DT 30864 – Big Dave's Crossword Blog
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DT 30864

by Falcon  

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30864

Hints and tips by Falcon

+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +

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

Greetings from Ottawa, where a brief spell of temperatures hovering around the freezing point has been superseded by temperatures in the negative mid-teens (Celsius).

Until proven wrong, I will attribute this very enjoyable puzzle to Robyn. After the appearance of a second pun at the end the Quickie two weeks ago, I was on the lookout today for evidence of a revival of this Campbell practice. I thought for a moment there might be one present today, but discarded the notion when I realized that one of the words from the grid would simply be used ‘as is’ in the resulting pun. So, although there is sort of a partial pun, I don’t consider it to be a true pun.

Look closely and you may find a clue somewhere in the blog revealing what I will be doing today.

In the hints below, underlining identifies precise definitions and cryptic definitions, FODDER is capitalized, and indicators are italicized. The answers will be revealed by clicking on the ANSWER buttons.

Please leave a comment telling us what you thought of the puzzle.

Across

1a   Politician and pilot more relaxed, according to Spooner (4,7)
KEIR STARMER — apply the Spooner treatment to a phrase consisting of a verb synonym of pilot and a word meaning more relaxed

9a   Crowd has regularly ignored closing bars (4)
CODA — select one of the alternating sequences of letters (by ignoring the other) from CROWD HAS

10a   Madman uses unusual European alias (7,4)
ASSUMED NAME — an anagram (unusual) of the first two words of the clue plus the single letter for European

11a   Reportedly torch Swiss city (4)
BERN — sounds like (reportedly) another word for torch

14a   Support the new seer (7)
PROPHET — another word for support and an anagram (new) of THE (thank you to Matthew Williams for bringing the error in the hint to my attention)

16a   Set aside ravioli so latecomer eats (7)
ISOLATE — a lurker hiding in (eats) three words in the clue

17a   Elderly detective right to leave wood (5)
MAPLE — remove the letter designating right from the name of Agatha Christie’s elderly spinster sleuth

18a   Item of clothing couple picked up – and again! (4)
TUTU — two instances (again) of a letter combination that sounds like (picked up by the ear) a word meaning couple

19a   I perform with large star (4)
IDOL — string together I from the clue, perform or carry out, and the clothing symbol for large

20a   Start to scoff fruit and asparagus? (5)
SPEAR — the initial letter of (start to) SCOFF and a juicy fruit

22a   Letter from English student found in skiing area (7)
EPISTLE — insert the single letter for English and the usual student driver into a ski trail

23a   Stretch Germany before first goal (7)
DISTEND — line up the IVR code for Germany, a letter combination that looks like an alphanumeric representation of first, and a goal or objective

24a   Bore Doctor and Silver (4)
DRAG — the honorific for a Doctor and the chemical symbol for silver

28a   Go back in a flash (5,6)
SPLIT SECOND — a slang expression for go or depart and back or support

29a   Prepare to shoot bird (4)
COCK — double definition

30a   Sequence of prisoners go free (11)
PROGRESSION — an anagram (free) of the two words preceding the indicator

Down

2d   Comfort stop when caught out (4)
EASE — a verb synonym of stop with the cricket notation for caught removed (out)

3d   Run away in defeat (4)
ROUT — the cricket notation for run and away or not present

4d   Article with more complicated proposition (7)
THEOREM — a grammatical article and an anagram (complicated) of MORE

5d   Group demanding NI reduction somewhat upset (4)
RING — a lurker concealed (somewhat) and reversed (upset) in the three words following the definition

6d   All together in Paris? (2,5)
EN MASSE — a cryptic definition of a French expression (although commonly seen in English) meaning all together

7d   Veal cooked with old hen’s fat (4,7)
LOVE HANDLES — an anagram (cooked) of all of VEAL and (with) OLD HENS

8d   Delicate creature, description of Mona Lisa? (7,4)
PAINTED LADY — the name of this creature might conjure up an image of the da Vinci masterpiece

12d   Unexpectedly, kids coped eating dry pudding (7,4)
SPOTTED DICK — an anagram (unexpectedly) of KIDS COPED containing the letters denoting dry or abstainer; having never heard of the dessert, I played with the letters until they produced the answer and thought “Surely not!”

