DT 30325 – Big Dave's Crossword Blog
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DT 30325

by Huntsman  

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30325
Hints and tips by Huntsman

+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – +

BD Rating – Difficulty **  –  Enjoyment ***

Another very hot day in store here in Harpenden so plenty of water & Factor 50 will be needed for this afternoon’s planned hack round Centurion golf course. We got a good & much needed soaking late yesterday afternoon but thankfully with none of the flooding issues experienced elsewhere.

Today’s puzzle (Mr Plumb I assume) used the same grid as the one for my debut blog 5 weeks ago. I would never usually notice such things but still haven’t got the hang of cutting & pasting the new puzzle from the site so am reduced to over typing the clues over an old one so he made my life much easier today. No escaped Toughies thus far this week. Today’s a pretty straightforward guzzle with a Ray T like brevity for the vast majority of the clues, nicely clued throughout & with only one bit of literary GK required.

In the following hints, definitions are underlined, indicators are mostly in parentheses, and answers are revealed by clicking where shown as usual. Please leave a comment below on how you got on with the puzzle.

Across

1a Report from French writer (8)
DESCRIBE: start with the French for the preposition FROM & add  synonym for WRITER

5a Instrument made from wood found in street (6)
SPINET: insert (found in) a type of wood into the usual abbreviation for street

 

 

 

9a Sends on rugby players? (8)
FORWARDS: a double definition – the first what one may do with a text message for example & the second a position in rugby or indeed in a number of sports.

10a Editor backed language rule (6)
DECREE: reverse (backed) the usual two letters for EDITOR & append a language – think Senf’s & Falcon’s neck of the woods

12a After a bit, chaps, Tango’s flat (9)
APARTMENT: take the A from the clue & add synonyms for BIT then CHAPS & finish with the letter TANGO represents in the radio alphabet

13a Behave after former lover’s demand (5)
EXACT: the usual term for a FORMER LOVER followed by (after) a word for BEHAVE

14a Book performances (4)
ACTS: a double definition- the first the 5th book of the New Testament

16a Child’s game – not something one wants to lose (7)
MARBLES: a cryptic clue (with some of the daft things I do I frequently think I’m losing mine) for a game very popular in late 60s & early 70s when I was a lad but doubt it’s much played nowadays. I vividly remember coming back home in tears having lost all of my giants to a boy called Kevin – an early life lesson on the perils of gambling.

19a Doctor learnt new cure for dimness? (7)
LANTERN: an anagram (doctor) of LEARNT & the single letter for NEW

21a Finally legless, fuss over drink (4)
SODA: the last letter (finally) of LEGLESS plus a reversal (over) of a synonym for FUSS

24a Solicitor going after second beer (5)
STOUT: the usual abbreviation for second followed by (going after) a word for SOLICITOR – the beer was the drink of choice for Ena Sharples (the great Violet Carson) gossiping with Martha & Minnie in the snug of the Rovers Return all of years ago.

25a Spreading widely pain vexes drunk (9)
EXPANSIVE: an anagram (drunk) of the two words preceding the indicator

27a Take no notice of foreign region (6)
IGNORE: an anagram (foreign) of REGION.

28a Stirring small amount in mug at last (8)
TOUCHING: begin with a word that can mean a SMALL AMOUNT then append IN from the clue plus the final letter (at last) of MUG. Not the first definition synonym to necessarily spring to mind.

29a Lubricate vehicle for John Travolta?6)
GREASE: another double definition (I think) – the film a 1978 romantic musical comedy

30a Looked mischievous cutting root (8)
SEARCHED: Insert (cutting) a word for MISCHIEVOUS into a synonym for for root – think germination

Down
1d Best achievement after upsetting education (6)
DEFEAT: start with a reversal (upsetting) a two letter abbreviation for EDUCATION & append a synonym for ACHIEVEMENT. The definition context is as a verb.

2d Second best comedian? (6)
SCREAM: the single letter for SECOND plus a synonym of best – think hilarity for the definition context I suppose

3d Tripe covers a small pan  (5)
ROAST: insert (covers) the single letter for small plus the A from the clue into a synonym of tripe in the sense of nonsense – definition nowt to do with a cooking utensil

4d Nocturnal omnivores that are black and white bugs (7)
BADGERS:  another double definition (I think) – the UK’s largest land predator & a golf course’s worst nightmare & the second a synonym of annoys

6d Liked better purses? Oddly, female made a mistake (9)
PREFERRED: Link the alternate (oddly) letters of PURSES to the single letter for FEMALE & a word for MADE A MISTAKE

7d Shopping centre opening in York after no resistance, by and large (8)
NORMALLY: start with the NO from the wordplay & the single letter for RESISTANCE then add (after) an American word for what we Brits call a SHOPPING CENTRE & finish with the initial (opening) letter in YORK

