DT 30588 – Big Dave's Crossword Blog
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DT 30588

by pommers  

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30588

Hints and tips by pommers

+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +

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

Hola from Almoradí on a bright and sunny morning.  Spring has definitely sprung now and people, even Spanish, are beginning to appear wearing shorts.  Not me thought.  The temperature has to top 25°C for me to get the shorts out!

Today’s crossword is the usual Monday fare. Mostly straightforward but with a couple to scratch the head over. It didn’t help that I mistyped the last letter of 26d as an E which made 30a impossible.  Spotted my error eventually and all was well.
Not sure about the setter as, unless I’m missing something, there’s only one pun in the quick crossword.

As usual my podium three 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

1a           Somewhere you might really get a ‘deep’ sleep? (6)
SEABED:  Cryptically this might describe a place to sleep in the deep or ocean.

4a           Put up with offence? It’s what a substitute does (6,2)
STANDS IN:  If the answer were split (5,3) it would be a word meaning to put up with followed by a word for offence or wrongdoing.

9a           Maybe empties tubs in warehouses? (6)
DEPOTS:  This could just about be a word meaning to empty tubs.

10a        Claim plumbing is a type of musical instrument (8)
BAGPIPES:  Claim as in lay your hands on followed by some plumbing.

12a        Haul gadget around (4)
LOOT:  The haul from a robbery is also a reversal (around) of a gadget or utensil.

13a        Fed up with soldiers entering garden? (5)
BORED:  One of the two letter abbreviations of soldiers in a word for a garden, or at least the bit of it where flowers grow.

14a        Queen‘s article read aloud (4)
ANNE:  This Queen’s name sounds like (read aloud) one of the indefinite articles.

17a        Well-off saying little about California’s shock measure? (7,5)
RICHTER SCALE:  Take a word meaning well-off and follow with a word describing someone who says little or is curt. Into that insert the three letter abbreviation of California and split the result (7,5) to get the measurement scale for earthquakes.  Hands up those who thought this was going to be something to do with hair!

20a        Nourishment from a citrus fruit — not a tin to be disturbed! (12)
ALIMENTATION:  A from the clue followed by a four letter citrus fruit and an anagram (to be disturbed) of NOT A TIN.

23a        In good health in bad weather, by the sound of it (4)
HALE:  This word meaning in good health sounds like (by the sound of it) a word for some bad weather or frozen rain.

24a        Embark on wild binge (5)
BEGIN:  Anagram (wild) of BINGE.

25a        Second woman getting unwanted correspondence (4)
SPAM:  S(econd) followed by the diminutive of a woman’s name gives you the unwanted stuff that turns up in your email.  I’ve resisted the Monty Python sketch this time but here’s the menu . . .

28a        Totally happy with European Community interference (8)
ECSTATIC:  The two letters fro European Community followed by the sort of interference you get on a radio.

29a        Remove clothes in disreputable club, by the way (6)
DIVEST:  Take a disreputable club and follow (by) with two letters for a type of way or road.

30a        Detective’s house is free (8)
DISLODGE:  The usual detective, don’t forget the S, followed by a place where you might live.  When you’ve put an E as the sixth letter it’s impossible!

31a        Old Spaniard siting in Cadillac or Tesla (6)
CORTES:  He’s lurking (sitting in) the last three words of the clue.

Down

1d           More unhappy about student’s ultimately cushy job with horses (8)
SADDLERY:  Put a word meaning more unhappy around the usual letter for student and follow with a Y (ultimately cushY).

2d           Method that may get a very soft fish (8)
APPROACH:  The A from the clue followed by the two letters for very soft in music and then a freshwater fish.

3d           Pulses initially rejected as food (4)
EATS:  This slang term for food is a word for pulses, not beans and lentils but what your heart does, without its first letter (initially rejected).

5d           Suspect ants ate acrid plant (12)
TRADESCANTIA:  Anagram (suspect) of ANTS ATE ACRID.

6d           Sleeps with piles? (4)
NAPS:  Double definition. These piles are the pile of a carpet or the baize on a snooker table.

7d           Lying, drink vino when wife leaves (6)
SUPINE:  A word meaning to drink followed by the English word for vino but without the W (Wife leaves).

