DT 29483 – Big Dave's Crossword Blog
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DT 29483

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 29483

Hints and tips by Kath

+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +

BD Rating — Difficulty **Enjoyment ****

Hello everyone. A Ray T crossword that I thought was about as straightforward as his ever are but I can only say how I found it – you may disagree so please leave a comment telling us how you got on today.

In the hints the definitions are underlined and the answers are hidden under ANSWER so only do that if you need to see one.

Across

7a        Lady bears son, moving about (8)
BARONESS — an anagram (moving about) of BEARS SON

9a        Chronicles of Aslan revolving around Narnia’s opening (6)

ANNALS — an anagram (revolving) of ASLAN which goes round (around) the first letter (opening) of Narnia

10a       Charter from Queen in rush (4)
 HIRE — an archaic or poetic word that means rush or hasten contains (in) the one letter abbreviation for the Latin word for Queen

11a       Cross pass through crossing both poles (10)
TRANSVERSE — a synonym of pass through or over which contains (crossing) the abbreviations for both ends of the earth’s axis

12a       Almost lose one’s sight seeing demon (6)
GOBLIN — a two word phrase that means to lose one’s sight or lose the ability to see (2, 5) without its final letter (almost)

14a       Steep charge applied to staff (8)
MACERATE — this ‘steep’ is a verb – a charge or cost follows (applied to) a heavy ornamental staff carried as a mark of authority

15a       Draw tailless bird surrounded by river (6)
DEDUCE — a four letter aquatic bird without its last letter (tailless) goes inside (surrounded by) a Scottish or a Welsh river

17a       Classes from Information Age (6)
GENERA — a little word that means information or facts is followed by an age or epoch

20a       Stagger catching oddly rugged and round fish (8)
STURGEON — stagger here is surprise or amaze rather than walk in a wobbly way and it contains (catching) the odd letters of rugged and a ‘round’ letter

22a       Club, say, trailing leader of Premiership (6)
PUTTER — say or speak follows (trailing) the first letter (leader) of Premiership

23a       Cheers following pub departure (10)
INNOVATION — a pub or a tavern is followed by ‘cheers’ or applause

24a       Trade in timber (4)
DEAL — a simple double definition – don’t think I need to add anything to that

25a       Changes where one makes sacrifices, reportedly (6)
ALTERS — a homophone (reportedly) of a block or a table in a church which is used for making sacrifices

26a       Lover all smiles purchasing work clothing (8)
OVERALLS — the first lurker or hidden answer today which is indicated by purchasing – the answer is hiding in the first three words of the clue

 

Down

1d        Various staff providing cover for aged (8)
MANIFOLD — a verb to staff and a conjunction that means providing, or on condition that, are followed by (cover for) another word for aged or getting on a bit

2d        What sweetheart shows heart? (4)
CORE — ‘what’, as it’s used here, is an exclamation of surprise and it’s followed by the middle letter of swEet (heart of sweet) – there’s always one that’s tricky to do a decent hint for

3d        Bully initially scoffed getting thrashed (6)
BEATEN — the first letter (initially) of bully is followed by scoffed or gobbled

4d        Old lady’s practically divine butcher (8)
MASSACRE — an affectionate term for your old lady or your Mum, with her ‘S, is followed by the first five letters (practically) of a six letter synonym for divine or holy

5d        Tender name used for ‘sweetheart‘ (10)
ENDEARMENT — an anagram (used for) of TENDER NAME

6d        Miss taken by empty custom-built wardrobe (6)
CLOSET — another word for miss or fail goes inside (taken by) the first and last letters (empty) of C[ustom-buil]T

8d        Bootlicking Sergeant-Major leading his men? (6)
SMARMY — the two letter abbreviation for S[ergeant]-M[ajor] precede (leading) his men or the soldiers under his command

13d      Elder son, he changes short trousers (10)
LEDERHOSEN — an anagram (changes) of ELDER SON HE – I thought for a while that we were missing a letter here but that was because my spelling failed me

16d      Crack by stupid European about English victory (8)
CREVASSE — another word for ‘stupid’ in a tasteless or insensitive way and the one letter abbreviation for E[uropean] go around (about) two more one letter abbreviations – one for E[nglish] and the second for V[ictory]

