DT 30751 – Big Dave's Crossword Blog
View closed comments 

DT 30751

by Huntsman  

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30751
Hints and tips by Huntsman

+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – +

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

The weather here in Harpenden doesn’t look too bad so a decent walk after the joys of the dental hygienist at 11am looks on the cards.

I’m afraid I can’t say that today’s puzzle particularly floated my boat this morning as I thought it lacked our setter’s customary touches of humour. That said it was well clued as you would expect & about on a par with yesterday in terms of difficulty.

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 John departs after female’s outpouring (5)

FLOOD: place another slang term for a flusher between the single letter for F(emale) & for D(eparts).

4a Revealed former lover nagged (9)

EXPRESSED: the usual for a former lover + a synonym for nagged or browbeaten.

9a One might lay down rules, having got a ruler out (9)

REGULATOR: an anagram (out) of GOT A RULER.

10a Frequently dull son is taken away (5)

OFTEN: remove the single letter for S(on) from a synonym for dull or lessen.

11a Persuaded now (3,4)

WON OVER: the answer is an instruction for what you need to do to the wordplay

12a Ape – I catch it in China (7)

IMITATE: insert (catch) IT from the clue into the cockney rhyming slang for china. Both preceded with I, also from the wordplay.

13a Perhaps again arrange holiday destination (6)

RESORT: a hyphenated 2-4 synonym for rearrange.

15a American information cites heartless businesses (8)

AGENCIES: A(merican) + another word for information then append CItES (heartless) in the clue.

18a Fantastic swims around and around lake draw to a close? (8)

SPLENDID: place a reversal (around) of a synonym for swims about (the other around) the single letter for L(ake) + a word for draw to a close.

20a Air country house broadcast (6)

MANNER: a homophone (broadcast) of the sort of country house that Penelope Keith was born to.

23a Back leaders of Telegraph and attract bid (7)

ATTEMPT: reverse the first letters of the 4th & 5th words of the clue (back/leaders of) + a synonym for attract.

24a This writer is ahead of a certain standard (7)

MEASURE: how this setter may refer to himself + A from the clue + another word for certain.

26a Smell? Nothing serious (5)

ODOUR: the letter for nothing + a synonym for serious or solemn.

27a Admired tree with spiced nuts? Not I (9)

RESPECTED: an anagram (nuts) of TREE & SPiCED (not I).

28a Showed Democrat is manipulated (9)

DISPLAYED: D(emocrat) + IS from the clue + another word for manipulated.

29a Some deer are rather less common (5)

RARER: hidden (some).

 

Down

1d Dismiss Labour supporter’s first show of temper (9)

FIREWORKS: synonyms for dismiss & for labour + the initial letter (first) of supporter’s. I’ve amended the typo in the clue that appears in the puzzles app. Not long now until that time of year our pets dread.

2d Maintain a groove holding up musical instrument (5)

ORGAN: hidden in reverse (holding/up) in the first 3 words. Here’s one helluva groove from the Stax house band.

3d Set free, survive during socialist uprising (7)

DELIVER: insert (during) a synonym for survive into a reversal (uprising) of a term for a socialist.

4d Anger after hospital department’s full (6)

ENTIRE: a synonym for anger preceded by (after) the usual hospital department.

5d Food time (8)

PORRIDGE: double definition.

Feeling base moving (7)

EMOTION: the single letter for a mathematical base (Euler’s formula) + a synonym for moving.

7d Office location (9)

SITUATION: another double definition – the former as in standing or station.

8d Cold during Scandinavian trip (5)

DANCE: insert C(old) into a Scandinavian.

14d Lotus is manufactured with no keys (9)

SOLUTIONS: an anagram (manufactured) of LOTUS IS NO.

16d Give up on French covering for walls (9)

SURRENDER: the French word for on + a coat of plaster applied to walls. Can’t pass an opportunity to play the final single from The Jam which went straight in at number one.

17d Student tucking in beer belly, ultimately, in a resentful way (8)

BITTERLY: place the usual letter for student between a type of beer & the last letter (ultimately) of bellY.

