DT 30037 – Big Dave's Crossword Blog
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DT 30037

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30037

Hints and tips by Mr K

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BD Rating  -  Difficulty **** Enjoyment ****

Hello, everyone. I found today’s offering trickier than the average Tuesday puzzle. I needed to make several passes though the grid, picking up a few answers each time, until the puzzle was completed. And with that done there remained a couple of parsing challenges to figure out. It all made for a rewarding and enjoyable solve. No idea about the setter. It felt different to most recent Tuesday puzzles, so perhaps it’s a visitor to the slot? 

In the hints below most indicators are italicized, and underlining identifies precise definitions and cryptic definitions. Clicking on the answer buttons will reveal the answers. In some hints hyperlinks provide additional explanation or background. Clicking on a picture will enlarge it or display a bonus illustration and a hover (computer) or long press (mobile) might explain more about the picture. Please leave a comment telling us how you got on.

 

Across

1a    Sometimes lie with canine who's barking (4,2,1,5)
ONCE IN A WHILE:  An anagram ( …’s barking, as in crazy) of LIE CANINE WHO 

9a    Uniform lost in citadel (9)
IDENTICAL:  An anagram (lost) of IN CITADEL

These baby pandas are fairly 9a

10a   Sound from organ -- one's enthralled (5)
NOISE:  A sensory organ containing the Roman one (… one’s enthralled

11a   Sign more leaders dismissed snub (6)
IGNORE:  The first two words of the clue with their initial letters deleted (leaders dismissed

12a   Perhaps fool's turned anxious (8)
STRESSED:  The reversal (turned) of what fool defines by example (perhaps). Attach its S from the clue before reversing the letters 

13a   Heartlessly bribes peers (6)
NOBLES:  A slang verb for bribes minus its centre letter (heartlessly

15a   Conservative found entertaining politician screwed up (8)
CRUMPLED:  The single letter for Conservative with a synonym of found (as in “the judge found he was guilty”) containing (entertaining) a usual abbreviated politician 

Partygate

18a   Pleased with sandwich's first filling (8)
CONTENTS:  Pleased or satisfied with the first letter of SANDWICH 

Burger King has introduced the chip butty to New Zealand

19a   Snake bites left two Europeans numb (6)
ASLEEP:  The snake associated with Cleopatra containing (biting) the single letter for left and two copies of the single letter for European 

21a   Administrator from former chemicals company always has no manners (8)
OFFICIAL:  Link together a (3) synonym of from (as in “jumped from a bridge”), the abbreviation for a former chemicals company, and ALWAYS minus another word for manners (… has no manners) 

23a   The Queen repelled by a relative's motive (6)
REASON:  The reversal (repelled) of the abbreviation for Queen Elizabeth is followed by A from the clue and a male relative 

26a   Golf club with no parking, say (5)
UTTER:  A short-range golf club minus the map abbreviation for parking (with no parking) 

27a   Ordered the large round power cable (9)
TELEGRAPH:  An anagram (ordered) of THE LARGE containing (round) the physics symbol or power 

Unordered cables

28a   Swindle day after coin value reduced (12)
CONCENTRATED:  Fuse together a swindle or scam, an almost worthless coin, value or assess, and the single letter for day 

 

Down

1d    View over wing (7)
OPINION:  The cricket scoring abbreviation for over is followed by a poetic noun meaning wing 

2d    Wash tin including large base (5)
CLEAN:  A container also known as a tin containing (including) the clothing abbreviation for large and the letter representing the base of the natural logarithms 

3d    Moderate cider teen's drunk (9)
INTERCEDE:  An anagram ( …’s drunk) of CIDER TEEN 

4d    Cunning anarchist hides (4)
ARCH:  The second word of the clue hides the answer 

5d    Tailor lost her sleeves initially -- arms go in these (8)
HOLSTERS:  An anagram (tailor) of LOST HER with the first letter (initially) of SLEEVES 

6d    Cord restricting knight's weapon (5)
LANCE:  A cord that might close a shoe containing (restricting) the chess abbreviation for knight 

7d    Melt old penny I found with small crack (8)
DISSOLVE:  Concatenate the abbreviation for an old penny, I from the clue, the clothing abbreviation for small, and crack or work out 

