Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 28213
Hints and tips by 2Kiwis
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BD Rating – Difficulty **– Enjoyment ***
Kia ora from down-under. We still haven’t seen our first ducklings but will keep looking. Spring is doing its usual Spring thing, totally variable. We’ve had a few fine days but another cold southerly blast is reminding us that winter woollies should not be put into storage just yet.
Enjoy today’s puzzle from Jay.
Please leave a comment saying how you got on.
Across
1a Claim by would-be favourite American force (7)
IMPETUS : How one would say that he/she was the most preferred by a teacher, and the abbreviation for American.
5a Thingy or things that shoot across bobbin irregularly (7)
GUBBINS : A word for firearms surrounds the first, third and fifth letters of bobbin.
9a A look into doctor’s choice of dance (5)
GALOP : ‘A’ from the clue and a short word meaning to look is inside the abbreviation for a general practitioner. This gives a choice or variety of dance.
10a Stupidly copies friend of the bishop (9)
EPISCOPAL : An anagram (stupidly) of COPIES and a word for a friend.
11a Food in season before revolution (6,4)
SPRING ROLL : The season that we in New Zealand are having at present and a revolution or rotation.
12a Pack coming from point-to-point (4)
STOW : Two cardinal compass points with ‘to’ from the clue between them.
14a East German criminal hoarding silver is the person behind the scenes (5,7)
STAGE MANAGER : An anagram (criminal) of EAST GERMAN includes the chemical symbol for silver.
18a Stumble on areas upstairs in facility at airport (7,5)
LANDING STRIP : Flat areas either at the top or half-way up a staircase, and then stumble or lose one’s footing.
21a Go for a tool to break up rocks (4)
PICK : Double definition. The first could be make a selection.
22a Keeps time poorly, rooted to the spot (5-5)
STOCK-STILL : Keeps as a retailer might do, the abbreviation for time, and a word meaning poorly or out of sorts.
25a Condition requiring food supplies to be curtailed (9)
PROVISION : A word for food supplies has its last letter removed.
26a Prevent, say, those with no socks (5)
AVERT : A synonym for say or maintain, then a word for socks or stockings is removed from ‘those’ in the clue.
27a Going through religious instruction leads to affair (7)
RIFLING : The abbreviation for religious instruction in schools and then a word for a romantic relationship.
28a Put in cover, protected by sun’s heat here (7)
SHEATHE : Our only lurker today. It’s hiding in the last three words of the clue.
Down
1d What consumer must do as a joke, we hear (6)
INGEST : A 2,4 phrase meaning ‘as a joke’ sounds like this answer.
2d Derisory effort after circuit of track going the wrong way (6)
PALTRY : An effort or attempt follows the reversal of a word for a circuit of a race track.
3d Point at lad ordered to prepare beans for cooking (3,3,4)
TOP AND TAIL : An anagram (ordered) of POINT AT LAD.
4d Small fruit — asparagus for example (5)
SPEAR : The abbreviation for small and then a type of pipfruit.
5d Diver‘s shame, eating most of fruit (9)
GUILLEMOT : A yellow, sour citrus fruit without its last letter is found inside a word for shame or blame.
6d Resist responsibility that may be passed (4)
BUCK : Double definition. The first could also be how a horse would show resistance.
7d Poorly MEP taken in by Italian needing single shot for infection (8)
IMPETIGO : The abbreviation for Italian surrounds an anagram (poorly) of MEP, then the Roman numeral One and a shot or turn.
8d Despicable type under QC is producer of material (8)
SILKWORM : The gown or rank of a QC is followed by a term for a despicable person.
13d Son to fix room, showing this speed? (6,4)
SNAIL’S PACE : The abbreviation for son, then to fix probably using a hammer and a word for room or capacity.
15d Scrambled egg tonight — husband’s away being ambitious (2-7)
GO-GETTING : An anagram (scrambled) of EGG TONIGhT after the abbreviation for husband has been removed.
16d Where pests may get stuck in rush before exam (8)
FLYPAPER : Rush or move quickly, and an exam defined by what it is written upon.
17d Nick‘s to stop working (5,3)
KNOCK OFF : Double definition. The first is an informal word meaning to steal.
19d Understand and set out to process food (6)
DIGEST : Understand using a word associated with hippy culture and an anagram (out) of SET.
20d Dress of clergy (English) (6)
CLOTHE : A collective word used to describe clergy and then the abbreviation for English.
