Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30755 (Hints)
The Saturday Crossword Club (hosted by crypticsue)
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A fun Saturday Prize Puzzle to brighten up a grey morning.
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
4a Music with strong beat – piano work (3)
The abbreviated musical instruction to play softly (piano) and an abbreviation for work
11a/3d Altered recipe is risk – but it has 2, 20 & 4 Across! (4,8)
An anagram (altered) of RECIPE IS RISK produces something known for the solutions to 2a, 20d and 4a
12a Base? Those last seen in Nevada will think Area 51! (6)
The last letters of nevadA wilL thinK, the abbreviation for Area and the Roman numerals for 5117a Jockey taking very good gee-gee over the top? (7)
The two-letter word meaning very good, two Gs (gee-gee), and the abbreviation for Over The Top. Given that my Granny (who died in the 70s) used to always place a bet on this jockey, you have to wonder how many of our younger readers will remember him!
21a Ford saloon’s horizontal post? (8)
A verb meaning to ford and a type of drinking establishment
23a Minute liver perhaps seen in journalist? (6)
The surname of a journalist who is a bit like Marmite – people either love or hate him. The abbreviation for Minute and a part of the body of which liver is, perhaps, an example
30a Old English port or whisky? (3)
The name of an old English port or a type of whisky
Down
1d Second husband captured by wicked group (6)
The abbreviation for Second followed by that for Husband, the latter ‘captured’ by a slang word meaning excellent (wicked)
4d Parasites in Hull controlled (7)
Some parasites inserted into a verb meaning to shell (hull) a vegetable
7d Hurt in match – leaves boxing? (3,5)
A verb meaning to hurt inserted into a match
13d Worker is on old spies list at first withdrawn (10)
One of Crosswordland’s workers, the abbreviation for Old, some American spies and the first letter of List
18d This writer’s books around store due soon (8)
How our setter would say he was going to do something and the abbreviation for the Books in the second part of the Bible go ‘around’ a rich source of information (store)
20d Laugh raucously about Republican making noise (7)
Laugh raucously goes ‘about’ the abbreviation for Republican
27d Champ, caught, fell (4)
The cricket abbreviation for Caught and a verb meaning to cut with blows of a cutting instrument (fell)
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: PARLOUR + MEANT = PARLIAMENT
I found today’s offering on the tougher side of the spectrum but it is a prize guzzle so no complaints from me. I loved the connected clues at 11a and 3d with their sound effects elsewhere. 27d sent me in every direction but the correct one until the penny dropped. My COTD is 7d with its boxing match – another great misdirection.
Thank you, setter for the fun, if tricky (for me), challenge. Thank you, CS for the hints.
Well, I wasn’t expecting a tussle like that on a Saturday.
A nicely constructed challenge which required some thought. The five clue comby was very nicely done and must have been fun to put together.
I got a different anagram for 26a that mucked me up for a while.
My podium is 17a, 5d and 7d.
Many thanks to the setter and CS.
3*/4*
Rather fun today, I thought. 23a certainly made me smile. [Redacted] Many thanks to our setter (I’m pretty sure I know who this is) and CS.
Ha, sorry Sue. Any cake today?!
We need Pat Coombs standing by Sue saying…”Welcome to the naughty step, ALP. You can have one of CS’s delights that, like you, are naughty…..but nice.
Ha! She’s being jolly strict today. But would we have it any other way?!
Nah, she’s not being strict.
You just can’t handle being redacted.
Teehee. Water off a duck’s back, chief!
Did it, but right on the edge of my capabilities. [redacted] I’d also never come across that synonym for ‘good’ before, so that was new. I parsed the last three letters of that as Over The Top = OTT, otherwise where does second ‘T’ come from?
Still don’t understand where first three letters of 10a come from, either. Anyway, pleased with a finish! ****/***
You are, of course, right about 17a
10a the first seven letters are the ‘limit’ followed by IN (from the clue) ‘accepting the letter representing love
Ohhh. Of course. I was looking at the last seven letters. Ta very much.
A rather harsh redaction, Sue, given his picture is by the clue! [the hint is still wrong, btw, nowt to do with cricket]
Gentle but enjoyable. I never knew 3d started with that letter… I would have opted for a different one if it wasn’t for the anagram fodder.
Thanks to the setter and to CS.
