For the week of 5/9 to 5/15, I solved 14 puzzles and a total of 409 clues–I think that’s a record for me. New to the roundup is my very unscientific, super subjective MPC difficulty rating–this is the number of minutes a puzzle took me, divided by the number of clues in said puzzle: minutes per clue. Also new are a bunch of first-time blogs (or cryptics on said blogs): George Ho’s first full-sized 15×15 grid, new work from Trent H. Evans, and a so-called “shitpost” from Ada Nicolle (but only because you “have” to watch an implausibly silly video from a bunch of crypto enthusiasts to grok some of the themers). Look, Matt Gritzmacher’s Daily Crossword Links is an invaluable source for finding new puzzles/constructors, especially for those sites with irregular printing schedules, but I can only do so much. If you’ve got a puzzle, especially if you’re a new setter/editor/outlet, please let me know, as I’d love to give your work a whirl! Anyway, without further delay–okay, well maybe just a quick sneak peek at The Rackenfracker’s illustrative one-pager for Solving Cryptic Clues–here are the puzzles in the order that I solved them:
- “Net Gain,” 1Across, by SARAL | 2.2 MPC
- Out of Left Field #111, by Joshua Kosman and Henri Picciotto | 2.07 MPC | US
- The Browser #72, by Will Nediger | 0.9 MPC | US
- New Yorker 5/15/22, by Patrick Berry | 0.8 MPC | US
- AVCX Cryptic 5/12/22, by Kyle Dolan | 0.9 MPC | US
- New York Times May 2022, by Doug Peterson | 0.8 MPC | US
- “Paper Jam,” Square Chase #10, by Steve Mossberg | 0.8 MPC | Variety | US
- National Post 5/7/22, by Emily Cox and Henry Rathvon | 0.8 MPC
- Loplop Cryptic #004, by George Ho | 1.25 MPC | US
- Cryptic Interpretation 1, by Trent H. Evans | 0.7 MPC | US
- “Strange Bedfellows,” Keynesian Cryptics, by Jack H. Keynes | 2.2 MPC
- “Crossing the Pond: Long Haul,” Mental Judo, by Joe Pasini | 0.9 MPC | Variety
- “Crypticland: A Cryptic Puzzle,” Luckystreak Xwords, by Ada Nicolle | 1.6 MPC | Themed | US
- Everyman No. 3944 | 2.0 MPC
Putting these write-ups together, I know how valuable time is, believe me. This is not meant as an insult to any setter on this list, but if you have time for only one puzzle from this set, check out Will Nediger’s work on The Browser #72–it’s just outstanding. I suggested as much last week when I annotated it (https://twitter.com/illogicaljoker/status/1526625071808270340/photo/1), and that held up–though not by as much as you might think. Read on for my favorite clues, and why:
Reversal
- Running back touchdown score, a turning point (4) [NYT May 2022, Peterson]
- This surface goes all in with the sports theme–as it should–and wins big. “Running back,” of course, is the reversal indicator here, but “touchdown score” is sneakily literal, referring to the value, while “turning point” takes on a different definition: A+XIS(<–).
- Stadium worker served up marijuana and beer (9) [Browser 72, Nediger]
- “Stadium worker” is a bit misleading, especially coupled with the items that put you in mind of a vendor. Tougher clue, too, since “beer” is very specific here: SHORTS+TOP(<–).
- Watch Muskogee residents return (5) [OOLF 111, Kosman & Picciotto]
- “Return” is straightforward enough, which leaves it to “Watch” to do the tricky work here, referring to the timepiece noun instead of the perceptive verb: SEIKO(<-).
Hidden
- Pruned ragweed back, revealing spot for flowers (6) [AVCX Cryptic 5/12, Dolan]
- A delicate, effortless surface: pruned ragweed was literally made to reveal a “spot for flowers”: pruNED RAGweed(<–). Novice solvers take note: the more specific a word, the more likely it’s serving a vital purpose, hence “ragweed” and not just “weeds.”
- Waffle turned up in Metallica video (9) [NYT May 2022, Peterson]
- This is a great word with an absurd surface: I love it. Better still, the more I think about a waffle being in a Metallica video, the less I look for a hidden word: mETALLICA Video(<–).
- Near river crossing, drop anchor (6) [Keynesian Cryptic 126, Keynes]
- I’m always a sucker for hidden clues that look like they have different mechanics, like a deletion (“drop anchor”) or charade with that common (R = river). But no, neAR RIVEr is the answer here, and that’s a succinct on-theme surface.
