Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 26515
Hints and tips by Gazza
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***
We have a fairly standard Giovanni puzzle today. Let us know how you got on with it in a comment.
If you want to see an answer just highlight the space between the brackets under the relevant clue.
Across Clues
1a Support fool, one with attitude (10)
{ASSISTANCE} – the definition is support and it’s a charade of a fool, I (one) and an attitude.
6a Discharge sets the enemy into retreat (4)
{EMIT} – reverse (sets … into retreat) the proverbial enemy to get a verb meaning to discharge.
9a Paper in circulation that won’t get read! (6,4)
{TOILET ROLL} – cryptic definition of paper with perforations.
10a Language used by writers elsewhere (4)
{ERSE} – the name of a form of Scottish Gaelic of Irish origin is hidden (used by) in the clue (though the term is considered to be pejorative according to Wikipedia).
12a Obsequious host, society male to the fore (6)
{SMARMY} – an adjective meaning obsequious is a host preceded by (to the fore) S(ociety) and M(ale).
13a Viewer is more apt to speak out when he churns over inside (8)
{BEHOLDER} – the definition is viewer. Start with a comparative meaning more confident or more apt to speak out and insert HE reversed (churns over).
15a Possibly drop in bags as requirement if you’re flying (8,4)
{BOARDING PASS} – an anagram (possibly) of DROP IN BAGS AS.
18a Qualification obtained by learner, one in residence (12)
{HABILITATION} – this is an academic qualification used in a number of European countries especially Germany. It involves a thesis and dissertation and may take up to ten years to obtain. Put the letter used by a learner driver and I (one) inside a residence.
21a A rare dog going wild — a problem for a driver (4,4)
{ROAD RAGE} – an anagram (going wild) of A RARE DOG.
22a Beloved to pass away clutching part of body (6)
{DEARIE} – an affectionate form of address is made from a verb to pass away holding (clutching) an organ. This is beginning to sound like a Private Eye clue!
24a Stewed dish in book, not starter (4)
{OLIO} – start with a large-format book and then drop its initial F (not starter) to leave a highly-spiced stew containing various meats and vegetables.
25a Publicist here admits flop (5,5)
{PRESS AGENT} – to get this publicist put a word meaning here or in attendance around (admits) a verb meaning to flop or sink.
26a Relations known primarily for creating a little difficulty? (4)
{KINK} – a little difficulty or flaw is formed from a word for family or relations followed by the first letter (primarily) of K(nown).
27a Bird that could be in competition with Winnie? (10)
{HONEYEATER} – this is an Australian songbird that enjoys the same food as young Pooh.
Down Clues
1d Performer in part is tame (6)
{ARTIST} – a performer is a sub-set of (in) the clue.
2d Plant a kiss after short look suggesting happiness (6)
{SMILAX} – I’d never heard of this climbing shrub but the wordplay is straightforward. Put A and the letter used to mean a kiss after a facial expression (look) suggesting happiness without its final E (short).
3d Vehicles that might upset tar-smeller so? (12)
{STEAMROLLERS} – vehicles (which I always used to associate with the smell of tar) are an anagram (upset) of TAR-SMELLER SO.
4d Some land? A group of sailors will get the women coming out (4)
{ACRE} – start with a group of sailors (1,4) and drop (coming out) W(omen) to leave a unit of land area.
5d Say, I will get put in order in an establishment like Oxford University! (10)
{COLLEGIATE} – put the abbreviation for say or for example followed by I inside a verb meaning to order or sort (the pages of a document hot off the photocopier, for example) to make a description of an institution (such as Oxford University) which is composed of a number of semi-autonomous units.
7d Big circle established by fellow, including Queen and dictator (8)
{MERIDIAN} – this is a big circle which goes through both poles of the planet. Put a synonym for fellow round (including) the Queen’s initials and the forename of a nasty old dictator.
8d Conjecture with nothing right is accepted by you (8)
{THEORISE} – put O (zero, nothing), R(ight) and IS inside (accepted by) an old word for you.
11d Get clean room organised for business group (12)
{CONGLOMERATE} – an anagram (organised) of GET CLEAN ROOM.
14d Actress to rage when upset about dress (5,5)
{GRETA GARBO} – an anagram (when upset) of TO RAGE goes round a synonym for dress to make the name of a film actress. The recent speculation that she may have been born a man may explain why she/he was reluctant to appear in talkies – her/his low husky voice presumably might have given the game away.
