DT 29326 – Big Dave's Crossword Blog
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DT 29326

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 29326

Hints and tips by 2Kiwis

BD Rating – Difficulty ***Enjoyment ****

Kia ora from Aotearoa.

Our walk this morning was entirely through thick fog. It felt like even the weather had decided to go into lockdown mode. It didn’t last too long though and once it disappeared out to sea we were left with a beautiful calm autumn day.

We thought Jay was a bit tricky in places today so have opted for 3 stars for difficulty.

Please leave a comment telling us how you got on.

Across

1a     Number act in haste, upset about drug (11)
ANAESTHETIC : An anagram (upset) of ACT IN HASTE includes the abbreviation for the drug ecstasy.

9a     Suitable material? (9)
PINSTRIPE : A cryptic definition of something used for businessmen’s attire.

10a     Cancel credit accepted by reserve (5)
SCRUB : Cr(edit) is included in a word for somebody ‘on the bench’ in a team sport.

11a     Give confidence when certain (6)
ASSURE : A synonym for when and then one for ‘certain’.

12a     Blow ration after late meal with no starter (8)
UPPERCUT : Remove the first letter from a late meal and follow this with a ration or portion.

13a     Feature of group given task (6)
DETAIL : A double definition. The latter is often used in a military sense.

15a     Candidate pairs off with worker (8)
ASPIRANT : An anagram (off) of PAIRS plus a worker insect.

18a     Spoilt absurd pipe dream with no source of income (8)
PAMPERED : An anagram (absurd) of P(i)PE DREAM once the first letter of income has been removed.

19a     Local dispute resulting in burial site (6)
BARROW : A local watering hole and then a dispute or tiff.

21a     Story of euphoria after the end of winter (8)
RELATION : The final letter of winter and then euphoria or high delight.

23a     A social climber sent back one plant such as this (6)
BONSAI : The reversal of ‘A’ from the clue and a social climber with pretensions and finally, the Roman numeral one.

26a     Article covering origins of import tariff and tax (5)
TITHE : The first letters of import and tariff are inside the definite article.

27a     Brown agrees to be different wearing these! (9)
DUNGAREES : Brown or mouse-coloured and then an anagram (to be different) of AGREES.

28a     Sweet maiden adopted by court officer depressed (11)
MARSHMALLOW : A court officer or an American law enforcer contains the cricket abbreviation for maiden and then a synonym for depressed.

Down

1d     Praise a very quiet lad welcoming university (7)
APPLAUD : ‘A’ from the clue, the music letters signifying very quiet, and then U(niversity) is enclosed by ‘lad’ from the clue.

2d     Family members making trips topless? (5)
AUNTS : Remove the first letter from trips or pleasant journeys.

3d     Dark, rough sea, about to go to bed (9)
SATURNINE : An anagram (rough) of SEA surrounds a 4,2 phrase meaning go to bed.

4d     Greet with shock, finally changing sides (4)
HAIL : Start with shock that might grow on one’s scalp and change the last letter from one ‘side’ to the other.

5d     Very French advance must be a sin (8)
TRESPASS : The French word for very and then an amorous advance.

6d     Social status of Conservative having lost seat (5)
CASTE : The single letter abbreviation for Conservative and then an anagram (lost) of SEAT.

7d     Environment somewhat protected by Panama? (7)
HABITAT : A 1,3 phrase meaning somewhat is inside what a panama is an example of.

8d     Home comfort offered by a marine professor’s position (8)
ARMCHAIR : ‘A’ from the clue, then a royal marine is followed by a word for a university professor’s position.

14d     Tense wild tale about European politician and model (8)
TEMPLATE : The abbreviation for tense and an anagram (wild) of TALE enclose E(uropean) and a Member of Parliament.

16d     Transcribe aria to man and his sweetheart (9)
INAMORATA : An anagram (transcribe) of ARIA TO MAN.

17d     Instrument that’s used by logger? (8)
RECORDER : A double definition. This logger enters data for an archive.

18d     Prudish play on words about girl being educated (7)
PURITAN : A three letter play on words surrounds the girl being educated in a 1980’s movie.

20d     Political enforcer understood logger’s requirement (7)
WHIPSAW : A parliamentary party enforcer and then understood or comprehended.

22d     A bit of weather must heat unit (5)
THERM : A lurker, hiding in the clue.

24d     Small source of water is fine for an American (5)
SWELL : S(mall) and then a source of water that may have a windlass and bucket.

