DT 30585 – Big Dave's Crossword Blog
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DT 30585

by Huntsman  

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30585
Hints and tips by Huntsman

+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – +

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

A busy day ahead preparing to fly out to Pensacola on Saturday for an us against them golfing jaunt. After Tuesday’s mishap on Verulam golf course when my malfunctioning electric trolley (that’s my excuse rather than rank stupidity) ended up in the river Ver I’m having to borrow half a set of clubs from a mate. On the plus side we were somehow able to retrieve the trolley & bag (containing wallet & car keys) about 100 yards on from where it went in so only losing half a dozen clubs was a bit of a result. For me it put quite a dampener (literally) on an otherwise excellent fund raising day in aid of the continuing legal quest for justice for Yvonne Fletcher, the WPC fatally shot policing the anti Gaddafi demonstration outside of the Libyan embassy in 1984. PC John Murray made a promise to her that he would not rest until those responsible had been brought to justice & he has devoted his life since to trying to do just that. His book co written with Matt Johnson called No Ordinary Day is a shocking read & to hear him describing the day in his post dinner talk was really compelling.

Anyway after a swap with Shabbo it’s been my first non Tuesday blog & a pleasure to review a Ray T puzzle particularly as I type the clues out rather than cut & paste them so the brevity of clueing was most welcome. I thought today’s production was fairly straightforward, elegantly clued throughout & enjoyable as ever.

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 Quiet stream getting loud (6)

SHRILL: the usual two letters for quiet followed by a word for a small stream. The definition here is high-pitched or piercing.

5a Street grooves seen in parades (6)

STRUTS: an abbreviation for street + another word meaning grooves or furrows.

10a Tree trunks surrounding northern pines (5)

LONGS: insert (surrounding) the single letter for Northern into tree trunks. The definition nowt to do with the lonesome one Stan & Ollie sang about in Way Out West.

11a Impertinence that is concerning supporter (9)

BRASSIERE: a synonym for impertinence followed by the Latin abbreviation for that is & the usual two letters for concerning or in reference to.

12a First sign? (7)

INITIAL: double definition.

13a It’s clear a chemist’s controlling pain (7)

EARACHE: a lurker (controlling) found in the 3 words preceding the indicator.

14a Reportedly cover pasture with a plant (9)

HYDRANGEA: a homophone (reportedly) of a synonym for cover + another word for pasture followed by A in the clue.

17a Beginning to spin handle for well (5)

SHAFT: the first letter (beginning to) of Spin + a word meaning handle (of an axe or knife for example). A perfect excuse to show arguably one of the greatest sequences in film featuring the stunning cinematography of the great Freddie Young & the wonderful use of sound to heighten tension. A film that simply must be seen on the big screen.

18a Term teacher’s head wearing hat (5)

TITLE: insert (wearing) the initial letter (head) of Teacher into a slang word for hat.

19a Brisk stiffener? Get iced drinks (9)

ENERGETIC: our 2nd lurker (drinks) found in the three words between definition & indicator. A neat surface.

21a Cover and awning protecting terrace (7)

VERANDA: another lurker (protecting) found in the first three words of the clue.

23a Pudding’s starter before final dish (7)

PLATTER: the first letter (starter) of Pudding precedes another word for final.

25a Damage in rain out at sea (9)

RUINATION: an anagram (at sea) of IN RAIN OUT.

26a Posh evening announced for couple (5)

UNITE: the usual letter for posh precedes a homophone (announced) of another word for evening. The surface  read is cleverly misleading so don’t get suckered by it or pic.

27a Tenant not so keen without cover (6)

LESSEE: a word meaning not so + the middle letters of kEEn (without cover).

28a Stop accepting Republican line (6)

CREASE: insert (accepting) the single letter for Republican into a synonym of stop.

 

 

Down

2d Initially heard in New Delhi? Indubitably! (5)

HINDI: the first letter (initially) of the last five words in the clue.

3d Sit, eating out, being prompt (9)

INSTIGATE: an anagram (out) of SIT EATING.

4d Malign fiction using book line (5)

LIBEL: insert (using) the letter for Book into a synonym for a fiction & append the single letter for Line.

5d Impasse from tired sweetheart? (9)

STALEMATE: a synonym for tired or dated + another word for sweetheart or partner.

6d One is vertical in flight (5)

RISER: a cryptic definition (I think) referencing the upper section between stair treads.

7d Biting fish eating river insect (9)

TRENCHANT: insert (eating) the single letter for River into an olive green stout bodied fish predominantly found in slow flowing & still waters then append an insect.

8d Redden about one being rather obscene (6)

BLUISH: a word for redden with embarrassment with the letter for one inserted (about).

9a Perhaps King and Queen upset nobleman (6)

REGENT: reverse (upset) the Royal Cypher for our late Queen + a word for a nobleman.

