DT 30989 (Hints) – Big Dave's Crossword Blog
View closed comments 

DT 30989 (Hints)

by crypticsue  

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30989 (Hints)

The Saturday Crossword Club (hosted by crypticsue)

+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +

A Saturday Prize Puzzle with quite a few anagrams, which may help or hinder solvers depending on whether they like anagrams or not!

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           Big wheels of finest metal (3,5)
Finest or best and a type of metal

10a/2d Dramatist rather oddly grabs antique brooch (6,6)
An anagram (oddly) of RATHER ‘grabs’ a synonym for antique and a brooch

14a         First victim: president after James B? (4)
To get the name of the first victim in the Bible, write the name of the president after James Buchanan in the same way as the latter appears in the clue

24d         Posh school fails to open – one in the eye for 10? (5)
A ‘posh’ school without its first letter

25a         Arrived unexpectedly going among Scots to drink (5,4)
Arrived unexpectedly inserted into (going among) the Scots form of to

29d         Shirker in Kansas City – right! (6)
A city in Kansas and the abbreviation for Right

30a         Stops one working in facts and figures (8)
The Roman numeral for one and the usual ‘working’ inserted into an informal abbreviation for facts and figures

Down

1d           Take care of deer and lion, say, from the south (6)
A reversal (from the south) of a type of deer and the animal of which a lion is an example

4d           Defence against main onslaught? (3,4)
A cryptic definition of something that stops an onslaught from the ‘main’

6d           Several overcome by river current like bore? (9)
Several ‘overcome’ in a Down solution by a river and the symbol for electrical current

15d         Tory wife, fit, big swimmer (4,5)
The colour associated with the Tory party, the abbreviation for Wife and fit and healthy

18d         Secured loan bank brought in without interest? (8)
A bank inserted into (brought in) to wearied by tedious things (without interest)

22d         Tolkien character touring a Spanish city (6)
The forename of a Tolkien character ‘touring’ A (from the clue)

26d         European clubs in black turn out (5)
The abbreviation for European and that for the card suit of Clubs, the latter inserted into a rich black colour

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: PLAY + JURIST = PLAGIARIST

 

73 comments on “DT 30989 (Hints)”

  1. I found this one very easy in some places, very tough in others.

    Stuck for ages on the last two, 30a and 26d until staring at them for long enough finally did the trick, last one in was 26d, hard to believe a five letter word with three already in it took so long.

    My two favourites today were 1d and the aforementioned 30a, great fun (in the end)

  2. What a joy today’s guzzle was! Not even the good reverend bothered me. Neither did the linked clue and it all became a steady solve. I did put the wrong first word in 12a and that held me up for a while but 2d corrected me. Too many good clues for me to pick a favourite but, if pushed, I would go for the fit Tory wife at 15d.

    Thank you, NYDK for a great Saturday challenge. Thank you, CeeSue for the hints.

  4. A very enjoyable Saturday PP which fell into place relatively straightforwardly apart from 25a, which I just could not parse. So thanks to CS for putting me out of my misery. I was not thinking along those lines. I think it’s now so good it makes a podium position alongside 1d and 15d in top spot, the latter awarded for top smile factor. Thanks to NYDK (?) and CS.

  5. This was a very pleasant solve that flowed from the off until I got to 25a. Jeepers! What a tough, tough clue that I had to biff. One that Elgar would have been proud to have constructed.

    I liked the reverend’s work and I didn’t know the synonym for brooch.

    Why the Os in brooch aren’t pronounced like those in broom is bonkers. Conversely, Frome should be pronounced like Rome not room.

    It reminds me of the pronunciation of zoology which most people get wrong as they say zo as zoo when it should be pronounced zoh.

    The quirks of the English language.

    Plenty to choose from for the pody but I’ll go with 1d, 8d and 18d.

    MT to, I assume, Rood Bonk and she of the crypt.

    2*/4*

    1. It seems I’ve been pronouncing zoology wrong all my life. Thanks for today’s lesson!

    2. Sorry Tom, not according to Chambers….. Zoology zoo-olˈə-ji or zō-olˈ. And it’s probably common parlance to pronounce it zoo.

