DT 29145 – Big Dave's Crossword Blog
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DT 29145

by Miffypops  

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 29145

Hints and tips by Yogi Bear

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BD’s Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***

As I am supposed to be ‘smarter than the average bear Boo Boo’ I will strive to be error free this week.

The bank account is suffering as the house renovation kicks in. The precision engineer in me gets great satisfaction from being precise. My Neanderthal side rejoices in the demolitions and rip outs. The gardener in me has enjoyed lifting and removing slabs and laying turf and cutting back the overgrowth. The rebel in me has enjoyed rerouting the gas supply and playing with the electrics. Who needs a certificate anyway?

The lawn tractor has had a £960 service and Saint Sharon has bought us both new iPhones and a new computer tower. I will be adding a JustGiving page in the near future. Please give generously

I suppose I ought to comment on today’s crossword. Well it is a crossword and it is cryptic. It fell together well but 6ac and 8d held out for a long time. Our setter has not been generous with food today. We have been put on a 29ac of 10ac. Last week we had two herbs, oregano and fennel and some fish (small fry) as pointed out by a regular commenter. I said this was neither the thyme nor the plaice for such comments.

Anyway, here we go two three four …

Please leave a comment telling us what you thought.

Across

1a    Type of insurance got by number crossing road per annum (5-5)
THIRD PARTY: My fellow bloggers and I all agree that it is nice to solve the first clue quickly. Solving quickly does always go together with parsing quickly. A lower-value insurance policy can be found by placing a number between twenty-nine and thirty-one around the abbreviations for road and per annum

6a    Cut second small nugget (4)
SNUB: The abbreviation for small is followed by a small lump or protuberance. My last one in

10a    Finished a tagliatelle, say (5)
PASTA: A word meaning over or done is followed by the letter A from the clue

11a    Officer, male cop in complex (9)
POLICEMAN: A clever anagram (complex) of MALE COP IN

12a    Detective hanging around ‘Yard’ causes confusion (8)
DISARRAY: The abbreviation for Detective Inspector is followed by a fabric wall hanging which is reversed (around). The abbreviation for yard completes the solution

13a    River‘s current beginning to deceive us (5)
INDUS: A word meaning current or popular. The first letter of the word deceive. US from the clue

15a    Barrister from local authority heard (7)
COUNSEL: A homophone of your local district authority. Ours is Stratford. Ours are dreadful

17a    One having left ‘Lorna Doone’ novel in a US city (7)
ORLANDO: Anagram (novel) of LORNA DOONE minus the letters of the word one

19a    Ineffectual advice from a conservationist? (7)
USELESS: Split 3,4 we have a directive to be greener in our approach to living and the effect it has on the world. Too late I say. We are now into the anthropecene era.

21a    Male teacher, halving a bill brought over, points to coffee-shop worker (7)
BARISTA: The title given to a male teacher is surrounded by a common term for a bill (in a restaurant perhaps) together with the letter A from the clue. The whole lot is reversed as indicated by the word over

22a    Did nothing with papers left by editor (5)
IDLED: one’s identity papers are followed by the abbreviation for left and the abbreviation for editor

24a    Academic unhappy about the newspaper’s name appearing here? (8)
MASTHEAD: Begin with a master of the arts. Add a word meaning unhappy which is wrapped around the word THE from the clue

 

27a    Trained at kendo fencing wife — old martial art (3,4,2)
TAE KWON DO: Oh dear. This is an anagram (trained) of AT KENDO around the initial letters of Old and Wife. However you spell this martial art it will probably be wrong.

28a    Closely follow mother’s doctrine (5)
DOGMA: A word meaning to closely follow is itself followed by an endearing term for your mother

29a    What one eats in parliament (4)
DIET: The kinds of food that a person, animal, or community habitually eats is also a legislative assembly in certain countries and a favourite double definition of crossword setters

30a    Get up on piano and show off (10)
GRANDSTAND: The piano is the largest available. The get up is to rise from a seated position

Down

1d    Little time to copy record (4)
TAPE: The abbreviation for time is followed by a verb meaning to copy.

