Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30710
Hints and tips by 2Kiwis
BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
Kia ora from Aotearoa.
There are plenty of spring flowers out now for us to admire on our regular 9d but they are getting well washed with all the rain we have been experiencing.
We found today’s puzzle a relatively gentle solve and suspect most regulars will too.
Please leave a comment telling us how you got on.
Across
1a Application rejected by copper – it’s the drink! (5)
CUPPA : The chemical symbol for copper and the reversed abbreviation for a computer application.
4a Chaos resulting from adjusting pH value across area (8)
UPHEAVAL : An anagram (resulting from adjusting) of PH VALUE plus A(rea).
10a In times past answer may be found in extended leave (4-3)
LONG-AGO : A word meaning extended, the abbreviation for answer, and leave or depart.
11a Short liberal American politician in charge (7)
LACONIC : The single letter abbreviations for liberal and American, then the short form for a right wing politician and the two letters for ‘in charge’.
12a Relax – clubs maybe will produce formal wear (6,4)
LOUNGE SUIT : Relax or take it easy, then what clubs are in a pack of cards.
13a Scope for one of Shakespeare’s works? (4)
PLAY : A double definition.
15a Cosmetic effect of the elite emigrating? (9,5)
VANISHING CREAM : Emigrating or going away, and then elite or the most choice.
17a Ignores Conservatives, dropping international retail outlets (8,6)
DISCOUNT STORES : Ignores or dismisses and then right wing politicians drop I(nternational).
20a Symbol of life held by Tutankhamun (4)
ANKH : A lurker, hiding in the clue.
21a Losing power, imperialist moved to raise an army (10)
MILITARISE : An anagram (moved) of IMpERIALIST after the P(ower) has been removed.
23a Hand in one by the first of September, being struck? (7)
SMITTEN : First letter of September and a glove where the fingers are not separated.
24a Drains, say, in case of gas (7)
GUTTERS : Say or state is enclosed by the first and last letters of gas.
25a Who’s going to take in kitchen waste? (8)
PIGSWILL : Split the answer 4,4 to solve the question posed in the clue.
26a Time taken in returning expensive 16 Down (5)
RATED : Expensive or costly is reversed and contains T(ime).
Down
1d Infatuation of female hugged by everybody in rocky bay (4,4)
CALF LOVE : A Russian doll clue. A four letter rocky bay contains a synonym for everybody which enwraps F(emale).
2d Write piece about one being emperor, perhaps (7)
PENGUIN : A three letter word for write, then a piece or firearm contains Roman numeral one.
3d Nails a GCSE after rejigging numbers (10)
ANALGESICS : An anagram (after rejigging) of NAILS A GCSE.
5d Virtuous type calls to support withdrawing, using influence (7,7)
PULLING STRINGS : A two letter virtuous type and calls on a telephone come after (support) a synonym for withdrawing.
6d Every pain after cycling (4)
EACH : Start with a dull pain and move the final letter to the beginning.
7d Ordinary article found in detached house (7)
VANILLA : A type of detached house contains a two letter indefinite article.
8d Fortunate, seeing game with leader getting red card (5)
LUCKY : Game or enthusiastic has its first letter sent off.
9d Healthy walk within framework of the law (14)
CONSTITUTIONAL : A double definition.
14d Measuring device for vehicle on farm (10)
PROTRACTOR : A prefix meaning ‘for’ and a farmer’s towing vehicle.
16d 26 idiots speed periodically (8)
ASSESSED : Metaphorically equine idiots and then alternate letters from speed.
18d Vague idea of popular line adopted by monarch (7)
INKLING : The two letter popular, then a male monarch contains L(ine).
19d Torn about design for clothes (7)
RAIMENT : Design or intention is enclosed by torn or ripped.
20d Writer showing a revolutionary attitude (5)
AESOP : ‘A’ from the clue and the reversal of attitude or stance.
22d Pack exhibit, needing time for hotel (4)
STOW : Start with exhibit or display and replace its H(otel) with T(ime).
