A Puzzle by Burrows
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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 Burrows. This was a very good debut from our setter. There are a few rough edges to the clues, but the main structure of the clues and their variety is spot on. Overall, the commentometer reads as 3/34 or 8.8%.
Across
8a Flexible production increases national growth at first (8)
YIELDING: A five-letter word meaning production followed by the initial letters (at first) of the third to fifth words of the clue.
9a Caddie goes berserk in traditional Nordic style (6)
EDDAIC: An anagram (goes berserk) of CADDIE.
10a A swerve back out (4)
AWAY: The A from the clue followed by a reversal (back) of a three-letter word meaning swerve.
11a Introduction of liquid sample of polyethylene macromolecules (5)
ENEMA: The answer is hidden (sample of) in the final two words of the clue.
12a Local bigwig briefly ahead of schedule (4)
EARL: A five-letter word meaning ahead of schedule with the final letter removed (briefly). I think that the “local” is surplus to requirements and should have been omitted.
13a Extreme right replaced by variable number of hereditary leaders (8)
DYNASTIC: A seven-letter word meaning extreme with the R (right) replaced by a letter representing a variable amount and the letter representing any number.
16a Utterly fashionable friend of Dorothy (2,4)
IN TOTO: A two-letter word meaning fashionably followed by the name of Dorothy’s dog in the Wizard of Oz.
18a Napoleon’s temporary dwelling in retreat accomplished (4)
ABLE: A reversal (in retreat) of the island where Napoleon was temporarily exiled. Try to avoid having the reversal indicator between the wordplay and definition as deciding which is the wordplay and which is the definition is ambiguous.
20a Newspaper wizard to get counterpart (5)
IMAGE: A single letter name of a newspaper followed by a four-letter word for a wizard.
21a Find without complete record (4)
DISC: An eight-letter word meaning find without the final four letters meaning complete.
22a Fit up spouse, removing last right to return (6)
ENTRAP: A seven-letter word for a spouse with the final R (right) removed and then reversed (to return). Try to avoid repeating wordplay indicators. R for right was used in 13a.
23a Loud Glock shot after student expelled for expression of encouragement (4,4)
GOOD LUCK: An anagram (shot) of LOUD GLOCK after removing (expelled) the abbreviation for student.
26a Tailless beast of burden turned up (4)
CAME: A five-letter beast of burden with the final letter removed (tailless).
28a Opera company departs, returning for Celia Cruz, perhaps (5)
CUBAN: A seven-letter name of a Verdi opera without (departs) the abbreviation for company and then reversed (returning). Try to avoid repeating wordplay indicators. Return was used as a reversal indicator in 22a.
30a Lodge advice I followed (4)
TIPI: The three-letter word for advice followed by the I from the clue. The cryptic grammar here does not quite work as the I follows the advice, not followed it.
31a Sterilise wounds of side damaged on distant moon (6)
IODISE: An anagram (damaged) of SIDE after (on) on the name of the one of the moons of Jupiter.
32a Broadcast rules for laying out duties on beer and ‘baccy (3,5)
SIN TAXES: A homophone (broadcast) of syntax (rules for laying out).
Down
1d Express road passage (6)
AIRWAY: A three-letter word meaning express followed by a three-letter word meaning a road.
2d Small fry left in window, perhaps. (4)
BLAY: The abbreviation for left in a three-letter word for a type of window.
3d Most malodorous farewell set heads swimming (6)
RIPEST: A three-letter word for a farewell seen on a tombstone followed by the SET from the clue with the first two letters (heads) reversed (swimming). Perhaps spinning would be a better indicator than swimming.
4d Leer at topless dance (4)
OGLE: A five-letter word for a dance with the first letter removed (topless). The dance is listed as the second meaning in Collins.
5d Team Nike formulated anaesthetic (8)
KETAMINE: An anagram (formulated) of TEAM NIKE.
