DT 30807 – Big Dave's Crossword Blog
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DT 30807

by Shabbo  

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30807
Hints and tips by Shabbo

+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +

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

Happy Boxing Day to you all.  I trust you all had a pleasant day yesterday and are all in tip top condition to take on this tricky puzzle – maybe you are solving it en famille – that should be fun? This is definitely not the work of either of our regular Thursday setters, so everyone can have a go at Guess the Setter.  My money is on Twmbarlwm, but I am rubbish at identifying setters, so please feel free to ignore me.

1a and 1d eluded me for far too long, which slowed me down considerably in the NW corner.  Much to like and plenty of penny drop moments elsewhere.  My last one in was 18d – the checking letters made the answer obvious, but it took me forever to parse it.  Very clever.  Plenty of ticks on my paper with the slightly odd surface read at 1a being my only gripe, although the definition was cleverly concealed.  A nod to the five-word groanworthy and clunky Quickie Pun, which I couldn’t see at all – thanks to the current Mrs Shabbo for unravelling it, assuming she has got it right, of course!

In the blog below, the definition element of each clue has been underlined, anagrams are CAPITALISED and the crossword technique “indicator words” are in brackets. The answers are concealed under the “Click Here” buttons.  Please leave a comment telling us how you got on and what you thought of the puzzle.  Please also try to be positive – it’s only a bit of fun.

Thank you, Setter.


Across

1a On the rocks, I can drag sand to son’s bucket (4,4,3,4)
RAIN CATS AND DOGS: anagram (on the rocks) of I CAN DRAG SAND TO S (abbreviation for son). The solution is a verb.

9a Watch hourglass for cheats (3-6)
TWO-TIMERS: “watch” and “hourglass” are each examples of this.

10a For speech, remained sober (5)
STAID: homophone (for speech) of a synonym of “remained”.

11a Short City fraud extremely idiotic (7)
LACONIC: two-letter abbreviation of an American city + synonym of fraud + the first and last letters (extremely) of IdiotiC.

12a What disturbed cuckoo in Middle Wallop? (6)
THWACK: anagram (disturbed) of WHAT + the middle of cuCKoo.

15a Spielberg initially accompanying shoot inspired by The Birds (8)
THRUSHES: synonym of shoot (as in dash) inside (inspired by) THE + the initial letter of Spielberg.

16a Sat by me regularly? It’s irritating (4)
STYE: odd letters (regularly) of SaT bY mE.

19a American with a year on holiday (4)
AWAY: abbreviation for American + abbreviation for With + A + abbreviation for Year.

20a German and Irish advanced in submarine (8)
UNDERSEA: “and” in German + a word meaning Irish (language) + abbreviation for Advanced.  The solution is an adjective.

23a Left defeated (6)
UNDONE: double definition.

24a 51 feet behind carriage, emergency transport (7)
AIRLIFT: Roman numerals for fifty one + abbreviation for feet after (behind) a synonym of carriage (as in bearing or attitude).

26a Pay for entertainment (5)
TREAT: another double definition.

28a Team’s creative linchpin may sparkle in action with seconds to go (9)
PLAYMAKER: anagram (in action) of MAY (s)PARKLE.

29a Rude jokes and drinks entertaining English nurse and doctor after ten (6,9)
DOUBLE ENTENDRES: large spirits (drinks) outside (entertaining) E(nglish) + Enrolled Nurse + abbreviation for doctor after TEN.


Down

1d Put out chops and old banger (10)
RATTLETRAP: synonym of “put out” + slang word meaning chops or mouth.

2d Press Blunt at home after answer reveals political divide (4,7)
IRON CURTAIN: synonym of press (think of a domestic chore) + synonym of blunt (we can ignore the capitalisation) + synonym of “at home” after abbreviation for Answer.

3d Elegance of band on head (8)
CHICNESS: a 70s disco band from America + a synonym of headland.  I surprised myself by remembering the band!

4d Knight enters Chester suffering cuts (8)
TRENCHES: chess abbreviation for kNight inside (enters) an anagram (suffering) of CHESTER.

5d Things worth having, like plants (6)
ASSETS: two-letter synonym of like + synonym of plants (as in inserts or sows).

