Daily Telegraph Cryptic No Crossword 30688
Hints and tips by Mr K
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BD Rating - Difficulty *** - Enjoyment ***
Hello, everyone, and welcome to Friday. I found today’s puzzle perfect for the Friday slot. It has tight grammar, smooth surfaces, and several smile-inducing penny drop moments.
In the hints below most indicators are italicized, and underlining identifies precise definitions and cryptic definitions. Clicking on the answer buttons will reveal the answers. In some hints hyperlinks provide additional explanation or background. Clicking on a picture will enlarge it or display a bonus illustration and a hover (computer) or long press (mobile) might explain more about the picture. Please leave a comment telling us how you got on.
Across
1a Prison governor initially restricts offspring tweeting (8)
BIRDSONG: An informal word for prison and the initial letter of GOVERNOR sandwich (restricts) a male human offspring
5a Periodically doubt that home is secure (6)
OBTAIN: Alternate letters (periodically) of DOUBT THAT with a usual word for home or not out
9a Sign of little growth on island (9)
CAPRICORN: A little growth or kernel comes after (on, in an across clue) an Italian island near Naples
11a Complaint for example rejected about rent (5)
GRIPE: The Latin abbreviation for “for example” reversed (rejected) containing (about) rent or tear
12a Spreading leaves concealing wooded dell (6)
DINGLE: The first two words of the clue are hiding (concealing) the answer
13a A lot must suspect the final amount (3,5)
SUM TOTAL: An anagram (suspect) of A LOT MUST
15a Irish lot got on badly finding 1 Across expert? (13)
ORNITHOLOGIST: An anagram (badly) of IRISH LOT GOT ON
18a Humorously ironic language used against popular chap (6-2-5)
TONGUE-IN-CHEEK: Synonyms of language, popular, and chap
22a Criticised rubbish dumping across Spain (8)
IMPUGNED: An anagram (rubbish) of DUMPING containing (across) the IVR code for Spain
23a Sparing father having huge sale repeatedly exposed (6)
FRUGAL: An abbreviation for a religious father with HUGE SALE after the outer letters on each word are deleted (repeatedly exposed)
26a Large enough specimen, not small (5)
AMPLE: A synonym of specimen with the clothing abbreviation for small deleted (not small
27a One making a colourful impression on others? (9)
TATTOOIST: A cryptic definition. The impression is permanent
28a In time traitor will make mistakes (6)
ERRATA: Another word for traitor is inserted in a significant period of time
29a Appreciative of fun Kath arranged beside lake (8)
THANKFUL: An anagram (arranged) of FUN KATH followed by the map abbreviation for lake
Down
1d Help with work welcoming tips for decor and scenery (8)
BACKDROP: Link together help or support, the usual abbreviation for a musical work, and the outer letters of (tips for) DÉCOR
2d Mature author following close to older one (5)
RIPEN: Author or write comes after both the final letter of (close to) OLDER and the Roman one
3d Pan quality film (7)
SKILLET: A synonym of quality with a usual Spielberg film
4d Time of day nobody lacks energy (4)
NOON: Another word for nobody minus the physics symbol for energy (lacks energy)
6d Pester Italian over purchasing parts regularly for sports car
BUGATTI: Pester or annoy and the reversal (over) of the abbreviation for Italian are sandwiching (purchasing) alternate letters (regularly) of PARTS
7d Philosopher Marx essentially disturbed T S Eliot (9)
ARISTOTLE: The inner letters (essentially) of MARX with an anagram (disturbed) of TS ELIOT
8d Dislike obelisk (6)
NEEDLE: A straightforward double definition
10d Umpteen Euros I spent tackling phobia? (8)
NEUROSIS: The first four words of the clue are hiding (tackling) the answer
14d Statue of importance outside new university (8)
MONUMENT: Importance or significance containing (outside) the single letters for new and for university
16d Writing material about mushy food school served up (9)
NOTEPAPER: The reversal (served up) of the fusion of about or concerning, some mushy food, and a well-known public school
17d Lee talks weirdly getting wasted (8)
SKELETAL: An anagram (weirdly) of LEE TALKS
19d Disregard mounting information, decide on heading off (7)
NEGLECT: The reversal (mounting, in a down clue) of an informal word for information is followed by a word meaning decide on or choose minus its first letter (heading off)
20d Maybe Animated Feature Oscar Barrow individual almost receives (7)
CARTOON: A synonym of barrow and all but the last letter (almost) of another word for individual containing (… receives) the letter represented in the NATO phonetic alphabet by Oscar
21d Face how old Violet has become? (6)
VISAGE: The answer split (2’1, 3) could, informally, answer the question posed by the clue of how old Violet has become
24d Girlfriend rings suitor, ultimately that is creating trouble (5)
GRIEF: The abbreviation for girlfriend contains (rings) both the last letter (ultimately) of SUITOR and the Latin abbreviation for “that is”
25d Salesperson's patter without power or desire (4)
ITCH: A salesperson’s patter or spiel minus the physics symbol for power (without power)
Thanks to today’s setter. Top clue for me was 21d. Which clues did you like best?
