DT 31017 – Big Dave's Crossword Blog
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DT 31017

by Shabbo  

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31017
Hints and tips by Shabbo

+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +

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

Good morning, fellow puzzlers.

RayT is being gentle with us today, or maybe I was fully attuned to his wavelength this fine morning. We are treated to his usual brevity at 5.2 words/clue and it is reassuring to know that he has an ecological conscience when compiling – see 7d. My favourite clues are 24a, 6d, 7d and 23d. Which ones did you like?

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.

Many thanks to Ray and to the DT Crossword Team.


Across

 1a Relaxed about American backing a Liberal (6)
CASUAL: two-lettered abbreviation for about + two-lettered abbreviation for American reversed (backing) + A + abbreviation for Liberal.

4a Drowsiness in Oscars broadcast (8)
NARCOSIS: anagram (broadcast) of IN OSCARS.

9a Scoundrel in time makes mistakes (6)
ERRATA: popular crosswordland synonym of scoundrel inside synonym of time or epoch.

10a Prospect of republic hoarding gold (8)
PANORAMA: a Central American country (republic) outside (hoarding) heraldic abbreviation for gold.

11a Turn small pan over for vegetables (8)
PARSNIPS: synonym of turn (think cricket) + abbreviation for Small + synonym of pan (or criticise) all reversed (over).

13a Loathed embracing sweetheart with passion (6)
HEATED: synonym of loathed outside (embracing) the heart of swEet.

15a Man in charge at Waterloo? (13)
STATIONMASTER: cryptic definition (nothing to do with the battle).

18a Defiant Britain undoes changes somehow (13)
INSUBORDINATE: anagram (changes) of BRITAIN UNDOES. Is it me, or is “somehow” superfluous here?

22a Finish genuflecting ousting leader (6)
ENDING: take a synonym of genuflecting and remove the first letter (ousting leader).

24a Chatted, never carrying over feud (8)
VENDETTA: hidden word backwards (carrying over). Our solution is lurking backwards within words 1 & 2.

26a Tweeted about rubbish, finally, getting excited (8)
THRILLED: synonym of tweeted (think birds, not social media messaging) outside the last letter (finally) of rubbisH.

27a Rogue otherwise curtailed urges (6)
IMPELS: synonym of rogue + synonym of otherwise without the final letter (curtailed).

28a Depraved act ended in stir (8)
DECADENT: anagram (in stir) of ACT ENDED.

29a Joins seat of learning, flipping determined (6)
UNITES: abbreviation for a seat of learning (?) and debt accumulation + synonym of determined backwards (flipping).

Down

1d Company keeps old car, possibly rubbish (6)
CHEAPO: abbreviation for company outside (keeps) synonym for an old car.

2d Drink increases covering resistance for shocks (9)
SURPRISES: join together a synonym of drink (a verb) + a synonym of increases and put it outside (covering) abbreviation for Resistance.

3d One feels for small creatures (7)
ANTENNA: cryptic definition.

5d Ace girl doesn’t finish, unfortunately (4)
ALAS: abbreviation for Ace + synonym of girl without the final letter (doesn’t finish).

6d Reportedly catch a severe infection (7)
CHOLERA: homophone (reportedly) of catch (or arrest) + A.

7d Ray has recycled paper (5)
SHAFT: anagram (recycled) of HAS + abbreviation for the pink newspaper.

8d Street with a road guide (8)
STANDARD: abbreviation for STreet + synonym of with + A + abbreviation of RoaD.

12d Previous convictions for religious leaders (6)
PRIORS: double definition.  The first one is an informal US term for previous convictions.

14d Drain’s ideally trapping contents (6)
INSIDE: hidden word (trapping) within words 1 & 2 of the clue.

16d Handling matter badly over hospital department (9)
TREATMENT: anagram (badly) of MATTER on top of (over – this is a down clue) three-letter abbreviation for a hospital department.

17d Plot to keep single faction divided (8)
BISECTED: synonym of plot (think gardening) outside (to keep) I (single) + synonym of faction or cult.

19d Thrown admitting left is mismanaged (7)
BUNGLED: slang term meaning thrown outside (admitting) abbreviation for Left.

20d Stomach sailor and crew holding party (7)
ABDOMEN: two-letter abbreviation for Able Bodied seaman (sailor) + synonym of crew outside (holding) synonym of party.

21d Sins of large sections of church (6)
LAPSES: abbreviation for Large + parts of a church.

23d Denoting order reflected in columns, initially (5)
DORIC: the initial letters of the first five words of the clue make up one of the three Greek classical orders of architecture. In case you are interested, the other two are Ionic and Corinthian.

