DT 29892 – Big Dave's Crossword Blog
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DT 29892

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 29892

Hints and tips by pommers

+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +

BD Rating – Difficulty **Enjoyment ***

Hola from a rather noisy Vega Baja!  We’re getting new sewers throughout the village and the works have finally got to the street where I live.  At the moment there’s a JCB and some blokes with a pneumatic drill digging a large trench down the middle of the road! I don’t think pommette will be getting her lie-in this morning!

The usual Monday fare today but a bit light on anagrams. There are four and they’re mostly towards the end of the down clues so not much help if, like me, you start with the across clues

As usual the ones I liked most are in blue.  The definitions are underlined in the clues and the answers are under the “click here” buttons so don’t click on them unless you really want to see the answer.  Please leave a comment telling us what you thought.

Across

1a           Proven right victor pointed out (10)
VINDICATED:  V(ictor) followed by a word meaning pointed out.

6a           Box available for use, no end (4)
SPAR:  A word meaning available for use or extra without its last letter (no end).

10a         Thanks Pedro, firstly when bringing appetisers (5)
TAPAS:  A short word for thanks followed by a P (Pedro firstly) and then another word for when.  I might have some of these this afternoon.  The local bar does a very nice “patatas a lo pobre” with egg and here’s some to whet your appetite . . .

11a         Better being done humbly (3,2,4)
CAP IN HAND:  A word meaning to better or outdo followed by a two word phrase meaning being done or carried out

12a         Arrogant police officer, one facing other ranks (8)
SUPERIOR:  An abbreviation of a senior police officer followed by I (one) and then the abbreviation of Other Ranks.  Makes a change from having DI as the police officer!  Here’s DCI Morse’s boss.

13a         Loyal subject, for example, in fiction (5)
LIEGE:  Two letters for “for example” inserted into (in) a fiction or fib.

15a         Quietly tell high-ranking member of the clergy (7)
PRELATE:  The letter for quietly in music followed by a word meaning to tell.

17a         Bitterness of promoted soldier, we hear (7)
RANCOUR:  This word sounds like (we hear) a commissioned officer promoted from the ranks.  Strangely the word also means one of the other ranks who hasn’t been promoted!

18a         Series about King George may cause acute annoyance (7)
CHAGRIN: A series, of events perhaps, is placed around (about) the regnal cypher of a King George.

21a         Convoy a Republican’s taken through Irish county (7)
CARAVAN:  A from the clue and R(epublican) inserted into (taken through) an Irish county in Ulster.

23a         Long tale about last in residence (5)
YEARN: A word for a tale or saga around (about) an E (last in residencE).

24a         Conscious of feeling many originally ignored (8)
SENTIENT: Take a word for a feeling or emotion and remove the M (Many originally ignored)

27a         There’s value in how I iron (9)
HOUSEWIFE:  Start with the HOW from the clue followed by the I from the clue and then the chemical symbol for iron. Into that lot insert (in) a word for the value or purpose of something.

28a         Spread beyond Spain (5)
PASTE:  A word for beyond or over followed by the IVR code for Spain.

29a         Vegetable in line that’s scary! (4)
LEEK:  L(ine) followed by an exclamation you might make on seeing something scary.

30a         Biscuit: particular kind plant recalled (6,4)
BRANDY SNAP: A word for a particular kind or marque followed by a reversal (recalled) of a popular flower.

Down

1d           Formally reject having check on leader of organisation (4)
VETO:  A word for to check followed by an O (first in Organisation).

2d           Name record, piece of music, part of an orchestral suite (7)
NEPTUNE: N(ame) and two letters for a record followed by a piece of music to give a part of the Planets Suite by Gustav Holst.  Not my favourite part of The Planets but here is is anyway.

3d           Family  matter (5)
ISSUE:  double definition.

4d           Attribute of a writer (7)
ASCRIBE:  Attribute here is a verb.  It’s the A from the clue followed by an old word for a writer.

5d           Sovereign in capital keeping agent up (7)
EMPEROR:  Insert (keeping) an agent or representative into a capital city and reverse the lot (up in a down clue) to get the type of ruler that ruled in said capital city.

7d           In lab, cope with modifying clinical trial ‘drug’? (7)
PLACEBO:  Anagram (with modifying) of LAB COPE.

8d           False lead embarrassed Hercule, initially getting it wrong (3,7)
RED HERRING: The colour associated with embarrassment followed by H (Hercule initially) and the a word meaning getting it wrong or making a mistake.

9d           Wisecrack aboard English ship (3-5)
ONE LINER: A word meaning aboard followed by E(nglish) and the a passenger ship.

