Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30782
Hints and tips by Senf
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BD Rating – Difficulty */** – Enjoyment ****
A very good Wednesday morning from Winnipeg. Well, after several feeble attempts over four or five days, Mother Nature finally gave us some snow starting two days ago – around 2cms, nothing like the amounts to the west of us. But, no doubt, there will be more to come.
For me, etc (I have to say that for Terence), an enjoyable not too challenging puzzle, but, as to who the setter might be, and as my ancestors would say, ‘encore une fois, je ne sais pas.’
Candidates for favourite – 1a, 10a, 23a, 2d, 4d, and 6d.
In the hints below, the definitions are underlined. The answers are hidden under the Click here! buttons, so don’t click if you don’t want to see them.
Please leave a comment telling us what you thought.
Across
1a Gathering representatives in parliament and school, say (10,5)
COLLECTIVE NOUNS: What parliament and school are examples of (say) when they are referring to groups (of owls and whales?).
9a One sorting out the fiction from drunk liar in bar? (9)
LIBRARIAN: An anagram (drunk) of LIAR IN BAR.
10a Plaice now and then at home? 19 won’t have one (3-2)
LIE IN: Alternate (now and then) letters of plaice, you decide which ones, and the usual two letter word for at home – recall the saying ‘up with the ****’ to understand the reference to 19 in the definition.
11a Boss is bored by English trains (7)
STUDIES: A favourite synonym of boss and IS from the clue containing (bored by) the single letter for English.
12a Careless secret agent probed by hack (6)
SLOPPY: The usual three letter secret agent containing (probed by) a synonym of hack (as in cut).
15a Dessert for which peel and a pip must be thrown out? (5-3)
APPLE-PIE: An anagram (for which . . . must be thrown out) of PEEL and A PIP.
16a What forgetting your kit at school leads to? Of course not! (4)
NOPE: Written as (2,2) what forgetting your kit at school might lead to.
19a Mess about in boat on lake (4)
LARK: A biblical boat placed after (on) the single letter for Lake.
20a Explain some French pirate invading Kent area? (8)
DESCRIBE: The two letter French word for some and a synonym of pirate (as in copy) inserted into (invading) the two letter compass heading for Kent area.
23a Journalist’s name credit, “XL” cryptically (6)
BYLINE: A two letter word that can be represented by X (in a set of dimensions?) and what L is an abbreviation of.
24a Sleep in small shed next to watch (4-3)
SHUT-EYE: The single letter for Small and a synonym of shed placed before (next to) a synonym of watch.
26a Hard to falsify passport, for example (5)
RIGID: A single three letter word for falsify and what a passport is an example of.
28a Brief is leading acclaim for court reporter’s writing? (9)
SHORTHAND: An adjectival synonym of brief and a synonym of acclaim (for a performance?).
29a Sweet shower, fresh flower (10,5)
PEPPERMINT CREAM: Synonyms of shower, fresh (as in condition), and flower (as in the best of anything (straight out of the BRB!)).
Down
1d Massively defeat associate undermining business (10)
COLOSSALLY: Synonyms of defeat and associate (as a noun) placed after (undermining) the two letter abbreviated form of a synonym of business.
2d Left group to celebrate after work (6,5)
LABOUR PARTY: A synonym of celebrate placed after a synonym of work.
3d Inspector, former American pitman? (8)
EXAMINER: Our favourite two letters for former, the single letter for American, and someone who works in a pit.
4d Dog beginning to sniff leg leads to state of panic (8)
TAILSPIN: A verbal synonym of dog, the first letter (beginning to) of Sniff, and a synonym of leg.
5d Looking into caravan, is husband Peter out? (6)
VANISH: A lurker (looking into) found in three words in the clue (and the capital letter of Peter is there to confuse).
6d Hold heroic sailor, 21? (6)
NELSON: A triple definition – the third was a famous American composer and bandleader.
7d Pea soup occasionally served up in work (3)
USE: The reversal (served up) of alternate (occasionally) letters in pea soup – as in 10a, I’ll let you decide which letters to choose.
8d Carol spotted in Basingstoke (4)
SING: Another lurker (spotted in) the last word in the clue.
13d Mushroom pie for later is ruined (11)
PROLIFERATE: Nothing to do with fungi – an anagram (is ruined) of PIE FOR LATER.