15d Put off over this compiler’s limit (9)

DETERMINE: a synonym for put off or dissuade precedes (over/down clue) a possessive word meaning this compiler’s.

16d Cordial and strangely endearing (9)

GRENADINE: an anagram (strangely) of ENDEARING.

17d Name of abstract art genius (9)

SIGNATURE: an anagram (abstract) of ART GENIUS.

18d Swear in empty town pub (6)

TAVERN: insert (in) another word for swear or attest into the outer letters (empty) of TowN.

20d Drag gripping exercise mat (6)

CARPET: a synonym for drag or haul along around (gripping) an abbreviation for exercise. A favourite lesson at school especially as it followed double maths.

22d Gets closer to new listeners? (5)

NEARS: the letter for New + anatomical listeners.

23d Greek god in charge provoking fear (5)

PANIC: append the usual two letter abbreviation for in charge to the Greek god – this one had hindquarters, legs & horns of a goat. He hung about with the nymphs in Arcadia so not surprisingly is associated with fertility.

24d Possibly staggers holidays (5)

TRIPS: a double definition to finish.

I think my favourite here would a toss up between 19&26a with 7d pinching the last podium spot. Please let us know which clues ticked your boxes.

I’ve just got a couple of tickets to see The Black Keys at Brixton Academy in May so have been listening to their back catalogue. Here’s a great Led Zep inspired number (sorry Jane)

 

 

Today’s Quick Crossword pun:BOOK + ARREST = BUCHAREST

 

 

63 comments on “DT 30585”

  1. So good to have the site back and, once again, huge thanks to Mr. K for working so hard for us all.

    RayT at his best today, I thought. Having been stationed at a helicopter base in my youth I put “rotor” for 6d and totally forgot that sort of flight. Some great surfaces such as 23a and 28a. As for my COTD I don’t usually go for a lurker but I thought the one at 19a was very well hidden so it gets my vote.

    Thank you, RayT for the fun challenge. Thank you, Hintsman for the hunts.

    3. Is this the new site, I thought I had lost it forever yesterday. I found today a lot easier than yesterday. I got 6d right first time. smiley face!

  2. I echo Steve’s comments about getting the site back up and running, and his praise for Ray T’s puzzle today. The usual sharp, concise clues and wit combine to create a highly enjoyable and rewarding grid to solve. 7d was my favourite.

    My thanks his to Mr T for the fun and to The Hintsman.

  3. Typically lean and smart. 19a’s a lovely lurker and 17d is a fine anagram spot. Fun as always. Many thanks to Ray T and Huntsman. That was a sobering read about Yvonne Fletcher, chap. Well done, you. I must also applaud The Black Keys. What a band they are. Thanks too, of course, to the ever-heroic Mr K. Hats off to all.

  4. What a lovely puzzle. I sometimes struggle with RT, but not today.
    I too went for rotor. Thanks to Mr T, Huntsman and those who got the site up and running.

  5. RayT in a benevolent mood today.

    I fairly roared through it but got bogged down with the 17a/9b that took me into the next time zone as I keep forgetting that synonym for nobleman. The handle was a new one on me.

    Extremely enjoyable with lots to like.

    An impossible task to select three but I’ll go with 11a (great construction), 19a (excellent lurker) and 6d.

    Many thanks to ‘All because the lady loves’ and Hintsman.

    2*/5*

      2. and me

        Thanks H, sorry I couldn’t have been at the trolley incident. pretty sure this is the last you’ll hear of it.

        Thanks too to Messrs K and T

  6. Thanks to Mr K
    Nice RayT today with a couple of faves from me (sorry Kath) 7 and 15d were mine
    Thanks to RayT and Andy on the first with half a set of clubs.
    Have you thought about Magnet fishing or are we talking about expensive non ferrous items?

  7. I can’t believe a RayT puzzle has ended my run of failures this week, I normally struggle with his. He has gifted us a few R&R clues plus some lurkers which got me off to a flying start. I have removed all the pins in the voodoo doll I have of him and thrown it in the bin, he’s now my favourite, for this week at least. Thanks to all.

  8. The master of brevity at his enjoyable best with a different ‘spin’ on his trademark ‘sweetheart’ – 2.5*/4.5*

    Candidates for favourite – 1a, 10a, 11a, 6d, 8d, and 18d – and the winner is 11a.

    Special thanks to Mr K for doing whatever he had to do yesterday. Thanks to Ray T and to Huntsman – remember that there will be ‘gators in any water on a golf course in Florida!

    1. At least my clubs won’t join them always assuming I remember to put the brake on the 🛺.

  9. A lovely smooth puzzle. Top picks for me were 11a, 1a and 7d.
    Thanks to Huntsman and RayT.

  10. ‘Big Dave app, Big Dave app, where have you been?’
    ‘Oh, somebody zapped me, I couldn’t be seen.’
    ‘Big Dave app, Big Dave app, that wasn’t fair.’
    ‘Mr Kitty revived me, with talent to spare.’

