Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 2590 (Hints)
Hints and tips by Big Dave
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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.
Could new readers please read the Welcome post before asking questions about the site.
Most of the terms used in these hints are explained in the Glossary and examples are available by clicking on the entry under “See also”.
A full review of this puzzle will be published after the closing date for submissions.
Across
1a Better wool — that could be what’ll keep you warm (3-5,6)
An anagram (could be) of BETTER WOOL THAT gives something that’ll keep you warm in bed
10a Put on with striker in another game (7)
Put a word meaning on or concerning with a striker used to light a fire to get a second game between the same opponents
17a Hateful person in dock, with ring-leader put inside (8)
To get a word meaning hateful start with the person in the dock (in a courtroom) and then insert (put inside) R (Ring-leader)
21a Passages inside one repeatedly set in haphazardly (10)
These passages inside the body are an anagram (haphazardly) of SET IN and SET IN (repeatedly)
26a Documenter of misdeeds ignored clanger, oddly (9,5)
The supernatural being that is supposed to keep a book in which every misdeed is logged against the doer is an anagram (oddly) of IGNORED CLANGER
Down
1d Severe writer’s block is problem for setter (4,3)
A charade of a word meaning severe and a block of paper used by a writer gives a problem for a setter, and for other types of dog
6d Person without convictions? Yes and no (4-6)
A double definition – Yes: a person without convictions is someone who cynically or servilely suits his or her opinions to those in authority; No: a person with convictions is someone who is in prison doing porridge
8d Insincere, like the statement of one about to be shot? (6)
… by a photographer
16d Was monarch putting in son? Did abdicate (8)
Start with a verb meaning “was a monarch” and insert S(on) to get a verb meaning abdicated or stood down
20d Hold, using force of arms, naval commander (6)
This wrestling hold is named after a former naval commander
23d Overthrow accomplished, little corporal punishment was administered here (4)
Reverse (overthrow) a word meaning accomplished to get the first of two islands to which the Little Corporal was exiled – brilliant clue with excellent surface reading
If you need further help then please ask and I will see what I can do.
As this is a Prize crossword, please don’t put whole or partial answers or alternative clues in your comment, else they may be censored!
Today it’s Happy Birthday to La Toya Jackson (55) and Noel Gallagher (44)
23d was a standout in a crossword full of good clues. Many thanks to Virgilius and to BD.
Quality Sunday puzzle.
Thanks to B Dave and Virgilius
A plethora of enjoyment – many thanks to Virgilius, and to BD.
4 numbers on the lottery last night! – Off to cash in my £57!!!!
Congratulations, Jezza!
Thanks Franny – until now, the total sum of my winnings since the lottery started is approximately £30!
Got off to a flying start but the NE corner had me held up. Thanks BD for hint for10a. Nowhere near that. Now for the GK. Thanks setter…fair quickie.
Pretty similar to me, Mike. I had the rest complete with only two in the NE before polishing that corner off.
Great minds?????? Possibly not on my part.
An excellent Sunday puzzle – it did take me a little longer than usual due to the Mafia-revenge lurgy preventing my brain cells from doing some 7d! Lucky me – I get to enjoy the puzzle all over again doing the review. Thanks as usual to Virgilius and BD.
Jolly good, liked 16d and 17a, thanks to Virgilius and BD
Another great Sunday puzzle. Favourite was 1a for surface reading and also enjoyed 1d 5 6 10 16 17a and 21. Come to think of it, they were all good. Thanks to setter for warming up a cold morning. Still drooling over the Barca Boys performance – out of this world!
Yet again a very enjoyable Sunday offering from Virgilius favourites for me 1d and 23d thanks to Virgilius and to Big Dave for the comments.
Once again Virgilius does not disappoint. A cracking crossword for a Sunday morning. I raced through most of this until three in the SE corner slowed me down. Lots of top clues including the brilliant hidden word in 12a and the definition in 25d but 1d wins it for me with the lovely misdirection.
Many thanks to Virgilius for the crossword and to BD for the notes. Lucky Sue having the joy of blogging this one for Friday.
Managed this one but came unstuck in the top right hand corner – was on the point of looking at hints and, if necessary, asking for help with 10a and 6 and 8d. I’ve never heard of 6d but eventually guessed and looked it up. With 8d couldn’t get beyond guns and then the 7d kicked in and it became clear, at last. I’ve also never heard of 26a but the second word was fairly easy and the rest followed. Too many lovely clues to mention any in particular but, if I had to, 1a and 1d. Thanks to Virgilius and Big Dave.
What a relief after yesterday! I managed to do most of it while watching Federer playing Wawrinka and finished the rest just now. There were lots of clues that I enjoyed, especially 1, 15 and 26a, but my favourite is 7d because I’m so bad at it. Many thanks to Virgilius and BD.
You can’t be THAT bad at 7d or you’d never be able to do cryptic crosswords!
IMHO – Not as good as recent Sunday Puzzles!
Maybe, because the previous Sunday offerings have been so good!! Maybe because I’m still suffering from a hangover celebrating last night’s football result!
NE corner very difficult! 6d & 8d still holding me up – even after reading the hints and tips from BD above.
Please can anyone throw some light on Sunday’s Quickie pun? I’ve got the answers but can’t work it out.
There is no pun on Sunday!
Thanks BD – I thought I was losing the plot!
Lovely workout but still stuck on 5d, 12a and 15a. Best clue for me was 1a.
A very enjoyable puzzle from Virgilius as usual.
23d was excellent but I also liked 21a, 25a, 26a, 1d, 2d, 7d & 16d.
Have very limited reference material here in The Var – Chambers 20th Century Dictionay is about 1970, Chambers Words 1982 and an utterly useless Chambers Thesaurus 1990. Have a Franklin of course.
Shall not do the crossword every day as the paper shop is a fair distance away so don’t get it regularly. DT is printed in Marseilles down here.
Good news is that my luggage finally arrived on Saturday so now have clothes, the smoked eel and the oude jenever!
Greetings from Provence to all.