DT Vintage 27

Daily Telegraph Vintage No 27
Hints and Tips by Rossophile

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BD Rating – Difficulty ***  Enjoyment ***

A fine day for all the Bank Holiday celebrations around the country. Why not kick off with this pleasing anniversary puzzle (number 25,000) from 24^th May 2006 (a Wednesday), by the Classics teacher Ann Tait, one of the Telegraph’s “most important compilers”. I think there are just a few more before the end of this series, and any volunteer hinters are welcome. Just reply to Gazza, and get your nickname in lights

When I get a moment, more here:

https://www.macdonnell.co.uk/DT/V27.pdf

https://www.macdonnell.co.uk/DT/V27.htm

Across

1a Object when odd little lad withdraws (5)

DEMUR: The synonym of “take exception to”; a rarely used transitive verb nowadays. More commonly the intransitive verb, to delay, detain , linger. The little lad is ED, spelt backwards, and another word for is RUM , spelt backwards.

4a Lure a girl out? That’s irregular (9)

GUERRILLA: Anagram (out) of “lure a girl”. Not a “regular” soldier

9a Soldiers return with brace that’s light (3-4)

ARC LAMP: Reverse abbreviation of Royal Artillery, followed by a mechanical fastening device used by surgeons and others

11a Decreased by media boss (7)

PRESSED: a charade made of collective name for journalists followed by the abbreviation of the editor. A synonym of squeezed or hurried.

12a Reared by British Labourite (4)

BRED: Synonym of the part participle, to produce offspring. Constructed by the B in British and the colour of the Labour Party

13a Custom-made outfit (5)

HABIT: Double definition. A type of custom, good or bad, and outfit, usually worn by clergy or military

14a To work at home is murder (2,2)

DO IN: A double definition. To work (DO) when at home (IN)  Sometimes known now as WFH. Also a colloquialism or slang for the act of murder.

17a Tidy up after card-players (5,3,5)

CLEAR THE DECKS: a commonly used phrase borrowed from naval warfare (as are so many of our language idioms), where crew members would put aside non-essential items before battle. Preparation for a  course of action dealing with anything that may hinder progress. At a card table it generally means getting one’s card deck in order

19a Withheld levy when job was assigned elsewhere (10,3)

CONTRACTED OUT: A double definition. A form of tax or contribution deducted from one’s pay slip, or job passed over to another entity.

21a A sanctum in Yemen (4)

ADEN: A port in that country, also A-(synonym of lair or small cavern used for shelter)

22a The leading player, King, is completely unadorned (5)

STARK: A five  pointed  night sky entity used to describe the best player in the team followed by the K in king. Also a form of nakedness.

23a Get on with a paying passenger (4)

FARE: a double definition. Several verb to do with progress, getting along, or travelling and a noun describing a passenger who has paid

26a What fiancée may flaunt to get fish (7)

HERRING: a charade of the three letter pronoun for a female and in adornment worn on one’s finger. Together making an oily fish

27a Sarah and I bought a chestnut (7)

SALIGOT: A new word for me I must admit. Charade of the abbreviation for Sarah (S*L), the I from the clue, and a common synonym for bought

28a Essential clothing items for baseball player (9)

SHORTSTOP: charade made of two clothing items together that describe one position on a baseball pitch

29a Way Rex employed to get more sage (5)

WISER: Solving was the easy bit.  The wordplay uses the suffix in many words to indicate “in the manner of, or in the WAY of” , such as clock****, length****, and this is followed (employed) by the abbreviation for King (Rex). Must admit to asking ChatGPT for help on this one. It was good.

Down

1d Supports raffle initially, despite snags (9)

DRAWBACKS: A four letter synonym for a raffle (D**W) followed by four letter word for supports, giving your ****ing to,  making the word for snags

2d Friend harbours revolutionary carrying knife (7)

MACHETE: Another charade formed of our favourite 3 letter revolutionary inserted into a slang word for a friend, sometimes called a China.

3d About a thousand pages? No, just half (4)

REAM:  A word constructed of RE (about),  A from the clue, and lating abbreviation for a thousand (M). A quantity of paper usually presented as 500 sheets

5d Sadly dire prospects for fellowship (6,2,5)

ESPIRIT DE CORPS: Anagram (sadly) of “dire prospects” . The feeling (spirit) engendered by a body (corps) of like-minded people

6d Animals retreating into long grass (4)

REED: A type of long grass, being a woodland roaming animal spelt backwards

7d Boy admitted into no more classes (7)

LESSONS: A constructed by the synonym of boy inserted into the opposite (no) of more

8d Accessory needed by fellow on active duty (3-2)

ADD-ON: (A) from the clue, abbreviation of (D)octor of (D)ivinity and (ON) active duty

10d Feign disinterest when drama’s in short supply (4,4,2,3)

PLAY HARD TO GET: an emotional and behavioural ploy intended to generate interest in a relationship in which action (drama)  may be failing.

15d Nut needed to start an engine (5)

CRANK: A double definition. Colloquial description of an eccentric person, or mechanical toll to rotate pistons in a car, to encourage ignition

16d Group of note appears in autumn and is French (5)

OCTET: Eight musicians (of note) , abbreviation of (OCT)ober, and the French of and (ET)

18d Black dog that enjoys the high life (3-6)

JET-SETTER: A description of the colour black, followed by a type of dog, describing person who spends a lot of time on aeroplanes, usually for pleasure

19d Farewell toast (7)

CHEERIO: Presumed double definition: Colloquial farewell greeting. Also, a salutation with alcohol. Possible American slang , “he’s gone, he’s toast. Goodbye”

20d Fruit from Ohio mountains (7)

ORANGES: Abbreviation of (O)hio, followed by another word for a group of mountains

21d A woman’s remains (5)

ASHES: What’s left after a cremation. Made from (A) followed by contraction of SHE (I)S

24d Know the way to Mayfair (4)

WIST: Archaic past participle of to wit (know). Knowledge of a ST(reet) in London W1 (Mayfair)

25d Defeat utterly, then defect (4)

FLAW: Another double definition. The obvious noun is a defect or imperfection. Less common, a transitive verb, to make defective or imperfect. I wondered if it could be the past tense of “flay”

 

Have a great Bank Holiday. May be here again, in the hands of the gods, and the dice they throw

https://youtu.be/X1450LkjEcw