- What’s found in some sausages? (4) [Everyman 3944]
- I’m torn on hidden words that are found entirely within a single word–they seem too easy, perhaps? But if ever there were a term that earned such an encasement, it’d be sauSAGEs.
Anagram
Quick note: I tend not to count small bits and pieces when deciding whether a clue falls under a single gimmick category or as part of my catch-all “combination” section at the end of this roundup. I feel that’s very much the case with small deletions from a surface before anagramming the remainder: it’s still predominantly enough an anagram, with just a little spice.
- A pole-dancing regimen that purports to improve health (5) [“Crossing the Pond,” Pasini]
- This is about as perfect a surface as it gets, and it’s probably my favorite clue of the week. Not only is the anagram indicator hidden within a compound (“pole-dancing”) but the definition so neatly works with that activity itself as a workout that I eat this one up–or not, as the actual answer suggests: PALEO* (*A pole).
- Hot mess of tween girls (10) [Cryptic Interpretation 1, Evans]
- “Hot mess” is a great, in-the-language term that’s often used by tween girls, so how fortuitous, then, to find that split wherein you can use the latter to anagram the group into a synonym for “hot”: SWELTERING* (*tween girls).
- Cheap restaurant: drive-in giving away four crackers (5) [Browser 72, Nediger]
- I love the vividness (sorry, the “vidness”) of this clue in so deftly conjuring up a cheap restaurant–I’ve been to that DINER* (*dr[-iv]e-in) that stiffs you on the saltines!
- With only one loss, playing stellar season again (6) [Square Chase 10, Mossberg]
- Sports are one of those active categories that are so flexible that they’re a natural fit for misleadingly cryptic surfaces. “With only one loss” is an elegant way to remove one of the two “Ls” in the anagrammed word, and it’s great to see “season again” used so differently for the answer: RESALT* (*stel[-l]ar).
- Acne-prone delinquent is a tool (3,6) [“Crossing the Pond,” Pasini]
- Another zinger of a surface that just fits together flawlessly–acne aside. “Delinquent” is absolutely what comes to mind here when describing a “tool” and this sort of stereotypical teen bully and yet that’s not where we end up at all: CAN OPENER* (*acne-prone).
- Bringing off the boil, begin clam stews (9) [Everyman 3944]
- The answer here is one of those words that just sounds made up, but any surface that can sell it like this–“Bringing off the boil”–to make it seem like the first step of a recipe has more than earned the right to BECALMING* (*begin clam).
Charade
- Colorful suspect’s failure to confront minor disfigurement? (4,7) [OOLF 111, Kosman & Picciotto]
- The livestreams hosted by Rachel Fabi and clr about their editorial standards for picking crowdsourced clues for their puzzles are highly entertaining, especially when they discuss “shenanigans.” I’m the sort that loves those ? clues and stretchy definitions–the more the merrier–which is the long way around of me saying that this clue, which is doubly full of shenanigans, is wonderful. To begin with, there’s the straight–but not–clue for “Colorful suspect,” but then there’s also the pun-ishingly specific “minor disfigurement,” all for MISS+SCAR-LET. What a triumph; what a Clue!
- Baby showers with male child and zero grandmothers (9) [Browser 72, Nediger]
- COVID stopped us from celebrating our child with an in-person baby shower, so I’m claiming this clue as compensation: it’s a brilliant reframing of “showers,” using nothing but the natural components you’d expect to find at one: SON+O+GRAMS.
- Baldly asked to reveal naked body? (8) [AVCX Cryptic 5/12, Dolan]
- Can’t stress enough how much work “Baldly” is doing here, in the best possible sense: [-a]SKE[-d]+LET ON.
- Boss finally reimburses you for each facemask (10) [Keynesian Cryptic 126, Keynes]
- Here’s a nice topical surface that also gets a nice dig in at poor employee compensation: S+U+PER+VISOR.
- Try writing, darling (9) [NP 5/7/22, Cox & Rathvon]
- No need to call the DA on me: this blog is proof that I have! Just a nice split of the word here: PROSE+CUTE.
Container
- Some broadcasting about asexual friend, Jesus Christ (8) [AVCX Cryptic 5/12, Dolan]
- Some marketing that is found in sardine containers (3-3) [AVCX Cryptic 5/12, Dolan]
- In a crossword puzzle, I might editorially frown on two clues with such similar openings, but in a cryptic, where they go in such drastically different directions? The first is particularly potent, with a nearly impossible to spot straight definition: F(ACE+PAL)M. But don’t discount how the second one sneaks in “that is”: T(IE)INS.
- Angry hand is conquered by foot (4) [Square Chase 10, Mossberg]
- This feels like an adage parallel to “the pen is mightier than the sword,” and at the end of the day, I just get a kick out of “Angry hand” as a definition: F(IS)T.
