Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31089
Hints and tips by Shabbo
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
Good morning, fellow puzzlers.
No prizes for “Guess the Setter” this morning, so Senf can keep his toonies safely concealed at the back his sock drawer. This has all of RayT’s hallmarks: single word answers, single word answers and clues in the Quickie, a queen, a sweetheart and brevity of clueing at a fraction over five words/clue. It also displays his usual elegance and was a joy to solve, although I suspect he is being gentler than usual with us this morning. My podium comprises 1a, 29a and 1d. Which clues 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 RayT and to the DT Crossword Team. BTW, I loved the Quickie pun!
Across
1a On open ocean is tarry anchor (8)
MAINSTAY: synonym of open ocean + synonym of tarry (a verb, not an adjective)
5a Son goes without trousers (6)
SLACKS: abbreviation for Son + synonym of “goes without”.
9a Dished up again, possibly cold (8)
RESERVED: double definition.
10a Unbalanced and empty eating seconds (6)
INSANE: synonym of empty (or foolish) outside (eating) abbreviation for Seconds.
12a Torches traitor harbouring large group (9)
ORCHESTRA: hidden word (harbouring). Our solution is concealed within words 1&2 of the clue.
13a Slender young lady, perhaps heavenly initially (5)
SYLPH: initial letters of the first five words of the clue.
14a Work doesn’t end for boss (4)
STUD: synonym of academic work without the final letter (doesn’t end). The boss here is a rivet or similar.
16a Musical includes current and former actor (7)
OLIVIER: a West End musical outside (incudes) abbreviation for electrical current or “Intensité du courant” (thanks again, Falcon).
19a Rein in dog on another dog (7)
CURTAIL: synonym for a worthless dog + another synonym for dog (a verb).
21a American eater is discontented consumer (4)
USER: abbreviation for American + E(ate)R (discontented).
24a Lounges bare, principally, and poses (5)
BASKS: initial letter (principally) of Bare + synonym of poses (as in poses a question).
25a Stop in wood entirely (9)
FORESTALL: a large wood + synonym of entirely.
27a Leisurely, occasionally languid in bother (6)
ADAGIO: the even letters (occasionally) of lAnGuId inside synonym of bother. The solution is a musical term.
28a Part of assassin is terrifyingly menacing (8)
SINISTER: another hidden word clue (part of). Our solution is lurking within words 3-5.
29a Stops collaring mum for meals (6)
DISHES: synonym of stops outside (collaring) two letter interjection meaning mum (or quiet)
30a Older offspring adopting a boy (8)
SEASONED: synonym of offspring outside (adopting) A + male child.
Down
1d Male feline pack rearing animal (6)
MARMOT: synonym of male cat + synonym of pack (a verb) joined together and turned upside down (rearing).
2d Insignificant person belonging to cult? (6)
INSECT: synonym of “belonging to” + synonym of “cult”.
3d Officer is wise to protect Queen (5)
SARGE: synonym of wise outside abbreviation for queen (or king).
4d Turning treadle getting prepared for action (7)
ALERTED: our first anagram today (turning). Mix up the letters of TREADLE.
6d Left in saddle breaking runaway (9)
LANDSLIDE: London bus syndrome – here’s another one. Anagram (breaking) of L IN SADDLE. Think election results, perhaps, for the definition.
7d Restrained following tea for vicar? (8)
CHAPLAIN: synonym of restrained after a synonym of tea. I am struggling with the synonym of restrained. Any thoughts?
8d Stock controller? (8)
SHEPHERD: cryptic definition. The stock here will usually be found in a field.
11d Sort of hat over big head (4)
CAPO: type of hat (often worn backwards by yoofs just to annoy me) + abbreviation for Over. The solution is a Mafia term.
15d Confusing partners I come out! (9)
TRANSPIRE: anagram (confusing) of PARTNERS I.
17d Shakespeare supports rogue dagger holder (8)
SCABBARD: a word often used to describe Shakespeare after (supports – this is a down clue) synonym of rogue.
18d Spring inside lock making illegal entry (8)
TRESPASS: synonym of spring inside synonym of lock (think hair). Without wishing to be too pedantic, the solution is usually an issue in common law rather than criminal law.
20d Liberal providing sweetheart for ever (4)
LIFE: abbreviation for Liberal + synonym of providing + swEetheart.
21d Lift United with adulation (7)
UPRAISE: abbreviation for United + synonym of adulation.
22d Cutting edges of Arran material (6)
TARTAN: synonym of cutting (think sharp to taste) + edges of ArraN.
23d Red American state doesn’t end (6)
FLORID: a southern US state without the final letter (doesn’t end).
26d Weighs anchor having trouble on board (5)
SAILS: synonym of trouble inside abbreviation for SteamShip (on board).
