DT 30949 – Big Dave's Crossword Blog
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DT 30949

by Huntsman  

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30949
Hints and tips by Huntsman

+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – +

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

A bit of an overcast start to the day here in Harpenden but the sun has now come out & it’s brightening up nicely.

A typically enjoyable puzzle from the Prof (presumably) that ought not to present too many difficulties. Hints (hopefully correct) & the usual assortment of music clips are provided. I’m off golfing at Sheringham in Norfolk next week so Shabbo has very kindly agreed to fill in & establish an early lead in our race to a second ton. I’ve a busy afternoon ahead with the deep joys of doctor, optician & financial advisor but will try to keep an eye out if amendments required.

In the hints below the definition element of each clue has been underlined, anagrams are CAPITALISED & the crossword technique “indicator words” are in brackets. The answers are concealed under the Click Here buttons. Please leave a comment below telling us what you thought & how you got on with the puzzle.

Across

1a Eradicated what could make set damp? (7,3)

STAMPED OUT: one of this setter’s trademark reverse anagrams to kick off with – SET DAMP (could make) is the fodder then think of a suitable three letter indicator.

6a The setter entertained by Queen with very loud guitar music? (4)

RIFF: insert a personal pronoun for the setter between the regnal letter for Queen & the letter for loud or strong in music x 2.

10a Scoffed each time gent stripped (5)

EATEN: the abbreviation for EAch + Time + gENt (stripped)

11a Physical energy conserved by officer (9)

CORPOREAL: insert (conserved by) Energy into a non-commissioned army rank.

12a The same competition in golf (8)

MATCHING: a synonym for competition + IN from the clue + Golf (NATO alphabet).

13a Regret entertaining heads of private enterprise for money (5)

RUPEE: a verbal synonym for regret surrounds (entertaining) the first letters (heads) of Private Enterprise.

15a Meal servings in French planes?

ENTREES: the French for in + planes that don’t fly.

17a Problems from initially toasting Russian bread (7)

TROUBLE: Toasting (initially) + a  Russian currency unit. 

19a Crowd swallowing conclusion about insanity (7)

MADNESS: insert (swallowing) the reversal of (about) another word for conclusion into a synonym for crowd/throng.

21a Black animal is perfect, ultimately, for musician (7)

BASSIST: Black + a long eared animal of the horse family + IS from the wordplay + the last letter (ultimately) of perfecT. Here’s one of the best examples.

22a The woman’s clothing Penny removes (5)

SHEDS: the singular, feminine third person pronoun for the woman + the possessive S goes around (clothing) the letter abbreviation for a penny (from the Latin denarius).

24a All beer I brewed is good (8)

RELIABLE: an anagram (brewed) – ALL BEER I.

27a Forged tin, I note, with new design (9)

INTENTION: another anagram (forged) of TIN I NOTE + New.

28a Explorer departs with rifle (5)

DRAKE: the single letter for Departs + a synonym for rifle/ransack.

29a Flower in garden I left (4)

NILE: hidden (in).

30a Famous Beetle car manufactured by Germany (10)

CELEBRATED: an anagram (manufactured) of BEETLE CAR + the IVR code for Germany.

Down

1d Views appropriate broadcast (4)

SEES: a homophone (broadcast) of a synonym for appropriate/take.

2d Lured cat with treat prepared by daughter (9)

ATTRACTED: an anagram (prepared) of CAT + TREAT then append Daughter.

3d Criticise current Conservative anxiety (5)

PANIC: another word for criticise/lambast + the conventional symbol for current + Conservative.

4d Blames diet, oddly, then weeps (7)

DECRIES: DiEt (oddly) followed by another word for weeps/sobs.

5d Joanna, perhaps, is respectable (7)

UPRIGHT: Joanna here is the Cockney rhyming slang for a piano – perhaps hints at a model.

7d Not entirely drastic EU price freeze (3,2)

ICE UP: hidden (not entirely) in the three words preceding the definition.

8d Felt these bats will circle adult – these often come out at night (5,5)

FALSE TEETH: an anagram (bats) of FELT THESE surrounds (will circle) Adult. Neat surface.

9d Drinks when drunk could make Bruno sob (8)

BOURBONS: an anagram (when drunk could make) BRUNO SOB.

14d Leave for a diplomatic errand (10)

PERMISSION: a preposition that can be substituted instead of A followed by a word for a diplomatic errand.

16d Still working after small garage’s first service (8)

EVENSONG: a synonym for still/uniform + the usual two letter crossword term for working sandwiched between Small & the initial letter (first) of Garage.

18d One insect under fish is out of sight (9)

BRILLIANT: the Roman numeral letter for one + a social insect that lives in a colony preceded by a flatfish of the turbot family. The definition is an informal term for excellent.

20d Swimmer unhappy crossing river in Spain (7)

SARDINE: insert (crossing) River into a synonym for unhappy then append IN from the clue & the IVR code for Spain.

21a Rest book on a weapon (7)

BALANCE: Book + A from the clue + a cavalry weapon.

