DT 30702 – Big Dave's Crossword Blog
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DT 30702

by Falcon  

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30702

Hints and tips by Falcon

+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +

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

Once again this review is being composed at my lakeside retreat outside Ottawa, where we are enjoying a gorgeous late summer weekend.

I think you will find today’s puzzle perfectly pitched for the start of the week – lots to enjoy and not too difficult.

In the hints below, underlining identifies precise definitions and cryptic definitions, FODDER is capitalized, and indicators are italicized. The answers will be revealed by clicking on the ANSWER buttons.

Please leave a comment telling us what you thought of the puzzle.

Across

1a   England fan I help along, curiously (10)
ANGLOPHILE — an anagram (curiously) of the three words preceding the indicator

6a   Some current article by our representatives (4)
AMPS — a single-letter indefinite article and the abbreviation for parliamentary representatives (note that it is plural)

9a   Honour, extremely suitable, carrying a lot of weight (5)
OBESE — an honour awarded by the monarch and the initial and final letters (extremely) of SUITABLE

10a   Bird, about 2.5cm, on cereal husks (9)
CHAFFINCH — an imperial measure equivalent to 2.5cm follows cereal husks that remain after threshing grain

12a   Starters of dough in stove don’t catch fire (7)
DISMISS — the initial letters (starters) of three words in the clue followed by a word meaning “don’t catch”

13a   Trump‘s unfashionable party (5)
OUTDO — another word for unfashionable and the usual Crosswordland party

15a   Prohibit gossip, at first, after that lady’s affair (7)
SHEBANG — a synonym for prohibit and the initial letter of GOSSIP follow that lady

16a   A certain loser with mobile phone, ringing old king (2-5)
NO-HOPER — an anagram (mobile) of PHONE wrapped around the single letter for old, all followed by the Latin abbreviation for king

18a   Perhaps porridge, or nothing at breakfast? (7)
OATMEAL — the letter that looks like a numerical representation of nothing, AT from the clue, and what breakfast is an example of

20a   Dorothy’s pet biting young Weasley in Canadian city? (7)
TORONTO — the pet that accompanied Dorothy Gale to the Land of Oz containing (biting) the first name of one of Harry Potter’s schoolmates

21a   Powerless Captain Hook possibly hopping mad (5)
IRATE — Captain Hook’s occupation with the physics symbol for power removed

23a   Lady’s partner, at home, protecting a flower (7)
GENTIAN — the male counterpart of lady and the usual ‘at home’ containing (protecting) A from the clue

25a   Be told facial hair is a pain for a lover (9)
HEARTACHE — another word for ‘be told’ or discern audibly and an informal term for hair on the upper lip

26a   Peer emails, oddly, about queen (5)
EQUAL — the odd letters of EMAILS containing a two-letter abbreviation for queen

27a   Reportedly dreadful worker who colours cloth (4)
DYER — sounds like (reportedly) dreadful

28a   Moving to Basildon, possible reason for Dracula to go to the launderette? (10)
BLOODSTAIN — an anagram (moving) of the two words following the indicator

Down

1d   Rising star, a runner in Stratford? (4)
AVON — the reversal (rising in a down clue) of a star experiencing a brief flash of brightness; in a departure from the more common ‘flower’, runner is used in a whimsical cryptic crossword sense of a river (something that runs)

2d   Failing dieters, e.g. most likely to overindulge (9)
GREEDIEST — an anagram (failing) of the two words following the indicator

3d   Hyperbole from country folk in public (13)
OVERSTATEMENT — general terms for country and folk contained in another word for public or not hidden

4d   Cutting cybercrime (7)
HACKING — double definition

5d   Cordelia is online, concealing illicit romance (7)
LIAISON — a lurker hiding (concealing) in the first three words of the clue

7d   French painter‘s day on Spielberg film (5)
MONET — a shortened version of today and the film that is undoubtedly the Number 1 hit at the box office in Crosswordland

8d   Place to study some fish, on northerly dock (10)
SCHOOLROOM — the name for a collectivity of fish and a reversal (northerly in a down clue) of dock or tie up a boat

11d   Reckless behaviour from Ronaldo, if he’s playing with son (13)
FOOLHARDINESS — an anagram (playing) of the three words preceding the indicator followed by the genealogical abbreviation for son

14d   Bowled over in Edgbaston, is he? Definitely! (10)
ASTONISHED — another lurker, this one hiding in (in) the final four words of the clue; not necessarily anything to do with cricket

17d   Crashing plane in US, some land in the sea (9)
PENINSULA — an anagram (crashing) of the three words following the indicator

19d   Sensible American who serves in the nearest pub (7)
LOGICAL — an American who serves in the armed forces contained in a neighbourhood pub

20d   Gabriel, say, cutting skin of tomato or citrus fruit (7)
TANGELO — what Gabriel is in the Bible contained in (cutting) the initial and final letters (skin) of TOMATO

22d   Attractive Stone Age houses aren’t empty (5)
AGATE — AGE from the clue containing (houses) the initial and final letters of ARENT (aren’t empty)

24d   Scottish group is able to imbibe litres (4)
CLAN — a word denoting ‘is able’ containing (to imbibe) the symbol for litres

My favourite clue honours go to 25a. Which one did you prefer?

