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DT 30213

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30213

Hints and tips by Mr K

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BD Rating  -  Difficulty *** Enjoyment ****

Hello, everyone, and welcome to a RayT Thursday back pager. Lots to like and lots to smile about in this one. 

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    Import from Nice is facing upset (12)
SIGNIFICANCE:  An anagram (upset) of NICE IS FACING 

9a    Audacity namely concerning undergarment (9)
BRASSIERE:  Link together audacity or lip, an abbreviation that could mean namely, and on or concerning 

10a   Ring seating tip of ruby jewel (5)
PEARL:  Ring like a bell containing (seating) the first letter of (tip of) RUBY 

11a   Yale is broken with little effort (6)
EASILY:  An anagram (broken) of YALE IS 

12a   Paid idler as a drunk (8)
SALARIED:  An anagram (drunk) of IDLER AS A 

13a   Light refreshments with Queen for poser (6)
TEASER:  Some light refreshments with the Latin abbreviation for Queen Elizabeth 

15a   Nasty European retaining secure check (8)
BLOCKADE:  Nasty or not good and the single letter for European containing (retaining) secure or fasten 

18a   Worker purchasing grass before hard race (8)
MARATHON:  The best I can do here is a synonym of worker containing (purchasing) both grass or inform and the pencil abbreviation for hard. However, that interpretation leaves one letter in the answer unexplained, so either I’m missing something or there’s an error in the clue

19a   Some zinc over tin is concealed (6)
COVERT:  The answer is hidden in (some … is) the remainder of the clue 

21a   Shames Democrat as greed circulates (8)
DEGRADES:  The single letter for Democrat with an anagram (… circulates) of AS GREED 

23a   Look at article and fume (6)
SEETHE:  Look at or notice with a grammatical article 

26a   Mountain top following fault (5)
SINAI:  An adjective meaning top or first class is following a fault or misdeed 

27a   One can complain about English travelling (9)
ITINERANT:  The concatenation of the Roman one, a can for storing food, and complain angrily is containing (about) the single letter for English 

28a   Buzzing insects' queen producing extract (12)
QUINTESSENCE:  An anagram (buzzing) of INSECTS’ QUEEN 

 

Down

1d    Vulnerable  citizen (7)
SUBJECT:  A fairly straightforward double definition 

2d    Horned animals attack toreadors finally (5)
GOATS:  A (2,2) phrase meaning attack is followed by the final letter of TOREADORS 

3d    Bust is forward maintaining volume (9)
INSOLVENT:  Forward or disrespectful containing (maintaining) the physics symbol for volume 

4d    Improved cakes, enhancing decoration initially (4)
ICED:  The initial letters of the first four words in the clue 

5d    Adult males practised being compliant (8)
AMENABLE:  Put together the single letter for adult, some males, and practised or competent 

6d    Acquire practically unrefined coconut oil source (5)
COPRA:  A slang word for acquire with all but the last letter (practically) of a synonym of unrefined 

7d    Cover overdue taking a short time (8)
LAMINATE:  An adjective meaning overdue containing (taking) both A from the clue and an abbreviation for a short length of time 

8d    Penny left on shelf for deposit (6)
PLEDGE:  The single letter for penny followed by (left on, in a down clue) another word for shelf 

14d   Feeling better than you are! (8)
ARROGANT:  A cryptic definition. Feeling better than you are in a way that’s generally not admired 

16d   Miss head after class's first friendship (9)
CLOSENESS:  After the first letter of CLASS comes miss or mislay, and a head or cape 

17d   Fraud carrying maybe press card (8)
COMEDIAN:  A fraud containing (carrying) what the press defines by example (maybe

18d   Inexpensive fashion seen on street (6)
MODEST:  Fashion or style with the abbreviation for street 

20d   Fan letters providing support (7)
TRESTLE:  An anagram (fan) of LETTERS 

22d   Nice valediction? (5)
ADIEU:  A cryptic definition, where Nice refers to the Mediterranean resort 

24d   Fellow absorbing American writer (5)
TWAIN:  Fellow or matching containing (absorbing) the single letter for American 

25d   Nibble from little sweetheart (4)
BITE:  A synonym of little with the letter at the heart of SWEET 

 

Thanks to today’s setter. Top clue for me was 27a and I also smiled at the quickie pun. Which clues did you like best?


The Quick Crossword pun:  AWES + TRAY + LEER = AUSTRALIA


78 comments on “DT 30213

  1. Brilliant puzzle! My page is absolutely littered with ticks. I’ll settle for listing 27a plus 2,17,20&24d with the super 9a as favourite. Top stuff.
    Maxx thanks to Misters T&K.
    Ps was thinking that the “Nice” at the front of the clue device is so well-worn that any misdirection would occur were it to be used there in its conventional sense!

