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DT 30884

by Senf  

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30884

Hints and tips by Senf

+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +

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

A very good Wednesday morning from Winnipeg where, with the thaw in full progress, the river levels are being monitored carefully in case the flood prevention measures need to be invoked.

For me, etc (I have to say that for Terence), this was another enjoyable mid-week challenge after I ‘cracked it open.’  Same as last week, I might even venture to put two half-crowns on this being a Twmbarlwm production.

Candidates for favourite – 1a, 11a, 14a, 26a, 7d, 18d, and 22d.

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 Spooner’s crude shouts for equine accessories (5-7)
HORSE-COLLARS: Probably the first time that I have hinted a Spoonerism – the Spooner ‘treatment’ of synonyms of crude and shouts.

9a Exposed academic given tablet and put in the shade (7)
OUTDONE: A synonym of exposed, our favourite three letter academic, and (given) a single letter for a recreational pharmaceutical in tablet form.

10a Newsworthy Capitol riots (7)
TOPICAL: An anagram (riots) of CAPITOL.

11a Settle at home, somewhat bored by husband (7)
INHABIT: Our favourite two letters for at home and a (1,3) phrase for somewhat containing (bored by) the single letter for Husband.

12a Blocks thin slop being cooked without duck (7)
PLINTHS: An anagram (cooked) of THIN SLoP with the letter that represents a crickety duck deleted (without).

The ‘fourth’ or ’empty’ one in Trafalgar Square:

13a Possibly meaty spreads and nuts (5)
PATES: A double definition – the second is a term for the top part of our bodies.

14a Sad person shopping for country music (9)
BLUEGRASS: An informal synonym of sad and a single term for a person shopping as in informing on another.

Alison Krauss, not with Robert Plant, but with her band Union Station:

16a Work ethic, first sign of Tina Fey yearning to move on (5,4)
ITCHY FEET: An anagram (work) of ETHIC the first letter (sign) of Tina, and FEY.

19a Search notorious court cases (5)
SCOUR: A lurker (cases) found in two words in the clue.

21a Cask seen by river in the German plains (7)
TUNDRAS: A type of cask (216 gallons of ale or 252 gallons of wine) placed before (seen by) the single letter for River inserted into (in) the as a grammatical neuter article in German.

23a Making certain to remove Republican next (7)
ENSUING: A single word term for making certain with the single letter for Republican removed.

24a Tone on a telephone entertains baby (7)
NEONATE: A lurker (entertains), who was thinking homophone, found in three four words of the clue.

25a Frivolous nuisance besetting quartet (7)
TRIVIAL: A synonym of nuisance (as in test?) containing (besetting) the Roman numerals for the number in a quartet.

26a Paul McCartney’s one meat course has lain abandoned! (12)
LIVERPUDLIAN: A type of (organ) meat, an informal term for the, perhaps usually, second or third course of a meal, with (has) an anagram (abandoned) of LAIN.

Down

1d All the rage over vaccination? That’ll show “expert” (7)
HOTSHOT: A three letter term for all the rage placed before (over) an informal synonym of vaccination for (that’ll show) an (esp US) expert.

2d On coach, Graham occasionally gobbling round lozenge (7)
RHOMBUS: Alternate letters (occasionally) of gRaHaM containing the ‘round’ letter placed before (on) a three letter vehicular coach.

3d Contents of select furniture suitable for office? (9)
ELECTABLE: The interior letters (contents) of sELECt and guess an item of furniture (usually with four legs).

4d Recorded, cut, and readily available (2,3)
ON TAP: A (2,4) phrase for recorded (using a magnetic medium) with the last letter removed (cut).

5d Going around drinking (7)
LAPPING: A double definition – the first might refer to a long distance race on a track or circuit.

6d Edging away for brie, about to eat too much cheese (7)
RICOTTA: What is left when the outer letters (edging) are removed (away) from bRIe and the Latin based abbreviation for about containing (to eat) the three letter abbreviation for a term equivalent to too much.