8d    Repaired motorway closed (6)
MENDED:  The single letter for motorway with closed or over

14d   Meat around noon comes with its rewards (8)
BENEFITS:  Some cow meat containing (around) the single letter for noon is followed by ITS from the clue 

16d   Runner miles north of German city, for example, going over river (9)
MESSENGER:  Join together the single letter for miles, an industrial German city, the reversal (going over) of the abbreviation for “for example”, and the map abbreviation for river 

Runners with cat

17d   Boats cross this rebuilt canal -- it's about time (8)
ATLANTIC:  An anagram (rebuilt) of CANAL IT containing (… ‘s about) the physics symbol for time 

18d   Refrain from putting burden mainly on American (6)
CHORUS:  All but the last letter (mainly) of burden or duty is followed by an abbreviation for American 

20d   Slugged drink with editor (7)
PUNCHED:  A sweetened fruity alcoholic drink with the abbreviation for editor 

22d   What's carried primarily on ship (5)
CARGO:  The wordplay leads us to the first letter (what’s … primarily) of CARRIED followed by the mythical ship sailed by Jason. The entire clue serves as the definition, making this a rare all-in-one or &lit. clue 

24d   Stylish vehicles turned up (5)
SMART:  The reversal (turned up, in a down clue) of some passenger vehicles 

25d   Design aircraft with no tail (4)
PLAN:  An contraction that means aircraft minus its last letter (with no tail)

 

Thanks to today’s setter. My favourite clue was the neat 22d, with 14d not far behind. Which clues did you like best?


The Quick Crossword pun:  PAR + KIN + METRE = PARKING METER


70 comments on “DT 30037

  1. To me this had the feel of Dada in that I had only a couple after the first pass followed by a steady solve and ending at a snail’s pace. Just the right amount of thought provoking clues together with a few easy ones and the rest falling between the two extremes. My two favourites are the “Lego” clues, 28a and 16d with the former ending up as my COTD.

    Grateful thanks to the setter for the fun. Many thanks to Mr. K. for the hints.

    We have spits and spots of rain here in Shropshire and it is decidedly cooler. If the papers are anything to go by, it won’t last and the heat is due to return with a vengeance. Poor Hudson – being a Lab and having two coats, he does not like the heat one bit. :phew:

        1. Here he is after having found a stick embedded in the stream bed.

          “Bestest stick EVER, Master!”

          1. PLEASE don’t that – I was looking after my sister’s collie and took her with my own collie down to the river for a swim. It’s a long story and a long time ago – I nearly (literally) killed her. She was at the vet for five days – general anaesthetic etc etc (and don’t even ask about the bill AND she wasn’t insured). Apparently it’s a common injury, mainly of the fast movers – collies, labs, lurchers. I can’t even begin to think about it even now. Please just google about stick injuries to dogs.
            Sorry folk but I had to say that . . . .

            1. A very worthwhile warning Kath, very nasty and totally avoidable injuries that always seem to happen at the weekend.

            2. Don’t worry, Kath. I am very aware of stick injuries. When he finds a stick he always brings it to me for inspection. If it is solid with no splinters he can carry it for a while but he is not allowed to chew it and he usually discards it himself after a few minutes. If he doesn’t, I get rid of it. Neither do I ever throw a stick for him. He has a ball for fetching. Hudson is our sixth Lab and we have never had a stick injure any of them. :grin:

  2. Great fun which came together nicely. 28a gets my vote. Today’s toughie is also very friendly. Thanks to today’s setter and Mr K.

  3. Thanks for the hints Mr K without which I wouldn’t have understood the obvious answer to 21a. Because of the helpful anagrams at 1,9 and 27a and 5d this went ok for me at **/****. I thought the quite well disguised anagram in 5d very good. My old flying instructor would have winced at 25d: “carpenters use planes and pilots fly aircraft Stuart” came to mind. 12a was my COTD. Enjoyable stuff. Thanks to our illustrious setter.

    1. I agree with your comment on 25d but I would hazard a guess that most, if not all, of our setters have never been student pilots and I wince every time the usage appears in a puzzle.

