Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30587 (Hints)
The Saturday Crossword Club (hosted by crypticsue)
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Another lovely warm sunny morning – the skylarks are singing, the reed warblers are warbling and, if you believe that the saying ‘Ne’er cast a clout till May be out’ refers to the blossom of the hawthorn tree rather than the month, then the hedgerows round here would seem to indicate that it may be time to put our winter woolies away
The rollercoaster ride that is the difficulty level of the Daily Telegraph Cryptic Crossword continues. Today’s Prize Puzzle was worthy of the name as it took me a 5* time to solve, the SW corner holding out to the end, so I can imagine the thoughts of those who loved yesterday’s friendly crossword and struggled with this one.
If I haven’t hinted a clue you can’t solve, try looking to see if it is one of the six anagram clues. If you are still stuck, just ask and I’ll see what I can do without putting myself or anyone else in the Naughty Corner.
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.
Across
4a Some work of Restoration in theatre? (8)
The capital R is there to mislead – a cryptic definition of an operation to restore a part of the body
8a Hoarder‘s representative that is collecting silver (6)
An abbreviated elected representative and the abbreviated way of saying that is ‘collecting’ the chemical symbol for silver
12a Love child for one backed First Nations leader (8)
A reversal (backed) of the letter representing love, a person under the age of majority (child) and the abbreviated way of writing for example (for one)
13a A thin person must stop fit winger (8)
A (from the clue) and an extremely thin person inserted into (must stop) the word for a childish fit of sulkiness that often appears in crosswords but each time it does, many people say they’ve never heard of it!
21a Old saw that’s lost its edge? (6)
A stereotyped phrase or idea
25a Field with flower in Yorkshire — take me there! (4,2)
A field and a Yorkshire river (flower)
26a Lefties‘ second letter to Greeks returned (8)
A Left-Wing movement aiming to transform the Labour Party – a short period of time (second) and a reversal (returned) of a Greek letter
Down
1d Bird of prey hunting dog (7)
A kind of hawk or a medium-sized, keen-scented dog originally used in hunting a particular animal
2d Patronised and irritable in South Atlantic? (9)
Irritable or touchy inserted between the abbreviation for South and a facetious name for the Atlantic
4d How this answer should be written? Completely! (4,3,2,6)
Literally how this solution should be written in the grid
15d Appropriate vehicle parts hired again? (8)
A type of vehicle ‘parts’ another way of saying hired again
17d Completely self-obsessed king breaks fast? (7)
A musical term for fast is obtained by inserting the Latin abbreviation for King into a two-word phrase meaning completely self-obsessed
18d It protects new snake and duck having trouble (2,1,4)
IT (from the clue) ‘protects’ the abbreviation for New, a type of snake and the cricket score of a duck
22d End is near (5)
Depending on how you pronounce the solution, this could be a verb meaning to end or an adjective meaning near
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The Quick Crossword pun: PILAU + TORQUE = PILLOW TALK
Definitely a puzzle of two halves today. It’s probably just me but it felt as if it was the work of two setters.
The RHS went in smoothly, completed on course for my 2* time. However, the LHS was hard as I have encountered for an SPP coming out at over my 5* level of toughness. So, overall 4* for difficulty as well as 3* for enjoyment.
Good to see the American indicator in 5d. My top picks were 21a, 2d & 17d.
Many thanks to the setter and to CS.
PS. Hooray! Many thanks once more to Mr K! The “save my name …” tick box is working again.
I had similar difficulties as CS, the east flew in NW with a bit of pondering and the SW required a 2nd brew
26a was my LOI and I had lost all 26a by the having different seconds and letters along the way. Thanks to CS and setter
Completed but as RD says above the rhs went in fairly smoothly but the the lhs was a completely different kettle of fish. I had to use a hint to finally complete the bottom left.
I agree that this was a real step up in difficulty and at my limits of ability and knowledge so I am pleased I nearly got there unaided. I liked 13a once I figured it out!
Many thanks to the setter and to CS for the hints.
Certainly tougher than yesterday (the generous anagrams were welcome) but equally excellent. Immaculate surfaces and precise clueing: no easy feat. 21a was cunning, 2d too. But 14d is magnificent – it doesn’t even read like a clue. And that, for me, is perfection. I loved 15d, too, despite it being a slightly odd read. Very clever. Huge thanks to setter and CS.
