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DT 31013 (Hints)

by crypticsue  

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31013 (Hints)

The Saturday Crossword Club (hosted by crypticsue)

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One of those Saturday Prize Puzzles where you had to think a little harder about some of the clues.  Only one linked clue so I leave it to others to decide whether this is the work of NYDK

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           Actress taking lead aboard explosive vessel (7)
The chemical symbol for lead goes aboard or between an explosive and a vessel

5a           Old relative in tank going from place to place (7)
I’m hinting this purely so I can say that the relative in question isn’t necessarily old!  Insert her into a tank

13a         Acknowledged grass should cover small garden feature (9)
A type of grass should cover the abbreviation for Small and a garden feature

17a         Article seen with crisis on the horizon (5)
An indefinite article and a crisis or highest point of something

18a         Comprehensive: where one learns poem shortened by a line (9)
An abbreviated place of learning, a ‘shortened’ poem, A (from the clue) and the abbreviation for Line

22a         Welsh lad around clubs avoiding booze ban (7)
A slang Welsh word for a lad goes around the abbreviation for the card suit of clubs; the abbreviation meaning that someone is avoiding alcohol is added at the end

28a         Manage Ulster county in need of regeneration? (3-4)
A synonym for manage and one of the counties in Ulster situated in Northern Ireland

Down

1d           For this person, more difficult to keep nothing (7)
A one-word way of saying more difficult ‘keeps’ the letter representing nothing

2d/12a   Lunatic went on Eurostar perhaps for continent early (5,7)
An informal word meaning crazy (lunatic) and part of a verb meaning travelled by Eurostar perhaps

5d           Nero’s sex position 500 came to see? (7)
The numerals a Roman like Nero would have used when they wanted to show the number they would have called sex, a position or situation and the Roman numeral for 500

15d         Grey whales perhaps having traditional ideas? (3,6)
Grey here is a slang word for ancient followed by a group of whales, perhaps

17d         As seen at the start in revised Racine (7)
The letter at the start of Seen inserted into an anagram (revised) of RACINE

20d         Dead right leg – not right now? (5,2)
Deceased, the abbreviation for Right and the side of a cricket pitch also known as the leg side

24d         Have advantage over United in scoreless game? (5)
A three-letter abbreviation for United inserted into what a scoreboard would show for a scoreless game

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: CORPS + WRECKED = CORRECT

83 comments on “DT 31013 (Hints)”

  1. Really enjoyed but tough in places… thanks Sue for your guidance… I still don’t really get the first part of 5d – the Nero but – I think I am missing something obvious!

      1. Sorry Sue, I don’t get 4d either, I know its hard to hint without spoiling, but anything further would be great.

          2. It works for me if ‘sex’ is replaced by ‘six’, but I can’t see how it works with the original clue, please help…..

            1. Once you remember where Nero was the Emperor, you should realise that you need Roman numerals, firstly for his word ‘sex’ and then for 500.with a ‘position’ in between them

              1. That’s the bit I can’t fathom, why do the first two letters of the answer (read as roman numerals) = sex?

                Can’t help thinking I’ve got some kind of block here….

                  1. Me too belatedly. I thought that in the first place but Mr G said no so must have asked him in the wrong way.

              2. If you got 5a first it works out.
                But I have to confess that I cant see why 1a is 1a although I guessed it. The hint confirmed.
                Where on earth did 25a come from. Guessed it but as a humble law abiding Brit I would say it is more likely to be the target of the US Agent.

  2. This was definitely a bit trickier than the average SPP and all the better for being so.
    I found most clues required a bit of thought as there were very few bung-ins.
    The leading lady in 1a got us off to a good start and I liked the abridged poem in 18a and the Welsh lad on the lash in 22a.
    My thanks to the setter CS.

  3. Quite brilliant, enjoyed every minute of it!

    Off to a great start with the enchanting 1a, never has there, or ever will be such a beautiful person as her.

    Not a duff clue anywhere, dying to see who set it.

    My two of the day were 3d and the wonderfully misleading 17d, great puzzle, great fun, hope tomorrow’s is even half as good.

  4. Curate’s egg day today for me. It was one of great extremes with clues ranging from excellent to those earning loud hmms (including several with bizarre surfaces), and everything in between.

