DT 30775 – Big Dave's Crossword Blog
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DT 30775

by Huntsman  

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30775
Hints and tips by Huntsman

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

Another very enjoyable Anthony Plumb puzzle that was maybe a tad trickier than yesterday but one that ought not to pose too many problems. Concisely clued as ever & with his usual gently misleading surfaces.

It has stopped snowing here in Harpenden but still a day for coats and woolly hats if venturing out. Alternatively stay warm & have a bash at Stephen’s puzzle in the Toughie slot.

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 Band in studio as I speak (5)

OASIS: hidden (in) the last 4 words of the clue.

4a Compiler almost worried by an officer of the law (9)

POLICEMAN: an anagram (worried/almost) of COMPILE(r) precedes (by) AN from the wordplay.

9a Bears ought to hear us oddly escaping (9)

SHOULDERS: a synonym for ought to + the alternate letters (oddly escaping) of hEaR uS. Nowt to do with furry critters & coincidentally the body part of the giants that 1a stood on in the title of their 4th studio album.

10a Illumination predicament with power cut (5)

LIGHT: remove the single letter in physics for Power from a synonym for a predicament or quandary.

11a Stays saner? I’m mad! (7)

REMAINS: an anagram (mad) of SANER I’M.

12a I see men fighting adversaries (7)

ENEMIES: another anagram (fighting) of I SEE MEN.

13a Guarantee cool treasure? Not half! (6)

INSURE: the usual for cool/fashionable + 50% of treaSURE.

15a Spot slender gymnast initially jumping up and down (8)

SEETHING: a synonym for spot/espy + one for slender + the 1st letter (initially) of Gymnast. Great surface.

18a Charitable type describing short Greek god (8)

GENEROUS: another word for a type or group surrounds (describing) the truncated (short) Greek god of carnal love.

20a What excuse? (6)

PARDON: a double definition – I recall being chastised for saying the former as a child.

23a Servant finally searches for unimportant things (7)

TRIFLES: the last letter (finally) of servanT + a synonym for searches or ransacks.

24a Roll containing old chicken (7)

ROOSTER: insert (containing) Old into a synonym for roll or register.

26a Suggest operation in Spain (5)

OPINE: the diminutive for OP(eration) + IN from the clue + the IVR code for Spain.

27a Key German city – it goes round a lake (9)

ESSENTIAL: the 2nd largest city of the Ruhr followed by a reversal (goes round) of IT + A (both from the wordplay) then append the single letter for Lake.

28a Soon begrudge interrupting work (9)

PRESENTLY: insert (interrupting) a synonym for begrudge into a word meaning work with or at (one’s trade for example).

29a Witty remark perhaps entertaining two Liberals (5)

SALLY: insert (entertaining) the single letter for Liberal twice into a synonym for perhaps/for instance.

 

Down

1d Seeing Oscar bowled before hitting the first shot? (9)

OBSERVING: the word for hitting the first shot in racquet sports preceded by (before) the letter Oscar represents (NATO phonetic alphabet) & the cricket abbreviation for Bowled.

2d Some tempest or monsoon? (5)

STORM: hidden (some) in an all-in-one clue.

3d Gentleman concealing large fib is more foolhardy (7)

SILLIER: a term for a gentleman (used in letters) contains (concealing) L(arge) + a synonym for fib.

4d Claims we ignore women’s wish (6)

PLEASE: a synonym for claims or entreaties + wE from the clue (delete/ignore the single letter for Women’s).

5d Record in French – Edward paid attention (8)

LISTENED: another word for record/itemise + one of two prepositions in French meaning in + a diminutive for Edward.

6d Gather mobile phone turned up in bed (7)

COLLECT: place a reversal (turned up) of a word for a mobile phone (used over the pond) into a type of bed suitable for an infant. Good excuse to play a terrific Gloria Jones cover.

7d Grew angry about wound I feign (9)

MAGNIFIED: an anagram (wound) of I FEIGN is surrounded by (about) a synonym of angry (oft preceded by hopping). Nice surface.

8d School upset with son’s jottings (5)

NOTES: reverse (upset) Boris & Dave’s old school then append the single letter for Son.

14d Delicate cuckoo nest is on island very close to home (9)

SENSITIVE: an anagram (cuckoo) of NEST IS followed by the single letter for Island & for Very + the last letter (close to) of homE.

16d Male maybe leaving diamonds with friend, as a rule (9)

GENERALLY: a word for male maybe (sex) less (leaving) the single letter for Diamonds (card suit) + a synonym for friend or accomplice.

17d Most picky female on American ship I estimated (8)

FUSSIEST: F(emale) + the 3 letter acronym for an American ship + I (from the clue) + an abbreviation of EST(imated). I had an extra S in my original parsing but my trusty WGC neighbour put me right so that’s another pint of splosh I owe Shabbo.

19d Vile beer drunk bishop will leave for free (7)

RELIEVE: an anagram (drunk) of VILE (b)EER omitting (will leave) the chess piece abbreviation for Bishop.

21d Measures adult horses (7)

AMOUNTS: A(dult) + a term for horses.

22a Vulgar description of trumpet’s sound?

