Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 27113
Hints and tips by pommers
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****
Hola from a rather dank and dismal Vega Baja. The rain in Spain appears to fall mainly here!
I don’t think this is a Toughie that got into the wrong envelope but I have seen easier Toughies. I found it the trickiest back-pager for quite some time, but quite enjoyable once some of the pennies started to drop. I’m not going to guess who the setter is but suffice it to say that things started getting a little easier when I donned my “slightly mad hat”!
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 Award for play (4)
{ GIVE } – Double definition, play as in latitude or slack. I’ve said before that I’m always happy when 1a goes straight in. Unfortunately today it didn’t and this was one of my last!
3a Dictator left abandoned in disgrace (5)
{ STAIN } – Take the L out of ( L eft abandoned) a Soviet dictator.
6a Uncovered empty bottle containing a cigar butt (4)
{ BARE } – Uncovered as in naked perhaps. Take BE (empty B (ottl) E ) and insert A (from the clue) and R (ciga R butt).
8a Writer, unknown churchman, king and playwright in taxi ? (7,8)
{ BICYCLE RICKSHAW } – A type of taxi, or at least a conveyance, that you can find in parts of the Far East. It’s a charade of a brand of ball-point pen (writer) (3), and algebraic unknown (1), a man of the cloth (6), an abbreviation for King (1) and then a famous playwright (4). Put that lot together and split the result (7,8).
9a Outlandish quote about bull recalled (6)
{ EXOTIC } – Start with a word meaning to quote or refer to put it around (about) a two letter type of bull and reverse the whole thing (recalled).
10a Broadcast in support of right (8)
{ PROCLAIM } – A prefix meaning in support of followed by a word for right or entitlement.
11a Foolishness claiming Sun may provide lack of balance (8)
{ INSANITY } – Insert (claiming) an S (un) into a piece of foolishness or frivolity. Lack of balance isn’t falling over but mental balance.
13a Surprisingly silent Christmas show (6)
{ TINSEL } – Not a Christmas show like a panto but a Christmas decoration. It’s an anagram (surprisingly) of SILENT.
15a Exclamation of disgust about animal enclosure getting result (6)
{ HAPPEN } – Take an exclamation of disgust, not UGH but something along those lines. Then reverse it (about) and follow with an animal enclose. Well, if that’s an expression of disgust it’s one I’ve never used!
17a Domestic arrangement could be snug if he cleaned up (4,4)
{ FENG SHUI } – This Chinese method of arranging furnishings etc is supposed to make a room harmonious and snug. It’s also an anagram (cleaned up) of SNUG IF HE. I used to like the TV advert with the guy arranging his armchair in front of the telly and to one side he had a beer fridge and the other side was a toilet. Can’t remember what the advert was for though!
19a Notice that man getting regular payment is hanger-on (8)
{ ADHERENT } – Hanger-on as in follower or disciple. It’s a charade of the usual notice (2), a word referring to ‘that man’ (2) and a regular payment made to a landlord.
21a Preserve from signs of ageing with store’s ultimate male skincare product (6)
{ EMBALM } – A charade of E (stor E ’s ultimate), M(ale) and a skincare product or soothing cream. I like the surface of this one.
22a The cause of flies being left undone ? (6,9)
{ INSECT REPELLENT } – Cryptic definition. The flies aren’t in your trousers but buzzy little insects.
23a Unhappy to be going over northern desert (4)
{ SAND } – Not so much a desert as what you find a lot of in a desert. Put a word for unhappy around (going over) N(orthern).
24a A name some French may give mountains (5)
{ ANDES } – A range of mountains is A (from the clue), N(ame) and a French word for some.
25a Current recession producing predatory type (4)
{ WOLF } – Reverse (recession) a current of water perhaps.
Down
1d Like rabbit perhaps and rhubarb (9)
{ GIBBERISH } – Double definition.
2d In France you can claim proof of wine’s region and chateau ultimately void (7)
{ VACUOUS } – Start with the polite or plural French word for ‘you’ and insert the abbreviation for the supposed proof of a wine’s origin and the last letter(ultimately) of chatea U .
3d Choice area infiltrated by the Spanish (9)
{ SELECTION } – Take an area or part and insert (infiltrated by) the Spanish definite article.
