Inquisitor 1381: Scare by Kruger

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This Inquisitor by Kruger had a fairly short preamble.

 

 

 

The definition in each clue contains a single letter misprint.  In order, the correct letters give words associated with a series of events that describe the ‘scare’ epitomising the eight unclued entries, which may be arranged in pairs.  Their unchecked letters could prepare OGRE A LONG MEAL

So this week it is the correct letters we want rather than the misprinted letters.  

Before starting, I highlighted the cells of the eight unclued entries in the grid so that I could see better what was going on with them.

I just started at the first across clue and worked steadily through to see what I could get.  The first one is was HOWE’ER at 20 across which gave me a D [despite rather than respite] for the first corrected letter.  SEAMS at 21 across fell next, but it needed a bit of reading the dictionary to determine why the corrected letter in the clue was an A.

Overall the first pass through yielded  five or six entries.  Using the crossing letters, I gradually built up the grid and the corrected letters until the words PERFECT and DASTARDLY looked possibilities from the across clues.  Together those words rang a bell and a bit of research confirmed the surnames of two characters from the Hanna Barbera cartoon series THE WACKY RACES, first broadcast in 1968.  Apparently the only episodes were made in 1968 and 1969 though they must have been shown many times since then.  It was fairly clear then that the words coming out of the Down corrections were going to be PENDING and PITSTOP.  The four characters / drivers in full were Peter PERFECT, Dick DASTARDLY, Professor Pat PENDING and Penelope PITSTOP.

WACKY is a fairly clear anagram indicator and SCARE is an anagram of RACES.   

By this time, I had come to the conclusion that the eight unclued entries were entered in a jumbled form, so it seemed likely that the unjumbled form of each would be a RACE.  I needed the hint from the unchecked letters to identify each of the eight RACES [or more correctly, the eight words associated with one of the meanings of RACE] Where there were two unchecked letters in an unclued entry, I reckoned those cells had to be filled with the same letter or it would have been impossible to determine the correct entry.  There were five double letters in OGRE A LONG MEAL

I struggled a bit with the pairings, but have decided on the following four pairs

MARATHON [1st row] and RELAY [final column] – both athletics RACES;

GROOVE [3rd row] and GINGER [4th row] – each associated with one of the more obscure meanings of RACE as indicated in Chambers dictionary;

TAGALOG [8th row] and MONGOL [4th column] – both related to a RACE of people; and

LE MANS [9th column] and ST LEGER [1st column] – both Classic RACES, albeit in completely different sports

The completed grid below shows how these unclued entries were written in the grid.

As always, once the theme has been cracked and the misprints identified, the clues don’t seem nearly as fearsome when the grid was empty and the theme unknown.  Inevitably there were quite a few obscure meanings in both the entries and the constituent parts of the wordplay, but there were a few clues that fell quite easily – e.g. LIONTAMER at 27 across and NERDISH [I’ll no doubt get comments that some solvers found those two quite difficult while others will say the easy ones were some that I struggled over!]

I solved this in two sittings and enjoyed the challenge.

The filled grid looks like this.  The unchecked letters are highlighted within the unclued entries.

Inquisitor 1381

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The title, ‘SCARE‘ has been explained in the discussion above.

Across

 

        
No Clue Amended Definition Letter Wordplay Entry

7

 

City mark Sunderland’s number 9 in box (4)

 

City mark –> City park

 

P

 

N (9th letter of [no 9] SUNDERLAND) contained in (in) LUG (box for carrying fruit or vegetables)

LU (N) G

LUNG (an open space in a town; city park)

 

10

 

Chinese business corruptly abused ape as something to pat (9, 2 words)

 

something to pat –> something to eat

 

E

 

PIGEON (variant of PIDGIN, a Chinese corruption of business) + an anagram of (abused) APE

PIGEON PEA*

PIGEON PEA (dal; pulse; something to eat)

 

11

 

Alien abandons opinion about negative joint pact (5)

 

joint pact –> joint part

 

R

 

