Times Jumbo 1598 enigmatic crossword puzzle (2023)

Run for the hills, people! The French Elder Gods will be the most unfortunate this week as the lifter had the audacity to completely neglect his duties, including at least one French reference in this week's jumbo. Mo dieu!

Francophobic stupidity aside, as if you had to say it, this week's jumbo sucked. I suspect this lifter's previous jumbo was one I accused of being artificially hard because it was overly stuffed with rotting junk and fitted to form, so it's nice to see a significant reduction this time around. The build quality of the tips was also excellent, although there were some areas where the creator and solver weren't on the same page. Too bad it was a 52d. It's weird, because I love misdirections, the trickier clues and clues that make me camp in my dictionaries, but it started to outweigh its welcome in the end. Be careful what you wish for I guess.

Anyway, you can find my full grid below, along with explanations of my solutions where I got them. I hope you find them useful, although it might be worth checking back if more info comes up in the comments. In the meantime, if you've been pulling your hair out on a recently released jumbo, you might find mineJust for funApps page where you can find links to solutions for hundreds of things.

Thanks again for the kind words and contributions. It's always interesting to hear the solvers' thoughts when the dust has settled. Until next time, stay safe outside, kids.

LP

[With thanks to Sue and Chris in the comments for fixing 48d.]

about tips

1. Very young soldier in film embraces married soldier (11)

Responder:INFANTRY(i.e. "soldier"). The answer is INFANT (i.e. "very young") followed by RYAN (i.e. "private in film", which refers to the 1998 filmThere Private James Ryan) once wrapped or "embraces" M (an accepted abbreviation of "married"), like this: INFANT-RY(M)AN.

7. A number for Granma to receive? (2,4,5)

Responder:MOSES COMES DOWN(i.e. "a number" or a song). The solution is GO DOWN (ie "received", say, by an audience), followed by "Granma" MOSES, an American folk artist. Though pretty much every reference I've seen describes her as "grandmother", not "grandmother". It could be a typo; could be the lifter joking.

13. Old trunk parts oddly arranged (5)

Responder:ILLNESSES(i.e. "ancient pieces" - for Chambers: "in ancient Greece, the sixth part of a drachma in weight or money"). "Strange" indicates that the solution is found in all other letters of LÖGBÖÖkeuAEUD. I think "out" is just there to scan for hints. The pun was mercifully obvious, but let's face it, this was a bespoke solution for each day of the week.

14. A culprit of slowing down after initially leading the competition (7)

Responder:GUILTY(i.e. "a culprit"). The solution is RIT (i.e. "slow down", specifically a recognized abbreviation of ritardando in music jargon) placed "after" L (i.e. "initially leading", i.e. the first letter of "leading") since is "in". CUP was put (ie "competition"), like this: (CU(L)P)-RIT.

15. You go to a child who is not well (3,2,4)

Responder:UNPLEASANT(i.e. "feel uncomfortable"). The solution is I'LL (ie "someone will", specifically a contraction of I WILL) followed by A, then TEASE (ie for "child").

16. Companion driver maintaining top speed in relentless pursuit (5.4)

Responder:WITCH HUNT(i.e. "relentless pursuit"). The solution is WITH (i.e. "fellow") and James HUNT (i.e. "driver" and 1976 F1 champion) all wrapped or "held" around C (i.e. "top speed", specifically a constant in physics that represents the speed of light, which C in Einstein's famous equation E=mc²), assim: WIT(C)H-HUNT.

17. Pacifying an English gangster girl, so uninitiated (10)

Responder:SOFTNESS(i.e. "pacify"). The solution is E (a recognized abbreviation for "English") followed by MOLL (i.e. "Gangster's Girl"), then I (i.e. "[Roman numeral] one") and HENCE (i.e. "so") after the first letter has been removed (indicated by "not started") something like this: E-MINOR-I-ENCE.

20. Sore, not very septic, which should finally come back (2-5)

Responder:RE-ELECTED(i.e. “back again” – think Election Officials). The solution is ROLLED (i.e. rotated or "twisted") once the last letter has been removed (indicated by "not quite like that") and the remainder followed by C and T (i.e. "septic, which finally ", that is, the last letters of " septic" and "that"), more or less like this: REELE-CT.

