DT 28357 – Big Dave's Crossword Blog
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DT 28357

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 28357

Hints and tips by 2Kiwis

+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +

BD Rating – Difficulty ***Enjoyment ****

 

Kia ora from Aotearoa and a special greeting with all our best wishes to the birthday boy.
At last we have the chance to be really positive about our summer weather. We are now getting warm sunny days with temperatures in the mid to high 20’s. It has been a long time coming this year which makes us appreciate it all the more. We won’t need to give a wildlife report this week as Mr Kitty supplied a beautifully illustrated one yesterday.

Enjoy today’s puzzle from Jay. We did.

Please leave a comment telling us how you got on.

Across

1a     Pay for alcohol producer making complete lack of progress (10)
STANDSTILL : Pay for or pick up the tab and a piece of equipment that is used to produce alcohol.

6a     Parody, but avoid dismissing Queen (4)
SKIT : A word meaning avoid or ‘go round the perimeter’ loses the regnal cypher for a queen.

10a     Develops classes (5)
FORMS : A double definition. These classes are found in a secondary school.

11a     Crude, favourite part one plays with little hesitation (9)
PETROLEUM : A three letter word for favourite, a part played by an actor and a two letter hesitation, not ‘er’ the other one.

12a     Snack keeping Olympic chiefs sweet (7)
TAPIOCA : A snack originating in Spain contains the three letter acronym for senior Olympic officials. (This sweet seems to be the favourite desert of anyone who experienced school meals.)

13a     Mean character‘s goose cooked with credit being restricted (7)
SCROOGE : An anagram (cooked) of GOOSE contains the abbreviation for credit.

14a     Of historic South American extraction, getting very heated (12)
INCANDESCENT : Relating to one of the historic South American races and a word for extraction or lineage.

18a     Well-established pine substitute burning at last (4-8)
LONG-STANDING : A synonym for pine or ache for then a 5-2 substitute, and the last letter of burning.

21a     Drivers sharing complain, ladies perhaps being rejected (3,4)
CAR POOL : A four letter word for complain or nag, and then reverse an informal word for what a ladies or gents may be.

23a     Club style of boots (7)
CHELSEA : Double definition. The first is a London football club. (We were not familiar with the name for this style of boots.)

24a     Protest planned about European Commission is not to be disclosed (3,6)
TOP SECRET : The abbreviation for European Commission is inside an anagram (planned) of PROTEST.

25a     The setter turned and encountered a tourist (5)
EMMET : A personal pronoun that Jay would use for himself is reversed, and then a word meaning encountered, give us this word used mainly in Cornwall.

26a     Swell expected to swamp east of Ireland (4)
DUDE : The east of Ireland is its last letter and this is inside a word meaning expected.

27a     View oddly depicted in heraldry, redesigned rarely (6,4)
HARDLY EVER : The first and third letters of view are inside an anagram (redesigned) of HERALDRY.

Down

1d     Security for instance covering most of fair (6)
SAFETY : A fair or carnival loses its last letter and is inside a three letter word meaning for instance.

2d     Likely to keep book on rugby short (6)
ABRUPT : Likely or suitable surrounds the abbreviations for book and Rugby Union.

3d     Considers touts floundering in such retail outlets (8,6)
DISCOUNT STORES : An anagram (floundering) of CONSIDERS TOUTS.

4d     Best of the bunch becoming boss (3,6)
TOP BANANA : Double definition. The fruit should be pretty obvious from the clue.

5d     Meditative position of many outside university (5)
LOTUS : The abbreviation for university is inside a word for many.

7d     Eager to finish early with mistress, collapse (4,4)
KEEL OVER : A word meaning eager finishes early by losing its last letter and then a mistress or paramour.

8d     Trials covering English politician creating storms (8)
TEMPESTS : The abbreviations for English and a member of parliament are inside a word for trials or exams.