13d   Deceitful plan from criminal I can convert (11)
CONTRIVANCE — an anagram (criminal) of the final three words of the clue

15d   Greek character exercises in shade (5)
TAUPE — a character from the Greek alphabet and exercises forming part of a school schedule

16d   Story in film uncovered the first year of Christ’s life? (5)
ILIAD — the interior letters (uncovered) of FILM and a (1,2) sequence of letters that resemble the date corresponding to the first year of Christ’s life

20d   Spy who’s gone off? (7)
SLEEPER — a cryptic definition of a dormant intelligence operative

21d   Sally‘s film turned up after trip to timeless south (7)
RIPOSTE — a reversal (turned up) of Crosswordland’s favourite Spielberg film follows TRIP TO with all the abbreviations for time removed (timeless); the definition is verbal in nature

25d   Faction in debt with nothing to lose (4)
WING — remove the letter resembling a numeric representation of nothing (with nothing to lose) from a word meaning “in debt”

26d   Book shows (4)
ACTS — double definition; sorry, Brian, but the book is religious in nature

27d   Home and Foreign Office news cut short (4)
INFO — home or present at one’s place of residence and the abbreviation for Foreign Office

My favourite clue was the delicate creature at 8d. The award for most audacious clue goes to the dry pudding at 12d which conjured up an image in my juvenile mind of something I would prefer not to put in my mouth.

Quickie Pun (click here for explanation): Top row: SCENTS + ABLE = SENSIBLE

Among those celebrating a birthday today is Jennifer Warnes who was born on this day in 1947. She is an American singer and songwriter who has performed as a vocalist on a number of film soundtracks and also known for her collaborations with Canadian singer/songwriter Leonard Cohen. She has won two Grammy Awards, in 1983 for the Joe Cocker duet “Up Where We Belong”, and in 1987 for the Bill Medley duet “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life”. The latter which was used as the theme song for the 1987 film Dirty Dancing has won a number of awards, including the Academy Award for Best Original Song, the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song, and the Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals.

62 comments on “DT 30864”

  1. I found today’s a little on the tough side and it was a bit cruel to begin with a spoonerism! Still, I made it to the line in the end despite being a bit battered and bruised. I grow the vegetable at 20a so I had no trouble with that and I liked Mona Lisa’s delicate creature at 8d. My COTD is the flash at 28a.

    The top pun in the Quickie didn’t quite work for me but the bottom one did.

    Thank you, setter for the Monday challenge. Thank you, Falcon for the hints.

  2. 1a made me chuckle and a relatively easy Spoonerism and my COTD in this */*** Monday fare. The nice long anagrams were good and the whole exercise flowed well. Thank you Falcon and our setter – Robyn if it is he.

  3. Good start to rhe week with this puzzle. My heart also sank initially with the spoonerism, but this was quite gettable. Along with this I liked 8d and 20d, my LOI. Thanks to the setter, and for the hints.

  4. Now you have found a recipe for 12d you will probably have to use the cold snap to ice skate until you work off the 7d😃
    12d is a much loved pudding here but not surprised it hasn’t crossed the pond

  5. I also thought this had the definite feel of a Robyn puzzle & a very enjoyable kick off to the new week it was too. A brisk completion with minimal head scratching. Clear fav was the very topical Spoonerism & the words of advice in the surface for what’s required of him in the current choppy political waters. I found the Quick puzzle more difficult to complete as without the help of wordplay the description of the eagle’s beak took a while to twig.
    Thanks to the setter & to Falcon – I’m not too familiar with Jennifer Warnes but included her excellent interpretation of a Tom Waits song in a covers playlist of his stuff I recently put together.

