Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30833 (Hints)
The Saturday Crossword Club (hosted by crypticsue)
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A deceptively beautiful looking day with sun and blue sky, but the wind is what my friend would call ‘raw’
There’s only one person who could have set this Prize Puzzle – an entertaining crossword with a theme with linked clues/solutions spread around the grid.
Please ask for help if you are stuck on clues I haven’t hinted, but before doing so, 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 Goddess appears following credit crunch (6)
The principal goddess of Ancient Egypt appears after (following) the abbreviation for credit
5a Range of mushrooms about right to fill belly (8)
A reversal (about) of some mushrooms and the abbreviation for Right ‘filling’ a belly
11a Nasty moment – one warm kiss leads to split! (4,4)
Remove the first letters (leads to split) from words three, four and five in the clue
21a Bob going downhill – painfully thin appearance? (8)
A type of sled (bob) or a painfully thin appearance
22a and 14d Film format grated with me, a Eurosceptic (2,4,4,5,5)
An anagram (grated) of FORMAT ME A EUROSCEPTIC
28a and 27a Race from the 2 Down in meadow flanked by dwarves? (6,5,3)
A meadow or grassy plot ‘blanked by’ or inserted into some little people (dwarves)
30a See people at such council meetings? (6)
A council meeting for people from a church diocese (see)
Down
2d Bolshevik aircraft on time – in another world (3,6)
The colour associated with a Bolshevik, an aircraft and the abbreviation for Time
4d Woman in uniform is given lift in south-east (5)
The letter represented by Uniform in the NATO Phonetic Alphabet and a reversal (given lift) of IS (from the clue) inserted into the abbreviation for south-east
6d Order feathers on breaking quill? (5)
The usual on the subject of ‘breaking’ a writing implement such as a quill
9d Reform backer, despicable person, odorous animal (7)
The surname of an American who was considering backing the UK Reform Party followed by a despicable person
17d Figure of speech in sonnet’s last line (5)
The last letter of sonnet and a line
19d Toboggan taken round slum cleared snow? (9)
A type of toboggan ‘taken round’ a slum
26d Beauty marks deep cover agents (5)
Some beauty marks or spies who successfully infiltrate rival organisations
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: TETRA + GRAMMAR + TUN = TETRAGRAMMATON Thank you BRB as I thought I’d look up the combination of the first two words, and found that the whole pun word is a Hebrew mystic symbol or any other sacred word of four letters
NYDK upping the ante a little today, I thought but still enjoyable and plenty of smiles. Too many good clues to pick a favourite but, if pushed, I would go for the council meeting at 30a – great misdirection.
I did not get the Quickie pun.
Thank you, New York Doorknob for a great puzzle. Thank you, CS for the hints.
I hope everyone is safe after the storm yesterday and have a great day in Little Venice to those who are attending.
Mrs E, who does the quick crossword was flummoxed by the pun as was I. A bit of googling resulted in finding a word defined as ‘the Hebrew name of God transliterated in four letters’.
I’ll get my coat. 🤣
But as Mr CS said to me, will you ever remember it and what it means??
I too was fascinated by that and now know, amongst other things, where the word Jehovah comes from.
My goodness, I love crosswords and all sorts of info that sail in ‘em!
The sun is shining; I’m going to meet some of my heroes and heroines, in person and online, and an excellent puzzle. What more can a cruciverbalist want!
Oh, yes. A nonagenarian doing the splits in a splendid London hostelry that’s going viral online.
Perfick.
I thoroughly enjoyed this one with NYPD Blue in great form. It’s probably his best to date when it comes to the amount of clues I’ve circled for their smooth surfaces.
I liked 7d, not only for the surface, but because it reminds me of the Ruskies sending their four-legged friend, Laika, in to space in 1957.
My medal winners are 5a (nice construction), 30a (sweet) and 20d (oo matron!).
Many thanks to the aforementioned and she of the crypt.
See you later!
3*/5* (it had to be)
PS
I love the anagram in the quickie: grim area (8)
Hope everyone has a great time at the Bash. Do you all ask each other questions in a cryptic crossword fashion I wonder?!!
Of course we did!
It would be great if you had a cat called ‘Moment’ and you tripped when holding them.
