Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30689(Hints)
The Saturday Crossword Club (hosted by crypticsue)
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A grey Saturday morning (although the sun is starting to break through) brings a friendly pangram with quite a few anagrams and lurkers to look for in the clues, so were I to wager 50p, I know which person I’d bet on as being the setter
I have quite a lot to do today – two more crossword blogs to draft, the drought-suffering garden to water, not to mention watching the Olympics so I’d be grateful if people could take note of the Red Instructions, at the bottom of the hints, particularly the bit about mentioning incorrect answers,
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 Initially, just under 1,000 pence in vault (4)
The initial letters of four words in the clue, although for the third one you’ll need to know the Roman numeral for 1,000
3a Check gold, Macron’s said (5)
The chemical symbol for gold and the French (as used by President Macron) word for said
9a Man entertains student and physicist (6)
A nebulous man ‘entertains’ the abbreviation for student to produce a physicist known for his temperature scale
10a Declare something even with lines left to be penned by Civil Service (3,5)
An abbreviated railway (lines) and a synonym for left ‘penned’ by the abbreviation for Civil Service
15a Do an outstanding job? (6)
A cryptic definition of a way of ornamenting something with raised (outstanding) work
24a Singer and pianist in the Spanish fashion (5)
The Spanish definite article and a synonym for fashion that I would wager that at least two or three people will once again say they’ve never heard of it!
25a Begrudge messenger dropping round (4)
Remove the ‘round’ letter from a messenger, especially one sent to transact business with a foreign government
Down
1d Dive with sailor on cutter (9)
A sailor and something that cuts
3d A range of English peaks – or ones abroad? (9)
A (from the clue) and a range of English peaks
5d Rather like a nail perhaps, lacking in taste (5)
This could be an adjective referring to being like a small sharp nail with a broad head. I quite like this type of clue but I’m sure there will be muttering from those who don’t
6d Gave up animal during split (9)
The animal is that cat that appears more in crosswords than in real life inserted into a verb meaning to split
7d Attire that’s worn by bishop? (7)
An anagram (worn) of ATTIRE that goes under (is worn by) the chess abbreviation for Bishop
16d Country dance centre (7)
Something found at the centre of a particular type of country dance
20d Bones, unreal possibly, not right (5)
An anagram (possibly) of UNrEAL without the abbreviation for Right
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The Quick Crossword pun: PRY + MINI + STIR = PRIME MINISTER
Another entertaining crossword. The fact that it was a pangram helped me get 10a which was.my LOI and today’s favourite.
Another sunny day here in NE Scotland.
Thanks to the setter and crypticsue.
Ditto with 10a
Hello Manders. Quick question, on July 15 you posted a lovely picture of hollyhocks outside what appears to be a village hall. I am now attempting a watercolor of that as I thought it was so pretty. Do you know where this picture was taken?
Hi,
Not sure if Manders will see your query but it is Cley Village Hall in North Norfolk.
Hi BL, it was taken outside Cley Village Hall in Norfolk. They are even taller now and I’ll try and take another pic tomorrow.
Thank you, to you and Madflower. It’s been fun to work on so far.
I thought your windmill looked familiar! We have holidayed in Cley quite a few times!
Lovely to welcome you to my gorgeous county!
What is a pangram please?
Welcome to the blog, Vaughan.
That’s explained in item #30 in the site FAQ.
Welcome to the blog
A pangram is a sentence, or in this case, a crossword containing all the letters of the alphabet
It is a Frequently Asked Question so you will learn more here: https://bigdave44.com/faq/#30
A nice guzzle. The NW went in quie easily butthere were a few head-scratchers in there which held me up. Favourites were the 16d clue with a cryptic twist (my last in), 1d, a clever lego clue and the geographical clue at 3d . Thanks to CS For the hints and to the compiler
I struggled a bit with this but got there in the end. I had not heard of the ox at 23a but it could be nothing else. 10a took time to sort out but, once I had, it was a clever clue. Of course, I did not notice the pangram but I do so rarely. My COTD is the country dance centre at 16d.
My thanks to the setter for the challenge. Thank you, CS for your hard work on the hints.
2*/3*. I’ve never heard of 10a which was my last one in, but knowing that a pangram was likely helped me out with this one, which I was then able to confirm in my BRB.
I hesitated to write in the answer 6a until I got some checking letters as it looks like a straight definition to me.
16d was my favourite.
Many thanks to the setter and to CS.
Same here with 6a, RD.
7d surely? And if so I’m with you there.
Big Eck, I think 7d is fine. It’s an “all-in-one” or “&lit” clue, where the whole clue is both definition and wordplay.
There is no wordplay involved in 6a. It’s meant to be a cryptic definition, i.e. where the real meaning is disguised by leading the solver down the wrong path. This one doesn’t work for me because the definition is totally transparent.
I’m another who didn’t know the 10a phrase, only familiar with a somewhat different 3-word phrase, and I wasn’t enamoured of 22a as a 3-word phrase. A few that I did enjoy elsewhere – my ticks went to 3a plus 5&16d.
