Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 28791 (Hints)
The Saturday Crossword Club
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As is usual for the weekend prize crosswords, an assortment of clues, including some of the more difficult ones, have been selected and hints provided for them.
Most of the terms used in these hints are explained in the Glossary and examples are available by clicking on the entry under “See also”. Where the hint describes a construct as “usual” this means that more help can be found in The Usual Suspects, which gives a number of the elements commonly used in the wordplay. Another useful page is Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing, which features words with meanings that are not always immediately obvious.
A full review of this puzzle will be published after the closing date for submissions.
Some hints follow.
Across
1a Problem jazz fan picks up in gossip (8)
Put a five-letter problem in a dated term for a jazz fan (you can find it in The Usual Suspects)
9a Four articles about medium’s curse (8)
Put a collection of indefinite and definite articles around M(edium)
11a Working with stars, fool collects prize (that’s right) (12)
A three-letter fool goes around a prize, such as the World Cup, and a three-letter Latin word meaning “that’s right”, often used in quoted matter to show that the original is being faithfully reproduced even though incorrect or apparently so
15a Shed small amount of light on tea that’s stewed (4-2)
Here shed is a noun, not a verb – a small amount of L[ight] followed by an anagram (that’s stewed) of ON TEA
17a Group popular in the Nineties touring East being less happy (5)
This group was a rival to Oasis back in the nineties, put its name around (touring) E(ast)
18a Give out ecstasy in front of Cambridge college (4)
E(cstasy) precedes (in font of) a college in Cambridge in the USA, not England
20a Reconnoitring with a view to breaking cover (6)
Two definitions – the first being the kind of reconnoitring carried out by criminals prior to breaking into a building
21a Achieve success through Republican Party ties (2,6)
The three-letter abbreviation for the Republican Party followed by a verb meaning ties (shoes, perhaps)
28a Strongly criticise directors’ salary? (8)
A four-letter term for a director is followed by what might be (hence the question mark) his salary
Down
2d Renegade caught by Henry makes a bloomer (8)
A renegade inside the three-letter shortened name much used by Shakespeare in plays like Henry IV Parts I and II – don’t forget that in Crosswordland a bloomer is not just a mistake!
6d Composer with uplifting part for one unaccompanied (8)
A four-letter composer is followed by the reversal (uplifting in a down clue) of a part in a play
7d TV cook endlessly found in food shop (4)
Drop the final letter (endlessly) from the first name of a well-known Norwich City supporter
8d What one may do during cheese course or entree? (8)
Split as (4,4) this is what one traditionally does during the cheese course
12d Theatre worker, a star that’s upcoming caught by surprise (5,7)
The reversal (that’s upcoming) of the A from the clue and a star or celebrity inside a verb meaning to surprise
14d Canadian singer-songwriter, no longer this? (5)
This time it’s just a video hint!
19d Person hard to satisfy that is boxing former boxer (8)
The full Latin phrase for “that is” around (boxing) the adopted name of a former boxer
22d Colour in a kind of statistical chart a small digit (6)
The kind of colour that is used for tattoos inside a kind of statistical chart
24d Pond creature wife caught in appropriate item (4)
… I can’t hear this pond creature being mentioned without thinking about Ken Livingstone – can you?
25d Division of Novotel (4)
Hidden (of) inside the last word of the clue
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The Quick Crossword pun: isle+Beeb+lode=I’ll be blowed
More than three quarters completed very quickly and very satisfying. I was left with five in the SE. I got 18a quite quickly then and thought this a simple but clever clue with a misdirection of sorts. Then followed a gruelling time getting the last four which I did eventually by looking up a small digit – the one I had in mind was not small enough. This gave me 21a and 28a although I had to check the definition. Last one in 19d. Simple really but only ever think of the abbreviation. Thank you setter and thanks to BD although did not have to resort to hints. The wavelength thing is amazing but how I could solve so much so quickly and then get stuck for twice as long on the last few is a mystery to me.
Done early and Made me wonder if BD has block booked the Paddington 25d yet for the birthday bash. I doubt that Senf would have hinted 14d in any other manner too.
LOI 8d trouble parsing stopped me bunging in.
11a fave among quite a few on the podium.
Thanks BD and setter.
Although generally mild and over too quickly (especially for a Prize), this one was admirable for its really well constructed clues and mostly very smooth surfaces (except maybe the 22d surface). I’ll be surprised if someone doesn’t try to claim that 19d contains a 2-word “grammatical error”! I’d like to see new recruits in Rookie Corner write puzzles like this (with their first two or three efforts) instead of trying to produce extreme Stinkers or Toughies containing lots of mistakes. Favs: 9a and 8d. Very enjoyable: 2* / 3.5*
Well said about the Rookie (and the NTSPP). It would be good if they was the occasional back page standard one.
Thanks to setter and BD for a pleasant distraction prior to yet more Wimbledon tennis after yesterday’s marathon -11 hours in front of the screen – so now have square eyes and a numb bum! Haven’t heard 22d in UK but of course it’s used in US. Having worked in Cambridge near the 18a college it sprang readily to mind. Hadn’t heard of 26a before but have now added it to my today Favs, 11a and 18a. Surely beginning of 28a are not necessarily directors.