  6. I pity you, Falcon, for missing out on English school dinners of which 14d, along with jam roly-poly was a regular offering. It took me far too long to sort out the spoonerism as I was looking for a generic rather than a specific politician and 3d did not spring immediately to mind. I really enjoyed this even though the quantity of four letter clues, which I always struggle with, produced much head scratching. Favourite today was 21d, my type of clue, with podium places for 18a and 23a. Thanks to our setter ( last time I attributed a puzzle to Robyn I was wrong!) and to Falcon.

        1. Yes, I liked that. Much more preferable to SD. That probably sank while trying to cross the pond from what I remember of it. Didn’t mind tapioca with jam either

    2. We do have steamed puddings here but not by that name which strikes me — not as a dessert — but as a reason to visit a sexual health clinic.

  7. A relatively light but very enjoyable start to the week, with the N falling into place more quickly than the S, largely because of the excellent 1a. 28a and 8d would complete my podium. Thanks very much to the setter and to Falcon for the hints from a place where spring is clearly further away than it seems to be in the English home counties this morning.

  8. An enjoyable puzzle (though I’d be surprised if it’s a Robyn production) – thanks to our setter and Falcon.
    I liked 1a, 28a and the amusing 2d.

  9. Like Steve I found it hard ro get a start on this guzzle until I found one of my favourites, the delicate creature at 8d. Things moved more qyickly as the checkers went in and i loved the two anagrams, the pudding at 12d and the resukts of eating too much of it at 7d . Thanks to Falcon for the hints and to the compiler for a challenging but intriguing guzzle.

  10. Relatively straightforward guzzle today. 1a was my LOI as I too was looking for a generic rather than a person. I note that Falcon’s picture of said gentleman shows him wearing one of the hideously expensive pair of ‘donated’ spectacles! Mine cost £3.99 from a corner shop. Anyway, thanks to our setter and to Falcon.

    1. I am so sorry you had trouble booking at The Tickell – we have never had that experience . Did you know it in ‘the old days’ when it was run by Squire Tickell, behind the bar in a leopard skin loincloth and very little else. Always playing classical music and squirting a soda syphon at anyone who dared to light a cigarette. I could talk to you for an hour about his exploits, his scarlet lined opera cape and top hat which he wore to the Arts Theatre Club every Monday night. Scurrilous stories! George had some business deals with him so we knew him fairly well and he was a darling but a Character with a capital C. Don’t you dare come this close again without letting me know!!

  11. A lovely puzzle to start the week. I feared the worst whit it started with a spoonerism but it was unfounded and it all went in without a hitch. The hint for 14a may need some adjusting as part of the answer is in the hint – not another word for it.

    Thanks to the setter and to Falcon for the hints

    1. Thank you for pointing out the faux pas. I’m afraid I am not a first time offender – but then I suspect few bloggers have avoided ever making this error.

  12. I found this as straightforward as they come, and just right for a busy sunny morning. I am not normally a fan of Spoonerisms but today’s was a cracker and my favourite.

    Thanks to our Monday setter and Falcon.

  13. Another great start to the week that had it all.

    I’ve never heard of the flighty 8d and had to drag up 15d from the depths of my memory vault. The parsing of 21d would sit very nicely in a Friday crossy.

    My podium is 1a, 28a (very nice) and 7d (an excellent anagram and I love the term)

    Many thanks to the super setter and Falcon.

    2*/5*

    PS If you haven’t seen it, take a look at MichaelR’s comment in yesterday’s crossy under my post (#6). Very funny.

  14. Ah, my grandmother’s version of 12d boiled in a muslin cloth was a sheer delight. An English Proustian delight. Mind you, too much and 7d will result. This was a great start to the week even with a Spoonerism to start. My podium comprises 12d, 7d and 8d in top spot. Thanks to compiler and Falcon.