8d           Made a home with Ines — I ignored Edward (6)
NESTED:  Take the I out of Ines (I ignored) and follow with a diminutive of Edward.

11d        Company gathering for a game of chess? (5,7)
BOARD MEETING: Cryptically this could describe a meeting for a game of chess, or Monopoly.

15d        Misappropriated  item of clothing (5)
STOLE:  Double definition.

16d        Get much bigger vessel to cross lake (5)
BLOAT:  You need a vessel or ship around (to cross) an L(ake)

18d        Give phone card to bothersome individual clutching pound — it’s easiest (8)
SIMPLEST:  The three letters for the card in your mobile phone followed by a bothersome individual with a L (pound) inserted (clutching).

19d        Oddly, auntie, together with friends, livens up (8)
ANIMATES:  Alternate letters (oddly) from AuNtIe followed by some friends.

21d        Husband in step with series of internet postings? (6)
THREAD:  H(usband) inserted into (in) a word for to step or pace.

22d        Bishop endures reprimands (6)
BLASTS:  B(ishop) followed by a word meaning endures or contin ies.

26d        Mexican food from upcoming Acapulco caterer (4)
TACO:  It’s a lurker (from) but it’s backwards (upcoming in a down clue).  How I managed to put an E at the end of this I have no idea. The E key isn’t anywhere near the correct letter!

27d        Place to store grain, or processed oils (4)
SILO:  Anagram (processed) of OILS.

My podium this week is 1a, 17a and 3d with 1a on the top step.

Quick crossword pun:

POURS     +     FORTH     +     OUGHT     =     PAUSE FOR THOUGHT

108 comments on “DT 30588”

  1. Another great start to the week but I don’t think it’s Campbell. I could be wrong of course, as I frequently am, but I couldn’t see a second Quickie pun. Putting “euphoric” in 28a held up Devon and Cornwall for a while then 26d showed me the error of my ways. With so many good clues it is difficult to pick one out as COTD so I will give that to the Quickie pun.

    Thank you, Campbell if you it be, or whomsoever if not. Thank you , pommers for the hints.

      1. In which case, thank you very much, X-Type – a most enjoyable guzzle. I look forward to more. 👍

        1. I second that, very enjoyable- favourite 17a
          Also thanks pommers (even though I didn’t need you this week!)

  2. Who’s the setter? Not Campbell, presumably.
    14a was pithy. 6d was fun and 17a’s excellent. I know 3d’s definition won’t please some but it’s neat. Does 1a really quite work, though? 5d should, of course, be heading straight for the tower! Thanks to setter and pommers.

  3. More Mondayish than
    Monday.
    Many thanks Campbell
    For this excellent start
    To the crossword week.
    Only delay, experimenting
    With the letters of 5d to
    Find the plant.
    Otherwise, a whizz.
    Many smiles, eg 18d
    Thanks, also, to pommers.

  4. 2*/2.5*. There was nothing here to frighten or excite the horses, apart from a couple of my usual bugbears (using “eats” as a noun, and a vague woman) and the (rather obscure) old Spaniard, who is presumably “sitting” rather than “siting” in a car.

    17a was my favourite.

    Thanks to the setter and to pommers.

    1. You haven’t lived if you didn’t down litres of that most disgusting Spanish wine, Don Cortes in the Seventies….

  5. 17a the clear winner for me in this very friendly Monday puzzle. Setter unknown, but a delightful start to the week that had me smiling throughout the solve. Great fun.

    My thanks to our setter and pommers.

  6. Not one for me today, I thought it was dreadful. Hope others liked it though, horses for courses and all that……

  7. You were quite right, ALP, some people definitely don’t like 3d – almost made me weep that pommers put it in his top three. Speaking of weeping, the sound of 10a can do that to me every time – the lone piper at the Edinburgh Tattoo has me in floods!
    Decent enough puzzle once I’d got over the horror of 3d and the clip at 10a – 17a goes on the top step with smiles for the emptied tubs and the Quickie pun.

    Thanks to our setter and to pommers for almost all of the review!

    1. Me too with 10a! Went to the Edinburgh Festival in the year of the great flood, you haven’t wept until you’ve heard Flowers of the Forest played at Edinburgh Castle at the close of day!

