DT 29314 – Big Dave's Crossword Blog
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DT 29314

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 29314

Hints and tips by 2Kiwis

BD Rating – Difficulty **Enjoyment ****

Kia ora from Aotearoa.

Even here in NZ we live in strange times. We have effectively closed the borders, which is relatively easy to do in a nation surrounded by huge natural moats, and any travellers who do arrive are obliged to self-isolate for 14 days. For the rest of us it is a matter of ‘keep calm and carry on’ although most events where people gather in numbers have been cancelled. We are encouraged to practice ‘social distancing’ (no hugs or handshakes) and wash hands frequently while singing Happy Birthday to Me.

It is a time to really appreciate things like on-line access to regular treats such as Wednesday cryptics set by Jay.

 Please leave a comment telling us how you got on.

Across

1a     Contradiction for example accepted by people (8)
NEGATION : A people or race contains the two letters for the Latin phrase meaning ‘for example’.

5a     Expressions of disapproval must be a mistake (6)
BOOBOO : The word shouted by a disapproving crowd gets repeated.

9a     Tour abandoned by occupants reluctant to cross (8)
TRAVERSE : The first and last letters of tour (abandoned by occupants) and then a synonym for reluctant.

10a     Search part of character reference rejected (6)
FERRET : A reverse lurker, hiding in the clue.

12a     Be not as important as many? (9)
COUNTLESS : Split the answer 5,4 to get a phrase meaning be not as important.

13a     Stand, seeing everybody by empty seat (5)
STALL : The outside letters (empty) of seat and then another word for everybody.

14a     A viewer’s problem may be left out of fashion (4)
STYE : Remove L(eft) from fashion or elegance.

16a     Tries to change, keeping lines as framework for growth (7)
TRELLIS : The abbreviation for line is repeated inside an anagram (to change) of TRIES.

19a     Mind game for children? (7)
MARBLES : A double definition. The first is a slang word for brains or intelligence.

21a     Exclamation made by clumsy sailor about work? (4)
OOPS : An artistic work is enclosed by an ordinary seaman.

24a     Swimmer always found across lake (5)
ELVER : A synonym for always contains L(ake).

25a     Committed and old-fashioned about playing dice (9)
DEDICATED : Old fashioned or from a previous time contains an anagram (playing) of DICE.

27a     Popular number two’s first aim (6)
INTENT : The two letter popular, a cardinal number, and then the first letter of ‘two’.

28a     Inactive type of investor confronting new worker (8)
STAGNANT : A type of investor who buys in order to make a quick profit is followed by N(ew) and a worker insect.

29a     Boy hugging the girl must be whipped (6)
LASHED : Another word for a boy contains a female personal pronoun.

30a     Hunting animal, report a criminal pinching diamonds (8)
PREDATOR : An anagram (criminal) of REPORT A includes the card players’ abbreviation for diamonds.

Down

1d     Bill for work before leaving? (6)
NOTICE : What somebody leaving a job will give to their employer.

2d     Prepare for increased production in Prague, possibly (4,2)
GEAR UP : An anagram (possibly) of PRAGUE.

3d     Stealing newspaper? (5)
THEFT : Definite article and then the pink paper.

4d     Jobs without protection reportedly viewed as dirty (7)
OBSCENE : The two central letters (without protection) of jobs and a homophone of a word meaning viewed.

6d     One may do this after an alarming breakdown (9)
OVERSLEEP : A cryptic definition. The breakdown is of a chronological instrument.

7d     Hanger-on finding resistance in balance disturbed (8)
BARNACLE : An anagram (disturbed) of BALANCE contains the physics symbol for resistance.

8d     Not in form? Do better (8)
OUTCLASS : The opposite (not) of ‘in’ and then a form or group.

11d     Ship’s steward has a way of attracting attention (4)
PSST : A lurker, hiding in the clue.

15d     Play patience (9)
TOLERANCE : A double definition. The play could be what a mechanic might find in a bearing.

17d     Put at risk adopting a measure such as this (8)
IMPERIAL : Put at risk or endanger contains ‘A’ from the clue.

18d     Succeeded, supporting independent soldiers (8)
PRIVATES : Independent or covert is followed by S(ucceeded).

