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DT 30102

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30102

Hints and tips by Falcon

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BD Rating – Difficulty *Enjoyment ***

Greetings from Ottawa, where autumn is firmly entrenched with daytime highs in the mid-teens and overnight lows dipping to near frost level. Fortunately, we were well out of the path of hurricane Fiona and thus escaped the devastation that she wreaked on Atlantic Canada.

Today’s offering from Campbell was finished in what is probably a new personal record. In fact, the Quickie likely took as long to complete.

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

1a   Both shout wickedly about rookie’s first sort of moustache (10)
TOOTHBRUSH — an anagram (wickedly) of the first two words wrapped around the initial letter of rookie

6a   Some seafarers, a long way away (4)
AFAR — hidden in (some) the second word

10a   Suffer at home with scoundrel (5)
INCUR — string together the usual term for at home and a scoundrel or rogue

11a   Traffic warden needs me to help after call (5,4)
METER MAID — start with the ME from the clue, then append a word meaning to help following a verb denoting to call or name

12a   Obvious victory for former PM (7)
BALDWIN — obvious (like a shaven head) and victory or triumph

13a   Expose and rile eccentric office worker with a long commute? (7)
OUTLIER — expose or make public and an anagram (eccentric) of RILE

14a   Urge wards to bring a prosecution (5,7)
PRESS CHARGES — to urge insistently and wards or persons under one’s care

18a   Their sisters trained dogs (5,7)
IRISH SETTERS — an anagram (trained) of the first two words

21a   Tourist runs into truck (7)
TRIPPER — the cricket symbol for runs carried in a lorry that discharges its cargo by means of gravity

23a   Light tail of razorbill, an aquatic bird (7)
LANTERN — a charade consisting of the final letter of razorbill, the AN from the clue and an aquatic bird with a forked tail

24a   Crowd harvesting (9)
GATHERING — double definition, the first a noun and the second a verb

25a   One failing to win in close race (5)
LOSER — hidden in (in) the final two words

26a   Go for a spin (4)
TURN — double definition, both nouns (the second a noun by dint of its accompanying article)

27a   Unusually, we’re on hand at this time (4,3,3)
HERE AND NOW — an anagram (unusually) of the three following words

Down

1d   Attempt to secure one pound for felt hat (6)
TRILBY — another word for attempt containing a Roman one and the abbreviation for pound as a unit of weight; this style of hat was favoured by Leonard Cohen

2d   Working with Charlie, everyone standing by (2,4)
ON CALL — concatenate working or functioning, the letter represented by Charlie in the NATO alphabet and another word for everyone

3d   One who idolises what Leander was? (4-10)
HERO WORSHIPPER — the second part of the clue is a cryptic description of a lover from Greek myth

4d   Talk about the old days, about short skirts, clubs, and start of experimentation (9)
REMINISCE — line up a short Latin preposition denoting about or concerning, Mary Quant’s abbreviated skirts, the playing card designation for clubs and the initial letter of experimentation

5d   Conflict in group over head relinquishing power (3-2)
SETTO — a group or collection preceding (over in a down clue) a word meaning head or uppermost part from which the physics symbol for power is discarded (relinquishing)

7d   Something pink on flag I’m waving (8)
FLAMINGO — an anagram (waving) of the three preceding words

8d   Flag examined, we’re told, then put out (3,5)
RED CROSS — the first word sounds like (we’re told) a word meaning examined (as in the case of written material) which is followed by put out or ill-humoured

9d   Soul singer‘s heart broken by a candid and short note (6,8)
ARETHA FRANKLIN — a charade comprising an anagram (broken) of HEART, the A from the clue, another word for candid and a note or brief letter from which the final letter is discarded (short)

15d   Flabbergasted at cagoule in mail-order book (9)
CATALOGUE — an anagram (flabbergasted) of the two following words

16d   Model intoxicated, so stay put (3,5)
SIT TIGHT — model or pose and a colloquial term for intoxicated

17d   Member of the clergy I located in large church (8)
MINISTER — the I from the clue inserted in a large church or cathedral

19d   Serious crime: leader denied motive (6)
REASON — a serious crime of betrayal from which the initial letter is discarded (leader denied)

20d   One after the other forming a line (2,1,3)
IN A ROW — double definition, with (perhaps) the first being temporal and the second spatial

22d   Inflate article during ascent (5)
RAISE — a grammatical article inserted into another word for ascent

I liked 18a and 21a which both brought a smile to my lips and I thought 4d (despite the pretty obvious definition) was well crafted. For my favourite, I will go with 9d, another clue with a lovely surface, which was one of my last to solve.