Quickie Pun: VERSE + ATTILA + TEA = VERSATILITY

72 comments on “DT 30702”

  1. What a delightful Bank Holiday offering with lots to like leading to a satisfying solve. I had not heard of the fruit at 20d but it was quite gettable from the clue. I spent too long trying to use “lord” as the lady’s partner in 22a until the big round metal disc hit me. The lurker at 14d was well hidden. That was a case of using the “if all else fails look for a lurker” rule. I have many contenders for COTD but the lack of breakfast at 18a edges in front.

    Thank you, setter for the fun challenge. Thank you, Falcon for the hints.

    The local cricket club in Knockin is having a day of activity so I will pop along and show my face.

          2. Thanks for the best laugh today Steve 😂. Shame I can’t think of anyone here who would understand the joke! My parents would have loved it.

        4. Just as well they call it the Corner Shop – the Knockin Shop could lead to some confusion……….

  2. Wot larks. A most enjoyable and very gentle start indeed to the week, for which many thanks to the setter. 11d a great anagram and super surface; 5d also on the podium for the surface read and clever lurker; 28a the final placeholder – another great surface and laugh-out-loud moment. There you go, 2 anagrams on my podium, just to show that I *do* like them (even if 1:5 is too many for me).

    Many thanks also to Falcon

  3. Splendid

    Lots of well-crafted clues on a nice grid.

    10a is a very annoying word because there used to be another of those consonants in the middle but ‘they’ dropped it as ‘they’ don’t like triple letter words. Why not??? At least hyphen-ate it!

    Tres disappointing.

    My podium is 2d, 11d and the magnificent 14d.

    Ta muchly to Robyn and Falcs.

    2*/4*

  4. Another fun day with just enough challenge to make for satisfaction. East was quickest fix. 28a and 19d tied as joint Favs. Thank you Mysteryone and Falcon.

  5. Falcon’s perfectly pitched puzzle assessment spot on. A quick solve & enjoyable from first to last. Christopher Lee down the launderette in Basildon was my pick of a fine bunch.
    Thanks to the setter & to Falcon – a lakeside retreat sounds heavenly

  6. Lovely puzzle to start the week. **/****
    14d my favourite.
    Long time reader of the blog but first time posting. Have learned much over the years – thanks!

    1. Welcome to the blog, SL8.
      Now that you’ve de-lurked I hope that you’ll become a regular commenter.

    2. Welcome to the blog. Please continue to contribute. I lurked for ages before joining in but now feel part of the community.

    3. Welcome from me as well, SL8. As Madflower says, please keep the comments coming. 👍

    4. Welcome. I too rarely post but I hope this will encourage me to do so.
      Good puzzle, COTD 20a

    6. Welcome to the blog SLB and SueC. Yes, please do join in the daily fun — the more the merrier.

  7. Magnificent Monday fun and the sun is out. So many great clues it’s hard to pick a favourite but 28a is probably the one that made me chuckle most. I thought the anagrams and lurkers were first class.

    Many thanks to the setter and to Falcon for the hints.

  8. A joyful puzzle to brighten up a fairly miserable Bank Holiday Monday, presumably penned by our most regular Monday setter.
    Podium places going to 9,10&15a with a special mention for the excellent Quickie pun.

    Thanks to Robyn(?) for the fun and thanks also to Falcon in his lakeside retreat.

  9. A gentle start to the week with smooth surfaces throughout – thanks to the setter and Falcon.
    I thought that the two lurkers were especially good.
    Ticks from me for 15a, 3d, 5d, 14d and 22d.

  10. Very enjoyable but over before it began, somewhat reminiscent of Rufus – */****

    Candidates for favourite – 10a, 26a, 3d, and 20d – and the winner is 3d.

    Thanks to Robyn(?) and Falcon

  11. Just right for a Monday. To my shame 1d was my LOI after finally solving 9a and then wondering what took me so long. Sometimes the simplest of clues seem to hold out on you, usually when you can’t shift an erroneous thought from your mind, in this case something to do with the sun being out in East London! The anagram at 28a raised more than a smile and earns top spot today. Podium places for 3d and 22d. Thanks to our setter and Falcon.