18d      Ace blokes, fit and willing (8)
AMENABLE — the abbreviation for A[ce] in a game of cards, some blokes or chaps and a synonym for fit or apt

19d      Dye from Asian country detailed work (6)
INDIGO — a very large five letter Asian country without its last letter (detailed) are followed by a little word meaning work or function

21d      Can mirth cut thrill? (6)
TINGLE — a can or container for preserved food is followed by the first three of a four letter word (cut) meaning mirth or delight

22d      Some syrup in cereal for nipper (6)
PINCER — the second hidden answer indicated by the first word of the clue

24d      Reading up Shakespeare is dull (4)
DRAB — a reversal (reading up) of a word that is something of which Shakespeare is an example – that’s the second one today that’s hard to write a hint for

I particularly liked 9a and 8 and 16d. My favourite was 12a.

The Quickie Pun:-  BOW + TRACE = BOAT RACE


 

98 comments on “DT 29483

  1. As straightforward as I’ve ever known Ray T and very enjoyable too – I see he has twice as many sweethearts as usual too

    Thanks to Mr T for the crossword and Kath for the blog

  2. I struggled to get this started, but accelerated as it went on. In the end I was flying along and was finished in a solid ** time.

    I wasn’t able to fully parse 16d (I was using a shorter word for ‘stupid’), so thanks for the explanation. One of my last in was 11a, and that gets my COTD.

    Many thanks to Ray T and Kath.

  3. A straight forward puzzle today and a **/**** for me, liked the surfaces of 9a and 12a.
    New synonym for 23a confirmed by my Chambers , my version often gives a synonym but the synonym often does not give a synonym of the original word, I always make a note of this for future use- worth a fortune one day !
    Anyway most enjoyable from Mr T, in crossword land 20a is the only fish in the sea.
    Thanks Kath for the pics, is that what a wardrobe looks like?

    1. No – it certainly doesn’t look like mine and neither would I go to work wearing the pic for 26a, certainly not in those shoes!

      1. My favourite pic for the day, Kath. I laughed like a drain.
        This is a woman with 3 pairs of fancy flats, 3 pairs of heels – no boots, trainers or slippers, which is surprising, given that she clearly works at B&Q – note the 6 identical green T shirts and some orange stuff…..

        Also she has a few tops but no bottoms, unless you count jeans.

        I’d call 26 pic dungarees, but I think they call them the other thing across the pond. My 26s have long sleeves and are a bit stiff (Either from too much or too little use, take your pick…….)

  4. A very straightforward puzzle from Ray T today but as enjoyable as ever (**/****). Apart from not being able to spell the short trousers, which held me up for a few minutes, this was quickly completed. I liked 1d and 11a best. Thanks to Ray T and to Kath for the review.

  5. I don’t think I’ve ever done a Ray T quicker, my biggest problem was deciding what to put on the podium as what it lacked in difficulty it made up for in quality.
    I did have to check that 17a was indeed a word but that was it.
    On the aforementioned podium I’ve gone for 12a& 1d with the brilliant 8d taking top spot.
    1.5/5*
    Many thanks to Ray T and Kath for the top notch entertainment.

  6. 2*/4.5*. Great fun from Mr T today at the easy end of his spectrum and in full compliance with his maximum seven word clue limit.

    I have four clues squeezing onto the podium today: 12a, 4d, 5d & 16d.

    Many thanks to RayT and to Kath.

  7. I fully concur with earlier commenters about the straightforwardness of today’s puzzle. Being a Ray T, though, the quality and fun was as good as ever, with the excellent 12a my top clue.

    My thanks to Mr T and to Kath for her review.

  8. After yesterday’s head scratcher from Jay, this was quite delightful and could almost be described as a Monday puzzle on a Thursday – completed at a fast gallop – **/****.
    Candidates for favourite – 12a, 15a, 1d, and 16d – and the winner is 1d, which might be an oldie but goodie.
    Thanks to Ray T and Kath.

  9. 12a, which produced a smile, was my favourite.

    Thanks to RayT for the enjoyable puzzle and to Kath for the write-up.

  10. Golly bongs! Solved in a trice. That’s what happens when you pay attention to this blog. Thanks to Kath for the review and thanks to RayT for lightening the load today.

