Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30810
Hints and tips by Smylers
A belated Merry Christmas to everybody who reads this blog, whether every day or just popping in from time to time. I ought to have been the first blogger to offer Christmas greetings, but on December 16th I failed to remember that it was my final hinting before Christmas, so you’re getting it late instead.
It’s a Monday — whether it feels like it or not — so here are hints and explanations for today’s Telegraph Crossword, with definitions underlined. Do comment below with how you found the puzzle, any questions about it, and which clues you like best.
One of our regular between-Christmas-and-New-Year treats is a visit to Saltaire to see their Living Advent Calendar — real windows which have been decorated, a new one being unveiled each day in the run up to Christmas. Worth seeing if you’re anywhere nearby, and especially recommended to fans of cats, which seem to feature in many of the windows. Here are some of our favourites:
Across
1a New resolutions broken by good doctors (12)
NEUROLOGISTS: Put the letters of ‘resolutions’ in a new order, and break them up with the abbreviation for ‘good’.
Pic credit: Tim Mossholder
9a Knave in agitated state with small cakes (9)
FLAPJACKS: Think of a word for an agitated state that somebody might be in. Between that state and the clothing abbreviation for ‘small’ insert the other name for a playing card knave.
10a It’s primarily orange coloured, having reddish earth? (5)
OCHRE: The whole clue for this one is cleverly both the definition and the wordplay, which requires taking the primary letters of the last 5 words to spell out one of the colours mentioned in this song:
11a Current do-it-yourself stores firm about silliness (6)
IDIOCY: Start with the single letter used to represent electrical current in physics. ‘Stores’ here is trying to mislead us, because it’s actually a verb: take the abbreviation used to indicate a firm or business and turn it about so it’s facing t’other way, then store that inside the abbreviation for ‘do-it-yourself’, and place the combination after the current.
We are very sad to learn that Ilkley’s do-it-yourself store, Mortens, is closing tomorrow, having been in the town since 1937. It’s an place that sells pretty much everything we’ve never needed over the years in terms of hardware and items for the home, from a very specific size of nut and bolt that a member of staff has to go and rummage in a box for, to airbeds, garden canes, our doorbell, sledges for the children, a replacement toilet handle, and even our (real) Christmas tree. I’ll particularly miss their advice and expertise, always given by staff who couldn’t be more friendly and helpful. Shops come and go, and there are several former shops I wish were still here, but I don’t think any closure will effect our lives as much as Mortens no longer being here.
12a Some of pirates’ crew to posture, showing a bit of bottle (8)
SCREWTOP: Take some consecutive letters from the following words to find something that is literally a part of many bottles.
13a Stay at home after dealing with case of malaria (6)
REMAIN: Here ‘case’ means the outside of something; specifically it indicates the first and last letters of the word ‘malaria’. Place the usual word for ‘at home’ at the end, after both an abbreviation indicating ‘dealing with’ or ‘regarding’ and the case of malaria.
14a Note needlework absorbs time (8)
CROTCHET: A type of craft involving needles absorbs the single-letter abbreviation for ‘time’.
17a Hindering American plugging remix of Whitney (2,3,3)
IN THE WAY: Remix the letters of ‘Whitney’ into a different order then plug an abbreviation of ‘American’ somewhere in there. Which abbreviation? Counting the letters in ‘Whitney’ and the answer shows that ‘US’ isn’t going to fit, so it has to be t’other one.
I was listening to Alex Lester on Greatest Hits Radio while doing this crossword, and as I solved this clue I realized the song currently playing was Whitney Houston’s How Will I Know. But that isn’t a remix, so instead have this one which is:
19a Irritability created by poor sleep before noon (6)
SPLEEN: Make a poorer spelling of ‘sleep’ by putting its letters in the wrong order, and end with the single-letter abbreviation for ‘noon’.
22a President‘s extremely childish flier (8)
CHAIRMAN: The definition is of the person in charge of an organization. I think that some organizations have both a president and this answer as different positions, but Chambers does list them as possible synonyms (albeit as “especially US”). Take the extreme letters of ‘childish’ and follow with somebody who flies. Both the president and the flier are male in this clue.
24a Loudly begs for adulatory comments (6)
PRAISE: Say a word that can mean ‘begs’ — possibly to a deity — loudly, and it will sound like this answer.
26a Temperamental and low, deny losing heart (5)
MOODY: Follow the usual synonym of ‘moo’ (as heard in Away in a Manger) with what remains of ‘deny’ after it’s lost its middle letters.
