DT 28692 – Big Dave's Crossword Blog
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DT 28692

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 28692

Hints and tips by KiwiColin

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BD Rating – Difficulty **Enjoyment ****

Kia ora from Aotearoa.

Just one of us in the blogging chair again this week. This means that it is all put together with ‘hunt and peck’ typing which, although it is quite appropriate for a kiwi, does rather slow down the process. It is a good thing that because of the time differences we are not under pressure with deadlines.

On my walk this morning I encountered one of the researchers who is monitoring the godwit departures and learnt that there are still about 40 birds yet to leave. They can’t put it off much longer.

Mr Consistency Jay has delivered the goods once again including a rather good quickie pun.

Please leave a comment telling us how you got on.

Across
1a      Unlucky criminal searched around empty house (4,6)
HARD CHEESE: The empty house gives us the first and last letters of house and these are inside an anagram (criminal) of SEARCHED.

6a     Capital equipment must need adjusting at the outset (4)
RIGA: Equipment or apparatus is followed by the first letter (at the outset) of adjusting.

9a     Cheeky one taken in by caller — a person who’s not a real threat (5,5)
PAPER TIGER: The caller is an electronic device. It surrounds a word for cheeky or insolent and the Roman numeral one.

10a     Good deal, but hard work if starting late (4)
RAFT: Good deal here means a significant amount. A word for hard work loses its first letter.

12a     Garment worn by strong man regularly? (4)
TOGA: Alternate letters found in two words of the clue.

13a     Divulging secrets, and leaving (9)
SPLITTING: Double definition. The second is an informal word for leaving or departing.

15a     Best dress given to engineers for industrial plant (8)
REFINERY: Army engineers and a word used to describe one’s grandest clothes.

16a     Complete agreement sees son in marriage (6)
UNISON: The abbreviation for son is inside a marriage or joining together.

18a     Statistician — or a knowledgeable boxing type who’s socially inept (6)
ANORAK: A lurker hiding in the first four words of the clue.

20a     Coaches wear them out! (8)
TRAINERS: Another name for coaches and also the type of footwear they might be expected to wear.

23a     Letters left with house in Westminster (9)
LANDLORDS: The abbreviation for left, a synonym for ‘with’ and the Upper House at Westminster.

24a     Good copy, but yawn! (4)
GAPE: The abbreviation for good and copy or emulate.

26a     Criminal has no right to fiddle (4)
COOK: Remove the abbreviation for right from a general name for a criminal.

27a     Dish for passengers at sea? (4,6)
MAIN COURSE: A cryptic definition. The first word is a somewhat poetic one for the sea.

28a     Only the French like this to have precedence (4)
SOLE: The French definite article follows a word meaning ‘like this’.

29a      Films by spies worried prophets of doom (10)
PESSIMISTS: An anagram (worried) of SPIES and then films or clouds.

Down

1d     Faith invested in Telegraph operatives (4)
HOPE: A lurker found in the final words of the clue.

2d     Censure concerning degree of alcohol (7)
REPROOF: The two letters that mean concerning and how strength of alcohol mixtures in often expressed.

3d     Such theatrical demands caught everyone in the end (7,5)
CURTAIN CALLS: A word that is metaphorically used to signify ‘the end’, surrounds the cricket abbreviation for caught and a word for everyone.

4d     Ambassador‘s neglect during bad year (8)
EMISSARY: An anagram (bad) of YEAR surrounds a word for neglect or overlook.

5d     Balloons considerably on board ship (6)
SWELLS: Inside the abbreviation for a steamship we have considerably or ‘very much’.

7d     Letters inclined to favour the right (7)
ITALICS: A cryptic description of the font that is used in the paper version but not in the online version of the QUICK CROSSWORD to help solvers with the daily pun.

8d     Adversary who’s not against revolutionary (10)
ANTAGONIST: An anagram (revolutionary) of NOT AGAINST.

11d     Temporary worker in stable gets limited accommodation (8,4)
STANDING ROOM: Split the answer (5,2,5) to discover this temporary worker in stable.

14d     Fear parts of canal system may give such a shock (10)
DREADLOCKS: A word meaning fear and the canal feature typified at Teddington.

17d     Newspapers should cover hospital department awards (8)
PRESENTS: A word for newspapers generally, encloses a specialised department in a hospital.

19d     Private log — a terrible mistake (3,4)
OWN GOAL: Private or belonging to the speaker and an anagram (terrible) of LOG A.

21d     Former lovers must accept rent that’s rising comes to an end (7)
EXPIRES: A four letter word for former lovers surrounds the reversal of rent or tear apart.

22d     Scholar can expect to be keeping secret (6)
ARCANE: A lurker to be found in the first three words of the clue.

25d     Kid won’t finish these drinks (4)
TEAS: A word for kid or josh loses its last letter.

