DT 26409 (Hints)

94 comments on “DT 26409 (Hints)”

1. Easy one today after a pretty testing week. Favourite was 1d – very clever. Also liked 29. Can’t wait for Mary’s hints today as I have to go out.

   1. Almost beat you to it UTC! enjoy your day out :)

2. Good morning Dave, a lovely crossword today, lots of clues I liked, still needed all my books and machines though, but not looked at hints, Is it today that we (Liverpool) play You (Spurs) if so what time is kick off?? :)

   1. yes, yes, yes, the boat is sold :-D :-D :-D

      1. Tottenham v Liverpool – Tomorrow at 16:00

         1. Thanks Franco, I think I’ll put some money on that one!

      2. Well done Mary – went faster than you thought?

         1. Thanks Lea not really, it has been on the market for over a year now, such a relief :)

            1. and we had to let it go for less than half its value, its a bad time for selling a boat :-(

               1. Oh – that’s not so good then but at least you got rid of it.

                  1. yes at least we won’t have to pay marina fees any more :)

3. Up here in the Artic of Newcastle I managed to drag myself out of bed and don lots of layers to uncover the car, I knew it was there somewhere, then warmed myself up with this edifying puzzle which was a treat.
   Thanks Dave and the Setter, will it be Jay ?

   1. Hi Nubian sounds like the white stuff hit you too, I had to go find the car yesterday, so far it hasn’t snowed anymore, fingers crossed! I think weekends it’s either Cephas or Vergilus not sure which day

   2. Usually Cephas on Sat and Virgilius on Sun. Jay is the ‘Wednesday Wizard’

4. After some challenging cryptics this week I found this quite easy. 18a was my favourite however I found 1d & 10a a tad iffy (in my opinion of course).

5. Another excellent puzzle following yesterdays brilliant one. I am almost prepared to put up with the odd Ray T if it means more like yesterday and today :-) My congratulations to the setter.

   1. How can you not love Ray T puzzles – the high spot of the week for me, although I have to confess that I didn’t enjoy his on Thursday this week as much as usual, but I think that was probably me …

6. I’m really enjoying todays’ Xword and I havn’t used the hints yet but they seem more frugal than usual!

   1. Maybe Dave has other things onhis mind today like football and COW! :)

      1. Maybe it’s the Rugby because he played it at school at Rutlish (England V South Africa)

7. I enjoyed this too because the compiler cleverly backed me into a corner – the upper left. Having discovered the answer to Id – I thought this was ingenious – and assuming the answer to 10a was untie, I was left scratching my head as to why rat – also involved in preparations – was an agent… So now you know where I’ve been for the best part of the morning!

8. Very enjoyable Saturday crossword. My only struggle was with 1d but I soon sorted that out. Hard to pick a favourite from all the lovely clues. Thanks to Cephas (if you are back on duty this week?) and BD too. No snow here yet in Kent – it was minus 4 at 9.30 this morning but has warmed up since. Even have the odd burst of sun too.

   1. don’t let the su fool you Sue, its lovely and sunny here now but more snow is forecast!

9. Finished. Brilliant. I don’t care who set it, it was very enjoyable

10. I really liked this one today. Some clever clues, one or two I have seen before, but that did not detract from my enjoyment.
    Many thanks to Cephas, if it is he, and to BD.

    1. Any word on the arrival as yet Jezza?

       1. Not yet Lea. Due today but no sign of anything happening. We are just off to our son’s school Christmas Fair. I will let you know as and when there is any news :)

          1. Oh yes – please do – how exciting. Do you know whether your son is going to have a brother or sister or have you chosen to remain in the dark?

             1. We have no idea Kath. We asked our son what he thought we were having and he said a dinosaur! :)
                Still no sign of movement today (perhaps it has decided it is too cold to enter the world).

11. Nice crossword today. I liked 11a, and I also thought 10a was on the ‘iffy’ side. But what is 22d?? Any clues?

    1. Toadson, I haven’t inked it in yet either, but I think it’s the name of the French proprietor in ‘ello ‘ello

       1. Digby is correct, the second half of the name being French for ‘born’

          1. Thanks to you both – I initially had in mind that the last two letters should be three to mean ‘born’ (i.e. with an extra E).

             1. Yes I thought that too toadson,I think, because that is how we see it in English, eg on a form when they ask for maiden name etc. but used here it is the masculine form in French

                1. Thanks Mary.

             2. toadson, ‘Allo ‘Allo!