Thanks to our setter and to CS for the hints – I’d send you some of our rain if I could!
Naturally I missed the pangram so my last one in was 10a. Otherwise this was fairly straightforward apart from the ox, which had to be what it was, and the Spanish fashion (correct Sue – never heard of it). My favourite was 15a.
Thanks to our setter and Sue.
I agree with you on the missed pangram, the last one in, the previously unknown fox and the Spanish fashion which Sue correctly predicted some (me in this case) would not know…
Wasn’t familiar with the 10a idiom & the penny might have dropped sooner had I pegged the pangram. Our reviewer’s considered punt re the fashionable synonym at 24a a wise investment – if I’ve ever encountered it before it’s long forgotten despite having watched the first series of Bridgerton so Mr G was called upon for enlightenment. Think I’d probably have pluralised the bone with a consonant too so learnt something there also.
Thanks to the setter (Cephas maybe) & to Sue
I took pluralised the bone making a mess of the Spanish fashion, got it sorted eventually and enjoyed the journey
Thanks to Cephas and Sue
Oh dear, somewhat out of my league! And I will be amongst the many who have never heard of the part 24a but it is in the BRB. Also new to me is 19a, 23a is just plain weird and the least said about 10a the better. I also thought 7d was a make of pistol.
Def not my fav Saturday.
*****/*
Thx for the hints
It was James Bond’s pistol in the early books,or a close variant spelling wise but he was eventually told by Q that it was a woman’s gun and he was told to use the Walther PPK
The naughty step for both of you… for blatantly ignoring ESU’s guidance: ”…particularly the bit about mentioning incorrect answers”.
We will leave one slice of banana cake for you two to fight over – bit you have to pronounce it in the American fashion !
Mr & Mrs T
Boston
Oops, better let Brian have it
Mama Bee and I just finishing coffee and a Banana and Chocolate loaf in Malton this afternoon
I love Malton! We spent four months in and around Malton in 2016, because it was where my (late) friend was brought up during the war. What has become of the restaurant called The Yard, opposite the church by the car park? We spent a great deal of time there and got to know the staff well! Someday I will return!
Malton is a bit of a foodie mecca these days, The Yard was at no 11 MarketPlace but the homeware store has taken over the building called Nine to Eleven but there are tons of great options in and around The Talbot Yard food court and around the Market Place. They have a Farmers Market most months and always a lot to buy
https://www.alexyoxall.com/the-yard-malton/ this is an old site but still loads of great places to eat and drink in Malton
Thank you very much, SJB! Some things to think about, definitely!
Haven’t seen you for a while! I’ve been hoping that Debby hasn’t reached you and will die out before.
Most of my holdups were in the SE where tip-off for 21a was needed. IMHO 9a and 13d are rather broad and unimaginative. Sue underestimated in expecting two or three people not to have heard of 24a fashion and I add my name to that increasing list. Bunged in 10a without unravelling the clue detail. 3a was my Fav whilst accepting it is not entirely English. Thank you Mysteryone and CS.
I have to agree with Huntsman, this is presumably Cephas as he’s the only setter (that I can think of ) who seems to favour these rather odd double unches. I can only imagine his grid forced 23a on him but at least he made sure it was painless. 25a was fun, 18d too, and 16d grew on me. 7d, despite reading like a v easy quick, was clever, to be fair. Thanks to our setter and CS.
A curate’s egg for me in which I completely missed the pangram and the double unches. I have to agree with Huntsman and ALP that this is probably a now infrequent Cephas production – 2.5*/3.5*
Candidates for favourite – 3a, 8a, 11a, and 6d – and the winner is 11a.
Thanks to Cephas, or whomsoever if it is not he, and thanks to CS.
With regard to ‘fashion’ in 24a, today is not the first time that it has appeared; a very convenient little word that is an oldie but goodie.
In my youth I read many of the works of Georgette Heyer. She was prone to writing about ‘high xxx’ in her regency romance stories. Otherwise I would never have known this word!
Welcome to the blog
Please read the instructions in red at the bottom of the hints, particularly the bit about including solutions, or parts of solutions, in comments on a Prize Puzzle
Guilty on your first visit, congrats. If you hurry there may be some banana bread on the naughty step.
I remembered the “fashion”, as the comment above me says if you read Georgette Heyer, you will know it!
Steadily flogged my way through this but it was not a favourite, with several obscure words that I needed to look up in the BRB. Though as an ex-engineer, I did appreciate the GK quotient including a scientist for once. COTD 16d. Thanks to setter and CS
Another Saturday puzzle not really my cuppa due to awkward clueing on some and parsing issues that I could not fathom out … probably my issue, but just wasn’t as fun as some puzzles. Missed that it was a pangram too.
Several weird words too.
2.5*/3*
Favourites include 1a, 8a, 17a, 2d & 17a — with 8a my winner
Smiles for 17a, 4d & 20d
Thanks to setter & CS
A straightforward pangram with a bit of ‘wey hey!’ GK to finish off what has been a very gentle stroll through Crosswordland. I can’t remember a week where I didn’t give at least 4* rating for difficulty.
