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DT 30977 (Hints)

by crypticsue  

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30977 (Hints)

The Saturday Crossword Club (hosted by crypticsue)

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The weather is decidedly cooler this morning and the lovely blue skies have vanished behind the clouds so probably a good day to catch up with things you put off because it was so hot, or just do crosswords!

I have a fair idea who set today’s Prize Puzzle but wait to see if others agree with me and/or the setter turns up to take ownership of it  Update:  I have now changed my mind after being alerted to the presence of a second pun in the Quick Crossword

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           More than one sweet smell annoys (7)
Slang words for an unpleasant smell and a verb meaning pesters or annoys

9a           More studious king in Flanders? That is right (7)
The Latin abbreviation for king inserted into the forename of Mr Flanders, the Simpsons character followed by the abbreviation meaning that is, and the abbreviation for Right

11a         Scottish town with small hill? You must be joking (9)
The abbreviation for Small, a hill and a word as an expression of disbelief

23a         Spooner’s collapse stretched such as the Premier League? (3,6)
To work out how the dreaded Reverend would have arrived at the solution; you need to know that he’d have taken the first two letters of the second word

26a         Stand in front of a congregation? (7)
A reading desk found in a church

27a         Northerner say running back at all costs? (7)
A reversal (running back) of the abbreviation meaning say, for example, and a two-word expression meaning at all costs

28a         Inspire remake of The Bear (7)
An anagram (remake) of THE BEAR

Down

1d           Manual labourer is no longer spinning tool (7)
A manual labourer and a reversal (spinning) of a simple way of saying is no longer

4d           Does one collect the views of suckers? (5,4)
This unofficial vote sounds like it might collect the views of people sucking a particular dried stalk

5d           Model entertaining males in private (5)
A model made as a plaything ‘entertaining’ two lots of the abbreviation for Male

6d           Cut up rubbish material used for suits (9)
A reversal (up) of a verb meaning to cut followed by some rubbish

14d         In Germany, they finally sang hot opera (9)
The German word for they, the final letter of sanG and hot as some people might have said they had been in the recent weather

20d         Part of group infiltrated by FBI agents (7)
A group ‘infiltrated’ by agents of the FBI

24d         Caught in temptation to make money (5)
The cricket abbreviation for Caught inserted into an enticement

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 puns:

Top Row:   If you don’t know how to pronounce the Northumberland town, you may have trouble working out the pun  where  TIGHT + ALNWICK  = TITANIC

Bottom Row: PARLOUR + MEANT = PARLIAMENT

54 comments on “DT 30977 (Hints)”

  1. This didn’t feel like one from Big Apple Door Fixture but I know nothing. Just because there are no linked clues means nothing. Anyway, a very enjoyable solve and slightly easier than recent SPPs. Even the good reverend caused no trouble today. I did think 13a was more of a giveaway than anything because there doesn’t seem to be anything subtle about it but never mind. I had completely forgotten the fitting at 17a and I nearly put the wrong answer in 1d until 9a stopped me. My COTD is 4d with the views of suckers.

    Thank you, setter for great Saturday entertainment. Thank you, CS for the hints.

    I can’t make sense of the Quickie clue assuming I have the right answers.

    Carry water with you, guys!

    1. If you look at the bottom of the hints, I have added something to explain why quite a lot of people won’t be able to make sense of the Quick Pun

    2. I wanted to edit but it wouldn’t let me. I’ve pronounced the town in the Quickie pun incorrectly all my life!

      Thank you, CeeSue.

      1. Ah, the challenge of identifying surplus letters in place names before pronouncing them. Try this one in Norfolk – Happisburgh.

              1. The Coventry suburb I grew up in, Styvechale (sometimes/alternatively spelt Stivichall) was pronounced Sty-chull.

        2. Having spent many a happi hour there in my youth, I’m saying nothing! Especially as my surname is Hayes 😊

  3. I too have no certainty about the setter, but I did enjoy it. The Scottish town and The King of Flanders (Mathieu van der Poel topically during the TDF) Top of my podium. I doubt the cycling commentator who shares Mr Flanders forename has time for the crossword, but he would love that.
    The Northumbrian town is a pronunciation nightmare as it is different to both the River and where it reaches the sea.
    Thanks to Setter and SeeSue

  4. Could be NYDK even without the multi word clues. Howsoever, it was a fine guzzle, which covered a wide range of General Knowledge from a popular TV programme which I have never watched to tailoring and a dip into Wagner’s world. I liked the geographical lego clue at 11a, the cryptic definition at 13d, the lurker at 25a and the 4d lego opera. Thanks to the xompiler whoever they may be and ro CS for the hints.