8d Paper – originally it’s a tree (8)
TREATISE: an anagram (originally) of the final three words

11d Part of plant – water vapour beginning to affect leaves (4)
STEM: remove the initial letter (beginning leaves) of AFFECT from a word for WATER VAPOUR

15a Brutes rescue tar at sea (9)
CREATURES: an anagram (at sea) of RESCUE TAR

17d Approval from British novelist (8)
BLESSING: start with the single letter for BRITISH then add a writer – though I’ve not read any of her stuff I was familiar with her & knew that she’d won the Nobel prize for literature at the tender age of 88. No doubt our currently absent friend Robert would be able to tell us all about her books

 

18d Name big cat south of a northern state 8)
ANNOUNCE: start with the A from the clue then the single letter for NORTHERN followed by (south of/under in a down clue) that for NAME & append a BIG CAT also known as a snow leopard

 

20d Require work by the sound of it (4)
NEED: a homophone – think dough or massage maybe

21d Fancy little drink with model (7)
SUPPOSE: who wouldn’t….. a synonym for a LITTLE DRINK is  followed by one for MODEL as a verb

22d Conclusion’s heartless language(6)
FINISH: remove the middle letter (heartless) from a European tongue

23d One controls the main dosage getting treatment (3,3)
SEA GOD: an anagram (getting treatment) of DOSAGE for a definition with a nautical context

26a Warmer between volcanic eruptions (5)
NICER: a lurker (between) to finish

16a my favourite today for the memory with podium spots for the nicely misleading surface reads at 3d & 23d. Which ones hit the spot for you?

Today’s Quick Crossword pun: LIE+ CAB + HEARD = LIKE A BIRD

66 comments on “DT 30325”

  1. A lovely puzzle today.
    For some reason, the style, the humour, such as in 16a reminds me of Roger Squires, may he rest in peace.
    I hope Huntsman enjoys his round of golf.
    Thanks to all concerned.

    1. I also thought it was reminiscent of the late great Mr Squires……strange for me as I normally have no ideas at all of the setters.

  2. Whoosh!
    Payback for not getting 18d
    Yesterday.
    Perfect sync.
    All very neat and natty.
    Last in 30a
    Great surfaces
    In summary, */4*
    Gratitude to the setter
    And thanks, Huntsman, for the review.

  3. Another gentle and enjoyable solve today with very little to ponder over. I needed to get my head round using ‘best’ as a verb in 1d and for a little while I had the last word of 23d as dog rather than god, but I did know the author at 17d, which is my favourite today, joined on the podium by 5a and 28a. Thanks to the compiler and Huntsman.

    1. I had an old pirate for 23d as well and this held me up with the SE corner when nothing made sense for 28a and 30a.

    2. I three considered both options but had the sense to pencil in the first half and awaited checkers to see if I was piratical or pious

  4. 21 down. Fuss is ADO plus S results in SODA. Think a typo crept into the answer

    1. You’ve changed your alias so this needed moderation. Both aliases will work from now on.
      Thanks for that. What did you think of the puzzle?

    1. And I read through the darned thing checking for typos. Why do they have to put the F next to the D on the keyboard. Give it another few weeks & I’ll nail it first time….
      Thanks & to Peter for pointing it out

      1. Don’t envy you for the task you have taken on. Thank for the hints and to the setter for an enjoyable puzzle.

      2. That’s the problem with proofreading your own work, Huntsman – something is always missed. I went through my dissertation with a fine tooth comb but when I got the printed version the first thing I saw was a spelling mistake!

        Don’t let it bother you. Yo are doing a fine job and it is appreciated.

        2. In my working life I invariably found I could proofread something written on line many times and not spot the errors until printed, when they jumped off the page at me.

      3. Deep inside every piece of electronic equipment there’s a duppy. No matter how hard you try, duppy will win from time to time.

  6. A very enjoyable puzzle for a Tuesday (if it is Tuesday, I forget days) that gave just the right amount of exercise for the grey cells. Great clue at 23d because the second word could be one of two both of which made sense. It wasn’t until I solved 28a that I was able to enter the second word. The Lego clue at 7d raised a smile but the I thought the misdirection at 11d was very subtle and I spent a long time trying to come up with various parts of a leaf. Never have I plundered so deep into memories of school biology before. Then the penny came crashing down and it becomes my COTD, which is rare for a four letter word.

    My thanks to the setter for the fun and to Huntsman for the hints.

    Great thunderstorm in The Marches last night. Saved my having to water the plants.

    1. Did you see my comment to you about ‘My Father and other Working Class Football Heroes’ by Gary Imlach whose father was Stuart Imlach the Scottish international.

