Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31079 (Hints)
The Saturday Crossword Club (hosted by Gazza)
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I don’t think there’s too much doubt about the identity of today’s setter and he’s given us an enjoyable puzzle. I’m providing hints for what I consider to be some of the trickier clues. There are seven anagrams here and I haven’t hinted any of them. If you’re really stuck on one of the clues I haven’t hinted (and you’re pretty sure that it’s not an anagram) I may provide a bit more help.
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.
Please ensure that you do not run foul of the instructions in red below and also take care to abide by the comment etiquette.
A full review of this puzzle will be published after the closing date for submissions.
Across
5a What acne treatments claim to do for tyrant (6)
As 2-4 (i.e. with a hyphen inserted) this is a cryptic term for what acne treatments claim to do.
9a One French court sitting in modest flat (8)
Insert the French ‘one’ and the map abbreviation for court into a synonym of modest or chaste.
13a Minions abandoning southern nation (5)
Remove the abbreviation for southern from an informal term (3-3) for minions or underlings lacking initiative.
21a Dog-sledder’s forwarding address in grim US hamlet (4)
This is a reworking of Bunthorne’s classic clue “Amundsen’s forwarding address (4)”. The word addressed to a dog to get it moving forward is hidden in the clue.
30a Separate book top class doesn’t need (8)
Join together synonyms for top or supreme and class or variety then delete the abbreviation for book.
Down
1d Perhaps lacking sleep, second son leaves city (6)
Start with a word which could mean lacking a short sleep then remove the second occurrence of the genealogical abbreviation for son (removing the first son would work equally well) to leave an Italian city.
2d Artist on generally gloomy film (6)
A preposition meaning on or concerning and a film genre which is generally gloomy or pessimistic.
4d Fool an RAF commander? (7)
When split 3,4 the answer could mean cryptically the top person in the RAF.
6d Like Lassie, last of two animals put first? (9)
Lassie is an example of the answer being the name of the film in which she stars. Glue together two animals (the first hoofed and the second a rodent) then move the last letter to the front.
11d Resistance units sent for King Charles? (4)
Up until the millennium official UK government correspondence could be franked with these letters instead of a stamp.
17d Servant saving 50 leads cheers in capital city (8)
A male servant containing (saving) the Roman numeral for 50 precedes a short word meaning ‘cheers’ or ‘thanks’.
20d French are binding feet for amphibians (4)
The word for ‘are’ in the familiar form of the French ‘you are’ contains (binding) the abbreviation for feet.
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The Quick Crossword pun: NELL + SUN + MANN + DOLLAR = NELSON MANDELA
It took a while for me to get into but once I did it was a steady solve. Even the linked clues didn’t bother me today. I liked Lassie at 6dn once I had worked it out and the Rhode Island figure at 8d. My COTD is the acne treatment at 5a.
Thank you, NYDK for a good Saturday challenge. Thank you, Gazza the hints.
What a great crossword from NYPD Blue with the first two acrosses kicking things off very nicely.
‘Job so described’ got me for a while as I didn’t spot that it was a capitonym. Other goodies are polish, nice and august. I’ve never heard of the amphibian which is a top word that, disappointingly, has an unknown origin. We hate unknown origins.
I love 11d as I didn’t know that it was used on letters though it makes complete sense. It’s a clever clue.
I saw a nice variation of 21a recently: Eskimo’s forwarding address.
My podium is 5a, 25a and 4d which is brilliant.
MT to the aforementioned and Gazza.
3*/5*
20d has its origin in old English, I believe.
Thank you, SC.
I found an entry on Etymologyonline that said it comes from the word you’re referring to with ‘of unknown origin’ after it.
Only knew 20d because of Ken Livingstone
No. You’ve got me there, Hoots.
There’s a connection if you put an L at the start but I’m sure that’s not it.
Reveal all…
he kept newts
Aha!
A toad keeping newts makes sense, I suppose.
I thought I was on fire when the first 2 across clues flew in but then I slowed down to a steady pace and thoroughly enjoyed solving this. There were many excellent clues but 6d was my favourite. I was a bit stumped for the parsing of 16a for a while.
Many thanks to the setter and to Gazza for the hints.
I really enjoyed this puzzle with the NE holding out for longest.
Top picks for me were 6d, 4d, 10a and 16a.
Thanks to Gazza and the setter.
A nicely balanced prize puzzle, wit and humour with the odd crumpet scratch. 20d was a new word for me. My podium comprises the two clues that made me giggle, 5a and 4d with 17d in top spot. Thanks to NYDK and Gazza.
A steady plod, but got there in the end. The anagrams came fairly easily and provided a framework of checkers for the remainder.
Got 6d but needed the hint for the explanation. Thanks Gazza and the setter.
Favourites are 1d and 4d.
