Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 26556
Hints and tips by Big Dave
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****
A peek at the Quick crossword confirmed for me that this was Ray T’s handiwork. Not as risqué as some, but still very enjoyable.
Please leave a comment telling us what you thought. You can also add your assessment by selecting from one to five stars at the bottom of the post.
Across
1a Cryptic shone out producing brilliant spectacle (12)
{PYROTECHNICS} – an anagram (out) of CRYPTIC SHONE gives a brilliant spectacle – a firework display
9a Held in chains, is tentatively pressing (9)
{INSISTENT} – hidden (held in) three words in the clue is a word meaning pressing or demanding
10a There you are in France (5)
{VOILÀ} – the French for “there you are”
11a ‘Plod’ taking hard line (6)
{THREAD} – take a verb meaning to plod or trudge and insert H(ard) to get a line or string
12a Cracking, grassing about larceny tip (8)
{RATTLING} – a word meaning cracking or strikingly good is created by putting a word meaning grassing or informing around L (Larceny tip)
13a About to trap snake, died and croaked (6)
{RASPED} – put Crosswordland’s two-letter word for about around a snake and then add D(ied) to get a word meaning croaked or screeched
15a Demolishes meals holding can-opener (8)
{SCUPPERS} – to get a word meaning demolishes put some evening meals around C (Can opener)
18a Tighten, say, before wee analysis (8)
{SCRUTINY} – start with a word segment that sounds like to tighten and then add wee or very small to get an analysis or examination
19a Paper, ‘The Yorkshire Post’ (6)
{TISSUE} – this type of paper is a charade of T’ (the Northern abbreviation of the) and to post or publish
21a Retired and rues time worked (8)
{EMERITUS} – a word meaning retired, especially denoting a retired professor, is an anagram (worked) of RUES TIME
23a ‘Sun’ with sizeable model (6)
{SAMPLE} – combine S(un) with a word meaning sizeable or substantial to get a model or specimen
26a Vision emerging naked, upon shell initially (5)
{VENUS} – take the initial letters of the first five words and then read this all-in-one clue again to get the definition
27a Collect silver for example, in jar (9)
{AGGREGATE} – to get a word meaning to collect or form into a group start with the chemical symbol for silver and then put the Latin abbreviation of “for example” inside a word meaning to jar or irritate
28a Garter men undo, endlessly excited finding stocking? (12)
{UNDERGARMENT} – an anagram (excited) of GARTER MEN and UND(O) without its final letter (endlessly) to get a stocking or other article of clothing worn under another
Down
1d Writer penning old clue (7)
{POINTER} – put a famous English playwright (responsible for The Caretaker and The Homecoming among others) around (penning) O(ld) to get a clue or indication
2d It’s regularly seen in flight (5)
{RISER} – a number of these are found in a flight of stairs
3d Will try Tory leader putting in last word (9)
{TESTAMENT} – a will determining the disposition of someone’s property
4d Revolutionary food starter from Heston Blumenthal? (4)
{CHEF} – a charade of Crosswordland’s revolutionary and F (Food starter) gives Heston Blumenthal or someone in the same profession
5d Thick hair trailing behind half naked bird (8)
{NUTHATCH} – put a mass of thick hair after the first half of a word meaning naked to get this bird that feeds on seeds etc.
6d Yearn for bloke to be on time (5)
{COVET} – a word meaning to yearn for or lust after is a charade of a bloke and T(ime)
7d Severe piles? Sit differently! (8)
{PITILESS} – a word meaning severe or cold-hearted is an anagram (differently) of PILES SIT
8d Dish providing full stomach? (6)
{HAGGIS} – this Scottish dish is cooked inside a sheep’s stomach – after it has been removed from the sheep!
14d Officer material with a neat exterior (8)
{SERGEANT} – this non-commissioned officer is a charade of a strong twilled material, A and the outside letters (exterior) of N(ea)T
16d Resistance by one vessel captured by fellow pirate (9)
{PRIVATEER} – put R(esistance), I (one) and a vessel used for fermentation inside (captured by) a fellow or equal to get a pirate – International Talk Like A Pirate Day falls on Monday, September 19th this year
17d Raise single new young animal getting fed (8)
{INCUBATE} – a word meaning to raise or hatch is a charade of I (single), N(ew), a young animal (lion or fox, for example) and fed or consumed
18d Perform with wife in twist (6)
{SWERVE} – put a word meaning to perform a duty around W(ife) to get a twist or sudden change of direction
20d Mount woman then sleep (7)
{EVEREST} – this mountain is a charade of the first woman and a sleep
22d Author surrounded by nibs, envelopes… (5)
{IBSEN} – this Norwegian playwright is hidden inside (surrounded by) the rest of the clue
24d Dish consumed after case of Pomerol (5)
{PLATE} – this flat circular dish is created by putting consumed or fed after the outside letters (case) of P(omero)L
25d Go half crazy, flipping excited (4)
{AGOG} – take GO and either half of a word meaning crazy (like an allegedly popular Lady) and reverse them (flipping) to get a word meaning excited
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ARVE Error: need id and provider |
Great stuff as usual.
The Quick crossword pun: {hammer} + {dais} = {Amadeus}
Very enjoyable puzzle with lots of entertaining answers. A joy.
Thanks to B Dave and Ray T
7d was a cracker!. Once again a class puzzle – a few head scratchers certainly but much fun. Thanks to RayT and to BD for the review.
A good entertaining puzzle – Favourite clues 7d, and 20d.
Thanks to RayT, and to BD for the review.
i haven’t been on duty much lately but when i saw this was RayT I thought I would give the gardening a miss. Very enjoyable as usual with favourite 7d – brilliant. Also liked 4 5 818a 19 and 20. Also loved the quick pun. Thanks a lot, Ray, now back to the garden!
