Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30781
Hints and tips by Shabbo
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
Good morning. This is my debut in the Tuesday slot and I will endeavour to maintain Huntsman’s high standards, as he bashes a small white ball around manicured golf courses in the sunshine of the Algarve, where it is 20 degrees according to the BBC weather app – we are not jealous!
A couple of references to the festive period, with the cattle noise at 13a and the animal feeding trough at 21d. Memo to Mr Lancaster – we are still in November!
I found this enjoyable and fairly straightforward as befits a Tuesday. What did you think?
Thank you, setter.
Across
1a Moaned about compiler – and no wonder, ultimately (10)
COMPLAINED: anagram (about) of COMPILE(r) AND – “no wondeR, ultimately” tells us to drop the R from the anagram fodder.
6a Agricultural soil grips to boot (4)
ALSO: hidden word (grips). Our solution is lurking in plain sight within the first two words of the clue.
10a Chubby student wearing shoe (5)
PLUMP: normal abbreviation for student inside (wearing) a ballet shoe.
11a Assembled instrument that is entertaining son and daughter (9)
ORGANISED: the king of instruments + abbreviation for “that is” outside (entertaining) abbreviation for “son” + finally the abbreviation for “daughter”.
12a Finishing second garnish? (8)
STOPPING: abbreviation for second + synonym of garnish.
13a Following noise from cow, knight’s run off (5)
FLOWN: I wasted far too much time trying to get MOO into the answer, but it is the other word meaning cattle noise that we need here. Start with the abbreviation for “following” then add the aforementioned cattle noise and finally add the chess abbreviation for knight.
15a Niece initially in bad health – that could be catching (7)
NAILING: first letter (initially) of Niece + synonym of “in bad health”. The definition is an informal term for catching or securing.
17a Most of dreadful neckwear Romeo makes more filthy (7)
DIRTIER: four-letter synonym of dreadful without the final letter (most of) + type of neckwear + the phonetic alphabet letter signified by Romeo.
19a Make good fries regularly in front of shop (7)
RESTORE: the even letters (regularly) of fRiEs + synonym of shop.
21a Some hippopotamus I call Annie, perhaps (7)
MUSICAL: another hidden word clue (some) – our answer is concealed within words 2, 3 & 4.
22a Show District Attorney enthralling stuff (5)
DRAMA: abbreviation for District Attorney outside (enthralling) a verb meaning to stuff.
24a Slapped someone’s wrist, hips and nude bust (8)
PUNISHED: anagram (bust) of HIPS NUDE.
27a Recklessly go on amber? Go then come back! (9)
BOOMERANG: anagram (recklessly) of GO ON AMBER.
28a At university class, annoyed (5)
UPSET: usual two-letter word meaning “at university” + synonym of class.
29a Flat caps from English village excite nobody (4)
EVEN: caps (initial letters) of the last four words of the clue.
30a Erratic Finn rudely hostile (10)
UNFRIENDLY: anagram (erratic) of FINN RUDELY.
Down
1d Manage work in church (4)
COPE: two-letter musical abbreviation for work inside abbreviation for Church of England.
2d Horses eating middle of hay in heaps (9)
MOUNTAINS: synonym of horses outside (eating) the middle letter of hAy + IN. Ignore the image below – the solution means “large quantities of”.
3d Relish, pal? (3,2)
LAP UP: how one might define “pal” cryptically (this is a down clue).
4d Strength in golf decreasing? (7)
IRONING: hopefully this is no reference to our regular Tuesday blogger’s travails in Portugal. Take a four-letter synonym of strength (definition 6 in my on-line Chambers) + IN + letter represented by Golf in the phonetic alphabet. A bit of lateral thinking required for the semi-cryptic definition – the current Mrs Shabbo thinks it is hilarious when I use this gag every time she is undertaking her least favourite task.
5d Groom could be this close, holding muzzle and tail of mare (7)
ENGAGED: synonym of “close” outside (holding) a synonym of muzzle + the tail of marE.
7d Cowboy might throw this large animal over (5)
LASSO: abbreviation for Large + animal similar to a donkey + cricket abbreviation for over.
8d King leaves royal drink I mixed, as a rule (10)
ORDINARILY: anagram (mixed) of ROYAL DRIN(k) I – the missing K is signalled by “king leaves”.
9d Undergraduates may sign these clothes (8)
UNIFORMS: double definition, the first one slightly cryptic which might have justified using a question mark?
14d Bananas I blend with rice? Hard to believe (10)
INCREDIBLE: anagram (bananas) of I BLEND RICE.
