Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30307
Hints and tips by Huntsman
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
A lovely sunny day here in Harpenden that’s just begging for a good walk. Unfortunately I’ve an afternoon in the Royal Free Hospital for a venesection (Tony Hancock’s armful) followed by the joys of an infusion of Zoledronic acid but I may take a stroll on Hampstead Heath afterwards if not too cream crackered
A largely straightforward Tuesday offering – perfectly pleasant & nicely clued throughout. Not sure that I would have noticed it if not required to write the hints but there did seem to be rather a lot of single letter abbreviations. Apologies still no pics so just hints, which I hope are correct.
In the following hints, definitions are underlined, indicators are mostly in parentheses, and answers are revealed by clicking where shown as usual. Please leave a comment below on how you got on with the puzzle.
Across
1a A large weapon creating fear (5)
ALARM: Start with A from the clue then add the abbreviation for large & append a synonym for weapon
4a Calm, despite that new census oddly coming out (9)
STILLNESS: Begin with a synonym for despite then add the single letter abbreviation for new plus the alternate letters (oddly) of census.
9a Bad acne I’d not kept under control (9)
CONTAINED: An anagram (bad) of the three words preceding the definition
10a Considered famous (5)
NOTED: a double definition
11a Editor turning around is set for argument (7)
DISPUTE: Reverse (turning) the usual two letter abbreviation for editor & insert (around) another way of saying is set.
12a Without doubt, Charlie – King – gets special day ultimately (7)
CLEARLY: I didn’t twig this one immediately. Start with the NATO phonetic alphabet for Charlie then add add a King from Shakespearean tragedy & finish with the last letter (ultimately) of special & day
13a Anaesthetist possibly could be one? (6)
NUMBER: Not sure how to hint this; I’ll plump for a double definition with the first a synonym of what the anaesthetic thankfully does & the second what one is an example of.
15a Put up with a doctor’s retrograde quality (8)
STANDARD: Start with a synonym for put up with then add the A from the clue & append a reversal (retrograde) of the usual abbreviation for doctor
18a Who made David perhaps lop crust off (8)
SCULPTOR: An anagram (off) of lop crust. I’ve never visited Florence unfortunately but am sure it must be a mightily impressive sight.
20a Reportedly pick up bouquets (6)
SCENTS: A homophone (reportedly) of pick up in the context of become aware of gives you the definition synonym.
23a Dismissed show’s conclusion (7)
OUTCOME: A synonym for dismissed (cricket) plus I assume a term for show (up maybe in the sense of arrive)
24a Praise wife for leaving fine vessel (7)
WORSHIP: Start with the single letter for wife then add FOR from the clue less the initial letter (leaving fine) & finish with a type of vessel.
26a Cold, cold hospital – and grotty (5)
CHILL: Begin with the single letter for cold & then hospital & append a synonym for grotty in sense of when you’re feeling poorly.
27a Animal hairs unfortunately ruin the hotel’s forgotten sofas? (9)
FURNITURE: Start with a term for animal hairs then add an anagram (unfortunately) of RUIN THE less the NATO phonetic alphabet letter for hotel.
28a Looks like Mel’s beer’s drunk (9)
RESEMBLES: An anagram (drunk) of Mel’s beer’s.
29a Future, partly, you’re talking about (5)
LATER: a reverse lurker (partly/about)
Down
1d Stresses about one day’s mishaps(9)
ACCIDENTS: Place (about) a synonym for stresses around the single letters for one & day.
2d Makes fun of topless relatives (5)
AUNTS: Remove the initial letter (topless) from a synonym of makes fun of.
3d This writer put on a certain amount (7)
MEASURE: Begin with a term for this writer then add (put on) the A from the clue & synonym for certain.
4d River supporting char? Bass, maybe (6)
SINGER: Find a synonym for char then append (supporting) the single letter for river for what bass is a type of. Nowt to do with fish despite two ‘em in the clue.
5d Point to adult in charge on base (8)
INDICATE: Insert the single letter for adult (in) into a word meaning to formally charge & finish (on) with the usual abbreviation for base.
6d Student with a new flier – this shines a light on things (7)
LANTERN: Start with the single letters for a student & new & insert the A from the clue then append a feathered type.
7d Please receive guests (9)
ENTERTAIN: a double definition. Think synonyms for amuse & for hosting
8d Girl has a change of heart, lamentably (5)
SADLY: Alter the middle letter (change of heart) of the lass that was the pride of the alley.
14d Horses touring area in range? (9)
MOUNTAINS: Place a synonym for horses (touring) around the single letter for area & IN from the clue.
