Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30708
Hints and tips by pommers
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BD Rating – Difficulty * – Enjoyment ****
Hola from Almoradí where summer is on the wane. We were forecast some rain yesterday but it never materialised and today is looking pretty good too but without the searing heat of a couple of weeks ago.
Today we have another splendid Monday puzzle. I can only give it * for difficulty as I missed just two of the acrosses on first pass and then got every one of the downs, but it was fun while it lasted.
As usual my podium three are in blue. The definitions are underlined in the clues and the answers are under the “click here” buttons so don’t click on them unless you really want to see the answer. Please leave a comment telling us what you thought.
Across
1a Raced around first man flipping fast (7)
RAMADAN: A word meaning raced around the first man in the bible, but he’s backwards (flipping).
5a Ancient, boring aristocrat dressed down (4,3)
TOLD OFF: Insert (boring) a word meaning ancient or not new into a slang term for an aristocrat or gent.
9a Oddly thug, with impudence, makes bloomer (5)
TULIP: Alternate letters (oddly) from ThUg followed by a word for impudence or cheek.
10a Bargain over rubbish kind of suit (9)
PINSTRIPE: A reversal (over) of another word for a bargain followed by some rubbish. This was one of the ones I missed.
11a Spooner’s shortage of pastries is a total fabrication (4,2,4)
PACK OF LIES: A phrase meaning shortage of pastries, if given the Spooner treatment, becomes a phrase meaning a total fabrication or a lot of fibs. I’m not usually a fan of Spooner clues but this one works really well.
12a Openers for Sussex edgily missing in match (4)
SEMI: First letters (openers for) the next four words gives the match before the final.
14a Perhaps Ms Vorderman’s drunk gin twice – it’s a Christmas activity (5-7)
CAROL SINGING: Ms Vorderman’s first name, not forgetting the `S, followed by an anagram (drunk) of GIN repeated (twice).
18a Combative people confused e.g. Ben Stiller (12)
BELLIGERENTS: Anagram (confused) of EG BEN STILLER.
21a English sailors ignoring a reason to go green? (4)
ENVY: E(nglish) followed by the service made up of sailors but without the A (ignoring a). I spent a while thinking green was to do with the environment!
22a Moving around, I recall new location of Bordeaux? (4,6)
WINE CELLAR: Anagram (moving around) of I RECALL NEW gives the place where you might store your claret.
25a Most kind-hearted offer is translated into French (9)
TENDEREST: Another word for an offer or bid followed by the French word for IS.
26a Simple fellow is retiring before start of week (5)
SIMON: A reversal (retiring) of the IS from the clue followed by the first day of the week.
27a Renaissance man‘s calculations are written the wrong way (7)
ERASMUS: Some calculations and the ARE from the clue are all reversed (written the wrong way).
28a Language homework returned before meal (7)
YIDDISH: Work you do yourself in the home, rather than paying a tradesman, is reversed (returned) and followed by some food. This was the other I missed.
Down
1d Class following school subject write again (2-4)
RE TYPE: A word for class or kind following a school subject sometimes called divinity.
2d Ill-will displayed by a student prodding rodents (6)
MALICE: The A from the clue and the usual student and insert into (prodding) some small rodents.
3d Delicate claim I’d opt to alter (10)
DIPLOMATIC: Anagram (to alter) of CLAIM ID OPT.
4d Asian region in north-eastern China (5)
NEPAL: NE (north-eastern) followed by another word for a china or mate.
5d Rottenness eerily overwhelms this state (9)
TENNESSEE: A lurker hiding in (overwhelms) the first two words.
6d Departed from school at eleven (4)
LATE: Another lurker. A word meaning departed, as in dead, is hiding in (from) the last three words. Isn’t it a bit careless to have lurkers in consecutive clues?
7d Oscar knocked over bad kind of paint, a greasy liquid (5,3)
OLIVE OIL: O(scar) followed by a reversal (knocked over) of a word meaning bad or wicked and then a kind of paint used by artists.
FEELINGS: Take a word for affairs, of the amorous kind, and insert (during) the letter for ecstasy twice (repeatedly).
13d A Parisian pudding’s brought up chilled (10)
UNSTRESSED: Chilled as in relaxed. The Parisian or French word for A followed by a reversal (brought up in a down clue) of another word for a pudding or sweet course.
