Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31145 (Hints)
The Saturday Crossword Club (hosted by crypticsue)
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The sun is shining and the Saturday Prize Puzzle was enjoyable throughout. Let’s hope the rest of the day goes as well as it started
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 Game defender with empty gun loaded? (10)
A defender in a football team and the outside (empty) letters of GuN ‘loaded’ with explosive devices
11a Preacher lively sort full of charm (9)
A lively energetic person into which is inserted (full of) a magic formula (charm)
14a Asian noodles course great – daughter tucked in (3,4)
A way or course, the letter and number that combine to give great, first-rate or excellent with the abbreviation for daughter ‘tucked in’
22a Port often chilled from main investor (9)
An adjective meaning main, chief or principal and an informal name for a (theatrical) investor
29a Oscar cuts into overcooked fish (4)
The letter represented by Oscar in the NATO Phonetic Alphabet ‘cuts into’ overcooked until all the liquid has gone
30a Larghetto e capriccioso: tutti? (10)
An anagram (capriccioso is a musical term for a type of free composition not keeping to the rules) of LARGHETTO E I thought this was a wonderfully clever clue but I’m willing to bet that quite a few people will disagree with me!
Down
1d Bishop managed church’s regional office (6)
The chess abbreviation for Bishop, a synonym for managed and the abbreviation for church
4d/20a Time gran wasted fixing family image projector (5,7)
An anagram (wasted) of TIME GRAN into which is inserted (fixing) a tribe or collection of families under a single chieftain
9d Games with the French genius on pitch (4)
The abbreviation for school ‘games’ and the French definite article
15d His cup landlady emptied in corner bar (4,5)
Even if it wasn’t the first letter of the clue, the capital H for His is significant in relation to this cup. The outside (emptied) letters of LandladY into a verb meaning take or use selfishly, a bar being added at the end
17d Beastly comment about new diagram in treatise (9)
A comment made by a cow goes ‘about’ the abbreviation for New, followed by a symbolic diagram
25d Header missed in tight draw (5)
The ‘header’ is omitted from a slang word meaning hopelessly drunk (tight)
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: PENNE + TRAIT = PENETRATE
This was challenging, I thought, but no complaints because it is a prize puzzle. I will admit, straight off, that I had to resort to Mr. G. for 30a so not an unaided finish unfortunately. Had I not done so, I would not have solved it in a month of Sundays. 30a notwithstanding, it was an enjoyable tussle with such gems as the drinks dispenser at 2d, the French genius at 9d and my COTD, the empty loaded gun at 1a – a great clue.
Thank you, Doorknob in the Big Apple for a fun challenge. Thank you, CS for the hints and explaining 30a. 👍
My edit didn’t work so I’ll add it again.
Thank you, CS for explaining 30a. Still wouldn’t have solved int in a months of Sundays! 😊
Now I see the edit has appeared?
What a superb puzzle, thoroughly enjoyable but not easy. Lots of smiles throughout.
Difficult to choose but top picks for me were 1a, 30a, 2d and 18d.
Thanks to CrypticSue and the setter.
This was a nice challenge for a Saturday with my LOI being 17d.
I love random clues like 30a but, unless I’m having a mare, the definition of tutti isn’t correct, i.e it should be two words with the 2nd letter repeated (3, 8).
Bilko is one of my heroes. I loved that programme. Some of you may not know that to bilk is to con someone which is apt.
Why e isn’t between the 2nd and 4th letter is beyond me. It makes no sense.
My pody picks are 7d, 18d and 25d.
MT to I reckon NYPD Blue as he likes random and she of the crypt
2*/4*
* Between the 2nd & 4th letters of 10a
Regarding 30a is that not the reason for the question mark at the end? Implying it’s not exact but sounds the same.
And why an ‘e’ in 10a? How are you reading it (without giving too much away!)?
Hi Sparky
I’ve never known a question mark to denote a wrong definition before. It’s usually there to ask for a bit of latitude. But this is just plain wrong.
I meant between the 2nd and 3rd letter. Apologies. The root word has three letters with an e at the end. Why does it get dropped?
The root word you’re thinking of isn’t involved in the wordplay (although it is related to the answer, but with an added ‘e’ would be a misspelling). Not sure if I can say more without breaking the rules, am I allowed to give my own clue as above?
Sorry for not being clearer. It’s got nothing to do with the clue.
I am talking about 10a as a word. I’ve always wondered why it doesn’t have an e when its root has one. It’s like dropping the second L of skill when it gets lengthened to become an adjective.
