DT 28194 – Big Dave's Crossword Blog
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DT 28194

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 28194

Hints and tips by ShropshireLad

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BD Rating – Difficulty */**Enjoyment **

Good Morning from what is starting to be a bit of a hot day here in Shropshire. Nothing in the puzzle today that will send the horses galloping off to the hills but still quite enjoyable (apart from a couple of clues). Sorry to all the anagram lovers out there, but there are none – zilch – nada. However, I’m sure you’ll all cope.

As usual, the definitions are underlined to give you a running start and my hints and tips are also there to help you if required. If all else fails, you can reveal the answer by operating the ‘click here!’ button. Happy solving.

Please leave a comment telling us what you thought.

Across

1a    District hospital to the east of capital (6)
PARISH: Take the usual abbreviation for ‘hospital’ and place it at the end of (to the east) a European capital city.

5a    Primate could give bishop a blessing (6)
BABOON: Start with a single letter abbreviation for ‘bishop’ and follow that with the ‘A’ from the clue and a synonym for a ‘blessing’ as in a gift.

10a    Range fashionable once more (5)
AGAIN: A famous brand cooking ‘range’ followed by a synonym for ‘fashionable’. Not ‘hip’ but you get the idea.

11a    Brute, Scotsman, perhaps behind bars (9)
BARBARIAN: Note the term ‘bars’ – which indicates more than one. Follow that with one of the usual names for a ‘Scotsman’.

12a    Doctor’s client, long-suffering (7)
PATIENT: A double definition.

13a    What may help some sporty types to get up? (3,4)
SKI LIFT: A cryptic clue for a machine used by Winter sports aficionados who pelt down hills on a pair of lollipop sticks. Or even one wider lollipop stick.

14a    Sailor about to collect special gunpowder ingredient (9)
SALTPETRE: Take a term for a ‘sailor’ and the abbreviation of ‘about’ that contains (to collect) a synonym for ‘special’. Teachers have them.

17a    Outbreak of fighting heading for cup tie (5)
CLASH: The initial letter (heading) of C[up] followed by a verb meaning to tie.

18a    What shapes beard worn by preacher, a Zoroastrian (5)
RAZOR: Our first ‘lurker’ of the day.

19a    Deteriorate? Manage to consult foremost of doctors (3,2,4)
RUN TO SEED: Use a synonym for ‘manage’ followed by a term (split 2,3) for ‘to consult’ and end with the first letter (foremost) of ‘doctors.

21a    Caught a programme about Conservative’s dependable way to boost the coffers (4,3)
CASH COW: Take the cricketing abbreviation for ‘caught’ (not something seen beside the name of England’s fielders in the last test), the ‘A’ from the clue followed by a term used for a stage production and cover ‘about’ the abbreviation for ‘Conservative’. Verbosity in the clue requires verbosity in the hint.

23a    Spend long period of time crossing (7)
PASSAGE: A charade of two synonyms – one for ‘spend’ and then ‘long period of time’.

25a    Refusing to bend, old boy, say, has to be carried around home (9)
OBSTINATE: Take the standard abbreviation for ‘old boy’ followed by a synonym for ‘say’ which contains (has to be carried around) the crosswordland term for ‘home’.

26a    Hunter in oratorio, Nimrod (5)
ORION: Our second ‘lurker’ of the day.

27a    A stink, ultimately, after article taken from another jacket (6)
ANORAK: Lego time. Take the ‘A’ from the clue then what you are left with after removing (taken from) a 2 letter article from ‘another’ and place the last letter (ultimately) of ‘stink’ at the end (after).  Don’t know what I was thinking of with this hint.  It should be, Take the letter ‘A’ from the clue and the last letter (ultimately) of ‘stink’ preceded by (after) what is left when a 3 letter ‘article’ is removed from ‘another’.  Thank you Jane.

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28a    Cruel person, notice, is skulking in street (6)
SADIST: Take the abbreviation for ‘street’ and insert (skulking in) a 2 letter abbriation for ‘notice’ and the ‘Is’ from the clue.

Down

2d    A component in pieces (5)
APART: Start with the ‘A’ from the clue and add a synonym for ‘component’.

3d    Secret involving house and publican (9)
INNKEEPER: Take a slightly stretched synonym for ‘secret’ and insert (involving) another synonym for ‘house’ as in ‘to shelter’.