(TENET [opinion] excluding [abandons] ET {extra terrestrial; alien]) + (NO [negative] reversed [about])

TEN ON<

TENON (part of a MORTISE and TENON joint)

 

12

 

Daughter was concealing nearly all instances of contusion in East London (6)

 

instances of contusion in East London –> instances of confusion in East London

 

F

 

D (daughter) + (WAS containing [concealing] (ALL excluding the last letter [nearly] L)

D WA (AL) S

DWAALS (South African [East London] term for states of confusion)

 

13

 

Sloth hampers officer getting lass (7, 2 words)

 

getting lass –> getting less

 

E

 

AI (three-toed sloth) containing (hampers) MAJOR (officer)

A (MAJOR) I

A MAJORI (from the greater to the less; getting less)

 

14

 

Say middle portion of prison phone number backwards (5)

 

Say –> Cay

 

C

IS (central letters of [middle portion of] PRISON) + TEL (telephone number) reversed (backwards)

IS LET<

ISLET (cay [a low ISLET])

 

16

 

Rustic botched opening of wrap (6)

 

opening of wrap –> opening of trap

 

T

 

Anagram of (botched) RUSTIC

RICTUS*

RICTUS (unnatural gaping of the mouth; opening of trap)

 

20

 

Poet’s respite that he or we arranged (6)

 

Poet’s respite –> Poet’s despite

 

D

 

Anagram of (arranged) HE OR WE

HOWE’ER*

HOWE’ER (poetic form nevertheless; poet’s despite)

 

21

 

Lords (English) visiting South Africa and Mauritius (5)

 

Lords –> Lards

 

A

 

(E [English] contained in [visiting] SA [South Africa]) + MS (International Vehicle Registration for Mauritius)

S (E) A MS

SEAMS (lards made from pork fat)

 

23

 

Programme to raise awareness involves my amorous pretence (6)

 

amorous pretence –> amorous presence

 

S

 

EST (a philosophical and psychological programme designed to raise awareness and develop human potential) containing (involves) COR (gosh!; my!)

ES (COR) T

ESCORT (a person, usually of the opposite sex, hired to accompany someone to entertainments; an amorous presence)

 

24

 

Some covering European Committee for Standardisation rejected in French gown (6)

 

French gown –> French town

 

T

 

ANY (some) containing (covering) (CEN [Comité Européen de Normalisation –   European Committee for Standardization] reversed [rejected])

AN (NEC)< Y

ANNECY (French town)

 

25

 

Burk protects this statue, hiding majority of top (6)

 

Burk protects this –> Bark protect this

 

A

 

TIKI (ornament or statue representing a Polynesian god) containing (hiding) (TOP excluding the final letter [majority of] P)

TI (TO) KI

TITOKI ( New Zealand tree with reddish paniculate flowers..  A tree is protected by bark)

 

26

 

 Nothing against foremost of analgesics – it takes away pain (5)

it takes away pain –> it takes away rain

 

R

 

NULL (amounting to nothing) + A (first letter of [foremost of] ANALGESICS)

 

NULLA (a stream or drain; it takes away rain)

 

27

 

Trainer of wily animals in Rome – Latin sort (9)

 

Trainer of wily animals –> Trainer of wild animals

 

D

 

Anagram of (sort) ROME LATIN

LIONTAMER*

LIONTAMER (trainer of wild animals)

 
28 Kids praying together to go to Scotland (4)

Kids praying together –> Kids playing together

 

L

 

GANG (set of boys who habitually play together;kids playing together)

 

GANG (Scottish form of ‘to go’) double definition

 

29

 

Travelling sea tales – something useful tour body produces (8)

 

something useful tour body produces –> something useful your body produces

 

Y

 

Anagram of (travelling) SEA TALES

ELASTASE*

ELASTASE (an enzyme found in the pancreatic juice that decomposes elastin, a protein; something useful your body produces)

 
Down          
No Clue Amended Definition Letter Wordplay Entry

1

 

Fort of Spain resident perhaps is shed on island to the east of Majorca (5)

 

