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DT 30873

by Shabbo  

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30873
Hints and tips by Shabbo

+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +

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

Good morning from a cold and grey Welwyn Garden City.

No prizes for Guess the Setter today.  Brevity of clueing (average 5.4 words/clue), single word answers, a reference to the queen at 27a (albeit not the usual one) and a sweetheart at 22d, all indicate that this is the work of RayT.  Fairly straightforward, but most enjoyable, as ever.

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.

Thank you, Ray.


Across

1a Old soldier volunteers without returning decoration (6)
TASSEL: an abbreviation of the name of former volunteer soldiers (renamed the Army Reserve in 2012) + a word meaning “without” backwards (returning).

5a Borders of short dress giving flash (6)
STROBE: the first and last letters (borders) of ShorT + synonym of dress.

10a Suffering terribly, one isn’t complaining initially (5)
STOIC: initial letters of the first five words of the clue.

11a Indulgence later on changed by church (9)
TOLERANCE: anagram (changed) of LATER ON + abbreviation for Church of England.

12a Probe with tool turning over pit (7)
EXAMINE: a chopping tool backwards (turning over) + synonym of pit.

13a Scent of pine outgrowth around trunk (7)
COLOGNE: the seed-bearing  organ of a conifer outside (around) a synonym of trunk (as in timber).

14a Tie workers in empty plant job (9)
PLACEMENT: tie (a noun – think shoes) + synonym of male workers inside the first and last letters (empty) of PlanT.

17a Possibly demonstrated slick material (5)
SATIN: join together two words meaning “took part in a form of demonstration”.

18a Excited all right, gripped by admiration (5)
AWOKE: a two-letter abbreviation meaning  “all right” inside (gripped by) a word meaning admiration.

19a Resign, more certain taking break (9)
SURRENDER: a word meaning “more certain” outside (taking) a word meaning break or split.

21a Quiet soon envelops northern river (7)
SHANNON: a two-letter word meaning “be quiet” + a synonym of “soon” outside (envelops) abbreviation for Northern will reveal a river in Ireland.

23a Saintly welcoming the disheartened wretched (7)
PITEOUS: synonym of saintly outside (welcoming) the first and last (disheartened) letters of ThE.

25a Model is caught before interior shot (9)
CRITERION: abbreviation for Caught (as recorded on a cricket scorecard) + anagram (shot) of INTERIOR.

26a One ambushed by criminal’s getting coppers (5)
COINS: the letter signifying one inside (ambushed by) a synonym of criminals. I used to keep these in a jar, but I stopped doing it because I don’t like change.

27a Queen with nearly perfect temper (6)
ANNEAL: name of a former English queen + synonym of perfect (or complete) without the final letter (nearly). The answer is a verb.

28a Collector acquiring large plate (6)
SALVER: synonym of collector or hoarder outside (acquiring) abbreviation for Large.

Down

2d Perfume from a foreign capital (5)
AROMA: A + the Italian name for their capital city.

3d Wise suppressing cold anger and profanity (9)
SACRILEGE: synonym of wise outside (suppressing) abbreviation for Cold + synonym of anger (a verb).

4d Drunk, the man is flexible (5)
LITHE: there was some debate yesterday about the use of “ripped” to signify drunk.  Here is another slightly obscure adjective meaning drunk + HE (the man).

5d One’s employment could be brief? (9)
SOLICITOR: a cryptic definition. My lawyer is thick-skinned and charges a lot.

6d Country source of Russian river (5)
RURAL: first letter (source) of Russian + a river forming part of the border between Europe and Asia.

7d Get behind thrashed being ignorant (9)
BENIGHTED: anagram (thrashed) of GET BEHIND.  The definition is not in my everyday vocabulary,  but it is fairly clued.

8d Adult strips rising in bed? (6)
ASLEEP: abbreviation for Adult + synonym of strips (a verb) upside down (this is a down clue). Insomniacs might argue that the definition is not necessarily synonymous with “in bed”, but the question mark at the end of the clue comes to the rescue. I’m not sure about the “surface read”, but am prepared to be overruled.

9d Fellow admitting this compiler is humble (6)
DEMEAN: the resident fellow of a college outside (admitting) how the compiler might refer to himself.

