DT 30951 – Big Dave's Crossword Blog
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DT 30951

by Shabbo  

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30951
Hints and tips by Shabbo

+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +

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

Another excellent Thursday puzzle which was a joy to solve.  I will not attempt to guess the setter, as that would spoil it for you, dear reader.  Just one observation – it’s not RayT!

Ticks for me for 10a, 11a, 23a, 24a, 28a, 8d, 15d, 17d, 19d and 22d.  Which ones did you like best?

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.

Many thanks to our setter and the DT Crossword Team.


Across
1a Why be ratty strangely about son’s university? (11)
ABERYSTWYTH: not an easy word to spell and definitely not an easy word to clue.  Hats off to our setter for taking on this challenge on the very first clue.  Anagram (strangely) of WHY BE RATTY outside (about) abbreviation for Son.  The question mark indicates that it is a “definition by example”.

10a Pester husband to approach bank miles away (5)
HOUND: no knowledge of finance is required here. Abbreviation for Husband + a synonym of bank or incline, without the M (miles away).

11a Some declare bill is regressive and prejudiced (9)
ILLIBERAL: hidden word backwards (some…regressive).  Our solution is lurking backwards within words 2-4 of the clue.

12a Recent moves involving retiring City international reserve (9)
RETICENCE: anagram (moves) of RECENT outside (involving) the postal district of the City of London + abbreviation for International backwards (retiring).

13a Food items one has in casino? (5)
CHIPS: double definition.

14a Unfriendly nation, it’s said (6)
CHILLY: homophone (it’s said) of a South American country.

16a Type of pudding, one Liam’s cooked (8)
SEMOLINA: anagram (cooked) of ONE LIAMS.  Memories of school dinners. Is it served anywhere else?

18a Put right about holiday destination in papers, Spain (8)
REMEDIED: abbreviation for about (think business letters) + abbreviation of a favourite place to holiday in Europe + the vehicle registration plate for Spain inside abbreviation for (identity) papers.

20a Bill admits politician mostly is okay (6)
AGREED: bill here is an advertisement (abbreviated). Inside of this (admits), insert an eco-politician without the final letter (mostly).

23a Dark colour of river hard to ignore (5)
UMBER: the river that runs through Hull without the initial letter (Hard to ignore).

24a Gym equipment engineer trialled, accepting money originally (9)
TREADMILL: anagram (engineer) of TRIALLED + M (money originally).

26a Recognise difference in skill behind revolutionary mattress (4,5)
TELL APART: synonym of skill after a synonym of mattress (it’s in Chambers) reversed (revolutionary).

27a Find each job oddly lacking in this state (5)
IDAHO: join together the even numbered letters (oddly lacking) of fInD eAcH jOb.

28a Fashionably faded vest – one was hedonistically exhibiting it? (11)
STONEWASHED: hidden word (exhibiting it) lurking (and very well concealed!) within words 3-6 of the clue.  Apparently small pumice stones are added to the wash to create the desired effect.

 

Down
2d Tactless spy unmasked (5)
BLUNT: I wondered for a while whether this was a triple definition, but I think it is “just” a double definition as indicated above.

3d US city detectives right over arresting a reformer (7)
RADICAL: abbreviation of a west coast US city + abbreviation for UK detectives + Right all reversed (over – this is a down clue) outside (arresting) A.

4d Disheartened missing sport (6)
SKIING: synonym of missing or shirking without the middle letter (disheartened).

5d Glaring angrily, playwright you once ultimately married (4-4)
WILD-EYED: did anyone else start off with “wide” as the first word? Oscar is our playwright + YE (you once) + the final letter (ultimately) of marrieD.

6d Leaves old explorer heading north outside Chad’s capital (7)
TOBACCO: abbreviation for Old + former Venetian explorer upside down (heading north) outside the first letter (capital) of Chad.

7d Inadequate and roundabout ways to find electrical faults (5,8)
SHORT CIRCUITS: synonym of inadequate + synonym of roundabout ways.

8d Trick using heart he refused providing diamonds (8)
ARTIFICE: (he)ART (he refused) + two-letter synonym of providing + slang term for diamonds.

9d When working, what butchers observe in human nature (5,3,5)
FLESH AND BLOOD: double definition.

15d This writer’s phone gets fixed (8)
IMMOBILE: two letters meaning “this writer is” + synonym of cellular phone.

17d Check news story at intervals during weather forecast? (8)
RESTRAIN: nEwS sToRy (at intervals) inside (during) a wet weather forecast.

19d Stepped up to guard chap sleeping (7)
DORMANT: synonym of stepped reversed (up) outside (to guard) synonym of chap.

