Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30844
Hints and tips by Mr K
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BD Rating - Difficulty *** - Enjoyment ***
Hello, everyone, and welcome to Friday. It’s been a busy day for me, so no time for pictures I’m afraid. .
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 Spread half of this on dough (7)
BREADTH: One half of THIS follows a synonym of dough
5a Accept orders sent back by base (7)
SWALLOW: The reversal (sent back) of orders or regulations followed by base or coarse
9a Ben perhaps not so animated (7)
STILLER: The answer might mean “not so animated”. The perhaps indicates that the definition is by example
10a Slime coating empty no-good city vessel (7)
GONDOLA: A synonym of slime containing (coating) the outer letters (empty) of NO-GOOD is followed by the abbreviation for a large US city
11a Confused mum seen at diversion (9)
AMUSEMENT: An anagram (confused) of MUM SEEN AT
12a Drink on conclusion of indecent yarn (5)
TWINE: A fermented grape drink comes after the last letter of (conclusion of) INDECENT
13a Wife in ruin blown away by daughter's rubbish (5)
DRECK: In a synonym of ruin, the single letter for wife is replaced by the single letter for daughter (wife in … blown away by daughter)
15a Suffered in hot new red number from the East (9)
UNDERWENT: The answer is hidden in the reversal of (in … from the east) of the remainder of the clue
17a Loner with pens upset employees (9)
PERSONNEL: An anagram (upset) of LONER PENS
19a Drop circuits in auditorium (5)
LAPSE: A homophone (in auditorium) of some circuits of a track
22a Guardian article backed by Unite (5)
ANGEL: A grammatical article with unite or connect
23a Aggressive search uncovered locals (9)
COMBATIVE: A synonym of search with a word for locals minus its outer letters (uncovered)
25a Vocal piece recalled close child of King Minos (7)
ARIADNE: A vocal piece with the reversal (recalled) of a synonym of close
26a Dull visitor from space delivers mass of trees (7)
THICKET: A synonym of dull with a film about an alien
27a Pale husband ineffectual without first son (7)
HUELESS: The single letter for husband with a synonym of ineffectual minus the first occurrence of the single letter for son (without first son)
28a Withhold post about product's defining feature? (7)
SUSPEND: Post or mail containing (about) an abbreviation for a product’s defining feature
Down
1d Crane-like bird capsized damn boat (7)
BUSTARD: A synonym of damn with an underwater boat, all reversed (capsized) S
2d Gourmet from English film essentially cancelled (7)
EPICURE: The single letter for English with another word for film, minus its middle letter (essentially cancelled)
3d Idiot that's thrown up energy sweet (5)
DOLCE: The reversal (that’s thrown up) of a synonym of idiot is followed by the physics symbol for energy
4d Brightly-coloured king disrobed before queen at home (9)
HARLEQUIN: Link together the current king minus his outer letters (disrobed), a two-letter abbreviation for queen, and at home or not out
5d Faculty plot reported? (5)
SIGHT: A homophone (reported) of plot or location
6d Relative crossing a river and lake naked (2,7)
AU NATUREL: A female relative containing (crossing) A from the clue is followed by a usual river and the single letter for lake
7d Celebrate popular painting mounted outside of shrine (7)
LIONISE: Popular or fashionable and a type of painting are joined and reversed (mounted) and followed by the outside letters of SHRINE
8d Most faint in vigil crowding East Street (7)
WEAKEST: Another word for vigil containing (crowding) the single letter for east is followed by an abbreviation for street
14d Obsessive type climbing outcrop might be learning (9)
KNOWLEDGE: The reversal (climbing) of somebody who is obsessive (about policy, perhaps) is followed by another word for outcrop
16d Range 500 eggs around 50 arachnids (9)
DOLOMITES: The Roman 500 is followed by two copies of the round letter (eggs) containing (around) the Roman 50, and that’s all followed by some tiny arachnids
17d Oprah had almost upset ruler in the past (7)
PHARAOH: An anagram (upset) of OPRAH with all but the last letter (almost) of HAD
18d Two publications producing music (7)
RAGTIME: A generic publication and a specific publication
20d Tingling sensation when Romeo's in difficulty (7)
PRICKLE: The single letter for Romeo inserted in a difficulty or jam
21d From literature before court, Enid's case is built (7)
ERECTED: Assemble a literary form of “before”, the map abbreviation for court, and the outer letters (…’s case) of ENID
23d Guard initially brought down gangs (5)
CREWS: An informal word for a prison guard, with its first letter moved to the end of the word (initially brought down)
24d See you and Bill operating system (5)
ADIOS: A bill or poster with the iPhone operating system
Thanks to today’s setter. Which clues did you like best?
