DT 26510

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 26510

A full review by Gnomethang

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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***

We have another very entertaining puzzle from Cephas this week, all his trademaerks are there. I found this fun to solve and not too tricky apart from forgetting the fruit of the hawthorn AGAIN!

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           One tucking in tucks it in (6)
NAPKIN – This made me smile as a starter. The eater (one tucking in) tucks this in to save the saucy stains.

4a           Launch is cancelled after reprimand (5-3)
BLAST OFF – OFF (is cancelled) after BLAST (A reprimand as in a roasting or earful) for a launch of a spacecraft.

9a           Now and again, once more after that (6)
THRICE – I enjoyed this clue a great deal. Consider three instances in time: Now (first) and again (twice), once more after that (thrice).

10a         Meeting’s impossible in bars like this (8)
PARALLEL – A decent cryptic definition detailing the problems with conversation in noisy pubs. In fact the bars in question are in a gymnasium and they can never meet (touch).

12a         Reportedly in favour of any small group (8)
FOURSOME – A small group (e.g. like the golfers that I am with on a Saturday morning) is a homophone of FOUR (for, in favour of) and then SOME for any, an unspecified amount.

13a         Behind some asparagus one leaves pale drink (6)
TIPPLE – A wee dram or snifter. After the TIP of some asparagus (typically) add PLE (PALE with the A = I = one removed).

15a         One who likes to make flying visits? (4,2,7)
BIRD OF PASSAGE – A migratory bird with the cryptic definition of a migrant, or someone who frequently moves from place to place.

18a         It’s the last thing a tragedy is expected to do (3,2,8)
END IN DISASTER – I have thought long and hard about this clue. It is actually a cryptic definition.  If you were to pay your penny to watch “Romeo and Juliette – a Tragedie” then you would be dissatisfied if the ending wasn’t a disastrous tragedy (spoiler alert! – it was!). The last thing is generally meant in conversation to mean the least expected which is the cryptic element. On reflection I quite like this clue as well.

22a         Strange Manx cat causing disturbance (6)
RUMPUS – A disturbance is created from RUM (strange) and PUS(s) – that is a PUSS that has had its tail removed i.e. a Manx Cat.

24a         Live, work — flog to death! (8)
BELABOUR – A charade of BE (live, exist) and LABOUR (work) for ‘flog to death’ or ‘bang on about’.

26a         Burrow that is right to be less refined (8)
EARTHIER – Normally when one sees ‘burrow’ in a cryptic crozzy the answer is usually ‘warren’.  Here, however, we need a charade of EARTH (the burrow of a mole for one) plus I.E> (that is) and Right for a word meaning less refined or coarser.

27a         Unruly lot entered plot and took flight (6)
BOLTED – Took flight or legged it. An unruly anagram of LOT inside BED for plot (in the garden).

28a         Broadcasting about egg production (8)
RELAYING – Another charade – Re is about and LAYING is the production of eggs.

29a         Perhaps guest’s one with lasting qualities (6)
STAYER – A double definition – A guest stays and someone who lasts out  is also a stayer.

Down

1d           Make known it’s not provided before end of May (6)
NOTIFY – Make known is the definition. The rest is elegantly simple: NOT + IF (provided) + the end of maY.

2d           Agitated Rupert wrecked place of retirement (9)
PERTURBED – A wrecked anagram of RUPERT on top of , in a down clue, the BED (place of retirement) gives a word for agitated or upset.

3d           In former USSR, capping gold tooth (7)
INCISOR – The former USSR was the Commonwealth of Independent States. Precede that with IN and put it in front of (capping, on top of in a down clue) OR – the heraldic term for gold – will give you a tooth.

5d           The Parisian with a new list (4)
LEAN – List here is a turning from the vertical or centre. LE (Parisian for ‘The’) with A and N(ew)

6d           Itch in one’s cab, ie scratchy (7)
SCABIES – The nasty itch contracted by small mites (and caused by small mites!) is contained in oneS CAB IE Scratchy.

7d           Bloomer with neat outer edge (5)
OXLIP – This common Crosswordland flower is a charade of OX (neat is cattle or an ox) and LIP – the outer edge.

8d           Feel dirt removed could be strained (8)
FILTERED – An anagram (removed) of FEEL DIRT is another word for strained, through a sieve or muslin for example.

11d         Unhesitant ruler had very good turn in the big shops (7)
EMPORIA – An old word for large shops that don’t merely sell, but purvey goods. Start with EMPEROR and remove the ER (unhesitant = not hesitating) then add the reversal of AI (A1 for very good or first class).

14d         Clothes appear ragged on lecturer (7)
APPAREL – Something purveyed in an emporium!. A ragged anagram of APPEAR on top of (this is a down clue) L(ecturer).

16d         Safe to fly dignitary from said Scottish resort first (9)
AIRWORTHY – A town WORTHY or dignitary with AIR – a homophone of Ayr – first.

17d         I agree to receive information twice (4,4)
HEAR HEAR – To hear can mean to pick up or receive information. Saying it twice gives an audible assent (I agree) in the House of Commons for example.

19d         Any thug turned out to be disobedient (7)
NAUGHTY – An anagram (turned out) of ANYTHUG  for disobedient or ill-behaved.

20d         Solicitor coming round may be less reserved (4,3)
THAW OUT – To be come less reserved, to warm to something or someone. A word to remember for MAY is HAW since the fruit of the hawthorn is called MAY. Place HAW inside TOUT, a solicitor.

21d         Some extra derequisitioning done by merchant (6)
TRADER – a merchant is hidden in (some of) exTRA DERequesitioning.

23d         You are said to be featured in short man’s picture (5)
MURAL – A homophone (said) of ‘you are’, UR, is placed inside MAL(e) -for short man – to get a picture mainted directly onto a wall.

25d         Stitched all ways (4)
SEWN – Rearrange all the point of the compass once to get a word for stitched.

Thanks to Cephas for this week’s puzzle, I will see you all next week.