Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30791 (Hints)
The Saturday Crossword Club (hosted by crypticsue)
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Storm Darragh is doing its best to ensure that we stay indoors solving crosswords, although in my case, once I have scheduled the Hints, I will be leaving the house for the second time today, this time to attend the Church Christmas Fair.
I think it is fairly obvious who set this week’s Saturday Prize Puzzle, with a couple of long anagram clues split around the grid, the first one of which I have worked out the parsing to save you all from having to do it. Both solutions seem to be instructions for an unhealthy lifestyle!
If I am not blown away, I will be back shortly before lunchtime to keep an eye on proceedings. In the meantime, please read the comments that appear before yours, so that you are not duplicating questions, and make sure you obey both the instructions in red at the end of the Hints and the blog’s Comment Etiquette – Big Dave’s Crossword Blog)
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 Letter from the front? (7)
A double definition
9a Encouraging words spoken by Guardiola? (3,4)
This shouldn’t be a problem for anyone who knows their football managers. Here Mr Guardiola is giving a lecture
10a Rider in mask endlessly following behind (7)
A truncated mask (endlessly) following in favour of, behind
11a Agents around in flat ring criminal (9)
Do these criminals only appear in crosswords these days? A reversal of some agents inserted into an adjective meaning flat, the result followed by a ring-shaped letter
13a, 12a, 26a Some nuts, including Kelvin and Mickey, inhale insanely? (5,4,1,7)
An anagram (nuts) of SOME with the symbol for the SI Unit (Kelvin), MICKEY and INHALE
19a Square loaf shortly devoured by dad (5)
This loaf has more to do with being idle than bread. The truncated (shortly) synonym should be ‘devoured’ by an informal dad
28a Instructed Edward to carry bucket down? (7)
A diminutive form of Edward ‘carries’ a less informal way of saying bucket down
Down
1d Little devil distributed seed in hampers (7)
A little devil and an anagram (distributed) of SEED
5d Joint surgery reversed for thick-skinned sort? (5)
A joint followed by reversed abbreviated surgery
6d Lackey with hint for Spooner: see you later! (6-3)
Take a lackey and a hint and mangle them like the Reverend Spooner would
14d Conductor to choose route did you say? (9)
A verb meaning to choose for office and a homophone (did you say?) of a route
18d Snitch’s activity significant (7)
What a snitch does can also mean significant
20d Soon to invest six grand in French city (7)
An archaic adverb meaning soon into which is inserted (to invest) the Roman numerals for six and the abbreviation for Grand
24d Soul found in Jungian 3 (5)
A hidden word clue where the first two letters are found at the end of JungiAN and the other three at the beginning of the solution to 3d
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: MULL + TIPPLE = MULTIPLE
My heart fell when I saw the linked clues along with a spoonerism – all my least favourite types of clues. I needn’t have worried, though, because it all came together in the end for an enjoyable solve. Mind you, there were some real posers and I don’t get 24d at all. I thought 8d was more a GK question than a cryptic one but what do I know? I liked the plunge into the beer at 15a but my COTD is the speedy paint at 2d.
Thank you, setter for the fun challenge. Thank you, CS for the hints and for explaining 24d. Clever clue.
The trees are thrashing around in The Marches as storm Darragh sweeps across the land. Stay safe, everyone.
You have taken the words off my keyboard- almost exactly what I was going to say!
Thanks to the setter and CS.
Once again, you have said it all for me Steve, particularly the heart sinking feeling. Alas, I cannot say it all came together for me though, not without help from CS.
I’m not a big fan of the split/split level (whatever you want to call them) either Steve. They seem to be a fixture in the Saturday grid now. One might be ok but they seem to be proliferating. I regard the split/link clue a bit like the deliberate knockdown in rugby, ‘get them out of the game’ I say. Notwithstanding the split clues, a challenging Saturday grid (mind you, 17 and 5a were close to ‘gimmies’ if you know your ‘London sides’). Thanks to the setter and Sue for the extras. 🦇
Along with Steve C, I too had an “oh no” moment with the spoonerism but it turned out to be fairly gentle and a good giggle to boot. Once the linked clues fell, the remainder came together steadily after the odd scratch of the cranium. All in all a great diversion for a wet and windy Saturday. Thanks to compiler (NYDK?) And CS.