21d Two dig ground, attracting small birds (7)
GODWITS: no problem for Jane on this one.  An anagram (ground) of TWO DIG + abbreviation for Small will reveal elegant wading birds. The one illustrated below has a dead straight bill, indicating that it is the black-tailed species.

22d Confer over wearing one’s smartest clothes elsewhere essentially (6)
BESTOW: cricketing abbreviation for Over inside a synonym of “smartest clothes” + the middle letter (essentially) of elseWhere. The definition here means award rather than discuss.

25d Angry plagiarist blows top (5)
IRATE: synonym of plagiarist without the initial letter (blows top).

Quickie Pun:  BELT  +  TANNED  +  PRAISES  =  BELT AND BRACES

70 comments on “DT 30951”

  1. Took me a while to get into this. Having done so it flowed well. Shabbo’s scoring I thought bang on. 21d a new one for me but guessable. I did like 6d which was well constructed I thought. A tricky day all in all but a great challenge. Thanks Shabbo – I needed the hints for 4d. Thanks setter!

      1. I have just checked my bicycle and it has a bell but no belt, so I think you are correct.
        Thank you.

  2. A little slow to get a foothold at had to take a circuitous route in what was a very enjoyable puzzle. A step up in difficulty but a fair and fun test.

    Thanks to the setter and to Shabbo for the hints

  3. Well if, as Shabbo writes, it is not the work of Master of Brevity the next option for a Thursday is that it is the work of the Master of Smooth and this very enjoyable challenge definitely appears to qualify for that descriptor – 2.5*/4.5*

    Candidates for favourite – 1a, 10a, 28a, 2d, and 7d – and the winner is 2d,

    Thanks to Silvanus, or whomsoever in the unlikely event that it is not he, and thanks to Shabbo.

  4. Slow but steady progress until I ground to a halt in the SW and resorted to a couple of hints to kick start a revival. Of the unaided clues completed, 2d takes the plaudits and is my cotd. A truly excellent clue. Thanks to compiler and Shabbo.

  5. Lovely stuff. 28a tickled me, 6d reads well and 8d is smart. Etc. Best thanks to setter and Shabbo.

  6. This was not nearly as difficult as last Thursday. Steady solve. Not 100% sure of the parsing of 18a, so will have a look at the hints after. My COTD has got to be 1a, as I lived and worked there for 35 years. I also liked 26a. Thanks to Shabbo for hints, and to the setter.

  7. I found it hard to get a start today and the clues were the opposite to Mr T’s, vcomplex and convoluted, with the parsing clearer in retrospect. I did enjoy the 1a anagram of an establishment, which two friends of mine attended, the lurker at 28a and the birds anagram at 21d. Thanks to the cimpiler and to Shabbo for the hints.

  8. Takes a brave setter to find a way to anagram the definition at 1a and I reckon that Mr Smooth is just the man for the job! As always, enviable surface reads and plenty to smile about – my personal choices being 26&28a plus 7,9&21d – the latter being elegant wading birds as our reviewer says but they won’t knock avocets off the top perch for me!

    Many thanks to Silvanus and to Shabbo for the review.

      1. Trouble is that egrets and herons tend to have a hunched over appearance at rest which rather detracts from any elegance.

  9. A top-notch puzzle – thanks to our setter and Shabbo.
    Like our blogger I considered whether 2d might be a ‘triple’ and I think that it probably is, otherwise why would the final word of the clue be needed?
    Plaudits from me for 10a, 11a, 28a and 15d.

    1. Hopefully our setter will drop in to clarify. I’ll wager a pint of Otter bitter that it’s a double, but am quite prepared to lose my bet!

        1. I am not very familiar with Devon beers, but quite happy to up the ante to Exmoor Gold.

      1. I thought that unmasked (in the sense of undisguised) meant unvarnished (e.g. he had a ***** message for his fans).

        1. I don’t really like it but it does explain the ‘unmasked’ element of the clue – thanks, Gazza.

  10. I found this quite tricky today, and there was not much difference in my solving time between this and the toughie.
    I kicked myself for not spotting the lurker at 28a sooner, and for that reason, it gets my vote.

    Many thanks to the setter and to Shabbo.

  11. For me, and I stress for me <- (wrong day!), I have never needed so much help (thanks Shabbo) for a guzzle in a l-o-n-g time.
    It's an absolutely terrific guzzle, but beyond my capabilities. A bit like the England forward line attempting to score against Andorra and Senegal.