        1. Sort of – twenty plus years serving HM in light blue as an Engineering Officer with a good deal of close up ‘air time’ in such as C130s (‘several’ hours from Ascension Island to Port Stanley, for example), and a range from a Jet Provost to a Belfast, and frequently correcting others in the same vein as your instructor. Continuing in civil aviation on my first ‘retirement’ – certification flight testing and, pre-9/11, ‘talking my way’ onto flight decks of BA aircraft for landings at Heathrow and Montréal.

          1. That sounds such a great and varied experience of aviation. I am afraid my response was tardy as I have had a family bereavement organised by the wonderful folk at Southampton General this pm. Thanks to them all.
            The best photo of my brother is of when he was passenger in my PA28.

    2. As a member of the airline industry even before jets, we were told that “aircraft” included dirigibles, we used aeroplanes … not planes.

    3. Plane is an extremely commonly-used short version of aeroplane or airplane (listed in the BRB), so I can’t see what all the fuss is about?

      1. As always, I’m with you all the way, Cardinal Jo.

        Of course plane is okay for a compiler to use.

  4. I found this quite tricky and, like Steve Ccowling, found the two Lego clues at 28a and 16d the best of the bunch, whilst 17d seemed a bit confusing in terms of surface read. There were an awful lot of unusual synonyms, often with anagrams and one could have wished for a bit more variety in the type of clue. It wascertainly a puzzle to keep you occupied for a whime. Thanks to Mr K and the compiler.

  5. What a 24d teaser this one was! It took me three times through it and then I sort of bounced around–rather like Mr K, I daresay–filling in bits and pieces until I had a (very gratifyingly) completed puzzle, which as Steve C says above also reminds me of a Dada gem. Thanks to Mr K for helping me parse 21a since I had no idea what that chemicals company was, though my guess was a lucky one. For a number of reasons, 15a is my favourite, though I really liked everything about this tougher-than-usual Tuesday grid, and it was a lot of fun to solve. I wish the compiler would join us today, so thanks to him and the always generous Mr K. 3* / 5*

    And a wonderful Toughie today!

  6. Not quite Typically Tuesdayish, but completed in typical Tuesday time with less enjoyment – **/***.

    Candidates for favourite – 12a, 23a, 28a, and 16d – and the winner is 28a.

    Thanks to the setter and Mr K.

    As she promised on Saturday, our delightful Floughie Lady on top Toughie form today!

  7. Many thanks to setter and Mr K, agree with choice of 22d as the best of a very fine collection here

  8. Slow to start, with nothing leaping out at me in the NW in the first few moments, so instead started in the SE – progress was then steady with these clues being trickier to decode than usual for this early in the week, though on completion I was left wondering why I had been so puzzled at commencement. A welcome and enjoyable challenge. Good red herrings and plenty of nice ‘technical’ clues to unpick across the grid. Hon Mentions to 19a, 21a and 18d, with COTD to 16d.

    3* / 3.5*

    Many thanks to the setter and to Mr K for the review.

  9. 3*/4* from me for a most enjoyable tussle. As a chemist I don’t think that “melt” is a satisfactory synonym for the answer. However, in fairness to the setter (and to save Jose the trouble of quoting our crossword bible in it’s entirety :wink: ), it does appear as one of the definitions in the BRB.

    With plenty of competition for podium positions, my final choice is 1a, 15a & 22d.

    Many thanks to the setter and to Mr K.

    1. I totally agree RD. Having spent the best part of forty years impressing upon my students that the two 7d processes are totally different animals I was dismayed to see that the BRB thinks they are the same. Perhaps someone needs to tell all the GCSE/A-Level examiners of the change of definition…..😫😤😂

    2. How VERY dare you! :-) As you and Faraday (now there’s a germane nickname if ever I saw one) point out, strictly speaking in the specific field of chemistry, the two words are not exactly synonymous – and I know that from solving crytic crosswords. But there are, of course, many words rooted in science that have other more common/general meanings. Therefore, melt and the answer are satisfactorily synonymous. In Collins Online Thesaurus melt is the primary listing under the answer word, as displayed in this modest extract:

      1 (verb) in the sense of melt
      Definition
      to become or cause to become liquid
      Heat gently until the sugar dissolves.
      Synonyms
      melt
      break down
      disintegrate
      soften
      thaw
      flux
      liquefy
      deliquesce

      1. So both Collins and the BRB are wrong! 😂
        Or perhaps, as someone said the other day “the BRB is right, even when it’s wrong….”
        I do sometimes despair about the level of scientific general knowledge displayed in the media. I remember only too well the BBC News getting the formula for carbon dioxide wrong twice in the same bulletin. I guess you can blame their teachers 🤔

        1. Nothing wrong with the Big Red Bible! You are of course right on a scientific level, but why should the judgement be made solely on the scientific meaning of the two words? They both work as synonyms for things other than the purely scientific, for example an emotional reaction (“her heart melted / [answered]”).