16d One criticised about second of dogs getting quarantined (8)
ISOLATED: One = I + synonym of criticised outside (about) the second letter of dOgs.
18d Grew wrinkled below hip (9)
INCREASED: synonym of wrinkled below (this is a down clue) synonym of hip or trendy.
20d Describe European? Cross and ugly (7)
EXPLAIN: abbreviation for European + X (cross) + synonym of unattractive (ugly is a bit too strong IMO).
21d Trough trapping top of animal’s head (7)
MANAGER: an animal feeding trough outside (trapping) the first letter (top of) Animal.
23d Wine after adult turned up (5)
AROSE: pink wine after abbreviation for Adult.
25d Bottle neck (5)
SAUCE: double definition. I struggled a bit with the first definition, but think alcohol, usually preceded by “the”.
26d Continue south on river (4)
STAY: abbreviation for South + the Scottish river that runs through Perth.
Quickie Pun: LIE + FIN + SHORE + RANTS = LIFE INSURANCE
This was great fun.
Like yesterday, 1a set me nicely on my way. An amusing start.
My podium is 11a for its construction, 27a for its surface and 14d because I love bananas as an anagram indicator. Such a good word.
Many thanks to Robyn and Shabbs.
2*/4*
Apologies. Ta muchly to the professor.
For me, a thouroughly enjoyable, uncomplicated solve, just a little anagram heavy. Podium places, in no particular order for 11a, 2d and 5d, with a nod to the quickie pun. Thanks to our setter and Shabbo.
A lovely “typically Tuesday” puzzle on a beautiful sunny & cloudless day. Equines still placid, some old friends dotted here and there in the grid. Podium places to 13a, 9d & 5d, with runner-up 6a.
Many thanks to AP (presumably) and of course to Shabbo for the blog and stepping in to Huntsman’s slippers while he has donned the golf shoes.
Nothing troublesome about this guzzle today and solved pretty quickly. Glorious sunny if cold day. More and more pink footed geese squawking as they fly over my garden, hundreds of them, what a sight. Only saying this to make Shabbo jealous! Thanks to the setter and Shabbo.
Green with envy!!
Good morning! It’s change the sheets day so I have not yet guzzled and I have been off- piste for a few days (14 hour wait for an ambulance!! In the end George drove me in – there is something adrift in the State of Denmark). Anyways up, I need some advice from you erudite folk. I gulped when I read in our church magazine “the innocent, dependent child laying in a cradle”. My neighbour says I am an old fuddyduddy and there is a degree of truth in that, but does anyone else think a baby should be lying in a cradle? The rattle could be laying at his side. Help, please.
Hello! And snap!, because I haven’t done today’s puzzle yet, either. Sorry to hear of your ambulance wait and whatever happened which required one.
Yes, ‘lying’. Jesus lay in a cradle, where ‘lay’ is the past something-or-other* of ‘to lie’, which presumably caused the confusion. But the -ing form is definitely lying. A nearby chicken may have been laying in the newborn’s cradle — but I don’t think even the most outré interpretations of the gospels suggest that baby Jesus welcomed the shepherds and magi by producing some eggs for them.
Reminds me of Terry Wogan, who whenever reading out an email in which a listener had written something like “I was sat watching TV” he would interrupt to chide them: “No, you weren’t. You were sitting watching the TV. Or possibly seated.” Then he’d continue with the rest of the correspondence.
* I went to school in the 1980s, so basically wasn’t taught any grammar.
Daisy, what is wrong with the NHS? I fell a week ago, 911 firemen came, lifted me up, dusted me off and had me back in my chair all within 20 minutes. Britain can do it too, why are they not? I feel for you.
Agree. We’ve needed to call 911 three times (two different cities), and each time they were at our house within 5 minutes. Awful to have to wait for hours.
The baby should be lying in the cradle.
I used to teach English in Spain and had to explain this to the students.
The use of ‘lay’ always caused confusion since it is both an infinitive/present tense: the hen lays an egg; and the past tense of to lie: I lay in bed yesterday.
The verbs it is part of are to lie which doesn’t have an object directly after it (it is intransitive), and to lay which does (it is transitive).
So, Mary could be laying the child in the cradle (the cradle is the object) after which action, the child is lying in the cradle (no object for lie).
It’s all explained here if you want to take a look: https://www.sjsu.edu/writingcenter/docs/handouts/Lay vs. Lie.pdf.
I loved the puzzle by the way, which is why we are here, after all. 27a was my favourite. Thanks to the setter and for the hints.