Quickie pun queue + brute = cube root
Another of those guzzles when I would solve a clue without really understanding the how and why. I relied on checkers to find the answer then tried to sort out the parsing. I managed to finish but did need help with a couple such as 25a. Once I had the answer, I saw it was a good clue but I doubt I would have solved it solo. I also needed help with 5d and I still don’t get it. All in all, I found it a bit clunky. I did like the emigrating elite at 15a and that is my COTD.
Thank you, setter for the brain mangling. I was just off beam today. Thank you, 2Ks for the hints and explaining 5d.
Virtuous type = st
Calls = rings
Supports
Withdrawing = pulling
I had difficulty working it out too!
Welcome to the blog, Swanbob.
What did you think of the puzzle?
Thanks , Swanbob – the hint from 2Ks explained it for me. I think I was just too lazy to work it out. 😊
Welcome to the blog, BTW. Hope we hear from you again. 👍
Me too SC – I just bunged it in!
And me, it was obvious from the checkers, but not from the clue.
Me too -lazy git. :-)
A. A. Milne always desribed Eeyore as somewhat of a pessimist rather than lazy. 😊😊
3*/2.5*. This was a big step-up in terms of difficulty after Monday’s and Tuesday’s back-pagers, and a mixed bag for me in terms of enjoyment.
The circularity of the definitions for 26a & 16d was unnecessarily off-putting, and a few of the surfaces were a bit dodgy with 23a in particular making no sense to me.
Even with my reading glasses on, the first word in 19d looks like TOM, which didn’t help with solving the clue until I realised it was TORN!
The BRB enumerates 1d as (4-4) although Collins says (4,4).
Thanks to the setter and to the 2Ks.
I agree RD re 26a and 16d.
Hear, hear RD re 26a/19d
George saw it as Tom as well!
So did I. Never read it properly so not surprising I couldn’t parse. Without checkers I would have out catsuit. Managed it all without aids although still don’t understand the reference to 26 in 16d. LOI was 21a. Favourites 1 and 25a and 9d. The latter was a paper in Part 1 of my law finals.
Rather sweet, I thought, with some toothsome words. Who doesn’t love a 1a? 21a reads well and 15a’s fun but 25a wins for me. Verging on a chestnut, possibly, but it’s still lovely. Many thanks to our setter and the 2Ks.
Wasn’t it the “L” for “liberal” that caused a “disagreement” a little over two years ago?
It most certainly was, WH.
Wotcha fink of today’s puzzle?
Didn’t think you were around then, but thanks. I doubt if Mr Fish will resurface.
Crossword 1.5/2 but an extra * for enjoyment for 15a.
It was a goodie.
I lurked for a while.
I hope Mr Fish doesn’t resurface, he caused an awful lot of trouble and upset a lot of people.. It still makes me chuckle that without reading any of the lengthy toes and froes on the matter (perhaps its twos and froes), I suddenly asked if it was leeks or onions drying in the MP’s picture. I had no idea of furore going on!
A sad occurrence that caused a great deal of upset all round. I hope it never happens again because this is a great blog.
A very enjoyable solve with plenty of good surfaces and constructions.
I’ve never heard of the healthy walk and 20a has been duly noted because it’s a goodie for Scrabble. 25a is great fun.
Like RD, I often have to take a picture of words that have r and n together then Zoom in. Staying with RD a little bit longer…I read 23a to be someone who’s handing a naughty person in to the local nick as they were hit by them. The first of September is random but….I like it!
My hotly-contested podium is 11a (I love four pieces of lego in a seven letter answer), 21a and 3d.
Many thanks to the setter and Le Touquet.
2*/4*
Now I have just lost a bet with myself. I felt sure you would have all read Simon Heffer’s piece this morning about the evils of American phrases becoming the norm in the UK. I was looking forward to a nice long string of comments. Of course, I immediately fired my fourpenn’orth off to the editor but he thinks Oh, it’s that batty old woman again and bins me.
Hi Sister Splits
I’ve not signed up to the online version. So, I haven’t seen it.
