Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30945
Hints and tips by Shabbo
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****
Two sweethearts and the Queen suggest that this has to be a RayT puzzle, although at times it didn’t feel like one of his – maybe it’s just me. Other RayT indicators are single-word answers in the Cryptic and single-word answers and clues in the Quickie. At 5.4 words/clue, it is still very concisely clued, even if it doesn’t quite match the extraordinary brevity of his previous puzzle. No need to pop in to confirm ownership, Ray, but it would be lovely to hear from you, as ever. A first class puzzle, beautifully and succinctly worded. Thank you Ray.
I found it quite tricky in parts, but then I did solve it at midnight, so was probably not at my sharpest. Bizarrely, the puzzle was available on my phone at about 23.30 last night, but I gave up waiting for it to arrive on my laptop. All is well this morning, however, so let’s go…
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.
Many thanks to our setter and the DT Crossword Team.
Across
1a Bodice from fancy collection (6)
CORSET: informal expression of surprise + synonym of collection.
5a Rats quietly landed on board (6)
SPLITS: rats here is a verb disguised as a noun. Take the musical abbreviation for quietly + a three-letter word meaning landed and put them both inside the usual abbreviation for SteamShip (on board).
10a Banish Europeans ingesting 11 litres (5)
EXILE: two abbreviations for European outside (ingesting) Roman numeral for eleven + abbreviation for Litres. A bit harsh – sounds like a normal day’s wine consumption if you are French.
11a Went quickly over part for recital (9)
NARRATION: synonym of “went quickly” backwards (over) + synonym of part or allocation.
12a Rex perhaps playing in demo (7)
MONARCH: synonym of playing (think music) inside synonym of demonstration.
13a Sweetheart accepts need for garment opening (7)
PLACKET: our sweetheart here is not Ray’s usual E. Instead, find a synonym of sweetheart (often associated with our friends from the frozen north) and put it outside (accepts) a synonym of need or scarcity. Not a word I was familiar with, but the seamstress in Shabbo Towers knew it, of course.
14a Calm allure with sweetheart taking time (9)
TEMPERATE: synonym of allure + RayT’s usual swEetheart (the heart of sweet) outside (taking) abbreviation for Time. three-letter word meaning time or epoch.
17a Cane sugar’s first craving (5)
SWISH: the first letter of Sugar + synonym of craving.
18a Called party’s leader past it (5)
PAGED: the leader of Party + synonym of “past it”. I’m sure that there will be many who will confess to being old but object to being described as past it!
19a Lost again, confused, longing for home (9)
NOSTALGIA: a bit of a chestnut, perhaps, but a lovely anagram (confused) of LOST AGAIN.
21a Cheers with do for wine sampling? (7)
TASTING: synonym of cheers (as in thank you) + synonym of do (as in swindle). Our daughter works for The Wine Society and we have been to many of their “wine samplings” in London, which are always held at magnificent venues.
23a Hide in some deserted Greek island (7)
SECRETE: “some deserted” invites us to remove the middle two letters of SomE and then add a large Greek island to reveal the definition. I remember from my Latin O-Level that towns and small islands require a preposition, with Rhodes being the yardstick for what constitutes a large island. The island here is definitely large! Funny how I can remember stuff from over 50 years ago but have no idea where I put my glasses.
25a Routine job employing first Queen singer (9)
CHORISTER: nothing to do with the late, great Freddie Mercury. Take a routine job and put inside it (employing) the abbreviation for fIrST and then finally add the abbreviation for Regina.
26a Vow by oddly ignored A-list stars (5)
IDOLS: the two words required by both bride and groom at the altar (vow) + the even letters (oddly ignored) of aLiSt.
27a Engaged and lost after this compiler (6)
MESHED: synonym of lost (as in moulted) after how the compiler would refer to himself/herself. I’m sorry, but I will never pluralise this just to please the gender neutral police.
28a Risk irritation following Democrat (6)
DANGER: synonym of irritation (or worse, perhaps) after abbreviation for Democrat.
Down
2d Repeatedly working to install one bulb (5)
ONION: synonym of working twice (repeatedly) outside (to install) the letter signifying one. The bulb here is a tear-jerker, not a light-emitter.
3d He parades around front line (9)
SPEARHEAD: anagram (around) of HE PARADES.
4d Fish smell with head cut off (5)
TENCH: synonym of smell without the first letter (with head cut off).
5d Vessel, part submerged, holds up unsupported (9)
STRAPLESS: a hidden word upside down clue (holds up). Our solution is lurking upside down (or backwards) within words 1-3 of the clue.
