DT 29171 – Big Dave's Crossword Blog
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DT 29171

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 29171

Hints and tips by 2Kiwis

BD Rating – Difficulty **Enjoyment ****

Kia ora from Aotearoa.

Clocks changed now so we have to wait an extra hour to get our daily dose of puzzles. And it gets another hour later when you people change your clocks at the end of this month.

Winter weather has decided that it wants to stick around for a bit longer yet. Blustery, wet and cold here again today. Our 16 yr old granddaughter and her three friends, who are visiting for a few days (it’s school holidays), are slow to emerge from warm sleeping bags in these conditions.

Quality puzzle again from Jay.

Please leave a comment telling us how you got on.

Across

1a     Seeming old, and level-headed about time (10)
OSTENSIBLE : O(ld) and then level-headed or rational includes T(ime).

6a     PSV stuff needed after the end of treatment (4)
TRAM : The last letter of treatment and then stuff or push tightly together.

10a     Dish from South America — hot one! (5)
SUSHI : Four elements to string together here. S(outh), the two letter America, H(ot) and the Roman numeral one.

11a     Inclined to excuse four implicated in fakery (9)
FORGIVING : A word for fakery (or alternatively working as a blacksmith) contains the appropriate Roman numeral.

12a     Shows maturity in trousers (8)
PAGEANTS : Another word for trousers surrounds maturity gained over time.

13a     Force lacking uniform apparel (5)
DRESS : Start with a word meaning an imposed force and remove U(niform) from within it.

15a     Inmate suffers injury finally getting facility (7)
AMENITY : An anagram (suffers) of INMATE plus the last letter of injury.|

17a     Supporter of trail across both poles (7)
SPONSOR : The two geographical poles are inside the trail left by an animal.

19a     Loathes exams following lower grades (7)
DETESTS : The grades that could be given to a student who does not achieve A, B or C, and then a synonym for exams.

21a     Bail must be arranged in cabin for swimmer (7)
HALIBUT : A cabin or rude shelter surrounds an anagram (must be arranged) of BAIL.

22a     Problem urgently keeping primate (5)
LEMUR : A lurker hiding in the clue.

24a     American found in a pretty awful social gathering (3,5)
TEA PARTY : An anagram (awful) of A PRETTY contains another A(merican).

27a     Son, given heavy responsibility, slept (9)
SLUMBERED : The abbreviation for son and then ‘landed with an onerous task’.

28a     The logic of hearing, say (5)
SENSE : A double definition.

29a     Swindles causing fools to lose heart (4)
DOES : Remove the central letter (in this case a P) from a synonym for fools.

30a     Caustic chap seen on trains getting agitated (10)
ASTRINGENT : An anagram (getting agitated) of TRAINS and then a respectable chap.

Down

1d     Do a stretch keeping such a house (4)
OAST : A lurker hiding in the clue.

2d     Troubled mates in temporary accommodation will … (9)
TESTAMENT : Temporary accommodation traditionally made of canvas surrounds an anagram (troubled) of MATES.

3d     … edge around one getting report (5)
NOISE : Edge or move slowly and cautiously contains the Roman numeral one.

4d     Popular whim of early childhood? (7)
INFANCY : The two letter popular and then a whim or caprice.

5d     Primates may see sins regularly in new roles (7)
LORISES : An anagram (new) of ROLES contains the second and fourth letters of sins.

7d     Put up beams of light for the audience (5)
RAISE : A homophone for beams of light.

8d     Wise men consider crossing street seeing one on bench (10)
MAGISTRATE : The wise men from the Christmas story, the abbreviation for street and then consider or judge.

9d     Savage wolf upset geese, for example (8)
WILDFOWL : Savage or untamed and then an anagram (upset) for WOLF.

14d     Wrecked and put in case on top of desk (10)
VANDALISED : A word from French for an overnight case surrounds the word ‘and’ from the clue, and finally the first letter of desk.

16d     Chase popular copy in Home Counties (8)
INSCRIBE : The two letter popular then the geographical region of the UK where the Home Counties are found surrounds copy illicitly. (If you’re  scratching your head about this meaning of chase then the second entry in BRB will help.)

18d     Player on bench has point of view that’s material (9)
SUBSTANCE : The three letter abbreviation for a replacement player and then a point of view or predetermined position.