  12. 1*/4*. What a lovely, gentle and fun start to the week.

    The surface of 28a made me laugh, and my other top picks were 13a, 25a, 3d, 4d & 14d.

    Many thanks to Robyn (?) and to Falcon.

  13. What a great start to the week.
    Lots to like but the short 1d holding out the longest even though it is the local ‘big’ river around here.
    Top picks for me were 28a, 20a and 14d.
    Thanks to Falcon and the setter.

    I subscribe to The English Garden magazine. Their sister publication ‘Britain ‘ has just sent me an offer of the Daily Telegraph puzzles site for £1 for a year. Seemed rude not to accept it! I nearly just deleted the email thinking it was junk. I’ll see if I can work out how to add the link to the offer although it might not be a general offer.

    1. Is this only for new subscribers? I tried and they tell me I already have a subscription! It was too good to be true.

      1. I was already a subscriber so I just used a different email address and it all worked fine.
        If you use googlemail/Gmail you can create a new email address by using oldemail+anything@gmail/Google mail.com and it will link to your existing email address automatically.

          1. Good plan!
            By the way, I used the same password as per my old subscription so I didn’t have to remember another one. After the year is up the subscription will auto-renew at the current rate at the time so be aware of that if you don’t want it to.

        2. I take it you have cancelled the other subscription, MF? You don’t want to be paying twice. 😳

          1. That’s a very good point Steve. It’s on my to do list for tomorrow – it renews in December so I’ve a bit of time to sort it out.

  15. Hooray, it’s Monday!

    That was fun, just what the doctor ordered. I made life difficult for myself by entering the ‘dreadful’ synonym in 27A, which mucked up 22D. But the fog cleared eventually, and the puzzle was finished in good time.

    Loads to like but I’ll give 25A the rosette.
    **/***** thanks to the setter and Falcon for the hints.

  16. Great fun from start to finish. So many good clues makes choosing a podium difficult, but I’ll plump for 10a, 7d and 28a in top spot. Thanks to Robyn if it be he (or whomever) and Falcon.

  17. I have a become a weather bore. I need to consult a meteorological therapist. Yesterday, somebody said to us, “Quite warm isn’t it?”
    It was 70 degrees F. and I so wanted to say, “Matey, last week we were sitting outside in Topanga Canyon in 108 degrees fahrenheit. That’s warm.

    I must stop pining for California and return to my normal world of 70F being ‘warm’.

    Today, H is threatening to ‘do’ a barbeque. She has popped out to Waitrose to gather supplies. This is a guarantee of heavy showers in the south of England for this afternoon and evening.

    Enough with weather related jibber-jabber.

    Entertaining crossword. Vaguely related to 10a, we saw a mistle thrush bobbing along the ground when we were walking across Eel Brook Common near Stamford Bridge last Thursday. Haven’t seen one in decades.

    Thanks to the setter and The Bird Of Prey

    1. I think every Englishman is- weather bore in some way or another. It is always the opening gambit in a conversation. It would be very boring if we didn’t have something to gripe or grin about! Enjoy the BBQ!

  18. I found this one difficult to get started, with only 6 answered on my first lap.

    I became stuck on 5 clues that I had to go to a dictionary for (BD hints were not up for this puzzle at that time).

    But I managed to finish with a time of *****. I don’t normally time my attempts (usually completed on paper), but today I tackled the crossword online.

    [Please don’t quote times; see Comment etiquette #6]

  19. Lots to like for the start of the non-work week in this puzzle. Lots of favourites and smiles throughout. Typical Monday offering methinks.

    1.5*/4* for me

    Favourites include 10a 15a, 28a, 4d & 8d — with winner 15a
    Smiles from many but top four: 20a, 1d, 8d & 14d
    New word for me in 23a, but easy enough to unravel.

    Thanks to setter & Falcon

  20. Delightful start to the week- my last one in was 14d as I had erroneously entered moustache for 25a. I was completely taken in by the Stone Age house so I think that has to be favourite but I also liked the northerly dock at 8d, the land in the sea at 17d and 28a was just brilliant. I don’t think I shall ever think of Basildon in the same way again. Toadying up to Terence I must say that we are sitting in the garden in the sun but I am wearing a long sleeved jumper as the wind is quite cool. We are off to DD2 for an early meal at 5 – I do hope we are not in the garden. Vests out girls, autumn is a’cummin in. Many thanks to Messrs Setter & Falcon. OS I have finished the Sunday toughie apart from the rude word at 27a which eludes me and the event at 25a. Any discreet clues?

