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DT 30907

by Huntsman  

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30907
Hints and tips by Huntsman

+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – +

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

This is my last blog for a couple of weeks as I’m off to the Algarve to scatter a few balls around some fine golf courses. Shabbo has kindly agreed to step in so you’ll be in far more reliable blogging hands than mine.

I had a wee bit of brain fog in the SW this morning so completion took a good bit longer than is usually the case for an Anthony Plumb production. Suspect that was just me & it’s a Typically Tuesdayish puzzle which won’t present many, if any,  problems for most. I can’t say I thought it one of his top drawer puzzles but as ever a pleasant solve.

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 This could be pet’s exit for a bit (4,3)

STEP OUT: a not too tricky reverse anagram to start us off with – pet’s is the fodder (letters to rearrange) then append an anagram indicator.

5a Turns aside, ignoring student’s faults (7)

DEFECTS: remove the usual single letter for student (Learner) from a synonym for turns aside.

9a Fish following ship going round each coast (7)

SEASIDE: insert the abbreviation for EAch between the usual two letter prefix for a ship then append the Prof’s favourite freshwater ray-finned fish to give you a location we do like to be beside.

10a Hosts reunions primarily wearing panties (7)

THRONGS: skimpy underwear goes around the initial (primarily) letter of Reunions.

11a Very lenient with my raving (9)

EMINENTLY: an anagram (raving) – LENIENT MY.

12a This writer’s mature depiction (5)

IMAGE: a contraction for this writer’s + a synonym for mature/ripen.

13a X’s enthralling English adolescents (5)

TEENS: insert (enthralling) English into the plural of the number X represents in Roman numerals.

15a Footballer taken aback by Hampshire’s large animals (9)

ELEPHANTS: reverse (taken aback) Brazil’s greatest ever footballer then append the county abbreviation for Hampshire.

17a Run and run after ordinary railway employee? (9)

CONDUCTOR: a verbal synonym for run/preside over + the single letter for Ordinary followed by (after) the cricket abbreviation for Run.

19a Fear completely gripping king (5)

DREAD: a synonym for completely/100% (think what precedes cert perhaps in racing tips that prove to be anything but) surrounds (gripping) the regnal letter for king.

22a Loosen up – not like every other character (5)

UNTIE: the alternate letters (every other character) in the 3 words between definition & indicator.

23a Manufacture seat with spare parts (9)

SEPARATES: an anagram (manufacture) – SEAT SPARE.

25a Bird dog (7)

HARRIER: double definition.

26a Lost earring makes you more infuriated (7)

ANGRIER: an anagram (lost) – EARRING.

27a Pleasure from day with number of rowers potentially around lake (7)

DELIGHT: the single letter abbreviation for Day (military/medical) + a potential number of rowers (University Boat Race crew for example) into which the geographic abbreviation for Lake is inserted (around)

28a Meet perhaps outside front of towers in San Francisco (7)

SATISFY: a synonym for perhaps/for instance goes around (outside) the initial letters (front) of the last four words in the clue.

Down

1d Shady religious group protecting American power (7)

SUSPECT: insert (protecting) the two letter abbreviation for American + Power (physics) into a word for a religious group.

2d Consider a month in Spain supporting former lover (7)

EXAMINE: A (from the clue) + the date format abbreviation for Month + IN (from the clue) + the IVR code for Spain all supporting (preceded by/down clue) the usual for a former lover.

3d Be underneath old tree (5)

OLIVE: Old + a synonym for be/exist.

4d Mate struggling in river gets medical care (9)

TREATMENT: place an anagram (struggling) of MATE inside of the UK’s 3rd longest river.

5d Crazy description of pointillism (5)

DOTTY: a double definition – an informal adjective for crazy/eccentric & a painting technique employed most notably by Georges-Pierre Seurat & Paul Signac.

6d Supplied his refund unhappily (9)

FURNISHED: an anagram (unhappily) – HIS REFUND.

7d Restrain murderer, holding on tight initially (7)

CONTAIN: the fratricidal son of Adam & Eve surrounds (holding) ON (in the wordplay) & the first letter (initially) of Tight.

8d Son is curt, dismissing last relatives (7)

SISTERS: the genealogical abbreviation for Son + IS (from the clue) + a truncated synonym (dismissing last) for curt.

14d Hugging second monarch almost with enthusiasm (9)

SQUEEZING: Second + a shortened (almost) monarch + (with) a nounal synonym for enthusiasm/gusto.

