Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31073 (Hints)
The Saturday Crossword Club (hosted by crypticsue)
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After a very wet start to the day, things seem to be improving as I watch, as the sun is definitely trying to come out
I will be interested to see what other solvers thought of this Saturday Prize Puzzle and who they think set it
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 Perhaps Mr Owl ate my metal worm? (10)
All the words in the clue, apart from perhaps, are an example of the solution
10a Reckless rascal seen with dirty books (9)
A rascal, dirty in the sense of vulgar and some abbreviated Books of the Bible
14a Unhappy with quality? This won’t float your boat (3,5)
Unhappy or miserable and quality or excellence
21a A sailor lacking refinement reported for physical test (7,6)
A (from the clue) and homophones (reported) of a sailor and rough or lacking refinement
24a Apparently most ignorant, anyway (9)
Split this adverb 5,4 to produce a phrase meaning most ignorant
25a Stop Italy deporting all outsiders – that’s perfect (5)
Remove the outside letters of the first two words in the clue
27a Worn-out after study, lawyers enthralled by article (10)
Follow a verb meaning to study with a term for the legal profession, the result inserted into (enthralled by) a definite article
Down
1d Religious leader burst bubble at last (4)
Burst (a balloon perhaps) followed by the last letter of bubblE
2d Spooner’s pipe poor as weapon (7)
The Reverend Spooner would call this weapon the name of a water pipe used for smoking cannabis and a synonym for poor
4d Check two rivers for animal (8)
A verb meaning to check, a river and the abbreviation for River
11d A French mature Brie at last judged “perfect” (13)
The French word for A, mature or grown up, the last letter of briE and a synonym for judged
13d Led in by itinerant, everyone entering cul-de-sac (5,5)
An anagram (itinerant) of LED IN BY with an adjective meaning everyone or everybody
18d On vacation, has put up with a week going after game bird (7)
A reversal (put of) of the outside letters of HaS followed by A (from the clue) and an abbreviated week, all going after a game of skill for two players
23d Occasionally, golden eagle’s tail brings joy (4)
The odd (occasional) letters of GoLdEn and the ‘tail’ of eaglE
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
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The Quick Crossword pun: HEIGHT + REASON = HIGH TREASON
3*/3*. I found this quite challenging overall with the bottom half slightly tougher than the top, but it was good fun to solve.
I didn’t much care for 5d for a couple of reasons and 18d was a bit tortuous for my taste. I think 19a should be enumerated (2-6) – both Chambers and Collins concur.
The puzzle opened with a stroke of genius in 1a, and this is joined on my podium by 24a & 11d.
Many thanks to the setter and to CS.
From what you say about 19a, I reckon my answer must be wrong as I’ve got a plain old 8 letter word which can’t be made to fit into 2-6, but thinking about it now, I reckon I’ve just go what you mean, but still can’t work out how either answers fit the clue, maybe a non give away hint anyone?
For 19a, TC, start with an 8 letter word meaning “upset” and replace the letter that looks like a “one” with the abbreviation for European to give you a hyphenated word meaning “calm down”.
Aha!
Thank you.
Gotcha, I did have a wrong word to start with!
Wow ! Even with your explanation it’s difficult to discern.
Not sure you’d get that past Senf tomorrow 😀
An exceptionally fine SPP, containing the second contender for COTY in a week. 1a is such a clever clue. Take a bow, setter!
Plenty of humour to be found throughout, I also loved the Spoonerism and the bloke having an alfresco slash in 5d.
The Brexit debate was amusingly reopened in 19a too.
Really enjoyable and the sun has just come out. Happy days!
My thanks to our super setter and to CS for the blog.
I found it awfully difficult to get a start with this guzzle. So I put it down and tried again twice and it was third time lucky. I was very cleverly clued and my COTD was the cryptic all in one at 1a, what a sto ker. The homoophone. The homophone at 21a and rhe cryptic double meaning at 24a wererunners up. I alao ebjoyed the long aanagrqms and the Lego clue at 11a. Many thanks to the compiler for a challenging and enjoyable SPP and to CS for the hints.