  8. A friendly enough puzzle but not one that will remain long in the memory – thanks to the setter and pommers.
    I’d never heard of the 5d plant so I needed all the checking letters and a corroboration from Mrs Google for that one.
    My favourite clue was 17a.

  9. Hello and a huge welcome to 5d as you join THE LIST, along with your old colleagues and pals ‘alb’, ‘caitiff’, and ‘a bootless errand’.
    Look! Over there! It’s ‘The Hanseatic League’ waiting to shake your hand. Enjoy your stay.

    I am never sure about 10a. I know that to those north of the border they evoke tears and a desire to sing ‘Flower of Scotland’ in the direction of any passing English person, but ever since Sir Paul’s ‘Mull Of Kintyre’ I have held the desire to poke a knitting needle in each and every one of them.

    Thanks to the setter and pommers from Vega Baja del Segura.

    1. Sir, how could you possibly mistreat one of His knitting’s needles in such. AWay. And I bet H knew 5d it is really not uncommon. are you becommin yet hy yet by tetchy. ?

    2. I have 5d in my garden, they love the heat. They make very good indoor plants and are very pretty, get yourself one.

  10. It’s Monday :good: It’s X-Type :good: 2.5*/4*

    Candidates for favourite – 1a, 14a, 2d, 7d, and 15d – and the winner is 1a.

    Thanks to X-Type and pommers.

  11. We like.

    A fairly straightforward start to the week’s proceedings with a nice variation of clues on a friendly grid.

    I got great satisfaction solving 5d as I knew I wouldn’t know the answer. So, I put the letters in a circle and crossed out the checkers as they rocked up though I only got it when all six were in place as it left me with only one possibility. Great fun.

    I enjoy made-up words like the verb in 9a.

    My podium is 17a, 7d and the most splendid 11d.

    Many thanks to the setter and Pommers.

    2*/4*

  12. Surprised that people haven’t heard of 5d. We’ve had one on the windowsill for years and years

    Named after a English naturalist and plantsman who is well worth an investigoogle

    1. Hi Sue,
      I enjoyed reading about the bookbinder although have to say that I didn’t particularly warm to Peggy. I liked the link-up to The Dictionary of Lost Words, might be tempted to re-read that one.

    2. When I first bought one from a plant nursery, it was called “Wandering Jew” – but that’s not considered to be very PC these days. Some have started calling it “Wandering Dude” – but that name really makes me cringe! If we need an alternative name, then use its other – quite acceptable – one: “Spiderwort”.

    3. Agree, a very commonly used houseplant, and I would have thought well known. It can take over the garden if planted outside in South Florida.

    4. I haven’t heard of probably 95% of common plants and 5d is certainly one of those that I haven’t heard of.

      I think you to have an interest in gardening and plants in general to have heard of 5d.

  13. A good puzzle whilst it lasted. I knew the plant (I think we must have one) but biffed in panpipes at 10a. I would have remained blissfully aware of my mistake, had the completed puzzle not told me that all was not well. My answer didn’t parse, of course, but I had got up a head of steam at this point and just bunged it in.
    Thanks to X-Type and Pommers.

  14. A happy Monday completing this guzzle. 17a my favourite. I don’t think 5d should have an h in it! Thanks to setter and hinter.

  15. Very light and straightforward, but hugely enjoyable while it lasted. Lots of smiles throughout, and – courtesy of the “acrid plant” appearing in The Times only 10 days ago – all GK instantly familiar. Lovely balance of and variety in clue types. Mixture of the old and the new. Chuckled when I saw 3d, suspecting it would provoke a similar reaction as on its very recent (last fortnight, I think) appearance either in DT or TT. Will go for 9a, 29a & 7d as my top three.

    1* / 3.5*

    Great start to the week, thank you X-Type; thanks also to Pommers.

  16. A pleasant enough Monday puzzle though for some reason I was a little underwhelmed. I’m blaming the weather which is keeping me confined to barracks as I can’t cope with the wind. I’m not naturally a complainer but roll on summer, hopefully! I did know the plant at 5d, a memory from childhood when one lived for years it seemed, on the kitchen windowsill. No overall favourite today. 17a, 18d and 21d share my podium. Thanks to X-type and pommers.

