DT 29864 – Big Dave's Crossword Blog
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DT 29864

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 29864

Hints and tips by Mr K

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BD Rating  -  Difficulty ** Enjoyment ***

Hello, everyone. It's Tuesday and the back pager is pretty much what we've come to expect in this slot. 

In the hints below most indicators are italicized, and underlining identifies precise definitions and cryptic definitions. Clicking on the answer buttons will reveal the answers. In some hints hyperlinks provide additional explanation or background. Pictures may not illustrate the answer. Clicking on a picture will enlarge it or display a bonus illustration and a hover (computer) or long press (mobile) might explain more about the picture. Please leave a comment telling us how you got on.

 

Across

1a    Barney runs pub in centre (7)
RHUBARB:  The cricket abbreviation for runs followed by a synonym of pub inserted in centre or core 

5a    Desperate doctor has to leave hospital with nervous twitch (7)
DRASTIC:  Link together an abbreviation for doctor, HAS from the clue minus the single letter for hospital ( … to leave hospital), and a nervous twitch 

9a    Key turned in panic is abandoned (5)
BASIC:  The answer is hidden reversed in (turned in) the remainder of the clue 

10a   Army leader from Turin, once, possibly (9)
CENTURION:  An anagram (possibly) of TURIN ONCE 

11a   Shopkeeper renting room, shivering when temperature drops (10)
IRONMONGER:  An anagram (shivering) of RENTING ROOM minus the physics symbol for temperature ( … when temperature drops

12a   Man, maybe, is allowed no conclusion (4)
ISLE:  IS from the clue with a synonym of allowed minus its last letter ( … no conclusion). The maybe indicates a definition by example 

14a   Simple aircraft's weak by the sound of it (5,7)
PLAIN SAILING:  Homophones (by the sound of it) of synonyms of aircraft's and of weak 

18a   Plan for leaving tyre gets taxi damaged (4,8)
EXIT STRATEGY:  An anagram (damaged) of TYRE GETS TAXI 

21a   Vegan, say, oddly rejected piece of cake (4)
EASY:  The even letters (… oddly rejected) of VEGAN SAY 

22a   Relative rung by nurse (10)
STEPSISTER:  A rung on a ladder placed by a senior nurse 

25a   Type of western  food (9)
SPAGHETTI:  A double definition. Both have Italian origins 

26a   Finished trapping queen bee (5)
DRONE:  Finished or over containing (trapping) the Latin abbreviation for queen 

27a   Turned out daughter brought back most of pudding (7)
DRESSED:  The genealogical abbreviation for daughter with the reversal (brought back) of all but the last setter of (most of) another word for pudding 

28a   Serious tear in vest when tops are removed (7)
EARNEST:  Words two, three, and four of the clue minus their initial letters (when tops are removed

 

Down

1d    Spiritual leader with little time for talk (6)
RABBIT:  A Jewish spiritual leader with the physics symbol for time (little time)

2d    Result from university professor's first attempt (6)
UPSHOT:  Put together the single letter for university, PROFESSOR'S first letter, and an attempt or go 

3d    A Conservative politician supporting company line is hard to reach (10)
ACCOMPLISH:  Concatenate A from the clue, the single letter for Conservative, an abbreviation for company, an abbreviated politician, the single letter for line, IS from the clue, and the pencil abbreviation for hard 

4d    Graduate caught working for artist (5)
BACON:  Assemble a graduate degree, the cricket abbreviation for caught, and working or operating 

5d    Loud noise, then resent broken crockery (6,3)
DINNER SET:  A loud noise is followed by an anagram (broken) of RESENT 

6d    Reason Republican's dismissed fever (4)
AGUE:  A verb synonym of reason or debate with the single letter for Republican deleted (dismissed

7d    Pilot won't welcome this dog on journey (8)
TAILSPIN:  Dog or follow with a journey or jaunt, perhaps in a car 

8d    Meet prisoner on border (8)
CONVERGE:  A usual prisoner followed by a border or edge 

13d   Gang in America can pick up socialist papers secured here? (4,6)
RING BINDER:  Cement together another word for gang, an object known in America as a can, and the reversal (pick up, in a down clue) of the colour associated with socialism 

15d   Annoyed at dirtier bananas (9)
IRRITATED:  An anagram (bananas, as in mad) of AT DIRTIER 

