Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30819
Hints and tips by Shabbo
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****
Perfect Thursday fare. Thank you setter.
When blogging I tend to concentrate on the parsing, for obvious reasons, and my page is full of scribbled notes. Having now re-read all of the clues, I can admire the smooth surface reads and appreciate how good this puzzle is. Not a single clue that looks or sounds like a crossword clue – they all read perfectly well as sentences in their own right. I was grateful for the checking letters to confirm the spelling of 12a and 22a. I had too many ticks to list here. Which were your favourites?
In the blog below, the definition element of each clue has been underlined, anagrams are CAPITALISED and the crossword technique “indicator words” are in brackets. The answers are concealed under the “Click Here” buttons. Please leave a comment telling us how you got on and what you thought of the puzzle. Please also try to be positive – it’s only a bit of fun.
Across
1a Certain regular collecting runs for county (8)
SOMERSET: synonym of certain (as in a few) + synonym of regular (as in habitual) outside (collecting) abbreviation for Runs.
5a Sharp detectives in charge pursuing lead from associate (6)
ACIDIC: abbreviation for a body of detectives + abbreviation for In Charge after (pursuing) the initial letter (lead from) of Associate.
9a Marital cheat, Greek character, one wearing lotion mostly (9)
CONNUBIAL: synonym of cheat + a Greek letter + I (one) inside (wearing) a synonym of lotion without the final letter (mostly).
11a Something launched that goes in the bin? (5)
LINER: double definition.
12a Capital city I hardly left to go running (6)
RIYADH: anagram (running) of I HARD(l)Y (left to go – i.e. ignore the L).
13a Brags of singular bets netting grand (8)
SWAGGERS: abbreviation for Singular + synonym of bets outside (netting) abbreviation for Grand.
15a Fancy hotel one slept in that paparazzo uses (9,4)
TELEPHOTO LENS: anagram (fancy) of HOTEL ONE SLEPT.
18a We’d hear if cookery writer gets heavily sunburnt? (7-6)
WEATHER-BEATEN: a homophone (we’d hear) of a synonym of “if” and a homophone of the surname of a Victorian cookery writer.
22a Unusually your doctor wastes time over such material (8)
CORDUROY: anagram (unusually) of YOUR DOC(to)R – “wastes time over” invites us to ignore T and O in the anagram fodder.
23a Model, virtuous person possessing endless courage making comeback (6)
SCULPT: abbreviation for a canonised virtuous person outside (possessing) a synonym of courage without the final letter (endless) backwards (making comeback).
26a Professorship from Cambridge has academic in raptures initially (5)
CHAIR: initial letters of words 3-7.
27a Factory workers dispirited easily (5,4)
HANDS DOWN: synonyms of factory workers and dispirited or depressed.
28a Modular home, awful fear it’s covered with lead (6)
PREFAB: anagram (awful) of FEAR inside (covered with) the chemical symbol for lead.
29a Small issue involving a work by Turner, perhaps (8)
SEASCAPE: abbreviation for Small + synonym of issue (or leak) outside (involving) A.
Down
1d Guarantee safety (8)
SECURITY: double definition.
2d Lots describing rear of racetrack as filthy (5)
MANKY: synonym of lots outside (describing) the last letter (rear) of racetracK.
3d How to raise numbers for herding of cattle (5-2)
ROUND-UP: double definition
4d As it happens, revolutionary is very unpleasant (4)
EVIL: synonym of “as it happens” (think sport?) reversed (revolutionary).
6d Some women go loco over perfume (7)
COLOGNE: hidden word backwards (some…over). Our answer is lurking backwards within words 2-4.
7d Daughter and closest friends having matching tableware (6,3)
DINNER SET: abbreviation for Daughter + synonym of “closest friends”.
8d Colour of church tower (6)
CERISE: abbreviation for Church of England + synonym of tower (a verb).
10d Tribunal right to block hooligan circling Gatwick regularly (8)
LAWCOURT: put the abbreviation for Right inside (to block) a synonym of hooligan and insert into that (circling) the even letters (regularly) of gAtWiCk.
