DT 30640

74 comments on “DT 30640”

1. A curate’s egg of a guzzle for me. Seventy five percent went in after some thought but the final twenty five stumped me. I could not understand 13a until I saw the hints. These days with so few of us having actual money I would never have got it. I spent ages with “Tate”. Cleverly clued but some were a bit too clever for my grey cells.

   Thank you setter for the challenge. Thank you, Mr. K for the hints and enjoy your travels.

   1. I’m with you on 13a, that was a DNF for me. I thought HM was on your notes?

      1. None of us non residents would get 13a I’m sure.

      2. Yes, Merusa, on the the other side.

2. Even with explanation I still can’t see 13ac, otherwise standard Friday fare.

   1. The note is a particular denomination of bank note.

      1. I am sure that if Mr K had had time to look for pictures he would have illustrated this clue:

         

         1. Thanks! So Brit banknotes no longer have HM?

            1. HM always appears on the front of our bank notes, the reverse has the images of other famous folk and they vary from time to time.

               1. Ah so! Thanks.

   2. Check your wallet or someone elses.

      1. Not in my wallet 😊.

   3. Thanks everyone it makes sense now,

3. Reasonably straightforward for a Friday and a satisfying challenge. Some brilliance on display (lots of clues ticked) but also a few clues I thought oddly below par (13a, 9a, 24d). Generally great surfaces and a good mixture of clue types. Podium places whittled down 15a, 16d and 18d.

   2* / 3*

   Many thanks to the setter (nope, no money on it, but maybe Silvanus because of the surfaces?) and MrK

   1. My word, MG. 13a “below par”? I thought it was brilliant!

      1. I thought it was straightforward GK and insufficiently cryptic, one of the weakest clues in the puzzle. Strange how differently people can interpret and assess the same thing … much like Turner’s own work at the time!

         1. Fair enough. It just rather appealed to me. Often the case with cryptic definitions like this though, isn’t it? Painfully obvious to some, less so to others. I always find people’s varying takes fascinating. Personally, I thought 18d’s double definition – one of your faves – was far more glaringly straightforward. Difference is all!

            1. 18d was on the podium for its laugh out loud value – as a clue it was a write-in.

               Ho hum. Or should I say “Hi Ho”?

               1. Hi MG

                  Looking at people’s posts, the setter has clearly thrown enough of them off the scent sufficiently to make it a good clue even though it is, of course, subjective.

                  I got the answer immediately as I, maybe sadly, know who is on the back of all the bank notes. But, I still loved it. This is why I’m a huge fan of a cryptic definition as it is, by definition, a definition, i.e straightforward GK (more often than not).

                  There are no Telegraphs in my neck of the woods which is annoying as I hate to miss out on a Silvy Wilvy production. Hopefully, I’ll track one down later. If not, I’ll have to play ‘Guess the grid’ which is always a blast.

                  And, before anyone says it, I will never do it online as there’s nuffin like the paper version. The extra expense is worth every penny.

                  1. I saw the clue on this blog as I was intrigued by people’s thoughts on it.

                  2. Ha! I thought – and hoped – you’d chime in on this one, Tom. I can see what MG means, of course, but I thought this was an excellent CD, myself. Self-evident when you clock it but not necessarily immediately obvious – as it clearly proved – especially as so many of us rarely use cash these days. I think great CDs have much in common with great observational stand-up: a pithy tweak on the everyday. And you’re absolutely right – nothing beats pen and paper. Though it’s not always possible, sadly. On the Tube? Forget it!

                     1. Good shout.

                        Glad to see that you’re one of the ‘pen & paper’ brigade.

                        We love a ‘crypto deffo’.

4. A very good challenge for a Friday which I am reasonably confident is the work of a member of the Friday triumvirate who we are ‘seeing’ quite often at the moment, otherwise known as Silvanus – 2.5*/4.5*

   I had to wait for quite a while for the PDM for 13a, which required e-confirmation. With the three checkers, the answer was obvious but I could not justify it. The last time I visited the UK, in 2017, an economist and philosopher had the honour.

   Candidates for favourite – the aforementioned 13a, 26a, 1d, and 8d – and the winner is 13a.

