DT 30245 (Hints) – Big Dave's Crossword Blog
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DT 30245 (Hints)

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30245 (Hints)

The Saturday Crossword Club (hosted by crypticsue)

+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +

After a slight frost first thing, the sun is now peeping out and someone’s turned the strong northerly wind off making it a nice day for a change here in East Kent. So much so that, as this is the only blog post I have to prepare this weekend (as opposed to last week’s four), Mr CS and I are going out later – only to the garden centre, but it counts as an outing!

The crossword is a pangram with anagrams but without double unches in the grid. Is it the work of Cephas or, as there are couple of lesser-known definitions in the mix, could it be the work of Chalicea?   I’m sure one or t’other will turn up in due course to confirm our suspicions.  [Edit: my 50p was more likely to have been on Cephas so it wouldn’t have been wasted]

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

8a    One might be for this athletics event (4,4)
An informal way of saying about to be reprimanded has the same name as an athletics field event

9a    Acknowledgement of a certain type of letter, we hear (6)
There’s quite a bit of “A [from the clue]” going on today, and here’s another example. A followed by a homophone (we hear) of a certain type of letter

13a    People nowadays not taking notes? (8,7)
A cryptic definition of the term for people who only use electronic means of payment

15a    Pair invested in single unused stamp (7)
The abbreviation for pair ‘invested’ between the letter represented a single number of something and an adjective meaning unused

21a    Surprisingly, Sid hints harbour is in old country (7,8)
An anagram (surprisingly) of SID HINTS HARBOUR produces the former (old) name of Belize

24a    Note story with posh setting (6)
A musical note, a story and the letter used to indicate that something is posh

28a    Shot item about interval before goods are delivered (4,4)
A metal from which small pellets (shot) can be made followed by an anagram (about) of ITEM

Down

1d    Pictures spies framing staff wanting a raise? (6)
The American spies ‘framing’ or going round a reversal (wanting a raise) of a synonym of staff

3d    Globule of liquid with tiny amount of food (6,3,6)
A globule of liquid, a conjunction meaning with and a word meaning a tiny amount

4d    Monkey putting vegetables in still (7)
Still in the sense of pacify or placate – put some vegetables in a monkey

6d    Linking most of fruit dish with fish (8)
Almost all of a dish used to serve a dessert with fruit and ice cream, followed by a type of fish

16d    Fellow accepting American with Romeo having energy: that’s sweet (8)
A fellow into which is inserted (accepting) an abbreviation for American, the letter represented by Romeo in the NATO Phonetic Alphabet and an informal term for energy

22d    Arrogant at university? Shame! (6)
The usual two-letter meaning at university followed by a feeling of sorrow which can be used as expression of regret (shame!) combine to give a synonym for arrogant

23d    A sweetheart possibly glowing (6)
A (from the clue) and an object of affection (sweetheart)

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The Quick Crossword pun: WIND + DOSE + SILL = WINDOW SILL

82 comments on “DT 30245 (Hints)

  1. Ludicrously early start at this as the boiler decided it had enough and went on strike last night, I found this hard to get going between bouts of shivering but when I gave up on the acrosses the downs flew in and the ensuing checkers brought this to a satisfactory finish before hypothermia set in.
    More shivering now as BG need to get a new part that won’t be here until Monday!

    1. Commiserations on the boiler. Ours conked out during the cold snap in December and the emergency fan heater I had just purchased was christened, so at least the living room was warm!

    2. Aaargh – BG parts dept just rang, apparently the 28a on the parts mean that Monday is off.
      If I could get someone to get 22d with they would be for the 8a
      At least we have a fire and a kettle so freezing isn’t imminent

  2. This was the most wnjoyable back page puzzle and SPP , I have seen for a ahile. There always some nice misdirection, some great anagrams, a few geographical clues amongst an interesting sprinkling of General Knowledge and just the right level of challenge. Favourites were 18a, 16d, 27a, 3d and 24a. thanks to CS for the hints and to the compiler (Cephas?) for an excellent puzzl

  3. Another enjoyable Saturday puzzle but was delayed by the NE corner until it all fell into place.

    Favourites included 13a and 15a which took a bit of head scratching to solve. 18a was a clever clue and remindered me of an amazing helicopter flight there one frosty December morning a few years ago.

    Thanks to the setter and the hinter whose help I didn’t need for once.

  4. Commendable crossword – no Sesterce or Archimandrites in sight. Plenty of delightful anagrams to get the grid going.

    I can confirm that I have informed the BBC that I am not willing to appear on Match Of The Day this evening.

    Thanks to the setter and to PC Security (anag).

    1. Same here, I too have declined their invitation to host. Solidarity! I have to say, though, I’m more than a little peeved that they asked you first!