14d Two bands held up to ridicule (4-4)
POOH-POOH: a synonym of band (or ring) twice (two) upside down (held up).
16d About to feed cows supplements, essentially small type (5-4)
LOWER-CASE: abbreviation for about (or circa) inside (to feed) a way of describing cows (relating to the noise that they make) + the middle letter (essentially) of supplEments.
17d Case of ticks reported (8)
INSTANCE: homophone (reported) of ticks (as in moments).
19d Sign to secure advanced replacement for American tanks (7)
AQUARIA: take a sign of the zodiac and replace the final US (American) with the abbreviation for Advanced (advanced replacement for American).
20d Cuts out training sessions, wanting beer periodically (7)
EXCISES: synonym of training sessions without the even letters (periodically) of bEeR (wanting/lacking beer periodically).
21d Feature of Poles in Katowice, capriciousness? (6)
ICECAP: hidden word lurking within words 5&6.
24d Sponge dessert, flipping ace! (5)
LOOFA: a type of dessert backwards (flipping) + abbreviation for Ace. The sponge is one that you might use in the shower?
25d Discontented colleague depressed by working previously (4)
ONCE: first and last letters (discontented – i.e. remove the contents) of ColleaguE after (depressed by – this is a down clue) a synonym of working.
Quickie Pun: LOGGER + RHYTHM = LOGARITHM
I enjoyed today’s offering apart from 9a, which I have not heard of. The lurker was well hidden, I thought and the dispirited workers at 27a raised a smile. I can’t quite see 17d so will check the hints. I remember maths lessons in a 28a when I was at school. My COTD is the sunburnt cookery writer at 18a. We have a copy in the kitchen.
Thank you, setter for the fun challenge. Thank you, Shabbo for the hints.
Still below zero in The Marches but it makes walking easier because the mud has frozen.
4*/5*. Surely we are being spoilt at the moment with what feels to me like yet another Silvanus puzzle appearing for our delectation today! (And a Beam Toughie to provide the icing on the cake).
I found the SE very challenging with 29a & 17d in particular taking quite a while to solve, but the whole thing was great fun.
My page is littered with ticks with 15a, 18a, 27a 3d & 17d taking the top places.
Many thanks to Silvanus (?) and to Shabbo.
Yep, another one harder than normal for a Thursday.
Had to check my last one in, 9a, as have never heard of the word, but if you just take the clue at face value, it tells you exactly what to do.
My prediction for a toughie level Friday puzzle still holds, but sod’s law says it will turn out to be a piece of cake.
My two of the day were 19d (I’ve recently got rid of mine, too much work to maintain nicely), and the lovely 16d.
Thanks to our setter today, a very tough challenge
I wrote concubine for 9ac which threw me for a while but otherwise a straightforward puzzle once I had worked it all out.
Like RD, the SE quadrant held me up for a while, with some very clever, concise and quite awkward parsing needed to get across the line. All in all, this was a real delight to solve, with many clues vying for top spot; in the end I decided upon 27a.
Many thanks to, I presume, Silvanus for an excellent challenge, and to Shabbo.
Surely this belter is from the 1st leg of the TDT. A pleasure to solve, as per, from first to last & with not a duffer to be found – stick a tick next to be pretty well all of ‘em. Sorting out one or two of the whys extended the solve well into ** time so for me trickier than yesterday’s puzzle, which I see from the comments went unclaimed. My inclination would have been to spell 8d as two words but of course one is correct & the biggest two head scratches were pegging the issue synonym at 29a & the 26d wordplay. Wouldn’t argue with any of RD’s picks but maybe add 9a & 14d.
Thanks to Silvanus (presumably) & to Shabbo.
Ps The Beamer in t’other place is great fun & certainly no more difficult than this one.
Forgot to say hands up any who bunged in feller & finish at 1a&d in the Quickie as their first entries.
