Thank you to Dice. Definitions are underlined in the clues.
A Quiptic with a theme – some of the solutions are names (and a couple of part-names) of pop groups.
Across
1. For example, a crow returning for rubbish (7)
GARBAGE : Reversal of(… returning) [ EG(abbrev. for exempli gratia/for example) + A + BRAG(to boast/crow) ].5. Those serving time ignored and left inside, they sound really upset! (7)
WAILERS : “waiters”(those serving/waiting at tables) minus(… ignored) “t”(abbrev. for “time”) plus(and) containing(… inside) L(abbrev. for “left”).9. Money? Nothing for Spooner, surely (2,5)
NO DOUBT : Spoonerism of(… for Spooner) [“Dough”(slang for money) + “nowt”(nothing in British dialect)].
1. For example, a crow returning for rubbish (7)
GARBAGE : Reversal of(… returning) [ EG(abbrev. for exempli gratia/for example) + A + BRAG(to boast/crow) ].5. Those serving time ignored and left inside, they sound really upset! (7)
WAILERS : “waiters”(those serving/waiting at tables) minus(… ignored) “t”(abbrev. for “time”) plus(and) containing(… inside) L(abbrev. for “left”).9. Money? Nothing for Spooner, surely (2,5)
NO DOUBT : Spoonerism of(… for Spooner) [“Dough”(slang for money) + “nowt”(nothing in British dialect)].
10. Unit stripped, gunners commandeer vehicle to find ultimate destination? (7)
NIRVANA : 1st and last letters of deleted from(… stripped) “Unit” + RA(abbrev. for the Royal Artillery, gunners in the British Army) containing(commandeer) VAN(a transport vehicle).
Defn: …, the highest spiritual state that can be achieved, one of complete happiness and peace.
NIRVANA : 1st and last letters of deleted from(… stripped) “Unit” + RA(abbrev. for the Royal Artillery, gunners in the British Army) containing(commandeer) VAN(a transport vehicle).
Defn: …, the highest spiritual state that can be achieved, one of complete happiness and peace.
11. Yellow Skittle eaten by tennis’s Monica, before beginning to serve (9)
SPINELESS : PIN(skittle/a club-shaped wooden object used as a target in the game of skittles) contained in(eaten by) SELES(first name Monica, tennis champion) plus(before) 1st letter of(beginning to) “serve”.
SPINELESS : PIN(skittle/a club-shaped wooden object used as a target in the game of skittles) contained in(eaten by) SELES(first name Monica, tennis champion) plus(before) 1st letter of(beginning to) “serve”.
12. Nibbles of grapes, olives, unagi, dips and cheese (5)
GOUDA : 1st letters of, respectively(Nibbles of) “grapes, olives, unagi, dips and”.
GOUDA : 1st letters of, respectively(Nibbles of) “grapes, olives, unagi, dips and”.
13. Cancel massage after ‘50% off’ scam (5)
SCRUB : RUB(to massage) placed after(after) last 2 letters deleted from(‘50% off’) “scam”.
SCRUB : RUB(to massage) placed after(after) last 2 letters deleted from(‘50% off’) “scam”.
15. Sensational stories of farm workers smuggling heroin end in disaster (9)
THRILLERS : TILLERS(farm workers who prepare the land for growing crops) contained in(smuggling) [ H(abbrev. for “heroin”) + last letter of(end in) “disaster” ].
THRILLERS : TILLERS(farm workers who prepare the land for growing crops) contained in(smuggling) [ H(abbrev. for “heroin”) + last letter of(end in) “disaster” ].
17. Showed appreciation of papal dude dancing (9)
APPLAUDED : Anagram of(… dancing) PAPAL DUDE.
APPLAUDED : Anagram of(… dancing) PAPAL DUDE.
19. Esteemed renegade journalist (5)
RATED : RAT(a traitor/a renegade) + ED(abbrev. for “editor”, a journalist).
RATED : RAT(a traitor/a renegade) + ED(abbrev. for “editor”, a journalist).
22. Old donkey circling island watering hole (5)
OASIS : O(abbrev. for “old”) + ASS(a donkey) containing(circling) I(abbrev. for “island”).
OASIS : O(abbrev. for “old”) + ASS(a donkey) containing(circling) I(abbrev. for “island”).
