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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 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 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 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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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 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) 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 a jumbling of letters except for the initial or final letter of the anagram fodder. An anagram indicator and truncation indicator will be present.
Another great one David. I really enjoyed 15a , 26a and 21d. Very clever! Thanks again for a great start to my Wednesday.
I really enjoyed this one. Standouts were: 1-ac, the wordplay in 11-ac, 26-ac, 27-ac and 28-ac, plus the definitions in 27-ac, 9-dn and 15-dn.
Please, sir, I want more.
I also had all of those clues marked for special mention.
Yep very good, ta. This one required two sittings. 26a held me up too long. Fav was 18d, which was a word I actually used in conversation recently. Still hoping to buy boxed-set two.
Loose Threads aplenty
2d – is this actually a “light red” colour as well as a-bloom?
9d – confused, can’t be anything else – but
“notable luminary”, “luminary”, “informer around” all there & All Good. But???
15d – what’s this got to do with it?
18d – Clueless!!!~
22d – unfamiliar usage – noted.
Some Masterpieces here David. More about that later
2d – The dictionary may confirm your solution
9d – I was stuck here for a long time thinking “can’t be anything else” but the first word was something else
15d – brilliant clue
18d – the usage of “mounted” came as a surprise to me
Hi Richard,
2d – yes, and not to be confused with a different smaller garden variety named ‘light red’.
9d – sounds serious – and it is!
15d – commuter’s curse, a small Latin ‘roundabout’, right?
18d – bottom of river, mind the up-current!
Many Thanks Guys, some “Of Course” Moments here
2d – Trust Concise Oxford – 40 year old print!!!
9d – still not entirely convinced with my answer, but seems it reads both ways, so can be content with that.
15d – Thought so, but still confused with “is about right”
18d – had to resort to Solver of Last Resort – so simple in the end
Just in passing as always loved Alphabet Soups at 12a & 23a
OH – & Special Mention for 11a, candidate for Best Ever
If 27a isn’t where potatoes sit that would explain why I don’t have a solve.
Need to look elsewhere, Mike. For me, the problem was 9d.
Turns out I was having the same problem. But I still don’t getwhstcthe answervfor 27a has to do with the clue.
As a verb, the word has some interesting meanings.
As well as where potatoes sit, it has a botanical meaning.
David mentioned bowling. That is spot on.
This clue is a simple double definition. Think golf.
I had a pedantic quibble (me?) that the answer was suitable for neither the golf nor bowling surface, but then I happened on “village green”.
Yes – I thought I had the right variety for putting upon. It turns out that the general preference is for something more bent.
Like many I got stuck on 9d. “Kylie Minogue”
14a caused me to stumble, and was second last in. I must record my appreciation. My first choice did not parse, but I could not see the wood for the trees.
This was a really good workout, with a good mixture of clues.
I particularly appreciate your use of alternative indicators coupled with word play. 11a is a case in point. It broadens my approach, and increases the challenge within manageable proportions .
More likes to add to the list
19a, 26a, 29a (lovely deletion), 9d (obviously), 15a (it could only be that word, and something I could not spread on my bread and butter), 22d (I guessed, but had to look up that particular piece of equipment)
Thank you once again David. Your efforts are really appreciated.
This week’s offering was chock-a-block full of flair and guile (to coin a phrase).
1a, 11a, 21d: beautiful wordplay
23a: I enjoyed the definition, and the avian references in both wordplay and answer
26a, 9d: nice definitions
27a: I always enjoy a sporting reference
6d: “missile launcher”
13d: “short day”
15d: great definition, and wordplay
22d: a new meaning of “royal” for me
Hear! Hear!
Perhaps this would be a good start to the next NY Times adventure.