Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 2698
A full review by gnomethang
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****
Morning All! – Apologies for my absence last week, things got a bit hectic and BD kindly stepped in. This was another fine puzzle from Virgilius and included a lovely &Lit.
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Across
1a Most of the fault lies in this economy (6)
THRIFT – Most of the word TH(e) followed by a RIFT (Seismological fault)
4a Blood type different? That’s a nuisance (6)
BOTHER – B for the Blood Group and OTHER for different.
8a Sign of grief, having broken up or parted (8)
TEARDROP – Make an anagram (broken up) of OR PARTED – very deceptive for me due to the excellent surface reading!.
10a Penalty to pay, about a pound in the end (6)
FINALE – A and L (pound sterling, Librum) inside FINE – the penalty to pay.
11a Hot gaseous mixture — that may end in a bang (4)
HAIR – A lovely clue with the bang being an Americanism for a longish fringe (on a bob, say). A charade of H(ot) and AIR (gaseous mixture).
12a Bad luck, having set mousetrap, for example (4,6)
HARD CHEESE – If the mousetrap was set a while ago the CHEES would be HARD.
13a Two sprinters involved in cool events? (6,6)
WINTER SPORTS – A well spotted then disguised anagram (involved) of TWO SPRINTERS. Nice definition too!
16a Switched dancing there as redirected (12)
INTERCHANGED – So many anagram indicators!. The required one is ‘as redirected’. The fodder is DANCING THERE and the definition is Switched (which could also be an anagram indicator!).
20a They bear heavy burdens, so include supporting frames in case? (10)
PACKHORSES – Split as (4,6) this could mean to include supporting frames for drying clothes in a suitcase
21a Like some Asians, that is, endlessly getting together (4)
THAI – An observational clue – remove the last letters of THA(t) I(s) and put them together to form the word.
22a Convert to aims of a revolutionary leader (6)
MAOIST – A conversion of TO AIMS.
23a It indicates you’ve arrived — don’t knock it! (8)
DOORBELL – Well if it’s not a knocker it must be a doorbell!
24a Woollen cloth that’s good in short jacket (6)
ANGORA – G for Good inside a shortened ANORA(k).
25a Cross section of lengthy bridge (6)
HYBRID – The crossed genetic strain is hidden (a section of) the last two words.
Down
1d The graduate a short time in charge of certain subject (8)
THEMATIC – A charade of THE (from the clue) MA (Master of Arts, graduate) and A T (short abbreviation of Time) followed by the abbreviation for In Charge, IC.
2d Having basic education in odd places, not so well done (5)
RARER – I’ll use BD’s hint: “This adjective meaning not so well done, when applied to cooking steak, has the three elements of basic education in the odd letters”. That is R_R_R and one has to guess the non intersecting letters for the definition. Not my favourite clue!.
3d Warm coat, in that situation, cut in advance (7)
FURTHER – FUR (a warm coat) and THER(e) having been shortened/cut
5d For example, general proposal covering one chapter (7)
OFFICER – An OFFER (proposal) covering I C for One C(hapter).
6d Followers creating aggravation between husband and child (7-2)
HANGERS-ON – ANGER (aggravation) inside H for Husband and SON
7d Take part in quarrel I should enjoy (6)
RELISH – Another hidden ford (if you take a part of.in) quarREL I SHould.
9d Rewrote as script in adaptation for RADA, perhaps (11)
PARAPHRASED – An anagram (in adaptation) of RADA PERHAPS.
14d Instant idea underlying the Web, primarily (9)
TWINKLING – an INKLING (idea) going underneath (underlying in a down clue) the primary letters of T(he) W(eb). The twinkling of an eye, perhaps.
15d Storyteller held up in act, no longer on track (8)
DERAILED – Place a LIAR (storyteller) backwards (held UP in a down clue) inside DEED for act.
17d Tastiest extremity on swine? (7)
TROTTER – A superb &Lit or all-in-one clue. Either the first or last extremity of T(asties)T followed by ROTTER (swine). Then read the clue to give the whole definition (as a Frenchman might want to eat!)
18d That man’s right account of what happened (7)
HISTORY – A charade of HIS (that man’s possessive indication) plus TORY for right winged in politics.
19d State of a canal — on your head be it (6)
PANAMA – Two definitions – A state where a famous canal is situated and a hat.
My favourite palindrome – A MAN, A PLAN, A CANAL, PANAMA.
21d Row across British or Italian river (5)
TIBER – Place a TIER (row) around B for British to get an Italian river (not the Po!)
I’ll see you all next week for another dose of Sunday Fun.