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DT 28593

 

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 28593

Hints and tips by Deep Threat

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BD Rating – Difficulty **Enjoyment ***

Good morning from South Staffs.

I’m very busy today, helping my sister to move house, so no pictures or music this week.

In the hints below, the definitions are underlined. The answers are hidden under the ANSWER buttons, so don’t click if you don’t want to see them.

Please leave a comment telling us what you thought. 

Across

1a           Move close to a bar where trade can be done (3,4,4)
CAR BOOT SALE – Anagram (move) of CLOSE TO A BAR.

8a           Awfully idle beast is put into less secure situation (11)
DESTABILISE – Anagram (awfully) of IDLE BEAST IS.

11a         Platform girl asked to give an answer briefly (4)
DAIS – Remove the final letter (briefly) from the name of the girl pressed in song to ‘give me your answer, do’.

12a         A secluded room in Middle Eastern location (4)
ADEN – A (from the clue) followed by a hideaway or study.

13a         Legendary female chosen to lead academy in London (7)
ELECTRA – Put together ‘chosen’ and the initials of a London Academy famous for its annual exhibition of paintings.

15a         Animal makes blunder crossing one river (7)
GIRAFFE – The sort of blunder which the press accuse politicians of making, wrapped round the Roman numeral for one and River.

16a         Characters restricted by master needlessly severe (5)
STERN – Hidden in the clue.

17a         Fire in rickety hut hard to put out (4)
SACK – Remove the Hard from a rickety hut, and you get ‘fire from an employment’.

18a         A cold has the fellow in pain (4)
ACHE – Put together A (from the clue), Cold, and the pronoun for ‘the fellow’.

19a         Plainly without blemish (5)
CLEAR – Double definition, the second being perhaps an adjective applied to the skin complexion.

21a         Dismissal is memory associated with cricket ground (7)  Revised on-line clue:  Getting rid of pop group at front of Underground station (7)
REMOVAL – I’m not sure that this clue works. The second part is a four-letter cricket ground in London, the home of Surrey CCC. I think the first part is intended to be some computer memory (like RAM or ROM), but as far as I can tell, this is not a term for computer memory, though it may be the preface to a comment line in BASIC programs.  New hint:   An American  pop group placed at the front of a London Underground station

22a         Stand-in worker having short term, alluring type (7)
TEMPTER – An abbreviation for a temporary employee, followed by TER(m) (short term).

23a         President Lincoln died — but not thus (4)
ABED – The familiar abbreviation of President Lincoln’s first name, followed by Died. The answer is of course not where he died.

26a         Idiot‘s intelligence (4)
DOPE – Double definition, the second being some rather archaic slang for information or intelligence.

27a         Adam and Eve’s parental task is causing great trouble (7,4)
RAISING CAIN – This is what Adam and Eve were doing while bringing up their elder son.

28a         Study of the transcendental involving mystic shape (11)
METAPHYSICS – Anagram (involving) of MYSTIC SHAPE.

Down

2d           Cuts lines on graph (4)
AXES – Double definition, the second being the vertical and horizontal lines on a graph, conventionally named x and y.

3d           Concerns of EIR and EIIR! (7)
BOTHERS – Split the answer (4,3) and you get what EIR and EIIR are.

4d           Circles of gold on empty bus (4)
ORBS – The heraldic term for gold followed by B(u)S from the clue with its middle letter removed.

5d           Sultan unfortunately upset — row ensues (7)
SALADIN – Reverse an exclamation meaning ‘unfortunately’, add a row or loud noise, and you get the adversary of Richard the Lionheart.

6d           Woman making pounds with one type of savings account (4)
LISA – The abbreviation for pounds sterling followed by one of the tax-free savings accounts available to UK residents.

7d           Combative as a driver, a wild person yet to pass test (11)
ADVERSARIAL – Anagram (wild) of AS A DRIVER A, followed by the letter applied to the car of someone who has not yet passed the driving test.

8d           Free from busmen drunk with cider (11)
DISENCUMBER – Anagram (drunk) of BUSMEN and CIDER.

9d           Editor leading one form of literature penning article to give instruction (11)
EDIFICATION – The abbreviation for an editor followed by the form of literature not dealing with matters of fact, wrapped around an indefinite article.

