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DT 29767

by Falcon  

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 29767

Hints and tips by Falcon

+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +

BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***

Greetings from Ottawa, where we are enjoying a brief respite from a record-breaking string of 30+ C temperatures.

Campbell has given us a gentler workout than usual today. But that certainly does not detract from the enjoyment. However, I did note that there are a lot of rear ends being lopped off in the puzzle.

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   Servant with first husband at the front (10)
HANDMAIDEN — begin by joining together with or accompanied by and first (as in a ship’s initial voyage); then install H(usband) at the front

6a   Lived initially in large apartment (4)
FLAT — the initial letter of Lived residing in large or obese

10a   Jelly and cream shortly after seeing that (5)
ASPIC — truncate (shortly) a word meaning cream as a symbol of high quality and place it after a conjunction signifying seeing that or because

11a   Go and suggest what a DJ may use (9)
TURNTABLE — go (as an opportunity to participate in a board game) and suggest or propose (often in a parliamentary context); Yanks should take note that this latter word means pretty much the opposite to them as it does to Brits and Canucks

12a   Tot in American’s brandy glass (7)
SNIFTER — a double definition; I imagine the British measure of spirits would barely cover the bottom of the American drinking vessel

13a   News agency awfully sure about shortened name (7)
REUTERS — an anagram (awfully) of SURE holding a truncated word having a precise meaning in a specialized field

14a   Instructs wizard in anorak (12)
TRAINSPOTTER — instructs or teaches and Ms. Rowling’s boy wizard

18a   Represented as foremost of lackeys — who better? (6-6)
BOTTLEWASHER — a true &lit. or all-in-one clue where the wordplay is an anagram (represented) of AS, the initial letter (foremost) of Lackeys, and WHO BETTER

21a   Cordial about head of human skeleton (7)
CHASSIS — a blackcurrent cordial containing Human

23a   Intrinsic feature of German city church (7)
ESSENCE — a German city (heavily bombed in WWII) and the letters representing England’s state church

24a   Radical hairstyle for swimmer? (3,6)
RED MULLET — the usual left-wing radical (is there any other kind?) and a hairdo that the BRB describes as short at the front, long at the back, and ridiculous all round

25a   Join one heading for Exeter (5)
UNITE — cement together the mathematical term for the number one or any whole number less than ten and the initial letter of Exeter

26a   Silent animated Disney film, unfinished (4)
DUMB — truncate the name of a 1941 animated Disney film

27a   Fair’s fare? (10)
CANDYFLOSS — a mildly cryptic definition of a treat one might consume at a funfair

Down

1d   Husky in frost leading empty sledge (6)
HOARSE — start with what is effectively frozen dew and add the initial and final letters of SledgE

2d   New, a shocking pink serviette (6)
NAPKIN — concatenate N(ew), the A from the clue, and an anagram (shocking) of PINK; will this clue separate the Us from the non-Us?

3d   Scoff awkward to rustle up for a first course, perhaps (4,6,4)
MOCK TURTLE SOUP — scoff or jeer followed by an anagram (awkward) of TO RUSTLE UP

4d   Audience in Bury to contend with (9)
INTERVIEW — link together a synonym for the misleadingly capitalized bury, a verb meaning to contend or compete, and W(ith)

5d   Mistake made by troublesome child forgetting time (5)
ERROR — remove the T from an ill-behaved child

7d   Look to conceal terribly bitter text (8)
LIBRETTO — an archaic term meaning look or behold containing an anagram (terribly) of BITTER

8d   Brief delight, certainly, getting prize (8)
TREASURE — a truncated delight or source of pleasure followed by a somewhat slangy word for certainly

9d   Dance   show off (5,4,5)
STRUT ONE’S STUFF — an expression denoting to show off is literally what a dancer does

15d   Had doubts about speed cuts working (9)
SUSPECTED — an anagram (working) of SPEED CUTS

16d   Hidden from view, old boy’s pickled (8)
OBSCURED — the usual abbreviated old boy followed by a word denoting to have preserved food

17d   Almost mandatory somehow, to show how lottery numbers are drawn? (2,6)
AT RANDOM — a truncated (almost) anagram (somehow) of MANDATOR(y)

19d   Jones the architect checking daughter’s colour (6)
INDIGO — insert D(aughter) into the first name of a notable 17th century English architect

20d   Parliamentary break in depression? (6)
RECESS — double definition; a time when Parliamentarians do even less work than usual get a well-deserved respite from their workhouse existence and a small indentation or cavity

22d   Dance in rehearsals again (5)
SALSA — a lurker hiding in the final two words of the clue

I got a smile from the mental image of an American being served a tot in the huge brandy glass and appreciated the hairdo that gave me the chance to trot out one of Chambers’ most well-known wry definitions. As my clue of the day, I’ll nominate the all-in-one at 18a with its well-concealed anagram which I suspect a few may have pegged as merely a cryptic definition.

