Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30382
Hints and tips by Mr K
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BD Rating - Difficulty *** - Enjoyment ***
Hello, everyone, and welcome to Friday. I have no idea who might have set this enjoyable puzzle.
In the hints below most indicators are italicized, and underlining identifies precise definitions and cryptic definitions. Clicking on the answer buttons will reveal the answers. In some hints hyperlinks provide additional explanation or background. Please leave a comment telling us how you got on.
Across
1a Confrontational feature of expert (4-2-4)
FACE-TO-FACE: Link together feature or component, OF from the clue, and another word for expert
6a One hollow cake daughter coated in sugar (4)
ICED: Assemble the Roman one, the outer letters (hollow) of CAKE, and the genealogical abbreviation for daughter
10a Cloth sling gent totally unwrapped (5)
LINEN: SLING GENT with the outer letters of both words deleted (totally unwrapped)
11a One quitting a degree and working turned visibly embarrassed (9)
ABSCONDER: Concatenate A from the clue, the abbreviation for an undergraduate science degree, working or not off, and the reversal (turned) of “visibly embarrassed”
12a In Italy, Genesis performed, eschewing current style of music (4,9)
EASY LISTENING: An anagram (performed) of IN ITALY GENESIS minus the physics symbol for electric current
14a Maybe barn in Provence where you snooze on vacation (8)
OUTHOUSE: Put together the French word (in Provence) for “where”, an old form of “you”, and the outer letters (on vacation) of SNOOZE. The maybe indicates that the definition is by example
16a Plies novel containing ten graphic elements (6)
PIXELS: An anagram (novel) of PLIES containing the Roman ten
18a Faux pas by Republican leader (6)
GAFFER: Another word for faux pas with the single letter for Republican
20a Director seems oddly captivated by music for film (8)
SCORSESE: The odd letters of SEEMS contained by (captivated by) a generic word for the music for a film
22a Barking or Charlton, in a state (5,8)
NORTH CAROLINA: An anagram (barking, as in crazy) of OR CHARLTON IN A
26a Saxons laugh, totally defending assault (9)
ONSLAUGHT: The first three words of the clue are hiding (defending) the answer
27a Cement applied, try to avoid runs (5)
PUTTY: A synonym of applied with TRY from the clue minus the cricket abbreviation for runs (to avoid runs)
28a Plotter uses them when gaining old flame back (4)
AXES: A synonym of when containing (gaining) the reversal (back) of an old flame or former lover
29a Manual worker barely moving having acquired sprain (10)
BRICKLAYER: An anagram (moving) of BARELY containing (having acquired) another word for sprain
Down
1d Put on record that's smooth (4)
FILE: A double definition. The second is smooth with a tool
2d Scam message on phone offering substance (7)
CONTEXT: Another word for scam is followed by a message written on a mobile phone
3d Many possessing good hairdressing gear (5)
TONGS: Many or lots containing (possessing) the single letter for good
4d Brave nobleman aboard iron ship (8)
FEARLESS: A nobleman inserted in (aboard) the fusion of the chemical symbol for iron and the abbreviation for steamship
5d Evidence of worms beginning to show in felines (5)
CASTS: The beginning letter of SHOW inserted in some felines
7d Drug company I need to organise (7)
CODEINE: An abbreviation for company is followed by an anagram (… to organise) of I NEED
8d Disenrol US soldier among others stationed in Bucks, perhaps (10)
DEREGISTER: The abbreviation for a US infantry soldier is inserted in (stationed in) others or remainder, and that’s all inserted in what bucks define by example (perhaps)
9d Manager of guest-house in with priest and queen (8)
HOTELIER: Combine in or popular, a biblical priest, the Latin abbreviation for Queen Elizabeth
13d Monstrous female novelist from France producing cheesy fare (10)
GORGONZOLA: A mythical female monster with Émile the French novelist
15d Expense possibly of lighting above us? (8)
OVERHEAD: The possibly indicates a definition by example. The answer can also describe a type of lighting that comes from above
17d Deciphered Socratic composition with hidden message (8)
ACROSTIC: An anagram (deciphered) of SOCRATIC
19d Predict Spooner's to rapidly increase price (7)
FORESEE: Apply the Spooner treatment to the combination of “to rapidly increase” and price or rate SOAR FEE
21d Just vote on legislation to invest in cathedral city (7)
EXACTLY: The letter indicating a vote or choice is followed by some legislation, and that’s all inserted in (to invest in) a usual cathedral city
23d Fury when one from the other side switches sides (5)
ANGER: On a heavenly creature (one from the other side) switch the single letter for one side of the body to the single letter for the other side
24d This compiler's shower having reduced force (5)
IMPEL: A contraction for “this compiler’s” from the compiler’s perspective with all but the last letter (having reduced) of shower or rain
25d One staining yard upset? I'm not sure (4)
DYER: The reversal (upset, in a down clue) of a short form of yard is followed by a short word of hesitation
Thanks to today’s setter. Top clue for me is 14a. Which clues did you like best?
