DT 29635 – Big Dave's Crossword Blog
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DT 29635

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 29635

Hints and tips by Falcon

+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +

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

Greetings from Ottawa, where the April showers have shown up a few days early. For the most part, temperatures in March have been warmer than normal and the snow is virtually gone. There is some positive news on the vaccine front (I hope). The powers that be have now concluded that it is safe for me to receive the British-developed vaccine. Before this change, I was in the unenviable situation of being too young to get one vaccine and too old for the other.

I found today’s puzzle from Campbell to be what I imagine a bicycle trip through Yorkshire might be like. Starting high on a moor, it was a rapid descent into the first dale followed by a slow climb to the top of the next hill. Just barely making it to the summit, there was then another fast ride down into the next dale concluding with another uphill struggle to the finish. In fact, I needed a gentle push to get there.

In the hints below, underlining identifies precise definitions and cryptic definitions, and indicators are italicized. The answers will be revealed by clicking on the ANSWER buttons.

Please leave a comment telling us what you thought of the puzzle.

Across

1a   “Sexy Sadie”‘s opening — group unknown (6)
STEAMY — link together Sadie’s initial, a group of athletes perhaps, and one of the usual mathematical unknowns

4a   Study held by agents backing agricultural machine (8)
SPREADER — to study at university confined by a reversal of agents of the commercial (rather than intelligence) variety

9a   Regret about writer, bankrupt, ultimately (6)
REPENT — string together a short word denoting about or concerning, a writing implement, and the final letter of bankrupT

10a   Less breeze , so relax? (4,4)
WIND DOWN — a sort of pseudo double definition in which the first part of the clue could be a literal interpretation of the solution

11a   Criticise Americans accepting order for cigar (9)
PANATELLA — a synonym for criticise is followed by two instances of the abbreviation for American which bookend a verb meaning order or command

13a   The French following Rugby Union laws (5)
RULES — the plural French definite article is appended to the abbreviation for Rugby Union

14a   Met rep in des res unfortunately portrayed inaccurately (14)
MISREPRESENTED — an anagram (unfortunately) of the first five words of the clue

17a   Term of excellence article applied to jazz fan’s night attire? (3,4,7)
THE CAT’S PYJAMAS — a charade of an English definite article, a slang term for a jazz fan, the ‘s from the clue, and an item meant to be worn in bed gives an expression that was probably au courant about a century ago

21a   Gather popular umpire retired (5)
INFER — a short word denoting popular or trendy precedes a reversal of a shortened umpire

23a   Like one on the wagon missing having can inside (9)
ABSTINENT — missing or not in attendance wrapped around a container you would find on the pantry shelf

24a   Compassionate? Lucifer, surprisingly, after mass! (8)
MERCIFUL — a physicist’s abbreviation for mass precedes an anagram (surprisingly) of LUCIFER

25a   European associated with staggering space flight (6)
ESCAPE — the single letter representing European followed by an anagram (staggering) of SPACE

26a   Visionary having short time in charge after Vespasian? (8)
ROMANTIC — a citizen of an ancient empire (the question mark signifies that Vespasian is an example) followed by the abbreviations for time and in charge gives us someone who is perhaps more of a daydreamer than someone who’s idea’s are ahead of their time

27a   Useless person wearing sleeveless jacket (6)
JERKIN — a charade of a derogatory term for an annoying person and a preposition denoting wearing or clothed by

Down

1d   Waste energy in awkward situation (6)
SCRAPE — an item of waste and the abbreviation for energy; I wasted considerable energy (and time) trying to put energy into an awkward situation to get a synonym for waste

2d   Dear old partner, deeply thoughtful (9)
EXPENSIVE — an old (as in former) partner comes before an adjective meaning preoccupied with one’s thoughts

3d   Track  large lizard (7)
MONITOR — double definition; the first being a verb

5d   Tommy watches detectives (7,4)
PRIVATE EYES — a low-ranking soldier and a verb meaning watches or observes (often lustfully or covetously)

6d   Back last nag, not the first (7)
ENDORSE — a synonym for last or conclusion followed by a headless equine animal

7d   Funny turn after onset of dizziness (5)
DROLL — a turn around an axis following the initial letter of Dizziness

8d   Row of seats in circle section (8)
RINGSIDE — a charade of a word meanig circle and a section or portion (of a beef carcass, for instance)

12d   Stone is left in Bolivian city university — large one (5,6)
LAPIS LAZULI — start by placing the IS from the clue and L(eft) into the capital of Bolivia: then append the abbreviations for university and large and, finally, a Roman one

This little beauty can be yours for only £10,000 — a savings of £7,000.

