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DT 31021

by Shabbo  

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31021
Hints and tips by Shabbo

+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +

BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***

Good morning, fellow puzzlers.

I’m afraid you’ve got me twice this week, as I am filling in today for Huntsman who is golfing in Suffolk.  I shall endeavour to maintain his high standards of blogging, but there won’t be any of his trademark musical clips to entertain you.

I am not very good at guessing the setter on my regular Thursday slot, so I am not even going to make an attempt here today.  Over to you, dear solver.

I found this to be a very gentle Tuesday puzzle.  I got slightly delayed in the SW corner but, in hindsight, there is nothing too difficult there.  My joint CoDs are the very simple but elegant 26a and 25d.

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.

Many thanks to our setter and to the DT Crossword Team.


Across
 1a Fish placed around angler’s second reel? (5)
DANCE: small river fish of the carp family outside (placed around) second letter of aNgler.

4a Perhaps dosh we flaunted (6,3)
SHOWED OFF: “perhaps” here suggests a reverse anagram. Make an anagram of DOSH WE with the second word of the solution being the anagram indicator. I don’t think I have explained that terribly well.  If so, my apologies.

9a What you might do in your walking boots on your bike (4,1,4)
TAKE A HIKE: double definition.

10a Thing zebra regularly avoided? Big cat (5)
TIGER: odd letters (regularly avoided) of ThInG zEbRa.

11a Socialist with cool energy drink (3,4)
RED WINE: the colour one would associate with socialists + abbreviation for With + synonym of cool (or trendy) + abbreviation for Energy.

12a Not in favour of pagan removing outer layers in street (7)
AGAINST: remove the outer layers of (p)AGA(n) + IN + abbreviation for StreeT.

13a Young child actually swapping clubs with knight (6)
INFANT: take a two-word expression meaning “actually” and replace the C (Clubs) with N (kNight).

15a These people might treat canine depression – it’s restricting 25 per cent of dogs (8)
DENTISTS: nothing to do with dogs, of course!  Synonym of depression + ITS outside (restricting) one of the four (25%) letters of dogS.  The setter is asking us to pick one of the letters from “dogs” at random, but as there are only four, it seems perfectly reasonable. I don’t think I have seen this technique before.

18a Czech, perhaps, from Prague – one unfortunately abandoning golf (8)
EUROPEAN: anagram (unfortunately) of PRA(g)UE ONE. Golf is G in the NATO phonetic alphabet and should be omitted from the anagram (abandoning).

20a More flamboyant F1 driver on the radio (6)
LOUDER: homophone (on the radio) of a former Austrian F1 driver who retired in 1985 and died in 2019.

23a Carol following a Greek character? Funny (7)
AMUSING: a verb meaning carol after (following) A + a letter (character) from the Greek alphabet.

24a Labourer‘s bird taking off hurriedly at first (7)
PEASANT: a non-native game bird without (taking off) H (hurriedly at first).

26a Run up a mountain (5)
AMASS: A + synonym of mountain (as in a large amount).

27a The large nuts securing power cable (9)
TELEGRAPH: anagram (nuts) of THE LARGE outside (securing) abbreviation for Power.

28a Elders maybe penning answer almost certainly getting prizes (9)
TREASURES: elders are an example of these (think nature).  Put them outside (penning) both an abbreviation for Answer + synonym of certainly without the final letter (almost).

29a Salesman’s returning holding a weapon (5)
SPEAR: usual abbreviation for salesman + S (‘s) backwards (returning) outside (holding) A.

Down
1d Put off by pit’s shape (9)
DETERMINE: synonym of “put off” next to synonym of “pit”.

2d Upsetting article on King Edward in his birthday suit (5)
NAKED: indefinite article reversed (upsetting – this is a down clue) + abbreviation for King + abbreviation for EDward.

3d Visa one criminal’s bypassing (7)
EVASION: anagram (criminal) of VISA ONE.

4d Trump may use this strategy, initially, with damaged pride (6)
SPIDER: initial letter of Strategy + anagram (damaged) of PRIDE. Trump here is the well-known snooker player, Judd Trump, who is the current world number one.  Non-snooker aficionados and our friends across the pond might struggle with this one?

