DT 26092

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 26092

A full analysis by Big Dave

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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment *

Only the Telegraph, among quality dailies, would have a prize puzzle that is this easy.

Across

1a Can’t be seen from the mountains (3,2,5)
OUT OF RANGE – This is a double definition –first: can’t be seen because it is too far away, second: from the mountains could, at a stretch, be said to be out of range

6a Separate item on dining-table (4)
FORK – a double definition

8a Twice as much as a cheap opera? (8)
SIXPENNY – double the amount of the Threepenny Opera by German dramatist Bertolt Brecht and composer Kurt Weill

9a Verify said form of payment (6)
CHEQUE – sounds like check (verify)

10a How actual bell might sound genuine? (4,4)
RING TRUE – a part-cryptic double definition, the main definition being “sound genuine”

11a Being less active, one working with glass did not start (6)
LAZIER – (G)LAZIER

12a Play group (4)
CAST – a group of people in a play

14a Slander notice appears during suspension of hostilities (7)
TRADUCE – a word meaning to slander comes from AD (advertisement / notice) inside TRUCE (suspension of hostilities)

18a Tried short-time worker, youth in 1950s (7)
TEMPTED – a synonym for tried is a charade of TEMP (short-time worker) and TED (Teddy boy / youth in 1950s)

20a Whale damaging no end of coral (4)
ORCA – this whale is an anagram of CORA(L)

23a Environmentalist with European author (6)
GREENE – GREEN + E(uropean) gives Graham GREENE

24a Lied about drink I included producing wild excitement (8)
DELIRIUM – an anagram (about) of LIED is followed by RUM (drink) with I included to give a word meaning wild excitement

25a Payment of part of current allowance (6)
RENTAL – a payment is hidden inside (part of) current allowance

26a Stirrup twelve inches and more (8)
FOOTREST – a charade of FOOT (twelve inches) and REST (more)

27a Metal guide (4)
LEAD – a double definition

28a Where to find church militant in Wiltshire? (10)
WARMINSTER – WAR + MINSTER gives this town in Wiltshire – ouch

Down

1d Block former pupil over the way with curt disposition (8)
OBSTRUCT – a word meaning to block is built up from OB (Old Boy / former pupil) with ST (street / way) and an anagram (disposition) of CURT

2d Demanding levy in force (6)
TAXING – TAX (levy) with IN and G (force of gravity)

3d Fast that is replaced by festival (6)
FIESTA – this is a borderline indirect anagram –an anagram (replaced by) of FAST and IE (id est / that is) gives a type of festival

4d Proclaimer only seen or heard at intervals (9)
ANNOUNCER – this proclaimer is semi-cryptically defined

5d Increase rapidly or go down the tube? (8)
ESCALATE – a word meaning to increase rapidly could also , at a stretch, mean going down a moving staircase to the Underground Railway

6d Reportedly makes a release at university during icy spell (6-2)
FREEZE-UP – sounds like (reportedly) FREES (makes a release) together with UP (at university) gives what happens during an icy spell

7d Game permitted in passage (8)
ROULETTE – this gambling game is created by inserting LET (permitted) inside ROUTE (passage)

13d Say there’s space for private cabin (9)
STATEROOM – combine STATE (say) and ROOM (space) to get a private cabin on board a ship

15d Get back from River Tees shortly (8)
RETRIEVE – a word meaning to get back is an anagram (from, one of the loosest of anagram indicators) of RIVER TEE(S)

16d Very many expelled were downcast (8)
DEJECTED – start with D (Roman numeral for 500 / very many) and add EJECTED (expelled) gives a word meaning were downcast

17d Locals we served salad (8)
COLESLAW – an anagram (served) of LOCALS WE gives this salad consisting mainly of shredded cabbage with a dressing

19d Line taken by director touring emirate (8)
DIAMETER – a straight line passing through the centre of a circle terminated at both ends by the circumference is constructed from D(irector) and an anagram (touring) of EMIRATE

21d Part of engine to spin round (6)
PISTON – this part of an engine is an anagram (round) of TO SPIN

22d Periodical taunt is in French (6)
DIGEST – a periodical, for example Reader’s Digest, is created by combining DIG ( a taunt) and EST (the French for “is”)