6d Somewhat overengineered German side (4)
EDGE: The answer is hidden (somewhat) in the middle two words of the clue.
7d Salts discussed nocturnal services (8)
NITRITES: A homophone (discussed) of nocturnal followed by a five-letter word for services.
14d Long way round Spain in days of yore, put the wind up someone (5)
AFEAR: A four-letter word meaning long way around the IVR code for Spain.
15d Fraternity golf ring (5)
CLANG: A four-letter word for a fraternity followed by the letter represented by golf in the NATO phonetic alphabet.
17d Ebbing and flowing trip regularly taken by stunted surrealist (5)
TIDAL: The odd letters (regularly taken) in trip followed the name of a surrealist artist with the final letter removed (stunted).
19d Loaded a blow gun in chalet (8)
BUNGALOW: An anagram (loaded) of A BLOW GUN.
20d Finishes up under the thumb? (2,6)
IN POCKET: Double definition.
24d Having key part of Coronation ceremony without king (6)
OWNING: An eight-letter word for part of the Coronation ceremony without the regnal letters for King Charles.
25d Auburn fuzz (6)
COPPER: Double definition. Collins support the singular use for a single police person.
27d Change of course, on reflection (4)
EDIT: A reversal (on reflection) of a four-letter word for course.
29d Party clobber (4)
BASH: Double definition.
30d New Siamese cat hair trousers (4)
THAI: The answer is hidden (trousers) in the third and fourth words of the clue.
Welcome to Rookie Corner Burrows. I found this enjoyable but I did need some single letter reveals and checking of answers as I progressed but that was probably mostly me.
Smiles for 16a, 28a, 32a, 7d, 15d, 29d, and 30d.
Thanks for the challenge and thanks in advance to Prolixic.
Many thanks, Senf!
It is so nice to receive a positive first comment. This is only the third crossword that I have compiled, so I was more than a little nervous about placing it before a discerning and knowledgeable audience.
I am sure that there are faults to be found, and I am confident that people here will find them – something I, naturally, very much welcome.
Simply knowing, however, that somebody has enjoyed your puzzle is priceless – finding that something has fulfilled its primary purpose is always a lovely landmark to reach.
I was fully expecting the first comment to begin with “What in the name of all that is holy … ” It didn’t, and I am a happy bunny! Thank you, again.
Welcome to the Rookie Corner, Burrows.
Welcome to Rookie Corner, Burrows, and thank you for a crossword that was friendlier on the RH side than the left, and like Senf, I did have to reveal a few letters in order to get a completed grid. Take note of Prolixic’s review – thanks to him in advance – and to comments made by other solvers during the day
Lots to enjoy – I especially liked 32a – hope to see you back here again soon
The message around the perimeter might have helped with the odd letter or two!
So it would have done – if only I wasn’t famed for never noticing Ninas 😔
Ditto!
Thank you!
I’m looking forward to and dreading Prolixic’s full take in equal measure – but, hey, I’m here to learn. There’s no such thing as bad feedback!
Judging difficulty is far from the easiest aspect of setting, of course, and it’s interesting that you see a left-side/right-side divide there, though that’s hopefully balanced by the Nina being somewhat more helpful on the left side.
The Nina does, of course, force the use of some rather more obscure solutions than I’d otherwise use (2d and 9a are prime examples), but hopefully the clues for those acknowledge that by being a bit softer.
Welcome to Rookie Corner, Burrows, with what I thought was a very promising debut with a clever Nina to boot!
Although I enjoyed the solve, I did find it quite tough and I can’t parse my answer to 28a.
I’ll leave the technical feedback to Prolixic and Silvanus, but here are a few comments from me:
9a – I’ve never heard of this, but it couldn’t have been anything else with the checking letters and anagram fodder. It’s a good policy to clue an obscure answer sympathetically as you have done here.
30a – I’ve never come across that specific spelling before.
4d – The dance is not in Chambers or Collins.