5d Physical education appraised after nothing worked (8)
OPERATED: abbreviation for Physical Education + synonym of appraised all coming after O (nothing).

6d Take out old belt (7)
EXTRACT: synonym of old + synonym of belt (think land).

7d Planned grandiose novel (9)
ORGANISED: anagram (novel) of GRANDIOSE.

8d Opening clenched hand without resistance (5)
FIRST: synonym of clenched hand outside (without) abbreviation for Resistance.

14d Loudly catching fish – that’s lucky (9)
FORTUNATE: a musical term meaning loudly outside (catching) a large marine fish.

16d It supports patient criminal’s punishment, drug runner ultimately (9)
STRETCHER: slang term for a prison sentence + single-letter abbreviation for an illicit drug + the last letter (ultimately) of runneR.

17d Guard the mad relative (8)
DAUGHTER: anagram (mad) of GUARD THE.

19d Members of the clergy – persistently annoying people embracing religious instruction (7)
PRIESTS: synonym of “persistently annoying people” outside abbreviation for Religious Instruction.

21d Oscar is livid about new fruit (7)
ORANGES: the letter of the NATO phonetic alphabet represented by Oscar + synonym of “is livid” outside (about) abbreviation for New.

22d Ship circling Portugal badly tips over (6)
SPILLS: abbreviation for SteamShip outside abbreviation for Portugal + synonym of badly (as in thinks badly of someone).

23d A bit isolated (5)
APART: A + synonym of bit.

25d Saw some had aged (5)
ADAGE: hidden word (some).  Our answer is a noun and is contained within words 3 & 4 of the clue.

Quickie Pun:  CAR  +  BOW  +  HIDE  +  RATES  =  CARBOHYDRATES

61 comments on “DT 31021”

  1. Another delightful Tuesday offering from The Professor with just the right amount of brain teasing making for a satisfying solve. Having said that, I don’t understand 4d so will need the hints to explain it. I liked the fact nothing worked in 5d and the patient criminals at 16d but my COTD are the walking boots at 9a.

    Thank you, Professor for the fun. Thank you, Shabbo for the hints.

    1. I tried to edit my post but it didn’t work. I just wanted to add that it is no wonder I didn’t get 4d because I’ve never heard of him.

      2. Steve – he also ‘appeared’ in DT 30967 on July 1st (2 months ago) where you also commented that you had never heard of him. Also on a Tuesday so perhaps a favourite of Mr Plumb.

        What Trump does? Deteriorates (4,2,3)

          1. That’s nothing!

            I completed the puzzle on my tablet at 7am but when I went back to look at my answers just now the grid had cleared and I had to solve everything again and had just as much trouble as I did 8 hours ago. 🤔🤦‍♂️

  2. Good morning Shabbo, thank goodness for today’s lovely crossword, restored my confidence after yesterday! No real favourite today, maybe 9a at a push, thanks for today’s hints tho thankfully didn’t need them today except for a couple of explanations

      1. Thank you he is a rescue dog we had him at 12 months old, he is a beagle cross, he’s an old boy now, almost twelve but still sprightly enough, his name is Cai, he has been and still is the most perfect dog 👍🏻

  3. I got through most of the first half on the initial read. The lower half took some effort, especially the SW corner. 15a required the most time but 1a was my favourite. Thank you to the setter.

  4. An excellent puzzle from Il Professore with plenty of great surfaces.

    Some of you may not know that 7d is the second entry in a dictionary with z as the 7th letter being the first one. It’s a Greek origin not an Americanism.

    Even though it’s a hugely long clue, 15a has to go on my podium as it conjures up a great image of a dog lying on a couch, staring at the ceiling. The other two are 17d and 25d.

    MT to the aforementioned and supersub Shabbs.

    1*/4*

  5. Light but pleasing, with the reverse anagram at 4a my favourite. I also appreciated 20a, not least because I’d worried that I would never of heard of the sportsman in question, my interest in F1 having peaked with the Panini sticker collection in 1977. On a similar note, one day I may even remember that there’s more than one Trump. Thanks very much to the setter and to Shabbo in the David Fairclough role.