4d Decline a prize (7)
{ ATROPHY } – A (from the clue) and a prize such as the FA cup. Bit of a chestnut methinks but a neat clue nonetheless.
5d Portion of banana chocolate chip (5)
{ NACHO } – The chip is hidden in (portion of) banana chocolate.
6d Beer and cocaine are what some musicians bring to the party (4,5)
{ BASS LINES } – A famous brand of beer followed by a word for some doses of cocaine gives the part of the music some of the musicians might be playing. I knew I had this one correct but the web site told me it was wrong when I submitted. To save time I used the letter hints to check the unchecked letters – that’s when I realised I’d spelled the first word with an E as last letter, D’OH!
7d Accept genuine watches over the phone (7)
{ REALISE } – A word for genuine followed by three letters which, when pronounced, sound like (over the phone) a word meaning watches or looks at.
12d Pick up software program about hospital closure (9)
{ APPREHEND } – A charade of a program for your smart phone or iPad, followed by the usual ‘about’, H(ospital) and then a word for closure or finish.
13d Tight-head showing nerves (9)
{ TENSENESS } – Another word for tight, not drunk but as in not loose, and an old-fashioned word for a headland. Not sure if the word ‘showing’ is actually part of the definition here. It could be – what do you think?
14d Theme of fancy tile design (9)
{ LEITMOTIF } – It’s an anagram (fancy) of TILE followed by a design or emblem.
16d Hide between back-to-back commercials for supplements (7)
{ ADDENDA } – Take two commercials or notices (same as 19a) and reverse one of them (back to back). Then insert (between) a hide or study.
17d Key articles getting a D for dunce (7)
{ FATHEAD } – Start with a musical key (you’ve got A-G to choose from) and then two articles. Follow with A (from the clue) and D (also from the clue). Of course the A might not be from the clue but the key might be followed by three articles and then the D.
18d Pull or push ? (5-2)
{ HEAVE HO } – Double definition, the second referring to getting the push as in sack.
20d Run the majority of next race (5)
{ EXTRA } – A run in cricket which hasn’t come off the bat is hidden in (majority of) next race.
Some fine clues but my favourite was 17a with 8a and 21a on the podium.
The Quick crossword pun: ( Annie } + { cede } + { bawl } = { aniseed ball }
Click here & select Favorites to Bookmark in your browser
} – 
I thought that this puzzle actually gave the “WED” theory some credence but some clever clues once grasped .
Faves 1a,8a,22a ,18d .
4* / 3 * for me .
Thanks very much .
I agree – is it because it’s moved off the back page that the crossword editor feels that it should be more difficult?
I found this one tough going but got there in the end after using a few hints. Perseverance definitely needed today. Thanks to setter and to Pommers for the hints.
It’s beginning to look like I should have gone with my first instinct and given 4* difficulty!
Hard for me to judge though as I wasted ages on 8a as I’d marked my grid as (6,9)! It was only when I twigged the man of the cloth that the mistake became clear. Then I found I’d spelled 22a wrong which was why I couldn’t solve 18d. Also wrote the second word of 17a with it’s last two letters reversed which made a mess of 14d
What with the other cock-up on 6d it’s not been a good day at the office but I didn’t want to blame the crossword for my own 11a!
I said the other day that I’m losing the plot – appears I was quite right
BTW, we now have thunder and lightning to add to the fun
Found this offering very hard today and needed your expert guidence on a number of clues,many thanks pommers and I’m now off to cast my vote.
****/*** for me, I found the bottom half relatively easy going, but needed Pommers’ help to sort out a few answers at the top. I got the second word of 8a but was fixated on trying to fit biro into the first word somehow! I also struggled with 2d because I have always been led to believe that AOC (Appellation d’Origine Controllée) not AC is the correct acronym for French wine certification.
I was also nicely misled into thinking 9a was Ethnic, but couldn’t work out at all how NH could be bull. Thanks for putting me right on that one too, Pommers.
Thanks too to the setter for an enjoyable puzzle, but isn’t it disappointing not to find it on the back page. The wicked lure of advertising revenue wins the day!
