Anto is one of a few compilers who set for both the Guardian Cryptic and Quiptic. I think we can give him credit for being in Quiptic mode here.
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 Scolding official over poor distribution
REPROOF
An insertion of (POOR)* in REF. The insertion indicator is ‘over’ and the anagrind is ‘distribution’.
5 Old queen put on underwear quietly – it’s comfortable to wear indoors
SLIPPER
A charade of SLIP, P for the musically ‘quiet’ and ER, the late Elizabeth Regina.
9 Authority rebuffing some cosy assumptions
SAY SO
Hidden reversed in cOSY ASsumptions.
10 Rubbish sounding combo that gets tighter with age?
WAIST BAND
A charade of WAIST, a soundalike for WASTE and BAND.
11 Exchange vessels needed for espionage
TRADECRAFT
A charade of TRADE and CRAFT. TRADECRAFT refers to the specialised techniques, skills, and methods used in espionage and clandestine operations. I didn’t know that, so a new learning for me today.
12 Scarf that may be constricting?
BOA
A cd cum dd. A BOA is a type of scarf, but also a snake, sometimes referred to as the BOA CONSTRICTOR. Don’t mess with it.
14 Contradictory description of irresponsible behaviour
FAST AND LOOSE
FAST, in its sense of ‘held fast’ and LOOSE are opposites, but also make a phrase meaning ‘irresponsible’, often used of behaviour. ‘He played fast and loose with the rules concerning the election of the chair.’
18 Nancy swooned deliriously as it’s about to happen
ANY SECOND NOW
(NANCY SWOONED)* with ‘deliriously’ as the anagrind.
21 Windbag regularly detains this woman
IDA
The odd letters of wInDbAg.
22 A packet he’s laid out? He’s too mean for that
CHEAPSKATE
(A PACKET HES)* with ‘laid out’ as the anagrind.
25 Settle dispute about last-resort dental treatment
HAVE IT OUT
A dd, with the second definition slightly whimsical.
26 Spirited board offers union independent jobs assessment at first
OUIJA
The initial letters of the third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh words of the clue.
27 Belittle facility creating complaint
DISEASE
A charade of DIS and EASE. ‘She’s always dissing her sister.’
28 Really regretted church intervening when born
HATCHED
An insertion of CH in HATED. The insertion indicator is ‘intervening’.
Down
1 Relaxes, absorbing information, then takes test again
RESITS
An insertion of I in RESTS. The insertion indicator is ‘absorbing’.
2 Money transaction platform reportedly belonging to the Vatican?
PAYPAL
A soundalike clue (‘reportedly’) for PAPAL.
3 Light weight cover sheltering individual provides protection from radiation
OZONE LAYER
An insertion of ONE in OZ for ounce or ‘light weight’ and LAYER. The insertion indicator is ‘sheltering’.
4 Fine pitcher – but there’s not so many
FEWER
A charade of F and EWER.
5 Row needs ground outside to be reinforced
STIFFENED
An insertion of TIFF in (NEEDS)* The insertion indicator is ‘outside’ and the anagrind is ‘ground’.
6 Fond of accompanying wife that’s leaving
INTO
IN TO[W]
7 Game strategy when given literary choices in Charades
PLAYBOOK
Proper, as opposed to crossword, charades involves categories that have to be signalled to those guessing; these include PLAY and BOOK.
8 Embarrassed having freed cad in error
RED-FACED
(FREED CAD)* with ‘in error’ as the anagrind.
13 Family’s left for hunt?
BLOOD SPORT
A charade of BLOODS and PORT.
15 Canine perhaps not everyone finds so delightful
TOOTHSOME
A charade of TOOTH and SOME.
16 Is ambassador part of group expelled?
BANISHED
An insertion of IS and HE in BAND. The insertion indicator is ‘part of’. HE for His Excellency or ‘ambassador’ is common in crosswords.
17 Bishop has levy overturned? Not how a good job’s done
BY HALVES
A charade of B and (HAS LEVY)* with’overturned’ as the anagrind. Referring to the expression ‘Never do things by halves.’
19 Decoration without heart is somewhat vulgar
GARISH
GAR[N]ISH
20 Messenger constrained by tougher aldermen
HERALD
Hidden in tougHER ALDermen.
23 A desire to be leader of House
AITCH
A charade of A and ITCH gives you the sound out loud eighth letter of the alphabet.
24 Knocking back a small drink in Italian city
PISA
A reversal of A SIP.
Many thanks to Anto for this week’s Quiptic.
My favourites were AITCH, OZONE LAYER.
I rarely comment on homophones but I was not very keen on 2d papal/paypal even though they are very roughly soundalike.
Maybe slightly tougher for a Quiptic, but no less enjoyable. Ticks for WAIST BAND, CHEAPSKATE, FAST AND LOOSE, HAVE IT OUT, OZONE LAYER and PLAYBOOK. I spent much of my Police career employing TRADECRAFT, so that was my favourite. BLOOD SPORT has always struck me as being an oxymoron
Ta Anto & Pierre.
Took me as long as a regular cryptic, but that may be partly because my first attempt was in the middle of the night. But enjoyable. I liked AITCH, PAYPAL, BOA, INTO and FAST AND LOOSE. Thanks Anto and Pierre!
I didn’t understand “put on” in SLIPPER; also didn’t understand the wordplay in PLAYBOOK, – probably due to lack of familiarity with “proper” Charades…
Pleased to see it was Anto today. Very enjoyable. I liked WAISTBAND, HAVE IT OUT, PAYPAL (the stress is different in papal and Paypal but who cares, really). I couldn’t parse BANISHED fully because I never remember ‘he’ for ambassador.
This is Anto’s 100th Quiptic, well done sir.
About the right level I thought. However, needed Web search for tradecraft and not familiar with toothsome. Both gettable from the clues and crossers. Thanks Anto and Pierre.
If I can’t complete a Quiptic then I have no chance with the Cryptics. I found this too difficult. Won’t bother in the future.
Yoakam@7 Don’t give up – it does get easier. Reading these blogs and seeing how the parsing works is really helpful even if you haven’t worked out the answers.
Yoakam@7 – don’t give up! They really do get easier with practice.
Me@9 – and, as Amma@8 says, the blog and comments are so instructive.
Yoakam@7: I’ve been solving cryptics for a few years now and I often find quiptics among the hardest to solve! I find the structure tends to be less exact and there are often many double or cryptic definitions which I struggle with the most. Many people talk about a “wavelength thing” where you find yourself thinking the same way as a setter or not, and perhaps I am not on Anto’s wavelength which I why I often find the quiptics and Monday puzzles the toughest. So keep on trying with cryptics – you’ll find some you like, and some you hate perhaps. But the blog here will always teach you something new.
“Paypal” was a terrible soundalike. “Boa constrictor” is not just what the animal is sometimes called, it is its formal scientific name (genus Boa, species constrictor, varies subspecies) and a very accurate description of its method of killing its prey.
Thank you Anto and Pierre.
It definitely gets easier with practice. When I started I would often reveal the answer and try to work out how they got it from the clue. I rarely do that anymore, after doing about 30 Quiptics. Started with Quick Cryptics, and I’m rarely stuck on those now. Very pleased, thank you all setters. You’re very clever!