DT 28376 – Big Dave's Crossword Blog
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DT 28376

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 28376

Hints and tips by Kath

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BD Rating — Difficulty ***Enjoyment ***

Hello everyone. This isn’t a Ray T Thursday and that’s the only thing I’m sure about. It doesn’t feel like a Shamus to me which, going on past history, means it probably is – maybe we’ll find out later. I thought some of it was quite difficult but that could be just me. Please leave a comment telling us how you got on today.

In the hints below the definitions are underlined and the answers are hidden under the bits that say ANSWER so only do that if you need to see them.

Across

7a            Star could conceivably emerge from this ballet etc (10,4)
PERFORMING ARTS — An anagram of STAR – the anagram indicator is the first word of the answer.

9a            Fancy bankrupt to risk everything (2,3,5)
GO FOR BROKE — Another way of saying fancy or really like something is followed by bankrupt or totally skint.

11a         Kind outsider in settlement? (4)
SORT — The word settlement has a first and a last letter so each is an ‘outsider’ – you need one OR the other, hence the answer. This is one of those that’s tricky to give a decent hint for – it was tricky enough for me to have to email the Kiwis to say ‘help help – why?’ Thanks K’s.

12a         Sound of skipper in foreign thoroughfare (3)
RUE — A homophone (sound of) an abbreviation for an Australian marsupial gives you the French word for a road or thoroughfare. I suppose it depends a bit on pronunciation.

13a         Washing that’s best kept secret (5,5)
DIRTY LINEN — The answer is something that you shouldn’t wash in public just as you shouldn’t discuss private matters except in privacy. Oh dear – another one that’s easier to solve than write a hint for and trying to decide what to underline for the definition caused a spot of bother too.

16a         Undesirable look about lively dance (4)
REEL — A reversal (about) of an undesirable look or ogle at someone.

17a         Traps repairer? (7)
DENTIST — These traps are mouths.

18a         Treason disturbed distinguished politician (7)
SENATOR — An anagram (disturbed) of TREASON

20a         Promote in work, though not over hospital (4)
PUSH — A musical work without the cricketing abbreviation for ‘Over’ (though not over) is followed by the abbreviation for H(ospital).

21a         Irish and French director in circle proving troublesome (10)
IRRITATING — Begin with the abbreviation for IR(ish) and follow that with the surname of a French film director inside (in) a circle or round.

23a         Place to get round maybe in Minnesota (3)
INN — Our first lurker or hidden answer – the round is some drinks.

24a         No evidence of embargo in Scottish port (4)
OBAN — The letter that looks like nothing or zero (no) is followed by an embargo or prohibition.

25a         Some young volunteers rejected in private fashionable set (10)
GLITTERATI — Begin with a collection of young animals, puppies or kittens perhaps, follow that with a reversal (rejected) of crosswordland’s favourite volunteers and then put the whole lot inside the abbreviation for an American soldier (private). I hope you were all concentrating because I’m not saying that lot again.

28a         Fast food maker is strain on company approved by Queen (8,6)
PRESSURE COOKER — The first word is a synonym for strain or stress – that’s followed by the usual two letter company, another two letters meaning fine or go ahead (approved) and finish off with the two letters meaning our Queen.

Down

1d            Counterpart of old Poe’s ‘Pit’, revised edition (8,6)
OPPOSITE NUMBER — An anagram (revised) of the abbreviation for O(ld) and POE’S ‘PIT’ is followed by a synonym for an edition or version.

2d            Group showing a bit of patriotism (4)
TRIO — Our second lurker – he’s sitting in the middle of the last word of the clue.

3d            Mistake to indicate vocal disapproval of book (4)
BOOB — A verb to indicate vocal disapproval or heckle is followed by the abbreviation for B(ook)

4d            Confiscate one million quid (7)
IMPOUND — The letter that looks like the Roman numeral one, the abbreviation for M(illion) and the proper word for ‘quid’ rather than the slang.

5d            In hearing, one after another, chaps with time in detention (10)
INTERNMENT — A homophone (in hearing) of a two word phrase (2,4) meaning one after another or in succession is followed by some chaps or blokes and then the abbreviation for T(ime).

