Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 3230
A full review by crypticsue
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This puzzle was published on 17th September 2023
BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
Solving this Sunday Prize Puzzle worked better if you started with the Downs. I couldn’t help noticing that there were five double definition clues, seven requiring anagrams and four lots of A (from the clue).
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Across
8a Finish off 1970s music for record (4)
DISC – Remove the ‘finish’ from DISCo (1970s music)
9a Tree remains after fire (3)
ASH – The first of five double definition clues
10a Lolita originally penned by English author? I don’t think so! (6)
HARDLY – The original letter of Lolita ‘penned’ by HARDY (English author)
11a Something to keep locks in use where artefacts kept (6)
MUSEUM – In the Second World War, people were encouraged to keep MUM; USE (from the clue) should be inserted to reveal somewhere where artefacts are kept
12a Herb playing organ after Jack (8)
TARRAGON – An anagram (playing) of ORGAN goes after TAR (Jack, sailor)
13a A tangle centrally, a main internal passage (10,5)
ALIMENTARY CANAL – A (from the clue) and an anagram (tangle) of CENTRALLY A MAIN
15a Bird in queue behind rafter (7)
SPARROW – ROW (queue) goes behind SPAR (rafter)
17a Subversive OK, fears cast aside (7)
FORSAKE – An anagram (subversive) of OK FEARS
20a Title to order, cost left out (6,2,7)
DOCTOR OF LETTERS – An anagram (out) of TO ORDER COST LEFT
23a Frosty, relative has admitted — it’s difficult to get on! (8)
UNICYCLE – ICY (frosty) admitted to UNCLE (relative)
25a Sleuth performs dance (6)
HUSTLE – An anagram (performs) of SLEUTH
26a Little wind, plain sailing (6)
BREEZE – Double definition
27a First of cellists playing fiddle (3)
CON – The first letter of Cellists ON (playing)
28a Plate smasher (4)
DISH – Double definition, the second being an informal term for a person of dazzling charm
Down
1d Unusual trial covering university ceremony (6)
RITUAL – An anagram (unusual) of TRIAL ‘covering’ U (university)
2d Sensational headline evidently frightened person? (8)
SCREAMER – Double definition – a slang term for a sensational newspaper headline or a description of a frightened person
3d Fraud at Gloucestershire trials? One’s brought to court (9,6)
BADMINTON RACKET – RACKET (fraud) at BADMINTON (Gloucestershire horse trials)
4d Residence offering wine, two similar drinks added to menu, finally (7)
CHATEAU – CHA and TEA (two similar drink) to which the final letter of menU is added
5d Young adult in gym is hotter, working out to keep slim (6-9)
THIRTY-SOMETHING – An anagram (working out) of GYM IS HOTTER into which is inserted (to keep) THIN (slim)
6d Craft of war ludicrous, a painter has claimed (6)
ARMADA – MAD (ludicrous) ‘claimed’ by A (from the clue) RA (a painter)
7d Somewhat demoniacal, tortured voice (4)
ALTO – Hidden between the second and third words of the clue
14d A British bird (3)
AUK – A (from the clue) UK (British)
16d One’s paid for (3)
PRO – A professional person (one’s paid) or a preposition meaning for
18d Ready, a team reserve (3,5)
SET ASIDE – SET (ready) A (from the clue) SIDE (team)
19d Wrong about barrier (7)
OFFENCE – OF (about) FENCE (barrier)
21d “Head” erased from label for heart (6)
TICKER – Erase the ‘head’ of sTICKER (label)
22d Take pleasure in condiment (6)
RELISH – Double definition
24d Usual thing, choice of extremes in naturism? (4)
NORM – A choice of the extremes in NaturisM would be N OR M
5*/2* ….
liked 23A “Frosty, relative has admitted — it’s difficult to get on! (8)”