9d     Coy nurse is worried with bank’s way of ending letter! (5,9)
YOURS SINCERELY : An anagram (worried) of COY NURSE IS and then a word meaning bank or depend on.

15d     Committed theologian importing repackaged iced tea (9)
DEDICATED : The qualification that a theologian might hold surrounds an anagram (repackaged) of ICED TEA.

16d     Brought out priest alluded to (8)
ELICITED : Crosswordland’s favourite biblical priest and then a word meaning alluded to or quoted.

17d     Daring, popular, cool — about right! (8)
INTREPID : The two letter popular and cool (or even luke warm) contains the abbreviation for right.

19d     Doctor appears in put-up travel document as writer (6)
ASIMOV : The abbreviation for a medical officer is inside the reversal of a travel document that authorises entry.

20d     Pastry with filling of hard deposit (6)
TARTAR : A pastry dish with an open top is followed by the central two letters (filling) of hard.

22d     Bug found in popular vaporiser (5)
LARVA : And we finish with a lurker hiding in the last two words of the clue.

The SE corner was the last to yield for us with 20d putting up the biggest fight so we will make that one our favourite. The Quickie Pun was certainly in the running too.

Quickie pun    pea   +     terra    +    bit     =     Peter Rabbit

102 comments on “DT 28357

  1. Is it me, but today’s DT cryptic is beyond me! I’ve doing DT cryptic for 30 years – this one is truly horrible.! What has happened.

    1. Welcome to the blog Sue

      Please don’t post comments about specific puzzles on the Comment page. When the appropriate post has been published I will move this comment.

        1. Why do you take part in this “…insular little club”, then?
          PS If you didn’t introduce yourself at the bash, not surprised you didn’t have a fascinating time. :scratch:

      1. What did Sue do that was wrong? Which comment do you not like. This is genuine, as I’m struggling to see what you did not like. Well, unless you have removed some words.

        1. Welcome to the blog Richard

          Had you read my comment you will have seen that 1) it was posted to the Comment page and 2) I have moved it to here, which is where it should have been.

    2. Golly Sue. Put it down and return to it later. It took me a couple of read throughs with little progress then they fell rapidly as the checkers went in. Welcome to the blog.

    3. I’ve been doing these since th early 70s, and there are still days when the clues are above my pay grade. Today wasn’t one of those, but the setter is either on your wavelength or not. That’s my feeling anyway.

  2. For me this was 3*/4* – nicely challenging and great fun. Like the 2Ks, 20d was my last one in, and inevitably I too thought the Quickie pun was brilliant.

    Many thanks to Jay and the 2Ks. Now for the pleasure of another posthumous Petitjean Toughie…

  3. As a child of the 60s, I am very familiar with the style of boots in 23 across. A good puzzle for me, just the right level.

    1. I am too, well a teen anyway, and I would kick myself if I had any of the said boots for not getting 23a more swiftly,,,,

  4. I thought this one was fairly straightforward & would rate it in **/*** territory. 26A made me smile with 11A as my favourite. Thanks to the setter & the two K’s for the review.

  5. Pretty straightforward for me, but I struggled over what turned out to be the simplest when the Doh moment struck. I was looking for all sorts of names for the east of Ireland then 16 and 17d went in stared at 26a and the light came on.
    Favourite clue 11a. ***/*** for me.
    Thanks to the 2Ks and to Jay

  6. Enjoyed this one so much that I’m tempted to give it the full 5*.
    Ticks besides almost every clue – which definitely includes the Quickie pun.

    Many thanks to Jay and to 2Ks – envying you the sunshine as I look out at another grey and dismal day!

    1. By the way, 2Ks – I was interested to your comment about 12a. Quite the most dreadful stuff, judging by our school meals. We used to refer to it as frogspawn and ditched it at the earliest opportunity!

        1. I actually liked those puddings – school was where I learnt to eat quickly – if you didn’t finish the first course in double quick time you didn’t get the afters 🙁

  7. ** – *** – another one completed at a gentle canter, helped by the two long anagrams, but some Chambers and electronic assistance required. Perhaps it was the effect of an outstanding dinner in a revolving restaurant overlooking Niagara Falls.

