DT 30527 (Hints)

130 comments on “DT 30527 (Hints)”

1. A tad on the tougher side I thought but enjoyable, nonetheless. At least I get another stab at The Mythical. Plenty to like and some challenging – for me anyway – anagrams. I liked the drawn tennis games at 23a and the bounders at 6d but my COTD is Nancy’s plait at 13a. I had a huge PDM with that one.

   For once, the spoonerism did not phase me.

   Many thanks to the setter for the fun. Thank you, CS for the hints, which I will now read.

   1. I agree. The best Spoonerism I can remember. Best wishes to Mrs SC

   2. Agreed, despite the jolt seeing the word “spooner” gave me! Setter is forgiven.

2. Having not done a crossword for over two weeks whilst away, this was a pleasantly gentle return to crosswordland as the jet lag unwinds. 13 and 15a share my top spot this morning ahead of (unusually for me), the Spoonerism at 7d.

   Many thanks to our Saturday setter and Sue.

   1. Did you sit under the coconut trees drinking coconut water an’ de Mount Gay rum?

3. Short and sweet: very Saturday-esque. 1d was mildly amusing, 15a tickled me and the Spoonerism is possibly the gentlest I’ve ever seen. I liked 21d the most, largely because it reads like a statement of fact! The quickie pun (9a?!) was a bit of a groaner though, surely? Thanks to setter, and Sue.

4. This one caused me brain ache but I got there in the end – all in all a fun and satisfying Saturday challenge. I did like 13a (Nancy) and 23d (Greta) but COTD for me was the cryptic 16d. The answer always reminds me of Arthur Fowler from EastEnders in his shed which must say something about how old I am. Thanks to the setter and to CS for the hints.

5. I am with Steve C on this one having found it a bit trickier than the last few Saturday offerings.
   Unusually for me I rather enjoyed the spoonerism in 7D but my favourite was13a if for no other reason than the amount of time it took me get Nancy’s relevance.
   Happy Saturday one and all and thanks to Sue and the setter.

   1. Happy Saturday? George is delighted. I don’t know whether to go into Cambridge and spend a lot of money or put my head in the oven. (Oh no, it is electric). Wall to wall Rugby!

      1. Wall to wall? If only!

      2. Yes, together with George today was a fun sporty day. I had Six Nations on steam TV some of the time simultaneously with Sud de France tennis from Montpelier on Ipad. It worked well!

         1. DG, perhaps I should rephrase my comment!

6. Quite a few tricky synonyms in today’s SPP made it a slow solve to start with but there were some superb clues. COTD for me was the Spoonerism at 7d, followed by tge two cryptic definitions at 6d and 23a. 4d was a prwtty good lurker too. Thanks to the compiler for an enjoyable puzzle and to CS for the hints

7. A very enjoyable SPP which i assume is another NYDK production – 2.5*/4*

   The only blemish, and hopefully avoiding the naughty step, is the lack of synonymity, supported by the BRB, between the 1a definition and answer.

   Candidates for favourite – 5a, 2d, 8d, and 24d – and the winner is 2d.

   Thanks to NYDK, or whomsoever if it is not he, and to CS.

8. I always enjoy the Saturday crossword as it’s quite relaxing after the Friday one. I do however feel that 1a is misleading in that the literal meaning is not the same as the solution, i.e. one goes on top of the other, or am I reading it incorrectly?
   I too liked 13a

   1. I think that may be a bit too literal, the BRB has a jocular slang reference that fits the definition in a looser way

9. It sorted itself out fairly easily last night, it even allowed me time to investigate the Nina in yesterday’s toughie and prove that the two fat ladies were a reference to Sparks 88th Toughie
   My 22a was not too mangled by the Reverend and I think ALP may have had to curtail an Ian Dury reference
   Thanks to CS and setter

   1. Ha ha. You clearly know me too well! Yes, I had to bite my tongue on that one, it being a Saturday and all, but two songs jumped to mind straightaway! Great Sparks sleuthing yesterday by the way. Very impressive.

