DT 29281 (Hints) – Big Dave's Crossword Blog
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DT 29281 (Hints)

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 29281 (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    Hungry strict religious group given food outside (8)
A strict religious group inside a three-letter verb meaning given food

10a    Yet this is how all-seater stadiums are (15)
Split this wonderful English word as (3,4,8)

12a    Get along fine mostly putting donkey in prestigious event (7)
Most of a colloquial verb meaning to get along fine around a donkey

15a    Just offside? (5)
This is the off side to a batsman who is not left-handed

20a    Dislike state’s entity having charge (8)
A four-letter verb meaning to state, the S from ‘S and entity that has a charge

26a    Emaciated condition in lank lads treated by doctor (3,4,3,5)
An anagram (treated) of IN LANK LADS followed by a colloquial word for a doctor

27a    Speaking role finally censored from ‘Love Actually’ (6)
A score of love in tennis followed by an adverb meaning actually without (censored from) the final letter of [rol]E

28a    Block group from circa 1970 reaching number one (8)
A 1970s group (without their definite article!) followed by the position occupied when one is number one

Down

1d    Heartless Scandinavian murder? (6)
Drop the middle letter (heartless) from a Scandinavian

2d & 3d    Field of research that could produce essential ceramic (9,7)
This interdisciplinary field of research involving the properties of matter and its applications is an anagram (could produce) of ESSENTIAL CERAMIC

7d    Leaves American university so upset about it (5)
A US university inside (about it) the reversal (upset in a down clue) of SO from the clue

8d    After slump a financial centre shows good sense (8)
A three-letter slump followed by the A from the clue and London’s financial centre

14d    Tribal leader making a lot of noise (8)
Split as (4,4) this could be a tribal leader

16d    Stop fool flying — it’s not worth much apparently (9)
Split as (6,3) this could mean to stop a fool from flying

17d    Two jazz fans going head to head, coming in so jumpily? (8)
Two three-letter jazz fans, the first reversed (going head to head) inside SO from the clue

21d    Fail to pay attention that’s small inconvenience (7)
S(mall) followed by an inconvenience

22d    Fashion shops stocking unknown fragrant plant (6)
An anagram (fashion) of SHOPS around a mathematical unknown

24d    Dressing for dance (5)
… dressing here is a noun

25d    Dance beat requiring energy (5)
A verb meaning to beat followed by some energy

The Crossword Club is now open.


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The Quick Crossword pun: writers+reign=right as rain


66 comments on “DT 29281 (Hints)

  1. A nicely challenging puzzle, particularly in the SE, where I needed some electronic help. I liked 10a and 26a but there were lots of other great clues rhanks to the setter and to BD for the hints.

  2. Not sure who the setter is but somehow there was a fresh feel about today’s puzzle. It was an entertaining exercise helped considerably by 10a going straight in and then becoming a Fav together with 11a and 16d. Never heard of the 28a group and am obviously being very stupid but can’t fully parse 27a. I suppose 21d after small = inconvenience if one thinks of it as verb. Thank you Mysteron and BD.

    1. I found this s bit strange, but enjoyed most of it. Still can’t fully explain 11a, bit suspect that is down to a gap in my knowledge. Thanks to all, and batten down the hatches!

      1. And once again my comment appears as a reply. Any technical suggestions from anybody other than ‘get a new phone’?

        1. That has happened to me before on the rare occasions I have used my phone
          I think it is simply that when you try to scroll through comments it is difficult not to accidentally hit a comment, thus replying
          Try using the ‘down’ arrow at the end of the menu to make sure you are at the bottom of the post
          Do you not get a scroll bar on the RHS?

          1. Many thanks Roy, no scroll bar to be seen , but after several years I have discovered the down arrow!

  3. I too got a little held up in the SE, but got there in *** time in the end.

    I couldn’t see where the first half of 23a came from, and I’m sure you can have a 25a without horses.

    16d is my COTD, as it was my LOI, and I never knew those were the same as those in the picture above, he said, hopefully avoiding the naughty step!