    Favourite – a toss-up between 21a and 25a.

    Thanks to Jay and the 2Ks.

  8. Made a note of **/**** following completion, usually one star down on the 2K’S for some reason.
    Another excellent cluing day, favourite 18A and the surface of 14A.
    Thought we might have had a pic of the Big L for 26A or maybe a bowling ball !
    Just twigged the quickie pun- yesterdays also top draw.

  9. Very slow to get started, but I soon gained momentum. I have to admit that I hadn’t heard of the boots in 23a and had to resort to the hints for 20d; I was convinced there has to be an H in it.

    Thanks to Jay and 2K.

  10. This puzzle took me a couple of read throughs with little progress then they fell rapidly as the checkers went in. LOI 20down. A brilliant clue excellent wordplay and a brutal definition. Now what do I do with that letter H that I was playing with for so long? I think I will leave it right there. It has caused enough trouble.

    1. So glad that such an experienced crossword solver and provider of hints struggled with 20d’s “H”. Tried everything but had to have help from the Kiwis in the end. Thank you MP for making my day, and to setter and Kiwis.

      1. Hopefully I can make your day even better Dottie. I didn’t get 20d. St Sharon did after I pushed the iPad towards her.

    2. And me, for which I should be truly ashamed as I have a standing 4 months appointment to dig the rotten stuff off my teeth!

  11. Read through the clues several times before managing to get under weigh (or is it way?) but – to mix metaphors – once off the ground a thoroughly enjoyable exercise ensued. Thank you Jay and the original 2Ks. Relied on help with 25a (love the idea of Cornwall having a special word for this!) and the 19a writer was unknown to me but had enough crossers to look it up. Missed parsing the final part of 9d. The priest makes another of his regular appearances in 16d. 20d was last in for me too and finally amused myself by repeating the Quickie pun several times out loud before it dawned on me (LOL!). 👍

  12. 20d last in for me too, strangely. Bang on wavelength with Jay today so no problems. Liked 2d, nice and concise.
    Thanks to Jay and to 2ks.

  13. Right on the money for me. LOI was 20d: spent too long trying to fit the “h” into some form of pastry that I assumed I didn’t know. Great mixture of the thought-provoking and reasonably straightforward.
    20d was COTD, also liked 14a, though probably a old chestnut.
    Many thanks to setter and to 2Kiwis for hints. Glad your weather has perked up. Here in the Principality this week has been decidedly miserable I have to say.

  14. Really enjoyable puzzle. Got stuck on 23a and 20d for a while until the penny dropped about what sort of ‘club’ it was. Lots of favourites to day 1a, 11a, 12a, 21a, 4d, with 23a being the winner. 3*/5* for me.

  15. This puzzle took a while for me to get into.I managed to finish without any help. I understand the straight clue for 2d but dont get the cryptic. Favourites were 11a and 21a. 4*/3* Many thanks to Jay and to 2kiwis

    1. Likely = Apt. Inside the word apt (keeping) are the abbreviations for b(ook) and R(ugby) U(nion)

      1. I tried to get prop into the clue as they are the short guys on the pitch until the penny dropped.

  16. Some super clues, 1a and 7 d were favourites. I thought of popcorn for 12 a which kept me on the wrong lines for a while. Many thanks to setter and the kiwis who helped out with 19d. I am always envious Of Senf who always manages to canter, gallop or otherwise speed through the puzzles whilst I just hack through them. Maybe one day I will get to trot!!

    1. Hi Jen – I don’t take any notice of solve times and ease ratings, they are irrelevant to the enjoyment factor.

  17. Could ask a question not actually related to this puzzle please ?
    Telegraph Cryptic Crossword Book no 9, puzzle 34
    clue 8 across “It’s tedious outside for example”
    answer “anagram”
    just do not understand the answer- any ideas please ?

