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DT 30,393

by Shabbo  

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30,393
Hints and tips by Shabbo

+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +

BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***

This required concentration throughout, especially in the SE corner. I put the wrong letter at the end of 28a, which slowed me up somewhat and I wouldn’t mind betting that I’m not the only one who fell into this particular bear trap. An enjoyable Thursday solve.

In my blog below, the definition element of each clue has been underlined and anagrams are CAPITALISED. Please leave a comment telling us how you got on and what you thought of the puzzle.

Across Clues


1a Fitting customer means endless changes (12)
COMMENSURATE: anagram (changes) of CUSTOMER MEANs, dropping the last letter (endless).

9a Correct current jargon for scrounger (9)
MENDICANT: assemble synonym of “correct”, I for “current” and synonym of “jargon” to reveal a beggar.

10a First woman to follow exercise bug (5)
PEEVE: Adam’s partner after a two-letter abbreviation for exercise.

11a Concerned with cold lubricant causing backfire (6)
RECOIL: another lego clue. Abbreviations for “concerned with” and “cold” and add another word for “lubricant”.

12a Modest record with Queen support backing (8)
DISCREET: synonym for vinyl record + a single letter abbreviation for Queen + a golfer’s “support” back to front (backing). Fortunately the wordplay directs one clearly to the correct spelling of the definition!

13a Stingy swallowing cheapest empty drink (6)
NECTAR: synonym of “stingy” surrounds (swallowing) first and last letters (empty) of “cheapest”. The drink of the Gods.

15a Cajole and dupes are converted (8)
PERSUADE: anagram of DUPES ARE.

18a President raves tyrannically about farce (8)
TRAVESTY: hidden within the first three words of the clue.

19a Astronomer could make fine detailed line (6)
LOVELL: synonym for “fine” without the final letter (detailed) + abbreviation for “line”. Our astronomer founded Jodrell Bank and is not to be confused with an American astronaut of the same name.

21a Insecure kind left holding light again (8)
REKINDLE: another hidden word – again concealed within the first three words.

23a Sorts information by date (6)
GENERA: synonyms for “information” + “date” – join them together.

26a Discover embracing sweetheart is punished (5)
FINED: synonym for “discover” outside (embracing) the middle (heart) of “sweet”. Some purists believe that sweetheart cannot be used to indicate E, but regular solvers will know that this is one of our compiler’s trademarks.

27a American state embodies this compiler’s spirit (9)
ANIMATION: fortunately, you don’t need to trawl through a list of American states to find the answer here. Abbreviation for American + synonym for “state” outside (embodies) two letters representing “the compiler’s”.

28a Upset delicate guts produced waves? (12)
GESTICULATED: here’s the bear trap if, like me, you don’t carefully check the letters. The definition is two words, not one and it’s an anagram of DELICATE GUTS.

Down Clues

1d Former PM progressed embracing right (7)
CAMERON: one of many recent Tory PMs found by inserting R into a synonym for “progressed”.

2d Chap in charge getting mad (5)
MANIC: an easy one thrown in by the setter, just to keep our spirits up. Another word for “chap” + an abbreviation for “in charge”.

3d Expel drunk ale, in time (9)
ELIMINATE: anagram of ALE IN TIME.

4d Hands over change (4)
SWAP: slang (?) word for “hands” upside down (over).

5d Domestic charge paid in advance (8)
RETAINER: double definition.

6d Type of point in consideration, initially (5)
TOPIC: initial letters of the first five words.

7d Strength of left constantly on decline (8)
LEVERAGE: abbreviation for “left” + synonyms for “constantly” and “decline”. I may be getting old, most of us are, but I don’t think I am in decline just yet!

8d Rage from diocese over article (6)
SEETHE: word for “diocese” + definite article.

14d Great solving! (8)
CRACKING: double definition.

16d Single woman’s first in cubicle block (9)
STONEWALL: my favourite clue today. Another word for “single” (think cricket, perhaps) and the abbreviation for “woman” inside (in) a synonym for cubicle. Neat.


17d Rugged lawman oddly covered by initiate (8)
STALWART: every other letter (oddly) of “lawman” inside (covered by) a word meaning “start”. I was not familiar with this definition of the answer, but it’s in the BRB, of course.

18d Dispute burying a Republican charge (6)
TARIFF: a four-letter word for “dispute” outside (burying) A + R.

20d League’s leader won, it’s understood (7)
LEARNED: league’s leader = L. Add a synonym for “won”.

22d It’s grand in raw being prompt (5)
NUDGE: abbreviation for “grand” inside (in) synonym for “raw”. No image for this one, you will be pleased to hear.