2d    Start college, perhaps (9)
INSTITUTE: A double definition the first a verb the second a noun

3d    Drink before a play (5)
DRAMA: A wee shot of whisky perhaps is followed by the letter A from the clue

4d    Clothes appear out on line (7)
APPAREL: Anagram (out) of APPEAR and the abbreviation for line

5d    Sporting cry from friend wearing hot pants (5-2)
TALLY HO: An anagram (pants) of HOT sits around a friend or person or organization that cooperates with or helps another in a particular activity.

7d    Rover, not out, barking (5)
NOMAD: The cricketing abbreviation for not out (well done Jack Leach) is followed by a term meaning barking or insane

8d    A slave: Tiffany Case in ‘Diamonds Are Forever’, for example (10)
BONDSWOMAN: My second to last one in which only yielded when 6 across fell in. Tiffany Case is a character in a daft novel by Ian Fleming which was made into a film called Diamonds Are Forever. She became the lover of the main character and can wrongly and chauvinistically be known as the answer when it is split (4’1,5). I have never seen a single one of these films but I am aware that Viagra will not make you Sean Connery but it might make you Roger Moore

9d    Dramatist‘s singular tale inspiring terror (8)
SCHILLER: this German poet, philosopher, physician, historian, and playwright who died in 1805 (I wonder if he died at the battle of Trafalgar) can be found by starting with the abbreviation for singular and adding a creepy tale of terror

14d    Familiar expert entertaining charmingly old-fashioned daughter (10)
ACQUAINTED: A word meaning charmingly old-fashioned sits inside a word meaning an expert. This is all followed by the abbreviation for daughter. The hint is the same as the clue. Do as it says on the tin and all will be fine

16d    Retire from stage suffering from depression? (4,4)
STEP DOWN: A stage or a part of a journey is followed by a word meaning sadness or depression

18d    Wistfulness of Saint Olga once abroad? (9)
NOSTALGIA: An anagram (once abroad) of SAINT OLGA.

20d    Group studying gruesome remains (7)
SEMINAR: Anagram (gruesome) of REMAINS. Is gruesome a fair anagram indicator? Discuss

21d    Large instrument could be graduate’s in a short while (7)
BASSOON: The abbreviation for Bachelors Of Arts is followed by the S from ‘S and a word meaning in a short while

23d    Subject: a Belgian city (5)
LIEGE: A double definition which appears in the title of an LP by Fairport Convention

25d    Headless ghosts in hell (5)
HADES: A rarely used term for ghosts has its initial letter removed to give a word meaning hell

26d    Also after leader of backing group (4)
BAND: A word meaning also appears after the initial letter of the word backing

Quickie Puns:

Top line: Barbie+queue=barbecue

Bottom line: steal+banned=steel band

MPs Pun: Saint Sharon said I had been drinking and she could smell it on my breath.
I said no. I had been eating frogs’ legs and what she is smelling are the hops.

 

54 comments on “DT 29145”

  1. A very enjoyable crossword (****) completed in ** time. I liked 1a, 24a, 8d and 14d, with 8d being my favourite, once the penny dropped. Thanks to Yogi Bear and the setter.

  2. No sweat today with this gentle exercise. Not keen on pants as rubbish but have to admit to nominating 5d as my Fav. I wonder what first-time loggers onto BD’s site make of all MP’s aliases! Thank you Mysteron and MP.

  3. Pleasantly straightforward this morning with no hold-ups. 5d was my favourite although several came close. Entertaining and enjoyable but the blog was more fun.

    Thanks to our setter and MP.

  4. The perfect start to a Monday morning where, in addition to crossword solving, I have to continue to deal with the East Kent peach mountain.

    Like our blogger, I always have to think about spelling the martial art in 27a. This is the second crossword in less than a week (the other one was in the Times) where we have to know facts about Bond actresses/characters. If the trend is going to continue (well I suppose it makes a change from setters’ word of the month) I’m going to have to do a bit of investigoogling to get my 007 knowledge up to date

    Thanks to our Bear for an utterly groan-worthy set of explanations and to the setter for the crossword. If you haven’t got a peach mountain to deal with, or even if you have, I highly recommend today’s Rookie crossword

  5. I always feel a bit grumpy if I can’t finish a Monday puzzle without help. I had vaguely heard of the writer in 9d, but can’t see why ‘singular’ could be shortened. There can’t be many people in the UK whose education included 18th century German dramatists.