10. Without doubt the hardest for some time. The left beat me all ends up. The DT must be trying to cut down the number of entries. Unfortunately the clues that I needed hinting (2d and 21d) were missing, deliberately I suspect. Many were outside of my sphere such as the Persian in 1d and the fairy.
    Very little fun apart from 7d which made me laugh.
    *****/**

    1. Meanly, I hope you’re right. I want my pen!

       1. There is no pain, ALP – It’s a myth. 🤣

          1. Ha. Hasn’t Daisy got about ten?!

             1. Come on! Only three. 😌

                1. You get a notebook, biro and a fountain pen for the EV

                   

                   1. Stop it!!

                   2. Yes I’ve got the notebook – two of them and a pen/fountain pen set from years back. In the days of posting the PP I must have spent the cost of the prizes in postage!

                      1. This is tantamount to cruelty! 😳

                         1. Why do I get offered a £50 voucher and no mention of a pen as a prize when I submit ? The telegraph is registered in John’s name and the crossword is submitted in his name so should I win anything it will come to him. What’s his is mine and what’s mine is my own so I am too lazy to do anything about it. Theoretically I will never win anything in my own name.

                2. Yes but you lost 7! 😁

          2. Fort pain read pen! Spellchecker!

             1. I thought your pain for pen was on purpose! Twas brilliant..

             2. By the sound of things, there is much pain!

                1. There is, sadly there is!

    2. Brian, are you insinuating that CS can read your mind and deliberately left out hints for 2d and 21d? Or what?

       1. I do tend to deliberately not hint clues with anagrams (not just to get at Brian but because I hope that people can hopefully spot them)

          As for 2d, I did toy with providing a hint but decided that people should be able to see that the first word is the definition and the rest of the clue tells you exactly what to do to get there

          1. CS – the lot of us bloggers is described perfectly by English monk and poet John Lydgate, later ‘borrowed’ by Abraham Lincoln, You can please some of the people all of the time, you can please all of the people some of the time, but you can’t please all of the people all of the time.

             1. Senf, your reference to John Lydgate brought happily to my mind Lidgate, the village in Suffolk where he was born and lived as a newly-wed and where I spent the happiest days of my life. Thank you.

                1. Don’t know what happened to my comment. It was I who was the newly wed not John o’Lydgate!

11. A very enjoyable puzzle today. Was held up for ages i the NW corner mainly because of confusion about Persians, so 1d my last in.
    Liked 13a and 23a.
    Thanks to the setter and to crypticsue.

    Sunny here today though the wind is still quite strong.

12. There were a few definitions that I felt compelled to check and I did have to smile about 14d getting its umpteenth run-out in recent times – none of us will forget that green site any time soon!
    Biggest laughs for me came from 15a plus 8&16d.

    Thanks to our setter and to CS for the hints.

    1. Re 14d, I’m surprised the setters don’t include a link to a travel agent as part of their clue…But perhaps they get commission anyway. At least we didn’t have rhubarb today.

    2. It did raise a laugh! 🌰🔥
       🎶🎵Chestnuts roasting on an open fire🎵🎶

    3. I reckon the setters have a Whatsapp group, and occasionally pick a word that everyone has to include in their next puzzle.

       1. That’s it! You’ve hit the nail on the head, ON.

13. Well I struggled and no, no hangover! 1a seemed to be a misdefinition.
    Loved the Spoonerism though not usually a fan. Last in was 28a and not because of its position.
    Thanks to the compiler for a bit of grit on a Saturday!

14. Well done Brian on uncovering the conspiracy of the century! As everyone has long suspected, Cryptic Sue is working (possibly MI5 are involved) in tandem with the Crossword Editor to ensure Brian does not receive hints for the clues he finds the trickiest. I suspect Sue has planted special devices in Brian’s house that can tune in to his thought patterns and thus she is able to ensure that she only gives tips for the clues Brian has already solved. Now everything makes sense!

