Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30851
A full review by crypticsue
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This puzzle was published on 15th February 2025
BD Rating –Difficulty **/*** – Enjoyment ***
NY Doorknob set this Saturday Prize Puzzle which I solved after an eight day break from crosswords – but looking at last Saturday’s comments, I may not have been the only one to find this trickier than expected
Please let us know what you thought
Across
1a Sound of gong a bit intrusive (10)
MEDDLESOME – A homophone (sound of) of MEDAL (gong) followed by SOME (a bit)
6a See 16 Down
10a Large ears reshaped in surgical beam (5)
LASER – L (large) and an anagram (reshaped) of EARS
11a Backed musical about Post Office worker (9)
OPERATIVE – A reversal (backed) of EVITA (musical) RE (about) PO (Post Office)
12a At sea, if able to, this rescues people (8)
LIFEBOAT – An anagram (at sea) of IF ABLE TO
13a Crumbs American soldier gives dog (5)
CORGI – COR (like ‘crumbs’ an informal interjection of surprise) GI (American soldier)
15a Stupid clobber dresses man and wife (7)
HALFWIT – HIT (clobber) ‘dresses’ ALF (man) and W (wife)
17a Rum delivery in case (7)
ODDBALL – ODD (rum or peculiar) BALL (cricket delivery)
19a One entering used to ground that’s flat (7)
TEDIOUS – I (Roman numeral for one) ‘entering’ an anagram (ground) of USED TO
21a At least two gentlemen of Verona? (7)
SIGNORI – The plural Italian word for gentlemen
22a Dark region in Museum Brandhorst (5)
UMBRA – Hidden in museUM BRAndhorst
24a Glance from affluent alien entertaining company (8)
RICOCHET – RICH (affluent) and ET (alien) ‘entertaining’ CO (company)
27a Bug inside container with eastern fruit (9)
TANGERINE – ANGER (bug) inserted into TIN (container), E (Eastern) being added at the end
28a What drug seller can say for example? (5)
IDEAL – A drug seller can say “I deal”
29a Artist embracing explosive goddess (4)
RHEA – RA (Royal Academician, artist) ‘embracing’ HE (High Explosive) – Rhea was the Greek Mother of the Gods
30a Supporter brings complaint about new player (10)
BENEFACTOR – BEEF (complaint) goes ‘about’ N (new), followed by ACTOR (player)
Down
1d Spy in Marilyn Monroe feature? (4)
MOLE – Double definition – I don’t think I’ve ever looked at Marilyn’s face that closely, but there is indeed a mole
2d Concentrated – failed to keep quiet (9)
DISTILLED – DIED (failed) to ‘keep’ STILL (quiet)
3d Mammoth damaged leg crossing a river (5)
LARGE – An anagram (damaged) of LEG ‘crossing’ A (from the clue) R (river)
4d Night owl determined to secure work (4-3)
STOP-OUT – STOUT (determined) to ‘secure’ OP (work)
5d Staff run out welcoming English conductor (7)
MAESTRO – MAST (staff) RO (run out) ‘welcoming’ E (English)
7d Colder in Canada in every respect for starters (5)
ICIER – The starters of In Canada In Every Respect
8/20d Wild cavalier is precise fighting men and women (7,3,7)
SPECIAL AIR SERVICE – An anagram (wild) of CAVALIER IS PRECISE
9d Eyeshadow for inspector? (8)
WATCHDOG – WATCH (eye) DOG (shadow)
14d Athlete fired by club (4-6)
SHOT-PUTTER – SHOT (fired) PUTTER (golf club)
16d/6a When is a word misused? Singular needed for 8 20 motto (3,5,4)
WHO DARES WINS – An anagram (misused) of WHEN IS A WORD followed by S (Singular)
18d Restitution united people over time (9)
ATONEMENT – AT ONE (united) MEN (people) T (Time)
20d See 8 Down
21d Hide treasure at last in South Island (7)
SECRETE – The last letter of treasurE inserted between S (south) and CRETE (island)
23d Crooner Crosby with energy for boozy bout (5)
BINGE – BING (Crosby) with E (energy)
25d Friend popular bringing tea round (5)
CHINA – A Cockney’s friend – CHA (tea) round IN (popular)
26d Slight noise made by drinker endlessly (4)
SLUR – SLURp (noise made by drinker) without the end letter
The connections are so ridiculously obscure that I just don’t find it fun any more. I bought the Sat. newspaper largely for the cryptic crossword, so shall not bother again. A pity, after several years of enjoying it.
You used an alias when you last commented two years ago
It’s a great shame, Pat, as you have such a great name for a cruciverbalist ‘Draw tap’.
It’s meant to be.
Now that this crossword is more than seven days old can anyone tell me where to find the solutions? There are several answers I still am completely unable to work out thank you.
You have asked this question on the full review of this crossword which clearly shows both the solutions and the parsing
3*/3* …
liked 9D “Eyeshadow for inspector ? (8)”
Well, it was tough but it’s given me great please to complete it, finally, nearly a fortnight later! I had to seek some help from the blog for 5D and 9D but I think if I’d persevered I would’ve got those too.
For me, the satisfaction with the cryptic is completing it after picking it up and putting it down many times because each time I do that I’m disengaging from the humdrum,
escaping and thoroughly relaxing. If I were able to complete it in an hour every Saturday morning, then it wouldn’t be fulfilling.
By the way, why are there any six comments for this prize crossword. Normally when I look through there are scores of comments. I am puzzled! I have not posted before.
Most of the comments on a prize puzzle appear on the day of publication. When the full review appears after the closing date for entries, most people have forgotten about the crossword as they have several more puzzles since they looked at this one
Didn’t really enjoy this one. Pity🤷♂️