25d     Measure part of mountain chain (4)
INCH : And our second lurker of the day to finish.

Our favourite of the day is 9a for its sheer simplicity.

Quickie pun   parse    +    hymn    +    any    =    parsimony

84 comments on “DT 29326

  1. Usual good stuff from Jay . Particularly liked 23A and 3D .
    Greetings to NZ and to the 2 Ks .
    It is that time of the year again when UK & NZ weather is similar .

  2. 2*/5*. Jay never fails to entertain and he demonstrates exactly how to use a girl as part of the wordplay. It was also fun to see two very different types of logger included.

    I can’t begin to pick a single favourite or even a podium choice from such a fine selection.

    Many thanks to the three birds.

  3. A bit on the easier side, I thought, but very enjoyable, elegant clueing.
    18d made me smile.
    Many thanks Jay and 2Kiwis for the nicely illustrated review.

  4. Fabulous puzzle, for which I needed a tad of electronic help for confirmation of a couple in the SE. I don’t think I’ve ever come across transcribe as an anagram indiactor in 16d before but it had to be.
    When I first encountered 1a I quoted The Who to myself “I won’t get fooled again” and thankfully I didn’t so that helped in the quite tricky NE where all my highlights reside…..3 (great word),4 and 7d along with 9a. Honourable mention to 24d too!
    Agree with the ratings of the 2Ks, and many thanks to them and to Jay for their sterling works.

  5. Another excellent puzzle from Jay (**/****). There were lots of great clues and I liked 28a, 3d abd 7d, although it was hard to pick favourites. Thank you to the two Kiwis. It’s colder than it’s been all winter here but at least it’s dry and sunny,at times. Its great for diffing my vegetable plot and pruning shrubs. It keeps me occupied, whilst in isolation. Thanks to Jay for doing your bit to keep us cheerful

    1. I was wondering what you were doing when ‘diffing’ but then realised what you must be doing! Silly me!

  6. Not too taxing today, but a thoroughly enjoyable ride.

    For no obvious reason 17d was my last one in. My favourites were all in the top left corner.

    Many thanks to the 2Ks and Jay

  7. Our lives may be changing in so many different ways, but one thing remains constant: the consistent excellence of Wednesday puzzles. I thought this one was an example of Jay close to the top of his game, with the simple brevity of 9a making it my favourite, as well as being my last entry. Great stuff.

    Thanks to the aforementioned and the 2Ks.

  8. Jay enjoyable as ever and by and large relatively benevolent. Managed to finish unaided in bang on *** time with 9a my last in & the big hold up. You always learn something new with crosswords (only to promptly forget it) and wasn’t aware of this particular 19a meaning but obvious from the wordplay. Must confess to annoyingly needing 2K’s review to parse my 28a bung in which I ought to have spotted. 3d narrowly pips 8d as my pick of the clues.
    Pretty overcast out but thankfully dry – today’s walk over the golf course will have the Doobie Brothers for company.
    Thanks to all.

  9. I struggled at first until I had a few answers and checking letters. Speeded up towards the end, once I was in the right mindset. 9a was my favourite clue. It was followed by 27a. I remember those days well. I had a red pair.

  10. Lovely sunny day here – when I went for a walk around the marsh, the skylarks were singing which was wonderful

    The crossword was also wonderful as usual on a Wednesday. Quite friendly and lots of lovely clues throughout, but I think 9a has to take top prize

    Thanks to Jay and the 2Ks

    1. Is that the marsh on the Isle of Harty by any chance? I was there last Sunday, and I saw a pair of rheas, like the ones you mentioned yesterday, in someones menagerie. I guess Sheppey would count as east Kent.

      1. No further east in Kent than Sheppey – we are on the border marked by the Wantsum between the Kent ‘mainland’ and the Isle of Thanet

        The rheas belong to a small holding that has sheep, turkeys and all sorts. I believe they keep the rheas to get eggs to sell to other people, presumably for breeding purposes as one rhea egg would make a mighty omelette

        1. Rheas I was informed by a specialist stock holder, of all sorts of fowl and beast, are very protective. Anyone entering their area is given a loud greeting! Humans and animals, especially foxes!!

    2. Isn’t it great to be able to hear the birds? We live in the country but next to a main road that seems to attract lorries and boy racers. All is quiet now. Visitors to our garden include, Goldfinches, Redcaps, Wrens, Woodpeckers (not sure whether great or lesser spotted but definitely not green) and House Martens (although not yet).

