#Cryptic byword plus#

Two birds in one clue – some amongst us won’t be happy.ģ2 minutes for all but APOPHTHEGM where I’m sorry to report the unlikely combination of checkers was enough to put me off and since I was getting nowhere with the wordplay I gave up and used aids to fill in the blanks. I wouldn’t know the comparative size of the two nor am I familiar with the skua’s personality although I believe they are predators. If you contract covid you may catch it, in more ways than one.Ģ3 Belligerent seabird smaller ones upset (4) HID=covered up with L (litres) in A GO=an attempt.Ģ0 Forbidding sign a reason for calling off contest (2,5) CHIN=prominent feature (it often is) contained in EN=”in” en Francais with RIG=gear.ġ8 Madrid gent covered up an attempt to steal litres (7) IRATE=cross containing L and LUST=drive.ġ6 Adorning prominent feature to fill in Parisian gear (9)ĮNRICHING. I had the first four letters and the last three and confidently entered “illuminate” which caused a fair bit of trouble in the southern hemisphere until I got it sorted out. Special Branch is the national security and intelligence arm of the UK police.ġ3 Make clear cross can straddle large drive (10) As in Gainsbourg, but I think you have to be French yourself to see the point of him.ġ0 Arboriculturist may cherish this security service (7,6) VICE CHAR would be the deputy cleaner contained in the Frenchman SERGE. And in old portraits one might expect the magistrate to be wearing a frilly non-avian ruff round his neck.Ħ Deputy cleaner cutting Frenchman’s cost of upkeep (7,6) This is the female counterpart of the ruff bird. GEN=info with an anagram (cryptic) of FT CLUE.ĥ Old magistrate one’s often seen with ruff (5) REGAN contained in OO=loves.Ĥ Info on cryptic FT clue: “Take the knee” (9) If it’s not Electra it must be one of King Lear’s daughters. Anagram (astray) of USA HOPES GO.Ģ Rebellious daughter visiting loves plant (7)

Another tricky bit of spelling because Americans leave off the first O. POP=go is contained in A H with THE GM.ġ Section of tract: “USA Hopes Go Astray (10) After getting that straightened out, here goes with the parsing. I was pretty sure this was the answer but how on earth do you spell it? It seems that Americans cut to the chase and just omit the PH and go straight to the TH. Anagram (distressed) of I RETAIN.Ģ6 “Go into a hotel” – the general manager’s byword? (10)ĪPOPHTHEGM. I get my morning jolt and afternoon pick-me-up from tea but I believe chewing these works too. CURRENT=present.Ģ4 Caffeine supplier left fish around on floor (4,3) Ulster is the province (it often is), containing P=quiet and HO.ġ9 Indian contribution to growth industry (5)ĭIRECT CURRENT. I’m sure I’ve seen it spelled with an H too but in this part of the world it’s just called Swiss.ġ7 Make comfy quiet head office in province (9) EMENTAL=the (not Spanish) cheese, dropping the M. ALI=(Muhammed) popular boxer in crosswords containing I and O=round.ġ5 The Spanish cheese lacks minute essential (9)ĮLEMENTAL. Provencal mayonnaise spiked with mashed garlic. P with EA=each CE=church OFFERING=collection.ĪIOLI. Anagram (ploughed) of AREA IS with U.ġ2 Before each church collection Penny’s given olive branch (5,8) SON=lad.ġ1 Area is ploughed around university, a vast expanse (7)ĮURASIA. Anagram (ground) of SARGE GIVES.ĩ Mark to remain with lad for Top Gear (7) Overall a very entertaining and neatly constructed example of the setter’s art with nice succinct surfaces.ĭefinitions underlined.

This wasn’t overpoweringly difficult but it did have some tricky spelling and parsing.

#Cryptic byword plus#

This took me 18 plus minutes and my time may have been influenced by mild “blog fright”, but more likely by slapdash solving of 13D which had to be corrected later. I’m temping for Ulaca during his Grand Tour, rotating with Jeremy and Jerry and alternating with Vinyl. It’s Independence Day in America and the lyrics of the Star Spangled Banner demonstrate why you should not let lawyers write your national anthem.