Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30823
Hints and tips by Huntsman
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty ** Enjoyment ***
A typically enjoyable & reasonably straightforward Tuesday puzzle from the Prof. I don’t expect it will present too many difficulties for most as I certainly found it easier than yesterday.
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 Train starts to puff really oddly with constant, strange noises (10)
PROCESSION: the initial letters (starts to) words 4-6 in the clue + the maths single letter for Constant + an anagram (strange) of NOISES.
6a Try second pill (4)
STAB: S(econd) + another word for a pill.
10a Eloquent university student kept back by group of detectives (5)
LUCID: reverse the single letter for University & the usual letter for student (as instructed by kept back) + the police department abbreviation.
11a Understanding answer as clue, finally, is cracked (9)
AWARENESS: an anagram (cracked) of ANSWER AS + the last letter (finally) of cluE.
12a Craving yen before getting paid (8)
YEARNING: the single letter for Yen precedes a synonym for getting paid.
13a Bridge crossing island somewhere in Europe (5)
SPAIN: insert the single letter for Island into a synonym for bridge.
15a Hurtful piece from a newspaper? (7)
CUTTING: double definition.
17a What could be seen on admiral’s journey east in ship (7)
STRIPES: nowt to do with Nelson – or so I thought until MG put me right & then Freddie made me think maybe I was on the right lines all along. I’ll leave the butterfly pic as it’s pretty.Insert a synonym for journey + East into the usual ship abbreviation.
19a Farmer might make use of this rat after a change of heart (7)
TRACTOR: swap out the central letter (change of heart) in a synonym for rat – think Jimmy Cagney rather than Remy, Rizzo or Basil, the Siberian hamster.
21a Rate heads of department eventually work for (7)
DESERVES: the first letters of (heads) words 4&5 in the clue + a word meaning to work for/attend to.
22a Chicken trapping rook and old wading bird (5)
HERON: insert the chess abbreviation for Rook + the single letter for Old into a female domestic fowl.
24a Military operation affected by American GI returning note (8)
CAMPAIGN: a bit of lego here – a synonym for affected/theatrically mannered + A(merican) + a reversal of GI + N(ote).
27a Understanding group of people (9)
GATHERING: double definition.
28a US writer’s tango with Marian regularly ignored (5)
TWAIN: the single letter for Tango (NATO alphabet) & for With + the alternate letters (regularly ignored) of MArIaN.
29a Ask a gypsy regularly for comments (4)
SAYS: more alternate letters required from the opening three words. The regularly repetition radar bleeping.
30a What we might expect from the government Starmer’s in? (10)
LEADERSHIP: double definition I suppose. As has been pointed out not a DD. The wordplay is the position Sir Keir holds in the Labour Party + the ‘s then a synonym for in/trendy. Comment etiquette prevents me from saying more.
Down
1d Wan friend with little energy (4)
PALE: an informal term for friend + E(nergy).
2a Group of players chat and Roger’s upset, abandoning golf (9)
ORCHESTRA: yet another way of clueing our favourite bunch of musicians – this time with an anagram (upset) of CHAT & RO(g)ERS – ignoring/abandoning Golf (NATO alphabet).
3d Old person in Daniel Deronda (5)
ELDER: hidden.
4d Sign of nerves, maybe, Harry has with Charles? (7)
SHAKING: an anagram of HAS (harry here is an indicator rather than the Montecito moaner) + the position a certain Charles holds. Nice surface. Johnny Kidd & the Pirates just lost out in a coin toss to Nick Lowe for the music clip.
5d Fruit bats go near bottom of plants (7)
ORANGES: an anagram (bats) of GO NEAR + the final letter of (bottom/down clue) of plantS.
7d Greek character – he enters dry area (5)
THETA: place HE from the clue between the two letter abbreviation for dry/alcohol free then append the single letter for Area.
8d Ben’s issues – worrying concerns (10)
BUSINESSES: an anagram (worrying) of BENS ISSUES.
9d Sweets son found in ditches (8)
DESSERTS: insert (found in) the genealogical letter for Son into a synonym for ditches/abandons.