22. Set of possible caravanserai images returned (7)

Responder:EXCEPT(for example, “set” or transistor radio). Not 100% sure about this one, but I have INN (i.e. "caravanserai", a former inn in some eastern countries) and ART (i.e. "pictures") all reversed (indicated by "brought back") . It gives me TRA-NNI. I think the E somehow comes from "possible". Perhaps a "finally" note was missed during editing?

[EDIT: Thanks to Sue in the comments for suggesting that INN was most likely AND INN in the solution, as caravanserai were inns in some eastern lands. That should give you the missing E. Hugs, Sue! – LP]

24. Resort after a while spread to the west and east (7)

Responder:MARGATE(eg "resort" or seaside town in Kent). The solution is A and T (a recognized abbreviation for "time") placed in MARGE (i.e. "spread" or margarine) or "west and east" of it, like this: MARG(A-T)E.

25. On a road it can be hard to take (8)

Responder:SHOULDER. The solution satisfies “can be difficult on an Autobahn” and “bearable”.

26. Maybe prone to neck risk, kinda hesitant (5,2,4,3)

Responder:TOUR ON FINE ICE(e.g. “potentially risk-prone”). SOLUTION is an anagram (indicated by "somehow") of NECK and HESITATE.

28. Great revolutionary work of the ancient writer (5)

Responder:ÄSOP(i.e. “ancient writer”). The solution is SEA (i.e. "main" - one definition is the high seas) and OP (i.e. "work", specifically a recognized abbreviation of "opus") backwards (indicated by "revolutionary"), i.e. : AES-OP.

29. Since you probably don't need a diet, do you consume any kind of sauce? (6)

Responder:TAHINI(i.e. "a kind of sauce", more specifically "an oily paste made from crushed sesame seeds"(chambers)). The solution is FINO (i.e., "probably doesn't need to diet") and I (i.e., "[Roman numeral] one"), all rolled up in an A, or "consumed", like this: T(A)HIN- EU . Did you draw SKINNY in pencil in the beginning? Me too.

30. Has a U category been changed to target immature adults? (3,4,3)

Responder:BEHAVIOR FOR AGE(i.e. “appealing to an immature adult”). "Modified" indicates an anagram. Solution is an anagram of A U CATEGORY.

33. Hotel grade on an American battlefield (10)

Responder:AUSTERLITZ(i.e. a "battlefield" of the Napoleonic Wars). The solution is TE (ie musical "note" of the G-Fa scale) followed by L (a recognized abbreviation for "left") once placed "in" RITZ (a chain of "hotels"). All of this is then placed "in" or after A US (i.e. "an American"), like this: (A-US)-(TE-R(L)ITZ). Score one with my Bradford here. I had gotten to the point of "I really can't be mad".

35. Can soap be placed outside because it is full of cracks? (6)

Responder:FOR CHILDREN(i.e. "full or cracks" or jokes). The solution is JOE (i.e. "possible soap", referring to Joe Soap, rhyming slang for dope), placed "outside" of COS (an informal short form of "because"), like this: JO(COS)E .

37. Hit and disable a treasure hunt in progress (5)

Responder:LAMB(i.e. "disabled"). The solution is ED (ie "a running paper", short for "editor") placed or "chased" (ie "hit") after LAM, like this: LAM-ED.

39. Rugby offense that Dr. Arnold wanted to stop (5,2,3,4)

Responder:HIT IN THE HEAD(i.e. "stop"). The solution is KNOCK ON (i.e. 'rugby offense', ignoring misleading capitalization) followed by THE HEAD (i.e. 'Dr [Thomas] Arnold', who was a 19th century reforming rugby school principal). Good job.

41. Buy drinks for all Americans? Suffer in the morning! (5.3)

Responder:STAND SAM(i.e. "buy Americans booze" - none of my formal dictionaries support this, which is disappointing, but it is mentioned in my Cassell's Dictionary of Slang). The solution is STANDS (i.e. guarantees or "suffers") followed by AM (i.e. "in the morning").

44. An addition to the soundtrack, perhaps, as opposed to one that appears in Glastonbury? (7)

Responder:NOTATOR(ie, “perhaps an addition to the score”). When the solution is written as NOT A TOR, it also playfully complies with "unlike one that appears in Glastonbury" - St Michael's Tower, situated at the top of Glastonbury Tor, is often photographed against blood moons, super moons, etc. .

