DT 30331 – Big Dave's Crossword Blog
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DT 30331

by Huntsman  

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30331
Hints and tips by Huntsman

+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – +

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

The morning rain here in Harpenden is forecast to clear around midday & a pleasant afternoon is in store. I do hope the same can be said for Edgbaston where I’m hoping our boys can knock over the Aussies & help me get over the disappointment of Rory’s near miss in the US Open.

Today’s puzzle (Mr Plumb I assume) is, as Senf said last week, typically Tuesdayish. I reckon most will find it straightforward though the grid used gives only a single access checker to each quadrant. As ever it is nicely clued throughout albeit maybe lacking a wee bit of sparkle in my view.

In the following hints, definitions are underlined, indicators are mostly in parentheses, and answers are revealed by clicking where shown as usual. Please leave a comment below on how you got on with the puzzle.

Across

1a Normal attitude by regular characters in Harrods (8)
STANDARD: kick off with another word for ATTITUDE then add the alternate/even letters (regular characters) of the Knightsbridge store

5a Composer from Belgium enthralled by nude queen (6)
BARBER: insert (enthralled by) the IVR code for BELGIUM into a synonym of NUDE & append a single letter for QUEEN giving you this 20th century composer

9a Rowdy hotel with broken loo again? Not ace8)
HOOLIGAN: begin with the single letter for HOTEL (radio alphabet) then add an anagram (broken) of LOO AGAIN less one of the two letter As (not ace)

10a Start to search shopping centres for underwear (6)
SMALLS: begin with the initial letter (start to) of SEARCH & append an American term for SHOPPING CENTRES

12a Reach hospital department – on this? (9)
STRETCHER: find a synonym for REACH in the sense of scope/spread & append the American 2 letter acronym for A&E.

13a Actor spotted embracing husband (5)
SHEEN: a synonym of spotted in the sense of noticed around (embracing) the single letter for husband.

14a Charles perhaps finally enjoying putting family first (4)
KING: start with (putting first) another word for FAMILY  then add the last letter (finally) of ENJOYING

16a Those who might want a tip from crossword compilers? Change the second letter (7)
WAITERS: do what it says – what crossword compilers (or authors/journalists etc) are an example of & amend the 2nd letter. Doubt there’d be much might about it in the definition context.

19a Does a runner see pace’s changed when losing energy? (7)
ESCAPES: an anagram (changed) of SEE PACES minus (losing) the single letter for ENERGY

21a Feeble witticism by Yankee (4)
PUNY: a type of WITTICISM as featured in the Quickie puzzle plus the letter for YANKEE

24a Impudence beginning on the radio (5)
SAUCE: a homophone (on the radio) of word for beginning

25a Adult in a snuggle, intertwining tongues (9)
LANGUAGES: an anagram (intertwining) of A SNUGGLE plus the single letter for ADULT

27a Some drinking Dan’s knockout port (6)
GDANSK: a lurker (some) cleverly concealed in the three words preceding the definition

28a Worker with several striking (8)
HANDSOME: you’re looking for a synonym for WORKER & then (with) one for SEVERAL for a definition that has nowt to do with what large sections of the UK workforce are currently engaged in

29a Second drink, dry, not right for regular (6)
STEADY: begin with the single letter for SECOND the add a DRINK (beverage) & finish with DRY from the wordplay less the middle letter (not right)

30a Most rum we tried is ultimately drunk(8)
WEIRDEST: an anagram of WE TRIED plus the last letter (ultimately) of IS

Down
1d School is introduction to multiplication and division (6)
SCHISM: a nicely misleading surface. Start with the 3 letter abbreviation for SCHOOL & append IS from the clue plus the initial letter (introduction to) of MULTIPLICATION

2d American swine departs on a ship (6)
ABOARD: the single letter abbreviations for AMERICAN & DEPARTS & place a male pig between them

3d Argument after Mendelssohn’s fourth movement (5)
DRIFT: start with the 4th letter of the composer’s name & add (after) a synonym for ARGUMENT

4d Course with Hogan dumping a new annoying driver (4,3)
ROAD HOG: a synonym for COURSE as in thoroughfare plus (with) the 3rd word in the clue less (dumping) the A & the single letter for NEW