  15. I found this trickier than usual for a Monday, though still fairly enjoyable if not particularly memorable and for that reason I don’t think it’s a Robyn production as his often are.
    **/***
    Thanks to setter and Falcon

  16. Gentle start to the week with a very early favourite in 1a. 8d takes silver, love the winged creature but have never found anything to admire about the artwork.
    Thanks to our setter and to Falcon for the review.

  17. A lovely puzzle. 1a was my LOI as I usually leave the dreaded Spooner to last if I can.

    Top picks for me were 8d, 28a and 14a.

    Thanks to Falcon and the setter.

    I can’t work out what you are doing today Falcon unless it is eating 12d while wearing a 18a and writing a 22a under a 10a.

    1. Interesting guess as to what I am doing today. The latter part of your suggestion well describes what I did last evening (the puzzle was available here at 7:00 pm yesterday). However, I missed out on the dessert and I assure you I was not wearing an 18a. As for today, scroll further down in the blog and carefully read the opening phrase in the intro to the video.

  18. I found this trickier than the average Monday, struggled with spooner unusually but got there in the end. 3* / 3*
    Favourites 28a and 1a
    Thanks to setter and Falcon

  19. I thought this was tough going for a Monday, especially starting with Reverend Spooner at 1a which was my last in… causing a groan .. both from the wordplay and for the subject in question, didn’t he get enough coverage inside the paper?
    Cotd 7d but two small words in the SW corner raised a smile, especially if I match one of them to 1a.

  20. A very pleasant and benign start to the week. Favourite was 16d and lots of others to admire!

  21. Three quarters one-star, and one quarter three-star (the SE). Highly enjoyable throughout. 1.5*/4*

  22. A slow start to my Monday not that it matters as there is nothing on the agenda. A curate’s egg for me which seemed to be most un-Monday like.

    Candidates for favourite – 17a, 19a, and 8d – and the winner is 8d.

    Thanks to whomsoever and Falcon.

  23. For me this was back to a normal Monday puzzle this week … much more approachable and do-able today.

    2*/4* for me

    Favourites were 1a, 10a, 11a, 17a, 20d & 26d — with winner (after a huge PDM!) 1a
    However 11a & 17a both made me smile and 20a gave me a loud chuckle too!

    Was awoken again to another earthquake tremor this morning at just after 5am local time. Third one in two weeks … this one was 4.8

    Thanks to setter & Falcon

  24. Poor old Spoctor Dooner, he does come in for a stot of lick. Personally, I love the plerd way, and am sorry he is popunular with so plenny meeple.
    My favourite amongst his utterances was to an idle student: You have tasted two worms.
    Today’s crozzie started the week well, without too much head scratching. Thank you setter and Falcon (could he be on the ski slopes today?)

    1. .. and so he should .. I hate these clues and btw he’s actually Speverend Rooner! Although I suppose if he’s a Doctor of Divinity then your offering works .. but I do recall being told about him in English class.

      1. I am probably wrong – I usually am – but I think the good reverend owned up to only one.

        “Kinkering Kongs Their Titles Take.” It’s the title of a hymn – “Conquering Kings Their Title Take.”

        Like our “guzzle”, everyone jumped on the wandbagon.

  25. Late on parade for me today, having been out since early doors finishing with a happily uneventful trip to the dentist.

    1*/4*. This was everything a Monday puzzle should be – light and fun, although I thought 6d was rather weak and barely cryptic.

    My top picks are 1a, 28a & 8d.

    Many thanks to the setter and to Falcon.

    P.S. Falcon, I would be quite surprised if this or any of the more recent Monday back-pagers were attributable to Robyn (James Brydon).

    He has been conspicuous by his absence from Telegraph Toughies since December and has also stopped setting under his various aliases in other newspapers as signalled on Fifteensquared in January. In that thread it says: “James Brydon, aka Picaroon / Rodriguez / Buccaneer has been appointed Deputy Puzzles Editor at the Daily Telegraph, for which many congratulations are in order”.

