Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30257 (Hints)
The Saturday Crossword Club (hosted by crypticsue)
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A very blustery morning here in East Kent, where it is best to stay indoors and look at all the splendid daffodils and blossom on the fruit trees through the window, go outside and you may well get blown over!
I found this Saturday Prize Puzzle fairly straightforward – what did you think?
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 Sign of nerves as goat moves quickly (11)
A description of an animal which strikes with the head (as a goat does) and part of a verb meaning moves quickly combine to give an informal term for a sign of nerves
7a Moves involving kings and their traditional homes? (7)
Chess moves involving the king and another piece, the latter informally or childishly referred to as the solution (but NEVER EVER in the presence of Rabbit Dave!). The solution can also mean traditional homes of kings
11a Financial management of company stopping incomes fluctuating (9)
The abbreviation for company inserted into (stopping) an anagram (fluttering) of INCOMES
14a Small cat, mostly unknown, simple finally to embrace (7)
The abbreviation for small, almost all of an adult female cat, a mathematical unknown and the final letter of simple
21a Gloat before new award (5)
Gloat or boast goes before the abbreviation for new
22a Spotted hugging large student, admitted the truth, say (7)
Spotted in the sense of watched ‘hugging’ or going round the abbreviation for large and the letter used to refer to a student
24a Pre-eminent male, remaining, elderly relative (11)
A synonym for pre-eminent, the abbreviation for male and an adjective meaning remaining
Down
1d Hampers request to enter into wagers (7)
A verb meaning to request inserted (to enter) into wagers
4d Extremely angry, hide statements of debts (7)
Animal skin (hide) and some statements of debts
6d Certain to carry six volts, stay the course (7)
A synonym for certain in which is inserted (to carry) the Roman numeral for six and the abbreviation for volts
7d Units in church books I encountered with reserve (11)
The abbreviation for the Church of England followed by the abbreviated way we refer to the books in the second ‘half’ of the Bible, I (from the clue), a synonym for encountered and an abbreviation for reserve
9d Come down on workers and their offspring? (11)
A verb meaning to come down and some of Crosswordland’s workers
19d Appropriate clothing? Not quite (7)
A slang term meaning to appropriate or steal is almost all (not quite) of an item of clothing
21d Understand some of polemic at church (5)
Hidden in the last three words of the clue
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The Quick Crossword pun: FORE + MAY + SHUN = FORMATION
Hmm, not a pangram, no double unches, light and floughie? Half-a-crown on ‘not a Cephas’ and half-a-crown on Chalicea.
I agree with CS, fairly straightforward, perhaps just what we needed after yesterday, and bordering on the proscribed term – 1.5*/4*
Candidates for favourite – 1a, 15a, 23a, 6d, 7d, and 9d – and the winner is 1a.
Thanks to Chalicea, or whomsoever if at least one of my half-a-crowns goes down the drain, and thanks to CS.
I found this great fun and a great contrast to yesterday which was much appreciated. It is a windy, chilly morning (finally not raining) here in the Chilterns, not the ideal weather if you want to keep your cherry blossom on the tree!
My favourite was 1a but there were many possibilities to choose from.
Many thanks to the setter and CS for the hints.
Where in the Chilterns are you? When I lived in England, I spent a lot of time in Chalfont St. Peter. I loved that area.
In a village quite near Marlow so on the Oxfordshire side, so a fair distance from the Chalfonts.
When I worked in London, I spent a lot of weekend in Chalfont St. Peter and Gerard’s Cross. I know where Marlowe is, very pretty. That’s a lovely area.
Yes we are lucky to be here. It sounds like you live in a sunny area with a pool now, rather tempting when the weather has been as unsettled here as it has recently. That said the garden is coming to life and the blossom and spring flowers always bring a smile, unlike the weeds!
It’s blowy again here in South Oxfordshire too and tthe April showers have come early. Straightforward is definitely ²the word to describe this light delight of a puzzle. COTD for me was 24a with its cunning misdirection but 7a and 14a are worthy runners up. I’m not sur who the compileris but thank you as I enjoyed this and it didn’t give me a headache. Thanks too to CS for the hints.
Surprisingly gentle for a SPP.
The long 1 and 25a and 7d provided a good start to solving the rest.
So, */4*
Thanks to the setter and to CS,
Straightforward? This must surely be one of the all-time easiest puzzles. What‘s the opposite of a “toughie”?
A Floughie?
Agree this was a well crafted & very straightforward SPP, that was all over far too quickly.
0.5*/3.5*
Fav 23a LOI 14a.
Thanks to setter and CS.
I’ll be slightly braver than Senf and risk my entire five bob on Chalicea being the compiler of today’s gentle stroll.
Tops for me were 1,15&23a along with 9d.
Thanks to Chalicea (I hope!) for the fun and to CS for the review – I’m sure RD won’t be 4d this morning!