    1. I love a good anagram. One that is hard to spot and once spotted hard to solve. Unfortunately too many anagrams fall into the tedious camp. I am a firm believer that their number should be limited in any one puzzle. I also frown upon the use of pencils to solve them.

  18. I too had a bit of head scratching over 20d. it was only when some checkers meant that the only realistic place for the H was second letter that I went off the idea. Then if “filling of hard” doesn’t mean insert an H(ard) what else can it be? Big penny drop moment followed, d’oh!

    Very nice puzzle and not too hard apart from a couple. **/**** and, like Jane, I’m sorely tempted to give it a fifth for enjoyment.

    Muchas gracias to Jay and the 2Kiwis. Think I might go for one of the 12a snacks later this afternoon.

  19. Once I got going I loved this one but I was very slow to begin with.
    I’ve heard of the 23a club and the boots but could I get the answer? No. I was completely fooled into thinking that the ‘C’ was the club.
    Having not got 23a I couldn’t get 20d either and was convinced that it had to have an ‘H’ in it somewhere – at least I seem to be in good company with that one.
    Apart from those two I didn’t have too much trouble.
    I liked 1 and 18a and 17d. My favourite was either 14a or 7d – I can’t quite decide . . .
    With thanks to Jay and to the 2K’s.

    Lots of people have gone back to having multiple favourites – oh dear! :negative: I can see that I’m going to have to start wielding my big stick again.

      1. Something in my head is telling me that ‘C’ is the abbreviation for ‘clubs’, as in the suit of cards, rather than just ‘club’ but I could very easily be wrong.

          1. …But you can’t just pull out one letter of a multi-letter abbreviation. For example, you can’t use A as an abbreviation for air just because of RAF or B for broadcasting because of BBC.

  20. First pass produced one answer but perseverance paid off with a nice little puzzle.
    For me ***/****. Two great clues I thought in 14a (a real ‘smiler’) and 4d.
    Thought perhaps 9d was a bit weak but that’s nitpicking.
    All in all very enjoyable.
    Thx to all.

  21. I don’t normally pass comment as I tend to do the crossword late at night, but I’ve done all the crosswords this week during the day. Thoroughly enjoyed yesterday’s offering and eventually this one too, after finally coming to grips with it. Had problems with 20 down as I insisted in trying to put an H in it for ‘hard’. Like Brian I loved 14a, one of those clues you feel you should jot down to put in a notebook of the best crossword clues ever. I always enjoy reading the hints and tips and will no doubt be able to do tomorrows clues during the gale that is due to hit the NW tomorrow lunchtime.
    Thx to all!

  22. 20d elevated this to 2* difficulty for me – 3* for enjoyment. Living in the West Country, I had no problem with 25a. In Devon, they are called grockles.
    The 23a boots were popular in the era of Chelsea tractors.
    Many thanks to the 2Ks and Jay.

    1. Over here we refer to them as swallows. They swoop in for the summer, leave their s*** all over the place and then swoop out again!

  23. I’ve stopped bothering about finding some puzzles harder than other folk (like earlier this week). I know it’s pretty random – so today, I finished the back page so fast that I even tried the Toughie, which I normally don’t have the energy for, and managed half of that as well.

    Tomorrow maybe back off the wavelength again…….

    My in-law family all from Devon and Cornwall, so, yes…. Grockles! I now live in another tourist hot spot, but we don’t seem to have another name for them, other than, “Oh, FGS,, get back on the pavement”…👀

  24. Good afternoon everybody.

    A mostly straightforward puzzle and something of a landmark here being solved with no ancillary scribbles of any kind which I think is a first. 14a was nice. 20d threatened to stymie things before succumbing after a quick flick though the newspaper.

    ***/****

  25. ****/****. Very tough going but very enjoyable. Never got 20d (so thanks to the 2Ks for explaining that and the review) and 26a was a bung in. My favourites were 14a&4d. Thanks also to Jay.