20d     Such literary works may see anger during school tests (7)
SATIRES : The letters for Scholastic Aptitude Tests enclose a short word for anger.

21d     Saver could be tougher about love (7)
HOARDER : The tennis score love is inside a synonym for tougher.

23d     Second function for a very shy type (5)
MOUSE : A two letter abbreviation for a short period of time and then function or purpose.

25d     Offence of minister losing head? (5)
ARSON : Remove the first letter from a minister or vicar.

26d     Natural aptitude for being dishonest (4)
BENT : A double definition.

We enjoyed finding all the various creatures hiding in this grid.

Quickie pun     role    +    heap    +    holy    =     roly-poly

42 comments on “DT 29171

  1. What a red letter day for crosswords. This was a top-notch classic offering from Jay albeit at the easier end of his spectrum; my rating is 2*/4.5* and my favourite is 1a.
    Many thanks to Jay and the 2Ks.
    There is also a splendid Eccles (Snape) in the Indy, and a typically crazy but brilliant Toughie from Petitjean to enjoy – alas the fateful day has arrived; it is his last one. :sad:

      1. Thanks for the heads up, Gazza. I’ve said my goodbyes to the mad cap and was looking for another excuse to avoid the housework!

  2. A typically enjoyable Jay puzzle. Top clues for me included 6a, 12a, and 14d.

    Thanks to Jay and to the 2Ks.

  3. Think I’m at last getting the hang of Jay and this was straightforward enough with the whole of the North completed before a single entry down below. Primates make a double appearance but I only knew one (22a) which is a chestnut I think. Fav was 11a. Clever Quickie pun. Thank you Jay and 2Ks.

  4. Another gem from Jay. It took me a while to “get” him but that was more a reflection of my solving incompetence. However as I’ve improved I’ve come to appreciate that he really is a master of his art.
    Needed to check the synonyms required for 17a and 16d and I’m not too keen on my last one in 3d, I presume both are being used as verbs? Otherwise relative plain sailing.
    Favourite in a very strong is the dish from South America that isn’t from South America!
    2.5/4.5 *
    Many thanks to Jay and to the 2Ks for their excellent works

    1. Stephen, I think for 3d “edge” is a verb and the answer, defined by “report”, is a noun.

      1. Thanks RD, I was referring to both the definition and the solution being used as verbs, where I think the synonym works better but I’m probably wrong!

  5. It really amazes me just how many crosswords some people manage to tackle. The DT Cryptic and the Toughie are enough for me – I’d never get anything done if I attempted more!
    A pleasant enough puzzle here with quite a bit of wild life.
    Try the Toughie everyone. It’s a glorious swan song,

  6. Splendid puzzle but at the easier end of a Jay puzzle. 14d just edges it for me today.

    Toughie very doable today and I didn’t realize it was a Pettitjohn masterpiece until I read RD’s comment.

  7. Another in the long line of excellent puzzles from Jay.
    Some very different thoughts in my head before it dawned that 1d was a lurker so that one gets a podium place here along with 4d which made me smile.

    Thanks to Jay and to our 2Ks for the beautifully illustrated blog. My experience of 16 year olds is that they are reluctant to emerge from their sleeping quarters whatever the weather!

  8. It’s Wednesday and Jay and the 2Ks do not let us down. Very enjoyable with no need to use the white space on my printed sheet other than to record my candidates for favourite. Completed at a gallop – 2.5*/4*.
    So, candidates for favourite – 1a, 12a, and 16d – and the winner is 12a (especially after yesterday’s discussion on the synonym of trousers).
    Thanks to Jay and the 2Ks.

  9. Very enjoyable solve today. The SW corner was last to go in for me. But good misdirection with 10a; was thinking ‘SA’ till the penny dropped. So it’s a favourite, as are 11a and 14d. As usual, thanks to J and Kiwis x 2 for their extra insight🦇

  10. A very enjoyable (****)Jay puzzle at the gentler wnd of the difficulty scale (*/**). So thank you for that . My favourites were 10a, 27a and14d. Thanks to the Kiwis for the hints. In the course of a long teaching career, I had the doubtful pleasure of trying to get a large group of 16 year olds to face the cold/wet/snowy dawn on many field trips. You have my sympathy.

