Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30665 (Hints)
The Saturday Crossword Club (hosted by crypticsue)
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I knew as soon as I’d worked out the Quick Pun who today’s setter had to be, and solving the most enjoyable cryptic crossword made me doubly certain.
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.
Across
1a Implement choice of temperature scales? (4)
A choice of two abbreviated temperature scales
3a Nonchalant during escape, giving little glower? (5,5)
Offhand or nonchalant inserted into (during) in act of escape
21a Article about Salvation Army seen in May? (7)
A definite article, the usual ‘about’ or on the subject of, and the abbreviation for the Salvation Army
23a Hysterical, pour out port in land down under (10)
An anagram (out) of POUR and Crosswordland’s favourite South American port inserted into the abbreviation and IVR Code for a land down under
25a Vitality in appalling gag done about mate with ewe (3-2-3-2)
An anagram (appalling) of GAG DONE goes ‘about’ what a ram does with a ewe
26a Committed student having whiskey in boozer (4)
The letter represented by Whiskey in the NATO Phonetic Alphabet inserted into a habitual drinker (boozer)
Down
1d Swimmer fine as filth bubbles around (8)
The abbreviation for Fine and an anagram (bubbles around) of AS FILTH
2d Jogger getting on with Daley’s bodyguard? (8)
Another ‘on the subject of’ and the job title of Arthur Daley’s bodyguard in the eponymous TV series
7d Good woman accommodating 50 with pleasure (6)
The abbreviation for Good and a woman, the latter accommodating the Roman numeral for 50
16d Awesome feller Bond consulted (8)
A bond or link and a synonym for consulted
17d Not terribly keen about news boss being sharp (2,3,3)
An anagram (terribly) of NOT and keen in the sense of eager, going ‘about’ the usual abbreviated news boss
22d Juvenile, year-old African antelope heading north (5)
The abbreviations for Year and Old and a reversal (heading north in a Down solution) of an African antelope
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!
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The Quick Crossword pun: HEAR + SLEW + KIN + HATCH + EUCLID = HERE’S LOOKING AT YOU KID
A fine guzzle but I did find some of it a bit obscure. For the life of me I cannot parse 16d assuming I have the correct answer of course. I did like the article about the Salvation Army at 21a and the seat supporting wood at 5d. The latter raised a grin. My COTD is the extravagant fellow at 10a.
Thank you, setter for the fun challenge and another shot at The Mythical. Thank you, CS for the hints.
Ok, I now get 16d. Thank you, CS. 👍
Didn’t really like this one while I was doing it (especially the bottom half), but when I finished, I saw how clever it actually was.
A bit of everything today, people, geography, and a good dollop of lateral thinking.
My two favourites of the day were 1a (hands up who initially thought it was misspelt at the end) and the short but clever 24a. Many thanks to our setter today, will wait to see who it is.
I learnt something new when I googled it!
Every day’s a school day!
3*/3*. What a strange puzzle. It felt to me as if the top half (which flew in) was composed by a different setter to the bottom half (which I found a heck of a challenge).
I did enjoy it though despite one or two surfaces being a bit strained, notably 25a.
I couldn’t make any sense out of the Quickie pun. Seeing CS’s decryption explains why. It’s simply dreadful!
Many thanks to the setter and to CS.
I found the Quickie pun ok until I got to 10a then it simply didn’t ring true.
Light and gentle, an enjoyable Saturday morning interlude with no reasons for holdups other than at 23a where it took a few moments to work out what was going on. Not sure why 16d needed ‘awesome’ – struck me as being unnecessary padding.
Thank you to the (still a mystery to me) setter and CS
I found it hard to get a a start wuth this SPP, but, after a break, rhings began ro fall into place as I got on the setter’s wave-length I agree with orhers that it was jolly clever. I particularly liked the lego clue at 10a, the 18a anagram and the cryptic definition at 14a. Thank you to the compiler for a real challenge and to CS for the hints.
A really clever and satisfying though slightly unusual puzzle. Quite a lot of cryptic definitions which I find generally find challenging but providing great PDMs
Really had to battle at the end with 16d and 24a. Good stuff!
Other than a slight holdup in the SW corner, that was relatively easy. The 4 longest ones all went in on the first pass through, which always helps.
Thanks to the setter and CS.
Far too hard for my limited talents. Not the friendliest grid for one this tricky. Unfortunately the hints are only for the easier clues which I suspect is deliberate!
Not for me.
*****/0
I felt the same, didn’t enjoy this one. Some of the references were off the mark and misleading , 16d a good example.
