Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31193 (Hints)
The Saturday Crossword Club
(hosted by crypticsue)
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
A Saturday Prize Puzzle with several things to make the solver smile. There is a helpful theme too.
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 Situation resolved by changing one’s locks? (3,4,3)
A clever cryptic definition which fell into place as soon as I saw the enumeration
11a Gladiator to practise fighting distributed scuta (9)
A non-musical earworm this week. Practice fighting and an anagram (distributed) of SCUTA
12a Number one college extremely trendy (5)
An abbreviated college and the extreme letters of TrendY
14a Character restricting badger’s weight (7)
The character of a sound ‘restricting’ a verb meaning to badger or find fault with
28a Worker in firm’s poetry (5)
One of Crosswordland’s workers inserted into an abbreviated firm
30a Action at Wimbledon on live, or earlier (10)
A tennis stroke (action at Wimbledon) goes on or after a verb meaning to live
Down
1d Seen here: Normans having Saxons in stitches? (6)
Another cryptic definition – this one so perfectly describes the embroidery, which gets its name from the place it can now be seen
5d Approve including role: act ultimately flat (9)
A verb meaning to approve into which is inserted (including) a role, the ultimate letter of acT being added at the end
17d Old country‘s bottomless pit in one area (9)
A bottomless pit, IN (from the clue), the Roman numeral for one and the abbreviation for Area
18d/8d Fight notable as leaders of the Saxons scattered (6,2,8)
How many of you looked at this clue, immediately saw the solution but didn’t realise that it is an anagram (scattered) of FIGHT NOTABLE AS and the ‘leaders’ of T and Saxons?
23d Stars penning ultimately erotic material (5)
A small constellation ‘penning’ the ultimate letter of erotiC
25d Old wit sent up harsh lawmaker (5)
A reversal (sent up in a Down solution) of the abbreviation for Old and a wit or eccentric person. Anyone want to take bets on how many people will say they have never heard of this 7th Century BC Athenian BC who drew up a code of very strict laws?
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The Quick Crossword pun: SOLES + BARRY + PLANE = SALISBURY PLAIN
I found today’s PP a bit of a struggle, which is strange because it was well clued. Perhaps I am still befuddled from the journey yesterday. It is quite tiring avoiding potholes of which there were many. 11a immediately brought back an iconic line in a film and I particularly liked the Normans stitching up the Saxons at 1d. However, my COTD is the pancake at 20a.
Thank you, Big Apple Door Furniture for a great Saturday challenge. Thank you, CeeSoo for the hints.
A lovely, sunny day in The Marches so I might be tempted into the garden. Just to plan what to do, you understand, not to actually do it.
How is Hudson doing ?
Getting really fed up with himself, OM. The vet says the wound will take about three weeks to heal and during that time, he can’t run around in grass. Still has to wear the collar. 🐶
Oh dear. Poor Hudson.
3 weeks must be an age for a dog to wear a collar.
Give him a clap from me. (Scottish for a pat.)
This had, for me, the right amount of chewiness for a prize crossword. I liked the theme too. I did have to check the director.
Top picks for me were 30a, 15d, 7d and 21d.
Thanks to CrypticSue and the setter.
2*/4* with the excellent all-in-one 18d/8d my favourite.
Many thanks to the setter (NYDK?) and to CS.
Really enjoyed this puzzle. Must admit didn’t check the solution of 8&18 so hadn’t seen the anagram.
Had to check spelling of 1d and the director in 16a. Never heard of 25d which was my last to go in after 23d.
Clue of the day was 30a – stared and stared before the penny dropped.
What a great start to the weekend!
I thought 25d was a xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
After Elgar yesterday this was a breeze. I spotted the 18/8, 1, 21d theme quite early and then a steady fill. Big smiles for 1a, 30a and 15d, together with the aforementioned themed clues I needed to confirm the director and the star group after completion .but otherwise unaided.
My thanks to NYDK for an entertaining puzzle and to crypticsue for her usual diligence.
