DT 31037 (Hints) – Big Dave's Crossword Blog
View closed comments 

DT 31037 (Hints)

by crypticsue  

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31037 (Hints)

The Saturday Crossword Club (hosted by crypticsue)

+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +

A very black sky and a particularly heavy thunderstorm with loads of lightening means that this is probably a day to stay indoors and solve crosswords!

I really enjoyed solving this Prize Puzzle as there were lots of clues to make you think and a couple to make you smile – I particularly liked the surface readings of 15a and 19a.   I wonder who will agree with me?

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           Bad tweet bothers chap leaving Conservative authority (3,6,4,2)
An anagram (bad) of TWEET BOTHERS cHAP without (leaving) the abbreviation for Conservative

15a         Railway Children amuse themselves with school group (5,3)
A verb meaning to school and a group

16a         Down and dirty (4)
Depressed or obscene

19a         Northern origins in Open All Hours for Arkwright? (4)
The abbreviation for Northern and the origins in Open All Hours

24a         Wailing wraith, that woman in torment (7)
The feminine form of the third person pronoun (that woman) inserted into a source of misery or mischief

28a         Irregular mostly involved with Left? (9)
A member of an irregular force, usually politically motivated (involved with Left?) – an anagram (involved) of most of IRREGULAr and L(eft)

29a         Toast of lord made silly by rice wine? (3,3,5,4)
An anagram (silly) of OF LORD, the alternative word to by in multiplication sums or measurements, and rice wine

Down

1d           Resin from tree put in ground with nitrogen (10)
An anagram (ground) of TREE PUT IN with the chemical symbol for Nitrogen

6d           Skinful had on Burns Night? (6)
A cryptic definition of something encased in a skin and eaten on Burns Night

13d         Black dog barking in hall came to catch ball (11)
An informal term for depression – an anagram (barking) of IN HALL CAME into which is inserted (to catch) the ball-shaped letter

14d         Two poor grades produce decline (10)
Two poor grades and a verb meaning to produce

18d         On the warpath in uniform, spike the guns? (2,2,4)
The letter represented by Uniform in the NATO Phonetic Alphabet, a spike and weapons (guns)

21d         How’s that for charm? (6)
A request by cricketers to the umpire to give the batsman out or a verb meaning to charm

27d         Excellent reason to start with melody (3)
An adjective meaning first rate or excellent and the ‘start’ of Reason

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: SUITE + CAR + ERR + LOIN = SWEET CAROLINE

52 comments on “DT 31037 (Hints)”

  1. I found this to be tough and chewy. I didn’t understand all of the parsing but I’m not complaining – it is a prize guzzle after all. I did like the rook with different meat at 9a and that is my COTD.

    Thank you, setter for mangling my brain but I’m sure others will love it. Thank you, CeeSoo for the hints.

  2. Refreshingly challenging, this was the best SPP I can recall in a long time.
    A superb puzzle by a compiler at the very top of their game.
    So many cleverly constructed clues, I find it impossible to narrow down to a podium, let alone a COTD.
    This was an absolute pleasure to solve.
    Congratulations to our setter and my thanks to CS for the blog.
    (Sue, re 28a, the anagram is irregular without the last letter plus L).

  3. 2.5*/4.5*. A real belter of a prize puzzle which was a pleasure to solve with a few knotty parsings to unravel and some nice surfaces to enjoy.

    Many thanks to the setter (NYDK?) and to CS.

  4. I agree with Frankiemillwall – the best SPP for a long time.
    I liked all the clues, but I singled out 19a 23a 6d and 21d.
    Many thanks to the setter and to CS.

  5. A top-notch Prize Puzzle which I thoroughly enjoyed – thanks to our setter and CS.
    I really liked 23a, 2d, 6d and 25d with my favourite being the brilliant 15a.

  6. Well I tried toeave the multi-word clues until last, but was unable to make any headway with the northern half of the puzzle until an unspired guess gave me 1a wilst I did finish the puzzle, tthere is still sone parsing that I don’t understand. It wasn’t the most enjoyable guzzle I have ever done but I’m glad I didn’t give up and I did like the geograhical clyues at 9a and 10a and the anagram at 13d. Thanks to CS for the hints and to the compiler for a difficult challenge.

  7. Luckily I had plenty of time to solve this brilliant puzzle as it is tipping down here in Shropshire so no chance of getting out for a while. 12a was my final entry, and my top choice is a toss-up between 15 and 19a.