16d Leave peach – husband’s missed a soft fruit (9)
DISAPPEAR: Start with a somewhat old fashioned term for a good looking lass less the final letter (husband missing) then add the A from the clue plus the single letter for soft & finishing with a type of fruit (delicious if ripe)
17d Violent wolf: pure crazy (8)
POWERFUL: A straightforward anagram (crazy)
19d Trouble for bishop with the French maiden (7)
PROBLEM: Start with a FOR synonym, add the single letter for bishop (chess), then the French for the masculine definite article & finish with the single letter for maiden (cricket)
21d Hearty drink (7)
CORDIAL: A double definition – one an adjective (affable) the other a noun for a fruit based one that you dilute.
22d Perhaps foils plans finally with remarks (6)
SWORDS: Start with the last letter (finally) of plans then append a synonym of remarks for the definition- think fencing.
23d Fall over tail of gigantic dog (5)
OCCUR: Begin with the single letter for over (cricket) then add the last of gigantic (tail of) & finish with a word for dog.
25d Frequent answer adopted by Chancellor of the Exchequer (5)
HAUNT: Insert the single letter for answer into the current incumbent appointed by Liz & retained by Rishi
The top three, in no particular order, for me were the surface reads at 12a along with 4&19d. Which ones were ticks on your sheet?
Today’s Quick Crossword pun: BUN + GEE + CHORD = BUNGEE CORD
I struggled with this especially in the east side and I needed Mr. G. for a couple. I don’t normally consult him preferring, instead, to battle on. However, today our daughter is Skyping this morning so I’m in a rush. No favourites today as I was just pleased to finish.
Many thanks to the setter for the challenge and to Huntsman for the hints.
It’s not so nice her today but it looks as if it will be sunny for Kinnerley Beer Festival this coming Saturday.
Typically Tuesdayish so five bob on Anthony Plumb – **/****
Candidates for favourite – 12a, 27a, 1d, and 3d – and the winner is 12a for the mixture of Charlie and the literary king.
Thanks to Mr Plumb and Huntsman – you are doing a grand job and I am sure that you are finding it a little less challenging each week.
P.S. A very ‘doable’ Toughie from the Floughie Lady but she does seem to be getting a little tougher now.
I started well in the NW but found the clues in reasingly difficult as I mo ved south and east. In the end, it took me nearly as long to fiinish this crossword as it did last Friday’s refugee Toughie. 4d was the best of the clues for me . Thanks to the compiler but this puzzle just wasn’t my cup of tea. Thanks to Huntsman for the hints, particularky for 20a, which bunged in but really didnt understand.
Enjoyed this puzzle ,nicely clued throughout, nothing obscure.,agree with Senf that 12a was the outstanding clue followed by 4a and 19a for the surface.
Thanks to our setter and Huntsman,going fpr a **/*** ****
Just popping by to mention that we have a puzzles live blog running on the Telegraph website from 11am until lunchtime, to mark the first anniversary of our PlusWord puzzles. I’m online to answer any questions left in the comments on the blog (about PlusWord, Cryptics or any other puzzles). It’s at https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/05/22/telegraph-puzzles-plusword-one-year-anniversary/
Sorry I have missed the deadline. I enjoy Plusword except when there are no green squares to give the slightest hint!
Like DG, I missed the deadline as well. I’ve only just seen your post.
As I’m 5 hours behind you, sorry but missed the event.
Six minutes for PlusWord because I had a couple of interruptions :cry: If I’d known there was going to be a leaderboard I’d have locked myself in a room and had two cups of coffee first… and done it in 5 minutes! :lol:
Very enjoyable puzzle, mostly very light – was heading for my 1* time until grinding to a halt with a couple to go in the SW, solved after considerable head-scratching, swiftly followed by a “why on earth did I not see that earlier?” sort of feeling. Unusually for me a couple of anagrams made my special mentions list – 18a and 28a – joined by 4d & 6d with 5d my COTD.
2* / 3*
Many thanks to the setter and to Huntsman – hope all goes well, and wouldn’t it be easier just to stay at home for the first bit and pop on a few leeches instead? ;)
I was another for whom the LHS went in considerably quicker than the other. Great entertainment, though, with some commendably brief and concise clues, foremost amongst which, for me, was 4a.
Many thanks to our Tuesday setter and to Huntsman.
A pleasant Tuesday puzzle – thanks to our setter and Huntsman.
25d is possibly a bit obscure for those solvers not in the UK.
