Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31101
Hints and tips by Shabbo
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
Good morning, fellow puzzlers.
As I write, this, I have one eye on the cricket on the iPad. Who says men can’t multi-task? Mind you, if Brook attempts another ramp shot like that, the laptop might go out of the window!
Back to the puzzle. Despite the notable absence of the Queen, this is definitely a RayT production. He has even signed it with his alter ego at 4a. Elegant and concise as ever and not too difficult. My podium comprises 6a, 24a and 23d.
Many thanks to RayT and to the DT Crossword Team.
Across
1a Plodding, end traipse shattered (10)
PEDESTRIAN: anagram (shattered) of END TRAIPSE.
6a Streak live in the morning (4)
BEAM: synonym of live + abbreviation for “in the morning”.
9a Dish finished before end of tea (5)
PASTA: synonym of finished + final letter of teA.
10a Setting off running, snatching record (9)
DEPARTING: synonym of running outside (snatching) abbreviation for a vinyl single.
12a Security of platform on house (7)
HOSTAGE: synonym of platform after two-letter abbreviation for house.
13a Give unverified estimate, say, sketchy initially (5)
GUESS: initial letters of the first five words of the clue.
15a Drink follows almost neat spirit (7)
PURPORT: fortified wine after (follows) synonym of neat without the final letter (almost).
17a More ragged cheers time before row (7)
TATTIER: informal synonym of cheers (or thank you) + abbreviation for Time + synonym of row (or line).
19a Swimming round catching fish (7)
REELING: synonym of round outside (catching) a slippery fish.
21a Gather in a street, resisting (7)
AGAINST: synonym of gather inside A + abbreviation for STreet.
22a Animal, one with fleece first (5)
COATI: I (one) after synonym of fleece.
24a Milan team contains, say, eleven? (7)
INTEGER: the usual Milan football team outside abbreviation for “say”.
27a About in time, fit and willing (9)
AGREEABLE: two-letter abbreviation meaning “about” inside a synonym of time + synonym of fit.
28a Wounded, losing head, having weapons … (5)
ARMED: synonym of wounded without the initial letter (losing head).
29a … aims and kills (4)
ENDS: double definition.
30a Dislocated hip, so rests hip replacement? (10)
PROSTHESIS: anagram (dislocated) of HIP SO RESTS. The question mark at the end of the clue shows that the solution is a “definition by example”.
Down
1d Beginning of podcast on the radio (4)
PAPA: my last one in. It looks like a homophone, but it’s not. We are looking for the NATO alphabet word representing the initial letter of podcast. It is used in radio communications to avoid confusion.
2d Detectives daily give vacated release (9)
DISCHARGE: abbreviation for senior detectives + synonym of daily cleaner + GivE (vacated).
3d Catches bug on board ship (5)
SNAGS: synonym of bug (a verb) inside (on board) abbreviation for SteamShip.
4d Brilliant support raised in tirade (7)
RADIANT: synonym of support upside down (raised) inside synonym of tirade.
5d Most copious section of samples taken (7)
AMPLEST: hidden word (section of). Our solution is lurking within words 5&6.
7d Sweetheart on diet getting cream (5)
ELITE: Ray’s trademark swEet heart + synonym of diet (an adjective).
8d Judge game with artist broadcast (10)
MAGISTRATE: anagram (broadcast) of GAME ARTIST. Is “judge” synonymous with our solution? Discuss.
11d It could be the main event? (7)
REGATTA: cryptic definition – a boating event that might be held on the sea (the main).
14d Possibly go up for prize? (10)
APPRECIATE: double definition.
16d Crack soldiers providing chill (7)
ORIFICE: a Lego clue comprising only four words. Abbreviation for soldiers + synonym of providing + synonym of chill.
18d Some malign or amusing imbecile (9)
IGNORAMUS: hidden word (some). The solution can be found within words 2-4.
20d Prattle about left being more plausible (7)
GLIBBER: synonym of prattle outside (about) abbreviation for Left.
21d Unusually recast second performer (7)
ACTRESS: anagram (unusually) of RECAST + abbreviation for Second.
23d Bitter, perhaps finding account empty (5)
ACRID: abbreviation for ACcount + synonym of empty (a verb).
25d Grind empty garden residue (5)
GNASH: empty out the middle of G(arde)N + synonym of residue (think fires).
26d Occasionally wordless producing poems (4)
ODES: the even letters (occasionally) of wOrDlEsS.
Quickie Pun: SINGER + POUR = SINGAPORE
Another great offering from Mr. T. and an enjoyable solve with just the right amount of head scratching needed. I completely missed the meaning of papa in 1d and became annoyed with myself when I finally sussed it. When will I ever learn? My COTD is the Milan team at 24a because, for once, I knew a football team.