The Quick Crossword pun: PEAT + IRK + HAY = PETER KAY
What a delight today’s offering was leading to a satisfying solve. It needed some thought in places, especially the NW, but all were gettable. I’ve never heard of Oscar Barrow so couldn’t work out the parsing of 20d. I see you have had a name check so I bet you are 29a, Kath. 😊 I did like the philosopher disturbing T S Eliot at 7d and the well hidden lurker at 10d. My COTD is the sparing father at 23a.
Many thanks to the setter for the fun challenge. Thank you, Mr. K. for the hints and pusskits.
As per Mr K I found this a very enjoyable Friday tussle, not overly taxing but with several that needed some staring at.
BTW re 7d, anyone else here who can’t help but run through the Python Bruce’s song ( University of Woolloomooloo) when trying to pluck a random philosopher from the ether?
Thanks to setter and Mr K
Best puzzle of the week for me. Answers range from a family in Emmerdale to one of my favourite books at 1a.
Top clue for me 23a.
Another bright and breezy day in NE Scotland.
Thanks to the setter and Mr K.
Steve’s spot-on: this was a delight. Cracking surfaces throughout and, as MrK says, tight grammar. Rather suspect the hand of Slivanus behind this one. I clearly benefited from a good night’s sleep and rising from the right side of the bed, finding this very benign indeed for a Friday. So many ticks everywhere it seems mean only to highlight three, but here goes anyway: 27a (my LOI, with a broad smile), 21d and 14d.
Many thanks indeed to the setter / Silvanus and also to MrK of course.
I’ve got to agree with MG. If this isn’t Silvanus, I’m a Dutchman. Impeccable logic, tight and fair clueing and a dollop of wit. Some lovely surfaces, as per usual. I especially liked the synonym for “chap” in 18a. Many thanks to Silvanus (surely) and Mr K.
2*/5*. Not the hardest offering from Mr Smooth, but an absolute joy to solve.
23a was my favourite of very many ticked clues.
Many thanks to Silvanus and to Mr K.
After the brain mangling I got from Ray T yesterday, starting with the Esses and Cees in 1a, today’s smooth puzzle was most welcome – 2.5*/4.5*
Candidates for favourite – 5a, 9a, 28a, 2d, and 25d – and the winner is 28a for ‘reading’ like a lurker but not being one.
Thanks to Silvanus, for it must be he, and thanks to Mr K.
Nice straightforward solve today. I meet up with a very clever crossword solver today and I like to hand him my unfinished puzzle so that he can finish it with a flourish having checked for spelling mistakes. In a way it is a pity that I finished on my own. Only issue is that 27 an are not particularly noted for colourful impressions unless you are adding in saucy. Thankyou Silvanus and Mr.K
Most enjoyable and not too taxing for a Friday. Lots of smooth surfaces, humorous clueing and no obscure knowledge required. Favourite was the miserly father at 23a, along with Violet’s wrinkles at 21d and the body artist at 27a. Thanks to Sylvanus, I’m sure, and MrK. Hope the gas wasn’t on under the puss in the frypan!
That was a lot of fun with the biggest test coming in the NW where 1a hung fire until the end due to the fact that I had pencilled in an “ing” ending and in fact I had forgotten the prison term. 10d was neatly concealed. Altogether a delightful workout. Thank you Silvanus (?) and MrK.
