DT 30835 – Big Dave's Crossword Blog
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DT 30835

by Huntsman  

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30835
Hints and tips by Huntsman

+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – +

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

Maybe it’s a case of the miserable weather putting me in a contrary humour but for me today’s puzzle felt if anything a tad pedestrian. It was of course well clued but I felt it lacked the usual dose of AP humour – or maybe I’ve just missed it. Either way pretty straightforward & I doubt that many will need the hints. Worth reading for the generous prize on offer for the first person to spot one of my parsing mistakes – I’m on a hat-trick….

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 Thin person pale – bone’s broken (8)

BEANPOLE: an anagram (broken) of PALE BONE to kick us off.

5a Make-up from wonderful, wealthy husband removed (6)

FABRIC: an informal adjective for wonderful + a synonym for wealthy with the single letter for Husband removed.

9a Benevolence by George (8)

GOODNESS: a double definition – the latter often accompanied by gracious or me. The reaction of Daisygirl’s other half perhaps when she performs the splits….

10a Fruit cut for Muslim ruler (6)

SULTAN: truncate (cut) a piece of fruit.

12a Understanding mate with green bananas (9)

AGREEMENT: our 2nd anagram (bananas) – MATE GREEN.

13a Fear no leader’s mistake (5)

ERROR: remove the first letter (no leader) from a synonym for fear.

14a Likes snide remarks (4)

DIGS: our 2nd double definition – appreciates/takes pleasure in & jibes.

16a Check before opening (7)

PREVENT: a preposition meaning before + a type of opening such as a shaft/duct.

19a Environmentalist’s advice regarding plastic rubbish? (7)

USELESS: split the answer 3,4 for the Green lobby’s undoubted view on plastics.

21a Papa consumed noodle (4)

PATE: the letter Papa represents (NATO alphabet) + a word for consumed.

24a Horse-riding competition’s stable temperature (5)

EVENT: a synonym for stable/balanced + T(emperature).

25a Make prisoner parade around camp, initially (9)

CONSTRUCT: an informal abbreviation for a prisoner + a synonym for parade/swagger placed around the first letter (initially) of C(amp).

27a Cricket perhaps popular with groups of followers (6)

INSECT: nowt to do with leather on willow. An informal term for popular/trendy + a word for a group of followers (religious maybe).

28a Bear does hurl nuts (8)

SHOULDER: anagram number 3 – (nuts) DOES HURL.

29a Puzzle’s free tips from de-luxe edition (6)

RIDDLE: a verbal synonym for free/dispense with + the initial letters of (tips from) De-Luxe Edition. An opportunity to play Frank singing one of Nelson’s arrangements from Songs For Swingin’ Lovers!

 

30a Quietly objects to hosts (8)

PRESENTS: the musical letter for quietly + a synonym for objects to/begrudges.

Down

1d Tramp from Belgium, for example, upset guy (6)

BEGGAR: link the IVR code for Belgium, the two letter abbreviation of for example & a reversal (upset) of a verbal synonym of guy/poke fun at.

2d Ace food on a ship? (6)

ABOARD: the single letter card abbreviation for Ace + a term for food/meals provided at a cost with lodgings.

3d Type of pasta served up in cayenne pepper (5)

PENNE: hidden in reverse (served up in) – the last two words.

4d Reduces classes by the sound of it (7)

LESSENS: a homophone (by the sound of it) of another word for classes.

6d Mirth from rogue E Musk meant no end of cheek (9)

AMUSEMENT: an anagram (rogue) of E MUSk MEANT – excluding the last letter (no end of) of cheeK. If only his pronouncements were roguish & caused mirth….

7d Bend in grass reappeared (8)

RETURNED: insert a nounal synonym for bend/curve into the common name for a tall wetland grass-like plant.

 

8d Real rip-off on Greek island (8)

CONCRETE: a verbal synonym for rip-off/scam + the largest Greek island.

11d Bar in Belfast opened (4)

STOP: hidden (in).

15d The same dialect in Barking (9)

IDENTICAL: anagram number 5 – (barking) of DIALECT IN.

17d Boss is pure evil with zero tolerance at heart (8)

SUPERIOR: an anagram (evil) of IS PURE + the letter for zero & the central letter (at heart) of toleRance.

18d Socialist collecting rent is ejected (8)

RELEASED: insert (collecting) a synonym for rent into a term for a socialist. Seem to recall Ken being so called in the day.

20d Let go of bag (4)

SACK: a double definition – the former a rather gentle description of a brutal exercise.

