DT 29942 – Big Dave's Crossword Blog
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DT 29942

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 29942

Hints and tips by 2Kiwis

BD Rating – Difficulty ** Enjoyment ****

Kia ora from Aotearoa.

We particularly liked the geography in today’s puzzle. The clever wordplay in 8d, the mention of Kirkbati in 17d where we had a very memorable stay many years ago and then 15a. All made for a most enjoyable solve for us.

Please leave a comment telling us how you got on.

Across

1a     At least no-one pole dancing lacks energy, getting more than enough work (1,3,2,4,5)
A LOT ON ONE’S PLATE : An anagram (dancing) of AT LEAST NO ONE POL(e) once E(nergy) has been removed.

9a     Bragged about Democrat getting mobbed (7)
CROWDED : Bragged or behaved like a rooster contains D(emocrat).

10a     Trial may be exhausting, needing hotel for women (7)
HEARING : Start with a word meaning exhausting or tiring and substitute the initial W(omen) with H(otel).

11a     The girl’s testing meal in hospital room for plants (9)
HERBARIUM : String together a female personal possessive pronoun, then a chemical meal administered before some scans.

12a     Water sports or dubious activities at the outset (4)
SODA : Initial letters (at the outset) of four words in the clue.

13a     The allure of Blackpool may be slim with son going to back (6)
LIGHTS : Another word for ‘slim’ has the abbreviation for son moved from the beginning to the end.

15a     Wild deer, if moved outside New Zealand, must be panic-stricken (8)
FRENZIED : The two letters for our country are enclosed by an anagram (wild) of DEER IF.

18a     Minister shortly to cover broadcast for large areas of America (8)
PRAIRIES : A minister or vicar without the last letter contains broadcast or publicize.

19a     Remain working after check (4,2)
STAY ON : The two letter word for working or in operation follows a check or hindrance.

22a     Right hand clenches when disregarding danger (4)
RASH : A two letter synonym for when is enclosed by R(ight) H(and).

23a     Floods causing universal charges by day (9)
SATURATES : Start with the last day of the calendar week, then U(niversal) and charges or costs.

26a     Widen pass through Scottish mountain (7)
BROADEN : The three letter Scottish word for a mountain contains pass or thoroughfare.

27a     Fool offering cheap wine and beer regularly (7)
PLONKER : A slang word for cheap wine and then the second and fourth letters of beer.

28a     Violent disturbance — charge coming after Real and Celtic played (10,5)
ELECTRICAL STORM : An anagram (played) of REAL and CELTIC is followed by charge as an attacking force might do to a castle.

Down

1d     Everyone goes round company house for booze (7)
ALCOHOL : Co(mpany) and HO(use) are contained by a word for everyone.

2d     Old party’s essentially sure reputation (5)
ODOUR : O(LD), a party or function and the two central letters of ‘sure’.

3d     Painting metal rods for distribution (3,6)
OLD MASTER : An anagram (for distribution) of METAL RODS.

4d     Decree there’s nothing precipitate about Germany (6)
ORDAIN : The letter representing nothing and then pluvial precipitation contains the IVR code for Germany.

5d     Record time crossing border for objects of little worth (8)
EPHEMERA : A 45 rpm record, then a border or edge followed by a period of time.

6d     Room for one of Pinter’s works? (4)
PLAY : A double definition. The room can be space for movement.

7d     I’m 19 and I forced hatred (9)
ANIMOSITY : An anagram (forced) made up from I’M and I from the clue plus the answer to 19 across.

8d     Country that’s busy with computer network over time (7)
ENGLAND : Start with a word that means busy as a telephone in use might be. Replace a period of time within this word with a three letter computer network term.

14d     Good boys pitch for PM (9)
GLADSTONE : G(ood), then another word for boys and pitch or quality.

16d     No rise — and debts must be scandalous (9)
NOTORIOUS : ‘NO’ from the clue, then a rise or small hill and the four letters signifying debts.

17d     City brothels in Kiribati protected (8)
HELSINKI : It’s a lurker, hiding in the clue.

18d     Couple without one fit moral tale (7)
PARABLE : Remove the Roman numeral one from a word meaning couple and then fit or proficient.

20d     Universal remedy not striking a chord? (7)
NOSTRUM : Split the answer 2,5 and imagine not playing a guitar.

21d     More work initially undertaking repairs to patio (6)
UTOPIA : The first letter of undertaking and then an anagram (repairs to) of PATIO. The capital letter on ‘More’ is significant here.

