DT 29833 – Big Dave's Crossword Blog
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DT 29833

by pommers  

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 29833

Hints and tips by pommers

+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +

BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****

Hola from the Vega Baja where the mild autumn continues. It’s getting a bit chilly in the evenings now but it’s still T-shirt weather in the afternoons. We’ll probably have to pay for it come January!

Today’s crossword is pretty good as usual on a Monday. I’ve gone for *** difficulty simply because there are two 15-letter anagrams and I’m notoriously slow at cracking any anagram over seven letters.  Most of you will probably see the answers immediately and go for one star.

As usual the ones I liked most are in blue.  The definitions are underlined in the clues and the answers are under the “click here” buttons so don’t click on them unless you really want to see the answer.  Please leave a comment telling us what you thought.

Across

1a           Walk casually in street wind behind (6)
STROLL:  Take the usual street and behind it put a word meaning to wind.

5a           Drink — a suitable one agent knocked back (8)
APERITIF:  Start with the A from the clue.  After it you need a reversal (knocked back) of a word meaning suitable or apt, the letter that looks like the number one and an agent or salesman.  That lot will give you a pre-prandial drink which pommette and I usually take in the local early doors.

10a         On the blink, TV near bar (6)
TAVERN:  Anagram (on the blink) of TV NEAR.

11a         Fashion icon ringing a doctor, part of circle (8)
QUADRANT:  A sixties fashion icon, sometimes credited with the invention of the miniskirt, is placed around (ringing) the A from the clue and one of the two letter doctors.

12a         Raised in W Somerset, near busy resort town (6-5-4)
WESTON SUPER MARE:  You need a two letter word meaning raised or high and insert it into (in) an anagram (busy) of W SOMERSET NEAR.  And this was this place’s Grand Pier in 2008 . . .

16a         Film based on fact — it follows King George (4,4)
TRUE GRIT:  A word meaning based on fact is the first part of the answer.  The second word is the regnal cypher of King George and after it (follows) it’s the IT from the clue.

18a         Quite popular act (6)
INDEED: The usual two letter popular followed by an act or action.

20a         Queen showing restraint entertaining head of government, American (6)
REGINA:  A restraint, of a horse perhaps,  around (entertaining) a G (head of Government) and then A(merican).  Took a while to twig that Queen is the definition and not an R or ER and part of the wordplay as usual.

21a         Unclear situation in neutral region (4,4)
GREY AREA:  A word for neutral followed by another word for a region.

22a         CD in comic — pal drops it off (10,5)
DIPLOMATIC CORPS:  Anagram (off) of COMIC PAL DROPS IT.  CD is actually the abbreviation of the French term for this lot so I’m not 100% sure that this clue is wholly fair.

27a         Answer: draw off small measure, if necessary (2,1,5)
AT A PINCH:  Start with an A(nswer) and then a word meaning to draw off or syphon and then a small imperial measure of distance.

28a         Away goal causes upset (6)
OFFEND:  A word meaning away, from work perhaps, followed by a goal or aim.

29a         Aquatic bird — it nested within banks of estuary for donkey’s years (8)
ETERNITY:  A seabird and the IT from the clue are placed between (nested within) an E and a Y (banks of EstuarY).

30a         Sappers, weary, go to bed (6)
RETIRE:  The abbreviation of sappers or The Royal Engineers followed by a word meaning to weary.

Down

2d           Where a course at university may take one,  in some measure (2,1,6)
TO A DEGREE:  Double definition.

3d           Plain the man fell, being past it? (4,3,4)
OVER THE HILL:  You need a word for plain, as in obvious, and a word for the man and then what a fell is an example of. Split that lot (4,3,4) and you’ll get the answer.

4d           Crease? Any number in sheets, etc (5)
LINEN:  A word for a crease followed by the letter representing any number.

6d           Round fruit, soft (5)
PLUMP: A fruit followed by a P for soft in musical notation.

7d           Looter overlooking a person on horseback (5)
RIDER:  Take a word for a looter and remove the a (overlooking A).

8d           Found in Croatia, rare crown (5)
TIARA:  A lurker found in Croatia rare.

9d           Incompetent fool, the old man, mostly supported by a daughter (7)
FATHEAD:  The proper word for your old man or pa without its last letter (mostly) and after him (supported by in a down clue) you need the A from the clue and a D(aughter).

13d         Out of bed, drunk is nervy (7)
UPTIGHT:  A word meaning out of bed and then a slang term for drunk.

14d         Best stretch of thoroughfare, lit extensively (5)
ELITE:  Another lurker hiding in (stretch of) the last three words.

15d         After having blundered, Italian succeeded (4,1,2,2,2)
MADE A GO OF IT:  You need to think of a phrase meaning blundered (4,1,4) and split the last word into (2,2).  After that you need the abbreviation of Italian vermouth.