24d Turned up work by English author (5)
ELIOT: synonym for work + abbreviation for English inverted (turned up) to reveal the surname assumed by Mary Ann Evans.

25d Element is unknown enclosed by carbon (4)
ZINC: Z (unknown) + in + C.


Quickie Pun: MANNER + WORE = MAN OF WAR

64 comments on “DT 30,393”

  1. Very enjoyable.
    As ever with this setter a couple of good lurkers and I’ll add 9&27a plus 16d (nice to see it being used in its traditional sense rather than as a proper noun) into the mix.
    Many thanks to Ray T and Shabbo.

  2. Pithily enjoyable to be sure. Another vote for 16d. Excellent. I did raise an eyebrow at a couple of definitions. Yes, I know they’re in the dictionary, tucked away, but … I cannot imagine anyone ever using the 13a “synonym” for stingy. As someone else said, this was the perfect antithesis to Django’s top-notch toughie of yesterday. Chalk and cheese but both styles are delightful. Thanks to all.

    1. Challenging. I had 23a in my head but discarded it as I thought it was not a real word. I didn’t like the puzzle particularly. No multi word answers. A good (6,8) or (3,3,4) is always my starting point.

    2. I would have said it was a commonly used synonym!! Certainly heard regularly up here in Yorkshire…

      1. Good grief! Well, I never – I live and learn. So how would you use it in a sentence? If someone doesn’t stand their round, would you really say “you near git” or similar?

    3. Another that has never heard the of the synonym for stingy. The BRB says it is archaic. So, other than people from Yorkshire, the word is never used for this meaning. Regionally used (or archaic) words are often a challenge.

  3. Quite a challenging guzzle, with the usual allusions to the late Queen and sweetheart , together with some elusive synonyms that we associate with Ray T. I enjoyed this one more than mNy Thursday back pagers. 1a was a splendid anagram, 18a a clever lurker and 27a a good lego clue but 18d, with its clever wordplay is my COTD. Rhanks to Mr T for another winner and to Shabbo for the hints

  4. 2.5*/4.5*. This was typical RayT and right up my street with 27a & 16d my top two.

    Many thanks to RayT and Shabbo.

  5. Another vote for 16d from me. I thought this was a little harder than some Ray T productions, but all the better for it. Beautifully concise as always, with a terrific clue mix. Great entertainment.

    Thanks to Mr T and Shabbo.

  6. A typically enjoyable Ray T production – thanks to him and to Shabbo for the first-rate blog.
    I understand that the Telegraph puzzles editor doesn’t generally allow constructs like redstart for R or legend for G but that Ray T has a special dispensation to use swEetheart.
    For my podium I selected 9a, 5d and 16d.

  7. Thoroughly enjoyed this
    Mind teaser.
    Although unaided to completion,
    Many were solved in reverse
    ie word first then parsing.
    Full of absolute gems
    eg 19a and 16d.
    Even the 21a lurker was
    very cunningly concealed.
    Many thanks RayT and Shabbo,
    Great illustrations.

  8. Solid as a rock. He is Mr Consistency, that’s for sure.

    Excellent constructions with 5d holding out the longest and, yes, Shabs, I too put an s at the end of 28a.

    1a, 14d and 9a are my podium, purely because they are splendid words. I don’t know why but I get a lot of satisfaction when saying 1a. My three favourites to say are poppycock, Azerbaijan (especially the way Chris Tarrant says it) with the winner being fiddlesticks.

    Many thanks to Shabbo and Ray T.

    3*/4*

  9. A tricky Thursday puzzle with some top draw clues, started off with 1d which was not in my Chambers – shows how old it is!
    Eventually found the two lurkers in the SW corner-spot on.
    Like others 16d had to be my favourite,followed by 24d and 27a,
    As Young Salopian says -Great Entertainment,going for a ***/****

  10. That was a 14d puzzle.
    Lurkers always seem to catch me out – there was a clever one, which took too long to spot.
    Thanks to Ray T and Shabbo.

  11. Can’t claim an unaided finish. I’d either forgotten or never knew the Jodrell Bank fella & initially bunged in W instead of V. Only saw the wordplay when I hit reveal mistakes when notified of an incorrect completion. No problems elsewhere in what was a near swift solve. Liked the top & bottom anagrams & the nod to over the pond politics in the surface reads at 18a&d but I’ll go with the flow & plump for 16d as fav in an enjoyable guzzle.
    Thanks to Ray T & to Shabbo – will read your review in full later.
    Ps I’d appreciate it if Terence could alert the committee to 24a in Firefly’s Toughie. Also interesting to compare clueing for the same word that appears in both.

