Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 26832
Hints and tips by Big Dave
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****
Two puzzles from Ray T this week, and I get to review both of them (and I reviewed an Arachne Quiptic on fifteensquared)! A touch more innuendo than we have seen of late, but this is tame stuff by Ray’s normal standards. But we do get a visit from the Queen.
Please leave a comment telling us what you thought. You can also add your assessment by selecting from one to five stars at the bottom of the post.
Across
1a Lady Muck initially rich as one’s poor (11)
{MARCHIONESS} – this titled lady is derived from the initial letter of Muck followed by an anagram (poor) of RICH AS ONE’S
10a Doctor’s including operation for eye treatment (5)
{DROPS} – put the abbreviation of doctor and the S from ‘S around an OP(eration) to get this eye treatment
11a Be let out I fancy from dungeon (9)
{OUBLIETTE} – an anagram (fancy) of BE LET OUT I gives a dungeon with no opening except in the roof, where the prisoners were “forgotten”
12a Kick out former wife with occupation about sex (9)
{EXTRADITE} – this verb meaning to kick out from a country in order to hand over for trial or punishment by a foreign government is derived from a former partner followed by an occupation or profession around a two-letter word for sex
13a Liberal section of church backsliding (5)
{LAPSE} – L(iberal) is followed by a section of a church to get this backsliding
14a Stagger one regularly getting into scrap? (6)
{TOTTER} – a double definition – to stagger and someone like Steptoe regularly getting into scrap
16a Anchor tug overturned creating mess for crew (8)
{WARDROOM} – synonyms for to anchor and to tug are both reversed to get a mess for the crew of a ship, as long as they are officers!
18a Arches back before steamy photo (8)
{SNAPSHOT} – reverse some arches and follow them with a word meaning steamy to get this photo
20a Verbal nudge in case of solicitation (6)
{SPOKEN} – this adjective meaning verbal is created by inserting a nudge inside the outer letters (case) of SolicitatioN
23a Cove encircles the Italian city (5)
{MILAN} – put a cove or chap around the Italian definite article to get this (Italian) city – no, “Italian” is not doing double duty, the definition is “city”!
24a Viagra perhaps, man with lust it excited (9)
{STIMULANT} – the type of medication of which Viagra is an example (perhaps) comes from an anagram (excited) of MAN with LUST IT
26a Nanny state’s first in ruin, made to change (9)
{NURSEMAID} – this nanny is derived by inserting the initial letter (first) of State inside an anagram (to change) of RUIN MADE
27a Touch of wind over relish (5)
{GUSTO} – a charade of a touch of wind and O(ver) gives this relish – but not the relish produced by last night’s Apprentices, although it sounds as if it might be!
28a Red setter returned, secured around rear (11)
{EMBARRASSED} – an adjective meaning red-faced is derived from the reversal (returned) of the first person objective pronoun (setter) followed by a verb meaning secured around another name for the rear or butt
Down
2d Very distant rising endlessly going on (5)
{AFOOT} – start with a phrase meaning very distant (3,3), drop the final R (endlessly) and reverse what’s left (rising in a down clue) to get a word meaning going on or current
3d Fall for rogue in suit (7)
{CASCADE} – this waterfall is derived by inserting a rogue inside a law suit
4d De Niro nicely demonstrates sneering (6)
{IRONIC} – hidden inside (demonstrates) the clue is an adjective meaning sneering
5d Lord Muck initially in list supporting aristocrat (8)
{NOBLEMAN} – this lord is derived by inserting the Initial letter of Muck inside a verb meaning to list or incline and after a slang word for an aristocrat (3) – so now we have both Lord and Lady Muck!
6d Professional done in by end of aerobics (7)
{SKILLED} – to get this adjective meaning professional put a word meaning done in or put to death after the final letter (end) of aerobicS
7d Plug a test drive with men behaving badly (13)
{ADVERTISEMENT} – this plug or promotion comes from an anagram (behaving badly) of A TEST DRIVE with MEN
8d Handled pipe to cut supply (8)
{STOPCOCK} – a cryptic definition of a short pipe opened and closed by turning a handle
9d Turning mean, tried it on, showing tenacity (13)
{DETERMINATION) – an anagram (Turning) of MEAN TRIED IT ON gives this tenacity
15d ‘Time’, track’s gripping Queen previews (8)
{TRAILERS} – T(ime) is followed by track for a train around (gripping) the cypher for Queen Elizabeth to get these film previews –note that the track is plural!
