Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30806
Hints and tips by Senf
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BD Rating – Difficulty **/*** – Enjoyment ****
A very Happy Christmas to all from Winnipeg where, per the Environment Canadian definition, with more than 2 cms of snow on the ground, we have a White Christmas.
A very big Thank You to our esteemed editor, Chris Lancaster, for providing advance copies of today’s and tomorrow’s Back Pagers and Toughies so that us bloggers could get a jump on solving the puzzles and preparing the blogs.
For me, etc (I have to say that for Terence), this was very entertaining with a good sprinkling of clues appropriate for the day but not overwhelmingly so. But, I am not going to hazard a guess as to who the setter might be; I haven’t quite got the hang of Wednesday setters yet.
Candidates for favourite – 15a, 16a, 29a, 4d, and 14d.
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 Modern December 25th? (7-3)
PRESENT-DAY: A ‘modern’ term reflecting on one of the aspects of today.
6a Somewhat overpriced oven-ready bird (4)
DOVE: A lurker (somewhat) found in two words in the clue.
9a Test whether to show design on clothing (5)
MOTIF: The three letters that continue to be used for the annual vehicle inspection and a two letter synonym of whether.
10a Criminal stole item that’s obtained for a smacker? (9)
MISTLETOE: An anagram (criminal) of STOLE ITEM – some sources suggest that the first two-thirds of the answer is derived from an old Saxon word for bird poop!
12a Managed to attend tribunal, no time for bitterness (7)
RANCOUR: An increasingly popular three letter synonym for managed placed before (to attend) a synonym of tribunal with T removed (no time).
13a Ruffian’s working to replace posh undergarment (5)
THONG: A synonym of ruffian with the two letter synonym of working replacing the single letter used to indicate posh.
15a Resisting using cooker this month? (7)
AGAINST: The famous three letter cooker and an abbreviation of a term for this month (usually used in formal correspondence.
17a Rescue of American, 55, Herb inspires (7)
SALVAGE: A four letter herb, often combined with onion at this time of year, contains (inspires) the single letter for American and the Roman numerals for 55.
19a Maintain nurse is backing Tory (7)
CONTEND: A verbal synonym of nurse is placed after (backing) a three letter abbreviation of the more formal name for a Tory.
21a Special offer in pub once more, starter discounted (7)
BARGAIN: A synonym of pub and a single word for once more with the first letter deleted (starter discounted).
22a British student welcomes campaign about scrap (5)
BRAWL: The single letter for British and the familiar letter indicating student (driver?) contains (welcomes) the reversal (about) of a synonym of (extended military) campaign.
24a Around noon periodically clear up dirty clothes for washing (7)
LAUNDRY: Alternate (periodically) letters from cLeAr Up DiRtY contain (around) the single letter for Noon.
27a Noel and Charlie graduate wearing scruffy shirts (9)
CHRISTMAS: The letter represented by Charlie in the phonetic alphabet, and two letters for a graduate (with a higher degree) contained by (wearing) an anagram (scruffy) of SHIRTS.
28a Corruption envelops old singer (5)
VOICE: A synonym of corruption contains (envelops) the single letter for Old.
29a KC ultimately seems kind (4)
SILK: The last letter (ultimately) of seems and a synonym (from North of the Border) of kind (as in type) – just to help out, perhaps, until September 8th, 2022 a KC was a QC.
30a Steps taken to acquire fresh tree decoration (5,5)
FAIRY LIGHT: A term for a series of steps contain (taken to acquire) a synonym of fresh.
Down
1d Quiz machine (4)
PUMP: A double definition – the first relates to interrogation and the second might be used to draw water from a well.
2d Treat nine to spread in harbour (9)
ENTERTAIN: An anagram (to spread) of TREAT NINE.
3d Neil’s friend, oddly cast resembling one of Santa’s helpers? (5)
ELFIN: The ‘odd’ letters removed (oddly cast) from nEiL’s FrIeNd.
4d Magazine published after interval (4,3)
TIME OUT: A three letter synonym of published placed after a synonym of interval.
5d Claims adult is undermined by tension returning (7)
ASSERTS: The single letter for Adult followed (is undermined – it’s a Down clue, remember) by a synonym of tension reversed (returning).