2*/4*
The only one I had to check was 28a, which is ironic seeing as today is world poetry day (according to our kitchen calendar).
Thanks to the setter and to CS.
I’m not sure that I enjoyed this all that much. 1a had me up the garden path, down the lane and nearly to the next town before sense prevailed. I’m blaming my 2dness on being muzzy headed today. The theme was clever and 1d raised a smile in the end once I solved 1a. Cotd is 11a. Thanks to NYDK (?) and CS.
Excellent puzzle, and perfect for a beautiful Spring morning. It took me a while to get on wavelength, but having done so the grid filled quite quickly. There was so much to enjoy, and the theme was nicely clued, with the 18d/8d double my favourite.
My thanks to Donny and Sue.
Wonderful wit on display throughout this thoroughly amusing SPP. Amongst the myriad contenders for the podium I’m plumping for 20A, whilst the mini-theme is a joy.
(Incidentally, there is a point about to be raised by some scholar or other as to whether or not 21 marched, as we have been repeatedly told, or actually sailed down the coast to the engagement at 8D. Incredible!)
There is a very interesting article about this research on page 3 of the paper
An interesting article. I hope the DT reports on the presentation of the researcher’s findings next week.
I liked the closing paragraph highlighting the potential for damage from driving over potholes – a subject dear to all Manitoban hearts at this time of the year!
Don’t tell me potholes are not only seen in Britain!!! It is a pandemic.
It most certainly is!
I don’t know what they are like in the UK, but there is every reason to believe they may be worse here. They are mainly due to water collecting in the crevices in asphalt and freezing, thus expanding and cracking the road surface. Repeated cycles of this process create large holes. With our yo-yo like temperature swings, it doesn’t take long to destroy a road.
Husband John who routinely stays away from the crossword started telling me of some professor and his investigations regarding the interaction with 8 d. Tried to not listen until I realised that for once he was giving me a lead into the puzzle.
The first pass through caused a groan so worked my way up from the south. A well clued puzzle but had to check the 16a director. I thought 15d was very clever
You have been Graham and Powell Graham in the past This third change of alias sent you into moderation
Apologies. After a long period away I have only recently reconnected with the blog and, looking back over recent posts it seems I have fallen victim to “autofill”. The correct alias is Graham Powell and I’ll be careful to check it’s correct before posting.
And Saturday’s puzzles continue to test me. I found this great fun but also very difficult in places. Some solutions jumped out immediately whereas others took far too long. My top picks are 6,13, and 19 across and 2,7 and 9 for the downs. Thanks to CS and setter.
Very entertaining and just about right for an SPP; NYDK seems to be getting the hang of this setting business
**/****
Candidates for favourite – 19a, 20a, 30a, 4d, 9d, and 15d – and the winner for the groan it produced when the penny dropped is 30a!
Thanks to NYDK and CS.
What an entertaining and interesting puzzle. There were a few I needed to check afterwards, but all were fairly clues. 1a was my favourite with 20a close behind.
Many thanks to the setter and CS for the hints
Great fun, with 1a (my COTD) helping a rapid completion of the N before progress slowed in the S. In the light of Cryptic Sue’s comment, I’m certainly not going to admit to never having heard of the Athenian lawmaker but it couldn’t be anything else and explains the etymology of a well-known adjective. Thanks very much to the setter and to CS.
This puzzle would seem to be a NYDK offering to my way of thinking as well as the clueing today. I liked the multi-word clue as well.
Also some answers that definitely made me smile throughout the grid.
2*/4* for me
Favourites include 1a, 16a, 19a, 20a & 9d
Smiles include 1a, 27a & 2d
Thanks to NYDK & CS
A very circuitous solve with the NW holding out the longest. A fabulous puzzle and i really enjoyed the struggle to finish. Perfect level difficulty for a PP. Lots of great clues but my favourite has to be the brilliant 30a.
Thank you setter and to CS for the blog.