    12a was my other miscreant, a perfectly valid word and clue, but my, a bit on the Toughie side for a Monday, don’t you think?

    Many thanks to the setter and MP.

    (We have another double pun in the Quickie today. Wouldn’t it be handy if the clues were italicised for both sets? For the paper users, anyway.)

    1. The dramatist was also a poet and wrote the Ode to Joy, which Beethoven used in his 9th symphony and which is the anthem of the EU.

  6. Same last two in as our reviewer though I did spend far too long looking for a synonym of terror for 9d. Otherwise I found this very pleasant and not too taxing.
    19a and 5d produced a smile as did a couple of the hints so thanks to MP for that and in particular for explaining my 21a bung in.
    Thanks to the setter too
    2.5*/2.5*
    Didn’t think much of the quickie puns by the way!

  8. Having finished today’s offering and prompted by CS I have printed off the Rookie Corner Crossword. Let’s see how I get on.

  9. */***. Right up my street. Fairly straightforward clueing and a reasonable smattering of anagrams helped smooth the path. Thanks to the setter and MP.

  10. Mild and pleasant start to the week, an Ode to Joy. 9d is my favourite, therefore, with 8d runner-up.

  11. Nice gentle start to the week of DT Back pagers (well nearly back pager). The SE corner was last to surrender due to the fact of I was trying to start off 21a with ‘M’ (another bit of ‘Bond – ism’ for CS & MP) before the penny finally dropped – D’oh! Had a laugh at 5d.

    Thanks to our setter for the puzzle and our bloggist for his review. And they said there’s no money in being a pub landlord??

  12. The film is my least favourite 007 film and the clue wasn’t any better. Mucking about with 6a, which could have had a couple of other answers did get the first letter. Sean Connery may not or may not be Roger(ing) Moore, but he’s nearly 90, so he must be doing something right. My guess is sunshine, golf, the odd bit of work and a Mediterranean diet – lucky old him.

    I am one of those people in the UK whose education included that dramatist and it ended up being my favourite clue. I wouldn’t say he’s that obscure…

    It’s a lucky day when you’re right on the wavelength.

  13. A good fun puzzle to start the week. No holdups encountered with 8d and 20d vying for top clue.
    Thanks to the setter, and to Yogi for making me splutter into my coffee with the Roger Moore comment which I had forgotten.

  14. No problems today. Last 2 in the same as Yogi
    Thanks to setter and the better than the average bear.
    **/****

  15. A pleasant start to the week – penny drop moment for the 007 clue (still my favourite of that franchise). My only slight quibble is whether 5d is truly a “sporting” cry; other than fitting with the dictionary definition of sporting, the past-time in which it is used is the antithesis of a sport. Rant over. Thanks to the setter and YB.

  16. unusually all in before hints available. COTD 8d which made me smile. Any A level German student will have heard of 9d. Thanks to setter and MP for amusing blog.

  17. Hear hear… we average bears had never heard of him.

    But we did enjoy the puzzle on this mild Labor Day here in Boston.

    Mr and Mrs T

  18. Totally on the setters wavelength today. My only problems were that I don’t know the author in 9d and i struggled to spell 27a.
    Thx to all
    */***

  19. Enjoyable. Got all but eight answere before going off to do other things. Those remaining were in the NE and SW. came back to it and polished off slightly slower. 19a and 20d were last two in. I thought 27a was one word. Did not know the German author but got from the wordplay. Favourites 1 19 24 and 28a and 8 and 14d. Did not parse 12 and 21a. Thanks for doing that MP and thanks setter for a good start to the week.

