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DT 31009

by Huntsman  

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31009
Hints and tips by Huntsman

+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – +

BD Rating – Difficulty **  Enjoyment ***

It’s slowly starting to brighten up a bit here in Harpenden this morning so looks perfect for this afternoon’s scheduled battle with bats & ball on the links.

Today’s Plumb production is a reasonably straightforward proposition in terms of filling in the grid though I found one of the whys & a couple of the required synonyms less obvious. It’ll be interesting to see what others think.

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 This could be statement Matthew’s found at the start of this collection (3,9)

NEW TESTAMENT: a reverse anagram – place a suitable indicator in front of the fodder (statement).

9a Female wearing fine coat woven for warmth (9)

AFFECTION: an anagram (woven) of FINE COAT with the single letter for Female inserted (wearing).

10a Singer from Turkey bored by English National Opera (5)

TENOR: insert (bored by) the abbreviation for the English National Opera into the IVR code for Turkey.

11a Small mammals taking off with artist’s equipment? (6)

EASELS: remove (taking off) the single letter for With from long bodied & short legged predators.

12a One criticised about ordinary remote (8)

ISOLATED: the Roman numeral letter for one followed a synonym for criticised/panned into which the single letter for Ordinary is inserted (about).

13a Pinches gallery’s frames silently at first (6)

TASTES: place a the name of an art gallery including the possessive ‘s (there are 4 so named) around the initial (at first) letter of Silently. Can’t say the definition synonym would be the first to spring to mind but guess if you think add a pinch of salt etc.

15a Wobbly knees – was showing frailty (8)

WEAKNESS: an anagram (wobbly) of KNEES WAS.

18a Cover that is including small piece of writing (8)

TREATISE: another to my mind less than obvious synonym for cover followed by Small inserted (including) between the two letter abbreviation for that is. Take your pick from cover the bill/pay for or less likely  cover/weatherproof.

19a Male swan spots short snakes (6)

COBRAS: the term for a male swan + a truncated (short) condition of spots.

21a Something created by tennis player perhaps supports leg (8)

BACKSPIN: a synonym for supports + an informal term for leg. A golfer or snooker player might have been a more obvious example perhaps.

23a Walks around large homes (6)

PLACES: a synonym for walks/steps with Large inserted.

26a Peonies regularly pruned by my adversary (5)

ENEMY: the even letters of pEoNiEs (regularly pruned) + MY in the clue.

27a Sailor with flipping new uniform before trip, displaying wealth (9)

ABUNDANCE: the usual two letter abbreviation for an experienced crew member followed by the reversal (flipping) of the single letters for New & Uniform + a synonym for trip as in the Light Fantastic for example.

28a Craft three lenses, keeping very still (12)

NEVERTHELESS: an anagram (craft) of THREE LENSES around (keeping) the single letter for Very.

Down

1d Most organised revision, finally, before each exam (7)

NEATEST: revisioN (finally) + the abbreviation for EAch + a synonym for exam.

2d Newspaper cutting was showing bears (5)

WAFTS: insert (cutting) the abbreviation for the pink paper into WAS in the clue.

3d Old little room on hospital department is fantastic (9)

EXCELLENT: the usual two letter prefix for old/former + a small room (in a prison maybe) + abbreviation for the usual hospital department.

4d Grasp tiny branch (4)

TWIG: double definition – the former in the context of cotton on.

5d One retained by church? (8)

MINISTER: insert (retained by) the letter for one into a church such as the cathedral in York.

6d Some begin at a lovely old part of South Africa (5)

NATAL: hidden (some) in the 4 words between indicator & definition.

7d I knew rat damaged clothing (8)

KNITWEAR: an anagram (damaged) of I KNEW RAT.

8d Grooms might need these black horses? (6)

BRIDES: the single letter for Black + a synonym for horses – a jockey’s mounts on the card for instance.

14d Roughly describes singular vessels (8)

SKETCHES: Singular + sailing vessels.

16d After Keir’s first upset we longed for expertise (9)

KNOWLEDGE: the initial letter (first) of Keir + an anagram (upset) of WE LONGED. I’d settle for a modicum of domestic competence.

