Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 29664
A full review by crypticsue
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This puzzle was published on 1st May 2021
BD Rating – Difficulty * – Enjoyment ***
A straightforward Prize Puzzle, reminding Tilsit and me of Saturday Prize Puzzles of old. However, it turned out that the main problem came from trying to guess the setter!
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Across
1a Nothing perceptible initially, standing in shadow (10)
OPPOSITION – O (nothing) P (the initial letter of perceptible) POSITION (standing)
6a Meat plans rejected (4)
SPAM – A reversal (rejected) of MAPS (plans)
9a A step wasn’t awkward in elasticated trousers (10)
SWEATPANTS – An anagram (awkward) of A STEP WASNT
10a Test returns in regular order (4)
ORAL – Hidden in reverse (returns) in reguLAR Order
12a Steed struggling with back in fact can’t stand (6)
DETEST – An anagram (struggling) of STEED with the ‘back’ in facT
13a Turning out to be appropriate (8)
BECOMING – Double definition
15a Nice unmarried woman? (12)
MADEMOISELLE – The French (as used in Nice) word for an unmarried woman
18a One’s inclined to use admin in building (12)
MOUNTAINSIDE – An anagram (building) of TO USE ADMIN IN
21a Prepares tomatoes perhaps, and other items? (8)
SUNDRIES – SUN DRIES tomatoes perhaps
22a Reportedly, gangs drift along (6)
CRUISE – A homophone (reportedly) of CREWS (gangs)
24a I rip off image (4)
ICON – I (from the clue) CON (rip off)
25a Constable would have had one tidying up trash in pub (10)
PAINTBRUSH – An anagram (tidying up) TRASH IN PUB
26a Charming man, spy needing no introduction (4)
GENT – An aGENT (spy) with no introduction
27a Polish were fine men, though not entirely (10)
REFINEMENT – Part (not entirely) of weRE FINE MEN Though
Down
1d Performing team not anticipating referee’s whistle? (6)
ONSIDE – ON (performing) SIDE (team)
2d Poster designed quickly (6)
PRESTO – An anagram (designed) of POSTER
3d Going around island, day works fine (12)
SATISFACTORY – I (island) inserted between (going around) SAT (day) FACTORY (works)
4d Catch not entirely lifted (4)
TRAP – A reversal (lifted) of PART (not entirely)
5d Where television aerial is usually free (2,3,5)
ON THE HOUSE – where you’d usually find a TV aerial
7d Trace page, piece of newspaper? (8)
PARTICLE – P (page) ARTICLE (piece of newspaper)
8d Mat originally straightened, dragged through the mud (8)
MALIGNED – M (the original letter of Mat) ALIGNED (straightened)
11d Great message about drone is broadcast (12)
CONSIDERABLE – CABLE (message) goes about an anagram (broadcast) of DRONE IS
14d Due to leave centre, release planned (10)
DELIBERATE – Remove the middle (to leave centre) letter of DuE then add LIBERATE (release)
16d Wonderful hitting tennis ball hard (8)
SMASHING – Double definition
17d Reject change, unhappy (4,4)
TURN DOWN – TURN (change) DOWN (unhappy)
19d Unable to speak about fashionable time (6)
MINUTE – MUTE (unable to speak) ‘about’ IN (fashionable)
20d Very popular ruby stolen (3-3)
RED-HOT – RED (ruby) HOT (stolen)
23d Testament maintained by perfect opponent (4)
ANTI – NT (New Testament) inserted into (maintained by) AI (perfect)
1111
Can’t remember now but I think the last one down gave me as much trouble as any!