10d         A nurse here goes wrong with drug initially — not properly trained? (11)
UNREHEARSED – Anagram (goes wrong) of A NURSE HERE, followed by the first letter (initially) of Drug.

14d         A sound that’s mournful coming from island (5)
ATOLL – A (from the clue) followed by the mournful sound of a funeral bell.

15d         Old coin that’s large with new centrepiece (5)
GROAT – Replace the central vowel of a word meaning large or important with another vowel.

19d         Game in a street in famous wedding venue (7)
CANASTA – A (from the clue) and the abbreviation for STreet, with a Biblical wedding venue (the one where the water was turned into wine) wrapped around the result.

20d         Edits book with socialist’s introduction (7)
REDACTS – The colour associated with socialists, followed by one of the books of the New Testament.

24d         Dinner’s starter, wonderful fish (4)
DACE – The first letter (starter) of Dinner, followed by a word meaning ‘wonderful’ or ‘super’.

25d         Bit of foot to be too tight, squashing the front (4)
INCH – Remove the first letter (squashing the front) from a word which describes a shoe which is too tight, and you get a division of the foot measure.

26d         Record item vehicle no longer requires? (4)
DISC – Double definition, the second (especially for the benefit of non-UK readers) being a reference to the removal of the requirement to display a paper document showing that car tax has been paid.


The Quick Crossword pun CAR + DIN + ALLEY = CARDINALLY

59 comments on “DT 28593

  1. There will be a new clue for 21a and, as and when it appears online, I will add a new hint as Deep Threat is, as he says in his prologue, having a busy day today

  2. 3* / 4*. I approach Friday’s back-pagers cautiously as I find them so unpredictable. Happily I thought today’s was excellent: nicely challenging and a lot of fun.

    I needed DT’s review to unravel the parsing of my answer to 11a, and my limited biblical knowledge didn’t extend to the wedding venue in 19d which necessitated a quick Google for verification. I’m unsure about the memory in 21a; I’ve heard of ROM and RAM but not REM in this context and, like DT, I can’t find any reference to the latter either in my BRB or on line.

    My favourite was 1a with 3d running it close and I thought that 28a was an excellent anagram.

    Many thanks to Giovanni and to DT.

    1. I suppose you could say that Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep is a form of recall, or of processing memories, at any rate?
      Does that get you out of a hole? 😃

  3. Another very enjoyable end to the work week, completed at a gallop (just), although there were a couple of clues that I thought did not ‘hang together’ very well (13a – chosen and 21a – memory) – **/****.

    Candidates for favourite – 23a, 27a, and 3d, and the winner is 3d.

    Thanks to Giovanni and DT.

    1. For 13a, I think it is “chosen to lead” rather than just “chosen” that comes the first part of the answer. Works for me.

      1. But there is a disconnect of past tense with chosen to lead and present tense with that part of the answer.

        1. I think it’s OK, Senf. Elect in this sense is an adjective. “President elect”, for example, means the person chosen to become president.

  4. I enjoyed this one, and it produced a few smiles along the way.

    Many thanks to Giovanni, and to DT for the review.

  5. This was completed in *** time for me. I was in a bit of a hurry, as I have 10 hours of cricket recorded, waiting for my attention, so I did resort to the hints for 13a and 3d.

    I too was questioning the REM, wondering whether that type of sleep was caused by memory. I got 11a, but needed the hints to parse it. I think 27a is an old favourite. For some reason 1a was one of the last to go in, despite having all the fodder and having decided what the last word must be! I must need more tea.

    Right, it’s off to the Gabba we go!

    Many thanks to Giovanni and DT.

    1. I had a bit of trouble with 3d, it makes more sense when split 4,3 – regnal numbers and all that stuff.

      Nice puzzle with the right amount of difficulty, I really enjoyed it.

  6. I bunged in the dodgy memory in 21a without checking because it had to be so, but 3d floored me – big penny-drop moment on reading DT’s hint. Didn’t remember the 19d wedding but bunged in the answer anyway. All in all, very enjoyable and testing for me. Thank you Giovanni and DT.

