Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 26374
Hints and tips by Libellule
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
Normal service seems to have been resumed. After last weeks very straightforward crossword, we return to about the standard I expect on a Monday. Some lovely clues and surface readings, just what we expect from Rufus. My favourite clues – 25a and 11d.
If you want to see the answer, highlight the space between the curly brackets.
Across
1. Where a preacher stands on how to recycle paper (6)
{PULPIT} – A raised platform in a church that is used for preaching or conducting a service, is if split (4,2) what you would do to paper etc. if you wanted to reuse it.
4. Supporter seen here and there, on the move (8)
{ADHERENT} – An anagram (on the move) of AND THERE is a follower of a cause or individual.
9. Daisy’s song-cycle? (6)
{TANDEM} – The Daisy referred to here is a popular song that refers to a bicycle “built for two”. This reminds me of 2001, A Space Odyssey.
10. Ability to stick to point, perhaps (8)
{GUMPTION} – GUM (stick) followed an anagram (perhaps) of POINT is also an informal word used to describe enterprise or initiative
12. This month in an abbreviated way (4)
{INST} – The abbreviation for in or of the present month, is IN followed by the abbreviation for street.
13. True figure is in this region (5)
{REALM} – A kingdom, is a word for actual followed by the Roman numeral for a thousand.
14. Son having anger for father (4)
{SIRE} – S (son) and then a word for wrath.
17. Deeply sad tendency in an audience (12)
{HEARTRENDING} – The definition is “deeply sad”. Put another word for a general tendency or direction inside another word for the sort of audience that is a preliminary examination of an accused person.
20. Didn’t get full return for your money (12)
{SHORTCHANGED} – To give someone less money than would be due in a transaction.
23. Switch round a route (4)
{ROAD} – The switch is a slender flexible stick, or twig, put a three letter word for a switch around A and you get a public way.
24. Sailors are often so perplexed (2,3)
{AT SEA} – The sort of place where you might find a sailor, is also a phrase that means bewildered.
25. Women’s social group take on politician – an ineffectual person (4)
{WIMP} – The abbreviation for the Jam and Jerusalem crowd, is followed by the usual abbreviation for a British politician, result is a timid or unadventurous person. Perhaps the clue is a reference to Tony Blair?
28. Served a diet now in fashion (6,2)
{WAITED ON} – An anagram (in a fashion) of A DIET NOW is what you might do if you were serving food to someone.
29. Twins’ car seen behind empty garage (6)
{GEMINI} – The astrological sign of the Twins, is made up from a distinctive two door car, resurrected by BMW, put behind G(arag)E, where the contents (empty) have been removed.
30. It shows a way to authenticate mail (8)
{SIGNPOST} – Something that you would find on the road that shows directions, is also how you might finish a letter off.
31. Give the signal to pass a bottle of wine (6)
{FLAGON} – What a yellow flag in motor racing may be used for perhaps? Is also a large leather, metal or ceramic pitcher often used for drink.
Down
1. Place on one side? Correct (3,5)
{PUT RIGHT} – It’s not the left side.
2. Puts the chap ashore, since he’s no sailor (8)
{LANDSMAN} – A term for someone who lives and works ashore, is constructed from two words that could be used to describe disembarking a person from a ship for example.
3. About time for a piece of news (4)
{ITEM} – An anagram (about) of TIME.
5. Transport for many, with a connecting flight (6-6)
{DOUBLE DECKER} – A Routemaster for example.
6. Leading estate agent’s notice (4)
{ESPY} – The first letter (leading) of E(state) followed by another word for a secret agent.
7. To extract information is illegal, we hear (6)
{ELICIT} – A sounds like clue. To bring or draw something out e.g. information, sounds like something that is unlawful.
8. Sensitive nurse (6)
{TENDER} – Double definition. Easily hurt, and someone who looks after something.
11. Cabinet’s role in coalition of parties (12)
{CELEBRATIONS} – An anagram (in coalition of) of CABINETS ROLE are also joyful occasions.
15. Feeling irritable? (5)
{ITCHY} – in a state where you are nervous and unable to relax. Is this clue cryptic?
16. Some of the main castles conquered by Spain (5)
{INCAS} – A South American people who were conquered by the conquistadors is hidden between the words main and castles.
