The Times Crossword Friday Masterclass: Episode 40

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** TODAY'S PUZZLE **
In the 40th edition of our attempt to solve a Friday Times crossword, Simon takes on today's puzzle which is much harder than usual (one of the hardest for months). It's by Jason Crampton today, a good mate of Simon & Mark's!
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[@CrackingTheCryptic]

Thanks to GlumHippo for sending me this Russian song prompted by my discussion of 14ac. It's rather dark but there's a lot of truth in there! kzbin.info/www/bejne/pnbQYXielpmqr80 If you have no Aunt (Если у вас нету тети) Lyrics by Alexander Aronov Music of Mikael Tariverdiev If you have no house, then there is no danger of it catching fire And our wife will not leave you for another man If you have no wife. Chorus: The orchestra thunders with basses, The trumpet-player blows into his brass Think for yourself, decide for yourself: to have or not to have? To have or not have? If you have no dog, then it will not be poisoned by your neighbour And you won't fight with your friend, if you have no friends. [Chorus] If you have no aunt, you will never lose her. And if you do not live, then you will never die. [Chorus]

[@longwaytotipperary]

Backhanded optimist?

[@mishkac927]

The problem for Simon is that he must be surrounded by brilliantly clever people so he’s unable to recognize just how very brilliant he is in his own right. Part of why I love him at least is that he attributes the same genius to all of us.

[@davidrattner9]

Cant believe we are at Number 40 already for seeing you and Mark solve these cryptic crosswords for us!! Constant joy to see your amazing explanations in full force every week!

[@PeterMoore66]

In 1D, "runs" IS represented by 'r'. Otherwise 'PEN' would be 'PENS'. And PENINSULA doesn't have an 'R' so it needs to be provided. So it's "LACKING ANIMAL ENCLOSURE" + "RUNS" I don't think the setter was being as sneaky as you gave him credit for here! 🙂

[@Juanchodh]

Just as I start watching this video, I wanted to let you know that these cryptic crosswords videos have become an essencial part of my fridays. There comes a time in which, as a non-native english speaker, you need to expand your vocabulary, and these videos are a great tool for that. Hoping for this tradition to keep on going!

[@WhenTheNincadasCry]

I’m a native French speaker and I agree 100%

[@TheMajorr86]

It just goes to show how intellect is all relative when Simon can say "I think there is this random obscure Egyptian spirit, Ka" and can immediately go and confirm, and then the insecurity takes over that we might think him ignorant for not being able to say that with absolute certainty.

[@smahoney1212]

Simon, I don't think you are exposing your ignorance. You are exposing vast general knowledge and ability to recall.

[@Gnarlf]

Agreed. I enjoy the opportunity, to expand my vocabulary. With English not being my mother tounge, plemty of those words are new to me. Besides it is beautiful to see your mind unfold.

[@KalikiDoom]

Absolutely!

[@mariusnafe26]

Even just "having heard of" or "vaguely recollecting" so so many different things and people and concepts is astonishing to me. However, when you're in a bubble with a ton of other geniuses like Simon is, I'm sure it can feel like you should know even more and solve these things even more smoothly.

[@jonnevitu4979]

​@@Gnarlfsince youre learning just like me I felt the need to say that, iirc, saying "mother tonge" is kinda weird, usually they use "mother language" cuz they dont associate with that part of the body.

[@thitherword]

British modesty on full display!

[@obscurefox5389]

Simon just quoting deep cut lines from "Kubla Khan" like one does. I really enjoy these crossword videos. Thanks!

[@benlathrop3161]

Satisfying solve and explanation, but you definitely left us wanting to know more about that blind date 😂

[@pauld5337]

Really enjoy this series on cryptic crossword solving

[@Anne_Mahoney]

I actually got a handful of these before Simon did, though (to be fair) in some cases only after he'd done part of the work and not quite finished. I loved "Angers policeman" in particular. These crosswords have become a highlight of the week: I look forward all day to an hour of clever word play in the evenings. 😺

[@longwaytotipperary]

Yay! It’s Friday and Simon’s solving cryptic crosswords!! Let the weekend begin! Signed up for Foggy kickstarter- waiting for book 2 to be delivered! Good times! 😊

[@davidrattner9]

Best of times indeed with all these wonderful things happening!! Most certainly signed up also for kickstarter. Let them keep rolling in!😁

[@longwaytotipperary]

@@davidrattner9 yeppers!!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@emilywilliams3237]

Same, same, same!

