DT 29310 – Big Dave's Crossword Blog
View closed comments 

DT 29310

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 29310

Hints and tips by Deep Threat

+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +

BD Rating – Difficulty **Enjoyment ***

Good morning from South Staffs, with a watery sun breaking through the patches of cloud as I write.

Overall, I didn’t find today’s puzzle very difficult, but there seemed to me to be an excess of double definition clues, which are not my favourite.

In the hints below, the definitions are underlined. The answers are hidden under the ANSWER buttons, so don’t click if you don’t want to see them.

Please leave a comment telling us what you thought.

Across

1a           Measure period covered by recent broadcast (10)
CENTIMETRE Anagram (broadcast) of RECENT wrapped around a period.

6a           Casually grand, that’s you! (4)
THOU – An old or dialect way of expressing ‘you’, which is also another way of describing casually something which may equally casually be called a grand.

9a           Darned watch includes week and day (5)
SEWED – Another word for ‘watch’ wrapped around Week, followed by Day.

10a         Put off work, upset by papa coming in smashed (9)
POSTPONED – Reverse (upset) a short form of the Latin word for a work, then add another word for ‘smashed’ or ‘under the influence of drink or drugs’ with the letter represented by Papa in the NATO alphabet inserted.

12a         Parking delayed Parisian at the top of the hill? (7)
PLATEAU – Put together the letter found on car park signs, another word for ‘delayed’, and the French for ‘at the’.

Image result for plateau

13a         Go over chapter by nonsensical writer (5)
CLEAR – ‘Go over’ as the horses at Cheltenham attempt to do with the fences. An abbreviation for Chapter followed by the surname of a well-known writer of nonsense verse.

15a         Brings in drink, singular — the setter’s first (7)
IMPORTS – Start with another way of writing ‘the setter is’, than add some fortified wine, and Singular.

17a         Military forces from Germany and Spain cross swords (7)
DEFENCE – Put together the IVR codes for Germany and Spain, then add a sporting activity which involves crossing swords.

19a         After travelling, a driver did it? (7)
ARRIVED – An all-in-one clue, where there is an anagram (after travelling) of A DRIVER, which is defined by the whole clue.

21a         Bill‘s memoir? (7)
ACCOUNT – Double definition: a trade bill; or a written history of something.

22a         Something from river put in ring? (5)
PEARL – Another all-in-one clue. Put an abbreviation for River inside a ring of bells, and you get something which may be described by the whole clue.

24a         Mark‘s secure attic she entered occasionally (7)
SCRATCH – Alternate letters (occasionally) of SeCuRe AtTiC sHe.

27a         Entering confession (9)
ADMISSION – Double definition: entering a theatre or stadium; or owning up to something.

28a         Liable to drizzle in amongst bit of sunshine? (5)
RAINY – A gleam of sunshine wrapped around IN (from the clue).

29a         One could be right — it’s fifty-fifty (4)
SIDE – … the other could be left.

30a         Recalled to be given a new appendage? (10)
REMEMBERED – If you were given a new arm or leg you could be said to have been …

Down

1d           Players thrown out (4)
CAST – Double definition: the players in a play, collectively; or another word for ‘thrown out’.

2d           Snapper we employed producing this? (9)
NEWSPAPER – Anagram (employed) of SNAPPER WE. Another all-in-one, where the whole clue is the definition.

3d           It’s used on radio, as I state (5)
INDIA – The answer is a country or state, which is also thw word used in the NATO alphabet (on radio) for I.

Image result for india flag

4d           2, say? (7)
EXPRESS – Double definition: the first is the short title of one example of the answer to 2d; the second a verb meaning ‘say’.

5d           Son, given a reminder to trail about, got free (7)
RESCUED – Put together the Latin word for ‘about’ or ‘concerning’, an abbreviation for Son, and ‘given a reminder’, as an actor may be told that it is time to enter or say something.

7d           So, here’s where we may see this hyphen: ‘centrally-heated’ (5)
HENCE – Hidden in the clue.

8d           Left-wing new university reflected Welsh town below (10)
UNDERNEATH – Put together the colour associated with the political Left, New and University. Reverse the result (reflected), then add the town whose name in Welsh is Castell-nedd.

11d         Calm wide sea (7)
PACIFIC – Double definition, the second being the name of an ocean.

Then felt I like some watcher of the skies
When a new planet swims into his ken;
Or like stout Cortez when with eagle eyes
He star’d at the Pacific—and all his men
Look’d at each other with a wild surmise—
Silent, upon a peak in Darien.
John Keats

14d         Page inserted in Paradise Lost — second goes missing (10)
DISAPPEARS – Anagram (lost) of PARADISE, with Page inserted and Second added to the end.

16d         Shocks rebels (7)
REVOLTS – Double definition, both being verbs.

