Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 29169
Hints and tips by Billy Bibbit
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
Good morning from the beating heart of Downtown LI scene of the social events of the year. We had Scott Doonican playing his show on Saturday night and little Florence was Christened in our local church with a rather large party in a marquee on our field.
Please leave a comment telling us what you thought.
Across
1a Affected by kick in a US military training base (4,4)
BOOT CAMP: A verb meaning to kick is followed by a word meaning affected that may be used to describe Larry Grayson or Graham Norton
6a Month of gold rush (6)
AUGUST: The chemical for element 79 is followed by a sudden strong rush of wind perhaps
9a Burly jumper, say, in circus tent (3,3)
BIG TOP: A word synonymous with burly is followed by an article of clothing (jumper) The. Result is probably the only circus tent that you are aware of
10a Famous film director appearing outside by a strange large rodent (8)
CAPYBARA: An anagram (strange) of BY A is surrounded by the famous film director who directed It’s A Wonderful Life In 1947
11a Ear complaint can fool American (8)
TINNITUS: Three parts make up this clue. A can (of beans or soup perhaps) A fool or twit. American as in the abbreviation for United States
12a Stick enthralling smart dog (6)
CANINE: A stick that might be an aid for walking contains a two-letter word meaning smart or with it
13a Crestfallen as Democrat is elected (12)
DISAPPOINTED: The abbreviation for Democrat is followed by the word IS from the clue. A word meaning elected follows.
16a Rude Romany is on the move? There’s no chance of that! (2,4,6)
IN YOUR DREAMS: Anagram (on the move) of RUDE ROMANY IS
19a Conservative rebels in periods of political instability? (6)
CRISES: The abbreviation for Conservative is followed by a verb meaning rebels. A clue for the times we are going through. What a mess!
21a Dominant woman, busy person chasing cat (5,3)
QUEEN BEE: A female cat sits next to a busy insect worker in the order suggested by the clue. Somewhat reminiscent of a cat and cockroach combination written about by Don Marquis and reprised by Kath and Pommers
23a Boats at sea to get on, and wreck (8)
SABOTAGE: An anagram (at sea) of BOATS is followed by a word meaning to get on or grow older
24a Broker handling king’s silver (6)
ARGENT: a person who acts on behalf of another person or group (broker) contains the abbreviation for Rex or king in Latin
25a Pick and choose after start of sale (6)
SELECT: A word meaning to choose as in a ballot or poll follows the initial or start letter of the word sale. We have already been choosing away at 13ac
26a Agreements causing worry between judges (8)
TREATIES: A word meaning judges as in a court of law contains a word meaning to worry away at
Down
2d Beginning to fix home after end of tornado (6)
ORIGIN: There are three parts to this clue. 1 the last letter of the word tornado. 2 to fix or set up equipment. 3 a word meaning at home
3d Short time ahead of it, a new moon (5)
TITAN: The word it from the clue follows the abbreviation for time. The letter A from the clue follows this as does the abbreviation for new
4d Praise cooking devouring favourite hors d’oeuvre, perhaps (9)
APPETISER: An anagram (cooking) of the word PRAISE contains a favourite. Crosswordland’s favourite favourite
5d Finishes drink below deck (5,2)
PACKS UP: Split 4,3 we have a word meaning to drink which follows (below) an example of what a deck of cards might be called
6d A second photograph shows jelly (5)
ASPIC: The letter a from the clue is followed by the abbreviation for second and a shortened form of what a photograph is
7d Turn round the bend and become very angry (2,7)
GO BANANAS: A word meaning ones turn is followed by a word meaning crazy, mad or nuts
8d Visitor stumped nature reserve official (8)
STRANGER: The cricketing abbreviation used for a stumping is followed by a park warden
13d Pancake — declines cold one (4,5)
DROP SCONE: These Scottish pancakes can be made using the following ingredients. A word meaning declines or falls. The abbreviation for cold. The word ONE lifted straight from the clue
14d Mainly old part of church viewed before storm (2,7)
ON AVERAGE: The abbreviation for old. The central part of a church. A word meaning a storm or fury
15d Raise one northern fold (8)
INCREASE: The letter that looks like the number one. The abbreviation for northern. A fold in a piece of paper
17d Ask about mission (7)
REQUEST: Our favourite two- letter word for about is followed by a long or arduous search for something
18d Weird scene must involve a hand-holding event? (6)
SÉANCE: An anagram (weird) of SCENE contains the letter A.
20d Small trading centre, well-kept (5)
SMART: The abbreviation for small is followed by a type of trading centre or market
22d Approaching tense hours of darkness (5)
NIGHT: An archaic word meaning near has the abbreviation for tense added
Far too much Lego
Quickie Puns:
Top line: embers+ease=embassies
Bottom line: tack+Titian=tactician
I thought this was about as straightforward as we get for a Monday, but no less enjoyable. I liked 18d and 23a.
