DT 30955 – Big Dave's Crossword Blog
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DT 30955

by Shabbo  

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30955
Hints and tips by Shabbo

+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +

BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***

I am standing in for Huntsman today, who is chasing a small white ball around the links courses of North Norfolk this week.  I hope the weather there is as good is it here today in Hertfordshire.  It is a glorious morning.

Tuesdays are not my area of expertise, as you know, so I will not even have a stab at Guess the Setter. Over to you, dear reader.  I found today’s puzzle an enjoyable mix of the very straightforward (23a) and the slightly more obscure (28a). What did you think?

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 Primarily salvaged rubbish back page before editor freaked out (7)
SNAPPED: initial letter (primarily) of Salvaged + a verb meaning to rubbish (or criticise) backwards (back) + abbreviation for Page + abbreviation for EDitor.

5a Introduction of speed enthralling match official (7)
PREFACE: synonym of speed outside (enthralling) abbreviation for match official.

9a At home, lover’s keeping time for children (7)
INFANTS: word meaning “at home” + synonym of lovers (or enthusiasts) outside (keeping) abbreviation for Time.

10a Plonk is knocked back in warehouse (7)
DEPOSIT: “is” backwards (knocked back) inside a synonym of warehouse. The definition is a verb masquerading as a noun and has nothing to do with drink.

11a Main rationale in speech (9)
PRINCIPAL: homophone of a synonym of rationale.  Hopefully TDS will know a clever way of remembering which word should be used in each circumstance.

12a Still going backwards crossing river, showing courage (5)
NERVE: synonym of still backwards outside (crossing) abbreviation for River.

13a Stirred small drinks (5)
ROSÉS: synonym of stirred (as in got up) + abbreviation for Small.  Think wine for the definition.

15a Get rid of dodgy email in the husband’s shed (9)
ELIMINATE: anagram (dodgy) of EMAIL + IN + T(h)E (husband’s shed or removed).

17a Show the significance of topless dramatist with pert bust (9)
INTERPRET: playwright without the initial letter (topless) + anagram (bust) of PERT.

19a Nurse ignores temperature, Edward concluded (5)
ENDED: synonym of nurse (a verb) without the T (ignores temperature) + abbreviation for EDward.

22a Posed in lustrous material (5)
SATIN: synonym of posed + IN.

23a Large European dog (5,4)
GREAT DANE: synonym of large + a European.

25a I see men fighting adversaries (7)
ENEMIES: anagram (fighting) of I SEE MEN.

26a Adds up while straddling horse (7)
AMOUNTS: synonym of while outside (straddling) a word meaning horse.

27a Demeans oneself embracing Starmer’s opening plans (7)
DESIGNS: synonym of “demeans oneself” outside (embracing) initial letter (opening) of Starmer.

28a Perry maybe carried out insect (7)
KATYDID: the American chanteuse Ms Perry + synonym of carried out. DNK the grasshopper type insect which is also American and should perhaps be indicated as such.

Down

1d Captain‘s singular cooked herring (7)
SKIPPER: abbreviation for Singular + another word for a smoked herring.

2d Adult very loudly broadcasts relationships (7)
AFFAIRS: abbreviation for Adult + FF (musical abbreviation for fortissimo) + synonym of broadcasts.

3d Alarm is cursed, initially, after upsetting sleep (5)
PANIC: initial letters of Is Cursed after a synonym of a short sleep backwards (upsetting – this is a down clue).

4d Leave spare iPad out (9)
DISAPPEAR: anagram (out) of SPARE IPAD.

5d Part of bicycle perhaps somewhat scraped a leg (5)
PEDAL: hidden word (somewhat) inside words 6-8.

6d Little energy, cross and brooding, dear? (9)
EXPENSIVE: abbreviation for Energy + the letter that looks like a cross + synonym of brooding.

7d Almost everyone leaving country for another one (7)
AUSTRIA: synonym of everyone without the final letter (almost) missing from the name a country down under.

8d Radical old Tories meet on a regular basis (7)
EXTREME: synonym of old (or former) + the odd letters (on a regular basis) of ToRiEs MeEt.

14d Dashing type hugged by Carol (9)
SPRINTING: synonym of type (Definition 20 in my on-line Chambers) inside (hugged by) carol (a verb).

16d Unaware Ed could be hidden here? (2,3,4)
IN THE DARK: I have thought long and hard about this one and can only come up with the suggestion that “ed” is hidden within the clue.  Alternative suggestions welcome.

17d Rather hot place (7)
INSTEAD: synonym of hot (or popular) + synonym of place.

18d Toddler, short, largely walks unsteadily (7)
TOTTERS: synonym of toddler + synonym of short (as in abrupt) without the final letter (largely).

20d Groom and bride abandoning bishop, exhausted (7)
DRAINED: anagram (groom) of AND (b)RIDE. “Abandoning bishop” tells us to remove the B from the anagram fodder.