  5. Best Saturday puzzle in quite a long time. Decent level of challenge, reasonably testing. Started in Newcastle, progressing CW and through Cornwall where one of its inhabitants raised their head, then back oop narth and finished with 5d – rock on!

    Great fun, very satisfying solve. Honours to 1a, 9a, & 14d, with COTD 4d.

    Many thanks to NYDK/the setter and to CS

  6. I thoroughly enjoyed this puzzle today.
    A couple of things I needed to confirm were the Scottish town (the wordplay led me there fairly quickly) and the Germany part of 14d.

    Many thanks to the setter and to CS.

  7. Fun but i found this tricky and was defeated by half a dozen clues most of which were hinted by CS. Particularly enjoyed the Spoonerism which I got though I couldn’t parse it without the hint. Many thanks to CS and the setter for an enjoyable challenge.

  8. After a long run of NYDK, a guess the setter Saturday with NYDK being a candidate for an enjoyable challenge – 2.5*/4*

    Candidates for favourite – 1a, 26a, 1d, 2d, and 21d – and the winner is, not very often that I will select an anagram but it gave me a big smile, 2d.

    Thanks to whomsoever and CS.

  9. 2*/4* A great Saturday prize puzzle, with plenty of excellent clueing.
    Favourites northerner 27a, studious at 9a and last one in the sweets at 1a
    Also liked the quickie pun confusing the southerners!
    Many thanks to Sue and setter

  11. A lovely puzzle with just the right amount of chewiness.
    This Southerner was ok with the quickie pun because there is a famous garden there which I’m yet to visit.

    Top picks for me were 2d, 22a, 5d and 11a.

    Thanks to CrypticSue and the setter.

    1. The Poison Garden is well worth a visit, but avoid school hols as it gets overrun by Harry Potter geeks

      1. Thanks for the warning. I try to avoid school holidays for most trips but wouldn’t have thought of that!

  12. A lovely puzzle to start a rather steamy day here in the Chilterns, certainly no sign of it being cooler at the moment so no jobs today, except washing which will be dry in an hour I guess. I found this highly entertaining with excellent examples of most clue types and although the top half was very slow initially I completed it all including the dreaded spooner.

    Many thanks to the setter and to CS for the hints

  13. 2*/4*. A very pleasant puzzle on a very hot day. Lots of ticks with 4d taking top prize.

    Many thanks presumably to Chris Lancaster given the second Quickie pun, and to CS.

  14. Your pun across the top was of course nae bother to we Geordies!
    Good to see the bottom one making a re-appearance! Thought that had died the death

  15. Great guzzle today. Was stuck on 17a for ages and ages Eventually realised I had spelt the last word of 4d wrong. I asked D how to spell it and he also got it wrong. Otherwise all good fun.Doing the puzzle on my iPhone in the car yesterday became too tricky when I had Wimbledon playing on the screen in one corner the size of a large postage stamp couldn’t see the ball or half the clues! Thanks to today’s setter for the fun ad to CS. Visit to Snape Maltings this morning and had to wear a sweater!

    1. No doubt you had no problem answering Senf’s question in Comment 1 above as was my case having lived in Suffolk for years!

  16. A very enjoyable challenge for a Saturday. I’m hopeless at spot the setter but it somehow didn’t feel like a Doorknob production. That said it had wit and charm aplenty. 16d and 5d raised a smile, but podium places go to 11a, 17a and 4d in top spot. Thanks to compiler and CS

  17. I haven’t done a Saturday crossword for a while now but seeing no linked clues, thought I’d give it a go. And pleased I did too, a fine puzzle indeed. Held up by stupidly spelling the second word of 4d incorrectly and wondering why I couldn’t work out 17a!
    I liked the hopeless romantic and 5d when the penny dropped…oh that sort of private!
    Thanks to Cryptic Sue for the hints and help parsing 27a. And thanks to today’s setter.

  18. I agree it was a great guzzle with 13a being my last one in and 6d my favourite as it brings back memories of my father! We have waived lunch as it too hot and George offered me a cold drink. OK I said, and he gave me a Coca Cola. I cannot tell you the last time I had one, but I did buy a pack recently for visiting youngsters. Not bad I said – ah, well, I put a good tot of rum in it, he replied. I am sure he is an alcoholic. Many thanks to the setter and CeeSue, enjoy the sun.

  19. For me this had a completely different feel to the last few weeks and was nowhere near as enjoyable. Finished it near enough in one sitting save 17a & 6d which of course came to me as soon as I picked it up again.

  20. I found this puzzle rather convoluted and was a bit of slog getting through it, at least for me.
    May be due to lack of sleep the past 48 hours.

