Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30,591
Hints and tips by Shabbo
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
Good morning dear puzzlers and a glorious sunny morning it is here in Welwyn Garden City. However, I believe that the temperature is going to struggle to get above 100, so the budgie smugglers can stay in the drawer or another week or two.
I won’t tell you who the setter is for two reasons:
- It would spoil it for others.
- I have no idea who it is.
I found this to be a very accessible puzzle and an enjoyable solve. Thank you mystery setter.
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.
Across
1a Complain, given part of log for woodwork(9)
CARPENTRY: synonym of complain + synonym of an item added to a log (think diary or record).
6a Like McDonald’s food son doesn’t eat(5)
FASTS: a description of the type of “food” one gets at McDonald’s + single-letter abbreviation for son.
9a Dish, starter from Berry in bake off(5)
KEBAB: anagram (off) of BAKE + B (starter from Berry).
10a Theatre backing erstwhile actor, say(9)
PERFORMER: three-letter abbreviated word meaning theatre reversed (backing) + synonym of erstwhile.
11a Miss album? A demo I sell excitingly covers it(12)
MADEMOISELLE: I thought at first that this was an anagram, but it is in fact a really neat hidden word clue. Our answer is lurking within words 2-7 of the clue.
14a Put down iron again(7)
REPRESS: double definition
16a President Lincoln not drinking with gangster assisting crime(7)
ABETTAL: abbreviated first name of President Lincoln + abbreviation for teetotal + our usual gangster (Mr Capone).
17a Boring implement everybody picked up(3)
AWL: hom*ophone (picked up) of synonym of everybody.
18a Extract Republican found inside bar(7)
EXCERPT: single-letter abbreviation for Republican inside a synonym of bar (as in “apart from”).
20a Interest Parisian in grand singer called Diana(7)
ENGROSS: French word meaning “in” + abbreviation for “grand” + a supreme singer.
22a Pondering case for discharge and release(12)
DELIBERATION: first and last letters (case for) of discharge + synonym of release.
26a Husband has whisky after work – it’s child’s play(9)
HOPSCOTCH: abbreviation for husband + synonym of whisky after a two-letter abbreviation for a musical work.
27a Swimmer, about 90, is to show great skill(5)
EXCEL: a slippery swimmer (fish) outside (about) Roman numeral for 90.
28a Section of prenup re-energised groom(5)
PREEN: another hidden word (section of). Our answer is hidden within words 3 and 4.
29a Put on casual clothes and wig(5,4)
DRESS DOWN: double definition. Wig here is a verb disguised as a noun.
Down
1d Anglicans receiving fine for illegal substance(4)
co*kE: abbreviation for Church of England outside (receiving) universal colloquial expression meaning fine or all right. Cola is not yet illegal, so this must be the other type.
2d What priest may don, or bishop tucking into caviar?(4)
ROBE: abbreviation for bishop inside (tucking into) a synonym of caviar.
3d Upset setter needs support and hug(7)
EMBRACE: how the setter might refer to himself reversed (upset) + a synonym of support.
4d Tip of tool, item used fencing in American’s home(5)
TEPEE: first letter (tip) of tool + sword used in fencing. Perhaps the addition of the word “in” after “used” would have helped the surface read?
5d Delay for a drunk getting large amount of alcohol(4,2,3)
YARD OF ALE: anagram (drunk) of DELAY FOR A reveals a long drink.
6d Labour leader Michael smiles occasionally in flirtatious activity(7)
FOOTSIE: Labour leader from the early 80s + odd letters (occasionally) of smiles.
7d Possible reason for booking limo – aunt is travelling(10)
SIMULATION: anagram (travelling) of LIMO AUNT IS. The definition refers to the antics of overpaid footballers pretending that they are hurt. Send them all off, I say!
8d Dali, say, certainly entertains king and top celebs(10)
SURREALIST: a word meaning certainly outside (entertains) abbreviation for king (or queen) + a term used to describe the most famous celebrities.
12d Camaraderie – working day finishes with it(10)
FRIENDSHIP: the last day of the working week (abbreviated) + synonym of “finishes” + synonym of “with it” (as in trendy).
13d Foolishly, a cop plays with drug, leading to disaster(10)
APOCALYPSE: anagram (foolishly) of A COP PLAYS + single letter representing an illegal drug.
15d Dripping is a kind of fat(9)
SATURATED: double definition.
19d Polish star’s point of no return(7)
RUBICON: synonym of polish (a verb) + synonym of star (as in celebrity).
21d Fawns oddly lost south of wooded area(7)
GROVELS: odd letters of (LoSt) beneath (south of) a synonym of a small wood.
23d Thanks that chap, gathering round lake in America(5)
TAHOE: abbreviation for thanks + word meaning “that chap” outside (gathering) a round letter.
24d Italian novelist penning hard copy(4)
ECHO: Italian novelist famous for The Name of the Rose outside (penning) abbreviation for hard (think pencils). I’m ashamed to say that I was unfamiliar with the novelist.
25d Antelope hasn’t finished dash(4)
ELAN: a large African antelope with its tail removed (hasn’t finished).
Quickie Pun: ANNE + TAN + DECK = ANT AND DEC (who?)