4d    Hard, somewhat, in outward appearance (5)
HABIT: The standard abbreviation for ‘hard’ is followed by a term (split 1,3) for ‘somewhat’.

5d    He conducted in Swiss capital, good man, a German (9)
BERNSTEIN: Start with the alternative spelling of a Swiss capital, add an abbreviation for ‘good man’ and finish off with ‘A’ in German.

6d    Sounds like one who has a lighter spicy starter (5)
BHAJI: A homophone (sounds like) of a person who would ply his trade on a vessel (lighter) on the canals. I’m saying nothing.

7d    Start to make a speech having swallowed one drink (9)
ORIGINATE: Take a synonym for ‘to make a speech’ and contain (swallowed) the Roman numeral for ‘one’ and a spirit (usually mixed with tonic water) ‘drink’.

8d    French writer keeping quiet for academic grounds? (6)
CAMPUS: You will need a French writer and philosopher who contributed to the rise of the philosophy of ‘absurdism’ (Thank you Mr Google) that contains (keeping) the abbreviation for ‘quiet’.

9d    Grab lift (6)
SNATCH: Another double definition, the latter indicating a type of ‘lift’ in weightlifting.

15d    Idle girl makes a stand (4,5)
LAZY SUSAN: Take a synonym for ‘idle’ and follow it with the name of a girl. What girl? Any girl, take your pick. As you’re all probably well aware – I don’t like this type of clue where a ‘name’ has no wordplay to guide you. Some will probably argue that, at this stage, you will probably have a few checking letters to complete the clue. I just call it being lazy.

16d    Perplex with support for reversion to an earlier type (9)
THROWBACK: Take a synonym for ‘perplex’ and follow that with a term for ‘support’. I initially only had ‘an earlier type’ underlined for the definition. What do you think?

17d    Angry over promise to provide this (9)
CROSSWORD: A charade of 2 synonyms for ‘angry’ and ‘promise’.

18d    Page on Rex, academy’s headmaster? (6)
RECTOR: A charade of the right hand side page in an opened book (page) and the abbreviation of ‘Rex’.

20d    Governess expected girl to be upset (6)
DUENNA: Take a term for ‘expected’ and another girl’s name reversed (to be upset). I’ve said all I wanted to say about girl’s names.

22d    One who proclaims about state and Queen (5)
CRIER: Start with the abbreviation for ‘about’, follow that with the abbreviation of a ‘state’ in America and finish off with (yes you’re correct) another abbreviation for our current Queen.

23d    Quick to forget former partner in a novel manufacturing business? (5)
PRESS: Take a synonym for ‘quick’ and remove (forget) the abbreviation for ‘former partner’.

24d    A young lady that’s out of order (5)
AMISS: Take the ‘A’ from the clue and add the title used for an unmarried girl (young lady)

Not too difficult with only a couple holding me up with the parsing. I’ll go with the concise 18d as my favourite of the day – does what it says on the tin. Which one(s) amused you today?


The Quick Crossword pun: musk+wash=musquash


75 comments on “DT 28194

  1. My goodness for me that was probably the simplest R & W ever but it was such fun while it lasted and particularly thanks to the absence of anagrams (not among my favourite things!). So many great clues that I can’t really pick a Fav. Thanks so much Mysteron and indeed SL for being there in case of need. Half*/****.

  2. Very easy Tuesday – on the back page anyway – the Toughie being a whole other experience.

    I do wish they’d called the useful piece of table equipment in 15d something else, but it does make that sort of clue even more R&W for me.

    Thanks to the Mysteron for the short-lived entertainment and to SL for the explanations.

  3. Nothing too difficult today ,no anagrams though and didn’t know the 18d word.Mrs. bluesking put me right on that.About 2*/3* I thought

  4. 2*/2*. The ultimate Legofest. Final score: Lego 25 – Anagrams 0. Please let’s have some balance.

    Thanks to the setter and to SL.

  5. Almost a R&W even for me, although I did need to resort to Google to work out which girls name for 15d. Also needed the hint to explain 18d.

    */*** for me today.

  6. Easy enough puzzle, not quite R & W but no problems. Thanks to the setter and to Shropshire Lad for the review.

  7. Allow me to differ. I could not get onto Mysteron’s wavelength at all. R&W, more like scratch, turn to electronic aid, guess and hope for me.
    So it has to be 3*/1* for me.
    Thank you SL for making the mysterious explicable.