    Tricky guzzle. I needed help with 6d to get me rebooted. Off out to luncheon. Have posted security detail at all our doors to ensure Sue cannot sneak in and plant her ‘subconscious listening devices’ here.

    Thanks to the setter and Siouxie Sioux

    1. 

    2. 

    3. 

       Just to prove I have a life outside crosswordland, once I’ve commented on the NTSPP, I’m going to spend the afternoon reading, as the latest Val McDermid is finally out in paperback

       I will be keeping a watchful eye on the blog and there isn’t any cake in the Naughty Corner. You have been warned

       1. Talking of books, have you heard of English author Louise Fein – https://www.louisefein.com ? I stumbled across her latest book – ‘The London Bookshop Affair’ – when I was browsing in my favourite bookstore a few days ago.

          Now, I am in an electronic queue at the library waiting to ‘claim ownership’ for three weeks.

       2. If Terence is right I might have potential field work for you 😂🕵️

          1. I will have to pass that by Simon our resident spy. He’s a member of The Naughty Boys who gather at the village store to get our papers each morning. He “knows” things and when the Ukraine war broke out he went to the Ukraine! For a holiday – he says but you don’t become a qualified driver of armoured limos by going on holiday! 😉

       3. I don’t understand the Val McDermid reference … but, if you are leaving the blogging chair, can I say many, many thanks for all your wonderful contributions to the BD website.

          Shame that you never won the Times Crossword Championship!

          1. I’m not going anywhere. I’m just reading a new book by one of my favourite authors

    4. 🤣

    5. Brian’s thought patterns?

       I don’t want to go there!

       And neither should he … he is always so disrespectful of the setters!

    6. What a lovely chain of comments. I shall certainly leave my Blink on in case CS comes round. I thought we’d got mice!

15. I had high hopes of a pun across the bottom of the Quick as well with ‘lie’ and ‘sol’ but it was not to be.

16. 2.5*/4.5*. I thought this was the most enjoyable SPP for some considerable time. It was not too difficult but did have a few clues which needed some teasing out.

    The fairy in 9a was new to me and my podium comprises 13a, 15a, and the superb Spoonerism in 7d.

    Many thanks to the setter and to CS.

17. This was fun. Had forgotten the hobgoblin aspect of 9a, so had to check. 13a reminded me too much of the ‘Yarn of the Nancy Bell’, one of my fave poems (along with the Rime) before realising that I live nearby! V much liked 23a and 8d, but joint faves are 6&7d.
    15a to the setter (NYDK?) and the tireless CS.

18. A puzzle full of wonderful ideas and clues. It does seem to be an NYDK production to me: others too have noted this possibility.

    I’m fine with 1A’s definition. It is in Chambers under definition no. 6, so I don’t think it can properly be faulted, and I do remember an extremely amusing Araucaria Spoonerism from a few years back, involving the name of a very famous Welsh female singer, apparently both a friend and a fan of A’s (as was Prunella Scales). If I say her first name is Shirley, I think that’s probably as far as I may go without having to visit the naughty step, or village stocks.

    Thanks Mr Ron, or Mr NYDK, and indomitable CS.

19. Good afternoon

    I enjoyed today’s crozzie; lots of wit deployed in the clueing, some nifty misdirection, several contenders for COTD, and a swift reappearance for 14d.

    I’m going to plump (if, as they used to say on Call My Bluff, plumping is allowed!) for 7d and 8d as joint winners, with a special mention for Nancy in 13a, whose relevance almost eluded me, and which was the last to fall.

    Many thanks to our compiler and to CS.

20. As others have pointed out, I too found this trickier than most Saturday puzzles, but still enjoyable after Friday’s pummelling.

    One small point, as I volunteer at a brewery, wine is not brewed, it is fermented. But I can see why the word is used in this case.

    The spoonerism took a while to surface but was a big D’oh! Moment when it did.

