Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 27924
Hints and tips by Miffypops
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***
Miffypops has had to go out before he was able to finish his review – I’m sure he will be able to add a prologue on his return. BD
Too right I will BD. Many a tear has to fall, But it’s all in the game. My team won on Saturday afternoon and my other team lost on Saturday night. I had a very liquid day yesterday at The Argentina v Tonga game in Leicester. Saint Sharon really is a Saint. Rufus has upped the difficulty scale today. Not by much but I found the last couple tricky.>
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
1a Taking money out for retirement (10)
WITHDRAWAL: The act of taking money out of one’s account or the ceasing of partaking in an activity.
6a Join me as ordered (4)
SEAM: Anagram number one. ME AS is the fodder. Ordered is the anagram indicator.
10a Had an inclination and worked in the garden (5)
RAKED: This clue sent me off down memory lane to my engineering apprenticeship and the angles used for cutting tools. Also to have used a gardening tool.
11a Willie Winkie’s running gear (9)
NIGHTGOWN:
Wee Willie Winkie runs through the town,
Up stairs and down stairs in his night-gown,
Tapping at the window, crying at the lock,
Are the children in their bed, for it’s past ten o’clock?
Hey, Willie Winkie, are you coming in?
The cat is singing purring sounds to the sleeping hen,
The dog’s spread out on the floor, and doesn’t give a cheep,
But here’s a wakeful little boy who will not fall asleep!
Anything but sleep, you rogue! glowering like the moon,’
Rattling in an iron jug with an iron spoon,
Rumbling, tumbling round about, crowing like a cock,
Shrieking like I don’t know what, waking sleeping folk.
Hey, Willie Winkie – the child’s in a creel!
Wriggling from everyone’s knee like an eel,
Tugging at the cat’s ear, and confusing all her thrums
Hey, Willie Winkie – see, there he comes!”
Weary is the mother who has a dusty child,
A small short little child, who can’t run on his own,
Who always has a battle with sleep before he’ll close an eye
But a kiss from his rosy lips gives strength anew to me.
12a Co-operate in production of drama and dance (4,4)
PLAY BALL: A drama like the one what Ernie Wise wrote and a formal dance will give a phrase meaning to work willingly with others
13a Wide awake for a siren call (5)
ALERT: A double definition. Need I say more?
15a Scholar takes ages, with total backing (7)
ERASMUS: This scholar wrote in a pure Latin style and lived from 1466 to 1536 which is way before my time. To find him out use a four letter word that means ages or lots of years. Not EONS, the other one and add a three letter word that means the total amount resulting from the addition of two or more numbers but reversed as indicated by the word backing. Golly bongs. What a lot of words to hint at an answer consisting of only seven letters
17a Stuffy complaint (7)
CATARRH: This complaint is an excessive discharge or build-up of mucus in the nose or throat, associated with inflammation of the mucous membrane. Not really want we want to be thinking about on a Monday morning is it?
19a One about to settle in the country (7)
IRELAND: Use the letter that looks like the number 1, the usual crosswordland suspect for about ( there are two abouts, the circa one is not it this time ) then add a verb meaning to come down through the air and rest on the ground or another surface
21a Business worry (7)
CONCERN; another double definition.
22a Peg possibly owed a pound (5)
DOWEL: Anagram number two (possibly) of OWED with the initial letter of a pound as in LSD.
24a Direction to take off frock (8)
SUNDRESS: A point of the compass and the act of disrobing
27a Expect high tolls here (9)
CAMPANILE: A belltower. The one in Bruges is spectacular and well worth a visit
28a Not acute, but quite serious (5)
GRAVE: And another clever double definition.
29a Policy revealed in short note (4)
LINE: An agreed approach, of government for example or a memo
30a Sent off with a wave of the hand? (10)
HYPNOTISED: Even with all the checkers in I found this one difficult to solve. Maybe I was mesmerised by the setter. Maybe this will help you:
Last night a Hypnotist convinced me I was a soft, malleable metal with an atomic number of 82.
I’m easily lead.
