DT 30964

77 comments on “DT 30964”

1. Today’s puzzle took some teasing out in places but was a very enjoyable Friday cranial workout. Not sure if the spoonerism really works for me but it led me to biffing in Decameron for 16d which soon turned out to be the completely wrong book. I did like the reverse lurker in 5d, but my Friday podium comprises 26a, 1d and 28a. Thanks to compiler and Mr K.

2. Cor! That was a slog but I got there in the end.

   I biffed the synonym for browse (nicely worked out, Mr K) and I had to dig deep for 14d.

   Luckily, the (2,1) expression for lieutenant rang a recent bell as I hadn’t heard of it until then.

   I said yesterday that my bête noire was an AI but the technique in 10a runs it close, i.e think of a synonym with an unobvious indicator to delete its outer letters. I know it’s a Friday but that is tough, tough, tough….’The Times’ tough.

   My podium is 1a, 1d (both great fun) and 2d.

   MT to the setter (Sade, possibly?) and Mr K.

   4*/4*

3. Nope, this one’s beyond me, it’s not just a case of being on the same wavelength, I haven’t even got the radio switched on.

   I’ve already had three goes at it, and still have eight clues outstanding, and for all the sense they make to me, I could have another three goes at it and be no further on.

   Well and truly beaten for the first time in yonks, so will see the hints to see what was going on with the missing eight, oh well, roll on tomorrow….

4. Thanks for the help, but I still don’t get 29 across – Sandy

   1. Just got it as I pressed ‘send’! S and Y!!

5. An interesting challenge for a Friday, reasonably smooth, however, it would probably have benefited from one last polishing with ‘1000 Grit Wet and Dry Paper’ but I am still putting two shiny new King Charles Loonies on this being a Silvanus production.

   Having got past that ‘On telephone’ wasn’t a homophone indicator, I wasn’t sure about the language in 9a but there it is in the Crimson Tome.

   Candidates for favourite 11a, 26a, 29a, 21d, and 23d – and the winner is 11a with its clever lieutenant.

   Thanks to Silvanus, or whomsoever in the unlikely event that my Loonies go down the drain, and thanks to Mr K.

6. Did 9A really need ‘On’ at the beginning?

   1. Hi U

      I think so as the surface gets spoilt without it.

      Did the puzzle float your boat?

      1. Hello Tom

         Maybe it’s just me but sometimes making the surface read better also causes unnecessary confusion. What’s wrong with ‘Telephone language putting down female PM’?

         Apart from that, I thought it was a good mix of challenging clues – 29A being my favourite as it’s just the sort of simply explained but not obvious clue I have often compiled (as is 13A – I often think that when I see that particular opera!)

         1. I see where you’re coming from, Umber, because your revised surface is good, but without the “On” I don’t think the clue works. “On” is being used as a positional indicator (ie “put the language after the synonym for telephone”) while without it the grammar might trip up since I think telephone is being used as a verb in the clue as it stands.

            Hopefully we might get some clarification later today from the setter!

            1. Hi,

               Yes, it’s indeed a positional indicator but the main reason for having ” on” at the beginning of 10a was for misdirection – I was hoping that some might think they were looking for a homophone. I see that Senf initially fell into my trap and possibly others did too.

               1. Sorry, for 10a read 9a!

               2. Thank you for the clarification, Silvanus – and for the wonderful puzzle. As is commented below, re-reading the puzzle post-solve gives one a better appreciation of the setter’s skill (and hopefully intention!) as well as being a good way to try and improve one’s solving ability.

               3. I must admit that I also thought it might be a homophone indicator. Perhaps I’m too fair when I write my own clues because I try to avoid that particular kind of misdirection. Each to their own I suppose.

         2. 13a is a classic and, you’re right, 29a is neat.

            There is a comma in 9a. So, that would need to be taken out to make your surface work.

            May I ask if you’ve ever had printed any crosswords that you’ve compiled?

            I have so much respect for people like you.

            1. I was the resident compiler for the Kent Messenger Group (as Trinculo) for six years until I tired of deadlines for my twice weekly cryptics, as I was working as a postman at the time. I have also submitted two or three in Crossword Corner as Dumber and Umber, and was once advised by the sadly department Albie/Taupi to submit a couple of my crosswords to the FT. Unfortunately, although now retired, my other hobbies (art, comedy writing, amateur dramatics, along with ADHD, procrastination, sleep apnoea and recent throat cancer radiotherapy (now completely cleared) have tended to shove compilation to the bottom of the pile, which is a shame because I love coming up with witty clues.

