Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 26858 (Hints)
Big Dave’s Crossword Club
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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.
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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 Digital recording uploads, off and on, produced by actors (7)
This digital recordings that can be downloaded to a mobile phone come from the even letters (off and on) of u P l O a D s followed by a list of the actors in a play
9a Pudding with green veg — it’s nice in the garden (5,3)
Combine a pudding or dessert with a green vegetable to get a flower that can be found in the garden
15a Song from unmarried woman? (4)
To get this operatic song, drop M(arried) from a woman’s name
21a First light entering fiery den (4)
… it’s an otter’s den: see my Animals page
27a Little woman getting into brandy on a Mediterranean island (7)
Put a common Crosswordland word for a cheap brandy made from grapeskins and other refuse from wine-making around one of Ms Alcott’s Little Women (also a fairly Crosswordland occurrence) and follow it with the A from the clue to get a Mediterranean island [Based on Gnomey's comment below.]
29a Shrouded in secrecy, cleverly use again (7)
Hidden inside (shrouded in) the clue is a verb meaning to use again
Down
2d Capsize open vessel (8)
This verb meaning to capsize is a charade of an adjective meaning open and a vase of the kind used for the ashes of the dead
8d Ladies get together for a bender (7)
Combine the names of two ladies to get the anatomical word for the kneecap
20d Arrested smuggling ring pirate initially deserted, being bent (7)
Start with a word meaning arrested or terminated then insert (smuggling) the letter shaped like a ring and drop (deserted) the initial letter of P irate to get a word meaning bent or hunched
26d After word of hesitation, proceed like this (4)
Start with a two-letter word of hesitation (not um) and add a verb meaning to proceed to get the originally Latin word for like this or therefore
A few more hints soon.
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: { sack } + { ray } + { blur } = { sacré bleu }
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Morning Dave, stuck on 9a and 8d, I’m sure they must be obvious but I just can’t see them, any help gratefullyaccepted
I quite enjoyed this one but have about six that although I have the answers, I have question marks by because I just don’t understand how I got them!!
You’re wish is my command – now added
Thank you, so easy when you know, once again you have saved my sanity
9a is my favourite too
, the thing in the garden I mean, not the clue!
fav clue 5d
Hi Mary. I planted mine in the garden about a month ago and I swear they are smaller now than when they went in!
Mine are nearly as tall as I am and have got buds on them now.
As opposed to yesterdays, I found this very enjoyable. Head scratching moments on 1a until I realised the significance of ‘off and on’. Best clue for me was 20d. Thanx to Compiler and to BD for this blog. Thought the Quickie pun was good also.
29a was, in my opinion, a very well played clue. Very enjoyable today from (I presume) Cephas. Thanks to him and to BD
I can’t see why 15a is what it must be. Favourite and last clue solved is 20d – very clever. Thanks to Cephas & to BD as per.
I’ve added a hint, but be prepared to kick yourself!
I certainly gave myself a swift kick!
Consider backside wellied! Thank you as this has been pestering me all of the way around Makro this morning.
Finished all but 21a, driving me mad, got two letters but just can’t see anything that has anything to do with den. Also what has 27a got to do with brandy, only one med island it can be but why?
Brian, a common crosswordland word for brandy goes around one of Ms Alcott’s Little Women – also a fairly crosswordland occurrence, followed by A
not heard that one for brandy gnomey!
I don’t think that I have heard of it mary and I have consumed many brandies in many countries. Are you allowed to tell me what it is without going to the naughty corner
Oh no no no
but you need the largest of the Balearics
Thanks for that but I have to say I have never come across that as a word for brandy but Chambers agrees. One for the old memmory bank, unfortunately the emphasis is on the old!
My memory is a synonym for sieve
Thanks for the chuckle I’ve just had reading your comment Mary, you are not on your own on that one:-)
In 21a it’s an otter’s den
27a – I’ll add a hint for this one
Many thanks, so obvious!
