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DT 30094

by Senf  

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30094

Hints and tips by Senf

+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +

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

A very good Friday morning from Winnipeg.

Somewhat surprisingly, since we had a very enjoyable Toughie from Silvanus yesterday, my five bob is on today’s back pager being a repeat performance from the master of smooth.

Candidates for favourite – 1a, 12a, 11d, 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

1a Chance of work having left college totally discontented (11)
OPPORTUNITY: Straight in with Lego – the two letter abbreviated form of, inter alia, a musical work, followed by (having) nautical left, a three letter abbreviated form of a synonym of college, and TotallY with its interior letters removed (discontented).

9a Gold object found by female in desert (7)
FORSAKE: Heraldic gold and a synonym of, appropriately pronounced, object (as in goal) placed after (found by) the single letter for Female.

10a Comment, on record (6)
REMARK: The two letters that we know and love that are equivalent to on and a synonym of record.

12a Reportedly sank golf putt last (4,3))
HOLD OUT: A homophone of a two word term, familiar to golfers and golf fans, that means sank golf putt.

13a Hairstyle from which queen rarely departs? (7)
BEEHIVE: A residence for a ‘stay at home’ regal insect.

14a Small number, around nine, meeting new US president (5)
NIXON: An abbreviated form of number containing (around) the Roman numeral for nine followed by (meeting) a single letter for New.

15a No sign of hesitation chopping up supermarket beef (4,5)
RUMP STEAK: An anagram (chopping up), after the two letters that can represent hesitation are removed (no sign of), of SUPerMARKET.

17a Good-for-nothing caught by friend wearing stolen goods (9)
SCALLYWAG: The single letter for crickety Caught and a synonym of friend contained by (wearing) a slang single word for stolen goods.

20a Many times moderate leader is ignored (5)
OFTEN: A synonym of moderate with the first letter removed (leader is ignored).

22a Criminal not many go to stop, perhaps (7)
ANTONYM: An anagram (criminal) of NOT MANY.

24a From Hanoi to Mekong, travelling west, there’s excitement (7)
EMOTION: A reversed lurker (from . . . travelling west) found in the words ‘sandwiched’ by the indicator.

25a Vet observed tackling case of canker (6)
SCREEN: A synonym of observed containing (tackling) the first and last letters (case) of CankeR.

26a Papers I notice left uncovered, that’s foolish (7)
IDIOTIC: Our increasingly popular two letters for papers, I from the clue, and the interior letters (left uncovered) of nOTICe.

27a Survey of certain males in Turkey, say (11)
MEASUREMENT: A synonym of certain and a synonym of males (it’s plural notice) contained by what turkey (notice the lower case t) is an example of (say) after it has been in the oven.

Down

2d Group of soldiers playing polo at battalion’s base (7)
PLATOON: An anagram (playing) of POLO AT and the last letter of (‘s base) battalioN.

3d Upset about argument involving brothers essentially (9)
OVERTHROW: Synonyms of about and argument containing (involving) the middle two letters (essentially) of broTHers .

4d Pulse broth to be stirred (5)
THROB: An anagram (to be stirred) of BROTH

5d Old Testament book characters (7)
NUMBERS: A double definition – the first is the fourth book of The Pentateuch.

6d Oddly unseen, Brummie punches head of Parisian six-footer (7)
TERMITE: The odd-numbered letters deleted (oddly unseen) from bRuMmIe and what remains is inserted into (punches) French (Parisian) for head.

7d State gift Anna has ordered (11)
AFGHANISTAN: An anagram (ordered) of GIFT ANNA HAS.

8d Verbose master, cross about student interrupting originally (6)
PROLIX: A three letter, perhaps abbreviated form, of a nounal synonym of master and the letter which can indicate a cross containing (about) all of the usual letter for student and the first letter of Interrupting (originally).

11d Keep on kissing amorously side by side (4,3,4)
NECK AND NECK: A single word, so says the BRB, for kiss amorously repeated with a conjunction in between (keep on).
Nothing to do with the clue other than the title of the album, from which this track comes, is the same as the answer. Two of the finest ‘axe’ pickers in harmony – enjoy!

16d Element amusing me getting drunk (9)
MAGNESIUM: An anagram (getting drunk) of AMUSING ME.

18d American stylist ultimately cuts facial hair for diplomat (7)
ATTACHE: More Lego – the single letter used to indicate American and the last letter (ultimately) of stylist inserted into (cuts) an informal term for facial hair between one’s upper lip and nose – Thanks Gazza.

19d They tweet seconds after upsetting football result? (7)
LINNETS: The single letter for Seconds placed after a football result, such as that of the Lady Lions last World Cup qualifier played last week, reversed (upsetting).

