DT 30599 (Hints)

83 comments on “DT 30599 (Hints)”

1. 2.5*/2.5*. A few hmms for this pangram today, including a DNF courtesy of 10a.

   Apart from the impossibility for me of 10a, I thought that the definition was over-stretched in 26a, and I found 1d rather strange. 16d was a new word for me. One for THE LIST?

   Having now seen CS’s explanation for 10a, there is nothing to debate. It’s an awful clue IMHO.

   I did rather like 1a & 8d.

   Thanks to the setter and to CS.

   1. 10a is the worst type of clue, a GK clue with no other way into the answer. This has no place in a cryptic crossword.

      1. I absolutely agree, it is the poorest clue for many a long year. No way to work this out, you either know it or you don’t. Lazy clueing in my opinion,
         Real shame as the rest of the puzzle was excellent.
         Thx for the hint to the above.
         **(***)/***

   2. Looks cryptic to me. The place where a certain person lives on a French island.

2. I popped in today to see whether there would be a discussion about 10a and I find that RD has said – word for word – what I would have said. Thanks for saving me the trouble RD.

   Many thanks to the setter and CS and, as I don’t get the chance to comment very often, thanks to all the hinty people for all their hard work.

3. Not a lot of fun for me but I put that down to being cream crackered and I missed that it is a pangram. With the checkers in place, 10a was a ‘it has to be’ without thinking to much about the why.

   Candidates for favourite – 17a, 23a, 1d, and 8d – and the winner is 23a.

   Thanks to whomsoever and to CS.

4. Spot on for a Saturday: some light GK (other than 3d!), a bit of lateral action and lots of straightforward constructions.

   10a was good fun (I’m sure many capitalists do live there) as was 17d (I love those sort of clues).

   My pangram antenna bleeped the second I solved 1a, my first answer, which makes you think…’Right, where are the other two that score at least eight points in Scrabble?

   My podium is 1a, 27a and 17d.

   Many thanks to the setter and CS.

   2*/4*

   1. Oh come on – what about a mention for 8d! Fantastic clue 😊

      1. You’re right, Day Zee. It is a goodie and nearly got on the podie. Nearly.

5. 10 a is not a good clue is it?
   COTD 8d with 17d a close second

   1. 10a appeals because I like the idea of someone living in a capital city being called a capitalist.

      1. I concur, Tom. I accept it as a valid clue, somewhat in the same camp as 1a and 17d. In addition to the whimsical use of “capitalists”, the clue is deviously constructed to appear to be wordplay and definition when it is not. I spent ages searching for a synonym of “capitalists” that was a charade of another word for place and a French island. However, even after twigging to the misdirection and correctly guessing the island, I still had to Google as I had no idea of the name of the capital and the checking letters were not at all helpful.

         1. Ditto 10a

         2. Ditto 10a. This is a fine clue, a cryptic definition with a misleading surface suggesting some cryptic word-play is involved. OK, it’s all about geographical GK but once you’ve sussed out the clue type it’s pretty clear what you need to be looking for – and just a little research (if necessary) will get you there.

6. 1a my cotd. A few challenges , no just 10a.

7. I thought this was dreadful, hope others liked it, just not one for me today.

8. Enjoyed the solve, agreed with JB that 10a was not a good clue consequently the last clue to fall was 10a when all the checking letters were available-presume the capital city to be correct!
   Favourites were 1a,12a and 23a.
   Going for a ***/***

9. Not the best crossword in my opinion, it feels like the setter was focused on delivering a pangram above all else.
   No further comment on 10a, on reflection I think 1d fits into the same category.
   I also have a question mark as to whether 19a can be considered a medicinal drink?
   I liked the lurker at 20d and 8d was clever.
   Thanks to all

10. What a strange guzzle. It took me ages to get into it and I agree with others regarding 10a. I didn’t like the word at 3d either but that’s just me. Not a lot of fun for me but I’m sure others will enjoy it. Horses for courses and all that. I did have a COTD, though and that was the running mates at 8d.

    Thank you to the setter. Not your fault I found it odd. Thank you, CS for the hints.

