Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30547
Hints and tips by Huntsman
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty *– Enjoyment ***/****
A bright albeit somewhat chilly start to proceedings here in Harpenden so a good walk looks on the cards later assuming the washing machine engineer attends at his advised slot.
I thought today’s AP production pretty much hit the heights of two weeks ago. It was enjoyably Quiptic, nicely clued throughout & with some neat surface reads. My only slight niggle was the number of times you had to insert A from the clue but it probably wouldn’t have registered if I wasn’t providing the hints, which I doubt many will need. Not having the benefit of italicised clues I’ve plumped for the first 4 words for the Quickie pun but it may well just be the 3.
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 Pernod oddly missing, Edward concluded (5)
ENDED: the alternate letters of PERNOD + a diminutive of Edward.
4a Lad, figure out who could help you in the main? (9)
LIFEGUARD: an anagram (out) of LAD FIGURE.
9a Where one learns about large animal, small animal and medium (9)
CLASSROOM: our first bit of lego. The single letter abbreviation for about (Latin) & for Large followed by a long eared animal with a braying call + an informal abbreviation (small) for another animal found down under + the single letter for Medium. I rather like this one.
10a Sign of hesitation reflected a court’s answer (5)
REACT: reverse (reflected) an interjection expressing hesitation + A from the clue + a two letter abbreviation for court.
11a A Parisian holds a violent contest in the dark (7)
UNAWARE: insert A from the clue & a violent contest into the French for A ( an indefinite article with a feminine noun)
12a Those who beg, wanting power? Sunak and Starmer, maybe (7)
LEADERS: remove (wanting) the letter for Power (physics) from a word for those who beg. An ironic surface methinks.
13a Silly bendy bus entering a road (6)
ABSURD: insert (entering) an anagram (bendy) of BUS into A from the clue & the abbreviation for road.
15a Match officials point and catch sight of back (8)
REFEREES: link a word for point or indicate to a reversal (back) of a synonym for to catch sight of.
18a This writer recalled stratagem editor used (8)
EMPLOYED: reverse (recalled) how this writer may refer to himself + a synonym for stratagem + the usual abbreviation for editor. Here’s 6 Sheffield chaps who weren’t with the great Tom Wilkinson, who recently passed away, moving to Donna down the dole office.
20a Judge dismissing half of crimes – sign of nerves (6)
CRITIC: 50% of CRI(tic) + a physical indication of a sign of nerves.
23a African animal’s blunder going over current river (7)
GIRAFFE: place a synonym for blunder around (going over) the single letter for current & for river.
24a Incident after old bishop’s rude (7)
OBSCENE: a synonym for incident is preceded by (after) the single letter for Old & the chess abbreviation for Bishop. A landmark trial in 1960 came to the conclusion this book wasn’t.
26a Is initially after a dry and cold room (5)
ATTIC: A from the clue (4th time) + the abbreviation for dry (alcohol abstention) + the first letter of I(s) from the clue + the single letter for Cold.
27a Crushed after former lover spoke (9)
EXPRESSED: a synonym for crushed or squeezed preceded by (after) the usual for a former lover. Nice surface.
28a Red oyster at sea – it’s what sailors don’t want to meet (9)
DESTROYER: an anagram (at sea) of RED OYSTER.
29a In bed I’m itchy, turning scared (5)
TIMID: a reverse lurker (in/turning) hidden between the indicators.
Down
1d Coax men taking top off bottle (9)
ENCOURAGE: remove the first letter from (m)EN (taking top off) + a synonym for bottle or nerve.
2d Doctor, in the morning, put on a show (5)
DRAMA: abbreviations for doctor & in the morning + it’s that A from the clue again.
3d Hopelessness from couple after diet’s regularly ignored (7)
DESPAIR: the alternate letters (regularly ignored) of DiEtS + another word for couple.
4d One watches pretty girl perhaps (6)
LOOKER: double definition.
5d Broods if meal is spoiled (8)
FAMILIES: an anagram (spoiled) of IF MEAL IS.
6d Rubbish clothing on a golf course ultimately (7)
GARBAGE: a synonym for clothing or apparel + A from the clue + the letter for Golf (NATO phonetic alphabet) + the last letter (ultimately) of coursE.
7d Shock at crossing labyrinth with chaps (9)
AMAZEMENT: insert (crossing) synonyms for labyrinth & chaps into AT from the clue.
