DT 28218 – Big Dave's Crossword Blog
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DT 28218

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 28218

Hints and tips by ShropshireLad

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BD Rating – Difficulty **Enjoyment **

Good Morning from a dull weather day in my neck of the woods. We are meant to be bathed in brilliant sunshine and enjoying ‘scorchio’ temperatures. So much for weather forecasters.

Our Tuesday Mr Ron has left me with a curate’s egg of a puzzle. There is certainly nothing of any real difficulty (start with the down clues) and I enjoyed the solving of it. However, as I’ve come to write the review I’m afraid I’ve gone off it a bit (it’s taken me ages). I was going to change my rating but I’ll leave them as they are.

To help you along your path of cryptic achievement and fulfilment I have underlined the definitions. If still struggling, I have added pictorial and written hints. If all else fails, then you can reveal the answers by clicking on the ‘click here’ button. Happy solving.

Please leave a comment telling us what you thought.

Across

7a    Serving US soldier in one’s pub is sensible (7)
LOGICAL: Take the standard abbreviation for a US soldier and insert it into a term for a public house that you often frequent.

Some real music for mp.

  ARVE Error: need id and provider

9a    Shake unruly child in the course of struggle (7)
VIBRATE: A synonym for an unruly child who is often referred to as ‘spoilt’ is inserted in a ‘bid’ or ‘contest’ (course of struggle).

10a    Alarm losing time causes miscalculation (5)
ERROR: Start with a synonym for ‘alarm’ and then remove (losing) the abbreviation for ‘time’.

11a    Firm: it’s averse to change (9)
ASSERTIVE: First anagram of the day – an anagram (to change) of ITS AVERSE.

12a    Kind of household to arrange tea for men in play (3-6,6)
ONE-PARENT FAMILY: An anagram (to arrange)     TEA FOR MEN IN PLAY.

13a    Have groups of searchers on face of Snowdon (7)
POSSESS: The groups of searchers here are normally gathered from the townsfolk of a Wild West town by the Sheriff in search of the bad guys, followed by the leading letter of Snowdon (on face of Snowdon).

16a    Stop female artist wearing check (7)
REFRAIN: Start with the abbreviations for ‘female’ & ‘artist’ and then insert them (wearing) a synonym for ‘check’.

19a    Small scone unfinished, dunked in cup of tea in notable meeting (5,10)
PRESS CONFERENCE: You will need the abbreviation for ‘small’ and add the word ‘scone’ without its last letter (unfinished) and then insert all that into (dunked in) a term synonymous with ‘it’s right up my street’ (cup of tea). Really liked this one – just for the image it conjured up, and I love the use of ‘dunked’ for an insertion indicator.

23a    Synthetic fibre made by college, girl heard (9)
POLYESTER: Start with the abbreviation for what some Universities (colleges) used to be called and follow that with a homophone (heard) of a girl’s name, Ms Rantzen perhaps.

24a    Turn scoundrel going after wife (5)
WHEEL: A colloquial term for a ‘scoundrel’ follows (going after) the standard abbreviation for ‘wife’.

25a    Messenger in hall of justice endlessly? That is right (7)
COURIER: A place where all the bad boys and girls are tried for crimes (hall of justice) without the last letter (endlessly) then follow that with the Latin abbreviation for ‘that is’ and the abbreviation of ‘right’.

26a    Joins servicemen after one goes missing (7)
SOLDERS: Start with what one of the Armed Forces calls it’s men / women and remove the Roman numeral for ‘one’ (one goes missing). ‘Servicemen’? Tut, tut Daily Telegraph – no sexual discrimination here.

Down

1d    Basketball manoeuvre in back street, hoop lacking height (5-3)
ALLEY-OOP: You will start with a synonym for a ‘back street’ (no, not a ginnel) and add (after the hyphen) the word ‘hoop’ lacking the abbreviation for ‘height’. Not a clue I particularly enjoyed.

BD added this video!