14d         Happy carol, treated as unauthenticated (10)
APOCRYPHAL:  Anagram (treated) of HAPPY CAROL.

16d         Organiser may show irritation having to support a bishop (8)
ARRANGER: Start with the A from the clue and the two letters for a bishop and after that (to support in a down clue) a word for irritation.

19d         Generally, a game may be found in auction (2,1,4)
AS A RULE:  Start with the A from the clue. After that you need the abbreviation of the fifteen-a-side game played by gentlemen with odd shaped balls inserted into (may be found in) another word for an auction.

20d         Retsina being drunk is more unpleasant (7)
NASTIER:  Anagram (being drunk) of RETSINA.  A very apposite anagram IMHO, nasty stuff masquerading as wine.

21d         Box of cutlery in a mess? (7)
CANTEEN:  A box of cutlery is also another word for a mess where meals are served.

22d         Meat cooked in ovens (7)
VENISON:  Anagram (cooked) of IN OVENS.

25d         Suggest just taking son out (5)
IMPLY:  A word for just or merely without the S (taking S(on) out).

26d         Look after  stronghold (4)
KEEP:  Double definition.

27a was my favourite today with 8d and 15a on the podium.


Quick crossword puns:

Top line:     RUSH     +     ANN     +     BLEW     =     RUSSIAN BLUE

Bottom line:     SAKE     +     RID     +     HART     =     SACRED HEART

81 comments on “DT 29892

  1. I thought this was quite superb. Impossible to pick favourites but simply on the basis that they are great words I’ll pick out 18&24a plus 14d. Good Monday morning stuff.
    Many thanks to Campbell and Pommers for the top notch entertainment.

  2. I agree with SL that this was an excellent puzzle, not overly difficult but high on enjoyment. 12a and 2d proved to be my favourites although some of the anagrams came close.

    Thanks and congratulations to Campbell for such a winning start to the week, and to pommers.

    Wordle in 5 today.

    1. Wordle in 5 for me too – 1st pass nothing, 2nd pass 2 in the wrong place, 3rd pass same 2 in different wrong place, 3rd pass 3 all in wrong place! Amazing I got there in 5.

        1. It’s not as random as that and really quite clever but awfully addictive, glad there is only one per day. I’m on a roll with 17 correct in a row so I’m ripe for failure soon. Try it.

          1. It certainly is addictive particularly as Wordle led to Wheeldle which offers endless challenges!

        2. There is some logic and quite a bit of word recognition in it H. If it were like pin the tail on the donkey there would be a random distribution of tries to solve. However adopting
          a daily strategy , at the moment it looks like a slightly skewed normal distribution about 4.
          Also a it of daily fun in the family, including the sister-in-law in Canada.
          Today was a “Par”4 for me.

              1. I also got it in 4 but it took a lot of working out. Having the eliminated letters identified does narrow it down but still fun. Dare not commit myself to Wheeldle I am resolutely refusing to look at it.

                1. Good call, DG. I have given up on Wheeldle. Because you know there is another one waiting you tend to rush.

  3. A lovely start to the new week. Fully agree that Stephen’s choices are great words but the top two for me are the surface read at 8d & the wordplay at 27a, my last in. The bonus cryptic is a wee bit harder & contains a word that I suspect will be a new one to most of us though probably not to CS.
    Thanks to Campbell & to Pommers.

      1. I did know it but was thinking of trifle as a sinful dessert, not a trifle as a gewgaw, what a bang when the penny dropped.

    1. Isn’t it amazing how many 3-letter words for ‘beat’ you can come up with when you’re desperate!

      1. It wasn’t to me. Trouble was I spent a while trying to think of a 4 letter one (lamp occurred) before I twigged the F for fine. Could scarcely believe the solution was a word. Scottish derivation I believe.

  4. What a wonderful start to the crossword week – a few in the top held me up for a while but all in all very enjoyable. 8d my COTD as I was looking for a phrase meaning ‘getting it wrong’. Thanks to the setter and Pommers. Huntsman, where is the bonus cryptic? Thanks.

    1. 27a got me a thick ear from Mrs T – tried to show her Mendeleev’s periodic table… didn’t help my defense. Tried to explain the anagram… and that housewives play golf… she was not having any of it. I guess I’ll be increasingly ironing my own shirts.

      Mr T

  5. Enjoyable start to the week ,agree with Pommers **/***.
    Sound cluing throughout, favourite was 14a, liked the surface and a lovely word to boot, 24a was a close second,
    Yhanks Pommers for the 10a’appetiser’-looks just the job!

