Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30848
Hints and tips by Senf
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty */** – Enjoyment ****
A very good Wednesday morning from Winnipeg where we are in the deep freeze producing ideal conditions for this year’s Festival du Voyageur which begins on Friday. The Nestaweya Skating Trail is now in full operation; more impressive than Ottawa’s Rideau Canal Skateway as the rivers continue to flow under the ice while that in Ottawa is on ‘static’ water in a partially drained canal.
For me, etc (I have to say that for Terence), this was a very entertaining Monday on a Wednesday puzzle. Once again, I am not going to hazard a guess as to who the setter might be; almost certainly not a Toombarloom (a tribute to Merusa) production as he has claimed Monday’s back pager.
Candidates for favourite – 1a, 14a, 23a, 1d, 5d, and 17d.
In the hints below, the definitions are underlined. The answers are hidden under the Click here! buttons, so don’t click if you don’t want to see them.
Please leave a comment telling us what you thought.
Across
1a Refuse to acknowledge row about pig (6)
DISOWN: A synonym of row (as in excessive noise) containing (about) a female pig.
4a A bit of profit I repaid over a pre-dinner drink (8)
APERITIF: A reversed lurker (a bit of . . . over) found in the words ‘sandwiched’ by the indicator.
10a Committed a final act at work (9)
FANATICAL: An anagram (at work) of A FINAL ACT.
11a Sweet former pupil returned a gong (5)
BOMBE: The reversal (returned) of the abbreviated form of a former (male) pupil and a ‘gong’ usually awarded to deserving recipients twice a year.
12a Toast failure of heroic English, at first (7)
CHEERIO: An anagram (failure) of HEROIC and the first letter of English.
13a Examine six-footer eating quietly (7)
INSPECT: A six footed member of the natural world containing (eating) the letter for musically quiet.
14a Old Margaret – a character right to the end? (5)
OMEGA: The single letter for Old, a diminutive form of Margaret, and A from the clue.
15a Nice perhaps to follow story displaying wisdom (8)
SAGACITY: This very much depends on the pronunciation of Nice – what Nice is an example of (perhaps) on the other side of the English Channel placed after (to follow) a type of story (of heroic deeds?).
18a Dollars stolen – might this provide police lead? (8)
BUCKSHOT: An informal synonym of dollars and an informal synonym of stolen.
20a Bishop wears sack cloth (5)
FIBRE: The single letter for Bishop inserted into (wears) a synonym of sack (as in terminate employment).
23a Chatter from actors that might be forced? (7)
RHUBARB: Nonsensical chatter or a vegetable that is ‘forced’ in growing.
25a Lone Ranger’s sidekick smuggling gold in provincial capital (7)
TORONTO: The name of the Long Ranger’s sidekick containing (smuggling) heraldic gold.
26a Wrapped cut, say (5)
WOUND: A double definition – the second can occur anywhere on the human body.
27a Newspaper columnist dealing with painful relations? (5,4)
AGONY AUNT: An adviser such as Marjorie Proops.
28a Christmas Brynner film idea unfinished (8)
YULETIDE: The first name of Mr Brynner, our favourite two letter film, and IDEa with the last letter removed (unfinished).
29a Poor result for island province (6)
ULSTER: An anagram (poor) of RESULT – A geography lesson – the answer is one of the four traditional or historic provinces of the unnamed island in the clue. It is made up of nine counties: six of these constitute a part of the UK.
Down
1d Fed up clergyman ignoring Republican traitor (8)
DEFECTOR: The reversal (up) of FED and a type of clergyman with one of the single letters for Republican deleted (ignoring).
2d Genuine saint incorporated before (7)
SINCERE: The single letter for Saint, the abbreviated form of incorporated, and the literary form of before.
3d That which distinguishes a quality paper? (9)
WATERMARK: Nothing to do with a ‘quality newspaper’ – what can be seen when a sheet of quality paper is held up to the light.
5d Place where I make the sign of the cross every once in a while (7,7)
POLLING STATION: I can’t help thinking that one or two of our company might have had a conniption when they saw ‘sign of the cross’ in the clue – however, the place is where one goes to exercise one’s civic duty once in a while.
6d Puzzle concerning U-boat surfacing (5)
REBUS: The two letter Latin based term for concerning and the reversal (surfacing) of an abbreviation of the generic term for a U-boat.
7d European politician in trial storm (7)
TEMPEST: The three letter abbreviation for a European politician inserted into (in) a synonym of trial (not in court).
8d Party held in Alfie’s tavern (6)
FIESTA: A lurker (held in) found in two words in the clue.
9d As bishop may move, affecting everyone (6-3-5)
ACROSS-THE-BOARD: A double definition – nothing more that I can add.