19d Maybe 1 mule ran off (7)

NUMERAL: an anagram (off) of MULE RAN.

21d A mother the guard regularly ignored? Unprofessional (7)

AMATEUR: A from the clue + a diminutive for mother + the alternate (regularly) letters of ThE gUaRd.

22d Morning spent being entertained (6)

AMUSED: the abbreviation for the Latin term for morning + a synonym for spent or consumed.

23d Stay away from a very old fish (5)

AVOID: A from the clue + the single letter for V(ery) & for O(ld) which leaves the last two letters – I’m familiar with the other name for our old friend the Orfe fish but that’s 3 letters. Mystery over Gazza has now confirmed an alternative spelling.

 

11a would be my pick of today’s clues. Please let us know which clues you liked best.

I’m a huge fan of the Hammond organ so, prompted by 2d, this morning’s listening while writing the blog has been a selection of tunes featuring it. Here’s a belter from the James Taylor Quartet –  I’ve seen them many times live & they always put on a great show

 

Today’s Quickie crossword pun: MOW + TUB + HIKES = MOTOR BIKES

 

 

 

59 comments on “DT 30751”

  1. I had trouble with some of today’s offering. I couldn’t parse quite a few such as the dull son at 10a and the Scandinavian trip at 8d. No doubt the hints will sort things out. I messed up the grid when, without thinking, I started to enter “position” at 7d. Despite all that, there was plenty to like – the anger in the hospital at 4d and the French wall covering at 16d. However, my COTD is the clever and concise persuasion at 11a.

    Thank you, setter for the challenge. Thank you, Hintsman for the hunts.

    I now understand 10a although I don’t associate the word with dulling. I had 8d down wrong.

    1. I figured that 10a is to dull something without the son and 8d was parsed by thinking of tripping the light fantastic including cold.

      1. I agree, Angelov but I don’t associate the word that loses the son with dulling. As for 8d, for some reason I entered “dense”! 😳

            1. Well, the BRB says soften is to “make soft or softer; to mitigate; to tone down, make smoother less glaring”. I suppose the last part about glaring could apply as in “soften the light”.

            2. The copious quantities of Tramadol & Naproxen certainly helped dull/soften the pain from my ribs at the back post my tumble on the golf course

  2. Very light, very Tuesday, good surfaces. That’s about it. Thank you setter & thank you Huntsman for the review and great music clips.

  3. A nice start to Tuesday, some needed extra thought to parse but I got there. A lot to like but no stand out favourite today for me.

    Many thanks to the setter and to Huntsman for the hints, no time to listen today as off out.

  4. Great video choices from The Hintsman, as usual. I agree that a Hammond always adds a bit of zip to a track. Stevie Winwood one of the finest examples of a great Hammond-er.

    I enjoyed this guzzle with its mixture of styles of glue.

    Off to the tip again now. I feel certain this household keeps Amazon in business, judging by the mountain of cardboard boxes we accumulate. I enjoy tip days as I inevitably sneak in a quiet luncheon, on my own, in the pub, with just an alternative newspaper and its cryptic guzzle for company (H works from home and is, inevitably, on a ‘Teams’ video call).

    Thanks to the setter and Andy On The First Tee

  5. A pleasant enough solve but somehow didn’t hit the mark for me. My issue, nothing wrong with the puzzle.
    Top picks for me were 11a, 26a and 5d.

    Thanks to Huntsman and the setter.

    I now have to scroll quickly through the email to get to the comment button as all the answers are shown. No-one else seems to comment on this so maybe it’s just me.

    1. It happens to me too
      I think bloggers need to put a page break after their pre-ambke as that generates the read more break

            1. A daily email is sent out to say the blog has been published. It’s in this email the answers appear.

                  1. The answer is given beneath the clue.

                    I made harder work of all that than I should have done!😳

                2. I’d no idea. Why not just access the site via the web page?
                  Somebody will have to tell me what to do to avoid this happening bearing in mind it took me a while (as Gazza will testify) to getting the hang of properly revealing all of the answers on the site

                  2. I also don’t read the email but go straight into the site but the ‘comment’ has now moved to the bottom of the email so you have to scroll through it. I like to do it this way as I can see first of all how many stars there are for difficulty and enjoyment. Not sure what’s changed

                    1. That’s the way I use the email. The fact that it has arrived also alerts me that the blog is up and running for the day.