    1. I agree about 3d, v clumsy.

       1. The solution to 3d is the only word that fits those checking letters – one of those occasions when the setter had ‘painted themselves into a corner’

          1. Off topic for a moment – thoroughly enjoyed that Val McDermid novel, Sue. Thank you for mentioning it.

             1. Glad you enjoyed it

                1. Thank you also, CS, for Ellory Adams

             2. I went to a super lunch last week with lecture courtesy of Cambridge Literary Festival where Val McDermid talked about her books. Most enjoyable

                1. I’m vey jealous but not as much as I was when I found out the Times Crossword Editor was a speaker on a trip across the Atlantic as was Val McDermid and he got to spend a whole week talking with her

                   1. I went to the same school as Val McDermid , though she was a few years below me in the same year as my sister.
                      I was in the same year as Gordon Brown
                      Claims to fame now over.

          2. Oddly enough, the answer to 3D is also the name of a former type of coupling used to join up railway wagons. I doubt that the setter had this in mind!

    2. Agree, 3d just awful.

    3. I’ve known (and used) that word (3D) ever since Bertie Wooster said it to Jeeves. I suspect as a word it was in more common usage when P G Wodehouse used it in “Right Ho Jeeves” (1934). I’ve heard it in the BBC productions of Jeeves and Wooster pronounced (redacted – see the instructions in red asking people not to use the solution in a prize puzzle)”. As a word it appears to have been in use since 1688.

       1. Woops, I deserved the redaction. To rephrase: I’ve heard the word pronounced with the emphasis on the second syllable.

11. I think that the answer to 19a was considered a medicinal drink a few generations ago. Not sure about it’s curative properties but very pleasant taste, as I remember!

12. Like others I was stuck on 10a, when I looked it up I thought this is something I should have known, but hard to get just from the clue. Bunged in 3d even though it didn’t sound right ,and to my shame had to look up the French mrs . Thanks to all.

13. Not a barrowload of fun but I did enjoy several clues including particularly 1a, 4d, 8d, 18d and 20d. In company with others I think 10a is just too clever by half. Thank you Mysteron and Sue.

14. There are occasions when I think a setter should have ditched the idea of creating a pangram and this, for me, was one of those times. The only clue that elicited a smile was 8d.

    Apologies to our setter and thanks to CS for the hints.

15. Well, quite a mixed bag today. I tend to agree that 10a has no place in a cryptic puzzle, at least not the way it was clued, and that the setter was hellbent on producing a pangram come what may. Those minor gripes apart, this was a pleasant enough way to spend some time waiting for the rain to stop. Favourite 8d.

    Thanks to our Saturday setter and Sue.

16. On reflection, you are all right about 10a.

    Specialist knowledge (I misssed this one when I said light GK) is fine if it’s parsable which it isn’t.

    Difficult to clue but the setter has chosen the lazier option.

    I still like the idea of a capital city dweller being called a capitalist though!

    1. Tom. You musn’t change your mind so readily – stick to your guns, old chap. 10a is a cryptic definition which, like most cd’s, is a cryptic/obscure/misleading/possibly whimsical way of describing the solution – that’s where the “cryptic” element comes from. Once realising it is a cd, it’s relatively obvious what you need to be thinking about – and there aren’t that many French island capitals. (Hopefully no redaction – that info has already been revealed in the hint).

       Time to re-reflect? :-)

       1. I really like the clue and still have it on my podium. I knew the city so it was no problem. But, if you haven’t heard of it, you haven’t got a prayer and that’s not right.

          I’ve thought of a half-decent clue for it which I obviously can’t put here.

          1. Assez juste, me owd.

17. This one didn’t tickle my fancy quite as much as some recent weekenders (and with the world still on fire, my job is keeping me away from weekday puzzles pretty much, I’m somewhat miffed to have to report), so I’ll hazard a guess that this is not a Donna Karan design. A more traditional approach in this one I feel, and I’ll join YS in passing the wreath to 8. 10 needs to be exiled, IMO.

    Thanks Sue and Ron.

18. Struggled with 1a and 27a on first run through but the down clues were so kind that the answers were obvious. 3d new to me but it’s in the dictionary and the clue was very clear. Surely 10a escaped from the Giant GK puzzle?
    Thanks to all

19. A DNF for me due to 10a but I’m not beating myself up about a place I’ve never heard of.
    Top picks for me were 1a, 8d and 17d.
    Thanks to CrypticSue and the setter.

