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DT 30981

by Shabbo  

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30981
Hints and tips by Shabbo

+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +

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

Good morning, fellow puzzlers. The sun is just starting to break through here in Hertfordshire and it looks like being another lovely summer’s day with a decent puzzle to set us all off on the right footing.

I took longer than usual over this RayT puzzle, but on reflection, I can’t really see why. Ray is playing a bit fast and loose with his trademark sweetheart and Queen in 19a and 26d respectively, so tread carefully!

Enjoyable and concise as ever at an average of exactly five words/clue. A special mention to the Quickie Pun as well. For those new to crosswords, the first two or three across clues in the Quick Crossword are italicised and make a groanworthy pun.

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 RayT and to the DT Crossword Team.


Across

1a River Test used in business (10)
INDUSTRIAL: a river that runs through China, India and Pakistan + synonym of test. A bit of a chestnut to get us started.

6a Common infection caught by elderly (4)
COLD: cricket abbreviation for Caught + synonym of elderly.

10a Catch girl with nothing on! (5)
LASSO: synonym of girl + O.

11a Criminal lapses, he’s without form … (9)
SHAPELESS: anagram (criminal) of LAPSES HES. We can ignore the ellipses at the end of this clue and the beginning of the next one.

12a … criminal lord concealing quiet scheme (8)
CONSPIRE: a slang term for a criminal + synonym of lord outside (concealing) the musical abbreviation for quiet or Piano.

13a Cross that is involving Judas (5)
IRATE: abbreviation for “that is” outside (involving) synonym of Judas.

15a Boost energy behind purchasing Tesla? (7)
ELEVATE: the crossword in the other paper earlier this week had Tesla = T (not the badge on the car, but the SI symbol for magnetic flux density. I naturally assumed that this would be the same here, but for Tesla we need the abbreviation for Electric Vehicle. So…abbreviation for Energy + synonym of behind (as in overdue) outside (purchasing) EV. The question mark at the end of the clue indicates that other electric vehicles are available.

17a Sport’s rejecting constant complaint (7)
RICKETS: our national summer sport + S without the initial letter (rejecting Constant) reveals a disease suffered by children lacking in vitamin D.

19a Sweetheart is tempted embracing performer (7)
ARTISTE: Ray is teasing us here.  The sweetheart is not E. We are looking for a hidden word indicated by “embracing” and the solution is lurking in plain sight within words 1-3 of the clue.

21a Fashionista’s back with finer accessory (7)
ABETTER: the final letter (back) of fashionistA + synonym of finer.

22a Terribly important bone in anatomy, initially (5)
TIBIA: initial letters of the first five words of the clue.

24a Acting so doubtfully? (8)
AGNOSTIC: anagram (doubtfully) of ACTING SO. The definition is the whole clue.  Neat.

27a Key from lease isn’t changed (9)
ESSENTIAL: another anagram (changed) of LEASE ISNT.

28a Floor of labyrinth following Ariadne’s lead (5)
AMAZE: synonym of labyrinth after (following) the first letter (lead) of Ariadne. The definition is a verb.

29a Air in barrel beginning to escape (4)
TUNE: synonym of barrel (think beer) + initial letter of Escape.

30a Part of dinner I get cooking (10)
INGREDIENT: a similar clue to 24a.  Make an anagram (cooking) of DINNER I GET and the definition is the whole clue.

Down

1d Oddly indulged unemployed (4)
IDLE: the odd letters of InDuLgEd.

2d Somewhat prudish, one’s timidly cheating (9)
DISHONEST: hidden word (somewhat).  Our solution is hiding within words 2-4 of the clue.

3d Cannonballs close on board ship (5)
SHOTS: synonym of close (or clammy) surrounded by (on board) the abbreviation for SteamShip.

4d Ritual including clairvoyance provides relief (7)
RESPITE: three letters signifying clairvoyance inside (including) a synonym of ritual.

5d Buff partner in endless mood (7)
AMATEUR: synonym of partner inside a synonym of mood (or ambience) without the final letter (endless).

7d Work on revolutionary live musical work (5)
OPERA: abbreviation for work (OPus) plus synonym of live (a verb) backwards (revolutionary).