  11. That was a veritable cakewalk but certainly none the less enjoyable for that. All went very smoothly with SW hanging fire for a couple of minutes. Difficult to pick Favs from the mostly very clever if simple clues but among them I did like 7d. I would have said that the lady in the 26a hint illustration is wearing dungarees rather than overalls? Thank you RayT for a brief funtime and to Kath.

  12. Rattled through and acquired some new knowledge courtesy of 10a and 24a. Thanks to Kath and todays setter.

  13. Slow start but rapid finish. At the easier end of the Ray T spectrum for me. Enjoyable with nothing to upset any sensitivities. Only problem of my own making reading an “i” for the “l” in 9a. Specsavers here I come.
    Worst COD 20a (not often I award one of those). We see enough of the ginger whinger without being reminded by the backpager.
    Thanks to all who wished well yesterday.
    Thanks Ray T & to Kath enjoyable review as always

      1. Angellov
        Not the clue nor the fish. Just the ginger whinger who is “in your face” (and your ears) with monotonous regularity up here.

            1. I meant the fish was ugly but you’re right, I’m not a fan of caviar, taramasalata, hard and soft roe and other such uncooked fishy delights.

          1. If you search YouTube, you can find Tracey Ullman sketches where she is impersonating the lady in a truly uncanny way. I especially like the ones where there is a two-handler between NS and Angela Merkel, competing on the shoes, suits and make-up front.

            1. Bluebird,
              I will try to get them. I try to imagine what Spitting Image would have made of her
              By choice NS is no lady, she is the First Minister (a genderless post).

              1. I will always look upon her as the Ginger Whinger, LBROK. She irritates me beyond belief.
                I hope all is well with you.

  14. The fastest I’ve ever finished a Ray T delight, with many ‘small’ gems for me: 12a, 8d, and 2 / 24d–the smaller the words, the greater the pleasure last night. Lots of fun too. Thanks to Kath, whose comments I’ll read now, and to the inveterately crafty Mr T. * / ****

    Finished Osman’s Thursday Murder Club, with thanks to those who recommended it. I hope this is the first of a series, with our geriatric quartet finding new mysteries to ‘dig’ up.

  15. Another enjoyable puzzle that, as ever with Ray T, required just the right amount of head scratching. I thought 12a was particularly good and this is my COTD. My second favourite is 8d. The short clues in the NW corner held me up for a while.

    Many thanks, Ray T for another great puzzle and many thanks , Kath for the hints and comments.

  16. A perfect example of why a puzzle doesn’t have to be mind-boggling to be most enjoyable.
    I did briefly toy with the idea of ‘love’ for 2d – too much exposure to all those T-shirts emblazoned with ‘I (heart) New York’!
    Podium laden with 12&25a plus 1,4&16d.

    Devotions as always to Mr T and many thanks to Kath for another excellent review.
    PS Regarding the ‘divine butcher’ I remember saying that I would never again buy fillet steak when it reached the dizzying height of 16s per pound – seems laughable now!

    1. I even went as far as writing in “love” for 2d but it seemed so unlike RayT that I revisited it when I’d finished everything else.

        1. And me. I wrote it in and it wasn’t until I went back to read the review I realised my mistake.

    2. Put me down as another who biffed “love” for 2d without giving it sufficient thought.
      As CS has already pointed out, I was surprised to see “sweetheart” appearing twice within the space of four down clues.
      Very enjoyable. Thanks to Ray T and to Kath.

  17. I thought perhaps Ray T was having an unscheduled day off as this puzzle wasn’t the total head scratcher that I’d been expecting this morning! **/**** Some excellent clues as we may expect from Ray T but favourite by a long way is 12a. Thanks to all.

  18. As usual with me Ray T is always a struggle and I needed Kath’s hints to finish this one. Still very enjoyable though. 12a and 23a I thought were good but 8d is my clear favourite today.

    Thanks to Kath for her helpful blog and to Ray T for bringing me down to earth after a good three days.

  19. Ray T is being very kind today.
    I was psyched up to expect **** difficulty but surprised myself in completing it in ** and half time.
    Always very enjoyable.
    Many thanks Ray T and Kath for the review.

