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DT 31067 (Hints)

by crypticsue  

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31067 (Hints)

The Saturday Crossword Club (hosted by crypticsue)

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Another enjoyable Saturday Prize Puzzle, including one clue that made me laugh.   Parts of it did take a little more thinking about that some weeks, but surely that is a good thing when there is a prize at stake?

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           Steamy thing old boy recalled: hard water in leaky tap? (6-6)
A reversed (recalled) abbreviated Old Boy and some very hard cold water inserted into a description of a leaky tap  I would tell you what my mother used to call these steamy things but that would be an extra clue so you’ll have to wait and read the review on Friday

10a         Box containing small part for pot (9)
A box ‘contains’ the abbreviation for Small and a part played by an actor

11a         Pegasus and what he does for his parasites? (10)
As the clue says, what Pegasus is and what he, unlike his ‘relations’, does!   My favourite clue of the day

19a         Small, unspecified number on call regularly crossing M1? (7)
An abbreviated unspecified number and the regular letters of oN cAlL between which is inserted (crossing) M1 (from the clue)

21a         Devil of a shaving mishap? (4)
Another name for the devil can also apply to a shaving mishap

26a         State backing obtained where satellite orbits (5)
A satellite of Jupiter goes round a reversal (backing) of a simple way of saying obtained

27a         Writer cast two ogres carefully (6,6)
An anagram (cast) of two lots of OGRE followed by carefully or thoroughly

Down

1d           Pipe runs current in lounge (5)
The cricket abbreviation for Runs and the symbol for electrical current inserted into a room with (alcoholic)refreshment facilities

3d           Seafood vacant cook stuffed in cabbages (7)
The outside (vacant) letters of CooK inserted (stuffed) in plants of the cabbage family

5d           Motley Crue ultimately in decline – it’s over (4)
Multicoloured or variegated – the ultimate letter of cruE inserted into a reversal (over) of a decline

7d           Vampires perhaps circling house in ludicrous descent (6)
A ludicrous descent from the elevated to the ordinary in writing or speech.  The animals of which vampires are an example ‘circling’ an abbreviated house

17d         Revolutionary prison in Low Country (6)
A reversed (revolutionary) slang name for prison inserted into the noise made by cattle (low)

20d         What to do when going to ground? (3,3)
Literally what to do when going to ground

24d         Manage personnel out of northern industrial region (4)
A German industrial region – a synonym for manage and the abbreviation for the personnel department without (out) the abbreviation for Northern

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:  FARED + INCOME = FAIR DINKUM

52 comments on “DT 31067 (Hints)”

  1. Just right for a SPP, I thought although I have not come across 7d before. Neither did I understand Motley Crue at 5d. The revolutionary prison in the Low Country raised a smile but my COTD is Pegasus and his parasites at 11a.

    Thank you, setter (NYDK?) for this week’s Saturday challenge. Thank you, CS for the hints.

    The Quickie pun was good.

  2. Well, I wasn’t expecting that! Probably the most difficult SPP I can recall for ages. We’ve had easier toughies for sure.
    This will cause many to reach for the 17 & 12a.
    Plenty of very subtle clueing.
    The chick lit at 1a, the recollection of xxxxxxxxxxxx at 13a and the Spanish advice in 25a got ticks, as did the sausage sandwich at 4d, the Imagine composer at 8d, the often referenced industrial area at 24d and the moon in 26a.
    Whoever wins the mythical for this one will have earned it!
    Great stuff, my thanks to our setter and CS.

  3. This was tough and therefore a very satisfying solve.

    There were some things I haven’t heard of which is a good thing: 1a (great expression!), 1d and 7d. The two that gave me the most trouble were 8d (that Spanish city isn’t firmly ensconced in my nut) and 24d (another place I keep forgetting).

    My podium is 13a, 17a/12a with the gold going to the beautifully crafted 27a.

    MT to Rood Bonk and she of the crypt.

    4*/4*

  4. If you had been attacked by the parasite in 11a it wouldn’t have been as much fun as this crossword.
    Thanks to Setter and Sue, time to resume the boozing with Elgar and Friends.

  5. This was certainly teasingly tricky in places as befits a SPP. I particularly liked 11a as it was a brilliant clue; but it also brought back an unpleasant memory of being bitten by said parasite on the hand, and it swelling up to resemble and artificial limb. This was a cracking puzzle that I thoroughly enjoyed solving, first clue to last.

    Many thanks to our setter and Sue.

    1. I was bitten on rge ankle qhilstcwaljing eound a bird sanctuary in Norfolk and we had to make an emwrgency drivee into town to get antihistamine cream after ny foot swelled up like a balloon. Nasty little blighters!