I enjoyed this one – not too challenging once the breakfast cereal ‘plug’ was broken. Sorry, not a fan of advertising!
Now that I come to type this I have only just worked out the journalist reference at 24 across – (perhaps trying to forget!), and you need a long memory for the jockey…
Some nice clues; personal COTD 13d – well constructed.
Thanks to the setter for the challenge and Sue for the blog.
17a – I met the chap in the Negresco in the Rotonde Bar in Nice – like myself (and he was a bit tight fisted) we had the lunch for c €35 !
You’ve changed your alias again. Any of the four will work in future!
For me one of the best Prize Cryptics for a while. Super clues in 11/3, 21a and 5d.
Don’t mind them being challenging as long as you can work out the clue having got the answer .
***/*****
Thx to all for a very enjoyable puzzle
PS Still don’t get the ‘ very good’ bit in 17a
Can I suggest that you look up the ‘very good’ bit in the dictionary
“… as long as you can work out the clue having got the answer”.
A whole new approach to solving a cryptic puzzle? Must try it some time?
Am I cracking up or do two words in the hint for 21a not combine to give the answer? 🤔
Oooh! Naughty step for CS? 🤣
Ooops – Luckily there are some Mr Kipling’s Fondant Fancies in the Naughty Corner tin
Lovely puzzle. What’s not to like – my fav breakfast cereal as a kid plus the Longfellow, arguably the finest jockey of all time & certainly at Epsom. Marmite indeed at 23a – can’t abide the fella. Top 3 for me 4,5&7d.
Thanks to the setter (Donny methinks) & to Sue
What a lovely breakfast guzzle! Even as a chemist 12a didn’t jump out. Keep forgetting the modern meaning of wicked in 1d, and took a long while to parse 18d.
With parents overseas, 70+ years ago I used to spend a lot of time with great-aunt Emily, who was in almost constant touch with her bookie. Don’t remember if she had a thing about 17a though.
I really liked the the simple 15a, but nominate 7d as fave.
Many thanks to the setter for the breakfast fun and to CS for the blog.
The best Saturday Cryptic for ages. Some clever and humorous clueing, pitched at just the right level for a prize puzzle. Thanks to the setter for such an enjoyable solve, and to CS.
Loved this puzzle with just the right amount of headscratching for a prize cryptic.
Top picks for me were 11a/3d, 12a and 7d.
Thanks to CrypticSue and the setter.
What a brilliant puzzle, so many clues where lateral thinking was needed. I particularly liked the linked theme, and for me the general knowledge was just right. The anagrams were beautifully constructed.
Many thanks to the setter and to CS for the hints.
Fans of Chalicea will want to solve today’s NTSPP
A fair bit chewier than Saturdays past, but very enjoyable. Took me ages to parse 5d, but got there in the end. I also liked the breakfast cereal clue, if not being a fan of the product in question. Cotd for me is 12a. Thanks to compiler and CS.
Nice Saturday PP fare from our setter – the New Yorker seems a safe bet. Smiled over the renowned jockey but don’t have much good to say about the journalist.
Thanks to NYDK (?) and to CS for the hints – hope the pack of Fondant Fancies is a large one, seem to be a fair few takers today!
An excellent and nicely clued SPP that was a genuine delight to solve. I am a sucker for linked clues, so the 11a/3d etc combo were my favourites.
Many thanks to our Saturday setter and Sue.
As with last week, I found this Saturday puzzle relatively straightforward with a few bumps along the solving way.
2*/3.5*
Favourites include 11/3, 2/20/4, 12a, 17a, 29a & 30d — with winner 2/20/4
Smiles for many including the first two & 17a
Thanks to setter(NYDK possibly) & CS
Phew! This one has done my head in and I’m still a long way off finishing – I suspect this is as far as I get!
Off for a rest – might try again later (and might give up – I think I know when I’m beaten!)
I might have a go at the NTSPP for a change!
Thanks to whoever set this little piglet and thanks to CS too for her much needed hints.
There is a Ford saloon called the first part of 21a.
Fairly rattled in – thanks to my wife mainly.
