Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30719(Hints)
The Saturday Crossword Club (hosted by crypticsue)
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A very chilly start to what promises to be a lovely sunny day brings another chance to play guess who set this Saturday Prize Puzzle
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 So become unhinged? (4,1,5,5)
This expression meaning to be unhinged mentally could also explain why a hinge might not stay fixed
11a Not Little Rock? You’re in Colorado here! (7)
A type of large (not little) rock gives its name to a city in Colorado
12a Sign reversed by top mathematician (6)
A reversed sign followed by a top
24a/27d A&E man saves poorly violinist (7-3)
An anagram (poorly) of A E MAN SAVES
26a Persuasive people mass in Yemeni port (5)
The abbreviation for Mass inserted into a port in Yemen
28a Disastrous events: anger fades after time (9)
Some anger and a synonym for fades go after the abbreviation for Time
29a Ann working with dad sells this archipelago (8,7)
An anagram (working) of ANN with DAD SELLS THIS
Down
1d Potato side in mess supplied with roasts (4,6)
A mess and roasts or cooks until a particular colour
4d Bird on elevated moor in virtual space (4,4)
A type of bird and a reversal (elevated) of MOOR
7d Loud cry from Cockney winger (3)
A loud cry without the letter that Cockney’s usually omit when saying certain words
17d Dish last on menu in Slovakia almost cooked (8)
An anagram (cooked) of the last letter of menU and almost all of SLOVAKI (8)
21d Extraordinary gesture (6)
An adjective meaning remarkable or extraordinary which when used as a noun means a gesture
22d/9a Is it 27 on magnificent horse in Somerset town? (6-5-4)
The surname of the old American actress whose forename appears in 27d and ON (from the clue) followed by a synonym for magnificent and a female horse
25d Low voice not pure on the radio (4)
A homophone (on the radio) of not pure, vile or worthless
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!
Please read these instructions carefully – they are not subject to debate or discussion. Offending comments may be redacted or, in extreme cases, deleted. In all cases the administrator’s decision is final.
If you don’t understand, or don’t wish to comply with, the conventions for commenting on weekend prize puzzles then save yourself (and me) a lot of trouble and don’t leave a comment.
The Quick Crossword pun: FERN + HITCHER = FURNITURE
Well, I finished today’s guzzle but I can’t honestly say I enjoyed it. I found some of the parsing obscure and I had too many bung ins, which are never satisfactory. I’m not a hundred percent sure I have all answers correct but I’ve sent it in anyway. No favourites today – just pleased to finish.
I’m sure others will love it.
Many thanks to the setter for the brain mangling. Thank you, CS for the hints.
I thought this might be a challenge at first, but the linked clues were linked and went in very quickly. Overall a rather benign SPP. Had not heard of 17d but the clue made it easy to deduce. I liked 5d and 28a which gets my COTD award.
Thanks to setter and Sue.
I got 17d because of the nationality of my son-in-law. 😊
Well I enjoyed it and it had just the right level of trickiness for me.
Favourites were 11a and 13d.
I hang my head in shame that 29a was my last one in after trying archipelago(e)s all over the world.
Now that I have finished I have no excuse for not going out to start tidying the garden. ☹
Thanks to setter and crypticsue
I found this a lot of fun. Last in was 1a which took me a while to get. So that is my cotd.
1*/2*. Nothing much to say about this relatively straightforward puzzle except to register (again) my loathing of the use of 8d as a noun.
Thanks to the setter and to the indefatigable CS.
8d is a verb, not a noun.
Many thanks, Gazza. That has brought my blood pressure down! I hadn’t noticed that the definition was two words rather than one.
😁
I love going for big eats (does that mention get me the naughty step?) after a few in the pub. Language evolves .. although not always for the better!
Didn’t enjoy today’s puzzle it was a bit of a chore with too many GK type clues.
I thoroughly enjoyed this puzzle although it was quite challenging for me on places. Hadn’t heard of 21d used that way and it took ages for the penny to drop on the parsing of 22d/9a combo.
Top picks for me were 22d/9a, 12d and 28a.
Thanks to CrypticSue and the setter.
I’ve picked up some great reading recommendations on here so am going to add one to the mix – The Fellowship of Puzzle Makers by Samuel Burr. Having not met any of you, I did associate some of the characters to commenters on here but it would be telling as to who I thought could be who 😃 There is even a Pip in the story although I had her character down as someone else entirely!
Thanks for the recommendation, Madflower, Mr Amazon has been duly instructed. It will be interesting to see whether I can also pick out characters from the blog!
