Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30845 (Hints)
The Saturday Crossword Club (hosted by crypticsue)
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A most enjoyable crossword from NY Doorknob, perfect for brightening up a very grey and damp morning
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 Reserve suite, but injured crossing street (10)
An anagram (injured) of SUIT BUT ‘crossing’ an abbreviated street
6a Type of game needing short leg? (4)
This type of game is a wild animal – simply shorten a leg or part of a journey or race
11a Send back from business when the other fills in? (9)
A preposition meaning from and some business where a euphemism for sexual intercourse (the other) is inserted (fills in)
15a Very wicked male one with common sense (7)
A male, the Roman numeral for one and some common sense
22a American medic taking in the French battle scene (5)
Abbreviations for American and a medic ‘taking in’ the French female definite article
24a Dry area in sea where Brest is located (8)
The letters used to indicate that someone does not drink alcohol (dry) and the abbreviation for Area inserted into an adjective meaning relating to the sea, often used as an informal name for the sea
29a Peer in organ loft but not many times? (4)
An organ of the body and loft (from the clue) without (but not) the poetic word meaning many times
30a King not to be twirled in dance (10)
The King’s name and a reversal (to be twirled) of NOT (from the clue)
Down
1a Close main line (4)
Another word for the ocean (main) and the abbreviation for Line
8d/124d Ground marked in Knight’s Tale covers one as intellectuals agree! (5,5,5,5)
An anagram (ground) of MARKED IN KNIGHTS TALE ‘covers’ the Roman numeral for one
9d Closely follow the 25 2 scandal? (8)
Part of a name attached to any political scandal – split the solution 4,4 and the description could apply to 25d/2d
16d One observing leg attached to beauty (8)
The side of a cricket pitch also known as the leg side followed by (attached to) an informal name for someone with good looks (beauty)
20d Time to rest southern sailor brought to city on Avon (7)
The abbreviation for Southern, a sailor and a city on the River Avon
25d/2d Proverbial crowd of ignorant wimps tailed by the Dutch? (5,5,4)
A splendid cryptic definition, even if it does leave you with an ear worm! If two is a company, what is a crowd? A synonym for ignorant and some wimps, Dutch being Cockney Rhyming Slang
26d Bowl over, taking time in fine weather (4)
The abbreviation for Time inserted into something we see in fine weather
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 please don’t leave a comment.
The Quick Crossword pun: POLLY + TITIAN = POLITICIAN
Yep, a goodie.
I think NYPD Blue has compromised nicely with only two dooberries that are both very gettable. You never know, MustafaG may even take it on.
I took on the 20 letter anagram, having got 6a, and spotted it immediately. Good fun.
Lots of nice surfaces with some excellent humour thrown in.
My pody is 5d, 9d (clever) and 16d.
Many thanks to the aforementioned and she of the crypt.
2*/4*
A return to the more familiar NYDK format after last week’s link-less example.
I’m giving top spot to the two linked answers today, but there are many other nice clues, such as 6 17 & 24A, 7, 9 & 18D.
Very nice, and very neat, as usual.
Thanks NYDK and illustrious Sue.
I didn’t enjoy going back to mlullti-word clues fter last week’s respite but 25d, 2d and the linked clue at 9d were quite amusing. The NE corner was quite tricky too but I eventually compketed the guzzle despite all the impediments. I liked rthe geographical lego clue at 25a and the dancing lego clue at 30a. Thanks to the setter ad to CS for the hints
A blessed relief after the struggles of the last two days but still worthy of a prize puzzle.
Luckily I checked over the completed grid before sending and found a typo, shock horror. Fixed that and submitted so I’ll just sit back and wait for the mythical to arrive. 😀
Top spot goes to 9D which was a real laugh out loud answer.
Thanks to NYDK and CS.
The absolute polar opposite to yesterday’s offering. This one fizzed, popped, and sparkled like a box of fireworks with a careless match thrown into it.
A real delight, witty, fun, and utterly amusing, the multiple word answer ones were just a joy, and 25/2d has to be the clue of the decade, closely followed by 9d.
I for one really enjoy this type of puzzle, and tend to think the very short, concise clued ones are just a bit dull (purely my own opinion of course, others may love ’em, just not me)
Hats off to our setter today, hope I find out who it is, brilliant.