8d Clinic putting small notes in journal (10)
DISPENSARY: abbreviation for Small + synonym of notes (or writes) inside synonym of journal will reveal a place where medicines are provided or medical care is given.

9d Indifferent doctor about to take over (8)
MEDIOCRE: synonym of doctor + abbreviation for “about” (think business letters) outside cricket abbreviation for Over.

14d Office temp ranted going mad (10)
DEPARTMENT: anagram (going mad) of TEMP RANTED.

16d Sailors covering dirty refrains (8)
ABSTAINS: usual crosswordland abbreviation for sailors (able-bodied seamen) outside (covering) synonym of dirty (a verb).

18d Loose former partner about in common (9)
EXTRICATE: two-letter synonym of former partner + synonym of about (or CircA) inside synonym of common (or banal).

20d Bond, topless, producing thrill (7)
ELATION: synonym of bond (or connection) without the initial letter (topless). Calm down, Jane.

21d Reverse a radius making a ring (7)
ANNULAR: synonym of reverse (or nullify) + A + abbreviation for Radius.

23d Bowl ball not half wrong (5)
BASIN: first half of BAll + synonym of wrong.

25d Reportedly remained sober (5)
STAID: homophone (reportedly) of a synonym of remained.

26d Corgi perhaps keeps Queen lively (4)
PERT: I bet I wasn’t the only one who tried to justify corgi as PT.  The Queen has to be ER surely…no, it isn’t!  The Queen here is just R and the corgi (perhaps) is outside it (keeps). Lovely surface read.

Quickie Pun:  MELLOW  +  DRUM  +  ATTIC  =  MELODRAMATIC

41 comments on “DT 30981”

  1. Ray T showing his tougher side but most enjoyable, nevertheless. Precise cluing as always along with queen and sweetheart. A corker of a lurker at 2d and the misdirection at 16d had being through all song forms I could think of before the proverbial dropped. I liked the lord’s quiet scheme at 12a and the indifferent doctor at 9d. However, for me, the out and out winner for COTD is 24a with the definition and AI both in one word.

    Thank you, Ray T for a terrific workout that stretched these old grey cells somewhat. Thank, Shabbo for the hints.

    The Quickie pun raised a smile.

  2. This flowed nicely from the off but I got bogged down with the last two, 12a and 9d, taking me into the next time zone.

    I couldn’t parse 15a for the life of me.

    My picks for the pody are 24a, 30a and 9d.

    MT to Arty and Shabbs.

    3*/4*

  3. I found this to be at the upper end of RayT at ***/*** with the usual smattering of anagrams and lurkers. I did need Shabbo to understand 18d. It also took a while to parse 12a. My COTD was 13a a classic RayT. Last one in was 5d for some reason. Thanks RayT and Shabbo.

  4. A dnf unaided from me as I needed a hint to restart the E where I was decidedly bogged down. Before that I was pretty chuffed that I had the W buttoned down and was looking forward to beating Ray T. Ah, Hubris. 19a’s variation on a usual theme made me smile as did 16d, but cotd goes to 24a. Thanks to Ray T and Shabbo for the much needed hints.

  5. Once again on a day I don’t expect to get more than a third of the clues, sometimes less with Ray T, I find it comparatively easy. Something strange in my crossword abilities but I won’t complain as long as weeks like this crop up from time to time.

    20 and 21d my picks of the puzzle with many thanks to Shabbo and RayT.

    Tomorrow the promising puzzle play evaporates in gloom and ignorance leaving my Eeyore tendencies much more satisfied.

    1. You and I must be on the same wavelength, and “gloom and ignorance” re Friday puzzles is right on the button 😊.

      1. Indeed, before retirement Friday was a wonderful day with leisure and pleasure to soak oneself in.

  6. It was a slow start for me on this tougher rhan average Ray T guzzle and I went round clockwise from the NW, getting a couple of clues in each corner. As the checkers went in, thhings speededup, leaving me withtwo head-scratchers on rhe right hand side, which toojk me a while. I liked the 1a Lego clue with a geographical twist, the complex Lego clue at 8d and the superb lurker at 2d. Thanks ro Mr T for agood challenge and to Shabbo for the hints, which I shall now read to elucidate the parsing

  7. As is often the case, I took longer solving the single-word clues in the Quickie than I did for this excellent back-pager, such is the accuracy of the wordplay. I cannot believe our setter can get an average word count below five in his clues but I wouldn’t bet on it. My honours board has 12 and 24a at the top.

