Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31157 (Hints)
The Saturday Crossword Club
(hosted by crypticsue)
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A fun Prize Puzzle to liven up a damp, grey and gloomy Saturday morning; was it the work of NYDK? I’m sure we will find out at some point today
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 Liberal to stop Trumpist mum backing union? (7)
A reversal (backing) of the abbreviation of an American political movement, initiated by the POTUS, and an informal name for a mother into which is inserted the abbreviation for Liberal
11a Sappers calm crossing island in spring (10)
The abbreviation for the regiment informally known as the Sappers and a synonym for calm or stillness, the abbreviation for Island being inserted into (crossing) the ‘calm’
14a Lamp temperature normal at sea in ship’s rear (5,7)
The abbreviation for Temperature and an anagram (at sea) of NORMAL inserted into the rear of a ship
18a You bit a child? (6,6)
A small period of time (bit), a preposition meaning a, for each, and a male child
21a Generally accessible work in French (4)
An abbreviated work and the French word for in
22a Loathed having to admit thirst outside pub – like non-drinker? (10)
A synonym for loathed into which is inserted (having to admit) an intense desire (thirst) which itself goes ‘outside’ an abbreviated pub
28a Quiet tenant who makes others happy (7)
The musical abbreviation meaning quiet and a tenant
Down
1d Harmony from A string keeping constant (6)
A (from the clue) and a string ‘keeping’ a mathematical abbreviation for Constant
3d Cunning traps great many in place of execution … (10)
Cunning or deceit into which is inserted (traps) a great many and IN (from the clue)
4d/13d … royal at one time near it, disastrously (5,10)
A lovely definition of someone who was indeed at one time near 3d, her name being an anagram (disastrously) of words two to six of the clue
7d Survey ship looks more defined with this (8)
Survey or look at and a type of ship
15d May criminal entering confess what’s demanded of debtor (9)
An anagram (criminal) of MAY ‘entering’ a verb meaning to confess or regret
17d First to sample powdered milk! (8)
It takes a while to spot the definition but the first letter of Sample and a powdered milk substitute combine to give a printing term for a punctuation mark
24d Seat that’s long yet short (4)
Once you have removed the final letter (yet short) from an expression of distance (that’s long), join together the letters that remain to make one word instead of two
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: WRIST + REIGN = RESTRAIN
An enjoyable Saturday tussle that did not succumb easily – for me at least – but it is a prize puzzle. I thought the 3/4/13 down combination was very clever and they almost became my COTD, if three answers can be such. I will need the hints to understand 18a, if it is hinted. No doubt I am missing the obvious as I always do. My COTD is the survey ship at 7d.
Thank you, New York door furniture for a great brain mangle. Thank you, CS for the hints and I hope you are now well on your way to becoming fully active.
I now understand 18a – thank you, CS.
2*/4*. This was a very enjoyable NTSPP. I fretted for a while about the definition for 17d, but looking the answer up in the BRB revealed all and earned this clue a podium place alongside 1a & 22a.
Many thanks to the setter and to CS.
Enjoyable and very clever today.
3/4/13d my COTD.
I have the correct answer for 17d although I have parsed the clue incorrectly.
2*/5*
Thanks to Sue and NYDK
Nicely teasing for a spp. Very much liked the 3,4/13d linked clues with ticks and smiles for 1a and 7d, but cotd goes to 25a such a great word. Thanks to compiler (is it NYDK??) and CS.
I thought this was excellent but definitely a puzzle of two halves. Was a nice steady solve until the last 6 clues in the SW which took forever. Very enjoyable though. One of my LOI was the astonishingly good 18a. I always find clues like this very hard to spot but they give great PDMs when they do. Thank you setter and CS as always
To borrow a term that I normally reserve for Dada on Sunday, the setter, presumably NYDK, being quirky today. 17d was a bung in but having read the hint I see that the answer is in The Crimson Tome. 23d took some thought before the PDM. ***/****.
Candidates for favourite – 18a, 26a, and the aforementioned 17d and 23d – and the winner is 23d.
Thanks to NYDK, or whomsoever if it is not he, and CS.
Spiffing puzzle. Thanks to today’s setter & CS.
Not an easy SPP, so I had to put the crossword down and come back to it. That technique did the trick and I came back to it, when 4d/3d suddenly came to mind and a very good clue it was too. That inspired me to zfill in the equally good lego clue at 3d. I had never heard of a 14a but the clever word play made it simple to work it out. I also liked the clever wordplay for the anti-Monarchist at 10a. Thanks to the compiler for an interesting challenge and to CS for the hinrs
I struggled a bit today, missing the elipses and the link to 3d was the start, and more in the SW held me up too. The printers term was new to me. On the whole, not my favourite puzzle this week but a fair test for a SPP.
Thanks to Sue and setter (NYDK presumably)
Really enjoyed this one which I found a tad trickier than the last few days. As usual slow to peg the punctuation whys at 17d & 22a, the first term of which I’d not come across before. 1a my standout favourite with a host of other likes – 10,22&25a + 3&4/13 &7d. Lovely stuff.
