Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 29545
A full review by gnomethang
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This puzzle was published on 12th December 2020
BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***
Morning All! A slightly stiffer challenge this week and all the better for it IMO.
Please leave a comment telling us what you thought.
Across
1a Ogre entering disreputable bar? Split! (7)
DIVORCE – An ORC or ogre entering inside a DIVE or disreputable bar.
5a Birds with wings in Estonia’s coastal location (7)
SWANSEA – SWANS (birds) with the outer letters/wings in E(stoni)A.
9a Associate in company left union (9)
COLLEAGUE – A charade of CO(mpany), L(eft) and a LEAGUE or union.
10a Half a dozen with tasty dish (5)
VIAND – VI for six/half a dozen in Roman numerals followed by AND for with.
11a Armchair found by couple in a Sumerian city (7)
AMATEUR – Place MATE/couple inside A from the clue and the perennial crosswordland ancient Sumerian city of UR.
12a Drink served with good meat — is it checked? (7)
GINGHAM – GIN for drink served with G(ood) an HAM (meat).
13a Thrown out, but Nellie irrepressible (9)
EBULLIENT – An anagram (thrown out) of BUT NELLIE.
16a Performance going ahead in London district (5)
ACTON – ACT for performance and ON for going ahead.
17a Poet initially unappreciated in Yemeni city (5)
AUDEN – The initial letter if U(nappreciated) inside the Yemeni port of ADEN.
18a Bare all in dancing as classical performer (9)
BALLERINA – A dancing anagram of BARE ALL IN.
21a Lass around when love gives gemstone (7)
GIRASOL – One to look up to confirm the gemstone but the wordplay is clear 0 a GIRL or lass around AS/when and O for love,
22a Rep welcomed by chap almost purplish red (7)
MAGENTA – Place an AGENT or rep inside MA(n) or chap almost.
25a Guru‘s morning in Westminster? (5)
SWAMI – A.M. for morning inside SW1 – the postcode for Westminster.
26a Stubborn stain to be treated (9)
OBSTINATE – An anagram (to be treated) of STAIN TO BE.
27a Daughter cutting a deck to deal with (7)
ADDRESS – D for Daughter cuts inside A from the clue and DRESS or deck/ornament as a verb.
28a Painter harboured by diplomat is secure (7)
MATISSE – A hidden word is harboured by diplo MAT IS SE cure.
Down
1d State directive emptied Irish county (7)
DECLARE – Remove the inner letters (emptied) of D(irectiv)E – and follow with the County CLARE.
2d Grand house in very bad area (5)
VILLA – V(ery) then ILL/bad and A(rea).
3d Old magistrate gets on with First Lady (5)
REEVE – RE: for on/about and then EVE – the first lady in the Bible.
4d Fighting words: grenade exploding! (2,5)
EN GARDE – An exploding anagram of GRENADE.
5d Trickery from the French in great deal (7)
SLEIGHT – Place LE – the in French inside SIGHT for lots/a great deal/many.
6d Profit sometimes taken unfairly? (9)
ADVANTAGE – The second (cryptic) def. relating to taking ADVANTAGE of someone.
7d Get this cooked: old man coming in for food (9)
SPAGHETTI – Make an anagram (cooked) of GET THIS and include PA for old man in the middle.
8d Do held by sailor and blokes showing belly (7)
ABDOMEN – DO from the clue is held bu AB (Able Bodied/sailor) and MEN/blokes.
14d Planted bananas in secret? (9)
UNDERHAND – Something planted is UNDER (the ground) – Add a HAND of bananas.
15d Get liberal in party a big majority (9)
LANDSLIDE – LAND for get (e.g. a deal) an then L for Liberal inside a SIDE or party.
17d Impressive American city in Maine (7)
AUGUSTA – – AUGUST for impressive followed by A(merica). There is another in Georgia with a very Impressive golf course!.
18d Student in Hell beginning to sweat: this fans flames (7)
BELLOWS – An L for Learner/student placed inside BELOW/hell and then the beginning letter in S(weat).
19d Tolerate problem to get complete amount (4,3)
LUMP SUM – To LUMP or tolerate something then a SUM or problem.
20d Made to suffer in wicked college life (7)
ACADEME – An anagram (to suffer) of MADE inside ACE for wicked/brilliant, innit!
23d Milling corn gerbils ate regularly (5)
GRIST – The odd/regular letters of G e R b I l S a T e.
24d Gets close attention in north and south (5)
NEARS – EAR for attention inside N(orth) and S(outh)