DT 29043 – Big Dave's Crossword Blog
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DT 29043

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 29043

Hints and tips by Krusty The Clown

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BD Rating – Difficulty tbaEnjoyment tba

These hints and tips have been created lovingly to help those of you who may need help to solve a couple of clues or to understand why an answer is what it is. Usually a clue consists of two parts. 1. A definition, which is usually at the beginning or end of a clue. 2. Wordplay which tells what to do to solve the clue. The hints and tips help with the wordplay of the clues. Definitions are underlined. Some hints are illustrated. These illustrations may or may not have a bearing on understanding the clue.

Please leave a comment telling us what you thought.

Across

1a    Decline visit joining planter? (2,2,3)
GO TO POT: A phrase meaning deteriorate through neglect can be wrought out of the wordplay by using two words meaning to visit someone or something or somewhere followed by what a gardener might use to plant seeds or seedlings or small trees or beans or peas or whatever in

5a    Covered entrance to building of international company by harbour (7)
PORTICO: The abbreviations for International and Company sit after a synonym for a harbour where ships might load or unload either goods or passengers

9a    Fine golf article (5)
THING: A word synonymous with fine or lean precedes the phonetic alphabet letter indicated by the word golf

10a    I can go on and on about European travelling from place to place (9)
ITINERANT: Begin with the letter I which our generous setter has gifted to you. Add a word similar to can as in a can of Heinz Cream Of Tomato Soup or a can of Baked Beans. Throw in the abbreviation for European and finish off with a word meaning to go on and on speaking or shouting in an angry impassioned manner

11a    Opposite view of expert (4,2,4)
FACE TO FACE: SPLIT 5,2,3 we have a word meaning a particular aspect of something followed by the word OF which our overly generous setter has given us for free. This is then followed by a person who excels at a particular sport or other activity. Incidentally this expert appears within the letters of first word of the answer. How strange

12a    Tube stop (4)
STEM: A double definition. The first being the stalk of a plant, the second being being the stopping of a liquid like blood

14a    Enlisted man is in play (7,5)
PRIVATE LIVES: This three-act play which was written in 1930 by Noel Coward can be found by placing a word synonymous with the word is after a lowly member of the armed forces. (Noel Coward once sent a Christmas Card to Gerald Durrell who I met outside The Courthouse Inn In St Aubin where I also met a college contemporary who was digging for a deadman in the harbour the year before the Fastnet race disaster)

18a    A free hand got by revolutionary bishop, in association with a knight, earlier (5,7)
CARTE BLANCHE: To solve this clue we need several things suggested by the clue. A bit like a recipe
Here we go

  • A revolutionary hero used regularly by Cryptic crossword setters. Actually, his nickname, his real first name was Ernesto
  • An association of manufacturers or suppliers with the purpose of maintaining prices at a high level and restricting competition.
  • The abbreviation for bishop
  • The letter A from the clue, another gift from our munificent setter
  • The abbreviation for a knight in chess notation

Now put these five ingredients into the order suggested by the clue. Alternatively, you could just read the first three words of the clue and write the answer in without the rigmarole [But then you can’t say that you solved the clue, only that you guessed the answer!  BD]

21a    ‘Be-Bopa-Lula’, in part, a gem (4)
OPAL: The answer here is hidden within the words of the clue which contains a song title from pre-history which may well have been enjoyed by the prehistoric people mentioned in the previous two clues.

For those of you, like me, to whom Gene Vincent is one of the greatest rock’n’rollers of all time, here is the real thing!  I was lucky enough to see Gene perform live a couple of times.  BD

22a    New article probing school exam is fair (2,3,5)
ON THE LEVEL: The abbreviation for New together with an article or determiner (which I used at the beginning of this explanation) sits nicely within a formal school exam. I sat five of these and was pleased with my results which spelled F U D G E.

25a    One who leaves a lasting impression on one? (9)
TATTOOIST: A cryptic definition of one who inks permanent words or images into the skin of others

26a    Proprietor‘s depressing experience missing daughter (5)
OWNER: Remove the abbreviation for daughter from a dispiriting or depressing experience or factor.

27a    Artist in African country beginning to explain travesty (7)
CHARADE: Place a member of the Royal Academy (artist) inside a landlocked North African country. Finish off with the initial letter of the word explain

28a    Fail to benefit from moving to Seoul (4,3)
LOSE OUT: The first anagram of the day (moving) TO SEOUL

Down

1d    Start to dismount (3,3)
GET OFF: A double definition both easily solved

2d    Short jerky motion of tense sorceress (6)
TWITCH: Begin with the abbreviation for Tense. Add a sorceress. When shall we three meet again? Did I see this yesterday? No, I did not. I saw something very similar at 25 across.

