DT 29449 (Hints) – Big Dave's Crossword Blog
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DT 29449 (Hints)

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 29449 (Hints)

The Saturday Crossword Club
Hosted by Tilsit

+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +

Good morning everyone from Warrington.

Here we go again with another Saturday challenge. An enjoyable challenge with some interesting definitions where you may need to think outside the box to get your answer.

Several favourites in the batch including 2 and 20 down – lots of Greek references today, maybe our setter is on holiday there?

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 Steal in the ears as Dalek’s voice? (7)
A word meaning to steal plus one meaning related to the ears.

5a City needs a good hospital — 500 coming in sick (7)
Inside a word meaning sick goes A, plus the abbreviations for Good, Hospital and the numeral for 500.

11a Divert attention from London-bound coach? (7)
The way you describe traffic going to London, especially from the south, plus a type of coach from the Middle Ages.

12a Greek victor going inside roasts nuts (7)
A Christian name associated with Greek is found by rearranging the letters (nuts) of ROASTS and inserting what Victor means in the NATO alphabet.

18a Martial arts student, inexperienced, given punch (5,4)
A word meaning inexperienced plus one for a punch or hit.

21a Mister Solo animated after a little hesitation (7)
After A and a word for a hesitation goes an anagram (animated) of SOLO to give something that makes mist.

22a Think pigmies occasionally must conceal a trap (7)
Inside alternate letters of PIGMIES goes A plus a type of trap often found in crosswordland.

26a Olympian collapsed in pit — oh dear! (9)
The name of someone who lived on Mount Olympus is an anagram (collapsed) of PIT OH DEAR.

28a Something very irritating in opening chatter (4,3)
The name for an opening or rip and a word for chatter.

Down

1d Check votes again in detail (7)
Two definitions: one for an election and the other to detail something to another person.

2d Supporters start to save money (5)
Things that support in Crosswordland (nudge, nudge, wink, wink) plus the first letter of SAVE.

4d Wild idea to correspond with artist (7)
When something corresponds, it is said to do this and the abbreviation for an artist gives a word I had not associated as being this. I know it better as a monster.

7d Port only provides fish (5,4)
The name of a South Eastern port and a word meaning only.

14d One sten gun shot bags resistance rebel (9)
After the abbreviation for one goes an anagram of STEN GUN with the abbreviation for resistance inside.

15d Velocity rising with single step in void (4,5)
Reverse a word for velocity and add a word for one step.

20d Greek hero recognised in Florida and Georgia? (7)
The name for a Greek hero is an abbreviated location (3,2,2) for where you will find Florida and Georgia on a map of the US. Clever!

24d Freezing in panic in Gdansk (5)
A hidden answer.

Lots to keep you amused. Play nicely and have a great weekend.

The Crossword Club is now open.

Today’s entertainment is provided by BD – proof, if it was needed, that rock’n’roll is still alive!


Could new readers please read the Welcome post and the FAQ before posting comments or asking questions about the site.

As this is a Prize crossword, please don’t put any ANSWERS, whether WHOLE, PARTIAL or INCORRECT, or any ALTERNATIVE CLUES in your comment. If in doubt, leave it out!

Please read these instructions carefully – they are not subject to debate or discussion. Offending comments may be redacted or, in extreme cases, deleted. In all cases the administrator’s decision is final.

If you don’t understand, or don’t wish to comply with, the conventions for commenting on weekend prize puzzles then save yourself (and me) a lot of trouble and don’t leave a comment.


The Quick Crossword pun: wee+jar+bored=Ouija board


79 comments on “DT 29449 (Hints)

  1. I made that a bit easier than recent Saturdays, but as Tilsit says, some interesting clues.
    Blooming windy on the North Kent coast, nearly blew my toupee off!
    Many thanks all.

  2. 1.5*/4*. I seemed to drop onto the right wavelength immediately and flew through the first three quarters. A handful of answers in the SE took a bit more teasing out, particularly the parsing of 20d, which became my favourite when the penny dropped.

    With brief, accurate cluing and mostly smooth surfaces (1a being the notable exception), I really enjoyed this.

    Many thanks to the setter and to Tilsit.

  3. Took a while to get lift-off but then all gradually fell into place over a satisfying and entertaining solve. NW was last to give in. 5a was amongst several goodies and at least the spelling thereof had to be – I usually struggle with it. Thank you Mysteron and Tilsit.

  4. This flew off the stylus inside the first brew but I was a bit ahead of the game because I was researching Greeks for yesterdays toughie.