Neither makes sense.
Ah I see. I have no idea, just one of those random corruptions that English is full of I guess.
You got it!
That is why I have dyslexia – so much just does not make sense or stick to the rules. The rules are also rather random.
If I wasn’t busy doing something domestic, I’d be upstairs on the computer doing quite a bit of redacting, which will happen when I go to print the NTSPP
Hi CS
I have tried to be careful not giving anything away.
So, forgive me if I have though I’m itching to know which particular bit crossed the line.
Alternative clue – but I think it is too late to redact as there are too many comments and I’ve got other things to do
In the context in which most UK people use the word, ‘Tutti’ is the correct definition for the answer as CS indicates.
On reflection I think you might be correct TDS and @ rabbit dave. My Italian is non-existent so I am not sure.
Yes re 30a
2* / 4* Although technically a dnf because I put a different Asian dish in 14a, which explains why I couldn’t parse it !
Plenty of humour and misdirection and lots to choose from for favourites. My top three are the controversial 30a (close enough for me), 2d drinks dispenser and his cup at 15d
Thanks to Sue and NYDK
This wasn’t supposed to be a reply to anyone!
What a great puzzle! 30a was my favourite – so clever. In fact it is my clue of the week.
I found this a challenging puzzle but for all the right reasons, clever clues and some significant lateral thinking needed. I felt very pleased to complete it and got 30a as I knew the definition but missed the parsing. I thought 15d and 1a both brilliant.
Many thanks to the setter and to CS for the hints.
Quite a bit of ‘Guess and work backwards to see why’ for me today, still can’t see how some work so hope they’re included in the hints, no real standouts for me today, all seemed a bit surreal…..
Excellent puzzle. I’m okay with the def at 30A just about, and that takes the podium for me, but many fine clues. Just the one linked item, but willing to bet this is NYDK.
Thanks setter and Sue.
This SPP was challenging but doable. I liked the lego clues, particularly 1a and the geographical clue at 22a. The anagram at 8d and the lurker 23d were good fun too. Thanks to the compiler and to CS for the hints.
A very swift and trouble-free solve, but what a satisfying and enjoyable puzzle, quite superb.
30a is a work of genius, an early candidate for Clue Of The Year.
Many thanks to the setter (Donny?) and Sue
Good Morning. I found this reasonably straightforward. 1a, 22a and 1d are my top picks. Got 30a but needed to call a friend to explain it to me; no speakity Italiano. Thank you for the review and thanks to the setter for the puzzle.
First posting for a while.
I too loved 30a although it took me a while,and all the checkers, to understand it. I wasn’t massively fussed on the answer to 11a but a quick Google shows it to be a word. My last one in was 22a although I had no idea why. Thanks to Cryptic Sue for explaining it. I shall test my theatre producer daughter in law to see if she has heard of it.
Thanks for the hints and to the compiler.
Quite tricky today, but that is as it should be for a SPP. 2d A personal favourite as it fits into my four C’s , crosswords, cycling and cheese being the other three.
2d, 15d and the clever 30a can fight it out for the 3d today.
Thanks to Sue and NYDK.
I am somewhat relieved, if a little out of pocket, by the fact that my laptop has died before the Birthday Bash. I should be able to do a Teams link as soon as I have the new laptop set up.
Oh please, don’t rub salt in the wound. I don’t think I shall make it😢
For me another excellent puzzle. I understand enough of the relevant language to be able to solve the clue at 30A but not enough to criticise its faults.
Without risking the naughty step, I think it’s safe to comment on the fact that my adopted home has appeared in clues for the last two days and that I paid Bht80 ,(about £1.90), for my lunch at a restaurant, 100 yards from my house, which consisted of a dish very relevant to one of todays clues.
I thought 9D was a superb 4 letter clue, because it reminded me of my school days but I award COTD to 2D because it reminded me of my time at university, (only the last 3 letters, I hasten to add). Many thanks to the setter and for the hints.
There is a pub in a nearby village where we frequently have 14a – in fact, only last Wednesday!
2*/3*. A fun SPP on the whole.
I am not enamoured by the “synonym” needed for overcooked in 29a, and 30a simply doesn’t work as the definition doesn’t equate to the answer. However, I can’t explain in more detail as I haven’t got time today for the naughty step.
Thanks to the setter (NYDK?) and to CS.
As a musical notation to an orchestra and choir it works for me
Sorry SJB, it simply doesn’t work. Look up the definition of the answer. “Tutti” in an orchestral sense defines a homophone of the answer, not the answer itself.