14d Judge European split with some hesitation in vote(10)
REFERENDUM: The abbreviated form of judge (in a sporting event?), the single letter for European, a synonym of split and (with) one of the sets of two letters used to express hesitation.
17d Small amount spread on to peas (8)
TEASPOON: An anagram (spread) of ON TO PEAS.
18d Not a current guitar? (8)
ACOUSTIC: The type of guitar that does not need electricity (not a current) – I hope the video plays OK in the UK.
21d Mystery when female leaves violin for Romeo (6)
RIDDLE: Another name for a violin (when used to play folk music?) with the single letter for Female replaced by the letter represented by Romeo in the phonetic alphabet.
22d Flies on a marlin’s head that’s washed ashore (6)
JETSAM: A verbal synonym of flies (fast through the air) placed before (on) A from the clue and the first letter (‘s head) of Marlin.
25d Pen in mouth (4)
TRAP: A double definition – the second is a slang synonym of mouth.
27d Good area with parking space (3)
GAP: The single letters for Good, Area, and Parking.
Quick Crossword Pun:
CONE + HAND + OIL = CONAN DOYLE
As soon as the penny dropped and 1a went in, I knew this was going to be a belter, and I was not proved wrong.
Some VERY lateral thinking needed today without much general knowledge such as actors, singers etc, which can be a bit selective of different groups, ages and so on.
Not a bad clue anywhere, just sheer pleasure right until the end.
My two favourites were 1a, 23a and 16a (well, special puzzles call for special maths…)
Well done to our setter today, best fun in weeks.
First of all, a huge shoutout for the 2d/14d linked clues referencing an article on page 4 of the Features supplement in today’s DT. In a few days it is approaching three million. That is all I will say because politics are not discussed on BD.
A terrific guzzle today with many pennies dropping and grins arriving. I spent a lot of time searching for mushroom species in 13d until I realised. That was a great misdirection. I liked the dog sniffing a leg at 4d and the falsified passport at 26a but I thought 18d was more general knowledge than cryptic. It did not detract from the enjoyment, though. My COTD is the journalist’s name credit at 23a.
Thank you, setter for the fun challenge. Thank you, Senf for the hints.
As today’s puzzle was almost certainly created a number of weeks ago, 2d and 14d ‘referencing’ an article in today’s paper is probably a coincidence.
Reminiscent of the D-Day landings crosswords.
Anything you want to know about mushrooms? Just ask, I’ve read it all.
😄 !
Glad I wasn’t the only one.
Me too on the mushrooms…
Some corking clues in this one. 1d & 23a both v good but 16a my favourite. I thought the grid quite a helpful one and the anagrams and lurkers as well. The small crossword highlighted my favourite author so all v enjoyable. */**** for me. Thanks senf and our setter
I posted a comment but it vanished.
I’ll see if this posts then try again.
I see it has now appeared.
Yes. Something a bit wonky with the blog today Steve
Today’s offering was an absolute classic. The puzzle was full of humour, as well as being challenging. The surfaces were excellent throughout. I’m sure I’ve got the correct answer for 23a but I can’t parse it fully. I’m looking forward to the hints to remove that slight irritation.
Highlights for me were, 10a for the cryptic reference to 19a, 16a for the memories it provoked, 5d for the smooth surface and 18d which had me searching everywhere for a guitar with ex in its name. COTD 18d.
Thanks to the setter, truly a genius, and for the hints which frustratingly I don’t get until 9 hours after I receive the puzzle.
When I am not writing the hints, I don’t get them until 11 hours after I receive the puzzle.
I’m intrigued by this but I must be being a bit thick because I can’t get my head round it. Bangkok is roughly 7 hours ahead of GMT and Winnipeg about 6 hours behind GMT. I know what time the hints are published but not the time when the DT publishes the puzzles. Is it possible to give a very simple/basic explantion please?
The puzzles are published at midnight UK time, or shortly after, which is 6:00pm ‘the day before’ in Winnipeg and the blog is published at 5:00am on the day in Winnipeg 11 hours later.
Much obliged.
Hi Senf and Jose. Thanks to Senf for your reply and for the hints which resolved my issue with the parsing of 23a.
