DT 26308 – Big Dave's Crossword Blog
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DT 26308

by Libellule  

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 26308

Hints and tips by Libellule

+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +

BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***

Another gentle Rufus style crossword to start the week. Not too difficult, but as usual it has some excellent clues with 7d and 26d being particular favourites.

If you need to see the answer just highlight the space in the curly brackets.

Across

1. Pound is given to me in immediate part-payment (10)
{INSTALMENT} – A Latin abbreviation for pound is put in front of ME and then placed inside another adjective that means without delay. This should leave you with a word that means one of a series of partial payments or an episode in a series.

9. The prosecutor has to act — see foot of column (4)
{DADO} – from classical architecture – the cubic block forming the body of a pedestal, but we are more likely to be familiar with this as a type of moulding fixed horizontally to a wall. Take an American abbreviation for a prosecutor of criminal offences, and then follow this with another word meaning to act, as in to “perform work on”.

10. Leave the wrong impression (10)
{PERMISSION} – A nice and easy anagram (the wrong) to get started with. IMPRESSION gives another word for authorisation.

11. Various colours for sunglasses (6)
{SHADES} – An informal word for sunglasses comes from a word for screens or blinds, but can also be a variety of colours.

12. Motor takes on fresh fuel, being cautious (7)
{CAREFUL} – Take a word for a vehicle and then add (takes on) an anagram (fresh) of FUEL.

15. Oil change needed after expedition in N Africa (7)
{TRIPOLI} – place an anagram (change) of OIL after another word for a journey to get the capital of Libya.

16. The inclusion of two similar points produces a titter (2-3)
{TE-HEE} – Take THE and add two of the same points of the compass for a laugh or a snigger. (Chambers has both spellings).

17. I knock back about a couple (4)
{PAIR} – Put I inside another word for a knock, eg. A knock at the door, then reverse it (back) for a set of two things.

18. Expert returns to place of exile (4)
{ELBA} – A word for clever or skilful is reversed to reveal the island to which the French emperor Napoleon was exiled in 1814.

19. Makes a hit in Oxbridge sporting contest (5)
{BUMPS} – The Oxbridge sporting contest in this instance is a rowing race where a number of boats chase each other in single file.

21. Stage at which one may get on (3,4)
{BUS STOP} – The sort of stage where you might want to get on a bus.

22. Time to arrange sea-duty (7)
{TUESDAY} – An anagram (arrange) of SEA-DUTY is typically the second day of the week.

24. Discovers money makes money (6)
{LEARNS} – That Latin abbreviation for pound appears again as “money”, then place a word for making an “income from labour” after it. Definition in this case is discovers.

27. Language bound to make one embarrassed and speechless (6-4)
{TONGUE-TIED} – A spoken language or dialect, is followed by a word for being secured with a rope is a phrase commonly used when one is unable to speak out, usually because of fear or embarrassment.

28. One who draws level (4)
{TIER} – “A person who ties” or one level out of several.

29. Trek bus cut out, dangerous to drive? (4,6)
{RUST BUCKET} – An anagram (out) of TREK BUS CUT.

Down

2. Ones for reform — yet they vote against (4)
{NOES} – Another anagram (for reform) of ONES are the opposite of ayes.

3. Part of a head place of worship (6)
{TEMPLE} – Double definition, a structure reserved for religious or spiritual activities is also a flat area found on either side of the head.

4. Give generously when there’s a whip-round? (4,3)
{LASH OUT} – A phrase meaning to spend extravagantly is also what might occur if you got your “cat of nine tails” out.

5. Live wildly in sin (4)
{EVIL} – A very simple anagram (wildly) of LIVE.

6. One’s cut out for the religious life (7)
{TONSURE} – The sort of “cut out” you might find on the crown of a monks head.

7. Too tough for soldiers to break through (4-6)
{HARD-BOILED} – Possibly my favourite of the day. The soldiers in this case are pieces of toast and the answer refers to the sort of egg you wouldn’t eat them with.

