Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 26130
Hints and tips by Big Dave
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****
Tilsit has gone back to see the nurses again, so I am doing today’s review. An enjoyable puzzle where all of the answers are fair and obtainable with a little thought.
Leave a comment telling us what you thought. You can also add your assessment by selecting from one to five stars at the bottom of the post.
Across
1a Hospital excluded from surprise strike (4)
{SOCK} – take the abbreviation for H(ospital) away from S(H)OCK (surprise) and the result is a word meaning to strike – excellent surface reading
3a Intimidated by school admitting women (5)
{COWED} – this word meaning intimidated is generated from COED (Coeducational school) around (admitting) W(omen)
6a Information about mid-Welsh valley (4)
{GLEN} – the information required in this clue is GEN – put it around L (the middle letter in Welsh) to get a valley
8a Doctor forgets net worth of such a stalwart (5,2,8)
{TOWER OF STRENGTH} – here doctor is a verb and indicates that an anagram of FORGETS NET WORTH will give this stalwart
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ARVE Error: need id and provider |
9a Answers without pressure from banks (6)
{RELIES} – take RE(P)LIES and remove the P(ressure) to get a word meaning banks (as a verb)
10a Happened to see copper in record breakout! (8)
{OCCURRED} – a word meaning happened is derived by putting CU (the chemical symbol for copper) inside an anagram (breakout) of RECORD
11a An actor might be the sort to mould (8)
{TYPECAST} – if he plays too many similar roles an actor might be this – combine synonyms for sort and mould to get there
13a Appreciate the referee showing restraint (6)
{TETHER} – easy when you know how – hidden inside appreciate the referee is a restraint
15a What was in store for an old offender? (6)
{STOCKS} – the contents of a store (isn’t this usually in the singular?) is also an old-fashioned punishment (which is frequently confused with the pillory)
17a The speed of fame — not British (8)
{CELERITY} – this word meaning quickness or speed is derived from an over-used word meaning fame without the B(ritish)
19a A bit taken aback with worthless store of information (8)
{DATABASE} – start with A TAD (a bit), reverse it (taken aback) and then add a word meaning worthless to get a store of information
21a Regretting game point, starts to fear uncertain leader (6)
{RUEFUL} – a word meaning piteous or regretting is built up from RU (Rugby Union / game) E (east / point) and the initial letters of (starts to) Fear Uncertain and Leader
22a Tripping in front of apartment buildings’ barriers (9,6)
{STUMBLING BLOCKS} – a charade of synonyms for tripping and apartment buildings leads to these barriers
23a Fresh air by day — and dry! (4)
{ARID} – fresh indicates an anagram of AIR which is then followed by D(ay) to get a word meaning dry
24a A fencer’s need to be on time for such accommodation (5)
{TEPEE} – take an épée (sword / a fencer’s need) and precede it with T(ime) to get for accommodation for a Native American
25a Requests fool to entertain king (4)
{ASKS} – a word meaning requests is derived by putting a word meaning a fool around (to entertain) a K(ing)
Down
1d Floods area and struts around with no resistance initially (9)
{SATURATES} – a word meaning floods (as a verb) is an anagram (around) of AREA and ST(R)UTS without an R (with no Resistance initially)
2d Flower found next to ox-tongue? (7)
{COWSLIP} – this flower is humorously defined – just the thought of an ox kissing his paramour brings a smile to my face, although that’s probably not quite what the setter meant!