  11. Life can be perverse sometimes, when you have all day set aside for Jay ….. you sail through. Enjoyable and clever **/****

    1. Slightly changing your alias from Cotswold_Lad sent you into moderation. Both should work in future

  12. That was a slightly trickier Jay than usual. Not helped by bunging the wrong answer into 10a – Is SAP a trees reserve of “food”?
    I did like the Logger clues and they get my vote for podium status along with 8d. I missed the relevance of Suit in 9a and that is my LOI – Not written in as per MP’s instructions to save Ink/Graphite.
    Not much to eat today I find the attraction of 28a pales quickly and they become sickly after too many.
    Thanks to Jay and 2K’s

    1. Well done John Bee. The worlds supplies of ink and graphite are finite. Time is running out for both

      1. I only use graphite and as I’ve already got loads of them, inherited mainly from my father, it seems madness not to use them. When the supply runs out maybe I’ll consider going electronic. That could be some time though.

  13. Lovely crossword **/**** 😃 very enjoyable Favourites 28a & 3d 🤗 Thanks to the 2xKs and to Jay. It must be getting close to the annual sighting of the migrating Bar-tailed Godwits 🤔

  14. Thoroughly enjoyable and a satisfying solve completed without hints. Lots of good clues and it is difficult to pick out one for the top slot but I did like 9a and 20d.

    Grateful thanks to Jay for the enjoyment. Thanks also to the 2K’s. I did not need the hints but enjoy reading them.

    I seem to be having a good run this week. Probably go haywire tomorrow!

  15. Jay at his best, just right for a Wednesday, completed at a gallop – **/*****.
    Candidates for favourite – 28a, 17d, and 18d – and the winner is 17d.
    Thanks to Jay and the 2Ks.

  16. As YS commented, thank goodness we still have the consistent excellence of Wednesday’s puzzle to rely on in these testing times.
    Couldn’t for the life of me think of the 20d political enforcer and I needed to find him in order to shed light on the 23a plant so those were my last two to go into the grid.
    Plenty to smile about but 9a gets the accolades here.

    Thanks to Jay and to our 2Ks – pleased to hear that you are still permitted to take your morning walks.

  17. I enjoyed this especially the penny drop 9a.

    Is no one else disturbed by 23a? This Japanese custom of mutilating a living tree gives me the creeps. Was it Ronald Dahl told a tale of screaming plants?

    1. It’s actually a natural phenomenon copied and improved by the Japanese. To produce living miniature objects that mimic the real thing in a small environment. Personally I can see no problem. Consider a hedge that had to be trimmed. Absolutely no difference and beautiful.

    2. But I did see a tv play years and years ago where some poor people could hear the plants scream every time they were pruned or cut. Gave me the creeps. And it sometimes comes back to mind when out there with my pruning shears. A bit like “Jaws” never quite goes away when swimming in the ocean. You wish you’d never seen either.

    3. Yes, I clearly remember that episode of Tales of the Unexpected! I had the pleasure of meeting Roald in the early ‘80s when he showed us schoolchildren a ball of silver paper that he had made from collected sweet wrappers, and a replacement hip part. Very enjoyable puzzle which took us a couple of days to complete. 13a went in last. Thanks and greetings from New York.

  18. All has already been said.Just brilliant.From fearing a Wednesday Jay l now look forward to them.Thankyou l look forward with some trepidation to whateverThursday brings.

  19. Having returned to doing the DT cryptic after many years I am woefully out of practice and your help was much appreciated. I will be using you again to re-educate myself thank you.

  20. Another thoroughly enjoyable puzzle completed without help. But this infernal new Telegraph app is a DISASTER. I can only see one clue at a time. I tried ringing the paper but of course there is no-one there. It must be a man who came up with this absurd idea! Telegraph please sort it.

  21. The brilliant Jay does it again; this was just wonderful, with everything one looks for in one of his masterpieces: wit, joy, playful anagrams, and sheer amusement (the laughing type, as in 23a, my LOI and the COTD). Very full podium: 23a,19a, 28a (very sweet), 4d, 16d, 17d. Finished in record time for a Jay puzzle, * / ***** (senf-ully galloping?). With thanks to the 2Ks and especially Jay.

    As if we didn’t have enough to worry about, last night tornado alerts as 70 mph thunderstorms swept through the Carolina Lowcountry, but apparently only the poor trees really suffered. And before that, the DoDo in DC put on another dismally macabre monologue, in which he talked to himself for aeons, saying that a loss of 100,000 lives wouldn’t be bad considering….!!!

