DT 30653 (Hints)

79 comments on “DT 30653 (Hints)”

1. Absolute genius, best puzzle in months.

   This one had a bit of everything, general knowledge, anagrams, double meanings, the lot. Even a couple of Americanisms which I know some people hate, but some I really don’t mind at all, ‘making out’ a couple of days ago being one exception to that!

   So many brilliantly entertaining clues that it’s hard to pick just two, but for me it has to be 22a and 16d.

   Hope someone says who the setter is as he deserves to take a bow.

2. Lovely Saturday fare leading to a satisfying solve and a stab at The Mythical. I didn’t know the goddess but the answer could be nothing else. The Devil doing good in 4d raised a smile when the penny dropped as did the Queen Mother in the dark at 20d. However, my COTD is the Spring insect at 23d.

   My thanks to the setter (Mr. P?) for the fun and to CS for the hints.

3. Fooled by the first run through into thinking this would be a walk in the park but thenthere were enough, as they say here in N Ire., ‘melters’ to stretch it out. Faves were 17 a and 2 d.

4. 2*/2.5*. A curate’s egg for me today with some good clues and a few hmms.

   I don’t think the definition is accurate in 17a even taking the ? into consideration, and the less said about the frightful “batter” the better.

   24d is a very vulgar American acronym which has no place in a British crossword.

   15a, 22a/5d, 28a, 4d & 23d were my top picks.

   Thanks to the setter and to CS.

   1. Not that it justifies it, I suspect that, as 24d is an acronym that has become a word, there are many who do not know the vulgarity of where the word ‘came from.’

      1. I’ve sort of changed my mind on this as it originally related to “fouled”, allegedly. Still a daft word, mind.

         1. Not when I first heard it 54 years ago!

            1. Well, quite! I certainly can’t imagine anyone in the military ever saying “fouled”, especially not in the heat of battle Just like no one (as far as I know) ever says Fanny Adams!

      2. .. I was thinking that the acronym was rather risqué for the back page of the Telegraph. However never having heard it before it did bring a smile!

      3. I didn’t for a start … just googled! Yes, vulgar but I think it has passed into everyday English now without the original connotation.

   2. Agreed about 24d. I first heard it in the army over 30 years ago. I think it has passed in to obscurity again though. I hadn’t heard it for 20 years until it came up in a back pager recently.

      It would guess fouled was invented for the f to save the blushes of inquisitive sensitive types who asked someone what it stood for.

5. Lovely puzzle to kick off a sunny Saturday morning, hard to pick a favourite.
   I think I have 27a correct but my BRB has two spellings, both of which would fit? Have I missed something?
   Thanks to CS and the setter.

   1. I went for the 27a with three vowels – a little unfair with which letters are or are not checked.

      1. I went for three vowels as well.

         1. me too – didn’t know there was an alternative

   2. I was two vowel option without hesitation. It is a little naughty that the variable is unchecked.

   3. Rufus used the clue about a decade ago in The Guardian, with the same crossing letters. The paper’s website shows the 3-vowel variant as the ‘correct’ spelling that time — though nobody on the Fifteensquared blog entry for the puzzle mentions the ambiguity.

6. I’d certainly agree with our reviewer that this one was on the friendly side & very enjoyable too. Only a brief parsing head scratch at 2d (the chop synonym) & a slowish penny drop for last in 20d caused me to just miss out on a rare sub *time completion.
   Thanks to the setter & to ever busy Sue.

7. Well, I enjoyed this in fits and starts around the anticipation of the start of the Tour de France. I had most problems in the SW, resolved when the erroneous insect was corrected, but 27a still puzzles me as an unchecked letter has an alternative at least in Chambers. I have heard that the Telegraph is considering changing the recommendation of Chambers as the print edition is getting a bit out of date. That Collins doesn’t include the variant spelling that perturbs me is leading me to a conclusion

   Thanks to CS and setter

   1. I only know one spelling but if there are two are not both versions correct?

      1. Chambers has a variant spelling, Collins doesn’t. But I wonder if the automated checking of submissions at Telegraph Towers would pick up both solutions as correct or mark one wrong

8. I’m in agreement with Tipcat and Steve on this one.

   11, 22/5, 23 & 26 across, and 1, 2, 16 & 18 down were spectacularly good for me today, but nary a duff ‘un among them all. I think I’ll go with 16D for the laurels as it’s such a great lateral thought, though Hank was particularly amusing.

