Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30829
Hints and tips by Huntsman
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** Enjoyment ***
Another one in a consistent line of very enjoyable & pretty straightforward Tuesday puzzles from the Prof. I don’t expect it will present too many difficulties for most & I’d reckon it about on a par with yesterday’s production in terms of difficulty.
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 Told about slipper finally getting kicked off (7)
STARTED: insert (about) the last letter (finally) of slippeR into a synonym for told/imparted.
5a Comfort us, coming back with soft drink (7)
SUPPORT: reverse (coming back) US in the clue then link with the single letter dynamic indication in music for soft plus a fortified drop from the Douro valley that’s just the ticket with a bit of stilton.
9a Apprehends what setters need? (7)
COLLARS: nowt to do with the clever folk who provide us with our daily fix but rather four-legged friends.
10a Accurate summary by European (7)
PRECISE: another word for a summary/outline + E(uropean).
11a Novel perhaps bizarre but not hard thing to read? (9)
NEWSPAPER: a synonym for novel/fresh + an anagram (bizarre) of PERhAPS (not Hard). Not sure the Boston Rag that Steely Dan want to bring back is one but it’s got a great guitar solo so what the heck
12a Clubs put in correct order (5)
EDICT: insert the card suit single letter abbreviation into a synonym for correct/amend.
13a Small fish surfaces (5)
SIDES: double definition. Ignore my gibberish. S(mall) obviously + the freshwater fish (plural) also known as an orfe. Ta Senf. I really should concentrate but it is early in the morning.
15a Insect swimming in river for life (9)
EXISTENCE: place a river that rises in Somerset (& flows approx 60 miles south through Devon until flowing into the English Channel) around an anagram (swimming) of INSECT.
17a Bury pet keeping, ultimately, your shed light on (9)
INTERPRET: a synonym for bury then link with PET in the clue once you’ve inserted (keeping/ultimately) the last letter of youR into it.
19a Daughter consumed second fruit (5)
DATES: the genealogical letter for Daughter + a synonym for consumed + S(econd). Yummy with walnuts in a cake.
22a Plant’s singular advantage (5)
SEDGE: S(ingular) + another word for advantage.
23a Valued possessions from America almost certainly held by elders? (9)
TREASURES: insert (held by) A(merica) + a truncated (almost) synonym for certainly into what elders are a type of.
25a Suspect puny lord name drops in an arrogant way (7)
PROUDLY: an anagram (suspect) of PUnY LORD (drops/delete Name). Can’t resist a Temptations classic that always makes me think of the kitchen scene in The Big Chill.
26a Declare errand boy removing penny is mean (7)
AVERAGE: a synonym for declare/state + an errand boy less his initial letter (removing Penny).
27a Justify Edward returning tennis shot? (7)
DESERVE: reverse (returning) a diminutive for Edward & append the opening shot over the net.
28a States beliefs, primarily all for nothing (7)
NATIONS: swap out a letter in a synonym for beliefs/ideas – the first letter (primarily) of All replaces the letter that signifies nothing. Neat surface.
Down
1d Supports English prisoner and departs in ship (7)
SECONDS: a wee bit of lego here – place E(nglish) + an informal abbreviation for a prisoner + D(eparts) all into the original two letter ship prefix.
2d Let everyone old get married (7)
ALLOWED: another word for everyone/each + O(ld) + a verbal synonym for get married.
3d Outcast US president has a change of heart (5)
TRAMP: very topical. Swap out the central letter (change of heart) from he of the second coming. Given 5d couldn’t resist this old tune.
4d I’d upset military engineer guarding area – make a quick exit! (9)
DISAPPEAR: reverse (upset) I’D from the clue then link to a term for a military engineer into which you insert (guarding) the single letter for Area.
5d Wicked police officer? (5)
SUPER: double definition – apparently we can thank across the pond for the introduction of this context of wicked & the other an informal police rank abbreviation.
6d Pretend I’ve changed – no one checked (9)
PREVENTED: an anagram (changed) of PRETEND iVE (less the Roman numeral for one).
7d Work in India? Not quite one’s way of thinking (7)
OPINION: link the usual two letter abbreviation for work + IN from the clue + India (NATO alphabet letter) + a truncation (not quite) of ONe again in the clue.
8d Othello’s second act’s oddly seen here? (7)
THEATRE: start with the title character’s 2nd letter then link with HERE in the clue into which you insert the alternate letters (oddly) AcTs.
14d Hand over poster describing ancient city centre in America (9)
SURRENDER: place a synonym for poster/despatcher around (describing) a Sumerian city-state in ancient Mesopotamia + the middle letter (centre in) of AmeRica.