  22. Fairly straightforward, though had to check the spellings of 1a and 16d.
    Last one in 9a – had to be from the checkers but even after confirming with the blog took some minutes to see the cleverness of the clue. Also liked the two loggers.

  23. We are being spoilt this week by the DT or at least I am, another excellent puzzle. My favs were 9a and 3d both clever clues.
    No weird words and nothing even vaguely religious.
    Thx to all
    ***/*****

  24. Superb. As always. So thanks to Jay. Thanks to the 2Ks for blogging. Last one solved but not put in was 9ac which I twigged immediately after asking Saint Sharon to have a look at it and before she uttered the answer. Favourite clue 23ac. My pal opened a shop selling Bonsai trees. He was so successful that he was able to move to smaller premises.

  25. Another cracking puzzle nothing to taxing for the old grey matter. Either I’m getting brighter (!) or are crosswords getting slightly simpler. Having just said that I am expecting tomorrows to be a stinker.
    Walked the cliffs today in solitary splendour, it was lovely to hear the skylarks just starting up for spring. I have several pairs of long tailed tits in the garden busy nest building.
    Thanks to Jay and 2Ks

  26. Ha ha Miffypopspops. You should be put on the naughty step for that. Your pal could open up some branches. Agree with everyone and everything. Smiling all over my face today, the lovely consultant who was supposed to give me a new knee this time last week rang me this morning to see how I was and apologise in person for letting me down. How is that for a caring professional?🥰

  27. I can’t tell whether I am getting better at Jay’s puzzles or today’s puzzle is easier than usual as I finished it without needing the hints. If the first I contradict most of the posters who talk about his excellent consistency. If the second then someone has given me something to raise my IQ by a large amount.

    I apologize for contradicting almost everybody but I do think today’s puzzle is easier than usual but everyone is right about its excellence.

    Did you notice that if you follow the instruction in 18a you get what every health and care worker is dreaming about. Let’s hope it won’t be a pipe dream.

    Thanks to Jay and the two Ks. 9a, 23a, and 7d my favourites.

    1. I agree Corky – I must be on the right wavelength as this was a R and W for me but very enjoyable for all that

  28. I think we’re all agreed another fine Jay puzzle albeit quite mild. I am in the 9a club as far as a favourite is concerned with 23a and 18d worth mentioning in despatches. The Toughie is reasonably benign today for anone interested.

  29. A beautiful puzzle today, so clever and so brilliantly clued. Many thanks to Jay and the 2 kiwis.

  30. Enjoyable puzzle today after a few tricky days. 9a was favourite once the penny dropped. Needed help parsing my bung-in for 4d.

  31. Thanks to Jay and to the 2 Kiwis for the review and hints. I enjoyed this one very much, a lovely puzzle from Jay. I was on the right wavelength, so no holdups at all. Last in was 9a. I liked 23a, but my favourite was 3d. Was 2*/4* for me.

  32. Made a couple of mistakes by rashly writing Scrap in 10a like John Bee and Saturnate in 3d.
    These scribbles rendered my grid far from immaculate.
    Thanks to Jay for the usual Wednesday excellence and to 2 kiwis for the review.

  33. ***/*****. Such fun! I had a couple of brain fades – my worst was 6d when I initially thought it was C, L, ASS but then thought even Jay wouldn’t be so risqué. I had to look up 16d to check its meaning. My favourites were 3d and 19a (the only place I recall seeing this word in this context was in Tolkien’s works). Thanks to Jay and the 2Ks.

  34. I found this straightforward but enjoyable with the exception of 9a which I didn’t like….

  35. Apart from 16d this was **/****

    16d is one of those horrible foreign (almost never used) words that are difficult to remember how to spell even once you suffer the first use of it.

    1. Probably before your time, but Dean Martin had a hit with that in it. I have it on my shuffle when I go in the pool.

  36. I still like Jay Days the best, I’m right on wavelength. I needed the hints to unravel 13a.
    I reluctantly nominate 9a for fave, it took as long as the rest of the puzzle to solve, batting my head against the wall, but is it ever clever! I like 3d as well, lovely word.
    Thanks to Jay, wotta lotta fun, with thanks to the 2Kiwis for your snapshot of NZ again, always enjoy that.