15d   First of them comment having taken in ad’s distinguishing characteristic (9)
TRADEMARK — the first letter of Them precedes a comment containing a short commercial message that the setter has generously presented to us as a gift

16d   Be enraged about brief attempt to obtain gardening implement (8)
STRIMMER — experience anger at a low boil into which is immersed all but the final letter of a word meaning attempt or test

18d   Charge American soldier up in Scottish island (7)
ARRAIGN — the usual American soldier is reversed (up in a down clue) and surrounded by an island in the Firth of Clyde

19d   A series under discussion (2,5)
AT ISSUE — the A from the clue and a mass or collection (a word often used to describe lies) that would more accurately be characterised as interwoven rather than serial in nature

20d   Scattered drives, at the end, on Scottish Open golf course, we hear (6)
STREWN — the final letter of driveS precedes what sounds like a well-known golf course in southwestern Scotland

22d   Meeting female over drink (5)
FORUM — the abbreviation for female and the cricket symbol for over are followed by a drink favoured by nautical types

I am not one to make tick marks as I solve the puzzle so find myself reviewing the clues at the end trying to identify a favourite. Today, I was impressed by what I thought was the especially high overall standard of the clues making choosing a favourite a difficult chore. However, I am going to go with 24a because the image it conjured up made me chuckle.


Quickie Pun (Top Row): RAYS + CANE = RAISE CAIN

Quickie Pun (Bottom Row) : ANNE + TEAK = ANTIQUE


123 comments on “DT 29635

  1. Par for the recently opened course today, completed in ** time.

    My repetition radar was set off by 18d, I am sure we had the exact same clue very recently.

    I didn’t know the expression at 17a, I always knew them as ‘whiskers’. Why are the nightwear a sign of excellence?

    Many thanks to the compiler and Falcon.

  2. A little dated in parts, and I needed a bit of electronic research for the stone, otherwise an entertaining puzzle that I quite enjoyed.
    I liked the homophone at 20d and it’s joined on the podium by the simple but clever 25a&7d.
    2/3*
    Many thanks to Campbell and to Falcon for the entertainment.

  3. A pleasant, gentle rsmble of a crossword and no less enjoyable for that (1*/3*). I liked 12d because I like a bit of geography in the clue and 6d, which I found really funny. Haven’t we had 23a and 18d recently or is it a case of ‘deja vu’? Thanks to Falcon for the hints (glad your vaccination is finally coming to pass). Thanks to Campbell for an enjoyable puzzle.

  4. This is a leftover from yesterday as I don’t do the puzzle till late. It!s for those of you who were discussing printers and ink. I bought a wireless HP Envy 4500 inkjet several years ago on the recommendation of an assistant in John Lewis. I have the ink on the contract and it costs me £1.99 a month. They automatically send a new one well before you need it. You are right it is the ink that is a rip-off when you buy in the normal way. What is surprising is that these cartridges fit but hold far far more than the ones you buy. They seem to be everlasting.

    1. WW – you mentioned this a few months ago and I took up the £1.99 deal on the ‘Instant Ink’ procedure. I’m very grateful to you!

      1. Glad you did Terence. I think it is amazing. For some time now my printer has been telling me the ink is low but I don’t change until it makes a difference to the quality. The bill always arrive in my inbox and they take the direct debit with no problems.

