DT 28589 – Big Dave's Crossword Blog
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DT 28589

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 28589

Hints and tips by a terse Miffypops

+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +

BD Rating – Difficulty **Enjoyment ****

Are you ready? Here we go then

Please leave a comment telling us what you thought.

Across

1a Book for the picture show (5)
ALBUM: A book of photographs possibly?

4a Sally is involved with transport curriculum (8)
SYLLABUS: Anagram (is involved) of SALLY followed by a form of public transport, a double decker possibly.

8a Fifty winning scholarship (8)
LEARNING: Begin with the Roman numeral for fifty. Then add a verb meaning gaining deservedly for one’s achievements

9a Yet it’s not the place for a deep sleep (5,3)
OCEAN BED: A cryptic definition of the bottom of our largest sea. Hands up if you put River as I began with.

11a Page in script of Cinderella (7)
BUTTONS: The name of a character in the pantomime Cinderella

13a Convey ecstasy (9)
TRANSPORT: A double definition I think. Possibly an all in one. Who knows?

15a Where to obtain counter-intelligence? (11,4)
INFORMATION DESK: a counter where people may seek help, typically in a public building such as an airport, library, or hospital.

18a Ring, evidently embarrassed — it shows shame (9)
DISCREDIT: A three-part charade. Begin with a word meaning a ring or circular object. Add the colour we show when embarrassed. Top that off with the word IT which your setter has generously gifted to you.

21a Bank that may appear in the current recession (7)
SANDBAR: A cryptic definition. The current here refers to the tide. The recession means the tide is going out. The bank left by an outgoing tide is a long, narrow sandbank, especially at the mouth of a river.

22a British? Always time for a drink! (8)
BEVERAGE: As above at 18 across just do as the clue suggests. Begin with the abbreviation for British. Add a word meaning at all times followed by a word meaning a particular time in history. Job done. Tick it off.

24a Cure for love-sickness? (8)
ANTIDOTE: This is a cure for a sickness. To dote is to love but I have no idea about anti.

25a Two adjacent pieces in a gradual sequence (3,2,3)
BIT BY BIT: Two small pieces or parts alongside one another

26a Sees a new way, relaxes (5)
EASES: Anagram (new way) of SEES A

Down

1d Robust seamen often are so described (4-6)
ABLE-BODIED: A definition of our crosswordland abbreviation for a seaman. A nice clue

2d Launch report on cricket side (5,3)
BLAST OFF: A report here is a loud noise. The cricket side will be one of Two. Off or on. The one with three letters will fit the available spaces better than the one with two letters.

3d Human resources that feminists fight against? (8)
MANPOWER: A cryptic definition of the number of people working or available for work or service. Split 3,5 it could be the opposite of what feminists desire.

4d Type of pudding served as seconds before now (4)
SAGO: With three checkers in place this tapioca like pudding could only be what it is. It took a while for the wordplay to become clear. Begin with the abbreviation for seconds. Add an adverb meaning before a particular time

5d People living around pubs (6)
LOCALS: My last one in. I have seen it before and I run a pub. No excuses will serve. A double definition defining both pubs and the people living nearby who use them.

6d Sailor capsized, boom shattered — it’s hollow-stemmed (6)
BAMBOO: Our abbreviated sailor has wandered over from one down and reversed himself (capsized) He is joined by an anagram (shattered) of BOOM

7d Small child’s slide (4)
SKID: Use the abbreviation for small and add an affectionate term for a child

10d Talks about port transport (8)
CHARIOTS: Place a Brazilian port inside an informal word meaning talks

12d Homeless pet seen in street light shadow (5,3)
STRAY DOG: Another three-part charade. Begin with the abbreviation for street. Add a beam of light. End with a word meaning to follow or shadow somebody

14d Do as you’re told and become a priest! (4,6)
TAKE ORDERS: A double definition. The first being the more obvious.

16d Time to dine on stews (8)
NOONTIDE: Anagram (stews) of TO DINE ON. Does your answer have the letter M in it? If it does it is incorrect.

17d You’re probably surprised when they go up (8)
EYEBROWS: A cryptic definition of the facial feature one might raise when surprised

19d One’s learned to park a vehicle in street (6)
SAVANT: Place the letter A from the clue together with a vehicle that is usually white and driven by tradesmen inside the regular abbreviation for street

20d I tarry, resorting to curiosity (6)
RARITY: Anagram (resorting) of I TARRY

22d Insult that’s found on the wire (4)
BARB: This deliberately hurtful remark is also used on wire to keep people from trespassing

23d Direction taken by the astronaut (4)
EAST: A hidden word lurking away within the letters of the clue indicated by the words taken by.

Short and sweeet. Just like me.