[@longwaytotipperary]

@@emilywilliams3237 😁💕💕

[@erianstone9774]

When you mentioned the galactic puzzle hunt it felt as though a celebrity mentioned the name of my home town. What a small world! Still struggling through the crown battles but feel confident my team will finish before the 20th. Good luck with your team too!

[@suewilliams7091]

Hi Simon, during my nine months or so of having been immersed in the world of cracking the cryptic I have had many, many thoughts about you my friend! however, thinking of you as being stupid has nor never will be one of them. please stop putting yourself down. you are an extremely intelligent, lovely man who it is a pleasure to spend most of my days with. I love the cryptic crossword masterclass as it is improving my own solving ability no end. thanks for all you and Mark do for the channel and long may you continue xx

[@ChairboyRules]

Always love the Friday Crossword. Please keep them coming.

[@DarklordZagarna]

It's a rare day when I get any of these clues at all, much less in advance of Simon, but I am proud of spotting the anagram of "proselytised" (complete with weirdo English spelling; in America we would use a z instead of the second s) after thinking of terms meaning "converted." Once in a very great while my knowledge of late Roman/Byzantine history comes in handy.

[@archivist17]

What a very enjoyable puzzle!

[@stevewood8]

I'm sure I've seen the Angers trick before, and once understood I was sure I'd be ready for it if it ever came up again. D'Oh! OK, well it won't get me next time... Really enjoy this weekly treat.

[@jaydenparrott3055]

Dude I cannot even fathom how you solve these, you're definitely not simple

[@d4r4butler74]

I Love The Crosswords!!! I always put Dogs as Brindled, especially some of the very short haired ones.

[@williamvanduyn698]

That was delightful - General Knowledge collection is a lifetimes work where we all learn from each other - terrific solve!

[@nickr3115]

I remember brindle being used in connection with dog coat colouration. Very entertaining solve as always, keep 'em coming!

[@mikechappell5849]

Funny that Simon comment how the setter misleads him in 1d because 'runs' often stands for r, when actually it does stand for r here. It's peninsula lacking pen = 'enclosure for animal', then runs added to that. Peninsula lacking 'enclosure for animal runs', as Simon says it, would just give insula.

[@SametHorses]

Beautiful solving, I enjoy these more than you will ever understand. Keep them coming, please!! ♥️

[@nemuchan]

"a bit of a bete noire for me" As a french i love hearing french phrases in Simon's everyday english. We absolutely use the phrase bete noire in the same situation too.

[@nightwishlover8913]

I'm not French, but I used to live just outside Paris, so the construction of 5 down was easy (-er).

[@maxstunner100]

It’s definitely the mot juste 😂

[@Sandra_and_Nala]

I really enjoy watching these! I admire the ability to be able to solve these word plays. I, personally, couldn’t do any of this :D

[@buffalo_bison]

These are such a joy to watch, Simon. Thank you so much for continuing to do them.

[@leehazell7633]

Such relaxing Saturday morning viewing.

[@TheAshFantastic]

I enjoy following along and I feel so clever when I can keep up and solve along with you, thank you Simon!

[@clara931]

I never considered you not clever. The fact you know so much about so many thingsand can recall it is in my mind amazing. And these friday master classes are hopefully teaching me some things as well!

[@mmmccomb7322]

One of the reasons these are so fun to watch, if you've already done the puzzle, is precisely because the vast majority of solvers must surely bumble through bits of it with half-remembered scraps of knowledge, exactly as you described at the end. Except you do so with considerably more skill - and knowledge, for that matter (than me, at any rate). Brilliant crossword, this, as well.