Thanks to Donny & to Sue.
A very entertaining puzzle, I enjoyed the linked clues very much. Thank you Sue for explaining the parsing of 18a, I could not quite see how it worked and also 17d where I was trying to make it some sort of all in one to explain my correct answer. I now know a new definition.
Many thanks to the setter and to CS for the hints.
I always come to the puzzle thinking it will be a step too much because of my problems with spelling. Being able to use logic and the help of this site and years of book clubs and a love of words and their definitions has been such a help. This was such an example. Like Steve I loved the 3,4,15 answers but favourite was 22 across which got a double tick. John never gets involved but I told him of 10 across because I knew he would find it such an excellent clue and in his interest zone. I did think 18 across tricky but pleased to work it out.
I cannot thank everyone enough.
P.S. currently reading “ The Dictionary of Lost Words” by Pip Williams.
An excellent reading choice!
That’s what I was going to say. The Bookbinder of Jericho by the same author is another good read
Ditto!
I did like 10a too, courtesy of a mispent youth in The Sealed Knot.
May I ask why you often publish pictures of the answers when it is made clear not to give answers in the comments.
Regards.
Ellen.
Welcome to the blog
Big Dave always added pictures when preparing the Saturday Prize Puzzle Hints and those of us providing PP Hints have continued in the same way. When asked about why you could see solutions when hovering over the pictures he said “Some hints for prize puzzles might be illustrated with an image and hovering over this image could reveal an answer. These “gimmes” are at the discretion of the author of the hints.”
What did you think of the crossword?
I thought I had finished but I can see 2 answers for 23 down and I haven’t seen the logic of the clue. Since it is the prize crossword I am not expecting help. Will just have to stew and perhaps a penny will drop.
I wouldn’t bother entering if I were you. The pen is mine, for sure. Although I will have to send the nib to Super Sue as I needed to check whether my 17d answer was correct.
On Thursday we went to an event at Stamford Bridge where we were photographed in a glass box. Peculiar, but a cheery memento of the evening, I suppose.
Out for a lovely walk this afternoon, if only the incessant rain will hold orf for a while.
Thanks to the setter (one assumes NYDK) and PC Security (anag). Love to Jane.
Please go easy on Leeds next week. I would settle for sharing the points.
I watched them (on tv) hammer Nottingham Forest last night and they looked a really good team! I’m worried!
They looked better against Forest than Arsenal, as i said a point would be nice
A very pleasing romp for a Saturday PP whilst still needing a modicum of head scratching, completed on my tod. In this instance I actually enjoyed the linked clue, unlike the recent Toughie, possibly because there was only one of the ilk. My stand out clues are more or less the same as others, to wit 3/4/13, but my COTD is 22a. I hadn’t heard of the print usage for 17d and needed CS’s explanation for 18a.
Thank you setter (NYDK) and crypticsue.
Good afternoon. This was testing and took longer than I had hoped. There were a few which required time to parse. 10, 14 and 18 across make up podium but 7, 8, 15 down and 27 across are worthy contenders. Many thanks to CS and Setter.
A belter of a puzzle! Very enjoyable.
Many thanks to the setter and to CS.
Hmm we seem to be going against the grain on likeability. We didn’t particularly enjoy the puzzle and found a couple of the clues a bit wooly for us. Still don’t really understand 2d.
Thanks though to setter and CS.
Informed/up to speed on one’s brief.
This was an excellent puzzle that was worthy of the Mythical Prize. Some terrific surfaces and clever wordplay produced my favourite, 17d.
Thanks to Donny, if it was indeed he, and to Sue.
Greetings from a cool and damp Northumberland. A clever and enjoyable crossword with some very clever clues though- some a bit too clever for me so thanks to CS for the hints which covered most of them but I still can’t parse 23 D. Thanks to the setter
Look at your solution and then at the middle of words four and five in the clue. You should be able to find the first part of your solution and then the second word in the solution describes what is happening to get that word
Man that was tough to see 😉 – tricky crossword and I am still ploughing through the SW!
I think I’m going mad . Still cannot see answer to 23 down. Best to go back to watching the Olympics
Thanks – much appreciated. Apologise for the late response- got tied up in a murder- mystery at the village hall
How anyone with no knowledge of printing get 17d beats me.
I guess the overwhelming majority pegged the wordplay then asked Mr G about the def.
The wordplay is very clear and so the solver then looks in the dictionary and all should become clear.
There are a number of printing terms regularly used in crosswords – for example: em, en, and pie – and so the solution to 17d is another one to try and remember
I spent over half my working life in the printing and graphic arts industry and I have never come across the term, so you’re not alone K W. I am quite well acquainted with a slightly ruder expression though. I enjoyed the puzzle and found it a wee bit more difficult than the previous five this week, but that said it is a prize puzzle afterall. I doubt if I’ll waste a stamp to post it though. Thanks to setter and CS.
Thanks to CS and NYDK. LOI 16d. COTD 4 and 13 down combination. As usual for a prize puzzle we struggled but at least finished it while there is still daylight!