To late to edit the link, it should be this: https://www.sjsu.edu/writingcenter/docs/handouts/Lay%20vs.%20Lie.pdf
Lovely people! I knew I was right really – but when a vicar gets it wrong……. And sadly, ladies, the last time I had to call an ambulance it was a nine hour wait. We were told in A and E that no patients were being admitted as there were no beds! However, I still think they are all wonderful 👏👏👏
Daisy you put me to shame. You are always changing your sheets. As I get older I confess I change them less often. Perhaps you have sheets and blankets which is probably easier but I find duvets impossible. Sorry about your wait for an ambulance. I think it’s a postcode lottery. We tend to have paramedics racing around in the inner or near city. I agree that lying not laying is correct. I was of a generation which was taught grammar which has returned to the curriculum.
A quick solve shortly after midnight sitting on a platform at St Pancras en route back from a super gig at the Apollo in Hammersmith. It did strike me as a touch anagram heavy but enjoyable nevertheless. Couldn’t resist trying to think of music options during the solve – 2d an opportunity to play a track I’d not listened to in years, which brought back memories of Sundays with Maggie’s favourite interviewer. Off to Stansted & sunshine.
Thanks to AP & to Shabbo for stepping in.
Have a great trip. Go easy on the Super Bock!
We love Super Bock which God-willing we shall be tasting on 17 December for 14 days in the sun in Olhâo Portugal. Perhaps Sloop John Bee or some other kind friend will send me the puzzle to do while I’m away. I don’t have the digital. I’ll buy you a pint of fine British Bitter in return at the birthday bash.
I’ll put it in my diary now 17th Dec for a fortnight
You were at the Hammersmith Apollo last night? Sounds like a death wish!
Enjoy going overseas. Are you traveling alone?
As Typically Tuesdayish as it can be – **/****
Candidates for favourite – 13a, 17a, 16d, 18d, and 20d – and the winner 18d.
Thanks to Mr Plumb and Shabbo.
An enjoyable Tuesday puzzle – thanks to our setter and Shabbo.
I’m not really convinced by the 25d bottle. The BRB says that sauce is a US informal word for alcoholic drink only when preceded by ‘the’.
I liked 13a, 4d and 5d with my favourite being 3d.
Hi G
I’ve often heard, and said myself, ‘Sadly I see that so and so has recently hit the bottle/***** again’
Thanks for that, Tom.
Totally on wavelength with AP today. Many good clues, but I’ll plump for a podium comprising 11a, 21a and 4d in top spot. Thanks to AP and Shabbo.
Another enjoyable romp from our regular Tuesday setter.
Rosettes handed out to 6a which had me dancing around for a while plus 3d which made me laugh as did the cross, ugly European. Highly commended goes to the Quickie pun.
Thanks to Mr Plumb and to super-sub Shabbo.
Yet another 1*/4* for the usual light but fun Tuesday offering. 3d was my favourite with 6a hard on its heels.
Many thanks presumably to Mr.P and to Shabbo.
Great Tuesday fun, slightly trickier than yesterday.
2*/4*
Favs today 22a, 29a and 4d. 25d last one in.
Thanks to AP and Shabbo.
I found today’s puzzle a mixed bag. Lots of the answers went straight in, but four or five of the little blighters caused me trouble including 9D which became my favourite.
Lovely day here in the Cotswolds. Mrs E and I walked up to Sudeley Castle with a flask of coffee and sat on a bench admiring the views.
Thanks to the setter and Shabbo for his first Tuesday offering.
I thought this was brilliant, as is the sun warming my back. George sitting next to me has nodded off! So much to like, and so many false leads. I was convinced the nude bust was ‘us’ and lived the simplicity of 3d. Very hard to pick a favourite but I shall go for 21d but there are many others I liked. A neat quickie pun too! Deepest commiserations to those affected by the flooding – it must be absolutely awful. Many thanks to the smart Setter and to our intrepid Hinter.
Hurrah! At last I finished a puzzle, after struggling over the past few days. A nice combination of clues, some of which took more time to solve than others, so it’s a ***/**** for me. LOI was 25d and I needed Shabbo’s help to explain it. Favourite clues included 19a, 3d, and 6d, Thanks to the setter and to Shabbo.
Another enjoyable puzzle. Took me ages to spot the lurker in 6a and I loved 9d when I finally got it. Spent far too long trying to get 13a to start with moo.
Top picks for me were 9d, 6a and 3d.
Thanks to Shabbo and the setter.
I found this Tuesday puzzle even a little gentler than the Monday offering this week. All went in easily with no issues for me today at all.