      1. My mate (who still insists on wearing shorts) occasionally gets bitten by the nasty blighters up the 2nd hole at our course. His legs are a sore sight to begin with but a whole lot worse after the bite as it plays havoc with his cellulitis.

  6. A very tricky SPP,which I did in the early hours of the morning. I really thought I wouldn’t t be able to finish but perseverance won out after putting it down, for a short break .at that point my last hold out the penny dropped for the Motley clue at 5d. Apart frrom rhat my COTD was the cryptic definition at 13a followed bythe wretched things at 11a. Thanks to the ccompiler and to CS for the hints.

  7. This certainly exercised the old grey cells, not quite what I had in mind for a Saturday morning! Some very clever clueing with the laugh-out-loud 11a taking pride of place with the two ogres hard on its heels.

    Thanks to NYDK for the wake-up call and to CS for the hints.

  8. It took me ages to get a foothold in this crossword and I must own up to using some electrons to crack a couple of the clues.

    Once I got going though I made steady progress and enjoyed the tussle. Very difficult to choose a winner, but I think ma’s hard stuff at 17/12 has to take first place.

    Thanks to the setter and CS. I’ll sit back and wait for the mythical now. :smile:

  9. 2*/2.5*. It’s good to be able to do crosswords again after a very brief hiatus now that I can see again. Unfortunately I found this a bit of a curate’s egg with some good clues and some hmms.

    The anagram indicator in 17/12 is rather dodgy to say the least. Surely “unspecified” is unnecessary in 19d. “Pens” in 8d looks like surface padding. I don’t think the definition for 23a quite works.

    On the plus side, my podium comprised 11a, 13a & 27a.

    Thanks to the setter and to CS.

    1. RD, are you sure you can see alright? There is no 23a and “unspecified” appears in 19a not 19d.

      Welcome back!

      1. Thank you, Stan (and Steve).

        Actually I can’t see that well with both eyes open! My prescription lens requirements have changed following the op so that I can see clearly now without glasses using my left eye but I still need my specs for my right eye. :wacko:

        However that’s no excuse! I meant 19a and 23d.

    3. Welcome back, RD.

      Re ‘sad’, I’ve given up commenting (well, almost) about AIs as setters have pushed it way too far with what they can get away with. I would understand it if there were, say, only 50 of them and they needed more options but there are over 1,000. I think this is a big mistake they’re making as it will put off rookies before they get into second gear. It has to stop as it’s very embarrassing but it won’t.

      I’m okay with 8d as I like its dual role of what a composer does and a container indicator even though ‘in’ is also one.

  10. Good morning. I raced through most of this with too many bung ins for my liking! 7d required help. Parsing was more difficult and I am still struggling with a few parsings. 11a,17a, 27a, 6d and 17d are all worthy of COTD. Many thanks for the review and to the setter

  11. For me, etc, a little more challenging than recent NTSPPs even with the solve starting with 17a/12a ‘leaping’ off the laptop screen before the puzzle was sent to the printer.

    Candidates for favourite – 17a/12a, 21a, 25a, and 18d – and the winner is 21a.

    Thanks to NYDK and CS; I am looking forward to your revelation of your mother’s term for 1a.

  12. A nice puzzle dotted with fine clues.

    1A’s hard water I thought pretty neat for a starter, with 11A, 17 12, 3, 4, 19 & 20D providing stiff competition. Most enjoyable!

    Thanks Sue and setter.

  13. This was something to wake one up. Some great clues . Loved looking at those satellites at Herstmonceux so favourite is 26 across. What a way to begin with 1 across. It just kept giving. Did parse 7 down but checking the definition was able to learn the precise definition. Never too old to learn. Thanks to NYDK for a worthy crossword and CS.

  14. New word for me at 7d, but couldn’t be much else from the clue.

    Last one for me (which took an age) was 24d, which dam near bust my weekly run of completions, I was all for looking at the hint, but Mrs TC said ‘ Just wait a while and it will just drop in your lap’ glad she did as it did just that after a ten minute break.

    Great puzzle at the very extremity of my ability, so glad I got it, many thanks to the sadist who set it today, great fun!

  15. I found this tricky but ended up with lots of ticks on the page. 7d was a new word for me but fairly clued.
    Top picks for me were 11a, 1a, 27a and 8d.

    Thanks to CrypticSue and the setter.

  16. For me again this week, I found this a challenging NYDK puzzle with some really hard to fathom clues. But when I did work them out it brought great satisfaction. I learnt some things too. All in all a good tussle.

    2.5*/4* for me.