Thanks Madflower. I am in the queue for one of the four copies in the Winnipeg Library.
A smile at the ‘allocated’ genre of ‘cryptologic fiction.’
Many thanks for that, I too have instructed Mr Bezos to send a copy – maybe you could come to the Birthday Bash next January with your nominations
I would like to come but I feel it is very unlikely that I can get there. I haven’t ruled it out yet.
By the way, the hardback cover of the book is a joy in itself – I hadn’t noticed until I picked it up from the library just how different it was.
I do like it when bookmakers go the extra mile, I have always recommended a book for users of the pencil for technical or artistic reasons to get hold of The Pencil by Henry Petroski – recent editions are not quite the same as the original narrow format with matching yellow #2 pencil (the book is just as interesting though)
That sounds like an interesting book. I’ll have to see if my library can get it. They are part of a group which seems to cover all libraries in the South West so if it is lurking somewhere in the region I should be able to get hold of it.
Good luck, it is quite old now and as Petroski was an engineer it is heavier on the evolution and technological history of pencils from the early days in Borrowdale in The Lake District. For those of a more artistic bent Mervyn Peake’s The Craft of the Lead Pencil is very good (but incredibly rare in first edition) I was just looking at a copy for £150 at The York Book Fair today😮
Thank you … downloaded onto my Kindle! I’ve got such a queue, I’ll have to increase my reading time!
That’s one that’s been on my list ever since I heard the author interviewed on a podcast, which you might like to listen to –
Good to get a recommendation on this site too though!
Thanks for that, now I am eager for Jeff to send his van out to deliver my copy
Thank you for that, I’ll listen to it tomorrow.
Phew, I thought I would never get off the ground but eventually did so and just managed to complete but can’t say it was much fun. 12a wouldn’t parse using clue but then penny dropped. Geography not my strong point however having lived in USA 11a came to mind and was eventually my Fav. Thank you Mysteryone and CS.
Not keen on having to fathom convoluted linked clues before attempting to solve.
Lots of fun to be had here. 13d was especially strong. It was only 10a’s “assembly” that made me squint for a second. Many thanks to our setter and CS.
ALP our two succeeding comments don’t concur!
Ha, that’s totally as it should be!
Begging his pardon but I reckon 1a gives us a large hint as to who set this one! I rather enjoyed it and learnt something new in the 17d dish. Top three here were 1&28a plus the 22/9a combo.
Thanks to NYDK(?) and to CS for the hints.
Well I enjoyed it immensely. For me it was sufficiently tricky to make me think but it gave enough clues to get you started and therefore interested. Not sure about these treble linked clues but I do think they are very clever. Good all round puzzle with nothing churchy, sporty or requiring abstruse knowledge of ancient literature. Off now to bestride the Northumberland countryside with a slightly reluctant aged greyhound finishing hopefully at a hostelry.
Thx to all
***/****
Twice Brewed
Well, I had a lot of fun with this, so I must be in the ‘this is a fun puzzle’ camp. 1A, 11A, 13D and the 22/ 9 combination were especially worthy of a giggle, and I found the rest well-clued.
I am not entirely sure that I would want that particular violinist to be ‘saved’, although I understand (after having Googled) that she is also a second-rate Olympian (skiing). That is cruel, I know, and I apologise in advance, and she was essential to the 22/ 9 joke.
Another excellent Saturday puzzle for me, greatly enjoyed. I think I concur with Jane as to authorship.
With 24a/27d and 22d/9a, two shiny new King Charles Loonies on NYDK as the setter of today’s very enjoyable SPP – **/****
Candidates for favourite – 12a, 23a, 4d, and 7d – and the winner is 7d.
Thanks to NYDK, or whomsoever if my Loonies go down the drain, and thanks to CS.
Now off to look for a theme in the Chalicea NTSPP – it might take a while!
A nice gentle stroll etc.
We love a bit of clue-scattering on a Saturday, yes, we do. Well, I do, anyway.
Committee meetings over The Pond for naming settlements must take about a minute. Something tells me that they didn’t think long and hard with 11a. Hilarious.
My podium is 28a, 13d and 14d.
Many thanks to the setter and CS.
2*/3*
Thanks to the setter for the challenge (™ Steve Cowling) as I found it a challenging challenge of a guzzle.
Having tested negative yesterday, after my FIFTH visit from Covid, I am overjoyed (maybe overstating it a bit here) to be able to go out for a lovely walk with H shortly. I’m wondering if I should contact the Guinness Book Of Records as I am surely the only person in the world to have been hit five times by this miserable disease (and survived).