Top clues for me were 12a, 14d and 19d.
Yes, I did have to do some e-research on the current resident of 11 Downing Street.
I could have done without being reminded of the unpleasant insividual in question. Otherwise a fair clue.
We’re not supposed to talk politics on Big Dave but in any case regardless of what you feel surely referring to a politician as “unpleasant” is surely unacceptable.
Re 25d, Gazza: A Times puzzle last week required a knowledge of UK supermarket names (‘Iceland Spar’) which a poster (on another site) noted was “horribly unfair” for non-UK solvers. Another poster replied “I’m not sure that being fair to non-UK solvers is in the Times of London setter guidelines.”
At least today’s setter gave the full title of the job, which helps considerably … though very sadly I suspect a large minority, even a majority, of the UK population under 50yo would probably be as ignorant of his name as any non-UK resident solver may, with rather more justification, be!
As an ex-pat who keeps himself reasonably well-informed on UK current affairs I do not have too many problems with clues like 11d, and there are always e-resources as I used today, and I have no complaints about setters apparently ‘being unfair’ to non-UK solvers.
StephenL has identified the key issue below – is the individual the setter is ‘using’ for the clue still the incumbent when the puzzle is published? Otherwise, a little late to insert ‘former’ into the clue!
I don’t do the Times puzzles but I assume that 25d wouldn’t appear there since my understanding is that they don’t allow the names of living people?
That is my understanding too, Gazza.
Senf – interesting point! I took it as meaning the incumbent, but the wordplay could as easily refer to a former CotE, either alive or dead – the same happens with PMs in these puzzles. Now, how to get the unlamented “Kwarteng” into a clue …
Something to do wth an anagram of GREW and KANT perhaps…
Good idea – you lead me to a few thoughts involving Kant/Cant but that would get into the realm of indirect anagrams of a homphone, so how about: “Measure has growth space for former Chancellor” (8)
I never understand why non-UK solvers complain about unfairness to themselves. As it is a UK puzzle, I expect some of the answers to make more sense to those of you over there. As an ex-pat I do have the advantage of recall, but obviously I am at a loss when it comes to programs and people who have become famous since we moved across the pond in 1982. C’est la vie! And then I do have an edge in knowing most of the Americanisms.
25d was solved solely from the definition and the knowledge it is a 5 letter word containing an A.
2*/3.5* but would have been 4* without the vague girl in 8d.
My top two clues were 12a & 19d.
Many thanks to the setter and to Huntsman, who seems to be settling in very nicely as our newest reviewer.
Not a barrowload of fun but fairly clued. North acquiesced before the South. Fav 19d with 12a running up. Thank you Mysteron and Huntsman.
Very enjoyable indeed, I bet the setter was sweating on the Chancellor still being in his post by the time of publication!
24&26a plus 9d were just three examples of many fine and amusing clues.
Many thanks to the setter and to Huntsman for a great blog.
A pleasant enough puzzle but nothing to write home about from my point of view.
I’ll go with the flow and put 12a & 19d in the top spots.
Thanks to our setter and to Huntsman for the hints – hope you get on OK with the hospital visit.
Nice puzzle, with the East resisting more than the West. Had simular question to Huntsman over 23a and came to the same conclusion. Spent the longest time parsing 5d as couldn’t get IC out of my my mind for ‘in charge ‘. Finally got it though, so does that make it a favourite?
Thanks to setter and v best wishes to Huntsman.
Pleasant enough anti-clockwise solve today with no real hold ups.
1.5*/ 3.5*
Fav 19d LOI 12a.
Thanks to setter and Huntsman.
Really liked this puzzle – strangely folks seem to find this harder than yesterday and I was the opposite – I ended up finishing this puzzle quite quickly and really enjoyed it whereas yesterday I didn’t enjoy and couldn’t connect with the setter at all
Good one! Held up at the end by 4d where all the meanings of the second fish came to me but I mistakenly – and inexplicably – fixated on ladies who do despite the lack of reason to!
I am with the ‘easier on the LHS brigade, that all went in nicely. I don’t think anyone could complain about 25 d – with the three letters provided the answer was pretty obvious I thought regardless of nationality. I struggled with 24a and needed Huntsman’s hints, I liked 28a but I think top of the pile must be for me, and I stress for me, 12a. Good luck this afternoon Huntsman and don’t let them hurt you. Thanks to Mr Setter aussi.
DG, as you will have seen, at least RD and I agree with you re 12a.
DG, I now see Jane, Senf & Mhids also concur.
