Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30625
Hints and tips by Huntsman
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty */** Enjoyment ***
Another miserable rainy day here in Harpenden but at least we managed to dodge any of the wet stuff yesterday on the golf course which is a rarity for a Bank Holiday.
A very gentle one from AP today, about on a par with yesterday for difficulty, that ought not to present too many problems. Today is my 50th blog (only 1,600 behind Sue) so it remains to be seen if it’s a blip free review.
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 Shame daughter is finally shunning career (8)
DISGRACE: some lego to start – link the genealogical letter for daughter, IS from the wordplay, the last letter of shunnin(G) & a synonym for career or dash giving you what a seemingly increasing number of parliamentary careers end in. As it’s an election period better have one from each party.
5a Animal isn’t ignoring knight’s help (6)
ASSIST: guess an animal time (the one you want is from the horse family) then append ISn’T from the clue less the chess notation for knight.
9a Understanding desire to get new leader (8)
LEARNING: amend the first letter (get new leader) of a synonym for desire or longing.
10a Join game (6)
BRIDGE: double definition.
12a Mum’s eaten bananas for fun (9)
AMUSEMENT: an anagram (bananas) of MUM’S EATEN.
13a Dad’s guarding church steps (5)
PACES: insert the anglican church abbreviation into another informal word for dad’s.
14a European tavern loud at the front (4)
FINN: another word for a tavern preceded by the dynamic indication in music for loud or strong.
16a Chicken roll – not a sausage inside (7)
ROOSTER: insert (inside) the letter that would fit for the idiom not a sausage into a synonym for roll or register. Neat surface.
19a Lightweight performance enthralling everyone (7)
SHALLOW: another word for performance encircles (enthralling) a synonym for everyone.
21a Remove post with no end of complaints (4)
TAKE: delete the last letter of complaint(S) from a type of post driven into the ground.
24a Smallest line right on the map (5)
LEAST: the single letter for Line + the compass bearing for right on the map.
25a Prompt firms regularly try to restore harmony (9)
IMMEDIATE: the alternate (regularly) letters of f(I)r(M)s + a word meaning to arbitrate or try to restore harmony.
27a One secretary swallowed by brown snake (6)
TAIPAN: insert (swallowed by) the roman numeral for one + an acronym for secretary into a yellowish-brown colour giving you a highly venomous critter you’d want to stay well clear of.
28a Pulse rate changes taking out first bit of Turkish delight (8)
PLEASURE: an anagram of PULSE RA(t)E (taking out first bit/letter of Turkish).
29a Put on crucial animal (6)
DONKEY: link synonyms for put on & crucial for our second member of the horse family.
30a Wife called editor after student argued (8)
WRANGLED: more lego – link the genealogical letter for Wife, a synonym for called & the usual abbreviation for editor immediately preceded by the single letter for student.
Down
1d A Republican going after model’s money (6)
DOLLAR: A from the clue + the single letter for Republican preceded by (goes after) a type of model or plaything.
2d Sculpture, say, outside university (6)
STATUE: another word for say around (outside) the single letter for University.
3d Compass showing north in storm (5)
RANGE: a synonym for storm containing the cardinal direction for North.
4d Business trouble (7)
CONCERN: double definition.
6d Barney bowled over by fine picture album (9)
SCRAPBOOK: link a word for barney or altercation + the cricket abbreviations for Bowled & Over + the initialism for fine.
7d Show doctor I can diet (8)
INDICATE: an anagram (doctor) of I CAN DIET.
8d Riches American almost certainly kept in box? (8)
TREASURE: insert (kept in) the single letter for American & a truncated (almost) synonym for certainly into a type of tree or plant which has numerous species in the family Buxacaea. A nicely misleading parsing surface.
11d Begin trimming bottom to get heavenly body (4)
STAR: scrub (trimming bottom) the final letter of a synonym for begin. A nice surface follow on from 7d.
15d Bad answer and guy’s uncomfortable (3,2,4)
ILL AT EASE: a synonym for bad or poorly + the single letter for Answer then a word for guy (ignore misleading apostrophe) or ridicule.
17d Remote island attacked capturing Oscar (8)
ISOLATED: the single letter for Island linked with a synonym for attacked or harshly criticised into which you insert (capturing) Oscar (NATO phonetic alphabet).
18d Leave new coat in van, nearly (8)
VACATION: an anagram (new/nearly) of COAT IN VA(n).
20d Switch whiskey with it (4)
WHIP: the letter Whiskey represents in the NATO phonetic alphabet + a synonym for with it or fashionable.
21a Alert PM about member of religious military order (7)
TEMPLAR: an anagram (about) of ALERT PM.