Care to talk me through any part of it or is it a case of ‘seebs’? (short for CBA)
Too long for me to tell you in detail but he deplores “back in the day, all out, stepping up to the plate, take the stand, different than ( that is one which makes my hackles rise – a fearsome sight) double down, I’m good, start over, get, train station etc etc. I am with him but then I am just an old fogey. Do I correct my 27 year old grandson when he says can I get a cider. For one thing, as my mother would have said – you can but the question is, may you? See if Mr editor Sir publishes my letter!
All of these make me twitch (‘compare to’ – ouchy).
But, as I have three in their 20s, I have made my peace with most of them
I know they aren’t Americanisms but we have drilled into them to never use: basically, literally, like (out of context), ‘So’ at the start of a sentence) and the rising intonation at the end of one.
I really hate ‘My bad’ which, incredibly. many of my peers use.
That one really hurts.
I hate “my bad” also. Where on earth did that come from? I also agree with Simon Heffer’s article. Our daughter insists on saying “Can I get” and “I’m good”. Another good one he pointed out was “stand in line” – sorry but we in UK “queue”.
Oh, and you can keep “oftentimes”, USA. 😊
Sorry to be Wordsworth bore but Oftentimes is very English…..
For I have learned
To look on nature, not as in the hour
Of thoughtless youth; but hearing oftentimes
The still sad music of humanity…
From Lines Written a Few Miles above Tintern Abbey 1798
Well, one lives and learns! Thank you, MR.
Oh, and my apologies to our American pals.
While we’re on the subject, one of my pet hates is “ pre” as in preordering.
I recall a reporter telling me on Radio 4 that the police had caught an offender in a “pre planned operation “ . Are there other kinds?
I also overheard someone recently “pre warning “ his colleague of his availability. I suppose he will warn him again in due course
Ggrrhh
How about “Let me give you the heads up” instead of “Let me tell you”?
We absolutely hate the overuse of pre with a passion…and then some.
Have I made myself clear?
Good.
What do you call a train station?
A railway station, Merusa.
Aah! I didn’t know that. I’ll try and remember.
With you entirely on ‘get’, I hate it and think it so rude.
On each return visit to England, we are always surprised at the amount of Americanisms that are now in wide use. The first one we ever noticed was “Have a nice day”, followed over the years by so many more. Yet it doesn’t seem to be a two way street. Ask someone for a trolley in a supermarket over here and they will look at you blankly. Likewise if you say twice instead of two times. I just tried to put “gamp” and “moggy” in NYT Spelling Bee, and told they are not in the word list.
I wasn’t aware of the article, so thanks for prompting me to read it DG. I have the Strictly English book he refers to (and for that matter his book Simply English). Good books in my view, so perhaps I might buy Scarcely English. For what it’s worth, in Simply English he appears to agree with the point Jose was making yesterday, if I recall and understand it correctly. He says “One correctly says ‘I went to the dry-cleaner’s’, the word shop being assumed; or ‘I spent the day at Johnnie’s’, the word house being assumed.”
A very similar experience to RD, but that is not to say that I did not enjoy solving it.
1d and 20a were unknown to me but were fairly clued and very gettable.
I don’t particularly like the circular referencing at 16d and 28a, but I’m sure it won’t bother others.
Thank you setter and the Kiwis.
Sorry, make that 26a/16d.
Very good. Not a quick solve but with the aid of checkers in some instances I finished it. My favorites being 17a, 25a and 2d.
My plan was to pop in today and with inevitability confess that I had not after all, become the Master Of The Universe Of Cryptic Crosswords, and thus would be here for life.
(I would never flounce)
However – in the last twenty four hours I have acquired an unwelcome visitor.
Covid!
Feel a bit too blurgh to attack a crossword but I’m ok. May be an absentee until I improve.
Typed on my phone so apologies for any errors.
H is being a star, of course.
Yep, it’s still around. I hope you get better soon, Terence.
Sympathies Terence, and I hope for your sake (and ours!) that your recovery is swift. Masters Of The Universe should not succumb to such mortal failings for long.
Look after yourself Terence and we hope you are better soon. No-one else is qualified enough to take on custody of The List, with or without a flounce.
☹️ better soon I hope.
Get well soon, Terence. Hope it’s a mild version, although even that makes you feel rough.
Glad you found you needed BD & Co. Hope you will quickly overcome the dreaded lury.