23d Wax lyrical about former lover to student (5)

EXTOL: the usual two letters for a former lover + TO from the clue & the single letter for student.

25d More bananas, unopened, for snake (5)

ADDER: remove the first letter (unopened) from a comparative adjective meaning more bananas/bonkers.

26d Group of animals caught heartlessly (4)

HERD: remove the middle letter (heartlessly) from a five letter synonym for caught/fathom.

 

Today’s Quick crossword pun: TEEM + LIEDER = TEAM LEADER

Think I’ll plump for the surface at 8d as my pick of the clues today & I also rather liked 1&17a plus 16&18d. Please let us know which ones ticked your boxes.

This morning’s blogging music was an assortment of Van in preparation for the imminent release of Remembering Now, his first album of original music in a while though it will feature Down To Joy which was written for Kenneth Brannagh’s Belfast.

 

 

48 comments on “DT 30949”

  1. The professor has produced a Goldilocks puzzle today – not too hard, not too easy but just right. The only query I have is 1d assuming I have it correct but I can’t see it being anything else. I liked the rifling explorer at 28a and respectable Joanna raised a smile. My COTD is 15a with its French planes.

    Thank you, Professor Plum in the library for an enjoyable solve to go with my coffee and toast spread with butter and Patum Peperium. Thank you, Hintsman for the hunts.

    A dull day, weatherwise, in The Marches.

    2. Our daughter worked at the Elsenham jam factory where they made Patum Peperium. The smell of it mixed with the sweetness of the jam made her decide to buckle down , revise and get to university. We are ever grateful to the Patum.

  2. Totally thrown by the use of ‘leave’ in 14d, my last one to do.

    So I thought the last bit had to be ‘mission’ from the clue, so using my ancient Franklin Crossword Solver I put in _E _MISSION, and it said it couldn’t help.

    But when I tried it with what I actually had, ie; _E _M_S_I_N, it came up with the answer straight away, it seemed happier with fewer letters, odd that!

    Apart from that it seems a pretty easy solve today, with my favourite being the swimmer at 20d. Off to clean the windows now, will the fun never end……

  3. Goldilocks sums it up nicely. A couple of fish related clues in 18 and 20d were fun and make the podium, but top spot goes to 1a. Thanks to AP and Huntsman.

  4. Typically Tuesdayish and enjoyable throughout. A little heavy on the anagrams for me, but plenty of my favourite lego type clues to balance them and a few smiles along the way. All in all a very pleasant coffee time. Podium places today for 15a, 18d and pick of the bunch, 16d. Thanks to the Prof and Huntsman. Enjoying the music!

  5. Very jolly. 16d’s fun. Best thanks to our setter and DJ Huntsman. Cracking tunes, yet again.

  6. As Typically Tuesdayish as it can get although I consider that Mr Plumb is trying to confuse us with a very different Quickie Grid – 1.5*/4.5*

    Candidates for favourite – 1a, 22a, 1d, 5d, 9d, and 18d – and the winner is 1d.

    Thanks to Mr Plumb, or whomsoever just in case it is not he, and thanks to Huntsman.

  7. Good Tuesday fare, as we’ve come to expect and enjoy. A lot of anagrams, with 1a the star of these. Hummmed at a couple, but in the end honours went to 28a, 5d and 20d.

    Many thanks setter and Huntsman

  8. I had a different experience to other solvers in that I found the NW corner very tricky. I liked the misdirection in the 8d anagram, the Lego clue at 11a was cleverly worded as was 28a. Thanks to the compiler and to Huntsman for rhe hints.

  9. Re hint for 19a: I think that the word for conclusion needs to be reversed (about) inside the crowd?

    Lovely puzzle. Much fun!
    Now that I find that I can identify and solve reverse anagrams, 1a goes down as my favourite for today (just cos I’m chuffed with myself!)
    With thanks to the setter and to Huntsman

    1. Of course – I knew that but my concentration does tend to drift writing the hints.

      1. Sorry to have pointed that out Huntsman.
        I am full of admiration for you and all the other bloggers who produce superb hints. It must be a nightmare to do these in front of what must be the most pedantic, nit-picking and eagle-eyed of audiences in the whole world!
        Many thanks!

  10. What a great puzzle with lots of smiles. LOI was 1a which was brilliant once the penny dropped.

    Top picks for me were 18d, 8d, 5d, 15a and 1a.

    Thanks to Huntsman and the setter.

  11. One out of the top drawer from Il professore.

    My LOI was 15a as I keep forgetting about plane’s meaning.

    As ‘angry’ was recently used as an AI, because it’s a synonym of ‘upset’, is ‘unhappy’ in 20d also an AI for it? Of course it isn’t!

    I still can’t believe that ‘angry’ was okayed as an AI 10 years ago or whenever it was.

    I have ticks next to so many clues for their surfaces that picking a pody ain’t easy but I’ll go with 8d, 16d and 20d.

    MT to the prof and Hoots.