16d Detective finds last of clues — the woman’s hair (8)
{SHERLOCK} – a name for a detective, based on that of the most famous fictional one, is constructed from the last letter of (clue)S, a feminine possessive adjective (the woman’s) and a synonym for hair.
17d Old boy with old language carrying old ecclesiastical offering (8)
{OBLATION} – the abbreviation for old boy is followed by a dead language containing (carrying) O(ld) to make an ecclesiastical offering or sacrifice.
19d It sounds like you need a sleep? Stop (6)
{ARREST} – a verb meaning to stop or apprehend sounds like (1,4) a sleep. It’s not the most imaginative homophone ever and the “you need” bit seems redundant.
20d More successful person taking risks for financial gain? (6)
{BETTER} – double definition, the second being a person who risks losing his stake in the hope of winning a larger amount.
23d Former Wimbledon champion in a women’s magazine (4)
{ASHE} – the surname of the Wimbledon men’s singles champion in 1975 (and a frequent visitor to Crosswordland) is A followed by a women’s magazine.
My favourite clues today were 13a and 16d. Let us know which ones you liked.
Today’s Quickie pun is {AMPLY} + {FIRES} = {AMPLIFIERS}
I found this fairly straightforward, although I tried to convince myself ‘kins’ was the answer to 26a .
Favourite clue, 16a. Thanks to Giovanni, and to gazza.
Thanks Gazza and setter. I found 18a and 24a the most difficult in today’s puzzle. Not sure I’ve ever heard of the answer for 18a without “re” at the front of it!
No I’ve not heard it without the ‘re’ either Roland
Neither have I!
If its got e ‘re’, then it must be a word. Otherwise there would be nothing to ‘re’.
Morning Gazza, you are busy this week, its just as well you didn’t win COW this week! nearly though
I found this a mixture today with about half of it being straightforward and the rest hard work, 16d I really wanted to put ‘distress’ in there but though it fitted the clue, there was no definition for it! never heard of 24a, fav clue 9a, thanks for blog, just off to read it now, completed without but needless to say with loads of help 
Mary, have you seen 6a in the toughie?
I found the top half took a while to click in although some of that was my fault. Another enjoyable Giovanni puzzle. 9a made me laugh when the penny dropped – I’m a B man, the A’s are all wrong!
Thanks to gazza and to Giovanni.
B man here too Gnomething – but only ‘cos if I ever loaded it up in the A manner, my old Mum would give me ‘The Look’ – probably still would even though she’s not with us any more.
I understand from where you are coming, but which orientation is A (or B)?
Doh! Hadn’t read the clues!!
Another B-roller here, but we have a phantom A-pervert here at the office!
See the diagram in the blog above.
Sorry, bit of a let-down after this weeks previous puzzles. Can’t say I’ve heard of 2D (but not much of a gardening type person and I thought 24A was Italian for Oil, ho hum. Some good clues in there though – loved 19A, 12A and 17D but today’s favourite has to be 7D (actually, I’m convinced I sat next to the dictator on a plane from Paris to Riyadh – didn’t leave me a lot of room)(and if you’re wondering, he ended up running a greengrocers shop in Riyadh where he would still be called Mr President).
Big trouble today was with the quick crossword 14A Sugary sweet, only answer I can come up with is ‘sugary and haven’t a clue about 7D there
It;s JUJUBE – to complete the pangram!
Cheers BD – guess the down bit is BUMP not RAMP then – had that in first and thought _U_U nahhhhhhh
And it makes 7D obvious now too. D’oh,perhaps I needed more coffee.
You have the answer as required online, but I would have thought that HUMP could also fit.
Failed to complete thanks to a plant and a dish I’ve never heard of. Hopefully will recall them in future. Otherwise straightforward with some nice anagrams. Also liked 9a, 7d. Thanks to setter and reviewer.
I thought this was a typical Giovanni – usual solving time and very neat handwriting so I don’t think I had much trouble with it, apart from checking that the word in 18a really did exist. favourite clue 9a. Thanks to both the Gs.
The Toughie is definitely Friday level and takes a lot of perservation but is well worth the effort.
I’ll second your recommendation for the Toughie – very good!
Straightforward fare from Giovanni this morning, loved 9a. Thanks Gazza and Giovanni.
As always an excellent Friday puzzle – thanks to the two G’s.
