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DT 30024

by Falcon  

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30024

Hints and tips by Falcon

+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +

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

Greetings from Ottawa, where summer has truly arrived and we are enjoying an extended spell of hot, sunny weather.

I found today’s puzzle from Campbell to be a sterner test than usual. Initially, I progressed at a very slow pace. Then a point came where the dam seemed to burst and I raced through most of the remaining clues before encountering a few more that required some real mental effort.

In the hints below, underlining identifies precise definitions and cryptic definitions, and indicators are italicized. The answers will be revealed by clicking on the ANSWER buttons.

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

Across

3a   Source of irritation in main road leading to the Louvre? (3,7)
ART GALLERY — insert something unpleasant or a source of irritation into a general term for a main road

8a   Cremated? Ashes vase placed in garden plot (6)
BURNED — as the clue says, bury a vase for holding ashes in a garden plot

9a   Learned line to say again (8)
LITERATE — start with the abbreviation for line used in textual citations and follow this with a word meaning repeat or say again

10a   Pilot to decline cheapest accommodation (8)
STEERAGE — link together two verbs; the first meaning pilot or direct and the second signifying to decline due to advancing years

11a   Organised party meetings, originally irregular (6)
RANDOM — a charade of organised or was in charge of, the usual two-letter party, and the initial letter (originally) of Meetings

12a   What monarchs may do ultimately, say, after extended rest? (3,2,5)
LIE IN STATE — to say or utter following an informal term for an extra long period in bed

14a   Fictional character from Charlotte, as newly portrayed by artist (8,5)
SCARLETT O’HARA — an anagram (newly reported) of CHARLOTTE AS followed by the usual member of the Royal Academy

20a   Drama after member of rowing crew shows one way to compete on course (10)
STROKE PLAY — a theatrical production of which drama is one genre follows the member of a rowing crew who sets the timing for the team

22a   Touch guards with armed robber (6)
BANDIT — a touch or small amount contains (guards) a synonym for with

23a   Spring fashion garment (4,4)
JUMP SUIT — the first word means spring or leap; the second word is used in a sense that is somewhat unfamiliar to me where fashion is a verb meaning adjust or fit Collins Thesaurus gives the following usage example for suit as a verb in the sense of adjust or fit “‘I’m off.’ He suited the action to the word and left.“

24a   Everyone attending is of normal intelligence (3,5)
ALL THERE — a term denoting everyone and a word meaning in attendance

25a   See what’s handed in before leaving (6)
NOTICE — double definition, the second being the document expected to be delivered to management to announce one’s intention to quit their job

26a   Showman from Rhode Island breaking a promise, unfortunately (10)
IMPRESARIO — the postal abbreviation for Rhode Island is injected into an anagram (unfortunately) of A PROMISE

Down

1d   Screens the end (8)
CURTAINS — double definition, the second commonly used as a prediction of doom

2d   Heavenly, a cake decoration (8)
ANGELICA — another word for heavenly followed by the A from the clue

3d   Cartoonist‘s count, when shown saving maiden (6)
ADDAMS — to count or enumerate objects followed by the usual two-letter substitute for when wrapped around (saving) the cricket abbreviation for maiden

4d   Reportedly follow story (4)
TALE — sounds like a word meaning to follow

5d   Other half to make changes? Say nothing! (5,3)
ALTER EGO — string together a verb meaning to make changes, a term signifying say or for instance, and a letter that looks like a representation of nothing

6d   Wild cat biting a reindeer’s head and part of throat (6)
LARYNX — a type of wild feline ingesting the A from the clue and the head letter of Reindeer

7d   Budget speech, not one’s first (6)
RATION — remove the first letter from a formal speech

13d   Agent deserted by fine player (5)
ACTOR — remove the pencil designation for fine from the sort of agent who once manned a fur trading post in the Canadian wilderness

15d   Lean minor lacking energy (8)
LISTLESS — combine a verb meaning to lean or tip and an adjective meaning minor or not as significant

16d   Suitable job involving one employed by primate (8)
APPOSITE — in this Russian doll style clue, a job or position of employment is wrapped around the Roman numeral one and this lot is then inserted into a jungle beast

17d   Paint to be treated in a church? If need be (2,1,5)
AT A PINCH — an anagram of PAINT is bookended by the A from the clue and the cartographer’s abbreviation for church

18d   Left in women’s quarters in Manhattan area (6)
HARLEM — L(eft) resides in the women’s quarters in a Muslim house

