Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30871
Hints and tips by Huntsman
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BD Rating – Difficulty */** Enjoyment ***
Judging by the distinctly chilly weather here in Harpenden it looks like the unseasonably warm spell that we’ve been enjoying has come to an abrupt end but at least it’s dry.
Another solid & pretty straightforward Tuesday offering that I assume is penned by our usual setter. Maybe not one from the top drawer but certainly enjoyable & nicely clued throughout. Pusskits, puppies & a selection of tunes to accompany the hopefully correct hints.
In the following hints, definitions are underlined, indicators are mostly in parentheses, and answers are revealed by clicking where shown as usual. Please leave a comment below on how you got on with the puzzle.
Across
1a Some person’s feeble flipping complaints (5)
BEEFS: hidden in reverse (some/flipping).
4a Instantly enjoy a little drink of liquor (4,1,4)
LIKE A SHOT: a synonym for enjoy + A from the clue + the term for a little/neat measure of liquor.
9a Charmed at paper by editor (9)
ATTRACTED: AT in the clue + another word for a paper/treatise + the usual abbreviation for editor.
10a Join prime minister in Rolls-Royce? On the contrary (5)
MARRY: on the contrary tells us to insert the car abbreviation into the surname of a recent PM who stood down as an MP at the last election.
11a Fish from South American river – tuck in! (7)
SARDINE: South Africa + River + a verbal synonym for tuck in/eat. Yummy on toast.
12a Being oddly abandoned by us in the rave (7)
ENTHUSE: start with the even letters of bEiNg (oddly abandoned) then place insert US into THE (both in the wordplay) & append.
13a Emphasise mishap this writer had ignored (6)
ACCENT: remove the contraction that may be used for this writer had from a synonym for mishap/mischance.
15a Most buoyant triremes at sea (8)
MERRIEST: an anagram (at sea) – TRIREMES.
18a Benevolence from head after class (8)
KINDNESS: link a synonym for class/type with a geographical term for a head/promontory.
20a Worth pinching Meghan’s rear, Harry? (6)
PRINCE: insert (pinching) the last letter (rear) of MeghaN into nounal synonym of worth/cost. The question mark indicates definition by example.
23a Seeing that insect cut root (7)
BECAUSE: shorten (cut) a bumbling insect then append a synonym for root/reason.
24a Former Conservative exploits justifications (7)
EXCUSES: the usual informal abbreviation for former + Conservative + a verbal synonym for exploits/manipulates.
26a Smell flower, we’re told (5)
ODOUR: a homophone (we’re told) – the flower that you’re looking for is a European river.
27a Bishop and I have changed our demeanour (9)
BEHAVIOUR: Bishop (chess abbreviation) + an anagram (changed) of I HAVE then append OUR from the clue at the end.
28a Showed daughter is duped (9)
DISPLAYED: Daughter (genealogical abbreviation) + IS in the clue + a verbal synonym for duped/misled.
29a Sudden attack enthrals head of Portuguese fleet (5)
RAPID: insert the first letter of Portuguese (head of) into another word for sudden attack/incursion. Neat surface.
Down
1d Jack climbed this staircase initially wrapped in a blanket shivering (9)
BEANSTALK: insert the first letter of Staircase (initially/wrapped in) into an anagram (shivering) of A BLANKET.
2d Go in tent with her, both topless (5)
ENTER: remove the opening letter (both topless) then link tENT & hER.
3d Victoria possibly standing (7)
STATION: a double definition – the former is where Terry & Julie met every Friday night, the latter a synonym of standing/rank.
4d Refuse group of kittens? (6)
LITTER: like buses you wait for one then two turn up – another double definition.
5d Dish’s awful reek around rim (8)
KEDGEREE: place an anagram (awful) of REEK outside of (around) a synonym for rim/border.
6d This indicates current problem, ultimately, with tree ma uprooted (7)
AMMETER: an anagram (uprooted) of TREE MA & the last letter (ultimately) of probleM.
7d Huge copper following the woman north of bank (9)
HERCULEAN:start with the third person singular pronoun for the woman then add (following) the chemical symbol for copper & finish (north of/down clue) a verbal synonym for bank/lean.
8d Herb from your old mate hollowed out (5)
THYME: an old-fashioned/poetic word for your + the outer letters of MatE (hollowed out) – one of the four S&G sang about.
14d Sensible prisoners caught with debts? (9)
CONSCIOUS: one of the many informal terms for prisoners + Caught (cricket abbreviation) + the phonetic acronym for debts.
16d Walk outside certainly cherished (9)
TREASURED: place a verbal synonym for walk/stride around (outside) another word for certainly in the sense of an expression of agreement.
17d People gathered may bless criminal (8)
ASSEMBLY: an anagram (criminal) – MAY BLESS.