    4d and 13a tickled my fancy most today and topped off with some “modern” Rock and Roll from BD.
    Thanks to Tilsit and setter

  5. Really enjoyed this one. A speedy completion bar 27a with no parsing issues. Thought there were some very clever clues with 20d my clear favourite ahead of 21a. Having stared blankly at the outstanding clue for longer than it took to complete the remainder & in the absence of a hint I’ll admit defeat & hope it occurs to me later.
    Many thanks to both the setter & Tilsit

      1. Oh dear – thanks Sue. No wonder I couldn’t get it – had the wrong answer to 18d. It does help if you read the question properly…….

      2. Thanks Sue, I got there but stupidly the biblical association hadn’t occurred to me – another Fav candidate.

  6. Thank you Tilsit for providing parsing of some of my answers and the excellent hints which enabled me to finish this puzzle. Unusually for a prize puzzle my missing answers corresponded with some of your hints. Clue 11 continues the myth xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [redacted – hints can only include words that are explicitly given in the clue. BD]. I liked 13a and 15d.

    Thanks again to Tilsit and the setter for an enjoyable solve started when a heavy downpour precluded starting weeding.

      1. Indeed Rai – I probably wouldn’t have got it otherwise!

        I nearly came Acropolis with some of the Greek content here but, Parthenon to other matters, it was a fair mix of lateral thinking and general knowledge with a smattering of left-field red herrings. Enjoyable!

  7. A very enjoyable diversion this Saturday morning. I hadn’t thought of the biblical reference in 27a so that was enlightening from cryptic Sue. I took the clue at face value. [redacted]. I liked 5a and 19d but my favourite is 20d. I expect a lot of us tried to fit in the abbreviations for those states before thinking further! Very clever. Thanks to all. Cricket now.

    1. I believe that [redacted – please can commenters not use the word that appears in the solution when commenting on this clue – why not make Gnomey’s day and come back and have a full discussion amongst yourselves when his review is published on Friday?]

  8. Oh dear, I found this at the extreme end of Saturday puzzles and thought it was a tedious drag. Too much Ancient Greek and biblical refs for my taste. One of those ones you finish because you don’t want to be beaten rather than for pleasure. For me the only decent clue was 5d.
    Not one for me I’m afraid. Off to cheer myself up by watching the excellent cricket.
    ****/*
    Thx for the hints

  9. Thought it was going to be hard work with all the Latin and Greek but it proved not to be so – it was justifying 19&20d that caused the most delay for me. I think 21a was my favourite as I almost got caught out by that one.

    Thanks to our setter and to Tilsit for the Saturday Club.
    PS [redacted – see BD’s reply earlier about what you can say in a Saturday comment]

      1. Don’t even say it, LROK, somebody just might start doing so! Wonder how many visits to the naughty step adds up to a detention? Last time I got one of those was for bunking off school to queue up for tickets to see The Beatles at the Manchester Apollo!

  10. Another “really enjoyed” customer with some fun clues that brought a smile. After 1a I wonder how many will call to mind one word?
    Decidedly Greek theme made me try to get Nike into one clue.
    Like RD had the answer to 20d but parsing took a second look. Thanks to CS I now see the correct parsing of 27a, incorrectly I had another route.
    Thanks to setter (I’ll call him John Mole) and Tilsit for the hints
    Watch a bit of sport now. Enjoy your weekend all.

  11. My first thoughts were that it was on the tricky side but it proved a very enjoyable puzzle. Excellent clues, but I agree, you needed to think outside the box. I managed 21a from the clue and wrote down in the right order and then tried to pronounce it. I had the accents in all the wrong places as I said it, 4 and 3, showed it to Mr Manders and asked if it was a word he had heard of! Oh dear it must be lockdown. Splendid puzzle and thanks to the setter and Tilsit. COTD 20d, and of course 21a.

  12. Oh dear, not my cup of tea at all today. Just not on the wavelength at all, though I’m usually not too bad on Greeks and the Bible. Needed almost all of the hints to finish, so not a great deal of pleasure for me.
    Fingers crossed for tomorrow…..but it will be a Dada, so hopes are not high….
    Thanks to the setter and to Tilsit.