  ARVE Error: need id and provider

2d    Gangster wanting to fence fine article (8)
SCARFACE: A synonym for ‘wanting’ (in the context of ‘missing or lack of) contains (to fence) the abbreviation for ‘fine’ and a single letter ‘article’.

3d    Satisfy publican, at first, with tenancy agreement (6)
PLEASE: The leading letter of publican (publican at first) is followed by (with) a term for a ‘tenancy agreement’.

4d    A Brie I distributed in part of Europe (6)
IBERIA: An anagram (distributed) of A BRIE I. Not a very well hidden anagram imho.

5d    Man in charge, supported by a church (8)
BASILICA: The name of the ‘man’ required for the start of the clue can also be a herb and is followed by (supported in a down clue) the abbreviation for ‘in charge’ and the ‘A’ from the clue. As I’ve said many times before – I don’t really like it when there is no real wordplay for you to find a name. But here and in 23a I’ll make an exception as the rest of the wordplay leads you to the answer.

6d    This person’s crimson on the outside, with unknown cure (6)
REMEDY: Start with the form of ‘I’ used as the objective and contain that (on the outside) in a colour you may go when embarrassed (crimson) – end it with one of the mathematical terms for an ‘unknown’.

8d    Blood surrounding head of goat in ravine (5)
GORGE: A synonym for ‘blood’ contains (surrounding) the leading letter (head of) of ‘goat’. There is one not far from me in which the River Severn flows.

9d    Screen concealing it, migratory bird (7)
VISITOR: Take a synonym for what a welder would use to protect his eyes (screen) and insert (concealing) the word ‘it’ from the clue. You are not looking for a particular name of a bird in this case, rather a term for all migratory birds.

14d    Make clear power must be cloaked in betrayal (5,3)
SPELL OUT: Start with the abbreviation of ‘power’ contained (cloaked in) a term when split 4,3 is used to indicate being stabbed in the back (betrayal).

15d    Son, wizard scout (7)
SPOTTER: Take the abbreviation for ‘son’ and follow it with Ms Rowling’s bespectacled protagonist. Just when I thought we’d heard the last from the wizard – I noticed in Waterstones’ window last week that the ‘official’ screenplay for the stage adaptation of said wizard is for sale. Flogging a dead horse comes to mind.

17d    Until we meet again, get on with the Spanish and Latin (8)
FAREWELL: A synonym of ‘get on with’ is followed by ‘the’ in Spanish and the abbreviation of ‘Latin’.  Having had a closer look – here is the correct hint.

A synonym of ‘get on’ followed by the abbreviation of ‘with’ and add ‘the’ in Spanish and the abbreviation for ‘Latin’.  Sorry, should have noticed that earlier.

18d    Unnecessary enmity on steamship (8)
NEEDLESS: Animosity and hatred (enmity) is followed by the abbreviation for ‘steamship’.

19d    Father, smart in church government (6)
PAPACY: An affectionate term for ‘father’ is followed by a synonym for ‘smart’ as in sharp or slick.

20d    Move at home to intervene (4,2)
STEP IN: Start with a synonym for ‘move’ is followed by the term used when we’re not out (at home).

21d    Woodland in east in grip of nasty frost (6)
FOREST: Start with the abbreviation of ‘East’ insert it into (in grip of) an anagram (nasty) of FROST. Takes all sorts I suppose.

22d    Relative of Connie Cezon (5)
NIECE: And lastly – our one and only ‘lurker’ of the day I believe. Connie (to her friends) was an American actress known for her appearances on Perry Mason.

Hope you managed to finish it without too much hassle. I will plump for 19a as my favourite of the day for the reasons mentioned. Did any clue(s) float your boat today?

I am heading to NE England (Tyne & Wear) on business tomorrow for 2 days (nights), so be careful on the roads as I am giving the TT its head – goodbye licence.


The Quick Crossword pun: claw+roe+fill=chlorophyll


95 comments on “DT 28218

  1. It is 23 c in my north facing office and I’m looking out at some lovely blue sky so we’ve definitely got the scorchio down here in Kent.

