This week’s 11 x 11 crossword from the Guardian intended to teach cryptic crosswords, found here
This week’s puzzle sees the 18th Quick Crytic from Ludwig and a new variation on a clue type. We have had anagram minus before, but not anagram minus last letter. This puzzle has hidden words, acrostics adn anagram minus last letter with all the letters in the clues, with just the soundalikes where the words and letters need to be found by the solver.
The whole point of these crosswords is support and encouragement of new solvers, so special rules for these crosswords apply – see here – those rules include not posting solving times.
This blog was developed in response to suggestions. We hide the answers and the wordplay descriptions (parsing) too. To find the solution click on “Answer” and to find how the word play works, click on “Parsing” which will reveal the hidden information. You can choose to reveal everything using the “Expand All” button. If you have partially revealed the page, refreshing it will clear that, and allow you to expand all. The definition is in bold and underlined, the indicator is in red.
For additional help click here
There is a summary of the tricks used in the first six months here and a Guardian Crossword blog called the ultimate beginner’s guide has tips which may be useful for some solvers.
For abbreviations and clue tips click here
Fifteen Squared uses several abbreviations and jargon tricks, there’s a full list here, of which I’ve used the following in this blog:
- underlining the definition in the clue – this is either at the beginning or end of the clue
- indicators are in red.
- CAPITALS to indicate which bits are part of the answer, e.g. haVE ALtered for the example.
- anagram – letters being used shown in brackets (SENATOR)* for the clue below to give TREASON.
- anagram minus – letters being used are shown as capitals in brackets, with the unused letter in lower case and square brackets – so fluttering (OWLET[s])* becomes TOWEL.
- anagrind – anagram indicator – in the case below it is “arranged”
- soundalike – is indicated by “Wilde” – so in the example, Oscar “Wilde”, the playwright and author, is indicating the soundalike WILD.
- charades – the description below only gives the example of words being added together, but charades can be more complicated, adding abbreviations or single letters to another word. Examples previously used in this series are: Son ridicules loose overgarments (6) S (son) + MOCKS (ridicules), Get rid of dead pine (5) D(dead) + ITCH (pine) – D ITCH, and early on DR (doctor) + IVE (I have) to give DRIVE.
- reversals – the reversal element of a clue is indicated by < – so in the example clue below, VieTNAm <.
- CAD or clue as definition– where the whole clue gives the definition, sometimes called an &lit. These are rare.
- DBE or definition by example – e.g. where a dog might be clued as a setter – often using a question mark, maybe, possibly or e.g. to show that this is an example rather than a definition.
- surface – the meaning from reading the clue – so often cryptic clues use an English that could only be found in a cryptic crossword, but a smooth surface is a clue that has a meaning in English, which can be pointed or misleading.
TODAY’S TRICKS – from the crossword site – because the clues have moved on from the clue descriptions below, I am now adding more to the descriptions hidden above. Clues begin or end with a definition of the answer. The rest is one of these:
- Soundalike Something that sounds like answer
‘Excited, Oscar’s announced (4)’ gives WILD
WILD (excited) from Oscar “Wilde” the playwright - Hidden word(s) Answer hidden in clue’s words
‘Some haVE ALtered meat (4)’ gives VEAL - Acrostic First letters of answer
‘Initially Get A Good joke (3)’ gives GAG - Anagram minus last letter Jumble most of the word(s)
‘Plants in Red Sea mostly swaying (5)’ gives REEDS (plants)
from an anagram of (RED SE[a])* with an anagrind of “swaying”.