  17. Recently I haven’t got along with Campbell so my week invariably started haltingly and lift-off wasn’t until Tuesday but today was a different kettle of fish and it all came together painlessly. I was thus interested to learn the author was X-type to whom a big thank you for a fun run and hope we can look forward to more of the same (similar) Monday fare. North came in first. My only comment would be 13a component is not in itself a garden. Thank you pommers for being there for us.

  18. I loved this puzzle, thanks X-type. I knew the plant but thought it might bring forth some complaints. 3d irritates me although I liked the clue.
    Top picks for me were 17a, 5d and 6d.
    Thanks to Pommers.

  19. Another great puzzle from X-type. A great start to the week. 20a gets my vote for cotd, but it was a close run between it and 17a . Thanks to X-type and Pommers.

  20. Thanks X-type for the fun. Perfect for the Monday slot. Biggest chuckle was for the 12a misdirection. Look forward to more like this.
    Thanks too to Pommers- btw there’s no H in the plant!

  21. Hum! Might I ask how “tradescanthia” 5 down! Can be made from “ants ate acrid” ? Where’s the “h” ?? It’s also 13 letters??
    Ta!

      1. Pommers is probably out enjoying the Spanish sun so I’ve taken the liberty of correcting his typo.

  22. Found this pretty tough but struggled through to successful completion, 5d was completely unknown to me but bunged it in and checked with mr google to confirm it, Pommers you might want to check your spelling on that one. Thanks to all.

  23. I don’t want you all saying what a drama queen but look what I did yesterday. Have only one thumb to do this do brr slow going. I gassed out and spectacularly crashed through the greenhouse wall yesterday after church. Just went in to water seeds. Pocket rocket will Sally me. Plastic signerury would not stitch as I am on blood thinners. Bear with, as they say. Four fingers of right hand out of action

    3. Yowzers! I bet you’d give your right hand to be ambidextrous now, DG …. What a nasty accident – I hope you’re otherwise OK, that the damage to the fingers is largely superficial and will heal swiftly. M-in-law has same problem as you with blood thinners, which she often finds a b. nuisance.

    4. Oh Daisy, how awful for you. Please take things easy as we can’t do without your comments so we need all your fingers back in action! It looks like it could have been even worse.

    5. No one would blame you if you were a drama queen Daisygirl, that looks horrible. Of course, it would be your right hand. Hope you’re soon on the mend.

    6. Dear and Lovely Daisy – that must have been rather a frightening experience. Tons of love to you and hope you recover very speedily.

    7. Poor Daisy :rose:

      I do have to ask, if George’s answer to a bad night is Prosecco, what does he suggest for a badly cut hand?

      1. How right you are. On the drive home from hospital in the rssy ours George said I’m going to pour us both a nice. Stiff whiskey when we get home. Brest on mind we had had no linch no dinner although o e. Harming little nurse did bring him a cream. Here Nd. I umber sandwich. Cream cheese and cucumber sandwich. Oh crisscross ! A charming little muse. Nurse. Oh I’m going back to sleep. Thanks. For the good wishes everyone the most hurt was my dog it and my new negative that should be jEgR heater Jaegsr trousers first day on! I could so easily have lost my eye S I went through face first. It my dog my dignity😀😀

        1. Dear Daisy so sorry to hear about what happened to you yesterday. It’s a wonder you didn’t need a blood transfusion? The after-shock must have hit you hard then seeing the spilt blood not to mention the lovely new Jaeger trousers being Christened in your own much needed blood. Far too much trauma in one short episode. Please take good care. George must take over all household duties until you are fully-repaired/restored to normal. This may entail employing a live-in au-pair who has to pass your inspection, not George’s! Thinking of you and wishing you well.

    9. Oh dear, DG, I should think that was quite frightening. You always come across as being so invincible, please take more care of yourself.

      1. Honestly DG you do do things in style don’t you! All love from me too for a speedy recovery.

    10. Oh poor you Daisy, that looks and sounds awful. I hope your hand mends soon, and nicely. That must have been an awful experience for both you and George.

    12. Poor you , Daisy.

      Take care and take time to recover……a fall like that gives you quite a shock.

      Look after yourself.

      1. DG,

        i am pretty sure you’re not in drama queen territory here. Get well soon and best wishes.

        Hope George is also coping ok. Opportunity for fish and chips perhaps?