16d Italians, perhaps, could make one a purse (9)

EUROPEANS: another anagram (could make) – ONE A PURSE.

17d Vintage spades the man had taken to the cleaners (7)

CRUSHED: Think wine for vintage & not your tenner bottle of vino collapso + Spades (card suit abbreviation) the contraction for the man had. Nowt to do with a visit to the launderette.

I’ll take two bottles please.

18d Typical ancient city in old part of Africa (7)

NATURAL: insert the important Sumerian city-state in ancient Mesopotamia into a South African province now prefixed by KwaZulu. The battle of Isandlwana, the subsequent defence of Rorke’s Drift & the final showdown at Ulundi all took place in the province. We took a guide & it was a fascinating & surprisingly moving experience.

20d Watches leader withdrawing written records (7)

ENTRIES: remove the first letter (leader withdrawing) from a synonym for watches/lookouts.

21d Level extract from modest royal (7)

DESTROY: hidden (extract) in the last two words. The definition synonym is in the context of lay waste to.

23d Small dimwit – one’s probably in school (5)

SPRAT: Small + an informal derogatory term for an idiot/buffoon. This school isn’t on dry land.

24d We hear ceremony, just (5)

RIGHT: a nice easy homophone (hear) of another word for ceremony to end with – surely no pronunciation issues here whichever parts of the globe solvers come from.

Today’s Quick crossword pun: DAY + TUB + HANKS = DATA BANKS

Please let us know which clues ticked your boxes. 23a was my favourite because it reminded me of an old school chum who I haven’t thought about in years. 14&17d can join it on the podium.

Today’s blogging music was Van’s 8th studio album from 1974 & one of his best. Here’s a  no frills clip of him with a great band belting out one of the best tunes on it at Montreux.

 

 

52 comments on “DT 30907”

  1. The odd thing about today’s was that it was an E/W one for me – the E falling first and then the W. I thought 10a amusing and the best 15a. Thank you Huntsman for the hints as I needed them to understand 20d. I thought **/** and ok for a Tuesday with thanks to the setter.

  2. This was a pleasant enough solve with the prof creating some random scenes, e.g 10a, 15a and 14d.

    My podium is 9a, 2d (both nice constructions) and 4d.

    MTT AP and Hoots!

    Swing sweetly.

    2*/3*

  3. I enjoyed that. My only hold up was of my own making. I had entered the answer to 24d in 23d, and quickly realised my error. No problem, but, as I solve with pen and paper I then had a ‘g’ for the final letter of 25a and spent ages trying to justify ‘herring’ as the answer before remembering what I had done! Lots of contenders for favourite today so I will nominate 28a, 7d and 8d for podium places. Thanks to Prof Plumb and Huntsman. Enjoy your busman’s holiday.

  4. I agree that this was a notch up in difficulty for a Tuesday, but well worth the effort to solve it. There were some clever constructions and a wee bit of misdirection to slow down the solve, with 7d my nomination for a favourite clue; in truth, it could have been virtually any of them.

    My thanks to AP and The Hintsman. Enjoy Portugal.

  5. My only delay in today’s puzzle was my last in, which was 17a.
    Many thanks to the setter and to Huntsman – have a good holiday!

  6. An enjoyable solve for me today.
    SW held me up for a bit too.
    Liked 15a best.
    Is it just me or do other people object to “panties”? Pants or knickers or bloomers but not that word….

    Thanks to the setter a d to Huntsman.
    Have a great time in the sun.

      1. No it isn’t just Ora. It is a man’s word. It is not a word I would ever use – and as it happens (and I can see you all sniggering behind your hands) 10a was my last one in, I cannot think of anything more uncomfortable. So there, bon jare.

        1. It’s (‘panties’) more North American isn’t it? They needed it as they use ‘pants’ differently of course.

  7. I’m glad it wasn’t only me having trouble in the SW and needed the hints to confirm my answer to 17d. Just didn’t think of vintage vino. It’s probably just me, but I felt this lacked the sparkle of previous AP productions. My cotd is 14d. Thanks to AP and happy holidays to Huntsman.

  8. A pleasant puzzle – thanks to our setter and Huntsman.
    Top clues for me were 1a, 15a and 28a.

  9. An enjoyable straightforward coffee-break solve. Many thanks to the setter and to Huntsman – have a great time.

  10. Another Typically Tuesdayish offering from Anthony Plumb – **/****

    Candidates for favourite – 13a, 15a, 28a, 8d, and 14d – and the winner is 13 for the pause for thought on ‘X’.