I had to look up the prison term in 1a, don’t think I’ve come across that before.
Very enjoyable and not too tricky for a Friday puzzle – thanks to our setter and Mr K.
Top clues for me were 9a, 18a and 23a.
Having sorted out the sports car, the NE slotted in nicely. Once had a trip in the second seat of what I think was a Type 35b. Never been so petrified in a car. The sheer acceleration was awesome. As to the puzzle, this was perfect fare for a Friday. Much to admire, especially 7d and the 10d lurker. But cotd goes to 6d for the memories it stirred. Thanks to Silvanus and Mr K.
👍 up from me too. Reasonably gentle for a Friday but very enjoyable indeed. Particularly liked 6&10d.
Thanks to the setter (Silvanus methinks) & to Mr K
11a. The abbreviation for “for example” is reversed (rejected). This then contains (about) a synonym for rent, which isn’t reversed. Sorry to be pedantic.
Thanks, Vince. Typo now corrected.
Brilliant fun, I really enjoyed this (probably because I finished it unaided), just the right amount of thinking needed and a great mix of clues. Well disguised anagrams and lurkers with 23a my favourite.
Many thanks to the setter and to Mr K for the hints and pics
There seems to be almost universal praise for our setter’s impeccable clue-writing and grammar – take a bow, Silvanus!
Given one of my main interests, I have to award big ticks to 1&15a and the others that caught my fancy were 1,9&18a plus 17&21d.
I do hope Kath pops in and gets a smile from her clue at 29a!
Many thanks to Silvanus for a splendid puzzle and also to Mr K and his feline friends for the review.
Jane, it’s definitely worthy of universal praise, but let’s see what Brian thought about it!
That’s why I wrote ‘almost’ universal praise – who knows what mood Brian will be in today!
A lovely guzzle today. Last one in was 3d but can’t see why it took me so long to get it. Hindsight is a wonderful thing.
Lots to like so picking a few isn’t easy but I’ll plump for 15a, 12a, 16d and 3d.
Thanks to Mr K and the setter.
I solved this without being aware of the lurkers! So often miss them. Great puzzle. Have been doing this crossword regularly since I’ve got the paper on line curtesy of a new iPad and my husband nominating me for a free subscription. Getting better all the time but can’t recognise the different setters yet.
Welcome to the blog, Mopsy.
We’ll look forward to hearing about your progress – do keep commenting.
Very enjoyable and about as taxing as I can manage! Plenty of excellent clues, though I though 20d didn’t work for me, having the Oscar before Barrow in the clue didn’t imply that the Oscar should be placed later in the answer – or am I missing something?
Hi Sim
The clue is saying that Oscar is received/accepted/inside Barrow and a short version of an individual.
So, I think all is well.
Thanks Tom, I see it now – still don’t like it though 😅
A more difficult Friday puzzle this week for me.
3*/3*
Favourites 15a, 18a, 27a, 6d & 10d — with winner 6d
Thanks to setter & Mr K
The degree of difficulty was just right. For 1a I did not know that word for prison. I must have lived a sheltered life. Last one in was 27a. Many thanks to the setter and for the hints.
Hi, Leif. Doing bird means serving a prison sentence or serving time. This term comes from old rhyming slang where time came from bird lime, and it has been shortened to bird. Bird lime is a sticky substance that used to be spread on branches of trees to trap birds. Fortunately, it’s now illegal.
What’s not to like about a benevolent ‘Silvani Special’: lots of excellent techniques on display and never a word wasted.
I can’t explain it but there’s something about words like 22a that appeal to me. I put it in the same bracket as inveigle, coerce, cajole and halcyon even though they have different meanings.
Oh, I don’t know what I’m talking about.
My podium is 18a, 1d and 6d.
Many thanks to the aforementioned and Mr K.
2*/4*
Quite. How about Imbroglio.
…a nice and relevant choice, BH.
Does anyone this side of the pond use the word at 3d in their day to day speech, I always thought it was an Americanism.
Hi TC
Having done a quick search, its origin is either British or Scandinavian, depending on the source.
