DT 29751 – Big Dave's Crossword Blog
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DT 29751

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 29751

Hints and tips by KiwiColin

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

Kia ora from Aotearoa.

Just one Kiwi in the blogging chair this week. We are in Wellington where we came yesterday for a book launch that was held last evening. Today the book’s author is at a gathering of friends from all over the country who have come to celebrate the occasion. If anyone is interested, Googling “Enough Horizon: the life and work of Blanche Baughan” by Carol Markwell will give a bit more information.

Meanwhile to the puzzle. A bit hard to judge the relative difficulty under the circumstances but it took me well into three star time. No doubts about the enjoyment of the solve though.

 Please leave a comment telling us how you fared.

Across
1a     One who knows everything later changed in taste (5,5)
SMART ALECK: An anagram (changed) of LATER is inside a taste or small sample.

6a     Sign of importance dispensing with protection (4)
OMEN: A word meaning importance or substance loses its first and last letters (protection).

10a     A Spanish greeting reciprocated in Hawaii? (5)
ALOHA: The Hawaiian greeting is obtained by reversing ‘a’ from the clue and a Spanish greeting.

11a     Drink expert taken in by yarn (5,4)
TABLE WINE: An adjective meaning expert or proficient is inside yarn or string.

12a     Passage from broadcast losing millions (7)
TRANSIT: Start with a word meaning broadcast such as a radio signal and remove m(illions) from within it.

13a     A poor loser full of love can, under pressure (7)
AEROSOL: ‘A’ from the clue and then an anagram (poor) of LOSER contains the tennis score love.

14a     Convinces after workers completed reform (4,4,4)
MEND ONES WAYS: Start with male workers, then a word meaning finished or over and then one meaning convinces or influences.

18a     Flattery may be sort of tasteless, and intended to be heard (12)
BLANDISHMENT: A word meaning ‘sort of tasteless’ and a homophone of one meaning intended.

21a     Daily runs — after seeing list in church (7)
CLEANER: The two letters for the Anglican church surround list or tilt and finally the cricket abbreviation for runs.

23a     Star making a comeback had issue (7)
EMANATE: A four letter star or well-known person is reversed and followed by a word meaning had when referring to a meal.

24a Looking embarrassed before reprimand and such special treatment (3,6)
RED CARPET: The colour associated with embarrassment and reprimand by putting on the mat.

25a     State Florida hopes to assume (5)
IDAHO: A lurker hiding in the clue.

26a     Answer required for one in terrible challenge (4)
DARE: Start with a synonym for terrible and replace its Roman numeral one with a(nswer).

27a     Clear and decisive poll on religious education (10)
RESOUNDING: The two letters for religious education and a poll or testing of public opinion.

Down

1d     Self-conscious about worker getting rough accommodation (6)
SHANTY: Self-conscious or retiring surrounds a worker insect.

2d     Obsessive sort of habit? (6)
ANORAK: The article of clothing that is used as a word to describe an obsessive person such as a train-spotter.

3d     Spiritual books included in 17 sent off (14)
TRANSCENDENTAL: An anagram (off) of the answer to 17d, the word SENT and the letters used for the books in the later part of the bible.

4d     Lines from overworked phrases lacking power (9)
LATITUDES: Remove (p)ower from the start of a word for overworked or hackneyed phrases.

5d     Government committee needing horse artist (5)
COBRA: A type of small strong horse and a Royal Acadamecian.

7d     Support mother during visit? (8)
MAINSTAY: A two letter familiar term for mother, a two letter word meaning during and a visit that is longer than a brief call.

8d     Annoys son — that’s uncalled-for! (8)
NEEDLESS: Annoys or irritates plus s(on).

9d     MP should provide this dramatic performance (14)
REPRESENTATION: A double definition.

15d     Without feeling, wrote off assistant (6,3)
NUMBER TWO: Without feeling as in an anaesthetised state and an anagram (off) of WROTE.

16d     Confused old boys restored to health (8)
OBSCURED: The abbreviation for old boys and a word meaning no longer unwell.

17d     Credit has to cover a loan with a schedule of dates (8)
CALENDAR: The two letter abbreviation for credit surrounds ‘a’ from the clue, loan or ‘rent out’ then the second ‘a’ from the clue.

19d     Country code found in post, mostly (6)
MALAWI: Code or the rule under which we live are inside post or letters once the last letter has been removed.

20d     Fit in marathon — after beer, oddly! (6)
BELONG: The first and third letters of beer and an adjective meaning marathon or not short.