  13. Loved this puzzle, especially all of the Hellenic references, and briefly wondered what heroic feats had been accomplished by 12a (just kidding). I thought 20d was clever but not quite complete unto itself: did anyone else wonder about that? Lots of favourites: 21a, 15d, 4d, 19d. Thanks to Tilsit for the hints, which I’ll read now, and to today’s setter. 1.5* / 4.5*

  14. Reasonably straightforward and enjoyable, with a Hmm for 19d and a groan for 20d when the pennies dropped, completed at a fast gallop (just) – **/***.
    Candidates for favourite – 5a, 21a, 22a, and 15d – and the winner is 22a.
    Thanks to the setter and Tilsit.

    1. Senf, you know that Hmms and Raised Eyebrows put you on the naughty step – goodness knows what punishment awaits a groan?

  15. Late on parade today due to a grandchildren invasion ( most enjoyable as I haven’t seen them in several months). I very much enjoyed the classical references and the whole puzzle was very enjoyable and enough of a challenge to be interesting (**/*****). I likes13a, 8d and 18d but 20d was the clue of rhe day even if the parsing took a lttle while to sink in. Thanks to Tilsit for the hints and to the setter.

  16. A bit tricky but enjoyable, nevertheless. It took a while for me to get going and I thought the puzzle was going to beat me. However, it slowly came together and each solve was enjoyable. Favourites are 28a and 5d but I agree with Tilsit that 20d was clever and is my COTD.

    Many thanks to the setter, and to Tilsit for the hints.

  17. That was a delightful puzzle and we solved it without any help at all, although of course I did go back to read Tilsit’s take on it. Such clever clues, 21a was brilliant – when I first read through it really flummoxed new then ping! Penny drop moment, as with 1a and 20d. No crickety, golfy, footie clues – yeah! Thanks to Mr. Ron and Tilsit. The winds here are whipping straight across the Fens and breaking down my outside tomatoes and dahlias. Next weekend is our village Dahlia Competition which I have won for the last three years so this year they have made me a judge!

    1. My outdoor tomatoes keep blowing sideways in the gusty winds. I’ve had to make tripod of canes round each of them to keep them upright as they are loaded with fruit.

    2. Here in North Yorkshire I have had to anchor the runner bean construction to the pergola as in the winds it looked likely to topple. Everything else surviving although not getting a dry enough spell to lift and dry the onions.

  18. As others have commented, this was a slow start that turned into a steady and enjoyable solve with some clever clues. 5a, 11a, 18a, 5d and 15d made me smile but my favourite was 20d.
    Thanks to Tilsit for the hints and to the setter for a very satisfying and fair challenge.

  19. It was nice to read recently that DT subscribers can now see the Toughie on line. I pay for an extra puzzles subscription, just to be able to print the puzzles. We already pay the hefty annual DT subscription to read the paper on line. Does anyone know (Chris Lancaster perhaps?) if it is now also possible to print the puzzles without the additional cost? Or if there are any plans to include this feature any time soon?

    1. I occasionally screenshot the puzzle and print that out. It takes more than one sheet of A4 paper though

  20. Just a pleasant solve. Admit I didn’t think of the old misery in 27a., just thought it was the old joke.
    Liked the misdirection in 21a so that can be my COTD

  21. It took me quite a while to get started and I thought I was in for a struggle but lots of answers went in once I got on to the down clues.
    I enjoyed this very much, eventually.
    Several in the bottom right corner took ages right at the end.
    I missed the anagram indicator in 26a, didn’t have any idea about 23d and was a bit doubtful about the first word of 28a – couldn’t quite make it = opening.
    20d had to be what it was and the only way I could make it work was by splitting it 5,2 which didn’t quite make sense but was the best I could come up with – geography never was a strong point – could point to Florida on a map but not Georgia.
    I liked 13 and 16a and 8 and 15d and my favourite was 21a.
    Thanks to the setter, whoever he or she may be, and to Tilsit.

  22. Very tricky for me. I did complete it but needed Tilsit’s help with four or five.
    We still haven’t erected the new gazebo as rough winds do shake the darling buds of August. I spent half an hour picking up fallen pots, chairs, and all manner of garden ephemera. Lola, of course, stretches out under the ivy, without a care in the world. To be reincarnated as a cat seems eminently sensible.
    Thanks to the setter and Mr. Tilsit.

    1. Seems you are getting worse winds than us in South Florida. Well for now anyway. We’ve just been spared with the forecasted hurricane Laura now dipping south and west of us, but bad news for New Orleans. Just glad we don’t have to bring in everything outside yet again. Yes, life as a cat, sleeping and eating does appeal.