[@fruitshuit]

Loved the video! Simon, I don't think there's a person on earth who hears someone vaguely reference the word for a spirit in Ancient-bloody-Egyptian and thinks "what an idiot that guy is"! "Oh man, what a dummy, hasn't even memorised the entire book of the dead! What a silly sod, how's he going to fare when his heart is weighed against a feather by Anubis in the Duat and found wanting?! What an utter fool." I am as ever in awe of your skill in solving these. :)

[@thelobsterperson]

As a French speaker i was so happy to understand the Angers policeman as flic (it's a common word for a policeman in French), but it was a fiendish clue!!

[@Bonehead777]

Phew. Clever indeed. Well done Simon.

[@ThecrystalwizardCoUk]

Wonderful solve! Always enjoy hearing your thought processes in figuring the clues!

[@louisesuth8141]

Love my Friday solves, thank you for doing this

[@user-xl4tz4dj7v]

Your Friday solves are an essential part of my week! Today’s was a nice balance between “Wow, Simon’s so clever!” and one or two yelling at the screen clues 😅

[@azrobbins01]

I love these!

[@avisian8063]

Intelligence isn't about how much knowledge you have or don't have. It is the ability to reach conclusions using the knowledge you do have. Solving a difficult puzzle despite ignorance is... Intelligence

[@Torenhire]

One of my favorite parts of my Friday sub box on KZbin!

[@daveryan8508]

It's so much fun watching this after having done the puzzle (as a team of two). Can I just say that we thought that "loyal" = "firm in support"?

[@watchmakerful]

Have you ever watched Fort Boyard? The time for each trial in this show is traditionally measured using clepsydras.

[@icecreamandsadness]

I could watch Simon expose his degrees of ignorance all day.

[@Ruddigore]

Another superb solve.

[@impeeratorii]

"Flic" for a french policeman is ofte used in German crosswords for some reason, so I think this may be the first time, I knew a word that Simon didn t. Great fun to watch thesem thank you! (As a non-native speaker I dont have any chance of every solving those, but I enhoy the wordplays nevertheless.

[@mjkluck]

Love'em. Keep them coming.

[@arthurcharest9061]

Great solve Simon!

[@lucasglanville2880]

I sure do love when they clue obscure foreign words with anagrams...

[@paulthompson7952]

Brilliant as always. Piebald and the obscurer skewbald are words I associate with horse patterns but there may be more.

[@royston1928]

Well, it finally happened. I actually solved a clue before you Simon - proselytised. After how many episodes of the Friday crossword? All thanks to a random skill you can get in a video game called Caves of Qud. I'm chuffed. Another great video - good work Simon!

[@SomeRandomGuyOnYouTube]

I really hope the Times editors are not swayed by Simon's views about identifying the setters. The anonymity of the setters is one of the glories of the Times crossword. This Jason guy who can't wait to tell everyone is exactly the issue.

[@franmacgillivray1629]

In Australia we describe speckled cows as brindle.

[@chris_wicksteed]

Lovely puzzle, with a SNITCH rating that left me quite surprised. I'm not a quick solver on the best of days, but my stroll through this one was much gentler than through many much 'simpler' puzzles. I even twigged the 'Angers policeman' trick quite early on (not that it got me to the answer very quickly). Unaware of the real word, I took it as some obscure reference to 'Allo Allo' - vaguely remembering there's a Herr Flick and thinking there's a slim chance that it was set in Angers.

[@TacklingIgnorance]

Always satisfying thinking of an answer before Simon. Although I was surprised at the timescale for him to figure it out after me

[@vinyl1Earthlink]

This was really tough - early on, I saw that biffing would be very dangerous. If you can't justify an answer, don't put it in! This saved me from many bad mistakes that delayed other solvers. Some points - it's not [pen]INSULAR, it's [pen]INSULA + R, so runs is R. Many solvers were looking for a word meaning in a novel way, including me. As usual, I instantly saw some of the ones Simon couldn't get, and vice-versa - MAUDLIN, that was obvious! LAYER, a free gift from the setter! My time was 65 minutes, but many good solvers DNF'd. I really liked the puzzle, very fair if you just followed the clever instructions. These wordy type of clues are often used in Mephisto, so I'm ready for them.

