Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30838
Hints and tips by Mr K
+ - + - + - + - + - + - + - +
BD Rating - Difficulty **** - Enjoyment ***
Hello, everyone, and welcome to Friday. I had to ponder the parsing of several clues in this puzzle, which bumped up my difficulty rating.
In the hints below most indicators are italicized, and underlining identifies precise definitions and cryptic definitions. Clicking on the answer buttons will reveal the answers. In some hints hyperlinks provide additional explanation or background. Clicking on a picture will enlarge it or display a bonus illustration and a hover (computer) or long press (mobile) might explain more about the picture. Please leave a comment telling us how you got on.
Across
1a Neighbourhood scruff coming from teddy bears' picnic area (4,2,3,5)
NECK OF THE WOODS: Link together a synonym of scruff, a short word meaning “coming from”, and where, according to the song, the teddy bears held their picnic
9a Kid with pen one's found in chest (7)
RIBCAGE: Kid or tease with a pen or enclosure
10a It's musical 'cosplay', getting dressed up (7)
CALYPSO: An anagram (getting dressed up) of COSPLAY. That activity is explained here
11a Relative making visit, not husband (4)
AUNT: A synonym of visit that’s applicable to ghosts, minus the genealogical abbreviation for husband (not husband)
12a Me in gear with fantastic style, tying up left then right loafer (10)
MALINGERER: An anagram (with fantastic style) of ME IN GEAR containing (tying up) the single letter for left and all followed by the single letter for right
14a Spar's produced lead-free pudding (6)
AFTERS: A spar you might find supporting a roof, with its ‘S from the clue and minus its first letter (lead-free)
15a Some Z-reg GTi Mercury that's got sand in the works (3,5)
EGG TIMER: The answer is hidden as some of Z-REG GTI MERCURY. Anyone know if there is such a thing as a GTi Mercury?
17a Clobber that's functional when it's wet (8)
SWIMWEAR: A cryptic definition of clothing that’s meant to get wet
18a Associate hospital with old boys taking in last of oxygen (6)
HOBNOB: Link together the single letter for hospital with two copies of the abbreviation for old boy that are sandwiching (taking in) the last letter of OXYGEN
21a Face twisted of course in age, and spotted (4,4,2)
LAID EYES ON: The reversal (twisted) of the face of a watch or clock is followed by a word that can mean “of course” inserted in an age or era
22a American edition, not new (4)
USED: Abbreviations for American and edition
24a Creators cause sides to split describing comic hero (7)
AUTHORS: CAUSE minus its outer letters (sides to split) containing (describing) a Marvel comic book hero
25a Ride carries on in storm (7)
CYCLONE: Ride on a bike contains (carries) ON from the clue
26a They distribute pricey tickets for show on screen (7,7)
TRAFFIC WARDENS: A cryptic definition of officials who leave tickets on the [wind]screen
Down
1d Vehicle swamped by rain burst seen in a perfect state (7)
NIRVANA: A motor vehicle contained by (swamped by) an anagram (burst) of RAIN
2d Member in exclusive club best incriminate for corruption? (7,8)
CABINET MINISTER: An anagram (for corruption) of BEST INCRIMINATE
3d Test in cricket ground with Victor going for runs (4)
ORAL: In a London cricket ground replace the letter represented in the NATO phonetic alphabet by Victor with the cricket abbreviation for runs (with Victor going for runs)
4d Protector needs to step up (6)
TOECAP: TO from the clue with the reversal (up, in a down clue) of step or walk
5d Sweet's taken with no starter and a come-on to see these? (8)
ETCHINGS: Sweet or attractive with its ‘S from the clue and minus its first letter (taken with no starter). If you’re not familiar with the romantic cliché referenced by the definition, click here
6d Cooked up alibi, got no charge (10)
OBLIGATION: An anagram (cooked up) of ALIBI GOT NO
7d Scarper! Guys emptied tills and split shop (10,5)
DEPARTMENT STORE: Assemble scarper or leave, some guys, the outer letters (emptied) of TILLS, and split or ripped
8d Shock centrepiece of show, Three Kings receiving Oscar (6)
HORROR: Follow the central two letters (centrepiece of) of SHOW by three copies of the Latin abbreviation for king containing (receiving) the letter represented in the NATO phonetic alphabet by Oscar
13d Raised fences have gone down (7,3)
BROWNED OFF: Raised or reared contains (fences) have or possess, and that’s all followed by a synonym of gone
16d Risk a wet upset? (5-3)
WATER-SKI: The wordplay directs us to an anagram (upset) of RISK A WET. The entire clue also serves as a definition
17d A deal of concern at lush standing for national leader (6)
SULTAN: The answer is found hiding as some of the reversal (a deal of … standing, in a down clue) of CONCERN AT LUSH
19d Hounds, nags, dogs, or other animals? (7)
BADGERS: The plural of a fourth animal whose name can also be a verb synonym of hound, nag, and dog
20d Tick's sitting on farm animal somewhere in Europe (6)
MOSCOW: A tick or short time with its ‘S from the clue is followed by a farm animal
23d Mark's second Jag? (4)
SCAR: The single letter for second with what Jag defines by example (?)