I’ve just read the earlier comments and I see that TDS(etc.) @3 explains in more detail why the clue for 30a is wrong.
SJB I agree. A google translation of the foreign language term gives the solution which fits the anagram.
Not sure where you are seeing that, ATB. I wouldn’t necessarily rely on Google’s translations but I’ve just tried it and can’t see the answer.
No problem with 30a – we are still in the EU here – but I missed the definition of 26d which did not appear in the Republic of Ireland edition of the paper. Anyone else have this problem?
Careful, BM – you’re giving away a few answers there and I don’t think there is cake a the Naughty Step. 😊
Oh – it’s gone! 🤣
Que?
BM ha pubblicato oggi una foto del cruciverba mostrando alcune risposte. 😊
Oooh! Very naughty step, mightiest ever!!!
Hi RD
I ain’t the most culinary of chappies but if you overcook something (trying desperately to avoid the naughty step here) with plenty of protein that appears in many main meals, it can be described as the synonym.
As for 30 across, I took or rarther I have taken the question mark after the word to suggest that a nod’s as good as a wink to a blind horse, so to speak. The answer is obvious when all’s said and done, surely? An enjoyable puzzle on another cold dank January morning roll on the spring I say! 6 across defeated me, otherwise a very pleasant solve. No real favourites, but 14 across has given me ideas for another of my ‘kitchen creations’ sometime soon maybe and 10 across was a bung in, as it took me ages for the parsing penny to finally drop. Thanks to ‘Susie’ and setter.
Hi FF
I’ve never known a question mark to denote a wrong definition before. As you say, it’s usually there to ask for a bit of latitude. But this is just plain wrong as the meanings of
these homophones are completely different.
I hear people mix them up all the time.
As NYD has said in one of his comments, the QM is there for a reason, Thomas. I take the view as regards solving cryptic crossword puzzles that there’s very little point in being overly pedantic and so I allow or accept a little latitude – or maybe it’s that I take puzzling less seriously than I ought.
Hi FF
I always give setters latitude and love the use of a question mark. I mention it a lot on this blog, constantly supporting them.
I tell Mr Tumble to keep pushing that envelope as it’s great fun.
30a is simply wrong. I couldn’t give two hoots what a dictionary says and if it’s evolved into another meaning due to thousands of people making a mistake.
In my eyes, it’s not pedantry. Others feel differently and that is mighty fine by me.
I see this blog as a playground where groups of solvers discuss many things. If you hear, me in a group, dissecting a clue forensically then walk over to another group, i.e scroll past my post.
Hi again Tom. I almost missed your later riposte. As far as I am concerned Donny has provided sufficient explanation for his clueing and that my friend is good enough for me. As for “walking over”, oh the irony of your comment. You carry on with your obvious obsession with verbal forensics – I’m quite happy to take and enjoy my puxzzles at face value and I’ll continue to make comment on BDB as and when I feel inclined. So thank you very much, I will ignore your suggestion of moving to another group. End of.
Hi FF
Hopefully I haven’t misunderstood you.
I’m just saying to scroll past my posts if my chat isn’t for you. I’m sure a few people do.
* / *****
Another superb SPP and it must be from NYDK. Only knowing a few words of Italian, I counted letters in 30a for an anagram and with a few checkers the answer became readily apparent.
I have to thank NYDK for putting this on my wavelength so this was a record time for a Saturday for me. Ticks aplenty so the double ticks were the 5a time in pub and 15d His cup.
Wonderful. Thanks to NYDK and CS
For me this was a step up in difficulty compared to recent SPPs, but totally manageable and enjoyable. For 30a, with my limited Italian, I translated the 2 musical directions and went with the Chambers definition of the answer = “taking everything into consideration”.
My podium includes the Asian noodles 14a, the preacher 11a, the treatise 17d and COTD is 15d, very clever.
MT to nydk and cs.
Hi CD
30a doesn’t mean tutti. It’s a classic misuse which I see all the time.
I’m very surprised that this one has slipped through the net at Telegraph Towers.
TDS, you and I appear to be in a minority of two here. Somewhat surprising when we are the only ones who are right.
I think I have moved to agree with you and TDS on this.
That it is, RD.
People should know that it’s very unwise to take on the RD/TDS comby.
We shall call today Tuttigate.
I look forward to discussing it over a pint (or two!) next Saturday in The Great Wen.
I’m with you, too.
