DT 28988 (Hints) – Big Dave's Crossword Blog
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DT 28988 (Hints)

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 28988 (Hints)

The 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

1a    Frenchwoman assembled sandwiches in the morning … (6)
A four-letter word meaning assembled or created around (sandwiches) the abbreviation for morning

4a    … Parisian is eating load — it’s a national delicacy (8)
The French (Parisian) for “is” around (eating) a load

 

11a    Change direction in wood to get hands warmer (5)
Start with a small wooded area and change the direction of its second letter – at first I thought this should have been “hand warmer” but the answer can be a verb as well as a noun

15a    Morally cleaner needs to get round the heartless innkeeper (8)
An adjective meaning morally cleaner around T[h]E without its middle letter (heartless)

18a    Lions perhaps face to face, caged in so disconnectedly (8)
The type of creatures of which lions are an example (perhaps), one reversed and one forward (face to face) inside (caged in) SO from the clue

25a    Grand to start with, then more ruffled, one goes slowly downhill (7)
The initial letter (to start with) G[rand] followed by an adjective meaning with more ruffs or frills (more ruffled)

27a    Lodge attendance is given with mystical sign (9)
The attendance at an event for which admission is charged followed by a mystical sign (of the Zodiac)

29a    Small lock causes anxiety (6)
S(mall) followed by a lock of hair

Down

1d    Timidity and confusion about broken knee (8)
Some confusion around an anagram (broken) of KNEE

3d    Million British pounds put in cannot offset peak of continental Europe (4,5)
M(illion) followed by B(ritish) and the symbol for pound sterling inside an anagram (offset) of CANNOT

5d    After little time, however, good person reverses change of heart (6,8)
A six-letter short period (little) of time followed by a word meaning however and the reversal of our usual good person

7d    The last king taking in princess for good of Tyneside (7)
Start with the name of the last king of the UK and replace the (second) G(ood) with the shortened name of Crosswordland’s favourite princess

8d    Clothing style drew the old (3-3)
… “the old” in Crosswordland is an old word for the!

9d    Dancing bear that sits on royal, amazingly (14)
An anagram (dancing) of BEAR THAT followed by an adjective meaning royal

16d    Fancy a drink? ‘Pronto!’ (4,1,4)
A charade of a verb meaning to fancy, the A from the clue and a drink gives a phrase meaning ‘pronto!’ or quickly

17d    Dark, like a low-budget movie? (8)
… a movie made without any expensive actors

19d    One keeps a sleeping partner at arm’s length (4,3)
One of these keeps the partner with whom one is sleeping an arm’s length away!

24d    Bolt from public school when head’s absent (5)
Drop the initial letter (head) from the name of a famous public school

The Crossword Club is now open.


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The Quick Crossword pun: kitsch+inns+zinc=kitchen sink – thanks to those who pointed out that the pun was spread over three answers


49 comments on “DT 28988 (Hints)

  1. Great crossword with so many fantastic clues so wrong to pick one favourite .
    What a start to the weekend .

    Thanks to everyone and special praise to the Setter .

  2. 2.5*/3.5*. Very pleasant and not too taxing, which is just as well with an MPP and NTSPP to be tackled later.

    I’m not convinced that the definition in 2d is 100% accurate mathematically but I guess it can be just about be valid at a stretch cruciverbally. I can’t say more than that without being consigned to the naughty corner.

    Like BD with 11a, I wondered if it should have been “hands’ warmer” or “hand warmer” but a visit to my BRB confirmed all was well.

    4a, 18a, 26a, 27a & 3d were all jostling for a position on my podium.

    Many thanks to the setter and to BD.

    P.S. Are innkeepers ever heartless?