Quickie Pun (Top Row): SOW + WORK + ROUT = SAUERKRAUT

Quickie Pun (Middle Row): SHY + ANN = CHEYENNE

Quickie Pun (Bottom Row) : STAY + TUSK + WOE = STATUS QUO


61 comments on “DT 30102

  1. Yup, a most enjoyable romp while it lasted, and the QC at a similar pace (good puns!), but nonetheworse for that on a grey damp Monday morning, so thank you Campbell!

    A shame there is still no OLPP for a second dose of our Monday maestro: I strugle to see any improvement or benefit in the appalling new puzzle site, and fear there may be a hefty price hike to come for renewals of puzzles-only subs over the coming months, given what they’re pricing it at for new subscribers.

    Back to the backpager – smiles aplenty throughout, with COTD to 11a for the laugh-out-loud moment.

    0.5* / 3*

    Many thanks to Campbell and to Falcon – that hurricane was quite something, and one can only sympathise for all those caught in its destructive path.

  2. Glad to hear Falcon escaped the devastation in his country. This was a gentle start to the week and his rating is bang on for me. A pleasant diversion during birthday bacon and eggs with a helpful smattering of lurkers and anagrams. No particular stand outs for me. Thanks to F and the setter.

      1. Currently sojourning at She Who Must Be Obeyed’s father’s farm pending completion of our new house mid Oct. Rescued a wandering sheep yesterday so all quite exciting. A bit murky up in Mary Tavy! Thank you and the other kind correspondents for birthday wishes. Most appreciated! 68 by the way. Pip pip.

    1. George gets bacon and eggs on birthdays and non- church Sundays. Trouble is he also lusts after black pudding. He loved Yorkshire last week! Happy birthday.

  3. I can’t say I was overly inspired by this. Not that there was anything particularly wrong with it but it was all perhaps a little too straightforward and quaint. Still, I enjoyed filling it in so many thanks to Campbell and Falcon.

  4. I tend to agree with SL on this one: almost too straightforward to be truly enjoyable. It really wasn’t much of a challenge to be honest, and probably represented my fastest ever solve. Several clues were noteworthy, however, with 11a and the Quickie puns coming out on top of the pile.

    Many thanks to Campbell and Falcon.

  5. Reacquainted with some old friends.
    Nevertheless, worthwhile practice.
    The long ones, eg 9d, greatly assisted a fast solve.
    Certainly */****.
    Many thanks, Campbell and Falcon.

  6. 0.5*/3*. This was very light but fun with particular nods to 25a, 3d, 9d and the two Quickie puns.

    Many thanks to Campbell and to Falcon.

  7. Happy birthday NAS and a breakfast treat you lucky thing! A straightforward puzzle but most enjoyable notwithstanding, with ongoing leaps from a lurker to a double definition to a well disguised anagram an all with that sprinkling of General Knowledge like the condiments on a good meal. Favourites were 15d, with its great surface, 9d, one of tthe late greats of soul music, 7d and 13d with its aside to GK. Thanks to Falcon for the hints, glad you escaped Fiona’s wrath. Thanks to Campbell for a great puzzle to brighten a damp washing day morning.

    1. I was quite upset last night to see how the adult 7ds abandoned their babies to learn to fly on their own, with great lumps of ice weighing them down ( I’m talking about David Attenborough). How unnatural.

      1. Yes, Daisy. Nature is full of surprises. Like you, I thought a b beautiful creature would always have similarly beautiful habits. Afew years ago I read an article, in the RSPBB magazine, ithink, about rhe beautiful goldfinch, whxifch often graces my garden feeders. Apparently it is quite nneglectful about cleaning its nest of droppings and other debris from its nestlings. Its nests have one of the highest counts of bacteria etc of most nesting birds. I was quite disillusioned.