45. Eliminate any reason to grimace when speaking (4,3)

Responder:EXTINGUISH(i.e. "delete"). The solution consists of homophones (indicated by "when speaking") of WHY (ie "for some reason" when asked as a question) and POUT (ie "make a face").

46. Material collected by a science graduate, so to speak (7)

Responder:ABSCESS(i.e. pus or "matter that collects"). The rest of the track plays around with a "feminine" form of a BSc or Bachelor of Science (i.e. "scientific degree") by pasting an -ESS at the end, like this: A-BSCESS.

47. From great artist to online thriller? (5.5)

Responder:GHOST TRAIN(i.e. "Thriller Online", which refers to the route this attraction operates on). The solution is G (a recognized abbreviation for "great"), followed by HOST (which stands for "entertainment") and TRAIN (which stands for "to drive").

49. Female desire to return in vain in suitEastEnders? (9)

Responder:COCKNEYFY(i.e. "combineEastEnders' - sticking a gold chain and a sheepskin coat on her, like that). The solution is F (a recognized abbreviation for "feminine") and YEN (i.e. "longing"), all reversed (indicated by "back") and placed "in" COCKY (i.e. "vain"), like this: COCK(NEY -F)J. I admit I felt a little shock when I realized it was a real word. It's like cockneyfying was all the rage at some point, enough to see it recognized in dictionaries. Gorblimey, this is scary.

53. Passionate item that was taken out of the box? (9)

Responder:VALENTINE'S DAY. The solution fills in the vague clue as a whole, assuming you "unwrap" a valentine's gift or a card or something similar. At least that's what they tell me. I never really understood the gist of it all. Now also includes A (i.e. "article", a word like a, an, or the), LENT (i.e. "given"), and IN, all of which are placed or "wrapped" in LOVE once the LO (i.e. "behold") has been "removed", like this: V(A-LENT-IN)E. Well done. It took a while for it to branch out.

54. The shed in the field must go first (4:3)

Responder:DRIVE OFF(i.e. "go first"). The solution is DOFF (ie "pour") placed "over" or after LEA (a meadow or "field"), thus: LEA-DOFF.

55. After all, pirated copies cannot be reproduced at school! (8th)

Responder:HOOK(e.g. truancy or something like "You can't play at school"). The solution is HOOK (i.e. "pirate" captain, Peter Pan antagonist) followed by Y (i.e. "copy finally", i.e. the last letter of "copy").

56. Accounting fraud can be detected by auditors (11)

Responder:ARMY MAINTENANCE(i.e. "cheating"). The solution includes homophones (denoted by “collected by the auditor”) of the LIVADOR DOMAIN (i.e. “accounting department”).

57. After he ended up downstairs, totally regretful? (6.5)

Responder:UNDERWORLD. The solution fulfills the clue as a whole, being another way of describing Hell, but is also given by an anagram (indicated by "draw") of DOWN THERE and RL (d letters "repentant").

notes below

1. Do you imply that you can go ahead and get the casting location right? (9)

Responder:FERRO(i.e. "Selection Location"). If the solution is written as IRON WORKS, it also satisfies the "implication that you can go ahead and iron clothes".

2. So maybe turn to good authority a little… (4,3,6,5)

Responder:FROM THE HORSE'S MOUTH. The solution satisfies "so maybe draw a little" - a bit like riding gear - and "on good authority".

3. ... as supposedly comes (5)

Responder:RELINCHAR(i.e. "how does it come", borrowing from the previous solution, which is the sound a horse makes). "According to reports" indicates homophone. The solution is a homophone of NAY (ie "in fact").

4. Parking game, racers find it exciting (11)

Responder:RECRUITMENT(i.e., the act of “hiring” staff). The answer is REC (meaning "park" or recreation area) followed by RU (meaning "game", specifically rugby union), then I (meaning "[Roman numeral] one"), then MEN (i.e. , "people" - well, 48% of them anyway) once placed or "entered" in the TT (i.e. motorcycle "races" held in the Isle of Man) like this: REC-RU-I-T(MEN)T.

5. A title that ends up being translatedGuilherme Tell? (8)

Responder:TO SPEAK(i.e. vs "say" - ignore misleading capitalization). The solution is an anagram (indicated by "translated") of A TITLE and I (i.e. "[Roman numeral] one", again) all after or "at the end of" M (i.e. "final [letter] ] of William")” – a bit of recycling involved), something like this: M-ILITATE.

