Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30690
Hints and tips by Falcon
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
Greetings from my lakeside retreat outside Ottawa where we are experiencing a spell of rainy weather giving me an opportunity to catch up on crosswords. I would like to extend a big thank you to pommers for filling in for me two weeks ago while I was hosting visiting family.
I found today’s puzzle quite gentle, so the hints may not be needed by many.
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 Tom maybe goes around nude nightclub (7)
CABARET — an animal whose male is known as a tom wrapped around another word for nude
5a Characters in Toulouse go miles westwards in French city (7)
LIMOGES — a lurker (characters in) reversed (westward) in three words of the clue
9a It’s uncritically believed she’s given birth to pups? (5)
DOGMA — split (3,2) the answer is a mother of puppies
10a Liberal, for example, is behind what MPs do (9)
LEGISLATE — string together the single letter for Liberal, the Latin abbreviation for ‘for example’, IS from the clue, and a word meaning behind time
11a Bully Henman, say, interrupts during one tryst (10)
INTIMIDATE — insert the first name of tennis player Henman into a charade of during, Roman numeral one, and tryst
12a Liveliness in British carnival location (4)
BRIO — the single letter for British and a South American city famous for its carnival
14a Drinking litres, drunk devoured gin and had a binge (12)
OVERINDULGED — an anagram (drunk) of DEVOURED GIN containing the symbol for litres
18a People preventing conflict in games with great goalies (12)
PEACEKEEPERS — link together the two-letter abbreviation for a school period in which athletic games may be played, another word for great or fantastic, and another name for goalies
21a Catch tails of lion, zebra, okapi and jackal (4)
NAIL — the final letters (tails) of four words in the clue
22a Alehouse enumerates about 101 advertisers (10)
PUBLICISTS — an alehouse followed by enumerates or catalogues around the Roman numeral for 101
25a Not knowing where Noah was, around end of flood (2,3,4)
IN THE DARK — a (2,3,3) phrase describing where Noah was during the flood enveloping the final letter (end) of FLOOD
26a Our monarch in new coat of attractive, shiny material (5)
NACRE — the regnal cipher of our monarch contained in the single letter for new and the outer letters of ATTRACTIVE
27a Real ingenue moving in (7)
GENUINE — move the letters IN to a new location in the word INGENUE
28a People who don’t appear in casinos – how silly! (2-5)
NO-SHOWS — a lurker hiding in the final three words of the clue
Down
1d Scoundrel that is holding diamonds? This person holds clubs (6)
CADDIE — a scoundrel and the Latin abbreviation for ‘that is’ encompassing the playing card abbreviation for diamonds
2d Capital earned, banked by leaders in Bank of America (6)
BOGOTA — earned or obtained contained in (banked by) the initial letters (leaders) of the final three words in the clue
3d Eccentric avoids more films like Thelma and Louise (4,6)
ROAD MOVIES — an anagram (eccentric) of AVOIDS MORE
4d Bound to include length, like many roofs and bathroom walls (5)
TILED — bound (e.g., with rope) containing the symbol for length
5d Get more cheerful GP, until he explodes (7,2)
LIGHTEN-UP — an anagram (explodes) of GP UNTIL HE
6d M&S clothing really upset supermodel (4)
MOSS — the letters M and S bookending (clothing) the reversal (upset) of a word meaning really
7d Jokes about boy king’s fine attire (4,4)
GLAD RAGS — jokes contain a boy and the Latin abbreviation for king
8d Perhaps some dope from Dorset is confused (8)
STEROIDS — an anagram (confused) of DORSET IS
13d Violent winds are able to break rushes (10)
HURRICANES — a verb meaning ‘are able to’ inserted into rushes or speeds
15d Actor Oliver, you heard, with Ms Blanchett in train again (2-7)
RE-EDUCATE — the surname of actor Oliver and the first name of actress Blanchett surround the letter that sounds like ‘you’
16d Beating court card at the end of bridge (8)
SPANKING — one of the court cards follows bridge or traverse
17d Laugh over epic poet’s Broadway musical (8)
HAMILTON — the sound of laughter precedes the author of Paradise Lost
19d Strange case for hearty cops in chilling film (6)
PSYCHO — an anagram (strange) of the outer letters (case) of HEARTY and COPS
20d Fools receiving tons in benefits (6)
ASSETS — insert the symbol for tons into the usual fools
23d Compare Elvis regularly with Barbie’s beau (5)
LIKEN — a regular sequence of letters from ELVIS and Barbie’s boyfriend
24d I was first, turning up in food shop (4)
DELI — a reversal (turning up in a down clue) of a (1,3) phrase meaning ‘I was first’
My favourite clue is the missing person at 25a.
