Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 27899 (Hints)
Big Dave’s Saturday Crossword Club
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As is usual for the weekend prize crosswords, an assortment of clues, including some of the more difficult ones, have been selected and hints provided for them.
Don’t forget that you can give your assessment of the puzzle. Five stars if you thought it was great, one if you hated it, four, three or two if it was somewhere in between.
Most of the terms used in these hints are explained in the Glossary and examples are available by clicking on the entry under “See also”. Where the hint describes a construct a “usual” this means that more help can be found in The Usual Suspects, which gives a number of the elements commonly used in the wordplay. Another useful page is Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing, which features words with meanings that are not always immediately obvious.
A full review of this puzzle will be published after the closing date for submissions.
Some hints follow.
Across
1a Pale in colour after meeting the Spanish (6)
A word meaning after followed by the Spanish definite article
10a It could be a grave sign of stress (6)
When preceded by grave this could be a sign that a vowel is to be stressed
16a Bulb in garden plot diseased (8)
This bulb is the kind used for illumination; just put it inside a three-letter garden plot – I have recently converted almost all of our house to LED bulbs, and the electricity bill is significantly lower; as an example the four main lights in the lounge now use 20 watts in total instead of 160
18a One can fasten a garment yet not in reflection (6)
A three-letter word meaning yet followed by the reversal (in reflection) of NOT
22a Rang Bill about two, on the phone, and demanded an explanation (6,2,7)
A verb meaning rang on the telephone and a bill around the two-letter word that sounds like (on the phone) two
27a Without a stitch in this suit? (8)
When followed by suit, this means without a stitch of clothing
I bet you knew I’d find an illustration for this one!
28a Monstrous thing, being last for ages (6)
Split as (4,2) this is a phrasal verb meaning to last for ages
30a Agreement to attempt to catch swallow (6)
An attempt around a verb meaning to swallow food
Down
2d Supper with recklessly raised spirits? (9)
A rather poor cryptic definition of someone who has raised spirits due to supping too much of the hard stuff
3d Strangely ethical to keep old diary of religious studies (11)
An anagram (strangely) of ETHICAL around O(ld) and a diary
6d Bush senior in church (5)
Two definitions – the first being a type of bush which has nothing to do with a certain US President
8d Having flipped, a 50/50 call follows (5)
One of the two results (50/50) that can follow the flipping of a coin
13d Nobleman‘s gold hair mainly to be restored (7)
This Spanish nobleman is an anagram (to be restored) of GOLD and most of (mainly) HAI[r]
15d Misleadingly, perhaps, put in policing organisation, getting knocked back (11)
A world-wide policing organisation followed by a verb meaning knocked back some food – I only knew the mathematical meaning of this word, but Chambers has “to insert a word or passage in a book or manuscript, especially in order to mislead”
17d Banker‘s material (5)
… this banker is a Scottish river
19d Definite C&B (3-3-3)
Split C&B to get two methods of dismissal in cricket
26d Tom is shown round employment department as trainee (5)
The type of animal of which tom is an, unindicated, definition by example around the abbreviation for the long-defunct Department of Employment (now covered by the Department for Work and Pensions)
The Crossword Club is now open.
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The Quick Crossword pun: brat+tizz+lava=Bratislava
1*/3* for an easy but pleasant diversion with some nice surfaces. 13d was a new word for me and, like BD, I didn’t know before checking my BRB that 15d can sometimes be misleading.
12a was my favourite – an excellent anagram with a perfect surface read.
Many thanks to Mr Ron and to BD.
P.S. My 27a suit doesn’t look anything like the picture in BD’s hints.
Very enjoyable and straightforward today. Thanks to BD and setter */****
No problems, went in almost as a R&W. Thx to Mrs B for getting the 15 letter anagram in 12a and also the one in 21a. She is a real wiz at anagrams.
Best clue for me was 19d, made me smile for ages. Let’s hope for a triple England win today. Away the lads!
Thx to all.
The cricket boys will have to look a bit more interested than Thursday for that to happen! Talking of which, shouldn’t 19d be lower case? (not that it threw me too much).
19d is different in the electronic version – but still the same answer. Correction – total aberration! It’s the same. */*** overall. Thanks to the setter and BD for the review.
Pretty straightforward.
Didn’t like 2d much as BD pointed out.
But loved 20d.
Thanks to the Saturday setter and to BD for the blog.
I didn’t like 2d but for another reason.
I have had personal experience of the illness referred to and am uneasy about refs in crosswords that seem to trivialise it.
It is far from trivial.
Am I being too sensitive about it?
I agree – very straightforward but quite good fun.
It didn’t take very long but there’s still the NTSPP and the MPP to keep me out of mischief.
I was terribly dim about 16a – got the answer without any trouble but completely missed the ‘why’ bit.
I guessed 19d – blasted cricket!
I liked 22a and 26d. My favourite is either 27a or 20d – loved both of those.
With thanks to Mr Ron and to BD.
The red sign that usually goes round and round at the top of the prize crosswords and tells us to behave ourselves seems to be hanging by a thread today instead of whizzing around – it looks a bit sorry for itself!
Usual enjoyable Saturday fare. I wish that Thursdays were like this. 13d was a new word for me and, yes, I agree with BDs’ comments about 2d. I think that I know 27a so I will not be asking for the phone number. Many thanks to BD for the hints which helped me to get unstuck and Mr Ron for a fine puzz;e finished by lunchtime, which is my target
We found 25d difficult. We have an answer now but it is not satisfactory. I see you do not give a hint.