6d A metal spike lifted vine (5)
LIANA: A + small metal spike used for fixing upside down (lifted).
7d Flash in town, oddly facing suspicion (9)
TWINKLING: odd letters of ToWn + synonym of suspicion.
8d Consent for each male before sex (6)
PERMIT: synonym of “for each” + abbreviation for Male + informal two-letter word meaning sex or sex appeal.
9d Fragment is small, as expected (6)
SNATCH: abbreviation for Small + a slang synonym of “as expected”. It sounds a bit like yoof-speak, but it’s in Chambers.
15d Unwholesome gas to release around outlet? (9)
MEGASTORE: another hidden word clue (around), but the right way round this time. Our answer is lurking within words 1-4 of the clue.
16d Denied date began badly (9)
ABNEGATED: anagram (badly) of DATE BEGAN.
17d Support of chain’s not broken (9)
STANCHION: another anagram (London bus syndrome) of CHAIN’S NOT.
18d School is underlying place for rebellion (6)
PUTSCH: abbreviation for SCHool after (underlying – this is a down clue) synonym of place. Remind me, where did I place my glasses?
20d Discrimination is borne by great revolutionary (6)
AGEISM: Ray has generously given us IS in the clue. Put this inside (borne by) a word meaning “great” reversed (revolutionary).
22d Celtic flag hoisted originally (5)
IRISH: a floral synonym of flag + the first letter (originally) of Hoisted.
23d Strip having ragged edges, detached initially (5)
SHRED: I parsed this last night, but just could not work it out this morning! One merely needs to take the initial letters of the first five words of the clue. I’m going for a lie-down!
24d Arouse first woman admitting approval (5)
EVOKE: Adam’s partner (first woman) outside (admitting) two-letter international abbreviation meaning approval.
Quickie Pun: MIRROR + CULL = MIRACLE
A typical Ray T with two sweethearts and a queen. I couldn’t see the parsing in one or two so will need the hints for those. Lots to like so difficult to pick a favourite. I did like the support at 5d and the Queen singer at 25a. However, it was the deserted Greek island at 23a that takes the honours today.
Thank you, Ray T for the fun. Thank you, Shabbo for the hints.
I enjoyed this guzzle, which was full o Ray T’s obscure synonyms, a sweetheart and a queen. There were a few clues that I couldn’t parse and the NE seemed particularly tricky but I got there in the end. I thought the two Lego clues at 13a and 25a were particularly clever together with the two anagrams at 16d and 17d. Thanks to Shabbo for the hints, which I shall now use to check rhe parsing and to the inimitable Mr T
Tricky in parts indeed and thank you Shabbo for the explanatory hints to 14&26a and 9,20amd22d. 13a was a new one for me but guessable. I didn’t have any particular favourites today. Thank you setter for a considerable challenge.
This was a very nice puzzle, which felt more like Beam than RayT.
My last four in (5a, 6d, 17a, and 9d, in that order) took me as long as the rest of the puzzle.
Many thanks to RayT and to Shabbo.
4d came to mind immediately, as Mortimer and Whitehouse were pursuing the beasts on the telly last night. It must be RayT as there is a signature initials clue too.
I too have been stymied by puzzles not appearing on some devices but just (try to) solve it where it first appears. Copying the clues to the blog has to wait until the laptop obliges
Thanks to Ray and Shabbo
I’m with our reviewer in finding this decidedly tricky in parts which added up to a pedestrian solve. My excuse was a fuzzy head after a little too much alcohol over a lovely meal last night at Dylan’s, Kings St in St Albans, which doesn’t augur well for round two of our match against fellas from over the pond at lovely West Herts GC. 13a was unfamiliar & needed post solve confirmation & I took an embarrassingly long time to peg 17a. The surface at 15d was the hands down pick of the clues.
Thought the other half of the Dream Team the easier of the two fine puzzles today.
Thanks to Ray T & to Shabbo – trust that your backside remains firmly attached to the Thursday seat & no further musical chairs.
I’m looking out over West Herts and Cassiobury Park at the moment and it looks rather less lovely than it usually does. I hope the rain eases sufficiently for you to enjoy your trip to our corner of the county.
This was certainly one of our setter’s more tricky weekday compilations, and all the more enjoyable for it. Beautifully concise and accurate, some gentle humour and a couple of new words to commit to memory and instantly forget. Crossword perfection, with the quality lurker at 15d my favourite this morning.
Many thanks to Mr T and Shabbo.