Quickie Pun (Top Row): FORCE + HEIGHT = FORESIGHT

Quickie Pun (Bottom Row) : SETTER + TEASE = SET AT EASE

68 comments on “DT 29767”

  1. I managed to finish it all at a fairly speedy rate (for me) until I hit 14a, 18a and 15d. These held me up for ages. Even putting the paper down and doing something else did not free up the thought processes. Then, as if by magic, 14a dawned and the other two followed for an unaided finish. A very enjoyable puzzle with just the right amount of “gimmies” and head scratchers.

    My COTD is the aforementioned 14a.

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

    I thought the bottom Quickie pun was neat.

  2. Good fun whilst it lasted. 18a and 27a get my vote today. Thanks to today’s setter and Falcon.

  3. I finished this quickly (1.5*/2.5*) but only because I had enough checkers to guess some of the clues, which I found difficult to.understand (10a, 12a, 18a) and because Campbell gives a clear indication of the punch line for the answer. 14a was the oustanding clue for me and 24a was also good. I had an issue with 27a, which I have always thought was a term with two 5 letter words not one ten letter word . A bit of a mixed bag but thanks to Falcon for the hints and to Campbell for his efforts.

  4. Lovely – right at my level and a great start to the week. 9d was my last one in as I just couldn’t see it until I did!

    Lola update – she is now on half a steroid every other day and seems to be thriving on this dose. The vet wants to see her before confirming this is to be the permanent situation, but (touch wood etc) all seems OK.

    Today’s crossword soundtrack: The Beatles – Let It Be Special Edition 2021

    Thanks to Campbell and Falcon

      1. Sounds like the vet has got Lola’s problem ubmnder control at last Terence. You must all be so relieved.

    3. Great about Lola.
      Probably get the steroids by prescription via the Internet (Animed Direct etc). Our dog’s were much cheaper than Vet & the prescription was £15.

    5. They do say that dogs have owners and cats have servants – I reckon Lola has been blessed to have such devoted servants, well done indeed.

    6. Finally, Lola’s got the right treatment so that she can enjoy the rest of her life. Our lab had hip dysplasia and the steroids enabled him to walk, run and leap like there was nothing wrong with him. So good news that your perseverance has paid off. She is one lucky cat.

  5. Slightly trickier than the average Monday I thought but good fun.
    My podium consists of 11a which I thought was cleverly clued, along with 27a&9d.
    2/3*
    Many thanks to Campbell and Falcon for the Bank Holiday entertainment.

    For anyone at a loose end I can recommend a cracking Rookie Corner puzzle.

  6. I agree with SL, “Slightly trickier than the average Monday”, I filled the grid in ** time, but to fully parse them took me another *, 10a being the last.

    18a gets my vote for COTD.

    Many thanks to the setter and Falcon.

  7. I thought this was Campbell in friendlier-than-usual mode and I enjoyed the solve. Thanks to him and Falcon.

    I second Stephen L’s recommendation of today’s Rookie Corner crossword

  8. A fairly rapid solve this morning with no real hold-ups. Bizarrely, my final entries were 21a and 4d, not the trickiest clues by any means. As for a favourite, I think 14a takes it.

    Thanks to Campbell for the fun and to Falcon.

  9. Typical Campbell for me. I always seem slow to get started then make steady progress until the last few, today the NW corner, hold me up again. 1a eluded me – just me being dim, & 10a and 4d where I wasn’t misdirected by the capital but made the error of trying to find a synonym for contend with.
    27a gets COTD with 14a R/U with other goodies to enjoy.
    Thanks to Campbell and Falcon for the review.

  10. “No worries”, as they say, but not much to write home about either. NW last on board. I don’t think I have come across 9d before so needed confirmation. Love the 27a picture hint! Thank you Campbell and Falcon.

    1. Ref 9d. Just think John Travolta in Saturday night Fever! I’m sure you must have seen it back in the day.

      2. I thought it had a hint of Americanism about it and wondered why Rabbit Dave didn’t remark on it.

        1. Oh, he did later on! I’m so used to RD being one of the first commenters, one of the first solvers.

  11. Gentle this morning. */*** I didn’t realise that a 12a was as big as the one in the picture. Good thing I rarely indulge in brandy – fill that up and I’d be very, very drunk like the judge in the “Fast show”. Favourite 21a. Thanks to all.

