DT 30079 – Big Dave's Crossword Blog
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DT 30079

by Mr K  

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30079

Hints and tips by Mr K

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BD Rating  -  Difficulty ** -  Enjoyment ***

Hello, everyone, and welcome.  Typically Tuesdayish fun is on offer today. 

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. Clicking on a picture will enlarge it or display a bonus illustration and a hover (computer) or long press (mobile) might explain more about the picture. Please leave a comment telling us how you got on.

 

Across

1a    Train prices soon exploded (10)
PROCESSION:  An anagram (exploded) of PRICES SOON 

6a    Singer's ear cut twice (4)
LULU:  All but the last letter (cut) of an informal word for ear is repeated (twice) 

10a   Rubbish tips in Wales are spoiling the environment (5)
WASTE:  The first letters of (tips in) the remaining words in the clue

11a   Nude sends rude shot (9)
UNDRESSED:  An anagram (shot) of SENDS RUDE. This cat might be described as 11a 

12a   More attractive Parisian ready to marry Romeo (8)
PRETTIER:  Concatenate the French (Parisian) word for ready (think fashion or sandwiches), marry or connect, and the letter represented in the NATO phonetic alphabet by Romeo 

13a   Large panties oddly discarded right after that (5)
LATER:  Link together the clothing abbreviation for large, the even (oddly discarded) letters of PANTIES, and the single letter for right 

15a   Flipping moment unruly adolescent's let out (7)
EMITTED:  The reversal (flipping) of a synonym of moment is followed by an unruly adolescent, possibly from the 1950s

17a   One could deal with canine -- it's barking in depression (7)
DENTIST:  An anagram (barking) of IT’S inserted in a depression in a sheet of metal, for example 

19a   Holidaymakers might carry this toboggan in silence? On the contrary (7)
LUGGAGE:  Inverting the wordplay (on the contrary) we insert silence or prevent from speaking in a scary type of toboggan 

21a   Hearing sounds coming back carrying son (7)
SESSION:  The reversal (coming back) of some generic sounds containing (carrying) the genealogical abbreviation for son 

22a   Cool church after cold breeze (5)
CINCH:  Cool or trendy and an abbreviation for church come after the single letter for cold 

24a   Current keeping river hot and steamy (8)
TROPICAL:  Current or contemporary containing (keeping) the map abbreviation for river 

27a   Wrong rock concert I reviewed initially (9)
INCORRECT:  An anagram (rock) of CONCERT I and the initial letter of REVIEWED 

28a   Leaves working site, cross inside (5)
EXITS:  An anagram (working) of SITE containing the letter that looks like a cross (cross inside) 

29a   Somewhat insane Roman? (4)
NERO:  The wordplay tells us that the answer is hidden as part of (somewhat) the final two words in the clue.  The entire clue can serve as the definition 

30a   Stands for religious education awards (10)
REPRESENTS:  The abbreviation for religious education with a verb synonym of awards 

 

Down

1d    Find fault with swallowing wife's hock (4)
PAWN:  Criticise or find fault with containing (swallowing) the genealogical abbreviation for wife 

2d    Watching old boy waiting (9)
OBSERVING:  The abbreviation for old boy with waiting or attending 

3d    Competition still tense (5)
EVENT:  Still or yet with the grammatical abbreviation for tense 

4d    Second time university cut out what undergraduate did? (7)
STUDIED:  Link together the single letter for second, the physics symbol for time, the single letter for university, and cut out  (e.g. a signal)

5d    Told editor to support book (7)
ORDERED:  The abbreviation for editor comes after (to support, in a down clue) book or reserve

7d    Out of bed before usual alarm (5)
UPSET:  “Out of bed” is placed before usual or scheduled 

8d    Get below platform (10)
UNDERSTAND:  Below or beneath with a platform or support 

9d    Emotions from two Europeans engaged in love affairs (8)
FEELINGS:  Two copies of the single letter for European are inserted in (engaged in) some love affairs

