DT 30769 – Big Dave's Crossword Blog
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DT 30769

by Huntsman  

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30769
Hints and tips by Huntsman

+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – +

BD Rating – Difficulty */** Enjoyment ***

Another pleasant & pretty straightforward ‘typically Tuesdayish’ puzzle from AP that was maybe a tad easier than yesterday’s Robyn production. Hopefully no mistakes in the hints (which I doubt many will need) as I’m off to the Odyssey cinema in St Albans to see a matinee showing of My Favourite Cake, which I read good things about – though with the sun shining & not too cold I’m rather regretting not having arranged to play golf instead.

In the following hints, definitions are underlined, indicators are mostly in parentheses, and answers are revealed by clicking where shown as usual. Please leave a comment below on how you got on with the puzzle.

Across

1a Young bird’s run away from fish (8)

DUCKLING: a synonym for run away from or sidestep (where a challenge is involved for example) + a term for a number of long-bodied edible marine fish.

5a Sweet kid (6)

HUMBUG: a double definition – the first boiled & usually flavoured with peppermint & the latter a verb for hoodwink or hoax.

9a Chief cheers in support (8)

MAINTAIN: another word for chief or principal + an informal word for cheers or thanks + IN from the clue.

10a America initially definitely deserved change (6)

ADJUST: A(merica) + the first letter (initially) of Definitely + a synonym for deserved or rightful.

12a Dear me – maiden’s left cross and broody (9)

EXPENSIVE:  mE from the clue (cricket abbrev for Maiden left/deleted) & the letter for cross + a synonym for broody or thoughtful. Neat clue.

13a Move spades trapped by rake (5)

ROUSE: nowt to do with gardening – insert (trapped by) the single letter for the card suit Spades into a synonym (interestingly not in the word list in today’s Panagram puzzle) for rake or libertine. Good surface.

14a Bolt drink and run (4)

TEAR: a drink/beverage + the cricket abbreviation for Run.

16a Part’s regularly portrayed in there? (7)

THEATRE: insert (in) the alternate letters of pArTs into THERE from the clue.

19a Describe old aircraft, we’re told (7)

EXPLAIN: the usual two letters for old/former + a homophone (we’re told) of another word for aircraft.

21a Roast fish (4)

CARP: a double definition.

24a Caught with fabulous ship’s freight (5)

CARGO: the cricket abbreviation for Caught + the name of the ship Jason sailed in to bring back the Golden Fleece to Thessaly.

25a Thrill as tension spread (9)

SENSATION: an anagram (spread) of AS TENSION.

27a Off course as river bears right (6)

ASTRAY: insert (bears) R(ight) into Scotland’s longest river preceded by AS in the clue.

28a Family member – reveal it’s unfortunately not son (8)

RELATIVE: an anagram (unfortunately/not Son) of REVEAL ITs.

29a Flower in Hampshire Edward examined (6)

TESTED: nowt to do with flora. This one’s a chalk stream that flows from Ashe near Basingstoke to Southampton Water. Add a diminutive for Edward.

30a Grabbed chest and bust (8)

SNATCHED: an anagram (bust) of CHEST AND.

Down

1d Dull day with a male writer (6)

DAMPEN: D(ay) + A from the clue + M(ale) + a writer (implement).

as owned by Daisy but not Steve YET.

2d Conservative, unconventional type – one’s made chair?

CHIPPY: C(onservative) + an unconventional type associated with the sixties counterculture.

3d In London, Italian picked up language (5)

LATIN: hidden in reverse (in/picked up).

4d One tucked in worked I snore louder (7)

NOISIER: insert (tucked in) the letter/Roman numeral for one into an anagram (worked) of I SNORE.

6d Panties perhaps irritated rear, nude wife’s admitted (9)

UNDERWEAR: an anagram (irritated) of REAR NUDE with W(ife) inserted/admitted. The surface made me think of Jim Royle’s riposte, when told off for fiddling around with his nether regions – ‘I paid a quid for these pants & I’ve got fifty pence worth stuck up me arse’.

7d Bishop prepared us quote for arrangements of flowers (8)

BOUQUETS: B(ishop)/chess piece abbreviation + an anagram (prepared) of US QUOTE.

8d Good answer the socialist understood (8)

GATHERED: G(ood) + A(nswer) + THE in the clue + a term for a socialist.

11d Lamb maybe satisfied penning fourth of essays (4)

MEAT: insert (penning) the 4th letter of the final word in the clue into a synonym for satisfied.