11a again??????????????? Is this a Christmas wind-up from Christmas Chris?
This was great fun as it almost always is with Rood Bonk. I loved the two linked expressions in 13a and 23d.
A gentle solve but I had to think a couple of times with my LOI being 24d.
My podium is 28a, 5d with the clear winner being the outstanding 17a.
Many thanks to the aforementioned and she of the crypt.
2*/4*
Lovely to see a photo of Reginald Perrin’s mother-in-law up above. :-)
Great!….Super…..Boringsville, Arizona….Come! (when Reggie knocked on CJ’s door)
Wonderful, wonderful stuff.
A whole posse of 11a in the last few puzzles! And parts of a couple of today’s clues featured yesterday as well
*/****. Loved it as many of the answers reminded me of my days at university! Thanks setter.
As is often the case on a Saturday, the linked answers get bunged in without bothering to untangle any anagram fodder.
The bit that caused the most contemplation was the “behind” of 10a.
Many thanks to the setter for an enjoyable puzzle, and to CS.
Hope everyone is safe and well in the stormy weather conditions; we have a sunny 24c in Valencia today.
This was a perfect antidote to the torrential rain and thunderous winds lashing the country this morning. As someone who likes the challenge of linked clues, this was an early Christmas present, although it was the clever 24d that particularly caught my eye.
Many thanks to our Saturday setter for cheering us all up, and to Sue.
Doesn’t inhale need to be part of the anagram fodder in 13a etc?
Good fun apart from 24d which I thought a strange construction.
Thanks to all
It does and it was what I had written on my ‘working out’ piece of paper but sadly in my hurry to get done and out, it got omitted, but has now been corrected
2*/4*. This was a lot of fun, with several off-the-wall clues leading to the conclusion that this was an NYDK production.
Although it’s an amusing clue, I’m not sure that 13/12/26 quite works as there are two anagrams and only one anagram indicator. I thought it might be an “all-in-one” but that doesn’t quite seem to work either.
My podium choices are 10a, 28a & 17d.
Many thanks to NYDK (?) and to CS.
“insanely”? A second anagram indicator?
Yes, but then it’s doing double duty as it’s the definition as well, and it’s not an “all-in-one” as the whole clue doesn’t make a sensible definition of the answer in my opinion.
I think the clue is intended as an all-in-one RD – didn’t give it much thought but is the surface not just remark on those (like me) daft enough to still burn their money?
Huntsman, that was my first thought when I solved the clue but the more I thought about the more it didn’t quite make sense. For this reason in my original comment I put that I’m not sure it quite works.
The answer is a verbal phrase, and part of the clue (“inhale insanely”) defines this answer perfectly. However, if you were to take the whole clue as the definition, the answer needed is a noun, i.e. the people who inhale insanely.
Super puzzle. It asked questions but every clue made sense when solved which makes a change from some puzzles!
Even learnt a new word in 24d, just shows you are never too old to learn.👴
Mind you I think 5a and 17a might be a bit prescient for tomorrows match.
Thx to all
***/*****
Another hugely entertaining puzzle for a Saturday, I always love the multiword linked clued ones, they’re so much better than the old one clue, one answer norm.
Some real head scratchers, and the last one in for me was 24d which I had to check as I’ve never heard of that word before, (apart from our very user unfriendly heath care application, why can’t we just book an appointment over the phone any more?).
My two favourites today were 21d and both the multi word linked ones (yes, I know)
Many thanks to our esteemed setter and Sue today, great fun!
