DT 30047 (Hints) – Big Dave's Crossword Blog
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DT 30047 (Hints)

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30047 Hints)

The Saturday Crossword Club (hosted by crypticsue)

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I’ve provided a few hints for what I think must be a Chalicea Saturday Prize Puzzle before I have to go out and help a friend who is recovering from a knee replacement. Many of the clues I haven’t hinted are anagrams, hidden words, or old friends, but if you need any help, I’ll be back before lunch to assist with any queries

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 Shattered crash-test cars OK in this disadvantaged area (6,3.6)
An anagram (shattered) of CRASH TEST CARS OK produces a slum or other socially disadvantaged area

9a Record entry about fierce beast returning around start of summer (8)
The usual two-letter ‘about’ and a reversal (returning) of a fierce beast into which is inserted (around) the ‘start’ of Summer

15a Small cry of grief mostly, before oddly terminable kangaroo court, say (4,5)
The abbreviation for Small, most of a cry of grief and the odd letters of TeRmInAbLe

26a Strip of wood India put together for their police baton (5)
This Indian police baton is a regular in the Quick and GK crosswords – put together a strip of wood and the letter represented by India in the NATO Phonetic Alphabet

27a Potato father had mashed instantly (2,3,4,2,1,3)
An anagram (mashed) of POTATO FATHER HAD

Down

1d Cunningly we reinstall a source of water (8,4)
An anagram (cunningly) of WE REINSTALL A

5d Artist and composer ignoring a writer from Italy (2,5)
An English composer without (ignoring) the A and an Italian writer

7d Caught skinny rat washing (9)
The abbreviation for caught, a synonym for skinny and a slang verb meaning to inform on someone

16d Musical character left cycling round upset old hag (5,4)
An anagram (cycling) of LEFT put round a reversal (upset in a Down solution) of an old hag

24d Kind of bomb in letter people drop (5)
The letter people (especially Cockneys) drop from words is the name of a kind of bomb

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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!

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The Quick Crossword pun: PLACE + COOLS = PLAY SCHOOLS

44 comments on “DT 30047 (Hints)

  1. Very good puzzle that was tricky in places but lots of lovely anagrams and lurkers. The 10d anagram took a bit of working out (clumsy word) and 3d was def my favourite.
    Thx to all
    ***/****

  2. Sailed through three quarters of this delightful teaser but SE was a different story mainly due to my not fathoming 10d and 26a being an unknown to me. Joint Favs 23a, 3d and 19d. Thank you Chalicea and CS.

  3. Light and fun, I always enjoy a Chalicea challenge. LOI 26a which was new to me but gettable from the resources. COTD has to be 1d though 3 & 19d brought smiles. Thanks to CD & our setter.

  4. She’s back! After 10 Cephas pangrams the Floughie Lady has returned with, for me, a puzzle that is slightly trickier than she usually is, but just as much fun – 2.5*/4*.

    I was doubtful about 1a, but it’s in the BRB, provided you look in the right place, and, as CS always says, Chalicea will have confirmed it.

    Candidates for favourite – 17a, 3d, 4d, and 7d – and the winner is 4d.

    Thanks to Chalicea and to CS.

  5. Light but nevertheless, satisfying and enjoyable.
    Last in, that dessert which I can never spell and 26a.
    The latter after experimentation, a new word for me.
    Many thanks Chalicea and CS.

    1. I also get the dessert wrong when spelling it, Hrothgar – I get the vowels wrong.

  6. 2*/3*. Light and fun with 3d my favourite.

    Many thanks to the setter and to CS.

  7. Grrr! A completely unaided finish except for the blasted baton, which, perhaps, I should have known if it is a regular.

    Excellent crossword – I particularly enjoyed unravelling the four long answers on the borders.

    Thanks to the setter and PC Security.

  8. A oleasantly challenging puzzle, particularly in the SE, which was a slight hold-up for me. As Brian says it was full of great anagrams, my favourite was 1d followed closely by 10 and good lurkers. There were a few cryptic definitions, the best of which was19d, which made me laugh., followed by 3d. Thank you to Chalicea for a most entertaining puzzle and to CS for stepping in to do the hints

  9. Made a nice change to have the Floughie Lady back in the Saturday slot – not to suggest that I haven’t enjoyed the pangrams from Cephas.
    I was unfamiliar with the phrase in 1a although do know of a couple of similar ones, both of which which would have been too long to fit into the grid!
    Ticks went to 17a along with 1,3&19d – the last two vying for top spot despite there being a slight whiff of chestnut about them.

    Thanks to Chalicea – good to see you back.

    1. Just scrolling through to catch up on the comments and realised that I forgot to thank CS for bringing us the hints – profuse apologies, it’s not like me to be so bad-mannered.

  10. A very enjoyable puzzle. Just tricky enough for me.
    Really liked 19d.

    Thanks to the setter and to crypticsue.

  11. Fun whilst it lasted but as I’m on my way to Devon I’d have been content for a lengthier struggle. Another vote for 3d. Thanks to CS and Chalicea.

  12. Loved it, loved it! Not surprising given it is my favourite setter who gave us just the right mixture of straightforward and convoluted clues. The long anagrams held out for a while until some checkers were in place. Even then, the upper one held out for ages. Then there was a loud crash as a huge coin hit the floor. No real favourites although 19d raised a huge smile.