    Thanks to the setter and BD.

  4. The bottom right corner probably took me as long as all the rest put together, but I really enjoyed this Saturday workout.

    Like Angellov 10a went straight in for me too and it’s my favourite as I agree with BD – lovely word.

    Many thanks to setter and BD as always for the club.

  5. Hmm, or Hmms perhaps, as many of them, if not more, candidates for favourite including 1d, 16d, and 21d and a bit of a departure from recent SPPs. Completed at a fast canter – 2.5*/2.5*.
    Candidates for favourite – 10a, 8d, and 17d – and the winner is 10a.
    Thanks to the setter and BD.

  6. 10a my clear winner this morning from this very enjoyable and tricky-in-places puzzle. A really good clue mix added to the overall challenge. Great fun.

    Thanks to our Saturday setter and BD. Lets hope the weather doesn’t spoil the rugby this afternoon, particularly in Edinburgh.

  7. 2*/2.5*. This was quite straightforward for the most part, although a few clues took some teasing out. I would have awarded 3* for enjoyment but I docked half-a-star for 16d. The answer itself is not what is used to describe something which is not worth much and just adding “apparently” doesn’t really help.

    My joint favourites were 10a & 11a.

    Many thanks to the setter and to BD.

    1. If you look up 16d in the dictionary and then think laterally, you’ll see that the second part of the clue will make sense

      1. I understand that, CS, but I think it’s a step too far – an “indirect synonym” perhaps? :unsure:

        We had better not debate it too much detail today as I want to watch rugby this afternoon rather than do penance in the naughty corner.

    2. Actually, the answer does relate to worthless. It is an historic connection but I will say no more for fear of the naughty step.

  8. Definitely a *** for difficulty and as most are saying it’s the SE corner that moved it into that category. But a very enjoyable puzzle which deserves **** for enjoyment. 1, 11, and 28 across, my favourites. Thanks to BD and our unidentified setter. Enjoy the sunshine before the storm everyone.

  9. I’m with Senf today – quite a few that didn’t quite work for me. I also didn’t know the field of research but that’s doubtless just ignorance on my part.
    Favourite was 10a.

    Thanks to our setter and to BD for the club – enjoyed the instrumentals on the video clip but as far as vocals are concerned I much prefer the version from Jose Feliciano.

    1. Completely agree re JF version. One of many examples of what for me are covers better than the original – Bobby Womack’s California Dreamin’ & Jeff Buckley’s Hallelujah come to mind.

  10. I have an Hons degree in 2D so was pleased to see this rarely discussed subject given some publicity, and would recommend this subject to anyone’s grandchildren as it is interesting and we currently have a shortage so salaries are high. I loved the puzzle today, some amusing and clever clues – an almost perfect puzzle for my mindset. A 1.5\4.5* for me. I also enjoyed seeing 10A, the English for once using the German habit of joining multiple words into one – although we have a long way to beat their longest word – Donaudampfschiffahrtsgesellschaftskapitan – if I’ve spelled it correctly that’s 42 letters, what a beautiful language they have. Thanks to BD and setter.

    1. Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis is 45 letters I believe but, in all honesty, I can’t be bothered to count them!

    2. Chris Rich I had no idea what your profession incorporated but Mr. Google informs me it is very multi-disciplined (wont specify those disciplines for fear of naughty corner)!

      1. Floxinoxinihilipilification is the longest non scientific word in the English language. You don’t hear it often!

        1. A playground joke – floxi …..etc is a very long word – can you spell it? The answer was, of course I T. I believe Churchill famously used it during the war.

    3. You need another “f” after “schiff”. What about “Rindfleischetikettierungsüberwachungsaufgabenübertragungsgesetz”? This was the official word for a law for the testing of beef, introduced during the BSE crisis, but abandoned later.

  11. I agree with other comments. This was a nice Saturday puzzle with some great clues and a few a bit stretched but I will list 10a and 8d as faves. 5a looks like a device that the setter should use sparingly. Maybe 24 and 25d could have been linked in some way.
    Thanks to BD and setter

  12. An enjoyable puzzle today. As others have said, the SE corner held out the longest for me as well. Favourites are 10a and 17d.