  20. Like most of you, I thought this was a lot of fun, and no mistake.

    I also hesitated between the two options for 2d.

    I was sufficiently taken by Kath’s pics to ponder a bit of a connection between 13d and 18d, but I feel certain I will have to get my coat…….

    Thanks to her and RayT.

  21. Easiest for a while, but good fun with some clever/amusing clues, 12a and 21d for instance.

  22. Can’t believe this is a RayT, I really struggle with his puzzles,but today was different. I was suffering severe bruising from from the back patting I gave myself ,until I noted my error in 2D. I’m now suffering bruising in a lower part of my anatomy . Oh well maybe one day I will complete one of his. Thanks that’s for the hints, needed them to parse some of them, and to RayT.

  23. A pleasure to solve. Some fun clues today, especially 12a and 20a. 5d is the sort of anagram that appeals to me – loved it. Thanks Mr T & Kath

  24. All ticketyboo except 9a. I sloppily read the clue as ASIAN rather than ASLAN but that was the only minor hiccup. A very enjoyable puzzle. All dry today but several days of high gales and rain in the forecast. Can’t believe we are in October already – where did summer go? Thanks to all.

    1. Wait for it, we’ve just had an hour of rain and hail which will certainly have beaten down the dahlias. It may be on its way to you !

  25. Caviar comes from the virgin sturgeon,
    Virgin sturgeon – very fine fish
    The virgin sturgeon needs no urgin’
    That’s why caviar’s a very rare dish.

    1. Very overrated IMHO! I managed to persuade my Dad to come with me to Moscow and Leningrad in 1984 (I knew if I managed to get him to come he’d pay for me and it worked!). Very strange visit, rather spooky in fact, but we had loads of caviar and boiled eggs. In fact that is all I remember of the food.

      1. We did that trip in November 1987 arriving the day of the celebration of the start of the revolution. A break we saw in the Cambridge Evening News. Bitterly cold and, as you say, spooky. Food as I remember was dreadful.

        1. Our trip was end April. We had 3 days in Moscow in sweltering heat and then got on an overnight sleeper train to Leningrad where it was -10 and freezing with piles of snow everywhere and men in tiny swimming trunks vertically sunbathing up against a wall by the river! Mr M and I went to the now St Petersburg about 10 years ago on the little Swan Hellenic boat, Minerva. What a difference. I mentioned it to our guide at the Hermitage and she said in her heavily accented English ‘some things are a bit better than then but most things are much, much worse’! Very telling.

          1. Have you read that the new owners of Swan Hellenic have just laid the keel of one of their new ships and, wait for it, are calling her “Minerva”? Oh, those were the days! So many happy memories.

            1. I hadn’t heard that but have now googled it. They will have two boats of 152 passengers I think but they are aiming for the top end of the market. I absolutely adored Minerva because it was so shabby/chic and I felt so at home on her – we had about 12 trips over the years and by chance on her very last trip when she went bust!

      2. Mr BL went to Moscow on a business trip in 1977, during the a old War, at a time when you still had to be accompanied by a Russian “guide” everywhere. They also made a 14 hour train ride to the Ukraine. On his return he told me about the fields of sunflowers, the Russian tea urns, and the difficulty they had trying to explain the concept of a mortgage to their guide.

        1. 1973 Leningrad (St Petersburg) and Moscow. One week for approximately £73 with Clarksons (part of Court Lines which went bust the following year). First cheap package tour apart from Intourist I think. We did the train journey by day and stayed at the Europsky in Leningrad and the Metropole in Moscow. I was not keen on the caviar either but loved the smoked salmon and the fatty bacon. It certainly was a different world in Russia then and an experience that can never be repeated. Only 7 days of my life but so many memories and five out of the six of us who went together are still closely in touch.

  26. Everyone has said it already, pure delight. I Love the idea of the Ginger Whinger, that will spring to mind every time I see her mean little mouth. Thanks to RayT and Kath.

  27. First day of pukka retirement pleasantly started with this; concur with general remarks, above. However, I think I’m the only one who consistently struggles with four-letter words – so to speak! 2d had me convinced it was just a vaguely cryptic clue for love(heart), which, of course, it’s not. Moral of the dit: assume the setter is cleverer than oneself. 🤷🏻‍♂️

  28. Good fun to complete, though, due to being an ignoramus, I had not previously encountered 17a.

    Having completed the book of the letters between Diana and Duff Cooper, and then those between Diana and her son John Julius Norwich, I am now embarking on the diaries of Duff Cooper. I feel like a member of the family.