21d Knock the tail of your big cat (7)

PANTHER: a synonym for knock/severely criticise + THE in the wordplay + the last letter (tail) of youR. Here’s a clip of Bagheera voiced by Sir Ben in the excellent remake of The Jungle Book.

22d Bridget regularly enthralled by food hamper (6)

BURDEN: insert the alternate/even letters of bRiDgEt into a food item that could be either sweet or savoury. Surface read a nice nod to the diary girl’s fondness for food.

 

23d Ran inside ship’s emporiums (6)

STORES: insert (inside) a synonym for ran/careered into the usual two letter civilian ship prefix.

26d Sort of support prime minister (5)

TRUSS: a double definition – the first a surgical appliance maybe, the latter blink and you’d have missed her – at the current rate she’ll have cropped up more times in puzzles than days spent in Number 10.

 

No real standout favourite today but I’ll plump for 9&25a + 22d for podium consideration. Please tell us which clues ticked your boxes.

 

Today’s Quick crossword pun: GAR + DEN + HOMES = GARDEN GNOMES

This morning’s blogging music has been my playlist from an Icelandic band with a Hawaiian name. Here’s a clip of them singing a great tune from their debut album in a volcano. If you like them there’s another great clip of them playing on an iceberg.

63 comments on “DT 30835”

  1. I struggled more than usual with today’s guzzle. Despite that, it was a steady solve. I’m not sure that 21a is a noodle unless it relates to head but I have never pronounced it that way. My COTD is the popular cricket at 27a because of the great misdirection.

    Thank you, setter (not sure if it’s the professor in the library) for the workout. Thank you, Hintsman for the hunts.

    I loved the Quickie pun today – very groanworthy.

    1. According to Collins, 21a is US and American slang for head. The BRB gives the setter a let out with “slang esp N American”.

        1. Thanks, RD. I have always known it as “noddle”. My father used to say “use your noddle and think about it, son”.

          1. Yes, my dear old dad used noddle as well. Perhaps both are acceptable but only one fits into crossword lingo.

  2. **/*** for me and a bit patchy – some straightforward and others less so. No particular pattern but reasonable enough. The 6 anagrams helped and the few lurkers. I thought 8,17 and 21d all nice and 19a amusing and my COTD. Nothing wrong with it but as Huntsman commented not outstanding. Thanks nevertheless to our illustrious setter and to Huntsman.

  3. Splendid fare from The Prof and concise too, averaging 5.25 words a clue. Oi, RayT! Oo ar yer?

    I roared through it but my LOI, 23d, took yonks. It’s nuts how many terms there are for head with both in 21a being goodies.

    My podium is 28a, 6d and 15d.

    Many thanks to The Prof and Hoots Mon!

    2*/4*

  4. Enjoyable, albeit light. As H says, perhaps less wit than usual but nicely done all the same. Many thanks to our setter and Huntsman. Jeff was a blast from the past and I’ve always loved that Kaleo tune. I just wish I could remember where I first heard it. Film or TV?

  5. Absolutely agree with Huntsman’s comments, didn’t really float my boat at all. No hold ups and no head scratching. LOI was the little 14a which methinks we have had a few times. Maybe its just this awful miserable weather. My next door neighbour is sending back fantastic pictures of the Arctic Hares in Scotland, breathtaking scenery. To throw in a curved ball, to my ear Frank Sinatra always sings very slightly off key! Thanks to the setter and Huntsman – whose birthday is it?

      1. Of course it is, sorry, that’s why there was a birthday bash. Wish we didn’t live so far away I’d love to see what you all look like!

        1. Me too Manders. I’m going to be in Stiffkey/Cley next month. Would you like a brief meetup?

          1. That would be good Madflower – let me know a couple of dates and we can meet for a coffee? Are you staying in Stiffkey? Villages by the Sea tonight on Beeb 2 is the Holkham Estate – I haven’t seen this one.

            1. Yes we are staying in Stiffkey at the Red Lion but I predict we will be eating at The Three swallows each night! It’s a birdwatching trip so he can drop me off for a coffee somewhere and go off on his own and then pick me up later! We arrive on the 16th for 3 nights. I have no idea if there is a way of sending you a private message on the blog so we don’t bore everyone else with our plans!

              Thanks for the Heads-Up on the Villages by the Sea tonight, I enjoyed the one covering Cley.

                1. Thanks for that. We might give it a try. The Three Swallows were very good to us when we visited the area last March so I feel a loyalty to return there and give them our custom.

