Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30,477
Hints and tips by Shabbo
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***
Our more experienced solvers will know the identity of our setter from his use of “sweetheart” in 17a. Ximenean sticklers will tell you that sweetheart cannot represent E, in much the same way as Maidenhead cannot represent M, but Libertarians will say that the intent is clear and therefore it is acceptable. I am experienced enough to know that this is a debate worth avoiding!
Another trademark of this compiler is brevity. Why use two words, when one will do? No clue today has more than 6 words and the average clue length is just a fraction over 5. A remarkable achievement.
In the blog below, the definition element of each clue has been underlined and anagrams are CAPITALISED. 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 Strangely brusque about using force(12)
SURPRISINGLY: a synonym of brusque outside (about) a synonym of using force or levering
9a Queen surrounded by knaves and jokers(5)
CARDS: abbreviation for Queen inside (surrounded by) an archaic term for knaves.
10a History is deplorable with the French(9)
CHRONICLE: a synonym of deplorable + “the” in French (male definite article).
11a Strong material rejected after check(10)
DETERMINED: material (think jeans) reversed (rejected) after a synonym of check
12a Vehicle engine finally getting maintenance(4)
CARE: a type of vehicle + the final letter (finally) of engine.
13a Unpredictable change about charge(7)
CAPRICE: abbreviation for about + synonym of charge (as in expenditure)
15a The French sex joke reversed wedding(7)
NUPTIAL: a reverse lego clue – “the” in French (female definite article this time) + informal term meaning sex + synonym of joke – join that lot together and turn it around (reversed). Note the definition here is an adjective, although it looks like it should be a noun.
17a Mistake from sweetheart, curious embracing rogue(7)
ERRATUM: the heart of sweet + a synonym of curious outside (embracing) a synonym for rogue.
19a Blokes, they sometimes spout in speech(7)
GEEZERS: hom*ophone (indicated by “in speech”) of natural phenomena that spout hot water and steam up into the air.
21a Regretted being offensive to the audience(4)
RUED: another hom*ophone (indicated by “to the audience”) – we are looking for something that sounds like a word meaning offensive.
22a Dismay of single daughter in private(10)
INTIMIDATE: single = I + abbreviation for daughter inside (in) a synonym of private.
25a Drunk in club ultimately having runs?(9)
BLADDERED: final letter (ultimately) of club + a synonym for having runs (think stockings)
26a Casting, otherwise containing metal block(5)
INGOT: hidden word (containing) within the first two words of the clue.
27a Excess of permanent ice melting(12)
INTEMPERANCE: our first anagram! Mix up the letters (melting) of PERMANENT ICE.
Down
1d Street groove causing swaggering walk(5)
STRUT: abbreviation for street + synonym of groove.
2d Control of others taking Express?(9)
RESTRAINT: synonym of others outside (taking) synonym of express (think transport, not newspapers – the capital E can be ignored here).
3d Lie about Conservative row(7)
RECLINE: a lego clue: abbreviation for about + abbreviation for Conservative + synonym for row (as in rank).
4d Increase overwhelming working doctor(7)
SURGEON: a synonym for “increase overwhelming” + a word meaning working. The doctor here is an army or naval doctor.
5d Relatives in earnest now and then(4)
NANS: the even letters (now and then) of “in earnest”.
6d Profitable vital cure is synthesised(9)
LUCRATIVE: anagram (is synthesised) of VITAL CURE.
7d Sharp detectives in top case’s opening(6)
ACIDIC: three-letter abbreviation for detectives inside (in) alphanumeric abbreviation for top (originating from a first-class vessel in Lloyd’s Register of Shipping apparently) + initial letter (opening) of case.
8d Take pleasure catching a show(6)
REVEAL: a synonym for take pleasure (think celebrate) outside (catching) A.
14d China core thrown with simple exterior(9)
PORCELAIN: anagram (thrown) of CORE with a synonym of “simple” outside it (exterior).
16d Quiet homework producing foresight(9)
PREVISION: my first thought was that homework might be DIY, but we need to think back to schooldays on this one. Musical abbreviation for quiet + what one should do before an exam.
17d European transported over dress(6)
ENROBE: join together a single-letter abbreviation for European + a synonym for transported or carried and turn it around (over – note this is a down clue).
18d Delilah perhaps cut hair, bit upset(7)
MANTRAP: synonym of hair (think lion) without the final letter (cut) + synonym of bit reversed (upset – this is also a down clue!). The inclusion of “perhaps” indicates that this is a “definition by example”.
19d Former capital of the Netherlands?(7)
GUILDER: don’t worry about looking for wordplay here – there isn’t any! This is a cryptic definition clue. Capital here refers to currency.
20d Shut up keeping warm inside cover(6)
SHEATH: two-letter abbreviation for shut up (or be quiet) outside (keeping inside) a synonym for warm (a noun).
23d Debate fever gripping Republican(5)
ARGUE: a word meaning fever outside (gripping) a single-letter abbreviation for Republican.
24d Indolent, dull, lacking energy initially(4)
IDLE: A triple definition or an all-in-one clue – take your pick. The wordplay asks us to join together the initial letters of the first four words.
Quickie Pun: SIGH + GONE = SAIGON