  12. It’s Monday :good: It’s Campbell :good: but lacking some of his usual sparkle, of course it might be me – 1.5*/2.5*

    Candidates for favourite – 23a, 27a, and 16d – and the winner is 27a.

    Thanks to Campbell and Falcon.

  13. A nice gentle start to the week with a marked absence of head scratchers in what was a quick solve. All good fun & with some lovely clues. 14,18&27a along with 3&9d were my ticks with top spot going to 27a which, like Chriscross, I always thought was 2 words rather than one. The bonus Monday cryptic is also similarly benign after last week’s challenge.
    Thanks to Campbell & Falcon – I do hope that’s IPA & not brandy that’s in that snifter otherwise that lass is likely to get a wee bit squiffy though with the strength of some of their craft IPAs over there either would be plenty.
    Ps miserable here in Harpenden so have cried off golf. Off to Rookie Corner on Stephen’s recommendation

  14. A few words that we don’t see clued very often which added to the Monday fun and I’ll give top billing to 18a. I wonder whether audiences in Bury are particularly difficult to please?

    Thanks to Campbell and to Falcon both for the review and teaching me a new ‘handle’ – hadn’t previously come across a Canuck!

  15. Not fond of bung ins but I’ve never done so many.
    Didn’t feel like a Monday, perhaps because it’s a bank holiday 😂

    **/***
    Thanks to Campbell and Falcon

  16. Finished this early today, and been out since then with Mrs RD looking at sofas in the sales. :-(

    My rating is 1*/3.5* with full marks to Campbell for clearly indicating the American usage in 12a and for writing DJ and not the abhorrent “deejay” in 11a.

    My podium today comprises 11a, 27a & 9d.

    Many thanks to Campbell and to Falcon.

  17. Many thanks to Campbell and Falcon for taking my mind off the weather – it just does not feel like Bank Holiday Monday. I don’t think we should put the heating on in August I shall just have to layer up. 27a and 3D caught my fancy but everything fell into place nicely. Roll on 6pm and G’nT time.

    1. Oh the poor things, you could have ran over and told them they didn’t have to do it🤪

    2. Sounds like Rounds and Call Changes but difficult to tell in 12 seconds. Anyway, six bells ringing.

      1. Aha – a campanologist! Our old Tower Master John Gipson was reputed to have rung the most
        changes, he was certainly well known in ringing circles. We do have the full complement of eight
        bells (obvious where the pub name comes from) but maybe they could only raise six ringers. You have to be
        pretty fit (and slim) to climb the circular staircase to the bell chamber and even fitter to go on up to the top.
        But a wonderful view when you get there.

        1. I was a bell ringer, DG – a campanologist is someone who studies bells.
          I can’t recall Mr. Gipson but I have fond memories of ringing quarter peals and peals in church towers across the UK.

    3. Lovely to hear the bells – such a good crisp recording.

      Good fare from Campbell. Required electronic help for 12a.

      Thanks to Campbell and Falcon.

  19. A steady solve today although I needed the hints to explain a few. Falcon the clip you put in for 27a made me laugh, it made me laugh again when I lip read what the little girl was saying ,where do they learn words like that😳. Thanks to all

  20. Well, this was different–and loads of fun, with some unusual terms (for me) for enjoyment, especially 18a & 27a (it’s cotton candy over here), all done in a swift solve. Thanks to Falcon and to Campbell. ** / ***

    Falcon, et al: Your Canadian author Louise Penny raises some very provocative issues about post-Covid matters (re eugenics and euthanasia) in her new Gamache mystery The Madness of Crowds.

    1. It’s thought provoking isn’t it! I wondered why in the last book she’d given Jean Guy a Downs daughter.

  21. I enjoyed this immensely as I always do on Mondays. Even when I struggle I do finally get there unlike with other setters where the struggle availeth nought. 14a my favourite but I had to reread the clue a couple of times to be sure. Poor old Ian Allan fans do get it in the neck but if you go on doing it after most boys have given it up for girl spotting and other related activities then you deserve it.

    Thanks to Campbell again and to Falcon for confirming my parsing.

  22. The little girl at the baseball game seems to be quite a hit. Here’s a longer clip (and maybe she’s not really saying what many think she’s saying).

