Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 25859
Hints and tips by Big Dave
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
Across
1a He has a fling at the airport (8).
HE has A THROW (fling) at London’s major airport
6a One source of a writer’s material (6)
Where quill and similar pens used to be dipped, in the days before fountain-pens and ballpoints were invented!
9a He reduces growth of fruit, right? (6)
The fruit is a dried plum, then add R(ight)
10a The quality of the sea Italy’s in, perhaps (8).
This is an anagram (perhaps) of ITALY’S IN giving the quality of salt water (the sea)
11a Quotation on cost shows outlay required (5,3)
A trite (especially Latin) quotation is called a TAG, and the PRICE is the cost, put them together and you get a label showing the outlay required to purchase an item
12a You’d be angry if you lost it (6)
A cryptic definition – you’d be angry if you lost your TEMPER
13a Having advanced, they make a charge (12)
Shylock, in the Merchant of Venice, was one
16a Nautical version of rock and roll? (5,3,4)
A cryptic definition of PITCH AND TOSS
19a Show aggression at first, then change course (6)
AT first, then TACK (change course) giving a synonym for show aggression
21a The wrong put right in a gun, found in order (8).
An anagram (wrong) of THE with R(ight) all inside a type of gun, giving the
members of a holy order
23a The sort of speech that gets reported (8).
A cryptic definition of INDIRECT
24a One of two that is returned to the right (6)
EITHER (one of two) – IE (that is) reversed (returned) then THE R(ight)
25a Container ship? (6)
A double definition of VESSEL
26a Where day-to-day changes are made (4-4)
The date changes when you cross the International one
Down
2d Fears losing head and making blunders (6)
ERRORS (blunders) – terrors (fears) without the first letter (losing head)
3d Partly uniform in cut perhaps (5)
An anagram (perhaps) of IN CUT giving part of a uniform
4d Land of Hope and Glory? (9)
A cryptic definition of the place where a series of books written by Anthony HOPE were set
5d Not one of the Magi, just a smart alec (4,3)
Not a wise man, but a WISE GUY
6d A bit of land is granted to a tenant (5)
ISLET (A bit of land) – IS LET (granted to a tenant)
7d He made very valuable contacts (4,5)
Everything this mythical person touched turned to gold!
8d Route was changed, now lasts longer (8).
An anagram (changed) of ROUTE WAS
13d Skilled workers’ terrible mischance (9)
Another anagram (terrible) of MISCHANCE giving skilled workers repairing your car, perhaps
14d Running away to join up? (9)
A cryptic definition of a trip to Gretna Green
15d The extent to which diets can vary (8).
An anagram (vary) of DIETS CAN giving how far it is (the extent)
17d Contemplated taking action about cricketer (7)
DEED (action) around BAT (cricketer) giving a synonym for contemplated
18d Humble cleric taking me to heart (6)
DEAN (cleric) around (taking … to heart) ME giving a synonym for to humble
20d Use two joints on Sunday (5)
A cryptic definition of KNEEL on both (two) knees (joints)
22d Some who telephone for accommodation (5)
Hidden (some) in the clue is a place where you could stay
Feel free to leave your own comments, observations, experiences etc..
Too many cryptic definitions (and some weren’t too cryptic either) for my taste today.
When I enjoy a puzzle, I tend to write a bit more about each clue. Today’s were mainly short, which should tell you what I thought.
thank goodness for you big dave.
New to this game and loving it thanks to you….
keep up the sterling work….
Thanks, Roy
That kind of feedback makes it all worthwhile.