Lurgy evev!
Oh dear I am so sorry. Maybe you should not have gone to that football match…….
Get better soon, Terence.
We had covid last April, not too bad. The lurgy we still have from our hols 3 weeks ago far worse. Took a covid test yesterday, just in case, negative but still feel awful. Hope you get better soon Terence.
An enjoyable midweek puzzle – thanks to our setter and 2Ks.
I don’t like the lack of definition in 26a/16d.
My ticks went to 15a, 25a, 2d and 8d.
If you’ve always fought shy of the Toughies because you thought they’d be too difficult then today would be an ideal time to dip your toe in the water because Gila has given us a very gentle puzzle.
A darn sight easier than Dharma yesterday for sure.
Enjoyed this very much, solved increasingly swiftly from N to S. Slightly more challenging than the earlier puzzles this week. Smiled at 1a as I had a fresh coffee to hand at the time. 1d new to me but the instructions were clear; 26a/16d clever, but the self-referencing was mildly irritating. Lots to like, though, and my podium features 15a, 2d and 25a, with quite a few coming close, including 11a, 17a, & 8d.
Many thanks to the setter and the 2Ks
Not one for me today at all, especially the pair of clues at 26a and 16d. Hope others enjoyed it though.
That seemed a large step up from the puzzles earlier this week and it was almost a DNF but then 23a fell and I was back on track again. Wasn’t keen on the 16d/26a pair.
18d nearly made the pick as it is such a lovely word but top picks for me were 15a, 23a and 2d.
Thanks to the 2Kiwis and the setter.
Happily on wavelength for a brisk finish in about the same time as Mon & Tues. Wasn’t familiar with 1d so that needed a post solve check & also had to remind myself exactly what a 20a was. Enjoyed it more than some others appear to have done. 17&21a my top two.
Thanks to the setter & to the 2Ks
I enjoyed this but I’d rate it as a three star for difficulty. I still don’t have an 18d as to how 26a and 16d were supposed to be solved without check letters given the cross reference to one another.
Cotd 25a.
Thanks to setter and the 2kiwis.
I, too, needed help on a couple to finish and wondered what the problem was after all. Hey ho. Other than that, this was grand fun. 1d was new to me and had to be confirmed in the hints, but my podium comprises 9d, 23a and 25a in top spot. Tomorrow we are due to have four Velux windows installed. Looking at the weather forecast, I think it will be rain stopped play.
Oops. Thanks to compiler and 2K’s.
Ha – we have four velux windows and they made a huge difference I. Out house which is all panelled cartoons and thus fairly dark. Or cosy if you are benevolent. The best is the one right over our bed which has rain sensitive automatic closing. It has been there since 1987 – if the mechanism were to fail we’d have soggy pillows! We also had a ‘lantern’ put in the sitting room. Velux lightens our Darkness. I know you will be delighted (or lit) with them.
For goodness sake. In our house which is all panelled cedarwood. When will I stop being in such a hurry and read the damn thing through? I’m sorry😰
I quite like the idea of “panelled cartoons”, DG. 😊
Panelled cartoons in the outhouse sounds like a decor that Gazza would approve of😋
🤭
How do you stand the noise when it rains on them?
They are double glazed of course so it’s not too bad at all. It seldom wakes us up!
The only pause for thought was with 23a, where I had to read the clue several times before I realised that the wordplay for the last 6 letters was “hand in one”.
Thanks to the setter and the 2Ks. 1*/3*
I hadn’t realised that either Jezza.
I originally saw the hand as mitt (albeit slang), but could not account for the last 2 letters.
Liked this, last one in was 21a. My ex used 15a and it seems to have worked🤪. Thanks to all.
A fun solve I thought. I’d never heard of the 1d expression but it was clued well enough to get the answer anyway and enjoyed the which answer to get first dilemma in the 16d 26a link.
My COTD 5d
Thanks to setter and 2 Ks
Very enjoyable, apart from the linked clues I was spot on the setters wavelength for a change. When I finally untangled the two links I realised what he/she was getting at, very clever.
Been a good week so far, the Toughie has remained firmly under lock and key and long may it remain that way!