    2. Isn’t it strange that when you are paying them anyway, they last for ages because it is an outgoing for them to send replacements
      They could make them all last for yonks if they wanted to, like light bulbs

      1. Before this pandemic I rang HP as I was getting so few sheets, about a quarter, of what they said I should expect. Mine is an HP Envy 4527. The chap made me push all sorts of buttons and a sheet came out and he told me how many sheets I had done – about 700 – but that was over 4 years so he agreed that I wasn’t getting like the quantity I should. He tried to get me onto the monthly deal but I refused and he badgered me for days. In fact the machine is so clever it seems to know exactly what you have been printing, what you scanned and the rest, perhaps even what I had for breakfast. Very clever except when it decides not to print at all.

        1. Inkjet printers are never good value – even if you don’t use them ink dries on the print heads and renders them useless
          When that happens, they tell you to use loads of ink to try to clean the print heads, then buy a load more ink to see if it’s worked (which it hasn’t) then take it down the tip and buy another one. HP Laser 107w best home printer on the market at the moment

          1. Agreed. I bought an HP M254DW colour laser a couple of years ago. Still on its first set of cartridges and just works.

            1. I used to use masses more ink than I thought I should. Turned out I was using ordinary paper. Changed to a slightly more expensive less absorbent type, and the cartridges seem to last for ever

          2. That’s another thing. I’ve never had a problem with ink drying since I had this printer and the contract for the ink. It is no surprises the cartridges last longer as they are much bigger. £24 a year and the price has never gone up. I’ve had it since 2015.

  5. I hadn’t heard of 17a, but managed to get the said nightwear from the checking letters. I had “the bee’s knees” in my head, so googled that to see if there was an alternative. Low and behold, Mr Google came up with the answer …… along with “ the caterpillar’s spats”. I wonder if that will ever be used. Possibly not if it is an American term. I certainly hadn’t heard of that either. No other holdups other than 17a. A pleasant enough solve. Thank you Campbell and Falcon.

  6. I thought that the puzzle was a typical Monday job.
    Nothing to get me confused. I also thought that I’d seen 6D somewhere recently.
    Have a good day.

  7. Several recognition moments in a very easy puzzle for Monday. Thanks to Falcon and the setter.

    Wish I could get on the setters’ wavelengths as easily during the rest of the week.

  8. Not Campbell’s fault that we had 3 of these over the weekend – 6d in the NTSPP, 19d with Dada yesterday & 18d in Saturday’s Prize (identically if memory serves). All pretty straightforward apart from 12d perhaps which thankfully I knew from a previous fairly recent Everyman puzzle. All over in 1.5* time with 20d my predictable favourite. Now for golf which is likely to prove more of a challenge.
    Thanks Campbell & Falcon

    1. Enjoy. Where H?
      Probably fortunately not at 20d. You might need a bagful of balls to get round there today plus heavy rain

  9. *drafts letter to the editor* “Dear Sir, I would like to make an appointment with Mr Allan Clark to discuss the clue and answer to 12d…”
    Otherwise, an excellent Monday crossword with no knowledge of 12th century Japanese ceramics required. *shakes fist at 12d*
    A swift return of 18d was most welcome as it was the first clue that I set upon as I glanced crossword-wards.

    With the slight amending of lockdown rules, we are to head out, shortly, to look at summer houses (don’t ask!)

    Today’s crossword soundtrack: Stephen Stills – Stephen Stills

    Thanks to Campbell (12d grrr!) and Falcon on his bike in Ottawa.

    1. Gosh! What was wrong with 12d?! This was one that jumped right out at me and went in early. Perhaps because I had a gorgeous necklace made of this in my teens and a friend of mine lived in the Bolivian City so all were familiar terms to me!

      1. Which makes the clue okay for you, BL but those who don’t own a necklace and have a friend in that city are at a disadvantage. :grin:

        1. No more of a disadvantage than those of us frequently confronted with sporty questions (particularly cricket). I also solved 12d right away. I started with the Bolivian city, and then it was a bingo moment. Some of us ladies appreciate the odd clue thrown our way.

          1. Hear hear to both you BLs!

            The Bolivian city isn’t exactly left field though whether it’s the capital or not is up for discussion as Sucre has a claim for it.

            I’ve seen many a messy quiz night because of that Steward’s.

