DT 29121 – Big Dave's Crossword Blog
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DT 29121

by Miffypops  

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 29121

Hints and tips by Ulysses

+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +

BD Rating – Difficulty * – Enjoyment ***

It’s only a crossword. What more can be said? Well Big Dave noticed this. Take a look at the letters that form the top and bottom rows of the cryptic puzzle and then have a look at The Quickie Pun.

Please leave a comment telling us what you thought.

Across

7a    Mud, it’s spread across a sports ground (7)
STADIUM: Spread an anagram (spread) of MUD IT’S around the letter A from the clue. In Coventry we have one of these. The Ricoh. Named after the great Rico Rodriguez, the trombonist from Coventry’s very own group The Specials.

8a    New cure must contain trouble in country (7)
ECUADOR: Crosswordland’s very own word for trouble (stolen from the title of Shakespeare’s play set in Messina) is surrounded by an anagram (new) of CURE

10a    Following party, ring petite Cockney flower girl (9)
DOOLITTLE: Begin the word for a party favoured by crossword setters. Add the letter that looks like a ring or circle. Add the English translation of the French word petite. You should now have the surname of Eliza

11a    Clash with large family, foremost in Glasgow (5)
CLANG: Use a word denoting a large family (especially a large Scottish family) Add the initial or foremost letter of the word Glasgow

12a    Indicate lack of interest in Welsh rugby (5)
SHRUG: The answer lies hidden within the words of the clue. The small word in indicates this. When all else fails look for a lurker

13a    At end of flight, he and I in Paris examine returning A-listers? (3,3,3)
THE JET SET: A four part charade. 1. Use the final letter of the word flight. 2. Use the word HE form the clue. 3. Use the French word for I. 4 Use the reverse (returning) of a verb meaning to examine

15a    Los Angeles, less than clean (7)
LAUNDER: The initial letters of Los Angeles are followed by a word meaning less than or beneath

17a    Punishment in Cornish town not unknown (7)
PENANCE: Find yourself a Cornish Town. The one that Gilbert and Sullivan wrote an opera about will do. Remove the mathematical symbol for an unknown number as used in algebraic formulas

18a    Club official, person highly prized at close of year (9)
TREASURER: This person who is highly prized might be one such as Alan Bennet, Jonny Wilkinson or The Queen. They are known as national ********. Add the final letter of the word year

20a    Only about five crack (5)
SOLVE: Place a word meaning only around the Roman numeral for the number five

21a    Completely at home with everyone (2,3)
IN ALL: A two-letter word meaning at home is followed by a three-letter word meaning everyone

23a    Less important matter in fringe publication (4,5)
SIDE ISSUE: A word synonymous with fringe is followed by a word meaning a publication such as a newspaper. The first word here will be repeated later so keep it in mind

24a    Mouth complaint, being briefly sick after thick soup (7)
GUMBOIL: Begin with what in Cajun cooking is a spicy chicken or seafood soup thickened typically with okra or rice. Add two thirds of a word meaning poorly

25a    Regular payment in post, including gratuity (7)
STIPEND: welcome back to a crossword favourite of yesteryear. A word meaning a gratuity (as paid to a waiter or waitress at the end of a meal) sits inside a word meaning to post or forward something.

Down

1d    Stick with French red somewhere in Louisiana (5,5)
BATON ROUGE: The sort of stick used by the conductor of an orchestra is followed by the French word for red

2d    Up in old part of Yorkshire (6)
RIDING: Yorkshire was divided into three such parts which are also the words used to describe somebody astride a horse

3d    I take off from island with German ace, going over to Rome initially (8)
IMITATOR: A five part charade. Follow the instructions and all will be well. 1. Begin with the abbreviation of island. 2. Add the German word meaning with. 3. Add the abbreviation for ace. 4. Add the word TO from the clue. 5. Add the initial letter of the word Rome.