17d Guess I’m stuck in car? (8)

ESTIMATE: insert (stuck in) I’M from the clue into a car model with more space than a hatchback.

18d Proposes book containing stories? Just the opposite (6)

TABLES: just the opposite tells us it’s the synonym for stories that contains the single letter for Book.

20a Nurses unfortunately stress about heart of patient (7)

SISTERS: an anagram (unfortunately) of STRESS  goes around (about) the middle letter (heart of) patIent.

22d Kind, upright member by the sound of it (5)

STYLE: a homophone (by the sound of it) of an upright member/vertical piece in the frame of a panelled door or sash window. I only knew it as something to clamber over in fields but my trusty phone a friend in Welwyn put me (not for the first time) right.

24d Crew oddly guarding an old boat (5)

CANOE: insert (guarding) AN from the clue + Old between the odd letters of CrEw.

25d Give up completely? Not completely (4)

QUIT: a truncated (not completely) synonym for completely. Memories of stop smoking apart from one after dinner etc.

 

Please let us know which clues you liked best.

Today’s Quick Crossword pun: DAY + MEN + HILL = DAMON HILL

56 comments on “DT 31009”

  1. Well as a Sloop is a type of vessel in 14d it shouldn’t have been my LOI!
    It looks like the 5d pic was taken from a rather pleasant restaurant now in the old Choir School.
    Thanks to Prof and Putter. I hope you haven’t been taking tips from J.D. Vance

  2. It is reassuring to know that, with all the international insanity around me, there is a brief time, often all too brief, on a Monday evening when I can ‘escape’ and enjoy Anthony Plumb’s latest Typically Tuesdayish production and he did not disappoint yesterday evening – 1.5*/4.5*

    Candidates for favourite – 19a, 4d, 14d, and 18d – and the winner is 14d.

    Thanks to Mr Plumb and Huntsman.

  3. Hurray for the usual plain-sailing on fun Tuesday. All very fair apart from mild whinge about synonyms in 18a, 2d and 22d. Thank you MrP and Hintsman.

  4. 1.5*/4*. Light and fun as expected on a Tuesday with my podium comprising 5d, 8d & 25d.

    I just needed to check the upright member in 22d.

    Many thanks to the setter and to Hintsman.

  5. I didn’t find this the straightforward solve that our esteemed blogger enjoyed, but it was a pleasant tussle nonetheless, with 16d my favourite for the surface read. It was, as always, beautifully clued and a real joy to complete.

    My thanks to AP and The Hintsman.

  6. Reasonably gentle and enjoyable with the main difficulty being working out some of the synonyms as our blogger says. Thanks to our setter and Huntsman.
    I was unaware of the erect member (sounds a bit rude) in 22d – thanks to Shabbo for that information.
    My podium consists of 1a, 8d and 25d.

    2. I think you’ve made it a tad ruder by saying “erect” instead of the original upright. :-)

  7. I found this a lot harder going than a usual Tuesday. The 18a, 2d and 22d synonyms threw me as I got the answer but struggled to parse them.LOI was the pesky 4 letter 25d though goodness knows why.
    No favourites for me today.
    Thanks to Huntsman and the setter.

  8. Enjoyable and straightforward puzzle today. Actually yesterday since I finished it last night and this morning I’m looking around for something to do. Thanks you to the setter and also to huntsman.

  9. Hi Hoots

    I have submitted my post but I think the blog has read it as spam.

  10. And relax – it’s Tuesday with the prof! As usual, there were a couple of synonyms that needed checking on, of which it was 22d that was the most difficult to pin down – not just for you, Huntsman!
    Took me far longer than it should have done to get the answer to 25d which then earned a place on the podium along with my favourite, 21a, & 29a.

    Many thanks to Mr Plumb and to Huntsman for the review and video clips – it will not surprise you to learn that my choices were those that accompanied 9a&22d!

  11. Very straightforward, with just a slight deceleration in the SE corner.
    LOI was 19a, as I had convinced myself that the male swan was a pen. Basic birding knowledge. Jane will never forgive me!
    Joint COD to 1a and 28a.
    Thank you setter and Huntsman.