15d Scoffed after electronic work in the US is complicated (9)

ELABORATE: E(lectronic) + the American spelling of a synonym for work + a word for scoffed/consumed.

17d Seller intended wrapping leads of remote control helicopters (8)

MERCHANT: insert (wrapping) the 1st letter of the final 3 words in the clue into a synonym for intended.

18d Runs over and talks foolishly about Spain (8)

OPERATES: the cricket abbreviation for O(ver) followed by a synonym for talks foolishly with the IVR code for Spain inserted (about).

20a Boy served up hot food (4)

NOSH: reverse (served up) a synonym for boy + h(ot).

21d Worry about working with European Organization for Nuclear Research (7)

CONCERN: the usual single letter for about + an adjective for working followed by an acronym for an intergovernmental nuclear research body founded in 1952 I wasn’t familiar with – it’s from the French Conseil Europeen pour la Recherche Nucleaire.

22d Stop heartless language (6)

FINISH: remove the middle letter (heartless) from a North European tongue.

23d Popular act? Certainly (6)

INDEED: the usual for popular or fashionable + a synonym for act or undertaking.

26d Isolated? A bit (5)

APART: A from the clue + synonym for bit/portion.

Podium places for 12,13& 16a. Please let us know which clues you liked best today.

Today’s Quickie crossword pun: TOP + ALL + DOVER = TOPPLED OVER

Feeling a bit bluesy this morning so today’s listening while writing the blog has been my playlist of a couple of fine players from Glasgow, Stevie & Alan Nimmo. Here’s a great tune off their first album

 

 

73 comments on “DT 30769”

  1. Not too tricky today and enjoyable too. Just as well I get the digital version which I can do with my early cuppa in bed as our car is in the garage and a friend is fetching the papers today. She rather likes being under her duvet so I expect the papers will arrive nearer midday than D fetching them at 8. One advantage of the digital version, well two actually. It cunningly transfers what I have done of the crossy onto my phone so I can continue en route to wherever. It also just asks me if I want to enter to get the mythical as I couldn’t be bothered with all the palaver before. So Steve, let’s see who gets there first! Thanks to AP? and to Hintsman for the hunts

    1. I too usually do the crossword early a.m. in bed accompanied by a drink of hot lemon juice as I am fortunate to get a newspaper delivery around 6.00 a.m.

  2. More Mondayish than Monday’s in my opinion. Lots to enjoy but as I did the crossword at 7am, in bed with a cup of coffee, I can’t remember which clue or clues floated my boat. 🤔 On reflection, I think the old aircraft tops my bill.

    Thanks to AP? and Huntsman.

    First frost of the year for us- Brrrrr.

  3. We do love a ‘RayT lite’ with an average wpc below 5.5 Even the grid is one of his regulars.

    This should go down well with most punters as nearly all the clues are within reach. I didn’t know the synonym for the verb ‘kid’ in 5a and I liked the use of the American spelling in 15d.

    I had to find out why they didn’t change the first letter in the acronym in 21d to ‘O’ when the name of it changed and the reason is sooooooooooo lame: it was awkward to say. It’s what Eric would say when the one with the short fat hairy legs forgot his lines.

    My podium is 8a (can’t believe I’m choosing a double definition), 12a and 18d, my LOI.

    Many thanks to The Prof and Hoots mon!

    1*/4*

    1. Re: CERN/OERN, a quote from Leo Kowarski, the facility’s ex-director.
      https://www.aip.org/history-programs/niels-bohr-library/oral-histories/4717-6

      “Finally Heisenberg said, ‘Well, I propose that we call the organization, Organisation Europereenne pour la Recherche Nucleaire, officially, and that we retain the initials CERN.’ This is quite all right for a quantum-mechanical mind. And everybody accepted it — coming from Heisenberg.”

      Amazing to see Heisenberg’s descent form founding father of quantum mechanics, through re-namer of research facilities, to meth cook in Arizona.

      1. Thanks for that, Karona. I didn’t know much about him, other than being a Nobel prize winner. But, thanks to you, I do now!

        I am embarrassed to admit that I haven’t seen Breaking Bad. My wife and I have tried three times but we just can’t get past the first few episodes though I was up for powering through the third time.

        I’ll get there…..eventually.

  4. Didn’t really enjoy this one, with a couple of examples that underline why.

    Firstly 21a, I had a perfectly good answer that fitted in with ‘roast’ but later when the panties came down it put paid to that idea. Does the real answer really mean roast, more like gripe in my book, but maybe I’ve missed summat.