    Thanks to Mr Plumb and Huntsman – no ‘gators in The Algarve!

  11. Quite a challenging guzzlw this morning, particularly in the SW, but it was a satisfying solve. I liked the well- misdirected angram a at 11a, the missing letter clue at 8d and the small dimwit at 23d, which was also well- misdirected. Thanks to our Tuesday compiler and to Huntsman for the hints.

  12. 2*/4*. A lightish delight for a Tuesday with far too many good clues to think about picking a favourite or podium selection.

    Many thanks to AP (?) and to Hintsman.

  13. I made heavy work of the SW. I had 25a early for the bird but didn’t know it was a dog breed too. LOI was 17a.

    Top picks for me were 23d, 17a, 7d and 9a.

    Thanks to Huntsman and the setter.

    1. 25a .. my last in and thanks for clearing it up. I didn’t know it was a dog either .. I was thinking it was dog as in “to harry” which I was unhappy with.
      Apart from that a pleasant solve.
      Cotd 10a .. and I’m with Ora Meringue .. re the use of “panties” .. pants is quite sufficent!
      .. however I get more annoyed with the insertion of the word “wee” in conversation .. come in and have a “wee” seat or would you line a “wee” cup of tea etc! Although perhaps southern neighbours don’t need to put up with this.

  14. I really enjoyed that. 17a, 28a and 17d for me. Best thanks to our setter and Huntsman. Cracking tunes, as always. Happy hols!

  15. I had an overwhelming urge to enter ‘cat flap’ into 1a despite it not fitting with the enumeration we’d been given. Obviously wrong but, once seen, it took a while to rid myself of the thought. Favourites at the end of the day were 5&17d – I’m sure my dear old dad kept a vintage spade in the garage!

    Thanks to Mr Plumb and to Huntsman for the review – enjoy chasing that little ball around in Portugal.

  16. Back on terra firma and being driven at some speed from Portsmouth to N Norfolk. Millions of thanks to the receptionist who charged up my Kindle daily so I could download the guzzle. Today’s offering was good fun, just a few held me up. Like Madflower didn’t know the breed of dog. Enjoy the Algarve. Left Lisbon on Saturday in terrifying conditions and was thrown out of bed twice! Thanks to setter and blogger. P S. DG, just passed road to Melbourne on 505.

    1. Oh Manders, you should have popped in to see me! (And I am sure it was an autocorrect but WE don’t have an ‘e’.)

  17. A little harder than a Typical Tuesday puzzle I thought this week. Top went in well but bottom area I struggled a little.

    2*/3.5*

    Favourites 1a, 9a, 25a, 4d, 5d & 21d — with winner 25a
    Wrong answer is hidden for 13a, Huntsman

    Thanks to AP & Huntsman

    1. Ta – now corrected. No idea how the answer to the previous clue got in there.
      One of these days I’ll deliver a blip free blog 😀

  18. Jolly guzzle for a Tuesday with the sheets blowing on the line and the beans all planted out. I told the Pocket Rocket there may yet be a frost but she thinks it is ok. A lost earring certainly would make me angrier- I lost a favourite silk scarf last week, one wore a lot. Of course, no one has seen it! I’d rather give it to someone than lose it. What would we do without the old city and large mammals? Many thanks to Messrs Setter and Hintsman – I have asked you before if you play at Sotogrande where my bro lives, maybe it is a bit far round for you. Anyway, have fun hitting your little ball around and enjoy the sun. P S Hope Steve is OK and where is Kath?

  19. Good fun but a tale of 4 quarters. NW fell in read and write fashion, followed a bit more slowly by the SW, then the SE was even slower. The NE completely stumped me and I needed the hint for either 5d, 7d or 10a to get there. Worse, I accidentally clicked “Click here!” on 10a so was deprived of the laugh I think this would’ve got and also makes the whole shebang a DNF ☹! But all the solutions were pretty clear once I got there. I only ticked 13a as a ‘like’ but I’m sure there were more; just having to concentrate too much to mark them.

    Once again was put on a futile pangram watch with the early X, V and Y and then Q and Z in the same answer – what a tease!

    Thanks to the Prof and Huntsman for helping dispense with my miseries in the NE!

