DT 26349 (Hints) – Big Dave's Crossword Blog
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DT 26349 (Hints)

by Big Dave  

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 26349 (Hints)

Big Dave’s Saturday Crossword Club

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As is usual for the weekend prize crosswords, I will select a few of the better clues and provide hints for them.

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.

A full review of this puzzle will be published on Thursday, 23rd September.

Across

1a    Chief warning the majority (8)
An adjective meaning chief or most advanced is a charade of a warning to other golfers followed by the majority

5a    Corporation with a strike-breaker (6)
A corporation or large stomach is found by putting A inside a strike in boxing

23a    Heavenly model going like clockwork — error strangely unknown (6)
A clockwork model of the solar system (there’s a picture of mine in my Miscellany Gallery!) is an anagram (strangely) of ERROR together with an unknown quantity

26a    Researcher, not Roman Catholic, arranged run through (8)
An anagram (arranged) of RESEA(RC)HER without R(oman) C(atholic) gives a verb meaning to run through a new theatrical production

Down

1d    In grief, a cadet at the front (6)
Hidden inside the clue is something that is at the front

3d    Wander like two of us cockneys (7)
Split this as (2,3,’2) to get the cockneys

12d    I have bar first excessively high (11)
The shortened form of I have is preceded by a word meaning to bar to get, for example, an excessively high price

20d    Place of secret amusement? (6)
A cryptic definition of where one might metaphorically laugh privately

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!

89 comments on “DT 26349 (Hints)”

  1. Morning BD, I’ve never come across this definition of corporation before, where have I been? I got there but needed your help as to why. Enjoyed this one, liked 9a best

      1. Speaking personally, it helps if you are married to a man who has one!!! (Don’t tell him I said that!)

          1. And I’d never come across that definition either but, funnily enough, amongst a selection of puns which arrived in my inbox yesterday morning was the following:

            The most portly of the Knights of the Round Table was Sir Cumference , who acquired his size from too much pi…

              1. My father (and I guess it came from my grandfather who was born and brought up in the east end of London) always refered to a gold pocket watch worn in the waist coat as the “Mayor and Corporation”.

              1. Welcome to the blog Steph

                5a Corporation with a strike-breaker (6)
                You must have realised by now that the answer is another name for a large stomach or pot-belly. You get there by putting A inside (breaking) a strike, as made by a boxer.

  2. I loved this puzzle. Quick to solve so just right for my busy day. Lots of lovely clues, I only wish it was my turn to do the review. My favourite is 20d. Thanks Cephas and BD.

  3. Interesting. Some probably too obvious eg 24a 25a and 26a. 13a was first one in. A few obscure words eg 15d, 9a and 23a. 10a – guessed the answer but it took a long time for the penny to drop on the cryptic clue but good when I got it. Did not think 19d was a very good clue but perhaps I am missing something. 20d I had to check in the dictionary. Thought it fitted the secret – not familiar with it in relation to amusement. Probably completed all but 6 clues in very quick time – then pondered over the rest. Is it the usual Saturday setter – Cephas?

  4. I forgot to say harrumph again to the DT – how many phone companies are there left before we get our rightful place on the back page??

      1. Here, here ! Guarantees I won’t be buying one, whatever it is. I really liked to think that the D.T. were slightly above selling their souls for a mess of potage !

        Liked the puzzle once I’d found it though, and I finished it (with a little electronic help and, of course, from BD’s hints) in time to do numerous chores I’ve been putting off for weeks – can’t win them all !

    2. I’m with you crypticsue; the right place for the crossword is on the back page. My Grandfather perfected a method for folding the Telegraph which meant he could keep it in the top drawer of his desk and do the crossword without anyone else in the office being able to see, and his technique that still serves me well to this day. If they start advertising phones on a weekday I’ll be stuffed.

  5. A little easier than usual I thought, but some nice clues. Wouldn’t have known the ‘corporation’ definition either, but I’m still a greenhorn. Off to the Southport Airshow now. And I too find the back page adverts annoying – must be turning into a Victor Meldrew as the years go by!

  6. Nice puzzle and good fun to solve.

    I too had never before seen this definition of “corporation” (5a) so thanks for the hint – I would not have solved that one without it. The great thing about crosswords is that not only do you learn new words, you also learn new definitions for words that are already in your vocabulary.

    I agree with crypticsue – 20d was also my favourite. I initially couldn’t solve it even after the hint but once I had all the intersecting letters, the penny dropped and it raised a smile. Good clue.

    Thanks to Big Dave for the hints and Cephas for the puzzle.

  7. A nice gentle start to a Saturday not too taxing, favourite is 3d made me laugh when I read BD’s hint after, Hi Ho off to work now, totally agree with Crypticsue and Toadson on the back page advertising. :D

  8. Much more like the required level for a Saturday. A good mix of clues, with some that had me diving for Chambers – particularly 5a, 10a and 20d. I can now take to the tennis courts, and enjoy an almost Spring-like day.

  10. Great fun with a nice range of clues from comfortable starters to some meaty main courses. Thanks to Cepahs for the Saturday morning workout.