Quickie Pun: GILL + OWE + TEEN = GUILLOTINE
I struggled with today’s offering at first before my brain slipped into gear. Once it had done so the guzzle was a delight to solve. If this is a portent for the rest of the week it should be enjoyable but it rarely turns out that way, does it? Anyway, ticks all over the paper once again with naked Tom being the first to raise a smile at 1a. More smiles arrived when Noah lost his way at 25a and violent winds battered rushes at 13d. I’m not sure how “games” fits into 18a so I will need the hints for enlightenment. My COTD is 15a where Oliver and Ms Blanchett get on the train.
Thank you for a great puzzle, setter. It was a very satisfying start to the week. Thank you, Falcon for the hints, which I will now read.
There was thunder and lightning this morning in The Marches and it is now overcast, warm and muggy. I hate such weather.
I now understand 18a. A great clue.
Just for clarity regarding 1a….I went for a run around the outside of the nude nightclub.
As if I would be seen in a place like that.
Ahem.
That reminds me of Groucho’s line: ‘I refuse to join any club that would have me as a member.’
Marvy parvy.
I went for a feline, TDS. 🐈
Indeed, I had the same struggle before it slipped into gear and everything was a smooth ride after that.
A scorcher of a puzzle on a scorcher of a day: 30 clues to match the 30°C.
26a has been duly noted.
Plenty of great clues to choose from but I’ll go with 5d, 6d and 19d.
Many thanks to Robyn and Falcs.
2*/4*
Just come back from the morning couple of miles walk and am absolutely sodden, it’s already 28 degrees here and predicted to hit 32 this afternoon, thank god most of Ambarrow Woods is in the shade.
As to the puzzle, a jolly little number with not much to overtax the grey cells.
My two of the day were22a and 26a, thanks to our setter today.
For me, a little more challenging than recent Mondays but some oldies but goodies, such as 12a and 7d, helped – ***/***
Candidates for favourite – 1a, 11a, 26a, 4d, and 13d – and the winner is 11a.
Thanks to Robyn and Falcon.
2*/4*. This was great fun and provided an excellent start as usual for the non-working week.
I was initially perplexed by 1a which for me is entertainment in a nightclub, not a nightclub itself. However, both Chambers and Collins say that the meaning of nightclub is “chiefly US”. I’m probably wrong but I can’t imagine any Brit using that meaning.
My podium comprises 9a, 18a & 25a.
Many thanks to Robyn (?) and to Falcon.
Hear, hear re nightclub RD
You’re right, as usual, but I never thought about it, just wrote in the answer. If that’s the bigggest problem I encounter doing the puzzles, I’ll be very happy.
My second answer, and I’ve never been to one. No problem.
A lovely start to our crosswording week with a gridful of potential favourites, from which I will nominate 25a. Disappointingly cloudy here in the Marches but I have high hopes for some sun this afternoon.
Many thanks to our Monday setter and Falcon.
Typically enjoyable Monday fare (from Robyn presumably) & great fun for the short time it lasted. There’s a few film titles dotted about in the answers & 3d got me trying to compile my top 10 in the genre. Virtually impossible as there are so many contenders but Thelma & Louise, Sideways, Something Wild, Badlands & It Happened One Night are locks. Kate turning her nose up at M&S clothing was my fav & 13d prompted me to play Dylan’s great song about Rubin Carter rather loud.
Thanks to the setter & to Falcon.
Ps hate using a buggy when golfing but in the absence of a 1d am sorely tempted to this afternoon in this heat.
Thought 1d was open for your comment Huntsman – I have to remember the ie.
Perfect puzzle for a piping hot day!
So much to enjoy it’s hard to pick a favourite but I will have 13d as for ages I tried to make it an anagram! Similarly I fell into the anagram hole in 27a and needed the hints to tell,me the real parsing.
Many thanks to the setter and to Falcon for the hints.
OK and very light indeed, with only pause being at the Broadway musical, of which I recall hearing but that’s about it. A good warm-up for the day ahead, both for temperature and and crosswords.
Thank you to the setter and to Falcon – welcome back
Great puzzle. At first I made no progress on the NE. Finished other sectors and that one fell into place. 3d my fav as the wordplay hid the anagram so well, for me
Good Monday fare although I did have the same thoughts as RD when it came to 1a. It never ceases to amaze me how our friends across the pond have re-interpreted our language to such an extent.