16d   Rising editor stopped dead (8)
DECEASED:  The reversal (rising, in a down clue) of an abbreviation for editor is followed by a synonym of stopped 

17d   Prevent Democrat changing US ideas (8)
DISSUADE:  The single letter for Democrat with an anagram (changing) of US IDEAS 

19d   In a hotel, enthralled by scholarly book (2,4)
AT HOME:  A from the clue followed the letter represented in the NATO phonetic alphabet by hotel contained by (enthralled by) a scholarly or weighty book 

20d   Pressing uniform finally for chap (6)
URGENT:  Chain together the letter represented in the NATO phonetic alphabet by uniform, the final letter of FOR, and a chap or fellow 

23d   Satisfaction from parking vehicle (5)
PRIDE:  The single letter for parking with a synonym of vehicle 

24d   Perfect husband embraces like that (4)
THUS:  The pair of words at the start of the clue hides (embraces) the answer 

 

Thanks to today’s setter. All good, but no standout favourites for me today. Which clues did you like best?


The Quick Crossword pun:  COT + TUN + BAWLS = COTTON BALLS


74 comments on “DT 29864

  1. I was completely stumped by 13d and, of all things, the anagram at 10a otherwise I would have finished unaided. I went through about three different artists at 4d before 1a gave me the right one. 23a foxed me because the answer is not a queen bee but then the penny dropped with a loud clang. All in all, a wonderfully entertaining puzzle with my COTD being 22a.

    Many thanks to our Tuesday setter for the fun. Grateful thanks to Mr. K. for the hints.

  2. **/*** sums this one up. I thought 17a and 7 and 19d all clever and 7d the best of the trio. I keep forgetting whenever I see the word Man to think of the home of the TT and spent a little while on 12a as a result. Most enjoyable. Thanks to Mr K and our setter.

  3. Not the most contemporary puzzle (I suspect a few chestnuts) but very enjoyable nonetheless with some nice misdirection throughout the grid.
    Never heard of the solution of 1a in that context but easily attainable from the wordplay.
    I particularly liked 5&14a plus 19d.
    1.5*/3.5*
    Many thanks to the setter and Mr K

  4. Grid completed unaided in ** time, about right for a Tuesdy, but the full parsing of 13d eluded me. 7d was my last in.

    Many thanks to the setter and Mr K.

  5. 2*/3.5*. I enjoyed this, and my only real delay was with 11a which was my last one in.

    I think that the specific meaning of the answer to 1a is an American term. As often seems to be the case, Collins agrees with me, but Chambers does not.

    Although it is one of the meanings listed in the BRB, I can’t work out an example whereby “vehicle” is synonymous with “ride” in 23d. Can anyone help please?

    With lots of good clues to pick from, my favourite was 22a with 19d running it close.

    Many thanks to the setter and to Mr K.

    1. Hi RD
      I’ve heard a car/vehicle described as a “ride” informally in the past.
      “You can park your ride outside my house”
      or say, looking at a sports car “wow, nice ride”
      Best I can come up with!

      1. SL. I think your spot-on there and you beat me to it. I was going to say: “That Harley Davidson is my latest ride.” It’s probably a term you’d hear more often over in the USA.

      2. There is / was a TV programme called Pimp My Ride about making your car look really garish.

        1. Ah yes, SM. I remember that now you mention it, and I recall thinking at the time what an awful title. American, I think.

  6. I really enjoyed this 13d also my last one in. Did anyone else put coffee set for 5d? I thought it fitted the bill perfectly but then I realised 10a was an anagram so the f must be wrong. Oh well. Thanks to the setter and Mr K and thank you to everyone yesterday who sent me delicious virtual prezzies. We did have the most yummy seafood platter take-away from a local bistro in the village so all was not lost. Stay safe everyone.

    1. Better not “Coff” too loudly at the moment Manders or Boris’s thought police will impose a lockdown on your good self.

  7. Straightforward, fun, enjoyable and obscurity-free. A great puzzle for a busy Tuesday. With so many well-crafted clues from which to pick a favourite the best way is to stick in a pin, and the winner is 22a.

    Thanks to both Misters.

