DT 29787 – Big Dave's Crossword Blog
View closed comments 

DT 29787

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 29787

Hints and tips by 2Kiwis

BD Rating – Difficulty ** Enjoyment ****

Kia ora from Aotearoa.

Last week Jay had put his alternate hat on and featured as Logman in the Toughie slot and we had a puzzle by NY Doorknob (alias Donnybrook) to entertain us. Think we can safely assume that things are back to normal again now and this one is by Jay. It certainly felt like one of his to us.
We solved it in our 2 star time but did consider whether it could have one more difficulty star.

Please leave a comment telling us how you got on.

Across

1a     Mood created by a most unusual soft present (10)
ATMOSPHERE : An anagram (unusual) of A MOST is followed by the musical letter for soft and a word meaning present or at this place.

6a     Millions can be seen on main vein (4)
SEAM : A synonym for an expanse of water, or main, is followed by M(illions).

9a     Humorous type‘s official warning? (7)
CAUTION : A double definition. ‘Humorous type’ is a rather old-fashioned use of this word.

10a     Corrected, replacing leader with son having vision (7)
SIGHTED : A word meaning corrected has its first letter replaced with S(on).

12a     Admit police mostly represented talk about official case (10,3)
DIPLOMATIC BAG : An anagram (represented or re-presented) of ADMIT POLIC(e) with the last letter removed, and the reversal (about) of talk or chatter.

14a     Backs finish before Cockney nags (8)
ENDORSES : Finish or conclude and then a noun for nags without the letter that a Cockney often removes.

15a     Goes along with a retrospective view about King George (6)
AGREES : ‘A’ from the clue, then the regnal cypher for King George and the reversal of view or observe.

17a     Growth must be seen without popular line (6)
CREASE : Start with a word meaning growth or enlargement and remove its prefix, which is a common word for popular.

19a     Bananas some left in a wheat-based dish (8)
SEMOLINA : An anagram (bananas) of SOME, then L(eft) and ‘IN A’ from the clue.

21a     Transient may be old enough to accept advance after prison sentence (4,2,7)
BIRD OF PASSAGE : Start with a slang word for a prison sentence, then a 2,3 phrase meaning old enough surrounds an advance or flirtatious approach.

24a     Place for artwork that’s right in kitchen (7)
GALLERY : A kitchen, possibly on board ship contains R(ight).

25a     Largely outspoken, in trouble and kind of green (7)
AVOCADO : Remove the last letter from a word meaning outspoken or voiced and put this inside a three letter synonym for trouble.

26a     Bear and I journey westwards on back of donkey (4)
YOGI : Working from the East or right-hand side we have ‘I’ from the clue, a two letter verb for journey and the last letter of donkey.

27a     Scale of new rant about good by church (10)
CENTIGRADE : Start with the Anglican Church, then N(ew) is followed by a six letter rant containing G(ood).

Down

1d     Curves shown by Caprice so regularly (4)
ARCS : The second, fourth, sixth and eighth letters from two words in the clue.

2d     What potter did seeing sign of decay outwardly exposed (7)
MOULDED : The growth that indicates decay and then the first and last letters of exposed.

3d     Upset poppy sellers, pinching one — that’s the road to ruin (8,5)
SLIPPERY SLOPE : An anagram (upset) of POPPY SELLERS contains the Roman numeral one.

4d     After-effect of transfer that’s good for daughter? (8)
HANGOVER : Start with a synonym for transfer or pass to another and within this replace D(aughter) with G(ood).

5d     Belief essential to opera stars? (5)
RASTA : A lurker, hiding in the clue.

7d     Food must be so from area covered by European list (7)
EATABLE : E(uropean), then A(rea) and then a list or schedule.

8d     Island very keen on a hydrogen vehicle? (10)
MADAGASCAR : String together a three letter word meaning very keen on, ‘A’ from the clue, then the type of substance that hydrogen is and a type of vehicle.

11d     Attacking cooking on gas that’s cheap (5,3,1,4)
GOING FOR A SONG : A 5,3 phrase meaning attacking and an anagram (cooking) of ON GAS.

