DT 30957 – Big Dave's Crossword Blog
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DT 30957

by Shabbo  

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30957
Hints and tips by Shabbo

+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +

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

Good morning fellow cruciverbalists.  Today’s offering is a classic RayT puzzle with single word answers, a sweetheart at 19a and a word count of exactly five words/clue. I found it perhaps a bit tougher than usual, but then I did solve it at midnight as my troublesome back kept me awake yet again last night.

Much to admire, including the horse’s tack at 24a, the ghost tube train at 7d and the clever person at 9d. Which were your favourites?

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 RayT and the DT Crossword Team.


Across

1a Cold, mild and lacking appeal (9)
CHARMLESS: abbreviation for Cold + synonym of mild.

6a Look both ways (4)
PEEP: a palindromic (both ways) word meaning look.

10a Spirit of reportedly modern chaps (5)
NUMEN: homophone (reportedly) of modern + synonym of chaps. Chambers describes the definition as “a presiding deity”.

11a Hassle arresting degenerate dissident (9)
PROTESTER: synonym of hassle or annoy outside (arresting) a synonym of degenerate (a verb).

12a Passes over untamed regions (7)
IGNORES: anagram (untamed) of REGIONS.

13a Record kipper overwhelms one gourmet (7)
EPICURE: abbreviation for Extended Play record + synonym of kipper (a verb) outside (overwhelms) the letter implied by “one”.

14a Topple plain vase (8)
OVERTURN: synonyms of plain and vase.

16a Small enclosure for monkey (5)
SCAMP: abbreviation for Small + synonym of enclosure (think boy scouts, perhaps).

19a Sweetheart is in bloke’s way (5)
MEANS: the heart of swEet inside synonym of blokes.

21a Server sites with raw bits crunched (8)
WAITRESS: anagram (crunched) of SITES RAW.

24a Support of rider’s foot wearing spur? (7)
STIRRUP: the last letter of rideR (foot) inside (wearing) a two-word synonym of spur or incite. Thank you, Gazza, for your help in unravelling this one.

25a Old boy facing stage getting smutty (7)
OBSCENE: abbreviation for Old Boy in front of (facing) synonym of stage.

27a Sense a conflict confronting English head (9)
AWARENESS: A + synonym of conflict + abbreviation for English + synonym of head (as in headland).

28a Initially individual things, each made singly (5)
ITEMS: initial letters of words 2-6 of the clue.

29a Strip ends occasionally getting bound (4)
TIED: even letters (occasionally) of sTrIp EnDs.

30a Excited from brilliance in performance (9)
DELIGHTED: synonym of brilliance inside synonym of performance.

 

Down

1d Writing system of numeric characters decrypted (9)
CUNEIFORM: anagram (decrypted) of OF NUMERIC. A new word for me, but accessible via the anagram and a few checking letters.

2d Publicists marketing principally in foreign port (5)
ADMEN: initial letter (principally) of Marketing inside a port in Yemen.

3d Live inside pristine tower (7)
MINARET: plural verb meaning live inside a word meaning pristine gives us a mosque tower.

4d Former partner blameless taking huge risk (8)
EXPOSURE: two-letter synonym of former partner + synonym of blameless outside (taking) two letters signifying huge or OutSize.

5d Verbal nudge in empty sermon (6)
SPOKEN: synonym of nudge or prod inside the first and last letters (empty) of SermoN.

7d From Embankment our agenda involves train (9)
ENTOURAGE: hidden word (from…involves).  Our answer is lurking within words 2-4 of the clue. The definition is not a means of transport.

8d Party’s leader longing for witch hunt (5)
PURGE: the leader of Party + synonym of longing.  I wanted to create a new word “pache”, but Chambers refused to play ball.

9d Intellectual sort keeping current (6)
GENIUS: synonym of sort (or species) outside (keeping) abbreviation for electric current (physics).

15d Kill time, say, losing heart (9)
ERADICATE: synonym of time or epoch + synonym of say without the middle T (losing heart).

17d Some elevated goddesses, so pitifully demonised (9)
POSSESSED: hidden word backwards (some elevated).  Our solution is lurking upside down within words 3-5 of the clue.

