DT 30944 – Big Dave's Crossword Blog
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DT 30944

by Senf  

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30944

Hints and tips by Senf

+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +

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

A very good Wednesday morning from Winnipeg where we had some rain on Monday but we need a whole lot more!

As ALP said yesterday, there is some reshuffling going on.  Today is my last every Wednesday blog; but as ALP also said yesterday don’t start cracking open the champagne yet.  For the next while (how long is a piece of string?) I will be sharing Wednesdays with a new to mid-week back page blogger who is starting next week.  And, I will continue to solve half of a Dada puzzle on my Saturday evenings and prepare the Sunday blog 😉

For me, etc (I have to say that for Terence), much more like a Wednesday puzzle than we have had recently except for the absence of the Reverend W A Spooner.  I was partially defeated by 2a – so any sensible suggestions on how ‘brother’s’ fits in would be appreciated (thanks to Maggie and CS for the enlightenment).  I have managed to find another pair of half crowns at the back of my sock drawer and they are telling me that this is probably a Twmbarlwm production.

Candidates for favourite – 15a, 17a, 4d, 16d, and 18d.

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 Buying meat on the way out? (7,3,4)
GETTING THE CHOP: A synonym of buying/obtaining and an item of meat with a definite article.

10a Household facing one boring travel film by amateur (4,5)
HOME MOVIE: A synonym of household placed before (facing) the Roman numeral for one inserted into (boring) a synonym of travel.

11a Agency returns to check temperature twice in roof space (5)
ATTIC: The reversal (returns) of the US spy agency contains (to check) two of (twice) the single letter for Temperature.

12a Food that’s best eaten soon after leaving bed? (7)
OYSTERS: Shellfish often eaten raw.

13a Figure that’s worshipped seized by peevish nun (6)
VISHNU: A lurker contained (seized by) in two words of the clue for the Hindu deity revered as the preserver and protector of the universe.

15a Desert good Japanese band (4)
GOBI: The single letter for Good and a Japanese ‘band’ worn with a kimono – which, if memory serves, is already on THE LIST.

17a Increase in tempo that’s apparent in Scarlatti? (6,4)
DOUBLE TIME: An increase in tempo that can be represented (apparent) by repeated single letters in ScarlaTTi.

19a Doctor sneering at some of your “five-a-day”? (10)
TANGERINES: An anagram (doctor) of SNEERING AT.

20a Half-heartedly keep current military headgear (4)
KEPI: KEeP with one of the interior letters deleted (half-heartedly) and the letter that represents electrical current in a circuit diagram.

22a Minder is in Calais, collecting company director at last (6)
ESCORT: IS in the third person singular in Calais, or anywhere else in France, containing (collecting) the two letter abbreviated form of COmpany and the last letter of directoR.

23a Blew up photo, initially prompted by editor (7)
SNAPPED: An informal(?) synonym of photo and the first letter (initially) of Prompted placed before (by) the two letter abbreviation of EDitor.

26a Willow on island, very twisted (5)
OSIER: The reversal (twisted) of all of the Latin based synonym of on, the single letter for Island, and a two letter synonym of very.

27a A corkscrew Kelvin misses when cooking for brainless character? (9)
SCARECROW: An anagram (when cooking) of A CORkSCREW with the single letter for temperature in degrees Kelvin deleted (misses).

28a Single taxpayer exploited in a maddening way (14)
EXASPERATINGLY: An anagram (exploited) of SINGLE TAXPAYER.

Down

2d European male and son saving brother’s awards (5)
EMMYS: The single letters for European, Male, and Son containing (saving) a two letter synonym of brother when used as an expression of surprise, usually preceded by ‘Oh’ – Thanks to Maggie and CS for being the first two to enlighten me.

3d Did Labour briefly try to persuade in speech? (6)
TEMPED: A homophone (in speech) of a single word term for try to persuade (to do wrong?).

4d Fantastic vacations touring old part of Canada (4,6)
NOVA SCOTIA: Not an old part of Canada, just part of Canada – an anagram (fantastic) of VACATIONS containing (touring) the single letter for Old.

