Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 2929
A full review by gnomethang
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This puzzle was published on 10th December 2017
BD Rating – Difficulty * – Enjoyment ****
Morning All! – THis was a pretty quick solve that contained the usual excellence. I particularly admire the way that Mr Greer picks a synonym and then immediately gets a surface reading that expolits the other meaning and confuses the solver.
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 Arrived with something for sale in legendary court (7)
CAMELOT – CAME for arrived and a LOT or something for sale at auction.
5a Communicate incoherently, say, after second page (7)
SPUTTER – Place UTTER for say after S(mall) and P(age).
9a English composer turned up with right instrument endlessly (7)
PURCELL – Reverse UP (it is turned) and then add R(ight) and the CELL(o) instrument endlessly – without the end letter.
10a Striking a couple of males in scene of fighting (7)
RAMMING – A from the clue and two M for males inside a RING or scene of boxing match.
11a What you’re doing that’s said to show irritation (9)
CROSSWORD – The second (cryptic) definition is a CROSS WORD used to show irritation.
12a Gave judgment — regretted embracing panel’s conclusion (5)
RULED – The concluding letter of (pane)L inside RUED or regretted.
13a Place in which she leaves this herd (5)
THIRD – Remove the SHE from THI (s he)RD to get a podium position/place.
15a Specialist medical subject involving oral examinations (9)
DENTISTRY – A cryptic definition – not for an exam but for the practice.
17a Misrepresentation of stalwarts that’s the final problem (4,5)
LAST STRAW – An anagram (misrepresentation) of STALWARTS.
19a Singular information in key source of notes about university (5)
DATUM – Place the key of D and an ATM (Automatic Telling Machine or source of banknotes) around U for University.
22a Party vote with opposition? (5)
BEANO – To vote with the opposition might cryptically be described as to ‘BE A NO’.
23a Warning about small article is what produces results (9)
CAUSATION – A CAUTION or warning around/about A from the clue and S(mall)
25a Fierce competition making artist copy, in a way (3,4)
RAT RACE – A charade of an RA (Royal Academician or artist) and TRACE – one way to copy a picture.
26a Bound to upset, surely (2,5)
An upset anagram of BOUND TO.
27a Like September of all months? Yes and no (7)
LONGEST – Whilst September enjoys the longest letter count of all monthsit is not the longest by days.
28a What’s central to smart lesson? That’s simple (7)
ARTLESS – A hidden word in the centre of sm ARTLESS on.
Down
1d Modest when holding power, act differently as one who doesn’t (7)
COPYCAT – COY/modest holds P for Power and is followed by an anagram (differently) of ACT
2d Ruin study on current for electrical engineer (7)
MARCONI – MAR for ruin then CON for study on top of I for current.
3d Sound clues for Northern city (5)
LEEDS – A homophone (sound) of LEADS or clues.
4d Hard to swallow food requested — not a piece of cake (4,5)
TALL ORDER – A hard to swallow story is a TALL story. Follow that with an ORDER of food.
5d Cut made by censor ultimately disrupting cast (5)
SHRED – Place the last letter in (censo)R inside SHED for cast/throw.
6d Admire run — scrambled single (9)
UNMARRIED – A scrambled anagram of ADMIRE RUN.
7d Activate call for better service, part of multiple delivery (7)
TRIPLET – A charade of TRIP/activate and a LET in tennis being a call to improve upon the first poor service.
8d Manipulate in lazy way, without flexibility (7)
RIGIDLY – When split as (3,4) we can read to RIG (manipulate) IDLY (in a lazy way).
14d Oldies act drunkenly, so put out of joint (9)
DISLOCATE – A similarly constructed anagram to the last couple – make an anagram (drunkenly) of OLDIES ACT . Nice surface reading though!.
16d Freshly minted coin in Pacific island (3,6)
NEW GUINEAU – A freshly minted (old) coin might be a NEW GUINEAU.
17d Progressive revised bill covering historical period (7)
LIBERAL – An anagram (revised) of BILL that is around (covering) an ERA or historical period.
18d Like some old people having skill in bridge (7)
SPARTAN – An old race of people. Place ART or skill inside a SPAN or bridge.
20d British union’s leader smothered in banal praise (7)
TRIBUTE – Place B(ritish) and the leader of the word U(nion) inside TRITE for banal.
21d Record times (7)
MINUTES – Two definitions – the record of a business meeting and also some periods of time.
23d Summit conference’s opening before holiday (5)
CREST – The opening letter of C(onference) before a REST or holiday.
24d Examination that involves studying books (5)
AUDIT – A cryptic definition where the books are the financial records in the vernacular.
Thanks as always to the setter – I’ll see you all tomorrow.