DT 30939

87 comments on “DT 30939”

1. More bung-ins than a game on a 10yd wide football pitch for me today, then work backwards to see the why of it.

   Still no idea how 15a, 13a and 24a work so will see the hints.

   Hope others liked it, but not one for me today.

2. A lot of guesswork went into my solutions ro this fuzzle i managed to work out the parsing after I had written most of them in but shall be reading Shabbo’s hints for the rest. I liked the geographical clue at 16d, the big Lego cluesat 17a and 14d and the 9d anagram. Thanks to Shabbo for the hints and to the compilerm

   1. I think i prefer fuzzle to puzzle and guzzle! 😃

3. 3*/5*. I found this nicely challenging and joy to solve from start to finish, except for being reminded of how painful having gout is! The smart clueing and smoothness of the surfaces can lead to only one conclusion as to the identity of the setter.

   I wouldn’t know where to begin to select clues for a podium. They are all brilliant.

   Many thanks to Silvanus surely, and to Shabbo.

   And now for a Beam Toughie. Heaven!

4. For anyone struggling to fully parse 13a, Vera is the TV detective. Thanks to Shabbo and the setter.

   1. Ta for that Toady, I had no idea about the tec.

      1. I’ll try to oblige. My use of the telephone keyboard is unpredictable as I am missing part of my field of vision due to a stroke. Even when I try to check my comment I still come up with some howlers😏

   2. Thanks, one of my favourite shows, and sorry they are not making any more.

5. I struggled with this but got there in the end. Needed Shabbo’s help with parsing 15a.

   Top picks for me were 16d, 8d, 10a, 25a and 21a.

   The quickie pun also made me smile.

   Thanks to Shabbo and the setter.

6. This was hard work with, like TC says, too much reverse engineering to make it enjoyable. 24a and 14d are two examples of this.

   I have said it before but asking us to think of a synonym which isn’t the obvious one and taking off the outside letters is one too far for us mere mortals. That sort of clue should be for The Times. In this case a synonym for legume. My LOI was 13a as I’ve never heard of the TV detective which, having looked it up, I am surprised as there have been 14 seasons.

   I’m aware of inst meaning this month but not the one for last month. So, that has been noted.

   For those that are interested in etymology, the ending of 10a derives from the Greek for ‘flow’ which we see in ‘dia***oea’ (flow through – so apt!) and ‘haemo***age’ (blood flow). The Rhine and Rhone have the same root as they also flow,

   My podium is 4a, 17a and 9d.

   MT to the setter and Shabbs.

   4*/3*

   1. A quick P.S….

      Does anyone know if the synonym for garden is used in The UK or is it just in the good old US of A?

      1. No geographical attribution in the BRB.

      2. In my experience, yard is used in both the UK and US but the meaning differs. I grew up in Birmingham UK), so as with our spelling of “Mom”, this might be regional. We called an almost exclusively grassed area outside the house a garden but a paved area was a yard. In the US, I found that a garden had to include flowers, tress, plants etc. An exclusively grassed area would be called a yard. My US references would regionally be the mid-west mostly.

         1. Thanks for that, AP.

            I have never heard someone call what I call a garden ‘a yard’.

            So, to me, it’s an Americanism. Saying that, setters are red hot on this sort of thing. Maybe they feel an Americanism doesn’t need an indicator?

            Who knows.

            1. Tom, to me, a yard is an area without plants so not a garden. I think we must use it in the UK somewhere as we have NIMBY – not in my back yard, unless of course that isn’t a homegrown acronym/phrase!

               1. Nimby originated from The States. We could change it to Nimg but it doesn’t sound so catchy.

                  I’m glad you agree that a yard isn’t a garden.

            2. There’s no obligation to indicate Americanisms in DT crosswords clues. Most setters regularly omit them, especially if they are very well-known like this one, and CL often agrees by allowing them. It is the setters and CL who decide the rules/conventions, not regulars on this blog.

