DT 29795 – Big Dave's Crossword Blog
View closed comments 

DT 29795

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 29795

Hints and tips by Deep Threat

+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +

BD Rating – Difficulty **Enjoyment ***

Good morning from South Staffs on a day of sunshine and showers.

We have a pangra missing the X this morning, which gives us a good clue about the setter. For me this wasn’t one of his most difficult, and I finished in ** time.

In the hints below, the definitions are underlined. The answers are hidden under the ANSWER buttons, so don’t click if you don’t want to see them.

Please leave a comment telling us what you thought.

Across

1a           One next to bay five picked up nuts and bolts (6)
BASICS – This word for the ‘nuts and bolts’ of a subject sounds like (picked up) the area you might find next to bay five in a warehouse.

4a           Cadet in conflict with our teacher (8)
EDUCATOR – Anagram (in conflict) of CADET and OUR.

10a         Tax shelter protecting a politician in France of the time (5,4)
STAMP DUTY – Put together A (from the clue), one of the usual politicians, the French for ‘of the’, and an abbreviation for Time. Then wrap a shelter for pigs around the result.

11a         Addition to music player disco regularly used (5)
LYRIC – Alternate letters (regularly used) of pLaYeR dIsCo.

12a         Start to blanche more nuts without opening heated container (7)
BRAZIER – The first letter (start to) of Blanche, followed by a word for ‘more nuts’ missing its first letter (without opening), giving us a heated container without which no picket was complete.

BBC NEWS | UK | Wales | Final day of fire dispute

13a         Herald from distant Spain after lover (7)
FANFARE – A lover (of a sports team, perhaps) followed by another word for ‘distant’ and the IVR code for Spain.

14a         Learner very exuberant over game (5)
LOTTO – Put together the usual symbol for a learner, a three-letter acronym for ‘very exuberant’ or ‘excessive’, and the cricket abbreviation for Over.

15a         Breaking out innocent revolutionary with little noise (8)
ERUPTING – Reverse (revolutionary) a word for ‘innocent’ or ‘chaste’, then add the sound of a small bell, to get the sort of breaking out that’s happening on La Palma at the moment.

In pictures: Thousands evacuate erupting volcano in Spain's Canary Islands | Reuters.com

18a         Obtain dram on vacation enjoying Canadian city (8)
WINNIPEG – Put together another word for ‘obtain’ or ‘gain’, another word for a dram or tot od )spirits. And the outside letters (on vacation) of E(njoyin)G.

20a         Flexible times to secure result (5)
BENDY – A two-letter word for ‘times’ (in a multiplication sum) is wrapped round a result or outcome.

23a         Reindeer around ridge, four overlooking edges (7)
CARIBOU – Put together the Latin abbreviation for ‘around’ or ‘about’, a ridge (in a leaf, perhaps), and the inside letters (overlooking edges) of (f)OU(r).

Rescuing Reindeer: Caribou on the Brink • The National Wildlife Federation Blog : The National Wildlife Federation Blog

25a         Ace graduate redesigned store (7)
MAESTRO – A senior Arts graduate followed by an anagram (redesigned) of STORE.

26a         Respond about facts lacking in case (5)
REACT – The Latin word for ‘about’ or ‘concerning’, followed by the inside letters (lacking in case) of (f)ACT(s).

27a         Grease smeared on greyish brown garment (9)
DUNGAREES – A greyish brown colour followed by an anagram (smeared) of GREASE.

28a         Drunk shortly embracing English boozer (8)
HOSTELRY – Anagram (drunk) of SHORTLY, with English inserted.

29a         Against Hoovers using bags (6)
VERSUS – Hidden in the clue.

Down

1d           Babe’s smashed everything in this sport (8)
BASEBALL – A rather nice all-in-one clue. An anagram (smashed) of BABE’S followed by another word for ‘everything’, giving us a sport in which the Babe (Ruth) was a master player in the first half of the 20th century.

