DT 26235 – Hints – Big Dave's Crossword Blog
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DT 26235 – Hints

by Big Dave  

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 26235 – Hints

Big Dave’s Saturday Crossword Club

+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +

The usual few hints just to get you started.  I’m off to the White Horse soon so I will leave you all in the more-than-capable hands of the other bloggers.  If you fancy coming along to the pub today, the directions are on the Cruciverbalists’ Convention post.

Don’t forget that you can give your assessment of the puzzle. Five stars if you thought it was great, one if you hated it, four, three or two if it was somewhere in between.

As is usual for the weekend prize crosswords, I will select a few of the better clues and provide hints for them. A full review of this puzzle will be published on Thursday, 13th May.


Across

1a Difficult to understand Jack’s real point that had been accepted (8)
The definition is “difficult to understand” and is built up from Jack’s (sailor’s), and a word meaning real, as opposed to false, placed around (that had been accepted) a compass point

13a Attempt at mother’s Latin hymn (6,5)
Combine an attempt (as in have a **** at), AT and the Latin for mother to get a Latin hymn commemorating the sorrows of the Virgin Mary

22a Philosopher from Rugby’s to be a retailer (7)
This Welsh-born Philosopher is a charade of the abbreviation for Rugby Union, the S from ‘s, and what a retailer does

26a  Proceeding taking the low road (8)
A word meaning proceeding, or in progress, could be a low road – low as in below

Down

1d  Aid musician starting late (6)
A word meaning to aid comes from a musician who plays a large stringed instrument, without the first letter (starting late)

15d  Fish and fruit expert (5,3)
This species of sole differing in its markings from the common sole is a charade of a sour fruit and an expert

20d  Absolutely tunelessly (6)
A double definition – the first definition is often followed by refused, the second means tunelessly in the sense of singing or playing which is below the right pitch

Painstakingly composed on my kid sister’s laptop!

The Saturday Crossword Club will open at 10.00 am (after Sounds of the Sixties on BBC Radio 2). Membership is free and open to all. Feel free to leave comments or ask questions before that time.

Please don’t put whole or partial answers in your comment, else they may be censored! By all means provide relevant hints, but please avoid alternative clues that lead to the same answer.

<h2 style=”text-align: center;”>Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 26229 – Hints</h2>
<h2 style=”text-align: center;”>Big Dave’s Saturday Crossword Club</h2>
<p style=”text-align: center;”>+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +</p>
<p style=”text-align: justify;”>The usual few hints just to get you started.</p>
<p style=”text-align: justify;”>Don’t forget that you can give your assessment of the puzzle. Five stars if you thought it was great, one if you hated it, four, three or two if it was somewhere in between.</p>
<p style=”text-align: justify;”>As is usual for the weekend prize crosswords, I will select a few of the better clues and provide hints for them. A full review of this puzzle will be published on Thursday, 6th May.</p>
<!–more–>
<strong>Across
</strong>

1a    Railway employee working on and off (9)
A cryptic definition of someone in charge of rail points

<a href=”http://www.kirbycorpjobs.com/attachments/wysiwyg/4/Switchman.jpg” target=”_blank”><img class=”alignnone” style=”margin-left: 50px;” title=”Switchman” src=”http://www.kirbycorpjobs.com/attachments/wysiwyg/4/Switchman.jpg” alt=”” width=”151″ height=”200″ /></a>

19a    Operatic stylist in Iberia (6,2,7)
… by the name of Figaro!

<a href=”http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Barber_of_Seville” target=”_blank”><img class=”alignnone” style=”margin-left: 50px;” title=”Barber of Seville” src=”http://blog.cleveland.com/musicdance_impact/2009/03/large_barber1.jpg” alt=”” width=”302″ height=”200″ /></a>

29a    Like what seamen are doing beginning hostilities (9)
Combine a synonym for like with what seamen are doing, especially if they are in yachts, to get a word meaning beginning hostilities

<strong>Down
</strong>

2d    Nothing removed from hall in Cambridgeshire except nun’s veil (6)
Remove O (nothing) from a National Trust Hall in Cambridgeshire to get a nun’s veil

<a href=”http://www.wimpole.org/” target=”_blank”><img class=”alignnone size-full wp-image-11440″ style=”margin-left: 50px;” title=”Wimpole Hall” src=”http://bigdave44.files.wordpress.com/2010/05/wimpole-hall.jpg” alt=”” width=”267″ height=”200″ /></a><a href=”http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wimple” target=”_blank”><img class=”alignnone size-full wp-image-11441″ style=”margin-left: 50px;” title=”Nuns wearing wimples” src=”http://bigdave44.files.wordpress.com/2010/05/nuns.jpg” alt=”” width=”333″ height=”200″ /></a>

6d    Formal and proper item I have that’s rudimentary (9)
A charade of a word meaning formal and proper, an item (as a pronoun) and the abbreviation of I have to get a synonym for rudimentary

14d    Rich one leaping (9)
Nothing to do with the lords who were leaping, this is rich, in the sense of plentiful coming from the indefinite article (one), followed by a synonym for leaping