6d            Domestic help in priest’s residence, six-footer following Bible (10)
MANSERVANT — Start off with a priest’s residence, especially one of a parish minister of the Church of Scotland, follow that with a two letter abbreviation of a revised version of the Bible and finish off with a small biting insect that has six feet (six footer).

8d            Teen hurt in port botched manoeuvre in road (5-5,4)
THREE-POINT TURN — An anagram (botched) of TEEN HURT IN PORT.

10d         Fish ready with regular filleting (3)
RAY — The odd letters (with regular filleting) of ready.

14d         The insects stirred up irritability (10)
TETCHINESS — An anagram (stirred up) of THE INSECTS.

15d         Extravagant expenditure — thing a soul has to reform (7,3)
LASHING OUT — An anagram (has to reform) of THING A SOUL.

19d         Promotional material in back of lorry? (7)
TRAILER — A double definition – the first being all the little bits of films you don’t want to see before you get to the one that you’ve gone to the cinema to watch and the second being the big bit at the back of a lorry.

22d         Take off cloak with cold gone (3)
APE — A cloak or wrap without its first letter which is a C (with Cold gone).

26d         For instance, 27 also left (4)
TOOL — Another word for also or as well as followed by L(eft) gives you the word of which the answer to 27d is an example.

27d         Explorer removing top reveals emaciated figure (4)
RAKE — The chap who was the first person to sail round the world (explorer) without his first letter (removing top).

I liked 9 and 24a and 14 and 27d. My favourite was 25a.

The Quickie Pun:- QUEUE + BANNS = CUBANS

68 comments on “DT 28376

  1. Better than the Jay puzzle yesterday – **/*** for me, only medium head scratching required.

    Favourite 28a, although I almost chose 5d because of the homophone element.

    Thanks to the setter (I was being fooled into it being a Ray T because of 28a – so much for my setter radar detector) and Kath.

  2. Perhaps I got out of bed on the wrong side this morning but I found this a bit 21a, especially 18a.
    Thank you setter (with apologies) and Kath. Glad to see some dogs rather than cats for a change.

  3. Good fun, I thought. Tricky at times but all very fair and stylishly put together. Difficulty *** / Enjoyment ***.

    Favourite clues were 7A, 17A, 3D, 4D & 14D.

    Many thanks to the setter and to Kath for an entertaining analysis.

    Hasslethymi

  4. Yeay!!! Finally got to solve a 3* fairly easily! Though not sure that the clues were as entertaining as some over the past few days. 19d remarkably was the last to go in – just couldn’t get off pamphlets, ads, etc. And I was thinking about the container space in the back of a lorry rather than the container itself.

    28a also one of last to go in and as with Senf probably one of the favourites today

    Thanks to Kath and to the setter (I still don’t know how you guys know who this might be)

  5. Enjoyable but not remarkable sums it up for me. Perhaps yesterday spoiled things a little bit. Also seemed to take longer than it should with the brain slow to make some connections.

    COTD for me was 7a with probably an old chestnut 17a R/U.

    Thanks to setter & Kath for well illustrated explanations (esp. the trio)

    1. “Turn in the road” I thought (perhaps because lots of people couldn’t do it in 3??).

    2. The official term is the prosaic “Turning in the road (using forward and reverse gears)”. Who’s ever used that?

    3. I did a 5-point turn and passed my test in 1966. I thought that would have failed me but the nice tester said it didn’t matter so long as I was in control of the car. I also ran over a kerb turning left, so I must have caught him on a really good day!!

      1. I also passed my test in 1966 three months after I was seventeen having been driving an ancient A35 van and a tractor round the fields since I was fourteen. I took my test in my Dad’s Triumph Herald which had the most amazing turning circle so it wasn’t an 8d at all – it was just a straight whizzy round.

        1. I had a Triumph Herald in the 70s. What a lovely car it was both to drive and to work on – all its important bits were so easily accessible.