    I suppose I should be pleased not to have seen a vague boy or girl for some considerable time but it still grates when one crops up as in 10a. It’s a pet peeve, to use an apposite phrase which cropped up in a recent puzzle.

    My ticks went to 13a, 18a, 21a, 22a 1d, 5d &14d.

    Thanks to the setter and to CS.

    1. Hi RD

      I know I’ve asked you before but I can’t remember what you said….

      A recent clue said ‘US state’ which meant you had to pick one of the 50 abbreviations which, to me, is much harder than a person’s name for two reasons:

      1. I don’t know a lot of the abbreviations (many aren’t the first two letters)
      2. There are way more (there are only about 20 or 30 first names that get used in crossies, maybe fewer).

      So, it’s a case of ‘Pick a state’.

      What’s your take on that?

        1. Fairy nuff.

          ‘Pick a whatever’ doesn’t bother me in the slightest.

          I find it interesting (if that’s the word) that some people, like your good self, take particular issue with names as opposed to all the other big groups of which there are quite a few.

  5. I found that the easter n half went in relatively quickly but 3 have had to leave the puzzle and go back to it to finish off the estern half. There were some chewy clues here with a lot of misdirection. For once I had no problems with the multi–word clue. COTD for me was the explosive actress at 1a , followed closely by the nervous drunk at 18d and the geographical clue at 26a. Thanks to the compiler for a good brain workout and to CSfor the hints

  6. Toughest in the NW, as it took a while before breakfast reminded me of 1a. Parsing Nero was a bit of a stretch but Super Sue has clarified things.
    I liked 17d too and the second chemical symbol too
    Whilst the relatives may not be old, they are at least older than two others in the family.

    Thanks to Setter and Sue

  7. My very limited knowledge of the periodic table helped today.

    So, my joint favourites today are 1a & 17d.

    Thanks to setter & CS.

  8. This took much longer to get into than often (seems to be the theme of the week for me) but I successfully completed it and very much enjoyed it. 17 d was my favourite but there were many with clever misdirection. I was glad CS gave the hint for 5d as I was not sure of the parsing.

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

  9. Very tricky. It didn’t help making a complete horlicks of the sw where a bung-in for 14d really set me back. Couldn’t parse 5d until I read CS’ comments, so thank you for the nudge in the right direction. I’ll award cotd to the legendary town in 27a. Thanks to compiler (doesn’t feel like a NYDK somehow) and CS.

  10. This was a splendid Saturday challenge with lots of multi-worders which are always good fun.

    I enjoy clues when the chemical symbol is used as a word like 17d (great clue) and ‘Welsh lad’ is quite superb.

    1a is of course a complete legend: she won her first Oscar in 1933 and her last one in 1981 which is bonkers and is the only person to have won four best acting awards in a lead role.

    My podium is 22a, 1d and 24d.

    MT to Rood Bonk (?) and she of the crypt.

    2*/4*

    1. Not forgetting the other 1a who deservedly won in 53 – Gregory Peck apparently insisted her name appear above the title fully realising a star was born.

  11. My goodness another struggle today. Think it is the old grey matter losing its elasticity.. my inability to spell the surname in 19 down cost me many wasted minutes. Whilst a hard slog, a most rewarding finish. Cod was the Eurostar at 2d. Many thanks to setter and Cryptic Sue.

  12. Excellent puzzle, so many good clues today.

    I suppose 5D would have to take first place for the entirely innocent sex reference, but there are others as described above, including the splendid ‘Welsh lad’. ‘Continent early’ was another. I could go on, but the list is genuinely a long one today.

    I think it must be NYDK, but let’s see.

  13. I found this tricky but satisfying.

    Favourite 14d….and timely (hope that doesn’t get me on The Step)

    Thanks to crypticsue … needed her help to parse 5d….and to the setter.

    Pleasant weather here….much cooler than of late which pleases me and no rain…which allows Mr Meringue to continue re-roofing the shed.

  14. A good Saturday offering. Couldn’t phase 17d until almost forgotten GCE chemistry from the early 1950’s surfaced. COD was the (not necessarily) old relative in 5a. Thanks to the setter for several smiles and to CS for the explanations

  15. I thought this was a great challenge and managed to finish without e-help. I did bung in 1A and 5D as they had to be what they had to be. The hints solved my inability to parse 5D but I can’t see the exposive in 1A. Am I chasing the wrong definition of explosive?
    Thanks for the hints and to the setter.