21d Doctor sees wound daughter bandaged (7)
DRESSED: abbreviation for doctor + anagram (wound) of SEES + abbreviation for Daughter.

23d Son wearing clothing store’s pants (5)
GASPS: abbreviation for Son inside (wearing) a three-letter clothing store + S.

24d Promote eating right fish (5)
TROUT: synonym of promote (or advertise) outside (eating) abbreviation for Right.

Quickie Pun:  MAR  +  KIT  +  CHER  =  MARKET SHARE

38 comments on “DT 30955”

  1. Second day in a row with no scribbling in the margins, always a sign of how straightforward the puzzle is.

    Lots to like today, although I did need to check my answer for the bug clue, never met that word before.

    My two of the day are 7d my Grandma’s birthplace, and the very clever 16d which made me smile out loud when I got it.

    Many thanks to our setter today, can’t see tomorrow’s one being anywhere near as easy…..

  2. A great guzzle for a Tuesday with lots to like. Having said that there were two I didn’t understand. What has 13a to do with small drinks and why is 17d a hot place? No doubt the hints will enlighten me. I have two contenders for the top spot – the perry at 28a and the dodgy email in the husband’s shed at 15a. After due deliberation my COTD goes to 28a.

    It didn’t feel like a Professor Plum production but what do I know. So, thank you, Professor in the library or whomsoever if it not be your good self. Thank you, Shabbo for the hints.

  3. Il professore is in fine form with a very enjoyable solve. He really has got this level of crossword down to a fine art.

    My LOI was 13a as the sneaky acute accent eluded me for a while. Nicely done.

    Many of our solvers won’t have heard of the Perry he has chosen but I can’t think of one that covers all generations. What a splendid name for an insect, btw!

    Nearly every surface is a winner but I’ll go with 25a for its neatness, 27a for being current and 17d, again, for its purity.

    MT to the aforementioned and stand-in supersub Shabbs.

    1*/5*

    2. I saw 16d as where the film editor would be, post-production.

      It’s Katie Boyle, Sloops. There aren’t many with a y.

      1. Ignore my film editing theory. It’s rubbish.

        I was trying to convince myself that it’s not just Ed being inside the answer which it clearly is.

        It’s one of those clues that divides people, i.e get it from the definition and then say ‘Ah, I see!’

        Oh, do shut-up, Tom.

  4. Straightforward is the word I’d use too.
    Didn’t like 16d for the same reason as Shabbo and 17d which is rather obvious.
    On the plus side the altar scenario described in 20d and the boy donning a pair of undercrackers before he has paid for them in 23d raised a smile.
    Thanks to Shabbo and the setter.

  5. I have barked my shins on my 5d’s too many times to not wince then. Good fun otherwise, the boy in the branded underwear 🩳🩲 my LOI too
    Thanks to Shabbo and setter, whomsoever it may be.

  6. A very entertaining puzzle (as Tuesday’s usually are these days) – thanks to our setter and Shabbo.
    I thought that 16d was rather weak.
    The clues I liked best were 1a, 10a, 17d and 23d.

  7. 1.5*/4*. A light Tuesday delight as always with 17d my favourite.

    Many thanks to AP (?) and to Shabbo.

  8. Thanks to Shabbo for standing in once again while I play hooky. The usual quick Tuesday solve though the 2 Steve struggled to parse caused a bit of a crumpet scratch here too.
    The critter at 28a will be familiar to all Steely Dan fans as it’s on the cover of their 4th album, Katy Lied inspired by the lyrics to Doctor Wu.
    Thanks to AP for an enjoyable puzzle.

  9. I nearly made a complete Horlicks of this Anthony Plumb production. My brain seemed to be elsewhere probably fully occupied by thoughts of the two hour dental appointment coming up this morning. Anyway I got there in the end, with no help from 16d!

    Candidates for favourite – 10a, 17a, 22a, 23d, and 24d – and the winner is 23d.

    Thanks to Mr Plumb and Shabbo.

  10. Got most of this done except for 13a …needed the hint and doubt it would ever have clicked with me that the drink was what it was.

    I suspect that the ladies of a certain age may have the advantage at 28a having read the children’s books by Susan Coolidge.

    Thanks to the setter and to Shabbo.

    Back to lovely weather up here .

    1. I certainly remember those books, Ora, and for two reasons. The first was that I enjoyed them, the second because some years later a schoolfriend lent me a copy of the then deemed to be salacious Lady Chatterley’s Lover which had been backed in brown paper and entitled ‘What ** at School. Suffice to say that my father found it and threatened to burn it until my pleas that I had to return it softened his stance and he kept it until I was on my way to school the following morning. I did get to read the ‘juicy bits’ on the train and was delighted to be able to inform him years later that one of our A level books was Sons & Lovers!

  11. I made heavy weather of this AP production, but on completion it’s hard to see why. Must be just one of those days. Thanks to AP and Shabbo.