Haven’t completed the puzzle yet, but just a comment to say a big thanks to Mr.K, presumably, as I see that the “ Remember me” feature is back and working. There was a brief moment of panic a few minutes ago when I got the “503” message but I assume this was just the site server restarting.
Top very tough which took far longer than it should have. Not sure I agree that the answer to 21a is strictly a saw but I did like 4d.
Too hard to be enjoyable mainly just a slog.
*****/**
Thx for the hints
It is a saw if it is old and overused.
Was it summer when the river ran dry….
…or was it just another dam?
When the evil of a snowflake in June could still be a source of relief….
What a song, gentlemen. What a song.
Where is that defined? I spent some time in the BRB and saw and the answer are not connected. Unless there is a super edition of the BRB that connects them as the 453rd synonym…
Site does not seem happy. Some 503s for me! But another very strong Saturday offering. I’m guessing NYDK per 4D being trademark humour, but as ever glad to be corrected. So 4, 14 and 15D, in general agreement with ALP about this, and a good few other clewze in the frame. Perhaps slightly up the difficulty scale, but not all that much, especially as the long one went in smoothly, um, so to speak. Classy puzzle.
Thanks CS for the hints, and mysteroNYDK.
This was fun though I had to work for it which is always the case when you have a grid like this, i.e four mini challenges.
I had to wave the white flag at 12a as it was just out of my reach. I hadn’t heard of the lefties which has been duly noted.
My podium is the clever 8a along with 14d with the winner being the brilliant 4d.
Many thanks to the setter and CS.
3*/4*
PS I wonder if Mr K twitches when he sees the number 503 in life.
Two facts about 503: it’s a prime number and it’s a pain in the neck!
Good shout, Ardy 👏
Likely just busy with maintenance stuff.
Mr T
The old Telegraph puzzle website being closed on May 1st, produces good prints of the Cryptic crossword. The new one produces scrunched up text in a smaller text size – difficult to read and annotate. The design is slapdash with a lack of thought.
Hard for those with poor eyesight and large fingers. Not user friendly, as they say.
I seem to remember, many years ago, when the (now) old site was created there were many complaints about the printing of the crosswords.
This was two-fold: firstly, the new grid was larger and therefore used more (expensive) ink. Secondly, the grid was printed in pure black and therefore used loads more (expensive) ink.
The solution was that the grid was to be printed in grey, still easy to see the grid but saving loads of ink. Everyone (except HP, Canon, Brother and Epson) was happy.
Does the new site do this same thing? I haven’t tried because I really dislike the new site and have done since its release date over 18 months ago. The font is not as user friendly and the online sudoku solving is (to be kind) atrocious.
I expect that when my subscription is due for renewal I will be expected to pay way more for a lesser product…
Had to hint 2d – I think its because there are 2 somewhat US leaning expressions in the answer that don’t spring to mind for me. We’ll, they didn’t today. Prob 5 for me then.
Found this Saturday puzzle very tricky and with some hard clues to parse. Not as much fun as a Saturday puzzle should be for me.
3*/3*
Favourites include 16d, 23d, 2d, 4d, 6d & 18d with winner 4d
Smiles from 16a, 23a, 2d & 6d
Thanks to setter and CS for hints/blog
looks like the site is acting up again as i had trouble connecting …. uh oh
Real problems accessing the site again today – looks as though my details and ‘tick box’ have been restored at the cost of almost everything else! Ah well – I’m sure Mr K is tearing his hair out, don’t envy him in the least.
Our setter managed to get three different birds in for me but that wasn’t enough to make me a fan of this particular puzzle. Top three were probably 8&16a plus 3d.
Thanks to our setter and to CS for the hints.
I agree with a lot of the comments so far in that the RHS went in like a dream but the rest was a struggle and I still have not committed myself to 26a. Can it really be? I must research it. And I think I am a letter imparted/accounted for in 14d though I’m sure my answer is correct – and raised a smile. I thought 4a was very funny and had to be my favourite. I had a lousy morning after a lousy night so George’s answer, as always, is alcohol and he opened a bottle of Prosecco with the result that I now cannot go to the garden centre to spend my Easter present token and just feel like having a nap! Many thanks to the wily setter and the wonderful CS. And although Daisygirl does not spring into place (I suppose I am more of a slow crawl in reality) my email jumps in for me, although mysteriously with my grandsons? So thanks to
Mr K and all other clever IT s for that time saver.
Re 14d, find your missing letter and read the clue again, you should be able to find it.
