Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 27418
Hints and tips by Big Dave
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****
Another vocabulary-stretching treat for the Ray T fans.
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 Capital sailor finally breaks white whale at sea (11)
{WHEREWITHAL} – this capital, in the sense of means or resources, is derived by putting the final letter of taR inside an anagram (at sea) of WHITE WHALE
10a Queen with sound equipment gets higher (5)
{RAMPS} – the Latin abbreviation for queen followed by a colloquial word for some sound equipment
11a Outing former partner almost swearing about love (9)
{EXCURSION} – the usual former partner followed by most of a verb meaning swearing around O (love)
12a One needing time, it’s said, for a cure? (9)
{HERBALIST} – this person provides cures which may include a product that sounds like (it’s said) time
13a In debt, it helps you find rent (5)
{TITHE} – hidden (in … you find) inside the clue
14a Wet patch of grass facing hole (6)
{SODDEN} – a patch of grass followed by a hole or dive
16a Hog centre of pew, keeping others standing (8)
{PRESTIGE} – a pig and the middle letter (centre) of pEw around (keeping) others or remainder
18a Show containing rears ends in cancellation (8)
{REVERSAL} – a verb meaning to show around the outer letters (ends) of RearS
20a Provokes risks, losing head (6)
{ANGERS} – some risks without (losing) their initial letter (head)
23a Pork pies and drinks after time (5)
{TALES} – these pork pies or untruths are derives by putting some alcoholic drinks after T(ime)
24a Small convulsions, being put to death (9)
{SLAUGHTER} – S(mall) followed by some convulsions or guffawing
26a Dogged old boy’s swallowed, consuming can (9)
{OBSTINATE} – the abbreviation for Old Boy followed by the S from ‘S and a verb meaning swallowed or ingested around a can
27a One’s virtually provocative (5)
{TROLL} – a cryptic definition of someone who makes a conscious attempt to provoke controversy or disagreement on the Internet
28a Pushing driving seat, getting settled (11)
{ADVERTISING} – this verb meaning pushing or promoting is an anagram (getting settled) of DRIVING SEAT
Down
2d His ‘Odyssey’ made epic reading initially (5)
{HOMER} – the initial letters of five words in the clue
3d A sphere recreated form again (7)
{RESHAPE} – an anagram (recreated) of A SPHERE
4d Itsy-bitsy, nearly repulsive insect (6)
{WEEVIL} – a word meaning Itsy-bitsy or tiny followed by most of (nearly) an adjective meaning repulsive
5d Quiet diplomacy after seizing one vessel (8)
{TACITURN} – some diplomacy around (seizing) I (one) and followed by a vessel or vase
6d Inflates charges after ages, oddly (7)
{AERATES} – some charges or fees after the odd letters of AgEs
7d Score with talk about bust exhibited by redhead (13)
{ORCHESTRATION} – this musical score is derived from a talk around another word for the bust and the initial letter (head) of Red
8d Boost up before race represents abuse (8)
{DIATRIBE} – a three-letter verb meaning to boost or assist reversed (up in a down clue) and followed by a race of people
9d Canines surely unleashed for nothing (13)
{UNNECESSARILY} – an anagram (unleashed) of CANINES SURELY
15d Diabolical food with noxious filling (8)
{DEVILISH} – a plate of food around (with … filling) an adjective meaning noxious
17d Stir up unease at upset? (8)
{NAUSEATE} – this verb meaning to stir up or cause to feel sick is an anagram (upset) of UNEASE AT
19d Piece of fire’s cinder set aside (7)
{RESCIND} – hidden (piece of) inside the clue
21d Cancels openings following case of negligence (7)
{NEGATES] – some opening in, say, a fence after the outer letters (case) of NegligencE
22d Most naked in club are strippers (6)
{BAREST} – hidden (in) inside the clue – sorry no illustration!
25d Cut inserting hot needle (5)
{THORN} – an adjective meaning cut or ripped around H(ot)
I’m out to lunch today with the newly-formed village Gentlemen’s’ Luncheon Club – let’s hope the clue to 15 down is not prophetic!
The Quick crossword pun: (lay} + {safe} + {haie} = {laissez-faire}
Thank you Ray T – one of your easier ones I thought, but most enjoyable, Thank you BD for your review and hints. For some reason I kept thinking “nudest” for 22d until I finally saw the light. Your resistance to temptation for a photo is noted. Heaven only knows what would have happened if the clue had appeared yesterday ! Network Rail thrown into chaos, passengers fighting to get a look, others hurling themselves out of windows in horror. The mind boggles !
