DT 26672 (Hints) – Big Dave's Crossword Blog
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DT 26672 (Hints)

by Big Dave  

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 26672 (Hints)

Big Dave’s Saturday Crossword Club

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As is usual for the weekend prize crosswords, I will select an assortment of clues, including some of the more difficult ones, 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           Discharge from army as protest is breaking into bad blood (10)
To get this word meaning to discharge from the army start with a protest (4) and then insert IS, from the clue, into bad blood or bitterness

10a         Taoism’s foremost philosopher collected things before match (9)
Start with the initial letter (foremost) of Taoism ‘s and then add a Genevan philosopher to get things collected by a bride before a match or wedding

21a         Performance in the Hippodrome a colourful display received by acclaim (13)
This performance, perhaps by Ben Hur, in the Hippodrome is derived by putting A and a colourful display of flowers inside (received by) acclaim or applause

ARVE Error: need id and provider

27a         Lender wanting security manipulated person with no money, right? (10)
This lender requires security before offering a loan – he’s a charade of a manipulated person (4), an adjective meaning with no money and R(ight)

Down

1d           Dope enjoyed consuming bit of roast (4)
To get this dope or narcotic take a verb meaning enjoyed or appreciated and insert the first letter (bit) of Roast

3d           Mendicant’s faith is incredible (7,6)
A charade of a mendicant or scrounger, the ‘S from the clue and faith or creed gives a phrase meaning incredible or too extraordinary to be described.

20d         Set of records appear to contain nothing on Great Britain (7)
This set of records is created by putting a verb meaning to appear or seem around O (zero) and the abbreviation of Great Britain

23d         Noble look (4)
A double definition – a nobleman or a look

Congratulations to the England Rugby team and misery for the Jocks (again!).

The Crossword Club is now open.  Feel free to leave comments.

Please don’t put whole or partial answers or alternative clues in your comment, else they may be censored!

The Quick crossword pun: {melon} + {cauli} = {melancholy}

106 comments on “DT 26672 (Hints)”

  1. Thanks to the setter & Big Dave. Quite enjoyed this one. Lots of good wordplay and nice surface reading. Stuck on 4 clues in NE corner. Favourites 21 & 20. Is there a bit missing to 11?

  2. Dave – have you got a pdf of the puzzle? I have been trying since 7:30 to get on and have had no success. If you don’t – no problem may have to go out and get paper version (or not do it).

    Thanks

  3. Bad Luck Scotland! – That was a bit too close for comfort. If Georgia beat Argentina by 8 points then they may just be sticking around.
    Meanwhile in Crosswordland: I found this rather hard to get into but then accelerated to a finish and looking back wasn’t sure what the problem was. Nicely enjoyable so thanks to the setter and BD.
    Now with that out of the way, does anyone in the UK NOT have glorious sunshine at the moment?

    1. England almost did not deserve to win but I’m glad they are through. However, they will not beat the Southern Hemisphere sides.
      Weather in the Languedoc is sizzling

    2. Thanks Gnomey! I’m recording it on my digibox & have been tryng to avoid news bulletins in order to sit down later this evening to quaff a few & swear at the television!

  4. Now the DT is really taking the proverbial. I’ve been trying to access the site since 7:00am. I’ve managed to get on twice only to find it is completely banjaxed when it comes to printing!

    Oh & I enjoyed the crossword after going out to buy a paper which is like giving them money for something I’ve already partially paid for!

    1. With regard to the problems in getting into Cluedup, I am sure that since the Telegraph charge for the privilege, there will be some form of rebate forthcoming. But then, I still believe in Father Christmas.

  5. Didn’t take long to sort this one out, even though there were a few headscratchers in there. Thanks to the Mysteron. I will sort out my favourites later on when I draft the review. Thanks to BD for the hints too.

    Glorious sunshine here too

  6. NIce solid CW .Enjoyed .Just Back from Costa del Edinburgh [25/26c] & today its dull & rainy now in Northumberland .No records here today. Thanks all

  8. It took me a while to see the ‘all in one’ aspect of 11d too. Something similar to 21a has been seen recently hasn’t it? Liked 10a, 8d and 3d. Thanks to all involved today.