6d A Democrat calling for confession (9)
ADMISSION: begin with A from the clue & the single letter for DEMOCRAT then append a synonym of CALLING in the context of vocation

7d Considers bees evil, wrongly (8)
BELIEVES: an anagram (wrongly) of BEES EVIL

8d Red spots on head showing lack of care (8)
RASHNESS : start with a condition that RED SPOTS may be an indication of then add a word for HEAD or promontory

11d Boast about fight (4)
CROW: the single letter for ABOUT (Latin) plus a type of FIGHT

15a Excited MP desires reforms (9)
IMPRESSED: it’s an anagram of the middle two words but which one is the indicator? In this case it’s reforms & can’t say the definition synonym would be the first to spring to mind.

17d Predicament with salary after wife leaves notes (8)
MESSAGES: a synonym for PREDICAMENT, as in another fine one the that Ollie was always complaining Stan left them in, is followed by a word for SALARY less (leaves) the single letter for WIFE

18d Precise account by member of the clergy (8)
ACCURATE: start with the two letter abbreviation for ACCOUNT followed by an assistant to a vicar or parish priest

20d Betrayed, one gets out of firm (4)
SOLD: remove the letter represented by the Roman numeral for ONE from a synonym of FIRM. The definition  often precedes down the river in a phrase which has its origins in the slave trade

21d Criticise bar’s food (7)
PANCAKE: a synonym for CRITICISE strongly plus a type of bar (think soap) gives you a tasty food delicious either savoury or sweet.

22d Take no notice of gun dog oddly in anger (6)
IGNORE: insert the alternate (oddly) of GUN DOG into a synonym of ANGER

23d Son exercises in part of play – look ! (6)
ASPECT: place the single letter for SON & two letter acronym for EXERCISES into a PART OF PLAY  as in drama.

26a Milk container – shake then remove top (5)
UDDER: a neat one to finish. Delete the initial letter (remove top) of a synonym for shake or even the first two letters of an alternative synonym.

The top two for me were 1&26d with the lurker at 27a pinching the last podium spot. Which ones were ticks for you?

Today’s Quick Crossword pun: TAY+ CAR+ BOUGH = TAKE A BOW

73 comments on “DT 30331”

  1. I agree that 1 and 26d were the outstanding candidates for favourite this gloomy morning. As our blogger suggests, this was pretty straightforward with no obscurities or difficulties. Good fun while it lasted.

    My thanks to our Tuesday setter and Huntsman.

  2. Total opposite to the dull & dreary day here in Co Durham, this really brightened up the morning with some great clues and lots of smiles.

    1*/4*

    Fav 1d LOI 17d.

    Thanks to setter and Huntsman.

  3. An enjoyable puzzle, the main challenge lying in a difficult grid. I thought the 27a
    geographical lurker was verygood and liked rhe misdirection in 13a. 1a wasalso appreciated, its a fascinating word, brief but with a world of meaning. Thanks to Huntsman for the hints and to the compiler.

  4. Started off at a rate of knots but brought to a halt by 16a where I bunged in the word used in this blog for a compiler without reading the clue properly. Consequently nothing fitted round it. Finally saw my error.

    Favourite 26d and will grudgingly accept 24a as this how it would be pronounced on some radio stations.

    Thanks to setter and hinter.

  5. Good sound Tuesday fare while it lasted, just a merest hint more ‘chewy’ than yesterday’s curtain-raiser for the week. GK only, nothing esoteric; smooth and often amusing surfaces, good wordplay and plenty of variety in the clue types. What’s not to like? COTD the excellent lurker in 27a, runners-up 5a (laugh-out-loud surface, though the answer sadly brought to mind the very recent death of the wonderful racehorse owner of the same surname), 25a, & 3d. 22a made me smile for the reverse reason: my gundogs occasionally take no notice of me, whatever their mood!

    <1* / 3*

    Many thanks to the setter and to Huntsman.

    Postscript – did anyone try the two bonus Roger Squires puzzles linked to from yesterday's DT Puzzles Email? I was struck by the change in style between RS's debut puzzle and the average DT backpager today. Enjoyable if exceedinly gentle puzzles, and rather anagram-heavy.

