Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 27983
A full review by crypticsue
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BD Rating – Difficulty * – Enjoyment **
This puzzle was published on Saturday, 12th December 2015
Typical Saturday crossword – whilst solving the puzzle, I did notice the number of times I had to remove a letter from a word, but hadn’t quite realised how many anagrams there were until I typed the 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 Noble champion? (5-6)
TITLE-HOLDER – A champion or a way of describing a peer of the realm, for example.
7a Conjecture in East about ‘Wise Men’ (7)
IMAGINE – MAGI (wise men) inserted into IN (from the clue) and E (east)
8a Callas working on aria’s ending in opera house (2,5)
LA SCALA – An anagram (working) of CALLAS goes on or before A (the ending of aria).
10a Paper having no time for children (5)
ISSUE – Remove the T from TISSUE paper.
11a Get rid of last of cattle spread out round Cape (9)
ERADICATE – E (the ‘last’ of cattle) and RADIATE (spread out) with C (cape) inserted.
12a Latest to pick out popular nightclub? (7)
HOT SPOT – HOT (the latest ‘thing’) and SPOT (pick out)
14a As an example, copper piece (7)
ELEMENT – Copper is an example of a chemical element ; an element is a piece or part of something.
15a Trade ban: almost board ship and depart (7)
EMBARGO – EMBARk (almost board ship) and GO (depart).
18a Whole unit, say, brought into Bury? (7)
INTEGER – EG (say, for example) inserted into INTER (bury).
20a International striker on trial (4,5)
TEST MATCH – MATCH (striker) goes on or after TEST (trial).
21a Mark‘s short visit home (5)
STAIN – STA[y](a ‘short’ visit) and IN (home).
22a Muscle seen from both sides (7)
ROTATOR – This muscle is a palindrome (seen from both sides).
23a Maine, a certain size (7)
MEASURE – The abbreviation for Maine – ME, A (from the clue) SURE (certain).
24a Good-time girl from Malaya? Print blurred (5,6)
PARTY ANIMAL – An anagram (blurred) of MALAYA PRINT.
Down
1d Movement in broadcast millions missed (7)
TRANSIT – Remove the M (millions missed) from TRANSMIT (broadcast).
2d Beginning of traditional ceremony, lacking originality (5)
TRITE – T (the ‘beginning’ of traditional) RITE (ceremony).
3d High point of achievement of the first lady and others (7)
EVEREST – EVE (the first lady) REST (others).
4d Taking vacation, small number lacking energy to go to desert (2,5)
ON LEAVE – ON (a small number – on[e] –lacking the E for energy) LEAVE (desert).
5d One opposing official policy — leader of Democrats insisted upon change (9)
DISSIDENT – D (the leader of Democrats) and an anagram (upon change)of INSISTED.
6d All are staggering having consumed English booze (4,3)
REAL ALE – An anagram (staggering) of ALL ARE and E (English).
7d Girl tethers barking dog (5,6)
IRISH SETTER – IRIS (girl) followed by an anagram (barking) of TETHERS
9d Defoliant spy ring dropped on field (5,6)
AGENT ORANGE – AGENT (spy) O (ring) RANGE (field).
13d Border safe? Gulf ruler turns up, being welcomed in (9)
PERIMETER – A reversal (turns up in a Down clue) of EMIR (Gulf ruler) inserted into PETER (slang term for a safe).
16d Marilyn Monroe film kiss — high point (3,4)
BUS STOP – BUSS (kiss) TOP (high point)
17d Office item available with mounted pictures going over year (3-4)
OUT-TRAY – OUT (available) TRA (‘mounted’ or reversed ART –pictures) Y (year)
18d Animal smell, not pleasant, over area in pub (7)
INHUMAN – HUM (nasty smell) and A (area) inserted into INN (pub).
19d Slow guard, out of position by a lake (7)
GRADUAL – An anagram (out of position) of GUARD followed by A L (lake).
21d Small and friendly crowd (5)
SWARM – S (small) WARM (friendly).
S1
There’s not a lot to say about this one – the clues all work but there’s not much in the way of sparkle. Thanks to the setter and CS for the write-up.
If the compiler is a setter can the solver be called a settee?
I think that I remember quite enjoying this one.
I liked 21 and 24a and 18 and 21d. My favourite, although I don’t like the idea of tethering a dog – our wonderful Annie just needed to be told to ‘stay’ – was 7d.
With thanks to Mr Ron and to CS.
See, CS – you don’t need to have multiple favourites to push me into commenting!