24d    A French drama — heard but not viewed (6)
Combine the French indefinite article with a word that sounds like (heard) a drama, or part of a drama, to get a word meaning not viewed
<p style=”text-align: justify;”>The Saturday Crossword Club will open at 10.00 am (after Sounds of the Sixties on BBC Radio 2). Membership is free and open to all. Feel free to leave comments or ask questions before that time.</p>
<span style=”color: red;”><strong>Please don’t put whole or partial answers in your comment, else they may be censored!  By all means provide relevant hints, but please avoid alternative clues that lead to the same answer.</strong></span>

78 comments on “DT 26235 – Hints”

  1. This was not the easiest of crosswords with some rather 1a answers.

    Best clues are 13a and 15d. 13a appeals to the theologian in me whilst 15d whetted the taste buds.

    A good puzzle all round in my view and a little more difficult than average.

  2. Many thanks to Cephas for an enjoyable puzzle. There were some well clued answers which, oddly, made the puzzle easier in some ways and some nice surface readings. Favourite clue was 16a.

  4. Am about 3/4 way there, will leave it for a while and get back to it, not easy today a 4* for me I think :)

  5. 1a is a word ctlp used when i was judging COW last week, I would not have known it otherwise, every little helps, thanks ctlp :)

      1. The nickname of one of the people taking part on the COW site, I don’t know what it stands for

  6. OK if there’s anyone out there I am really stuck on top left corner 2d, 3d and 9a anyone with a few pointers in the right direction would be very welcome, Gnomethang? Prolixic? Gazza? anyone???

      1. Mary, 2d is a homophone of two words, one for look and one for Ireland.
        The definition is a range of mountains in Europe.

        1. got it thanks gnomethang, think i have 9a but not sure can a knife make one of these??

    2. 2d Look at Ireland, say, from these mountains (6)
      It’s a Spanish word meaning a mountain chain and it sounds like (say) have sight of (look at) and another word for Ireland.

    3. 9a That female’s race record included on grazing land (5,3)
      Female pronoun followed by a verb meaning to go quickly (race) with the abbreviation for an old record inside (included).

    4. That’s the NW corner done then, thank you both. Not getting far with this, a bit over half-way – and that’s including all the ones BD gave us. Don’t think I’m going to get there this week …

  7. I seem to be a dissenting voice but I found this puzzle to be drab and I’ve had to grind out the answers. Like Mary, I took a break for an hour or so and then came back to it but I didn’t derive any enjoyment from completing it.

  8. Finished with a little help from my friends human and otherwise, quite tough today, fav clue 13a :)

  9. That was all over a bit quick for me! I moan when it takes me all day and now I’m moaning because it hasn’t: there really is no pleasing some people.
    Like Prolixic I enjoyed 16a, and 17d was one of those clues that makes me feel smug and clever about something which is maybe a bit easier than I like to believe.

    1. 19d. Admiral, big timer in front of ship (6)
      Put the big timer in Westminster in front of the front part of a ship to get the name of an admiral (and the name of an inn in “Treasure Island”).

    2. The Admiral ****** is the name of a fictional pub in Treasure Island. Think of a big timer in terms of a famous clock in London and add another word for the front of a ship to get the answer.

    3. Look for the name of a naval hero, famous for continuing to fight after one of his legs was shot off. Two syllables, one the name of a famous clock and the other Robin Hood’s weapon.
      Good luck. :-)

    4. Lucy
      The clue is admiral as in an admiral, made up of a big clock in london and the front of a boat

  11. I managed to finish this today with the minimum of electronic help. Was very happy with 13a, especially as I had Pergolesi playing in the background. Also enjoyed that shrub at 10a. I needed help for 2d and thought a good clue would be to realise one had made a mistake. Perhaps I should try joining COW, but am daunted.
    :-)

    1. That is good clue Franny, yes you should have a go, its good fun and everyone is helpful and friendly and i find it really does help in understanding clues :)

  13. Not my favourite Saturday puzzle by a long chalk, bottom is uninspiring and the top is just plain too difficult. So far managed just 1a and 11a, the rest is just a blank and will probably remain that way. I do wish setters would avoid these religious clues, I find them a little offensive. Be nice to return to the sort of puzzles we had earlier in the year for Saturdays which were fun. Favourite clue, none of them!

    1. I’m with you this week Barrie. I finished it, but didn’t enjoy it.
      I only buy the Torygraph on a Saturday now, as my discount vouchers have run out, so when a puzzle like this comes up I feel let down!
      Shouldn’t complain really, as it’s excellent value for money and I certainly couldn’t set a crossword puzzle.

      Big Dave. Thanks for your efforts.

  14. Link on the right Barrie just under our comments, have a go it is fun and everyone is very helpful and friendly, last week i won and the ‘prize’ is to set the new word and judge it the following week, i am so not qualified to do that, but i had a go and everyone was very nice about it :) you will recognise some names off this site, on COW I am pepsib, see you there??