I agree with the LHS was easier brigade. I’m pleased with myself for completing this whilst in the hairdressers with no recourse to reference books or electronic help. 12a was my favourite, joined on the podium by the old chestnut at 13a and 19d. Thanks to our setter for the enjoyment and Huntsman for explaining the parsing of 5d for me.
I finished OK but didn’t particularly enjoy and I have no idea why. Slightly bemused by the thread above referring to ‘difficulty for non UK residents’. Am I missing something? We get loads of late POTUS, very ancient foreign film stars/crooners not to mention weird foreign bits of clothing, rivers from distant continents, Norse sagas, grape varieties from Europe and further afield. The list is endless and I say ‘GREAT’ – it all broadens our horizons and gets the little grey cells to work a bit harder, bring in on. Now I will shut up!
👏
I enjoy the vast majority of non-UK references and agree it broadens the mind and encourages the deeper recesses of the memory to wake up and relinquish its hostages.
While I get frustrated with setters requiring one to know, say, long-dead actors/directors, or films from the 1940s-60s, I grudgingly accept that as being fair game and am very grateful the same setters tend not to feature actors/directors/films from the last 10-15 years!
Enjoyable, straightforward and fairly clued puzzle. 2*/4*
Greetings from sunny (very sunny) Bonaire where me and Mrs TC are spending our yearly two weeks scuba diving, hence the late post. Found this one to be a usual Tuesday puzzle, tricky, but not too much. Particularly liked 13a and 6d. Off now to see some more fishes.
13A – my favourite clue
Welcome to the blog
Welcome from me as well, Kate. I hope you will comment again. 👍
I started out gung-ho, north was no problem, but the south took ages to get going. I struggled with 18a as I read the clue as Top crust, my one good eye is getting worse! I really didn’t have a problem with 25d, what else could it be? Fave was 24a.
Thanks setter, and much gratitude to Huntsman for explaining a few bung ins, eg 12a!
Typical Tuesday, tougher than Monday. Required a bit of head scratching mostly in the right side of the grid.
2.5*/3* today
Favourites include 13a, 26a, 1d, 8d & 21d with winner 13a
Thanks to setter and Huntsman.
An enjoyable Tuesday workout. My last one in was 23d where I initially presumed the middle checking letter was clued by “tail of gigantic” which led me to a South African dog named Oscar who went on a round the world charity tour. Of course, it wouldn’t parse. I eventually got myself back on the right path. Thanks to setter and Huntsman.
P.S. Huntsman, I think you need to extend the underlining in the clue for 9a as I believe the definition is three words.
Agreed – I’m not very adept at underlining on the iPad
You are doing fine, Huntsman. 👍
2/4. The west went in quickly but slowed dramatically for the east. Perseverance paid off. Favourite was 13a. Thanks to the setter and Huntsman.
I clearly struggled more than most, with only about half going in before I had to start peeking at the hints. So not my best effort. As is usual on tougher (for me) days, a lot of my answers came from the checkers rather than the clues. Thank you to Huntsman for putting the blog together for us today, and all the best with your hospital visit today. I hope you get to enjoy that walk later. I’m off for another round of spinal nerve blocking shots, but it’s much easier than your afternoon I expect. Perhaps I can finishing solving later.
I completed this earlier and found it good fun, with a fair bit of head scratching. I took a while to latch on to 23a and 23d (tried to make a dog of some sort) but go there in the end. 18a was my favourite.
Many thanks to Huntsman (I hope all went smoothly for you) and to the setter
A jot harder than Monday’s
Enjoyable nonetheless.
Good surfaces gave us
Many Lego-style solutions.
Last in 15a, temporary insistence
That it started with an a.
18a my COTD for its ingenuity.
Thanks to the setter and Huntsman.
When will we have a
proper Haiku from Hrothgar?
Tomorrow, perhaps?
Still learning
Nice work, Franco!
I like Tuesday’s, they’re so consistently at the right level of difficulty, no obscure gk required. Last in was 18a for no other reason than it just was! Favourite was 5d. Thanks to the setter and Huntsman.
This was the struggliest Tuesday puzzle I’ve encountered for a while, hence only finishing it on Wednesday morning. Thank you so much to Huntsman for the many hints I referred to — they are really appreciated. And I hope your hospital thing went well.
I’ll add to those for whom 12a is my favourite.
3*/3* ….
liked 25D “Frequent answer adopted by Chancellor of the Exchequer (5)”
I love the way you “haunt” the blog a few days after the event
no offence taken, but I am actually a real person, not a ghost or a bot !