  9. Really enjoyed this one, so many great surfaces. Particularly liked 12/19/27a & 3/8/11d.
    The sun is shining, it’s Saturday (bacon and eggs instead of porridge) and an entertaining crossword.
    Life is good!

  10. If you have done this one and it’s too hot to do anything but sit in the shade, I highly recommend you print off today’s NTSPP and find a shady spot to solve it in.

  11. Thanks to BD sending me the pdf I was able to sit in the sunshine and take my time solving this. Thanks to BD and to mysteron.

    I liked 2d and 13a – good for illustration (prefereably the singer rather than the show).

    Still haven’t done last week’s NTSPP by Prolixic so may take CS’s opinion and do it. It is VERY warm here but luckily I live in an area where we have a breeze if there is any air movement.

    Enjoy!

  12. For the third day running I have found this difficult – think it must be me! I’ve finished it now – 15a and 8d took ages. Had to guess and then look up 17a. Liked 6, 24 and 25a and 3, 7, 8 and 18d. With thanks to the setter and Big Dave.
    Very hot in Oxford too – too hot to garden and beastly impacted wisdom tooth causing trouble again. :sad:

  13. I realise that it’s not so easy for our overseas members, but why don’t all you homeland Puzzled People bite the bullet and revert to good old fashioned paper? Take out a subscription and save 1/3 off the cover price; no hassle / frustration trying to log-on; a stroll in the sunshine to collect the paper; a chat with the friendly newsagent; the rest of the paper to read / recycle / re-use; and today a bonus section with 4 pages of Brain Games !

    1. Nice idea Digby but by the time I drive two miles there and two miles back each day (we don’t get a delivery) plus the fact I only buy it for the crossword it really isn’t worth it, all of us who are subscribed to clued down and are now having to buy a paper are paying more than twice!

      1. I gave up this morning and went into town when I got back I got onto the site straight away, thus the late start today

    2. I buy the paper, but I find the Telegraph Puzzles’ current comment somewhat amusing considering the angst many subscribers have expressed over the last few months on this blog!

      Apologies to all subscribers for the incidents of server overload which are causing sporadic outages (i.e. lack of access). If you experience a problem, it will generally be resolved after a few minutes. The work to correct it is expected to be finished early in October. Thanks for your patience.

      So, be patient! When does early October end? They say October, but which year!

      Worst of all is that they are still are still touting for new subscribers!

      Rant Over – where’s my paper?

  14. This took me longer than normal for a Saturday, with a few clues taking longer to unravel than they should have done – in particular 27a, where I was convinced (with some of the letters in the grid) that BANKER featured somewhere in the answer!
    Thanks to setter, and to BD.

  15. Took two starts to unpick this one, some quite straightforward clues and some like 13d which took a bit of unpicking. All done one EXCEPT 8d which is defeating me. Any clues would be appreciated so I can go and do something useful in this splendid weather.

    1. This ‘Ancient resting place’ is somewhere you might retire to at the end of the evening. For (given in the clue) goes around an abbreviation for university, and is followed by a synonym for a bill (not the type in a restaurant), and ignore the false capitalisation!

      2. Thanks so much, Jezza — it was almost the last one in. I had 15a wrong, which held me up for a bit.

    2. Hi Brian,
      Re 18d – the definition is “resting place” as in bed rather than grave. You want the “for” (from the clue) around the usual abbreviation for university followed by a six letter word for “bill” as in the kind of thing that could be stuck to a wall.

    3. 8d took me a long while too, only got from the crossing letters. Anyway, I’ll try a hint that hopefully isn’t breaking any rules. Try not to take ‘Ancient resting place’ too literally, that is not refering to the ‘Big Sleep’ but rather ….

      My first post here but have been reading for a while. Thanks for the good site BD and to all the regular contributors.

    4. Thx Jezza and Kath, now I get it although it was a lot easier when I put the right answer into 15a (I had Common!). Thx to the setter for an enjoyable return from holiday and and to BD for the hints.