Racism May Have Kept Babe Ruth From Ever Becoming a Major League Manager

2d           Sugar, maybe, fed to group — that fills a gap (7)
SEALANT – The first name of, among others, the Sugar who founded Amstrad and later hosted The Apprentice, with a group or clique wrapped round it.

3d           Sign of company, with navy south of island (9)
CAPRICORN – To get this sign of the Zodiac, start with a Mediterranean island, then add the abbreviation for ‘company’ and the initials of the Royal Navy.

5d           Enjoyed daft mug shot in divine accounting event (3,2,9)
DAY OF JUDGEMENT – Anagram (shot) of ENJOYED DAFT MUG.

6d           One indicating ratio of emigrant group without base (5)
COLON – The punctuation mark used to indicate the ratio between two numbers is also the now disapproved-of setting-up of a settlement in another country, minus its last letter (base, in a Down clue).

7d           In casual footwear, the Queen goes to north land (7)
TERRAIN – Start with a sort of casual footwear, then move the Queen’s regnal cipher from the end to second and third position (a move north, in a Down clue).

8d           Early locomotive leaves (6)
ROCKET – Double definition: George Stephenson’s railway locomotive which won the Rainhill trials in 1829; or some salad leaves.

The Rocket Locomotive Of George And Robert Stephenson Drawing by English School

9d           Burger that’s 25p? (7-7)
QUARTER-POUNDER – Cryptic definition of a size of burger. What fraction of a larger currency unit is 25p?

16d         Old volunteers watch out carrying large dishes etc (9)
TABLEWARE – The initials of the former name of the UK’s volunteer reserve force, followed by an instruction to watch out, with Large inserted.

17d         Outline is horse climbing in sunless void (8)
SYNOPSIS – Put together IS (from the clue) and a small horse, reverse (climbing, in a Down clue) the result, then wrap the outside letters (void) of S(unles)S around it.

19d         Reportedly where Colossus overlooked harbour raids (7)
INROADS – This word for ‘raids’ sounds like (reportedly) the answer to the question about where to find the ancient Colossus, one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

The colossus of Rhodes

21d         New treats prepared for rabbits (7)
NATTERS – The definition is a verb, not a furry creature. New followed by an anagram (prepared) of TREATS.

22d         Goodness in school’s roast (6)
SCORCH – An exclamation like ‘Goodness!’ with an abbreviation for ‘school’ wrapped round it.

24d         Wash black article after another (5)
BATHE – An abbreviation for Black followed by two different grammatical articles.


The Quick Crossword pun MISSED + HERB + LOBBY = MR BLOBBY

109 comments on “DT 29795

  1. Mr X in very friendly for a Friday form on this grey, gloomy and wet day in East Kent.

    Thanks to him and DT

  2. 2*/5*. This X-less pangram made a very fine end to a splendid week of back-pagers. Great Quickie pun too!

    Many thanks to proXimal and to DT.

    1. PS. I must be slipping. I’ve only just noticed the spelling mistake in 12a. It should be “blanch”. Blanche is a girl’s name.

        1. I’m not sure how a setter would manage to include that particular nebulous girl as part of the wordplay, except perhaps when clueing “carte blanche”. Perhaps CL could consider setting “carte blanche” as a phrase to be clued in his weekly puzzles newsletter?

  3. What a super crop of crosswords this week and for me this one tops the lot at ***/****.
    My first review of the across clues was not hopeful but the straightforward 9d began the unlocking process ending up just in *** time. Impossible really to pick a COTD but 19d by no means the hardest made me smile and just gets it although 10a was very clever. Thanks to all our setters this week and to DT for his work today.

  4. A Delightful puzzle all the way through. Lots to enjoy and smile about. A bit of reverse parsing due to the checkers suggesting the obvious answers. Thanks to ProXimal and to Deep Threat.