Welcome to the blog Marilyn
I didn’t give a hint for 25 Down because I read the clue and wrote the answer straight in!
25d Move quickly northwards, then east, in traffic (5)
The reversal (northwards in a down clue) of a verb meaning to move quickly is followed by E(ast)
25d was also the final answer for me. Not helped by the fact that I wasn’t 100% happy with the last 4 letters of 29a.
Welcome to the blog, AlanC.
I was delighted to find that this was a straightforward puzzle as Windows 10 is consuming so much of my time at the moment that I am regretting having updated to it in the first place…
Isn’t it supposed to be easy to reinstall your previous version of Windows if there are problems after installing Windows 10?
Stupid question!
I rather like 8.1 and am in no hurry to bugger it up (technical term)
Have managed this one. Hooray, hooray (a very rare occurrence) but don’t understand what the word ‘grave’ implies in 10a.
It’s all in how you pronounce it – not in the way that means serious! This “sign” is only used in English on words borrowed from another language, such as French.
Thank you!
As opposed to *****? PS, BD is this allowed?
I think you’re straying into the area of “alternative clue”.
Whoops! Sorry!
Took me a while as I had wrong entries in some which confused me. Very witty and educational puzzle so very enjoyable. Still stuck on 25d if anyone can help with the wordplay?
Agree about 2d, didn’t think the answer was right but checking letters dictated otherwise.
2.5*/4*
Thanks to setter and BD for the hints.
See my reply to comment #7 above for 25d.
A quick but pleasant solve. Thanks to setter and to BD for explaining the cricket part of 19d.
I agree about 2d. This for me was a mix of R &W and head scratching. Last in was NE corner mostly because you can’t fill in 8d without some other letters!!! 13d was a new word for me. I am still not sure that all my answers are correct!! Hey ho ?
Pretty straightforward as many others agree. 12a was a clever anagram I thought.
Last one was 28a which was obvious but couldn’t justify until I read BD hint- ….doh…! txx BD. There were a few new words- 13d & 20d -I must have had a sheltered upbringing….and then 27a -avert your eyes…! Thanks to setter also.
When I was a boy – good grief, how can remember so far back – my sister tossed a thru’penny bit and it landed on it’s edge. Something I’ve never managed to achieve since!
Well, this didn’t put up any sort of a fight at all. It just rolled over onto its back and wanted its tummy tickled. Still enjoyed it for the short time it lasted.
Ta to the setter and BD.
BTW, I can recommend the Mudd puzzle in the FT.
Pretty straightforward – 13d was a new word for me!
England toiling in the Rugby after a good start – and up against it a bit in the Cricket – I don’t know which to watch!
D’oh! Flew though this puzzle but came to grief on 15d by putting the completely wrong answer in without thinking. Oh well, guess I won’t win the prize this weekend…. again.
No real favourites, 1/3* overall.
Thanks to the setter and BD for his hints.
I am a happy old lady, after the horrendous struggle with the MPP this was a delightful treat. It all fell nicely into place and I even dredged 13d out of the depths of my memory. Several laugh out loud things including 27a but my absolute favourite has to be 12a because I love the sound of the word and I managed the anagram all by myself.
P S so excited I forgot to say thank you to BD and the setter.
Enjoyable puzzle with no real hiccups; apart from having to google c&b as I had no idea what it meant.
I liked 28a and declare it my fave.
Thanks to setter and to BD for your review, particularly explaining the “why” of 2d.
Brian! Away the lads? Howay man, ger’it reet.
Yes a comfortable solve with no big headaches, although 25d did give me a bit of trouble at first. What a great word 20d is! 1*/3* thanks to setter and to BD.
Easy on the intellect but quite pleasant: 1*/3*. Top clue 16a for me, but 14d was good as well. Ta to the setter and to Big Dave.
A not too demanding but thoroughly enjoyable Saturday exercise. Thank you Mr. Ron and BD with whom I agree re 2d. Joint Favs 10a and16a. ***/***.
**/***
needed the hint for 19D & enjoyed the hint for 27A
Like all cryptics , I begin thinking it makes no sense at all and is quite beyond my ability, but after I find a few anagrams , I have a few checkers and hey pesto ! it begins to unravel.
The hint at 16a helped solve 2d which is my favourite.
Thanks BD and setter.
Thanks Una – you’ve just reminded me how much I love pesto and how long it is since I made it! Supper this week sometime, I think!
Nice crossword quite straightforward **/**** ? Thanks to BD for an interesting set of hints ? Liked the anagrams at 12a & 3d
Easy fare in front of the wood-burning stove after an unscheduled and fully clothed dip in the River Lee trying to rejoin the boat at Hertford Lock. 2d was my top trump today. Thanks to setter and BD
Quite straightforward though didn’t know 13d and don’t like 2d at all.
Also not sure on the parsing of 14d though no other word will fit.
1.5*/2*
14d Go round men’s section (5)
The abbreviation for men, as in soldiers not holding commissions, followed by a section or part
Aaargh – those soldiers again – must revise my military terminology – thank you
Thank you setter and BD no help needed today liked the pic in 27a
Many thanks for the hints.
I read 2d in a different way……raising too many glasses of spirits……..not having raised spirits in the happiness sense?
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That’s how I read 2d as well.