Top clues for me today are 18&25a plus 7d which put me in mind of the emperor’s new clothes.
Thanks to Robyn(?) and to Falcon for the review – hope you enjoyed spending time with your family.
A very straightforward start to the week. Thanks to our setter and Falcon.
I don’t think 13d works grammatically; it should surely be ‘breaks’ rather than ‘break’ though that would make the surface nonsense.
Top clues for me are 9a, 18a and 6d.
Hi Gazza. “To break” is fair, isn’t it? If one can accept the intransitive sense. As in: Q. Can Kamala win? A. Yes, she can/she’s able!
That’s possibly what the setter intended but I don’t think using an infinitive as an insertion indicator works very well.
I do love these types of discussions 😀
I’m totally at sea. I wish I had paid more attention during English Grammar lessons!
I agree with you on 13d, Gazza, but that is not to say that I will not make the same mistake myself some time soon! The grammar of the clue itself is too easily overlooked.
Really good fun today and very light apart from my last two in at 28a and 19d. 25a gets my vote for COD, but it is a crowded podium.
Thank you setter and Falcon.
I found this one to be not too difficult at all, though I did fail to answer 9a, 26a, 2d and 17d.
I’ve rarely been convinced of the ‘wavelength’ phenomenon, but today was a perfect example. Had no idea what was going on, and was thinking this can’t be a Monday guzzle, when all of a sudden the penny dropped ( 3 or 4d) and the rest pretty well wrote itself!
Nice to see our king and not the late queen as monarch for a change.
Also referencing both spellings of the Catherine diminutive. (6d&15d).
Many to like, but going for 9a as fsve, if only for its LOL factor!
Many thanks to the setter and to Falcon (particularly for the pic of his Canadian golfer!)
Brooke is a local girl and the girl carrying the clubs is her sister Brittany.
Thanks for identifying sister Brittany. Brooke’s name is on Brittany’s apron, which is how I found Brooke. Be looking out for her in the future!
A lovely guzzle start to the week. Lots of ticks on the page for me with the top picks being 18a, 25a and 6d.
Thanks to Falcon and the setter.
Who said they don’t like Mondays! All in bar 3 at first read .. personal best.
I do however admit to needing help to parse the peace at 18a.
Cotd 25a.
Thanks to setter and Falcon.
Btw enjoy the 30c .. we’ve had the thunder and lightening and the rain it’s now a grey 17c .. the price to pay I suppose for living in God’s own country!
Monday Monday, so good to me.
Straightforward but hugely entertaining, started during a brief thunderstorm so had to close doors and windows and decided not to open up again until grid was complete thank goodness it wasn’t a Friday!
Favourite today was 18a
Now, let’s get those widows open
Thanks to Falcon and setter
That reminds me of the Gerard Hoffnung sketch: There is a French widow in every bedroom, affording delightful prospects.
Brilliant, Gazza. Gerard Hoffnung was a very funny man. I was shocked to see that he was only 34 when he died in 1959.
I loved that sketch but had no idea that he died so young – what a dreadful loss to the world of comedy which seems to have a dearth of talent these days beyond the ‘blue’ and foul-mouthed.
And the wonderful barrel monologue! Such joy. His sonorous voice made me thing he was much olde than that.
It really does need an outing, Gazza!
Great to hear it again – thanks Steve.
26 across was hard to parse
The rest fell into place.
And so to Robyn I’ll raise a glass,
And Falcon in his lakeside place.
I don’t have a problem with 1a.
From Collins, definition #3:-
3. countable noun
A cabaret is a restaurant or nightclub where live entertainment such as dancing, singing, or comedy is performed.
Pommers, I don’t feel that strongly about it. I just can’t imagine a Brit using that meaning.
Collins tends to provide a general set of definitions and then have two sections, one for British English and one for American English. The definition you have quoted is from the general section. The British definition says:
mainly US a nightclub or restaurant providing such entertainment.
Normally I really struggle with some cryptic crosswords – but for some reason I found this too easy! I must be becoming a crossword nerd!
Welcome to the blog, Martin.
Now that you’ve introduced yourself I hope that you’ll become a regular commenter.
No such thing as a crossword nerd, Martin. Just enthusiasts. Welcome to the blog and do comment again please.