    The other one I found a bit funny was 5a, kid? oh well, praps I need that red book after all.

    On the up side though, I did like 21d, I’ll always remember Brian Cox’s answer to a reporter’s question ‘Is there any chance that when the collider is switched on it could destroy the earth?’, sadly I can’t write his response here for fear of being redacted, but it did rhyme with the things that oars fit into on a rowing boat.

  5. Really enjoyed today’s crossie and found it much easier than yesterday’s. Only need to check that I’ve understood 16D correctly as an all-in-oner.
    Loved the cheeky 6D so I’ll make that my COTD.
    Thanks to the setter and for the very helpful hints.

  6. Another very enjoyable puzzle today. For me like yesterday’s it was tougher than a normal early week offering but very doable. Some excellent clues, 12a, 19a, 29a and 18d made my leader board with 12a COTD.
    Off now to engage with the Thai written language again, which has the added complication of vowels being placed before, above, below or to the right of the consonant they are pronounced after.

  7. It took a while to get a foothold but the solve was enjoyable once I got going. My first clue didn’t fall until I got to 24a so I thought I was in for a beating but checkers slowly let me in and I finished before leaving for an appointment with the podiatrist. I have never associated the answer to 5a with “to kid’ having always looked upon it to mean “rubbish”. My COTD is the electronic work at 15d

    Thank you, setter for the fun. Thank you Hintsman for the hunts and thank you for rubbing it in! 😊

    1. My own first one is looking rather tatty now
      Note the replacement clip, faded Telegraph logo and exposed brass –
      The other Biro and Fountain pen are saved for best but I hope this one survives a few more refills

      2. I was going to take issue with the Hintsman for blatantly using the photograph of my most prized possession (not counting George ). Where is Terence’s Tm. By the way, have I told you that I also have another ballpoint AND a fountain pen and pencil set? Yes? Oh, sorry – just mention it in passing. It’s also worth mentioning that these acquisitions have spanned some six decades so nil desperandum.

        1. I capitalised the YET – surely The Mythical will arrive one day. You’d think CL would would raid the stationery cupboard & just send him one.

          1. I’m beginning to think that winning it after fifty years of trying would sort of take the magic away.

        2. Nil desperandum was the motto my father-in-Law gave me when the practice I had just opened was not going well. Maybe an omen?

          As for trademarks, Terence is officer I/c. I’m sure he will make judgement. He should also look at Chriscross’s “guzzle” and my “Hintsman for the hunts” as well as “pusskits”! 🤣🤣

  8. A rather haphazard solve today, nonetheless enjoyable for that. I started at the bottom having failed to land on the right baby fish at 1a and being unfamiliar with the use of 5a as a verb. I have a little carp about the use of said word to mean roast in 21a and agree with Tipcat on that score. Finally arrived in the NW where 12a was my LOI and became my favourite. Too many other clever clues to choose a podium today. Thanks to our setter and Huntsman. Thanks for the music!

  9. That was rather lovely, and smart. 1a, 5a and 12a are all great fun. 21a did make me squint slightly. The fact that it’s a transitive > intransitive made it rather slippery. Still, clear enough. Many thanks to our setter and Huntsman. Hard to beat a bit of Plant.

  10. As Typically Tuesdayish as it gets for another very enjoyable Anthony Plumb production – 1.5*/4.5*

    Candidates for favourite – 1a, 29a, and 18d – and the winner is 29a, my brain is telling me that it is quite a while since we saw that ‘flower.’

    Thanks to Mr Plumb and Huntsman.

  11. Managed to solve this one without too much difficulty, though did need to come here for extra help on three clues.

    I live in Hampshire and didn’t know there was a River Test here. I need to get out more.

    Enjoyable crossword.

  12. What an enjoyable solve, but whatever happened to the “z”? After the J and Q I was fully expecting a panagram.
    Also nice to see a proper Scottish river getting a mention unless there’s some small rill in darkest Yorkshire that I’m unaware of 😊.
    Cotd 6d … for its cheek!
    Thanks to setter and Huntsman.

  13. Gentle and straightforward solve which was very enjoyable. I didn’t know the synonym for rake in 13a. Always good to learn something. Thanks to setter and Huntsman.

  14. Having never come across the Hampshire River before (though managed to guess it through the checkers) the same waterway appeared in this mornings Metro Cryptic! Funny old world.

