DT 30299 (Hints) – Big Dave's Crossword Blog
View closed comments 

DT 30299 (Hints)

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30299 (Hints)

The Saturday Crossword Club (hosted by crypticsue)

+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +

Another Saturday where we were promised a lovely warm sunny day but here in East Kent, we have once again grey skies and a cool mist over the marshes We also have another chance to play ‘Guess the Setter’ in a Prize Puzzle that I seemed to solve one corner at a time.

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    Real information Independent put in French article (7)
A slang term for information followed by the abbreviation for independent inserted into the French feminine indefinite article

10a    Reportedly take construction material (5)
A homophone (reportedly) of a verb meaning to take without permission

11a    Inflamed with passion only involving the navy (5)
An adverb meaning only into which is inserted (involving) the abbreviation for the Royal Navy

17a    Substance found in an offshore bank? (5)
A cryptic definition of a rocklike substance found in banks or reefs under the sea

20a    Inform about tiny person sewing (9)
A slang way of saying inform goes ‘about’ an informal term for a very small person

26a    Point represented another way (5-4)
An anagram (represented) of ANOTHER followed by an abbreviated way

28a    Most excellent meat dish (7)
A double definition, the second referring to a dish of meat, especially chicken, served in a rich cream sauce

Down

1d    Cheers advantageous purchase, we hear (7)
An informal interjection of farewell (cheers) sounds like (we hear) an advantageous purchase

5d    Assurance of dancing septuagenarian, lacking various pains (9)
An anagram (dancing) of sEpTUAGENARian without the letters PAINS (various telling you that they aren’t in that order)

7d    Anxious quivering started, not oddly, over male with expensive jewellery (9)
The even letters (not oddly) of sTaRtEd, the abbreviation for male and some conspicuously expensive jewellery

14d    In favour of president hugging Democrat: it’s banned (9)
A way of saying in favour of and the surname of the current POTUS ‘hugging’ the abbreviation for Democrat

15d    Eastern movement a Liberal worked up (9)
The abbreviation for Eastern, a movement, A (from the clue) and the abbreviation for Liberal

21d    Carry in triumph from public display after check (5)
A verb meaning to display in public goes after the abbreviation for check

24d    Mental picture of one learned person (5)
The letter representing one and a learned person

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: BUT + TURF + LIES = BUTTERFLIES

65 comments on “DT 30299 (Hints)

  1. Why on some Saturdays is success so easily secured? Only one slight stumble but otherwise slowly and with a sense of certainty safely home.

    5 and 20a my favourites today. No ideas about who or why the setter is today but many thanks to them and to CS for her hints. Now into the garden with a grey day and no sign of sunshine.

  2. Saturday lite.
    Difficulty evenly spread.
    Juicy anagrams.
    4d will die of exhaustion.
    Appears every other day.
    Lovely illustrations, CS
    Thanks to the setter.

    1. Like the lovely resort on the French Riviera. Not that I’m complaining as it always helps.

  3. I could not parse 18a so I have either got it wrong or the only word I could get to fit the checkers is correct. Can’t for the life of me see why, though. I nearly put a different second letter in 20a but can say no more because of the naughty step. I continue to marvel at the many different ways 9a can be clued. My COTD is 5a.

    Many thanks to the setter for a fun puzzle and to CS for the hints.

    Another lovely sunny day in The Marches. It would be great if I didn’t have to mow the grass.

    1. 18a Change the letter at the middle of a mistake and you’ll get a word meaning extraordinarily quickly

      1. Thank you, CS that makes imminent sense – so my answer is correct. I will now submit. :mail:

    2. I too delayed filling in 18a as it seems to be loosely very quickly. (Sorry – was meant to be response to SC not CS).

      1. Hi AV

        I think the synonym is okay: This singer was an 18a success.

        A perfect crossword for a summer’s day: light, not too taxing and some solid constructions.

        I can’t look beyond 14d for my COTD. A beaut.