Down
1d Counsel is exhausted, we hear (4)
WARN: A homophone based on a verb meaning inform someone in advance of a possible danger, problem, or other unpleasant situation and an adjective meaning damaged and shabby as a result of much use. Did you get the second letter right?
2d Accept a holiday and say goodbye (4,5)
TAKE LEAVE: And again a double definition which should not give you too much trouble. If it does, please click to reveal the answer.
3d Father may be cleric within 24 hours (5)
DADDY: This cleric is a Doctor of Divinity who needs to be put inside (within) a period of 24 hours to give up one of your parents
4d Books which one enjoys in bed? (7)
ANNUALS: The beds are in the garden and these journals are also plants with a lifespan of one year.
5d Lace with gin in a way that’s divine! (7)
ANGELIC : Anagram (in a way) of LACE and GIN
7d Demoted at the centre, get all worked up (5)
EMOTE: The central five letters of the word DEMOTED
8d Meticulous employee that comes round on time (6,4)
MINUTE HAND: The first word here as indicated by the word Meticulous is defined thus in a google search (of an investigation or account) taking the smallest points into consideration; precise and meticulous. The second is our usual crosswordland suspect for a manual worker. Together they hint at one of the pointers on a watch or clock
9d Reform a crook reportedly put into difficulties (8)
STRAITEN: Sounds like (reportedly) a verb meaning to reform a crook
14d Timely sort of police raid (10)
PERIODICAL: Yippee another anagram. This time the indicator is (sort of) and the fodder is POLICE RAID
16d A meal oft served out cold? Yes (4,4)
MEAT LOAF: And just to amuse me even more we have yet another anagram (served out) of A MEAL OFT. Are we supposed to eat this cold. We don’t
18d They control ovens, cooking the roasts (9)
RHEOSTATS: Three in a row. I am so happy I could burst. Just wiggle up (cooking) the letters in the words THE ROASTS
20d Lot of the French money has variable support (7)
DESTINY: Take the French word for “of the” and add a slang term for money and an algebraic letter used to denote a variable number
21d It provides food or water (7)
CANTEEN: A water container is also a kitchen for the mass production of food. We had a poem at school about our dinners which ended with the lines:
Here comes the gravy, thick and still
If That don’t get you, The custard will.
23d West Country lady (5)
WOMAN: Take the initial letter of W(est) and add one of the Arabian sultanates
25d Appropriate ceremonial form in speech (5)
RIGHT: A word which means correct is also a homophone of a word meaning a a religious or other solemn ceremony or act.
26d Right conclusion? Tear it up (4)
REND: R(ight) and a word meaning the conclusion will give a verb that means to tear into pieces.
The Quick Crossword pun: lick+quid+ate=liquidate
Found this puzzle quite difficult at first but managed to get on the same wavelength as the setter and completed it. I agree with 3*/3*. 27 made me smile but I cannot give a favourite. I did not think that one could eat 16d cold… The review helped me justify my answer for 4d so many thanks to Miffipops and to the setter. Can’ t believe I am the first one to comment!
Lemon squeezy but fun nevertheless. Nice gentle start to the week.Thanks Mr. Ron and MP. **/****. Fav was 27a. I was introduced to 16d whilst living in US (and still have the tins!) but have to say I have never had it cold.
Difficult for a Monday-blog playing up again ! didn’t like 1D, and is 11A cryptic or general knowledge, luckily remembered the first two lines from my days in the cot, oh and not keen on 17A either- cluing about as good as England’s pack on Saturday going for a **/**.
I always enjoy a Monday, but loved this. My mother used to read out the11a poem to me as a child. Couldn’t wait for ‘The dog’s speldert on the floor’. Such fun. Had slight problem with 21d for a while, as missed out the food,saw water, and put in conduit. Saw the error of my ways with 30a which had to be favourite. Only ever had 11d hot.Thanks to the setter, Miffypops and BD. 2*/4* for me. Hope all is ok Miffypops.
All is well Florence. i just needed a lift to fetch my car back from the big city after yesterdays shennanigans.
**/***
This went to 2* difficulty as I put in belltower for 27a. Didn’t realise it was wrong until I got to 14d. Apart from my anagram circles, the rest was a R&W.