23d Flogs walking aids (5)
CANES : Double definition.
24d Dress for the South of France (4)
MIDI : This dress comes somewhere between a mini and a maxi.
We rather liked the word in 5a, it’s not one that we’ve ever heard used in New Zealand, but the wordplay for 26a was the last for us to solve so we will nominate this one as favourite.
Quickie pun purge + hurry = perjury
I enjoyed this puzzle quite a bit. Good variation of clues. On the easy side but some clues required some thought. 2*/4* for me.
Thanks to 2K and setter.
Quite enjoyable with some head scratching which needed electronic and crossword dictionary assistance. This was especially true for 5a, a word I have not heard for a long time, where I submitted my solution to the puzzle site electronic checker several times before I got it right. in the end, completed reasonably comfortably before lights out last night.
Favourite 18a which I consider was a very well constructed clue, closely followed by 9a – I don’t think that I have seen that variation of abbreviation for doctor for a while, and I tried using all the others first.
Overall ** or ***/*** for me. Thanks to Jay and the 2Ks.
I liked the anagram of east german and ‘those without socks’
Many thanks 2Kiwis and Jay
Immensely enjoyable throughout. Some unusual words and lots of excellent clues. The SE corner resisted most. 26ac made me laugh having spent yesterday sock less and poorly shod in flip flops Solved on the south side shore of Loch Awe watching hundreds of swallows darting about. There are four buzzards soaring on high and mewing away. It is very peaceful and if the sun burns through it will be a scorcher. Thanks Jay for an excellent puzzle and thanks to the two kiwi reviewers. Off out in a boat later. Life is good.
Nothing too difficult today don’t think15a is quite right.They are more likely at an aerodrome or club field ,but mustn’t grumble, it is supposed to be a puzzle after all! 3*/2* for me
I think it is a term that is not used any longer at airports, so, to me, it’s okay.
Pencilled in a**/*** before reading the 2K’s blog , thought that the puzzle as a whole was well constructed and merited a three star enjoyment, liked the surface of 22a and 13d.
Don’t think I’ve seen a ‘Galop’ performed- looks very frantic from the 2K’s pic with feet flying everywhere !
I mean 18across of course.
I found this really difficult usually you get into the setters train of thought no such luck today. This was definitely on tougher side but none the less enjoyable plenty of word play and a couple of gimmies.
Thanks to the 2Ks and to Jay.
Definalely ***/*** for me.
Spotting ‘cover’ in 28a put me on cricket alert which caused a slight panic but, other than forgetting that the dance only had one ‘L’ the rest was fairly plain sailing.
Liked 18a plus 3&4d but top slot goes to 26a. Like 2Ks, that was my last one in.
Thanks to Jay for a most enjoyable puzzle and to our Kiwis for the whys and wherefores.
Seems like ages since I had a chance to tackle a cryptic, so I’m glad it was a Jay puzzle. No real favorites. i just enjoyed the solve. Thanks to Jay and the 2Ks.
That was great fun and just nicely taxing. Thank you Jay. Not sure whether it is the 8d which itself produces material. 6d amused as did 5a which I don’t recall previously seeing used cruciverbally. Took a while to realise there was a plural in 18a. ***/***. Thanks 2 Ks. You have the onset of Spring and we have an Indian Summer – phew what humidity!
One of our rookies has a first puzzle in the Independent today! (9329 by Eccles)
Congratulations :-)
It’s a new pseudonym – can you guess who? You can probably tell from the puzzle
google independent crosswords and look for today’s cryptic 9329
Unlikely, I would have thought but… it’s not our friend Mr Squires is it?
Sorry, brain dozed off :oops:
Eccles will be flattered!
I had the honour of test-solving it recently but never expected it would be published quite so fast.
Highly recommended and well worth solving, the setter has already had some very positive feedback, including from a certain gentleman in Macclesfield I noticed ;-)
An enjoyable puzzle – although I was expecting ‘egest’ to feature somewhere after I had 1d & 19d! Particularly liked 26a, but they are all worthy in their own way. Very good. 12a & 8d last in for me.
Thanks to all as ever.
I was slow to get going in the NW corner, but once up and running it felt like a workmanlike solve of some nicely constructed clues. The parsing of 26a held me up a while even though it was clear what the answer was. 13d is my favourite today, as it reminded me of my two sons’ efforts to tidy up when they were younger. One of them still seems to work at the same speed even now he is grown up.