               1. To me, an Americanism needs an indicator which I appreciate most setters don’t agree with.

                  I will always knock half a point off my ratings.

         2. My American friends know that I loved gardening which they refer to as “ yard work “.

      3. My grandmother, born in 1890 in Berkshire, always referred to the area outside her house as the yard, never the garden.

         1. Thanks for that, LG.

            I reckon the setter has never used the term yard when they mean garden. It’s so rare, well, in my lifetime, anyway.

            1. We had two areas at the back of the house when I was a child. The area immediately outside the back door was concrete and was referred to as the yard. Beyond that was grass and flower beds referred to as the garden.

               1. Yep, I’m okay with that as you’re not calling a garden ‘a yard’.

                  It’s an Americanism and, many moons ago, a Berkshireism.

               2. I think the implication in the UK is ofa paved area attached to a house being a yard. A schoolyard is usually paved too

      4. I never called it a yard before we moved across the pond, and 43 years later I still never do. It’s my garden, not my yard.

         1. Good to know, BL.

   2. And prox (proximo) for next month!

      1. Thanks, S.

         I’ve never heard someone in Blighty say **** when referring to their garden, i.e a place that’s not for work or storage.

         So, I’ll change my score for enjoyment from 3* to 2.5* until someone tells me otherwise.

   3. TDS65. Don’t forget proximo/prox meaning “next month”.

      1. Sorry, just seen that Senf beat me to it. Never mind, no harm done.

         1. No problem, my wordsmith pardner. It’s always good to know that you’re out there ready to assist/correct/add/question/discuss/argue/debate/clarify.

            1. Yes. Of late, there seems to be a distinct lack of friendly, robust debate, discussion, argument on here – despite your efforts to inculcate them. So, see below …

   4. Tom, 25a (my favourite clue today). For a bit of balance, this clue uses 3 common devices seen regularly in DT cryptic puzzles. Bank nearly always = rely; legume almost invariably = lentil; the oft-seen “being peeled” (or similar) = remove outer letters. Not so obscure, really.

      1. I would put bean way ahead of lentil. But, maybe that’s just me. Saying that, I see AlfiePopsicle feels the same.

         If lentil was the only option then absolutely no problem.

         Today’s setter has asked us, in 12a, to use the first and last letters of arson that’s in the clue which works for me. Getting us to think of a synonym to strip is always an ask. Thinking of a synonym that isn’t the obvious choice, well, for me and Popsicle, is one too far.

         1. But in most cryptic clues we have to find a synonym (usually one of several possibilities) for a word in the clue. So, that’s normal and we’ve found a likely candidate. Now, in 25a there’s a clear indication (being stripped) to then remove the outer letters of the synonym. That’s not so obscure/difficult – hardly what you’d call rocket science.

            1. Sorry to sound like a scratched record but I think it’s a very hard clue when it’s not the most obvious synonym, ie bean.

               And that’s where we differ.

7. A great crossword with superb surfaces which, for me, always make a puzzle more enjoyable. As to the podium, so many candidates but 15a, 14d and 24a rocked my boat especially for the reverend looking at his teeth. **/****

   Happy days in the early 60’s reading the Eagle. One good thing about it was that the pages weren’t stapled together so four boys could split it between them when it arrived and didn’t have to fight about it during breakfast.

   The Isle of Man is popular today.

   1. More popular next week as the TT starts, £350 for the ferry journey, ah, monopolies…..

8. A steady flow through as usual with this setter (presumed) only the tropical fish gave pause until I remembered the dentist of my youth, why did they all have tanks full of them?
   Thanks to Shabbo and Setter

9. A tough Thursday at ***/*** for me. Nice not to have too many anagrams and they were quite tricky. Thanks Shabbo for the hints. Needed for 25a and 22d to fully understand. My COTD was the clever 16d. Thanks to the setter for the challenge.