20d     Team profile (4)
SIDE : A double definition.

21d     Experienced type in The Lords working with no hotel (7)
OLDSTER : An anagram (working) of T(h)E LORDS once the radio communications letter represented by hotel has been removed.

22d     Channel that’s trustworthy, we hear (6)
STRAIT : A homophone of a synonym for trustworthy or honest.

23d     Boss on paper may see rising tendency suppressing men (6)
EDITOR : The reversal of a word meaning tendency or flow, and then men or low ranking soldiers.

26d     Locked up and cold — what 21 Down may be (5)
CAGED : C(old) plus the characteristic of the answer to 21 down.

The short answers 21a and 11d are our  top choices today.

Quickie pun    injure    +    dishes    =     injudicious

84 comments on “DT 29314

  1. Whew, finished in ***/**** time, but the SE corner took some braincells. I didn’t recognise the compiler (I rarely do), but s/he seemed to be in a quirky mood.

    COTD is 10a, only because that used to be my CB handle.

    I say I finished it, but, truth be told, I just could not parse 1d for the life of me, so thanks to the 2Ks for that, and to Mysteron.

  2. Jay was certainly having some fun with certain expressions today. I took a bit longer than normal to do this. Some answers went straight in, others I had to 10a down for. Many thanks to Jay and the 2ks.

  3. I thought this was absolutely superb, just the ticket in the present environment. To pick favourites would be to do the rest an injustice but I’ll go for the topical 26d along with 3d, 11 and 17d.
    2*/5*
    Many thanks to Jay and the 2Ks for their excellent works.

  4. A bit trickier than usual, if it’s a Jay puzzle (2.5*/3.5*) but moderately enjoyable nevertheless. I thought 6d,15d and 17d were all very good clues but wasn’t so keen on11d, 9a and 21a. Thanks to the Kiwis and to the setter.

  5. I do not know if it is a colncidence but as the news on the virus gets worse these puzzles have got even better.For me this was challenging but doable and full of smiles.For the last 3 weeks l have been able to complete a Jay puzzle and begin to understand the pleasure others have expressed for so long Sincere thanks to all.

  6. Am afraid I was a little underwhelmed by this one. All done and dusted in under ** time & with all answers fully parsed which is a rarity for me. 3d followed by 12a were my pick of the clues. Thanks to all.

  7. 3*/4.5*. I agree with the 2Ks, this was just the job to help lighten the current gloom which unfortunately is looking as if it will continue for some time. I can’t see why with hindsight but I struggled with the NW corner, which took my time up from 2* to 3*. 11d was my last one in.

    Many thanks to Jay and the 2Ks.

    P.S. If anyone is looking for some more fun today, I can recommend Eccles on top form in the Independent.

  8. A very enjoyable Wednesday challenge that was not too challenging, completed at a fast gallop – **/****.
    Candidates for favourite – 21a, 4d, 8d, and 11d – and the winner is – I can’t decide.
    Thanks to Jay and the 2Ks.

  9. Pleasant enough if not memorable. SW was last to give in. Had forgotten the 24a swimmer. No outstanding Fav but liked 6d and 15d. Quickie pun is clever. Thank you Jay and the 2Kiwis.

  10. Had a blind spot where 27a was concerned and put the wrong last letter – worked for the wordplay but not quite for the definition.
    Another really enjoyable Wednesday puzzle and I gave podium places to 21a plus 3&11d.

    Thanks to Jay for temporarily taking us out of our gloom and thanks also to the 2Ks for the review – our instruction is to sing Happy Birthday through twice whilst hand-washing, takes quite a while!

    1. If you get bored with that tune Jane there’s a clip online of Brandon Flowers washing his hands whilst singing the chorus of Mr Brightside…superb.

    2. Another enjoyable challenge from Jay, and thanks to the 2K’s for the 1d hint, which was a bung-in for me. I have been using another song for hand washing: “Ring a ring a roses, a pocketful of posies. Atishoo, atishoo, we all fall down” . Seems appropriate at the moment – you still have to sing it twice though!

