Guardian Quick Cryptic 116 by Chandler

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

This week’s puzzle is the 17th puzzle set by Chandler, who also sets Quiptic puzzles for the Guardian. This puzzle has anagrams and acrostics with all the letters in the clues, plus soundalikes and charades, where the words and letters need to be found by the solvers. We have seen all of these clue types several times before.

This one comes from a YHA because this weekend’s entertainment is a virtual sleepover – I will be back later this afternoon, but can’t do much before then.

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.
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
Charade Combination of synonyms/abbrevs
‘Qualify to get drink for ID (8)’ gives PASSPORT (pass + port)
This definition is brief – more above.
Soundalike Something that sounds like answer
‘Excited, Oscar’s announced (4)’ gives WILD from Oscar “Wilde” the playwright
Acrostic First letters of answer
‘Initially Get A Good joke (3)’ gives GAG

	ACROSS	Click on “Answer” to see the solutions
1	Ray comes out to see tree (8)	Answer SYCAMORE
	Parsing anagram of (RAY COMES)* with an anagrind of “out” – the “to see” do seem to be for the surface reading to make the clue make sense, but give me the image of this tree.
7	By the sound of it, increased reaction to a pun? (5)	Answer GROAN
	Parsing soundalike (by the sound of it) of “grown” (increased).
8	Heads for protection at refuge keeping again windproof jacket (5)	Answer PARKA
	Parsing acrostic (heads for) of Protection At Refuge Keeping Again – with a surface that conjures up running for cover somewhere.
9	Clara’s disturbed scoundrel (6)	Answer RASCAL
	Parsing anagram of (CLARA’S) with an anagrind of “disturbed”.
11	Join fool in audience (4)	Answer KNIT
	Parsing soundalike (in audience) of “nit” (fool) with another smooth surface reading.
12	Piece of fitted equipment? French article is linked to it (4)	Answer UNIT
	Parsing charade of UN (French article) + (is linked to) IT (from the clue). The French articles are un / une, le / la / les – so the French for “a” (masculine and feminine) and “the” (masculine, feminine and plural) all of which, except “une”, I’ve seen turn up in crosswords.
13	Set of clothing I treat differently (6)	Answer ATTIRE
	Parsing anagram of (I TREAT)* with an anagrind of “differently” – so the letters are organised in a different way.
16	Proper crease, we’re told (5)	Answer PUKKA
	Parsing soundalike (we’re told) of “pucker” (crease) – and this used to be a catch phrase of Jamie Oliver when he was the Naked Chef, and was revived for his food series in the early 2000s. It comes from Hindi and was around before Jamie Oliver picked it up and used it.
17	Regulation right for item of stationery (5)	Answer RULER
	Parsing charade of RULE (regulation) + R (right). I don’t think this is one of those words where other English speaking countries use something else.
18	Accent by journalist is emphasised (8)	Answer STRESSED
	Parsing charade of STRESS (accent) + ED (journalist) – if you haven’t come across it before ED is regular crosswordese for a journalist, although other setters clue it as “my boss”. I don’t think there’s enough difference in meaning between the stress of an accent and emphasis to make this a satisfying clue.

	DOWN
1	Surplus mag reviewed possible additions to tea? (5,5)	Answer SUGAR LUMPS
	Parsing anagram of (SURPLUS MAG)* with an anagrind of “reviewed” and lots of indicators that the definition is a definition by example (DBE) – the question mark and the possibly, so something that might be added to tea.
2	Cuts moments for eating accessories? (10)	Answer CHOPSTICKS
	Parsing charade of CHOPS (cuts) + TICKS (moments) for these eating accessories. Be with you in a tick / moment is heard in English English.
3	Chap on island with a preoccupation (5)	Answer MANIA
	Parsing charade of MAN (chap) + (on a) I (island, from maps) + (with) A (from the clue). Man with a capital, so at the start of the clue, often clues an island, referring to the Isle of Man.
4	First signs of raspberries in punnets essentially ready to eat (4)	Answer RIPE
	Parsing acrostic (first signs of) of Raspberries In Punnets Essentially.
5	Beliefs leading teachers articulated (10)	Answer PRINCIPLES
	Parsing soundalike (articulated) of “principals” (leading teachers)
6	Tact glider deployed to get cover put on a ditch (6,4)	Answer CATTLE GRID
	Parsing anagram of (TACT GLIDER)* with an anagrind of “deployed to get” to get one of these covers for a ditch, personally I thought the ditch was part of the design.
10	At the outset, learner explores another meadow (3)	Answer LEA
	Parsing acrostic (at the outset) of Learner Explores Another for an old-fashioned word for meadow that turns up a lot in cryptic crosswordland and folk song.
14	Brief steer requiring modification (5)	Answer TERSE
	Parsing anagram of (STEER)* with an anagrind of “requiring modification”
15	Stand by load to be picked up (4)	Answer WAIT
	Parsing soundalike (to be picked up) of “weight” (load) – the grammar of the cryptic word play for all of these soundalikes has been helpful, putting the indicator at one end of the clue and next to the soundalike, leaving the definition at one end. So this one is (definition = stand by) (soundalike = word meaning “load”) (soundalike indicator = “to be picked up”)

8 comments on “Guardian Quick Cryptic 116 by Chandler”

Martyn

#1 - Sat 20th Jun 26, 07:39

I found the the soundalike clues quite difficult. In particular it took ages to think of PUKKA

I also took time to see CHOPSTICKS, given the vague “eating accessories” definition. Otherwise all fine

Thanks Chandler and Shanne
thecronester

#2 - Sat 20th Jun 26, 09:06

As per Martyn#1 the soundalikes made this chewy in places. 5d was my last in and needed all the crossers to land it for me, although I know both words and their meanings 😂🤦‍♂️. Liked the charades, and the anagrams and acrostics gave a good handle on the grid. Thanks Shanne, and to Chandler.
HumbleTim

#3 - Sat 20th Jun 26, 10:05

Thanks Shanne. My big holdup was in 5d (PRINCIPLE) because I convinced myself it was a charade until the penny finally dropped. Also found the other soundalikes a bit tricky, but an enjoyable challenge overall.
Thanks Chandler
Andrea

#4 - Sat 20th Jun 26, 13:07

Ah, I didn’t get 2 at all. I just got it thanks to the crossers eventually.
16 didn’t help the cause either…
DutchGirl

#5 - Sat 20th Jun 26, 15:02

I guessed pukka (must have heard it somewhere to be able to guess it, but it’s not in my usual dictionary). The rest was a steady, slightly slow-ish, solve. Thanks, Chandler and Shanne
Dave

#6 - Sat 20th Jun 26, 15:24

Too many soundalikes,and difficult ones for that matter.
Janet Mundy

#7 - Sat 20th Jun 26, 18:15

I was flummoxed over pukka. Chopsticks made me laugh.
Pob

#8 - Sat 20th Jun 26, 18:36

Pukka Pies is where I mostly hear the word these days.

I didn’t like 18, either.

5 was also my LOI.

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8 comments on “Guardian Quick Cryptic 116 by Chandler”

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