The Quick Crossword pun: MINT + SON + DUMB + PLANES = MINCE AND DUMPLINGS
Tough today but fairly clued. I assume the answer to 12a means rubbish but I haven’t checked the BRB. Anyway, I have never heard the word before. I put the answer to 17d into 20d and did not realise for ages. I seem to be doing that a lot lately – well, tempus is fugiting. The indecent yarn at 12a took me an inordinate amount of time to solve and that annoyed me. After all, the clue is clear if read properly. I tried to think of a drink to put after “t”, the end of “indecent”. My COTD is the naked relative at 6d.
Thank you, setter for the challenge. Thank you, Mr K for the hints.
I loved the Quickie pun. One of where realisation dawns slowly.
Love ‘tempus is fugiting, SC!
Well it’s better than “tempus has fugited”. 😊
I did not like the quickie (maybe because I could not get it) as I thought it was too much of a stretch.
I never like the puns I can’t get, Michael. 🤔
I managed less than half of this and gave up, roll on tomorrow….
I managed even less and gave up. No fun at all…
Amen to that sister😁
A real brain mangler for me that was not a lot of fun so I presume that it is a Zandio production – ****/**
Smiles for 1a, 25a, 2d, and 16d.
Thanks to Zandio, or whomsoever if it is not he, and to Mr K.
An illustration of how I am feeling this morning, I hope that it doesn’t carry over to Sunday.
P.S. Twmbarlwm has posted a comment for ’11a’ on Wednesday’s blog. At least, I identified the definition correctly.
Yes, I saw that. I think XTW2 owes Twmbarlwm an apology for his unnecessary rant.
I agree. It was uncalled for.
That is just how I feel today.
This wasn’t too taxing for a Friday which makes a change.
There was plenty to like on one of my favourite grids. I love the synonyms for rubbish and the obsessive type and 15a is a great rekrul. 4d is a top word as is the synonym for damn – gotta luv a bit of Dastardly and Muttley.
The spelling of 17d is a problem for many people as the 5th & 6th letters get mixed up. I remember it as the Egyptian Sun God ‘Ra’ being in the word.
Lots of great clues to choose from but I’ll go with 11a, 12a and 6d.
Many thanks to the setter and Mr K.
3*/4*
I remember 17d because the vowels are in order – a a o.
Like it.
Someone said to me recently…..”Was Celine Dion born on a farm as her vowels are e i e i o”.
We love it!
Talking of Old MacDonald, check this out (I was told this way to remember it by a teacher many moons ago)…
Marvy parvy
Love it! 🤣
And here is Stephen having a brain freeze with the word.
Mr K, I hope this isn’t coming across as a shameless plug for the app as I know that’s frowned upon. It’s just that I thought people may like to see that even the great gets things wrong occasionally.
I think BD will be turning in his grave with regard to many of your posts.
Why?
Plugging his app – BD was very much against advertising. I was talking to “someone else” recently and recalled the LBJ quote of Hoover.
“Better to have (him) inside the tent pissing out, than outside the tent pissing in.”
Tougher thanyesterday’s puzzle as was to be epected. Some of my solutions were based on guesswork, use of the checkers and finding a synonym of the definition rather than use of the wordplay. I shall read the exellent hints from Mr K For the explanations of rhose clues I cannot parse. I liked the bird clue att 1d but had never heard of tge 13a word for rubbish. We live and learn. The geographical clue at 16d was well camouflaged and right up my street. The vessel at 10aa held me up for a while with a satisfying oenny-drop moment at the end thanks to the compiler and to Mr K for tge hints.
4*/2*. I found this quite tough and not much fun.
There were two new words for me in 13a & 14d.
Thanks to the setter and to Mr K.
For those who are having withdrawal symptoms.
A slow and steady solve. I find that if I am stuck I leave the crossword and do something else, it often helps. This was the case today for the NE corner. Like Steve I also hadn’t heard of 13a. 27a is another one which I think is not in everyday use, although I have heard of it. Anyway, my COTD id 16d for the weird surface. Thanks to the setter, and to Mr K for hints.
Love learning a new word and here are 2 beauties at 13a 14d. Super puzzle, Mr Compiler, I thought 4d was excellent and ta for taking the time to hint, Mr K (despite no cats!).
Hi C
I agree with you about 4d. I forgot to put it on my podium as it’s a belter.