Thanks to NYDK and CS. Struggled!!! Maybe because we sat in bright sunshine to solve today’s puzzle! Have to make best of it while it lasts. COTD 20a. LOI 21d.
Plenty to smile about today. Despite the evolving theme my LOI was 21d. Favs were 30a and 15d.
Thanks to NYDK for an excellent puzzle and to CS for turning up for duty on such a beautiful Spring morning….
I agree with the majority that this guzzle was sheer joy! Such clever gluing. Or even cluing. Or clueing. Anyway we enjoyed it with pride of place going to either the flat pancake or the Wimbledon whammer, and I think the latter wins. After all, I did go to school in Wimbledon so have to be loyal. 26a was a bit of a teaser until I thought “if in doubt….” Many thanks to NYDJ and to the lovely CeeSue. I didn’t need you, but always enjoy reading the hints!
Like Graham Powell, I groaned too but in my case it was when I saw 8d/18d, the multi-word clue. Obviously aNYDKproduction, it didn’t disappoint with the complex clues and I made a slow start. Things improved when I figured out what the theme was and I enjoyed the 18d, 8d, 1d 21d group of clues together with the geographical lego clue at 17d . Thanks to NYDK and to CS for the hints (though I would like to have known what Brian had to say, since many of us encouraged him to be his forthright self)
Brian said xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx. 😊
He gave an alternative clue
Quite tricky for me today. A reasonable start then ground to a snail’s pace.
Got there in the end.
Favourite definitely the pancake…..brought back memories of Mum cooking them on the stove and myself my sister and our cousins eating them with (home made) raspberry jam as soon as they came off it. Scotch pancakes of course. Happy days!
Thanks to the setter and to crypticsue.
Finished unaided but found it to be a bit a slog in all honesty.
I did enjoy 1d and 30a. LOI and COTD the harsh law maker. Huge PDM when I realised the origin of the longer word with an extra 4 letters. Hope that doesnt get me into trouble.
3*/3*
Thanks to Sue and Setter
Couldn’t get into this, didn’t spot the theme, needed hints . G K lacking for 25d . one or two excellent clues , 30a my favourite closely followed by 2d . Thanks to all . Usually enjoy Saturday’s crossword but not today
It’s amazing what a break can do….. I started at lunch and got nowhere then resumed later and , with Cryptic Sue’s help , I finished and enjoyed it. Thank you setter and Sue.
Loved today’s crossword. We had a house in St.Valery sur Somme for the last 20 years and its association with the theme today was a pleasant head start. Favourite was 1 down as we knew it well and the clueing raised a laugh. So grateful for this gift.of a crossword. Have been gardening for the rest of the day. Even the tax man cannot deduct from such pleasure. Many thanks.
Another SPP belter from Donny – quite a coincidence that the excellent theme features on a day when we read of new thinking about 1066 & all that. Ticks aplenty – 1,10,13&20a + 1,17&21d + fav 18/8d the picks for me.
Thanks to Donny & to Sue.
This was tough for a Samedi (almost 4 stars) but hugely enjoyable.
Funnily enough, I got the 8d/18d comby early on but the other two were almost the last to drop.
Can someone help me with the parsing of 2d as it looks like a Russian doll jobbie, a technique I love? Does ‘stopped’ mean to knock off the last letter?
I haven’t seen any films by the Metropolis director. To quote the legend that is Stacey Solomon…sort your life out, Tom!
My pody picks are 9d, 20a and the comby (what a surface!)
MTT NYPD Blue and she of the crypt.
3*/4*
2d ‘stopped working ‘ goes outside an abbreviated wife ‘wearing’ a type of glive
Or ‘glove’ just in case it sends uncle Tom off in the wrong direction tee hee 😂
Ah, thank you, CS.
I had the full version of glive.
Did you get the Robbie Collin piece I sent you?
Ah! I rarely look at the email for this blog.
I’ll look at it later as I’m about to go arrrt.
arrrt arrrt or just arrt?
A superb call by Micky…..and you.