Meant 10d of course
A tough challenge but just about doable. I always spell the sponge with an H at the end??? ***/**
Chambers lists both spellings. They’d be a fool to reverse that policy.
I see what you did there, Shabbs.
I am pleased with myself as I completed this unaided and just needed the hints to parse 2 (9a and 16d). Initially I thought I would not get going, but once 15a was in progress was made. My favourite was 19d but there were many more that I enjoyed.
With temperatures below freezing and snow on the ground our boiler decided to stop working in the night. Fortunately it has decided to restart but needs a new part, so I hope it limps on until it arrives.
Many thanks to the setter and to Shabbo for the hints
Not much to say about this puzzle. Not because it was not any good but because it was excellent and just right for a Thursday and has to be the work of one half of our Anglesonian’s Dream Team – 3.5*/5*!
Candidates for favourite – 11a, 18a, 27a, 7d, 14d, and 19d – and the winner is 14d.
Thanks to Silvanus, for it must be he, and thanks to Shabbo.
Another outstanding puzzle to go with yesterday’s though it was much harder. It’s been a good week in Crossyland.
I had to biff 29a as I didn’t know the synonym for issue and my LOI was 9a (great surface!) because the sixth letter was a problem. A very satisfying word to say, btw.
I couldn’t get myself away from the armoured vehicle in19d until it hit me or, to keep RogB happy, the penny dropped.
Lots to choose from for the medal winners but I’ll go with 12a (as it’s not easy to clue), 22a and 24d.
Many thanks to Silvanus and Shabbo.
4*/5*
Therw was the usualplethora of reicjy synonyms, qgich necessitated greater than usual reference to the thesaurus roday. I liked the sun tanned cookery writer at 19a and the post WW2 memories conjured up by the building at 28a. Like others I thought of concubine for 9and that was obviously wrong but it led me to the right answer. Quite an enjoyable if time- consuming guzzle so thanks to the setterand to Senf for the hints
An excellent puzzle although I struggled in the SE (nothing to do with the setter’s splendid work but a consequence of my inability to reliably spot definitions, think of synonyms, decipher anagrams etc. etc.). I am therefore relieved to see that some others didn’t find that region plain sailing either. 29a was my last in and involved minor cheating. Lots of clever clues and I chortled at 11a and admired 18a. Thanks very much to the setter and to Shabbo for retrospective assistance with parsing in a couple of places.
Yippee – looks as though it’s Dream Team day again, thank you so much Mr Ed!
Took me a little while to sort out the marital cheat but, beyond that, my biggest problem was to narrow down my ticked clues to sensible proportions. In the end, I plumped for 15,18&27a plus 19d.
Many thanks to Silvanus for the fun and to Shabbo for the review.
A really enjoyable puzzle with not a dodgy surface in sight – thanks to our setter and Shabbo.
My printout is crawling with ticks including 18a, 27a, 3d, 6d, 14d and 16d.
I would say that 10d is two words not one
Chambers lists it as one word.
I agree with you, Kate, although, based on the assumption that today’s setter is Silvanus, I wasn’t surprised to find it in Chambers as one word. However, Collins online shows it as two.
I’ve rarely seen if as one word.
I thought this was quite tricky but persevered. It’s difficult to choose a favourite clue amongst such brilliance but I will plump for 18a with 9a a close second, it’s always satisfying follow the instructions in the clue and then find the resulting word in the BRB. Thanks to setter and Shabbo.
We’re having a treat of a week with another challenging but thoroughly enjoyable puzzle. There were some unusual synonyms and the parsing of a few led to several epiphanies! Favourite was 29a with 9a and 16d as runners up. In each case the clue gave exact instructions which, if followed, meant there could be no mistake. A nod also to the quickie pun. Thanks to our setter and Shabbo.
I was doing well with this one until I came to an abrupt halt in the SE. 24d and 29a were the last to fall.
A great puzzle though.
Top picks for me were 29a, 19d and 16d.
Thanks to Shabbo and the setter.
