DT 30150 – Big Dave's Crossword Blog
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DT 30150

by pommers  

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30150

Hints and tips by pommers

+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +

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

Hola from Vega Baja on a slightly chilly morning.  However we’re forecast to get 23°C this afternoon which will be nice if it happens.

Today’s crossword needs a bit of general knowledge but it’s mostly OK.  There’s a few anagrams dotted about the grid so I think most of you will be fine.  The third difficulty star is because of the GK required.

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

8a           Brief conversation after case in Tanzania for example (11,4)
PORTMANTEAU WORD:  The second part of the answer is a term for a short conversation and the first part is a large case.  I didn’t realize that the name Tanzania was one of these but it is. It comes from Tanganyika and Zanzibar which merged to form what is now Tanzania.

9a           Some squirrel monkeys in wood (3)
ELM:  A lurker (some) hiding in squirrel monkeys.

10a         MC met at Astors’ spread (11)
TOASTMASTER:  Anagram (spread) of MET AT ASTORS.

11a         Almost heading off too soon (5)
EARLY:  A word for almost without its first letter (heading off).

12a         Wayward lady I see, about 50, is weak-willed (6,3)
EASILY LED:  Anagram (wayward) of LADY I SEE around (about) the Roman numeral for 50.

15a         Large building, partly buried if ice-station? (7)
EDIFICE:  Another lurker (partly) hiding in the last three words.

17a         Poison: nasty scare involving half of Nice (7)
ARSENIC:  Anagram (nasty) of SCARE around (involving) the first half of the word NICE.

19a         Emerge carrying dram left for philosopher (9)
ARISTOTLE:  Another word for a dram of whisky and an L(eft) are inserted into (carrying) a word meaning to emerge.

20a         Danger of pier collapsing by lake (5)
PERIL:  Anagram (collapsing) of PIER followed by an L(ake).

21a         Cowboy film character, in audition, shows jumping technique (7,4)
WESTERN ROLL:  This technique for high jumping, which pre-dates the Fosbury flop, sounds like (in audition) it might be a part in a cowboy film.

24a         Have feathers duck initially shed (3)
OWN:  A word for feathers without the D  (Duck initially shed).

25a         Shaw play? I’m not sure (3,5,3,4)
YOU NEVER CAN TELL:  Double definition.  I’d not heard of this GBS play but the answer became obvious from the checkers and a bit of investigoogling confirmed it.

Down

1d           Parched? Then swallow one drink (3,7)
DRY MARTINI:  A word for parched followed by a bird of the swallow family and then the letter which looks like a number one. Split that lot (3,7) to get James Bond’s favourite tipple.

2d           Retiring outside with German forger? (6)
SMITHY:  A word meaning retiring or coy placed around (outside) the German word for with.

3d           Promise  action (10)
ENGAGEMENT:  Double definition.  A promise to wed and a military action.

4d           Gamble about son being first (4)
BEST:  A word for to gamble around (about) an S(on).

5d           Absurd broadcast covering the French goods that are hard-wearing (8)
DURABLES:  Anagram (broadcast) of ABSURD around (covering) the French definite article.

6d           Adult feeding toddler perfectly (2,1,1)
TO A T:  Insert A(dult) into (feeding) a small child and split it (2,1,1).

7d           Fuss about daughter, much loved (6)
ADORED:  Some fuss, about nothing according to Shakespeare, followed by two letters meaning about and then a D(aughter).

8d           Lead pipes originally over sink (7)
PRECEDE:  Start with a P (Pipes originally) and follow with a word meaning to sink or go back.

13d         Drama teacher’s diligence (10)
STAGECOACH:  If the answer were split (5,5) you would get a teacher of drama or acting but it’s actually an old form of transport also known as a diligence.  I must have come across this in a previous crossword because I can’t think of any other reason I’d know what a diligence was.

14d         Ship heeds information (5,5)
LINER NOTES:  This is an American term for the information printed on a record sleeve.  The first word is a passenger ship and the second word means heeds or notices.  I’ve never heard this term before.

16d         Elected at that place, Democrat owing money (2,3,3)
IN THE RED:  Start with a short word (2) describing someone who’s been elected, then a word meaning in that place and finally a D(emocrat). Split that lot (2,3,3) to get a phrase meaning overdrawn at the bank.