Potatoes (in clue for 1d). I cannot get enough of them. My favourite food item by a mile. All styles of potato (including the answer to 1d) are loved by me. Hats off to Sir Francis Drake, or Sir Walter Raleigh, or Thomas Harriot <- whoever first brought the potato to England. Let's put up statues of all three in every town in the country just to be sure.
Thanks to the setter and Super Sue.
Eat more potatoes (not cats or dogs).
Thank you, Terence, that really made me laugh.
Sorry, but I have a friend who has had Covid 6 times!
That made my week! Wotta dingbat! Guess who I’m voting for?
Brilliant!
PS I’m pleased you have recovered from the Chinese Virus, Terence.
Another Saturday with a pleasant puzzle to work through this week. Some good clues that made smile as the pennies dropped.
2*/4* for me
Favourites include 12a, 23a, 29a, 7d & 22d/9a — with 23a the winner … but they all stood out for me.
Thanks to setter & CS for hints/blog
Grand fare for a Saturday. Cotd for me is 1a. Thanks to compiler and CS for the hints.
It took me quite some time to get going with today’s puzzle, but once up and running, I made steady progress with a few hold ups. One of which was 14D, which, despite having all the checkers, held out for far too long.
Top spot could have gone to 17D as it one of my favourite dishes in Kefalonia, but I decided 1A was a deserved winner this time.
***/**** Thanks to the Mysteron and CS for the hints.
P.S. I am number 14 waiting list at our Library for the book mentioned by Madflower.
I thought 11a was clever.
Concerned to have More Than give up on house insurance and we’ve been given just a month to put another in place.
Not heard of 17d so, with all the checkers in place, assembled the remaining letters in the most logical order, looked it up and bingo! Got it right first time. As for the rest we rather liked this with 1a being the best of a number of contenders. Thanks to the setter and CS.
Sorry to be so weedy but this was too hard for me, again – just not up to it today.
There were several lovely clues but I do SO hate scrambling around looking for the next bit!
It took me ages to find the first word of 29a having assumed that it would be somewhere exotic, but it wasn’t, was it?!!
I spent a long time hunting for 1d to be an anagram – wrong again!
I liked 1and 20a and 6 and 7d. Haven’t quite found a favourite yet – need to keep looking!
Off to see if I can manage the NTSPP.
Thanks to today’s tricky setter and to CS for all the work, again!
Relieved that I am not the only one who found this hard.
You two are certainly not alone….
No you are not, Kath. I found it hard but given the joy expressed by others I thought it was just me.
Kath,
I’ve literally just got back from 29a this evening after an extremely long drive today.
Without wishing to risk the naughty step by implying people’s preconceptions of what it’s like there, I had the most wonderful nine days there on truly stunning ‘exotic’ beaches, in t-shirt and shorts, while it was torrential rain back home.
I’d recommend anyone to go visit – an absolutely beautiful place.
I don’t know if I liked this or not, I was so off wavelength! I was DNF, never heard of the violinist and had the wrong first word in 20a. A shame, this meant 17d was unsolved, a delicious street food in Athens; that’s when I used to eat cuddly lambs. Fave was 1a, first one solved and a great help. I had to use ehelp for far too many for my taste, but maybe I just have an off day, though there were enough gimmes that I don’t feel totally useless.
Thank you setter, there was a lot to like, and CS for her hints, 24a in particular!
I hate clues that relate to other clues but today worked out OK. No particular favourites but if I had to, I would nominate 1a. Definite feel of autumn here and have just dismantled my runner beans which didn’t have many beans this year. At last the tomatoes are ripening but fear most of them will remain green. Oh well. Thanks to the setter and CS
Green tomato chutney?
I was sent a wonderful recipe for green tomato chutney by a member of our merry group. I’m afraid I cannot recall whom but if they read this they will, hopefully, come forward.
It was delicious.
I’ve been making this very delicious flan for years. It is good for an everyday meal and also great as part of a buffet for lots of guests
Echo Manders re linked clues. Took a while longer than usual – don’t know really why.
Snow on the hills here in Tyrol and torrential rain in the valleys. V bleak for September.
What a nice puzzle thank you Sue and setter!
I enjoyed this very much, initially I thought I wouldn’t but once a few long clues fell into place I got going. There were several new words, eg 17d but I got it with a bit of guesswork at possible words with the checkers in place.