16d Where fish are, generally (2,3,4)
IN THE MAIN: well the ones that aren’t in the rivers are – a word for the ocean or high sea referenced in this great Procol Harum song.
17d Hot drink I had is tasteless (7)
INSIPID: a term (that I missed last week) for hot/fashionable + a verbal synonym for drink + a contraction of I had.
18d Boring time with editor – I do curse on a regular basis (7)
TEDIOUS: T(ime) + the usual abbreviation for editor + the alternate letters (regular basis) of I dO cUrSe in the clue.
20d Exotic tandoori mostly produces violent wind (7)
TORNADO: an anagram (exotic/mostly) of TANDOOR(i). Great surface – an Indian was strictly forbidden by his roommate for old golfing chum on trips away.
21d Son is curt, with no energy for relatives (7)
SISTERS: S(on) + IS from the clue + a truncated synonym for curt (no Energy).
23d Herb – part of a healthy meal (5)
THYME: hidden (part of) – one of Paul & Art’s four.
24d Exhausted writer breaking stone (5)
SPENT: insert a writing implement/ Steve’s mythical into the weight abbreviation.
Not sure if it’s an old chestnut but 20d was my clear favourite today. I also had ticks against 15,23&28a + 7,8&14d. Please tell us which ones ticked your boxes.
Today’s Quick crossword pun: TRY + HIT + FORCE + SIGHS = TRY IT FOR SIZE
This morning’s blogging music has been from John Fullbright, who I’ve not listened to in a while. I first came across him singing this great song on Later
Wonderful stuff from the professor in the library. For me, it was a steady solve but there is one I do not understand. This is 12a and, assuming I have the correct answer, I don’t see where “clubs” come into it. I will consult the hints to see how it works. I did like the errand boy losing his penny at 26a but my COTD is the need of setters at 9a. I tried to fit “clue” into it until I saw the misdirection.
Thank you, Mr. Plumb for a most enjoyable guzzle. Thank you, Hintsman for the hunts.
12a – How on earth did I not see it? 🙄🙄
Precisely my thought with Starmer’s in last week Steve
That took me a long time as well, H.
I had to explain that to George!
Another gentle one. Perhaps a brief lull after the trickier (but very satisfying) puzzles last week.
Enjoyable nonetheless and I particularly liked the shed light reference… reminding me that mine hasn’t worked for years.
I’ve been dreaming about a shed light since 05 April 2018 DT28,705 5Dn.
Wow, what a memory, Longers!
Confession time Smylers. I did DT28,705 only yesterday so today’s similar clue jumped out at me. I’m working through a few of the archived crosswords. Thanks to this blog and the various contributors I can now complete a good many. It’s also quite entertaining reading the comments from the time. Sad that certain people no longer appear and that some still do, dare I say – just my opinion and as a long time lurker not one that has any credence. Back to lurking for me!
Don’t you dare go back to lurking. Longers! Once delurked, it’s an unwritten rule that you have to keep on commenting! 🤣🤣
Quite right Steve. I’ve never gone back & looked at comments for puzzle reviews that pre-date our time with BD. I was intrigued however to see who did – I could have guessed most but it was interesting to read comments from Silvanus who presumably had yet to ascend to the DT setter ranks.
Went back to look at the comments on that one and they do indeed make for interesting reading. So nice to see our founder joining in the exchanges and also Silvanus, such a shame that protocol dictates that he can no longer comment on other published setters’ puzzles.
Thanks for the nudge, Longers, I wouldn’t otherwise have taken that trip down memory lane.
Just went back to that one and read the comments. So nice to see our founder joining in the chat and also Silvanus in the days before protocol prevented him from commenting on another published setter’s work.
Thanks for the nudge, Longers, I wouldn’t otherwise have taken that trip down memory lane.
Another Tuesday romp. Great tunes too, as always. Many thanks to our setter and Huntsman.
I finished todays crossword faster than yesterdays, so maybe slighter easier today. I also struggled to parse the answer to 12a until I read the hint. Oh dear. My top clues go to 4d and 23a. Thanks to the setter, and for the hints.
As Typically Tuesdayish as ever – **/****
Candidates for favourite – 5a, 12a, 1d, 2d, 7d, and 24d – and the winner is 12a.
I have a small disagreement with our illustrious blogger on 13a. Not a double definition for me. The single letter for Small and some favourite fish (which just happen to be small) give the synonym of surfaces.
Thanks to Mr Plumb and Huntsman.
