I was doing my regular scan of the Net looking for interesting cryptic things when I came across an article about an English setter, Philistine, who had been talking cryptics on a radio program. He had put together a puzzle for all to follow and included some clues from other distinguished setters. One of these clues caught my eye: Primarily, inflammation in mother’s breasts (8). [MASTITIS: (I)nflammation inside MA’S TITS, an ] It’s a brilliant clue that caused me to laugh out loud. What’s really interesting though, is the context: it was written for the audience of a BBC4 radio program. I’m not entirely sure, but I doubt this clue would be allowed in all UK publications. What makes it acceptable, perhaps, is that it was written by a woman, Sarah Hayes (Arachne in the Guardian), removing the sexist tag it would no doubt receive if a man wrote it. Such liberties of language are generally allowed in cryptics as much is covert and the product of the setter’s/solver’s workings rather than something in your face. There’s no way BREASTS = TITS would be allowed in any other types of crossword, yet here I think it would be generally admired. I would be happy to include it in my old Stickler in the DT, but probably not include it in my AFR crossword. The SMH/Age has a rule about including diseases and the like, so it might not get through no matter how good the wordplay.
I like the freedom that cryptics offer in this area but it’s unwise not to give considerable thought to what is included in clues as we tend to live in a world that is easily offended.
Across | Answers and Clues | Explanations |
1 | COMEDIAN | |
Communications industry taken in by kid’s wit (8) | MEDIA inside CON | |
5 | STAPES | |
Head of security makes a recording with listening device (6) | (S)ECURITY + TAPES | |
10 | MISAPPREHENSION | |
Wrong impression made by corrugated paper layer used in job (15) | (Anagram of PAPER + HEN) inside MISSION | |
11 | ALLOTROPE | |
Divide and bind one form of chemical element (9) | ALLOT + ROPE | |
12 | SPOTS | |
Skin problem stops coming back (5) | STOPS reversed | |
13 | GRIT | |
Central figure of party, one consumed by great determination (4) | [PA(R)TY + I] inside GT | |
15 | DIOCESE | |
See code is varied before end of cycle (7) | Anagram of CODE IS + CYCL(E) | |
18 | FLAPPED | |
Fellow completed a circuit and waved (7) | F + LAPPED | |
20 | PUNT | |
Kick hole in bottle (4) | Double Definition | |
23 | ERROR | |
Time ignored by troublesome child could be a mistake (5) | TERROR minus T | |
24 | FUSILLADE | |
Fire American poorly in decline (9) | (US + ILL) inside FADE | |
26 | COMBINATION LOCK | |
Security system’s timer hacked into by organised mob, one large group of people (11,4) | CLOCK outside (anagram of MOB + I + NATION) | |
27 | SENATE | |
Witness probed by national governing body (6) | SEE outside NAT | |
28 | IN DEMAND | |
Rough denim, by the way, is popular (2,6) | Anagram of DENIM + AND | |
Down | Answers and Clues | Explanations |
1 | COMBAT | |
Something used by a groom at engagement (6) | COMB + AT | |
2 | MASALA | |
Fortified wine not containing right mix of spices (6) | MARSALA minus R | |
3 | DEPOT | |
Roadtrain finally leaving Top End disrupted warehouse (5) | Anagram of TOP END minus ROADTRAI(N) | |
4 | AIRPORT | |
It may be used by traveller or taken during a trip abroad (7) | OR inside anagram of A TRIP | |
6 | TONES DOWN | |
Moderates sabotaged nodes located in populated area (5,4) | Anagram of NODES inside TOWN | |
7 | POISONED | |
Is one in school contaminated? (8) | (IS ONE) inside POD | |
8 | SONGSTER | |
Family member gets upset with original piece from radical poet (8) | SON + anagram of GETS + (R)ADICAL | |
9 | THREAD | |
Half of them scanned sewer line (6) | (TH)EM + READ | |
14 | RAP ARTIST | |
Musical performer’s role is accepted by bad lot (3,6) | (PART IS) inside RAT | |
16 | OFFENCES | |
Violations of bent resellers (8) | OF + FENCES | |
17 | DAIRYMAN | |
Large number upset an agriculturalist (8) | MYRIAD reversed + AN | |
19 | DEFEAT | |
Master had food in retreat to consume (6) | FED reversed + EAT | |
20 | PASSION | |
Die holding onto one strong feeling (7) | (PASS ON) outside I | |
21 | PAGODA | |
A supreme power seen in father’s Asian temple (6) | (A + GOD) inside PA | |
22 | PEAKED | |
Crook reached the top (6) | Double Definition | |
25 | LUNGE | |
Suddenly come forward with ring lost in sitting-room (5) | LOUNGE minus O |
To qualify as an &lit, a clue must have no unused components either in the definition or the wordplay - it must be readable one way as a definition, and another as the wordplay.
I knocked this one off in a couple of hours after dinner. Clearly, Yarra Burn 2008 is a performance-enhancing drug. I recommend it.
There was the usual array of entertaining clues, especially 5ac, 12ac, 15ac, 28ac, 4dn, 9dn & 16dn.
I initially had BOOT for 20ac. It works (O inside BOT) — but not with the crossing letters.
By the way, I love the MASTITIS clue.