    Thanks to the setter and Shabba-dabba-doo

  12. As this is RayT’s week off I expected I would find the replacement setters puzzle to be trickier for me … and I was not wrong.
    Struggled somewhat on a few clues all over the grid, but eventually all came to light.

    2.5*/3.5*

    Favourites 1a, 13a, 6d, 7d & 15d — with winner 6d

    Thanks to Silvanus & Shabbo
    I look forward to a RayT puzzle next week!

  13. 3*/5*. I found that three quarters of this dazzlingly enjoyable puzzle was 2* in terms of difficulty, with the SW corner 4*+. The whole thing was indisputably 5* for enjoyment though.

    Many thanks presumably to Silvanus and also to Shabbo.

    RIP Brian Wilson, one of the all-time musical greats. A tortured genius.

  14. This was a real belter of a puzzle to cheer up what has become a grey and damp morning. With so much to enjoy, picking a winner is not easy, but the surface of 1a is so brilliant I have to select it.

    My thanks to Silvanus for a highly enjoyable and testing grid, and to Shabbo.

  15. One of the best back pagers for quite some time. Some cracking surfaces and ticks all over the place.
    I’ve picked out 24a, 28a and 17d from a hotly contested podium.
    Chapeau setter and thanks Shabbo for the

  16. Absolute cracker. Started in the SE and moved steadily W & N. A wonderful puzzle with which to start the morning (completed by 05:30!) and to wake up the LGCs. A faultless challenge from our Setter. Honours to 1a, 28a and 17d, but I could add a further 20+ clues that all vied for the podium.

    Many thanks indeed to Silvanus or whomsoever else it may be if not he, and also of course to Shabbo.

  17. Tough for me and needed some help to complete – that makes it odds on to be Silvanus as I always have trouble with his productions, but I am certainly not complaining as it was all fair and above board, just a salutary reminder of the limits of my cruciverbal abilities.

  18. An excellent end-of-the-week workout from Mr Smoooooooooooooooth with my LOI being 22d.

    I usually get lurkers and srekrul in a heartbeat but, for the first time, I needed a checker with 11a.

    The way I remember how to spell 1a is spelling it ‘rist with’ and replacing the Is with Ys.

    My podium is 1a, 3d (great construction) and 19d.

    MT to SAS.

    3*/5*

  19. Tricky one that was I slow to get into, not helped by a wicked anagram to start with which needed quite a few checkers in place to solve and the university wasn’t one that readily springs to mind – no offence to the esteemed establishment!
    Once I get going however it did all come together nicely and was a very satisfying solve, with kudos going to the excellent lurker in 28a which I just didn’t spot, like others have said, so it was my COTD
    ***/****
    Thanks to setter and Shabbo

  20. Feeling a bit below par today but with a lot of electronic help I made it through that which was quite a challenge for me. I did however enjoy several crafty clues. Thank you Silvanus and Shabbo.

  21. Shabbo sums up 1a perfectly, and good to see one of the old University of Wales colleges getting a mention, hyfryd! Thank you compiler … perhaps Twmbarlwm?!

  22. Yet another puzzle straight out of the top drawer.

    Hadn’t heard of the bird at 21d, but I do know his two daft cousins, Half and Dim, there is a third distant cousin, but best not to mention him here.

    My two of the day were 9d and 28a, great puzzle, great fun!

  23. Great guzzle, the only one which stumped me strangely was 9d and I had to use the hints. Do not know why that penny didn’t drop. I loved 28a and 5d – a satisfying solve. Was hoping for a quiet afternoon to carry on sorting papers ( I have mislaid a share certificate) but the pocket rocket has rung to ask if she may come this afternoon instead of tomorrow and I cannot refuse, especially as it forecasts rain for tomorrow. Got up at 3am to see the strawberry moon fantastic, so huge and so low. Wonderful sight. Many thanks to Setter and Shabbo.

  24. I struggled with this but it was still enjoyable.
    Got 28a but struggled to parse it as it took me ages to spot the lurker.

    Top picks for me were 28a, 1a, 4d and 6d.

    Thanks to Shabbo and the setter.

  25. Many thanks to Shabbo, excellent Hints and Tips as ever, and to everyone solving and commenting.

    2d was intended to be merely a double definition and 4d was meant to be SKIPPING without its middle letters, rather than SKIVING as I think Shabbo and others may have interpreted it.

    I am very proud to say that today’s puzzle is my 200th cryptic crossword for the Telegraph (that’s back-pagers and Toughies combined), so it’s especially nice to reach that milestone just a few weeks before the Telegraph crossword itself celebrates its centenary (on July 30th).

    See you all again soon.