  7. Giovanni, you once again gave us a fun run with just enough challenge to retain interest – TVM. The original Sultan in 5d escaped me and I couldn’t parse 19d as I usually think of the longer word for the Promised Land. My Fav was 27a. Thanks for hints DT.

  8. 3* /4* from me for this thoughtful and enjoyable Giovanni puzzle. A good clue mix and nicely challenging on this cold morning. Several good clues, but I think I will go with 3d as my favourite. I must admit I went the REM route for 21a, rightly or wrongly.

    Thanks to The Don and a pressurised DT.

  9. Some nice anagrams and very enjoyable – good fun!

    Off to the Olympic Stadium tonight to see West Ham v Leicester – I must be a masochist – if it goes against West Ham, as I expect, things could turn very ugly!

  10. Found this one fairly gentle but very enjoyable. 1/4 for me.

    Knowing nothing about computers and not having a BRB, I thought R.E.M. was just another type of memory and as it was accepted online last night, I didn’t think anything more about it!

    5d very funny as was 27a. It’s a pity A & E didn’t do a better job.

    Thanks to the Don and DT.

  11. There seems to be more general agreement on the rating front today,a **/**** for me.
    I assumed like Malcolm R that REM memory was Rapid Eye Movement caused by the ‘dreaming memory ‘ sounds a bit ‘Daliish’ but best I could come up with.
    Anyway good end to the week, difficult anagrams and good surface, 3d was a bit obscure but I suppose it worked, quite clever really-last in.
    Liked 27a, don’t think I’ve seen it before.
    Thanks setter and DT, test nicely balanced!

  12. Great clue at 3d which was my last one in. I too questioned whether Random Eye Movement could be classed as memory but satisfied myself with the thought that R.E.M really ought to be consigned to memory. Thanks to Giovanni and also to Peter.
    This appeared in today’s newspaper.

    ‘We’ve got two dances this week. Our routine is the Argentine tango and everyone has to take to the floor at the same time in a “Paso Doble-thon”. Giovanni’s been worried as we’re a day behind in training.
    Paso Doble and Giovanni. What on earth is going on?

    1. Might have to break the habit of a lifetime and watch that one! I suppose DG will want to be the matador and Dulcie will make a superb partner – wonder whether Rick is taking the part of the bull or the cape?

  13. The excellent anagrams made this less tricky for me. The legendary lady detained me longer than she should have because I knew her but I could not get RADA out of my head. Managed to derive 24d and 9d from the clues but both the fish and the marriage venue were new to me (Gretna Green, Vegas or Reno were the venues that I know). I enjoyed several clues. 3d, 5d and 25d but 27a was my favourite.

  14. Definitely a user friendly end to the week, with a few smilies to brighten up the day. I would agree with the hints ranking. ‘REM’ was a bit puzzling (but I thought the rapid eye movement solution might perhaps hold a somewhat ‘stretched’ connection with memory). 13a was temporarily delayed by placing ‘RADA’ as a possible component. Thanks to all concerned.

  15. I danced about a bit filling in this one so not a straightforward solve.
    Like Malcolm R, it took a long time for me to see the 1a anagram (silly girl!) and that particular wedding venue in 19d was far from being my first thought – should have remembered it was a DG puzzle! Got it in the end by coming up with the game and working backwards.
    Must admit I was quite happy with REM sleep in 21a but good of the Don to pop in and admit his error.

    Top three spots going to 1&27a plus 3d.

    Thanks to DG and to the 21a man – don’t do anything awful to your back today!

  16. Still don’t understand 3d, what are EIR & EIIR. I tried googling them but got nowhere.
    Apart from that, very good puzzle albeit I had to Google Cana in 19d to see what it had to do with a wedding. Should have known it was a religious clue!
    Thx to all

    1. The regnal ciphers of Elizabeth the First and Elizabeth the Second – BOTH (of whom could be called) ER

  17. 21a is strictly wrong. Memory consists of Rom, Ram, prom, EPROM but not REM. But, a nice little puzzle with Cain and the wedding feast of Cana,

    1. If you read the hints, and Giovanni’s apology, you see it is more than ‘strictly’ wrong

  18. As others have said, some very good anagrams and another enjoyable Friday puzzle, which was a pleasant distraction from my earlier dental surgery.