17d         River and wood crossing area in kingdom (5)
REALM:  R(iver) and a type of wood or tree are placed around (crossing) A(rea).

19d         Regard first at the crease as a big surprise? (3-6)
EYE OPENER:  A word for regard, as in look at, followed by what the first batsman to go to the crease is called.

20d         Communist measure demonstrates undue bureaucracy (3,4)
RED TAPE:  A word for a communist followed by a measure used by tailors to measure length.  There’s a lot of this in Spain!

23d         Smooth  tree (5)
PLANE:  Double definition.  There’s another type of tree that describes this clue – chestnut!

24d         Bulb lit, current not off (5)
ONION:  A word which can mean lit, especially if it’s a light bulb, followed by the letter for electric current in physics and then a word meaning not off.

25d         Type of necktie produced by a Caledonian (5)
ASCOT:  Split this type of necktie (1.4) and you’ll get another way of saying A Caledonian.

26d         Chapter on old Irish group of singers (5)
CHOIR:  Abbreviation of chapter followed by (on in a down clue) an O(ld) and the two letters for Irish.

A fair bit of blue today but favourite is 15d with 12a and 9d on the podium.  I’m not usually a big fan of anagrams but 12a has to be there for its excellent surface and I see I’ve blued another anagram at 10a. Hmm, perhaps they’re growing on me.

Quick crossword puns:
Top line:          FREAK     +     WEN    +      SEA     =     FREQUENCY

Bottom line:       PRY     +     SIN     +     DECKS     =     PRICE INDEX

Third pun at 13,14,15 across:    SUITE     +     WHYTE     +     WHINE     =     SWEET WHITE WINE

74 comments on “DT 29833”

  1. Another wonderful start to the cruciverbal week from our Monday setter, Campbell. Fairly straightforward but with a few teasers added to the mix. My first pass nearly filled the grid, which is practically unknown for me. I ended up with quite a few ticks such as 29a and 9d but my COTD is 11a with 5a as a close runner up.

    Many thanks to Campbell for the fun and the three Quickie puns. Grateful thanks, also, to pommers for the hints.

  2. This felt like the quickest I have ever completed a Telegraph cryptic, and was unchallenging yet still enjoyable. 10a stood out as my favourite clue, with 19d a close runner-up.

    Thanks to the triple punning Campbell and pommers.

  3. Workmanlike progress to an unaided conclusion in * time.
    Good confidence builder and enjoyable.
    Many thanks to Campbell and pommers for the review, nicely illustrated.

  4. 1*/3.5*. Very light but great fun to start the week. My podium choices are 9d, 15d & 19d.

    Many thanks to Campbell and to pommers.

  5. A gentle Monday 1a through Campbell’s world of quaint idioms and adages, very light but great fun.
    I particularly liked the initially erring Italian at 15d and the “super” 12a, I was there a couple of weeks ago visiting friends, always enjoy that part of the world.
    1/3.5*
    Many thanks to Campbell and Pommers

      1. Weston itself has probably seen better days (apologies to anyone who lives there) but the surrounding places (Brean Down, Burnham on Sea, Clevedon etc) are all lovely with some stunning coastal walks.

  6. A fairly straightforward puzzle but most enjoyable (1*/4*).. i liked the wordplay in 9d and the geographical anagram with a twist, 12a but my COTD was15d. Ci cod see what the answer was but when the penny dropped on the parsing the clang was heard 10 miles away. Thanks to Pommers for the hints and t Campbell for another intriguing crossword.

  7. My medal goes to 16d, with 16a runner up. Otherwise thought it was generally super duper. Can someone help me with 8a in the QC? All the checkers but no idea 🤷🏻‍♀️. Thanks to Campbell and Pommers

    1. 8a in the quickie is a phrase I’ve never heard of. It’s not in Collins but may be in the BRB. The first word of the answer is NECK.

        1. Unfortunately I no longer have a BRB. It went for a swim in the flood a couple of years ago and I’ve never replaced it. I just use Collins on-line and it’s a rare day that it’s different from the BRB but today was one of those days.

      4. Did anybody already know it? It’s also in The OED, with citations from 1673 to 1934.

        I also got held up in the middle, because it turns out I hadn’t realized the whisky maker was spelt like that. And I failed to spot that middle pun. Basically I’m terrible with alcohol.

  8. Very light, and enjoyable while it lasted, but not, I thought, one of Campbell’s best. Ticks for 5a, 11a, 16a, and 15d, bit no stand-out COTD.

    1* / 2.5*

    Many thanks to Campbell, and to Pommers for the the review.

  9. It’s Monday :good: It’s Campbell :good: Almost over before it began – 0.5*/5*.

    Candidates for favourite – 5a, 29a, and 15d – and the winner is 15d.

