DT 26529 – Big Dave's Crossword Blog
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DT 26529

by Libellule  

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 26529

Hints and tips by Libellule

+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +

BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***

Fewer anagrams today than usual, but still another classic piece of work from the Monday Maestro. Enjoy.

You can reveal the answer by highlighting the space between the curly brackets.

Across
1. Possibly uppermost in arrogance (11)
{PRESUMPTION} – An anagram (possibly) of UPPERMOST IN is also bold or offensive behaviour.

9. Notice girl being embraced by two others (9)
{DISMISSAL} – Put MISS (girl) inside (embraced) two other girls names to produce the sort of notice you would get if you lost your job.

10. In three-quarters of an hour two hundred take place (5)
{OCCUR} – Two Roman numerals for one hundred are placed inside the last three letters of the word hour for a word that means to happen.

11. Small number return to job connected with computers (2-4)
{ON-LINE} – The definition is connected with computers, for example browsing the internet. Reverse NO (small number) and then add a word for trade or occupation.

12. Involved in a quest for relics of a bygone age (8)
{ANTIQUES} – An anagram (involved) of IN A QUEST are objects from a previous period.

13. Gear-case? (6)
{KITBAG} – Typically a bag used to contain a serviceman’s gear.

15. Lose, to put it badly (8)
{MISPLACE} – Double definition, a word that means to lose something by temporarily by forgetting where it was put

18. Need to have match around for when it’s dark (8)
{BLACKOUT} – Put a word for a boxing match for example around a synonym for a deficiency or absence, to get a word that describes the loss of all artificial light.

19. Be there at the beginning and finale (6)
{ATTEND} – A word that means to be present at, is constructed from AT, the first (beginning) letter of the and then another word for finish.

21. So he and I form a strong attachment (8)
{ADHESION} – An anagram (form) of SO HE AND I is also a word that means sticking together.

23. Two bills I stuck on a tree (6)
{ACACIA} – A bill is AC (account), so double it and then stick on I and A to get a spiny tree.

26. Passage from a small island (5)
{AISLE} – A is followed by a word for a small island to get a passageway, for example in a church.

27. Is in better position to be inventive (9)
{IMPROVISE} – Put IS inside a word that means to become better to produce another word meaning to perform with little or no preparation.

28. Struggles to maintain faith in the past (3,8)
{THE CRUSADES} – A cryptic definition that describes the sort of “struggles” that took place in the 1th, 12th and 13th centuries in the “Holy Land”.

Down

1. Stuff with hair — it’s for reasons of safety (7)
{PADLOCK} – Aword that means to line or stuff with soft material is then followed by another word for a tress of hair, is a security item that is “a hinged shackle that can be passed through the staple of a hasp or the links in a chain and then snapped shut”.

2. Supporter of general uprising when accepted (5)
{EASEL} – An upright tripod stand used by artists is found by reversing (uprising) the name of a famous Confederate General and then placing inside a two letter word that can be used instead of when.

3. Organisation has means of raising car standard (5,4)
{UNION JACK} – The sort of association that is related to types of industry, and then add a device that is used to raise heavy objects describes the flag of the United Kingdom.

4. Regularly praises successful result of exam taker (4)
{PASS} – Just take the odd letters of praises…

5. One student’s floor-covering is in a state (8)
{ILLINOIS} – I (one), L (student), a smooth hard-wearing floor covering, and then IS, is also the 21st US State.

6. I complain when she comes up (5)
{NAOMI} – Reverse I and another word for grumble to get Ms. Campbell’s first name.

7. Anticipate report of third-stream class (7)
{FORESEE} – A word that means to know in advance sounds like (report) 4C.

8. A leading Catholic clergyman is precise (8)
{ACCURATE} – A, the first letter of Catholic, and another word for a cleric.

14. Box smart during trial (3,5)
{TEA CHEST} – A box usually used for transporting a type of drink consists of a word for a dull pain inside another word for an exam.

16. Explain how to record one’s vote (3,6)
{PUT ACROSS} – To state something so it can be understood clearly, is also what you do when you indicate your preference in an election.

17. No cup-tie may be postponed (3,2,3)
{PUT ON ICE} – An anagram (may be) of NO CUP TIE is a phrase that can also mean to be delayed.

18. Commercial interrupts fight — it’s a boring item (7)
{BRADAWL} – Put AD (commercial) inside (interrupts) a word for a noisy fight to get a tool that is used to punch small holes for screws.

20. Underwear designers? (7)
{DRAWERS} – Another word for underpants could also refer to people who sketch things for example.

22. Shelter in street from snow and rain (5)
{SLEET} – Another word for cover or shelter is placed inside ST.

24. Infant learner told off, put outside (5)
{CHILD} – Put the archaic past tense of a word that means “told off” around L (learner).

25. Incentive to knock time off sprint (4)
{SPUR} – Remove T (time) from a word that means a sudden increase in activity or speed e.g. a sprint and you have the sort of incentive that was used to urge on horses.

The Quick crossword pun: {cane} + {enable} = {Cain and Abel}

34 comments on “DT 26529”

  1. Ooh! First.

    Usual enjoyable Rufus. Quite straightforward. Favourite clue: 16d (for topicality as much as anything) and last in was 28a which I also liked.

    Thank you to Rufus and Libellule.