18d Vehicle by river and large roundabout (8)
CAROUSEL: synonym of motor vehicle + four-letter river (there are five of them in total to choose from) + abbreviation for Large.

20d Row ship around lake (6)
SERIES: abbreviation for SteamShip outside (around) one of the Great Lakes of North America.

22d Savouring nip following cheers (7)
TASTING: slang abbreviation for cheers (or thank you) + synonym of nip (or bite).

23d Sort of betting with odds scrutinised (6)
SPREAD: abbreviation for odds (or Starting Price) + synonym of scrutinised. No problems here for Huntsman, who used to work in the betting industry.

24d Little time being under investigation … (5)
SCANT: abbreviation for Time under (this is a down clue) synonym of investigation.  We may ignore the ellipsis in this and the following clue.

26d … standing before court (5)
ERECT: synonym of before + abbreviation for CourT.

Quickie Pun:  CHAIR  +  ROW  +  KEY  =  CHEROKEE

61 comments on “DT 30957”

  1. I do like a good guzzle from Ray T and this was a good one. Just the right amount of thought needed to tease out the answers, which were satisfying when they appeared. I have not come across the spirit at 10a but it was gettable from the checkers. I have ticks all over the paper so, once more, it’s difficult to pick one for the top spot. Both the cold glass of mild at 1a and the vehicle parked by the river at 18d were contenders. However, I’m going for the very short and sweet vase at 14a.

    Thank you, Ray T for a great Thursday challenge. Thank you, Shabbo for the hints.

  2. Found this a hard *** and for some reason not the usual Thursday fun. Maybe I got out of bed the wrong side! I did enjoy the concealed anagram of 21a and also 23d. 10a was a new one on me but guessable. Needed the hints to understand 4d so thank you hinter and our setter.

  3. The only word I had to check was 1d, which I guessed from the anagram fodder once the checkers were in place.
    Thanks to RayT and to Shabbo – I’m sure we weren’t the only two who considered PACHE for 8d!

  4. As ever, like Steve, enjoyed this tricky Ray T guzzle. I liked the well- misdirected anagram at 1d, the lurjer at 7d, tgecLego clue at 15d qnd the cryptic definition at 24a. Thanks to Shabbo for the hints and to Mr T.

  5. No need to say very much, the Master of Brevity at his best – 2.5*/4.5*

    Candidates for favourite – 13a, 19a, 18d, and 26d – and the winner is 13a.

    Thanks to Ray T and Shabbo.

  6. Gazza is the best at parsing some of those tricky bits of tack, I was wondering how to get there too. The writing took a bit of deciphering, mainly because I can’t spell. Palindromic looks were ten a penny until I got the longing correct.

    Thanks to RayT and Shabbo (and Gazza) I hope to see some or all of you at The George next Tuesday

  7. 2*/5*. Very RayTish and very enjoyable with 24a my favourite.

    Many thanks to RayT and to Shabbo.

  8. Yet again I came off second best in a Ray T puzzle. And as is usual, where my failings were pointed out, all was fair and above board. The spirit in 10a was new to me, and I liked the reverse lurker in 17d, but my cotd is 14a. Thanks to Ray T and Shabbo for the nudges towards completion.

  9. Raymundo racks up another solid crossy that was capped off very nicely with the final two combined clues.

    It’s interesting – and inevitable – that phrases often end up as one word, e.g electronic mail becoming email, but I will never use 2d (how good was Madmen, btw? Absolutely superb)

    There may be a few solvers who haven’t heard of the betting term in 23d but it’s a fairly straightforward clue. 7d is a splendid lurker and 10a was a new one for me too.

    My podium is 14a for its neatness, 25a (smutty is such a great word) and 1d.

    MT to the aforementioned and Shabbs.

    2*/4*

  10. Our friendly Thursday setter definitely upped the ante today from my point of view, even including a word I haven’t previously heard of! Several of his trademarks in evidence confirming his authorship of this one and my list of potential winners includes 14&30a plus 3,23&26d.

    Devotions as ever to Mr T and many thanks to Shabbo for the review.