A step up in difficulty (as we’ve become accustomed to on a Friday) and an enjoyable solve – thanks to our setter and Mr K.
I ticked 23a, 28a and 6d with my favourite being the clever 4d.
I found this very difficult today but I enjoyed it.
My last two to fall were 13a and 14d; both contained something unknown to me.
Thanks to the setter and to MrK.
I honestly can’t say i enjoyed this Friday puzzle. Seemed more like toughie to me and not a typical Friday difficult back pager.
Some weird obscure words for me in this, reverse parsing not working for me, and some clues that seem non-sensical to me.
Not my cuppa in any way, shape or form.
Likely a Zandio production considering my troubles today
4*/1*
Favourites, (or clues that made sense to me), 12a, 26a, 6d, 17d — with winner 17d
Thanks to Zandio & Mr K.
The chewiest backpager for me in quite a long time, hugely satisfying to complete. The first half – widely scattered – went in gradually, before time & a brick wall both intervened. On returning, and correcting my spelling of 17d, the rest went in relatively swiftly, finishing with 5a.
Every clue scrupulously fair, but often devious and with a number of quite ‘strained’ surfaces. 13a new to me, taken on trust, and surprised to see afterwards that it was correct – thought it was Youf Slang until reading the BRB! Great lurker at 15a, and other highlights were 10a, 1d, 4d & 24d.
Great puzzle, thank you Setter & MrK
A few new words for me. I came to a halt with half a dozen clues remaining. They took as long as the rest of the puzzle. Good fun.
Have run out of time, and in truth, inspiration on this offering today with a bare half of the grid completed. I may give it another shot later but I fear it’s above my pay grade. Thanks to compiler for the brain mangling and Mr K for the hints that I will no doubt resort to later.
Enjoyable stuff albeit a bit tricky in places so it’s a ***/**** from me.
Have to confess I didn’t know that 25a was a child of King Minos but it was pretty clear once the checkers were in and my spelling of 17d had been put right!. LOI for me.
Fav was the splendid 4d which conjured up a probably treasonable image of His Majesty and Queen Camilla!
Many thanks to the setter and Mr K.
Tough and fairly humourless for me so I assume it’s an offering from Zandio. 4d raised a glimmer of a smile until I pictured the image of the scene!
Thanks to Zandio for the undoubted effort that went into this and also to Mr K for the review.
I really enjoyed this, with my favourites being 4d’s disrobed king, 2d’s cancelled film, and 14d’s obsessive type. It certainly kept me occupied for a while, but I didn’t find it anywhere near as tricky as, for instance, last Saturday’s prize backpager (where I needed to use many of CrypticSue’s hints).
Mr K, thank you for explaining 23d and 8d. I didn’t know the idiot in 3d (only the similar word ending in T).
Minos had many children, some recognised and others not. I still fail to understand why Friday’s crossword is almost always so difficult when the Toughie exists.
Hi AL
I could be wrong here but my guess is the harder crossword on Friday started before the toughie did. I assume there was a call for a harder crossword on a daily basis as people enjoyed Friday’s so much. If Friday’s was too tough then they would have binned it as opposed to creating one on a daily basis. So, it’s clearly a hit.
But, now there is a daily toughie, it doesn’t mean that the Friday one should then get easier…..does it? If people complained about Friday’s before the toughie existed, then they wouldn’t have created it. So, I reckon hardly anyone had an issue with it.
I think that no one would complain about Friday’s if there wasn’t a toughie.
Ok.Thanks. A reasonable explanation and I have to get used to the odd incomplete Friday, though today’s was particularly dreck.
Nice.
It’s such a great word.
Clearly it isn’t the case that the difficulty of all crosswords falls into exactly 2 levels. That some backpage crosswords are harder than others, it doesn’t follow that they are as hard as Toughie crosswords.
I’m confident that just as many (most?) solvers found today’s backpager trickier than, say, they often are on Mondays, most solvers would also find today’s Toughie harder again.† It does not make sense to say that the paper should never publish puzzles of this difficulty just because an even harder puzzle also exists.
Rejoice in the range of puzzles offered, something across the week to suit all tastes and levels — and that if your personal level changes, there’ll still be puzzles at that level. And if on any particular day there’s a puzzle that suits others but not you, be happy for them; there’ll be a new day with new puzzles along shortly.
