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DT 30867

by Shabbo  

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30867
Hints and tips by Shabbo

+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +

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

What’s going on?!  This is clearly not the work of either Silvanus or RayT.  I need to go and have a lie-down.  I’m not sure I can continue to blog with such uncertainty!  I jest, of course.  A change is as good as a rest, I suppose.  As soon as I solved 22a, I was on the lookout for a pangram, but unless I am missing something, I cannot see a J or an X in the completed grid.  Perhaps that may give us a hint as to who has set this elegant challenge?

I got off to a flying start as both 1a and 1d went straight in, but it was not all plain sailing after that.  I needed to check the spelling of 20a, despite having enjoyed it at our local Indian restaurant on several occasions.  Care also needed to be taken when spelling 8d.

In the blog below, the definition element of each clue has been underlined, anagrams are CAPITALISED and the crossword technique “indicator words” are in brackets. The answers are concealed under the “Click Here” buttons.  Please leave a comment telling us how you got on and what you thought of the puzzle.  Please also try to be positive – it’s only a bit of fun.

Thank you setter.


Across
1a Understand order for paparazzo? (3,3,7)
GET THE PICTURE: double definition.

9a Might small bugs show such intelligence? (9)
ESPIONAGE: I can only assume that this is a cryptic definition, but I am open to better offers.

10a Skating postponed? (2,3)
ON ICE: another double definition.

11a Bottle in Severn drifting away from son (5)
NERVE: anagram (drifting) of Severn without the S (away from son)

12a Marry on 2nd of March, lost for words … (4)
AWED: second letter of mArch + synonym of marry.

13a … March being partly pandemonium (4)
DEMO: hidden word (being partly) – our solution is hidden within pandemonium.

15a Send off ruddy coach at first hint of dissent (3-4)
RED-CARD: synonym of ruddy + synonym of coach (think railway carriage) + first letter of Dissent.

17a Hamper‘s game and drink (3,4)
TIE DOWN: synonym of game + synonym of drink (a verb).

18a Gag from comical scene comprising one line (7)
SILENCE: anagram (comical) of SCENE outside (comprising) I + L.

20a Travelling by air, starts to nosh Indian dish (7)
BIRYANI: anagram (travelling) of BY AIR + initial letters (starts to) of Nosh Indian.

21a Husband tucking into a lot of Co-op salmon (4)
COHO: abbreviation for Husband inside (tucking into) COO(p). The solution is a Pacific salmon.

22a Question: who in Stade de France is next to Benzema in the centre? (4)
QUIZ: don’t worry – no knowledge of football is required here. We just need the French word for “who” + BenZema (Benzema in the centre).

23a Boat’s inside little sibling’s haven (5)
OASIS: the inside of bOAt + abbreviation for sister (little sibling).  I have four sisters, but my sister, Sue, only has three.  This will always be a mystery to me.

26a Cramped study, as yet regularly neglected (5)
DENSE: three-letter synonym of study + aS yEt (regularly neglected).

27a Change of opinion on Italian city – I must leave (5-4)
ABOUT TURN: synonym of “on” + NW Italian city without the I.

28a When synchronised swimmers may put their feet up nevertheless (2,3,4,4)
AT THE SAME TIME: double definition.


Down
1d Immature, angry English medic held up safety procedure (5,5,4)
GREEN CROSS CODE: synonym of “immature” + synonym of “angry” + (abbreviation for English + abbreviation for DOCtor) upside down (held up – this is a down clue).

2d Narrow and not half tall person dismissing boy (5)
TAPER: not half of TA(ll) + PERSON without the SON (dismissing boy).

3d Nose finally wiped by childminder in party (10)
HOOTENANNY: slang word for nose without the final letter (finally wiped) + synonym of childminder reveals an American term for a party, perhaps now more associated over here with Jules Holland on television on NYE?