Not complaining, but wondering why the Saturday prize puzzle is so much more enjoyable than Wednesdays and some Fridays? All nicely tricky today, needing me to put on more than one thinking head, especially 7d which wins COTD, partly because of its nostalgic memories of moving and the first thing my Mum did was round up as many of them as she could. Didn’t have any problem with 17a, his name was always on my Dad’s lips. I don’t think I am 13d, but I’m not a fan of doing something because everyone else is doing it. Thanks to the setter for a really enjoyable Saturday challenge, and for CS for helping dig me out of the occasional hole. And to top it off, I see we have a NTSPP from Chalicea which I will look forward to doing later.
Really enjoyed this solve.
I won’t say any more lest I end up on the naughty step. 🐔
Thanks to all.
Very entertaining, but very gentle too. I think that may well have been my fastest finish ever.
Thanks to the setter and CS.
An enjoyable chewy puzzle . 23a was a new word for me. Spent ages on it thinking maybe it was someone’s name . I always groan when I see linked clues but they are usually straightforward as was today’s. Thanks to setter and CS
I loved todays puzzle…26 Across stuffed me for a while…No answers are silly though…Like some on Fridays..nice one setter…Doug.
Fun and fairly quick to complete — with 4a in place, 11a’s enumeration gave away that and all the linked answers, giving a good start on the rest of the grid. My favourite was 22d.
Thank you to CrypticSue and the setter. Though I gave a shudder when I worked out 5d; apparently I’m so allergic to them that I react negatively to the mere word! Come to think of it, I might be allergic to 23a as well …
IMHO no great shakes however for me a more stimulating challenge in South rather than North. 27d is clever bum steer but having lived near Newmarket for years my Fav parsing was 17a. In line with Smylers above the less said about 23a the better. Yet another rather dodgy (new?) anagram indicator. Thank you setter and CS without whom I just managed.
Great guzzle. Just completed it this morning. I was out all day yesterday so it was all done in bed!! Murder on the bed linen. Many thanks to all.
Morning all. Thank you for all the comments. Thanks Sue for the hints, and also for the link to the excellent Chalicea puzzle.
I’m sorry I didn’t get in yesterday, but Donnybrook Den (aka Tees Towers, Neo Nook, and Wurm Hole) is under offer, and I’m on perma-look-out for another drum. I’d forgotten how much ‘fun’ relocating can be.
Anyway cheers. Don’t forget the skcolc thing.
NYDK
For me the most skilful puzzle for a long time. Amusing too. Got stuck with 4 and 5d but got in end needing no hints. Thank you setter and Sue
What a superb puzzle! Enjoyed it so much it was a pleasure to spread it out over two days. Many thanks NYDK and CS.
I especially love NYDK’s puzzles – always keep me smiling!
Monday 28th October
The puzzles section of the Telegraph app seems to be stuck in a continuous loading loop. Any ideas?
1) Exit the DT app and re-start it.
2) Unload the app and reload it.
I haven’t had that experience, but have reported the following bugs with the Apple version:
– Completing a puzzle does not always result in a ‘Back’ link, requiring that one exit and restart the DT app and then navigate back to the Puzzles ‘section’.
– The keyboard is too close to the bottom of the screen, meaning that a swipe up from anywhere along the length of the bottom row will most likely enter a letter or number from that row into the puzzle. The ‘selected’ letter remains ‘highlighted’ slightly above the key, but searching for it in a largely-completed puzzle can be an annoying pain unless one uses a ‘reveal’ feature.
– The Puzzles app still requires an internet connection, even after loading.
– The Puzzles app does not refresh. To clear ‘Completed’ flags, it is necessary to exit the app and restart the Telegraph app and re-navigate to the next puzzle. [I discovered this when I was eight hours behind BST, so the DT edition changed but not the Puzzles.]
Thanks Michael, I’ve removed and restored the app. That has worked although all my “streaks” have gone.
Thanks again
I’m currently in SoCal and the eight hour time difference has meant that some of my long streaks have been reset because the UK passed midnight before I’d started/completed those puzzles. Most annoying.
Eventually got all but one 7 down, which I managed after Dave’s clue. Was a toughie but thought I did ok for an old bird.
Welcome to the blog
A very late post from me – loved the breakfast cereal!
Interesting reading above. Not sure why some you do this crossword as apparently it’s so easy! Personally this was tricky ++ and last one in was 7d which was very very clever. Thank you whoever.
3*/4* …
liked 5D “Gym enthusiast without a pulse (6)” … amongst others.