DT 30991

56 comments on “DT 30991”

1. Now that was a belter for the professor! I loved it and it made up for my poor performance yesterday. Loved the missed call upsetting Charles at 21d but my COTD is the porridge eating student at 5d.

   Thank you, Professor Plum for a wonderful offering. Thank you, Hintsman for the hunts.

   Now to tackle the guzzle that upset MI5.

   1. I wanted to add “Thanks for Windmills of Your Mind”, Huntsman but the edit feature does not seem to be working. One of my favourite songs. ????

2. Il Prof racks up another solid piece of work

   Having got 2d, I put Cilic in as my answer to 1a thinking that it wouldn’t go down well with non-tennis fans. However, I realized the errors of my ways when I got 1d.

   Sticking with tennis…I first heard the adverb ‘super’ (used as an adjective in 16d) when Roger was being interviewed a few years ago: ”I was super excited about today’s match”. I have never and will never use it as an adverb.

   I asked my wife how many Zs she would use in pizzazz and she said three which I think I would have gone with, i.e pizazz. Either way, it’s a great word though the former will never be seen on a Scrabble board. Talking of fabby words, this one, meaning to spice up something or to add a little oomph (another top word), is an absolute belter as I have no ideas which is the correct spelling zhuzh, zhoosh or jeuje or indeed something else!

   Hoo nose.

   My picks for the pody are 4a, 29a and 17d.

   MT to AP and Hoots!

   1*/4*

   1. I found the regular use of the term, ‘super exciting’ in the office irksome, not only because of the grammatical infelicity but also because late middle-aged ennui dictated that the events or project in question almost certainly weren’t, at least to me.

      1. I couldn’t agree more, CM: it’s so overused. Once is too many!

         I commend you for using the word infelicity. I’ve never seen it before but it, of course, makes sense.

         A good friend who loved words used felicitations at every given opportunity. What made it better is that he had a hearty, stentorian voice like Brian Blessed. So, it sounded brilliant, especially when he was supping a tankard of mead, leaving froth on his face furniture.

         1. I don’t remember the interview myself TDFish but am sure you are super on point. Cyclists use it a lot but if it’s in your second language it’s a good filler. But agree, it’s almost a non- word as doesn’t really add to the scene setting.
            Super felicitations to all!

            1. Nice one, Todge!

               Hope all’s well.

3. Really pleased that I finished it all in one go
   (Until I saw the 1* rating)
   However I did need Huntsman’s explanations for 3d and 5d – thank you
   My favourite was 25d
   Very enjoyable.

   1. Remember that the ‘*’ ratings are very subjective and should probably be ignored.

4. An enjoyable puzzle today, so my thanks to Professor Plumb. I, too, liked the porridge-eating student at 5d, together with the
   e other Lego clue at 19d. Little 4-letter 29a made me laugh too thanks to Huntsman for the hints too

5. I’m sure that I’m going to be contrary today as I found this puzzle to be a bit of a slog and not much fun. Perhaps my mood and attitude to today’s offering is in step with the weather here in the SE, being grey and miserable. Definitely a touch of the bah humbugs. Thanks to AP and Huntsman.

6. Gentle and enjoyable – thanks to our setter and Huntsman.
   I liked 4a, 13a and 4d best.

7. A superb puzzle as I have come to expect on a Tuesday. Great surfaces that are as smooth as silk. An absolute master craftsman (should that be craftsperson?)

   Thank you setter and to huntsman for the clues which I shall now peruse.

8. Very Typically Tuersdayish – 1.5*/4.5*

   I liked our bloggers ‘perfectly pleasant’ in his preamble – very Mary Poppins!

   Candidates for favourite – 12a, 8d, 22d, and 25d – and the winner is 22d.

   Thanks to Mr Plumb and Huntsman.

9. A gentle offering today.
   Top picks for me were 5d, 19a and 25d.

   Thanks to Huntsman and the setter.

10. Delightful offering from our Tuesday man, quite made up for the miserable weather. Biggest ticks went to 4a plus 3&22d with several others jostling for position.

    Many thanks to Mr Plumb and also to Huntsman for the review and enjoyable video clips – those accompanying 20a & 2d were greatly enjoyed as was the Two Ronnies sketch.