7d What watercolourist has made plain? (2,3,8)
NO OIL PAINTING: A double definition(?) – the second is an informal and perhaps facetious term for plain (in appearance).

8d Concept from Karl Marx in fighting form? (5,8)
CLASS STRUGGLE: A synonym of form (in a school) and a single word term for in fighting.

15d Tea urn broken before kind of talk is not dealt with (9)
UNTREATED: An anagram (broken) of TEA URN placed before the illustrated kind of talk.

17d Dessert in tin with no lid daughter avoids (7)
CANNOLI: A synonym of tin (as a container), NO from the clue, and Lid from the clue with the single letter for Daughter removed (avoids).

18d Say a cart must back up for some distance (7)
YARDAGE: The reversal (must back up) of all of the two letter Latin based abbreviation for say, A from the clue, and a type of cart (for heavy goods).

19d Band regularly tip maid for Japanese food (7)
SASHIMI: A type of band (worn round the waist or over the shoulder) and alternate letters (regularly) from tIp MaId.

20d Thought onion pie mostly dodgy (7)
OPINION: An anagram (dodgy) of ONION Pie with the last letter deleted (mostly).

22d Expensive marinade (5)
STEEP: A double definition – the first is an informal synonym of expensive.

Quick Crossword Pun:

PINE + DULL + AGA = PINT OF LAGER – just like Dada on Sunday, Hmm.

82 comments on “DT 30884”

  1. Good morning. I would like to apologise for the fact that you received a ‘blog published’ e-mail at zero-dark-thirty (UK time) and there was nothing there until a few minutes ago. A member of my staff proved, once again, that multi-tasking does not work. While completing the preparation of the blog, he was trying to watch the conclusion of an exciting (ice) hockey match between the Winnipeg Jets and the Washington Capitals and clicked on ‘Publish’ instead of editing the publishing time. I have given him a severe talking to and he has promised that it won’t happen again, at least not until the next time. Thank you. 😉

    1. Now I’m wondering why I’ve never had a ‘blog published’ email. I didn’t know such things existed. Do you have to be on a VIP list?

      1. When posting a comment, there should be a box you can tick ‘Notify me of new posts by email’.

        I don’t know if there’s a way of signing up to this without also leaving a comment. Maybe it’s a device for getting lurkers to comment? (On which subject: Hello, Miss FiFi!)

        1. Oh, I get those ones once I’ve commented. But never one to say a blog has been published.

            1. I think it is somewhere in your WordPress account. I’ve just tried to find it but failed.

  2. A very enjoyable puzzle, some lovely surfaces and much amusement throughout. A steady N to S solve with only delay being the DT’s type font which on my printout (as hear) resulted in confusion at 26a: was Iain or lain abandoned? Fortunately the answer leapt from the page with just the p & d checkers in place.

    Honours to 7d, 8d, and 16a.

    Many thanks to Setter and Senf – how inconsiderate of the Powers That Be to schedule the game at crossword-solving time!

    Incidentally, today’s Hudson Toughie is excellent and very approachable – well worth a shot.

  3. A splendid midweeker with lots to like.

    7d was one of my last to drop and went straight on to the podium when it did.

    I am Maths man but have never heard of the term lozenge.

    My top three are 14a, 15a (loved ‘work ethic’) and, indeed, 7d.

    Many thanks to the setter and Senf.

    3*/4*

    1. Being a fellow Maths man, I too was puzzled by the lozenge. We should have been chemists ( or, as we call them, pharmacists).

        1. Blimey! I’ve just looked up its etymology and wished I hadn’t…..https://www.etymonline.com/word/lozenge

          I am amazed that, having studied Maths at university, * I’ve never heard of it.

          * As you all know, I’m forever shortening words and expressions. But, for some inexplicable reason, I can’t say or type ‘uni’. It hurts too much.