16d Cola Freya ordered in old Regent St landmark (4,5)
CAFÉ ROYAL: An anagram (ordered) of COLA FREYA – apparently ‘old Regent Street’ refers to the original Regent Street in London, designed by architect John Nash in the early 19th century, which was largely rebuilt in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
17d Result of global warming, it’s commonly said, for aquatic mammal (3,5)
SEA OTTER: A statement of one result of global warming with an aspirate, as the first letter of the second word, removed (it’s commonly said).
19d Remarkable peacekeepers with habitual drink? (7)
UNUSUAL: The two letters for peacekeepers and a term for one’s habitual drink.
21d Macbeth’s general fails to finish extremely elegant meal (7)
BANQUET: I was able to ‘bung this in’ without any knowledge of The Scottish Play but I did look it up afterwards – the name of a general in said play with the last letter of his name deleted (fails to finish) and the outer letters (extremely) of EleganT.
22d Muscular supporter, oddly windy (6)
BRAWNY: More ladies unmentionables – the abbreviated form of a supporter used by ladies and the odd letters of WiNdY.
24d Check German car temperature (5)
AUDIT: A German car brand and the single letter for Temperature.
Quick Crossword Pun:
GOAL + DEN + HARE = GOLDEN HAIR
That was an unexpected but pleasant surprise for a Wednesday. The theme related to underwear persists with clue 22d. Food and beverage references are prominently featured in clues 4a, 11a, 23a, 16d, and 21d. Overall, it was an enjoyable puzzle, with my favorite clue being the one regarding stolen dollars at 18a.
Thank you to the setter for the engaging puzzle, and thank you to Senf for the helpful hints.
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I didn’t write the above. My post was altered by AI to what it thought I should say! Obviously the robot is American. 😊
This was remarkably straightforward for a midweek puzzle, with very little delay in running through the grid to a completion. Yet it still had some excellent clues, foremost among which was 18a, as per my Salopian neighbour at #1.
Thanks to our Wednesday setter and to Senf.
A light and pleasant puzzle. My pick of the day is 23a, because our (unforced) plant in the front garden is coming along nicely, despite last month’s snow smothering it just as the shoots had started to appear.
In 2d I got caught out by the single-letter abbreviation for Saint.
And after we learnt in Rookie Corner last week that it’s unreasonable to expect solvers to know a pub in Oxford, I was surprised to discover in 16d we are expected to know a café in London. I mean, London’s massive — it must contain hundreds of cafés! More London-centric bias from our mainstream media!!
It is probably one of the most famous cafes in the world !
Not in Yorkshire it ain’t.
The 16d was hardly your run-of-the-mill greasy spoon caff, Smylers … for many decades it was one of the most famous restaurants in London, just as Maxim’s in Paris still is. While it closed 17 years ago, a hotel now uses the same name and it remains on the original site.
Yes, but did Inspector Morse ever frequent it?
I’m teasing. I’d probably heard of today’s London venue — certainly its name was obvious from the crossing letters and the anagram material, so it was likely lurking somewhere in my mind.
(But until Bettys features in a clue, I’ll continue to be suspicious that there’s a London bias in solvers’ expected general knowledge …)
Hi S
I wouldn’t say bias.
It’s just that most world capitals have the majority of famous landmarks and places that people visit.
It’s purely a numbers game.
I often think it’s going a bit far when setters include London post codes, though. Many of us would be flummoxed by much beyond W1.
SW19 might pass muster (for some).
What about E17 made famous by E17?
EC for The City of London often makes an appearance.
Beautiful venue. Been there so many times it was just round the corner from my father’s office and my parents had wedding anniversary parties there! And a very smart clue!
Sadly I never visited it. My father worked just off Regent Street, and his cafe of choice was the Ceylon Tea Rooms – we went there several times…
Also a favourite haunt of Oscar Wilde
A very light surprise earlier this morning for a Wednesday back-pager, but nonetheless a most enjoyable puzzle. Podium places to 18a, 16d (good surface!) & 2d.
Many thanks to Setter & Senf.
A shout-out to today’s excellent not-very-Toughie from Django: it’s very approachable and rewards the effort.
A very gentle and thoroughly enjoyable puzzle, solved in a somewhat haphazard fashion but with no hold-ups. No overall favourite but podium places for the bored vicar at 1d, the cleverly misleading 5d and the stolen money at 18a. Thanks to our setter and Self.
Fairly straightforward today. The only delay was at 29a where it took me a while to get that poor was an anagram indicator. I quite liked 28a. Thanks to the setter and for the hints.
Very enjoyable and a nice surprise for a Wednesday in that I finished already. 18a was my favourite once ai figured it out!
Many thanks to the setter and to Senf for the hints.
Well, that was a pleasant surprise. I fairly roared through this one with no hold-ups.
