Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31363
Hints and tips by Huntsman
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BD Rating – Difficulty * Enjoyment ***
A slightly dreary start to the day here in Harpenden but the rain isn’t due to arrive until later this evening so may take advantage of the fact that my new golf course is on the doorstep & play a few holes this afternoon.
After last week’s considerably trickier than usual Tuesday offering this one is an unmistakably gentle Anthony Plumb production that I felt was on a par with Heron’s puzzle yesterday in terms of difficulty. Though I enjoyed the solve & there were some neat surfaces it perhaps wasn’t the Prof at his sparkling best in my view so it’ll be interesting to see what others make of it.
Gazza is subbing for Whybird over in t’other place where Ray T is on duty with a fairly gentle & very enjoyable Beamer that is well worth a look at.
As usual there is a selection of music to enjoy or ignore.
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 Exaggerated where World War I soldiers went? (4-3-3)
OVER THE TOP: a double definition – the latter referencing the term for an assault from an entrenched position.
6a Took advantage of American needs on a regular basis (4)
USED: the two letter abbreviation for American + n[E]e[D]s (on a regular basis).
10a Check about golf rule (5)
REIGN: a verb meaning to curb/check goes around (about) G[olf] (NATO alphabet).
11a Those who try to pacify apes with spare bananas (9)
APPEASERS: an anagram (bananas) of APES SPARE. Neat surface.
12a Girl is holding the Parisian’s weapons (8)
MISSILES: a term for a girl or an address for an unmarried woman is followed by the French definite article when used before singular masculine nouns (the Parisian) being placed in between (holding) IS from the wordplay.
13a Short-term worker initially on time (5)
TEMPO: a worker employed on a short-term basis + O[n] (initially).
15a Gave adult room in hospital – he’d cut head (7)
AWARDED: A[dult] + a hospital room + [h]E’D (cut head/removed 1st letter). Another neat surface.
17a State education backed by Cambridge college (7)
DECLARE: reverse (backed) the usual two letter abbreviation for ED[ucation] then append a Cambridge college.
19a Deals with removing a daughter’s bandages (7)
DRESSES: remove A from the clue + D[aughter) from the front of a verb synonym for deals with or tackles.
21a Mean pedestrian (7)
AVERAGE: a double definition.
22a Leaders from North America decide Iran’s reached lowest point (5)
NADIR: an acrostic (leaders from).
24a Sense an upset holding second of artist’s frames (8)
ENSNARES: an anagram (upset) of SENSE AN containing (holding) [a]R[tist’s] (second of).
27a Having a rabbit hutch ultimately removed from Ghent train, surprisingly (9)
NATTERING: an anagram (surprisingly) of G[h]ENT TRAIN (hutc[H] removed ultimately).
28a Perfect international trade (5)
IDEAL: I[nternational] + trade/barter.
29a Bird captured by water, normally (4)
TERN: hidden (captured by)
30a Rugby pals? Kind males with time for student (10)
CLASSMATES: link a synonym for kind/category with MA[L]ES from the clue but swap out the single letter for student & replace with the one for T[ime]. The pals are public schoolboys.
Down
1d Monster’s so stuck up (4)
OGRE: reverse (stuck up/down clue) the Latin for therefore/so.
2d Not quite thrilled admitting I’m in ditch (9)
ELIMINATE: truncate (not quite) a synonym for thrilled & insert (admitting) IM IN from the wordplay.
3d Fashion’s not right for nurses (5)
TENDS: remove R[ight] from a synonym for fashions/vogues. The definition is a verb masquerading as a noun in the surface.
4d New deal Ben allowed (7)
ENABLED: an anagram (new) of DEAL BEN.
5d Objected to nothing papa presented (7)
OPPOSED: the letter for nothing/zero + P[apa] (NATO alphabet) + presented/put forward.
7d Run small company (5)
STEAM: S[mall] + company/crew. I did consult Mr G to satisfy myself that I was on the right lines with the definition context – he reckons they function synonymously in idiomatic expressions where the answer = energy/momentum & run describes the application of that driving force.
8d Record finished before Edward noticed (10)
DISCOVERED: a compact & non vinyl recording + finished/done + a diminutive for Edward.
9d Parody dad’s nervous twitch with top half of head (8)
PASTICHE: another informal term for dad’s + the term for a nervous twitch/involuntary movement + 50% (top half) of HE[ad].
14d Angling gear Heather purchases along with insects occasionally (7,3)
LANDING NET: insert (purchases) a conjunction synonymous with ‘along with’ into a name for common heather which has its roots in Old Norse & Anglo-Saxon. Append the alternate letters (occasionally) of the penultimate word in the clue.
16d Fool, perhaps, heartless editor abandoned (8)
DESERTED: perhaps indicates definition by example & in this instance the fool has nowt to do with stupidity. Remove the middle letter (heartless) from the definition once twigged & append the usual abbreviation for the newspaper boss.