  11. Sorry if not the place to ask this question
    But we live in the sticks no paper delivery service. I’m reasonably new to doing this crossword and I love it!
    Not going to be able to go out now for some weeks so… can I get the crossword daily online anywhere? Preferably to print off… I’m confused by the Telegraph website

    1. You can sign up for a (paid) subscription to the DT puzzle web site at puzzles.telegraph.co.uk/

    2. Be careful with this Una. The Telegraph have separate subscriptions for the paper and puzzles. The link you were given points I believe to the paper subscription plus one free puzzle. A bit underhand I think, but just be careful.

      1. Thank you very much.. it is very confusing . But I’ve managed to sign up for a free 7 day trial of just the puzzles. I’m sure I’ll keep it going after the trial period as it will be just what I need. I never actually read the paper !

    3. If you do not want a Telegraph Premium account + 1 free puzzle I believe you have to here:

      https://puzzles.telegraph.co.uk/subscribe?icid=puzzles_sub_herobutton

      If anyone from the Telegraph is reading, instead of this complicated maze of puzzles/premium accounts you might try a puzzles+premium account and you might get some readers … but don’t price it too high because we can get the news and comment from many sources.

      PS Una, if you accidentally signed up for premium + free puzzle ring/contact the Telegraph immediately and demand that they change it. They did for me!

  12. Just what is needed in the current circumstances, keep them coming. Lots of favourites.
    Could not parse 1d , silly me .
    Greetings to everyone , keep smiling.
    I wonder if the hoarders will catch something from those who could not buy the hand cleansers ?
    Thanks to the birds .

    1. reminiscent of the fate, in Hitchhiker’s Guide, of the other inhabitants of the planet who bundled all their middle managers into the B Ark and got rid of them … and then caught a disease from dirty telephones ( nobody left to clean them!) 🤣 In the present crisis, lots of hitherto relatively unregarded roles – e.g. supermarket workers, delivery drivers, cleaners, care workers – are suddenly more appreciated. 🙂

  13. As usual for a Wednesday, Jay has given us a terrific puzzle full of fun to lift the gloom, both meteorological and economic. I will give my COTD accolade to 6 and 11d.

    Thanks to the aforementioned and the 2Ks.

  14. Lovely puzzle and not too tricky. However the picture in 7d looks suspiciously like mussels to me! The other hangers on are more rounder and were almost impossible to prise off when we were kids. Keep safe everyone – someone up our lane has emailed offering to drop our Telegraph in every day which will save my 80 year old husband having to go out. There are some ‘ups’ to this terrible business. At last the National Trust has decided to close all the properties so I didn’t have to go in today.

    1. I am wondering if my young (55) neighbour who sold his business and does not work might just offer to save my 87 year old husband from the job. It is only a stones throw and he spends his time on a bike or tinkering with it. Dare I ask him?

    2. I’d heard that some NT properties were currently allowing people to walk in the grounds without membership, which sounds like a great way to socially distance and get healthy exercise at the same time. We have one a couple of miles from us, so I’ll see if it’s true. It would certainly make a change from otherwise boring village routes and too much sitting about.
      I’d do the garden but miserable weather again today.

      1. I have two knee replacements and 2 hip replacements. You will be so pleased when you come round from the anaaesthetic and it’s been done. Good luck both of you.

      2. In stark contrast, in our part of France all parks and gardens have been closed to prevent people gathering in numbers, which, it is assumed, they would automatically do despite the rules given the slightest opportunity …. 😢

    3. The pic for 7d shows goose or gooseneck barnacles. A bit of a change from the usual acorn variety.

  15. Jay in a most giving vein today. As I’ve said before here, he has certainly become our premier setter, but it has taken me about four years (3+ as a cowardly lurker) to appreciate his superb wit and coy intelligence. Today’s was the fastest I’ve ever finished one of his classics. It was just brilliant. Many favourites, but I’ll cite these top three: 6d, 17d, and 12a, which I think is my COTD. (It made me chuckle.) Many thanks to our Kiwi hosts and to Jay. * / **** Classical music live-streamed from the very generous Minnesota Public Radio and Hilary Mantel’s The Mirror and the Light are keeping me from terribly missing my daily baseball boxscores (one of the few American fetishes I really missed during my wonderful year at the University of Nottingham). Are any of you out there reading Mantel? If not, what are you reading…any tips to help relieve some of the gloom?