    Many thanks, Chalicea for the fun. Thank you, Crypticsue for the hints and I hope your friend recovers well. I take it Tilsit is ok and is away trying to keep the trains running?

  13. 19d made me smile too, Steve! Delightful diversion on another hit, dry day. My lemon tree has scorched leaves – I thought they were used to the sun?! George’s contribution was the Indian piece of wood which popped out of his brain, it must be full of this useless information – nothing really useful. (Good job he does not read this). As usual I liked the anagrams and 1d was clever. Many thanks to Chalicea and CS – tell your friend to be assiduous with her knee exercises it is a bore but worth it and I also rub Bio oil into my scar every morning. Happy weekend – the grandsons are on their way here. Hopefully to remove some of the ‘stuff’ I have been storing for them for 5 years!

    1. She’s doing really well and obeying all the instructions. She was in so much pain before the op, she’s feeling great now

    2. Best chance you’ve got with the grandsons is to fill them with good food and drink and then cross their palms with silver!

  14. Certainly not the easiest Chalicea but doable without hints or aids. People are largely agreed about their favourites. Mine are 17 and 23a and 3 16 18 and 19d. I did not know 26a but it was easy to work out from the two components. Thanks Chalicea and CS.

  15. An enjoyable and light post prandial puzzle, for which many thanks to Chalicea and to SC for the review. 3d COTD.

    Can highly recommend today’s Times backpager for those who have access to it.

  16. Those who don’t normally look at the NTSPP may like to know that today’s is a delightful puzzle by Silvanus.

  17. Great crossword from Chalicea from which I pick 3 and 19d as co-favourites.
    Thanks to SC for the review and Chalicea for a wonderful Saturday puzzle.

      1. If CrypticSue is PC Security have you noticed you are Nigel’s Cow Vet?

  18. Enjoyable crossword that took less time than the pacesetter at the TDF Contre-la-montre today. I to took a bit longer to unravel the long anagrams and although the subcontinental stick was a new one on me the clue was so clear, and certain that Chalicea had already done so I didn’t need to check it out.
    Thanks to CS and Chalicea and kudos to Terence for the rather nice anagram of Crypticsue.

  19. 2/4. Enjoyable solve and a reasonably light challenge. Just a couple knocked me in to 2 time. My favourites were 22&24d. Thanks to the setter and CS.

  20. Trickier than the past few Saturday puzzles fwith a bit of head scratching and a few PDM’s along the way.
    3*/3*

    Favourites include 1a, 23a, 27a, 3d, 19d & 24d … with winner 24d

    Thanks to Chalicea and CS for the hints

  21. 3d was streets ahead in the favourite stakes for me, very inventive and funny. The whole puzzle was a light delight, and typical of our lady setter. Hugely enjoyable and entertaining.

    Thanks to Chalicea and CS.

  22. Lots to enjoy in today’s puzzle. Most answers just dropped into place easily though a couple in the SE took a bit of teasing out. Many thanks to Chalcea and CS. A fairly miserable damp day here in the North West. Enjoy the rest of the weekend everyone.

  23. It’s good to be back and to have so many happy solvers. Many thanks to crypticsue for the hints. 5d would be my favourite clue – it was an editorial adjustment of one he felt was too easy.

  24. Thanks for the puzzle and thanks to Mr Ed for 5d, I liked the PDM when the Italian revealed himself.

  25. A very pleasant solve. I’ve read enough American books to know that to be on the wrong side of 1a is not a good place to be.
    27a was a blow below below the belt for, despite waiting in all day yesterday, the gasman didn’t call!
    Damp but no real rain here in Devon. Dare I say it but it’s decidedly chilly.
    COTD would be 19d if we could ignore the ban on politics and religion.

  26. Very glad to see the lovely lady back, even though it was slightly trickier than I’ve come to expect, but this is a Saturday prize puzzle after all. 26a defeated me, but I’ll have to try and remember it, in case it shows up again. Thanks to Chalicea and to CrypticSue for stepping into the breach.

  27. A very enjoyable puzzle with a good mix of clues that got me out of the starting blocks quickly and some that were real head-scratchers. The SE corner held out all afternoon as I’d never heard of 26A and hadn’t spotted the anagram in 10D. But got there in the end. Thanks to Chalicea and Crypticsue.

  28. Very, very late after a series of apocalyptic electrical storms knocked out power all over the Charleston area–no A/C, no Internet, total darkness for hours during the night, a prelude to the Final Oblivion. But we’re back now, briefly released from Erebus, as more Sturm und Drang are on their way. Loved this Chalicea gem, a lovely charmer of a cryptic, with 19d my runaway favourite. Thanks to CS for the hints and to Our Lovely Lady Setter for the pleasure. 2* / 4*

  29. Nice to have Chalicea back. A quick pre lights out romp home with no head scratches. Smiled at 19d & thought that’s bound to be Robert’s pick.
    Thanks all.

  30. Thanks to CS for standing in.

    A call-out for work in the middle of the night was quickly followed by a quick call to Dynarod to unblock my new catheter left me feeling utterly shattered and I only got back home just before 10 am..

    Now to get on with the packing for my 15-hour train journey to go on holiday on Tuesday!

  31. Never heard of 1a used for that definition, perhaps I was brought up on the wrong side of it??

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