Perfect and agree **/****
I don’t know what BD is talking about, there are no new or unusual words here. A very nice puzzle.Favourite 1a.Thanks to all concerned.
I finished without hints, but not without a bit of a struggle with the last three or four. Very enjoyable, nonetheless. I loved 12A and 22A particularly. Many thanks to Ray T. and to BD for the review.
This was ***/**** territory for me 1 A was a new word for my limited vocabulary Many thanks to the setter & BD for much needed review today. Another horrible wet day in southampton,might as well have a crack at the toughy.
I agree with everyone else, so far anyway. I thought it was definitely one of Ray T’s more straightforward crossword and I also agree with 2* and 4*.
The one that caused a bit of a problem was 28a – I mixed up the anagram indicator and the definition for a while – silly!
I liked 12a and 4, 7 and 22d. My favourite was 16a.
With thanks to Ray T and BD.
Off to take husband to fracture clinic – I’m going to go armed with the Toughie so that I don’t die of boredom during the inevitable long wait.
PS I really hope that Ray T saw ‘his’ clue in Rufus’s crossword on Monday.
I don’t know if anyone saw it other than you and I Kath????
I think others noticed it too, but can’t remember who.
It passed me by at the time. Then I only saw the Ray bit. Much later on I realised that Beam is Ray Ts toughie name. Duh,
I think that you had more important things on your mind at the time, and I’m not surprised.
Yes, I did!
RayT
Good – I’m so pleased. It was my favourite clue.
Oh dear, I do hope you dont have to wait too long not like me my partner took me to A & E on the Saturday morning for a broken elbow & I didnt escape until the Wednesday afternoon bless her.
??? not sure from that which one of you has a broken elbow but I hope whoever will be better soon
We were obviously luckier than you – very quick!
You went for a broken elbow? Did you find one?
Has husband been taking part in the Winter Olympics, Kath?
Passing that one on to him would be more than my life is worth. He’s already very grumpy because everyone assumes that his knee is a skiing injury.
Best wishes for speedy recovery for sake of all concerned how did he do that??
Thanks – just at the moment the ‘all concerned’ are having just as tricky a time as the main protagonist! As to how he did it – not sure what the last straw was but years of rowing have certainly contributed to it.
Is that years of sitting in a boat or years of having a different opinion to you Kath?
Good one – the ‘rowing’ is with oars and, no, we don’t beat each other round the head with them!
Lots of big words today! there always seemed to be a straight forward clue when most needed so going for a **1/2 ****,only problem was last in,27a ,as I had never heard of the ‘internet’ meaning , thought I was looking for a word one letter short of provocative (virtually) ,i did put in the correct solution , but only because it was the only reasonable word I could think of.Thanks to RTand BD.
I am quite enjoying this puzzle although I am struggling. I have got 12a but I don’t really understand it despite the BD hint. Could somebody elucidate a little more
Collywobbles, I completely missed the wordplay for 12a too. The key is that a person whose job is the answer might use in his work a plant whose name sounds like “time”.
Thanks RB. So the word is ‘Thyme’ and because ‘thyme’ is a herb it gives us the answer. Is that right?
Be careful! At this rate you will fall under the influence of Miffypops & end up reviewing the puzzles. Look what happened to Kath and be warned.
Your comments are noted SD and I will be very careful but to be realistic I do not think that there is much chance of that. I think that the clue is stunning
I absolutely loved this puzzle today and am going for 2*/5*! All the clues were wonderful so I am not intending to struggle to nominate a favourite.
I needed BD’s hint to understand why my answer for 12a was right, so many thanks to him and, of course, to Ray T.
Two small words foxed me today i.e. 10a (because I had wrong word for 3d) and 27a for which I had right solution without knowing why so thanks to BD for sorting me and Ray T for a ***/*** diversion from yet more dreary, wet weather. My heart goes out to all the wretched flood victims across the country. 5d fav for me.
Solved this puzzle this AM before BD had started to post comments!
Faves : the four external jobs and 12a,13a, 22a, 4d & 25d.
Grey skies here in NL but dry!
Me too! Most unusual. I wouldn’t have believed it was a Ray T from the degree of difficulty.
No particular favorites, 1.5*/3* rating for me.
Thanks to RayT and to Big Dave, without whom I could not have explained why 27a was what it must be.
Hi njm!
Who are you?
As always, a lovely puzzle to unravel. Thanks to Ray T, and to BD.
Thanks to RayT and BD for an enjoyable if untaxing crossword and an excellent review.
Nice and sunny here so far today but I don’t think it will last!
