A Puzzle by TimO
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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 TimO. It was clear from the American spellings and one clue type that is a feature of American cryptic crosswords but not those in the UK that our setter was from the USA. Perhaps in a crossword for publication in the UK, UK English spellings, abbreviations and definitions should have been used.
There was a good variety of clue types though has been noted an fondness for repeating hold / held as a containment indicator.
Overall, the commentometer reads as 6/32 of 18.7%.
Across
1a Fighter‘s unprepared reflecting on Central American alternative (7)
WARRIOR: A three-letter word meaning unprepared reversed (reflecting) followed by the middle letters (Central) of American and a two-letter word expressing an alternative. Some editors will not allow constructions such as Central X to indicate the middle letters of A
5a Perhaps one, for won money held in home – but no Euros allowed (7)
HOMONYM: The money from the clue inside (held in) the home from the clue with all letters E removed (no Euros allowed). The abbreviation is given in the OED but not Chambers or Collins. The definition is an example of a homophone (two words that sound the same but differ in their spelling rather than the solution which is a word whose meaning changes depending on its pronunciation, the spelling remaining the same.
9a Nanny has large crow (5)
GLOAT: A four-letter word for a type of animal that has nanny as a female exemplar includes the abbreviation for large. Has is a weak containment indicator. Eats here would be much better.
10a In fact, oil mixture is fantastic (9)
FICTIONAL: An anagram (mixture) of IN FACT OIL. Some editors will not allow a noun such as mixture to function as an anagram indicator.
11a Resin holding tips from red gaillardia is perfume ingredient (9)
AMBERGRIS: A five-letter tree resin includes the first letters (tips from) of the fifth and sixth words of the clue and follow the resulting letters with the is from the clue. Try to avoid using repeated wordplay indicators. You have held in as a containment indicator and holding in this clue.
12a Flirted in the old way during regressive period (5)
TOYED: The old way of saying the inside a reversal (regressive) of a three-letter word for a full stop (period).
13a Bureaucrats are restricting oligarch (4)
TSAR: The answer is hidden (restricting) in the first two words of the clue.
15a State has scattered lions, when using some parts more than once (8)
ILLINOIS: An anagram (scattered) of LIONS ILI (some parts of lions used more than once). As you have not indicated the letters to be used, this is tantamount to an indirect anagram. These forms of letter bank clues are sometimes seen in American crosswords but are not used in UK crosswords.
18a Accompanied loose corset leads to impotence (8)
ESCORTED: An anagram (loose) of CORSET followed by the abbreviation for erectile disfunction (impotence). The abbreviation is given in the OED but not Chambers or Collins.
19a Pull tie (4)
DRAW: Double definition, the tie being equal scores.
22a Hardship found in regularly trying to run (5)
RIGOR: The even letters (regularly) of trying to followed by the abbreviation for run. The solution is the American spelling so this should be indicated. In the UK, the solution is restricted to biological senses of unresponsiveness / stiffness.
24a See steer after Tuesday, Boston’s time, for free ride? (4,5)
TEST DRIVE: A five-letter word meaning steer after the abbreviations for Tuesday and Eastern Standard Time (Boston’s time). The abbreviation for Tuesday is not given in the main UK dictionaries.
26a Vagaries of true love suppressed Newton’s step forward (9)
VOLUNTEER: An anagram (vagaries) of TRUE LOVE includes (suppressed) the abbreviation for Newton. Perhaps suppressing would be better.
27a Temper investor relations type? (5)
IRISH: The abbreviation for investor relations followed by a prefix meaning sort of or type. The abbreviation for Investor Relations is not given in the main UK dictionaries.
28a Limbs hold the French like worms? (7)
LEGLESS: A four-letter word for limbs includes (hold) the French plural for the. The cryptic grammar does not quite work here as the clue resolves to A hold B, when it should be A holding B or A holds B. Be careful about repeating wordplay indicators. Holding was used in 11a and the similar held in 5a.