18d         Army officer — pass one beginning to limp (7)
COLONEL:  A charade of a mountain pass, the ONE from the clue and an L (beginning to Limp).

19d         Means to support a Liberal every time (6)
ALWAYS:  Another word for means, as in “???? and means”, is placed after (to support in a down clue) the A from the clue and an L(iberal).

20d         Fence built by mate in front of gazebo (6)
PALING:  One of the usual mates followed by the IN from the clue and a G (front of Gazebo).

22d         Small cabin, closed (4)
SHUT:  S(mall) followed by a small cabin or shed.

23d         Want work on radio (4)
NEED:  This word sounds like (on the radio) a word for to work the dough when making bread.

My podium three today are 21a, 13d and 19d with 13d on the top step just because I’d heard of it.

Quick crossword puns:

Top line:     STAY     +     TUSK     +     WOE     =     STATUS QUO

Bottom line:     PAW     +     LEAN     +     HAUL     =     PAULINE HALL

86 comments on “DT 30150”

  1. Bizarre sort of puzzle today in my view, but not in a bad way. Last one in was 14d which I’d not heard of, but had to be that from the clue.
    Haven’t heard the word at 21a since the mid-seventies, still can’t see the full meaning in 13 and 18d, will go and see if I can find something in the dictionary or google later maybe. Great clues at 1 and 2d which were my favourites today, looking forward to see who set this one today, very enjoyable!

  3. The three unknowns of 8a, 25a and 14d were reasonably guessable with the cross checkers and so **/*** with the 5 anagrams and two lurkers as ever assisting the solve of this otherwise straightforward Monday puzzle. A bit patchy because of the obscure GK I thought. Thanks to pommers and the setter.

  4. A fairly gentle start to the week as we’ve come to expect on a Monday – thanks to the setter and pommers.
    I’m rather confused by 2d – surely the answer is the place where a forger works rather than the forger herself?
    The clues which I liked best were 8a and 21a.

        1. smithy
          in American English
          (ˈsmɪθi; ˈsmɪði)
          NOUN
          Word forms: plural ˈsmithies
          1. the workshop of a smith, esp. a blacksmith
          2. US
          blacksmith

          The above is from Collins Gazza.

  5. A pleasant puzzle to kick off the new week & maybe a tad trickier than usual. I new Tanzania was an 8a but had to check on I of the ex countries involved – in any case the clue wasn’t a patch on Silvanus’ clue (coincidentally his opening across) for the same answer last Thursday. Last 2 in were 13&14d for a 1.5* time finish. 2d&10a my top 2.
    Thanks to Campbell & Pommers

        1. All your comments are having to be rescued from moderation because you’re leaving out the last letter of your email address.

  6. I thought this was ok but had a bit of a dated feel to it, that’s a big negative for me personally but won’t be for others, I accept that.
    It was unfortunate (I’m surprised the editor didn’t request a change, it’s such a distinctive solution) that 1a came up on Thursday and I couldn’t make much sense of the surface read of 15a. Never heard of diligence in the context of 13d either. I suspect few have.
    6d was my favourite.
    Many thanks to Campbell and Pommers.

    1. Diligence – a conveyance much used by Georgette Heyer and Barbara Cartland – bet very few of the gentlemen have read either!

      1. No, boys didn’t read those two authors in their teens but we girls did. I remember them being in great demand in the school library. Who wudda thought that being such an avid reader of those books would be such an advantage doing crosswords 70 or so years later.

        1. Barbara Cartland memorably came to speak to the Royston Ladies Luncheon Club many, many years ago. What a hoot. She brought free samples of, if I remember aright,
          her honey based cosmetics and vitamin pills. Such a character. Many years later twice when I was chairman we had the fragrant Mary Archer to speak to us
          and she was a completely different kettle of fish. Charming woman.

  7. 1*/4*. I whizzed through this and enjoyed it a lot.

    13d involved a new meaning for me and needed a BRB check. My top picks were 21a, 25a, 1d & 2d.

    Many thanks to Campbell and to pommers.

