Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 26974
Hints and tips by Gazza
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment **
Although I could be wrong, I suspect that today’s setter is Petitjean (there are a few trademark clues dealing with food and music). If I’m right then I’m slightly disappointed because he’s usually one of my favourite back-page setters, but I thought that this one was pretty mechanical with not a lot of sparkle.
Do give us a comment with your thoughts. If you want to reveal an answer just highlight the gap between the brackets under the relevant clue.
Across Clues
1a Old American who takes pledge? (6)
{PAWNEE} – double definition – a member of a Native American tribe and someone who will give you a loan against something valuable that you hand over as a pledge.
4a Original child likely to be favourite (4-2)
{ODDS-ON} – when split (3,3) this could be an original or unconventional child.
8a Turn crimson about unknown Old Boy network (8)
{CRONYISM} – an anagram (turn) of CRIMSON contains (about) an algebraic unknown.
10a Hot, unwholesome stifling temperature (6)
{STEAMY} – an adjective meaning unwholesome or sordid contains (stifling) T(emperature).
11a Basic loyalties covering up disgust (4)
{CLOY} – this is a verb meaning to sicken or disgust with an excess of sweetness or sentiment (like a particularly mawkish film). It’s hidden (covering up) in the clue.
12a To resign in questionable circumstances ignoring leader is common (10)
{UBIQUITOUS} – a verb meaning to resign goes inside (in … circumstances) an adjective meaning questionable or implausible without its leading D (ignoring leader).
13a Wanton petulance involving a caught and bowled is not to be tolerated (12)
{UNACCEPTABLE} – an anagram (wanton) of PETULANCE has A, C(aught) and B(owled) inserted as single letters.
16a Undecided when trick is seen in full (12)
{INCONCLUSIVE} – a trick or hoax goes inside (is seen in) an adjective meaning full or all-embracing.
20a Disregard northern cold in nightie (10)
{NEGLIGENCE} – in the surface disregard is a verb but as the definition it’s a noun. Insert N(orthern) and C(old) in a type of flimsy nightwear.
21a Roll up in coat that gets left behind (4)
{FURL} – an animal’s coat is followed by L(eft).
22a Cold plain fish doctor’s eaten (6)
{TUNDRA} – a type of fish has one of the abbreviations for doctor inserted (eaten).
23a It’s heavenly in this place and others around (8)
{ETHEREAL} – an adverb meaning in this place has an abbreviated latin phrase (2,2) meaning ‘and other people’ placed round it.
24a Sharp bend in track before part of course (6)
{DOGLEG} – a verb to track or follow is followed by a stage or section of a course.
25a Feature with old records reviewed in turn (6)
{ASPECT} – reverse (reviewed) outdated vinyl formats inside a turn on stage.
Down Clues
1d Norm twisted ankle here in Mayfair (4,4)
{PARK LANE} – a synonym for norm or standard is followed by an anagram (twisted) of ANKLE.
2d Out-of-tune backing in ‘God Only Knows’ (5)
{WONKY} – reversed (backing) in the clue is an adjective meaning shaky or out-of-tune. ‘God’ isn’t used in the wordplay but contributes to the amusing surface – I’ll leave you to decide how accurate it is.
ARVE Error: need id and provider
3d Gourmet wants large-scale curries now and then (7)
{EPICURE} – an adjective meaning large-scale, normally applied to a poem, book or film, is followed by the even letters (now and then) of curries.
5d Following start of divorce violent brutish husband wanting to cause upset (7)
{DISTURB} – after the starting letter of D(ivorce) we want an anagram (violent) of BRUTIS(h) from which H(usband) is wanting, i.e. missing.
6d Wild West scenes exuding cold charm (9)
{SWEETNESS} – an anagram (wild) of WEST S(c)ENES without (exuding) C(old).
7d Denim bush jackets a sign of bad weather? (6)
{NIMBUS} – a dark-grey portent of rain is hidden (jackets) in the clue.
9d Principal canteen in a mess for repairs (11)
{MAINTENANCE} – an adjective meaning principal or primary is followed by an anagram (in a mess) of CANTEEN.
14d American fast food? Cool, I will get chow maybe (6,3)
{CHILLI DOG} – a verb meaning to cool is followed by I (from the clue) and the type of animal that a chow is an example of.
15d In the past actors could be leaden (8)
{OVERCAST} – a charade of an adverb meaning in the past or at an end and the list of actors in a play or film.
17d Relative got acne badly (7)
{COGNATE} – a relative, normally on one’s mother’s side, comes from an anagram (badly) of GOT ACNE.
18d Guerrilla leader surrounded by dregs and hangers-on (7)
{LEECHES} – the usual South American guerrilla leader is surrounded by the dregs of wine at the bottom of a cask or bottle.
19d Put money into protecting European Community? That’ll be fruitful! (6)
{FECUND} – a verb meaning to put money into or foot the bill for goes round (protecting) the abbreviation for the European Community.
21d Conifers recorded in gorse (5)
{FURZE} – another word for gorse sounds like (recorded) types of coniferous trees.
My top clue today was 2d. How about you?
Today’s Quickie Pun {FAN} + {SEEP} + {ANTS} = {FANCY PANTS}
I tend to agree, a bit of a trudge in places. SW corner last in. Middle of the road for me **/*** and **/*** from me. Many thanks to all.
Thanks Gazza. I think your rating is just about spot on. Would have been 2* difficulty but for 1a holding me up for a while. It was a bit flat though so def 2* pleasure for me.
Not a great week so far I think. Hopefully tmrw wil be better.