22d     Regret accepting void Portuguese currency (5)
RUPEE: The first and last letters of  Portuguese are inside a word meaning regret.
 

The long complicated anagram for 3d gets my vote for favourite.

 

Quickie pun     fizzy + shuns = physicians

 

59 comments on “DT 29751

  1. I found this ***/*** obtuse but quite enjoyable. Guessed 26a and 19d but needed KiwiColin’s hints to understand why. Thanks! My COTD was 13a. Thanks to the setter. KiwiColin – I had an old college chum now living in Seatown Wellington staying with me last week and he was telling me what a great place it is!

  2. A cracking Jay puzzle that I found quite tricky to start with but as ever checkers were my friend. The relative paucity of anagrams will certainly suit one of our regular contributors who seems to be a bit of a 2d about it.
    Hard to pick winners as they were all good but I’ll go for the clever 13&14d plus 2d.
    3/4.5*
    Many thanks to the 2 birds for the top notch entertainment

    1. I used to grumble about the number of anagrams in Monday’s Rufus puzzles. I stopped harping on about it for fear of boring people and because if the editor allows it then it must be ok. I’m not keen on too many anagrams though. They just seem to solve themselves in front of my eyes. If they don’t do that immediately a checker or two will see me through. If there are too many then the rest of the clues become too easy to solve because of the number of checking letters.

      1. I agree, MP. And for me there are so many other different, challenging, amusing clue types that seeing maybe a quarter or more of a puzzle consisting of anagrams just comes over as a wasted opportunity, much as I admire anyone for successfully putting together a grid of 26-34 or more interlocking words, let alone compiling the clues to find those words and then subjecting their efforts to public scrutiny!

        To Stephen’s relief (and others, I guess), I shall stop going on about it.

      2. Completely agree with you about the importance of checkers.
        I’ve lost count of the times that I have invoked that mantra and thanked you for it while doing these crosswords.

  3. This puzzle was not to my taste and took a long time to complete, with relatively little enjoyment (4*/1*). Many of the clues seemed quite vague and lacking in precision, so much guessing was involved before I was able to finish. Possibly, this type of puzzle might be more suited to the Toughie slot? Thanks to Kiwi Colin for the hints and to the compiler for his efforts..

    1. I agree about the guessing, so much so that I doubted the Jay authorship. I find his answers are usually so spot on there’s no doubt whether you’re right or not.

      1. I doubted whether it was Jay for the same reason ,Merusa, unless he is spreading his wings and experimenting with different types of clue?

  4. 2*/4.5*. Another in a long line of excellent Wednesday back-pagers with 3d and 13a my top two.

    I agree with SL @2 that this was a Jay puzzle, so thanks to him and to Colin.

  5. I too found this ‘tricky to start’ and definitely tricky for a Wednesday Jay. No particular favourites, thanks to him and the single K

    Nice to see that Carol’s book already has some good reviews, and how lovely to be able to celebrate its publication with a gathering of friends and family :rose:

  6. A completely different ‘feel’ than usual for todays puzzle -is the setter new?
    Started out slowly and eventually tuned in, concur with Kiwi Colin’s ***/****.
    Liked the surfaces of 9d and 7d,favourite was 15d -3d was an unusual anagram and a wonderful word to boot.
    Thanks setter, enjoyed the experience

  7. A Jay crackerjack which I found pretty tricky so it was a somewhat pedestrian solve – a bit like one of those arcade machines where the pennies were reluctant to drop but did eventually. Thought the 3 long ‘uns at 14a + 3&9d all excellent but my top two were 13a & the clever little lurker, which I was slow to see, at 25a.
    Thanks as ever to Jay & KC

  8. Tough for me but got there in mid *** time. Pleasurable & satisfying solve though. so **** fun factor.
    NW corner last to fall with 2d my LOI.
    3d got my COTD with 2d giving me the biggest smile (as a former trainspotter and self-confessed on-going golf handicap anorak).
    Thanks to setter and Kiwi Colin for the usual concise and informative review.

    1. In case you missed my comment to you yesterday LROK, have a look a this month’s Glaven Valley Newsletter. There is a lovely true story by Sarah Woodhouse written in genuine Norfolk dialect – a fascinating read.

      1. I did miss it Manders, sorry.
        I will read the Newsletter.
        Is there a “fake” (as opposed to genuine) Norfolk dialect? 😁

  9. Today’s puzzle took a little longer to solve than usual but I enjoyed it all the way through. Which, I suppose is the norm for a Wednesday Jayday. Thanks to him for the wrestle and thanks to Kiwi Colin for his lone review. As CrypticSue commented it’s good to see such encouraging reviews for Carol’s latest book.