Whoops, that should read ‘health care’
Very enjoyable for the brief time it lasted. Bizarrely a 3rd appearance this week for 11a – the new Ruhr city or African plain at this rate. Guilty as charged on a golf course for 13ing/12/26a but the hepatologist has put paid to any notion of 23ing/4d. Last in 24d was obtained from the wordplay knowing precisely nowt about Jungian psychology. Fav was 17/5a for a great fodder spot & amusing surface with 15a in the runner up spot.
Thanks to Donny & to Sue
Re 11a, I made a comment a long time ago, and still believe it to be true, that the puzzle’s editor throws a random word out to be clued by different setters. That would explain the same word appearing 3 times in one week.
I do love a conspiracy theory… :-)
You may be on to something there. AP’s clueing my pick of the 3.
As do I, J, but I’d be very surprised because it looks sloppy this end.
But, I suppose it’s possible.
With 9a and 17a/5a being the first clues solved it looked as though there was going to be a theme but, unless I missed it completely, apparently not. An entertaining challenge from NYDK – who else could it be? 2.5*/4.5*
I do have to admit that 13a/12a/26a and 23d/4d were bung ins because I had sufficient checkers.
Candidates for favourite – 10a, 19a, 28a, 14d, and 20d – and the winner is 19a for the excellent use of loaf.
Thanks to NYDK and CS.
22a – any help ? I have the answer but no idea how 😊
A two-letter word meaning sanctimonious and a crowd
Thanks Sue
I too let out a small groan, when I saw the linked clues and Spoonerism but it all fell into placereasonably quickly. The mis-spent youth theme helped. Alot of us have been there. 13a etc and 23d etc were good fun the lego art clue at 1d and the geographical lego clue at 20d were good too. Thanks to the compiler and to CS for the hints. I have also ventured out into the storm, after the wind dropped a bit and the power came back on so that I could make breakfast and a cup of tea . The rain is unremitting, however.
This was heavier going than usual Prize puzzle offerings and not helped by combination of my least favourite “cryptic” things – linked clues and Spoonerisms (6d expression jars a bit anyway!). SW brought up the rear. Does one need to inhale to 13a-12a-26a? 22a appealed to me as my Fav. Thank you Mysteryone and CS (hope the weather doesn’t spoil your church Christmas Fair) but thanks for finding time to hint for us as always. Thanks also Mysteryone for the puzzle.
The strangest thing happened. I picked up my pencil and it began what I believe is called ‘automatic writing’. Without any input from me, the pencil completed 11a. It felt almost as if my pencil had written those words before and was experiencing a cedar and graphite based sense of deja vu. It was uncanny.
I strongly believe that my pencil is a reincarnation of Madame Arcati and has found a new life in psychography.
Glovely guzzle.
Thanks to the setter and to Super Sue (I hope you acquire some home made jam, and a decent bottle of wine from the tombola stall).
For 11a you evidently didn’t need to come to your senses, Terence.
Unaccustomed as I am to commenting on a Saturday, I see I have put in an appearance.
6d, all!
You are almost on the naughty step there. Good job Seesue is at the church bazaar!
Crikey, and I tried to be obscure. Many apologies if I transgressed.
Well I don’t understand the reference anyway.
So long now.
Great fun from NYDK.
I have fond memories of 27a involving the linked clues….
Needed explanation for 24d as I solved this with GK, thanks Sue, but it doesn’t work for me as the answer is solvable from GK?
3*/4*
Which setter will be next to take on the 11a challenge?
Hi Slate
Almost every clue is solvable from the definition (aka GK).
Some solvers need the parsing to work out the answer; other’s don’t.
In this case, you didn’t.
A lovely amusing breakfast guzzle! The 13a etc reminded me that it’s 22 years early December since I decided enough was enough on the 8th hole at my local golf course. (My partner only managed a couple of months, whereas I’ve made it!)
V many thanks to presumably NYKD for the challenge and especially to CS for the blog and notably for the parsing of 24d, which I biffed (did know the word), but the parsing had escaped me. (No wonder I’ve ‘unlurked ‘)
More excellent entertainment from the DT. Must be NYDK, who seems to have cornered the market with this amusing style.