      1. Hi MR

        Since Smidgegate, referencing Chumpers carries no weight with me whatsoever. I have no time for it.

        Take a look at what I found online….

        ”Traditionally, the first syllable of zoology has been pronounced as (zō), rhyming with toe. However, most likely due to the familiarity of the word zoo (which is merely a shortened form of zoological garden), the pronunciation of the first syllable as (zo͞o) is also commonly heard. In 1999, 88 percent of the Panelists found the (zō-) pronunciation acceptable, and 60 percent found the (zo͞o-) pronunciation acceptable, with 68 percent using the (zō-) pronunciation and 32 percent using the (zo͞o-) pronunciation in their own speech. Thus, while both pronunciations can be considered acceptable, the (zō-) pronunciation may be perceived as more scientific.”

        Basically, shortening zoological to zoo, pronouncing it like zoom, has caused this chaos as it should be pronounced like soho, i.e zoho which, of course, isn’t going to happen. So, when zoo gets lengthened to zoology, it should go back to z’oh’ology but it understandably doesn’t.

        Purists pronounce it z’oh’ology.

        It’s like Warwick that is obviously pronounced Worrick. When it went to America, its pronunciation got changed to ‘War wick’ which, I suppose, is their prerogative (not perogative – how many times???). But, when they tell us to pronounce Dionne’s surname as ‘War wick’ I say…

        ”That’ll be a big fat ‘No’. You can butcher it how you want but don’t you dare tell us to change the way we have pronounced it over the centuries!”

        Most DJs have bowed to it but Simon Mayo is hanging in there, refusing to honour the request.

        Mr Mayo is a top man.

        Btw, ignore my comment about not knowing the synonym for brooch. I added a t to the synonym which threw me.

        1. I thought of you this morning reading the article in the magazine on (no, not the one on nudity!) youth slang and The Etymology Nerd.

          1. Hi Day Zee

            I assume you’re referring to Adam Aleksic from The Big Apple who is great value?

        2. Well I may be a grumpy old git, but I have always, and will always, pronounce it as Zoh-ology. Indeed I will frown disapprovingly at anyone I hear pronouncing it incorrectly as Zooo-ology….

            1. Add me to those pronouncing it incorrectly – I know better now

              2. Blimey! Did this guy get paid per minute or something???

                Watching that was like pulling teeth. But, thank you for posting, Hoots.

                Chambers Schmambers…pah!

        3. I agree re Chambers.
          Regarding mispronunciation, Americans have a strange inability to say “Wimbledon”, invariably pronouncing it as “Wimbleton”…. Alex Trebek (sadly now passed) the then long time host of the very popular US Jeopardy quiz show, was criticized for ruling against contestants who pronounced it with the “t”. Of course we were cheering him on from the couch.

    3. Pronouncing zoology as in zoo makes a lot of sense because there is so much zoology in a zoo.

  6. The parsing of 25A escaped me for some time, but after reading through before entering for the mythical, it struck me and thus 25A became my favourite.

    Other than that, I had no trouble solving this in a reasonable time.

    Thanks to the setter and CS.

  7. 2*/4*. This was a fun challenge with only the parsing of 25a needing a bit of extra teasing out.

    Many thanks to the setter and to CS.

  8. After yesterday’s brain mangling from pro_imal this was most welcome relief!

    Candidates for favourite – 1a, 9a, 21a, 25a, 4d, 15d – with 25a being pipped at the post by 9a!

    Thanks to NYDK and CS.

  9. I don’t find three word Spoonerisms too easy, I never know what to do with the middle word. That was my penultimate solve and allowed me to see 1d.
    Good fun though, thanks to Setter and SeeSue. Is it NYDK?
    If the DT are running special puzzles from the archive for the centenary, will bloggers be doing double duty?

  10. I thoroughly enjoyed today’s puzzle. Although I had the answer, I needed the hint for 14A as I couldn’t parse it. Once I’d seen how it worked, I thought it was very clever. And I think that’s the finest Spoonerism I’ve come across in a crossword.

    Thanks to both setter and hinter.