Really struggled with this and finally admitted defeat with a couple stubbornly holding out on me. I like several others had a particularly hard time with the SE corner.
Did not enjoy this puzzle – although that probably sounds like sour grapes! It was bound to happen as it’s a Thursday and as Arthur Dent said ‘i never could get the hang of Thursday’s’
Thanks to the setter and form the hints which I needed to see how I’d arrived at the answer.
I know all about 9a having endured 9a Bliss for 67 1/2 years! Great crossword. Dashing off now to interview someone for my magazine Profile and not much time. Have decided to get a new computer as I went into total meltdown yesterday – either it or I am cracking up. 18a was very good, almost as good as yesterday’s evening accessory. 2d was my last one in and I needed Shabbo’s hint. It’s been a good week in guzzle land. Many thanks to the Setter and Shabbo
Teenage bride, Daisygirl!
Welcome to the blog, Leigh and Ruth.
How did you get on with the puzzle?
Had to concede defeat in the NE quadrant – although kicking myself having seen the hints!
5*/5*
Still, a cracking puzzle today.
29a my favourite
Thanks to Shabbo and Silvanus?
I needed help on two in the SE to get me finished. But this was an excellent and challenging puzzle to while away time before and after lunch. From a plethora of great clues, I’ll pick a podium of 8d, 18a and 22a in top spot. Thanks to compiler and Shabbo for the much needed hints.
As this is an off week for RayT, I found this one a tad more difficult to get going and proceed through. Lots of clues I can’t figure out the parsing even though the answer has to be what is as it fits the cross check letters. Didn’t really click for me.
3*/3*
Favourites 15a, 28a, 3d & 8d — with winner3d
Thanks to setter & Shabbo
My last one in was 9a; I was initially trying to squeeze the letter J into the 4th space of the answer
An excellent puzzle, which as others have suggested, is probably the work of Silvanus.
Many thanks to the setter, and to Shabbo.
3*/5* for me.
A splendid Thursday puzzle, surely from S? Sublime clues, a quite tricky challenge and an enjoyable tussle. Lots of ticks and I’ll opt for 18a as my favourite – a double homophone and luckily I am well acquainted with that old book. 3.5*/4.5*.
New year, new outlook maybe? Every crossword this week has been thoroughly enjoyable, even Wednesday’s.
Phew, I found that quite a hassle but none the less enjoyable for that. South smoothest ride. Unusual spelling for 24d which I suppose is a sponge. Thank you Mysteryone and Shabbo.
9 a was a new one for me too.
**** for difficulty for me. I rarely need help to finish but had to ‘reveal’ a couple of letters to get me home. 9A was a new word for me, but otherwise tricky but all fair enough and – hopefully it was just an off day for me….
Classy puzzle!! A real challenge throughout, and all perfectly fair. Great fun, just like yesterday. Many thanks!
I must remember to keep mid mornings free on Thursdays and Fridays. Putting myself under time pressure meant that I sought ehelp on a few clues. I know, I know, I could put it aside to finish later, but impetuosity rules.
Anyway, I enjoyed the challenge of this cleverly constructed crozzie. Thank you setter (🐕?) and Shabbo.
Many thanks to Shabbo for such kind words in his introduction and an excellent set of Hints and Tips. Thanks also, of course, to everyone solving and commenting.
I saw recently that, following in the footsteps of the recent “Ludwig”, there is to be another puzzle compiler coming to our screens in 2025 who investigates murders. This time, it will be Phyllis Logan starring as the “Puzzle Lady”, to be shown on Channel 5 in the UK. Maybe I should start wearing a deerstalker, smoking a pipe and playing the violin ?!
Thank you for a great guzzle, silvanus. Will we see you in a cameo pole in “Puzzle Lady” I wonder. 😊
I hope that your neighbours live some distance away if you’re going to take up violin lessons!
Thanks for the tip on ‘The Puzzle Lady’ – based on a series of 20 books by Parnell Hall and it will be available in Canada and the US on PBS!