    1. Yes, just done his debut puzzle and very enjoyable it was too! Lots of entertaining clues but 1a and 9d made me chuckle! I wondered if I did it back in 1986, I was just becoming interested in the DT cryptic about then.
      A nice tribute to Roger Squires.

  6. Nothing to frighten our equine friends in this pleasant */*** puzzle. Not too many anagrams but straightforward nonetheless with lots of old favourites. Although not favoured as such by others my COTD was 16a but I have no idea why! Thanks to Huntsman and the setter.

  7. For me, etc, Mr Plumb, presumably, has upped the ante a little to go beyond Typically Tuesdayish with a grid that is definitely ‘four-in-one’ – 2.5*/3.5*

    Candidates for favourite – 10a, 12a, 29a, 1d, and 21d – and the winner is 1d (I do like a six letter word with only one vowel).

    Thanks to Mr Plumb, or whomsoever if it is not he, and to Huntsman (the second word in the pun isn’t displaying properly when ‘Click Here’ is clicked).

  8. Not much fun today though I accept that that’s a very subjective statement and probably has more to do with my mood than the crossword! In my ignorance I had to go to Google for 5a but otherwise very straightforward. I liked 1a and 26d and today’s favourite is the lovely word, so well clued, at 1d. Thanks to our setter and Huntsman.

  9. Would our friends in other counties know of the Welsh actor, the answer to 13a? Although, as always, three answer was in the clue.

    1. Yes, he ‘appeared’ in a DT article last week – something about non-Welsh actors playing or not playing Welsh parts.

      Then, of course, there are father and son US actors with the same name. So, plenty to choose from.

      1. Dad stars with a young Sissy Spacek in one of my favourite movies – Terrence Malik’s directorial debut, Badlands.

      2. Greetings from Kenya.
        There was also one from the era of silent films. He was Sheen but not heard.

    3. Well, there’s also a famous American acting family of the same name for those that don’t know the Welsh one, in fact I was thinking of the elder one when I filled in the answer.

    4. Hi SG

      My guess is the compiler was referring to the Welsh one. I think the etiquette in crosswordland is that it’s accepted to use references from that country, meaning that it isn’t so easy if you’re overseas. A friend told me that he met a compiler from, of all places, St Lucia who often referenced things from the island. Compliers have to weigh up ”The smile on a solver’s face when an answer is, say, the comedian Morecambe” vs ”The frustration of someone overseas who may not know him”.

      Fair fare for, what is now, a fair day.

      My COTD should be the excellent 25a but 5a gets my nod as I can’t get enough of Samuel’s masterpiece.

      1*/3*

    5. 13a Lots of actors to choose from … my vote goes to the one in the “West Wing”, possibly the best President the USA never had?

  10. An enjoyable Tuesday-level puzzle – thanks to the setter and Huntsman.
    I’m not convinced that the 18d synonym works. If I say “The time is currently 14:46” I’m being precise but I’m not being 18d because the time is now 3 hours earlier than that.
    For my podium I’ve selected 1a, 28a and 1d.

    1. G. I can see where you’re coming from with 18d and there was an interesting discussion on here some years ago about precise/accurate, instigated by Brian (I think) who was making the same point as you. His example was something to do with shooting at a target if I remember correctly. With semantics I’ve found that it is fairly easy, if you’ve a mind to, to contrive a somewhat artificial and specific scenario/context in order to suggest that 2 words aren’t synonymous. If you’d have said “The time is currently 11.45” (i.e. the correct/actual time), then you would have been both precise and accurate – in the mutual sense of exact. Chambers dictionary and thesaurus both seem to validate the synonymity (is that even a word?). I’m sure you won’t be convinced – I hardly ever convince anybody on here!

  11. 2*/3.5* for an enjoyable puzzle with 1a my favourite.

    I got held up by 16a as, given the way the clue is printed in the paper, I didn’t see the vital third line until I suddenly noticed there was no enumeration after the question mark. D’oh!

    The seemingly frequent American hospital department has put in yet another appearance.

    Many thanks to the setter and to Huntsman.

