DT 29966 – Big Dave's Crossword Blog
View closed comments 

DT 29966

by 2Kiwis  

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 29966

Hints and tips by 2Kiwis

BD Rating – Difficulty **– Enjoyment ****

Kia ora from Aotearoa.

We’re back home again and back into our usual crossword routine after being away visiting family over Easter. The imminent wood-fire that we mentioned last week hasn’t yet happened as we are having a great spell of warm autumn weather at present.
Enjoyable Wednesday puzzle once again.

Please leave a comment telling us how you got on.

Across

1a     Nice line ultimately added to summary (7)
PRECISE : A word borrowed from French for a summary and the final letter of line.

9a     Protective, like granny looking after daughter (8)
MATERNAL : A cryptic definition for protective in a motherly fashion.

10a     About a right sort of light meal served here (7)
CARVERY : The single letter for about or roughly, then ‘A’ from the clue, R(ight) and a type of signalling light.

11a     Do something about international during performance, saying nothing (8)
TACITURN : A real Russian doll clue here. A three letter performance surrounds I(nternational) which is inside a word meaning to do something in a rotary manner.

12a     This may be hot or cold and mountainous, we hear (6)
CHILLI : C(old) and then a word for mountainous gives a homophone (we hear) of the answer.

13a     Family shield anarchist’s leader in comfort as planned (4,2,4)
COAT OF ARMS : An anagram (planned) of COMFORT AS contains the first letter of anarchist.

15a     Monster source of goodness in mineral (4)
OGRE : A mineral from which metal may be extracted contains the first letter of goodness.

16a     What’s in 10 Across maybe upset Mark badly (4,5)
RUMP STEAK : An anagram (badly) of UPSET MARK.

21a     Model — and not married (4)
NORM : A word meaning ‘and not’ plus M(arried).

22a     Boss taking call with top-notch listening device (7,3)
HEARING AID : Call on a telephone and the two letters meaning top-notch are inside boss or leader.

24a     Slow, but so tricky even at the outset (6)
OBTUSE : An anagram (tricky) of BUT SO and then the first letter of even.

25a     Like a monk from church, albeit drunk? (8)
CELIBATE : The Anglican Church and an anagram (drunk) of ALBEIT.

27a     A doubter must lack pressure, being 25! (7)
ASCETIC : ‘A’ from the clue and a doubter loses P(ressure) from within.

28a     Love being in club on pine vessel (8)
LONGBOAT : Pine or yearn and then a club, possibly used in cricket contains the tennis score love.

29a     Facility offered by investor in space? (7)
STORAGE : A cryptic definition. The space referred to here is more prosaic than an astronaut would expect.

Down

2d     Such drivers dash or go mad (4,4)
ROAD HOGS : An anagram (mad) of DASH OR GO.

3d     Casual drink in Spain that is welcomed by both sides (8)
CAVALIER : A Spanish wine and the letters used for each hand surround the abbreviation from Latin for ‘that is’.

4d     Priest, perhaps one in the armed forces (10)
SERVICEMAN : This could describe a priest, referring to where he officiates.

5d     Information obtained from climbing a bit (4)
DATA : In reverse order (climbing) we have ‘A’ from the clue and then a small quantity.

6d     Back-up story accepted by judge (6)
RELIEF : A judge in a sports match contains story or falsehood.

7d     Ask in French and question anger (7)
ENQUIRE : The French word for ‘in’, then the two letter abbreviation for question and anger or rage.

8d     Cunning reserve has left for hotel (7)
SLYNESS : Start with reserve or timidity and exchange its H(otel) for L(eft).

11d     Understand coaches must ignore one overdue (9)
TRANSLATE : Remove Roman numeral one from coaches or instructs, then a synonym for overdue.

14d     Goes too far past — really? (8,2)
OVERDOES IT : A word meaning past or finished and a 4,2 phrase that could ask the question – ‘really?’

17d     King’s answer in poor winter apparel (8)
KNITWEAR : The chess abbreviation for king, then an anagram (poor) of WINTER contains A(nswer).

18d     Pulling violently, like out of work actors may be, we hear (8)
WRESTING : A homophone of the euphemism that unemployed actors choose to use.

19d     Laugh and discard love heartlessly (7)
CHUCKLE : Discard or throw away and then the outside letters of love.