  8. Whoosh. Until 7 and 13 down put the brakes on for a moment. I feel that the two pesky lurkers might hold up either the solving or the understanding of the clues they serve so well. According to last nights University Challenge Yorkshire is the best for forced 1 across. I get mine from the bottom of the garden. Today’s Toughie is from Dada. It’s worth the entrance fee. Thanks to today’s setter and to Mr Kitty

    1. Yorkshire “forced” rhubarb is a different beast from the stuff we both have in the garden. It is kept in warm, dark damp sheds and grows so fast they say you can hear it growing. it comes out a lovely light pink colour and is sweet without any of the stringiness that I recall from school puddings. It is coming into season soon and I will be off to stock the freezer up in the new year.

      1. I still won’t like it JB. I’ve always had the plant in every house I’ve lived in. Love the plant (and the snails) hate the taste

    2. Yorkshire 1a has been awarded PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) status by the EU who evidently recognise this out-of-season fruit is something special.

  9. Nothing to frighten the horses in today’s pleasant challenge which was mostly 14a or was it 21a? Made life difficult for myself by plumping for wrong relative in 22a so SE came last. Struggled with Quickie pun by opting for a different large cask in 3a. Thank you Messrs. Ron and K.

    1. Thank you for your recent comment, Angellov. The BD gang usually make a good showing in the competition with our own Gazza and Prolixic being probably the most consistent in terms of places on the leader-board.

      1. Yes I’ve noticed the regular appearances. I did manage an honorary mention a couple of weeks ago with ‘lily-livered’ but can’t even remember what my clue was!

  10. For me, somewhat trickier, but no less enjoyable, than recent Tuesday puzzles – 2.5*/4*.

    Candidates for favourite – 12a, 25a, and 8d – and the winner is 25a.

    Thanks to the setter and Mr K.

  11. Pleasingly 14a for a brisk completion in 1.5* with no parsing concerns for a change. Nothing obscure & not much head scratching either other than, like Stephen, can’t say I’ve ever come across 1a in that context. 25a was my pick for no other reason than The Good, The Bad & The Ugly is one of my all time favourite films if viewed on the big screen – completely spoilt in a panned & scanned TV version that destroys the majesty of the climactic ending.
    Thanks to the setter & to Mr K.

  12. This turned into something of a ‘start at the bottom’ for me mainly due to difficulty in accepting the answer to 1a.
    Slight pauses for thought over the shopkeeper and the relative but 14a elsewhere.

    Thanks to our setter and to Mr K for the review and the suggestion regarding parking!

    1. Afairly good puzzle, in 1hich atarted at the bottom left hand side and gradually worked through (2.5*/3.5*). 3d was the best clue for my money but i wasn’t so keen on19d or 7d, which didn’t seem to come together. Thanks to the compiler and to Mr K for the hints.

  13. Luckily, synced with today’s setter.
    Completed in * time but although getting 13d, was, perhaps, too lazy to fully parse it.
    Memo to self – there are two three letter words for prison in America.
    Many thanks to the setter for the enjoyment and to Mr. K.

  14. A very enjoyable puzzle with some nice but not too strangulated charades. No problem with 23d, “ride” for “vehicle” (see my reply to an earlier post about Pimp My Ride) but 1a, “rhubarb” for “barney was a significant stretch for me, though the wordplay was clearcut. COD 26a, drone. Thanks to setter and Mr. K.

  15. Well done to Steve Cowling and Jose for their honourable mentions in the clue competition (again). Also to anyone else whom I didn’t notice. Entertaining puzzle. **/***. I have actually watched “pimp my ride”, Stephen Lord. It’s amazing what they can do. No real favourite. Thanks to all.

  16. Comfy solve today.
    Favourite is 25….
    The Good, the Bad and the Ugly…
    “You see, in this world there’s two kinds of people, my friend: Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig.” Wonderful.
    Thanks both, looking forward to reading Mr.K’s typically excellent blog.

  17. Lots of fun, with 1a one of my favourite baseball terms for a brawl or a scuffle on the baseball diamond–something less than a melee or a free-for-all–often between the pitcher and the batter. It was almost all 14a until 13d held me up for a while (don’t think I’ve ever heard it called that over here). Favourite: 19d. Thanks to Mr K and today’s compiler. ** / ***

    I watched one of those 25a’s the other night and was reminded of their cinematic glories. Huntsman is right, though.

    1. I watched Jane Campion’s The Power of the Dog on Netflix last night & thought it was magnificent (stunning performance by Benedict Cumberbatch). Highly recommended if you’ve not seen it. I might even track down the source novel.