      1. To be fair Lizzie – we rarely get any weather as fierce as the storms you get on the East Coast. Should I say the eastern seaboard? We get some rough weather but nothing to compare with American hurricanes.

      2. I’m not as confident, these things turn too often for my taste and the worst part is to the north!

  23. I very nice Saturday crossword which for some reason I could not access until I remembered it was time to renew my subscription, as for the crossword I liked 5 & 10 across, my thanks to the setter and to Tilsit for their efforts.

  24. Half done, and finding this one quite hard work. Clearly my knowledge of Greek is sadly lacking. Going to give brain a rest and see if I can solve any more later before I succumb to Mr Google for help. I was quite proud of myself for having figured out 22a.

  25. Thanks to the setter and to Tilsit for the hints. A very enjoyable puzzle, with some clever clues. I was a bit slow initially, but once on the right wavelength I managed to complete it. Needed the hints to parse 27a and 20d. Favourite was 21a. Last in was 4d. Was 3* /4* for me.

  26. **/****. A very reasonable puzzle for a Saturday. 20d has to be favourite – there was a loud clang as the sack of pennies dropped. I also liked 12a once I realised the anagram indicator was staring me in the face. Thanks to the setter and Tilsit.

  27. Can’t agree with 1A because daleks aren’t this Thrre are living organisms inside that shiny shell.

  28. In a crossword with so many smooth surface readings … I wonder why the Crossword Editor didn’t advise today’s setter that 1a is complete gobbledegook?

  29. I really enjoyed this. Very challenging but some great clues (21a and 20d being my faves) and I only needed one hint (22a) which seems pretty obvious once I’d got it. I don’t understand the parsing of 19d.

    1. synonym of essence inside phonetic rendition of letter written backwards ( hope this does not qualify for the naughty step)

  30. **/**** for us, lots of clever and entertaining clues, favourite 27a especially after reading crypticsue’ s comment, thank you! Thanks to Tilsit and setter.

  31. I really enjoyed this but needed Tilsit’s help with 21a to get going again. I solved the east side without a problem, but west put up a fight, I only solved a smattering when I came to a halt. Thanks to Tilsit, I got the brain in gear again and reached the finish line.
    I have no idea why 2d was so hard, the oldest and most hackneyed chestnuts in crossword land.
    My fave by a long shot was 20d, one of my first in and biggest smile, how clever. I remembered 5d, miracle.
    Thanks to our setter for the fun, I loved it, and gratefulness to Tilsit for restarting me.

  32. Just as I posted my blog we had a power cut so I lost it..
    Haven’t time with family visitors and our meal time so will thank Tilsit for his hints to finish and wonder if 18d and 27a resulted from a monster in the former in error? Sorted now!
    All best to all.

  33. A reasonable puzzle **/*** for Saturday once it got started. A couple of hmm clues … including 19d …parsing??
    Thought 18a and 28a were clever and made me groan when the pennies dropped with them.
    Favourites include 1a, 5a, 21a, 7d & 20d with winner 20d and a close second 7d

    Thanks to setter and Tilsit

  34. No idea who wrote this but thought it was fantastic, best of the week for me as much as I enjoyed the Wednesday offering. Thanks to all.

  35. Why am I unable to parse 17a? Can’t decide which of two acceptable solutions, please help? Otherwise, a lovely solve, thank you Setter & Mr Tilsit

  36. I have enjoyed this Saturday’s crossword, although I struggled at the start!
    I have just ‘got’ 8d and 20d, eureka ! But am left with 3d ! Ridiculous ! I have every other letter, but cannot feel certain about the one word that I think it must be. Anyone please confirm if Greek comes into it ? Hope that isn’t redacted..

    1. A difficult question to answer, Christine if the Naughty Step is to be avoided. It’s crowded enough on there at the moment. :grin:

      1. [redacted – very inventive but right up there in alternative clue territory – enjoy the lemon drizzle cake]

              1. 🙏

                Apologies for transgressing; I hadn’t realised that alternative clues were verboten!

                Perhaps I should take the cake (inappropriately) with some Athenian tea …

    2. Think you’ve probably got the right answer, Christine. It’s a combination of a 3 letter article followed by a slang term for ‘cheers’ which together make up an alphabetic character – of the European variety you correctly presumed.

  37. 4/4. COTD 18d Brave man to vex six-footer: this one in particular but like so many clues required you to think very laterally and each was well thought out I thought. I really must remember to send it in when I’ve done it though, instead of just reading the blog!

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