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DT 30618

by Falcon  

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30618

Hints and tips by Falcon

+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +

BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***

Greetings from Ottawa, where we are experiencing a spell of July-like temperatures. I’m sure there is no connection, but tonight I literally had no connection to the Internet. The problem was only resolved when I “reset all my network adapters to factory settings”. However, the problem caused me to be delayed by an hour in starting to work on the review — thus no pictures today.

Having blogged the puzzles on alternate Mondays for many years, it is with deep sadness that I learned of the recent passing of Allan Scott. RIP Campbell.

In the hints below, underlining identifies precise definitions and cryptic definitions, FODDER is capitalized, and indicators are italicized. The answers will be revealed by clicking on the ANSWER buttons.

Please leave a comment telling us what you thought of the puzzle.

Across

1a   Starmer notes unruly protests (12)
REMONSTRATES — an anagram of the first two words in the clue

9a   Divine messenger has American coins in both hands (9)
ARCHANGEL — the single letter for American followed by the collection of coins found in one’s pocket between the letters designating one’s hands

10a   Alternative admitted by psychotherapist (5)
OTHER — a lurker hiding (admitted by) the final word

11a   Dickensian boy gets capital from Scrooge – such events are surprising (6)
TWISTS — the principal character in one Dickens novel and the initial letter of the name of one in a second

12a   Defamed beautiful woman in cap (8)
LIBELLED — a term for a beautiful woman (of French descent) contained in an informal name for a cap

13a   Follow guide at intervals, getting child’s pet (6)
DOGGIE — follow or trail and alternate letters (at intervals) of GUIDE

14a   Handouts reallocated, which is grand (8)
THOUSAND — an anagram (reallocated) of the first word in the clue

17a   Student is glummer, gutted after job advert (8)
POSTGRAD — place the initial and final letters (gutted) of GLUMMER after a job or position of employment; then, to all this, append an even shorter shortened form of advertisement

19a   Fan did act when ordered (6)
ADDICT — an anagram (when ordered) of DID ACT

22a   Underwear brand worn by Spice Girl (8)
LINGERIE — another term for brand or marque wrapped around one of the Spice Girls; the first few checking letters were leadiing me toward a different Spice Girl

24a   Syrian city a group of stars tours very quietly (6)
ALEPPO — A from the clue followed by a constellation that goes around (tours) the abbreviated musical direction to play very quietly

26a   Wonderful to follow love letter from Athens (5)
OMEGA — a modern slang term for wonderful follows the letter that resembles the value of love in tennis

27a   Dreadfully inept sots – they show favouritism (9)
NEPOTISTS — an anagram (dreadfully) of INEPT SOTS

28a   One of The Drifters, drunk, messed up notes (7,5)
ROLLING STONE — one of the countless synonyms for drunk followed by an anagram (messed up) of NOTES

Down

1d   Pilloried, as one’s Sunday lunch may be (7)
ROASTED — how a traditional English Sunday lunch is prepared

2d   Satirical host entertaining old ruler (7)
MOCKING — the abbreviated version of another term for host containing (entertaining) the single letter for old; then the whole lot is followed by a royal ruler

3d   Avoided disaster on earth ingeniously, to an extent (4,5)
NEAR THING — hidden in (to an extent) the three words preceding the indicator

4d   American takeaway in African country (4)
TOGO — split the solution (2,2) to get how Americans order takeaway

5d   A couple of Liberals on the Tories’ side? I’ll allow it (3,5)
ALL RIGHT — the A from the clue, two instances of the single letter for Liberal, and the end of the political spectum where Tories are found

6d   Summon sinner to receive fine (5)
EVOKE — the first sinner in the Bible wrapped around fine or satisfactory

7d   Louise’s partner playing Hamlet (6)
THELMA — an anagram (playing) of HAMLET

8d   Dealt with leaders of the Republicans and Democrats, ending dispute (6)
TRADED — the initial letters (leaders of) the words following the indicator

15d   Sultan due to travel around in Rolls (9)
UNDULATES — an anagram (to travel around) of the first two words of the clue

16d   Helping a learner using logic (8)
RATIONAL — string together a helping or allotted portion, the A from the clue, and the letter designating a learner behind the wheel

17d   Remedy that hurts? It offers comfort after retiring (6)
PILLOW — a medicinal remedy followed by another common expression for “That hurts!”.

