DT 31015 – Big Dave's Crossword Blog
View closed comments 

DT 31015

by Huntsman  

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31015
Hints and tips by Huntsman

+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – +

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

It’s reasonably bright for the moment here in Harpenden but the forecast says there’s some much needed wet stuff due to arrive before too long.

If SJB’s comment yesterday is correct then fans of Anthony Plumb have a double dose of plumbing to enjoy today as one of his puzzles features in the last of Vintage series. No idea if I reviewed it (if so can’t recall it) but it was a light delight which I completed a good bit quicker than this one. I thought today’s puzzle extremely enjoyable with some excellent surfaces reads & a good splash of humour.

In the hints below the definition element of each clue has been underlined, anagrams are CAPITALISED & the crossword technique “indicator words” are in brackets. The answers are concealed under the Click Here buttons. Please leave a comment below telling us what you thought & how you got on with the puzzle.

Across

1a Almost no sweat in underwear for country people (8)

PEASANTS: insert (in) a truncated (almost) synonym for no sweat/simple into an item of underwear that occasionally appears as an anagram indicator.

5a Takes advantage of sailors in steamship (6)

SCREWS: a term for sailors/those working aboard a ship goes within the usual ship prefix.

9a Sister maybe runs with joy (8)

RELATION: the cricket abbreviation for Run/s + a synonym for joy.

10a Trump – gambler (6)

BETTER: a double definition – synonyms for outdo & punter.

12a Thoroughly sad? Correct (9)

DOWNRIGHT: link synonyms for sad & correct/proper.

13a Flipping clever vehicles (5)

TRAMS: reverse (flipping) another word for clever such as Alec apparently was.

14a Silly person left in bed (4)

CLOT: the single letter for Left goes in a bed for infants.

16a Turned calmer? I wonder (7)

MIRACLE: an anagram (turned) of CALMER I.

19a Adult’s in an excited state after wrong bananas (5-2)

GROWN UP: a two letter word that could indicate a state of excitement (after) is preceded by an anagram (bananas) of WRONG.

21a Some buff is hardly smelt, perhaps (4)

FISH: hidden (some) between indicator & definition (perhaps tells us it’s by example). Neat surface.

24a Starts to obsess about signals in shortwave band (5)

OASIS: an acrostic (starts to). Arguably the most talked about reunion since Jake & Elmore got their lot back together.

25a Programme’s vulgar group of actors (9)

BROADCAST: a synonym for vulgar/unrefined + the term for a group of actors appearing in a production.

27a A minor thoroughfare overseas (6)

ABROAD: A from the clue + a minor/secondary UK road classification.

28a Boss first to resign after dreadful time in company (8)

DIRECTOR: some lego assembly needed here – start with a synonym for dreadful/atrocious then place the single letter for Time between the two letter abbreviation for COmpany & finish with initial letter (first to) of Resign.

29a The most wonderful, unfinished ancient city (6)

THEBES: a truncation (unfinished) of a 3,4 synonym for the most wonderful gives you an ancient Egyptian city.

30a Conservative holds up drink (8)

CHAMPERS: the single letter for Conservative + a synonym for holds up/hinders.

1d Column standard by American editor on the up (6)

PARADE: a synonym for standard/measure (such as in golf) + American + a reversal (on the up in a down clue) of the usual abbreviation for EDitor.

2d Everyone old with aches ultimately suffers (6)

ALLOWS: a synonym for everyone followed by the single letter for Old & for With then append the last letter (ultimately) of acheS. The definition context is brooks/tolerates.

3d Become an expert in pruning minute plant (5)

ASTER: remove (pruning) the single letter for Minute from a verb synonym for become an expert in/fully get to grips with. My last one in & an embarrassingly slow penny drop.

4d All the same temperature? Fancy! (7)

THOUGHT: a synonym for all the same/nonetheless + the single letter for Temperature.

6d Rears cute wild animals (9)

CREATURES: an anagram (wild) of REARS CUTE.

7d  Hypnotic state after topless men’s arrival (8)

ENTRANCE: a word for a state of hypnosis preceded by mEN (topless).

8d Husband comes out of shed and rests, awfully agitated (8)

STRESSED: an anagram (awfully) of ShED RESTS ignoring (comes out) the single letter for Hospital.