The lurker was well hidden, I thought.
Thank you, Ray T for a great Thursday challenge. Thank you, Shabbo for the hints.
Great Thursday work from RayT. 24a was excellent although my favourite was 1d. Reminded me of pilot days. I found the west a little harder than the east and 22a was a new one for me but eminently guessable. All in all */****. Thanks to our hinter and himself.
Good morning. Not quite a read and write, but not far off. Tricker than the first two of the week, and easier than yesterday’s, but as Steve said above, a couple required time to parse. 5a, 15a and 3d are my podium. LOI was 16d. Thanks to Shabbo and setter. I hope one day to be able to recognise the various setters.
6a, not 5a
A solid crossword from Arty with all clues perfectly constructed. However, I haven’t ticked many of his clues which is rare.
Is ‘perhaps’ in 23d surplus to requirements?
My podium is 19a, 1d and 14d.
MT to the aforementioned and Shabbs.
2*/3*
TDS65, 23d. Yes, I would say “perhaps” is superfluous from all angles.
Thank you, J.
I was surprised to see Mr Parsimonious using words with gay abandon.
The SW corner was the only part of the grid that did not go in smoothly, but after a little more thought it finally yielded its secrets. This was yet another little gem off the production line, full of wit, style and clever wordplay. 24a and 1d were my co-favourites this morning.
Many thanks to Ray T and Shabbo.
Got held up a bit around Devon and Cornwall, but when the unfamiliar animal in 22a was snared, all fell in to place.
An enjoyable challenge from an easily identifiable compiler.
My top two are the double definition in 14d and the way the crack was provided in 16d.
Glad to see the answer to 21d used instead of the masculine equivalent. I don’t understand why it is correct these days, to refer to females in the profession by the male term. To me, it seems disrespectful to women.
Then again, I’m quite possibly just an old fart, so what do I know…
My thanks to Ray T and Shabbo.
No you’re not, FW – I agree with you. It’s the same in cricket. Why do we have “Batter” now and not “Batsman” and “Batswoman”?
Wholeheartedly agree, has it also halved the chances of film stars getting an oscar now? and to me ‘ batter’ is what a fish comes in.
Also agree. I once heard on Women’s Hour a presenter struggle over saying “female actor” so offered the suggestion “actress?”.
I think this has cropped up before, you have a fielder, keeper and bowler, why not a batter ?
Hi Impy.
The argument is the reason for changing it not why it was called batsman in the first place.
This is where the gender neutral supporters let themselves down.
Why isn’t there uproar that nightwatchman and third man are not nightwatcher and third person?
Because the above crowd aren’t really that bothered. They just want to make a point which is shallow and lame.
They need to be consistent.
1d was also my last one in. I also first wanted it to be a homophone, but couldn’t make that work. An enjoyable crossword, not that difficult for a Thursday. Thanks to Shabbo for hints and to the setter.
More please!
Such fun !
Fairly gentle fare from Mr T today – thanks to him and Shabbo.
I liked 1d, 14d and 16d.
Thanks to Shabbo and to Ray T for the hints and puzzle. Was 2* / 3* for me. 1d was my last in, solved it when I realised it wasn’t a homophone. Favourite was 30a. Very nice puzzle.
Another little ray of sunshine from the man himself! I did have to dig a bit deep for some of his synonyms this morning but they were, as expected, all fair and above board. Rosettes handed out to 1&24a plus 3,11&14a.
Devotions to Mr T and many thanks to the hard-working Shabbo – all this overtime money should come in useful for the Christmas presents!
I’m sure my cheque is in the post!
The Master of Brevity in a very benign frame of mind today – **/****
Candidates for favourite – 22a, 29a, 1d, 3d, and 25d – and the winner is the homophone that wasn’t 1d!
Thanks to Ray T and Shabbo.
The south west held out to the end and I needed a couple of the hints to explain my answers but as usual this was a master class of short clues and some tricky less common synonyms. I had 1d as my favourite…so simple but took an age to see it.
Many thanks to Ray T and to Shabbo for the hints.
West a tad trickier than the east with the downs stronger than the across clues in my view. 1d last in for me too & nabs a podium spot along with 14&16d. Can’t say I’d have come up with 20d had I been asked for synonyms of plausible but I could now.
Thanks to Ray T & to Shabbo.
Ps Dharma/Stephen well worth a visit over in t’other place.
Having sorted out the complete horlics I made in the SW, I have a completed grid- hooray. I always seem to overthink (my excuse anyway) a RT puzzle when all I need to do is carefully read the clue. That said, an excellent offering as always. I have many ticks on my page from which I’ll pick 17a, 24a and the apt 18d. Thanks to Ray T and Shabbo.
Nice to have RayT here for his fortnightly back page visit. Another enjoyable puzzle today with concise and clear clueing. No Queen this week but a sweetheart appeared.