13d     Transport bill not bad per person infected (5,5)
BEACH BUGGY : Remove the word meaning bad or unwell from ‘bill’, then a word meaning ‘per person’ and infected or full of germs.

16d     Bulletin sees all points supported by players (8)
NEWSCAST : The four cardinal compass points and then the collective term for theatre players.

18d     What might block promotion after fears exposed (7)
EARPLUG : The three central letters (exposed) of fears and then a promotion or advert.

20d     President on prohibition and adult art from Japan (7)
IKEBANA : The nickname of a 1950’s US president, then a prohibition and A(dult).

22d     Portugal and Spain must welcome positive vote for beneficiary of order (5)
PAYEE : The IVR codes for Portugal and Spain bracket a positive vote.

23d     Fine for male in additional warning (4)
FORE : Additional or extra with F(ine) replacing M(ale).

Quickie pun    paws    +    whole    =     poor soul

51 comments on “DT 29787

  1. I did not find this as straightforward as our reviewers, with the last few answers taking time to fully parse. That said, this was Jay close to his best, with 21a the pick of many fine clues. 13d was my LOI despite having all the checkers.

    My thanks to all three birds.

  2. I enioyed this. A nice mixture of straightforward clues with a few headscratchers thrown in. 17a, 27a and 13d get my vote. Thanks to today’s setter and the 2Ks.

  3. 3*/4*. This was a tale of two halves for me although both were equally enjoyable. The top half fell on course for my 1* time but the bottom half put up much more of a fight taking me to 3* overall. 8d was my favourite.

    Many thanks to the three birds.

  4. Slightly trickier than the average Jay I thought with, as Jonners says, a nice mix of clues and cunning misdirection so a big thumbs up from me.
    3,8,11&23d get my ticks today but could have mentioned several more.
    3/4*
    Many thanks to Jay and the 2Ks for the top notch entertainment.

  5. Breezed through this lighthearted challenge without any aggro. Didn’t fully parse 21a and thought 13a transport rather broad. Favs 12a and 14a. SW last to fall. Thank you Jay for letting us off lightly today and 2Kiwis for being there in case of need.

  6. The first word of 21a eluded me for ages as did 13d. These two took me longer than the rest put together. ***/**** I’m sure this must be Jay on top form. I really liked 13d when the penny dropped but my favourite today is 8d. Thanks to all.

    1. 21a held me up too Greta. In the end, I guessed it from the checkers. Thank goodness for the Kiwis’ very lucid explanation!

  7. I too found half a dozen of the clues difficult to parse and must thank the Kiwis for their explanations for my bung-ins. It was a very slow start, as I dodged around the puzzle trying to find anything I could answer to get some checkers. Eventually, I finished in just over 2* time, with much use of guesswork and reverse engineering and 2* for enjoyment. 8d wasnt bad, the best of the clues. Many thanks to the Kiwis for the review and to Jay for the puzzle (sorry, it just wasn’t my cup of tea).

  8. Agree with RD about the tale of two halves as the only hold ups occurred in the SE corner with last in 23a-took a while to parse until the penny dropped- thanks to the 2K’s for the parsing of 27a, nearly got there!
    Anyway really enjoyed the solve ,dont remember seeing 21a in print for ages ,making it my favourite, 12a was a close second.
    Thanks to Jay for the treat-going for a ***/****

  9. I was beaten by 17a, 21a, 27a and 4d. Otherwise an enjoyable puzzle but, for me, satisfaction was low. I had not heard of 20d but it was quite gettable from the clue. I did check it on Mr. G., however to check I had the right spelling. No real favourites today.

    Many thanks to Jay for the head scratching. Thanks to the 2 Kiwis for making sense of what I could not.

    Spent the morning stringing onions for winter storage – a pastime I find quite therapeutic.

    1. Wow that is a crop to be proud of. Will you be bringing your bike and beret round my way with them?

  10. Problems in the SW centred around the first word of 21a, part of an expression I have never heard before, slowed me down – 3.5*/4*.

    Candidates for favourite – 26a,16d, and 20d – and the winner is 16d.

    Thanks to Jay and the 2Kiwis.