11d Squad leaving area after I object (4)

ITEM: a term for a squad less (leaving) the single letter for Area goes after I in the clue.

15d Picture kinky lap dances (9)

LANDSCAPE: an anagram (kinky) of LAP DANCES. Coming so soon after topless men I fear a health warning may be in order for those of a delicate disposition.

17d I admit penning half of note in the dark (8)

IGNORANT: start with I from the wordplay then insert 50% of NOte into a synonym for admit/concede.

18d Understand prisoner’s loyal (8)

CONSTRUE: link a informal term for prisoner’s (plural/with the possessive ‘s) with a synonym for loyal.

20d Places using bar stools, primarily?

PUBS: another acrostic (primarily).

21d Rather like a creamy pudding, half-baked (7)

FOOLISH: what a creamy pud may be described as. The definition context nowt to do with the cooking of it.

22d Upset informer regularly talked (6)

RATTLE: a term for an informer/snitch + the alternate letters (regularly) of the last word in the clue.

23d Republican entering data flinches (6)

STARTS: inserts (entering) Republican into an informal/abbreviated synonym for data.

26d Doctor, each month, shows ambition (5)

DREAM: link the usual abbreviation for doctor & for each with the single letter for Month.

 

For me 21d was the clear pick of today’s clues. I also had ticks against 24,28&30a plus 3&15d. Please let us know which clues you liked best.

Today’s Quick Crossword pun: BLEW + WAILS = BLUE WHALES

58 comments on “DT 31015”

  1. I thought the professor was slightly trickier than of late but still enjoyable. I did like the most wonderful city at 29a and the creamy pudding at 21d. I always forget that sort of dessert. My COTD is the understanding prisoner at 18d.

    Thank you, professor for the Tuesday challenge. Thank you, Hintsman for the hunts.

  2. I didn’t find thus an easy solve and took an age to get going. Sometimes you’re just not on the compiler’s wavelength. I liked the ancient city missing letter clue at 29a, the 19d Lego clue, the well-misdirected anagram at16a and the cleverky worded Lego clue at 12sa. Thanks to the compiler and to Huntsman for the hints.

  3. Typical Tuesday fun, with wit throughout. 17d was my favourite. I liked 28a too, and the silliness of 21d. Best thanks to setter and Huntsman.

  4. Gentle and fun. The very First clue for 1 a. Instead of producing a groan made me laugh at how cleverly one can stretch the path to such a well used word. It has almost become a competition between compilers. 21 d was favourite both in the crossword and as a pud.
    Perfect puzzle for a Tuesday . Thank you Huntsman . Do not know how you can fill the bill so promptly and so often. Thank you setter, great start to the day.

  5. Very nice puzzle. I found it reltaively straightforward until it wasn’t in the SE corner which took me a long time. Lots of nice clues. I really liked the anagram at 6d and the silly person in bed at 14d. Thank you setter and Huntsman.

  6. A lovely Tuesday puzzle as ever. Full of smiles and lovely surfaces. A true master of the art.

    Thank you yet again.

    And also thanks to Huntsman – hints not needed but some great music links!!

    1. Review littered with mistakes & hadn’t learnt how to input you tube clips – some might wish I never did.

      1. Your YouTube clips are amongst the best. I try to see the clips without the hints…Keep up the hints and the clips

  8. A very enjoyable crossy from the proffy with lots of fun to be had including some ”Oo matron!” humour.

    My LOI was 28a which went onto my podium along with 1a and 7d.

    MT to the aforementioned and Hoots!

    2*/4*

  9. Tricky little number I thought, but witty with it especially when the pdm’s arrived. Smiles for 24 and 25a and 21d. Cotd however goes to the kinky picture in15d. Thanks to AP and Huntsman.

  10. Woken at 6:30am by Colonel Bagshot, on the telephone, demanding help with 24a. Raving that he had never heard of the word ‘Britpop’, he shouted that he intended to write to Mr Lancaster demanding more input for followers of Ambrose And His Orchestra, and Harry Leader And His Band.
    The Friday afternoon tea dances in the memorial hall have been suspended for months since Miss Abinger complained that the Colonel made an improper suggestion during the foxtrot.