14d Food urges following alcohol (6,4)
SCOTCH EGGS: a synonym for urges/encourages is preceded by north of the border’s finest creation. Famously decreed as a substantial meal by George Eustice, the environment secretary, to help drinkers comply with post-lockdown regulations.
16d Set of books finished after I planned (8)
INTENDED: a biblical set of books + a synonym of ended are preceded (come after) I from the clue.
18d Piece of text from Standard article put on chart (9)
PARAGRAPH: a synonym for standard/median + A(rticle) + a type of chart/diagram.
20d Lie about Conservative policy (7)
RECLINE: the usual preposition for about/in the matter of + C(onservative) + a synonym for policy/stance.
21d Father capturing sorcerer gets harmed (7)
DAMAGED: place a synonym for sorcerer/enchanter inside (capturing) an informal term for father.
23d Angry rodent heartlessly shot (5)
RATTY: unlike 19a a type of rodent + a synonym for shot/attempt less its middle letter (heartlessly). Along with Badger & Mole he tried to put Toad back on the straight & narrow.
25d Change headgear on animal? Not hard! (5)
ALTER: remove H(ard) from the front of a strap or rope placed over an animal’s head to lead or tether.
26d Bird wanting tail cut off (4)
SNIP: delete the final letter (wanting tail) from a medium size wading bird.
4d was my pick of the bunch today with podium spots for top & bottom at 1&30a. Please let us know which clues ticked your boxes.
Today’s Quick crossword pun: BAT + AWL + HACKS = BATTLE-AXE
This morning’s blogging music has been from my I Am Kloot playlist – a Manchester band who produced six criminally underrated albums before splitting up. Here’s a track from them:
Light & enjoyable Tuesday fare with few reasons for delay in a swift 1a from N to S – maybe having twice the understanding while going across helped! Honours to 4d, 14d and 28a.
Many thanks to the setter and to Huntsman
PS – re 17a: admirals certainly do wear 17As – have a look at their sleeves!
Good point MG I’m more feet firmly on dry land (d’oh)
Apologies MG, but Royal Navy Admirals most certainly do not wear 17A, they wear rings.
That’s told you, MG!
Don’t mess with The Big F when it comes to all things naval or, as Del Boy would say, navel….
I find as many references to stripes as I do rings, including by the Imperial War Museum, Royal Navy Museum and on Wikipedia. I do accept that they are rings and am duly corrected, however they appear as stripes, certainly to the non-military landlubber, and to me are more stripe-like than the marks on the butterfly’s wings!
When I see comments like Fred’s, I step back.
My money is on him being a services man, meaning he doesn’t need to look anything up.
Top Only Fools recall Tom
This was spot on for the Tuesday slot that The Prof well and truly owns.
There were plenty of friendly clues with a bunch of neat surfaces though I was surprised to see ‘understanding’ repeated. We’ve had the synonym for getting paid so many times in the last couple of months that it’s giving Serengeti a run for its money.
My pody is 1a, 30a and 4d (we’ve seen a lot of Harry recently. Meghan’s trailer for her Lifestyle show. Ouchy!)
Many thanks to The Prof and Hoots Mon!
1*/4*
From yesterday. Tom, you didn’t miss it – you commented on it:
Jose
March 21, 2024 at 2:55 pm
A very agreeable Thursday puzzle! Great clues, a reasonable challenge and very enjoyable to solve. Difficult to isolate a favourite from such a fine collection but I’ll opt for 21a. 3*/4.5*.
*21a. I used to love playing with Plasticine when I was a kid. A new pack of those brightly-coloured ribbed strips was an absolute delight! When I was a little older, maybe 8 or 9, my brother and I used to make a sizeable model of a human body with a hollowed out torso into which we would place all the internal organs in different colours. After, the “skin” would go back on and it was all smoothed out and made perfect. Then, quite naturally, the only thing to do was stab it a few times with one of my mother’s large sewing needles and then open the “body” up to perform a post mortem examination to determine the most likely cause of death. Marvellous, innocent fun!