   Thanks to Silvanus, or whomsoever if it is not he, and thanks to Mr K.

5. I found this quite challenging, as befits a Friday and very enjoyable. The fossil was new to me and my LOI, but with all the checkers – albeit nearly all vowels – easily parsable. It’s always more difficult for me when there are a large number of vowels as checkers, which seemed to be the case today. I was defeated by the parsing of 24d though the answer was obvious, and I’m still not sure that I like it very much. That said, there was plenty to enjoy, particularly the long answers at top and bottom of the grid, the artwork of Turner and the shy dwarf which both resulted from penny drop moments, bringing a chuckle. Favourite today was 23a sharing the podium with 11a and 7d. Thanks to our setter and Mr K.

6. A much more enjoyable puzzle, for me, than the last two days. I spent ages trying to work Tate into 13a but eventually the penny dropped. 18d raised a smile as did 25d. Thanks to Mr K and the setter.

7. Hello,
   Does anybody know of a way to print the cryptic from the old site? The current print format is dreadful.
   Cheers.

   1. Sadly, the ‘old’ site has gone completely.

      In the most recent Puzzles Newsletter our esteemed editor wrote, in reference to the ‘new’ site:

      We are working on more printing options, including the ability to change the font and greyscale settings of clues and grids respectively, so watch out for those features arriving in the near future.

      1. Hi Senf,
         Thanks. Pity that, they’ve really messed it up. I miss the ‘yesterdays puzzles’ button as well.

         1. There are assurances that improvements will soon be here facilitating grid resizing, changing the font of clues, and adjusting greyscale when printing.
            All that cannot happen too soon, especially given that for 3 consecutive days now a daily puzzle has gone on to 2 pages when printed.
            And yet one doesn’t even have to log in to the DT’s new puzzles site to access the daily puzzles – not just the crosswords – literally a free for all!

   2. On my iPad I need to press the More … in the top right. Then it gives me an option to print, which apart from one day, has worked well.

8. This was pretty straightforward except the parsing of a couple of them. The last 4 letters of the fossil clue held me up for ages and it suddenly clicked when watering my tomatoes! I am waiting delivery of a box to put rat poison in having spotted a small rat a couple of times. Absolutely hate them. The poison packet says you shouldn’t open it – well how does the rat eat the poison then? So I rang the company and apparently it’s law to put that direction on and the girl said that once it is in my possession I can use it how I wish, so I will open the packet. Anyone else had this sort of problem? Any advice hugely appreciated. Thanks to the setter and Mr K

9. Like Steve I too spent ages in somehow using Tate in 13a to no avail-Thanks Mr K..
   Looked up in Chambers for the kind of tea in 18a and that D’oh moment when the penny dropped-has to be my favourite..
   Really enjoyed the solve quite difficult for me and ****/****

10. Oh dear another Toughie masquerading as a Friday puzzle. Tedious and unnecessarily complicated. The only saving grace was 18d.
    Thx for the hints for explaining 2d, 6d, 13a and 24d. 12a was simply an awful clue. 16d seems to be a lurker with no indicator.
    All in all not my favourite puzzle!
    ****/*(for 18d).
    Thx for the hints.

    1. B. 16d is a lurker clue and it does contain a very familiar indicator – “inspire”, or to take in/draw in.

    2. Agree Brian. It’s time the DT announced that on Fridays the Cryptic is replaced by two Toughies.

11. Quite a difficult solve, with a few clues falling into Toughie territory.
    Managed to finish but needed Mr K’s tips to explain parsing of a few.
    Liked 13a very much once the penny ( or 2000 of them) dropped
    I can’t see the 5 letter dispute in 10a even though I have the 4 letters that remain

    1. This might help on 10a – it is a four letter synonym of dispute (as a verb), with its last letter deleted, which you may be more familiar with as an adjective as a synonym for debatable.

       1. Thanks – got it now
          Somehow I was double counting the ‘r’ and was looking for a 5 letter dispute with its last letter missing.

12. Can’t say I enjoyed this puzzle today. A pretty tough Friday challenge.
    Lots of clues where parsing was not obvious at all.

    3*/2* for me.