Quickie Pun HIS+TERRY+COL=HYSTERICAL


63 comments on “DT 28589

  1. A very friendly start to the solving week. I particularly enjoyed 24a and 17d, my last one in and favourite. This was 1.5* /4* for me overall, and cheered up a dank Monday morning in the Marches.

    Many thanks to Rufus and the commendably brief MP.

  2. To begin with I made heavy weather of this and dodged about the place filling in answers at random but as is often the case gradually sorted it having had plenty of fun along the way. 9a and 17d tied for Fav. Thank you Mysteron and MP (why terse?).

  3. I really liked 22a and 24a. 12d was clever too, but what a mournful image it conjures up.

    Nearly put in something silly for 22d before coming to my senses.

    Thanks to Rufus and MP.

  4. Greetings from a wet and windy north cornwall, a nice gentle start to the week. Completed in one coffee pot time. Had a bit of a problem at 4d and 9ac but Mrs Spook pointed out the error. No favourites but 1d was quite good.
    Thanks to Miffypops however terse and Rufus.

  5. Good morning
    I am a crossword plodder,but,I invariably find one star puzzles harder than two and three star.
    Today:s I finished in record time.
    Keep up the good work.
    Thanks

  6. A nice start to the crosswording week although, as Kitty commented, 12d was rather sad.

    Top three for me were 24a plus 17&19d.

    Thanks to Rufus and to MP – you obviously really enjoyed that Spice Girls clip last time around!

  7. A straightforward, gentle Rufus Monday, a very good start to the work week, finished at a fast gallop (which enabled me to complete The Rookie before brain and eyes disconnected) – */***.

    Favourite – 15a – 15 letter non-anagram straight into the winner’s circle!

    Thanks to Rufus and MP.

  8. Enjoyable start to the week, steady solve which made me smile in several places. Initially put “one by one” for 25a but soon rectified this when I filled in 22d.
    Thanks to setter and Miffypops

  9. maybe I am improving, but was * for difficulty for me – but a very enjoyable puzzle with a some clever clues (esp 24a, 12d) mixed in wiht a number of very straightforward ones….

  10. A ‘comfortable’ start to the week for all bloggers so far and I join the list, not going to quibble with MP’s rating.
    Bit of a nautical theme with 1d,9a,21a, probably just coincidence.
    Favourite 24a, closely followed by 3d-thanks all.

  11. Very nice puzzle today.

    For some reason I could not see the across clues at all until I started on the downs….then it all came clear.

    Thanks to Miffy and to the setter.

  12. Got flummoxed by this, probably not helped by putting SNOW for 4d and WATER BED for 9a.
    Finally got Chariot for 10d which forced us to review those two answers.
    Eventually got over the finish line exhausted.

      1. It wouldn’t work for you if you’d ever slept, or tried to, in or on one. Whoever you’re in bed with turns over and wakes you up – you’ve just gone back to sleep when the most almighty wave smacks you in the face. Oh dear, and :negative:

  13. I really enjoyed this puzzle. Several good clues, 15a, 21a, 24a, 3d, 12d & 17d. Overall 1.5*/****.

  14. Lots to enjoy in today’s puzzle.

    Favourites – as it would appear they were for many others, 17d and 24a.
    Last one in – 5d, (strange that I struggled with that one).

    Agree with a rating of **/****. Thanks to MP and Rufus(?)

    Two others I particularly enjoyed – as they give me the opportunity to suggest alternative clues:

    4d – Reportedly start a pudding race

    6d – The world’s most frightening plant?

    (For 6d, you need to say the second syllable loudly).

    The above silliness does however make me ponder as to whether there is some criterion, or means of measurement (other than “groanibility”) for defining the line between Christmas cracker riddle, and cryptic crossword clue.
    If this is already dealt with in FAQ, apologies for my laziness.

  15. Very pleasant and not too taxing although our LOI, the sandbar, took a bit of head scratching before the penny dropped. That one is probably our fav although 5d raised a smile. */**** from us.

    Thanks to Rufus and MP.

  16. Pleasant start to the week but I must to being held up by a few clues. I don’t know why it took me so long to get the pub dwellers and the bed. I liked 15a and 3d.

  17. I found this a little more tricky than usual for a Monday puzzle, but I seem to be in the minority. I finished it all right, but took longer than expected, especially the top left corner. Maybe brain struggling to recover from weekend excesses! Having said all that, it was an enjoyable solve and all the clues were fair, and many, entertaining. 2.5*/****. I liked 10d, 17d, and 16a, with 21a in first place.

  18. After reading the first few clues and solving none, I did begin to wonder if this was going to be more difficult than it turned out to be. I then started at the bottom and worked upwards, with it all falling into place quite nicely. I liked 15 across and 12 down, but I think 21across is my favourite. Thanks to Rufus for a very user friendly start to the week and also to MP.

