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DT 30003

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30003
Hints and tips by Miffypops
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
Beaver Rating – Difficulty ****Enjoyment ****

Good Morning on this sunny bank holiday Thursday. I made harder work than normal of this puzzle than I ought to have done. Who knows why? It’s all fairly doable from the definitions and wordplay.
There is another of my crossword solving tips at the end of todays review. Little snippets that might help some of you. Or not

Please leave a comment telling us what you thought.

Across

1a Even I’d thrown out a bit of salad! (6)
ENDIVE: An easy anagram to begin the day. And some food to boot. I’m already warming to todays setter. Thrown out are the words that indicate the anagram. EVEN I’D are the letters that provide the fodder.

4a One anticipating a match being planned? (8)
INTENDED: The match here is a marriage. Your answer is how either one of a couple engaged to be married might refer to the other

9a Case of inhabitant wanting new leader (6)
DATIVE: How one might call an aborigine, be it a person animal or plant needs its first letter changing

10a European or American gangster shunned by someone down under (8)
AUSTRIAN: A person who dwells on the big island down under needs the shortened first name of an American gangster (yawn) from the prohibition days removing.

11a Bloomer in newspaper with female getting humble (9)
SUNFLOWER: Begin with the name of a red top newspaper. Add the abbreviation for female. Add an adjective meaning more humble

13a Hot spot encountered in driving lesson (5)
INGLE: The answer lies hidden within the words of the clue as indicated by the words encountered in

14a Great fear about atmosphere around country? Here’s method for solving problem (5,3,5)
TRIAL AND ERROR: A three part charade needing three synonyms to solve. Synonyms of great fear, atmosphere and country. The atmosphere is reversed and followed by the country. Together they sit inside the great fear

17a Suffer from unrequited love and offer some illumination? (5,3,5)
CARRY THE TORCH: A double definition. Not immediately obvious to me but patience and checking letters got me to the answer and I’m sure they will get you there too

21a Seaman meeting a king coming to a port (5)
OSAKA: There are other types of seamen than the able bodied sort. Try the ordinary one. Add the two letter A’s from the clue divided by the chess abbreviation for king

23a Yours truly’s reusing odd bits of food (9)
MERINGUES: A personal pronoun that the setter might use to describe him or herself is followed by an anagram (odd) of REUSING

24a Propose to get elected, wanting no friend to hang about (8)
NOMINATE: A two-letter word meaning elected is preceded by the word NO from the clue and followed by a synonym of the word friend

25a It’s more cramped, all right, in seaside venue (6)
POKIER: A word meaning all right sits inside a seaside attraction. The one that juts out into the sea

26a Dons went mad away from Oxford? (4,4)
SENT DOWN: Anagram (mad) of DONS WENT

27a Chivalrous type when it is dark, we hear (6)
KNIGHT: This name of this chivalrous type sounds like (we hear) the dark part of the day

Down

1d Most senior English lord is in Paris (6)
ELDEST: Begin with an anagram of English. Add a two-letter abbreviation of Lord. Add the French for is. Job done on to the next hint

2d Revolutionary list observed — it could be explosive (9)
DETONATOR: Begin with a list of jobs or duties and add a synonym of the word observed. Reverse what you have

3d Composer seen in very small supermarket after six (7)
VIVALDI: The Roman numerals for six, the abbreviation for very and one of the newer supermarket chains will lead you to this composer of 500 concertos 90 sonatas 46 operas and a large body of sacred choral works and chamber music. And we only know his work Le quattro stagioni

5d My heavenly body’s collapsed — at rest on run going wrong (7,4)
NEUTRON STAR: Anagram (going wrong) of AT REST ON RUN

6d Wind round hospital department taking drink (7)
ENTWINE: The overused Ear Nose and Throat hospital department is followed by a drink. Sean Thackrey makes some of the best of these drinks that I have tasted

7d Pet outside home is performing (5)
DOING: Begin with a pet. There are many to choose from. Try the one that everybody and his uncle seems to own these days. You can’t go anywhere without tripping over one of these creatures or seeing a ridiculous example in a small bag. They are all over the place. Insert a word meaning at home into this beast

8d Entertainers undress naughtily, enthralling front of audience (8)
DANSEURS: An anagram (naughtily) of UNDRESS also contains the initial letter of the word audience

12d What law’s Tom broken somewhere in London? (11)
WALTHAMSTOW: Anagram (broken) of WHAT LAWS TOM. Home to Europe’s largest street market  Well that one is a jumpoutatcha if ever I saw one. Like 26 across.

