Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 26656
Hints and tips by Gazza
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
This is somewhat of a mixed bag today. It has some really good clues but a few that I thought were a bit “iffy”. There are also a high number of anagrams (my particular bugbear). Let us know your views in a comment.
If you want to see an answer just highlight the space between the curly brackets under the clue.
Across Clues
1a Be aware of rise in value (10)
{APPRECIATE} – this could be just a double definition but I think it’s meant to be a triple – a) be aware of, b) rise and c) value.
6a Selectively taste wife’s dish (4)
{STEW} – hidden (selectively) in the clue is a dish.
10a Heard Queen’s restricted by unusual diet (5)
{TRIED} – a verb meaning heard, as the judge did, is R(egina) contained in an anagram (unusual) of DIET.
11a Very operatic melody changing into something slightly different (9)
{VARIATION} – Start with V(ery) and add an operatic melody then an anagram (changing) of INTO. The definition is something slightly different, but this is also a semi-all-in-one with the whole clue being one possible definition of the answer.
12a Food time (8)
{PORRIDGE} – double definition, the second being another slang term for a stretch of time inside.
13a River awfully fast — these may help (5)
{RAFTS} – start with R(iver) and follow with an anagram (awfully) of FAST to make floating platforms.
15a Appeared to get marks in university qualification overturned (7)
{EMERGED} – a verb meaning appeared or became visible is formed by putting the abbreviation for the old German currency (marks) inside the reversal (overturned) of a university qualification.
17a Second musician higher in pitch (7)
{SHARPER} – S(econd) is followed by the player of a stringed instrument (not the usual word but recognised by Chambers) to make a comparative meaning higher in pitch.
19a Swear about man’s habits (7)
{CUSTOMS} – an informal verb meaning swears or utters profanities contains a common male name (neither Dick nor Harry).
21a Julius Caesar could be seen here and there entertaining leaders of all territories (7)
{THEATRE} – a place where you might see Julius Caesar (or part of King Henry IV) is constructed from THERE with the leading letters of All Territories inserted (entertained).
22a Help legendary golfer stuck in river? On the contrary (5)
{SERVE} – on the contrary tells you to reverse the wordplay. So, instead of the golfer being inside (stuck in) the river, we have to stick R(iver) inside the nickname of a legendary Spanish golfer who died earlier this year.
24a Note lawsuit’s response (8)
{REACTION} – this response is a charade of the second note in tonic sol-fa and a lawsuit.
27a Chief’s armpit not fresh (9)
{IMPORTANT} – an anagram (fresh) of ARMPIT NOT produces an adjective meaning chief.
28a Prevent state involvement, ultimately (5)
{AVERT} – a verb meaning to state (used much more in Crosswordland than elsewhere) is followed by the last letter (ultimately) of (involvemen)T.
29a Finally win 1 – 0 (4)
{NONE} – the final letter of (wi)N is followed by the word form of 1 to make zero.
30a One studying for heaven’s sake? (10)
{ASTRONOMER} – this is a cryptic (?) definition of someone who studies the heavens. I think that it’s pretty weak – how about you?
Down Clues
1d Orders book (4)
{ACTS} – double definition, the orders being statutes and the book being part of the New Testament.
2d Developing resin: pros and cons (9)
{PRISONERS} – an anagram (developing) of RESIN PROS gives us what cons are a slang term for. Interestingly the answer intersects 12a.
3d Some discovered leaves up a tree (5)
{ELDER} – hidden (some) and reversed (up, in a down clue) in the clue is a tree.
4d Dined out to keep Virginia occupied (7)
{INVADED} – an anagram (out) of DINED contains (to keep) the standard abbreviation for the state of Virginia to make a verb meaning occupied (a foreign country, for example).
5d Rubbish films — they’re served up seasonally (7)
{TURKEYS} – double definition (and a possible comment on the films shown on TV over Christmas). This term is used for terrible films (apparently the film voted “worst ever” was called Plan 9 from Outer Space) although the “Oscar equivalents” for such movies are handed out each year at what’s called the Golden Raspberry Awards.