The Quick Crossword pun: SPIED + AVERSE = SPIDER-VERSE. [Edit 4:30] As JoSelecta @12 points out, the bottom row in the puzzle directs us to the world of MARVEL COMICS. There are also a few answers with spidery connections.
A tad easier than yesterday’s I thought at **/*** with it’s 5 anagrams one of which 17d was nicely hidden and my COTD. Runner up was the concise 28a. I seem to recall 24d made an appearance yesterday with a slightly different clue although by the law of averages this must happen from time to time! Thanks to Mr K and the setter.
Wow what a week! Three, at least cracking crosswords.
Today’s playing by the rules, no obscure words but some fun.
Thanks to setter.
This was right up my street, not overly difficult but with just enough subtle misdirection to keep things interesting.
Where to start on a podium?…. I thought 26a a superb example of its clue type, and liked the clever 14&28a along with 8d but 1a takes top spot for me. Good stuff.
Many thanks to the setter and Mr K.
Totally more difficult than yesterday IMHO. Not on the wavelength of this setter I am afraid, but enjoyable when i could get the answers nonetheless.
Struggled with lots, so thanks to Mr K for much needed hints and the unknown setter.
I’m with you Jaycat, this was a tricky little sucker and had me stumped! I’ve finished but needed lots of help from Mr K today 🤦🏽♀️
I was working my way enjoyably through the top half of this crossword and then came to a grinding halt at the bottom, until a few clues fell into place to give some checkers. So a curate’s egg of a puzzle with some very clever lego clues and a few less amenable clues, notably 19d, the rather odd Spoonerism. I liked the 26 a lurker, my COTD, and two, in particular, of the many good lego clues, 29a and 21d. Many thanks to Mr K for the hints, I had a few bung-ins , which needed the parsing to be checked. Thanks to the compiler for a challenging puzzle.
Absolutely agree CX – I though it was a doddle until I got to the bottom. It’s been a good week for me – and I stress for me ! Having spent all day in Cambridge (full of tourists – good for trade) just grabbed a bite to eat and the Xword before going over to set up for cinema night. I also liked the neat anagram at 17, like Dormitory being dirty room! I’ll read more I later when I get back, just popping in.
4 Xs, one in each quadrant, so two half-crowns on proXimal for this very enjoyable end of the week challenge, although I was, probably unnecessarily, held up by the 4 and 5 letter clues in SE corner – ***/****
Candidates for favourite – 11a, 19a, 28a, and 15d – and the winner is 28a.
Thanks to proXimal, or whomsoever if my five bob goes down the drain, and thanks to Mr K.
ProXimal crossed my mind too Senf. Unfortunately, I’m much too right-fisted to put money on it and my Summer Vac job in s bookmakersin Cannon Street put me off gambling a long time ago!
Quite tame for a Friday I thought, 1d was a bit odd, but maybe that’s just me.
