Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 29466
Hints and tips by Deep Threat
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
Good morning from South Staffs on another grey day.
Some quirky clues in today’s puzzle, of the sort where the answer appears to be obvious, but the parsing can take time. My ** marking probably doesn’t give enough for the second part of the exercise.
In the hints below, the definitions are underlined. The answers are hidden under the ANSWER buttons, so don’t click if you don’t want to see them.
Please leave a comment telling us what you thought.
Across
1a Gets new actors and delivers more alluring lines? (7)
RECASTS – Double definition, the second suggesting an angler trying to attract fish.
5a Fib teen employed to get advantage (7)
BENEFIT – Anagram (employed) of FIB TEEN.
9a Malls that could possibly offer double parking? (8,7)
SHOPPING CENTRES – A curious clue. ‘Double parking’ suggests that we are looking for two examples of the letter which indicates a car park. Where are they? Well, the second word of the answer tells us where in the first word they are.
10a Someone pillaging downs a horseman (5)
RIDER – Remove the A (downs a) from a word for someone doing a spo of pillaging, and you get a horseman.
11a Italians take this long to eat (9)
SPAGHETTI – Cryptic definition of a staple part of the Italian diet. The rest of us take it long as well, unless we’re eating the variety which comes in tins with tomato sauce.
12a Facial adornment with ring in has to hurt (9)
MOUSTACHE – A phrase (4,4) meaning ‘has to hurt’ wrapped round a ring-shaped letter.
14a Wishy-washy golf article (5)
THING – Another word for wishy-washy followed by the letter represented by Golf in the NATO alphabet.
15a Cook that gets smashed in break (5)
BAKER – Anagram (smashed) of BREAK.
16a Light fixture that helps passengers leaving the plane (9)
PARACHUTE – The passengers here will be airborne troops or skydivers.
18a Obstructed southern hideout used by European communist (9)
SNOOKERED – Put together Southern, a hiding place often found with a cranny, European, and the usual colour of Communist.
21a Requires niece’s dish to be scrubbed evenly (5)
NEEDS – Alternate letters of NiEcE’s DiSh.
22a Capital place where an old serviceman is always looked up to (9,6)
TRAFALGAR SQUARE – Cryptic definition of the place in London where a statue of an old naval hero is placed so that everyone except the pigeons has to look up at it.
23a Spooner’s fish gone — work on the net! (7)
PODCAST – Two words (3,4): a fish often eaten with chips; and something gone or over and done with. Apply Dr Spooner’s speech impediment to get a single word for a modern internet activity.
24a Add cubes, maybe derived from small, insignificant number (7)
SWEETEN – Put together Small, another word for insignificant or small, and a cardinal number, to get what you might do to your tea or coffee.
Down
1d Stand to project a speech or having done a turn, play guitar? (7)
ROSTRUM – Reverse (having done a turn) OR (from the clue), then add another word for ‘play guitar’.
2d Obscure bird seen over dock — pie in the sky? (5-6-4)
CLOUD-CUCKOO-LAND – The first word of the answer is a verb meaning ‘obscure’; the second a type of bird; and the third another verb which may describe a ship or aircraft arriving in port.
3d Rising Democrat’s rep used to bring in A-list celeb (9)
SUPERSTAR – Hidden in reverse (rising, in a Down clue) in the clue.
4d Serenades perhaps, and kisses with no upset (5)
SONGS – Start with a word for some vigorous kissing, then reverse the ON inside it.
5d Pirate cure can be fake (9)
BUCCANEER – Anagram (fake) of CURE CAN BE.
6d Ranked as a lower-order batsman, direction is to keep in — or out (5)
NINTH – Start with a point of the compass, remove the OR and replace it with IN.
7d Officer needing loo in speech in US, that would be left here (5,10)
FIRST LIEUTENANT – The first syllable of this junior officer is pronounced differently in American English and UK English, as the clue tells us.
8d Tricky criminal gets to carry can (7)
TESTING – Anagram (criminal) of GETS, wrapped round another word for a can.
13d PC at first, young conservative goes into ownership (9)
COPYRIGHT – Put together another word for a PC or policeman, the first letter of Young, and the position on the political spectrum usually associated with conservatism
14d Prepared ten quiches — last lacking style (9)
TECHNIQUE – Anagram (prepared) of TEN QUICHE(s) with the last letter removed (last lacking).