    Nick

  2. Finished this in the car today before taking the dog for a walk through the fields. (Not that you need to know that). For me, a ‘personal best’ time-wise. Now if only I could do that on a Thursday…. Thought 7d was a witty clue, though the old-stagers may have seen it before? Thanks to the setter and Libellule.

  3. Gentle introduction to the week from Rufus. Thanks to both.

    I would also recommend his offering over in the Guardian for those of us slightly frayed around the edges after the Bacchanalian excesses of the weekend (well a few cheeky libations then if not the full on orgiastic roistering)

  5. Thoroughly enjoyable crossword this morning. Nearlly all answers put a smile on my face. Fav. was28 a. Thanks setter and Libellule. Can now start this beautiful day.

  6. Most of it was usual high standard but I didn’t like 7d (maybe I’m not old enough to remember classes graded by letter); 2d was easy enough but should general have been capitalised?

    Thanks to Rufus and Libellule.

    1. I am old enough! From first term in Senior 1, we were either ‘A’ Stream (Maths, Physics, Chemistry, Latin, + usual other subjects) or ‘B’ Stream (Arithmetic, Domestic Science, + usual other subjects. Those in the ‘A’ Stream were heading for university, those in the ‘B’ stream were to be secretaries, nurses, hairdressers etc. I was (just) in the ‘A’stream.

      My older brother and his peers were ‘streamed’ from day one in P1, and there were 4 streams, so those in the ‘D’ stream were considered dunces!.

      1. …and at my grammar school in the 70s (but still stuck in the 1500s) written off at the age of 11 unless you excelled at rugby…

        1. Sounds like my grammar school,too. Oh happy days! Enjoyed this, but needed the explanation for 24d to understand the answer as I had not heard of the archaic form of “told off”. Liked 20d. Thanks to setter and Libellule for review

  7. Gosh, one I could do, though needed a little help along the way. Lots of smiles. Just one thing I don’t understand, how does third-stream class = 4C?

    Thanks to Rufus, very enjoyable, and Libellule, I needed a hint or three and a couple of explanations.

    1. It is an example – year 4, third stream – first stream would be 4a, bottom stream 4d.

    2. I had trouble with this one too. Bought a “hint” from Clued-up to get the first letter, but still didn’t understand the word play until Libellule. In my school, the best were in the “A” stream, I was in the “B” stream – until my last year when I was downgraded to the “C” stream for lack of concentration in Latin and French.

      ps. Libellule is one of my favourite french words along with canicule and herisson

  8. Nice start to the week, no demons today. Enjoyed 28A, 20D, 24D and favourite was 18D – don’t think I’ve come across one of those since I stopped the woodwork lessons in my 2nd year at school.

  9. Just right for a sunny Monday. Off to the Botanics to enjoy rest of the day!

    Thanks to Rufus and Reviewer,

  11. A lovely start to the day – didn’t take long at all to solve but I did smile as I filled in the solutions, especially at 20d. Thanks to Rufus for the fun and Libellule for the review.

    I have done all the other puzzles and can highly recommend them all – Rufus in the Guardian won’t take you long either.

    Have the afternoon off to go to an art exhibition; the enjoy some tea and cake and the lovely sunshine. An exhibition in Whistable not the new Turner in Margate – we are waiting until the crowds die down a bit for that one.

  12. Nice puzzle – didn’t have any trouble apart from 1a and 9d – for some reason they took me a little while to see. No particular favourites today – hugely relieved that Gazza isn’t doing the hints – wonder what picture he would have used for 20d!!

  15. Another cracking puzzle from Rufus. I would question if 13a is really cryptic, but no real complaints – plenty others to admire and smile about. What a lovely day, and such a pity that someone has to run the company while the rest of the staff is on leave!

  16. In between sorting out car insurance and buying a new washing machine I enjoyed doing this puzzle. Lots of lovely clues but agree with Gnomey – 3d my favourite.

    Thanks to Libellule for review and Rufus for the puzzle.

  17. Lots to enjoy today: 10a and 7d were among the favourites, but Gold went to 28a. Has doing the crossword ever been an Olympic sport? Thanks to the setter and Libellule.

  18. Sterling stuff from the Monday Maestro with the added joy of his crosswords in the Guardian and FT to prolong the pleasure. Many thanks to Rufus for the crossword and to Libellule for the blog.

  19. Haven’t even looked yet – just been one of those days. Am about to take it to bed with me (how sad is that?!) but brain is probably dead by now!

  20. I can’t see anyone questioning 6d. I complain goes up not she – tell me what I am missing please.

      1. Yes I see that but the clue is ‘she’ and reading the clue it says she comes up not I complain. Read the clue and see if you can see what I mean. It shoud say something like ‘I complain comes up to get her’

        1. You can read it as: When you reverse her name (when she comes up) you get “I complain”.

          1. Ok but the main clue in this type of clue is either at the begining or the end of the clue – ‘she’ is in the middle.

            1. You’re right, the definition is almost always at the beginning or end of the clue. However, this is one of those rare cases where it isn’t.

              The definition is “she” – as in “this woman”.

              The clue can be read as, “This person, when her name is reversed, means ‘I complain’ ”

              I think that it’s rather a nice clue.

  22. Started this very late last night and finished it this morning.
    Usual gentle start to week from Rufus. Some good clues especially the short words.
    Particularly liked 9a, 13a, 23a, 28a, 1d, 3d, 6d, 16d, 18d & 22d.

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