Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 27686
Hints and tips by 2Kiwis
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
This week, at the time this gets posted, it will be the stroke of midnight here. Throughout the land fireworks will be set off and many voices will be raised in appalling raucous renditions of Auld Lang Syne……..but not here. We expect to be happily asleep by then. The last of our family visitors left yesterday.
HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE
We guess that we are back with a Jay puzzle. It certainly feels to us like his usual good fun.
Please leave a comment telling us what you think of today’s puzzle.
Across
1a Certainly upset, due to spy in bed (6,7)
BEYOND DISPUTE : Anagram (upset) of DUE TO SPY IN BED.
9a Humiliated, Charlie stepped on the gas (9)
CHASTENED : Start with the Charlie that comes after Able and Baker and then add a word that means went quickly.
10a Pal shot on a motorway (5)
AMIGO : A from the clue, and a shortened form of UK’s main motorway, then a word that means a shot or a turn.
11a Go in with answer for new consumer (5)
EATER : A substitution clue. Start with a word that means go in and replace N(ew) with A(nswer).
12a Proclaim a moratorium, arresting a leader of prayers (4)
IMAM : The answer is held (arrested) inside the clue.
13a Eject leaders of only union seeking terms (4)
OUST : The first letter of four words in the clue.
15a Do better than Portugal, squeezed by expenditure (7)
OUTPLAY : Put the IVR code for Portugal inside a word that means expenditure.
17a An adept bowler, perhaps, accepted by degrees (7)
MAHATMA : This adept or religious sage is made from two arts degrees enclosing what a bowler might be an example of.
18a An absorbing process is attached to the universe, extracting carbon (7)
OSMOSIS : Start with a word meaning the universe and remove C(arbon) from the start of this then add IS from the clue.
20a Withdraw from race, disheartened, needing nurse (7)
RETREAT : Dishearten race by removing the middle two letters and then put a word meaning to nurse or give therapy.
21a The last word to change almost completely (4)
AMEN: Take a word that means to change and remove its last letter.
22a Great love absent from the last letter (4)
MEGA : Take the last letter of the Greek alphabet and remove the tennis love from it.
23a A person protected by king is a person who’s doomed (5)
GONER : The king is the abbreviation that was used by the Georges and encloses a word for a single person.
26a Fruit finally ready for picking? Rubbish (5)
TRIPE : The last letter of fruit and a word that indicates something is ready for harvesting.
27a Could men in trouble crossing river spread this? (5,4)
LEMON CURD : Anagram (in trouble) of COULD MEN with an extra R(iver) included.
28a Understand what paparazzi must do (3,3,7)
GET THE PICTURE : Double definition.
Down
1d Graduate composer and orator self destructed (8,2,4)
BACHELOR OF ARTS : A classical composer followed by an anagram (destructed) of ORATOR SELF.
2d What a brewer needs — still holding ales being emptied (5)
YEAST : A word meaning still has the first and last letters (being emptied) of ales included.
3d First to support genuine scientist (10)
NATURALIST : A word for genuine or unaffected precedes a shortened way of writing first.
4d Studies Italian with variable concentration (7)
DENSITY : A noun for studies, a two letter Italian abbreviation and one of the mathematical variables.
5d Doctor raised origin of murder weapon (7)
SIDEARM : An anagram (doctor) of RAISED and first letter of M(urder).
6d Raise cap in support of socially acceptable state (4)
UTAH : The letter that means socially acceptable and the reversal (raised) of a synonym for a cap.
7d Quite ridiculous contents of letter giving protocol (9)
ETIQUETTE : An anagram (ridiculous) of QUITE and then letter without its first and last letters.
8d Catch spanner needed for game (8,6)
CONTRACT BRIDGE : A word for catch as you might a cold perhaps, and the chestnutty meaning of a spanner.
14d Pretty as a picture? (10)
PHOTOGENIC : Cryptic definition that implies the subject would make an attractive portrayal.
16d Doing office work includes cover for editor and moderating (9)
TEMPERING : Doing office work but not on a full time basis with first and last letters of editor included.
19d Furtive behaviour of the last out? (7)
STEALTH : Anagram (out) of THE LAST.