Loved the clue, but after due consideration of TDS and RD comments, and a squint at the dictionary defs of both homophones, I’m convinced it’s not right.
I agree with you, too!
It reminds me of the signs on Poundland shops proclaiming “amazing value everyday”.
Another goodie, S.
I do giggle when I see spelling and grammatical mistakes on signs etc, especially if it cost a few quids to make.
I saw a very expensive beautiful, wrought iron sign at The Bear in Burwash, a very pretty drive-through Kent village, that had ‘accomadation’.
One mistake is poor. Two is dire.
Hi TDS, mea culpa. I did a double take just as I pressed the Submit button and feared that I’d be sent to the naughty step.
However, in musical direction I understand that “tutti” means *** or ********. Therefore I am inclined to agree with your original point.
What a great one. I agree with everyone else about the favourites. Huge smugness when finally solving those. Only one word could fit in 22a, but I still don’t have the foggiest why it’s correct, even with the hint?
Can I put in a plug for a wonderful NTSPP from Shabbo, our newest setter to be elevated to the ranks of nationally published compilers?
Elevated to the ranks of setters in the Daily Telegraph. Shabbo has set crosswords for the Independent on and off since June 2020
Ah yes. I’d forgotten that. It has been quite a while since he had one published in the Independent. At least a year, I’d hazard to guess.
13th January 2025
Magic! Esp 30a. For me the best Saturday for ages. Thx to all
I wish to complain in the strongest possible terms. I have already posted my letter of grievance to Mr Lancaster and I have copied in Sir Keir, Mrs Badenoch, President Emmanuel Macron, and the estate of Édith Piaf.
As a non-French speaker how am I supposed to solve 30a? I mean this is the most….
…oh…wait a minute… oh…
Great guzzle. Le stylo est à moi.
Thanks to NYDK and PC Security (anag)
🎉🤣 30a waslinguistically confusing, I agree. I’m familiar with the use of ‘tutti’ in musical scores but have studied Italian , albeit briefly. Tom disappointing and RD have a point.
I thought this was a brilliant puzzle and for some reason I got on the right wavelength. I got of to a flying start with 1a 1d and even 4d / 20a going in quickly. From then on it was a steady solve apart from a hold up in the SW corner. So many good clues but I like the ‘often chilled port’ and the clever surface of 24d a lot. I still can’t fully parse 15d. I am afraid I now think TDS and Rabbit Dave are right about 30a though happy to be corrected. Thank you Setter and CS as always.
Plenty of menu options & with a glass of something to wash it down – very enjoyable it was too. The 30a def was close enough for me & the clue among my picks. Ticks also for 1&27a plus 2,7&15d.
Thanks to the setter (Donny I guess) & to
Interesting to look up the solution to 30a in the BRB
Solved on the phone in between teeing golfers off so not to hand. I thought the indicator was a pasta sauce 😀
Nicely chewy in places that got the old grey cells working overtime. I’m not going to reignite the debate on 30a, whatever the merits, it made me smile. Ticks also for 5d, 14a and 16d, but cotd goes to 3d. Thanks to NYDK and CS.
At first pass on the across clues I struggled. Then down to the rescue, after which it was an enjoyable solve.
Mrs Big Eck (music teacher) to the rescue at 30a though and I’d never heard of or eaten 14a and I would also not eat 29a as they are sedentary and liable to worms.
Cotd undoubtedly 15d .. now go away or I shall taunt you some more! 🤣
For me I found this Saturday NYDK puzzle quite a challenge, but lack of sleep is likely part of the brain not working at full capacity. My excuse, anyway.
Took me a long time, (as in last in), to get the multi word clue.
Overall today 3*/3.5* for me
Favourites were 1a, 27a, 2d & 4d/20a, 16d & 23d — with winner my last in.
Thanks to NYDK & CS
Forget about the tutti argument, I am more worried about the millionS missing at 6a. Plural? Maybe I have the whole thing wrong. Anyway, thoroughly enjoyed the guzzle – I was temporarily flummoxed by the White House but remembered that it had been used recently and that sorted out (I think) 6a. I was proud of myself for getting the genius at 9a and I wish to put forward 25d as Clue of the Day. Many thanks to the NY man and to CeeSue, I hope you got your domestic chores done – a cake, perhaps?🙂
I have this spotted this problem before Daisygirl on other puzzles. Where the clue refers to the plural when the answer refers to the singular.
Hmm, you make a good point about the millions.