5d Step that is in tango and rumba at the start (4)
TIER: The Latin based abbreviation for that is inserted into (in) the letter represented by Tango in the phonetic alphabet and the first letter (at the start) of Rumba – it could be first letters of Tango and Rumba, but I consider that, as written, ‘at the start’ can only refer to Rumba.

6d Looks at former lover when going around pit (8)
EXAMINES: The usual former lover, and a synonym of when containing (going around) a specific type of pit (as a source of coal?).

7d Couple make higher bid for free ride (5-4)
HITCH-HIKE: A synonym of couple and a single word term for make higher (increase) bid.

8d Imagine victory party with small and large lights< (7,7)
PICTURE WINDOWs: A synonym of imagine (in one’s mind’s eye), synonyms of victory and party, and the single letters for With and Small.

9d Where some jewellery is seen at an exorbitant price? (7,3,4)
THROUGH THE NOSE: A now popular part of the face for displaying jewellry and a synomymic term for paying an exorbitant price.

14d Started job shifting attractive ornaments (6,1’3)
OBJETS D’ART: An anagram (shifting) of STARTED JOB – I was pleased to see the apostrophe in the enumeration.

16d Porcelain, good for Parisian appearing superior to English friend (4,5)
BONE CHINA: Good for a Parisian, or anyone else from France, placed before (appearing superior to) the single letter for English and a (Cockney slang) synonym of friend.

18d Sweet, soft organ accompanying Cliff? (4,4)
PEAR DROP: The letter for musically soft and the otic organ followed by (accompanying) a synonym of cliff in terms of an expression of height.

21d Entered converted cinema (4,2)
CAME IN: An anagram (converted) of CINEMA.

24d Risk gym runs, mostly unhealthy (5)
PERIL: One of the sets of two letters for gym (class at school), the single letter for crickety Runs, and a synonym of unhealthy with the last letter deleted (mostly).

25d Employer occasionally quashed resistance (4)
USE: Alternate letters (occasionally) from qUaShEd and the letter used for electrical Resistance (in a circuit diagram).

Quick Crossword Pun:

GOES + TRITE = GHOST WRITE

57 comments on “DT 30944”

  1. I finished today’s offering albeit at a slow pace. I struggled with some clues in that the parsing was not immediately obvious. I’m afraid I didn’t derive much enjoyment from it but I admit to feeling somewhat under the weather today so it is, no doubt, that. No real favourites today, just happy to get over the finish line.

    Thank you, setter for your efforts. Thank you, Senf for the hints, which I will now read.

    1. Thank you Maggie. Your comment went into moderation as you had previously used your full name. Both should work from now on.

      (Oh) brother is not an interjection I use very often, if at all.

  3. Light and good fun. Perfect midweek fare.
    I enjoyed the four 14 letter perimeter clues and the shellfish.
    Thank you setter and Senf.

  4. Brother in 2d is an expression of surprise, just like my in the solution, although both are usually preceded by ‘Oh’

    1. Couldn’t have put it better myself sue, that’s how I read it, but in my view, it’s still a dreadful clue from the far end of believability, and mars an otherwise brilliant crossword.

      1. I think the setter could have replaced ‘brother’ with ‘my’ and it will still work nicely because ‘brother’ is pushing it a tad.

        It would make it an easier clue but still a cryptic one.

          1. That’s no problem. It occurs quite often in clues.

            it makes it easier but there’s still some cryptic action, i.e E, m and s.

      1. I think I had the interjection in a Light toughie recently, which adds weight to your toonies punt

  5. A curate’s egg for me, which I completed but without fully understanding some of the clues. However I really liked the cryptic definition at 1a, rhe double definition at 9d and the stonking anagram at 28a Thanks to the compiler for an interesting guzzle and to Senf for the hints, which I’ll read now to enlighten my darkness on some of the parsing

  6. I really enjoyed this apart from the problem with parsing 2d. Thank you, Crypticsue, for your sensible explanation, though I’m sure it could have been clued in a more friendly way. What do I know?! I particularly liked all the peripheral clues, even the wonderful anagram with it’s smooth surface read at 28a. Podium places for 1a, 7d and 9d. Thanks to our setter and Senf.