**/***
A lovely puzzle pitched just right for me. ie a significant challenge but solvable with time. Favourite clues are 5a (for amusement value) 16a (for the misdirection of Job) and 6d. Also enjoyed the film star anagram where I spent a lot of time looking for non-English names. Thank you NYPD and Gazza.
It’s no good. I can’t function. Where’s SuperSue? Saturday just isn’t Saturday without the presence of The Queen.
(Hope Sue is OK)
Groovy guzzle.
Off to Stamford Bridge later to watch The MIghty Chelsea take on the Wanderers from Wolverhampton, who currently sit at the foot of the Premier League? What could possibly go wrong? Obviously, an easy victory for The Mighty Chelsea awaits me.
Thanks to New York Entry Handle and the former Gansu Tianma midfielder
I second your first paragraph.
A well-balanced crossword for a prize puzzle with 6d my favourite from a goodly list of contenders. An honourable mention, too, for 4d.
My thanks to Donny for an enjoyable challenge, and to Gazza.
2*/4*. Excellent entertainment to start the weekend!
As Gazza says, first son would be an equally applicable alternative in 1d, but does the clue need to specify any particular son?
Is there a reason for the slightly strange word order in 1a? “New Avengers lethal agent” would have provided a much smoother surface.
My favourite was a dead heat between 16a & 6d.
Many thanks presumably to NYDK and to Gazza.
An enjoyable solve spoiled by ‘late delivery’ of the puzzle by the DT, presumably IT problems causing a three hour-ish delay, and my brain was already considering entering ‘sleep mode.’
Candidates for favourite – 5a, 21a, 29a, 6d, and 22d – and the winner is 6d – a truly delightful word.
Thanks to NYDK, for it must be he, and to Gazza.
Glad to get confirmation that it was not just me experiencing the delayed availability. Let’s hope this never happens when I am blogging.
The only one I had to cheat on was 20d. Now I have learned a new word
Encountered a couple of roadblocks in the north which caused a delay whilst awaiting checkers to light the way so not my best solving time by any means but perhaps victory was all the sweeter for that. Podium places went to 5&25a along with 4d.
Thanks to NYDK and to Gazza for the hints and cartoons – hope you’re getting suitably recompensed for all this overtime!
May I make a recommendation for today’s NTSPP by Starhorse which is fairly gentle but extremely entertaining.
It seems pretty clear what the answer to 16a should be … but can anyone explain the wordplay please … thank you
At the risk of the naughty step *stupidly* is an anagram indicator.
Thank you … I got that bit. I was referring to the “Job” reference – but the biblical penny has dropped now 😂 .. but thanks
A lovely puzzle pitched just right for me. ie a significant challenge but solvable with time. Favourite clues are 5a (for amusement value) 16a (for the misdirection of Job) and 6d. Also enjoyed the film star anagram where I spent a lot of time looking for non-English names. Thank you NYPD and Gazza.
NYDK, NYDK. So good, you posted twice.
Thanks!
It was nothing personal, SC.
I saw it as opportunity to have some fun with the classic line…
‘New York, New York. So good they named it twice.’
Made me smile – no offence taken
Lovely stuff.
And love the choice of emoji.
What a treat. It required some chewing over. The last few clues that required going outside the box and were an irritant turned out to be my favourites . 6 and 8 down and 9 across. All gold medalists. I only knew 21 across because I had read about it as a most marvellously clued word by some much lauded setter. Sorry I cannot recall who it was.The sun shines in East Grinstead so will do some gardening. Many thanks to NYDK and Gazza.
Gosh, someone else from this part of the Wilds of Sussex!
Entertaining ramble with trouble at NE for a while until pennies dropped. Failed only on 2D; thanks to Gazza for hints and the setter for a challenging time
Huge satisfaction in completing this without recourse to the hints, although we did go back to check on the whys and wherefores of one or two. Like others, I was looking for Arnold Schwarzenegger or some such star. I was also looking for a pangram. 5a was funniest, 6d was cleverest and 16a was wiliest but overall, a brilliant guzzle. Many thanks to NYDJ and to Gazza for the hints. I hope CeeSue is off doing something exciting!
Can’t say I was happy about the 3 hour delay in getting the puzzle posted. At this stage I have not finished it and no time to do so today.
Obviously a NYDK offering. Multi word clues were fine and quite solvable.
2.5*/3* today
Favourites 1a, 5a, 29a & 23d
Thanks to NYDK & Gazza
A Saturday without Cryptic Sue what is the world coming to!
No hints needed today .. fairly straight forward guzzle, although initially trying to parse 30a was a bit of a 29a.
Cotd 5a.
Thanks to setter for the Mind Gym.
As Gazza suggests, this could only be Donnybrook.
I struggled a little in the SW corner but even then they came eventually.