20d Guide travelled in conversation with politician across area (4,3)
ROAD MAP : A homophone for travelled perhaps on a horse, then the abbreviation for a politician with A(rea) included.
24d Pacific island vessel going north full of gold (5)
NAURU : One of the islands plundered for its phosphate deposits. The chemical symbol for gold is included in the reversal of a vessel for containing liquid.
25d Talent of criminal? (4)
BENT : Double definition, or even perhaps an all in one.
Today’s vote for most enjoyable goes to 3d.
Today’s Quickie pun quay + pole + doff = keep hold of
typo in ‘reveal answer’ for 17a
If there is then I can’t see it.
it’s in the reveal on the picture as you hover the cursor
Ha Ha !
Just crept into 3* territory for me, but that’s because I was slow with the long answers. Usual high quality puzzle from Jay, so thanks to him and the 2Kiwis ***/****
This one tested the brain. I think 1d must be my favourite. 27a brought back childhood memories. Thanks 2Ks and a Happy New Year to all
Not the trickiest Jay but as enjoyable as ever. Thank you to him and the 2Kiwis.
Today’s Toughie is a Toughie, but even if you don’t solve it, have a read of the review later and marvel at the superb brilliance of a cruciverbal summary of the year.
Happy New Year to all.
Had a look, will wait for the explanation
A very nice puzzle – great fun!
I didn’t understand 17a until I looked at the BRB and the second definition was ‘an adept’, I looked up ‘adept’ and it said ‘an expert’ – I think I understand it now!
Onward and upward – roll on 2015!
Happy New Year to all!
Not too many problems for me with this one. There are some setters who obviously think a bit differently from my squirly thought patterns and this was a puzzle where I had some trouble getting on the right wavelength – but once I got into the swing of it, I did finish it quickly enough. Aren’t crosswords such a lot of fun?
1*/4* is my rating.
Took a bit of getting into but very enjoyable.
I have a question for the adepts, how do you know that 11a is a substitution clue? Is there an indicator I have missed or do you do what I did and get the answer from the first part and work backwards?
Took a while to get the anagram in 27a, kept thinking that the 4 letter word was COLD as in common cold!
Thx to the setter and to 2kiwis for the explanation for 11a.
Happy New Year to all.
11a ‘with the answer for new’ is what tells you to replace N (new) with an A (answer)
Brian : re 11A – the substitution indicator is FOR (answer for new – ie, replace N for new with A for answer)
Thx to both of you, will bear that in mind in future
Not really stopping, still have loads to do – looking forward to February when hopefully all our guests have finally buggered off and all celebrating is finally over. Pheeewwww.
Very enjoyable today with 17A probably being my fave – very clever.
Happy New Year to one and all, hope you break the ‘no drink’ resolution at midnight.
I do like Jay’s crosswords! I’d go with 2* for difficulty and 4* for enjoyment.
Getting the long ones round the outside fairly quickly was definitely a great help.
Like Brian I managed to convince myself that 27a had to be a something or other cold but that just wouldn’t work.
I was blinded for a little while by the word ‘bowler’ in 17a but sorted that out.
No major problems really, which makes a nice change.
I liked 1 and 23a and 1 and 14d. I haven’t quite decided yet what my favourite is – might be one of those or 28a . . .
With thanks to Jay and to the Kiwis – do hope that you’ve slept your way through the noisy celebrations.
(Almost) Happy New Year to everyone.
Hope you can ‘see’ this http://jetpack.me/annual-report/35368514/2014/ Scroll all the way down, there’s an ‘interesting’ statistic at the end.
Blimey is that really how many people visit the blog?
That’s the number of page views – the number of people is estimated at 90,000 – 100,000 per month. All beyond my wildest dreams when I started in January 2009.
It’s lucky that they don’t all feel the need to leave a comment That would be in the order of 2 per minute 24/7 . We;d never have time to read them
I have to say that since I first joined this statistic has fascinated me and when you think it is just a hard core that actually comment. BD – widest dreams seems a totally inadequate comment but I can see what you mean. Thank you from me.