Great puzzle, some of which fell into place very easily and much of which didn’t, with the Tyne Tees region proving particularly tricky. Still, I learned at least one new word and I thought 9d was particularly good. Thanks very much to the setter and to Shabbo.
Another tricky one to go with yesterday’s with the 5a/6d combo being my last to drop.
The synonym for ‘landed’ in the above took me a while to twig as I couldn’t think of an example but can now.
16d is a bonkers word that I’m very happy with and 13a is a new one for me.
My podium is 1a, 26a and 8d.
MT to Raymundo and Shabbs.
4*/4*
Beaten all ends up in the NE, not helped by missing the reverse lurker, but despite that this was clearly a fine and elegant puzzle. ****/****
2.5*/5*. Typical Ray T and absolutely magnificent! This, coupled with the joy of a Silvanus Toughie, makes for a top, top day in crosswordland.
It’s hard to pick a favourite but I’ll opt for 15d.
Many thanks to RayT and to Shabbo.
Our setter certainly seems to have mislaid his ‘soft’ pedal today and there were a few entries I wouldn’t have expected to come across in one of his back-pagers. Not to worry, it’s another Dream Team day so all’s basically right with the world. Hard to play favourites in this one but the deserted Greek island rather took my fancy. Bet some visitors there rather wish it was a little more deserted!
Devotions as usual to Mr T and many thanks to Shabbo for the review.
Thanks to Shabbo and RayT. I had to look up the flower in 22d to confirm the parsing and I feel ‘stink’ would have worked better in 4d, nevertheless, a great puzzle and suitably chewy for a Thursday. 13a was new to me as well. I finished with a happy smile on my fizzog.
A few new words to me, 6d, 9d but otherwise an enjoyable solve. On my device the web and the app are a day different with the date of the puzzle and.
Once again, for me at least, on his fortnightly visit to the back pager, I found this RayT puzzle quite challenging in parts, almost to a Beam level. I also discovered two new words not in my everyday vocabulary and nor would I have known where to use them either! Was nice to see sweetheart and the Queen again too.
2.5*/4.5*
Favourites 1a, 23a, 28a, 2d, 5d & 8d — with winner a tie 2d & 8d
Thanks to RayT & Shabbo
P.S.
Sometime ago I believe it was Senf that made mention of a new series coming up this year (2025) in the same sort of line as “Ludwig“ that was seen in 2024 and that was an awesome programme in my opinion. The new series coming was to be called “The Puzzle Lady” but it has now been renamed “Murder Most Puzzling” and 5 is broadcasting it as a 3 part series starting 19th June at 8pm UK time … FYI
See link below.
Not to be confused with the unrelated interactive book with the same title by Stephanie von Reiswitz.
Thanks, I’ll try to look out for it. Ludwig was very entertaining.
.. gave up on this .. but I think the 25c warm sun cloudless blue sky and the cold beer may have played a part.
My seamstress was at a loss for 13a and I was pushed to solve 18d .. I did like 23a though.
Thanks to Shabbo for putting me out of my misery.
Phew, that was a tussle but I did enjoy it. NE brought up the rear. 9d as expected does grate. Thanks RayT for a nicely challenging time and Shabbo without whom I did just manage in the end.
Phew, that was a tussle but I did enjoy it. NE brought up the rear. 9d as expected does grate. Thanks RayT for a nicely challenging time and Shabbo without whom I just managed in the end.
Hi Angeloc/Angelov
Your comment went into moderation as you appear to have spelt your name slightly differently. Both should now work.
Thanks Shabbo – I thought I had cancelled Angeloc comment.
Definitely more challenging than recent Ray T puzzles but just as enjoyable – 3.5*/4.5*
Candidates for favourite – 26a, 27a, 15d, and 18d – and the winner is 15d.
Thanks to Ray T and Shabbo.
That was hard work. Always prepared for a bit of a battle on Thursday but this was at the very limits of my ability. Some really stretched synonyms I thought. Not much enjoyment to be had but that could just be me being in a bad mood brought on by the relentless rain.
Thanks to Shabbo for the hints which I shall now read to see if on reflection it was a better puzzle than I thought.
Mr T is marginally trickier than usual with no reduction in the enjoyment – thanks to him and Shabbo.
My ticks went to 5a, 12a, 15d and 20d.
Shabbo – please correct me if I’m wrong (probably) but, re. 14a – I read this as a synonym of allure RayT’s usual swEetheart (the heart of sweet) outside (taking), a three letter synonym of time?.