4d Notice amusing character at foot of mountain doing a somersault (7)
PLACARD: synonym of amusing character underneath (at foot of – this is a down clue) European mountain upside-down (doing a somersault).

5d Gentle lover initially enthralled by Bond (7)
CLEMENT: initial letter of Lover inside (enthralled by) a word meaning bond.

6d Atop dump, town’s dumping odd signs (4)
UPON: even letters (dumping odd signs) of dUmP tOwN.

7d Author and I laze around with model – day wasted (5,4)
EMILE ZOLA: anagram (wasted) of I LAZE + MO(d)EL (day wasted).

8d Cheat breaking into new car, as seen in patrol (14)
RECONNAISSANCE: three-letter synonym of cheat inside (breaking into) anagram (new) of CAR AS SEEN IN.

14d Six-footer swallowing cooked broth mostly, drinking from this? (4,6)
BEER BOTTLE: insect (six-footer) outside (swallowing) anagram (cooked) of BROT(h).

16d Harry hid Alpine plants (9)
DELPHINIA: anagram (harry) of HID ALPINE.  I don’t think I have seen “harry” used as an anagram indicator before, but why not?

19d Mimic Greek character in lift (7)
EMULATE: Greek letter (the equivalent of our letter M) inside a word meaning lift or cheer.

20d Director Luhrmann loves middle of knockabout Lethal Weapon (7)
BAZOOKA: the given name of an Australian film director + OO (loves) + KA (middle of knocKAbout).

24d Citizen trapped by riotous audience (5)
SAUDI: hidden word (trapped by) – our solution is lurking within words 4 & 5.

25d Plates of meat for the Trotters? (4)
FEET: tricky one to parse.  This would appear to be a Cockney Rhyming Slang clue (CRS).  “Plates of meat” are known as this in CRS, but I would question whether Peckham, the abode of the Trotter family in Only Fools and Horses, is within the sound of Bow Bells.  Maybe I am being too pedantic (me??!) and it is just a double definition without a CRS indicator.

 Quickie Pun:  JOB  +  HAYDN  =  JOE BIDEN
Hint: remember to pronounce the first word correctly.

51 comments on “DT 30867”

  1. 3*/5*. I was going to attribute this excellent puzzle to Silvanus and was surprised to see Shabbo’s opening comment.

    Accurate clueing, smooth surfaces and great fun. What more could you ask for? Terrific Quickie pun too.

    My top picks from a sea of ticks were 9a, 22a & 3d.

    Many thanks to Silvanus or whoever else it may be, and to Shabbo.

    PS. I won’t be around tomorrow and possibly not for a day or two after that as I’m having a cataract removed in the morning.

    3. My 87yr old buddy has just had both eyes done & he’s just whacked the ball around Mid Herts & can now see where he’s hit it.

  2. Maybe you are right, RD. Hopefully the setter will pop in later.
    Good luck with the cataract.

    1. Just to clarify, it isn’t one of mine, although I did use the same Quick pun in puzzle No 29,663 on 30.04.2021, so maybe great minds think alike ;-)

  3. Well I had “Job List” for the Quickie pun, which just goes to show I should check the down clues.

    A bit of a head scratcher for me today. I hadn’t heard of the salmon but I have now. I had “imitate” for 19d and that held things up. My COTD is the angry English media at 1d.

    Thank you, setter for the diversion. Thank you, Shabbo for the hints.

  4. I enjoyed this. The salmon at 21a was new to me and needed looking up as the word I came up with seemed unlikely. The apostrophe s in 17a confused me as well – I’m easily confused! I never even considered the family from Peckham in 25d, presuming it to be a double definition referencing pigs feet. First one in, 1d was my favourite today. I also liked 23a, which took me far too long to see the obvious and 19d. Thanks to our setter and Shabbo.

  5. If this wasn’t the work of Silvanus it was someone doing a pretty good impersonation of his style. It was hugely entertaining with some excellent and concise clues, of which I liked 9a and 3d the best.