  12. This was an enjoyable solve from Il Professore with 1a kicking things off nicely.

    It was good to see the third member of the triumvirate again (28a) with the others being Serengeti and orchestra. It is bonkers how many ways there are to anagram this old classic if anagram is indeed a verb. Well, it is now which I guess is enough for it to appear in Chumpers.

    I’m not a huge fan of portmanteau words as the technique tends to be overused but, for some reason, I’m like chillax. But one that gets my goat is ‘guess’ combined with 17d. There really isn’t a need for it. It’s either one or the other.

    I can’t quite see the synonym for bear working. Both can mean carry which means it’s an a = b = c jobbie but that’s not enough for me. Maybe someone can clear that up with an example.

    My podium is 15a, 8d and 16d.

    MT to AP and Hoots!

    1*/4*

    2. I’ve missed the boat again! :-( I was going to say: In that valley, I love the sweet aroma that the gentle breeze bears/2d.

      1. You never miss the boat, J. Your posts are always welcome….at any time.

        Another fine example.

  13. Don’t wish to be too pedantic but the boat picky in 14d is wrong. The boats in question only have two masts. Otherwise good blog of a good puzzles. **/***.

  14. Lovely comment Pommers! I couldn’t possibly comment as it is just a boat to me. Delightful guzzle, I knew just what I was doing from 1a straight in until I came to a grinding halt at 21a and 22d. I thought of style of course but not having a window specialist chum I had to turn to the hints. I liked the swan with a rash and the item necessary for a groom. Many thanks to Mr Plumb and the Golfy Hintsman. Off to Book Group now.

  15. 1* / 3.5* Enjoyable and straightforward apart from a couple of definitions that needed checking (22d and 2d).
    Favourites include tennis players creation at 21a, warmth at 9a and the grooms need at 8d
    Thanks to setter and Huntsman

  16. Like others have said – a few grumbles with some of the synonyms (tastes and wafts – I’m talking to you!) that minor gripe aside another fabulous puzzle from this setter – whom continues to spoil us with a glut of cracking clues.

    Thank you to him and to huntsman for the review

  17. For me a Typical Tuesday puzzle on par with the Monday’s puzzle too.
    Lots of chestnuts in this one, but it worked well for me.
    Overall, this was a fun puzzle without having to bash my brains out.

    1.5*/4*

    Favourites 1a, 11a, 15a, 3d, 17d & 20d — with winner 3d

    Thanks to AP & Huntsman

  18. Enjoyed this and will join others in commenting on some of the stretched synonyms, particularly 2d, which I had to read the blog to confirm. It was a game of two halves again for me. Like yesterday, the North was pretty much read and write but the South was a bit trickier. Not a discrepancy on yesterday’s level though.

    Still hugely enjoyable and thanks to AP and Huntsman.

  19. Thankfully a very enjoyable Tuesday, challenging enough to make me think but not so difficult as to need lots of help. A steady solve, with my only gripe being 2d which I stared at for ages, and was my LI, as I just couldn’t parse that with bears. Thanks very much to Mr Plumb and Huntsman. Noticed that the very smart Steve Cowling has provided the hints for today’s Vintage puzzle, so have printed up for lunch time. Well done.

    1. Thank you, Watercolour Lady but I’m not smart. I can’t be because I destroyed my rubbish bins yesterday!

      I hope you enjoy V23.

  20. Late on parade for obvious reasons but it was a pleasant diversion.

    The professor in the library keeping the standard up and providing another Terrific Tuesday Teaser. I’m not sure 2d means “Bears” but there you go. Setters know more than I and I’m fed up of looking at the BRB today. As usual, there are many good clues to choose from and, after due consideration, my COTD is 8d with its black horses.

    Thank you, Professor for the fun. Thank you, Hintsman for the hunts.

    1. Standard! I’m beginning to loath spellchecker! I tried to edit but it didn’t work.

      OH, it did work!!