4d    Take out permit to enter Scottish river (6)
DELETE: Place a three-letter word meaning to allow inside the Scottish river that rises in The Cairngorms and meets the sea at Aberdeen

5d    Meal in Spanish city entertaining group of people, not British (8)
LUNCHEON: The Spanish city which sits on The Bernesga River includes a word meaning a group of people (or grapes or bananas) minus the abbreviation for British

6d    Woman protected by assumed name (4)
EDNA: This woman (famous for her inebriate state) sits nicely within the words of the clue as indicated by the words protected by

7d    Extremely amusing team parting company (4-9)
SIDE-SPLITTING: A word describing a team is followed by a word meaning parting company.

9d    Bishop, yes, and king, always on edge (5,8)
RIGHT REVEREND: The title given to a bishop especially in the Anglican Church can be formed by beginning with a word used to mean yes or OK. This is followed by the chess notation Latin abbreviation for a king. This is followed by a word meaning always and then a word meaning an edge or limit of something

14d    What might be worn by star having drinks? (10)
SUNGLASSES: The star here is the one at the centre of our solar system. It is followed by a word that could be considered synonymous with drinks or more so the containers of said drinks.

16d    Diana broadcast about total ban (8)
DISALLOW: The abbreviation of the name Diana is followed by a word meaning broadcast (especially of seeds) which contains a word meaning the total.

17d    Bliss is being included in pageant (8)
PARADISE: The word IS sits nicely inside another word for a pageant

19d    Whisper result, wrongly (6)
RUSTLE: Anagram (wrongly) of RESULT

20d    Strong drink for courage (6)
SPIRIT: A double definition. The drink here is alcoholic

22d    Money given to the poor members, reportedly (4)
ALMS: These members are limbs. The word reportedly suggests a homophone.

Quickie Puns:
Top line: bridle+sweets=bridal suites Now have a look at the letters that form the top and bottom rows of the cryptic puzzle. Clever stuff.
Bottom line: rapier+sentry. Not this week folks. Try again next week.

Blogged to the great Van Morrison’s Hymns To The Silence.

 

35 comments on “DT 29121”

  1. The rating of */*** given by Ulysses is the same as mine. A straightforward but fairly enjoyable puzzle, which was just as well as I didn’t feel up to much. I thought 13a and 9d were interesting clues, so those are my favourites. Many thanks to Ulysses and our mystery setter.

  2. An enjoyable solve – I did notice the same thing as BD. No particular favourites – my only marking on the page (back page of the paper again :yahoo: ) was ‘RD’ by 6d

    Thanks to the setter and our blogger whether he be Epic poem hero, novel title or an American President??

    1. Definitely not the American president. Possibly the epic poem. Saint Sharon thinks I am epic. Could be the book I have owned for forty odd years and never got past the first page.

      1. Three Quarks for Muster Mark

        I shall spare you the Tangerine Dream version but thanks for the hints which helped me over the line.

    2. Re 6d don’t see why we would need to disturb RD as the lady is lurking in the clue.

  3. I found this on the gentle side of err, gentle.
    My favourite was 17a. I think the BD rating is spot on. Many thanks to Ulysses for his usual entertaining blog and to the setter.

  4. All straight-forward enough for a Monday, but for some reason the SE corner held out into **/*** time. As a result, I will award COTD to 14d.

    Many thanks to all.

    And, no, I hadn’t spotted the pun link.

  5. I hadn’t noticed the similarities between the two crosswords until
    I read the top of this page. Very clever. This was a pretty straightforward Monday morning puzzle with 13a my favourite. Great fun.

    Thanks to our setter and to brave Ulysses.

  6. One might be tempted to use those proscribed three words to describe this very gentle start to the week. No particular favourites for me today.

  7. Pen could not keep up with my solving.
    So, say, half a * for difficulty.
    Many thanks to the setter and to Ulysses.

  8. A lovely start to the week with only a few causing me pause. Being a dentist, I quite liked 24a but my COTD is 17d.

    Grateful thanks to all concerned.

  9. No hold ups… till 16d which stopped me dead in my tracks. I had forgotten the required definition for ‘broadcast’. How silly was that? Sigh….
    The penny dropped eventually.
    The top line I hadn’t noticed of course… but how clever.
    Thanks to the setter and to the brave Ulysses.

