DT 26373 (Hints) – Big Dave's Crossword Blog
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DT 26373 (Hints)

by Big Dave  

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 26373 (Hints)

Big Dave’s Saturday Crossword Club

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As is usual for the weekend prize crosswords, I will select a few of the better clues and provide hints for them.

Don’t forget that you can give your assessment of the puzzle. Five stars if you thought it was great, one if you hated it, four, three or two if it was somewhere in between.

A full review of this puzzle will be published on Thursday, 21st October.

Across

1a           Composer receives court decision (7)
Combine this Italian Romantic composer with the abbreviation of court to get a decision, maybe one in a court of law

10a         Endless angry state, a place of unsurpassed beauty (5)
Drop the last letter from a state of being angry to get this valley of the Peneus in Thessaly, praised by the ancient poets for its unsurpassed beauty

20a         Do not put on enough clothes (9)
These clothes could suggest that not enough clothes have been put on

28a         Herb round with squashed orange (7)
This herb is formed from O (round) and an anagram (squashed) of ORANGE

Down

1d           Virginia gets allowance from wanderer (7)
Combine the abbreviation of the US state of Virginia with an allowance given by a government or other organization for a particular purpose to get a wanderer

2d           Toothed wheel found by rector at church (5)
An interesting clue that can be read as a charade of R(ector) AT and CH(urch) or as a hidden word, with the same result

6d           Skin one’s damaged first (5)
This alternative name for skin come from I’S (one’s) with a word meaning damaged, with a knife, first

17d         Slip made by fellow taking step round gold cross (4,3)
This slip is built from F(ellow) and a step, especially in ballet, around the chemical symbol for gold and a X (cross)

24d         Time after work for entertainment (5)
Put a period of time after a short word for a musical work to get this musical entertainment

ARVE Error: need id and provider

The Saturday Crossword Club is now open. Membership is free and open to all. Feel free to leave comments.

Please don’t put whole or partial answers or alternative clues in your comment, else they may be censored!

99 comments on “DT 26373 (Hints)”

  1. Done before looking at the blog … probably not worth sending in therefore! Best clue 26a, last in 10a.

  2. A real workout today with 10a going in last for which I am grateful for the above hint. 2d is unknown to me but I do know it if you add et to the end. Best clue by far for me is 5d, any clue that raises a smile is a good one as far as I am concerned.
    :-). Off to clear the veg patch now before the frosts arrive tonight.

  4. An enjoyable run and I agree with Gnomethang, 10a was a new word for me too. Fav was 17d as I have learned to live with my demons.
    Off on a nice bike ride to the once mighty Swan Hunters shipyard to see it in its present state and reflect on its former glory. The sun has just put its hat on.
    Thanks to Big Dave and Cephas for a gentler puzzle than the rest of the week apart from Monday.

  5. I must have been on the right wavelength this morning as I found this to be the easiest Cephas Saturday crossword for some time (13a excepted where the wordplay was clear and the checking letters assisted in getting the right answer). Thanks to Cephas for the crossword and to BD for the notes.

  6. Morning all on a beautiful sunny day, the bike ride sounds lovely once again Nubian, at first I thought I was going to struggle with this and there were a few words I didn’t know 10a, 13a, I’m with Barrie on 2d I only know it with et on the end? Fav clues 4d, 5d. as for 26a is this a definition of a person on the lookout?? thanks for blog Dave, thought I was going to need it but didn’t in the end :)

    1. Hi Mary, the reason for my continuing bike rides is part of a lifestyle change, having retired recently and stopped smoking some ten years ago my weight has how would you say ‘become a tad portly’ so the exercise is part of the scheme as is enrolement in the ‘Sainsxxx’ diet club on line. I started at 18 st and I am now down to 16st 9lbs, sorry about the old money but I understand it better.

      1. I can empathise, Nubian, because I stopped smoking nine months ago and, since then, I’ve put on a stone which I’m now taking steps to eliminate.