A lot to choose from for the medals as usual, but I’ll go with the related pairing on this occasion. I think 13 12 26 is an all in one of a sort, but I wouldn’t say full &lit in the traditional sense. If we look at the solution and then back at the clue, there is a direct correlation, at least for me: I’m tempted to paraphrase, but I’m sure that would land me on the step!
Great stuff. Thanks Sue. I’m staying in with the cat.
Good fun and enough clues that make use of the grey matter as expected on a Saturday, I had to smile when I got the linked clues, reminded me of the story about the Everly Brothers who were described by their road crew referring to their alleged vices as 13a Everly and 23d Everly!
Thanks to setter and Sue
Looks as though my comment got lost in the storm-drenched ether but it doesn’t really matter as I had nothing enlightening to offer about this SPP, just that I rather enjoyed the references to times gone by in the linked clues and 27a – carefree days indeed!
9a made me smile although it’s doubtless been done before, the 11a criminal is becoming something of a fixture and 19a was the last to fall – neatly contrived by our setter.
Thanks to NYDK, I presume, and also to CS for the hints – hope your Christmas Fair was able to take place, just about everything here was cancelled after the government sent out warnings to the mobile phones of everyone on Anglesey last night. We seem to have escaped relatively unscathed in my corner of the island but I think others have had a rough time of it.
The fair did go ahead despite the horrible weather.
There’s a clip on the BBC news site of a reporter out in the storm in your part of Wales
Glad to hear that you missed the worst of it Jane
Whew! Glad you’re safe!
Glad you got through the storm ok.
Lovely puzzle (I like Spoonerisms) but defeated by bunging in the wrong answer in 1d (got the little devil bit but not the rest), never having heard of 2d. So rather fittingly didn’t get 11a. Great fun along the way and COD 23d 4d combination and 24d for the novelty and creativity. Thanks to setter and CS.
These multi-word puzzles are really quite challenging and brain numbing!! However when one gets there in the end it is worth it. Needed some e-help today to help me through.
2.5*/3.5*
Favourites other than the multi answer clues include 9a, 15a, 25a, 5d & 14d — with winner 14d.
One new word for me too in the mix today.
Pretty darn sure my two half-crowns on the compiler are safe with it being NYDK & thanks to CS for hints.
I really dislike (stronger expressions available) there being so many linked clues in a puzzle. My approach is to ignore them completely, fill in all the other answers, work out what the linked ones must be, and try to ignore the clues entirely. Worked perfectly here.
Big smile though to 17 / 5 — writing in the answer and deciding that the definition was ‘thrashed’, even by Portsmouth. Well, I am a Gooner..
9a and variations thereof are surely the new Serengeti or orchestra. High time he was rested, from crossword land at least. 6d was also familiar, likewise 11a.
COTD 24d.
Many thanks to the Yankee Doorknob and CS
Same approach to multi clues here. Really don’t like them, but they seem to be proliferating lately.
I take the same approach with linked clues. Fill in the rest of the grid and bung in the linked ones at the end, without spending much time on fathoming the wordplay.
Meant as a reply to Mustafa
I think we have been lucky here as, although very windy, wet and wiserable it has so far not caused any havoc. The wind was so noisy in the middle of the night I remembered our hanging chair – we really should have taken it down and stowed it away but when I got up and went to have a look it was still in situ so I guess we were lucky. I did venture out to rescue the cover for my whirly clothesline which was about to take off. Anyway, a nice diversion to do the guzzle though my heart sank at the multi- worded clues, but I just worked round them and then they became fairly obvious. I think 22a is favourite. Deepest sympathy to those who have suffered with flooding and no electricity. And many thanks to our Setter and SeeSue for her hints.
Hear, hear to you and Jezza (and others) re multi-worded/linked clues – they often eventually sort themselves out without the hassle.