    1. RD, 2d. I think it’s OK as a noun, but not an adjective. Can I say that much without being consigned?

  3. A nice puzzle, not too difficult with good/very good clues giving a pleasing solve. 11a: yes, it’s definitely a verb! I’ve ticked 26a, 28a, 7d and 9d, with particular favourite. 2.5* / 3*

  4. Good fun, pleasantly straightforward and enjoyable. Perfect for a Saturday morning. 18a was my COTD fro many worthy contenders. I agree the pun is the first three clues in the Quickie.

    Many thanks setter and BD.

  5. This one is way over my poor disheveled brain. Not even any decent anagrams and some quite cryptic hints.
    Managed about half, will have another go later perhaps.
    ****/**
    Thx to all

  6. Off to a quick start, then a slow middle, with a quick finish for completion at a fast canter, helped by some oldies but goodies and a couple of, almost word for word, recent repeats – 2.5*/3*.

    Candidates for favourite – 11a, 27a, and 17d – and the winner is 27a.

    Thanks to the setter and BD.

  7. The clues today were well constructed and often quite wordy, which helped to misdirect yours truly at times. I found some quite absorbing and challenging, particularly 15a, 25a, 9d. There were many straightforward clues to keep things well balanced. Altogether very enjoyable so thanks to the setter and to BD for the hints.

  8. As RD said – this was a nice warm-up in preparation for the battles ahead!

    I gave podium places to 4,18,26&27a plus 16&17d.

    Thanks to our setter and to BD for the club.

  9. * I’ve just found this clip on YouTube and simply had to share it with somebody. It’s Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper singing Shallow, live at the Oscars. There are some incredible, powerful, moving vocals from Lady Gaga at the piano in the second half of the song. What a performer!

    1. I’m glad someone likes it. I didn’t, and my dog howled so much I had to turn it off. Yet another film I won’t be watching – Judy Garland must be turning in her grave.

      1. Strange, I didn’t like it either, we must be the only two in the world. I didn’t watch the Oscars but they’ve played it nonstop since.

        1. Three of us. We didn’t watch either but it has been all over the news. We are never likely to see the film. Not keen on remakes.

  10. This one worked for me and made a grand start to the weekend. Many thanks to all involved.

  11. Excellent Saturday lunchtime puzzle, with lots to think about and a few to groan about. 22d was the last in, took the entire Dob family an embarrassingly long time. Dur.
    Thank you setter and Big Dave.

      1. 22d is the only one I haven’t got,flummoxed. What am I missing (besides brain cells)

  12. Not had much to say this week. Busy at work and not much to add to what esteemed bloggers and contributors have said. Same today. A quick start and some that required a bit more thought but finished over a pot of coffee at Betty’s with mum. 7d fave with this marra. Thanks BD and setter. NTSPP AND MPP to go. Yay for the weekend.

  13. Morniing all.
    I wondered about 2d too but I think I got it right. I spelled 18a wrong, I often do with those types of words, but eventually realised my mistake. Was going in entirely the wrong direction with 25a and then the penny dropped.
    Can’t really name a favourite. Ther are all clever.

  14. I really enjoyed this. I found it difficult to unravel some, e.g., 11a and 18a, but when I did, couldn’t think why I’d made it so difficult.
    Lots of great stuff, I think fave was 18a. Miracle, I remembered King Edward!
    Thanks to our Saturday setter, loved it, and to BD for the hints and tips.

    Anyone remember Paul Gallico? I just read The Snow Goose again and had forgotten what a beautiful novella that was. I recommend it.

    1. Great book.
      Brilliant album also by a group in the early 70’s called Camel.
      I think Paul Gallico also wrote “The Posiedon Adventure”, from memory.

      1. Yes, and Mrs. ‘Arris Goes to Paris, Thomasina, Ludmilla, I could go on. I loved his books, just glad I came across him again.

  15. I started well but then slowed up and laboured through the rest. No real reason for it; all the clues were quite ‘gettable’. Oh well.
    18a appealed to me.
    Thanks to the setter, and to BD for the hints.

