Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30324
Hints and tips by Falcon
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BD Rating – Difficulty * – Enjoyment ***
Greetings from Ottawa, where my weekly theme song is “I Can See Clearly Now” – a welcome relief following several days when the city’s air pollution index rated our air quality among the worst in the world due to smoke drifting down from forest fires in northern Québec. It seems the entire country is on fire. The number of of fires currently burning far exceeds our capacity to fight them and crews are being brought in to assist from the US, Europe, and as far away as South Africa and Australia.
Should you have been expecting pommers today, we have swapped assignments for a couple of weeks so pommers can entertain guests this week and I can pay a visit to Senf’s Manitoba next week.
I found today’s puzzle from Campbell to be on the decidedly easier side. Hopefully others shared that experience.
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 Film king getting on bunk (6,4)
RAGING BULL — a charade of the Latin abbreviation for king, getting on in years, and bunk or nonsense
6a Very long record, one beginning to chart (4)
EPIC — string together a rather short phonograph record, a Roman one, and the beginning letter of CHART
9a Irishman entertaining 500 in saloon (5)
SEDAN — a common Irish male name imbibing the Roman numeral for 500; the answer is the North American name for the vehicle of interest
10a Protect receiver of stolen goods following call (4-5)
RING-FENCE — like it says on the tin, a receiver of stolen goods following to call on the telephone
12a Very large turkey to begin with, full-flavoured bird (7)
OSTRICH — line up the clothing abbreviation designating very large, the initial letter of (to begin with) TURKEY, and an adjective denoting full-flavoured
13a Go over playing field area quietly (5)
RECAP — a charade of a colloquial truncated term for a playing field, the maths symbol for area, and the abbreviated musical direction to play quietly
15a Last in Scottish Open, or out of form one who is never going to win? (2-5)
NO-HOPER — an anagram (out of form) of the last letter in SCOTTISH together with OPEN OR
17a Stuff cut in racecourse enclosure (7)
PADDOCK — to stuff or cram and to cut (a dog’s tail perhaps)
19a Friendly drink (7)
CORDIAL — a double definition that I think would be familiar to most
21a Boy, ten, worried about a blade (7)
BAYONET — an anagram (worried) of the first two words of the clue wrapped around the A from the clue
22a Until now, like non-sparkling water? (5)
STILL — another straightforward double definition
24a Bar opening as a temporary expedient (7)
STOPGAP — a verb meaning to stop or obstruct and an opening or interruption
27a A neat tray must be prepared, regardless (2,3,4)
AT ANY RATE — an anagram (must be prepared) of the first three words in the clue
28a Best English, low in calories (5)
ELITE — the single letter for English and a slangy advertising term for low in calories
29a Strip first of engines in aircraft (4)
KITE — a footballer’s strip and the first letter of ENGINES gives us a remote controlled wind-powered “aircraft”
30a More than one woodworker complains about log (10)
CARPENTERS — a verb meaning complains enclosing a verb denoting log or record; here’s another kind of record – the day is appropriate but maybe not the sentiment
Down
1d Reckless forward, first to be dismissed (4)
RASH — remove the initial letter (first to be dismissed) from a word signifying overbearingly forward or impudent
2d MOD got mad with that woman sponsor (9)
GODMOTHER — an anagram (mad) of the first two words in the clue followed by a pronoun signifying ‘that woman’
3d Some gen on étude, a musical composition (5)
NONET — a lurker hiding (some) in three words of the clue
4d Playwright sitting on top of retaining wall (7)
BARRIER — the name of the playwright who created the boy who never grows up and the initial letter (top) of RETAINING
5d Ball‘s lengthy dance (4,3)
LONG HOP — another term for lengthy and a rather dated name for an informal dance; the answer is a type of cricket delivery
7d Lose one’s nerve parking? I can, unfortunately (5)
PANIC — the street sign symbol for parking and an anagram (unfortunately) of I CAN
8d Miser, and the sort of fish they may like? (10)
CHEAPSKATE — split the answer (5,5) and you have what a miser might pick up at the fish market
11d Physicist‘s distant daughter taking place of wife (7)
FARADAY — start with a word meaning distant and replace the genealogical abbreviation for wife with that for daughter
14d Rejects support after strikes (6,4)
KNOCKS BACK — a verb meaning to support (usually with money) comes after a word (either verb or noun) denoting strikes or raps
16d Passageway in extremely pretty Scottish town (7)
PAISLEY — a passageway (between the pews in a church perhaps) is placed between the initial and final letters (extremely) of PRETTY
18d Graves? One may know a lot about them (9)
OENOPHILE — a cryptic definition of an expert on the signature product of the Graves region of France
20d Callas excited about American opera house (2,5)
LA SCALA — an anagram (excited) of CALLAS enveloping the single letter for American
21d Expresses dissatisfaction, reportedly at college drinking bout (5-2)
BOOZE-UP — a homophone (reportedly) of a word denoting ‘expresses dissatisfaction’ followed by the usual word meaning at university
23d To sleep in it is not appropriate (5)
INAPT — a verb meaning to sleep is found in the IT from the clue; did anyone else initially try to parse this as IN plus an abbreviation for apartment?
