DT 29195 – Big Dave's Crossword Blog
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DT 29195

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 29195

Hints and tips by 2Kiwis

BD Rating – Difficulty **Enjoyment ****

Kia ora from Aotearoa.

We’re back to the usual two-person household after a busy long weekend with family staying. Wonderful to have them all here, and our daughter’s birthday was celebrated in style.

Jay is the setter today of course, so we have a competently put-together fun puzzle once again.

Please leave a comment telling us how you got on.

Across

1a     Thrashing bridge supremo (8)
SPANKING : To reach across with a bridge and then a supreme leader.

5a    Weight carried  by this argument after pub (6)
BARROW : A pub or drinking place, and an argument or noisy disagreement.

9a     Modification applied to former telecommunications facility (8)
EXCHANGE : The two letter prefix implying former and then a synonym for modification.

10a     May is able to dance (6)
CANCAN : There is a three-letter word that is both a synonym for having permission and having the capability. Repeat this word.

12a     A sound quality — people with time for reparation (9)
ATONEMENT : String together ‘A’ from the clue, a word for sound quality, male people and T(ime).

13a     Forger’s equipment may see 3 regularly in trouble (5)
ANVIL : The second and fourth letters from the answer to 3d are inside another word for trouble.

14a     Material that may be left out (4)
FELT : An anagram (out) of LEFT.

16a     Profits from rail tickets (7)
RETURNS : A double definition. These rail tickets will get you home again.

19a     Environment partially contained within Panama? (7)
HABITAT : A 1,3 phrase meaning partially is inside what a Panama could be an example of.

21a     Rows generated by unprotected husky (4)
OARS : Start with a synonym for husky or having a croaky throat, and remove the first and last letters of this word.

24a     Part of engine restricted by zero torque (5)
ROTOR : A lurker, hiding in the clue.

25a     Copper‘s revolutionary cab stolen (9)
CONSTABLE : An anagram (revolutionary) of CAB STOLEN.

27a     Personal item providing a tax credit up front (6)
CRAVAT : Start with the two letter abbreviation for credit, then ‘A’ from the clue and the tax added at retail level.

28a     Following instructions, debit one at random (8)
OBEDIENT : An anagram (at random) of DEBIT ONE.

29a     Stressful hearing (6)
TRYING : A double definition. The hearing is in a court of law.

30a     One thus delayed daughter getting cut off (8)
ISOLATED : The Roman numeral one, a two letter synonym for ‘thus’, then a word meaning delayed plus D(aughter).

Down

1d     Understand saying ‘swing both ways’ (6)
SEESAW : Understand or comprehend is followed by a saying or adage.

2d     A task mostly employing northern TV presenter (6)
ANCHOR : ‘A’ from the clue, and a menial task without its last letter surround N(orthern).

3d     Jack from luggage van keeps turning up (5)
KNAVE : A reversed lurker hiding in the clue.

4d     Forget name and choose to drink gallons (7)
NEGLECT : The abbreviation for name and then G(allons) is inside choose as UK people will do on the twelfth of December.

6d     Stone and basalt are different (9)
ALABASTER : An anagram (different) of BASALT ARE.

7d     Vagrants will accept European Commission gets better (8)
RECOVERS : The two letter acronym for European Commission is inside vagrants or wanderers.

8d     This may lift 2 lads going mad during conquests (8)
WINDLASS : Conquests or victories surround an anagram (going mad) of LADS.

11d     Wake up cooler? (4)
STIR : A double definition. Dartmoor is an example of this type of cooler.

15d     Area in internet designed to amuse (9)
ENTERTAIN : An anagram (designed) of INTERNET contains A(rea).

17d     Yell about critic oddly finding a quicker route (5,3)
SHORT CUT : A synonym for yell contains alternate letters (oddly) of ‘critic’.

18d     Late news notice? (8)
OBITUARY : A cryptic definition.  Late here indicates deceased.

20d     There’s not one in unstated consideration (4)
TACT : Find a five letter synonym for ‘unstated’ and remove the Roman numeral one from inside it.

21d     This may be long for a passenger vehicle (7)
OMNIBUS : A double definition. This may be long because it is a compilation piece.