Thanks to today’s setter. Which clues did you like best?
The Quick Crossword pun: KINK + STUN + CHAR + MAKER = KINGSTON, JAMAICA
I agree with Mr K. Quite tricky as befits a Friday. I needed the hints to understand 20d. Wasn’t entirely sure of the cryptic nature of 17a either. Enjoyed the clever disguise of the anagram of 16d and my favourite was 14d. Thanks Mr K and the setter.
I didn’t enjoy 14d for a pretty obvious reason 😉
Oops!
14a – sorry Tipcat😳😳
No worries NAS, just having a laugh with ya…
If anyone hasn’t printed off the Toughie yet, you should note that the final clue is on a second page – I’ve used the rest of that page for a shopping list
It’s so blasted irritating that the DT seem unable consistently to get the printing right – let alone to sort out the ink-consumption, grid- and font-size problems. Other papers never seem to have that problem. Fortunately I haven’t had to waste a sheet of paper, as that one clue is now upside down at the foot of another puzzle, but what a wretched nuisance.
I’m with you on the ink saver thing, maybe if you had to either chose it or not, it might then work for everyone’s browser preference?
Got an Epson ink tank printer July 2024 and haven’t had to put any ink in it yet… and we do a lot of printing. When we used cartridges in our previous printer we were buying a cartridge about every 3 weeks. Ink tank literally pays for itself, and not the inconvenience of running out to buy more cartridges, plus the huge savings.
Really? That’s interesting I shall look into that. The price of HP cartridges is exorbitant imho ( I’ve always wanted to use that 🤭)
I bought an HP Smart Tank printer last June and haven’t had to refill the ink at all
Correction, that was July 23.
I’m quite smug because I noticed the number of pages in time and the final clue is handwritten at the bottom of my single-page printout.
SOme very knotty parsing to unravel in this difficult crossword. To be honest it took me longer to complete it than any of this week’s Toughies. I liked the well -concealed anagram at 2d and the clever Lego clue at 7d. In many of the clues, I filled in the solution without understanding the wordplay, then reverse engineered the parsing. There were a few that I couldn’t fathom, which I shall now explore in Mr K’s excellent hints. Thanks for those and the cat pictures, Mr K. Thanks to the compiler for a very challenging guzzle.
A bit of a tough one today and I will need to consult the hints to understand the parsing of a couple. I wondered if 20d is actually in Europe. I had the last three words of 1a but could not see the first for ages. I then remembered what “scruff” meant. I liked the lurker at 15a was well disguised by the use of capitals. My COTD is 19d with its hounds, nags and dogs.
Thank you setter for the challenge and brain workout. Thank you, Mr. K. for the hints and pusskits.
Yes Steve. I wondered about the geographical location of Moscow but stopped wondering on the basis the setter is invariably correct. Google advises he is!
Yes it found out is is, NAS. One lives and learns. I think the majority of Russia is an Asia, though
D3fibitelt European, Steve. It has a really European feel too inmy opinion.
A few years ago I would loved to have visited the city, Chriscross but not at the moment. I suppose I could wander around on Google Earth but there’s no atmosphere on there.
Great puzzle, some really lovely & clever clueing and beautifully concealed directions, with smooth surfaces throughout. Mostly pretty straightforward, though the last 5 in the SW were threatening to take as long as the rest put together until 24a dawned, at which point completion swiftly followed. Honours to 26a, 21a, 13d & 19d.
A hugely satisfactory Friday puzzle, thank you Setter (Silvanus?) and of course also Mr K
A Blackpool rock type of puzzle, hard but very enjoyable.
That was Friday with a vengeance, took me absolutely ages, especially in the SW quadrant, not helped by not equating Thor to a comic hero, I always thought he was a Norse god.
Great clueing all round and extremely entertaining, my two of the day were 1a and the brilliant 26a.
Many thanks to our setter today for a very fair Friday brainmangler (is that even a word?)