15d Heading north from depots, substitute coaches pick up here? (3,4)
BUS STOP – Hidden in reverse (heading north, in a Down clue) in the clue.
17d Nearest broadcast is from China? (7)
EASTERN – Anagram (broadcast) of NEAREST.
19d All right to be got up in the style of Australian native (5)
KOALA – A two-letter expression for ‘all right’ is reversed (got up), followed by a French expression (1,2) for ‘in the style of’.
20d Runs local activity (5)
DARTS – Double definition, the second being a game played in a pub (local).
On the subject of regular commenters missing from the scene, has anyone heard from Jean-Luc Cheval recently? He hasn’t posted since mid-August. I emailed him earlier this week but haven’t had a reply. I hope he’s well.
The Quick Crossword pun LEO + TOLLS + TOY = LEO TOLSTOY
All pretty straightforward for a Friday, completed in *** time. The parsing of 4d was beyond me and I’m not sure I quite understand 6d.
Two clues vie for COTD, 9a and 22a.
Many thanks to the setter and DT.
6d….Take the ‘or’ out of a compass direction and replace with ‘in’
Ah, gotcha! Thanks.
4d – ‘kisses’ = ‘SNOGS’. Reverse (upset) the NO and you get ‘SONGS’
Ah, I had the wrong vowel.
Me too! Don’t you feel silly?
While giving the setter (I’d be surprised if it wasn’t Zandio) a fair degree of artistic licence I thoroughly enjoyed this, as DT says, quite quirky.
I liked 24a plus 2&13d among many others but no doubt as to my COTD, (and I’m not generally a fan of them) the brilliant 23a..genius!
2.5/4.5 *
Many thanks to setter and to DT for the top notch entertainment
I agree, my favourite too. I enjoyed this, nice and steady completion but needed DT’s help as always!
Agree that the parsing was the tricky part of this very enjoyable offering. Fairly swift completion before off to the lovely South Herts for a round so will return to it later.
I thought this might turn out to be more difficult than it was in the end, although I couldn’t fully justify my solutions to 9 and 11a, and especially 7d. Overall I enjoyed the puzzle and my favourite clue is 16a because it made me smile (imagine the pre-flight safety demonstration!). Thanks to the setter and to DT for his review. Regarding 7d where would you find the first part of the answer in the clue please?
Re 7d..You don’t need the first part, just change ‘left’ to a homophone of loo in the whole clue.
Thanks. In that case the same clue could have been used for second ********** perhaps (In another grid that is)? Still, it’s not critical.
Thought it trickier than**. Ta to all.
An enjoyable puzzle with some neat clues – thanks to setter and Deep Threat.
I ticked 9a, 12a, 22a and 7d.
I hope that Jean-Luc is ok and that we hear from him soon.
I thought this would be difficult at first but once I got into the right mindset I found it very enjoyable. I also wondered where the first (!) word of 7d answer came from in the clue.
The whole of 7d is a rank in the USA.
Shouldn’t the clue be, eg: Officer requires loo in the USA that would be left endlessly here. Loo and left do not match – or perhaps I have missed something?
This was the most enjoyable Friday backpager for a while. There were lots of clever clues to enjoy, although, as is often the case with Zandio, I had to reverse engineer the parsing of some of them (**/****). I loved the two reverse lurkers, 3d and 15d and being an admirer of Aristophanes’ plays 2d was also a winner. Thanks to DT for the hints and to Zandio.
I found this one very enjoyable, and pretty straightforward (no doubt softening me up for a good beating at the hands of Elgar when I get to the toughie). I must confess to not having encountered this meaning for 16a. Huge thanks to the setter and to Deep Threat for confirming all my suspicions.
Yes, definitely some quirky clues suchas 11a. Thanks DT for the parsing as missed the reverse lurker in 3d and needed your help with 9a, 4d and 6d. I was going along well but for being a plonker and put in a square in Beijing for 22a but wiki did not seem to support this as could not find any reference to a statue of a soldier! I cheated and checked once your post came through and reckon I might get the Muppet of the Day award.
