Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 2821
A full review by crypticsue
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BD Rating – Difficulty **– Enjoyment ***/****
This puzzle was published on Sunday, 8th November 2015
I did agree with other solvers on the day that this crossword provided yet another fine start to Sunday morning.
However, I bet none of the commenters noticed what I did once I started to draft this review. Almost half of the clues are ‘insertion’ clues – I’ve had to type the word ‘inserted’ eight times, and there were five other clues requiring you to put something inside something else. I’ve deducted half a star from the enjoyment rating as this week I ended up a little grumpy whereas normally blogging the Sunday puzzle gives you twice the fun than any other day’s crossword review.
Please leave a comment telling us what you thought. You can also add your assessment by selecting from one to five best!
Across
1a Cook aromatic plant that’s specified in prescription (6)
DOSAGE – DO (cook, falsify) SAGE (aromatic plant)
4a Widespread alarm about endless protest (8)
PANDEMIC – PANIC (alarm) goes round DEMo (an ‘endless’ protest)
10a Person to blame as head’s seized in second attack (9)
SCAPEGOAT – CAPE (head) ‘seized’ or put between S (second) and GO AT (attack)
11a Excerpt from popular song giving serious offence (5)
ARSON – An excerpt from populAR SONg
12a Isn’t confused about aim or aims (7)
INTENDS – An anagram (confused) of ISNT put round END (aim).
13a Insurance lacking first piece, being too old (4-3)
OVER-AGE – Remove the first ‘piece’ of COVERAGE (insurance).
14a Slow movement of mythical ship on lake (5)
LARGO – L (lake) ARGO (mythical ship)
15a Homeric hero suffers pain with internal problem (8)
ACHILLES – ACHES (suffers pain) with ILL Inserted (‘internal’ problem).
18a Projection for securing rope is holding male climber (8)
CLEMATIS – M (male) inserted into CLEAT (projection for securing rope) and the result followed by IS (from the clue).
20a Bottle for medicine that contains temperature is essential (5)
VITAL – T (temperature) inserted into VIAL (bottle for medicine).
23a Letter from Greece put in container for Asian (7)
TIBETAN – BETA (Greek letter) inserted into TIN (container).
25a Something worn by noble, possibly made of gold, one seen in court (7)
CORONET – OR (heraldic gold) and ONE (from the clue) inserted into CT (the abbreviation for court).
26a Right to a lawyer after introduction of new material (5)
LINEN – LIEN (a legal right) with N (new) inserted.
27a Instrumental work in last opera composed (9)
PASTORALE – An anagram (composed) of LAST OPERA.
28a Singers inside bars in holiday islands (8)
CANARIES – Caged birds or, with a capital C, some islands where people go on holiday.
29a Without objection, good woman covers her head (6)
GLADLY – G (good) LADY (woman) with an L (the ‘head’ of Lady) inserted.
Down
1d Pass securing science place for some teacher’s student (8)
DISCIPLE – DIE (pass) ‘securing’ or having put inside SCI (science) PL (place).
2d Chap with pistol people run away from as quickly as possible (7)
STARTER – I’m going to disagree with a number of commenters on the day and say that I liked this clue.
3d Apparently envious over opportunity that’s provided for rest of players (5,4)
GREEN ROOM – GREEN (with envy perhaps) ROOM (opportunity).
5d Psychiatrist so confused scientific type (14)
ASTROPHYSICIST – An anagram (confused) of PSYCHIATRIST SO.
6d Flier, one largely responsible for historic Spanish flight (5)
DRAKE – A male duck or the Elizabethan sailor to caused the Spanish Armada to flee for home.
7d Millions I bet in error (7)
MISTAKE – M (millions) I (from the clue) STAKE (bet)
8d Recorded Brahms and Liszt (6)
CANNED – Music recorded in advance or a colloquial term for being inebriated, as is Brahms and Liszt.
9d Work secured by continentals relocated in ancient capital (14)
CONSTANTINOPLE – OP (work) inserted into (secured by) an anagram (relocated) of CONTINENTALS.
16d Northern city as source for vital organ (9)
LIVERPOOL – split 5,4 this city might be a source of a liver (vital organ).
17d Excessive praise from playwright about coffee (8)
FLATTERY – FRY (playwright) goes round LATTE (coffee).
19d Swedish philanthropist upset about an unstable country (7)
LEBANON – Reverse (upset in a Down clue) NOBEL (Swedish philanthropist) and insert AN (from the clue).
21d Mug taking military vehicle on a road (7)
TANKARD – TANK (military vehicle) goes on A RD.
22d Unlike upright type in centre of hospital, I cheat (6)
ITALIC – Hidden in the centre of hospITAL ICheat
24d General meaning to expand number of regiments, initially (5)
TENOR – The initial letters of To Expand Number Of Regiments.
S2
Thank you CS for this, I agree with you about 2d I thought people were making an inordinate fuss and could not quite see why. I always enjoy the Sunday crosswords and this was no exception. Mr G certainly keeps us on our toes.
The usual Sunday enjoyment – thanks to Mr G and Mrs S. I can see that cook = do = falsify works in 1a, but I thought it just meant cook in its more literal sense as in “I’m doing chips for dinner”.
I remember enjoying this one – anyway, I’ve found the crossword so can read what I put on it.
I also remember being completely sunk with 2d – I ended up putting ‘scatter’ – well, don’t want to dwell on it too much but people would scatter from a chap with a pistol . . .
I liked 1 and 29a and 5d (although the anagram took me ages and I needed loads of letters in before I saw it) and 9d.
With thanks to Virgilius and to CS.