[@vinyl1Earthlink]

P.S. You didn't look up flic? It's a French slang word for a policeman, like we would say cop or bobby.

[@thescrewfly]

You get a like just for informing me of the technical term for the forward slash.

[@Melissa_Hz]

I feel smart because I figured out Dulcify before Simon 😁 Have to thank speaking Spanish for that one (sweet in Spanish is dulce). I have to mark this occasion because it will surely never happen again! 😂

[@janet-dn2ot]

Love your solving and you are so clever, with a fantastic knowledge of obscure words! Please give your brain a break from the criticism!!

[@GeorgeFrideric71]

Yes, Un Flic, a tremendous J-P Melville film featuring Alain Delon as the eponymous cop.

[@peterbiddlecombe1939]

UR = "you are": a sounds-like for the letters that's much earlier than textspeak - cheesy old UR18 and UR21 number plates images on birthday cards, for example

[@Kradlum]

Commenting to train the algorithm, and to say "Angers policeman" is just mean. I knew Flic as a french word for policeman, but just could not figure out why the clue didn't say "Angers French policeman"! And well done on Timescale. I think I would have just gone with Timeshare and got it wrong!

[@heatherallan9767]

🌱 thank you all again for a pleasant hour ...puzzle (with pauses for pen and paper ✍ ) .... and then a nice read of the comments 📖 yay 🧩

[@roughryder5]

This man is wicked smahhtt

[@oak3001]

You have the advantage of a little bit of knowledge of a wide range of things. Which can lead you to the solution of many of these crossword clues. My 'word that I've only ever seen in crosswords' is ESTAMINET (a small French cafe).

[@701JM]

Brindle is a marking/ coat colouring pattern. I know it from dogs but will be from others too id imagine

[@davidgould9431]

That was awesome. While I wouldn't have got most of that, I did get proselytised, maudlin and timescale before Simon but couldn't explain the latter, so that probably doesn't count.

[@andymoss]

I can’t get away from thinking that 5d is related to Herr Flick from Allo Allo.

[@nemuchan]

Whereas every French know the word Clepsydre thanks to the TV show Fort Boyard : ) (and Charles Baudelaire)

[@st0rmforce]

I paused near the end while simon was reading 16 across. Really pleased with myself for getting it within about a few minutes. With all of Simon's checking letters, of course.

[@apiyo_puzzles]

Angers is the French city, with flic being a word cop in French.

[@kevinmartin7760]

Hah! As soon as I saw 1 down and Simon started reading it as "Angers" (as in makes angry) I was thinking wouldn't it be a stinker if the word was actually the town in France (pronounced "anzhay" sort of). When he came back to it around 15:22 I remembered "flic" is a french term for a police detective!

[@philipbrooks402]

Gin had the same affect on me as tequila did on Simon. Thanks once again.

[@JohnADoe-pg1qk]

@6:00 3 down: Not that I solved the clue, but I know the word from the historical crime novels in the "Sister Fidelma" series by Peter Tremayne, which are set primarily in Ireland in the 7th century.

[@markcroxteth2108]

Great

[@grenvillephillips6998]

Really struggled with that one, as I made the same mistake with 1 down, and 11 across was entirely new to me.

[@barneytrubble]

I got "layer" quickly, and then "lapping" because of the starting letter. Also got "maudlin". I must be improving, but the rest of the clues seemed a total mystery to me.

[@VonBlade]

For The Times that 23 across might as well be a VERY rude word indeed. I thought for a moment that clue fell out the Sun coffee time.

[@kevinmartin7760]

I think Simon explained 1 down wrong: "Animal enclosure runs:" is not "pen". "Strip of land" = Peninsula, "animal enclosure" = Pen so "strip of land lacking animal enclosure" is "insula"; you still need to abbreviate "runs" as "r" to finish the wordplay.

[@kchorn1]

I got 11-across almost immediately, just thinking of synonyms for "stroke".