I really enjoyed this one. **/**** I too missed the reverse lurker in 3D so couldn’t justify the answer. All is now clear. 4d took a bit of thought. Works when you take serenades as a noun which wasn’t my first understanding of it. I liked 23a. It’s one of those where you wonder how on earth the setter comes up with the clue. Favourite is 22a. Thanks to all.
Slow headway to start with but then East fell into place however West was a different story but all’s well that ends well. Somehow there was an unfamiliar feel to today’s exercise and I couldn’t decide whether several clues were clever or rather tenuous e.g. 9a, 22a and 6d. Joint Favs 13d and 9d. IMHO kisses in 4d is a dreadful word. Overall I enjoyed the challenge. Thank you Mysteron and DT.
A bit of a head scratcher both from the solving and parsing point of view of some clues, and then there was the Spoonerism! It was good to see four 15-letter answers that were all non-anagrams. Completed at a gallop (just) – ***/****.
Candidates for favourite – 18a, 22a, 24a, 1d, and 2d – and the winner is 2d.
Thanks to the setter and DT.
I thought this was just great fun if rather tricky to parse in places, though I did seem to work them all out in good time, and it was the most enjoyable Friday puzzle in weeks. Don’t know who the setter is, but he/she has a terrific sense of humour, which 2d quickly established, and which 7d capped. Winners for me: 18a, 2d, and 7d. Thanks to DT for the hints (and for the Prokofiev too) and today’s setter. ** / ****
Flattened completely by the Toughie, alas.
Wow, Zandio ( if it is he) must have a very devious mind. But it was fun! ***/**** for us. Favourite clue 12a. Still don’t really understand 16a: how is that a light fitting? Toughie next, oooh dear … 🤣 Thanks to setter and DT, whose explanations were much needed.
16a…light as in opposite to heavy?
16a – as illustrated by DT above, and definitely a descriptive term used, or should it be misused, by designers/manufacturers of light fixtures.
Of course Senf….thank you.
Ah right, didn‘t know that, thanks Senf! 🙂
Didn’t know that, I’ve learnt something new.
Probably a UK term, never seen it in a light description over here, but the one pictured makes sense.
At first glance I thought this was going to be really hard but I managed at a steady pace. I too missed the reverse lurker but somehow arrived at the right answer. 2d was my COTD and I loved the picture of the koala. I’ve always wanted to hold a koala. I thought I would get the chance while hitchhiking in the early 70’s in Oz but we got a lift all the way from Cairns to Sydney and my two friends didn’t want to make the detour near Brisbane – so much for friends!
I rather enjoyed our setter’s quirky touches and 9a probably wins out for me today with 18&22a close behind. Took a bit of head-scratching to parse 6d and I dithered a little before entering 11a – as DT said, most of us eat it long!
Thanks to Zandio if indeed it was one of his and thanks also to DT for the review and the suitably quirky piece of music.
On the easier end of the Friday spectrum for solving anyway. Some answers (9a & 4d eg) I needed the hints to parse. Unsure about 7d (the answer in the hint only gives the second word I think) for me the only clue to the first word was it contained 5 letters, what am I missing?
COTD 2d: it seems as if hoping to return to a normal life is just that at the moment.
Thanks to setter & DT for hints, definitely needed today
7d is just an officer where the Americans pronounce the first four letters of the second word as loo, where we’d say left
I realised that CS, & DTs hint explained it but the same applies to the rank of second ieutenant. Because it was (5,7) it could only be First I suppose.
We would say “lef” for the first four letters. Left for the first five.
I’ve updated the hidden answer to 7d to include both words.
I thought this was an extremely fun and enjoyable crossword – amongst others I’d marked 9a, 11a, and 22a – I think the latter takes the top spot as favourite
Thank you to however set it and to DT
Hi Sue, as usual I took the toughie into the bath with me last night – I think I got six on the first run through. Then I had to get out of the bath (not easy, it is sunken!) and go and get my phone (dangerous to use it near water) but using just your underlining I finished it. So many thanks, although I have never come across the synonym STIFFS there were some neat clues and I did like the stretch marks!
Great puzzle. 3d held me up a bit making 1a my last in. Thought 9a was clever but in two minds about 11a. Thanks to DT and today’s setter.
Enjoyed this very much but as soon as I see the word spooner I freeze. I know what it means but can never figure it out. Electronic help didn’t help, then I got dot com in my mind which obviously didn’t fit but I couldn’t get past it. Thanks for the help DT. Ironic really as I listen to several both in English and Spanish every day!
