DT 30994 – Big Dave's Crossword Blog
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DT 30994

by Mr K  

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30994

Hints and tips by Mr K

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BD Rating  -  Difficulty *** -  Enjoyment ***

Hello, everyone, and welcome to Friday. 

In the hints below most indicators are italicized, and underlining identifies precise definitions and cryptic definitions. Clicking on the answer buttons will reveal the answers. Please leave a comment telling us how you got on.

 

Across

1a    Son with access details securing English liquor (4,3)
SLOE GIN:  The genealogical abbreviation for son with (3,2) access details for a computer account containing (securing) the single letter for English 

5a    Really great editor provides something to kip on (4,3)
SOFA BED:  Link together really or very, a dated word for great or awesome, and the usual abbreviation for editor 

9a    Dire bar GI renovated for officer (9)
BRIGADIER:  An anagram (renovated) of DIRE BAR GI 

10a   Oafs in great numbers bored by university (5)
LOUTS:  Many or “great numbers” containing (bored by) the single letter for university 

11a   Some deride a sceptic's views (5)
IDEAS:  The answer is hidden as some of DERIDE A SCEPTIC 

12a   Odd way of talking initially ignored in Morecambe? (9)
ECCENTRIC:  A way of speaking minus its first letter (initially ignored) is inserted in the first name of Morecambe the comedian 

13a   Spying wild ponies inside of cages (9)
ESPIONAGE:  An anagram (wild) of PONIES is followed by the inside letters of CAGES 

16a   Note car close to prom (5)
MINIM:  An small car with the last letter (close to) of PROM 

17a   Female eating tips of little carrots sweetly (5)
DOLCE:  A female deer containing (eating) the first letters of (tips of) LITTLE CARROTS 

18a   Cross group of followers east of Bury (9)
INTERSECT:  A group of followers comes after (east of …, in an across clue) a synonym of bury

20a   Scrounging soldier put in charge (9)
PARASITIC:  Link together some soldiers who jump out of planes, a synonym of put, and the abbreviation for “in charge” 

23a   Pale grey arsenic layer (5)
ASHEN:  The chemical symbol for arsenic with a layer of eggs 

25a   Control the course of  one on the ranch? (5)
STEER:  A straightforward double definition 

26a   Ducks circling room in airport buildings (9)
TERMINALS:  The plural of a type of duck containing (circling) both the abbreviation for room and IN from the clue 

27a   Hardy doctor around half of us experienced (7)
DURABLE:  A usual abbreviated doctor containing (around) the first letter (half of) US is all followed by a synonym of experienced 

28a   Diet ace blended something cool (4,3)
ICED TEA:  An anagram (blended) of DIET ACE 

 

Down

1d    Magnificent vehicle turning green (7)
SUBLIME:  The reversal (turning) of a passenger vehicle is followed by a fruity shade of green 

2d    Pole peeled the setter's fruit (5)
OLIVE:  POLE minus its outer letters (peeled) with a contraction for “the setter’s” from the perspective of the setter 

3d    Ex-PM happy with weight (9)
GLADSTONE:  A synonym of happy with a unit of weight 

4d    Sound of hooter one's blocked (5)
NOISE:  What a hooter can be containing (… ‘s blocked) the Roman one

5d    Most harsh putting second fool briefly on trial (9)
STRICTEST:  Glue together the single letter for second, fool or delude minus its last letter (briefly), and a synonym of trial 

6d    Force working to apprehend the Spanish crook (5)
FELON:  The physics symbol for force and working or not off sandwiching (to apprehend) “the” in Spanish 

7d    Colouring option Lee rubs in vigorously (4,5)
BLUE RINSE:  An anagram (… vigorously) of LEE RUBS IN 

8d    Move quickly on river filming equipment (7)
DASHCAM:  A verb meaning “move quickly” with a river that flows through a university 

14d   Softly shifting arboreal white-furred animal (5,4)
POLAR BEAR:  The musical abbreviation for softly with an anagram (shifting) of ARBOREAL 

15d   A knight tipped dram over the French philosopher (9)
ARISTOTLE:  Put together A from the clue, the reversal (tipped) of the prefix for a knight, a synonym of dram, and “the” in French

16d   Spread of fish trousered by one serving aboard ship (9)
MARGARINE:  A usual fished contained by (trousered by) a soldier who serves aboard a ship