10. A lot of head scratching trying to parse some answers after entering them in the grid. At the end, 15a still eluded me so am grateful to Shabbo for piecing it together for me via the hints. Not sure I’m as generous on the enjoyment rating as Shabbo, more a sense of relief at completion. 8d made me smile, so is on the podium with 4a and oldie but goodie, 20d. Thanks to compiler and Shabbo.

11. Super, super crossword, a real cracker. Thought it was going to be more of a challenge than turned out to be the case. Great surfaces. Nice mixture of clues. Archdeacon appeared in another puzzle earlier this week, so the abbrev. fortunately came to mind straight-away. 13a my LOI and unparsed, not being a great TV viewer. Wondered about use of delay in 2 to make a letter descend in a down clue.

    Honours to COTD 10a, with 15a, 21a & 8d close behind.

    Many thanks to the setter (surely a Silvanus production?) and to Shabbo

    1. Hi MG

       I agree with you about using ‘delay’ for a letter shift. But, going along with anagram indicators being out of control these days, I suppose setters can do what they want.

       I applaud them pushing the envelope which Mr Tumble does but ‘delay’ is piledriving it.

       1. Hi Tom

          I have no issue whatever with delay being used to move a letter within a word as it’s a fair and accepted device (likewise cycle to move 1 or more letters from front to back in rotation, which is not the same as it being an anagram), but to me it does rather smack of being a horizontal sort of exercise, rather than vertical. Similarly ‘on’ works differently in across and down clues.

          Re your issue with stripping the legume, I have to disagree – which won’t surprise you. We are very often asked to think of a synonym and then do something to it. For example, in this puzzle you conduct an operation on a synonym in the following clues: 1a, 4a, 11a, 13a, 21a, 25a, 26a, 2d, 14d, 19d, 20d. Standard cryptic fare!

          1. Hi MG

             Nearly all of your examples don’t take any letters off the synonym and they work for me, no problem. They are standard fare.

             Out of the two that do, 14d is the same as 25a, i.e really hard. 20d isn’t too bad as the answer is one word without the first letter of the synonym, as opposed to it being part of a word. Whereas, in 14d, it’s not obvious what letters two to six are. Most definitely not standard fare.

             If lentil is the obvious synonym then I may accept it. But, to me, it’s not.

             I misunderstood your query with ‘delay’ though I still have an issue with it. I’m now used to ‘cycle’ which passes muster because, if you write the word in a circle, no letters have been changed. Moving the first one down is not easy but there are way better words to use than ‘delay’. Saying that, I need to accept it and move on.

12. Almost a dnf! Stymied by the excellent 13a, even when I had the two checkers, trying to dismantle the clue incorrectly looking for ‘a London detective on screen’ and a synonym of ‘lacking in truthfulness.’ Not helped by the ‘ignorance’ of the TV series although after the tea tray sized PDM on the ‘correct’ dismantling of the clue I realised that we have seen ‘her’ before.

    An excellent challenge that can only be the work of the Master of Smooth.

    Candidates for favourite – the aforementioned 13a, 23a, 7d, and 16d – and the winner is 16d.

    Thanks to Silvanus, or whomsoever if it is not he, and to Shabbo.

13. Thanks Shabbo and setter. A pleasantly challenging puzzle but not so much as to fry my brain. The 22d homophone didn’t really work for me, but in contrast I liked the clever man at 16d. ***/****

14. A really enjoyable puzzle – thanks to our setter and Shabbo.
    I have masses of ticks on my printout including 4a, 10a, 13a and 25a.

15. That was pleasingly testing with some outstanding clueing to push out the solving time a tad. 13a was my final entry and that can be my nomination for a favourite, although, in truth, it could easily have been an opportunity for using my trusty pin.

    Many thanks to Silvanus for a fine puzzle, and to Shabbo.

16. Took a few attempts but made it in the end. Didn’t fully parse 2d not 13a. So thanks for enlightening me with the hints.

