(click on the clue number to see the hint)
Click on underlined text for explanation of terms.
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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 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 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.
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.
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 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 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 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 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.
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 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.
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.
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.
Yes! Thank you David. You never disappoint. I was amused by 19a and thought 1a, 18a, 24a, 2d, 16d and 17d brilliant. I really enjoyed the challenges in this one. Thank you.
All of which & many more I am still missing Joy
You are an absolute WHIZ…. Congratulations
Thank you Richard . I really loved this one. I really appreciate David’s brilliance and enjoy his sense of humor.
Happy to help out if you want.
Thank You Joy. I was looking to Get a Break yesterday at 1a & 1d but I’m still not much further advanced. One of those weeks for me. About to see what further assistance may be available in Clue Hints.
Agree – Love this weekly Challenge. A highlight.
Fell over the line at last Joy. Into Day Three.
Other distractions yesterday but still a greater challenge than usual. Loved it. Liked your Picks of the Week. My list is even longer.
Well, that was a full day’s work as I was determined not to resort to clue hints or solver, so it was all the more satisfying to finally crack some very difficult clues, imo. Plenty of misdirection and “well, I suppose it could just possibly be…” and not-so-obvious answers which meant I had to work much harder on the wordplay than usual – especially on the couple of complete unknowns. 2d gave the most pleasure and 24a the biggest surprise. Still puzzling over parsing for 18a. Great stuff. Thanks David.
PS. An interesting and mind-stretching article on this art: https://believermag.com/thoughts-on-the-art-and-technique-of-crossing-word/
Suspect I kind of, maybe, perhaps, have an idea what 24a may be Patrick.
If I am right, it will be a contender for Clue of the Year – already.
Hi fellas
Patrick, in 18a if you rethink your meaning for clothing you should see the parsing.
Richard, in 1a there are two subtractions. In 1d, “vice” is a noun and it’s a subtraction clue. With 24a, if you have the answer, “call” will make sense.
Hope this helps. Good luck.
24a. I had to rethink. My first impression was in a religious context where the solution follows the definition. In general usage the solution has little to do with spirituality.
Yes – 18a I tripped up on “about” just recently. Not this time!!!
1a & 1d turned out to be last in Joy. So much for Getting a Break!!!
24a – is as it seems, genuine surprise. I read it as “call” to Faith
Talking about ‘about’, Richard, I recently saw this beautiful little clue:
What about back pain? (4) = ache
It took me a few minutes to puzzle it out. What’s that you say?
That clue is Stickler-worthy.
In 24a, “call” can also be read as “to name”, e.g. “Let’s call him Richard.”
You Guys have been having Fun while I wasn’t looking. Glad I’ve caught up with the Game…..
Another great workout this week David, thank you so much. 4d is another new word for me. Patrick if you still don’t have 24a, think charade container and that may also help.
Thanks Joy and Cathy, yes, I see it now.
I also had problems parsing 1a and 20d but these have now been resolved by the clue hints.
Lots of lovely tricks in the cluing, and alternate views for some very familiar words within the clues. Thank you David.
New words for me at 3d, 4d, 16d (which is a logical extension of a familiar word)
Loved 12d, 1a, 21a (Richards favorite clue type), 19a, 9a.
20d was last in. I should have got it earlier, but suffered a brain drain.
18a This is my pick for the week. I could not understand the parsing, until I read the contributions above, and rethought about. Thanks for the help.
3d is worthy of special mention.
My List of Picks of the Week was long & they have all been mentioned.
Terrific work-out David. If not best ever, certainly a strong contender.
Good to see a new name among the contributions. Hope you can help to feed the 5000.
David – looks like you’ve got spam.
I did not think about that as a possibility. Wise words.
This was seriously challenging and slow going for me. The last answer (10a) went in on Friday night.
19a, 24a, 2d: clever definitions
2d: “turned up”
3d, 4d: new words for me
12d: It seems to me that “under” could be either part of the wordplay or part of the definition.
16d: My first thought was a similar word with a couple of letters different – but I couldn’t parse it properly. The correct answer is a new word for me, but, as Arthur says above, it’s a logical extension of a familiar word.
16d. Since my comments of 14th I have discovered that the word appears in several online dictionaries.
Late to this. I held myself up by being certain that 24a was “bearing” (a point) with the “A” somehow doing double duty separating “be” (live) and “ring” (call). I deliberately didnt write in the obvious 3rd letter because 25d looked too easy to be what it was.