Because, we could then ask….
‘Did….
Like it!!
Thank you.
I’d like to dedicate that one to RogB
Loved the puzzle, especially 9d. Thanks to our setter and CS.
9d was a cracker I think Donnybrook will get his X (formerly known as Twitter) account blocked for that!
Nice to see you again, Tilsit.
Hope your health is a bit better.
Thank you. It’s a whole new life for me now, but I’m coping.
Pleased to hear you are coming along well, Tilsit. Good to see you on the blog.
Hello ,Tilsit, nice to hear from you and hope you are keeping well.
So pleased to see you back on here.
Me too!
Another challenging puzzle for Saturday morning which kept me occupied for longer than normal. Lots of scribbles round the perimeter of the paper and not just for the multi-word answers.
Today’s favourite is 30a which I struggled to see at first.
Yesterday’s blast has been replaced by a cold and bright morning in NE Scotland. My sympathies go to those who were far more seriously affected by Storm Éowyn.
Thanks to the setter and crypticsue as always.
I’m on the train. Sun obstructing my solving. That’s my excuse.
If the weather in Little Venice is anything like that on the 1st tee at Centurion it’ll be a lovely walk to the pub. Have a great time everyone. As for puzzle – a delectable delight from Donny & a joy from start to a brisk finish. ✅s all over the shop too numerous to list & loved the theme.
Apologies- thanks to Donny & Sue
I really enjoyed this. Not too taxing and easy to pick up in my few stolen moments this morning while taxiing my daughters everywhere.
I particularly liked the surface in 9d 😁, but favourite is 4d – one of my daughters!
Sunny but “raw” too in Paddington. We are currently having a brew in the Grand Union Junction Canal Cafe, and in honour to CrypticSue we are trying their (no doubt inferior to hers) lemon drizzle cake.
Loved the puzzle too especially the linked ones and it helped me through a night of cheese dreams after dining at The Cheese Barge last night.
Thanks to NYDK and Sue See some of you soon…
Just having a sausage roll from Gregg’s with my daughter and grandson who are escorting me.
As SC above says, NYKD has upped the ante a little today; some straightforward and some that required some thought.
Many thanks to him, and to CS.
Hope you all enjoy the get-together. I’ll raise a glass or two to you later (any excuse for a drop of libation)!
Excellent puzzle, just right, highlighted by 9d. Odorous animal indeed.
What a fantastic puzzle. I’ve put ticks against so many that it would be easier to list the ones without them! I will plump for my top picks being 30a, 28/27 and 9d.
Thanks to CrypticSue and NYDK.
Hope everyone has a great time in Little Venice. Hopefully some photos can be added to the blog but we will need accompanying names too!
I had completely the wrong definition for the 22a /14d combo and whilst my nonsensical answer fit the checkers it was completely rubbish. It now fits the theme, well I think I’ve found one! All in all a very enjoyable puzzle. Picking a favourite from such a high quality offering is tough, but I’ll award cotd to 2d. To all those going to the birthday bash, enjoy. Thanks to NYDK and CS.
Brilliant fun!
Thought the horror at 22/14 was going to give me a rocky time, but actually the answer came to me at a deadly pace, and that’s how the rest of the puzzle ran.
Really clever and entertaining stuff, not a bad clue anywhere to be seen, and two themes running throughout.
Dying to know who set it, chapeau Mr Setter, whoever you are.
Tough as always from a Saturday but on the whole enjoyable. Best clue was 2d and the worst by a long way was 6d.
Thx for the hints
*****/***
You should be here in Little Venice ice for Big Dave’s Birthday bash. There are some setters here so you could hive them the benefit of your opinions
Great fun prize puzzle
Thanks to NYDK and Sue for the hints
Favourites today – 11a, 21a, 30a and 9d
11a LOI – the answer was there from the checkers but it took me an age to parse – doh!
2*/5*
I think this is NYDK’s most enjoyable SPP to date – thanks to him and to CS for the hints.
My favourite clue is the amusing 20d.
I hope that all attending the Birthday Bash have an enjoyable day.
Many thanks for a great puzzle, and yes 9d is fantastic. I hope this will not get me in the naughty corner, but I did wonder about the first word in the clue of 21a. Technically not quite right or what?
