Enigmatic Variations 1738 (Hints)
Cross Words by Robyn
Hints and tips by Phibs
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Telegraph regulars will recognize today’s setter as the deputy puzzles editor, using a pseudonym normally associated with his Toughies; he has set themed puzzles for several publications in years gone by under a different nom de guerre, including ten Listeners (three more than me), but as far as I can ascertain this is his first EV – if so, we extend a warm welcome to him.
Preamble: In each of 12 clues an extra word must be removed; these words define the theme. A further 12 clues each have a letter missing; these letters suggest how to derive the exact wording of the theme – which must be written below the grid – from CROSS WORDS. Answers to the remaining 12 clues “clash” in 6 cells; entering the correct letter in each affected cell will display a symmetrical representation of the theme (24 cells in total), which must be highlighted. Chambers Dictionary (2016) is recommended.
Every clue is affected by one, and only one, gimmick. In twelve instances, a word must be removed from the clue before it can properly be solved – so if a clue were “Setter dressed in superhero costume by nymphet (5)”, the word to be removed is ‘costume’, and the answer is ROBYN, hidden in ‘superheRO BY Nymphet’. Conversely, the sequel “Setter taken from her by nun (5)” is a ‘missing letter’ clue – the letter O is missing from ‘hero’, the answer being concealed within ‘heRO BY Nun’. The remaining twelve clues are normal, but their answers will clash with a crossing answer; if the setter was in benevolent mood, only one of the two possible letters will make real words both across and down, but that may be too much to hope for. Anyway, we need to use pencil and enter the contents of the cells where clashes occur as ‘A/B’ or the like until we know which letter to select.
Across
1a After term in cult, was leader of Anglicans in dazed state? (6)
The words ‘was leader of Anglicans’ (together with the question mark) lead to a mildly whimsical (3,2) phrase, the second part of which is an abbreviation.
10a US gents maybe bicker with American in shady nook in Caribbean revels (9, two words)
A four-letter word for a ‘US gents’ is followed by a single-letter abbreviation contained by an anagram indicated by ‘shady’. The answer is (4,5) – be careful not to biff the more usual spelling, which fits with the crossers but only satisfies the first part of the wordplay.
12a Works we hear unsettled tourist on vacation? I disagree (6)
The trickiest aspect of this clue is breaking it down into its component parts, a task made harder by the well-concealed presence of an extra word. The wordplay is a 3+2+1 charade, and ‘unsettled’ is used craftily.
30a After catcall, loth to appear in Antipodean backwater (5)
A 3+2 charade, where the word which leads to the two-letter element must gain a letter – those who have fond memories of Frank in The Durrells may be at an advantage.
31a You uttered sense, receiving punishment for inopportune quarrel (9)
The convention of underlining the definition leaves one word out on a limb here. The letters of the answer are contributed by ‘you uttered’ (one letter), ‘[common] sense’ (four letters), and ‘[duration of] punishment’ (four letters), with the second group ‘receiving’ the third.
Down
2d The setter breaking pin on right measuring device (9)
Once a word in the clue has been reunited with its missing letter it defines a six-letter word which holds the key to the wordplay. The device measures the rate of flow of a liquid.
4d Nog mixed with ales Will’s put in the jug (7)
There’s nothing difficult about this clue, but you need to read the definition carefully to avoid making the mistake I did when initially marking it down as a normal clue leading to a clashing entry.
9d “Crazy” singer’s scales showing variations of form (6)
“Crazy” refers to the Willie Nelson song which will forever be associated with a country music legend; in 1996, her 1961 recording reached number one in the US all-time Top 40 Jukebox Singles chart (don’t ask me how they worked that out). The lady’s surname is followed by an S as indicated by “singer’s”.
20d Yemeni perhaps lives in trailer in the garden? (6)
A familiar four-letter word for a member of a people exemplified by Yemenis combines with a word meaning ‘lives’.
21d Schwarzenegger goes behind mall for snack (6)
The five letters contributed by ‘Schwarzenegger’ leave space only for a single letter, which suggests that we might need to ‘find’ a word with a one-letter abbreviation. There are certain editors who will not accept indicators like ‘back’ (reversal) and ‘behind’ (juxtaposition, after) in across clues; since all clues are written in a horizontal direction, this makes no sense to me.
Definitions in clues are underlined
Patterns will quickly emerge with both the ‘extra word’ and ‘missing letter’ clues, thus making the rest of each group easier to deal with. Having got a full grid (including six ‘either/ors’), the positions of the clashes should make identifying 24 likely cells in a symmetrical arrangement straightforward even for non-Chaliceans. These four words, together with the 12 extra words (note that they can all represent a particular part of speech) and the extra letters, should make it clear how to change the title in order to produce the ‘exact wording of the theme’. Remember to put the ‘clash winners’ into the six cells (the losers are simply discarded) and highlight the thematic representation in the grid.
This was one of those puzzles that turned out to be a lot less challenging than it looked at first glance. Not only did the gimmicks reveal themselves early on, the clues were scrupulously fair, which made solving them a lot easier. As long as one didn’t overthink the identification of the exact theme, the endgame was short and sweet.
Phibs Toughness Rating : 🥾🥾/🥾🥾🥾 (Suitable for anyone comfortable with gimmicked clues)
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The early reveal of the gimmicks made this a lot less taxing than it would otherwise have been. What held me up longest was 4d. Unlike Phibs I thought it must have a missing letter – but in the first word. I twigged that the solution wasn’t quite right but couldn’t see why for far too long. That apart it was a fairly straightforward solve and changing 12 to 4 was pretty neat.
Thanks to Robyn and Phibs.
I enjoyed this puzzle getting about 95% of the endgame- though I only found four clashing cells as opposed to six. Fair to say I’m missing that all-important 5%.
Thanks to Robyn and Phibs for the helpful pointers. 👍
Late to the party as we just had a lovely break in Malta – the endgame was my usual staring grumpily at the grid and then Phib’s hint helped massively, the penny dropped and it was a satisfying finish.. Thanks All! 😊