DT 30626 – Big Dave's Crossword Blog
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DT 30626

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30626

Hints and tips by 2Kiwis

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

Kia ora from Aotearoa.
Yesterday we noticed that the name of the setter for the Cryptic appeared on the website so hoped that, after all this time, the tradition of secret setters was to end. Alas there is no entry with today’s puzzle so we are back to the guessing game. A pity, as we do seem to appreciate a puzzle more when we can attribute it to a particular person. Maybe one day……
We found this one quite tricky and even considered extra stars for both difficulty and enjoyment but decided to stick with what our solving time told us.
Plenty of tick earning clues too.

Please leave a comment telling us how you got on.

Across

1a     Deception keeping the French in view (7)
SLEIGHT : A view or what can be seen contains a French definite article.

5a     Select actors after school production for internet transmission (7)
PODCAST : A school of marine mammals are followed by a process to select actors.

9a     Needs trousers, but no top (5)
LACKS : A familiar word for long trousers without the first letter.

10a     Now’s the time to act, seeing source of problem in Medicare mishandled (5,4)
CARPE DIEM : An anagram (mishandled) of MEDICARE contains the first letter of problem.

11a     Change argument, ignoring Conservative (10)
ALTERATION : An argument or dispute with C(onservative) removed from the middle of it.

12a     Tolerated drill (4)
BORE : A double definition. Tolerated or stood and drill a hole.

14a     Put out of action, changing pace in a 4 Down (12)
INCAPACITATE : An anagram (changing) of PACE IN A plus the letters from the answer to 4d.

18a     How the pole-vaulter approaches the job mentally? (4-8)
HIGH-MINDEDLY : A cryptic definition of how the athlete is thinking about altitude.

21a     Film extract from magazine (4)
CLIP : A double definition. This magazine holds ammunition.

22a     Person with special ability backing American manpower in crisis (10)
SUPERWOMAN : The reversal of the two letter abbreviation for American and an anagram (in crisis) of MANPOWER.

25a     Young hens must eat mostly fruit seeds (9)
CHICKPEAS : A type of pipfruit without its last letter is enclosed by young hens.

26a     Look forward to answer, interrupting a humorist (5)
AWAIT : ‘A’ from the clue and then a humorist contains the abbreviation for answer.

27a     Menu as set incorporates starter of bisque and ray (7)
SUNBEAM : An anagram (set) of MENU AS contains the first letter of Bisque.

28a     Beryl‘s ephemeral delights revealed? (7)
EMERALD : A lurker, hiding in the clue.

Down

1d     Greeting if unfortunately given a lift in the morning (6)
SALAAM : A synonym for unfortunately is reversed and followed by the two letters meaning before noon.

2d     Thrill of partner once view aired (6)
EXCITE : A previous partner then a homophone (aired) of the same view that was needed for 1a,

3d     Study of space attached to golf and food appreciation (10)
GASTRONOMY : Golf in the phonetic alphabet and then study of  the heavens.

4d     Maybe Tiger’s up on Italian, that’s understood (5)
TACIT : What a tiger is the largest example of is reversed and then the abbreviation for Italian.

5d     Run through each deserter captured by the enemy (9)
PERFORATE : The three letter word for each (or ‘for each’) then a synonym for enemy contains a rodent deserter.

6d     Subs may be fools losing heart (4)
DUES : Fools or cons with the central letter removed.

7d     “Endlessly dry region”: article by New Statesman? (8)
ARIZONAN : Remove the last letter from synonyms for both dry and region. Then the indefinite article and abbreviation for ‘new’.

8d     Toughened office worker on English wine (8)
TEMPERED : An occasional office worker, then E(nglish) and a wine colour.

13d     Slip from medicine ball that hurt patient (10)
PILLOWCASE : Medicine taken in ‘ball’ form, then a two letter expression of pain and someone receiving medical care.

15d     First man to accept North American employment to such an extent (2,7)
AD NAUSEAM : The abbreviation for North America and employment or function is all surrounded by the first man in Eden.