[@nfc153]

49:50 - I don't think anyone thinks that, especially when you confidently throw out words we've never seen before (3D)

[@Landis963]

22:46 I think i might know this one. (19A, tbc). An "advocate" is a lawyer, and if you can abbreviate "week" to a w, you can "spend" it (i.e. remove it) from lawyer to make "layer". Now to wait and see if I'm right. (RIGHT) 23:56 Anagram of "alumni, with a D in the middle, meaning sentimental? "Maudlin." (RIGHT) 32:18 "Republican," or R for short, replacing the head, or the first letter, of a legal "firm?" Can only be "Regal."(WRONG)

[@kempisthomasa7311]

I was told “flic” is from the sound made by the officer flipping through your identity documents after asking for “papers please.” It always makes me think of Inspector Clouseau examining a passport and saying “soooo.. wat ‘ave we ‘ere, hein”?

[@aenamabag]

I thought for sure 'converted period styles in a novel' was going to be about writing in different time periods in a novel, and be Anachronistic

[@nightwishlover8913]

25 Across is weird - Brindle actually means striped, not spotted...first mistake I've found in the Times crossword in years. edit: ok if Chambers says it can mean spotted, i'll concede it, but I don't like it.

[@Raven-Creations]

As usual, you beat me on some, and I beat you on some. I'd never have got clepsydra, but I did get timescale, and proselytised straight away. I think your problem with timescale was that you got timeshare in your head and couldn't shake it off. I do like his way of misleading experienced solvers. It may actually level the field, with less experienced solvers not being deceived. I too thought insular would be isthmus, but it was quite a cunning clue. Brindle is not just used for horses, for instance Staffordshire bull terriers are usually described as brindled.

[@sebastienlecoq3956]

Am I the only one pausing between Simon's rambling and solution, in order to try to find the answer 'before' him ? and then again, pausing again trying to get the wordplay by my self ?

[@richardfarrer5616]

So Simon knows Kubla Khan as well as The Raven. We have worryingly similar tastes in poetry since they are a couple of poems I've almost memorised. But he didn't spot Shakespeare, where the witches chant "Thrice the brindled cat hath mewed" showing it's not just horses.

[@alltradejack]

If what you are doing is showcasing ignorance, Simon, then I should probably feel utterly hopeless in my relative vacuousness.

[@christhecyclist5998]

I'm proud that I had the Angers idea right away. I didn't know flick, so it didn't help.

[@brycecrux2730]

nope got none of these before you today... still getting befuddled!

[@dm3591]

Love the Friday crossword, becomes part of the end of the week tradition with a beer, also how bad was the blind date?

[@nemuchan]

ANgers policeman !! Like cops from the french city of Angers :)))) Cop is flic in French. Let's see if you managed to find that at the end :)

[@nemuchan]

@@dogbreaththe3rd851 how about mexican alcohol ?

[@bibliopolist]

@@dogbreaththe3rd851 Rural? It is a major city of a neighbouring country, for God's sake.

[@bibliopolist]

@@dogbreaththe3rd851 It's a city with 150.000 people, just 400 miles from London. Not unknowable, I think.

[@MultiNacnud]

Five down ,policeman= Flic ?. Does that mean the French for a clue is a Clouseau.

[@PeterMoore66]

BRINDLE seems to mean striped or flecked rather than spotted...

[@PeterMoore66]

@dogbreaththe3rd851 yeah, maybe, though every picture of a brindled animal was a stripy one!

[@timotab]

Angers {approximately pronounced on-jere) is a place in France. In France, a common nickname for police is un flic.

[@coralfeatherstone7019]

Brindle is a coat colour and pattern often found in certain dog breeds. Horses generally don't have brindle coats. Nobody knows everything. You continue to be too hard on yourself. ❤ en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brindle

[@auximenes]

A blind date resulting in life long aversion to tequila. Therein lies a tale.

[@nickloader3184]

Got proselytised, stilted, layer and brindle before Simon, the last two only by a couple of seconds. The rest he destroyed me on as usual. I love that as he is wrapping up his bemoaning of a perceived ignorance shown by himself, his next sentence begins Now, clepsydra... Yes, clearly a total troglodyte lol 🤦‍♂️

[@debrabowen4276]

lol if only Simon could spell!

[@andrewgrant6516]

I've haven't got long to watch this afternoon. What's the timescale for this crossword?