Thanks for blog Dave though not needing the hints today, I did need help from my books and electronic friends although I agree it is one of RayTs’ easier puzzles, I even had a favourite clue today 12a and could easily have found another few if not for ‘the wrath of Kath’
Mary – all this ‘wrath of Kath’ is making it sound as if I’m a Toughie 7d.
Awww
It’s OK – I was only joking.
Sounds like something out of Star Trek to me.
Thanks to Ray T and to Big Dave for the review and hints. Usual good stuff from Ray T, but a bit on the gentle side, nonetheless enjoyable though. Was 2*/4* for me. Favourite was 27a. Last in was 16a. Light rain in Central London. Off to look at the Toughie.
Did all but 8d last night, needed the hint to get it, although my first reaction to the hint was less than flattering, including the word assist made me get the answer. Snowing again here in Manitoba. Thanks
Beautifully integrated puzzle, I thought.
Perhaps **plus for difficulty.
Last but one in 27a which helped with my last in, 25d.
12a and 16a favourites.
Many thanks Ray T, and BD for the review.
Late start today due to the curling – well deserved medal – but enjoyed this Ray T puzzle this pm.
Struggled with 24a as I also fell into the ‘nudest’ trap for a while!
**/**** for me. Favourite – 9d, but many others in close order.
Your comment required moderation because you left a full-stop out of your email address. I’ve edited it for you.
Thanks – again!
I enjoyed this and did finish eventually. Loved 12a and have decided it’s my favourite, with honourable mention to 7d and 1a, after spending hours looking through my little atlas looking for a country capital. I put the only word that would fit in 27a but had no idea why; thank you BD for the techie lesson. Excellent start to the day for me. Thanks to RayT for the entertainment and BD for the review.
I loved this today and it really felt great to be on Ray T’s wavelength albeit one of easier puzzles.
Your comment needed moderation because you left an A out of your email address. I’ve edited it back in for you.
We are surprised that many people found it easy for a RayT. For us it took us at least as long and maybe longer than we usually spend on his puzzles. The SE corner was the last to go in. Lovely stuff, lots of chuckles and guffaws. The word count on the clues spot on again too.
Thanks RayT and BD.
I didn’t fly through it, but no new words for me today and it all fell into place eventually with several chuckles along the way. I particularly liked 12a and 22d. Thanks setter and BD.
I’m a Quick Crossword fan – my third word today was “hair”…….
Welcome to the blog Brian.
Thanks for that. It was obviously a typo in the blog – now corrected.
Seemed the hardest one this week by far but finally got there – thanks for BD’s review (not needed) and of course Ray T.
It suddenly dawned on me earlier this week why he’s also known as Beam when setting the Toughie!
Favourite 16a, despite it taking me ages to work out.
Very late on parade today – they dicky leg was playing up something rotten this morning and I couldn’t even concentrate on reading the paper let alone think about the crossword.
Excellent fun today with 12A being and absolute gem of a clue.
Congrats to the Lady Curlers, and good luck to the fella’s tomorrow. Well done must also go to Ireland who beat the West Indies in a T20 match (nearly as good a win as in 1969)
(for those that don’t know, WI played at Lords and had a match scheduled in Ireland the day after the Lords match finished, they went over there and were bowled out for 25, the gossip was that the WI had arrived in Ireland to be met by the Ireland team who took them out to a few pubs and got them drunk on Guinness; when the WI arrived for the match the next day, there was not a single member of the drinking team in evidence)
Had to do this whilst open and serving. Loved it thank you Ray T
My thanks to BD for the decryption, and to all for your comments. Greatly appreciated, as always.
RayT
Some delightful surface reading there – thanks RayT!
Not really on form today, so this one took a little longer than it might otherwise have done. Favourite was 1a. I found some of the clues a bit tenuous at first pass, but looking back through it l can’t really cite an example, so l’m inclined to think l was just being thick! Thanks to Ray T, and BD for the review.
Oh dear! Almost finished writing a comment, accidentally brushed a key, and whoosh! it was gone!
Am definitely a RayT fan and there was much to enjoy in this puzzle. I liked the vocabulary. This is one of the few puzzles where I did not need to refer to a dictionary or thesaurus. Too many delightful clues to chose a fave.
Thank you very much, RayT. And many thanks to Big Dave for the valued review.
I have just decided to have a crack at cryptic crosswords, with the DT2718 my first attempt . I will work on it all week. I have bought books on cryptic crosswords and came across your blog. Thank you for all the tips and hints.
Welcome to the blog Albert123