DT 29198 (Hints) – Big Dave's Crossword Blog
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DT 29198 (Hints)

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 29198 (Hints)

The Saturday Crossword Club

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As is usual for the weekend prize crosswords, an assortment of clues, including some of the more difficult ones, have been selected and hints provided for them.

Most of the terms used in these hints are explained in the Glossary and examples are available by clicking on the entry under “See also”. Where the hint describes a construct as “usual” this means that more help can be found in The Usual Suspects, which gives a number of the elements commonly used in the wordplay. Another useful page is Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing, which features words with meanings that are not always immediately obvious.

A full review of this puzzle will be published after the closing date for submissions.

Some hints follow.

Across

1a    Aware huge set-to sorted out once spies were here (9,5)
An anagram (sorted out) of AWARE HUGE SET-TO

10a    Someone to fleece on a farm? (7)
A cryptic definition of someone who removes the fleece from a sheep

14a    Feel cross about lease covering empty stable (6)
A verb meaning to lease around the outer letters (empty) of S[tabl]E

18a    Fifty per cent chance of drunk returning drink (4-2)
The reversal (returning) of a three-letter drunk person followed by a verb meaning to drink

24a    Typical adult too old to go topless (7)
A(dult) followed by an adjective meaning too old without its initial letter (topless)

26a    Auntie with toys, lots broken, like one that’s 6? (14)
An anagram (broken) of AUNTIE with TOYS LOTS

Down

1d    Fancy a cry (7)
A fancy or desire followed by a three-letter word meaning a, as in tuppence a bag

2d    This week’s charts played something excellent (3,4,8)
An anagram (played) of THIS WEEK’S CHARTS

4d    Temporarily in charge on stage? (6)
Two definitions

5d    In good time, taking short walk in bitter wind (8)
A word meaning in good time around (taking) most of (short) a walk

6d    Where soldiers go in battle is too much (4,3,3)
A cryptic definition

7d    Cloth worker posed with members and officials (9-2-4)
A charade of a type of cloth, a worker insect, a verb meaning posed and members or limbs

13d    Over the top and defiant when sub gets dropped (10)
When you have solved the rest of the puzzle you will see why this innocuous clue should not have been used! A thirteen-letter word meaning deiant without (gets dropped) SUB

16d    Section housing a mostly enthusiastic flier (8)
A section around (housing) the A from the clue and most of an adjective meaning enthusiastic

17d    Priest set up pilgrimage for Muslims to find prophet (6)
An Old Testament priest followed by the reversal (set up) of a pilgrimage for Muslims

23d    No limits in blue party game (4)
Drop (no limits) the outer letters from [b]LU[e] and add a party

The Crossword Club is now open.


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The Quick Crossword pun: sigh+bursar+cure+tea=cybersecurity


54 comments on “DT 29198 (Hints)

  1. Well, I think that its fair to say that I’ve found this morning’s puzzle more to my taste than the rugby (so far at least) has. I’d say that this has been far more straightforward than one or two weekend prize puzzle of late have. Some great clues; my favourites were 12 & 21 across and 19 down. Thanks to our setter and TSCC. Most enjoyable.

  2. I did enjoy this puzzle, especially the long anagrams which were fun.
    13d was surprising, in retrospect.
    Favourites were 16d and 17d.
    Now to get back to trying to ignore the rugby which husband has recorded.
    Thanks to setter, and for hints – needed 1d explaining, durr…

  3. 2*/4*. This was light but very good fun.

    When I read 2d and saw the enumeration, my first thought was that the answer was a different part of a different animal but I imagine the editor would have baulked at that. I also got a bit held up with the parsing of 5d until the penny dropped. Initially I couldn’t see beyond “good time” as referring to the first six letters of the answer.

    With lots to like, my podium comprises 18a, 1d & 6d.

    Many thanks to the setter and to BD.

    1. Same thinking here on 2d, which wife thought hilarious, but on reflection this IS the DT and sure ed would have baulked!

  4. At least with the World Cup now completed I can go back to doing my crosswords on a Saturday with total concentration, not sharing it with what has been an excellent competition. Well done to The Boks; they were the better side today.