    Well done, Mr K. How could we do without Big Dave?
    Today’s puzzle seemed more straightforward than most Thursdays. I loved the picture of 23a, Huntsman. Off to pub lunch with friends now, but I don’t expect such fine fare.

  11. Super while it lasted. How good it is to start the cruciverbal day with a RayT puzzle and the BD site live once more: many thanks indeed once again to MrK.

    Great puzzle. An extra couple of moments on 17a/9d in the NE but otherwise the only difficulty was trying to solve 23d using the checking letters from 22d – serves me right for not wearing my reading glasses. All the usual tells, great surfaces, everything entirely fair, lovely clue constructions and a good variety of types, too. Ticks everywhere, so podium places limited to 14a, 5d & 7d, with runner-up 11a.

    1.5* / 4*

    Many thanks to RayT and to Huntsman – enjoy your jaunt & hats off for rasing money in such a good cause.

  12. As always Mr T is very entertaining – thanks to him and Huntsman.
    My selections were 19a, 27a, 7d and 18d.

  13. Lovely puzzle for me today. Just right.
    Last ones in 9d and 17a after a while thinking about 6d.
    Too many good clues to pick a favourite.

    Didn’t try to get on yesterday so wasn’t aware the site had gone down….thank goodness and Mr K that it is back.

    Thanks to RayT and to Huntsman….good luck with your gowf.

  14. Great puzzle with so much to like. 17a and 9d last in and I see I am not alone in that. I thought the lurkers were particularly good and will have 29a as my favourite, I have finally realised that I have to look particularly hard for them when the clues run into second lines on the digital version.

    Many thanks to RayT for the puzzle, to Huntsman for the hints and to Mr K and all who work to keep the blog up and running.

  15. Thank goodness and thanks to Mr K that yesterday was one-off blip. And what better way to get back to normal than a RayT special?

    It wasn’t tough, but it was unbridled fun with 18d my favourite.

    Many thanks to RayT and to Hintsman.

  16. Unusual for this setter to repeat himself so, by the time I reached the third ‘cover’ in the across clues, I began to think that he was having a bad day. Fortunately, he redeemed himself with some pearls in the ‘down’ clues so all was well. Top three for me were 5,7&16d.

    Devotions as ever to Mr T and thanks to Huntsman for the review – enjoy dicing with the alligators and getting your mind blown at the ‘concert’!

  17. Thanks to Mr K and anyone else involved with their work yesterday to revive the site. It was missed by many.

    Well today is another fortnightly visit from RayT, but again this week it seemed like a Beam for me. Hard to get started on this one. Nothing that shouldn’t have been hard to get, but I struggled to get going.

    2.5*/4*

    Favourites include 5a, 13a, 14a, 19a, 28a & 5d — with winner the well hidden 19a
    Smiles from 13a, 23a, 28a & 8d.

    Can’t say I was a fan of the last part of 26a. As I have a UK background the synonym word for ‘evening’ is *not* spelt that way.
    Not ever … no how!
    Rant over.

    Thanks to RayT & Huntsman for blog/hints

    1. You’re quite right that the synonym is not spelt that way, portc, but the homophone of the synonym definitely is! ;)

  18. Hats off to Mr K for wrangling the site. Thank you. I needed Huntsman to dig me out of a hole with 11a today which was holding up completion of the NE. Couldn’t get brassneck out of my mind and the grid. Even persuaded myself that neck was the support required. 🙄. Other than that diversion all went well for me for a Ray T puzzle. Podium comprises 7d, 14a and top of pike 19a. Thanks to Ray T and Huntsman.

  19. Just got back with a load of groceries fron MnS and about to sit down to the guzzle, but had to dive in smartly to say a huge thankyou to Kath for calming me down yesterday as I thought the end of the world had come, and to the clever person/persons ( was it Mr.K) who sorted out the problem yesterday. It would have been the last straw and, like Dame Edna, I love you all.

    2. Added to which Daisy, I was at a dead stop with the puzzle and needed help. I see it was Toombarloom and I never could do his, so don’t feel too badly. Mr. K is a star, a miracle worker, he needs three cheers from all of us.

  20. Ray T at his more benign. Very enjoyable. Especially liked 13a and 11a.
    Thx to all
    **/****

  22. Well done getting the site back up and running.

    It’s interesting how many seem to get delayed in the same areas. I initially put rotor at 6d and my last ones in were 9d and 17a.