17d Tailless rodent, small, also called foreign delicacy (8)
{MOUSSAKA} – a rodent without its final E (tailless) is followed by S(mall) and an abbreviation meaning “also called” to get this Greek or Turkish delicacy
19d Ray, a French bachelor in bed (7)
{SUNBEAM} – this ray of light is derived by putting the French indefinite article and B(achelor) inside a bed or stratum of a mineral
21d Dives and dives under surface of pool (7)
{PLUNGES} – this verb meaning dives into water is derived from a similar verb meaning dives preceded by the initial letter (surface) of Pool
22d He wants the lot! (6)
{BIDDER} – a cryptic definition of someone who wants to buy a lot in an auction
25d Drink one’s consumed inside part of church (5)
{AISLE} – put an alcoholic drink around I’S (one’s) to get this part of a church
Really spoilt this week!
The Quick crossword pun: {whit} + {new} + (stun} = {Whitney Houston}
A reasonably gentle puzzle today, although I was unsure of the second definition in 14a, and I had to check the synonym for ‘bed’ in 19d.
Favourite clue – 17d.
Thanks to RayT, and to BD.
The toughie today (despite the theme) I found very hard!
Chambers gives 14 across as:
* A person who searches through dustbins and rubbish heaps for reusable or saleable items
* A rag-and-bone-man, scrap dealer
He;s too young to remember rag & bone men
I always thought they were called tatters.
Nope. Definitely totters.
Enjoyable and not too taxing but had never heard of 2nd half of 14 but got the guess from the link letters and the first half.
Thanks
W
Looked harder at first glance than it was.** to *** and ***, became straightforward once the’framework’was in place.
Remenbered11a from somewhere in the dim past, but was’nt sure where the ‘u’ went.Like all good crosswords the secret is to obscure the definition and i thought Ray did this very well-thanks.Now i know how to spell17d-why do the Greeks always serve it lukewarm-probably too busy smoking!
Getting better, did this one with very few hold ups in fairly short order.
Thanks to RayT for an enjoyable puzzle, 17d my favourite both as clue and a meal.
Thanks to BD for review, 26a I had put in but hadn’t spotted the anagram, doh.
where is the quick crossword pun today
tabbycat
Sorry, I forgot to add it.
It’s there now
It’s quiet this morning – where is everybody? I thought this a very enjoyable crossword. Favourites 1a, 16a, 18a, 20a, 5d. I agree with **/**** Many thanks to Ray and BD for explaining 14a which I got but didn’t fully understand why.
Very enjoyable for me too. My favourite clue has to be Mr T’s self-referencing 19d. Thanks to him and BD too.
I enjoyed the Toughie very much, but then it turned out that I did know quite a bit about the theme
It sounds to me as if identifying the theme is a bit crucial – shall I have a go? Or, after yesterday, would it be better for me to go and lie face down on the sofa?
Have a look at it – the theme is fairly ‘spottable’ – it did take me a bit of muttering but I did smile a lot too.
Have now had a quick look – haven’t spotted theme but have done a few of the others – will let brain(?) work for a little while on its own while I take dog out and, perhaps, clean a few windows.
Two Ray T’s in one week – how lucky can we get!
Much as I love his puzzles this was definitely more of a 3* for difficulty for me. I didn’t know the second definition of 14a so had to check in the BRB. Until I got 12a I spent a while trying to justify “aloof” for 2d. I didn’t know 11a but guessed from the French and looked that up too. I really liked Lord and Lady Muck! Lots of use for the dictionary today! My favourites include 18, 24 and 28a and 4, 7, 17 and 19d. With thanks to Ray T and BD.
I was aloof for a long time this morning too, Kath.
Very glad not to be on my own with that one!
Got the DT a shade earlier than normal today.
Likes :1a, 12a, 16a, 2d, 17d & 19d.
Re 19d – I think layer is more appropriate than bed?????
We had rain very late yesterday but today is cloudy and fine. Still damned chilly!
We have been spoilt this week with 2 puzzles from the master. Not too difficult today but the clues were so good with great surface readings. He has even signed it in 19d! My last in and favourite was 8 but also liked 1 2 5 14 16 17 19 26 28 etc etc. We even got a nudge in 20 but could not find a wink! Thanks a lot, Ray, how long will we have to wait now?
Late again. BT still buggering about with the phone lines
Lovely puzzle today, really enjoyed it. I got a bit stuck on the left hand side until a D’Oh moment which let me get 7D and finish it off.
Thought 11A was good, but 16A has to be my favourite today.
BTW, will be absent for a few days – off to The Smoke for my sins. See Y’all Monday.
Have fun!
Much fun but very straightforward judging from the time. Thanks to RayT and to BD for the review.
Many thanks to RayT for a most enjoyable puzzle and to BD for the hints.
Enjoyed it today. Liked 2d, 17a, 28a.
I’ve never heard of totter either!
Back to normal for me, couldn’t even start it!
Really enjoyed today, I didn’t recognise the reversal in 16A so needed help and also never heard of the second definition of 14A. Thanks RayT and BD…Happy Easter all…
Where is everyone today? Very quiet here! Have given up with toughie now and going to look at hints – Tuesday was obviously a complete fluke!