16d     Treats options keeping cold inside (4-4)
CHOC-ICES : Options or selections contain C(old).

17d     Fire engine might need this (8)
IGNITION : What is needed for an engine to come to life.

19d     Animal stabled in Blenheim Palace (6)
IMPALA : A lurker, hiding in the clue.

20d     Due for a change, employing fool – agreed! (6)
UNITED : A fool or dimwit is surrounded by an anagram (for a change) of DUE.

23d     In French, certain to reject right result (5)
ENSUE : The French word for ‘in’, then a synonym for certain loses its R(ight).

24d     Island‘s sort of blue language, ultimately (4)
SKYE : A shade of blue and the last letter of language.

Lots of ticks on our papers but will go with the Latin phrases as our top clues.

Quickie pun    honour    +    count    =    on account

65 comments on “DT 30626

  1. I thought this was going to be desperate on first pass but the 2K’s have got it right. Just about a *** with some great clues. My LOI was my COTD being 23d as I had sloppily written in Superhuman in 22a withought properly thinking through the anagram. An ingenious puzzle and very satisfying. Thanks the 2K’s and our illustrious setter.

  2. Can anyone please help with the Puzzles App? Mine is still showing yesterday’s puzzles as the most recent. Nothing i have done seems to refresh it.

    Wd be grateful for any insights.

    1. I had this a few days ago, I logged out and re-logged in again and that refreshed it.

      1. I also had this problem, but updated the App last night and it is fine today. Hope you get it sorted.

        1. You’ve shortened your alias so this needed moderation. Both versions will work in future.

  3. A slow and steady solve today but very enjoyable.
    Very difficult to pick my favourites but 14a, 13d and 5d stand out.
    Thanks to the 2Kiwis and the setter.

  4. Another beauty today. As NAS did, I put in the wrong word for 22a, which perhaps says something unflattering about my biases. Must try harder. LOI was 5a, which required a ‘letter reveal’ before it clicked. ***/****

  5. This was a challenge and therefore enjoyable to solve with my LOI being 25a as I was trying to force in ‘lets’ at the end.

    Some of the surfaces didn’t quite do it for me but there were plenty that more than made up for them.

    My podium is 9a, 22a and 4d.

    Many thanks to the setter and Le Touquet.

    3*/3*

  6. I found three quarters of this to be a 2* puzzle in terms of difficulty but the SE was more like 4*, although I didn’t help myself by spending far too long trying to parse “superhuman” for 22a before realising it wasn’t the right answer. Overall my rating is 3*/3.5*.

    I’m not over keen on “endlessly” in 7d to indicate the removal of the final letter of two synonyms, but presumably it’s considered OK.

    Many thanks to the setter and to the 2Ks.

    P.S. Prompted by the 2Ks’ opening remarks, I checked yesterday’s back-pager in the Telegraph app. Although many commenters were attributing it to Anthony Plumb, the app says it was complied by Nick Huntley (alias Leonidas in the FT and Wire in the Independent). I agree with the 2Ks, I would like it much better to know the identity of the setter every day.

    1. I didn’t read the ‘endlessly’ as referring to the two synonyms, but referring to the name of the state – which could be described as a dry area – without its last letter. Then add the 2 letter article to provide the answer – which is a person from that state.

      1. Thanks for that interesting thought, Jo, although, if that is the setter’s intention, the answer and wordplay would be very “same-sidey”.

        BTW, the parsing requires adding a 1letter article plus N for New, otherwise “new” would be surface padding.

        1. Yes – I was a bit concerned about the closeness of having the state in both the clue and in the definition.
          Also I had overlooked the relevance of ‘New’ in the clue

    2. I’m pretty sure that yesterday’s puzzle wasn’t compiled by Nick Huntley. Having read the 2Ks remarks I went back to look at the puzzle on the puzzles site where, uniquely for a back-pager, the name of the compiler is given as ‘Anthony Plumb’.