            It’s always down to how proud the quizmaster is.

            1. I see that Lexico (Oxford) has La Paz as the capital and Sucre as the legal capital. Does that make La Paz the illegal capital? ;)

              1. Best clue of the day – I knew La Paz and worked out the answer from the clue, as someone said the other day ‘not rocket science’.

        2. Nor sure of the spelling but very familiar with the stone. Easy to put together with the fodder in the clue. Can’t see anything wrong with it.

      2. I also have a necklace from Hong Kong, and it looks pretty smart twisted into my pearls.

    2. Terence – when I come across something like 12d there are a few possibilities, for me anyway. If I’ve heard of it then it’s fine to ‘bung in the answer’, decide that my brain doesn’t need any more cluttering and let the ‘hinty person’ explain it. If I haven’t heard of it then the same applies. If I am the ‘hinty person’ that day then I’m a bit sunk and I send panic stricken emails asking for help from a few people who I know I can rely on!

  10. Top honours for me have to go to 12d in this enjoyable grid because of the rarity of its inclusion and its exotic flavouring–and also because every time I hear of it, I think of R Browning’s Bishop who ‘Orders His Tomb at St Praxed’s Church,’ one of the great dramatic monologues. I also liked 24a and 10a, my LOI (couldn’t get ‘calm’ out of my mind). Thanks to Falcon for the review and to Campbell for the fun. ** / ***

    1. I clearly remembered 12d and think my source was a poem by Stephen Spender. Can’t find it now but perhaps you know the piece in question?

      1. The only poem right now that comes to mind is W B Yeats’s poem by the 12d title, which I hadn’t read in millennia until just now. Can’t find one by Spender.

        1. That was the only one I could come up with as well and it certainly wasn’t the Yeats poem. Worst of it is that I learned part of the Spender one for a school exam…………

        2. “IN tombs of gold and lapis lazuli
          Bodies of holy men and women exude
          Miraculous oil, odour of violet.
          But under heavy loads of trampled clay
          Lie bodies of the vampires full of blood;
          Their shrouds are bloody and their lips are wet.”

          Excerpt From
          The Collected Poems
          William Butler Yeats
          https://books.apple.com/gb/book/the-collected-poems/id478727412
          This material may be protected by copyright.

  11. Perfect Monday puzzle solved after a lovely walk along the coast – too nice to come home really but my friend had a date with a boiler repair man, so we had to come back :(

    Thanks to Campbell and Falcon

  12. I usually struggle with Campbell but maybe assisted by the aforementioned previously used clues didn’t find this too taxing. Indeed pleasant! So thanks to Campbell for his crossword and Falcon for his nicely illustrated hints. Overall I thought a **/**

  13. An excellent, enjoyable and straightforward start to the crosswording week with no hold ups or obscurities. 24a and 7d share my top spot. My immediate thought in seeing 17a involved parts of our canine friends until I realised that The Telegraph would not entertain such a phrase.

    My thanks to Campbell and to Falcon.

    1. Me too re 17a.
      Also in 27a first letter was the “k” checker & for similer reasons had to dismiss my first thought that I was looking for a useless person.

  14. Thanks to everybody for the hints regarding printers with a mind of their own. I’ll persevere with it because, on occasion, I do need it for something other than printing the DT cryptic. Very quick puzzle this morning. */*** Done on the iPad, MP. I do everything else on it so it’s not that much of a bother! I liked 12d. I don’t think there are many cities in Bolivia so it wasn’t hard to come up with the answer.
    Favourite 20d. Thanks to all.

    1. When Saint Sharon first bought our iPads I thought using it for the puzzles was a faff but like most new things once the initial shock of newness wears off it becomes familiar and far better than what was there before. Just as I would choose a calculator over pencil and paper so I choose my iPad over dead trees and writing implements. I can also read what I have written which I cannot with pen or pencil. A bonus was learning to do the anagrams in my head because Saint Sharon wouldn’t pass me a pen and paper

      1. So you are late to the computer age, MP?
        My first computer was a Commodore 64 back in the 80’s. 64 stood for the number of megabytes it had, which by today’s standards is paltry.