22d     Missing son taken in by a criminal (6)
ABSENT : ‘A’ from the clue and criminal as an adjective contain S(on).

23d     Angry boss must accept vacant type (6)
HEATED :  Boss or most senior surrounds the first and last letters (vacant) of type.

26d     Tons laid out like the river Severn, for example (5)
TIDAL : T(ons) and then an anagram (out) of LAID.

Quickie pun     forced    +    haul    =    forestall

62 comments on “DT 29195

  1. 3*/4.5*. Great fun as ever, with the SW corner slowing me up considerably taking my time up to 3*. 20d was my last one in.

    1d was my favourite and Jay can always be relied upon for providing a smile with his Quickie pun.

    Many thanks to all three birds.

  2. I strayed into *** time in completing this very enjoyable puzzle (****) because I couldn’t read my own writing. Once I realised it was an ‘h’ rather than an ‘a’ at the beginning of 19a, all became clear. I liked 1a, 6d, 8d and the sneaky 13a. Thanks to Kiwis for helpiing me to parse 20d and thanks to Jay for another great puzzle.

    1. Using an iPad reduced my solving times considerably because I could read the letters which I cannot when I write them

      1. I have thought about that but quite a few correspondents on this blog seem to have had a few problems downloading to iPads and, although not technophobic, I am not that confident. It would mean asking long-suffering Mr Chriscross for help, I suspect.

  3. An absolute delight and, for the first time in a few weeks, off to a very good start by ‘going up the downs’ for completion at a fast gallop – **/*****.
    Favourite – a toss-up between 19a and 30a – and the winner is 30a.
    Thanks to Jay and the 2Ks.

  4. Lovely stuff – I particularly liked the two clues that referenced others 13a and 8d.

    Thank you to Jay and the 2Ks

  5. Must state objection to 1a. The answer is no synonym for thrashing. Thrashing is brutal.
    Was confused at first by the 2 lads in 8d. A nice bit of misdirection.
    Just like 6d. An attractive word somehow.
    Try the Toughie. It is entertaining and relatively gentle.

  6. Still struggling with this one. I have the top right bit completed….in crossword terms is that North East? and also bottom right but the left hand side is proving much tougher for me. Still some giggles along the way though. I am going to try to be a very good girl and not scroll up and peek at the clues.
    Dreary wet day here today and what we get in Ontario those of you in the UK usually get a day or two later. So brollies at the ready!
    Last night at around 9 p.m. hubby got an e-mail from his boss to say to be ready for a photograph at 7.50 a.m. this morning along with a few co-workers. It is 7.50 a.m. now.Can’t imagine what the photo is for. As I sent him on his way to work this morning, lunch packed and flask of tea, I told him to be ready to flash a smile for the paparazzi!

  7. As usual wuth Jay puzzles, all complete in a straight *** time. I, too, liked the ‘2 lads’ in 8d.

    I must take objection to 17d though. Surely it should be ‘critic oddly missing’?

    Thanks to Jay and the 2 Ks.

    1. I was going to say the same thing about 17d. Or change “oddly” to “evenly”, although that would not make a lot of sense.
      An enjoyable Jay puzzle as ever.

    2. Could ‘about; be doing double duty as the letters CTR are in the (oddly) order required in a reversal of critic??

        1. MR. Sorry to interject belatedly, but I think CS means that the “about” could be doing double duty by simultaneously acting as a containment indicator and also as a reversal indicator to show that the required CTR is revealed by (oddly) selecting the letters of cRiTiC from back to front. But I rather think it was a somewhat tongue-in-cheek suggestion/question.

      1. Not sure whether it is me who can’t spell but surely we need them in the order they appear in Critic I.e RTC or am I missing something?

    3. We’re going to defend Jay on this one.
      ‘Oddly’ to us can mean a sequence of ‘miss a letter ….. use a letter ….’ and it is somewhat irrelevant whether or not the starting point is actually divisible by 2.
      Seem to remember discussions on this point some time in the distant past. If memory is right it ended with people agreeing to disagree.