21. I suspect CD that the wine is ‘brewed’ has another meaning – I dursn’t say more as we have been told there is no cake on the naughty step today. Thoroughly enjoyed this despite being shown round the green site again. 13a favourite, though I should be getting attuned to this ruse. Those poor setters are always in trouble with some folk, as are our intrepid hinters. 20d was LOI and I have to admit to using a word search machine – but I am after another pen – “it isn’t the gold that I’m after, as much as just getting the gold!” Many thanks to Messrs Setter & CS – a ray of sunlight in a Rugby dominated day.

    1. DG – to follow up on your ‘Six on the dot and not before’ comment yesterday, I prefer to follow the philosophy of my never to be argued with big sister – It’s five o’clock somewhere!

       1. See Jimmy Buffet below!

22. A bit of a tricky puzzle for this Saturday. One new word for me.

    2*/3.5*

    Favourites include 12a, 19a, 22a, 23a, 1d & 5d — with winner a tie between 19a & 22a

    Thanks to setter and CS for hints/blog

23. My first impression was that this looked like it was going to be a walk in the park but not so I found it quite a challenge particularly in the South. Not sure 9a is really a “fairy” nor indeed 16d a “concern”. There seems to be much praise for 13a but somehow I feel it is rather broad. 14a is making regular appearances these days. Ashamedly 20d is new to me as I spent several years living in USA. Perhaps I am over critical because I do appreciate the thought/work which goes into setting these fun guzzles for us. Thank you setter and CS (enjoy your booky day).

24. Another very enjoyable weekend stroll through Guzzlington with 17a defeating me.

    I’ve never heard 22a being used to describe a person. With an s after it or xxx but not like that. Every day’s a school day.

    It does seem very knobby which works for me as his puzzles are excellent.

    I am glad that many of you have tipped your hat to the Reverend as I luuuuuuv a spoonerism but I’m in a very small club.

    It’s bonkers how many times 14d has appeared recently.

    ‘Oi, Chrissy baby! Have a dickie bird in your setters’ respective shell-likes, will yer!’

    Lots of excellent clues to choose from but I’ll go with 15a (Victor Mature – brilliant), 7d and 24d.

    Many thanks to the setter and Sue (love the cake comment 👏👏)

    2*/4*

25. Tackled earlier this morning, an enjoyable exercise while it lasted with this very light “do as you’re instructed and you won’t go wrong” puzzle – I found that by starting with all the downs before the acrosses there were only a scant half-dozen left for the second sweep, so maybe the checkers from the downs made the acrosses easier? Podium places went to 13a (though good old Nancy is becoming a familiar cruciverbal friend these days), 15a and 6d (both for their surface reads and chuckles), with COTD the rather lovely Spoonerism in 7d.

    <1* / 3*

    Thank you to the Setter and to CS – I hope the book lives up to your expectations!

26. No real hold-ups today apart from parsing 22a. We liked it proving it doesn’t have to be hard to be enjoyable. Favourite was 1d. Thanks to the setter and CS.

27. Solved this widdershins from the SE. All went swimmingly until the NE and 1a where I struggled with the answer and definition but note SJB’s comment above. That said there was much to admire, 1d (once I got there) made me smile as did 17a. Thanks to compiler and CS.

    1. What a great word widdershins is, Prawn!

       I had to look up its meaning and it’s a screamer.

       Thank you.

       1. Don’t ye dare widdershins round a church, TDS – Beelzebub’ll ave yer! 😈

          1. 😂😇

28. Oyez, oyez!! 86 years ago today, I was born in a bungalow surrounded by sugarcane fields at Rose Hall in Jamaica. It’s been a good ride so far! Please let’s have a drink to all of us. Remember, it’s five o’clock somewhere.

    I enjoyed today’s puzzle, no holdups, though I need to refer to CS’s hints to understand my bungin at 13a, hopefully it’s one of the chosen. Who is Nancy? Welcome back, again, 14d. I liked lots, maybe 15a is fave.
    Thank you setter for the fun, and CrypticSue for the hints and tips, which I will now read.