  5. A puzzle of two halves, NW and SE excellent, the other two a real slog of a struggle containing two very tricky (and not great for me) clues in 9a and the worst of all 14d. Did like 18a.
    Difficult to rate overall but
    NW/SE ***/****
    NESW *****/*
    Thx to all

    1. Brian, with regard to your comment on last Saturday’s prize puzzle. (DT 30239)

      The word that you couldn’t find in your version of Chambers was DOLOUR.

  6. Took me a while especially NE. Having said that Wordle took me an age this morning. The step at 14d took a long time to come to me. Last one in was 12a and I had another old penning in mind until I had the checkers. Top favourite 13a with 3 and 16d close behind. The latter took a bit of untangling with so many fellows, Americans, and sweets to choose from. Finished unaided save for 28a which I checked with hint. I was one letter out thinking of what you do with it rather than what it is made of so thanks CS for that and Setter too. Cephas?

    1. I found Wordle tricky today too, it took ages to sort out from my right letters, in the end I completed it in 3! Maybe it pays to be totally confused at the start.

  7. Having read CS’s musings on who the setter may or may not be, I am not going to be diverted from my conclusion on completion, some eleven hours ago – five bob on Cephas.

    Candidates for favourite – 12a, 28a, 3d, and 16d – and the winner is 12a.

    Thanks to Cephas and thanks to CS. Now I need to go and brew the first caffeine of the day because I think I will need it for the Gazza NTSPP.

  8. 6d and 16d held me up for a while. The fish was easy in 6d, it was just the fruit dish I was stuck on. I didn’t spend enough time thinking of synonyms for the definition. I also didn’t get the slang term for energy in 16d until the end, so it was my last one in. I liked 13a. Thank you setter and CS. Heading into the kitchen to prep lamb tagine for tonight. The meat needs to marinate for a few hours.

    1. I’m still not sure I know the fruit dish at 6d, but I think it has to be right, the fish can’t be anything else.

  9. Slow to start, then a steady slog.
    Pondered too long over the excellent long clues 13 and 21a and 3d.
    15a, very clever, my COTD.
    Good surfaces throughout.
    So, 3.5*/4*.
    Many thanks to the setter and to CS.

  10. A fun pangram to start the weekend with just a handful of clues needing bit of teasing out.

    With plenty of goodies to choose from, 12a, 13a & 15a made it onto my podium.

    Many thanks to the setter for the entertainment and to CS for her usual nicely illustrated hints.

  11. Completed without help except for 9a which because another word fitted the checkers I could not get it out of my head. I thought this was very entertaining. It took far too long, and google, for me to parse the step part 14d which shows how easy it is to not see what’s right in front of you. I enjoyed the multi word cryptic definitions particularly.

    Have had a brief walk round the village, although it is sunnier today the wind is still bracing here in the chilterns. Hoping things are improving for those of you more North in the country and for a speedy resolution of the boiler failure for SJB. I can’t think straight when I’m cold. The two cats (Dobby and Sparkle) have barely moved from the sofa this week, not that I blame them.

    Many thanks to CS for the hints and pics (made me hungry and think of Boxing Day) and to the setter for the fun

      1. Oh gosh Merusa, I’ve lived in the Chilterns for a long time, but I’ve never heard of them being called chilly. You’re not wrong though. Especially today.

        1. When I lived in England in the 1960s, I spent a lot of time in Chalfont St. Peter. Midnight service on Christmas Eve nearly did me in! A lovely part of England that.

  12. Not a walkover but a pleasant exercise with just enough bite. Getting 4 long’uns out of the way early made for a helpful way out of the starting blocks. Haven’t counted them but it felt rather heavy on the anagram front – admittedly not my favourite scene. 12a was Fav once the right penny had been used. Thank you Mysteron and CS.

  13. An enjoyable pangram that opened with an expression unfamiliar to me at 8a, but the answer had to be what it was. Beyond that, it was smooth sailing, with 16d, 22d, and 15a taking pride of place on the podium. Like DaveP, I have thrilling but rather spooky memories of a helicopter flight over 18a. Thanks to CS and Cephas. **/****

    1. I was too nervous to do the helicopter trip but did go on the boat. Afterwards I regretted being a scaredy cat.

      1. In the days when I lived in NY, I enjoyed many wet outiings on the ‘Maid of the Mist’ and often took my guests on that iconic boat, but it was the helicopter flight that really got INTO the action. Now, why am I thinking of Marilyn Monroe?

      2. I too just did the boat trip but found even that awe-inspiring and have some fantastic photographic memories, one of which is my ipad opening page so I wonder at it daily.