  8. Fast and fun enough for a Monday morning, with 9d winning my heart again (her celebrated rendition of ‘Nessun Dorma’ at an awards ceremony sent chills all over me), and I rather liked 4d too. Thanks to Falcon and Campbell. * / ***

  9. Very straightforward today but none the worse for that as the week starts with a finish on my own. Not many of those at all these days.

    11 and 21a for honourable mentions today with many thanks to Campbell for a cheerful start to the week. Thanks too to Falcon and good to hear you were not ravished by Fiona.

  10. Always good fun when our setter brings us one of his Monday confidence-boosters.
    Biggest smiles went to 11&14a plus 4&9.

    Thanks to Campbell and to Falcon – so pleased to hear that you escaped the clutches of Fiona.

  11. It’s Monday :good: It’s Campbell :good: */****

    Candidates for favourite – 14a, 4d, 9d, and 16d – and the winner is 16d.

    Thanks to Campbell and to Falcon.

  12. In my version, 14a and 18a were both listed as 12-letter single words.
    This new web page for the puzzles is a bit buggy. It keeps telling me I haven’t finished certain puzzles, even though I have, and the features such as skip filled squares and auto-check answers don’t work. Maybe it’s the browser I’m using (Chrome on a Mac) but I mention it here in case anyone from the Daily Telegraph is reading. Thanks for the puzzle anyway.

  13. I do find it slightly illogical that the Monday backpager is the easiest of the week when one has no Toughie to
    fall back on for a proper test. Like others , I finished this in record time and just felt it was poor ”value for money”.
    Nothing wrong with the clues ,but just far too easy.

    1. Simon, if you are looking for a more challenging puzzle today, may I suggest the superb Rookie Corner puzzle available on this website?

  14. Hurrah a proper Monday Crossword again 😃 **/**** Favourites 11a & 23a 👍. Thanks to the Falcon and to Campbell DCO

  15. Nice start to the week, nothing too taxing except perhaps my last in 8d which took a little thought to fully parse.
    Thx to all
    **/***

  16. Enjoyed sailing through this friendly exercise which evoked no specific Fav but I do have to admit to being left with 9d unsolved prior to consultation with Mr. Google. Liked both Quickie puns. Thanks Campbell for a gentle start to week and Falcon for being there for us in case of need.

  17. Perfect for a Monday 😊. Could people desist from 0.5*, too easy or too hard remarks. It’s only a crossword, suck it up as MP would say( I think?). Thanks to all.

  18. Thanks Campbell – a nice start to the week and nothing really held me up (for a change) although I can never avoid the usual “doh” moments. Thanks also to Falcon whose explanations are always crystal clear (can’t always be that easy to do).

    1. We do miss your online puzzle Campbell. Have a word with the Ed or we may have to organise a petition to be handed into Telegraph HQ.

  19. I thought this straightforward. I had wondered why no-one else had mentioned the third pun – short and sweet as it was.
    I enjoyed the puzzle but over too soon. I’ll probably regret saying that tomorrow when faced with a ‘stinker’!

  20. I like the way Jane called this a confidence booster – we all need these because, as someone has just says, we are doing this of our own free will presumably for enjoyment! I enjoyed it, still struggling with yesterday’s toughie, so it was a relief to cruise on this one and laugh at the 3 puns. Many thanks to Campbell & Falcon, that doughty firm of Dickensian solicitors. Well , they could have been.

  21. Yes indeed a confidence booster as not managed unaided solve for a while So thanks to Campbell and Falcon for the hints Fave was 4d and LOI 13a

  22. I enjoyed today’s puzzle though struggled with 13a. It isn’t a word that I am familiar with but obviously partly an anagram so in it went! Many thanks to Campbell and Falcon. It was terrible seeing the houses sliding off the cliffs into the tempestuous seas in Newfoundland. Falcon it was a relief to hear that being in Ottawa you have not been affected by Hurricane Fiona.