    Thanks to Ray T and Kath.

    1. Oh Terence we are virtually related. Diana was a voracious correspondent as I also have a book of her letters with Evelyn Waugh. How did they find the time?

  29. Well – all I can say is that I’m terribly glad that ‘love’ for 2d didn’t even occur to me.

    1. Kath – you are not alone. But, I did have to have a little think to reconcile the required synonym of what.

  30. Being more straightforward for a Ray T puzzle is surely an oxymoron. I grant you that it was a little less abstruse than usual but not too much.
    Still tricky. I just find it very difficult to get on his rather off the wall wavelength.
    ***/**
    Thx for the hints

  31. Well knock me down with a feather. I think I am actually starting to enjoy Ray T days. Not to say that I finished all on my own, but it was a pretty good effort today. There was a lot here to like. Thanks to the master himself and Kath for digging me out of some holes.

  32. A relatively straightforward puzzle for Thursday morning with breakfast coffee. **/*** with some nice clues for COTD candidates. Liked 9a, 12a, 25a, 4d & 24d with winner being 12a and runner up 9a
    The 10a three letter word was unknown to me and 17a was a puzzler for me too. Last in was 25a with a PDM groan at the end!

    Thanks to Ray T and Kath

  33. Yes a very straightforward Ray T and very enjoyable 😃 **/**** (although the last time I said that I didn’t solve a Thursday puzzle for six weeks) Favourites 11a, 15a 20a. Thanks to Kath and to Ray T 🤗

  34. Well at least I have Brian on my side. I just couldn’t get my head round this. I had the wrong sort of “steep” in my head for 12A, the wrong sort of “club” in 22a, and yes, put me down on the list of those who put “love” into 2d. Yesterday’s Jay was a doddle compared to this. I have enjoyed reading the review. Ginger Whinger is new to me. I won’t be able to call her anything else when I see her on the tv. Thanks to all.

    1. I’m with you and Brian on this one Florence! I didn’t find it that straightforward and yesterday’s tussle with Jay was easier, as you say. Got there in the end though! Thanks to Kath and Ray T for the workout.

  35. I am sure l could count the number of Ray T puzzles that l have without recourse to the blog on the fingers of 1 hand.l managed it today helped only by the stimulation provided by a long and steep walk.Some lovely clues and strategically placed anagrams.Thanks to all.

  36. I felt I was doing so well and completed the north in record time, my record time, not a pro’s record time. I then came up a blank for the south. I was so disappointed, I thought I was getting RayT’s wavelength. Never mind, at least I had the correct 2d, love never occurred to me.
    My fave was 12a. I needed a fair amount of help to complete the south.
    Thanks to RayT for the workout, and masses of appreciation to Kath for nudging me along.
    If anyone is interested in the Brit view of Der Gropenfürer there’s a perfect article in the London Daily by Nate White.

  37. Fully agree that this one was Ray T as his most gentle. Was rushing to finish it early this morning before I had to leave & wasn’t really too fussed about properly parsing the answers. My last in was 1d & with all checkers in place bunged in marigold as surely they’re the cover of choice for hands that do dishes but didn’t take long to correct once the iPad declared incorrect completion. A shame though as I’d managed my quickest ever solve had it been correct. Looks like today is the end of the decent weather so no golf planned for the next few days but a couple of Toughies to catch up on so plenty to keep me amused.
    Thanks to Ray T & to Kath – shall read your review later

  38. Evening all. Many thanks to Kath for the decryption and to everybody else for your contributions.

    RayT

    1. Good evening, Mr T, nice to see you as always. Hope that today’s ‘soft pedal’ puzzle doesn’t mean that you’ve got a monster waiting in the wings for your next outing!

    2. Mr T
      Many thanks for your contribution to my day and for the visit in “overtime”. I think most of us have come to appreciate your tests for what they are, double rations of sweetheart and all.
      Just Brian to go!