3d    Mature artist put under pressure to produce an exciting book (4-6)
PAGE-TURNER: continuing with the last century theme we have a painter who died in 1851. He follows a verb meaning to mature which itself follows the abbreviation for pressure     

4d    First of items nicked by the female pickpocket? (5)
THIEF: This most generous of setters has gifted us three fifths of the answer. Use the word THE from the clue. Add the abbreviation for female. Insert the initial letter of the word items

5d    Royal initially touched on American university (9)
PRINCETON: Begin with a member of royalty. Which one. The son of a king and queen. Add the initial letter of the word touched. Finish off with the word ON which is yet another gift from the setter. Our cup runner over.

6d    Authentic-sounding Highland dance? (4)
REEL: This highland dance sounds like a word meaning authentic

7d    Idle at home, one taking in ITV broadcast (8)
INACTIVE: An anagram (broadcast) of ITV sits within the name of the card representing the number one in a deck of cards. Together they follow a two-letter word meaning at home

8d    Choose one film for glass half-full type? (8)
OPTIMIST: A three- letter word meaning to choose is followed by the letter that looks like the number one. This is followed by a synonym of the word film. Not one we watch at the cinema, but a cloud of tiny water droplets suspended in the atmosphere at or near the earth’s surface that limits visibility

13d    Says yes to acquiring assembly room for a feast day (3,7)
ALL HALLOWS: Place a four- lettered assembly room inside the plural of a verb meaning to let (someone) have or do something.

15d    Card from servant enclosing note, ‘in love at last’ (9)
VALENTINE: This servant is a man’s personal male attendant, who is responsible for his clothes and appearance. He needs the abbreviation for note inserting somewhere about his person. Add the word IN which again has been donated to us by the setter. Finish off with the final letter of the word love

16d    A cold potato dish, constant problem (8)
ACROSTIC: Begin with the letter A from the clue. Add the abbreviation for cold. Add a Swiss dish of grated potatoes formed into a small flat cake and fried. Add the abbreviation for constant

17d    Male coming in to make a light meal (5,3)
CREAM TEA: begin with a word meaning to make as God did with the world according to Genesis. Add the letter A from the clue and insert the abbreviation for Male. The result is a charming British tradition

19d    Constant, therefore all the same (4,2)
EVEN SO: Two synonyms are all that is required here. One meaning constant and one meaning therefore

20d    Left in charge, tippler’s opening red wine (6)
CLARET: This omnipresent red wine (it has appeared in a lot of puzzles lately) can be made by inserting the abbreviation for left into a word meaning in charge of (a child possibly) and adding the opening or initial letter of the word Tippler. Or you could bung some red grapes into a bin with some water, yeast and maybe a bit of sugar and wait while fermentation takes place.

23d    Very warm, the Spanish inn (5)
HOTEL: Start with a word meaning very warm. Add the Spanish word for the. Book in add enjoy a few days away.

24d    Somewhere to sit, to date unfinished (4)
SOFA: A phrase split 2,3 meaning unfinished needs to be unfinished by the removal of its last letter


Quickie Pun: watt+shout=watch out! (There’s A Humphrey About)


38 comments on “DT 29043

  1. A very Monday-ish offering – only paused really to groan at Wine of the Month and remark on the fact that you don’t hear about a 5a much these days and then it turns up here today and in another place

    Thanks to the setter and to the Clown

  2. A fairly straightforward puzzle (**)but quite intriguing and enjoyable. The only stumbling block was the 27ac/16d combination. The former, I looked up in the thesaurus and was surprised at the synonym that formed the answer. After that 16d fell into place. Iliked 1a, 25a and 13d. Many thanks to the setter and to MP for the hints. The Gene Vincent clip brought back fond memories of seein him sing it live more years ago than I care to remember.

  3. A very pleasant and enjoyable start to my work week, with the proscribed term almost coming into play, completed at a fast gallop – 1.5*/3.5*.

    Candidates for favourite – 14a, 18a, and 3d (even though it’s an oldie but goodie) – and the winner is 14a.

    Thanks to the setter and GMoLI.

  4. A pretty straightforward Monday offering. I wobbled a little, trying to get a roastie into 16d, and couldn’t see 18a even with all the checkers until a little voice told me that it looked a bit French.

    Many thanks to the setter and the Clown.

  5. A very light Monday offering but good fun. My only issue was parsing 11a….clever clue. The couple of relative (to me) obscurities were very generously clued so eminently gettable.
    11a, 3 and 19d make my podium while 21a gets “the most obvious lurker ever” prize. 1.5/3*

    I’ll save reading MP’s review ’til later, I’m sure it’ll be generously sprinkled with his usual dry wit but will thank him in advance and of course the setter.

  6. The usual excellent monday puzzle great variety of clues, some to get the brain working and write ins.
    Favourite for me 16d and 10a. The grockles are arriving here so its out with the cones to stop them blocking our lane, rant iver for this year.
    Thanks to Setter and the clown.

  7. 0.5*/2.5*. Very light but pleasant diversion. The school exam in 22a may not be familiar to younger solvers. I think it was phased out in the 80s. 11a was my favourite and I enjoyed unravelling 18a even though the surface was a little odd.