    Thanks to Campbell and to pommers.

  10. Took me longer to sort out the quickie than the cryptic. Both fun to solve though. thanks to setter and to pommers for the hints.

  11. A gentle start to the working week. */*** I can see where Pommers is coming from with the long anagrams. The town sprang to mind immediately but I left the other one until almost last and then that too became very apparent. Favourite 11a. Thanks to all.

  12. Very enjoyable start to the week. I particularly enjoyed 22A.

    I thought the use of CD was fair since it is used on the relevant number plates, and IVR codes are regularly used in clues.

  13. Slight pause to register the somewhat different anagram indicator in 10a but a smooth ride elsewhere.
    Top of the pile here were 27&29a plus the trio of Quickie puns.

    Thanks to Campbell and to pommers for the review.

  14. Pleasant enough but I agree with Mustafa G that this wasn’t one of his top drawer puzzles. I thought the bonus 682 cryptic just had the edge on this one though they were both quick solves. 15d was my favourite.
    Thanks to Campbell & Pommers.

  15. An enjoyable but quick solve.
    The two long anagrams both jumped out at me, which helped, but for some reason 10a didn’t. A kick myself moment when I saw it
    15d was my favourite

  16. My dad referred to CDs as Cretins Dangereux, based on their driving in cars immune to prosecution !

  17. Lovely puzzle – straightforward start to the week. As with many commenters above, 8a in the quickie was new to me.

    The boiler has failed again (after two visits from British Gas last week). We were offered, by the online route, a date in December so I tracked down a customer service telephone number, answered a slew of ‘bot’ questions and finally spoke to ‘Rachel’ who arranged a visit for today. I sometimes have to remind myself that we pay a small fortune for this service. Fascinating watching Lola constructing a little sleeping bag by looping part of the duvet into a type of Swiss roll with her little paws. Cats can be quite dextrous when required. At least Lola is snug and warm!

    Today’s crossword soundtrack: Creedence Clearwater Revival – Cosmo’s Factory

    Thanks to Campbell and pommers.

    1. You might like to consider looking on line for a company who specialise in your make of boiler and taking out cover with them instead of British Gas who are quite notoriously useless and expensive to boot. I haven’t come across anyone who hasn’t had trouble with them.

      1. You’re quite right Greta – I think our contract ends soon and we will look for other cover providers.

        1. Oh Terence I do feel for you . Greta is quite right, find someone else as soon as you reasonably can to provide boiler cover for you. BG are only interested in selling you a new boiler, as I am sure you will have found out by now. And as if that wasn’t bad enough their online and telephone systems are impenetrable…so well done to you for getting to ‘Rachel’.

  18. 2/3. Enjoyable start to the week. The anagrams helped get lots of checkers in early on. 10a was my favourite – a real blast from the past. Thanks to the setter and Pommers. A Pineapple Express arrived the other day and the rain has been torrential so I’ve started to build a boat.

    2. I can heartily confirm that the rain has been awful and this morning it was also tied in with wind gusts on the dykes along the Pitt River. Even the dog wasn’t impressed today!

  19. Light and enjoyable, just right for a Monday, more experienced solvers have always got the toughie so no complaints please. Thanks to all.

  20. This again proves that crosswords don’t need to be difficult to be enjoyable. Many contenders for cotd but we’ll go with 3d. Thanks to Campbell and Pommers.

  21. I agree that this was a gentle start to the week with stars for 10,16 and 29a with 16 on top of the tree. I also liked the quickie puns, all three of them. Thanks to Setter and Pommers. Our sister church in the next village has a Christmas Tree Festival at the end of each November. Clubs and groups and farms and families put in a tree, there is no prize – just the wonderful spectacle especially after dark when it is very atmospheric. I would urge you to attend! Last year our WI did a tree of origami angels- this year it is Sprouts. The title of our tree is A sprout is for life, not just for Christmas. We need about 50 – 70 and I got a bit bored with the bland green faces and decided to put a few well known characters in. Still in the early stages, but can you guess? I don’t suppose the gentlemen are bovvered but I have been worried about the ladies not sleeping at night for thinking of the sprouts.

      1. Cher is a good guess but it was actually meant to be Claudia Winkelman. They are still only mock ups as I don’t know what the rest of the committee will think of me going off piste. I thought of Rudolph, Santa, Three kings ,Pudsy and of course Boris

    2. Elton and Freddie for sure but as it is a church Christmas tree maybe that is the Vicar of Dibley – Dawn French.

    3. Well done for coming up with such a novel idea, I’m sure it will engender many smiles, albeit it possibly some rueful ones……..
      Just promise me that you won’t spray the tree with a ‘cooking sprouts’ odour!