  10. Thanks to the setter and Miffypops for the review and hints. I found this very straightforward until I was left with the last one, 5d. I could only think of supper for a meal, didn’t know the Spanish city and couldn’t think of the group. Comprehensively beaten. Favourite was 13a. Was 2*/3* for me.

  12. First read through was not at all welcoming but then 9d went straight in followed by the rest of the East and lastly the West. Hope I wasn’t alone in failing to notice the cryptic/quickie connection – neat. Too lazy to parse 3d and 16d bung-ins for myself but enjoyed fathoming my Fav 13a. Although it’s brief 22d surfaces nicely. Thank you Mysteron and MP.

  13. Flew through this one with hardly a stop for breath so must rate as * although *** for enjoyment .

    My COTD 14D .

    Regarding the punnies , “ swordsmanship “ – the older I get the better I used to be .

    Thanks to everyone

  14. Greetings from beautiful and sunny Canada.
    No real problems today apart perhaps from equating clang with clash which was a bit weak I thought.
    Pleasant start to the week without overtaxing the little grey cells.
    Thx to all
    */***

  15. Easy but enjoyable – for once didn’t have to consult hints. Favourites were 13a and 9d. Last one in was 16d. Like others missed synonym for broadcast. Thanks Ulysses and setter

  16. Do exactly as the man/lady tells you and you’ll solve this in no time. The ease of solving didn’t bother me one bit, the answers were so much fun.
    Some stood out, 13a, 9d, 24a, I could go on and on, but the whole puzzle pleased me, and, miracles, my brain is still in one piece!
    Thanks to whomsoever, I loved it, and to Ulysses for the entertaining hints and pics. Peace and love to all.

  17. How on earth did you spot Bridal Sweets in the main grid? A masterpiece of detective work!

  18. Yes, a nice, easy start to the week. This would have been a perfect day to tackle the Toughie, but of course, no Toughie on a Monday. Shame.
    Thanks MP and Mr.Ron

  19. I certainly had not spotted the letters in the top and bottom lines. Do not tend to look at those which don’t form words. Therefore I solved the pun and then looked at them. Ingenious setter and well-spotted BD. Very quick on train solve for me today. NE last corner in although it didn’t delay me. I do admit to finding a word that fitted 5d and parsed it after the event. Was not sure about the synonym in 19d but will now look with interest at the comments of the man with ever-changing names and the views of fellow solvers.

  20. Just the sort of puzzle I could cope with whilst hanging around to put things in, and take things out of the oven. Husband is mega miffed that the goodies have all gone in the freezer. Thank you setter and Miffypops. 24a was my favourite.

  22. I have said it before there is nowt wrong with an easy puzzle to start the week 😃**/*** Of course I did not spot the phrase in the top and bottom lines😳 Favourites 11a and 25a 😜 Thanks to MP, especially for the musical smorgasbord and of course to the Setter for easing us into the week 🤗

  23. Whilst this puzzle was not 7d it was still good fun & a rare treat for me to inform one and all this was a “read & right “ ….
    I would say 1*/3* also, but a pleasant start to my solving week!
    Grateful thanks to setter and our Heroic voyager for the review.

  24. Was a bit thrown after putting in a wrong answer to 20d (although first two cross checkers were OK). My word ending in “o” didn’t seem too bad to me! (See BRB).

  25. No doubt last as usual but a very enjoyable puzzle, solved whilst having my dinner. Thanks to all involved. I suppose I should let the dogs in now. I’d start earlier if I could.

  26. Noticed the Nina but not the connection.
    I never do the quickie unfortunately.
    Nice start to the week which didn’t take very long to complete.
    Thanks to the setter and to Ulysses for the review.

  27. Got thrown by your hint for 9 down with chess notation for king. This is K which doesn’t appear in the answer. The letter for king is R in this clue and my brow was furrowed for several minutes as I doubted my original inclination. A rare aberration I suspect. I love your blog nevertheless!

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