6d Reject racket broken by seed (6)
DISOWN: synonym of racket (as in noise) outside (broken by) synonym of seed (a verb).

7d Virginia holding up round eggs (3)
OVA: abbreviation for VirginiA below (holding up) a round letter.

8d Foam in the south of France beginning to spray (4)
SUDS: “south” in French + initial letter (beginning to) Spray.

13d Urbane and slippery sort, one taken in by sly cricket shot (4,7)
CITY SLICKER: anagram (shot – as in shot to pieces) of I (one) + SLY CRICKET

14d We’re on board at Paddington! Relaxed, rest up and read (10)
DEPARTURES: an anagram (relaxed) of REST UP READ reveals something that might be displayed on a board at Paddington station.

17d Popular prince followed by crawler – it might get up your nose! (8)
INHALANT: synonym of popular + abbreviated name of Shakespeare’s future Henry V + an insect (crawler).

18d Getting 1 Across should be easy for him! (8)
FERRYMAN: I should have noticed straightaway that “1 Across” looked a bit odd.  It would normally be referred to as 1a, if it were a reference to that clue. So, no need to look at the answer to 1a at all.  This is a cryptic definition (the capitalisation of Across can be ignored) with 1 being “one” (if that is not a statement of the bleedin’ obvious!).

21d The Spanish must support army shelter (6)
HOSTEL: “the” in Spanish underneath (must support) synonym of “army”.

22d Subjects Pole fails in addition to PE (6)
PEOPLE: anagram (fails) of POLE + PE.

25d Boss and apprentice leaving hospital department (4)
STUD: synonym of apprentice or learner dropping the usual three-letter abbreviation for a hospital department.

27d Australian resident cuts the mustard (3)
EMU: hidden word (cuts) inside thE Mustard.

Quickie Pun:  RUM  +  MAN  +  DEBT  +  INCAS  +  STURDY  =  REMANDED IN CUSTODY

43 comments on “DT 30807”

  1. Clever but pretty tough at least for me. 1a and 1d were the most difficult but both clever.
    Still got the brain going after yesterdays over indulgence and the splendid Port brought by one of my guests.
    Thx to all
    ****/****

  2. I found this to be a bit of a slog spattered with a few smiles. 9a raised a smile as did the urbane sort at 13d. I have not heard of 1d so will admit to using Mr. G. for that one. My COTD is the rejected racket at 6d.

    The Quickie pun eluded me, I’m afraid.

    Thank you, setter for the challenge. Thank you, Shabbo for the hints.

    I hope everyone had a good Christmas Day. Ours was very relaxing sipping champagne and nibbling on seafood.

  3. Not even close to being close. I blame the Sauterne we foolishly opened at 9pm last night. 9a was a corker of a clue though. ****/**

  4. A fairly stiff challenge this morning, although I freely admit the toughness may be as a result of post Christmas lethargy. Good fun though, with plenty of entertaining clues from which to pick a favourite. My choice is the amusing 9a.

    The setter is not obvious to me, so I shall merely thank him or her for the workout, and offer my best to Shabbo.

  5. I will go further than Steve Cowling, this was a lot of a slog which did need some e-help – ****/**

    Candidates for favourite – 9a, 6d, and 21d – and the winner is 9a.

    Thanks to whomsoever (Twm?) and Shabbo.

  6. Well that was a big boy’s puzzle and no mistake, with more misdirection than on the training ground at Manchester United at the moment (please Lord may it get better today!)

    Loads of absolutely brilliantly clever clues, but if pushed for my two favourites, I’d have to plump for 14d and the sublime 9a, just wonderful.

    A belated Merry Christmas to all on the blog, and may a happy new year follow for everyone.

    Many thanks to Shabbo and our setter today, a masterpiece.

  7. Thanks to Shabbo for explaining 18d which I was struggling to make any link to the answer to 1a.

    My COTD is the 9a cheats.

    My better half managed to complete with a little assistance from me. Looks like competitive crosswording will be joining competitive Wordling from now on.

    Yesterday’s mild sunshine in NE Scotland has been replaced by mild drizzle. The new Kindle will be in use this afternoon.