    3. Now that is quite a curve ball. After his death I bought the box set of his entire Capitol records output & played them to death. I reckon Songs For Swingin’ Lovers! arguably one of the greatest popular music recordings of all time – to my ear sheer perfection – and to think he was none too keen on having Nelson Riddle as his new arranger.

      1. Thanks for The Stones, Huntsman. Am I being ignorant in saying I preferred them to Sinatra? I was 18 again (in my head).
        Also thanks for the blog without (evident) parsing errors (just two “down” clues trying to be “across” (what, me picky?).
        Thanks to The Prof – whatever others may say, I enjoyed it.

        1. Well spotted/now corrected ta. Sadly that doesn’t qualify for the 21day all expenses luxury cruise to a destination of your choice 😀

          1. Don’t worry, Roman Ambramovich has invited me to help with his tax problem. I’m expecting to be invited to stay on his yacht very soon.

  6. I’m afraid I also found this one rather dull, just went though the motions until it has done.
    I’m never a fan of making the clues as short as possible, in my few it can take the humour out of them.

    Sorry Mr setter, just not my thing today, strange as I usually enjoy yours very much.

    1. Oh no, short clues are my firm preference over wordy, convoluted ones any day of the week. It takes all sorts…

  7. A fairly benevolent and enjoyable puzzle – thanks to our setter and Huntsman.
    I placed 5a, 25a and 30a on my podium.

  8. Today’s AP production failed to light much of a spark for me I’m afraid. Completion wasn’t helped by inserting the answer to 18d in 17d. I also couldn’t see the answer to 14a so resorted to the hints, and now feel a total prawn. Hey ho. No stand-out clue for me today. Thanks to AP and Huntsman.

  9. Fairly typical Tuesday fare, a smooth ride with little in the way of obstacles. 9a raised a smile – that’s the type of person I imagine Daisy’s other half to be – and the Quickie pun made me smile. Monty Don’s on a tour of British gardens in his latest series and in one episode was introduced to a particular example that’s valued at a million pounds!

    Thanks to AP and to Huntsman for the review.

  11. Completed fairly quickly, until I reached SW corner. A couple of clues pushed me into 3* time, 17d being one of them (thanks Huntsman for explaining it). LOI was 19a which turned out to be one of my favourites – made me laugh! Thanks to AP for a great puzzle, and to Huntsman for the hints.

  12. I enjoyed this puzzle but am also finding the weather miserable like many others. It feels more like very late afternoon here as it is so dark.

    Top picks for me were 19a, 25a and 5a.

    Thanks to Huntsman and the setter.

  13. Yes, very straightforward today and I tend to agree with Huntsman about level of enjoyment and the likely non-crossword related reasons for that. 19a made me smile mind you and it was good to get the brain into gear during a day of sorting out a lifetime’s worth of junk. Thanks very much to the setter and to Huntsman for the blog and the music.

  14. Very light. I agree with those who found this a little less fun than normal Tuesdays
    1*/3*
    No standout fav
    Thanks to all

  15. Once again a Typical Tuesday puzzle to have fun with. Nothing to scare the horses in any way.

    1.5*/4* for me

    Favourites were hard to keep down in numbers, but I chose 5a, 9a, 19a, 27a, 21d & 26d — with winner 21d
    Smiles for many including 1a, 19a, 4d & 26d

    Thanks to AP & Huntsman

  16. It always heartens me when 1a is an anagram which jumps out at me – and I’m off. I worked my way down the grid but the south west held out for some time after I had finished my curried parsnip soup. I had to consult the Hintsman for 17d and 19a. 9a does pretty well describe him Jane, he is one of the nicest, kindest, obliging, gentlemanly, popular, easygoing men you could ever hope to be stuck with for 67 years which is very irritating. I’m not a happy bunny today, I don’t think receptionists should ask a patient why they want to see the doctor. Does she really think that an old lady will go down in the cold at 8.15 to queue in the rain for fun? I felt like saying in a loud voice I’ve got an STD but I’m fairly well known in the village and it might be taken seriously. On the other hand, it would shake George if it got back to him. You can only get an appointment On The Day. What happened when old Miss Harrison in the converted Red Cow was receptionist with a diary, a pencil and a rubber? Everything ran swimmingly. Now we’ve got a posh surgery, you cannot make an appointment for tomorrow and you never see the same doctor. Rant over. Many thanks to Messrs Setter and Hintsman.