TomDisappointingSturges65
March 21, 2024 at 2:58 pm
Love it!!
Brilliant!
How can I forgot that gory scene???
Very funny.
Liked yet another new way to clue 2d, not as easy as yesterday (as it should be) I struggled seeing definitions from indicators for a few but it all came good in the end.
Thanks to The Prof and The Huntsman. (Great music as usual – I’m never short of a song list for my Tuesday commute)
Agree that this was gentler than yesterdays. A number of quite easy clues to get started, and a sprinkling of anagrams helped further. No stand-out clues for me today. Many thanks to the setter, and to huntsman for the blog.
Typical Tuesday fare. Light and fun.
Was 2d a nod to yesterday’s excess of golf?
Not sure I fully understand the cryptic nature of 30a.
2*/4*
Thanks to Prof and Huntsman.
14d fav today.
HI Slate
The cryptic bit is a seven letter word (well, two words contracted) followed by a three letter word for ‘in’, e.g trendy.
I put it on my podium as I thought it was very neat.
30a is what Starmer is (of the Labour Party) + the ‘S + a dated word meaning ‘in’ or trendy.
Highly polished and most enjoyable from our regular Tuesday setter. There is always a pleasant flow to the solving process, with one clue effortlessly going on to the next. My favourite was the neat and clever 4d.
My thanks to AP and The Hintsman.
2*/4*. As often seems to be the case, I agree completely with YS even down to the choice of favourite.
Many thanks to AP and Hintsman (and YS!)
A nice Tuesday puzzle which, for me, was less tricky than yesterday’s.
Top picks for me were 26d, 19a and 14d.
Thanks to Huntsman and the setter.
Fun, with the usual toothsome surfaces. Another vote for 4d. 14d too. I didn’t love 30a but it was a favourite for some and that’s exactly as it should be. Many thanks to our setter and Huntsman. Couldn’t agree more re I am Kloot. Great band.
Enjoyed today’s fare – personal favourite was 17a which I found neat and infuriating in equal measure!
A note on 30a – imo, not a double definition as Huntsman understandably reckons. Another word for what Starmer is in the UK, plus a short word meaning popular/cool, or ‘in’.
Welcome to the blog, LOM.
Once again, top music choices… particularly enjoyed the live track from dear Nicholas Drain Lowe.
(Gosh, I had ‘forgotten’ about I Am Kloot)
A cheery welcome back to 2d – you’ve been missing for a few days.
Enjoyed solving this chirpy little fellow. We are orf, later, to see The MIghty Chelsea take on The Cherries from the south coast. They have been tricky opponents in recent years and seem to have a manager ‘on the up’ in Andoni Iraola. We will hope they are dazzled by the lights of Stamford Bridge tonight.
Thanks to the setter and Andy On The First Tee.
Hmm – almost a curate’s egg for me but it might be me not operating at full efficiency – 2*/3.5*
Candidates for favourite – 1a, 24a, and 18d – and the winner is 18d.
Thanks to Mr Plumb and Huntsman.
This was certainly much easier for me than yesterday, but still provided a good work out for the ‘little grey cells’! I just went over into 3* time but because of the smooth surfaces and excellent clues I didn’t have to resort to any electronic help or my BRB. For this I rate the crossword 4.5* for enjoyment. LOI was 21a – I spent much too long on this clue. Favourite was 4d (like several others here). Thank you to the setter and to Huntsman.
Thought the prof was putting us under unfair pressure to follow the site rules and make no political comments, perhaps he just fancied having a laugh at us! I also hope that group of players are on good overtime rates, they certainly deserve them given all the hours that they put in.
A good Tuesday puzzle but no stand-out favourite for me although the construction of 16d deserves a mention.
Thanks to Mr Plumb and to Huntsman for the review.
I had one of my off days with an AP production – not sure why, but I made heavy weather of it and derived little enjoyment. Not the fault of the puzzle it was just me as on completion I did wonder what all the fuss was about. Hey ho. 4d is very clever, but my cotd is 18d. Shame 30a wasn’t an anagram of Starmer’s in. I quite liked “ranterisms”. If it’s not in the BRB it should be. Thanks to AP and Huntsman.