27a After complimentary whiskey, scoundrel is to take it easy (9)
FREEWHEEL: Enter in order: a word meaning ‘complimentary’, the letter in the Nato alphabet indicated by ’whiskey’, and a word for a scoundrel or despicable person. I don’t think I’ve ever heard anybody say the ‘scoundrel’ word in person; one dictionary I checked labelled it as all of ‘derogatory’, ‘informal’, and ‘dated’, while another had it as “US (originally criminals’ slang)”. Do comment below if this is a word you use — or indeed if it’s something you’ve been called.
28a Malicious president with aim to reform (4-8)
MEAN SPIRITED: Re-form the letters of the words ‘president’ and ‘aim’ to make the answer.
Down
1d More stylish pattern if tie revamps clothes (7)
NIFTIER: The answer has been clothed, in the sense that it’s been dressed with some superfluous letters around the outside of it. Find it inside ‘pattern if tie revamps’.
Pic credit: Tim Mossholder
2d Metallic element, you heard, put on skull, but not roughly (7)
URANIUM: Get somebody to say “you” out loud and write down the letter that you hear. Under that put a word that means ‘skull’ but without an abbreviation for a Latin word that means roughly or approximately.
3d Protest that is about Vardy’s header creating goal (9)
OBJECTIVE: The ‘protest’ we need here is a verb, despite looking very much like a noun in the surface reading. Follow it with the Latin abbreviation meaning ‘that is’ placed about the heading letter of ‘Vardy’.
4d Formerly working with Anglican group (4)
ONCE: This is the usual term for ‘working’ followed by the usual abbreviation for a group of Anglicans (but I’m not bothering to link to the same place twice in one clue).
5d Unstable cover put around middle of deck (8)
INSECURE: Here we need ‘cover’ as a verb, providing financial protection for. Wrap it around the middle letters of ‘deck’.
6d Rigged vote securing Republican a store of wealth (5)
TROVE: Rig ‘vote’ by putting its letters in a different order, and secure the abbreviation for ‘Republican’ by storing it inside.
7d Former PM cutting former monarch’s shaggy hair (6)
THATCH: Take the name of a UK Prime Minister and cut from it the 2-letter royal cypher of a former monarch.
8d Tyrannous ruler from French location (6)
DESPOT: After a French word for ‘from’ we need a general word meaning a location, for instance a nice location to have a picnic.
15d Wonderful introduction to technical work by artist (3-6)
TOP-DRAWER: Enter in order: the introductory letter of ‘technical’, a usual word for a work, and a word which could be used to describe an artist — not the name of a particular artist, but an agent noun formed from a verb that is one way of creating art.
16d Flammable liquid soldier with nasty smell brought up (8)
PARAFFIN: One of the many usual terms crosswords use for a soldier is entered as normally downwards, then a colloquial word for a disagreeable smell is written upwards.
17d Forged coin given to the setter for pay (6)
INCOME: Forge ‘coin’ by rearranging its letters, and follow with a pronoun the setter of this crossword could use when talking to us about themselves.
18d Child filled with energy upset father’s brewing vessel (6)
TEAPOT: Open up a word for a child and in the gap insert the abbreviation for energy and a word used for ‘father’, the latter having been upset in the sense that it’s facing the wrong way.
Pic credit: Belinda Fewings
20d Notable contemporary artist with eastern scripture (7)
EMINENT: Enter in order: the surname of a well-known British modern artist, the abbreviation for ‘eastern’, and an abbreviation of some books of scripture.
21d Irritated Liberal required drinks (7)
NEEDLED: An abbreviation for ‘Liberal’ (one which probably hasn’t been useful in the UK since the 1980s, and even then a longer form was probably more often seen) is drunk by a word meaning ‘required’, ending up inside it.
23d Archly, Amber regularly ignored what Larry and Barry do (5)
RHYME: Take letters at regular intervals from the first two words in the clue. They have 11 letters between them, so to get the 5 letters needed to find out what Larry and Barry have been up to, a little maths shows we should start at the 2nd letter and take every other letter.
25d What turned up on record, a Beatles album (4)
HELP: Start with an exclamation used to mean ‘What?’, reverse it, and follow with an abbreviation for a record.
Quickie Pun
The first 3 clues in today’s Quick Crossword are italicized, indicating that their answers when read aloud together can be made to sound like another word or phrase. If you want to check, here are the answers and pun:
FILLER + DELL + FEAR = PHILADELPHIA
I do love Mondays! What a great guzzle to begin the week. I did think that the clue for 9a should have had “states” but I know nothing. Plenty to like with smiles and pennies galore from the pirates showing bravery at 12a to Larry and Barry in 23d. For once, my COTD is a short one and that is The Beatles at 25d and an excuse to insert The Fabs.