25d Naive conservationist (5)
GREEN — another quite obvious double definition
26d God Egyptian city upset (4)
ZEUS — a reversal (upset in a down clue) of an Egyptian seaport
My podium picks today are 29a, 18d and 23d with the gold being awarded to the very neat 29a.
Quickie Pun (Top Row): KNOCK + TURNER + LEE = NOCTURNALLY
Quickie Pun (Middle Row) : OWE + VERVE + EWE = OVERVIEW
Quickie Pun (Bottom Row) : PASTOR + KNACK = PASTERNAK
18d, on a Monday, really?
Is that a Friday clue that’s craftily sneaked back four days, well it foxed me for one, I’d never heard of it and spent far too long trying to bung in something with ‘omni’
at the front. Looking at it now that I know the answer, it really seems very clever and a great misdirection. All things considered though, a great crossword to start the week, well done to our setter today.
Same here.
But I managed the ‘phile’ bit
Pleasant distraction from the heat in the back garden watching the swallows chasing our sparrow hawk from its perch looking for newly hatched birds.
1*/3.5*
Fav 15a LOI 23d.
Thanks to setter and Falcon.
One of my own favourites – a Blue Jay trying to persuade a Bald Eagle to leave the vicinity of the former’s nest, but the latter was having none of it – real David and Goliath!
What a fabulous picture ! We could do with the eagle, to chase the pigeons from the vegetable plot 😂.
Not surprised. We get a lot of blue jays here, and they are very pushy. When they arrive at our bird bath they force any other birds out. Pretty birds, but unfortunately they weren’t given a singing voice.
I gave up my bird bath a long time ago when I got cats. They are the worst assassins of my birds, but I love them so, got rid of the bath and it worked.
Like last Monday another lovely gentle guzzle to kick off the new week & with 3 good puns in the Quickie too. Top 2 for me were 1a (an uncomfortable watch but surely deserving of the best film Oscar rather than Ordinary People) & 18d with 15a in the last podium spot.
Thanks to Campbell & to Falcon for the review – hoping the forest fire situation improves.
Ps Our Stephen’s guzzle in Rookie Corner a much sterner challenge & well worth a look – the first 2 across clues very witty.
Thanks for the plug, much appreciated!
I was going to say that this was typically Mondayish but I’ve been losing track recently of what a typical Monday is. This could be it. Fairly gentle throughout with a couple of head scratchers thrown in. I’m not a wine drinker so I would never have got 18d without electronic help. It may be a new word for those who did make the wine connection and worthy of The List, Terence? Cricket is also not my thing so 5d was new to me though easily discernible from the clue. My favourite today was 24a, supported by 8d and 11d. Thanks to Campbell for an enjoyable start to the week and Falcon for confirming 23d for me.
Enjoyed this very much and once I had worked out 18d felt rather smug. Stupidly 26d my last one in. Feel a bit bad as D is having the car serviced and I was looking for something and came across a card for our Wedding Anniversary on Sunday. I suppose I had better get him one! Anyway the sun is out and all we need is some rain. Thanks to the setter for the gentle start to the week and Falcon
Rip roaring with just 18d to go.
Stumped.
Guessed the last five letters
But dictionary experimentation needed
For the first four.
A new word for me.
So, a blemished start to the week.
Apart, big smile at 12d.
Excellent Lego at 8a
1a my COTD.
Many thanks Campbell and Falcon.
It’s Monday
It’s Campbell, the way he used to be 
1.5*/4.5*
Standout favourite – 18d.
Thanks to Campbell and Falcon.
Lovely start to the week as usual fro Campbell with some good clues to make it very enjoyable. Plenty of ticks so have chosen the across clues else the list of mentionable ones would be too long : 10a, 21a, 28a. 18d is GK
Thanks to Campbell and Falcon.
I don’t foresee too many complaints today. Thanks to Campbell for the enjoyable puzzle and to Falcon for the hints.
Top clues for me were 1a, 8d and 21d.
Very light, enjoyable while it lasted, some lovely deception going on. COTD the wonderful 18d, with 4d the runner-up.