  14. A satisfying Saturday Prize challenge helped by early pangram detection. Time to get changed to enjoy a run in the stunning snowbound Co Duham countryside. Surprised to see that on last nights BBC teatime news our house & locale was featured on the drone footage.

    2*/ 3.5*

    Fav 12a LOI 24a

    Thanks to setter and CS.

  15. Afternoon from a gloriously sunny Almoradí.
    Never heard of the fruit dish or the glass it’s served in at 6d. But that had to be the answer.
    Enjoyable puzzle – now off for a siesta methinks

  16. Got off to a flying start then ground to a halt. It took me ages to get back into it and the path to the finish was long and arduous. I have never heard of the fruit bowl but 15a brought back memories of standing behind them. I’m not sure if I have 14d right and the same goes for 28a because I have heard the term before. No real favourites today – just glad to finish.

    Many thanks to the setter (I don’t think it’s Chalicea but what do I know?). Many thanks to CS for the hints.

    Is the grid known as crenellated?

    1. Yes, it is a crenellated grid – ideal for a Nina.

      On another matter, apologies for not replying to a comment you made at the beginning of the week but I was pleased that you are enjoying/have enjoyed ‘An Irish Country Doctor.’ I am cheap when it comes to books for reading so, on Tuesday I collected the second and third books in the series from the (Winnipeg) library and returned the first one for someone else to enjoy. I am just hoping that they have the complete series on the shelves.

      1. Not a problem, Senf. I am enjoying it and laughed out loud at the syringe flying of of the lady patient’s stays. :good:

      2. I am chuckling over David Mitchell’s Sweet Sorrow. George is finding it quite annoying!

  17. This was certainly testing enough in that my final four or five clues took as long as the rest of the grid. 13 and 15a share my top spot from this most enjoyable challenge.

    My thanks to C (for it must be one of them) and CS.

  18. Thanks for your kind comments. The quick crossword pun covers the first three clues.

    1. So it does – don’t know how I missed the italics in 8a – perhaps I should have put the kitchen light on before I turned to the back page of the paper

    2. Thank you for the puzzle, Cephas and for popping in. You nearly beat me today but I managed to scrape through.

    3. Thankyou from me also – I rather like that grid! And of course I enjoyed the puzzle, especially the anagrams.

  19. This was tricky but enjoyable! I’m probably being a bit picky but the animal indicated in 4d isn’t strictly a monkey.

  20. A long time since I visited the Saturday club and everyone seems very well behaved! No wonder Sue has stopped making the lemon drizzle!!!
    Completed this with Sues help, thank Sue, I am still a bit rusty!!!!!

    1. I think it’s likely to be the other way round – because Sue has stopped the provisions, everyone’s watching their Ps and Qs more carefully!

      1. Hi Franco, long time no see! Well fancy you remembering perservating Im sure by now it should be allowed in the dictionary :-)!

  21. We were on pangram alert and once the ‘Z’ went in we checked the missing letters ‘W’ and ‘X’ which helped complete the NE. Most enjoyable. Favourite was 13a. Thanks to Cephas and CS.

  22. Unusually for me I completely missed the pangram, but that didn’t deter from my enjoyment of this cleverly clued puzzle. For me, just the right level of difficulty to challenge the grey matter. The fact that many of the checkers were vowels meant a little more thinking time was needed. From the many podium contenders I’ll choose 15a for the misleading wordplay and 13a for the clever misdirection. Thanks to our setter and Cripticsue.

  23. Another excellent Saturday pangram puzzle from Cephas. This one was going well until I got to the SW and my time ended up with an extra *
    So today, for me … 2.5*/4* … and of course my 5/- on it being Cephas.

    Favourites include 9a, 13a, 2d, 3d & 17d with winner 13a.
    Lots to chuckle at too, including 28a, 1d, 20d & 22d to name but a couple.

    Thanks for the enjoyment of this one.

    Thanks to Cephas and CS

  24. Got somewhat side-tracked this morning after completing the puzzle, hence late on parade.
    The four long answers helped to ensure a fairly rapid solve and the one bonus of being late in is that I don’t have to chance losing my five bob by placing a bet!
    Top three here were 12&15a plus 20d.

    Thanks to Cephas and to CS for the hints & pics, always appreciated.

  25. 21a was difficult but got there in the end.
    Off for a long drive to Devon this evening. Just hope my poor back holds out, At least there won’t be snow to contend with, at least I hope so!

  26. I learned at least two new things today — the British expression for being in line for a reprimand and the fruit dish.

    Thanks to Cephas and CS.

    By the way, Sue, you might want to review your hint for 22d. I believe the final clause should follow immediately after “sorrow”.