          1. Yes – a lovely car to drive – not sure about the working on it bit though! I do remember it had a reserve petrol tank in the boot – my sister and I were out in Dad’s one night and ran out of petrol – we couldn’t see what we were doing so used the light of a cigarette lighter and the police came along and asked what we were doing – then they told us that if we carried on doing what we were doing we were very likely to find it.

            1. Kath

              That brings back fond memories… I recall the lever that moved forward to rotate the inlet pipe in the tank to be closer to the bottom of the tank. But it often caused problems since it would then pickup the crud in the fuel, and I don’t think it had a filter?

              And thanks to the crew for an enjoyable Wednesday evening puzzle. Thanks for the messages about the “emergency” weather – it was not that bad in Boston… a storm in a teacup perhaps.

              Mrs & Mr T

            2. I knew someone with a pale blue Triumph Herald with the improbable reg plate of BRA 34C (cannot swear to the cup size but you get the drift). Funnily enough no one commented on it and I was too young to point it out.

      2. Mmm – turn in the road is indeed prosaic. Three point turn on the other hand has a certain romance attached to it – reminiscent of a dance move – conjuring up notions of skill, dexterity and grace. Obviously some people’s driving might be better captured by ‘turn in the road’

        I passed my test having clipped a curb exiting a particularly tricky t junction. I was convinced that I had failed but then managed to avoid a stray dog wandering across the road, a wobbly cyclist wandering all over the road and another cyclist coming up on my left as I slowed to turn ….left. The examiner further tormented me by making me do a ‘3 point turn’ on a narrow lane with what felt like a 1 in 3 gradient.

  6. A good fun puzzle today. Not too difficult. 2*4*. The only one that gave me a problem was 20a. I got the word but struggled to parse it for a while. 17a was my favourite today.

  7. Plenty to like here, hopefully won’t divide opinion as much as yesterday! Needed hint to see ‘S or T’, and googled RV which I had forgotten. Thanks to all.

  8. I rather liked this. 19D and 25A were my last two and took quite a bit more thought. My top picks are 7A and 25A. Thanks Kath and today’s mystery man (or woman).

  9. Vert tricky and sorry to say, not a lot of enjoyment for me. I did manage to get through without any help. My last one in was 19d, which should have been one of the easier solves. Many thanks to the setter and to Kath for explaining some very tricky clues. 4*/2*

  10. I’m afraid I too found this a bit 17a…..or maybe it was just a bit too difficult for me.
    Either way, I got there in the end with 19d being the last in…..could not get past leaflets or pamphlets which just would not fit in no matter how hard I tried.

    Thanks to the setter and to Kath for her most excellent explanations…..especially for the corker at 25a!

  11. Coming immediately after two super puzzles yesterday, this one felt somewhat disappointing.
    I thought there was quite a sprinkling of Americanisms both in the back-pager and the Quickie which would lead me to think that it’s from the pen of a setter we have seen before on a Thursday, but not Shamus or Mister Ron.

    13a was probably my favourite.

    Thanks to Mr. Ron and to Kath for well illustrated review. I do enjoy the honesty which you bring to your blogs.
    PS The hint for 18a needs a revisit if anyone has the time.

      1. How any of you manage to solve the puzzles, construct a review, add in pics., cartoons, music clips etc. and get it all loaded up onto the site before some of us have even determined what day of the week it is absolutely amazes me. The odd little ‘whoops’ certainly doesn’t lose you any Brownie points!

  12. 2.5*/3*. I didn’t much like 17a for two reasons – I don’t think it’s a good clue even with the question mark; and I am later than usual in posting today as I have just had to visit mine.

    Overall though I found it enjoyable, and I awarded ticks to 7a, 9a, 11a, 13a & 28a.

    Many thanks to Mr Ron and to Kath.

  13. The four long clues formed a comfortable framework on which everything else fell into place quite nicely. I liked 17a the best, and overall this was 1.5*/3* for me. I think 18a appeared fairly recently did it not?

    Thanks to the Thursday Mr Ron and to Kath for her review.