    2. Never got one of those emails, and wouldn’t use it anyway. I just go straight to the site once I realise I need help to finish.

  6. Definitely Tuesdayish, a gentle and enjoyable solve, for me, without hold-ups. 18a became favourite as my LOI and the most difficult to parse. Podium places for 1d for its surface read and 5d, an old chestnut that never fails to raise a smile. Thanks to our setter and Huntsman. Music for everyone today.

  7. I can usually count on an enjoyably smooth ride on a Tuesday but not so today – it was more a question of ploughing through but less so in the North. Wonder if John as in 1a is now becoming familiar UK term? I suppose second half of 28a is manipulated. I can’t fully parse supporter’s for 1d (doubtless me being thick!). No particular Fav. Thank you setter and Hintsman.

    1. Hi AV

      I have used John for 30 to 40 years. So, to me, it passes muster.

      One of the theories is that it was named after the 16th century English inventor of the flushing toilet, John Harington.

      Either way, it’s a great term for it,

        1. I’m amazed the flush loo was invented in 1596! I have always looked upon it as a Victorian invention.

      2. I’ve always thought that Thomas Crapper invented it (though I see his was an ‘automatic ‘ one in 1870).

  8. Another solid crossy from the prof with many nice constructions and a fairly low wordcount.

    My podium is 11a (I love these sort of clues), 12a and 26a.

    Many thanks to The Prof and our resident John Peel.

    2*/3*

  10. Fun, thoughtful and concisely clued as is usually the case on a Tuesday. Today was one of those puzzles that went straight in, largely because of the accurate and very fair wordplay. 11a was a fine example of these attributes and my favourite.

    Thanks to Mr P and The Hintsman.

  11. 1*/4*. Excellent light Tuesday fare with 11a my favourite of many very good clues.

    Many thanks presumably to Mr Plum and to Hintsman.

    1. I meant to add, particular thanks to Huntsman for Smooth. It is the finest ever piece of music for dancing the cha-cha-cha to. It was our absolute favourite in the days when Mrs RD had two good knees and we could enjoy Ballroom and Latin dancing together.

  12. This didn’t feel very prof-like to me. As H says, less humour than usual and a tad chestnutty to boot. Enjoyable, mind. 11a’s fun and I liked 1d. Thanks to our setter and Huntsman. Spotless clips (and pix) today. You just can’t beat a spot of Mavis and co. Marvellous.

  13. A typo in my version of 1d – LabouT instead of LabouR meant a lot of time wasted until the checkers gave no other choice. ( I did download twice!)
    Sorry form that I spent ages trying to get primate parsed into 12a until the penny dropped with 5d!
    Quite liked 12a and 19d (Did wonder for a while if someone had lit his tail). Ok go for 13a as clue do jour?
    Thanks to setter and to Huntsman.

    1. Good grief, what’s a “Sorry form…”? Spell checker with a mind of its own!! Monkey business explaining why I did spend ages on 12a!

    2. The online version still has “LabouT” instead of “Labour”.

      Thought it was going to be significant … but just a typo. Oh Dear!

  14. A few bits of reverse parsing required this morning to nail the required synonyms but I often find that with the prof’s puzzles.
    I’m going with the flow and placing 11a on the top step with 1&17d in supporting roles.

    Thanks to Mr Plumb and to Huntsman for the review – loved the Booker T clip and the duelling banjos.

  15. Bit of a 50/50 puzzle for me as I struggled and eased through in equal measure. I had another synonym for 4a which, whilst I knew it was wrong as it would not parse, would not get out of my mind until the checkers fell into place. No stand-out clue for me today. Thanks to compiler and Huntsman

  16. I enjoyed this one though I did feel some of the clues were weak.

    No reveals and needed help with 6 clues.

