DT 30825 – Big Dave's Crossword Blog
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DT 30825

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30825
Hints and tips by Shabbo

+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +

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

There I was thinking that perhaps we had a different compiler today, when I came across our setter’s calling cards, confirming that it is indeed our regular alternate Thursday master of brevity (5.2 words/clue).  A most enjoyable puzzle, with my joint CoD going to 24a and 9d. A couple of definitions that I needed to check, but otherwise nothing to frighten the runners at 23d. Three “men” appear in 30a, 2d and 7d (all clued differently, of course) and there are only three anagrams to get your teeth into.

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 Extensive weeds with rapid spreading (10)
WIDESPREAD: anagram (spreading) of WEEDS RAPID. As SC points out, part of the answer is contained in the clue.

6a First guitarist for heavy metal? (4)
LEAD: double triple definition.  Thanks RD.

10a Consumed by anger, even getting retribution (7)
REVENGE: hidden word (consumed by).  Our answer is lurking within words 3-5.  Hands up if you were trying to put “even” into a synonym of anger!

11a Relaxes in lavatory feeling unfinished (7)
LOOSENS: slang word for lavatory + synonym of feeling without the final letter (unfinished).

12a Fugitive escaping round tunnel’s entrance (8)
FLEETING: synonym of escaping outside (round) the first letter (entrance) of Tunnel.  The definition is an adjective masquerading as a noun and is one that I had to check.

13a Italian magistrate swallows Don’s first evasion (5)
DODGE: anyone who has been to Venice will know the Italian magistrate and will no doubt have visited his palace next to St Mark’s Square.  Put this fellow outside (swallows) the first letter of Don.

15a Former capital of Germany (7)
PFENNIG: cryptic definition.  Not a city, but their former currency.

17a Small saddle provides rest (7)
SLUMBER: abbreviation for Small + synonym of saddle (a verb, not  noun).

19a Soaps following doctors finally around hospital (7)
LATHERS: synonym of following + final letter of doctorS outside (around) abbreviation for Hospital.

21a Fall of villain in lawsuit (7)
CASCADE: synonym of villain (or bounder) inside synonym of lawsuit.

22a Cover shut up with tool (5)
SHAWL: short word meaning shut up (or be quiet) + a three letter pointed tool for making small holes.

24a Keep lock on fine gold (8)
FORTRESS: synonym of lock (of hair) after abbreviation for Fine + two-letter heraldic term meaning gold. The definition is a noun, even though it looks like a verb.

27a One pardons former coppers facing Queen (7)
EXCUSER: synonym of former + chemical symbol for copper + s (plural) + the regnal cipher for our beloved late Queen.

28a Advanced new dope for European city (7)
ANTWERP: abbreviations for “Advanced” and “New” + slang term meaning dope (or fool).

29a Slugs that one tries shooting, initially (4)
TOTS: initial letters of words 2-5.

30a Rating, when hardened, accepts ship crew (10)
ASSESSMENT: two-letter synonym of “when” + synonym of “hardened” outside (accepts) abbreviation for SteamShip + synonym of crew.

Down
1d Guarded last of booty after battle (4)
WARY: final letter of bootY after synonym of battle.  We have debated before on this blog whether a single battle should constitute the first three letters of our solution, so I will not prod that bear again today.

2d Wicked blokes in empty decadent naughtiness (9)
DEVILMENT: synonym of wicked + synonym of blokes inside the first and last letters (empty) of DecadenT.

3d Immorality supported by Church following (5)
SINCE: synonym of immorality above (supported by) abbreviation for Church of England.

4d Crew catching fish dancing a hornpipe? (7)
REELING: synonym of crew (or group) outside (catching) a slippery fish.

5d Holds drinks keeping upright? (7)
ALLEGES: synonym of drinks (think beers) outside (keeping) synonym of upright (think tripod).

7d Polish workers inside borders of England (5)
EMEND: synonym of workers inside the first and last letters of EnglanD. The definition is a verb, not a noun and is another one that I had to check in the BRB.