    A real treat so thank you setter – and of course to Shabbo

17. An excellent Thursday puzzle. Great clues, a good challenge and a satisfying solve. A few of the clues were of Friday back-pager or even midweek Toughie calibre – but no complaints from me! Lots of ticks and I’ll go for 25a as my favourite. 3.5*/4*.

    *I had to smile when the first three answers read: Agony: brings up catarrh.

    1. Great spot!

    2. 😀

18. Looks as though I’ve been treated to another Dream Team day so many thanks to the team at Telegraph Towers!
    Almost impossible to leave any clue without a podium place but have eventually made room at the top for 4&13a (excellent series) plus 8&16d with a special mention for 10a.

    My thanks to the brilliant mind of Silvanus and to Shabbo for the excellent review.

19. I always struggle with this setter and today was no exception. Flew through the East like an oligarch but was sanctioned to a pauper in the West! For the life of me, I can’t make the homophone in 22d work. I got the US leg-end but thought I must be wrong and I still can’t match the sound to what I think the homophone must be. Agree with the pile driving comment on the 25a stripped legume too.

    Having said all that, one has to admire the surfaces and the 1a, 15a and 2d ticks derive from their smoothness.

    Thanks to Silvanus? and Shabbo.

    1. I guess it depends on how you pronounce her name. To me her name has always sounded like Share and definitely not Chair, Chur, or Shur. “YMMV” of course!

       1. That’s my pronunciation too!

    2. This was a toughie for me, and I needed electronic help to complete it – but I did manage 22d after a bit of crumpet-scratching. Alfiepops – the homophone is “share” as in a share (or cut) of the prize money?

    3. Cut in 22d = share.

       1. Ah, the two-ton truck drops – got it at last, thanks Shabbo!

20. Well, that was a tussle and no mistake. Enjoyable but needed some thought. I solved only three on the first pass then sat looking at it over my coffee and sourdough toast in Booka. Gradually, it began to reveal itself and, although it took longer than usual, I managed to complete it. The last to fall was 16d and that became my COTD when the penny dropped. As usual, I was thinking of the wrong man.

    Thank you, setter (sylvanus?) for an enjoyable and satisfying guzzle. Thank you, Shabbo for the hints. Thank you for the picture of the Cardinal which took me back years to the time I kept tropical fish.

    1. What is it with dentists and 🐠?

       1. They calm the patients — and the dentist! 😊

21. Somewhat of a curate’s egg for me but overall I did enjoy it with a bit of outside help. 25a legume didn’t occur to me nor did 22d cut. 3d garden is such an ordinary transatlantic way of referring to it and 16d “plant” is rather broad. TVM setter (am fascinated to know identity) and Shabbo.

22. An excellent puzzle which for me was challenging. I could not parse 13a until I saw the hints ( I did know the detective) and I needed a letter reveal for 14d which was my last one in. I was very pleased that I managed so much of it on my own, 16d was my favourite.

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

23. RayT off weeks are generally off weeks for me too, in the solving dept.
    No different with this puzzle. Lots of the parsing is not fathomable to me, as well as some of the clues not making sense leading to the answer to my way of thinking.

    3*/2* today

    Favourites from those that made sense to me … 17a, 7d, 9d, 12d, 16d & 20d — with co-winners 17a & 12d
    I’ve never heard of 10a or 8d

    Nonetheless thanks to setter & to Shabbo

24. I should know better than to attempt on non RayT Thursdays. More of a **** for me, so not a lot of fun. But things to do so glad of the extra time.

25. Many thanks to Shabbo for his Hints and Tips and very kind introductory remarks and to all those solving and commenting.

    As always, many interesting observations and some unexpected points raised. As a Telegraph setter, one is always obliged to defer to Chambers in respect of definitions. If Chambers defines “yard” as “a garden”, I’m in no place to argue otherwise. The discussion on “delay” was an interesting one, personally I don’t see why it would be less valid in a Down clue than an Across one, but I think I understand the argument put forward.