As others have said, this was a peculiar puzzle. I got none on first pass. I then went for my paper (amid distant rumbles of thunder) and, when I came back, fairly rattled through the clues. Could it just be that our brains process things when we are no longer focussed on them, only to release the results (answers) later? Or is it the “wavelength” phenomenon? And another question: why do folk on this site talk about “guzzles”?
It’s a recent trend. In my house Fridays’ puzzles are known as Fuzzles and not because it’s Friday.
It’s a recent trend. In my house Fridays ‘ puzzles are known as Fuzzles and not because it’s Friday.
For an explanation of “guzzles”, see FAQ #34.
How useful! Not noticed that before. Thank you.
It is a salute to CrissCross.
What a joy on a hot Monday afternoon. So many contenders for a podium, but a random pick sees 9a, 11a and15d. This was indeed a 16d start to the week. Thanks to Robyn and Falcon.
A great puzzle to start of the (non) work week. A fun solve with a little head scratching and PDM moments that caused a smile or two;
1.5*/4*
Favourites 9a, 22a, 1d, 7d & 19d — with co-winners 9a & 1d
Smiles from winners as well as 10a, 25a & 4d.
Thanks to setter & Falcon
A gentle and enjoyable launch to the cruciverbal week. 26a had to be but material threw me for a bit. Thank you Mysteryone and Falcon.
I was also thrown by “material”, but I s’pose it can be at a stretch.
An enjoyable start to the week with many favourites.I thought 17d clever. I guess Hunter would be pleased to have 1d help with his golf round today. Thankyou all.
If only – the 2 post round pints didn’t touch the sides
Sorry I meant Huntsman!
The heat getting to me.
Nice and gentle as no one wants to get over heated on a day like this.Ticks for 9 and 25 a plus 17 d. Thanks to Robyn and Falcon.
It took me ages to get going at all today – think it’s to do with the weather and being too hot, and not enough sleep.
I liked 9 and 12a and 5 and 7d. My favourite was 3d, not that I’ve ever seen a “road movie” but my Elder Lamb and her partner had two kittens called Thelma and Louise. When they were taken to the vet to be spayed it turned out that they were both boys! Louise was run over when ‘he’ was quite young but ‘Thelma’ lived to a ripe old age – he was huge, and was always called by his full name “Thelma Bunch”!!
I bet you’ve all heard of all that load of tosh!!
Thanks to whoever set todays crossword and to Falcon for the hints.
There you are! Gender is an issue even in cats. There is no hope…….
Not when the NHS are now asking men if they are pregnant.
Did I enjoy this? You bet I did, with knobs on! I can’t remember the last time I enjoyed a puzzle so much. All solved with no help, not even to check my spelling. I liked so much, I giggled at 25a, but fave has to be 9a.
Thank you setter for all the fun, and Falcon for your hints and tips.
I’m going to be lazy Merusa and let you say it all for me!
Dear new friends and Cryptic family,
I’m new here – hello! I’ve been solving ‘quick’ crosswords for much of my life (I’m 56 now) but, like many, I have shied away from cryptics, ‘in fear and trembling’. Recently, however, I’ve decided to tackle the cryptic crossword head-on. I bought myself The Telegraph’s, ‘How to solve the cryptic crossword’, and continue to work my way through it, found this website and started to have a go each day, learning from the wisdom of others. Today, for the first time in my life, I completed the cryptic crossword, without any assistance. This is, for me, a real ‘Red Letter’ day! I freely admit that there was some guess-work and some, ‘that fits, so I’ll put it in’ – and then work out why it is correct. But, for today, please rejoice with me. And, please welcome me into your midst. I feel honoured to be part of such an august body. Rev Scott Watts
Welcome to the blog, Scott.
Well done on your first completion. I hope that you’ll have many more and become a regular commenter here.
Congratulations and welcome Scott.
Congratulations, Scott! It’s a great feeling when you finish one unaided. Welcome to the blog and please comment again. 👍
Congratulations and welcome Scott but watch out for Fridays!
Welcome, always nice to see a new face. Your experience underlines the comments that Mondays should be geared to encourage those new to cryptics. Long may it last.
Well done indeed. Tomorrow is usually pretty gentle too. I’ll look forward to your comment but can’t promise the review will be as good as Falcon.
Don’t be coy!
Congratulations on your first unaided solve. May it be the first of many.
Well done! You are nobbutt a lad so you have years of pleasure ahead of you and BD is the man to travel with you.
That’s ‘great, Scott’. (not sorry)
What a thrill for you.
All Reverends are most welcome, including those whose surname is Spooner, though many will disagree…
William Archibald Is welcome just not his isms! 😊
I wonder what kind of mess he would have got himself into tackling a cryptic.