All my favourites were in the downs (2,6, and 21)
18d to Gazza and NYDK
My one big advantage was being 5 hours behind the UK so I didn’t experience any delays… except when I came to solving. I brain has turned to 21a so am setting aside to see if I wake up later. Thanks for NYDK and Gazza. Hope CS is off enjoying herself and not poorly or anything.
It is actually those of us living outside the UK — especially those of us who are blogging — that are likely most affected by the delayed publication of the puzzle. This puzzle would have normally been available in Ottawa (and Florida) at 7:00 pm Friday evening. Senf, in Winnipeg, gets an even earlier start; with the puzzle appearing there at 6:00 pm and those on the West Coast can probably finish it before supper as it shows up there at 4:00 pm. If I didn’t have access to the puzzle the evening before its date of publication, my review would not be posted on the blog until well into the afternoon in the UK.
I did not get on with this and have 7 remaining. I don’t see myself finishing it. I rarely need the clues, but today I did and I still can’t finish it. It’s a very long time since I haven’t finished a back pager. Nevertheless, these things can happen. Thanks to the setter for puzzle and CS for the review.
I know it’s a wavelength, horses for courses type thing, but I’m amazed that you found this harder than yesterday’s cryptic
Still struggling on 10a….. perhaps I’ve made a mistake somewhere. Aaaargh
Welcome to the blog, Revliz.
The definition is ‘African’ and the boxer is ‘the greatest’. Does that help?
Welcome from me as well, Revliz and please do keep commenting.
Thanks all! Got it!
Fantastic offering that can only have come from
NYDK. Ticked so many that I had to start double and triple ticking!! So doubles went to the 5a acne treatment, the 10a African boxer and the 1d city. The triple ticking went to my COTD, 6d’s lassie. Great and clever clue. Also learned a new word from TDS: ‘capitonym’. 16a wasn’t even one of the 6 single ticks in addition to the doubles and the triple but great clue. At my age, every day is not a school day but today is!
Many thanks for the treat to NYDK and Gazza for the review.
Hello everyone. Thanks Gazza, and thanks to all commenters.
Cheers
NYDK
Thank you for the puzzle, NYDk and for popping in.
Excellent puzzle, thanks
2* / 4* After yesterday’s travails this puzzle was just right for a Saturday. Lots of humour and clever misdirection, favourites include 5a tyrant, 13a nation and last one in the fool at 4d.
Many thanks to Gazza and setter
A really fantastic and clever puzzle as is usual for a Saturday which for me was a steady solve. I had a few left at the end that I managed after my dog walk this evening. I loved the Lassie clue, and actually it was a new word for me – I did need a bit of E help with half the answer though. 20d was also a new word. Thanks so much to NYDK and Gazza.
Thank you all for your concern
I had right knee replacement surgery last Sunday and am now in the recovering gently stage, intermitting painkillers with gentle exercise and trying to persuade my carer to actually listen to requests and instructions
Good to hear from you, Sue. I hope you recover soon and no trying to walk too soon.
All the best for a speedy recovery.
Best wishes for a speedy recovery & getting Mr CS to follow instruction 😀
Get better soon, I know Weekend Wanda is caring for her husband after a similar op last week. Don’t rush things, obey doctors and nurses, and you will be up and about in no time.
Pleased to hear that you came through the surgery safely but would doubt that you’re the most patient of patients. Just take it one day at a time and don’t try to run before you can walk!
The pain and limited movement means you have to follow the recovery instructions strictly or else you either end up employing those breathing techniques you learn at antenatal classes, which aren’t particularly helpful when having a large baby or two, but are useful for dealing with pain for the rest of your life, or using language unbecoming to a lady of mature years
Sue, David had one 15 + ago, you will be ok, just follow the instructions!!!
I had a total knee replacement back in 2017, Sue.
My third knee op after many years of playing rugby and running marathons. They told me I was good to go and I was respectful of the surgeon’s skill, didn’t run, carried on cycling and spinning as was advised it was low impact.
After two years I felt pain again, went back to see the surgeon who told me he’d expect a replacement to last 10 to 15 years and I’d buggered mine up inside two.
Evidently I was too aggressive on the bike and especially spinning. Was told that when out of the saddle one exerts up to three times bodyweight through the knees. Not ideal after a replacement.
I know what you are going through now is not a bunch of roses but it’s done, onward and upwards.
Please take my advice and be smarter than I was. Take it easy, Don’t push your recovery.
I sincerely wish you all the best.