Of course – ta. Now amended.
I like to keep you on your toes 😀
It’s even earlier in my morning 🤣🤣
Yeah but you’re a pro
Unlike others, I found today’s offering markedly more difficult than yesterday’s and struggled to gain a foothold. Nevertheless, with a few down clues resolved it all fell in to place reasonably well, with the SW corner last to fall. My favourite was 16d although that may be simply because after only a few months in crosswordland, I’m still pleased by that nautical synonym. Thanks very much to the setter and to Huntsman (I was at that Weller concert, although still mourning too much for The Jam after 12 years or so to fully enjoy it).
Are you a Wolverhampton lad? I went to boarding school on the Penn Rd.
Sadly not. At the time I was working in Sutton Coldfield and living in north Warwickshire, so I must have been driving that night (which would explain my ill humour).
Another great puzzle , swiftly dispatched. As someone else has said , last week’s Mon and Tues I found more tricky than usual , and I always wonder if I’ve gone off the boil, or starting to lose it so I’m feeling reassured . Thanks to setter and Huntsman.
For me a ‘Typical Tuesday’ puzzle for the most part. A couple I couldn’t parse but they had to be what they were.
2*/3.5*
Favourites 9a, 17a, 27a, 3d, 16d & 24d — with winner 17d
Personally, I don’t like 3d in any shape or form. Nasty piece of work.
Thanks to AP & Huntsman
I loved the air kiss with his wife!
if i was his wife, which is a stretch for a few reasons, I wouldn’t entertain anything more than an air kiss either.
I’d have done better with the Quickie pun if I hadn’t been trying to construct it from just the first three ‘across’ answers – that’ll teach me not to be so lazy! An enjoyable Tuesday puzzle from the prof as we’ve come to expect and my top scorers were 12&13a with a wry smile for 18d.
Thanks to Mr Plumb and to Huntsman for the review – you actually played a couple of tunes that I knew today, what is the world coming to!
Two days in a row – solved unaided! This is on a par with putting a man on the moon. It is unprecedented. I will be available for interviews with all of the media for the rest of the day (-sits by phone until midnight-).
This on top of The Mighty Chelsea’s victory last night over a spirited but toothless Wolves team. Had me thermals on as even with the ‘luxury’ of hospitality, one still has to sit outside for the match. I have a plan: solar panels on the roof on each of the stands, powering heated seats. If not sufficent power for all, exclude the hoi polloi and just provide it for us toffs in the posh seats. Seems fair.
Thanks to the setter and Andy On The First Tee (great music choices; #GoesWithoutSaying)
This also felt lighter than Tuesday puzzles often are for me. I particularly liked 17a’s shed light and 26a’s mean errand boy. My favourite is the topical 3d. Thank you to Huntsman and the setter.
Enjoyable puzzle with some lovely clues, took me slightly longer to solve than it should have as I am being distracted watching the Djokovic v Alcatraz match, despite it being midnight there they’ve still got some way to go and there are parents with children in the crowd – hardy lot those Australians!
Thanks to AP and Huntsman
1*/4*. A joy from start to finish!
My podium comprises 12a, 2d & 8d as well as the Quickie pun.
Many thanks to AP and to Hintsman.
Up to par for a Tuesday – thanks to the setter and Huntsman.
For my podium I’ve selected 9a, 12a and the amusing 20d.
Very enjoyable, really liked 9a. Busy morning with Lynn the Foot working her magic, changing the bedlinen and a delivery of oil and now dashing off to Book Group to discuss Bob Mortimer’s The Satsuma Complex. 28a was last one in, but altogether a very satisfying guzzle. Many thanks to both Setter & Hintsman.
I know it’s a crossword blog, but what did you think of Bob’s book? I really enjoyed it being a fan of his humour from the start.
A lovely Tuesday puzzle.
Top picks for me were 11a, 16d and 17d.
Thanks to Huntsman and the setter.
Perfection,….for a Tuesday.
For a crossy to have a chance of getting top marks, I need to have circled at least 10 clues which is most certainly the case today. It was extremely straightforward so it should please most punters but had lots of colour to make it very enjoyable.
What more could you want!
There’s mayhem at the base of the podium but I’ll with 11a, 25a, and the totes hilaire 20d.
Many thanks to The Prof and Hoots.
1*/5*
Song for The Professor (with apologies to Mark Knopfler):
I don’t know how it happened
It all took place so quick
But all I can do is hand it to you
And your latest trick.
And a very much adapted Jeremy Sams poem for Huntsman:
So what are you hunting for when you don’t blog?