A very care foment, CS.
Ma Tate!
Truly enjoyed this puzzle from start to finish. Only exception was 13d as we try very hard to never say 13d during the season (June 1 – November 30) as it makes one shudder. Didn’t need the picture either 😟. Lucky for us the latest development is forecast to head away out to sea, but not lucky for Bermuda…. Seems like a lot of you are experiencing the same temperatures as us right now, although this is our summer norm. This puzzle was a great start to the week, with nothing obscure or requiring a deep dive into GK. Thank you to Robyn (?) and to Falcon.
But they don’t have a/c and their houses are built to avoid draughts!
Let me endorse your remarks about 13d, just saying it puts a guzoo on us.
This was a fun solve. I set off at a pace but actually there were a few that held me up so was not as straightforward as I first thought. I loved 9a , and my last in was 17d as I didn’t know the musical . Thanks so much to the setter and Falcon.
lovely start to the week 😃 **/**** Favourites: 1 & 9 across and 15 & 17 down 🤗 Thanks to the Falcon and to Robyn🤔 I had more difficulty with the Quicky 😬
Superb puzzle, every clue a delight. O but there were more like this.
So many excellent clues it would seem invidious to select one but if I must it would be 16d because it amused me.
Thx to all
**/*****
A dnf due to 17d. Not heard of the musical, and have zero interest in poets and their output.
The rest of the crossword was enjoyable and solved very quickly. I spent longer failing to get 17d than I did solving the rest of the clues. I can’t even blame the heat as it was my ignorance that caused the dnf.
Thanks to all.
I like poetry but I understand that there are those who don’t but how about this? I have a friend who absolutely hates music of any kind. His radios are tuned to speaking channels and, if music comes on, he turns the radio off. I can’t imagine life without music. You would think he were a dull person but he’s quite a laugh.
How odd. I often think that music is one of the human race’s finest creations.
I really enjoyed today’s puzzle and managed to complete it in a good time, for me! Was a bit thrown by 3d but helped by it being an anagram. I was slow to realise that 5a was a reverse lurker until I read the hints at the end! Many thanks to the setter and Falcon.
Most enjoyable! Many thanks Robyn and Falcon. 19D and 25A my favourites out of a strong field.
Whew. It is mega hot here in Cambridge but dimly remembering from school science classes that ‘with evaporation comes loss of heat’ I have been lying on the garden under the trees spraying myself with water! It works. The guzzle was a delightful distraction in between dozes. 14a appeals to me and I am even now indulging. Many thanks to Setter and Hinter though I only needed the hints to confirm the musical. I shall be in the garden tonight on meteor alert – fascinated by the night sky which is shown to such good effect over Cambridgeshire.
There’s a red aurora borealis alert for tonight too, from about 1.00 onwards, so might be worth a look to the north….if you’re awake then!!
Hi Day Zee/Anagran
Cambridge, yet again, had the highest temperature today with a bonkers 34.8!
As many have commented, an excellent crossword although I did make life hard for myself by putting the answer to 28a in 27a, so was horribly stuck in the southwest for a while!
Thanks to Robyn and Falcon
I agree with RD about 1a but put it in anyway and needed the hint to confirm 17d otherwise as straightforward as they come. Favourite was 9a. Thanks to the setter and Falcon.
A good canter for a Monday! Thanks to Falcon for the explanations. Managed all but a handful until turning to Falcon but 26A didn’t do it for me! Let’s keep exercising the little grey cells!
Nothing to frighten the horses today, just a very enjoyable puzzle.
To this day, I can still remember seeing 19D at the pictures and being one of many to jump in their seats during certain scenes!
*/**** for me and I will nominate 5D for the top spot. Thanks to the setter and Falcon for the hints.
My apologies in advance if this query breaks this sites etiquette. My query concerns the quickie pun section that appears below the hints each day. Could someone explain what it refers to. I am an online only user so I don’t have access to a physical copy of the paper, if that is relevant?
The first two for three across answers form a pun. For example, yesterday’s was 7a Fishes respiratory organ = “Gill”, 8a Have debts = “Owe”, 9a Adolescent =”teen”. Put them together and you get “gill owe teen” or “Guillotine”. In the paper the relevant clues are in italics but they’re not online.
The latest version of the on-line Quick Crossword does have the relevant clues italicised.
Thanks to both for the explanation.
2*/4* ….
liked 9A “It’s uncritically believed she’s given birth to pups? (5)”