I have just returned from several hours at Marlow Carnival trying to help drum up volunteer support, the weather was delightful, so warm I had to shed 2 layers as I had dressed for all weather options!
Many thanks to the setter and to CS for the hints.
I enjoyed this thoroughly but I think I might have the wrong answer to 15a is it an anagram? (Redacted). Ironically I am a dentist long retired(1999)! Congratulations to the setter for a divertimgly good puzzle and thanks to Sue,
It is an anagram but I’ve had to redact part of your comment because of the instructions in red regarding what you can include in a comment on a prize puzzle
The first word is the definition and the last word is the anagram indicator so the rest of the clue relates to the anagram fodder
I wonder if a dentist or ex-dentist will ever leave a comment @ 2:30?
Hic!
SC is your man and I am sure that he must have commented at tooth hurty!
As a retired dentist I have heard that thousands of times! 😊
No need to look down in the mouth about it 😊
Heard that one as well! 😎
Actually, I became an endodontist and took referrals for root canal treatment. One of our neighbours who had dementia, sadly, thought I cleaned the canals of Shropshire. It stuck and for a long time quite a few local folk thought I worked for the waterways.
If anyone says “Fangs for the memory” I will condemn them to the Eternal Quest for The Mythical. Why should I be the only one to suffer? 🤣
Root canal treatment? Sounds unnerving. 😊
Oh, purleese! 🤣
Could not get a handle on this one today. First problem was my printer decided to sulk and not print anything. After wasting time trying all sorts of tech stuff (not my forte) and trying reboot etc. it decided to stop sulking and comply. By which time my toast and coffee were cold, and had to redo, hence grumpy solver. Visited the Somerset town so that helped. And not sure if 7d is a loud cry. Thanks to setter and to CS. I’ll have another look later.
When my Dad was a nipper, his father was not a well man, and during one of his poorly spells Dad and his brother were dispatched to that Somerset town with their nanny. While there he bought his Dad a souvenir of a fat little man with a pipe, used for tamping down ones pipe. I still have it, I’ll put it on my gravatar tomorrow.
A steady solve today
3*/3*
Not a big fan of the linked clues or the dish at 17d as found the answer and country too similar
1ac fav today
With thanks to setter and Sue
I too figured this was likely a Doorknob production & am slightly surprised he’s not been in to claim ownership. Can’t say it overly floated my boat during the solve but to be fair I was completing it on a mobile phone in between teeing golfers off so perhaps not conducive to optimising appreciation. Just read through it again now home & enjoyed it rather more. 11a was my favourite.
Thanks to the setter & to Sue.
Evenin all. Huntsman just about beat me to it!
Thanks for the comments and thanks to CS for the bloggery.
While it turned out to be fairly straightforward and mostly enjoyable in the end, I’m never keen on puzzles that need too much general knowledge to solve. There’s nothing more dispiriting (for me anyway) than a clue where the answer involves “Somerset town” or “Archipelago”. I don’t mind the odd few, especially if it’s ones I know when I do get it, but there must have been almost double figures in this puzzle (when you include dishes, violinists, mathematicians, birds, rivers, places etc).
Thanks to NYDK and CS.
Not my cup of tea today….general knowledge that I did not have…..dishes and fiddlers e.g.
Thanks to the NYDK and to crypticsue
For me, the perfect puzzle is one where I can fill in half the grid fairly quickly and then pass the buck over to my subconscious for it to work away in the background. Then each time I return to the puzzle I’m able to chip away at a few more clues until it’s finally completed many hours later. That was the case with today’s, so it gave me a full day’s entertainment. Thanks to NYDK and Sue.
Managed to solve this with some help from Google. 17d is a new word for me and 12a needed online help. No idea what 16a is though despite getting the answer.
At least this wasn’t a toughie.
Thanks to all.
Amused to see those who struggled with 29a (or indeed thought it would be somewhere ‘exotic’).
Tackling the crossword late tonight, as I’ve just spent all day driving back home from an absolutely wonderful week and a half there, so unsurprisingly, it was one of the first ones in for me, and I can assure you it is an absolutely stunning place with many truly exotic beaches.
And the weather was better there than back home most of the time I was there!
You’ve sold it well, B&J.
I need to get my sweet derrière up there, one day.
Maybe it’s just me, but I didn’t much like 26a – surely that rather ‘synthetic’ term is 2,3 rather than one word? I don’t have a BRB, so I wait to stand corrected!
Hi Barbara. The BRB allows either adman or ad-man for the singular, so at a wild guess I’d say the same is true for the plural. I used to be one, for my sins.