Thanks to Crypticsue for the hints.
Tough but clever and amusing, as usual from this setter
Delightfully bonkers as ever from our Saturday setter. 9d takes the gold today with reserve places going to 5a plus 6&15d.
Thanks to NYDK and to CS for the hints.
Pleased to hear that the weather is ‘playing ball’ for those walking to the venue along the canal banks today,
Missing you here at the Bridge.
Thanks, Wanda. I’m missing you all as well but am certainly with you in spirit – actually, it’s a glass of wine but what the heck – I’m allowed an early drink on such a special day!
It took a long time and a bit ofguesswork to geet a start on this guzzle and finishing it was a struggle that gve me some satisfaction, since I didnt really gewt on wavelength. I liked the 12a anagram, the 6a lego clue and the 30 cryptic dexi ition. Lst in were the pesky linked word clues. Thanks to CS for the hiints and to the compiler
Lovely puzzle today.
Last one in 6d with help from cs.
Thanks to the setter and to crypticsue.
Have a good time at the bash.
We have emerged from the storm with a little damage…..shed roof has nearly blown off, but otherwise all seems to be well.
Very noisy, though.
Hope we don’t get another of them .
A brilliant puzzle to match a rather beautiful day here. So many excellent clues with 9d getting my vote for the top spot.
Many thanks to NYDK and to CS for the hints.
All the best to all those attending the birthday bash.
I can only reiterate what everyone else has said! Found this a brilliant puzzle which I thought I was going to finish in ** time. Unfortunately the north east corner held me up and I crept over into ***. Loved 9d although it took me ages to solve. Managed to get part of 22a/14d but needed Mr G’s help as I hadn’t heard of it before. Hope everyone has a great weekend!
I was happy to see another NYDK puzzle this week as I really enjoy the challenge of working out the multi-word clues that traverse the grid. Liked these two this week especially the 28&27a answer!
2*/4.5* for me this week.
One new word for me in the centre of the grid. I also really like the archaic word in the NW too.
Favourites were including the two multi-word clues, 12a, 2d, 4d, 8d & 19d — with winner too hard to pick. All were good and lots are in the puzzle too.
Thanks to NYDK & CS
For those that are meeting in the UK for the Big Dave event, hope you have a good time and stay safe from Éowyn who seems to have escaped from The Lord of the Rings … Few characters have captured the imaginations of readers quite like Éowyn, the White Lady of Rohan. When she initially appears as the devoted yet dissatisfied niece of King Théoden, Éowyn seems to be a cold and almost bitter individual.
Seems to me cold and bitter would seem to describe the weather in the UK to a ’T’
Saw the linked clues and did the others as best as I could so not enjoyable. 30 across was my favourite. Thanks to CS and NYDK.
Cracking puzzle – many thanks to NYDK for the enjoyable challenge 👍
Loved 9D…brilliant! 😜
Thanks also to CS for the blog ‘n hints.
Cheers!
I am stuck on 24d – last one in and I have 3 letters 🙄
Delicious food that sounds like a synonym of fashion
Thanks once again Sue – I didn’t know the word – nice puzzle and thanks for the hints
I particularly loved this one – thanks NYDK!
Like others 9D had me chuckling.
Having spent much of the late morning bulk cooking meals to freeze, it was nice to sit down afterwards with a cup of coffee, a few digestive biscuits and the crossword puzzle. I can honestly say that not only was it a pleasure to solve, but possibly my fastest Saturday solve ever. 22a/14d hit me the moment I read the clue and the 2d/coupled with 28a/27a gave me the chuckle of the day. 6d was very clever and 5a was a possible contender for my C o t D, but I have to give my golden gong to 2d. Vis a vis today’s pun – my other half taught RE for the best part of thirty years and she’d never come across the word either. Just goes to prove that every day’s a school day :-) Thanks to today’s setter and to CS.
Chewy as always for a SPP but at least I got most of it done sans help. My lack of snow sports knowledge was my downfall. Thanks to NYDK and CS. Hope everyone has a great time at the Birthday Bash. After a few cold, raw and wet days (when we feel sorry for the tourists) it is thankfully sunny today, but still cold. Definitely not beach weather.