- Mottos without … without function (7) [Everyman 3944]
- Fun use of duplication here, with the first “without” as an indicator and the second as a clever synonym: S(LOG)ANS. Don’t sleep on the mathematical use of “function” either!
Deletion
- Professional milestone: canceling university loans that remain unpaid (4) [Browser 72, Nediger]
- This one’s about as real as they come: DEB[-u]T. Hey, look, I’ve cleared mine off and I still think the government should help those struggling with these predatory payments.
- After some headhunting, Ben is big on naval officer (6) [AVCX Cryptic 5/12, Dolan]
- “Headhunting” is a fantastic indicator here, and this may be the most deletions I’ve seen in a clue–particularly one this short: [-b]EN+[-i]S+[-b]IG+[-o]N.
- Topless flirt’s partnership (8) [Loplop 004, George Ho]
- A classic deletion here, elevated by the pitch-perfect use of “topless”: [-d]ALLIANCE.
- Largely superficial on-screen device (6) [Everyman 3944]
- The vagueness of “on-screen device” had me stumped for a while, but it felt good to finally click things into place with CURSOR[-y]. (In reverse, this would make a good pun.)
Double Definition
- Destroy control panel–run! (4) [AVCX Cryptic 5/12, Dolan]
- Extremely ambitious: four words (and a fifth element) allow the setter to get away with a marvelously smooth quadruple definition: DASH.
- Sex House? (8) [Loplop 004, George Ho]
- You may have guessed from some of my asides on this blog, but I don’t have a particularly high esteem for our government. This clue, in particular for some members, both makes me chuckle and wince: CONGRESS.
- Gives a crummy deal with Rays (6) [Square Chase 10, Mossberg]
- I’m telling you, sports surfaces have so many options, especially when you start factoring in team names. Remember, they’re not necessarily proper nouns anywhere other than in the surface, which gets us SHAFTS.
- Deliberately outrageous ideological position (4) [“Crossing the Pond,” Pasini]
- Fairly lengthy for a four-word clue for a four-letter answer for CAMP; does the clue successfully describe its own deliberateness?
Heteronym/Pun
- Touching displays at the Smithsonian show your butt is really awesome (4,5) [Cryptic Interpretation 1, Evans]
- I’m always going to be a little boy at heart, so this “cryptic interpretation” makes me smile: MOON ROCKS.
- Happy but dim? (9) [Loplop 004, George Ho]
- Better to be stupid and happy than smart and sad? I dunno, I like being able to figure clues like DE-LIGHTED out.
- They notice an online agreement (4) [Crypticland, Nicolle]
- Crossword bloggers often complain about the dreaded nonsense “E” prefix, but it’s here to stay and I’m glad a cryptic surface is making use of it: E-YES.
Homophone
- Glass smelled that girl on the radio (7) [Cryptic Interpretation 1, Evans]
- If you saw “Glass” and “radio” and thought IRA, congratulations, you fell into an obvious trap. That’s just the surface setting–the answer’s more delightfully creepy with SNIFTER /sniffed her/.
- Read out Frost poem (5) [Keynsian Cryptic 126, Keynes]
- Here’s another un-proper name that’s hard to spot: RHYME /rime/.
- Judge issued punishment verbally (4) [Everyman 3944]
- A garnish, perhaps, said to give pizzazz (6) [AVCX 5/12/22, Dolan]
- I like the two of these in tandem; the first is a legal surface that gives a separate answer FIND /fined/ and the second is a bartending surface that gives a legal-sounding answer: APPEAL /a peel/. When you look for them, nifty connections are everywhere!
Spoonerism
Spooner’s bloodsucker family got started (6,2) [Loplop 004, George Ho]
A lot of spoonerism surfaces feel thrown together, but this one’s use of “bloodsucker family” hits home, with “got started” serving as a nice and open-ended definition: KICKED IN /tick kin/.
&lit
It gets hair, ultimately, in a better arrangement! [OOLF 111, Kosman & Picciotto]
Tip-of-head styling! (2-3,4) [Browser 72, Nediger]
Nobody told me that the &lits were going to the barbershop this week. Here are two self-descriptive anagrams, first with BAR(R)ETTE* (*a better) and then with HI-TOP FADE* (*Tip-of-head).
Letter Bank
- The shittiest bank robbery (5) [Crypticland, Nicolle]
- Absence makes the heart grow fonder, and it’s true that I haven’t seen any noteworthy banks in the last few roundups, but this surface is strong enough to win on any week: it’s a reverse bank, openly indicated (and yet still oblique in this context): the shittiest < HEIST.