15d Cracks running over European ships (3-6)
ONE LINERS: A word meaning running or in operation followed by E(uropean) and then some passenger ships.
16d Dispatched to stop a worker, maybe a no-show (8)
ABSENTEE: Start with the A from the clue and an insect that has workers and insert (to stop) a word meaning dispatched as in put in the post.
17d Slobbish person raised capital in European country (8)
SLOVENIA: A word for a slobbish person or a person who is habitually negligent in appearance or hygiene followed by a reversal (raised in a down clue) the two letters used to denote capital or very good.
19d A large college hosting 1,000 students once (6)
ALUMNI: Take the A from the clue, L(arge) and three letters for college and insert (hosting) an M (1000 in Roman numerals).
20d King cutting some bananas for a meal (6)
BRUNCH: The meal taken between breakfast time and midday meal time is an R (king) inserted into some bananas.
23d Admission made by watchman losing head (5)
ENTRY: A watchman or guard without his first letter (losing head).
24d Look and glimpse Mike (4)
SEEM: A word for look followed by the letter represented by Mike in the phonetic alphabet.
My podium today is 1a, 14a and 8d with the splendid Spoonerism on the top step.
Quick crossword pun:
FARE + EAT + AILS = FAIRY TALES
Very enjoyable and a great start to the week. For once, the good reverend did not cause problems and he even raised a smile. The Renaissance man came up from the depths of my memory but the clue’s instructions were clear anyway. It’s difficult to choose a COTD but I will settle for Ms Vorderman and her double gins at 14a.
Thank you, setter for the fun guzzle. Thank you, pommers for the hints.
Horrible day here in The Marches – overcast, raining and 99% humidity. A day for indoor chores.
We’ve had so much rain here this summer (they aren’t called the summer rains for nothing), and this week has been an almost non stop deluge. Lake behind our house is full to the brim. Luckily I love lying in bed at night hearing the rain hitting the windows. Time to build the ark…
R & W. Is the setter making a point – 1a, 14a, 28a and 18a?
Hooray! Solved without help, so I can hurtle into the day with my hat tipped on the side of my head, whistling a merry tune (it will be me whistling the merry tune, not my hat, for clarity and grammarians).
All of which is an improvement upon yesterday which included watching Chelsea (in stifling heat) wobble to a 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace. At Stamford Bridge, everything changes and everything stays the same, including running out of ice for post-match drinks. This, of course, should have led the news last night as it is of shattering importance, but no – the news was filled with German elections and the dynamic pricing of Oasis tickets. H’s shock at being denied ice should have been the main story. Instead the modern age tale of greed and supply and demand was featured. What is wrong with the news editors? Get your priorities sorted out!
Thanks to the setter for the guzzle and pommers in Vega Baja del Segura.
A very gentle start to the week to kick things off nicely.
5d is a fine lurker.
My podium is 26, 15d and 19d.
Many thanks to Robyn and Pommers.
1*/3*
Right Thomas, “my old China”, you have some explaining to do …. 😀
4d features China and you don’t appear to mind having to use ‘pal’ in the answer, yet on Friday you really didn’t approve of China featuring in the Toughie (3d) and having to use ‘ally’ in the answer. Surely the same “two-step answer” process in both clues, but today no complaint? I guess you’ve had a good weekend and risen from your futon on the right side this morning!
Nice spot, MG. I forgot to mention it.
I do think it’s one too far for crosswords.
I assume you are therefore okay with these…
Dog meaning mobile, i.e dog and bone = phone = mobile
Frog meaning lane, i.e frog and toad = road = lane
North meaning trap, i.e north and south = mouth = trap
There are stacks more.
Ha! I think they’re slightly different Tom. I could live with dog for phone or even, at a pinch, (the) blower, but not (without some form of indicator) mobile. Fine margins and all that. The others just aren’t, I don’t think, as well known as “china”, “dog and bone”, “Adam and Eve” or “apples and pears”, etc, so I’d think they’ have to be Ray Winstoned.
And MG is, of course, absolutely right. If you can (and you did!) accept China for pal, you’re clearly a two-step man at heart. Embrace it!
Do any of you know if ‘China’ is the only CRS in Chambers, OED et al? If so, then I’ll accept setters using it but that’s the only one.