11. Yes, a perfectly pleasant pastime today! I would also subjectively agree with the 1* rating; in fact this went as quickly as any I can remember. My favourite today was the lego at 14d for the scared chickens.

    Thanks to the Prof and Huntsman

12. I enjoyed this a lot and would also agree with the 1* rating. I’ve nearly finished the Vintage which I’m not enjoying much – a lot of guesswork for instance a fish with 5 letters! I’m hoping they will progress to being more cryptic. Eat your heart out samphire lovers, I believe it costs a small fortune in London restaurants. My neighbour brought me back a kilo of pristine samphire from Blakeney Point yesterday where she is a volunteer ranger. Absolutely delicious. Thanks to the setter and Huntsman – we have a lovely sunny day here in Norfolk

    1. I thought that the Vintage showed some improvement in the 17 years since yesterday’s. At least some of the clues are now cryptic although most are still straight definitions (e.g., as you say, Fish (5)).

    2. Wonderful – I love samphire!

    3. I envy you the ready source of fresh samphire which I too really like. In fact a few years ago before it was readily available (at a price!) my husband and I were looking into the possibility of marketing it somehow (pickled or whatever) but our plan fell through!

13. Solutions in full flow today, my sort of level. Liked 4a, is it me or does golfer Mr DT, in one form or another, get overused?
    Thanks to Huntsman & setter

14. 1* / 3* Light and enjoyable Tuesday solve.
    Favourites included 25d behold, reversible tennis player at 1a and the false president 4a

    Thanks to setter and Huntsman

15. Hi Hoots

    You are good with words. So, I’m going to pick you up on one thing as you’re a top man and we need the best to be the best…at everything not just films and music.

    I let go posters’ typos and small errors as I’m as guilty as the next. I’m trying to resist the urge with this one but have succumbed…

    In 4a, you don’t need the word ‘present’ before ‘incumbent’ as it means the person who is in office.

    Most people think this is a tautology but it’s not. It’s a pleonasm.

    This is the word of the most disappointing Tom.

    Fr T

    1. Well I had no idea what a pleonasm was but I do now & of course you are quite correct – ought to have known better….

       1. Just a buddy looking out for a buddy.

          People say never meet your heroes and I’m a tad reluctant to meet you on a crossy jolly because I’m in awe of your entertainment knowledge.

          Yes, I’ve committed to memory a few lists which is all well and good but you have the deep info, the interesting stuff.

    2. What a fantastic word!
       I shall now endeavour, at the earliest possible opportunity, to describe someone as a pleonast, and watch to see them wondering if I have just complimented or insulted them!
       Thanks Tom!

       1. Love it, Denty Wenty.

          I am here to serve.

16. One of those days when I can hear my mother’s voice saying, “If you’ve got nothing pleasant to say, then don’t say anything at all”. Nevertheless, I was also reminded of friends telling me that they don’t do the DT crossword because it’s too formulaic (a criticism which I think is generally unfair, including on Tuesdays). Oh well, as Prawn said above, it’s probably just the grey muggy weather getting to me and thanks very much to the setter for doing something that I couldn’t begin to 23a and to Huntsman (ditto).

17. On a roll, two consecutive puzzles completed without reference to the hints or dictionaries, a feat never achieved previously. And in a respectable time, for me at any rate. Must be the uplifting Greek sunshine. That said, I did nearly mess up on 1a, wrong vowels inserted initially. Last to go in 18a and 14d, over reading the clues. There do seem to have been a number of references recently relating to the current US President, although today’s offering brought a smile. Enjoyed 12a and 18a.
    As always, thank you to the setter and Huntsman for the hints, which I will now peruse. Expecting to be brought back down to earth tomorrow.

18. A fairly Typical Tuesday offering for the most part with a couple of tricky clues thrown in.
    2*/3.5*

    Favourites 4a, 11a, 12a, 23a, 16d & 25d — with winner 12a

    Thanks to AP & Huntsman

19. 1*/4*. Light and fun with 4a my favourite.

    Many thanks to the setter and to Hintsman.