  14. I found this a bit workaday and all finished after the third read through. Nothing stood out though thanks to the setter for the puzzle. Thanks to Kath for the review. I have visited The Dores Inn many times. My favourite meal there consists of Mussels as a starter followed by Mussels as a main course. “Would you like a dessert sir”? Well now you mention it, a bowl of Mussels will go down very nicely thanks. We usually eat at Ee Usk restaurant in Oban once a year so nice to see a piccie of the old place.

  15. 26d. I’ve always thought that a clue should stand alone, without having to solve another clue before it can be attempted. Is this just a bit lazy on the part of the setter?

      1. But you don’t know the link until you’ve solved the appropriate clue. And until you do, you have no chance of solving the other one. In this case, it was fairly easy, but it isn’t always.

  16. Very enjoyable for me … the reverse anagram in 7a gets four **** stars.

    But Kath gets an extra * for explaining 11a.

    Thanks!

    1. Thanks but no – my extra * belongs to the Kiwis. I looked at 11a inside out and all ends up and couldn’t see why it was what it obviously had to be so I emailed the K’s and they told me. I’d never have got there on my own so a * and a bunch of :rose: for the K’s.

  17. I enjoyed solving today’s offering. 25a was my favourite – simply because it is not a crossword answer you see very often. 2.5/3* overall.
    Thanks to the setter, and to Kath for her brill review.

  18. I found it interesting and challenging and very enjoyable ,( except and it is a big except 17a ).
    If it hadn’t been for 17a, I was guessing Virgilius. But I’m never right.
    My favourite is 28a.
    Thanks to Kath and the setter . I hope he/she pops in later.

  19. Thanks to the setter and to Kath for the review and hints. A well constructed puzzle, but I didn’t enjoy it for some reason. Was completely beaten by 17a, I visit mine next week 😅 Also needed the hints to parse 11&20a. Favourite was 4d. Was 3*/2* for me.

  20. Thursdays certainly ain’t what they used to be 🙁 */*** Favourite was 17a Thanks to Kath for her blog and to the setter for giving me so much more free time on a Thursday 😜

  21. **/***. Not a cakewalk but very fair clues made it workable. Thanks to Kath and the setter.

  22. After yesterday’s superb Jay puzzle this one did feel a little underwhelming, but then most would to be fair.

    My favourite clue was 7a, my least favourite was 17a.

    Thanks to today’s setter and to Kath.

  23. Managed to complete this without too much hassle over breakfast before heading out for root canal attention at my 17a – disaster as he couldn’t find a nerve so a hospital extraction is threatened – ugh! Quite a lot of bunging in took place viz. 7a, 11a, 12a, 20a and 25a hence Kath’s detailed hints were much appreciated. None with Fav properties today. Thank you Mysteron and Kath.

  24. Thanks Kath for an excellent post. Just a thought, could the illustrations containing the solution have that bit blocked out. Just to make me work harder. Thanks again.

    1. Welcome. One of the FAQs deals with this. Basically if you don’t want to see the caption, keep your mouse cursor away from the picture

      1. Three of the illustrations clearly show the answers today CS. One of them shows it twice.

        1. I was wondering how you were doing. You sound pretty much back to normal, so I hope that the ribs are on the mend and the dentist is doing a grand job for you.

        2. Yes – it does. I suspect the only answer is to not pick the pictures with captions which does rather reduce the choice, particularly with cartoons.

          1. It is tricky Kath. Particularly when you find a really funny or very apt picture. Not forgetting the days where none of the answers lend themselves easily to illustration.

  25. Ah! I’ve been full of myself all day thinking I’d solved a RayT completely unaided and now you tell me it’s not him. Perhaps it’s a ploy to include Her Majesty every Thursday to keep us on our toes! Enjoyed it though so thanks to the setter and especially to you Kath because I always take encouragement by reading your thoughts which along with BD and his fine band of contributors have got me thus far. Incredible, Bob Dylan has just come up on my random music selection – spooky.