Thx to all
**/****
Today’s Toughie by Gila is worth a look, Brian.
I can second Steve’s recommendation Brian (and indeed anyone who doesn’t usually look at the Toughies) – today’s is very accessible, and hugely entertaining: well worth a go!
I’m with RD in thinking this was a mixed bag and I really didn’t care for the 26a/16d combo. Top three positions going to 2,3&5d.
Thanks to our setter and to our 2Ks with a spring in their step.
If a mixed bag is the same as a curate’s egg then I agree with RD and Jane. For me it was ‘saved’ by the four long ‘uns. ***/***
Two of my shiny new King Charlies Loonies are saying that this is not a Twmbarlwm production.
Thanks to whomsoever and the 2KIwis.
I’d interpret those phrases as being different from each other:
mixed bag = some good and some less-good, making it somewhere in the middle on average
curate’s egg = while it had some good parts, the bad part spoils the whole thing (and only a curate desperate for something polite to say would bother to mention the good parts)
Smylers, I cannot say just how pleased I am to see your (correct) explanation of “Curate’s Egg”, which for some time has been something of a bugbear for me in my more pedantic moments!
While its application has now morphed almost entirely to mean “mixed bag”, which makes Senf quite right in modern usage, the original Judy (below) and then Punch cartoons on which the phrase is based are still wonderful, in my view.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b2/Cartoon_-_Bishop's_Breakfast_Table.jpg/440px-Cartoon_-_Bishop's_Breakfast_Table.jpg
(Sorry, I don’t know what coding is required to turn the link into a displayed picture)
Excellent. Don’t you just love this blog. I’ve smiled a lot today. I am now a widower and smiling was in short supply. Not helped by the news that my winter fuel allowance has been axed and maybe my council tax rebate of 25%. That would be just iniquitous. It’s nice to know that there are still some “normal” people about
An interesting take on the Curate’s Egg Smylers. A fair number of people, myself included, see the egg appearing in the cartoon which first appeared in Judy magazine and then in a different but similar way in Punch magazine (arguably the more famous one) to be bad, as in off. So it was completely bad, but the curate is being polite in the face of an intimidating Bishop. I haven’t seen it in the magazine but it seems it was redrawn in Punch magazine in 1992 (when Punch closed) with the Curate saying “This f***ing egg’s bad!”: https://x.com/OldJokeArchive/status/1014537505587302400
So, I would use ‘curate’s egg’ to describe something unpleasant you have to be nice about and ‘mixed bag’ to describe something that’s good and bad (although, as you say, common usage is rendering the two synonymous)
Contrary to popular opinion, I quite liked the linked pair at 26a and 16d. Yes, it needed checkers but it was a satisfying moment when it fell.
3*/3.5*
**/*** for me today. Like others have commented, I got several clues from word shape and was then able to parse them! LOI was the 26a/16d combo and COTD was 2d – a nice bit of misdirection with “Emperor”. Many thanks to the setter for the challenge and to the 2Ks for the hints.
I enjoyed the solve ,diverse cluing and a **/*** for me.
Remembered the ordinary usage in 7d which does not happen very often.
Favourite was easily 25a-thanks setter, and 2K;s 2d was the next best.
Seems I am back to not liking Wednesday puzzles again this week. Far too much tortuosity for my liking.
At least that is the way I see it. A very mixed bag as has been said in previous comments
Unknown word for me in 20a
Favourite clues include 1a, 25a, 3d, 14d & 20d — with 3d winner
Thanks to setter and 2K’s for unscrambling this.
Nothing to disturb the nags today but fun to work on. I guess the longer one stays on site the more chestnuts will appear e.g. 3d in various guises. 26a/16d too convoluted IMHO. Thank you Mysteryone and 2Kiwis.
I see Tiafoe is in the semifinal. I would like him a lot more if he weren’t playing in his underwear! Alas, my TV service is warring with the broadcasting company and so are not showing the tennis! I’m so cross.