18. Double gin and It drunk – producing a glow? (8)
{IGNITING} – An anagram (drunk) of GIN, GIN and IT
19. Acceptance of notice before election (8)
{ADOPTION} – AD (notice), is placed before a word meaning something chosen or available as a choice.
21. Makes headlines? (6)
{FROWNS} – The sort of headlines that are created when you wrinkle your brow.
22. Deserving a reprimand (6)
{RATING} – A double definition, being entitled to, or a harsh scolding.
26. Transport for magistrate going round central Greece (4)
{JEEP} – An abbreviation for a local magistrate with limited powers is put around the central letters of gr(EE)ce.
27. Meat for a prodigal son? (4)
{VEAL} – Another word for the meat of a “fatted calf”.
I agree with all your comments, particularly on 25a! – which is a favourite clue of mine too. Took slightly longer to solve than last week’s easy puzzle but nothing problematic at all. Agree with you about 15d – I kept looking for something more complicated but it turned out to be not very cryptic at all. Thanks to Rufus for the puzzle and Libellule for the explanations.
Enjoyed this one, liked 25a, 31a hated 22d it doesn’t make sense. Thank you Rufus and Libellule for the explanations
Dickiedot,
22d is a double definition, deserving (Worthy, as of reward, praise, or aid) = rating, where rating means being entitled to something. Rating can also mean a reprimand, as in a harsh scolding.
I got 22d, as soon as I saw the word ‘deserving’. I think because I saw it in one of the weekend puzzles!
Thanks to Rufus for an enjoyable puzzle, and to Libellule for the notes.
Thanks for that, I have never heard rating = reprimand. Live and learn, what!
Oh dear, dare I say I didn’t like this Rufus puzzle, I always like Rufus puzzles?, this one didn’t feel typical Rufus to me, not as much ‘fun’ as usual, I found it quite tough in places and had to resort to the blog for a few, thank you Libellule, lots of clues I didn’t like today and only two favourites 5d and 25a, good luck all CC members, if I keep on like this, I will be back really soon! :)
Another Monday off (could get used to this) – not as easy as last Monday’s. I also resorted to the blog for two or three clues. Maybe in a year or two I won’t need to?? 5d is a nice clue though.
Really struggled to get going – so cheated and got some help from the blog. Favorite was 18d.
Perhaps Liverpool would be better if they started playing baseball for their new owners :)
Thanks for that Chris :)
A pleasant start to the week, from tomorrow I will be doing the paper version for three days so I hope there is a newsagent locally in Edinburgh. I will be staying in Dublin St if anyone knows of a newsagent or more importantly as Mrs N says” A good restaurant nearby would be helpful”. Any tips gratefully recieved.
Thanks to Rufus and Libellule for all. Fav clue has to be 11d as an homage to Mrs N.Points make prizes!
Have a lovely time and don’t forget to spoil Mrs N :)
Many happy returns to the soignee Mrs N. Have a lovely time.
Nubian, you will be close to the St. James shopping centre which should supply your needs. The best restaurant in Edinburgh 9 or in the Dublin St. area is the Stac Polly at no. 29 Dublin St, or for a bar lunch the Magnum just round the corner in Albany St. Lieth Street, which is also close by has many Italian and ethnic resstaurants of varying quality. Enjoy your stay in our beautiful Capital City and try to forgive the mess being made by the new tram system work.
Sorry about the typos the 9 should have been a bracket and Leith is mis-spelt.
I enjoyed this one, a pleasant start to the week. Favourites are 1a and 5d.
Thanks Rufus and Libellule.
Loved this! favourite clues 5d, 21d and 25a. Wasn’t quite sure about 27d, although had got the correct answer. so thanks for the explanation, Libellule!
Found this more difficult than 2* and it’s taken a bit longer than most Monday crosswords. Started off badly by making 17a ‘heavyhearted’ so was instantly in trouble – oh dear! Once I sorted that out most of it fell into place pretty well. Favourite clues today include 1, 10 and 20a and 5 and 11d. Now off to do more mountains of washing – husband just back from a week in USA – if there is anything worse than a man with a cold it’s a man with a cold AND jet lag! Sorry all you chaps – don’t usually do sexist comments unless it’s about football, cricket …. ! Thanks to Rufus and Libellule.