  11. Such a relief after yesterday’s horror!! My self confidence is ALMOST restored! I thought that these were mostly fairly easy – 9a and 4d took a while. Loved 10a (although started off trying to make something to do with rump – don’t quite know why now) and 3 and 20d. Off to the garden now – sunny but quite chilly in Oxford. Thanks to Cephas and BD.

    HATE it when the crossword isn’t on the back page – it throws me out completely so another harrumph to add to the others!

  12. I enjoyed that. 23a I got because I remembered Big Dave’s photo of said item in his miscellany gallery. I new it would come in handy one day.
    Thanks to Cephas and Big Dave for the extra hints

  13. I’ve been ‘lurking’ and listening in for sometime now but never dared join in with you bunch of brilliant crossworders. But with your help I’m getting better and I loved today’s because I could do it! All except 20d… Please can someone give me another hint??

    2. Hi – not everyone is brilliant – some (me for one) need help nearly every day. Like you, I ‘lurked’ for ages before summoning the courage to write a comment. Everyone here is fantastically welcoming and helpful. As far as 20d is concerned it’s somewhere someone might tell you to keep it if they were telling you a secret, as in ” but keep it up your ……”. I had never heard of today’s meaning but it is in the dictionary. Good luck!

    3. Crystal

      We all enjoy helping others – that’s why we are here.

      The expression “to laugh in or up one’s ******” is probably one with which not everyone is familiar, but, as Kath says, it is in Chambers. The trouble is that you need to know the answer in order to know where to look!

      I have just checked, and it is also there under “laugh”.

    4. Great to welcome a new name. We are all here to learn and highlight our shortcomings Crystal so dive in and enjoy. Wait till Mary is back, she will want to know all about you.

      2. PS Is Mary not doing the crossword on hols? Or is she getting holiday from posting here? I feel sure that the interweb will have reached Torquay.

  14. Very enjoyable today. 4* from someone who has been rather critical of some previous Saturday PPs. But I never used the words ‘pedestrian’ or ‘stroll’, though.
    I had no idea that the back page of the paper was being butchered in the name of Mammon. I must call round to my neighbour’s house to look at a paper and see for myself after nearly 4 years of CluedUp and reading the DT on the net.

  15. Very nice puzzle from Cephas with 5a being favourite. Many thanks for the puzzle, Cephas, and to BD for the hints.

  16. Thanks to Crystal’s post I’ve plucked up the courage to step forward from the shadows too :o) so….hello all!

    Although not in a particularly quick time, I completed this puzzle without recourse to BD’s wonderful hints which is the second time this week …..the first time being the puzzle containing the ‘ample librarians.’

    It’s a habit of mine to bark up the wrong tree but still get the right answer which I seem to have done with 20d, getting the answer and then justifying it by thinking of conjuring!

  17. New to you guys but it was like a revelation to find kindred spirits and a way to solve those nasty little clues.
    Can’t get near to 9 across because I can’t get 2 down either. You may all now be chuckling at my stupidity but have pity and help me out. This hangover doesn’t help. Must have destroyed several million crossword braincells last night
    cheers
    john

    1. Hi John – welcome to the blog.
      2d Fellow socialist accepted recommital (6)
      The definition is recommital, and it’s easier if you improve the English to “Socialist accepted fellow”, i.e. a socialist or communist surrounds a synonym for fellow.

    2. 9a Buddy, revolutionary and chaplain (8)
      The definition is buddy. It’s a charade of an abbreviation for a revolutionary (similar to the one in 2d) and what a chaplain is called in the armed forces.

    3. John

      I was tempted to comment on the fact that in Crosswordland all left-wingers are revolutionaries. The abbreviation used here is a less-common one for a party member and I don’t recall seeing it before. As you might have guessed, it’s in Chambers!

      1. Thank you very much Gazza – I have been stuck on exactly the same two clues. I was on the right track but the chaplain in the armed forces hint sorted me out.

  18. started off well as usual, but am now stuck! think i have correct spelling for 9a. 20d i associated with a magician???. completely flummoxed with 21a. Think i have a clue but cant see the reasoning. help please. Excellent site as always.

    1. 21a Make notes using lines found in chapel (7)
      What you want is (something) found in a chapel. Start with a verb meaning to make notes (sing) and add an abbreviation for a method of transport using lines.

    2. 21a Make notes using lines found in chapel (7). Look at it as 5,2, with the notes being what Gregorian Monks do, while the 2 is one of the standard abbreviations for railway. Together they form a House of God.

    3. have taken advice from my old xwrd mentor.

      “its my paper and im putting it in!!!”

      look forward to thursdays review.

  20. Hi, I am yet another long-time lurker who has come out today.
    I found today’s puzzle very easy apart from 5a – never heard of this definition of corporation – hopefully, I will remember this in future, especially with today’s references to Sir Cumference.
    The only other problematic clue was 20d: solved it but via the wrong route – I thought it was a definition of where a conjuror places playing cards while entertaining his audience.

    1. Hi Romanovich – welcome to the blog.
      Today is obviously the day for new contacts. I hope that you’ll all continue to comment and join in the banter.