For me and I stress for me (TM Senf) this was much more like a SPP. Some definite head-scratchers, but also enough gimme’s to get you through, so a fair challenge I thought. SE corner took longest, with both 16d and 17d being ‘doh’ moments. Personal COTD was the accursed 14a!
There being a repeat of an old UK TV reference from last week, I am guessing the same setter? Thanks for the challenge – more of the same please! And thanks to CS for the blog.
A tricky and clever Saturday puzzle. Lots of working out scribbles round the grid before I finally got there.
Always forget that the African antelope is an antelope as it is so different from all the others.
No real favourite today – enjoyed them all.
Thanks to the setter and crypticsue.
A slow start and then an enjoyable exercise starting with a clear run in the South. 5d reminded me of my mother’s terminology! 25a bunged in as not aware of word for ewe. Fav 12d. Thank you Mysteryone – I’m not as perceptive as CS to whom thanks for lurking in case of need.
If you look at the hint or in the dictionary you’ll see that it isn’t a ewe
Are you watching the little Italian? Isn’t she a corker?
Yes I was indeed watching but sadly Paolini lost. She is such a smiley person. I’m now onto the men’s doubles including a Brtit, Patten, but they are on the verge of losing too. Do hope Alcaraz can beat Djokovic again tomorrow.
I was so pleased to be wrong – they won after a nail-biting 3-setter.
Paolini is a fighter. We have not seen the last of her.
They’ll all be in the Olympics in a couple of weeks time
Yup! I’ll be rooting for Alcaraz! It’s been such good tennis this year, but then I always say that!
A challenging guzzle with some very clever glueing.
Good luck to all those seeking to win a writing implement. I understand Daisy has a room dedicated entirely to her Telegraph Crossword prizes. Within the room is a display cabinet made from the purest gold, hewn from the very finest alluvial deposits. Therein, under twenty-four hour security, including heavily armed guards, one may view her extensive collection of the most exquisite fountain pens.
On Thursday we had luncheon in Shere, and who should be there but ‘my close showbiz pal’ Kevin McCloud, along with his camera crew. I think they were hoping to take clandestine shots of me enjoying my pint of Diet Coke.
Thanks to the setter and Super Sue
Terence, you have been sneaking round my house again! And you should be more discreet about my solid gold furniture. Actually I was thinking yesterday of sending my, sorry, one of my DT pens to Steve as a souvenir for when I am no longer here to taunt him.
I only do it to annoy!
You’ll miss me when I’m gone. 😊
I have it on good authority (The Fourth Estate), DG that this picture is a fake. 🤣
I am with the Reverend Berkley (1685–1753) in that if it cannot be seen it does not exist, ergo it is a myth. (Pictures don’t count).
Definitely AI, Steve!
Of course it is, Merusa. A picture cannot be taken of a myth. 😁
They managed to capture the mythical Cottingley Fairies
A proven fake. The fairies were modelled on pictures in Princess Mary’s Gift Book and the girls added wings held in place with pins. I suppose it was the fact that Arthur Conan Doyle believed it kept the deception alive.
He also believed in The Piltdown Man.😁
I’m The Piltdown Man!…
or I’m Spartacus!
No. I am Spartacus!
Just about right for a SPP; some deep thought required but not too much. But, who is the setter? I have no idea and the QP Is definitely no help! – 2.5*/3.5*
Candidates for favourite – 14a, 26a, 2d, and 5d – and the winner is 5d.
Thanks to whomsoever and CS.
P.S. I have just seen that the NTSPP is by Prolixic so I am off to prepare the first caffeine of the day!
Cracking guzzle. A brisk solve but with the odd head scratch here & there (slow to twig Arfur despite being a huge fan of the programme – “VAT Dave & put it on slate”). Like MG I thought awesome unnecessary at 16d & reckon the clue would read better without it. Pick for me the rather clever 24a with ticks aplenty elsewhere.
Thanks to the setter (Donny methinks) & to Sue
Try again – my original Comment was removed. Slow start today followed by an enjoyable exercise after a clear run in the South. 25a bunged in as ewe word escaped me. 5a seats reminded me of my mother’s terminology. Fav 12a. Thank you Mysteryone – I’m not as perceptive as CS to whom thanks for lurking in case of need. Didn’t begin to suss Quickie pun so thanks again to CS.
Your original comment is still there @12
Thanks. Slightly confused but anyway I had discovered that it is in fact a ram or what a ram does to a ewe.
For reasons that I daren’t mention on a prize puzzle day, it was 7d that gave me the most grief today so that deserves a place on the leader board where it’s joined by the amusing 2d and the 5d seats.
Thanks to our setter – the New Yorker, I presume, and also to CS for the hints.