Is it Titleist or Calloway down by the bog?
There’s fairways aplenty you drive to distraction
But thanks for explaining to our satisfaction.
😀
Thanks Pip.
I made heavy weather of today’s offering. Given all the positive comments, I’m going to be charitable to myself and blame it on a disturbed nights sleep. Cotd must be the witty misdirection in 9a. Thanks to AP and Huntsman
A lovely Tuesday puzzle, back to what we have come to expect. Too many great clues to pick one favourite.
Many thanks to the setter and to Huntsman for the hints.
Took longer than yesterday to complete, but weirdly felt a bit easier. My theory is that today’s was a steady solve of ‘Tuesdayish’ clues with no hold ups, whereas yesterday the majority of the clues were entered in double-quick time but I was held up chewing my [virtual] pencil over the last few. Anyway, my tea was definitely I need of a microwaving by the time I got over the line today.
Some delightful clues. No standouts, but I liked 28a for the substitution; a clue type that would have baffled me a year ago meaning I get a nice sense of satisfaction when I solve one now. 2*/3.5*
Good afternoon
Another perfectly pitched Tuesday crozzie from the Prof. I particularly liked 23a, but I’m going to plump (if, indeed, plumping is allowed) for 8d as my COTD; I had sort of intuited the solution, but the parsing eluded me for ages. I was just about to come on here and post when the, er, penny dropped! Oh noooo!! *BUZZER!* CLICHÉ ALERT ⚠️ 📢 – must hide from RogB!
Many thanks to the Prof and to Huntsman.
No need to hide, I am not that scary! 👻
The setters are at it now, 26a. Or is that agreement that the penny should not be mentioned also? 🤣
John brings me tea and the crossword printout every morning. It is heaven to sit in bed and greet the day in such a way. Most pleasant today and I do enjoy Mr. Plumb’s puzzles but this seemed a little pedestrian. 9 a. was clever and last in was 12 a. The checkers for that left room for lots of words that didn’t have anything to do with clubs so another tack was needed. Have lost the car key but doing the crossword does mean I haven’t entirely lost my marbles. Thanks all round.
So very glad to have the crossword to take my mind off the events over here – the phrase “into the abyss” will not go away. Anyway, very much enjoyed today’s puzzle where even the few clues I couldn’t understand were solved by checkers. At which point I smacked myself for not understanding in the first place. COTD to 9a 😊, with 14d being LI. My fault as I tried to put UR at the end for ages. Thanks to Robyn and Huntsman.
Last year I stopped reading the DT as the news depressed me. Now I will have to give up reading the NYT or my consumption of BP pills will rocket, at least until the midterms in 2026.
Excellent puzzle, very enjoyable.
Thx to all
***/*****
Even lighter than yesterday but still very enjoyable. COTD 21d.
Many thanks setter and also of course Huntsman – especially for the sublime & incomparable Joe & Beth.
Another enjoyable puzzle with a couple of head-scratching moments. Can’t believe pausing over 9a given I’m a dog owner?! Many thanks to the setter and Huntsman.
Pawsing?
I needed help again, much appreciated Huntsman. Strangely enough, 12a was one of my first in, likewise 9a knowing my love of all things doggie. Took ages to get 4d, 17a and 28a, in fact had to use Huntsman’s hints. Fave was15a.
Thank you setter for a super puzzle, and Huntsman for your help, much needed.
No hold ups on this, completed pretty much from top to bottom. Good enjoyment factor. I’ve got a couple of 9a’s somewhere (who knows where) but I haven’t put one on any of my dogs in 40 odd years, working dogs are exempt including many setters, but that didn’t stop it being cotd. Thanks to AP and Huntsman.
** / **** Quite straightforward with no hold ups, but enjoyable all the same and a proper quickie pun which took me ages to get.
Thanks to setter and Huntsman
Finally finished this one after what felt like a lot of plodding, but looking back I don’t know why I struggled? Favourite clue 9a though it took a while for the penny to drop. Still dislike the synonym of wicked at 5d, but maybe it’s just me? Thanks to the setter and Huntsman.
No it’s definitely not just you.
A simple soul like me has no chance when bad also can mean good.
Another romp through following on from yesterday’s. Very enjoyable apart from 5d which I’ll never accept is a synonym for wicked. Thanks to the setter and Huntsman.
Completed in good time with out resorting to the hints. Gentle Tuesday but meaty enough.
Thank you Mr Plumb and Huntsman.
Our favourites 20d, 9a and COTD 16d
Loi12a
2*/3* …
liked 2D “Let everyone old get married (7)”