0.5* / 3*
Many thanks to Campbell and to Falcon
Relatively straightforward today except held up by 3d where there was a typo in the clue in my digital newspaper version – somehow an accented e in etude had been replaced by an accented upper case A and a copyright symbol – which spoilt the lurker somewhat. Bizarre! I am blaming AI as that seems to be a trendy thing to do. Also, despite being a guzzler of plenty of grape juice, I too needed Google’s help to solve 18d, which was nevertheless a fantastic clue. Thanks Campbell, thanks Falcon.
1*/4*. The epitome of “it doesn’t have to be tough to be good”. This was light and great fun with 8d & 18d jostling first place.
Many thanks to the punmeister and to Falcon.
I agree with Tipcat that 18d is not a Monday word. I, also, had never heard of it. However, the rest was delightful and, while I didn’t race through it, it was a steady solve. My COTD is 8d because raised smile.
Many thanks to Campbell for the fun and Falcon for the hints.
18d got lost on its way to a Toughie. The sort of word that is practically guaranteed to stop me from finishing a puzzle unaided.
Had to do a bit of guess and investigate for the 1a film and the 5d cricket term but at least I remembered the spelling of the graves expert!
Plenty of humour from our Monday setter and a packed podium hosting my favourite, 24a along with 10a plus 8,16&26d.
Thanks to Campbell and to Falcon for the review. Enjoy your trip to Manitoba – I believe that Senf’s area has remained a smoke-free zone!
A really lovely, enjoyable puzzle with a good balance of General Kknowledge related clues, crypic definitions and other types of clue, alk with the spice of misdirection. I liked1a, 4d, 8d and COTD 18d, which I’ve seen bwefore I think. Thanks to Campbell, it was perfectly judged for the back page. Thanks to Falcon and glad the visibility is improving.
Having watched a grandson carp fishing at the weekend it does seem appropriate to say that 18d got me hook, line and sinker. I too went down the “omni” route before considering undertakers/archaeologists etc. before a belated PDM – all in all a very nice clue.
My inner chemist though does have to say that 11d also conducted a lot of chemistry experiments e.g. his Laws of Electrolysis. Perhaps better described as a scientist in those days when lines were more blurred.
Thank you to Campbell and Falcon for a very pleasant workout and review
Oh my goodness, I’ve been wracking my brains trying to remember why I know the name Faraday! Congrats on the mention.
It’s Monday, so it’s Campbell. Another week where he has been at the kinder end of his spectrum. A good mix of clues, some almost R&W and others that required a little pondering to set them free.
1.5*/4* for me today.
Favourites were plenty, but I picked 9a, 24a, 2d, 11d & 18d — with winner 18d for the misleadingness in the clue.
Second pick would have been 11d
Chuckles were had from 9a, 22a, 2d & 8d
Thanks to Campbell & Falcon for blog/hints
Mhids the committee had a long and tiring session this morning, debating the merits, or otherwise, of 18d. It was felt that it is a word that is not completely unknown – but – when I revealed that many contributors to this august site had felt it was not (to quote Steve Cowling) ‘a Monday word’, then the balance of the scales tipped firmly towards including 18d on THE LIST.
18d is a curious word. It is an example of reverse onomatopoeia in that it sounds like it should be the sort of word that sends a shiver up the spine of the late Rolf Harris. It has the resonance of a word that if one practised it, one would expect one’s door to be caved in at four o’clock in the morning as a burly policeperson read out one’s rights, “I am arresting you for the offence of 18d. You do not have to say anything but it may harm your defence…”
“Children – don’t go hanging about the precinct! You get a lot of them 18ds going in and out of the off licence!”
Thanks to The Soup Man and The Bird Of Prey.
As noted by others, a fun puzzle although not greatly challenging. I believe that the answer to 29a was a slang term for “aircraft” in the WW2 era.
That’s interesting historical context, although as a baby boomer it is before even my time. I’d love to know what was in Campbell’s mind when he wrote the clue.
Yes, there was even a Flying Officer Kite in a radio comedy. Now, where did that float up from?
Humphrey Lestocq, loved that name
19# I was thinking of the slang term for aircraft.
Campbell, thanks for confirming this. I see it is in Chambers and Collins as slang for an aircraft, the latter specifically has it as British slang. Another word to add to my LIST (Terence is not the only one with a LIST). However, my LIST does not contain banned words but is made up of British slang. Funny, but the clue does not seem nearly as clever as it did when I thought it was a cryptic reference to a flying toy.
I’m old enough that the slang word for aircraft came to mind first!