24d     City overly protective of Kentucky (5)
TOKYO : The two letter abbreviation for Kentucky is enclosed by (protective of) a word meaning overly.

25d     Make revisions to upwards trend (4)
EDIT : The reversal of a trend or flow.

Obviously our favourite today has to be 15a.

Quickie pun    forty    +    chewed    =    fortitude

66 comments on “DT 29942

  1. A terrific puzzle and I got on far better with it than yesterday’s but that’s the way it goes. I did have a query or two about some clues such as 21d. I can’t see where more work comes into it – just read the hint and now understand. I thought the lurking city was very well hidden and my COTD is 23a.

    Many thanks to Jay, if it be him, for the most entertaining puzzle and to the 2 Kiwis for the hints.

    Another lovely sunny day in The Marches so the garden beckons. I need to shift a few shrubs around.

    Not finished Wordle – one guess to go with two letters needed. Should be easy but there are a number of options.

    1. Thomas More is the author of the work that provides the solution Steve. Craftily placed at the front to avoid obvious capitalisation.

      1. I did understand after seeing the hints and edited my comment to that effect. Many thanks for your input, though, SL. It is appreciated.

  2. Even though Jay, in his alter ego guise, is not on Toughie duty today, my 5 bob is itching to say that this is not one of his and I have another 5 bob that wants to say that it is a NYD production – but I think I can afford to lose 10 bob once. But, as enjoyable as ever for a Wednesday puzzle – 2.5*/4*.

    Candidates for favourite – 11a, 5d, and 8d – and the winner is the smile raising 11a.

    Thanks to whomsoever and the 2Kiwis.

    1. I needed help with that, couldn’t work out how her bum came into it, forgot the meal.

  3. Smashing crossword, finished without aid, but will need Tookays explanations to understand how I reached a couple of them.

    Beautiful day in Surrey. On Monday, I completed the repairs and replacement of fencing after the recent storm. Later today – concreting the posts in. It is a life of unbridled hedonism here.

    Today’s crossword soundtrack (for no reason other than it is gorgeous) The Beatles – Penny Lane.

    Thanks to the setter and The Tookays

    1. My mother lived in Liverpool all her early life and knew Penny Lane well. She said that the Beatle’s description of it was very accurate.

    2. A Beatle in a car in Penny Lane




  4. A really enjoyable puzzle (2.5*/5*). I too liked the geographical clues, psrticularly17d and the reference to Sir Thomas More in 21d, whilst 20d made me laugh. 15a was a good clue too and there are others, too many to mwntion. Thanks to rhe compiler, whoever produced this feast of a crossword and thanks to the Kiwis for the hints.

  5. Another JayDay gem (certainly seems like Jay), which I thoroughly enjoyed. Like the Kiwis, I had fun travelling some more, even if vicariously, around the globe a bit (have been to Kiribati and 24d but missed seeing Helsinki, alas, and worst of all, NZ). Liked the fresh, newly-minted nature of today’s grid, even though I was too 22a by first putting in ‘risk’ but finally caught the blunder, and especially liked 21d, 11a, & 1a, as well as 14d, my favourite Victorian PM (a good old Liberal). Thanks to the Kiwis (and to Colin, congratulations for the Newsletter kudos this week and your ‘in tandem’ clue) and to Jay. **/****

    Big struggle with today’s Toughie….

    1. Ah Robert – I, too, rushed into ‘risk’! Something nagged away at me while I was unravelling the rest of the crossword, so I came back, rued my 22a-ness, and corrected.

    2. Thank you Robert. It gives me a pleased feeling to strut around wearing my notional bronze medal. Look forward to spotting your name on the clue writing Honours Board before too long.

  6. Nice one, and finished without hints though I did need to check my answer for 11A on Google. New word for me. My pick today is 21D. Thanks to the 2Kiwis and the setter.

  7. Cracking crossword, pretty much writing in while reading, held up by 20d, which dawned at the last moment. Witty and amusing clues, no specialist knowledge required, no equines alarmed at any stage.

    1* / 3*

    Many thanks to the Setter and to the 2Ks.

  8. Very enjoyable, light and gentle in the main. 11a new word for me but easily obtainable with available checkers and by following the clueing instructions. My initial thoughts on 15a, was there’s a surplus anagrind? Took me a while to see how 8d worked too.
    I liked the surface reads of the long horizontal anagrams at 1&28a but standout winner for me was 22a, great stuff.
    Thanks setter and 2Ks for the fun.

  9. A different ‘feel’with todays puzzle, 2d was a new synonym for me-not in my Chambers.
    Thanks to 2K,s for the parsing of 8d which eluded me,and for the pics,remember seeing the 2d self portrait in the National many years ago.
    Cleverly clued all round and a **/**** for me.