| ACROSS | Click on “Answer” to see the solutions | |
| 4 |
Selfish concierge to (mostly) reform (10)
|
AnswerEGOCENTRIC |
Parsinganagram minus last letter of (CONCIERGE T[o])* with an instruction to drop the last letter (mostly) and an anagrind of “reform”. |
||
| 8 |
Versatile umpire that shows some guts (5)
|
AnswerILEUM |
Parsinghidden word(s) (that shows some) in versatILE UMpire – I dithered about where to show the indicator on this one, the defintion could be “some guts”, but a hidden indicator without the “some” didn’t make seem to indicate something hidden in part of the clue. The solution is a word I knew, but I studied Biology to A Level, I’m not sure how widespread this piece of general knowledge is. |
||
| 9 |
At the beginning, given a second shandy, you’re talkative (5)
|
AnswerGASSY |
Parsingacrostic (at the beginning) of Given A Second Shandy You’re. According to Collins, this useage is more American English. |
||
| 10 |
For the audience, checks pavement edges (5)
|
AnswerKERBS |
Parsingsoundalike (for the audience) of “curbs” (checks) – and the soundalike is specifically the line of stones on the edge of a pavement in British English. American English uses the same spelling for both meanings. |
||
| 12 |
What you use to dry fluttering owlets, largely (5)
|
AnswerTOWEL |
Parsinganagram minus last letter of (OWLET[s])* with “largely” indicating the dropping of the final letter and an anagrind of “fluttering”. |
||
| 14 |
Sample from calypso, largely describing the sun (5)
|
AnswerSOLAR |
Parsinghidden word(s) (sample from) calypSO LARgely. |
||
| 15 |
Touring Melton, scratching bottom, finding somewhere to stay (5)
|
AnswerMOTEL |
Parsinganagram minus last letter of (MELTO[n])* with “scratching bottom” being the instruction to drop the final letter, and an anagrind of “touring”. |
||
| 16 |
Paper, pencils etc not moving, we hear (10)
|
AnswerSTATIONERY |
Parsingsoundalike (we hear) of “stationary” (not moving) for a play on one of the common misspellings. |
||
|
DOWN
|
||
| 1 |
Steffi, Chris and Martina, in opening stages, needing racket (4)
|
AnswerSCAM |
Parsingacrostic (in opening stages) of Steffi, Chris And Martina – all names of tennis stars of the 1980s, to suggest a clue about sport, and misdirect by tying into the “racket” definition in the surface. |
||
| 2 |
One who’s honoured after day ends, did you say? (6)
|
AnswerKNIGHT |
Parsingsoundalike (did you say) of “night” (after day ends). And a full fat clue might use “man” as a definition here, referring to a chess piece. |
||
| 3 |
A little pachyderm is feeling uncomfortable (4)
|
AnswerACHY |
Parsinghidden word(s) (a little) in pACHYderm. Ludwig likes these words found inside others. |
||
| 5 |
On the radio, ape is member of armed militia (9)
|
AnswerGUERRILLA |
Parsingsoundalike (on the radio) of “gorilla” (ape) for this type of armed militia. |
||
| 6 |
Missing tail, sewer rat on tour in liquid with distinctive smell (4,5)
|
AnswerROSE WATER |
Parsinganagram minus last letter of (SEWER RAT O[n])* with an instruction to lose teh last letter (missing tail) and an anagrind of “tour”. I’d like the anagram indicator to be “on tour” but the “o” is needed in the anagram. |
||
| 7 |
First of all, sonny, install new kitchen fixture for washing-up (4)
|
AnswerSINK |
Parsingacrostic (first of all) of Sonny, Install New Kitchen – with another almost overlapping word play and definition. The definition could be “kitchen fixture for washing-up”, but the “kitchen” is needed for the wordplay. |
||
| 11 |
Not finishing braised bananas somewhere in the Balkans (6)
|
AnswerSERBIA |
Parsinganagram minus last letter of (BRAISE[d])* with an instruction of “not finishing” to ignore the last letters and an anagrind of “bananas”. |
||
| 13 |
Relax with some icelollies (4)
|
AnswerLOLL |
Parsinghidden word(s) (some) of iceLOLLies with another word inside another. |
||
| 14 |
For starters, serving of salad onions is acceptable (2-2)
|
AnswerSO-SO |
Parsingacrostic (for starters) of Serving Of Salad Onions – I’m not sure many people would find a starter of salad onions adequate, not without some other salad. |
||
| 15 |
Locks, in a stable, chief that can be heard (4)
|
AnswerMANE |
Parsingsoundalike (that can be heard) of “main” (chief) – for these locks. |
Enjoyable and more straightforward than last week’s Quick Cryptic.
Well, an easy one for a change. I managed it last night before going to bed.
I am sure I will NOT repeat this feat tonight, though.
I think 14d would work just fine with “not too acceptable”, to suit every palate 😉
Thanks to Ludwig and Shanne. “Locks in a stable” took me a second. “Needing” in 1d felt a bit too ‘substantial’ to be a linking word for me, but no complaints, otherwise.
Really great QC. MANE was my last in, and I really didn’t get how it worked for the definition as I was really thinking about doors and locks, so this is my doh! moment 😂. Like Shanne, ILEUM was in my memory banks from secondary school days.
Thanks Shanne for your blog, and to Ludwig for the puzzle.
Good fun, certainly felt quicker than last week! I must admit I do rather enjoy the anagram-minus clues in the Quicks. ILEUM was last in, not too clued up on my innards…
Thanks Shanne & Ludwig.
Good fun and nicely pitched. Enjoyed a new clue type. Favourites were SCAM, for its cleverness and STATIONERY for its simplicity.
Thanks Ludwig & Shanne.
TOWEL was a favourite too – very cute.
Very enjoyable, thank you Ludwig.
Some I had a feeling from how it read and then confirmed against the rules, and some where I had to rely on the rules and crossers (yes, ILEUM). As a beginner this was a good mix.