14d   Sending back trifle once sick (10)
REFLECTION:  An anagram (sick) of TRIFLE ONCE 

16d   Masters perhaps juggling three cats without finally getting scratched (8)
TEACHERS:  An anagram (juggling) of THREE CATS minus the last letter of WITHOUT (without finally getting scratched) 

18d   Topless bar is fake (9)
IMITATION:  Bar or restriction minus its first letter (topless) 

20d   Furthest former watercourse, we're told? (7)
EXTREME:  A homophone (we’re told) of the usual short word for former and a watercourse or small river 

21d   Drink and the Queen gets fatter (7)
STOUTER:  A dark beer with the Latin abbreviation for Queen Elizabeth 

23d   Better run south of French city (5)
NICER:  The cricket abbreviation for run comes after (south of, in a down clue) a city on the French Riviera 

25d   Partly gives me time to go over things (5)
ITEMS:  The answer is hidden inside the reversal of (Partly … to go over) the remaining words in the clue 

26d   Snakes quietly tucking into animal (4)
ASPS:  The musical abbreviation for quietly or softly inserted in (tucking into) an animal that’s a beast of burden 

 

Thanks to today’s setter. Top clue for me was 12a. Which clues did you like best?

The Quick Crossword pun:  SUE + PUP + HOURS = SUPERPOWERS

58 comments on “DT 30079”

  1. With the half dozen anagrams and a couple of lurkers this one unravelled as a */*** pleasant Tuesday coffee puzzle. I enjoyed 12&19a and 8d and of those 12a the most. Thanks MrK and the setter.

  2. Great crossword; enormous fun to work through.
    Oh you’re always enthusiastic when you finish a puzzle unaided
    This is true. I don’t say “Terrific crossword but I only solved two clues…”

    Thanks to the setter and The Celebrated Mr K.

    Beatles on Tuesday (Paul McCartney and 6a):

  3. I really enjoyed this with some super clues. Favourite was 19a just beating the clever surface read of 16d. Honourable mention to 8d, 15a and 22a. Thanks to the setter and Mr K.

  4. An enjoyable romp today and a **/*** as per 2K’s ,last in was 12d which took a while to parse the ‘ready’ bit-was thinking of the money until ‘a manger’ came to mind
    6a made me smile-thanks 2K for the pic-will try it later.
    Favourite was 15a followed by 19a.
    Liked the quickie pun.

  5. 2*/3.5*. I thought this was light but enjoyable, and I’ll piggy-back off NAS’s top picks: 12a, 19a & 8d.

    Many thanks to the setter and to Mr K.

  6. As typically Tuesdayish as it can get – **/****.

    Candidates for favourite – 12a. 19a, 5d, and 9d – and the winner is the popular 12a.

    Thanks to the setter and Mr K.

    P.S. For me, Dada more friendly than he was on Sunday in today’s Toughie.

  7. A fairly straightforward and enjoyable puzzle with some good lego clues, anagrams and a sprinkling of GK. I liked 22a and the well misdirected 19a and 21a. Thanks to Mr K for the hints and pictures and to the compiler for a very friendly and approachable ..crossword.

  8. No cruciverbal Quickie pun essential to crack this gentle puzzle. All very enjoyable & nicely clued. I’ll plump for 15&19a plus 9d on my podium. 16d surface very appropriate for our reviewer.
    Thanks to the setter & Mr K
    Ps – much gentler start to the Toughie week today though still a couple shy of completion.

  9. Another piggy-backer here, can’t improve on the choices made by NAS. Sadly, I have to concur with 10a. Please, holidaymakers, deposit your rubbish in a bin or take it home with you.

    Thanks to our setter for the fun and to Mr K for another great review – loved the A-board at 18d and I’ve often wondered what some of those site ‘workers’ do with their time!