7d One’s trapped by the female burglar (5)
{THIEF} – put I (one) inside (trapped by) THE and F(emale). A burglar is someone who makes an illegal entry with the intention of committing a crime and is not necessarily this, so I think a question mark or “perhaps” would have been useful.
8d Engineer screwed in new glass on car (10)
{WINDSCREEN} – an anagram (engineer) of SCREWED IN N(ew).
9d Transport union with new leader (8)
{CARRIAGE} – a union of two people has its initial M changed (with new leader) to make a form of transport. I’m not sure whether the juxtaposition of this with 25d is deliberate.
14d Striking group of musicians? (10)
{PERCUSSION} – cryptic definition of a section of the orchestra where instruments are struck.
16d The study of lines and solids, strangely grey to me (8)
{GEOMETRY} – an anagram (strangely) of GREY TO ME.
18d Around start of October plum tree’s chopped up for fuel (9)
{PETROLEUM} – around the first letter of O(ctober) put an anagram (chopped up) of PLUM TREE to make a type of fuel.
20d Runs away without initially emitting cries (7)
{SCREAMS} – a slang verb meaning runs away goes round (without, in its sense of outside) the initial letter of E(mitting).
21d Time carrot’s uprooted — one’s likely to be on a farm (7)
{TRACTOR} – start with T(ime) and follow this with an anagram (uprooted) of CARROT to make what you may see on a farm.
23d Beginning to respect writer after I become more mature (5)
{RIPEN} – the first letter (beginning to) of R(espect) is followed by a writing implement after I.
25d Coach — and what pulls it (5)
{TRAIN} – double definition, the first being to coach (as a verb). Strictly speaking I think that coach is part of the answer and what pulls it is an engine.
26d Is topless, kissing sailor’s heavenly body (4)
{STAR} – .. just when I thought that there’d be no picture opportunities .. Is topless just means (i)S without its initial letter in a down clue. This is next to (kisses, like a snooker ball) a slang term for a sailor to make what 30a might look at.
I liked 1a, 11a and 9d but my clue of the day is 21a. What floated your boat?
Today’s Quickie Pun: {WAUGH} + {PLAIN} = {WARPLANE}
A workaday cryptic that lasted as long as it took to drink my first cuppa. I don’t mind anagrams that are apposite, otherwise too many can be tedious.
I think that I enjoyed it because it was easy, particularly with all the anagrams. Thanks for the hints Gazza but they were not really necessary and I don’t often say that
Nice tractor Gazza. As Gazza said, some nice clues today, but some iffy ones, personally I always thought that someone who plays a harp was a harpist, not a harper. I thought 29A was a particularly clever clue.
What tractor?
What makes me laugh, is if you put the cursor over the picture, the tag reads “tractor”.
A pleasant enough puzzle; no particular favourites, but a couple made me smile.
Thanks to setter, and to gazza for the notes.
Good morning Gazza and thanks for your offer
, your bugbear is my entry into the crosswords and I am ever grateful for anagrams, 8d in particular today was clever I thought, using engineer as the anagram indicator, I was ages trying to make it fit using RE withan anagram of ‘screwed in’ ! now you see why I had to decline! Lots I like but my fav clues were 12a, 21a, 8d and simply 25d, once again we had percussion, which was used in yesterdays crossword, there have been a lot of words this week used in other crosswords either as clues or answers, nice crossword for me today 
I wasn’t sure about this one when I had finished – definitely a lot of anagrams – but I suppose it was all right for a Tuesday. I liked 21a best – I did Shakespeare’s version for O level. Thanks to Gazza for the review – at least this time you had plenty of opportunities for illustrations
I had the same reaction to the Toughie too, see what you think and then comment in the other place.
I agree with Mary re the anagrams. I enjoyed todays crossword and I thought I had done well until I checked with your hints Gazza and I found I had the wrong answers for 28a and 20d! My grumble (apart from the ususal problem of getting onto the telegraph site) is 14d. Shouldn’t the answer have been percussionists (musicians)?
I thought that too until I realised that the clue refered to the group singular and not the musicians plural. It meant I was ages trying to start 29a with an S!
