ST 3105

Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 3105

A full review by Rahmat Ali

+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +

This puzzle was published on 25^th April 2021

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

Greetings from Kolkata. I now present to you the full review of yet another Sunday puzzle for your kind perusal and opinion. Dada has penned some impressive clues with double and cryptic definitions that go on to adorn his pretty tough yet enjoyable puzzle.

Please leave a comment telling us what you thought.

Across

1a    Bottle — what could be in it? (6)
SPIRIT: Double definition; the first being a noun meaning courage and the second also a noun indicating a solution in alcohol that could be inside it, which means the bottle

5a    Exploit is defended by creative influence (6)
MISUSE: IS from the clue is protected (defended) by MUSE (creative influence)

10a    Spring is ending obviously, and summer starts (5)
OASIS: IS from the clue is placed at the end (ending) of the combo of the first letters (starts) O (obviously), A (and) and S (summer) leading to the definition of an outflow of water from the earth

11a    Suspended hammers used upon about fifty (9)
PENDULOUS: An anagram (hammers) of USED and UPON placed around (about) the Roman numeral L (fifty)

12a    Hit things (7)
CLOBBER: Double definition; the first being a verb meaning to strike very hard and the second being a noun referring to equipment or tools used in equipping or furnishing

13a    Musician, untrustworthy type (7)
FIDDLER: Double definition; the first being a person who plays the violin, especially one playing folk music and the second a person who cheats or swindles, especially one indulging in petty theft

14a    Separate escarpment for bird (9)
PARTRIDGE: A charade of PART (separate) and RIDGE (escarpment)

17a    Cart infested with insects (5)
BUGGY: Double definition; the first being a noun denoting a usually one-horse drawn vehicle with two or four wheels and one seat and the second an adjective which is self-explanatory, except that the insects are of a certain kind

18a    Assistant on course leaves here? (5)
CADDY: Double definition; the first being a person who carries a golfer’s clubs and provides other assistance during a match and the second a box, jar, canister or other receptacle used for storing tea

19a    China behind shocking sport (9)
BADMINTON: MINTON (China) follows (behind) BAD (shocking) in a charade

21a    Performer, a jazz fan downing mug (7)
ACROBAT: A from the clue followed by CAT (Jazz fan) taking in (downing) ROB (mug)

23a    Pleasant, a story capturing Kafka’s heart (7)
AFFABLE: A from the clue and FABLE (story) taking in (capturing) the centre or the middle letter (heart) F (Kafka)

25a    Last character in tribunal misrepresented, is that hard to swallow? (6,3)
BRAZIL NUT: The letter Z (last character) is placed inside (in) an anagram (misrepresented) of TRIBUNAL leading to the definition hard to swallow

26a    Ever a giant (2,3)
AT ALL: A charade of A from the clue and TALL (giant)

27a    PM in general beyond a gutless twit (6)
ATTLEE: LEE (general) following (beyond) A from the clue and an empty or gutless T[WI]T

28a    Listed, as are stilettos? (6)
HEELED: Double definition; the first a verb in a past tense meaning caused to lean over, a term used in navigation and the second being an adjective defining the characteristic of shoes of a woman, in particular

Down

2d    Sauce pots Epicurean’s holding up (5)
PESTO: The words pOTS EPicurean’s having part of or hidden inside (holding) in a reverse order in a down clue (up)

3d    Expression of derision that’s fruity? (9)
RASPBERRY: A cryptic definition of a sign of disapproval, especially a noise produced by blowing hard with the tongue between the lips that sounds, and even spells, like a certain fruit

4d    Decrease power in adjustment of rate (5)
TAPER: The abbreviation P (power) placed inside (in) an anagram (adjustment) of RATE

5d    Old player, fellow’s on pitch (9)
MANSFIELD: MAN’S (fellow’s) is placed upon (on) FIELD (pitch) in a down clue leading to the definition of the American actress who died in an automobile accident at the age of 34

6d    Healthy also underneath masks (5)
SOUND: The words alSO UNDerneath hides (masks) the synonym to the definition

7d    Focus weak around corporation (9)
SPOTLIGHT: SLIGHT (weak) is covering (around) POT (corporation) signifying belly

8d    Item attached to boot to walk uphill (6)
TOECAP: TO from the clue followed by PACE (walk) going upwards in a down clue (uphill)

9d    Adrift, like carrier (6)
ASTRAY: A charade of AS (like) and TRAY (carrier)

15d    Bird breeds with rat, bizarrely (9)
REDBREAST: An anagram (bizarrely) of BREEDS and (with) RAT

16d    Woman making first appearance badly taunted about errand boy, initially (9)
DEBUTANTE: An anagram (badly) of TAUNTED placed around (about) the first letters (initially) E (errand) and B (boy)

17d    Short suit in item of luggage (9)
BRIEFCASE: A charade of BRIEF (short) and legal action or CASE (suit)

18d    Cross, as one scuttling off? (6)
CRABBY: The cryptic way of telling the characteristic of a particular crustacean (one) running with short rapid steps (scuttling off) that leads to the definition meaning angry or bad-tempered

20d    Taunt that may be on record? (6)
NEEDLE: Double definition; the first being a verb meaning to goad or provoke and the second being a noun referring to the pointed instrument that (that) may be playing (may be on) a (gramophone) record

22d    Fish in river caught by William (5)
BRILL: The abbreviation R (river) taken inside (caught by) the nickname BILL (William)

23d    Character sometimes dropped, a sensation (5)
AITCH: A charade of A from the clue and ITCH (sensation) leading to the definition of the letter which people of certain dialects fail to pronounce if it is the initial letter of any word

24d    Stop holiday, did you say? (5)
BRAKE: BREAK (holiday) as a homophone heard by the audience (did you say?)

Clues for favourites included 18a, 25a, 18d, 20d and 23d, with 25a standing above the rest. Thanks to Dada for the entertainment and to BD for the encouragement. Looking forward to being here again. Have a pleasant day.

---