19d   Journalist travelled up to cover it (6)
EDITOR — a reversal (up in a down clue) of a word denoting travelled (by horse, perchance) containing IT from the clue

21d   Robe of doctor in family circle (6)
KIMONO — one of the several two-letter abbreviations for doctor is placed in a term meaning family or relations and this is all followed by a letter shaped like a circle

23d   Mock Juliet about English being upwardly mobile? (4)
JEER — start with the letter represented by Juliet in the NATO alphabet; then link together the usual short word for about or on the subject of and the single-letter abbreviation for English; but wait, you’re not finished yet – you must reverse the latter part (being upwardly mobile in a down clue)

Although I could have picked any one of a number of clues for special mention, I will go with 3a for the penny drop moment when I realized I did not need to resort to searching an atlas of Paris streets.

Quickie Pun (Top Row): HIGH + COUP = HAIKU

Quickie Pun (Bottom Row) : BEAK + WEST = BEQUEST

53 comments on “DT 30024”

  1. Great puzzle, have to admire the compiler’s skill. Had to check the cartoonist but that was my only slight hold up.
    Ticks all over the grid but I’ve chosen 12a plus 1d with top spot going to 5d as my podium.
    Many thanks to Campbell and Falcon

  2. I agree Falcon top end Campbell at ***/*** with the NW being last corner to fall. I see I guessed the GK I did not have at 3d from the cross checkers ok. Best of the bunch were 12a my COTD and 5,15,19 and 23d all being excellent as well. Thanks to Falcon and Campbell – hope they don’t get much harder this week!

  3. I wasnt3 sure if this was Campbell. It wasn’t his usual style and there were a few really tricky clues, some of them(e.g.3d) a bit off the beaten track. There were tw or three, which I couldn’t parse but bunged in anyway so your explanations, Falcon, were much appreciated. I liked a couple of the Lego clues, 21d and 3a, which was my COTD. The anagram at 14a was very enjoyable too. Thanks to the compiler and to Falcon for the hints.

  4. A great start to the week. My podium places go to 22a, 1d and 15d. I didn’t know the cartoonist but fairly clued.

    Thanks to Falcon and today’s setter.

  5. 3.5*/4*. This was good fun as ever for a Monday, but I was much relieved to see that Falcon found this more difficult that usual. I was also delighted to see that the setter correctly enumerated 14a as (8,1’4) so he gets an extra pat on the back for that!

    The name of the cartoonist in 3a was very obscure piece of GK for me.

    Many thanks to Campbell and to Falcon.

    1. It does rather bug me that if the DT can provide the correct enumeration of a clue in the print version of the puzzle, why it cannot also do so in the online version – which was given as being (8,5).

      And whilst I’m griping … why can’t it provide the names of the Toughie setters in the print-outs of the online version, when it can do so in the newspaper?

      Harrrumph!

        1. Thank you, Senf – though nonetheless I do wish the DT would enable the Setter’s name to be printed alongside the Toughie puzzle. I cannot be the only one who aims to complete the puzzle before coming here to read the blog.

          On the other hand, there’s only one Toughie setter whose identity it is useful to know before starting to tackle the grid!

          1. The Toughie setters for the week are usually shown on the RH side of the Home Page of the Blog, just above the ‘Crossword Event Calendar,’ but with our dear leader being hors de combat at the moment . . .

  6. I didn’t know the cartoonist and I needed the last letter of 5d to solve 14a.
    2d seems to becoming flavour of the month,

  7. So much to admire in this top-notch start to the week, especially 12a, 3d (one of my favourite artists), 22a, and 3a. And I can still hear Vivien Leigh swearing, “I’ll never be hungry again!” And so, just for old times’ sake, 14a is my favourite today. Campbell at his peak, I believe. So thanks to him and to Falcon for the review. ** / ****

    The online prize cryptic is almost as inventive as the backpager–but both make this a sparkling Monday.

  8. Like others I found this quite tricky and had several bung-ins. Thanks to Falcon for telling me how I got there. This computer is telling me its raining here, well its not – yet. COTD 20a, clever.

      1. Thank you to Alan and Gazza for pointing out and making the correction. I see the error apparently arose because I misspelled 1d in my grid (blush).

  10. Reasonably enjoyable crossword, nice to have something more testing than usual on a Monday morning. No idea who the cartoonist in 3d is, but it didn’t matter anyway. Podium places to 3a, 22a, 2d and 5d.

