Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 27528
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BD Rating – Difficulty */** – Enjoyment ***
This puzzle was published on Saturday, 28th June 2014
Someone asked on Saturday how we know who the setter is – well Saturdays usually follow a pattern and this should be the turn of Cephas rather than the Mysteron. I have typed the word anagram seven times not including the one in this introduction, and so for me there is no doubt whatsoever that this was a Cephas Prize Puzzle.
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Across
1a Reject moderate volume (4,4)
TURN DOWN – A double definition -the second being something I asked the lady on the PA system at the church fete on Saturday afternoon to do without success! (She can’t seem to understand that if you are using a microphone you don’t need to shout!)
5a Easy listening with Neddy Marsh (6)
MORASS – A broadcasting term for easy listening music – Middle Of the Road followed by an ASS , Neddy being an informal term for either a fool or a donkey.
9a Again evaluate score, as session is gripping (8)
REASSESS – Hidden in (is gripping) scoRE AS SESSion.
10a Meal with father, splitting leftovers (6)
REPAST – PA (father) splits REST (leftovers).
11a Spurs and United kept within playing limits (7)
STIMULI – An anagram (playing) of LIMITS with U (united) inserted or kept within.
12a National drink (7)
ITALIAN – Someone from Italy or another name for Italian vermouth.
13a What bridge-player needs to conjure a win? (3,2,6)
BAG OF TRICKS – A cryptic definition.
16a Reaching a required standard is the responsibility of that lot going by boat (2,2,3,4)
UP TO THE MARK – UP TO (the responsibility of) THEM (that lot) going by ARK.
21a Bird with green vegetable, reportedly unpleasant (7)
PEAFOWL – PEA (green vegetable) followed by a homophone of FOUL (unpleasant).
22a Repairman has to go round a winding route (7)
MEANDER – MENDER (repairman) has to go round A from the clue.
23a Entertain man shortly with drink (6)
REGALE – REG (Reginald shortly) and ALE (drink).
24a Forcing to be co-operative (8)
OBLIGING – Another double definition clue.
25a Believe Lynette is providing cover for another woman (6)
EVELYN is hidden in BeliEVE LYNette.
26a Repairman takes chance — I’m off (8)
MECHANIC is an anagram (off) of CHANCE IM.
Down
1d Most of the reed used by nest-builder (6)
THRUSH – TH (most of the word THE) and RUSH (reed).
2d I adore crazy person on tour (6)
ROADIE – A crazy anagram of I ADORE.
3d Agitate birds circling round second person over the Channel (7)
DISTURB – An anagram (circling) of BIRDS round TU (the French second person pronoun).
4d Where hopeful investors sink their funds? (7,4)
WISHING WELL – Another cryptic definition.
6d Exposed to dry outdoors (4,3)
OPEN AIR – OPEN TO (exposed) AIR (dry).
7d A valve to move slowly if absolutely necessary (2,1,5)
AT A PINCH – A (from the clue) TAP (valve) and INCH (move slowly).
8d Devil-worshipper settled with saint, confusingly (8)
SATANIST – SAT (settled) followed by an anagram (confusingly) of SAINT.
12d Anger about dodgy lamb that may catch fire (11)
INFLAMMABLE – An anagram (dodgy) of LAMB inserted into INFLAME (anger).
14d Old pickpocket to make reduced funds (8)
CUTPURSE – CUT (reduce) PURSE (funds) – historically a person who stole by slitting purses worn at the belt.
15d Learner driver’s introduced to unfamiliar choke (8)
STRANGLE – L (Learner driver) introduced or inserted into STRANGE (unfamiliar).
17d Bus that’s parked outside supermarket? (7)
TROLLEY – Another double definition – the latter being seen more often these days than the former.
18d Like a rascal, crashed his van after kilometre (7)
KNAVISH – K (kilometre) followed by an anagram (crashed) of HIS VAN.
19d Pope coming from England or one from Scotland, perhaps, under a GP? (6)
ADRIAN – A (from the clue) and DR (GP being another abbreviation for a doctor) followed by IAN (an example, perhaps, of a Scottish Christian name) gives the name of the only English Pope.
20d Sad soldier in farm vehicle turned up (6)
TRAGIC – A GI (American soldier) inserted into a reversal (turned up in a down clue) of a CART (farm vehicle).