        2. According to your logic, it would be wrong for anyone to say/write figuratively: “After the police arrived, the unruly atomosphere soon evaporated [or fizzled out]” because no heat causing any liquid to vaporise actually occured!

          1. I would never argue against figurative writing and your examples are perfectly valid. However within the context of the wordplay of 7d I do feel that it is strongly implied that the said coin is being heated and not undergoing some great emotional change. Maybe if it said “old Penny”….
            I’m sorry, but I’m firmly convinced that the penny has melted and not dissolved 😎

            1. But the demise of the penny is not critical – it may have been subjected to extreme heat or immersed in acid. The crucial thing is whether the clue defintition is synonymous with the solution. To me, clue surfaces are somewhat secondary in importance, largely a means to an end and don’t have to be unwaveringly literally, gramatically and factually precise. The cryptic word-play is what really matters and it must be spot on. But that’s just how I see it …

  10. I think I just might be getting better at solving because I didn’t find this too difficult. I must admit I sometimes get a clue because of definition but can’t fathom the wordplay – this is where the hints come in most useful, thanks to all hinters. I have taken to writing down all wordplays and I believe this helps me remember the way cryptic crosswords work!

  11. Enjoyed working through this to an unaided conclusion.
    In 1.5* time.
    So many contenders for COTD.
    And the winner is 28a.
    Nice to meet old friends eg 12a
    Many thanks to the setter and to Mr. K.

  12. I found this to be a very steady solve with very few delays. It was, however, pleasingly tricky without being overly difficult, and the quality of the clues throughout was of a very high standard. I can’t fit a fag paper between 14 and 16d so they are my joint favourites.

    I think your hint for 16d needs to show the ‘for example’ as a reversal?

    Many thanks to both Misters involved.

  13. Agree with Mr K and the majority on this excellent puzzle, took several passes to get into the swing of things. Once into it, the pace quickened, but most clues needed close study to twig the answer.
    Thanks to the setter for the exercise and Mr K for the review.

  14. This morning’s light shower and cooler temperature must have cleared the brain cells as I found this one fairly straightforward.
    Better make the most of it – may not happen again this week!
    With plenty to choose from, 15a took the top spot here.

    Thanks to our setter and to Mr K for the review and the adorable baby pandas.

  15. Strange one. A handful were bung-ins, some more were attainable after much thought, and the remainder were “Help, Mr K!” moments.
    Yet it all added up to a terrific crossword with no Hanseatic League references. No Roman tunics either, which can only be a good thing.

    Thanks to the setter and The Celebrated Mr K.

    Beatles on Tuesday:

    1. I’m currently watching Get Back, the Peter Jackson film. It’s fascinating watching the creativity of The Beatles at work.

      1. I enjoyed every second of it. I particularly enjoyed the build up to, and then the concert on the roof.
        Every time we are in the area, I look up, rather wistfully, at that roof.

        1. I liked the way the song, “Get Back” developed with Paul just jamming a riff on the bass.

  16. Good crossword for which I needed Mr K’s hints to solve a few of the clues and confirm why some of my answers were correct. Would never have solved 13a as I always thought knobbled was when you raked one of the opposition in a loose scrum or the like in other sports. Never associated it with a brown envelope

    So thanks to the setter and as usual many thanks to Mr K for a splendid blog well illustrated.

  17. I struggled with this today and gave up. I glanced at the Toughie, saw an answer, and solved the Toughie without any help. A strange world!

  18. What a great puzzle, actually took me slightly longer than the “Toughie” and thought it had far more cunning and misdirection.
    Impossible to choose a favourite, (but if pushed would opt for 18d) it was all top notch.

    Many thanks to the setter, more please, and Mr K for the fun.