8d Detests having day for hospital appointments (5)
DATES: amend the first letter of a synonym for detests by exchanging the single letter for Hospital with that for Day.
14d Charges after parrots climbing branches (9)
SEPARATES: another word for charges or fees preceded by (after) a reversal (climbing) of a synonym for parrots or copies.
16d Was triumphant tailor seduced outside church? (9)
SUCCEEDED: an anagram (tailor) of SEDUCED around (outside) the established term for the Anglican church.
17d Gravely cut off north of city in Cambridgeshire (8)
SEVERELY: a word for cut off + (above/north of in a down clue) the county’s cathedral city.
19d One caught getting hugged by tender person in military (7)
OFFICER: insert (getting hugged by) the letter that is the Roman numeral for one + the single letter for caught (cricket) into a synonym for tender or bid. A pic for Jane.
21d Particular admiration (7)
RESPECT: double definition. Can’t not play Aretha’s brilliant cover of Otis Redding’s original.
22d Policeman’s hot coming out of helicopter (6)
COPPER: remove the single letter (coming out of) for Hot from an informal term for a helicopter. A pic for Kath.
23d Distinguished relative with diamonds (5)
GRAND: a female relative + the single letter for Diamonds (card suit).
25d Sheep sometimes gathering where horses run? (5)
EPSOM: a lurker (gathering). Happy memories of a big money win having backed Shergar ante-post to win The Derby at good odds.
No particular clue stood out as a favourite but I rather liked 9,12,13&26a together with 1&6d. Please tell us which ones ticked your boxes.
Today’s Quick Crossword pun: OVA+ RAN+ DOVER + AGAIN = OVER AND OVER AGAIN
A very straightforward guzzle but not less enjoyable for rhat. I liked the anagrams 5d and 28a as I had to think about the synontms a bit bwfore the penny dropped. I liked the geographical element in the 17d lego clue too. Thanks to Huntsman for the hints and to the compiler
1d last one in. I managed to complete all the across clues before any of the down!
It is a wavelength thing.
Speedy, but the SE
Slowed me a bit.
Lovely to meet old
Friends, eg 23a and 25d.
Where would we be
Without the Derby venue?
11 and 26a and 14d
Vie for COTD
The winner, 11a
Thanks to the setter and to
Huntsman, great illustrations.
Quite verbose!
I imagine the word straightforward, or synonyms of it, will be in plentiful supply on the blog today. This was fun while it lasted, which wasn’t very long in truth. 12a my favourite.
Thanks to our Tuesday setter and The Hintsman.
Extremely gentle and over far too soon, all well clued with some neat surface reads. Surely there can be no grumbles today?! No overall favourite though I did like 9a and 19a. Thanks to Mr Plumb for the enjoyment and Huntsman for the video clips.
Managed this quite quickly whilst taking Mama Bee to her Dementia Clinic
9ac my favourite too but I also liked 14d as the clue helped me spell the solution – I think Morse used the fact that it was one of those words to trap a suspect who had written a false suicide note
Thanks to Huntsman and MrP
Seems it was desperate/desparate but maybe my memory is as bad as Mama Bee’s
We love Endeavour. Thank you for that, Sloops.
14d was the most commonly misspelt word pre-internet. It has, however, been overtaken by your (for you’re). A couple of Christmases ago, I saw it misspelt three times in TV adverts that were selling toys…Batteries sold **********.
Lordy, lordy.
A very Morse/Dexter scene but overtaken by modern usage these days, especially when so many younger teachers, let alone graduates of almost every discipline, appear to have but a hazy grasp of basic spelling & grammar. My recollection was to use “ize” when of Greek origin and “ise” when of French, but that while the US uses “ize” for pretty much everything, in this country it’s more “ise” and that both “ize” & “ise” are acceptable. In a recent puzzle I was grateful the anagram fodder made it clear the answer had to be “-ise” so that I didn’t have to think about it!
Hi MG
ize and ise is a goodie.
The first entry in dictionaries is ize (some editions over the years don’t even offer ise as a variant).
We got influenced by Billy The Conk a millennium ago when they changed it to ise as the French like to soften words. But, when we ventured over The Pond a few centuries later, we introduced ize (not ise) which has stuck, Stateside. The problem is the yanks have gone a bit crazy with ize/yze since then and chuck it in as many words as possible.
But, as you say, realise has overtaken realize in The UK and may well become the first dictionary entry.