    Thanks to our setter, whomsoever it might be, and to Shabbo.

    The Beam Toughie is uber friendly today.

  6. Very entertaining. 22a tickled me, 3d too. 9a is, for sure, a cryptic definition, as Shabbo says. And a smart one. It was just the “small” that slightly foxed me. I think one could take 25d either way. I just took it as a double definition with a built-in Cockneyfier. According to the BBC, Del is a “lovable Cockney rogue”. Equally, it could just be definition + indicator. Fun clue, however one parses it. Many thanks to our setter and Shabbo.

  7. I couldn’t parse 9a either but the rest flowed smoothly. I can see Extra Sensory Perception and S for small and bug / nag but I can’t put it all together
    Thanks to Shabbo and setter whomsoever…

    2. I think it’s just a cryptic definition where small listening devices might give information but I think espionage as a definition for the information from it might be pushing things a bit far!
      But I liked the puzzle and was on the wavelength. **/****
      Thanks to all.

      1. Think of the answer as the practice of gathering information sureptiously rather than the information being gathered.

  8. A very good morning to all members of the salmon family across the globe, especially those in the Pacific region. You will all be pleased to know that one of your tribe has been welcomed into the Great Hall of THE LIST this morning. Please do join in the celebration; a feast of plankton and midge larvae has been provided.

    A grand guzzle. I enjoyed 22a in particular.
    Interesting to know which glues the salmon picked out as their favourite today. Admittedly, they may have some technical difficulties logging in.

    Thanks to the setter and to Shabba-dabba-doo

    Today’s crossword soundtrack: The Ting Tings – Good People Do Bad Things (The Ting Tings appear to have been reincarnated as Fleetwood Mac)

  9. *** is above my pay grade. I solved over half correctly but had put a few others incorrectly without checking the exact wording. Knew what the Indian dish was but couldn’t spell it as I haven’t been in an Indian restaurant since I realised I would rather have teeth pulled by a rusty chisel held by a drunk bricklayer.

    Many thanks to Shabbo and to the setter.

  10. Like Shabbo, early solving of 22a plus 20d started a pangram watch but, also like Shabbo, an audit on completion showed J and X missing. However, an entertaining challenge – 2.5*/3.5*

    Standout favourite – 28a!

    Thanks to whomsoever and Shabbo.

  11. A good puzzle which kept me on my toes.
    I didn’t know the salmon so had to check.
    I’ve also never heard the flowers referred to that in 16d, although probably correct they are commonly known with their iums ending.

    Top picks for me were 23a, 14d and 9a

    Thanks to Shabbo and the setter.

  12. Excellent puzzle, a good “wake up” for the LGCs at about 5.15 this morning! Getting 1a/1d right away helped enormously and progress was reasonably rapid bar my last two (9a & 5d) which held me up at the end. Couldn’t parse 9a either, but didn’t let that bother me; had never heard of Mr Luhrmann, which didn’t matter given the oo and ka leapt from the clue.

    Great surfaces throughout and, since this isn’t the work of Silvanus, given the nature & style of some of the clueing and references – as well as the smooth surfaces – I should not be in the least surprised were this to be Dharma transitioning from the Toughie slot to the back page with a very well-judged challenge.

    Honours to 1a, 3d & 7d with runner-up 22a (great surface)

    Many thanks to the setter, whomsoever it may be (I’m usually wrong!), and also of course to Shabbo.

    1. I must be going senile, MG. It took me ages to suss out what LGCs stood for. Doh! 🙄

  13. You are not the only one who had to look yup the spelling of 20a, Shabbo but it was a jolly good anagram. Ann enjoyable guzzle, qyite challenging in places. I find it works best if I do all the 4-letter clues with this type of grid. Aoart from 20a, I liked the 7d anagram of the author, the 8d Lego clue and the 28a cryptic definition. Thanks to Shabbo for the hints and to the compiler.