    Fairly average Tuesday puzzle – I’d say 1*/2*. The inside the paper puzzle is not Tuesday difficulty level so if you are feeling faint hearted there are some nice themed puzzles elsewhere celebrating a certain author’s 100th birthday (if he was still here to celebrate it). I particularly recommend the one in the Guardian.

    Thanks to SL – drive carefully.

    1. 34 degrees in Gravesend apparently, hottest September day since 1911, absolutely baking in South London too.

    2. I think that’s the lowest temperature we’ll get tonight.
      I’m sweating buckets.
      They promised a bit of rain tomorrow lunchtime. Hope it doesn’t passes us by.

  2. We’ve got the warm sunshine in my neck of the woods, but heavy rain is forecast for later this afternoon. Solved this whilst enjoying the pleasant weather out in the garden. Like SL, my favourite clue was 19a , dunked in cup of tea. Thanks to all concerned

  3. I concur with SL’s opening comment that this was a curate’s egg which was completed very comfortably before lights out last night with no stand-out favourites.

    For me, it confirms that Tuesday puzzles are the easiest – */**

    Thanks to Mr Ron and SL.

  4. Yes, I also solved this in my back yard.

    Enjoyed this much more than Giovanni’s toughie today.

    I liked 9a (shake unruly child..), 19a (cup of tea), 1d (basketball manoeuvre)

    also 14d (make clear), 15d (son, wizard scout) and 17d (get on with the spanish and latin)

    Now I’ll go look at the guardian centenary puzzle (in the back yard)

    Many thanks SL and setter

  5. I always think of that “basketball manoeuvre” as something to do with Victorian acrobats, possibly from the French “allez”‘ said when one of them had to jump up on another…….

    Have I gone mad?

    1. I don’t think you’ve gone mad, Bluebird! My Gran used to hold my hands and shout ‘alley oops’ when she wanted me to jump up, so that would make sense.

      1. Always knew there was something strange about people who live on a small island off the coast of Wales. :whistle:

  6. Pretty warm even here in South Cumbria. An enjoyable enough puzzle. I also liked 19a. Took a while to see ‘Potter’ as the wizard – though I’m sure we’ve seen it before. 1d was entirely new to me, and I needed the blog to fully confirm that ‘smart’ = ‘pacy’ . Thanks to SL and setter.

  7. Looking out of my south facing lounge window at dark clouds & rain. Rescue dog hiding under chair because of thunder: oh to be in East Kent!
    Solved today without hints, but 1d I thought was a poor clue (too obvious) & to me an obscure answer. Was counterbalanced by 19a however Agree with SL that was COTD.
    Thanks to setter & SL for hints.

  8. I won’t be solving this till later, but 21d – at first glance of the photo I thought they were two pairs of naked, heavily-tattooed thighs!

      1. Hi both – They’re actually ‘arm tattoo sleeves’ on the forearm. I stopped short of posting the upper thigh forest tattoos – too many things got in the way. :whistle:

  9. I got press conference as the letters fitted but was not sure why it was preference until I read above. Get it now!!

  10. Fortunately managed to polish this off in my bright North-facing kitchen before the steamy heat hit us here in West Sussex. Certainly have never heard of 1d. Would never have thought of the smart bit of 19d being smart. No Fav to pinpoint today. Thanks Mysteron and SL. ***/**.

    1. Editing didn’t work – I should have said “Would never have thought of SECOND bit of 19d being smart”.

      1. Yes, edit button wouldn’t work for me either, kept bringing up a Comment Editor box but no script to edit.

      1. Love ‘Chi’ – always pay a visit when on our holidays in East Meon. Having lived in Portsmouth for several years – that area of the South Coast has always been special.