Hi pommers from sunny West Wales, don’t worry I am sure you will more than make up for it! I wouldn’t have finished this without your help, no queen today so it’s probably not RayT? Even so I found this really hard today and wouldn’t have finished without your help, can’t say I enjoyed it, 8a was either clever or incredibly contrived, would not have got this or 6d without your help, I put erotic in at 9a until I read your blog! wouln’t have got 2d either! so thanks for the blog pommers, saves me from siting here struggling with a crossword I wouldn’t have finished otherwise
I haven’t blogged recently, but now I’m back, sort of.
Anyway, almost absolutely impossible today. 5*/1* for me
Here here!
If you ever have to use that in a crossword answer, I hope you’ll write it “hear, hear”
Perhaps Domus is just letting us know that he’s around
I really enjoyed this one today. Many thanks to setter, and to pommers for the review.
2*/4.5* for me.
I think the advert you are thinking of is Fosters lager.
Hi Jezza, think you’re right about the advert. Seem to remember it was about the same time as the 4X lads “overdid it with the sherry”!
Tricksy little bugger today. Didn’t really help that I was at the doctor’s fro a blood pressure test – I blame the crossword for my high reading. Having got home and got a coffee inside me, things began to fall into shape. First word of 8A took me ages to figure until 1D dropped in with a great thud (always remember one of my old teachers discoursing at length on a man pronouncing this word wrong – he went on for about 3 weeks as I recall).
Too many good clues to list, but I always like it when 14D makes an appearance.
Hi skempie although I eventually got 14d I had to look it up to confirm it was a word, never having heard it before, well if I have I can’t remember, what’s new!!
Toughest cryptic for a long time but got there in the end. I also got on much better with the bottom half but then struggled with the top
4*/3* for me
Bit of a brain teaser today, like Pommers 1a was last in,certainly the hardest for a while, but also one of the most rewarding, i tried to start in the NW corner-to no avail.A ***/**** difficulty with a ***** for enjoyment,not many’shoe in ‘clues to aid progression,favourites 8a and 22a,was it Lady Macbeth who said ‘whats done is done’?
It was Macbeth himself rather than his good wife who said, “if it were done when ’tis done, then ’twere well it were done quickly”
Concur totally Beaver although ’twas not done quickly
Pommette has just informed me that it’s two years ago today that I did my first blog
Doesn’t time fly when you’re having fun!
Happy anniversary pommers
see you all later ‘pain clinic’ looms!!
Well spotted!
http://bigdave44.com/2011/03/02/dt-26489/
That was a great idea to link to Pommers’ first blog. Together with all the comments it made a very enjoyable read!
Crumbs, I didn’t think I’d been on this site for so long, but there’s a comment from me so I guess I have!
Ayee Caramba! Me too. Well done Pommers and keep up the good work despite the fact that you seem be falling apart/
I’m going to read it later – in the meantime a very happy blog birthday to pommers – and many more of them, I hope!
and an e.candle on your cake from me!
Perhaps that should be an e.candle on your e.birthday cake!
Not a happy bunny today & fear 11a looms. Tram rails got embedded in my head so that once I’d thought ‘hack’ referred to the writer in 8a (for those of a nervous disposition look away now), I just couldn’t get past Hackney Carriage, & was doing extraordinary contortions to make Ney a churchman rather than a Marshall, the Rs referring to a king etc. Idiocy continued with considering Tony for 1a (Toy with an N – oh pleeeeze!) & then changing that to Gong once I’d got 1d!! So Pommers I could never have completed this without your stalwart help & send most appreciative thanks. A 4/3* for me, with respect to the setter for making what I laughingly call my brain go like a piece of baggy knitting today.
Especial congratulations on the two year mark – cheers!
Thought I might never finish this one. Relieved to see that others found it a lot harder than recent puzzles. Managed without hints, but needed BRB, Crossword Dictionary, electronic gadget, Google and every conceivable aid to finish. The yellow orb, spotted yesterday in Birmingham and Bolton is still visible here ! Thank you setter for what was an enjoyable struggle – once it was over ! and Pommers for your review. Congratulations on your 2nd blogging birthday ! Wishing you many more. Could the setter have been Petitjean ??
Ugh. Took ages, and I was, like the flies in 22A, completely undone on the last four (1A, 8A, 22A and 2D). I’d never have finished without your help on those, Pommers. Many thanks.
this one was obviously put on the inside back page of the paper because it was slightly trickier (but possibly not tricky enough to have gone in the Toughie envelope). Thanks to Petitjean (I am sure it is you!) and to Pommers too.