                The French feminine form of “born” is “**e”, the masculine is “**”.

                1. Don’t know if we’re ‘allowed’ to put part of the word Franco, BD may delete you! :)

                   1. He has!

                   2. oops!

                      1. Je m’excuse!

                2. Thanks. That’s one I won’t forget! (Hopefully).

12. An enjoyable puzzle today. I was lazy and grabbed a couple of letters from Clued Up as I am recovering from a Leaving do last night.
    Thanks to Cephas (I am reasonably sure it is he) and BD

13. Nie Saturdayb puzzloe. Fouled myself up for ages on 15a as had the wrong ending dfoer 4d. Lesson – don’t make assumptions!!

    Thanks to setter – Cephas – and to BD for hints.

    A dusting of snow at 9:00 but clear skies and clear ground by 9:30.

    1. “Nie Saturdayb puzzloe” – reminds me of Stanley Unwin. Deep Joy!! :smile:

       1. Now there’s someone I’ve not thought of for years. Prof Stanley Unwin – hilarious!

14. Very nice puzzle. The right hand side went in fairly easily, with a the left side a little less easily. Lots of good, enjoyable clues, with a couple I just didn’t understand, but Mary enlightened me. Last two in were 15a and 22d, faves would half to include 4d, 7d and 29a.

    Thanks to Cephas, BD and Mary.

    1. well done today Geoff

15. Favourtite was 29a – not convinced about 28a – can anyone assure me it is to do with a ladder or am I wrong?

    Very cold in Hertfordshire – heavy frost. Would rather be in Brisbane.

    Advice on 28a would be appreciated please.

    1. Think of a line of taxis ..

    2. nothing to do with a ladder little Dave, it is class as in position in the services perhaps and also row as mentioned by toadson above, it is a double definition

    3. Sunny in Languedoc. No snow yet. None expected.

16. Yes, Cephas is back, but not every week.

    1. Hi Cephas thanks for lovely puzzle today, only wish I was half as clever in solving them :-D

    2. Will you be there next week? I had to edit my review last week as I had typed it before you posted to say it wasn’t you!

17. DOH! Thank you to Toadson and Mary – obvious really. Merci.

18. Difficult today/

    Really struggling.

    1. Can I help??

       1. Thanks, I’ve done the ones which are the subjects of hints or discussion above, and will attempt some more.

          I’ll come back for the really tough ones.

    2. Quite agree Peter and ……………………….. MARY –
       yes, what are the answers !!!
       We’ve a fine sprinkling of snow on the hills around Swanage but none in the valley – jolly cold though and I have to go out and find, then seal, where something is getting into our garden at night and waking the dog (hence us) at 3.00 a.m. Might explain why I’m struggling today !

       1. Which ones do you need help with??

          1. most of them – don’t worry Mary, that’s my normal state ! Now I’ve found the hole (and hopefully sealed it) where a badger (I think) was disturbing the peace I’ll get back to concentrating on the puzzle.

          2. One hour later and Bingo ! All done and dusted. Thanks Mary for the offer but these things just have to meander around in my mind and all of a sudden the light dawns ……………………………… Trouble is the meandering can go on forever !

             Hope the Flute goes well – what are you playing?

19. Finished again this week with no help from the hints. The only one I was not sure of was 22d. I had the answer , now I know the reasoning.Favourite clue was 17d. Regards to Dinosaur Pete, we must be sharing the same view. It may be the South coast but it is still very cold.
    Has anyone else noticed that the last day for entry is now shown as Friday, and the review is still done on the Thursday?

    1. You’d have to be very keen to read the review on a Thursday afternoon, fill in the ones you hadn’t already got, rush to a postbox and rely on Royal Mail’s first class service to get the envelope to the Telegraph in the first post on the Friday morning – and your chances of winning the pen after all that would be extremely remote.

20. TTFN folks, signing off to trek through the snow with my flute on my back :)

21. An enjoyable puzzle from Cephas, for which many thanks.

    On blog related matters, Big Dave has been slow in telling us about his interview on “Crossword Unclued”, an Indian crossword site that is well worth browsing (and not just for the BD interview). The link to interview itself is:

    http://www.crosswordunclued.com/2010/11/interview-with-big-dave.html

    1. Thanks for that Prolixic!

22. Stuck on 15a and 15d.

    Any help gratefully received.