BRASSY: a cryptic or double definition. Take your pick – I’ll plump for the latter.

23d Group of soldiers also protecting king, quietly (5)

TROOP: insert the regnal letter for King into a word that can mean also then append the musical letter for soft or quietly.

25d Tense expression lifted before student’s test (5)

TRIAL: T(ense) + a reversal (lifted) of a synonym for expression or look + the usual letter for student/learner.

 

I think I’ll plump for 14d, just pipping 15a, for my pick of the clues. Please let us know which clues ticked your boxes.

 

 

Today’s Quickie crossword pun: ARK + TIC + TURNS = ARCTIC TERNS

Today’s blogging music has been my recently composed The Steel Woods playlist, having been introduced to them in ALP’s blog. Here’s their version of a Brent Cobb tune

55 comments on “DT 30775”

  1. An interesting puzzle with the NW falling quickly with its anagram fest, then the NE but I lingered over 23a for a while for some reason then a little longer with my LOI 4d for which I needed Huntsman to explain the obvious answer fully. I thought the Compiler subterfuge in 4a clever and spent a short while trying to fit I and me before spotting the import of worried. Clever and my COTD. Thanks to Huntsman and the setter for this **/***

  2. Sound Tuesday fare, nothing to alarm the equines, a straightforward N to S solve. Many thanks to the setter and to Huntsman – some great music selections.

  3. Light and breezy and enjoyable whilst it lasted.
    I enjoyed the angry gymnast at 15a, the double definition at 20a, the mix of sports in 1d and the mythical cuckoo’s nest in 14d.
    Thank you setter and my Harpenden neighbour, Huntsman.

  4. Not quite Typically Tuesdayish – a puzzle of two halves – North and South, and I thought the latter was going to be more tricky than it turned out to be – **/****

    Favourite – a toss up between 20a and 26a – and the winner is 20a.

    Thanks to Mr Plumb and Huntsman.

  5. Another solid crossy from the Prof which was as concise as ever with no multi-worders.

    I find it interesting that 28a can mean ‘now’ and ‘soon’. We love the English language.

    Cuckoo, as an anagram indicator, is superb. It reminds me of this legend…

    My podium is 15a, 1d and 3d.

    Many thanks to AP and Hoots Mon!

    1*/3.5* (I docked half a point because of the unindicated Amercanism in 6d)

    1. Still trying to find out how you know it was made by Prof. Apologies if this is a stupid question.

      1. We don’t know for a racing certainty as he never pops in to confirm but the style of puzzle is unmistakably one of his & Senf is an expert on the grids he uses so if it isn’t one of his he’ll let us know.

        1. In particular, thanks to advice from Cephas, Prof Plumb only uses one Quickie Grid and there it is again today.

  6. A straightforward puzzle, I thought. I would give it one star for difficulty. My COTD is the slender gymnast at 15a. Thank you Huntsman for the hints, and to the setter.

  7. Another vote for 15a (which is missing in the hints as I type this). This was a great puzzle for a freezing cold morning, nicely balanced and clued throughout.

    Thanks to AP and The Hintsman.

    1. Heaven knows where it disappeared to because I wrote one – anyway thanks for pointing out & now rewritten/inserted. You’d think I’d be getting the hang of this by now.

  8. Great music choices from The Hintsman.

    Solved unaided! Last one in was 23a, and I had to run through the alphabet before hitting on the answer. Duh.
    I am putting the flags out, although they will get mighty damp. Please keep all of yer snow up there in the frozen north.

    Thanks to the setter and Andy On The First Tee.

    1. Totally agree. Not a difficult solve but I never find them as much ‘fun’ as some of you do. More of a chore to exercise the brain. But I come onto this page for some entertaining comments and sometimes, like today, some good music while reading.

  9. As straightforward as they come – thanks to our setter and Huntman.
    Isn’t it about time that German city had a rest?
    For my podium I’ve selected 9a, 15a and 1d.

  10. Great puzzle. Second time for that Band in a few days and the first of probably many appearances for that School this week.

  11. Nicely gentle and quietly entertaining. Totally agree with Gazza’s choices. Spot on. Many thanks to our setter and Huntsman. Cracking tunes, as always. Oh, you had me with John. LOVED that man.

      1. Absolutely. John really should have had more of a stellar career than he had. He was quite unique, just a little too fond of whisky. I interviewed him once – at 10am – but even that wasn’t early enough!

        2. Many years ago I had a client who was, sadly, like that – meeting any time after 11am was about 2 hours and a bottle of spirits too late. Unsurprisingly he did not make old bones.

  12. Straight forward north to south, ping ponging between across and down clues. I’ve never seen wound used as an anagram indicator before .. but it works.
    Cotd 16a has it held me up .. I had lean and lithe for the gymnast before penny dropped.
    Thanks to setter and Huntsman.
    Wonder where Steve is today? Hope he isn’t snowed in!