  23. Thanks Campbell and Falcon.
    I broke my stride twice. Initially trying to shoehorn my beloved terrier into 18a (it looked so inviting). And secondly adopting a somewhat medical spelling for the soul singer. I do this all the time.

    1. You weren’t alone in madly charging off down the terrier route only to discover it to be a dead end.

  24. Every week everyone tries to convince me that Monday crosswords are easy – trust me, they’re not! Everyone has being doing it for years, even in way back in days of Rufus – it’s always to do with wavelength . . .
    I’ve never heard of a toothbrush moustache apart in a crossword and I always forget that.
    I’m not good with soul singers but did eventually get that when the letters jump out at me.
    I’ll stick with the sisters training their dogs only my sister and I had collies – of course!!
    Thanks to Campbell and to Falcon.

    1. I’m with you Kath, I don’t always find Campbell easy!
      Having said that, I actually didn’t struggle today although I’d never heard of the traffic warden, so had to check that. Even quite enjoyed it!
      Thanks to Campbell and Falcon

  25. I am a little surprised Terence hasn’t done so already so I will

    Fine puzzle not as fast as our blogger today but I am watching the 3 best quizzes on telly Mastermind, Only Connect and University Challenge.
    Thanks To Campbell and Falcon

  26. It is a good while since I commented, as I save the Cryptic for my bedtime reading & often as an insomniac exercise in the early hours. However just had a quick pre-look and rattled it off in the fastest ever time even for a Monday. So I suppose it’s back to counting sheep tonight! I get the impression that the Monday to Friday graduation of difficulty seems to have become a bit random over recent months? I read the blog every night and an awful lot has happened since I last commented, so I’m pleased to see that peace reigns again. Even my namesake, Brian, seems to.have mellowed.
    Thanks to Campbell & Falcon for today’s enjoyment & to all the setters, hinters, & bloggers; my 80 year old brain needs the daily exercise!

    1. I agree. The difficulty level through the week does seem more sporadic now. I don’t mind that though. Makes life that bit more interesting….

  27. A thankfully straightforward Monday crossword today having spent a few hours checking on my birds, the tawny owls, buzzards and the weather have been kind to us this year so very few deaths so far, then the inevitable few beers afterwards. Life is good. Hopefully my last funeral of the year tomorrow. Favourite was 9d. Thanks to Campbell and Falcon.

  28. Nice to complete a crossword with not too much of a struggle. Most enjoyable even if needing several visits over the day. Remembering Lovely Rita Meter Maid…?

  29. It’s Monday and it’s a Campbell … but took me forever to get to it. For me was 2.5*/3*
    Very late in finishing today as I and mrs. made a trip to see 4 yr old grandson who was admitted to emergency, (A&E in UK), critical trauma unit at Royal Columbian Hospital yesterday. He was having difficulty breathing as he has CLD that comes as a part of being born 15 weeks early. Long story there too. Turns out he has pneumonia as well as mild asthma.
    Will be in for a couple of days or until he can go 24 hrs without desatting below 90% blood oxygen.
    More inhalers and antibiotics too.

    Just finished Monday puzzle as Tuesday’s is released

    Candidates for favourite – 11a, 12a, 27a, 3d, & 9d – and the winner is 3d.

    Thanks to Campbell and Falcon.

  30. Busy all yesterday. French in the morning and visiting alpacas in the afternoon. Enjoyed it and it was a read and writes. Did not think I would get the singer but she jumped out when all the checkers were in, I had no problem with —a but she’s an old lady now and an American one I think. I don’t think many youngsters would know her. A good selection of clue types. Thanks Campbell and Falcon.

  31. Many thanks to Campbell for a puzzle I was able to finish unaided but which nevertheless gave me food for thought. Did not know 11a or 9d but they were quite easy to work out. You can’t please all of the people all of the time, but those at the lower end of the pay scale need a bit of encouragement some of the time. Thanks also to Falcon, and good that the hurricane passed you by.

  32. 2*/5*….
    liked 4D “Talk about the old days, about short skirts, clubs, and start of experimentation (9)”

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