Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 3089
A full review by gnomethang
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This puzzle was published on 3rd January 2021
BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****
Morning All! I very much enjoyed this puzzle with a few tricky clues pushing it inti *** difficutly for me,
Please leave a comment telling us what you thought.
Across
1a Jump on this passenger vehicle: European tours popular (10)
TRAMPOLINE – A TRAM/passenger vehicle and a POLE/Europen goes around (tours) IN for popular.
6a Order another sherry: brandy overpriced initially (4)
ASBO – The initial letters of Another Sherry Brandy Overpriced.
10a Joint that goes to a bishop’s head! (5)
MITRE – Two definitions, the woodworking joint an the Bishop’s Titfer.
11a Jockey chose rare animal bred for speed (9)
RACEHORSE – An anagram *to jockey) of CHOSE RARE.
12a Extra book (7)
RESERVE – Two definitions – something kept additionally to usual consumption and to book out with e.g. a deposit.
13a Top trimmed beef stuffed with prunes (7)
ECLIPSE – Trim the outer layers from (b)EE(f) and then stuff in CLIPS for prunes.
14a Thrashing received, might this selection be preferred in volleyball team? (3,2,3,4)
SIX OF THE BEST – The second cryptic definition refers to the number of members on a Volleyball team and the fact that one might prefer them all to be among the best.
18a A curry in pie, a Greek dish (12)
TARAMASALATA – place A MASALA (A curry) inside TART for pie and then add the final A from the clue.
21a Great revolutionary and Territorials meet on water (7)
REGATTA – An anagram (revolutionary) of GREAT followed by TA for the Territorial Army.
23a Talk about an obsequious character! (7)
SPANIEL – SPEIL or talk around/about AN from the clue.
24a Stew: tiny bit unfinished — that’s a problem (3,6)
HOT POTATO – A HOTPOT or stew with all but the last letter (unfinished( of an ATO(m) or tiny bit.
25a Cup of tea taken in Bayreuth in Germany (5)
THING – It is worth mentioning the definition here – as my ‘cup of tea’ is a synonym for my ‘THING’ i.e. ‘what I like’. In any case it is a hidden word ‘taken in’ Bayreu TH IN G ermany.
26a Bet money at the Curragh, some years ago? (4)
PUNT – Two definitions – A bet and also the old Irish currency.
27a Scenarist wary about getting into trouble (10)
PLAYWRIGHT – An anagram (about) of WARY inside PLIGHT or trouble.
Down
1d Weary about doctor’s tone (6)
TIMBRE – TO TIRE around/about MB for doctor (Medicinae Baccalaureus).
2d Evidence watching the Ashes, say? (6)
ATTEST – If you were watching the Ashes you would be AT a TEST match.
3d More tiny fragments in elixir — so fluid? (6,2,6)
POETRY IN MOTION – Make an anagram (it fragments) of MORE TINY and place in a POTION or elixir.
4d Son: a cruel, wicked criminal (9)
LARCENOUS – A criminal anagram of SON A CRUEL.
5d Bay in European resort containing harbour, originally (5)
NICHE – The first/original letter in H(arbour) is found in the European/French resort of NICE.
7d Poor fugitives finally caught (8)
STRAPPED – The final letter of (fugitive)S and then TRAPPED for caught.
8d Breakfast landlord neither starts nor finishes? (8)
OMELETTE – A Landlord might be a HOME LETTER. Remove both the start and finishing characters.
9d Character stole awfully large car (7,7)
CHELSEA TRACTOR – Make an anagram (awfully) of CHARACTER STOLE.
15d Fairytale with a giant? (4,5)
TALL STORY – A lie or fairytale is a TALL STORY – particularly when it includes a giant!
16d Features cool in space rocket (8)
STARSHIP – A charade of STARS/features and HIP for cool, Daddy-O!.
17d Approved accessing Scottish peak in lift (8)
BRIGHTEN – Place RIGHT for approved inside a BEN or Scottish peak.
19d Family into great outdoor activity (6)
BIKING – KIN or family inside/into BIG/great.
20d Minor act of neglect (6)
SLIGHT – Two definitions, small and a snub.
22d Use a mask, did you say? (5)
AVAIL – A form the clue and a homophone (did you say?) of VEIL. Nice and topical!.
Great puzzle! There are many clever clues with 13a my favourite.