  6. A pleasant and approachable guzzle which I enjoyed. The only clue to give me problems was 11a and, as soon as I twigged it, couldn’t understand why I didn’t see it . 5d was a good Lego clue and 17d a good anagram but COTD was the missing lwtter clue at 15a (I bet Steve C got that ine right away). Thanks to Mr Plumb and to Shabbo for the hints.

  7. I wonder whether I am alone in being tempted to bung in the winged caffeine wonder for 11a? Thoroughly enjoyed this AP production which has many ticks on my page. Particularly liked 1a and the canine depression at 15a. My podium comprises 11a, 14a and F1 master at 20a in top spot. Thanks to AP and Shabbo.

  8. Most enjoyable, and very entertaining.

    My last in was the racing driver (which I kicked myself for when I got it, as I love my F1). With the checking letters in place, initially I could not see past BOLDER as being more flamboyant…..

    Favourite clue is the mad relative at 17d, as mine certainly is (only joking Sophia, you know I love you!).

    Many thanks to the setter, and to Shabbo.

  9. We had the presidential misdirection a few weeks back, so I am surprised some are still snookered. Nonetheless, 4d was nicely framed.
    4a flaunts a lovely smooth surface and the hand without resistance in 8d also got a thumbs up.
    A painless and enjoyable puzzle, my thanks to the setter and Shabbo.

  10. As Typically Tuesdayish as ever including it seems the re-appearance of ‘not the Orange one’ in 4d – 1.5*/4.5*

    Candidates for favourite – 9a, 20a, 23a, 6d, 23d, and the Pun – and the winner is 20a.

    Thanks to Mr Plumb and Shabbo.

  11. Lots to like with today’s puzzle. Top picks for me were 9a, 28a, 11a and 4a.

    Thanks to Shabbo and the setter.

  12. An entertaining Tuesday puzzle – thanks to our setter and Shabbo.
    Ticks from me for 4a, 9a and 26a.

  13. 1.5*/4*. Yes, indeed, Typically Tuesdayish (ack. Senf). Light and great fun.

    9a was my favourite but I was very surprised to find that both Chambers and Collins list the answer as an American phrase.

    My other top picks were 4a, 23a & 26a.

    Many thanks to AP and to Shabbo.

      1. I took it as “take a hike” being the equivalent of “on your bike”. The former being the American equivalent of the latter British expression. Both meaning “get lost and stop bothering me”

  14. Nice one. liked 4d and 20a (but I am a fan of both sports). Good o see the setter not currying favour with his employer in 27a.

  15. Great fun as ever from our regular Tuesday setter with just a brief moment of panic when faced with an F1 driver and the same desire as others to have a winged character as the answer for 11a. My top three mirror Gazza’s choices with a nod to the well slotted in Quickie pun.

    Thanks to Mr Plumb and also to Shabbo for the overtime – hope it’s appreciated by our golfing friend.

    1. Welcome to the blog, Sue.
      I hope that you’ll become a regular commenter.
      It would be helpful if you added a letter to your alias to avoid confusion since we already have more than one Sue amongst those who comment.

    2. Welcome, Sue. As Gazza says, please keep commenting. I tw Ould be great to hear from you on a regular basis. 😊

  17. Thanks to the Setter. Shabbo for the hints that helped clarify a couple of answers. Quick easy solve today. COTD 14d. LOI 4d. Gary and Val

  18. I got in a bit of a mess in the NE because I entered splash out. Unlike me as I am a good anagram spotter 😌. Surprisingly I knew the F1 driver. I liked 16d and 28a. I didn’t actually need help but always enjoy reading what our hinters have to say, so many thanks to Shabbo and to our Setter for a satisfying solve. Have we heard from Terence lately?

      1. Oh thank you for telling me. I was busy all day Sunday and didn’t do the Xword until late so must have missed it.
        All is well!

  19. Like Steve hadn’t heard of 4d nor did I remember him from July. Enjoyable crossy and not too tricky. If Smilers comes on today, what did you mean that the sea was ‘closed’ in Wells? Seems a very odd term. Sorry your holiday up here was not as good as usual. You must come along to my little corner another time.. Can’t believe all that kerfuffle (great word) about lurkers yesterday, reminded of the huge argument that went back and forth years ago culminating with Mr Fish huffing off, I wonder if he ever huffed back again. I’m rambling – many thanks to our setter and to Shabbo. Hope Huntsman is enjoying Suffolk – do get a Noon Tart from Ash Fishes in Aldeburgh, sheer bliss.