Anyway – A great Ray T puzzle! (as always!)
Many thanks to Shabbo, and to the great Ray T…
I’m pretty sure you are correct, AD.
That was my parsing too, AD.
You are quite correct. Many thanks for pointing it out. I have now changed it.
I parsed it correctly in my head last night then made a complete mess of it this morning!
it’s not often i completewithout needing the hintsbuttoday wassuch a day. I feell inordinately pleased eith myself – unjustifiably but there we are I enjoyb Ray T’s crosswords more than anyother setter – justr he right mix of onfuscation and straightforwardness leavened with lots of fun. Prettily Perfect in every way.
Super puzzle, managing to tune in from the first clue (broad smile) clearly helped for there were no delays. A trademark RayT. Honours to 5a, 23a & 25a.
Many thanks to RayT and Shabbo.
Another cracking puzzle from Ray T. Great clues, a decent challenge and a very satisfying/enjoyable solve. Difficult to isolate a favourite but I’ll plump for 15d – a clue with a schoolboyishly humorous surface to lead us completely up the garden path and a lurker spread over four consecutive words! An inimitable Ray T classic. 3.5*/4.5*.
I mused for quite some time over the parsing of 26a as it just didn’t work for me. Then came the penny drop moment that ‘icons’ must be the wrong answer. Duh!
Had to confirm 6d and the definition of the last five letters in 9d, though I’m always open to learn new words.
My COTD was the superbly concealed reverse lurker in 5d.
Thanks to RayT and Shabbo.
“Icons” was a correction on my print-out: I lacked conviction on writing it in, stared at it for a moment later, and then came the almighty clang when the penny dropped!
Too good for me today. I gave in with just over half completed and resorted to the hints. Tried putting it down and returning to it, but to no avail. Once completed with the hints, it was indeed a great puzzle. Of those I did unaided, 23a gets my vote for cotd. Thanks to Ray T for the brain mangling and Shabbo for the much needed hints.
I didn’t throw the towel in but used electronic help within checkers to find the likely letter that would open up the word to solving. It worked but I won’t use it again unless the weather prevents gardening. Pleased to have finished but as usual with Ray T the hard work negates any possible enjoyment.
My thanks to Ray T and Shabbo for shining light in the dark recesses of the mind of the setter.
A good tough challenge with 6d as last one in. Thank you RayT and Shabbo
I thought this was a walk in the park but I came to a grinding halt in the NE corner. It didn’t help that I had the last 2 letters of 11a wrong. This was a typical RayT puzzle as he mixes his trademarks with words that I have never heard of in that context ie 5a and 9d. Still I think it was a fine puzzle by a master setter. Its a pity that we have to wait a fortnight for the next one. Many thanks to RayT – keep up the good work.
I struggled with this and couldn’t see the great 15d lurker for ages and it was my LOI. I’m blaming getting absolutely soaked in Bath (the city, not a tub) today.
16d was a new word for me.
Top picks for me were 13a, 1a and 5d.
Thanks to Shabbo and Ray T.
Evening all. Many thanks to Shabbo for the illumination and to all for your comments.
RayT
Good evening, Mr T, thought you made us work quite hard today!
Thanks to Shabbo, much needed explanations I did not enjoy that very much but thanks setter as always
Superb puzzle – from an outstanding field , I’ll go for 23A for COTD. Many thanks Ray T and Shabbo.
In the hints in 18d “rebellion” needs underscoring.
You’ve expanded your alias so this needed moderation. Both versions will work from now on.
Oops. Sorry.
This was definitely on the tricky side but I got there in the end and some clues were just brilliant but I did need some help with parsing a couple. 13a was a new word to me and it was just as well 16d was an anagram as I would never have thought of it. I thought 5d was a brilliant clue and my favourite.
Many thanks to RayT and to Shabbo for the hints.
This indeed was tricky in parts , but satisfying to finish with a bit of help from the BRB. The parsing of a couple were beyond me – 5a for instance. Thanks so much to Ray T and Shabbo.
Defeated in the end by 5a, not the first synonym to spring to mind, 13a, 17a, 6d, never heard of any of them, and 9d, I have never used that word for as expected or any other sense and I’m not likely to in the near future or ever if it comes to it. Apart from those I really enjoyed this. Favourite was 23a. Thanks to Rayt for the mental beating in the NE and Shabbo.
3.5* / 4* best of the week with some excellent misdirection and plenty of smiles.
Favourites are the unsupported 5d, flashy 7d and 15d big shop
Thanks very much to RayT and Shabbo