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Within the instance clues under, I clarify the 2 components of every: the definition of the reply, given in daring sort and the wordplay – the recipe for assembling its letters. In a real puzzle setting, in fact, you even have the crossing letters, which enormously alleviate your fixing load. The reasons comprise hyperlinks to earlier entries on this sequence on such issues as spelling one phrase backwards to disclose one other. And setters’ names are likely to hyperlink to interviews, in case you are feeling like attending to know these individuals higher.
Many traces of labor have their very own worlds of shorthand and abbreviations. We’ve seemed right here earlier than on the spiritual and maritime milieux, in addition to journalism. However any job whose abbreviation has made it right into a general-purpose dictionary is honest recreation for a setter. Listed below are 5 common guests to our clues.
Salesman = REP (consultant)
A travelling salesperson – and certainly an agent, or some other form of consultant – could also be known as a REP. Right here’s Rufus utilizing these helpful three letters:
13a Salesman, flier and upkeep employee (9)
[ cryptic: synonyms for ‘salesman’ & ‘flier’ ]
[ REP & AIRMAN ]
[ definition: maintenance worker ]
REPAIRWOMAN wouldn’t match the 9 squares, so it should be REPAIRMAN.
Ambassador = HE (his/her excellency)
It appears a disgrace that an envoy who has proved themselves greater than worthy of the designation “his” or “her excellency” can’t transfer up a degree and get the “most wonderful” title that another nations use.
For now, although, an “ambassador” in a clue ought to let you know to significantly think about an HE within the reply. Right here’s Picaroon:
5d Ambassador and clerk pounded knocker (7)
[ wordplay: abbrev. for ‘ambassador’ + jumble (‘pounded’) of CLERK ]
[ HE + CKLER ]
[ definition: knocker ]
And so we see that the knocker just isn’t on a door: it’s an individual. A HECKLER.
Engineer = CE (civil engineer)
The individuals behind bridges and dams may be downright impolite now and again, however they continue to be civil engineers, and so one factor that “engineer” may imply is CE. That’s what Chifonie is as much as …
25a Contrived to get engineer into automotive (6)
[ wordplay: abbrev. for ‘engineer’ inside (‘into’) name of a car manufacturer ]
[ CE inside FORD ]
[ definition: contrived ]
… in a clue for FORCED. That’s just one risk, in fact; “engineers” are simply as usually RE and “engineer” itself is extra usually an instruction to do some anagramming. Personally, I have a tendency to verify that CE is a part of the wordplay after I’ve guessed the reply.
Accountant = CA (chartered accountant)
In case you desire your accountant to have implicit royal approval, you select one who’s certified in response to the principles of the Institute of Chartered Accountants. And so “accountant” is commonly CA, like right here …
6d Moviemaker wants accountant and compère to get issues straight (9)
[ wordplay: abbrev.s for ‘accountant’ & ‘compère’ + verb meaning ‘to get things straight’ ]
[ CA + MC + ORDER ]
[ definition: moviemaker ]
… the place Araucaria obligingly provides us one other job (“compere” = MC) en path to CAMCORDER.
Employee = ANT
These days employees aren’t at all times people; in crosswords it was ever thus. In case you’re an ant and also you’re not ant royalty, you may properly end up a employee. And so when Pasquale provides us this clue …
9a Employee is about to fulfill Her Maj, turning into extra nervy (7)
[ wordplay: what a ‘worker’ might be + reversal (‘about’) of ‘is’ + abbrev. meaning ‘Her Majesty’ ]
[ ANT + SI + ER ]
[ definition: more nervy ]
… the “employee” in query seems to have six legs and the reply is NERVIER.
Novices: any questions? Seasoned solvers: any favorite jobs we should always add?
Extra steerage
Cryptic gadgets: hidden solutions; double definitions; defining by instance; cryptic definitions; soundalikes; spoonerisms; stammering; containers; reversals; preliminary letters; alternate letters; biking; changing one factor with one other; taking most of a phrase; percentages of a phrase; bare phrases; first and final letters; center letters; eradicating center letters.
Fine details: Roman numerals; Nato alphabet; Greek letters; chemistry; abbreviations for nations; factors of the compass; extra factors of the compass; taking part in playing cards; capital letters; girls and boys; garments; apostrophes; cricket; alcohol; the church; politics; Latin; royals; newspapers; docs; medication; music; animals; vehicles; cities; rivers; boats; when the setter’s identify seems; when the solver seems; “dishonest”.
Particular person letters: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, Ok, L, M, N, O.
The Transport Forecast Puzzle E-book by Alan Connor, which is partly however not predominantly cryptic, could be obtained from the Guardian bookshop.
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