  6. It’s Monday :good: It’s Campbell :good: **/****

    Favourite – a toss-up between 1a and 19d – and the winner is 19d.

    A French fruit pie in the Campbell ‘twin’ weekly on-line prize puzzle!

    Thanks to Campbell and to pommers.

  7. Excellent! Light but great fun with 27a & 8d my top two. 1.5*/4.5*.

    Many thanks to Campbell and to pommers.

  8. How does hedo it? Week after week the Monday puzzle is a delight. Hardly ever any obscure GK, stretched synonyms or weird homophones and some new words here and there. Add an almost constant degree ofdifficulty what a combination.
    COTD?All of them.
    Grateful thanks Campbell. Thanks pommers -the review complimented the puzzle.
    Feels like April (without the showers) up here

  9. I found this a little trickier than is usual on a Monday, but very enjoyable to solve, of course.

    Having been let out of my Covid prison (after testing negative for two consecutive days) we went to Stamford Bridge yesterday to watch ‘my’ Chelsea beat Tottenham again.

    Today’s crossword soundtrack: Hildegard von Bingen – Ave Generosa

    Thanks to Campbell and pommers (with his ear protectors on)

  10. I will go along with everyone and declare this a wonderful puzzle. I did find the SW difficult mainly because I had spelled 14d incorrectly, which was daft seeing it was an anagram and all the letters were there. It’s difficult t come up with a COTD from such a great bunch so I won’t bother.

    I always thought the colour in the Quickie was Prussian but I suppose it’s referring to one of Mr. K’s favourite animals.

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

    Now to see if I can sort out the last two letters of Wordle.

    1. It took me ages to find a word to complete the phrase but eventually the cat came to mind!

    2. Does this help to remember the spelling of 14d, Stevie C?

      Something that is ***CRY**** can be a far CRY from the truth.

      1. Thanks, Gordon but I did correct it. It was a stupid mistake on my part. Mind that’s a good mnemonic.

  11. As always, a delightful start to the week from one of our most consistent setters.
    My favourite was 8d with other podium places going to 18a plus 9&21d – simple ones that just made me smile.

    Thanks to Campbell and to pommers – your afternoon repast looks delicious.
    I now have an earworm – The Proclaimers walking 500 miles!

  12. Re 19d . The gentlemen don’t have odd shaped balls ( I hope ) , but the game USES odd shaped balls . How about ladies rugby ………? I thoroughly enjoyed this xword 😂😂

    1. That play on words is often resuscitated on here when “rugby” crops up. Schoolboy humour is very popular in these parts. For some reason, I can’t think why, it doesn’t work with women’s rugby. :-)

  13. Paid only partial attention to this whilst continuing to watch Melbourne tennis (now midnight down there and play continues!). Tried to use different biscuit for 30a which IMHO is hardly a biscuit. Didn’t parse 19d in spite of inclusion of bad penny game. TVM Campbell and pommers.

    1. Just to play devil’s advocate (what, me!), I guess those biscuits are more like cannoli than biscuits but some of the major supermarkets do advertise “****** **** biscuits”.

    2. I agree 30a are a total fraud – They are not biscuits and contain no B*****. even rolled up and stuffed with something edible they don’t get any better.

        1. The 30a answer is defined in the BRB as “a thin crisp biscuit”. If I’d made a definitive case in the first place, I’d now be resting it. And don’t mention fig rolls – an even more contentious case.

  14. It’s Monday so a nice gentle Campbell here to start the non-work week today. 1.5*/4* for me today.
    Last area completed that took me to 1.5* time was the NW … took a while to crack into it for some reason then all of a sudden 1a hit me with a huge PD THUD!
    Lots to like here including aforesaid 1a, 11a, 27a, 30a & 8d.

    Thanks to Campbell and pommers

  15. Brilliant crossword with some first class clues. Stars at 17,18,27d and 5,19d. I didn’t quite get 29a and am not going to start a discussion about the Wokeness of 24a because it is so brilliant. I am happy to say that George irons his own shirts, many years ago when I was working and we had daily help in the house he complained that Mrs T pressed his cuffs flat and asked that his shirts should be left for him to iron. Yay! He was such a dandy in his day, now he mostly looks like a tramp. Thanks to Campbell and Pommers.

    1. During his working life my late husband also took over the ironing of his own shirts (custom-made from Hong Kong) after finding me in tears doing battle with a pile of them. What a relief! He wore at least one or probably two a day depending on his business/social diary.

