Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 27911 (Hints)
Big Dave’s Saturday Crossword Club
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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.
Don’t forget that you can give your assessment of the puzzle. Five stars if you thought it was great, one if you hated it, four, three or two if it was somewhere in between.
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 a “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 English girl after fine felt hat (6)
E(nglish) and a girl’s name both follow F(ine)
5a Choose randomly from all the players, a great many (4,4)
All the players in a dramatic production followed by a great many
9a Arrived a short time ago with patient, as a precaution (4,2,4)
A phrase meaning arrived a short time ago (4,2) followed by a doctor’s patient
11a One inhibited by noisy petitioner (8)
I (one) inside (inhibited by) an adjective meaning noisy gives a petitioner in a lawsuit
12a German writer leaves short article (6)
Most of a verb meaning leaves or departs followed by the definite article
19a Cross about new flirtatious woman (4)
A verb meaning to cross or interbreed around N(ew)
25a Element unknown in Cape (4)
This element in the periodic table comes from a charade of a mathematical unknown, IN from the clue and C(ape)
28a Deal with adversary, ultimately making pact (6)
A verb meaning to deal with followed by the final letter (ultimately) of [adversar]Y
Down
2d Peer in uniform (5)
Two definitions – a peer or person of the same status or ability and an adjective meaning uniform or identical
3d Clothing supplier elsewhere more suitable (9)
A three-letter adverb meaning elsewhere followed by an adjective meaning more suitable
6d Son leaving out du Maurier character (8)
S(on) followed by an anagram (out) of LEAVING
8d Try to land (9)
Two definitions – a try, like one of those scored in last night’s game between England and Fiji, and to land in an aircraft
14d Castles surrounding lake where birds nest (9)
These castles can be found on the chessboard – just put them around (surrounding) one of the Great Lakes
16d Programme I came across in piece of furniture (9)
The I from the clue and a three-letter verb meaning came across inside a piece of furniture
17d Hot part of Europe, including Northern Ireland once? (8)
H(ot) followed by a part of Europe that is popular with holidaymakers around (including) N(orthern)
24d Smallest tail of mice put in at the end (5)
The final letter (tail) of [mic]E inside an adjective meaning at the end
The Crossword Club is now open.
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The Quick Crossword pun: meatier+write=meteorite
DT27911, A great way to end a quiet Friday night and if its not giving too much away, it’s one of them!
Had to look up the ‘noisy’ bit in 11ac but apart from that I found it straightforward. Thanks to BD and setter */*** (It’s a Pangram if I’m not mistaken).
Enjoyed this puzzle, very doable and enjoyable with lots of good word play and “doh” moments. It is a pangram but this fact didn’t help with any clues. (Hope it’s ok to mention this)
Thanks to setter and BD
2.5*/3.5*
Bit like England’s performance last night, this was a game of two halves. The bottom half went in quite easily but the top half resisted until the end. Not helped by having no idea who the author was in 6d and still a little uncertain about the way the last two letters fit in 18a. Did like 17d, well constructed clue.
Thx to all
Those letters come from “concerned with”.
Thanks, get it now.
Enjoyable and reasonably gentle, though it took me a while to see 19a and 17d. Nice to see a pangram in the prize puzzle. many thanks setter and BD
*/****
liked 8D
needed hint to parse 11A(new word for me)-otherwise could have said read & write, which is not
a level I thought I would ever graduate to in the Telegraph cryptic
Thanks to setter and BD
I really liked this one.
I agree that it was fairly straightforward although 17d took me ages as I wasn’t quite sure what the definition was.
The other one that caused trouble was 26a – don’t know why as it was very obviously an anagram but I was on the hunt for the wrong kind of vessel.
I didn’t care too much for 8d – we’re going to get far too much of that sort of thing over the coming weeks!
I didn’t like 26a because I don’t like rats and the thought of them scuttling everywhere made me go a bit funny! Again
Needless to say I missed the pangram – I always do.
I liked lots of these – 9 and 15a and 14 and 22d. My favourite was either 13 or 19a.
With thanks to Mr Ron and to BD.
I found this puzzle to be one of those with many bung-ins, looking back at the clue and trying often unsuccessfully to figure out what on earth the clue was about. – and then groaning, sighing and moving on hoping the next clue would make more sense.
2*/2* for me today.
17d is the final answer that is eluding me right now. I assume I have 18a correct making the 2nd letter letter of 17d an ‘*’ [redacted. BD].
Now solved. I didn’t know Ireland was once called this.
Oops, apologies BD. History and classical literature major weak areas for me. Now a crossword based around Physics…………….! Some chance!
Like Kath, I really liked this one too. However, just to give some perspective to that comment, I managed to trip up myself by putting in the incorrect second word to 5a and, quite naturally, that complicated matters as far as 7d and 10a were concerned…
Very nice puzzle indeed. The across clues put up a bit of a fight (6) but then we got all of the downs apart from the long one down the middle. We knew how it worked but couldn’t be bothered with only three checkers in place. It soon revealed itself once we’d got the acrosses.
I think 17d might be favourite.
Mant thanks to the setter and BD.
Decisions, decisions – what to do – there’s Rugby on ITV, Arsenal v Chelsea on BT Sport and Cricket on Sky Sports – and this crossword to try and knock off in the breaks from play!
Luckily this wasn’t too difficult and I was able to do most of it during the first half of the Rugby – good match Tonga v Georgia – and then finish it off during the arguing in the Chelsea v Arsenal game – very bitty game spoilt by a stupid sending-off.
I think I’ll watch the end of this Rugby, record the Ireland v Canada game and then the South v Japan game – watch the Cricket and then build up for the Manchester City v West Ham game – it’s all go!
