Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 26395
Hints and tips by Big Dave
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***
Looks like today’s puzzle is by one of our mystery setters. It was nice to see such an open grid – the Telegraph could do with having many more like this.
Please 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, 12a & 13a Commit to a naval plan? (4,4,7,2,3,4)
{NAIL ONE’S COLOURS TO THE MAST} – a cryptic definition of a phrase meaning to commit oneself to a plan of action
9a Euros he used to provide a new home (7)
{REHOUSE} – an anagram (used) of EUROS HE gives a word meaning to provide with a new home
10a Donor at dance creating a storm (7)
{TORNADO} – an anagram (dance) of DONOR AT creates a violent storm
11a Tramp from house to box office (4)
{HOBO} – this American tramp is a charade of HO(use) and Box Office
12a See 1 Across
13a See 1 Across
16a Take it out of drain (7)
{FATIGUE} – both of these definitions are essentially the same meaning
17a Regularly uncanny with sensitive material (7)
{NANKEEN} – combine the even letters (regularly) of uNcAnNy with a word meaning sensitive or astute to get this buff-coloured cotton cloth
18a Prevent an execution (4,3)
{HEAD OFF} – a phrasal verb meaning to prevent gives the method of the execution of King Charles I
21a Game played in parts of India and Bologna (7)
{DIABOLO} – this game in which a two-headed top is spun, tossed, and caught on a string attached to two sticks, held one in each hand, is hidden inside (parts of) InDIA and BOLOgna
23a Cross the revolving gate (4)
{ROOD} – this cross at the entrance to a church chancel is a gate reversed (revolving)
24a Support the workforce (5)
{STAFF} – a double definition – a long stick used as a support when walking or climbing and the workforce of a company
25a Corny stuff for listeners (4)
{EARS} – a double definition – the seed-bearing heads of corn or organs used for listening
28a Wine seller of new Tempranillo originating in grape-plant run (7)
{VINTNER} – this wine seller is constructed by putting N(ew) and T (Tempranillo originating) inside a grape-plant and then adding R(un)
29a Announced trip in the dark compound (7)
{NITRIDE} – what sounds like (announced) a trip in the dark is actually a chemical compound
30a Loathed pioneers designed walkie-talkies (15)
{RADIOTELEPHONES} – an anagram (designed) of LOATHED PIONEERS results in these walkie-talkies
Down
1d Westminster’s cardinal position (5,2,3,5)
{NORTH OF THE RIVER} – a cryptic definition of the position of Westminster with respect to the Thames
2d Live like a friar? (7)
{INHABIT} – a word meaning to live or reside, when split as (2,5), describes a friar
3d The burden on America (4)
{ONUS} – a burden is a charade of ON and the United States
4d Offensive looking stye (7)
{EYESORE} – something that is offensive to look at, when read as (3,4), describes a stye
5d Twig that the safety device is active (5,2)
{CATCH ON} – a phrasal verb meaning to twig or comprehend also means that the safety device is active
6d Queen leaves pantry with cooking fat (4)
{LARD} – take ER (Elizabeth Regina / Queen) away from a pantry to get this cooking fat
7d Ignorant French article on an item of merchandise (7)
{UNAWARE} – a word meaning ignorant is a charade of the French indefinite article together with A and an item of merchandise
8d Instinctive reaction to nonsense — a toss-up arranged (15)
{SPONTANEOUSNESS} – an instinctive reaction is an anagram (arranged) of NONSENSE A TOSS-UP
14d Shining silver of small value (5)
{AGLOW} – a synonym for shining is a charade of the chemical symbol for silver together with a word meaning of small value
15d Telltale creep (5)
{SNEAK} – a double definition
19d Decked an odder type (7)
{ADORNED} – decked here is as in the song “Deck the halls with boughs of holly” – it’s an anagram (type) of AN ODDER
20d Diet, perhaps, involving blubber release (3-4)
{FAT-FREE} – a type of diet is a charade of blubber and to release
21d Take barrier down to provide protection? (7)
{DEFENCE} – this could, but doesn’t, mean to take a barrier down – it does mean protection
22d Too vain to travel to enthusiastic reception (7)
{OVATION} – an anagram (to travel) of TOO VAIN gives an enthusiastic reception
26d Cancel a few sundowners (4)
{UNDO} – a word meaning to cancel or annul is hidden inside the final word of the clue
27d Desire for sex, cocaine and heroin! (4)
{ITCH} – this desire is a charade of sex appeal in Crosswordland, C(ocaine) and H(eroin)
A few good clues in this puzzle, the key to which is getting the long answers.