8. Studies hijacking plot (10)
{CONSPIRACY} – A 4 letter word meaning to know or learn, is then followed by another word for robbery at sea should give you a word commonly used to describe a plot to overthrow a government for example.

12. Brown’s competence in the garden (10)
{CAPABILITY} – The Brown in this case is a famous English landscape architect.

13. Control said to be restored (10)
{REINSTATED} – To control (like a horse for example) plus another word for declared (said) when put together can mean to restore to a former condition.

14. Ease off the downward pressure? (3,2)
{LET UP} – A phrase for giving respite or relief is also what happens if you take your foot off a pedal for example.

15. Persuade an agency girl to start typing (5)
{TEMPT} – A part time secretary or office-worker plus the first letter (start) of typing results in another word meaning to entice, or invite.

19. Brace of fresh lobster (7)
{BOLSTER} – An anagram (fresh) of LOBSTER can also be a word meaning to hold up or support.

20. Give way and die (7)
{SUCCUMB} – Two very similar definitions.

23. Stable form of electricity (6)
{STATIC} – Something that doesn’t move, is also a type of electric charge that can build up on the surface of objects.

25. The responsibility we bear? (4)
{ONUS} – Another word for a burden or legal obligation can also be a reference to something weighing ourselves down if the answer is split so it reads (2,2).

26. Player must be included in the top eleven of all time (4)
{PELE} – This famous Brazilian football player is carefully hidden (included) in the clue.

50 comments on “DT 26308”

  1. I loved this puzzle. As you say not at all difficult but some fabulous clues. 7d was my favourite – it took a while for the penny to drop – I must try and stop making these things so complicated, I was trying all the abbreviations for soldiers to start with till I realised which ‘regiment’ the soldiers belonged to! Thanks to Rufus for the puzzle and Libellule for the explanations.

    1. Agree with you completely!! Loved 7d, 12d! Appreciated explanation for 19a – never heard of it!

  2. Good start to the week. 6d had me going with what I thought was an anagram, very clever.
    Thanks to Rufus and Libellule for the blog.
    I have sailed on one or two 29 acrosses.

  3. Hi Libelulle, once again a lovely Rufus puzzle, at first glance I thought it was going to be difficult but once the middle four fell into place it all came together, last one in was 24a! Fav clues 7d, loved that one and 29a, come on CCers a good one for us today with a little help from our ‘friends’ :)

  4. I thought that this was the best Rufus for some time with some top-class clues, notably 7d and 26d, but I also liked 10a, 12a and 6d. Thanks to R and L.

  5. I did this in record time – great clues and everything just fell into place. I wasn’t sure why 7d was right, until I read the blog and it was one of those ah-ha moments!

  6. Completed in record time and thoroughly enjoyable crossword. Good way to start the week. Tks Rufus and Libellule

  7. I’m on my hols so had the luxury of doing this over breakfast and for once, I could do it. Great puzzle to start the week.

  9. Lovely Monday puzzle – favourite clues were 7d and 29a.

    Thanks for review – got 28a but don’t really understand it. I realise from your clue that it is someone who ties but what does that have to do with the clue?

    1. if you finish, eg, a race level with another racer you are said to be tied, so you would be another sort of someone who ties.

    2. Hi Lea a tier is someone who ties with another i.e. draws level in a race, and a tier is also a level as in a theatre etc. I think it is a double definition clue

    3. Thanks ladies – that makes sense – kept thinking wrong level – didn’t stop me getting answer but didn’t understand it – now I do.