  10. I thought that this was on the tricky side for Jay (if it is he) – thanks to the setter and KiwiColin.
    It’s nice to see my favourite 2d picture once more.
    The top clues for me were 18a, 27a and 20d.
    I’ve just read a few reviews of Carol’s latest book (“thoughtful and meticulous biography of this unique and complex woman is a tour de force” said one reviewer). It’s good to know that we have such a distinguished author amongst our bloggers.

  11. I thought this might have been a new setter – didn’t feel like a Jay to me. Found it hard to get on the setter’s wavelength, and thus rather more challenging than the usual DT backpager. Nonetheless the enjoyment factor increased considerably as the answers fell into place, a satisfying solve.

    Some deeper levels of or less common synonyms, I thought, so plenty of “Doh!” moments as pennies dropped with almighty clangs – the chimes rivalled our local bellringers. I’ve only ever come across 1a without a ‘k’, which threw me for a long while as I tried to parse synonyms for taste. Great range of clue types (especially the combination of 3d/17d) – I enjoyed very much the precision of the clue constructions and their lack of verbosity.

    HMs to 11a, 23a, 26a, 4d, 7d (enjoyed the misdirection of the cluing), 9d , 19d. COTD 14a

    3.5* / 3*

    Many thanks to the setter, and to KiwiColin for the review.

    (Stephen L: yes, you’re quite right, it did. I just find it difficult not to notice their prevalence or otherwise, though I possess no 2ds!)

    1. Good to know Mustapha and thanks for taking my slightly tongue in cheek comment in good spirit!

  12. A bit on the tricky side today and 3d was certainly a reverse parsing job for me. Plenty to admire and my favourite was the confused old boys – just made me smile!

    Thanks to Jay and to ColinK and well done to Carol for bringing her latest book to fruition, seems to be gaining very favourable reviews.

  13. I don’t know what 3 star time is , but it certainly took longer than usual.
    Nevertheless enjoyable .
    I would never have solved 5d had Boris Johnson not missed so many of them.
    14a also took a while.
    Much thanks to the two Kiwis and Jay.

  14. Another nicely challenging brainteaser solved in a somewhat random way but softly softly catchee monkey. Unaware of name spelt the way as in 1a. Favs 2d and 14a. Thank you Jay and KiwiColin. I will now research Carol’s book on Blanche Baughan – congratulations to her on the publication 🙌.

    1. Have just listened to Paul Diamond’s review of Carol’s book and it sounds riveting – must get a copy.

  15. This was one of the toughest mid-weekers that I can remember. It didn’t help that I just could not get into the top, and had to solve it from the bottom up. I did get there in the end, without electrons, and even parsed every clue, but it took a full ****/***** time.

    Many thanks to the setter and the 2 Ks.

  16. I found this very tricky and not high in enjoyment. I got there in the end but it was a struggle. I spell 1a without the last letter so that eluded me for ages. I did like 18a and 16d but my COTD is 7d.

    Many thanks to Jay, if it is he, and thanks to 1Kiwi for the hints.

  17. First time I haven’t finished in ages and all because of one measly letter – the last letter of 1a. Thought it was a 4 letter word and couldn’t think what could come next. Otherwise not too bad. Thanks to the setter and 1 Kiwi.

  18. I’m with Manders on the four letter version of 1a and for some reason got a fixation that 4d was something to do with litotes. But george was on sparkling form and trotted out all the long ones and so it was completed during our lunch which is the norm. Congratulations to the setter, the author and the hinter. I’m off to the dentist in Cambridge shortly but I’d rather have a nap. 11a and 15d caught my fancy today.

  19. Well that was a stinker of which on my own I solved five clues. So absolutely no enjoyment and used the reveal button rather than the hints because I was so p*ss*d off with my time being lost from the garden which has gone to weed with all the rain.

    Have to say that I have never found a more obtuse and difficult puzzle in the few years I have been the Telegraph cryptic.

    Thanks to our one blogger and to the setter.

  20. A bit late today, but I thoroughly enjoyed this JayDay workout, even though I’d forgot the 2d Britishism and struggled a bit on the long clues. 14a was my runaway favourite but I also liked 13a, 1a (have seen both spellings), 3d, and 15d. Thanks to KiwiColin and Jay (if it isn’t he, I’ll be really surprised). *** / ****

  21. Having been so happy to successfully solve last Wednesday’s one from Jay, I felt very disappointed with this one today. Is it from Jay? As someone else said, it felt like it was from a new setter. Found it very tricky and throwing in the towel as I just don’t have the time to try to figure it all out. Congrats to all who complete and to KiWiColin for the vital hints.