2*/4* for me
Favourites include 6a, 10a, 24a, 30a, 3d & 18d — with winner 24a
Smiles from 6a, 30a & 18d
Thanks to RayT & Shabbo
Thanks to RayT and Shabbo. Last to fall for us was SW (which is where we live). 22a never heard of. 20d we question the meaning after reading the dictionary definition. COTD 11d. LOI 16d.
** / ****
Another excellent RayT production including the 6a signature. This would have been 1* time but for the intersecting 14d/15a/22a (which I should really have got sooner) and 16d, which took me into 2* time and damn near 3*!
I have to declare a technical DNF (but nothing the legal profession couldn’t get me out of I’m sure) because I needed the hint for 16d as I had the wrong soldiers at the wrong end of the answer and clicked the ‘Click here!’ by mistake and saw the answer!!!!
COTD for me was the dislocated hip, as they did that to me last year for my hip replacement, so 30a was almost biographical ☺!
Many thanks to RayT and Shabbo (should we put passwords, “Are you sure”, “Are you sure you’re Sure”) on the Click here! buttons?
Excellent puzzle that was steadily filled in until the 14d/15a/22a combination held me up for an age – as per Alfie above.
1d COTD
3*/4.5*
Thanks to Ray and Shabbo
Many thanks to Mr T for a most enjoyable puzzle, and to Shabbo for the write-up.
My only confusion was whether 19a was a double definition, with the first two words being the first definition, or parsing it as Shabbo has.
This did not manifest itself to me as a Ray T offering. OK, we had the obligatory sweetheart, but I only got two clues after several passes. I usually sail through. Off day perhaps, but the shredder beckons.
A fairly straightforward guzzle from Mr T, apart from a slight hold up in rhe NW. I liked the double meaning clue at 14d, the anagram at 1a, the cryptic definition clue at 11a and the anagram at 30a, two of which make my life easier. Thanks to the Thursday master of brevity and to Shabbo for the hints.
1.5*/4*. Another gem from Mr T with 24a, 3d & 14d making up my podium.
Many thanks to RayT and to Shabbo.
Evening all. My thanks to Shabbo for the review and to all who left a comment. Glad that most of you enjoyed it.
RayT
Good evening Mr T. Of course we enjoyed it but where was our beloved Queen Elizabeth?
Hi Jane,
There’s a queen in the next puzzle but not HRH, unfortunately!
RayT
Thank you, Ray T for the puzzle and for dropping in.
Just finished the guzzle after a busy day. Quite a struggle for me and I needed help for 1d. Many thanks to Setter and Shabbo.
Excellent puzzle as always from Mr T, and thanks also to Shabbo. 30A wins it for me.
This was all fine and dandy until a holdup in the SW. In the end I had to check the hints for 14d , which paved the way to the end. Still enjoyable . Thanks to Ray T and Shabbo.
Another great crossword from Ray T, with the exception of 20d. I have never seen that used to mean more plausible, in fact quite the opposite, e.g. insincere is the usual definition. Indeed, my thesaurus didn’t even have it in its dictionary. Otherwise very enjoyable, having to think harder for 1d, and 22a which I have only ever seen in crosswords and a bung in at 24a as I have no clue about Milan teams. Thanks for RayT and Shabbo.
I was going great guns until i got to the SW where I came to an abrupt halt I then had to work really hard to get a foothold but once achieved everything came together and all was right with the world. Favourite was 14d. Many thanks as usual to Rayt and Shabbo.
Fairly straightforward having now completed the remaining SW corner having been out for most of the day. Needed the dictionary to confirm the spirit meaning of 15a and for 20d , I get ‘superficially plausible’, so should the ‘more’ be ‘less’?
14d gets my vote
2*/3*
Thanks to Shabbo for putting me out of my misery on 1d, which I thought was not a good clue (and I realise I’m in the clear minority on this). I’m not keen on 20d or 15a either. A bit lacking in Ray T’s normal spark for me. Maybe I’m just having a grump having had a day at the Grindstone…
Rather enjoyed this challenge. The SW corner held out the longest. Once I had 15a, the rest fell in to place quickly.
38 years in the army using the phonetic alphabet and 1d was still my last one in. I shall thrash myself with nettles as punishment!
Thanks to all.
3* / 3.5* A proper challenge although I did get 1d fairly quickly though
Favourites include 11d main event, 14d prize and the animal at 22a
Thanks to RayT and Shabbo
I normally enjoy RayT puzzles but I just couldn’t get onto the wavelength of this one at all. I put that down to my having felt a bit off with a dodgy tummy the last couple of days. The final few dropped into place when I came back for another look this evening. I liked 1d when I eventually got it, very clever! Thanks to RayT and Shabbo.