Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 27133
A full review by crypticsue
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
Gnomey’s stuck in a dark basement again (the lives these young men lead!) and his very last minute emailed plea for help gives me the chance to review this Cephas puzzle – Cephas is definitely increasing the difficulty level these days which adds to the enjoyment factor too.
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 Drink that lacks body (6)
SPIRIT – An alcoholic drink or a disembodied soul.
9a Jack’s answer: ‘Pardon?’ (10)
ABSOLUTION – Jack here is a way of referring to a sailor, as is the abbreviation AB so a pardon is an AB (sailor’s) SOLUTION (answer)
10a Epidemic requires change, taking steps (10)
PESTILENCE – Insert STILE (steps) into PENCE (small change).
11a A young animal backed into insect (4)
PUPA – One of the stages of an insect’s development is a reversal of A (from the clue) and PUP (young animal.
12a Mount comeback for four members of Italian team (4)
ETNA – The four-letter volcano is hidden in ItaliAN TEam.
14a Telegraph covering left-winger with sex appeal — it’s to be admired (10)
CREDITABLE – Insert into a CABLE (telegraph) RED (a left-winger) and IT (sex appeal).
17a Young lady I will take on assignment (7)
MISSION – MISS (young lady) I and ON (both in the clue).
18a Ducking duel arranged in middle of night (7)
ELUDING – An anagram (arranged) of DUEL, IN (from the clue) and G (the ‘middle’) of niGht.
20a Nuclear process that makes one wealthy? (10)
ENRICHMENT – The process of increasing the isotopes of an element such as uranium in nuclear fuel or an archaic term meaning to make richer or more wealthy.
21a General‘s weapon left out (4)
RIFE – General, prevalent or current – just remove L (left out) from a RIFLE.
22a Hearts, represented by ace, laid down twice for a laugh (2-2)
HA-HA – The abbreviations used in card games for Hearts and Ace, repeated, produce a representation of a laugh.
23a Printed matter from retail organisation that’s true, after a fashion (10)
LITERATURE – Two anagrams – an ‘organisation’ of RETAIL and (after a fashion) TRUE
25a Delegate makes entrance with hunk (10)
MOUTHPIECE – The one that held several of us up – A delegate or spokesperson – MOUTH (entrance) and PIECE (hunk in the sense of a lump of something rather than an attractive man!)
26a Showy beasts, odd characters misplaced in dull surroundings (6)
DRESSY – The even letters of bEaStS (the odd characters having been misplaced or taken away) inserted into DRY (dull).
Down
2d Not very exciting and lacking drive apparently (10)
PEDESTRIAN – A word meaning commonplace or unexciting is also used when referring to someone travelling on foot (lacking a vehicle to drive apparently).
3d Split lease (4)
RENT – An obvious double definition.
4d After laying out for dinner, one’s left shaken — or taken to the cleaners (10)
TABLECLOTH – Depending on how messy your dinner guests are, you might get away with just shaking crumbs from your tablecloth, or you might have to send it to the laundry!!
5d Apart, and sure to be reassembled (7)
ASUNDER – An anagram (to be reassembled) of AND SURE.
6d What water may be below zero, and may do above, it’s said (4)
FLOE – A field of floating ice (ice being frozen has a temperature below Oo C . A homophone of FLOE would sound like a FLOW of water, which water at a higher temperature will do.
7d It is inclined to raise one’s standing (10)
STEPLADDER – A cryptic definition of something you use when needing to reach up high.
8d Storm in Virginia: ‘Lower classes should be in their proper place’ (6)
INVADE – Storm in the sense of attack or take by assault – IN (from the clue) VA (the abbreviation for the State of Virginia, followed by DE (the lower classes in their proper order, following at the end of the word).
13d Attackers like to travel by sea — soldiers may go under (10)
ASSAILANTS – AS (like) SAIL (travel by sea) and ANTS (soldier ants).
15d Unfortunate drill-master working out, miles to go (3-7)
ILL-STARRED – Working out an anagram of DRILL MASTER, once you have removed the M (miles to go).
16d Armies come down on railroads (10)
LANDFORCES – LAND (come down on) FORCES ( railroads means forces to do something).
19d One may not believe he needs most of the capital (7)
HEATHEN – HE (from the clue) followed by nearly all of the capital of Greece – ATHEN[s]
20d Get up late! (6)
EXHUME – To remove a dead body (late person)from a place of burial.
23d Bound to see pole dancing (4)
LOPE – Leap or bound – an anagram (dancing) of POLE.
24d Book sent for my attention (4)
TOME – A scholarly book or volume, split 2,2 would be sent TO ME or for my attention.
Apologies in advance for errors and omissions – I was on my way to bed when I thought I would just check my emails! I hope if he’s not too etiolated, Gnomey will be back next week with a review of Saturday’s Prize Puzzle .
A hugely enjoyable puzzle, I believe both Cephas and Virgilius have “upped their game” in recent weeks, I once again look forward to the weekend crosswords. Many thanks Sue for the excellent review and many thanks to our weekend compilers.
Is it me but this isn’t the puzzle in today’s telegraph
Peter,
This is the review of last Saturday’s prize crossword. The review for today’s crossword should be published soon.
Doh…….it is me then
Thanks Prolixic