DT 28534 (Hints) – Big Dave's Crossword Blog
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DT 28534 (Hints)

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 28534 (Hints)

Big Dave’s Saturday Crossword Club

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As is usual for the weekend prize crosswords, an assortment of clues, including some of the more difficult ones, have been selected and hints provided for them.

Most of the terms used in these hints are explained in the Glossary and examples are available by clicking on the entry under “See also”. Where the hint describes a construct as “usual” this means that more help can be found in The Usual Suspects, which gives a number of the elements commonly used in the wordplay. Another useful page is Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing, which features words with meanings that are not always immediately obvious.

A full review of this puzzle will be published after the closing date for submissions.

Some hints follow.

Across

8a    ‘Stormy Weather’ overwhelms a songster (8)
An anagram (stormy) of WEATHER around (overwhelms) the A from the clue

9a    Forge commonplace name as front for unknown quantity (6)
Another name for a forge is derived from a commonplace name followed by an unknown quantity – a bit same-both-sidesy as the derivation of said commonplace name is someone who forges metals with a hammer

11a    Recover consciousness — and die as result? (4,2,4)
A phrasal verb meaning to recover consciousness (4,2) followed by a verb meaning to die

12a    Two separate points in landing-place could make you groggy (6)
Two compass points inserted into separate parts of a landing-place

17a    Trace undergarment — one, say, that has been returned (7)
An undergarment followed by I (one) and the reversal (that has been returned) of the Latin abbreviation for “say” or “for example”

20a    Stick bond with glue coming unstuck (8)
An anagram (coming unstuck) of BOND with GLUE

22a    Article by church dignitary of South American eminence (6)
The two-letter indefinite article followed by a church dignitary

26a    Patent a clever gripping thing to wave about (8)
Hidden (gripping) inside the clue – but what a dreadful definition

Down

1d    Rodent bit sandwiches I’m holding quietly (8)
A bit or thick piece around (sandwiches) I’M itself around (holding) the musical notation for quietly – Expat Chris has these in her garden!

2d    Last character coming in to cut grass is dim (4)
The last character of the alphabet inside some cut grass – I find it interesting that cut in this context can be an adjective or a verb, the clue becomes obvious once you decide which it is

4d    Unpleasant expert gives scowl (7)
An adjective meaning unpleasant (4) followed by an expert

6d    Stopped swallowing whisky, perhaps dejected (10)
A verb meaning stopped or lost power around the type of alcoholic drink of which whisky is an example (perhaps)

13d    Notice little Judith in hearing, little Catherine being judge (10)
A two-letter notice followed by what sounds like a contraction (little) of the name Judith and a similar contraction (little) of the name Catherine

16d    Crack up in the mountains (8)
a cryptic definition of a crack in the snow, perhaps one found up in the mountains

18d    I dig all wild hedging round flowers (8)
An anagram (wild) of I DIG ALL around (hedging) the round-shaped letter

21d    Animal seizing artist round throat (6)
An animal around the reversal of our usual artist

24d    Loud friend turns up — panic! (4)
The musical notation for loud followed by the reversal (turns up in a down clue) of a friend

The Crossword Club is now open.


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The Quick Crossword pun: mall+teas+sirs=Maltesers ©


76 comments on “DT 28534 (Hints)

  1. After a glorious week in Tenerife, the first words I saw this morning when I turned to the puzzle on the back page of the paper were “Stormy Weather”. What a chilly welcome back to the UK – central heating turned on!

    This pangram provided an excellent return to the crossword world – nice and light and a lot of fun. I had lots of candidates for favourite but I’ll settle for 2d.

    Many thanks to Mr Ron and to BD.

              1. We’ll just have to have a register –

                I’ve emailed OA to check but I have a feeling LROK did submit a form, but that could be just my imagination

                1. Also,

                  The lady who rode horses a good deal, lived in north, I think, and always used paper and pencil for her anagrams.