Thank you, setter (Robyn?) for the fun challenge. Thank you, Smylers for the hints.
Re 9a, I took the definition to be ‘cakes’ rather than ‘small cakes’, thus leaving the ‘small’ to indicate the plural. Hope that makes sense!
Thanks, Mhids that does make sense.
This was perfect for a Monday as it had it all, i.e lots of excellent surfaces on a friendly grid with no candidates for El Tel’s List.
Lovely jubbly.
It’s therefore no easy task to ‘pick a pody’ but I’ll go with 22a, 27a and 7d.
Many thanks to Robyn and Smylers.
2*/5
The usual classy guzzle (from our regular Monday setter presumably) that we’ve come to expect as standard. Among a host of ✅s 5d was my pick.
Thanks to Robyn & to Smylers.
Ps re the Quick pun – Mark & James another of SJB’s loved tunes
Great song! New to me as well, thanks.
Not forgetting this.
1.5*/5*. Thus was light but excellent Monday fare with a nice bit of nostalgia provided by 25d.
This puzzle lifted my mood after finding a howler of a typo in today’s Plusword.
Many thanks to Robyn (?) and to Smylers.
I only got round to PlusWord just before bed last night, so was wondering if the typo would still be there. It was, but I actually thought it quite funny, imagining performers having to travel to sunnier countries just to make fun of our politicians.
Done early today and Wordle in one! On a roll so have just been preparing the card for some BD bingo! Should be a full house most days 😉
1.The crossword was really hard, but it just ‘fell into place’
2.It couldn’t be anything else (yes it could!)
3.Penny dropping
4.Using Mr G, anagram solvers or word search
5.I could not get on wavelength (what does that even mean!?)
6.A random ailment
7.A hinter sitting on the fench by giving two ratings (*/**)
8.Saying its not fair as there’s too much sport (but opera, history, literature are just fine)
9.They don’t like the setter because they can’t do the crossword
10.Someone having a go at Brian just because…it’s Brian
Would 7d be Fenchurch Station-ary
Someone say
Mornington Crescent
Sorry, SJB but it has to be Oxford Circus first.
It would be nice to see these banned, and several others which I won’t quote for fear of offending. Happy Christmas/New Year to all setters and hinters (is this a word?), especially the latter, whose hints I never use but always read for their entertainment value. Also to most of the commenters for their wit, enthusiasm and cheerfulness. Thank you.
👍
Thank you for appreciating the hints and comments here. However, I disagree that all the items in the list need banning (being rude to setters or other commenters and showing off are already covered by the etiquette guide, which I really wish I had remembered to link to this week), but particularly I’d like to defend item 6, random ailments.
We’re a community here: through chatting about crosswords, we get to know each other as individuals, and we care about each other. If somebody has suffered an ailment (random or otherwise), then they are very welcome to mention it, and there will be many others who do care and wish to express their sympathy, best wishes, concern, or amusement (as applicable).
Well said Smylers.
Totally agree, Smylers. Well said. 👍
I love no 7, Todge!
The only time I use a half point is when punishing a setter for an unindicated Americanism.
Nice and gentle this morning. I liked 22a.
Thanks to Smylers and today’s setter.
A very enjoyable and straightforward challenge for the last Monday of the year – 1.5*/4.5*
Candidates for favourite – 13a, 24a, 8d, and 21d – and the winner is 13a.
Thanks to Robyn(?) and Smylers.
* Love RogB’s bingo card!
What a lovely video to promote The Beatles – thanks Steve.
Sailing To the quick pun is a favourite of mine too; thanks Andy.
Great guzzle – just at my level (checks bingo card).
Thanks to the setter, and The Ilkley Informer.
I made heavy weather of this and really enjoyed doing so! The anagram at 1a took me much longer than it should have done. That, along with the fact that the lurker at 1d eluded me for ages as well meant that I was off to a bad start. Solving the second lurker and Whitney’s anagram cheered me up and progress was made, until I reached the SE corner where, for a while, time stood still. Perseverance paid off,as it usually does and I found I had spent a very pleasant, long, coffee break. Favourite was Dad’s cup of tea at 18d, with 25a and 15d sharing the podium. Thanks to Robyn for the enjoyment and to Smylers, for his comprehensive and interesting blog. May have a run out to Saltaire.
