A Puzzle by Samsa
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The puzzle is available by clicking on the above grid.
As usual, the setter will be delighted to receive feedback from you, the solvers. We do ask that you remember that for most setters this is a new experience, so please only offer constructive criticism.
Welcome to Samsa making his debut in the Rookie Corner after his appearances on My Crossword. This was an impressive debut particularly to get so many references to Spooner into the clues though I agree that perhaps the theme was perhaps overdone. There was a good variety of wordplay used in the crossword. In terms of points to watch, I think that the main thing is the use of unindicated lift and separate clues where one word has to be split to give the definition and part of the wordplay. The commentometer reads as 3.5/37 or 9.5%
Across
9a Spooner’s second set of keys (5)
PIANO: The second letter of Spooner gives a clue to a musical instrument with a set of keys.
10a One of seven to assume Baloo’s identity (5,4)
SLOTH BEAR: A five-letter word for one of seven deadly sins followed by a four-letter word meaning to assume.
11a Cluer troubled about short double definition for Spooner (7)
CUDDLER: An anagram (troubled) of CLUER around (about) the abbreviation used in crossword circles for a double definition. Whilst the abbreviation is used by crossworders, the convention is that you should use only abbreviations given in one of the main dictionaries.
12a Nice surroundings with breeze returning around 6, and Spooner wanting to snuggle (7)
RIVIERA: A reversal (returning) of a three-letter word for a breeze around the Roman numerals for 6 and the word Spooner after removing (wanting) a five-letter word meaning to snuggle.
13a On the one hand, rotten deal for Spooner (5)
LADLE: The abbreviation for left (the one hand) followed by (on) of an anagram (rotten) of DEAL.
15a Mrs. Spooner (according to Spooner) is lost for words (3)
MUM: Double definition. I think that the second part of the definition refers more to deliberately keeping quiet rather than being lost for words.
16a Lovely wife exchanged for hot plate (5)
SHEET: A five-letter word meaning lovely with the W (wife) replaced by (exchanged for) an H (hot). As the clue could be read as replacing the H with a W, perhaps wife going for hot plate would be better. The clue, as written, could also give lovely as the definition.
17a Spooner’s role in sport (3)
DON: Double definition, the first being Spooner’s university position and the second to wear or sport something.
19a Wild surmise of Spooner, when it came to words? (7)
MISUSER: An anagram (wild) of SURMISE.
20a What Spooner does in soup bath (3)
DIP: Double definition.
22a 8 o’clock to start with short tea time (5)
OCTET: The O from the clue and the first letter (to start) of clock followed by the TEA from the clue with the final letter removed (short) and the abbreviation for time.
23a Spooner’s first winding path (3)
ESS: The first letter of Spooner spelled phonetically also looks like a winding path.
24a Happen to be seen meandering round the bend (5)
ENSUE: An anagram (meandering) of SEEN around the letter that looks like a bend in a plumbing pipe.
26a Queen’s opening for Spooner – it might go to his head (4,3)
FLAT CAP: A Spoonerism of CAT (queen) FLAP (opening).
28a Spooner disheartened to be confused with a fictional character (7)
PERSONA: An anagram (to be confused) of SPOONER (without the middle letter (disheartened)) A.
31a University clubs scoffed after sending Bambi back to school again (2-7)
RE-EDUCATE: The abbreviations for university and clubs and a three-letter word meaning scoffed or consumed after a reversed (sending .. back) a four-letter animal of which Bambi is an example.
32a Stifle a Spoonerism describing pet peeves? (5)
FLEAS: The answer is hidden (describing) the first three words of the clue.
Down
1d Huge jpg? (4)
EPIC: Split 1-3 this would suggest an electronic picture of which JPG is one of the file formats.
2d Might have succeeded in being honest (6)
CANDID: A three-letter word meaning might followed by a three-letter word meaning have succeeded. I think might indicates the possibility of doing something whilst the word required in the solution means the ability to do something.
3d Black bird may be Spooner’s target? (4)
BOWL: The abbreviation for black followed by a three-letter name of a bird.