Ranterisms is a superb spot, P! 👏👏
A fairly benign puzzle for this warmer Tuesday in Wiltshire. I didn’t see the trend in 30a, so that’s my favourite.
Thanks to setter and Huntsman.
Good afternoon
Checking in this afty a darn’ sight earlier than yesterday; yesterday’s crozzie was trickier than usual for a Monday, so today, I took no chances. Fortified by tea and armed with my Lucky Green Pen, I have got ’em all!
COTD: a tie – 17a and 24a.
Many thanks to the Prof and to Huntsman.
Typically Tuesdayish as others have said – thanks to our setter and Huntsman.
I’m not a great fan of 3-letter anagrams (as in 4d).
For my podium I selected 15a, 19a and 24a.
Fans of NYDK’s Saturday Prize Puzzles may like to know that he’s on duty in the Toughie slot today and he’s given us a very enjoyable puzzle.
He has indeed. An absolute cracker. You even get a name-check! From me, not Donny..
I disagree with both of you, it’s a complete pain in the nether regions and this scatter-gun approach to clueing answers across the grid, combined with cross-referencing of clues to other answers, has ruined my enjoyment of the puzzle.
It’s bad enough that such needless and irritating gimmickry has caused me to abandon the Saturday Prize Puzzle in future, and I’m not sure I can be bothered to continue with today’s Toughie, either.
Fortunately several historical Sunday Times back pagers were made available in addition to the usual prize puzzle in that paper, so I have plenty of crosswords printed & awaiting some attention. And then there’s the Grauniad too, should I get bored!
Harrumph, harrumph, harrumph, and bah humbug.
Have some chicken soup.
Mustafa G, I too have abandoned the Saturday prize puzzle for the same reasons and happy to join with you in harrumphing!
Gosh.
I knew the sprawling, crisscrossing multi-worders weren’t everyone’s cup of tea but I had no idea it was this bad.
Serious stuff which is ironic as these puzzles are supposed to be fun.
To be discussed Saturday week, I reckon….
If anyone fancies some light relief, I’ll be in pun corner, with the other clowns, coming out with hopeless one-liners.
Nice and gentle…although I spent an age presuming 1a began P R A L and it took me far too long to fully parse 30a.
Very enjoyable. I had to read the Hintsman’s hunts to understand 19a, still did not fall in immediately – now if you had said Winkelman instead of Cagney I’d have got it straight away. Nice to see a slightly different clue for the band at 2d but I really liked 17a & 18d. Best was 4d because I didn’t get the anagram indication from Harry straight away. Sun was shining this morning so I have risked the washing on the goroundy but it might be prudent to fetch it in now. Good lecture last night – did you know Empress Josephine’s teeth were black and decayed after eating too much cane sugar on her father’s plantation? Yuk. Many thanks to Messrs Plumb and Hintsman.
For me, a Typical Tuesday puzzle. A couple of chestnuts thrown in as well as few head scratchers, but overall a pleasant solve. Nothing to scare the horses.
1.5*/3.5*
Favourites include 1a, 6a, 11a, 7d & 14d — with winner 7d … quite a clever clue, I thought.
Smiles from 19a, 9d & 25d
Thanks to AP (presumably) & Huntsman
** / *** Steady progress apart from 1a and last one in 4d which I couldn’t see for ages. I’ll also make 4d my favourite.
Thanks to Huntsman and setter
Apologies for the duff hint at 30a – can only attribute it to the distraction of the amount of restraint required to adhere to comment etiquette 😀
Unlike most of you I found this harder than yesterday’s, but enjoyable nonetheless. Thank you hinter and setter
Managed in bed this morning without my cuppa – milk was off! No hiccups on the way and fairly straightforward. I thought our hinter was extremely restrained with his remarks for 30a! I’m delighted to say the blackbirds have found my window bird feeder and the sultanas are disappearing at an alarming rate. Thanks to the setter and Huntsman
13a video apparently can’t be viewed in Texas :-) Due to the way the clues caught my eye when removing paper from the printer – this was my first tick mark. Timing – 1 large cup of coffee and a dog walk (for the last clue – 30a, who is Starmer? :-) ).