    Thanks to the mystery setter and Shabbo

  8. Shabbo, you aren’t as rubbish at identifying setters as you thought: Twmbarlwm has indeed claimed this puzzle on Twitter:

    (I haven’t even looked at it yet, but now I know it’s one of Twm’s, I definitely will.)

    2. Now looked at, pondered, run away from, cautiously returned to, and finally completed this morning.

      My favourites were watching the hourglass in 9a, Middle Wallop in 12a, and the boss and apprentice in 25d. Thank you to Twm for the entertainment, and Shabbo for confirming and explaining some answers.

  9. For the second morning running I have made the two platters of smoked salmon, my traditional contribution to Christmas and Boxing Day and I was able to sit down to the guzzle before leaving for DD2 again. Enjoyed the challenge, glad if a few hints along the way. Nice to see a picture of the bird I am called in the hints and no – I’m not a good singer! Many thanks for the two crosswords sent to me yesterday, helped me wind down once we got home. Must be off now so hope everyone has had a peaceful Christmas – enormous thanks to our stalwart setters and hinters 🥰

  10. A very enoyable Thursday-level puzzle – thanks to Twmbarlwm and Shabbo (and kudos to Mrs Shabbo for getting the Quickie pun).
    I have lots of ticks on my printout including 9a, 1d and 6d but my favourite has to be 18d.

  11. This was a tricky little blighter, but very enjoyable. The one that caused the most difficulty was 15a, which took a while to crack.
    Thanks to the setter, and to Shabbo.

  12. 3.5*/2*. This seemed like curate’s egg Wednesday but on a Thursday this week. There were a lot of good clues but some which were over contrived, especially 18d which flies in the face of the convention that a number in a clue is a cross reference to another clue.

    As for the Quickie pun …

    Thanks to the setter and to Shabbo.

  13. Completion today was impossible without a good delve into Shabbo’s hints. I just struggled with getting onto Tbwm’s wavelength. Consequently this was too much of a slog to derive much pleasure. Hats off to Tbwm for the challenge but double hats off to Shabbo for the hints. 9a is truly a great clue, but 29a runs it close.

  14. Top half a fair bit harder than the bottom IMO but a good way to kick-start the grey matter after 24 hrs of overindulgence.
    The 1a anagram needed plenty of checkers🪣☔

    Thanks to Shabbo and Twm

  15. My thanks for all the good wishes on Christmas Eve. The one thing I learned from thiss experience was what the word ‘existential’ really means and how it is used today as a synonym for distressing and similar. The English language changes as necessary by usage and new words but what could substitute for existential to give that meaning of mortality revealed and close and in my case with only one possible excape plan for some relief and that hanging by a thread? I hope everyone is fit and well after the celebrations of yesterday though that will depend on what you were celebrating.

    Puzzle beyond me for over half of it but one for the big boys and girls in class. Thanks to Shabbo for revealing the how of solving today and to the one vowelled nine lettered setter.

  16. A few strained surfaces and a somewhat impenetrable Quickie pun should have alerted me to the identity of our setter but, having completely embarrassed myself where yesterday’s compiler was concerned, I’m steering clear of that game for a while……..
    I didn’t know either the 3d band or the creative linchpin today so those went in based on checkers and guesswork and I was very grateful to Shabbo’s far better half for unravelling the Quickie pun. Top clues for me were 12a & 6d.

    Thanks to Twmbarlwm and to Shabbo & his lady for the review.

  17. Way off the pace with this one & mightily grateful that Shabbo was doing a double shift rather than we’d swapped blogging days. Like him 18d was last in but the ‘bleedin’ obvious’ didn’t really occur having got hung up on Charon & the River Styx. Took an embarrassingly long time to spot the indicators at both 13&14d, sort out the 1a fodder & dredge 1d from the memory bank. Nowhere near with the Quick pun either. Clear fav was the film surface at 15a with 2d&29a joining it on the podium.
    Thanks to T for a challenging & enjoyable puzzle & to Shabbo.
    Ps that pesky 18d did remind me of a time when Chris DeBurgh wrote some good tunes

  18. Needed the hints to parse 3d and 25d and wasn’t keen on 18d. It took a while to get started and even longer to finish. Favourite was 2d. Thanks to T and Shabbo.