8d He’s ardent unusually embracing current crush (10)
DISHEARTEN: anagram (unusually) of HES ARDENT outside (embracing) abbreviation for electric current. The solution is a verb.

9d Percussion perhaps incorporates vintage blues (8)
DOLDRUMS: percussion instruments outside (incorporates) synonym of vintage.

14d Shot a scene with plot twists (10)
OPALESCENT: anagram (twists) A SCENE PLOT.  Another definition that I had to check.  Chambers describes it as “showing a play of colours (adj)”.  A tricky definition fairly clued.

16d Unwanted bugs beginning to sting (8)
NEEDLESS: synonym of bugs (a verb) + first letter (beginning) of Sting. Not that Sting, Jane.  Calm down!

18d More shameless sweetheart shows some underwear (9)
BRASSIERE: synonym of more shameless (or brash) + the heart of swEet.

20d Oddly scariest taking distant expeditions (7)
SAFARIS: odd letters of ScArIeSt outside (taking) synonym of distant.

21d Bodice interior conceals droop (7)
CORSAGE: synonym of interior (or middle) outside (conceals) synonym of droop.

23d Racecourse, possibly one in Ayr? (5)
ASCOT: a native of Ayr might be described thus.

25d Services and reportedly repairs (5)
RITES: homophone (reportedly) of a synonym of repairs.

26d Pimple head’s rising (4)
SPOT: synonym of heads reversed (rising – this is a down clue).

 Quickie Pun:  POLL  +  TUG  +  ICED  =  POLTERGEIST

50 comments on “DT 30825
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  1. Ray T well on form today. A lovely guzzle with just the right amount of ponderers. Things got off to a good start with the great surface of 1a but offset slightly by part of the answer being in the clue. Favourites include the small saddle at 17a and the Ayr racecourse at 23d. My COTD is the advanced dope at 28a.

    Thank you, Ray T for a great guzzle. Thank you, Shabbo for the hints.

    Cold with bright sunshine in The Marches today so looking forward to a long walk with Hudson.

    1. Thanks to the setter and also for the hints. Started well but then got bogged down with 11a
      Our top picks 21d and 28a quite amusing.
      Enjoyable puzzle that kept us amused.
      Gary and Val

  2. I thought a little more accessible than Shabbo at **/*** with just enough anagrams to ease the pace. I thought 24a well constructed, court usually item of underwear in 18d amusing and my COTD 28a excellent. It took me a while to remember how to spell 15a. All in all a pleasant affair. Thanks Shabbo and our setter.

  3. 2*/4.5*. Excellent again from the master of brevity with 6a (I think this is a triple definition), 4a & 9d making it onto my podium.

    Many thanks to RayT and to Shabbo.

  4. Another solid bit of work by Arty though I’m still reeling from 1a. I can’t believe he did it and the powers that be at T Towers gave it the thumbs-up.

    I’ll pretend it didn’t happen.

    The synonym for shot was new to me and is a mighty fine word. 9d is such a great word that is almost onomatopoeic.

    My podium is 11a, 21a and 14d.

    Many thanks to RayT and Shabbs.

    2*/4*

  5. I enjoyed this typically Ray T puzzle, all fairly clued with a few head scratchers of synonyms. The top half went in easily enough but, for me, the bottom was a little more challenging. I needed Shabbo s hints to explain my answer to 14d, even though,as an anagram, it could have been nothing else. Top spot today goes to 9d with podium places for 24a and 5d. Thanks to Ray T and Shabbo.

  6. A very approachable Ray T crossword today but wirh all his usual tricks and enough of a challenge to be intriguing. I too liked the advanced dope at 28a and the German capital at 15a with the tricky spelling but my favourite was tthe lego clue at 9d Thanks to Shabbo and Mr T

  7. A very enjoyable puzzle with lots of humour, including some of the schoolboy variety (and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that, to my mind). I found 23d particularly amusing, once it had slowly dawned on me. My only complaint is that I finished it sooner than I had been hoping and now I need to do some things I’d been putting off, such as fixing my son’s bike. Thanks very much to the setter and to Shabbo.