               Still, you never know. I’m only a young 73, have all my marbles and never like to sit still for long.

               1. What a tremendous response!

                  I’m pleased to hear that your throat cancer has taken a hike.

                  Keep compiling, Dumb and Dumber, and post more as you clearly have, to quote the yoof of today, got the bants.

                  1. It was actually Dumber, then changed to Umber under advisement, but no matter

                     1. Stick with Dumber.

                        Much more fun.

                        1. That’s what I thought too. There’s a reason why I chose Dumber: my wife is a member of MENSA and, after I compiled a puzzle for their local newsletter, I received an email asking if I could dumb it down a bit!

                           1. Love it!

                              Being a mensarite, I’m sure that she never forgets.

                              So, you should be called, wait for it, wait for it….. Dumber & Dumbo!

7. Phew!
   I typically solve on the iPad, and at least two or three times I had to stop and check that I wasn’t doing the Toughie by mistake! (I think we used to call it a “wrong envelope” puzzle – i.e. one that the setter had intended to be a Toughie but put it the Backpager envelope to send to the editor…)
   There were some lovely clues, but my overwhelming feeling on completion was that I need to go and have a lie down…
   Many thanks to the Setter – and special thanks to Mr K because there were *several* clues for which I had the correct answer but had no idea how they were parsed until Mr K’s explanation revealed the setter’s deviousness to me…

   1. Hi,

      We setters are required to submit puzzles with different codes, so an intended back-pager will have a different prefix to an intended Toughie. I haven’t yet applied a back-pager code to a Toughie by mistake, but I’ll let you know if it ever happens!

      1. I doubt it shall!

8. Thanks for the blog without pictures – it’s much better for less able solvers like me who want to come and get hints without seeing the answers. And thanks to the setter for an enjoyable puzzle.

   I got stuck in the NW corner because I convinced myself that 1d started with backs but overall I’m pleased to have done 3/4 of a Friday puzzle without help.

   1. Welcome to the blog, Amy61.

9. A little late on parade today because of having to go and do some shopping if I’m to eat tonight.

   A tough guzzle but it is Friday. I can’t say it was enjoyable but that’s because I couldn’t get about a third of it. Not complaining of course because the two thirds I did solve were very entertaining. For once, I enjoyed the reverend and that happens rarely. The scullery walls raised a smile. I didn’t see the language at 9a until I read the hints but the one that made me laugh and became my COTD is 1a.

   Thank you, setter for the Friday conundrum. Thank you, Mr. K. for the hints

10. Very tough. But 13a made me laugh.

11. 3*/5*. Friday perfection! A challenge, yes, but great fun from start to finish.

    There are too many excellent clues to be able to pick even a podium selection. Perm any three from thirty-two.

    Many thanks to, I assume, Silvanus given the consistent smoothness of all the surfaces, and to Mr K.

12. A properly challenging back pager, as it should be for a Friday, a very rewarding completion and hugely enjoyable. Enough anagrams and old friends / gimmes (10a, 20a, 1d, 25a) to provide checkers and leg-ups for the chewier clues. I’d never heard of “sideman” (or at least not since the last time I’d never heard of it!) but all else was familiar.

    The cracking Spoonerism at 15a tops my podium, joined by the superb 26a, the clanging penny drop of 29a, and the cruciverbal paean to one of the greatest cartoonists of all time in 6d.

    Many thanks indeed to the Setter (for my fiver, Zandio, but I can see why it may also be Silvanus) and to Mr K

13. A bit of a slog really. I found it best to ignore the wordplay and guess the answer on the basis of the checkers and the definition. The problem was getting enough of a start to get some checkers. Once the answers were written in, in some cases, I began to understand the parsing. For the rest, I shall read the hints for which I thank Mr K. The anagrams a at 7d and 24d were good and the Spoonerism made me laugh. Thanks to thecompiler, it was satisfying to finally finish this Friday SPP.

14. Well this week we are back to a more difficult Friday grid to work through. Lots of hair pulling for me in this.

    3*/3* for me

    Favourites 9a, 13a, 15a, 24a, 2d & 16d — with winner 8a & 13a a close runner-up
    I liked the lego-ness of the winner and the way the clue was constructed and the laugh from the answer in the runner-up

    Thanks to setter & Mr K.

    1. That should read 9a not 8a

15. Tough but fair. As ever with this level.of difficulty I put all my efforts into completing rather than savour the clues – which leads to an initially low enjoyment rating. However I now make time, once completed, to go through each clue without the stress of having to solve it – so I can really admire the setters craft. Does this make me sad – or am I just putting off doing chores!!
    Thanks to the setter and MrK

    1. I think you’ve answered your own question, MHUK.

       I do like the idea, though.