          1. Perhaps you had nodded off in that lecture.

            I did wonder, given that we were born in the same year, whether you were studying for your degree in the same university (written in full just for you!) as me but I’m pretty sure there were no Tom’s in my classes. There was a Welsh Thomas though.

          2. But if you had a BRB, you would be able to read ‘A diamond shaped parallelogram or rhombus (geometry)’ in the entry for lozenge.

      2. From the discussion that followed my earlier comment, I see I really got led down the garden path. Mr Google had turned up articles concerning “17a capsules” and I had jumped to the conclusion that 17a referred to the medication. However, on further investigation, I discover that 17a is a rare* common name for urticaria (hives), the condition that the medication treats.

        * I was tempted to write “an uncommon common name”.

    2. That’s the reason why lozenge throat sweets have their name from their original shape!

      A lovely crossword today with a **/**** rating for me. Much nicer that Monday for me.

  4. For me, and I stress for me (© Senf), this was a bit of a challenge and I needed some help from Canada to get me going again. However, to counter that, I’m quite pleased that I managed the four big outer answers on my own.
    I like Tina Fey and she was excellent in 30 Rock, but I will be delighted when her current run of TV commercials for a travel company concludes. One can have too much of a good thing that wasn’t very good to begin with.

    Thanks to the setter and The Man From Manitoba. Disturbing to hear of his staffing issues.

    Today’s crossword soundtrack: Robert Wyatt – At Last I Am Free

  5. Thoroughly enjoyable mid-weeker. A couple of things were new to me. The Japanese food sent me to the BRB for confirmation and I’ve never heard of TED ( what does it stand for?) so was unable to parse 15d. Favourite was 16a once I’d untangled it. Podium places for 26a and 7d. Thanks to our setter and Senf.

      2. “Ted talk” = something to be avoided at all costs in our house. Don’t need our few remaining brain cells to be washed.

  6. A lovely puzzle – especially enjoyed the fact that 26a sent me scurrying down a rabbit hole of vegan/veggie malarkey. Great misdirection.

    Thanks to the setter and to Senf who’s hints I shall now enjoy reading

  7. Truly delightful. 26a and 7d (a real smiler) are proper fizzy. 16a and 6d are beautifully worked too. Many thanks to our setter and Senf. Pressed “send” by accident in the middle of the night, eh? I’m quite sure no other blogger has ever done that before!! (Well, only twice!)

  8. An excellent midweek puzzle – many thanks to our setter and Senf.
    The clues which appealed most were 11a, 14a, 24a and 7d.

  9. It’s clearly a wave-length thing but, like Terence, I found this guzzle most challenging. I’m looking forward to reading the hints (thank you Senf) ao that I can figure out what some of the near impeneyrable surface reads were all about. When the penny finally dropped, I thought the Spoonerism at 1a was very clever and the cryptic definition was well-misdirected and amusing. The anagrram at 17a eas a bit laboured but well- misdirected again. Thanks to Senf for the hints and to the compiler (not my cup of tea but cleverly clued).

  10. A great puzzle today with ticks all over the place. The Japanese food needed confirmation but that was easily gettable.

    Top picks for me were 2d, 14a and 7d.

    Thanks to Senf (by the way my email wasn’t empty – it contained all the hints with the answers exposed but no pictures) and to the setter.

  11. 2*/3*. An enjoyable puzzle on the whole despite a couple of strange surface reads.

    My podium comprises 11a, 14a & 7d.

    Thanks to the setter and to Senf.

  12. That felt a little different from the norm (a good thing) and the answers included a couple of new/forgotten words (17d, 19d) which were nevertheless perfectly gettable from the wordplay. I laughed at 7d, although it may not be for everybody I suppose. The spoonerism at 1a also worked well and opened up the grid. Thanks very much to the setter and to Senf and team in Winnipeg.

