Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 2484 – Review
A full analysis by Big Dave
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BD Rating – Difficulty **** – Enjoyment ****
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Across
1a Doctor dictates crucial experimental procedure (4,4)
ACID TEST – this time doctor indicates that an anagram of DICTATES is needed to get this crucial experimental procedure
9a Scary attitude in hospital – arm is mistreated (8)
ALARMISM – a word meaning having a scary attitude is hidden in hospitAL – ARM IS Mistreated
10a Fellows with university providing courses in writing (4)
MENU – MEN (fellows) and U(niversity) give us a list of restaurant courses in writing
11a Inspiring? Awesome! (12)
BREATHTAKING – a double definition, the first one being slightly cryptic
13a Lid of bottle sailors kept in bar (5,3)
SCREW TOP – this bottle lid has CREW (sailors) inside STOP (bar)
15a From Baltimore go North, in area near Washington (6)
OREGON – a new slant on misdirection finds this area near Washington state hidden (from) in BaltimORE GO North
16a, 14 d TV programme crew is going to show (4,4)
BLUE PETER – this TV programme gets its name from the flag which is hoisted when a ship is about to sail (crew is going to show)
17a Took out old hat (5)
DATED – a double definition – took someone out on a date and out-of-date
18a How grade might be lowered for nasty person (4)
TOAD – the grade could have been lowered from a C TO A D to get this nasty person
20a Resentment voiced in private (6)
RANKER – rancour (resentment) sounds like (voiced) a private soldier
21a Herb contrary gardener put with flower (8)
ROSEMARY – this herb is a charade of MARY (from the nursery rhyme Mary, Mary, quite contrary, How does your garden grow?) following ROSE (flower)
23a Plane, for example, flying above Britain (12)
ABBREVIATION – plane is an abbreviation of aeroplane (for example) and flying indicates an anagram of ABOVE BRITAIN
26a Is repeatedly put in academic stream (4)
ISIS – IS twice (repeatedly) gives the name given to the River Thames as it flows through Oxford
27a British citizen, fellow taken in by recluse (8)
LONDONER – this British citizen comes from putting DON (university fellow) inside (taken in by) LONER (recluse)
28a Afflicted, become ill without treatment recommended initially (8)
STRICKEN – a word meaning afflicted comes from SICKEN (become ill) around (without) the initial letters (initially) of Treatment Recommended
Down
2d Like much work in office of the ministry (8)
CLERICAL – a double definition
3d Vehicle in which one can take flight (6-6)
DOUBLE-DECKER – this bus has two floors connected by a flight of stairs
4d Authority to apply pressure internally (6)
EXPERT – an person who is an authority on a given subject comes from EXERT (to apply) with P(ressure) inside (internally)
5d Tense, as pupil is in audition (4)
TAUT – a word meaning tense, which sounds like (in audition) taught
6d Finest example to which nothing can be added (4,4)
LAST WORD – need I say more!
7d Fruit one can’t take off (4)
KIWI – a fruit and a flightless bird
8d Supposed I oppose editor (8)
IMAGINED – here a word meaning supposed comes rather awkwardly, but enjoyably so, from I’M AGIN (I oppose) and ED (editor)
12d Thief finally struck wildly at policeman (12)
KLEPTOMANIAC – this thief is K (finally strucK) and an anagram (wildly) of AT POLICEMAN
14d See 16 across
16d Marine crustacean exposed, retaining salt (8)
BARNACLE – a marine crustacean that is derived by putting BARE (exposed) around (retaining) NaCl (the chemical formula for sodium chloride / salt)
17d Energy put into compelling drawing (8)
DERIVING – put E(nergy) inside DRIVING (compelling) and you get a synonym for drawing
19d Display, so to speak, a kind of horse or cow (8)
AYRSHIRE – AYR sounds like (so to speak) air (display) and add SHIRE (a kind of horse) to get a breed of cow
22d Guy paying court with diamonds, say, and gold (6)
SUITOR – this guy paying court is composed of SUIT (in cards / diamonds, say but could have been clubs, hearts or spades) and OR (gold)
24d Be inclined, in turn, to store money (4)
BANK – a rather nice double definition – to tilt an aircraft in turning and to pay in money
25d Side winds (4)
AIRS – another double definition – side as in airs and graces
If you are not already a convert, then now is the time to start doing the Sunday puzzle. You comments are welcome, but I am in London for Sloggers and Betters 5 so won’t be able to respond until this evening.