  26. Gentle, but fun while it lasted: 1*/4*. As a native of Cornwall, 25a was a gimme, but I enjoyed 14a and 4d made me laugh. Ta to Jay and the 2Ks. For the record, not only do I resort to marginal scribbles when necessary, but I use a pencil (with a rubber on the end – stop sniggering at the back, there!). All’s fair in love, war and solving crosswords. So there, MP.

    1. I also use a pencil with a rubber on the end and I always write down all the letters of an anagram because I’ve been caught out too many times.

  27. Don’t tell MPs but I have to admit using my trusty pencil for 3d but all of the other anagrams went in smoothly. For some reason did not fall into 20d trap but has to check spelling of 14a as my first effort did not look correct (it was). Thanks to Jay and 2Kiwis. Definitely ***** from me.

    1. Tut tut. Stores was a jumpoutatcha. How many types of stores are there? Well done with the others though. I struggled with the long anagram for Garden vehicle in yesterday’s Toughie but that is because I have a John Deere ride on lawn mower and I was misled into looking for something like that.

    2. Me too with 3d. We’ll have to get MP some botox for his furrowed brow. (I am trying to preserve pencils but just couldn’t see that one)

  28. A solid if unspectacular Jay puzzle, that was of middling difficulty and enjoyable to solve.

    I ticked two clues, 21a and 9d.

    Many thanks to Mr. Mutch and to Colin and Carol.

  29. Needed help on 16d, 20d and 27a which I misread as an anagram of ‘view’ and ‘rarely’!
    Thanks to 2Ks and setter. Parsing still needs work!

  30. I thought the crossword today was great fun. Panic was visible as the start was, shall we say delayed somewhat but once the breakthrough had been made all was plain sailing. I liked 17d bestest. 2/4* overall.
    Thanks to Jay, and to the 2K’s for their review.

  31. In France too we refer to tourists as ants.




    Great crossword from Jay.
    No hold ups for a change.
    Thanks to Jay and to 2kiwis for the review.

  32. I was dead on wavelength today. I got 1a right away, that was very encouraging.
    I never did get 20d, even after reading the hint.
    I knew the boot at 23a but not the club, had to google that.
    We’ve had 25a before, I suppose because they swarm like ants!
    No fave today, too much good stuff, “bigly” enjoyable, but loved 4d and 7d.
    Thanks to Jay and the toasty warm 2Kiwis.

    1. P.S. It’s raining, coming down like stairrods, and I love it. We’ve been so dry, the garden is a dust bowl.

  33. Morning all. As is often the case, we were not alone with our little tussle with 20d. Jay certainly led us all up the garden path with his use of ‘hard’ there. Very clever.
    A quick glance out the window shows that, although it is not quite daylight yet, we have another fine warm day in the offing.
    We felt very clever when we managed to successfully hide a picture under the ‘click here’ button for the Quickie pun. They are such appealing characters that we really wanted to use one.
    Cheers.

    1. I hadn’t looked at your Quickie pun illustration but have now – it’s sweet. How clever to conceal it too. 🐇🙂

  34. More problems entering comments again – I pressed the ‘Post Comment’ box – the ‘ddos’ screen appeared momentarily and then just a plain white screen – I waited a couple of minutes and closed the session. I was using an iPad Air 2.

    Getting back to this puzzle – my first one in was the boots, slow going but it gradually came together – very enjoyable.

    The puzzles so far this week have been real crackers!

    1. Which browser? Chrome misbehaved like that (Windows Vista PC), so I’ve switched to Firefox. It works properly now. I had to update Flash & Java though. Interested to get to the bottom of this.

  35. This was a great puzzle. I didn’t find it too difficult (I’m writing in 1st person as Dulcie (Doble) is on a modelling assignment today).
    Because of her origins she would love 25a. Although a ‘London Girl’ to quote Chas ‘n’ Dave she would have been frequently
    considered one of those many years ago.