  5. Firstly, did Senf know something we didn’t with his comment yesterday?
    Anyway, eXcellent puzzle, one of those were a few of the solutions were on an earlier bus than the parsings but I did eventually sort them all after a quick dip in the briny.
    My podium consists of my last three in 12a&8d with top spot going to 17d, with a nod to the very smooth and clever 7d along with the pun.
    2.5/5*
    Many thanks to proXimal and DT for the top notch entertainment.

    1. Wishful thinking on my part yesterday but, on checking this morning and if my eyes and brain are fully synchronised, here we are on the first Friday of October and the last proXimal puzzle was on the first Friday of September. So, a little overdue.

  6. Slow start but picked up once a few checkers were in place. A lot of ticks today and too tough to pick a single winner. Very enjoyable. Thanks to proXimal and DT.

  7. I agree, a perfect ending to a week of really enjoyabke crosswords. This one was challenging in the best way, really clever misdirection and well constructed clues, some of which required a bitvof thought (2*/5*). It’s hard to pick favourites because most of the clues were good but I likedthe geographical charade at 18a and the complex anagram at 16d, whilst 17d kept me guessing for a while. Clue of the day was 1d, however, wirh a play on a sportsman’s name as well as the charade. Very clever. Thanks to Senf and Mr X.

      1. Sorry thanks to DT. I got confused by Senf’s conversation with Stephen about the identity of the compiler.

  8. Five in a row! What a perfect end to a wonderful week of cruciverbalism, and proXimal knows how to spell that ‘J-word’ (5d) – 2.5*/5*.

    Candidates for favourite – 7d, 9d. 19d, and I suppose I have to include 16a – and the winner is 9d.

    Thanks to proXimal and DT.

    1. S. To be fair, that J word can legitimately be spelt 2 ways (see BRB). I always spell it without the E – simply because, throughout my adult life, that’s how I’ve seen it spelt considerably more often than with it.

      1. Yes, based on my ancestry and the etymology of judge and is derivatives, a right way and a wrong way! The 8 letter version just looks plain wrong and, in this instance, no amount of ‘it’s in the BRB,’ where the correct 9 letter version is shown first, will persuade me otherwise.

        1. I wasn’t trying to persuade you, just giving a different angle in the interests of balance. By the way, what’s happened to that horse of yours, either real or imaginary?

  9. I found this a suitably Friday-ish backpager, being a little bit more challenging than those which have preceded it this week. However I felt the clues were a mixed bag: quite a few ticks (my Hon Mentions to 1a, 8a, 29a, 2d, 3d and 19d) and I smiled broadly at 20a, my COTD, but also some quite bizarre surface readings (17d, 5d, 28a, 11a), which rather took the edge off for me. I’ve enjoyed earlier puzzles this week considerably more.

    2.5* / 2*

    Many thanks to Setter and to DT for the review.

  10. A super end to a fine week of puzzles. The first read through yielded little but 5&9d got the ball rolling for a steady solve in *** time. 20a & 17d were my last 2 in as for some reason I’m always slow to twig the oft used synonym for times & only then clocked the reversed horse at 17d, my COTD. I thought 1a&d great starters & the 7d wordplay neat. Was I the only one to initially consider bladder as the container for 12a (first 2 letters of blanche with madder minus the M) & wondering where heated came into it?
    Thanks to proXimal & to DT.

  11. Agree with everyone’s view about the week’s puzzles and loved this one too. 1 and 9d were particular favourites, and the pun is deliciously excruciating. Half way through the Osmosis Toughie at the moment, which is equally good and pretty testing.

    Thanks to proXimal and DT.

  12. Most enjoyable—thank you setter and DT. BTW what are the odds of the back pager and the toughie having the same grid configuration on the same day?

  13. Lovely end to the week although started off quite slowly. 9d gets my COTD but I liked quite a lot. Autumn definitely here, very cold and leaves everywhere – not a single swim in the sea at Cley this year. Despite rejecting the cookies, having googled flights from Norwich to Edinburgh am now inundated with ads for that airline, even on this site, infuriating. Thanks to the setter and DT.