  2. I thought this was pretty good today, although 18a has confused me – we seem to have an extra letter unaccounted for.

    Many thanks to RayT, and to MrK

  3. Good puzzle.
    I agree with Jezza about the parsing of 18a. Hopefully someone will explain.
    I liked the misdirection in the definition element of 1a, which makes it my CoD.
    Good to see our dear late queen appearing in 13a, but should she not be described as former? Discuss.
    Thanks to the “sweetheart” RayT and to the “feline” Mr K.

    1. On 13a – as there have been two ERs, without a regnal number, we do not know which one Ray T is referring to – the late one or the late, late one – :wink:

  4. This was a very clever puzzle and, after a few problems in the NW, I took a break to make my husband’s breakfast. When I went back to the guzzle, to my surprise, it fell into place in a flash. My favourites were 28a,16d and 9a but there were lots of other good clues. Thanks to Ray T for a super puzzle and to SL for the hints.

        1. It’s that bottle of. cough linctus. It’s strong stuff, Daisy. Guzzled was my best Freudiancslip typobto date.

  5. 2*/4*. Just what we would expect from RayT – great fun with 9a, 27a & 28a making up my podium.

    But have we got another clueing error today in 18a or am I missing something? I was disappointed not to see an apology printed in the paper for yesterday’s error.

    Many thanks to RayT and to Mr K.

    1. I wonder how many new commenters we will get today throwing a dart at 18a, not commenting on the overall puzzle, and never being heard from again – :wink:

      1. I just thought ooops, there’s an odd ‘o’ but it has to be and bunged it in. But whilst I love my guzzles, sorry, puzzles, I do have other things to do and worry about. Just enjoy!

  6. Welcome back to the Queen and the Sweetheart! Another almost-flawless work by our master of brevity and concision: however, like Mr K, I can’t get 18a to parse; something (like an S perhaps for ‘mason’ for ‘worker’?) is missing. Otherwise, I just loved this solve, especially 15a, 27a, & 2d. So nice also to have single-word clues in the Quickie. Many thanks to Mr K and to Ray T. 2*/4.5*

    Finally managed to complete a Toughie this week–had to wait until Thursday to do so.

  7. Found this a bit of a trudge but pressed on regardless and finally got there but not without needing a helping hand in the NE mainly due to 7d (of course I was working on insurance). 6d is a new one on me. Fav was 1a. Thank you RayT and MrK (wow what a cat-fest of hints!).

  8. Love Thursdays, love RayT and this puzzle was right up with his usual high standards of fun and challenge. I found anagrams in very convenient locations, particular 1a got me off to a flyer; I think it should be crossword law that 1a is an obvious anagram. I too noticed the extra letter in 18a so no fix yet to the online version (assuming it’s an error). I liked 9a, 15a, 14d and 17d for the surfaces and 15a, 17a and 7d which made me think a bit harder. My COTD, a bit controversially, is 18a because I’m a runner and it’s my choice! **/*****

    Thanks to RayT and MrK

  9. An enjoyable typical Mr T puzzle (pity about the apparent error in 18a) – thanks to him and Mr K.
    Top clues for me were 8d, 14d and 17d.

    Today’s Toughie is very gentle so do give it a go if you’re not already puzzled out.

    1. I never do the toughie, but I saw the difficulty rating when printing so today I’m going to have a go … wish me luck!

  10. Thoroughly enjoyable today, give or take the apparent problem with 18a, which surely has to be an error in the clueing. Held up only in the NE segment where my paucity of knowledge concerning coconut oil origins along with the brilliant misdirection in 7d meant that I had to access the hints. (I know that’s what they’re there for, but it’s a matter of pride!) Lots to choose from but today’s favourite is 27a, closely followed by 15a and 14d. Thanks to RayT for the enjoyment and Mr K for the hints and the lovely cat pics.

    1. You are so right about the pride. I always feel that if I do reveal an answer it will immediately flash up on our hinter’s screen and he/she/they will know! So I really do push myself to understand the hint. Daft.

  11. Last in was 18a which had to be the obvious but like 2K’s ,the O was not part of the parsing!
    Cracking puzzle with diverse cluing everywhere.
    2.5*/4-a bit pedantic maybe for the half
    Liked 9a MK,s pic the best so far.favourite was the tricky 20d runner up 26a.

  12. Ray T at his very best, except for the Oops in 18a which just goes to show that crossword setters and editors are mere mortals just like the rest of us – 3*/4.5*

    Candidates for favourite – 9a, 27a, 2d, and 5d – and the winner is 27a.

    Thanks to Ray T and Mr K.

  13. Some nicely disguised anagram indicators added to my enjoyment of this tightly clued puzzle which, as always, was laced with our setter’s trademark cheekiness.
    Shame about the apparent ‘oops’ in 18a – slapped wrist for someone!
    Hard to play favourites but 15a definitely appealed.