    Many thanks to Mr T and Shabbo.

  8. Based on most of the comments so far, including those of our illustrious blogger, it almost seems as if I solved a different puzzle. For me, etc, Ray T quite benign and less challenging than yesterday’s Twmbarlwm – **/****

    Candidates for favourite – 12a, 13a, 24a, 16d, and 25d – and the winner is 25d.

    Thanks to Ray T and Shabbo.

      1. The star ratings are totally subjective. We all have days when things seem trickier than they actually are, so I would not read too much into them.

      2. I was considering the verbal comments rather than star ratings since many commenters do not use the latter. But I accept that all types of comments are very subjective.

        (See my response, as a blogger, to Corky in Comment 27 of yesterday’s blog.)

  9. A very enjoyable and pretty archetypal RayT providing the ‘lights’ on a damp and grey Thursday morning. Reasonably straightforward solve returning to the E/NE for my last pair in, 21a & 9d. All the usual RayT ‘tells’, which certainly helps as one gets towards end – “have we had one of X, Y or Z yet? Ah-ha, there we go, then”.

    Honours to 9d, 21d & 21a. Many thanks to the Maestro and to Shabbo

  10. I found this at the trickier end of the spectrum needing the hints to explain the parsing of 18d. That said as ever it was full of short and skillful clues of which 24a was my favourite. I thought the lurkers and anagrams were all particularly good today.

    Many thanks to Ray T and to Shabbo for the hints

  11. I found this a bit of a grind, although that may well have been down to the DT’s website crashing several times during completion. It really isn’t a patch on the competition in my experience, which is a shame because the puzzles themselves are excellent. Nevertheless, a fair bit to like today with 24a a particular favourite. Thanks very much to Ray T and to Shabbo.

  12. I found this on the harder side today. I needed Shabbo’s help parsing 15a and 18d.

    Top picks for me are 24a, 1a and 26d.

    Thanks to Shabbo and Ray T.

  13. A game of two halves (well more like three-quarters/one quarter if I’m being accurate) first half read and write and my thoughts were drifting towards the triumphant comment I could leave….alas hit the buffer’s big time! Ground to a snails pace before finally admitting defeat with 4 in the west proving beyond me.

    Very greatful to Shabbo for putting me out of my misery with some much needed hints.

    Thanks to the setter too of course

  14. As our blogger said, Mr T definitely toying with us today when it comes to his trademarks but what an achievement to keep the wordcount per clue at five or less. Top three for me were 24&30a plus 25d with a mention for the Quickie pun.

    Devotions as always to Mr T and many thanks to Shabbo for the review and Bond pic, just about managed to keep the blood pressure under control!

  15. Another fortnightly Thursday puzzle from RayT with his usual brevity, precise and succinct clueing. Appearances, too, from the queen and sweetheart too. Very enjoyable solve.

    2*/4.5*

    Favourites 6a, 10a, 17a, 28a & 16d — with winner 28a

    Thanks to RayT & Shabbo

  16. Ray T is as enjoyable as ever and being a tease with the (mis-)use of his usual trademarks. Thanks to him and Shabbo.
    The clue of the day for me is 26d.

  17. I normally struggle a bit with RayT – the conciseness of the cluing usually throws me off. But today was different, I’ll join the few that found this much more benign than usual. Fairly flew through it in 1* time with only a couple in the south getting me head scratching. Per earlier comment, what a lurker at 2d and too many other great clues to list them all. An interesting point for me is that now I’ve been back a few months, the first time constructions since re-starting are reducing but when they do come up, e.g. the acronym for the synonym for clairvoyance, they take a comparative age to recall rather than springing immediately to mind. So I guess my brain is still re-wiring; many have said it needs too!!!!

    Immense thanks to RayT and Shabbo.

  18. I also found this more benign than usual.
    I wouldn’t say I flew through it but I did manage an unaided solve.
    Very enjoyable for me , favourite being floored by Ariadne.

    Thanks to RayT and to Shabbo

  19. Can’t say I found this to be a **** today, so I must have my contrary hat on again. Not that it was a walk in the park, and I didn’t finish unaided. But an enjoyable challenge so thanks to RayT (and I did stumble at 26d), and to Shabbo.