      1. I, too, was in this conversation. I bought the book on your recommendation, and am half way through it. An interesting insight into an era which was very different to now.

        Favourite clue in the crossword was 1d – clever misdirection in the use of the word “leaves”. Thanks to setter and Huntsman.

      1. Well, it was a heavy downpour, DG but perhaps too heavy. The ground is still dry. A long, gentle shower overnight is needed to give the soil a thorough soaking.

        My results should be ready in about four to five weeks.

  7. A fairly gentle and enjoyable puzzle – thanks to the setter and Huntsman for a fine blog.
    The clues hitting the spot for me were 16a, 11d and 21d.

  8. Typically Tuesdayish, although I was uncertain of 23d, so I entered what the clue and the checkers were indicating it had to be and expected to be told it was incorrect on electronic submission, but it wasn’t, oh well – **/****

    Candidates for favourite – 1a, 16a, 6d, and 8d – and the winner is 8d.

    Thanks to Mr Plumb (presumably) and thanks to Huntsman – six blogs and counting, keep up the good work!

  9. 1*/4*. As I wrote yesterday: “it doesn’t have to be tough to be good”. This was light and great fun with 16a & 21d jostling for first place.

    Many thanks to the setter and to Huntsman.

    1. I absolutely agree. This seemed quite straightforward but there were several excellent clues. Thank you to the setter and huntsman

  10. I fell for the ancient mariner in23d too. This puzzle was so ryll of awkward synonyms that 3cthoyght of Ray T too. Otherwisi it was prwtty straightforward 29a was the best clue for my money. Thanks to Huntsman for the hints and to the compiler.

  11. Fairly gentle if a little irritating use of almost synonyms such as 19a, 26d and 2d
    Yet another xxxxxxx book [*** REDACTED ***]. As it’s summer and the Ashes shortly how about a few cricket clues for a change?
    **/***
    Thx to all

      1. Welcome to the blog, Riccardo.
        I have redacted Brian’s comment.

        What did you think of the puzzle?

    2. Oh, get over it Brian. We all dislike something but no need to make a fuss about it. It’s a crossword so everyone’s allowed to be cross about it. I dislike with venom, golf, motor racing, racquet sports, gastronomy, fashion …. indeed it would be less verbose to list what I do like. But out of courtesy to people who I know only on this site I refrain. You should try it as it becomes tedious thinking ‘Brian will have a comment about this.’

        1. Re ‘The Ashes’ – why are we now talking about the Women’s Ashes? The Ashes has nothing whatsoever to do with women. It refers back to 1882-1883 and I, as a member of the female sex (am I allowed to say that these days?) find it really stupid to tag it on to women. Yes women play cricket, which I don’t watch. My dander is well and truly up! Rant over. Enjoyed the puzzle too. Thanks everyone.

      2. Oh Corky! I am so impressed by the restraint you show over all those subjects. Gastronomy? Don’t you like eating? My bugbear is football- grrr. 😀

  12. Looks as though 16a & 21d are in line for the top prizes today – I certainly plumped for those.
    One or two clues that didn’t particularly appeal but overall a good Tuesday puzzle.

    Thanks to our setter (Mr Plumb?) and to Huntsman for the review – looks as though you’re becoming a dab hand at attaching illustrations, well done!

  13. Galloped through this entertaining puzzle, until almost falling at the last! The light certainly went out, but a quick caffeine fix got the old grey matter back in order.

    1*/4*

    Fav 7a. Off to York tomorrow to pick some new glasses up! LOI 28a.

    Thanks to setter and Huntsman.

  14. A typically clever Tuesday puzzle. Maybe a couple of stock clues in there but overall very enjoyable indeed.
    Top clue for me, the very cleverly constructed 11d….what a super clue, with the amusing 16a running it close.
    Many thanks to setter and Huntsman for a top puzzle and blog.

    Ps…it’s too hot to go out so have a shot at the relatively gentle Dada Toughie, it’s great fun.

    1. Fully agree Stephen. Reckon Senf might well have declared it on the gentle side if had appeared in his slot 3 days ago. Perhaps Corky could be persuaded to have a look

      1. Almost. For me, etc, there’s something about a Dada Toughie two days after a Sunday PP. As I started today’s I thought it would be a very good Sunday PP but by the time I finished it I decided that it wouldn’t.

    2. I agree. I found it quite friendly so if some of you have never tackled a Toughie give today’s a go. If you manage Dada on a Sunday you will have a head start.

  15. A very enjoyable puzzle today.

    Favourite definitely 16a.

    Thanks to the setter and to Huntsman

  16. 16a and 21d take top spot this afternoon from what was a fine selection of mainly straightforward but fun clues. No idea who the setter was but many thanks to him/her for a nice challenge. Thanks, too, to Huntsman.