      1. Thanks, Gazza, that does seem more likely. I wonder why the Telegraph app would mention Nick Huntley? :unsure:

        1. Nick Huntley compiled the Cross Atlantic yesterday so that possibly caused the confusion.

  7. This proved a little gentler than it seemed at first glance. Some sneaky quasi-padding (medicine ball, production, etc) but I rather like all that. I didn’t think 18a was terribly strong but there are some crackers in here. 15d’s surface is slightly wonky but it’s such a charming piece of Lego to solve, who cares? 5d is very tickable, too. Hugely enjoyable and nicely done. Many thanks to solver and the 2Ks.

  8. Having, yesterday, recorded episode 649 of the 5a that I co-host, it would have been rather dismal if I hadn’t bunged that one in right away!
    “But you didn’t did you?”
    No… er… that’s true… but… er…

    This was a challenge, where I found a few answers here and there, and then, as Senf might say, I had enough checking letters to give me a fighting chance to find more answers hither and thither.

    An exciting lunch time awaits – a trip to the tip, taking the remains of the former arch from the garden. The garden bloke is due back this week to undertake more dramatic work, clearing huge expanses, and to install a new arch for H’s honeysuckle and clematis.

    Thanks to the setter and The TwoKays

    1. Our two arches are seriously mis-shape due to reckless growth of the rises. We shall soon be afflicted by fallen arches. But more to the point, I am wondering where I can catch up on 400+ episodes of your podcast, although have yet to discover how to find a podcast. It’s all a bit confusing…..

  9. This was something of a challenge in parts but I loved it. Slow to start but helped out by the anagram at 10a which got the NE corner sorted out. Somewhat haphazard progression left me in the SW with the pesky 4 letter 21a my LOI. Had I got that earlier it wouldn’t have taken me so long to sample the choc ices! Today’s favourite is 7d, sharing the podium with 1d and 15d. Thanks to our setter and the 2Kiwis.

  10. Another lovely puzzle. We are being spoilt this week.
    My ticks go to 5a, 9a, 10a, 7d, 13d and 19d.
    Thanks to our setter and the 2Ks.

  11. A very slow start but got there eventually despite having fallen into the superhuman trap. COTD 25A. ***/***

  12. I enjoyed this one even though it still amuses me that crosswordland seems to be populated by 8d workers and furthermore that all 8ds work in offices!
    Top clues for me were 27a & 13d.

    Thanks to our setter and to our 2Ks for the review – hope you’re still keeping an eye on our feathered friends?

  13. Quite tricky for a mid-weeker- 3*/3.5*

    Candidates for favourite – 1a, 11a, 4d, and 15d – and the winner is 15d.

    Thanks to whomsoever (X-Type?) and the 2Kiwis.

    On the subject of identity of setters, I agree that it is time that the DT dropped the, now moth-eaten, cloak of anonymity. We know that some setters are easy to identify, Ray T and proXimal for example, and these two along with several others usually identify themselves on the blog ‘after the fact’, Robyn, Silvanus, NYDK, and former editor Zandio immediately spring to mind. So, come on Mr Lancaster catch up with the rest of the world in the interconnected 21st century!

    1. Compilers of the main Times puzzle aren’t identified either, of course. I would hazard a guess that most Daily Telegraph solvers are perfectly happy with things as they are. This very popular blog’s users are still a minority of the total of Telegraph’s solvers, and if many compilers are indeed identifying themselves here, shouldn’t that be enough for us? Maybe the compilers who don’t comment here are happy with their anonymity.

  14. An enjoyable puzzle – thanks to the setter and 2Ks.
    My podium hosts 5a, 5d and 19d.

  15. A most gentle puzzle, but very entertaining.
    The only one I wasn’t keen on was 18a; an expression I’ve never used in conversation before.
    1.5*/4* – many thanks to the setter.

  16. As others have said, slow to get a foothold but once we got going I really enjoyed it. Miss Hamer our Latin Mistress would have been proud of me. I did get led astray here and there, needs trousers, I thought aha trousers indicates I am playing about with needs, so that was one error, as was entering high handedly. However it all came together in the end and I submit grateful thanks to the setter, the tookays and the benevolent God allowing my towels to dry.