    I suspect that given the very sad news of Chris Lancaster’s diagnosis with MND, revealed by him in a Telegraph Puzzles newsletter in June 2024 amd commented on in Big Dave’s blog, that Mr Brydon is too busy in his new role to be setting crosswords regularly.

    1. Thanks for that information, RD. And congratulations to James Brydon on his appointment.

    2. I’d missed that Dave. Shabbo told me that he was helping Chris out but hadn’t realised he’d taken over. I keep hoping he’ll appear in the Graun so that explains why I’m constantly disappointed

  26. As British, European and Canadian leaders meet in London to deal with the situation of a country under military attack by a large, powerful neighbour, Canada itself finds itself under economic attack by a large, powerful neighbour. I thought I would share the following video with you which one might think of as Canada’s Battle Hymn off the Tariff War.

    1. Thanks Falcon – a passable impression of Gloria Gaynor by the singer.

      There is a G7 meeting in Canada in June; I wonder if the ‘Orange One,’ as a convicted felon, will be denied entry into the country.

      1. He bloody well should be denied … Do Not Pass Go … Straight to jail and toss the key.

    2. Thank you for posting that, Falcon, and well done indeed to the producers of same,

  27. I cannot believe it is 2 30 and we have only just finished lunch and the guzzle. Half an hour late ! George was in the garden and forgot the time – it is his task to prepare the salad for lunch. Standards are slipping. Which was not the case in this delightful workout. 9a favourite. Very Gappy Birthday (or even a Happy one) to Falcon and thanks to the devious setter. My printer has decided it does not know my new computer and I did not understand a word of the so called help, and when asked to comment on the efficacy of the ‘help’ I told them in no uncertain terms. I am expecting The Samaritans round at any moment. So far, the prize pen is still up for grabs.

  28. Good afternoon

    So very nearly stalled at the end! 8d took forever to twig, and the final one to fall this afty, 9a, was so bloomin obvious once I’d thought about it. 9a is COTD.

    Thank you to our setter and to Falcon.

  29. A slow and tricky start and definitely not the gentle Monday I still hope for each week. I have never had a very high opinion of 1a but this weekend he really went up in my opinion. Not surprised that 12a didn’t make it across the pond and probably not called that any more, at least not in today’s ever so correct school cafeterias. Very tasty served with custard. Thanks to setter and Falcon.

  30. A lovely Monday puzzle. I need look no further for my CoD than the very accessible Spoonerism at 1a.
    Great fun.
    Thank you setter and the birthday boy.

  31. At first I was afraid when the spooner was 1a. I left it to the end and of course it was not scary at all. It was a lovely puzzle and 1a became my favourite.

    Many thanks to the setter and to Falcon for the hints, happy birthday to you.

  32. Great start to the week although I found it a little harder than some above
    3*/5*
    1a Favourite today. 6d wasn’t cryptic at all?
    Thanks to Falcon and Robyn.

  33. No real problems this evening despite not being able to concentrate on the job in hand, my mind being taken up on a job for tomorrow of far greater importance, still I digress. Good puzzle though. LOI and COTD, for me, was 28a as it took me a while to parse it. Thanks to the setter and Falcon.

  34. First one I have completed without any help for awhile. Nearly gave up a couple of times mind, with the SE last to fall this evening and I didn’t quite get some of the parsing. COTD 21d for its construction. ***/****. Thanks to the setter, Falcon (and Happy Birthday) and for the comments, with which, as usual, I largely concur.

  36. Straightforward till I reached the SE corner then it all slowed down. No complaints though – an excellent puzzle. Thanks to the setter and Falcon.

  38. 21d was my last answer and I needed to come here for your explanation so “Thank you”. I hate it when I can’t work out why. Otherwise not too hard.

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