I got 27a no problem but is that really a valid spelling these days – the Spaniards and airlines use a double L
21a is one I don’t ‘see’ either Brian, although answer is obvious
Oh not obvious then, another one I had wrong! got it now, thanks Dave
Hi there I still cant understand why 21a is what it is? Iknow its the otters den but whats the rest of the clue got to do with it?
21a First light entering fiery den (4)
Put the first letter of L ight inside a word meaning fiery to get this otter’s den
doh thank you
Does ‘c’ = access then in 12a, if not where does the c come from?
c = circa or about
So dense today! Of course
Had me foxed for a while as well. Damn clever these setters (and the hint givers
)
Please, what is 12a?
Help
Hi tom – welcome to the blog.
12a Make up about gaining access instantly (2,4)
The definition is instantly. A verb meaning to make up or compensate has the abbreviation for about inside it.
Didn’t have much time yesterday and left unfinished, so nice to see this off today. Used the hint for 8d though! Have a good weekend all.
(Toadson) — problems with the new set up again ..
I’ve edited your name to your usual one.
Thanks
Just popped in to say hello. This is my 8th day in the UK and I’m now fed up of wearing the fleece and waterproof jacket – think I want to go home now, it’s 22C and sunny in Alicante!
Hola pommers, when do you go back?
Hi Mary, should be back home about midnight Monday so all ready for blogging next Weds.
You will be glad to be in the warm again
You and pommette certainly chose the wrong time to come to the UK.
Yes! Never visit the UK during a drought!
If one more person says to me that this is the wettest drought they’ve ever known I’m going to smack them SO hard – I’m bored with that one now!
Who are you and what have you done with Kath? You seemed so nice when I met you in London
Nope, Kath can be fiery and more power to the elbow!. She doesn’t suffer fools (i.e. me!) gladly……
I consider myself suitably chastised! Favourite clue today: 10a
Only joking! I wouldn’t really smack anyone (well, not VERY hard). No-one should feel chastised and certainly no-one here is a fool!!
Splendid puzzle this morning.
1a and 4d held me up for a while.
Thanks to BD for hints.
Thanks to compiler for a testing ( for me) but enjoyable start to the day.
Early input from me today – a visitor brought the DT from the airport. Today being Bevrijdingsdag (anniversary of liberation of NL in WW2), the shopping street is closed off for a street market and the main drag is solid with parked cars and hundreds of bicycles!!
Liked these clues : 1a, 22a, 27a, 4d, 6d, 8d, 14d, 19d & 20d.
Still not getting emails for new posts. Have now ticked the boxes under the comments box.
Have you tried resubscribing?
Long time reader, first post. Just to say how useful I find this site. 27a was a tester, but I quite enjoyed today, crossword in front of the snooker.
Welcome to the blog Stan
If the answer to 8d bends you have problems. Therefore the clue is incorrect!!!!
I agree although my husband says that I’m being too picky!
Some good clues thanks to all
back from a break
Excellent, lots of good clues including 2d, 8d 27a 28a needed help with 21a it’s a ‘hell’ of a clue, thanks BD and the setter
I don’t know about the hob nailed boots but Cephas certainly had a slightly trickier hat on when he set this one. I too had to wait for the pennies to drop for both 21a and 8d. Thanks to Cephas for waking up the grey matter and to BD for the explanations
I can highly recommend the NTSPP – those ladies who moan about cricket and football clues should find it more to their liking
I’m going to have a go at NTSPP later on – I’m certainly one who moans about too many sporting clues although it’s some time since I’ve been called a lady!!
I thought that this was a gentle start to a Saturday morning but then I got stuck on 4d. For the life of me, I couldn’t see the answer, despite having all the checking letters in place, so I left it for half an hour and then the answer came to me straight away…
That was exactly my experience, all the checking letters and could I see it!
Me too!
I agree that this is a bit trickier than usual – I really enjoyed it. I couldn’t get 4d for ages – my last one in. 12a took some time to understand – was thinking of the wrong kind of make up! I’m not sure that I like 8d very much – it isn’t that bit of the knee that bends – husband says I’m being over picky!! Loved 9a – they’re my absolute favourites (and mine have already got buds on them!) I liked 10, 13 and 29a and 4, 5 and 17d (and lots of others as well but I can’t write them all down! With thanks to Cephas and BD.