Which is good. Monday’s should be gentle. Especially if you’ve had a hectic weekend. I’ve been answering emails since 7.
Many thanks to Rufus and to MP for blogging.
Miserable here. Home made soup is needed. Pity I don’t have any.
Very enjoyable and quite easy puzzle for a Monday,for me, must have been on the right wavelength today and I think there were some old chentnuts in there too.
2.5*/3.5*
Thanks to setter and MP.
3*/4*. A fun puzzle as ever on a Monday with commendable brevity and beautiful surfaces throughout. I whizzed through three quarters of this but struggled for a while with the SE corner taking me up to 3* time.
I can’t possibly pick a single favourite, but 1a, 11a, 19a, 22a, 27a, 30a, 8d and 23d all deserve a special mention.
Many thanks to Rufus and to MP.
Nice easy crossword to brighten up a very dull wet Monday here in Cambs ? Thanks to MP for the whole of the Wee Willie Winkie poem ☺️ And to Rufus for such an easy but enjoyable solve */**** Liked, nay loved, 19a, 20a, 27, & 23d ?
2/4 excellent puzzle, great fun. Last in was 7d, dratted lurkers!
Thought 14d a little weak but loved 30a, brilliant. Mrs B got 11a, not a nursery rhyme I’m familiar with. Oh and MiDisp for 27a.
Thx to all
PS is it just my connection or is the site very slow at the moment?
Unlike MP, I didn’t feel that this particular Rufus offering was any more difficult than a normal Monday, with lots as ever to enjoy.
The two favourites for me were 4d and 30a, delightful cryptic definitions.
Many thanks to Mr. Squires and to Miffypops.
P.S. For those “Only Connect” fans, tonight at 8.30pm on BBC2 the Cluesmiths (Messrs. Heald, Hodgkin and Tozer) return for their Second Round contest, it should be an interesting battle I’m sure.
Quite enjoyed the crossword today, with the exception of 30a, the only one I didnt manage to get.
Problems with Bigdave44.com again!
I keep getting :-
‘Error 522 Ray ID: 2309024ec6801359 • 2015-10-05 12:08:11 UTC
Connection timed out’
I hope this means something to someone!!
Me too with additional comment “Connection between CloudFlare’s network and the origin web server timed out. As a result web page cannot be displayed”.
As far as the puzzle is concerned no real problems – I just needed reassurance with 30a – I had it but wasn’t confident about ‘the wave of the hand?’ bit!
Usual Monday fare from my neighbour, although I did think there were a couple of clues (11 & 17a) that were a bit ‘iffy’. The rest were the usual mix of anagrams and critics which is what you can expect on a Monday. No real stand out favourite but I quite liked 30a.
Thanks to Rufus for the puzzle and mp for his review. Was there a rugby match on Saturday night? I must have missed it
That should have ‘cryptics’ – but I can’t seem to edit my comment.
You’re a funny man SL.
Did you get my wine recommendation last week?
I couldn’t get hold of either. And I went to 2 branches of Morrisons!
Annoying as your recommendations are spot in. Ended up with a Matua Sauvignon blanc and a Viognier from Sainsburys. Both perfectly drinkable.
As I said earlier when I referred to 11A and 17A, when I questioned if 11A was cryptic-how can you work out the solution without having read the poem ?
Read the poem? Surely you mean had your mum reciting the nursery rhyme over and over again when you were a small child??
You’ve heard of the ‘infant phenomenon’ no doubt !
Needed Google for 11a and a medical dictionary for 17a.
9d was also new to me.
I regret the days when one could solve a puzzle without electronic help.
Thanks anyway to Rufus and to MP for the excellent review.
17a is just ‘snot’ really – not nice but not very medical!
In fact I love the internet and Google. You get to learn much faster. It even puts you on the right tracks.
For Catarrh, Wikipedia had this:
This article is about a condition caused by inflamed mucous membranes. For the country, see Qatar.
With everything else in 20d had to be what it was but why? Whilst awaiting the log in I finally saw that tin was the cash and of the French was not singular.
A little more difficult than the normal Monday offering: 3/3 I reckon. Could not get 30A. Thanks to MP for his review.