Did the SE first, which was relatively straightforward. “This is ok, for a Friday”, thought I. Oh dear.
Ended three short including 5d – it was the only word that would fit, but I didn’t enter it as I had never heard of the idiom(?) and so it made no sense whatsoever! Very tricksy parsing in some of them, so thank you Mr K for the enlightenment, and the picture of catwoman. Michelle Pfeiffer was never bettered in that role. Ahem.
Gold medal to 19d for the surface, and silver to 23d in memory of John Prescott, whose final journey yesterday was indeed made in two jags. He’d have loved that. ****/****
A very entertaining puzzle – thanks to our setter and Mr K.
A selection of my ticked clues are 1a, 18a, 21a, 4d and 19d.
For a Friday, this puzzle was a nice end to the non-work week. Not too tricky and some good clues that made me smile.
2*/3.5*
Favourites 9a, 15a, 17a, 18a, 25a & 26a — with winner 26a that made me chuckle
Smiles from 15a, 3d, 19d & 23d
I liked 3d as my grandfather took me there many times to learn about the game. Good memories. Took the train in the morning from Great Yarmouth and arrived Liverpool Street Station and then the underground line to the station of the same name as the grounds.
Thanks to setter & Mr. K
There is a “young” man called Kitty
Whose photographs are pretty –
This crozzie was confusing
Some parsing left me musing
But the setter’s mind was witty.
Entertaining but tough. Needed the hints to explain my answers to 13d, 5d and 17d, all very weird! My favourite was def 26a.
Thx to all
****/***
This took a while. Re 26a, is there somewhere it’s known j just as screen?
Took off at a canter in the north but ground to a halt in the SW. My problem turned out to be 17a where I had completely the wrong sort of wet clobber. Once Mr K’s hints sorted me out there, I managed, having also checked a couple of parsings where I was “sure” of my answer, but not sure why, to complete this tricky number. My podium comprises the witty 1a, 12a and 19d. Thanks to compiler and Mr K for the hints and setting me straight on 17a.
Cor! After flying through three quarters of it I slowed right down in Devon and Cornwall.
It was a DNF as 13d was out of my reach (good clue though!). I biffed 5d as I hadn’t heard of the expression which is hilarious.
My podium is 4d, 7d and 13d.
Many thanks to Silvanus (?) and Mr K.
4*/4*
Re 5d, I remember an expression “come up and see my stamp collection ”
Unfortunately I was never a philatelist!
Love it!
A speedy start with 1a and several other early across answers straight in led to some misplaced confidence, as I slowed down to a crawl and eventually needed some of Mr K’s hints to finish the bottom-left — thank you for those, and also explaining the idiom in 5d.
In 14a I spent far too long trying to think of a word to remove ‘Pb’ from before the much more likely pronunciation of ‘lead’ finally occurred to me. I particularly liked 15a for the ‘sand in the works’ definition, the small zoo in 19d, and 21a for being one of those where the answer caught me out by magically appearing as I did what it said — I was typing in a word meaning ‘of course’ as a placeholder while I thought of one with more plausible letters, and was surprised to find it actually worked! Thank you to the setter, and have a good weekend everybody.
You weren’t alone with the lead Smylers
Me too with Pb, thought it had something to do with Plum(b) pudding.
Glad to see I’m not the only one convinced that Pb needed to be removed from a pudding. I was also convinced that the functional clobber was raincoat! I got there in the end, but the SW corner took me ages. Thanks to the setter and Mr K.
I’m guessing that this is Zandio’s handiwork although, if so, he peppered it with more humour than usual. Podium places here going to 1&26a plus 19d.
Thanks to our setter and to Mr K and his four-legged friends for the review.
PS Has anyone heard from Merusa recently? My last email went unanswered and that’s unusual.
I’ve also been concerned that Merusa hasn’t commented for at least a week. I do hope she is ok.
Just finished this puzzle. Tricky in places but enjoyable. I wasn’t sure about the capital being classed as European but see it’s been confirmed above. ( mind you I’m not sure what it would be classified as if not). Thank you setter and Mr K
Strange puzzle for me. Most went in fairly easily but a few were stubborn, even with all the checkers.
4*/4*
5d last in. No idea why – thanks for the explanation.
17a – I don’t find this remotely cryptic
19d favourite
Thanks to all
Certainly hardest this week but by no means toughie standard in my view
Clues were witty and fairly clued.
13a and 26d my podium today ***/****
Thanks to all
5*/2.5*. I found this hard work, not helped in the SW corner by confidently entering “rainwear” as a very plausible answer to 17a.