    1. Re today’s toughie, I’m with you – 24a is rightly one to make poor Terence spit his OJ out! Horrid. As for the word that pops up in both (7d/5a) I didn’t much care much for either clue, to be honest. I always baulk at age for decline – for obvious reasons. But I think Firefly (just about) has the edge. I thought his 20a lurker was a tad clunky, mind.

      1. I do wish people wouldn’t comment on specific clues in the Toughie on this blog as it potentially spoils it for anyone who has yet to do it

    2. The committee have, en masse, all been booked in for therapy this afternoon, after being alerted to this scapegrace of a word.

  12. Ray T in good form today. No need to have to confirm that it was him by having to refer to the Quickie to make sure that there were single word clues only – 2.5*/4.5*

    Candidates for favourite – 9a, 19a, 4d, 5d, and 25d – and the winner is 25d.

    Thanks to Ray T and Shabbo.

  13. Thanks Shabbo. Fun puzzle. I made the same mistake with 28a and took too long to reconsider the final letter. This caused a major slow down/rethink in the SE. I also needed your help for 19a. I couldn’t squeeze an astronomer I knew into the space despite the checkers and detailed “fine”. Doh moment when revealed the solution!
    Thanks also to Ray T for the challenge.

  14. Enjoyed a smooth run in the North then found South a bit more demanding but altogether a pleasant exercise. Last in was 4d (and that thanks only to a nudge). 12a “support” is rather unspecific. Thank you RayT and Shabbo.

  15. Just the right puzzle to brighten up a miserably wet day here and 14d raised a huge smile. Before any checkers were in place, I did worry slightly over the first word I’d come up with for 26a but even Mr T wouldn’t try to persuade us of that synonym!
    Rosettes handed out to 27a plus 5&16d – hope our Italian commenter spots his name-check.

    Devotions as ever to Mr T and many thanks to Shabbo who seems to be settling in extremely well as a member of the blogging team.

  17. I left the last letter of 28a a while as I fell into the trap as well Shabbo and had misinterpreted the guidance of the penultimate word….

    A great but tough puzzle at ***/****

    My favourite was 14d as it was such an appropriate clue.

    I also thought 4d very economical and 16d satisfying.

    Thanks Shabbo and the setter. A nice Thursday. Although somewhat soggy in Tavistock and I lost my bus pass on a Dartmoor run yesterday so am very grumpy about that.

  18. Another fine Ray T production today. I was 16d’ed for a while by 19a. I had never heard of the British astronomer and when the penny finally clunked into place I assumed it was a reference to the Apollo astronaut. Never mind – like Apollo 13 I got home in the end. COTD for me was the clever 25d. Thanks Ray T, thanks Shabbo.

  19. That’s a good point made up the thread about swEet-heart.

    I’m not sure why that one’s allowed through, but it appears, even in the rather strict Times, quite regularly. There was a discussion in The Crossword Centre some years ago as to why redhead should be allowed for R, whereas Gateshead for G (for example) should not. If anyone wants to rekindle that one I’m all ears, so TIA.

    Great puzzle by Ray T, and a super blog from Shabbo.

  20. I agree with you all that this was very clever – and I did put in the correct ending to 28a – the old anagram letters in a circle trick. I needed Shabbo’s hint for 16a, many thanks – and thank you also to Mr T, nice tightly clued guzzle. I am still ploughing on with last night’s Toughie, the clues are so excellent I am sure I can do it – 26a was a peach. Now you know I am not one to boast (except where prize pens are concerned) or shout about my prowess ( apart from still being able to do the splits at my advanced age) but I do feel compelled to say that I wordled in 2 for the third time in six days and yesterday might even have been a 1 as adieu is one of my starter words – then I would really have fallen off my chair. I just mention it in passing! 😌

      2. I too use the “circle tactic” but was told sometime ago by Shabbo that was cheating – I ignored his comment and continue to use it anyway!

    2. I asked by Pilates teacher if she could teach me to do the splits.
      She said “How flexible are you?”
      I said “I can’t do Tuesdays”.

  21. As normal for me a tougher Thursday puzzle for me from RayT. Took a while to get a foothold on this, but eventually got some fodder to work with.