I realise I have explained the frusration I have with the timing of the publication of the hints very poorly. I also realise that due to the laws of physics and the rules concerning international time zone there is no way to resolve the issue. I realise that for everybody the time lapse between publication of the puzzle and the release of the hints is the same. The point I should have made but failed to is at what point of my day these occur. I am lucky in that the crossword appears around 7.00 a.m. Bangkok time, so is available for me to solve over breakfast. I generally complete or surrender sometime in the middle of the morning. The hints do not then arrive until around 6.00 p.m. which means nearly a whole days wait if I have issues to resolve. When I was in the U.K. it was midday when the hints arrived and thus a much shorter period of ignorance.
As I stated above there is no solution so the post was not intended to be a complaint about the organisation of the blog which provides a fantastic service,
A real cracker. 1a tickled me, 16a and 25d are both short and sweet and I loved 28a. Smart stuff and buckets of fun. Many thanks to our setter and Senf.
Sound Wednesday fare with not a lot to delay the progress of the pen, albeit that the SE half was marginally slower than the NW. Good surfaces, concise clueing, nice variety of clues. Podium places for 20a, 23a & 28a. Runner-up 1a.
Thank you to the setter (no idea) and to Senf
3*/4.5*
I thought this a step up in difficulty from yesterday – mainly held up by a few in the south with 23a LOI.
1a, 16a and 26a my favourites today
With thanks to unknown setter and Senf for the hints.
Outstanding. Plenty of original thinking and some very clever clues.
Really difficult to choose a favourite, but I will run with 23a, closely followed by 16a.
I think I am still missing something in 1a. “Gathering” is clearly a synonym of the first word of the solution, but I can’t fathom the rest. Perhaps I am looking for something that isn’t there, or more likely, I am just being daft.
Great stuff, clever setter. Thank you.
Thanks also to Senf, of course.
I believe Senf has underlined the wrong part of the clue (or maybe he should have underlined both parts). I would say the definition is “parliament and school, say” as a definition by example. The wordplay is is a cryptic definition of words that represent gatherings.
For me,( sorry Senf!) another crossword where the answers went in easily enough but the parsing was something else. I think I am probably too pedantic to think laterally, readily. However I got there in the end, just needing the hint for 16a, which still didn’t help as I knew that was what was needed The answer came after a trawl through the alphabet and Im not surprised that it eluded me – you can tell I’m not a fan of sloppy English! Moan over, and there were a lovely selection of humerous and apposite clues giving much enjoyment. Favourite was 1a, sharing the podium with 26a and 18d. Many thanks to our setter and Senf.
I thought 16a would elicit some comment! Mind you, I agree – it is like getting color in Wordle. We have to bite the bullet.
Wordle is an American puzzle, you’re going to find American spellings, though I do agree, “color” does grate somewhat!
It was created by a Welshman by the name of Josh Wardle, though.
For his American girlfriend … I’ll bet she doesn’t know what “colour” is!
sloppy English = to quote from the BRB, orig N American slang?
Very good crossword today with many great clues. Like Shabbo, I am also still not 100% sure I get 1a. Never mind, my podium is 16a, 10a and 5d. Thanks to the setter and to Senf for the hints.
There are some top-notch clues here. Thanks to our setter and Senf.
My ticks went to 23a, 28a and 21d with 1a my favourite.
Like Mhids, I could see what the answers were but the parsing in a number of clues was more sifficult to fathom. Obviously horses for courses, as many respondents found this more enjoyable than I did. However 16a made me laugh, bringing back memories of missed games lessons. 2d was a more successful clue than the organisation iit pointed to! Thanks to the compiler and to Senf for the hints
Unusually I did the guzzle sitting down with my coffee today as I am going out to ‘Church Ladies’ Lunch today and an Almshouse meeting this afternoon so a busy day. Loved this one. And although I never mention times it did all rather fall into place from the moment I twigged 1a. Like someone else I tried to think of a mushroom but not for long. Cannot help thinking, Senf, that if that is what your forefathers said you should be called Moutarde. And by the way, I think it was Manders who admired my sheet washing fervour. How is this for feminine logic? For 30 odd years I changed the sheets and did the washing in Monday as my mother did. One day I awoke and thought why should I be tied into Mondaywashday routine and in a moment of rebellion decided henceforth to wash on Tuesdays. And yes, we do use wonderful blankets – duvets being an invention of the devil, akin to orange juice without the bits.
Many thanks to Messrs Setter & Senf.
Well DG, I do like to spread it around – Senf is the translation into German, I lived there for 3 years when serving HM, of an English word which is a ‘corruption’ of my originally French surname.