  22. I struggled a bit today but I am blaming the Moderna Covid booster. No sleep, a sore arm and fluish symptoms. but the paracetamol has taken the edge off.
    Mama Bee got to the crossword before me today (I was sulking in bed feeling sorry for myself, and trying to do the online version) she didn’t do too bad for someone in the early stages of Alzheimer’s and Vasc Dem, better than me anyway.
    Thanks to pommers and Campbell
    I feel like a right 9d now.

  23. Fast but thoroughly enjoyable solve, with 15d, 29a, 5a, & 11a taking top honours. Really enjoyed #682, which took a bit more cogitating. Thanks to pommers and to Campbell. 1.5* / 4*

    1. I’m currently reading Chris Whitaker’s “we begin at the end.” It reminds me a lot of “ where the crawdaddy’s sing”. You might like to check it out and see what you think.

        1. Thanks to both of you, Greta and CS. I actually recommended the Whitaker book (on one of these posts), which I enjoyed, and which Jane also read and seemed to enjoy (if I remember correctly), well over a year ago now. I remember finding a bit of fault with the author’s sense of American geography, but the ending brought everything together quite resolutely.

  24. I’m beginning to think perhaps It is a case of overkilll for me with the DT Cryptic as there seems to be quite a lot of old hat. Today went more or less straight in but without much fun along the way. NE delayed things a little. Can’t believe I wasted time working on compact disc for 22a – a sign of the times? Thank you Campbell for a gentle kick-off to the cruciverbal week and pommers for hovering in case of need.

  25. Very happy to complete without a single hint or outside help today, making a lovely start to the week. An Aunt used to take us to 12a when we were staying with her in Bristol for a nice day out. Last in was 22a. COTD was 2d. Very much on wavelength today, so big thanks Campbell and Pommers.

  26. Another nice start to the week with this 1.5*/**** puzzle. Only a couple of hints needed today in the NE that held me up.
    Favourites include 11a, 12a, 3d, 15d & 19d with winner 15d

    Thanks to Campbell and pommers

  27. I could never get to grips with Mondays but just recently they seem just too easy. What’s going on.

  28. Nice start to the week **/***😃 Favourites 29a and 19d Thanks to Pommers and to Campbell 🤗 The Quicky, getting all the 3 phrases, was enjoyable as well 👍

  29. A good start to the week. Fairly cantered along until the anagram at 22a which took me awhile to suss. Enjoyed the Quickie Puns but missed the middle one and didn’t know the saying at 8a but it couldn’t be anything else! Many thanks to the Pommers and Campbell. Loved seeing Daisygirl’s sprouts. What a talent!

    If the lovely Kath is reading the blog? Wishing you well and hoping you will be back in full working order asap☺️

    1. I heard from Kath the other day. She said hello to everyone and also how much she is missing doing the crosswords and commenting on the blog as it has been such a big part of life for a long time

    2. Thank you,
      I do read the blog – not sure if full working is ever going to happen but let’s just keep trying . . . .
      :rose:

      1. Apologies for the lateness of the night. Only just seen your comments CS and Kath thank you so much for popping in. I expect you will both have taken to your beds by now but good to hear from you Kath and keep chipping away. Those little grey cells are clearing day by day. Thank you CS for keeping us updated. Goodnight and sleep well.

  31. OK – I know that this is pretty simple but for some one who has had a pretty rotten six months at trying to be able at crosswords again I absolutely love Monday, Tuesday and a few others too.
    Thanks to Campbell and pommers and to everyone else all the encouragement.
    :yahoo:

    2. I love them, too, Kath. Getting older, it gets more difficult to bring words to the front of ones brain! Love seeing you.

    4. It’s so good to have you back among us even if only briefly and hopefully you know just how many of your cruciverbalist friends are missing you and hoping so much that your recovery continues to progress. Bestest wishes 🌈.

  32. Busy morning, I did the puzzle earlier on and found it hugely enjoyable with no need for help. There was a plethora of outstanding clues, how to choose? I bunged 12a in first thing, it had to be. When my Dad was a nipper, his Dad was poorly and he and his brother were sent there with their Nanny to get them out of the way. He bought a little brass man as a gift for his Dad, used to tamp down tobacco in a pipe fashionable with Edwardians. I still have it, needs a clean! I also liked 11a, I used to have her haircut along with the miniskirt, so did everyone else in the 1960s.
    Thank you Campbell for the memories, and thanks to pommers for the hints and tips.

  33. I didn’t find this so quick and straightforward! Some tricky clues, but all good fun and got there in the end….

  34. Did anyone else notice the uncanny similarity between the clue for 24 down today (#29833) and the clue for 1 down in Sunday’s cryptic (#3134)?
    Maybe the same compiler?

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