  8. Enjoyable Monday puzze, 8a was in a backpager recently explaining when two words merge to form a new word like brunch,the case was lodged somewhere in the recesses! as was the stagecoach in 13d.
    Favourite was 21a, this jump was in vogue at my Grammer School ,soon to be superceded by the straddle, 25a was an old Chuck Berry tune-nostalgia indeed.
    Going for a **/***.
    Top draw Quickie to boot.

    1. Top drawer, isn’t it ? I’ve never been 100% sure. I’ve always thought “ out of the top drawer”, maybe the drawer in which we keep our best stuff ?

  9. A delightful birthday present for me (yes, I’m 84 today), with all of the GK falling niftily into place for me, for once (unlike yesterday’s Toughie which knocked me out). I especially enjoyed 13d, 25a (that funny-silly GBS comedy that I once saw at Niagara-on-the-Lake, in Ontario), & 8a, making a fast reappearance after last week’s teaser. Thanks to pommers and Campbell. 1.5*/3.5*

    Thanks to all of you wonderful people on this (to me) quite essential blog for another terrific cruciverbal year. As our Thanksgiving approaches over here, I have much to be grateful for, not the least of which is the time I spend with all of you.

      1. Happy Birthday Robert 🎉🥳🎁🥂 84 Not out as my dad would have said ( he was cricket mad).

    13. Must have misread your post yesterday as I wished you happy birthday then. But more happy birthdays don’t harm so Happy Birthday Robert.

    22. Thank all of you so very much! I am having a good day, and before my siesta, I watched England rout Iran 6:2, and then the US at least managed a draw with Wales, 1:1.

    23. Happy birthday R C – I hope you had a wonderful day and that the weather was quiet. Gratitude for me as well is an essential part of each day. I won’t comment on new Ian Rankin book until you’ve read it.

  10. A typically light and enjoyable romp through crosswordland on a very soggy Shropshire morning. It was odd seeing 8a again after only a week away, but that aside this was solid Monday fun. 21a was elegant and my favourite clue.

    Thanks Campbell and pommers.

  11. Had to check my answers for 25a plus 13&14d and also the lady in the bottom line Quickie pun – lack of GK here!
    Rather surprised to see 8a again so soon and much preferred the Silvanus clue last week.
    Tops for me today were 21a along with 1,2&19d.

    Thanks to Campbell and to pommers for the review.

  12. Plain sailing today apart from a couple of GK answers which were new to me – 21a and 14d, although both easily worked out from the clue and checkers. Surprised to see 8a as the crossword topper again. Having visited Tanzania I did know it was as described. Favourites today were 19a, 25a, 1d and 19d. Thanks to Campbell for the usual good start to the week and to Pommers for sorting out the use of the word ‘diligence’ in 13d for me.

  13. It’s Monday :good: It’s Campbell :good: **/****

    I wasn’t sure about the ‘Bottom Line’ pun but an e-search revealed three ‘famous’ ladies so named and I suspect that Campbell was considering the ‘most recent one.’

    Candidates for favourite – 6d, 8d, and 20d – and the winner is 6d.

    Thanks to Campbell and to pommers.

  14. Pommers, I will happily swap my current 23F for your 23C!!

    A quick solve for me. Some answers were new to me but readily “gettable” from the checkers. Favorites are 21A and 2D. Thanks to Pommers and today’s setter.

  15. I’ve said it before. A diligence is usually known to ladies of a certain age who spent their youth reading Georgette Heyer!

  16. Dnf as I had never heard of 14d and could make nothing of the checkers so a disappointing morning for me.
    Guessed 13d but had to check it in the BRB.
    Not my cup of tea today. Not too keen on the new Cross Atlantic one either yet….but it may grow on me.

    Thanks to the setter and to Pommers.
    Hope you get your 23C.

    2. Well, I swallowed the hype in Saturday’s magazine, and that (the ‘Cross Atlantic’) was 15 or so minutes of my life I shall neither get back or even bother trying to remember. Like an unenumerated Quick Crossword without the wit, and as for being something that was intended to combine elements of the Cryptic, well, those elements were few, far between, and not awfully cryptic. The cross-referencing to 19a was odd, and in 30d should surely have read “Llloyd Webber muscial, The 19 ______”?