  17. Straight forward workout as usual for a Tuesday.
    Thanks to the setter for the fun and Huntsman for the review.

  18. Found this Tuesday puzzle a tad trickier than Monday’s, but that was to be expected. Some good clues and again a few head scratchers thrown in.

    2*/3.5* for me

    Favourite contenders today include 5a, 12a, 19a, 29a, 17d & 24d — with winner 19a

    Thanks to setter & Huntsman for blog/hints

  19. Very enjoyable puzzle as already said by the majority, 11d was my favourite but there were many other possibilities.

    We too had thunder yesterday and a nice amount of rain (the water butt is now full again which makes me happy), today is back to clear sky and sunshine.

    Many thanks to the setter and to Huntsman who is doing a great job in mastering providing us all with answers and hints.

      1. Sorry to hear that Manders, that is very frustrating for you. I think that was our first rain for 4 weeks and we certainly needed it, I hope you get some soon. We just need a little overnight rain and nice dry days then we would all be happy!

        1. Proof, as I always say, that God is a man. A female God would have ordered things so that it always rained during the night. Of course, I have never admitted that thought to the vicar!

  20. Tuesday, a little trickier than Monday, as it should be, so thanks for getting it right DT. I had no problem in the south, but I was totally off wavelength in the north. I went to the hints for help with 9a, that opened it up for me. I have no idea why I hit the mental block, there’s nothing there to strain the brain. I did think the answers for 13a and 14a a little too close for comfort! Some really good stuff, hard to choose a fave, but the popular 16a and 11d are both in contention.
    Thanks setter for the fun and to Huntsman for help unravelling a few. Grand job, you’re really settling in.

  21. Very unusually (for me) I finished without needing any help, thanks to the setter. If I have time I read the blog anyway – I love the skill you all show in clear and concise hinting. Thanks Huntsman.

  22. Two nice solvable puzzles to start the week 🤗 ***/*** Favourites 12 & 24 across thanks to Huntsman and to the Compiler 😃

  23. Light, but enjoyable while it lasted. Working from S to N I thought we were in for a flood of anagrams, but happily that was not to be. The synonym for ‘stirring’ is not one that I would reach for, but perhaps I ascribe a stronger emotion to ‘stirring’ than does the setter. COTD 17d, runner-up 29a: a great schmaltzy film with memorable soundtrack.

    1* / 2.5*

    Many thanks to the setter and of course to Huntsman – hope you enjoyed Centurion!

  24. The main thing to say is how much I’m enjoying the less difficult crosswords, this week so far anyway.
    I think everything worth saying has already been said so perhaps it’s time for me to keep quiet.
    Thanks to today’s setter for the crossword and to Huntsman for the hints.

  25. I’m very late today, sitting in the garden over the remains of dinner with a glass of wine. How good is that? A really nice guzzle, I only got held up by the pesky 28a and had to do a reveal. 16a my favourite and 11d runner up. I had Book Group this afternoon followed by the AGM of a charity of which I have been a Trustee for 40 years or more. 400 years old, all we do is give money away to schools in a certain radius from out Church Tower. We only distribute the interest from the original bequest. Can you think of anything nicer? Many thanks to the brilliant setter and the assiduous hinter.

  26. Great crossword, Great blog. Well done to Mr Lead the Plumber and He who Hunts for Birdies, you’re blogging like a pro.
    I will go with the flow and pick 16a as COTD as it gave me an excuse to listen to some Marillion.
    I am always enthralled by Mr Imlach on the TDF coverage, I will go to see about his football exploits before then

  27. Definitely trickier than yesterday, and I made it worse by digging myself some pot holes along the way, such as putting in sea dog for 23d without thinking it through properly. Of course that made 28a and 30a quite impossible until the light bulb went off. I kind of agree with Brian about 2d, never use that word in that context, but I know many do. Overall enjoyed, so thanks to setter and Huntsman. Glad you’re getting the hang of the pictures now.

  28. The North was completed in very short order slowing down a little in the south a little, but one answer leads to another and so duly completed. Most enjoyable with just enough head scratchers to make it interesting. Favourite was 16a. Thanks to the setter and H.

  29. Good evening
    Late finish! I saved the crozzie for my break at work only to have half of the scheduled break wiped out, because the train I was working down to Plymouth this afty was an hour late!
    Anyway, to the grid. 11d has attracted some pleasing comments, and rightly so, but the COTD for me was 12a, and 16a was worthy of a Crikey!
    Thank you to our setter and to Huntsman

  30. At least an E or a A in 25a didn’t affect the crossword.
    Just a spelling mistake to report.
    Thanks to the setter and to Huntsman for the review.

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