† I’ve got a photo somewhere of a lurker from this site throttling Elgar, in response to the deviousness of his Toughies …
I rejoice in the DT Guzzle daily. Bring ‘em all on. It is imperative to my wellbeing, keeps me sane, keeps my brain active and the feeling when I have completed unaided is, well, let’s just say great 🥰🤭
‘Rejoice in the range of puzzles offered’
said Smylers. That says it all, but I can’t resist adding my silly thoughts about 7d:
‘He don’t have no lyin’ eyes
And his Smyle is no disguise
I thought by now we’d realise
There ain’t no way to hide our Smyler’s eyes.’
(Apologies to the bestest band (almost) ever).
Have to disagree. I cannot understand the reasons for publishing two tricky puzzles on the same day. That is catering to those with higher solving abilities and leaving nothing for us lesser mortals. It’s like going into a coffee shop, paying for a cappuccino yet being served an espresso, and still having to pay for it.
Sorry, BL but I have to disagree with you. (don’t hit me!!). Why should we expect a puzzle that we can solve every day? If we are not challenged we do not learn. I found today’s very tough but it is Friday and we all know that they get harder as the week progresses. However, I checked over the answers in the hints and saw how the setter worked his tricks. Hopefully, when I come across him again I will be more prepared.
As for the “Backpager v Toughie” debate, I don’t buy it. To me they are all crosswords. Some I will solve and some I will not. To me that is the fun of them. 😊
Sorry Steve, I have to disagree with you. Why should we expect a puzzle that we can solve everyday? Because where’s the fun in not being able to solve a crossword? Surely it depends on what you want from a crossword? Personally, I enjoy a solve, where the answers gradually reveal themselves to me, some of them make me chuckle and I can while away a pleasant half hour or so. I don’t want to spend a whole day having my brain mangled. The satisfaction comes from a completed grid.
I think both Alastair and Busy Lizzie have a point and if you read the comments, quite a few people found this puzzle tough and not particularly enjoyable ergo, for them it’s a toughie.
Personally, I tend not to do Friday’s crosswords now, favouring a toughie from earlier in the week. I’m not especially keen on Zandio or Silvanus’s setting style, that’s not a criticism of them, as plenty of people do.
Totally agree, Smylers. 👍
Perhaps it is all down to sales? Set the hardest crossword of the week on Friday and see how many buy the paper on Saturday to see the solution!
I think they are all vying to be known as the paper with the toughest puzzles. Matters not one wit what the subscribers think.
I really struggled with this only doing 50% before having to turn to Mr K. After that I changed to a red pen so I can see the ones I struggled with. With which I struggled. I am such a sad person! I really liked some of the ones I accomplished ’by my own’ – 4, 6,16,17&18d and 20,11,17a. I never like to say that I did not like the guzzle, because it must be so disheartening for a setter when people blame the crosssword for their inability to crack it. But it is not often I need so much help. Someone has just said it was easier than last week’s prize and yet I sailed through that. I guess it is a good job we are all different!
Thanks th Messrs Setter & Kay and to the kitty providers. Has anyone seen the AI kitten singing some song which seems to be Don’t you love me like I love you, Baby? It is repulsive and probably violates RSPA rules for protection of animals – yet it is strangely appealing. That worries me!
Today was a back to school day for me with this one. I tried all my usual tricks including leaving and returning but just kept grinding to a halt. In the end I used the hints to help me get to the end. I did not know the word in 13a and a few of the synonyms eg 14d were new to me.
I did not have the satisfaction of completing it unaided but did learn a lot along the way.
Many thanks to the setter and to Mr K for the essential hints.
A late & laboured solve. Did contemplate tackling it on the phone between teeing golfers off but it was too cold to take the mittens off as the wind chill made the weather seem positively Baltic. Once completed & fully parsed I thought perhaps I’d made a bit of a meal of it but if the likes of Senf, MG &RD remark on the difficulty no wonder I was into ***time. The obsessive type rang a bell but 13a needed post solve confirmation & will be my new stock response to enquiries about how well I played on the course. Can’t say I knew 25a’s old man but could have had a correct punt on her other half & also remembered it was the name of the yacht in Buchan’s The 39 Steps. Top 3 for me were 23&28a along with 6d. Certainly enjoyed the puzzle more than some others.
Thanks to the setter (Zandio I suspect) & to Mr K.
I see Sue has rated the Elgar Toughie *****+++ for difficulty – think I’ll press reveal all & see how many I can understand.
I’m barely two-thirds of the way through the Toughie, struggling all the way, desperately hoping for inspiration & PDMs, and think Sue is being somewhat benign in only rating it *****+++ … !
Tough for me. I still can’t parse 8d, where does weak mean vigil? Not in any of my dictionaries. My general knowledge failed me, although I did eventually finish.