  20. I set off at a pace and then came to a bit of a halt with a smattering of clues to finish. Had to resort to the BRB to assist with 9d , which all seemed obvious after that. Once I got some more checkers the last few fell into place. Enjoyable. Thanks Ray T and Shabbo.

  21. Reasonably straightforward for a Thursday with all the setter’s trademarks.
    My COTD was the pimped ride in 15a.
    Thanks to Shabbo and Ray T.

  22. 21d took more time than all the other down clues put together – thank you RayT and Shabbo

  23. Evening all. My thanks to Shabbo for the decryption and to everybody else for your comments.

    RayT

  24. Set off at a pace, slowed down a little towards the end then finished with almost indecent haste. My biggest hold up was having to keep batting away a fly that has found its way into my kitchen and kept dive bombing me, why do they have to do that? I’m afraid it’s going to have to pay the ultimate price. Any road up back to the crossword I always enjoy a good RayT and this was one. Favourite was 24a, it could easily have been 30a but it lost the coin toss. Thanks to Rayt and Shabbo.

  25. Ray T on awesome form. From an outstandingly strong field I’m going for 21D as my COTD. Many thanks to Ray & Shabbo.

  26. I needed help on 21a (clever misdirection, I was busy thinking belts buckles and bows) and 21d because I didn’t know the word. Thanks Shabbo. But if it was easy we wouldn’t do it, would we? Thanks RayT, for the challenge, and let’s face it, a year ago I’d have been hopelessly struggling, so maybe, just maybe, improving 😊

  27. 2.5*/ 4* Thought this was going to be easy until it suddenly wasn’t! Really enjoyed the challenge with some great misdirection.
    Favourites 30a part of dinner anagram, 2d lurker and the indifferent 9d
    Also a nice quickie pun
    Many thanks to Ray T and Shsbbo

  28. Completed early doors but late to post as we went off to see a matinee showing of The Ballad of Wallis Island at The Odyssey (heartwarming & highly recommended) & have been engrossed watching The Open since.
    Like TG set off at a pace then slowed a wee bit but still a brisk solve (like YS I found the Quickie almost the trickier of the two). As ever concisely clued & thoroughly enjoyable. 13,15&17a plus 2,8&18d particular likes but my fav was 16d because it reminded me of the entirely fabricated name (one of three characters) in Captain Pugwash.
    Thanks to Ray T & to Shabbo

  29. After a frustrating day, it was good to get home and tackle today’s back-pager. Along with 10 other good men and true, we travelled a long way to play cricket. We made a competitive total in our 40 overs and after our opponents had completed 15 testing overs without losing a wicket, the game was nicely poised when the heavens opened and brought the match to an abrupt end “abandoned – no result”. Followed, of course, by a long drive home …

    This RayT puzzle was just the job to pick me up, and my rating is 2*/4* with 24a my favourite of many ticked clues.

  30. Good evening

    It had to happen: I’ve had a good run over the last few months crossing swords with the Mighty Mr T; this evening, I’ve had to hoy the sponge in with 4 left to get: 17 and 21a; 9 and 18d.

    Excellent challenge, though. Many thanks to Ray T and Shabbo.

  31. I am have obviously been rather dull today as this was a dnf for me until I turned to Shabbo’s help for several unsolved clues. Hence I wont comment as it was not my effort. Anyway thank you RayT and specially to Shabbo.

  32. Tougher than recent RT puzzles.
    Not helped by putting ” sloop” in for 3d (RT does tend to stretch definitions).
    Thanks to Shabbo and RT.

  33. I’m not usually a proficient crossworder but I didn’t find this too difficult.

    I was surprised by the difficulty level given.

    I’m firmly of the belief that when one finds a crossword easier than expected it is because you have a similar mindset as the compiler

  34. Absolutely super puzzle!
    For me, there was a most enjoyable combination of easier and more difficult clues. Particularly liked 1a, 12a, 17a, 21a, 24a and 9d, 16d, 21d and the delightful 26d. I could add many more…
    Appreciative thanks to RayT for the excellent entertainment and to Shabbo for the excellent illustrated review.

  35. 4*/4* ….
    liked 20D “Bond, topless, producing thrill (7)” … amongst others.

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