Fort of Spain resident perhaps –> Port of Spain resident perhaps

 

P

 

HUT (shed) + I (island) + A (rightmost [easternmost] letter of MAJORCA)

 

HUTIA (hog-rat, West Indian rodent.  Port of Spain is a town in the West Indies)

 

2

 

Creator of wild article with dubious merit (8)

 

Creator of wild –> Creator of weld

 

E

 

THE (definite article) + an anagram of (dubious) MERIT

THE RMITE*

THERMITE ( mixture of aluminium powder with oxide of metal (esp iron), which when ignited produces great heat, used for local heating and welding; creator of weld)

 

3

 

Letters withdrawn from mag named exotic, sometimes funky publication (5)

 

[sometimes] funky publication –> [sometimes] funny publication

 

N

MANGA (hidden word [from] reversed [withdrawn] in MAG NAMED)

MANGA<

MANGA (type of adult comic book popular in Japan; exotic[?] sometimes funny publication).  I am not sure exactly what part ‘exotic’ is playing.  I don’t think it is an anagram indicator.  Is Japan considered to be an ‘exotic’ location?

 

4

 

To make a lout sound daring, deserted adult runs away in terrible beating (7, 2 words)

 

To make a lout sound –> To make a loud sound

 

D

 

(DARING excluding [away] D [deserted], A [adult] and R [runs]) contained in (in) ROUT utter defeat; (terrible beating)

R (ING) OUT

RING OUT (make a loud sound)

 

5

 

Grant defensive blunder ends in clever checkmate (4)

 

Grant –> Giant

 

I

 

OG (own goal; defensive blunder) + RE (last letters of [end in] each of CLEVER and CHECKMATE)

 

OGRE (giant)

 

6

 

Hinders inappropriately – as per a computer fax, perhaps (7)

 

as per a computer fax perhaps –> as per a computer fan perhaps

 

N

 

Anagram of (inappropriately) HINDERS

NERDISH*

NERDISH (unathletic, irritating or unprepossessing person, although often knowledgeable about computing technology)

 

8

 

Enhance the food of university friend eating very acceptable piece of Edam (7)

 

Enhance the food of –> Enhance the good of

 

G

U [university] + (PAL [friend] containing [eating] V [very]) + U (acceptable) + E (first letter of [piece of] EDAM)

U P (V) AL U E

UPVALUE (increase the worth [good] of)

 

9

 

Nameless criminal – one who may often

deliver guns (7)

one who may often deliver guns –> one who may often deliver puns

 

P

GANGSTER (criminal) excluding (less) N (name)

 

GAGSTER (comedian; one who may often deliver puns)

 

15

 

Twin who aced brother settled evenly and served close (8)

 

Twin who aced brother –> Twin who iced brother

 

I

 

ETE (letters 2, 4 and 6 [evenly] of SETTLED) + an anagram of (served) CLOSE

ETE OCLES*

ETEOCLES (in Greek mythology, ETEOCLES killed [iced] his brother, some accounts say twin brother, Polyneices.  Apparently it wasn’t one-sided though, Polyneices also killed ETEOCLES in their battle)

 

17

 

Fashionable people follow most of chatter down in Essex (7)

 

down in Essex –> town in Essex

 

T

 

CLACK (chatter) excluding the last letter (most of) K + TON (fashionable people)

 

CLACTON (town in Essex)

 

18

 

Leaders of attacking airforce pilots save nothing bad possibly to do with commos (7)

 

possibly to do with commos –> possibly to do with cosmos

 

S

 

Anagram of (bad) (A [first letter of; {leader of} ATTACKING] and A [first letter of {leaders of} AIRFORCE], together giving leaders of,  and PILOTS excluding [save] O [nothing])

SPATIAL*

SPATIAL (relating to space; possibly to do with cosmos)

 

19

 

In Edinburgh, beloved Queen succeeded kin from Portugal long ago (7)

 

kin from Portugal long ago –> tin from Portugal long ago

 

T

 

JO (Scottish [Edinburgh] word for a beloved]) + ANNE (example of the name of a Queen) + S (succeeded)