  13. Only started snowing here this morning after rain overnight it all seemed to be too wet to settle, however it is now getting heavier and things are turning white – wasn’t planning on going out anyway!
    I digress – enjoyed today’s gentle work out, but I fear we’re going to pay for this straightforward start to the week – probably tomorrow!
    Thought all the clues fair and 9a and 15a stood out as my favourites today */****
    Thanks to setter and The Huntsman

  14. An enjoyable Tuesday romp although I wasn’t very persuaded by 4d. Fortunately, our setter redeemed himself by using one of my favourite birds for the Quickie pun. Other clues vying for a podium place were 15,20&29a plus 14d.

    Thanks to Mr Plumb, presumably, and to Huntsman for the review.

    1. Wow! Apparently, the Arctic Tern travels from the Arctic to the Antarctic and back again each year! That’s a lot of air miles!

  15. Tuesdays usually give the smoothest walk in the park but not this week – for me today was a touch more demanding than yesterday but was no less enjoyable. West came home first and contained my Fav and runner-up (20a and 15a). Thanks as always to the AP/Hintsman combo.

  16. A nice puzzle for a dreadful day where the white stuff has come further south than predicted and is now settling/pitching/laying and shows no sign of stopping.

    Top picks for me were 15a, 24a and 16d.

    Thanks to Huntsman and the setter.

  17. 2*/4*. Parts of this were a tad more demanding than the Tuesday norm, but it was as enjoyable as ever with 15a my favourite.

    Many thanks to AP and to Hintsman.

  19. I agree with Huntsman comment in that I too thought this was a trickier than normal Tuesday puzzle this week. Much more so than the Monday offering. A few clues with parsing hard to understand or even get at all.

    2.5*/3*

    Favourites 4a, 20a, 27a, 5d & 6d — with winner 20a

    Thanks to setter (AP) & Huntsman

  20. Nice puzzle for Tuesday with a good mix of straightforward and the odd head scratcher. My podium comprises two that made me smile in 23 and 24a with 15a in top spot. Thanks to AP and Huntsman

  21. This was a little more testing than an average Tuesday with a few synonyms taking their time eg 4d and 23a, but I got there unaided and thoroughly enjoyed it. 15a was my favourite.

    Many thanks to the setter and to Huntsman for the hints

  22. Bit late on parade today because of having to go and buy a fan heater for the bedroom. The cold weather arrives and last night the heater packs in. With temperatures forecast to be -3 in The Marches a heater is needed while I read.

    Today’s offering was a delight, I thought with a few curveballs thrown into the mix. Rather stupidly, I put “silly” for 29a. Whatever possessed me to I have no idea because in way does “siy” mean “remark”. My COTD is the slender gymnast at 15a.

    Thanks to the professor in the library. Thank you, Hintsman for the hunts.

    1. And we are reading in this morning’s Palm Beach Post about the arrival of chilly weather on Friday – in the 50s Fahrenheit… That will have us all hunting for long sleeves and pants 😉.

      1. 👍

        That reminds me of our daughter, Faye who lives in Melbourne. If the temperature goes down to about 8 degrees C all her Aussie friends complain that it is freezing. Faye calmly points out that it is not freezing because water turns to ice when it’s freezing.

  23. Smooth clues and a steady solve but could not work out how 16d emerged; thank you Huntsman for explaining

  24. What a treat today, thoroughly enjoyed from start to finish. I love the smooth style of this setter, it’s all there for you to figure out. No need for Google etc. I do think we already had 1a as an answer this week? Thanks very much to Mr Plumb, and to Huntsman for helping to confirm some of my answers. Now I’m off in search of Lurpak butter having recently realised I am lactose intolerant and need to avoid all margarines etc. Plus American better is too salty.

    1. If you are lactose intolerant the last thing you need is any butter, Lurpak or otherwise.

      I use Flora Natural Original Vegan as it is quite buttery without causing any problems

  25. No problems with this for me today unlike the toughie which was a dnf by a distance and this helped to repair my shattered self esteem. Most enjoyable with some really excellent clues. I struggled to parse 18a until the penny dropped. Favourite was 15a. Thanks to AP and Huntsman.

  26. Another enjoyable puzzle which I completed in record time. Undoubtedly helped by the anagrams and lurkers from our esteemed setter. Not had chance to play any of the 🎵 yet but hopefully, later. Many thanks to Mr Plumb and Huntsman.

    Interesting information above re lactose intolerant and butter etc. This site is full of helpful advice!

  27. My maiden solve here after about a month off! It wasn’t easy, tiny brain is I only operating at half speed. I was DNF with two and needed Huntsman’s help, also copious ehelp, but it was fun to get back into a crossword.
    Thank you setter, especially for being kind for my first attempt after a month. Huntsman, I’m so grateful to you for your help, much needed today.

  28. A gentle solve today although I did get held up with a couple in the NW that slowed me down at the end. Was it just me who thought ‘horny’ for 22d ? Of course it doesn’t fit but it did make me smile . Thanks to setter and to Huntsman . Best wishes Merusa and hope things go well .

  30. Good evening

    Late to the blog again – Tuesday is a work day with a shift that runs from 14:00 to 22:45 with a two-hour break in the middle. I ought to be able to finish the crozzie by then, but couldn’t, owing to 18a and 14d just not finding their way into my head! Until now. All done, thankfully!

    Thanks to Mr P and to Huntsman

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