Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31133 (Hints)
The Saturday Crossword Club (hosted by crypticsue)
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Another very cold morning brings a Saturday Prize Puzzle which I found tricky in places or was that because my brain cells are possibly as frozen as my hands and feet! I will be interested to see what others think and who they thought set the crossword
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 Entertaining piece with a great view from seats in circle? (6,5)
A cryptic definition of a fairground attraction
12a Wearing navy perhaps, and working as a 28 Across? (2,7)
One might wear navy if one was in a particular branch of the armed forces
13a Rob Lowe’s lead character entering all over the place (5)
The lead character of Lowe ‘entering’ an adjective meaning all over the place or abundant
16a Foreign Office guard checking British timepiece (3-5)
The abbreviated Foreign Office and a verb meaning to guard, ‘checking’ the abbreviation for British
27a Strange and unpopular ref getting France eliminated? (5)
Unpopular, not in use or fashion and the fourth word of the clue without the IVR code for France
28a According to Spooner, composer Gustav gave money to female servant (7-4)
There are two well-known composers called Gustav – here you want the Austrian one and part of a verb meaning gave money to, and then mangle them as the Reverend Spooner would have done
Down
2d Old palmist regularly failing tests (5)
Old or former and the even (regularly failing) letters of pAlMiSt
3d Shame about Flash, Queen single’s cover (7)
The usual two-letter about or on the subject of, a short period of time (flash), the Latin abbreviation for Queen and the ‘cover’ of the word SinglE
9d Catch article on Rooney maybe in rag (4,3,6)
Catch or get hold off, the definite article and the forename of an American actor (Rooney maybe) who started as a child actor and was the top box-office attraction in the 1940s
15d Swear into microphone? The essence of Cockney Rebel! (8)
Swear or declare to be true inserted into an abbreviated microphone, the middle letter (essence) of CocKney being added at the end
21 Terribly glum about dispute over angler’s bait (7)
An anagram (terribly) of GLUM goes about a reversed (over) dispute Yes I know this isn’t a picture of the actual bait but no-one wants to see that while solving the crossword or eating breakfast, brunch, or lunch!
25d It’s over, after initially thanking United trainer and all the players (5)
A reversal (over) of IT goes after the initial letters of Thanking United Trainer
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: DUB + ALL + DARE + CURSE = DOUBLE DECKERS
A suitable challenge for a Saturday prize puzzle with some thought needed. I loved 1a and its view from the circle and it sent me in many different directions before I twigged it. In 28a, I spent too long chasing the wrong Gustav and wanted the second word in 17d to be something other than the correct one. Lots to like and I have ticks all over the paper but my COTD is the paper at 8d.
Thank you, NYDK or whomsoever if it is not your good self. Thank you, CS for the hints.
I had the wrong Gustav too to start with but it is my COTD
Ne too, , on the wrong Gustav.
And me with the wrong Gustav until I twigged the Spoonerism as per Prawn.
Good morning.
This was testing but doable. 16, 24 and 28 make up my podium. Also enjoyed the angler’s bait at 21d. Many thanks to the setter and the reviewer.
2.5*/3*. This provided a pleasant challenge to start the weekend despite a 6d being elevated in reaction to the same anagram indicator appearing twice. A terribly terrible oversight!
Unusually. the Spoonerism gets my vote as favourite today.
Thanks to the setter and to CS.
I’m glad CS found it tricky in places because I thought it was quite a challenge. That said I did enjoy it. I too fell into the wrong Gustav, but as a spoonerism it’s so good it gets my vote for cotd. Thanks to compiler (I’m useless at spot the compiler, but somehow it doesn’t feel like a NYDK production) and CS.
I managed to solve no clues on my first pass but then it opened up and I enjoyed it enormously. Lots of candidates for COTD but I will plump for 1A as I smiled when the penny drops. With regards to 15D I think you only need the single middle letter to parse the clue. Thanks for the hints and to the setter.
I knew that I only needed the middle letter so why I typed it wrongly, I have no idea. Now amended
Tricky enough for the prize crossword with 1a LOI and on the podium with 28a and 17d.
Thanks to Sue and Setter.
3*/4*
Thoroughly enjoyed this although had to take 2 shots at it.
7d questionable but……
Many thanks to the setter and CS
I thought this was thoroughly entertaining and quite tricky in a a few of the parsings. 1a was my final entry and a particular favourite, along with the excellent Spoonerism.
Many thanks to our Saturday setter and Sue.
If I may, I’ll repeat verbatim what you have said, with an additional nod to the Cockney Rebel. Thanks to the setter and to CS
I found it hard to get on the compiler’s wavelength with some of the synonyms and t the cryptic definitions, s this was a lengthy slog but I finished it in the end. However , I did like the geographical anagram at 11a, the botanical lurker at 19d and rhe cleverly wordrd 17d. Thanks to the compiler and to CS for thw hints
Loved the Spoonerism, even though I too had the wrong Gustav to start with. 17d was my LOI as I had too many letters to work with. I knew the garlic, but not the lilac so every day is a school day.