  37. Took well into allotted time to complete, but completed it was & a very enjoyable puzzle indeed.
    3*/4.5*! I cannot allot favourites as there are so many good clues.
    Quickie pun was also superb.
    With thanks to Jay & 2KWs for review

  38. Morning all.
    We feel we are in good company with all the people who started off trying to justify SCRAP for 10a. Soon sorted though.
    Another foggy morning dawning here but we don’t mind as long as it clears to a beautiful fine day as it did yesterday.
    Stay safe, well and sane everyone.
    Cheers.

  39. There was I hoping against hope that I’d finally turned the corner and was on the same wavelength as Jay but always in the back of my mind I was thinking I’ll bet this will be a 1*, I’ll bet this will be a 1*. 3*’s deep joy, happiness unbounded. I’m sure next week I’ll be back in the same boat as I normally am, adrift at sea. Still one has to take life’s pleasures as and when they arise. Like most favourite was 9a. Many many thanks to Jay and 2K’s. I finished earlier tonight due to a lack of interruptions, which of course means none of my friends can be bothered to contact me.

  40. A worthy challenge today, thanks to Jay and the 2Kiwis. Would have really enjoyed it were it not for 15a, 3d and last in, 16d. None of which sprang to mind. 19a made me smile, as I remember the grassy ones in Dorset. During our house hunt last year over here, we went to see a house, supposedly with a golf view. Turns out there was a 8ft tall grassy mound immediately outside the patio, no view whatsoever. Immediately reminded me of the Barrows and of course we did not buy. Very disconcerting.

    1. Try solving without writing the answers in. That takes longer. Good fun as well.

      1. I did that once in recovery from a hand operation. Couldn’t write so successfully did it all in my head. Surgeon was most impressed!

        1. You could have written it opposite handed. I’d give my right arm to be ambidextrous!

        2. I sat in my pub one Christmas Eve afternoon with the DT folded to the crossword. I hadn’t got a pen but Most of the clues were obvious. I managed to get to the point where I had all the answers but one when a chap on the window table commented that I must be struggling as He hadn’t seen me write anything in, I told him I had only one to get. He doubted my honesty so I passed him the paper and asked him to read out the clues and I would provide the answer. He still goes on about it to this day. I sometimes start the Toughie solve that way when Saint Sharon is driving and I haven’t got a red uniball gel pen to hand. Are you Grizz Wyllie? I hope you are

          1. Sorry just seen your comment MP. No, not The Grizz, but I am a Kiwi. And would like to have been able to have Grizz’s effect on people.😡

            1. He was awesome. He coached my club Coventry for a short while. I used Grizz Whylie as an alias once when I stood in for The2Ks. I’ve also used Pinetree Meads and your Prime Minister

  41. Not really my scene. N W corner delayed me as I discounted 9a and bunged in an alternative which in turn messed up the whole NW corner. Makes a change to have a term from a less popular sport as in 12a. Thank you Jay and the 2Kiwis.

  42. Nothing but joy today, as I finished without help! My favourite has to be 9a – made me chuckle! Thanks to Jay for a lovely puzzle, the 2Kiwis, and everyone else for the comments! I am sitting, in full sunshine, on my settee in the sitting room, or as we say in NZ, the lounge! Happiness, except my iMac has lost its sound – a small imperfection to mar a perfect day! 🙃

  43. Well a really enjoyable puzzle today. Didn’t start it until this morning with a morning cuppa and finished in record time. Probably won’t do today’s until later tonight or tomorrow morning as have grandson duties today whilst his Dad is on ICU duties for next 24 hours. Stay well everyone.

  44. Fell once again at the first fence just like my horse in last year’s Grand National and similarly the clue and the nag .. an old chestnut! Number, oh come on trying to find a number not a ‘number’!! Schoolboy error.

    1. Welcome to the blog

      Setters appear to be using a lot of that sort of ‘number’ recently – worth looking out for

      I see they are going to run a virtual Grand National on Saturday with the bookies’ profits going to the NHS

  45. Brilliant. Favourites 9 10 12 19 23a and 3d. Had to look up 16d to check I had right answer but that was all and, being an anagram, there can be no justifiable complaint about it. 9a attracted interest and a mixed response, largely in favour. Sometimes you have to think outside the box. First one in was 1a. Very amused as first thought was ether (thinking I won’t get caught out again) but then realised the answer was a more modern alternative!

  46. 3*/4*….
    liked 26A ” article covering origins of import tariff and tax (5) “

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