  27. I had to chuckle when I got to 3d, as along with gammon steaks, that is exactly what I have in mind for our evening meal. Apart from all that I found this to be a very well clued and enjoyable Saturday prize puzzle. Solving the four fifteen letter clues quite quickly helped me to a relatively untroubled finish. If pressed for a favourite I’d say 16d, but 9a & 24a ran it close. Thanks to setter and CS.

  28. I agree with Brian, that the NW and Se corners were nicely doable. Ground to a halt in the NE and SW. I thought it was a Dada, and then realized it is Saturday, not Sunday. Oh dear. I think I’ll go and console myself with a Wordle.

  29. Like others a mixed bag for me too, with the NE belatedly falling – helped by the discovery by that point that I was dealing with a pangram. I must say I’m not a fan of this grid, even though in theory you should get more consonant helpers, so frequently missing that first letter is such a disadvantage. Still, there was plenty to enjoy here, 3d made me chuckle and 18a was great misdirection, but 16d gets my COTD **/***

    Thanks to Cephas and CS

  30. Good evening
    No work today, so with the paper read, it was time to settle down with a brew and crack on. Got ’em all done, albeit with a bit of trouble with the SW corner. Beer o’clock now and then I’m on cookhouse. Thank you to CS and our compiler.

    1. If you have the first and last letters, you just need to find the right letter which fits with the dictionary definition of fool and is a reversal (up) of a step

      1. I also wasn’t sure about 14d – knew the step but didn’t know the other definition, until now.

      2. There is a mauvais “step” to get to the summit of The Cobbler.

        Ben Arthur is better known as “The Cobbler” as its unusual rocky top is considered to represent a cobbler and his last. It is a gem of a mountain with something for everyone.
        The approach is steep but easy, following the route of a dismantled railway, then on well made road into a beautiful glen with the impressive Narnain Boulders.

        From there take a minor scramble through rocky outcrops to the summit ridge, with beautiful views in good weather.

        Then just when you think you have cracked it you find that to reach the highest point you have to crawl through a hole in rocks (Argyll’s Eyeglass) onto an narrow exposed ledge and scramble up to an exposed rock.

        Since scrambling and a head for exposure are required, many people have almost reached the summit!

        1. I am one of the many who have baulked at the last scramble on The Cobbler. I have soloed The Inaccessible Pinnacle on Skye in winter but couldn’t summon the courage to complete The Cobbler on a summer’s day.

          1. Fortunate to have done both but was defeated by a loss of nerve in an attempt on Forcan Ridge in winter (probably due to the four cans of Tennant’s Extra the night before)

  31. Another cracking puzzle today. Realising it was a pangram helped with a couple. Beautiful day here in Norfolk but very cold. Took our lunch of smoked salmon sarnies to a lovely viewpoint and subsequently froze!

  32. While out in York today, to avoid the chill af a boiler less house. Check out the URL of this website and this car!
    Looks like BigDave has got himself a flash new motor.
    I have just noticed that in my earlier shivered ramblings I forgot to thank Sue and Cephas so do so now

  33. Much trickier than usual for Cephas but I got there in the end, only just. I had a problem with 16d and was just about to use ehelp when I had my epiphany and realised it was a pangram, and what letter was missing? Bingo, that’s all I needed. A couple leapt out at me, both long ‘uns, so that helped a lot, particularly 3d, my fave, yummy, also 21a, the first word fell into place so the rest was easy.
    Thanks to Cephas and to CS for the hints and tips.

  34. I enjoyed this puzzle immensely, strangely enough north east was completed first followed by the rest of the rhs, last to fall 1 and 2 down, 2 being last. Thanks to Cephas and CS

  35. I am very, very late! I went into Cambridge this afternoon to suss out upgrading my iPhone. In John Lewis I engaged the help of a young lad about ten years old who was very helpful and told me he thought a 14 was unnecessary as he believed I would be very satisfied with the 13. Then the assistant came along and told me the same thing – very entertaining! The boys father was standing by watching, very proud of his sons prowess, it was quite touching. Anyway, I have only just got round to the guzzle and very enjoyable it was. Thanks to Cephas and to CSue for help with 6d. I really sympathise with the boiler problem, I cannot bear being cold.

  36. Great SPP. 9a last in & a quick tally up for the pangram identified a missing letter which helped the penny to drop. For my money the best Cephas puzzle in quite some time.
    Thanks to Cephas & CS

  37. Thanks to Cephas for a pleasant Sunday morning solve.
    Thanks also to CS for the hints.

  38. Hi. I’ve done the whole crossword including 9A but I don’t understand what type of letter is being referred to. Any clues please?

    1. Welcome to the blog

      If you have the correct solution for 9a, trying ignoring the A and saying the rest of the word out loud

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