Thanks to Sue and Setter (no guess from me as NYDK is being sneaky with linked and non-linked puzzles of late.)
Very enjoyable SPP fare even though I went off down a path of my own where 17d was concerned. Quite a few ticks on my paper from which I chose 18&28 plus 8&21d for the rosettes’
Thanks to our setter – a friend suggested that it could be the work of our lady setter and I think he may well be correct. Thank also to CS for the hints.
I think the quickie pun is over four words and refers to a type of public transport.
So it is – the italics are very clear in the newspaper version of the crossword but in the online version which I used as I had to get the hints ready before my friend brought the paper round, the italics for the fourth word do at a quick glance look like the ordinary print.
What did you think of the cryptic crossword?
It certainly got the old grey matter working; 17D is my favourite – very clever, I think.
Great start to the weekend. Certainly some clues that brought me to a halt and it took me until the end to figure the circle pointer in 1 across. Still, the joy of getting there was the thing. Gosh, so many top clues but the Spoonerism was rewarding and 8 and 9 down were running neck and neck.
Have just done a prize crossword set by Peter Biddlecombe for The Benevolent Confraternity of Dissectologists of which he is a member. I’m sure some of our group will know of him and we are lucky to have him in our BCD jigsaw puzzle fraternity.
Thanks to Sue and our setter today.
Peter was a blogger on this blog for several years until he became editor of the Sunday Times crossword. He is often to be found at many a Times Crossword-related gathering
I seem to recall the SPP going through a phase where it was arguably the most straightforward puzzle of the week – certainly not the case now though I found today’s one rather less taxing than a good few of late. Not sure if the improvement in my botanical lexicon is keeping pace with that of Daisy’s with cricket but didn’t feel the need to check the plants for a change. Was slow to twig last in 1a (even with 5 checkers the wait for the penny drop extended the solve into **time) despite one featuring in perhaps the most memorable scene in one of my 2 favourite British films of all time.
A very enjoyable puzzle. Liked all of the 4 long peripherals +16a&15d but 17d gets my vote as pick of the clues.
Thanks to the setter (Donny methinks) & to Sue.
*** / *****
Loved this; so many ticked clues. Most required some thought rather than just read and write and that brings extra pleasure. Loved the 16a Foreign Office, the 6d elevation, the 8d match, the 7d conservationists, the 15d cockney rebel and the 17d enemy lines. But the 28a spooner got my COTD and I can’t think of a wrong Gustav! I’m going to guess that this IS an NYDK production so thanks to him (or whomsoever) and Sue.
Challenging but approachable. I had the correct Gustav and the correct servant, but didn’t make them fit until I realised that I had parsed 25d incorrectly and the last letter was wrong. Like others 1a was last in thanks to CS. Otherwise a very entertaining puzzle for a Saturday. My favourites were the space behind the sofa at 18a and the Spoonerism at 28a.
MT to the setter and cryptic Sue.
An enjoyable SPP challenge, a little different to those of the recent past – **/****
I am inclined to concur with Jane’s friend’s suggestion that this could be the work of our lady setter, who I see is on NTSPP duty today, but I don’t feel confident enough to boldly go to the back of my sock drawer to retrieve a couple of whatever coins are still there.
Candidates for favourite – 14a, 18a, 28a, 15d, and 25d – and the winner is 18a.
So, thanks to Chalicea, or whomsoever if it is not she, and thanks to CS.
No, Senf, ’tis not I, though I’m happy to be today’s NTSPP. I think it must be NYDK.
Not me either. Must be CL. Very nice indeed.
I want to hate 28a but begrudgingly think it’s a cracker. Thanks to CS and today’s setter.
I enjoyed it too. Lots to chuckle about. I confess I got stuck on 6d. Had to cheat and then kick myself quite hard. Thank you for the hints
I found this hard to get into and the north kept me occupied till the end. Unusually for me the spooner was my favourite and I was in the wrong Gustav camp for a while. That said it was full of clever ‘cryptic clues’ and I am glad I had the time to stick at it.
Many thanks to the setter and to CS for the hints.
I did about a third of this and gave up, not one for me today.
This was a slow solve for me today with picking the wrong Gustav to begin with and staring at LOI 1a for ages.
Lots to like though with my top picks being 18a, 28a, 8d and 17d.
Thanks to CrypticSue and the setter.
Very enjoyable – I laughed at 6d
Still can’t parse 14a
Thank you again Sue
Split your solution to 14a 1,5 and then read the clue again
Got it 👍
Finally got 14d! Best achievement of my day.