Got held up on 10a and had to confirm that it was a word – as with 18a which I solved by the wording but needed to confirm. Last one in for me was 19d even with the checking letters. I liked 27a.
Enjoyable but not Friday
Very easy, I thought. But compensation for the ease with some fine clues. Favs:
9a: very clever!
15a: beautiful surface and fodder fits in so naturally
3d: smooth! a shame the “so” in the fodder gives away that it IS fodder
We’ve had a most enjoyable week, I think.
The Toughie today is eminently doable.
Thanks to the Don & Gazza!
Nestorius
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After being somewhat spoilt for 5 days, let’s hope that tomorrow’s challenge also clears the bar.
Started off quite well then came to a bit of a halt for a while. Failed completely on the plant even though I’d decided that it ended with ‘AX’. Also took ages, last one in, with 26a – having got 16d I thought that explained the ‘known primarily’ and was, therefore looking for a three letter word for ‘a little difficulty’ (or even a four letter word for ‘difficulty’ with its end chopped off) meaning ‘relations’ – got there in the end! I certainly know how to make life more difficult than it needs to be!
I liked 12, 13, 15 and 27a and 3, 7 and 16d – best of all 9a.
With thanks to Giovanni and Gazza.
Yes, all good standard fare today. Not the toughest of the week for me – perhaps because I did it over lunch and not at night after full day at work. Thanks again to both chaps.
Made steady progress with this one but once again brought to a grinding halt by a four letter clue – for stew (never heard of it) and 2d (plants/flowers are the new cricket as far as I am concerned). Still, lots to challenge the cells with 7d a favourite. Three stars about right so thanks to Gx2
Those 4 letter words have held me up – again. Certainly not heard of olio before, so struggled with that and needed the hints. Also, put cree for 10a as it is a language used elsewhere – and never saw the word hidden in the clue. At least it didn’t hold me up on any of the down clues. I’ve never heard of 2d either, but it was gettable from the clue and checking letters. Liked 9a. I prefer to unroll from the front! Thanks to setter and Gazza for the review – you’ve been over-worked this week!
Late on duty today but had to congratulate setter on 3 15 and especially 9. They were all brilliant with 9 clue of the year so far. I haven’t stopped laughing yet! Thanks to setter – its made my day.
Well, despite my dire predicitions yesterday I have managed to finish it – and not in bad time, either. Needed hints for a couple and actual answers for 25a – just couldn’t “get” it and 24a – never heard of it! Never heard of 2d either but I cheated on that with my electronic friend, who had heard of it, so that was another one bit the dust. Thanks to setter and hinter – very enjoyable run up to dinner cooking.
9a almost led to violence in the pub. Having all the others solved I was trying to thing of something awfully clever to put in when my mate Harry wandered over. He took one look and said ‘well surely that must be (see diagram)’. Honestly, I could have hit him but, decided that a good belly laugh was the way ahead. An absolutely brilliant clue but, he won’t get away with that again! Stored in the memory bank forever. Did have to take advice from a friendly gardener for 2d as I’ve never heard of it although I’d solved it from the clue.
Thanks both
The usual enjoyable Friday fare from the Don – many thanks.
I started this one late this evening as my daughter dropped in for lunch and we enjoyed asparagus – first of the season for me but second for her. Then I went for the DT and other shopping.
6a, 9a, 18a, 24a, 25a, 27a, 2d, 7d, 14d, 16d & 23d were very good clues indeed. Some of the anagrams were VG also.
Spring has really arrived in NL – the blossom on the trees is burgeoning – April in NL is always VG.
The magnolia round the corner is coming out well and the gemeente has cleared the street where they dug out the geblitzte trees.
Fish for tonight’s meal to be washed down with ZA Sauvignon Blanc. (Vergelegen).
Good News, Derek! – I may well go and see my sis near Breda soon. I am sure the Brother-in-Law might appreciate a round of golf!
Nice one to round off the week.
Nice crossword. Thanks to G & G. I found it a bit easier than normal for a Goivanni but just as enjoyable. have a good Friday night all.
Nice crossword, liked 9a.
I think I need to work on my vocabulary – 2d, 18a, 24a and 27a all new to me. At least I’ve learnt some new words today…
Thank you to Giovanni and Gazza
Took me a while to get going, but reasonably straightforward. Big error was thinking 27a was woodpecker (I hadn’t done 23d and 19d by then), as the letters fitted.
Hi Si – welcome to the blog.