22d Blue-collar chap put on uniform before adult left (6)
MANUAL: another word for chap + the single letters for Uniform (NATO alphabet again), Adult & Left.
23d Inscription on object (6)
LEGEND: the cricket context of on + a word for object or goal. Can’t say the definition synonym would have been the first to spring to mind but it’s there.
26d Sketched river in first light of day (5)
DRAWN: insert the single letter for River into a word for the first light of day
6d was my pick of the clues with ticks against 16&25a plus 8d. I did wonder if the surface read at 9a along with the answer at 10a amused Terence.
Today’s Quick crossword pun: CAR + PIT + ISLES = CARPET TILES
Congratulations on your half century Huntsman👍👍. I agree with your rating for this straightforward exercise with no particular stand outs for me. Never heard of 27a but easily parsed and that was only a brief pause. Thanks to you and our setter.
Perhaps by design, perhaps not, there are a lot of pop and rock references in today’s guzzle.
Music lovers will find:
A reference to a song by Yes
Another name for a middle eight
A member of Crowded House
An Atomic band
Half of a boy band
A very groovy 1960s record label
Almost a Joy Division reference
A pop duo from the 70s/80s
An XTC reference
Another name for a pop sensation
A Badly Boy
Almost a 1960s British pop group from Lincoln
A current American singer songwriter
Thanks to Anthony Plumb and Hintsman (hurrah for 9a &10a indeed!)
Thanks, Terence and well spotted. I now will have to spend ages looking for them all! 😅
When you’ve found them, Steve, will you let the rest of us know?!
Well, the American singer songwriter was easy to identify, mais je n’ai aucune idée des autres.
There’s a homophone of Canadian singer songwriter in The Band too.
Middle eight = Bridge
A member of Crowded House = Finn
An Atomic band = Rooster
Half a boy band = Take (That)
Pop duo from 70s/80s = Dollar
Another name for a pop sensation = Star
Current American Songwriter = Legend.
A Badly Boy = Drawn (Badly Drawn Boy)
That’s all I have so far.
XTC had a song entitled “Statue of Liberty”. (2d)
Yes song = Yours is no 1a
Record label = 25a (had to cheat on that one – didn’t start buying records until the 70s)
Van Morrison superfan receives shop front sign. I thought that might have been you!
https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/entertainment/music/van-morrison-superfan-receives-shop-front-sign-of-us-record-store-run-by-stars-parents/a1721178199.html
Yes had a song called ‘Yours is no Disgrace’ from the excellent ‘The Yes Album’.
I take my hat off to all of you. I was stuck after Star though Mr Mhids supplied Dollar and Legend.
Oh dear. I realise just how out of touch I am. A somewhat passé blossom.
Me too, Daisy … it could all be another language!
Also:
1a. DISGRACE (JONES).
5a. Help (!). Beatles hit.
9a. Desire – a Canadian band.
10a. BRIDGE, Over Troubled Water.
13a. Steps, pop group.
19a. SHALLOW, song by Lady Gaga/Bradley Copper from A Star Is Born.
28a. PLEASURE. A song by Spandeau Ballet.
6d. SCRAPBOOK. A song by Chicago.
18d. … in van (Morrison).
Guess I was never much of a rock or pop chick – way over my head largely. Well done though T for working all that out.
I did not know the snake so looked it up with the help go Mr. G and immediately kicked myself because it was quite gettable from the clue. I struggled with 23d even though I think I have the right answer. I see from Hintsman that I have and agree it is not all that obvious. My COTD is, unusually, one of the four letter answers and that is the with it whiskey at 20d.
Thank you, setter for the fun. Thank you Hintsman for the hunts and congratulations on your 50th.
A very Happy Birthday to Mary. 🎂🍹
23d was my LOI as well. Did not quite cotton on to that.
Lovely gentle Tuesday fare with some very clever clueing. COTD11d.
Many thanks to the setter and to Huntsman on the Lth blog – may there be many, many more.
Nice and easy does it.
Short constructions with not a word wasted. The synonym of switch has been duly noted.
My podium is 12a, 27a and 8d.
Many thanks to Hoots Mon (well batted) and AP.
1*/3*
Found this a little trickier than yesterday, but still very doable. I fear we are being softened up for a Thu/Fri monster. Eek.
LOI was 23d because YET AGAIN I forgot about on/leg. Favourite was the serpentine 27a. Hissss. **/***
Oh no. Is on/leg a crickety one? No wonder I missed it.
As Typically Tuesdayish as ever with another very enjoyable offering from Anthony Plumb – 2*/4.5*
Candidates for favourite – 1a, 24a, 29a, 8d, and 15d – and the winner is 24a for the ‘right on the map.’
