Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 29987
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This puzzle was published on 14th May 2022
BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***
A Cephas pangram which I was surprised to find too me longer to solve than his crosswords usually do
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Across
4a A sheep heard in metropolis? Disaster! (8)
CALAMITY – A (from the clue) and a homophone (heard) of LAMB (sheep) inserted in CITY (metropolis)
8a Muslim official, namely one with queen (6)
VIZIER – VIZ (a Latin abbreviation meaning namely) I (one) ER (the regnal cipher of our current Queen)
9a I put in spirit after water in tank (8)
AQUARIUM – I (from the clue) ‘put in’ RUM (spirit) and then put after AQUA (water)
10a One might be for this athletics event (4,4)
HIGH JUMP – An expression meaning that one might be in for a punishment, or an athletics event
11a Escape punishment and go to sleep (3,3)
GET OFF – A double definition
12a Let out by a tenant (8)
SUBLEASE – Let out by a tenant to another person
13a Cheap way to live without tears (4-4)
RENT-FREE – A cheap way to leave or without being torn
16a Furnace or mill Ken and I rebuilt (8)
LIMEKILN – An anagram (rebuilt) of MILL KEN and I
19a Depressing part of music (8)
DOWNBEAT – The day of the double definition continues – this time a synonym for depressing or part of a piece of music
21a Island it follows is for one living in solitude (6)
HERMIT – The Channel Island of HERM followed by IT (from the clue)
23a A revealing of ancient city in publication of wrongdoing (8)
EXPOSURE – The Biblical city of UR inserted in EXPOSEE (publication of wrongdoing)
24a Heather with repeated hesitation is one who loiters (8)
LINGERER – LING (heather) with ER ER (repeated hesitation)
25a To step back in part of Oxford? (6)
TOECAP – TO (from the clue) and a reversal (back) of PACE (step)
26d Bypass road used by aircraft! (8)
SKIPLANE – SKIP (bypass) LANE (road)
Down
1d Mother has short skirt, it’s the very least (7)
MINIMUM – MUM (mother) has MINI (short skirt) which is sort of the wrong way round but there’s nothing as far as I can see to tell you the skirt goes on top of the mum
2d I felt unwell almost at first in entertainments after dark (9)
NIGHTLIFE – NIGH (almost) and an anagram (unwell) of I FELT
3d Upsetting experience, a tram crashing with you said to be inside (6)
TRAUMA – An anagram (crashing) of A TRAM with U (you said) inside
4d Precise reference that’s given at start of lesson (7,3,5)
CHAPTER AND VERSE – A precise reference to something or the details of the reading that forms the lesson in a church service
5d Taking it easy, yearning to include uniform (8)
LOUNGING – LONGING (yearning) to ‘include’ U (uniform in the NATO Phonetic Alphabet
6d Deserve an order (5)
MERIT – To deserve or the name of an order awarded for eminence in any field
7d Fungus with fur felt wrong (7)
TRUFFLE – An anagram (wrong) of FUR FELT
14d Renovated last of land after fighting bushfire (9)
FURBISHED – The last letter of lanD goes after an anagram (fighting) of BUSHFIRE
15d Winner, independent taking a state (8)
VICTORIA – VICTOR (winner) I (Independent) and A (from the clue)
17d Some officer in Kitzbuhel finds place for winter sports (3,4)
ICE RINK – Hidden in offICER IN Kitzbuhel
18d Just means it’s part of the course (7)
FAIRWAY – FAIR (just) WAY (means)
20d Deer found in hollow, a pit, initially (6)
WAPITI – Hidden in holloW A PIT Initially
22d Swot with drinking vessel raised (3,2)
MUG UP – MUG (drinking vessel) UP (raised)