‘orange juice without the bits’ an invention of the devil – you are skating on thin ice!
This was a top notch puzzle that was so enjoyable to solve.
The synonym for flower in 29a took a while to get and my LOI was 23a which is a beaut. I’m not sure what the problem is with 16a? It’s a term that I often use because it’s a tad more gentle than the root word and good fun to say.
Nigh on impossible etc but I’ll go with 4d for the humour, 13d and 18d which is my COTD because ‘not current’ threw me nicely off the scent. I was trying desperately to force in ‘classic’ to no avail. An excellent clue.
Many thanks to the midweek master (Jay?) and Senfingtons.
2*/5*
I concur with all that’s been said in praise of the quality of this puzzle. In 16a I desperately wanted the answer to be detention, but the actual answer was excellent. So many contenders for podium places it’s difficult to pick, but I’ll go with 1a, 16a and 18d in top spot. Thanks to compiler and Senf.
2*/5*. I loved this and I hope the compiler pops in to own up to such a fine puzzle.
Many thanks to the setter and to Senf.
A lot of enjoyable clues in today’s puzzle, leading to ticks aplenty. If pushed, I would give top honours to 16&23a plus 4&18d. Extra smile for the Quickie pun.
Many thanks to our setter and to our ‘new to Wednesdays’ reviewer – lovely piece from John Williams, such effortless style.
Spent ages thinking that 20a had to start with an S as I though the Kent area bookended the answer and just couldn’t get 23a until I succumbed to Senf’s wisdom but a thoroughly enjoyable guzzle just the same.
Thanks to setter and Senf
A nice enough puzzle which I found a little on the mild side for a Wednesday slot. Good clues and an enjoyable solve. A dead heat today with 1a and 23a. I had no problem at all with 16a. 2*/4*.
A brilliant puzzle today – I managed to fill in most of the clues on my first pass with the few that were left easily solved with checkers in place. ***/**** for me (I must be slower than many of you!). Lots of clues to choose from as favourites but will mention 23a 29a 6d and 18d in particular. No idea who the setter is but thanks for a most enjoyable solve and thanks to Senf for the hints.
Sensational! Really enjoyed this, too many favourites to mention. Many thanks to setter and to Senf – unusually for me I didn’t need your hints to finish, but thanks for putting me out of my misery with the flower in 29a.
This week, I found the Wednesday puzzle once again an easier solve than most weeks. Left side went in twice as fast as the right side for me.
2.5*/3*
Favourites include 12a, 16a, 26a, 4d & 6d — with winner 16a with a chuckle for this one.
Thanks to setter & Senf
I am not going to argue with the majority on this one, as I thoroughly enjoyed the challenge. I cannot put my finger on why it is so good, but perhaps the spread of favourite clues gives it away. Mine was 29a.
Many thanks to our midweek setter and Senf.
Most of this went in relatively easy and then worked back on the parsing. However I was beat by 16a and then groaned when I read the hint. Nope it ain’t a proper word! My cotd was 18d.
Thanks to setter for a good mind workout and Senf for the hints. I hope the white stuff remains on the Canadian prairies where it belongs.
Totally agree re 16a – it most certainly isn’t a proper word. Thanks to Big Eck for pointing it out.
What is happening? A corker three days in a row? Avast, me hearties, I fear it can’t last long. (All right, overdose of French pirates) I did have a few bungins, to my surprise they’re right but I needed Senf to explain why. The Americanism police must have a posse in full force re 24a, sounds like something out of a Roy Rogers’ movie. Fave was 1a, “owls” come to mind, the best 1a I think.
Thank you setter for all that fun, and Senf for the usual perfect hints and tips.
It’s all been said, a lovely puzzle, 4d my favourite.
Many thanks to the setter and to Senf for the hints.
I did not like this puzzle as much as every one else, quite a few of the short ones I was unable to parse 🤔 ***/*** Favourites Ia & 26a and 2d 😃 Thanks to the Compiler and to Senf
As with others, I thought this was the best for a while – crammed with clever clues, no obscure GK required…..my only stumble was the second word of 29a which seems a bit of a stretch even if it is in the BRB…
That was such a lot of fun with clever clues aplenty so is hard to pick a winner from 9a, 15a and 2d. Was slow in uptake on 1a as I failed to think of first word as a noun. 23a rather convoluted. Forgot 6d is a hold. A real bonus to have a hint containing some heartwarming guitar-playing from the great John Williams. TVM Mysteryone and Senf.