18d         Worse row follows twisted article that’s horrid! (9)
NAUGHTIER – Put together the reverse (twisted) of an indefinite article, an exclamation meaning ‘that’s horrid!’ and a row of seats in a theatre or arena.

20d         Undeterred by river, welcoming suggestions to go over (7)
DESPITE – Reverse (to go over) the sort of suggestions listed in the heading to this blog post, then wrap a Scottish or Welsh river around the result.

21d         Settle on Scottish isle, say, to go climbing (7)
ARRANGE – An island in the Firth of Clyde followed by the reverse (to go climbing) of the Latin abbreviation for ‘say’ or ‘for example’.

23d         With central heating left off, fortunate to be prepared (5)
ARMED – Start with another word for ‘fortunate’ (as in ‘he led a ——- life’), then remove the abbreviation for Central Heating from the front.

25d         Beat broth to liquefy (5)
THROB – Anagram (to liquefy) of BROTH.

26d         Kept watch on, as I had to be picked up (4)
EYED – This is a homophone (picked up) of the short form of ‘I had’.


The Quick Crossword pun CHILLY + CONK + ARNIE = CHILLI CON CARNE

56 comments on “DT 29310

  1. Much more difficult for me than for DT (***/**) but that is becoming the norm for Fridays. I didn’t find this one particularly enjoyable as some of the clues were over complicated but 8d and 27a were good clues. I thought 6a was a poor clue as that type of abbreviation is not up to standard. Thanks to the setter (ProXimal?) and to DT for the hints.

  2. That was heavy going to begin with but I eventually surprised myself by completing. NW corner presented most resistance. I had to rely on DT to fully parse 6a and 2d. 9d is surely a rather broad synonym. My Fav was 22a. Thank you Mysteron and DT.

  3. A bit of a head scratcher which was not a lot of fun completed at a fast canter – ***/**.
    No stand-out favourite, but I did like 17a and 8d.
    Thanks to the setter and DT.

  4. 4*/2*. It took me a while to get onto the right wavelength and even then I’m not really sure I did as I found this tough, particularly in the NW corner. It was also very much a curate’s egg for me with some good and some clunky clues. “Wide sea” in 11d is a not inaccurate but rather strange definition.

    22a was my favourite.

    Thanks to the setter and to DT.

    1. Well I’m glad RD found it difficult to get on with this – that makes me feel a little better. I couldn’t get ‘in tune’ today. Thanks to the setter nonetheless, and to DT for an entertaining blog.

      1. Agreed. RD doesn’t find too many puzzles difficult, when he does, I know it’s way beyond my ken.

  5. Delayed a few minutes by a wrong entry in 27a and US spelling of 1a. Otherwise I ploughed through and rather enjoyed it, particularly 28a and 8d. Thanks to the setter and DT.

  6. Thank you, DT, for the excerpt from “Chapman’s Homer”, one of Keats’s sonnets I always loved teaching (actually, his first one, so we’re told). I thoroughly enjoyed this puzzle and had trouble parsing only 23d; it was the ‘central heating’ (perhaps a typical UK abbrev.?) that foxed me. Otherwise, excellent clues, especially in my top three: 121c, 19ac, and 8d. Being held up a bit by 20 and 23ac pushed me into *** time.

    Just about everything over here is SHUT DOWN. Hope we can keep the Internet alive. 12 cases of the virus in South Carolina, but no way to test others. The White House has become the 8th Deadly Sin.

    1. I, too, like Keats but confess I’m not familiar with that one.

      We’re shutting stuff down here as well. I think we have more cases than you do. Has Der Gropenfuhrer decided that it’s real now? Or is it still a hoax?

      1. ‘On First Looking Into Chapman’s Homer’ begins “Much have I travell’d in the realms of gold” and the octave (the 8-line opening) tells us that he has read about the wonders of Homer’s verse–Keats does this with startling metaphors–but it was not until he came across the translation by George Chapman that he truly felt he knew Homer, and the sestet that follows, in the six lines DT so generously gave us, concludes with equally startling similes. Gorgeous imagery, Merusa. First published 1 Dec 1816. (I double-checked.) It was Balboa, of course, not Cortez who ‘discovered’ the Pacific, but that fact matters only to history, not to poetry, eh?

        The ABOM, as I’ve called him all along, remained true to form, sociopathically– devoid of any humanity.

        Stay well, Merusa.

        1. What does ABOM stand for? Maybe not something you want to post on an upright publication like the DT, you might wasn’t to ask BD or CS to send me the request by email? K

    2. You mean 20d and 23d. Why do so many excellent cruciverbalists confuse across with down?

      1. Well, Grafter, I made a mistake. Even though I’m almost 82, I don’t usually confuse across with down. Why did you assume I do? Well, because I did, I guess. Cheers!