I understand what you mean by wildest dreams. That’s a phenomenal figure. Well you’ve created a wonderful place. Thank you. Have a great 1015 and I hope I get to meet you at one of the cruciverbalist meets.
1015? Battle of Hastings?
Nah, Waterloo
Wow, yes! A gold medal for you, Kath, and a little flower from me too with thanks for all your lively and interesting comments which, along with the unstinting efforts of BD and his team of bloggers, play a significant part in making this site as excellent as it is.
Well said. Here’s a
from me too.
Golly bongs
Golly bongs with knobs on! I’m right behind her, it sounds as if I have an opinionated mouth on me!
If you think it makes you sound as if you have an opinionated mouth on you where the hell does it leave me?! Oh dear!
and 
At least your posts are amusing, I am more colourless. Oh dear, to steal your phrase, but it’s not going to make any difference, I just love this site and feel I’m keeping up with friends!
And from me, Kath has been a tower of strength and also provided several serious giggles.
Thank you very much, everyone. Now feeling just a touch on the
side.
Oh dear – big mouth or what – and when I think how long it took me to summon the courage to leave my first comment such a long time ago . . .
Kath…
It was reading your comments that encouraged me to comment. You give people confidence. And Merusa you are certainly not colourless!
I wish you both a lovely 2015.
Thanks Hanni – have a great New Year’s Eve.
If you like Jay’s puzzles (as I do) you can find another one in today’s FT under his other alias Orense.
Look here http://www.ft.com/life-arts/crossword
Happy New Year to one and all (that’s just in case I don’t get back later).
Now for lunch and this puzzle.
I agree with Kath’s rating: 2*/4* for a very enjoyable puzzle. I found parts of it straightforward and other parts more challenging.
I was 9a by the wordplay for 9a. I got the answer easily enough and, having decided that “Charlie” must equal “Chas”, I spent far too much time trying to work out how “stepped on the gas” led to “tened” until the penny finally dropped.
I’d never heard of 24d but the answer was clearly clued and I checked Google to verify that it was correct. 22a took some time to unravel and was my last one in despite only missing two letters. How often is that the short answers prove to be the most difficult?
Many thanks to Jay for a really great finale for 2014 and to for the review.
Whoops. I omitted the word “2Kiwis” in my last sentence. Sorry about that, and a warm thank you to them!
***/****
I found this one quite tricky. Like others I was sure that 27a was something to do with illness so wasn’t looking for the answer. I also needed confirmation that 24d was correct. Though I’m sure that island has come up before.
Getting 17a was a great moment as I set here thinking that it was something to do with cricket. Definitely my favourite clue.
Many thanks to the setter and to the 2Kiwis for a fantastic blog as always.
I hope everyone has a great 2015.
And a thank you to all the bloggers who take their time to enlighten us.
I was also trying to fit ‘cold’ into 27a and, like Kath, blanched a little at the word ‘bowler’ in 17a. Not too many other problems although took a silly amount of time to sort out 1d. Any of the long answers could stand as favourite in this very enjoyable puzzle. 2*/4* for me.
Many thanks to Jay and to 2K’s – no early nights here – we’ve got fireworks from the castle in town at midnight, although it’s currently very windy and threatening rain which could scupper the show. Hope not – the ‘newly-engaged’ are really looking forward to it.
Oh my goodness is the finance back? Yey!!
I really enjoyed Jays puzzle today, it had quite a sciencey feel, what with 19a and 4d, and then it included my favourite spread !Thanks Kiwis, Happy New Year to you both and everybody else.Today I am celebrating being 39 for the 21 st time !
A very Happy Birthday to you, Una
Have a great day!
Thank you for that lovely rose !
Many happy returns, have a lovely day.
Thank you , Merusa ! Happy New Year !
Happy birthday Una. Have a wonderful evening and a happy new year.
Happy birthday from me too. Please have another
Thanks Hanni and Kath, let’s hope we all see another birthday.
Thanks to the 2Kiwis for the review!.
The illustration for 20d looks like NZ has a West Island and an East Island?
Thanks also to Jay for all the very enjoyable Wednesday puzzles year in and year out!.
You were sent into ‘moderation’ as you went back to .co.uk at the end of your email address instead of .com
Isn’t technology wonderful?