  22. Rather an awkward puzzle, I thought, with some stretched synonyms today.
    ***/** for me today. No outstanding clues of note for me today.
    Just didn’t feel as cohesive as a normal Jay puzzle.

    Thanks to J?? & 1K today

  23. As with others above, 1a threw me because of the ‘k’ otherwise tough but fair and well into *** territory. Thank you Jay and 1K!

  24. Found this very difficult *****, needed too many hints for it to be really enjoyable, but that’s my fault not the setters. Can’t believe it’s a jay offering as it feels very different and I normally do quite well on his. Thanks to all.

  25. I found this very tricky and not at all like a Jay offering. I had to use far too much e-help and didn’t finish three in the SE, mainly because I had 20d wrong, “behove” after having looked up that there is a Brighton & Hove Marathon! How’s that for a stretch. I needed KiwiColin’s parsing of 10a, considering that I live in a place where Spanish is the first language and we greet each other with “hola” whether English or Spanish, that has to be to my everlasting shame!
    Thank you to whomsoever for my workout and to KiwiColin for your help over the finish line.

  26. Thanks to Jay and to Kiwi Colin. Couldn’t do this to save my life. Very tricky. Was 4* / 3* for me.

  27. Late on parade just to confirm that today’s puzzle was indeed mine – wasn’t meant to be as tricky as many seem to have found so apologies to those who lost patience. Thanks to Kiwi Colin for the excellent analysis and to all for the comments

    1. Thanks for popping in, Jay and claiming this as your handiwork. I didn’t lose patience but I did struggle. Still, that is crossword land and I appreciate your hard work.

    2. Never lose patience with you, Jay, although I’m perhaps guilty of muttering under my breath a few times! Thank you for popping in, always a pleasure for us.

    3. Thanks, Jay, for another super puzzle even though I came up short on that obsessive one. And thanks too for joining us.

  28. Morning all.
    So it wasn’t just me who found this one trickier than usual. We only ever note our solving time when we are on blogging duty so when it is only have half the team in operation it is difficult to get an objective comparison. Got it right this time though.
    We’re back home again now so things should get back to normal again.
    Cheers.

    1. May I be so bold as to ask if the ‘other’ Kiwi is the distinguished author of the Baughan biography? I just read a most inviting review of it.

  29. Glad it wasn’t just me that found this quite tough and can’t say that I really enjoyed the solve that much. Thanks to Kiwi Colin for the hints and tips, definitely needed today!

  30. Definitely a challenge today but mostly enjoyable. 1a required Google to solve. The k makes the second word irritate my eyes.

    2d and 14a required the hints.

    Thanks to all.

      1. Steve,
        Not a problem if, like me you had grown up with an Aleck.
        Didn’t see your post, but good luck with the biopsy mate. Sorry it is a late response.
        Still don’t get any puzzles newsletters. Still gives somebody else the chance to win best clue! So I tell myself anyway.

        1. Not a problem, my friend. All the Alecs I have known never sported a “K”. The joys of language!

          The QE rang me today and it transpires I have to stay overnight. Not happy about that but it is what it is. It is just a routine investigation to work out the correct dosage of my anti-rejection therapy.

          I can’t understand why you don’t receive the puzzle newsletter if you have subscribed to it. Would be great to see some of your contributions. Thought about contacting DT?

          Stay safe.

          1. I don’t get the newsletter despite signing up for it numerous times. I think that if you subscribe to the Daily Telegraph puzzles site you will receive the newsletter. If you subscribe to the Newspaper site as I do then you will not receive the newsletter.

            1. I asked for it a few weeks ago and I got it after about two weeks and now get it every Monday.

  31. Not for me I’m afraid, far too convoluted to be enjoyable. I will admit to falling asleep and completing it when I woke up, but that might tell you something. Thanks to Jay and 1K.

  32. Dear Mr. Jay you beat me completely, I managed 9 and then gave up. I’m not complaining, I just admire the ability behind these brilliant clues, so thank you. Thanks also to the lonely 1K who had to do the hints for this very difficult puzzle on his own.

  33. Just finished this, Jay is a smart alick, aleck or alec according to one reference! 14a was a corker of a clue gave me a 😁 when the proverbial penny dropped.

  34. 5*/2*….
    liked 2D “Obsessive sort of habit? (6)”….& the picture in the hint thereto.

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