Very pleased to have managed this unaided apart albeit with a lot of head scratching for the south east corner. I will have 16d which was last in as my favourite once I twigged what was going on. A rather nice mix of clues which suited me.
Many thanks to the setter and to CS for the hints.
Like Sue I have no doubt as to who this is. The quick pun is tortuous but delightful: I wonder how many ‘Greek geometricians’ have made it into the quick pun annals?
The SPP itself seems to be a notch higher in difficulty (NYDK is usually towards the easy end of the spectrum, as other commenters have noted too in recent times), but the wit is there in abundance. There are several that tickle my fancy, such as 1A, which I found very neat, and 7D had a certain naughtiness about it, but the ‘mate with ewe’ element in the overall context of 25A had me falling about. Therefore the laurels go to 25A.
Many thanks setter, and Sue for the hints.
After a slow start, I managed to get on the setters wavelength and get all the Lego pieces in place.
14A brought back unhappy memories! Favourites were 18A and 12D.
**/*** Thanks to the setter and CS for the hints.
Certainly SPP worthy, but I must admit I didn’t really enjoy it – my fault probably, as last week I was complaining that Saturdays were getting too easy!!
Found this puzzle today a bit of a let down for a Saturday. Not my cuppa, parsing awkward and clues IMHO not the best.
Maybe it is just me today.
2.5*/1.5*
No real favourites that stood out. 1a, 15a & 2d were ok
Thanks to setter and CS for hints/blog
A great puzzle which was satisfying to finish. LOI was 16d.
Top picks for me were 1a, 3a, 14a, 25a, 5d and 16d.
Thanks to CrypticSue and the setter.
I’m out of practice having been in a crossword-free zone since Wednesday either driving or watching the test match at Lord’s, so I was a little slow off the mark with this one. 1a went in straight away and remained my favourite for the simplicity and brevity of the clue.
Many thanks to our setter and Sue.
First class. A good mixture of clues – 22a made me smile as a very, very old friend is coming this afternoon for the weekend and I dare say I shall be getting a bit of that from her! She was my companion when I was left exploring Paris whilst George and her partner were working. I think I shall go for 25a as my favourite but I enjoyed them all. Many thanks to setter and Ceesue.
3/3. A lot of reverse engineering required but got there in the end. My favourite was 10a. Thanks to the setter and CS.
At last, and wotta treat!! I loved it all, even though I couldn’t parse a couple, but CS did that for me. I did need help from word search for 23a, but just one bit of help, not bad! So much to like, but three did stand out for me, 3a, 24a and 25a.
Thank you setter for the fun, I’m still a tiny brain but still chugging along, and, of course, CS for her help understanding a couple, such as the obscure Daley’s bodyguard! I hope everyone enjoyed this, I’ll now read the comments and find out.
One or two clues held me up for ages and, when the answers dawned, or in one case when I read CS’S hint, I felt a right chump. That said I really enjoyed the challenge. I’m going for 3a as my cotd. Thanks to compiler and CS.
We made pretty heavy weather of this with good reason as a number of clues had us scratching our heads for ages. Favourite was 1a. Thanks to the setter and CS.
Made steady progress through this one. There was only really 1a and 12d that I needed a dictionary to confirm my guesses. In my case I got the lower half first and it was the top right corner that held me up for longest
Loved today’s puzzle. 14A and 16D clear faves, with 12D in bronze position.
After a disturbed night I could barely get a foothold on this, never mind keep my eyes open. Happily set aside for a nap, and brain decided to cooperate over lunch. Still don’t understand 6d, but enjoyed most of the puzzle which wasn’t as tough as it first seemed. Thanks to setter and CS.
6d Surprisingly, you seem to have missed that “surprisingly” is an anagram indicator.
Not surprisingly at all, as I was operating on minimal sleep and actually a wonder that I could solve anything. All improved after a nap.
14a. COTD. Very clever
Welcome to the blog, Laura.
Welcome from me as well, Laura. I hope we hear from you again.
Favourite clue this week was 14a. Ingenious
This was too difficult for me and made me grumpy 😞, which is a shame as I gained so much confidence Monday to Thursday.
Update on my previous post…..after some help from the hints, actually got going with it and found it quite enjoyable. Much less grumpy now 😊
Have been on holiday in the Moselle valley and have given the local wine a lot of consideration. Getting back to a crossword felt a challenge. Has the wine addled the last of the grey cells ? The wine was delicious and the guzzle was still doable even after all the guzzling in Germany. Favourite was 14 a. Most enjoyable guzzle and will submit it with hope.
Good puzzle.
4*/4* ….
liked 14A “Points given for ignoring this flashy installation? (5,6)”
amongst several others.