Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31175 (Hints)
The Saturday Crossword Club
(hosted by crypticsue)
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I enjoyed solving this Saturday Prize Puzzle set by NYDK but I would imagine that, as usual, it will divide opinions.
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 Senior regiment deployed to rescue bathers? (4,6)
A senior army regiment or people deployed to rescue bathers
11a City Road swathed in morning mist? (9)
An abbreviated road inserted (swathed) between the abbreviation for morning and a film of watery vapour (mist)
12a A certain Chris and Hazel maybe grabbing Victor from behind (5)
This particular Chris was an American tennis champion. A reversal (from behind) of the type of large of woody plant of which Hazel may be an example into which is inserted (grabbing) the letter represented by Victor in the NATO Phonetic Alphabet
14a Copy line in saga artist incorporates (7)
The usual abbreviated artist ‘incorporates’ or takes in the abbreviation for Line and an adjective applied to a long narrative poem (saga)
27a Chap embraces Queen banning an American statesman (9)
A chap ‘embraces’ the forename of the Queen without ‘banning’ the first appearance of the abbreviation for American
30a Wife taken by Chandler excited English writer (1,1,8)
The abbreviation for Wife inserted into (taken by) an anagram (excited) of CHANDLER then followed by the abbreviation for English
Down
1d/20a Such woodpeckers not so often seen? (6,7)
The name of these woodpeckers could also be a phrase meaning not so often seen
8d/19a Film with a clue for Keith? (4,4,2,3)
If you treat this film title as a cryptic clue, you will see where Keith is to be found!
15d Popular ruler accepting everything by God’s will (9)
A synonym for popular and a ruler ‘accepting’ everything
18d See mum interrupting bath-time negotiator? (8)
An archaic word meaning see and an informal name for a mum ‘interrupting’ a bath and the abbreviation for Time
21d Composer Edgard changes not one note, ultimately (6)
A French-born American composer known as the Father of Electronic Music. A synonym for changes without the Roman numeral for one, and the ultimate letter of notE
25d Country knight introduced to frisky goat (5)
The chess abbreviation for night ‘introduced’ to an anagram (frisky) of GOAT
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: WURST + CAYS + SENNA +RIO = WORST CASE SCENARIO
1.5*/4*. I really enjoyed this.
My crowded podium comprises 26a, 7d, 8d/19a & 18d.
Many thanks to the setter and to CS.
Most of this fine offering from NYDK flew in, that was until I hit 2d and 10a where I stared at the grid for ages. Went away looking for inspiration elsewhere without much luck until the answer to 2d belted me between the eyes and the rest fell into place. I’m still unconvinced about the clue. The first half is clever and fair, the second half misdirection I found less so. My cotd is the city in the mist at 11a. Thanks to NYDK and CS.
I got 2d but 10a just has me stumped!
When in doubt<<<
Is this a hint to 10A SJB? I’m stuck on it too 😑
Yes, but see #14 too
I just can’t get 10a at all. Can’t even see what I am looking for! Help
It’s gnikrul there somewhere
Some very clever clues as noted but I didn’t really enjoy the solve. Half a dozen went in quickly and then it was a war of attrition with over reliance on general knowledge. 21d just too obscure in my view and if I’ve understood the 8d 19a parsing correctly (thank you CS) then that’s more obscure ‘keith’ knowledge. Than you NYDK and glad that most really loved the puzzle.
21d most awful taste and never forgotten.
8d/19a was my favourite clue, and I don’t know anything about keiths. I know even less about 21d so agree with you on that.
Some very clever clues in what for me was a very enjoyable puzzle. Top position for me are the rarely seen birds.
Thanks to NYDK (presumably) and CS for the hints (unused).
This was certainly worthy of a SPP and chock full of inventive clues. The 8d/19a conbo was very neat, but my favourite was 18d. My last one in was 21d, and was a new addition to my collection of words to forget.
Many thanks to Donny and Sue.
In terms of GK one step too far.
11a was a bit of a bung in, and it took Sue’s hint to fully parse it. The composer was a little obscure and I won’t be listening to any more from him soon. The mental image that COTD 7d conjured up will stay for a while, and I will spare you the pics.
Thanks to Sue and Setter (NYDK surely)
A curate’s egg of a puzzle for me. On the plus side there was a huge variety in typesof clue, some of which were really clever, with a wide spread of General Knowledge involved. The downside was the irritating multi-word clues, which one associates with NYDDK. I wnjoyed the geographical lego clues at 11a and 28a together with the geographical anagram at 16d. One multi-word clue I did enjoy unravelling was 1d/20a and I’ve learnt something as I’d never heard of 21d, so that’s a plus. Thanks to the compiler and to CS for the hints
An enjoyable romp, although 21d was a bit left-field. 8d superb.