Hi Wuggahumf. Starmer is the Prime Minister of the UK and, as such, the leader of the Labour (governing) party.
Lighter than yesterday’s definitely and a gentle Tuesday offering. I made heavy weather of it in places , dipping in and out and head a bit out of the game. Enjoyable none the less. Thanks to setter and Huntsman.
Pleasant crossword with one or two sticky patches 😳 ***/*** Favourites: 22a, 7d & 26d 😃 Thanks to A P Plumb and to the Huntsman
A mug of tea, a warm bed and a straightforward Tuesday crossword. Could there have been a better start to the day?
Thank you Prof and Huntsman.
A passing thought concerning 28a:
Shania and Mark shall never meet?
Go on then, Pips.
Oh East is East and West is West and never…..
Kipling.
I meant ‘Oh, go on then. I’ll give it to you.’
Smooth solve … the Starmer clue seemed strange until Huntsman explained
If only Shrimp – I can take no credit having made a total horlicks of it
We love that expression.
Are you coming Saturday week, Hoots, so I can test you on your Oscar knowledge?
Crikey better do some revision. Not sure Tom. Unfortunately it’s one of my working days (if you could call what I do work) at the club. May see if I can pop down later for a pint (or two). I know the area well having overseen a district of betting shops in that patch many moons ago.
I’ll be there from 1 until 4. So, we may not meet. 😔
As straightforward as they come for me with barely a pause for breath not that it detracted from the enjoyment and yes the hardest thing was resisting the temptation to comment on 30a, there’s a gremlin sat on my shoulder saying go on you know you want to. Enough of this nonsense. Favourite was 24a. Thanks to AP and Huntsman.
There is much to do at the moment meaning my normal routine is upset and so I am struggling to fit the puzzles in and it seems later in the day my brain is not very cryptic. So I made heavy weather of this but did get there in the end. I needed the hint to explain my answer to 19a and I liked 14d.
Many thanks to the setter and to Huntsman for the hints.
Late on parade because a whole load of work arrived in my inbox and it had to be dealt with today. I managed the guzzle but it is now in the dark recesses of my memory. I do recall I liked 4d.
Thank you, Professor in The Library with the candlestick. Thank you, Hintsman for the hunts.
Even later on parade, with dinner out with good friends being my only decent excuse.
Very enjoyable. Fairly straightforward with the exception of 19a, 16d, 23d and 26d, which required a bit more thought.
Lovely surface read in 4d.
Thank you setter and Huntsman.
Sorry – I also meant to comment on 26d, I wanted to say to my fellow birding friends that we saw a jack snipe at our local nature reserve, Lemsford Springs, on Saturday.
A bit fatter and lazier…but that’s enough about me.
Thank you to the setter and Huntsman. An enjoyable puzzle, we made a good start in NW and built on that. Our COTD 14d. Finished in good time without using hints. Always good to see a full puzzle before coming online to see how others have done and feel about the challenge. Now 20d ing on our new sofa. Gary and Val
Completed across two sessions: the train to this evening’s Puzzled Pint event, and the train home. The break did its usual thing of helping immediately see some answers that I’d been nowhere with before, but it still took longer than Tuesday crosswords often do, and I needed a little assistance to get a full grid.
I still don’t understand what ‘little’ is doing in 1d, nor the definition in 21a.
As with so many others above, 4d with Harry and Charles was my favourite. Thank you Huntsman (I do hope you are able to pop along to The Bridge House) and the setter.
Little is there to indicate the abbreviation
The hidden solution for 21a has an extra letter. Without the S you have a synonym for rate
Thanks.
3*/3* ….
liked 17A “What could be seen on admiral’s journey east in ship (7)” ….
perhaps the admiral is an American ?