3d Angry counters from those on some bicycles (9)
{CROSSBARS} – a charade of a word meaning angry and counters, as in a pub, leads to a feature found on most bicycles
4d Event that’s cancelled with a loud cry (7)
{WASHOUT} – this event which is cancelled because of too much rain is comprised of W(ith) A and a loud cry
5d Make runs — one hundred in classical style (5)
{DORIC} – put together DO (make) R(uns), I and C (one and a hundred in Roman numerals) to get this classical style
6d Producer of new art genre accepts Oscar (9)
{GENERATOR} – a producer of electricity that would be a useful gadget to have in this cold weather is an anagram (new) of ART and GENRE placed around O (Oscar in the phonetic alphabet)
7d Intense time being accommodated by former engineers (7)
{EXTREME} – a word meaning intense is constructed by putting T(ime) between (being accommodated by) EX (former, as in ex-wife) and REME (Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers)
12d My previous wife made demands and shouted! (9)
{EXCLAIMED} – this is a charade of EX (my previous wife) and a word meaning made demands to give a synonym for shouted – did this clue come from the heart?
13d Changing role within board is bearable (9)
{TOLERABLE} – an anagram (changing) of ROLE when placed inside (within) a TABLE (board) gives a synonym for bearable
14d People with a cavalier outlook worry Syria lots (9)
{ROYALISTS} – the people with a cavalier outlook were opposed to the Parliamentarians in the English Civil War – an anagram (worry) of SYRIA LOTS will find them
16d Fifth columnist’s gold chasing characteristic (7)
{TRAITOR} – The term fifth column originated with a 1936 radio address by Emilio Mola, a Nationalist General during the 1936–39 Spanish Civil War. As his army approached Madrid, he broadcasted a message that the four columns of his forces outside the city would be supported by a “fifth column” of his supporters inside the city, intent on undermining the Republican government from within. In fact, this supposed “fifth column” did not prove very effective, as evidenced by the fact that Madrid held out until 1939 despite very heavy fighting. I nearly forgot to tell you that you get the answer by putting OR (gold) after (chasing) a characteristic
17d Tidy profit? (5,2)
{CLEAN UP} – a deceptively simple double definition where the surface reading leads you to think in terms of an adjective and a noun, but you really need to think of two verbs
18d Little intelligence copper’s got clearly defined (2,5)
{IN FOCUS} – the little intelligence this time is INFO (not gen!) – add CU’S (copper’s) and you get a word meaning clearly defined
20d Designate a charge for crossing back (5)
{ALLOT} – once again a simple idea, and easy when you know how! – a word meaning to designate comes from A then a charge for crossing, say, a river reversed (back)
Today’s puzzle was so full of delightful clues that you can overlook the slightly iffy stocks in the plural and the use of regretting as an adjective (yes, I know you can use it this way but you don’t). Perhaps one of my favourite setters will come along and own up to this one!
For those of you unable to buy a copy of the newspaper, here is the puzzle in PDF format:
I loved this one and got all but the right hand bottom corner quite quickly (for me), was out of my pj’s before noon…. my husband hasn’t gone in to the office so he finished it off
I agree, this was well clued but straightforward. Had the trains been running, this would not have been even a two stopper. Nevertheless, it was an enjoyable romp. After yesterday’s teaser, the CC should be happy!
Yup, Nice puzzle – I had to think a wee bit but was fine in the end.
It was a 3 stopper fo rme but I was on the High Speed today so that kind of evened things up!
8a was favourite for me today but liked 22a and 17d as well
Love to comment on todays puzzle but no paper, no milk and no post – completely snowed in in N Bucks village!
Shame as although I haven’t looked at the answers, the comments seem positive.
If you ask BD nicely, he might be able to e-mail one to you!
Ah – I see BD has put a link in the top of the post so you can enjoy today’s treat!
It occurred to me after reading your comment!
Thanks Dave, just found the link on returning from a snowy and slippery walk with the dog.
In ten years of fairly regular attempts at the daily crossword, I have probably only completed a dozen without major help, and today’s was one of them. Phew!
Hi Adam – welcome to the blog and congratulations!
thanks, I have been ‘lurking’ for a while…great site BTW
Maybe because I was not at work and was able to give it morning time, but it seemed remarkably straightforward. Great for the ego on such a cold day.
Nice well structured puzzle today, most enjoyable
Hi everyone, this my first time to add a comment and I must congratulate you all on a brilliant shared use of the internet. This is by far the best site I’ve found since ebay!