Just working on today’s exercise and willl probably comment later but am hospitalised and am struggling having had a stroke last week. In meantime any stroke victims have any hints to pass on – Kath?
So sorry to hear that Angelov. Best wishes for a speedy and full recovery.
I am so sorry to hear this, Angelov. I wish you a speedy recovery.
I wish you all the best for a speedy recovery.
Your mention of Kath has reminded me we do not seem to have seen her for sometime? I hope she is just busy.
So very sorry to hear Angelov. I’m hoping that the fact that you are posting here is a huge positive & 🤞for a fully & speedy recovery.
Thumbs up for a speedy recovery Angelov, everyone on this site is routing for you.
I have been there and got the t-shirt. No advice other than things will get better if you take a positive attitude. Get well soon. Gary
Superb puzzle from NYDK (has to be him). In my line of business I need to remain neutral, so I’m absolutely not going to say what a brilliant summation 9D represents. No no no, I will NOT succumb to its pinpoint veracity. And the fact that it’s really funny.
If he is going to provide a non-multi-linked puzzle in the near future, as he has stated, this was certainly not it, and I was rather taken with all of the longish ones as a matter of fact. And since I couldn’t possibly say that 9D is the best of a very special bunch, I think I will go for the lovely anagram at 22 14.
Thanks Sue and Donny.
Angelov please GWS, and all the best to the revellers at the Bridge House. Stuck where I am, I’m afraid.
An enjoyable mixture of straightforward and not so straightforward clues with a theme. Favourite was 30a. Thanks to Donnybrook and CS. Those attending, have a good time at the birthday bash.
After a very slow start, things got going and I ground to a halt in the SW corner. I needed the hint for 17d, and once I sorted the 20 letter anagram, about which I was rather chuffed (never heard of the film) everything fell into place. What a great puzzle. Thanks to the setter and CS.
Hello. Glad you liked it. Hope those of you who ventured out are having a nice time in Maida Vale.
Cheers
NYDK
Thank you, NYDK for a great guzzle. It looks like you are to be our regular SPP setter. Good. 👍
Started well then stalled. A quick trip into Marlow for a coffee and everything fell into place on my return.
Thanks to today’s setter and CS.
What a great puzzle. 9d made me laugh out loud.
You’ve changed your alias. You were LibrarianJane before
Both will work from now on
Well, that was great fun or, to quote Richie Benaud…What a hugely enjoyable session that was.
1. Mr Smooth is indeed smooth
2. Shabbs has met his match with Mrs Shabbs.
3. Elgar is an enigma, no more.
4. Senf is NOT Canadian (don’t let him tell you otherwise!)
5. Sloops’ mum, who was in attendance, taught him everything he knows
6. The two Kiwis looked in fine fettle, considering the time.
7. Compilers under 50 do exist in the shape of ‘Weatherman’ whose latest puzzle will be Wednesday’s toughie.
8. Day Zee Gee can still do the splits at 90 years and 7 months young (video to follow!)
Huge thanks for the organisation goes to The Enigmatist and Sloops whose confections were terrific though a tad calorific.
(apologies for hijacking this blog, CS, but my thinking is that more will read it than the birthday one)
Thanks Tom for the update. Glad to hear that you all had a good time. Hopefully there will be photos…..
It was great to see some of you via the internet link but, sadly, I could not hear much. Thank you for teasing me with a replica of The Mythical! 🤣🤣🤣
I’m pleased you all had a good time. Thank you, Sloops.
Many thanks are due to you too for starting the ball rolling with your very kind donation to the bar bill, it was much appreciated 💖
It was my pleasure, SLB.
When I saw the fun you were all having it has made me even more determined to attend next year.
Circumstances allowing.
Ah! So, that was you. What a nice touch. Thank you 👏👏
Whilst I have you…I was determined to be the first post on this special day.
But, as is nearly always the case, there are no flies on you. I need to brush up on my ‘copy & pasting’ skills.
I will not reveal my secret until my hands are on The Mythical! Ha ha! 👺👺
Actually, TDS65 I have an app that prints whole sections of text on the pressing of “z” and key letters. It saves a lot of time when marking essays.