  7. Well I came here looking for an answer to the same question that I was disappointed to find that Senf himself had posed – where does the “MY” come from in 2d?
    Thanks to CS for providing the answer to that one!
    Also – Am I the only one who was expecting a word like “terse” as the third part of the quickie pun?

    With regard to today’s puzzle, I will say that, at first, I found it hard going with a fairly barren grid after the first pass – and thinking myself to be on a different wavelength to the setter – but then, slowly, I got going and managed to complete it without too much difficulty. I definitely needed Senf (and CS) to unravel the parsing of some of my answers however.

    With many thanks to Senf, and the setter…

  8. Some cracking, fun surfaces – 1a, 9d, etc. 28a is a glorious spot, too. To be fair, “brother” is listed in Chambers without the admittedly customary “oh”. I thought it was rather cute, myself. Loved this. Best thanks to setter and Senf.

  9. For me, and I stress for me (© Senf) it was a joy to welcome back the ‘Japanese band’, which has been a very popular display item on THE LIST for many a year. It is to be found between haragake and ka in the main hall. In our range of t-shirts (available in the gift shop, £39.99) the Japanese band is one of our top sellers, although of course, ‘The Hanseatic League’ outsells all the others added together.

    Interesting guzzle; bit of a battle, in places.

    Thanks to the setter and (sending him some rain) The Man From Manitoba

    1. Terence, is there a group discount for visitors to the Hall of The List? I think the blog commenters, and possibly some of the setters, would like to visit it. Maybe we could get a coach trip together. You’d make a killing in t-shirts and guide books.

        1. Of course we would Daisy but we might want a souvenir to remind us of all the fabulous exhibits.

  10. A curious puzzle I thought. Some excellent clues and others I found obscure in the extreme. Cotd for me is the musical 17a. Thanks to compiler and Senf.

  11. Lovely puzzle right from the off, with only the wily 12a, my LOI, causing prolonged furrowing of the forehead. 1a raised a wide smile and the puzzle just got better from there. Maybe it helped that the ‘brother’ expression is one I use not infrequently? Thanks heavens for the frequent appearance of the Japanese band in various puzzles, which helped it came to mind instantly.

    Anyway, a cracker, with honours to 17a, 28a and 14d. Many thanks to the setter (Twm could be a good call) and also to Senf – time for another rain dance!

    Today’s Kcit Toughie is very approachable and has some witty and clever clueing, well worth a shot.

  12. All competed and I thought an excellent puzzle. I could not parse 2d but see that I was not alone. 28a was my favourite.

    Many thanks to the setter and to Senf for the hints.

  13. An enjoyable midweek puzzle – thanks to our setter and Senf.
    Contenders for my podium included 12a, 7d and 9d.

  14. I was another who couldn’t parse 2d.

    Top picks for me are 12a, 17a and 18d.

    Thanks to Senf and the setter.

  15. No real problems encountered during this morning’s solve and my favourite clue was 27a for its reminder of the old Judy Garland film. Lesser places filled by 28a plus 4d.

    Thanks to our setter and to ‘every other Wednesday’ Senf for the review.

  16. I had to work for this one which, therefore, made it a satisfying solve.

    I’ve always liked the desert name and the headgear was a new one for me.

    A fair few to choose from for the honours but I’ll go with 3d, 28a (superb anagram) and 14d (another excellent anagram).

    MT to the setter and Senfingtons.

    4*/4*

  17. Well that took longer than any weekday puzzle has for quite some time, although I got there in the end. The four long framing clues were all good, with 9d my favourite, once the penny had eventually dropped. Thanks very much to the setter and to Senf.

  18. I thought 2d to be fairly clued as I’ve certainly heard the contentious two letter word used to indicate exasperation without a prefix.
    All in all a fine midweek backpager, with honours going to 22a, 26a and my COTD 9d.
    Thanks to Senf for devoting so much time to blogging during the week and at weekends, and of course to the setter.