I thought that was a tricky blighters. Contrary to RD I found the top trickier than the bottom as I was woodland at 1a and the Spooner eluded me for some time. 19a was a bit of a bung in but Rd’s help with the enumeration clarifies things. Thanks to Setter (probably NYDK but I’m hopeless at guess the setter) and to Sue.
For those who don’t get the blog emails please note the new date for the birthday bash
Woodland= word blind damn autocorrect.
Morning all from a sunny Henley.
Really enjoyed today’s puzzle – particularly 1a (an out loud “oh very good” when I figured it out). Can’t for the life of me get anything for 7d though….
Have used Big Dave’s site for a while to help during the week – but first time posting!
You have posted before (in 2009 as Emma B) but welcome back. I hope that your next comment will be less than 16 years in the future!
Welcome back
Welcome back and do stay, please. 👍
I cannot see in my naivety how quality/excellence links with my second word in 14a please?
I think it is a very archaic expression ‘ He was a gentleman of the highest ******’
Thx for that! Never come across that before and have just had a read re:-Tao Te Ching.
We learn something archaic every day
Everyday’s a school day in crosswordland.
Hi Jim, good to hear from you after quite some time. I hope you are keeping well.
Very well RD – I hope you and yours are also well. I agree with your comments about the SPP and loved the 1a clue. Excellent stuff.
It is the 17th! Definition in my BRB App
I believe it was originally a phrase relating to gem quality, e.g. “Of the first …..”.
Generally quite a toughie for a SPP.
First pass yielded little but second run through made for steady and enjoyable completion.
1a COTD.
Many Thanks to setter and CS
Oh no! I was hoping for hints for 6a and 19a. Am I being really dim? I thought 1a was extremely clever.
I still need help with 19a too. I think I have the correct answer, but don’t have a clue why?
I have got it – thanks to the suggestion of enumeration. I was working on replacing the vowel but trying to find a word without hyphenation.
Me too with 19a, see my reply to RD at 1.
I have just got 6a. Had it as the only possible answer but couldn’t parse it. It came in a flash!
Hated this until I got about three quarters of the way though, and then I started to see how good it really was.
Second to last one for me was 1a, just could not see it for ages, but brilliant when the penny finally dropped.
The only one I thought was a bit vague was 6a, but with the letters in it, it couldn’t be much else.
Good fun (in the end) for a very sunny Saturday (here in Sandhurst anyway)
Many thanks to our setter today, apologies for not liking it at first!
I am pleased to see others found this tricky to get started on, with persistence I finally broke my way in and then realised how clever many of the clues were, particularly 1a which only fell once I had the checkers.
I am not sure of the parsing of a couple (so maybe they are wrong) but at least all the boxes are full.
Many thanks to the setter and to CS for the hints.
That was tough! 1a was a humdinger that took a while to arrive but obvious once solved. Like Moose, I don’t get how the second word in 14a relates to quality. I did like the two rivers at 4d, the burst bubble at 1d and the bit of leg at 22d. However, my COTD has to be the clever 1a.
Thank you, setter for the brain mangling. Thank you, CeeSoo for the hints.
Two half crowns on this not being the work of NYDK. But, as to who it might be, as my ancestors would say, je ne sais pas.
A good SPP challenge, with a little head scratching – 3*/3.5*
Like others, I was confused by 19a but eventually I understood the correct analysis of the clue and I agree on what the enumeration should be.
Candidates for favourite – 1a, 6a, 15a, 27a, 4d, and 11d – and the winner is 11d.
Thanks to whomsoever and CS.
Thanks to the Setter and CS. Pitched about the right level for a prize puzzle. COTD 1a. LOI 1a. Now we can get on with our day!
Down clues easier than across clues first off, still not quite getting 1 across (silly me). British people will probably find 3 down easier than our friends across the pond. Just got the 1a. It is brilliant!
Welcome to the blog
Welcome from me, as well, DMcW. Please do comment again. 👍
Welcome from me too, hope you post again
What a great Saturday crossword!
1a kicked things off superbly with the next across clue, funnily enough, being my LOI. Ooo, those four letter gremlins!
Despite all the chat about 19a and its enumeration, I still can’t work out what it has to do with European. Are the first two letters saying an English word in French, perhaps?