   On 27A (per GJR) I would imagine the editors will allow either spelling, as the clue is presented sans wordplay. I’m venturing to suggest that one of the alternatives is dominant, as a search in a certain place for clues for the other was fruitless.

   Thank you setter for a super solve, and Sue (have a great day) for your hints.

   1. I would bet that the “bot” that decides if your submission is correct only has one of the alternatives and if you have picked the wrong one you won’t get in the draw for the Mythical. I agree that the dominant spelling is probably the way to go and provides further confirmation that the BRB is getting a bit out of date (2014 in my book)

9. Splendid Saturday fare.

   So much to like with all the goodies on display, including an answer split across two clues that are nowhere near each other.

   I love the acronym in 24d which is new to me though it does need a Yankee indicator as I’ve never heard it used in dese parts.

   I’ve made my peace with ‘batter’ though I refuse to use it. I fear some of the solvers will never get over it.

   Lots of great surfaces makes it tough to choose a podium but I’ll go with the Queen Mother eating duck with the devil.

   Many thanks to the fabulous setter and the even more fabulous Sue.

   2*/4*

   Oh, I know it’s old news but am I missing something with the ‘making out’ comments? Is it American as I’ve heard and used it since the 70s?

10. It’s a shame that a couple of the clues let down what was otherwise an excellent Saturday puzzle. RD has already highlighted the dodgy ones so I won’t regurgitate the guilty parties. Happily, the good certainly outshone the bad with 20d my favourite.

    Thanks to our setter and Sue.

11. I agree friendlier than most Saturdays but tricky in parts. The goddess was new to me and both 1d and 24d are both rather grubby Americanisms.
    Best clue for me by a country mile was 22a/5a. Saw them many times, bought Hank like glasses and tried unsuccessfully to play his riffs. Great band esp in their original lineup with Jet.
    Thx to all
    ***/****

    1. I am feeling a bit Jet Harris, I could do with a Reg Varney…

       1. I get Reg Varney, SJB but Jet Harris?

          1. Jet Harris played with Hank Marvin – so it is double rhyming slang
             I am Jet Harris/Hank Marvin/Starvin’ I could do with a Reg Varney/Sarnie

12. Looks as though I may be the only one who didn’t know the 8d band member but at least I knew the 21d goddess and where Hank was hidden! A few ‘hmms’ to be found in this one but also some delights – ticks here went to 22/5 & 28a plus 4,16&23d.

    Thanks to our setter – that piece of American door furniture is my guess, and also to CS for the hints – hope your Summer Fair is a roaring success.

13. As others have said, this looked to be super-gentle, until it wasn’t. There was just enough bite to make it interesting. Very enjoyable, in fact. 16d was fun. Interesting that Chambers doesn’t specifically deem it an Americanism (not that they bother me) because it surely is. But I must agree with RD re 24d. I was equally surprised to see this crop up on Wordle not so long ago. When you consider what it actually stands for, it’s a bit much. Thanks to the setter (who on earth was this?) and CS.

14. Enjoyed this one a great deal, with the only hiccup caused by confusing Lee and Hank Marvin. Trying to link The Dirty Dozen or Paint Your Wagon to the clue left me scratching my head for far too long.

    1d and 23a get joint honours today. 2.5*/4.5*

15. A fast start which degenerated into a slow finish with a raised eyebrow and a Hmm for 24d along the way which spoiled the enjoyment; RD’s comment seconded. 2.5*/3*

    I suspect that the ‘double’ 22a/5a indicates that this is a NYDK production.

    Candidates for favourite – the aforementioned 22a/5a, 25a, 27a, 14d, and 18d – and the winner is 18d.

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

16. Most annoyingly I had finished this before the hints appeared and sitting in waiting rooms between examinations i realised I had missed out on the glow of being first to comment. Never mind, it filled my nearly 4 hours of prodding and poking very well and was a first class guzzle. Had to google 24 d and agree it is nasty and was glad to see I was hip enough to know who Hank was. I cannot make up my mind between 23a or 21d for favourite. Sorry, Kath. On the way home I got George to stop at the farm shop for some eggs – they are selling “banana’s”. Thought some of you would like that. Now what do we do during lunch? Talk to each other ?! Many thanks to the nice setter and the lovely Sue. Church fete in our sister village this afternoon but I am bushed.