        1. My cousin lives in Littlehampton. Lovely views of the sea from their flat, with a common between them and the sea.

  11. I’m either too hot or it’s a very bad case of wrong wave-length – I thought, at the time of doing it, that this was tricky but now I can see it isn’t.
    Very few anagrams – ah, I’ve just spotted another excuse I can use for thinking it was difficult!
    The long 12a anagram took me for ever to see.
    I’ve really never heard of 1d – it isn’t just one that I’ve forgotten, I don’t think . . .
    I liked 9 and 13a and my favourite was 19a.
    With thanks to Mr Ron and to SL – hot weather always makes people drive too fast – just an observation.
    It’s apparently 32C at Heathrow – not quite that hot in Oxford but not far off it. :phew:

  12. Fortunately managed to polish this off in my bright North-facing kitchen before the steamy heat hit us here in West Sussex. Certainly have not heard of 1d. Would never have thought of the second bit of 19d being smart. No Fav to pinpoint today. Thanks Mysteron and SL. ***/**.

  13. I rather like this Tuesday setter. OK – his/her puzzles aren’t particularly difficult but the answers always exactly fit the clues without requiring great leaps of faith and minus any ‘iffy’ synonyms or obscurities. Most satisfying.
    Top two for me were 9&19a.

    Many thanks to Mr. Ron and to SL for the well-illustrated review. I remember walking across the 8d bridge with you (and your good lady, of course!) in glorious sunshine. It’s been pouring with rain here all morning but looks as though it might clear later.
    Please drive carefully tomorrow.

    1. Fear not Jane – the ‘accident’ may have been 14 years ago this Christmas – but I still have a healthy respect for staying alive :)

  14. Not much to shout about today, dull and drizzle on the Wirral.
    Never heard of the 1d manoeuver, but remember the Holywood Argyles song,
    Probably a **/**, thought we might have seen Mr Faulty in the 5d pic, never mind .
    23a reminded me of the parrot who introduced ‘That’s Life’ – Poly Ester Rantzen-sorry !

    1. Hi Beaver – I resisted the temptation of including Mr Fawlty as I wasn’t sure if some of our overseas commenters would have heard of him. Especially any of our friends from Germany – ( ‘sotto voce’ I think I got away with it)

  15. A record for me anyway – managed to complete this during my commute from Palmers Green to Moorgate so that would be something xxxxxxxx. Highly unusual in my world.

    1. Welcome – we don’t give solving times as it can upset those who take a lot longer – if anyone wants to work out how long your train journey took, that’s up to them.

  16. Knew that 12a was an anagram but just couldn’t work it out and resorted to the review. Now very cross with myself for lack of patience. Managed to parse 1d but had to goggle it to check it was a basketball manoeuvre. Wanted to put party conference in 19a just because I had some of the checking letters, without reading the clue properly. 20d helped me out. 19a was my favorite in the end. Thank you Mr Ron and Shropshirelad. Hot and sunny in Buckinghamshire. Feels as though I am still on holiday. I have yet more post holiday ironing to do but it can wait for another day.

  17. First an update on the weather in the Marches. Beautiful, cloudless sky this morning, thunderstorms and heavy rain as I type this. Temperature around 18C.

    As for the crossword, I found it very straightforward but lacking sparkle. No standout clues or laugh-out-loud moments, so I would rate this 1.5*/2* overall.

    Many thanks to the Tuesday Mysteron and my fellow Salopian. I’ve just heard that our constituency of Montgomeryshire will disappear by the next General Election. Hardly surprising when you consider we have more sheep than potential voters round here.

      1. Yes and they may be of the Corbynista breed. Oops – naughty step here I come – bad Shropshire lad.

  18. Nothing too taxing today, with 9a & 19a more good than 1d is bad, so overall quite a nice gentle solve.

    I have a very vague recollection of the late Eddie Waring using 1d commentating on a rugby game once, together with his favourite ‘up and under’. Never looked it up, though.

    **/** Thanks to all as ever.

    1. I love eBay and all those other sales websites – did you know you can buy Eddie Waring everywhere for a fantastic price. :cool:

      Couldn’t find anything about him using the 1d term though.