15d Praise America with party helping (9)
ADORATION: single-letter abbreviation for America + two-letter word meaning party + synonym of helping or quota.

16d Lease isn’t modified providing key (9)
ESSENTIAL: anagram (modified) of LEASE ISNT.

17d Dubious Celt with cap is ridiculous (9)
SCEPTICAL: another anagram (dubious) of CELT + CAP + IS.

18d Drink holding bladder for wine? (6)
ALSACE: a type of drink outside (holding) a word meaning bladder (or pouch).

20d Face wreathed in cares is tired (6)
RESIST: hidden word (wreathed) clue.  Our answer is hidden within words 4-6 of the clue.

22d Relative is sweet embracing sweetheart (5)
NIECE: synonym of sweet outside (embracing) the heart of swEet.

23d Chamberpots containing no good smells (5)
PONGS: informal abbreviation for chamberpots outside (containing) abbreviation for No Good (it’s in Chambers).

24d Declare nothing before deal, say (5)
OPINE: the letter signifying nOthing + a generic term for a coniferous tree.

 

Quickie Pun:  CAR  +  MUM  +  BEAR  =  CAMEMBERT

57 comments on “DT 30873”

  1. 2*/4*. Typically RayT. Typically excellent.

    My podium choice is 18a, 28a & 9d but plenty of others came into consideration.

    Many thanks to RayT and to Shabbo.

  3. A very enjoyable Rsy T guzzle today. I liked the geographical Lego clue at 21a and the well-misdirected lego clue at 7d. Also the anagrams at 25a and 11a. Thanks to Ray T for a clever crossword and ro Shabbo for the hints

  4. No change to the batting order for today, as Ray T as it gets – 2.5*/4.5*

    Candidates for favourite – 14a, 17a, 21a, 26a,3d, 4d, and 20d – and the winner is 26a.

    Thanks to Ray T and Shabbo.

  5. Just the right level of challenge, for me at least, with excellent clues throughout. 1a was my last in, possibly because being 7d I hadn’t released that the military organisation referred to is no longer so named. I agree that the word that forms part of 4d is not a common term for being inebriated, although an American friend once described himself thus at a house party in Bonn and the term has somehow stuck in my mind for the last quarter of a century. Thanks very much to the setter for a puzzle from the top drawer and to Shabbo for the hints.

    1. In the words of a WWII song – I’m going to get lit up when the lights go on in London, I’m going to be lit up like I’ve never been before!
      See, it’s useful sometimes being old.

  6. A solid crossy from Arty with his usual box of tricks.

    I biffed 27a, having never heard of that bad boy, and 1a took a while to drop. Other than those, it was fairly plain sailing.

    Good to see RayT keeping the boys at the back of the coach happy with 5a.

    My podium is 21a, 5d (love a crypto deffo, me) and 9d.

    Many thanks to RayT and Shabbs.

    2*/4*

    Oh, love the rhino joke, Shabbers.

  7. A typically fun puzzle from Mr T – thanks to him and Shabbo.
    Was I the only one to write ‘barrister’ straight in for 5d only to have to overwrite it almost immediately.
    Amongst many clues that I’ve ticked I’ll just mention 5a, 17a and 18a.

  8. An excellent puzzle, very enjoyable with just the right amount of head scratching. Too many great clues to pick one. To my shame 25a last in as I failed to spot it was an anagram!

    Many thanks to Ray T and to Shabbo for the hints.

  9. It looked hopeless after the first pass, but then a number of anagram clues were discovered, and then the whole thing came together. I particularly liked 18a (LOI) and 5d. Thanks to the setter and to Shabbo for hints.

  10. A slow start as I got into the solve, then a rapid finish once I fell into the rhythm of the puzzle. I really appreciate this setter’s art, because like all professionals, he makes it look so effortless and easy. It isn’t of course, hence my admiration. I don’t have a particular favourite as the whole grid was pretty outstanding.

    My thanks as always to Mr T and Shabbo.

  11. I know I’m a lone voice but I never enjoy a RayT production I’m sorry to say. I appreciate the brevity but never enjoy the solve. Today was the same as usual. Sorry to be negative – I know it’s purely subjective but as soon as I see sweetheart, queen and no multi word answers I know I’m in for a disappointing time.