W
Good morning Gazza, although not needing your hints to solve today I did need the explaination to 1a, 19d is a word I had never heard of, or 21d, I needed lots of help from ‘my usual electronic friends and CCD’, I would put this at a three star for difficulty on a par with yesterdays, no real favourite clue today though, thanks gazza for blog :-)
We also thought it looked like a Petitjean. Several ‘substituting letter’ clues that we associate with him. Think we would give a 3* for enjoyment. Liked 1a, 12a, and 24a. Thanks Petitjean? and Gazza.
Last one in for me was 1a, as I was unaware of the first of the two definitions.
3*/3* for me. Thanks to setter, and to gazza.
I liked 1a. It was the first in, owing to one of those flashes of inspiration that are impossible to explain and too seldom experienced.
3*/3* for me as well, last in 11a still trying to make the answer equal disgust, poor clue methinks, liked 4a 20a 23a 19d Thanks Gazza and Petitjean if twas you
A **/*** for me, had a good start as the nw corner went in straight away, struggled a bit with,the sw corner, the rest fell into place, had’nt heard of the american snack, but the wordplay was logical,which helped-they’ll eat anything!caught up with Downton Abbey-more like a full blooded soap than melodrama this time, beers and man city tonight.
I found this really difficult – nearer 4* for me.
I needed the hints for 1a and 24a – just couldn’t do them at all. It took me ages to understand why 12a was what it had to be. I’ve never heard of 14d but it was easy enough to work out and look up – I agree with Beaver – they’ll eat anything. On the other hand maybe they WOULDN’T be able to eat anything after looking at the yukky picture for 18d!!
My absolute favourite was 2d but I also liked 20a and 3, 5, 14 and 19d.
With thanks to whoever set this one and to Gazza.
You obviously don’t watch the Simpsons :-)
No I don’t and sorry for being dim (again) but I don’t understand! :sad:
I found this one particularly easy, both for a Tuesday and a Petitjean! 1.5* difficulty and about 2.5* entertainment. The neatest writing in a crossword grid for a long time which shows that I can’t have had any trouble. My favourite has to be 2d too. Thanks to Petitjean and Gazza too.
The Toughie is worth a go too. And fans of Paul/Dada will enjoy his Punk in the Indy today.
Just finished the toughie…………most enjoyable
Torrential rain started about an hour ago so just about to have a go at the Toughie.
Everything back to normal then, I managed two answers finding it very difficult indeed! Most puzzles you find easy I find impossible.
I found this really difficult too, Brian.
Totally agree with Crypticsue today, my thanks to Petitjean (if he) and to Gazza for his usual excellent picture and summary. I also think the toughie was great fun and not overly difficult.
Thanks for the tips, I needed some today for some reason yet managed to finish yesterday’s with no problems. This is my first posting.
Welcome to your new alias!
Back from a week’s eagle watching in Mull with a lot of weather ! Telegraph arrives late afternoon, so normal timetable not possible. Consequently took ages to get going this morning – managed to finish, but quite a struggle.
Thank you to the setter and Gazza for your review.
A very ordinary puzzle today!
1a, 4a, 24a, 1d, 7d & 21d were best for me.
Petitjean is usually harder.
All fine except for 1a. I concluded it must be pewter having found this on a google search and assuming the last bit was a yellow duster and spray reference. It’s wonderful how you can convince yourself of anything these days with t’internet. Thanks to setters and bloggers. Still check in most days and enjoy the comments etc. Keep up the good work – it’s always appreciated.
A pleasant enough puzzle which passed some time after an excellent lunch overlooking the sea at Guadamar. Not many laughs and no real favourites so 2*/2* from me.
Thanks to the setter and Gazza.
I’d say 3* is spot on. I struggles a bit in the S/E corner and was grateful for the help. If the setter was Petitjean I did well because I rarely make progress with his puzzles. Many thanks to Gazza for the help and Petitjean/? for the puzzle
Thought today’s was ghastly. Not for me I’m afraid.
Now Brian, you and I usually agree (for example out joint villification of RayT and getting into his puzzles). What has gone wrong. There were some difficult clues, say 4 or 5 but that was Gazza came in. The rest was doable
I do wish I could stop getting the word first and then fitting it in to the clue.
Still, one cannot control one’s subconscious, as the actress said to the Bishop.
Thanks setter and Gazza.
Detested this. Never come across 1a and it was downhill from there. Managed nine answers before seeking help here.
I thought this was a good crossword with some great clues. Not easy and I needed a couple of hints but some excellent clues including 12a 5d 10a 19d. Didn’t like 1a but that is my only moan 3* & 4* for me
Thanks to Pettijean & to Gazza for the review & hints. Found this quite tricky, but after a lot of thought it all fell into place. Started with 1d, finished with 1a, favourites were 22a & 21d. Had a nice dry walk up to Skiddaw and back, nice day predicted tomorrow and the Gooners won, what more could one want :-)
Good morning Heno, have a nice walk today ! We go up to Bassenthwaite every year to see the ospreys – I think they have left for Africa now. This years chick was last seen around Hastings a few days ago ! Congratulations on the Gooners win – perhaps it is their year. Our team ( unmentionable to save embarassment ) used to have terrific battles with the Gooners – in the days of Bergkamp, Henry, Pires etc. Unfortunately we do not play in the same league now – in both senses of the word ! and are sliding gently into oblivion. Mrs SW and I still have season tickets……….mmm
Like Gazza and others, I liked 2d the best. I love it when a well-known phrase gets turned on its head to reveal something that I haven’t noticed before. A bit of a disaster for me today – 12 words missing when I turned to Gazza for help. I did get 14d, although I don’t think I have seen it spelled that way before (usually one L). Unlike the rather idyllic scene set by pommers, I am stuck in the office waiting for a huge downpour over Manhattan to end so I can escape home… and unlike Sweet William, I don’t have any eagles to watch, although we do have a famous red-tailed kite.