        Thanks to ‘Team CS’? (CephaS & CS)

        1*/3*

  4. A nice straightforward crossword was a bit of light relief after Thursday’s head-scratcher and Friday’s brainburner, on a rather dull, grey day here in Oxfordshire. I too solved it one corner at a time, starting in the NE and moving clockwise. I liked 27a, 20a, 18a and 1d. Many thanks to the compiler for a puzzle, which was nicely judged to appeal to a wide range of cruciverbalists and encourage newcomers to try the SPP. Thanks to CS for the hints too

  5. I found this much easier than most Saturdays but no less enjoyable for that.
    Thx to all
    **/****

  6. An enjoyable diversion on my Friday evening. Guess the setter – I am inclined to opt for Cephas but I am not confident enough to reach into my pocket for five bob. 1.5*/3.5*

    Candidates for favourite – 1a, 9a, 14d, and 24d – and the winner is 9a.

    Thanks to the setter and CS.

  7. After the previous two days this was much more user friendly. There were many favourites, 1d foxed me for a while but was obvious really. 20a made me smile. The sun is shining brightly here in Cheshire. I’m hoping that it will encourage the players at Old Trafford this afternoon!
    Thankyou setter? and hinter.

  8. Nice crossword today. Only trouble I had was, like Steve above , parsing 18a. I had thought of crypticsue’s hint but could not convince myself of it. But if it’s good enough for crypticsue…..nuff said.

    Thanks to the setter and to CS

  9. A gentle stroll on a sunny Saturday in Anglesey which leaves plenty of time for Jaffa’s NTSPP.
    Tops for me were 5a and 17d.

    Thanks to our setter (Cephas?) and to CS for the hints.

  10. Another great example that difficulty doesn’t have to equate to a great crossword. Over very quickly, but it added to the delight of a lovely sunny day in the already hinted 26a.

    0.5*/4.5*

    Fav 14d LOI 5a

    Thanks to setter and CS.

  11. Weather on the 1st tee at Centurion a passable impersonation of the arctic tundra. Fortunately the puzzle didn’t take long so I could put my gloves back on. Very enjoyable with 5d my fav & ticks for 12,18&20a
    Thanks to the setter (5 bob on Cephas) & CS

  12. The comments above say it all. Favourite was 20a just ahead of a number of contenders including the quickie pun. Thanks to the setter and CS.

  13. Freezing here in Cambridge. Not nice. I remain sewn into my vest until the month of May be out, forget about the blossom. Very doable guzzle, I thought 9a was a nice change of approach to an old chestnut. I very much liked 5d and 14d was fun. Many thanks to CS and to the setter. Hurrah, we are out to a party this evening and spared the dreaded ESC. How does one do anything with nails that long? Write a letter – she surely couldn’t hold a pen!

    1. Freezing here too DG, seemingly under a never ending sea fret. Annoying everyone else seems to have sunshine!

  14. Enjoyed that without having to punish the ol’ grey matter too much – a relief after recent showings. South got there first. Fav probably 1d although not too keen on various ways cheers is (are?!) used these days. Thank you to ?? and CS.

  15. This Saturday puzzle was a pleasant surprise after the last couple of toughie back pagers we have had. Thoroughly enjoyable and for me do-able too. Seemed to me like a Cephas offering this week so I’ll throw in my 5/- on it being him.

    1.5*/4* for me.

    Favourites 5a, 26a, 1d, 5d & 22d — with winner 5d and 2d a close second.

    Thanks to Cephas and CS for hints/blog

  16. A gentle very enjoyable solve this morning in contrast to the last couple of days. I had exactly the same thought as Steve C in relation to the clueing of 9a, and was there immediately with 4d having struggled with the same analogy yesterday. Podium places today for 1a, 12a, 14d and 17d, leaving the aforementioned 9a as favourite. Thanks to the compiler and Cripticsue.

    1. That sounds wrong! I was referring to the gentleness of the puzzle in contrast to yesterday and not the enjoyment factor.

  17. That’s strange, I thought I commented on this puzzle a couple of hours ago but I can’t see it here now so I’ll just say that this was light and good fun. 1.5*/4*.

    Many thanks to the setter and to CS.

  18. After the last couple of days this seemed rather an anti climax. But thanks to the setter and CS

  19. I had the wrong cut of meat at 28a that slowed down in the SE but when sense prevailed 22 and 24d completed this fine puzzle. 5d and 7d stood out for me
    Thanks to Setter and CS

  20. I enjoy the Saturday puzzles, they are often easier than Sunday and a relief after the Friday horror. Thank you setter.