I enjoyed today’s offering, a steady solve. Last in 1a .. it had me going round in circles! Second last in was 3d and I struggled to parse it.
Cotd the Spoonerism (which I usually hate) at 28a. Process of elimination here though using the check letters, the hint from 12a and my guess at the second four letter word.
Thanks to setter and CS for the hints, but none required today. Solution winging its way to Telegraph Towers in search of the Holy Grail.
Considering I was wrong last week regarding the setter not being NYDK, I’ll be darned if I am taking a stab at it this week. I found this puzzle a bit of a curate’s egg this week. Struggled in spots and some went in easy.
2.5*/3* for me
Candidates for favourites were 1a, 10a, 2d, 6d & 8d — with top two winners being 1a & 6d
Thanks to setter & CS
This was a nice challenge for a SPP with my LOI being 17d. If ‘enemy lines’ is an original from the supersetter then take a bow as it’s inspired.
I find it fascinating how many people absolutely despise a nooperspism. I understand that it may grate but hate? I’m a fuge han.
I love the expression that has ‘whole’ with 25d.
Rooney has had a record eight wives. A fine effort. National Velvet – what a top, top film. We love Pie.
My podium is 6d, 8d and 17d.
MT to Rood Bonk (still the bookies’ favourite despite no sprawling dooberries – sounds like a 70s rock group) and she of the crypt.
3*/4*
P.S This has nowt to do with crossies though it is wordplay and what a goodie it is.
Pot holes are the bane of our life and I read in today’s paper that one in Hampshire burst 14 tyres in one evening. And the location of it? The M3 near, wait for it, wait for it….Popham!
Again this week, my day is full which is more than I can say for those tyres.
Defeated by 17 Down, despite having read all the posts!
To get lines you might get from an enemy, an anagram (struggling) of TEAM “invades” a verb meaning acclaim
Gotcha! thank you Sue!
Thanks from me too
And me! 17d the LOI, but very clever when you see it.
Changing your alias again sent you into moderation
Thank you from me too, 17d had defeated me.
Found it a very hard one, just finished it in bed Sunday night having learnt new words for 19d and 14a, struggled with 1a as well, after a good run the last few days I was rather feeling I had got the hang of this but today’s brought me back to reality….
Adding ‘Boy’ to your alias sent you into moderation
Thanks Sue,
Will this always happen or just at the first time of commenting?
Lots of head scratching but got there in the end misdirection’s all over the place fun to be had everywhere. Favourite was 8d. Thanks to the setter and CS.
Thanks to the Setter and CS. Struggled after a reasonable start. Resorted to hints as it was getting dark! COTD 6d
Twmbarlwm has just claimed it on BlueSky…
… why didn’t he claim it on Big Dave?
Diffr’ent folks, diff’rent strokes. I am no social media expert, but I imagine he reaches more people other than Telegraph solvers that way. Many posters are moving from Musk’s X to BlueSky – mainly because Elon isn’t involved.
But, I expect that there are many of us who don’t do Blue Sky or similar!
There are lots of solvers and setters on Bluesky, and most setters will post there to say they have a crossword out on the day in case solvers are interested.
I post here later in the day after catching up with everyone’s comments.
Gimme Jeff Lynne over that Musk fella any day….
So, that brings in the odds of yesterday’s being Klara as Zandio often claims his.
Karla*
Apols
The usual Saturday quality challenge with match paper getting my vote for best clue. Thank you compiler and CS
Thank you Sue I checked a few! I enjoyed this one most of all this week. It was a big challenge but I managed it and it made me smile so thank you setter
Very pleased to solve this beastie unaided other than to check the Gustav in 28a was what I thought it was.
Needed the hint to parse 3d.
Thanks to all.
The last two of 1a and 6d took forever until a glance at the pic for 1a sorted it, so a dnf for me.
However loads of top clues including 8d paper, the 9d rag snd the cockney rebel at 15d made me smile !
Thanks to Twmbarlwm and Sue for the hrelp
I looked at this earlier, got so far and got stuck. This evening managed to engage brain enough to get it over the line . Last one in was 17d , that I bunged in first off then just revisited and – wow excellent clue ! I also got the wrong Gustav and the wrong Rooney 🙄. Thanks to the setter and CS.
Sorted South quite quickly but North was more of a challenge. 17d held out until the end and needed a hint. IMHO 18a rather dubious. Overall was enjoyable and presumably will elicit good many prize puzzle entries. Thank you Twmbarlwm and CS.
Thanks all, and thanks to Sue for the hints.
Lots of fun clues, and at just the right difficulty level for me. Thank you, Twmbarlwm — especially for the 4d university crest, 8d match day, all the United players in 25d.
The lilac was new to me.
Thank you to CrypticSue for hosting. I parsed 12a differently from how it’s hinted, but I’d better not say more before the deadline (and in practice I’m unlikely to remember after the deadline).