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DT 30157

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No. 30157
Hints and tips by Gazza

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BD Rating – Difficulty ***Enjoyment ***

Twmbarlwm is away from home today so I’m ‘sitting in’ for him.

I thought that this was a fairly typical Tuesday puzzle. Thanks to the setter.

Please leave a comment telling us how you fared and what you thought of the puzzle.

Across Clues

1a Adult entering short run gets injury (6)
SPRAIN: the abbreviation for adult (an old film classification) is inserted into a fast run without its last letter (short).

5a English fan wearing bright colour is given snub (8)
REBUFFED: an abbreviation for English and a fan or enthusiast go inside a bright colour.

9a Bush, maybe, cultivated in urban place (lacking a name) (10)
REPUBLICAN: an anagram (cultivated) of IN URB[an] PLACE without A and the abbreviation for name.

10a Small cut in police station (4)
NICK: double definition, the second an informal term for a police station.

11a Will shown by husband with daughter now upset (4,4)
HAND DOWN: will here is a verb meaning to bequeath. String together the genealogical abbreviation for husband, a conjunction meaning with, the genealogical abbreviation for daughter and an anagram (upset) of NOW.

12a Work by area (western half of Quebec) that’s dull (6)
OPAQUE: assemble abbreviations for work and area and the left half of the word Quebec.

13a Look over various canned drinks (4)
SCAN: hidden in the clue, indicated by drinks.

15a Temp totally disheartened as a victim of cuts? (8)
CASUALTY: a synonym for a temp or non-permanent worker followed by the outer (disheartened) letters of totally.

18a Baron, perhaps, provided with sword is beset by extremes of laughter (4,4)
LIFE PEER: a conjunction meaning provided and a duelling sword are contained inside the outer letters of laughter.

19a Feel very hot with pain from exercise (4)
BURN: double definition, the second being pain felt in a muscle during vigorous exercise.

21a Fair shot at intervals? Quite true (4,2)
JUST SO: a synonym for fair or equitable followed by the odd letters of shot.

23a Sale about to be arranged with article missing? It’s fixed! (8)
ABSOLUTE: an anagram (to be arranged) of SALE [a]BOUT without one occurrence of an indefinite article.

25a Disciplinarian with heavy, imposing presence at the outset (4)
WHIP: the first letters of four words give us someone who keeps discipline in parliament (and keeps a record of all the peccadilloes of MPs by all accounts).

26a Sense trend that’s developed to show kindly quality (10)
TENDERNESS: an anagram (developed) of SENSE TREND.

27a Old woman with turn oddly just like a nurse? (8)
MATRONLY: knit together an affectionate word for one’s old woman, the odd letters of turn and a synonym of just or merely.

28a Some loathe or yearn for a system of ideas (6)
THEORY: hidden (some) in the clue.

Down Clues

2d Religious work that is found in school group (5)
PIETA: insert the usual abbreviation for ‘that is’ into the abbreviation for a group of adults concerned with the running of a school.

3d Sailor needing in Le Havre a reel, say, gets plenty (9)
ABUNDANCE: charade of a usual abbreviation for sailor, ‘a’ in French and what reel is an example of.

4d Hold old English hero (6)
NELSON: double definition, the first a wrestling term.

5d Terribly great intricacy about opening of negotiations? It’s something guaranteed (6,9)
RACING CERTAINTY: an anagram (terribly) of GREAT INTRICACY containing the first letter of negotiations.

6d Musician or another heading off to tour America (New Jersey) (8)
BANJOIST: remove the first letter from a woodwind instrument player and into the rest of the word insert abbreviation for America and New Jersey.

7d US actor following working lawyer there (5)
FONDA: bring together the abbreviation for following, an adverb meaning working or ‘in use’ and a US lawyer. I have a large choice from which to choose a picture.

8d Meet chaps taking minute by bar (9)
ENCOUNTER: remove the abbreviation for minute from a word for chaps and append a bar (in a shop, say).

14d One given lead in Mexico? (9)
CHIHUAHUA: double definition, the first which may have a lead attached when taken for a walk. I know we get it occasionally but I don’t like the use of an adverbial phrase to clue a place name – why not ‘somewhere in Mexico’?

16d A doctor for all to see with unusually clean vehicle for patients (9)
AMBULANCE: rivet together A (from the clue), one of our many abbreviations for doctor, the film classification meaning that there are no restrictions on who may see it and an anagram (unusually) of CLEAN.

17d Treat leniently those initiating some offensive frivolity in British school (2,4,2)
BE SOFT ON: the letters starting ‘some offensive frivolity’ o inside an abbreviation for British and a well-known public school.

20d A good person retaining muscle for particular part (6)
ASPECT: A and the abbreviation for a good and holy person contain the abbreviation for a muscle in the upper body.

22d Lightly touch centre of very thin candle (5)
TAPER: a verb to touch lightly and the central letters of ‘very’.

24d Much appreciated series? It’s something stunning (5)
TASER: a short word of appreciation and the abbreviation for series.

My favourite clue was 24d. Which one(s) took your fancy?

