DT 27655 – Big Dave's Crossword Blog
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DT 27655

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 27655

Hints and tips by Miffypops

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BD Rating – Difficulty **Enjoyment **

Welcome back my friends to the show that never ends, we’re so glad you can attend, come inside come inside. There are a couple of stand out brilliant clues here today but they are over shadowed by an abundance of anagrams hence the lowering of my enjoyment level. The double definition count is high too. A red level chestnut alert is also in place.

In the hints and tips below definitions are underlined in the clue. The hints and tips are there to help. If you really need an answer click on the shaded area and the answer will appear.

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    Madrid is in her itinerary, but part can be cut off (10)
DISINHERIT: One of the longest hidden words I have ever seen. The answer is hidden in the clue as indicated by the words but part.

6a    Mid-off on field in repulsive jumper (4)
FLEA: The central (mid letter) from the word oFf followed by our usual word for field or meadow will give you an insect that can jump vertically up to 7 inches (18 cm) and horizontally up to 13 inches (33 cm) (Wikipedia).

10a    Summer  danger (5)
ADDER: A clever double definition. Summer in this case means one who can calculate the total value of two or more numbers. As to the danger, If you think you see one of these here in Warwickshire you are mistaken. It is a grass snake. The last one I saw was in our church porch.

11a    Daily  signal (9)
TELEGRAPH: The daily you are reading right now. Or an early signalling system made possible by the widespread introduction of electricity.

12a    Secret American manoeuvres (2,6)
IN CAMERA: Chestnut alert number one. Anagram (manoeuvres) of AMERICAN

13a    Easily shattered by loud jeer (5)
FRAIL: A charade of the musical term indicating loud (the opposite of pianissimo) followed by a verb meaning to complain or protest strongly and persistently about

15a    A big hit, poetry that is in fashion (1,2,4)
À LA MODE: Another charade. Do what it says on the tin and you will be fine. Here goes. A from the clue. A hit, three letters and slightly obscure but often used in crosswordland. Now we need a piece of lyrical poetry to finish with. Those of you who are over ninety years of age may remember a ridiculous programme in which a sleazy character called Cyril Fletcher read these out. Thank god television has moved on. Strictly? I’m A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here? Unfortunately it has not!

17a    The best government? Have a wry smile about it (7)
ELITISM: An anagram (wry) of SMILE placed around the word IT from the clue

19a    Lamb, say, rambling is unfathomable (7)
ABYSMAL: My second to last one in. Instantly recognised as an anagram (rambling) of LAMB SAY but my stubborn refusal to use pencil and paper meant I had to wait for checkers.

21a    Supporters set out for gripping ties (7)
FASTENS: The same as 17ac. This time the supporters are short for aficionados and they surround an anagram (out) of SET

22a    Leave secretly for the match (5)
ELOPE: This match is a marriage to which our star-crossed lovers are running away to. I wish them all success and every happiness.

24a    You never come to the end of this sort of ring (8)
ETERNITY: A very fine all in one clue. An infinite or unending time or a ring given as a symbol of lasting affection, typically set with an unbroken circle of gems.

27a    Unwinds — and makes it all over again (9)
RECREATES: A well written double definition. What God would be doing if He made the universe again

28a    Comes to  parties (5)
WAKES: A double definition The second of which has a double definition in itself. The celebrations held after a funeral or annual festivals and holidays held in the north of England

29a    A good but uncommon description (4)
RARE: Our fifth excellent DD. The first being an adjective meaning unusually good or remarkable and the second meaning not found in large numbers and so of interest or value. If you want a third think undercooked steak

30a    Realise it’s about Biblical Hebrews (10)
ISRAELITES: Anagram (yawns) (about) of REALISE ITS

ARVE Error: need id and provider

Down

1d    Expensive  address (4)
DEAR: Double definition. The first being the easier to solve.

2d    Often sitting in garden in street over a railway (9)
SEDENTARY: Lionel Blair’s Charade time. Stick God’s original garden into the abbreviation for s(tree)t and append A and another abbreviation, this time for R(ailwa)Y.

3d    Mean to accompany a woman (5)
NORMA: Mean here equals average. Adding A from the clue will lead to a girl’s name. This one had a lucky escape unlike Saint Sharon

4d    It’s the absolute end (7)
EXTREME: The answer to this clue appeared at 20d last week. I found it difficult to review then. This may not be any easier. A google for definitions includes this “the subject or predicate in a proposition, or the major or minor term in a syllogism (as contrasted with the middle term).” Whilst I hope that helps I doubt very much that it will do so. Your Toes, nose and fingers may be considered to be thus. Very severe or serious is another definition.