20. V slow start but then fairly rattled in. Certainly 10a left something to be desired.

21. There was a lot to like here – don’t let’s discourage the valiant setters as they do a grand job churning out guzzles day after day for we lesser mortals to gripe at. I’ve done (very simplistic) puzzles for the local magazine in my time and it’s jolly hard. See what a ‘sweetness and light’ person I am😌. 8d was just brilliant and will go in my Commonplace Book along with the names of Santa’s reindeer etc and 15a when I nailed the boxer. I admit 10a had to be looked up in the atlas after the useful clue CS gave us and I also looked up 3d & 16d (my brothers name) in Chambers as I was not sure if they were bona fide words! But many thanks to the setter on a miserable wet, grey Fen day for entertaining us during lunch and to the indefatigable Delphic Sue.

22. Bit of a curates egg I thought. The North went in relatively easily, but I spent far to long on the south, and this no doubt contributes to my overall opinion. 8d gets my vote for cotd. Thanks to compiler and CS.

23. Agree with all of the dislike for 10a… I feel that when the answer is somewhat obscure there should be a way to get there with the cryptic elements of the clue. Bit of a large blemish on an otherwise enjoyable puzzle

24. Found this Saturday puzzle a fun workout along with the fact it was a pangram too. One word I did not know and it was last in after all the checkers were in.

    2*/3.5* for me.

    Favourites included 1a, 15a, 6d, 16d & 20d — with winner 15a

    Thanks to setter & CS for hints/blog

    PS … I’ll repeat this from yesterday late in the day …

    Whatever happened to the supposed updates that would be implemented to the new site before it became the only option?? … like size of the fonts (bigger range) and less wasted white space. I.E. make the grid and clues MUCH more like the old site in size. That’s all I (we??) are asking for.
 I would send this to CL if I had his email.
    Is it too much to ask for that the complaints be addressed?

    1. It’s chris.lancaster@telegraph.co.uk

       1. thanks!

25. Ok SPP puzzle but as said above 3d and 10a were a bit meh, I would add 16d as the ubiquitous Scotsman (who really ought to have two i’s IMO) gave a less common ending. Those clues apart I enjoyed the rest and thank to setter and Sue

    1. When I was younger I always insisted on spelling my brother’s name with the extra I. Despite wearing the kilt etc and the full shebang short of playing the bagpipes, he never seemed to care so now he is just plain xxx

       1. Maybe I should change my nickname…

26. Well, I enjoyed this, so there! Translation: I solved all on me Tod, except for 10a, I used ehelp for that. I did need the dictionary to make sure that 3d was actually a word. I found that I still have my street guide at 12a, from the 1960s, I’m sure it’s all changed now. I liked 15a and 1d, clever that, but fave has to be 8d along with the majority.
    Thank you setter for the fun, of course CS, your explanations were useful for a few.

27. Like Falcon I managed to pick the right island and Google it. Before the advent of the Internet this clue would have been unsolvable. Hadn’t heard of 3d or 16d either. We also thought that 26a was less than a sparkle. Having said all that there were some good clues favourite being 1d. Thanks to the setter and CS.

28. A DNF for me or at least it was until Mr G told me the name of the correctly guessed island’s capital. A bit of a shame, given the pangram, that its second letter had already featured elsewhere in the puzzle but doubt even that would have helped much. Can’t say I was familiar with the 3d word (rather clumsy) or the Roman god’s alternate name so they both needed post solve confirmation. Plenty to like here & enjoyed the guzzle more than some others. Ticks for 11,15&27a along with 8,14&18d. The running mates get top billing for the time it took for the penny to drop.
    Thanks to the setter (2 bob on Cephas) & to Sue.
    Ps perishing on the 1st tee at work today so thanks heavens next week is looking warmer

29. An averagely okay sort of Saturday puzzle, let down by the egregious 10a. All otherwise clued fairly and with precision, but I found the puzzle oddly short of wit and sparkle. COTD 8D.

    1* / 2*

    Thanks anyway to the setter, and of course to CS

    1. 10a is another of those ‘painted myself into a corner ‘ only word that fits the checking letters

30. 2/2. A bit of a curates egg for me. Hard to get going and quite bland. Nuff said about 10a. Thanks to the setter and CS.