29a Jerk seen shortened and turned-around US patriots (7)
YANKEES: A four-letter word meaning jerk followed by a reversal (turned around) of the seen from the clue after removing the final letter (shortened).
Down
1d Half-wild leader of guerillas lifted opening to get shelter (6)
WIGWAM: The first two letters (half) of wild followed by the first letter (leader) of guerillas and a reversal (lifted) of a three-letter word for an opening.
2d Letter with 1000 vehicles in geometric shapes (9)
RHOMBUSES: A three-letter Greek letter of their alphabet followed by the Roman numeral for 1000 and a five-letter word for a public service vehicles.
3d Entomb body of Saint Erasmus (5)
INTER: The answer is hidden (body of) in the final two words of the clue.
4d Change-maker stirred-up firestorm (9)
REFORMIST: An anagram (stirred-up) of FIRESTORM.
5d Slashes rundown dwelling with roof falling to the basement (5)
HACKS: A five-letter word for a rundown dwelling with the first letter moved to the end.
6d Wet sediment jammed around egg (9)
MOISTENED: An anagram (jammed) of SEDIMENT around the letter representing the shape of an egg.
7d Drew, perhaps, is outrageously canny (5)
NANCY: An anagram (outrageously) of CANNY.
8d Two women’s infirmity (6)
MALADY: A two-letter word for a woman or mother and a four-letter word for a women.
14d 22’s wild and Eastern River? (3,6)
RIO GRANDE: An anagram (wild) of the answer to 22a followed by the AND from the clue and the abbreviation for Eastern.
16d Misdirected craft held up by unexpected delays (3,6)
LED ASTRAY: A reversal (up) of a three-letter word for craft or guile inside (held) an anagram (unexpected) of DELAYS. Another repetition of held/hold as a containment indicator.
17d Put a slant on it? (9)
ITALICIZE: Put a slant on text to emphasise it. This American spelling should have been indicated.
20d Fawn over cuckoo in empty glockenspiel (6)
GROVEL: An anagram (cuckoo) of OVER inside the outer letters (empty) of glockenspiel.
21d Magpie’s head and tail seen above that woman’s nets (6)
MESHES: The outer letters (head and tail) of magpie followed by a four-letter word meaning that woman’s.
23d Underneath bottomless chasm is silver prison? (5)
GULAG: A four-letter word for a chasm with the final letter removed (bottomless) followed by the chemical symbol for silver.
24d Time before ascendant oracle pines (5)
TREES: The abbreviation for time followed by a reversal (ascendent) of a four-letter word for an oracle. The answer is a definition by example of the solution so this should be indicated.
25d Edward’s ultimate pub holds Jack’s spirit (5)
DJINN: The final letter (ultimate) of Edward followed by a three-letter word for a pub that includes (holds) the abbreviation for Jack. Another use of holds / held as a containment indicator.
We thought there were lots of very good clues in this one that was a real pleasure to solve. Favourite was 5a.
Thanks TimO.
Thanks Tim0 an entertaining finale to my weekend of cruciverbalism. But, I suspect that this is not your first ever puzzle.
I have a few Hmms over the parsing of some of the clues but I will wait to see if the experts agree with me.
Smiles for 1a, 18a, 17d, and 25d.
Thanks again and thanks in advance to Prolixic.
Welcome to Rookie Corner, TimO, with an American flavoured (or should I say flavored?) crossword. There were a lot of good ideas here, but I found quite a number of your surface readings didn’t make much sense.
There were some new words for me: the particular meaning of 27a (is this an American usage?); the Drew in 7d; and the answer to 25d.
A few comments on specific clues:
5a – for me this is a clue that needs to be completely rewritten. It’s quite a coincidence that in last week’s RC puzzle, the setter clued “homophone” using the example of a homonym and today you have used a homophone to clue “homonym”! I can’t find any justification for E as an abbreviation for Euros; and the surface of the clue is nonsensical.
12a – the required meaning of “period” needs an American indicator.
22a – the answer is an American spelling.
