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DT 30082

by Senf  

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30082

Hints and tips by Senf

+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +

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

A good Friday morning from Winnipeg – Deep Threat has decided to step back from blogging, so I have taken over as the Friday blogger while staying in the Sunday slot.

BD and all the blogging team would like to thank Peter (Deep Threat) for all the sterling work he’s done in the past and all the blogs he’s written.

Yesterday, I commented that ‘This is turning out to be a ***** week of back pagering’ so who of the Friday triumvirate should be the one to ’round out this ***** week’?  Well it appears that the honour for today’s puzzle has gone to the smoothest of the smooth.

Candidates for favourite – 11a, 17a, 18d, and 20d.

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

Please leave a comment telling us what you thought.

Across

8a Top-ranked player inspiring great admiration? Laver, perhaps (7)
SEAWEED: The term for a top-ranked player, in SW19(?), containing (inspiring) a three letter term for great admiration – and, if you were trying to combine top-ranked player and (Rod) Laver somehow you were going in the completely wrong direction.

10a Reportedly make too much of having binged (7)
OVERATE: A homophone (reportedly) of an 8 letter term for make too much of.

11a Strengthens international force entering area of North Sea (9)
FORTIFIES: The single letter for International and the single letter symbol for Force inserted into (entering) an area, East of Scotland, of the North Sea used, for example, in the Shipping Forecast.

12a Astonished to forget when building top of cement mixer (5)
TONIC: What remains after a synonym for when and a type of building have been deleted (to forget) from asTONIshed followed by the first letter (top) of Cement.

13a Admit couple regularly will get upset, it’s clear (5)
LUCID: Alternate letters (regularly) selected from ADMIT COUPLE which are then reversed (will get upset).

14a Italian dairy product with slice of apricot tart (7)
RICOTTA: A lurker (with slice of) found in two words in the clue.

17a Might it create a no-fly zone? (6,9)
INSECT REPELLENT: What one may use to discourage annoying flying creatures – Tipcat should be happy with this one.

19a English student tucks into cabbage and spicy sausage (7)
SAVELOY: The single letter for English and the popular letter used to indicate a student inserted (tucks) into a type of cabbage.

21a Uncovered name of television pioneer, we hear (5)
BARED: A homophone (we hear) of the surname of the British TV pioneer.

24a Hoard, what Bill would keep undisclosed essentially in retirement (5)
CACHE: The reversal (in retirement) of all of a two letter synonym of what when used as an interjection and a two letter abbreviation of bill (requiring payment) containing (would keep) the middle letter (essentially) of undisClosed.

26a Knowledge obtained from cautioned suspect (9)
EDUCATION: An anagram (suspect) of CAUTIONED.

27a Comparatively wet ruler of principality (7)
RAINIER: A comparative term for extra wetness generated by precipitation – I have to say that I prefer Dada’s clue for the same word in Tuesday’s Toughie, especially as the last ruler with this name died 17 years ago.

28a Panic about electronic charge for transporting goods (7)
FREIGHT: A synonym of panic containing (about) the single letter for Electronic.

Down

1d Consume energy, wasting resource ultimately that’s valuable (6)
USEFUL: A (3,4) synonymic phrase for consume energy with the deletion (wasting) of one of its letters which is the last letter (ultimately) of resourcE.

2d Boos from Republican interrupting Obama speech at first (8)
BARRACKS: The single letter for Republican inserted into (interrupting) the first name of the former president with the first letter (at first) of Speech at the end.

3d Police raid is disastrous for magazine (10)
PERIODICAL: An anagram (is disastrous) of POLICE RAID

4d American drafted piece of writing following study (9)
CONSCRIPT: A term for a piece of writing (used by actors?) placed after a three letter synonym of study.

5d What could prevent snooker player extending break? (4)
REST: A double definition(?) – the first refers to the item of equipment that a snooker player can use to avoid stretching (extending) to play a shot, the second definition is just the last word of the clue.