***/***
I struggled a bit with this but enjoyed it despite that. As Deep Threat says there are some quite quirky clues. 9a, for example, was quite clever with the second word indicating where the parking was. I liked 2d because of its direct word substitution that wasn’t immediately obvious. Oh, and I stumbled over, as I always do, the spoonerism at 23a.
Thank you to Zandio, if it is he and to Deep Treat for the hints.
I do hope we hear from Jean-Luc Cheval soon.
It is Jean-Luc’s busiest time of the year at Le Jardin. He usually goes AWOL around this time.
That’s reassuring, MP. Thank you.
Deep Threat! Spellchecker!
Excellent crossword, the best this week 😃 **/**** So many favourites put I will plump for 23a & 19& 20d (nothing like a good plump) 😬 Thanks to DT and to the Setter 👍
At first I thought this would firmly be in my stinker pile. On e the longer clues sorted out the rest went in with very little headscratching. I had dufficulty in parsing a couple and a couple of gimmies. So success.
Thanks to DT and setter
I was doing fine, but ‘cloud turkey land’ didn’t sound right (and wasn’t) – fitted the letters, but … got there in the end!
Great puzzle to end the week with!
3*/4.5*. This was nicely challenging and very enjoyable with 9a my favourite.
Many thanks to Zandio (?) and to DT.
This all seemed to fall into place very nicely, maybe because the sun came out suddenly. I gather we are going to have another spell of good weather so we’ll have to enjoy the garden drinks whilst we can- already the devil has flown over my blackberries, he usually waits until the end of September. I agree with Angellov that 4d is a horrid word and am very pleased that I didn’t do it. Good old kissing was such fun. Where on earth did such an ugly word come from? Someone is probably going to tell me it was Chaucer or Shakespeare! 19d was my COTD. Now let us see whether XR allow us to get our newspaper tomorrow! Thanks to everyone for today’s entertainment.
I think the word “ snog” dates from about 1945 but more than that, I don’t know, Daisygirl. I agree that it is an ugly word for an affectionate pastime. I would far rather kiss than snog!
Speaking of X-RAYS I have just read on the front page that the police didn’t arrest anyone for the graffiti on Churchill’s statue as ‘police have to strike a balance between respecting the rights of people intent on criminal damage and actually nicking them because they are doing criminal damage’
I am speechless.
You are kidding me? What is the point of having a police force then? People intent on doing criminal damage, or doing it, need locking up. I remember back in the late 70s when some lout came and dug up our newly planted front hedge (the plants later found tossed on the Common), an act of pure vandalism. I called the police and to say they weren’t interested would be an understatement. Seems all they like to do is arrest sun bathers in the park. No doubt they will show up if you have 6 guest join you for Christmas dinner. Very sad.
Unbelievable!
The world has gone crazy. Criminals have more rights than ordinary folk? Give me strength! 👿👿
An arrest has been made,
The green bracts on our Sedum Autumn Joy started to blush pink yesterday. Just the merest hint of pink on its way to turning the deepest red. Thats it folks. Summer is over and autumn is here. Actually September 10th is quite late. One year we had the first blush of pink just before the end of July. The leaves on the trees will now start to turn and fall and it will soon be Christmas. As for the puzzle. I enjoyed it. I even had a little play with The Toughie but that’s enough of that. Thanks to both setter and blogger for their sterling work. Play nicely over the weekend children and I will see you all on Monday
Autumn is definitely here, Olivia – I picked the sloes today for the Christmas sloe gin and chocolates. I have the scratched hands to prove it. Next will be the picking of walnuts. As there are no gatherings allowed it will all be for Mrs. C and myself!
We had Walnuts, damsons and sloes at the pub Steve. Mixed harvests each year but we didn’t let much go to waste. I have blackberries and sloes within walking distance of our new house but no nuts yet. Saint Sharon has Damson Gin on the go already.
Not got the Sloe gin on the go yet. The sloes need a spell in the freezer first. I’ve got Raspberry Brandy infusing, though. Also need to get Blueberry Whisky going as well as Blackberry gin.
Careful with the olcahol (spellchecker clearly non alcoholic) too soon after last week Steve sister Kath will be on the warpath.