    1. Jane , did you see that disgusting picture of the mess left after the
      Reading Festival? An absolute disgrace. And the abandoned tents! I hope they are collected up and sent to folks who do not have any shelter.

      1. Yes, I did see that, DG. A friend of mine who used to attend the IOM TT told me that all the tents are indeed collected and sent to places where they are needed – I do hope that’s true.
        It’s another sad instance of the modern ‘throw-away’ society.

  10. You have excelled yourself Mr K with your illustrations today.
    Thanks to the setter for this gentle, funny crossword. I slowed up in the South but nonetheless **/****
    Favourites 17a, 16, 18d

  11. I haven’t tackled the puzzle yet – that is a lunchtime treat, but was just glancing at the paper whilst drinking my mud morning coffee. Reading the letter page I wondered, has anyone ever met a pocketless woman? It struck me as very funny.

    1. Daisy – is it the ‘mud’ in your morning coffee that helps you remain so youthful and nimble?

  12. What a likeable puzzle, so well clued and altogether enjoyable, with great surfaces. Hard to pick a podium, but I’ve settled on 19a, 12a, & 15a. Thanks ro Mr K and today’s setter. ** / ****

    Delighted to have finished a nicely teasing Toughie last night.

    And I have just read the book of the year (so far) for me: It’s Lawrence Osborne’s On Java Road, set in Hong Kong during recent demonstrations–but a whole lot more than that. Quite different from the city where I spent a few days back in the 1970s.

    1. I have just been captivated by Sweet Caress, William Boyd. I still cannot quite believe that Amory was not a real person!

      1. DG – I am halfway through Sweet Caress -thoroughly enjoying it – so well written

        As for the crossword – light, fun and over too soo.n

  13. It was enlightening to read Mr K’s explanations of several of the clues which went in because of the checkers. So a big thank you to him for his good work and for the lovely naked cat. I never like tattoos on the other creature in the picture.

    12 and 19a my favourites today. And thank you to the setter.

  15. Hello all – it’s been a while. Good to see some old faces and new.

    I don’t often do Telegraph crosswords these days, but sometimes someone or other sends me the Tuesday puzzle.

    1a is sadly ever true, and as I will be visiting Wales next month I may have a chance to check out 10a – but hopefully not. No rubbish tip trips planned anyway …

    20d/24a prompted me to think, could a hot and steamy watercourse be described as streamy?

    Simple elegance in 8d and also in 18d, which amused me greatly.

    Oh, and please don’t juggle cats, folks!

    Thanks to the setter and blogger, and best wishes to BD.

    5. Thank you all (including Young Salopian below). :)

      I won’t be around regularly, what with work and other things, but I do hope not to be a stranger.

  16. Certainly a Monday plus puzzle.
    Neatly and elegantly clued, eg 12 and 17a.
    13a made me chuckle.
    In 1.5* time.
    Many thanks to the setter and to Mr. K, nicely illustrated review.

  17. Nice to relax with a gentle, enjoyable puzzle after a hectic family Bank Holiday weekend! Favourites 12a and 9d. H’mm…might even tackle the Toughie after another coffee……

  18. A very enjoyable start to the week proper. Thanks for the hints MrK – I was determined the adolescent in 15a was a teen until you set me right!

    1. Me too. I don’t think that part of the answer is necessarily an adolescent or unruly.

    2. I started off going down that same unruly adolescent path. I expect that’s just what our devious setter hoped we’d do.

  19. An enjoyable way to kick off the cruciverbal week. 23d is rather a loose match for better. North a bit more stubborn than the South. Wasted time working on a dog for 17a until my jaw dropped. Fav was 19a. Like the Quickie pun. Thank you Mysteron and MrK.

  20. A very gentle, fun and entertaining puzzle that just hit the spot after a long walk. I cannot look beyond the excellent 12a for a very popular favourite clue, although 10a gave it a good run for the money.

    My thanks to both Misters involved. And what a lovely surprise to see a posting by Kitty after what seems like a long absence.

