ST 2566

Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 2566

A full analysis by Peter Biddlecombe

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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment *****

Posting in a bit of haste as now much busier than I used to be, so no link to Shenandoah for 25A. If you imagine the same introduction as most of the ones for the last year, you won’t be wrong! I liked the smell of the sea at the end of the Acrosses.

Across
1	Rotate one vegetable, so to speak, for another (6)
TURNIP – TURN = rotate, 1 = one, P = “pea”
4	Bird started eating tasty morsel (6)
TITBIT = tasty morsel – TIT = bird, BIT (verb, past tense) = started eating
8	Move forwards with support of backs in game (8)
LEAPFROG – cryptic definition – backs being people’s backs rather than footballers
10	Fellow has to haul down flag, for example (6)
FLOWER = flag, for example – “flag” can mean a plant, esp. one in the iris family
11	Raised money, as stated (4)
BRED = raised – sounding like “bread” = money
12	Revelation set back work in awful place, say (10)
APOCALYPSE – OP. = work, reversed in anag. of (place, say)
13	Entertainer making many appearances? (12)
IMPERSONATOR – cryptic def. with “appearance” meaning an impression of something (or someone), rather than a particular gig
16	Avoidance behaviour that is seen in South Essex town (4-8)
SIDE-STEPPING = avoidance behaviour – id est = “that is” – i.e. what i.e. actually means, in (S = south, EPPING = Essex town)
20	Increase profit by 100%, producing delayed reaction (6,4)
DOUBLE TAKE – two definitions
21	Plane is one that’s oddly targeted (4)
TREE = “plane is one” – TaRgEtEd
22	Observance at heart of spiritualism (6)
RITUAL, hidden in “spiritualism”
23	Person sharing quarters and uniform with ship’s officer (8)
FLATMATE – FLAT = uniform, MATE = ship’s officer
24	Way one of our services can become trendy (6)
MODERN = trendy – MODE = way, R.N. = one of our services – easy if you’re still thinking of the ship’s mate
25	A number of sailors in third-class accommodation (6)
SHANTY = a number (i.e. song) of sailors, and low-class accommodation as in “shanty town” – the third clue in a row on a temporary nautical theme
Down
1	Article revised Rome’s established principles (8)
THEOREMS = established principles – THE = article, OREMS = anag. of Rome’s
2	Fleet seizing power in sudden attack (5)
RAPID = fleet = rapid (no, we’re not back at sea). P = power, in RAID
3	Ordains after conversion – that’s progress (7)
INROADS = progress – anag. of ‘ordains’
5	Actually accepting right to break law, say (7)
INFRACT = break law, say – R in IN FACT
6	Practical joke producing disapproval by some when upset (5-4)
BOOBY TRAP = practical joke – BOO = disapproval, BY = by, reverse of part = some
7	Religious faith is embraced by people opposed to us (6)
THEISM = religious faith – IS in THEM = people opposed to us
9	Honed lines for musicians – they should aim for perfect pitch (6,5)
GROUND STAFF = “they should aim for perfect pitch” – GROUND = honed, STAFF = “lines for musicians”
14	Heading for India, perhaps, in seat arranged before spring (9)
EASTBOUND = heading for India, perhaps – EAST = anag. of seat, BOUND = spring = jump
15	Poles switching places in ascent on railway – or descent (8)
ANCESTRY = descent – ASCENT with N and S swapping places, RY. = railway (he says, typing this on the 0844 to Marylebone)
17	One who seeks satisfaction with a second helping (7)
DUELLER – cryptic def. with “second helping” nothing to do with Billy Bunter having some more Spotted Dick
18	It helps one see clearly what’s rubbish (7)
EYEWASH – two definitions
19	Leader of party loathing speaker’s position (6)
PODIUM = speaker’s position – P = leader of Party, ODIUM = loathing
21	In West End, I am performing Shakespearean title role (5)
TIMON (of Athens) = Shak. title role – T = “WesT end”, I’M = I am, ON = performing