    A really enjoyable puzzle with several worthy clues, of which the simple but clever 1d was my favourite, although the long anagrams get an honourable mention.

    Many thanks setter and BD.

  5. This was a much more enjoyable solve than yesterday. Like BD, I did have a moment’s surprise at the clue for 13d, but all in all a satisfying puzzle. Last one in 15a for no particular reason.

    Many thanks to all

  6. Nice to have the three long anagrams, especially 1A which gave a lift off for 7 downward clues.I hmm’d at 1A at first as I thought it was the American one – in which case the second word was wrong – but on look up I find we have a British one too (well, I am a yank). An enjoyable puzzle 2*/4* but not enough to pull me out of my rugby depression, coming off the back of my teams World Series loss (Houston Astros) two days ago. The red wine beckons – but it’s still too early to start!
    Thanks for hints.

  7. A thoroughly enjoyable crossword (**/****) with just enough challenge to make life interesting. I liked 2d and 7d. Thanks to BD for the hints and to the compiler. The rugby was a disappointment–I shall have to tiptoe round my other half for the rest of today!

  8. A very good SPP with just the right amount of head scratching – 2.5*/3.5*.
    Favourite – a toss-up between 18a and 7d – and the winner is 18a.
    Thanks to the setter and BD.

  9. Gave up after only managing 8 answers. Way too difficult for me. Even the hints haven’t helped.
    Probably too depressed after the rugby. England came to play rugby, South Africa went to war! Dreadful game not helped by England failing to turn up.
    *****/*

    1. Brian, you are such an enigma! You enjoyed yesterday’s horror but found this treat too difficult. We’d be so dull without you here.

          1. But yet again I’m with Brian. I was at BGT yesterday (don’t ask!) so am looking at this today and I’m not on this compiler’s wavelength. Maybe because I’ve just spent the best part of half an hour trying to explain to my mum on the phone how to send a picture via her mobile. I will persevere because I hate being beaten, but Brian I’m with you!!

  10. Good fun all round with 1&6d rising to the top of my pile.
    Slight raising of the eyebrows over 13d – shame as it would have been a good clue without the 6d competition.

    Thanks to our setter and to BD for the club.

  11. Enjoyable SPP, a good tonic after yesterday. The long anagrams took some working out, particularly 1a, I got the second word early from the checking letters, though, from memory, I thought it was a hotel?
    Like so many of my racehorses, England fell at the last fence, totally outplayed by SA, even a non rugby fan could see that, so well done to them.
    Thanks BD for the hints and Mr.Ron.

  12. A most enjoyable Saturday offering although I too was held up by getting the second part of 1a wrong. I always thought it was the place I entered that started it all. I found the single word long anagram solvable but I always struggle with long anagrams that have multiword answers.

    I had no real favourites today although 20d was satisfying and today’s pun was a delight!

    Grateful thanks to BD and the setter.

  13. Well, I finished the grid, but still can’t quite see the parsing of 13d. Haven’t we got two more letters to drop?

    Thanks to the setter and BD.

  14. I enjoyed this very much – a good mixture of the straightforward and the more complicated stuff.
    Main problems were caused by my inability to count – I do the crosswords on paper and divided 1a as 8,6 and did 7d wrong too! :roll:
    I dithered about 10a before I wrote it in as it seemed a bit too obvious and I thought I might be going for a walk up the garden path.
    I liked the four long answers and 1 and 8d.
    Thanks to the setter and to BD – perhaps one of the ‘beady-eyed ones’ should send the setter straight to the naughty corner for the 6/13d **** up!
    Rubbishy weather – going to have a go at the NTSPP or the MPP although the instructions for the latter have scrambled my brain.

  15. Very enjoyable after the shock horror of having to give up on yesterday’s offering, restored my faith in the DT Crossword as an enjoyable pastime.

    I like puzzles with these long answers as they do get you thinking sideways.

    Thanks to Setter and BD

  16. Michael Corcoran aka Corky using another tablet for the moment. I managed it all bar 13d with my own little brain but needed an electronic aid to get the word. Not bad for me at the weekend and after seeing how England had no plan B or any idea how to counter the physicality of South Africa. Dan Cole should never have returned to the side. He was trashed in the scrum and watched most of the forwards game from a safe distance. Brilliant tactics from the Books. Congratulations to them.

