DT 29947 – Big Dave's Crossword Blog
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DT 29947

by Mr K  

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 29947

Hints and tips by Mr K

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BD Rating  -  Difficulty ** -  Enjoyment ***

Hello, everyone.  I found today's puzzle to be typical Tuesday fun. 

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. 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    Dock sale almost returned small sailor's weapon? (7)
CUTLASS:  Link together dock or trim, the reversal (returned) of all but the last letter (almost) of SALE from the clue, and the clothing abbreviation for small 

5a    Journalists and their boss campaigned (7)
PRESSED:  Another word for journalists followed by the abbreviation for their boss 

9a    Leaders leaving pub to eat something in the main? (1-4)
U-BOAT:  The first letters are deleted from (leaders leaving …) the next three words in the clue 

10a   Awful beggars regularly ignored, for example, with debts (9)
EGREGIOUS:  Assemble alternate letters (regularly ignored) of BEGGARS, the Latin abbreviation meaning "for example", and some debts traditionally scribbled on a scrap of paper 

11a   Trendy, fine male wearing formal clothing ahead of schedule (2,4,4)
IN GOOD TIME:  Join together trendy or fashionable, fine or not bad, and the single letter for male inserted in (wearing) an item of formal clothing 

12a   Artist's day with boxer (4)
DALI:  The single letter for day with a rather famous boxer 

14a   Convinced Parisian he holds a secret (12)
CONFIDENTIAL:  Follow convinced or sure with a French pronoun for "he" that contains (holds) A from the clue 

18a   Verify gold teeth? I can't, unfortunately (12)
AUTHENTICATE:  The chemical symbol for gold with an anagram (unfortunately) of TEETH I CAN'T 

21a   Some opera I'd appreciated? (4)
AIDA:  The wordplay tells us that the answer is hidden (some …) in the remainder of the clue.  There's nothing left after doing that, but fortunately the entire clue can also serve as a definition 

22a   Cut of meat remains tricky to eat with these? (10)
CHOPSTICKS:  A cut of meat with a synonym of remains 

25a   At sea on certain vessel (9)
CONTAINER:  An anagram (at sea) of ON CERTAIN 

26a   Animal hospital with answer about hunger (5)
HYENA:  The single letter for hospital and the single letter for answer are wrapped about hunger or ache 

27a   Bad seaside condition (7)
DISEASE:  An anagram (bad) of SEASIDE 

28a   German city church's central part (7)
ESSENCE:  A German city with the abbreviation for the Church of England 

 

Down

1d    Relative from America swallowing mint? On the contrary (6)
COUSIN:  Inverting the wordplay (on the contrary), we want another word for mint (currency) containing (swallowing) an abbreviation for America 

2d    First of the wild animals might graze from this (6)
TROUGH:  The first letter of THE is followed by wild or coarse 

3d    No star more fantastic for one? (10)
ASTRONOMER:  The wordplay is an anagram (fantastic) of NO STAR MORE. The entire clue can serve as the definition 

4d    Panic from wife stuck in chair (5)
SWEAT:  The genealogical abbreviation for wife inserted in (stuck in) a synonym of chair 

5d    Aid camper's wound? I might (9)
PARAMEDIC:  The wordplay is an anagram (wound, as in twisted) of AID CAMPER. The entire clue can serve as the definition 

6d    So try supporting the Queen (4)
ERGO:  A try or attempt comes after (supporting, in a down clue) the Latin abbreviation for Queen Elizabeth 

7d    Koala is shot crossing middle of private land (8)
SLOVAKIA:  An anagram (shot) of KOALA IS containing (crossing) the middle letter of PRIVATE 

8d    Authority lacking in one who follows (8)
DISCIPLE:  A synonym of authority minus (lacking) IN from the clue 

13d   What one might be after visiting the theatre -- or a comedy show (2,8)
IN STITCHES:  A cryptic definition, where the theatre is not one employing actors 

15d   Big gamble? Not likely! (3,6)
FAT CHANCE:  Synonyms of big and of gamble 

16d   Level-headed criminal carries weapon (8)
BALANCED:  Criminal or not good contains (carries) a long pointy weapon 

17d   Second time university undermines undergraduates? (8)
STUDENTS:  Concatenate the single letter for second, the physics symbol for time, the single letter for university, and undermines or reduces 

19d   Loose rocks put on knight's shield (6)
SCREEN:  Some loose rocks followed by the chess abbreviation for knight 

20d   European nation's assets (6)
ESTATE:  The single letter for European with a synonym of nation 

23d   Shilling kept in clean wallet (5)
PURSE:  An abbreviation for shilling inserted in clean or unsullied 

24d   Gossip comes up with a story (4)
SAGA:  The reversal (comes up, in a down clue) of another word for gossip is followed by A from the clue 

 

Thanks to today’s setter. My favourite thing today was the quickie pun. Which clues did you like best?