19d Nervous about temperature, sitting on the fence (7)
NEUTRAL: insert (about) Temperature into a synonym of nervous in the medical sense of affecting the nerves.
21d Rally car going round church in reverse (7)
RECOVER: place a model of car around a reversal of the two letter abbreviation for the Anglican church.
22d Encountered husband with almost strange manner (6)
METHOD: another word for encountered + Husband + a truncated (almost) synonym for strange/rum.
23d Wide, minor thoroughfare (5)
BROAD: the British classification for a secondary/non primary road.
25d Bend over in bar (5)
STOOP: insert Over (cricket abbreviation) into another word synonym for bar/ban.
Nothing particularly stood out for me today but that’s not to say that I didn’t enjoy the puzzle. Please tell us which clues ticked your boxes.
Today’s Quick crossword pun: DOG + BAR + SKITS = DOG BASKETS
This morning’s listening whilst preparing the blog has been Donald Fagen’s album, The Nightfly. Here’s the title track
I thought rather better than Huntsman at */**** but each to his own. 15a reminded me of the time many years ago when I acted for prospective purchasers of Drakes Island with a view to building the said craft. Sadly abortive.20a was highly amusing and my COTD. 12a and 7d were also excellent. Thank you Huntsman and our setter.
An early start today as I have another visit to the doctor (a.k.a. my Urologist) who will expect me to ‘bend over and take it like a man’. An enjoyable offering from Anthony Plumb, according to the Quickie grid, 1.5*/3.5*
Candidates for favourite – 11a, 28a, 7d, 22d, and 25d – and the winner is 25d.
Thanks to Mr Plumb and Huntsman.
Ouch!
The mind boggles!
We women have our own dreaded examinations… but Peter sends his sympathies.
Good morning.
A double first for me: first time ever that I’ve finished the crozzie before lunchtime, and the first time I’ve been this high up in the comments hierarchy!
I can have my dinner and go to work this afty a happy lad!
COTD is 20a – that made me chuckle.
Many thanks to our setter and to Huntsman.
Pretty easy but v enjoyable. Have to take issue with 5d’s awful reek as I’m making some for lunch, and it’s going to be delish, wafting delightful eastern essences around the kitchen.
I’ll nominate as fave nonetheless, along with others too many to list.
Many thanks to the setter and to Huntsman.
5d
A pleasing puzzle, although 1d took far too long to, er, twig. 10a and 23d raised smiles.
I saw Nearly Dan play a couple of songs from The Nightfly on Sunday and very enjoyable they were too. Back to Camden tonight for Hejira playing jazz Joni and then Albert Lee in Hemel of all places on Friday. Retirement can be a wonderful thing.
I was too slow off the mark to get a balcony seat in the restaurant & the old boy I was going with didn’t fancy standing. Just looked & it was a cracking set list. We’re booked to see them later this year again at The Stables in Wavendon.
An enjoyable puzzle with no hiccups for me.
COTD is 23a purely because I spent many years performing and teaching root cause analysis.
Other top picks include 28a, 1d and 21d.
Thanks to Huntsman and the setter.
Lovely puzzle.
I always thought the collective word for kittens was kindle……but maybe it is now archaic…a bit like me!
Thanks to the setter and to Huntsman
… me too .. and I was about to add my tuppenceworth in.
Otherwise a nice easy Tuesday solve.
A gentle puzzle that was most enjoyable. The only one which took me a while to parse was 23a; I was a little slow on the uptake, and had a fixation that base (root) had to fit somehow….
Many thanks to the setter and to Huntsman.
Like others I thought 20a amusing. At the risk of being accused, rightly, of schoolboy humour, I really wanted the answer to be harass, a different synonym of harry. But there you go. All in all a pleasant diversion with a mid-morning cuppa. However I thought 7d beat it by a nose for cotd. Thanks to AP and Huntsman.
Found this more Mondayish than yesterday’s crossie and very enjoyable */****.
Had a giggle at the very witty 20A and couldn’t help speculating whether Harry ever wonders whether it was worth it…
Grateful thanks to the Hintsman and setter
Easier than yesterday, no parsing problems, and enjoyable. I liked 4a and 20a. The river in 26a I seem to remember being mentioned quite a bit on the news during the cold war, when the border between the then East Germany and Poland were discussed.
A lovely if gentle puzzle. Missed the true parsing of 23d at first had it as a double definition at first – thinking of the things found in Norfolk that people boat on as the second definition. Only realised it was cleverer that that much later!
Thanks to the setter and to huntsman for the great music picks.
I found this Tuesday puzzle about the simplest I have encountered for a long time. It was certainly not challenging, but very nicely compiled therefore enjoyable while it lasted.
20a was my favourite, and I suspect a lot of fellow commenters will agree.
My thanks to AP and The Hintsman.