Some really entertaining clues here, especially liked 13d and 29a. The answer at 22a reminded me of the stay we had at the Lake Lure Hotel in said state, the most pretentious, up itself place we have ever stayed in, soon checked out and went to Charlotte where the people were much friendlier. Travellers, you have been warned!
Off to a flying start with 1a,
Then, a scatter gun approach which
Gave me many checking
Letters.
Steady unaided, spelling checks apart,
Progress to completion.
Brilliant clueing and first class
Surfaces throughout.
14a an absolute gem.
Thanks to the setter and Mr K
An enjoyable and straightforward puzzle with a couple of tricky four letter words in the SW and SE corners.
A strange Spoonerism, as has already been remarked, where the reasonably clear solution requires juggling around to make something the Rev. might have uttered.
Favourites include 14a, 16a and 13d.
Thanks to setter and Mr K.
What an enjoyable puzzle to cheer up a dismally damp and grey Shropshire morning. The Spoonerism aside, this was an absolute delight, with plenty of nicely-constructed clues to keep this solver happy. I particularly liked 26a and 13d.
Thanks to, presumably proXimal, and Mr K.
Like Chriscross, I got off to a decent start at the top of the puzzle and then progress slowed as I headed south.
I never associated 27a with cement, but that, apparently, is exactly what it is.
COTD for me is probably the monstrous female.
I never usually look at the Quick Crossword pun, but given my new blogging responsibilities, I thought I ought to start giving them a go. Thank goodness this one didn’t appear yesterday, as I still don’t get it! Perhaps it’s an age thing.
A good puzzle. Thank you setter and Mr K.
A very good crossword with very clever cluing.
I sometimes enjoy it when I get the answer first then spend a couple of minutes working out the parsing
With regard to the quickie pun, the compiler has given a clue in the bottom line. There were also a couple more answers on the same theme throughout the puzzle
Quite right about the bottom line and other answers in the quick crossword. Well-spotted
As a graduate of New College, Oxford, where Reverend Spooner was once Warden, I am always pleased to see a Spoonerism clue. What is not generally known about him is that he had other quirks as well as word transposition. For example, if someone spilled white wine at High Table, he would pour pepper over it!
Welcome to the blog, dijon.
Aha. A contender for the oldest College then. I shall I am afraid plead my humble origins at Balliol. Quite clearly in my attendance 1973-6 scruffier than New so it must be more ancient.
Like others, I too got off to a good start with the top half then slowed down considerably. It was the SW corner that held me up the longest needing the hints to parse 14a and 15d. LOI was 1d though I’m not sure what the hold up was now. Favourite today was 8d, joined on the podium by 11a and 26a. Thanks to ProXimal for bringing this weeks fine weekday crosswords to an equally fine end and Mr K for helping me out with the aforementioned parsing.
Invariably need to switch into lateral thinking mode when the X-man is our compiler and must admit that I still don’t ‘get’ the Quickie pun.
Tops for me today were 20a & 15d.
Thanks to proXimal and to Mr K for the review.
Nor me Jane re the quickie pun – I’ve been walking around muttering it to myself all morning! I am really enjoying this crossword but have four to go so if inspiration doesn’t come soon I’ll have a quick peak at the answers. Thanks to proXimal and Mr K whose review I will read later. Sunny here after a wet morning and quite humid.
First time posting – for 1a I mistakenly put ‘head-to-head’ which threw me until I corrected myself. Can someone explain the synonym for ‘expert’ in the clue? I’m no doubt just being a bit dense. Thanks.
By the by, I was an utter novice at crosswords a year ago but this blog has allowed me into this wonderful activity (bordering on an artform) and I’m very grateful to everyone involved.
Welcome to the blog, Ben S.
Now that you’ve introduced yourself I hope that you’ll become a regular commenter.
Expert in 1a is Ace
Thanks for that. It was bugging me!
From one newbie to another, hello and welcome on board 😊
Welcome and well done, that’s great progress in one year!
Welcome from me as well.
Enjoyable puzzle but with a couple of rather clumsy clues in 23d and 14a. Missed the lurker in 26a, setters are getting really cute with their indicators these days.