Mea Culpa!
Technology is not at fault … just my typing ability from a friend’s computer!
Maybe a “sign-in” would save me from going into “moderation”?
Thought this was going to be difficult, but once we got one or two answers in we managed to complete it with only a little help. I’ve never heard of adept used as a noun before, but it is even in my dictionary which is not the BRB. Thank you to the Wednesday setter and to the 2Kiwis. A Happy New Year to All.
With City gaining 3 points for the first time since September, having had family snowed in during Christmas and me over indulging in most things drinkable and edible, the holiday break must have refreshed parts of my brain that needed a break – because that’s the back page, Toughie and the quick one all completed this morning. The Toughie was very enjoyable, but also quite easy to follow and the back pager (inside back page in our edition) was for the most part a write in, but again very entertaining. Lots of smile moments in both of the ‘main’ puzzles. Thanks to all setters and bloggers and a very happy New Year to one and all
F1lbertfox
Are you Barkingmad?
Barkingmad? Some might say I’m bonkers
Well, that didn’t frighten the horses – they enjoyed it a lot while it lasted.
*/**** from us.
I just hope Jay isn’t lulling us into a false sense of security before throwing the book at us next Wednesday
Thanks and a Happy New Year to Jay and the Kiwis.
Thank you Jay. I enjoyed the challenge which I found difficult. Same problem as the last few days, snatching 5 and 10 minute spells to look at the puzzle whilst prepping canapés, veg etc for this evening. A return to normality would be welcome ! Thanks 2Kiwis for your review and hints. I managed to get 17a by luck from the wordplay as the definition was new to me. Happy New Year to everyone.
Another fine puzzle which I enjoyed very much. Thanks to Jay and the 2Ks A Happy new year to one and all.
And to you and Saint Sharon – not forgettings the terrible twins
Very enjoyable puzzle. (I was glad to see ‘spanner’ back in 8d; it felt like hailing an old friend I hadn’t met for ages.)
:and and a very Happy New Year to all!
2*/4* for me, with thanks to the 2Kiwis, and to Jay, congratulations to BD on the site statistics, to Kath on her gold medal
A fairly trouble-free way to end 2014. ***/***. Thanks Jay and the 2 Kiwis, to all of whom I send very best wishes for happiness in the New Year. Thanks so much BD for facilitating it all. Salaams also to all my fellow bloggers whose friendly dialogue provides me with so much entertainment, more of which I look forward to in 2015.
Enjoyable today late completion as work got in the way.
Was slightly confused by 17a for some reason got fixated on cricket so resorted to tips.
A Happy and Safe New Year to you all
Thanks to all involved in making this such a useful and friendly site. Best wishes for 2015.
Thanks to Jay and to the 2 Kiwis for the review and hints. A very enjoyable puzzle from Jay. I had too many Favourites to mention, but the best one was 18a. Good to have some science-based clues. Last in was 3d. Was 2*/4* for me. Happy New Year to all.
Many thanks to Big Dave and the team of bloggers for all the “solver support” this year!
And a Happy New Year to all!
Found this very enjoyable. 11a was a construction I hadn’t seen before, so was pleased when the penny finally dropped. And had to consult the BRB to understand 17a.
I’ve learned so much in the last few months from the explanations and posts on this wonderful blog, and been greatly entertained doing so.
Thanks to all the setters and bloggers, and best wishes for 2015.
Having been coaxed out of the cupboard with a chocolate chip cookie and a cup of coffee I approached today’s crossword with fear and trepidation. However, something truly wonderful happened and for the very first time I got all the way through without any electronic help, lovely anagrams and not phased by long answers. The island I remembered from the GK crossword a few weeks ago so perhaps senile decay has not set in. Thanks to Jay and the 2Kiwis, BD and all my fellow bloggers who have made the end of 2014 such a pleasure. Happy New Year to you all.
I am not sure whether to suggest this but the FT crossword mentioned at comment 10 above is described on another blog as “An excellent puzzle for anyone starting out at cryptic crossword solving”
This was most enjoyable, thanks Jay. I seemed to be on wavelength here, very few hold ups.
I had to google 24d to be sure, but the clue was so straightforward it was easy enough to solve.
