Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 27422
Hints and tips by Gazza
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty **/*** – Enjoyment **
We actually have some sunshine in Devon this morning – can Spring be far away? I thought that this was fairly typical of Tuesdays currently – some well-constructed clues, not too easy but certainly not very hard, but nothing really to make me smile. Do chip in with your views!
If you’re looking for an answer you’ll find it hidden between the brackets under the clue. You’ll have to highlight the gap to reveal it.
Across Clues
1a We raise rule for ordering casual clothing (11)
{LEISUREWEAR} – an anagram (for ordering) of WE RAISE RULE.
9a Usually characteristic of a period in office? (2,1,4)
{AS A RULE} – double definition.
10a French place in island beset by cold sadly (6)
{CALAIS} – this place in France actually belonged to England for over two centuries. The single-letter abbreviation for island is surrounded (beset) by C(old) and an interjection meaning sadly.
12a Popular boxer in very short end to round lacking force? (7)
{INVALID} – this is lacking force in the sense of not legally recognised. Start with an adverb meaning popular or trendy, then insert the surname of the most famous boxer between the abbreviation (short) of V(ery) and the end letter of (roun)D.
13a Piano used by conductor giving empty talk (7)
{PRATTLE} – the musical abbreviation for piano or soft followed by the surname of Sir Simon, the conductor.
14a Athletics event is broadcast (5)
{RELAY} – double definition – the athletics event usually involves four competitors working as a team.
15a Like a horse ride without a break? (2,3,4)
{ON THE TROT} – double definition, the first descriptive of a horse moving faster than a walk but slower than a gallop.
17a Genuine source of arbitration disputed in the TUC (9)
{AUTHENTIC} – the first letter (source) of arbitration is followed by an anagram (disputed) of IN THE TUC.
20a Musical composition captured in session one time (5)
{NONET} – hidden (captured) in the clue.
22a A short time in Panama, say, for the environment (7)
{HABITAT} – insert a short time (as in “I’ll see you in * ***”) into what the falsely-capitalised panama is a type of.
24a Small measure taken before exam? That’s wrong (7)
{IMMORAL} – what looks like a small metric measure of length (1,2) is followed by a face to face examination.
25a What fiddler does in predicament (6)
{SCRAPE} – double definition, firstly as a verb and secondly an informal noun meaning a predicament or tight corner.
26a Second type of coffee? (7)
{INSTANT} – another double definition, the second a bit of a misnomer because you usually still have to boil the water.
27a Sushi stolen in buffet? It’s ill-bred behaviour (11)
{LOUTISHNESS} – an anagram (in buffet) of SUSHI STOLEN. Presumably buffet is being used in the sense of a jolt or upset rather than a self-service meal (although on reflection it could be an indication that you have to pick and choose the letters – what’s your take on it?).
Down Clues
2d Friend supporting English queen on a fair basis (7)
{EQUALLY} – a friend or associate follows (supporting, in a down clue) E(nglish) and a two-letter abbreviation for queen.
3d Depot and base renovated marine vehicle (9)
{SPEEDBOAT} – an anagram (renovated) of DEPOT and BASE.
4d Summarise return of fast athlete? (5)
{RECAP} – reverse (return) an athlete who may be paid to lead a race at a fast tempo during the early laps to ensure that it is run in a quick time.
5d Financial support providing mostly satisfactory food (7)
{WELFARE} – an adjective meaning satisfactory or fine without its final L (mostly) is followed by another word for food.
6d Johnson, say, a winner, one having replaced leader of charisma (7)
{AVIATOR} – having thought of, and discarded, Boris, Lyndon and Doctor Samuel I finally hit on Amy (though pedants may consider that, for her, the answer should end in -rix). Start with A and another word for winner, then replace the C(harisma) with an indefinite article (one).
7d Manufacture of a prime cheap material (6-5)
{PAPIER-MÂCHÉ} – an anagram (manufacture) of A PRIME CHEAP.
8d Wonder created by English poet in audience (6)
{MARVEL} – this sounds very much like (in audience) the surname of Andrew, the seventeenth century English poet and satirist.