  13. Spiffing puzzle despite the Reverend’s appearance. 2d gets my vote. Thanks to today’s setter and Senf.

  14. I’ll keep my thoughts on the puzzle to myself and just say thank you to Twmbarlwm for his efforts and also thanks to Senf for the review and the music clip.

  15. Not my favourite Wednesday puzzle this week.
    New word in SE

    2.5/3*

    Favourites include 1a, 24q, 25a, 26a, 1d & 7d — with winner 26a
    Smiles for 1a, 28a & 7d

    Thanks to setter & Senf

  16. Perseverance paid dividends on this puzzle as, on the first pass I had one answer. I then found I had put it in the wrong place and this held me up for ages. Oh well, never mind. Once I put that right, the remainder was a steady solve even with the digression of finding out who Ms Fey is and its relevance to 16a. My cotd is 7d for both the initial groan and ultimate smile factor. Thanks to compiler and Senf.

  17. A fine midweek puzzle with just the right level of difficulty. I neither raced through it nor suffered a DNF. I particularly liked Paul McCartney’s clue. Thanks to Senf and the setter.

  18. Good fun, but quite challenging for a Wednesday.
    I also liked the Paul McCartney clue.
    Thank you setter (Twm?) and Senf.

  19. Phew, that was a struggle with SW holding out until last. Also a couple of food items were new ones on me –
    – 17d and 19d. Thanks Twmbarlawn (if it is indeed you) and Senf.

  20. I was initially put off by the spooner at 1a but once I got going I really enjoyed the quirkiness of the puzzle and the variety of clues. I even got the spooner fairly early on, so it will be my favourite.

    Many thanks to Twmbarlwm (he has claimed it on x) and to Senf for the hints

  21. Starting with a Spoonerism was almost enough to put me off. I plodded my way through this but, not unusual for a Wednesday, I found myself on a different planet from the setter. But thanks to setter and Senf for giving me my daily respite from the depressing news over here.

  22. I believe I only got one across clue on the first read through but the downs came to my rescue and from that point, seemingly having got on the correct wavelength, the solve proceeded fairly smoothly. Thank you to Twmbarlwm and Senf.

    Nice to see the Jets eke out a win over the Caps. Must be a great feeling to be sitting solidly atop the conference. Meanwhile, I was watching the Sens lose a close match to one of the five teams nipping at their heels for one of the final two playoff berths in the East.

    By the way, it takes four words to hold lurker at 24a.

    1. The OT goal by Ehlers assisted by Samberg was brilliant.

      Thanks on 24a, now corrected.

  23. Very enjoyable mid-weeker. Strange solve for me, first pass didn’t go well, then got a toe hold in the NE and went anti-clockwise from there with 7d being LOI and immediate favourite. Quite the reverse of my normal solving pattern. Top marks then to 7d and notable mentions to 14a, 21a and 2d.

    5d was a bit of a laugh as the answer was 4th on my list after sipping, supping and nipping – that held up the equine equipment a while!

    Thanks to setter and Senf.

    Since I’m relatively newly back to the site, how does one pronounce “Twmbarlwm” please?

      1. Than ks both, I would’ve guessed Timbarlim so I’d have been close. Like the “Mr. T” though ☺

  24. Pretty tough for a Wednesday
    3*/4*
    Enjoyable non the less.
    11a fav today
    Held up by attempting to fit trap into 18d
    Thanks to senf and setter.

  26. Really late today but I don’t know why. I’ve just been in the run all day but sat down with my GnT at 6.30 and gradually it fell into place. Phew. Needed help from my red scarfed friend for 16a and liked the smooth lurker at 24a. Many thanks to the Setter and dear Senf. I’ll be glad when it’s time to go to bed!