Agreed 7D favourite, One of those clues that makes you laugh involuntarily and fellow passengers think you may have forgotten your medication. Highly entertaining puzzle as ever from RayT. Thanks to BD for the review.
Great fun from RayT today, far too many great clues to pick one out but I tend to disagree with most of the above re 7d, a simple anagram does not make a great clue even when it makes you smile. Thanks RayT for a cracker and BD for the review.
Oh.
So 2d is not “Rotor” then, which seemed obvious to me.
No wonder i can’t finish it.
Otherwise, i enjoyed this puzzle.
I too had that to start with , but solving 9a meant a bit of crossing out.
Several smiles today, so thanks, Ray. I agree with those above who liked 7d – it may be a simple anagram but the surface reading is brilliant! Also liked 8d and 19a. Thanks to BD for the review.
Apart from 2 or 3 not-very-well-concealed anagrams (1, 21 & 28) this was just a crossword should be – challenging and amusing, with a couple of Dohhh!! moments. I’m finding the Quickie more difficult than the Cryptic for a change – thanks RT & BD.
This took me longer than usual and I needed all the help I could get, but the highly amusing clues kept me going, and the feeling of achievement when I’d finished was great. I agree that 7d was one of the best and funniest, but I also enjoyed 18 and 28a. Many thanks to Big Dave for his analysis and to Ray T for the mental exercise. :-)
An excellent puzzle.
I thought 26a was one of the best clues I’ve seen for a long time as the suface reading perfectly describes Botticelli’s famous painting of this lady. If you’re not familiar with it have a look here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Birth_of_Venus_(Botticelli)!
Also 7d gave me a chuckle!
Many thanks to RayT and Big Dave.
That was from me – pommette’s been using my computer again!
I’ve added your link to the main post – thanks for pointing it out.
Pommette thanks for the link, I don’t think I’ve seen that picture since I left High School at age 12 and what memories it brings back!!! Good puzzle but took me longer than usual. Liked 18a and 17d Many thanks to RayT and B.D., Tried the Toughie but only solved a few, gave up and did it with Bufo’s help!
With reference to 19a it is the common misconception that we Yorkshiremen abbreviate the word “THE” to a single “T”. In fact if you listen you’ll find that we dispense with it altogether & use a small gap instead – as in “Are you off to pub?” or for those of us who have read at least 1 book in our lives – ” Lion, Witch n Wardrobe”.
Tha’ can allus tell a Yorkshireman, but tha’ can’t tell ‘im much
Oooh tough today, managed the anagrams and that was about it. Often struggle with Thursday’s setter, don’t follow his clues very well I’m afraid. I’ll have to read this blog and see if I can improve.
Been through all the excellent clues above and I am beginning to understand but must take exception with 16d, a privateer was not a pirate, that was the whole point of holding a letter of marque!
The ODE includes the following:
• a commander or crew member of a privateer, often regarded as a pirate.
Moot point. The admiralty defines a privateer:
A Private person or ship authorised by a government by letters of marque to attack foreign shipping during wartime.
To call them pirates would imply that the British government actively employs criminals :-)
I really enjoyed getting this puzzle out today. It certainly took me longer than usual, but all the more entertaining for having to work hard. I was watching a treecreeper this morning in the woods and hoping to see its ally the 5d. at the same time. No joy though :( By the way.. treecreepers can only go up trees foraging for insects in the bark but the clever little 5d is able to hop down a tree trunk as well…… A sure way to differentiate between the two. Thanks setter and BD.
Just started this, after becoming bored with a puzzle out of old DT book no. 30. This looks much more interesting, and the blog is so helpful, so have ditched the book and will see if I can do this one!
Great – loved it all – in fact the crossword was what cheered me up on an otherwise not good day! The clue that I had the most difficulty with was 21a – thought that the answer had to be a past participle so decided that it was an anagram of ‘and rues’ and ‘t’ (time) – wrong!! Along with most others I loved 7d. Also 10, 18 and 28a and 8, 17, 18, 20 and 25d. Thanks to Ray T for providing the bright spot today and to Big Dave for the hints.
An enjoyable puzzle. I found it quite hard today, but worth the effort.
I enjoyed 18a 19a and 25d. I thought 20d was a bit weak, but more than made up for by the others.
I can’t quite see the attractions of 7d – a good surface reading and link, but surely too obvious exactly where the anagram was?
Last one in was 8d and I laughed aloud – couldn’t see the wood for the trees.
Thanks to RayT and BD. 3* Difficulty, 4* Enjoyment.
Nick
A slightly tougher puzzle from Ray today!
Faves were : 12a, 13a, 18a, 28a, 1d, 2d, 8d & 17d.
No trouble with 19a being a Tyke!
Thought that the fodder for 28a and 20d was slightly sexy!
Thanks again to BD, and to everybody else for your observations. Spindrift, I spent much of my life in Yorkshire, so I do take your point! Your comment reminded me of this:
I don’t know if the link will work, so you may have to copy and paste …
RayT
Ah, it works.
RayT
Thanks Ray T! McIntyre’s good but he’s still a soft southern jessie…
I found this so straightforward today I wasn’t sure it was by the master. But only Ray T could come up with a clue like 7d so it has to be. Many thanks to Ray T and BD.
I hate to say this as Ray will almost certainly have his revenge next week, but this was one of his more straightforward ones. Nevertheless, very enjoyable to solve. Liked 7d which is a giggly clue and 17d. As an expat Scot it is to my eternal shame that 8d was last in and only after much head scratching.