    Fortunately, the Silvanus Toughie restored my faith in my solving abilities.

  11. Bit of a curates egg this one. The top was quite straightforward but the bottom posed a few problems. 23d had me flummoxed until I read the hints (I do dislike this trend of using unclued initials, just being lazy).
    Not come across the phrase in 21a (surely should have been rite). However, I did like 1a and my fav was 26a just because I grew up with this bear.
    Thx to all
    ***/***

  12. Very challenging for me, especially 20d which required a first class degree with honours from the University of Tokyo to solve. While I’m moaning, may I simply say ‘rheostat’? Eh? Sounds like a central heating device in Brazil.

    Today’s crossword soundtrack: Otis Redding – Otis Blue/Otis Redding Sings Soul

    Thanks to Jay and the Two Ks.

    1. Than I guess flower arranging isn’t one of your hobbies Terence?😊. For once we ladies had an advantage over all the avid sports fans.

  13. Found this a much easier puzzle than recent Wednesday offerings. 1.5*/****
    Favourites today 12a, 14a, 25a, 26a & 8d with winner 14a with 8d close behind.
    8d made me smile as did 11d & 13d.
    Two new words for me in 5d & 20d

    Thanks to Jay and 2K’s

  14. Good puzzle, a notch up the difficulty scale for the backpagers this week. Nothing strange or esoteric, a few great letter substitution clues (10a, 4d, 23d), some good red herrings and plenty of humour – what’s not to like?

    Plenty of Hon. Mentions – 9a, 25a, 27a (love the surface) 4d, 8d, 13d, 22d, and my COTD goes to 21a.

    2.5* / 4*

    Many thanks to the Setter and to the 2Ks.

  15. I found this to be quite tough to finish. Probably because I suffered a bit of a breakdown over the green at 25 across remembering the bathroom suites in that colour in the 1970/1980s. Whatever were people thinking? 13 down caused problems and apart from the kitchen/place of art at 24 across so did the across clues leading from it. Thanks to the 2Ks for the review and thanks to Jay for the tussle. Giovanni on the back page to wrestle with tomorrow and a Hudson Toughie to enjoy Bring it on.

      1. Dont forget Pampas, a curious greyish green which featured in both the bathroom and en suite, when we moved into our house, when it was new, in 1979. It has been refurbished.

        1. Ours was pampas too. My husband drew the line at avocado. There was a curious purple colour too which was the bee’s knees. A friend sadly still has it. Several bathrooms later we’ve been all white ever since.

  16. Trickier than the last couple of days for me, particularly liked 19a, 8d & 11d.

    Thanks for the hints and to the setter.

  17. Top half fairly shot in but the bottom took rather longer. Never heard of the expression at 21a but all in all good fun. Did anyone see that pratt from Insulate Rebellion (or whatever they are called) on ITV Breakfast? Richard Madeley chewed him up and spat him out when he heard that he hasn’t even bothered to insulated his own house – he then walked off in a huff – the IR pratt. Anyway thanks to the setter and 2 Ks.

    1. There is an interesting half page obituary in today’s DT for Amanda Holden (no, not that one) – a very clever lady and a friend who lived here in Cley.

  18. Didn’t get round to this until I returned from lunch with the Church Ladies group. George and all the other husbands had ‘Lads’ Lunch’ so no cooking tonight, jolly good as it is WI with a talk CD on the scandalous life of Coco Chanel. Excellent crossword, I know a bit about Japanese Art and no Cricketty Footbally clues and apart from getting bogged down by 21a it was plain sailing. 19a reminded me if school lunches where we had the stuff with a large spoonful of red jam so it was known as blood on the mountain. I put down lots of ticks as my fancy was tickled, 3D and 26a being the largest. Many thanks to setter and the two Kiwis. A lovely sunny day here and there was a beautiful harvest moon last night.

  19. Pretty typical Wednesday fare for me. Like others North more accessible than South. Fairly clued so even 20d came out followed by the Google check. 4d & 18d solved from checkers before making sense of the clue..
    COTD 26a. Like Brian because it brings back memories & I like the quotes of his near namesake Yogi Berra (eg “It’s deja but all over again”)
    Thank you Jay & the 2Ks for the review.