  26. We have changed our mind three times trying to guess who the setter might be. There are several clues that we thought very Shamus-esque, 25a for example, but others where we were not so sure. So on balance we would say that it could be Shamus but we wouldn’t stake our reputation on it. When I (Colin) arrived home from golf mid-afternoon yesterday I was greeted at the door by Carol saying that Kath had a little problem. Dropped everything and did a rapid print-out so we could work on it. Two fresh minds soon had it sussed and Kath was very belatedly able to get some well deserved sleep. Thanks for the flowers Kath. It is a real pleasure and privilege to be able to be there when needed.
    We enjoyed the puzzle with 25a our favourite too.
    Thanks Mr Ron and Kath.

    1. Your antennae are as usual very good! Many thanks to Kath for her blog and everyone else for comments. I’ll have to try to think of a better cryptic definition for dentist if it crops up in future!

      1. Hi Shamus – think I’d better give up on guessing, I really didn’t spot your hand in this one.
        Thanks for owning up!

  27. Very late today, doctor’s appointment and kept waiting forever.
    I never did get 17a and 19d, never knew the “traps” slang and probably won’t remember it.
    Fave was one of three, 9a, 13a or 28a – take yer pick.
    Thanks to setter and to Kath for her help finishing.

  28. I found this a doddle after yesterday’s puzzle which was probably my nadir in crossword solving!
    Well clued and not too tricky. Very enjoyable.
    Thx to all.

  29. 17 across raised a chuckle here, as I spotted that answer very soon after a visit to same earlier today. Ray T or not, I found it to be more challenging than many recent puzzles have been and I thoroughly enjoyed the solve. Thanks to setter and to Bufo.

  30. I must be right on wavelength today – I make it 1*/3* or thereabouts. My pick was 28a. Ta to Shamus, and to Kath for the review.

  31. Mostly a ** for difficulty, but then I spent a third of the time again staring at 17ac before the penny dropped. We don’t usually get them in the Telegraph, but I half expected a Nina when I saw the grid, but unless it’s encoded I’m guessing not. Talking of the grid, we seem to swing from one extreme to the other – either very limited checking, or in this case perhaps overly generous in places.

    Thoroughly enjoyable overall. Favourite today 7ac, but then again I’m a sucker for that sort of clue.

  32. I wish our president would warn us before coming to town.
    Police everywhere and helicopters flying overhead as Mr Hollande decided to turn the Villa Noailles into some kind of national treasure.
    We are honoured by such a gesture.
    They just forgot to tell him to come and eat at le jardin.
    I found today’s crossword quite original in its style.
    The cross reference in 26/27d was very good I thought.
    Sorry but the homophone in 12a just doesn’t work for a Frenchman. Unless you’re called Clouseau. Do you have a rum?
    Had some good fun.
    Thanks to Shamus and to Kath for the super review.

  33. Train cancelled again so I had to take a long way round involving rail, bus and Shanks’s pony but, rather like the puzzle I got there in the end. I make 28a the dish of the day. Thanks to Kath (and the Ks) for elucidating 11a for me and to Shamus for making me appear clever on the train. 3*/4*

  34. After yesterday, not very inspiring,
    I don’t get on with Shamus’ puzzles, I was floored by 6d and 25a which to me are very clunky clues.
    I find the neat, brevity of Jay, Rufus or Virgilius so much easier to understand.
    The end of a very good run…
    Thanks to all.

  35. Just reviewing the comments! I loved it. 17a was my last in after 19d. Once I got it (17a) I thought it great, but it is clearly a Marmite clue. The penny has only just dropped on 11a. I had the answer but wrong parsing. I never thought of S or T. Now I have got it I think it is inspired. Thanks Shamus and Kath

  36. Thanks to setter and reviewer and Kiwis.

    I’ve solved this on Friday as I have a day off and I’m enjoying a nice breakfast-crossword-music-drink combo.
    Solving 1D gave me very handy checking letters, enabling me to solve clues like 17A and 24A more quickly that I might otherwise have done.
    I’m chuffed to have parsed 11A, especially given some comments on here! I can thank recent attention to Toughies for my improved solving skills of clues like this one.
    Favourite clues 11A and 26A for trickery, 28A and 27D for surface.

    Now, on to Friday’s offering….

  37. I can cope with the faulty homophone in 12a, but the marsupial in question doesn’t skip (despite the name of the 60s kids’ show), but rather hops, which is a significantly different gait.

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