Many thanks to setter and Sue
A nicely balanced SPP, with a few R&W’s, a few needed a minute or 2 to parse and a couple of sticklers at the end. 8d/19a was straightforward enough to see the answer from the checkers, but apart from seeing Keith, I still can’t see where the rest comes from. The composer is a total unknown for me so resorted to MrG.
My COTD is the primitive 13a.
Otherwise, an enjoyable interlude whilst making the weekly bread.
Thanks to NYDK? and Sue.
Very enjoyable and I had 1d as my favourite, like others 21d was new to me.
Many thanks to the setter and to CS for the hints
An enjoyable romp, although 21d was a bit left-field. 8d superb. If two words are hyphenated and then each element used in different ways, does it become a ‘lift and separate’?
Many thanks to setter and Sue
A “Playtex” clue perhaps (@) (@)
Thought this offering just sparkled. It came at so many directions and one was definitely the garden path. My only caveat was 21 down because I needed electronic help for what seemed an obscure composer. Really loved 26 across but then 3 down was marvellous. What a way to start the weekend ! Applause to the setter and to Sue who really had her work cut out on this one.
NYDK at his best! 2.5*/4.5*
Candidates for favourite – 26a, 1d/20a, 4d, 8d/19a, and 16d – and the winner is the clever 8d/19a closely followed by the ‘correctly’ enumerated 16d.
Thanks to NYDK and CS.
All fairly clued and lots to like with 11a, 27a and 7d favourites.
1a does not seem particularly cryptic to me and I n had to check the mammal and the composer.
2*/3*
Thanks to Sue and NYDK
SL8, I think 1a is rather clever. The first two words of the clue provide the definition for the answer which is enumerated (4,6). The rest of the clue is wordplay which leads to a single word which is enumerated (10).
A very enjoyable hour or so solving this but can anyone explain 10a , my last one in ? I just do not see it even with knowledge of the metal ?. The composer was penultimate one . Favourites 1 and 20 combo ,along with 27 and 7 . Thanks to all .
Think reverse lurkers?
If all else fails look for a ******?
No knowledge of metal is required so maybe you’re on the wrong track?
Well that helps me!! Many thanks.
Thank you for asking about 10A, and others for the hints. I even looked for a reverse lurker, I now realise I had mistyped 3D so I didn’t have the ending E 😱
I found this a real tussle. The composer was new to me and I had to check 15d.
Top picks for me were 26a, 12a and 18d.
Thanks to CrypticSue and NYDK.
This was fun. Random but fun.
A DNF as I couldn’t get the 26a/21d comby. I need to make a note of 26a as I keep forgetting it.
21d is specialist knowledge and then some. I’ve never heard of the senior regiment nor the catlike mammal.
8d is the sort of thing Mr Tumble or Zandio would do which I applaud. What a film! The last line is superb.
My pody picks for this ‘Zip, boing, cuckoo, wey hey, jibber jibber’ * crossword are 5d, 15d and 18d.
MTT to NYPD Blue and she of the crypt.
4*/4*
* Kluck from ‘Stop That Pigeon’. A legend,
I’m sure this guy, who is also bonkers, was inspired by Klunk.
Stan Lemkull, Stanley Unwin, Stan Laurel, Stanley Kubrick and Stanley Baxter in the same room would be totes hilaire.
I’d love it though some would say they couldn’t Stan it.
You forgot Stan Freberg…
Ah, good one.
Having a themed get-together reminds me of a golf tournament called the Bobby Jones Open in honour of the great man where everyone had to be called Robert or Roberta Jones.
A superb shout.
*** / *****
Superb, great fun to solve! Have two un-hinted that I can’t fully parse and needed Google for 3 others! Ticks aplenty: the 12a Chris (oh la la), 27a statesman – I suppose so, 18a bath-time negotiator and COTDF, the 7d washer.
Has to be NYDK – wonderful, thanks to him and CS
Great Saturday fare, many thanks to NYDJ. 1a went in straight away but then it became a satisfying to sidle, with 10a last to fall, as I have said. Silly me, because I always say to myself ‘when in doubt…..’. There were some very sneaky clues, like the wilder animal , the outlaw on the winding road and the chap embracing the Queen. Thanks also to CeeSue – I made a cake for the Rotary Wives book group meeting here on Thursday, it rose beautifully and with 10 mins on the timer I thought I just had time to do something- and got diverted. You can have it for the Naughty Step if you like.