Not bad today but no wow factor that’s for sure. Best clue for me was 29a which I thought was very clever, worst clue by far was 11a followed closely by 17a. Thx to Gazza for the help which needed for the NE corner.
xx minutes. Quick for me.
We don’t indicate solving times here as it may put off those who take longer to solve a puzzle than others. Just say quicker than usual or longer than usual, or as you say ‘quick for me’ without mentioning actual numbers.
An extremely gentle but fairly enjoyable crossword, thanks to the setter and to Gazza for the review and the pictures.
I did most of this in about normal time, for me, but got completely stuck and needed not just the hint but the answer for 5d. I couldn’t get beyond the first three letters being “tor” – “rubbish” upside down (served up) with a few other letters – it just didn’t work. Oh well, never mind!! Also got 20d wrong – although I couldn’t explain it, apart from the “runs away” bit, I had “streaks”. Not a difficult crossword and I seem to have made a complete mess of it!! Maybe I’ll do better tomorrow. I liked 12, 19, 21 and 29a and 9 and 26d. Favourite today was 13a – it’s SO simple.
Glad it wasn’t just me with “Tor-e-s”……….
And I thought of seasonal food, but for some reason it just wouldn’t yield the right answer. I kept thinking “Chestnuts”!! which sort of works, “That Old Chestnut”……. seasonal food…..
The fact it didn’t fit at all wouldn’t make it go away.
Oh good – glad to be in company!
PS Sorry – forgot to say thank you to the setter and to Gazza.
I found this to be a tiresome puzzle – it didn’t send me at all – in fact I fell asleep for two hours while solving it!
12a, 21a, 22a & 8d were best.
Probably drank too much Menetou Salon with my stuffed paprikas for lunch.
Liver and bacon for dinner.
I concur – lovely tractor. Beautiful tyres – pity about the girl. Crossword was good fun and completed during a District Line delay.
I had THEOLOGIAN in at 30a (For Heaven’s sake!) until I realised the error of my ways, repented, and put the right answer in (Praise the Lord!).
Thanks to the setter and to gazza. Normally I don’t count the anagrams but even I noticed the number here.
I did too, until I realised it gave a lot of unlikely last letters on the down clues. At least we were thinking along theological lines, rather than trawling the internet for saucy pictures. Still, at least there was a male/female balance today!
22a – I had the great privilege of being one of the crowd following Señor Ballesteros around Wentworth – a few times!
Gazza – Is “Seve” a nickname?
Nickname ..or…is it just “Short-for”. The appropriate word escapes me! Hic!!
Diminutive ?
Is Seve a common abbreviation for Severiano in Spain or is it a name given to him by non-Spaniards unable to pronounce or spell his full forename? Do Spaniards also refer to him as Seve?
Yo no sé! Tal vez, Pommers, puede explicar?
Reading this with some interest I would agree with the term diminutive. In other languages the diminutive for a name (and also other nouns) are created by an addition/elision to the name. Example:
Lou is a diminutive of Eloise and in Dutch one adds -dje or -tje to the word so LOUTJE is “Little Lou” in the same way that Paard is to Paardje as Horse is to Horsey – a baby word.
We are not so strict over here as we have excellent familiar (en famille) or baby-names like Bazza, Gazza, Bazz, Gazz, Barr etc.
Anyone seen my coat?
Never realthought about it. I’ve never noticed a Spaniard call him Seve but I’ll ask!
I’m not sure. Perhaps I should have written “abbreviated forename” rather than nickname, but Chambers defines nickname as “a name given in jocular or fond familiarity” and I think that applies to Seve.
I enjoyed today’s – quite a few nice clues in there with good surface readings – I liked 29a, 25d and 26d.
Probably too many anagrams, but it made it the first puzzle I’ve managed entirely on my own for the past week.
Finally given up and looked at the hint for 29a. Thanks for putting me out of my misery Gazza, and well done to the setter.
Nice crossword. I LIKE anagrams, so it’s all fine with me.
29a best clue, 21a second.
Sorry to be days behind everyone, been a lot on recently.
2* diff / 4* enj.
Night night