6d Artist captures Germany’s capital, it is very attractive (6)
MAGNET: a French modernist painter (artist) contains (captures) the first (capital) letter of Germany.

7d Write song that shows bias (8)
PENCHANT: Our favourite three letter synonym for write and a type of song in which prose is sung.

9d Stage made-up story dismissed by newspapers (4)
DAIS: A collective noun for Monday to Saturday newspapers with the term for a made-up story removed (dismissed).

15d Famous Conservative delighted to ring oddly absent member (10)
CELEBRATED: The single letter for Conservative (politically) and a synonym of delighted containing (to ring) what remains when the ‘odd’ letters are removed (oddly absent) from mEmBeR.

16d Old man in Derby gear, getting dressed up (9)
GREYBEARD: An anagram (getting dressed up) of DERBY GEAR.

17d Island needs new rescue arranged for vulnerable (8)
INSECURE: The single letter for island followed by (needs) the single letter for New and an anagram (arranged of RESCUE.

18d Each service at home has extremely generous pay (8)
EARNINGS: Lego at the ready! The two letter abbreviated form of each, the two letters for the service that could not get one of its big boats away from Portsmouth this week, our favourite two letters for (at) home, and the outer letters (extremely) of GenerouS.

20d Rising male with technology résumé securing one target (6))
VICTIM: More Lego! The reversal (rising) of all of the single letter for Male, the two letters for one part of (modern) technology, and the two letter abbreviation for an alternative term for résumé containing the Roman numeral for one.

22d Mean attitude not endearing to host (6)
DENOTE: A lurker (to host) found in three words in the clue.

23d Boiled pudding is no good (4)
DUFF: A double definition – the first almost certainly contains some sort of fruit.

25d Release when prison sentence is over (4))
EMIT: A single word term for prison sentence reversed (when . . . is over).

The Quick Crossword Pun:

MEW + SICK + HAUL = MUSIC HALL

Thanks to Silvanus for a very enjoyable solve.

57 comments on “DT 30082”

  1. Very enjoyable indeed, with all the hallmarks of a Silvanus puzzle.
    7d is a lovely word that I have a 7d for using but my winners are 1&8a plus 1&9d with top spot going to the super 12a.
    Many thanks to the forementioned setter, for I’m sure it is he, and to Senf for the hints

  2. Most enjoyable.
    Last in 8a.
    Annoyingly and regretfully, accidentally saw the answer.
    The clue, however, contained a word new to me.
    Loved this clue’s misdirection.
    12a and 20d, joint COTD
    So, 2.5*/5*
    Many thanks to the setter and to Senf.

  3. 3*/5(plus)*. What a great finish to a great week of back-pagers. It wasn’t that long ago that we were treated to a Silvanus puzzle on a Friday and this must surely be him again today. Great clueing and super-smooth surfaces made this a joy to solve.

    Taken from a page full of ticks, my podium choices are 8a, 11a, 12a & 17a.

    Many thanks to Silvanus and to Senf.

  4. I thought this was pretty good. I found it tricky in places, not helped by having to use a magnifying glass to read the extremely small print font size on the new telegraph crossword website. I infinitely prefer the older print version!

    Some nice misdirection in a couple of clues (namely 8a and the artist in 6d).

    Many thanks to setter and to Senf.

    1. Jezza – I had the same problem in printing the puzzles: you may increase the size of the printed grid, but not of the printed font. It proves nigh-on impossible to read, and because they have unaccountably put a quite unnecessary “notes” section below the grid (as if one can’t work out where else in the blank parts of an A4 page one might scribble notes …) the clues are squashed into that tiny gap to the right of the grid. The font is smaller than that in the BRB!

      Feedback on the new site may be sent to : product_puzzles@telegraph.co.uk and I copied my email to Mr Lancaster, the puzzles editor : puzzleseditor@telegraph.co.uk

      I had a reply saying “Thank you for the feedback on these aspects of the printing experience and design. We will absolutely take all this under advisement and we will absolutely be continuing to make improvements throughout the experience in the months ahead.”