Of the five of us in our WhatsApp Wordle group everyone got it in two this morning except me with a lowly four. I was pleased that this morning’s crossword was fairly easy because I ran out of printer paper and had to do it on the phone app. That’s no mean feat with my eyesight. Thanks Smyler and setter.
**/***
I got it in two as well today. I used Raise as my starter.
Oh dear. I have to report I failed Wordle today. 😢
I liked 1d it was er… neat
Thanks to Setter (if it is Robyn he has once more managed the change of difficulty from yesterday’s toughie to this with aplomb)
Thanks to Smylers and Huntsman for playing to my musical tastes. I couldn’t choose between them either.
I do like Salts Mill
My thoughts entirely. Yesterday’s Robyn Toughie was a belter and, if it is indeed him on duty again today, his ability to switch from bloomin’ difficult to very gentle is remarkable.
Much fun.
One query at 22a…are President and the solution synonymous? I have undertaken both roles in local rugby administration and the two positions are vastly different.
I think the capitalisation of President is deceptive. As an adjective
presiding, superintending sits easier with me.
Ah, the chair manufactured intentionally wonkily to be a physical manifestation of David Hockney’s wonky way of painting a chair that was, presumably, perfectly regular!
And in itself a tribute to Van Gogh’s own chair
A 15d puzzle that was just right for a sunny Shropshire morning. I thought this was one of the best Monday Cryptics for a while, with plenty of excellent clues spread throughout the grid. My favourite was 5d.
My thanks to Robyn and Smylers.
Another light treat from our Monday man in which the clever resolutions soared to the top of my tree.
Thanks to Robyn, presumably, and to Smylers for the review.
A lovely puzzle with lots of smiles.
Top picks for me were 14a, 15d and 2d.
Thanks to Smylers for the hints and the pics. I feel your pain at losing your valuable local sells everything shop.
Thanks too to the setter.
A most enjoyable and light puzzle for a Monday.
13a and 7d were the two I ticked.
If it wasn’t for the clear wordplay in 16d, I probably would have spelled the answer with 2 Rs and 1 F !
1*/4* – thanks to the setter and to Smylers for the write-up.
It’s all been said. Grand fun. I even agree with TDS65’s podium, so saves me another job. Thanks to Robyn and Smylers
Completed over breakfast. A gentle start to the week but since when has ‘Loudly’ been a homophone indicator?
I tend to agree with you.. a little tenuous in my opinion
Surely some novelty is permitted. If not it all becomes too routine and boring.
It’s often used to mean “said out loud”, leading to “sounds like”.
Setters are getting more and more creative for all types of indicators.
A 15d puzzle, ideal for a Monday – thanks to our setter and Smylers.
My podium selections are 27a, 5d and 18d.
Sorry to hear about Morton’s I have been in there myself. We have a great little ironmongers here too.
Be honest – how many times have you been in and asked for four candles?
I also feel for you losing such a useful shop. We have similar store in Royston, it doesn’t matter what you ask for, they have got it and know exactly where it is. Staff so friendly as well.
Yeah, and that still applies even when you don’t know what to ask for! If you explain what you’re trying to do, they can find something for you that you didn’t even know existed.
Hope your shop in Royston continues for many years.
I’ve lost track of the days over the last week, so it was great to complete this puzzle and realise it is Monday! It was **/**** for me – all the clues fell in place one after another. I particularly liked 14a and 7d, as Mrs Thatcher came from our part of the country and there is a statue in the town centre to commemorate her! Many thanks to Robyn and Smylers for brightening my day.
This took me longer to get into today than usual but I have now completed it and in hindsight cannot see why I was so slow. The lurkers were well disguised, and I enjoyed the anagrams but 5d was today’s favourite.
Many thanks to the setter and to Smylers for the hints
When I started this I had an awful feeling it was Friday, but then it All Fell Into Place 🤭 when 1a suddenly dawned upon me. I was a bit stumped at 24a, Praise came to mind but I thought P was an indicator of ‘play quietly’ in music-speak – F is loud. Anyway, I’ve gone with the flow as It Couldn’t Be Anything Else. Nothing to say about Brian except that I hope he is well. Many thanks to Messrs Setter & Smylers. I hope there are some 9a left for the naughty step st the weekend.
Pretty much a usual type of Monday puzzle, but I certainly found a few of the clues a tad trickier than normal. Maybe it is just me and trying to recover from an extremely busy Christmas season … along with watching a 6 yr old grandson at the last of 4 ice hockey games this weekend … WHEW!!!