  21. Very nice puzzle to accompany my lunch. I got ready to shout at a golfy clue (see how sporty I am getting, Masters = golf!) but then got the anagram – so that is my favourite clue 16d. Younger grandson starts his first job on Thursday teaching Physics so wish him luck after all he’s been through with his parents. I rang the dispensary this morning, about to start taking erythromycin prior to an extraction next Monday. Thought I’d better read the leaflet and it says do not take if you are on Digoxin. Well I am. She said she would check with the doctor and ring me back immediately. That was four hours ago. Very frustrating. However, I am wandering. Many thanks to the setter and to Mr K – I am a little worried about the two undressed females – the cat looks quite alarmed.

    1. Best of luck to your grandson, DG, some people deserve every opportunity that comes their way.

      1. .y best wishes to your grandson, Daisy. I enjoyed my 40 years as a teacher and was fortunate to teach my subject in a boys compfehensive i London docklands, a girls comprehensive in Didcot and a co-+ed school in Wantage. It’s tough for the first year and you catch every minor ailment going around but it’s worth it. Start as you mean to go on, you can relax a bit later and take your Vitamin C.

    2. Hi, DG. Please relay my best wishes to your grandson as he starts an important job. The world needs both physicists and citizens who understand some physics.

      There are a few pics on the internet of similar undressed combo. Those cats always seem to have that expression. I wonder if they know they’re naked.

  22. Another nice crossword 😃**/*** Favourites 6a, 9d & 26d 👍 Thanks to Mr K and to the Compiler

  23. I did not enjoy this as much as yesterday’s and it took me longer. I was slower in the bottom half. Unlike others I did not like 16s at all. 21 and 24a and 9 and 20d favourites. We are all different but I did personally find much to smile about. Thanks Setter.Thanks Mr K / I did not have problems with the pardon apart from 15a.

  24. Great fun, galloping through with smiles and chuckles aplenty. Ticks hither and thither, so shall limit the Hon Mentions to 19a, 22a, 29a, 8d and COTD 20d.

    1* / 3*

    It felt very much like a creation from the pen of Chalicea, but whether to her or another setter my thanks, and also to Mr K for the review.

  25. For whatever reason I struggled with this one today. For me 3*/3*
    SE was my big hold up today along with a sprinkling of clues in the SW too.
    Must be the heat again that arrived back yesterday for us on West Coast of BC

    Favourites include 6a, 17a, 22a, 9d, 8d & 20d — with 20d my winner

    Thanks to setter and Mr K

  26. What a great way to relax after having a tooth pulled by a very kind and gentle dentist. And 17a is therefore my favourite clue even though the victim today was a (huge) molar!!! Thank you setter and MrK!

    1. I believe Senf was comparing today’s Toughie with the Sunday back pager, both of which were set by Dada. We don’t know who created this puzzle. I do hope they will drop in and take a bow.

  28. I agree that this was an enjoyable crossword, finished despite a stressful day. Favourite clue 22a.

  30. A 1.5*/3* for me today – much fun to be had, but I seemed to be on the right wavelength. 20d my personal favourite.

    Thanks to the setter and to Mr K

  31. Thoroughly enjoyed this straightforward Tuesday puzzle. I’ve added ready to my limited French vocabulary as it occurred recently, I’m up to about 5 words now. Favourite was 6a, what a good looking girl. Rumours of an affair with me were exaggerated, I think they were getting her mixed up with Joan Collins. 😁 thanks to the setter and Mr. K. Back to the toughie now.

  33. I’m still behind with these. Finished this morning, but I struggled, and resorted to computer assistance for pretty much all the anagrams. Thank you to the setter (several clues that made me smile; I think I concur with Mr K on 12a being my favourite) and Mr K for explaining the ones I didn’t understand.

  34. 3*/4*…entertaining puzzle…
    liked 17A “One could deal with canine — it’s barking in depression (7)”

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