In his autobiography, Genesis’ Mike Rutherford (ex-Charterhouse) used z every time.
I’m a bit of an apostrophe nerd. I went into a posh shop with a sign ‘30% off to celebrate the Queens’ Jubilee’. I asked the youngish looking assistants how many queens were celebrating the Jubilee. They hadn’t a clue what I was on about.
A local shop sells sausage’s, egg’s and a number of other possessive item’s. Grrrr.
Ah, yes. The apostrophe.
I once saw pastrie’s which made me twitch.
They’ve done the hard work of pluralizing pastry (or is it pluralising? Hmm…). But, to then throw in an apostrophe.
It hurt’s.
Ah, pluralizm … I wonder what the purizt would think? Its’ a real dilemma.
Nice
My rule of thumb is that if it’s obvious that it’s a ‘Z’ like in amaze then it’s a ‘Z’, if you’re not sure then it’s an ‘S’. Well it works for me.
Fairy nuff, Taylz.
Very Typically Tuesdayish – **/****
Candidates for favourite – 11a, 18a, 20a, 4d, and 14d – and the winner is 14d.
Thanks to Mr Plumb and Huntsman.
The usual solid fare from AP.
The original term for 23a was camelopard, a splendid compound/portmanteau word which is a lot more fun as it says what it does on the tin.
My podium is 13a (we like the word ‘silly’), 14d and 16d.
Many thanks to The Prof and Hoots Mon.
1*/3*
Another great confidence booster from our setter with some delightful surface reads such as 12a.
No stand-out favourite, just a warm, fuzzy feeling of satisfaction.
Thanks to Mr Plumb and to Huntsman for an excellent blog ‘n hints – might have to re-watch Mr Gere and Miss Winger this evening!
0.5*/3.5*. Back-pagers don’t come much easier than this, but it was still a lot of fun with 12a my favourite.
Many thanks to the setter.
Thanks too to Hintsman. You were right to select four words for the Quickie pun. Four are italicised in the paper.
A swift and rather unremarkable “here’s one to pay the bills” sort of crossword, but no less enjoyable for that. Over almost before it began, with rosettes going to 13a & 16d, with 12a for the surface read.
<1* / 2.5*
Thank you to the Setter and to Huntsman
Yes, quickest solve for a while for me but great fun, just what a cryptic crossword should be ie nice mix of clues, no obscure words or GK required (hence no help from Google)…thanks to setter and hinter
Except for the Cambridge City
But we’ve seen that at least once recently
I think you’ll find that particular Cambridge city is an old favourite – like Serengeti!
Yes, it did pop into my mind as I wrote but I view it as a crossword convention rather than GK
Here updating you with a rooky’s progress, as requested. Twenty-five years ago I could only ever complete a third of the grid. But I picked it up for the first time a few weeks ago and have completed several in their entirety, including two prize puzzles. Smug as I am, is it possible the DT has got easier? I can’t imagine I’ve got any cleverer over the years!
You’ve expanded your alias so this required moderation. Both versions of your alias will work from now on.
Today certainly was but there were certainly a couple of stern challenges on Thursday & Friday of last week so if you breezed through those I’d say that you may well have got cleverer. Is The Engine pub in Kenilworth still going?
It is! A real community pub and an old favourite.
Lovely puzzle today. Pick of the bunch for me were 9a, 5d and 14d.
Thanks to the setter and Huntsman.
It makes a change for me to look at the Cryptic at this time of day. I should try to do so more often as the little grey cells were in full working order. An enjoyable solve including the Quickie pun. Many thanks to the setter and to Huntsman for not only the hints which I didn’t need today but enjoyed the video clips.
It’s all been said above – very straightforward but also very enjoyable.
Delightfully smooth surface reads throughout.
Great stuff, setter and thanks to my near neighbour in Harpenden for the hints.
I can’t claim the Hintsman to be a near neighbour, but other than that I agree with every word you said.
Nothing to add…
A pretty gentle challenge today – thanks to our setter and Huntsman.
My favourite clue was 12a.
Very enjoyable. Everything’s been said, but I’ll add that 23a made me smile and is my cotd. Thanks to compiler and Huntsman.
My measure of enjoyment comes from how many clues I am able to parse (and mostly solve) without checking the grid. This one was definitely high up on the fun scale. As has been said, some lovely surface reads and clever clues.
Many thanks to the compiler, and to Huntsman for the hints.