 

15d What gets exciting about moving into new accommodation? (9)
REHOUSING: A two letter exclamation meaning what or pardon sits inside a word meaning exciting, stirring or thrilling

16d We listen to a nobleman’s stories (8)
ACCOUNTS: These stories or descriptions of events or experiences sound like the word A followed by some noblemen of Draculas ilk

18d Panted with journey finally made (7)
YEARNED: The final letter of the word journey is followed by a word meaning made as in received payment for work done

19d Organise county in need of redevelopment? (3-4)
RUNDOWN: A synonym of the word organise or manage is followed by an Irish county

20d Liveliness of religious minister bringing two characters to the fore (6)
ESPRIT: A Catholic clergyman needs two of his letters bringing forwards

22d A duke with little time for estate business? (5)
ADMIN: Begin with the letter A from the clue. Add the abbreviation for duke. Add a shortened word for sixty seconds

Straightforward Quickie Pun Fourth + Wright = Forthright

Miffypops Pun Two wrongs don’t make a right but two Wrights make an aeroplane

Crossword solving the MP way

Last week I explained that definitions usually appear at the beginning or end of a clue
The Daily Telegraph Quick Crossword clues are mostly definitions with a little general knowledge and possibly an anagram
Doing the Daily Telegraph Quick Crossword on a daily basis will improve your ability to identify definitions and either solve from the definition alone or allow the definition to assist the wordplay in your search for an answer. Some solvers use the quick crossword as a warm up exercise before tackling the cryptic crossword. Doing so can only improve your solving abilities


 

 

 

61 comments on “DT 30003

  1. Another terrific puzzle in a week of terrific puzzles. It took a while to get going and the finish was a bit of a crawl but, in between, all went well. I have ticks all over the place including 4a, 13a, 6d and 22d. I loved 3d and this is my COTD.

    Many thanks to the setter for the fun challenge. Thank you, Miffypops for the equally fun blog and hints and his own pun. :grin:

    Huge Birthday Wishes to the lovely Kath! :rose:

  2. Came here to comment and thought this looks unfamiliar…..I’ve done the Beam Toughie!🤦..a very fine puzzle but not the one I intended tackling.
    Happy birthday Kath 🎂..and congratulations to our fantastic queen 🇬🇧

  3. Really enjoyed this puzzle for the usual reason. Thought 4a was a bit dated until I read MP’s hint and realised it was a ‘w’ not a ‘b’. Usually find the London clues difficult but as my daughter lives there it was easy. Like Steve C above 3d is my clue of the day.

    Thanks to MP and the setter.

  4. Haven’t had the chance to view / do the back pager yet – just popped in to wish Kath a Happy Birthday. I hope you have a wonderful day and that you’re spoiled rotten by your nearest and dearest :) :rose:

  5. Last two in were 5d and 23a. I seemed to have all the left half in before the right. Very little hesitation. The two long ones across the middle were straight in. Favourites 10 11 and 25a and 3d. Thanks setter and MP. Finished well in time to let me watch Trooping the Colour. Amazing day!

  6. Gosh, that was hard going, but i finished it, with a bit of help from Google. The best clues for me were 12d,9a and 3d. Many thanks to MP for the hints and towhoever tthe compiler is (I’ve n idea). Happy Birthday to Kath, iwards and upwards 🥂💐

  7. Watching The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee on BBC World News…reminding me that I cheered on Her Majesty at Trooping the Colour in 1975 and was there for the Silver Jubilee in 1977. Wonderful backgrounding for a terrific puzzle today, with 15a, 23a, 20d, & 17a pleasing me the most. Thanks to MP and today’s setter. ** / ****

    Lovely Beam Toughie today too. And Happy Birthday to Kath!

  8. Took some time to find a way in.
    Then, steady progress from the SW corner.
    Some really inspired and brilliant clueing, eg 9a, 14a and 25a.
    Last in, that pesky port.
    So, 3*/*****
    Many thanks to the setter and MP.

  9. Happy birthday to Kath & hoping she is spoilt rotten & has a lovely day. I hit the big 60 a couple of days ago & did my level best to ignore the fact.
    A very enjoyable puzzle today, nicely clued throughout & which yielded without problem.
    Thanks to the setter & to Miff – had hoped your clip at 17a would have been from Duets – Reworking the Catalogue featuring the marvellous Clare Teal.

  10. I started off hurtling along in Cumbria, Northumberland, Devon, and Sussex, but came to a bit of a stumble in the Midlands where I required a few extra sips of orange juice without bits to give me the inspiration to complete the journey.
    Thank you for the kind comments yesterday after I revealed my issue with bronchitis. The situation has evolved. I have suddenly, in my sixties, developed an allergy to antibiotics, and discovered, this morning, that I was covered in a pink rash. So… now H has to take me to hospital this afternoon, where I’m told I must remain in the car and doctors will come and examine me outdoors (I know!) and, it is hoped, offer me alternative medication. Life is rarely dull.

    Thanks to the setter, The Miff, and Happy Birthday to The Lovely Kath

    1. So sorry to hear of your allergy, Terence. Hope the alfresco doctor can solve the problem. Best wishes for a rapid recovery.