Thanks to Mr Plumb and Huntsman – well done on your 50th.
Lovely crossword for me today.
Lots to like so no favourite.
Congrats on your 50th, Huntsman and thank you.
Thanks to the setter also.
Sunny here at the moment but, like yesterday, the clouds are gathering and we will have even more rain soon.
Very straightforward and enjoyable today. I needed to confirm my answer to 27a, which was fairly clued – one of those to that you plan to remember for next time and then………! I was grateful for Huntsman’s help in parsing 23d. Cricket doesn’t float my boat I’m afraid. No overall favourite today but podium places for 1a, 25a and 6d. Thanks to Mr Plumb and Huntsman.
A great example of how a puzzle doesn’t need to be hard yet can still be immensely enjoyable and entertaining. This compiler seems to have the gift of producing said combination each week and has my utmost admiration. The very neat 16a was my favourite this damp morning.
Many thanks to Mr P, and thanks and congratulations to The Hintsman.
Worryingly, I found this difficult (had to resort to Mr Google to check one clue!). However this did not distract from the enjoyment so its ***/**** today. Congratulations on your 50th blog Huntsman, I always find the blogs very helpful and interesting so a big thank you to the team! I liked the two ‘animal’ clues (5a & 29a) but COTD goes to 6d. Thank you to both Mr Plumb and Huntsman.
As easy as it gets. However I take my hat off to the Huntsman for the 1a hints as it must have been difficult in deciding who to choose, particularly in the SNP ranks!
How nice, two days of enjoyably straightforward walks in the park with the only real problem being parsing first 3 letters of 23d – oh dear yet more cricket (makes a change from golf). North came first. Fav was 11d for its surface. Thank you MrP and Hintsman.
An enjoyable puzzle – thanks to our Tuesday setter and Huntsman (congratulations on reaching the milestone – doesn’t time fly?). Happy Birthday to Mary.
Those clues making my podium were 16a, 24a and 23d.
1.5*/4*. The second light delight for this week so far.
Many thanks to the setter. Thanks too and congratulations to Hintsman. Finally, a very Happy Birthday to Mary/Pepsi.
Remember when she got Pepsi from the shelter? I hope he’s still around.
Right up my alley today, and I even worked out the lego clues which I usually hate! No need for the wonderful hints, although I did read them afer the fact. *1/2 / **** Thanks to Mr. Plumb and Huntsman.
pure pleasure no hidden nasties to trip you up . i loved it from first to last i am a premier life master but one never stops 9a10a – i am having refresher lessons – one is this afternoon since my cognitive ability has declined since a stroke in Frb ’23 At least , i can still get the better of the Telefraph Crosswords most days!
Well done! I played bridge regularly for some 40 years and only gave up when my elderly partners died off. We started learning together at evening classes and after 2 years left to play together but once a year we would pay the tutor to come and iron out any bad habits we had adopted!Best game in the world IMHO.
In Jamaica we had a regular, weekly bridge evening, I loved it. Full disclosure, I played a pretty poor kitchen bridge, but what fun!
Well done and keep going – I’ll join you. I found today’s quite difficult in places.
Slightly raised eyebrows here over a couple of the surface reads but still a pleasant enough Tuesday puzzle. Ticks going to 1,19&24a plus 26d.
Thanks to AP and to Huntsman for the review – congrats on your 50th blog!
A very happy birthday to Mary if she happens to be looking in – still miss your contributions.
Saw yesterday that you’re a Sting fan. Have you seen this clip of Gregory Porter singing It’s Probably Me to the man himself? – I can’t quite work out whether he’s thinking that’s a better version than mine though GP does hit a rare bum note.
Sorry, Huntsman, never heard of Gregory Porter! My liking for Sting is just a ‘girly’ thing from his days as lead singer in The Police………
A rather good version of The Rising was done by Sting for a Bruce Springsteen award
Thank you, SJB, I enjoyed that.
I do rather like that, especially when the gospel choir come in
And that is Mel Brooks sitting next to Bruce – he was on the same honours list that year
A tad trickier than Huntsman’s score for me, but great fun all the same. Cotd for me is the short but sweet 20d. Happy 50th to Huntsman and thanks to AP for the challenge.
This was very gentle and rather sweet, with some delightful turns of phrase. 11d tickled me – so simple, yet so satisfying. 12a and 16a are both fun too. Many thanks to AP and our fast-approaching centurion. Can’t beat a spot of Brother Ray!
Seems like a regular sort of Tuesday offering with it being a notch harder than Monday’s.