The Toughie didn’t take me much longer than the (inside) backpager but that may just be me – Bufo will let us know in due course.
Can anyone explain what this ‘sunny’ that Mary keeps mentioning is all about? Here in East Kent it has been exceediingly grey dull and Siberian for what seems like for ever.
A very enjoyable puzzle with lots of smooth surface readings! Agree with the Pommers-o-meter rating: ***/****.
Favourite: 8a
Weather here is still cold and grey – but a lighter shade of grey than the last few weeks (and weeks and weeks)!
Extremely enjoyable crossword today, my thanks to the setter and to Pommers for a very amusing review.
Phew! Really glad to find that it’s not just me. Definitely a TGFB day – that’s not rude (although, knowing you lot, someone will manage to make it so) it’s a Thank Goodness For Blog day. At least a 4* for difficulty from me and about the same for enjoyment, I think!
I eventually gave up with 1a wrong (which made 2d impossible) and not a clue about 8 or 22a. I would never have got those. Oh dear!!
I had gong for 1a – not helpful and couldn’t explain it anyway but it seemed a good idea at the time.
Some very clever clues – just a pity that they were too clever for me.
Don’t quite know which ones to pick – 1, 17, 21 and 25a and 1, 3 and 18d.
With thanks to Petitjean (?) and particularly to pommers for picking up the pieces, giving them all a good shake and making them land in the right order.
Off to have a bit of a sulk now!
I put Gong too, Kath, amongst other attempts, so let’s sulk together!
OK – the only problem with that cunning little plan is that the sun is just coming out so feeling slightly less sulky now!
Oh good ‘cos I was worrying I didn’t have any cake to share!!
Very difficult, had to resort to hints and in one case the answer to finish.
Thanks Pommers, a needed lifeline.
Thanks to Petitjean, a tester.
Some excellent clues today – thx to setter.
PS Just wondering what Brian is going to have to say about this one . . .
Pah!
What a delightful French accent!
Absolutely dreadful, a real horror, 5 star diff 0 star enjoyment.
Now had a chance to go through all the answers and I have to say if this was a typical DT crossword I would never try again. Positively the worst back page puzzle I have ever attempted. Very nasty!
Is very nasty worse than horrid?
Quite agree Brian and Peter, no fun whatsoever. Had longer train commute than normal and still hardly got any answers, and those that I did get I hated. 23 is very sloppy – you get deserts with no sand, and sand that’s not in deserts, the two words are not synonyms. Is “rabbit” gibberish? I just thought it meant talking too much (“rabbiting on”). 8 was horribly convoluted, bit like 12, still don’t understand the “left undone” bit of 22.
Never mind wrong envelope, I think this sent to the wrong paper on the wrong day, it’s the sort of horror I used to see in the Guardian on Saturdays.
I know it doesn’t go with your name, but I would quite like to see comments from you on days when you enjoy the crossword – presumably you must enjoy quite a lot of them as you only turn up here occasionally to complain about the ones you don’t.
Hear, hear! Please notice the spelling!
I take your point, but the hours I work and the time I get home make it difficult for me to post, so I tend only to do so when sufficiently enraged.
Brian and Grumpy Andrew,
Pretty much what I was expecting!! I think ‘very nasty’ would do as a crossword answer as being synonymous with (or for, never sure which) ‘horrid’!
Grumpy Andrew – re 1d – ‘rabbit’ isn’t ‘gibberish’ but LIKE rabbit is – rabbit is gibber etc etc – SO glad I don’t do the hints, and I’m sure everyone else is too!! How do they do it so succinctly? A never failing source of amazement and admiration to me.
I do agree that 8a was pretty complicated – I would never have got it had my life depended on it. 12d I just about managed. The ‘left undone’ bit of 22a just means dead, I think.
Better luck in the future, and to me.
How many sides are there to your bed? I only ask because you seem to get out of the wrong one every other day.
Just be thankful it wasn’t your usual nemesis on a Thursday. Pommers gave the hint at the top about this setter – you have to look at the world from a different angle to get into his mindset.
For me all I can say is that I enjoyed it and continue to wonder at the brilliance of the setters.
Thanks to P & to the Mad Hatter.
This should be nested under Brian’s comment. D’oh!