Another entertaining puzzle for a Saturday. However 14a and 7d held me up for ages and putting the wrong relation it at 24a stopped 18d for a while. My COTD is 1a.
Many thanks the setter for the fun. Thanks to CS for the hints.
I’ve sent it off for the mythical.
I misgendered the relation too, I will never be the Scottish first minister at this rate.
Thanks to Chalicea who has just claimed ownership of this fine puzzle and thanks to CS.
I am basking in the glow from a much delayed and v expensive new boiler but at least my toes no longer feel detached and I will survive the shortened night as I tackle the Robyn Toughie
Fantastic puzzle. Must be Chalicea.
Thanks to her andCS
I found this straightforward as well, apart from 14a which took me almost as long to work out as all the other clues put together. Have never heard of that expression for an adult female cat. Got there in the end though. Good fun and as a Mark Knopfler/Dire Straits fan I can’t look further than 23a for my COTD. Thanks to the compiler and to CS for the hints. I can already feel the £50 Amazon voucher winging its way towards me.
Indeed it is mine – Senf and Jane, your five bobs are well-placed. Many thanks for all the appreciation and to crypticsue for the hints. Yes, we enjoyed yesterday’s Zandio, too, and all the entertaining cats in the hints.
Thank you, Chalicea, for a great puzzle and for popping in.
Thanks for popping in and thanks for a very enjoyable end to my Friday evening.
Do you think we’ve won enough to pay for a drink with our dinners tonight?
We might be able to afford a libation, at mid-1960s’ prices, in The Black Swan, a.k.a. The Mucky Duck, in Ballybucklebo!
You’ve got another hooked one here! I’m on book #4, what larks, eh Pip?
You have got some catching up to do – Jane and I are starting/about to start Book 8.
Happily, I am still on book one so have lots to look forward to.
Wow! I’ve just downloaded #5 so that I have something as soon as I finish this one.
Always enjoy your puzzles, thank you.
Thank you from me as well, Chalicea, you were gentle with us today – we have had a rough week!
Nice to see you back in the Saturday slot, Chalicea, thank you for the puzzle.
Did I ever tell you how much I love you Chalicea?
1.5*/4*. Light and fun! I was on pangram alert from about the halfway stage but it turned out to be a couple of letters short at the finish.
Any mention of Dire Straits puts me in a good mood, and this setter clearly knows their chess terminology with 7a getting my vote as favourite with 1a, 15a & 9d joining it on my podium.
Many thanks to the setter and to CS.
Aha! The setter owned up whilst I was typing, so I can amend my post. This setter clearly knows her chess terminology.
I had to rely on George, two years in hospital on ‘bed rest’ honed his prowess at Chess and Bridge!
Relief to sail through this after yesterday’s poor showing. Took ages to tumble to 1a which ultimately became Fav. Not sure I understand 2d. Don’t think of negotiated and 18a being interchangeable. Thank you Chalicea and the ever-faithful CS.
Angellov, I wasn’t sure about 18a, but I eventually convinced myself with “the hairpin bend needed to be negotiated/******* with care” .
You nearly persuade me RD!
Took a while to complete this puzzle as I had trouble in the SE. Had the wrong answer in 24a for a long time until the penny finally dropped. What was a 1.5* turned into a 2* for time. Overall 2*/4* for me today.
Favourites include 1a, 7a, 14a, 25a, 1d, 6d & 8d with winner 7a
Thanks to Chalicea and CS for the hints.
Splendid crossword, with only ‘normal’ words needed for the answers. THE LIST remained in its drawer.
We were being drawn to go to today’s Dorking Wanderers game as it is ‘Non-League Day’, but as we were not able to establish whether we could guarantee to get seats, and due to us mulling this over rather late in the proceedings, we have opted to head off for a lovely walk in the Surrey Hills instead. It is, of course, Dorking’s loss and they will surely miss us.
Thanks to Chalicea and to PC Security (anag).
Look out for purple loosestrife……
Looks like they managed without you, maybe it was the bits in their breakfast OJ
Oops who are you rooting for?
As Lister said in Red Dwarf (of a mud wrestling bout) I’m just praying it goes the distance
So very nice to have a Chalicea puzzle again for our SPP delectation. I did enjoy it all of course, but 23a, 7a, and 1a glittered a bit more brightly than the other stars. Thanks to CS and Chalicea. */***
Thanks to Chalicea for this fun puzzle which had some appropriate clues for me today. I am a 24a waiting with 1a for my 9d to arrive from 13d. I can’t wait to give them a 14a. Thanks also to CS for the hints.
Good luck to your daughter or your son-in-law or your daughter-in-law or son. I always feel its the daughter or daughter-in-law we should be thinking of – maybe because I have daughters!
Thanks Kath, it’s my younger lamb arriving tomorrow with two grandsons who we haven’t seen for four years, the last trip was cancelled at the last minute in March 2020.