  14. Tricky in places, and like Shabbo and Sloop John Bee, I am not sure of the parsing of 9a. 21a could only be that answer, but I also had to check if it is a salmon. My COTD is 1a. Thanks to Shabbo for the hints, and to the setter, whoever it is.

  15. Good fun – thanks to our setter and Shabbo.
    My rosettes went to 15a, 28a and 1d.

    As Young Salopian commented above Beam’s Toughie is very gentle today so do give it a go.

  16. Having printed this off earlier this morning and the Toughie on the other side, I was rather confused when I started to read the review and saw that the first across clue bore no resemblance to mine – then I realised that I had actually solved the Toughie instead!

    I thought this was very good. I needed to confirm my parsing of 20d, as I have not heard of the film director, and my last one in was 9a (which became obvious once I had the last checking letter from 3d).
    Many thanks to the setter and to Shabbo.

  17. With only a few left to go I too was looking for J and X but they didn’t turn up. I have fond memories of the 1d man telling me how to cross a road, and 3d is a great word though I can’t say i feel the same about it’s namesake sugarfest that’s on every New Year’s Eve.
    Thanks shabbo and setter.

  18. I enjoyed the variety of clues and thought this was not any of our usual setters as it felt different. I did not know the salmon and am pleased it is going on the list. I also could not parse 9a. I liked 1d and 1a with 1d taking pole postion.

    Many thanks to the mystery setter and to Shabbo for the hints.

  20. This Thursday is RayT’s day (week) off so we have an unknown setter. Liked the four perimeter long-‘uns, but were a few in the grid not so friendly.

    2.5*/3.5*

    Favourites, the four perimeter clues and 22a, 8d and 14d — with winners the 1’s both across and down.
    Smiles for 10a, 15a, 21a, 22a & 25d

    Thanks to setter & Shabbo

  21. Embarrassingly it took me ages to twig 1d. Does it still exist? In my day I think road safety was taught on the small screen by Tufty the squirrel. That said an enjoyable diversion. My podium comprises 14d, 22a and 5d in top spot. Thanks to compiler and Shabbo.

  22. That all went in surprisingly quickly† — Thursdays aren’t normally like this! Thank you to Twmbarlwm for the entertainment (claimed on Bluesky) and Shabbo for blogging. My favourite was the party in 3d, just because it’s such a fun word.

    Also, belated thanks to setters and bloggers earlier in the week: I managed to fit in doing the puzzles each day but ran out of time to comment. I’m blaming staying up till after midnight on Sunday to find out, as soon as the website announced it, which school the 10-year-old is starting in September — it was a great relief to discover that I had indeed filled in the paperwork correctly, and they will be going to the school they were expecting!

    Hope your op goes well, Rabbit Dave.

    † By contrast, today’s Cross Atlantic crossword from Dada took me several times longer than usual (making this the first time the Cross Atlantic has taken me longer than the backpager) and was great fun, once I’d worked out the the gimmick. Recommended to anybody who normally skips the Cross Atlantic as being too much like a quick crossword.

  23. Foiled by 9a, I also put at the deep ends for for 28a having misread it as where, but sorted out when I got the down clues. Always have trouble spelling 8d so looked it up to confirm it. Enjoyed this one though as I normally struggle on Thursdays. Thanks to all.

  24. A really enjoyable solve with some chewiness in places. I too couldn’t parse 9a but it being a cryptic definition makes sense and it’s a very fine clue actually. I hadn’t heard of the salmon, and 20d was a new weapon for me – only knowing the word as a type of bubble gum ! Thanks to the setter and Shabbo

  25. This was great fun and there was so much to enjoy. The salmon was a new one for me (must remember to put it in my little black book), but 9a and 17a were bung ins – and despite the hint I still don’t think I understand 17a? Favourite was the Indian dish. Thanks to the setter and SHABBO

    1. It is difficult to embellish on the hint without providing the answer on a plate.
      Synonym 1 – “game” – think (cup) match.
      Synonym 2 – “drink” – think consume a drink in one.
      I hope this helps.