20d     Phone home with golf a vocation (7)
CALLING : Make a phone connection, the usual two letter home, and then G(olf).

23d     I am taking line out of good book to absorb (6)
IMBIBE : The two letter way of saying ‘I am’ and then the Christian holy book without L(ine).

26d     Hear about a bearer (4)
TRAY : Hear in a court of law contains ‘A’ from the clue.

Quickie pun    fizzy    +    shuns    =    physicians

54 comments on “DT 29966”

  1. Bit of a toughie for me today,liked the charade for 10a and the associated 16a-this also applied to 25 and27a.
    Took a while to parse last in 18d and liked the cryptic 29a.
    Excellent cluing throughout, thanks 2K’s for the picks and our setter forthe top notch puzzle, going for a ***/****

  2. Day 2 of doing the crossword on the day of publication, and we now realise the downside: usually we get to read everyone’s comments and thoughts immediately after doing it.

    The bottom half of today’s puzzle went in smoothly, but the top half put up resistance. **/*** for us today.

  3. I needed help with a couple and I did not understand a few. 22a for example – I didn’t see where “boss” came in until I saw the hint. Then, of course, I kicked myself! Trying to put “lamb” as the first part of 16a held me up for quite a while. Does 1a mean “nice”? I’m sure it must but I’ve not heard it mentioned as such. Where’s my BRB?

    Many thanks to the setter and to the 2Ks for the much needed hints.

    Wordle in 5. Canuckle in 4.

    1. When I was at school we were told that the original meanings of nice were “exact” and “intricate”. I don’t remember much from school but I remember that 😊

    2. I had a problem with nice too. You can be precise without being the least bit nice. I know, I’m sure it’s in a dictionary somewhere. Just not in my head.

  4. 2*/4*. A lovely, fun Wednesday puzzle except for 9a – is it a CD when “protective” works as the definition and why “granny”?

    12a was my favourite.

    Many thanks presumably to Jay, and to the 2Ks.

    1. Hi RD…. I take your point re 9a but I assume the “granny” is there to avoid the possible confusion with the first letter (M or P) both of which mean protective

    2. Maternal is ‘of a mother, motherly, in the nature of a mother…’ hence, protective. So granny is misleading. The pic of a goat infers ‘nanny’ not ‘granny’… so I’m still slightly confused! Although that’s probably just my feeble excuse for leaving it blank!!

  5. Nice and gentle although the light in 10a had me scratching my head. Thanks to today’s setter and the 2Ks.

    1. My father, who was an aircraft engineer and worked on an aerodrome, had two very pistols and needed a firearms certificate to hold them. Who’d have thought that? They’re just glorified fireworks.

  6. Slightly out of practice so that may explain why I found this to be a ***/*** and I needed the hints to understand the answer to 26d. I spent a long time reading to much into 9a and for some reason didn’t get on with quite a few of the clues. It will be interesting to learn from those more expert than I who the setter is. Thanks to all.

  7. Hard to pick a favourite in this excellent JayDay gem, so I think I’ll double up with 25 and 27a. The SE held me up just a bit, especially 29a, which, the more I think of it, is quite a prize-winner and deserves a special Clarkie for its uniqueness. Thanks as always to the Kiwis and to, I presume, Jay. ** / ****

    Splendid Wednesday Toughie, which I really enjoyed last night.

  8. I tried to put in “back seat” at 2d and “iota” at 5d, both of which held me up somewhat. Further consideration revealed the parsing and the error of my ways!
    Enjoyable puzzle.

  9. I thought this was superb, quality throughout.
    My favourite was 14d but I also liked the linked 25&27a. Last two in were the pesky 4-letter clues in the South.
    Many thanks to Jay (I think) and the 2Ks and also to everyone who extended their best wishes on my Toughie blog yesterday, much appreciated.

  10. Made heavy weather of this but got there, unaided, in the end.
    On reflection, wondered why I found it quite hard.
    I like linked clues, makes the puzzle more demanding.
    3d and 28a were gems, I thought.
    Many thanks, Jay and the 2Kiwis.

  11. Like last Wednesday just half a crown of my five bob says that this is a Jay production. Nevertheless, very enjoyable and not too demanding but I did have a couple of Hmms – 9a for example – 2.5*/3.5*.