  16. I’m late again this week as I watched the France v Tonga game as well and I think that my brain must have been addled by a surfeit of rugby. However, once I got started, things soon fell into place and it was the usual Saturday fare, although not particularly exciting.

  17. Would appreciate a PDF of the puzzle – impossible to log on to the site and the price of the paper in Marbella is ridiculous

  18. OK scrub that last comment – just tried again and got straight on! The wonders of technology……..

  19. I found this a bit tough to get into today and got stuck on a couple needing two of Daves hints, thanks Dave :-) , no favourite clues today and I don’t quite understand 15a although I think I have the right answer? Gnomey would you believe we have had glorious sunshine for the last three days now, typical as I am off to Teneriffe this week, bad luck Scotland today :-( , hope the tooth gets better soon Kath, there is nothing worse, OK see you all on the11th Oct, hopefully someone can explain 15a to me??

    1. 15a – The definition is “everything there is”. An abbreviation of “singular” inside an Italian Lake with the “s” from the clue!

      After the scorching weather in Wales, it should be nice to cool down in Teneriffe! Enjoy your trip!

    1. Hi eileen, you are looing for a resting place as in bed, this type of bed was popular in olden days and often had curtains hung around them, ancient resting place is the definition (what you are looking for) take ‘for’ and another word bill the kind you stick up on walls to advertise something maybe and inset ‘u’ for round University, hope this helps

    1. I am not Mary – but – its an anagram of I SPURN SHOWER and the first letter of Plage and is someone who is not too keen on bad weather.

    2. You dare, 11d see Daves comment above at 1, it’s a kind of all in one clue an anagram (cavorting) of ‘I spurn shower’ around ‘p’ i.e. ‘plage’ primarily, it doesn’t really work for me but I can see how it might! I think we are also meant to know ‘plage’ is French for beach, as Dave says a kind of all in one, I think if you try to explain it too much it just unravels but that’s just me :-)

  26. More difficult than usual for a sAturday, or is it just me? I am still stuck on 2d and 9a : could the latter possibly be some hills near here? Help please!

    2. Near Cambridge:the only hills we have are the Gog Magogs, not very high, most people wouldn’t call them hills at all.

    1. 1d – Defiition is dope, you need a “funky” word for enjoyed, around R (a bit of roast)
      9a – Its hidden in the clue (sung a glee), definition is free to talk again..

  28. My 9a is looking very odd. Can anyone help. I may have one of the down clues wrong

    1. Thanks Libulle, I just seen your hint. I’m a bit distracted with the rugby this afternoon

            1. Collywobbles,
              Re. the BRB – Be that as it may – its the right answer – I wondered about it, but when I submitted my version of the crossword online, that particular answer was the one that was accepted. Chambers online has it as an allowable Scrabble word…

            2. Collywobbles – 9a – I’ve just bought the 12th Edition of the BRB – I can confirm it’s not in there! I want my money back! :smile:

              1. Franco,
                I ordered the old version about 4 weeks age and they sent me 2 copies so I have 2 chances of not finding it

                1. Collywobbles, perhaps you should donate your extra copy to today’s compiler?

                  Having read this blog for a long time, I always thought that Chambers Ruled?

              2. It is in my copy (11th edition) – in a long list of words in a panel at the bottom of the page.

                1. BD & Gazza, as usual, you’re right!

                  I’m not used to the BRB! I just looked in the section that contains definitions! So why no definition?

                  1. However, sometimes, Chambers is very amusing – This definition appeared in a recent Brendan/Virgilius crossword?

                    Éclair :a cake, long in shape, but short in duration, with cream filling and usu chocolate icing.

                  1. The (2) after the word in the long list at the bottom indicates that the first two letters relate to the second definition ie indicating a reversal of process, removal or deprivation. You can look up the other three letter bit of the word elsewhere in the BRB.