    Found this one trickier than yesterday’s, but the clueing a little vanilla and dull. **/**

  16. As is often the case with AP’s crosswords, I found it hardd to get a start, particularly at the top of the grid. After starting at he bottom and getting a few checkers, things improved a lot. Like others, 3 questioned the synonym at 21a.However, I did like the 7d anagram and 1a lego clue

  17. Once I got going I really enjoyed this, found the down clues very friendly which gave me the checkers for the far more difficult across clues.

    Thanks to setter and Huntsman – excellent musical choices today, especially the sublime 11d

  18. As ever, some terrific music choices from The Hintsman. Delighted to hear the Nimmo Brothers (previously unknown to me); really delicious.

    Enjoyable guzzle. 15d and 21d my last ones in, despite having an abundance of checking letters.

    Busy few days here.
    Saturday – wonderful evening with Paul Weller at Hammersmith Odeon. Outstanding musicianiship with his incredible band. His voice and passion as strong as ever.
    Sunday – Stamford Bridge to watch the Magnificent Chelsea in a thrilling game with the Gooners. Quite exhausting.
    Monday – Recording episode 666 (ulp!) of the podcast I have co-hosted since 2011.
    Today – the municipal tip with another car load of cardboard. Amazon stay in profit due to this household.

    Thanks to the setter, and Andy Not On The First Tee Today.

    1. Podcast ? Tell us more & where can we listen to it?
      I see Weller has a role in the new Steve McQueen film, Blitz, which I looking forward to

      1. You are obviously too young to have been an avid reader of Barbara Cartland in your teens!that

        1. No that’s gone all wrong. The too young was addressed to Jenny M.
          Now I’m going to say I’d be delighted to listen to Terence’s podcast if somebody explains to me what they are and how I access them.

  19. As others above took a while to kick off but (to mix metaphors) once underway I made almost pain-free headway. Gave up in the NW where I usually start and moved to fill out the rest before having another go – struggling with 12a which IMHO is too clever by half rather than being a “neat clue” (as per Huntsman). Was hampered by a desire to use run abbreviation differently in 18d. Thank you AP whose wavelength is usually accessible and thanks too to Hintsman for a couple of hints.

  20. Like others we had a slow start to this one. Only six of the acrosses on first pass but then 14 downs came to the rescue! All in all a pleasant diversion over lunch.
    Lots of good clues but if I were to pick a favourite it would be 16a.

    Thanks to setter and Huntsman

  21. Like pommers the acrosses were a bit slow today but the downs came to the rescue
    I bet SC put a silent N in between the syllables of 1d
    Thanks to Setter and Huntsman

  22. Sounds as if today’s is a good one. Unfortunately the dreadful DT Puzzles app is not working today so I wont be able to judge for myself. It really is a piece of electronic crap!

    2. Apparently you have to delete the app and reinstall. Having done so I can now see the puzzle but wish I hadn’t. Extremely difficult and def not to my taste. Struggled to even start it then it got worse!
      Not one for I’m afraid.
      *****/*

    3. No Brian, it isn’t . It is a perfectly good app. I have absolutely no problem with it, including today. You may find it is more to do with the technology you are running it on rather than a problem with the app.

  23. A pleasant Tuesday puzzle – thanks to our setter and Huntsman.
    The clues which appealed to me were 9a, 12a and 16a.

  24. A very comfortable solve for me with no real delays. 12 and 13a were particular highlights in what was a speedy and enjoyable grid fill.

    Many thanks to AP and The Hintsman.

  25. Not overly keen on the synonyms used in 5&21a and hate that description of food in 20d but elsewhere enjoyable fare from the professor. 12a raised a smile and my favourite was the Quickie pun.

    Thanks to Mr Plumb and to Huntsman for the review.

  26. Slow start for me so I took a scattergun approach to it.
    I knew of the Hampshire river but had never thought to look where it ran so thank you Huntsman for the map.
    Top picks for me were 12a, 21d and LOI 27a.

    Thanks to Huntsman and the setter.

  27. I’m going against the flow today as this didn’t float my boat at all. Clearly my wavelength was way off beam with AP today and consequently nearly every clue was a bit of a grind. Once completed I wondered why I made such a bother of it. Thanks AP for the challenge. Hopefully next week I’ll be better tuned in. Thanks too to Huntsman.