      If things “can only get better”, then this new creation has a chance. But with DT and Times cryptic puzzles to do daily, I’m not sure I’ve got the time or inclination to bother seeing if they do. As teachers used to be wont to write when marking homework, “Could do better”.

      1. Like Jane, I did not like the lack of clue enumeration and the whole thing felt like a massive Quickie. I doubt I will be visiting it again.

        1. Having read the comments here I had a look at the new puzzle. A quick look was sufficient – I’m another who will not be visiting it again.

    3. It also seems very strange that the Reveal Word feature can be used for an answer on the day published. Not my cup of tea either.
      Finished today as a sample but don’t expect to be back. Sorry but I think the DT can do better than this unnecessary puzzle.

      1. Just had a look at Cross Atlantic – agree with all of you.
        Is it called Cross Atlantic because, like all American crossword clues, they don’t include letter numbers?

  17. This was a fun enigma including some GK to kick off the cruciverbal week. After trying to use T and A in 1a it became Fav after a light bulb moment and I also enjoyed simple parsing of 24a. 13d a new one on me as indeed are 14d and 21a. Thank you Campbell and pommers.

  18. Light and enjoyable. Add me to the list of “14d new to me but could only be”. Hon Mentions to 2d & 13d.

    1* / 3*

    Many thanks to Campbell and to Pommers

  19. Mostly straightforward with a few head-scratchers that involved either GK or elusive synonyms. Like others, I remembered l3d feom an old Georgette Heyer novel, which I read as a yeenager. My favourite clue was 21a. Thanks to Campbell and to Pommers frmor the hints.

  20. Despite never having heard of 8a and 14d and having to resort to the hints for the latter, this was a most enjoyable puzzle. I loved 6d and this is my COTD. I have also never heard of the person in the second Quickie pun so will need to look her up.

    Many thanks to Campbell for the fun and to pommers for the hints.

  21. Nothing too trying today, finished with only a little head scratching. Though it had to be from the checkers, I couldn’t parse 20d.
    My winner’s list matches pommers’ precisely, to whom (or should it be who? grammarians please advise) I add my thanks for the review, coupled with my appreciation of the setter’s wordplay

    1. Waldorf – I too always wonder about the plural accusative case of whom but have never looked it up however now discover via Mr. Google that “There is no plural form for whom. The objective pronoun is whom whether it is either singular or plural”. So there we are!
      P.S. on rereading your comment I see you were not in fact referring to the plural form – sorry.

      1. Angellov – Thanks for responding, nice to learn that others do in fact read my comments and I’m always happy to have my often poor grammar corrected!

  22. Finished this with several guesses, never heard of 21a 14d, as soon as I got 5d I knew what 8a must be. I think 13d was my favourite, and 19a was quite neat, 10a a good anagram. Many thanks to Messrs Setter & Hinter. My lawn, and many others around the village, is almost completely torn up by jackdaws and crows digging up chafer grubs. Anyone else got this problem?

    1. Hi Daisygirl
      I had this problem a couple of years ago. Apparently the solution is to scatter nematode worms liberally over the lawn and then water it copiously so the nematodes can get to the chafers and eat them. Sounded like too much trouble to me. The lawn suffered really badly in last summer’s heat, so I’m hoping the chafers got fried. The bald patches are greening up again.

      1. You’ve shortened your alias so this comment needed moderation. Both versions of the alias will work from now on.

  23. A great puzzle to start the non-work week, once again on my Sunday evening, with most of Monday being taken up by grandchild number 2.

    1.5*/4* for me

    Favourites include 8a, 12a, 25a, 1d, 6d & 8d with my winner 6d that gave me a good chuckle.
    So did 8a for a recent appearance as well as 12a, 2d & 14d

    All in all a fun puzzle and look forward to reading the comments sometime on Monday

    Thanks to Campbell and pommers

  24. Very enjoyable puzzle not solely because I finished it but because the clues did not confuse or use stretched synonyms which I feel are inappropriate. When a word has been used once in a particular way and its more known synonyms used and known by all then that one use which had to be exhumed from the dark hinterlands of who knows where is unfair. I also found nothing dated in the puzzle and I am not as old as birthday boy Robert who didn’t sound as if it did.