  8. Pretty easy for a Tuesday although 20d caused some thesaurus investigation.
    Thanks to Shropshire and setter.

  9. Last day of my hols. Just watching the Falmouth Working boats racing at Fowey. Had time to do today’s cryptic in double quick time while doing so. Really enjoyed it and had not even noticed there were no anagrams. Learnt a new word. Thanks setter.

  10. Fairly OK for me; SW corner last as I confused Betty & ***** (why is it females are labelled lazy? Jack was simply idle. All the ladies I know are anything but) in 15d.
    Didn’t like the 0.0% anagram count so ** enjoyment for me.
    Thanks to setter & SL for excellent hints and observations. Although I didn’t need them they always help me understand exactly how to parse things.
    5d caused me to Google the 1976 NYSO Rhapsody in Blue video pity my ear trumpets can’t do it justice.

  11. Nothing here to test the old grey matter. Quite enjoyable, i didnt notice there were no anagrams till pointed out on here. 1.5*/2.5* Thanks to Mr Ron and to SL for the hints.

  12. More anagrams please. They provide a route into a puzzle and I love having the chance to make letter circles with my trustee pencils. An enjoyable romp whilst it lasted. The toughie is tough and Screw in the Guardian is very mischievous. I know these things because I have a very slight cold and am avoiding work and enjoying giving Saint Sharon jobs to do. Thanks to the setter and thanks to The Salopian in our midst. The boy done good.

  13. Thanks to the setter and to Shropshire Lad for the review and hints. I enjoyed this, but didn’t notice the lack of anagrams until I read the blog. Doh! 11a made me laugh. 6d was very inventive, but my favourite was 5a. Needed the hints to parse 3&23d. Was 2*/3* for me.

  14. Two lovely clues to remind me of “le jardin”. The first being 21a as it is the case at the moment and 6d as it appears on our Indian vegetarian platter.
    Tuesday is never a disappointment and managed to finish both crosswords before lunch and after a lie in.
    Not bragging but surprised that both CS and MP found the toughie difficult.
    Thanks to the setter and to SL for the great review.

    1. Hi J-LC. I read all of the clues in the toughie and entered one. An anagram solved easily without external aids. After reading your comment above I returned to the toughie and entered one more answer. I also failed with the Mini Sudoku.

      They told him that it couldn’t be done
      With a smile he went right to it.
      He tackled the thing that couldn’t be done
      And found he couldn’t do it.

  15. Brain must have been in first gear to start with but once I got going it mostly fell into place. Last one in 20 down I had heard the word but only in the context of childbirth and nannying, whereas Governess brought to mind a tutor of older children. Also tried ALASS for 24d before getting the hunter at 26a. Otherwise an enjoyable Tuesday offering from the setter.

  16. I loved this. True, an anagram or two would have been a welcome insertion, but nonetheless there are some beauties. The clues work so well as wholes as well as in their components. My only post-crossword headscratch is “Run to seed”; I am only familiar with “Go to seed.” Difficulty ** Enjoyment ****

  17. Rather late in today as a ‘man that can’ has had control of my computer this morning and nursed her back to life for me. Thank you, Giles.
    Never noticed the lack of anagrams although I now see that there are no pen circles on my copy of the DT!
    Think I’ll nominate 11a for the laurel wreath – as much as anything for the pic thoughtfully provided by SL. Do you happen to know where I can get one of those (the fella that is, not the photo)?

    Thanks to Mr. Ron and to our own Shropshirelad – nice to see you back on parade.

  18. Just 19A/5D/6D had me stumped today.
    Keep up the great work.
    It’s nice and sunny here in Dorset as well.

  19. That is so depressing to see the rating. I could only manage 1/4 and that was a struggle. For me **** for difficulty just cannot get on the setters wavelength at all so very little fun..
    Thx for the hints.

    1. Having been through the clues I can now say that for me any least this is one of the most difficult backpagers for a long time. Recto fooled me as did the head of an academy, snatch was not an lift I have come across, I had to look up what a lighter was and never heard of the starter, why clash should be a cup tie is beyond me etc etc etc. All in all more mysterious than a Ray T.
      Safe to say I absolutely hated this crossword.

        1. I thought it was shoplifting too so didn’t investigate any further but the BRB agrees with SL – maybe either interpretation is OK.

          1. I’m a bit late but ‘snatch’ is also a term used in weightlifting. It is a type of lift as is a ‘clean and jerk’.

            Maybe a topical clue, Olympics and all that.