Thanks setter, especially for the double Quickie puns, and MP.
A reasonably enjoyable start to the soliving week with the exception of 10a, which I thought was a horrible clue on every level, a clunky surface, an anagram of a three letter phrase?and an obscure and ancient film director giving a rather obscure definition. That aside I liked the gently amusing 1a, 23a, plus 14 and17d .
Many thanks to the setter and of course to MP for his thoughts and explanations.
Like Billy Bibbit, this puzzle was ** for difficulty and *** for enjoyment. After a slowish start, the clues began to be unravelled more quickly. There were some really good clues such as 11a, 5d and 14d. However, the synonyms for smart in 12a and elected in 13a were too elastic for me. Thanks to BB and to the setter.
Nicely Mondayish – thanks to the double quick punner and Billy
A bit harder than I first thought. 10a was unknown to me. I kept wanting to include the guinea pig “cavy”. The ?o?t in 1a had me chasing American forts. Such a waste of time!
My COD was the hand holding 18d,
All fairly straightforward for a Monday, completed in ** time. I didn’t know the director in 10a, but with four consonants as checkers, it wasn’t hard to guess.
Other than that, I’m sure I would have completed it in * time, but was short of sleep. My latest foster guest was up all night whining and scratching. We were even walking round the park when the paper boy delivered.
Many thanks to the setter and BB.
Really enjoyed that pleasant challenge which was less problematic in the top half than down below but altogether a lot of fun. Never heard of 10a film director or the rodent – one lives and learns. Not being a feline fan was unaware of she cat in 21a. It seems to me the hint for 26a may have last two letters reversed in concealed solution. TVM setter and MP.
Well spotted!
So it does. Perhaps someone will change it for me. Saint Sharon has taken me out for lunch
I’ve changed it for you. Hope it was a nice lunch
Too much meat as usual. Otherwise fair to middling. Thank you.
How old is this compiler? (10a)
Enjoyed learning a new animal. Many thanks
Welcome to the blog Eric
Frank Capra directed ‘Its a wonderful life’, one of the greatest films ever made.
He was so famous, and now so many have never heard of him, how fleeting is fame!
Pleasant stroll through crossword land. My only problem was the film director in 10a but Mrs B knew him which was more than i did.
Took me a while to spell the rodent, had to google it in the end for the last remaining letter!
Thx to all
*/***
PS Thx for everyone who tried to help me yesterday with the ‘better’ clue, still defeats me!
I was stuck on that too. I think you have to view better as a verb.
A pleasant solve and much better for a Monday than last week. I was surprised when checking 26a that it did not fit in with 18d but then I saw the comments above. I absolutely hated 10a and had no idea who the film director was or the name of the giant rodent. (For some reason “Roland Rat” kept coming into my head).
Great clip of Argent.
My COTD is 18d because I went through loads of hand holding events before realising.
Grateful thanks to the setter and BB.
I refrained from making comment on 12a from a professional point of view!
Nothing to do with today’s puzzle – just want some info.
Is there a decent crossword compiler programme for Mac?
TIA
There is Crossfire or Cruciverbalist, but I don’t know whether it’s up to the standard of Crossword Compiler
Thanks. I downloaded Crossfire but it seems to have vanished without trace into the bowels of my MacBook! Cruciverbalist appears not to be available anymore.
Excellent picture of Gifford’s circus for 9 across.
Welcome to the blog Steph
It had to be Giffords. I tried to get Nell to come to our village but the only suitable site got sold for housing.
Has no-one heard of Chipperfields circus? A very long time ago I nursed a Chipperfield – he was just the most delightful man and his family was lovely too. He’s one of the patients who I remember very well.
Never heard of Giffords though . . .
Remember Chipperfield’s also Billy Smart’s, circuses have had their day though.
It was Billy Smart’s for me. I remember walking past their site on my way to school. I loved seeing the big top, clowns and animals when they were not performing.
The clowns are still performing, except they are now in a big ‘house’…
Thanks for the hints, nice pleasant stroll today.
Great to be reminded of nurse Ratchet, what a magnificent film that was. The bit where Jack Nicholson is providing the commentary for the non-existent baseball game is timeless.
Thanks all.
I didn’t feel inspired by today’s crossword I’m afraid. It was ok-ish, but it didn’t sparkle.
The hand holding clue was probably my top clue.
Thanks to the setter, and to that man what does the review on a Monday.
😁 as a newbie happy to report solved without hints in speedy time for me.
