Guardian Quick Cryptic 123 by Pangakupu

This week’s 11 x 11 crossword from the Guardian intended to teach cryptic crosswords, found here

This puzzle is the 6th Quick Crytic from Pangakupu. This puzzle has anagrams with all the letters in the clues, but all the other clue types: double definitions, naked words and reversals all need 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:

Anagram Anagram of answer and hint that there’s an anagram
‘Senator arranged crime (7)’ gives TREASON (crime)
Double definition Both halves are definitions!
‘Search scrub (5)’ gives SCOUR
Reversal Answer backwards, and a hint that we’re reversing
‘Medic’s fish rejected (3)’ gives DOC (medic) from fish (COD) reversed (rejected).
Naked words Remove first and last letters of another word for answer
‘Called for citrus to be peeled (4)’ gives RANG (called) from [O]RANG[E] (citrus peeled)

	ACROSS	Click on “Answer” to see the solutions
1	Avian features in posters? (5)	Answer BILLS
	Parsing double definition the classic sign BILL POSTERS WILL BE PROSECUTED comes to mind – and beaks are also called bills. (Sorry, I didn’t know how to explain this without giving the clue away.
4	Backing bar party (5)	Answer REVEL
	Parsing reversal (backing) of LEVER (bar) < – and the grammar of the clue is: reversing (backing) a word meaning “bar” gives a party (definition).
7	Urge taking long strides when throwing off clothing (3)	Answer EGG
	Parsing naked word (throwing off clothing) – and this was my last one in as I couldn’t see the parsing, and am still not sure of it – taking long strides is LEGGING but that means taking off more than one letter each side to get to EGG. I checked [L]EGG[S] and it’s not in Chambers (legged and legger are). Google AI says “”Leggs” is typically a plural form or a misspelling of legs, which refers to the limbs used for walking”.
8	Unexpectedly repents now (7)	Answer PRESENT
	Parsing anagram of (REPENTS)* with an anagrind of “unexpectedly”.
9	Ineptly filter a small amount (6)	Answer TRIFLE
	Parsing anagram of (FILTER) with an anagrind of “ineptly” – which suggests clumsily, so works as an anagrind.
10	Hoodwinked, without protection in place surrounded by water (4)	Answer ISLE
	Parsing naked word (without protection) of [M]ISLE[D] (hoodwinked). And this clue uses of those nasty tricks setters like to use if they can as it’s so misleading: using words where the pronunciation changes between the different words used in the clue.
13	Send out a message for part of book (4)	Answer PAGE
	Parsing double definition – having just checked, hospitals still use these messaging devices as they work well in buildings.
14	Unlimited elevated commendation (6)	Answer PRAISE
	Parsing naked word (unlimited) means naked as it is saying the limits are removed, from [u]PRAISE[d] (elevated) and this wasn’t the most obvious equivalent for elevated.
17	Twisted laciest component of knickers? (7)	Answer ELASTIC
	Parsing anagram of (LACIEST)* with an anagrind of “twisted”. The question mark indicates a definition by example (DBE) as knickers aren’t the only garment that uses this haberdashery.
19	Deity to follow around (3)	Answer GOD
	Parsing reversal (around) of DOG (to follow) < (and I wondered why the clue example had changed when I was setting that up).
20	Hard back (5)	Answer STERN
	Parsing double definition the first an adjective, often linked to disciplinarians, the second often a noun and referring to the back of a boat.
21	Very steep swerve (5)	Answer SHEER
	Parsing double definition with the first an adjective often linked to drops, and second used as a verb – describing movements changing direction, often birds or planes.

	DOWN
1	Complain, table being wobbly (5)	Answer BLEAT
	Parsing anagram of (TABLE)* with an anagrind of “being wobbly” – and this is one of those metaphorical uses of a word that originated as an animal sound.
2	Severe punishments uncovered for taking wood from forest (7)	Answer LOGGING
	Parsing naked word (uncovered) of [f]LOGGING[s] (severe punishments) – and the solution conjures up huge Canadian operations.
3	Quantity provided in a flexible way (6)	Answer SUPPLY
	Parsing double definition the first, a noun usually heard in the plural, the second an adjective often used as an anagram indicator because it suggests other alternative meanings.
4	Water plant hunted animal overturned (4)	Answer REED
	Parsing reversal (overturned) of DEER (hunted animal) < and this is another reversal clue where the definition (water plant) is the reversed word (hunted animal) is reversed (overturned).
5	Contend with creeping plant hiding edges (3)	Answer VIE
	Parsing naked word (hiding edges) from [i]VIE[s] (creeping plants).
6	Flannel peeled to make coffee? (5)	Answer LATTE
	Parsing naked word (peeled) [f]LATTE[r] with the outside letters removed – to flannel someone is to flatter them.
11	English rocks or stones on beach (7)	Answer SHINGLE
	Parsing anagram of (ENGLISH)* with an anagrind of “rocks”.
12	Ridiculous prices, in summary (6)	Answer PRECIS
	Parsing anagram of (PRICES)* with an anagrind of “ridiculous”.
13	Outer parts of fruit drop off, turning upside down (5)	Answer PEELS
	Parsing reversal (turning upside down) of SLEEP (to drop off) <.
15	One very respected tree (5)	Answer ELDER
	Parsing double definition both nouns, one often found in non-conformist churches or societies that revere their senior members.
16	Surprise fans after upset (4)	Answer STUN
	Parsing reversal (after upset) of NUTS (fans) <.
18	Live a long time, having turned up (3)	Answer ARE
	Parsing reversal (having turned up – in a down clue) of ERA (a long time) < – with the use of “live” meaning “to be” and by extension, different conjugations of that verb.

5 comments on “Guardian Quick Cryptic 123 by Pangakupu”

Shanne

#1 - Sat 8th Aug 26, 08:20

Sorry, rushing to get this out as I need to be somewhere in not very long – but I’ll be back from that fast, so I’ll put the grid up when I get back (and last week’s special too).
AntonJ

#2 - Sat 8th Aug 26, 08:39

Some tough clues for a QC – without the crossers I’d have struggled to get all the naked words. I parsed 7a as [L]EGG[Y] but it’s a bit of a stretch.
Pepe

#3 - Sat 8th Aug 26, 08:52

I also found this tougher than other QCs, especially some of the naked words. My favourite was ISLE. I also had 7a as (L)EGG(Y), but I agree with AntonJ that it’s a stretch. Thanks Shanne and Pangakapu.
Teepee

#4 - Sat 8th Aug 26, 09:13

Should 5d be ‘plants‘ to give us IVIES (from which to then get VIE)?
Andrea

#5 - Sat 8th Aug 26, 09:19

Difficult one.
I guessed 5d and still I am not sure about it as the definition talks about “creeping plant”, i.e. singular.

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5 comments on “Guardian Quick Cryptic 123 by Pangakupu”

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