23. Contempt surrounding Greek character, Oscar, and the introduction of stinging arachnids (9)
SCORPIONS : SCORN(contempt/disrespect) containing(surrounding) [ PI(16th character in the Greek alphabet) + O(letter represented by “Oscar” in the phonetic alphabet) ] plus(and) 1st letter of(the introduction of) “stinging”.
Defn: …, that, in this case, sting.
SCORPIONS : SCORN(contempt/disrespect) containing(surrounding) [ PI(16th character in the Greek alphabet) + O(letter represented by “Oscar” in the phonetic alphabet) ] plus(and) 1st letter of(the introduction of) “stinging”.
Defn: …, that, in this case, sting.
25. Grasp Camilla, almost ousting individual from mass (7)
SQUEEZE : [“Queen”(title of Camilla, Queen consort of the UK) minus its last letter(almost)] replacing the(ousting … from) “I”(Roman numeral for “one”/individual) in “size”(magnitude/mass).
SQUEEZE : [“Queen”(title of Camilla, Queen consort of the UK) minus its last letter(almost)] replacing the(ousting … from) “I”(Roman numeral for “one”/individual) in “size”(magnitude/mass).
26. Newspaper bosses, those we’re indebted to, giving up career, exhausted (7)
EDITORS : “creditors”(those whom we owe/are indebted to) minus(giving up) [“career” minus its inner letters(exhausted)].
EDITORS : “creditors”(those whom we owe/are indebted to) minus(giving up) [“career” minus its inner letters(exhausted)].
27. Dutch saint, stabbed with twisted sword, as far in as possible (7)
DEEPEST : [ D(abbrev. for “Dutch”) + ST(abbrev. for “saint”) ] containing(stabbed with) reversal of(twisted) EPEE(sword used in fencing).
DEEPEST : [ D(abbrev. for “Dutch”) + ST(abbrev. for “saint”) ] containing(stabbed with) reversal of(twisted) EPEE(sword used in fencing).
28. No way out of here, badly need Dad (4,3)
DEAD END : Anagram of(badly) NEED DAD.
DEAD END : Anagram of(badly) NEED DAD.
Down
1. Low-down on Earth, Sun, first person and Sabbath in here? (7)
GENESIS : GEN(informal term for “information”/low-down) plus(on) E(abbrev. for “Earth”) + S(abbrev. for “Sun”) + I(first-person pronoun) plus(and) S(abbrev. for “Sabbath”).
1. Low-down on Earth, Sun, first person and Sabbath in here? (7)
GENESIS : GEN(informal term for “information”/low-down) plus(on) E(abbrev. for “Earth”) + S(abbrev. for “Sun”) + I(first-person pronoun) plus(and) S(abbrev. for “Sabbath”).
Answer: In the Bible, the book in which the earth, sun, first person/human, and Sabbath are to be found. {Revised after comments below}
2. More impolite, I’d turned up, interrupting, becoming increasingly crimson (7)
RUDDIER : RUDER(more impolite) containing(…, interrupting) reversal of(… turned up, in a down clue) I’D.
RUDDIER : RUDER(more impolite) containing(…, interrupting) reversal of(… turned up, in a down clue) I’D.
3. Entertain, dressed up as Emu (5)
AMUSE : Anagram of(dressed up) AS EMU.
AMUSE : Anagram of(dressed up) AS EMU.
4. Pleaded – hospital department responded with no heart (9)
ENTREATED : ENT(abbrev. for “ear, nose, and throat”, refering to the hospital department specialising in those areas of the body) + “reacted”(responded) minus its middle letter(with no heart).
ENTREATED : ENT(abbrev. for “ear, nose, and throat”, refering to the hospital department specialising in those areas of the body) + “reacted”(responded) minus its middle letter(with no heart).
5. Moves fast and has casual sex with other partners, topless (5)
WINGS : “swings”(has casual sex with other partners, wife-swapping in the case of married couples) minus its 1st letter(topless, in a down clule).
WINGS : “swings”(has casual sex with other partners, wife-swapping in the case of married couples) minus its 1st letter(topless, in a down clule).