20d Even more Lego – love times working with Scotsman, Magdalen graduate possibly (7)
OXONIAN: The letter used for the score in a racquet game represented by the term love, the single letter for times to indicate multiplication in an arithmetic expression, the two letter synonym for working, and our favourite three letter Scotsman – N.B. The college in the ‘other’ university with a similar name has an extra ‘E’ at the end.

21d Age when son abandons craving privacy at last (6)
THIRTY: A synonym of craving (for fluids) with the single letter for Son removed (when . . . abandons) and the last letter of privacY.

23d Major’s 22 and popular amongst male soldiers (5)
MINOR: Did you get the correct answer for 22a? The two letter synonym of popular inserted into (amongst) the single letter for Male and two letter abbreviation commonly used for soldiers.

The Quick Crossword Pun:

HOLLY + DAZE = HOLIDAYS

38 comments on “DT 30094”

  1. This was right up my street, clever, precise (and often amusing) wordplay leading to most solutions and a swift solve.
    My ticks are awarded to 12&22a plus 17a as it made me laugh but my favourite (and a perfect example of my opening sentence) was 6d.
    Many thanks to Silvanus (it had to be his) and Senf for the top-notch entertainment

  2. Difficulty 7/10 Enjoyment 8/10
    Nicely composed and very doable aside from a few head-scratchers.
    The penny finally dropping on 22a elicited my loudest “Ahhh!” for good while.
    Thanks to blogger and setter.

  3. What a relief, a crossword that makes sense to me after yesterdays almost complete washout. However, even with the hint I still cannot fully parse the last part of 9a. My favourite was was 23d.
    A word of warning, the Wordle bot gives todays Wordle a rating of the most difficult word ever set. It took me the full six tries! Good luck.
    Thx to all esp to Silvanus? for a super elegant and enjoyable puzzle.
    ***/****

    2. What’s occurring Brian ? Reckon that’s 2 of his on the bounce that you’ve given the thumbs up to. At this rate you’ll be best buddies before too long

  4. On a first look through I thought this was going to be at least a *** but once I had a foothold the rest came through as smoothly as the clueing. My only hold up was 8d , for which my thesaurus came into use, and 9 across as I couldn’t parse the second syllable. Thanks to you Senf for clearing that up.

    Too many good clues to mention them all but I really liked 17a and 18d Overall a **/**** Thanks for an enjoyable Friday outing Silvanus, if that is you.

  5. Really enjoyed todays puzzle and like Stephen, right up my street.
    Last in was 6d and took an age to parse`
    12a made me smile ,liked the surface of 15a.
    Favourites was 26a and 17a.Thanks to Senf for the picks.
    Going for a ***/****.

  6. First sight, this is going to be difficult.
    But the relatively easy 1a kick-started a steady. progress to conclusion.
    Delayed, though, by last in, 12a.
    Fairly crowded podium included 12 and 23 and 22a and 6 and 8d.
    The winner, 6d
    So, 3*/5*
    Many thanks, Silvanus and Senf.

  7. A super Friday puzzle from a superb craftsman, just like yesterday’s Toughie. My biggest ticks go to 12, 17 (‘scalawag’ over here, but I prefer yours), & 22a. Thanks to Senf and Silvanus. ** / ****

  8. Another excellent puzzle off the production line of one of our favourite compilers I think. I stuck a pin in the grid and 17a came up as my COTD.

    Many thanks to Silvanus and Senf.

  9. As Jeemz notes above, the first glance suggested it was going to be a tougher challenge than it turned out to be, as everything fell into place very smoothly from middle to bottom, and then middle to top. Really wanted there to be an alternative to commotion spelt ‘kemotion’, until I counted the number of letters …

    2* / 4* Hon Mentions to 1a, 13a, 22a,6g and COTD to 19d – which always makes me think of Brian Cox in the incomparable McLevy radio series saying of bad’uns that they will “sing like a lintie”.

    Many thanks to the setter (Silvanus would be a good call) and of course to Senf.

  10. A superb puzzle – many thanks to Silvanus and to Senf for the great blog.

    I took ‘cuts’ in 18d to be an insertion indicator.

    Top of the pile for me were 12a, 13a and 17a.

    1. I dithered over the hint for 18d and wasn’t completely satisfied with what I decided on, so thanks Gazza and hint updated.

  12. The second Silvanus puzzle this week – how lucky are we!
    As always with this setter, I had an embarrassing number of clues worthy of a podium place but if I have to limit myself to a top three I’ll go for 1,12&17a.

    Thanks to Silvanus for another little gem and to Senf for the review and the lovely music.

  13. Smiles and ahs today, on my wavelength. I loved the 22/23 interplay with 22a my COTD. I did feel a bit 26a not being able to parse 26a, especially as these papers have come up plenty recently.
    Thanks Senf and Silvanus.