  15. Nice start to the week 😃 **/**** Favourites 5, 16 & 20d Thanks to Falcon and to Campbell 👍

  16. Found this reasonably straightforward. Must be getting better at tuning in to Campbell’s wavelength. Enjoyable solve ** / ***.
    As others noted 18d virtually identically clued a couple of days ago.
    6d my COTD.
    Thank you Campbell and Falcon.

    1. Good luck tomorrow! With all of us winging our good vibes to you, I’m sure it’s going to be just fine. Heck, look what we all did for Lola!

      1. Thank you M.
        Strange feeling needing to know but not wanting to. Its a bit like opening the envelope to see your exam results. You hope you”ve done well but there’s always doubt.

        1. Late reading through the comments (post golf at Verulam snooze). Very best of luck the morrow – as Merusa says there’s a lot of positive thoughts in your corner.

        2. Of course! My thoughts are with you, LROK. As Merusa says, positive vibes being sent your way.

  17. A very pleasant and gentle romp to start the (non-)work week assisted by some oldies but goodies and the handful of recent repeats – 1.5*/4.5*.
    Candidates for favourite – 10a, 17a, 2d, 12d, and 20d – and the winner is 17a.
    The winner might have been 12d but I thought that the last three letters were a little contrived.
    Thanks to Campbell and Falcon.

  18. A great start to the week’s crosswording. A couple of clues making an appearance after having been in recent puzzles but entertaining, nevertheless. I did the same as Falcon at 1d having completely missed the indicator. I did not know the phrase at 17a but given “jazz fan’s” the second word was obvious. My COTD is 6d. It may be an old chestnut but it raised a smile. I’ve had a number of clues that make me smile lately and Mrs. C is beginning to look at me strangely.

    Many thanks to Campbell for the entertainment and to Falcon for the hints.

  19. Like Falcon, I tried very hard to get energy into an awkward situation for 1d and only saw the error of my ways when the checkers appeared. No other problems to report and I thought this was an excellent puzzle from our Monday man.
    Plenty of candidates for favourite but I think 7d just has the edge for me.

    Thanks to Campbell and also to Falcon for the review and the very enjoyable video clips!

  20. I seem well out of step today. Could barely make a start even with three of the long ones in.

  21. 12 down. My favourite clue today and the many other times I have seen it. The first time I saw this as an answer it aroused my curiosity and I found this quote “A noble color, beautiful, the most perfect of all colors,” Cennino Cennini said of ultramarine, the pigment made from powdered lapis lazuli, in his “Book of the Arts,” written around 1400. it led to my searching out and visiting several paintings. Thanks Allan for the reminder and thanks to Falcon for the hints and tips.

  22. 2.5*/4*. Lots of fun here as usual on a Monday, which was brightened for me today by the news that my cricket season is expected to start in mid-April.

    I was breezing along nicely with the puzzle until I came to a halt with my last two in: 27a & 20d, which took me above my 2* time.

    My top three were 17a, 7d & 20d.

    Many thanks to Campbell and to Falcon.

  23. The last time I picked up the DT crossword there was an answer with the feline’s whiskers (something to do with a radio or TV set? And excellence) so 17a jumped right out at me, hurrah! Did Campbell set that one too and does s/he have a fondness for the furry ones or for terms of excellence?! I look forward to the day when the dogs’ whatnots make it in as a clue.
    Needed hints to explain why 26a and 18d were correct as I think the synonyms were a bit off but otherwise all good straightforward fun. Although I think there was a missed opportunity in the 19d clue- isn’t there something wonderful to be done there with a sneezing onomatopoeic clue?!
    Thanks all!