18d   Star man in Barbie is depressed (6)
SUNKEN — the closest celestial star and Barbie’s heartthrob

20d   The setter’s gone over painting technique (7)
IMPASTO — the contracted manner in which the setter would say “he or she is”, gone or over and done with, and the cricket notation for over

21d   Kid’s foot, excessively small, wrapped in accessory (7)
TOOTSIE — an adverb denoting excessively, then the clothing symbol for small contained in (wrapped in) a clothing accessory worn around the neck

23d   Revolutionary books are an inspiration for poets (5)
ERATO — link one of the usual sets of Biblical books and ARE from the clue; then reverse (revolutionary) the result

25d   European country’s heartless PR work (4)
SPIN —a European country missing its central letter

For me, its a toss up between 22a and 5d for favourite today. How about you?

Quickie Pun (Top Row): PRY + VETS + COOL = PRIVATE SCHOOL

63 comments on “DT 30618”

  1. But this doesn’t need moderation I hope and the name problem has been sorted. Congratulations to whomsoever.

  2. An unaided finish of a rather dull crossword.

    My thanks to the setter and Falcon.

  3. Thank you to the setter: all doable, but still a bit of a challenge. And thank you to Falcon for explaining 28a, where I didn’t know that was a word for ‘drunk’ (I’m presuming as in intoxicated, rather than imbibed!). 20d’s painting technique was also new to me.

    My favourite is either 9a for the cleverness of the wordplay, or 17d for being so basic yet still holding me up for so long (possibly for the wordplay being so brief and the definition so long, meaning I was trying to find wordplay that doesn’t exist?).

    Disappointingly, my knees are slightly burnt today, despite multiple applications of factor 50 while sitting in the stands at Headingley yesterday. But on the plus side, I’ve discovered I really like the smell of our after-sun spray!

    1. That really shouldn’t happen with your suncream Smylers, it suggests that it is either out of date or a poor brand.

      1. Or incompetent application?

        They’re only looking a bit redder than usual, not painful, so “burnt” is probably exaggerating. It was very hot, and directly in the sun for several hours.

        1. That might be it too 😉.
          It’s not the temperature but the UV Index that you need to watch out for. Yesterday was only moderate (5-6), so Factor 50 should have seen you fine. I was on the golf course for 5 hours with Factor 30 and no problems.
          Sorry, bit of a passion topic for me, having chased my daughters for years to be careful in the sun.

  4. 1.5*/4*. A light puzzle which was great fun, and very fitting as a Monday back-pager. I am sure the much missed Campbell would have approved.

    My only slight hold up was with 21d until I realised the error of my ways. I had T – O as the starting letters and became convinced that the kid’s foot must be a trotter.

    Full marks to the setter for the American indicator in 4d.

    28a was my favourite.

    Many thanks to Mr Ron and to Falcon.

  5. Sad news indeed about Campbell. So sorry to hear.
    Today’s crossword fell gently into place, so my busy day should not present a time management challenge. There seemed to be three cinematic references. Can anyone spot more?
    Thanks to setter and Falcon.

  6. Perfect for a Monday crossy: plenty of great surfaces with no ‘Wey hey!’ parsing.

    I didn’t realize that 21d was a foot as I thought it was a toe. I smiled at 13a as it reminds me of Bob Merrill’s classic which I always say in reverse….’Window the in ****** that is much how’.

    My podium is 9a (splendid construction), 28a and 15d.

    Many thanks to the setter and Falcon.

    2*/4*

    1. Ditto on the foot/toe confusion. I have always thought it referred to the digits alone, not the plates of meat in their entirety. That was also the only clue I couldn’t parse, so putting it in was something of a gamble!

  7. Gentle start to the week, as it should be.
    I’ll go for 22a as my favourite based on the smooth surface.
    Thanks to all

  8. A perfectly pleasant Monday puzzle and I do feel sorry for our setter having such big boots to fill. No doubt his own style will develop as time goes by but it must be a tough ask for him at the moment.

    Thanks to him and also to Falcon – enjoy your early summer sunshine.

  9. Gentle and enjoyable – what more could one ask for on a Monday? Thanks to our setter and Falcon.
    Like Tom…65 I learned something from 21d which I always thought was a childish toe rather than a foot.
    Top clues for me were 9a, 2d and 18d.

  10. Mediocre at best I thought. Still can’t parse 21d and anyway that’s the child’s description of a toe not a foot.
    Not the best Monday.
    **/**
    Thx for the hints

  11. A bit of a challenge for me in places; so not so gentle but definitely enjoyable.

    Just about recovered from yesterday’s blubbing session as Thiago made his emotional speech. We were the last people to leave Stamford Bridge. Sport captures emotions like no other aspect of life.
    (Photo inexplicably cropped in uploading, but you get the idea)

    Thanks to the setter and The Bird Of Prey.

