Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 26649
Hints and tips by Libellule
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
Many thanks to the maestro for my usual Monday mormimg entertainment.
You can reveal the anser by highlighting the space between the curly brackets..
Across
1. Bullet that meant goodbye for someone? (7,4)
{PARTING SHOT} – Typically a retort or threat, that is made when you are leaving.
9. Illumination for landing (9)
{ALIGHTING} – A word meaning to get down or descend, could also be a type of illumination. Should the clue not read “An illumination” rather than just illumination?
10. Acknowledge head of music in entrance (5)
{ADMIT} – Put M (the head of music) inside a word that describes an almost horizontal entrance to a mine.
11. Net return on a Yorkshire river holding (6)
{TENURE} – Reverse NET and then a add the river that runs through Wensleydale to get a word that means the holding of an office or position.
12. Involved in a score or film story (8)
{SCENARIO} – An anagram (involved) of IN A SCORE is also a screenplay.
13. Concerning spot a long way off (6)
{REMOTE} – RE (concerning, in reference to) is followed by a word that describes a very small particle or speck produces a word that means located far away;
15. A girl in Minnesota is likely to be this (8)
{AMERICAN} – Although the answer seems obvious on first reading there is slightly more to this clue. You need to put a girls name inside A and MN (the abbreviation for Minnesota).
18. Superficial type involved in leak (4-4)
{SKIN-DEEP} – Place a word meaning category or type inside another word for a slow flow of water to get a word that means shallow
19. An eight-foot long snooker rest? (6)
{SPIDER} – A creature that has eight legs is also the name of a rest used in snooker that also has long legs.
21. Decline record by mail order (8)
{DISCLAIM} – A vinyl record is followed by an anagram (order) of MAIL to create a word that means to deny or renounce any connection with something.
23. Behave uninhibitedly on the French tour (3,3)
{LET RIP} – The masculine word for the in French is followed by a word for a journey.
26. Draw up Daily Telegraph leader (5)
{CHART} – A word for a person who helps with the housework on a regular basis, plus the first letter of Telegraph gives a word that can mean to draw a detailed plan.
27. Cockney thieves may end up in hot water (3,6)
{TEA LEAVES} – The Cockney rhyming slang for thieves are also used to make a popular British drink.
28. Doggedness is derived from its presence (11)
{PERSISTENCE} – An anagram (derived) of ITS PRESENCE.
Down
1. Render first aid (7)
{PLASTER} – Render is this instance – means to coat a wall with something.
2. Check the key in, as a rule (5)
{REIGN} – A word that describes the rule of a king or queen is constructed from a word that means to hold back with G (a musical key) placed inside.
3. From being in the red, I came into money (9)
{INHERITED} – An anagram (from being) of IN THE RED I is a word that means to receive a bequest or a legacy.
4. Source of power on the American football field (4)
{GRID} – A word that is used to describe an interconnected system for the distribution of electricity is also the name used for an American football field.
5. Very affected by going off to temporary accommodation (4,4)
{HIGH CAMP} – a sophisticated form of knowing amusement consists of two words, one of which describes slightly decomposed or tainted meat, and the other is what you would use a tent for.
6. Aim to teach (5)
{TRAIN} – Double definition, to focus on or aim at, and to coach.
7. Sneer at record (3,4)
{PUT DOWN} – To criticise someone or to write something onto something.
8. Held in great affection (8)
{EMBRACED} – Clasping another person in your arms.
14. The most important guy on board (8)
{MAINSTAY} – Nope this is not the Chairman. This is a nautical term that describes the rope that that braces a ships most important mast.
16. Once again offer to play a part (9)
{REPRESENT} – A word that means to depict or portray could also be the offer of a gift more than once.
17. Record a series of notes (8)
{REGISTER} – A formal or official book is also the range of an instrument or a voice.
18. Reduces possibilities for a playboy (7)
{SEDUCER} – An anagram (possibilities) of REDUCES is a philanderer.
20. A quick reply by one who is foiled (7)
{RIPOSTE} – A foil is a type of sword. So a swift retort to someone, is also a quick thrust given after a parry.