4d Luminary bowing head to ruler (4)
TSAR: A four-letter word for something that shines in the sky (luminary) with the first letter moved down one place (head bowing).
5d I’m not confident about this Spoonerism puzzle (2,8)
NO PROMISES: An anagram (puzzle) of SPOONERISM.
6d Great God! A lost utensil of Knifer? (4)
SHIV: A five-letter name of a Hindu deity with the A removed (lost).
7d Tear up constantly on the inside like Spooner (8)
REVEREND: A four-letter word meaning tear up includes (on the inside) a four-letter word meaning constantly.
8d Rambling Spooner, ranting, runs over (6)
ERRANT: The answer is hidden (runs over) the second and third words of the clue.
13d Top to lop? One top to drop for top to pot! (3)
LID: The first letter (top to) of lop followed by the letter represented by one and the first letter (top) to drop.
14d Old worker dashes back and forth on stern of boat (5)
EMMET: A two-letter word for a printer’s dash and the reversal of the word (back and forth) followed by the last letter (stern) of boat.
15d Clever idea dressing fellow Spooner’s way (6,4)
MASTER PLAN: A Spoonerism of PLASTER (dressing) MAN (fellow).
16d Spooner found in sieve that is cast aside! (5)
SERVE: The ER from Spooner (the first five letters being the definition) inside the SIEVE from the clue with the IE (that is) removed (cast aside). Whilst some editors will allow unindicated lift and separate clues where one word has to be split as part of the wordplay, it should not be used to join the definition to the wordplay in the way this clue has done.
18d Cuckoos‘ title for a squirrel procedural? (8)
NUTCASES: Splitting the solution 3,5 might suggest a documentary looking at legal procedures involving squirrels. I am not convinced by this clue, particularly as the usage of procedural is an American term that does not have the same meaning in the UK.
21d Nothing odd in Spooner’s literary name (3)
POE: The even letters (nothing odd) in Spooner.
22d Spooner’s uniform of cloth! (6)
OXFORD: Double definition. Another clue where the lift and separate from uniform to uni form would not find favour with editors as the split required is not for the wordplay but to get the definitions.
25d Spooner left by 9 or earlier (6)
SOONER: The abbreviation for the solution in 9a removed (left by) from Spooner.
27d This culture evens out (4)
CLUE: The odd letters (evens out) in culture.
28d Spotted with top off, but still spotted (4)
PIED: A five-letter word meaning spotted (in the sense of seen) with the initial S removed (top off) that leaves a word meaning spotted in the sense of animal markings.
29d Spooner finally back in boat (4)
RAFT: The final letter of Spooner followed by a three-letter word meaning back.
30d Too awkward letting Spooner orate at first (4)
ALSO: The initial letter (at first) of the second to fourth words of the clue. Try to avoid repeating wordplay indicators (first as an initial letter indicator was used in 23a).
What a clever compilation to unpick. We thought it great fun to see how many different ways the word that upsets so many solvers could be sneakily used. No doubt a few technical points are not quite right (like the ambiguity with 16a) but they did not get in the way of the enjoyment for us.
Thanks Samsa.
Welcome to Rookie Corner, Samsa. When I saw the vast number of Spooner references, I was dreading the solve. It took me a while to overcome my prejudice and get on the right wavelength. However, it proved to be great fun when it all fell into place and I loved it. Given the accomplished nature of this puzzle, I very much doubt that this is your first cryptic crossword.
I am unable to parse 22d. “Cloth” appears to be the definition, but I can’t fathom “Spooner’s uniform” as the wordplay and “of” doesn’t work as a cryptic grammar link word.
You are clearly a fan of “lift and separate” clues, which “some editors may not …” For me 22a is fine but I think 16d is a step too far as the separation involved is a combination of definition and wordplay.
I’m not keen on the winding path in 23a, which Collins suggests is probably an American usage.
I wasn’t familiar with the specific meaning of procedural as a noun needed in 18d. Chambers and Collins didn’t help, but it is in Wikipedia and Merriam Webster, which makes me wonder if that too is American.