        1. And I loved it when I read it a couple years back. His Rules of Civility, very different from Gentleman, is also quite good…at times, hard to believe it’s the same writer. Nice to hear from you all–Steve C, Daisygirl, Ray S, Vancouverbc (one of my favourite cities: been there twice; the second time, via a seaplane from Victoria, most memorable!), Janie, Celia, and jane (hello again). The Faulks (especially) sounds good, and I’ve been thinking of him lately; the Banks, quite intriguing; ‘did’ Ben Hur in college (60+ years ago), and my partner Jimmy is a Galaxy fan, as was I back in that day. Good reading, all!

    1. Yes, reading Mantel and loving it, despite needing a fork lift to carry it around. Her prose is wonderful. Trying to stay ahead of Anton Lessor’s superb reading on Radio4’s Book at Bedtime, but it’s only abridged extracts. Can’t imagine Cromwell any other way than Mark Rylance…

  16. At first glance it looked tricky but all fell into place without difficulty. Like Jane, I considered intend as the answer to 27a. It seems to me that either would work. Favourite 6d.

      1. Quite right. I had “d” at the end and needed the hint to get the correct answer.

      2. I had it down as IN (popular) followed by T (two’s first) plus END (aim). Only falls apart when you come to the definition.

        1. I had exactly the same thought about ‘intend’ …but as you say, it falls apart.

  17. A nice straightforward Jay puzzle to start my Wednesday crossword solving. Lovely sunny day here so I’ve been interspersing sorting out the garden with crosswords. I’d second RD’s recommendation of today’s Eccles in the Independent

    Thanks to Jay and the 2Ks

    1. Just done the Qaos crossword in the Grauniad which I thoroughly enjoyed (couple of 12 letter across clues are crackers).

  18. I found this offering from Jay quite a challenge with help being needed in the SW corner. The rest fell into place quite slowly but without the aid of electronic assistance. Despite being a slow fill in, the puzzle was most entertaining and satisfaction level was high. 15d was a bung in for me but all became clear when I read the two Kiwis’ hint for the clue. That particular meaning for “play” had eluded me. My COTD is 6d but I also loved 3d because of the lightbulb it created!

    Grateful thanks to Jay for the puzzle and to the 2K’s for the hints.

  19. Challenging **** difficulty for me. NW and SE completed quickly. SW took a lot longer and then needed help with 11d and 16a.

    Spent ages trying to work out an anagram of ‘must be’ in 5a .

    I still struggle to identify lurkers – 11d – but overall very enjoyable.

  20. Perhaps a little trickier than ** but then I always struggle with Jay puzzles. I really like 6d, very clever.
    Needed a bit of electronic help asp in the top left and thx for the hints to explain some of my answers.
    Ah well back to the projects that Mrs B has been saving for me.
    **.5/***
    Thx to all

  21. Most enjoyable although I did not know a steward was a PS is it short for purser? Had a call from the Nuffield this morning to confirm my pre op tomorrow it looks as though my knee will be done next Wednesday – but I’m not holding my breath. Thank to everyone for the distraction!

    1. It’s a lurker. I didn’t realise and tried to convince myself that ps meant purser. :grin:

          1. I have two knee replacements and 2 hip replacements. You will be so pleased when you come round from the anaaesthetic and it’s been done. Good luck both of you.

  22. Finished in two cafetierre time with the exception of 21d which I needed hints for, and of course it was a doh moment. Well the hatches are well and truly battened down here in North Cornwall. The Hilary Mamtel trilogy arrived today so thats some reading sorted out. Luckily paper delivered to end of drive, stores laid in, and mountains of dog food.
    Thanks to the 2Ks happy birthday to 1K and thanks to Jay.

    1. Afraid that it is not someone’s birthday today. The recommendation for complete hand-washing is that it should take as long to do a thorough job as it takes to sing Happy Birthday right through twice. There are other options when one needs a change of tune.

  23. As MalcolmR remarked the SE corner was very tricky and took the puzzle into *** territory. I thought 21a was a fine amusing clue for only four letters and beautifully clued. Thanks to the 2Ks for their very necessary south easterly help and to Jay if indeed it was him. If not thank you to the mystery setter.

