Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 2591 (Hints)
Hints and tips by Big Dave
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
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 Old-fashioned garments found in pretty knitting patterns (8)
These old-fashioned garments could describe what are found in pretty knitting and patterns
13a Host rebuffed an agricultural worker (8)
Reverse (rebuffed) a word meaning a host or very large number and then add AN to get this agricultural worker
17a Foreign president and prime minister later installed (5)
Split the name of the former Russian president, who later became prime minister, as (3,2) to get a word meaning installed
21a Term used about it produces merriment (8)
… start with the Spring term of the High Court of Justice in England
27a Ulster, for example, contrived a rare win (8)
… an ulster is a man’s long, loose overcoat
28a Like tough crossword I finish in school (8)
An adjective that could describe a tough crossword, maybe one by Elgar, is constructed by putting I and a word meaning finish inside the cold-blooded vertebrates that gather in a school
Down
2d Making too much bread? Provide a spread (8)
This word meaning making too much bread or money is an anagram (spread) of PROVIDE A
12d Hotel worker, unable to get out, started up computer (12)
A charade of a person employed in a hotel to clean shoes, carry luggage, and perform other menial tasks and an adjective meaning unable to get out gives a word meaning started up computer
19d Anthea’s make-up items (8)
You get these items when you split anthea as “an the a”!
25d In the main, maintain one’s standing on board (4)
A cryptic definition of riding breaking waves while standing on a board
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 Kenny G (55)
There is always a moment with the Sunday cryptic when I doubt my solving ability, but after a slight pause everything fell into place in very reasonable order. My favourites today include 1a (I always ‘forget’ that sort of clue and it takes a moment for the penny to drop); 28a (it’s not just Elgar who produces this type of toughie, is it Virgilius?
), 18d and 25d. Thanks to Virgilius for the great crossword and to BD for the hints.
Yet another excellent Sunday puzzle! Many thanks to Virgilius for the workout, and to BD for the hints.
Favourites for me were 19d and 13a in particular – a very nice spot!.
Took a bit longer than usual but very enjoyable as we have come to expect.
Thanks to Virgilius and to BD
Re13a – I spotted this one straight away, as I am sure I have seen a variation of this clue before (female) from Virgilius.
Thinking about it you might be right. Knowing my goldfish-like tendencies I probably said that I hated it at the time
From ST 2555 last October: Host returned to help worker on farm (9)
Oh dear – and just when I really thought I was getting better!
I’ve found this one VERY 28a so glad to read that it’s probably not just me. I got 1a wrong – for no good reason I had “woollens” – although they could be found in knitting patterns I did wonder about the “pretty”, but now, of course, all has become clear! Thanks BD! Unfortunately this means that I’ve also got 3d wrong, not that I could really justify my answer anyway – I think the second word is probably right and could make another guess at the first but can’t explain it. Any help, please? Also can’t do the pesky little 24d. Really liked 13, 21 and 23a and 8, 14, 17 and 19d – best of all 28a. Thanks to Virgilius and Big Dave.
3d The answer comes from a 3 letter for a crowd reversed followed by a type of hat (think French) inside which is a four letter word for a sailor.
24d These doctors produce a lot of hype and publicity.
Thank you very much – it would have driven me mad!
Hi Kath
Like you I had 1a wrong for a long time – the penny has just dropped. Very clever
Good puzzle so far today. One and a half hours into it and I’ve only got 7d to go. Completely stumped!
‘Sage’ is the definition (and not a plant!) – The partners bidding for contracts would be found in a card game, and inside them (intermediary) goes the word ‘is’ (given in the clue).
Got it, Doh!!! Thanks Jezza.
Found this pretty heavy going today. Was stuck on 13a &19d, so logged on here hoping there would be hints and it still took about twenty minutes for the penny to drop for 19d. Thanks to blogger and setter, very enjoyable
This took me a while this morning, but I managed to finish it with a bit of help from Chambers. There were some very good clues where I got the words without understanding why, so thanks to BD for explaining 12d. As for 1a and 19d, when will I learn to think laterally? Many thanks to BD and the setter.
Now I’m off to cheer for Federer.
This excellent puzzle has kept me occupied during a boring test match. Fav clues 13a and 3d. Quickie much more straightforward today but the GK is a snorter……. thank heavens for electronic aides. Now back to the cricket and tennis.
Bad manners again… sorry
thanks to setter and BD
Why has everything gone so quiet?
Yes – VERY quiet – where is everyone?
Finished this while watching Nadal v Federer (still going on) on the box.
Not so hard as usual from Virgilius but enjoyable of course.
My likes : 1a, 13a, 26a, 3d, 12d. 17d & 19d.
Sun has come out after last night’s thunderstorm and this morning’s downpour.
Not yet really summer down here in The Var.
Greetings to all!
Hi Derek. Where’s the Var?
South Africa?
Thanks!
That was a question, not an answer!
The Var I know is in France.
Struggled with the puzzle today in Olocau (Spain). Too much sport I think – cheered on Señor Nora in a 15km run, then Rafa in the French Open. Good results all round! Now Queens and Wimbledon. It’s my couch potato month, then the TV is off for some considerable time.
Nora is correct – The Var is département 83 in the South of France. It used to go right up to the River Var but when France recovered Nice (Nizza) from Italy the western part was shoved over to the Alpes-Maritimes 06. Grasse and Cannes are now in 06.
Another excellent Sunday puzzle! A nice mix of clues ranging from the obvious and easy (9a) to the devilishly difficult (1a & 19d). Unfortunately, I needed the hints and tips for the difficult ones. Thanks to All involved!
Agree with your easy ones and difficult ones (what about 3d) although I think we should ALL have managed 1a as I think that there was a similar clue within living memory – well, mine anyway!!
3d – No Problem!
1a – Yes, I remember it well (as the song goes) – but I would never ever have solved this without BD’s hint!
Yes there have been no less than four since the blog started:
T 122 by Kcit – 20d Garment with central part of cotton? (7)
ST 2551 by Virgilius – 19d Middle piece of cotton garment worn long ago (7)
DT 26524 – 27a What’s found in tatty old garment? (7)
DT 26565 by Rufus – 22a Suitable wear for a teetotaller? (7)
Very disappointed. As is usual for a Sunday , it took me longer to find the crossword than it took to do it.. The best clue was 1a which was exceptional as all the rest were pretty banal.
So who’s a smarty pants then?? I thought that it was quite tricky.
Looking forward to reading the full review of this one: I got there in the end and I want to finding out how! Wish I read Big Dave’s tip for 19d at about 8am this morning, that one kept me going all day long.
Tune in Next Friday, Mr Tub!
Oh Mon Dieu.
13a…… even with the hint….. took me forever.
As for 19d. I have “Anthills” written in my grid, and even though the centime has now, finally, dropped, I’m leaving it in as a testament to my own stupidity.