17d   Act to retain 75 per cent of mail removed from office (7)
DEPOSED:  A noun synonym of act containing (to retain) the first three letters of a four letter (75 per cent of) synonym of mail

19d   Enthusiast up regularly in Shiraz country (7)
TUNISIA:  The reversal (up, in a down clue) of an informal word for enthusiast is followed by alternate letters (regularly) of IN SHIRAZ 

21d   Cancel last parts of dubious Tantric massage (5)
SCRUB:  The last letters of  (last parts of) DUBIOUS TANTRIC with a synonym of massage

22d   Special effects embedding golden palace pet once (5)
CORGI:  A three-letter acronym for computer generated special effects containing (embedding) the heraldic abbreviation for gold 

24d   Deer full of energy and spirit (5)
HEART:  A male deer containing (full of) the physics symbol for energy 

 

Thanks to today’s setter. Which clues did you like best?

The Quick Crossword pun:  GAS + PAT + SHOW = GAZPACHO

55 comments on “DT 30994”

  1. A delightful end to the cruciverbal week. A few old favourites such as the usual officer at 9a and the soldier in 20a. Entering “deposit” at 17d without thinking held up the southwest for a while until the Hardy doctor came along at 27a. I liked the caged wild ponies at 13a and the magnificent green vehicle at 1d but my COTD is the really great editor at 5a.

    The Quickie pun was neat.

    Thank you, setter for a most entertaining puzzle. Thank you, Mr K for the hints.

  2. A very approachable guzzle for a Friday. There were a lot of good Lego ckues which always enjoy. 1a is something I like making and drinking, 19d was a cracking geographical Lego clue, the caged spies at 13a was another cracker and thwn there was my COTD at 15d. Thanks to the compiler for an enjoyable romp and to Mr K for the hints

    1. Thanks for posting that Sue. Enjoyed seeing who commented on the puzzle – much missed Robert & Kath, whom we’ve not heard from in a long time.

  4. Light but highly entertaining. The philosopher 15d was probably my favourite but it’s always good to see the sophistical rhetorician at 3d. Thanks very much to the setter and to Mr K (and to whoever managed to get the site running properly after yesterday’s issues).

  5. Most straightforward Friday crossie for an age. Not many smiles raised, for whatever reason, but I can’t say I *didn’t* enjoy it.

    Loi was 1d (and the rest of that corner), with 21d my favourite as it did at least elicit a small smile. **/***

  6. Other than a brief pause to check the special effects at 22d, this most enjoyable puzzle was over far to quickly.
    Many thanks to the setter and to Mr K.

  7. Quite ‘light’ for a Friday puzzle and I am wondering if the setter is not a member of the Friday Triumvirate.

    Candidates for favourite – 23a, 4d, and 21d – and the winner is 23a.

    Thanks to whomsoever and Mr K.

    I wonder if this is how 15d did all his thinking:

  8. A rare two star for difficulty made a pleasant change from the usual Friday fare.

    Some setters put ex-PM while others just put PM when they mean a previous one. I assume both are perfectly acceptable?

    My podium is 9a, 5d and 15d.

    MT to the setter (Sade?) and Mr K.

    2*/4*

  9. I do the puzzles on a kindle. After entering a letter into the grid today the page went blank. This happened last week as well. No amount of fiddling will bring it back. An unfilled grid appears momentarily and then back to a white screen. Any ideas anyone?

    2. I had that yesterday with Vintage puzzle, but using the website on my desktop PC. I had solved all but two clues and suddenly it went to your blank page. Restarted browser, used Edge instead of my usual Vivaldi and no change. I have abandoned completing that puzzle now. Solved everything today with no issues, and pretty straightforward for a Friday. Let us know if you find an answer.

      1. Third time lucky. First tried other browsers on this pc. Then tried firefox on my android phone, initially it appeared but then tapped somewhere on the grid and it went all blank again. Decided to boot up my laptop and it appeared normally and I eventually managed to complete. But yesterday’s vintage puzzle had some most obscure answers. Parnassas for a peak was OK but I have never heard of a Greek witch called Medea. Nor can I make sense of the rhyming poetic theme.

  11. Well for me (etc.), this was a typically Tuesdayish puzzle (but I’m on holiday at the moment and I may have lost track of what day it is).
    Gently challenging and most enjoyable, with a warm sense of satisfaction on completion.
    With thanks to the setter (whomsoever) for this lovely puzzle, and to Mr K for the hints.