6. Current Rolls Royce, mega dull and dark on the inside – unusual (9)
IRREGULAR : I(symbol for electric current in physics) + RR(abbrev. for Rolls Royce, a brand of luxury cars) + inner letters of, respectively(… on the inside) [ “mega”, “dull” plus(and) “dark”].
IRREGULAR : I(symbol for electric current in physics) + RR(abbrev. for Rolls Royce, a brand of luxury cars) + inner letters of, respectively(… on the inside) [ “mega”, “dull” plus(and) “dark”].
7. Destruction of extract from dossier a surety (7)
ERASURE : Hidden in(extract from) “dossier a surety”.
ERASURE : Hidden in(extract from) “dossier a surety”.
8. They offer spiritual healing without consuming meat (7)
SHAMANS : SANS(without/lacking something) containing(consuming) HAM(cut of meat from the top of the back leg of a pig).
SHAMANS : SANS(without/lacking something) containing(consuming) HAM(cut of meat from the top of the back leg of a pig).
14. Money I waste, ultimately, on underwear (9)
BRASSIERE : BRASS(slang for money) + I + last letter of(…, ultimately) “waste” + RE(with reference to/about/on).
BRASSIERE : BRASS(slang for money) + I + last letter of(…, ultimately) “waste” + RE(with reference to/about/on).
16. Group study covering commercial Moon Hotel (9)
RADIOHEAD : READ(to study a subject at university) containing(covering) [ AD(short for “advertisement”, a commercial) + IO(one of the planet Jupiter’s moons) + H(abbrev. for “Hotel”) ].
RADIOHEAD : READ(to study a subject at university) containing(covering) [ AD(short for “advertisement”, a commercial) + IO(one of the planet Jupiter’s moons) + H(abbrev. for “Hotel”) ].
17. Woke road use cultivated (7)
AROUSED : Anagram of(… cultivated) ROAD USE.
AROUSED : Anagram of(… cultivated) ROAD USE.
18. Grazing land on the other side of river (7)
PASTURE : PAST(beyond/on the other side of something) + URE(a river in Yorkshire, England).
PASTURE : PAST(beyond/on the other side of something) + URE(a river in Yorkshire, England).
20. Couple Mummy Pig brought up in large book (7)
TWOSOME : Reversal of(… brought up, in a down clue) SOW(an adult female pig, what you might call “Mummy pig” if she has given birth) contained in(in) TOME(a very large heavy book).
TWOSOME : Reversal of(… brought up, in a down clue) SOW(an adult female pig, what you might call “Mummy pig” if she has given birth) contained in(in) TOME(a very large heavy book).
21. Abandoned South American was no longer around (7)
DISUSED : [ S(abbrev. for “South”) + US(abbrev. for “United States”, representing things American) ] contained in(… around) DIED(was no longer/ceased to exist).
DISUSED : [ S(abbrev. for “South”) + US(abbrev. for “United States”, representing things American) ] contained in(… around) DIED(was no longer/ceased to exist).
23. You and I set about making dessert (5)
SWEET : WE(pronoun for “you and I together”) contained in(… about) SET.
SWEET : WE(pronoun for “you and I together”) contained in(… about) SET.
24. First Muslim Prince rising to power (5)
PRIMA : Reversal of(… rising to, in a down clue) [ AMIR(a Muslim Prince) + P(symbol for “power” in physics) ].
PRIMA : Reversal of(… rising to, in a down clue) [ AMIR(a Muslim Prince) + P(symbol for “power” in physics) ].
Nice theme which became apparent reasonably early. I also listed SHAMAN, THE THRILLERS, EDITORS and was hoping for PURPLE to go with DEEPest. Some very nice clues to keep it flowing.
Ta Dice & scchua.
Favourites: RADIOHEAD, SHAMAN.
I could not parse 26ac.
I finally woke up to the theme with two clues left to solve when I solved NIRVANA. Possible to add MUSE as it appears in 3d.
MUSE also in 3d.
Great fun. Missed the theme until Radiohead my LOI.
Well, I learnt a new meaning for swings. I missed the theme, and most of the bands I’ve never heard of anyway. Enjoyable nonetheless.
1d. I might be being blonde, but if I use Sabbath to give me my final S in GENESIS then Sabbath shouldn’t also be in the definition should it? Am I missing something? I’ve only been doing the Quiptics for a couple of weeks so am still learning!