18d Incredulity at going round labyrinth with chaps (9)
AMAZEMENT: place another word for labyrinth & for chaps inside of (going round) AT from the wordplay.
20d Particular places I redeveloped (7)
SPECIAL: an anagram (redeveloped) of PLACES I.
21d Gives a warning aboard ship (7)
ASSIGNS: A from the clue followed by a synonym for warning/indication inserted in between (aboard) the usual two letter ship prefix. Neat surface.
23d Does possibly protecting strait finally stop? (5)
DETER: Does here are female critters (cue Julie Andrews earworm) that go round (protecting) [strai]T (finally). A politically topical surface that links in with 22a.
25d Chopper leaving base on Isle of Man? This is self evidently true (5)
AXIOM: a three letter chopper loses (leaving) its mathematical base (Euler’s number) + the abbreviation the abbreviation for the British Crown Dependency in the Irish Sea.
26d A young woman scratching bottom, regrettably (4)
ALAS: A from the clue followed by the term for a young woman less its final letter (scratching bottom). Couldn’t resist the poster that adorned the bedroom walls of so many teenagers in the seventies.
I think I’ll plump for the public schoolboys at 30a & I liked the two political surface reads along with the heartless fool & the warning aboard the ship. Please let us know which clues you liked best.
Today’s Quick crossword pun: LET + TUB + HOCKS = LETTERBOX
This morning’s listening has been Wishbone Ash’s iconic 1972 album, Argus which was played by the band in track order during the first part of the set at their 2 night stint at The Stables. Andy Powell is the only remaining original member of the band & still has bags of oomph for an old ‘un. Highlight for me was their rendition of Warrior
Another fairly benign yet typically fun and enjoyable Tuesday puzzle. I never fail to be impressed by the quality and inventiveness of these crosswords – such a high standard. As for a favourite I went for 30a.
My thanks to AP and The Hintsman.
An enjoyable and gentle Tuesday solve.
Top picks for me were 27a, 23d and 25d. I also liked the Quickie pun.
I’m off to the Isles of Scilly tomorrow and won’t have access to the puzzles (too small on my phone for my eyes) but I’ll try to catch up with them when I’m back. Play nicely people.
Thanks to Huntsman and Mr Plumb.
Happy travels, crazy river.
I plan to go to the stupid isles as I’ve heard great things.
At one point, it was called the Silly Isles as silly meant happy. But, when it came to mean just silly, they inserted a c to get away from it.
There endeth today’s lesson.
Thanks Tom. I have been several times, my partner went every year for over 25 years! It’s a lovely place, nice and relaxed until a rare bird makes an appearance and then all hell lets loose 😀
Love it.
I’ll be sure to ask you where to go when I check it out.
As Huntsman indicated – a gentle Tuesday. Some great clues though and equal first for me were 27a 16d and 23d. Very entertaining. Thanks to him and our setter.
A gentle and very accessible puzzle that clicked from the off. My podium comprises 30a, 14d and 25d. Thanks to AP and Huntsman.
Straightforward and enjoyable although 14d held me up, knowing little about angling or heather. My favourite was the school chums at 30a. Thanks very much to AP and to Huntsman. That Mike McD performance never fails to impress.
Heather almost always means ‘ling’ it’s Botanic name.
DG, I believe you will find it’s the other name, Erica, that is the botanical name.
I resisted the urge to make that observation having mentioned the derivation in the hint – which I learnt looking up the 🐠 some time ago.
Falcon, I apologise. Of course I know that Erica is its proper name. I just keep on making silly mistakes it seems, I think I am just getting too old.
Except when it is erica.
Typically Tuesday, very gentle. Honours to 11a, 17a & 16d, but there have been more memorable crosswords.
Thank you to the setter and to Huntsman
Fairly straightforward and likeable.
7d Like Huntsman, the definition and answer were a problem for me, also to a lesser degree company/t***.
Liked 25d – chopper obviously on holiday.
Thanks to setter and hinter
Busy day so glad of a quick straightforward but engaging crossword. Always enjoy Mr. Plumb’s offerings. First off the starting blocks was 1 across which is always encouraging.
Many thanks to Huntsman as well.
The usual Tuesday order is re-established; thanks to our setter for the gentle enjoyment and to Huntsman for the entertaining blog.
My ticks went to 1a, 30a and 16d.
Managed this in 1* time. Clues initially appeared straightforward but parsing them accurately got me thinking. Really enjoyed this crossword, favourite clue was 14d which also took me most time to solve as I know nothing about fishing, but did know Heather was Ling. Also enjoyed 22a, 27a, 30a and 20d. Thank you to Mr Plumb and to Huntsman for the hints.
1*/4*. TT. Light and good fun with 30a my favourite.