                  She was v good at crosswords, can’t remember her name

  2. I pretty much agree word for word with RD at #1 about this excellent puzzle. A terrific mixture of clue types, some simple and others more testing. 8a my favourite ahead of 2d, and 2.5*/4* overall.

    Thanks to the Saturday setter and BD.

  3. Somewhere between 60% and 70% R&W, completed at a gallop – */***.

    I wasn’t sure about 20a but BRB verification convinced me.

    No standout favourite, but 14a and 13d were quite good.

    Thanks to the setter and BD.

  4. I totally agree with the preceding comments and thought that it was a thoroughly enjoyable puzzle although, for me, there wasn’t a ‘Eureka!’ moment.

  5. I know that “gripping” in 26a indicates a lurker. Could it also be part of the definition?
    Thank you setter and BD

    1. Given the ‘dreadful definition‘ (BD’s words), I think the choice of lurker indicator is probably a coincidence in a dreadful clue.

  6. Gently strolled through today’s enjoyable exercise but nothing stood out as particular Fav. Thank you Mysteron and BD. Presume DT apology re yesterday’s bungle is buried inconspicuously somewhere?!

  7. Some great lurkers today.
    Strangely the DT website had this down as ***** For difficulty. I did not find it so.
    Does 12a = the definition?
    Favourite is 26a, though I see everyone else hates it!
    I spotted the panagram, it should have helped with 21d, which took an age to sort out.
    Thanks BD and Mr.Ron

  8. Enjoyed this sleepy solve, except that dozy me put in a wrong answer for 15a which made 16d impossible. Sorted with the help of a friendly hinter. Favourites are 11a and 6d.

    Thanks to the setter and BD.

  9. Easily completed in ** time, but I’m fairly sure 3d is a new word to me.

    Not sure why, but 19d gets COTD from me. Many thanks to one and all.

    It’s a pity they couldn’t find time or space for an apology after yesterday’s debacle.

    1. !!!—SPOILER ALERT—!!!

      Yesterday’s Quickie answers below. Do not read further if you don’t want to see them.

      Otherwise, for those who don’t have the paper paper, here’s a game of spot the apology:

          1. Now that Doctor Who is in the process of regenerating as a woman, I don’t see why he/she can’t regenerate in future (or even in the past) as a cat.

  10. Very pleasant work out on this grey morning in Nottingham. The 3d lurker eluded me for a bit but otherwise it was straightforward.

    1. it’s raining this side of the trent. about to go to see our grandson on his first birthday in bunny & tomorrow he’s having a party with 20 of his friends in a pub over in lady bay. no, i don’t understand it either.

      1. A number of Nottinghamians are on the blog today. I picked up my paper at Nottingham Station before catching the 8.09 to Birmingham. Managed to complete on journey to Birmingham although at first sight looked tough. Favourites 9a and 13d. Also highly commended 20a for being a good anagram and just realised I spelt 16a wrongly. What I said about lurkers earlier in the week was confirmed today!

  11. I enjoyed this one and maybe for the first time ever I spotted the pangram – I usually think of it when I find the first uncommon letter and then forget about it.
    Rather stupidly my last answer was 26a but, having finally seen it, I liked the clue.
    Although I’ve heard the word that is the answer to 3d I didn’t know what it meant.
    I don’t like being picky but I agree with HIYD that 12a doesn’t quite fit the definition and I think the same applies to 21d.
    I liked 15 and 22a and 13 and 16d.
    Thanks to today’s setter and to BD.

    1. I agree about 21d, Kath. Isn’t the answer a part of the definition? Of perhaps, more accurately resides in the definition?

      1. Yes, I think so – well, sort of. I don’t want to end up in the naughty corner as our grass needs cutting yet again but it would have been OK if the first letter had been replaced by two different ones.

  12. There’s a rare sighting of a Gazza NTSPP this week – they are always good fun so do have a go if you have time

    1. I agree that they’re always really good fun – I couldn’t resist a very quick look in between doing stuff in the garden – I think it’s more difficult than usual but maybe I need to concentrate on it properly rather than trying to do it in dribs and drabs and not doing justice to it.