    Great guzzle. Thanks to the setter and Andy Becoming Damp On The First Tee.

    1. Perhaps Colonel Bagshot should be made aware of this wonderful piece of photographic artwork taken at Cromford Station in Derbyshire.

  11. All the expected Tuesday fun from our setter with a few more tricky clues to deal with in the lower reaches. Ticks here went to 12,29&30a plus 18&21d.

    Thanks to Mr Plumb and to Huntsman for the review – thanks also to Terence for the latest episode in his village life saga which I always enjoy reading!

  12. Totally on wavelength today for a read and write solution start to end. Slightly tricky grid as when finishing a quadrant, not many checkers go into the next one. Thoroughly enjoyable and my COTD prize goes to the overseas minor thoroughfare in 27a.

    Thanks to the Prof and Huntsman

  13. Like Huntsman, 4d was my LOI and, also like Huntsman I was intensely embarrassed once I’d worked it out!
    Overall, another lovely puzzle from one of my favourite setters (also looking forward to RayT this week).
    Many thanks to the Prof, and to Huntsman on whose recommendation I may now go and try the vintage puzzle now…

  14. As Typically Tuesdayish as ever – **/****

    Candidates for favourite 21a, 30a, 18d, and 21d – and the winner is 21a.

    Thanks to Mr Plumb and Huntsman.

  15. Good fun and about the right degree of difficulty for early in the week.
    I too have ticks against the bigwig in 28a and the half baked dessert in 21d.
    Thanks to the setter and Huntsman.

  16. A gentle and rewarding puzzle. That said, I was very surprised when the app told me I’d done it in record time, as it hadn’t felt that easy.

    Also, is it just me or have the puzzles gone a bit ‘Guardian’, with more risqué clueing over the last few weeks? I have no objection to ‘topless men’ or ‘kinky lap dancing’ – the clues usually raise a smile after all – but it feels a bit un-Telegraph. */****

  17. Straightforward apart from getting in a mess with broadband which I thought might be a programme and stopped me from solving 23d. However the Hintsman in shining armour put me straight. I was briefly looking in the convent for 9a before I fell in, so to speak and I liked the simplicity of 27a. Yesterday was a lovely day with DD2, warm sun and a fresh breeze and her delicious cooking eaten al fresco. Back to porridge today, cool and grey. Ah well. Many thanks to Messrs Setter & Hintsman.

  18. I was slightly stuck on 26d as, the way I read it, I felt that the answer was going to replace ‘shows ambition’ i.e. DREAMS which did not fir, of course, rather than just ‘ambition’ i.e. DREAM.

  19. Great fun – thanks to our setter and Huntsman.
    I gave ticks to 1a, 28a, 3d and (my favourite) 21d.

  20. Wee buns and very tasty ones too.
    28 and 29a my back-to-back joint COTD.
    Many thanks to Huntsman and Plumb

  21. A very enjoyable puzzle with lots of smiles. LOI was 21d and I felt 21d when I got it!

    Top picks for me were 18d, 21d, and 27a.

    Thanks to Huntsman and Prof. Plumb.
    Thanks also to Terence for the update, I always enjoy reading them and have a mental image of the Colonel looking like one of Ronnie Barker’s characters with plus fours and a monocle.

  22. Surely the Colonel has an oversized moustache too. No matter Terence I love his comments. I was slow with this guzzle today especially with only Thespians 25a I could pencil in for no good reason at all.
    9 a I struggled going around hospital wards for sisters. As always I loved all the bloggers comments. Thank you to Mr Plumb and the Huntsman

  23. Thanks to Plumb and to Huntsman for the hints (which we didn’t need). Quick solve today with no real holdups. LOI 22d. Val as usual enjoyed the anagrams.

  24. I thought this Tuesday puzzle was trickier this week than the Monday offering. No particular reason why, but just was that way for me.

    2*/3.5*

    Favourites 5a, 27a, 2d, 7d, 18d & 21d — with winner 27a

    Thanks to AP & Huntsman

  25. 1.5*/4*. Anthony Plumb is certainly Mr. Consistent. Every Tuesday back-pager is cleverly clued, light, fun to solve, and laced with humour. Today’s is no exception.