- Permit frequently reused for early evening hours (5,4) [AVCX Cryptic 5/12, Dolan]
- “Frequently reused” is a wonderfully accurate indicator for a letter bank: permit > PRIME TIME.
- Rule a wild and repeatedly exploited countryside (5,4) [“Crossing the Pond,” Pasini]
- So is “repeatedly exploited”: rule a > RURAL AREA. The “wild” feels a bit superfluous, but works, especially for the surface.
Combination
- One selecting whips, picking up strap, binding silly boys (5,4) [AVCX Cryptic 5/12, Dolan]
- Just an incredibly smart surface: the only way to hide the use of “whips” here is to double-down with the S&M references, and wow does it work, with “strap” reversing and containing (“binding) an anagram of “boys”: PART(YBOS*)S(<-) (*boys).
- I stamp out crowds’ protest, showing loyalty to my country (10) [Keynesian Cryptic 126, Keynes]
- Here’s a red meat cryptic surface for the conservatives in the house who believe this is truly what “loyalty to my country” looks like. To the rest of us, it’s a stark and brilliant reminder of what PAT(RIOT)ISM* (*I stamp) looks like to some.
- Doctor injecting sick pets with erectile dysfunction medicine (10) [Browser 72, Nediger]
- A darkly twisted surface that keeps going in unexpected directions, especially once you start unpacking it: SPE(CIALIS)T* (*pets).
Miscellaneous
- Drink endless water at the Tour de France after cycling too long (6,3) [Browser 72, Nediger]
- Would you call this a plain-sight clue? The indicator is “cycling” but because the surface is written around that, it’s easy to miss: OOLONG{T}+EA[-u].
- Follow the leader to the end (how to get a program on late-night TV) (4,4) [OOLF 111, Kosman & Picciotto]
- I like the simplicity of “Follow the leader to the end” and the misleading break with the parentheses: {}TALK{S}+HOW.
- Lurid glimpse of genitalia coming up in sexcapade (4) [Keynesian Cryptic 126, Keynes]
- This clue describes itself better than I can, {G}OR{}Y, but if you haven’t seen it, might I recommend Spartacus: Blood and Sand?
- Extremely terrific best-seller, after making a hit, becomes minor curiosity (9) [Browser 72, Nediger]
- Lot of fun cluing going on here, from “extremely” to “best-seller, after making a hit,” which does not parse the way you think it does: TC+HOTC{a/H}KE. Also a great bit of fill!
- 1 + 550/0 = false figure (4) [“Crossing the Pond,” Pasini]
- Math clues are neat. We’re already looking for the Roman numeral conventions, so why not lean fully into it? The division and “false figure” are nice touches: I+D(O)L.
Rule Breakers
Spoiler! (7) [OOLF 111, Kosman & Picciotto]
There you have it. You will not find a more self-descriptive clue, and obvious as it seems in retrospect, I bet this one hung up a lot of solvers who thought it was too obvious: SPOILER. Duh!
Beats Me
This is where I do my little walk of shame and acknowledge the clues that stumped me:
- Big cat quietly escapes from opening, entering ground almost (6) [Net Gain, SARAL]
- So I know it’s COUGAR, and “quietly escapes” suggests that we’re deleting a P or SH from “opening,” but I’m clearly missing the right synonym here.
- Army in Delhi often took risk for statesmen (8) [Net Gain, SARAL]
- This is SENATORS, and I was thinking maybe NATO was somehow the “army” in question, but I just don’t see it.
- Lyricist sent back opera expert on vacation (4) [Net Gain, SARAL]
- Is this POET? Does “on vacation” somehow disembowel “expert”?
- Onset of illness infects father terminally? (6) [Keynesian Cryptic 126, Keynes]
- I think I get this–is it a rebus? That is, FRIEND is the answer, in that the “terminal” parts of father are the “FR” end, with “I” infecting? Where’s the definition?
- Exceed a single in cricket after six balls (7) [Everyman 3944]
- I continue to be baffled by cricket clues. Looks like “six balls” in that game is an over and a “single” is a run, so I guess that’s OVER+RUN?
1Across Weekly Crossword Contest #383 – VARIABLE
These all have the same answer; click the highlighted link above to see the word and all the other submissions.
- x = 5, g = 1 in algebra problem (8)
- Unsettle a rival? Be unpredictable! (8)
- Possible to have car roof retracted. It’s convertible (8)
- Impulsive victory song, adequate but not a bit appealing (8)
- Shifting a live bar is difficult (8)
That’s my time, folks! Let’s see if I can get any more timely next week!
The Crossword Scholar 