  21. From what I can see from our lounge window here by the River Severn, we have a cloudless blue sky and according to my mobile phone it’s 16C, although it feels much warmer. That apart I thought today’s puzzle was far more gentle on my aging brain than some of the past week’s offering’s have been – no particular favourites, but I have to say that I never fail to be impressed at the different ways the likes of 4d, 6d, 9a and 19d have been clued over the years (I would also add the word ‘nevertheless’ to those four words too) . If forced to come up with a favourite or two I’d have to go for 18a and 20a, although that said, 17a does have a certain appeal. Chalcea today? Not sure, but thanks to setter and CS alike.

    1. Over here in Knockin, SB it reached 23 degrees but our garden is a bit of a sun trap.
      I agree about the number of ways those clues can be written.

  22. A fun filled frolic especially after Thursday and Friday. A couple of shorter ones took longest, lots to like 12a being favourite.

    I wonder if we should be concerned that we have not heard from Terence since the orange juice saga!?perhaps his toast has also turned against him.

    Many thanks to CS for the hints and pics and also to the setter.

  23. Hallelujah!! At long last some light entertainment, something I could really enjoy solving. I bunged in 26a, couldn’t parse it no matter how long I tried, so, huge thanks to CS for explaining that. It appears I’m not the only one loving the friendliness of today’s offering. My fave was 14d but there was a lot to like, 18a amused.
    Thank you, thank you, thank you settter for the much needed fun, and CS for the hints and pics.

  24. Shropshirebloke put his five bob in the right place. Indeed ’tis I (Chalicea) and those who guessed Cephas lose theirs. Iam so glad you enjoyed this gentle puzzle. We are just back from cold and wet Athens (to even colder Geneva) and I am envying those of you enjoying the sun. Many thanks CS for the hints.

    1. Thank you for the enjoyment today, pleasing the tiny brains, we’ve had too little of that in the past week.

    2. Lovely puzzle Chalicea so won’t begrudge that you’ll have me in the poor house

    3. I must add my apology for mis-spelling your name in my earlier comment. I did think at the time that something seemed amiss in what I’d written 😁😂 Btw, tis a lovely evening here in Shropshire.

  25. I’ve just noticed that I’m in time to stick out my neck to say today’s setter isn’t Chalicea – thanks to Chalicea for the crossword.

    1. I really enjoyed today’s crossword – just exactly the right of difficulty without being too much, for me anyway.
      For no reason I had trouble with 1a – dim, or what – no excuse at all.
      1d also caused grief, as did quite a few in the top right corner.
      I liked 11 and 18a and 7 and 15d.
      My favourite was 5d – felt like an unusual sort of clue and for that reason I was going to say that the setter was neither Chalicea nor Cephas – might have suggested X-Type – oh well, wrong anyway!

  26. Phew, what a relief. Thought my brain had died after last couple of days. Thoroughly enjoyed this one, so big thank you to setter for not making me feel as thick as two planks. I did start off badly as I wrote in 1d quickly, but then realized my error when I got to 13a. No strange spellings, no GK deep dive, just a thoroughly pleasant crossword. Can now go about my chores quite happily 😊. Sorry so many of you are reporting cold or miserable weather. We’re not into our dreaded summer humidity yet, and promised a high of almost 29C here so I might go out and tackle a few garden tasks. But we see on the internet that it looks like a nice sunny day in Ryde.

  27. Off topic for a moment – does all our lost stake money from the guess-a-setter competition go into a setters’ benevolent fund?

  28. Nice one today – and made even better by sitting in the warm sunshine to do it!

  29. Fairly rattled in!

    In the hint for 1a, it should be feminine INdefinite article, surely?

  30. After weeks of late DT deliveries to my local shop I moved over to digital only + quizzes rather than a mix and I am really enjoying it.

    Having said that I found this weeks mostly straight forward but enjoyable

  31. Thanks all for the explanation of 18a. Got it right but couldn’t work it out. COTD 14D.

  32. Today’s offering was such a gentle relief after yesterday. Thank you Chalicea for a really enjoyable solve and to CS. Have a nice weekend everyone.

  33. Struggling to parse 22d. I have the answer but can’t see where the middle letter is coming from?

  34. I’m very late in the day, but I do want to join the many commenters who a puzzle which is doable and an enjoyable experience. There are so many problems in life without overdemanding crosswords being added to them. Thank you very much Chalicea, may we see you again soon. Thanks also to CS.

  35. P.S. I should have included the fact that the commenters “praised” the puzzle.

Comments are closed.