2*/4*
Favourites 1a, 9a, 7d 15d & 16d — with winner 9a
Thanks to Robyn(?) & Smylers
Most enjoyable guzzle. Thank you, and also to Smylers. I didn’t know about Salts so thank you also for that. And I was really sad to learn about Mortens. We will miss the shop very much. As you say, no matter the issue the staff could sort it and do so with pleasure – skills sadly lacking in consumer land.
Pretty straightforward today but like others we weren’t keen on the homophone indicator in 24a. Favourite was 23d, there were other contenders. Thanks to Robyn and Smylers.
Good afternoon
Half way through the working day, and the crozzie is done. A nicely pitched grid for a Monday.
COTD is 23d, and 2d is a worthy runner-up.
Many thanks to Robyn and Smylers.
Thank you also to RogB for the bingo card! I am a man who uses “penny dropping” a fair bit, so the time has come to stop! Ironically, I enjoy pointing out the use of clichés in others!
Good fun although I thought a few of the clues a tad trickier than previous Robyn puzzles on a Monday.
3*/4*
I like 10a and 13a today.
Thanks to Smylers and Robyn.
I was doing well until I got to 22a. I worked out that I needed the CH from extremely childish, but wracked my brain to try and find a president to go in front because I thought that the definition was “flier”. All sorted once I did some of the surrounding clues. Glad to have had some “me” time to do the crossword after a house full of people over Christmas. Many thanks to the setter and to Smylers for the review.
I’m a bit puzzled by 14 across
When I crochet I use a hook, no needles involved
Welcome to the blog, Sally.
Apart from that what did you think of the puzzle?
Welcome to this fabby blog, Sally.
I’m no knitting expert but hopefully there is one on here to answer your query.
One has to assume that Robyn, Lancs and the gang have done their homework.
Welcome, Sally to this merry band.
I agree with you. Crochet uses hooks because my mother used to do it.
Now you’ve delurked please don’t be a stranger. 👍😊
Well spotted, Sally. Indeed, the couple of dictionaries I’ve just checked explicitly define ‘needlework’ as just “sewing and embroidery” — though I suppose in cryptic clues it’s acceptable for needlework to encompass knitting, or even administering vaccinations or navigating by compass.
But now you’ve pointed it out, I am struggling to fit crochet into that category.
I’ve never heard of heel as scoundrel, in fact that’s why I came on here to check!
Good to hear from you, JM.
I first heard this magnificent term when watching Edward G and Bogie as gangsters, cursing their rivals.
I can’t recall ever having heard any of ‘heel’, ‘scoundrel’, ‘cad’, ‘card’, or ‘bounder’ used in real life! I’m guessing I’ve encountered them in novels.
I do have to use the hints eventually but only three in bottom right today. Loved this one. 23d my favourite.
Welcome to the blog, clare.
Hi, Clare. That’s great to hear — and the hints are there to be used! Please do keep commenting.
Happy Monday to one and all 🤗**/****Favourites: 27a, 18d & 20d 😃 Thanks to Robyn and to Smylers. Happy New Year to everyone, a day early but just in case I don’t cross the finishing line tomorrow 😳
How nice not to have numerous convolutions to sort out prior to actually accessing clues to be solved. It was a thoroughly enjoyable way to start the cruciverbal week and I dare to hope for more similar enigmas. I agree with Smylers about 22a not necessarily being President or vice versa. 21d drinks didn’t dawn on me but that didn’t hamper bung-in. SE was my last quadrant to come on board. Thank you Mysteryone and Smylers (my goodness you are helpful with your comprehensive hints).
Typical Monday. Finished in [redacted]. Enjoyable. Couple of long tricky anagrams. Glad we have a splattering of Latin and French. Top picks 16d and 27a.
Hi, Gary and Val — great to have you commenting. Sorry, I forgot to link to the site’s comment etiquette guide today, which I should’ve done. One of the site policies included there is not to mention specific solving times: commenters are welcome to mention that solving a puzzle was quicker or slower than their typical time, but we all have different typical times and the aim is not to be offputting.
Do do keep commenting!
Solved in two halves due to other things needing attention. Quite enjoyed, and had no problem with heel, or freewheel. Have to differ with Chambers on President and Chairman being the same in the US. In my career I worked for 3 major corporations over here, and the President was never also the Chairman. I was definitely on wavelength today (and surprised that any crossword solver dislikes/does not understand what that term means 😊) with lots of helpful checkers thrown in. Thanks to setter and Smylers.
Typical Monday – not too hard but very enjoyable. Loved 12a, just because of the surface reading. Thanks to the setter and Smylers.
2*/4* …
liked 6D “Rigged vote securing Republican a store of wealth (5)”