DT 30332 – Big Dave's Crossword Blog
View closed comments 

DT 30332

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30332

Hints and tips by 2Kiwis

BD Rating – Difficulty ** Enjoyment ****

Kia ora from Aotearoa.

We are experiencing the self-satisfied glow (and slightly sore arms) of the recently vaccinated. We have just had our latest Covid booster jabs.
Our spell of calm, crisp, winter weather continues and we can also look forward to daylight getting a tiny bit longer each day from now on.
Enjoy today’s Wednesday puzzle. We certainly did.

Please leave a comment telling us how you got on.

Across

1a     Quieten drug smuggler, going around very loudly (6)
MUFFLE : A narcotics courier contains the music instruction for very loudly.

4a     Star after time with friends abroad makes waves (8)
TSUNAMIS : Our nearest star follows T(ime) then the French word for friends.

9a     Starter of dates or try bananas — this can make fruit crumble (3,3)
DRY ROT : The first letter of dates and then an anagram (bananas) of OR TRY.

10a     Talent with hip-hop cover to give away (4-4)
GIFT-WRAP : A talent or inherited aptitude, then the abbreviation for ‘with’ and an alternative name for hip-hop music.

11a     Tot getting hint in part of index, perhaps (9)
FINGERTIP : A tot or measure for a small amount of spirits, then another word for a hint.

13a     Bury FC (5)
INTER : A double definition. The FC we know of is Spanish  Italian.

14a     Maybe Andy Warhol stormed in unsteadily after job (4-9)
POST-MODERNIST : A job or situation is followed by an anagram (unsteadily) of STORMED IN.

17a     It’s hard to say to utter swine, out drinking gallons (6-7)
TONGUE-TWISTER : An anagram (out) of TO UTTER SWINE contains G(allons).

21a     Ruffian wanting good doctor? One’s on hand (5)
THUMB : Remove G(ood) from another word for a ruffian, and then a usual qualification for a doctor.

23a     Charlie cuts additives put in food hampers (9)
ENCUMBERS : A 1,7 term for identification codes required by EU law for food additives. These contains C(harlie).

24a     Jewish scholar‘s underwear taken in robbery (8)
HEBRAIST : Female supporting underwear is enclosed by robbery or hold-up.

25a     Nepali high in the mountains (6)
ALPINE : An anagram (high) of NEPALI.

26a     Adam’s garden is planted in March (8)
PARADISE : A march that might be preceded by a brass band contains ‘is’ from the clue.

27a     Shiny silver coat of ladylike American (6)
AGLEAM : The chemical symbol for silver, then the first and last letters (coat) of ladylike and a two letter abbreviation for American.

Down

1d     Characters in farm I’d offer place in the field (3-3)
MID-OFF : A lurker, hiding in the clue. The field here might have players in white flannels.

2d     Cookware from Spooner’s inquisitive admirer (6-3)
FRYING-PAN :  We find  it hard to hint a Spooner clue. The checking letters will help a lot.

3d     Cub leader is dishonest about working with leader of Scouts (7)
LIONESS : Is dishonest or tells fibs contains working or in operation, and finally, the first letter of Scouts.

5d     Made an error on record — this brings back discomfort (7,4)
SLIPPED DISC : Made an error or lapsed, and the shape of a playable record.

6d     Smarter bit of couture: it tantalises when twirling (7)
NATTIER : A reverse (twirling) lurker, hiding in the clue.

7d     US university, without hesitation, showing excellence (5)
MERIT : A university located in Cambridge Mass. is outside (without) a two letter hesitation.

8d     Split peas cooked with speed (8)
SEPARATE : An anagram (cooked) of PEAS and speed or velocity.

12d     Alluring people work briefly north of Barnet? (11)
TEMPTRESSES : Work briefly at a filling-in job and then what a barnet can also be called.

15d     Strange realities figure in the Bible (9)
ISRAELITE : An anagram (strange) of REALITIES.

16d     Use thread to mend frame (6,2)
STITCH UP : A double definition. Frame is a verb meaning to unjustly implicate.

18d     You reportedly lead attack, getting reprimand (7)
UPBRAID : The letter that sounds like ‘you’, then the chemical symbol for lead and an attack or incursion.

19d     Delay punishment given to criminal (4,3)
TIME LAG : Punishment or term of incarceration and then a criminal or con.