  14. I enjoyed this X-less pangra even if 8d held me up and pushed me into a *** time (it’s called arugula over here). Strange surface reads in places notwithstanding, I really liked 17, 9, 16, & 19d. Thanks to DT and proXimal. *** / ***

    1. Did you know the sugar in 2d? I gave up trying to parse that, but I was familiar with the leaves in 8d.

      1. No, Merusa, I didn’t know who Alan Sugar was. Was lucky there with my bung-in; it had to be what it was. I then confirmed the identity of A.S.

  15. A nice Friday puzzle with OK clues of average-ish difficulty providing middling enjoyment. No favourites. To be honest, I still miss G on a Friday. 2.5*, 2.5*

    *I spotted and intriguing sign stuck in the edge of a small communal flowerbed this morning. It was hand-written on laminated cardboard:

    DOG OWNERS.
    CAN YOU PLEASE REMOVE
    THEIR WASTE.
    THANK YOU.

    I get the gist of the message, but it seems an odd way of phrasing it. Maybe it’s OK?

    1. Darned dog owners (writes a responsible owner of three dogs), leaving their crisp packets, empty cans, used face masks etc everywhere …. and why should someone else be asked to remove it all?

      ;-)

      1. Hopefully, it’s not the dog owners’ actual “human waste” that other people are being requested to remove! :-)

        1. We came across a sign outside a cafe that read ‘No skulking lurkers allowed in’. We just wondered who would look at that sign and think ‘oops, I can’t go in there’!

          1. Also, how would they determine whether you were a “skulking lurker” or not before admitting you. Presumably by asking the question: “Halt, who goes there. Friend or skulking lurker?” :-)

  16. Thoroughly enjoyed every minute of this one despite having made a careless mistake with the third word of 5d by assuming that I knew the answer without properly checking the wordplay – saved by finding the Canadian city!
    Podium places handed out on the basis of broad smiles to 1a along with 1&8d plus the Quickie pun.

    Many thanks for a delightful puzzle proXimal, and thanks to DT for the review.

    1. Jane, I too started by making a bish of things – I used obtain and (dr)am to make Manitoba then George woke up and told me it wasn’t a city – ooops.

    2. I think I made the same mistake in 5d. Just by reading the surface and seeing the word ‘accounting’ I didn’t even look for the anagram
      Once I spotted my error the rest fell in nicely.

    3. I think had the same answer as you to 5d, until I realized it didn’t work. But I still think it is a better answer to the clue 😊.

      1. Likewise re 5d. I thought it a terribly clever accountancy reference and myself terribly clever for spotting it! Til I realised I was wrong and not terribly clever after all. Clever enough have a moment of self doubt and to not write it in thus allowing myself to get the right answer later though!

  17. As an X-less pangram, I assumed this is the work of our friend proXimal. I thought it was the toughest of the week so far, with the parsing of 17d taking me ages.

    Overall I’ll give it ***/**** with 8d as my COTD.

    Thanks to proXimal and DT.

  18. Another crossword that totally defeated me. I think I have lost the ability to solve cryptics. Perhaps I will give them a rest for a while.

    Many thanks to proXimal and DT.

    1. Form temporary class permanent or at least that’s what I tell myself when hacking on the golf course…..

      1. Maybe, Huntsman. I have never had a run of three consecutive total defeats before. It’s rather demoralising.

        1. I occasionally have a litlle bit of a slump several days running, Steve. One’s state of health, one’s worries or even lack of sleep can throw you off track and affect your pwers of concentration. I find it more noticeable with the Telegraph Sudokus having never been as good at numbers as i am with words. It will pass.

        2. I really find my level of energy makes a huge difference. If it’s been a tough day or few at work and I am tired I struggle only to discover everyone found it easy. Whe I am on holiday and do.the crossword in the morning I always do it quicker. So if you were getting there before you’ll get there again. Good luck.

    2. Steve – only a few days ago you posted photographic proof of how well you know your onions!
      Don’t give yourself an 8d just go back to 1a,
      😎

    3. I get you, I get discouraged when I have to use so much e-help that I feel my iPad is going the solving. I didn’t finish today again but, hell, I’m not going to let a stupid crossword get me down!