      2. I’m not an “excellent” cruciverbalist, however, I am already 82 years old and have a huge problem differentiating between “a” and “d”! We oldsters have a problem with vision, but we do our best! I find it a minor drawback, oh, how I wish I could remember where I put the car keys!

    3. Keats is probably my favourite poet. What more brilliant verse might have emerged from his ‘teeming brain’ had he lived to write it?

  7. I thought that this puzzle was quite difficult and a ***/** for me. Like Chriscross I too thought that some clues were overcomplicated.
    Last to finish was the NE corner with 7d and 6a taking far too long!
    My favourite was also 22a as it worked on several levels.
    Excellent Quickie pun.

  8. This was a bit more of a struggle than of late, and it took me a while to tune in to the right wavelength. I thought some of the clues lacked a certain elegance, although 22a and 17a were very good. The Quickie Pun was my favourite.

    Thanks to our Friday setter and DT.

  9. Started rather slowly, accelerated but then rather limped over the line, finishing off some of the earlier clues. No real favourite but I thought several clues were quite complex but clever. I did however rather like the Qickie Pun.
    Thank you to DT for a couple of explanations and to our mystery setter

  10. Not that difficult but not particularly fun either – just average – sorry Friday Mysteron

    Thanks to the setter and DT

  11. As others have said, this was a little tougher than normal, and some of the clues were a little iffy, 6a in particular.

    All over in *** time, with 18d being my COTD.

    Many thanks to the setter and DT.

  12. The top half went in really quickly, but I got slower and slower with the bottom half. Many thanks to the setter and to DT. I’m a bit frustrated at the minute as I can’t print off the crossword from my main computer. It has gone to see a man who “fixes” such beasts when they go wrong. I’m not enjoying filling the crossword in on the tablet. I have to find a piece of paper just to scribble on. I am hoping that I get a call this afternoon to say that I can collect my computer.

  13. I enjoyed this one but the SW corner held out for a while. Had to use one hint and electronic help for about two more but most went in with a good dose of satisfaction. Strange, isn’t it, that there are days when some find a puzzle difficult while others who often have difficulty, like me, find it easy? No doubt it is the set of the mind and at the time.

    I suppose those who use an iPad might not connect with 2d.

    My COTD was 18d.

    Grateful thanks to the setter and to DT for the hints.

  14. Like most people I found this a lot tougher than the ** given in the blog. The clues were very wordy on occasion unnecessarily so IMHO. One of those puzzles which give you satisfaction to complete without much enjoyment on the way. Makes me long for the Fridays of Giovanni.
    Thx for the hints
    ****/**

  15. I’m with Crypticsue on this one.
    Nothing to add.
    But thanks to our setter and DT anyway.

  16. Never on the right wavelength today ,needing some hints and to look at one answer to check spelling .Took too long to spot some anagram indicators and do not believe that l would ever have got 23d without the hint..Thankyou to setter and espicially to D.T.

  17. As many of you have said, it took a while to get on the right wavelength today. Favourite 8d. I needed the explanation for 13a curiously, given that Cheltenham is on. I didn’t make the connection with “clear” and ” go over” at all so thank you for that.

  18. There seemed to be a few rather odd clues in this one and I can’t claim to have particularly enjoyed the solve. Having said that, I did find that 22a rather appealed as did 8d.

    Thanks to today’s setter and to DT for the review – nice to hear The Carpenters again.

  19. Like those above I found this more difficult than usual. Sorry to hear Robert’s country is shut down. I expect a lot of the UK will be soon. Taking sensible precautions like staying indoors will give more incentive to do the crossword.
    Stay safe & well fellow crossword solvers wherever you are.

  20. I am surprised reading the comments posted. Unlike yesterday I found this a breeze and completed in ** time with no real hold ups. A rare instance perhaps of the brain in gear. Thanks to all.

  21. I found this one a little tricky in places and it took my full bus ride plus a bit more to finish, so definitely above average difficulty. The clues were very good, it was a decent challenge and an enjoyable tussle to solve. 15a, just a nit-picking observation – with plural drink(s), the singular could be omitted making the clue more concise/punchier. But not necessarily any better. Not sure why I mentioned it, really. Joint favourites (sorry Kath!) of a worthy bunch: 9a and 30a. 3.5*/ 4*

  22. 8d was my favourite and 30a caused me to groan. I thought I was getting good at crosswords but I often fail to spot hidden clues. I completed 7d from the three clues going across but couldn’t work out why. Thank goodness for this site where I have learnt so much.

    Probably ***/** like many others on here.

  23. Like others it took me a while to get on wavelength with this one and although I started at the top I found I had the whole bottom half in with only a couple in the top. Then gradually they began to fall and it ended up taking my average time.

    I didn’t think 29a was particularly cryptic.