  24. A really clever puzzle today thank you Jay and 2Ks my favourite is 3d for simplicity

  25. Excellent puzzle today. Numerous COTD candidates but I’ve gone for 10a, clever
    reverse lurker, also 3 and 6d. These raised a chuckle. Last to go in was 18d. The V gave it away but I’m not convinced about the synonym for independent. Thanks for the explanation 2Ks. Big thanks to the setter too🦇

  26. I am very new to the DT cryptically but really enjoy them especially the excellent tips that are available online when I need a ‘nudge.’ My question is how on earth do you know who the compilers are? They are not published as far as I know!

    1. Welcome to the blog George.
      If you click on FAQ at the top of the page then question #28 will give you the information you are looking for.

  27. **/****. Very enjoyable puzzle with a few quirky answers. My favourite was 11d once I saw the lurker. Thanks to the 2Ks and Jay. Self isolating after getting out of Buenos Aires by the skin of our teeth although there’s little sign of the virus in South America. We were also the last visitors to the Iguazu Falls National Park which has closed along with all the other NPs.

  28. Late again to say what a super puzzle we had today. Solved quickly enough but trying to think of a ships steward at 11d abbreviated to PS took too long. We had the ST from way. Eventually I thought if all else fails look for a lurker and there it was. Thanks to Jay for the puzzle and to the 2Ks for the hints.

  29. I too was troubled by 11dn … the old rule is that if it doesn’t make sense look for a lurker! Just need to remember the rules👀

    Challenging in places.

    Thanks 2K and Jay

  30. Perfect Jay! I needed the hints for the “why” of 1d and 27a, the latter was wrong at the end.
    Last in was the SW corner, but the rest went in pretty smartly.
    I loved lots, I thought 19a was very slick, 12a smile worthy, and 6d maybe fave, not sure.
    Thanks Jay and to the 2Kiwis for the help with unravelling of a couple.

  31. Morning all.
    Out of bed now although it is still not daylight here. The lure of seeing what people have been saying about the puzzle is just too great on Thursday mornings.
    Looks like another fine autumnal day in store for us. Just right for outdoor activities and forgetting all about viruses for a while.
    Cheers.

  32. So enjoyed this today, and managed it all on my own, which doesn’t happen very often. No particular favourite, although 5a made me smile.
    Thanks to all.

  33. Managed to make it back from Avignon with very few trains and even fewer people. I believe everyone in France is now safely where they should be.
    As for the crossword, I could hardly get a foothold in the SW.
    Needed the hints to finish as my brain went all mushy.
    Enjoyable nonetheless.
    Liked 6d.
    Thanks to Jay and to 2kiwis for the review.

  34. Enjoyed this very much . Stumbled at 27a so no hurrah today.

    Thanks to Jay and to the 2 Kiwis

    Keep safe , everyone.

  35. Where do I start? I took the advice to heart that if you’re over 70 or at risk don’t go to the pub. As neither of these apply to me, the first one only by a couple of years I might add, I went to the pub! I was amazed by the community spirit. As long as you drink liquid at least every 15 minutes you will wash the virus into your stomach where it will die so you will be safe. I managed to do that easily. Did the crossword reasonably easily, unusually for me with a Jay. My phone is about to turn off, so for anyone who was aware my old boy passed away peacefully in his sleep this afternoon. Bye bye Taz you were a good boy.

    1. I’m really so very sorry to hear your best friend crossed over the rainbow bridge. Godspeed!

    2. Sorry to hear you have lost a good companion. It is devastating when it happens and leaves a huge hole. We have lost five so far- all Labs – and it doesn’t get easier.

  36. This was excellent. My last corner in was NW with 1d stumping me as to parsing although I realised bill was a synonym. Anyway no hints needed and a very quick solve. Unusually for me I have only noted four favourites 14 and 16a and 4 and 6d. Obviously there are more if I look but I often count them as favourites when they take a long time and the penny drops. In fact I will add 19a. All bloggers are very benign. I was expecting complaints from certain quarters about clues such as 5 and 21a and 11d. I consider current problem in the world to be a world wide disease around a retreating sea. Thanks Jay and 2Ks.

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