    1. I’m with you on the effect of sport on the emotions, Terence. I also ended up blubbing at Anfield… A very emotional send-off for the boss and quite a few other staff and 2 players. End of an era 😭

    2. How deceptive! You look most jovial and not at all like a man who rails against ‘bits’ and obscure/ arcane pieces of armour or Norse gods? Quite a pussy cat in fact – is the tetchiness an act? 🥰

      1. Well, he is pointing his finger like he’s got a complaint about something … hang on, — which one is Terence?

  12. A good start to the week. I needed the hint for 2d because I just could not see it at all. Even when I had the hint I had to think for a while. I also couldn’t get “machine” out of my head even though it was wrong. I liked the Spice Girl’s underwear at 22a and the Syrian city at 24a. For once my COTD is a short one and that is 4d because of the massive penny that dropped on my head.

    Thank you to the setter for a fun challenge and thank you, Falcon for the hints.

  13. 28a my clear favourite in the gentle but thoroughly enjoyable kick off to the new week. It immediately prompted me to play the song & discover that The Temptations version is in fact a cover (first recorded by The Undisputed Truth) having always thought it an original. Great covers by Was (Not Was) & The Black Crowes but their full album version is a masterpiece. I too am sure Campbell would have approved.
    Thanks to the setter & to Falcon

    1. I came here to understand this clue – am I right in thinking that one of the Drifters’s hits was called “Rolling Stone” – coz I can’t find that referenced anywhere…what am I missing?

      1. You used a new alias so this needed moderation. All the aliases you’ve used will work in future.

      2. Hi Matt,
        “Rolling stone” is another term for a “drifter” – the type of person Dion described as a “wanderer”.

        Oh yeah, I’m the type of guy that likes to roam around
        I’m never in one place, I roam from town to town
        And when I find myself a-fallin’ for some girl
        I hop right into that car of mine and drive around the world

        1. Thank you – every day’s a school day! Remarkable that I’d never given a moment’s thought as to what the name of the name of The Rolling Stones referred to despite natrualy knowing them my entire life…and I certainly fell entirely fo the setter’s misdirection with the capitalisation there.

  14. An enjoyable Monday brekkie guzzle!
    21d is a lovely word used for many things – both feet and toes, but also for floozies (apparently)! Hon mentions to 22a and 28a, but joint faves are 4d and 17d.
    Many thanks to the setter and Falcon.

    1. How many floozies are you acquainted with?
      (Or should I say with how many floozies are you acquainted?)

      2. Just the one favourite one at the moment (and has been for 53 years….) First spotted, across a crowded room as they say, 56 years, 5 months and 23 days ago.

            1. Actually it was my first day at work after uni! Took another two years to become ‘friends’!

  15. A perfect start to the week. Just right I thought. 22a was my favourite.

    Many thanks to the setter and to Falcon.

  16. An enjoyable start to the cruciverbaling week – 2.5*/4.5*

    Candidates for favourite – 9a, 22a, 6d, and 20d – and the winner is 6d.

    Thanks to whomsoever and Falcon.

  17. Perfect for a Monday. I raced through the north, slowed to a trot through the south and limped home on 17d , my last in. Thanks to all.

  18. Straightforward and quite amusing fare this morning.
    I wonder if the setter has recently become a parent or grandparent with the childish references 13a and 21d 😅
    Thanks to all

  19. A nice gentle start to the week. At first glance I wanted to put trotter in for the kid’s foot but as it wouldn’t parse I waited for some checking letters to show me how wrong I was.
    Top picks for me were 9a, 22a, 2d and 6d.
    Thanks to the setter and Falcon.

  20. Light, very enjoyable, no obscure GK, minor requirement for lateral thought. Good start to the week for the LGCs, Highlights were the laugh-out-loud 22a (only realised very recently she’s married to Red Bull’s Christian Horner), the surface read of 24a, the “oh if only it could be so” 8d, and silk-smooth oh-so-clever COTD 6d.

    Many thanks to the setter (hum, Robyn last week but occasionally X-Type of late? Who knows!) and to Falcon.

  21. Spot on for a busy Monday; light, good fun and very accessible. Some cracking clues of which 28a was my standout favourite.

    Thanks to our Monday setter and Falcon.