  17. Late cruciverbal start today after the Rugby (how disappointing) but gradually picked up speed and hey presto I made it. Northern half held out longer than the South. 6d/13d repetition is a bit unimaginative. 1d went straight in but I failed to parse it. I thought 17d pilgrimage comprised 4 letters. No Fav but enjoyed cracking the long anagrams. Thank you Mysteron and BD.

  18. Phew! Lovely treat today after yesterday’s disappointment. I only needed help to confirm the pilgrimage.
    I wonder if our setter thought that the 6/13d combo would confuse us? It certainly confused me for a bit – no, it can’t be, can it?
    Loved 15a, “the dairymaid she curtsied, and went and told …” and so on, one of my fave books, still read it.
    I think my fave is 1d, took me ages to see why, but many others were in the running.
    Thanks to our setter and to BD for his hints.

  19. Had 2 different coloured pens today and found pre rugby I had only completed 7 clues, but coming in with my red pen , it was easy to see how much I struggled earlier, I did complete it, but have to say it was a struggle,. So my thanks to BD and the setter. And thanks to our rugby team which gave of their best.

  20. Although I think I have 3 letters correct I just cannot see 20 down, a little gentle hint would be appreciated. Thanks

        1. Sorry, I have so many crossword printouts lying around – I picked up the one from last Thursday’s back-pager.

        2. I am still struggling with this, don’t understand the xxx and can’t find a word relating to lines?

          1. Welcome to the blog Duggyson

            Please only use words from the clue, not their synonyms, when commenting on prize puzzles. “boy” plus “web” (as in the World Wide Web) gives “lines”.

          1. Who cares if you’re looking at the wrong crossword and it all went a bit wrong – I think that it’s just great that you’re prepared to bail people out on a Saturday evening. You’re a star! :smile:

            1. Thanks, Kath. I actually think that just being two days out is quite a good effort – I have some printouts lying around that date back to last May.

  21. Just finished it after a very busy day. I also got hung up on 13d and my husband, who is a member of Stewards, is very tetchy about the second usage this week of a synonym for ‘row’ which he says is not viable. Mind you, he is not a happy bunny after this morning’s result …….

  22. Big thanks to the setter and Big Dave, a great puzzle, and even more enjoyable after yesterday’s mission impossible. Hope Dada is kind tomorrow.

  23. Got through this PK but was left with 26a and 16d. Got the firmer eventually but 26a was a long time coming even with all the checkers. Got there eventually without help. Made a careless mistake early on with 21a. Had another synonym and carelessly did not I had all the letters for the anagram. Favourites 9 and 12a and 1 4 and 7d. Thanks setter and big D.

  24. A fun solve. My favourites were the two big anagrams, particularly 1a, especially with the political scene in the US now. Good luck winning the fountain pen 🖋 😜🦇

  25. Weeeee! Somehow I was on the setter’s wavelength for this one (or the setter was on mine?), and I finished it in one go before breakfast, without revealing any letters, which I don’t think has ever happened for me with a Saturday prize puzzle before.

    Thank you to the setter, and to Big Dave for explaining 1d.

    My favourite was the woolly 9a.

    1. Welcome to the blog Jedley29

      9a Former partner put on performance, accompanying in woolly (7)
      Our usual former partner followed by a verb meaning to put on performance and preceded by (accompanying) IN from the clue

  26. Had a busy weekend with 10 family members so late to join the blog..
    Lost the match so all down in the dumps…
    Enjoyed the puzzle despite a slow start, looking for difficult clues as recently experienced when some were quite strait forward!
    Thanks BD for your tips as usual. Enjoyed those clever anagrams.

    ,

  27. 2*/5*….
    best puzzle for a while I thought-liked 24A amongst others ” typical adult too old to go topless (7)”

  28. Just completed today, ho-hum, couldn’t get 22a until the end, likewise 20d; 6d and 2d brilliant, as were 7d and 15 a ;thanks to bloggers, setter, big dave and DT

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