DT 29332 – Big Dave's Crossword Blog
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DT 29332

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 29332

Hints and tips by 2Kiwis

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

Kia ora from Aotearoa.

In New Zealand we have now been in full lockdown for two weeks. The good news coming out is that the number of new cases each day is starting to decline even though many more tests are now being taken. If we can all manage to keep up the isolation for the next couple of weeks, and especially over Easter, then there is a real chance that things can ease off a bit in at least some parts of the country by the end of April. We, being retired and relatively self-sufficient, are managing fine but are very aware that it is a real challenge for many.

A good thing we have such things as this quality puzzle from Jay to keep us occupied and amused.

Please leave a comment telling us how you got on.

Across

1a     Understands when hugging wife and goes from one extreme to the other … (7)
SEESAWS : A four letter word for understands, and a synonym for when surrounds W(ife)

9a     … abandoned and depressed (8)
DESOLATE : A double definition.

10a     Very strange county — mostly a lake (7)
SURREAL : Remove the last letter from one of the home counties and follow this with ‘A’ from the clue and L(ake).

11a     Draw attention to European standard-bearer (8)
FLAGPOLE : Draw attention to or give a special marker to, and then a European from the country with Warsaw as its capital.

12a     Set off, finding answer during meal (6)
LAUNCH : The one letter abbreviation for answer is inside a meal taken in the middle of the day.

13a     Promise of union action (10)
ENGAGEMENT : A double definition. The first an intention to marry. The second a military action.

15a     List of workers needing uniform (4)
MENU : Male workers plus U(niform).

16a     Religious offices may see mostly prudish discourses (9)
PRIORATES : Remove the last letter from a four letter word meaning prudish and then discourses as a verb.

21a     The Irish will welcome a person who succeeds (4)
HEIR : A lurker, hiding in the clue.

22a     13’s man perhaps may find good space on second-class travel (10)
BRIDEGROOM : Start with the letter signifying second class, then travel perhaps on a horse, next G(ood), and finally another word for space.

24a     Nothing genuine about Democrat’s trial (6)
ORDEAL : The letter denoting nothing, and then genuine or true contains D(emocrat).

25a     Drug provided by popular mainly healthy worker (8)
INHALANT : The two letter word for popular, and a word for healthy often associated in a phrase with ‘hearty’ loses its last letter, and then a worker insect.

27a     Bank‘s retainer? (7)
DEPOSIT :  Double definition.  The first is a verb. The second is something paid to secure a purchase.

28a     Rebellion at university on the increase (8)
UPRISING : The two letter word meaning at university, and then one meaning ‘on the increase’.

29a     Inoffensive source of delay in anyone on the move (7)
ANODYNE : An anagram (on the move) of ANYONE contains the first letter of delay.

Down

2d     Australian runners will welcome recent copies (8)
EMULATES : Australian avian runners contain another word for recent.

3d     Suddenly appear in court after season (6,2)
SPRING UP : The season that is just starting in the Northern Hemisphere and then a two letter word meaning in court or before the judge.

4d     Women dressed in the gear for surviving (10)
WEATHERING : W(omen) and an anagram (dressed) of IN THE GEAR.

5d     Duck drink with lass, ignoring idiot (4)
TEAL : A common non-alcoholic drink and then the letter that is left once ‘idiot’ is removed from lass.

6d     Soft on guest’s entertaining language (6)
TONGUE : A lurker, hiding in the clue.

7d     The legal profession love clear title (7)
BARONET : A short word for the legal profession generally, then the tennis score love and ‘clear’ in referring to financial returns.

8d     Feels bitter about lease payments covering empty stable (7)
RESENTS : The first and last letters of stable are inside lease payments made for the right to occupy.

11d     Begin to understand amount exposed (6,3)
FIGURE OUT : An amount or number and then exposed or in the open.

14d     Shift AGM — one vote for a change (3,1,4,2)
GET A MOVE ON : An anagram (for a change) of AGM ONE VOTE.