They are five hours into the first leg of the journey. I’m looking forward to doing the crossword with her like we used to when she lived at home.
Very nice accompaniment to my salad lunch (prepared by George, his retirement promise) and sunshine. For some reason 22a was my LOI but altogether a ‘lovely walk’. Many thanks to Chalicea and the faithful Sue.
Thanks to both Chalicea and CS for the terrific entertainment on this windy yet sunny afternoon. 7a was my favourite ahead of 1a.
Yes as straightforward as they come but none the worse for that. Favourite was 7d. Thanks to Chalicea and CS.
For no reason at all I didn’t find this totally straightforward – any trap that was waiting for me I fell into it. How silly!
Lots of lovely clues including 1a and 19d.
Thanks to Chalicea for the crossword and to CS for the hints too – I admit to use a couple.
Me too, Kath. Took me much longer than it should have and needed the hint for 22a.
Thanks for hints Sue, just needed the one today, lovely straightforward crossword, 2*difficulty, 4* enjoyment 👍🏻 … a lovely sunny if very windy day in West Wales today
I only find time to do the Saturday cryptic , so as I finished in what was for me record time I now have time for some gardening. A very enjoyable, maybe too straightforward!!, puzzle . Thanks to Chalicea and CS .
What joy! A Chalicea offering, all smiles and enjoyment. This was right on my wavelength and I rattled through it. I got 14a quickly believing it was a pangram. My only iffy was 19d, I bunged in an answer, after reading CS’s hint, I googled and understood it. I believe we’ve had it before and had to look it up then, I must pay more attention while in class. After last week, such a pleasure.
Thank you Chalicea, you’re a star, and appreciate your hints and tips CS, needed for 19d in particular.
Lovely puzzle, with my only concern typos so that I don’t spoil my chances on an otherwise certain prize voucher! I was tempted by the elephant trap in 24a but thanks to yesterday’s lesson on decoys I parsed before I moved on. I loved the reference to Dire Straits, and as one of my favourite bands it would be remiss not to make 23a COTD. Little did I know until today they had a name created for crosswords. Close runners-up were 7a and 9d.
Thanks to Chalicea and CS.
Lovely puzzle from Chalices as usual and I hope she becomes a regular weekly setter. Lots of clues to enjoy but 4 and 7d, 1 and 18a receive the plaudits with too many others to mention.
Thanks to CS for her hints and Chalices for a fine crossword.
Typically enjoyable puzzle from the floughie lady. Wonder if 11&14a plus 6&16d could be said to constitute a mini theme? 1a my fav.
Thanks to Chalicea & to CS
I would think that 15a would be making Boris uncomfortable too
An enjoyable puzzle this morning, over all too soon. One day I will see the word ‘cat’ and instantly remember the Q word, but not today – my LOI and needing the checkers. Hon Mentions to 1a and 23a.
0.5 / 2.5
Many thanks to Chalicea and to CS
Thanks to Chalicea and to crypticsue for this excellent puzzle and the hints.
It took me much longer than it should have . I hope the bruises from kicking myself when the pennies eventually dropped will heal given enough time. Hoping I am just having an off day…..or should I say 2 off days as I DNF yesterday’s …..
Jolly cold up here in Angus, but not much wind. I had hoped that the warmer weather was on its way but apparently not yet.
And the joy continues as we are treated with a Chalicea offering today. Only real hold up was at 18a where I just couldn’t see it, and 21a where I bunged in the wrong answer at first, delaying me in the SE corner. Thanks also to CrypticSue, especially for that picture I now have in my head of looking out into a garden of daffodils and blossom. You’ll not see that here in South Florida. I do remember our daffodils when we lived in Berkshire, and the years when late snows buried them…
You are not alone BL re 18a – see my exchange with Rabbit Dave in 13 above.
V straightforward.
I really enjoyed today’s puzzle especially after battling through yesterday’s offering. For some reason I seemed to work from the bottom up. Many thanks to Chalicea and for popping in. Thanks also to CS I don’t know how you manage to fit in everything you do!
Much more accessible than yesterday’s which I have yet to finish but haven’t given up or resorted to hints yet. Back to today’s, I had correctly guessed the setter for once, favourite 22a, last in 7d. Thanks to CS and Chalicea
A walk in the park after Friday’s challenge. Although I did not finish on Friday being a couple short it still felt fine because the puzzle was so very good. Keep mixing it .Thanks to all. By the way is it better to send the prize solve in electronically or by post for the possibility of winning “The Pen” ? My thought is that the postal entries may not receive attention whilst the electronic entries can just be checked so much more quickly.
Not sure about the best way to enter, but I have always thought the envelope from the hat is less open to electronic manipulation. I am sure that the DT run an honest game it’s just luck that some people (Daisygirl) can win several times
I have tried posting, taking a photo and emailing and doing the puzzle online, Dyslex. I have never won anything, which is why I say the pen is mythical.