The Quick Crossword pun:  WRY + TEA + MALES = WRITE E-MAILS

79 comments on “DT 29947”

  1. Another satisfying puzzle with just the right amount of pondering required. Nothing really stood out as a favourite but I do have ticks against 9a, 11a and 2d. I can’t quite see the parsing for 1d but I am sure Mr. K. will explain.

    With regard to 12a I have always loved The Persistence of Memory and was delighted to find it was on display in Melbourne when we visited a couple of years ago. I had always imagined it to be a vast canvass so was quite surprised to see it’s only about nine inches wide.

    Many thanks to the setter for the fun and to Mr. K. for the hints and loads of pusskits. :good:

    Wordle in 3.

    1. Re 1d mint = coin and ‘on the contrary’ indicates that it’s the other way round i.e. mint/coin swallows America.

      1. Thanks, Angellov. I knew it must be something like that but just couldn’t see it.

  2. I found this very light indeed but good fun with smiles throughout the grid.
    I particularly liked 2&5d and 10a is a lovely word but clear winner for me was the pun.
    Many thanks to the setter and Mr K for the entertainment.
    Toughie a fair bit more challenging but good fun too.

  3. A fairly straightforward puzzle, which was quite enjoyable (2*/4*). I liked 2d,28a and 26a but my COTD was 22a, which made me giggle. Thanks to the compiler abd to Mr K for the hints

  4. Having just returned from an idyllic break in the Lizard this was my first puzzle for a few days and went in pretty quickly as a */***. I thought 2d and 13d both great clues. Agree with Steve C slightly about 1d as the mint seems to be swallowing America rather than vice versa. Thanks to Mr K and the setter.

    1. Hi Nas…re 1d, the mint IS swallowing America, the wordplay (on the contrary) indicates thus.

      1. I suppose if you have been ‘in’ the Cotswolds you can also be ‘in’ the Lizard, though it does sound odd.

  5. Another very pleasant and fairly unchallenging puzzle for a sunny Tuesday morning. 5d just about topped my list of possible favourites ahead of 9a.

    Thanks to both Misters involved in today’s production.

  6. More like a ‘ Monday’ puzzle today,well clued .straightforward and enjoyable- yesterdays was a tad more difficult..
    10a was a rarely used word.
    Liked 8d and the wordplay of 22a, going for a **/*** as per Mr K’s, thanks for the cat pic to 16d-terrestrial or Sky?

  7. A very enjoyable puzzle today . Just right for me.

    Thanks to the setter and to Mr K….Great pics as usual.

    Awaiting the wintry blast here. Definitely much cooler today and quite overcast now.

    1. Lazy cold NE on its way Ora.
      Was down in Monifieth last week – I’d forgotten the “pleasure” of negotiating the roundabouts on Kingsway. What are in those masses of polytunnels either side the A90?

      1. Scottish Raspberries? hopefully anyway as I am in dire need of some nice Cranachan

        1. I had to google both polytunnels and cranachan! I must say, the cranachan sounds heavenly. They mention that we can’t make it properly here because it needs Scottish cream and raspberries, don’t know about the raspberries but I can vouch for the cream. We just don’t have the cream that they get in the UK.

    2. Thanks for your comment LRK. England have no-one to blame but themselves. As for the Welsh, all I wonder is what’s in the water that produces such wonderful players.

  8. All plain sailing. Only slight hiccough was 18a. I tried to make an anagram of “teeth I can not”, because of unfortunately. It didn’t take long to sort out. All good fun. Thank you setter and Mr Kitty.

  9. 0.5*/3.5*. I found yesterday’s back-pager unusually tough for a Monday and today’s, in stark contrast, very straightforward. Nevertheless, both were good fun.

    15d was my favourite today.

    Many thanks to the setter and to Mr K. It’s nice to see so many lovely cat pictures.

    1. How is 18a here any different from 3d in yesterday’s Rookie Corner puzzle ? I can’t see anything wrong with either but Coot got pulled up about his clue.

  10. Great fun that whiles away breakfast. Lots of anagrams and fun clues such as 13d and my favourite 22a.
    Such a contrast to yesterdays but enjoyable nevertheless.
    Thx to all
    */****

  11. A real whoosh.
    Done.
    Still, I was in debt from yesterday’s 12a.
    Loved especially 14a and 1d.
    Many thanks to the setter and to Mr.K.

