Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 26930 (Hints)
Big Dave’s Crossword Club
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As is usual for the weekend prize crosswords, an assortment of clues, including some of the more difficult ones, have been selected and hints provided 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.
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Most of the terms used in these hints are explained in the Glossary and examples are available by clicking on the entry under “See also”.
A full review of this puzzle will be published after the closing date for submissions.
Across
1a Pastime in which jazz fans rock (4-6)
A children’s pastime in which a string looped about the fingers is passed from player to player comes from a charade of some jazz fans and a verb meaning to rock a baby
10a Poor reception that comes after a roasting? (9)
This poor reception is also the best part of a hog roast!
13a Vehicle comes in silver, not reversing (5)
This light two-wheeled horse-drawn Indian vehicle is derived by reversing the chemical symbol for silver and the NOT from the clue
20a Examine second tent first (7)
To get this verb meaning to examine or scrutinize start with S(econd) and then put a general word for tents (often preceded by under) in front of it
23a Ape fractured gas main (7)
This large black gibbon, found in the Indonesian island of Sumatra and the Malay Peninsula, is an anagram (fractured) of GAS MAIN
28a Profit from centre-page spread (10)
This profit margin is an anagram (spread) of CENTRE-PAGE
Down
1d Slap on the wrist? (4)
A double definition – a slap or light blow with the open hand and a covering for the wrist
2d Figure of Zulu surrounded by rampaging emu and tapir (9)
To get this geometrical figure put the letter represented by Zulu in the NATO Phonetic alphabet inside (surrounded by) an anagram (rampaging) of EMU and TAPIR
8d Four-figure sum one’s in time to make greater (10)
Put a word representing a four-figure sum of money and I’S (one’s) inside a long period of time to get a verb meaning to make greater or more powerful
14d Soft seat? (5,5)
Combine the musical notation for soft and a small backless seat to get a soft seat for a keyboard player
24d Instrument for one inventing stories for audience (4)
This musical instrument, used in ancient Greece as an accompaniment to poetry, sounds like (for audience) someone who invents stories or fibs
The Crossword Club is now open. Feel free to leave comments.
Please don’t put whole or partial answers or alternative clues in your comment, else they may be censored!
The Quick crossword pun: {punt} + {iffy} + {Kate} = {pontificate}
Good morning Dave, todays puzzle was I thought complete opposite end of scale to the last two days, which just goes to show that because its easier doesn’t always mean its enjoyable, no real stand out clues and lots of anagrams ( I don’t complain about that because I like anagrams), I don’t really understand 22d though? or 25a?
Oh yes I see 25a now
and 22d :-)
Hidden in the clue relates to a specific bone. Hope I’m not sailing too close to the naughty corner.
No naughty corner for you – but you might get an offer to write one of the blogs!
Sorry Mary I hadn’t read your post properly
Can you put me out of my misery then because I just can’t get it!
25a Offensive former pupil’s poisonous (9)
This adjective meaning offensive is a charade of a former pupil (2) and an adjective meaning poisonous.
Morning all…yes an enjoyable ** minutes and then I had 14d left…thanks Dave! I liked 10a, 28a and 11d. My garden awaits…
A pleasant outing with which to start my holidays. I thought 14d was elegantly simple. THanks to BD for the hints and to the setter for the puzzle. Off to tackle the Times now – Saturdays seem to be polarised in difficulty of late so I shall see what we get.
Yes, I too thought that this was a very pleasant start to a Saturday morning, particularly as the sun was streaming over my shoulder on to the paper and giving me illuminating thoughts as well. Have a good holiday, Gnomie.
Thanks – Its just some Golf and if I can get my passport renewed quickly (Might be a trip to Peterborough!) then I’ll dive over to see my sis in Holland.
I enjoyed this one too. Thanks to, I presume, Cephas, as it is probably his turn and there are lots of anagrams. Thanks to BD too.
Glad you found it easy Mary, I thought it was very tough. Never taken this long to do a Saturday. It finishes a week of weird words (13a) to go with Giovannis collection of yesterday but at least his we’re enjoyable, I thought this was just a drudge.
I hope for a better week in the DT next week as I really didn’t enjoy any but Friday this week.
Brian – wait until tomorrow. Virgilius never lets us down.
Very true
Thank you kind setter – some relief after the last two days. Off to Tatton Park to sit in the sunshine ….? at the Halle Picnic Concert and a possible refreshment ?
After the last two days I thought that I would never finish a DT crossword again !
Whipped through this reasonably quickly until my alternative answer for 3d made the bottom left corner a bit tricky, pause for branflakes and coffee and then it all fell into place.
New words to me 23a and 13a, but gettable from clues, fave 14d.
Thanks to BD for the review, not needed so I can submit for prize with clear conscience.
Thanks to setter for an accessible and enjoyable puzzle.
Hope you get pulled from the postbag Colmce.
I also had to check 13 & 23 to make sure that my solutions were correct.
Thanks to the CO & Cephas (?)
What did everyone think about the Opening Ceremony?