24a – “See” is surface padding. The only reference I can find for T = Tuesday is in Collins, where it is listed in the American section.
I particularly liked 1a, 9a, 10a, 3d, 8d and, my favourite, 17d.
Well done and thank you, TimO. For a debutant, I wouldn’t normally want to overstress the importance of smooth surfaces but, given your grasp of the basics, for me this is the most important area for you to concentrate on. Thanks too in advance to Prolixic.
There are a long list of definitions of 27a in the BRB, one of which fits the clue without any reference to Americans
Yes, but it seemed a very strange meaning which I’ve never heard of over here. I asked an American friend about it who told me it’s a common US expression. Hence my question mark.
5a – While acknowledging all the other comments, I read Collins to suggest that “homonym” is the superset that encompasses sound-alike and spelt-alike (homophone and homograph). No?
Hi TImO.
You are right about the definition of homonym. All homophones are homonyms but not the other way round.
Thank you very much TimO for an enjoyable start to the week’s crosswording.
Welcome to TimO – thanks for an enjoyable puzzle.
Nine anagrams seemed a bit on the high side and some of the abbreviations used aren’t in the standard dictionaries.
My favourite clue was 26a.
I look forward to your next puzzle.
Great puzzle, TimO, much enjoyed. We needed Mr G to check 25 down and we didn’t understand 27a. We look forward to your next one and to Prolixic’s review.
Welcome to the Corner, TimO, with what felt to me like an offering from across the pond. No problem with that but it did result in some rather ‘different’ spellings and entries that may not chime with UK solvers. Top clues for me were 9a plus 8&20d.
Thank you and I hope we see you here again.
Well done on your debut, TimO! I don’t think I have solved this one before but enjoyed it greatly. You are in the best possible hands here. Full disclosure, TimO and I are fellow cryptic enthusiasts from across the pond (although I am merely a transplant there).
Welcome to Rookie Corner, TimO.
I’m slightly concerned by the fact that several earlier posters have complimented you on a great puzzle. I must have been solving a different crossword!
Not for the first time, I must agree with RD about the surface readings, some were quite dreadful, not to mince words. I find it amazing that Jane, who is normally a stickler for good surfaces, failed to be critical on that point, but then she is in good company today.
My repetition radar was certainly kept busy. I think a dubious record of sorts was set, with “hold”/”holds”/”holding”/held” etc. appearing no fewer than five times as a containment indicator. “Suppressed” in 26a should be in the present tense and “pines” in 24d should have a “definition by example” indicator. The setter may well be American, but 22a should have a US indicator in a puzzle for a primarily British audience. There were several good ideas on show, but I felt they were often betrayed by poor surfaces or the use of non-standard abbreviations.
Please note that I am being critical in order to help, not for any other reason. Prolixic will provide his usual comprehensive critique later, but he usually cuts Rookie contributors far more slack on surface readings (at least initially) than I do.
Thank you, TimO.
Cheers –
Thanks to all who solved and commented on the puzzle. A few notes while I await Prolixic’s additions. (And thanks in advance for them.)
I truly appreciate the sharing and clarity of the comments. Shines a light on the areas for I can improve.
Of the three big themes: (a) Yes – guilty as charged for being one “across the pond”. While I routinely solve from US and UK sources, I can (will) pay more attention when setting. (b) Repeated use of “hold” variants. Yup .. that slipped through. (c) Better surfaces. Well, I’ve improved here since first baby steps (on my own) and take the comments to heart.
On a few smaller bits:
– I’m glad a few clues got smiles. That’s also nice to know.
– For “pines” in 24D, the “definition by example” indicator is intended to be the “?”. No?
Again, thanks to all.
Welcome to the blog TimO. The question mark in 24D did not appear in the published version.
Many thanks for the analysis, Prolixic. I know it’s not in your nature to be over-critical of a debut appearance but I still thought it surprising that you made no mention of the need for TimO to work on areas such as surface reads. I think that an improvement in those would considerably enhance his future puzzles.