  12. Another day’s exercise which hasn’t strained the grey matter. Ride in the East was smoothest although I did overlook third line of 16a clue so stayed with scribes synonym. With apologies to Kath I have a trio of Favs viz 1a, 8a and 11d but can’t allocate specific podium places. Thank you (AP) and Huntsman. P.S. RD have just seen your comment 🤝

  13. Oh dear. Has tipping become the norm in the UK now? Over here in the US, one gets a dirty look for a tip less than 25% these days, regardless of the quality of service. Anyway, back to the puzzle. 25A made me shudder. I will be stuck with that image all day. My top picks are 27A and 26D. Thanks to Huntsman and the setter.

  14. I’m another who didn’t read the 16a clue in its entirety and was therefore a little bewildered by the apparent answer – must stay more alert in future! Thought the synonym in 15d was something of a stretch so that was my last entry when all the checkers were in place.
    No stand-out favourite but I did quite like 27a & 1d.

    Thanks to our setter and to Huntsman for the review.

  15. For some inexplicable reason I simply could not get 1a and 1d and had to use the hints. Annoying as the rest of the guzzle was most enjoyable. I thought the lurker was very well hidden and I didn’t see it for ages. I did like the boasting at 11d after I realised what “about” was but my COTD is the critical bar food.

    Many thanks to the setter for the fun and to Huntsman for the hints.

    In deference to 5a I give you all this.

    3. I do love the way our community have embraced the guzzle. In times to come people may well wonder why we say guzzle, I think it should formally be attributed to Crisscross somewhere.

      1. A long time ago lots of us automatically spelled “perservation” to the point that some of us had to think carefully how to spell. It all went back to Mary who “came from West Wales” (quote). I wonder now how many of us remember that!

        1. I’m still surprised that I can never find “perservation” in any of my dictionaries!

          Best wishes to Kath & Mary !

          The Good Old Days!

          1. It’s not that I say it it’s the problem it’s that I STILL can’t write it down – oh dear!!
            Hopeless, as our almost six year old grandson calls me!!!
            Very lovely to “see” you, Franco! As you say, the Good Old Days :smile: to you

      2. Thank you, SJB. I only knew Peter for the short time I have been on the blog but I got to know him through emails and our mutual love of Labradors. He is missed indeed.

  16. Maybe I’m a pictures kind of guy because my first thought was that I liked the look of this unusual grid with the 4 letter answers connecting the quadrants. A relatively straightforward and enjoyable Tuesday puzzle, I did particularly like 16a. Thanks to the setter and to Huntsman who regularly seems to be on a similar wavelength to me. Sorry Huntsman! Now, after the puzzle, the cricket … come on England!!

  17. Same wavelength,
    Luckily
    Even the two Americans,
    Composer and actor.
    Stand out clues 1 and 29a
    And, although a lurker, 27a.
    Cleverly hidden.
    All great fun.
    Thanks setter and Huntsman.

  18. Very enjoyable puzzle and I learnt a new composer in 5a.
    Thx for explaining 21d, never occurred to me to associate it with soap!
    Just a comment to those who tersely commented on my post yesterday re biblical references, may I observe that football and cricket related clues appear but not every day!
    Thx to all
    **/****

    2. Brian, biblical clues don’t appear every day either … so why do you complain so much whenever they appear?

      It’s just GK, you don’t have to believe it …. you just have to know it!

      1. Brian’s reaction to Biblical clues is now a trademark of this blog! Don’t discourage him.

        1. I wouldn’t dream of discouraging Brian, Merusa but he does tend to stick his head above the parapet. 🤣

          1. Above the pulpit! I know it’s a bit late but 1 day behind, but I couldn’t help it👀

              1. It seems Brian never returns to his posts to comment on replies!

                Ah well, on to today’s guzzle sitting under the vines in 30C with a Fernet Branca (amaro) but work later as the vines need attention!

  19. Very enjoyable, I did like the lurker. I did need to check the composer was right and the hints for 21d to understand the parsing. 1d was my favourite as I like the word very much!

    Many thanks to the setter and to Huntsman.

  20. As is usual for Tuesday, this was a more difficult puzzle than Monday’s gift. No weird words or the such to mess one up, but some clues took a bit of thinking about to get them to give up the answers.

    2*/3.5* for me

    Favourites today include 8a, 12a, 16a, 21a, 18d & 26d — with winner 16a … very clever I thought.