Quickie Pun: REIGN + BEAU = RAINBOW

53 comments on “DT 30157

  1. Fantastic fun puzzle today which makes up for a very gloomy weathered Sandhurst.
    Thought it was going to be a pangram with early inclusion of Q and J, but never turned out that way. Very cleverly clued I thought, with my favourite being 18a.
    Very well done to the setter, it set me up for the day and hopefully it will be cheered further by an England victory tonight!

  2. A moment of deja vu when I saw the same grid as yesterday, but that’s where the similarity ended. I found this much more friendly and once again it was the west that completed first despite having the helpful 5d. I loved 2d which took me back to a long ago moment in Rome and the very moving one in St, Peters. Other favourites were 18a, 27a and 6d. Thanks to the setter and Gazza for a thoroughly enjoyable puzzle and blog.

  3. This was good fun and not too testing, although like Mhids at #3 the West went in first. I did find a couple of the clues a little clunky, such as 12a, but otherwise no complaints. My favourite was 18a.

    Thanks to our Tuesday setter and to Gazza for filling in for Mr T.

  4. Thois was more approachable from my point of view than yesterday’s puzzle, apart from the tricky NW corner. 5a was a good lego clue and 9a a good anagram . Thanks to Gazza for standing in for Twmbarlwm with the hints and to the compiler.

  5. Maybe just me but I found this belter of a puzzle considerably chewier than a *** difficulty rating & not at all the usual Tuesday trot – the Robyn Toughie took only marginally longer. To be fair my last 2 in accounted for 25% of the solve time – 1a took an embarrassingly long time having 5 of the 6 letters but unable to see beyond an incorrect T as the 2nd letter & the penny didn’t really drop because I eventually saw the wordplay at 2d (unfamiliar to me) which resolved matters. Some terrific clues – 9,15&18a plus 6,17&24d to highlight just 6 of them.
    Thanks to the setter (a speculative punt on Silvanus despite him being in the Toughie slot on Thursday) & Gazza.
    Ps Hands up those who (like me) immediately reached for the BRB to spell 14d ?

    1. See my comment below re 14d. My 7th grade teacher taught us how to spell ‘funny’ words, with little catchy devices, and 14d is one of those words I can remember as if it were yesterday instead of 72 years ago.

  6. Back in a nice groove after a couple of off days as a solver–mourning my Alma Mater’s loss to an archrival in college football? age catching up? a butterfly’s wings fluttering too fast in Peoria?–I really enjoyed today’s grid. I especially liked 18a, 6d, 2d, & 5a. 14d made me LOL, remembering how I learned to spell it back in the day. Thanks to Gazza for stepping in and today’s setter. 2*/3.5*

  7. A lot kinder than yesterday and infinitely kinder than today’s Toughie where I have yet to solve one clue.
    I’ll settle for 2d as my COTD.

  8. Just terrific – I enjoyed every minute of this solve with the East providing a smooth ride but slightly slower progress was made in the West. Numerous crafty clues from which 9a, 11a, 18a, 2d, 3d, 14d and 17d particularly appealed. Many thanks Mysteron for great fun and Gazza for filling in for MrT.

  9. A cracking puzzle,difficult-especially the NW corner- but extremely enjoyable.
    Last in was 2a, thanks to Gazza for the pic, one of my favourite ballads by Jeannie C.
    Was thinking of Henry for 7d , preferred Barbarella!
    Going for a ****/****-too many favourites.

  10. Great puzzle today so thanks to all. Did anyone else spend ages trying to find a plant from the anagram at 9a?

    1. Yes me ! Even though I thought of the president first. Great puzzle today so thankyou setter and Gazza.

  11. Raised eyebrows here over a couple of the surface reads but an enjoyable puzzle nevertheless. My favourite was 2d, nice spot by our setter.

    Thanks to him/her for the back-pager and to Gazza for stepping in to cover for Twmbarlwm and bringing us some ‘blasts from the past’ along with the review.

  12. Typically Tuesdayish which was most welcome after Un-Campbell Like Monday and my ‘bi-valent’ Covid shot – fortunately, soreness in my ‘only used for vaccinations’ left arm the only after affect – **/****.

    Favourite – a toss-up between 14d and 20d – and the winner is 14d.

    Thanks to the setter and to Gazza.

  13. I’m joining Huntsman’s club on 14d, otherwise no hold ups. 6d gets my vote.

    Thanks to today’s setter and Gazza.

  14. Obviously tricky week this week. I am sure given the nature of 2d no one will be surprised to know I was in a bad mood before I started (never heard of the term before). Overall a dull and tedious puzzle with lots of leaps of faith and guesses. For me not up to DT standard.
    Apart from the dreaded 2d it was completed in fairly standard time with with little fun.
    Thx for the hints
    ***/*

  15. Untypically Tuesday puzzle. This was at least a galaxy, not a star, away from yesterday’s crossword and I needed Falcon’s hints for more than I dare to admit. I liked 23a and 5d but the sheer effort was not conducive to enjoyment.

    Many thanks to Falcon for his blog which helped me immensely and to the setter.