Nice to see a puzzle this Saturday from NYDK this week. Liked the multi-clue words, especially 1d/20a … very clever. Also, a new word in this puzzle for me, so I learnt something.
2*/4.5* for me
Favourite candidates 1a, 22a 27a, 30a, 1d/20a & 21d — with winner a tie between 1d/20a & 27a … both very good.
Smile in addition to the favourites were 29a, 4d & 24d that made me laugh!
Thanks to NYDK for a pleasant Friday evening solve and to the still recovering CS
On the basis of the bewilderment caused by 21d I have made it my CoTD.
Thanks to NKDK and CS for the words.
Loved this guzzle. Like others 10a was my last one in until I too heard the voice in my ear telling me what to do. A couple of years ago I saw a 1d on our pear tree which has a rambling rose climbing through it. It didn’t move for ages so I went to inspect and found a sharp rose thorn was pinning it to the tree. I gently removed him/her from beneath the thorn and held it for moment as it was a beautiful little thing when I got very sharply and deliberately pecked hard on the end of my nose. That’s gratitude for you. Anyway, thanks to our setter for the fun today and to CS. Sorry about your cake DG and as yet no-one has been sent to the naughty step to enjoy it.
A laugh out loud moment with 7d, and any crossword that can elicit that gets my vote…
Thumbs up from me.
Not sure I fully get 8d/19a – is it just meant to be a lurker ?
I loved 7d – I laughed out loud
Thanks again setter and Sue
It’s a sort of post-modern intellectual, cultural and artistic pseudo-meta-clue. It communes with the spirits of Jaques Derrida and Roland Barthes. There’s this bloke I really hate called Keith as well.
Lemon?
I did not enjoy this. Took far too long and is a DNF as I couldn`t solve 21d undaided. ……….21d is ridiculous and does not belong in a SPP. A Sunday toughie, perhaps? Regardless, many thanks to the setter and CS for the hints.
Many thanks to Sue, and everyone who has posted. Have a groovy weekend.
Cheers
NYDK
I too still do not understand the parsing of 8d.
Very enjoyable puzzle despite that
Thanks to Setter and CS
Read the answer as if it were a clue. The first word of the answer would be the indicator.
Got it 🙄 – thank you
Fantastic. A real treat when one of the answers I couldn’t parse is explained by the setter himself. Very clever to boot!!!
Thanks NYDK!!!!!
As ever with a Donny SPP top notch & great fun. Didn’t find it particularly easy & annoyingly failed to twig the wordplay at last in 21d & looked up the composer, who I was unfamiliar with even though I suspect we’ve had him before. I also wasn’t entirely sure what to make of the parse at 1a until reading RD’s reply to SL8 – I thought the enumeration odd but forgot to investigate the senior regiment.
Ticks all over the shop – 1,1,12&27a + 2,7,15&18d + the combos at 8d/19a & 1d/20a. Tough to pick a winner from that lot but Wilder’s gem of a comedy just gets the nod.
Thanks toDonny & to Sue
2* / 4* Plenty of great clues with a couple that I needed help with ie 21d and 23d
Favourites today the 8d / 19a Keith, 7d behind washer and as no one else seems to have mentioned it the Quickie pun
Thanks to NYDK and CS
Just done the Quickie pre lights out – agree the pun is excellent. Pity the 12a anagram had 2 possible answers & I lost the coin toss
I think I have 26A thanks to the Internet, but can someone explain or give a hint for the clue parsing please?
the fact that they’re second homes in rural areas best I could come up with
Oh right … not much of an ‘aha’ moment there 🙂 Thanks Huntsman.
Took me forever to get underway however did then cope with three quarters neverheless eventually dnf with 13a, 2d and 9d unsolved. 1d/20a raised a giggle. My hat off to anyone who mastered this unaided on their Jack Jones. Thank you NYDK and CS.
Did most but some foxed me.
Still top of the league after a thumping away win today👍
PsStill can’t work out why 8d is the answer🤷♂️
Hi BB
Keith is lurking in the answer.
Can anyone help explain 9d and 13a? Too many proper nouns for me – perhaps I’m just old-fashioned
Using your full name sent you into moderation – you have been AliC, Ali C and Ali in the past
9d a man’s forename (the actor Mr Wilder is, maybe, an example, is obtained by removing the ‘tail’ from a catlike mammal
13a The definition is primitive – a Latin expression meaning and the others/rest ‘mobbing’ or going round the French definite article and a another word for a team or ship’s crew
Only just managed to attempt this after a busy weekend.
A dnf due to several clues where even the hints didn’t help me.
21d is utterly obscure to me. 27a also defeated me as did 23d, a new word for me.
Thanks to all.