      1. I agree too – we’ve had all this before so I’m a bit wary when a clue includes ‘oddly’ as I know it can mean alternate letters, regardless of whether they’re the odd or even letters.

    1. Surface reading seems iffy, but ok only if the word ‘about’ refers to a backward oddly reading of ‘critic’- which is also a word that yell is also about. An awkward double use of ‘about’ so agree this is misleading.
      Otherwise a great 2/4 for me -with 1D and 8D as faves
      Thanks to the 2K’s for a nice clear set of hints

  8. Right on my wavelength today and a **/****, nothing obscure or ‘iffy, top drawer cluing.
    I too liked 8d and the surface of 25a and 1a, a pleasure to solve throughout.
    Thanks to the 2k’s for the pics.,

  9. Completed at breakneck speed at 0400 this morning due to a bout of insomnia. As usual for a Wednesday an absolute delight, just held up for a bit by a couple of the 4 letter clues, I am hopeless at materials.
    Thanks to all.
    Forgot to say, love the new format of the site.

  10. That was good fun. I was thrown by putting “bulletin” into 18d. I didn’t have any checking letters. I should have realised by the question mark that it wasn’t going to be quite as straight forward. I also tried to unprotected “husky” in 21a instead of unprotecting a synonym. 1d took a bit of figuring out. Nice way to spend my time whilst dauphinois potatoes cook in the oven….they are still cooking. Many thanks to Jay and the 2ks.

  11. After struggling a bit with Monday’s, for which MP gave 1* (! ) and yesterday’s, this one went in like a rat up a drainpipe………wavelength…as we all know. I went clockwise from 5a.

    Sorry for the speed analogy. I don’t ride horses.

    Thanks to Jay and our NZ pair, anyway.

    1. Big Dave gives the ratings on Mondays. It’s just one too many things for Miffypops to remember to do. I don’t think I underlined the definitions this week so thanks to Dave for adding those

    2. As kids we all rode a lot, lived in the wilds of Worcestershire and had our own ponies.
      I can’t help feeling that Senf’s horse must be getting a bit worn out by now with all the galloping that he does but have to confess that rats, wherever they are, make me go a bit funny. :sad:

  12. Very enjoyable andy just about in my capacity .Getting 1 ad
    Really got me gong and the rest fell in. Many thanks to the Setter a Nd to the New Zealand Donna
    Connection for their help over the past years.

    C

  13. Just gies to show that the mind works in strange ways, last two days were pretty good, this one nearly made it into my stinker file. Perseverance paid off after putting it down and picking up several times. I quite liked 19a and 1d.
    The BRB as did dear old Roget.
    Thanks to the 2Ks and Jay.

  14. This would have been a */**** except for one four letter clue with only by my reckoning about ten possible words given I had two letters. After reading the hints from our very gracious Kiwi friends it was obvious I was a geriatric goofball. I remember an old English teacher of mine whose advice for any critical work was ” read the words on the page and if they don’t make any sense then read them again until they do”. By not doing so it became a ***/**** by my criteria. Thanks to Jay and the two Kiwis for nearly giving me my first * for a long long time.

  15. Not sure of the problem with 17d. I just took it to mean the alternate letters RTC inside shout which it is. 21d I did not parse properly. I was thinking back to junior school when we were obliged to put an apostrophe before bus – bus being a contraction of the said vehicle. Went in very quickly for me on the London train between refreshments, more or less in order. SE was the last and the slowest. Unfortunately my criminal background made me want to put TICs for 20d. A huge number of favourites from which I shall select 23a. Thanks Jay and the 2Ks. Thanks also for the format. For the first time my name and details are saved.

  16. Southwest corner filled in right away, and rest quite friendly, but did need 4 hints from 2Kiwis, thank you. Thanks to Jay for a splendid puzzle, a good solve over breakfast.

  17. I love Jay Wednesdays, on wavelength from start to finish with no help. Last in was 27a, I forgot that pesky tax again; it pops up so often, how on earth can one forget it?
    My only question is 10a, to me that three-letter word does not mean “may”, it means “am I able”, small quibble.
    I was just about to say I don’t get the “2” in 8d, but I just had an epiphany – refers to 2d!
    No one fave, Kath would go bananas there are so many.
    Thanks to Jay for the fun and to the 2Kiwis for the hints and pics.