    Thank you to today’s setter and to BD for the hints and the video of The Doors.

  13. What a brilliant puzzle! Took a bit of starting but then some great clues to admire like 16d and 28a although 10a may go down as my all time favourite clue.
    Thx to this setter and for the hints.
    ***/*****

  14. I really enjoyed this but admit to finding some of it quite tricky.
    Unlike all the smarty-pants people who got 10a straightaway it was my last one in – spent ages trying to find the right number of letters for an anagram.
    2&3d took ages even though I knew it was an anagram – I have heard of it but it just wouldn’t pop into my head.
    Oh – I thought 15a was football or rugby or something with a bigger ball anyway. :oops:
    I was particularly dim about 20a – just don’t ask . . .
    I liked 1 and 13a and 1 and 14d. I think my favourite was probably 11a.
    With thanks to the setter and to BD.
    On to the NTSPP now.

    1. If Gnomey’s not back from his ‘Milestone Birthday holiday in Mexico’ before Friday, you’ll see then what I thought (and the BRB agrees) 15a referred to!

      1. My first thought was sport related, and it elicited a big hmm. Then the penny dropped …

  15. Agree with the consensus re today’s crossword. Some super clues and a couple of head scratchers. Completed in *** time but unable to parse the first 5 letters of 13a assuming I’m at the correct location.
    Thanks to all.

    1. Think Latin and a compass point. Lovely puzzle done over lunch in lovely sunshine. Beware the storm tomorrow. Many thanks to all

  16. ***/****. Read through last night with barely a single answer. This morning it mostly fell into place with a few pauses to hmm and arr. my favourites were 10&27a and least liked were 16d and 28a. Thanks to the setter and BD.

  17. Steady enjoyable solve with some good worded clues that required a little bit of thinking. Not much else to say.
    2.5*/4*
    Favs 10ac & 17d.
    Thanks to setter & BD for review.

    1. All I can say is Ronnie – never assume next door words are connected…
      The first part is In a foreign language.
      I found this entertaining and did not for once rely on occasional hints. Useful though for checking. I needed to finish before the England match and hope they do better than last
      week ! Thanks to BD and Mr. Ron

  18. Very enjoyable for a Saturday puzzle. Favourite 11a – first two words are a slang term. Thanks to BD and setter.

  19. Enjoyable Saturday puzzle, many thanks to setter.
    A few parsings to chech.
    Thanks BD

  20. I wouldn’t call that exactly straightforward but enjoyable it certainly was, well worth struggling over.
    I found a couple in the SW too difficult and needed the hints. Big problem was that I didn’t know how to spell 19d, reversing the last two letters.
    So many to like, 10a was tops, following the crowd, but many others were fun; 26a, 17d, 13a, and lots more.
    Thanks to our setter and to BD for the hints. Chilly here, a la Mimi, my tiny hand is frozen!

  21. Have read all the above comments and have an answer for 11a which I can parse but not get to mean the answer. Help please!

    1. Sorry to barge in, Acrostic, but perhaps some people haven’t heard of what the first two words of the clue can mean, in slang language.

  22. Misspelled 19d, which didn’t help at all, but some lovely words today. 10a, 26a, and 28a favourites! As always, many thanks to BD and the setter! 🌞

  23. Point of order Mr Chairman, 1ds are not Scandinavians. Just ask one. Otherwise a good challenge. Thanks to the setter and BD🦇

  24. Liked that puzzle which looked a lot more challenging on initial read than it was once answers started appearing.

  25. Very good Saturday prize.
    Liked the mythical creature in 6d.
    Thanks to the setter and to BD for the club.

  26. Overall, enjoyed this much more than many Saturday Prizes. 16d and 28a a bit iffy, but made up for by 10a and the wonderful 2&3d which was my favourite. Thanks to the setter and to BD for confirming 28a

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