    See you all again next month.

    1. Thank you for the puzzle and the conversations it generated! A double bonus!!

    2. Thanks, Silvanus.
       Even RD didn’t complain about “yard”, so I think you are on very safe ground there!
       Great puzzle.

    3. Hi S

       I’m amazed that Chambers and other dictionaries don’t have it as an Americanism as I’ve never heard anyone call it that in The UK.

       This is the Wiki definition which I appreciate is nowhere near gospel:

       ”The term “garden” in British English refers to a small enclosed area of land, usually adjoining a building. This would be referred to as a yard in American English.”

       Thanks for the challenge.

    4. Thank you for a great guzzle, silvanus and, for once, I identified the setter. 😊

       As I stated above, when I was child we had a yard and a garden so I am quite happy with the term.

26. I could see this was a quality puzzle but with three events on today I never had the quality time to devote to it. Probably would have bunged in the answer to 13 across without being able to parse it as I don’t watch much TV. Did not get all of 12 and 15 across and could not parse 21 across. Short by 3 clues and clueless on some of the parsing so a DNF. However am in admiration for the setter and grateful to Shabbo for putting me out of my 1 across.

27. Spent as long parsing 13a, 15a, 2d and 14d as I did in filling in the rest of this one. Vera totally eluded me, even though I’ve watched the show many times.
    The surface of 1a indicated an enjoyable puzzle and the rest did not disappoint.
    Some great comments today, particularly the yard debate. (Tom, I love your comments: If you lived in my village we’d have great fun in the pub, though it could get Lionel!)
    Thanks Shabbo and Silvanus.

28. Way beyond my abilities and time available today.

    Managed to get the fairly obvious 17a and not even the checkers for anything else.

    Thanks to all.

29. 3* / 4* An enjoyable challenge but a definite step up today. Favourites 22d when I eventually realised the correct definition of cut, 16d where Man found and 13a brilliant
    Quickie pun also top notch
    Thanks to Sylvanus and Shabbo

30. Clearly designed for those of a certain age (old)! Enjoyable nevertheless. Thanks setter and Shabbo for some needed explanations.

31. I think I’m far too young for this offering
    I enjoyed the clues I could parse, unfortunately rather too much reverse engineering for my tastes
    5*/2*
    Thanks to all

32. Difficult with a capital D, oh it has. Needed Toadson @4 to parse 13a, thank you, and the hint to parse 22d, just couldn’t see it, all the rest I managed on my own. Some real head scratchers and lots of candidates for favourite with 8d just shading it. Thanks to Silvanus and Shabbo.

33. Dont ever leave us Shabbo…your explanations are as entertaining as the crossie….15A…I still had to read it…again..and again… Then the penny dropped…Great crossword…well done setter…very clever…many more please….thanks…Doug Smith..

    1. Thank you, Doug.
       That is very kind.

34. All the usual class that comes as standard with a Smooth production. Ticks all over the shop with extra big ‘uns against 10,21&25a along with 14,16&22d.
    Thanks to Silvanus & to Shabbo – who will raise his bat with next Tuesday’s blog as I’m working.

35. May I ask how long it took you to solve this…solving it and then putting hints in must have taken some time…?
    Amazing…cheers..Doug.

    1. Sorry, but we are not allowed to discuss solving times on Big Dave. See Comment 6. in Comment Etiquette.
       I normally allow a couple of hours to write the blog and post it on WordPress.

36. Bit tricky for me today, but to be expected on a Thursday. Can’t sail through the whole week!
    Thank you for your efforts Shabbo, your help was needed. And thank you setter for the challenge. 17a the best for me. Have had many of those in the car!

37. Far too tricky for me – gave up after four clues.

38. 4*/4* ….
    liked 17A “Annoying car passenger favours snack approaching golf club (4-4,6)”

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