  28. A typical Tuesday puzzle for me this week again. Was a nice puzzle to solve with minimal head scratching for me.

    1.5*/3.5*

    Favourites 12a, 16a, 27a, 29a, 17d & 20d — with winners 27a/29a … sort of related, but they both just appealed to me.
    Smiles from 3d, 20d & 22d

    Thanks to AP & Huntsman

  29. Well, I enjoyed it. I liked the nude wife and the damn pen of course and I was completely misled by Lamb and the essays. Nice work. How can people dismiss guzzles so sweepingly? We are dining at Queens’ and I don’t know what to wear. It can be freezing in there. All the beds are covered in things tried on and discarded – why the indecision? George says I’ve just got too many clothes. 🤭 is that possible? Anyway, many thanks to Mr Setter and to the Hintsman even if he did bandy my pen about. I could always rewrite my will……..

  31. This took longer than normal to get into, and indeed I had hardly any until I did the downs. Once I got going it came together nicely, I did not know the synonyms in 13a or 5a. There was plenty to like with 6d my favourite.

    Many thanks to the setter and to Huntsman for the hints.

  32. There were 3 or four that held me up in the West eject I was trying to make them into the wrong sort of word and failing, obviously, all became clear when the penny dropped. Apart from those fairly plain sailing. LOI and favourite for the penny drop moment was 18d. Thanks to AP and Huntsman

  33. Oh I do love a friendly AP puzzle, and today was no exception. Had to break it into two sittings as it was off to Boca Raton for my bone density half way through. With two CT scans this month and now the bone density I must be radioactive by now 😊. 5a I only got because of the sweet part of the clue, and ignored the kid part. Also bunged in Alone at 26d before I realised 28a was an anagram and thus no “o”. COTD today for me is definitely 19a. Thanks to AP and Huntsman.

    1. My recent bone density scan showed a marginal improvement in my T score so the annual infusions of Zoledronic acid are doing the trick – haven’t helped my golf mind.

      1. Zoledronic also here, after I had already had the 8 years max of denosumab. Our bodies are like old cars, constant maintenance 😊.

  34. Thank you all for your concern and kind words over the past three weeks. I’m now back home with Sadie and feeling so much happier. I’m not yet to the crossword stage, I must find a way to get them printed first as I’m not mobile yet, but “soon come” as we say in Jamaica. Team Barbara has done sterling work and I have awarded them stars for their efforts, I don’t know what I would have done without them.
    Again, Sadie and I are so grateful for your support, I’ll be back soon!

    1. Welcome back, Merusa. It’s so good to see you commenting again. Take your time and come back to us totally recovered.
      I bet Sadie was overjoyed at seeing you.

  35. Good evening

    Reading about more app problems above has made me glad that I’m firmly in the pen & paper camp. I didn’t even need my Lucky Green Pen today, although I thought I might right at the start. Burrowing my way in took a while; thereafter I had a complete bottom half. The top half sorted itself out eventually!

    16a takes COTD.

    Many thanks to Mr P and to Huntsman.

  36. First time I have found the time to get to the Big Dave page in some while. Yesterday and today were absolute gifts. I am always short of time because there is always so much of interest out in the world and lots of engaging people to talk to and learn from. Puzzle didn’t take much time but it was really satisfying. Favourites were 19 a. and 15 d. Knowing the American spelling for work was a letter less than the English spelling in 15 d really chuffed me because I my spelling is so weak. I have a degree, can speak French, have been in my book group for 55 years and play a good hand of bridge but have to use the crossword to help me with spelling. It is the strangest thing .Thanks to everyone involved – it is such a resource.

    1. What a great post, Rosie!

      Keep ‘em coming.

      I love Bridge, especially getting a three no trumps contract, winning the tenth trick with a nonsense 6 of Clubs or something.

        1. Ah, but the tenth trick in 3NT means you outscore the major suit game! Otherwise yes, similar satisfaction to making the slam with a 2. 🙂

          Hope you slept well, another crosswording day beckons!

  37. I just love sitting in the pub with a pint of buttybach! Finishing the crossword is a bonus ( which I managed ) . 1d describes recent weather admirably

  38. Very late because on completing the puzzle was unable to access the blog until now🤔 Though it seems that everyone else did! Anyway found it more difficult than I expect on a Tuesday ***/***, favourites 14 & 19a and 17d. Thanks to Ray T and to the Huntsman

  39. A fun solve back to back with Wednesday
    2*/4*
    12a my favourite today – very good surface
    Thanks to all

  41. Thank you to Huntsman for rating this as straightforward: I didn’t have time to solve it on Tuesday, but printed it off for taking on a train journey. I got most of it done on the train, but not all of it, and I certainly didn’t find it as easy as the previous day’s crossword, and needed help with 27a.

    Lots of fun, though, with my highlights being 12a (“Dear me”), 16a (“Part’s regularly”), 24a (“fabulous ship”), and 15d (“electronic work”).

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