        2. Ahem… yes, indeed. Not only that; a cup-tie is also often referred to as a clash anyway. :scratch:
          I try not to ‘hate’ anything, I just accept that some things are sometimes different to my preferences.

          Had to check 18d, so thanks for the hints SL.

          1. Hi LBR – I thought along the lines that 17a was a double definition. Luckily the ‘gaffer’ sorted it out for me.

            1. Yes, I read it as 1+4 but as Kath points out, it still works either way, except ‘heading’ as in ‘first letter of’ would be redundant. I really don’t see the problem.

      1. Hi Brian,

        I felt the same way about last Friday’s crossword. I could only get one clue before my brain melted and dribbled out of my ears. Even when I looked at the clues I still couldn’t get many of them. Despite that, it was rated **/***

  20. This was a very bland puzzle for me. I agree with SL about girls names so 15d had to wait until I got the crosser from 18a and no anagrams, which make routes into a puzzle more accessible, was disappointing, 6d was a dreadful stretch. I had a couple of bung ins which made sense once I read the hints. Thanks to all. Off on travels today so probably off the air for three weeks unless I find a good wifi source.

  21. I thought Brian was a bit harsh on this puzzle. I got through entirely until I was left with 6d. Even though I was thinking of the correct ‘lighter’ I still didn’t see it. Kicked myself when I saw the hint. Doh !

    **/***. Thanks to setter and SL.

  22. Agree a pretty straightforward solve */*** 😛 23d was the only one that caused some head scratching 🤔 Liked 1 & 11 across Thanks to SL and to the setter 😊

  23. Easy and fun on a hot Devon afternoon. Having found a Z I convinced myself this was going to be a pangram and spent time on the last few trying to put Q in somewhere. Thanks to SL and the setter.

  24. I’m just glad that I finished the crossword without assistance. If that means that it was easy I don’t care. A win’s a win ☺.

  25. A couple of anagrams certainly wouldn’t have gone 24d, but overall I quite liked this one.

    Surprised that it seems to have caused consternation in certain quarters, I think it’s just a wavelength thing really.

    I ticked three clues, 10a, 6d and 8d as my picks of the day.

    Many thanks to today’s setter and to SL.

  26. How I managed to be foxed by 6d having lived in India for over 9 years, I will never know! Otherwise pleasant beginning of the week with a pretty straightforward solve, a bit bland perhaps… Liked 8d probably because of the French connotation – am I using the right word? I know I am not supposed to comment on other puzzles but Really enjoyed the weekend prize puzzles. Many thanks to setter and to SL who solved 6d for me.

  27. Well, I found this decidedly tricky, so there, you R&W commenters!
    Never did get 6d, never having heard of it.
    Some were bung it ins, grateful for the hints to know why, eg 9d.
    Thanks to setter, and a thousand thanks to ShropshireLad for his unravelling for me.

  28. I agree – not tricky but enjoyable.
    I did notice the total absence of anagrams.
    I also thought we were heading for a pangram but no V or Q, I think. It’s always the same – whenever I start to think about it it isn’t.
    I did get into a pickle, briefly, untangling 27a but got there eventually and always forget the ‘page’ in 18d – I didn’t know that meaning of the word.
    I liked 5 and 11a and 6d (pronunciation or not) and 22d.
    With thanks to Mr Ron and to SL.
    Too hot – too dry – the garden is turning into a crisp and I’m not far behind it. The pic for 13d was very welcome – it made me feel a bit cooler.

      1. Yes – of course – see, I told you my brain was a bit frizzled by doing too much weeding in very hot sun. :roll:

  29. Very jaded by the time I got to this, I did not race through all of it. In fact, there were a few I spent a bit of time gazing vacantly at including, at the tail end, 13a and 6d before I finally lighted upon the sports equipment which unlocked the last one.

    Many thanks to the setter and to ShropshireLad.

  30. Three quarters of this were a R&W, with the NE corner pushing it into a ** for difficulty. Lovely while it lasted, if I didn’t have to think for so long about how to spell 6d then it might have been quicker again. That was also my favourite clue today.

  31. A lovely gentle puzzle for a delightful summer day. Thanks to the setter and to SL. A **/*** from us.

  32. */** for me. Did most of it sitting on the beach at Rest Bay with grandchildren. No signal so couldn’t check Swiss capital and having the wrong spelling for 14a didn’t help. Sorted now home. Thanks for explanation of 27.