    Many thanks to Mr Ron and to MP.

    1. The GCSE replaced the other exam for the UK in 1987. Overseas students continued to do the older exam for some time.

  8. We will be having a 17d later today. Many thanks to the setter and Krusty.

  9. An extremely quick solve for me today, with nothing remotely obscure. My COD was 22a, with 14a, 13d, 15d & 16d close behind. Thanks to setter for some good bank holiday Monday entertainment and Krusty for the music. :-)

  10. No great problems today in an enjoyable if soon finished puzzle.
    Just one point, why in 9a is Fine Thin? There is nothing in the BRB giving either as a synonym for the other.
    Thx to all
    **/***

    1. According to my BRB, one of the meanings of fine is ‘slender’. A fine hair is thin.

        1. Thin material/fine material
          Thin wire/fine wire
          Thin line/fine line
          Need I go on….?

  11. Straightforward start to the week only held up by looking for a 5 letter African country to go with RA. I missed the initial E-one of the perils of bunging in without fully understanding the clue. I was guilty of similar with 18a too. Thanks to Krusty and setter.
    Thanks again for the Steve Tilston Slip Jiggs and Reels clip . A fave of mine.

  12. A rapid solve which I feel sure will prompt someone to use the disallowed phrase sooner or later. There were several clues where I did not need to work out before inserting the answer which reduces the enjoyment somewhat. No particular favourite although 18a was fun to deconstruct.

    Thanks to our Monday setter and to MP.

    1. Even though there should be a couple of easier clues to get a start, the clues ought to be enjoyable but not so obvious that it was a waste of time compiling them. As for ‘an oldie but a goodie’ (an earlier reference to 3D) I have never used any clue that I know to have been used before (unless it was one I had written myself and the deadline was imminent!)

      These are the sort of clues I like to write. There are far too many cryptics using multi ‘initially’ and ‘at first/last’ type of letter-indicators in the same puzzle for my liking.

  13. 14a has 3 acts, I believe. I saw it about 45 years ago and remember 2 lines: ” Don’t quibble, Sybil”, and “Very flat, Norfolk”.

    1. Interestingly I was named after the Amanda in this play. I had never heard of 16d before, otherwise it all went in OK. Thanks to all.

  14. Thanks to the setter and to Miffypops for the review and hints. A nice puzzle to start the week. I thought this was quite tricky in places. 16d was last in, I had a job parsing it until I remembered the dish. Favourite was 11a. Was 3*/3* for me.

  15. Quite a straightforward Monday solve although I admit to parsing 18a after the event and taking a while to see how 11a worked. The latter became my favourite.

    Thanks to our setter and to MP for the blog.

  16. Thanks setter and good old Krusty MP this was a fun puzzle 11a is I think very clever

  17. 1/2.5. Right up my street. 16d had to be but I have never associated this term with “problem”. Nevertheless thanks to the setter for a gentle start to the week and also to MP for the hints.

  18. I thought this was good fun, very friendly. I don’t need to tear my hair out to enjoy a puzzle.
    My fave was 14a, but there were many candidates. The potatoes in 16d are delicious, so that was another “like”.
    I needed the hint to get 11a, so thanks for that.
    Thanks to our setter for the Monday fun and to Herschel Shmoikel Pinchas Yerucham Krustofsky for the hints and pics.

  19. Could the video clips please be omitted. Sometimes it is necessary to play them before it is possible to move on to the next clue. They get in the way and are really quite a nuisance.

    1. We have never had that complaint before Derek. That is not how it works on my Desktop iPad or iPhone. The blog would be a poorer place without the additions

      1. I agree. I have to click on the start button, it never automatically starts.

  20. Worked my way through this with only a couple of hold-ups. Overall South was more straightforward than the North. Needed help to parse 11a bung-in. Don’t exactly think of 17d as being a “light” meal, as evidenced by MP’s hint illustration. Thank you Mysteron and MP.

  21. Good puzzle. Completed without pause. Last one in 16d after looking for anagrams of AC + Potato.

    1. I tried the same anagram. It was only when I answered 26A that I realized it wasn’t that.

  22. All pretty straightforward – a couple of minor hold-ups though.
    I admit to taking a bit too long to sort out 11a – it was what it had to be but I bunged it in and then went back later.
    Like Angellov I wouldn’t call 17d a ‘light meal’.
    I thought 14 and 18a were both pretty good.
    With thanks to today’s setter.
    Special thanks to our noble clown – doing the hints for a straightforward crossword is less fun than it is for a real little beast!

  23. 11a very clever. I admit to not parsing and thanks to MP for the hint. All went in very quickly apart from 17d and 18a which took a few minutes. The latter to remind me I should be doing my French revision for an exam tomorrow.. Favourites 25a and 3 8 13 and 17d. Thanks setter and MP. Is the cream tea from Devon or Cornwall? I always forget which way round it is.

    1. The one shown is from Devon – I wouldn’t dream of commenting further……………!

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