Not too difficult for a Friday but did need the hints to explain my answers to the clumsy clues.
Thx to all
***/***
A very good Friday puzzle, not as difficult as usual on this day. Great clues and an enjoyable solve. I’ve tick a few but my clear favourite is 8d. 3*/4*.
*If you like ripsnorting guitar blues music, check out the awesome speed of the Texan Johnny Winter (d. 2014) playing live in Sweden in 1987:
Thanks to proXimal for an enjoyable puzzle and thanks to Mr K for the review.
I like a good Spoonerism but I wasn’t really taken with 19d.
Like others I got nowhere with the Quickie pun. I hope that proXimal will look in to enlighten us.
Top clues for me were 1a, 11a and 8d.
PS. Well done, Mr K, for providing the extra “detailed explanation” for 19d. Some people do have difficulty with Spoonerisms in cryptic clues – even straightforward/traditional/normal ones like this is, let alone bizarre hybrid types.
As with Jaycat I couldn’t begin to find the wavelength so threw in the towel early on. Can’t remember a DT Cryptic so utterly flummoxing me as much as did this and can’t believe it is one of our established setters (Proximal it is said) but glad plenty of bloggers including MrK enjoyed it. Thanks to Proximal (?) and MrK. Thank goodness tomorrow is another day 👎.
One thing I find so fascinating on this blog is seeing how differently people find the difficulty of puzzles. Today I had totally the opposite experience to you. It keeps me going on days that I find tough that it is probably down to wavelength!
🙂
Is this really Friday?! I am very confused – off work today rather than my usual day, then found this puzzle not as challenging as usual for the end of the week. Managed to finish in one sitting over breakfast and even the dreaded Spoonerism flew in. Liked 21d, 8d and the lurker at 26a, but think 8d is my favourite.
Thanks to the setter and Mr K.
I was going to complain about 1a. Still didn’t get it even after the expert=ace hint. Then I realised that the 1st 5 letters of the answer=feature. Read the clue I must. I always have problems with the X man’s synonyms. E.g. 24d shower, is a light rain not a pelt. Always thought Zola was a man, never heard of one from the other side, etc.
Anyway. Thanks to Mr K
**/*** for me.
You are correct regarding Zola. The female is the monster.
Thoroughly enjoyed this one, completed unaided but needed to use the little grey cells. Thanks to Mr K for putting me out of my misery with the parsing of 14a, and to setter.
As others have noted, a gentle offering for Friday although I discover on reading the review that I had one incorrect — or, perhaps, alternative — answer. For 1d I had record with a camera which is also a plastic sheet that (at a stretch 🤔) is something “that’s smooth”. Thanks to proXimal and Mr K.
It’s turned out rather nice here on the first tee at Centurion after a damp morning. Enjoyed this 4X guzzle that was challenging enough for a Friday without being unduly difficult. Top 3 for me in no particular order – 1a, one of my favourite directors & the cheese I’m very partial too.
Thanks to proXimal & to Mr K
That was partial too.
Just done the Quickie & also flummoxed by the pun until the explanation. Marvel comics not my thing
Glad the week is over as this has been an awful week for backpagers … toughies have been easier and more rewarding..
5*/1*
No favourites … bring on the weekend.
I’m done.
Nice explanations thanks.
What! No cats (again)?
The last two on the quick one are Marvel comic !
Must admit to being guilty of usually solving nothing beyond the pun in the Quickie but it looks as though your diligence has answered the questions about today’s puzzler!
Sorry about the lack of pics. Work is being very full time at the moment and I didn’t have time to search for suitable pics. Friday illustrations will return, hopefully next week.
Really enjoyed this crossword and finished three quarters of it in 2* time. However seriously held up on SE corner. Not helped by the fact that I was convinced the answer to 20a was Scorsese but thought it was spelt “Scorcese” so couldn’t get it to parse! Can I ask a question please? I see several contributors often refer to the quickie pun and I’m not sure what this is. I would be grateful if anyone could explain it! TIA.