Loved this today
Sorry if I gave you a fright yesterday Kath with my mad face. I was really mad at the DT it’s all sorted now and bless him Pommers came to my aid . Thanks to Ray T & BD.
Hi Annidrum, not a problem, just hope you enjoyed it as much as the rest of us did
Needed a lot of help today (thanks BD) – managed to solve a handful last night (Texas time) including the two 13 letter ones (7d and 9d – why are they always easier to solve than 4 letter clues), and 14a (hands up all those who are old enough to remember Steptoe and Son!). Today, I didn’t seem to be able to “tune in.”
Gosh – definitely in the minority – I couldn’t do it at all!!! Well, got about 5 I suppose before resorting to hints, so thanks for those BD. Hope it was just an “off” day and I’ll fare better tomorrow.
I’m with you, wish I could get to grips with a ray T as everyone else seems to enjoy his but to me they remain impenetrable. Never mind it’s the best setter of the week tomorrow.
Thanks yet again this week to BD, and to everybody else who took the time to leave a comment. I’m pleased that most of you enjoyed it…
RayT
Thanks Ray, glad that you drop in now and then to comment, it’s great to get a bit of feedback from the setting community. Keep up the double entendres, they always raise a smile
I am in the didn’t get the second meaning of 14a group for sure and am still struggling with the quickie pun despite knowing the answer, no matter how much I repeat it it just doesnt work for me. That aside I had quite a few chuckles with this offering for RayT. 19d fave, thanks Mr T and BD
… do be careful not to walk around muttering to yourself TOO much – you’ll be carted off, you know!! If I’m stuck with the quickie pun I usually say it to myself over and over again on afternoon dog walk – she (collie) looks at me as if I’ve suddenly taken leave of my senses! Do hope that you’re still recovering and that your heroic dog is still basking in reflected glory, as he should be!
They think i’m mad anyway! Thabo gets a few more treats when out for sure, and thanks Kath yes, whilst not fully mobile can hobble on my crutches. He is quite excited, as since both his boxer companions went to the kennel in the sky, he soon will have a Saluki and Lurcher as housemates. And I
am too!
Awful
why? Any particular clue?
A complete summary of all Telboy’s comments demonstrates his wide use of vocabulary:
DT 26832 – Awful
DT 26827 – Usual poor quality from G
DT 26809 – usual tripe from G
DT 26796 – awful, too many holes, cryptic angle missing in places, rubbish effort.
DT 26791 – rubbish, as expected with G.
DT 26785 – usual tosh from G, far too obscure to be enjoyable
DT 26743 – another awful offering by giovanni, far too obscure to be any fun, opinion shared by a few of my fellow crossword addicts.
I leave you to judge the value of his contributions.
Lack of taste and discernment if you ask me.
A lack of solving ability I reckon. Perhaps, with the Bank Holiday and all, he thinks that this is Friday since most of his comments are aimed at “G”. Discernment indeed.
Struggled with 2d for some reason… Possibly because I was up at 3.30am to go to the airport! Apart from being very tired and grumpy very good puzzle. Thanks Ray T and Big Dave. 2* / 4* is about right. … and weather not brilliant here in Spain.
I struggled with 2d too, and I don’t even have the excuse of being up at 3.30am!
Thanks to Ray T & Big Dave for the hints, only needed one, for 2d. Excellent puzzle, favourites were 23,24,28a & 3,8,21,25d. Penny drop moment with 17d, great clue. 19a was a bit autobiographical I thought? Off to the Margate Beer Festival tomorrow. In winter.
Very enjoyable and rollocked along solving merrily…that was until I spilled the coffee and then it was pandemonium trying to stop it staining the white cotton sheet ….oops.
I disagree with the explanation for 8d ..or perhaps really should say that I think the clue is poor. A stopcock is not a short pipe. It is a valve and so it fits ‘to cut supply’. The ‘handled’ part is also correct in that you use your hand to tun the stopcock to turn off the supply. But a pipe? Sorry, call me a pedant if you like !!!
I agree re stopcock.
Rightly or wrongly I’m sure the setter used Chambers, the Telegraph’s dictionary of choice
stopcock
noun
▶ A short pipe opened and stopped by turning a key or handle
▶ Loosely, the key or handle
The ODE gives:
stopcock
noun
▶ an externally operated valve regulating the flow of a liquid or gas through a pipe, in particular one on the water main supplying a house.
Two days behind this week having been away, like a number of others 2d was the most difficult, I also have no idea from where my brain got 11a, bit it did!! – I find looking at the puzzle again the following morning uisually fills in the few I didn’t get the previous evning, but not 2d this time – why is 19d a reference to the setter?
The setter’s name is Ray T – see comment #20 above.