    1. I can’t see the dogs whotsits making it as an answer but Silvanus did give us this wonderful but risqué anagram in a Toughie last year. Belgium’s grudges about habits of Australian male sunbathers? 6,9

        1. I don’t know about Australians. I drove past someone in town this morning who had clearly gone commando under pale grey sweatpants. Not a good look! After the lock-in, people are really going to have to get back in the habit of checking a mirror before they venture into the outside world……

        2. I got it immediately too Steve! David forgot to pack any boxers when we went to France once on a cookery course in Normandy so nipped into a supermarket and bought a pack of 3 underpants without checking. They were indeed the aforementioned and standing at about 6’2″ and around 15 stone he looked absolutely ridiculous. He was brave enough to parade in them in front of everyone (all good friends) and that was when I first heard the term.

          1. David is a very brave man! Rather like Miffypops who has appeared practically naked on occasion. 🤣🙄

      1. Hehe. A great clue and smile-raising answer, thanks Mifftpops/Silvanus. Is that considered risqué?! What must you made of today’s 1a 😳🥵?!

  24. Found this a bit easier than recent Mondays, all done and dusted over lunch.
    12d was completely new to me, as was the phrase at 17a, but both very doable from the wordplay.
    Didn’t like the synonym at 19d, but 6d made me laugh so that’s my COTD.
    Thanks to Campbell and Falcon.

  25. A pleasant stroll through today’s challenge (as opposed to a bicycle trip through Yorkshire!) but a momentary hiccup in the SE. 3d, 6d and 20d contenders for Fav. Boatlady, I like your alternative clue for 19d. Thank you Campbell and Falcon.

  26. I spent a lot of time trying to find when and where I had seen those recent clues before.

    As Yogi Berra said: It’s like déjà vu all over again.

  27. I always start Mondays with a degree of trepidation. However they are either getting easier or I’m getting more in tune. Finished reasonably quickly again having no queries and lots of smiles, except for 19d which doesn’t sit altogether well with me. Nevermind it is crossword land. I will read the hints now. Thanks to all.

  28. I had a dental appt this morning and it was nice to see small groups of people wandering about by the river of the place where I live. Grandparents and grandchildren looked especially happy together – it made me envious as mine are still a bit too far away to stay within the law re travelling or not being indoors.
    I enjoyed the puzzle a lot – thanks to Falcon for the clips – the muck spreader reminded me of the Father Ted episode…….. I often wonder how they get that slurry IN, never mind out. And the clip of the big lizard was gripping. Steve Backshall’s commentary belies how tense he and we feel and I learned more than I need to know about its tongue, teeth and resident bugs.
    Thanks to Campbell too. I liked 5d, which called out for a mashing up of the Who and Elvis Costello.

  29. No problems here, good Monday fare. I still use 17a sometimes but then I’m odd. We were in Cairo with some friends and I bought a lovely LL necklace. I proudly wore it at dinner that night and by the end of the evening it had turned my neck bright blue! Next day we returned to the shop but they swore they had never seen me before – expensive mistake. Two years later I made the bridesmaid dresses and did the flowers for the friends when their daughter got married. As a thank you they gave me a real lapis necklace which I treasure, such a lovely blue with gold flecks. Oh it will be so nice to get dressed up to go out again! Many thanks to Campbell and Falcon for reminding me of that episode.

  30. Fairly raced through this after spending 6 hours being hospitalised in San Giovanni Rotondo for an op. Currently dat on ward balcony in sunshine with a lovely view of the Gargano.

    Probably why I haven’t commented lately as I have a Q of crosswords on the clipboard. Don’t really get on with iPad version so probably won’t comment for a few days.

    Thanks to Campbell and Falcon

    1. Best wishes for a full and speedy recovery from someone who not so long ago was in your situation. Well, not exactly in your situation. I had no balcony with marvellous view. Rather, I had a window overlooking a parking lot where every evening at dusk a flock of dozens — if not hundreds — of crows would gather.

      1. Thanks Falcon. It certainly does make a difference … on the other side of the corridor they don’t have balconies and the view is the hospital!

        1. Get well soon Stonewaller. My last hospitalisation in the John Radcliffe in Oxford, gave me a birds eye view of the cooling tower at Didcot Power Station being demolished, as it sank slowly into a pile of rubble. Your view sound much more uplifting.

  31. Some interesting opposing views about iPads and a lovely smooth set of clues from Campbell … but 19d threw me as I kept searching for Latin phrases. Thank you Falcon – and hope Stone Waller recovers soon!