  20. Still waiting for storm to arrive, and still have power, so able to access and print Cryptic today after all. At first pass I was abysmal, but then I got a hold, and off and running. Only stumped by 8d and 9d, not helped by putting in Snip for 6a, and never heard of 9d. Thanks to Miffypops for putting me straight and to setter for what turned out to be a very enjoyable and satisfying puzzle. Good start to a week that is going to get very trying later today. Good luck Merusa, and all in Dorian’s path.

  21. A little too straightforward after some very tough Mondays .
    I liked 30a . Thanks to Yogi Bear and the setter .

  22. Very friendly offering today, I even knew the German, I’d say he’s pretty famous.
    Yes, Yogi, I had to wait for checking letters to write in 27a, thank goodness it was an anagram.
    Fave was 5d, though I agree, Angellov, I don’t like the “pants” for “rubbish”.
    Thanks to our Monday setter and to Yogi’s hugely enjoyable review! Starts Monday off just right.

    Thanks for all your concerns, I’m doing pretty well now and the forecast is kind to me, but please spare a thought for the Bahamians, they’ve been through hell and now have this monster sitting on top of them with no signs of moving for five hours.

    1. I’d managed to convince myself that you are now out of harm’s way but I guess these monsters can be fickle. Stay safe, Merusa, and – yes – we’re only too well aware of the plight of the Bahamians. There was a heart-wrenching plea on our news broadcasts last night from a mother trapped in her apartment with a little one.

  23. Yes mostly straightforward 😃 Last in 9d 🤔 **/*** Favourites 19a and 8d Thanks to Yogi and to the Setter 👍

  24. Thoroughly enjoyable puzzle today, which I filled in between visits to the garage and hospital (routine). This meant I have only just finished it but it is rather nice spreading it out across the day. I liked 8d but my COTD is 30a.

    By the way, what is the best clue you have ever come across?

    My favourite, which still tickles me, is “HIJKLMNO (5)”

    Grateful thanks to all concerned.

    1. That was one of my faves too. I think I was asked that at a birthday bash and although I am still thinking about and admiring many clues I am not sure if I have found a better one.

      1. Really? Is that the best clue of all time? I love it but am certain it can be bettered.

        Any ideas out there?

        1. Mr K may be the man to ask. He has a pretty extensive database of clues and the stats to go with them.

  25. Splendid start to a solving week,,, a bit of head scratching on a couple of clues otherwise I seemed to surprise myself.
    2*/4* favs 8d, 17ac &9d
    Thanks to our setter & Jellystones favourite bear,,, may Ranger Smith never find that hidden stash!

  26. Came to this after the rookie was half done. I will wait for the review but agree it is well worth having a go at.
    This puzzle was not as tricky but still needed a bit of thought.
    Thanks to Yogi for the hints jokes and as usual very amusing blog.
    I am going to favourite 23d if only because it gave me the opportunity to drop an electronic stylus on the aforementioned Fairport Album.
    There are plenty of aliases in that album for our esteemed innkeeper.

  27. Grand start to the week. A **/*** for me with 30a and 8d as my favourites.
    Thanks to Yogi and the setter for a very pleasant Monday.

  28. Desperately trying not to be last today. Whizzed through through this. I had to check 9d, though I vaguely remembered a name like that being in a report in the Telegraph when the Brexit Party turned their collective backs when the EU “national” anthem was played (My education for what it was worth didn’t include classics) and I needed the hint to parse 12a as I’d never heard of the wall hanging. My usual “I wonder of that’s a word, I’ll check” deserted me as I didn’t think it could possibly be. That’ll learn me. Favourite 30a. Many thanks to the setter and Y.B.

  29. Oh well – when real life takes over crosswords suffer – probably better than the reverse.
    I think it’s all been said already so I’m not going to run on at length.
    I liked 12a and 5 and 7d.
    Thanks to the setter and to MP.

  30. Another enjoyable Monday puzzle to warm up the grey matter for the week. My last to go in was 20d; also bronze medal 🥉 in my favourites. It took me a while to realize it was an anagram. Should have twigged earlier (discussed). Silver, 24a and gold to 8d. Would the real James Bond please stand up, thank you Sean🦇

  31. Thanks for the help guy. Convalescence made a lot easier with your assistance! And the crozzy of course.

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