I also put ‘heavyhearted’ to start with Kath! A man with a cold, jet lag and a mountain of dirty washing! Oh dear!
Thanks Mary – glad I wasn’t the only one to jump into 17a – thanks for sympathy re husband – rather think that it’s a bit more than ONE mountain of washing! Unfortunately it has now, mostly, been turned into ironing – even worse! Dog walk first, I think.
How about dog walk, sit down, man iron!
Hmmm – doesn’t quite work like that in our house! In fairness he’s at work all day and I’m not so shouldn’t really grumble.
Nice gentle start to the week. Will we suffer later as we did last week.
Thanks to setter and Libellule.
The top half was fairly atraightforward, but got in a right pickle in the lower half. I read the capital I in 18d as a lower-case L and filled in TINGLING and then I tried GLINTING! The penny finally dropped … 5d was the top clue for me too. Also had to resort to the blog for a couple of the lower half. 22d as a reprimand is a new one for me.
Thanks for the fun and review.
You really are improving rapidly Geoff you will be in the JOCC before too long :)
Thanks, but still very dependent on the books and toys. Pete is probably right, we will suffer for it in a day or three and then I’ll be stuck!
Me too :)
Just noticed I won the Cluedup weekly draw. My few days in Edinburgh just got a tad cheaper.
Ooh well done, what do you win??
50 pounds Mary !
Nice one Nubian! I hope you both have a good Edinburgh trip.
Thanks Nubian: – I never knew there was a prize puzzle! Hopefully every Monday, as it makes up for there being no Toughie. I have just entered No 104, which I presume is the one for this week.
No I have never entered any prize puzzles either or even known of tem, fifty pounds is not bad for doing something you enjoy
Mary
If you click on WinPrizes on the cluedup website, it gives you 3 weekly puzzle which offer a £50 prize.
thanks Jezza
You get 100 pounds in the monthly draw which is drawn from all the weekly entries of the month. I won that last December.
I used to do it – until I read the small print….
“All weekly and monthly prize puzzle prize draws are open to subscribers to CluedUp the Telegraph’s puzzle service only who are aged 18 years or over and are resident in the United Kingdom”. That last clause is a problem for some of us.
Quel dommage!
Obviously money goes to money, Nubian!!
EVERY TIME I try to submit a prize puzzle a dialog box appears saying an error occcurred whilst trying to submit puzzle or some such nonsense. I hit OK, then exit. If I go back to the prize puzzle in the menu, it tells me I’ve submitted. I don’t know whether or not to believe it, but keep plugging away. At least someone has won something…..
Yet another of CluedUp’s charming little eccentricities.
Good positive start to week.Most went in OK & just finished last 2 after a long stint of Ironing.So Cuppa & light lunch for hub now whose just back from Docs .Cheers & thanks to setter & L.
Found this one enjoyable and managed once again to do quite a bit of it before looking at blog. NW and SE corners went in quite quickly but then struggled with a couple in middle. Favourites were 1a and 25a. 22d new to me too. Thanks to setter and L for hints. Back to work after an early lunch!!
Another sound and fair challenge from Mr Dependable Rufus, with 5d & 21d my picks. You might have to make do with “The Scotsman”, Nubian. When I was stationed at RNAS Lossiemouth on the Moray Firth, it was either that or “The Press & Journal”. But things have probably improved since then!
Oh dear
A Google search reveals that there is a newsagents called News Trader in Dublin Street, Edinburgh. It doesn’t go so far as to say whether they stock our favourite newspaper. Good luck with your search. You are very lucky to be ‘allowed’ to do the cryptics when away from home – I get mutterings but I usually manage to bring Mr CS round to my way of thinking in the end :D
I swear I could hear the crack of a very long whip there Sue. OOer!
Nothing so nasty or even ooer missus. I find the offer of quantities of beer usually does the trick!
Enjoyable crossword if a trifle on the non taxing side. Thanks Rufus and Libellule. Nubian, I think Digby is being a bit tongue in cheek, there is a massive difference between Edinburgh and Lossiemouth, you will get all you need close by.
Cheers’n that Boab.
