(click on the clue number to see the hint)
Click on underlined text for explanation of terms.
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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 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 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.
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 the result of removing the first or last letter from part of the clue or its synonym. A truncation indicator will be present.
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.
The clue has two parts, each one defining the answer without using cryptic devices. Ideally each definition should have no etymological relationship.
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 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.
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.
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.
Haven’t got very far, but love 4d-cute. a
Almost there tonight. Took a long time to wake up to 4d. Agree that it raised a broad smile when eventually identified.
Yes, I smiled after the aha moment.
Had a little help from my friends at google.
Richard you might find 10a easier than I did as it involves the pope, and I thought the answer was a dance or concert hall. This was the educational bit.
I am kicking myself about 1a. Needed the hint to get the last half.
19a is a favourite. Very Clever!
25a parsing is a puzzle in its own right. My inside letters do not fit the word play.
7d is neat. and I love the &lit at 3d.
I agree 19a is a cracker.
Gosh! You Guys are way ahead of me.
Really struggling North/West & South East.
Arthur – Correct alternate use for 10a (I think) just doesn’t suit cluing.
25a “Trunk” is key & I’m confused about possessive case in 8d.
May become clearer as I work S/E Corner.
More Later!!!
In passing
2d – ‘cervical vertebra’ seems well & truly surplus to requirements?
Looking forward to the Aha! moment with 4d, so many possibilities…….
Richard,
North west caused me most problems. As you found Cervical Verterbrae is essential.
4d – think of what a bee does
25a I was badly misled thinking of cars. got the wrong trunk and had it containing an animal returning and that is not David. So I had to find an alternate definition of trunk and the answer satisfies the clue. Perhaps a gold medal for this one David.
8d seems a case where you ignore punctuation – I feel ‘s has been added for grammar rather than as a part of the clue. That is fairly common unless I have missed something in multiple crosswords
29a – I wondered whether the gender issue discussed in the blog had an influence. To me it could be either gender – but it would not be as much fun to solve.
2d – when in desperation consult Dr Google…………. very tricky
Yet another “Chocolate Box” intriguing selection David – Thank you. My picks:-
1a (assuming worthless = non-good) – 10a (see above) –
25a (agree Arthur, Pick of the Week) –
29a (gender issue distracted me too & not my favourite type of these)
2d (see above) 4d (suspect I have different take Arthur – evolved usage of small)
8d (where I also got to with possessive case) & 23d (needed assistance, then – Of Course)
NOW, only six more sleeps…………….
Also took me a while to finish this week, wasn’t sure I was going to get there.
Agree 4d is very good, other favourites are 19a and 30a. I also have a three letter animal returning in 25a and can’t see how it relates to that part of the clue, but it worked.
Did anyone else pick up on the extra clue in 24d with the answer being one of the King’s songs out of one of his movies – spooky!
Suspect there are at least two different takes on 4d Steve.
Will await the ‘real’ answer with interest. Praise be. Wonder no more.
When I used to do David’s Saturday (only) ‘Boxer’ in Courier Mail answer was published Monday. Would have a stack somewhere with missing answers.
Yup! to 19a & 30a
See the animal now that you point it out (25a), doesn’t have a trunk tho!!!
Went straight to the answer with 24d.
Baffled once years ago by that word – never forgot it.
There was 1955 Movie called 24d Steve, don’t recall seeing it.
BUT suspect we are on different tracks here…….
Hi Richard, was referring to a 1965 movie starring the “king” of rock n roll and featuring a song, which is the answer to the clue.
I’ll join in now. The trunk with the animal reversed is a part of a car and it has different name in Australia, which is where I started. The correct trunk is botanical which makes “fine” and “time” fit.
4d I believe we have the same word. One relates to tip of 5c left for service, and one relates to what a bee does to people who get in the way. Same word – Different pronunciation.
I saw the movie for 24d – I think it starred Gordon McRae. Elvis was around in my time but I did not see many of his movies, so I could have missed him singing the song. The title of the song in the movie was not this, but it was the name of the movie.
Arthur seems there’s always one!!! – 4d
I’m staying with my Small + alternative that does what a bee does.
See how I go. Noun/adjective seems a bit messy tho.
Howard Keel in THAT movie. Similar to McRae –
good-looking Hollywood leading men of time who could also sing – & well.
Likewise Steve, limited exposure to Elvis. Generational thing here???
I agree with what I think is your small – hence 5c tip. I think we have the same word, just look at it differently.
I’ll accept Howard Keel. The movie was not particularly memorable. I think it came at a time when musicals were popular and MGM was cashing in.
Slept on it again Arthur, but sorry, ‘5c tip’ still escapes me.
Echidnas??? – &/or their outer covering???
Agree – about 1950’s musicals from MGM (& others).
Often much sizzle but little sausage.
Mostly entertaining tho which was original intent.
Whole new ball-game once Rogers & Hammerstein got hold of the genre.
five cents tip for excellent service. I am a little more generous.
On the other hand, if I am attached by a bee, I might say “My that …… a bit.” Or I might say ” My that is a bit …..”
Wendy, do you agree?