  33. Well, 6d was my favourite and I don’t care! I had tried BALTI first but that didn’t help the elephant, and anyway, it didn’t make sense. However when has that stopped me from putting it in regardless? I enjoyed today’s offering; no anagrams? So what? A change is as good as a rest, or something like that!
    2/3* overall.
    Thanks to Mr Ron, and to SL for his review.

  34. Good evening everybody.

    A joint effort today and all over in what seemed the blink of an eye.

    **/na

  35. I did not find this easy, but managed to get all of the answers alone and unaided with the exception of 8d…..sorry, I’m really not good at the French stuff. Did German at school and cannot say that I have used it very much if at all, so, bit of an error at age 11. Should have listened to my Mum…..and ot for the first time.

    Thanks to the setter and to ShropshireLad for the hints, much needed for the parsing.

  36. I quite enjoyed this…not overly taxing and a few smiles. I wouldn’t have minded the odd anagram though. I like them.

    8 and 18d get the medals today. Re 8d lollipop sticks? Really?

    Many thanks to the setter and to the Shropshire based one for a great blog.

    More medals for GB in the gymnastics too. Mint.

    1. Yep – lollipop sticks. Tried it several times and couldn’t see the point of it all. Now, après-ski, is a totally different animal :yes:

        1. Surely you’re not suggesting that I am soooo large that I can’t fit a Magnum ice lolly stick on each foot? :wink:

      1. They are not lollipop sticks…but very sophisticated bits of kit!

        Now après-ski…that’s a totally different story. :wink:

  37. I knew there was something different today and then I realized no anagrams… They usually help me to get checkers in. Enjoyed except for 21a (cricket ugh) and 6d, don’t like/can’t eat spicy food so never heard of that (like Merusa). Thanks to SL for helpful hints, giving me a few “of course” moments.

  38. Unlike many others I found this puzzle quite difficult! Just not on the right wavelength I guess. I liked 5a and 27a but 1a had me guessing for ages……I know, I know…I was thinking of a middle eastern capital ending in H, but couldnt rememer how to spell it…turns out it was wrong anyway! A lot of guess work involved, but finally managed to finish it with some electronic help. Not particularly enjoyable 3*/1*.

  39. Agree with Brian…Once I was not tuned in to this, this may as well have been written in Chinese.
    As a beginner, I find this a big problem. Some setters (Jay, Giovanni, Rufus, Vigilius) I am fine with, but many of the Mr Rons and Ray-T, I am all at sea as I just cannot tune into their wavelength. I guess it comes with practice.
    ***************/* for me today, shame.
    Thanks to SL for the hints.

    1. 5a – Note the term ‘bars’ – which indicates more than one. Follow that with one of the usual names for a ‘Scotsman’.
      SL – Any chance you could further explain??? Sorry, don’t understand the hint.

      1. Hi HIYD. Bars = bar bar then one of the usual names for a Scotsman in crosswordland in this case = Ian. Hence bar bar Ian.

        1. Thanks SL, I got the Bar x2 but was not aware of crosswordland’s Scotsman = Ian.
          Thanks for the excellent hints, I can confidently say that I could have stared at this for the rest of my life and still got nowhere!!

          1. The ruse of pluralising a word is used quite often – the other one that springs to mind is ‘news’, that gives us ‘nn’.

            The same old names pop up quite frequently
            Scotsman = Mac or Ian
            Irishman = Pat
            Frenchman = Rene
            German = Otto
            Princess = Di(ana)

            I thought that BD had a list in the ‘mine’ but can’t see one.

    2. It does come with practice HoofIt (unless you are Brian). Do not be discouraged. Sometimes you have to think outside of the box. They can certainly restore faith in oneself if struggling with others over a few days. The only clue here I would quarrel with was 3d. Answer obvious but I needed convincing as to how the clue fitted.

      1. Hi WEW – 3d was my last one in so I had all the checkers and it all pointed to ‘Innkeeper’. It took a bit of lateral thinking to come up with the parse – and I’m still not totally convinced.

  40. This was a little better than Monday’s, but still only average for a weekday. I quite enjoyed it though. 19a: This is about he 6th time in the last few weeks that part of the clue (TO) appears blatantly in the answer – but in this case it is part of some nifty wordplay (the 2/3 split), so excusable I suppose. 2*/3*

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