  17. Did better with this Wednesday puzzle as I usually struggle with these Wednesday offerings most often.

    2.5*/3*

    Favourites 1a, 14a, 13d, 16d & 17d — with winner 17d
    Smiles from 10a, 18a, 13d & 19d

    Thanks to setter & 2K’s
    It would be nice if the setter owned up to his/her puzzles.
    In addition to my comment … I 100% agree with Senf regarding his far better worded comment than mine. How about it CL?

    1. I couldn’t agree more with you and Senf. Hear hear. Long thought this. But this drum has been banged for an age, to no avail. Sadly, this inexplicable tradition seems set in stone. I’ve never really understood the reasoning behind it.

      1. Hi PCBC and Alpingtons.

        My guess is that some setters would rather remain anonymous as they probably wouldn’t want to be critiqued in public which I get.

        We see comments on this blog like ….’A splendid crossword by X’…or…’X wasn’t firing on all cylinders today’…’All the trademarks of X were on display today’…..’Not a typical crossword by X’….etc.

        1. But then, on other puzzles in the DT stable, such as the Cross Atlantic, the setters are named by name, if you get what I mean, not even by soubriquet.

          1. Interesting.

            I assume there is nowhere for people to comment on the Cross Atlantic crosswords? If so, then my guess is they would rather not put their name next to a crossword that has a blog.

            1. Not that I know of.

              And, perhaps I should have mentioned that several of the Cross Atlantic setters are regular Back Page and Toughie setters.

  18. Laboured start however once on wavelength steady progress followed. South came first but did need a bit of help in the NE. Perhaps I wasn’t alone with drawing a blank on 7d – d’oh! I do find it rather unimaginative when setters persistently resort to the 8d word for wine. Not one of my Fav enigmas. Thank you MrP (?) and the 2Kiwis. (Oh good I didn’t need to type in name and email today). 👍.

  19. I’m with Senf in thinking this on the tricky side for a Wednesday perhaps lulled into a false sense of security from earlier offerings this week. Couldn’t get webcast out of my mind for ages for 5a, so that and a few other parsings delayed my completion further. I too fell into the trap on 22a. Thought both Latin offerings were clever, but cotd goes to 14a. Thanks to compiler and 2K’s for the needed parsing and hints.

  20. Found this quite tricky today. I did about a quarter of it then went to the gym hoping some exercise would wake the grey matter. It worked to an extent but still needed assistance from the 2Ks. Top pick was 14a. Thankyou compiler and 2Ks.

  21. Another difficult one for me today. Started really well with the top half but then slowed down with trying to parse superhuman. Glad to see I was not alone! Anyway this all took me well into *** time. Plenty to like though so **** for enjoyment! Great to see a couple of Latin phrases (little did I know how useful Latin would be to me at the age of 12). Regarding 13d I’d long forgotten that pillow cases were referred to as pillow slips in my youth! Favourites included 18a, 22a 5d &7d.
    Thanks to the 2Ks and the setter.

  22. At first I thought it was going to be three days in a row of almost all my own work, but as I got nearer the bottom of the puzzle, it put up much more of a fight. Had no clue how to spell 1d however, and stupidly the last part of 13 d eluded me for quite a while. I also had to verify my answer for 18a with the hint, as I wasn’t really confident it was right. But overall a really enjoyable puzzle with some great clues. Thanks to the setter and 2Kiwis.

  23. It’s midweek, getting a little trickier, just as it should be! I only had trouble in the NE, I had to go in for the hint for 5a, of course, untechie tiny brain wouldn’t get that. I never got 6d, so DNF, and bunged in 7d from word search, my dictionary doesn’t give that meaning. The rest was loads of fun, a pleasure to solve, there are scratchings all over my paper. I think fave is 13d.
    Thank you setter for the fun, and appreciate your help 2Kiwis. I’ll read the comments later, must get my daily exercise.