    Devotions to Mr T and thanks to Mr K for the review and the pusskins – think the concealed one was my pick today.

  14. I managed to complete the puzzle before reading the article in the paper about Ray T and his setting style. Not news to us, but very informative for those not involved in this website. As for the puzzle, absolutely top drawer, six words maximum per clue, and brilliantly concise. 27a just edges it for my favourite.

    Thanks very much to Mr T and Mr K.

    1. What article about Ray T? I can’t find anything like that in the electronic version. Given my travails with his puzzles over the years I would be very interested to read it. Could you point me in the right direction.

      1. Yes, it worked, and thank you, Senf! Very much enjoyed the article by Chris Lancaster. The more I think about it, the better 14d gets!

      2. Thanks Senf, an interesting article indeed. I note too that the taboo subject of solving times is mentioned – 40 minutes as par for today’s Toughie or any Toughie is impressive in my book – I’m happy to complete a Toughie at all and even happier if it takes less than a couple of hours. Today’s Ray T was most enjoyable – I even missed the slight error when solving 18a. I’ll not mention my solving time, but I was happy enough with my efforts. Too many favourites to list, but good fun from beginning to end. Thanks to Mr T and thanks also to the moggie-meister, Mr K ;-) ;-)

          1. Righty, I’ll have a go at it right now, now we’re all settled and sorted for the evening :-) :-)

          2. Wow, you were right Mustafa G, possibly the most accessible KCIT that I have ever attempted – all done and dusted in good time.. A most enjoyable solve indeed.

            1. I was about to trawl through my paper to see what I missed but having been told it’s not there I’ll read Senf’s link later. Rayt is my favourite setter but I’ve asked him not to tell the others.

  15. I was amazed to see the difficulty rating as I found this to be Ray T at his most benign. With his trademark Queen and his obsession with ladies underwear it was a Ray T to enjoy at least for me anyway After years of struggling with his more bizarre offerings this was one to enjoy.
    Thx to all
    **/*****

  16. I didn’t get on with today’s Ray T as well as others seem to have. I think my brain is addled by all the marking I’m having to do at present. However, it was good to see the Queen back. I got the anagrams first and these led me into the puzzle but I soon ground to a halt and had to resort to a few hints. 18a caused problems but I see it has with others. I did like 27a and this is my COTD.

    Many thanks for the beating, Ray T. I just wasn’t on wavelength today. Thank you, Mr. K. for the hints and the many pusskits.

  17. Is today an earlier day in the week?
    Very generous offering by RayT, I thought.
    Last in 7d and 15a, putting me into ** time.
    So neatly clued throughout.
    Getting 1a quickly at first helped a lot.
    Many thanks, and also to Mr K.

  18. I fell for some of Ray T’s clever misdirection today with some clues taking me a while to solve – with 1a I spent some time trying to think of a synonym for import as in the opposite of export, and I kept wanting to insert the word ‘vest’ somewhere in the answer to 9a and the letters Ch for check in 15a. Got there in the end though – loved the cryptic 14d but my COTD for the flagrant underwear reference was 9a, my next to LOI. Thanks Ray T, thanks Mr K.

  19. Same thoughts as everyone else on 18a. Loved 26a but the synonym in 24d is rather stretched even though the BRB has an entry ‘for pair, mate’ I think that refers more to mates not the synonym used. Let’s face it you couldn’t use it for a pair of sisters!

  20. Unlike Brian I thought this a little elusive at ***/***. I was distracted by a number of calls which might explain why as I do like to focus through a whole puzzle. 15a and 17d were my pick of the pops – well, it is the week of Tony Blackburn and Ken Bruce’s birthdays – and my COTD the latter. Must read the article on RayT referred to above later. Thanks to him and our illustrious hinter.

  21. Well, I pleasantly surprised myself, as I had an easy time with this RayT puzzle this week. All went very smoothly and with barely a pause. Didn’t even need to use the hints!

    2*/4.5* for me today.

    New word for me in 6D but with checking letters was not a problem.
    Favourites include 10a, 26a, 27a, 7d, 14d & 22d — with winner 27a

    Thanks to RayT and Mr K.

  22. Thanks to RayT for the challenge, though sadly not on your wavelength today.

    Surprised by 8d as a synonym for deposit. Would welcome any suggestions for a good online thesaurus, as mine is absolutely no good.

    Thanks also Mr K for your invaluable help.

    1. I splashed out on The Chambers Thesaurus (and Dictionary) apps pah. Both have been invaluable and always to hand.
      A quick check shows the Thesaurus has pledge as a synonym for deposit

      1. I agree wholeheartedly, I use the Chamber’s Dictionary app all the time and the thesaurus too.

  23. I agree with the majority- a very classy puzzle. 27a and 16d stood out for me, but then I also liked so many others. I love crosswords. I still keep chuckling about inert gas the other day. Gorgeous cat pictures, I do miss an animal about the house – George doesn’t count. Anyway, I’m not speaking to him today, another tissue left in a shirt pocket disintegrating in the washing machine. You never had that trouble with handkerchiefs. Thank you to Mr Succinct and Mr K.