Oh, hoo nose.
5d of course appealed to my puerile sense of humour and 18d was a splendid Lego clue.
I’m spoilt for choice but I’ll go with 1a (of course), 27a and 22d (wey hey!)
MT to the supersetter and she of the crypt.
2*/5*
it is simply replacing one vowel with the vowel used to denote European. I got this but until the advice about the answer being a hyphenated word, I just couldn’t get it so you are not alone!
Typo in your email address sent you into moderation
Thank you, JT.
I just couldn’t see it.
Took me a while to remember how the second part of 14a related to ‘quality’ although I see that Rusty got there long before I did. Can’t say that I was as enthusiastic about 1a as many others seem to have been but there were several other clues that earned my rosettes – 24&27a plus 11&18d.
Spent much of the morning on a video call to my IOW based daughter whose birthday it is today. Nothing more guaranteed to make you reflect on how old you are than the realisation of how many years your children have managed to clock up!
Thanks to our setter and to CS for the hints.
Boy, that was tough. A couple of dodgy bung-ins with attendant mis-parsings didn’t help completion either. This was a puzzle where sheer determination was rewarded with a degree of satisfaction on completion. Given the graft, I’m not sure I can rate the enjoyment factor that high albeit I can appreciate the compiler’s skill. 1a doesn’t make my podium, given its excellence it has its own pedestal. Subsidiary podium places go to 5d, 20d and 10a. Thanks to compiler and CS.
I’m certainly not convinced this is a NYDK offering, but then again, I am no expert. For the most part the solve was smooth and trouble free … at least for me. As per normal, there are a couple or more that made me stop and think.
2.5*/4* today
Favourites include 1a, 12a, 5d, 8d, 15d & 16d – with winner 1a
Thanks to setter & CS
My four opening answers were the four corner clues The East flew in the south surrendered very soon after that except for 18a , which I bunged in, later to find out the clever substitution that takes place .Spooner ,grr held me up as usual but it could not have been anything else . Altogether not sure about 14 but it makes sense . Last ones in , 4 and 5 . Much easier than the last two days.Thanks to all ..
Good afternoon. I haven’t read the comments yet, nor have nor have I completed today’s puzzle. I started off well getting 10 on the initial pass; but after that it was a slog. I have 5 remaining clues but am completely stuck. Perhaps it’s the day that’s in it. Normally I don’t enjoy a puzzle that baffles me, but this one is enjoyable because I know I am not on the setter’s wavelength, but getting there. Realistically my scorecard will read NR. Many thanks to setter and reviewer.
19a was my final entry in this quite tricky SPP: a hyphen would certainly have made life easier for sure. As for a favourite, 1a has to be a candidate for Clue of the Year – absolute genius. Overall this was demanding but fun to solve, with a sense of achievement when I crossed the line.
Thanks to our Saturday setter and Sue.
Golf rained off today, so a rare chance to do it on a Saturday.
A tough puzzle.
How anyone could produce such a brilliant clue as 1a is beyond me. So well done setter.
Thanks for the hints, which for once I didn’t need.
Like others we found this pretty tricky but enjoyable with many contenders for favourite and like others we’ll go with 1a. Thanks to the setter and CS.
Pleased to finish this without assistance, having put it down twice to do domestic maintenance. Joining in the applause for 1a, and the mystification about the quality in 14a (how have I got to this age without coming across that?). Quite pleased with 20d, and enjoyed the topicality of 15a. Many thanks to our setter and CS.
I found this tricky and am still unsure of the parsing of one of them but I’ll continue to stare at it in the hope the penny drops.
Top picks for me were 1a, 4d, 27a and 10a.
Thanks to CrypticSue and the setter.
I chased customer services again about the error message when submitting the prize puzzles on the website. They are apparently still looking into it and my entries are going through despite the error. They suggested I logout/in the app again and reinstall it. As I’m not using the app I can’t see how that will help!