  20. I started very slowly indeed today but eventually found the setter’s wavelength and then everything fell into place easily enough. The NE was the last to fall, although 15a may well have been my favourite clue. Thanks very much to the setter and to Huntsman. I’m trying to regain some enthusiasm for Van before we see him supporting Neil Young in the summer. Mind you, the boys already have their work cut out getting up to speed with NY’s prodigious output.

    1. Love them both but hate the idea of Van supporting anyone. I baulked at the ticket price, no seating & general hassle of massive crowds as well as being slightly surprised Van has chosen to appear – nowadays much better suited to a more intimate indoor gig. I’m hoping it’ll be televised but no info as yet so 🤞

  21. Solved clockwise from the NE, finishing in NE.
    Nothing to frighten the horses but a fun solve and some equally fine background music.
    Thanks to AP and Huntsman – enjoy your holiday
    The Donnybrook in the other place is fun too but your experience may differ

  22. I seem to have found this trickier than most with the SW causing the hold up, especially 17a , 17d and 14d.
    But still an enjoyable 2.5* / 3.5*
    Favourite large mammals at 15a
    Thanks to Huntsman and setter

    1. Imposter, I think you and I were on the same wavelength as I had to resort to the hints to finish 17a, 17d and 14d.

  23. Nice Tuesday puzzle 😃 Favourites 15a & 5d 👍 Thanks to the Huntsman and to AP Enjoy the 🏌️‍♂️🍷 🌞

  24. For me three quarters went well with the SW being troublesome. I got there in the end and enjoyed it very much. I also wanted cat flap for 1a, it is so hard to get a wrong answer to leave one’s brain. There were lots of excellent clues with no particular favourite.

    Many thanks to the setter and to Huntsman for the hints, I do hope you have a very enjoyable break.

  25. A bit of a let down after yesterday, and definitely found this trickier than usual for a Tuesday. Got off to a slow start, and often was tempted to ink in my first, incorrect thought. Didn’t know the dog in 25a, and 17d was LI. Still not sure how that is “taken to the cleaners”, rather stretched IMHO. Thanks to setter and Huntsman.

  26. Despite struggling to finish without checking the hints for 17a, 17d and 14d I did enjoy today’s puzzle and all but 3 of the clues came surprisingly quickly. Many thanks to the setter and Huntsman. Enjoy your golf in Portugal, Huntsman and may the weather be kinder than it was for Manders!

  27. Didn’t get to the puzzle until later in the afternoon as it was an Arts Society lecture on Oscar Wilde followed for our customary lunch for around 50 people. How I love these varied lectures by such marvellous and knowledge people. Covid and the internet has robbed us of so many face to face interactions. A pleasant and enjoyable puzzle but no great laugh out loud moments .Many thanks to Huntsman , especially as I stupidly got the wrong tree for 3 d. and a Thankyou to our unidentified setter.

  28. Generally straightforward and like others struggled in the SW a bit. I remember coming across the ‘vintage’ in 17d in a toughie some time ago and amazingly I remembered it. Favourite was 25a although I think I’ve seen it clued the same way before. Thanks to AP and Huntsman.

  29. A gentle solve for me today. I was on setter’s wavelength so it fell into place . As others the SW went in last and I didn’t get the parsing for vintage so just checked the hint. Thanks to setter and Huntsman.

  30. Good evening

    First crozzie in over a week! I was away last week and couldn’t get a Telegraph. I did attempt a Times crozzie last Tuesday and failed miserably.

    So, on to today. My rustiness has shown through, because it’s a DNF. I couldn’t twig 5d and settled on DOPEY, which gave me PARENTS (RE from reunion + pants), which I knew deep down was wrong, but inked it in nevertheless.

    COTD: joint honours to 1a and 22a. Many thanks to our setter and to Huntsman. Must do better tomorrow!

  31. I seem to be losing my ability to do crosswords over the last few months. Just when I think I can do them, the difficulty seems to ramp up. No one else seems to be having the same issue, so might be time to find a new pastime, or I will become the new Brian.

    I have a new mountain bike arriving in a month, so that may be it.

    Solved around two thirds before admitting defeat.

    Thanks to all.

  32. Love Monday Tuesdays. Very enjoyable solve. Thank you to setter and to Huntsman. Boa Viajem! 😎

  33. This was certainly more challenging than is usually the Tuesday case but it was still good fun with the East succumbing first. 5d art form new to me. 17d baffled me but MrG got me out of the corner. Thank you once more to the trusty Prof/Huntsman combination.

  34. It took me as long to do the SW as it did the rest of the crossword! Got there in the end. Many thanks to all.

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