Surely, there’s an example of the word being represented by an m?
Maybe there isn’t.
Well, I enjoyed this. I marvelled at 30a which I had down as my clue of a lifetime and was singing ing its praises until law enforcement involved👮♂️. They’re right, of course but I’ll forgive NYDK nonetheless . It was SO clever it deserves to be right.
Perhaps adding Barely? might have helped .
Thanks Sue and NYDK.
I struggled with several clues, but got there eventually. Favourite clue has to be 30a. The only words I know in that language are musical terms and how to ask for coffee. Thanks to CS and setter.
A super puzzle although have to deduct a point for 30a being incorrect. Shame cos apart from being wrong it’s a cracker of a clue (if that makes any sense at all!)
Thanks to the setter and to CS
Sticking with the theme of being in the minority…..for the few of you who are on Instagram, I highly recommend watching today’s post on what is called ‘Cracking the cryptic’.
Crossword champion, Mark Goodliffe, challenges himself to do Wordle in under a minute which he succeeds to do 90% of the time because he is brilliant. His knowledge of words is bonkers. To make it even tougher, he does it in hard mode, i.e he has to use letters that he thinks are in the answer.
But, today, he takes 15 minutes! I understand that you probably have better things to do but it’s highly entertaining. I won’t tell you the answer in case you want to hazard a guess (it was from last Sunday). For the first time, he bent the hard mode rules.
He’s also a lovely guy. Maybe some of you know him.
Having conversed with Mark at most of the Times Crossword Championships since 2014, I can confirm that he is indeed a very nice man
Good to read.
He’s so good at Wordle. A joy to watch.
Afternoon solving and blogging community, and even TDS. Thanks for your comments and thanks to CS esp.
I am going to defend 30A by inviting you to compare first defs of TUTTI and the answer as listed in the BRB. I put the QM there for a reason, as the def isn’t precise, but I reckon the adverbial sense of both just about makes it. It passed Mr Brydon’s muster too, so it must be okay
Cheers
NYDK
Good afternoon, NYDK, and thank you for another enjoyable challenge.
I have recently lost all respect for dictionaries as I’ve realized that they are simply a record of the public’s utterances which doesn’t make them words, well, words that I would use.
Take irregardless as an example. I found out last month that it is in all dictionaries. What??????
It is an entry because thousands of people have mixed up regardless and irrespective. If they were educated, or whatever the word is, it wouldn’t be an entry. There needs to be an asterisk next to it that denotes ”Do not use this word as it’s only in this book due to people’s ignorance. If you do, you will be judged”. No professional writer will use it.
Now, if there was a book of words that only professional writers use then I would be a happy camper.
So, people saying to me ”It’s in the dictionary” carries no weight with me, whatsoever.
With the utmost respect, Tutti does not mean 30a.
“If there were a book”, TDS65. It’s the subjunctive case.
(With tongue firmly stuck in cheek! 🤣🤣🤣)
An extremely fair correction, SC.
Subjunctive *mood* !:) (not case)
Correct! Thank you, SC.👍
Hi TDS
‘Irregardless’ is not in the BRB. Well, not in my desktop version at least. Know what you mean tho. Someone wanted me to give them ‘erspec’ a year or two ago, and I declined, even where the person was apoplectic (with rage) due to my assertion that Phil Collins is not an appropriate object for Hindus to worship. I diserspeced the person you see.
Love it!
Somebody told me that irregardless was in the BRB and all other dictionaries. Hoo nose.
Maybe I should have checked.
Onwards!
There is a whole Wikipedia entry for the word irregardless. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irregardless
Thx 1/3
The more I read about this nonsense word, the more depressed I get.
The fact that it’s got any airtime over the years is shocking.
Us English speakers need to hang our heads.
What a top quality debate carried out so respectfully. I point this out because if people in general debated in this manner the world would be a better place … irregardless of their opinions 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
Like it, A-Pop. Like it.
Obsolete or by confusion (BRB) along with the question mark? Is fine by me. As Prolixic will testify my crossword grammar is somewhat lacking. (To understand that comment you need to see the first version of the crossword I have prepared for next Saturday – it is much improved by his revisions)
I think 30a is a brilliant clue and definitely works for me. And even if it wasn’t correct (it is, as you say), it is still close enough to make a very clever clue.
Thanks for the crossword and thanks to Cryptic Sue too.
Quite a struggle to begin with but it suddenly all began to fall into place after much cogitation. Even having alternative letters I still can’t fathom 14a – I originally wanted to use the green vegetable. Thanks for the fun workout NYDK and Sue for hinting.