17d     The girl would look and notice a large amount (8)
SHEDLOAD : A female personal pronoun with ‘D for ‘would’, then a two letter word for look and a notice or poster.

18d     Drink and fresh bait eaten by cat (8)
LIBATION : A large African cat contains an anagram (fresh) of BAIT.

19d     Old boy with debts accepting five will be clear (7)
OBVIOUS : The two letter old boy, then the Roman numeral five and the four letters signifying debts.

20d     Dries up, accompanied by the Queen on last of duties (7)
WITHERS : A word meaning accompanied by, then Her Majesty’s regnal cypher and the last letter of duties.

23d     Join up forming lines on time (6)
ENLIST : An anagram (forming) of LINES plus T(ime).

26d     Sisters — one in France in the outskirts of Nimes (4)
NUNS : The French word for one is surrounded by the first and last letters of Nimes.

Quickie pun    ways    +    toff    +    pays    =    waste of space

74 comments on “DT 29332

  1. A really absorbing puzzle which wss quite challenging and enjoyable. Ineeded a bit of help for 27a and 7d, which I couldn’t figure out. I don’t really know why. I ranked this 2.5*/4*. There were so many great clues that it was hard to pick a favourite but I liked 2d and 1a. Thanks to the Kiwis and to Jay. Keep safe and well every one and hang in there Boris.

  2. 1.5*/5*. This provided the ultimate proof that a puzzle doesn’t have to be tough to be good. My only hold up was with 2d where it took a while for me to twig what the Australian runners were.

    You could with justification pick any of these clues as your favourite.

    Many thanks to the three birds. A jay visited our garden this morning but alas not accompanied by two kiwis.

    1. We had a thrush in the garden this morning I have not seen one for months. The Scottish word for a thrush is a Mavis which is my name!

  3. Another top and enjoyable puzzle from Jay, containing one of the best lurkers I’ve come across for a while. I wonder if our setter had the recent death of the singer on his mind re 20d..a fine and “topical” clue. Anyone else solve 23a before 13a?
    In a strong field I’ve chosen 1a plus 7d for podium places with top spot going to 17d..brilliant!
    2.5*/4*
    Many thanks to Jay and to the 2Ks for the entertainment.

  4. So seamlessly brilliant, these Jay puzzles, and this one is a classic: such economy in the clue, such wealth in the answer. Hard to pick favourites, but I’ll settle for these: 4d, 16a, and 17d (never heard of this, actually, though sure it must exist). Breezed right through this most pleasant puzzle last night and then got waylaid by the toughie (which is where I find myself now). Thanks to the 2Ks and Jay. ** / **** Cheers, everyone. Hope your PM is improving and that all of you there and here ae safe and well.

    1. Remember 17d, it’s Britspeak and comes up from time to time. The first time I came across it I doubted there could be such a word, I think it’s a euphemism!

      1. It’s just what might fit into a garden shed. Hence a lot of something. We also shake sticks at things. ‘That lady has more cats than you could shake a stick at’ All very interesting

        1. You have to be In the know to get the answer to that question!

          (we’re at least a day behind here with the D.T. in darkest Cheshire, and have to rely on the generosity of neighbours to deliver it)

  5. Another cracker from Jay actually managed to complete on ipad something of a first. Lots of great clues to ponder over. Keep safe everybody and keep smiling.
    Thanks to the 2Ks and to Jay

  6. Fabulous – thank goodness for Wednesday DT Crosswords – lots to enjoy in another fairly friendly crossword. Thanks to Jay and the 2Ks

    Rhea update: met the lady who owns the rheas – turns out the reason the one isn’t interested in the mating advances of the other is that they are both males. Apparently you can’t tell whether a rhea is male or female until they are fairly grown up.

    The Toughie is great fun and on the Toughie spectrum too – if you want a bit more of a battle, then I do recommend IO (Elgar) in today’s FT

  7. Another little gem from Mr Wednesday – how reassuring that some things remain constant in these troubled times.
    Thought 15a was rather pertinent as was 25a for those of us who struggle enough without the spectre of coronavirus!
    Favourite here was 7d – clear, concise and probably very true!