11d Versatile sportsman leapt the net fantastically (11)
{PENTATHLETE} – an anagram (fantastically) of LEAPT THE NET produces a multi-event competitor.
16d Strategic expert showing diplomacy in charge with Scotsman (9)
{TACTICIAN} – string together a synonym for diplomacy, the abbreviation for in charge and the male forename usually associated with Scotsman in Crosswordland. I’m standing by for protests from the Pedants’ Club.
18d Plant obtained by company following revolutionary explorer (7)
{TOBACCO} – the abbreviation for company comes after the reversal (revolutionary) of the surname of two Italian explorers and navigators (John and Sebastian, father and son) from the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries.
19d Further tips for contentment in part of work? (7)
{EXTRACT} – an adjective meaning further or additional is followed by the outer letters (tips) of C(ontentmen)T.
20d Source of retribution is occupying Kent chaps on reflection (7)
{NEMESIS} – this is obviously the word of the week (Miffypops referred to it yesterday as a regular crossword chestnut). Insert IS (from the clue) into the geographical part of the UK where Kent is to be found and add another word for chaps. Finally turn it all around (on reflection).
21d Bite to consider reportedly in country (6)
{NORWAY} – depending on where you live you may or may not consider that ‘gnaw weigh’ sounds like this country.
23d Journeys made by king entering very French surroundings (5)
{TREKS} – insert the abbreviation for rex (king, in Latin) the king in chess notation into the French word for very. Thanks to Jaydubs for pointing out the boob.
My favourite clue (just one) was 11d for the appropriate anagram fodder.
Today’s Quickie Pun: {SINGER} + {POOR} = {SINGAPORE}
2*/2.5* today. Three quarters fell into place quite quickly but I got held up in the NE with 10a my last one in. 17a was my favourite.
Yes Gazza, yet again I must comment that strategy and tactics are not synonymous, but crossword setters don’t seem to realise this! Please see my comments left a few days ago in the Pedants’ Guide.
Many thanks to Mr. Ron and to Gazza.
Pretty straightforward today and plenty of anagrams, particularly for the four long outer words – that always gives you a head start!
Happy days!
Morning gazza, sunshine here so far too :-) , a nice ‘workaday’ crossword but I must admit there were about six clues for which I had the answers but couldn’t work out why!!! So thanks for the blog explainations, fav clue 26a
Has anyone else noticed ‘queen’ has appeared in more than usual crossword clues lately?
Thought 21d very iffy?
No complaints from me; a pleasant puzzle to solve.
Thanks to setter, and to gazza for the review.
The toughie is not too tricky today.
I liked it very much. 21D was actually my favorite clue! Thanks to the setter and, although hints not needed, to Gazza of course for the review.
I liked it, too!
Shouldn’t 23d be k inserted in French for very?
Of course it should. Thanks for pointing it out.
No probs, it was my last one as I first inserted R into tous until I thought better of it after getting 25a.
I put rex in the ‘ts’ i.e.surroundings of ‘tres’ which gave me trexs which I thought was a very peculiar spelling of the answer!!!!!
I know totally wrong in all ways!!!!
No big problems today although 6D held me up for a while (I had Al stuck in my mind for far too long). I thought 27A was a very good anagram..
Big yellow thing in the sky here too – wonder what it is?
I think I’d say 2*/3* today.
I didn’t have any major problems apart from 10a – it did have to be an anagram of ‘cold’ (sadly) around IS (island) didn’t it?
It also took me ages to work out why 21d was what it was – and, yes, I think it sounds exactly right.
I liked 17 and 25a and 7d. My favourite was 11d.
With thanks to Mr Ron and gazza.
Please would all you chaps and chapesses with some sun mind sharing it a bit? We walked for an hour in torrential rain this morning – got home with rain dripping down my neck – husband went and got a hair dryer. I thought he was being really kind until he got collie’s brush out and started to dry her!
Ha Ha you do make me laugh Kath –
Is he related to me Kath?