20d     Gather case of Sancerre will rise in value (6)
ESTEEM : The reversal (will rise) of a word meaning gather or join together and the outside letters of Sancerre.

22d     Open a place to drink in Paris? (5)
UNBAR : The French indefinite article and a drinking establishment.

We have so many ticks for this one we won’t even try to pick a favourite.

Quickie pun    pick    +    chirp    +    Alice    =    picture palace

76 comments on “DT 30332

  1. A lovely guzzle with just the right number of straight forwards mixed with mind teasers. I have never heard of the Jewish scholar but it was gettable from the clue. For once, The Reverend Spooner did not hold me up in the way he always does. My COTD is 19d because of the smile it raised on this craggy old face.

    Many thanks to the setter for the fun challenge and to the 2Ks for the hints.

      1. A typo (initially from Chriscross I think) that seems to have become the blog equivalent of an earworm

        1. Guilty as charged, it was one of the funniest of the many typos that I make, due to the effect of a stroke on my eyesight.

      2. Hi Tipcat – it’s all explained/referenced in DG’s comment yesterday. Chriscross mistyped it as such originally & it’s just stuck with some of us since.

      3. I believe Chriscross named it a guzzle accidentally and the name seems to have caught on.

        1. Not with me. I cannot get the picture of someone guzzling down a drink out of my head…

          1. So you would associate a drink with drinking, BL? They are not the same thing. A drink is a noun but drinking is a verb. A guzzle has nothing to do with guzzling drinks.
            I think. 🤔

  2. Off at a speed that made the pen nib start to smoke today, and got to nearly the end in record time, then came up against 10a….
    Stared at it for as long as the rest of the puzzle took, then gave up and went for my morning walk. Got back an hour later, stared again, and convinced myself it had to be something like ‘hint drop’ for ‘give away’. Did talent mean some kind of coin? Did with mean ‘in’?
    Finally after another long session of nothingness the answer flashed up, easy when you can now work it out backwards eh?
    Brilliant puzzle which (for me, probably for no-one else!) had one very sticky clue.
    My favourite today was the very entertaining 23a. Well done to our setter, great fun.

  3. Good puzzle, an appropriate and exected step up in challenge from the last couple of days, and a welcome accompaniment for the mid-morning coffee. A few old chestnuts but generally good smooth surfaces and a nice mixture of clues, with nothing esoteric and even the Spoonerism being reassuringly gentle. LOI 10a for me, too. COTD 23a with runners-up 19d, 17a and 3d.

    1.5* / 3*

    Thank you to the setter and to the 2Ks.

  4. A very nicely balanced mixture of clues in today’s guzzle and a nicely gauged level of difficulty made it very enjoyable. I liked the lurker at 6d, the 2d Spoonerism, the24a lego clue and 14a. Thanks to the compiler and to the Kiwis for the hints.

  5. 1.5*/4.5*. Light and excellent fun with ticks all over my page – too many to try to pick a favourite or even a podium selection.

    Many thanks to the setter and to the 2Ks.

  6. Great puzzle 23a and 2d caused a smile. On first pass looked tricky but unravelled quite quickly. Phew!
    Thanks to setter.

  7. 23a and 22d were my favourite clues today the former pipping the latter. Like Tipcat my stall came at 10a my LOI nudging me into ** time for this otherwise very accessible puzzle. I agree with Steve Cowling’s comment regarding 24a. Thanks to the 2K’s and the setter.

  8. Excellent today. Splashes of clever misdirection but very doable. I suspect some will probably raise an eyebrow at a couple of the surfaces but I loved I all. Brilliant – spot on for a sadly Ashes-free Wednesday. Are we thinking Silvanus? Thanks, as always, to the setter, and the 2Ks of course.

  9. Managed to finish this before a pit stop on the way up to Northumberland. Back on the road again now. Apart from 4a where I tried to make an anagram out of “pals” (friends abroad), the rest was plain sailing. I always like a spoonerism though I know it’s not everyone’s cup of tea. 16d and 17a were my favourite clues. Thank you setter and the 2Ks.

    1. I had a similar experience with 19d as you did with 4a, Florence. I tried to make an anagram of “given to” taking “criminal” to be an anagram indicator.