    1. OK got them, thank you!

    2. Hi Peter, glad to see I’m not the only one still ploughing on !
       15a could be described as a part amateur so he/she is a …./… If that’s any help
       15d is a word used to describe imposing spectacles i.e. processions.
       Sorry not practised in giving clues, I usually read them, but just finished and saw your question – hope they’re some help.

23. 15a “Sportsman on half-pay”. You need another word for half plus a brief description of a sportsman who is not an amateur.

    15d “Odds on Leonard with sullen brilliance.” You need an abbreviation for odds used in horse racing + a diminuative name for Leonard + a word meaning sullen to give an answer that means brilliance.

    1. You’re clearly far more practised in helpful clues than I am !!!

24. BD Being aware of your predilection for music of yesteryear, I was most disappointed that you did not take the opportunity to include a clip of that marvellous record that went to No 1 in December 1982 by todays 22d and yesterday’s toughie 24a [sic].

    1. When the male half of the duo was asked what made him the most money, did he reply “Save Your Love”? No, it was this one!

       1. Its a corny answer but thanks anyway.

25. Thoroughly enjoyed todays CW, many thanks Cephas & BD, got stuck on 10a, am I right in thinking it also means to take off the price label from something ie; a new jumper. :D

    1. More like remove washing from the line!

       1. Ah got it now 2d being more like a travelling salesman thanks. :D

26. VERY late commenting today – frozen brain, impacted wisdom tooth causing trouble AGAIN, ancient Mum causing more trouble yet again and visitors for weekend. Somehow have found time to do crossword – it really is my bit of escape time – I love it! All visitors now gone to bed, clearing up done, husband and I about to sit by fire for a few minutes then to bed. A dusting of snow last night but nothing more in Oxford although it is now -3.5C – who knows what will happen overnight? Too tired to comment on any of today’s clues apart from 29a which I just loved – it was one of my wonderful father’s favourite expressions whenever he thought that anyone (usually me or my sister) was talking a load of rubbish! Sleep well all and stay warm and safe. Thanks to today’s setter and Big Dave. Maybe I will be the last one to comment today ….

    1. Oh no you won’t, Kath. Hands up all the bloggers that knew 22d did the cornetto thing .

       1. Not quite right.

          22d with an extra E was his partner – he had a name similar to the woman’s name at 24a in yesterday’s Toughie.

          1. I bow to your superior knowledge. Maybe on Thursday you will let me know who was who and who did what. Reminds me of an old limerick!

             1. Because of a change in the closing date, Friday may be the new Thursday – more later.

                1. Rene, Renee, Renate, Renato????????

                   1. You’ve got the gist – but it’s difficult to explain without mentioning the base word itself. The closing date having passed you comment will not be edited!

27. Hard today! Fed up now. Need help with 26a and 24d. Much appreciated…

    1. Welcome to the blog David

       26a Whole drink taken to health centre (5)
       A word meaning whole is a charade of a small drink of spirits followed by the middle (centre) two letters of heALth

       24d Alien had many a coin from Albania (5)
       This alien is an enemy of Dr Who – a charade of a large Roman numeral (many) with A and the Albanian currency

28. Nice puzzle I got 10 a from the definition part but I can’t quite work out the cryptic indicator…..un= a presumably in French but how does the next part work?

    1. As you say 10a starts with “a” in French. What follows is just “woman”, i.e. a woman’s name for which there’s no further wordplay – you just have to get it from the definition (release) and the checking letters.

       1. Many thanks Gazza – it makes sense now- I was reading it in the wrong way and trying to think of a word for a Parisian woman!

29. Yes, I enjoyed this one too. It was an early start on the 6.10am from Leeds to Kings Cross yesterday and was down to 2 left by Grantham after reading the paper first. Finished this morning thanks to clearer brain. I liked 1d, 7d and 20d best.

30. Having a serious senior moment here. Stuck on 23a and then its off to the post box and await my prize pen. Got most of the letters so missing something. Dinners on the table so got to go. Small clue please.

    1. 23a Need month off recovering (2,3,4)

       It’s an anagram (off) of NEED MONTH – recovering is the definition

31. Ta now wasn’t that obvious. Good news after the roast. Now for the afternoon sleep.Best Saturday crossword for weeks.

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