6. Experimental bottle of iodine on the shelf: not good (5-7)

Responder:NERVE TIRES(i.e., a probation or "attempt"). The solution is NERVE (i.e. "bottle"), followed by RACK (i.e. "shelf"), then I (chemical symbol for "iodine"), then N (an accepted abbreviation for "no"), and G ( dto. "good" ) ).

7. Persuading a couple over the phone to finally reach an agreement (3,5,2)

Responder:AROUND(i.e. "go for it"). The solution is GET ROUND (ie "convince") followed by a homophone (indicated by "over the phone") of TWO (ie "pair").

8. "Doctor, heal yourself!" we could conclude from this is the statement (5)

Responder:DRILL(i.e. "order", as in a military exercise). Written as DR ILL, the solution amusingly fulfills "doctor, heal yourself!" we can infer, where DR is an accepted abbreviation for a doctor or "physician".

9. Male fantasy character change comics (6.5)

Responder:WALTER MITTY(i.e. "fantasy character" from James Thurber's short storyThe Secret Life of Walter Mitty, in which the title character performs in a variety of heroic settings). The solution is WITTY (meaning "weird") between "about" ALTER (meaning "change") and M (an accepted abbreviation for "masculine"), like this: W(ALTER-M)ITTY.

10. Punishment for burying fish bones (9)

Responder:METACARPI(i.e. "bones" between the wrist and fingers). The solution is MET (i.e. "faced") and AI (i.e. "good", "excellent" or "A1" written by replacing the 1 with the appropriate Roman numeral) once around CARP (i.e. "fish ")) is rolled or “buried”, like this: MET -A(CARP)I.

11. Special effects after consuming a port! (4)

Responder:SFAX(i.e. "port" of Tunisia). The solution is SFX (short for "Special Effects") wrapped or "consumed" around A, like this: SF(A)X. The pun was mercifully obvious, but consider for a moment how many words go with the letters "S-A-" too. You know, real everyday words. Dust. Stop it, lifter.

12. Horse-drawn carts, often small and light (4)

Responder:SLED(i.e. "often horse-drawn carts"). The solution is S (a recognized abbreviation for "small") followed by LED (ie "light", specifically a light-emitting diode).

18. Battered Car (Golf) Skyscraper Permission to Track and Film (7,7,4)

Responder:MAGIC MYSTERY TOUR(e.g. "Track and Film" by The Beatles). The solution is an anagram (indicated by "stripped") of CAR, G ("golf" in the phonetic alphabet) and MULITSTOREY MAY. Good job.

19. Vicar - the first lady - meets resistance: division ensues (8)

Responder:REVEREND(i.e. "priest"). The solution is EVE (i.e. "first lady" in the Bible) after or "appropriately" R (an accepted abbreviation for electrical "resistance") and "followed" by REND (i.e. "split"), like this: (R - EVA )-INCOME.

21. Edge, if not round... maybe it is? (7)

Responder:ELLIPSE. The solution fits the lane as a whole, but also includes LIP (ie "edge") with ELSE (ie "if not") wrapped "around", like this: EL(LIP)SE. Another well crafted clue that took a while.

23. School class 2021, for example? A cut above? (4.4)

Responder:ETON Ernte(i.e. "a cut above", referring to a haircut). The track also satisfies the "class of 2021 students, for example", although I can't see why the lifter chose a specific year. It seems like an unnecessary attempt to launch the solver.

27. Doctor whoAfter an hour, the music program stops (4.4)

Responder:I applauded(i.e. “program”). The solution is an anagram (indicated by "doctor") of WHO - ignoring the misleading formatting - placed "after" H (a recognized abbreviation for "hour") once placed or "broken" in CATS (i.e. Andrew Lloyd Webber "Musical"). , something like this: C(H)ATS-HOW.

28. Those from one state must apologize if they leave another (8)

Responder:ALASCANER(i.e., “those of a [US] state”). The solution is ALAS (i.e. "sorry to say") followed by KANSAS (i.e. "other" US state) once the AS has been removed (indicated by "when to leave" AS is another word for "when" ) , something like this: ALAS-KANS.