Your first two paragraphs have said all I wanted to say!
Glad to be of service DG
A nice mental work out for a cold, dreary Saturday morning. I spent twice as long wrestling with the NE corner than all the rest of the puzzle. Last one in was 5d – not sure it’s correct, but it was the only word that fit the checkers. Loved the linked clues, and the ‘dry area’ of 24a. Thanks to NYDK and CS.
Split your solution to 5d 4,3 and read the clue again
Same here – I don’t follow
And me! Have an answer but doesn’t appear to fit the clue but can’t be anything else.
The first word is a synonym for carry, bear or ferry. So, the comic would carry the second word when doing their act.
The chief meaning for the first word is movement, i.e from one place to another, which, in this case, the comic doesn’t really do though you could argue he walks around the stage.
It’s a synonym but a long way down the list.
Agree, this clue spoilt the puzzle.
Hi BL
Do you know what the rules are as I can’t see what Vic has said that is different to CS’s hints for the other clues?
Better still…..Sue, how would you have hinted it?
Lots of fun clues, especially the multiword one and the long anagram. Very enjoyable to complete on a rather wet day.
Many thanks to the setter and to CS for the hints.
2*/4*. I enjoyed this a lot. As CS says, it brightened up a cold damp miserable Saturday. With lots of fun clues to pick from, 9d made me laugh the most and gets my vote as favourite.
18d reminded me that, many moons ago when I was an innocent (?) young schoolboy, my family lived in the delightfully named village of Pratt’s Bottom which led to merciless ribbing by my school chums.
This must surely be the handiwork of NYDK. Many thanks to him and to CS.
I went to school with a girl who lived in Pratt’s Bottom. The school was in SE London so she had a bit of a trek to school each day. Goodness knows why she attended our school. She had the most angelic singing voice.
Did this earlier, on my tablet for the first time. Surprised to find a timer, and the option to enter for the Prize Pen, which I’ve done. Okay if I win it this time Daisy Girl?!
Thanks CS and setter
It’s all yours. After Steve of course.
The only thing I ask, JIS is that you don’t taunt me with it! Everyone at the birthday bash took great pleasure in showing me The Mythical they had won. 😊
Anyway, I sent my solution in via the puzzle app today rather than email. So, I’m in with a chance.
(After 50 years, Cowling do you really think so? Er……no).
I gave up cutting them out and sending them in 20 years ago when they closed the post office. Never having won I couldn’t be bothered to drive 5 miles or so to get to the post. So today is the first of the new era! The only one I know that got through was a qualifier for the times crossword competition 30 years ago, but the event was held in Bristol, and the goddam trains were cancelled when I needed one!
Ah…. thus does The Mythical work its devilry. 👺
Took me some time to get a foothold, but once I did, it was a steady solve. Not sure of the parsing of 24a, but it fits the checkers and is otherwise logical. Personally I’m glad NYDK has returned to the linked clue as 25 /2d is on my podium alongside 9d and 5d. Thanks to NYDK and CS
Does my hint for 24a help?
Oops. Overlooked your hint. And yes it does, thank you. Obvious once it’s pointed out. 👍
I thought this was excellent, with difficulty pitched perfectly for a prize puzzle
3*/5*
6a, 27a, 30a and 9d favourites with 9d taking the gold.
Thanks to Sue and NYDK
Hi Super Sue et al
Re 11a, I have never heard ‘the other’ used as a euphemism in that context.
I’m guessing that it’s an old expression that’s not in common parlance?
I’ve just looked it up and sure enough…I fancy a bit of the other.
Well, there you go.
Saying that, if that’s ‘the other’, what’s the first option…a game of Chess?
Too much T.S. Eliot there I fear.
Good shout.
Great crossy, btw. 9d is genius.
They both often end in mate …
Brilliant! 👏👏
Boys!
Behave.
Great one today.
On 25d/2d, I’ve got the answer.
I just don’t understand the second way of getting the answer “tailed by the Dutch”? I saw the hint says it’s about “Cockney rhyming slang”, but I still don’t get it. Sorry!
Can anyone help please?
Thanks!