  20. I thought this puzzle was a notch up in difficulty from AP’s usual Tuesday offering.

    2.5*/3.5*

    Favourites 10a, 24a, 27a, 1d, 5d & 14d — with winner 27a
    Smiles for winner as well as 14d & 17d

    Thanks to AP & Huntsman

  21. Nice witty and not too difficult a puzzle (as we have come to expect on a Tuesday) 😃***/***
    Favourites 20a, 1d & 25d Thanks to AP and to Shabbo. 👍

  22. Nice witty and not too difficult a puzzle (as we have come to expect on a Tuesday) 😃***/***
    Favourites 20a, 1d & 25d Thanks to AP and to Shabbo. 👍

  24. A gentle and pleasant solve for a wet Tuesday. I didn’t twig the other Trump reference and remember now that he cropped up before , so maybe it will stick this time ! I groaned when I saw the F1 reference, as it’s not my thing but in fact Nicky was the first / only name I came up with. I spent a while on my last one in trying to come up with mountain at 26a that would fit. ChatGPT gave me the answer Aratz (promise I don’t cheat very often ) , but that of course didn’t parse. Then I looked at the clue the other way round and the very obvious answer came immediately. Thanks so much to the setter and Shabbo.

  25. Very close to my best ever time. I too didn’t know what a spider was (or why someone called Trump might want one) but I couldn’t think of anything else to fit. I always struggle with the sports clues, if snooker is a sport? You live and learn. Very enjoyable. 26a cost me my pb time, a clever clue. Thanks Shabbo and Prof.

  26. A very enjoyable Tuesday puzzle completed before I went out so I can’t remember any details, add me to the list of people who forgot the other Trump.

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

  27. A late start due to over sixties football this morning, ten-a-side, and a great game it was.
    As for today’s challenge, full completion but with two errors: 11a, I keep forgetting that w is an acceptable abbreviation for with and the racing driver at 20a. Went for bolder having completely forgotten about the former world champion. Could have kicked myself when I saw the two mistakes.
    COTD for me 28a, went off in the wrong direction until I saw my error, trees not people.
    Thank you to the setter and to Shabbo for the hints.

  28. Very gentle today
    1*/3.5*
    4d and 20a favourites today, used to be a fan of both sports but seem to have grown out of them.
    Thanks to shabbo and prof

  29. A gentle solve for me today. I had to Google the ‘Spider’ strategy at 4d. That man in America completely blocking any thoughts of snooker! 15a amused me. Many thanks to Mr Plumb and Shabbo for the hints.

  30. Good evening

    Another enjoyable solve from our Professor for a Tuesday afternoon. Not much to report, really; most of today’s solutions revealed themselves without too much taxing of the brain-cell; a classic piece of misdirection in 4d means that this takes joint COTD with the marvellous 15a.

    Many thanks to the Prof and to Shabbo.

  32. Nicely straightforward and, thankfully, no example of the apparently banned word to inflame anyone’s ire and lead to edited comments even if you didn’t mention ithe word. I took 9a to be an unindicated Americanism but fairly clued and at least I’d heard of it. Several candidates for favourite but I’ll go with 4d, it didn’t fool me. Thanks to AP and Shabbo.

  33. Shamefully, I couldn’t solve the second word of 11a because I kept looking for a canned drink: I came up with “Red Hipe” but there is no such drink. Solved all the others without assistance but like a lot of people needed the hints to understand 4d (even though I am aware of the player: good misdirection). COTD 9a for the parsing and surface. Thanks to Prof P and Shabbo. **/***

  34. This took me longer than today’s (not)Toughie, which says more about the difficulty of Chalicea rather than this, which was also fairly mild. I spent more time running through F1 drivers than anything else, until I rewound far enough. I’m giving the prize to 4d, even if the snooker/POTUS split has turned up before. Thanks to AP and Shabbo

  35. 1*/3* very enjoyable with no real hold ups (apart from the red drink). Favourites F1 driver at 20a, canine depression at 15a and get lost at 9a.
    Also liked the quickie pun
    Thanks to setter and Shabbo

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