      1. Or you could have a few days off. I haven’t played golf for ten days because I was rubbish for the last few days before….bossed the course this afternoon.
        A rest for few days may be what you need……no need to feel pressure from anyone who says otherwise. I always value your intelligent comments on this site, thanks

  19. A delightful puzzle with some lovely misdirections. That’s my second unaided one this week, so my advice to fellow ‘thickies’ is to stick with it. When the penny finally drops the reward is certainly worth it. The only thing spoiling my Friday smug face is a massive pimple festering on the side of my nose!

  20. Challenging at first and then naturally the checking letters helped considerably. I was grateful that my eyes first glanced at 9d and that went straight in, offering handy letters hither and thither.

    Today’s crossword soundtrack: Chopin – Nocturnes

    Thanks to proXimal and the splendid DT.

  21. Have to admit to a few bung-ins today but nevertheless I enjoyed the less than satisfying challenge. 27a “smeared” – mmm! No Fav. Thank you proXimal and DT.

  22. Found it very difficult to get started but once I had toehold managed to complete 😃 ***/*** Favourites 13a & 21d 👍 Thanks to DT and to ProXimal. Have a nice weekend you all but don’t forget the galoshes 😨

    1. Y’all. One of my favourite contractions. Not that I ever use it. Youse is another that I like. Y’all can have several different meanings too.

        1. I’ve never quite understood ‘ope’ from the Midwest (possibly the Midwest, could be anywhere)

              1. Well I never! I’ve not heard of that before. So you gain a Nano second by saying ope instead of oops, what can you do or say with the Nano second you’ve gained? I think I’ve lived too long!

  23. Not too tricky and very enjoyable. 19d was brilliant but made me groan. Thx for explaining the terrible pun in 1a and the word play for 14a and 23a.
    Thx to all
    **/****

  24. I thought I had put in a comment two hours ago but obviously did not press send!
    Only got time now to say many thanks to setter and hinter, to everyone for a good week
    and have a nice weekend!

      1. Yeah, that is what George is doing down at Hertford. I was going to go on a shopping spree but
        now it seems a waste of precious petrol I have to save for the dentist on Monday!

  25. Found this tougher than some have after a very slow start. Struggled to get onto the setters wavelength so overall *** time with **** fun factor.
    Took ages to sort out why 1a was what it was. Gets my COTD now I see what it’s all about.
    Thanks to proXimal and DT

  26. Congrats to all those above who can get on proXimal’s wavelength. I don’t think that is ever going to happen for me. I certainly couldn’t today. Missed the anagram indicator in 5d and put in what I thought was the perfect answer which didn’t help. I don’t understand the 1a and warehouse? And 2d was a mystery to me. Oh well, it exercised some old grey cells, so can’t complain. Thanks to proXimal and Deep Threat. Just not one for me today.

    1. As DT says, what comes after Bay 5 in a warehouse setting? Maybe Bay 6? I needed the hint to understand it.

  27. I finished thus alone and unaided, but a lot of my answers were bung-ins.

    Thanks to the setter and many thanks to DT for his explanations.

  28. Maybe it’s because its Friday or maybe my brain is still soaked from our monsoons yesterday but I struggled today to get this done. Used far too many hints today for my liking and found some of the parsing tricky too. ***/*** today.
    5d I had the other accounting synonym as the third word for a while until I finally saw the anagram and changed it … and that made things easier!
    Favourites include 29a as it was first in, 7d & 9d with 9d the winner
    Don’t understand the meaning of bay five use in 1a, or parsing of 2d, but it is likely just my waterlogged brain today. No matter.

    Thanks to Proximal and DT for the much needed hints today.
    Tomorrow’s another day.

  29. Could not get on with this at all, completed about half, sat staring at it for ages going round in circles. Just gave up in the end. Definitely not on wave length today😩. Thanks to all.