      1. Poor you. Hope they manage to find an alternative antbiotic st the hospital, Terence.

    2. Hope the change of ABs does the trick, Terence and you are soon on the mend. :good:

  11. Like Robert this was solved whilst listening to the Trooping of the Colour. Plain sailing today, 26a get’s my vote.

    Thanks to MP and today’s setter.

  12. Enjoyed this but 18d? I don’t think yearned and panted mean the same thing at all – I will google it in a minute. Looks like Sunday will be a wash out here so the hog roast is moving into the church – whatever next! Don’t really fancy picnicking on a pew. Anyway thanks to the setter and MP. I for one cannot ever do the quickie crossword at all – too many choices for answers.

    1. This has a spoiler :( I hasn’t got to that one when scrolling through comments

        1. Hopefully no further spoilers if I quote a hymn to illustrate the simile, “As pants the hart for cooling streams/When heated in the chase/So ***** my soul, my God, for thee/And thy redeeming grace” [some versions have, “refreshing”]. Originally from an anthem by Handel for Queen Anne but Nate and others have had a hand in it since. Great, “ Oh God, get me out of this mess” hymn.

          1. A lovely hymn an a great example. I shouldn’t worry about spoilers. If they are looking for help they should read the hint.

    2. When we raised serious money for our church in Downtown LI. We had The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, ABBA, Rod Stewart, Handel’s Messiah complete with huge choir, a couple of folk and blues groups. There were various types of cooking going on at times and quite a bit of alcohol sold without having temporary events notices in place. (Ha ha Stratford District Council Licensing Team. You are not well thought of in Long Itchington) It was the best use of the space ever. As a bonus the pews were almost ruined by the amount of shifting about that they got that we could get rid of them and have plush chairs instead. Much more versatile and easier to rearrange. Of course English Heritage and The Victorian Society put there noses in where they weren’t wanted but we soon saw those interfering busybodies off. Also the Bishop sitting on a plush chair in his palace said we had to have hard chairs not up holstered chairs but we saw him off too. We were even mentioned in The Daily Telegraph

  13. MP I read 4a slightly differently ie One anticipating a match = the answer and being planned = the answer. Otherwise the last two words are superfluous. I didn’t know 5d but easy once I realised it was an anagram.

  14. I solved this little gem while listening to England demolish New Zealand’s top order at Lord’s on the radio. We have planned a BBQ so therefore it has clouded over. Back to the puzzle. Thoroughly entertaining, with 3d my top clue ahead of the 13a lurker.

    Many thanks to our setter and MP. Congratulations to HM on 70 incredible years, and Happy Birthday Kath.

  15. Like SL took a while to get going in this old fashioned Friday puzzle, plenty of head scratching today.!
    Last in was 12a with all the checking letters available and those left from the anagram contents.
    liked the cryptic 17a and 14a. Well clued throughout with 4a my favourite, took a while for the D’oh moment to arrive.
    Going for a ****/****.Thanks to setter and MP for the pics.

  16. I took a while to get going too but ended up in what I think of as a Friday time, thus adding to the confusion about which day it is and why. Thanks to the setter and MP

    A very happy birthday 🎂 to Kath :rose:

    Off this afternoon to a village picnic/not a garden party (it’s being held in a mini arboretum one of our neighbours has created in a field behind his house). Hope everyone has a good Bank Holiday

  17. Enjoyed the puzzle
    However, I don’t understand 26a. The anagram was obvious but I can’t see the link between the definition and the answer.🤔
    Can anyone explain please?

      1. I thought that clue a little loose. As you say, if dismissed then one is 26a (and a couple of my acquaintances suffered that indignity!), but merely to be away is not the same. Although as terminology changes over the years maybe that too is different now.

    1. Welcome to the blog

      I have now corrected MP’s undeliberate error. What did you think of the crossword?

  18. Enjoyable puzzle, all reasonably straightforward but with a few twists. Would have been a quicker ending had I not been carrying a flame, and trying to untangle 5d while overlooking a T. Smiles for 8d and 22d.

    2 / 2,5

    Many thanks to the Setter and to MP.

  19. Fairly straightforward and enjoyable. I needed the hints to fully understand 15d, and 5d & 8d we’re new to me but easily gettable as anagrams. No particular favourites today.
    Thanks to the setter and MP, and a happy birthday to Kath.

    1. Welcome to the blog. The undeliberate error has now been corrected.

      What did you think of the crossword?

      1. I’d have left it Sue. Anybody with half a brain would have understood the parsing from the hint. We are not at School here. We are just trying to help. It would be nice to have been thanked for my voluntary efforts but I don’t really care much. It takes all sorts as they say

        1. You can’t please all of the people all of the time ! I was just happy I’d found the answer to 15d and didn’t notice the number of letters. There were some intriguing clues today, 8d foxed me for some time. Thankyou for the hints and thankyou setter. Have a good day Birthday girl.