Several good ones to choose from for favourite but will plump for 23a as it took longer than it should have to read the right letters.

Quickie pun    star    +    term     +    hauteur    =    starter motor

47 comments on “DT 28692

  1. 10a was new to me so I was very grateful for a nudge in the right direction, but the rest took care of themselves with 11d the favourite.
    Thanks to KiwiColin and the setter, I’m off up the allotment!

  2. 2* / 5*. Another wonderful puzzle from Jay, which all fell into place smoothly except for two pesky 4 letter answers: 6a, on which I spent far too long trying to justify Lima before the penny finally dropped; and 25d, where the correct “kid” proved frustratingly elusive.

    My podium places go to 23a, 3d & 25d.

    Many thanks to Jay and the lone Kiwi.

    1. I also started thinking Lima for 6a since it is the more popular of the two capitals and, like the answer, it works with 7d and 8d.

    2. **/***. I did put Lima in and moved on without a further thought. Hmmm? The rest of the puzzle was very enjoyable with my favourites being 23&27a. Thanks to the setter and Colin.

  3. Another very pleasant and extremely enjoyable Wednesday solve, assisted by some oldies but goodies, completed at a fast canter – **/*****.

    Candidates for favourite – 18a, 11d, and 14d – and the winner is 14d by a nose.

    Thanks to Jay and the Single K.

  4. I got stuck on Lima for 6a too, but unfortunately still couldn’t fathom 7d until I saw the hint.

    Otherwise a very enjoyable puzzle.

    Thanks to the setter and to KiwiColin.

  5. 14d my favourite of many in this fine puzzle from Jay. The NE corner was last to yield, with 6a and 10a the final entries. Another wonderful Wednesday offering at the usual high standard, so 2* /5* from me overall.

    Thanks to the singular Kiwi and Jay.

  6. A gallopping start in the North which produced a false sense of security but gradually came to terms with the South. Needed nudges for 27a and 14d which then became joint Favs. Should know by now but failed to parse 23a thanks to thinking of epistles synonym. 14d illustration made me feel slightly nauseous – how to shampoo that lot?! Many thanks indeed Jay for a great puzzle and KiwiColin for your help.

  7. A real smiler of a puzzle although I did wonder whether the proliferation of informal language might trip up some of our overseas solvers.
    10a was the last to fall for me and I was also brought up short by the realisation that I actually didn’t know the definition of 22d.

    Ticks abound but I’ll stick to nominating 11&14d for the top places.

    Many thanks to Jay for the fun and to Colin K for the blog. With the strange weather patterns we’ve been experiencing, I’m not surprised to learn that some of those poor Godwits are undecided about when to commit to the long haul!

    1. Well, I did not really even notice too much informal language but I was puzzled by 18a as I had not heard that meaning for the word before.

      1. That was one of the answers I was referring to – I know it well as it is often applied to bird-watchers although perhaps more regularly to train-spotters. Basically, it is used to describe anyone who is sufficiently foolhardy to stand outside in the cold for hours on end waiting for that one great ‘spot’!

        1. Urban Dictionary

          Derogatory term, most frequently directed at people who obsessively pursue hobbies which consist almost entirely of gathering information about a favourite topic, generally a fairly benign and arcane device such as a specific type of computer.

          I can be a bit of an anorak myself where Bob Dylan is concerned

        2. 18a and its meaning as used here is something I have learned from this site. I don’t recall ever hearing it used for a nerd and even the garment is usually called a parka in NZ. I remember it in association with a classic pic of a train-spotter that I think Gazza first posted in a blog.

    2. Yes 18a stumped me. Assume it entered British slang after we left in 1982. For me it will always be the cosy, hooded jacket I wore as a child.

  8. I too headed west to Lima rather than heading east. Why when you assume a (wrong) answer is it so difficult to get it out of your mind?
    I rather liked 11d. Thank you to all involved for an enjoyable mental workout.

  9. Like Rabbit Dave the four letter clues troubled me for a while, but a super puzzle with 14 d being my absolute favourite. Thank you to Jay and the single setter.

  10. The usual high standard one has come to expect from Jay didn’t let us down! 3d was my top clue, and 2/4* overall.
    Thanks to Jay, and to the Lone Kiwi for the review.

  11. Agree with KiwiColin on a **/****, another excellent puzzle-getting spoiled ! Loved the paper tiger.
    Favourite 3d and liked the surface of 11d.
    Best quickie pun for a while, when I realised it was from three clues,not two.
    I think Jane’s description as ‘a real smiler ‘ sums it up nicely.

  12. Another corner from Jay. The references about sailing rather apt having just returned from a cruise. too many good clues for a favourite. Thanks to kiwi collin and Jay.

  13. One of the best Wednesday puzzles I’ve had the privilege to solve, take a well-deserved bow once again, Mr Mutch! Excellent anagrams, superb lurkers, terrific surfaces, it had everything that I look for in a puzzle and much more. For me, the best clues of a vintage bunch were 1a, 18a, 3d, 11d and 25d.