  12. A steady solve for me but still enjoyable.
    So glad we are able to comment again and read others. I was surprised by how much I missed it.
    Top picks today were 20a, 4d, 5a and 16d.

    Thanks to Mr K and the setter.

  13. Good to see the blog up and running again, I felt quite bereft yesterday.
    I’m guessing that this was the handiwork of Zandio on a ‘kind’ day but am open to correction. Top 3 for the smile factor were 5a plus 3&4d with a mention for the Quickie pun – a well-made one is delicious!

    Thanks to our setter and to Mr K for the review.

    1. I have a good story about the Pun. It happened many years ago when I was able to enjoy ‘hospitality treatment’ at the Farnborough Air Show. It was a particularly ‘grey’ and cool September day so what would be better than to start lunch with a nice warming soup except it was the Pun! There were many looks of shock and surprise around the table as the first spoonfuls were tasted.

  14. Pretty straightforward until I got into the S.W. Corner. Really did not like 17 across. Finished unaided with a tick for 23 across. I keep thinking of Wednesday’s crossword that set such a very high standard.
    Think today’s is a 2 star for difficulty. Not a walk in the park, enjoyable but rather pedestrian.
    Thanks to Mr. K and our setter.

  15. Light and fun. Felt it might be a good crossword for beginners, requiring only general knowledge rather than crosswordese. Thank you to the setter, and many, many thanks to Big Dave’s single-person IT department, Mr K.

    I liked the way of talking in Morcambe (12a) and the ducks in the airport (26a), but I’m picking 14a for my favourite on the entirely spurious grounds that we’re going to see some in Doncaster tomorrow for the youngest offspring’s birthday ‒ among other animals, but the 14a are a big attraction, because we haven’t seen them at other zoos.

    13a felt same-sidey, with the definition and the answer basically being different Anglicised forms of the same French word.

  16. Add my thanks to Mr K for sorting out the technology!

    Agree with most, found this quite light for a Friday but no less enjoyable for that. Particularly liked the kipping device in 5a and the odd 12d.

    Thanks to Mr K and the setter.

  17. That was enjoyable with my avocado with G’s special dressing followed by salad & Parma ham. I’m with CeeCee on 1a, been making it for years. I liked 15d and 14d, and 27a was my last one in. Many thanks for fixing yesterday’s glitch, we are so used to everything working smoothly it come as a nasty shock when things go wrong. It is raining steadily here in south Cambridge which will be doing the garden a power of good after the pocket rocket’s work this morning. Have a good weekend everyone, and many thanks to Messrs Setter & Kay.

    1. I shall be making more 1a in a month or two, and the cupboard is already pretty full of various fruit gins, brandies and vodkas. However the other week our local Tesco had trays of delicious English black cherries – large, plump & gloriously juicy – and so to use up a bottle of Bacardi rum bought for a guest a few years ago and untouched since, I am experimenting with Cherry Rum. Roll-on December!

      1. I went to a prty in a house, where there was a hedge made up of bushes bearing the fruit in question and black berries Our host had been experimenting with various combinations. As far as I remember, all were delicious but the whisky combined with either of the two home-grown fruits was surprisingly fine .

        1. I used to make mulberry brandy, which would always be devoured with gusto when we had friends round to lunch. Unfortunately, the tree had to be cut down because the trunk split.

          1. When we lived in Lordship Farm we had what was reputed to be one of the oldest Mulberry trees in the country, planted when (I think it was James 1st) imported a shipload of red mulberry trees in the hope of starting a silk industry. They should have been WHITE mulberries! A month after we downsized we had a terrible gale and the tree blew over. The new owner rang George in a panic, knowing the importance of the tree. George organised some local farmers with tractors and the tree was slowly inched up back into place, to huge cheers. It was pegged down and is still going strong 30 years later. We were only the 6th family on the deeds since the Manor House was built by Edric The Plain !

  18. I was questioning “what day is it?” with this offering .. not that that is bad. I enjoyed it while it lasted. 8d being my last in. The answer isn’t in the BRB … is that allowed?
    COTD 1a .. nice to see the purple blighters getting a mention again.

  19. Grand fun. Lots of ticks on my page from which I’ll pick a podium of 1d, 5a and 15d in top spot. A large doff of the cap to the BD IT department with thanks also to the compiler and Mr K.