    3*/3* for me

    Favourites include 1a, 28a, 1d, 4d, 17d & 25d — with winner 25d for its simplicity

    Thanks to RayT and Shabbo for hints/blog

  22. Started in bed this morning and it looked a tricky little number. Had to be up betimes as meeting friends for breakfast (which was delicious). When I came back to it found it somewhat less of a challenge than earlier, maybe the eggs and bacon plus orange juice (no bits in it sadly) did the trick. Thanks to Ray T and Shabbo who showed me how I arrived at 16d. To SC – one of my breakfast companions won the Mythical a couple of years ago, but that seems to have put her off continuing doing the crossword so I told her to look at this site and enjoy.

    1. I don’t know why, but meeting friends for breakfast sounds quite decadent. And fun.

      1. For David’s 75th I organised a surprise breakfast for 36 at the Victoria at Holkham. Everyone was hidden when we arrived – it was a terrific success but it was me who burst into tears!

  23. This was no walk in the park but I did finish with help. I did get 18a wrong, so I suppose it’s really a DNF. I had lots of ?? beside some answers, so your explanations much appreciated Shabbo. Tiny brain still doesn’t understand 16d, no problem, lots more to like. I like the word at 9a, happy to solve 27a when I stopped looking for a particular state, 18a amused, but I don’t know for how much longer.
    Thank you RayT for the fun and Shabbo for unravelling so much.

  24. Sorry, but after yesterday’s hugely enjoyable puzzle, I found this one truly disappointing, I am never au fait with Ray T anyway, but few of these clues made sense to me, and when I can’t figure them out with a hint or two, I know it is time to throw in the towel. I have never come across that synonym of stingy, and could not make head nor tail of 16d.

    1. I think that a cubicle in a men’s lavatory is called a stall, and you put ‘one W’oman into that to get block. Wasn’t one of the Civil War generals called Stonewall Johnson ?

      1. Jackson … close, but no cigar! Thanks for the explanation of 16d, that missed me completely.

  26. A brilliant Ray T – and I DID put the right ending of 28a – I always write out the letters of long anagrams having been caught too many times before.
    I’m not admitting to my answer for the 24d author . . . very embarrassing!
    I liked particularly 10 and 28a and 14 and 17d. My favourite is, I think, a wonderful example of just how devious Ray T can be!
    Thanks to Ray T for the crossword and to Shabbo for the hints.

  27. Steve C if you are reading this now I think Channel 5 is in your neck of the woods! Or get it on catch up.

  28. I normally struggle with a RayT, so I’m pleased to have solved much of it unaided.

    5d is one of those one way synonyms. If you search domestic in the BRB thesaurus, retainer is not listed. Searching on retainer does reveal servant, domestic etc. I always find this annoying.

    I would never have got 16d. I would suggest that stall is a N. American word for a cubicle.

    Never heard of the astronomer. Even googling famous astronomers didn’t help me. I wouldn’t have regarded the vast majority as famous either…

    Thanks to all.

  29. Good evening
    A DNF today ; 19a had me beaten, although once I had the answer, I kicked myself! 5d just wouldn’t come up my back, and I had to use a cheat-site. Never heard of the synonym in 13a!
    Many thanks to Ray T and to Shabbo

  30. Not had time to do the guzzle because of a very hectic day. Had to collect the car from the garage in Oswestry, wait for a delivery of mobility aids for Mrs C, cart them upstairs then go and collect Mrs C from hospital. Shopping needed to be done and I had to go and get a takeaway. Health visitors have visited and asked all sorts of questions and, in the midst of all that, Hudson needed his walk of course.
    I’ll be back tomorrow!

    1. So glad Mrs. C is home from hospital, that’s exactly where she should be! Hudson will be pleased. All best wishes, here’s hoping she is soon mobile again. Give her our best wishes.

    2. Glad she is home safely. How is the strait lift working? And what does Hudson think of it?

    3. Great to hear that Mrs C is home where she should be, I hope the stair lift and other aids help to keep her mobile and safe.

    4. Such good news that she’s home, Steve, take good care of her – she’ll be somewhat discombobulated after all that’s transpired.

    5. So happy she is now home with you. My goodness that was a busy day for you, but I’m sure a walk in the fresh air with Hudson was good for you both. Hope Mrs. C is well on the mend now, and that everything will get sorted.

  31. Excellent from Rayt again a little harder than last time. There was another astronomer that fitted the checking letters in 19a ‘Lowell’ but I could not parse it whereas I could parse the actual answer, at least to my own satisfaction. Favourite was 5d which did bring to mind the retainer in Vivian Stanshall’s ‘Sir Henry of Rawlinson Hall’. I won’t illuminate further. Thanks to Rayt and Shabbo.

  32. Finally finished, tougher than some others but as usual brilliantly clever and to the point. I did not know the astronomer so needed the hints for that.

    Many thanks to Ray T and to Shabbo for the hints

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