    Liked 1a & 28a but no outstanding favourite

    Thanks to setter & Mr K

13. Longest solve of the week by far for me; as for others, 13a was my last one to work out.
    re: 1d, the inserted phrase meaning “somewhat” is 1,3 not 3,1 :-)

    1. Or, given the irritating and widespread use of the glo’al stop these days, maybe it will in future be enumerated as 1,2′ ? ;)

    2. Thanks. Typo now fixed.

14. Quite a challenge but by fair means or foul I got there in the end and did quite enjoy the challenge. With so much digital shopping 13a notes are rarely studied. Bunged in 10a and 24d. Joint Favs 18a and 25d (yuck!). Thank you Silvanus (?) and MrK for interrupting your travels on our behalf.

15. 4*/5*. What a stonking finish to week! Challenging, yes, but with super smooth surfaces, great clueing and clever disguises.

    I confess to failing to parse 24d but the answer couldn’t have been anything else.

    Many thanks surely to Silvanus and also to Mr K.

16. My admiration of the Turners in Tate Britain made 13a difficult
    COTD has to be 18d

17. So much to enjoy in this somewhat tougher challenge from Mr Smooth – I particularly laughed at Turner’s artwork when the penny dropped. Plenty of rosettes handed out – 13&18a plus 14,18&20d all being recipients.

    Many thanks to Silvanus and to our flying reviewer – stay safe, Mr K.

18. I enjoyed today’s offering with lots of ticks all over. Couldn’t parse 24d but it had to be that.
    Top picks for me were 13a, 23a, 27a (only because I live there), 18d and 25d.
    Thanks to Mr K and the setter.

19. Brilliant puzzle and rightly quite testing for a Friday. 24d was my only bung-in, and everything else went in very logically. I particularly liked 15a and 18d.

    Thanks to Silvanus and Mr K.

20. Not on the wavelength with this at all. Solved one clue before conceding defeat.

    Thanks to all.

21. A cracking Friday puzzle. Great clues, a pleasingly toughish challenge (just what I like on this day) and a very satisfying tussle. Too many good ‘uns to isolate a favourite. 3.5*/4.5*.

22. A really enjoyable puzzle – thanks to our setter and Mr K.
    I initially got diverted by 13a due to ‘display’ in the clue coincidentally appearing at the relevant position in the grid making we wonder if what was above (on) it, i.e. 8d had anything to do with the the artwork of Turner. It didn’t take me long to realise that this idea was going nowhere.
    For my podium I’ve selected 9a, 13a and 1d.

23. Most of this enjoyable guzzle fell into place quite quickly but the SW corner took twice as long as the rest of the clues. My favourite clue was 7d, a fossil I have tried to find on various geology field trips but only found once, in Pembrokeshire. I thought 13a and 18a were excellent cryptic clues, wily and most satisfying to solve. Thanks to Silvanus for an absorbing Friday puzzle and to much travelled mr K for the hints

24. At the end I had all the 4 letter clues to complete. I didn’t find any of them straightforward for some reason. Even not now not sure about 6a.

    1. Rp1428. For 6d, look up the answer in the BRB.

25. Finally finished with a little bit of e help and the hints to explain the parsing of several. I thought I was off to a flying start having got 1and 28 a straightaway, I then ground to a halt and the rest took a lot of thought.
    I will have 18a as favourite.

    Many thanks to the setter and to Mr K for the needed hints.

26. Another day when the hints came riding to the rescue. With half a dozen or so clues proving obstinate, Mr K’s hints provided the spur to completion. My favourite today has to be 18a. Indeed the kettle is my next port of call. Thanks to the compiler for the beating and Mr K for the excellent hints.

27. Needed the hints to parse 13a, 15a and 24d so all bung-ins. Mostly straightforward but some pretty tough clues as well. Happy just to complete. Favourite was 18d. Thanks to the setter and Mr. K.

28. It’s Friday, natch, I was a DNF, but lots of fun along the way. I solved 1a and 28a on first read, the enumerations gave it away for me. I needed the explanations for a few, 9a and 10a for example. I didn’t know the fossil, I couldn’t work out 23a, I guess it does mean “idles”, and I had to google the “tea”. Fave was 18d, I don’t care that the intelligentsia think it’s not cryptic. I also liked 15a.
    Thank you setter, yes, probably Silvanus, and Mr. K for the unravelling of the bungins.