  20. This Friday puzzle seemed to me to be a little gentler than normal, with a few stumbling blocks along the way

    2.5*/3.5*

    Favourites 5a, 12a, 18a, 25a & 3d — with winner 12a

    Thanks to setter & Mr K

  21. Most enjoyable. Gentle for a Friday. Honours to 23a, 25a, 19d & 22d.

    Many thanks to Mr K and to the setter

  22. The end of an epic week, for me at least. Three full completions without reference to the hints or any other aid. It was the Wednesday and Thursday offerings which let me down, about 75% completion before I capitulated. However, will still take three out of five.
    As for today’s puzzle, only about six or seven clues completed on the first pass before others began to fall into place. SW quadrant held out the longest with 17a the last to be entered. Misled for a time on 27a, at various times thinking of Admiral Nelson, the novels of Thomas Hardy before the penny finally dropped.
    COTD for me 1a, 18a, 27a and 1d.
    Am I finally getting to grips with this cryptic crossword lark or just had a lucky week?

    1. I should have included my thanks to the setter and Mr K for the hints, which I will now peruse.

  23. Thank you to the Setter and MrK for the hints. We also found this on the easy side for a Friday. No stand out clues but all had us thinking and most enjoyable. Gary and Val

  24. Pretty straightforward for a Friday with the exception of 17a, a new word for me but fairly clued. Apart from that no real hold ups but no less enjoyable for that. Favourite was 15d there were numerous other candidates. Thanks to the setter and double thanks to Mr. K.

  25. Read and write today – that never normally happens and never on a Friday!
    1*/4*
    Great fun while it lasted – will go with the sofa bed and french philosopher as favourites.
    Thanks to setter and Mr K

  26. 1.5* / 3.5* A light and enjoyable Friday treat, kept expecting to be held up but a steady solve.
    Favourites 22d pooch, 5a kipping place and 13a spying
    Thanks to Mr K and setter

  27. An unusual walk in the park for a Friday. Special effects in 22d meant nothing but it had to be. 7d vigorously rather odd indicator. Was unaware of arsenic abbreviation for 23a. Thank you Mysteryone and MrK.

  28. Surprisingly gentle for a Friday but pleasant nonetheless. 12,20&26a + 15&16d particular likes.
    Thanks to the setter & to Mr K – many thanks for your efforts getting us up & running again.
    Ps after Wednesday’s sad news that we’ve very likely had the last of Chris Lancaster’s puzzle it was a pleasant surprise to get the opportunity to solve one of his from 2022 in the Vintage No 5 slot.

  29. A lovely Friday treat which I thoroughly enjoyed with 13a my favourite.

    Many thanks to the setter and to Mr K for the hints and technical wizardry behind the scenes.

  30. What a pleasant surprise for a Friday an enjoyable and a solvable puzzle and heavy rain keeping you indoors ???? **/**** Favourites 1a,4,8, and 16 down Thanks to the unknown Compiler and to Mr K for his explanations ???? Had the most trouble trying to make a phrase out of the top line of the Quickie, must eat out more ????

  31. Thanks Mr K for the blog and to everyone who has commented today.

    Excellent centenary articles this week in the paper, very interesting.

    Toughie duty in a fortnight, I hope to see you then. Have a good weekend.

  32. Many thanks to Karla for a fun crossword … 1A and 1D made a lovely start. VMT also to Mr K.

  33. I really enjoyed today’s puzzle as appreciated it being a gentle teaser rather than a hard slog. My brain seems to have only been working at a snail’s pace this last couple of weeks. I will blame it on the recent weather! Many thanks to Karla for today’s offering. Thanks also to Mr K for the hints and for your technical expertise regarding yesterday’s comments. Missed seeing them yesterday!

  34. Just when I was on the point of giving up on Friday puzzles, this delight popped up on my iPad. As this is one of our biweekly breakfast out Fridays, can never get to until lunchtime, when I usually have to abandon. But not today, a very solid solve and a lot of fun. Thanks to Karla and Mr K.

  35. Good evening

    Well, that wasn’t quite as difficult as I might have expected for a Friday, but I take nowt for granted – there were a few slip-ups along the way, and I almost ground to a halt with the SW quadrant still inkless. Plus I didn’t help myself by being convinced 16d was MARMALADE – what a numpty!

    Top marks for 12a. Many thanks to Karla and to Mr K.

  36. Quite a smooth solve for me today, except I was unaware of the fish in 16d, but it was clear from the clue & the letters already entered. My favourites were 12a, which “brought some sunshine”, and the 13a spying. Many thanks to the setter and Mr K.

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