      2. Me too Nubian, I have put on a stone in recent months due to tablets for nerve end pain! still I prefer to be a stone heavier than endure that pain, though they’ve not worked completely!! I must get motivated and get my bike out of the garage (maybe in the spring!)

      3. I’ve lost 9lbs in six weeks by loosely following a low-GI diet – with no cycling OR giving up booze either!

        1. It’s not what eat or drink (cos I don’t drink, tea, coffee or alcohol :) ) that’s causing the weight increase unfortunately!

    3. First time I have ever finished a Sat one. Last in was 14d. Not sure of connection to granary floor but see connection to steps. Favorites were 28a and 3d. Bit confused bt 2d as I also always have seen it with et on end – spent some time trying to work cog into it.

        1. Hi Steph yes you have the second word, now just think of another word for grannary and you will have a type of ***** done in a large outside building found mostly on farms!!

    1. Hi nutty, I really struggled with 11 as well, it was the last in for me.

      Think about the intials for Anglo Saxon followed by a short word for a producer of eggs to get a word that describes something made of a type of wood.

    2. 13a was a new word for me, oh the failings of the education system!

      13a High level board touch down

      The word means a high flat piece of land and is made up from 2 words, firstly the place around which a board of directors might sit and secondly another word for a plane touching down.

      It is a beautiful sunnny day in the south east so am off to do some flying… hurrah for the late english summer.

  8. I was disappointed by the similarity in the construct of 1a and 9d but Cephas redeemed himself with 11a which made me smile when the penny dropped. The answer to 10a was provided by Chambers but only when the three checking letters were in place.

  9. I’m all done apart from 12a. The only word I can think of that fits the letters (the movement of goods and people from one location to another) doesn’t quite fit the clue. You could ride a train or bus, for example, but where is the joy in that?

    Otherwise it was an enjoyable, if easy puzzle. 10a and 12a were also new to me, but easy to work out from the clues with a little help from Wikipedia for confirmation. So thanks for the hints, but there weren’t needed today :-)

    Incidentally, how do you all seem to know who the setter is? Unless I’m missing something obvious there’s no reference to them printed in the paper. Is it just a case of recognising their style from the clues?

    1. Sorry, that should be “10a and *13a* were new to me”. Always happens just *after* you click “Post Comment”… sigh

    2. Hi abw

      The word you have for 12a is correct. If you look up the phrase “………. of delight” you will find the title of a Flanders and Swann song, it also appears in the traditional hymn “the King of love my Shepherd is” (Hymns Ancient and Modern)

      Happy landings

      1. Aha, thanks. That’s another one lodged in the memory banks for next time.

        BTW, you mentioned you were going out flying… is that real aeroplanes, gliders, RC models, kites, or something else?

    3. 12a the word can also mean of strong emotion eg ********* of joy. BD and other long time solvers can recognise the setters from the clue style, and sometimes they turn up on the blog to admit it was them. I had the pleasure of meeting Cephas the other Saturday – he always does the Saturday puzzle.

  10. All done, at last. I enjoyed the puzzle today, had to have a break in the middle to do some chores :-(

  11. I started off thinking that this was going to be a struggle but found that it soon all fell into place in a very quick time, although I did have to check 10a in Chambers. Some good clues, I think I liked 20a the best. Thanks to Cephas and BD.

  13. All done apart from 17a. I have the odd letters but can not get letters 2 and 4. Can anyone help?

    1. You are looking for another word for a talent or something you excel at its your *****, its also a musical term for loud

  14. A nice, gentle, noncontentious puzzle from Cephas today, which complemented my coffee in Starbucks, as I escaped from the family for a quiet few minutes to myself. Now back to the fray for the rest of the day! :)

      1. Thanks Mary, and you too. I have just been offered a cold glass of white wine, so the day is getting better! :)

  15. A nice puzzle today but can’t explain 3d – I’ve started off with a two letter word meaning not out, the last four letters are two kinds of engineers which leaves me with three in the middle which I can’t account for – am I being incredibly dim? Any help please. 17a took a long time and was the last one to go in. 13a was dredged up from somewhere in the recesses of the brain – maybe school geography – seem to associate it with Africa, and I have heard of 10a as a friend of mine who lives in Australia lives in ***** Crescent which made us look it up! Managed 27a (blasted football again!) as it was pretty obvious what it had to be. Thank you Cephas and BD.