  26. Tricky in places today. Almost gave up on 9a until the penny dropped. The salmon needed to be checked with mr google.
    3*/4*
    I thought the setter to be a new person – took time to get on wavelength today.
    Thanks for the hints.

  27. I thought this was really tough and still don’t understand the small bugs clue. Thank you compiler and Shabbo

  28. My knowledge doesn’t extend beyond sockeye, pink & John West tinned so add me to those who needed to check in with Mr G post completion. I also flirted with view that this may have been a Smooth production but not surprised to hear it’s one of T’s. Last in 9a significantly extended the solve time (the Beamer over in t’other place much the quicker) – slow to fill in the answer & then messed about in the ESP blind alley before settling on an a cryptic def. Clear fav for me was Jools’ New Year shindig (filmed mid year) & particularly liked the long ‘uns top & bottom + 14&20d.
    Thanks to T & Shabbo

  29. Good steady progress, learnt a new fish and couldn’t quite see why 9a should be what it was.
    Favourites 9a (after explanation) and 28a.
    2.5* / 4*
    Thanks to Shabbo and setter

  30. If this is aTwmbarlwm composition then this is the first time I’ve been on wavelength with him and by far the most enjoyable. Hadn’t heard of the salmon, but I have now and needed the hint to parse 19d as I was convinced the Greek character was eta. 🤦‍♂️ Favourite was 25d as ‘Cockney’ these days refers to anyone from the East end of London who speaks in that strangled, nasal accent and not just within the sound of Bow Bells. I have pointed out before that rhyming slang is actually English rhyming slang as its used all over the country and didn’t just originate just in London. Thanks to T and Shabbo.

  31. Not my cup of tea today. Never heard of 1d, but guessed it anyway. Indian dish was a complete mystery as it is not on my list of tasty delights, no clue about Australian directors, and only ever seen 16d ending in “ium”. On the bright side, the salmon was a gift as it is usually offered in the seafood section of our supermarkets and on restaurant menus. I like to make salmon cakes with it, yummy. Thanks to setter and Shabbo. Off to Bocce now.

  32. Once I solved a few (in the south) I made steady progress northwards even though I lacked the requisite knowledge for a few (used the checkers and common sense) but I could not solve 4d, 5d, 6d and 9a. Upon checking the hints I discovered that my answer to 1a, “get the message”, was wrong: I then solved 4d, 5d and 6d but still could not solve 9a – but understand it now from the hints. COTD 22a for the construction and parsing. Thank you to the setter and Shabbo and for the comments. ***/***

  33. Good evening

    A titanic struggle to get finished; on more than one occasion today, I was all set to hoy the sponge in – but I persevered. I was almost beaten by the last two to fall: 9a and finally 3d; these take joint honours for COTD.

    Many thanks to our setter, who, I gather from the above, is Twmbarlwm – a definite fourser, I think! – and also to Shabbo.

  34. ***/*** till I hit 9a, which I’d never have got. I’m not good at cryptic definitions with not much to go on. NHO the salmon or the director. Thanks to Shabbo for the blog.

  35. Thank you, solvers and commenters.
    Cheers to Shabbo for the review, and Software program (3) Yell (6) Feta, e.g. (6) to Silvanus.

  36. Can anyone explain how I renew my subscription? I got a note that said it was due to expire on 20 March, but no way to say how to renew … just how to cancel???

    HELP PLEASE!!

    1. To my UK based experience the same people deal with cancellations and renewals, not sure which is best from BC but these are the contact details I have;

      https://www.telegraph.co.uk/customer/we form
      03309 127113
      Our phone lines are open from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday and 8am to 4.30pm on Saturdays. We’re closed on Sundays (bank holiday opening hours may differ)

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