DT 27229

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 27229

A full review by gnomethang

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BD Rating – Difficulty **** – Enjoyment ***

Morning All! I really struggled with this one – there were some unfamiliar words and as I blog this I still have no idea on the ?ATURE at 16d! Apart from that there were some very nice clues that could be read in a number if deceiving ways.

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Across

3a           Why one is attending sale that’s uninviting (10)
FORBIDDING – Split as (3,7) and it might be a reason to go to a sale or auction.

8a           A jolly lady that sailed from Spain (6)
ARMADA – A charade of A , RM (Royal Marine or saior – Jolly Jack Tar) and then ADA – a woman’s name.

9a           One fine piece of work, and just as well (1,4,3)
A GOOD JOB – A cryptic definition and definition – A (one) GOOD (fine) JOB  (piece of work)  and a phrase meaning ‘just as well’.

10a         Transfusion of fresh talent? (3,5)
NEW BLOOD – A cryptic definition of fresh talent (NEW BLOOD) alluding to blood from a transfusion.

11a         Found in shack: left-handed comb (6)
HACKLE – An unknown word for me – a comb for flax or hemp – is hidden inside (found in) sHACK: LEft-handed.

12a         Sort out a profit — one grand, possibly (10)
PIANOFORTE – A well disguised anagram (indicated by sort out) of A PROFIT ONE. The others may be upright or baby.

14a         Grand, having immensity of good food (13)
GASTRONOMICAL – G for Good and ASTRONOMICAL (having immensity).

20a         Novel recalled in pantomime (10)
CINDERELLA – Another anagram (novel) of RECALLED IN.

22a         Line of fat — or lean — right inside meat (6)
STREAK – A winning or losing STREAK. Place R for right inside STEAK (meat).

23a         Immediate treatment needed to make tree steady (5,3)
FIRST AID – Split as (3, 5) and you would get FIR STAID – a tree that is steady.

24a         After said dancing who reported commotion? (8)
BALLYHOO – Not quite sure I like the first homophone (said) of BALLET for BALLY there is another one (reported of WHO for HOO.

25a         Thin point on weapon (6)
NARROW – A charade of N for North (a cardinal Point on the compass) and ARROW (a weapon).

26a         Criminals‘ environment in life and death? (10)
UNDERWORLD – double definition

Down

1d           Generating good manners (8)
BREEDING – Two definitions, begetting progeny and having been brought up well.

2d           Doctor spotted personal hygiene issue requiring three directions (8)
SAWBONES – A charade of SAW (spotted) BO (an abbreviation of Body Odour/personal hygiene issue) followed by three directional points of the compass N E and S

3d           Gambling game played very loudly in the distance (3-3)
FAR-OFF – The card game FARO followed by FF (the abbreviation of Fortissimo – very loudly).

4d           Way leading character enters bar (4)
ROAD – The leading character in the alphabet – A – inside ROD for bar.

5d           Temperature line more confused with this (8)
ISOTHERM – Another good clue that caused confusion. Make an anagram of MORE and THIS (one confused with the other).

6d           Gather Scottish course is detaining French duke (6)
DEDUCE – The French Duke – DUC – inside DEE – a Scottish river or water course.

7d           Dope comes from north with endless abundance (6)
NOODLE – N for North and all but the last word of OODLE(s) or abundance.

13d         Catch final stage of race? (3-2)
RUN-IN  – The cryptic definition is to  arrest and run in to the police station and the definition is the usually straight approach to a finish line in e.g. a stage of the Tour de France.

15d         Quantity of hay and old wood in carriage (8)
RICKSHAW – A charade of RICK (a quantity of hay) and SHAW (a small wood in Old English).

16d         Being in credit, getting article with initial deduction (8)
CREATURE – CR(edit) followed by a magazine article without its initial letter (with initial deduction) – No – I don’t understand it either!

17d         Relax, I will take father something sweet (8)
LOLLIPOP – A charade of LOLL (relax), then I from the clue and POP for father.

18d         Arrive at a time volunteers may get in (6)
ATTAIN – A charade of AT TA (an abbreviation of the Territorial Army or volunteers) then IN.

19d         This writer needs a rest from South African corn (6)
MEALIE – The setter/writer might call himself ME. Follow that with A LIE (A rest). Another unfamiliar word.

21d         Moving job with an order muddled up? Nothing’s missing (6)
ERRAND – An anagram (muddled up) of AN (o)RDER without the O for nothing (being missing). I guess that an errand involves running somewhere usually.

23d         Pair of braces (4)
FOUR – That’ll be 2 x 2 the two being pairs.

Thanks to the setter for a puzzle that I had to get my head around. Any elucidation on 16d appreciated!