  19. I enjoyed this one and, apart from a couple of problems, didn’t have too much of my usual Monday trouble.
    I had the wrong answer for 22d – don’t ask – and only realised my mistake when I saw the pic and wondered what it had to do with ****.
    9a was my last answer – just couldn’t ‘see’ the first word for ages and it took me too long to remember 11a.
    12d made me cry.
    I liked 22a and 3 and 6d. I think my favourite was probably 24a.
    Thanks to Rufus and to the terse Miffypops – why are you feeling terse – or was it a typo?

  20. The usual fun from the Monday maestro, but why oh why is he such a fan of this particular grid with its four large black squares and plenty of double unches? It’s certainly not the first time Rufus has used it, but I do hope it’s the last.

    My personal favourites today were 11a, 15a and 21a.

    Thanks to Messrs Squires and Terse.

  21. Good afternoon everybody.

    This was going very well but I was completely unable to see 21a and 17d. I thought 24a was what it was but couldn’t see why so left it blank.

    ****/***

  22. Another treat from Rufus, I do love his puzzles.
    Like Kath, I cried at 12d. That was a blot on an otherwise delightful puzzle. I would ask Rufus to spare us in future!
    My fave was 24a, loved it, followed by 15a and 11a.
    Thanks to Rufus and to Terse M’pops.

  23. Thanks to Rufus and to Miffypops for the review and hints. A nice start to the week. I really struggled to get going. Had to start at the bottom and work up. Eventually it all fell into place. Last in was 21a. Favourite was 24a. Was 3 ✳ /3 ✳ for me.

  24. Really good fun. Did on train in double quick time. Got 17d straightaway. The only two which caused a problem were 9a and 10d. 9a came to me when I was on the Tube which left 10a which was my last in. Favourites 8 21 22 24a and 12 and 17d. Thanks Rufus. Managed to parse them all so did not need the hints today

  25. Mauled away at this one a bit – probably just a tired old bonce – with a mix of gimmies and some much tougher ones. Nice misdirection in 5d which was my last in rather embarrassingly. Choosing not to rate this one and no ‘favouriting’ either, but thanks to Rufus and MP who’s clips are always fun.

  26. A nice start to the week, fairly straightforward but really struggled to sort 17d just couldn’t see it for ages and last one in.

    Clues of the day 4a / 17d

    Rating ** / ****

    Thanks to MP and the setter.

  27. Gentle start yo the week. Lots of clever clues.
    Thanks to Miffypops for the hlnts and for reminding me how bad the Spice Girls were.

  28. I was consoled by Miffypops , of 40 years experience who owns a pub not seeing 5d immediately , because I never saw it at all.
    A lovely puzzle from Rufus.
    Thanks to all concerned.

  29. 5d was my last answer; I am amazed. It is therefore my favourite.
    Lovely challenge to start the week. 1.5/4* overall.
    Thanks to Rufus, and to the terse one for the review.

  30. Can anyone explain 13a to me? I am struggling to see what the word ‘ecstasy’ adds even though the answer is obvious from ‘convey’. Looking at the hints, it appears that I am not the only one.

    1. I guess it’s just a double definition – if you’re transported, you’re in ecstasy; if you’re conveyed, you’re transported.??

  31. Strange puzzle, but enjoyable, I managed to put in a few wrong answers that seemed to work with each other until I ran aground, 25a was one, where I also put one by one at first. 9a and 17d were last in, but 17d was definitely favourite. Thanks to Rufus and Miffypops for a pleasant start to the week.

  32. Plenty to like in todays puzzle and only 24a grated with me. I too had no idea where anti came from either. Other than that the rest was sorted over first coffee break. For some reason I seem to struggle on Tuesdays. Here’s hoping I can keep up the good start to the week tomorrow.
    Thanks to MP and setter.

  33. Thanks all.
    I was confused by the ecstasy in 13a, anyone help?
    Apart from that, very enjoyable, Rufus takes some getting used to, but now I really enjoy his puzzles. Fav was 22d.
    Thanks for the hints, MP and Rufus.

      1. Thanks Jane. I’m also confused about 13a. I looked up Psalm 23 but I’m afraid I’m none the wiser.

      2. Thanks Jane, I got there in the end. I am very grateful in that I now have everything fully parsed.

          1. 13a. May I give a straight/basic answer to a straight question, instead of two obscure/cryptic ones? – many young/novice/inexperienced solvers who are reading this thread still won’t be any the wiser: Apart from using a van or car, etc., “transport” (as a noun) also means an overwhelmingly strong emotion: rhapsody, rapture, ecstasy, etc.

  34. A little into *** time today, with the NE corner last in. The less said about that grid the better, definitely time it was kicked into touch.

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