Many thanks to AP and to Hintsman.
A very pleasant solve from the prof with plenty of great surfaces.
In 7d, I’m okay with run, e.g the train did run down the track. However, I’m struggling with company. Talking to the CEO….’How did your **** perform last year?’. Is that good enough? If not then any suggestions would be warmly received.
My picks are 10a for its neatness, 19d for its construction and 30a as I love ‘Rugby pals’.
MTTTA and Hoots!
1*/4*
7d. Company = team in the sense of group, squad, crew, etc. Surely? Company doesn’t have to mean a firm/business run by a CEO. A company/crew/team of actors for example.
That’s the one I wanted.
Ta muchly, Jaymeister.
For reasons that escape me, it seems that this was more bothersome for me than for those who have commented so far and I classify it as just about Typically Tuesdayish – 2*/3.5*
I almost got caught by the ‘does’ in 23a and I was not totally convinced by the ‘company’ in 7d.
Candidates for favourite – 17a, 21a, 30a, 8d, and 25d – and the winner is 8d.
Thanks to Mr Plumb and Huntsman.
Seemed like a Typical Tuesday puzzle this week for me. Overall pretty straightforward.
2*/3.5*
Favourites 1a, 22a, 27a, 8d, 25d & 26a — with winner 1a.
11a & 26a made me laugh.
Thanks to AP & Huntsman
Most of this flew in at one star pace but a couple proved a bit more troublesome – although looking back I can’t really see why!
Not a fan of 7d
Thanks to the setter and to Huntsman
Just read your comment on the Sunday Toughie blog – absolutely priceless & lead contender for COTY.
😅😂🤣
I think all that subtracted compound anagram stuff was all a bit too much for me!! 🤣
I agree with Senf that I had doubts about 7d and I, too, nearly missed the Does. But what a lovely guzzle, I sailed through with a smile on my face, unlike yesterday when I felt quite defeated despite Terence elevating me to the deity. It is a pity we do not agree on OJWB – perhaps I should assure him that I do not buy it in a carton but in a green lidded bottle from Waitrose (other stockists are available). I liked the mention of our beautiful city and many a feast I have eaten in that college. I must be one of the few people alive today who has ridden from the Guildhall to the fair on Parker’s Piece in a horse drawn carriage, dressed as Mary Queen of Scots ? On several occasions in fact. It was part of the Cambridge Festival and could be Mediaeval, Elizabethan, Victorian etc in theme. fortunately we never did Lady Godiva! Back to business , 17,27,30a and 23,25d were starred, great guzzle – many thanks to Mr Plumb (I gather) and to the Hintsman.
I’m on holiday this week in Cornwall staying in the most wonderful place overlooking the sea. Today’s puzzle was light and gentle fun , the only one that caused a question was 14d as I hadn’t heard the heather reference . Thanks to Anthony Plumb and Huntsman.
We love Cornwall.
Lucky stick!we have been staying in Prussia. Cove ever since 1964 when DD2 was three. (DD is Dirty Daughter) and she still goes down twice a year, in fact she’s off there in a couple of weeks. Heavenly.
Pray tell Day Zee. Why ‘dirty’?
Don’t ask……
No, actually I don’t know why. As a family we are great ones for nicknames and Dirty Daughters 1 and 2 just sort of happened, They called my brother Ian Unclean.
14d held me up although I knew the alternative names for heather ,ling and Erica .Then forgot about the ” fool” as a foodstuff .As a result hit the panic button and used the hints .ps the first 25 clues flew in but for the first time on a Tuesday for a very long time, I will record a DNF . I’d been playing golf ( trying)before attempting this so I was already at the not much patience end of the spectrum .grrr Thanks to all
where do you play Fran?
Mr P has really got the hang of Tuesdays, 1a and 9d got ticks here, but a lot more were just as good. If I had got here earlier I would have bet the farm on Blackadder and The Who appearing, but The Doobie Brothers was more of a surprise, maybe Genesis would suit
Talking of which I have got a ticket to see Steve Hackett in York at the end if the month
Oddly enough I nearly went for the final scene in Peter Weir’s Gallipoli with Albinoni’s wonderful adagio playing.
Very enjoyable, completed this morning before a day out at RHS garden Bridgewater, which was lovely and no rain despite the forecast. No single favourite today.
Many thanks to the setter and to Huntsman for the hints
Typically Tuesdayish with lots to like. 1a and 6a went in straight away and that is always a good sign. Having said that, I didn’t solve another until the leaders reached their lowest point at 22a. Then the downs came up trumps and supplied lots of checkers. It was then a steady solve. I did like the finished record at 8d but my COTD is the heartless editor at 16d once I realised the fool that was required.
Thank you, Professor for a most enjoyable puzzle. Thank you, Hintsman for the hunts.
Terence will be proud of me – I now drink orange juice with no bits. 😊