    Overall it was ok, but not inspiring, although I thought 30a fairly amusing.

    Many thanks to DT and the setter

  24. This took ages today because I was constantly being interrupted by calls and texts about cancelling events I’m involved with in the village. Glad to finally get it finished, nothing sparkling about this one although perhaps I am feeling jaded! Loved the quickie. I make a note of those which really make me laugh. Thanks as usual to all.

  25. A little head scratching today, but nevertheless I found it fairly benign. Like others not a fan of double definitions but it takes all sorts. After one stinker for me this werk this made quite a nice change.
    Thanks to DT and mystery setter.

  26. This took me the longest time! But aside from 22a – thanks DT – got there eventually. Didn’t really understand how the snapper got involved in producing the 2d, so I had the definition down as just “this”.

  27. It took me a while to get my head around this and in the end not quite sure what I thought of it. It very much reminded me (and not necessarily in a negative way) of a puzzle one might come across in the “Rookie Corner” where one sees some good ideas but lacking a little refinement.
    I can’t see the function of “wide” in 11d and to me 6a would work better as something like “Short of a grand, that’s you”
    I did like the 7d lurker, 8d and the surface of 30a amused me so overall….
    2.5*/2.5*
    Many thanks to the setter and to DT for his excellent review

  28. Like Florence, I completed the north half but really struggled with the south, to the point that I needed to visit DT’s hints to get going again. I thought it all rather verbose, causing me much confusion!
    Little story: Going by train from Camarthen to London, I had to change in Neath. I bought several papers in order to do the crosswords. I had forgotten my pen and borrowed my neighbours, he was getting out in Neath so I had limited time to finish. I was dead on wavelength for The Times, DT and one other, and my seatmate’s eyes bulged as I wrote in answers. We got to chatting. and he asked where I was from. When I said Jamaica, he said his cousin Esme Longworth-Jones taught at a girls’ school there, it was my school and I remembered her! Imagine the coincidences.
    Thus, I choose 8d as fave.
    Thanks to our setter and to Deep Threat for his help in solving this rather difficult puzzle.

    1. Love the story. Similar things have happened to me and oddly you seem to know when you ask or answer a question that the result is going to be an extraordinary experience

  29. Nothing too frightening for a Friday the13th back-pager … even though I suffer from triskaidekaphobia.

  30. I found this very hard going. Solved four clues on first pass then put it down for several hours. Got going again but ran out of steam and needed DT’s hints for last six or seven. Not on setter’s wavelength today.

  31. At first I thought it was a stinker, then I got going and started to think I was going to be ok, and then I ground to a halt again. I agree with others who say some clues too wordy, unnecessarily complicated and too tough for much enjoyment. Most of South Florida seemed to be out today, staring at the empty loo, kitchen paper and tissue shelves. Meat, chicken and fish was also being snapped up with lots of empty spaces. Were happy to find we do have a thermometer at the back of the bathroom cabinet…

  32. A very gentle end to what I thought was a very gentle crosswording week (I’m discounting the Toughies in that statment, as most were quite beyond my ability – I’m still struggling with today’s ‘Sparks’) Pleased to have had it all wrapped up in good time before getting stuck into some much needed spring tidying in the garden whilst the sun shone. Thanks to both setter and DT.

  33. No problems here. I enjoyed the puzzle early this morning. Thanks to the setter and thanks to DT. Play nicely children, I won’t see you on Monday but I will be watching to see that you behave yourselves.

  34. Almost on the correct wavelength today, but needed the hints for some – The Carpenters were a favourite of mine, thanks DT for the clip, and for the hints, of course! Thanks also to the setter. 🙃

  35. Tried to do this earlier in the evening but it sent me to sleep! Once in bed and wide awake it was easier.
    14d and the bottom left was the last to go.
    Found it enjoyable so thank you .
    ( still wide awake!)

    1. I regularly have the same problem of wide awakeness having worked on a crossword immediately before retiring; not to be recommended!

  36. I think I enjoyed it this more than most. 28 29 and 30a and 8 14 and 20d particularly appealed. Slight problem in the NE as I thought Thee before Thou. Only actual hold up was in the SW. Reason was that at first I was convinced that 29a was so-so but realised it was not clued with a hyphen. Next answer which I thought was inspirational was Shoe. I think this would have been as equally valid as the correct one. However, this made 23 impossible which caused me to rethink. Hey presto solved the riddle. The only one which did not appeal was 7d. Thanks setter. Thanks also DT. I found I had parsed correctly except for 6a as I forgot the slang for thousand.

  37. Very late, because I am now sitting in a ski resort.
    Very enjoyable and satisfying to complete, but much harder than **.
    Thanks all.

  38. Oh dear! After working for ages on the lower left corner I had to look up your hint for 20d, which was then obvious. Thanks for the mental exercise.

Comments are closed.