Once again Tuesday’s is a very smooth ride and I enjoyed all the fun of it. Couldn’t exactly parse 11a as I was stupidly overlooking the feminine a. Not keen on the use of abbreviations as in 23d. Thank you AP for a lighthearted and untaxing exercise and Huntsman for hinting in case of need.
A normal sort of Tuesday puzzle it would seem this week.
1.5*/3.5*
Favourites include 13a, 20a, 23a, 17d & 25d — with winner 17d
Thanks to AP and Huntsman for blog/hints
Re your nice bet on Shergar
The Irish have been dining out (on horsemeat) ever since
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shergar&ved=2ahUKEwiSmrvG6cuEAxXGUEEAHdJaBcYQmhN6BAgSEAc&usg=AOvVaw2uIjSogiGAHdb7pGNGkncT
Another treat, all solved and parsed without help. I felt so brainy, as if I’d joined the intelligentsia! I loved it all, and I’m so glad we’ve had no negatives so far. Fave is 5d, but many more are very close.
Thank you AP for that barrel-load of fun, and Huntsman for your hints and pics.
Merusa you are an amuser. It never occurred to me that you are not already one of the intelligentsia.
Me??? I’m the epitome of the tiny brain. I struggle mightily when others wax lyrical at how easy a puzzle is.
Absolutely agree with you Merusa – it was a joy to complete. Did just what it said on the tin.
Spiffing Tuesday puzzle 😃 **/**** Favourites 18a, 22d and 23d 🤗 Many thanks to Mr Plumb and to the Huntsman👍
Very enjoyable and finished before I went out. As others have said lots of great clues and as I also like to be able to put in the answer and parse it without the hints this one ticked the box. 9a was my favourite.
Many thanks to Mr Plumb and to Huntsman for the hints.
Just like Rufus in times gone by … it’s not easy to make a puzzle so easy?
Many thanks to Mr Plumb!
The crossword gods were kind again today. Pleased to find clues that led to the answer rather than down a multi forked road. 12a definitely ironic. Both of those named have a lot to learn in the leading arena. Thanks to setter and Huntsman.
As someone has just said it’s already been said so I won’t do it again!!
I’m another one who used to have a problem spelling 14d until someone on this blog quoted, “There’s always a rat in 14d . . . “. never a problem ever since!
I liked 13 and 23a and 1 and 7d. My favourite was 24a.
Thanks to today’s setter and to Huntsman.
1/4. Very enjoyable if over too quickly. My favourite from a packed podium was 7d. Thanks to all.
COTD 13a as, on a road, there is nothing more absurd as a bendy bus!
Done it again. Another Tuesday winner! All completed without assistance including parsing. My favourite was 16d in the use of the word tailor. Always been interested in cloth and my grandmother taught me tailoring about 70 years ago. Wonderful lady who brought up me in a household involving her father and sister besides my.mother and who sewed to provide our food and warmth. Those were the days
A nice canter in order through the across clues and down clues twice just left me with one clue outstanding – 18a. A good mix of generally formulaic clues which suits me well.
Oddly 18a took me nearly as long as the rest of the puzzle, even though I was only missing the 4th and 6th letters for most of the time as I’d worked out the start and end bits of the clue. I’m not sure why the hold up here as it was obvious when I saw it (but that’s always the way I suppose).
Good evening
Charged headlong at this one on the way into work, and made significant progress, but with most of the SE quadrant remaining, it seemed as if I’d peaked a little bit early! Never mind – the tried & trusted method worked: go away and let the subconscious go and do its thing.
And we’re all done. Several contenders for COTD; I think the prize goes to 16d.
Many thanks to Mr Plumb and to Huntsman.
6d Nice clue and a nice picture from Hintsman of …. John Daly?
Fag in mouth & those strides – could only be Big John – the only 2 time major winner never to play Ryder Cup.
Just my sort of puzzle. The only way it could be improved would be Hintsman giving 3 or 4 stars and so making me feel even better.
Tuesdays are the new Mondays, maybe the setters should be swapped over. Classy cluing and good fun. Favourite was 22d. Thanks to AP and Huntsman.
I did this in 3 goes as been busy today , just finished it over my spag bol and agree with most that this was a straightforward and fun solve with no holdups or help required. Thanks Mr Plumb and Huntsman.
Just adding that silly bendy bus at 13a was my favourite and has been entered in My Book. (Not Terence’s List!)
2*/4* ….
Liked 8D “detests having day for hospital appointments”