  30. Had not come across the form of words in 7d before and needed DT’s explanation – very enjoyable and, as others have said, in a good week. Many thanks to Big Dave for running this ever useful site – unique I think among the major newspapers although I am sure if it’s not somebody will correct me. Anyway many thanks to Big Dave.

    1. There’s Times for the Times for Times Crosswords and Fifteen Squared for the Graun, Indy and FT

  31. Very enjoyable, thanks setter and hints master. I seemed to get some of the trickier ones quickly and stumbled over the easier ones, taking time to spot anagrams and lurkers. Funny old brain. Favourite was 9d. Yum. Kept me entertained on train to Bristol and now finished with a teeny hint or two In the northwest corner with glass of Prosecco in hand overlooking the gorge. Bliss.

    1. Tut tut, the sun has not gone down over the yardarm yet!
      We are waiting until 6 o’clock! 😇

      1. The sun is always over the yardarm. Not necessarily where you are but somewhere in the world. It is always beer o clock in Barrel

  32. Late today as supervising my irrigation guy who is blowing out the system for winter. Very enjoyable puzzle – NW last quadrant in with several favourites – 1a&1d and 9d. Thanks to Proximal and DT.

  33. Funny old puzzle, some answers so obvious I doubted they were right, and then the others that needed e-help, even then I didn’t understand them. One of those was 26a, wanted so badly to put an “x” in there, thought it was a pangram, forgot about Mr. X-less. I missed two in the SW. Another serious gap in my knowledge was the sugar reference in 2d, just bunged that in without understanding it, what else could it be? I did like quite a few, so all was not lost.
    I’m always amused when I drop in to the other side and see Dutch, and quite a few others, have solved a ***** toughie and I’ve sweated bullets over a ** level back pager! I’m all admiration, I don’t know how you do it.
    Thanks proXimal for the fun and Deep Threat for unravelling some for me.

  34. For once I’m with the straightforward half of the blog, only 17d causing me really serious head scratching. With only the X missing and 17d left I realised it wasn’t there. 1d was favourite for the surface read as opposed to the difficulty. Thanks to ProXimal and DT.

  35. Thanks to DT for the review and to commenters for comments. Sorry, only just read them all, as I’d forgotten about this, being distracted by a long run I have to do in London on Sunday.

    1. Good luck for tomorrow!!! I did it 15 years ago and although I’m not a natural runner I LOVED it, such an amazing atmosphere. So I hope you finish with a time you wanted but mostly importantly that you enjoy it!

      1. No, but my bib number does begin with 10 (X) and I hope to cross (X) the finish line in good times (x), although my training has been very variable (x).

  36. I found this the perfect end to a good day.

    First look: ” I can’t do any of this, I’m not on this person’s wavelength, why is it only two star?”

    Then the brain got into gear and I ran straight through it in a few minutes’ wind down before bed.

    Really enjoyed it, and I’m glad I’m not clever enough to pick at the make up of the clues.

    Thanks.

  37. Sorry Mr ProXimal you defeated me completely. I’m not complaining, you are just a lot more brainy than me. Anyway thank you for a masterly set of clues and to DT. Fav 23a which Mr. Th had the inspiration for. Hope Saturday is a bit easier

  38. 1a is like some awful Dad-joke – ugh! Can’t really understand the popularity in these comments of 9d, which was too easy to be satisfying, whereas 1d was much cleverer & more satisfying!

  39. No complaints about the weather here in Manhattan. A really lovely, sunny weekend and now a season-appropriate autumnal Monday. This was my first attempt at a Friday puzzle at least in living memory – there’s a possibility I tried one as a youth when my dad was teaching me cruciverbalism skills. I finished it just now over a very acceptable chicken vindaloo here in “Little India”. I needed a portion of ras malai to slot in 28a and my LOI, 22d. Favourite clues 29a, 1d, 16a 17d and top, 21d. Really clever cluing and misdirection. Wonderfully enjoyable. Thanks to all concerned.

Comments are closed.