    Candidates for favourite – 11a, 22a, and 18d – and the winner is 18d.

    Thanks to Jay(?) and to the 2Kiiwis.

  12. 3/4 of this was straightforward but for me, the NE corner held out the longest. Thanks to Jay and 2K’s
    Solved the last bit while waiting for two new tyres and am now feeling a bit skint.

  13. A fine Jayday puzzle I never knew that an upset Mark could be an anagram of Rump Steak. Mark would be truly upset it his rump steak was served like that. On a roofing slate with no mushroom or tomato. We learn on our parents lap. We go to infant, junior and senior school. We progress through college into the world of work where we learn a trade from the inside out. We learn this so that when a salesman comes into our restaurant and suggests that we serve fine food on a roofing slate or a piece of wood, we can look him in the eye disdainfully and say “Don’t be silly”
    Thanks to Jay for a good workout and the food. Thanks also to our Kiwi friends who write such interest blogs. You know the longer the woodpile remains untouched the more spiders there will be

    1. Indeed. What I want to know is: when you pour all that lovely peppercorn sauce (my favourite) over your rump steak what stops it running off the edge of your plate, I mean slate, and all over the table? Ruddy stupid idea, that is!

      1. It is almost as stupid as eating anything other than pasta or risotto out of a bowl.

        1. Don’t get me started on bowls DG. I get annoyed at being served knife and fork food in a bowl. If you eat it with a knife and fork put it on a plate. If you eat it with a spoon put it in a bowl

  14. I enjoyed this one. Straightforward, with no Persian rulers wearing Japanese aprons; although we did have the ‘sort of light’ which had/has me perplexed.

    I love sport. My life would be rather empty without football, cricket, and golf. Chelsea v Arsenal this evening. C’mon Chelsea!

    Thanks to the setter (Jay?) and The TwoKays.

  15. Like Senf I was far from certain this was a Jay production but maybe that’s just because I struggled to get on wavelength & feared at one stage I wasn’t going to finish. Reading back through after completion I’m not sure why I was so slow on the uptake as none of the wordplay was particularly tricky. I did raise an eyebrow at the 1a definition synonym & didn’t overly care for 9a either but those 2 apart it was very well clued & parsed them all eventually. 3d my pick.
    Thanks to Jay if he is the setter & to the 2Ks
    Wordle in 4. Tried Quordle yesterday for the first time & got them in 9.

  16. A few clues in this one that didn’t feel very Jay-like but I guess it must be one of his – no Logman this week.
    Favourite was 19d with 12&3d close behind.

    Thanks to today’s setter and to our 2Ks for the review – for once we seem to have similar weather!

  17. Wonderful stuff from the Wednesday wizard.

    12a is sooooooo nearly a triple homophone:

    1. The answer
    2. Cold
    3. The country that is most certainly mountainous as it contains the Andes which are at the end of your wristies.

  18. Lovely, lovely Jay day. Unlike Man U, my confidence is back. The very light has come up previously though maybe years ago but it was stuck in the back of my sawdust. Similarly the less-than-common synonym at 1a. Many thanks 2Ks, enjoy the warm spell.

  19. A very pleasant challenge, taking two sessions and a little help with 26d of all things and Mrs 2P came good with the UB40 luvvies.

    Thanks to the 2K’s and the setter

  20. I agree that this was a delight. Had a rough morning with. 2 1/2hours taking minutes for WI meeting prior to AGM, I mean, really? Now got to be typed up. Daisies by 10,13,16 & 28a and 3 & 8d. 26d reminded me of the sketch about Darth Vader going into the canteen and being told he’d need a tray. It’s by a comedian I am not usually drawn to but that sketch is hilarious. Many thanks to the setter and Two Kiwis.

  22. Well that was fun while it lasted, with 14d leading the list of contenders for the top spot. 9a was my final entry for no good reason. Not too difficult, with just one or two tricky clues to keep it interesting.

    Thanks to Jay, if it is indeed one of his, and to the 2Ks.

  23. I always do the cryptic first, even on days like today when I am to blog the Toughie, as I feel it warms up the cryptic grey matter ready for a possible tussle with a tricky crossword. Today I think I would have got on better if I’d solved the Toughie before the backpager as I found this one of a difficulty level more suited to a Friday 5*.