My fave was 17a, didn’t know the adept meaning.
Thanks to Jay and 2Kiwis, like you, I keep myself quiet on NY’s Eve, the dogs and cats are scared of the noise, so I stay home to assure them.
HAPPY NEW YEAR ALL!!
A facebook message from Mary who is still having internet problems:
“…….I am managing to do crossword most days!! Miss u all and hoping to see a lot more of u in 2015!!! Well blogged Kath and thank you Sue … Happy New Year all”
Please send her Happy New Year wishes from me, Sue.
How can she do Facebook if she has no internet?
I’m one of the last, as usual, but enjoyed this crossword despite struggling with the Pacific Is. and the Ghandi clues. Would give it ***/**** like many other solvers. Suffering still from horrendous drive up to Scotland last week, the usual 5 hour journey taking 11, because of a literally criminal fatal accident on the A74(Mway) ! Puzzled by complete media silence over the “incident” but realise that the Glasgow tragedy overshadowed everything else that day. At least I completed the crossword as we sat in the 3-lane jam !
Happy New Year everyone !
Having been described as a lurker, and I have been for a while, New Years resolution was to post. Bit late in the day but been skiing all day in blue sky conditions
Nice puzzle today. Bit stuck in SE corner but once I got the island I was ok.
Thanks to all who help on this site.
All the best for 2015
Welcome Geoff – I hope you’ll be a regular commenter in 2015
Welcome from us too Geoff. The only skiing in our part of the world at this time of the year is on the water. Cheers.
Good morning everyone. Managed to stay asleep this morning longer than any time since we started doing the blogs but now, when we look at the statistics of how many people look in at the site, its enough to make two retiring bloggers nervous all over again. Interesting to see the comments on how to spell the Mahatma’s name. We did check it on Google (twice) before we wrote it in.
Enjoy the build up to celebrations coming up in a few hours for most of you, and we wish you all the best for 2015.
You may well have checked it but you labelled the picture as “Hahatma Gandhi”. There are two many pedants on this site for you get away with that!
Ah so that is what we had done. We were so careful to get the Gandhi part right that we overlooked the typo in Mahatma. Thanks for fixing it.
Two?
You’re my hero, Pommers!
I remember very much enjoying this crossword earlier, despite suffering from a not at all self-inflicted headache
. More sciencey clues which I always like to see, though we did get into the odd bit of debate over definitions.
With oodles of thanks to Jay and the 2Ks, and wishing everyone here all things lovely for the year to come.
Thank you Jay and 2Kiwis, from me, Cynthia and Cuthbert and to each contributor to this site. Happy New Year everyone
I was expecting a road mao of the UK, not NZ !!
**/****. This score didn’t reflect my feelings when I first read through last night but this morning, having had a very lazy start, it almost fell into place. How strange? Perhaps the bacon and egg sandwich and the earl grey tea were the catalysts. Anyway, very enjoyable so my thanks to the setter and the 2Ks for their usual excellent review. My favourites were 17a and 8d. Cactus Club for dinner this evening before a few or maybe too many postprandial libations. Happy New Year to one and all.
My New Year resolution:-
” I will, from now on, refrain from making New Year resolutions”
That reminds me of Tony Blair’s comment, “I don’t make predictions. I never have and I never will”!
What a lovely puzzle to wrap up the old year with! I really enjoyed it even tho’ I made a pig’s ear of 22a by going completely off line. HERA indeed! D’oh!
Oh well.
Many thanks to Jay and the Sleeping Beauties in NZ
Happy New Year everybody!
Having been enjoying two grandsons for the past two weeks there’s been no time for the crossword so just looking in to wish everyone a great 2015 & long May this wonderful site continue. Slainte everyone.
Another one picked up a day late due to absence on shenanigans last night. This was fun, but took me very close to 3* time; call it 2+*/4*. I liked 18a, among others. VMTs to Jay and the Antipodean Duo, and HNYs to all!
Couldn’t do this last night as I have a new guitar to play with – and some things are even better than crosswords. Got round to it tonight and found it an enjoyable breeze. May I also echo all the goodwill comments about this site. It’s the best