Most enjoyable cryptic of the week, not overly difficult but challenging. I liked 1a. (etc) and 27d. Thanks Dave and thanks also to the mystery setter.
Good Morning BigBoab
I see you were helping in “another place”!
Bigboab hasn’t been elevated to the House of Lords has he?
One feels one must spread illumination where necessary. Ones elevation to the House should not be mentioned. HAH!
See this to understand my comment:
http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Quizzes-and-Puzzles/Crosswords/Question956769.html
Ive no idea what x word lands charade of sex appeal might be (dont have a clue)
27d help please
Steph
Sex appeal in Crosswordland is usually “IT”
The charade is IT + C + H
Please tell me why! its IT- have I missed something?
It’s probably because of Clara Bow – the “It” Girl
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clara_Bow
I know I am going to upset people but I found this quite a quick easy solve. Sorry but I did. Some very good clues and even the 15 letter ones were fairly user-friendly. A very nice start to the day, once I had moved all the age-related confetti and balloons (no, it’s not today, it’s tomorrow) from my desk to make room for the paper. Thanks to the Mysteron and BD.
The Toughie is tough today – if it helps anyone start , the answer to 17a here is also in the toughie.
I’m glad you said that about the toughie csue, I now need to get into both micawber and kcits heads! Am persevating on slowly…..
am glad perservating is ongoing we haven’t used it for a while now
with much deditence and persication I am battling on with the toughie, but really struggling….
mmmm new words, what you think Sue?
Typo, should be dedistence and persication
Also 21a in Cryptic is similar style of clue to 11a in Toughie. Coincidence???
I have to agree with Sue today, this puzzle was (in my opinion) the easiest one since I left the clueless club, at first because of the association between 1a, 12a, 13a, I thought it would be difficult but it all fell into place nicely and if this isn’t Rufus it has become my next favourite setter, don’t think it could possibly be Ray T???! fav clue, though an obvious one 2d:) a nice one for the CC today I think
Well done Mary – you will soon be in the Advanced Clueless Club, like me
At the moment I am in the JOCC (just out of clueless club) and I think I will be here for a long time to come Sue, these puzzles don’t come along too often
Sorry Dave good morning and thanks for the review just going to read through
Good morning (actually good afternoon now) and good luck to you for today.
thanks Kath
Mary, I now have it on good authority (his) that this was not a Rufus puzzle.
I don’t know this mystery setter is but we could do with him again
I found this quite difficult but, having finished it now, can’t really see why. I was held up by being completely unable to get 1a etc – it (they) was (were) the last to go in and even then it was a total guess and then look up – I’ve never heard the phrase before. I was also held up for a long time by putting ‘kiss’ for 23a – not totally illogical, I hope – a cross ‘x’ is a kiss and we always called those funny little revolving gates ‘kissing gates’! Oh dear – please don’t all think that I’ve lost my marbles!!
That was sorted out once I got 1d. I liked 18a and 27d. Thanks to Mr or Mrs Mystery Setter and to Big Dave. What does an open grid mean?
I thought kiss at first too Kath, I wouldn’t say a gate and a door were the same thing
No doubt BD will correct me, but as far as I know there is no hard definition of an “open grid”. I take it as a term to describe one with considerably more white squares than black; and with alternate letters intersecting, as opposed to some where there are two consecutive unchecked letters in the answer (for which there is another word that escapes me). Anyway, it all fell into place pretty quickly for me, particularly the 4 long clues. Most enjoyable, but 2* difficulty IMHO.
I think it’s a double unch Digby?
Mary – if you say so! Sounds like someone has dropped their 3-course lunch!