    2. I wish more solvers would follow your example, but I completely understand that not everyone has the time or inclination to do so.

16. A proper Friday-level puzzle which is very entertaining – thanks to our setter and Mr K.
    My ticks went to 13a, 18a, 4d and 22d.

17. I completed more of this than I thought I would when I first started. Surprisingly 15a was one of my first successes. Mr K helped with the more tricky solves. My two favourites were 1a and 13a. I remember seeing Carlos Acosta dancing in his production of the opera. Thankyou to the compiler and especially Mr K.

18. Wow, that took some unravelling with the most application called for in the SE. Perhaps I wasn’t alone by initially bunging in wrong second word for 1d. I think 8d was new to me. Afraid had to ask Mr. Google to solve 23d for me. 8d new to me I think. Are less and minor synonyms as in 21d? Mr. Google solved 23d for me. An enjoyable puzzle with which to enjoyably do battle. Thank you to setter whom it may concern and also to MrK.

19. An excellent puzzle that admittedly was a little trickier than recent Friday puzzles.
    The only one I struggled to parse was 3d; browse=eat.
    Lots of ticks, my favourite being the simple 4d.
    3*/5* for me.

    Many thanks to the setter and to Mr K

20. A few tricky bits of parsing in today’s offering eg 9a, and an unknown for me in the band member. That said, I found this an excellent Friday puzzle and am with those who thought it was penned by our own Mr Smooth. Something of a battle for podium places between 1,15,18&28a plus 6d so they’ll have to share the honours.

    Many thanks to Silvanus and to Mr K for the review.

21. A proper Friday-level back-pager. I didn’t fully parse 8d so bunged it in dud to time pressure, so thanks Mr K for the explanation. I was stuck with the O checker and the “over” in the clue. Ah well… No real standouts, and no grumbles either. Thanks to the Setter for the challenge

22. Quite a few head scratchers but all fairly clued and a lot of really good clues made for an enjoyable solve. Hard to pick a favourite but I’ll go with 18a not for it’s difficulty but it’s such a good word. Thanks to the setter and Mr. K.

23. Many thanks to Mr K and to all those solving and leaving comments. I notice that the definition (PM) in 9a isn’t underlined, but perhaps Mr K or one of the Blog elders can add that.

    May I wish everyone a good weekend. See you all again soon.

    1. Thanks for popping in Silvanus – I made hard work of that & never did parse 8d. As ever ✅s aplenty.
       Thanks to Mr K also.

    2. Thanks for dropping in and for a great puzzle to solve and to hint.

       Underlining in 9a now fixed.

24. Finally completed after the trip to the supermarket. As is often the case, when I am faced with a Friday offering, initially I was completely flummoxed and only managed a couple of answers. Slowly I made progress. I am in no doubt that without the digital puzzle telling me I was wrong in a couple of places, that I would not have finished. 9a was my favourite but I was pleased to have managed so many unaided. I did need to thoroughly read the hints to understand a couple of my answers as the parsing eluded me. I can see how clever the clues were and can only hope that one day I will be able to sail through this level of puzzle.

    Many thanks to Silvanus for the challenge and for visiting and to Mr K for the excellent explanations.

25. A very decent backpage workout, set at just the right degree of difficulty for a Friday.
    1a made this Bermondsey Boy smile and The Revd at 15a was a goog ‘un, while 28a’s ‘browned off’ reminded me of the old man.
    Great reverse lurker in 5d, 8d was clever and I liked the rising sleaze in 17d.
    A super day’s puzzling, the Toughie was a joy too.
    Thanks Silvanus and Mr K for the blog.

26. In response to a recent comment suggesting that an FAQ entry be added for The List, one now exists. See FAQ #37 What is “The List”?

    1. An excellent addition and fully in keeping with The Spirit Of The List!

27. That was a workout and I did not complete which was a shame because it was such a fine offering. Felt I could only devote a certain amount of time to it today but perhaps if I had spent more time I would still not have filled in the last 4 clues. Three cheers for the reference to Matt in 6 down. He is a hero as well as being a delight. He visited my Mother’s Day Care centre in Bishop’s Stortford to give of his time to entertain the residents and my mother won one of his sketches. Thanks for the exercise Silvanus and Mr. K for explanations.