. . . I’m beginning to think that he just might be.
I spent way too much time trying to make “cold is” an anagram.
Oh good – not just me – always nice to have some company.
Fairly straightforward, until I got a bit stuck in the NE sector. Was glad I wasn’t the only one to work through quite a few wrong Johnson’s before hitting on Amy. And I took ages to put 13a in., which became my favourite. Thank you setter, and to Gazza for the hints.
Thanks to the setter, and to Gazza for the review. A quick run through for me this morning with no great hold-ups (*/**) although I did need to look up and verify the poet as I’d never heard of him. 11d would have to be my favourite clue today.
I suspect the pedants’ debate over strategy/tactics may take longer than the puzzle.
They appear as synonyms on most (if not all) thesaurus-type sites I’ve looked at this morning. They also have some almost identical meanings in the BRB. So for my money, I’d say they’re synonymous. I’m sure that given a few minutes to think about it, there are many other supposed synonyms used in crosswords whose meanings are much further from each other than these two.
Roland. Strategy is a long term plan, tactics are short term actions. This difference is vital in several areas: business, warfare, chess, and probably many others. You often need tactics to succeed in your strategy but they are definitely not synonymous.
Rightly or wrongly I was always taught that, in business, strategy is the plan of where you want to go and that tactics are the actions you take to get there.
The other old chestnut which still causes arguments is the difference between competencies and skills. Discuss.
Hear, hear – totally agree with and support RD. This is one example of “compilers’ license” going a little too far.
Yes Dave, I hear what you’re saying, and I did take a trip to pedant’s corner to see what you’d posted there.
I’m merely pointing out that all the references available seem to have them as synonyms, implying that it’s not just the crossword compilers who you migfht wish to blame.
The following is copied from Merriam-Webster’s site. You’ll note that in this case, the first definition given for strategy is essentially what you’re saying, and that tactics is a related word, not a synonym.
However, the second entry for strategy has more of an immediate nature about it, not being pre-planned. In this second case you’ll see that tactics is listed as a synonym.
1
a method worked out in advance for achieving some objective
Synonyms arrangement, blueprint, design, game, game plan, ground plan, master plan, program, project, road map, scheme, strategy, system
Related Words collusion, conspiracy, plot; contrivance, device, gambit, maneuver, ruse, stratagem, subterfuge, trick; counterplan, counterstrategy; means, tactic, technique, way; procedure, protocol; conception, idea, projet, proposal, specific(s), specification(s); aim, intent, intention, purpose; diagram, formula, layout, map, pattern, platform, policy, recipe, setup
2
the means or procedure for doing something
Synonyms approach, fashion, form, how, manner, methodology, recipe, strategy, style, system, tack, tactics, technique, way
Related Words mode, modus operandi; blueprint, design, game, game plan, ground plan, intrigue, layout, line, model, plan, plot, program, route, scheme; expedient, move, shift, step; practice (also practise), process, routine; policy
DON’T SHOOT THE MESSENGER!!
I definitely won’t shoot the messenger, but personally I wouldn’t be inclined to believe any reference work that cites practise as a noun
See – told you it’d take longer than the puzzle.
Just one example, of very many, of the American mis-spelling of a perfectly good English word!
Enjoyable crossword without straining the grey matter, thanks to the setter and to Gazza.
Enjoyable puzzle today, but needed some explanations from Gazza for which, many thanks. Thank you to the setter too of course.
Straightforward but very enjoyable. Managed without the above hints although im usually very grateful for them – now attempting the toughie and am very much in need of the hints!!
I found today’s puzzle typically Tuesdayish. Enjoyable but not taxing. For those of you following the Kitchen/Pig saga. The pig will arrive on Saturday. Saint Sharon will come round eventually. She always does.
Please tell me that this doesn’t mean you’ve knocked Saint Sharon out.
Is the pig going to live in the kitchen Miffypops???
Hope not, it might chew the new Kitchen units :-)
Don’t worry about that – there aren’t any!