    1. Congratulations on the 200th, Silvanus, and you have marked the achievement with a wonderful puzzle, thank you. Many, many more, please!

      1. Well done on the double century Silvanus and you had me beat on too many for me to say I enjoyed solving it but I did enjoy using the hints to reveal your fine craftsmanship.

        CotD was 1a and it reminded me of a Radio 3 April fool where an interviewing team commented on a candidate attending a foreign university.

        Many thanks to Shabbo for the hints which allowed ne to finish this very clever puzzle from Silvanus.

    2. Many thanks, Silvanus, and congratulations on your wonderful milestone.

      Thanks too posthumously to Big Dave for providing the platform for you to showcase your talents.

      I look forward with relish to the next 200!

    3. I am honoured to have blogged your 200th puzzle! Many congratulations.
      Sorry I got the parsing of 4d wrong, but I am delighted to have won a pint off Gazza on the triple/double discussion at 2d!
      All I need to do now is pop down to Devon to ensure that Gazza fulfils his part of the deal!

    4. Heartiest congratulations, Silvanus, and many thanks for all the excellent puzzles you’ve brought us. Like RD, I look forward with relish to your next 200!

    5. I have always liked your challenging (for me!) clues and look forward to the next 200.

    6. Congratulations on a wonderful achievement and thank you for the consistent quality and entertainment of your puzzles.

  27. Late on parade because a friend came round for a chat.

    This was lovely guzzle and it was nice to see an old friend back at 14a. I had “wide” as the first word in 5d so the NE was held up for a while. Teach you to bung in answers without looking at the parsing, Cowling. Like Daisygirl, I just could not get 9d and resorted to the hints for that one. I loved the angry plagiarist at 25d and that becomes my COTD.

    Thank you, silvanus for a great guzzle and huge congratulations on your very impressive milestone. Thank you, Shabbo for the hints, which I needed for a couple.

    Torrential rain at the moment in The Marches but I’m not complaining because it is needed. Hudson, on the other hand, is disgusted with it! 🐶

  28. I was looking for a tit at 21d. Eventually gave up as could not believe the name. Completely missed another hidden word at 28a. Oddly I got 1a with no trouble!

  29. Have been at the knitting group this morning but arrived late because I found it hard to tear myself away from such an engaging puzzle. This was top draw with the clues and I have ticks by so many of them . Worthy indeed of your 200th. Silvanus. Got there with no help but was willing to work at this one because it was so very rewarding. Invidious to pick a favourite.

  30. Great puzzle just right for a Thursday, 2.5* / 4*
    Favourites 1a great anagram, 11a good lurker and 28a another top lurker

    Thanks to Shabbo and Silvanus, 200th cryptic, wow !

  31. Some great clues to mark Silvanus’ superb double century – many congratulations! 5D and 7D my faves. VMT Silvanus & Shabbo.

  32. NE last to complete for me. I too parsed 4d with skiving, I started looking for a single central letter and having found one that fitted the clue I didn’t look any further. I really enjoyed this, not that I found it that straightforward. Favourite was 7d. Thanks to Silvanus and Shabbo.

  33. I found this to be a bit of a beastie, but managed to solve unaided less checking the bird existed. I reckon I could learn 25 new bird names a day for a decade and those pesky setters will still find one I haven’t heard of…! 😅

    A hard but enjoyable solve.

    I was chuffed to have solved even before I realised it was the mighty beastie creator Silvanus as the setter. Massive congratulations on your 200th milestone.

    Thanks to all.

  34. Super puzzle as ever with ticks aplenty. Assumed it was a Smooth production when I solved it in the early hours. 4d was my last in & after a bit of a crumpet scratch I settled on ski(v)ing too. 28a pips 5&6d for my pick of ‘em.
    Huge congrats Silvanus on your 200th DT puzzle – the ability to churn ‘em out with such consistent high quality is remarkable. Thanks to Shabbo

  35. Sorry but another of my random jottings.

    The Beach Boys were part of my years at uni. We all raved about them. I remember one morning as we all gathered for a lecture the buzz was “Have you heard Good Vibrations”?

    The amazing thing is the Brian Wilson did it all on a four track machine.

    RIP, maestro.

  36. Very tricky for me with help needed to parse a couple but thoroughly enjoyable. 1a was a fantastic anagram and the lurkers were beautifully disguised. I learnt a new bird.

    Many thanks to Silvanus and congratulations on your 200th puzzle, thanks to Shabbo for the hints.

  37. 2*/5* ….
    liked 6D “Leaves old explorer heading north outside Chad’s capital (7)”
    amongst others.

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