I just think that the theory of using a two-step clue isn’t right. Like the hidden lurker in last week’s toughie:
Nelson’s flagship (from the clue) and The Victory (not in the clue) with ‘evict’ lurking in the latter. That ain’t for me.
As long as China is the only two-step clue used in a backpager then I’m a happy solver.
Have you got that setters? Well…have yer???
Grrr….
ALP, what makes you think I accepted ‘pal’? I said to MG that I forgot to mention it.
Haha! You said it was “very gentle” and seemingly had no quibbles. Then this reverse ferret. How do you feel about L for student, then? At least, if you don’t like that, you do at least have the backing of the Sunday Times, because they won’t accept it either!
I had no quibbles but forgot to mention it.
Let’s get the CRS cleared up first before we go down non-CRS discussions….
I assume you are okaying China as it’s in reference books but no other CRS?
Tom, I think it’s to do with how common each term is. For instance, ‘china’ is in Oxford (and presumably other dictionaries that I haven’t checked) as meaning ‘friend’. As such it’s a synonym that setters can use, regardless of its etymology. (Indeed some have probably heard it as meaning that without being aware of its origins).
Whereas Oxford doesn’t have the terms you mention, so it would not be reasonable for setters to use those.
Though I do reckon ‘Old TV standard’ = ‘PAL’ = ‘pal’ = ‘China’ would be going too far!
CRS, London suburbs, Tube stations, and all thge London knowledge are of no interest to those north of the Humber Mersey Line. CRS especially is seen as thieves and robbers argot up here and and thoroughy despised. Let us have some arcane Wels, Scottish, Gaelic, Erse, Yorkshire, Lancashire and all the other counties, cities, towns villages and hamlets arcane and esoteric knowledge. London as nearly said by Samuel is known to the intelligent as always worth leaving and forgetting.
And when does this site get its memory back?
Where have you gone, MG, or is your answer going to be lurking in the blog for the Toughie when it gets posted, i.e a two-step reply?
Dashing past, I see I have sparked something of a debate here!
I have no issue with CRS so long as the word being used appears in at least one of the three printed dictionaries in the manner described by Smylers, above. So China for friend (and synonyms thereof) and Apples for stairs, but unless Whistle=Suit appears in the OED or Collins (it’s not in the BRB) that would not be acceptable to me.
And on the subject of hidden lurkers, I think that in a Toughie the usage we saw on Friday is quite acceptable because, while the boat’s formal name is “HMS ..” like many other boats it is just as well known as “The …”
For example a certain battle cruiser was properly known just as Bismarck, but is much more widely referred to as “The Bismarck”; RFA Sir Galahad is better known as The Sir Galahad, even The Galahad. We refer to Invincible, Ark Royal, Canberra – but do not in every usage preface their names with HMS or SS. Though if we’re being formal you could hide a Channel Island in one huge carrier without even a backward glance …
If I can I shall pop back in later!
We need to find out what two-step CRS is in the reference books, i.e not one-step ones like apple equalling stairs, and bung them in FAQ, along with any other two-step clues like L = student that ALP raised earlier on (I’ve never liked that one).
Having a lurker that’s not in the clue, like the one for Nelson’s flagship, is bonkers. If it’s the norm in Toughies then I’ll have to accept it but it should never appear in a back pager. I’m glad I’m now aware of it.
Having this fairly short two-step list in FAQ would definitely help people who are new to cryptic crosswords.
It’s a 1*/4* for me too; light but very enjoyable.
The only one that threw me for a little while was 20d, where my first thought was an anagram (bananas) of ‘some’ containing CR (the king)
Many thanks to the setter and to pommers for the write-up. It is overcast and fresh in Valencia (our first day without reaching 30 degrees for a while).
A lovely starter to the new week & agree with the ratings. A bit slow to clock the right context of green (21a) & of capital (17d) but everything else yielded without a head scratch. 28a just pipped 10a for top spot for me.
Thanks to the setter (Robyn maybe but not sure) & to Pommers – thanks for The Jam. I’d have struggled to resist Chris Stapleton for 5d & Van at 8d
A lovely gentle start to the week as befits a Monday.Some brilliant clueing with lots of smooth surfaces. I liked it all, even the old chestnut at 13d! What would we stressed folk do without our upside down dessert? Lots to choose from for favourite but I’ll pick 1a, which went straight in, supported by 28a and 19d. Thanks to our setter – Robyn? and pommers. I didn’t need help but at least I now know where Tennessee is!