    1. Apologies to both Gazza and Falcon for the confusion. My thanks to Gazza for his excellent hints.

  16. Great fun. And you missed the epic pun in 3D — after all, you might enjoy a reel at a-barn-dance, right? :-)

  17. 2*/3.5*. An untypical but enjoyable Tuesday puzzle although there were a couple of slightly strange surfaces along the way. I also thought that the two definitions in 19a were a bit similar.

    My top picks were 18a, 2d & 14d.

    Many thanks to the mystery setter and to Gazza, especially for the classic country song used to illustrate 2d.

  18. I absolutely loved your hints Gazza, no need for any crossword assistance this time, but your blog was superduper

    1. You’ve expanded your alias so this comment needed moderation. Both aliases will work from now on.

      Thanks for the compliment.

  19. Truly great puzzle.
    Excellent clueing, which made it doable but needing considerable thought.
    15 and 18a and 17 and 24d of special mention.
    So, ***/*****
    Many thanks to the setter and to Gazza for the colourfully illustrated review..

  20. I’m afraid I am going to buck the trend and state that I found this difficult. I needed far too many of Gazza’s hints for it to be an enjoyable solve. I have not heard that abbreviation for series before so 24d held me up for ages. Neither did I care much for the use of “following” for the letter “f” in 7d.

    Not a good week for me as far as the back pager is concerned. Either it will get better or not and I suspect the latter. The holiday in Ryedale seems to have reduced my solving abilities.

    Many thanks to the setter for the beating and to Gazza for standing in and providing a great set of hints.

    1. f is used to mean ‘and the following page’ in books, e.g. ‘see 47f’ refers to pages 47 and 48.
      Similarly ff can be used to mean ‘and the following pages’.

  21. A pleasant puzzle.
    Lots of anagrams and clear definitions, nothing to frighten the horses.
    I am very surprised to hear that someone has never heard of “Pieta”.
    Thanks Gazza and setter.

    1. Confession time…I had never heard of ‘Pieta’ but I managed to figure it out from the clue. I managed to spell 14d due to time spent in Spain (hence my alias). I liked 3d and 17d.
      Thanks to the setter and for the hints which helped me to parse a couple.

    2. Dedpite going to an Anglo Catholic private school I had never heard of Pieta so therefore must comment on your comment.
      Ps my wife has never heard of it and she did RE at a level.

  22. 2d threw me completely so I am grateful to gazza for the hint … such a clever clue. Thanks setter!

  23. Oh dear – couldn’t do this one at all – even after donkey’s years of doing crosswords I couldn’t do 2d – I’ll trot off to count marbles in a minute.
    I think I’ll give up for the rest of today – its grey, miserable and I’ve got a cold and not being able to do the crossword is the last straw!
    Thanks to the setter and to Gazza.

    1. I couldn’t do it either Mary, not without copious ehelp and word searches … even then I had five unsolved.

  24. I just asked my resident atheist if he had heard of 2d and he said ‘if course’, although in his case his memory has quite a lot to do with the Michaelangelo statue

    1. I have twice stood before Michelangelo’s Pieta and had goosebumps run all over me. Hard to believe that such a work of art is unfamiliar to so many, but it’s a big world we live in.

  25. Found this Tuesday puzzle a little easier than yesterdays Campbell, but nonetheless tricky in parts.
    2.5*/3.5* today.

    Favourites include 10a, 12a, 21a 4d & 17d with winner 10a for its simplicity.

    Thanks to setter and Gazza

  26. What a relief after yesterday’s horrendoplasty. I found the wavelength quickly and finished with a **/****. One or two parsings helped by Gazza, so thanks there for confirming I’d bunged in the correct answers. Many thanks to setter for restoring my self belief!

  27. An enjoyable romp of a puzzle, and with the exception of 9a (I too looked for a plabt at first) pretty much a write-in. LOI 18a – clever misdirection.

    * / ***

    Many thanks to the setter and to Gazza.

  28. Must agree with the consensus 😃 Tricky but much easier to solve than yesterdays ***/*** Favourites 9a, 3d & 16d 🤗 Thanks to Gazza and to the Compiler

  29. I thought this was light and decent fun with smiles throughout the grid. Only 2d new but very easily obtainable when all checkers were in.
    6d was my favourite.
    Many thanks to the setter and to Gazza for the blog.

  30. I found this hard work. Had to Google 2d and the spelling of 14d. I also needed the hint for 24d as I’d never come across ser for series. I assumed the f for following was a cricket thing. Obviously not.

    Thanks to all.

  31. As a committed atheist obviously I’d never heard of 2d, I try and take religious references on the chin accepting that there are inevitably gaps in my knowledge. Didn’t have a problem spelling 14d, just one of those things I did know. Favourite was 18a. Thanks to the setter and Gazza. Now for the trauma of watching England play!

  32. New solver, can someone give me more info on how they got 6d? I can’t see how ‘or another’ means what it is in the answer.

    1. Welcome to the blog, Mixo.

      The definition is ‘musician’. You have to start with another musician (OBOIST), remove its starting letter (heading off) and insert A and NJ.

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