    Thanks to our setter for a great challenge and to Sue.

  8. What a great puzzle for a soon to be very wet day (clouds are looking ominous but haven’t started leaking yet). A bit chewy in places but still achievable.
    Top picks for me were 19a, 14d, 22d and 11a.
    I liked the Quickie pun too.
    Thanks to CrypticSue and the setter.

  9. Some very clever clues in this enjoyable puzzle. Thank you to CS and setter.
    I have washing hanging out, cloudy but dry, so far!

  10. What everybody else has said! No idea how long the solve took as I was trying to multitask and once again I proved that one task at a time is much more efficient but I will give ***** for enjoyment.

    Favourite – a toss-up between 16a and 25d.

    A shiny new King Charles Toonie on NYDK being the setter. So thanks to him, or whomsoever, if my Toonie goes down the drain and thanks to CS.

  11. A really enjoyable puzzle, some real head scratchers but very satisfying to complete. 19a was my favourite, 15a was cleverly worded and I thought 19d was also very clever.

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

  12. Thanks to the Setter and CS. A challenging yet doable puzzle. COTD 19a, short but sweet! Now what to do on this very rainy Saturday (in Devon)?

  13. Most enjoyable SPP affording several good laughs along the way. Top clues for me were 9,15&19a plus 6&21d.

    Thanks to NYDK, presumably, and to CS for the hints.

  14. Late to comment but wanted to add my thanks to the setter for an excellent puzzle that had a perfect level of difficulty (for me) and some lovely humour throughout.

  15. A hat-trick of 5* crossies. What a treat!

    I don’t recall giving full marks ‘on the bounce bounce’. We are very spoilt at the moment.

    The 1a at T Towers must be chuffed to bits with their squad of setters. Cryptics are most certainly in rude health.

    Back to the puzzle….

    I never knew the synonym for fool. I only use it as a much more aggressive insult.

    My LOI was 13d which went straight on the podium with 21d and the stupendous 19a: Arkwright….bravo setter!

    MT to The Pantheon resident and she of the crypt.

    2*/5*

  16. I thought that this Saturday puzzle was tricky in spots but it also had quite a few laughs in many of the answers when the penny finally dropped.

    2.5*/4.5* for me

    Favourites 19a, 24a, 26a, 6d & 25d — with winner 6d
    Laughs from 10a, 24a, 26a, 29a & 25d as well as a few others too

    Good solve and a fun puzzle.

    Thanks to NYDK(??) & CS

  17. The SPP never seems to stray far from excellence, but this one was right on the money.

    Not a workaday clue among them, I’ll reluctantly single out 19 and 29A, 6 and 25D. Superb puzzle.

    Thanks setter and Sue.

  18. Absolutely brilliant guzzle, loved it – even the ones that really made my brain struggle. I’m not sure that 23a means that but it can only be what I entered so roll on the next pen. I put something else in for 16a until I got the excellent black dog and was glad I had used a pencil! So many ticks and stars but the sweet simplicity of the three letter 27d was a pearl. Big thanks to The Setter and the tireless CeeSue.

    1. Hi Splitseeze

      23a initially threw me.

      Reverse the first two words, leaving the M of More as a capital letter. Then split them with ‘by’.

      It’s a beautiful construction.

      These setters are so damn good.

      It’s an art form that’s almost poetic.

      1. I must admit, TDS65 I didn’t see it that way but can’t say more because of the Naughty Step.

      2. I don’t understand your comment as 23a is simply a
        work by More hidden in the last two words of the clue

        1. Can’t say I’d have answered that correctly in a pub quiz but figured as much & Mr G gave it the 👍. I don’t get Tom’s reply to DG either.

          1. Day Zee wasn’t sure that she got 23a correct.

            So, I was giving her a hint without having to sample one of CS’s calorific delights on the dreaded step.