  11. It really is most unfair. I was forced to supply the committee with ice lollies, and to hire extra powerful air conditioning units for the committee room in order to persuade them all to attend this morning’s meeting regarding 10a. There was some confusion at first as Colonel Bagshot opened proceedings with a stirring defence of the former Tubeway Army new wave pioneer, only to be shouted down by the older members who managed to stop him reciting from ‘Are Friends Electric?’
    After peace returned to the room, 10a was voted, without dissent, onto THE LIST.

    A further discussion regarding 1d became impossible when Colonel Bagshot began singing ‘Here in my car, I feel safest of all, I can lock all my doors, It’s the only way to live, In cars…’
    Sadly, the meeting ended in a brawl.

    Thanks to RayTee and Shabba-dabba-doo

  12. And that’s why Ray T is my favourite setter!
    Great fun, challenging, marvelous concise cluing, and enjoyable – as ever.
    I will admit to needing Shabbo (and by extension Gazza)’s help in decoding the wordplay in 24a (and also 11a), but overall, all very fair.
    Somehow I knew the word at 1d and confidently wrote the answer in, only to find that I was a letter short. I had no idea that there was an “e” in it!
    With many thanks to Shabbo, and of course to Ray T (do I really have to wait a whole fortnight?)…

      1. Yes, but while I enjoy Ray T’s backpagers I find them *tough*!
        A Beam Toughie is usually too tough for me!

  13. Was going nowhere fast with only a few meager answers on first pass. A trip to the garden centre later and it all managed to fall into place. It’s funny how time away sometimes does the trick.

    I thought it was an excellent puzzle – am I finally getting the hang of completing a RayT offering? Or has that just doomed me to a run of Thursday DNF’s?!

    Thanks to the setter and the combination hinters for 24 across as I didn’t fully parse it without peeking at there explanation

  14. The first time for weeks (months, even) that I’ve managed to finish Monday to Friday before 10 in the morning and even enjoyed them. Says more about me than anything else, I guess.

  15. Well clued and concise, with a nice variety of clues.
    My top three today are 1d, 9d and 15d.
    Thanks to Shabbo, (hope the back is a bit easier now) and to Ray T.

  16. 23d as a lovely clue but alas 1d needed my dictionary. Thank you RayT and Shabbo

  17. It took me a while to get into this but it was very enjoyable once I gained a foothold (or a 24a maybe).
    1d and 10a were both new for me but gettable from the cluing.
    Top picks for me were 14a, 4d and 24a.

    Thanks to Shabbo and RayT.

    I took part in a DT puzzles interview yesterday about a new feature. I took the opportunity to feedback on some of our niggles such as the printout going over 2 pages, the lack of being able to change the print quality etc. You never know, it might reach someone that can do something about it!

  18. Ray T is on good form today – thanks to him and Shabbo.
    I didn’t know the 10a spirit but the BRB confirmed what it had to be.
    For my podium I’ve selected 3d, 7d and 23d.

  19. Nice to have RayT here for his fortnightly visit. No queen today, but sweetheart showed up though. As usual for me, I enjoyed this puzzle that actually had two new words for me this week, as well as one that had slipped my memory bank.

    2*/4.5* this week for me

    Favourites 14a, 16a, 5d, 9d, 18d & 26d — with winner 9d
    Smiles for 16a, 5d, 14d & 26d

    Thanks to RayT & Shabbo

  20. Tricky but fair and as ever brilliantly and briefly clued. I needed hints to explain a couple of answers which included 24a. I thought the anagrams today were excellent particularly 1d and 21a so I will have 21a as my favourite. I also did not know 10a.

    Many thanks to Ray T and to Shabbo (and Gazza) for the hints.

  21. Really enjoyed this super RayT archetype. Reasonably straightforward and good mid-week fare, with 10 unknown but very clear from the clue. Honours to 13a, 1d & 4d

    Many thanks indeed to RayT and Shabbo

  22. Completed without assistance even though I had not heard of 10a or the pristine part of 3d. Also needed the hints afterwards for most of the parsing mentioned by the other commentators. COTD 14a for the elegant construction. Thanks to RayT and Shabbo. **/****

  23. A RayT Thursday, and thank goodness as I was expecting a frustrating hassle. Years ago, both Merusa and I used to struggle to finish his puzzles but I am pretty sure she would have enjoyed today, as it was very enjoyable. I didn’t know the 10a spirit, and know little to nothing about betting, but otherwise pretty much a DIY effort which is always satisfying. Thanks to RayT for not making me feel really thick, and to Shabbo.