That was exactly what I meant.
I think they are known as OO or EE to indicate that the across and down clues are in the odd or even columns respectively. Perhaps Anax might enlighten us!
Oh blimey – now I’m even more confused! Still don’t understand OO or EE. Am now off to compare today’s cryptic with the toughie – almost wish that I’d never asked!! How pathetic is that? Thanks for replying Digby and BD – am sure that all will become clear some time …
Compare this grid with the one used for today’s Toughie, which makes you feel boxed-in.
Very enjoyable today, did seem to be more anagrams than of late, or is it just me? never heard of 29a , had to check on tinterweb but other than that all good. Am with Kath on not knowing what an open grid means. Thanks to Mysteron and BD
There’s something wrong with the number of letters allocated to 1a
No Collywobbles it is taken as a whole phrase with 12a and 13a
But Mary, Cluedup shows it as 4,4,7 whereas it is actually 15, 2,3,4 as far as I can see
CluedUp, as was, seems to have been written by someone who was unaware that answers can spread across more than one clue, that some clues have punctuation in them (many apostrophes get dropped) and that some clues use italics – i.e. someone who is not a crossword enthusiast.. What you might call a triumph of design over content.
but surely that is correct? 1a, 4,4,7, 12a, 2,3, 13a, 4 am I misunderstanding somethong here?
even something!
Is it more fun to misunderstand a thing or a thong
thum things thong here
I’m the one that’s had a glass of wine, what’s your excuse? You can’t blame the dentist’s injection because you haven’t been there yet!
I don’t have any excuses I’m afraid Sue, it’s the way I am
One day they will thing thongs around the campfire about the typos on this thite.
Blue skies and sunshine here today but a really wild wind, has blown two panes out of the greenhouse, lucky it’s not glass
Wrote 1 down in as soon as I read it. Must have had a good day as I really don’t know how it occurred to me.
same here Alistair
I was at first rather daunted when I saw all those long words framing the grid, but they turned out to be user-friendly, as CrypticSue said. Got 1a etc. thinking of the Duchess of Plaza Toro’s song in “The Gondoliers”, and once I’d done that everything just about fell into place. I may well be in the JOCC myself by now. I only needed help with 29a, and my favourite clues were 2 and 27d. Thanks, O Mysterious One, for a thoroughly enjoyable puzzle and to Big Dave for the hints. I always enjoy reading them, even on the rare occasions when I don’t need them.
Thinking of you, Mary, and hope you don’t have too awful a dental ordeal.
Thanks Franny
Franny,
You suggested the other day that I should get Chambers crossword dictionary. There are 2 on the web. 1 from Amazon at £52 and 1 from WH Smith at £8.. Which one were you suggesting?
Have a look at the £8 one and see what you think. That seems to be about the going price on Amazon, for the paperback at any rate.
Good luck.
Nearly got there but had 18a as Hang … Knew 19d must be anag. so had to call on blog. Thanks again for saving wasted head scratching over ones own blunders. A good mixture of clues today I thought. Sun shining on Northern Riviera after wild night.
Bit late today but solcvewd it quite quickly – last one is was the 1a etc as hadn’t heard of the term b efore. Several nice clues but think my favourite was 20d
~Thanks to setter and BD
Mary
Good luck this afternoon – hope all goes well.
Had my first journey out in the car yesterday – it was lovely to be driving again. Not so nice to have to fill it up with petrol though. My son had left me less than a quarter of a tank – typical.
Not nice herer this morning but the sun is trying to come through now.
Thanks Lea, good to know you’re out and about, fancy your son not filling the car up for you, as you say typical
Close to getting free today … but not quite! Put ‘hams’ in 25a and ‘nitrite’ in 29a because I didn’t quite understand it and had to look up a couple as well. Maybe another day …
Jolly fine puzzle, most enjoyable, liked most of it; thanks to setter and BD.
Nothing too troubling in this one; last one in 4d, because I read the clue as ‘Offensive looking style’ !
So did I – it doesn’t help when you mis-read the clue!
And that’s not the first time I have done that!