    Many thanks to Jay and to our 2Ks – hope you’re still able to keep up your morning beach walks?

  8. Even though there have only been a few comments thus far, I cannot find any new ways to express my continuing admiration for our Wednesday setter. Like Jane, 7d was my COTD, although 1a came close. Great stuff.

    Thanks to our avian friends.

  9. After few weeks of solving Jay’s puzzles without help, this one stopped me in my tracks. I’m not sure why I found it a struggle because I have finally got onto Jay’s wavelength. Probably my brain refusing to get into gear. I had to use the hints for quite a few but I did manage to solve many without aid. I put “Fathom Out” for 11d and this threw me for a while. Of the clues I managed to solve, 17d was COTD for me.

    Thank you, Jay for the challenge. Also, many thanks to the 2Kiwis for the much needed hints.

    I did like the Quickie Pun today. It is one those that “dawn” on you. Very clever.

    Hope all are safe and well and I echo the good wishes for Boris,

  10. Even though I got a good start going up the downs, this turned out to be a bit of a head scratcher for me, especially in the top half, but as enjoyable as ever, for completion at a fast canter – 2.5*/4*.
    Favourite – the 13a/22a combo.
    Thanks to Jay and the 2Ks.

  11. Not difficult if you stuck to the definitions and ignored the wordplay which was as always for a Jay puzzle little short of bizarre.
    Life is too short even during lockdown to chase down some of the wordplay in this one.
    **/**
    Thx for the hints

  12. Another absolute corker from Jay which I completed in bang on *** time though I reckon 40% of that was spent on my last two in which were 5d & 9a. Struggled to parse 10a as not for the first time I read county as country (should have gone to…..) and 16a required google confirmation as new to me. So many super clues to choose from – 1a for starters takes some beating but just pipped by 17d.
    Have spent the morning struggling with yesterday’s Guardian cryptic by Vlad (well worth a look if bored) whilst compiling a Creedence playlist for today’s walk in the sunshine & putting off today’s chore (cleaning the oven)
    Thanks as ever to the Jaymaster & to the 2Ks for the review

  13. As everyone says the Wednesday Jay and the 2 Kiwisblog are a delight.Held up by 10 a which l of course thought must be Rutland bet knew it could not be.I think this is now the 6thweek of competing a Jay puzzle without hints.However pride often goes before a fall and tomorrow isThursday.

    1. Just as well I didn’t think of Rutland – something of an accurate description!

  14. A satisfying and enjoyable crossword, , the kind of clues which you bung in, then work out the word play and say, oh, how clever. We are finally managing some of these without having to help each other ( much): maybe we are not too old to learn … 🙂

  15. Very enjoyable and completed without help apart from 2d which held me up. Now to enjoy the Scottish sunshine in the garden with all this time on our hands!

    Thanks Jay and 2K

  16. Good challenge today, completed in two sittings and considered a proper solve as I worked out all of the wordplay which is a result for me
    Thanks to Jay and the 2 Kiwis

  17. Went in well except for 16a which I’d never heard of. I must be improving. Thanks J and Kiwis. Hope all keep safe. I read that the rich are sneaking off to their second homes. What else is new – they always thought that there was one law for them and one for the rest of us

  18. Excellent puzzle with just the right amount of challenge to provide a smooth and satisfying run. Favourites 2d, 4d and 17d Many thanks to Jay and the New Zealanders.

  19. Three excellent puzzles in three days. For me 2*/4*. My last to solve was 1d thought of everything Australian except emus. Thanks to all.

  20. Found this on the easier end of the spectrum, completed with no help of any sort – a rarity for me.
    All round solid clueing with no stand out.

  21. Another nice crossword from Jay 😃 ***/*** Favourites 11a & 2d Thanks to the 2xKs and to Jay 🤗 I am still pondering on the photo for 5d and think that it is of an immature Male 🤔

    1. For 5d. As the label that comes up when you hover over the picture says, it is a New Zealand brown teal and that might be why it is unfamiliar to you.
      Cheers.