Knew the rodent in 10a so – my kids used to love visiting these giant guinea pigs at Riber Castle when it was a zoo.
Favourite 13a
🙏
A gentle start to the working week. 14d was my clue of the day. Many thanks to the setter and to Miffypops. I loved “ One flew over the cuckoo’s nest”, both the novel and the movie. I wonder if it’s on Netflix.
*/**. Very gentle fare to start the week. Thanks to all.
Pretty easy today, but still enjoyable . COTD was 18d, last one in was 23a, don’t really know why. You didn’t need google for 10a – was in synonym book. Thanks MPand setter. By the way where exactly do you live. I can’t work out the initials.
It’s a psychiatric institute in 1950s Oregon
5d foxed me as all I could think of was a ship (doh) but even if got it I wouldn’t have got 10a in a month of Sunday’s.
Rest all pretty straightforward and most enjoyable on this vilest of vile Monday afternoon, weather wise, here in South Wales.
Welcome to the blog Bluebird 61
Shouldn’t 26A be treaties – TR-EAT-IES?
It is. I think I was the victim of predictive text and didn’t notice. All put right now.
Started out slowly, a thought it was going to be a Toughie in disguise, like last Monday, but relieved to find that it was in fact very doable and quite enjoyable. Didn’t know the 10a rodent, and wanted to put in “bonkers” for the second word in 7d, but checkers quickly disabused me of that idea. Thanks to setter and to Miffypops.
I too fell into an idea that one of the two words at 1a had to be Fort. This then interfered with 5d, where I flirted with wraps up, winds up &c, and then faffing with 10a.
It didn’t help that I had marked in 7d as being 7,2 instead of 2,7….
What a div!
Nice Monday Crossword 😃 **/*** Even remembered that there were two Quickie phrases 😬 Favourites 13a and 14d Thanks to MP and to the Setter
Good fun this, nothing obscure for me, except 8d, the abbreviation for “stumped”, obviously not obscure for most of our commenters. That poor letter “s” is kept so busy as an abbreviation for so much!
Fave was 10a, knew the rodent and the director, easy peasy. I liked lots, 16a, 21a, and many more.
Thanks to our setter and to Billy for his fun review, which I always read even if not needed. Must revisit the film, so long ago.
More like these please! A nice gentle start to the week – has to be one of my quickest ever unaided solves. I didn’t get the parsing of 10a but knew the large rodent which I’ve seen many times in Battersea Park zoo!
Oh dear – a ‘just me’ day.
I do seem to have ‘wave-length’ issues with Mr (or Miss, Mrs or Ms so as to be ‘PC’) Two-pun-Monday.
In other words I had a spot of bother today – particularly in even getting started.
Not very many anagrams which probably made this more difficult, for me anyway.
Like others I thought that the first bit of 1a had to be ‘fort’, not that that would have affected anything else.
I tried to make 13a an anagram (crestfallen).
I did like 13d (who’d want a cold pancake?)
My favourite was 18a.
Thanks to the setter and to MP in disguise.
Not an unenjoyable start to the week, with nothing to cause the staff to sedate us .
1.5*/3* fav 16ac
Thanks to Dr Mysteron & BB,,, there are days I could rip a bathroom set out, but!
Didn’t need too much help for this enjoyable Monday puzzle. Although I didn’t like the clue for 10a, I knew the answer, as these are one of my favourite animals. I liked quite a few clues but 11a my fav.
Thanks to setter and MP.
It has to be a wavelength thing as I flew through this, hence my early comment. I’m probably in a better frame of mind as one of my old boys had a stroke on Saturday, his second but over his first one, and I feared the worst. However he appears to be staging one of his amazing recoveries and is getting about much better also seems to be much more with it. Any road up, a nice Monday puzzle. Favourite 16a as I knew it was an anagram but took me so long to work it out. Many thanks to the setter and MP.
The 10a animals are very cute. I hadn’t heard of them 3 years ago, but now it seems that every single zoo/wildlife park/nature reserve/petting farm we’ve visited recently has them — as though a boatload of them docked in the UK, then distributed themselves around the country’s visitor attractions.
If you’ve never seen a 10a, I can recommend a trip to Northumberland Zoo, Lotherton Hall (Leeds), or Yorkshire Wildlife Park.
Thank you setter and Billy.
21a – will someone put my out of my misery ? Still don’t understand ! Thanks, Almo
A bee (busy person) chasing or going after a queen (female cat)
Gosh – what a prompt reply ! Many thanks, Crypticsue. Would you believe that I’ve reached the age of 78 and 3 quarters without ever knowing that a female cat was called such. Thanks again, Almo
2*/4*…..
liked 16A “rude Romany is on the move? There’s no chance of that! (2,4,6)”