***/*** SE corner a little slow to come into focus, largely due to 19a and 20d. Not convinced by either clue. Just a little bit too contrived.
You must have been in a rush to get out this morning, MP. Not like you to miss out on the musical opportunities provided by 9&16d!
I think my Mum (and consequently myself) only ever knew the first few lines of 11a – just as well that was all that was necessary.
Hadn’t come across the term for money in 20d – according to the OED it’s a British slang word, does it come from any particular region?
Knew the answer for 17a but did delay putting it in until checkers were in place – spelling, spelling!
Finished in about 1.5* time with a 3* for enjoyment.
Thanks to Rufus and also to our recovering publican. I would enquire solicitously about your poor head, but recall you saying that you are not troubled by ‘morning after’ feelings.
I do not suffer hangovers but there is a general lethargy hanging around days after nights before or in this case whole days and nights before. It was a good one.
Nice to see that all seems to be working again – I’m not going to push my luck by trying to say anything other than that crossword was quite Mondayish and I’ve had a rubbish day so off to bed.
Would quite like to comment on Mr Rookie which I enjoyed a lot but will leave that until tomorrow.
Night night all . . .
What a relief to be able to access the site again. A pretty typical Rufus puzzle we thought and it took us about the usual time to put it all together.
Thanks Rufus and Miffypops.
Seconded – forgot to say thanks to Rufus and to MP.
Back tomorrow – for the second time, night night all –
Thanks to Rufus and to Miffypops for the review and hints. Managed to do most of it, but was 6 answers short, needed the hints for all of them 1&11a and 1,4,7,9d. Had never heard of 7&9d. Very tough. Enjoyed the rest of it. Favourite was 15a. Was 4*/2* for me. Glad the site is back, but it’s still running very slowly.
The site keeps timing out – grrrr!
I still don’t understand 30a – I got the word with my Wordsearch program and I see the word means ‘sent off’ but I don’t understand the ‘with a wave of the hand?’ bit.
Please can someone put me out of my misery?
I think the “sent off” bit means to send some off into a trance, as in the answer. I’ve never been hypnotised and am not sure I want to be but the general idea is that the hypnotist waves his (or her, so’s not to be sexist here) hands around in front of you to do that – I always thought that it was swinging something around that the ‘patient’ focussed on but, who knows?
I think you’ll find that in old depictions of the art of 30a, the practitioner would ask the subject to ‘watch my finger’ as he moved his hand to and fro in front of their eyes with forefinger extended.
I had a quick Google and there was something about ‘magnetic hands’ as a hypnosis technique. Not sure how well it works.
I’ve seen Derren Brown hypnotise people with no more that a click of his fingers. Really. Extraordinary live performance.
Despite still suffering from a heavy dose of 17a, I sailed through this delightful puzzle with no trouble at all. 16d, despite what earlier commenters have suggested, is often eaten cold; my mother would make a big one and it would be hot for dinner and cold in a packed lunch for the next day or two. Or three. MP is right about the 27a in Bruges – and it also features in my favourite film, In Bruges (did you see what I did there?). I liked 4d and 21d, but the one with the 160 checkout was 30a. Many thanks to Rufus and MP (wot, no music? shame) and thanks too to BD for grappling with the server problems on all our behalfs.
I loved the Willie Winkie rhyme – only ever heard the first verse. Thank you for that. I also love and often depend or your site when stuck!
Last in was 30a and it really was the best clue of the lot.
Did anyone else find accessing this site impossible yesterday? Something had crashed. It’s not the first time it’s happened.
Yes, me too. Unable to access at all yesterday, and as you say it’s not the first time it has happened.
See “Peformance Problems above”
I usually find it difficult to get on the same wavelength as Rufus. Today I wasn’t even on the same band…
Thank goodness we are back in action! I suppose at least it stopped me from peeking at the review to get a particular answer…I thought this was a bit trickier than usual for a Monday; I did enjoy it though.
My favourite was 28a because it was so elegantly simple.
2/3* overall.
Thanks to Rufus and MP.
Not too bad for a Rufus, but 30ac?! The classic thing waved when one is this is a WATCH, not a HAND. Another “read my mind” clue.