    2. If you hover over the photo the caption says that it’s a New Zealand brown teal – not something that features in my bird guides!

  22. Thanks to Jay and 2Kiwis for providing a distraction during breakfast. An enjoyable solve, although I did need some of the hints as I am not always on wavelength with Jay. 16a was last in.
    We did another 7am oldies hour at the supermarket. Pretty well organized over here. Everyone was 6ft apart, and mostly masked in the short line outside before opening time. But did feel pretty surreal standing there. Then we were ushered in, social distancing being monitored. The aisles were clearly marked in one direction to avoid close passing, and floor tape to keep us apart at the check out. Cashiers finally got their own masks today. Even loo and kitchen paper on the shelves, so was able to get some for younger daughter and her family.
    Truly wishing Boris all the best, the country and Carrie really need him to get better. And please DT, no more opinions from doom and gloomers at Imperial College.

    1. Shows just how far we’ve come in a couple of weeks – whoever thought we’d be boasting about supplies of loo rolls and kitchen towels!

      1. I heard an interesting theory on the shortage: in normal times, 70% of people spend 40% of their time away from home, working, going to school, etc., now they’re all at home using the loo there. Commercial TP and retail are manufactured differently, and the manufacturers don’t want to retool their machines to make more retail TP, a bulky and not particularly lucrative commodity, only to have to retool the machines again when it’s all over. Does anyone believe that?

  23. I seem to be missing the lurkers again. 6d was my last one in. I’ve been busy baking bread today so a bit late signing in. Many thanks to the 2Ks and to Jay.

  24. The only one I couldn’t solve was 7down . I had to look at the answer . BAR relates to barristers and not the legal profession generally . I was totally thrown on this one

  25. We were set a gentle exercise today but it was still a lot of fun. I suppose parsing makes 9a cryptic rather than being just synonyms. 8d my Fav. Wow I just got a Waitrose Click and Collect Slot if not a Home Delivery. Thank you Jay and 2Kiwis.

  26. I sailed through this this morning until I came to a grinding halt with 9a. I had all the checkers but still couldn’t see it.

    I had to leave it to do some work and came back to it just now, but still had to resort to trying out letters hoping for inspiration. Thankfully it came and then, as it had given me such trouble, had to be my favourite. Though truly as someone said above, in a puzzle of this quality, any one could be favourite.

    Many thanks to the 2Ks and Jay

  27. It seems like an age ago when I solved this puzzle early this morning. Just what the doctor ordered. (No that’s to cut down on the drinking) just right for a Wednesday. Thanks to Jay and the 2Ks

  28. I love attempting the cryptics; the more I do, the more I think the ease/difficulty depends upon how in tune one is to the mind of the setter. I found today’s quite straightforward, whereas often the ones deemed ‘easier’ are the ones I find more challenging. Thanks for a great website!

    1. Welcome from me too.
      Are you really what your ‘name’ suggests? If so where and what are you doing and are you as young as your ‘name’ suggests?

  29. Morning all.
    An early start for us today so still too dark to see what weather is in store for us on our beach walk. We’ll go regardless as we need the exercise. Great puzzle once again from Jay. We feel so lucky to have them each week.
    Keep well everyone.
    Cheers.

  30. Jay Day again! I’m a Jay fan and am usually right on wavelength but found this one tricky, hugely enjoyable nonetheless.
    South was much easier and was sorted in no time but struggled with north. I solved 2d and 4d and that got me going again. I never did solve 7d, why not? I have no idea, it was well clued.
    No faves, too many choices, but 2d was smile worthy.
    Thanks Jay, you’re a star, and thanks to 2Kiwis for your review. Stay safe all, get well Boris.

  31. What a great cryptic today, a happy solve in the garden this afternoon. And, as is so often the case, a really enjoyable Jay puzzle, I love Wednesdays, I’m on his wavelength. Favourites the two lurkers and 17d. However, I do agree with Michael B about the bar, profession would be the law. Thanks to all.