  14. I enoyed this Sylvanus puzzle. After a slow start, things speeded up, as the checkers went in. There were some great lurkers and super anagrams, one of them a geographical clue at 7d. I liked the double definition at 11d, the cryptic definition at 13a and the lego clues at 17a and 27a. COTD, however was19d, how clever was that, and a smooth surface too. Many thanks to Sylvanus for a tour de force of a puzzle and to Senf for the hints.

  15. Immediately thought I bet it’s a Silvanus puzzle from the super surface at 1a. All the usual excellence from my favourite setter – I’d give today’s one the nod over yesterday’s
    Thanks to S&S

  16. 2*/5*. I’m in crossword heaven again. We are royally spoilt with a Silvanus puzzle two days on the trot.

    From a page littered with ticks, I shall select 12a, 17a & 11d for my podium.

    Many thanks to Silvanus and to Senf.

  17. This was a DNF for a few in the SE corner which were readily solved with Senf’s fine hints. 1a is my COTD with a very honourable mention for 15a.

    Thanks to Senf for his blog and to Silvanus who made me feel quite good about my solving ability. Just not enough lateral thinking in my store.

  18. Found this to be a nice gentle Friday puzzle after a long week fraught with issues.
    For me 2*/4*

    Favourites include 13a, 17a, 22a, 11d & 20d — with winner being 22a due to the cleverness of the clue …but 17a is one that makes me smile as it is a word not heard often these days, yet in my youth it was common vernacular.
    I wonder why these words disappear from our language… hmm??

    Thanks to setter and Senf.

    I also include a cute little cartoon that was in our local newspaper, (The Tri-city News), today. It made me smile and it is so, so true. May she finally rest in peace.

    2. How delightful! I think it is wonderful that we can find things to smile about despite the sadness of losing HM – Paddington come to mind of course.

  19. Many thanks to Senf and to everyone who has commented thus far/or is yet to comment.

    I was hoping there would be clues for most tastes today – geographical ones for Chriscross, 12a for Huntsman, 25a for Granimal Doctor etc., but one never quite knows which Brian will make an appearance, today it was Dr Jekyll rather than Mr Hyde it seems!

    A good weekend to everyone.

      1. Hi LbR,

        We’re probably breaking the rules by discussing it here, but I took it to be CO + IN (“prevailing”) and O (“over”) inside MEN (“Queens’ incorporated”). That’s the best I can do!

  20. I’m latish so it has really all been said (I had a nap after lunch!) but this really was a pleasure. My father used the call the grandchildren scallywags, it is a lovely word. The thought of The Queen wearing a 13a also makes one smile – clever clue. Many thanks to Setter and Hinter both.

  21. I’m getting good at spotting Silvanus – I cheat – my way of knowing it’s him as he is the only Friday setter I can do! Oh dear!!
    Getting the long answers all round the outside was a good start.
    I specially appreciated were 22a and 11d (and 20d if only out of loyalty!)
    Thanks to Silvanus (for the Friday crossword that I can do) and Senf for sorting the ones that I couldn’t do “all my own self”.

  22. Although I needed some (only a little) help with this one I really enjoyed it. Just difficult enough I thought.

    Had to check the BRB for 8d…..had a vague memory of the word but was unsure of its meaning.
    Total failure on the golf term at 12a …..really, as if cricketty words weren’t enough, golfy words too!

    Thanks to Silvanus and to Senf.

  23. Thanks to Silvanus and to Senf for the review and hints. A very enjoyable puzzle, some super clues. Favourite were the linked clues 22&23. Needed the blog to parse 9a. Was 2* / 4* for me.

  24. Late on parade today, as we have both been working all day on smartening up the rugby club for the start of the new season. The joys of being retired!!
    I said to the present Mrs Shabbo half way through solving this beautiful puzzle that this has to be Silvanus. It appears that I was right.
    First class. Challenging and rewarding.
    More of the same, please.

  25. Oof!
    Circumstances have mean that Mrs P. and I haven’t been able to attempt the crossword for about 10 days. We were not match fit and it showed!

    We managed about 80% before having to resort to Big Dave for some assistance. Some, we kicked ourselves over. Others elicited a ‘That’s rubbish!’ from across the kitchen table (my better half’s usual exclamation of disdain for a clue that she doesn’t approve of).

    Still, nice to get our collective head back in the game and, quite frankly, a better showing for a Friday than I would have expected after an extended layoff.

    Bring on Saturday!

  26. Burning some midnight oil to switch off after a frustrating day and this served the purpose beautifully. Slow start but then pennies began to drop quite quickly. Have to admit 15a was a bung-in prior to Senf’s help but it now joins 1a as joint Fav. Thank you Silvanus and Senf. Love your cartoon portcoquitlambc.

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