    3. I totally agree with your comment on 2d from my experience but then when I consulted the LRB on my phone, the answer is defined as “to bear, convey, transport …”, so I defer to the Professor!!!!

  21. I too questioned one or two definitions, but on discovering they are sound, can only nod and say I’ve learned something. To my mind, that is a bonus and part of the enjoyment of solving.
    My COTD is 9a. Sadly, we’ll all soon be seeking out something woven for warmth.
    Thanks to the setter and Huntsman.

  22. A gentle solve as is Tuesday , but enjoyable. I couldn’t parse 22d and wasn’t sure about the cover for 18a so thanks to Huntsman for explaining , also thanks to the setter.

  23. I found this trickier than usual today and was put off by all of the previously mentioned unheard of synonyms so I have learnt some things today! The rest went by smoothly and was fun as usual. I thought that 20d was a well written clue.

    Many thanks to the setter and to Huntsman for the hints

  24. A nice Tuesday puzzle solved on train to Penrith ???? ***/**** Favourites 4d, 8d & 17d ????
    Thanks to AP and to the Huntsman for his explanations ????️‍♂️

  25. Good evening

    Well, I must, if I’m truthful, declare today as a DNF; I found myself relying much more heavily than usual on today’s hintingtons – I think the Prof has been a little bit cheeky today offering up stretched synonyms in eg 2d, 18a, or 21a. But that’s crozzies for yer!

    Thank you to the Prof and to Huntsman.

  26. Very nice from the Prof. I liked 27A best. VMT to him and Huntsman … and a wonderful spot from Pommers on the 2-master.

  27. The same gripes as everyone else. I don’t mind the odd ‘no-ones ever heard of synonym’ but this was just too many, it takes the gloss off it slightly. On the plus side I managed to bung in the right answers. No real favourite but thanks to AP anyway and Huntsman.

  28. Going great guns until I got bogged down in the SW corner and needed a look at the hints. Pretty much everything then fell into place. No real favourites today.
    Thank you to the setter and to Huntsman for the hints.

  29. Last in was 18A. Bit of a lame excuse to force the fit but I can see why the compiler went that route. Otherwise I thought today’s a better and more interesting test of late.

    Favourites. Not many but I thought 17 was somewhat whimsical.

  30. Trickier than usual with some stretched synonyms – although they have been explained by posters above and our blogger.
    3*/3*
    Almost beaten by 25d and 14d.
    14d COTD when the penny dropped and I realised i wasn’t looking for vessels.
    Thanks to Prof and Huntsman

  31. I had the same problems with some of the synonyms as mentioned above, but the checkers made the answers gettable. The one problem that defeated me and required the hints was the vessels in 14d……..I had convinced myself I was looking for an anagram (“roughly”) and that it was an anagram of describe (“singular” meaning remove one s from describes, which doesn’t make sense with hindsight!)
    Anyway, my favourite was the book proposal in 18d, which I thought was very clever.
    Thanks to the setter and Huntsman.
    PS: the pedant in me must take issue with Huntsman’s reference to the “links”, unless he was driving to the seaside to play?! :-)

  32. Stretched synonyms were almost too stretched for me although I solved the clues in question once I had the checkers. Unfortunately, I needed the hints for four: 14d, 18d, 21a (also didn’t like tennis player as an example) and 25d. Need to do the crozzie every day to keep up to speed but don’t always have the time. Thanks to setter and Huntsman. ***/*

  34. Very late on parade, but got time eventually. Held up by 13a and 18a synonyms – definitely not obvious. Didn’t know the member either, and 21a took a while to disentangle. 14d LOI, so there does seem to be a thread with the SW.
    Thanks to the Prof and Huntsman

  35. Brian would not approve but my cotd is the clever 1a. A very enjoyable guzzle mostly at my standard of ability. Many thanks to setter and Hintsman and indeed to all those who undertake this but I am unable to thank because I am such a frequent lurker.

  36. Stubbornly, I refuse to seek electronic assistance (or any other kind, for that matter) and consequently failed to finish yesterday in the time I had available, entirely because of the questionable synonyms. Finally got there this morning – better late than never, I suppose.

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