    Many thanks to AP and to Hintsman.

  26. No real hold ups this afternoon but no lack of enjoyment either. A number of contenders for favourite but I’ll go with 18d. Thanks to AP and Huntsman.

  27. Wow! Two back pagers in a row, what fun, all we need now are the emojis back. **/**** Favourites: 27a, 29a, 30a & 21d. Thanks to AP and to the Huntsman especially for the music, always very enjoyable

  28. I got over confident as most of the answers readily came to mind, but found myself stuck in the NW and SE corners for a while. Not sure I understand how column = parade, and dislike the 30a word. Otherwise an enjoyable solve today. Thanks to setter and Huntsman.

  29. A great and very suitable Tuesday puzzle. A slight hold up with the south east but others wise pretty straightforward with 21d my favourite.

    Thanks to the setter and to Huntsman for the hints

  31. A perfect Tuesday puzzle – or any other day of the week, come to that.
    Plenty of fun and loads of smiles.
    Loved the kinky lap dances, the boss resigning and the country people who, like one of our royals, do not appear to sweat.
    Interesting definition in 2d. I have only ever seen that meaning of “suffers” in the Bible as in “suffer little children to come unto me”, which I found quite strange in my youth. Perhaps being curious about word definitions at an early age helped guide me into crosswordland in my teens. Who knows?
    Lovely puzzle. Thanks to AP and Huntsman.

    1. Your comment reminded me of Arthur meeting the peasants in The Holy Grail

      1. Brilliant. Often overlooked because we tend to remember Reg and People’s Front of Judea.
        Now, go and find some Kniggits…

  32. 1* / 4* Thought this was going to be a tricky one, but started in the SW and moved steadily anticlockwise.
    Lots to enjoy but I’ll make 15d kinky picture and 18a exited adult my joint favourites
    Thanks to setter and Huntsman

  33. Lovely work from the Prof. 15D and 30A particularly funny, but every clue a gem.

    VMT to AP and Huntsman.

  34. Good evening

    A bit of a start, stop, start, stop feeling to today’s crozzie, with the majority of struggling in the SW quadrant today – although I finished off the grid with 24a, I completely failed to spot the methodology involved – how straightforward it turned out to be!

    Thank you to the Prof and to Huntsman.

  35. I really enjoyed today’s puzzle and it all came together quite nicely. Having connection problems so will keep it brief. Many thanks to Mr Plumb and Huntsman.

  36. More Tuesday fun with no real hitches except slight slowing in SE corner as per one or two other bloggers above. Gave up trying to sort sort convoluted 28a and bunged in. No doubt down to the nitty gritty tomorrow after this light interlude. Thank you as always AP and Hintsman.

  37. 2*/5*
    Tuesdays are just simply my favourite crossword day. Loved it all but if pushed would pick the rather rude clues as favourites
    Thanks to Prof and Hintsman

  38. A gentle and enjoyable solve as we come to love on a Tuesday. Thanks to the setter and Huntsman

  39. Not on the wavelength today and only about 70% of the grid completed before I had to refer to the hints. Strange how a 1* can give you problems but other times sail through a 3*. No particular favourites but thank you to the setter and to Huntsman for th, much needed, hints.

  40. Battled on and off with this throughout the day and needed the hint for 21d, particularly as I am not a pudding person – and still think it’s a stretch of a definition. That then allowed me to solve 28a (thought it might be a hub or cam) and 30a (don’t like the word so not really in my vocabulary), which were the other two clues causing me problems. Liked the other clues though and solved them without any assistance. COTD 27a for its simple construction and surface. Thanks to Prof and Huntsman. ***/***

  41. I really enjoyed this entertaining puzzle and managed to complete it on the same day I started unlike last Thursday’s which I am still struggling through. Favourite in today’s puzzle for me was 29a. Thanks to Huntsman and Mr Plum.

  42. Polished clueing made this lovely Tuesday puzzle a joy to solve.
    29a and 21d vie for top place on my podium. Among my other many likes are: 5a, 28a, 3d, 4d, 7d, 18d and 22d.
    Many appreciative thanks to ‘Professor’ Plumb for **** entertainment. And many appreciative thanks to Huntsman for the review.

Comments are closed.