Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30545
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This puzzle was published on 24th February 2024
BD Rating – Difficulty */** – Enjoyment ***
Cephas set this week’s Saturday Prize Puzzle
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Across
4a Restless swimmer always inside (8)
FEVERISH – EVER (always) inside FISH (swimmer)
8a Female introduced by one goddess or another (6)
ATHENE – HEN (female) in ATE (the Greek goddess of mischief and all rash actions and their results)
9a I name writer to do some etching (8)
INSCRIBE – I (from the clue) N (name) SCRIBE (writer)
10a Devoted admirer of what procrastinator might say (8)
IDOLATER – A procrastinator might say I DO LATER
11a Unimportant person present after thirty seconds (6)
MINNOW – NOW (present) after MIN (thirty seconds or half a MINute)
12a Stop facing a mean dwelling (8)
BUNGALOW – BUNG (stop) A (from the clue) LOW (mean)
13a Blissfully unenlightened? (8)
IGNORANT – Because ignorance is bliss
16a Shadrach forged coins (4,4)
HARD CASH – An anagram (forged) of SHADRACH
19a Excellent spinner, Nick (3-5)
TOP-NOTCH- TOP (spinner) NOTCH (nick)
21a Say Dorothy’s sent back dull and heavy food (6)
STODGE – A reversal (sent back) of EG (say) DOTS (Dorothy’s)
23a Vote for Republican in charge — that’s shocking (8)
ELECTRIC – ELECT (vote for) R (Republican) IC (in charge)
24a Measure of height, in the main? (3,5)
SEA LEVEL – As the clue says, the measure of height in the main
25a Drink crush (6)
SQUASH – Double definition
26a Dawn‘s pair of birds (4-4)
COCK-CROW – A pair of birds COCK and CROW
Down
1d Admit us going round sports ground (7)
STADIUM – An anagram (going round) of ADMIT US
2d Film student going in rough and tired after a flight (3-6)
JET-LAGGED – ET (film) L (student) inserted in JAGGED (rough)
3d Wife’s talking, somewhat merry (6)
FESTAL – Hidden in the first and second words of the clue
4d Make eyes at police officer and risk being arrested? (5,4,3,3)
FLIRT WITH THE LAW – FLIRT WITH (make eyes at) THE LAW (police officer)
5d Venture to leave home to find ceremonial garment (8)
VESTMENT – inVESTMENT (venture) without (to leave) IN (home)
6d Repeat broadcast about rugby before noon (5)
RERUN – RE (about) RU (Rugby) N (noon)
7d Make a late addition, having rearranged job in US (7)
SUBJOIN – An anagram (rearranged) of JOB IN US
14d Doctor ran to cure one telling stories (9)
RACONTEUR – An anagram (doctor) of RAN TO CURE
15d Bid to seize control? (8)
TAKEOVER – TAKE OVER (seize control)
17d Style redcoat adapted (3,4)
ART DECO – An anagram (adapted) of REDCOAT
18d Outshine, despite loss of brilliancy? (7)
ECLIPSE – An eclipse would result in a loss of light (brilliancy)
20d Heard excuses find favour (6)
PLEASE – An anagram (heard) of PLEAS (excuses)
22d Doctor’s enemy having drink in Denmark (5)
DALEK – ALE (drink) in DK (the IVR Code for Denmark)