    1. Happy birthday, Merusa,
       Hope you’re having a specially wonderful day and we’ll all being thinking of you and at exactly 6.00.
       Nancy isn’t who it’s where.

       1. PS 15a is appropriate for today and sorry, I didn’t mean it was 6.00 I meant five o’clock somewhere.

       2. Did I feel stupid when I read Sue’s hint for 13a. I was taken in, hook, line and sinker!

    2. Happy birthday Merusa. I was going to say something about Nancy, but took a bit of time to think about how not to land on the cakeless naughty step. Fortunately I refreshed the page before doing so and noticed Kath has already answered your question.

    3. 🎉🎁🎂🍾🥂🍻🍸🍷

    4. A very happy birthday to you, Merusa.

    5. Here’s wishing you a Very Happy Birthday Merusa, and many happy returns. You deserve it.

    6. Happy birthday and thanks for the clip, I enjoyed that and am now pondering an adjustment to my plans for the rest of day… cheers 🥂

    7. Many happy returns Merusa – I shall raise a glass (possibly of Cornish Rum!) to your good health this evening!

    8. Very very many happy returns. I was not planning to imbibe the amber nectar this evening but I have a very good reason to do so now!

       1. Good idea, Senf! A glass of Famous Grouse is being raised in The Marches in honour of Merusa as I type!

    9. And a hippo burpday from me too

    10. Wishing you everything good on your birthday, Merusa. Hope you’ve got that island music playing at full volume today!

    11. Merusa,
        Happy Birthday, Many Happy Returns of the Day and Cheers. 💐🎂🌈🍾.

    12. And bestest of Birthday Wishes from me also – and George if he could tear his eyes off the television screen.
        I shall contain myself until 1800 hrs when I shall raise my glass of gin and tonic (lemon, no ice) to you
        my dear. What a pity so many miles separate us. We could guzzle together!

        1. Guzzle with a puzzle! What a delightful thought!

    13. Happy birthday!

    14. Happy birthday 🎂🎈

    15. Thank you everyone for my birthday wishes! Having a birthday on the blog is so much fun!

    16. The Happiest of Birthdays to you, Merusa, my friend. ❤️

        I hope you have the very best of days! 🌹🌹🍾🍾🍾🥂🥂

    17. Just love this song! 👍

        1. Along with DG wish we could all guzzle together! H B from me top.

    18. Happy Birthday from me too.

        1. Hope you’re having a great day!
           Happy Happy Birthday 💐

    19. I hope it’s not too late to wish you a very Happy Birthday Merusa. Late to the puzzle this evening and not quite finished as stuck in the SE. Enjoy the rest of your birthday weekend 🎈🎉🍾🥂🍷

29. Tricky in the SE but enjoyable as always from our favourite brand of Brooklyn brassware. I now know more than I need to about 19th century migration of native American tribes, thanks to a Wikipedia rabbit-hole 🤪 Faves 23a and 27a

30. Apart from 20d which
    Required several stabs at
    The word play, I found this
    A light SPP.
    A certain geographical
    Feature has, of late,
    Became very popular with
    Most of our setters.
    Thanks setter and CS.

31. While I cannot by any stretch describe today’s offering as “light”, it was very enjoyable. Like Jonathan I too find Saturdays a relief after the Friday OTT puzzles. It is all a bit of an enigma to me as I would have thought the Saturday Prize Puzzle would be the toughest of the week, but clearly the DT has designated that dubious honour to Fridays. Finished today almost on my own, but did need a few hints. I do question 13a as that is not necessarily a plait? I had never heard 9a as a cake until we sailed across the pond in 1982, but know it is now used in England. LI was 19a as it was ages before the light bulb went off. Thanks to setter and CS.

    1. …but I still have three to go on Friday’s horror.

32. I found this tougher than recent Saturdays. Struggled in NW and I’ve never heard of the fairy. Made very heavy weather of the Garbo question which was my LOI. Loved Brummel’s spoonerism clue.