      1. We watched it too last night. Visually stunning, with a constant undercurrent of tension. I agree with your view on the leading man; one of his very best performances to date.

  18. 1a was a new meaning for me too- I note RD’s, comment and 23d was not in my old Chambers -definately ‘iffy’
    14a aptly describes this puzzle ,a **/***.
    Liked the surfaces of 25a and 28a, what would we do without our 1d spiritual leader?
    Nice to hear Basil again-thanks Mr K.

  19. Lovely puzzle. No weirdness, or officers from the Ottoman Empire.

    When I was young I loved Westerns and didn’t give a second thought to minor characters being bumped off along the way. Now I think, “Oh what about their families? How will they survive now? I wonder if the bodies will be recovered from the desert and a proper funeral undertaken?”

    Today’s crossword soundtrack: Davitt Sigerson – It’s a Big Country

    Thanks to Huntsman for pointing me towards the Teskey Brothers – hugely enjoyable!

    …and thanks to the setter and The Celebrated Mr K.

  20. All14a and tickety boo, some very nice clues there, I thought 11a was a good anagram as was 18a. Slightly doubtful about 26a. I notice the advertisement underneath the grid in the paper version – is there any such thing? I eventually gave up after about 15 years! The central heating is playing up and George is fiddling with it. If he were not here I would not have a clue what to do😟 many thanks to the setter and Mr K for explaining 1a. I too saw university challenge last night MP, I wouldn’t miss it. All is ready for the innkeeper.

  21. Thank you setter, for the wonderful 18a. Not least because we should all have one.

    Somewhat spoiled lunch break by finishing this gem at breakfast, only slightly slowed by the ubiquitous head-scratch with 1a.

  22. Rate this one 2*/4* today, with the SE, (again today), my stumbling block.
    Clues for favourites include 11a, 12a, 26a, 7d & 18d with winner 7d. I smiled at 25a for the misdirection as well as 18a, 28a, 4d & 19d

    Thanks to setter and Mr K

  23. This didn’t last through the first cup of tea today so I took yesterdays cryptic 687 to the dentist. That was fun and I will have a look at the Dada toughie next.
    7d and 13d were my last ones in too but the 23d and 25a PDM was the loudest for a while.
    I am not a fan of 4d the artist Gerald Scarfe does that sort of thing better at a tenth of the price IMO. but the clue was great.
    11a was my fave today.
    Thanks to M K and setter
    Today I am mostly listing to… Today

  24. 14ac except for 1ac and 23dn. Many good clues, but 14ac the best for me.

    Mr K, love your illustration at 9ac.

    Thanks setter and Mr K

  25. Yes a nice puzzle with some nice clueing 😃 ***/*** Favourites 22 & 25 across and 17d 🤗 Thanks to Mr K and to the Compiler

  26. Bottom half went in at a satisfying pace, but top half put up a fight. 1a was the major hold up, having never heard that to mean barney, on either side of the pond. Come to that, I’ve never heard an American using the term barney either. Laughing out loud award goes to 25a. And honorable mention to 11a for nostalgic reasons. Thanks to setter for a very enjoyable puzzle, and to Mr K.

  27. I’m in the new meanings for 1a and the vehicle in 23d camp this afternoon. Lots to like though. Favourite was 7d. Thanks to the setter and Mr. K.

  28. I did enjoy this, even though I found some tricky. I solved higgly-piggly with answers all over the place, this gave me lots of checkers. This means I was able to bung in quite a few answers, e.g. 1a and 13d, thanks for the unravelling to Mr. K. I didn’t know the artist at 4d but easy to work out and google. Another nearly solved without help, I had to use e-help for, of all things, 19d, so obvious. Fave has to be 22a, it amused.
    Thank you setter, this was so much fun, and to Mr. K for my cat fix again. I notice so many people now saying “so fun”, it sounds so wrong and I don’t know why.

  29. Re 17a of the Quick Crossword, there is no such time as 12am (or 12pm). It is either 12 noon or 12 midnight.

  30. Managed the bottom half in * time but the top half took me into *** time, managed to complete it without resorting to external help so happy about that. Thanks to all.

    A note to Terence, when people are killed in films they don’t really die, so you don’t have to worry about their families or if they get buried 🤪.

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