  10. Lots of clever, witty clues today which I really enjoyed. Like Tipcat, held up for far too long waiting for the penny to drop on 10a, which was my LOI. The misdirection and clever surface read of 3d makes that my favourite today, supported by 4a, 21a and 18d. Thanks to the compiler and the 2 Kiwis for the lovely illustrations.

  11. Lovely puzzle for me today as have all of this week’s been so far…..so far.
    Enjoyed everybbitnif it, even the Spoonerism which normally trips me up.

    Thanks to the setter and to the 2Kiwis.

    Beautiful day here today. Temperature very pleasant. Off to Edinburgh for a few days to be tourists….always plenty to see in Auld Reekie.

  12. Great fun today. What’s not to like ? Brian gets a cricket clue to balance the biblical one & there’s a decent Spoonerism too. Had to check the scholar post solve but otherwise plain sailing. 12d my fav but a good number of ticks elsewhere.
    Thanks to Robyn (I assume) & to 2Ks for the review which I’ll read later.
    Ps Hudson’s Toughie also a treat & well worth a gander.

  13. A bit of a grind on my Tuesday evening at the end of a busy day which started with the excision of a (probable) basal cell carcinoma from my left ear, now on its way to the lab for analysis, and ended with a splendid end of the business year RCAF Association lunch and meeting – 3*/3.5*

    Candidates for favourite – 1d, 12d, 23a, and 26a – and the winner is 26a.

    Thanks to the setter (Robyn?) and to the 2Kiwis.

    1. I hope your biopsy gives a good result, Senf. I too am awaiting a similar result.

      1. Thanks Steve – it’s the second occurrence I have had – on the same ear and nowhere else!

        1. Good luck with the biopsy, Senf your doctors are clwarly on the ball, which is a comfort

          1. Thanks Chriscross – my GP has ‘found’ me a very good dermatologist for which I am very grateful.

      2. Hope you get good results. I’ve had many skin biopsies, and Peter and I are both waiting for some results taken 10 days ago.

    2. Good luck to you and Steve both. If it’s any consolation, they see so many of these now, they pretty well know which ones are benign. I’m told they aren’t a problem if you get them early.

  14. What an outstanding crossword that I think will appeal to all levels. A perfect midweeker.

    Some fantastic surfaces with my podium being 20d that took some eeking out, 23a and the outstanding 14a taking the spoils.

    Brilliant!

    Many thanks to 2K and our esteemed compiler whoever it may be or is it maybe? I’m never sure of that one. So, I’ve looked it up and now I know!

    2*/5*

    1. I’m intrigued, Tom – where can one look up who is credited as being the day’s backpage setter? I thought DT (like TT) preferred to keep that informaiton to itself, hence the perennial guessing games here!

  15. A top-notch puzzle – many thanks to our setter and 2Ks.
    I particularly liked 10a, 21a, 23a and the unusually good Spoonerism at 2d.

  16. The hip-hop element of 10a and the Jewish scholar were the only sticking points for me this morning in an otherwise reasonably rapid solve. Even the Spoonerism fell without a struggle!
    Podium places handed out to 23a along with 16,18&19d.

    Thanks to Robyn, I assume, and to the newly jabbed Ks for the review.

  17. Excellent, not at all difficult but one of the best back-pagers I can remember.
    I loved the lol Spoonerism at 2d and the workers “north of Barnet” but my podium is 10a plus 7d with top spot going to the super 23a.
    Thanks to the setter, Robyn I’m guessing, and The Ks for the top-notch entertainment.

  18. Visited Bury FC a couple of times on my quest to see a match at all 92 FA League grounds. It was Exeter they played both times I was at Gigg Lane rather than the answer to the clue. The old car must have heaved a sigh of relief when the 92nd tick was made after a weekend trip to Southampton and back. Hate to think of what the total mileage must have been with all these trips from north of Aberdeen.

    My heart usually drops too when I see Spooner but this must be one of the most straightforward ones. The Bidie-in helped me with 10a and 14a.

    Favourites include 13a and 16d.

    Thanks to setter and hinters.

  19. Spot on puzzle, eccellent cluing throughout, liked the SW corner, 24a new to me;
    Favourite ware 14a andthe clever 23a,
    Going for a **/****

  20. So many fun clues, with enough easier ones to find a way in to the puzzle. Like the Kiwis (thank you), I gave up on picking favourites: my list of candidates contained 23a (Charlie cutting additives), 13d (north of Barnett), 26a (planted in March), 1d (place in the field), and 3d (Spooner’s cookware) before I realized the futility of the exercise, and accepted that pretty much all the clues could be favourites!