What an ugly concoction the word “cosplay” is. I shan’t be sorry never to see it again.
Mr K, there is no such thing as a Z-reg GTi Mercury. From 1963-2001, when UK vehicle registration numbers used either the first or last character to denote the year of registration, Z was never used (nor were I, O, Q and U). So there was never a “Z-reg” anything. I wonder why the setter picked that one, when any of 21 other letters, such as A-reg, would have made more sense.
Thanks to the setter and to Mr K.
I had a Q reg Husqvarna, a motocross bike that was later made legal for road use, many kit cars were Q reg as well.
I didn’t know that, Tipcat. A bit of Googling tells me “Q plates were introduced in 1983 and are issued to kit cars and some imports where the date of first registration can’t be established”.
I remember someone telling me that the Q stood for ‘Questionable’ meaning the year.
PS. Mr K, I’ve never heard of a Mercury with or without GTi in the UK whatever the year of registration.
I agree re cosplay, ugly word.
Hello, compiler here. Thanks very much for taking the time to solve, hint and discuss.
Good to hear from Pip — when I was choosing a nom de puzzle, I pondered between Pip and Zandio, as they were both among many names that my late wife Cath used for me.
Can I offer some music for the day? Rather than the obvious 1d, here’s someone that just happens to be on my radar this week: Sheena Ringo, a Japanese singer, songwriter and star. This video is the final song of a live-streamed concert with her band Tokyo Incidents during covid (24 July 2020). Hence no audience, which makes the final move all the more spine-tingling. The song is ‘Gips’, originally a hit single in 2000.
Thanks again. Have a great weekend.
Thank you for the puzzle, Zandio – you really kept us on our toes today.
Is 16d what is known as an “&lit” clue?
Welcome to the blog, Jane.
It is (also known as an all-in-one)
What did you think of the puzzle?
Add me to those who struggled in the SW after waltzing through (5d excepted) the remainder. At one point I feared a non-finish but crawled over the line in a time that would have had a search party out looking for me had it been a cross country race. Had it pegged as a Zandio production which means it’s probably by Silvanus. Anyway some excellent clues – the top & bottom horizontals were my pick of the 4 good long ‘uns & with ticks also against 15,17,21&24a plus 16,17&19d – the last one my fav. I vaguely knew that the 5d idiom was an invitation to partake in Ugandan discussions but not that it had featured in Hitchcock’s Blackmail. Completely missed the parse of the raised fences have bit of 13d having been relieved to just get the answer.
Thanks to the setter & to Mr K
I thought I’d started the Toughie by mistake, only filling in one answer on my first run through, but once I started to get a few more in it got better. Fairly hard even for a Friday but I got there eventually. 9d, 15a and 26a my picks for favourites. Thanks zandio for a brilliant puzzle and Mr K for the hints. ****/****
This certainly got me thinking! First half went in relatively easily so was expecting *** time. However the SW corner really defeated me and I had to consult Mr Kitty’s helpful tips! 17a held me up, as first of all I put in raincoat then realised that was wrong and put in rainwear. Glad to see I wasn’t alone. Even though it was a DNF for me I enjoyed what I could solve. Favourites were 26a (nice misdirection!) 5d and 23d. Thank you to Zandio and Mr Kitty.
That was a tough one, although my cause wasn’t helped by having spent too long in the pub yesterday. Lots of great clues across the grid. Like others, I struggled most in the SW having dealt with the N relatively quickly. Thanks very much to Mr K for help with parsing a couple of solutions and to Zandio for the mental workout and the new to me music. Those ruffs must make playing guitars as tricky as I found 13d.
Also had problems in the SW, not helped by putting down swimsuit for 17a. Needed the hints for 5d (never heard of that chat-up line), 21a and 26a, just couldn’t get there, so many thanks for them to Mr K. Thanks to the setter for a difficult one.
Just completed but I don’t think I would have managed without the puzzle letting me check the answers. There were several in the SW where I am not sure of the parsing, I will have to look later as I have too much to do now (cake to ice and clearing up after the painter). This was tough but it is Friday so no complaints.
Many thanks to the setter and to Mr K who I am sure will explain my answers later.
Enjoyed the solve, top drawer cluing, going along smoothly until I reached the SW corner where all came to a halt with Rainwear.
17d took ages!
Going for a ****/***
Thanks to setter
The Teddy Bears’ Picnic was one of my favourite songs as a child, so of course I bunged in Down In The Woods without checking that it fitted the clue, until I got to 1d 😔. Also penned in wrong answer to 17a while at the same time thinking it really wasn’t cryptic. More haste less speed. I did immediately picture the hour glass shaped container for 15d though. Haven’t heard anyone say 13d for 40+ years 😊. More than happy that I could actually finish a Friday puzzle. Thanks to Zandio and Mr K.