  11. Jay definitely in benign form this morning, but still as much fun and as enjoyable as ever. Very hard to pick a favourite from such a stellar line up, but if pushed I would go for 1a.

    Many thanks to all three birds.

  12. Good fun. Luckily we all know our primates!. Favourite was 14d. Bunged in 16d but had to check in BRB later. Thanks to Kiwis for excellent hints and jay of course.

  13. Obviously I must be an idiot because I had terrible trouble with this. Thanks to the two Kiwis and Jay.

    1. I am sure you are not an idiot, Joan. It’s all about getting onto the right wavelength for specific setters. I used to struggle a lot with Jay’s puzzles but persistence paid off and now I really enjoy them. Do keep going – it’s well worth the effort.

  14. As is normal for me I only comment when I’ve managed to complete a puzzle, although I was quickly brought back to earth by the easy comments. Thanks to Jay for his usual enjoyable puzzle, the 2Ks, and all the regular contributors who’s comments I love reading.

  15. Solved early this morning before Mr CS and I went to Margate to look at the Turner Prize candidates and other bits of art work around the town. If you want to smile,, Google Alphabetti Spaghetti by Alex Chinneck

    Nice friendly Jay puzzle – thanks to him and the 2Ks

      1. I’ve only seen this one so far – probably the most photographed thing in Margate this week

  16. I just did not get on the wavelength today so did not enjoy the puzzle. Perhaps not sleeping last might caused my brain to clog!

    Many thanks to everyone.

  17. Another Jay day! I really enjoyed this, I always do.
    I had two hiccups, 6a: what on earth is a PSV? When I google it shows a Dutch football club.
    Secondly, 16d, I thought “chase” was embossing, not inscribing, but I see the dictionary gives both inscribing and embossing. I hope I remember that.
    How on earth can a girl choose a fave with that lot? Far too many choices.
    Thanks to Jay and the 2Kiwis for the fun.

      1. My google search lead me to PSV Eindhoven, the famous Dutch football club. Tram was the only thing that made sense though.

        1. For it to be an acceptable abbreviation it probably had to be recognised by Chambers so the faithful BRB was where we looked and found it. We had wrongly guessed that the first word would be PASSENGER though.

  18. As usual, Jay provided a learning experience. Needed 7 hints so feeling thick today. Have seen pictures of 5d, but never heard the name before. Having painters working in the living areas, we are keeping out of their way in the bedroom, so the crosswords are providing mental relief today. Usually all our own work (painting), but this house has 12ft ceilings, and reaching above the kitchen cabinets was a step too far for us, literally. Ah, perhaps it is the smell of paint that made me thick today 😊. Thanks to Jay and 2Kiwis.

  19. Really good but I’m slightly inclined to go with the few who didn’t find it a doddle.
    I could get quite fond of these little primates – aren’t they pretty – suppose someone will now tell me that they’re complete pests and bite like hell!
    I spent too long trying to make 28a a homophone and missed the 1d lurker.
    A long list of very good clues to choose from – 1, 11 and 27a and 4 and 23d – my favourite was 9d.
    Thanks to Jay and to the K’s.

  20. I took longer than usual to complete today’s crossword; I just didn’t get on wavelength for some reason, which certainly didn’t help!
    However I got through it… eventually. And then of course wondered why.
    14d was my top clue.
    Thanks to Jay, and to the Kiwis for their review and weather observations.

  21. I have to rate this ***/*** 😳 Having had a little trouble with the furry creatures in the SW 😟 My favourites are 10a & 29a 😃 Thanks as always to the 2xKs and to Jay

  22. Just when I thought I had Jay demystified…. well there you go . Quite hard going for me, obviously the tuning knob was way off!
    3.5*/3* today
    Got quarter of the puzzle in & it was very uphill after that.
    Many thanks to Jay & to the 2KWs for review & much needed guidance.

  23. Morning all. Pleased to report that yesterday’s stormy southerly weather has disappeared overnight and, although it is still cold, the sky is a clear blue. Just hope it lasts.
    For those who had to Google what a PSV might be, rest assured that we had to check that one too, although we had made a correct guess from the checkers and wordplay.
    Cheers.

  24. Thanks to Jay and 2xKiwis for today. Jay in fairly benign frame of mind, giving time to tackle the Petitjean final Toughie.
    Too long ago to remember anything specific…

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