1*/4*. Pitch perfect for the Monday slot – light and great fun.
You are lucky to have a summer which can wane, pommers. I haven’t seen any sign of one here this year. 😢
Many thanks to Robyn (?) and to pommers.
Very much enjoyed this one as a gentle start to the week.
I finished my first lap with 5 and needed help with 3 clues. My last one in was 15d – I had absolutely no idea with this one until I came here.
2*/4*
Held up by the lurking state but otherwise great start to the week
11ac favourite
Thanks for hints
Morale-boosting start to the week from our setter, much appreciated.
Think I’ll join our reviewer in placing the Spoonerism on the top shelf with support from 10a & 13d.
Thanks to Robyn(?) and to pommers for the review – you win the prize for featuring the first Christmas carol I’ve heard this year!
Supermarkets are full of Christmas Quality Street chocs 😮
But otherwise a gentle start to the week although it took a few more passes than the pommers and I missed the suit at 10a along with a few others but it all came out in the wash
Thanks to Robyn? And The Pommers
I refuse to acknowledge Noel until about two weeks beforehand when I deck Bones out with festive lights. Until then, I am Scrooge!
Gentle and enjoyable with the best Spoonerism I’ve seen for a long time – thanks to our setter and pommers.
My ticks went to 5a, 10a, 11a, 26a and 20d.
A very gentle easing into the week ahead, and a lovely accompaniment for the morning coffee. Quite agree with Gazza re the Spoonerism. Some excellent surfaces (26a, 8a, 20d etc etc) and plenty of humour. Honours board features COTD 10a, with 26a & 8d as runners-up.
Many thanks to setter & Pommers
I can only repeat what I wrote for last Monday’s puzzle:
Very enjoyable but over before it began, somewhat reminiscent of Rufus – */****
Candidates for favourite – 11a, 27a, 6d, and 8d – and the winner is 8d.
Thanks to Robyn(?) and pommers.
Oh dear, here we go again – my first post seems to have disappeared into the ether. I was slow off the mark but quite soon it all began to enjoyably fall into place. Fav 28a. Don’t necessarily think of 1d as writing. 17d bunged in (in preference to alternative fitting country) before slobbish person came to mind. 4d China and 13d pudding do seem to make regular appearances. 14a hint provided warm festive feeling after a virtually no-show Summer. Thank you Mysteryone and pommers.
A quick start, but I got stuck in the bottom-left. Thank you to Pommers for explaining 17d’s capital and 15d’s wordplay, which was enough for me to finally realize what kind of cracks were meant.
Thank you to the setter. I appreciated another Spoonerism that was gettable, and my favourite was the boring aristocrat in 5a.
This Monday puzzle started off with great gusto and top half was done in no time flat. Then after the SE was done I had a heck of a time working my through the SW.
Overall 2*/3* today due to the SW
Favourites include 1a, 11a, 14a, 15d & 20d — with winner 14a
Thanks to setter & pommers
A flying start to the week and long may it continue. I ve been finishing late all last week – busy mainly , however eyes now seem back to normal so no excuses for slow finishes going forward . Thanks to setter and Pommers.
A steady rather than rapid solve of a very enjoyable puzzle. Is this a Robyn production? Somehow felt different in style to previous Monday offerings from him? The Spoonerism was excellent and is on the podium with 8d and 19d. Thanks to compiler and Pommers.
Another great Monday The Spoonerism was a cracker and I also liked 1a and the well hidden
Lurker – but l liked 20a bestest. Quite a change in temperature here – yesterday it was so hot we could not breathe and today I have just donned a cardigan. I read yesterday that Austria has decreed that there are only two sexes. Male and Female. Well, that’s interesting. Many thanks to the Benevolent Setter and Mr. Mustard
I was going to make a comment about the last Austrian to decide what was and wasn’t acceptable in his people but a bit too political for here I think
I think there are a few clones waiting in the wings!
Unfortunately, more than a few, Merusa.
After a busy weekend with one “bit” of the family I was ready for a not too tricky Monday crossword.
I didn’t find it quite as easy as others but certainly “do-able” apart from a few of clues.
Most of the top was finished long before any of the bottom half had any answers at all.
Needless to say Ms Vorderman’s first name escaped me for much too long!