7d Going up, regularly forgot Luton will generate expenditure (5)
OUTGO: The reversal (going up) of alternate letters (regularly forgot) of fOrGoT lUtOn – yes, I know that I changed the L of Luton to lower case in the hint but this was because I capitalised the letters required for the answer.
8d Holly and Ivy maybe exposed retreat politician visits (10)
EVERGREENS: An eco-politician inserted into (visits) a verbal synonym of retreat with the outer letters removed (exposed).
11d Comparatively young darts player (7)
LITTLER: What it says ‘on the box’ – a comparative (-er ending) of a synonym of young – having come up with a logical answer, I did have to e-verify that there is a darts player so named and apparently there is.
14d Sorts of cars Spooner’s set copes with (10)
HATCHBACKS: Spooner ‘treatment’ of a synonym of set (as in ‘We’re still waiting for the first ***** to arrive’) and an informal synonym of copes with.
16d Mostly unnecessary things dropped during the festive season? (7)
NEEDLES: A synonym of unnecessary with the last letter removed (mostly) – this especially applies for those who have a ‘real’ Christmas Tree in their house.
18d Examining a line in some carol (9)
ANALYSING: A from the clue and the single letter for Line inserted into (in) a three letter synonym of some and a verbal synonym of carol.
20d Problem with excerpt from programme Lidington raised (7)
DILEMMA: A reversed (raised) lurker (excerpt from) found in two words in the clue.
21d Prizefighter rues rib getting broken (7)
BRUISER: An anagram (getting broken) of RUES RIB.
23d Time of year interest rate primarily impacts pound (5)
APRIL: A three letter abbreviation for interest rate (over a year), the first letter (primarily) of Impacts and the single letter that was frequently used to indicate pound (in financial matters).
25d Cook with spicy seasoning continued being revolutionary (5)
DEVIL: A single word for continued being reversed (revolutionary).
26d Pay for turkey perhaps when picked up (4)
MEET: A homophone (picked up) of a term for turkey perhaps (when it has been cooked, carved, and served).
Quick Crossword Pun:
BRAN + DEEP + UTTER = BRANDY BUTTER
I will let Celtic Woman and Friends have the last word:
Merry Christmas everyone. Finished this quite easily in between sorting out the lunch. It took ages to get 26d and still wasn’t sure until I looked at Senf’s reveal. Hope everyone has a good day.
1*/5*. Perfection for Christmas Day! It was light enough to complete while Mrs RD was still asleep, and it was great fun.
To add to our festive cheer, have the Telegraph given us the best crossword present possible of a Silvanus puzzle on this special day? The smoothness would suggest so.
Many thanks to Silvanus (?) and to Senf.
Merry Christmas everybody.
Enjoyable and not too difficult except for 1d and 29d which were very odd and stretched.
Passed the time well between Presents and Turkey only interrupted by the champagne cocktails.
Merry Christmas.
Thx to all
A pleasant & not too demanding a puzzle. Young Luke has truly arrived now he’s made it into the back pager.
Thanks to the setter & huge thanks to Senf for his double blogging shifts. Merry Christmas to all involved in the blog
Very Enjoyable. Happy Christmas everyone.
Enjoyably diverting on Xmas day although i found it a little more difficult than others.
3*/5*
30a my favourite today.
Merry Christmas everyone.
Just like Baby Bears’ porridge, it only crept into the second cup as I was savouring a treat of a little bit of Jamaican Blue Mountain before returning to a slightly cheaper roast
Thanks to Senf and Setter
Today’s on-line toughie (By Prime) is a little less Christmassy and a little bit tougher in the North but well worth it if you have time before turkey.
Seasons greetings
2512-MATT-PORTAL-WEB-P1
Love the Matt, thanks for posting it.
The SE corner was the last to hold out but eventually fell which was just as well as food prep needed doing.
Top picks for me were 16d, 17a and 29a.
Thanks to Senf and the setter.
Happy Festivities to Everyone.
Light and very enjoyable. Many thanks to the setter (Twm. is my guess) and to Senf.
Merry Christmas all.
I really dashed through this on Christmas Eve, my time, with lots of e-help as my mind was not really on it, and myself and Mrs PoCo had been out for Xmas Eve event with D1.
2*/3.5*
Favourites 1a, 10a, 17a, 27a, 8d & 16d — with co-winners 1a and 27a as this seemed timely.