    Thanks to the setter and the 2Ks

    1. I used to start with the Codeword and the Quickie as a warm up before tackling the back pager. Now that The Toughie comes on my iPad with my newspaper subscription I always start with the Toughie then carry on as before. Codeword Quickie Back Pager. A nice start to the day

  24. Tough for a Wednesday for me but got there in the end. 9a last one in & I don’t really see it as a clue.
    In the “not the usual Jay” camp & didn’t overly enjoy it.
    No really outstanding clue.
    Thanks to setter and the 2Ks.
    Spring appears to have arrived up here confirmed by flocks of birds flying north for their summer. Hopefully our woodburner has now been mothballed until October.

  25. Found this a difficult struggle today … not sure why. 3.5*/2.5*
    Found many clues just weren’t clicking with me, and parsing was not coming to me.
    Finished it eventually but no satisfaction today

    Thanks to setter and 2K’s

  26. I agree with LROK and portco… above, a bit odd this morning. Not sure about Jay. South was friendlier but north was very tricky. I DNF in the NE and needed hints, 9a is “really”? The 16a and 10a clues bring to mind a certain stalwart of this blog. Fave was 19d.
    Thank you setter and the 2Kiwis for unravelling so much for me. Wordle in 4.

  27. Not sure If this is a Jay. Certainly didn’t enjoy this one like I did his last effort. Perhaps I am just a tad 24a across, but there were too many odd answers, such as 1a, 21a and 6d. And others that were just too convoluted. Thanks to the setter and 2Kiwis. We both got Wordle in 4 today. It’s strange how different our paths usually are to the same word.

  28. I will just echo portcoquitlambc’s observations in 24 above and say no more. Thank you Jay (?) and 2Kiwis.

  29. Enjoyed the great majority of this generally straightforward puzzle, only held up by what I consdered the poor 9a (why daughter? Granny can be maternally protective of sons, grandchildren and indeed a myriad other things. Should the clue not have had a ? or a say after the word daughter? Indeed the words “looking after daughter” are almost superfluous) and the obvious bung-in but last to parse 29a.

    Hon mentions to 11a, 11d and 17a (great surface), with COTD to 1a which was a R&W answer courtesy of Neil Gaiman and the late great Terry Pratchett’s wonderful Good Omens, with character Anathema Device’s ancestor’s book “The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch” … it is explained more than once that “nice” actually means “precise”!

    2* / 3.5*

    Many thanks to the setter and to the 2Ks.

  30. I enjoyed today’s puzzle, some reasonably straightforward clues and some definitely knottier. The linked clues of 25 and 27 a worked well. Thanks to setter and 2kiwis.

  31. Morning all.
    We did wonder about the difficulty stars for this one, It was right on the cusp between 2 and 3 stars for us as there were several that needed a bit of thinking for the corect parsing. Even considered a possible triple homophone in 12a and then changing our minds.
    Cheers.

    1. Fair enough call I thought at **. It was only my rusty approach that pushed me into ***. It would as I said in my original post be interesting to find out who our setter was. Thank you for your hints.

  33. I’m in the ‘struggled in the NE but hard to see why’ camp this evening. In fact I can’t see why I found it so difficult, I just did. My lack of French always lets me down, I learn a word and forget it immediately. Hey ho! Favourite was 18d. Thanks to the setter and 2K’s.

  34. I always find Jay’s tough and this was no exception….but enjoyed being challenged, so all’s we’ll except for 9a, which simply doesn’t seem cryptic to me (hence I needed a letter hint even with all the checkers)….

  35. Surely in 11a ‘do something’ is ACT and the performance is the TURN, rather than the other way round as you’ve constructed it above! Thanks for all the help though. Like some others, I thought maternal had an unsatisfactory clue, otherwise good fun.

    1. H, 11a. I read the the clue thus. Do something (ACT) about (surrounding) international [I] – AC[I]T, which in turn is inserted into (during) performance (TURN). Resulting in the answer: T(AC[I]T)URN. Which, I think, is how the reviewer has described it.

  36. Just the right balance of easy and head scratching for me. Not sure my brother the actor would agree with 18d to describe being out of work!

  37. 3*/2*….
    liked 3D ” Casual drink in Spain that is welcomed by both sides (8) “

Comments are closed.