  19. A steady solve for me with a few mis-directions. Many thanks to the setter and Mr K for his review. Love the kitty and panda pics. That’s 2 complete solving days on the trot 😉 I wonder what Wednesday will bring?! . . .

  20. Tricky yes but enjoyable. Still groaning over 21a had to look up hints to see how I was supposed to work it out. I did get it from the letters I had in but “always with no manners”! ! and who on earth is ICI? Always grateful at 92 to complete a crossword.

    1. ICI – the “Imperial Chemical Industries plc” as was, one of the biggest companies in Britain from the 20s until disappearing as a name in 2007 when taken over.

    2. I worked for ICI Brunner Mond and later ICI Pharmaceuticals. My father was a Shift Foreman at ICI Wallerscote (Soda Ash etc). I have very fond and grateful thanks for the library that was founded by Brunner Mond in our local town. If Miffypops drops in again there used to be a good music shop next door. Though I am referring to the late 50/60’s!

    3. Hi David. Clicking/tapping on the hyperlink in the 21a hint will take you to a Wikipedia page about ICI.

  21. I thought this was quite tricky to get into but on reflection cannot see why 🤔 ***/*** Favourites were 10a and 13a 😃 Thanks to Mr K and to the Compiler. Reference the earlier banter amongst the aviators I spent 30+ years as an operator in the back of multi crew aircraft where we referred to the pilots as Drivers Airframe and we were “The talking freight” 😬

  22. Tricky yes. Some lovely red herrings. Always glad to complete a crossword at 92. But 21a ! ? “always with no manners” and who on earth is ICI ! ? I got it as my last entry from the cross letters. BUT HAD TO LOOK UP THE REASON FROM SOMEONES HINTS Liked 1d.

  23. Steady solve for me today in between some work meetings. The parsing of 21a needed some thought but everything else fell into place nicely.
    Thanks to the setter and Mr K

  24. I agree that this was a bit tricky although the East went in quite swiftly the West was slower. I think my mind is befogged by this terribly muggy day, it is unbearable. I feel sorry for the poor cat about to be run over, literally. Thanks to the setter and Mr K.

    1. Hi, DG. The kitty is further from the runners than it appears in the pic. I’m sure it avoided them.

  25. I was in a good mood until I started this one today. Just looked up and saw the **** difficulty rating, which seems very accurate to me. Not willing to fight any more, and just seen that the Toughie is a * by Chalicea, so I’m off to give it a stab instead. Perhaps the two puzzles are in the wrong slot today? Thanks to the setter for the challenge and to Mr K, with admiration.

  26. Agree this is a tougher Tuesday offering than is the norm.
    3*/2* for me today.

    Favourites today 1a, 12a, 5d, 7d & 16d with winner 1a

    Thanks to setter and Mr K

  27. Tuesdays usually seem to be the most easiest of the week but today certainly wasn’t – I got a bit of a shock when I first looked and it took me ages to get going at all. Eventually it sorted itself out – just as well as it didn’t look as if I was going to manage anything today.
    I wonder who set today’s crossword – most of the Tuesday/Thursday people ‘pop in’ and tell us who did it but no sign of an admission yet. The only person who doesn’t ‘call in’ is Giovanni but today certainly doesn’t feel like one of his. Oh well, maybe we’ll never know.
    Thanks to the anonymous one of today and to Mr K who the hints.

  28. Curiously I found this fairly straightforward but no doubt I’ll come down to earth with a bump tomorrow. Favourite was 28a. Thanks to the setter and Mr. K.

  29. Thanks to all, for the first 4* rated puzzle I have ever completed! (Without hints). Took a while I must admit but well worth it..!

    1. Nice work, Jo Ho or Jay Ho or do you prefer good old-fashioned John?

      Solving a 5* rated crossword is around the corner. I can smell it.

  30. Oddly I seem to have found this easier than most. A wavelength thing again I guess. Just had three in the SW that took some thought. Favourites 28a and 7d (great surface I thought) 18 22 24 and 25d. Thanks Setter and Mr K.

  31. 3*/4*…..
    liked 15A “Conservative found entertaining politician screwed up (8)”

  32. Enjoyed this one, although somewhat of a challenge, and actually completed without hints. Thanks to setter and Mr. K.

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