DT 100001

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 100001

Happy Christmas, Everybody

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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****

On this festive day there are, of course, no newspapers printed, so this puzzle exists only in cyberspace on the Clued Up site. I understand that it should be available even to non-subscribers, but I cannot verify this.

Based on a comment left by Rufus earlier in the week, we can take it that this is another of his, so that for the second day running the Maestro has produced a gentle puzzle with a seasonal theme, designed no doubt with the thought in mind that many solvers may have partaken of a small sherry and may not be in the best shape for deep thought.

I hope that you are all enjoying a peaceful and happy Christmas, and if you do have time to leave us a comment, we’d be delighted to read it.

Across Clues

1a  Directions are in the mail for making a warming winter drink (6)
{POSSET} – put S(outh) E(ast) (direction) into another word for mail to get an old-fashioned drink made of hot milk curdled with ale or wine and flavoured with spices.

4a  Superficial damage as a robin is involved in scuffle (8 )
{ABRASION} – an anagram (involved in scuffle) of AS A ROBIN produces a bit of a scrape.

9a  One way Wenceslas saw the snow like this, nevertheless (4,2)
{EVEN SO} – not deep, not crisp but the other way the King saw the snow – add SO (like this) to get a phrase meaning nevertheless.

10a  Chop up bird cooked and eaten at Christmas (5,3)
{MINCE PIE} – a charade of a verb to cut into small pieces and a black and white bird cook up the small round tart that’s best eaten with a dollop of cream.

12a  Yuletide choir provide encore (4)
{ECHO} – hidden (provide) in the clue is a repeat (encore).

13a  Shelter in the street from snow and rain (5)
{SLEET} – put a word meaning shelter inside the usual abbreviation for street.

14a  It’s said start of new carol is missing (4)
{ORAL} – an anagram (new) of (c)AROL with the start letter missing.

17a  Hasty cards I’m writing out — in time for this? (9,3)
{CHRISTMAS DAY} – today is an anagram (writing out) of HASTY CARDS I’M.

20a  One, for example, to streak out on the ice (6,6)
{FIGURE SKATER} – put together a synonym for a number (one, for example) and an anagram (out) of STREAK to get a winter sportsperson.

23a  Bill received in connection with port (4)
{ACRE} – this Middle Eastern port is a charade of the abbreviation for account and a preposition  meaning in connection with or concerning.

24a  Revises the back-end of Christmastide (5)
{EDITS} – reverse (back) the last five letters (end) of ChristmaSTIDE to get a verb meaning revises.

25a  Mince pie, cold, is impressive (4)
{EPIC} – put C(old) after an anagram (mince) of PIE.

28a  Present comes from French leader in foreign parts (8 )
{OFFERING} – put F(rench) inside an anagram (parts) of FOREIGN to get a present.

29a  Opening word used by Ali Baba in pantomime (6)
{SESAME} – cryptic definition of the magic word traditionally used to make things open.

30a  Tries to organise a party (3,1,4)
{HAS A BASH} – double definition – tries/organises a party.

31a  Highballs for winter sportsmen (6)
{SKIERS} – a term for balls hit high in the air (in cricket, for example) is also, with a different pronunciation, sportsmen on the piste.

Down Clues

1d  Bearing gifts, we hear vaguely (8 )
{PRESENCE} – the answer is a word meaning manner or bearing which sounds like (we hear vaguely) what may be found today under the tree.

2d  Mince-pie man? (8 )
{SHEPHERD} – a cryptic definition of an agricultural worker who has lent his name to a dish of minced meat under a layer of mashed potato.

3d  Departure point for the Magi (4)
{EAST} – the wise men traditionally came from this direction.

5d  Suckers for 11 down? (6,6)
{BOILED SWEETS} – double definition – the second a description of a dessert of which 11d is an example.

6d  They go round in circles distributing cards, losing a number (4)
{ARCS} – an anagram (distributing) of CAR(d)S with the Roman numeral for 500 omitted.

7d  Not wholly employed in pantomime? (2,4)
{IN PART} – double definition.

8d  What may fall off the Christmas tree to annoy (6)
{NEEDLE} – double definition – the first being the sharp, stiff, slender leaf of a fir tree.

11d  Spud and dumpling making up Christmas fare (4,8 )
{PLUM PUDDINGS} – these rich boiled suet desserts contain raisins, currants and spices – an anagram (making up) of SPUD and DUMPLING.

15d  Awake to what the Christmas pudding needs for wish fulfilment (5)
{ASTIR} – what the cook is supposed to give the pudding mixture whilst making a wish is also an adjective meaning awake, a description of many young children at an unearthly hour this morning.

16d  Prepares gifts and cards (5)
{PACKS} – double definition, the second being sets of playing cards.

18d  Wenceslas’ instruction in the event of a hold-up? (8 )
{STOPPAGE} – double definition – the good King did not give this exact instruction to his servant, but he did say “Hither, stand by me” which I suppose comes to the same thing.
ARVE Error: need id and provider

19d  Nuts? You’ll need these (8 )
{CRACKERS} – treble definition?

21d  A worn-out shoe for wintry weather? (6)
{GALOSH} – cryptic definition of a waterproof rubber overshoe, ideal for the current weather conditions.

22d  Wanders aimlessly in the snow? (6)
{DRIFTS} – double definition – the second being large masses of snow, typically piled up under hedges.

26d  Copy model of the Nativity scene (4)
{CRIB} – double definition – the first being to copy another’s work.

27d  Decorate some cards (4)
{DECK} – double definition – the second being a set of playing cards.