1*/4*. This was light and fun; to borrow Senf’s words – typically Tuesdayish.
20a was my favourite.
Many thanks to AP and to Huntsman.
A very approachable guzzle which I thoroughly enjoyed. Lijed the 5d angrm, the 6d lego clue, and the doubke definition at 4a. Thanks the compiler for a lovely crossword and to Huntsman for rhe hints.
Once again this week I found Tuesday easier than Monday’s puzzle, but then again I have trouble with Twmbarlwm and his clueing, (Monday this week), so not altogether surprising then.
2*/3.5* today
Favourites 10a, 13a, 27a, 6d, 14d & 23d — with winner 13a
Smiles for 1a, 4d & 23d … an oldie but a goodie
Thanks to AP & Huntsman
Also relieved after yesterday, as I too can never make head nor tail of his clues.
Very light and very enjoyable.
Thanks to setter and Huntsman.
Ditto what A Shabbo said
I’m not sure how the A crept into my user name. To my knowledge, I am the only Shabbo and that is almost certainly a good thing.
I had to laugh and now the sun is out
I’ve got something I can laugh about
It was good in a special way
Meghan’s rear – clue of the day
Good day sunshine
Good day sunshine
Good day sunshine
Really enjoyed this. Breezy and tight. 1d’s mild disguise works well and 20a tickled me. Many thanks to our setter and DJ Huntsman. Always grand to hear a spot of Van. I still think his early stuff wins, mind. PS Purple Rain reminded me of Clapton’s riposte when asked what it was like to be the best guitarist in the world: “I don’t know – you’d have to ask Prince.” Class.
I think Eric is reputed to have said that about many guitarists, I have heard that quote of Jimi H and Rory G amongst many others. I am sure some apocryphal ones too
Reputedly said at the IOW festival in 1970 when Taste blew the crowd away. Love to think so but very much doubt it
I was there, but I didn’t hear Clapton say that!
It was Jimmy about Rory
Jimmy who? 😉
Quite 😀 Senior moment.
Must have been an awesome festival. Reading in 77 was my first & was only after badgering my ma to let me go
Proper Tuesday fare 😃***/**** Favourites were:4a, 11a, 2d & 23d 👍 Thanks to the Compiler and to the Huntsman
Very much at the simpler end of the spectrum but enjoyable nonetheless. */***. Everything went in more or less straight from NW to SE using checkers from the previous clue. But couldn’t parse the final 25d for the life of me – ridiculous once I’d checked above. Thank to setter and Huntsman.
1* / 3.5* A straightforward but enjoyable puzzle with some top clues.
Favourite 7d
Thanks to setter and Huntsman
As you say, a nice Tuesday romp with several things to smile at, like 20a – and, regarding Livvete’s comment, I am sure he must do sometimes. I liked 13a and of course, pick of the day, 7d. I am glad Pip has sunshine to smile and versify about – I put two lots of bed linen on the line (senior grandson’s visit at the weekend) and 30 minutes later it was raining. We went to a dinner at Madingley Hall last night – what a beautiful old Tudor house. We are so fortunate to have kept so much of our heritage, I get quite emotional in these historic buildings. Anyway, enough. Huge thanks to Mr Setter and the Hintsman.
Nice, gentle puzzle to while away the time before I borrow my son’s dog and go walkies. Sadly no sunshine here – we’re back to grey skies and a very chilly wind. Thanks to the setter and Huntsman.
Thank goodness – a puzzle I could solve and enjoy. Only held up because I wanted to put “like a drop” in 4a which made absolutely no sense. One big plus of no longer reading the DT is that I don’t have to see all the articles about the pair in 16a. Thanks to setter for a lot of fun, and to Shabbo.
A similar feeling although I was trying to put “like a dram” which likewise made no sense. Also 1d, I failed to see the wood for the trees until the penny finally dropped with a resounding clang.
Welcome to the blog, Flyboy.
Thank you.
Welcome from me as well. I too played with “dram” for ages.
A lovely puzzle, light but fun. 20a was my favourite but there were several clues that made me smile.
Many thanks to the setter and to Huntsman for the hints.
Read and write this afternoon but fun whilst it lasted.
Thanks to today’s setter and Huntsman.
Tuesday is the new Monday.
Light but fun.
1*/4*
13a last in and COTD.
Thanks To Prof and Huntsman.
I so enjoyed today’s puzzle and completed it in record time for me! Struggled with yesterday’s. Many thanks to the setter and Huntsman. It’s definitely going quite chilly here this evening in the North-West.
Enjoyably straightforward. Interesting to see that 5d is in the toughie as well, is this a coincidence? Favourite was 7d. Thanks to AP and Huntsman.
2*/4* ….
liked 4A “Instantly enjoy a little drink of liquor (4,1,4)”