2*/3*
Thanks to Jay and the 2K’s.
I too have just read the hints and had a d’oh moment with 26a which I’m afraid I had bunged in without parsing.
I agree with the 2K’s about the difficulty and enjoyment today.
The whole of the bottom left corner took me ages but everything else went quite well apart from18a which took some untangling.
I didn’t know the 9a dance only had one ‘L’.
I liked 1 and 14a and 3d.
With thanks to Jay and to the 2K’s.
Spent yesterday and last night with Elder Lamb in London so now have to pay for my time off, i.e. cut the grass, before looking at yesterday’s crossword or yesterday or today’s Toughies.
PS 16d was my favourite – many years ago when the Lambs were little we had a holiday in a gite in France. Elder Lamb had quite long hair which she managed to get well and truly stuck in a 16d – not good – oh dear – I seem to remember that scissors were involved . . . :sad:
*** time for me today although I think it should have been ** looking back on it. Didn’t help that I put 19d in 1d (should read the clue properly) and clock for the first word in 17d (justified by a nick being a way of keeping tally – not very clever). Still finished it in time to head off to the Wisley Flower Show – if you are thinking of going now would be a good time as the queues have gone. Thanks to Jay for an enjoyable solve and the 2Ks of the review.
Never knew the term for southern France. Liked 5a.
Thanks all.
Another enjoyable solve with a good cross section of clues.
Like others 26a COTD & had to verify spelling of 9a.
Thanks to setter & 2Ks.
At least you have the prospect of longer warmer days for 3 months. Shortening days with morning & night dog walks in the dark a much less cheering outlook for us.
Very enjoyable start to the day, with what I thought was a gentle Jay puzzle. Lovely clue constructs and surfaces which are the hallmarks of his puzzles – just a shame it wasn’t on the back page of the paper. Haven’t seen 9a have an outing for a bit and with the NE corner last to cough up it’s secrets I was looking at 5d thinking – ‘you know, G*******t would fit, shame it’s not a fruit’. D’oh! Hangs head in shame. No major stand out favourite – just a good enjoyable puzzle from the master of the fair crossword.
Thanks to Jay for the enjoyment and to the 2K’s for their review.
Not on the setters wavelength for almost all of the bottom half today. It has taken me 10 minutes even to see why 26ac is what it is. A case of brain fade after lunch.
Very nice , although I needed the hint for 5a.
Quite foody with 1d and 19d, too.
Thanks Kiwis and Jay.
I was totally on wavelength today, can’t believe it! I did get 5a wrong, putting in “goblins” as it was the only thing I could think that would fit. Completely forgot about the correct answer. I should have looked it up in my gizmo instead of just bunging in something that fit.
I needed the hints to know why 26a was correct, clever that when you know why!
Lots of candidates for fave, too many in fact, but I rather liked 22a.
Thanks to Jay, and to 2Kiwis for their hints and tips.
Better than yesterday. Couldn’t work out why 26 was, but bunged it in (thanks 2 ks for the reason), and missed the lurker. 27a had me in knots for ages as I wanted it to start with re. Enjoyable crossword from Jay as usual. 7d my favourite.
Got there eventually, must be this damp weather…All went well in the west, then held up by 5d, thinking it was a chap in a diving suit. Then again in SE, 28a got me too, had ‘shelter’ in till looking at hints for this and 26a, which was a very sneaky clue! Still, it’s all about learning :)
Liked 9a, 18a, 5d, 13d. 2.5*/3*. Thanks to 2Kiwis and setter.
Good evening evrybody.
This puzzle was going well enough but I was stumped by 25a and 16d.
****/***
Good morning everyone. Have been struggling for some time to get on to the site and it has at last reluctantly relented and we can see what you have been saying while we have been sleeping. Wonder if the access problem was just us.
Today we need to make a visit to Wellington. The forecast is for gale force winds, thunder storms and snow to low levels. Could be a fun day!
Everyone seems to have appreciated the puzzle much as we did.
Cheers.
Thanks 2Kiwis for your efforts. No it was not just you who could not get on the blog. I was trying for a couple of hours and looking now there seem to have been others.
I had problems getting on the site today, hence my later than usual posting.
Terrific puzzle from Jay, not too difficult but hugely enjoyable. No stand out favourites, but overall this was a 2*/4* for me.