33. I don’t usually enter but I do love a good conspiracy theory so have sent it in. Thanks to today’s setter and CS.

34. I loved this puzzle.
    Favourites were 15a, 1d and 7d although the name Spooner in a clue usually makes me quake.
    I managed to dig 20d out of the depths of my memory and somehow associate it being part of some song lyrics but goodness knows what. I vaguely think it was Squeeze’s “Cool for cats” but will have to check.
    Thanks to setter and CS.
    Found it ! It was Ian Dury after all.

35. Fairly steady solve – enjoyed the spoonerism.

36. I really enjoyed today’s crossword – just about right – not too difficult not too easy.
    I appreciated 13 and 15a and 17 and 24d. My favourite is probably 22a but, then it might be any umpteen others.
    Thanks very much for such a good crossword to whoever set this one and very many thanks to CS for all her work.

37. The guzzle was great & the comments very entertaining too. A big Happy Birthday to Merusa.
    Thanks to the setter (Donny presumably) & to Sue.

    1. Thank you Huntsman! My little bungalow has been long gone along with the sugarcane fields, now a very posh golf club is there, much admired by tourists!

       1. I much prefer fields!

       2. Rose Hall looks v posh now
          https://maps.app.goo.gl/zRPLro7K1vMA8xES9

          The big house is still there and looks like a cool place to stay

          1. Bet it didn’t look like that then

             

             1. No, it was a ruin for a long time. Annie Palmer’s three palms are still there, allegedly where she buried the husbands she did in. She was known as the White Witch! A rich American bought it and fixed it up. There’s a lot of very pricey real estate around there. Half Moon Hotel is just across the road on the beach. That’s where I learnt to swim, before I could walk.

38. A dnf due to 13a. Pretty obscure Nancy to me. It would be like expecting the French to have heard of Swindon…

    Found this more difficult than yesterday, but much less enjoyable.

    Thanks to all.

39. You guessed me right.

    Thanks to all esp Sue, as usual, for the commments and hints.

    NYDK

    1. Excellent as usual!😄 NYD!

    2. Thank you for the excellent challenge👍
       Cheers!

40. Still can’t solve 20d. Is anyone willing to risk the cake-less NS by giving a hint? Please?

    1. The best I can suggest is to look for the definition and start assembling the five bits of Lego according to the instructions, hopefully any checkers you may have will help

       1. Thanks! I’m being dim. I have all the checkers and still can’t see it. I’ll sleep on it🤞

          1. Clare I don’t reckon you are being dim at all. I certainly had to seek help and I do wonder how many bloggers will have had sufficient USA knowledge to be able to solve 20d unaided.

          2. Familiarity with the lyrics of Ian Dury helps
             I would say more but CS is about to wield the red pen of doom if we say much more before the review

41. Such a busy day that I have not yet had my second look at this puzzle and it is only half done, so far it has been very entertaining with some interesting synonyms. I will look again the morning.

    The comments today have been very entertaining to read! Happy birthday Merusa.
    Many thanks to NYDK and to CS for her hints (and profound psychic abilities)

42. Late on parade as usual.
    Loved today’s puzzle, Took me longer than normal to complete but this gives more sense of satisfaction,my COTD was split between 1d 6d 16d. Thanks to the setter and to all the contributors, it’s great to read thru your comments.

43. Did it this am. Busy day yesterday. Long walk. I thought it was very difficult. Got the answer for 13a but completely missed the point. Silly bearing in mind my studies. Went through all the Nancys! I found another baked item which has an alternative name of fairy cake so that held me up. Can’t say why due to naughty step but I should have got the cake straightaway. My walk yesterday was with some grown up ones.

44. Finally got there, discovered a spelling mistake which didn’t help with progress.

45. Great stuff, even if I already saw 14d tomorrow.
    Favourite is 24d for all it’s misdirections.
    Thanks to the setter and to CS for the Saturday club.

Comments are closed.