    2.5* / 2.5*

    Many thanks to Campbell and to Falcon.

  11. Very good puzzle which I managed to finish with only two visits to the Word Wizard but needed Falcon’s help to parse two or three which I knew were right but couldn’t have explained to save my life.

    Many good clues of which 9 and 10a, and 5d are my picks. I think Campbell is making us work harder each Monday without making things surreal. Many thanks to him and to Falcon for his help and the blog.

  12. Finished eventually. In probably **/*** time but did not find it terribly enjoyable. Just a bit annoying. Perhaps it was because I had to think a bit more than usual and stretch my memory to include some of the answers. Had to look up a synonym for 1d even though it is obvious. I’ve no idea who the cartoonist is (sorry if you are reading this) and only got 14a because I had the last three letters. The e version of the clue is shown as 8, 5. It’s annoying however to have an anagram of “a fictional character”. Impossible if you don’t know it. Similarly what is stroke play and is it not two words. I presume it’s something to do with golf.

    1. Stroke play is the usual method of scoring golf in which the winner is the player who takes the fewest strokes to complete the course (as contrasted with match play in which the winner is the player who wins the most holes).

      Charles Addams (1912-1988), who signed his work as Chas Addams, was an American cartoonist whose Addams Family cartoons appeared in the New Yorker magazine. The cartoons inspired (among other things) a television series, several feature films and a Broadway musical.

      Several members of the macabre Addams Family appear on the cover of this collection of his cartoons:

      http://bigdave44.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Dear-Dead-Days.jpg

      1. Re the spelling of 20a, Lexico (Oxford), Collins and the Chambers 21st Century Dictionary (the online version of Chambers) all give the spelling as two words. The BRB is the only source where I found the single word version (which is shown as an alternative spelling).

  13. 3d was a bit Hanseatic League-ish in terms of GK requirements; however it’s Campbell and everything must be forgiven, always.
    Terrific puzzle, a little more challenging than usual for me.

    Because ‘The Youngster’ was there, we watched Kendrick Lamar at Glastonbury last night. All the critics raved about his ‘sensational’ performance. We have never felt so disconnected with the mores of modern popular music.

    Thanks to Campbell and The Ottowan Avian.

    1. Indeed. I am a big music fan and I always watch as much TV coverage of Glastonbury as possible. Last night, I switched Kendrick Lamar off after 15 minutes – absolutely dire! One of my favourites this year was the set by (previously unknown to me) Olivio Rodrigo and her all-girl band. Not really my preferred type of music, but certainly very entertaining. If only I was 50 years younger …

        1. In a nutshell, No. I’m sure they will help the job along though. I’d take anything if it helped me get Kendrick Lamar or The Carpenters

  14. That was a great start to the cruciverbal week involving minimal aggro. 22a had to be but was unparsed by me. Fav was 23a for its brief, smooth surface. 3d was last in since (Christian) Adams, once of the Daily Telegraph, wouldn’t fit and I didn’t think of U.S. Addams Family creator. Struggled to find a top pun for the Quickie but faute de mieux settled on IQ – wrong! TVM Campbell for the fun and Falcon for being there for us.

  15. A bit of a tussle with yesterday’s Dada puzzle first but no problems with these 2 fine puzzles this morning. The bonus one for me was the easier of the two but both brisk solves with only the artist & the Texan city unfamiliar & requiring confirmation.
    Thanks to Campbell & Falcon

    1. Quite agree with the “fine puzzle” assessment for the online-only bonus Campbell challenge (and that it was slightly easier) : an enjoyable and satisfying challenge, with plenty of smiles throughout. Some great clues and plenty of red herrings. The Texan city was new to me, too, but some crackers were on offer there, with 6d possibly my COTD between the two puzzles, and 15d a close runner-up.

  16. Got off to a slow start with this one but rapidly picked up pace once a few checkers were in place. Like others, I did have to check on the cartoonist but fortunately he was clued clearly enough.
    Top of my pile was 3a – very clever spot by our compiler.

    Thanks to Campbell and to Falcon for the review.

  17. It’s Monday :good: – the start of a four day week this week. It’s Campbell :good: – although I thought that he was not as much fun as usual and somewhat un-Campbell-like with needing to find more than one pun in the Quickie for confirmation that it was him. He did redeem himself in the OLPP!

    Favourite – a toss-up between 24a and 19d – and the winner is 24a.

    Thanks to Campbell and to Falcon.