Thanks to all species of avian life involved.
A nice, fairly straightforward puzzle. 24d was a guess that needed a bit of googling to understand the south of France bit, must admit it’s the first time I’ve come across that.
Thank you, Shropshire lad, for your encouragement yesterday. Confidence restored today but needed help with26a, what a fiendish clue!
Oh dear.
Didn’t start very well with this one.
Putting “hobnobs” in 5a. Took the wrong set of letters and have you ever heard of shooting hobs?
The other was “stand still” in 22a so that 23d stayed unsolved.
Whether it’s a back page or a toughie, a crossword is always a challenge for me.
Thanks to Jay and to 2kiwis for the review.
Interesting puzzle. Found I did it in three separate sessions. Works like magic – the power of the subconscious brain. I agree that 18a is not to be found at an airport but certainly on an airfield. Had most trouble with bottom third. Could not parse 26a and it seems I am not alone. I had a lot of difficulty with 22a which made 23d impossible. Eventually got it right after which 23d was easy peasy. I could not get on to the website for a couple of hours late afternoon! I note a gap in the comments so perhaps there was a problem. Thanks Jay and all.
Excellent entertainment from Jay, he does seem a master of clues like 18a and sets a consistently high standard overall.
My two favourites were 5a and 13a, although several others ran them close.
I have to admit my hackles were beginning to rise when I saw “poorly” and “dress” each appear twice, but thankfully no need for my indicator repetition radar to ping this time!
Many thanks to Mr. Mutch and to the 2Kiwis, I’ve had problems accessing the site too in the last few hours.
Late finishing today, too many errands to run. Great puzzle, with 18a and 8d being favorites. Mr BL got great enjoyment in filling in 5 I had not yet solved. 25a last one in. Thanks to Jay and 2 KIWIs for a pleasant solve.
You know how you don’t hear/see a word for years, and then suddenly you see it 2 or 3 times in rapid succession? We were laughing about 5a this morning, in that we have never heard it since we moved across the pond eons ago. Picked up my copy of the latest Sally Spencer, “Death in Disguise” for a nice read with a cup of tea, and bingo! There is gubbins on page 86…
Very late tackling this today, but well worth the wait. 2*/4*. Not tough but very enjoyable. Joint favourites 5a & 18a.
Many thanks to Jay and the 2Ks.
Would have posted earlier but had trouble accessing the site. We enjoyed this 1.5*/3*.
Favourite and LOI was 26a – very nice. In 5a we failed to understand why ‘irregularly’; we felt ‘regularly’ would have been crisper and a little more accurate.
Spent some time this evening planning our two week motorhome tour of part of South Island in November, so good to hear that spring is arriving there.
Thanks to the 2Ks for the review and climate report, and Jay for the puzzle.
Pleased to hear that you have chosen NZ for your holiday. At the moment you would need snow chains for your motorhome! It should be much better by November. Have fun. We look forward to getting a full report in due course.
S. 5a: Irregularly denotes the odd-numbered (odd=irregular) letters of a clue word (in this case – B,B,I), whereas regularly denotes the even-numbered letters (O,B,N).
Thanks to Jay and to the 2 Kiwis for the review and hints. Very enjoyable puzzle, but quite tricky. Needed the hint for 26a. Favourite was 5a. A new word in 9a. Was 3*/3* for me.
Thanks to Jay (who is a brilliant c/w setter IMHO) and to 2xK’s for an excellent review.
Very enjoyable, a bit of a struggle at the end, I did not know the word for the South of France or the word for ‘say’ in 26a. 13d was my favourite.
The Midi is a colloquial name for an area in the South of France. Why Midi I don’t now but perhaps Jean-Luc may enlighten us.
The word Midi (South of France) derives from the clock of the cardinal points – N at the top, S at the bottom – so it is halfway round for a northern hemisphere viewer.
Hope this helps!
It can be explained in Latin of course!!!
Derek.
This one was very good and worthy of a comment and praise. It was above average for both difficulty and enjoyment. 2.5*/3.5*
PS. I think a landing-strip is (still) just another term for a runway, so I can’t see what all the fuss is about.
Having failed to access the site when I first finished I then totally forgot to return later. D’oh!
A nice crossword from Jay with the usual variety of clues.
5a was my fave as I haven’t heard the word for ages. 2/3* overall.
Thanks to Jay and to the 2Kays for their review.