DT 30155 (Hints) – Big Dave's Crossword Blog
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DT 30155 (Hints)

by crypticsue  

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30155 (Hints)

The Saturday Crossword Club (hosted by crypticsue)

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A damp but sunny morning here in East Kent brings a Saturday Prize Puzzle, which, once I had stopped being disconcerted by the new font in the newspaper version, and noticed quite a few anagrams and hidden words, didn’t take me that long to solve.

I’ll be interested to see which setter turns up to lay claim to this crossword, and also to see who commenters think it might be.

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

6a    Gradient Brian negotiated having to grit his teeth (4,3,4,2)
An anagram (negotiated) of GRADIENT BRIAN – I wonder if the setter had ‘our’ Brian in mind when they wrote this clue?

10a    Have no credit in old money (3)
An old coin without the abbreviation for credit

16a    Ghost said supporter will accompany cat (7)
A homophone (said) of a supporter accompanied by a male cat

20a    Firm breaking law in the beginning (8)
An anagram (breaking) of LAW inserted into the beginning of something

26a    Given and received from building society perhaps (6)
This adjective meaning ‘given and received’ can also describe an institution such as a building society owned by its customers

27a    Last to end of boxing match, or race? (2,3,8)
To endure to the end of a boxing match or a race

Down

1d    Top cover for retirement (8)
A cryptic definition of something that covers your top when you are in bed

2d    Pet about to be given American food (8)
The single letter abbreviation for about, the abbreviation for American and a type of food combine to give an informal word meaning to kiss and cuddle (pet)

5d    Collect maybe where light gets in through (6)
A beam of light inserted into (gets in) a word meaning ‘through’

15d    Husband has two opposing points to axe (3)
The abbreviation for husband and two opposing compass points

17d    Companion giving friendly assistance? (8)
This companion sounds like they could give assistance to a friend

22d    Real upset about politician is more considerable (6)
An anagram (upset) of REAL goes ‘about’ an abbreviated politician

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: AXE + SEA + DENT + ALLEY = ACCIDENTALLY

57 comments on “DT 30155 (Hints)”

  1. I never thought I would finish a prize puzzle in the DT over breakfast. I can imagine what some posters will be writing but this time it will be true. Only complaint is that I can’t whinge about all the clues I couldn’t solve not being hinted.

    I liked 8 and 20 across and 7d. My thanks to CS and the setter.

  2. This felt more like a Monday puzzle as I just whizzed through it in bed with my cuppa. Thanks to the setter and CS on this rather dank morning. Loads of pink foot flying overhead, such a wonderful sight.

    1. My friend and I were walking along the sea wall the other day and said ‘there aren’t any Brent Geese today’ whereupon at least a hundred of them flew, very noisily, over our heads to land in the sea!

  4. No double unches which seem to have become Cephas’s ‘trademark’ instead of pangrams, a mention of one of our favourites, so, as I have some cash to spare, five bob on this being a Floughie Lady production and good fun it was too – **/****.

    Candidates for favourite – 9a, 20a, 27a, and 1d – and the winner is 1d.

    Thanks to Chalicea, or whoever if it is not her, and thanks to CS.

  5. 1.5*/3*. A light and pleasant SPP.

    I am probably missing something but I can’t see that 7d quite works – perhaps “carry French coffee in filling station”?

    The break in 4d is American, and even Chambers agrees with me this time!

    20a was my favourite.

    Many thanks to the setter and to CS.

    1. Our very English parliament is always referred to as being ************ during the summer break…isn’t it?

      1. You’ve changed your alias since your last comment which sent this comment into moderation. Both aliases will work from now on.

        I’ve redacted your comment. Please read the text in red at the blottom of the blog.

  6. I found this more difficult to get into than others,partly due to lack of sleep and partly due to the cryptic definitions. Once 8 had a start, the grid filled in quite quickly. The long clues, 6a, 6d and 7d were the best of the bunch. Thanks to the compiler and to CS for the hints.

  7. 5d was my final entry with 20a coming out on top of my list of potential favourites. Once I had got into the mindset of our setter this proved to be a good steady solve with very few hold-ups. Great fun.

    My thanks to Chalicea and CS.

  8. Done early this morning. I was left with two and got 26a going through the alphabet. I didn’t know 21d and felt it wasn’t really cryptic once I took sport out of my head. I think 6a is intended for « our » Brian and feel that 5d will cause him to do so. Favourites 6 8 16 and 20a and 2 6 and 7d. I think the last of those works. Thanks to setter and CS.

  9. Nice and gentle start to weekend. I wasn’t that happy with 3d but liked 7d. No real favourite but I’ll settle for 20a

  10. Surely ‘our’ Brian has to be the subject of 6a, which makes me think the setter is very familiar with our blog regulars.
    Not overly persuaded by 7d but everything else seemed fine to me.
    Another vote here for 20a as favourite.

    Thanks to our setter (Chalicea?) and to CS for another of her nicely illustrated ‘hints & tips’.

  11. Got ’em all quickly except for 5d, which I have an answer to, but I’m still not sure it’s correct even from the hint. Probably still depressed after watching last night’s dreadful effort!

    1. Agree with your assessment of 5d, can’t see how collect maybe relates to the answer, even though the word play gives it. We must be missing something, no relation to it in the BRB that I can see.

        1. I looked up the answer in the BRB which doesn’t mention a connection! You learn something new every day eh?

          1. Surely there are plenty of xxxxxxxxxxx? Or does this put me on the naughty ste9? Keep a slice of your excellent lemon cake ready in case it does!