    That said I do revere all setters and their skill so thank you and a big thanks to Shabbo for the hints

    1. I mostly struggle with Ray T’s puzzles, and just when I think I have the measure of the man he challenges with something like today, and then I realise he is way above my pay grade. He’s never easy but he does usually clue pretty fairly.

  12. Nice to have a RayT puzzle today as this is his fortnightly visit to the backpager. As always his clues are precise and succinct along with his great clueing to accompany that.
    Nice to see the queen showed up as did his sweetheart to round things out.
    No obscure words and all straightforward, but it did take me a little longer than usual for whatever reason.

    2.5*/4.5* for me.

    Favourites 12a, 21a, 28a, 5d, 6d & 22d — with winner 5d
    Smiles for 12a, 27a & 23d

    Thanks to RayT & Shabbo

  13. I wish I could find a Ray T production as straightforward as some do. Today, for me at least, this was a tricky solve and I needed Shabbo’s hints to confirm a couple of answers that fit, but I could not readily parse. I find Ray T frustrating as, tricky though he is, once completed and viewed in the round, all is very fair. I clearly need to change my approach to his puzzles. Thanks to Ray T for the challenge and Shabbo for the hints.

  14. I too put in “barrister” first before I realised the error of my ways. A great puzzle and plenty of nice surfaces.

  15. Another great puzzle from RayT. Thank you to him and to Shabbo for the hints. As was the case yesterday with “ripped”, a comparison of entries from the three dictionaries cited on the Collins website (the British Collins and the American Webster’s and Random House) would lead one to conclude that today’s synonym for enebriated is also likely an American usage. In 17d, I would reverse the definition and indicator with the former being “dubious” and the latter being “ridiculous”.

  16. Thank you to Ray T, Shabbo, and the other commenters. Personally I thought the quickie pun was a bit cheesy …

    Fortunately I knew 4d’s drunk word from a Puzzled Pint puzzle in 2021: “Old-school slang for drunk, new-school slang for excellent (3)”. At the time I wasn’t aware of either of the meanings, but somehow they stuck.

    Has the puzzles website changed for anybody else today? Pressing the Tab key used to cycle through each answer slot in the grid, but that’s no longer working and I’m now having to do a lot of tedious mousework instead.

    1. Yes, something has definitely changed on the puzzles website. The options ‘Skip filled squares’ and ‘Hide completed clues’ which I always have switched off now seem to be pre-set to ‘on’ so that I have to change them.

        1. The shower of coloured stars (whatever) when a puzzle is completed in the app is childish and very annoying! As is the resetting of preferences. The DT’s app compilers need to get a solid grip.

  17. Will have to settle for a DNF today as I just don’t have time to unravel all of this today. I found this more of a ***, or higher. Not sure I would ever equate resign with surrender. Visited 13a a few years ago and was surprised at how badly in need of a cleaning the Cathedral was. Best view was from the Rhine at night. Thanks to RayT and Shabbo.

      1. A third change of alias sent you into moderation. All three, this one, janimou (last used in 2023) and Groamers (in 2021), will work from now on

  18. Went to the dentist in Cambridge this morning and then to Waitrose so missed my lunchtime solve. Lovely guzzle, thank you RayT I particularly liked 11a and 28a. I did put odour in 2d which threw me off course a bit but it all came together. Funny weather, pouring with rain, bright sunshine and oh so cold. I don’t care so long as I see the blood moon tonight. We used to call a ‘po’ a gersunder. Thank you Shabbo.

    1. There’s bright sunshine here now as well. If I’d known, I’d’ve popped out to the library mid-afternoon rather than at lunchtime, when I encountered surprise hailstones viciously bouncing off me as I returned to the office!

  19. It’s me again. The Po clue reminded me, my mother was a real character, very pretty but naughty. When my father took her to meet a branch of the Angus family in a very remote rural area, she was amused that there were outside privies and gersunders beneath all the beds. On the second night she put Sedlitz powders in them all which caused a great deal of consternation during the night with the resulting effervescence! No one ever let her forget it.