  12. Typically Tuesdayish – **/****.

    Candidates for favourite – 14a, 28a, 13d, and 20d – and the winner is 14a.

    Thanks to the setter and Mr K.

  13. A quick solve in under 1.5* time with no head scratching required. Top 2 for me are 10a as it’s such a lovely word & 8d. I never bother with 22a as I much prefer to eat my food while it’s still hot & not pick it off my clothing.
    Thanks to the setter & Mr K
    Wordle in 4

  14. I cannot see the point of giving us the items at 22 across but not giving us anything to eat with them. Full grids with no food don’t float my boat. A standard Tuesday solve. Nothing too tricksy. Thanks to the setter and to Mr Kitty

    1. In the toughie all you get is a dollop of 17a – hard to eat that with 22a as well.

  15. A pretty straightforward Tuesday offering. Light bright lovely fun start to the day. I guess this will provide some with the encouragement of their first-ever unaided solve. Don’t let the “easy” comments of some the experts spoil the pleasure. They have all been there once and got the same satisfaction.
    COTD was 13d.
    Thanks to setter and Mr K.
    Back to earth weather-wise with a stiff bitterNE wind meant we had the beach to ourselves this morning. To show how far the growing season is behind the South our daffodils are just starting to bloom.

  17. Blowing my own trumpet here – a new speed record! Thanks anyway for the fun, short-lived tho’ ’twas.

  18. Terrific crossword, brilliantly compiled and very enjoyable to solve.
    Knowledge of Chinese sarongs was not required.

    I completed it at the coffee table because Lola had taken over the chair at my desk. This led me to watching the service from Westminster Abbey, where it was both moving and cheering to see Her Majesty able to walk to and from her seat. Poor choice of companion, however.

    Thanks to the setter and The Celebrated Mr. K.

      1. It was too cold in the hermitage, and one has to rise at 4.00am for morning prayers. I resigned.
        :wink:

        1. I’ll bet Lola was cold in the hermitage too and is glad to be back, stealing your comfy spot!

    1. You changed your alias since your previous comments in 2018. Both versions will work from now on.

        1. Easy solution, Carrot06 – don’t lurk so much. :smile: It would be good to hear more from you. :good:

  20. Smooth sailing today after trudging the drizzly hills more to the hound’s satisfaction than mine. He says thanks for all the cat pics Mr Kitty. As Terence says, all the more fun for the omission of Japanese apparel. 18a gets my vote for COD.

  21. 1/4. Delightful puzzle which went in anti-clockwise. No standout favourites for me. Thanks to the setter and Mr K.

  22. Quite good fun but without any Favs to pinpoint. Ashamed to admit 8d was a bung-in as I stupidly failed to parse. Thank you Messrs. Ron and K (wot a lot of feline elements!)

    1. You can’t please all of the people all of the time … Mr. K, I think you’ll find most of us enjoy the plethora of cats.

      1. A positive feast of ffascinating elines today. Thank you for such a lot of fun, Mr K.

  23. A similar level of puzzle as Monday’s offering today. **/**** for me.
    Lots of good clues including several lego type, good anagrams and lots more.
    Favourites include 9a, 26a, 1d, 6d & 13d with winner 13d.
    Several smiles evoked with 22a, 4d, 6d, 16d & 15d

    Thanks to setter and Mr K

  24. “of the writing of many books there is no end”. And of the writing of many books about how to do do crosswords there is no end. But the further admonishment of the preacher that ” much study is wearisome of the flesh” is very true. So before the golden bowl is broken I have given up the study of how and returned to the doing and commenting.

    Good puzzle today with clever anagrams. Favourite is 22a especially with Mr K’s illustration. Good to return to the site and find old friends still here.

    Robert will know where the first paragraph quotations come from and a very good afternoon to you all.

    1. The rugby result made me wonder how you were doing. Nice to have you back Corky. I hope Adams’ class gesture at the end of the game shows not all Welsh are crass

    2. Hi, Corky. My first thought was Ecclesiastes, though I wavered a bit and then wondered if you had slipped in a bit of Henry James just to throw us off. Having now finished and thoroughly enjoyed all seven of the ‘Slow Horses’, I eagerly await #8 and hope I’m still around when it is given birth. I’ve heard that Gary Oldman is playing Jackson Lamb in the TV adaptation. Hope we get it over here.