Welcome to the blog
If you look up the word ‘Dutch’ in the dictionary or a list of Cockney Rhyming Slang, my hint should hopefully make sense
Aha, very helpful! Thank you!
And recite the relevent nursery rhyme til you find her…
Aha, very helpful! Thank you!
I enjoyed this puzzle with the last to fall being 25/2 d and 9d which was my favourite once I got it.
Top picks for me were 9d, 24a and 30a.
Thanks to CrypticSue and NYDK.
Quite tricky as should befit a Prize Puzzle, but an absolutely top drawer crossword with the terrific 9d my top clue. I always enjoy multiword answers and linked clues, so this was right up my strasse.
Many thanks to Donny for a great challenge, and to Sue. I now nervously await the England v France encounter at HQ.
Tough but quite fun. Have no idea what 6d means and even the BRB is vague. 9d is just a dreadful clue.
Apart from those everything else was fair.
****/**
Thx for the hints
Do you mean 6d? And oh no it isn’t!
9d provided my laugh out loud moment and there ‘ain’t no 6d clue’, but 6a has a pretty obvious answer, IMHO.
Other than that, my battery operated dictionary misled me when checking my solution to 17a. It incorrectly spells it with a double letter within. A enjoyable Saturday puzzle with my gold medal shared between 25/2d & 9d. Ta to all concerned :-) :-)
Another vote here for 9d as the winning clue with, in my case, 27a taking the silver. Had a bit of a blank moment when it came to the parsing of the 25/2 combo but the answer was obvious so I could work it out in reverse order.
Thanks to NYDK and also to CS for the hints.
This was a lot more fun than we have had of late.Big ticks for 27 and 30 across and 20 down. I cannot fully parse 17 across although it can only be the answer I have put in.
I will only allocate a certain amount of time because even in retirement I have a list of things to do and if too much time is given to the crossword compromises have to be made. Same with bridge, I would only play once a week at most. No compromises needed however and today’s offering was most enjoyable . Thanks all round.
Hi
17a: straight answer is a type of bread
Parsing it:
a 3 letter word for a “bit” or “knob” of butter, dunked (inside) a 4 letter word for tea.
Hope that helps!
Ooh your sailing close to the naughty step!
He is a bit but I’m slowly losing the will to live with regard to redacting people ignoring the red instructions
Very sorry.
This is my first ever time commenting on this page. Was just trying to be a bit helpful since the inquirer said they had the answer, just couldn’t confirm the parsing.
Genuine error. Will be more careful next time. Apologies.
Don’t apologize, Vic. I thought your help was spot on, giving nothing away.
Good on you for helping someone with your second post!
Welcome to the blog, btw.
I look forward to your next one and the one after that and the one after that and…
But he did somewhat violate the rules on prize puzzle day, but clearly not deliberately. We’ve all fallen down that hole early on.
Thanks very much for that, Tom! 👍🙏
Welcome to the blog, Vic. 👍 Don’t worry, as BL says we have all done it at one time or another.
Hope to hear from you again.
I made a similar mistake whwn I started commenting, Vic. You are by no means alone
Thanks, all.
Really nice to meet you. Very happy to have found the comments section on this page and the community!
Look forward to sharing my views on the best clues (but not giving any hints myself on prize ones) in the future!
Best wishes,
Vic :-)
Somewhat relieved to see that NYDK has reverted to ‘multi clues’ in this very enjoyable SPP.
Candidates for favourite – 11a, 15a, 30a, 4d, and 20d – and the winner is 4d.
Thanks to NYDK and CS.
I’ve been away for a few weeks working on a rather intense project and I’ll be away again. I’m supposed to be retired but when something that interests me comes my way, I take it on. Many thanks to Andy for emailing me to check I am still in the land of the living. I think I am.
I understand I missed the opportunity to meet Daisy, and Senf, amongst many other BD pals, and that saddens me.
I really enjoyed this guzzle. It stretched me to my limits over my gruel and orange juice with no bits, but it was satisfying to solve it. I’m still on the fence about these multi-word answers over a couple of glues, but as I ‘got’ them today, I gave myself a little cheer.
Thanks to NYDK and Super Sue
Good to see you back albeit for a brief time. You really should submit the correct paperwork before taking off like that – Kath used to be in charge of that side of things but I guess it’s probably down to the overworked CS now.