    Many thanks to Jay and the 2 adorable Antipodeans!

      1. Hi Jane, she was being interviewed about something
        for the Daily Mail. I’ll let you know when anything gets
        published.

  36. Agree with the majority ***/**** quite tricky in parts 😏 Liked 1a (and 14a) big thanks to the 2xKs and to Jay 😊

  37. * and a half perhaps for difficulty, though 23ac and 20d made up a quarter of that time on their own. :-) Nice misdirection in both I thought – in the latter I was trying to do something with an abbreviation for ‘hard’, and in the former I thought of any kind of club but that one for too long.

  38. Right up my street today, thanks Jay. Very enjoyable and thanks to the 2Kiwis for pointing me in the right direction on the 4 clues I was too dim to figure out.

  39. Most of this was R&W today on the train home, except for a few clues that held out.
    I am definitely getting better, I think the ‘L’ plates can go now. This is entirely due to this site, special thanks to all. Especially BD, the kind souls who do the hints and all bloggers.
    Fav was 14a, as it’s a great word. I had a pair of 23a’s too!!!
    Many thanks to Jay and to 2xK’s

  40. What a super crossword to wind down with. Late today, and unsure if I’ll make it tomorrow at all (though for a RayT I have a feeling I might manage to go that extra mile).

    My only real problem (apart from misreading clues – again!) was with my last in, 23a. Stared at it for ages then decided that tomorrow is another day.

    Favourites could be a long list, and I see Kath is on the warpath again, so I’ll just say that 7d (predictably) made me laugh.

    Thanks Mutchly to Jay and to the 2K’s (others may be Ks but there’ll only ever be one 2Ks).

    P.S. I would like to thank a very generous member of our community (who would like to remain anonymous) for my biggest single sponsorship donation yet – thank you! :rose:

  41. On some Wednesdays I struggle with Jay’s puzzles, but not today. I was on wavelength and in the zone and it all came together smoothly. I am enjoying that rare feeling while it lasts.

    Biggest smiles came from the final downs. I liked 16d, 17d and 19d, and picked 20d as my favourite.

    Happy Birthday to Rufus, thanks to Jay for the brilliant crossword, and thanks to the 2Ks for an entertaining blog. I’m glad you liked my bird photos.

  42. An enjoyable outing with our usual Wednesday setter and our Antipodean reviewers :)

    Mrs SL and I are off to Edinburgh tomorrow (today?) for what will be an enjoyable weekend – regardless of the result. :)

    Thanks to both Jay (for an enjoyable back pager) and our Antipodean 2K’s for the review.

    Many Happy Returns of the day to my neighbour – Rufus. Well done sir for all your contributions to the cruciverbalist society.

  43. Thanks to Jay and to the 2 Kiwis for the review and hints. A very good puzzle as usual from Jay, a joy to solve. No major trouble, 4d made me laugh, last in was 23a. Favourite was 19d,who was one of my favourite authors. Was 2*/4* for me.

  44. Enjoyed the puzzle and reading all the comments. I did take a long time over 20d mainly due to the H misdirection. However, having got it I did not think it unduly complicated or obscure. Ditto with the boots. Funnily enough I forgot all about the Club part of the clue! Soon got it when I had the A at the end. SW my sticking point. Thought 26a clever as I was thinking along the line of tides. 21a penultimate but a good clue I thought. Did not expect ever to get 16d. For some reason I was thinking about (Father) Ted and forgot the usual priest. My main difficulty was that I was looking for a synonym for alluded. Realised I was wrong when got the BRB out and failed to find one. I think I was probably unique in finding so much trouble with this one! Thanks Jay and all. Will try and get down to today’s today although not looking likely

  45. My compliments to the setter for this one (Jay, I see) and thanks for the hints. Particularily amused by 7D-found several others very amusing.

  46. Lat3 to this one, solved looking over Bay of Islands, can vouch for the 2Ks comments re weather, its glorious.
    Enjoyed puzzle and review, thanks.

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