An excellent puzzle from Silvanus that I found nicely chewy. Bit slow with 1a…..really my brain must have been in La la land. Mm a county beginning with S, ….Surrey , Shropshire etc….. Reader , where the hell do I live but in THE county. Idiot ! Tried hard to make conjugal fit into 9a. Then my last in was 16d. I just couldn’t think of the second word. It came to me in the end of course and the clue was there and very obvious 🙄. I need a drink or a shot of something. Thanks again Silvanus and Shabbo for the hints.
You live in the county, JM? That is hilarious! 🤣
Agreed, SC. It is very funny.
Jenny, you need to change your alias to ‘Somerset M’, similar to the writer, of course.
Having failed miserably over lunchtime at Beam’s toughie (my fault, not his) I feel I have redeemed myself by more or less breezing through this, which I didn’t realise at the time was a Silvanus puzzle. So many to like, AQUARIUS and SOMERSET to name but two. Either I was on the right wavelength, or my teatime bacon baps gave me magical powers. You decide. Thanks all
I got there in the end but only with the help of Shabbo’s hints to confirm I was heading in the right direction’ especially for 9a. A very good week so far. . . Many thanks to Silvanus and Shabbo.
Good evening
With all due respect to our esteemed blogger Shabbingtons, today’s crozzie is a definite fourser! Really found this one a challenge, with several instances of getting up, leaving it, and coming back. Having said which, I got there in the end, with wor lass solving 3d and 12a, and a hintette from the aforementioned Shabbo to complete 19d.
It comes as no surprise to learn that the famous Brain Of Silvanus is responsible for today’s challenge. COTD is the sublime 18d.
Many thanks to Silvanus and to Shabbo.
Agree completely with Shabbo’s opening comments, a top quality puzzle from Silvanus with 14d as my favourite clue
**** / **** This was a proper challenge for a Thursday, but really enjoyed. I think a sign of a good crossword is the variation of comments about best / hardest / worst clues. My favourites were last ones in 23a, 29a and 23d.
Thanks to silvanus and Shabbo
ps 9a new word for me
Not being a Ray T I gave up two thirds of the way through. Off we went to our local, wonderful fresh goods store for trout, salmon and cod where we about froze to death. South Florida is in the grip of an unusually cold winter snap, but the store was chilled as if it were August. However, that chilling seems to have boosted my grey cells as I could fill in the missing boxes when we came home. Wonder if anyone else put in sedition for 29a, which apparently is a piece of music by someone also called Turner. Thought I was so smart until I looked at the hints. Thanks to Silvanus and Shabbo.
Forgot to mention that I have only seen loofah with an “h”? Perhaps that is just this side of the pond.
Definitely this side of the pond too.
I found this really tough. 9a was a new word for me and needed the hint to fully parse 17d. The way things have gone this week tomorrow looks like it’s going to be a snorter. Favourite was 3d. Thanks to Silvanus and Shabbo.
Found this quite difficult but enjoyable until I hit 9a.
A word that 99% of the English speaking world have never used nor heard of. With all the checkers in place there were 4 greek letters that could fit. Never mind, who wants to solve unaided…
Thanks to all.
A cracking puzzle but a fail for me as I put conjugial for 9a. It is a word but I couldn’t parse it. Also, apart from having checking letters, how is one supposed to know which part of 4d is the clue and which is the definition? It looks ambiguous to me. Thanks to Silvanus and Shabbo.
Hi 22:01
I could be wrong but I think ‘is’ in crossword speak means ‘equals’ i.e the word following is the definition.
I assume conjugial is a variant of conjugal which was the first word that came to mind until I realized it is a letter short and ju is not a Greek letter.
Sweet dreams….I assume you’re going to bed like the rest of us or, looking at your alias, have you just woken up?
Sorry, I shouldn’t ask but I’ve been dying to know for yonks why you always post after 10 o’clock. I suppose, if that’s your alias, then it makes sense.
I’m such a wag.
3*/4* …
liked 14D “Two bands held up to ridicule (4-4)”