  8. Brilliant as always with only what I assume is an editorial Horlicks at 1a causing a minor blemish. 9d is so typical of the setting style and my favourite this morning.

    My thanks to Ray T for a high quality puzzle, and to Shabbo for an equally great blog.

  9. Mr T is on fine form today (except for the own goal in 1a) – thanks to him and Shabbo.
    The clues I liked best were the amusing 11a, 28a and 21d.

  10. As expected, a top quality puzzle from RayT.
    Many thanks to him and to Shabbo for the write-up.
    Back to try and crack my remaining couple in the toughie. No idea who set it, but I’m loving it!

        1. The puzzles site does show the setter, but currently only in wide browser windows.

          If your browser window is at least 1440 pixels wide, then the setter name on credited puzzles (including Toughies and Cross Atlantics) is displayed under the clues. On narrower windows, it used to be shown instead at the bottom of the ‘…’ or ‘More’ menu in the top-right; it isn’t at the moment, but I’m presuming that is unintentional and will be restored at some point.

          And in writing this reply, I’ve made use for the first time of the ‘How big is my browser’ link in the ‘Miscellaneous’ menu above! I did wonder what it was for; apparently it’s for this!

  11. Don’t know why I always feel compelled to verify our setter’s use of less common synonyms, I’ve never caught him out in all the years I’ve been tackling his puzzles, but I still do it. One of his top drawer puzzles today if we ignore the bloomer in 1a and my top three were 21a plus 2&5d.

    Devotions as ever to Mr T and many thanks to Shabbo for the review – I honestly hadn’t thought of that Sting today but now that you mention him………

  12. A great puzzle I thought. I was aware of the term opalescent as I deal a lot with glassware but I didn’t realise it could also mean shot.

    Top picks for me were 9d, 17a and 28a.

    Thanks to Shabbo and Ray T.

  13. Very enjoyable mix of difficulty of the clues. Many thanks to the setter, someone even I think I can identify. My top clues were 5d, 9d and 24a. Took me a while until the 15a dropped for 15a. Thanks also to Shabbo for the hints.

  14. With the previously mentioned 1a, the Master of Brevity not quite at his best but the effect of 1a did not last for long – 2.5*/4.5*.

    Candidates for favourite – 15a, 19a, 28a, 5d, 9d, and 21d – and the winner is – 5d.

    Thanks to Mr T and Shabbo.

  15. I found this the easiest ride of the week for some reason , maybe I was a bit off colour Monday /Tuesday. I didn’t know the word at 14d so learnt something new – guess it’s a sort of an obvious word actually. thanks Ray T and Shabbo.

  16. I do like a RayT puzzle and this was one of his better ones IMHO. **/**** from me.

    I didn’t help myself by putting Ostmark in 14a but apart from that it all went pretty smoothly.

    Many thanks to RayT and Shabbo.

  17. Typically, with most of those above me commenting on what a breeze this guzzle was for them, I found it jolly hard (would have capitalised ‘hard’ but such trickery puts me into moderation, causing additional work for Siouxsie Sioux, The Man From Manitoba or other pals).

    However, it is RayTee and his guzzles are always a joy whether tricky or not.

    H and I intend to have a quick luncheon and then orf out for a lovely walk. Destination to be decided. Possibilities are along by Paul Weller’s studio to the River Wey; RHS Wisley; Shere; Gomshall; Who Knows.

    Thanks to RayTee and Shabba-Dabba-Doo

  18. Fine Thursday fare. Choosing a podium is difficult from so many clever and elegant clues but I’ll plump for 6a, 21a and 9d. They can fight it out amongst themselves for top place. Thanks to Ray T and Shabbo

  19. Another excellent puzzle from the master of brevity and conciseness on his fortnightly visit. Just a super puzzle again this week. Good to see the queen showed up as well as sweetheart did too. Nice to see some things don’t change.

    1.5*/5*

    Favourites include 6a, 15a, 27a, 9d & 20d — with winner(s) 6a/9d a tie
    Smiles all over include 6a, 22a, 1d, 9d & 23d

    Thanks RayT for the enjoyment as always for your puzzles & to Shabbo for hints/blog

  20. An excellent puzzle which I thoroughly enjoyed. There were a couple of new synonyms in 12a and 14d but both were fairly clued. Too much fun to pick one winner.