    3. Thank you, Ray T for a wonderful puzzle. There was a time when I could not get anywhere with your puzzles but now I look forward to them.

    4. Thanks for joining us again, Mr T, and for a delightful puzzle. 12a hit the spot for many of us,

  39. Not sure if I am being thick, but I have no idea why deal and timber are related. I also don’t understand why 5d means sweetheart. You wouldn’t say “She is my endearment”…

    Love for 2d here as well.

    I didn’t find this as easy as everyone else it would seem. Still an enjoyable solve.

    ***/*** for me today.

    1. A deal is a plank of wood.
      I took it that sweetheart is an example of the solution in 5d

  40. Enjoyed that and it didn’t take as long as usual for a Ray T Thursday. I am slipping behind though as the blasted puzzle site would not clear its cache sufficiently to allow me to print it off this A.M. I had to find a way in through a safe browser I think I will save todays toughie for tomorrow in case it happens again.
    Thanks to Kath for the hints ( I needed a few ) I did like the leather trousers but mainly because they look just like the ones that the Turkish Oil Wrestlers wear
    Thanks to Ray T too

  41. I’m with the “straightforward” camp this evening. The synonym for rush in 10a is neither archaic nor poetic to me and is in almost daily use as part of an instruction to my dogs. When on a retrieve and in the general area they are given the command “hie lost” meaning quickly find. It’s roots may archaic but has been preserved, certainly in the gundog world, to this day. For that reason it becomes my favourite. Many many thanks to Rayt and Kath.

      1. It’s the only command that I teach by association. When a puppy has winded the dummy I call hie lost. I also bury tennis balls in long grass and bring the dog to within a yard or so, tell it to fetch then repeatedly call hie lost when it’s near but say nothing if it moves out of the area, just encourage it back and repeat the process. Even the most mentally challenged pupils soon catch on. Obviously the aren’t many mentally challenged labradors but I’m after foot soldiers not generals. Labradors are born half trained spaniels die half trained.

        1. And a well brought up collie knows almost instinctively what is required and hardly needs teaching.

          1. I have two spaniels now. One was easy to train and difficult to work the other hard to train and easy to work!

    1. Taylor, a few years ago my daughter wanted an FT lab. pup & I was directed to a bitch in a litter in the Midlands.
      The sire was the then 2016 International FT Champion Beileys fancyname of fancyname. Always wish she could have had Tia trained to FT standards as she moves & swims exactly like her dad. You might comment on:




      1. She looks like my Megan, though she was a bit smaller I think. Megan came from Irish and Scottish stock. She was so beautiful.

      2. We all want our dogs to be trained to field trial standards but we just do the best we can with what we have. Most dogs in the shooting field are not that well behaved. Mine, although better than most, would not win a field trial. They lack the absolute close control needed but they’re near enough for agriculture and as long as I can impress my friends I’m happy.

  42. For me one of the best Thursday’s for some time. I was in the love camp and that and the charter were my last two in. Thank you to Kath and the setter.

  43. I’m well past my best now. :yawn:
    Really tired so heading off to bed but thanks to Ray T for the crossword and for calling in and to all for the comments.
    Night night everyone and sleep well.

  44. An odd Ray-T. As straightforward as I can ever remember.
    Still one day behind…
    Probably catch up today as the Guardian looks friday fiendish!
    Thanks Kath and Ray

  45. Cor Blimey what a cracker! Only one of our number remains in total bewilderment. Last ones in were 22a, 18d, and 17a. Did not think of Love for 2d luckily or I may have inserted it. Too many favourites to mention them all but will go with the popular ones 12a and 8d plus 19d. I thought I had 10a right as had Hie in my head. Not having Chambers in my bed I googled it and only came up with HIE some awful affliction but was confident enough to insert. Thanks Kath for hints and pics, not needed but fun. Thanks Ray T. Interestingly, I did not get anywhere with Wednesday’s Jay but may have another go.

  46. Many thanks to Mr. T for giving me excellent brain exercise – I managed to get it all sorted out after some fairly hard work but 1d fooled me completely until I looked at the hints this morning. Good morning to you -it’s good that you have joined us. Thanks to Kath for the hints, which I always find very interesting. Incidentally I see that the ginger whinger has genuinely got something to whinge about today.

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