22. A bulb may be a variety of tulip (3,2)
{LIT UP} – An anagram (variety) of TULIP is what a light bulb might be.
24. Flier’s welcome in Royal Navy (5)
{RAVEN} – A Latin expression of greeting is placed inside RN to get a large black bird.
25. Bail out somewhere in the Indian Ocean (4)
{BALI} – An anagram (out) of BAIL funnily enough.
The Quick crossword pun: {Mecca} + (mist} + {ache} = {make a mistake}
An entertaining and witty start to the week. No particular favourites, all are elegantly constructed. Thanks to setter and retriever.
Brilliant start to a new week. Fancy puzzle done by 9.30, what mischief can we get up to for the rest of the day, I wonder?
Nip over to the Grauniad – there’s another Rufus offering there.
Bit of a curates egg for me. NW and SE corners were excellent but the other two corners seem very tricky. Best clue for me 19a but disliked 10a (adit?), 15a and 18a. Overall not a lot of fun as far as I was concerned. Thx Libellule for the hints which were much needed for the aforementioned corners.
Same here Brian, I found the NW & SE corners best too and took much longer with the rest
An Adit is an entanrance to a mine – crops up often in Crosswordland, well worth remembering.
Good morning Libelulle, from a very ‘iffy’ day weatherwise in West Wales, just as I was thinking I would be able to do this today without any ‘help’ I became unstuck on 13a, not knowing ‘mote’, 15a, just not getting it! (I do now, thanks for hint), 10a, not knowing or forgetting ‘adit’ !! However I really enjoyed this one from Rufus with lots of lovely clues, I especially liked 23a, 19a and 9a, thanks for the hints Libellule and thanks Rufus for yet another gem
Really enjoyed it. Quick solve. Definitely one for the lateral rather than logical thinker. Thanks to all
Samo, Samo, Samo, I cant get into the site. Is anybody else having the same problem. We should get a rebate of our subscriptions because this software is not fit for purpose
Hi Collywobs, it’s very frustrating isn’t it, it took me several attempts to get on this morning, I think all existing members should have a 50% reduction next year, grrrrr! however that doen’t help us in the meantime
, very very disappointing
First time in ages into clued up first time and able to submit without bother. It must be regional disruption. Nice puzzle to start the week.
As a veteran of 30 odd years in IT, I remain dedicated to the use of the back page of a large (some would say ungainly) piece of paper to complete the daily puzzle on.
Paperless society? Nie danke.
Unfortunately that doesn’t work if you live in rural France.
C’est vrai.
As commented previously I bought the DT for 20+ years until it had a sweep-out of its best journalists (imho) a few years ago – Sam Leith, Craig Brown inter alia.
I now find it irritating to read regurgitated articles on the lines of “A recent survey/ research shows that…”. Now I only buy it on a Saturday & then only for the Weekend & Motoring sections.
An enjoyable offering. Thank you to Rufus and Libellule.
I think that some of the recent Monday offerings have been a bit too straightforward, so I was pleased to spend a bit longer on this one.
I enjoy Rufus’s gentle humour, it’s a nice way to start the week.
Favourite clue was 19a for a lovely surface reading (not hard, but elegant) and I also liked 23a.
Incidentally, although they’re not especiaily hard, I enjoy clues like 1a and 27a.
Not busy today, so might pop over to the grauniad later to try another Rufus. That’s also a comment on the fact that I’d rather have a Monday Toughie than a general knowledge crossword today.
Nick
I agree Nick about 1a and 23a
Well done Nick- that’s AT LEAST 2 of us campaigning for A Toughie On Monday (The well known ATOM splitters…….)
ATOM- you know it makes sense.
Hi Lostboy
I’m not sure I’m really campaigning, but it would certainly be my preference.
ATOM – it’s one of those ‘classic’ cryptic clues, ABCDEFGHIJKLM = A*to*m – along with HIJKLMNO = H*to/2*O.