      Hopefully there will be more feedback asking them to change the way the print-outs appear.

      2. I did not know there was a new website, I got it briefly to solve this puzzle (it is an orange colour, then it went back to the green one, or should I say the old one.) for some reason I do not get the crossword newsletter either, does anyone have any hints on how to solve this matter. Any help would be appreciated, how do I get to the new crossword site?

          1. Thanks! – I changed my bookmark url this morning to the new site; I have now put it back to what it was before.
            You would think that whoever designed the new site would have tested the printed version. My printer (on draft quality) used copious amounts of ink for the (comparatively bigger) crossword grid, and the clues were barely legible. My suggestion to the designer would be to go back to the drawing board…

        2. It may be some consolation to know that it’s not just solvers but certain setters have the same problem too, i.e. not receiving the Puzzles Newsletter any longer.

          An unofficial fix (which apparently has worked for some although it didn’t work for me) is to unsubscribe from the newsletter(s) concerned, wait 48 hours and then re-subscribe.

          Alternatively, the attached link may be helpful. I’ve emailed the Helpdesk and still await their reply.
          https://www.telegraph.co.uk/about-us/newsletters/

          1. Thank you, Silvanus, and everyone for the help as I may have said I knew nothing about the new website, living in Vancouver I enjoy my morning coffee and telegraph crossword, and I like the crosswords you compile.
            Thank you Everyone

    2. You’ve saved me having to raise this Jezza, so thank you.
      I ran into the same problem last night and got very frustrated trying to improve the readability. Hopefully something they can correct.
      In the meantime, if you ignore all the prompts to go to the new site you can still access the crossword via the old site and get a “normal” print out

  5. I thought a 5 down helped not prevented, though it couldn’t be anything else. As I’m not one of those who can do a backpager while having my coffee I am quite happy to finish it before lunch. Today’s was perfect. On the rare occasions when I manage to finish it early (in less than an hour) the rest of the morning can be very long.

    1. As I said in the hint, a 5d is used to prevent the ‘extension’ of the player. The last word of the clue stands on its own as the separate element of a double definition.

  6. Struggled with this today and needed several re-visits before finally getting it done. Last one for me was 9d, although I thought I knew the answer, I couldn’t see why until the penny finally dropped after a couple of minutes. Thought answer to 5d was rather confusing, but can’t say why in case of spoiling.
    My two favs today were 12a and 18d. Great puzzle, best regards to the compiler!

  7. I enjoyed this only needing the hints for a couple of clues. My COTD is the misleading 17a.
    Now, trust me to mention “the elephant in the room” but I will shortly be going away and be “off grid” for a month or so. With all the sickness and damaged egos of so many of our stalwarts, will you still be here when I return? I do so hope so!

  8. Only four letters, but 9d was my COTD.

    I knew the answer, but took ages to twig how if was arrived at!

  9. An excellent back-pager – thanks to Silvanus and Senf.
    I liked 14a, 4d and 9d but my favourite is the superb 8a.

  10. Had to be a Silvanus as my page is covered in ticks! Narrowed it down to some extent but am still going to mention 8,11&27a plus 2,9&23d.
    I had also assumed that the Quickie pun is Music Hall but perhaps our setter will advise when he pops in.

    Thank you so much to Silvanus and well done to Senf for stepping up to the mark in such excellent fashion.

  11. Strangely enjoyable for one so tricky. Thx for the explanation of 12d, I would never ever have managed to parse the clue, got it from the definition. My favs were 16d and esp 22a.
    Really isn’t much point in having a Friday Toughie as the back pager always seems to fall into that category.
    Thx to all
    ****/****

  12. Super puzzle, great surfaces. The initial quick glance at Cumbria was fruitless so I started in Kent & the Thames Estuary, from which solutions, like the river, flowed without let or hindrance. 17a always raises a smile, the more so that this time I was primed as soon as I saw “no-fly zone”. Did like 27a – what I think of as an ISIHAC Uxbridge Dictionary-type clue; 24a had me thinking also of another homophone, a certain Euro-sceptic MP.