 

JOANNES (gold coins of the reign of John V of Portugal)

 

22

 

Half of taxi filled with Bible teacher’s spare cases (5)

 

spare cases –> spore cases

 

O

 

TA (first two letters of [half of] the four in TAXI) containing (filled with) ELI (a Biblical teacher)

T (ELI) A

TELIA (the cluster of spore cases of the rust fungi,0

 

24

 

One does elaborate stews prepared with a bit of mutton thrown in (4)

 

One does elaborate stews –> One does elaborate steps

 

P

 

À LA (prepared with) containing (thrown in) M (first letter of [a bit of] MUTTON)

AL (M) A

ALMA (an Egyptian dancing-girl; one who does elaborate steps)

 

 

 

21 comments on “Inquisitor 1381: Scare by Kruger”

  1. DS, I always enjoy the format of your blogs – giving full clue/thematic corrections/ parsing/ grid entries. Or whatever order is required.
    In another forum, there was a lot of debate about the pairings. My view is that St Leger and Le Mans are a pair because they involve human beings controlling a power source in race. I have not expressed that very well, but you will know what I mean.

  3. Chesley@2 – I think jonsurdy probably means the site that must not be named: click here

    They tend to discuss live puzzles in the form of hints – or ocassionally blatant answers. Frowned upon by some, relished by many it would seem. (With maybe a few exceptions) no-one uses their real name.

    On to this particular puzzle, I never quite finished. ST LEGER was the first thematic I got and I spotted PERFECT and DASTARDLY almost simultaneously. I thought we were looking for the race and the mode of transport – e.g. ST LEGER/HORSE unfortunately a strange phenomenon called real life got in the way this time ðŸ™

  4. kenmac@2 – thanks for that. I’ve had a look and will not be visiting the site again. I’d actually never heard of it!

  5. Our experience was similar to yours Duncan.

    Not much else to add really but all good fun and somewhat tricky which is what the Inquisitor is all about.

    Thanks to Kruger and Duncan.

  6. I came across ‘The Site That Must Not Be Named’ a couple of years ago. I was moaning about not being able to finish a puzzle after days of trying. My son looked at me scornfully and said somebody has probably posted it online. Which is also how I stumbled across. fifteen squared. I’m not ashamed to say I pop into TSTMNBN when a puzzle has an ambiguous endgame like this one. On this occasion it was interesting to see other views on the pairings. Just by the way, I never enter a puzzle for the prize.

  7. So, to return to this blog. I agree with Duncan’s questioning of the use of ‘exotic’ in the MANGA clue. It threw me off for quite a while. Mind you, this was partly because I had answered 13A as A MINORI.
    And, coming back to the pairings, any thoughts?

  8. I didn’t find this particularly tricky until trying to fit in the unclued entries which took me longer than the rest of the puzzle. I’m still not particularly happy with GINGER and GROOVE as the ‘answer’ just involved trawling through definitions in Chambers until some connection popped up.I do wonder if I’m missing something.
    However a Kruger puzzle is always a pleasure so many thanks for the puzzle and to Duncan for the blog.

    I didn’t have a problem with ‘exotic’ for a hint to MANGA however I have never found them to be funny …

  9. Enjoyed all the way through to the Wacky Races reveal, the title anagram, and realizing the general nature of the unclued entries. Then, after spotting MONGOL, I somehow lost the will to live and retired from the field. GROOVE and GINGER, oh dearie me.

  10. Normally I quite like Kruger’s puzzles, but for me this was not one of his best. Similar to other commenters, everything was fine until I had just the eight unclued entries to complete. I had MARATHON & ST.LEGER and then interest waned. I did plod on to the end with some assistance from a friend, but … was it worth it? Not sure.

    I thought maybe ‘exotic’ was a misdirection, nudging us to a correction of ‘erotic’ …

    PS There seems to be another STMNBN.

  11. Isn’t the use of “exotic” to just mean “foreign”, which is what the publicationa are? I don’t see a problem with it.

    HolyGhost@10 : “was it worth it”? I don’t think finishing an IQ (which is a rarity for me) is compulsory. You can always stop before the end!