    2*/5*

    1. Guess what – not as being used in today’s puzzle but ‘unhappy’ is in the same 10 year old, or older, list of approximately 1,400 anagram indicators in the Chambers Crossword Dictionary as ‘angry’ and ‘upset’!

      1. Somehow, Senf, I doubt Tom will be overly thrilled to read that, let alone there being c.1,400 anagram indicators!

        1. You’re not wrong, MG!

          Inconvenience is a synonym of upset. So, I assume that is also an AI. If it’s not then why not????

          Did you see at the weekend that NYDK says the overuse of AIs winds him up no end.

          It really is rubbish and weakens a cryptic crossword, sorry, angryword.

          Grrrrr!

  12. An excellent and most enjoyable Tuesday puzzle – thanks to our setter and Huntsman.
    Topping my list of ‘likes’ were 1a, 14d and 16d.

  13. 1.5*/4*. This was a typical Tuesday puzzle which was light and a pleasure to solve.

    My top picks were 1a, 12a, 15a, 30a, 1d & 16d.

    Many thanks to AP and Hintsman.

  14. A swift and satisfying solve that gives me comfort. I worry a lot about dementia – my father had it later in life , so I always feel reassured when the answers come to me without too much of a head scratch. Thanks to the setter and Huntsman.

  15. Love a Tuesday cryptic – full of fun and great surfaces. I really love this setters work – yes it’s at the less taxing end of the spectrum but it is so brilliantly crafted. Once finished I like to go through each clue just to appreciate the skill that goes into producing something like this. Masterly.

    Thanks to the setter and to Huntsman for some bangers!

  16. Hello from a warm but cloudy vega Baja.
    1* / 3* for us – as we just wrote in all the across clues, followed by all the downs.
    Enjoyable nevertheless.
    1a probably fave for us

  17. Another fun Tuesday. TVM Prof. 9d amused when penny dropped. 22a was unparsed as clothing didn’t ring a bell. Managed without hints but thanks for being on hand in case of need Huntsman.

  18. Very pleasant start to the day. My favourite was short and sweet 26 down. Thanks to our setter and Huntsman.

  19. Very enjoyable. 15a, 17a, 5d and 8d were my pick today.
    I struggled a bit to get everything in the right order in 20d and had the wrong penny in 22a for far too long. Otherwise all went fairly smoothly.
    Thank you setter and Huntsman. Enjoy your golf in North Norfolk next week.

  20. A good Tuesday again. Thankyou to our reliable setter and unfailing hintsman. 8d made me smile.

  21. More Tuesday fun, presumably penned by the professor. Top clues for me were 15a plus 1&5d.

    Thanks to Mr Plumb and to Huntsman for the review – enjoyed listening to Nina Simone again.

  22. A typical Tuesday offering this week. Nothing too troublesome and went together smoothly.

    1.5*/4.5*

    Favourites 6a, 17a, 21a, 5d, 8d & 21d — with winner 5d
    Lots of smiles from the rest of the favourites as well.

    Thanks to AP & Huntsman

  23. Enjoyable romp as everyone has said, just enough to wrestle with – in my case it was 14d and 26d where I was looking to place ct as a heartless caught. However, things fell into place eventually and checking on the hints endorsed my reasoning. 8d was fun and a favourite. Many thanks to Messrs Setter & Hinter.

  25. A very nice puzzle with lots of fun and anagrams which I enjoy. I had 5d as my favourite with 15a in second place.

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

  26. Nice and solvable with lots of clever clues, just right for a Tuesday 😃 ***/**** Favourites were
    16, 20 & 25 down. Many thanks to AP and the Huntsman 👍

  27. A gentle start to the week which afforded me a bit more time to dedicate to the Toughie today which was just as well.
    Some great surfaces to be found throughout this puzzle.
    I wonder if the two strippers in 10a and 22a knew each other?
    Thanks to Huntsman and today’s setter.

  28. I found this quite hard. A dnf due to 1d and 22a. I only got 14d once I had the answer to 22a.

    An otherwise enjoyable challenge.

    Thanks to all.

  29. Great guzzle today so thanks to all. Welcome to my neck of the woods Huntsman, if you fancy a quick pint, or a glass of plonk in my case, where we met up with Miff, let me know, as Madflower will agree, lovely to put a face to a name!

    1. Can I please ask, why on earth was it necessary for my comment to go into moderation?. Big brother or what!

    2. Hi Manders,
      No idea why your comment went into moderation but just seen the email & approved it.
      We’re playing Kings Lynn Monday en route, staying at Felbrigg in Cromer. Playing Sheringham Tuesday, Cromer Wednesday & Mundsley Thursday before the journey home.
      I’m being driven so not sure if I’ll get an opportunity to come say hello but it would be great to put a face to a name – I’ve only met Shabbo.

  30. Fairly straightforward with a few head scratchers. An enjoyable diversion. Favourite was 1a, not my LOI by any stretch. Thanks to Azp and Huntsman.

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