  24. Really enjoyed this and a couple of new words for me. I think any newbies to this site must think that Terrence is completely barking mad – his descriptions certainly fire up the imagination though. Perhaps an explanation of The List ought to be ‘listed’ under FAQ like ‘guzzle’ is. Anyway thanks to RayT and Shabbo. To Madflower: had bacon sarnies at the NWT sitting outside on the viewing area in glorious sunshine with a stonking view of the reserve with the deep blue sea in the background.

    1. How lovely Manders, I’m very envious especially as you probably had a bit of a sea breeze to cool things down a tad too.

  25. Getting used to Ray T and appreciating the quality of his clues.Got to the tape unaided but was grateful to Shabbo for explaining 10 across and what the first two letters of 23 down related to.Last in was 9 down Perhaps this was at the more accessible end of a Ray T puzzle ?

  26. Evening all. Many thanks to Shabbo for decrypting my 600th Cryptic! Also, my thanks to everybody who took the time to comment. As always, very much appreciated.

    RayT

    1. Great guzzle, Ray T. Thank you for it and many congratulations on reaching such an awesome milestone.

    4. Thanks for dropping in and huge congratulations on a very impressive milestone!!

    5. Another excellent puzzle and congrats on your 600th cryptic, you set an amazing standard.

    6. Good evening, Mr T, and many congratulations on the amazing milestone – that’s something a lot of other setters will find hard to match.
      Here’s to the next 600!

    7. Many congratulations on reaching a really impressive milestone, Ray. I reckon that I’ve blogged a fair proportion of them over the years.

    8. 600 – what fortunate people we are to be able to enjoy your wonderful workmanship. I so look forward to alternate Thursdays. Thank you very much indeed.

    9. A day late but thanks for another fine puzzle….a Ray T crossword is always the highlight of the cruciverbal week for me. Congratulations on reaching 600.

      1. 600 crosswords at least 25 clues per puzzle…that’s 15,000 clues….that’s a lot of clues!

  27. Superb from Ray T. 1D, 7D, 23D my favourites in a very strong field. VMT Shabbo.

  28. 3*/4* I didn’t find this easy but a most enjoyable challenge, two more new words for me in 1d and 10a, will I remember them though?
    Favourites 13a gourmet, 21a anagram and 24a which took some time to parse

    Thanks to RayT and Shabbo

  29. Very pleased to have solved another RayT unaided. Impressed with myself for knowing the spelling of 1d and knowing 10a.

    Billy bonus was enjoying the solve too!

    Thanks to all.

  30. Good evening

    I knew from the off whom I was dealing with: one quick scan of the clues; my eye landed on 19a – yes, it’s the Mighty Mr T!

    Always a pleasurable challenge; thankfully I got them all done, but not without some mangling of the braincell and chewing of the Lucky Green Pen. I needed a little bit of help parsing 24a and 4d.

    I haven’t picked a COTD; too many to choose from! Many thanks to Ray T and to Shabbo.

  31. Many congrats & thanks to Ray for chalking up his 600th puzzle.1d&10a both unfamiliar but gettable & the why at 24a was a head scratch here too but the penny dropped for a brisk(ish) completion.
    Thanks to Shabbo & to T for keeping us up to speed with the committee’s deliberations.
    Ps back to the reality of work tomorrow after four lovely days golfing in Norfolk – beautiful weather, great courses & lovely foodie pubs. Would move there in a heartbeat

  32. 3*/4*
    Some new words upped the difficulty a little and I used an anagram solver for 1d.
    Thanks to Ray for the workout and Shabbo for the hints.
    20d fav.

  35. Very very good puzzle which I had to come back to many times but got there in the end – not helped by recent onset of Afib which hasn’t helped my brain function!

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