    1. Thanks. The thing about the IPad is that the clues cannot be seen at the sametime as thegrid. Or am I using thewrong version of something?

    2. Thanks. The thing about the IPad is that the clues cannot be seen at the same time as the grid. Or am I using the wrong version of something?

        1. Thanks MP, but does that mean you log in using “Telegrapgh subscription” or “Puzzles subscription”.

          I only have Puzzles

          1. Telegraph Subscription. That gives me a Sodoffku a Codeword, The Quickie and The Cryptic every day and all four Toughies. Plus all of the newspaper delivered to my iPad and iPhone ready for when I wake up each morning. I don’t want any more puzzles than that.

    3. Surely I’m missing something here. I went to the DT puzzles and opened the puzzle. Trying to enter 1ac, it won’t let me put “s” in … I have to put shift+”s”. It’s also very unresponsive and the backspace doesn’t always work to correct. Surely you aren’t all working with this mess?

      1. Sounds like your IPad or keyboard. My only problem is that it is so sensitive that I’ve only got to touch or move the IPad and my words turn into Gobbledygook.

  32. No great problems except for 1a which defeated me utterly. When I saw the answer my first thought was ,what a poor clue. And I see no reason to change my mind. A real shame as it spoilt what was up to then a very entertaining puzzle.
    So **/*
    Thx for the hints

  33. Another Monday puzzle that looked like a pangram was looming, but like last Monday, no ‘Q’ so it was not to be. The puzzle was a fun solve done Sunday night (without any hints available) after a hailstorm and some strong winds today. **/**** with the last holdouts 1a & 1d and kitty corner 27a & 20d. Some great clues again today with my picks being 1a, 17a, 26a, 5d & 6d with 17a my winner.
    10a made me chuckle.
    Interesting to see two clues in this puzzle generated answers that occurred; one in the Saturday and and one in the Sunday puzzle. One clue was almost the same.

    Thanks to Campbell and Falcon

  34. Another fine Monday puzzle, never heard the term at 17a but got it from the checkers, also had to google 12d to confirm my answer, last one in was 1a and favourite 22d as I am in total agreement with the sentiment. Thanks to all.

  35. Like Falcon, I fell down the same hole in 1d. Unfortunately bunged in calm down in 10a, but quickly realized was wrong when I looked at 5d. Have also seen 18d a few times lately, but that’s good as I am unlikely to forget it know. Happily, did know 12d, both the city and the stone, so that was helpful. Completely forgot the 17a expression. A steady solve today, and quite enjoyable. Thanks to Campbell and Falcon.

  36. Went well for me as for most. Bit confused by 11a as I thought it contained only one ‘l’. Pleased to get 20d without help. Thanks as always to whoever set it. BTW wasn’t 12d a bit of a ‘gimme’ with the Bolivian City. Mind you, shouldn’t get cocky after one or two good results.

  37. A lovely puzzle to start the week. Unusual for me to do well on Mondays …perhaps I am finding Campbell’s wavelength at last.

    Thanks to Falcon and to Campbell.

  38. Enjoyable and no real hold ups other than 12d where my ignorance of both the stone and the Bolivian city forced me to resort to some assistance for the second word. On a brighter note, the weather is lovely and I have Peking duck cooking on the BBQ.

    Thanks all.

  39. Wotta lovely treat, I loved it. My Mum used the 17a phrase, I have a 12d, and Sadie gets a mention at 1a, all in a super puzzle, what else is there to want. Of course 1a is my fave, I’m disappointed that no one has singled her out.
    Thanks to Campbell for all that fun and to Falcon for the hints and pics; nicked Mr. K’s 15d then?

    1. Re: Mr K’s 15d

      I hope he doesn’t sue for infringement. If he does, I’ll argue that they just wandered next door.