    1. The explosive is an abbreviation.
      If you have the correct answer, you should be able to look it up to confirm.

  16. The one (straightforward) multi suggests that it is an NYDK production but, for me, it seemed to be quite quirky in places as if, most unlikely, it was Dada a day early.

    Candidates for favourite – 1a, 9a, 27a, 2d/12a, 7d, and 19d – and the winner is 1a.

    Thanks to NYDK and CS.

  17. Super puzzle. Ticks galore – 1,11&22a along with 17d particular likes but 2d/12a has to be my pick of the clues,

  18. Very enjoyable if on the easy side.Many to pick from but 2&12, and 23a my favourites.Thanks to all .Ps I understand Nero’s sex life was complicated, just like the clue .!!

  19. Tricky but brilliant. Lots of ticks on the page so I’ll just opt for 2/12, 1a, 17a and 19d.

    Thanks to CrypticSue and the setter.

    I also enjoyed yesterday’s Cryptic but I was late home from a day in the spa town which was clued so didn’t comment.

  20. Well for this Saturday I found this puzzle, (presumably from NYDK), quite challenging. Took a long time to get going. I managed to get the multi word clue early on with a laugh as well! However there were a few clues where the parsing was not immediately obvious, but I worked out most of them.

    2.5*/4* for me

    Favourites include 1a, 5a, 27a, 2d/12a & 18d — with winner 2d/12a

    Thanks to NYDK & CS

  21. Hello. It is me. Thanks for all the comments, thanks too to Sue, as ever.

    As to the sex thing, for some reason I put myself through the ordeal of Caligula last night (on Amazon). Three hours of boring (so to speak) rot, and McDowell reckons it’s the best of all the versions. Anyway, if you’re still struggling, think ūnus, duo, trēs, quattuor etc.

    Cheers
    NYDK

      1. I thought the bestportrayal of Caligula wasthe old BBC serial based on I, Claudius and Claudius the God by Robert Graves. That was in the days when the BBC made great historical drama serials based on the works of fine authors. I didn’t mind paying the licence fee then.

  22. Shabbo – you are a cheeky monkey! I have just read your comments about me on Thursday – I was busy all day and didn’t get to see the comments until just now! Anyway, have just completed today’s sparkling guzzle and see a pen flying my way! So much to like, but 2d made me laugh. The new vicar has just removed all the pews in the west end of the church and intends to install a kitchen and lavatory. I cannot help hoping that the latter will be well soundproofed. I agree about the superb 1a, such talent. 25a was new to me but doable. Many thanks as I have just said, to The Master and also to the Mistress of the Naughty Step. And hoping for a little more respect for the frail and elderly from certain young sprog.

  23. Thanks to NYDK for a puzzle we solved reasonably quickly until we got stuck in the SW. Thanks also to CS. 14d we wanted to use a horse I photographed in its stable many years ago. Enjoyable brain workout. Our pick of the clues 2d/12a and 15d. Gary and Val

  24. Well this was a mindbend and I did wonder if I could even start let alone finish. However I did manage to pick them off one by one and it was a steady solve. I did love 2d/12a and the misleading 17d. I did wonder if it was a Zandio given some of the brilliantly quirky definitions but seems it is NYDK – a wonderful puzzle thanks so much and to CS.

  25. Wow, can’t believe I actuallly finished this after a very laboured start. In fact I nearly called it a day prior to finally getting lift off. Have to say some parsings escaped me but nevertheless managed to bung in and did eventually enjoy the challenge. SE presented slowest solves. Thank you NYKD and CS.

  27. Another excellent NYDK production with so many great PDMs.
    Struggled to get going in the north but the south yielded few problems.
    17d, 1d, 5d, 2d favourites today
    Thanks to NYDK and Sue
    3*/5*

  28. Second day in a row I’ve found it hard going, definitely a 4* / 3.5* for today. Needed a few of Sues hints to help me on my way.
    Clue of the day Geoffrey at 22a
    Thanks to Sue and setter

  29. A struggle to get going with today’s NYDK production. Only one solved after the first pass but enough to get me into it. I had the wrong first two letters at 5a but 5d showed me the error of my ways. My COTD is where to learn poems at 18a.

