Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 27277
A full review by gnomethang
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***
I thought that this was a typical Cephas puzzle that was of a decent difficulty level for a Saturday. His usual array of interesting anagram indicators and gentle cryptic definitions made this a fun solve for me.
Please leave a comment telling us what you thought. You can also add your assessment by selecting from one to five stars at the bottom of the post.
Across
1a Scoffed after material’s seen as fake (9)
FABRICATE – ATE (scoffed) after FABRIC (material) might be seen as a verb for fake or make up.
9a Banality cut short by revolutionary (6)
CLICHÉ – Shorten the word CLI(p) i.e. cut being short and add CHE Guevara – one of the usual Crosswordland revolutionaries.
10a Complain before coming in to get building work (9)
CARPENTRY – CARP for complain (beef, duck or grouse!) before/in front of ENTRY (coming in).
11a Popular commander of French using secret language (2,4)
IN CODE – A charade of IN (popular) CO for Commander and then DE- ‘of’ in the French language.
12a Battles shown in colour in middle of night, providing satisfaction (9)
REWARDING – a WAR (battle) inside the colour RED then IN from the clue and finally the middle letter of niGht.
13a Not often models will be in disarray (6)
SELDOM – An anagram (in disarray) of MODELS.
17a Old bird from Missouri with a following (3)
MOA – The abbreviation for the US Sate of Missouri is MO (MI is taken by Michigan). Add the A from the clue (A is following).
19a Crumble onion cube on meal on rare occasions (4,2,1,4,4)
ONCE IN A BLUE MOON – I must confess to writing this answer in without looking at the wordplay. It is a crumbly anagram of ONION CUBE ON MEAL and worls very well.
20a Length of history fellow traveller has written out twice (3)
ELL – A historical length which varies by the length of one’s arm. It is seen written out in both fELLow and travELLer.
21a Champ‘s moment of truth (6)
CRUNCH – Two definitions – To champ as a horse does on an acorn and the CRUNCH time when a decision must be made.
25a Keeping members apart, answer’s to adopt a non-committal attitude (9)
ASTRADDLE – Horrible word! A for the abbreviation of Answer followed by (to adopt) a non-committal attitude favourable to both sides
26a Clothes that are not worn out? (6)
UNDIES –You wear them on the inside not the outside! A good cryptic definition.
27a Wrong thing designed, not right it’s worn in bed (9)
NIGHTGOWN – An anagram of WRONG THING losing R for Right (being designed).
28a View prison, one might say it’s worth a look (6)
SCENIC – It took me ages to spot the homophone one might say) of SEE NICK (view & prison)
29a Out racing around battlefield (9)
AGINCOURT –Make an anagram (about) of OUT RACING
Down
2d Come to an Irish funeral party held inside (6)
AWAKEN – WAKE (an Irish Funeral) held inside AN from the clue.
3d What to do to end the act? (6)
REPEAL – A cryptic definition. The act being an Act od Parliament.
4d Is the woman able to land across the water? (6)
CANADA – A charade of CAN ADA (is the woman able)
5d Sad lot’s noting sober religious behaviour from 4 Down (7,8)
TORONTO BLESSING – A sad anagram of LOTS NOTING SOBER referring to CANADA in 4d.
6d Joiner in Rose’s place is restricted in vision (9)
BLINKERED – A LINKER – one who joins inside a rose BED.
7d Agreement needed by one playing instrument (9)
ACCORDION – An ACCORD next to I for one and ON (Playing)
8d Edward keeps some harmful creatures. Not to worry! (5,4)
NEVER MIND – VERMIN (harmful creatures) inside NED , a diminutive of Edward.
14d Hundred going the right way for assembly (9)
CONCOURSE – A charade of C (the Roman Numeral for 100) then ON COURSE – heading in the right direction.
15d Not the underclothes to be removed — rascal! (9)
SCOUNDREL – Remove THE from UNDERCLOTHES then make an anagram (being removed).
16d Socialist record to the fore, it can amount to disgrace (9)
DISCREDIT – A RED (socialist) with a DISC (record) in front (to the fore) followed byIT from thje clue
17d Miss West moaned at regular intervals (3)
MAE – Alternate letters (at intervals) in MoAnEd.
18d A couple of lines, that’s everything (3)
ALL – Simply A followed by two Ls – abbreviations for Lines.
22d Harp on about unfortunate youngster (6)
ORPHAN – An anagram (about) of HARP ON.
23d Scored slowly (6)
ADAGIO – A cryptic definition. Scored should put us in mind of a composer’s manuscript and this is a musical instruction.
24d Angry look from head of gardeners and inferior (6)
GLOWER – G is the head letter of Gardeners. Add LOWER for inferior
Thanks to Cephas (for I think it is he) for a good Saturday workout. I’ll see you all next week.