            1. Of course it does not least because you used the solution word in the part of your comment that I’ve redacted

              No lemon cake this week – Mr CS and I are having M&S Blackcurrant Sundaes and there are only two left, so we won’t be sharing them with anybody, least of all naughty people!

              1. I thought it might. It just surprises me that anyone is unaware of the meaning. Not had the same upbringing as me obviously.
                I hope you enjoyed the sundaes.

          2. You should, as I have already said in other replies, have looked up the definition in the BRB

        1. Welcome to the blog

          For reasons you will understand when you read the instructions in red at the bottom of the hints, I have had to redact your comment as you were giving too much information for a prize puzzle before its closing date

  12. To my great surprise I find I’m enjoying the Cross Atlantic. It must be a quite an effort to put together.

  13. Wonderful puzzle and a joy to complete. I, too, will go for Chalicea being the compiler but that has probably put the hex on it being so. I liked the reference to Brian in 6a and this was my first one in. I did have trouble with 10a and 5d. What has old money to do with the former and light getting through with the latter? My favourite and COTD is 14a.

    Many thanks to Chalicea if it be her or to whosoever it is. It was a fun puzzle. Grateful thanks to crypticsue for the hints.

  14. Not the most difficult Prizer but very very enjoyable. My favs were 6d and 7d. Can’t make the connection between the answer to 5d and the clue definition and before I am upbraided by CS there is nothing in the BRB which gives this definition. Last in was 10a due to not reading the clue properly!
    Thx to all
    **/****

    2. Are you looking up the definition or the answer for 5d in the BRB? As is usually the case, you need to ‘try’ both.

      1. Ok I have found it now. It was probably just my normal antithesis to anything religious.
        Thx for sorting that out.

  15. Off to good start with 4 longuns around perimeter going in early on and then East filling in first. Wasted time working on cryptic chestnut for support in 14a. Nothing really outstanding but 8a raised a grin. Thank you Mysteron and CS.

  16. I did not find this one as straightforward as some, but got there in the end with some help from crypticsue .
    Enjoyable nevertheless.

    Thanks to the setter and to CS .

  17. This Saturday puzzle solved on my Friday night was a superb pleasure as it just flowed.
    As soon as I got the four perimeter clues it just solved itself so easily.
    1*/5* for me

    Favourites include the four long perimeter clues as well as 9a, 16a, ,25a, 2d & 18d and if I pick anymore it will be the whole puzzle listed.
    Winner for me was 6a

    Thanks to setter and CS for the hints that I will review Saturday morning after the dog walk.

  18. Thank you CS for your clues and the setter, feel very silly as I’ve just realised the spelling of the third word in 6a was wrong :oops:

    No wonder it made 4 and 5 down hard 😂

  20. Seemed to race through this then shuddered to a screeching halt with just 26a and 21d to go.
    Silly me, these took an age, especially as with the latter, I was focused on sport.
    Great fun.
    Thanks to the setter and CS.

  21. Very late on the runway today because I had to catch up on my reading and sleeping, but here I am, laughing at own tendency to overthink the clues sometimes (or, in the case of my idiocy with ‘cuisine’ yesterday, underthinking them), which is what I initially did with 2d, mistakenly believing that ‘food’ was the definition. So 2d is my COTD, with 5d and 6a also on the podium. Thanks to CS and to what does feel very much like our Lovely Lady Setter. **/****

    It’s our frenetic in-state college football rivalry today, in less than an hour: GO, CLEMSON!

    1. Where the Blue Ridge yawns its greatness,
      Where the Tigers play,
      Here the sons of dear old Clemson,
      Reign supreme alway!

      1. I don’t think we’ve ever had so many football matches on so many channels, there’s hardly anything to watch! Fortunately I’ve got stuff DVR’d.

      2. Oh dear me. We lost 30-31, to the U of S Carolina, for the first time since 2013. Sad day in Tigertown. Kudos to the Gamecocks, darn it.

  22. My shortest solve in ages but no less enjoyable for that. Just don’t know what to do with the rest of the day! Liked all the long clues as well as 14a and 2d. Not too keen on 22d. While perfectly acceptable it is a clumsy word and I can’t imagine using it. Thanks to the compiler and Cripticsue.

  23. 2/5. Raced through this puzzle but also found it really enjoyable. Too many good clues to single out a winner. Thanks to the setter and CS.

  25. Thanks Cephas – I’d decided I wasn’t go to say whoever I’d decided – I’d been wrong for the last several Saturdays!
    Not easy by any means, on the other hand not difficult either.
    A couple of answers were just a question of my own dimness.
    Thanks to Cephas and to CS.

    1. I am still confused by 5d even though I got the answer.

      17d is a new to me and frankly awful word that should be given to a domestic appliance rather than the meaning here…

      Nevertheless an enjoyable solve.

      Thanks to all.

      1. This was not supposed to be a reply to you Kath…this happens all the time when I use my phone to post. I normally spot it before submitting though.

  26. Sort of off topic, but prompted by Crypticsue’s comment about the Newspaper crossword font (far too small for me when printed out) and the Telegraph Black Friday offer of the Puzzles for a year at £23.99

    Does anyone understand the relationship between the Puzzles Subscription and the Digital Edition subscription, since the accounts now appear to have merged? I spoke to the “helpdesk” a year ago and they didn’t know!

    Does the Puzzle Subscription give access to the digital edition of the paper, or does the Digital Subscription to the newspaper give access to the (proper) puzzles pages at puzzles.telegraph.co.uk?

    Thanks in anticipation…

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