5d    The notoriety only a hypochondriac would enjoy (3,4)
ILL FAME: The first word is what a hypochondriac always considers himself to be. The second word is a synonym for notoriety or being known by a large number of people.

7d    Exotic creature going around in a shopping centre (5)
LLAMA: This South American mammal which mates for an extended period of time (20 – 40 minutes; Wikipedia) can be found by upturning (going around) the A from the clue and an Americanism for shopping centre.

8d    Standard position for a passing-out parade? (2,4-4)
AT HALF-MAST: Clue of the day! The surface read is designed to misdirect and will almost certainly do so. The standard is a flag. The passing out refers to a death. The standard position refers to where the flag might be flown at such times. Delightful.

9d    As hot drinks they take some beating (3-5)
EGG-FLIPS: One lives and learns. A flip is a class of mixed drinks. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the term was first used in 1695 to describe a mixture of beer, rum, and sugar, heated with a red-hot iron (“Thus we live at sea; eat biscuit, and drink flip”). The iron caused the drink to froth, and this frothing (or “flipping”) engendered the name. Over time, eggs were added and the proportion of sugar increased, the beer was eliminated, and the drink ceased to be served hot.

Nanas Egg Flip

  • 1 egg
  • ½ cup milk (skim or low fat)
  • ¼ teaspoon Vanilla
  • pinch (or 2) of ground Nutmeg
  1. Put all ingredients in a jug and mix with stab mixer (stick blender) of blend in a blender.
  2. Pour into a glass
  3. Garnish with a sprinkle of Nutmeg.

Ta Da!!!  30 seconds and breakfast is ready.

Notes

  1. Nana used a hand beater or fork to make these and there were always those slimy bits of egg white (chalzae) in the bottom of the drink – they added character but using an electric mixer will eliminate them.
  2. The vanilla and nutmeg provide natural sweetness
  3. If you are on a quest to gain weight – use full cream milk

All natural, tasty,  quick, no special ingredients required, Nana’s special recipe.

14d    Mistake one cannot make twice (5,5)
FATAL ERROR: This mistake cannot be made twice because it has led to ones death after which not much can be done once let alone twice.

16d    It measures resistance old headmaster confronted with hesitation (8)
OHMMETER: Lionel is busy today. Take the first letters of O(ld) H(ead)M(aster) add the past participle of meet (encountered) then add our usual suspect for hesitation

18d    Facial make-up used by the police (9)
IDENTIKIT: A picture of a person, especially one sought by the police, reconstructed from typical facial features according to witnesses’ descriptions.

20d    ‘Lear’ in production set up with part of ‘Hamlet’ (7)
LAERTES: The son of Polonius and bother of Ophelia found by anagrammatising (in production) LEAR and appending the reverse (up) of SET

21d    See fair play bloom (7)
FREESIA: Anagram (play) of SEE FAIR

23d    Happen to come to mind (5)
OCCUR: A double definition, a third being exist or be found to be present in a place or under a particular set of conditions

25d    Sounds like a strange letter in the post (5)
NEWEL: Sounds like new (strange) L (letter) – A stair post.

26d    In the guise of an afterthought, they’re venomous (4)
ASPS: a two letter conjunction often indicated by the word “when” in Crosswordland followed by the abbreviation for postscript will lead to the cause of Cleopatra’s downfall.

Solved to the strains of Bellowhead whom I had the privilege of seeing in Leamington Spa on Saturday night. Is there a better live band in England today? I doubt it.


The Quick Crossword pun: rabbi+touch=rabbit hutch


74 comments on “DT 27655

  1. I found this to be pretty straightforward and enjoyable. Normally the double definitions hold me up but not today. Thanks to Miffypops for the review and to rufus **/***

  2. Chilly morning but sun’s out in Macclesfield now.

    Surprised to see so many anagrams – I’m very happy with them, e.g. 19a – but is this really Rufus?

    The top half went in far quicker than the bottom half today.

    The clue that stood out for me was 28a – I really liked it.

    Many thanks setter and Miffypops ( I thought egg flips were fairly standard – or do they have a US history?)