    1. Love banana’s!

17. I got off to a cracking start and thought I was in for a record finish but I got held up in the south west and 27A put up stiff resistance before the penny dropped.

    My favourite was 1D and although the word has been appropriated by our friends across the pond for smutty purposes, it’s use here is perfectly acceptable Brian.

    I hate the word ‘batter’ and I wish setters would forget the political correctness.

    Thanks to whoever set the puzzle and to Sue for the hints.

    1. Hi Donks

       The setters use batter as it has another meaning.

    2. {REDACTED}

       1. Can someone please redact the places where Brian has blatantly ignored the red instructions

       2. Agreed, Brian.

          I suppose having ‘best’ with the question mark makes it okay.

          [REDACTED}

          David Turner and Trevor Jesty had to follow them. Poor fellas.

          Throw in Andy Roberts, a sunny Sunday afternoon with cucumber sandwiches washed down with something fizzy and , John Arlott’s commentary and you’ve got yourself a quintessential English summers day, right there.

          Halcyon days, ladies and gentlemen. Halcyon days.

          1. Apologies, one and all.

    3. I must lead a very sheltered life. First I learn that 24d had a tasteless beginning, now I’m told that 1d has a “smutty” meaning here! If so, I’ve never heard it!

       1. I’m in the same boat, re 1d. Smutty? And we’re both over here.

       2. It’s even mentioned in my BRB (US Vulgar) although I don’t really understand why one word for a part of the human anatomy is vulgar when another isn’t.

18. Very enjoyable but very straightforward, I remember the time when the Saturday puzzle was tricky enough to be worthy of a competition and if I was lucky enough to finish it then it was well worth submitting an entry as I felt I had achieved something I didn’t often manage. But, having said that this was still an excellent puzzle
    Thanks to all

19. A harder than normal Saturday puzzle this week. Lots to like and some not to like IMHO

    2.5*/3*

    Favourites include 10a, 19a, 22/5a, 1d & 18d — with winner22/5a by a country mile.
    Smiles with 1a, 28a, 16d & 24d

    Thanks to setter & CS

20. I would have completed this earlier if I had properly parsed 17a rather than bunging in what I thought was the answer. Consequently the SW was similar to 24d. My podium comprises the pop music 22/5a, 26a and in top spot 28a. Thanks to compiler and CS.

21. V straightforward.

22. Who ‘on earth’ set this? Me :D

    Thanks Sue, and thanks for all the comments.

    NYDK

    1. And huzzah for that. A fine puzzle, ta lots. I’ll eventually clock you as the setter … one of these days!

    2. ‘Who on Earth?’ did make me laugh.

       I applaud you, your fellow setters and Mr Lancaster for being, to quote some of the solvers, risqué as we need to drag this paper into the 21st century.

       More power to you and the gang.

       Great crossy, btw. 👏👏

    3. Thank you, NYDK for a terrific puzzle.

    4. Hi, NYDK. I was hoping this’d be one of yours, from the comments above. Now that I know it is, I’ll make time to fit in solving it!

    5. Thanks for a great guzzle NYDK, I would be interested to hear if you have any input on the Collins/Chambers debate for cruciverbalists dictionary of choice for 27a

    6. Thanks for popping in & confirming ownership. I’d have readily offered Senf a cash out on his bet.

23. A nice Saturday puzzle. I too was surprised at the inclusion of 24d.
    Top picks for me were 27a, 22a, 18d and 4d.
    Thanks to CrypticSue and the setter.

24. Excellent Saturday crossword, with 11A and 23A my favourites.
    I was surprised when my wife said she’d never heard of 24D – clearly she’d spent her career in more refined, or maybe better organised, workplaces than I had, where barely a day passed without the term crossing someone’s lips.

    1. I’ve never heard of it either!

       1. Nor me!

25. What a lovely guzzle today, something for everyone. It is a glorious day here and the village is packed with people for the Open Gardens. 3 of us must have sold 300 – 400 tickets between 11.30 and 1.00 and the next shift I gather did just as well. All proceeds to the Wheelyboat Fund which is a specially adapted boat to take wheelchair users out to Blakeney Point and the surrounds. Thanks to NYD and CS. Ooh, I’ve just looked up 24d, well I never!