    1. I’m not surprised you had to look up the tea! That is uniquely British. And you’re absolutely right about 18d. Twas a fun – and funny – clue.

    2. As Alp says the tea is unique to Britain. It means a strong brew with none of your Earl Grey nonsense!
       Mind you, it pales into insignificance compared to the tea my father drank. The tea was made in the pot first thing in the morning with four heaped tablespoons of leaves. He had a cup before going to work then the pot was left to stew by the fire. When he came home for dinner (it’s now known as lunch) at noon, he would pour another cup of the stewed tea. He then added more tea leaves and boiling water and left the teapot by the fire. By the evening he had a brew in which a teaspoon could stay upright.

       1. That sounds lethal!

29. Many thanks to Mr K and to everyone taking the trouble to comment.

    I’m pleased that the cryptic definitions were popular, Chris Lancaster certainly encourages their use in back-pagers. The undisputed master of the cryptic definition was, of course, Roger Squires (Rufus) and if I can come up with a few even half as good as some of his, that will do for me.

    May I wish everyone a great weekend and belatedly pass on my best wishes to Daisygirl and George on their recent anniversary.

    1. Thank you for popping in. I also note that you follow us on the blog, even when it’s not “your” day, I like that, it makes you one of us!

       1. I agree Merusa we are very lucky to have setters like Silvanus who come on the blog to read the comments, comment and discuss or answer questions. I suspect some setters read the blog but do not come on, all the more reason for us to keep our comments in accordance with BD etiquette so we do not offend them and frighten them away.

          1. I agree, MTF. Unfortunately, it has happened in the past. As far as I am concerned, having tried to compile a guzzle, there is no justification whatsoever to criticise a setter.
             I never have and I never will.

       2. Silvanus was “one of us” not so long ago.

          Hasn’t he done well!

       3. Run, Silvanus. RUN!

    2. Thank you silvanus for popping in and for the nice challenging Friday treat.

    3. Thank you, silvanus for the challenge. I didn’t quite get it all done but I did enjoy it. Not carrying many £20 notes in my pocket these days, 13a was a no go for me. Clever clue!
       Thank you for joining us.

30. As expected, a funless Friday, above my pay grade. Was never going to get 13a as (1) wasn’t around before we set sail across the pond, and (2) rarely use cash on visits back. But can’t really complain as US money is often used in these puzzles. The hint for 7d told me all I needed to know, a word I’ve never seen or heard and most likely won’t remember. I should have got 28a as I carried them in my wedding bouquet and they were also embroidered on my dress. Still one of my favourite flowers, but alas can’t get them over here. Thanks to Silvanus, you invariably defeat me, and to Mr K for giving up holiday time for us.

31. I can’t possibly imagine anyone calls this one a 3* but apart from that never mind.
    I liked 1 and 15a and 4 and 18d. My favourite was 18a.
    Thanks to Silvanus for the crossword and thanks to Mr K.

32. Luckily got the top and bottom long’uns early on.
    Again failed to spot the 16d lurker until afterwards.
    Lots to like, but I think I’ll go for 18a for Gold!
    Have never seen a twenty note and needed held justifying 24d, nice one! So many thanks to MrK, and of course to silvanus.

33. Well unlike his Toughie yesterday (which required two letter reveals) I at least finished this one sort of unaided. Mr G was required to check 7d & the Latin in 15a. There was a lot of head scratching as to the whys but got ‘em all sorted eventually bar 13a (doh). Enjoyable as ever with 18d pipping 20d as my pick of a fine selection.
    Thanks to Silvanus & for popping in & to Mr K

34. Good evening

    By the cringe! This crozzie took up an entire afternoon, and my lucky green pen (which I needed today, for sure) has only just been laid down.

    I genuinely thought I was going to have to hoy the sponge in. I struggled with 24d; and the SW quadrant in general proved very chewy. My last to fall was 13a, and the relief when that particular penny dropped was almost palpable!

    COTD is the sublime 18d, which did make me laugh!

    Many thanks to the Brain Of Silvanus for the challenge, and to Mr K.

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