  3. Great start to the week. Thanks Mystyeron and MP for parsing 10a (clever) and 9d (yuck! – think I’d rather stick to Eggnog and not even too keen on that!). I agree about superfluity of anagrams but plenty of good clues to compensate e.g. 11a, 15a, 28a, 2d, 8d and 25d, **/****. http://bigdave44.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-monalisa/icons/wpml_good.gif

  4. 2*/3*. Excellent fun as ever from Rufus except that 4d appeared last Monday! A case of self-plagiarisation?!

    1a looks like Kath’s worst nightmare!

    Many thanks to Rufus and to Miffypops.

    1. 1a was not only Kath’s worst nightmare but also her last answer – sometimes she just despairs of herself!http://bigdave44.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-monalisa/icons/icon_redface.gif http://bigdave44.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-monalisa/icons/icon_rolleyes.gif

  5. Not much ‘zing ‘ about todays crossword so can’t really disagree with a **/**,5d didn’t work for me, and there were too many old chestnuts and anagrams ,lacking in originality overall . Thanks Miffypops for thr ‘pics ‘thought Mr Dekker may have featured in 30a!

    1. I parsed this with notoriety as the definition (which works), and what the hypochondriac would enjoy as the wordplay. That works better for me than the all-in-one suggested in the review.

  6. ***/***
    I’ve had to sharpen my pencils today for the amount of anagrams! It took me quite a long time to figure out 18d. I kept thinking it may have something to with camouflage or genetics??
    Favourites were 1a…my goodness that was impressive for a hidden word, and 2d.
    Thanks to the setter and to Miffypops for your usual brilliant blog. :-)
    It’s distinctly cold in N.Yorks today so tonight I shall be making mulled syrup, it’s the base for making mulled wine.

      1. You’re very nice MP http://bigdave44.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-monalisa/icons/wpml_rose.gif but I’m sure Saint Sharons is wonderful hence 280 glasses.
        Was this a community bonfire night you organised?

        1. The village bonfire is held on the pubs land. Every year we manage to give over £1,000 to village organisations

          1. I agree with Jane. Councils cuts mean there are so few organised ones these days that you make do on your own. It would be great to see more stuff like that. Especially in rural communities where our options are so limited. A local pub raising money for the local community. Extra http://bigdave44.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-monalisa/icons/wpml_rose.gif
            P.S..I’ve listened to Bellowhead now. I can see the appeal.

  7. Nice relaxing start to the week with many enjoyable clues such as 10a and 28a. Still not sure how recreates links to unwinds in 27a, bit puzzling that. Also I thought egg flips were served cold bit they are obviously not!
    Lots of nice anagrams and even the double definitions were not too taxing.
    Thanks to all.

    1. Took me a while to see unwinds in 27a, then I thought about the meaning of the local recreation ground. Hven’t got access to Chambers so I hope I’m on the right track.

      1. Just checked BRB – you’re right, and so was I eventually. I don’t think it’s very often used as a verb.

  8. Thank you Rufus, good fun as usual – liked the hidden word at 1a. Thank you MP for the comprehensive review and hints !

  9. Am I alone in being puzzled by the strange numeration for 24A? In the online version it is (0,8)…

        1. In the paper it is just (8).

          PS I hope you read the Prize Puzzle review I posted last Friday?

      1. Yes, it’s a slightly more middle class version of “is it just me, or…”, which belongs on a message board.http://bigdave44.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-monalisa/icons/wpml_wink.gif

        Can anyone bid lower?

  10. A nice gentle start to the week once more. No great hold-ups today and all very straightforward. Thanks to the setter and to Miffypops. Btw, I’d never have thought of Cyril Fletcher as ‘sleazy’. I remember well his spot on Esther Rantzen’s programme ‘That’s Life’ and I also remember him as some sort of radio comedian during the 1950s, but sleazy???

    1. Hear Hear Fllbertfox! His Odd Odes might not have been to everyone’s taste but they were not sleazy. “Oh yes I remember them well” and I’m quite a long way short of 90! I even have an autographed photograph of him. He died in 2005.

      1. Well said, Angel. Me too – I’ve another nineteen years to go before ninety hits me or I hit it :-)

  11. I enjoyed it, but then I like a nice anagram, and even managed one or two without my pen….only got 18d because I already had the ‘k’ and the ‘t’.

    By rights, shouldn’t that unfathomable word be spelt abyssmal…..just sayin’.