1*/4* for me
Favourites include 1a, 10a, 24a, 27a, 1d & 18d — with winner 18d that gave me a good chuckle!
Thanks to AP & Shabbo standing in for Huntsman today
Spent mo(o)re time on 13a than any of the others which was my last in. SE corner being initially held up at 25d by having some nerve over bottled sauce!
I’m with Shabbo at 20d .. to me plain doesn’t necessarily equate to ugly. A plain digestive dunked in my tea is certainly not ugly .. although tbh I do prefer the chocolate covered variety!
Cotd 27a … 27a .. 27a!
Me too, of the dark variety!
….with caramel going through the middle.
Your chat reminds me of this. Hobnobs are like marines….the master.
Nice Tuesday solve 😃 **/*** Favourites 13 & 21a and 18d 👍 Thanks to Robyn or AP or who ever compiled this, which is my type of crossword 🤔 and of course to Shabbo who should be out identifying the incoming Winter visitors!
I like!! Trickier than yesterday, that’s absolutely as it should be. I had a couple of bungins; like Shabbo, I tried so hard to put “moo” in 13a. I was surprised I had it right, noise from cow is “flow”? I liked lots, 27a amused, likewise 21d.
Thank you setter, that was a treat, and Shabbo for his enlightenment on many!
Regarding 13a, following = F, knight = N and the noise cattle make is in the middle.
Doh! Thick or what … thanks!
I was stuck on moo for ages too…
Late on parade again because of a hospital visit (routine orthotic appointment). I competed this in the waiting room while everyone else gazed at their smart phones. Whatever happened to conversation? Anyway, a great guzzle with a few curves balls thrown in for good measure. It took me ages to get the correct horses at 2d and the flat caps in 29a stumped me for a while. I’m not sure about 25d because I don’t see how bottle comes into it. My COTD is the very neat relish at 3d, which raised a smile.
Thank you to the Professor in the library for a very enjoyable puzzle. Thank you, Shabbo for the hints.
PS Forgot to say the Quickie pun was great. 👍
A few tricky ones, really liked the undergraduate clue. Thank you compiler and Shabbo
Needed a bit longer than yesterday, but most answers provided at second pass with help from the checkers. Failed to nail 15a for catching 😊, and loved the unexpected 4d. Thanks to setter and Shabbo. My goodness, Huntsman’s golf clubs must have their own frequent flyer miles by now.
Generally enjoyable BUT 25d just didn’t work for me and was consequently LOI but definitely not COTD, that honour going to 13a…
A great guzzle today! I can’t pick a favourite as there were too many good glues. Thanks to Shabbo for the hints and also to the Tuesday setter.
Spot on for a Tuesday, fun and a lovely balance of clues. I am going with 24a as my favourite as I nearly missed the anagram indicator and spent time removing letters from bust!
Many thanks to the setter and to Shabbo for the hints, enjoy the Algarve Huntsman.
Good evening
Well, we’re all done, but quite a long time spent in the NE quadrant, gazing and pondering hopefully at 9d (last but one to fall) and 13a (last) waiting for the CLUNK! of the penny finally dropping. When it came to 13a, I could not get “moo” out of my head, and I see I wasn’t the only one…
COTD is 9d – excellent piece of misdirection!
Many thanks to our compiler (The Prof?) and to Shabbo.
A pleasant solve for a Tuesday although a few held me up at the end but just because I was being slow ! Thanks to the setter and to Shabbo.
Guilty with moo as well and also wasn’t keen on 25d. A little harder than normal but not too much. LOI was 23d mainly because I never drink it. Favourite was 16d. Thanks to AP and Shabbo. Off to resume battle with the toughie which despite its low difficulty rating I’m struggling with. I suspect I might have a few wrong answers.
Brilliant thank you Mr Plumb (my grandmother’s maiden name) and Shabbo although no help needed. I think puzzles like this are brilliant. Yes, quick to solve, but I think harder to set. Rarely do I buzz round the grid in an orderly fashion but today I did. Not held up even by a moo cow. I liked 3 and 21d – simple but smart. Lots more too.
Unusually for a Tuesday this morning I made heavy going of this and in fact threw in the towel but decided to have another bash at it this evening and it all went smoothly in – can’t imagine what the problem was. There were a good few neat clues but rather over-anagrammed for me. Most of my observations have been covered already by various bloggers above so I will refrain from commenting at this 11th hour. My chestnutty Fav was 4d. Thank you MrP and Shabbo.
2*/4* …
liked 27A “Recklessly go on amber ? Go then come back ! (9)”