A Puzzle by Ark
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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.
A highly commendable debut from Ark, even if a tricky crossword to solve. In part, this was due to some more unusual words. Also, I wonder if having so many clues where you simply take words from clue and include them in the answer also contributed to this, as I spent a lot of time looking for synonyms when all I needed to do was add the word from the clue into the solution. Technically, there were very few issues so the commentometer reads as 3/32.
Across
1a Detour with turn, overtaking right (5)
SKIRT: A four-letter word for a turn on stage around (overtaking) the abbreviation for right.
4a Sing about crush that’s magnificent (8)
SMASHING: The SING from the clue around (about) a four-letter word meaning crush.
10a Croon with men, and indulge (5)
HUMOR: A three-letter word meaning croon followed by the abbreviation for Other Ranks (men). As the American spelling of the solution is being used, this should be indicated in the clue.
11a Angry mum’s getting removed from party by grandma, and that’s final (9)
INDIGNANT: A seven-letter word for a party with the two-letter word meaning quite or mum removed followed by a three-letter word for grandma and the final letter of that.
12a Weakling swimming swam, and not far (3,2,5)
MAN OF STRAW: An anagram (swimming) of SWAM NOT FAR.
13a Just your setter, exhausted rookie (4)
MERE: A two-letter word for the setter following by the outer letters (exhausted) of rookie.
15a Prays on the counter while eating snack periodically, such as pineapple (7)
SYNCARP: The PRAYS from the clue reversed (on the counter) around (while eating) the even letters (periodically) of snack.
16a An article detailed vile accommodation for workers (7)
ANTHILL: The AN from the clue followed by the definite article with the final letter removed (detailed) and a three-letter word meaning vile.
18a Reprimand inappropriate touch, penning “Disgusting.” (4,3)
CHEW OUT: An anagram (inappropriate) of TOUCH around (penning) a two-letter word meaning disgusting.
20a Crush small portion of tobacco and say, “Revolting!” (7)
SQUIDGE: The abbreviation for small followed by a four-letter word for a portion of tobacco and the abbreviation for say reversed (revolting).
22a Blow up soldiers with shell of grenade (4)
RAGE: The abbreviation for Royal Artillery (soldiers) followed by the outer letters (shell) of grenade.
24a Cop’s character: a liar, for the most part, showing a compulsive use of vulgar language (10)
COPROLALIA: The COPS from the clue followed by a four-letter word for a character or part in a film or play and the A LIAR from the clue each with their last letters removed (for the most part). I don’t think that the cryptic instructions work here the instruction require the removal of every last letter but this does not apply to the A from the clue.
26a I see actor spreading secrets (9)
ESOTERICA: An anagram (spreading) of I SEE ACTOR.
27a Get out drug and spray after catching cold (5)
EJECT: The abbreviation for ecstasy (drug) followed by a three-letter word for a spray around (after catching) the abbreviation for cold.
28a Merchant‘s more flexible after gaining independence (8)
SUPPLIER: A seven-letter word meaning more flexible around (after gaining) the abbreviation for independence.
29a Giant ego in Times article (5)
TITAN: The single letter representing the ego in the abbreviation for time twice (Times) followed by the indefinite article the precedes a vowel.
Down
1d Projects halfway through school term, occasionally French art (7)
SCHEMES: The first half of school followed by the even letters (occasionally) of term and the French form of the verb to be (French art).
2d Sense of something present throughout Of Mice and Men novel after friend ultimately passes? (9)
IMMANENCE: An anagram (novel) of MICE AND MEN after removing the last letter (ultimately) of friend. Loved the sneaky use of “Of” as the link word between the definition and the wordplay doubling as the title of the book.
3d Wrongdoer‘s burning forest at outskirts of Rio (10)
TORTFEASOR: An anagram (burning) FOREST AT RO (outskirts of Rio meaning the outer letters). I am not convinced that burning is a valid anagram indicator. Destroying or wrecking would be better.
5d Islamic school has angry Republican at sea regularly (7)
MADRASA: A three-letter word meaning angry followed by the abbreviation for Republican and the odd letters (regularly) of AT SEA.
6d Wrong to repress good character (4)
SIGN: A three-letter word for a wrong includes (to repress) the abbreviation for good.
7d Complain an educator’s somewhat stupid (5)
INANE: The answer is hidden (somewhat) in the first three words of the clue.
8d Wake up with alter ego, largely confused (3,4)
GET REAL: An anagram (confused) of ALTER EGO with the final letter of ego removed (largely)
9d Mean kitty with depression rolling around (6)
TIPTOP: A three-letter word for a kitty or sum of money and a three-letter word for a depression all reversed (rolling around).
14d Plateful devoured by soldier very quickly (2,4,4)
AT FULL PELT: An anagram (devoured) of PLATEFUL followed by the abbreviation for lieutenant (soldier). I am not sure that devoured is a good anagram indicator. Cooked or chewed would have worked better.