  32. Lovely puzzle today. I needed a nudge for the final few but have a fondness for many clues today. In deference to Kath I will just go for 20 d as it gives me the opportunity to tell a fave joke of mine.
    How do you turn a New Zealand Brown Teal into a soul singer?….

    thanks to Jay and 2K’s

      1. At least a couple of :good: :good: from me! and a :smile:
        The first is for only having one favourite and, needless to say, the second if for your joke.

  33. A bit late here, again, today so I think everything has already been said.
    I did the crossword in dribs and drabs – get a few answers, plant a row or two of veggie seeds, sit at the garden table in the sun and then go round again – oh, had a chat to all the ‘residents’ in our house at the moment too.
    Not too difficult although like a few others I had trouble with 9a but can’t see why now.
    Jay is a star, as are the 2Kiwis so thanks to all three of them.
    Keep going everyone and please keep well and, somehow, keep as cheerful as possible.

  34. Evening. A thoroughly enjoyable puzzle from Our setter,,, I really got into this one. Downs went in a lot quicker than across clues for me today.
    3*/4.5*
    Many thanks to Jay & 2KWs for review

  35. Another free online cryptic so adding my two penn’oth…Found this a bit tricky, resorted to help to get me across the line with the last 5 including 16a which I’d never heard of and neither had electronic crossword solver… Thanks all, as always

  36. Came to see what others have said after I posted but can find no record of my earlier visit. Anyway thanks to Jay and the 2 Kiwis.

  37. The second week on the trot I’ve managed to solve a Jay puzzle reasonably easily, either I’m getting better or he’s being more benevolent. I suspect the latter. No real favourite. Thanks to jay and 2K’s.

  38. I am out of tune with everyone else I fear as I needed a lot of hints with this one! Maybe I’m just out of practice as this is the first day in probably a month I’ve been out and got my hands on a real live newspaper instead of overloading on the Beeb website. But still enjoyable exercise for the brain.
    Stephen L, I also got 22a before 13a.
    COTD was 17d. As a “youngster” (in my mind at least) I use this word all the time but never thought I’d see it in the DT and especially not a cryptic crossword!

  39. Thanks to Jay and to the 2 Kiwis for the review and hints. Another cracking puzzle from Jay. Nearly beaten by a dreaded double definition, but got it in the end, 27a was last in. Favourite was 18d. Was 2*/4* for me.

  40. I needed 2Kiwis’ hint for 5d – a real “doh” moment when I realised, but otherwise, plain sailing! Far too many excellent clues for a favourite. Thanks, Jay, for an entertaining workout, and 2Kiwis for the hints! Keep well, and stay safe, everyone! 🙃

  41. I enjoyed the first half or so of this (not a specific area of the grid, just the clues I was able to solve first), with some fun clues. Then got stuck, tried electronic assistance, and required many of the Kiwi’s hints for the rest (for which thank you), and found it a bit of a slog in the end.

    Even though I got 7d I wasn’t sure about it, for the reason Michael Benson mentions above, so was grateful to be able check that early on. This blog is so invaluable!

    My favourite was the duck. Though I’m disappointed to discover that a 5d is mostly brown — I’d been presuming 5ds were 5d coloured!

    (Slightly related: “Here’s the coat you asked for in olive.” “It looks black to me.” “Yes, it was a black olive.”)

  42. I haven’t posted on here for a very long time but here goes. Firstly thanks to everyone involved in the site and to all those who post on it. I enjoyed this puzzle and managed to complete it without resorting to the hints. However I can’t 11d why 1 and 9 are linked clues. Perhaps it’s 19?

  43. I got cross with 18 down – I knew that was the answer straight away, but to my mind the definition is wrong – I guess it is used as a drink these days, but it was originally the bit that *wasn’t* drunk, but was poured out as an offering to the gods.

    1. You need to find the calendar on this website. You may have to scroll down for it. Then select 4th April.

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