Quirky or quintessentially British?
Hi Digby,
I thought that the opening ceremony was pretty spectacular though I can’t help wondering what others around the world made of it!
The yanks over here in Boston thought it was too British. I told them that they lost the right to comment in 1776.
Opening ceremony – too long in parts, Brenda looked permanently miserable, Bond skit pathetic, slow dance sequence wonderful.
In short would have preferred it 45 mins shorter and a darn sight cheaper.
Oh and Police/ fire and rescue/nurses etc should have carried in Olympic flag, not armed forces – they got the union flag.
Team GB’s outfits looked like an hommage to Jimmy Savile.
On another tack, thought today’s crossword was a stinker. Perhaps the late night had something to do with it.
To which I would add that the Mr Bean sketch ceased to be funny after the first 10 seconds, Emeli Sandé looked as if there was a mix-up backstage and she’d been given the wrong song and why doesn’t someone tell Sir Paul that he can’t sing any more? Four hours of my life that I’ll never get back.
I felt sorry for Paul McCartney – I think that he suddenly looks quite old.
Never mind, in another few years he’ll be old enough to represent us at the Eurovision Song Contest. :D
Take some comfort in the fact the ceremony cost £6m less than Liverpool paid Newcastle for Andy Caroll.
I think that’s mean – I love him – he symbolises my youth! Screw Eurovision Song Contest, although I know what you’re saying. I’m just so glad that another of my all time heroes, Wogan, (you probably disagree, but I love him too) knew when to go!
I enjoyed this one as well, but then like Mary, my strong point is anagrams. Thought hardest was 16a which for some reason I just couldn’t get until that doh moment.
Thanks to setter and BD. Time for the beach?
Not bad .. at least the quickie pun gave me the biggest grin from the past 3 days. Thanks to all involved.
i enjoyed this – did it quite quickly, for me, until I got stuck on 20a, 8d and the first word of 14d :roll: Did eventually manage without the hints but those last three took ages.
I’ve never heard of the ape in 23a but having four of the seven letters already in didn’t leave much choice of places for the remaining three.
I liked 1, 6 and 21a and 5 and 17d. My two favourites were 10a and 11d.
Just for once, although it didn’t help me at all, I DID notice that it was a pangram. Hope that doesn’t have me heading for the naughty corner, it being Saturday!
With thanks to Cephas and BD.
Hi Kath
Yes, I got stuck on the first word of 14d as well.. I got the soft bit, though still not wholly convinced about the complete derivation. Like you, my knowledge of Sumatran gibbons has improved by 100%.
Very enjoyable after an iffy week. Thanks to the setter and Big Dave.
Kath – I don’t think your pangram comment should cause you to be sent to the naughty corner. While reading through the comments, and until I came to yours, I was beginning to wonder why no one had made the identification. Personally, I am not sure that knowing a puzzle was a pangram would even help me to solve it. For instance, in this one, I got the X, Y, and Z clues very early but still had some trouble scattered around the other clues.
Thanks to the setter and to BD – although not much help needed. The one thing that helped me on this one was the excess of anagrams – 7 by my count.
A very welcome puzzle after Thursday and Friday. Looking Forward to Rufus being kind to us on Monday.
Hi Senf
The only time that the suspicion of a pangram has helped me is when there’s a U as a checker somewhere. You start to think is that it’s a Q before it, which can make things a lot easier. Usually I think creating a pangram is a bit of intellectual masturbation, but they are somehow satisfying :grin:
Pommers (sorry can’t use PEC) – point taken, but those opportunities might be few and far between. For instance, even though both answers were hidden in the clues, in this one I got the “QU” in *** first, and then used the “U” in solving ***.
I agree, really enjoyed today’s after the last couple of days. Some really well disguised anagrams. Many thanks.
One to do- need help with 18a, although might have 3d wrong.
Hi AJ. You may as I did have the final three letters of the first part of 3d wrong. Once you sort that out, 18a is very obvious both from the wordplay and just looking at the checking letters.
I was in that club!
Ooh I am in exalted company then :)
Me too
On a more serious note, the key to getting out of mistakes like this is to recognise that one of two crossing answers, in this case an anagram of LOAN around a short time, has to take precedence over the other.
me too!
I presume everyone is watching the Olympics but if you want something to do while you watch, have a go at today’s NTSPP.
Just about to print it out and have a go (with one eye on the Olympics). Stuff to do in the garden will have to wait!
Great stuff, really enjoyed it but that was perhaps because it was done in the town square over a coffee :grin: Well, it is market day!
Never heard of the ape but hey ho, what else would fit?
Now back to watching Wiggo, Cav et al. Doing OK so far!
Thanks to the setter and BD.
Is this your nom de plume Franco?
A quick look at Polly’s avatar should reveal that one of our bloggers has had a sex change!
spotted it now… pommers. Mrs T was just concerned that Franco was stuck in the corner.
Watch out Tantalus – I’ve a few more puns up my sleeve :grin:
Mrs T, many thanks for your concern!
