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Click on underlined text for explanation of terms.
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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.
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.
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 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 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.
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 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 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.
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 loss of one letter at the start or end of a word or string of letters.
Examples: beheaded, cut short, endless, nearly, largely etc.
Another batch of really good clues. Some for every level, so success all around.
Lateral thinking needed for definition of 1a. I have never considered to be as described, but realise it is accurate.
16a and 18a Clever. Bing a smile.
I love 19a. very well constructed. I took me some time to work out. It was second last in.
22a was last, yet was simple when carefully analysed.
10d very topical. A very good clue.
Life has returned to normal mayhem this week, so this was a welcome respite.
Thank you David.
G’day David et al,
Being relatively new to cryptics – and retirement, I am so happy to have found this site which gives so much opportunity for learning the ropes. I am steadily devouring your wonderful archive of puzzles and the latest weekly.
I’ve managed this one (I think!) on the same day. I was really doubtful about 27a until checking the hint, ‘taking surgery’ – duh!
Being on a reduced pension overseas it would be difficult for me to subscribe in any meaningful way, but I feel the least I can do is express my thanks and appreciation, David, for what is obviously a labour of love. Thank you indeed.
Hello Patrick. David is meticulous in his clueing, and his blogs show he cares about his solvers and their issues. It took me some time to discover I could check my solution on this site and I commented a couple of weeks ago. I nominated the PDF version, but it is the On line version. If you transpose your answers to that you will get a message of congratulations if you have solved the puzzle. If no congrats, it is back to the drawing board.
Thanks Arthur, I’ll try that. For the moment I prefer to print out the PDF for solving and use good old paper and pencil. It’s also a relief from screen-time, as are real books.
Yay!
I print the PDF and work on that. Then before I hit the blog, I check that all is well.
Yes Arthur liked all those too.
What about 11a (economies of scale), 14a (one of more notable “Soups”)
1d, 3d & 7d (especially – last in)
Not entirely persuaded by my answers to 9a & 10a.
9a – Have never really considered actual meaning of last Five letters.
10a – looks like interesting (& also previously not considered) use of “delightful”
Yes I like those also. Problem – There are so many clues which work well. 10a is one worthy of mention, for the reason you stated.
9a I had the same issue until I realised the last letter stands alone. The other letters make one word which fits the wordplay. American Mr Gore is often seen alongside these letters which is a more familiar form of the same thing.
9a – Arthur, ALL is revealed. Many Thanks.
10a – I’m sure if I put my mind to it I could also come up an example of my suspected usage.
19a would be my gold star-very nice.
For sure Wendy, once I got the spelling right.!!!
Lol!
Welcome back to the grid everyone. A new word for me at 1a and like Richard have trouble with the word “delightful” in the clue at 10a.
Liked 12a 19a, 22a, 2d and 13d.
Nice one David, Thank you ?
A bit like “fetching”, maybe?
Yes Patrick, that’s 10a, about where I am.
Patrick – yes, according to my thesaurus
I’m very taken with the use of “delightful” in 10a
Not getting the congrats message. Not happy with 10a or 18a. Both seem obvious but something is amiss somewhere.
10a See Patrick’s comment. It is a word which we seldom use in this Australia to describing somebody who is delightful. You will be quite _ _ _ _ _ with her/him. You will wonder how you missed it.
18a Double definition. With the two crossed letters you probably have the correct word, so minor convolution and you will see it is okay
Yes Christine if you don’t have 18a yet, put another way
first word of clue is one definition, the rest of the clue is the other
Thanks Arthur and Richard, I am sure those two clues are right. The definition of one is ‘suitable’ and the balance of the clue describes another use of the word. I also understand the reference to delightful.
So … it must be another clue, but which one?
I spelled 19a wrong! Got the congrats now lol.
Bet you had a “u” instead of an “a”.
YUP! ….Fell for the “u” instead of “a” trick too.
Yes, I put a U where the A should be, glad to see I am not alone!
1a: A new word for me
10a: The word meaning “delightful” was a new definition for me. But the past participle is very familiar, so the present participle wasn’t too much of a stretch.
16a: My favourite type of clue
22a, 26a: Beautiful construction
2d, 15d, 23d: Nice definitions
I didn’t find any clues to be particularly tough this week – but, as always, it was very enjoyable.