    Favourites 1a, 17/12a, 27a, 1d, 8d & 19d — with winner 8d although I thought they were all really good
    Chuckles for 9a, 21a & 20d

    Thanks for the great puzzle to NYDK & CS for blog/hints

  17. I found this very tough and left it and returned to it between bread making and flat pack assembly. Groan. I got there in the end all bar 5d which I couldn’t see for toffee until I consulted the hints. As with others, 11a gets my vote for cotd with 1a, 8d and 23d raising a smile. Thanks to NYDK for the brain mangling and CS for the hints.

  18. Found this a right challenge – had to put it aside and come back to it a few times. Got there in the end. Perfect for a Saturday Prize puzzle. Thought the linked clue was an excellent anagram, and like others chuckled at 11a.
    Thank you setter – top stuff. And of course CS who’s hints I will now read

  19. Well they do say every day is a school day…….very enjoyable, but I got stuck on a couple through my lack of general knowledge, which is now improved in the areas of dentistry & astronomy (though I could have guessed the astronomy one from the other letters)………I particularly liked the clue for the 27a writer and the 17d low country.
    Thanks to the setter & Sue

  20. After a lengthy tussle with the Osmosis Toughie yesterday evening this seemed a relative breeze & assuming it’s a Donny production I found it if anything less tricky than previous weeks. As ever with his SPPs thoroughly enjoyable & with ✅s aplenty – 1,11,22&27a + 2,7&24d particular likes.
    Thanks to the setter & to Sue.

  21. This was the hardest Saturday offering that I can recall.
    I got there but like Steve never heard of 7d and spent ages trying to fit in “boiler” (can I say that) at 1a.
    No favourites today just pleased to finish, although 8d brought a smile.

  22. More or less sailed through the top half and the south took longer with 24d being my LOI. I liked the clue for the dreaded parasite and 5d was clever and of course the sad mourners were dead to my heart but Colette’s novel was my favourite. I was just sitting here in the sunny conservatory thinking I would go out and plant the last of the bulbs when it suddenly started to pour with rain! Hey ho. Have to rethink. Many thanks to NYDJ and Madame CeeSue.

  23. Hello.

    Thanks to Sue and to all commenters.

    I’ve just had an unfortunate run-in with a SARS-CoV-2 test kit, so heating on, several layers on, kettle on, and Lionesses footie on.

    Was wondering why I’m feeling so NYDK-nackered. With footer in mind, this is actually my Covid hat-trick. Three times now, all post-jab.

    Laters
    NYDK

    2. Sympathies, if it is the version I had a few weeks ago, you will feel pretty ropey for a couple of days. Just be thankful that Pegasus’ parasite didn’t get you too.

  24. A tricky SPP so I was glad that I had time to keep returning. a new word in 7d which needed checking after I did as the clue told me. 11a was brilliant and my favourite.

    Many thanks to NYDK, I do hope you make a speedy recovery, and to CS as ever for the hints.

  25. I wish I could claim to have enjoyed and finished this one, but I would probably get struck by lightning… Found most of it too chewy, but not surprising on a Saturday. Never mind, hoping for a friendly Dada tomorrow. Thanks to setter and CS.

    1. Ido sympathise, NYDK. I’ve had Covid twice after having been vaccinated both times, the second time was last year, within 10 days of having the jab. Hope you get better soon.

  26. I having challenges understanding the answer to 8d – I know the answer I just can’t get the parsing

  27. Tricky today – even the quickly pun – with the two ogres getting my vote for CoTD. Get well soon NYDK and thank you CS.

  28. 1.5* / 4* Best of the week for me, pitched just at the right level for a Saturday. Loads of top clues including 7d (wasn’t he in the 3 musketeers?), gin at 12 + 17a and also the writer at 27a

    Many thanks to NYKD and Sue

  31. Tricky in places but enough straightforward clues to get a foothold. Never heard of 7d and had to check but fairly clued, anyway I have now. Favourite was 11d, nasty little blighters but Avon skin so soft works. Thanks to NYD and CS.

  32. I found this very hard. Almost threw in the towel with 5 clues solved but glad I persevered and ended up with only 5 clues left to solve. Will have another go in the morning.

    Thanks to all.

  33. Finally finished what was a tough but no less satisfying puzzle. About 80% completed before I had to resort to the hints and also the dictionary. There is one entered clue of which I am not 100% certain but there we go. COTD for me, the leaky tap at 1a, not a term I had come across before but certainly brought a smile when it revealed itself. Other worthies were 7d, I came across the word in a comment about politicians which had me in fits, and 17d.
    As always, thank you to the setter and to CS for the hints.

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