  10. On course for * time, stalled with two to go.
    11a and 5d!
    Pushed me into **.5 time.
    Nevertheless, an all round great puzzle.
    Many thanks, Jay, and the 2 Kiwis.

  11. Plenty to like here but not my best day at the office. I struggled on a couple and the parse of 21d went over my head. Thanks to today’s setter and the 2Ks.

  12. Managed to wander off down a couple of blind alleys whilst working on this one, but it did lead to several penny-drop moments.
    Thought Chriscross would be pleased with all the geography elements and I did raise an eyebrow at the thought of our 2Ks getting involved in protecting brothels!
    So many worthy clues here but perhaps childishly it was 27a that caused the most mirth.

    Thanks to Jay and to 2Ks for the well-illustrated review.

    1. It was nice to have clues that played to my strengths, Jane, especially after the ancient golfer and the golf club.over the last few backpagers.

  13. A chaotic day in the hutch today, so I’ll just say this was an excellent puzzle with 27a my favourite.

    Many thanks to Jay and the 2Ks.

    1. A very enjoyable puzzle. My COTD 7d, with 17d not far behind. I thought 6d was a very clever clue too – only four letters in the answer, but very witty.

  14. Wonderful puzzle and blog so thanks to puzzler and bloggers. The words more work at 21 down didn’t sit well with me. I spent most of my working life practicing for retirement whilst efficiently watching others do the work. As for 11 across – What do you do with a sick chemist?
    If you can’t curium and you can’t helium you might as well barium.

    1. reminds me of the bloke who was given a suppository, told to put it in his back passage and come back for a barium x-ray in an hour. On his return, he said “Well I dashed home and put that thing in the back yard but for all the good it did me I may as well have shoved it up my ar5e!

      1. Yes. That’s exactly what they are for. When the slippers were new they were identical or unifoot. Nice and comfy now. Comfy possibly tomorrow’s wordle start word.

  15. Hello! I have been using the Big Dave site now for quite a few years. I started solving the Telegraph crossword about 60 years ago with my parents. In those days I just had to wait for the solution the following day if I was stuck! So now I love this site, the hints and the comments – maybe especially the comments and insights into the lives of other crossworders (I almost feel I know you). Just wanted to pop in and say thank you. Maybe I will even start to comment on the actual puzzles!!!

    1. Welcome to the blog

      A number of BD’s bloggers also started way back in the days when the only help was a dictionary and, like you, we waited until the next day for the solution and then tried to work out how that related to the clue we were stuck on.

      Now you’ve de-lurked, we hope you’ll come back and comment again

      1. That is exactly how my early days with the crossword went. Do my best, and wait for the next morning’s edition to arrive so that I could try and figure backwards from the answers for those I hadn’t filled in. It was my morning treat, working on it while the girls watched Playschool on the tv.

    2. Welcome from us too Patsy.
      We know what you mean. Sites like this have turned what used to be a very private activity into a wonderful shared experience. One of the very best things about the internet.

    3. Welcome, Patsy. I also started the DT cryptic about 50 years ago but have only improved since joining this blog about three years ago.

      Please comment again. :good:

    4. Welcome Patsy. I started on the cryptics in 1969 when I stopped working to have our first daughter. Didn’t improve very much over the years until we discovered this blog. What a difference it makes, and such a nice bunch of people.

  16. Late on parade today but needed to thank our setter, presumably Jay, for another excellent puzzle. 22a was my top clue and the Thomas More reference eluded me, but I thoroughly enjoyed the whole solving process.

    Thanks, too, to the 2Ks.

  17. Today was one of those days when you just have to put down the puzzle and do something more important. Each trip back to the puzzle yielded a few more until all of a sudden it was gone. I particularly enjoyed the world tour, Finland to Japan via Pacific islands known to few outside Richard Osman’s Pointless friends and of course The Land of the Long White Cloud itself. A bit of booze today but despite 1a not a lot on this boy’s plate. but at least the puzzle would 26a the mind rather than the waistband. 22a LOI as I too debated the R*S* dilemma. 27a favourite for me by a nose.
    Thanks to the setter and 2K’s
    (for those that asked nicely yesterday I have put a couple of bits of beefcake in the toughie 7 review)
    That is a well used crossword addicts clipboard!

    clipboard

  18. Well, for a Wednesday if this is a Jay puzzle, this one I found much easier than is my norm so it is 2*/4* today.
    Clues to like include 11a, 27a, 28a, 5d & 8d with winner 8d … very cleverly constructed, I thought.
    27a gave me a laugh as did 11a.