I wonder whether the project had anything to do with ‘I’ve got to get away from the wife and youngster with their endless shopping lists’?
Ah the pink leaves of absence forms – I’ll have a look in the stationery cupboard and see if there are any left
Good to see you back, Terence. 👍
Welcome back Terence. Nice to hear from you
Thank goodness for this NYDK puzzle after the last two days of back pagers that just did not do it for me. On top of that we have two multi-word clues that are just great!
On top of that it is a super puzzle overall.
2*/4.5* for me
Favourites 13a, 19a, 30a, 8/14d, 9d & 25/2d — with winners the two multi-word clues
It was all good and lots of smiles all over the grid.
Thanks to NYDK & CS
Nice to hear from you Terence and yes, I did miss you!🥰. And you missed a super day.
As I said before, Tipcat has said it all for me. I loved the guzzle though left to my own devices I too would have spelt 17a differently. Huge thanks to NYDJ and SeeSue. – I did need you to check on my 29a guess. So much to like I am spoilt for choice but plumping for 10a as my favourite. A filthy wet day but I think I have to take myself into Cambridge with back to back rugby going on.
Couldn’t get to grips with the NE . Mainly because I didn’t see the answer to 6a .
Not for me , despite the salutations that many of you have heaped upon it . Found Thursday and Friday’s offering more amenable . Strange world we live in .One man’s meat – is another man’s poison .
Thanks to all
I felt exactly the same about the three puzzles you mentioned, Fran and the NE corner held me up for ages too.
An enjoyable Saturday crossword which I managed to complete with help, except for 10a. [Redacted – you are straying into alternative clue territory]
Brain freeze at 5d&11a. Eventually twigged the neat wordplay with the former but the answer probably wouldn’t have featured had I been asked to produce a list of 10 definition synonyms. The additional checker meant 11a then yielded immediately. Another vote for Brian’s ‘just dreadful’ clue at 9d as my pick from a quality bunch. Very enjoyable.
Thanks to Donny & Sue.
Ps nice to see Terence popping in to say hello.
I feel a bit dumb but not fully understanding the last 3 letters of 6a
As 6a seems to be causing so many problems, I have added a hint for that clue
Thanks so much
Nothing on first pass through, then gradually, everything fell into place. Didn’t find no.5d v convincing.
Held up a bit in the NE but no hold ups otherwise. Good fun as usual. Favourite was 9d. Thanks to NYD and CS.
After the last two days this puzzle was a joy to behold. Clues I could actually understand, apart from my last in, 5d, which still makes me frown. Nevertheless, an enjoyable solve today, particularly 1a, 8 and 14 down, 27a and 25d. Thanks to NYDK and our good lady CS.
Enjoyed most of today’s puzzle last two in 5d and 11a. Can’t get 23d which might well help me get 29a! Lovely to see Terence back, albeit, briefly. Many thanks to NYD and CS
23d is a daisy you will see if you remove the abbreviation for mark from a teacher
Many thanks CS. Got it. Doh!
Very gentle indeed for a prize puzzle, and a great shame to see the return of split clues after last week’s return to normality. Solid if brief and enjoyable. 9d outstanding.
Thanks to Donny and Sue
This was an enjoyable solve – yesterdays I found the hardest one in a long time and only finished it this morning so it was good to have something relatively straightforward to get my teeth into and restore some confidence. Thanks to setter and CS.
Hello. Thanks for all the comments, and thanks to Soo too.
NYDK
OUI Tres Bon !
the 25/2 scandal was my favourite .
Thanks NYDK and CS.
I also loved “Time of Rest”
Very late on parade today because of other commitments but, unlike the rest of you, I found this a bit of a struggle. I put it down to the fact my mind was on other things because it was fairly clued. To my surprise, I got the 25/2 down linked clue immediately but the other one held out a lot longer. Unlike Brian, I did not think 9d was a dreadful clue and it gets my vote for COTD.
Thank you, Door Furnishing in New York for the challenge. Thank you, CeeSoo for the hints.
A really enjoyable solve that had the edge taken off by 16d causing a dnf. It involves something I despise, all the more because of it’s frequent use in crosswordland. Hey ho, still a great crossword.
Thanks to all.