31. Completed Course in Satellite Communications (7)

Responder:UPLINKS(i.e. “Satellite Communications”). The solution is UP (ie "completed" or finished) followed by LEFT (ie "golf course").

32. Unfortunately, drink dispensers can be found in an oasis when parting (4.8)

Responder:BURNING SODA(e.g. "beverage vending machine"). The solution is an anagram (indicated by "sad") of IS FOUND IN AN OASIS once the AS I'S has been removed (indicated by "how [Roman numeral] goes").

34. Note an informant's employment somewhere south of Glasgow (11)

Responder:LANARKSHIRE(i.e. "somewhere south of Glasgow", along with most places if we part hair). The solution is LA (which stands for musical "note" on the Sol-Fa scale) followed by NARK'S HIRE (which stands for "employ an informant").

36. One in the settlement admits that the transport bases were cut (8.3)

Responder:ENTRY PRICE(i.e. "enabled by comparison"). The solution is ENTRY (i.e. exalt or "transport") followed by FEES (i.e. "bases" - Chambers has this as a base fee: "qualified fee, a property to which a qualification is attached", or in English , a property interest that is recognized as long as a condition is still met) after its last letter has been removed (denoted by "cut").

[EDIT: Chris in the comments has a better idea of ​​"Bases Cut" as it is the word FEET with the last letter taken out. Bye Chris! – LP]

38. A blue guy like a scarlet woman? (10)

Responder:CHAPFALL(for example, "blue". It can also be spelled CHOPFALLEN, which means to leave the person gaping or dejected). The solution is CHAP (which means "face") followed by FALLEN (which means "like a scarlet woman" or describes a whore).

40. Cut three fragments to make a famous figure in 4 (9).

Answer: HerbertKITCHEN, he from the World War I "Your Country Needs You" posters (referred to in "Famous Character in 4", the solution to 4 Down is RECRUITING). Fragments displays anagram. Solution is an anagram of NICK DREI.

42. Does anyone remember a painful bump you had and you were on the verge of crying? (5-4)

Responder:SMOOTH EYES(i.e. "on the verge of tears"). The solution is I'M (i.e. "one's" - a contraction of "one is" or I AM) reversed (indicated by "remember"), followed by STYE (a "painful swelling" of the eye) and YE'D (i.e. a contraction of "you had" (an old indicator like "once" would have been fine here), like this: M'I-STYE-YE'D.

43. Frustrated carrot producer project can finally come? (5.3)

Responder:TO GIVE UP(i.e. to "project"). The rest of the track plays with the phrase "carrot and stick", which are both forms of encouragement and punishment. The bottom line here is that the carrot didn't work, so it's time to take the STICK OUT out.

48. Separator left after shrinking (5)

Responder:AUNT. 100% rate here, so pay attention. I'm assuming this is a symbol or "sign" used for a variety of purposes. Chambers offers that this is a "sign of doom" or death, which I think you could equate to a "sign of separation" if you really squint. You could also weakly argue that the letters of THETA, after the E is removed, the word "shrunk", gives the letters of "that". However, I don't really believe this, as these bookmarks are used to cut off the final letters of a word, not the middle ones. If anyone comes up with a better solution, I'll update the post.

[EDIT: Delete this, the solution is LULT, "a diaresis, two dots placed over a vowel as a sign of a separate pronunciation"(chambers). My oxford stays dry in this one, which is a rarity. "After shrinking" indicates that the solution was hidden in the clue, like this: THA(T REMA)INS. Thanks to Chris and Sue in the comments for coming to the rescue! – LP]

50. Can be heard in all conditions (5)

Responder:NO(i.e. "under all conditions" - my Chambers and Oxford would disagree, saying the exact opposite of this, "negatively" or "under no circumstances". Hard to see what the lifter had in mind here. All the best in your world , maybe it's "bad", "sick" or (especially in the north) "hellish"). "Be heard" indicates that the solution is homophone of KNOW HOW (ie "be able to").

51. No use getting upset (4)

Responder:DIABOLICAL(i.e. "not good"). The solution is LIVE (ie "be") reversed (indicated by "excited" - this is a negative clue).

52. Single registration becomes a success (4)

Responder:SLOG(i.e. "great success"). The solution is S (a recognized abbreviation for "singular") followed by LOG (ie "log").