    Meaning this may well be my favourite crossword of the year so far. Thank you so much to Robyn.

    Sunny again in Ilkley, but after the rain of the previous 2 days I don’t know whether to risk cutting through the woods on the way to tonight’s Brownies meeting or whether it’d be too squelchy and we’re better taking the longer route by road.

  21. A high quality puzzle that produced so many potential favourites that I had to resort to my trusty pin, with the winner being 15d (this one is for you Brian). Great fun.

    My thanks to our setter for a lovely puzzle, and of course to the 2Ks.

  22. On the right difficulty
    Trajectory for midweek.
    Speedy progress until the buffers
    Of 10a and, shamefully,
    7d.
    Stared and stared at the former,
    Eventually came when
    The abbreviation of a certain
    Conjunction was twigged
    7d quickly followed.
    So many excellent clues,
    4a and 19d joint CsOTD.
    Thanks to the setter and the 2Kiwis.

  23. Easy romp for us today. 1*/3* for us.
    Got 9a but had never heard of the term being applied to fruit so had to look it up. Also never heard of 10a as being hip-hop music. One lives and learns.
    Thank you 2Ks and setter

  24. Another tricky Wednesday puzzle this week for me. It had some easy clues and then some that were really hard to suss out. Also one clue that I had no idea what the answer was so for me technically a DNF.
    Learnt a new word, but not sure it will stay in my mind. Means diddly squat to me.

    Overall 2*/3* for me today.

    Podium contenders include 4a, 11a, 24a, 1d & 5d — with winner 5d

    My downfall today was 24a … completely unknown to me, thus the DNF. Can’t even figure out the parsing of it.

    Thanks to setter and the 2K’s

    1. Sorry you couldn’t work it out. Thing of a robbery (American) with the usual ladies undergarment inside. Together with the checkers it should be plain enough. It was for me anyway.

  25. This puzzle reminded me of Geoff, my dentist, giving me a check-up – upper left, good, upper right, good, lower left, good, lower right, aah. Houston, we have a problem in the lower right quadrant! Just couldn’t get 27a as I failed to clock the abbreviation for American, not helped by trying to crowbar in a synonym for ‘gather’ in 20d rather than one for ‘value.’ Never mind. Enjoyed the rest of the puzzle and like many others COTD for me was 23a. Thanks to the setter and apologies for the dentist analogy; thanks to the 2Ks for the hints.

  26. 2/4. Raced through most of this but got stuck on 24a and needed a large dose of Google to get the answer which I reversed engineered to check my parsing. I will forget this word immediately! My favourite was 13a for its elegant simplicity and brevity. Thanks to the setter and the 2Ks.

  27. Something for everyone today, a cricket clue, a football clue, a bible clue (!), an artist clue and a Spoonerism!
    What more could one ask.
    Very enjoyable.
    All in all, a good puzzle.
    Thx to all
    **/****

  28. Superb guzzle with misdirection, wit and great clue variety.
    My Ab Fab clue of day being 23a – so clever !
    Thanks to setter and the 2K’s

  29. More difficult than the last couple of days but certainly not impossible, not even for me!!
    I always forget the 1a smuggler – all I can ever remember is the fence which wasn’t much help.
    My ignorance let me down with a couple of things – I’d admit to some things but others perhaps not . . .
    Why 21a was what it obviously was took me for ever – dim – and I can’t see what 9a has got to do with fruit.
    I liked the 17a anagram and the Spoonerism – I always like them even though other people don’t.
    I also liked 11a and 16d.
    Thanks to whoever set the crossword and to the 2K’s too.

  30. Of course a little trickier, right on schedule! I did enjoy this though some passed me by, 23a ?? never heard of that but it had to be. My heart dropped when I read 2d but I got it in a trice, miracle as I always fail horribly with spoonerisms. I was able to work out 24a, the robbery is my fave seed word for Wordle. And, hey, I got 1d immediately, so I do remember some of my brother’s prattle about cricket – was always fascinated by “silly mid off”, no idea what it meant. I also didn’t know Barnet in 12d though I suspect a bit of Cockney slang, will look it up. Hard to choose a fave, too many choices.
    Thank you setter for the money, I needed your hints 2Kiwis so many thanks for that.