Oh no! I have just written some deathless prose and it has all disappeared in a 503 nanosecond. I do not have the heart to write it all again. But thanks to all
Your post appeared eventually. Good old George. I do like the sound of a man who thinks the answer to a terrible night is Prosecco
Agreed!
That was tough with the SE holding out to the bitter end. Struggled with some parsing, but overall, a great challenge in which CS’ hints proved invaluable on a couple of head scratchers. Cotd for me is 17d, both clever and amusing. Thanks to CS and compiler.
It has taken me all day to access this site. SW held out the longest and I have no idea where the saw is in 21a so perhaps my answer is wrong. Hey ho. Lovely day here, wish it had been like this in Aldeburgh. Now to top up my potato bags with compost – what a wonderful life, crosswords and compost. ALP, please put me out of my misery, why is Greg Wallace’s nickname Spanky?! Thanks to the setter and CS
I suppose I should be planting potatoes as they say they are going to be scarce due to the saturated soil. I have just planted out my runner beans which had grown to about 18” in the greenhouse but I dare say the pocket rocket will tell me I should not have interfered in ‘her’ garden next week. Simply lovely weather and all my lily of the valley are coming out with that wonderful perfume – Oh to be in England, now that April’s here……….
Ooh, shades of Terry Thomas.
Oh how I envy you the lillies of the valley. I carried them in my wedding bouquet.
Agree with Rabbit Dave, LHS v difficult – last 8 took us ages but in the end the clues were v fair.
A proper prize puzzle which I really enjoyed – thanks to our setter and CS for the hints.
Highlights for me were 4a, 12a, 13a and 2d.
Very tricky, certainly not expected for Saturday. I almost despaired, but with ehelp and a hint or two or three from Sue, I got there in the end. Several clues were déjà vu “all over again”, 4a, 8a and 1d in particular, so that was a huge help. I have a CD by the singer in 19a, another help. I remember the artist in 3d from before, her “art” completely escapes me. 12a was a pure bung in, I needed the hint to “get” it. I was DNF in the SW, 26a was a bit esoteric. Even though this was a lot of hard work, there was a lot of fun along the way.
Thank you setter, I think you may be happier in the Toughie slot. Endless thanks to CS for helping me along.
We found this tricky but not that tricky, difficult but doable and enjoyable. Glad the site is back up. Favourite was 13a. Thanks to the setter and CS.
First of all a big thanks to Mr K for getting the site up again. Reminds me of the updated G&S opera, Pirates of the Internet, and particularly the song “A webmaster’s lot is not a happy one.”
My word this was a lovely puzzle, though it did take a while. Needed a visit to Mr G to see no the 19a Welshman was (though had already guessed the answer) and I’d almost forgotten the 26a folk, so wanted to check.
My faves are 13a, 18d, and the winner, 15d.
Very many thanks to the setter and to CS.
Well after whistling through yesterday’s gentle Friday offering I found this much tougher than the usual Saturday puzzles. Like others I found the East side more approachable than the West but in truth it felt to me that I had to slog for pretty much every answer.
Generally I enjoy all the crosswords I do whether simple or challenging but for me today it was an exception.
Probably a combination of a poor nights sleep and a misaligned wavelength…
Thanks none the less to the setter and to CrypticSue.
I am still struggling with this puzzle, but must break off to thank Mr. K once again as he has now completed his herculean task by including “name and e-mail” below. Also grateful thanks to all those behind the scenes who keep this fantastic blog up and running. As I haven’t quite finished have not yet found a fav clue, but take this opportunity of thanking the setter and CS
Thanks to Mr K.
Thanks to crypticsue.
I think this may have been my worst attempt ever at a Saturday Prize Crossword.
Like others, RHS went in OK, but as to the LHS, I struggled even with cs’s excellent hints.
It’s enough to put you off.
But it won’t
Just to expand on the list of toughie setters for next week
ST 116 Zandio 36 of 36
3253 Zenas 1 of 1
3254 Robyn 34 of 34
3255 Silvanus 57 of 57
3256 Elgar 249 of 249
I notice we have a debut on Tuesday, I know nothing of Zena but hope she is the warrior princess, also Elgar is close to a significant puzzle too. I hope the list still exists for his quarter millenium
I don’t want to dash your hopes but SJB, but you say the debutant is Zenas. Possibly the most famous Zenas was known as “the lawyer”?