    Hon Menton also to 14a, but for me the COTD was the marvellous 12a.

    2* / 4*

    Many thanks to the setter/Sylvanus (and for the QC), and of course to Senf for the blog.

  13. Great, this puzzle enabled me to create a new personal record, five successful weekdays in a row. Thanks, Setter, and sorry Senf, did not need you today!

  14. A top-notch puzzle! Great, fairly concise clues, a good challenge and an enjoyable solve. Best two for me: 8a and 11a. 3.5*/4.5*.

  15. Perfect Friday fare – challenging but doable.
    Needed the hints to parse 24a and 9d, big thanks to Senf.
    No particular favourites, enjoyed the whole experience.
    Thanks to all

  16. Found this quite challenging and was somewhat surprised to finish it unaided. Thanks to the setter and Senf for explaining 1d.

  17. Don’t comment these days but would like to say a very sincere Thankyou to both M.P.and to D.T.Their clues and humour have been much appreciated over the years.

      1. I too woul like to thank rhe two outgoing bloggers for their help and their loyal support of the Blog.

  18. A splendid puzzle and not a Spoonerism in sight. I know Silvanus is fond of the but he seems to have resisted today, which is fine by me!

    Not fair to pick a favourite really as it’s all great stuff but 8a is the best of the best!

    Thanks to Silvanus and Senf.

  19. A chlenging puzzle, although the main challenge was parsing the solutions not finding them. I still had 4 unparsed to check in Senf’s admirable hints. There was alot of misdirection and some intricate lego clues, my COTD being17a, closely followed by 8a. Many thanks to Senf for the hints and to Silvanus for the puzzle.

  20. A DNF for me with two clues nowhere near providing a solution so really needed the hints from Send. On revealing 8a found exactly what was intended but would never have got there as the pronunciation is lava. Very clever misdirection. I tried it in Appledore nearly 50 years ago. It was provided by a local fisherman and after following the recipe carefully took on mouthful, spat it out and put at all in the bin ; only tripe comes close to it in disgusting me close to nausea.

    Thanks to Senf and Silvanus for a lunchtime workout.

    1. I’m told it’s an ‘acquired taste’ but have yet to find anyone, even amongst my Welsh friends, who’s actually acquired same! I’m with you, Corky, it vies with tripe in the nausea stakes.

  21. A bit late on parade today ,another difficult but enjofable puzzle by Silvanus awaited.
    Slowed down by the NW corner and last in was the misleading 8a which had to be my favourite,liked the surface of the 18d charade
    27a was a similar clue a day or so ago only one of the definitions was a mountain not a prince as well as the weather element.
    Going for a ***/****
    Thaanks to setter and Senf.

  22. Many thanks to Senf and to all those who have taken the trouble to comment, much appreciated.

    I can confirm that the Quick Pun is indeed Music Hall.

    May I also take this opportunity to thank Deep Threat for his many blogs of my Friday puzzles over the last couple of years, I know that with Senf at the helm he has a very worthy successor.

    A good weekend to all.

  23. I see I get to comment straight after our esteemed setter, so no need to guess about who it was, even though it was pretty obvious from the off.

    Another terrific puzzle that was full of beautifully put together clues, any of which could have been a favourite.

    Thanks Silvanus for the fun, to Senf for the blog, and of course to DT for his many reviews and help over the years. You will be missed.

  24. No major hold-ups today except for needing the hint to parse 24a. Favourite was 11a with lots of others coming close. Thanks to Silvanus and Senf. First MP now DT, dear me what’s going on?

  25. Good end to the working week . Struggled with 9d being the last in.
    Got it right without knowing why , so many thanks to Senf for enlightening me.