  29. Finished at last, and now I can get on with my packing. I’m leaving first thing in the morning for Sydney to attend, sadly, a Memorial Service for my mother who died last month. So I’m off for four weeks, can’t get the Telegraph or call up the puzzle on my i-pad, so I’ll catch up with you all in November.
    :-)

    2. I’m sorry about your Mum too, Franny – I hope that all goes as well as is possible – a very difficult time for you ….

      1. Thanks Kath (I hope your tooth gets better soon) and Jezza. With any luck I’ll still be able to read the blog. :-)

    1. 18d Enthusiastic approval and praise in area in front of stage (7)
      To get this enthusiastic approval put a verb meaning to praise inside the area in front of stage where the orchestra is usually found

  31. Very enjoyable crossword from our Mysteron this week. I wonder if there is a hidden message in the grid for Telegraph Puzzles subscribers:

    26a, 6a, 5d, 3d ;)

    1. Pretty clever but, as I keep on about most days, we get the paper so are completely unaffected by all the problems. This doesn’t stop me from sympathising with all those who depend on modern technology. Have just re-read what I’ve written – what a load of rubbish – where would lots of us be without this wonderful blog?

    4. I wonder if it is just 26a, 5d, 3d as I am not sure that the 6a does 3d if you see what I mean.

  32. Another nice Saturday puzzle.
    Faves : 10a, 19a, 21a, 27a, 3d, 8d, 11d & 20d.

    Fish & chips tonight – grilled Icelandic seawolf – to go down with Montana sauvignon blanc – then Dutch strawberries & cream.

  33. Bd, just finished, been at it all afternoon, on and off, and I’ve just got 6a but can you explain why?

    1. The definition is complaint. Take a three letter word for a busy person (from the insect that is described as busy) followed by the usual abbreviation for loud in music.

  34. Enjoyed today’s CW, did it after tea as I have been working all day luckily outside so was able to catch some rays, took a while for the penny to drop on 14a & 13d favourite clue was 12a. :D

  35. This took me a lot longer than usual to get to grips with. I liked 25a because I got this far first read through before solving anything! After a bit of thought I like 3d and 8d too.

  36. Still to complete this one. I couldn’t access the site so l could not print the crossword before l went off for the day and didn’t really start tackling this until eary evening then went to bed with a lot to do. Woke up this morning with answers…..l love it when that happens :)
    Stuck at the moment on 9a, 19a and 11d

    I like 17a

    For most of yesterday I was 25a, l had a lovely day at a spa that has an outside pool enjoying the sun

    1. Having burbled on about the enjoying the sun yesterday feel quite stupid that l did not get 11d

  37. Enjoyed After a day out at Kelmscott Manor only got 4 in each way – 6,9,12,25a and 2,7,16,23d I woke up in the night and did the rest. Did not like 1d and 9a. Checked 9a in Chambers – no definition needed (comment above) – just opposite of the word without the first two letters. With some of clues spent more time working out why than getting the answer! One of last to go in surprisingly as I listen regularly was 13d but I liked it. Yes she does crop up (comment above) but not as often as the revolutionary with a similar name. Favourite of favourites 4d.

  38. Managed this one without hints – but still needed to check!! Last to solve were 19a and 20d kept trying to include United Kingdom instead of Great Britain – silly! 12a kept me thinking for ages. Looks like another superb day here in Northants – out in the garden yesterday until dark – Our grand -daughter was thrilled to be up late enough to see “the man in the moon” – something not possible throughout this “summer”!

  39. Good morning folks from sun-drenched Hertfordshire. I found this puzzle tricky – Saturday challenges are becoming more so in recent week it seems. 27a was clever. 11d a tad clunky? Anyway, all done and the pen beckons.

    1. The fat lady has yet to sing!

      17a Program for computer company connected to internet finally (6)
      This small computer program is a charade of the computer company responsible for the iPod, iPhone and iPad and the final letter of interneT

      26a Place skittles regularly used (4)
      This place comes from the odd letters of S k I t T l E s

      13d Time to listen to singer/actress’s radio show (3,7)
      A charade of T(ime), a word meaning to listen to (4), an actress/singer and the ‘S gives a long-running radio show

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