I can highly recommend Rahmat Ali’s NTSPP for a entertaining diversion on a damp Saturday.
For me a nice offering from NYDK this week with a quite accessible multi-answer word clue. Lots to smile at all over the grid again too.
2*/4* for me
Favourites 5a, 9a, 25a 4/13d, 7d & 23d — with winner 4/13d & 9d runner-up
Smiles from 26a, 28a, 6d & 24d
Thanks to NYDK & CS
A 17d of a puzzle from NYPD Blue with the 3/4/13 comby immediately popping off the page. Great work!
Then I was drawn to 18a. A truly superb clue.
Then he has some fun with a brace of punctuation clues – right up my strasse.
Keeping 18a company on the podium are 1a and 24d.
MMTTTA and she of the Garden of England crypt.
3*/5*
I think it’s a good puzzle but can any one explain
23d please
Sorry just read the above comments.
Thank you for the hints
My favourite type of puzzle. You start, completely baffled, then pennies start dropping. My COTD: 24a — so near, yet……
I don’t see the “not a” part of 16d
Thanks again Sue for all your help on a Saturday
One letter in the solution represents ‘not a thing ‘
Thank you
Great puzzle. Thanks for the explanation of 17d; the answer was there but I didn’t get the definition. And 22a took me ages! Thanks setter and Sue.
I always look forward to a NYDK Saturday puzzle , and this was one of my favourites with some excellent clues. I loved 22a, it made me laugh out loud. I spent a long time on 11a – in fact I had it wrong having bunged in , and then I worked out 3d so realised my mistake. I’m not sure if I’ve got 23d right as can’t figure the parsing , so I ll give that a bit of thought. Thanks NYDK and to CS.
Thanks CS and the gang.
Cheers
NYDK
Thank you for another great prize puzzle, NYDK, and for popping in.
Thanks from me too.
1* / 3.5* An excellent puzzle with plenty of wit and misdirection. I justified 1d as an all in one type clue (which works for me), no idea about the printing term.
Favourites the agitated 23d, union at 1a and the dashing 22a
Thanks to NYDK and Sue
So a sneaky punctuation mark at the end of 17D with a name I have never heard of and another sneaky punctuation mark right in the middle of 22A. What sort of crossword is this meant to be…. Whatever solved in *** time but did need help of CS’s hints. Whether this will bring me another pen I don’t know but one must always hope!
Well beyond me today. Not helped by having a stinking cold. Solved 3 clues and maybe solved another 7 before throwing in the towel.
Thanks to all.
Excellent Saturday puzzle. 22A my favourite from a very strong field. VMT NYDK and Sue.
Found this to be an enjoyable slog, took longer than most for me so far this year. Needed the hints for 22A’s thirst, 11A’s sappers and basically all of 18A’s Lego blocks, wasn’t on the wavelength of this parse at all! I’m putting this down to my hangover 🤔
Pody picks – 4&13D was my favourite, then 22A’s non-drinker and I’ll go for 17D’s ! as I did not know this printing term.
Especially grateful for the hints today, thank you, and to the setter for this Saturday challenge.
Just finished what I thought was quite a challenging puzzle and unlike Friday’s effort without any external reference, which was pleasing. My last two entries were the non-drinker at 22a and the psychic at 16d, very cleverly designed so they are my CsOTD.
Thank you to the setter and to CS for the hints which I will now peruse.
A very fine Prize-worthy puzzle. It took a long time to work through all the deviousness, and I resorted to relying on CS’s help to parse 17d and 23d (although now I realise I have heard the 17d usage somewhere back in the lists of time).
Many thanks to NYDK and CS.
Now back to trying to add to the 4 clues I’ve solved in Friday’s Elgar…
1,22& 25a were my favourites.
Thank you to the setter as I enjoyed doing the puzzle listening to some early Genesis 🎸 and still glowing in a magnificent win yesterday with 10 men to remain top of the league👍
** / *****
Very very late due to yesterday’s power cut. Another back of the net for NYDK. lots of ticks, foremost were the 13a grammatical answer, similarly 22a and the 17d “!” Got the answer but didn’t know the printing term so thanks CS for that.
Thanks NYDK for another Super Saturday!
I was disappointed by the fact that the French word for in is (redacted as it is part of a solution)
Welcome to the blog
The required French word is a preposition meaning in, to or by
What did you think of the crossword?
Even later than Sunday’s entries, apologies, so suspect this might not be read at all … but just in case thank you NYDK for a brilliant puzzle that really tested my spelling as well as creative thinking. Thank you as always CS but I do agree with one of the above comments regarding inclusion of pictures as they give too much away when it’s a prize puzzle (eg some people scroll straight down to comments list for various reasons and try to skip your excellent tips until later on)
Usually read by me, when I finally finish the crossword. I generally bring up the rear every week, but generally finish unaided too. I look forward to checking my solution and catching up with the bloggers.
Thought this was a very clever crossword. Thanks as ever to NYDK and SOTC (anag.)
👍👍👍