    2. Glad I’m not the only one! was just about to say the same thing about 3d Kath. Otherwise an enjoyeable solve today – after struggling every day since Tuesday!!Struggled with 10a and 13a, 5d brought the best smile today! Thanks Cephas and BD :-)

      1. Ah! looked at it again now and think it’s first two letters ‘not out’ then another word for because then engineers…. yes?

    3. Hi Kath, you need a two letter word for ‘not out’ followed by a 5 letter word for ‘becuse’ followed by the two letter abbreviation for ‘Royal Engineers’ to give you a word for deceitful

      2. Thanks Mary – I had the two letter word for not out, the last four letters were two different kinds of engineers – the two letter abbreviations for Civil Engineers and Royal Engineers – that left me with three letters which made no sense at all – how to make things really difficult for myself!! Completely missed the five letter word meaning because. Bit dim!!! Time for another one of these :oops:

        1. Its so easy to read things the wrong way Kath, I’m the expert in it, trouble is they often give you an answer which if like me youconvince yourself is right!

  16. Very enjoyable today.

    We finished before coming here but needed to consult the dictionary several times.

    This is just how the Saturday puzzle should be.

    I wondered about BEDWETTER for 18a but never wrote it in!

  19. I fully agree with Peter, just what a Saturday puzzle should be, very enjoyable with a few challenges but very fair clues except perhaps 10a or am I just being a bit picky.

  20. Al done, after being put back on the straight and narrow by Mary (wave). A couple of chuckles with 5d and 23a, plus several other rather good ones. Thanks to BD plus one or two others for the hints, although I didn’t need them all today. Intigued by the possibility of bedwetter for 18a … twice a day ??

  21. thought it would be a gentle stroll today, thanks BD for hints and to Cephas for some new words. think i have 26a but im not sure of the spelling. Is it in chambers? if so i must buy one.

    1. It can apparently be spelt with an A or an O Edi, but in this case the O wouldn’t have worked

      1. A nice puzzle today completed relaxing after dinner, thanks to Cephas and BD.
        Last one in was 26a, had all the checking letters but didn’t realise that you could spell it with an A, always thought it was an O and my little machine doesn’t recognise it with an A, the penny dropped when I put my French head on. :D

  22. Almost finished.Quite enjoyable too though first thought it would be more harder than it usually is. My favourite clues are 11a, 12a and 5d.
    Still need help for 17d ,14d and 27a though ;-(

    1. Hi FrogOne for 27a the clue here is in the word ‘brushes’, one who brushes floor for example is a *******

      1. Thank you MARY! IGot scared by this footballer thing as I prefer rugby myself!! What would I do without you! You always help me out! Now I realise what I put in for 15d is wrong!!!

        1. 15d is another term for a sailor, i.e. a ***with a 5 letter word for that place inside it giving you a word for behind

      3. can you help me out on 6d please – any clue appreciated
        and i have the answer for 27a but it doesnt make sense – where does footballer come im

        2. Steph
          6d – definition is skin, put IS (one’s) after a word used when you hurt yourself on a knife.

    1. Well done, I liked that one too :)
      17d see Daves hint, it is a French term if that helps for making a mistake

      1. I’m all the more ashamed of myself! Bother! A french term and I can’t even find it! That takes the biscuit, doesn’t it?!