Thanks to setter & Senf
*** HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ONE AND ALL!! ***
On the basis that it would probably be a themed puzzle today, I nipped forward from early October (still always behind in the solving) – which means I can pop in and comment for the first time in ages.
This one, I felt, suited the day perfectly not just with the theme but the ease/difficulty. */****
Merry Christmas, all.
Merry Christmas to my wonderful blog family, who’ve been such friends. This is my first post for a bit, so I’m a little bit rusty. I haven’t started the crossword yet, I’m trying to find someone to print it for me, but I wanted to be sure that I said my Felix Navidad to all you lovely people who entertain me every day.
Not “Felix”, naughty autocorrect, should be “Feliz”
This was a highly enjoyable puzzle for the big day, clever and witty. I didn’t have a particular favourite but the whole grid was a delight to fill in.
Many thanks to our midweek setter and Senf.
A very Happy Christmas to one and all, with a special thank you to our bloggers who give up their time to solve and hint these puzzles for us throughout the year. A very enjoyable puzzle today, and thankfully not too tricky as I really don’t have time for anything convoluted today. A steady solve until I got to the very bottom, with 28a, 29a, 25d and 26d putting up the most fight. Happy to see Merusa back commenting. Thanks to the setter and to Senf for giving up his special Christmas time today 🎅🎄🎁 ❄️
Just popping in to say that I hope everyone is enjoying their Christmas Day. Managed to squeeze this one in amongst visits from both daughters plus partners and a couple of very excited young grandchildren and am now looking forward to watching the Christmas Special of ‘Call the Midwife’ in peace and quiet. Top clues for me today were 12&29a plus 4&16d.
Wouldn’t like to place a bet on who compiled this but, unlike RD, I’d be very surprised if it came from Mr Smooth – I had a few ‘hmms’ which I’ve never known to happen with one of his puzzles.
Many thanks to all our setters and bloggers for their work over the past year and to all our BD commenters – what an eclectic bunch we are!
A very enjoyable season-appropriate puzzle solved before a Zoom call with family in Manitoba.
Not being familiar with the British magazine, I parsed 4d as a well-known American magazine followed by (after) a synonym for published leading to a term meaning interval.
I dithered between the UK and USA for the 4d magazine finally deciding that it was the way I hinted it.
I went the same route as you did, Falcon.
RD is quite correct, it is me moonlighting on a Wednesday, well days of the week do tend to get rather blurred this time of the year. Sorry, Jane!
Many thanks to Senf and to all those solving and commenting. I hope you have had a Christmas Day to remember.
My next appearance will be in 2025, so I’d like to take the opportunity to wish everyone a very Happy New Year.
Thank you for providing entertainment and brain matter exercise all year round. For those of us living alone it is particularly important.
3*/3* …
liked the scruffy graduates in 27A
Possibly too much Christmas spirit (actually I gave up alc sometime ago on health grounds so it was non-alcoholic sparkling wine – Freixenet) but anyhow it took me quite a while to get into this however once underway it became quite a pleasant way to round off 27a. East acquiesced first. Joint Favs 29a and 30a.
Oh dear, so sorry, I omitted to thank Silvanus and Senf which I now sincerely do and indeed for all your contributions over the year.
No time to do the puzzle yet as this is my first moment that I have had time to think about the puzzle, I hope you have all had a lovely time with friends and family.
Dipped in and out while preparing and eating festive meal with all the trimmings. Couple of sticky clues we got stuck on ( short ones).
Thank you to those that made it happen today.
Favourites 15a, 27a, 30a
G & V
Belated thanks to Silvanus for the delightful themed puzzle and to Senf for the review – season’s greetings to both.
4d is interesting in that it can be parsed legitimately in two different ways. It’s almost a toss-up but I favour Senf’s interpretation as I think it’s slightly smoother.
Top clues for me were 22a, 30a and 8d.
Interesting! Though the London-based (4,3) is arguably a former magazine (does a website count as a magazine?), whereas I think the American (4) is still published in paper form, so my inner pedant† prefers that parsing.
† Who am I kidding? Outer pedant.
Printed this off and stupidly forgot about it. Good entertainment, with the straightforward but very neat 29 my favourite, but the seasonal clues were all great, plus the pun.