  23. Great entertainment from Campbell and Falcon – is 11a taken from the DT clue writing competition a few weeks ago? 27a as my CotD

  24. By and large I found this a R&W with some the lower half offering a little more of a challenge. I got 10a by the checking letters but cannot parse the clue even with the hint. It has Mrs B and I completely puzzled.
    Lots of good clues today
    Thx to all
    */****

    1. The only thing I can think of, Brian is that “pic” is short for “pick” as in “It was the pick (cream) of the bunch.”

    2. As Steve says, PIC comes from PICK (cream) with the final letter removed (short) which comes after AS (seeing that; “Seeing that you didn’t understand, a fuller explanation is in order.”).

  25. A nice puzzle to compensate for yet another cold grey day in the East **/**** 😃 Favourites 14 & 24a. Thanks to the Falcon and to Campbell 👍

  26. For whatever reason found this slow to crack open today and getting the wrong answer initially for 9d didn’t help matters.
    That took me to 2.5* solving with **** for enjoyment.
    Clues for favourites are 14a, 21a, 3d & 4d with winner a tie with 14a & 21a

    Thanks to Campbell and Falcon for hints

  27. 2/4. Took too long to see 14a which I’m sure I’ve seen before. Otherwise a very enjoyable puzzle. Thanks to Campbell and Falcon.

  28. Oil.. my daughters an MP , she puts in 12 – 14 hours 7 days a week, so you can change that comment to something less insulting

    1. As requested — I guess we should be more appreciative of their tireless efforts on our behalf.

  29. Oooh, loverly! A new aide today so much activity around. A fun solve all through, totally unaided – finally, huge relief. The film at 26a was my first movie, so points for that. Fave was 18a, clever. I had an answer for 1a right off but couldn’t see why, I waited until I had checkers before writing it in, so thanks for unravelling that Falcon. My toes curled when I saw anorak but we’ve had that one before. Have an appointment today with podiatrist to get my toenails cut, perhaps he can uncurl them for me.
    ThanksCampbell, I’m sorry it’s over. Much thanks to Falcon for his hints and pics.

  30. Not my cup of tea today I’m afraid.
    Solved the clues but really really struggled with the parsings. Campbell and I just don’t see eye to eye.

    Thanks to the setter and to Falcon.

  31. Another lovely Campbell puzzle, what a treat. 14a held me up for a while, despite discovering a while ago that anorak has a certain connotation that I don’t recall when we lived there. I do remember wearing my first anorak when I was about 6 years old, walking early one August morning along the Margate seafront with my Dad to the newsagents (on summer holiday). I was asked if said anorak was keeping me warm in the biting wind. It wasn’t but I didn’t dare admit it, as much fuss had been made about how much it cost. Funny how odd details stick in your brain. Today’s puzzle was enjoyable from start to finish, and too many great clues to pick just one as COTD. Thanks very much also to Falcon.

  32. Enjoyable solve today which I would have rated as ***/***

    Penultimate one in was 3d as I had never heard of it. This enabled me to get 21a which I should have got easily. Silly boy!

    Needed the hint to explain 18a although still not sure I understand it…

    Thanks to all.

    1. The entire clue serves as both the wordplay and the definition.

      As explained in the review the wordplay is an anagram (represented) of AS L WHO BETTER. As an anagram indicator, read “represented” as re-presented (i.e., presented again or in a different format).

      The entire clue is a cryptic definition of a bottle washer, a person who performs routine, sometimes menial, tasks; a factotum.

      The word also appears in the phrase “chief cook and bottle washer” which describes a person who is responsible for a large number of both trivial and important tasks.

      1. A bit late for a response maybe, but thank you for taking the time to explain in much more detail. You have made it much clearer to my feeble brain and I now understand. 😀

  33. Not on the right wavelength this evening probably due to a surfeit of Marston’s Pedigree (essential and long overdue meeting in the pub). Needed the hints to parse 10a, 12a and 18a, I really must try and start earlier. Favourite was 1a. Thanks to Campbell and Falcon.

  34. Very enjoyable Monday puzzle, with no real problems and some old favourites, e.g.14a ,27a & 16d. A long time since I heard the expression ‘Chief cook and bottle washer’, I suppose the modern term is multi skilled!
    Thanks to all.

  35. 14a and 3 and -9d favourites. I assumed /7a ended in food so put in party food. Realised my error when I solved 15d and corrected. Thanks Campbell and Falcon.

  37. Great fun. Lots of great clues. 19d and 14a my favourites. 25a my LOI. Took me longer than usual so ***/**** from me. Many thanks to the setter and Falcon. Thanks to Daisy Girl for the sound of bells. I tended to take that for granted when I lived in England and miss those very traditional sounds now that I have been in the Big Apple for 15 years.

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