    Many thanks to Jay and to Colin.

  14. I’m glad I’m not alone. I had to put in Lima, I couldn’t think of anything else – obvious when you see it, of course. Apart from that, quite straightforward and very enjoyable. **/****. Lots of good clues. I will single out 6a, of course, 10a, 23a, 27a, 14d, 22d with 11d in first place.

  15. Poor today, when you cant get 16a with all the checkers, you know you are in trouble.
    Thanks all.

      1. Sounds like a plan, MP, though I get worried that if I try and remember something new, it may force something more important will pop out the other side, like how old I am or where I live?

  16. Loved all of this, so many good smiles.
    I never did get 18a; now, how on earth did that come to mean socially inept?
    Whenever I hear 1a I think of Terry Thomas.
    Hard to choose a fave, but 9a, 23a, 3d and 11d stood out.
    Thanks to Jay and KiwiColin for a lovely start to my morning.

    1. Merusa, I see that Jane was posting the answer to your question about 18a under #8 above while you were posting your comment!

      1. Yes, I saw that. I’m still baffled how you get from one to the other! Maybe ‘cos birdwatchers wear 18a?

    2. Urban Dictionary

      Derogatory term, most frequently directed at people who obsessively pursue hobbies which consist almost entirely of gathering information about a favourite topic, generally a fairly benign and arcane device such as a specific type of computer.

      I can be a bit of an anorak myself where Bob Dylan is concerned

  17. Thanks to Jay and to the 2 Kiwis for the review and hints. A very good puzzle as usual from Jay. Some very good clues. I found this very difficult, nearly missed the lurker in 18a. Missed the anagram in 8d. Needed the hints for 13&27a&11d, and to parse 22d. Favourite was 14d. Was 4*/4* for me.

  18. A very enjoyable puzzle as we have come to expect from Jay , and a great blog from KiwiColin.
    I saw a flock of about 50 thrush in a field today , all facing west , as gulls do when expecting rain.

  19. This was as excellent as Silvanus says.There are rather a lot of professions and personality traits today. Paper Tiger. Anorak. Landlord. Trainer. Cook. Pessimist. Emissary. Swell. Groom. Antagonist. Which one fits you? Thanks to Jay. Thanks to Kiwi Colin

  20. My favourite today was 27a..although I was held up for a little while trying to squeeze an anagram out of passengers!
    Thoroughly enjoyable puzzle.

    1. So did I! I had all the letters in circles, squares, triangles, eventually letting it go.

  21. Not straightforward for me by any means. Started well with West side then came unstuck with NE corner. Two problem clues at 6a / 10a and these the last two in although 10a is very obvious looking at the hints, 6a even now seems somewhat weak to me? Overall a good puzzle that was a game of two halves and for some clues I never felt quite on the radar. A Thursday Ray T to look forward tomorrow!

    Clues of the day: 1a / 14d

    Rating 3.5* / 3.5*

    Thank to 2K’s and Jay

  22. Feeling the general positive vibe. I marked 1a, 23a, 29a, 3d, 11d and 22d but could have added more.

    Thanks to the Kiwi and Jay, single and singular both.

  23. Morning all.
    I must have been very lucky when solving 6a as the possibility of LIMA never occurred to me. Perhaps it was ‘equipment’ being next to the definition that took my mind in the right direction.
    Weather forecast for the day is for periods of rain, some heavy, with cooler temperatures. Doesn’t look good for golf but it might persuade the godwits that it is time to go.
    Cheers.

    1. As soon as I see equipment, my brain goes to rig or gear, so that was no problem for me.

  24. Very enjoyable challenge from Jay, and grateful for the hints for KiwiColin. Stumped of course by 18a, had the wrong answer for 7d, and 6a never came to mind. Hard work today, but lovely clues and I got there in the end.

  25. An amusing little puzzle: 1*/4*. I loved 14d, and there were a couple of good lurkers. Thanks to Jay, and to the 1K.

  26. Pretty straightforward today, a * for difficulty, and fun while it lasted. Last in 7d followed by 16ac.

  27. Enjoyed this. Needed a hint or 2 in the east and as others struggled to find the right capital, as well as Lima I worried away trying to make something out of Quito. Thanks to letters 10 and 11. Going to have a stab at the toughie more in hope than expectation.

  28. Checked the trusted BRB for 9 and 10a.
    Thought 29a was an anagram of films and spies as I had three checked “s” and an “m”. Would have been such a mouthful that I quickly gave up.
    Loved the charade in 11d.
    Thanks to Jay and to kiwi Colin for the review.

  29. Enjoyable though not keen on clue to 10a. Re 18a is an anorak the sort of person who contributes to a crossword-solving forum?

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