  19. I felt and thought like a 27 and 28 today when it came to parsing 2d . Last one in 3d . Maybe 2d had some sort of hex on 3 .?
    Most of the clues decent but nothing stands out except maybe 9d .
    Thanks to all .

  20. This was a mixed bag with the South being friendliest half. Failed to register origin of 13a or 2d brother so both needed prompt. 8d and 10d amused. Thanks to whom it may concern for setting and to Senf.

    1. Should have said 9d (not 8d) and 16d (not 10d) amused – need to replace reading glasses due to slow recovery from January stroke! 🤭

      1. New reading glasses sounds like a good idea – you managed to put 2 ‘i’s in your e-mail address, so you went into moderation. I have made the correction.

  21. This was a very pleasant tussle that tested the old grey matter a little more than usual. My top clue was 27a, mainly because Domenico Scarlatti is a particular favourite of mine. For the record, he composed 555 keyboard sonatas, (not that I’ve heard them all).

    My thanks to our midweek setter and Senf.

  22. Curate’s egg Wednesday for me with a mixture of good clues and some not very satisfying ones.

    Unusually, I’ll plump for an anagram as my favourite – 28a.

    Thanks to the setter and to Senf.

  23. Some tricky spots in this Wednesday puzzle that caused some head scratching for me. Two words I was unfamiliar with in the east of the puzzle.

    2.5*/3* today

    Favourites 1a, 10a, 12a, 28a, 4d & 7d — with winner 1a
    Smiles for 1a, 12a, 9d

    Thanks to setter & Senf

  24. In the spirit of ‘if you can’t say anything nice don’t say anything at all’ – thanks to Senf for the hints

  25. I was going to say that 28a was an outstanding anagram but Criscross’s ‘stonking’ is even better. 19a was also very neat. I enjoyed it all except for 2d which stumped me and I needed your help, Senf. Nicely conceived lurker. Many thanks to Setter and Senf for the entertainment.
    These are dark times IMHO and the diversion is most welcome. (Notice my ‘hip’ talk)

  26. A nicely pitched puzzle for a Wednesday. Not to easy and not too hard , but a bit chewy in places. I didn’t know the willow 26a , and the hat of 20a must have been lurking in the crevices of my brain as that suddenly came to me although not aware I knew it. I didn’t get the parsing of the Scarlatti clue . I thought maybe he was very fast at playing 🙄. Thanks to the setter and to Senf.

  27. Thoroughly enjoyed today’s puzzle especially 1a though I was slow to get 9d until all the checking letters were in. I didn’t know the hat at 20a but recognised it in the photo later. Many thanks to the setter and Senf.

  28. 3.5* / 4* Got stuck on half a dozen clues on my first pass, but came back later and couldn’t really see why (apart from the much discussed 2d).
    Favourites 7d free ride, 9d jewellery and 12a seafood. A top puzzle.
    Thanks to setter and Senf

  29. I’ve been crosswordless, if there is such a word, for the last two days which might explain me struggling with this or maybe just the usual incompetence. I’m afraid ‘brother’ didn’t work for me so 2d was a bung in. I found this hard work which is not a ringing endorsement for enjoyment level. No real real favourite but if pushed I’d go wroth 7d. Thanks to the setter and Senf.

  30. Can someone please explain how “5-a-day” relates to the answer in 19a.

    2. Because the answer could be one of the 5 a day we are recommended to eat. Nutritious food.

  31. I was bang on the wavelength, more so than on any recently. I started with 1a which I got straightaway. I didn’t parse 2d which was my penultimate in. Oddly it was 3 that floored me. Probably is a word these days but not a good one.14 16 and 18d favourites. Thanks Setter – more like this please and Senf.

  32. I was doing well until I tried to solve the “Oh – brother” bit. A grim clue. The episode was akin to driving a 40 ton lorry into a braking spur off a mountain road. Sand everywhere and a hard ending to the trip.

  33. 3*/3* …
    liked 12A “Food that’s best eaten soon after leaving bed ? (7)”

  34. A nice one and largely easy. I messed up only on 3 down, which made me smile when I saw the answer. A good one! 😃

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