  12. I was fine with the rather splendidly named insect but spent quite a while wondering what the eponymous lime juice had to do with 13a and convincing myself that the obvious answer to 17d really worked. Add to that the fact that I stupidly wrote the answer to 26a in the slot for 27a and it’s hardly surprising that this one took me longer than usual for a Tuesday back-pager. Rosettes handed out to 17&23a plus 14&23d.

    Thanks to our setter and to Shabbo for his excellent stand-in role.

  13. Looks like 16d is either extremely weak or too hard for all of us. Let’s hope the setter comes and puts us out of our misery.

  14. Good afternoon

    I’m bunking off work this afty because I’ve got a gig tonight: Steel Panther in Camden, London. I’m promised a treat!

    So, a good early start on the crozzie. Much more straightforward than yesterday’s, I felt, albeit not without a few pitfalls: I had to look up 28a; 27a was my last to fall, causing some chewing of the Lucky Green Pen; and one or two stretched synonyms along the way, eg “rubbish” in 1a.

    COTD for me is 16d. A corker!!

    Many thanks to our setter and to Shabbo for coming off the subs’ bench.

  15. I’ll come back later and read the comments / dashing off to Book Groip to discuss Gabriel’s Moon by William Boyd. Lovely guzzle for a very hot Tuesday – all the washing nicely drying on the line and clean sheets for tonight. I reckon we get a great mix of straight forward ‘does what it says on the tin’ guzzles and others that scramble your head. This was a good Tuesdayish workout . Many thanks to Mr Setter for the exercise and to Shabbo – I’ll come back and read all later!

  16. Definitely a Typical Tuesday puzzle to my way of thinking. Fell together quite nicely for the most part with a couple of words I had to research.

    1.5*/4* today

    Favourites 10a. 15a, 23a, 3d, 7d & 16d — with winner 23a
    Smiles for many including 5a, 23a, 2d * 7d … with a couple of old chestnuts thrown in for good measure.
    A fun solve

    Thanks to AP & Shabbo

  17. I enjoyed this with some on the easy scale like 23a and some which made you think.

    I knew the insect which helped and I liked 16d with Ed being hidden within the answer.

    Top picks for me were 17a, 6d and 1a.

    Thanks to Shabbo and the setter.

  18. A lot of (very) early morning fun, a classic AP Tuesday puzzle, I thought – so odds-on it will have been someone else setting it today! Honours to 17a, 6d & 27a (for the surface!)

    Many thanks to the setter and to Shabbo.

  19. 1.5*/4* Found this similar level to yesterday’s and equally enjoyable. I was 90% sure on Perry’s insect but did have to check.
    Favourites 10a nice deception, 13a wine and the cheeky 17a
    Thanks to setter and Shabbo

  20. Very enjoyable with a couple more less easily parsed ones than usual, in particular 16d and 13a my last one in. Lots to enjoy and I was pleased I got 28a but only once I had all the checkers in place. This wil be my favourite as it’s such a great word.

    Many thanks to the setter and to Shabbo for the hints

  21. My best effort since getting back from holiday, but still not great after a fifth night of sleep disturbed by nightmares of being stranded at Frankfurt Airport. As usual, I found today’s puzzle much friendlier than yesterday with COTD to 6d. Found 17d a tad awkward, and happily had heard of 28a. 16d was a bung in but right anyway. My cup runneth over anyway as it was Wordle in 2, after chancing a totally new seed word 😊. Thanks to setter and Shabbo.

  22. Not sure about 28a despite Huntsman’s illustration! Thank you Compiler and Shabbo

  23. Apart from parsing 16d (which I agree seems not to be the strongest or clearest clue), this was straightforward. It took longer than I should as I was still in Toughie mode, and looking for Dragons where there were none… I knew the Perry courtesy of children of a certain age (too many years ago now) and the insect from Calvin and Hobbbes’ version of the the rhyme “What are Little Boys (tigers) Made of?” Dragonflies and Katydids but mostly chewed up little kids. Funny what you can learn from cartoons.

    1. …and so wrapped up in cartoons, I forgot to thank the setter, and Shabbo for the blog…

  24. 13a is so hard to visualise without the ‘ in the enumeration. Re 16d we’ve had reverse anagrams I suppose it was only a matter of time before we had a reverse lurker. I don’t think 28a needed an American indicator, we don’t have them for Giraffe or Ounce, I just solved it and moved on. Like others I made harder work of this than I should have. Favourite was 6d. Thanks to the setter and Shabbo.

    1. Fair point. It is an American animal, rather than an American word, so I agree, no indication is necessary.

  25. Great couple of days of puzzling. Today’s would be particularly good for a newcomer. Wasn’t aware of the insect in 28a (but WAS aware of the singer). Love clues like 23a, very satisfying 😀

  26. Once again I find myself on the wrong wavelength. Found this very hard and have much south still to complete. Will likely call it a day soon.

    Thanks to all.

    1. This one has caused a lot of confusion! The consensus seems to be that the name “ED” is found hiding amongst the matters of “In the dark” = unaware. It didn’t meet with much approval.
      I hope this helps!

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