N
Sorry to upset you chaps, but I don’t mind having a GK puzzle on a Monday. I am a great believer in the fact that the more words you come across every day, the more help they will be in solving a cryptic crossword – the old mine entrance in 10a being a typical example. There are lots of free crosswords available on line such as the Guardian Quiptic, Guardian, Independent and FT to keep the old cryptic addict’s twitch under control until the Tuesday Toughie appears.
You could always save the NTSPP to tackle on the Monday!
Thanks to Rufus for a pleasant puzzle for Monday morning, and to Libellule for the review/
Very enjoyable today, some good cluing and some fun surface reading. Particularly like 1A and 19A.
I enjoyed the sporting clues! Got the answers but didn’t understand 18a and 5d until I read the hints – thanks for that.
Very enjoyable Monday morning work-out!
Ace puzzle! Fun, and 19a I thought was outstanding.
I’m sure that 1a should refer to an arrow though, not a bullet, unless my understanding of the chronolgy of the development of gunpowder is seriously flawed.
Long suffering readers of my comments will no doubt know what is coming next……
(Clears throat.)
And now for the Toughie………..
Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr, why I oughtta………..
Usual straightforward start to the week thank you Rufus. Thanks to Libellule too for the hints and tips.
Very good crossword. Thoroughly entertaining and really enjoyed it. A little difficult to get into but perseverance was rewarded but I did need a couple of hints from Libellule, for which, many thanks and to the setter
I thought that this was quite difficult for a Monday but I seem to have said the same for several weeks – is it me or are they more difficult than they used to be? Based on how long it took this is at least a 3* for me. Having said all that looking at it again I can’t really see why I struggled. I didn’t know the non-eight-legged meaning of 19a but it obviously was that. Needed the hint to explain 18a and, although I got it, I had missed the finer points of 15a. I dithered about 9a because I thought that we were missing an “A”. I liked 23, 26 and 27a and 3 and 18d. Thanks to Rufus and Libellule.
Kath,
Took me about the same time as normal (if I ignore the fact that I had two kittehs tearing around my office while I attempted to complete it).
I find that nowadays on a Monday I hit the Rufus zone pretty quickly and everything tends to fall into place at about the same pace every Monday. Sunday’s on the other hand are more of a challenge.
Was drawing a blank on the top half, so started at the bottom – much better! Liked 19a and 20d, but agree with other comments that 9a appears to be missing an article. I also think that ‘Record a range of notes’ would have been much better for 17d; a r******r isn’t really a series of notes. Otherwise very enjoyable – thanks to setter and reviewer.
Thanks to Rufus and to Libellule for the usual gentle but enjoyable start to the week.
Classic Rufus crossword smooth, enjoyable and straightforward. Thanks to the setter and to Libellule for the review.
Where’s the cleaner in the clue to 26a?
The first four letters of the solution are what people used to refer to as ‘a lady what does [the cleaning]) also referred to as a DAILY, even though she might not visit you every day.
The usual pleasant start to the week from Rufus – some clues had interesting twists!
Faves : 11a, 15a, 19a, 26a, 27a, 4d, 5d, 14d, 20d & 24d.
Where is my post?
I was sorting out the spelling on your original post, so I deleted your second one.
Hi I thought the island of B*** was in the Pacific Ocean?
A belated welcome to the blog Auto Curbishly
Bali is near Java which, when I last looked, was not in the Pacific Ocean.
You may be confusing it with the fictional island of Bali Ha’i, from the musical South Pacific, which was based on the real island of Ambae in Vanuatu (formerly Aoba Island in the New Hebrides).
Not only learn new words here, but a bit of Geography too
Really enjoyed today’s puzzle – chiefly because we managed it all (though not without a struggle on 19a and 14d). All very enjoyable. I could complain that an adit is actually a mine exit, not an entrance – it was used to drain off water from the workings. But who cares? One can still get into most places by going through the exit…
Thanks to Rufus and Libellule, I enjoyed this one, but had to use a few hints. Favourites were 18 and 27a. I’ll be blogging late this week as I’m fell walking in the Lake District. Bit damp today, understatement of the year