I have been buying the Telegraph for about a year now and after cutting my teeth on the Express and Northern Echo crosswords I have been bitten by the crosswordland bug and found Torygraph fustration.
Then I found Big Dave.. What a great help and a brilliant blog, I can see things now that I’ve never been able to see before..
The other reason for my elated comments is that I completed today’s puzzle without having to resort to BD’s help.
Many, many thanks & keep up the good work.
Welcome to the blog John
We can never get too many comments like yours!
Welcome John
Nice to have a fellow countyman on board, we can let these southern softies know what real snow is like!!
Thats the sort of comment that makes it all worth while….
this is a brilliant site John, everyone is so helpful and friendly, welcome
Unable to get out to purchase The Telegraph today so many,many thanks to Big Dave for his kindness in providing a copy of the cryptic.I thoroughly enjoyed it. Straightforward but well-suited to my limited crossword experience.
We all seem to have found it easy today. And thank goodness it was. Had a late start, as, after struggling to try to get to wotk, had to give up andreturn home. I’m a northener who’s turned into a southern softie, Nubian!!
Nothing controversial today. Particularly liked 8a, 22a, 13d and 14d.
Oh dear, I think I must get the dunces cap today
how about all the rest of the CC club??? Barrie how did u get on, i must admit i found todays not on my wavelength at all or maybe i started it too late, no excuses i could only do just over half, ah well i think i will blame the snow and this lousy cold after all 
Many thanks for the pdf Dave but don’t understand how everyone else seemed to think it was easy. I finished it with some electronic help but thought it was a tricky one. Many of the answers I got then consulted the blog for the explanation! 17a particulary difficult. To my mind the puzzles have been very difficult this week, perhaps its the cold getting to my admittably limited intelligence.
So glad you feel the same way Barrie, whew I thought i was the only one
I know, the smug comments of the experts does get a bit wearing after a while though.
seems it was only us that found it tough today Barrie!!!!!
Finished with only one cheat today so one of those days where I thought it would be a 2 star.
It was borderline between 2 and 3, so I rounded up rather than down!
Setter here
Many thanks for all the comments, and to BD for the blog. I must confess to taking a bit of poetic licence on “Stocks”, but this seemed the most elegant way to phrase the thought, while making the answer reasonably apparent!
Best wishes to Tilsit in hospital.
J
… and welcome to you new (regular?) Wednesday slot, Jay
Another beginner who managed to complete today without any help at all for the first time!
Last to go in was 6a – I’d always (erroneously) thought a glen was a sort of forest clearing.
Realised I’ve been spelling 24a incorrectly for years, and the only new word for me was 17a.
Frances, I know of at least 3 ways to spell 24a so chances are thet you have been correct all these years!
I would usually spell this in 6 letters but 4 is not uncommon.
As a newcomer to crosswords very grateful for the help this site gives me – without it would never have been able to do cryptics. Today’s was my best attempt yet – only needed help on one clue.
Hi ann – welcome to the blog.
Another enjoyable puzzle from Jay. I liked 15a, 2d and 12d.
I think this is the line-up for 2010:
Monday: Rufus
Tuesday: Ray T / Shamus
Wednesday: Jay
Thursday: ?
Friday: Giovanni
Saturday: Cephas
Sunday: Virgilius
Has anyone discovered what will be happening with Thursday? Will it be one setter or will a number of different setters cover this day?
It’s a little early to say – and some setter(s) have yet to come forward anyway.
Will be interested to read the comments on today’s crossword (thursday), and who the setter is. One star for difficulty!!
It’s unlikely to be by any of the setters that visit the blog. Ray T did Tuesday’s, today’s Toughie is by Shamus and it’s not John H (Elgar).
Enjoyable and not at all difficult.
I liked 11a, 15a, 20a but 22a was my favourite. 4d, 14d &17d.
8a was a rather easy permutation – I tend to use anagram for a single word and permutation
for a collection. Chambers seems to call them all anagrams.