  16. Thanks to the setter and to Big Dave for the hints. A very enjoyable puzzle, that I found quite tricky. Not sure if I have the right answer for 13a? Last in was 25a. I liked 20a, but my favourite was 26a. Was 3*/4* for me.

  17. Great crossword ***/****. Some wonderful clues. LOI was 20a, verry silly miss. COD was 7d. Thanks to all.

  18. This was a fun puzzle without any 6d. Surely a sleeping partner in 19d can be any distance away not necessarily at an arm’s length. 8d is hardly a clothing style. My Fav was 22d. Thank yoy Mysteron and BD.

  19. A good puzzle that I found to be a lot trickier to the south than it was to the north. 18ac in particular took me quite a while to untangle.

  20. A very enjoyable crossword with some brilliant clues that took me from canter to stop & back again.
    More like this Mr Lancaster please!
    Favs 9d& 18a , 2.5*/4.5*

  21. A really enjoyable crossword with some brilliant clues that took me from canter to full stop & back again.
    More like this please Mr Lancaster.
    Favs 9d& 15a,, 2.5*/4.5*
    Many thanks to setter & BD

  22. A great crossword with some brilliant clues that took me from canter to full stop & back again.
    Favourites 9d & 15ac,, 2.5*/4.5*
    More like this please Mr Lancaster!
    Grateful thanks to setter & BD
    As a postscript I have had a shocker of a time to get this posted tonight,,,, hope it makes it this time!

  23. **/****. Very enjoyable solve with some clever clues. Favourites were 13&18a. Thanks to the setter and BD.

  24. Appearing here in the last ten minutes of the day just to say hello – to no one – and say I liked this Sat puzzle. Too busy to tackle it earlier. 2.5/3 for me last one down was 22d (as with others). Thanks Dave and setter. Nighty-night.

  25. Assuming I got it right 22d did not cause me too much trouble. Unfortunately it is one of those where I suspect there could be another (correct) answer. I suppose it is because if I am right I don’t necessary connect the answer with “passages”. Loved 18a and 19d. Super crossword for Saturday albeit done by me before The Archers on Sunday morning.

  26. Decided to do this on Sunday morning instead of Saturday due to work commitments. My biggest problem was carelessly spelling 4a incorrectly so was subsequently held up in the NE for a while where I needed the hint for 8d to get over the line.
    Lot’s of penny dropping moments such as 17 and 22d plus 25a so they occupy my personal podium.
    Many thanks to setter and to Big Dave.

  27. This is the first crossword that I’ve had time to do since Thursday – thought I’d do this one before tackling today’s.
    The MPP can wait for a little while and since I know that I don’t have a hope of managing the NTSPP I’ll give that a miss this week.
    I really enjoyed this Saturday crossword and I think it’s all been said by now so will just add a couple of bits.
    Most of it seemed pretty straightforward until it all went wrong in the bottom left corner – couldn’t get 22d for ages and I’m embarrassed to say just how long it took me to see why the last three words of the clue for 23a were relevant! Oh dear!
    With thanks to the setter and to BD.

  28. Despite comments above, still don’t see how 27a works, especially with its Masonic undertones…
    Many good ones and others that needed a few letters to clear the way…26a was clever.as was 5d. Thanks to BD for a crucial hint.
    Reading above, does anyone like Shostakovich?

  29. Was I the only solver who was unable to finish 8d? Not that I follow fashion. And yes, I like Shostakovich, one of my favourites.

    1. Oh dear! Spelling error in 4a. Mr Meigh would not have been pleased. Puzzle now finished.

  30. 2*/4*…
    liked 18A (lions perhaps face to face, caged in so disconnectedly);
    entered the correct answer for 13A, but do not quite understand the wordplay-have to wait for the full review, I suppose.

  31. Took 15 minutes to get the the first clue, with ‘er indoors saying “could 24d be ???????”. Did the rest in 30 minutes. Bizarre. Brains just kicked in. Make that 5 who won’t be watching. Fed up with autotune on modern songs.

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