          1. Don’t worry MP, most of us, 99.9%, are really grateful for the effort the hinters put in especially when I seem to do a lot of bunging in from time to time.

            1. I never worry Manders. They come out of the woodwork saying look how clever I am at spotting mistakes and I’m going to let the world know how clever I am. No thanks, no comments about the puzzles. Well they ain’t that clever if they are looking for answers or explanations in the first place. And as for the geezer who once wrote something like ‘7 down it’s it’s not its’ he remained moderation. Had anybody okayed the comment he would have had both barrels. As I said I would not have corrected my error. It wouldn’t have stopped anybody getting the right answer. I’ve spent the day constructing a chassis for a soapbox ready for Hinckley’s Soapbox Derby on June 26th. The wheels and body will go on next week

  20. I have heard from LabradorsruleOK and he is fine – just occupied with other things at the moment.

    1. That’s good to know, Steve, and thank you for emailing him. And hello to LROK!

  21. A pleasant solve done while commenting on the trooping the colour for Mama Bee whose eyesight is getting so bad she didn’t notice the enormous pile of poo one of the horses left behind. I toyed with betrothed as it had the right ending and it wasn’t until I got other checkers that I realised it had too many letters. Thanks to MP and setter.

  22. Found this a challenging puzzle today. 3*/3.5*
    Got held up in the NE for a while as I was not familiar with the 13a word. Neither was 9a a word I have come across.
    Favourites include 14a, 17a, 26a & 19d with winner 17a.

    Thanks to setter and MP

  23. I enjoyed this and found it a tad friendlier than the usual Friday fare. Good to see HM smile during the fly past. Many thanks to MP and the setter.

  24. Enjoyed this solve. I also didn’t think it was **** difficulty.

    I took ages to parse 15d, then the penny dropped. Clever clue.

    1d was my penultimate clue which gave me 9a which is a new word for me.

    Thanks to all.

  25. Enjoyable puzzle 😃 ***/**** I won’t hazard a guess at the Compiler 🤔 Favourites 24a, 21a and 18d 👍 Thanks to the much appreciated Miffypops and to the Compiler and a Happy Birthday to Kath🎂

  26. It feels a rather odd day – I don’t know why but it just does.
    It doesn’t feel like a Thursday but I know it is; it doesn’t feel like a Bank Holiday even though I know it is – however who ever heard of a Bank Holiday on a Thursday; it doesn’t feel much like my birthday although I think it’s beginning to feel a bit closer – ah, now then I’ve got it! Both my Lambs have been here for the day – my elder Lamb, her partner and their wonderful son, Georgie who will be five at the end of June have been here, and my younger Lamb, her husband and their Joseph who’s coming up to nine months have been here too.
    Right – now on to the crossword – I thought it was difficult.
    I spent quite a time trying to make 8d something a bit smutty, perhaps something along the lines of stripper or something but that wouldn’t play so I gave up.
    I’ve never heard of 5d and not very good at spelling 23a.
    My favourite was 11a because they’re so cheerful looking.
    Thanks to Ray T for the crossword, to MP for the hints and to everyone for my birthday messages.

    1. A very Happy Birthday to you, Kath. It’s always good to hear from you and see the progress you are making. :rose:

      1. Rats, RD. I’ve just tried to get rid of that comment but it won’t go away! :oops:

  27. PS Oh dear!! I’ve just written and sent a comment and having come to my senses – tried to delete it but it won’t ‘go away’ so everyone will just have to put up with it!! Sorry all!!

    1. Don’t worry, Kath, it was just lovely to hear from you on ‘your’ day. So pleased that the lambs managed to come over and enjoy it with you.

  28. Trooping and Her Majesty (such a special occasion) disrupted my usual cruciverbal routine but I eventually really enjoyed tackling this. North was most straightforward section. Wonder why the question mark ending 12a. 15d was my Fav once I had parsed what. Suppose 22d has become accepted abbreviation. Thank you Mysteron and MP. 💐Happy, Happy Birthday Kath – hope you are enjoying sharing the day with your family and HM💐. Wrote this before reading your message.

  29. Like most others I struggled to get going with this well clued exercise, when finished (LOI 23a) I struggled again to understand why I struggled. So definitely a bit of a struggle today (sorry!).
    Excellent puzzle with good clueing throughout on this glorious, sunny day on the Kent Downs. Thanks to the setter and MP for the blog.

  30. A slow start, speeded up in the middle and a slow finish. Not helped by confidently putting in Akaba for 21a but I got there in the end. Favourite was 20d. Thanks to the setter and MP.

  31. 3*/4*….
    liked 25A ” It’s more cramped, all right, in seaside venue (6)”

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