As an extra punishment I was released from the Naughty Corner just in time to see the Opening Ceremony!
I’m so glad you’ve FINALLY been released – you must have done/said something really naughty to have been confined for so long! I’ve missed your comments! :smile:
Bit of “handbags” the other day – all settled now apparantly.
Would some kind soul tell me why I have got 15a correct?
Resisting the temptation to say the obvious :D You need to do what the clue says – ‘one’ into I do and then follow with an involuntary or spontaneous reaction.
Many thanks CS for resisting the obvious, clue nowunderstood. Could you help, in the same way, for 22d. I’ve got it but I just don’t see it
Read Nigel’s comment to Mary right at the top. Not going to say any more than that as all I can offer the NC today is a particularly small Battenberg cake.
Point taken
Thanks to BD as always for the hints and to the setter.
Had a few go in at first attempt and then got a wriggle on at second go. Got second half of 4d immediately but needed BRB to verify thinking on first bit; I asked husband but a looked at me as if I were speaking in a foreign language. He doesn’t get cryptics at all which leaves more fun for me!
2d ? zulu’s…. fasunds of ’em
So you thought you would try and sneak in under the radar Slarti!
don’t know what you mean, I’m still trying to solve the puzzle. I don’t a brain the size of a planet unlike Marvin
You have commented before using a different alias!
very true, but i comment rarely (although i read the blog most days), and i forget what alias i used.
incidently, i never did get a “welcome to the blog” like every one else seems to get.
Ho hum
Hi Dawn,
In the forty-three years I have been married, I have done this crossword on most days and Mrs B still thinks I am potty. Sometimes, when we get a really clever clue, I explain how the answer has been arrived at and she says it’s either perverse or plain silly. Just doesn’t get it. Never mind, do what I do: think of it as “you” time.
Mr CS is the same. Very sad really but then I suppose if he enjoyed cryptics too, I might have to start fighting him for the paper.
Or do what I do. Let pommette solve the puzzle while I have a watching brief to help her out if needed. The help is getting noticeably less required!
My ‘me’ time is the Toughie and the Grauniad.
My husband’s the same – I often try to explain a particularly clever, or funny answer. He just doesn’t understand.
Sorry, forgot to thank BD and setter.
I’ve never been to a hog roast ( though I’m invited to one next weekend) so don’t know if the word I have for 10a is right and I can’t get 4, 7, or 8d.
Thanks to all concerned for the help so far, and any more forthcoming!
4d Old-fashioned cunning tops rising US agency (7)
The definition is old-fashioned. An adjective meaning cunning or sly precedes (tops, in a down clue) the reversal (rising) of the abbreviation for a US spying agency.
7d Foreigner having a right to property (5)
Start with A and add a legal term for a right to hold on to property to make a foreigner.
For 8d see BD’s hint.
10a isn’t too cryptic – think more of radio than TV
4d is a well known law enforcement agency back (rising) with a cunning rival on top
7d is a then old word for a right to property
8d is explained above and I will definitely get sent to the naughty corner is I elaborate.
BTW It didn’t have to be a hog roast – it’s a tasty side product of any pork roast.
Reason I was wrong; I put blackout for 10a. Oops!
Thanks all.
But it isn’t even the correct number of letters!
Able to tackle the crossword tonight rather than finish it on a Sunday morning – am on my own as my husband is recovering in hospital after a 13 hour operation 3 days ago! All went well though – so fingers crossed for a speedy recovery now.
Thx for all the help – my brain must not be working well – STILL can’t fit 16a and 8d DESPITE help from Big D!! I’m right in thinking that the answer to 6a is in the Far East?
16a Tried again, it being harder, surprisingly, to accept a point (7)
This looks a lot more difficult than it is – a verb meaning tried in court again comes from an anagram (surprisingly) of HARDER around (to accept) a compass point
Hi cruisenuts
Best wishes to hubby for a speedy recovery!
16a – an anagram (surprisingly) of HARDER with a compass point inserted gives a word meaning tried again, in a court of law.
8d – Definition is “to make greater”. It’s a slang term for a four figure sum and IS (ones) placed inside (in) a long period of time.
Thank you!!
Da nada.
Oh, and yes, 6a is in the Far East.
Several well-disguised anagrams in Saturday’s puzzle and particularly liked 1a, which was a game not played by us macho kids and would welcome some 10a with my meal tonight !
Could someone explain cryptic part of 19d clue, as not aware of the furry plant that was turned up nor understood the fiction that surrounded this mysterious plant ?
The Quicky took me much longer to complete than the Prize Xword.
The fiction is an untruth or fib (3) and the other part is a small flowerless plant and is reversed inside
Thanks to the setter & to Big dave for the hints. Started with 2d, finished with 18a. Very enjoyable, learnt a couple of new words / usages. 13 & 23a. Favourites were 25a & 1a. Late blogging due to a very enjoyable day out in Hastings. Nice bit of heavy metal on the beach where Eurythmia were playing a free gig.