            1. Actually I didn’t see it at first and had to get out of bed to go and get the paper to see if I had the clue number wrong. I was just about to write that I had no idea what you meant when it hit me like a sack of potatoes. You are absolutely right TD, it is perfection. CeeSue has put it in a nutshell. 🥰

  19. Agree with TDS65 re the 3rd 5* enjoyment rating on the bounce. Somewhat relieved to find others didn’t find it a breeze either. Neither anagrams at top & bottom leapt out & that set the tone for a pedestrian solve that extended well into ** time. ✅s aplenty – top spot goes to Bobby, Phyllis & Peter at 15a with 9&19a plus 2,3,13&14a other particular likes.
    Thanks to the setter (Donny methinks also) & to Sue

  20. Agree with others that this was a superb puzzle and nicely chewy also for a gloomy day. Thanks to the setter and CS

  21. Well I agree with the majority of the commentariat that this was an immensely enjoyable (if challenging in places) puzzle.
    I am however stuck on my last answer – 4d. With all the checking letters I have two possible words to fill in the last remaining blanks but, as I am unable to parse the clue to fit either of my words I’m not sure which one to plump for. Can anyone risk the naughty step to help me out? Thanks!
    Thanks also to the setter and to CS!

    1. I’m struggling to think what your alternative is Arthur. Your correct one is a beheaded synonym stuck in a conclusion. Not sure if that’ll get me banished to the step.

      2. Clang!
        Thanks Huntsman!
        I have just driven back to London from the depths of Kent, and the two hours or so since I read your comment allowed me to see the light. I was obsessing over a particular letter (as I thought was suggested by the clue) having been removed from the synonym, as well as two possible tenses of the same word which both fit the checking letters… I can’t say more – and there’s no cake now if I get sent to the step, so it’s not worth the risk!
        Thanks again!

  22. Quite chewy in places and not helped by having to put it down for lengthy periods to do other bits and pieces during the day. The two long across clues certainly helped in cementing the solve. Many excellent clues so picking a podium is like trying to pick a favourite child, not easy, most of the time. However I can’t overlook an honorable mention to 29a which is a belter. Thanks to NYDK and CS

  23. The big one across the top fell easily, the bottom was a different kettle of fish.
    Going with CS, 19 and 15a were my gems from a sparkling selection. I did think that 9a might be where 19a was filmed but I was wrong.
    I also liked the sneaky way that NYDK? concealed the necessary capitalisation of 23a by putting it at the start.

    Thanks to Sue and setter.
    Stair rods all day here, I don’t know why I just bought new tinted glasses 🤓 if this is the weather we get.

  24. A near completion but got stuck on a couple so had to resort to CS’s hints and further reference for 12a. I was surprised that the reverse bit of that clue was allowed or am I being overly delicate! Also, I got 29a quite quickly but identified it in its mother tongue, which didn’t fit, so a little help there.
    That said, I did enjoy the puzzle with my favourites today being: 1a, 23a, and 21d.
    As always, thank you to the setter and to CS for the hints.

    1. Hi FB

      I didn’t know that fool was a synonym for the reverse dooberry too. But, it is….as well as the ruder one you refer to.

  25. Fun solve and after all these years I now know more about that tree resin, always thought it had a petrol base! Thank you compiler and CS

  26. Difficult but doable but in retrospect it actually didn’t take us that long to complete, we did enjoy it though. Lots of candidates for favourite but we’ll go with 29a. Thanks to the setter and CS.

  27. Just when I thought I’d cracked the Prize puzzles (after a good run of success) this one came along. Eventually got there after three sittings and with quite a bit of help (thank you CS) but this was really a bit too tricky for me to enjoy. Some very clever clues though and I can see why others liked it so much. Thank you setter for a sobering challenge.

  28. That was quite a struggle but I did enjoy it. 1a took quite some unravelling. I left it and came back when the penny dropped as to what was needed. Wasted time looking for a Burns Night tipple in 6d. 25d was amusing Fav. I too liked the Quickie Cockney pun. Thank you setter (look forward to knowing who) and CS.

  31. 2* / 4* Terrific Saturday challenge, pitched at just the right level for a prize crossword. Lots to enjoy but favourites are 21d howzat, 29a toast and because I’m looking after a black dog 13d.
    Thanks to Sue and setter
    ps excellent quickie pun

  33. Solved in a misfiring sort of quick quick slow falter. Thought 20a was a bit of a gimme but
    I need them sometimes and it resolved 18d which cleared 24a and…thats what I mean.
    Don’t think I’ve ever been to 9a but who knows – maybe its like 23a.
    **/****

  34. You should visit Wentworth Woodhouse near the town Andy; it’s a gem. My husband has just parsed that one for me (he’s not into cryptic puzzles at all, so it’s amazing) which is why I was on here to see if anyone could help me. Not needed now thank you. Quite a tortuous puzzle but very interesting. I liked 19a, 25d and 27d.

Comments are closed.