25d Control of Queen turning popular (4)
REIN: RayT’s trademark regnal abbreviation for the late Queen backwards (turning) + synonym of popular.

Quickie Pun:  BACKED  +  EERIER  =  BACTERIA

57 comments on “DT 31017”

  1. Ray T threw in a few tricky ones today but still as enjoyable as ever. Plenty to like including the man in charge at Waterloo, which had me trying to work in the Duke of Wellington. The reverse lurker at 24a had me fooled for ages because it was well hidden. My COTD is 20d with the sailor and crew having a party.

    I liked the Quickie pun.

    Thank you, Ray T for an interesting challenge. Thank you, Shabbo for the hints.

    I have a new cleaning lady coming tomorrow. Why do I feel the need to clean before she arrives?

    1. All the years I had a Daily Woman I was tidy. The minute I retired and she went down to Fridays only I got in a mess.

    2. .. better get the crossword finished before she arrives otherwise you won’t a minute’s peace .. hoovering, chatting, rattling etc … sometimes living in your own “mess” is bliss???? Enjoy?
      Btw .. today’s guzzle was a joy. Just not sure as to the validity if 1d as a proper word. Cotd 15a .. straight in bang .. I wondered how many were thinking Napoleon v the Iron Duke?

  2. A very approachable guzzle, which had all Mr T’s usual features, the queen,a sweetheart and some unusual synonyms. I liked the misdirected cryptic definition at 15a, the anagram at 18a, the 20d Lego clue and the double definition at 12d. Thanks to Mr T for a thoroughly enjoyable puzzle and to Shabbo for rhe hints.

  3. The Master of Brevity at his entertaining best – 2.5*/4.5*.

    Candidates for favourite – 9a, 15a, 27a, 12d, and 24d – and the winner is the Oldie but Goodie 15a!

    Thanks to Ray T and Shabbo.

  4. 2*/4*. I agree with Shabbo’s rating. This was typically RayT and very enjoyable, with the added bonus of a great Quickie pun.

    7d was my favourite with a special mention for 24a.

    Many thanks to both setter and hinter.

  5. I struggled with this one, a DNF with two not completed (10a and 17d, since you asked so nicely; miffed I didn’t get 10a).
    However my time-to-failure was right in the middle of the 2* band, so I’m a little perplexed at how to rate it. It felt harder than a 2* but other than those two clues it clearly was not. Anyway, I’ve sat in the fence so long I have splinters in my bum, so I’ll go with a wishy-washy ***/***

    [I am amused my comment is so beyond-the-pale that it’s gone to moderation!]

  6. I always have a struggle with Ray T offerings and today was a similar situation. That said, all was fair and above board with much to admire. 10 and 11a raised smiles, but my podium comprises 4a, 15a and 24a. Thanks to Ray T and Shabbo.

  7. I do admire RayT’s ability to construct such elegant clues using so few words. His puzzles are always a pleasure to solve.
    My COTD was 6d, a very amusing homophone.
    Thanks to our setter and Shabbo, I’d have rated this one the same as he has too.

  8. I agree that 7d was a beam of golden light, especially as it reminded me of the Monty Python Sketch. I will refrain from putting a clip in, MP fans will know the one I mean.
    Thanks to RayT and Shabbo

  9. Thank you Ray T, at last I have almost risen to your challenge but not totally. Seeking Shabbo’s assistance at 1 a as I tried Re as my first letters. 24a was my favourite though taking a while to tease out. Perserverance does pay! Thank you Shabbo and Ray T.

  10. Another solid crossy to notch up for Raymundo. He’s such a consistent compiler.

    I’ve never heard of 1d but it couldn’t be anything else.

    If ever you wanted to show a rookie a classic clue, then 8d is the one: five words made up of four pieces of Lego and the definition.

    Perfick.

    My podium is 1a, 18a and 20d.

    MT to the aforementioned and Shabbs.

    2*/4*

  11. I normally approach a Ray T puzzle with trepidation (or should that be dread?) but today just flew in – a complete read and write.

    I am in shock. I’m of now to walk on water and broker a peace deal in the middle east before the magic potion I unwittingly drank wears off!

    Thank you to RayT and Shabbo

  12. A benign offering from Ray T for a Thursday. Very enjoyable .Last in 1d . Favourites 17 and 19d . Many thanks to all .

  13. A delicious Ray T puzzle to brighten up a grey, rainy day here, in which it was just the potential social media clue at 26a that caused initial concern. Favourite was definitely 7d with other ticks going to 26a plus 6&12d. Special mention for the Quickie Pun and our blogger’s fine depiction of 3d!