      1. Thank you, saved me looking it up.
        Have no idea why the duppy changed my “thank you for the fun” to “thank you for the money”! Who knows.

  31. Mostly good. Favourites 4 23 and 26a and 12d. Did not know the Jewish scholar but got it with some checkers and a favourite 3 letter undergarment. All I needed was a robbery synonym and the word whic surrounds the underwear is a good word for robbery. My trouble was 27a and 20d. Did not parse the former. It was the America abbreviation which did for me. Last one in was 11a. Thanks setter and hinters.

  32. Needed the hints for 10a, I didn’t know hip hop was the music with a silent c, and 24a which I’d never heard of but was fairly clued, I just didn’t see it. Other than that about the right level for a Wednesday. Having read Kath’s post I am also wondering where the fruit comes into 9a.Thanks to all.

  33. Brilliant parsing. So straight forward. Why can’t all setters do it like this. I can forgive 24a because the answer wrote itself.
    Loved it.
    */****

  34. I did need some help to finish, so thank you to the Kiwis. No real favourite, but it is just a relief to be able to finally solve Wednesday puzzles. Jay was a great setter and much liked on here, but always a little above my pay grade. Thanks to today’s setter too. I did take a peak at today’s Toughie and, lo and behold, I got the first two answers right away. Perhaps I might torture myself and attempt later over lunch.

    1. The Toughie is actually a lot of fun and I recommend to all even if, like me, you usually don’t go further than the backpager.

  35. Late today, errands & haircut Wednesday! I thought this was a well clued and accessible solve & like a few commentators came to a halt at 10a. The strange thing is my wife is a talented at 10a & I was staring at one of her creations when the answer came to me! If you’d like to see some of her designs you can at https://louiselewis.co.uk/.

    2*/4*

    Fav 24a LOI 10a.

    Thanks to setter & the 2Kiwis.

      1. Thanks Merusa, I’ll pass it on as she doesn’t fathom the cryptic world, even though I tried by buying her our esteemed editors crossword book 😁.

    1. I have just visited the website, dchemist and I agree with Merusa. They are lovely, there is no other word for it. 👍

  36. Required rather more application than last two days but got there if not admittedly thanks to a little intervention from MrG. SW came in last. Failed to clock 14a unsteadily but it had to be and likewise 24a which was new to me. Joint Favs 5d and 7d. 22d somewhat all-embracing. Thank you Mysteron and 2Kiwis.

  37. A great Guzzle! Lots of fun.
    I got the spoonerism, the cricket clue (without knowing anything about cricket) and the new word to me in 24a all without help. The reverse lurker was my last in for which I am kicking myself (with my not broken foot).
    Like Kath I am puzzled by the word fruit in 9a, is it just there because it is cryptic or does it mean something I don’t know about??

    Many thanks to the setter and the 2 kiwis for the hints and pics

    1. The BRB says the answer is “any of various fungal diseases of plants, bulbs, fruits, etc”.

  38. Morning all.
    Apologies for the mis-attribution in 13a which is now corrected. Don’t know how that happened. Suspect a bit of mental confusion with the ‘Genuine’ club in Madrid.
    We also wondered about the fruit in 9a but a quick look in BRB assured us that the setter knew what he was talking about. Similar experience for 22a where the EU codes were new to us but guessed from the checkers.
    Glad that others also felt the ‘Magic Dust’ that must have been present in this puzzle to lift the enjoyment level so high. Take a bow setter.
    Cheers.

  39. Good evening
    Finally limped over the finish line, with 10a the last to drop in after much scratching of the heid.
    Some of the best misdirection I’ve come across today; 12d, 18d, and the runaway winner of COTD which was 23a! Crikey indeed!!
    Many thanks to our compiler and to 2Ks

  40. Struggled with this a bit but having been to yet another funeral, been food shopping, fed the dog, did the usual brain mangling quiz, did yesterday’s back pager which I didn’t have time to do yesterday is no small wonder. The toughie will have to wait until tomorrow. Favourite was 8d. Thanks to the setter and 2K’s. Hopefully tomorrow will be easier but life’s not like that.

  41. 3*/5* ….
    liked 12D “Alluring people work briefly north of Barnet? (11)” …. amongst several others.

Comments are closed.