Nor me! Think I might need some new specs. I’m OK when solving on paper but the screen of my netbook is a bit small for on-line solving.
Enjoyable but agree not too difficult – I like big words but conversely there are too many 4-letter words in the English language for which I have no particular affection – most of them are ‘rood’ – where the flying fid did the word ‘spontaneousness’ spring from – thought this is ‘spontaneity’?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Me too. What a horribly clumsy and ugly word!
Agree
Appalling word
Are there nice words and horrible words?
“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet.”
I agree too although it is in Chambers – needed to check that before I had a good grouse about it!
I’ve just been reading some book reviews on Amazon and found a couple of words which Sue and Mary might consider adding to their new dictionary, namely characature and isoteric – esoteric sports drinks, whatever next?
Very pleasant crossword today. Fairly straightforward but with some nice clues.
Thanks to the setter and to BD for the blog.
Hola from La Cala Spain!
Golf is of usual standard – particularly after yesterdays day off(on the beer!)
Today’s not too troubling and I am just about to start the Toughie.
Rest of the week pleasant, liked Micawber and Jay yesterday.
Thanks to all and fir the rest of the week.
What part of Spain are you in? Weather here in Alicante province is v good – warm and sunny and a good forecast for the next 4 days.
Enjoy the golf (and the beer)!
Far too easy today – but still enjoyable!
PS! Nice one in the Grauniad today by Brendan!
I like the open grid
Generally this was difficult
even having read Big Daves comments I cannot get16a 17a and 30a
Oh good – SO glad that, at last, someone else has found it difficult.
16a – another word for tire, also, in the plural, a word meaning clothes worn for menial duties (mainly military I think)
17a – a three letter word for grandmother + a four letter word meaning sharp or avid – whole answer meaning cotton material
30a – a ten letter word for phone preceded by a five letter word for transistor – whole thing meaning the kind of thing you can ring people on without being tangled up with wires etc
Sorry – suspect I may not have added much to BD’s hints!! Apologies to ‘himself’!
Kath, 17a – what has it got to do with grandmother?
See BD’s notes above.
What about Nan which is what we called one of our grandmothers
7d – can you have just one ware? I’ve never heard it used in the singular form. Agree with Sue and Mary that this was a fairly easily solved xword. More a 2* but very enjoyable. Thanks to compiler and assessor.
I wondered about that too ….
Try reciting Simple Simon
Enjoyed solving this one
Favourite was 1a etc.
Really, Dear Setter, clue 28a was extremely verbose – “wine seller” was sufficient instead of all that crap involving Tempranillo! Pass me the Rioja!
But then it wouldn’t be cryptic, would it?
Unusual to see such lengthy answers and overall this was quite easy in my view. Had it done by the time I got into Liverpool Street albeit a delayed service. Enjoyed it and thanks to the setter. 2*.
This was nearly a clear run at work today after my escape from the cc a few weeks ago. However, I was beaten by 17a – even though I remembered ‘regularly’ as an indicator for the even letters, and had ‘keen’ in mind too! Oh dear, maybe a chardonnay too far last night. Thanks to setter and BD.
Quite liked it, but finished it a bit too quickly. Getting the outside ones made it a bit of a breeze but there were a couple of nice challenges. As has been said before, each person has a different experience. I’ve suffered with crosswords that other people have told me were simple. Liked 2d. My sort of clue. Thanks to Mysteron and BD
I loved this- the open grid is far more enjoyable than sone we’ve had lately. Fav was 20d.
Excellent puzzle today, and review. Nothing too tricky (a couple of testers) but lots of good clues and a nice feel to it. 2 & 20d and 1 & 29a I enjoyed.
The big clues around the edges were always going to overshadow those in the middle but it was quite a refreshing change. When I first started doing the crossword in the Western Morning News last year I used to photocopy it and share the workload with a colleague who had a passionate loathing for clues like 1a. She’d call them ‘two-ers’, making this one a ‘three-er’. I don’t recall seeing them that often in the Telegraph but I’ve always found them fun to solve.
Now this is the sort of grid I like though it is rare.Someone please explain FATIGUE,I dont catch on.