  11. I thought this was a lovely puzzle and for once I was able to complete without any help at all. Favourites were 25a (once I’d finally parsed it), 14a and 6d. LOI was 5a as I spent a humiliatingly long time thinking there would be a U in the answer (spelling is not a strong point of mine). The reverend’s appearance was beautifully done too. Thank you setter and CS.

  12. I enjoyed this puzzle and for once a multi-word clue was one of my favourites (10a, 2d). Other picks were the Tolkien character/Spanish city clue at 22d, the Lego clue at 25a, the Spoonerism at 12a and the geographical clue at 5a. Thanks to our Saturday compiler and to CS for the hints.

  13. A relatively gentle SPP necessitating very little in the way of head-scratching. My favourite concerned the temp staff at the R&A followed by 25a & 18d.
    Special mention for 9a which I thought would particularly appeal to one of our commenters!

    Thanks to NYDK and to CS for the hints.

  14. An enjoyable SPP with a couple of clues that required a bit of thought to parse, namely the president in 14a and the plonk in 25a. Both were very pleasing to unravel.
    I also liked the playwright in 10a/2d and the Spoonerism in 12a.
    Thanks to the setter and CS.

  15. May I give a very enthusiastic recommendation for todays NTSPP by Shabbo which is fairly gentle but extremely enjoyable.

    2. Can I echo Gazza’s recommendation. I don’t normally have time to do more than one cryptic on any given day, but following Gazza’s endorsement I decided to give it a go.
      It’s a cracker! I defy you not to love it!

  16. Thank you NYDK and CS. For a Saturday we found this a quite easy solve. 10d and 2d is our COTD. Gary and Val

  17. Not too hard and not too easy. Just as I like it. Favourite was the glorious 12 across. Usually a little wary of a Spoonerism but they are doubly rewarding when teased out. Thanks CS for later checking and our setter.

  18. Aw din .. Am jist awa xxx post aff the solution in search of the Holy Grail.
    Thanks CS .. I bunged in 25a but coodnae figure it oot ah taw.

  19. Loved this today. Felt it is NYDK-Lite but definitely the knob of the door’s style. Apologies for ‘lite’, taken over by Americanisms. Too many ticks but if I have to go for one it’ll have to be two: 1d my LOI and 21d even though cryptic definitions are not usually my favourites.

    Thanks to CS and it must be NYDK!

  20. For me, 12a didn’t work – surely the answer, before being turned into a Spoonerism is a question not a reason (sorry, this is difficult to explain without ending up on naughty step) so shouldn’t the clue say “prepare to catch and ask Spooner….etc”?
    Anyway, tricky Saturday for me, but still enjoyable
    Thanks to Sue and setter

    1. Hi Sim

      By including a question mark, the setter knows he’s pushing it a tad.

      It’s not too far away, ie…

      1. Tell me the reason for your delayed arrival.

      2. Tell me the reason *** you’re ** ****.

      I think it’s close enough. Well, it is for me.

  21. Came late to this as we were watching the tense second test between Australia and the Lions while keeping half an eye on the fourth test from Old Trafford. When I finally got round to solving it, this was a relative breeze with no real hold-ups. It was, however, an absolute delight to solve with 19a my favourite.

    Thanks to our Saturday setter and Sue.

  22. Another enjoyable puzzle this week from NYDK, even though only one multi-word clue this week. Several chestnuts included and a Spoonerism for fun too.

    2*/4* for me

    Favourites 24a, 1d, 4d, 7d, 8d & 17d — with winner 9a .. of course!!.
    Other smiles from 13a, 21a & 24a

    Thanks to NYDK & CS

  23. Yes, yes, yes. Great guzzle with the Tory wife top of the pile. Many thanks to Setter and CeeSue – I didnt need you but enjoyed reading your parsings!

  24. A joyous thing, this puzzle. Enjoyed it hugely, though perhaps helped by solving it with a glass of wine while looking over the Amalfi Coast. I thought the surface and construction of 5a was particularly special, so that’s my Cotd. **/*****

  25. Lovely puzzle with a few where the parsing took longer than finding the answer, 25a being one which then became favourite.