  13. Typical Saturday fare – all quite straightforward apart from 3d which was a new word for me – I suspected it from the wordplay and found it in the BRB.

    I’m settling down for Leicester v Gloucester – it’s raining here so I don’t feel too guilty!

  14. Enjoyed today’s offering even though it took me a while to get started. An early morning reheasal did not wake the little grey cells it seems. Still it all keeps me out of mischief!

  15. First crossword encounter following a week on IOW to check up on the progress of my new grandson. At least, I thought it was to visit my grandson – in reality it turned out to be a week of cleaning the house for his sleep-deprived Mum!

    Back to the puzzle – it probably took longer than usual owing to the grey cells having had a week’s rest and I was really slow to get both the SA eminence and the 5d way.
    Unlike BD, the definition at 26a made me smile and I think my favourite was either that or 8a.

    Thanks to Mr. Saturday Ron and to BD for the club.

  16. Thanks to Sue for her concern, surprised I had been missed. Have still been doing crossword intermittently but not commenting regularly. Bit downcast by some of recent turn of events here so have stayed clear.

  17. Thanks to the setter and to Big Dave for the hints. A steady solve, nothing to frighten the horses. Thought it might be a pangram after entering my first answer 2d. Last in was 26a. My favourite was 11a. Was 2*/3* for me.

  18. This was a really nice Saturday crossword. I find normally that they miss the spot somehow so today’s was a pleasant surprise. 26a made me smile so that is my favourite. Overall 2/3.5.
    Thanks to Mr Ron and to BD for the hints.

  19. Easy going on the RHS, a little stiffer to the left. The definition at 8ac elicited an almighty groan. Last in 15ac.

  20. Really enjoyed this today, and only held up by the bird in 8a, just cannot seem to fathom this anagram. Perhaps it will come to me later.

      1. We escaped the worst winds, so no House damage thankfully. Just tired from prepping and unprepping, but so relieved. Worst was being without power, specifically AC, in our subtropical heat and humidity. Unfortunately we now have to keep any eye on Tropical Storm Maria heading our way and forecast to be another major hurricane. Praying it fizzles. Thanks for asking.

  21. Mmmmm found this hard going in places – 8a last to go in but did complete without looking at BD, so honour satisfied I think!

  22. Just printed this off and found it almost a R&W. Enjoyable nevertheless. Now to print off the Sunday puzzle. Thanks to the setter and BD for the hints.

    1. Surprised myself by completing a puzzle without recourse to hints – so this was particularly satisfying. Didn’t know about pangrams so something to look for in the future. Favourite was 14a. Thanks to setter and BD.

      1. But I can’t read the page, I’m being immediately and continuoiusly directed to the ad section of the page. I can’t read the other content!

      2. Happened to me too Dave. Kept on flicking back to the ads before you had a chance to read anything. However, i re-loaded the page and it seems fine now.

          1. Whatever is causing the problem, its intensely irritating when the page jumps up and down while you are trying to type a comment.

            1. Yes, that’s happening to me as well – thought it was just me doing something silly, so it’s a relief to hear that others are also struggling.

  23. Pleasant enough but over too soon.
    At least I had time to tackle Paul in the Guardian and Gazza in the Not The Saturday Prize.
    Thanks to the setter and to BD.

  24. I’m usually late but this time on a Sunday is early for me- too many other things to do. Enjoyed this – no hints needed, just put it down, leave for a bit and the answers leap out at you. Come and get you like 26a……
    I too found 3d a new word.
    Orphan Annie is it nice too be missed?
    Thanks BD and compiler.

  25. Just managed to get hold of Saturday’s DT. Fairly straightforward solve once I’d got my head round a few things. Plenty of anagrams to smooth the way. Thank you setter and BD.

      1. Oh I see we have got another Wanda! I looked at this and thought it was from me (which it could not have been as I was watching Victoria and Abdul at the time!).

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