    14. Oh, Daisy, how awful for you, please be careful.
      I’m presently on a trial drug, I’m a guineapig in a blind test, for a blood thinner. This new drug will allow surgery etc., despite being on a blood thinner. I don’t think it’ll be out for another year, but it will be a huge benefit for those of us who need blood thinners.

    15. Goodness, a shock to all of us. Sending good wishes for a swift recovery. This blog needs you – we enjoy your comments enormously.

    16. Eeek, I hope both you and the greenhouse are feeling better soon, Daisygirl. I’m impressed you’re managing to type anything like that!

    17. OMG, Daisygirl! What a calamity! Sending you all love for a speedy recovery.
      No way are you a drama queen lovely lady. 🌹

    18. Good gracious Daisy what a calamity – must have been such a shock for you. As a fellow taker of a b——y anti-coagulant I can imagine how profuse your bleeding must have been. I have just had some tooth extractions and had to remember to stop the thinner several days beforehand but I still poured. Please take care of yourself (hopefully with lots of help from George) and I do hope you will heal asap 💐.

  24. I’m surprised that 3d get panned so much as it doesn’t bother me at all.

    Many synonyms for the verb have become nouns: I fancy a bit of scoff, nibbles and the midnight munchies come straight to mind.

  25. Seems like a relatively easy Monday puzzle this week, much on the lines of last Monday
    A few tricky ones to wade through along with the gimmes. Did not know the word in 5d … new one on me.

    1.5*/3.5*

    Favourites were plenty, but top five were 9a, 10a, 29a, 30a & 18d — with winner 10a
    Chuckles from 1a, 10a, 30a & 18d amongst others.

    Thanks to X-Type & pommers for blog/hints

    PS … my details for posing are having be entered every time still.

  26. Nice puzzle, though struggled with the NE corner. I understood the cryptic reference to 1a but COULD NOT get my brain to function. Hammock? Cabin? Stateroom? Berth? As ever, obvious when you know the answer.

    [Mods: I can’t remember if this was the email I used previously, or the other one, if you can’t match with the display name. Same person though!]

    1. You used this email address when you first commented in July 2023. Since then (until today), you have used a different email address. Either email address will work.

  27. Mostly harmless, except for 5d, which I had never heard of but was obviously an anagram, and 30a, where I put in a similar (but wrong) word and that held me up for a few minutes. Incidentally, hovering over the picture clue for 5d shows the answer with an extra “H”.

    Anyway, thanks to X-Type and pommers for this enjoyable **/*** offering.

  28. The 5d anagram the only real head scratch with this one. Never heard of the name (though spiderwort rang a bell) & the fodder took a bit of sorting out even with all the checkers in. Another vote for 17a as pick of the bunch.

    1. Sorry thanks to X-Type for a pleasant puzzle & to Pommers.
      Ps Have we any news on Chriscross ?

      1. I was thinking of her yesterday, but so far we’ve heard nothing. Has anyone tried emailing?

            1. I’ll try again in a day or so. It’s possible my email ended up in her trash bin if it wasn’t recognised. I’ll send the next high priority.

  29. A lovely start to the week, I really enjoyed the whole puzzle. I have 17a as my favourite but could have been several others. Fortunately 5d was familiar to me.

    Starting to be really gusty here in the Chilterns so I think we will hide inside for a bit!

    Many thanks to X-Type and to Pommers for the hints.

  30. I’ve been messing as in Porto on my hols. I’ve cancelled my subscription but had about 7 weeks to go. I have the vouchers to get the paper but could not use on line paper as they cancelled it! Done today’s now I’m back. Enjoyed it. Didn’t know the plant and like others had to Google it when I had made it up from the checkers. Could not parse 3d and 14a although answers obvious. Favourites 20 and 26a and 7 11 and 18d. Thanks X-Type and Pommers. Love to Daisygirl. How awful.

    1. Hope you enjoyed Porto – sorry I never let you have the name of the restaurant we frequented, simply could not find it, thought I had put it on Tripadvisor but obviously not.

  31. Thanks very much to X-type, so nice to start the week with a crossword that I can solve with very little help. A lot of fun and satisfaction today. I don’t see a problem with 3d, nor with 5d as it used was once a common site on window sills. I cannot eat 26a (too spicy) but at least I knew them, but don’t believe I’ve ever seen or heard of 20a before. Thanks for solving that for me Pommers.