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

  14. I agree this was a perfect example of a cryptic guzzle from 8d to 24a. I don’t remember saying you could use the photo of me at 20d but I don’t really mind. I still have not got my computer to accept the new printer- grrrr. Off this afternoon for a tour of The Swiss Laundry – don’t know quite what to expect – perhaps I should take some washing along. Many thanks for the great guzzle and to Shabbo for his hints.

  15. Really enjoyed this RayT production. Favourites were the man in charge at 15a, the very well disguised lurker at 24a – that held me up a while and the severe infection at 6d, which is a lovely ‘sounds-like’ (I recently posted homophone instead of homonym or vice-versa and now my brain is scrambled between the two. You were all too nice to point out my error ☺ )!

    There were lots more cracking clues and here’s a thing: given RayT’s brevity, could he have lost “somehow” from the end of 18a, the clue would still have worked without it, wouldn’t it?

    Shabbo: for 29a, could your hint just read – “abbreviation for a seat of learning synonym of determined backwards (flipping).” It’s just the three letter abbreviation rather than the single letter.

    Anyhoo, many thanks to RayT and Shabbo.

    1. Shabbs agrees with you abouit 18a as do I.

      I’m all for superfluous words if they add to the clue but I can’t see how this one does.

    2. Apologies for my comment in 29a. I have deleted the superfluous wording.
      I despair about the number of young people coming out of low grade universities with a worthless degree and a mountain of debt.
      I will probably now get in trouble with the “no-politics-on-the blog” police!

      1. Aaaah, I completely missed your inference so no police needed from my end! I thought you meant that “NI” was some obscure reference to mountain of debt – perhaps something to do with National Insurance. Seriously, I was that far off. I’ll have to scrape the humour off the wall just over and behind my head!! I also missed that you’d already pointed out the 18a superfluous word – good job solving the puzzle is easier than commenting!!

        1. This chat has been highly amusing.

          Misunderstandings online can lead to all sorts of hilarious conversations.

          Loving your banter with Day Zee, Shabbs, btw.

      2. Student loans (debt) policy was a terrible mistake – surely it would have been better to introduce a graduate tax

        1. The student loan in most scenarios functions from the ex-student’s point of view as a graduate tax (the amount you pay each year is based on what you earn, not the size of the loan) . It’s almost as if they decided to introduce a graduate tax but to make it more palatable called it a loan. Great puzzle and hints thank you Ray T and Shabbo.

  16. A gentle and enjoyable puzzle today – thanks to Ray T and Shabbo.
    I couldn’t decide whether we needed an anagram of ‘has’ in 7d or whether we could just (re)cycle its last letter to the top.
    Top picks for me were 11a, 27a and 6d.

    1. Regarding 7d, I also wondered about that when blogging. I convinced myself that because it was recycled, rather than cycled, it was an anagram that we were looking for in this instance.
      Perhaps RayT will clarify later?

  17. Mmmm. I was not as attuned as Shabbo sadly: the south fell so but nay the north which pushed me into *** time for some reason. Enjoyable as all RayT’s are I was red herringed on the 7d with the final letter cross checker in and spent a good deal of time trying to reverse my nonsense to fit before the penny dropped. I thought 6d super with my no 2 being 2d. Thanks the team for great sport.

  18. On a high from yesterday, I came a cropper today. Not tooo bad until I ground to a halt in the NE, where serious outside help was required. Such was the trauma that with only 14d left and all the checkers staring me in the face I could not for the life of me see it until Shabbo pointed out the obvious. 8d was a cracker and I thought 24a very well disguised. Thanks to RayT and Shabbo

  19. Agree with Jane – a delicious guzzle. So look forward to alternate Thursdays – both for Ray T and Shabbo (without the music!) Thank you both.

  20. An enjoyable puzzle -made heavy weather of some that we really should have got more easily. Thank you to both the setter and to Shabbo for the hints
    I am also astounded to report that The Mythical dropped through our letterbox today. I think I should thank all the hinters and commenters for this. As relative newcomers to crosswords (probably been doing them longer than I think but still relative newcomers) Big Dave and all its input has been invaluable in helping us learn and keeping us on track. Thanks to all

  21. Once again, RayT showed up for his fortnightly visit to the back page with a really nice puzzle.
    As always, his brevity & sharp clueing were at the forefront, along with his sweetheart and the Queen popping in too.

    1.5*/5* for me

    Favourites 10a, 15a, 3d, 7d, 21d & 25d — with winner 15a, with 10a a very close runner-up.

    Thanks to RayT for the great puzzle & Shabbo for hints/blog

  22. I found the wavelength quite quickly and then sailed through this but admittedly with 24a, 27a and 14d unparsed. It’s a change to have clues reading sensibly instead of merely comprising gobbledygook. Thank you RayT and Shabbo.