    Thanks to setter for puzzle and the 2K’s for hints

  19. I did this one in bits and pieces, often thinking I’d ground to a halt before another little PDM. Thanks 2ks for unravelling 8d & 21d and many thanks to the setter.

  20. With exception of a few clues I found this a tad bland. 8d was unparsed as computer network didn’t occur to me. Never heard of Kiribati but should have twigged whence cometh 17d likewise once significance of more became obvious in 21d that was standout Fav. Thank you Jay (?) and 2 Kiwis.

  21. Morning all.
    When we were solving we identified 21d and 22a as the two clues most likely to cause problems. We got that right is seems.
    We didn’t mention our weather in the preamble this week. Our beautiful spell of fine days has come to an end and now it is persistent rain. Bother.
    Cheers.

  22. Sorry to be a pedant, but the hint for 5d says 45rpm record-that would be a single. The ep needed for the answer was 33rpm

    1. Welcome to the blog Maureen.
      Our memory is that 33rpm were LP’s and 45rpm were EP’s but we could well be wrong.
      Cheers.

      1. No you are definitely right. 33s were the LPs, the ones I could rarely afford. As teenagers we mostly went into the record shops, went into a booth and listened to our latest favourite, and then went on our way. They didn’t make much money out of us I’m afraid,

    2. In 1978 everybody born in 1945 was thirty-three and a third years old. All of my vinyl records live elsewhere now

  23. I really enjoyed this, it must be Jay! I had the correct answer for 8d but had no clue as to why, no wonder, my knowledge of computers is in a minus quantity. I still don’t get 7d but it just had to be from the checkers. Lots to like, 20d amused, but 27a was a giggler. I’ve never heard of it, more Britspeak, but easy enough to work out and check in the dictionary.
    Thanks Jay for the fun and 2Kiwis for unravelling a few. Wordle in 4, lucky, as there were so many possibilities.

  24. I enjoyed this very much and not too taxing so thanks to all. Wordle in 4 and Quordle in 8. I have found an extraordinary programme on the TV while putting salad together for lunch. Its called Bargain Hunt and two sets of people are given £300 of Licence Payers’ money to buy mostly absolute rubbish EVERY DAY and try and make a profit and find it hilarious when the junk they have bought loses all the money. My flabber is ghasted at such a waste of our money. They all seem to have taken some sort of hysteria drug as well. Just saying …

  25. Sorry to be pedantic bt the hint for 5d says 45rpm record-that was a single. An EP, as needed for the answer was 33rpm

    1. Not read the hint for 5 down, but all my EPs are 45rpm, just the same as my singles are, but LPs are certainly 33rpm. EPs played exactly at the same speed as singles.

      1. A brief investigoogle reveals that over the years EP’s came in several sizes and speeds 33 and 45 even 78 rpm.

        1. I once had the tales of Edgar A Poe on a 16rpm – a reallt lengthy album that one was.

  26. Was right on wavelength for this one.
    Unusual for me if it is from Jay.
    Even had 1a from a couple of checkers so didn’t need to write down the anagram fodder.
    Déjà vu in 20d as I tried the toughie first.
    Thanks to the setter and to our 2 kiwis for the review.

  27. Another day, another enjoyable puzzle. I did have a problem justifying 6d as I never thought about space for movement. And I was also one who rashly put in risk at 22a. 1a gets my vote for COTD. Thanks to Jay (?), and 2Kiwis.

  28. A very enjoyable puzzle. My COTD was 7d, with 17d not far behind. I thought 6d was a very clever clue too – only four letters in the answer, but very witty.

  29. I’m afraid I whizzed through the comments, reading a few on the way. I doubt this was Jay as I was on wavelength which I rarely am with him. Favourite was 5d. Thanks to the setter and 2 K’s. I had a disturbing moment just before I posted when my phone said to me ‘how can I help you?’ I have most things turned off on my phone including voice activation. I was so shocked by this I uttered an expletive, the second word being off and then phone then said ‘I’m sorry if I upset you’ with a sad face. I have long suspected that my phone, computer etc. are listening to me as I only have to mention something and I get targeted advertising on that subject, I find all this deeply concerning. Just because you’re not paranoid doesn’t mean they’re not out to get you!

  30. Solved early this morning. I’m with Senf & TG & doubt it’s Jay. Very enjoyable puzzle. Missed the More work relevance & 22a last in & a head scratch but otherwise pretty straightforward.
    Thanks all.

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