The Quick Crossword is always compiled by the setter of that day’s Cryptic crossword and the first two or more across answers combine to give a homophone of a common phrase. In the newspaper, the clues involved are printed in italics. Our Monday setter often includes two or three puns – top row, middle row and bottom row – I reckon he does it just to make sure we solve the entire puzzle!
Why are there no italiced clues for the quick xword when we use our tablets – surely a very easy thing to do!?
Thanks Jane! I never get round to doing the Quick Crossword, but think I’ll maybe give it a try in future.
Hi, Jane. Re the quickie pun, look here: https://puzzles.telegraph.co.uk/quick-crossword-puns
The hints each day for the cryptic puzzle end with the hinter’s best guess at the pun.
Thanks Mr K for the link!
I’m in the straightforward camp this afternoon with nothing holding me up for long, which means I’ll probably come down to earth with a bump tomorrow. Thoroughly entertaining. Favourite was 4d. Thanks to ProXimal and Mr. K.
Such a relief after yesterday when there were no DTs in my neck of the woods and I couldn’t cope with the online version. Next time I’ll print it out.
The SW corner was the last to fall. I didn’t really consider putty to be a cement but the BRB assures me it is
26a was a clever lurker and my COTD
No news on the Quickie pun?
Yes, I was very disappointed not to hear the usual noise of the DT flopping through the letterbox at 4.15am and finding no local shops had one either. What a creature of habit I’ve become.
I’ve been trying to find why there were no DTs in my part of Devon yesterday. An accident on the M5? Who knows? Certainly none of our usual suppliers knew why. They were just told by WHS that there was a problem and there would be no delivery. What a wastes of a prepaid voucher!
I know some regulars will be shocked, but I actually enjoyed this puzzle and finished it… and if it is indeed a proXimal, then I might go into shock myself 😊. I hesitated at 1a as I had three possible answers, until I realised only one truly fitted the clue. Glad I resisted the temptation to bung in my first thought. So I guess I get to keep the Chalicea Toughie in my back pocket for another day. Found this much more doable than Thursday’s backpager, and very enjoyable. Thanks to proXimal or whomever the setter is today, and to Mr K. I will say I missed the kitty pictures though, your fault for spoiling us all this time.
Good afternoon
For some inexplicable reason, every solution was entered within xxxxxxxx! I don’t know how, but everything seemed to drop in today.
My thanks to proXimal and to Mr K
Comment Etiquette No6 explains why we ask people not to mention solving times in their comments
This was a pretty slow solve for me today but I managed to finish it before my doctor appointment at 11.30 so could read the hints on my phone on the way home to see how I got some of them (I wasn’t driving). I had a lot of bung-ins. 13d last one in and I think is pretty clever. I must admit I hate seeing the word Spooner in a clue and I don’t think this was a particularly good clue. Never mind, thanks to the setter and the ‘moggieless’ Mr K. Jolly cold here and in a thick jumper – still no tomatoes ripening.
Lots of tomatoes here and as for the glut of runner beans….!
I do hope your doctor’s visit was helpful.
Same here. Not to mention the courgettes. My folder of what can I cook with a courgette or eight grows daily
The chef at our local pub last night gave us a recipe for a runner bean, tomato and tamarind curry for when we feel adventurous,
I have had a few Golden Sunrise and one beefsteak tomato ripen oudoors and my sweetcorn cobs are setting. There are half a dozen great Golden Harvest cabbages. The courgettes just didnt germinate after two tries, however.
I had to check today was Friday, what a surprise, a guzzle I can do and actually enjoy! I did have a few bungins, the Spooner natch, and 27a and 24d. The answer to 16a was in my Waffle today, that made it easy peasy. I’m going for 13d as fave, my Dad’s favourite cheese and a fun solve.
Thank you proXimal (??) for the fun and Mr. K for unravelling a few for me.
Obviously you have your own courgette cake/loaf recipes Sue? I love ours especially sliced and spread with a little butter or Benecol.