Oh yes, that’s kick ball, hit ball and that funny game where they all roll round in the mud and the ball goes every which way but loose.
I have to admit all a total mystery to me.
The rolling around in the mud? Is that the game played by gentlemen with odd shaped balls?
At my vast age that it not a question I am qualified to answer. Tee Hee.
Yes – it’s definitely that, Hilary, and one of them has a thingie that looks like an ‘H’ that they try to throw the ball through and the other one has a net with a silly man standing in it that they kick the ball at – he must be stupid to get in their way, I reckon.
No comment, or at least one I am prepared to risk making. Sadly lots spring to mind.
Very enjoyable and straightforward solve in beaming sunshine and very high temperatures.
What a fabulous September.
Off to have a go at Alchemi’s offering.
Thanks to the Saturday setter and to BD for the blog.
Thanks to the setter and to Big Dave for the hints. A very enjoyable puzzle, I was beaten by 12a, I had heard of the writer for once, but still couldn’t get it. Favourite was 17d. Was 3*/3* for me.
After yesterday’s slough of despond I got 5d first off and nearly everything dropped into place. Knew 12a because we used name as password in 1999 when we first went on- line, loved 26a for happy holiday memories, but my favourite is 19a and I am not prepared to say why. Thanks to setter and BD, taking rain check on NTSPP off to do GK. Have a good weekend everybody.
I’ll add my “very enjoyable puzzle” to all those above.
Like Kath, my hang up at the end was the elusive 17d, and all I had to do was follow the instructions in the clue! I was determined to get it and not resort to the hints.
It’s hard to choose a fave, I liked so many. Loved 5d, 19a and 17d in particular.
Thanks to the setter and to BD for the review,
Watching the GB vs OZ Davis Cup match, really excellent. I love doubles, such a fast game, and these chaps are really putting their all into it.
All done, but I still don’t get why 11a is what it is.
As I say with regular monotony, look up the definition (handily underlined in the hint) and your solution and see what they have in common
Thanks, cs – one of my possible answers was an ‘obsolete’ word – and I have learnt a new word! Must do more xwords…..
A very pleasant puzzle and the first time in a long time I did not need the hints but I do thank BD for providing them. My favourite clue is 17D which I thought was very clever. My rating is 1.5/3 Not a bad weekend with the England win last night, a good puzzle today and a perky claret lined up for this evening. Alas my holiday will soon be over.
Please somebody help me with 10a !!!
Welcome Glassman. I have edited your comment as capitals are frowned upon in internet posts as they are the equivalent of shouting. I do realise that you are shouting for help but …..
10a A revolving cylinder is obtained by following the abbreviationf or departs with an adjective meaning peculiar. If you have both the checking letters, there aren’t many words that fit.
Welcome from me too, Glassman.
Given how quiet it is here today I assume that they’re all watching the Rugby.
Perhaps you’re not a fan – I do hope so as it’s beginning to feel a bit lonely here, all on my Tod.
No rugby for me but Dr Who starts in 10 mins so . .
Not to worry, Kath – wait until tomorrow when there’s Downton Abbey as well!
Tennis took precedence over most things today including the Rugby (fantastic Davis Cup Doubles match – well done the Murray brothers) – ditto for tomorrow doubtless. Being a Saturday the cruciverbal challenge didn’t present too many problems but neither was it a LOL. Liked 9a and 8d. **/**.
. Thanks Mr. Ron and BD.
That was a superb match, they all played so well, entertaining stuff.
Oh dear.
Unusual for a Saturday.
Wrong envelope, should have been in the one marked ‘Junior Telegraph, Beginners’
Still, enjoyed filling in the blanks.
Many thanks to the setter and BD.
**********************
It was as straightforward as a cryptic crossword can be , and neither Hrothgar nor I am conceited, just practiced, him far more than me, by the way.If someone feels humiliated because another person can solve a crossword, I think that is their problem.
*********
See my comments on NTSPP.I would have struggled with all cryptics up to about 3 (?) years ago.I have learned a good many of the conventions since then ,by studying the hints provided by this site, but by no means all.
One gets a bit better with practice.
Personal attacks on other commenters are not allowed.
The kind of cryptic which I think might be a good introduction for the uninitiated.The only problem was 8d, very annoying to be foiled by the same clue twice in one week. I hope I remember it from now on.
With thanks to the setter and BD.
Hi BD![http://bigdave44.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-monalisa/icons/wpml_unsure.gif]()
(sorry,jp please check)caption states brown scores a £££££££££££
bit confused about the “don’t give the answers” when you show a picture of xxxxXxxxxxxxxxxand show a xxxxxxxxx .
OJ
I think BD explains somewhere (in the faqs?) the picture titles but in the meantime consider yourself redacted
You are now on the auto-moderation list and any further comments that I deem to be inappropriate will be deleted.
4* Enjoyed this. I particularly like 19a mentioning Cross but not using it simply to mean ********; very neat! Other highlights: 11a an obscure but guessable word in the solution, and using “noisy” to mean noisy(!) rather than “sounds like”; very elegant. And 17d, too clever for me; l had to use the hint. And a pangram too. Thanks Mr Setter
Top half took me longer as also found above. 6d – had the answer but assumed wrong du Maurier…
Used my crossword decoder and Roget to complete-no shame in that.
With all the sport distractions plus drive from Home Counties to Wales I ‘m happy with result. thanks to setter and BD confirming answers for me!
Having completed the Sunday crossword earlier this was a ‘walk in the park’ by comparison. Enjoyable certainly but somewhat on the gentle side of life.
12a was my favourite. And 2/2* overall.
Thanks to Mr Ron and BD for his hints.