  27. 3*/ 4* definitely a step up from the last few days, but fair clues that fell into place with a bit of lateral thinking. Favourites were all the big ones round the outside, esp McCartney.
    Thanks to Senf and Twmbarlwm

  28. Very enjoyable indeed. Pegged it as a T production for a change – is claiming ownership on X before BD not akin to gov’t ministers briefing the press before addressing the House – if so I strongly disapprove. TED talks prompted me to waste 20mins watching You Tube clips of Seth MacFarlane’s talking teddy bear getting high & 17d immediately reminded me of the ad libbed line by the great Richard Castellano (playing Clemenza) in The Godfather when Paulie gets clipped. 26a my fav from a host of good clues.
    Thanks to T & Senf – with the possible exception of The Steeldrivers (with Chris Stapleton) Union Station would be my dream bluegrass gig & Choctaw Hayride is just brilliant.

  29. Hi Everyone
    Just wanted to let you know I ain’t gone away. As you can appreciate, life is rather strange at the moment. Lesley’s funeral is on 29th April at the crematorium in Shrewsbury 11.30am. Please could you think of us all at that time? It will be a comfort.
    It’s tough at the moment but I do have friends and they’re being very supportive. The time on my own is the hardest. Still, I know it will get better.
    I do look at the guzzle every day but my mind is elsewhere.
    I hope to be back around the middle of May.

    2. We have all been thinking of you, Steve, and will do so especially on 29th April.

      Heartfelt wishes to you and your family.

    4. Thanks Steve for popping in. You are in our thoughts all of the time and April 29th will be extra special. Take your time in coming back and only do so when you feel ready. Very best wishes.

    6. Thank you for popping in Steve and for sharing the lovely picture. Our thoughts are with you and will be especially on 29th April. Just take it one step at a time and do what you can but above all look after yourself.

    8. Love to you Steve. You, and your family and friends, will be in my thoughts on the 29th

    9. Didn’t spot your post until today but was so relieved that you’d made time to contact us all. April 29th will be tough for you but it sounds as though you’ve got some good friends to help you through it. Rest assured that we will all be thinking of you.

    10. Sending my love, Steve.
      Will be thinking of you on 29th.
      Keep on putting one foot in front of the other as best you can.

    11. You’ve been in my thoughts Steve, sending very best wishes to you at this saddest of times.

    12. So nice to hear from you Steve, I’ve been thinking of you. What a lovely smiley face – and I like the glass of wine to hand – a woman after my own heart. It is cruel that we have to wait so long for closure but I’m sure the combined thoughts of the BD crew will be with you. Bless you.

    13. Steve, just read that you had posted this. Have missed seeing you on here but know losing Lesley will have been tremendously difficult for you. I can imagine that getting used to being on your own will not be easy. Thinking of you and especially on the 29th.

  30. Fantastic puzzle ­— so much fun. And, for me℠, easier than Monday’s and Tuesday’s this week: I didn’t even manage to complete yesterday’s. Started while waiting for a child at a dance class, and finished after getting home from seeing Ed Byrne’s show Tragedy Plus Time (which was all of well-crafted, funny, and moving).

    As with several others’ above, my favourite clue was the 7d artwork. Thank you to the Hill of Dreams, and to Senf for always-appreciated back-up.

  31. Good evening

    Finally waded through to the end; it all started well as solutions were entered and progress was made – and then, I arrived at the SW quadrant…..and….stopped!

    After a long breather, I resumed and got ’em all. A most enjoyable solve, with joint honours for COTD going to 26a, and my last to fall, 7d.

    Many thanks to our setter and to Senf.

  32. Must be a wavelength thing, but I got nowhere with this today. Solved a couple of clues before bed.

    1. With a clear head attempted this again today. Nearly completed but for 14a and 17d. Both are new terms for me.

      Quite a cheeky solve.

      Thanks to all.

  33. Thank you to Senf and solvers.
    Always nice to get a mention of Paul McCartney in as his cousin was a Daily Telegraph setter of course, introduced to cryptics by Paul’s father.

    1. What a great bit of info!

      Thanks, Tumbles, and thanks for a splendid crossy.

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