Blimey, I don’t know anyone who uses it!
You can get a Le Creuset one. I thought I owned one but just checked and seems mine is called a grillet !
Le Creuset skillet.
Over here in the US, a 3d is a frying pan. According to the BRB, on your side of the Atlantic it’s a different type of pan:
Interesting.
Here are a couple of online sources:
https://www.thefreedictionary.com/skillet
https://www.etymonline.com/word/skillet
Jason Isbell song on his latest album, Weathervanes
I use my cast iron one at every chance I get (much improves the taste and tenderness), but can’t say I refer to it as my 3d over here.
Yep, we certainly refer to our 3ds as 3ds, and I think we’re almost certainly on the same side of the water (and language divide) as you! ;)
I thought it quite benign for a Friday. My fsvourite was the sparing father, made me smile and 12a is a lovely word. Didn’t even get a chance to look at the guzzle yesterday let alone tackle it. Who was recently saying he did not know what to do on retirement? Todsy put big fro t gate finally collapsed and George has painstakingly taken it all down, carefully saving the hinges and washers and so on. We would not bother to replace them by DD2 has this new puppy who would be down the drive like a shot and onto the road. Now we have to spend all this money at our age! How stupid. But our house sits in the middle of the plot and she will be worried about the new puppy. There’s always something. !! Thanks to Mr Setter and Mr K. Have a good weekend.
I like 12a too. I think it’s Scottish, am I right?
My school prize dictionary circa 1949 tells me it is Middle English!
(that is as opposed to the big dictionaries which are in the conservatory
and I am too lazy to go and look in them! This one is next to the computer)
.. it’s not Scottish in the sense clued … I thought perhaps Ireland as there is a town in county Kerry of the same name. From Scots dictionary “dingle” is to tingle (with cold or pain).
I would however like to know how chap becomes cheek in 18a?
Good fare for a Friday.
A chap is the lower part of the cheek of an animal (especially that of a pig). There’s a well-known dish in the West Country called ‘Bath chaps’.
Generally straightforward with a few head scratchers thrown in. I enjoyed the challenge though. Hard to pick a favourite but I’ll go with 23a. Thanks to the setter and Mr. K.
Agree with most that was a delightful and enjoyable solve but with the right amount of challenge. Thanks to setter and Mr K
Could not work out the logic of 23a until mr K came to the rescue. Thank you compiler for very neat clues throughout
Well, I’m guessing Silvanus, but at his friendliest for a long, long time. I loved it, clearly clued as always. All my own work except word search for 15a. I did spell 27a wrong, putting an “e” instead of the second “o”; so, I know I can’t spell but it made no difference. Hard to choose a fave, maybe 18a, very smile worthy.
Thank you setter (Silvanus?) for the fun, and Mr. K for his hints and pics, s pleased to see our kitties back!
I usually clear well of Friday crosswords as they’re too difficult for me but today was a little bit easier and did manage to do a few.
I liked 12 and 15a and 3 and 24d. My favourite was 29a – how couldn’t it NOT be!
Thanks to whoever set this one and to Mr K for the hints.
😊 I think we all smiled and thought of you when we clocked 29a !
Setter here, many thanks to Mr K and to all those commenting. I’m glad that you all found something to like.
May I wish you all a good weekend.
Thanks for dropping in, and thanks for an excellent puzzle to solve and to hint.
Thank you so much for taking your foot off the pedal, I loved it.
Yep – lovely work. Many thanks Silvanus and Mr K.
So many to like, but I’ll plump for 6D and 15A.
A dnf due to some of the NW corner.
Never heard if the pan in 3d (the kitchen is where I store my wine and microwave food). I would never had the first part as a synonym for quality either.
Needed the answer for 9a, which is daft of me in hindsight. I could then get 1d with all the checkers.
Enjoyed this nonetheless.
Thanks to all.
Red 3d, how about this quotation from a newspaper article: ‘Caicedo added that he believes he has more to show Chelsea fans during the coming campaign, saying “I can show my quality.”’
Very enjoyable but not convinced by needle as a definition of dislike. I believe you can needle someone without disliking them?
3*/4* ….
liked 27A “One making a colourful impression on others ? (9)”