** / *****
Loved this. In recovery from as the doctor put it (yes I got to see a GP, wowee), “it’s just a virus man-up and stop bothering me”. To be fair that’s artistic licence but her body language said exactly that. So felt I was back to form today. So many clues got ticked, I’ll mention the double ticks to the 15d computing speed, the combo 18/8d fight and 1d stitches – very topical.
I hope this is NYDK, last time I thought so I was wrong! Anyway loved it.
Thanks to himself or whomsover and CS.
Loved the puzzle with a very good theme, I wonder if it is a coincidence that it appeared the same day as the article that I have seen in The Telegraph, Guardian and now the BBC news. Setters luck I suppose. of the unthemed clues 11a gets the laurel from me and Tony Curtis
Thanks to NYDK (if he) and Sue – Shabbo’s NTSPP is well worth a look too
Great puzzle from NYDK, and coinciding with the Telegraph report on the research about the said battle – no march north and back south, but journey by sea. So many superb clues, so I’ll go for 1A which gave the best laugh. VMT also to Sue.
I struggled to get a start on this .. but once I’d got 18d/8d I get my head working .. thoroughly enjoyed it today.
3.5* / 4* An excellent prize puzzle, enjoyed steadily working my way through the clues. A couple of google confirmations needed, but all fairly clued.
Favourites today include 30a earlier, my first one in lock changing 1a and last in 1d had me in stitches!
Thanks to Sue and compiler
It was setters’ luck. I’d always wondered about that Stamford Bridge caper.
Anyway, thanks all for the comments, and thanks CS for the hints.
NYDK
I don’t think Light was quite as lucky when he got Len Deighton into the Sunday Toughie on the day that he died!
Thanks NYDK
A slightly trickier Saturday prize puzzle than normal and I needed a few of the hints. Saw 1a and the theme at 18d/8d immediately but likewise 21d was my last in, just couldn’t see it. And misled by 1d as the version I have seen (an excellent copy) was stitched by some English ladies!
Still going, most in a decent time but two left … got the Valletta Half Marathon tomorrow. Will gladly consult CS hints if the remaining clues haven’t revealed their true selves during day 2.
Thanks to setter and CS – I love the pic for 1A ⭐️
As it’s the half marathon, should it be called the Valletta Mara?
Oh, that’ll do.
What’s your target…under 90 mins?
Either way. good luck, Wriggles!
A Mara would be alongside a Scottish Sea Loch, but maybe Valetta is quite coastal
As attendees of January’s bash (who don’t read blog emails Tom!) I would like to bring the following to your attention:
It’s in the diary!
Thank you
Be good to see you again, Tom but it’s quite a journey you’re letting yourself in for if I’m correct about where you dwell. I know when I travel that far I have to break it up with a stopover. Mind you, you are much younger than I. 😊
Oh dear another unproductive effort on my part and even with benefit of hints I failed to twig several obtuse clues. Somehow fings ain’t wot they used to be” with the DT Cryptic”. Fav was 30a. “Arabs here” and “seen here” is a bit unimaginative. My hat is off to those who completed unaided. Thanks setter and CS for making sense for me.
I was too tired to get far with this last night, but managed to get it finished this morning. I had to look up the 16a director (but that was fine: it was clear what to look up) and check the 23d stars. My top few are 13a with new wine, 30a featuring Wimbledon, and 5d with approve. Thank you to NY Doorknob for the puzzle and CrypticSue for hosting.
Just finished. I have to admit I found parts of it a struggle and had to resort to outside reference. I did enjoy the theme but puzzled as to why it is in a March puzzle rather than an October one? With that in mind my COTD was 1d.
Having a break from puzzling today as setting off to Wembley in a couple of hours for our clash with Arsenal. Am not optimistic given our recent form.
Thank you to the setter and to CS for the hints.
Started this pre a round of golf and finished it afterwards watching the ongoing League Cup Final. Bit of theme going on here🤔
Still in the auto promotion spots after another disappointing game against those in orange from up north.