    Favourites for me were 1a, 17a and 3d. Presumably yet another apology will appear in tomorrow’s paper regarding 21a.

    Thanks to Giovanni and to DT, and a good weekend to all.

  19. I found I was all over the grid filling in answers for this puzzle. Good challenge with 27a being my favourite. The REM bit in 21a didn’t bother me as I put it down to setter’s licence and swiftly moved on. 2/4* overall.
    Thanks to the Don, and to DT for the review.

  20. Another interesting puzzle. Just into ** time and **** for satisfaction in its solution. I’m glad l still remember 1950s Sunday School, though! I particularly enjoyed 3d and 27a. Thanks to the Don, and to DT.

  21. Think I made this more difficult than it was, quite a few words I was not that familiar with needed to complete. A good Friday challenge nonetheless. 21a went in without a thought until l I’ve just read the blog, not an issue for me? However, sure other bloggers understand the clue better than I do?

    Clue of the day 15a

    *** / ***

    With thanks to DT and the setter.

  22. Nice crossword no problems 😬 **/**** Liked 3d (very clever) , 7d and 15 & 17a Thanks to DT and to Giovanni for yet another puzzle that was clever but solveable 😃

  23. Was not on the right wavelength at all with this so it took me ages.
    Needed the hint for 1a as I missed the anagram indicator, silly me.
    Do not think I would have ever worked out 5d off my own bat.

    Thanks to Giovanni and to Deep Threat.

  24. So there are some advantages in not being very computer savvy. We happily accepted REM in 21a without question. Pleasant solve that all went together smoothly.
    Thanks Giovanni and DT.

  25. A bit late today, I’ve got a PhD in frittering time away.
    My hours spent chapelling at CofE boarding school has paid off at long last!
    I found this very satisfying and enjoyable, until I only had 1a and 3d left. I struggled and struggled, even though I knew 1a was an anagram. Eventually I used electronic help, and then 3d fell with an almighty THUD. I have to say that was very clever and was my absolute fave.
    Thanks to Giovanni and DT.

      1. I think you’ll enjoy it, bit different style but it all fits together in the end. The sequel is “My Grandmother Says to Say She’s Sorry”, also very good.

  26. Another enjoyable outing, restored my confidence after yesterday’s horror.
    There did seem a lot of anagrams today.
    I bunged in 3d, very clever once I had read the hint.
    I had not come across the answer to 27a before.
    As an IT man I really should have spotted the REM thing, I just assumed it was another form of memory.
    Thanks all.

  27. This never felt like an easy solve, but I managed to finish within ** time, so let’s go with the clock. I didn’t know the fish, and fortunately solved online so the (very rare) error was fixed by the time I got round to solving it. As enjoyable as ever from the Don.

  28. Oh this was a relief after yesterday. I had to work at it to get to the finishing post, but very satisfying. Didn’t know the fish in 24d, and put in estates for 5d, and that held me up. Deep Threat’s hints sorted that out, thank you.

  29. Enjoyable puzzle today that I didn’t get round to looking at until after a trip to the sculpture park. 3d and 5d “both” held me up but the “din”
    When the penny dropped was audible for miles. They take joint favourite clue for taxing me.

    Thanks to DT and Giovani and CS for the revision which came before I got to look at the puzzle today.

  30. As is usual for a Friday a very entertaining puzzle from ‘the Don’. It took me far too long to completely accept that what I’d put in for 3 down was correct, because I’d become almost totally stuck with 2 down & 1 accross, which were my last ones in. Thanks to Giovanni and to DT for enlightenment with 2 down.

  31. I thought that 14d was going to be WHALE (Island) until we got a checking letter from 16 across. Could’ve worked!

  32. This one was very good, but not quite excellent as is usual from G. 21a was a simple mistake, proving that even these setters are mere humans. I didn’t even notice till I read the blog. But it does make you wonder how the DT crossword editor and co-editor miss things like this? 2.5* / 3*.

  33. Didn’t know what the question was in 11a but guessed it had to do with a certain Daisy. Still none the wiser.
    The memory didn’t cause me any problems considering the amount of acronyms used in your language.
    3d absolute favourite. Made me laugh out loud.
    Thanks to the Don and to DT for the review.

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