  15. Almost there. It’s come together like 24a, but with not much enjoyment. Just three in the NE corner, so If someone can assist with 10a, please, then maybe I can finish off 6/7d.

    1. 10a Crumbs! Right to take the Parisian shrub (6)
      You want a shrub. It’s a 2-letter exclamation (Crumbs!) plus the abbreviation for right and the French (Parisian) definite article.

      1. Ok, think I’ve got that now thanks. It doesn’t help a lot with 6/7d though! I’ll keep mulliing.

        Might you have any idea what happened to my avatar? It disappeared yesterday.

        1. Geoff
          Your avatar is linked to email address, and I think you’re now using “gmail” rather than “googlemail”.

          1. I did wonder that, but the change is supposed to be transparent. I’ll update myself in wordpress.

        1. Well done Geoff, I wasn’t sure if you were the same Geoff, ‘cos your avatar is different !

          1. Thanks Mary and the very same. Hopefully I’ll get my avatar back shortly.

            Didn’t think I would finish this one; it’s much harder than usual! After 2 or 3 read-throughs. I still only had 8d and 24a.

  16. WARNING! If you have an avatar DO NOT change your email address. Changing your details in wordpress is like pulling teeth. Every time I want to log in, I have to remove all the cookies, which are enabled but appear to be blocked and then reset the address and follow the links to confirm it and … nothing happens! Life’s too short and I can live without an avatar …

  18. Finished but only enjoyed one clue – 13a – the rest were not vcery interesting in my book. Could be I wasn’t in the mood of the setter.

    Hope all in Parsons Green are having fun.

  19. Oooh, spoke too soon … wordpress and avatars too work in mysterious ways, their wonders to perform.

  20. Looking back over it, I do not understand the construct involved in 6d. I’m not even sure I understand what type of clue it is. All will be revealed on Friday and until then very curious about how the answer comes out of the clue.

    1. 6d Blissful place, city individual getting in the money (7)
      The definition is blissful place. Start with a cathedral city in Cambridgeshire and follow with an amount of money containing a single (individual).

      1. It’s amazing what you can see in a word when you know what you are looking for!

  21. Got off to a bad start when I wrote the answer to 13a in at 16a. Wasted quite a lot of time trying to do SW corner until my mother-in-law pointed out my error. After that it went quite well, although I needed the hint for 15d and resorted to electronic aid for 23a.
    Thanks to Dave and all the posters today!
    mark

  22. We finished with no electronic help and a little dictionary use.

    I wondered if there might be a different compiler as it seemed somehow unusual.

    15d caused the most difficulty, but we learned a new term.

    4* from me.

  23. This looked like it was going to beat me but once I’d got 13a (thanks to good old Bradford’s!) then it started to get a little easier although I must say this has been the toughest Saturday puzzle for quite some while.

  24. Found the combination of N S E & W difficult today!! Stuck on 16a, any help most welcome

    1. 16a Hackneyed poetry rewritten about horse? On the contrary (11)
      The definition is hackneyed. On the contrary means that you want a synonym for horse around an anagram (rewritten) of POETRY.

      1. Aah! thanks. Don’t think ‘On the contrary’ is necessary, save to confuse me…..

        1. wizweg
          “On the contrary” is absolutely essential in the wordplay – see my response to Wanda below.

  25. I enjoyed. SW corner last to come. 13a OK once I realised I was looking for a 3 + 2 to find the first word and that my first attempt at 6d had the wrong ending. I was thinking of ——- fields. Easiest 24a. Cleverest 16a but not sure what “on the contrary” adds.

    1. Wanda
      On the contrary means that, instead of having poetry rewritten about horse, we want horse about poetry rewritten.

  26. I LOVED yesterday’s crossword. Not been on here for a week as been so busy so settled down with the Saturday one last night in bed. Polished it off without looking at the blog – what this means is it was too easy for most of you but for me it was enough of a struggle to give me satisfaction and easy enough for me to complete. WIn win situation. Yay
    Helen

  27. I found this trickier than the usual Saturday standard and struggled a bit early doors before slipping into fourth gear then upto fifth. First in was 24a and last in was 4d.

    Thanks Cephas – an enjoyable post election distraction.

    1. I foolishly left my paper at the White Horse yesterday but in the absence of anybody else can you write the clues out and I can probably give a hand!

      That goes for Ash below as well so we need 25a, 23a and 17d.

    2. 25a Australian talk (6)
      We want an Aboriginal word meaning to chatter which is onomatopoeic. I can’t really see how this clue is meant to be cryptic or what it’s doing in a cryptic crossword!!

    1. Hi Ash welcome to the blog.
      23a Book shelf has little resistance (6)
      The definition is book (the sort you might enter financial transactions in). Put a synonym for shelf in front of abbreviated resistance.

    2. 17d. Pin removed in dangerous experiment – the result is most violent (7)
      Remove the letters of “pin” from “experiment” and make an anagram (dangerous) of what remains.

  30. Many thanks Gazza. I had got 17d right! Could not find 25a in dictionary Trish

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