  22. Just wanted to say again how sad I was to hear of the passing of Campbell (Allan Scott) last week.

    This puzzle was relatively straightforward with a couple of head scratchers to keep me going.
    2*/3.5*

    Favourites include 9a, 28a, 7d, 17d & 18d — with winner 9a

    Thanks to setter and Falcon for hints/blog

  23. A pleasant crossword, in which I followed a red herring on Googleand discovered that an astounding number of singers have sung with the Drifters. I aughed out oud when the penny dropped. I liked tge 1a and 15d anagrams and the misleading 28a. Thanks to the compiler and to Falcon for the hints. RIP Campbell, whom I shall miss.

    1. I googled The Drifters as well, CC. My how their line up has changed over the years!

  24. CeeCee you have stolen my words. I was going to say RIP to someone who gave a lot of pleasure with his clever crosswords. But this was a cracker – the baton is handed on thank goodness. I too had 17d as last one in and I went down the trotted route. Favourite is 7d because it was uncomplicated and funny. Thanks as usual to Messrs Setter & Falcon

  25. Good start to the week. Got stuck on two – but not on either of 17d or 21d. For 17d, i believe the parsing should be something like: a medical remedy followed by a short expression of hurt (ow). For 21d, the British definition is toes – foot is an American version.

    1. Mike,
      You are correct in observing that the end of the hint in 17d has gone AWOL. I was at the lake and using my laptop which has a very annoying tendency to randomly send the cursor off to some other point in the document (I suspect I may be accidentally brushing the trackpad). I half expected to find the missing text embedded elsewhere in the review. However, that doesn’t seem to have happened this time (although I experienced this twice while writing this short paragraph).

  26. Lovely gentle guzzle today with lots to enjoy. We visited 24a some years ago. I’m about 5’3″ and realised I was being gently buffeted in the souk despite wearing a long skirt and long sleeved shirt. It was tiny little Arab ladies making their point of disapproving of a Westerner but with great big grins on their faces and then shaking my hand and laughing. Anyway thanks to the setter and to Falcon.

  27. Verily, a worthy successor to our late Campbell. I was cantering through this until I got to the SW, no idea why I hit the brick wall. I went in for the hint to 17a and it was plain sailing from there. My top three were 24a, 4d and 7d.
    Thank you setter, that was a real treat, and thanks to Falcon for the helping hand at 17a that let me finish.

  28. IMHO not one of the most inspiring cruciverbal challenges and certainly not up to a Campbell standard to whom thanks for so many past delights and RIP. 13a and 21d particularly shallow. Needed help with 20d and 23d. I’m inclined to think of one word for 5d. Thank you Mysteryone and Falcon.

  29. RIP Campbell.
    Enjoyed always.
    This Monday’s setter
    Continued the
    Tradition of enjoyable
    Monday fare.
    Many a smile
    Summary 1*5/5*
    Thanks and to
    Falcon

  30. I thought this was going to be all plain sailing then got stuck on a few mainly in the S. Got there in the end. Quite enjoyable . I too thought 21d was a toe ! Thanks setter and Falcon.

  31. I found this a puzzle of 2 halves with the left side being more difficult than the right

  32. Fairly straightforward for a Monday, though a few needed an application of grey cells.
    Not sure if it is just me, but they seem to have tweaked the new puzzle site again. When you are typing in answers it jumps straight over all the squares you have already typed in which makes it damned hard to put your answers in. Took me a while to work out what they had done with it jumping over two or three letters. Took longer to sort out these unwanted typos than actually solve it. I expect they cause it progress, not in my world it is…

  33. I made really hard work of this crossword. 4d took an embarrassingly long time to solve.

    I may be thick, but I cannot get 28a. The hint doesn’t help me. I have googled the group, the term rolling stone and the song and can’t see a connection.

    Can anyone put me out of my misery…

    Thanks to all.

  34. Hi Bananawarp. I took it as :
    Rolling stone & Drifter are synonyms i.e. A person unwilling to settle for long in one place.

    1. Thanks Philbert!

      That is annoyingly obvious. I was massively overthinking the clue and was misdirected by the capitalisation it would appear.

  35. As straightforward as they come but none the less enjoyable for that, no holdups or bung-ins. Happy days. Favourite 9a. Thanks to the setter and Falcon.

  36. Good evening

    It’s a DNF! Try as I might, I just couldn’t get the SW quadrant: 17 & 22a; 16, 17, & 23d went unsolved. This is not the most promising start to the week!!

    Many thanks to our compiler and to Falcon.

    R I P Campbell 🙏

  37. 2*/5* …
    liked 17D “Remedy that hurts? It offers comfort after retiring (6)”

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