I had a lot of ticks on my page and my top picks are 13a, 16a, 32a & 25d.
Well done and thank you, Burrows. I look forward to your next hopefully slightly less challenging submission.
Thanks Dave!
28a, I think, does parse correctly but as commented elsewhere, it would have been fairer to mention the composer as there are an awful lot of operas to choose from.
30a, I always thought was a fairly standard spelling. I used to live near a commune called 30a Valley – so naturally assumed that was a common alternative.
4d, similarly, maybe a case of localised notions of the commonality of a word. As a Brummie, I’m exposed to a fair deal of Jamaican culture, but it’s perhaps not as quite pervasive everywhere. I’m still tempted to cite this as an example of Chambers being massively out-of-touch, though!
I may well follow up with something a little more Monday/Tuesday-ish.
Welcome to Burrows who’s given us a very enjoyable puzzle with a clever Nina.
I don’t see why the 12a bigwig is ‘local’.
I have ticks for 8a, 11a, 28a, 32a, 24d and 29d.
More like this please.
Gazza, I wondered if 12a might refer to the historic context that they were originally appointed by the monarch to have responsibility for a specific local region.
Thanks RD. Collins confirms that though the clue could have done with an ‘old’ or ‘once’ perhaps.
Incidentally, for 28a you need to start with a Verdi opera.
Thanks, Gazza. That’s well outside my GK limitations!
Many thanks, Gazza.
I think “local” might fall somewhere into the semi-redundant category – an earl would rule a region rather than a country, but that’s maybe something of a de facto definition rather than an absolute one. As something that certainly bends the “every word must count” rule, even if it doesn’t actually break it, I would, on reflection, maybe reconsider that one.
Welcome, Burrows.
I thought this was a very promising debut, although it’s a pity that the Nina necessitated the inclusion of one or two obscure words in order to complete the grid. Three “lurkers” was probably one too many and “return”/”returning” was repeated as a reversal indicator, but the cryptic grammar and technical aspects of the puzzle were pretty good. I’m not sure that “fuzz” (25d) can relate to a single police officer.
Good stuff and very enjoyable to solve after two barren Rookie Corner weeks. Many thanks, Burrows.
Thank you kindly, silvanus!
Yes, you absolutely have me bang to rights, as it were, on singular and plural peelers. That is, indeed, an inaccuracy.
It was a job from hell to get down to what were, in my mind, two lurkers (2d, 9ac) – but the goal, of course, should be zero. Would I be right in thinking that your third would be 30a which turns out to be a much less common spelling than I had imagined? As mentioned elsewhere, that’s a bit of an eye-opener to the potential pitfall of a word being commonplace to the setter but not to the solver. The dance-related clue also falls within cultural parameters that may not be as universal as I assume them to be.
And, yes, I have been a bit lax with repeated indicators. Duly noted.
Many, many thanks for your feedback – this is immensely helpful stuff!
Thank you, Burrows. It’s great to have a Rookie crossword again after a 2 weeks’ absence. We enjoyed your puzzle but we did eventually need to reveal some letters to complete it. We missed the Nina and we didn’t know 9a – but thought it was an anagram …. And Google confirmed once we had a couple of letters in. We didn’t know the small fry either and we don’t know the dance. Nevertheless we enjoyed your puzzle and we look forward to your next one …. Soon, please. Thanks in advance to Prolixic.
Many thanks, Hilton.
Yes, it’s something of a toughie without getting the Nina, and the Nina does necessitate a couple of rather obscure solutions. I did try to compensate for those with easier wordplay, but maybe it would have been better to go with something a little more vanilla.
I’ve learnt a great many things in my brief foray into setting, but I think the biggest one by far is that the hardest part of it (and I think this applies across quizzes and puzzles of all varieties) often lies in assessing the difficulty and, in some cases, the universality of a clue or a question. As objective as we try to be, we have the disadvantage of already knowing the answer! I think that’s where I need to sharpen my editorial skills.