Weather a bit more cheerful here today. Have a good weekend everyone.
My 9a are only about 2″ high and still in the greenhouse Kath! Bright but cold here today, I think it’s only going to get worse as the weekend goes on! As long as it stays dry for the match tonight………come on Liverpool
GOT BUDS ON! – do you live in Spain Kath?
I think she’s got a greenhouse
mine are in the greenhouse!
Mr CS is asleep in our (large) greenhouse – I wonder if sweet peas would look better ?
Greenhouse – that’s a relief. I thought that I really had lost it as a gardener. On reflection I don’t think I ever really had it!
Yes – we have got a greenhouse – I planted the 9a seeds in the autumn and over wintered then in the greenhouse. The ones that are nearly flowering have been outside for about six weeks – they’re in an enormous pot in a very sheltered corner of patio.
… and no, we don’t live in Spain – we’re in Oxford!
I thought this was a good Saturday puzzle, and enjoyable. Thanks to setter, and to BD.
There is just one clue I cannot solve in today’s puzzle. I started very late (for various reasons) and found it fairly easy apart from 10a. I have the checking letters but can’t get it. I probably have one of the other answers wrong but would appreciate a hint for 10a.
I am not getting the emails each day since the site change although I have resubscribed twice. What more do I have to do to get the very helpful and interesting emails each day?
JayGee
Hi JayGee – welcome to the blog.
10a Mistakenly call the malignant hag (7)
It’s an anagram (mistakenly) of call the.
10a is an anagram of CALL THE which makes a violent woman.
is a violent woman a malignant hag ?
depends how cross she gets
Chambers has both definitions.
Yep!
Are they talking about me??
I most definitely am not but I dread to think what you said to Gnomey that causes him to have such a different view ot you to mine
It has been discussed before, we think in different ways. I am trying to explain somthing and Kath is saying “Yes I know that!”, meanwhile I am nissing the other correct alternative, And possibly vice-versa.
I belive that our views are pretty similar as we are all nice people!
You are all a lot cleverer than me today I am struggling. Please can I have help with 11 down and 14 down. Thanks
Don’t think we are Eileen… it’s a wavelength thing. I bet now you have clicked ‘post comment’ the penny may have dropped. If it hasn’t however then 11d is an anagram of GRIEVANCES without the I (I was not involved) to get an old fashioned term for someone who kept the streets clean. 14d is a way of describing one of those relaly long roads in America. Insert R (river) into a word meaning without a will.
snap but yours is much more concise and understandable
Not really eileen, I got a lot wrong today and 11d is an anagram of grievances without the ‘i’ , I wouldn’t have thought this was really a street cleaner as I’d think of one, but there you go
14d you are looking for a route in the USA, take a word for ‘not willing’ as in dying without a will, put an ‘r’ inside – cross river- to get this route or highway
Banjaxed by 6d – any clues ?
Think of a scientist that used an apple to prove a theory??
these days we all tend to forget an apple is a fruit and not just a computer!!
Got it – thank you
Love the bear!
A fan of the Damned I hope!
….’ and every night i’m there i break my heart to please Eloise….’
Bless you Jezza – I now owe both Pommers and you a pint! (Eloise is my god-daughter!)
I’ve got a feeling I might be singing that for the rest of the evening!
I break my heart to please….;-)
Thanks Jezza – I’m now going to be singing it for the rest of the evening. I’ll probably drive the rest of the family mad but I’ll just tell them that it’s your fault!
Many thanks Gazza and Cyypticsue. My wife and I certainly had a “duh” moment in not spotting the anagram. I can’t remember the last anagram both of us failed to spot but neither of us saw this one – and neither did our mechanical aides!
JayGee
Mr CS does all the number puzzles while I do all the word ones although if I read a clue out loud in desperation he is very good at spotting the blindingly obvious.
BTW if you click reply in the comment box then all the replies on a particular thread stay together and make more sense.
Had a sudden rush of blood to the brain, all completed now. And withoout any further help.