I spent ages trying to think of places in Bordeaux and couldn’t – dim!
I liked 9 and 10a and 7 and 16d. I think my favourite was the Spoonerism.
Thanks to whoever set today’s crossword and to pommers for the hints.
A fabulous guzzle with lots of smiles. Even the Spoonerism was friendly.
Hard to choose today but top picks are 15d, 9a and 21a.
Thanks to Pommers and the setter.
A lovely puzzle to cheer up a rather dreary damp day. I even liked the spoonerism which must be a first but I will have 14a as my favourite. There was a lot to like and some lovely surfaces.
Many thanks to the setter and to Pommers for the hints.
Light but hugely enjoyable with a terrific spooner clue – thank you setter (Campbell?) and Pommers
It will not be Campbell – he passed away earlier this year.
Wow! Have I suddenly become a brainiac or was this an uber friendly offering today? I loved it all; it made sense, nothing obscure, and all within a tiny brain’s vocabulary. I even “got” the Reverend’s clue. Fave was Ms. Vorderman drunk at 14a.
Thank you setter, I loved it, and to pommers of his hints and tips.
Most of the answers went in quickly, so thought it was going to be */**** for me. However completely went to pieces with 4d and wrote in “Malay” (no – I don’t know why!!). Anyway it soon became apparent this was wrong and eventually had to resort to some much needed help from Pommers. Once back on track I finished without further problem. So many brilliant clues, it’s difficult to pick a favourite but 11a has got to be on the podium with that genius (and solvable!) Spoonerism. Just behind it was Carol and her 2 gins with 15d taking 3rd place. Many thanks to Pommers and the setter (Robyn?) for brightening up a dull Monday.
Yes it was gentle but not let us detract from the excellence of the clues. Immaculate I felt. I have circled 10 clues and I could have done alot more so I won’t mention any. Brilliant. Sorry some contributors have got locked into an argument. Until I can compile a puzzle of this quality I will not deign to enter into such shenanigans.
Hi WW.
I would call it a gentle discussion which I have enjoyed.
I love finding out how crosswords are constructed and what is and isn’t allowed.
Absolutely! I’d be ver, ver surprised were Tom, ALP and I to get into any sort of argy-bargy. Much too civilised and light-hearted a discussion for that, and def. not an argument, no sirree. And that’s in the BRB too, much to my spielchucker’s disgust.
Well said, MG and Tom. Argy-bargy ain’t EVER going to happen. You two are my brothers!
…and our sister is the one at the front of the class doing the splits though she would never admit to it which is completely fair enough.
Love ‘spielchucker’!
WW – it’s no good, these boys are uncontrollable! You can imagine them at the back of the class and flicking missiles with rulers. Just let them be. Boys will be boys and sometimes grown men will be as well. They are quite sweet really, and their hearts are in the right place – they love BD.
They didn’t know BD.
It would be interesting to see how things were if they took, say, a month off the site.
Dull?
I think we can all agree on one thing at least. Everybody loves Steve!
What a way to start the week, just lovely. Only needed 2 hints to finish, including 10a, which I don’t feel bad about as apparently Pommers also go stuck there. Stupidly I was a while pondering over 5d and it’s not that far north of me. As Merusa says above, made me feel good and not giving me a dunce’s cap today. Big thanks to setter and Pommers.
Unlike The Boomtown Rats, I do like Mondays…….😁
A splendid shout, GM 👏👏
Lovely start to the week 😃 even got the Spoonerism **/**** Favourites 11a, 4d & 15d 👍
Thanks to the Compiler and to Pommers 🤗
I think I’m missing a good walk with plenty of fresh-air as I seemed to make heavy weather with some of today’s puzzle. I got off to a good start and was quite pleased with myself until I came to a complete halt half-way through. Went off and did some more admin and chores returned and got a few more clues before thinking I need to consult the hints. Switched my tablet on and whilst waiting for it to spring into action my brain did! Completed! Favourite 14a and for once got the Spoonerism straight-away. Many thanks to the setter and Pommers.
I’m with the ones who made a quick start and ground to a halt in the south, I got there in the end but it was a bit of a struggle. I put it down to doing the the previous days crosswords earlier today as I didn’t time until now, I think I ran out of brain cells. Favourite was the Spoonerism. Thanks to the setter and Pommers.