Good gentle fun for a scorching Monday, with 18d taking the top spot. A terrific start to the crosswording week.
Thanks to our triple punner and Falcon.
1/4. Excellent start to the week with a good mix of clues which were topped by 18d. Dragged from a small recess in my little grey cells. Thanks to Campbell and Falcon for the review. The rain’s gone and more warm weather on the way so more smoke to be expected.
Nice crossword today…unusualmfor me as I don’t normally get on with Campbell’s oevre.
Fortunately I did know the word at 18d and thought it was a very good clue.
Surprised nobody has Hm-ed at the American usage at 9a.
Thanks to Falcon and to Campbell.
Sunny and humid here , so a bit uncomfortable, but better than overcast and rainy.
Re 9a, perhaps I pre-empted a Hmm with my comment in the hint.
All completed with minimal help but did not know the word in 18d or why 5d was the answer- but of course it was cricket, which explains it all! In the end 18d is my favourite clue as it is so clever and I learnt something. Overall a satisfying start to the week.
Many thanks to Campbell and to Falcon
Great crossword from Campbell to start the week. Rate it 2*/4* as at times everything went in smoothly then I suddenly hit a brick wall! 18d was just such a clue, but I asked my wine appreciating other half and he told me instantly. Don’t know if I would have worked it out otherwise. Favourites include 11d, 16d and 21d. Many thanks to Campbell and Falcon.
I managed to cope today without any of my usual Monday trouble so feeling quite smug, if a bit too hot!
I had no idea that 5d was anything to do with cricket but it just jumped out at me, so I let it.
Was I the only mug who spent ages trying to justify another usual Irish name for 9a – well it had a “D” in the middle!
I did know 18d but spelling It was a different thing all together but got there eventually.
I’ve never heard of the 1a film and it was just a case of looking up films with the right number of letters . . . .
I would have spelt 24a with 4,3 rather than one word.
I liked 12 and 19a and 4 and 16d. I think my favourite was probably 21d.
Thanks to Campbell for his crossword and to Falcon for the hints and pics.
That was the only one I could think of for a while in 9a…
What a relief, no escaped Toughie on offer! I did know 18d, but it still didn’t stop me being misdirected by “graves”, very clever. The crickety clue at 5d was well clued so just had to google to see if there was such a thing. There were some answers that I couldn’t parse, 15a for one, I needed the hints for that explanation. I think 18d is fave, but I would be remiss not to mention 21d.
Thank you Campbell for the fun, that’s more like it. Your hints much appreciated Falcon, I had trouble unravelling a few.
Enjoyed this in the heat with a noisy fan in the background. The fan and 18d pushed me into 2* time
Favourite clue by miles was the clever 8d
Thanks muchly to Campbell and Falcon
Great fun, I even knew the wine lover. Last in the 26d, kept trying to get an Egyptian god beside Isis!
Wish they were of this standard all week!
**/****
Thx to all
Rather enjoyable offering today.
Took me a while to get 18d (I’m a prolific consumer rather than connoisseur) which meant 24a was LOI. I also would have thought this was 4,3 so another one to commit to memory.
Thanks to all.
For some reason I didn’t get off to a good start with this one. I am going to blame it on waking up at 2:30am and having to resort to a few chapters of my latest Baldacci and a very small drop of Harvey’s to get me back to sleep. But glad I set aside the crossword for later, when it all made much more sense. COTD is 8d for me, but a sad face for 18d, which I doubt I will even remember. Thanks to Campbell and Falcon. The fires sound like real misery.
I got the ‘jazz’ version of 3d via the app which made little sense. I had a ‘doh’ moment with 18d – eventually.
Campbell back to his best, keep em there mi ode. Last in was 26d just because it was. Favourite was 5d. Thanks to Campbell and Falcon.
Haven’t tackled a Campbell for a while and I do miss it.
A real cracker of a crossword.
Went for œnologue at first in 18d until I got to 28a.
Thanks to Campbell for the great fun and to Falcon for the review.
Well I tried really hard but I couldn’t get a few and needed Falcon’s help for which I’m very grateful. Many thanks to Campbell. I was sorry to read the Farewell to Mr Monday by Chris Lancaster. Such a fascinating person. I’m sorry to hear about the terrible air quality because of the fires in Canada – must be awful to live with and dreadful to see such destruction and I hope that Falcon is coping. There were rumbles of thunder here in Bristol and it was very humid but only a bit of rain, sadly for the garden. I’m going shopping today to buy cool duvet and bed linen – hopefully I’ll sleep better tonight!
2*/3* ….
liked 10A “Protect receiver of stolen goods following call (4-5)”