Quickie Pun: CLINCH + HAVEN = CLEAN SHAVEN
I agree – RayT at his best and not too tricky – */**** for me. The 4 anagrams and 2 lurkers assisted. My favourite was 8 down which raised a smile. Thanks Senf and himself.
Sorry Shabbo! Not Senf😳😳😳😳don’t know where that came from.
I forgive you!
I put RANCHMAN for 8d, especially given the H of sylph. Oh dear.
I had farmhand!
What a thoroughly enjoyable Ray T puzzle, with enough of a challenge to kewp tou on your, toes, ckever misdirection, unusual synonyms, rhe Queen and a sweetheart. I liked the 12a and 28a lurkers, the 1d Lego animal, rhe 23d missing letter geographical ckue and my COTD, the wilyvanagram synonym at 6d. Thabks to Ray T and to Shabbo for the hints.
I found this slightly trickier than our esteemed blogger, but not by much. I was held up in the NW for a while until they gradually yielded their secrets. Great fun, beautifully compiled as ever, with 1d my final entry and favourite.
Many thanks to Ray T and Shabbo.
Slow to start, but then started building from the bottom up and everything clicked into place.
1a, 19a and 27a get my vote with the stock controller coming close.
**/****
Good morning. I got half of it done on the first pass. But solving the remaining clues, even with the partial letters took me a good extra cup of tea to solve. I thought the NE was going to be problematic as it was the only quadrant that remained completely blank. Got there before the tea got the cold but it was tricky. Large podium today with 14, 19 across, 1,7,8, 17 and 18 down all making me smile. CoTD is 1D as I love to see them in my ZF! Thanks to setter and Shabbo for the entertainment.
The Master of Brevity at his very best, although, like YS, I found it a little more challenging than suggested by our blogger – ***/*****
Candidates for favourite – 1a, 24a, 27a, 1d, and 26d – and the winner is 27a.
Thanks to Ray T and Shabbo.
P.S. The Quickie Pun is not ‘hidden’.
It is now. Thanks and apologies.
A nice solve from Arty with my LOI being 11d that I biffed, though biffing a Mafia head isn’t a good idea.
21d is a truly dreadful, pleonastic, compound word that should never be used as the first word isn’t required. It’s nice to see old faithful again (12a). An excellent lurker.
My podium is 29a, 30a and 22d for their constructions.
MT to the aforementioned and Shabbs.
3*/4*
Largely straightforward but a couple of head scratchers extended the solve well into ** time. Both the def & the ‘empty’ context at 10a weren’t immediately apparent to me hence the synonym/s slow to spring to mind. I also couldn’t really see why ‘big’ was necessary at last in 11d & reckon the clue better without. Didn’t think this one top drawer RT but still enjoyable.
Thanks to Ray T & to Shabbo
Fairly gentle with one or two quirks to keep us on our toes.
No real favourites or standout clues for me, I was anticipating more resistance for a Thursday.
Thanks Ray T and Shabbo.
Fairly gentle but…
I was disappointed to need a little e-help with 26d despite being a regular abuser of gibs and mainsheets. My attempt to put ‘Kim’ aboard (my ex-manager) did not quite meet the brief. At 23d, with the first two checkers, my brain leapt to ‘claret’ as it so often does when seeing red.
COTD 27a
Many thanks Shabbo and RayT.
My heart sank a bit when I saw it was a RayT production. But it was at least on the gentler side. I do think that restricting the answers to single words impacts on the humour of the puzzle. But I know that’s just me as I know he is a lot of people’s favourite setter. My thanks to him and to Shabbo
As is often the way, our setter gave us a sprinkling of less common synonyms although I was OK with the one our blogger mentioned in 7d – ‘the colourways offered were somewhat restrained/muted/*****. The 12a large group seems to have been rather quiet recently so nice to welcome it back!
The race for rosettes was won here by 9,19&30a plus 1d.
Devotions, of course, to Mr T and many thanks to Shabbo for the review.
Thanks, Jane. 7d is now off the naughty step.
Thanks to RayT and Shabbo. 19a COTD. LOI 1d. Took our time and got there in the end. About the right level for a Thursday puzzle. Enjoyed, that is the main thing!
Pretty gentle as long as you’re in tune with the blogger’s usual little tricks (I imagine it would be trickier for someone coming across Mr T for the first time). Thanks to him and to Shabbo for the review.
Top clues for me were 19a and 29a.
I agree – at one time I struggled with Ray T but now he’s one of my favourite setters and enjoy his usual pointers. I’ve been working through a few archive puzzles to gauge my improvements and this morning’s was 28,526 07 Sept 2017 which is also a Ray T. Hints and tips by Pommers and I quote “Isn’t the use of sweetheart to indicate an e getting a bit long in the tooth?” How I laughed. Enjoyed today’s – favourites 24a and 27a. Thanks to Shabbo and RayT (please don’t change)
That would be me! Only solved 3 all day and just can’t get my head round the clues. I am completely blank. Will be sitting down with the hints to help me through. This is what i find so hard – the change of setter and having to think a different way.