Thanks to Mr. Google I have now solved 14a but I also see that the correct term is in fact two 4-letter words.
Jobsworth pedantry in spades, towels, lawnmowers and muckrakers today. Not a pretty sight : rather a petty sight in the doll’s house where the Two Bad Mice had fun.
Thanks to NYDK and CS for their efforts and a hope that we will not see another such trivial brouhaha until Trump is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
Hi Corks.
All I have said is that tutti is not the definition of 30a.
Definitions and synonyms are discussed all the time. So, I’m not sure where you’re coming from.
Have I misunderstood you, perhaps?
Apologies, if so.
Not the definitive, literal and absolute definition as hallowed by time, dictionaries and the understanding of the sticklers for the unchanging nature of words. But many of us accustomed to the wilful habits of the public accept that movement in meaning although horrific to the pure in heart is common in life.
There are changes that I deplore and am willing to challenge people about. The rule has to be if the word has acquired a meaning which we interpret as a lack of clarity then we must tut to ourselves and smile. Personally I am disinterested, uninterested and couldn’t give a tinker’s cuss. As the filmic editor remarked, ‘When the legend becomes fact print the legend.’
Or as the poet said, ‘You can break the glass, but you can’t hold up the weather.’
What a highly entertaining post!
Now, let’s discuss uninterested and disinterested….
What a joy of a puzzle. It just happened to be on my wavelength and there are ticks all over the place.My favourite has to be 7 down because it is so topical and yet misleading. Brilliant !
The sun was shining and we needed that respite after all the rain. Nymans N.T. was beckoning and have just returned.
Can post this as for once no help was needed.
A mostly smooth start to the weekend, crossword-wise. I tackled it early for a change as not at work, but still I got some education via the likes of 22A’s port and 30A tutti extravaganza – enjoying all the chat on that one 😸 I certainly needed the hint to fully understand the composition.
Pody prizes to 1A, 4D and, go on then, 30A – the clue looked lovely on the page and it inspires me further to get better at figuring out the cryptic meaning of these sorts of clues beyond just working out the answer.
Thanks to setter and CS ⭐️
Not had time to read the comments but we found that hard. NE last in. Favourite was 3d. Thanks to NYD and VS
Saturday the best day of the week again! I got 30a unaided but had to check I’d found the correct answer for 22a. Thank you to Sue and setter
One of the hardest Saturday solves for quite some time. A dnf with much of the south unsolved.
22a makes no sense to me even with the hint and the answer.
30a also made no sense even after googling each word. That I got the answer was a lucky guess.
15d is another I fail to understand.
Never heard of the answer to 4d/20a.
The people who found this straightforward must have a miserable existence being surrounded by us dimwits. 😀
Thanks to all.
Re 22a – I was similarly confounded, but if you google “The Port of ______ Peeters” (with the obvious answer filling the blank), then clarity will emerge.
Okay. Using asterisks to avoid the naughty step, the BRB has as its first definition for the answer to 30A as:
1. All t*g*t*e* (obsolete or by confusion)
… and that’s why TUTTI was used, with a QM, so as to make sense with the wordplay whilst being as synonymous as possible with the answer word.
A rod for my own back possibly, and TDS (who is not tedious) is right, really, but where an august tome such as the BRB allows for the misinterpretation, I think he ought to share its penchant for giving slack. Of course someone like me can’t really call anyone else out for being pedantic, but at least now you know where the clue is coming from.
I for one am so very grateful for the time and effort all the setters put into making our entertainment possible. Take no notice of all these really annoying whingers who do not speak for most of us!
Whingers?
What a great post!
You gave it a go, chucked in a question mark, crossed your fingers, put on a tin helmet and hid behind a cushion, hoping for the best. Only Arthur dozen of us objected which isn’t too bad.
The response to your clue has been overwhelmingly positive with ‘Clue of the year’ being touted.
What you did is to be applauded and encouraged. I love setters pushing the envelope.
TDS/tedious is brilliant, btw.
You are never that, Tom.
Enjoyable puzzle listening to a 60’s hit list 🎸
Thanks to the setter and for 30a 👏
2 dropped points at home yesterday but hey ho as Joey said we’re still top😎
Pressed twice 🤦♂️
Was I the only person who got Rebeliant as the answer to 27a?! New to this…
Welcome to the blog
Very probably. What did you think of the rest of the crossword?
Welcome to the blog, Fiona.