I think the linked clues were almost my last ones in as I shied away from sorting out the answers until I had lots of checkers.
Top picks for me were 14d, 24d and 10a.
Thanks to CrypticSue and the setter.
New word for us at 24d and needed the hint to parse it. To be fair all the long linked clues were anagrams. Lots to like, unlike the weather. Favourite was 17d. Thanks to the setter and CS.
A puzzle with something for everyone, multiple linked clues, football, chestnuts, AND Spooner. I dunno if I enjoyed this or not, some real smilers and some groaners. Loved 1a, 19a, 22a, 27a, 28a. I think we can retire 11a, though welcome today for helping to give me some checkers. I used far too much ehelp, but it really wasn’t as hard as I made it.
Thank you setter, I dare say I’ll find out who you are on reading the comments. Thanks Sue for your help on a very busy day. I’m interested to know where the name Darragh comes from, sounds Irish?
It is an Irish name, Merusa and means Oak.
Aha, how interesting! I learn so much from this blog!
Agree with SC re linked clues and spoonerisms but got there in the end.
Just happy to be able to print and tackle the crossword. Haven’t tried printing from the iPad yet though, but successful from an old resurrected old laptop with Windows. But I did get a nice email from the DT yesterday that they are aware of the problem for Safari users and are working on a fix, so I live in hope. Thanks to setter and CS, and hope the Church Fair was a success despite the weather. No more time for the crossword as I really must get on and make my mince pies, with my imported Robertsons of course. Neither daughter bakes them, so I have to make enough for three families…
I made four dozen mince pies for the refreshments stall at the fair. I now have to make more for us, some of which will be needed on Friday when my sisters in law visit as one of them only has one mince pie a year and it has to be one of mine
You sound like a professional baker, Sue! Your kitchen must be huge. Wish I could taste your mince pies.
I felt exactly the same way about my mum’s mince pies, although I was certainly guilty of eating more than one of those!
My mum used to say that you should eat your first mince pie of the season in complete silence while making a wish. With the benefit of hindsight, I wonder if it was a ploy to keep the four of us quiet!
I was led to believe one mince pie on each of the 12 days from Christmas Eve to Twelfth Night made for a happy year to come.
I must pass that tip onto my daughter, there are plenty of times when she’d give almost anything to have her pair keep quiet for a while!
😊 it was exactly 4 dozen that I made this morning. I see from my notes that last year I ended up making a total of 5 1/2 dozen so I guess I’ll also need to make a few more. Now if I could just get the son in laws and grandkids to eat Christmas pudding…
Lots of fun clues today with 17/5 combo my favourite. I needed help to complete it as for some reason I could not concentrate.
The wind is awful here at the moment and despite tying our outside Christmas tree to the house it was trying to blow away and snapped the ties, so we have had to bring it indoors. Considering we are only in a yellow warning area I cannot imagine how scary it must have been in the red and amber zones. I hope everyone stays safe and I am glad to hear Jane is ok.
Many thanks to the setter and to CS for the hints.
Hello. Thanks Sue and everyone for comments.
Thank you, NYDK for an entertaining guzzle.
And many thanks to you for an entertaining Saturday puzzle.
Two very satisfying puzzles – Friday and today. First chance to comment as there is so much to do. Must keep it short so thanks all round.
Disliked this puzzle from the start as it took two pages to print it out. I also dislike linked clues, especially when one of them is on the second page! Persevered and completed it but not my cup of tea this week. Thanks to Sue for the explanation of 13,12 and 26a.
Hi, for those still affected, just to let you know I am still on the case. I will pass on any relevant comments if that helps.
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Well constructed and fun puzzle thank you NYDK and CS
Enjoyed this one. First one was 17 & 5 across and last one 10 across, which I thought was going to be an obscure word until the penny dropped. Thanks to the setter. Ps accidentally submitted solved crossword without attaching the picture of the crossword. Doh.
3*/4* …..
liked 5D “Joint surgery reversed for thick-skinned sort ? (5)”