  40. Didn’t know the 17a phrase, but easy to work out. 6d my favourite. **/**** in spite of repeat clues
    Thanks all

  41. A bit late to comment but back home now after a lovely day in the sun with our Elder Lamb, her partner and our grandson in their garden – the first time I’ve seen them for a very long time.
    I enjoyed this crossword and, although I do sometimes find Campbell more difficult than the rest of you do, I didn’t really have too much trouble today – just goes to show what a bit of company does for the brain power.
    Probably too late to run on at length now but I think 17a was my favourite.
    Thanks to Campbell and too Falcon – now I need wine and supper!

  42. I’m in the “straightforwardest of straightforward crosswords” camp this evening. I don’t think I’ve ever done one more quickly. Never heard of the phrase in 17a but it was obvious from the clue. I was surprised by people not having heard of 12d. Hard to pick a favourite but it would be churlish not to, so I’ll go with 5d. Thanks to Campbell and Falcon.

  43. Fairly straightforward. We have seen 23A and 18D very recently. I had a wonder about ‘whisker’ for 17A but the clue and checkers quickly confirmed the right way to go. A fun cerebral workout. **/***

  44. For those wishing to learn more about 17a, I recommend the article “The cat’s pajamas on The Phrase Finder website.

    In flapper era New York City of the 1920s, it was apparently “a thing” to invent nonsense animal-related expressions denoting excellence such as the snake’s hips, the kipper’s knickers (to Americans, not ladies’ underwear but knee-length trousers), the monkey’s eyebrows and so on. Of the many such phrases only the bee’s knees and the cat’s pajamas (which became cat’s pyjamas in the UK) remain in use.

    The term cat whisker was already in use as the name of a component in a crystal radio set but got adopted into the mix due to its similarity to the term cat’s pajamas.

    By the way, “cat” was flapper-era slang for a fashionable young woman. This was later taken up by jazz circles and morphed into a name for one of either sex who exhibited style, as cool cat and hepcat. I believe it is now considered to be an exclusively male term.

    1. Thanks for that Falcon. We were musing on where the cat’s pyjamas phrase came from ambling down the fairway.

  45. On the gemstone (12D), for me, that dropped in fast from a long remembered verse of Robert Browning – to do with decorating a Bishop’s tomb. I suppose I am one of the last generations to be exposed to this piece of British heritage….

  46. I’m still going on this one though I did manage to complete the other cryptic one that appears on Monday.
    I am rather pleased to have both this one and tomorrow’s one as I am off to Peterborough (Ontario) for an ultrasound on my stomach tomorrow which will no doubt involve a lot of sitting around waiting.
    I have to go in alone, wish A could come with but hey ho. The last time I had an ultrasound I was pregnant with my now 36 year old youngest son. If they do find that I am pregnant I encourage everyone here to contact the Guinness Book of Records (is it still going?) and tell them that you know me and for a fee will provide more details. It might just pay for a round of drinks at the next get together :-)

    1. Hoping that all’s well for you tomorrow. I had to go for hospital investigation alone and I took an Agatha Christie book that I’d read before which helped to pass the time. Obviously too nervous to read anything but knowing I looked relaxed helped!

  47. Thanks to Falcon for the hints and tips which I needed to help me with at least half of the clues. Great explanations. I seem to have lost the knack of knowing which key word or phrase to identify in order to understand the relevant answers. Hopefully this is just a lockdown blip as I haven’t completed an entire crossword unaided for a long time. Lots of sunshine forecast for tomorrow and I’m off to Wisley with a friend.

  48. As a relative novice who can just about manage the DT prize crossword & having searched my new copy of Bradford received a few days ago as a birthday present, 19d answer fits, but cannot get my head round the clue or hint!

    1. Hi Ted,

      Welcome to the blog from me as well.

      The meaning in the wordplay in 19d is admittedly a bit stretched. Split the solution (1,6) and you have “A TISSUE”. To a first order approximation, a “series of lies” might be construed to be a “tissue of lies”. However, as I alluded in the hint, a series of lies is merely a serial progression of lies (that are not necessarily connected) but a tissue of lies implies an interwoven fabric of lies (that are highly connected).

  49. 3*/4*….
    liked 17A “Term of excellence article applied to jazz fan’s night attire? (3,4,7)”

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