(Sorry this should have been a Reply to 34 above).
Courgette tray bake
Chocolate courgette brownies
Courgette lasagne
Courgette fritters
I’ve become used to skipping over Friday cryptics but thought I’d have a quick peek – I wouldn’t say I’ve finished it but I did quite a lot of it today.
I liked (and understood too) most of the anagrams and 13d.
Thanks to proXimal and to Mr K.
Thanks to Mr K for the review and to commenters for comments.
Well done Proximal. Quality Friday fare. Thanks again.
Thanks Proximal for today’s gem . Lots of great clues , but I liked the simple, but funny18a best
Thanks too to Mr K
Just wanted to say that, due largely to this site, I have gone from being a “ never finish it” novice to “almost competent” over a period of years.
A heartfelt thank you to all the bloggers and commenters – as well, of course, to the esteemed setters.
First of all, Thank you to all of you for your good wishes for Mrs. C. All the tests, so far, show nothing untoward so it looks like she has just become too frail to stand. She has been referred to a community hospital where there is a Physio and rehabilitation department. The aim is to build her muscles up so she can be mobile once more. The trouble is my car is off the road. The round trip to the hospital is 50 miles and my little Citroen Ami EV only has a range of 46!
I managed half of today’s guzzle before I had to do errands for Mrs. C. but I’m not sure I would have finished it anyway. I found it to be somewhat obscure in places. However, that is likely down to me. I can’t give a COTD because I only completed half.
Thank you to the setter and Mr. K.
Only learned of Mrs C’s troubles today – I do hope that the physio’ department can help her.
Thank you, Jane. They do seem determined to get her moving again.
Missed that rather distressing news Steve. Fingers crossed for a positive outcome.
Sorry to hear that, Steve. I hope that Mrs C is soon back to 100%.
The top half of this puzzle was so nice and up my street that I confessed to being lured in 😳 Having filled in the top half so enjoyably I spent far too much of my remaining life trying to sort the bottom half 🤔 8d, 19d, 23d, 14a, & 27a were far too difficult for my old brain 🥴 *****/** Favourites 18a and 19d (at least I spotted the cruciverbalists favourite priest making yet another appearance!) But that is why we are addicted to Big Dave’s blog, some one is there to put us right, or try to! Thanks to Mr K and to ProXimal
Enjoyed this solve today. Managed to complete unaided although I couldn’t parse 14a.
Much easier than most Friday crosswords, but certainly not complaining!
For a change, I did the quickie. I totally missed the pun and the references. Very clever indeed!
Thanks to all.
I have only just completed this and as I only started it late in the day I looked at the comments first to see if I should bother. I am glad I had a go as I finished without the hints but of course a couple of the comments had given me some clues. A very clever and enjoyable puzzle.
Many thanks to proXimal and to mr k for the hints
I completed the puzzle in ** time but had several answers which I couldn’t explain so many thanks to Mr K for the parsing.
Fun Friday. And not to challenging. Liked 13d
Nowhere near as difficult as the usual Friday puzzle, but some clever clues, including 21D and 14A.
Not apropos of the crossword – which we did enjoy – I was thinking that it’s a very long time since we had a post from Robert Clark, the delightful retired Professor of English in South Carolina. Does anyone know what has happened to him? I used to enjoy his scholarly contributions.
Sadly, Robert is not at all well at the moment. Last time I heard from him, he was about to embark on an intensive round of chemo and radio therapies. I will post any further news on the blog as and when it comes my way.
Oh dear. That is very sad. Thank you for letting me know. If you are in touch, please pass on my best wishes for a full recovery and tell him I miss his erudite comments. Thank you.
No problem but I see that what I thought was an amusing and light response on our respective Colleges at Oxford has not appeared.
I am not sure why.
Thanks
Sorry, that was my fault. Your comment was in moderation but there was nothing wrong with it so I assumed you’d tried to delete it. I’ve now restored it.
3*/4* …
liked 13D “Monstrous female novelist from France producing cheesy fare (10)”