17d Kind of exposed “bulge” covered up by Mark (9)
INDULGENT: The inner letters (exposed) of bulge inside (covered up) by a six-letter word for a mark or notch.
18d Birds become loud, mainly upset by dog (7)
CURLEWS: A reversal of a five-letter word meaning to become loud musically with the final letter removed (mainly) after (by) a three-letter word for a dog.
19d Be unfaithful to Tim, embracing women before start of engagement (3-4)
TWO-TIME: The TO TIM from the clue around (embracing) the abbreviation for women followed by the first letter (start) of engagement.
20d Drama from all AI research being rejected (6)
SERIAL: The answer is hidden (from) and reversed (being rejected) in the third to fifth words of the clue.
21d In the end, clue last in is something quite stretchy… (7)
ELASTIN: The final letter (in the end) of clue followed by the LAST IN from the clue. I think that having at least five clues where you simply take the words in the definition and include them in the solution is too many.
23d Doctor checking toilet finds a messy, sticky fluid (5)
GLOOP: The abbreviation for general practitioner (doctor) around (checking) a three-letter word for a toilet.
25d Whine from stubborn person overheard (4)
MEWL: A homophone of MULE (stubborn person).
Ark (Abdul K.) here! I hope everyone enjoys solving my puzzle.
PS: The unindicated American spelling used for the answer in 10a was an unfortunate oversight I only noticed after submission. Hopefully, it does not detract from anyone’s solving experience!
Welcome to the blog, Ark.
Welcome to Rookie Corner, Ark, and well done on compiling a cryptic puzzle – no mean feat.
I’m sorry to say however that this defeated me, needing several reveals to get a finished grid. Probably most of it was technically OK but overall I found it very tough. There were a lot of very obscure answers and the US spelling for 10a gets a big thumbs down from me.
Please pay heed to Prolixic’s wise words and come back with a more solver friendly crossword next time.
Ark, your comment about 10a didn’t appear until after I had posted mine. I suspect it may have been awaiting moderation as is usual for a first time poster.
Thanks for the kind welcome, Dave.
I’m sorry that it turned out quite tough. I had lightened up the wordplay for the harder answers with the aim of making it easier, but nonetheless, it’s not easy to come up with an answer you might not be aware of. I’ll be sure to return with a kinder offering next time around.
Welcome to Rookie Corner Ark and thank you for submitting a crossword
The four-letter words got me going in what I thought was a particularly difficult crossword. I think if you are going to include obscure words, then I’m not sure anagrams are the best way to clue them, unless of course you have access to Anagram Solver
quite a few of your definitions aren’t the first or possibly the second to come to mind either
You have some good ideas so please take notice of the comments of other solvers and the wise words of Prolixic and come back with something friendlier
Thank you, crypticsue!
I agree with your point re: anagrams for obscure words. It’s definitely something I’ll avoid if ever cluing obscure words in the future.
When there are no overnight comments on a Rookie puzzle it’s usually a sign that it’s quite tricky and that’s the case here.
I managed three-quarters of this ok but got stuck in the top-left corner and revealed two answers to finish.
There’s lots to like here but the obscurities made it difficult.
I can’t find the 18a ‘disgusting’ in either Chambers or Collins.
I liked 16a, 20a, 28a, 29a and 19d.
Thanks to Ark for the puzzle. Do take heed of Prolixic’s advice and please come back with a puzzle that’s a little gentler.
I was surprised, Gazza, but “ew or eew or eww or ewww” appears in the Collins app.
All I can say is ew.
I hesitate to say this, but I’ve always thought ew first appeared as an Americanism
Thanks, Gazza!
The top-left corner was rough – had multiple obscure answers checking each other. First and foremost, I’ll avoid an abundance of obscure entries in the future, and if any, ensure a natural spread and easier wordplay.
Welcome, Ark.
As others have said, this was very challenging in places, not helped some rather obscure words that cranked up the difficulty factor.
I have to say though that I was fairly impressed with the technical proficiency on display and the quality of the surface readings, so a big tick in both those boxes. I would suggest avoiding using “article” for both the indefinite (29a) and definite (16a) articles in the same puzzle, if at all possible. 10a could have been easily avoided by having a Greek poet (or a certain Mr Simpson) as the solution instead.
Overall, a really promising puzzle and I’d be very interested to see a second one.
Many thanks, Ark.
Thanks for the kind words and advice, Silvanus!
I definitely missed the mark on the difficulty. Won’t happen again!
We did find this challenging, Ark, and needed several reveals 🤔. We really look forward to your next one that you have promised will be less difficult. Many thanks to Prolixic also
Thank you Hilton,
I am already working on the next submission, and I can guarantee it is significantly less tough than this one, and hopefully more enjoyable to solve
Thank you for the review, Prolixic!