Nubian, as well as the previous restaurants I mentioned in responsee to your first post, I should have mentioned ” Zest” on the North St/Andrew St corner, it is arguably the best modern restaurant in the Capital, and it is about a 7min stroll from Dublin St.
Thanks for them Boab, I am really looking forward to seeing how Princes St has got on with the building work since I was there last year, someone told me they may abandon the whole project as it doesn’t go to the airport, costly.
I check your recommendations for restaurants, thanks again.
Aye, and I expect that you can even get the DT in Elgin on the day of publication too!
All good nothing bad from Rufus today.
Many thanks to him and to Libellule.
Yes, a good one today but not as easy as last week’s Monday one. Having put ‘all right’ as 1d it delayed me finding 1 and 9 across which was a cinch when I changed ‘all’ to ‘put’! Nobody else has mentioned the nice clue at 30a, which I liked. Thank you Rufus and Libellule for your tips and explaining ‘heartrending’ which I got before the explanation.
I almost convinced myself that 30a was something to do with stamp, but couldn’t find anything to go with it!
I almost convinced myself that it might be password – just goes to show how electronic we all are these days.
Kath,
Funnily enough I nearly made a comment about Anti-Virus programs :-)
Me too, mary!!
Completed most of today’s drinking coffee in the cafe of a local supermarket but lost concentration when the staff started scraping the chairs across the floor instead of lifting them slightly to put them back in place…..grr!
Liked 5d a lot. Needed a hint with 30a in the end.
Thanks Libellule and Rufus.
Nice start to a Monday morning. Many thanks to Rufus and to Libellule for the review.
Got stuck on 10a. Realised the answer, but not the reason. Otherwise as above, slightly harder than normal for Monday.
Foolishly I put “all —–” for 1d that wrecked my chances of solving both 1a and 9a – DOH!
Mary, I am absolutely with you, didn’t like this at all. Made me wish for last Mondays excellent puzzle.
just the two of us then Barrie :)
A very nice puzzle today – my favourite clue was 5d and i did it only 30 mins- yippee! I must be improving!
Another gentle start to the week for me!
Clues that I liked were : 1a, 10a, 25a, 31a, 18d, 21d & 27d.
Did the NW corner in minutes.
Did not like the grid.
Rest took all day intermittently.
29a my favourite.
Many thanks to Libellule, as always , for an excellent blog, and also to all the comments.
From these comments in the past I knew Nubian was ex-Navy – now I see Digby has Fleet Air Arm connections as he served at RNAS Lossiemouth.
I joined the RN as a Boy Seaman at 15 – at the infamous HMS Ganges. As a Seaman Petty Officer at 20, Lord Louis Mountbatten, then a Sea Lord, was concerned about the number of fatalities caused by the fast new jets landing on old carriers and called for members from the lower deck to volunteer for aircrew. Only two courses came into being before the idea was cancelled as quite a few were killed, other resigned, so very few reached the end and the powers that be decided the courses weren’t viable. I was on the first and ended up as a Lieutenant in the Fleet Air Arm. I served on 5 carriers with home base mainly at RNAS Culdrose in Cornwall, but visited Lossiemouth several times.
It was in Cornwall when the winter weather stopped flying and the majority of the aircrew played cards, for money, that I was banned as I was a Member of the Magic Circle, and they thought I would have an advantage. Instead I started solving crosswords taken from the Wardroom. Then, when we went to sea ,without newspapers, I started compiling, my first puzzle appearing in the Radio Times in 1963.
Rufus, I don’t think our paths crossed, but no doubt we share many similar and adrenalin-provoking moments. I went through Buccaneer training at Lossie in 1970, before joining 800 Squadron in Eagle for her last commission (a world-wide cruise). Then 2 tours in Ark on 809, before an exchange tour with the USN in Virginia on their Bucc equivalent, the A6 Intruder. I took a lot of Super-8 cine film around this time, some inside the cockpit, which is now on DVD. I’d be happy to send you a copy if you wish. Big Dave has my email details, should you want get in touch. Meanwhile, I do enjoy your Monday puzzles, which provide an amusing and relatively gentle introduction to the crossword week. I know that Mary, Kath, Nubian (seaman officer, but never mind!) and many other bloggers, share my view.