Big Dave's Crossword Blog

Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 2901

A full review by gnomethang

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This puzzle was published on Sunday 28th May

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

Morning All – I found this a slightly stiffer challenge from the usual Prize Puzzles and it was none the worse for it!

Please leave a comment telling us what you thought.  You can also add your assessment by selecting from one to five stars at the bottom of the post.

Across

1a           Consider making first pair of denims free (10)
DELIBERATE – The first Pair of letters in DE(nim) and then LIBERATE for free.

6a           High priest? (4)
LAMA – A cryptic definition of a priest who traditionally lives at altitude in Nepal.

9a           Groundbreaking tool available to choose (4,3)
PICK OUT – A PICK or groundbreaking tool followed by OUT for available (e.g. Out now!)

10a         Like you said, sheltered by sailor in storm (7)
ASSAULT – AS for like then U (sounds like U as in said U) inside a SALT or sailor.

12a         Created impressions for digital records (13)
FINGERPRINTED – A simple cryptic definition of a recording of the digits on a hand.

14a         Hem that’s black or red when turned over (6)
BORDER – B(lack) and OR from the clue followed by a reversal (when turned over) of RED.

15a         In state of exhaustion catnap won’t relieve? (3-5)
DOG-TIRED – Another nice cryptic definition – A DOG-TIRED canine can’t take a catnap.

17a         State carriage of monarch? (8)
VICTORIA – A double definition – the Australian State and also a coach or carriage (associated with Queen Victoria).

19a         Material that’s fantastic and deep in colour cut (6)
FABRIC – FAB for fantastic and then cut the last letter from RIC(h) or deeply coloured.

22a         Products of a fertile imagination? (13)
BRAINCHILDREN – One more cryptic definition with fertility of the imagination leading us to the CHILDREN of the BRAIN.

24a         Person who charges a drug addict carrying small volume (7)
ACCUSER – A USER or drug addict carrying CC for Cubic Centimetre – a small volume of liquid.

25a         Cancel a golfer’s last round (7)
ANNULAR – ANNUL for cancel, A from the clue and then the last letter in golfeR.

26a         Point about learner being dunce (4)
DOLT – A DOT or point surrounding L for Learner.

27a         Outline of plan showing opportunities for success outside university (10)
PROSPECTUS – Place PROSPECTS ot opportunities for success around the outside of U(niversity).

Down

1d           Work out information (4)
DOPE – If you work out you might cryptically be said to DO P(hysical) E(ducation.

2d           Name for devil provided in diabolical clue, right? (7)
LUCIFER – Place IF for ‘provided’ inside a diabolical anagram of CLUE and follow up with R for Right.

3d           Former PM so inept I revised good marks (7,6)
BROWNIE POINTS – The former Prime Minister Gordon BROWN and then an anagram (revised) of SO INEPT I.

4d           Take part in opera — The Ring? Yes, indeed! (6)
RATHER – A hidden clue that takes a part inside ope RA THE R ing.

5d           Something used to stir pot as one cooked (8)
TEASPOON A cooked anagram of POT AS ONE.

7d           Neighbouring landowner is a bishop, say (7)
ABUTTER – A B(ishop) followed by UTTER for say/speak.

8d           Unassisted learner in American car was doing something (10)
AUTODIDACT – Not a word you hear every day but the wordplay is clear – an AUTO or American car and then DID ACT for another way of saying ‘was doing something’.

11d         Unusually clean water’s in major river (5,8)
SAINT LAWRENCE – This anagram (unusually) of CLEAN WATERS IN leapt out at me pretty quickly for some reason. No idea where the river is though!

13d         Honest sailor, with love, over bad upset (5,5)
ABOVE BOARD – An AB  or Able Bodied seaman, O for Love, and then an anagram (upset) of OVER BAD.

16d         Person wavering gets it at this point, interrupting doctor (8)
DITHERER – Place IT from the clue and HERE for ‘at this point’ inside DR, one abb, for Doctor

18d         Window on left in area near altar (7)
CHANCEL – A CHANCE or window (of opportunity) on top of L for Left.

20d         Piece of hair enclosed in covering letter (7)
RINGLET – A hidden word which is inside/enclosed in cove RING LET ter.

21d         Part of Ireland lacking capital, second every time (6)
ALWAYS – Remove the capital letter from (G)ALWAY in Ireland and then add S(econd).

23d         Inspiration for love in bedrooms — nothing odd there (4)
EROS – Remove all the odd letters (nothing odd there) from bEdRoOmS.

 Thanks to Mr Greer for the puzzle – I’ll see you all tomorrow.