  24. I found this a very cleverly constructed puzzle with no hold-ups and very enjoyable. Thanks to the setter and 2Ks

  25. Fortunately I awoke at dawn, which gave me time to work my way through this more challenging crossword. Now returned home after a good day showing my Aussie brother around The Cotswolds, so this is another late comment.
    Yes, the crossword took longer today, but was very fair. Strangely, I was able to solve 14a before 4d, which then became clear.
    Many thanks to setter and 2Ks.

  26. More challenging than the last 2 days, as it should be, and some significant thought needed on a couple but very satisfying to complete and lots to like. 25a was my favourite but I liked many of the clues.

    Many thanks to the setter and to the 2 kiwis for the hints.

  27. Lots to like today. I much enjoy seeing words I rarely use, such as10a, 11a with a c, and 15d. Also ticked 22a and 27a.
    Special mention to 7d, a place I first visited 53 years and 17 days ago! (A mere 100F or so when we landed at 7:30 in the evening!) It took me an age to parse until I realised that statesman should be 2 words.
    Many thanks to the setter and to the 2Kiwis.

      1. I’ve heard about it, but I don’t think I’ve seen it or read it. Thanks for the reminder to do something about that. Mr G tells me that Mr Keatings’ opening words were ‘seize the day’.

  28. Morning all.
    These days the first thing to be done in the morning is turn on the heat pump which has to work quite hard at this time of the year. The whole house should be nice and cosy again soon. Looks like a fine day coming up too but not yet sunrise.
    Good to see that most people enjoyed the puzzle despite not knowing who set it.
    Cheers.

    1. Morning you 2!

      Pleasantly early summer here in your Antipodes!

      Thank you for your super efforts over in our blog time

  29. What a contrast to yesterday’s super puzzle. This is at the other extreme, [+++ REDACTED +++], very tricky with complex and irritating clues.
    Not one for me.
    ****/*
    Thx for the hints

  30. Good evening

    An enjoyable solve with plenty of challenges pitched at just the right level for a Wednesday. COTD is 13d (🤣) with 7d a good second.

    Many thanks to our compiler and to 2Ks.

  31. I use your site all the time and I never say thank you. Thank you very much. I love it and I love you guys.
    There, I said it. I feel better now. Bless you.x

    1. Welcome, John Rose. It’s good to hear from you and, now you have delurked, please keep commenting. 👍

  32. I’m afraid I also fell into the superhuman trap but couldn’t parse it so eventually decided it was wrong, so removed the ‘H’ enabling the correct answers to be inserted into 23d and 22a. Fairly difficult today I thought. Cotd by a country mile was 3d. Thanks to the setter and 3K’s.

  33. I don’t usually post if I finish late , but wow this was great puzzle with a good amount of challenge but not too too hard. I finished all but 2 clues earlier , but then been busy and finished the last 2 just now over dinner. I didn’t know the word for 1d , struggled with that , and my last in was the fantastic 7d ! Thanks to the setter and the 2Ks.

  34. Late on parade, today. I have thirty research proposals to grade as well as two Masters dissertations. All have to be completed by 12th June so if I don’t comment that is why.

    I found today’s very tricky and I’m afraid I didn’t enjoy it much. Not the fault of anyone but myself. When I have work pressure on my cruciverbal brain goes into hibernation. 😳

    Thank you to the setter and the 2Ks

  35. Late post (out golfing followed by a pleasant evening meal in St Albans) but an early doors solve. Happily on wavelength from the off for a brisk solve that lasted only marginally longer than Mon & Tues. Add me to those in the superhuman club but it was only a brief derailment once the hurt in 13d put me right. Among a number of ticks 7d probably my favourite & 15d reminded me of Pete & Dud’s profanity laden excess as Derek & Clive.
    Thanks to the setter & to the 2Ks
    Ps all for naming the compiler – hadn’t realised AP was named yesterday on the puzzles site as still solve the back-pager on the digital paper app.

  36. I think we should all donate our brains to medical science. I admit being superhuman, only having reverted to the fair sex when I could not solve 13d. What differences of opinion there are. I found Tuesday’s to be nigh impossible but Monday’s and Wednesday’s barely giving time for pause for thought. Brian’s likes and dislikes are a complete mystery. Thanks setter and 2Ks

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