Google
Zenas the lawyer
All
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Who was Zenas the lawyer as described in the book of Titus in …
Zenas the Lawyer
Titus 3:13 Do your best to equip Zenas the lawyer and Apollos …
Zenas | One verse is all way have about him. What points can …
Zenas the Lawyer was a first-century Christian mentioned in Paul the Apostle’s Epistle to Titus in the New Testament. In Titus 3:13, Paul writes: “Bring Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey diligently, that nothing be wanting unto them”. His name is a shortened form of “Zenodoros”, meaning “gift of Zeus”.
Thanks SJB. The question mark was there more as I’m not certain whether he is the most famous Zenas. It seems there was a Greek sculptor called Zenas too, and a shipping magnate called Zenas Coffin (what a name!) to name a couple. Zenas the crossword setter might, as yet, be the least famous as Google hasn’t offered me anything about him/her.
These are long shots, but Adam Sanitt, who sets as Phssthpok in the FT, is a lawyer. I suppose there are other lawyers who compile puzzles.
Wendy Law compiles as Hectence and Zamorca!
It’s probably neither of those, of course.
Way beyond me – not at all what I was expecting.
Thanks to the setter for the crossword and to CS for hints.
East side ok but south west corner very difficult and therefore appreciated tips from CS! Thank you compiler for such a good Saturday challenge!
Sailed through the RHS but got bogged down with the bottom left. Still got a couple to do but have more crossing letters thanks to the hints above so I might crawl across the line
Slightly on the harder side I thought but I suppose a prize guzzle should be. I didn’t think I was going to make it over the line but I persevered and was rewarded with another attack on The Mythical. Plenty to like once it was broken in to and that took quite a while. Bryn Terfel raised a laugh because of the thought of his staying with one note. Likewise, the first national leader at 12a took some teasing out but what a brilliant clue! My COTD has to be 4d for the super surface.
Thank you to the setter for the fun challenge. Thank you, CS for the hints. Thank you Mr. K for sorting out the blog once again. You are a star, sirrah!
We have had a long run of friendly prize puzzles, which always did make me wonder why? I wasn’t complaining of course as they were perfectly pitched for me. Until today. Too much of a slog to get any enjoyment today, but at least Friday was a treat. Can’t win them all. And couldn’t access the site until now, poor Mr K. Thanks to the clever CS for being able to solve and provide the hints.
And my details still don’t save so I don’t think that was what the down time was about.
As with others, the east went in quickly.
For me the NW went in at a reasonable pace once I had 12a.
The SW corner took longer than the last two backpagers took me.
26a needed google to confirm I was correct.
21a needed the hint, so a dnf as far as I’m concerned. I will make sure I check back in on Thursday so someone can hopefully elaborate. My version of the BRB dictionary and thesaurus failed me.
Thanks to all.
Forgot to mention Bryn Terfel in 19a.
I obviously move in different circles to the setter. I have never heard of this thing. Bryn didn’t register as a name, so it could have been a type of architectural feature, a medical condition, a character in a computer game or even type of obscure bird…
Google was my friend and confirmed the answer I had was correct.
I liked it. Thanks to CS and today’s setter.
As for others the East was doable but West particularly SW was a different kettle of fish and I needed to consult MrG for some in that corner particularly to confirm 26a where I tried to use a different letter for Greeks. IMHO 11a component and issue is stretching it a bit as is using Yosemite as indicator in 5d. I had a a trio of Favs comprising 15a, 26a and 4d. Thank you Mysteryone and CS who reassured me in saying it had been 5* solve for her too. I am now with those who have lost their name/email identity. Oh dear the gremlins are certainly after us but thank goodness for MrK’s TLC.
Well, some of that was Toughie standard and not typical of a Saturday at all.
Got there in the end without help, but the six in the SW corner took longer than all the rest. The old saw was the last one in.
Thanks (!) to the setter and to crypticsue 👍
Thank you for the hints, Sue: I needed many of them today, and would’ve been nowhere without your help. And thank you to the setter for the challenge, with many enjoyable clues along the way. My top few were 9a, 16a, and 3d (none of which are among the hinted, so I will say no more about them).
And for anybody still puzzled by the saw or the lefties, remember that the full solution will be blogged on Friday without any naughty step, where all answers can be freely discussed.
Terrific prize puzzle with a marked east v west variance in difficulty. Ticks all over the shop but if pushed I’ll pick 3d as my favourite.
Thanks to the setter (Donny surely) & to Sue