  12. HG, that second STMNBN seems more about just giving answers – whereas the first one is quite conversational and avoids literally spelling things out. To me, it’s rather like doing the puzzle with friends in the pub, which I used to enjoy once upon a time. If people use these sites to complete a puzzle then enter it for a prize, then like everyone else I would consider this to be cheating.But I don’t think that’s the case. Why would other people be so willing to give such online help? I prefer to think that it’s just the way some people enjoy crosswords, getting involved and feeling part of a community. Maybe I’m naive.
    Anyway, do we have a consensus on the pairings yet. And am I going to be blackballed?

  13. Jonnsudy@12
    I sincerely apologise for quoting your specific comments but this seems to come up quite a lot in various other discussions.

    >> … I would consider this to be CHEATING

    (my emphasis).

    Cheating ? It’s just a puzzle. It’s not an invigilated exam. You don’t get a Nobel prize for ‘Solving’ it or much else really (if I want a bottle of prosecco then I’ll just go to the supermarket). I honestly think some people take this way to seriously. (Not you, as I think your comment suggests). Again I don’t want to provoke an argument but I am honestly curious what other people think. Am I allowed to ask what Mrs. BF thinks ? My brother-in-law ? Some random person in the pub ? When does it become cheating ? And who gets to decide ?

  15. jonsurdy@12 & bf@13 : I agree – asking help from someone electronically is no different these days to asking a friend/relative/acquaintance etc verbally (except that the potential audience is, of course, much larger).

    However, I would make an exception with, for example, the Listener or Times annual championship qualifiers (and there are other puzzles too) where it’s really the prestige that solvers are after rather than a bottle of wine/dictionary etc. I don’t know if the STMNBN sites include these puzzles but they are taken very seriously and I would consider getting outside help to be cheating in those cases.

  17. I felt that this puzzle started well bit, like others, found it to tail off a bit at the end. Oh well — Kruger can at least feel satisfied that he induced me to attempt the first IQ in some time. I normally look at them and then cast aside in favour of dozing! And it was nice to read about the adventures of the Slag Brothers et al once mor,e even if in the end they didn’t have much relevance other than to introduce the “races” theme.

    Also the unfortunate alternative anagram to “ginger” was, perhaps, a bit of an oversight! Ah, well.

  18. BF @13: [cheating …] “And who gets to decide?” I think that most of us tackle these puzzles for pleasure (although some take it more seriously than others), and are not motivated by the prizes. In that case, I’d say it’s the solver who decides whether or not they’ve cheated.

    And wooby @11: “You can always stop before the end!” you say to me. Well, it seems I can’t – the last time I failed to finish an Inquisitor was in Aug-08 (although I cannot claim a 100% correct record for all the puzzles since then).

  19. I was a little bit disappointed last Saturday to see there was no explanation of the Le Mans/St Leger pairing.
    Ah well.Onwards.

  20. jonsurdy@19 : I think you must have the pairings right as in your #1 suggestion. Frankly, the pairings seem pretty obvious to me but there are always alternatives to everything if you look hard enough to come up with them.

    holyghost@18 : You’ve answered your own query – obviously it was “worth it” to you. But how do you finish a puzzle if it isn’t correct? That doesn’t make sense.

  21. wooby @20:
    examples of what I meant by finishing a puzzle that isn’t completely correct …
      [1] misspelling an unchecked letter (e.g. C for K) where the correct wordplay is much better than my (stretched) justification;
      [2] simply forgetting to highlight something in the final grid owing to oversight/temporary distraction/failure to re-read the rubric one last time;
      [3] interpreting some final instruction in a manner other than the setter intended, e.g. commenters had at least 5 different understandings of “cut the last letter” in puzzle 1358 (Calling Card by eXternal); using the wrong colour to reveal a hidden word when instructed to “shade in appropriate fashion”, e.g. we were meant to highlight the name of a tube line using the same colour as on the standard map of the London underground.

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