  32. Nice start to the week, exactly the correct degree of difficulty, 3d had me foxed (or flummoxed even) until the penny dropped, the word food sent me off down the wrong road 😬 ***/**** Favourites 10a, 28a and 11d 😃 Thanks to X-Type and to Pommers

  33. In trouble with NW corner. I liked “stout Cortes” discovering the Pacific by hiding in 31a

  34. Not a great puzzle for me…just not on the wavelength I think.
    Really struggled with the Across clues , did much better on the Downs and eventually finished it except for 21D…..could not recall the word for internet postings and nobody Scottish ever says “tread”….I don’t know why but we don’t …..don’t say “naughty” either…..

    Thanks to the setter and to Pommers.

    Doing this sitting on a verandah in Madeira sipping pineapple juice in temperature of 27C….so don’t really care that I didn’t finish it.

  35. PS My name and email are not being remembered…thought I’d read that others no longer had this problem.
    A small price to pay for this most excellent site, but thought I might as well mention it.

    Back to the pineapple juice and the lounging around…..

  36. Thank you to X-Type: I enjoyed this, with a long shortlist of potential favourites, though it was still a DNF for me: I didn’t know 5d’s plant, and I used Pommers help (thank you) for one of the others.

    Still can’t decide for favourite between 28a (“European Community interference”) or 30a (“detective’s house”)!

  37. I’m firmly in the “wotta treat” camp, loved it all the way, done and dusted without help. Fave? Too many choices, 17a is right up there on the list, but I think 1a has to be it, though it was my last in and took a while to get my lightbulb moment.
    Thanks X-type for the trainload of fun, and to pommers for his hints and tips.

  38. A dnf due to 5d. Otherwise a decent solve.

    The second definition of 6d was new to me.

    Thanks to all.

  39. Finally, I feel that my mojo has come back after a very haphazard couple of weeks. Not helped by IT problems at my end. Really enjoyed today’s puzzle thank you X-type. Made a couple of silly mistakes but saw the error of my ways and got to complete this friendly offering. Thanks also to Pommers for his hints and ‘Amazing Grace’.

  40. A late start for me as been away but completed this fine puzzle with no real holdups. Confess I didn’t know the plant, so messed about with the missing letters for a bit before googling. Think I like XType ! Thanks so much for another enjoyable solve and to Pommers .

  41. Good to have another Monday X-Type, a very enjoyable solve, thank you. I did know the plant. 17d is clue of the day.
    Muchas gracias a Pommers.

  42. Found this pleasant enough, not too challenging.
    I knew the plant, although I don’t have one. My main horticultural interest is cacti growing, but I remember my mother telling me the name of the clued plant many moons ago.

    Thanks to X-Type and pommers 👍

  43. Never heard of 5d or 20a for that matter and didn’t like 3d. The rest OK with 17a being the best of the bunch. Thanks to X-Type and Pommers.

  44. Fun one today. Enjoyed clues such as 29a, 17a and 1d. Wife and I polished it off at speed!

    1. You’ve added your surname to your usual alias so this needed moderation. Both versions will work from now on.

  45. Joining this group after a few years of enjoying your fun and benefitting from your solving prowess! Great Monday crossword – thwarted by 5D otherwise a good start to the week.

    2. Good to hear from you and, now you’ve delurked, you’ll be pretty ‘ard to miss’, Artemis.

      Come on, give it to me. Give it to me…

    3. Great to hear from you, goddess of the hunt. Would love to hear from you again. 👍

  46. Thanks to Gazza and Falcon for correcting the typos but. let’s face it, anyone who can type an E instead of an O is obviously having a bad day. And no, I wasn’t enjoying the Spanish sun but the vino collapso!

  47. Good evening

    Somewhat late on parade! A day’s work doesn’t half interfere with crozzie solving, and today’s was not as straightforward as one might expect on a Monday. Several returns to the grid over the course of the afternoon and evening; I’m only just finished, having had to input 5d into a solver app (ie a cheat-box) because I’d never heard of a 5d!

    COTD: no contest – the stonkingly good 17a!

    Many thanks to X-type and to Pommers.

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