  17. Well on first read through of this Tuesday puzzle, I had but one clue solved. Looked like this was going to be a long night, but I mangled a few in the NW and things gradually fell into place. No weird or odd words, but some clues that required some significant head scratching.

    2.5*/3.5* today

    Favourites 12a, 24a, 14d, 17d & 19d — with co-winners 24a & 17d
    Smiles from 20a, 22d & 25d as I realized the answers

    Thanks to AP & Huntsman

  18. Got my contrary hat on today, as unlike Huntsman, this definitely floated my boat right out of the water. I was right on wavelength and, with the exception of 18a and 7d, the clues nicely led to the answers. Just a bit of head scratching for some. The picture at 20a brought back happy memories of that amusing show, only topped by the clip in 5d, truly comedy at its best. 1d clue reads “Labout” from the DT on my iPad, but I assumed it was a typo. Thanks to the setter for a perfect puzzle for this silver haired lady, and to Huntsman for the laughs.

  19. Found this tricky for a Tuesday in parts 😳 ***/*** Favourites 1a & 8d 😃 Thanks to Mr Plumb and to the Huntsman 👍

  20. I got the impression this was nice and gentle, but I was multitasking while solving it, in multiple stages, so it’s hard to be sure. I also forgot to note a favourite, so I’ll hurriedly go for 29a on the basis that it’s a straightforward clue with a plausible surface reading and no obscure words that would be ideal for teaching somebody cryptic crosswords. Thank you to the blogger and setter.

  21. I was a bit slow today – staying with the Eldest daughter and her partner and our eldest grandson – it’s a long story!
    Concentration is not easy with the general noise in this house – that’s my excuse today!
    I liked 11 and 28a and 6 and 7d. My favourite was 1d – how could it NOT be – our Eldest Pet Lamb’s birthday!!
    Thanks to whoever set today’s crossword and to Hintsman’s for the hints.

  22. A gentle solve today ,although a bit more challenging than yesterday. I too thought 23d fish was missing an e , but from the hint seems not necessarily. Thanks to setter and Huntsman.

  23. My first thoughts was that this was going to be on the hard side and yet minutes later it was two thirds finished. Strange how these things go. 1 and 11a clever clues but overall something missing, not sure what. But many thanks to all.
    I might go out and buy that other paper and see if I can complete that or do the toughie (I’m sure this won’t yield quickly)

  24. Good evening

    Well, despite Huntsman’s 1* rating, I found today’s crozzie a little tricky in places, and I’d probably mark it as a twoser. For some reason, 18a wouldn’t come to mind until I was almost at the end, and I’ve ringed rather than crossed out ’18’, which is my note to self to check the parsing. Of course it wasn’t as tricky as I’d thought. 4d was my last to fall; that was bleedin’ obvious in hindsight!

    COTD: honourable draw between 11a and 12a.

    Many thanks to our compiler and to Huntsman.

  25. Two good solves in two days! My goodness mustn’t get complacent as the challenges will start coming from tomorrow onwards. Currently, busy with having the lounge decorated. Spent most of the weekend emptying the bookcases, removing pictures, ornaments, large paper-weight collection and ornaments. When the decorator has finished we will take the opportunity to teak-oil the furniture so the room will stink of paint and oil! Then clean everything that is being stored in the dining-room and transfer back into the lounge. Probably a sign of advanced age but I feel exhausted thinking about it!

    Many thanks to the setter and to Huntsman. So sorry to hear about your tumble Huntsman sounds as if you really hurt yourself. Take good care and don’t go overdoing things!

  26. I found this quite hard going but this was down to me.

    Somehow I didn’t realise how many synonyms key has that I was ignorant about. Unless I’m missing something, how would key be used as solution. “I have a key to the problem”…? Sounds weird.

    Another who spent way too long trying to parse primate!

    Thanks to all.

  27. I’m afraid I found this harder than the toughie in places and didn’t enjoy it as much, probably a wavelength thing. Oh well! There’s always tomorrow, hopefully. Thanks to the setter anyway and Huntsman.

  28. 2*/3*
    Found a little tricky in places but all fairly clued
    No particular favourites today
    Thanks to all

Comments are closed.