Very enjoyable. 5 down was hilarious.
PASTURE was in the quiptic 2 weeks ago!
Comment #8
Isn’t 1d an &lit? Otherwise, as TRG #5 notes, you don’t have the necessary S to complete GENESIS, and the question mark would be redundant. (I too am just a beginner, so may well be wrong.)
EDITORS is also a band name.
Fabulous Quiptic. A theme is always a treat, pitched at just the right difficulty level, and some really lovely and clever clues. 1d, 5d, 6d, 20d and 25a were my favourites.
Yes, 1d is surely &lit.
Comment #12
I’m never 100% confident on this but I think 1d is probably an extended definition rather than a pure &lit. The last two words ‘…in here’ are additional to the wordplay.
Comment #14
Dice’s complicated, bitty style is not to my taste, and her obvious synonyms are not mine, but that is my fault not hers. So it may just be me, but I found this rather difficult for a Quiptic: clues such as IRREGULAR, RADIOHEAD and the substitution in WAILERS took me ages to parse. I had fun spotting all the bands, though.
Re. 1d: Genesis is also the biblical book in which the earth, sun, and first person (i.e. Adam), as well as the Sabbath, first appear.
ProfNeil@16 – yes, I would say that the whole clue gives the definition.
Enjoyable solve with some chewier than usual parsing.
Thanks sschua and Dice
This was good fun, and I spotted the theme quite early on and found it a help. Although the clues were well defined IMO so theme knowledge wasn’t needed. As others have mentioned EDITORS are a band, and MUSE and (The) SHAMAN make an appearance. I think 1d was very precise as those elements all make their appearance in the Book of … SPINELESS and RADIOHEAD were perhaps my favourites but I found a lot to like in this puzzle.
Thanks Dice, and scchua.
PS: amused to find 15a as that’s the name of the covers band I’m a member of LOL 😂.
Having heard of all of these bands, I am ashamed to say I totally missed the theme. Good fun though and fairly clued.
Just to bring a late (final?) note of pedantry to the thread, the Scottish band in question were the The Shaymen with an ‘e’. But maybe Dice’s plural SHAMANS covers it.
Balfour @20 – but without the y – just The Shamen
Overall felt it was a struggle but enjoyable. Except 16 which is outrageous! Doesn’t belong anywhere near a quiptic.
Crispy @21 Of course. Moment of brain fade for which I cannot blame my terrible typing.
SHAMAN are a well-known Brazilian metal band, hence why I mentioned them @1. Might as well mention Sabbath as well while I’m at it.
Well for me this was quite the most difficult quiptic for many weeks, especially the right half. I could blame the fact that I am in bed in some pain after hip replacement surgery, but I think this was just not a Quiptic
Dior @25: I agree that this was particularly tough for a Quiptic. Get well soon.
Dior and AlanC: It’s interesting how the difficulty varies for different people. I completed this in 45 minutes which is particularly quick for me – certainly quicker than the previous few weeks.
Some of the parsing was “after the event”, though, and I didn’t get 25 without scchua’s help – I had QUEE but couldn’t see where the SZE came from. (I’m still dubious about it – I’ve not seen I for individual before, and size isn’t really a synonym for mass.)
I found it very entertaining – 1d is very clever, as is 5, and a lot of the surfaces amused me. Also once I spotted the theme (very late on), I enjoyed looking back to find which solutions fitted. I’ve never heard of Garbage or Scorpions though.
23D and A were a great! 16D Radiohead more like breaking my head 🤪
New to cryptics. After begining with the quick cryptics and starting to find them very easy this brought me down to earth.
Ashamed to say that I got 16d from the clue and crossers but still completely failed to pass it — mainly because I was repeatedly reading it as radio-he-ad. Was very surprised when I used the check button and it turned out to be actually right. I also failed to clock the theme although it looks like only 1/3 of the bands were ones I knew (I’m rarely helpful in pub quiz music rounds).
Great Quiptic and blog, thanks both! Very enjoyable solve with not too many tricky traps.
Some really enjoyable clues there. – I liked IRREGULAR and SPINELESS lot. However, I found some of the cluing rather loose…does WINGS really mean “moves fast” for example?
Thanks for the blog Scchua.