  19. **/**. Second sitting required as first pass was dismal Then it just fell into place. Strange? Liked 13a&5d. 1d is nothing to do with basketball to my knowledge – acrobats yes. Thanks to all. Our glorious weather continues so I’ve no excuse to cut the lawns.

    1. Mr Goggle says it is a basketball defensive play. Perhaps only in the US? We used to say this a lot when kids, but never knew where it came from.

      1. Thanks BL. I’ve stopped being lazy and goneandgotmy BRB which also confirms this definition. You live and learn 😀

  20. Solved 7ac (again) and worked out the anagram fodder for 11ac and 12ac then had to leave to get the ferry to Tobermory. Thanks to everybody who commented on my Rookie Puzzle debut yesterday.

    1. As you’ve been up to Teuchter Land on your hols several times – I think I may have to start calling you Mcmiffypops – sounds like a McDonald’s dessert dish don’t you think. I think we should take a straw poll on it here.

      If you’re off to Tobermory – I hope it’s to visit the distillery. Lovely place and please do pass on my regards to Ben & Phil – such good friends :whistle:

  21. Thanks SL for the typically excellent blog…
    19a – Very clever, I got the answer, but needed the hint to parse the answer
    24a – New definition of ‘heel’ for me…
    1d – Needed the answer for that as I had never heard of the ‘manoeuvre’, though once I had the answer, I should have got the ‘backstreet’, so no excuses
    Apart from that no hints needed, great to be reminded of Al Pacino’s marvellous performance in 2d.
    Thanks to Mr.Ron, very enjoyable, lots of nice clues.
    Now to take on MP in his first offering…

    1. Stop press – After BD’s video to 7a, The Logical Song was just on Steve Wright, great song.

  22. Nothing to write home about , though I thought 21 d and 22 d a bit too obvious.
    I liked 9a. 1d is a new one to me.
    Thanks to all concerned.

  23. What a lovely puzzle, just right for me, must be on my wavelength. Only need 2 of Shropshirelad’s hints. Thanks to setter and SL for a better start to my day. Don’t feel as stupid as yesterday.

  24. Enjoyed this much more than yesterday’s. Very good puzzle on a beautiful balmy day. Finished this whilst watching the Paralympics. Life is good – come on Rob Davies!

  25. This crossword did the job, but I wasn’t particularly enamoured with it I’m afraid. No real favourites and overall 2/2*.
    Thanks to the setter, and to SL for the review.

  26. First, bossy boots, Princess Sadie, has asked me to announce that today is her birthday, now five years old.

    X-word was good fun, but a tad harder than yesterday.
    Took forever to get 1d, though I’d heard of it before, and the extreme SW corner was slow, but I did get there in the end.
    My fave was 19a, popular one today, with runner up 9a.
    Thanks to setter and to ShropshireLad for the hints.

    1. May I be one of the first to wish ‘Princess Sadie’ very Many Happy Returns of the day on her 5th Birthday.

      Sadie – lovely name and the same as my favourite, favourite Auntie ever – still hanging in there at 98.

        1. Unfortunately she is not a blood relative but the wife of my late Uncle Jimmy who sadly passed away through cancer just under 2 years ago. He was my Godfather and my Mum’s younger brother – I was named after him.

          Having said all that – he was a year older than his wife – so I may have a few years yet :)

    2. Biggles sends his best wishes to Sadie on her birthday & asks if he can have a piece (well all) of the cake. Has she been demoted to Princess after her misdemeanour?

      1. Misdemeanour? – What misdemeanour? Are we talking dogs here? Helps if you study the gravatar more closely I suppose D’oh!

        1. Yes sorry you were mislead Princess Sadie is Merusa’s current Labrador.
          Our animals (well mine anyway) are not quite perfect and occasionally commit minor felonies I’m afraid. Usually with Labradors connected with food.

        2. Not a misdimeanour, a huge offence! Sadie is able to come and go through the cat flap, and at midnight she brought into bed a smelly, stinky partial animal. I WAS NOT AMUSED!

