DT 27869

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 27869

A full review by crypticsue

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BD Rating – Difficulty **– Enjoyment ***

This puzzle was published on 1st August 2015

As usual, I am at odds with quite a few of the views expressed on publication day – I enjoyed solving this puzzle, partly because it wasn’t as straightforward as Saturday puzzles usually are – although  I could have done without the earworm produced by 29a.

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           Too easy as the Italian gets mug running round (6)
FACILE –   FACE (mug being a slang word for face) running round IL (the Italian definite article).

4a           Go mad before long — it’s not serious (8)
FLIPPANT – FLIP (go mad) PANT (long [for something])

10a         Exit on cue for moving performance (9)
EXECUTION – An anagram (for moving) of EXIT ON CUE

11a         Eliminate answer in Gaelic language (5)
ERASE –   A (answer) inserted into ERSE (Gaelic language).

12a         Maybe fifth set of French drink (7)
DECIDER –   DE (of in French) CIDER (drink).

13a         Examine bug picking up tip from phone (7)
INSPECT – INSECT (bug) picks up or has inserted the P at the ‘tip’ of phone.

14a         French composer mocking work rejecting king (5)
SATIE – R (Rex, King) rejected or removed from SATIRE (mocking work).

15a         Drops the crocks? See what results (8)
POTSHERD –   A well-hidden anagram  (‘crocks’ being the indicator) of DROPS THE.

18a         Disciple left out for a time, I gave up religion (8)
APOSTATE –   Remove the L (left out) from APOSTLE (disciple) and replace with A (from the clue) and T (time).

20a         Dave almost OK getting drunk — with this? (5)
VODKA –   An anagram (getting drunk) of DAV (Dave ‘almost’) and OK.

23a         Manage part of poem in Old English (7)
OVERSEE –   VERSE (part of poem) inserted into O (old) E (English).

25a         Gold goes up in price then flags (7)
ORRISES – OR (heraldic term for gold) RISES (goes up in price).

26a         Simple part of church I should enter (5)
NAÏVE – I (from the clue) inserted into NAVE (part of church).

27a         Maybe fan of bit-part player and thespian sharing a part (9)
EXTACTOR –   EXTRA (bit-part player) and ACTOR (thespian) overlapping and so sharing the A.

28a         Old campaigner, note, following my naval vessel (8)
CORVETTE – COR (my used as an interjection) VET (old campaigner) E (musical note).

29a         Agent welcomes rest for bounder on TV once (6)
SKIPPY – SPY (agent) ‘welcomes’ KIP (slang term for sleep, rest).   Anyone else drive themselves mad with the theme tune going round and round in their head?   Just me then!

Down

1d           Finished puzzled? That’s typical of the Toughie! (8)
FIENDISH –   An anagram (puzzled) of FINISHED.

2d           Reduction in staff resulting in shortage at the top? (4,3)
CREW CUT – This short hair cut sounds like it might describe a reduction in the staff of a ship, for example.

3d           Toad’s disguise from Los Angeles strip (9)
LAUNDRESS – LA (Los Angeles) UNDRESS  (strip).

5d           Old Dracula’s characteristic feature (4,2,3,5)
LONG IN THE TOOTH – This expression meaning elderly (old) – like a horse whose gums are receding with age – can also describe a particular feature of a vampire like Dracula.

6d           Petition in newspapers (5)
PRESS – To importune or petition, or the journalistic profession, newspapers generally.

7d           Ham and a well-ripened cheese finally sent up (7)
AMATEUR –   A (from the clue) and MATURE (well-ripened) with the E (cheese finally) sent further up the word.

8d           Make inroads into attempt for agreement (6)
TREATY – EAT (make inroads into) inserted into TRY (attempt).

9d           Operation could make Clement happier (3,11)
HIP REPLACEMENT –   An anagram (could make) of CLEMENT HAPPIER.

16d         Article on back mostly in horse ride? (9)
HAVERSACK –   A, the indefinite article, and VERS(o) (most of the back of a leaf of printed material) inserted into HACK (horse ride).

17d         Heartless Britney Spears upset someone en route (6-2)
PASSER-BY   – An anagram (upset) of BY (‘heartless’ telling you that you only need the outside letters of Britney) and SPEARS.

19d         Top-class seaside venue featuring old rock band (7)
PREMIER –   PIER (seaside venue) ‘featuring’ or having inserted REM (old rock band).

21d         DOS kept crashing computer (7)
DESKTOP –   An anagram (crashing) of DOS KEPT.

22d         Someone in routine job can up and drink (6)
COGNAC –   COG (someone in routine job) followed by a reversal (up in a Down clue) of CAN (from the clue).

24d         Kid influenced by speech (5)
SUEDE –   Kid being a type of leather –   A homophone (speech) of SWAYED (influenced by).
S2