    1. I agree Daisy. I am always irritated that I have to iterate my medical concern to the receptionist, someone with zero medical expertise. Especially in the waiting room with all the ears flapping.

    2. I just heard a tale on the radio about a man who went to his surgery (one he has been with for decades) to make an appointment. The receptionist (whom he knows well) said he could only make an appointment by phoning. New policy. He went out of the door, pulled out his mobile, rang the surgery and was given an appointment.

      Is it me?

      1. It’s not you. Remember the days when doctor’s had their surgery morning hours, then did home visits in the afternoon, followed by evening surgery hours? Home visits were such a blessing.

        1. I do remember, BL. Ah, dear old Doctor Rigall, my doctor as a child in the 50s. When I was 5 he told my mum that I had the eyelashes of a girl. As soon as mum took me home I went upstairs, got the scissors and cut them off!

  17. Thank to setter and Huntsman, similar rating to yesterday 1* / 3* Lots to enjoy, last one in strangely 2d and favourite 6d

  18. I enjoyed this one, and being my contrarian self, I liked it much better than yesterday. Just a beef with 1a as I always understood that to be a tall, thin person. You would not call a thin 5ft person a 1a. A “dull” puzzle for the clever folks is a gift to the rest of us. Thanks to setter (AP) for not making me feel stupid, and to Huntsman.

  19. Good afternoon

    While agreeing with much of what has been said already today, I will say that I fell into a classic trap. The NW quadrant was completed in a breath, then one by one the others began to fall, until….the SW quadrant. “Tell you what, bonny lad”, I said to myself, “I dar’say you’ve peaked a little bit early, haven’t you?”

    Indeed I had. My penultimate faller was 19a, which took forever to stir my brain cell into action. My last to fall was 17d. That took even longer! Never take for granted a crozzie that looks easy!

    Many thanks to the Prof and to Huntsman.

  20. A nice distraction from the miserable day that we have here, at least today we have not been hailed on. The two mentioned by several in the SW were my last ones in and took an age and made me think it was a bit trickier than an average Tuesday No particular favourite favourite today but I enjoyed all the anagrams.

    Many thanks to the setter and to Huntsman for the hints

  21. Swimming against the tide as usual, I have found both puzzles at the start of this week trickier than normal 😳 ***/*** Favourites were 19a, 4 & 7d 😃 Thanks to the Compiler and to the Huntsman

  22. I’ve enjoyed reading this blog as much as doing the puzzle, especially observations of doctor’s surgeries! 19a as my favourite clue, thank you compiler and Huntsman.

  23. Very gentle, apart from 14a, which took me far too long to unravel.
    Thanks to our setter and Huntsman.

  24. I got along well with today’s puzzle until the SW corner. After spending far too much time on 17d (can’t believe that I missed an anagram) and 19a I had to resort to the hints. 21a couldn’t be anything else but ‘noodle’! is not familiar to me. Many thanks to the setter and Huntsman.

  25. My first ever comment. Never mind the crossword, what great music punctuating the hints!

    2. Tuesday is music day with me here & ALP in Toughie corner. I’m not sure if many even bother to play the music but it keeps me amused writing the hints early doors. What did you think of the puzzle?

      1. I play it when I can, Huntsman but “yootoob finks am a bot”.
        So I missed Bonamassa.😣

  26. I solved all but two clues quite quickly. I came to a hard stop with 2d and 17d.

    2d was fine, it was my brain that failed me. I had no idea where to start with 17d so went straight for the answer.

    Thanks to all.

  27. The top half all plopped in quite quickly, but I got a big bogged down in the SW corner. Thanks for the hints and previous comments – I couldn’t understand the “noodle” bit of 21a. Thanks to the setter and Huntsman.

  28. Glad to have an easy ride today because we were in the group of 5 making lunch for 50 people. I love our Arts Society. what used to be known as NADFAS. At Turner’s Hill we have a set lunch after every lecture and that is every month. A glass of wine is provided and cakes are made to have with coffee and tea to round things off. The puzzle was perfect for such a day.Top marks for 19 a. Thank you kind setter and helpful Huntsman.

  29. Add me to the list of those held up in the SW, though generally straightforward and enjoyable. Favourite was 9a. Thanks to the setter and Huntsman. I’ll go back and listen to the music now.

  31. Not my cup of tea today. 21a doesn’t work for me and I think 19a weak and too contrived. Thanks to Huntsman for the hints.

  32. 2*/2* ….
    liked 19A “Environmentalist’s advice regarding plastic rubbish ? (7)”

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