Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 2667
A full review by gnomethang
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BD Rating – Difficulty **– Enjoyment ****
Morning All!. Given that I haven’t known what day of the week it is in the last couple of weeks it was inevitable at some time that I would partially solve a puzzle online then complete on paper which then got thrown away. The good news is that I got to re-solve 70% of this puzzle yesterday lunchtime!. This really grew on me the second time round (time for appreciation?) without being overly difficult.
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
7a Fascinating quality in the writer’s style, initially quite varied (8)
MYSTIQUE – MY (the writer’s) the initial letter of S(tyle) and then an anagram ( carried) of QUITE.
9a Train a group of swimmers (6)
SCHOOL – A double definition that is very long in the tooth!.
10a Monstrous female made us mad — or possibly amused (6)
MEDUSA – Two anagrams for the price of one!. MADE US (mad) and (possibly) AMUSED. 11a A boy eclipsed by top player with much experience (8)
SEASONED – A SON inside eclipsed by) SEED (a top tennis player perhaps). As in a seasoned veteran tennis player.
12a Scientific analysis of the causes of consumption (6,8)
MARKET RESEARCH – Not tuberculosis – a cryptic definition of the research of buyers/consumers at a market (or elsewhere).
15a Processed stuff on menu, perhaps, that computer user doesn’t want (4)
SPAM – A cryptic (Spiced hAM) and definition (unwanted email etc). I love SPAM me!. I’m having SPAM, SPAM, SPAM, SPAM, SPAM, & SPAM.
17a Drinks for some toast (5)
ROUND – A ROUND of drinks or a ROUND of toast – I know my preference.
19a Old-fashioned clothing, though an odd selection therefrom (4)
TOGA – Roman in fact. Take an odd selection of letters from ThOuGh An.
20a Exploit a Conservative’s expression of praise about call for peace (14)
ACCOMPLISHMENT – Exploit as a noun meaning feat of derring-do. Start with A C(onservative – Big C abbreviation) then insert SH (call for quiet) inside a COMPIMENT or expression of praise.
23a Attacked as directed at sea, a ship wasn’t in good shape (8)
ASSAILED – Another clue with one Literal and two cryptic definitions. AS + SAILED (directed at sea)and A SS (Ship abbreviation) + AILED (was not in good shape. This seems quite the fashion recently!.
25a Get off or suddenly go out like this (6)
ALIGHT – To disembark and to “Go out like a light” when one drops off to sleep immediately.
27a Issue about name, by end of day creating antagonism (6)
ENMITY – EMIT or issue around N for name followed by the end letter of daY.
28a Head in the direction of antelope (8)
FORELAND – A head or cape out to sea. Split as (3,5) and you get going FOR the ELAND (an antelope).
Down
1d Part-time doctor in philosophy department (4)
The evil personality of Dr Jekyll is hidden in the last two words.
2d Small vehicle stopped working (6)
STRUCK – The abbreviation of S(mall) and then a TRUCK (vehicle). To have taken part in a strike.
3d Information partners had about their opponents (4)
NEWS – Virgilius likes a clue with bridge partners (North and South, East and West). Put the latter in the former.
4d Property in European country (6)
ESTATE – Simply E for European and STATE for country.
5d Provide amendment to other act for minister in government? (8)
THEOCRAT – This will be a minister of the cloth who is part of a religious based governmental system.. Make a change (provide amendment to) OTHER ACT.
6d Adjusted change around available capital (10)
COPENHAGEN – Available here is OPEN as opposed to the more common ‘on’. Place an anagram (adjusted) of CHANGE around OPEN.
8d It’s a bit of change for Americans, showing mercy (7)
QUARTER – Quarter is mercy shown to foes or antagonists in battle as well as being a 25 cent bit.
13d Informing about a judgmental activity (10)
APPRAISING – just put A (from the clue) into APPRISING (informing about) to get the act of judging or rating.
14d Among those qualified, more or less? Not so (5)
A word meaning not more nor less is hidden (among) thosE QUALified.
16d Male on time, none the less, producing leather shoe (8)
MOCCASIN – M for Male on top of (in a down clue) OCCASI(o)N – a time or event from which the O has been removed (nonetheless).
18d False pride, as something one hopes to avoid (7)
DESPAIR – An false anagram of PRIDE AS.
21d Part of Himalayas in this Asian country no longer (6)
MALAYA – A former Asian country, now….. is hidden in part of the hiMALAYAs.
22d Like a brave chap protecting one, for the most part (6)
MANLY (like a brave chap) containing (protecting) I for One.
24d Remove one section or another from command of field officer (4)
DOFF – Gentlemen DOFF their caps in recognition. It can be seen hidden twice (in one section or another) of ‘commanD OF FielD OFFicer’.
26d Something with digital parts that a digital watch doesn’t have (4)
HAND – I’ll plump for a cryptic definition here although it could be a definition plus cryptic. Easily gettable from the checking letters.
We are on a changeover week on the weekend puzzle reviews so I will see you all tomorrow for the Saturday review from last weekend (now where did I leave that printout?)