Your trade secret has been duly noted.
P.S
Watch this space as Miss Fifi (usual rates) is going to delurk after six years of being in the shadows.
Choose your maiden post wisely…
And you are not a Londoner (don’t let him tell you otherwise)!
Like it, Mountie. Like it.
Great update – cheers. Can’t wait for the DG video
I did the guzzle on the way to London this morning, so long ago I cannot be specific but it was an enjoyable solve and I was able to get expert help on the snow clearing clue at The Bridge. I cannot believe I made it to The Bash, great experience and huge honour to meet so many truly Guzzley People. The noise was incredible. I cannot say a big enough thankyou to the Mustard Man for his kindness in escorting this old lady across London. What a lovely man. So pleased to meet Mama Bee, Weekend Wanda, MsGlad and the current Mrs Shabbo. Nearly at my station so must stop. Poor George is going to have to listen to this for days. But he will love the macaroons 🥰. Many thanks to the Setter and Cryptic Sue whom I had so hoped to meet. PS I flashed my pen around quite shamelessly.
Got there in the end (with the puzzle not the Bridge!) but needed some help. I had the wrong ending at 21a which threw me getting 19d. Second time in a week when I didn’t get the Quickie pun! Many thanks to Mr Doorknob and CS
I hope you all had a great day at the Bridge and return home safely tonight or tomorrow. Can’t wait to see Daisygirl doing the splits and the goodies you indulged in! Enjoy the rest of the weekend everyone and stay safe. Due to be wet and stormy tomorrow in parts.
Just the right level for a prize puzzle, liked the linked clues. Nearly went astray with a different ending to 21a, but got there with the checker. Not a clue what the quickie pun was and pretty sure I’ll not remember it.
Thanks to NY Doorknob and CS
Well after discussing some of the techniques in these Saturday weirdo puzzles this afternoon I set to after I got home and completed it – OK did need the hints but it was fun. And this afternoon was fun as well. Great to meet and chat with so many of you and well done Daisy in getting along, how nice to put a face to a name. Have quite a few snaps on my camera which I will look at tomorrow and compose something worthy of showing off this great even for what it is.
After 17 years of retirement and weekend grids I’m beginning to see with more clarity !
I got there in one today but I don’t think MI6
are coming for my service. I only parsed 11A
post solve by checking the CS hint. ‘Leads to split’ is a new one for me. Thanks Sue.
Sounds like the birthday bash is a lot of fun. Continue to enjoy! Look forward to seeing photos!
Thank you to NYDK for a challenging and enjoyable puzzle. We finished without needing CS’s hints (thank you for your insight).
Our pick of the clues 19d, 28/27a. Our COTD 5a.
Tucked up a bit on NE. Once we cracked 5a the rest slid into place.
I loved this — thank you so much, NY Doorknob. I completed it this morning, but set off before today’s hints post, so am only commenting now I’m back in Forest Hill in the spare room of the friends who are kindly putting me up.
30a (“See people”) was my favourite, from a list of highlights so long I’m not going to type it here. I was impressed with the recentness of the reference in 9d.
Thank you to CrypticSue, and to everybody I met today. Nice to hear from you, Tilsit, and get well soon to Angelov.
Gentle and with the exception of two harrumph moments, generally very enjoyable.
Podium places to 11a, 20d, 9d & 6d
Thank you DKNY & CS
Sorry to hear about your stroke Angelov. I had one a few months ago and was very fortunate to be sent to a stroke rehab centre. I was there for about two months and the work they did was absolutely brilliant. It helps of course if you are completely determined to overcome the after effects, although it depends what these may be. While I was there I was amazed to see how many .different effects there are,some of course being very serious
but I trust that you have the opportunity to go for rehab. Since I came home I am still having having regular physio treatment. I wish you all the very best.
I enjoyed this puzzle. I had never heard of this film but managed to work it out from the fodder. My COTDi is 24d – don’t tell Brian!
Thanks to setter and Cryptic Sue.
An enjoyable puzzle, managed a good few with resorting too ‘other sources’.
A question for this august group – why can I make a good fist of the Saturday puzzle, yet struggle badly with mid week puzzles? Are they so different?
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