31. I’m not sure what I was expected of a Saturday crossword – whatever it was I’m pretty sure it wasn’t it, not for me anyway.
    I suppose I didn’t really enjoy it very much and feel as if I need to enjoy something a bit more – maybe I’m not putting it very well.
    Thank you for the setter for t,he crossword and to CS for all her effort doing her hints.

32. Again, an anagram indicator
    Can be any word
    In the English language.
    Apart, enjoyed this middling
    Say, 2.5*, verbal romp.
    Thanks setter and CS.

33. After the superb opening across clue this challenge faltered because of some awkward solutions, but there was still lots to like. Thank you compiler and CS

34. Some have described the puzzle as bland but I found it anything but. There were very satisfying penny drop moments when I twigged to the whimsical misdirection in clues like 1a, 8d, 17d, and – yes – even the much maligned 10a. Not to mention the “Really! Can that possibly be a word?” 3d and 16d. Thanks to the setter and crypticsue.

35. A significant dnf for me today. Not on the wavelength at all.

    Solved around a third before deciding to do something else. Can’t say I was enjoying this much either.

36. Enjoyed this puzzle , but got completely stuck on 8d – which I eventually got after dog walk mulling , and 10a which was my last in not helped by a misspelling of 5d. Looked at the hint for 10a and actually knew the answer as have been there so was a bit annoyed at myself. Agree with some of the comments about GK and 10a. Thanks to the setter and CS.

37. A mixed bag for me today, some to like and some definitely not. 3d? Who would ever say that? I’ve only ever seen 23a with an “ing” – I guess it is also a noun, live and learn. 16d another new word. And 10a, enough said. Otherwise, an enjoyable puzzle. Thanks to setter and CS.

38. Completed apart from 10a which I did not know, but I did enjoy the puzzle as there was plenty of misdirection, 8d was my favourite.

    Many thanks to the setter and to CS for the hints

39. Really enjoyed today’s puzzle … and for once without needing help (at last!) – although couldn’t quite work out the relevance of “try perhaps to find” in 5d.
    Many thanks

    1. If you split your solution 4,3 you should see the try and the perhaps. Together they help you find the gossip

       1. Thank you Sue … just got it! The xxxxx “try” 😄😄

    2. Redacted – please read the clear instructions in red at the end of the hints

       1. Sorry … my mistake.

40. Well, it was all right. Yes 10a was more of a GK clue; I liked 3d – admittedly a rather dated word: my uncle, a WW2 colonel, was apt to use it. I think 23a answer (redacted – alternative clue). 1d rather fun, (redacted for the same reason)

41. Enjoyed bits but overall not my favourite puzzle of the week. There’s been some defence on 10a but I’m in the ‘it’s a stinker’ camp. Some high spots of utter mystification lifting with just a single crossing letter being entered so not all bad!

42. A lot to like in this puzzle, but I have to say that I really don’t like 10a.
    Definitely needed crypticsue’s hint for that one.

    Thanks to the setter and to crypticsue.

43. 3d. my steam railway enthusiast son tells me it is the correct term for a wagon coupling

    1. This interesting fact is definitely an ‘alternative clue’ , but as I’m not sure how many steam railway enthusiasts solve the DT cryptic, I’ll leave it, not least because I had enough of redacting yesterday evening

    2. Tighter than a three-link but just as easy to knock off with a pole, unlike the screw-type. (Non-cognoscenti of railway jargon please move on; after a brake test, of course!)

44. Halo Iain, ciamar a tha thu?
    That’s about as good as my Gaelic gets, apart from knowing a few hill names. I have an Irish speaking friend who taught me a few words and I believe Irish and Scots Gaelic are similar?

    1. This should have been a reply to SJB at comments 25….sorry!

    2. My Gaelic is about the same – a few hill names and whisky’s apart

45. Redacted because you are giving away part of a solution in a prize puzzle

    1. Welcome to the blog. Comments from people new to the blog always go into moderation so there is no need to repeat your comment, it is just that sometimes we are busy doing something non crossword related so it may take a short time for one of us to deal with the comment

       Please read the instructions in red at the end of the hints

Comments are closed.