Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 2525
A full analysis by Peter Biddlecombe
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****
At first glance, not a very remarkable puzzle. But there are top-class surface readings throughout – a side of cryptic clues that sometimes gets ignored. Not by this setter, and after a few goes at puzzle writing myself lately, I know how difficult this is.
| Across | |
|---|---|
| 1 | Oversensitive and extremely testy, bearing pained expression (6) |
| TOUCHY – OUCH in T(est)Y | |
| 4 | American presidents producing surprise attacks (8 ) |
| AMBUSHES – AM. = American, BUSHES = Presidents – George and George W. | |
| 10 | A little cake, darling? It’s before teatime (5,4) |
| PETIT FOUR – PET = darling, IT, FOUR = teatime | |
| 11 | Fruit drink doctor shortly ordered with ice (5) |
| CIDER – anag. of (Dr., ice) | |
| 12 | Lewis in Oxford making vehicle turn round repeatedly (7) |
| CARROLL – CAR=vehicle,ROLL=turn round repeatedly | |
| 13 | Patronises restaurant – that’s one way to get seat (4,3) |
| EATS OUT – “wordplay in the answer here”, indicating “seat” in the clue | |
| 14 | Country appearing backward in fairy story (5) |
| SYRIA – reverse hidden in fairy story” | |
| 15 | Caution! Answer is wrong (8) |
| WARINESS – anag. of (answer is) | |
| 18 | Terms initially assembled in short document by a friend (8 ) |
| ACRONYMS – A,CRONY = friend, M.S. (manuscript) = “short document” | |
| 20 | Give more scope to Duke in European capital (5) |
| WIDEN – D=Duke, in Wien – the German name for Vienna, as heard in this song – apologies for the cheesy heavenly chorus but Fritz compensates. | |
| 23 | Declaration of my friendship for Muslim territory (7) |
| IMAMATE – new solvers, meet an old friend – the “I’m a mate” charade | |
| 25 | Opposed to profits in a non-profit, ultimately (7) |
| AGAINST – GAINS = profits, in (A, T = non-profit, ultimately) | |
| 26 | Merger of businesses followed by a drink (5) |
| COCOA – Co. (twice),A | |
| 27 | Complete chapter to deserve academic award (9) |
| DOCTORATE – DO=complete,C=chapter,TO,RATE=deserve | |
| 28 | One’s punishment thus set by jury’s conclusion after corrupt trial (8 ) |
| SOLITARY – SO=thus,LITAR=anag. of trial,Y from jurY | |
| 29 | Relatively poor negotiator (6) |
| BROKER – “more broke” and a more conventional def. | |
| Down | |
| 1 | Characters on pitch always playing similar roles (8 ) |
| TYPECAST – TYPE = characters (for hot-metal printing),CAST=pitch (vb.) | |
| 2 | Person speaking as absolute monarch (7) |
| UTTERER – UTTER=absolute, E.R. = monarch | |
| 3 | Tricky situation that’s uncomfortable for consumer (3,6) |
| HOT POTATO – standard and over-literal definitions | |
| 5 | Unorthodox teacher’s remark that informs business strategy (6,8) |
| MARKET RESEARCH – anag. of (teacher’s remark) | |
| 6 | Like diamonds, naturally, or complete pack of cards (5) |
| UNCUT – 2 defs | |
| 7 | Conceal everything inside house that’s grotesque (7) |
| HIDEOUS – HIDE=conceal,(h)OUS(e) | |
| 8 | Some pleasure, typically, to be found in a certain state (6) |
| SURETY – hidden word | |
| 9 | Older fellow may upset game for children (6-2-6) |
| FOLLOW-MY-LEADER – anag. of (older fellow may) | |
| 16 | Outfit upsetting Brown (a clue – not Conservative) (3,6) |
| NEW LABOUR – anag. of (Brown a clue) after deleting C=conservative | |
| 17 | First ink, then water, ruined some clothing (8 ) |
| KNITWEAR – 2 anagrams, first of ink, then of water | |
| 19 | Window on left section of church (7) |
| CHANCEL – CHANCE = window (of opportunity),L=left | |
| 21 | Study old currency of one European country or another (7) |
| DENMARK – DEN=study,MARK = former German currency. | |
| 22 | Situation, in brief, around university in turmoil (6) |
| CIRCUS – U = University, in CIRCS = circumstances = situation | |
| 24 | A carriage overturned to one side (5) |
| APART – A,reversal of TRAP = carriage | |
Thanks for the review, Peter. Sunday’s puzlles are becoming one of the weekly highlights for me.