Another very satisfying crossword which, for me , was the right balance between difficulty and enjoyment . Lots of good clues so unfair to pick a favourite .
Needed the hint to explain the acronym for the Republican Party and 28A was a new word yet explainable .
Happy Bastille Day to everyone .
Finding that the grid is on the back page of the paper always fills me with a sense of optimism – and I wasn’t disappointed today. I agree with KFB that the balance was just right and it was a enjoyable joust with the setter; I particularly liked 9a and 19d. I’d suggest to Angellov that a fifth set tie-break will be introduced at Wimbledon before the start of the 2019 tournament – the alternative is for him to avoid all future matches where the name ‘John Isner’ appears…
Just the right level for a Saturday puzzle and – yes – 25d put me in mind of the forthcoming BIG 10th birthday bash!
Top three awards went to 21&28a plus 8d.
Thanks to Mr Ron and to BD for the club.
Now it’s back to the NTSPP which is threatening to put me into an early grave……….
Just surprised Miffypops by popping in for a swift pint in Long Itchington. Lovely village, excellent pub and congenial landlord and lady. Thoroughly recommended.
And surprised I truly was. Thanks for the visit, enjoy your holiday and let us know when you are nearing Sutton Stop.
Very enjoyable puzzle which I completed unaided. Hurrah!
Needed some help with the parsing as I usually do.
Thanks to the setter and to Big Dave.
I made heavy weather of this puzzle, especially the SE corner. On review I’ve no idea why…
Enjoyable solve, thanks to BD and setter ***/***
SE corner held me up too. I had never heard of 28a and could could not spell the state. I spelt ages googling the hotel chain. So dense as it obviously had to be a lurker.
Another beautiful day in London, but PLEASE can we have some rain!!
England came up short again, a good thing as it will show us how much we have to improve.
Thanks BD and Mr.Ron.
Did not know the Republican party but either.
Has chump gone home yet?
Nope! He’s playing golf in Scotland, then visits his Russian chum, Putin, in Helsinki.
I wish to note, whether you like her or not, that Mrs May maintained her courtesy and good manners despite being insulted and lied to. I and most Americans I spoke with, have a feeling of great pride and admiration for the Brits.
I’m sure this will amuse you!
Haha – but surely he wouldn’t have spelt etiquette correctly?
Of course not, he doesn’t know what it means.
Ive no doubt that’s true!
As a P.S. to all, I’ve got my glasses, no more magnifying glass!
I have to say that I enjoyed this much more than last week -it was not my wave length at all-good to be back to normal!
I particularly liked 9 and 11a.
The weather is confusing – normally we are desperate for some sunshine but now crying out for rain !
Can’t be pleased can we?
I also hope that Trump can get us the Brexit we voted for!
Badger: Well done but, if you would, I require a pointer to the finish of 11a (which you liked so much). I know what it is (whole crossword finished) but cannot find an explanation, definition, or Latin representation anywhere for the last 3 letters – even though I know what they are. I have trawled umpteen Dictionaries and even the internet (in desperation) without any joy. Would you help, please?
Welcome to the blog, Brian.
It’s not the last 3 letters of your answer you need to look up, but letters 9-11.
Gazza: thank you so much. Not at top of my game – even your reply puzzled me at first. But I got there and I thank you for coming back to me so quickly. I am now good for a lie down in a dark room.
Ask a question by all means, but please don’t ask for help from individual commenters
A few at the close gave me a little pause for thought – 2d, 8d and 20ac – but overall time about ** for difficulty. A nice Saturday challenge.
Evening all, long time lurker (largely because it is often 24 hours post publication that I get opportunity to solve the prize puzzles) breaking cover to express my overwhelming surprise at my favourite band appearing in Saturday crossword. Not something I thought I would ever see as, on the surface, they don’t appear to be obvious bedfellows. Thx to everyone involved in the site for what is never less than an illuminating read.
Welcome to the blog gingaw
Have done all of them without real problem except the clue for 26 across and you have no hint for that – really frustrating as it was one of the most difficult!
DT 28,791
Welcome to the blog Pete
26a Good message to departed stagehand (4)
It’s actually very easy if you correctly separate the definition from the wordplay – G(ood) followed by a message to the departed, as found on, say, a gravestone
Thanks a million- I thought that it was ************** [answer redacted - please don't do this before the closing date. BD]. I feel really stupid . Pete
Just check it out in a dictionary.
Look up your answer in Chambers – and keep it to yourself.
The TV cook (7d) doesn’t seem to know where she is!
“Where are you? Where are you? Lettsbee Avenue?”
No! Carrow Road.
Sorry about that!
What happen d to 26 a?
Welcome to the blog Kate
Nothing “happened” to 26a – it just didn’t make it into the clues I selected – see the first sentence at the beginning of the blog. It was, however, covered in my reply to Pete at #15. It does help if you read the post before commenting.
Sadly missed the deadline. This one was over my head but a lot of other stuff on my mind. Did about 70% of it then needed to use you blog. Very frustrating. As always it’s easy when you read your hints.