      1. I didn’t find this easy today. I think my mind was elsewhere having been told I have a frozen shoulder and need an injection. Better luck tomorrow. I’ve just finished the ‘Slow Horses’ first book on your recommendation Robert, I’m now looking forward to the next six. Thankyou all.

        1. Sorry to hear about your shoulder, Bijou, but glad you enjoyed the Herron. You have some wonderful reading ahead of you!

  25. Nice to hear that Lola is still exerting her entitlement to the best seat. Very nice puzzle on a very chilly day. Lots of ticks, 9,11 &15a and 2, 5,7 & 13d. I am a bit confused with 14a, surely Parisian male is Le and what we have is Spanish il. Or am I missing something?
    Lovely cats, I do hope someone opens the glass door! Many thanks to the setter and Mr K. Our friends at the end of the Gin Path have Covid – oh dear.

        1. Doh! I know that. What an idiot. What was I thinking? Now my head is hanging in abysmal shame. All I can say is I had a headache! Honours in French, too. 🤭

          1. As the football chant (with which you are no doubt well familiar) would say “There’s only one Daisy Girl” so it should have been Daisy’s end sorry.

          2. As the football chant (with which you are no doubt well familiar) would say “There’s only one Daisy Girl” so it should have been Daisy’s end.

  26. I found this just right for a Tuesday, entertaining and well clued. I see 10a once had a different meaning, I wonder why it changed. Loved the picture for 2d hint, brings a new meaning to meals on wheels. I once went in a similar cage but with monkeys outside, should have had an umbrella with me for reasons I won’t mention. Thanks to all.

  27. Wonderful puzzle today so thanks to all. Re 2d – we have a terrific local artist who paints great pictures of our seal trips to Blakeney Point except that he has the people sunbathing on the beach and the seals in the boat going to gawp at them. I might try and post our picture below.

      2. They are colourful. I would give them room on my wall.
        I have a quite similarly colourful print from when the Tour de France visited Yorkshire.

  28. Ecstatic and very happy here this morning at finishing without a single hint of electronic help. Doesn’t happen very often, so really enjoy it when it does. 1a went in almost before I put the print out on the breakfast table. Only hold up was 2d when I spent too long trying to think of a 6 letter dinosaur beginning with T. Thankfully I eventually saw the light and kicked myself. Big thank you to the setter (hope you pop in) and to Mr K. Didn’t need the hints but I just had a look at the lovely kitty pictures. Wordle in 3 so I guess brain is working despite a fairly sleepless night.

  29. After a torrid time and DNF yesterday, this puzzle was a blessed relief. Thanks to setter! and to Mr K. **/****

  30. I hope our setter shows up to own this, what a treasure. I solved at warp speed, my warp speed that is, probably snail pace for the intelligentsia! I loved it all, done with no help, how to choose a fave? I loved 22a, but I think 15d takes the top prize.
    Thank you setter, come back soon again, and Mr. K, particularly for the cat pics. Wordle in 5.

  31. Very late today. Enjoyed this pleasant puzzle last night, with 26a my LOL favourite. Thanks to Mr K and today’s setter. ** / ***

  33. Lots of lovely clues today. It is hard to pick just 1 but I will go for 10a for no other reason than it is a lovely word that slides off the tongue even though its meaning is less lovely.
    Thanks to Setter and Mr K (Donnybrook did the next one to tackle)

    1. Congratulations on your killer win in yesterday’s newsletter.

      Do let us know what arrives in a crossword companion set — I understand a typical companion set includes a poker and tongues, and I’m intrigued as to how you would put those to use in solving the Telegraph crossword …

      1. Thanks. I too am intrigued as to what may be in the companion set. I am a bit embarrassed actually as only yesterday I was telling Daisygirl that all I use Sudoku grids for is for spreading my anagram fodder.
        But I do like Killer Sudoku as a break when I only have a relatively short time for puzzling.
        At least I will have something to put up when Auntie Kath gets her Telegraph Playing cards out next time we see her.

        1. I merely meant, Your Majesty, that you shine out like a shaft of gold when all around is dark.

  34. I fairly romped through today’s puzzle and thoroughly enjoyed it. Yes it certainly boosted my confidence. Many thanks to the setter and Mr K especially for the kitty pictures.

  35. Late on parade but found this fun especially 22a. Thanks to Mr K and today’s setter.

  36. Good if straightforward fun. Favourite was 10a. Thanks to the setter and Mr. K.

  37. Great fun but over all too quickly. Finished while on HGV break and still waiting to tip so able to finish quickie and wordle in 5.

  38. 2*/4*….
    liked 13D ” What one might be after visiting the theatre — or a comedy show (2,8) “

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