  18. Found this tough for a Monday and, had there not been two Quickie puns, I would have doubted the setter was Campbell. I didn’t know the cartoonist and started to write “trachea” in 6d (wild cat and reindeer’s head). After that I could not see beyond the letters of “trachea” that had been entered. I suppose that is an advantage of doing the puzzle on line because wrong entries can be deleted. In 3a, the only source of irritation I ever think of is “itch” so I didn’t get far with that clue.

    My COTD is 24a because it flowed so well.

    Many thanks, Campbell for the thrashing. Thank you, Falcon for making sense of those I couldn’t get.

  19. I agree with so much which has already been written – didn’t know the cartoonist but it was all in the clue, George thinks 20a should be two words, enjoyed the GWTW anagram though I had forgotten she had a double ‘t’. Daisies by 3,12 & 26a and 5,6 & 16d. Many thanks to Campbell and Falcon. I’ve started a SIBO test today eating only rice, plain chicken and two eggs which I had on the specified white bread with one tablespoon of butter for the whole day. Then I fast for 12 hours and do the test every 15mins 10 times. Such fun. White supermarket bread is Yuk. I almost begin to sympathise with Terence and ‘the bits’.

  20. A Nice Mondayish puzzle with very helpful checking letters. Didn’t know the cartoonist and I’m certainly not looking him or her up. Margaret Mitchell’s heroine fell as quickly into my arms as she did into Rhett Butlers. Had to smile at 8 across. “Sorry I’m late Miss, my mother got burnt this morning” “Oh dear not badly I hope”. “Well they don’t mess about at the crem Miss”
    Thanks to Campbell and Falcon

  21. A real mixture of excellent clues such as 1d and some dreadful ones such as 25a and 22a. I have no idea who 3d is or was and the rest of clue was very clumsy.
    Not my favourite by any means but we have had worse.
    ***/**
    Thx for the hints to explain the above.

  22. In my opinion not very mondayish, a DNF for me . Still tomorrow’s another day, a rather obvious statement. Thanks to all.

  23. I’m afraid that I still don’t get 11a. “The usual two-letter party”? Some help from a kind and patient person would be appreciated.

    1. Welcome to the blog and no need to hesitate to ask for clarification. That’s why we are here.

      You are looking for a DO, apparently a very common (especially in Crosswordland) British term for a party.

  24. Yes, certainly a stiffer Monday task today from Campbell, good clueing and the checkers helped me through to a finish in reasonable time.
    Last in was 3a to clear the NE, but the SE was the toughest corner I found.
    Thanks to the setter and Falcon for the parsing.

  25. Crikey!! … Falcon wasn’t kidding with this being a ‘sterner’ puzzle than we are used to from Campbell on a Monday. I struggled mightily with this. 4*/2.5*
    Favourites today include8a, 24a, 6d & 15d with winner for it’s simplicity 24a
    Now to try the OLPP

    Thanks to Campbell and Falcon

  26. Shuddered to a halt with 1d and 10a to go.
    These, alone, took 4* time to solve without assistance!
    And in spite of getting the unknown to me cartoonist.
    16 and 17d brilliant clues.
    All round great challenge from Campbell who I would undoubtedly promote to Thursday, say.
    Many thanks, indeed, and to Falcon.

  27. Thanks to Campbell and to Falcon for the review and hints. A very enjoyable puzzle to start the week. The top half went in without a hitch. Had never heard of 3d, but the wordplay was clear. Luckily I had the actual newspaper, so the apostrophe gifted me 14a. The bottom half certainly took me a while. Favourite was 12a. Was 3* / 4* for me.

  28. It has all been said, A trickier than usual offering today, but still good fun. Thanks to Falcon and Campbell.

  29. Well I thought this more Mondayish than the last few weeks than some of our more esteemed solvers so maybe for once I was on wavelength. I rather enjoyed this pleasant diversion after having spent the afternoon at my uncle Nev’s funeral, in reality we lost him some years ago but still sad to see him actually go. Favourite was 12a. Thanks to Falcon and Campbell

  30. Thoroughly enjoyed this solve today.

    Needed to google 3d.

    For me, 2d was a new meaning for both heavenly and the cake decoration.

    Last one in was 1d and I’m amazed it took me so long for the penny to drop.

    Thanks to all.

  31. 4*/4*…..
    liked 5D “Other half to make changes? Say nothing! (5,3)”….
    quickie took longer than usual.

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