    1. You have mail
      25a to get Gold from GoOgLeD you have to start with G and hop, step and … How many times? whilst thinking of Greg Rutherford or Jonathan Edwards

  22. Well, wotta treat! I can’t believe today’s offering after the last few days. I don’t want to hear any complaints. No problems, except for 22d, my bungin was dead wrong; I can’t believe I missed that, they don’t call me tiny brain for nothin’. I liked so much, I think fave is the lovely lurker at 14d, but 10a also amused … I give up, too many to name them all.
    Thank you setter for the fun, and Falcon for his hints and tips. Your getaway sounds delightful!

  23. Great start to the week, **/**** for me today. Amazingly didn’t need the tips today, but thanks, Falcon – I still enjoyed reading them. Favourite clues included 10a, 25a, 28a 17d and 20d. Tried the prize Toughie crossword yesterday, after reading Zandio’s taster clue on Friday! Managed 3/4 of it but struggled with the SE corner and had to seek help with the final three or four clues. However, I enjoyed the challenge. Back to today, thanks again Falcon and also to the setter (Robyn?).

  24. A pleasant start to the week
    COTD has to be 20a because in the dim and distant past I lived and worked there and no, my name isn’t Meghan!

  25. A very good and enjoyable crossword.
    Too many to choose from when picking just a few – 15 and 20a and 17 and 19d.
    Even though it’s an anagram my favourite was 28a.
    Thanks to whoever set today’s crossword and thanks to Falcon for the hints.

  26. I really enjoyed today’s puzzle and it had just the right amount of challenges for a cold, damp August Bank Holiday Monday to keep me entertained. Getting 1a and 1d straight-away gave me a lovely filip and a great start to the week. Many thanks to the setter and Falcon.

  27. 2/4. Delightful puzzle and enjoyable from start to finish. No real stand out favourite from a wide field of contenders. Thanks to the setter and Falcon.

  29. A pleasant accompaniment to the Classic FM movie music hall of fame……..or perhaps that should have been the other way round 🤓.
    Ps. Gabriel’s Oboe gets me every time.

    1. Couldn’t agree more, GM. It’s a beaut.

      Such a beautiful instrument.

      1. It’s also a very handy Scrabble word when you have a vowel fest on your rack.

  30. As a noob at cryptics I’m happy to report my first ever completion of DT without using any hints from this blog -highly satisfying I must say!

    1. Welcome to the blog, Easyglover, and well done. It’s a great feeling isn’t it?
      Now that you’ve de-lurked I hope that you’ll become a regular commenter.

    2. Welcome, Easyglover and congratulations on your achievement. Very satisfying when the first unaided solve comes along. Please comment again and let us know how you’re getting on. 👍

  31. As straightforward as they come but nonetheless enjoyable for that. I had to Google the plant in 23a, it sounded like a plant and indeed it was. I don’t often pick an anagram as favourite but I’ll join others with choosing 28a. Thanks to the setter and and Falcon.

  32. Good evening

    Three quarters of the crozzie completed on the way into work, and the rest on the way home. Definitely pitched at the right level for a Monday, with just enough tricksiness! I particularly liked 25a, which is my runner-up for COTD; the fruit at 20d was a new one; and the stonking lurker at 14d is my winner.

    Many thanks to our compiler and to Falcon.

  33. Late getting to this due to some unexpected distractions at this end, but so pleased to find this treat in a puzzle waiting for me. Now this is a fine example of why I subscribe, and thank goodness, a reprieve from 2 days of puzzles that sent to me the dunce’s corner. Thanks to setter and Falcon.

  34. A great start to the week with this gentle puzzle. Finished late as been busying today. Feels like my eyes are almost back to normal. Thanks to setter and Falcon.

  35. A delight for once. Thankyou Setter for restoring my faith in my ageing brain. Some clues int the DT crosswords are becoming more and more convoluted and hard to pick apart – having been a DT Cryptic Solver sine 1990 – I used to enjoy solving each day, but of late the enjoyment has been replaced with frustration. Today was an exception.

  36. A perfect pre-bedtime puzzle after being out all day — and possibly my fastest solve ever. Thank you to Falcon and commenters who suggested this was a gentle challenge, so inspiring me to attempt it.

    I’m going for 7d as my favourite simply because we went to York yesterday to see The Water-Lily Pond. I also particularly liked 6a’s current article, 25a’s being told of facial hair, and 14d’s crickety one.

    I was slightly surprised to see 17d with its crashing plane. It’s a great clue, but I thought papers tended to avoid anything with a surface reading like that, just in case news events overtake it and it ends up looking insensitive?

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