    Thank you, Big Apple door furnishings for another chance for me to have a go at The Mythical. Thank you, CS for the hints.

    Just spent a pleasant couple of days in Gloucestershire with a university friend and we met up with others for lunch yesterday. Unfortunately, I came back to pick Hudson up from kennels only to find he had been howling the whole time. Separation anxiety is becoming a real problem.

  31. An excellent puzzle. Bottom left took much longer than it should have but got there in the end. I thought 5d was briĺliant (eventually!) But 2/12 was most amusing.

  32. Got led astray by 14d (redacted)(never mind that the first 3 letters didn’t seem to make any sense). So stuck with it, and wondered for a couple of hours why I couldn’t solve the across clues going through it.

    Favourite of the day was the very elegant 17d

    1. Welcome to the blog

      You are asked not to include wrong answers or references to them when commenting on Prize Puzzles

    2. Welcome, Mark and don’t worry – we’ve made that mistake. Hope to hear from you again.

      1. Fear not Mark, you’re not the first to reveal s wrong answer and you won’t be the last. Many of us have erred thus

    3. I made exactly the same mistake. But took me too long to realise Kubrik’s horse wasn’t present.

      Such an enjoyable puzzle today. As ever with NYDK.

      Thanks Sue too – needed one nudge over the line.

  33. This was a real challenge but well worth the effort and extra time. Sadly needed help with 24d and 17a. Nearly every clue a gem and Nero’s sex, the Welsh lad, the lunatic on Eurostar and Racine’s revision were wonderful. Thank you NYDK and Cryptic Sue.

  34. I got off to a good start and was fooled into thinking this wasn’t going to be too challenging. Soon realised that I would have to put my thinking head on, and did need some help to finish. Challenging as it should be for a prize puzzle, but not mind numbing or requiring GK deep dives, so rather enjoyable. Thanks to setter and CS.

  35. Lots of very clever and enjoyable clues. I actually solved this one a bit quicker than my normal, so I was surprised to read that many of the regulars struggled. I too was not aware of the sex reference in 5d (I’m easily distracted!), but the answer was clear from my checkers. Many excellent clues, but for my favourite I’ll go with 1a and the beautiful photo in the hints.
    Thanks to setter and to crypticsue

  36. I must be getting sharper .. I found this one quite easy ! Very enjoyable working out why some of my answers were right —eg 5d and 22across

  37. I was convinced for ages that 14D’s horse [redacted – the red instructions at the bottom of the hints ask you not to include wrong answers in your comments on Prize Puzzles] A pleasing finish though in the end, and the first SPP I’ve finished without electronic aid (having just started cryptic-ing last summer).

  38. Another excellent NYDK cryptic which I enjoyed from start to finish. No quibbles for me.
    2d/12a really made me laugh and is on my podium, as are 1a, 13a, 22a and 27a; 3d, 5d, 8d, 17d, 18d and 19d.
    Much appreciation to NYDK for a super puzzle. Many thanks to crypticsue. I didn’t refer to the hints but they are invaluable.

  39. Excellent puzzle with clever clues. I would be interested to learn how these crosswords are compiled.

  40. Very very very late on parade but have to comment. Simply wonderful. When the 17d chemical penny dropped, it damaged the floor!

    Belated thanks NYDK!!!!! And CS!!

  41. Late on parade having saved this in case my son wanted a go at something Not Elgar.

    A super puzzle, with 5d the standout (once CS has reminded me about the that particular piece of non-innuendo). Definitely worthy of “Prize” status.

    Thanks NYDK, and to CS once again.

    1. Welcome to the blog

      Look up the first two letters of the solution in a dictionary or list of abbreviations

      1. If you got 5a first it works out.
        But I have to confess that I cant see why 1a is 1a although I guessed it. The hint confirmed. Got it at last. The explosive was the easy bit.
        Where on earth did 25a come from. Guessed it but as a humble law abiding Brit I would say it is more likely to be the target of the US Agent.

  43. 5d I too struggled with this one ,but after reading the comments from others, the answer finally came, very good

  45. Could someone give another clue as to why on god’s green nero’s sex has anything to do with the clue?

    The Roman numeral for six, sure but why sEX? Is this a typo that has escaped the editor? Clearly not as everyone here seems to accept that sex can be swapped in for sox which even by a log stretch is odd. What am I missing?

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