ST 2909

Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 2909

A full review by gnomethang

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This puzzle was published on Sunday 23rd July

BD Rating – Difficulty *– Enjoyment ***

Morning All! I found this a very quick solve which curtailed my enjoyment a little bit.

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           In particular, pieces rewritten by friend (10)
ESPECIALLY – An anagram (rewritten) of PIECES followed by an ALLY or friend.

6a           Source of unbelievable story in bar taken the wrong way (4)
LIAR – A reversal (taken the wrong way) of a RAIL or bar.

9a           Like serious people, learn best when beginners are absent (7)
EARNEST – Remove the first letters or beginners from (l)EARN (b)EST.

10a         Shielded old-fashioned fellow, visibly embarrassed (7)
COVERED – An old fashioned word for a fellow is a COVE. Add RED for being visibly embarrassed.

12a         Vigorous activity in court to crush illegal schemes (6,7)
SQUASH RACKETS – A charade of to SQUASH or crush and RACKETS for illegal schemes/scams.

14a         Solvent, with nothing put into a place to live (6)
AFLOAT – Place O for nothing inside A FLAT (one place to live).

15a         Finishing second — excellent (8)
STOPPING – S for Second and TOPPING – a dated word meaning excellent.

17a         Places for hospital visitors, also including doctors, initially (8)
BEDSIDES – Place the initial letter od D(octors) into BESIDES or also.

19a         Facility for religious group that’s on head’s side (6)
TEMPLE – Two definitions – the first a place for worship and the second the pits either side of the eye sockets.

22a         Beautiful opening shot showing religious event (6,7)
DIVINE SERVICE – DIVINE for beautiful then the SERVICE or first/opening shot in a game of tennis.

24a         Narrow-minded, almost be rude to a king (7)
INSULAR – Almost all of the word INSUL(t) or be rude to followed by A and R(ex) for king.

25a         It’s smart including editor from part of Europe (7)
SWEDISH – SWISH or smart to include the ED(itor).

26a         Cause of current disturbance in troubled dynasty (4)
EDDY – A hidden word IN trouble ED DY nasty.

27a         Variety shows stars met on, curiously (10)
ASSORTMENT – A curious anagram of STARS MET ON.

Down

1d           Briefly, I had heard and seen (4)
EYED – A homophone (heard) of I’D or ‘I had’ in brief.

2d           Study that could give one endless pleasure (7)
PERUSAL – Remove the last letter (endless) of PLEASUR(e) and then an anagram COULD make the answer.

3d           Instructing boys and girls, commander wrongly cautioned a learner (13)
COEDUCATIONAL – CO for Commander, then an anagram (wrongly of CAUTIONED followed by A L(earner).

4d           Constable in England or sergeant, we hear, in the US (6)
ARTIST – Two cryptic definitions, Constable being an English ARTIST and Sergeant an American.

5d           Severely scold after delicate fabric is cut roughly (8)
LACERATE – Place RATE or scold after LACE – a fine fabric.

7d           Tragic king’s shown up in islands from part of Middle East (7)
ISREALI – The tragic King LEAR is reversed/shown up inside I and I for two Islands.

8d           Planned differently, having abandoned position about England’s borders (10)
REDESIGNED – RESIGNED or abandoned position around the outside of the border letters in E(nglan)D.

11d         Pence for example invested, price changing (4-9)
VICE-PRESIDENT – The current VP in the US Government is an anagram (changing) of INVESTED PRICE.

13d         Hurtful old kind of message that creates barrier (6,4)
BARBED WIRE = A hurtful telegram might be considered a BARBED WIRE.

16d         Full of anxiety turning up for final courses (8)
DESSERTS – An old chestnut. The reversal (turning up) of STRESSED or full of anxiety.

18d         Volume is covered by legal document, as planned (7)
DEVISED – V for Volume and IS from the clue are inside or covered by a DEED or legal document.

20d         Said you must be in danger with drug, lacking maturity (7)
PUERILE – Place U (a said homophone of you) inside PERIL/danger and then add E(nergy).

21d         Art on wall forces demolished (6)
FRESCO – A demolished anagram of FORCES.

23d         Short note from young woman (4)
CHIT – This time an old fashioned word for a young woman (A CHIT of a girl) is also a short note or docket.

 Thanks to the setter – I’ll see you all next Thursday.