    Thanks to setter and Huntsman

  21. I did make a comment yesterday but could not have bashed the send button hard enough. I am happy to say I have just finished Sunday’s Toughie which was a real struggle for me, and I stress for me etc etc. This today was fun if you can ignore the rather unsavoury 25a. My favourite is 1d but I also liked 30a and the slick 27a. Has anyone read the Features today – the article about children identifying as animals? The world really is upside down. I’m off to put the zip in my dress, many thanks to the setter and Huntsman.

  22. Unusually for a Tuesday I thought this was a tad bog 1a, almost didn’t feel like Mr Plumb. There seemed to be a lot of single letter deletions which felt a little clumsy. Still, pleasant enough with some smiles including 12,28&30a plus 8d.
    Many thanks to the setter and Huntsman.

  23. The week progresses as planned! This was only a smidgeon more difficult than yesterday. I didn’t need any help, nothing obscure. I liked 1d, but fave was 8a, lovely word and my friend in Jamaica who rescues dogs calls them her hooligans! She has a whole property with hundreds of rescued dogs.
    Thank you setter for the fun and Huntsman for your hints.

  24. I too didn’t read third line of 16a. Got the Welsh actor straightaway. I made a big mistake as I thought 11d was brag. Thanks setter and hinter.

  25. A bit more difficult than yesterday, but a pleasant challenge nonetheless. Found 15d very odd, would never have thought of that as a synonym, but got it as an anagram. Like some others, I didn’t read the 16a clue properly, so that held me up. I was sorry to see no picture clues once again. As I usually ration myself to only using those hints when I am stuck, I was out of luck today. Thanks to setter and Huntsman.

  26. No problems – wonder what tomorrow will bring – probably a bit more trouble.
    12a took me ages – just being dim!
    I messed up 17d which didn’t help that corner for quite a long time.
    I’m not very keen on the American ‘hospital department’ and neither do I like their “ICU” – never mind!
    I think my favourite was 25a whatever it sounds like!
    Thanks to today’s setter and to Huntsman.

    1. You are a nurse of the old school, Kath as is Mrs. C. and I applaud both you and her.

  27. I have been doing the Telegraph crosswords for some time and confess that I enjoy this blog just as much as the crosswords themselves. Today’s offering is sweetly flowing with a few smiles and very few frowns.
    Currently in Norway which, due to a favourable exchange rate, is more affjordable than expected. Stand out clue for me is 26d. Looking forward to spending the occasional solving hour in the sun over the next couple of weeks. Thanks to all concerned.

    2. Enjoy you sojourn in Norway, Scotrunner and a warm welcome to the blog from me.

  28. Another good puzzle though I fell into the trap of missing the third line for 16a. Thought 27a a good lurker. Many thanks to the setter and Huntsman. I recognised the music when checking the hints after finishing but couldn’t have attributed the name of the composer.

  29. DNF. I needed hints for 17d and 24a and didn’t read all of 16a so struggled to parse. Not my best day but I’m a morning person.

    Thanks to Huntsman and today’s setter.

    1. DNF, Jonners? You usually say “ Enjoyable while it lasted.” What happened? 😀

  30. Just home from a stay with an old friend of my wife, they have known each other for 68 years. Most enjoyable time without papers, crosswords, and television.

    Today’s puzzle most enjoyable though Huntsman’s hints were needed to solve a couple. So many thanks to him and our setter

  31. Good evening
    Enjoying a pleasant little run up the Berks & Hants line from Taunton to Reading; as it’s a work day I can enjoy the view from the cab at the rear of the train!
    Struggled a little bit today; yet again I found myself bunging answers in and then having to chew the end of my pen when it came to the NW quadrant. But I got there. I think top marks and an exclamation of “Crikey!” go jointly to 1d and 16a.
    Many thanks to our compiler and to Huntsman

  32. Enjoyed the challenge of getting this finished, although with some help. The lurking port was clever, but COTD had to be the misleading 1d. LOI was 30a, took me an age to work out what words were the anagram fodder, until finally the PDM came – Doh! Thanks to setter and Huntsman.

  33. 2*/4* ….
    liked 1A ” Normal attitude by regular characters in Harrods (8)”

  34. Thought this was very elegantly written.
    Extremely enjoyable.
    Thanks to the setter and to Huntsman for the review.

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