  10. 10 minutes is a record time by miles for me too – so much so I felt compelled to make a post! I did need a hint for 7d to finish the NE corner. Thank you very much Libellule. Thanks also Big Dave for the blog – discovered it about a month ago and it has already helped me no end after some 10 years of trying and usually failing to complete the DT cryptic crossword. Now at least I understand how things work in theory :-)

  11. I will add my voice to the consensus: cracking puzzle with 7d and 26d being firm favourites.
    Many thanks to Rufus for the puzzle and Libellle for the blog

  12. Not at my own computer today. A very enjoyable and straightforward start to the week. 6d and 7d were my favourites. 3d the last to go in, it just did not register.

  13. Very enjoyable start to the week even with a fuzzy head from my brothers wedding bash. Thanks to Rufus and Libellule :)

  14. What a wonderful puzzle! I know it was easy, but the pleasure obtained from all those clever clues was rewarding. I also loved 7d and 4d :)

  16. A grand way to kick off August. Agree with your 2* Difficulty, Libellule, but would suggest 4+* for pure enjoyment. 7d was the last one I cracked!

  18. Nice puzzle, a gentle start to the week with some fun clues such as 21a and 29a. Weakest clue I thought was 16a, bit twee for my liking.

  19. Not much to add really – lovely puzzle and probably completed faster than ever before leaving me lots more time than usual to do all the things that I really should be doing! Favourite clue, along with most other people, 7d. Agree with 2* – don’t think that I’ve ever seen a puzzle given a 1* rating – has it ever happened?

  20. That’s lured me into a false sense of security ahead of Tricky Tuesday tomorrow… Have I seen 25d recently?

    1. The last time a clue and answer like this cropped up was 14a Where lies our responsibility (4) from DT 26182 March 8th 2010, interestingly enough – also a Rufus puzzle.

        1. Libellule writes them all down and puts them in a big filing cabinet with an index section. Actually that isn’t too far away from what Rufus does!.

  22. 7d a Rufus classic. May I also recommend his equally elegant offering in the Guardian today. It’s free and interactive online and about the same level of difficulty.

    2. If you want another Monday Rufus puzzle, try today’s Glasgow Herald.

      Rufus also sets the GH Wednesday puzzle under the pseudonym EAP (Edgar Alan Poe)

  23. Lovely puzzle. Particularly liked 12d— saw a TV prog about him recently–27a, and 7d—just like my one this morning after I mistimed it!! Thanks to Rufus and the review.

  24. I’ll give this “Good” and I did all but three in the dentist’s waiting room. I agree about 7d

    Don’t like 24a

  25. I must disagree with the 18d – “expert” as a clue word for “able”? Just being able doesn’t make you an expert at anything – ask the so-called banking “experts” of the recent crisis!!!

    2. Marcus,
      I assume you are referring to 18a
      A search for synonyms on Chambers does return expert.
      Perhaps its a reference to Vince C(able)!

  26. Very late start, been out all day debugging a rather unwell pc. Embarrassingly, needed some of he hints for this one. Interesting that ‘con’ for study has cropped again since very recently.

    Enjoyable puzzle, good review, thanks to R & L.

  27. I didn’t do bad on this one yesterday… (I tend to do them in bed so i’m always a day behind everyone else!). I don’t have my Chambers to hand at the moment, but ‘cons’ for ‘studies’?? Am I missing something?

    Bill

    1. As in ‘CONsider’. Crossword compilers are very fond of either CON or DEN for ‘study’

    2. Con

      transitive verb
      * To know
      * To learn
      * To study carefully, scan, pore over
      * To commit to memory
      * To acknowledge (as in to con thanks)
      * To teach or show

      ORIGIN: Another form of can, OE cunnan to know; perhaps partly cunnian to seek to know, examine

  28. Totally agree with all of the above. A gentle start to the week & when I finally cracked 7d I had to smile. A boiled egg & toasted soldiers were my old Gran’s favourite tea.

    1. Both are masters of the mystical black art of setting crosswords. Both have unique and recognisable styles. Both are excellent setters. I think Roger puts more wit into his work, which is probably why more people enjoy what he does, but deconstructing one of Don’s crosswords is a pleasure in itself.

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