    I have stars by 25a, 2 and 13d as favourites among a lot of honourable mentions.

    Thank you to Pommers for his blog and to Campbell for an enjoyable and honest crossword.

    Just checked the puns in the Quick and find the second one rather Quirkey.

  25. Slightly more challenging for a Monday but no less enjoyable. 13d was my last one and then I got it somewhat speciously in that it was John Wayne’s first major film!

  26. Found this very difficult and if I see 1a again I will scream!
    Overall I thought this was a very poor puzzle and certainly not worthy of a Monday.
    ****/*
    Thx for the hints

  27. Thought this lacked some of the sparkle we usually get on a Monday. I’d never heard of the second meaning of diligence. Even though I’ve mentioned here before that just by chance we expect about eight repeated answers in any three-week period, I was surprised to see 8a again so soon. When that happens, it makes me wonder if there’s something on TV that many setters follow and some note down the same interesting word when it comes up.

    Did this last night at the emergency vet waiting to pick up the boy kitty after a bout of something intestinal. He’s now home. He must smell different, because his sister hisses at him thinking that he’s an imposter cat. It was new behaviour to me, but the internet says this is common and it will pass. I hope so.

    1. When I was a young lad my sister used to hiss at me all the time, but we get on very well now! Hope your kitten recovers fully very soon.

      1. Poor little cat, he must be fewling hard done by, first the rummy then rejection by his family. I hope he reovers his health and his distinctive smell soon.

        1. Thanks RD and Chris for the support. Suggested internet remedies include smearing both with tuna juice so they smell the same, but I’m not yet that desperate.

  28. Not a difficult crossword today although a few answers that made me sit up and think.
    I’d probably have doubted 8a if we hadn’t had it so recently because of the last letter of the first word.
    13d was one of those silly things that I didn’t know that I’d met it before until I did – I do hope that makes sense.
    I didn’t know 21a or the 25a play although its title was a reasonable answer to a comment, and neither have I heard of 14d.
    Thanks to Campbell and to pommers,

  29. I thought today was Monday.
    So it was.
    But not judging by this offering.
    Great stuff, nevertheless.
    After 2* time, left with 3, 8 and 14d.
    The last was a lucky guess, new expression for me.
    The first and second eventually with a resounding pennies drop.
    Many thanks, Campbell and pommers,

  30. I enjoyed today’s puzzle though I was not as quick at getting 1a as I should have been. I got 13d purely from the checkers (never read Barbara Cartland) and I thought I knew most of the old vehicles. 21a was also new to me but got from the checkers and husband confirmed! I didn’t get the 2nd pun in the Quickie earlier (never heard of her). Many thanks to Campbell and Pommers.

  31. 3/2. Trickier than usual for a Monday and not as enjoyable. 8a turned up again in short order and I didn’t realize that Tanzania is one. I guessed 14d. I liked 6d and 21a. Thanks to Pommers and the setter.

  32. A dnf due to my ignorance of several words.

    I didn’t know Tanzania was a 1a. 13 and 14d I would never have got in a million years.

    I googled a potential answer for 21a that turns out to be Irish dancing with a cowgirl twist. Seemed a plausible answer but it was wrong. Not that it made any difference to solving 13d.

    Thanks to all.

  33. Perfectly straightforward until it wasn’t. Never heard of the play or the coach but I guessed and googled them, and the less said about 14d the better as I’ve been in and around the music industry for many years and I’d never heard of them and couldn’t even come up with answer so dnf. I agree 14d and 2d are unindicated Americanisms. Most unsatisfactory! Less clues like this on a cryptic please as they spoiled a perfectly reasonable crossword. No favourite hrmph. Thanks to Campbell anyway and Pommers.

  34. Like having a very clever teacher. I learn so much from trying to work out the answers and even more from reading the answers and explanations the following morning with a strong coffee.
    Thank you for my continuing education – nice to know the brain is still working at 73 – and for the joy (and frustration!) you all bring.

    1. Welcome to the blog, Caroline.
      Now that you’ve introduced yourself I hope that you’ll become a regular commenter.

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