    1. Well done. Good results for your hard work. I was too cream/ crackered to go to Meldreth Church Fete but they are bound to have done well. Lovely day but not too hot for them. I didn’t know the rude words either, I am pleased to say!

    2. Fantastic work, Manders — and what a delightful cause.

26. I would also like to add my agreement to RD’s comments @4. We found this enjoyable in parts, the parts we liked we really liked and the parts we didn’t we really didn’t. Hadn’t heard of 8d before. Favourite was 18d. Thanks to Donnybrook and CS.

27. A very enjoyable Saturday exercise, so much good stuff. Of course, I had to google Hank Marvin, I’ve never heard of him, but I congratulate myself for remembering 26a, how, I don’t know. I also know nothing about Beckham, apart from the fact that he lives in S. Florida! I bunged in 16d as word search solved it for me and they offered no alternatives. No screams about it being an Americanism? I liked three in particular, 15a, 4d and 20d; toss a coin for fave.
    Thank you NYDK for the fun, and CS for your hints and tips, especially on such a busy day.

    1. I always thought of him as the dishy one in glasses 😊

28. Wow. Success with a proximal yesterday and now a NYDK finished as well. Perhaps I have grown some new brain cells? Thoroughly enjoyed from start to finish, with the COTD going to 22a/5a for nostalgia, closely followed by 18d for LOL. I got 7d and 15a from the checkers though. Thanks to NYDK and CS. Hope the Summer Fair was a success.

29. Perfect undemanding fun enabling me to watch Eastbourne Tennis (ladies good but men not inspiring) whilst solving. Had heard of name Hank Marvin but forgot his 5a association and I certainly wasn’t aware of Beckham’s 16d. Not usually keen on that which 11a is but reckon it’s a Fav paired with the simple 18d. Thank you NYDK and CS (hope the Grand Draw made a lot of money).

30. Oh dear – I have to admit I’m one of CS’s who disagrees with her – sorry Sue but I find this pretty tricky – good fun but definitely tricky!!
    I still have a couple of gaps to fill in but can’t do them – try a bit later, or not, maybe . . .
    I liked particularly 11 and 12a and 4 and 20d. My favourite was 1d.
    With thanks to NYDK for the tricky crossword and thanks to CS for the hints that I can’t do!

31. Back from a long, very hot and tiring afternoon. We sold lots of draw tickets and supplies of ice cream, strawberries, burgers and hotdogs ran out quite early so I would imagine the church and school will be very happy with the profits.

    I left while the sheaf tossing contest was just starting and am so tired that solving and blogging the Chalicea NTSPP will have to wait until tomorrow

    1. Quite right too – hope that your better half has made supper and opened some wine!

       1. Mr Sainsbury kindly made supper and a glass of cold cider went down well

    2. Another one with a good day’s work behind them. What would if we didn’t have willing volunteers to do things? Here in our village there do not seem to be the younger folk queuing up to take over.

32. Mostly straightforward, until a hold up with 15a and 16d to finish it off. Very enjoyable overall though. Favourites were 20d and 16d.

    Add me to the list of people who think the definition of 17a is rather ropey.

33. Great puzzle. Just one issue with 16d, the answer was not unexpected, quite the opposite.

34. A busy day so I have only just got round to a second look at this. Some of it was very straightforward and some wasn’t. Lots of fun clues and a couple I did not know but the word play was helpful in getting the answer which I then confirmed with google. I liked the mix of general knowledge, especially the music related ones.

    Many thanks to NYDK and to CS for the hints.

35. Enjoyed this despite it being a dnf.

    8d was new to me. I’m guessing you have to move in certain circles to know it.

    Part of 15a was also a bit of general knowledge I didn’t possess.

    I got much further than many of the recent Saturday solves though, so still a result.

    Thanks to all.

36. Thanks, NYDK — that was indeed as fun as everybody else had suggested, while still being relatively straightforward. 14d (“Hacks”) was my favourite.

37. Late to the party again. I liked this and needed no help but checked with CS to make sure 15a was correct. I finally got 16d last one in once I knew all my checkers were correct. Not sure about the fuss re 24d. Never heard of the word so don’t know what it originally stood for. I simply put united supporters up and checked if it was a word. I did not know there were two spellings of 27a but surely both are correct. My favourites may be controversial. 17 22 27 and 28a and 6 and 23d

38. COTD has to be 22/5a

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