  27. Found this Friday puzzle a fun solve.
    2*/4* for me today.

    Favourites include 11a, 12a, 17a, 6d & 7d with winner 11a … brings back memories of hearing this when I lived in the UK many moons ago.

    Thanks to Silvanus and nice to have Senf two days a week blogging and sorry to see DT leave.

  28. I found this very tough but fair – just could not get 5d and then felt quite ashamed when reading through the hints! Thank you Senf for the explanation and to Silvanus for an entertaining afternoon, gardening will have to wait until tomorrow! All best wishes to DT, please come back to the blog (and that goes for MP as well)

  29. My favourite words usually make the grade for their sonic properties. 12a makes the top 10 through association, especially at this time of day.
    I have always heard ‘lava’ bread, never seen it written so was truly and wonderfully misdirected.
    Out of a sparkling cast, 8, 11 & 12a get the gong.
    Thanks Senf, Silvanus and Deep Threat.

  30. I checked in much earlier, wrote my piece, read the other comments, and then took a long nap. Did I first click on ‘Post Comment’? Apparently not. Welcome to my world these days. So sorry to see Deep Threat leave us. The aftershocks from last week’s seismic activities continue to shake us all.

    I always love Silvanus’s puzzles, and this was no exception. 8a deserves all the hoop-la it has received, but 9d is my favourite. Took me a while for an unaided finish last night, but I got there, happily. ‘Duff’ and ‘saveloy’ and ‘laver’ are not in my quotidian world, but I worked them out easily enough, thanks to our compiler’s cleverness. Thanks to Senf and Silvanus. *** / *****

    Now: press Post Comment, Bobby!

  31. Thanks Senf for the hints. I finished the puzzle in fairly good time but couldn’t parse a couple of them!

    1. You’ve changed your alias so this comment needed moderation. All the aliases you’ve used will work in future.

  32. Most remiss of me not to thank DT for his many informative and entertaining blogs over the years from which I’ve learned a lot. All the best for the future.

  33. A nice crossword but I am afraid that 8a flummoxed me even after the explanation, I kept trying to introduce “Rod” anyway ***/*** 😃 from me. favourites are 21a and 25d 👍 Thanks to Senf and to Silvanus, have a nice weekend everyone 😎

  34. The usual excellence from Silvanus. If I had to pick a favourite it would be 9d but frankly the whole field (except maybe 5d) was in the frame. Laver was unfamiliar to me but the wordplay got me there. Sadly I missed the when synonym so 12a was a bung in. Top notch & hugely enjoyable plus a thumbs up from Brian which must have thrown the setter.
    Thanks to Silvanus & Senf (particularly for stepping in once more)
    Ps Add me to those sad to see, if not wholly surprised, that Peter has stepped away. Many thanks for his Friday reviews.

  35. After yesterday’s double DNF from me, I was very pleased to complete what I felt was a ***/**** – thank you Silvanus!

    Thanks to Senf for a great blog too.

  36. Am I alone In loving lavabread.?? Delicious mixed with oatmeal and served with bacon for breakfast! And yes, a first class puzzle to round off a top-notch week….

  37. Done this morning in Halesworth Suffolk, not having time yesterday. Exploring Southwold today. 11a and 4d last two in. Very enjoyable. Thank Silvanus and Senf. Sorry to see DT go. I am feeling we are all feeling somewhat estranged at the moment and sorely missing BD.

  38. A very bad day for me,needed lots of help. Never mind, you can;t win them all, I’ve had a very good week so far. Thanks to Brian for mentioning my favourite moan – that we don’t need a second toughie on the back page. Thanks to Silvanus, and to Senf for taking on a double duty.
    I too am very sad to see the departure of DT and MP, and wish them well.

  39. What is the new link for the puzzles … I only have the old one and it is missing half of the puzzles including the Sept 5th OLPP.

    Please and thank you

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