clue (or their equivalents) on the INSIDE of one or more parts of a clue (or their equivalents).
Examples: held by, kept by, embraced by - anything that creates the image of being contained.
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.
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.
Yet again – down to a four letter, last word – 12a.
Confident, having gone with uniformed persons.
Special mention for 9a David.
Self evident but took much pondering to unscramble that egg.
15a speaking to those of a ‘certain age’!!!
David
Not sure about 25D. Wordplay does not fit my answer well. No problems with the rest.
Have: ?u?n. Is this correct?
Regards
Norman
Glad it’s not just me struggling with pesky final four-letter answers.
May need to think a little more laterally about ‘cut’ – Norman. You’ll get it.
Richard
I have the same letters as Norman, and a word for the Scottish flower. But it does not really jell with cut. I use the term in connection with my computer, and bridges.
Still struggling with 7d. I have T_I_O_I_G so think there should be N as penultimate letter. David says it is a charade so I will have to keep playing.
With my previous profession, I was surprised at how long it took to get 18a. I can remember the 15as. 12a was last in except for missing 7d. Amazed at how simple it really was, and I agree with you.
1a and 6d particularly sneaky.
Thanks to David for making me think out of the square.
Arthur
Richard
Wooden you know it?
Happy now. but still one long one to go.
Arthur
Yes 7d really was ‘a treat’. I approached a different way before resorting to clue hints.
50% of DoubleD was actually 2X25%. Not sure if David intended that.
Loved 18a for same reasons was RIGHT onto it!!
& as always David, much satisfaction & delight right through.
Wondering about 2d, but that can wait.
I am really missing something in 7d. I can tell you lots about hydrobaths (courtesy of google), but none of that helps. There is no place for “apt” either.
I considered 2d until my eyes popped, but now I’m happy with my parsing.
Next Wednesday I’ll do a Pauline and say “please explain” re your double d and 2 x 25%. It’s a bit cryptic for me now.
11a raised a wry smile. David has a good sense of humour.
Well l’m missing an “e” from 28a. I only count seven letters in the fodder
Quite right Greg. Not sure how I missed that. If I get time I’ll replace that clue. Thanks.
How about simply changing ‘sales’ to ‘e-sales’? Would I get away with that in a modern electronic world?
Best
David
I took the al from alcohol out of sales. Not strictly kosher, but it was acceptable to me due to some of the artifices I have seen elsewhere. Should not put David with the lower common denominators though.
Arthur
Yes Arthur – that was how I got to 28a as well. Thought it quite acceptable.
If you aren’t there yet with 7d – need to consider first two clue words separately.
I added some Trivia about 18a elsewhere & have unintentionally blown the cover.
Apologies David. Should have left it for later.
Richard
With your help the penny finally dropped. Analyse one word at a time. Top marks for David from me as I was completely stymied. I hope others found it easier.
Off to do the Sudoku now.
Arthur
Correction of my dealing with 28a. I should have taken the alcohol out of sales, (it is so obvious with 20 20 vision) and I would have had the same issue as Greg – a missing e. That fits better with David’s attention to detail in his cluing.
18a Trivia is probably semi-concealed. Will refer to it next week.
Thanks David, e-sales would work (I guess e-tailers also employ clerks). I hoped just taking AL as alcohol would make it work, but thought it would need a second anagrind. Separately, still waiting to be able to buy boxed sets 2, 3 etc.
Or maybe e-tailers use e-clerks, but that’s a stretch..
David I see you updated 28a. to e-sales. There should be no quibbles about that.
Arthur