  16. A typical Monday puzzle, with the West slightly more d2mansing rhan the East.*(2*/3*)..My COTD was 14d and I also liked 2d and 25d. I found 27a a bit puzzling as it didn’t seem t to have a definition. Thanks to Pommers for the hints (sounds l8ke ear defenderswould be useful ) and to Campbell

    1. In 27a it’s the whole clue that’s the definition.

      Gone quiet at the moment as they’ve gone off for lunch.

  17. Like others above I found this great fun. Thank you Campbell and pommers. Special mention for 27a’s wonderful construction, even if it might not pass equality & diversity compliance.

    1. Hi GD.

      I assume you would make the same comment if the second half of the word was ‘husband’?

  18. Most enjoyable and good fun as usual. Favourite was 27a. Thanks to Campbell and Pommers.

  19. Definitely new to me!

    (Meant to be a reply to Huntsman up-thread, about the unfamiliar word in the bonus cryptic.)

  20. Another late post from me, having watched an American football playoff game for the ages late last night as the Kansas City Chiefs and the Buffalo Bills played their hearts out. Too bad someone (the Bills, alas) had to lose. Oh yes, the puzzle: thoroughly enjoyable, with 27a running away with the Gold but not really a dud in the grid. 29a made me laugh. Thanks to pommers and Campbell. ** / ****

    The bonus cryptic is another gem, with that trifle my last one in. Where did that word come from?

  21. Still not finished, a real head-scratcher.
    This is much harder than yesterday’s Dada offering. I’ve done easier Toughies.
    Wavelength, I think!

    1. Definitely wavelength! I couldn’t even start the Dada, I did this with no help, except a dictionary for spelling.

  22. I really enjoyed today’s puzzle though wasn’t too sure of the spelling for 14d. Last one in 27a. Many thanks to Campbell for such a lovely start to the week and to the Pommers.

  23. Some lovely clues eg 29a and 2d although not so keen on 27a … thank you Campbell and Pommers

  24. Lovely crossword some trouble in SW made it ***/**** 😳 Favourites 17a, 9d and 1d 😃 Thanks to Pommers and to Campbell

  25. Wotta treat! After my dismal failure yesterday, this was pure joy. I feel that singling out just one for fave might offend the other clues, maybe I can pick 14d for being a fun word. I’m sorry it’s over, but I still have the bonus to do.
    Thank you Campbell, you’re a star. I needed you today, pommers, to unravel 27a which was a bungin with fingers crossed, so thanks for that.

  26. I really enjoyed this until I stalled with just 5 answers to fill in, but hints helped so all done and dusted. Favourite is 1a just because it made me laugh. Thanks very much to Campbell and Pommers. Hope your peace is soon restored, but new drains will be worth it. Very cold here, in the 40s (F) when we woke up, and had to bring in my favourite three orchids last night, currently sheltering in the bathtub. Rest are snuggled up outside, wrapped in towels…😊.

  27. Late today but just as much fun as has become the norm for Campbell.
    I am sure I had about 3 h’s in my first attempt at 14d. and I wasted a lot of time thinking of the wrong Irish counties. When the penny dropped I liked 21a.
    Thanks to Campbell and pommers. I tried a different biscuit for 30a the real solution wouldn’t be given houseroom in my biscuit tin.
    I wonder if John H is watching Mastermind – there is a contestant whose specialist subject is Elgar.

    Wordle spoiled for me by accidently opening a cheats guide to all the upcoming words. I will leave it alone until I have forgotten the next weeks words.

  28. This was a very nice */**** for me languishing in the Fowey Harbour Hotel. Absolutely great hotel and it eased my way into this very pleasurable puzzle. Thank you Pommers and the setter. I am writing this after a very pleasant climb at Sennen. I may be able to attach a clip if my IT skills are unusually adept.

        1. The only blood stains I had today were from shaving thankfully! A very irritating amount on my new posh shirt. I love this place. They bring the DT including our puzzle to my door. Luxury.

  29. Cracking Monday fare as always from m Campbell – thoroughly enjoyed!👍
    Thanks also to Pommers for the entertaining blog ‘n hints.
    Cheers!

  30. Did the other cryptic and made the cardinal error of not checking my typing after entering on line and messed up in the NE 8a/5d with a flippin’ “R” instead of an “O” … arghhhh!!

  31. A nice Monday puzzle which for me was a */***. I don’t mind the easier ones so long as they are well-written, and this one certainly was. Thank you to Campbell and Pommers.

  32. 2*/5*…..
    liked 8D ” False lead embarrassed Hercule, initially getting it wrong (3,7) ” …. amongst others.

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