Agree with the many above who rated this tough going today, congrats to anyone who solved unaided and good luck with getting the mythical. For me, a mixed bag with some answers going straight in, including 14a which the second water didn’t parse for me, but I bunged it in anyway, the 18d bird of which I had never heard, and 27a which defeated me even with the hint. LOL at 9a. Just relieved this was not as challenging as yesterday. Thanks to setter and CS. We are enjoying a lovely and unexpected cool spell here in South Florida so making the most of being able to wear long sleeve t-shirts and capris instead of shorts 😊. Brilliant weather for planting the winter annuals.
Finished OK without help but the second word of 14a seemed weird but yes, everyone is right, it is in the BRB. I had the answer 1a but even after reading the comments took ages for the penny to drop. – what a clever clue! I’m using my iPhone Bluetoothed to a stand alone keyboard and I must have pressed something and it started typing in Russian! Taken me ages to sort out. Thanks to the setter and as always o CS.
Felt pretty comfortable with all the answers but for 6 across but have plumped for a certain ethnicity. All very enjoyable . Particularly liked 14 across but all of it was of a high quality and great fun. Thanks to our setter and CS
1.5* / 4.5* Found this to be just right for a Saturday puzzle. For favourites I’ll go for the bird at 18d, couple at 26a and as most have said earlier the brilliantly clever 1a
Thanks to Sue and setter
Bother. I had just written out my ‘bit’ and said my thankyous when DD2 arrived and I must have forgotten to
press send! Anyway, 1a was definitely my favourite and thanks again to everyone!
****/****
Found this tough but hugely enjoyable. Thanks to Tipcat and RD for the enumeration advice for 19a as I’d have stuck with the wrong answer otherwise. For 14d I googled the suggested phrase at thread #6 and that confirmed my answer. That synonym is entirely new to me and not listed in my chambers app. Dr Spooner got a tick and whilst the answer to 1a was obvious from the checkers, it took quite a while to realise I had to read the whole clue – simply brilliant.
Thanks to the setter (be surprised if it’s the knob of the door) and CS as always.
Excellent puzzle – 8D hilarious, but 1A has to be COTD. VMT to Mystery Setter and to Sue.
Thanks for the help on 19a which had me at a loss. Otherwise I enjoyed this
Another vote for Mr Owl…clue of the year for me. Really enjoyable solve.
Thanks to the setter and Cryptic Sur
Super puzzle which, at first glance, threatened to be more of a challenge than turned out to be the case when starting in the far south west. A hummmm at 19a not being hyphenated, but otherwise a cracker.
Many thanks to the setter (no firm ideas, maybe another CL collaboration with Donny or Zandio?) and Sue.
Smooth ride in the North but South required more applicatio however getting 14d gave a good kick start there. 19a was last in and everntually had to seek help – see I was not alone in finding difficulty there. Am a bit of a square so 2d rang no bells. 13d itinerant now added to ever-expanding glossary of such indicators but presumed solution anyway. Thank you Mysteryone (would like to knwwho) and CS.
.
14&19a the two head scratches here. Hadn’t a clue what the 2nd (it must be) word had to do with quality but I do now & agree a hyphen would have helped with the other. Not sure who set this one but 1a perhaps suggests some musical knowledge. 11d would be my pick of the clues with podium spots for 4d&27a & a good few ticks elsewhere.
Thanks to the setter & to Sue
Just finished off in bed with the usual mug of tea. A really challenging puzzle but had about 85% completed before I had to resort to CS’s hints, also the dictionary because I had no idea that the second word for 14a meant quality or excellence even though the answer appeared obvious. Made a stupid error with 9a, the correct letters but in the wrong order, as Eric Morecambe might have said to Mr Preview! A little unsure of 19a but have stuck with my answer. COTD has to be 1a, a work of genius.
Taking a break from puzzling today, journeying up to Manchester to watch a tricky fixture against Bournemouth.
Thank you to the setter and to CS for the hints.
Nothing to do with me, I regret to say, because it’s a fab puzzle.
Great one across.
NYDK
Only got round to looking at this today. Quite a slog for me and a dnf.
A new meaning of the second word in 14a and I needed the hint for 1a.
Thanks to all.
Had a go at this today, Tricky in places and needed the explanation for 19a – thank you.
1a was just a brilliant clue but i needed 5d before the penny dropped.
Thanks to all