  23. Thanks to RayT for a challenging yet very doable puzzle. Thanks also to Shabbo for the hints (which we didn’t need). COTD 6d. Forecast for storms here but lots of sunshine instead. Gary and Val

    1. The weather here in The Marches started like that, G & V. Lovely sun this morning but heavy rain this afternoon.

  24. Good fun and accessible although last in was 1 down. Favourite was 6 down. Glad to know The mythical exists although I would like to see it with my own eyes.
    More straightforward than normal for a Ray T and thanks to Shabbo.

    1. Don’t be fooled, Dyslex. Dark forces are at work making people believe The Mythical exists. They will show you The Mythical in your dreams and turn you into a gibbering idiot as you pursue a futile quest for it whilst demons laugh at your efforts.
      Only cups of hot, strong Yorkshire tea drunk in the shadows of Whitby Abbey will rid you of this foul curse. :-)

  25. What a lovely end to the week. Thanks Ray T ***/**** ( I have had to give up Fridays crosswords as most weeks they are tooo cryptic! ) Favourites 10a, 24a & 25d. Thanks to Shabbo

  26. A delightfully brilliant puzzle with 24a my favourite, completed this morning before going out to the Bucks County show. The show was very good (until a deluge in the early afternoon) with lots of interesting things to see, but the traffic management was truly awful. There were roadworks involving single lane traffic and 3 way traffic lights which covered the 2 entrances into the parking for the show…..you can imagine the queues. Worse still was when trying to leave they were trying to send all the traffic out of one gate when the other one, which was left turn only into the road, would have meant cars could leave easily even with the traffic lights. After complete gridlock for an hour someone finally cottoned on that opening the other gate might help and eventually we escaped. I am glad to be home with a cuppa.

    Many thanks to RayT and to Shabbo for the hints

  27. Evening all. Many thanks to Shabbo for the analysis and to everybody else for your comments.

    RayT

  29. Crack of sparrows solve & a late post. We had a 9am shotgun start seniors invitation open at Harpenden Common today with carvery, crumble & a pint of wallop to follow – NTS it was the land of nod within 5 mins of sitting on the couch. Enjoyed the puzzle & like Shabbo an immediate tune in for the quickest completion of the week. 6d was my fav.
    Thanks to Ray & Shabbo

  31. A lovely puzzle again from Mr T.
    Spent today on a 3 river cruise including the River Test which seems to me a river which often turned up in the puzzles but hasn’t for a while.

    Top picks for me were 17d, 11a and 3d. Not keen on the 1d word but that’s probably just me.

    Thanks to Shabbo and Ray T.

  32. I too made heavier weather of this than I should have. This has been a pattern for the last week or so after I was stood on a chair, lost my balance and fell backwards landing flat on my back and knocking myself unconscious. I’m hoping this is the reason and not the onset of old age as I’ll (hopefully) get over the former but not the latter. Any road up I enjoyed this this Rayt production as always. Favourite was 6d. Thanks to the aforementioned and Shabbo.

    1. What an ordeal,Taylor! I hope you return to full health soon.
      Please stay off chairs in future.

  33. 1* / 4* Excellent and surprisingly straightforward for a Thursday.
    Favourites today are 10a prospect, 24a reverse lurker and 3d feeler
    Thanks to Ray T and Shabbo

  34. A steady solve today but had to revert to some external assistance for 27a even thought
    Having identified the necessary construction could not think of the correct synonym for otherwise. Also very slow to identify the anagram in 4a; there was me thinking of a homophone for an awards ceremony!
    Thoroughly enjoyed 15a, as soon as I recognised that Wellington had insufficient letters it then fell quite easily, so my COTD.
    For some reason 29a brought the town of Grimsby to mind. Can’t think why!!
    Thank you to the setter and to Shabbo for the hints.

    1. I’m not a fan of football but, as I grew up in Grimsby, I feel a sense of pride. :-)
      Grimsby is the only club to have its ground in another town, Cleethorpes.

      1. I am a fan of football Steve. Grimsby was excellent last night and showed my team how to play the game. I’m just about recovered from the mauling!
        Sadly I was not able to do the crossword today as I was out all day. It sounds like everyone enjoyed it so maybe I will get round to it tomorrow. Thankyou both in advance

  35. This was a nice puzzle with a few knotty clues that held me up. I didn’t get the parsing of 11a , and see there’s another cricket reference – hmm . Confess too I had word blindness with 10a , and ended up looking up a list of republics which very quickly yielded the very obvious answer . Doh. I also didn’t twig the setter self reference in 7d ! Really enjoyable solve. Thanks so much to Ray T and Shabbo.

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