Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 2537
A full analysis by Peter Biddlecombe
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment *****
More easy but classy clues this week, in a grid that gives you every word-length from 4 to 12
| Across | |
|---|---|
| 1 | Beef, carp, or game bird (6) |
| GROUSE – 3 definitions, to beef and carp both being to complain. | |
| 4 | Predatory insect, old boy? It is (6) |
| MANTIS – MAN = “old boy”, ‘TIS = “it is” | |
| 8 | Call hospital about to move old German (8 ) |
| VISIGOTH – VISIT=call (noun),H=hosptial, with GO=move inserted. Remember that your historic Goths can be Visi- or Ostro- as well as plain Goths | |
| 10 | Decisive process that requires raising a bit of money (4-2) |
| TOSS-UP – which literally involves “raising a bit of money” | |
| 11 | Report violent strike? Absolutely (4) |
| BANG – 3 defs again, the last being “absolutely” as in “bang up to date”. Another is “bang = report” which is an old Times crossword favourite and popular elsewhere too | |
| 12 | Funny work from a cop involved with crime? Nothing in it (5,5) |
| COMIC OPERA – O=nothing in anag. of (a cop, crime) | |
| 13 | A cold fish embracing female, showing singular weakness (8,4) |
| ACHILLES HEEL – SHE=female, in “A CHILL EEL” | |
| 16 | Best place for driver to aim for – where the flag is? (4,8 ) |
| POLE POSITION – def and cryptic def, flags being on poles | |
| 20 | Body of troops good to have in Europe (10) |
| CONTINGENT – G=hood in CONTINENT=Europe (colloquial) | |
| 21 | Somewhat warm beer (4) |
| MILD – 2 defs | |
| 22 | Give up, wanting self-esteem (6) |
| FOREGO – FOR=wanting=in favour of,EGO=self-esteem | |
| 23 | Revealing act by gambler who’s awfully sad (8 ) |
| SHOWDOWN = revelation of cards at the end of a round of poker or brag. SHOW=anag. of who’s, DOWN=sad | |
| 24 | Reprimand sailor (6) |
| RATING – 2 defs, reprimand being a noun | |
| 25 | Position right for one who plays, making a catch (6) |
| ANGLER – ANGLE=position,R=right, with the definition pushing you towards something like “gully” in cricket | |
| Down | |
| 1 | Advice from man, mostly, before I take some steps (8 ) |
| GUIDANCE – GU(y), I DANCE | |
| 2 | Old part of house is outstanding (5) |
| OWING – O=old, WING=part of house | |
| 3 | Is removed from Socialist organisation, showing calmness (7) |
| STOICAL – anag. of (socialist – is) | |
| 5 | Part of speech that’s published in newspaper (7) |
| ARTICLE – 2 defs | |
| 6 | Expert whose work is often on a different plane (4,5) |
| TEST PILOT – cryptic def trying to get you to think of another kind of plane. I looked initially for something like “tree surgeon” | |
| 7 | Old-fashioned – like some rings that aren’t circular (6) |
| SQUARE = old-fsahioned, and the shape of a boxing ring | |
| 9 | Hope man is so funny as wise guy? (4,7) |
| HOMO SAPIENS = “wise guy” – anag. of (Hope man is so) | |
| 14 | Not a suitable case for home improvement (2-7) |
| IN-PATIENT – CD exploiting the different implications of “in” | |
| 15 | Supporter with flag, for example, going round Circle Line (8 ) |
| FOLLOWER – O,L=”Circle Line”, in FLOWER = “flag, for example” (flag = iris) | |
| 17 | A great shot by an American player (7) |
| LINCOLN – a great = important person, shot by John Wilkes Booth, an unsuccessful actor=player | |
| 18 | Kind of strike workers won’t stand for (3-4) |
| SIT-DOWN – cryptic def exploiting different meanings of “stand” | |
| 19 | Award for subject from king or queen, maybe (6) |
| HONOUR – 2 defs, one as in card games | |
| 21 | Gong as daughter goes into dinner, say (5) |
| MEDAL = gong (colloquial) – D=daughter in MEAL=dinner,say | |
Agreed on the assessment. Top quality clues all the way in this one.
1a reminded me of the old favourite “Duck or Grouse” signs that you regularly find in old country pubs with low doorways!