    Many thanks to Ray T and to Shabbo for the hints.

  21. Started at a gallop but then ground to a halt and fell over the line. 12a, 21a and 14d I almost gave up on. 14d a new word for me.
    3*/4.5*
    Docking half a star for 1a
    Otherwise great fun
    17a and 24a joint COTD/
    Thanks to RayT and Shabbo

  22. I felt the clues went from the obvious to the obscure . Quite jiggered me up but got there after a session of Paracise. Perhaps stretching the body does something similar for the brain. Favourite was 9 d. Haven’t had a working washing machine since 15 th. December and the one installed yesterday has problems. Not a good day to ask my opinion on anything so please excuse a certain grumpy attitude.

  23. Relieved to find it was a RayT Thursday, although I did briefly doubt that when I saw 1a which, as written, does not seem like one of his clues. But it gave me an easy start. Rest of puzzle was an enjoyable solve, although I do have to question 21d as I only know that as a flower decoration worn on special occasions, and can find no reference to it relating to a corset like piece of underwear. Probably just showing my ignorance. Thanks to RayT and Shabbo.

      1. It has two meanings – see below extracted direct from Chambers:
        corsage noun 1 a small spray of flowers for pinning to the bodice of a dress. 2 the bodice of a dress.
        ETYMOLOGY: 19c in this sense: French, from cors body.

  24. With copious ehelp I got there but with six DNFs, most in the SE. I don’t see 21d, I thought it was a small bunch of flowers you pinned to your bodice. Otherwise a masterpiece from the master. Fave 23d, but 24a was right up there.
    Thank you RayT for the fun, and Shabbo for filling in my missing answers.

  25. Solved this morning over breakfast after having somehow slept through the alarm set for an early dental hygiene appointment in St Albans – £75 up in smoke & a 2 week wait before the privilege of earliest opportunity to pay for it again so that’ll teach me. Took out my bad mood on a dimpled white ball. As ever the puzzle was very enjoyable & pretty straightforward other than I hadn’t a scooby how shot was synonymous with the answer at 14d & forgot to investigate. You can’t beat a wee bit of decadent naughtiness so 2d can have my vote as pick of the clues.
    Thanks to Ray T & to Shabbo.

  26. Evening all. Thanks again to Shabbo for the decryption and to everybody else who left an observation. Very much appreciated, as always.

    RayT

  27. Another enjoyable solve this week except for 6a. I mistakenly entered Gold, as took first guitarist to mean start with the letter G which duly left me ‘high and dry’ trying to get 7d! Ah well, hopefully, I will learn from that error! Many thanks to Ray T for a great puzzle and to Shabbo especially when reading your hints for 6a and 7d at the end!

  28. 12a and 4d were both bung ins and 14d was a synonym I was unaware of, I see I wasn’t alone. The usual fun and 2d from the master. Favourite was 28a, not for it’s difficulty but because it made me laugh. Thanks to Rayt and Shabbo.

  29. Another very enjoyable “Arty” guzzle. Like Chris M, I felt rather sad that I completed it and then had to get on with other less enjoyable tasks. Some lovely words there – 9d, 2d, 14d, 15a, 21d – marred by an ugly, and surely rarely used word for 27a.

  30. Crossword of two halves for me west quite straightforward, east way trickier but all came together in the end. ** / **** for me.
    Top puzzle, thanks to RayT and Shabbo

  31. Good evening

    Taken to the very brink of hoyin’ in the sponge by this superb crozzie today. It took forever to find a decent way in; then a burst of activity followed by a stumble at the last hurdle: the SW quadrant.

    However, time, tea, and my Lucky Green Pen paid off. I did, however, need help parsing 14d, which was my last to fall. COTD is 5d.

    Many thanks to the Mighty Mr T and to Shabbo.

  32. Nice puzzle. 1a not one of the best and 14d a bit obscure. 28a my favourite for its humour. Thanks to Ray T and Shabbo.

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