We enjoyed this and I am torn between four favourites – sorry, Kath. I liked 24 and 25 across and 2 and 9 down, but if push comes to shove I shall plump for 20a because I loved the London exhibition and have had quite a few fascinating visits to ancient Egypt. 15a is a very old fashioned item, I don’t imagine you can buy it any more – it was supposed to vanish wrinkles but seems to have vanished itself.Also liked the misleading emperor, a very pleasant guzzle. Many thanks to Messrs Setter and Tookays.
A nice enough Wednesday puzzle. Good clues, a moderate challenge and an enjoyable solve. I rather liked the 26a/16d pair – quite unusual. Favourite today: 5d, mainly because it took longest to suss out. 2.5*/3.5*.
I have to go out, most unusual for me, so I’m glad of a friendly solve. There’s so much good stuff, it’s hard to choose a fave. Does anyone use 15a any more? I loved 25a, I think that’s fave, with 9d running close.
Thank you setter for the fun, and the 2Kiwis for the hints and tips. I’ll read the comments later, wonder if our regulars enjoyed this as much. I’m off to find out how the big, bad world out there has changed!
You be careful, put a brick in your handbag.
1*/2*
Covid not helping with this one – thankfully not so difficult.
I disagree with the definition of 3d. Numbers are a different class of drugs
And i wasnt a fan of 25ac, and the 26/16 combination.
No stand out favourites today.
Thank you for hints.
I quite enjoyed this crossword although the style feels unfamiliar.
I haven’t heard of 1d, although I have come across 20a and often wonder what 15d is, or what it’s for.
The four long answers beat me and needed the hints.
I liked I and 23a and 14 and 18d. My favourite was 25d.
With thanks to our setter for the crossword and to the 2K’s for their hints.
I like Steve’s assessment of “clunky” and will agree with that. Not chewy, but some of the clues were definitely difficult to unravel. Enjoyable nonetheless, and didn’t make me feel stupid, for which I am always thankful. COTD was 15a which did take me a while to get. LI was 19d, a word I always forget. Thanks to setter and the 2Kiwis.
All completed but not without some wrestling. I did not know the terms in 1d or 20a but got them through the wordplay, which I always think is how it should be. My favourite was 25a once I twigged. Overall I am pleased that I am now mostly managing Wednesdays.
Many thanks to the setter and to the 2 kiwis for the hints.
Apart from 26a/16d I enjoyed this
COTD the misleading 2d
Solved without hints or electronic aid !
Yep did ok on that one and enjoyed it. I liked 25a best
Morning all.
We did suspect that the cross referencing in 16d/26a might cause some comments with each depending on the other for definition but they yielded easily enough for us. In retrospect think we’ll award our top prize to 25a for its originality.
Cheers.
I had to remark on the cup and saucer pictured at 1a. I have the tea- and coffee-pots in the same pattern, very elegant. All they say on the bottom is Churchill, made in England.
It’s the Finlandia range by the Churchill China company. They were established in 1795 and are still going but under the name of Queens.
https://www.churchillchina.biz/aboutus
Is that any relation to Arabia? I bought some when I worked in Dorland House on Lower Regent Street, a thousand years ago. My dinner service is Royal Doulton, pattern no longer made, but I found some on replacements.com. I found the tea- coffee-pots on there and just loved them.
Very enjoyable. I’m in the minority who liked 16D/26A, but 15A definitely my favourite. VMT setter & 2Ks
Good evening
A mixed bag, indeed. I found a way in easily enough, but came juddering to a halt with half the grid remaining unsolved. Only now, while on my break this evening have I managed to get back to it, and thankfully can report to you that I’ve made it over the finish line.
Definitely some “duh!” moments, especially not being able to see the first half of 17a; and entering 21a incorrectly, thereby making 16d unsolvable and in turn 26a likewise!
COTD is the excellent 25a. Many thanks to our compiler and to 2Ks.
I’m getting fed up of saying this “I made harder work of this than I should have” but I did! There were some head scratchers admittedly but nothing that was beyond the wit of man (that’s man as in human before anyone accuses me of being a sexist, as ‘her inside’ will readily tell you I’m not). Enough verbal gymnastics. Favourite by a distance was 25a. Thanks to the setter and 2K’s.
I found this very hard but finished unaided although I needed the hints to parse a few.
Much less difficult for me than yesterday
Thanks to all.