Hope Hudson’s tail still attached after the reunion!
Well, he did his best to wag it off, LBROK.
It must have been really special, I can just see it. Wonderful to have him back home!
It was special, Merusa. He went crazy and did not leave my side all day.
I’ll swap you some hazelnuts for some walnuts Steve – our garden is surrounded by nut trees and we are inundated with nuts. Giving them away to all the neighbours who will have them. Trouble is we are also inundated with bird brained squirrels who spend the autumn burying nuts and then all winter digging up the lawn, garden and bulbs looking for them. Vermin with good PR.
DG
When they decide to inhabit your loft they become VERMIN believe me. We had “guests” for 3 years or so,. You would be amazed at how small a gap they can get through.
There are hazelnuts in the nearby hedgerows, Daisygirl. You just need to know where they are and I do. The walnut tree is well hidden and not many round here know of its whereabouts. I do not inform them. 😀
Grey squirrels are rats with fluffy tails. I can’t stand them because they drove out the native reds.
Unusual but very enjoyable, with some answers appearing before the reasoning. I think that 24a is a really well constructed clue thank you setter and DT!
SE corner held me up for a while but DT’s excellent hints soon sorted that out. Very enjoyable after lunch out at the sort of country hotel where one expects to meet Miss Marple. 12a, 16a, and 2d my favourites among many contenders.
My thanks to DT for his continuing good work and to our setter.
Completed alone and unaided but like many needed Deep Threat’s help with the parsing of a couple, so a well done for me today.
Enjoyed this puzzle very much.
Thanks to the setter and to Deep Threat.
I am really going a bit daft. I was sure I posted about this puzzle earlier on, but clearly I didn’t! Then I became sidetracked by the cricket…
Great puzzle, I really enjoyed solving it. Annoyingly I needed help to solve 23a despite co-hosting one, weekly, for the last ten years.
Thanks to the setter for an excellent puzzle, and to DT.
Hello, compiler here. Thanks for the discussion and of course for the positive comments. Have a great weekend.
Aha, so it was you! I think I might be picking up your wavelength!
Thanks for popping by and thanks for giving us such a fabulous puzzle (and confirming my hunch in the process!)
Many thanks, Zandio for a most enjoyable puzzle. Thank you for dropping in.
Many thanks, Zandio, for another gem of a puzzle!
I found this most confusing at the start, then just decided to work on the answers and forget trying to unravel it. I think I had the same problem with Zandio before. In the end I found I had enjoyed the solve, only needing a word search for 18a, didn’t know the word.
Deep Threat has satisfactorily unravelled my queries, such as 4d and 7d.
I don’t like Spoonerisms but did like 23a, clever that. Fave was 22a, runner up 2d.
Thanks to Zandio (is it yours?) and to Deep Threat for the enlightenment.
My bamboo sheets were delivered yesterday, they are so soft I can’t wait to try them!
Do let us know what the bamboo sheets are like. I was thinking of treating myself to some silk ones but having read about the quality of bamboo I might try them instead.
Everyone raves about bamboo. I have Egyptian cotton but decided to try bamboo. There are two types, the silky ones that are slinky and very expensive, but mine are the matt ones, very, very soft and a lot cheaper. I thought I might fall out of bed with the slinky ones, so I’m happy with my choice. I haven’t yet tried them, my young lady forgot to make the bed, she has the attention span of a gnat. Watch this space, I’ll let you know.
Good news! I have heard from Jean-Luc, who is well but very busy in the restaurant, as MP/Olivia suggested earlier. He hopes to be back with us soon.
Good news! With this pandemic, it’s always worrisome when someone goes AWOL!
That is really good to know.
An awesome crossword for a Friday. */**** and only 2 hints required for this puzzle. Some great clues for favourites … 16a, 22a, 23a, 7d & 20d with winners being 22a & 7d
Thanks to setter & DT
I now realise how often I used to (before being educated by this site) just solve cryptic crosswords by identifying the definition & not overly concern myself with the wordplay. Today, pressed for time, it was no more than a quick solve so I did a look through now I’m home & the non parsed answers numbered 8. With some proper attention 6 of those were sorted but didn’t fully get either 7d or 9a.