  20. I do love it when I successfully create a word new to me eg 20d.
    Worked steadily to an unaided conclusion in ** and a bit time.
    Thought 13d a great clue amongst many.
    Many thanks to Jay and the 2Kiwis.

  21. Now if all Jay puzzles were like this, I would be a happy camper. Needed help to finish, but nothing too difficult today. Like Daisy I got bogged down in rite of passage for 21a for a while. 13d didn’t jump out at me. COTD was 20d. Reminded me of all the delightful evenings I spent at our flower arranging club meetings (Sulhampstead and Ufton Nervet) before we sailed across the pond. Thanks to Jay for a puzzle I could do, and to 2Kiwis for getting me past the finish line.

  22. After rejoicing over my Toughie victory, I suffered quite a letdown with this one. I found it quite tough and thought it the most challenging Jay in memory. Like others, I couldn’t get ‘rite’ out of my mind for 21a and did not know the slang for ‘prison’. I did manage to finish but needed some electronic help to do so. All the clues, however, were fair and there was much to admire, especially 11d and 26a. The fault, dear Jay, was not in the grid but in myself, that I was the underling. Thanks to the Kiwis and to Jay. ***** / ****

    The many days of rain have ended here in Charleston, and the sun is out!

  23. Late on parade today owing to a much-delayed lunch out with the ‘girls’ I used to work with back in Cheshire. Talked ourselves almost hoarse and had a great time.
    Enjoyed this one from Jay, quite a few lego clues today. Took a while to twig 21a & 13d (seems I wasn’t alone there!) and I had a bit of a hiccough with 27a having convinced myself that the church would come at the end of the answer.
    Favourite was 8d.

    Thanks to Jay and to our 2Ks for the nicely illustrated review.

  24. After spending over 5 hours out on the golf course for the second day running (no marshals to monitor pace of play & hackers everywhere) I was quite glad, after a couple of pints, to lie on the hotel room bed pre dinner & catch up on yesterday’s X- Type & today’s excellent Jay puzzle. Neither were particularly quick solves. Today the SW was the tricky bit & add me to the list of those who took a while to twig the prison stretch synonym. Too many good clues to pick out a favourite so suffice to say thanks to the Jay & the 2 Ks.
    Ps I see Silvanus is on Toughie duty so hope to have an opportunity to have a look at that

    1. When I was involved few worked out that giving someone a handicap of 50 plus would mean they would normally go round on average in 10 over. So on Par 72 they would score 130 plus. A 4 ball would take 500 strokes so 5.5 to 6 hour rounds are inevitable.
      But attracting newcomers was the name of the game and now you can get a handicap without being a member of a club things will hardly improve!

  25. Morning all.
    A bit surprised that people struggled with the first word for 21a. We thought that the slang term for a prison term was well known. We liked the clue because it gave us another chance to include a pic of our famous godwits. They have just last week returned from their summer in Alaska and will now spend our summer with us.
    Cheers.

  26. Lovely Jay Day again, on the tricky side though. I got stuck and needed to use e-help to get some checkers so used an anagram solver to get 3d, and that helped a lot. I got 17a wrong, a bung in, I had no idea what the answer was. I liked so much of this, hard to choose a fave, but 8d stood out, along with 11d and 20d.
    Thank you Jay and 2Kiwis, I much appreciated the unravelling of a few.

  27. All went in swiftly until I got to SW. forgot about swapping letters yet again. First half of 16d easy but struggled with the second. I was looking for a word starting Eco in 25a. Last one in 27a which I failed to parse as I had an anagram of rant rather than a synonym for it. Favourites 1a and 8 and 18d. Thanks Jay and 2Ks.

  28. I thought this was an absolute cracker. Despite its being very challenging I stuck at it and finished it last night. 3d and 8d are particularly fantastic clues. 21a my LOI – I didn’t know that expression so it took a while for the penny to drop. I might have preferred 26a to have a meditator on the donkey. 5* / 4* Many thanks to Jay and the 2Ks

Comments are closed.