2.5*/3*
Favourites 14a, 27a, 29a, 15d & 21d — with winner 27a
Smiles from 1a, 10a, 14a & 30a
Thanks to AP & Huntsman
If only it were that simple to trim one’s bottom Alp. Congratulations to the Galloping Golfer on his 50th ( I have to drive to Bourne this afternoon where there is, I understand, a very good golf course. I’ve certainly had many good meals in the clubhouse) and greeting to Mary. I spent an hour this morning trying to compose a birthday lunch invitation for the Big One but every photo I proposed was rejected by a charming girl Nadia who eventually sorted me out. She had the patience of a saint. I said she could come to the party as a thankyou but she lives in Tunisia!!! Funny old world. 1a went in straight away which is always a good sign and the rest fell nicely apart from 23d. Raining again 🙁 many thanks to Messrs setter & Hintsman for giving me 12 & 28a.
A very enjoyable crossword witty and solvable, what more can an old man want! 😃**/***
Favourites 5a, 10a & 20d 👍 Thanks to Anthony Plumb and to the Huntsman and congrats on his half century (cricketing term 😬)
I had trouble in lots of places today – much harder than yesterday’s – don’t really know why.
Looking at everything again now it wasn’t difficult at all – maybe just me, I think, or maybe wavelength.
I liked 14 and 30a and 6 and 27a (yuk). My favourite was 25a
Thanks to today’s setter for the crossword and thanks and congratulations for your 50th.
A very happy birthday to Mary too.
Very friendly, but no complaints there. I’m so late starting and I have things to do, I take so long to do the little I have to! I did need your hint, Huntsman, to understand the “why” of two, 21a and 23d; I’ll try and remember the crickety bit. I liked the two bottom clues, 29a and 30d.
Thank you setter for the fun and Huntsman for his help. I’ll now read the comments but I’m sure they’ll be positive.
My very best wishes for a Happy Birthday to Mary. I wonder if she’ll pop in.
They were two that helped me up also Merusa.
Quite straightforward. I remember from living in OZ that they’d say the 21a would chase you down. Nasty thing.
Another enjoyable day in crossword land. I thought I was going to romp through when I started as everything fell into place, but I slowed up in the bottom half. Aptly it was 27a that did me in, never heard of that fellow. I thought it was just a city. Too many good clues to pick just one. Thanks to AP and Huntsman.
Mostly fairly straightforward but wasted a load of time at the end with 23d… I had the right answer but couldn’t justify it. Eventually I hit the submit button and it turned out I was right. I missed the cricket reference which I should have seen but the remainder of the clue felt like a bit of a stretch
Absolutely ditto with 23d – took more time than the rest put together! And, shamefully as a huge cricket fan failed to spot the connection. Ta to all and congrats Huntsman.😀
I am looking forward to this puzzle but haven’t had a chance to start it yet. Have just popped in to congratulate you Huntsman and wish Mary a very happy birthday. All the very best to both.
I’m late to the party today but enjoyed the guzzle.
Needed the hints to parse the first part of 23d, I’m not a cricket lover.
Top picks for me were 1a, 24a, 29a and 6d.
Congratulations and thanks to Huntsman and thanks to the setter.
I don’t know why but the Tuesday offering always defeats me. Just not my cup of tea
First class. No particular favourite – they were all good. Thank you setter.
Congratulations to Huntsman on your half century of blogging. Many more to come, I hope.
Brother from Melbourne (with an ‘e’) is staying, so crossword is not a priority. Managed to tackle it this evening whilst he is cooking Aussie type dinner. Yummy.
Anyway, I was delighted that today’s effort fell into place without difficulty, but I am kicking myself for filling in 23d without thinking and missing the cricket reference. As for all the musical references mentioned above – how amazing for you all to spot them. Well done.
As straightforward as they come with barely a pause for breath. There’s a certain satisfaction in breezing through a puzzle, probably because it makes you feel cleverer than you really are. Lots of good clues though, favourite being 21d as I got the answer before noticing it was an anagram. Thanks to AP and Huntsman.
1/3. Enjoyable while it lasted. Favourites were 1a and 20d. Thanks to the setter and Huntsman.
Great fun and just right for a Tuesday. I only got held up by 23d which I could not parse until I read the hints. No particular favourite.
Many thanks to the setter and to Huntsman for the hints….and many congratulations for your half century.
Thanks setter for giving us a gentle ride again today so I can feel comforted that the spectre of dementia hasn’t come a calling quite yet. Happy 50th Blog day Huntsman and thanks to you too 😀
3*/4* …..
liked 11D “Begin trimming bottom to get heavenly body (4)”