A great and gentle puzzle for a Wednesday , with some wonderful clues. My last 2 in were 4d and the brilliant 23a which for some reason I couldn’t parse , so just looked at the hint and of course it’s obvious. 🙄 Thanks to setter and Senf
That was very enjoyable even though I did have to break half way through to fo for my appointment with our local vampire 😊. Happily, the answers that were missing became apparent when I came back to the puzzle, perhaps less blood aids the brain cells? Had the answer for 5d for ages, but couldn’t parse because I was led astray by the misdirection, very good. Would not have come up with the falsify synonym on my own. COTD for me is definitely 9a, my favourite people, especially one at my local branch who is so helpful with any requests I make. Thanks to setter for a lovely puzzle, and to Senf for going above and beyond.
Setter here. Thanks to all commenters and solvers, and to Senf for the review.
Well, blow me down … who wudda thought? Thank you so much for a truly enjoyable offering today!
Yes, Merusa, what a surprise. I usually truggle with MrT.
A truly superb puzzle, Mr Tumble 👏👏
One of your best.
The guitar was teRIFFic.
Wow! So t’is thee, Tumbledown! Thank you for a very enjoyable guzzle. 👍
And thanks from me too!
I was late doing the puzzle today but what a belter. Lots of dropping pennies and smiles.
Top picks for me were 4d, 2d and 26a.
Thanks to Senf and the setter
Despite being a dnf, rather pleased to have almost solved a tumbledryer offering.
23a was way beyond my feeble brain. Even the hint didn’t help. A new term for me.
Thanks to all.
Good evening
Well, I am genuinely surprised to learn that our setter today is Twmbarlwm; today’s crozzie was a fairly gentle affair from him, given some of the Toughie-standard grids we’ve had previously.
Mind you, it wasn’t all plain sailing. It took a while to find a way in; some clues required several re-visits; I particularly enjoyed the misdirection in 20a , and the parsing of 10a was tricky.
COTD is 29a.
Many thanks to Twmbarlwm and to Senf.
Busy day in the Beehive – Mama Bee is 88 years young today. Her granddaughter (my niece) came and I did a Veggie Lasagne. I did manage a bit of time for the crossie and 23a was my favourite just here now to check a few bung ins but a great puzzle from Twmbarlwm I see.
Thanks to Senf and Twm
I think I need an early night🥱🥱
Huge congratulations to Mama 🐝!
I hope you have had a wonderful day. 🎉🎂🎁🎊
Happy birthday, Mama Bee! I hope you had a lovely day.
Fine thanks although she has probably forgotten it by now
Final thought for the night. Do you think Hudson is feeling the cold? 😊
Dogs and cats always find the best spot.
Our Black Lab would sit so close to the fire he would start to smoulder, only moving when we shouted at him
Well alternative Mr T give yourself a pat on the back. This was a great fun. Lots of excellent clues and one obviously enjoyed by many, with nary an adverse comment that I can see. A late solve for me whilst watching Liverpool dismantle the mighty Real Madrid. Not sure which was the more enjoyable, the game or the crossword!
Certainly one of your gentler offerings with a notable reduction in the use of proper names and none the worse for that IMHO! Ticks from me for 1d 4d 13d 1a 16a 20a and top of the pile 23a. I was uncertain about the parsing of the flower in 29a but Senf soon put me right.
Many thanks to you Twmbarlwm and of course to the hardworking Senf.
Well I made hard work of this again but now knowing who the setter is I’m not surprised. As I normally struggle much more than I did so I’m counting this as breeze 👍🏻. I didn’t really get the second word in 29a but it just had to be. Curiously I rather enjoyed the challenge. Favourite was 18d of which I own four only one of the variety shown in the clip. Thanks to T and Senf. My travails continue with the toughies it will have to wait until tomorrow now.
Cracking puzzle! Favourite clue is 13d though others came close. LOI was 25d which, despite having the 2 checkers, took me ages till the penny dropped. Thanks to the setter and Senf for the blog.
5d could “vanish “ also be to ‘Peter out’?!!
As underlined in the hint.
A brilliant *** puzzle thank you Twmbarlwm and Senf. 23a was the one that got me
3*/4* …..
liked 4D “Dog beginning to sniff leg leads to state of panic (8)”