  19. A DNF for me with 1d which I have never heard of and am unlikely to remember. I couldn’t get the Quickie pun either.
    However, there were some great clues and my top picks were 9a, 18d and 14d.

    Thanks to Shabbo and the setter.

  20. First day back solving, brain still stuck in hospital mode, aide is sick so stuck in bed all day, and now this! My money is on Toombarloom. I did about a third, so I congratulate myself. The bright side is that I’m back solving, so I’m a happy camper.
    Thank you Toombarloom. I’ll now read your review and hints Shabbo, so thank you for the enlightenment.

  21. I was having a good Christmas until I sat down to solve this. Not at all surprised that this has been claimed by the Welsh Mountain man as I can never find my way to his wavelength. I fail to see how the answer to 1a is correct, and yes I do know the saying bucketing down, or raining buckets, but bucket? And never heard 1d term, so not an inspiring start. After 5 sad faces in the margins and no happy ones, despite amazingly getting a few answers on my own, this is too much of a struggle for the slightest amount of enjoyment, at least for me. Well done Shabbo on solving this today.

  22. I don’t think I am going to take time to comment on this offering from Mr. Woodengrass as it was one long slog for me, particularly in the South, replete with numerous hmms however perhaps the grey matter has gone soggy over the festive season! Hope it will improve. Thank you Twmb and Shabbo (don’t envy you today’s task).

  23. Much thanks to Shabbo whose explanations were gratefully received. Thanks to setter for the challenge which was beyond me.

  24. I was hoping that Boxing Day would trump Thursday, i.e Chris in T Towers wouldn’t put us through it when we have ODed on calories, meaning our brains aren’t firing on all cylinders.

    Alas, it wasn’t to be.

    So, this caught me off guard but was very enjoyable to solve.

    1a was an excellent way to kick off proceedings as I luckily got it off the bat.

    I am surprised that a couple of people haven’t heard of the oh so fabby disco dudes in 3d who, in my eyes, are absolute legends.

    12a is such a good onomatopoeic word that scores very nicely on the Scrabble board.

    18d is a great clue which I biffed as I missed the excellent ‘1 across’ chicanery (keep going against the grain, Mr Tumble; I love you for it)

    My LOI was 1d as I haven’t heard of it (top word) nor have I heard of the synonym for cuts in 4d.

    I would love to live in Middle Wallop – a superb place name.

    My hotly-contested podium is 12a, 28a and 2d.

    Many thanks to Mr T and Shabbs.

    3*/4*

  25. Agree with most that this one has been a hard slog , and I still have 5 clues to go , but thought I’d dip in to suss the general vibe. Have to say that there have been some really smart clues. 1a eluded me for a while , and I just solved 18d which I thought was a wonderful misdirect. Thanks to setter and to Shabbo although I have resisted a peek at the hints. Hope you have all had a peaceful Christmas.

  26. We found this difficult but finished without looking at hints. Getting 29a early on which gave us some checkers and is our COTD. Thank you for another brain massage! Gary and Val

  27. Apologies to the setter, but I rarely enjoy your offerings. This does not mean I do not recognise and appreciate your genius, I just struggle to get on your wavelength.

    A dnf with 12a and 23a beyond my ability today.

    Thanks to all.

  29. Wow, first time I have tried a Telegraph Cryptic…feel as though I’ve been breast fed throughout!!
    Really insightful and educational blog thx

    1. Welcome to the blog, David.
      Now that you’ve introduced yourself I hope that you’ll become a regular commenter.

    2. Hi David
      A warm welcome from me as well and I hope you gain as much pleasure from the DT cryptics as I do.
      Thank you also for your kind words about the hints. I am delighted that they were of use to you.
      I’m not sure how new you are to cryptics generally, but there is a useful guide on this site at Home/Cryptic Crosswords/Crossword Guide.

  30. 4*/4* …..
    liked 29A “Rude jokes and drinks entertaining English nurse and doctor after ten (6,9)”

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