Many thanks and very well done, Samsa. I am not quite sure how you intend to follow this but I’m looking forward to your next submission. Thanks too in advance to Prolixic.
22d is another lift and separate. Split the uniform to get each side of a double definition.
Thanks very much, Prolixic. It never occurred to me that there might be a third L&S.
22d is a double definition. You need to separate uniform into two separate words.
Sorry – I should have refreshed the page before commenting.
Anyone who can set such a clever crossword is definitely not a Rookie . Not exactly d’oh moments, more ‘oh, that sort of spooner’ moments. Lots to like, but I’ll choose 32a as my Across favourite and 1d for my Down favourite
As RD says I’m not sure how you follow this, but thank you and come back soon. Thanks in advance to Prolixic
Wow, how impressive is this! I loved it – many thanks to Samsa.
I have loads of ticks including 31a, 1d, 5d, 22d and 23d.
Welcome, Samsa.
Whilst admiring the ingenuity to use the 7 Down in so many varied ways, I think perhaps you over-egged the pudding. I felt rather exhausted at the conclusion of the solve and I think I would have enjoyed the puzzle more if you hadn’t tried to shoe-horn in quite so many mentions. A few of the surfaces, like 16a and 6d, were unconvincing and my least favourite clue was 13d – there were probably two “tops” too many. “First” was repeated as an initial letter indicator.
Generally, I’m not a fan of “gimmicky” puzzles unless the theme is subtle and understated, neither adjective could be applied here. So, overall, not one for me really, but I do congratulate you on putting this together.
Thank you, Samsa.
Thanks for the puzzle Samsa. I enjoyed it, but it did turn into a little bit of a slog with every other clue involving the same word.
I liked 11a, 31a and 28d amongst others.
I got 16a wrong first time out – it’s entirely ambiguous and even the checkers don’t sort it out. And a couple of the lift-and-separates are a step too far for me (although I’m not keen on them at the best of times).
Thanks again, and thanks in advance to Prolixic.
I do love a spot of Spooner subversion. Very smartly done but I do have to agree with Silvanus. The trick just slightly loses its loveliness after the first couple. Clearly not your first (you’ve had 16 in t’other place, I see) and it shows. Classy clueing. Ta lots. You won’t be here for long!
Retired hurt! Less than 50% solved after two lengthy sessions.
Thanks Samsa but not for me.
Your comment came in just as I bemoaning being on my own in the dunces’ corner. Welcome, friend!
Move over please it’s getting crowded in here. My mother had a saying: “it’s not big, it’s not clever & none of your friends are wtching!”
Oh dear, it’s obviously going to be a ‘just me’ day. Despite coming back to this a few times over the day, I’d still solved less than half and some of the ones I’d entered were wild guesses! I’ve now revealed the solution but even that has left me with about 10 entries that I can’t fathom at all.
Apologies, Samsa, your wavelength is a mystery to me although the 16a that people are complaining about is one of the answers that came easily to me!
We enjoyed the puzzle to begin with but then we struggled to find answers and had to reveal some letters to complete. So, we got there with help but still unable to parse some of the answers until we read Prolixic’s review this morning. Favourites were 5d and 28d. Thanks to Samsa and Prolixic. We look forward to your next crossword, Samsa (but please no more Spooner).
Many thanks for the review, Prolixic, which I very much needed on this occasion. I do hope that Samsa pops in to thank you for your efforts on his behalf.
A huge thank you to everyone for extremely useful comments, and especially to Prolixic for the thoughtful review and post! Really very much appreciated. I, too, will enjoy a break from Spooner after this one, but I’m already excited to work on the next one with the absolute bare minimum of lift and separate clues (maybe just the one), perhaps a slightly lighter touch on the theme, and a renewed commitment to avoiding Americanisms. Thanks all for taking the time with my puzzle! Wonderfully helpful comments and always such fun to see the puzzle out in the world and enjoyed by solvers.
Welcome to the blog, Samsa.
So good to see you pop in, Samsa. An increasing number of rookie solvers don’t bother to acknowledge Prolixic’s hard work these days and I always find that so insulting to him.
Pleased to hear that you’re giving the reverend a break for now!