    1. We also have to think twice for that tax. Its equivalent for us is called GST or Goods and Services Tax.

    2. Thanks for the epiphany. I heard the clang from here. I too was looking for a 2nd lad.
      I have been quiet lately as I have fried my phone and laptop (uninsured)
      Writing this on basic telly browser and it is V slow.
      Hope to be back soon.
      Love to all.

      1. How on earth did you manage to fry both your phone AND laptop, I’d say that was pretty careless! Sorry.

  18. Really neat xword from Jay, thank you. 16a and 18 d my favourites but shouldn’t ‘gallons’ be singular in 4d

  19. No problem here **/****
    Thanks to kiwis and Jay.
    Has anyone solved the iPad scrolling problem yet?
    I keep closing the app and opening it again which does work but is a pain.

  20. I agree with Merusa – I love Jay Wednesdays and, yes, I would go bananas about multiple favourites although I’ve more or less stopped going on about it – feels a bit too much like banging my head on the proverbial brick wall!
    I dithered about 5a for ages as I mistook the definition and thought I was after a weight. :roll:
    I was also pretty dim about 21a for far too long – oh well, never mind.
    Particularly appreciated both 1across and down.
    Thanks to Jay and to the K’s.

  21. Nice crossword **/*** 😃 Favourites 9a & 11d 🤗 Thanks to Jay and to the 2 x Ks. Another nice crisp and sunny day here in the East but the warning of approaching rain from our correspondent in Ontario has been noted! 🌧

  22. Morning all.
    No we haven’t overslept. Now that UK clocks have gone back the time difference between us is 13 hours. It will stay like this until next April.
    The four pesky four letter answers were the last to get sorted, as is often the case for us, but we had some hesitation with 5a until we twigged that we needed to use the first four words of the clue (not just the first one) as the definition.
    Good fun as ever.
    Cheers.

  23. Another dollop of delight from Jay in which 1d held out until the end but then became my favourite.

    Thanks to Jay and to our 2Ks – pleased to hear that your family weekend went well.

  24. Glad of this one tonight – nicely passed the time on a bus crawling very slowly through Brighton rush hour traffic. I will have to give the Toughie a go too at this rate.

  25. Very clever puzzle from Jay that kept me entertained all the way through. Half the clues went in steadily the rest I teased out as grid filled.
    3*/4.5*
    Many thanks to Jay for a stunner & the 2KWs for review .

  26. I completed this earlier before going out to Birmingham for the day and well before the blog page appeared. Being a Wednesday, therefore a Jay puzzle, says everything I need to say about it. 1d was my clear favourite.

    Belated thanks to Jay and the 2Ks.

  27. Was considering 18 D to be DEADLINE but ROTOR ruled that out a quick flick to page 29 to confirm the spelling of OBITUARY and the SW sector was straightforward.

  28. Loved this one. Also loved that for the first time in a couple of weeks the page didn’t keep freezing. Thank you to all.

  29. Away on a mini break covering three operas at Glyndebourne – unfortunately all are modern takes on traditional works so not my cup of tea at all however the music/singing is of course lovely. Anyway that means I only got around to having a go at this Jay offering late after a dinner but somehow even in my hazy state managed to put two and two together to make four and all without help from Down Under and I did enjoy the challenge – now doubtless will find it difficult to sleep. South was plainest sailing. Not sure about 10a – my parents used to say “you can but the question is whether you may” i.e. can is never synonym for may. Thank you Jay and 2Kiwis.

    1. I agree about “can”. We were told to say “may I help you?” If you say “can I help you?” You’re saying “am I able to”.

  30. Apologies for the late post, but like the two Ks, I was in bed before BD’s blog came up. Another pleasant solve from J. No real standouts for me but 13a had me thinking copying money till the penny dropped. I recall a similar clue recently. About to launch into 29196. Thanks J and 2Ks🦇

  31. Jay as consistent as ever.
    A bit of head scratching when it came to 20d.
    These pesky four letter words as we like to call them!
    Thanks to our Wednesday setter and to 2ks for the review.

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