DT 26750 (Hints) – Big Dave's Crossword Blog
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DT 26750 (Hints)

by Big Dave  

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 26750 (Hints)

The New Year’s Eve Crossword Club

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Happy New Year everyone.

As is usual for the weekend prize crosswords, an assortment of clues, including some of the more difficult ones, have been selected and hints provided 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           Unexpectedly grumpy about prying (12)
To get an adverb meaning unexpectedly put an adjective meaning grumpy or gruff around (about) a verb meaning prying or levering

9a           George, car driver (9)
This George is the RAF slang for a device for keeping an aircraft on a set course, and it’s a charade of a car and the driver of said aircraft

12a         Ran with indecent haste (8)
… stark naked on to the rugby pitch

17a         Secret feature at rear of house (8)
An adjective meaning unworthily secret could, if split (4,4) be the rear entrance to a house

24a         A handful run out with gold from salesman (6)
A charade of the Roman numeral for a handful, a verb meaning to run out or expire and the heraldic term for gold gives this salesman

28a         Concern with judge’s charge to borrower (8,4)
A charade of concern or inquisitiveness and a verb meaning to judge gives a charge made to someone who borrows money

Down

1d           Composer breaking down in tears (7)
This English composer who is remembered for his church music, including the oratorio Crucifixion (1887), is an anagram (breaking down) of IN TEARS

2d           Either way it’s a revolver (7)
… because it’s a palindrome!

3d           Fabric edge and carpeting (9)
A charade of three three-letter words –  a fabric, an edge, AND from the clue – gives a carpeting or censure

7d           Wally in short coat (6)
This clue conjures up an amusing image – a charade of a wally or plonker and IN from the clue gives a short sleeveless coat

18d         Early rock’n’roller (6)
A cryptic definition of a small bed for a baby which is suspended or on rockers

ARVE Error: need id and provider

25d         Stun for at least 48 hours, say (4)
This verb meaning to stun sounds like more than one period of 24 hours

The Crossword Club opens at 10.00am.  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: {come} + {hell} + {hoar} + {highwater} = {come hell or high water}

62 comments on “DT 26750 (Hints)”

  1. 20a I have an answer for this clue but can’t see where it fits together
    Where is the easterner ?

    24a despite Big Dave’s clue again I fail to see exactly why my answer is what it is

    1. You’ve changed your alias! Both will work now.

      20d Easterner annexes a state (7)
      Someone from an eastern country is followed by (annexes) A from the clue to get a US state

      24a – try again – think about a person who sells (a salesman) made up of a Roman numeral (1), to run out (3) and the heraldic term for gold (2)

  2. I’m always changing my alias (another way of saying)Senility has hit me and I can’t remember it
    Still can’t see 24a

  3. I spent most of my time trying to think of a name of a famous japanese animator who is an anagram of AWOMANIN O (love). Needless to say I failed!
    All OK apart from that. THanks to BD and to the setter – Happy New Year to you all!

  4. At first sight, I thought that I was going to have problems with this puzzle but I persevered and then was pleasantly surprised to find that I’d finished it. Like Moyesy, I couldn’t work out why I had the answer to 24a and then the penny dropped… May I take this opportunity to wish everyone a happy and healthy 2012.

  5. No Magic Moments like yesterday but a reasonable pangram. 6 and 8 were pretty poor and no real favourites. Now back to yesterday’s Toughie.

  6. A very enjoyable New Years Eve puzzle from, I presume, Cephas. My favourite clue has to be the d’oh-inducing 18d. Thanks to setter and hint giver.

  7. A pleasant finish to this year’s cryptics. Fav. clues 9a and 18d. last in 21d…….. Can’t spell 27ac. Thanks setter and BD. All the best to all for 2012

  8. I’ve just picked the crossword up and on a first pass only got 2 clues which does not bode well. However, no doubt with BD’s help and a great deal of spare time on New Years’ eve I will get through it

  10. Thanks to the setter & Big Dave for the hints. An enjoyable, though not too taxing puzzle. Quite a few clever clues. Favourites were 15& 17d, and 19& 22a. Happy New Year to all.

  11. Like collywobbles I started off very badly and thought that this wasn’t looking too good but then, quite quickly, everything fell into place. Last one in was 18d which I looked at for ages. I couldn’t explain 15d for some time although the answer was obvious – had sussed out that it was a pangram and I needed the 3rd letter! Also would not have got 24a had I not needed the 1st letter – and still needed the hint to explain that one. For me it’s not often that noticing a crossword is likely to be a pangram coincides with it being any help but today it did! 21d took a while as I was trying to think of a specific plant.
    I liked 1, 11 and 14a and 7d. I enjoyed this one very much – with thanks to Cephas (?) and Big Dave.
    Happy New Year to everyone – hope you all have a very good evening. I suspect it could be a bit quiet around here tomorrow! :smile:

    1. Kath, I have an answer for 15d, the only thing it could be really. I am still struggling to work out why though. Any chance you can nudge me in the right direction please?