    1. Well said, RD.
       Couldn’t have put it better myself.
       Thank you Mr Plumb and Huntsman.

20. Very light today. Pleasant, not too taxing, just no real standouts for me. Isn’t that 2 days in a row for the President?
    2*/3*
    Thanks to all

21. I agree that this was a very enjoyable guzzle, I laughed out loud at 7d – very droll and the egg on top of the dish was smart. 28a and 5d added to the enjoyment and a well used Greek character was presented in a different way. Many thanks to Mr Clever Setter and the Hintsman.

22. In bed with a cold.Did the crossword by doing just what the clue instructed so thought it must be a 1 star for difficulty. Promptly fell asleep and had a nightmare. Dear husband brought me an almond croissant, ice cream , tea and paracetamol . Thanks to all .

23. Was convinced I’d opened with an ace by somehow digging out Cilic straight off the bat. For too long I refused to be unconvinced … Delightful puzzle. Ticks and double ticks throughout. 25d the best of the bunch for me.

24. Thank you Mr Plumb. Also Huntsman for the hints, although we didn’t need them.
    Ideal Tuesday puzzle, pitched at just the right level.
    Gary and Val
    (We are a couple that got together having found cryptic crosswords a common interest).

25. Completed much earlier so yet again I am finding it difficult to remember any specifics except that I enjoyed it, finished unaided and liked 4a and 22 d alot.
    Many thanks to the setter and to Huntsman for the hints.

26. 1 across CILIC?

    1. You’ve changed your alias (from JMB1947) so this needed moderation. Both will work from now on.

       1. Ok, thanks JMB1947 from now on.

    2. Monica occurred before Marin & of course a quick shufti at the 1d fodder confirmed ‘twas a girl rather than a boy but both palindromes

    3. Sorry, should be JMB1947!????

27. Enjoyable and reasonably straightforward clues, if you held your nerve, which I managed to do, so I completed unaided. Needed the hints afterwards to confirm meaning of “lam” in 2d (as never heard of it). COTD 29a for the construction and surface. Thanks to Prof Plumb and Huntsman. */***

28. The usual Tuesday excellence dnf fun. Favourite was 4a. Thanks to AP and Huntsman.

29. Hurray for another fun, stress-free Tuesday enigma. I didn’t think of the alternative but it’s amazing that there are at least two possible alternatives for 1a – I was fortunate to plump for the correct one ahead of solving 1d. No particular Fav but so nice to have all clues reading sensibly. NE was last quadrant to acquiesce. TVM AP and Hintsman.

30. Very enjoyable. 4A my favourite. Many thanks to the Professor and to Huntsman. And also to Disappointing Tom for pleonasm – superb word that I hope to see in a crossword soon.

    1. Thank you, Dee Dubs. It is a goodie.

31. I liked it especially as I could do it with minimal help from Mr G. No cricket or golf ????. Favourites 5d and 4a. Listening to Tom Lehrer with a glass of wine. A lovely wind down to the day. Thanks both setter and blogger

32. Good evening

    On Tuesdays now, I have a long break at Exeter St David’s; two hours, which is a perfect interval in which to get stuck into the crozzie. And get stuck in I have! All done, although not without the odd scratch of the head here and there.

    Some tremendous clueing from the Prof, for which many thanks. Many thanks also to Huntsman.

33. Great puzzle just up my strasse! 4a what a great clue for the current US incumbent very clever???? My pick for favourite however is 12a as I could not get “malady” or “malaise” out of my mind. Thanks as ever to the setter and Huntsman (sorry you missed your golf today, I hope my round at Prince’s tomorrow is rain free) for the hints. Douglas.

34. A light and enjoyable Tuesday solve. I spent my evening dog walk trying to think of a palindromic tennis player ,and failed. I’d not heard of Cilic luckily ! . Once I had some of the checkers in place of course it was obvious ! Thanks to the setter and Huntsman.

35. Very clever and well clued crossword. Thoroughly enjoyable to solve.

36. Relatively straightforward after yesterday, but we’ll clued and all good fun….

37. 2*/3* ….
    liked 4A “US president – he finally turned sweet? False (7-2)”

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