I wouldn’t worry – rayT’s puzzle’s can be befuddling. I find them more annoying than difficult but I get what you mean. If you want an answer that hasn’t been clued by Shabbo then ask – this forum usually provides
Nice to have RayT in today for his fortnightly back page visit. As always succinct clueing and precise clue wording. Nice to see the Queen and sweetheart show up too.
2*/4* for me today.
Favourites 1a, 19a, 27a, 1d, 4d & 8d — with winner 8d, but frankly all were good
Thanks to RayT & Shabbo
I needed MrG to guide me through NW but otherwise managed to winkle rest out.. 2d in that context new to me. Perhaps I wasn’t alone by firstly having wrong finish to 11d which made the crossing musical difficult. 24a poses took a while for penny to drop. Thanks RayT and Shabbo.
I had my usual tussle with a Ray T puzzle today. But one I rather enjoyed. A couple gave me some trouble, but all came good in the end. Indeed I have many ticks on my page from which I’ve chosen 17d, 27a and, fighting it out for top spot is 25a. Thanks to Ray T and Shabbo.
As usual, for me, this took me a while to get into, I do not know why short clues give me such trouble. My RayT brain seemed to have completely disappeared for a while and it was like I was reading Russian, then suddenly after a break and some coffee all became clear. There were some great clues especially the anagrams and lurkers and I had 1d as a favourite.
Many thanks to RayT and to Shabbo for the hints.
Still not on Ray T’s wavelength. Conceded defeat after eight clues. Roll on Friday.
You and me both!
*** / ***
Enjoyed this but I had synonym freeze (probably the weather), which meant I needed the hints for 10a and 24a. I must’ve come across a 1d before but couldn’t recall it so again the hint crystallised the required structure.
Enjoyed the rest though. Thanks to Shabbo and Ray T
As good as expected, thank you RayT and Shabbo – the trousers clue as my favourite because of its smooth brevity
Late on parade today. I have been very busy and was in two minds whether or not to tackle this. However, my love of RayT’s puzzles won the day, and I’m very glad it did. This was excellent even though I wasn’t entirely convinced by the surface of 1a.
I’ve never heard of that meaning of 11d; I thought it was something I put on my guitar neck when I want to change key.
My rating is 2*/4.5* with 5a and 8d fighting it out for first place.
Many thanks to RayT and to Shabbo.
I whizzed through this enjoyable solve but came to a hard stop at 10a. Needed the hint to solve as i couldn’t see the synonym of empty.
Thanks to all.
When John handed me the crossword and my cup of tea I said, “Ray T “. How long has it taken for that penny to drop. Those short succinct clues said it all. Have been out all day so just had a few gaps in the crossword to fill this evening. It is always the short words that can prove so difficult. Did not get 24 across . Favourite was 19 across. Much thanks all round.
Evening all. My thanks to Shabbo for the decryption and to everybody else for your contributions.
RayT
Excellent Thursday challenge
Thanks
Good evening, Mr T. No complaints at all today so the devotions remain firmly in place!
Hi Jane,
If you’re happy, I’m happy!
RayT
I always look forward to your Thursday! As usual, a highly entertaining puzzle. Thanks you and thanks to Shabbo for the blog.
1.5* /4* A very enjoyable puzzle, lots of succinct clueing and fine misdirection.
Favourites today include 25a stop, 8d stock controller (initially had sheepdog)and lastly the cute critter at 1d. Saw 1ds in Italy and they whistle as warning when they get spooked.
Thanks to RayT and Shabbo
Ps Also a cracking quickie pun
Excellent puzzle as usual that I found trickier than our blogger. I didn’t know the mafia boss but I do now. Favourite was 18d. Thanks to Rayt and Shabbo.
An enjoyable solve a notch up from the last two days with a few knotty clues holding me up at the end. I hadn’t heard the phrase weighs anchor before , so that was my last one in. Thanks to. Ray T and Shabbo.
Had a terrible day and no time to tackle the puzzle, which is a shame because it’s RayT. I’ll try it tomorrow.
Hope you have a better day tomorrow, Steve. Solving this excellent puzzle will help!
No time to comment yesterday – very enjoyable. Thanks to Ray and Shabbo.
8d favourite, 5* for enjoyment, great puzzle.
3*/4* …
liked 2D ” Insignificant person belonging to cult ? (6) “
I found this a little sticky, only completing it today, (couldn’t get “halo” out of my head for 11d, but the penny finally dropped this morning. I turned to this blog to check my reasoning and was disappointed to see that I had come up with an alternative solution to 26d – “slips” also works (for me) in that a vessel slips their anchor and giving a bit of lip can be troubling!… although I concede that “sails” probably works better…..
You’ve shortened your alias so this required moderation. Both versions will work from now on.