    1. Gersunder (or guzunder) – what a great word! So called because it guzunder the bed, apparently.

        1. When I was a child, I was fascinated by our large pottery guzunder, which had a large single eye painted inside on the base. Like many others we had an outside loo with no lighting, which made nightime viaits most unpleasant.

          1. About time we revived British toilet humour…

            Who would you put in a new version?

        3. Similarly, I was expecting it to be in The OED, but that only has the house-buying meaning of the corollary to gazump. Given the terms that those dictionaries do include, I’m surprised that this one hasn’t made it to either of them; I hadn’t realized it was particularly obscure.

          1. I’ve just been informed by a friend that it is in the BRB spelt “gazunder”. There are three meanings:
            – (verb) reducing the sum offered for a property
            – (noun) a chamberpot
            – (noun) a low ball in cricket
            The last two are described as mainly Australian.
            The most famous cricketing example was from 1981 and it led to a falling out between the Australian and New Zealand governments. NZ needed a six off the last ball of the match in order for the game to be a tie. The Australian captain instructed the bowler (who also happened to be his younger brother) to deliver the ball underarm, rolling it along the ground, as it would be an impossibility to hit this for six.
            The laws of cricket have since been changed to prevent recurrence!

  20. A gentle but fun RayT … just needed to look up ‘temper’ synonyms for 27a to complete – therefore one ‘assist’ for a Thursday, which for me is good going. Thank you Shabbo

  21. Either I am finally getting onto RayT’s wavelength or it was a lot easier then usual – either way, fastest ever RayT Thursday solve for me, but as always many clever clues….

  22. I always find Mr T a tad challenging and this was no exception, but I got there in the end. Didn’t know this particular definition at 7d. Thanks Shabbo for explaining the parsing and Mr T, of course.

  23. No problems with this one (unlike his Beamer in the Prize Sunday Toughie spot – still 3 shy despite SJB declaring it reasonably floughie) & all completed with a minimum of fuss. Remembered the chamberpot (love guzunder in a Brummie accent) but can’t say I’d have been able to define the word at 7d without the context of the clue. ✅s at 23&25a +3,5&18d.
    Thanks to Ray T & to Shabbo.

  24. Evening all. My thanks to Shabbo for the illumination and to everybody who left a comment. As always, much appreciated.

    RayT

    1. Thanks for a great puzzle Mr T. Just about the right level of difficulty for me! No really obvious answers but all fair and solvable with some head scratching.

  25. A step up in difficulty today. Unaware of the chamberpot synonym but the answer was evident from the checkers.
    9d was my fav today.
    3*/4*
    Thanks to Ray and Shabbo

  26. I made heavy weather of this earlier when I started. Had things on my mind that needed doing , so it was a slow start. Resumed it this evening with a clear head and everything fell into place. An enjoyable solve. Thanks Ray T and Shabbo.

  27. I made steady and certainly not rapid progress with this with a number of stumbling blocks in the north but Rayt is my favourite setter and always fair and I always appreciate the challenge, today was no exception. Favourite was 23a. Thanks to Rayt and Shabbo.

  28. All done…apart from 11a..I knew OK was inside a 3 letter.. kept thinking EVOKE which put me off…many thanks..Doug.

  29. I am definitely a lurker but have noted the absence of Jane’s comments for several days and wonder if she is alright. Like her I have great admiration for Ray T!

    1. In your previous comment (6 years ago!!!) you were Jamgran. Both aliases should work in future.
      I hope that you’ll become a regular commenter.
      Jane currently is suffering from computer problems.

  30. I have been getting better with RayT recently but today I was not really able to start. Partly due to coming straight from a work social.

    I will probably revisit in the morning despite a likely hangover.

    Thanks to all.

  31. Good evening

    Our esteemed blogger has today’s crozzie pegged as a two-star; crikey! At the very least it’s a threeser.

    Obviously the work of the Mighty Mr T; in true RayT fashion, he kept me working right to the very end; the SW quadrant proving the toughest, and 25a taking the longest to figure out. A huge sigh of relief when it fell, and it is my COTD.

    Many thanks to the Mighty Mr T and to Shabbo.

  32. 2* / 4* Steady progress, had to check a few new words to me 7d and 27a
    Plenty of good clues, but favourite the quickie pun
    Thanks to RayT and Shabbo

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