Chandler in the Quiptic slot this week with a cryptic with nothing to frighten the horses. Which is as it should be.
Abbreviations
cd cryptic definition
dd double definition
cad clue as definition
(xxxx)* anagram
anagrind = anagram indicator
[x] letter(s) removed
definitions are underlined
Across
1 Supply one paid to get a lot of footage
PROVIDE
A charade of PRO and VIDE[O]
5 Start to bring a good husband and father in Middle East capital
BAGHDAD
A charade of B for the initial letter of ‘bring’, A, G for ‘good’, H for ‘husband’ and DAD for ‘father’.
10 Very eager group among Chicago gangsters
AGOG
Hidden in ChicAGO Gangsters
11 Those on board given four directions in bleeping devices
PASSENGERS
An insertion of S,S, E and N in PAGERS. The insertion indicator is ‘given’.
12 Modifies flat-topped places in church, we hear
ALTERS
Aural wordplay (‘we hear’) of ALTARS.
13 Possibly find all behind lake making disposal of waste material
LANDFILL
A charade of L and (FIND ALL)* The anagrind is ‘possibly’.
14 A dim start sadly for one creating scenes?
DRAMATIST
(A DIM START)* with ‘sadly’ as the anagrind.
16 Expel six occupying English court
EVICT
An insertion of VI for ‘six’ in E and CT. The insertion indicator is ‘occupying’.
17 Assistant concealing second private comment
ASIDE
An insertion of S in AIDE. The insertion indicator is ‘concealing’.
19 Copiers in work showing accuracy
PRECISION
(COPIERS IN)* with ‘work’ as the anagrind.
23 A university in Connecticut facing financial debts making one wary
CAUTIOUS
An insertion of A and U in CT, followed by IOUS. The insertion indicator is ‘in’.
24 Doctor warns, describing beginning of emergency response
ANSWER
An insertion of E for the first letter of ’emergency’ in (WARNS)* The insertion indicator is ‘describing’.
26 A DC here upset about group that’s inattentive
CLOTH-EARED
An insertion of LOT in (A DC HERE)* The insertion indicator is ‘about’ and the anagrind is ‘upset’.
27 Help required around river getting dry
ARID
An insertion of R in AID. The insertion indicator is ‘required around’.
28 Look about unusually dire characteristic of some writing?
SPIDERY
An insertion of (DIRE)* in SPY. The insertion indicator is ‘about’ and the anagrind is ‘unusually’.
29 Drinks holder taken by adolescent in place to eat at work
CANTEEN
A charade of CAN and TEEN.
Down
2 Medium-sized person often at local?
REGULAR
A dd.
3 Virginia given estimate after leaving ship that’s unclear
VAGUE
A charade of VA and GUE[SS]. The instruction to remove SS is ‘leaving ship’.
4 Drop thing needed by a UK election candidate
DEPOSIT
A dd.
6 Getting on a horse captivates a German
AGEING
A charade of A and EIN, one of the German words for ‘a’ inserted into GG for ‘horse’. The insertion indicator is ‘captivates’.
7 Towering over court-based sport making triumphal gestures
HIGH FIVES
A charade of HIGH and FIVES, the court game.
8 Article Cyril tailored with cold, artificial material
ACRYLIC
A charade of A, (CYRIL)* and C. The anagrind is ‘tailored’.
9 Type in support of manipulating rates alas, when all else has failed
AS A LAST RESORT
A charade of (RATES ALAS)* and SORT. The anagrind is ‘manipulating’.
15 Contemplated model appearing in TV etc. with on-screen priest
MEDITATED
A charade of T for the Ford ‘model’ in MEDIA, followed by [Father] TED. The insertion indicator is ‘appearing in’.
18 Concession about name for shellfish
SCALLOP
An insertion of CALL in SOP. The insertion indicator is ‘about’.
20 Praise among US agents for woman
CLAUDIA
An insertion of LAUD in CIA. The insertion indicator is ‘among’.
21 Former individual with money put in competitive fixture
ONE-TIME
A charade of ONE and M inserted into TIE. The insertion indicator is ‘put in’.
22 Petty Officer rues agitating pretentious figure
POSEUR
A charade of PO and (RUES)* The anagrind is ‘agitating’.
25 Barely sufficient stuff kept in Tuscan trattoria
SCANT
Hidden in TuSCAN Trattoria.
Many thanks to Chandler for this week’s Quiptic.
Agree with the blogger – a good quiptic. FIVES, T and TED were guesses, which had to be that. Thanks Chandler and Pierre
Enjoyable puzzle.
New for me: FIVES game (for 7d); CLOTH-EARED.
A nice Quiptic which I finished without trouble. Couldn’t work out the parsing of 1a PROVIDE though. I saw the VIDE(o) but kept pondering over ‘pro’ as in ‘in favour of’ which didn’t help at all. So – is it pro = professional = someone who gets paid? I puzzled over AGEING as well – didn’t come up with ‘ein’ and I don’t think I’ve seen ‘gg’ for horse before in a crossword. There are various on-screen priests and I forgot about Father Ted though I loved the series.
Amma @3 – PRO is “one that gets paid”, as in professional, – from sports – there is a golf-pro who teaches beginners at the local club. It can also be PRO = for.
I thought this was right on the button for a Quiptic.
Thank you to Pierre and Chandler.
Thanks Chandler and Pierre
Yes, spot on Quiptic.
For those who don’t know Fives as a sport, think squash played with gloved hands rather than racquets. There are two variants, based on the layout of the corner where it was first played – Rugby Fives and Eton Fives. The main difference is that the Eton court has a (potentially lethal) step in it.
As I commented on the thread below the crossword itself, this felt like the most enjoyable in a while, and it properly fitted the bill.
An excellent Quiptic! The neat surface on 28 SPIDERY brought a smile.
Thanks Chandler and Pierre.
Good fun, nothing too taxing, as good “quiptics” should be. And I learnt something about UK election candidates’ requirements.