  12. I think you were a bit hard on Cyril Fletcher, Miffypops..Russell Brand is what I call sleazy, or even more likely, Jimmy Savile. Anyway, on with the puzzle. Very nice we thought, with not too much help needed. As for old chestnuts, well we probably don’t remember them anyway. Thank you to the Monday setter and to Miffypops.

    1. I don’t remember Cyril, but you are definitely correct about Russell Brand. He makes my toes curl, I can’t bear watching him. Funny he is certainly not.

  13. I agree with MP’s 2* and 2*.
    First of all, the less said about 1a the better.
    At the risk of being directed to the letters page am I alone in really not liking 8d? The answer was pretty clear but passing out = snuffed it – I don’t think so, or am I missing something?
    I was slow with 21a – don’t know why – and with 2d – don’t know why for that one either.
    Ran away from 6d for a couple of minutes – it sounded suspiciously cricket/football/rugby to begin with.
    I liked 10 and 13a and 1 and 5d. My favourite was 14d.
    With thanks to Rufus and to Miffypops. MP – I’m with you on Bellowhead – they’re absolutely brilliant.

  14. A happy puzzle today(!) It’s the absolute end (again)… 8d… 14d… 28a. Perhaps even 24a. Not to mention those venomous snakes. Sounds like a “Mournday” to me. This crossword suits my own mood, especially since I gave up, glumly shrugged my shoulders, and went to the hints for the last few. 9d is a new one on me, and horrible they sound too.

    I agree with Beaver about 5d, and am with the others impressed by the length of 1a’s lurker. Will go for 8d as favourite. :(.

    Ok, now for operation cheer up. Wish me luck! Hope you’re all having a good day :).

    Thanks to Rufus and to Miffypops for the hints, which were entertaining as usual http://bigdave44.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-monalisa/icons/wpml_bye.gif.

  15. Took a while to get to grips having totally failed to see 1a – my favourite clue in the end – until almost finished. Having got a scattering of answers I tuned in more happily and finished in 2-3* time with 4*-5* enjoyment, without recourse to any hints.
    Many thanks to MP for the enjoyable wit and wisdom, and as ever to the setter.

  16. Yes – 10a was a clever double definition, sadly totally missed by yours truly. http://bigdave44.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-monalisa/icons/wpml_smile.gif
    20d had me a bit worried – wouldn’t it have been more accurate to have ‘in’ Hamlet rather than ‘of’?
    6a sent a spasm of fear running through me – I was convinced we were back on the cricket pitch. http://bigdave44.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-monalisa/icons/smiley-phew.gif

    Favourite was 2d, with a mention for 8,14 & 25d.

    Many thanks to Rufus (?) and to MP for his ever-amusing brand of review. I do sometimes wonder where you find such bizarre little rhymes!

  17. Thank you very much, setter and Miffypops. I enjoyed this one very much, including chestnuts and anagrams which make for a good start and enabled me to complete this one without hints. Favourites were 1a (when I saw it) and 22a and also enjoyed 6a, 11a, 8d, 16d.and 21d. In fact, I enjoyed them all which is another way of saying I could do them which is not always the case. Thanks for the DD clip and the recipe which made me want to lace it with something and put it in an oven or ice cream maker. The mulled wine sounds nice..

  18. Thanks to MP for his serendipitous mention of Bellowhead. I’d never heard of them, but checked them out on Youtube, and liked what I heard. A long-time fan of Steeleye Span, I see that both bands have recorded New York Girls, but prefer Steeleye’s because Peter Sellers is on it.

  19. Very gentle start to the week and too many anagrams for my taste. Thanks to MP for the review.

  20. Very straight forward today with no problems encountered. Unfortunately, I didn’t find much to excite or thrill today either so I’ll just keep quiet and see what happens fr the rest of the week.

  21. Thanks to Rufus for a gentle start to the week and to Miffypops for the review and reminding me of ELP’s Brain Salad Surgery album – off to listen to it nowhttp://bigdave44.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-monalisa/icons/wpml_good.gif

  22. My favourite Rufus never lets me down, I do enjoy his puzzles. I liked 1a best, it was so cleverly disguised. Thanks Rufus, and thanks also to M’pops for the always entertaining review.

  23. Almost took me longer to read the blog than to solve the crossword. No I am joking. I was stuck with 25d and therefore 28a also. Had to reveal the scratch cards. Enjoyable enough for a Monday. Thanks to MP for the review and to Rufus.