Thanks Frankie. Getting up, dressed and downstairs, followed by a visit from next door’s very energetic seven year old twins has been enough excitement for one morning
Get well soon Sue. I had full teplacement left knee in 2011 and the right knee in 2013. The exercise routine the physios gave me was really helpful and i was soon walking round an ever longer block with crutches. Hope it’s as good for you
When Peter had a knee replacement last year the doctor sent a bike machine to our house which was monitored from his office. Thus they could see if he was doing the required 5 sets of exercises each day. That plus the ice machine with knee attachment most likely was a huge help in getting him through it. They also sent a physiotherapist to the house daily for three weeks, so he had little choice but to do what he was told. His surgeon said so much depends on the patient following instructions for the year post surgery. He is totally fine now and I truly hope you will have the same end result. Best wishes.
Not the quickest solve but I’m blaming that on the distraction of keeping an eye on the score of the Stoke v Coventry top of the table fixture where my team nicked it at the end to extend their lead in the Championship. I thought this one a cracker & at the tricky end of Donny’s SPP output – it took nearly as long as Zandio’s puzzle yesterday. Very slow to twig the modest synonym at 9a & only then did I realise I was fixated on the wrong def at 2d & the 1d city/wordplay became obvious. Pleased that 21a was hidden as the instruction was a new one on me. 6d my standout fav from a hatful of ticks.
Thanks to Donny & for popping in & to the tireless Gazza. Hope all ok with Sue.
Ps thanks for the Starhorse tip off.
Frank doing a great job at the CBS arena. Living in the Midlands I play ‘elderly gentleman’s football,’ in reality it’s pretty competitive for a bunch of over sixties, and many of the guys I play with are Coventry fans, so obviously in seventh heaven at the way things are going.
As for me, I am also a sky blue fan, but the Manchester variety, so heading up to the Etihad later to watch the clash against Liverpool. Hoping we can repeat the form we showed against Dortmund and Bournemouth.
Thanks to NYDK and Gazza. Started the puzzle this morning then got distracted. Just came back to it and completed. COTD 11d. LOI 2d. Challenging but not too hard for a prize puzzle.
No-one’s mentioned 30a, which must mean it’s clear to everyone else but me. Having all the letters and identifying the definition means I know what the answer must be, but why?
Welcome to the blog, NotNuttall.
I’ve provided a hint for 30a (and underlined the definition). I’m not sure that I can help any more.
Welcome, NoNuttall and please keep commenting. 👍
A terrific challenge with Lassie taking the biscuit! Thank you NYDK and Gazza
A toughie in disguise for me and a rare DNF for a NYDK production today.
Just couldn’t see 1d. Very frustrating!
Thanks for the hints and get well soon Sue.
I enjoyed today’s challenge. The top right corner held me up and then I had to stop to watch United! A close call at the end of the match helped me to get my brain back into gear and finally finish. 16a was one of my favourites but 9a for its humour won top spot. Many thanks to both setter and Gazza.
Rather enjoyable.15 down makes little sense to me though.
Bit surprised Gazza didn’t hint that one – I’m not risking his wrath & the naughty step but reckon he might supply an extra nudge by way of explanation
I was about to do so when I saw that Jezza had done the job better than I could.
You are looking for an abbreviation for wife and a (poetic) contraction of never, reversed (climbing) into a synonym of pleasant.
Really enjoyed this solve today.
I normally don’t have a favourite clue, but today is the exception with the excellent 21a.
Thanks to all.
Just finished, as usual in bed with my obligatory mug of tea. I had most of it finished yesterday apart from three clues in the NE corner. Giving the grey cells a rest overnight and the African and the Nation quickly fell into place but was defeated by Lassie in 6d so had to resort to Gazza’s hints, even then once completed I had to resort to the dictionary to fully understand the linguistics behind the answer. Always happy to learn something new.
I will make 6d one of my COTD along with 1a, bringing back memories of Emma Peel, 5a, simple but humorous, and 4d, for a similar reason to 5a.
Thank you to the setter and to Gazza for the hints.
OK – I completed it. However I don’t understand how the answer for 16a matches the clue. Could someone explain for me please (privately of course). Many thanks.
You’ve shortened your alias so you wnet into moderation.
Job is the name of an Old Testament character described as being very patient.
Oh goodness! I’d never have realised though somewhere at the back of my mind I can hear a saying/proverb about Job.
Many thanks for explaining.
Still struggling with 23d and 30a – and there’s a few others that I’ve filled in but still don’t really understand the full answer 😂
Welcome to the blog, Zoby.
For 23d you need to insert the letter that ‘echo’ represents in the Nato Phonetic Alphabet into a narrow valley.
I provided a hint for 30a (and underlined the definition) so that should help you.
The full review will be published on Friday with full explanations.
Thanks. Don’t know how I missed that 🤦♂️
Welcome, Zoey. Good to hear from you and please keep commenting. 👍
Not the easiest of guzles but they never are with NYDK. Things got easier as the checkers went in. I likedthe double meaning concoction at 10a, very witty, the lurker at 13a , the lego clue at 23a and the part of a ship at 18d. Thankks to rhe compiler and ro GazA for thegints.