What with you and your porcine houseguest and the return of “Blandings” on Sunday evenings I think it’s time to revisit the works of Plum. What ho, Miffypops!
What breed, Miffypops? I love pigs (the four footed kind) When Paul Heiney was farming, he asked his long-suffering wife what she’d like for Christmas, as life had been pretty stressful with setting up horse-drawn ploughs etc and starting the farm from scratch. She replied “something black and sexy, please”. So he bought her a black pig in farrow…
There will be 15 Oxford Sandy and black pigs arriving on Saturday March 1st.. No they will not live in the kitchen.. This is a pig club purchase.
I love pigs too – I like slices of the back in a sarnie with brown sauce and the rest with apple
I am looking forward to that bit too.
Apart from 21d which I got from the letters but didn’t understand the link (being a Scot I pronounce my “r”s robustly – Norrrway) this proved an entertaining but not difficult lunch-time puzzle.
Hear, hear Jill B
Hello everyone, back home again, just
Enjoyable today but not too taxing so thanks to setter and Gazza. Made a change to be back to doing the puzzle with pommette over lunch.
Pedants needn’t complain about 6d as the setter might not have been alluding Amy but to Air Vice Marshal James Edgar “Johnnie” Johnson CB, CBE, DSO & Two Bars, DFC & Bar (9 March 1915 – 30 January 2001). Famous WWII fighter ace.
Johnnie Johnson was Officer Commanding at RAF Cottesmore – a V-bomber base with Handley Page Victors – when I spent a week there with the Air Cadets.
Thanks to Mr Ron and to Gazza for the review and hints. A nice, but not too taxing puzzle. Was held up for ages by 10a, but eventually the penny dropped, enabling me to get 6d which was last in. Was 2*/3* for me. Favourite was 27a, which was a very well concealed anagram. I should have guessed sooner, as the three other long clues round the outside were all anagrams too. Sun has just gone in here in Central London. Off to try the Toughie.
struggled with 7 down thanks for the help
Welcome to the blog Stuart.
Pretty straightforward solve today.
Faves : 10a & 6d.
Pouring down all day here in NL.
Hope you don’t want your pumps back yet
Found this quite difficult and, yes Gazza, not much light relief today. Thanks all the same, Mr. Ron. ****/**. 20a new to me (tried to use motet) so held up on 21d which was last in but nevertheless was my fav. As per Jaydubs I also initially had tours for 23d thinking tres could loosely mean very.
Thank you setter, enjoyable and no problems. A field day for the Pedants. I must admit that with my rather amateurish approach, I feel that if I can solve the clue, then there isn’t too much to complain about. Another lovely sunny day here on NE coast. Thanks Gazza for your review and hints. I did spend some time thinking “tou(r)s” for 23d until the penny dropped.
I found this pretty straightforward until I got to the NE corner, where I got held up with 10a, 5d and 6d. Favourite 21d, though it did take a while to figure out the why. I needed the hints to know why 12a was what it was. Thanks to setter and to Gazza for the review, needed today. Feeling quite pleased with myself that I did as much as I did!
I had the same problems as everybody else, especially the north east corner.My favourite is 26a.A good puzzle , slightly different to most Tuesdays. Thanks Gazza for the explanations.
We are hanging our heads in shame this morning. Rushed through the puzzle, did not go back and recheck the parsing, and find that we have TWO wrong. Had ‘rally’ for 14a and ‘Alister’ for 6d. No excuses – sloppy solving. A good puzzle.
Thanks Mr Ron and Gazza.
Not too taxing on the whole but 21d NO. WAY!!
Agree with that. Also, not sure I have ever heard the 4d referred to in that manner.
A bit of a write-in and not much smiling here. 6d was my favourite. Best thing is I get on the first page for once. Thanks to Gazza for erudite explanations and to the setter, although next time Ron, give me a grin or two along the way
Not today you don’t. Nearly but not quite or maybe my comment to Skempie bumped you down. However, you work whilst we are playing. Nowt wrong with that.
Fairly straight-forward my top two being 12a and 6d. Thanks for the review and to The Setter.