  24. Gentle stuff, but not unwelcome in a week-starter. 2*/2.5* or thereabouts, and I suppose 8d would be my favourite. Thanks to Rufus (if it is indeed he) and to Miffypops for the review.

  25. Thanks to Rufus and to Miffypops for the review and hints. A very gentle start to the week. Managed all the double definitions for once. Favourite was 6a, which was also last in.

      1. I guess the odds are that we’ll get a Mr. T on Thursday. That will put things back to normal – unless, of course, something wonderful has come into Brian’s life and he’s got his rose-tinted specs on! http://bigdave44.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-monalisa/icons/wpml_wink.gif

  26. I started off trying to put statuary into 2d but it was a bit short to fit. This, and questioning the spelling of 19a were the two longest delays in completing this one. Good Monday fun.
    Thanks Rufus and Miffypops.

  27. Thanks to Rufus ad Miffypops for the review and hints. No problems encountered but as usual could not help reading the review and the blog, good fun! 24a read (0,8) which puzzled me a bit but decided to ignore the 0. Isn’t 10a an old chestnut? Lots of good clues and difficult to pick a favourite: 1a (thought of Kath straight away),11a made me smile and 6a took the biscuit! Still 20C today in Hyères…

  28. Some of today’s chestnuts are so old they should probably be shipped off to the crosswordland twilight home. How many times has the American/secret anagram been seen before? Several others were of similar ilk. Much as I love Rufus he is repeating himself rather a lot these days.
    For a change his Guardian offering was even more straightforward than this, possibly the easiest puzzle I have seen this year.
    Thanks MP for the usual entertaining review. I can now add the mating habits of South American cud-chewing mammals to my store of useless information.

  29. I had FOSTERS for 21a, knew it wasn’t quite right but it nearly works. Also, we were given raw egg flips when we were kids if we were poorly, non alcoholic of course. I always assumed it was a Scottish thing as none of my English friends had ever heard of it. Nice easy Monday

  30. Dear Miffipops and Setter you have made a little old lady very happy because I finished the crossword without any help. I nearly came unstuck with 18d but childhood memories of Wakes week parades rescued me. I love anagrams which helped and 1a was a joy. 9d sounded yeuky especially with bits in, my fave rave for today is definitely 1a. http://bigdave44.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-monalisa/icons/wpml_yahoo.gif

    1. It is always a good feeling when the job is done Hilary. Don’t feel bad when you cannot finish though. There are some sorters out there which fool us all sometimes.

      1. Thank you. I started doing crossword when I retired, cannot read broadsheet on underground, and ended up as a bung it in and hope for the best. But many times I still did not understand when I saw the answer. Finding BD and the rest of you has increased my confidence and made things so much more enjoyable. I am practically house bound and now feel I have some friends out there in the ether. http://bigdave44.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-monalisa/icons/wpml_bye.gif

  31. Well done , Rufus ! You beat me at 1a and I usually can spot this type of clue .Otherwise , Rick might not be completely wrong.I still found it enjoyable.Thanks Miffypops.

  32. Nice gentle puzzle to start the week; I always see Sunday’s as the last of the week as it always seems to be more difficult than the rest. However it could be that is is just because it is a Sunday….
    Anyway, ignoring my waffle; an enjoyable solve today with no particularly stand out clues so thanks to Rufus(?) and MP for his entertaining revue.

  33. Some clever stuff today, but 9d leaves a bad taste. It is stil only pencilled in, even though I know it is correct.

  34. Nice straightforward one today, the only one I didn’t ‘see’ was 24d, I had a blind spot about the ‘new l’ – thick or what!

    Onward and upward! http://bigdave44.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-monalisa/icons/wpml_good.gif

  35. Last in again, as usual. Egg flip and egg nog are one and the same thing, and should contain brandy. Back in the day, girls used to drink them with lemonade in a vile, over sweet concoction known as a snowball – alcohol for people who don’t like the taste of alcohol. The stuff my father used to make me drink before going to school in the morning was alcohol free. It tasted fantastic: raw egg, milk, sugar … You just had to leave the slimy dregs. Funny how my brother and I had raw eggs for breakfast every day and never suffered from salmonella poisoning – what was Edwina on about? Straightforward and trouble-free start to the week. Favourite was 8d, but not too many other stand-outs 1*/3*

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