I love the verb ‘forced’ in 23a – a new one on me and I always hear myself saying ‘a pair of teeth’ when I see 4a. Having got 14a, I wondered if 3d ended with a quality paper (‘a FT’). But, I thought….surely not?
My podium is 1d, 5d (got me like a kipper) and 21d.
Many thanks to the kind setter and the Manitoban mountie.
1*/4*
‘Forced’ in 23a is an adjective. Naturally rhubarb grown outside is available for picking late spring and summer. Yorkshire Forced Rhubarb is moved into sheds with no light, which forces it to come up earlier (in search of light, presumably), so it’s available in shops right now. It’s a PDO, so can only be labelled as such if it comes from the Rhubarb Triangle.
Splendid. Thank you.
In Yorkshire they force plants
To help them to advance,
Oh, how cruel it seems
In vegan people’s dreams.
Like it, Pipsqueak.
Every year it is worth going to if nearby
2.5*/3.5*. For me, this was a strangely unbalanced puzzle. After I drew a complete blank starting in the NW, the other three quarters fell into place smoothly and quickly. With hindsight I can’t see why but the NW continued to hold out for some time until it too finally succumbed.
I have only ever thought of 12a as meaning “goodbye”, but I see in the BRB it can also be used instead of “cheers”.
18a has an amusing definition and 5d is my favourite.
I’m in a risk taking mood today, so I am going to take a punt on X-Type as the setter. Thanks to him (or whoever else it might be) and to Senf.
I think X-Type might be a good shout, RD.
An enjoyable midweek puzzle – thanks to our setter and Senf.
I’m not sure why ‘police’ features in 18a; I suppose it adds marginally to the surface reading but the clue would work perfectly well without it.
Top clues for me were 1a, 23a and 27a.
I thought it was because yesteryear law enforcement officers from the western US states loaded their shotguns with it
Very light but enjoyable nevertheless and 17d made me laugh. Like Gazza, I wondered about “police” in 18a, although not a problem either way. Thanks very much to the setter and to Senf. I’m almost tempted to visit Canada next winter to see some of the festivities that have been shown in this blog.
A fairly gentle offering for a Wednesday but quite enjoyable, although I dislike 12a being used as a toast. Top marks here went to 1&15a plus 5&17d.
Thanks to our setter and to Senf for the review – I guess you’ll be out on your ice skates today?
I tend.yo agree – the only toast I like is to the King or good health!
A very dear old friend of mine always used 12a as a toast rather than a way of saying goodbye. It always struck me as a bit odd at the time, but I got used to it and I am not at all surprised to see him justified in Chambers. RIP, Cess.
Lovely puzzle BTW. Thank you setter and Senf.
I find myself unable to do the puzzle today as the app won’t allow it
Is anyone else having the same problem?
I even paid extra to subscribe again but it still won’t recognise me.
I’ve now asked Apple for a refund
As others have said a surprisingly gentle and enjoyable puzzle for a Wednesday completed with no holdups. I always think the underwear first now whenever I see the word supporter and 22d did not disappoint. Thanks to the setter and Senf.
I think the week’s going backwards, normally the puzzles get progressively harder as the week passes – just the opposite so far this week – so obviously Friday’s puzzle’s going to be a doddle 😀
Still, a very enjoyable offering today */****
Thanks to Senf and the setter
For me, and I stress for me (© Senf), this was rather a jolly guzzle, with some bung-em-ins helping with a few of the trickier glues. Good work, setter!
Yesterday evening – a tale of two sides to London.
We popped along to the AGM of The Rectory Society (we tend to live on the wild side of life), of which I am a member, where we enjoyed a splendid discussion between two highly intelligent fellows – A.N. Wilson and Charles Moore. All very cheery.
After H enjoyed a couple of glasses of red, and I drank a sip of the elderflower water, we tootled off to our pre-arranged and pre-booked supper at one of the more well known establishments along the Kings Road.
Me (at 8.55pm): Hello, we’re booked in for 9.00pm
Insouciant Youth: Kitchen closes at 9
Me: But I have a confirmed booking. I received an email.
Insouciant Youth: I’m not in charge of the system.
H and I walk out into the chilly Chelsea evening, looking for alternative dining.
This is modern London for you. I will be emailing the head honcho of this place. I bet I receive a bland, draft response and a voucher of some sort.
Thanks to the setter and The Man From Manitoba
A bright and breezy puzzle for a damp Wednesday which has cheered things up nicely. Many could make the podium, but I’ll plump for 12a, 23a and 7d. Thanks to compiler and Senf.
Fairly mild for a Wednesday but enjoyable enough. No stand-out favourite clue though I rather liked 23a. 2*/3*.