      2. Indeed! I had skipped Dave’s hint… Very clear to me now I must say! Thanks again! Have a nice evening… Rainy here as it often is at your place. ;-))

          2. Was sunny and beautiful here first thing this morning but have recently had heavy rain while one of our daughters and I were out visiting my Mum in hospital – unfortunately we had just hung out a lot of washing … :sad:

            1. Oh dear, your mum is still in hospital, how is she doing, I know it gets very tiring visiting someone close long term in hospital

  24. OK night all, off to toodle my flute in church now, then a lovely evening with a chinese (meal that is) in front of the telly with Strictly and X Factor brilliant :)

  25. Thoroughly enjoyed this weeks – just the right level for me. Having said that, I’m still not clear where “sailor” comes into the answer for15d. (Any hints?). I enjoyed 3d and 4d.

    Thank you Cephas and BD

    1. Al, yer crosswording Corsairs can be an AB, (Able Bodied Seaman), a HAND or any of JOLLY JACK or TAR. Also an RM (Royal Marine(r)). Probably a Salt as well!

  26. Whilst it is heartening to see many people wrestling with the prize crossword, it is also frustrating to see people dropping hints and clues. Where is the satisfaction in finishing the crossword thanks to other people? Buy a decent dictionary (Shorter Oxford?), a thesaurus, and a good atlas and you will solve 99% of the clues, even without the benefit of a good education. With internet access (not to ‘hints’ sites) you can increase the figure to 100%. As in most things today, a desire to achieve quick results encourages personal intellectual laziness. OK, rant over!

    1. Welcome to the blog Steve

      You have totally missed the point of the Saturday post, which is to teach people how to do cryptic crosswords and to try to keep them away from sites which will give them the answers without explaining how the clues work.

  27. At the first run through thought this was going to be difficult but it all suddenly fell into place with the exception of 10A. This required further research but at least I had the three letters in from down clues. Another new one for me. Does this reflect my non classical education?
    Thanks to setter, Big Dave and all of the Saturday Bloggers, always enjoyable.

  28. I thought it was a very good one today. Had trouble with 10a and needed a hint. For 8d, I had the word “elector” fixed in my mind thinking it was something to do with a parliamentary seat and it was only by going through the alphabet that I got the right answer.

  29. Finished rather late today as spent day out and about. Managed more than half before looking at blog which is a first for me and really enjoyed the mix of clues. Favourites were 23a, 7d and 17d.
    Thanks to BD, the setter and everyone else for the hints.

  30. Another gentle solution for me .
    Best clues were :10a, 26a & 5d.

    I had a good week with the cryptics but I found yesterday’s toughie much harder going.
    Did get it finished though once I got the hang of it.

  32. Was up and down the M1, M6 and M5 yesterday and got this done at one of the M1 service stations over a very early cup of coffee. Last in was 17a my favourites being 2d and 20a. Another good result for the might West Brom yesterday. Now back in Hertfordshire.

    1. You are looking for an expression meaning ‘in the place behind’ A plus the three letter word for sailor is put round another way of saying that place – as in over *****

  34. Thanks Crypticsue. I had the right answer after all but couldn’t understand why. Now I can’t understand why I didn’t see it!

  35. Gentle solve. For those wondering about dictionaries there is no equal to Chambers in my opinion. All sorts of words and spellings are found in there. I would say it is the solver’s bible. No need to resort to mechanical means today! Some unusual words but possible to work out. I liked 3d. SE last corner to go in but 13a last answer to go in. Not heard of it but checking letters gave it away.

  37. Got all.As for 10a,checking letters and logic helped.Been filling another good old Brit xword.Please someone help explain the answers;Close but not enough to get into your embrace TH(UNDER)Y :Leave flushed but not flush! EMBARRASSED and;Leaves with the pearls STRANDS

    1. Chadwick,
      1. Close can mean stuffy or airless (as in thundery weather)
      2. Flush can mean having plenty of money, so not flush is having insufficient money and embarrassed can mean in financial difficulties.
      3. Double definition. Strands as a verb means to leave (someone) aground or unable to move. As a noun a strand is a string of pearls.

  38. I wish someone would give chadwick a different ‘face’ his always makes him seem angry, which I’m sure he’s not :)

    1. If it’s a Rufus puzzle, there’ll be quite a few cryptic definitions – these clues don’t feel like Rufus to me.

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