      1. Bob,

        Lacking first bit of Cheddar, game to go round for cheese (9)

        The first bit of Cheddar is the letter C, so take that off (lacking) the start of a ball game and put what’s left round the word given in the clue.

  12. A really enjoyable puzzle to end the year with! I also started off slowly, but was glad when everything gradually fell into place. Favourites were 12a and 5d, and 27a which reminded me of the hippopotamus song where the lady adjusts her garter. I wonder what goodies are in the naughty corner today.

    A very Happy New Year and all good wishes to all the compilers, bloggers and lurkers on this site. :-)

  13. Finished today with no real problems, but can’t for life of me think what word for ‘suffering’ sparks (in its endless form) the answer for 26a. Any way of lifting the clouds for me?

      1. Doh! Plus ‘one’…of course! Now I’m embarrassed… Many thanks for the welcome and a clear sky, Mr Dave!

    1. On your recommendation, I have just printed the NTSPP and will have a go at it later—been busy all morning and about to go out so haven’t had a look at ANY crosswords yet!

      Have never tried the NTSPP but will give it a shot.

      1. It’s in the post immediately after this one, titled “Not the Saturday Prize Puzzle – 099”.
        Click on “Read More”, then click on the picture of the grid.

        1. Using Google Chrome, it’s the first entry in “Recent Posts” in the right-hand side panel and is titled “NTSPP – 099”.

            1. No it’s not on the ‘Telegraph Crosswords’ website it’s on this site.

              Go to the home page and you’ll find it’s the first post – a puzzle by Boaz.

  15. Happy New Year one and all. Let’s hope 2012 is a good one!

    All done but not convinced with 4d – am I being a tad dim? Can someone explain please?

    3. If you were dim, then so was I! Crossword completed, DT said it was all OK, I stared and stared… resort == re-sort, d’oh!

      Many thanks to Big Dave and everyone else, and Happy New Year to you all.

  16. Thanks BD – just realised!!!!!! Thanks for a great blog – and all the best for 2012 to the whole crossword community.

  17. Didn’t know that definition of 26a. Like Moysey, had the answer, but why! Nice puzzlw today. Stretching without making you scream in frustration! Thanks to BD and setter. Happy New Year to you all.

  18. A very pleasant end to the year so many thanks to the setter.

    Favourite 11a but there are a lot of other good clues.

    As crypticsue says, have a go at the NTSPP, it’s one very amusing puzzle!

    Happy New Year to all in crosswordland.

  19. Last one in was 18d – I should have got that one sooner!

    Thanks to setter, and to BD for the hints.

    I wonder whether Virgilius is out tomorrow… I hope so!

  21. Happy New Year to all the crossworders – I visit the site everyday but don’t often make a comment. However, I read all your comments and find them very helpful. Looking forward to 2012.

  22. Just completed this while watching a Murder Mystery Marathon on our local public service tv station (today and tomorrow). So a very British morning. 18d was the last one in for me too.

  23. I enjoyed this, but I wonder why we had the themed Auld Year´s puzzle several days ago, rather than today. Or maybe there’ll be something relevant to the season tomorrow?

    ¡Feliz Año Nuevo a todos!

  24. Thoroughly enjoyable puzzle with some well crafted clues. A happy New Year to one and all and thanks to BD whose hints, again, came into use. I’m off to the NTSPP now that I know where it is

  25. A nice and simple wee crossword to end the year on but very enjoyable. A Guid New Year tae yin and a’.

  26. Happy New Year to everyone, and a big thank you to all the setters, hinters and particularly BD for keeping the site going for our daily crossword fix.

  27. Having read all the comments I seem to be the only one struggling with this to-day. I’ve just had the D’oh moment with 4d!! One or two still to get but will keep at it a tad longer .
    Happy & Healthy 2012 to everyone

  29. I confess to “lurking” – new year’s resolution will be to contribute… Recently returned to DT crosswords having lapsed for over 20 years – this site has been very useful in helping me reconnect…

  31. Happy New Year everyone. I made short work of today’s puzzle.I quite liked 14a and 27a and my brain took a while to think out 18d.

  32. Last one in 11a and felt like one when I got it. Liked 3d and 22a. Very enjoyable. Happy New Year. Just getting drowned in Cornwall.

  33. Funnily enough I had no problem with 18d but have been stuck forever on 21d! I got 3d but didn’t understand how it works. Happy new Year everyone, and thanks to BD for this brilliant site.

  34. Different and enjoyable puzzle for the new year. Happy New Year to anyone still on the blog. If there is anyone still logged on today, maybe you could help me understand where the last letter of 22d comes from. Think I have the right answer, but can’t justify the end.

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