* I found this on YouTube the other day, a rather catchy song from Lola Young whom I’ve never encountered before:
It’s the current number 1 single in the UK — you’re clearly on trend, Jose!
Not really, I had no idea it was so current! This is a cracking live version, much better than the official studio video. She’s a great vocalist.
The full parsing at 23a was somewhat lost on me as the only thing I know about it is that it’s yummy in a good crumble with cream or custard. Never given it any thought but wouldn’t have staked my last penny on is it a fruit or a vegetable & certainly wasn’t familiar with the concept of forced growing but I know now. Unlike Jane I rather like 12a as a toast – it strikes me as something the upper classes say before they knock back a drop of vintage Krug. As for the puzzle – delightfully straightforward & thoroughly enjoyable which enabled my first sub 1.5* time finish in a wee while. 9d was my pick as the surface, probably unintentionally, alluded to the current shenanigans engulfing the church.
Thanks to the setter (Donny maybe) & to Senf for the review & pics. Hadn’t heard that America tune in a long while.
Good afternoon
Well, crikey, I mean, I’m not one to brag, but I got on the 13:05 at Didcot to get to Padd for work; I started the crozzie just before Reading, and we’re now approaching Padd and I’m done! Some days, they just click into place. Other days….well, you know!
Thank you to our setter for an enjoyable grid, and thanks to Senf.
Loved 18 and 25 across. First one I’ve done easily in days!! Been struggling a bit lately.
A perfect crossword for this who say they cannot do cryptic. It more or less did exactly what was on the tin. I’m amazed that done of my idols don’t know about forcing rhubarb! I thought we were a nation of gardeners. Speaking of which, if there was one plant I would recommend it is the winter flowering clematis Jingle Bells. It has been in flower for weeks and you can pick it and bring it indoors. Sheer joy. As was the guzzle of course and so many ticks 5d 14a 20a the rhubarb and the dear old Cafe Royal. Many thanks to the happy Setter and my man in a red scarf.
Here are the Jingle Bells
That’s beautiful, DG. Is it easy to grow?
Lovely picture Daisygirl. I might be tempted to try and get one for our south-facing house wall, Will check it out. When I was a girl we had a long garden and the last third of it was full of fruit trees and bushes. We had a patch for rhubarb and we covered them with old metal buckets to ‘force them’.
Excellent puzzle, first class. All the answers made sense when solved, such a nice change from some puzzles of late!
More like this for me please.
**/*****
The to all
I found this Wednesday puzzle this week much easier than normal so as Senf says it is likely not a Twmbarlwm production this week.
2*/3.5* for me
Favourites 29a, 1d, 5d, 9d, 17d, & 19d — with winner 17d
Smiles from1a, 14a, 25a, & 22d
Thanks to setter & Senf
I gave up on the NW and then went clockwise around the grid with 3d my last one. Lots of smiles on the way.
Top picks for me were 17d (love those creatures and was lucky enough to see one in Canada), 18a, 23a (can’t get enough of the stuff) and 14a.
Thanks to Senf and the setter.
I agree with Terence – this was a “rather jolly guzzle”. I’m also reminded that I also need to go and check on my (unforced) plant to see how it’s coming on. Thanks to the setter and Senf.
I was pleasantly surprised at my progress with this puzzle today; definitely easier than usual, but a good one nevertheless. Thanks to Senf and setter.
Last evening the partly-done Quickie refused to re-open, so I deleted and reloaded the App and it’s changed! No lady waving her flag on completion but ?confetti raining down and the puzzles are in a slightly different order. Sorry if this has been mentioned already.
At last Monday’s crossword has arrived 🤗 must have come by Royal Mail 🤔 ***/****
Favourites 28a, 5d & 9d 😃 Thanks to the Compiler and to Senf👍
I really enjoyed today’s puzzle and completed 3/4 of it in good time but it all came together nicely in the end. Many thanks to the setter and Senf.
As others have said couldn’t get a start in the NW, but rattled through from the NE going clockwise. Plenty of excellent clues including 5d, 16d and 23a. Agree with others about the London centric cafe clue but had to be with the checkers.
1* / 4*
Thanks to Senf + setter
Sped through this very quickly but unfortunately, needed the hints for 11a and 29a. As pleasantly surprised as everyone that it is a Wednesday. I actually knew that rhubarb was forced but did not know it was used to describe chatter – but still solved the clue. Favourites 5d (for the humour) and 18a (for the construction). **/*** . Thanks to setter and Senf.
Pretty straightforward for a Wednesday and like others NW last in. Lots to like. Favourite, by a distance, was 5d, there were other contenders though. Thanks to the setter and Senf.
As Merusa might have said, this was right up my straße. Thank you setter Y and Senf.
2*/4* …
liked 5D “Place where I make the sign of the cross every once in a while (7,7)”