(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 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 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 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 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 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.
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 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 position of wordplay elements in the answer.
Examples: before, after, leading, in the middle of, under (down only) etc.
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 answer is a jumbling of letters except for the initial or final letter of the anagram fodder. An anagram indicator and truncation 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.
There is only one part to this clue, a definition, and it's usually a play on words. There aren't any indicators.
Thanks David for another testing challenge. Each week I’m amazed by your lateral thinking skills. Look forward to next week’s now.
Is there a mistake in the clue for 3 down? Blunder is mentioned in the hint but it is not in the clue. If the answer is what I think it is, the clue seems to be short one “r”.
The clue for 3-dn has changed since the puzzle first appeared. As it now stands, it’s correct.
As with Greg I was missing an R. I intended to comment in my note earlier, but forgot.
All is okay now. Thanks for the update.
Yes All Good now. Was missing an “r” too.
A great start and finish to the day. I thought I would take my time and savour the delights, but it turned out to be like chocolate – unputdownable excapt when my attention was demanded by she who must be obeyed.
1a, 20a, 3d, 6d, 16d are my picks. Particularly well crafted.
Thank you for the new challenges and red herrings.
All on my List too Arthur. Still struggling with 20a & 16d.
Would add:-
18a – bit off a surprise I was thinking “faithfulness” for “felicity”
27a – puzzled!!! over this for ages
17d – of all religious songs, this was last that came to mind.
Maybe overthinking yet again
& 16d really is as simple & obvious as it seems???
yes
Bit of a toughie to make up for the missing week perhaps. Was stuck for ages in the NE until getting 6d with the help of clue hint, then the rest fell into place. 20a&d were tricky – I’ve noticed David’s allusions to dressmaking here before so was somewhat prepared. When it comes to parsing, I’m still confused about 8d in spite of the hint and I wonder about 3d as ‘make a mistake’ and ‘toy’ seem to be sharing a letter. Loved 1a especially, then 25a, 26a and 15a. A pleasure as always, thanks David.
Ok, got the parsing for 8d. I was thinking of other kinds of banks, so had ‘er’ to spare.
Patrick, I too thought there was an extra letter needed for 3d but found the 2 letter version is actually an acronym for error.
That satisfied my parsing.
Thanks, Joy. Nevertheless I now see the clue has been changed so perhaps there was a mistake after all. Now however, I seem to be left with a spare w in my efforts to parse the new one….!
Ok, ok, I’ve ‘secure-d’ the parsing of the new clue. All’s well.
Got the congrats but do not understand 20d. Just can’t see it.
Think dressmaking & frills Christine.
Maybe outrageous behaviour for First word in the Clue.
The fish are very small. I think at this stage they may be added to omelette or similar in New Zealand.
The word may also describe the young of a number of creatures.
David’s clue helped me with the parsing, although it was really obvious
Maybe my 20d is incorrect, but don’t think so.
Got It. As always SO obvious.
Almost panic stations. I could not remember how I had parsed 20d. I Googled the word and all became clear.
Combination of both 20a & 20d Arthur.
In the end Nailing 20a was what gladdened my heart the most.
The Fishy Tale!!!
20a & 20d
Apologies if I unintentionally gave away one
while talking about the other.
I think it is safe enough. Leaves a bit to be worked out.
Knocked it off in a couple of hours – a rare occurrence chez Mansell. My highlights (along with everything mentioned above):
10a, 1d: Nice definitions
12a: Clever indicator
16d: A big lightbulb moment – my clue of the week