28. The cockney degree gets my vote for best clue even if it was my last one in, thank you Silvanus and Mr K

29. Perfect puzzle for a Friday, chewy enough with lots of penny drop moments. 4d tops my podium with18a and 22d close runners up. I was held up for quite a time by 3d as I couldn’t work out what “about” was doing in the clue when “say” seemed to be doing definition by example job. But I’m probably missing something as usual!
    Many thanks Silvanus for the enjoyment and of course to Mr K.

30. Silvanus really testing our vocabulary and solving skills today – I was misled time and again. I loved the enthusiastic hobby at 15A, and the (not) female PM at 9A, but my fave today was 17D.

    Many thanks Silvanus and Mr K.

31. Wow that was a struggle but well worth it. Late commenting today as I’ve been out celebrating a significant birthday, TDS knows which one, and just managed to do this before going out again!

    Top picks for me were 15a, 1a and 29a.

    Thanks to Mr K and Silvanus.

    1. Haha!

       Happy 21st, you crazy river, you.

       (your secret’s safe with me)

       1. Thank you Tom

    2. Happy birthday Madflower from your friends in North Norfolk!

       1. Thank you Manders. It’s been a busy day!

32. 30962 22d
    30963 2d
    30964 15a
    Spare us these Spooner clues please; todays was the third on the trot

    1. Changing your alias for the fourth time sent you into moderation

    2. Spare us these aliases, McTotty.

       It’s your fourth one on the bounce.

       1. Here here, what a bore!

33. For ipad completes, I have a new approach to Fridays, as I always think an uncompleted grid is a lesson missed.
    I do as much as I can, usually over 3 sittings as my brain carries on solving when I do other things. Then I request a letter at an intersection of 2 clues. If I do this a few times, other clues fall into place. This eventually leads to completion. Then if I can’t understand any of the answers I come to the blog.
    Hope it helps someone.
    Thanks to Silvanus and Mr K

    1. A great way to start tackling Toughies.

34. How tough was that!
    Finally completed after first starting at 8am this morning and revisiting several times as the day went on. And I’ve made 2 mistakes so technically a DNF.
    5*/4*
    So many good clues but I’ll go with 1a, 13a, 15a and 16d as favs
    Thanks to silvanus for the workout and mr K for showing me the error of my ways!

35. Sorry, just too hot for me today and I have only just finished the guzzle. Had to refer to the hints for one or two and had to do a reveal for the
    Tofu clue, although I did have Bean. I think I have mentioned before going to an operatic fancy dress party where one of our friends wore a simple AA logo-ed
    shirt and was roundly castigated before announcing that his opera was car men.. Sorry, old ladies repeat themselves. I thought 29a was particularly neat.
    Many thanks Sylvanus for the cranial workout even if the body was supine, and to Mr. K for filling in the gaps.

36. Good evening

    By the cringe! A thorough workout for what passes for my braincell this afty/evening; plenty of misdirection, tricky synonyms, and a corker of a reverse lurkington at 5d.

    I completed three quadrants at a very slow pace, and faced the inkless waste of the NW with trepidation! Twigging 1d – eventually! – got me home in the end. COTD: 6d and 22d take joint honours. Very glad of the hints and tips to help with some of the parsing, and thanks to Dr Google, I now know what a 14d is.

    Many thanks to Mr K and to the legendary Brain Of Silvanus for the challenge.

37. 3*/ 4* Found this more straightforward than others seemed to, although it was by no means easy, a proper Friday puzzle.
    Favourites 9a PM, beige 29a and 5d reverse lurker.
    Thanks to Mr K and Silvanus

38. I needed hints or the answer to 6 clues.

    In 38 years in the army I have never heard a lieutenant or second in command called Number 1. A derogatory Number 2 maybe. Is it a naval thing? In the army a second in command is called a 2IC.

    I spent ages trying to make face lifts work for 1d.

    Enjoyed the challenge though, especially as it was a Silvanus offering.

    Thanks to all.

    1. Hi, yes it is a naval term. Also, in Star Trek The Next Generation, Captain Picard (Patrick Stewart) often referred to his second-in-command, Riker, as “Number One”.

       1. Hi, thanks for responding, one for the memory banks with Number One methinks. I thought of Picard and Riker before thinking of the navy, which makes sense I suppose. 😎

39. Very good puzzle. Didn’t get round to doing it until this evening. The only one that defeated me was 7d where the crossword solver was consulted for help. Needed the hints to explain a couple and still don’t understand the spoonerism …. Many thanks to the setter and for the hints (although everyone has probably switched off or gone to bed!).

    1. I have just got the spoonerism! Very clever!

40. 4*/3* …..
    liked 1A “Cockney’s desire to obtain degree (5)”

    1. Couldn’t agree more, it really made me laugh!

       1. 😎

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