  27. I feel just the like Kath . I have had three goes at this and after a valiant defence finally it has succumbed. Must be the hot weather that is making me dense . Either that or the endless pitter-patter of our cats running away from the thunder distracted me.
    I found this difficult in the extreme and a very hard work. And I got the big anagram at 12a early on!
    My favourite clue was 19a which was clever. *** or maybe **** and * for enjoyment .
    Thank you to both .

  28. So much more doable than the toughie.
    I almost had more answers than there were clues.
    Well constructed, nice surface, no obscurities, allez hop! I was off on the galop.
    Thanks to the setter and to SL for the great review.

  29. Over all too soon, but well worth the effort. I liked 13a, which made me think of all those weekend afternoon Westerns when I was nobbut a lad. Thanks to the Mysteron, and to ShropshireLad for the review.

  30. Into ** for difficulty for me, though after I went through all the across clues without getting one I thought it was going to be a lot harder than that, but after 3d everything started to fall into place.

    Heatwave? Here in Wales it’s been grey skies followed by torrential rain, thunderstorms, and more torrential rain. Warmest day this year? Not here…

  31. Like SL I enjoyed the solving of this at the time, but unlike him I didn’t go off it writing the review – for the obvious reason.

    1d was my last in, but I didn’t doubt the answer once I had it so I must have heard of it. 19a was my cup of tea too, and I also liked 14d.

    Thanks to the setter and to ShropshireLad for a great review. Have a safe trip to the strange lands of the NE. And a safe trip back again.

    1. As usual, I don’t do the toughie, but I always read your review as I know I’ll be entertained by kitties, pics and so on, and you didn’t fail me. I loved them all. Well done, Kitty!

  32. Good evening everybody.

    Straightforward fare today. 1d looked a bit iffy but the solution was clear.

    **/***

  33. Thanks to the setter and to shropshire Lad for the review and hints. A very enjoyable puzzle. I was completely beaten by the last two, 19d & 23a, needed the hints for those. Favourite was 5d, which made me laugh. I also thought 12a was a great anagram, which I didn’t spot for ages.

  34. Piece of cake with none of the grappling needed for yesterday’s Rufus. Done on the train home from work. But ultimately unsatisfactory because, looking through it again, I cannot nominate a stand-out clue. Still far too hot in South London. Ta to SL and the setter.1*/2*

  35. Well, better than yesterday’s is probably all I can say about this puzzle.

    Many thanks to ShropshireLad for the hints.

    Fingers crossed things will look up for me tomorrow.

  36. Hot afternoon in the fens. Thought I was going to do today’s crossword in under ******* … But then couldn’t unravel 5d! Now I’ve seen the answer, I’m annoyed with myself but then would probably never thought of Basil for a man. So obvious now!

  37. Managed to finish crossword without looking at hints, relatively easily, though didn’t do 15d till breakfast this morning – sometimes putting a bit of distance between me and the crossword helps. Hopefully have stopped brain’s downhill spiral at last. Hated 1d as have never heard of the term so had to work it out logically – have no interest in sport.

    Thanks to everyone who commented about how glorious their weather was yesterday, clearly the weather forecasters only acknowledge the London area as constituting the UK – we in the West Country had a miserable day with downpours. So glad I got up early and put the washing on anticipating baking temperatures – still have damp clothes festering….

      1. Thanks for that – really cheered me up! Dull and overcast here again this morning. Must walk to the shop to get the paper before it rains again.

        1. To be honest, send some rain up here:=
          a) It’s unbearably hot
          b) I’m fed up watering the vegetables
          c) The hard football pitches are not good for my aging body

          1. I should normally sympathise, but…

            At least I have done today’s crossword in less than ******, before Big Dave’s hints have appeared, so am feeling smug. Didn’t like 16d or 27a. Also, the sun has just started to appear, so it looks like it will be a good day and I can get on with what I should be doing.

              1. Very sorry, I didn’t realise, I consider myself duly chastised. I do do the crossword solely for pleasure, even though it doesn’t always feel like that.

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