Whenever I see 7d (top clue), I always think of Dave Allen. This was a classic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fab89ZlKJ8Y
Even though it’s a very easy clue, I’ve got no problem with 6a. Like many others, 10a was a new one on me.
My podium is 6d, 7d and 17d.
Many thanks to the setter and she of the crypt.
2*/3*
A mixed bag for me. 23a a new one but I did know the fashion. Never heard of 10a before either.
Top picks for me were 16d, 4d and 21a.
Thanks to CrypticSue and the setter.
I recall some months ago much talk about the irritation of having to enter one’s name and email address every time one posts a comment. I also recall further talk of this being fixed.
Not for me it isn’t – what am I doing wrong?
Can anybody help…?
It hasn’t been fixed, Phanciful. If it is fixed the site crashes.
Ah, not just me then…
Strange that it used to work and now they can’t correct it.
If today’s puzzle was solved quickly and Chalicea’s NTSPP is done, can I recommend looking at Elgar’s Toughie yesterday As Gazza said it was as gentle as Elgar gets and a nice theme too
Like many other commentators, 10a was my loi. After which I gave a sigh of relief that it was done. Sorry compiler, I just could not get enthused at this offering. But thank you. Thanks also to CS
All completed but not without a few ‘educated guesses’ for 23a, 24a and 10a. I thoroughly enjoyed the challenge.
Many thanks to the setter and to CS for the hints
Bit of a weird one. Rattled through most of it, but then got held up for ages on the last few. I’m another one that’s not heard of 10a, or that bit in 24a. A few other weird words in there too, obviously purely to aid the pangram (23a I’m looking at you). 21a and 16d my favourites.
A nice Saturday crossword – I enjoyed it and would probably go with others who thought of Cephas.
I also haven’t heard of the 10a phrase.
I have ‘met’ 23a – suspect he could have been in Scrabble many years ago.
As usual I missed the pangram.
I liked 11 and 17a and 1 and 17d. My favourite was 5d by a million miles – my kind of clue that makes me laugh and what else are crosswords for?
With thanks to whoever set today’s crossword and to CS for doing all the hints, as usual.
A fun crossword that didn’t seem too difficult (with one exception!) I agree with others that there did not seem to be anything cryptic about 6A. I struggled to parse 21A even after I had looked it up on another site! Favourite clue had to be 5D, it really made me smile 😊.
Welcome to the blog
Thank you 😊
I was useless yesterday, unlike everyone else, but today I found the puzzle right up my street. I wasn’t familiar with 10a either, and having got the first word I could only think of the US version, which clearly would have been wrong. Only know 7d by the 5 letter name. And yes, I am one who also doesn’t know fashion by that word. But otherwise, really enjoyed this one, and relieved to have done so much better. Thanks to setter and CS.
As an added treat I see we have an NTSPP by Chalicea. Now, if only the DT would assign her as one of our daily Cryptic compilers, I would be thrilled.
Took a while with 10a and 7d, otherwise fairly plain sailing.
Add us to the list of ‘not keen on 10a’ or 19a for that matter the rest was ok. Didn’t spot the pangram until it was too late. Favourite was 16d. Thanks to the setter and CS.
I didn’t find this easy but with ehelp I got there in the end. Realising it was a pangram helped solve my last one 10a, also many thanks to CS for explaining why! I did enjoy this, a lot to like. No problem with the ox, they have them in Jamaica, they do well in the heat. I’m not sure my 21a is correct, probably not, must check the hint if there is one. I liked 1a and 22a, but fave was the ox.
Thank you setter for the fun, and our CrypticSue for her help.
Extremely proud did this one all by my own self as my eldest used to say. Wobbled on the South east corner but I’m confident! Thank you as always crypticsue ☺️
Think 1D was my favourite today … but am annoyed with myself for failing to correct my typo in 3D before hitting submit.
Many thanks Setter and CS.
A late start today so a late finish. I suspected a pangram early on having solved a few in the NW . Mostly a straightforward and enjoyable solve but I got stuck on about 5 clues at the end that slowed things down. I’d not come across 10a before. Neither had I heard of 3d so that was an interesting one. 15a was also a head scratcher. A nice challenge have to say. Thanks setter and CS
A dnf due to some in the SW corner.
16d was the favourite for many but was beyond me. I would hardly use the term dance, maybe skipping or something.
19a was a new term which I was never going to get.
Without a crucial checker, 15a also eluded me.
Thanks to all.
Can someone explain when or if the crossword is a pangram? If I had known that I might have finished 10a sooner.
When letters such as J, Q, X and Y start to appear. That’s when I start thinking there might be a pangram.
A pangram occurs when the setter uses every letter of the alphabet at least once. An indication of a pangram is when the more ‘obscure’ letters, such as Q, K, Z, are used.
Can someone explain when or if the crossword is a pangram? If I had known that I might have finished 10a sooner. I had to scan Roget’s Thesaurus index for suggestions. Probably confused because we wouldnt have used the first three letters.
3a was a genius clue.Easily solved but quite brilliant… in my humble opinion