Elle Cryptic #5

Comments

• Elle constructor · 2023-10-14T11:13:01.903Z

  Parsing guide:

  • 1A: Jerk (def.) mingled (anagram) left (L) sore ; LSORE -> LOSER
  • 4A: Goofs (def.) ate tar (fodder) by accident (anagram) ; ATETAR -> ERRATA
  • 7A: Regarding (def.) a (A) boutique (fodder) for the most part (not all of the word)
  • 8A: Low (def.) key (D) a (A) saint (S) in retrospect (reversal)
  • 9A: Ebook (fodder) trimmed (remove outer letters: BOO) way (ST) back (def.)
  • 10A: Spore sac (def.) buried in (hidden word) Damascus (fodder)
  • 11A: Some (hidden word) Andelmin (fodder) tree (def.)
  • 12A: Something to shake like (def.) a (A) nasty (anagram) flea ; AFLEA -> ALEAF
  • 13A: Entire (def.) week (W) depression (HOLE)
  • 14A: Exploit (def.) some (hidden word) intravenous ecstasy (fodder)
  • 15A: Loren (fodder)'s uncommon (anagram) register (def.)
  • 16A: Dangerously fast (def.) rats (fodder) from the east (reversal) versus (V) Earth (E)
  • 17A: Space (fodder) hides (hidden word) land's end? (cryptic def.: LAND + SCAPE = LANDSCAPE)
  • 2D: Cryptic def.
  • 3D: Cryptic def.
  • 4D: Rage begets (fodder) mad (anagram) whippers (def.)
  • 5D: New (anagram) wanderer (ROAMER) had (ATE) energy (E) for Death Valley? (def. by example) ; ROAMER ATE E -> REMOTEAREA
  • 6D: Elegant (def.) fractured (anagram) Florida (FL) statue (fodder) ; FL STATUE -> TASTEFUL
  • 7D: A (A) clumsy (anagram) wasted male (M) actor (def.) ; A + (WASTED M -> DAMWEST) = ADAMWEST

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• Pedagogue 9:52 · 2023-10-14T14:05:27.198Z

  Thank you for an entertaining cryptic. I had problems with these clues: 9A I believe that "back" is a synonym for BOOST only in the USA. 5D "New" as an anagrind means that "wanderer" is the fodder; synonyms are not used as fodder for anagrams. 17A I'm sorry but I found this to be a poor clue. SCAPE is the answer but there is no definition of the word in the clue.

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  • Elle constructor · 2023-10-15T19:31:32.506Z

    Oh, okay. I’ll change 5D; 9A I wasn’t aware of- I am trying to make my crosswords region agnostic. 17A: The definition was meant to be “land’s end?”

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    • Pedagogue 9:52 · 2023-10-15T21:56:55.810Z

      Thanks for the reply. Isn't "Land's end" wordplay, rather than a definition?

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      • Elle constructor · 2023-10-16T00:46:41.902Z

        I suppose in normal crosswords, "Land's end?" is a cryptic definition by itself (it is a suggested clue for SCAPE in Crosshare), and perhaps isn't expected as a plain definition in cryptics.

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• tuber 8:19 · 2023-10-15T11:04:00.624Z

  Thanks Elle, this was really fun. 16A was my favourite, and 2D is a really lovely clue.

  4A has a problem (the fodder letters don't match the answer) - but I love this definition. Only 9A stumped me, but it shouldn't have done, I just didn't see it.

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  • Elle constructor · 2023-10-16T00:47:15.407Z

    Fixed both -- hopefully!

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