My top 3 today were 18&22a along with the reverse lurker at 3d. Today capped off a fine week of back pagers.
Many thanks Zandio & DT for the review & explanations.
Ps on balance I think I’ll pass on Elgar – spending an hour getting the fingers of one hand’s worth of clues (if I’m lucky) doesn’t appeal this evening.
Do it in the bath as I do, it is amazing how well a nice hot foamy bath, a chocolate and a crossword go together. (And sometimes a
small whisky mac except that I’m off alcohol with these new pills).😪
Problem with that DG is that I fall asleep in the bath & therefore guaranteed to drop the iPad. Haven’t had a whisky mac in ages – at my old club we used to have a comp played in the depths of winter where the expectation was that you had a nip of that on each tee. Suffice to say that it wasn’t a pretty sight by the 18th. Hope the knee hasn’t been giving you too much discomfort today – good on you for the letter & well put.
Thank you for the hints. I couldn’t work out why 9a was the answer – rather tenuous but clever. Finally twigged 7d. A rather clever crossword.
Really enjoyable puzzle to finish the week. Solve was steady & fell into place nicely.
2*/4*
With thanks to setter & DT for review
Finding I cannot post as often or easily as I did due to pressure of work etc, but must thank all the setters & reviewers,,, as I’m still finding the time to do the solving!
***/****. Very enjoyable but quite a bit of pen sucking required. Thanks to Zandio and DT for explaining a couple of my bung-in’s. The wind is from the south so our sky is smoky as the fires continue to rage in Washington state and much further south.
Having had a very stressful week, this was the first puzzle I’ve managed to concentrate on and complete, and I really enjoyed it. A slow start with nothing completed in the nw for quite a while. As others have said the answers to quite a few came before the parsing, but still very enjoyable. Cotd 23a,loved it.
Thanks to all, I’m feeling so much better.
A surprisingly doable Friday puzzle. Favorite by far was 7d, very clever. And I would never, ever 24a my coffee or tea, and haven’t since I was about 13. Thanks fo setter for a treat today, and to Deep Threat.
A well put together puzzle that was a real pleasure to solve. Lots of ticks on our pages.
Thanks Zandio and DT.
This one felt easier to me, but I think that may be because I struggled hard earlier in the week! I still didn’t complete without help, and I’m still not happy with the analysis of 9a, even though the answer felt obvious to me as soon as I had a few letters to work around!
Still, I got all but 7 of them before lunch, 6 more with the help of this post later on, but for some reason 24a completely eluded me!
Am so pleased with myself as I nearly managed to do the whole crossword unaided. Only needed help with five clues! Many thanks to Zandio and DT.
This was a bit of a breeze yesterday but too busy to come and comment. Mum’s regular hair do and a summit finish in the TDF kept me occupied. I too didn’t quite understand the light fitting but the answer was obvious. I did have time for a brief glance at the Elgar but apart from Andy Capp’s Missus little made sense.
Glad to here Jean Luc is busy, I think the Tour de France started in his part of the world so not surprised he has been busy.
Many thanks to Zandio and Deep Threat.
What is a reverse lurked as in 3d? I got the answer but cannot parse it.
Welcome to the blog Steve
Some bloggers and some commenters use the term “lurker” for an answer that is hidden inside the clue. A “reverse lurker” is simply one that is hidden and reversed – e.g. 3d Rising DemocRAT’S REP USed to bring in A-list celeb (9)
Got it many thanks. Enjoying your site since my son put me onto it. Thanks again.
Well it’s taken me 2 days to crack this! Very late to the party. But what an enjoyable party. Lots of quirky head scratcher clues. And although i read about 21 clues before I managed to write one in, i thoroughly enjoyed cracking them and then working out why the answer was right (some help needed with the parsing so thanks to Deep Threat). Shall I now start on Saturday’s?
As it was Mrs O birthday on Friday , I only got to look at this late on Saturday….. managed the entire RHS with nothing on the left until the Sunday Am first cup of coffee suddenly made everything clear. Think this was the cleverest puzzle of the week and gave the greatest sense of satisfaction when completed. ***/***** Congrats to Zandio. Favourite 23a …my first experience of a Spoonerism in a real life crossword.
4*/5*….
liked 22A “capital place where an old serviceman is always looked up to (9,6)” ….amongst others.