Hard but fair – definitely a **** for me. 19d is CotD – thank you Zandio and MrK
Just to let everyone know – I received an email from Merusa’s godson, Richard, this afternoon. Apparently, she has suffered a couple of strokes since last weekend and is now receiving 24-hour palliative care from a team of nurses. Fortunately, she has been allowed to stay at home so she is in her own bed and has Sadie by her side, exactly what she would have wanted as many of you will know. He asked me to make everyone here aware of the situation and said how much she has appreciated having the companionship of people on this blog over the years.
That’s very sad news. My thoughts are with her and Richard
What sad news. I do hope she is not in any pain.
I’m so sorry to hear about Merusa. She and her family will be in my rhoughts.
.Thanks for passing that on Jane.
Our thoughts and kind regards are with Merusa and those who are with her.
Merusa is someone I would have loved to have met. I’m glad she is in good hands and has Sadie with her.
Such sad news but as a dog owner I know just how much Sadie’s company will mean to Merusa.
Thank you for letting us know, Jane.
So sad. I did know that Merusa was not at all well and have emailed her but doubt she will reply. Hopefully, someone will read it to her.
So good she has Sadie with her. Dogs are such good company and have empathy when their owners are ill.
All my love to her and she and Richard are in my thoughts and prayers.
Thank you, Jane.
That’s so sad. I always loved Merusa’s contributions to the blog, which we will all miss.
Thank you, Jane, for keeping us informed.
So sorry to hear the sad news about Merusa. My thoughts are with her and her godson.
I’ve just read further through the blog so please ignore my earlier comment regarding Merusa. That’s such sad news, she has always be such a shining light on here. Sending my very best wishes to her and Sadie.
Devastated. My friend Merusa. My thoughts are with her.
Sorry, OUR friend Merusa.
Thanks for letting us know Jane. Desperately sad news & thoughts with Merusa & those closest to her
That’s so sad. Jane, thank you for checking on Merusa and letting us know. Merusa has brought much joy to our community here.
When Merusa first let me know she was having Hospice at home I was upset, but also glad that she was able to remain at home with her beloved Sadie. She did briefly place a comment soon after she was deemed very ill. We have been friends since I joined this blog a long time ago, emailing each other to discuss the crosswords, Wordle, the state of the world etc, two or three times a day. She has told me many times how much she is thankful for Richard. One smart and feisty lady. I am so very sad that she is so poorly now.
I found this tough today. It wasn’t made any easier by me being in and out and only managing to look at a couple of clues each time.
Finally managed to sit down and wrestle with it.
I was familiar with the etchings idiom but 13d I needed Mr K’s help parsing and also 14a as I wasn’t aware of that synonym for spar. The cricket ground sticks in my memory of having to change bus outside it quite regularly and it always seemed to be cold.
Top picks for me were 26a, 15a, 9a and 21a.
Thanks to Mr K and Zandio.
I got off to a good start but couldn’t get 5d despite the checking letters. I slipped up with 17a and put ‘swimsuit’ which caused me to struggle in the SW.
Many thanks to Zandio and Mr K. Have a good weekend everyone.
It’s been a funny old day. Out for a birthday (G92) lunch in Granchester then home at 4 and tacked the guzzle, getting caught by most of the things already mentioned. Pb lead, raincoat, Down in the woods etc but Mr K helped me out with his hints. I liked the loafer at 12a because it is a lovely word like hyperbole the other day. 19d was good too. I was just about to put in my twopenn’th when DD2 came with a special bottle of malt for George with the result that here I am late again, thanking the setter and Mr K -both for the hints and a plethora of pusscats to brighten an otherwise miserable grey day. For the record, the recycled b/day card worked again, he exclaimed at the lovely panorama of the Henley course and I was able to rescue the envelope for next year, God willing. 😌
Oh Daisygirl you are a ‘card!’ 😊😊😊. Happy Birthday and Congratulations to George.
I’m glad to hear that your “card-trick” worked Daisy. I told some of my friends about it today and they thought it was fabulous. One of them is going to try it and see if her husband notices.
Excellent Friday challenge, like most it seems quite steady going until SW corner, but all fair clueing. Also liked the quickie pun
3* / 4*
Thanks to Zandio and Mr K
4*/3* ….
liked 26A “They distribute pricey tickets for show on screen (7,7)”