Its wake (vigil) containing an e (east) in front of st (street)
Took me ages to see it too.
Bob. I think you should consider the Irish bigil for the departed and then look at it again.
The vigil is wake around e for east
Thanks all finally got it I was looking for an extra e
Pretty competitive for a Friday, I thought, and it certainly took a while to complete. It was very fairly clued, though, so I have no complaints, with 23a my favourite. I am not sure I can face the Elgar right now…….
Many thanks to, presumably Zandio for the challenge, and to Mr K.
Jolly difficult and didn’t get any at the first run through. Slowly slowly and every more slowly it came together but it was not a heap of fun, sorry. Thanks to all.
Enjoyed this, about right for a Friday. 4d gets my vote.
Thanks to today’s setter and Mr K.
I didn’t start this until quite late (for me) and really struggled. Looking back at some which gave me difficulty I can’t see why they did but hindsight is a wonderful thing. 13a was a new word for me and it took ages to get the simple 12a as I couldn’t think of a 4 letter drink (there are probably loads of them!). Got there in the end though.
Top picks for me were 15a, 26a, 18d and 4d.
Thanks to Mr K and the setter.
Ive just finished this at the third sitting. Didn’t help myself by spelling pharaoh incorrectly which made the daughter impossible as Im only aware of the one beginning with A. New words at 13a and 14d also upped the difficulty.
5*/2*
Too brain mangling to be particularly enjoyable today although i have 4d, 6d and 23a as favourites.
Thank you Mr K and ?Zandio for the workout.
I am learning new words every day. I got 13a and then had to look it up to see if it really meant rubbish. Looking forward to an easier weekend.
Definitely tricksiest of the week, learnt a couple of new words and also had to check the parsing of a few.
Favourites 1a, 4d and 6d
Many thanks to setter and Mr K
Was looking forward to this after returning from our biweekly breakfast out and shopping, but sadly disappointed. Could not even get a toe hold. Not a surprise though as yesterday’s was above my pay grade and I suspected today’s would be no kinder. Congrats to Mr K for solving this, and hats off to all who made it to the finish line. If I read every hint I am sure I could have got there, but no satisfaction in solving that way. Think I’ll go and do the ironing instead.
Sadly out my league today…how you guys get some of these…amazing work…well done solver….Swallow…once I cheated and saw the answer I didnt continue bottom half….always makes sense though when I see the answer…just me being thick..🤣🤣
Quite a beastie today. Solved all but 5 clues in the NE. For me not to get 12a is laughable considering the drink is rather a favourite of mine.
Thanks to all.
Two thirds done and then turned to the always helpful Mr K. But all clues are fair and the mountain range is an outstanding clue. Thank you compiler
Good morning.
Forgot to check in yesterday – mind you, that might be to do with the sheer brain-mangling challenge of yesterday’s crozzie. Far be it from me to disagree with our esteemed blogger, but this was a fiveser, for sure!
I got there in the end. I will take a punt on this being the work of the Mind of Zandio. My thanks to our setter and to Mr K.
Thanks to the setter and to Mr Kitty for the review. This was way too difficult for me. Needed 11 hints to finish. Just couldn’t work any of them out. Was 5* / 3* for me.
Really difficult puzzle, which I’m not sure I enjoyed. I’m probably annoyed at myself for not seeing the 15a reverse lurker.
MR K’s help needed today, so many thanks.
Worked on this on and off at various times over the weekend but solved less than 2/3rds. Very tough but some satisfaction when each time I went back I eventually found another answer (until now, Sunday evening, when I’ve given up). Also, some reassurance when I read the difficulties encountered by others, which were the same as mine. No chance with 13a (never heard of it ) and 27a (understand what it means but has it ever been used, apart from in crosswords). Thanks to the setter but almost too difficult for me as a newcomer: not convinced I will always attempt Fridays, particularly if I have a busy weekend.
I think the crossword editor deliberately mixes the Toughie with the back page cryptic. On more than one occasion, the toughie has been solved by me with my limited knowledge if the classics, but the back page one remained a mystery. Did not attempt to prove the point on this one as I have too much else in my life to occupy me. Like others – the joy is in solving the puzzle, not by being proved to be of lesser intellect than the setter.
I think the crossword editor deliberately mixes the Toughie with the back page cryptic. On more than one occasion, the toughie has been solved by me with my limited knowledge if the classics, but the back page one remained a mystery. Did not attempt to prove the point on this one as I have too much else in my life to occupy me. Like others – the joy is in solving the puzzle, not by being proved to be of lesser intellect than the setter.