    Thanks to RayT and Huntsman 👍

  23. Blip, Rabbit Dave? It was potentially a cataclysmic disaster and the only email I had for anyone was Kath’s so I apologise to her for making her the recipient of my panic. I get very insecure when IT fails me ( or perhaps I fail it). I am still hyperventilating. This was a great guzzle – even Brian said so. My favourite has to be the cleverly concealed lurker at 19a but I also liked 25a and 7d (splendid word used often by my father) and 28d. Also enjoyed the clip from Lawrence OA. Great film. Many thanks to Raytee & Hintsman. I have some old wooden golf club thing in the garage – do they have a value? We were in Liberty’s once and they were doing a display using rusty old fencing masks and foils etc and I thought of the case full of George’s old gear rusting away! Glorious sunshine here to celebrate the return of BD 😀

    2. Welcome from me as well, Christopher. Now you have joined us we hope to hear from you again. 👍

  25. Who knew I’d look forward to a RayT for some relief at crossword solving. This is not to say it was easy, but it did make sense. I needed lots of ehelp but, surprisingly, I did finish with some bung ins. I liked the lurker at 19a, a huge help with checkers as the SE was not going well for me. I needed the explanation for 27a, a bung in, so thanks Huntsman.
    Thank you RayT, so nice to know my brain still works, and Huntsman for explaining a lot.

  26. Hats off to Mr K for fixing the web site. Never thought I’d be relieved to see a RayT puzzle, and especially a nicely benevolent one. After yesterday, it was a pleasure to tackle today’s offering, always tricky but fair and never gives the impression of trying to defeat. COTD to 14a and LI for me was 7d. Being almost a non drinker a cordial answer was always going to be a challenge for me. Thanks to Ray T, Huntsman and especially Mr K.

  27. From the point of difficulty I didn’t think it was too hard today – think we’d all worn ourselves out worrying about the blog!!
    I particularly appreciated 12 and 23a and 5 and 6d. I think my favourite was 7d but I didn’t care for the face of the fish!!
    Thanks to RayT for the crossword and to Huntsman for the hints.

    Also, of course, to all involved in sorting out of the problems yesterday.
    The other thing I was thinking about is the fact that we all notice when there’s a major problem but we’re less to appreciate how much general every day work is involved for lots of people so thanks to everyone from all of us, I think.

  28. Good afternoon

    Thank you first of all to Mr K for bringing back our blog! All done yesterday, albeit not without some struggle…

    On to today, and the clue in 5d indicating the work of the Mighty Mr T: well, as is often the case with Mr T, it’s been stop-start-stop-start since I first picked up the pen at half 11. Finally got there!

    Some clever clue, as expected; more lurkers than usual. COTD runner-up is 18a; my winner is 21a.

    Many thanks to Ray T and to Huntsman.

  29. Well I finally did it – completed a Thursday crossword without seeking help – slowly but surely getting the messages!
    I just loved the lurkers especially 19a but the anagram of 25a a.so pleased me – an old fashioned word, seldom heard nowadays.
    I though that yesterday’s loss was my fault! It usually is my connections going awry in my country area, which is largely abandoned by the telecommunications of any level. Thank you to those who got everything up and running again

    1. You’ve used a new alias which sent your comment into moderation. Both aliases will work from now on.
      Well done on completing the puzzle!

  30. Evening all. My thanks to Huntsman for the analysis and to everybody else for your observations.

    RayT

  31. Good evening, Mr T. Many thanks for bringing us another of your gems – just the over-abundance of covers that bothered me a little!

  32. I don’t normally struggle with a Rayt and today was no exception but I do have to keep reminding myself that with such brevity the importance of every word is magnified. Note to self write ‘every word counts’ above the crossword every other Thursday. Thoroughly enjoyed this even though it took me longer than I felt it should have. Favourite was 11a, an example of the point I was making earlier. Thanks to Rayt and Huntsman and Mr. K for getting the site running again. I’m blaming the Russians or the Chinese.

  33. I was already pleased that I had solved this unaided, but particularly so when I realised this was a RayT! Even acknowledging it was not as hard a RayT often is, as i often struggle to get on his wavelength, I am still chuffed.

    Thanks to all and another shout out to Mr K for getting the site back up.

  34. Took an absolute age
    To get 5 and 17a
    And 6d.
    Otherwise, Thursday lite.
    Thanks RayT, you never
    Disappoint.
    And thanks Huntsman

  35. An absolute corker of a puzzle today which I did in the car on the way home from a delightful week in Aldeburgh. The car was brimming with orders for Noon Tarts and smoked eel (the best) from Ash Fishes on the beach. I thought this was a delightful guzzle and thoroughly enjoyed it so thanks to all. Please can someone explain to me why I cannot open the puzzles section even though I am a full subscriber – I only want the Cryptic and the Toughie, is that too much to ask for?

  36. Your mention of Yvonne Fletcher brings back memories of times now almost forgotten – I will look for the book.

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