    2.5*/3*

    Favourites 5a, 11a, 22a, 3d & 21d with co-winners 11a & 22a

    Thanks to setter and CS

  21. .. if’s roasting nkrth of the border at last .. warmest day for a long time .. if this is global warming bring it on … save me trips to Spain thus cutting my carbon footprint.
    Really enjoyed today’s guzzle .. maybe it was this morning’s sunshine sitting out in the garden … did I mention the weather here?
    The Sutherland corner had be beat for a while .. the Scottish town appeared in the “gloaming” … cotd 9a and last in. Doh!

  22. Managed to find time for this after grafting all morning in the hot sun putting up marquees and bunting etc. for our village bbq.
    Found this to be a tad more tricky than usual for a SPP, moving randomly around the grid as I went, rather than completing corner by corner as I often do.
    My COTD is the adult themed 5d.
    Just time for a shower and a change of clothes and I’ll be back out to put in a decent shift opening up the bar. It’s all go here!
    Thanks as usual to CS and the setter.

  23. Different feel to this one, as others have noted, so probably not NYDK hiding behind a veil of no linked entries. But we shall see! I’m with Frankie M for 5D, very good indeed.

    Many thanks Sue and setter.

  24. I thought that was going to be harder than it was, then seemed to get on the right wavelength. Great fun anyway. Favourites for me were 4d, 20d and 21d.

    Thanks to CS and whoever the setter is.

    1. Do you have any idea who the setter of today’s Saturday Prize Puzzle is? I’m Bamboozled?

        1. I’m sure he’s a fine, upstanding chap, whoever he is…

          Maybe we’ll see when the review’s written up tomorrow?

  25. Completed the job t not without some help from CS and the hints. The Spoonerism posed no problems but the Scottish town I was reading the clue the wrong way round. One or two others caused an almighty clang as the penny dropped. Was defeated by Flanders’s, being completely unfamiliar with the said show, I was thinking of the late Michael or Ypres.
    As always, thank you to the setter and CS for the hints.

    1. That should read ‘but not without some help…’
      My editing function does not appear to work.

  26. I’m afraid the ‘they’ in Germany was a step too far for this non foreign language speaker so had to look it up. Apart from that everything else was fairly clued. Favourite was 4d thanks to the setter and CS.

  27. What a nice surprise to find this challenging but solvable puzzle waiting, when I had girded myself in readiness for the usual multi link clues. Lots of happy faces in the margins and no sad faces, so a very enjoyable treat today. Thanks to the setter and CS.

  28. Happily chimed with this one for the fastest solve of the week & very enjoyable it was too for the short time it lasted. Shame my early doors entry was incorrect as a fat fingered mobile phone typo S for A clears the path for Steve in his quest for The Mythical. Thought it an excellent puzzle & agree with MG that it was the best SPP of recent weeks. Elegantly clued throughout with plenty of ✅s – 1,11,23&27a + 3,4,5,6,16&21d particular likes.
    Thanks to the setter & to CS.
    Ps Had to work backwards for the pronunciation of the Northumberland town to twig the top pun.

  29. Even with MrG’s help I made heavy weather of this but the North was the softest touch. It obviously dates me but I was working on a different Flanders for 9a. Wasn’t sure how Spooner figured in my 23a bung-in. Was sure rose must figure in 4d. Thanks Mysteryone and CS.

  31. I really enjoyed today’s puzzle and think I have got the Spoonerism right! Checked CS’s hints at the end so feeling fairly confident. The Northumberland town in the Quickie has a very good bookshop called Barters Books. Located at the old station. Well worth a visit and stopping for some refreshment.

    Many thanks to the setter and CS. Enjoy the rest of the weekend everyone.

  32. I thought this was excellent with several penny drop moments adding to the fun.
    2*/4*
    Will go with 11a as favourite. I did think a rather diverse range of GK was needed in places!
    Thanks to Sue and ?setter – i have no idea

  33. Got the first pun right away – it was canny!
    When I first moved to the north-east (Darras Hall, actually…) I got an evening job as a barmaid,
    and my first customer asked for a pint of Scotch. I told him not to be so silly………………

  34. I thought this was rather tricky in places. I made things difficult for myself by putting the wrong ‘man’ into 2d. Moreover, I didn’t know the ‘king of Flanders’, being unfamiliar with the show. Once clarified, all else fell into place.
    Many enjoyable clues. Top of my podium are 22a, 26a, 3d, 5d and 14d (my fave).
    Many thanks to the setter for the entertainment. You really stretched my little grey cells!
    Thank you very much for your excellent hints, crypticsue.

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