      1. 20d: Not yet convinced about your take on this solution. Isn’t “secret amusement” a definition of conjuring?

        1. I suppose it is and vaguely see what you mean but I think that the two things you are keeping up your ‘……’ are a secret and a laugh.

          SO many new people commenting on the blog today – all of you be warned!! This is seriously addictive!!!! I spend hours, well, certainly quite a long time, every day when I should be doing lots of other things.

            1. As this is a prize crossword, there will be no explanation from the setter, but consider this:

              From the clue – “Place of secret amusement”

              From the ODE under laugh – “Be secretly or inwardly amused”

              From Chambers under laugh – “To laugh inwardly”

              From Chambers under the answer – “To laugh privately or unperceived”

              I’m convinced.

  21. All done despite being at work. I agree – CROSSWORD ON BACK PAGE – I DON’T WANT A FANCY ‘PHONE!!

    Still, West Brom are winning!!!

  22. Out all day so started late. Another enjoyable puzzle and needed the blog for 20d.Thanks to Cephas, Big Dave et al.

  23. Forgot to say I fully support everyone who wants our crossword on the back page. Like many I do not want a mobile phone.

  24. I don’t often comment on line as I don’t usually have much to say. But I do enjoy reading all the comments. I also rarely manage to finish a crossword. I only have the opportunity to do the crossword on Saturdays – but I enjoy trying. But with everyone’s help – I have managed to finish one! For me it is a personal celebration as I only manage to do this about 3-4 times a year. I only discovered BD blog a relatively short while back and reading it has become a regular part of my Saturday routine. With Bloggers’ help I have improved and can usually get 80% of the clues.

    Thank you all for your humour and help!

  26. Only got time to look at this today due to being dragged round Edinburgh’s finest shops yesterday. Obviously somewhat late, but just in case anyone is reading – help me out with 10a. I’ve got the answer but the clue makes no sense! The rest was very straightforward I thought. Thanks again BD.

    1. Al, I’ve posted my completed crossword (dreamer!!) but as I recall this was the one about a kind of meat. Think of a boardgame, and remove the “back”.

      1. Great minds think alike – only I have just finished it this morning as didn’t have time to do it yesterday.

      1. Thank you both for putting me out of my misery! Its funny how the mind can get stuck on one track (well mine does anyway). All I could think of was the association of “game” and “meat” which is why the solution made no sense to me.

  27. 1. I have never found that the Saturday crossword is particularly easy, although it is generally beasier than the weekday crossword.
    2. I contributed to the blog straight away and therefore can claim not to be a lurker.
    3. Si, on parle francais, on trouvera 13a facile.

  28. Started this on the train to Lords yesterday and didn’t finish as I wasn’t sure about 15d and 23a without a dictionary to hand.
    I looked at 20d on the basis of a magician…same answer.
    I liked 4d best this week.

    1. Thank you, Rod, for a little bit of support for 20d – Magician! However, I was very severely ticked off by BD for suggesting this – See Comment #20 above.
      By the way, not at all wishing to moan (a la Monsieur Wenger) – the Comment Numbers to the left of the bloggers’ names are not very easy to read (obscured by the icons). Or maybe, it’s just my browser (IE8).

      1. Romanovich,
        Your comment had to be moderated because you used a different email address. Both addresses are now validated.

      2. Romanovich

        You weren’t “ticked off”! When you become aware of the correct expression – to laugh up one’s proverbial – you know that it has to be the correct wordplay. It’s not unusual for answers to be achieved by the wrong, faintly plausible, route.

        As far as the comment numbers are concerned, the trouble is caused by Microsoft’s arrogant interpretation of html protocol in IE. There are, however, special ways of inserting browser dependent code and I will try to find some time to look at it. Why not install Firefox instead – it’s millions of times better.

        1. Thanks BD. I will try Firefox! A million times better??? However, I still do not completely agree…….. Maybe, I should bow to your superior knowledge and experience on crosswords! N’uff said my Hearties!! We’ll see how the Mainsail sets……let me go Home!

      3. BTW IE9 (Beta) makes an even worse hash of the interpretation and doesn’t display the comment numbers at all. I’ll stick with Firefox.

  29. I am sitting in my home in Southern Spain trying to complete this crossword and I am still struggling with 9 across – I thought a Chaplain WAS a Chaplain in the armed forces – cant see it at all even though I have all the others

    1. Hi AuntiePam – welcome to the blog.
      It’s how a chaplain may be addressed (or a father round where you live!).

  31. Back after an interval! Have been able to solve most Saturday puzzles recently.Got a bit stuck with 5a, many thanks for hint,seems quite obvious now!Seems I was not alone. Cheers everyone!

  32. Started and finished within 30 minutes late last night.

    What a relief to find a crossword I could make sense of. Apart from Mondays I find myself struggling.every day.

  33. In response to tony p17 – its only taken my girl and I two and a half days, with lots of help from BD and the crossword solver. Also in response to the other “outed lurkers” I too have broken my silence today- only in the safe knowledge that the clever contributors have long since moved on from this page. My darling Louise and I can now slip back into our ignorant obscurity. With love.

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