        1. I know, you just have to pick off the paper. There’s nothing worse than dirty handkerchiefs!

  24. Beaten by 6d. Unfamiliar with the kernels & didn’t twig the wordplay until I read the hint. Still at least a better performance than I managed earlier on the magnificent west course at the Royal Jhb & Kensington Golf Club. I reckon the only bit of good timing I had was that I putted out (for another double bogey) on the last just before the hooter sounded followed shortly by deafening thunder, lightning & torrential rain. How odd to have a clueing error on successive days but it didn’t spoil an enjoyable puzzle. 14d my favourite.
    Thanks to Ray T & Mr K – great pics as ever with covert puss in bin my fav.
    Ps – glad to see the Toughie seems gentle as still the LHS of Django’s one to finish from yesterday.

  25. Mr K – here’s one for you. My beautiful Somali 20 years ago helping me to staple together the very first issue of our village magazine.

  26. A fine Ray T production. Great clues (except one), a reasonable challenge and a very enjoyable solve, Fav of a good bunch: 17d. 3*/4*.

  27. Found this very tricky in parts but a most enjoyable solve, eventually 😬 ****/**** Favourites 10a, 3d and 17d 😃 Much thanks to Mr K and to Ray T

  28. I thought this was easier than yesterday! Not easy, mind you, just easier. I did reach an impasse halfway through when I needed to get help from Mr. K’s excellent hints, then I was away again. I thought 6d was what was left after the oil has been extracted, but I think that nicety is rather picky. I got 20d wrong, so I guess that’s a DNF. As usual, I had a problem parsing most answers, but there was a lot of cleverness, I think my fave was 14d.
    Thank you RayT, nice to have a doable puzzle, and Mr. K for his hints, and, of course, the kitty pics, I always look forward to those.

  29. I’m in the “found this tricky” camp today. Needed to use an anagram solver for 1a as I wasn’t thinking of that type of import.
    However, perseverance got me there in the end and, as ever with Ray T, it was with a great sense of satisfaction as the penny finally dropped on my LOI of 20d.
    Thanks to all

  30. Sat down in the restaurant while an electrician was finishing some loose ends with my beautiful Féline and had a go at today’s backpage.
    A very pleasant exercise in good company.
    Favourite 28a. Love that word and appreciated the smoothness of the clue.
    Thanks to RayT and to Mr K for the review.

  31. I too had to use an anagram solver for 1a, and apart from wondering where the “o” came from in 18a, the rest slotted in without too much difficulty. 27a was my favourite clue. Thank you RayT and Mr Kitty

  32. Evening all. My thanks to Mr K for the analysis and to everybody else for your comments. Also, my apologies for the error in 18a but yes, we are only human!

    RayT

  33. Late today after usual struggle with my nemesis RayT which I eventually completed after 2 attempts. This morning stumped by the top half of the puzzle, but this evening started in the south & with a few checkers everything fell into place.

    3.5*/4*

    Fav 20d for clever use of fan LOI 14d.

    Thanks to Mr K & RayT for the tussle!

  34. The usual excellence from Rayt and as usual on trawling back through the clues I couldn’t see why I struggled on any of them, but I did. Favourite was 7d. Thanks to Rayt and Mr. K.

  35. As often happens when I don’t get a look until the afternoon, I really struggled to get a foothold. Eventually the South yielded and the North followed with one resort to Mr K (9a, the kitty-enhanced illustration was sufficient of course) to break open the NW. COTD 20 or 22d.
    Many thanks RayT and MrK.

  36. Good evening.
    DNF, I’m sorry to say, defeated by 10a – how on earth did I not get that?! also by 6d and 17d, which would have earned a “Crikey!” had I been able to figure it out….
    Thank you to today’s compiler (I don’t know yet how you know who they are!) and to Mr K

  37. Very late starting this after a busy day…..travelling back home from Edinburgh this morning after a great theatre visit (a super production of An Inspector Calls), being thoroughly thrashed in our online Bridge game in the afternoon then wrestling with a new desktop that just will not do what I want it to. ..at least, those are my excuses for a DNF. Had to use the hints for 6d, 7d and 17d…..otherwise, 18a notwithstanding, a most excellent and enjoyable guzzle.
    Thanks to RayT and to Mr K. Super pics as always.

  38. Brian has let me down today as I found this totally beyond my aged brain, as I suspected it would be when I saw the *** difficulty rating. Best part of the day was Mr. K’s wonderful catpics for which very many thanks. Thanks also to Ray T for what is obviously a very clever puzzle.

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