    Many thanks to the setter and to CS for the hints.

  26. Pretty straightforward but enjoyable. Needed the hint to parse 14a but that’s all. Favourite was 9a. Thanks to NYD and CS.

  27. That was very straightforward, but enjoyable nonetheless. 5a the clear favourite for me.

    Thanks to CS and NYDK?

  28. I too found this one quite gentle and was pleased there weren’t too many linked clues for a change. As many others I really loved 25a my last one in . A clever clue once I had worked it out. Thanks to the setter and CS

  29. What a pleasant surprise to find this Saturday treat waiting for me at breakfast time, especially as I did not manage to get much sleep last night. This was a steady solve, albeit with some of the answers going in with the benefit of checkers (particularly 25a). 23d was my main hold up, being ignorant about all things rugby. Thanks to NYDK and CS.

  30. Ditto to FrankieM’s comment at 14.
    Thanks to the setter (Donny maybe) & to Sue.
    Ps I first came across the unexpected arrival/not from these parts synonym watching Connor McPherson’s terrific play,The Weir, which is being revived at the 10a/2d theatre with Brendan Gleeson making his West End debut.

  32. Great puzzle from NYDK. Every clue an absolute joy

    Can’t choose a favourite, but 5A, 14A and 15D were absolutely hilarious.

    VMT NYDK and Sue

  33. Great Saturday fun as always with the rugby clue as my favourite (and what a test of fitness on a full size pitch that particular format provides!) . Thank you NYDK and CS

  34. Very enjoyable, and having a quiet Saturday I have had time to complete while still worth commenting. I liked 1a, 4 and 15d and lots more. I definitely needed the checkers for some. I was foxed by the SE. Needed the hint to parse 25a. Slow to get 30a but eventually got the significance of the first word of the clue. It was my lack of rugby knowledge that caused me to look at the hint. Thanks NYDK and CS. After the success of the annual gathering are we having one next year. I know it was hard work for SJB who I’ve known since he was a mere JB. As I don’t comment often I may have missed something about Brian. Has he fallen out with us?

    1. Brian hasn’t commented for a while, WW. I don’t think anyone knows what happened.
      Which was your letter?

      2. It was about girl guide badges in the centre of the letters and there was a photo (not mine) with it.

        1. I wondered too as it didn’t seem like our usual Brian but as whoever was looking after the blog didn’t ask them to use another name as “Brian” was taken I thought it must be the real one!

          1. I’ve just checked and it was definitely the original Brian who commented the other day

  35. PS I must be having a quiet week. Managed not only to comment on the puzzle but got a letter in the paper.

  36. 1* / 3.5* A gentle clockwise stroll, but nonetheless very enjoyable an absolute pleasure to complete.
    Too many favourites to mention.
    Thanks to NYDK and Sue

  37. Very late to this today as had to attend a village duck race then hang around to photograph one of the organisers in drag in the river with the ducks for a charity calendar! He seemed to enjoy it!

    Needed CrypticSue’s help parsing 25a but no problems otherwise.
    Top picks for me were 14a, 27a, 5a and 15d.

    Thanks to CrypticSue and NYDK.

  38. Please can someone explain the Spoonerism? I still don’t get it. Thanks to setter and hinter.

    1. The answer is something you might do if you were trying to catch something. Do the usual Spooner swap of consonants and you get something to do with a delayed arrival at work. Hope that avoids the naughty step.

  39. What a lovely Saturday Prize Cryptic! Excellent from begining to end.
    My problem is knowing which clues to list from the many ticks on my printout. Here is a selection: 5a, 10a/2d, 14a, 19a, 27a, 30a, 15d (big chuckles here) and 21d. Also enjoyed 25a, although I am TT!
    Many thanks to NYDK for the super entertainment and to crypticsue for the excellent illustrated hints.

  40. Late to the party by a few days, but I managed to solve this one without hints (unusual for me). It definitely wasn’t too easy though, just the right mix for me. Favourites were 15d and 30a, many thanks to the setter.

    1. It’s a great feeling when finished unaided even if it takes a few days.

Comments are closed.