Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31223 (Hints)
The Saturday Crossword Club
(hosted by crypticsue)
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I really enjoyed solving this Saturday Prize Puzzle which seemed to take slightly longer than ‘normal’ but was that because Mr CS and I started talking about rabbits mid-way through? I’ll be interested to see if the setter turns up to claim ownership of this SPP, my favourite clue, out of quite a long list, was 16a
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
9a Adored female animator working with American (9)
An anagram (working) of ANIMATOR with the abbreviation for American
10a First killer casing hotel in Bond (5)
The capital B in bond is there to mislead! The first killer in the Old Testament ‘casing’ or going round the letter represented by Hotel in the NATO Phonetic Alphabet
13a Two rabbits in French province once (7)
Two definitions of rabbit – the first an informal verb meaning to chatter, especially vapidly; the second a name for a wild European rabbit
25a Two spies guarding English royal line (11)
Two synonyms for spy, one more formal than the other, the latter ‘guarding’ the abbreviation for English
26a Pot knocked over – little crash? (3)
A reversal (knocked over) of a pot produces a small sleep (crash)
28a Broken piece in London skyscraper (5)
A broken piece of pottery or a London skyscraper
29a/1d Tragedian cut out to embrace one Russell comedy (9,4)
An anagram (out) of TRAGEDIAN CUT into which is inserted (to embrace) the Roman numeral for one
Down
2d Detachment, small, gets in roaring drunk (8)
An anagram (drunk) of ROARING into which is inserted the abbreviation for Small
3d Florid jumper worn by choice oddly (6)
Florid or extravagant in style – the odd letters of ChOiCe inserted into (worn by) a young jumping marsupial
6d Paul Mescal’s content to play Bones (8)
Another misleading capital B – an anagram (to play) of PAUL and the inside (content) letters of mESCAl
7d Dog show advertiser (6)
A dog or a person advertising a show in a loud vice to attract custom
17d Clearly awaiting execution, but comfortable (4-2-2)
An adverb meaning clearly and items awaiting action (execution)
21d In which we find leaves gathered for potting? (3,3)
A nice cryptic definition but do you use actually use a pot these days?
27d Summon wannabe knight (4)
Summon by calling aloud for or a youth training for knighthood
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The Quick Crossword pun: REAP + PURR + CASH + SHONE = REPERCUSSION
Well, that was a poser and no mistake! I had just five solved after the first pass and four of those were downs. Fortunately, the next to fall was Dorothy’s house at 16a and that allowed me to crawl into the rest of the puzzle. It was slow going but it came together gradually. I solved some from checkers then reverse parsed to see how they worked. One such was the agent at 4d but, once I had worked it out, I realised it was a clever clue. However, my COTD is the royal line at 25a.
Thank you NYKD – or whomever if not he -for a brain mangling workout. Thank you, CeeSoo for the hints.
Just about the right degree of chewiness for a Saturday PP. Fairly clued throughout, although both film titles required the checkers to expose themselves. Only a 3 letter word but the little crash brought a smile and 12a + 13a were the other worthy occupants of my podium.
My thanks to whichever setter is on duty and CS.
2*/4*
Loved the Dutch brew and the rabbits. The SE was the last to fall. I was stuck on the names of his ships. Thanks to setter and Sue
2.5*/3*. What a mixture! In part very straightforward, in part challenging.
Although I had a full grid, I must register a DNF on account of 26a, which I entered based on the wordplay and checkers although I could not see how the definition led to the answer. Now that I have seen CS’s explanation, this gets a big thumbs down from me. “Crash out” means sleep not “crash”. 👎
I did have several ticks though with 13a (of course!), 25a & 4d making it onto the podium.
Thanks to the setter (NYDK) and to CS.
That was a total cracker requiring only a couple of crumpet scratches caused through going down wrong rabbit holes especially on 23a until sanity prevailed. I have ticks all over my page. Honorable mentions go to 13a, 16a 23a, and 26a. My podium though comprises 3d, 4d and 12a in top spot. Thanks to compiler (NYDK ?) and CS.
A game of two hallves; the geogrraphical clues at 13a, 14a,3d and 19d were good fun, but the ancient movie multi word clues werel ess to my taste and I nknow nothing about snooker. There were some gret lego clues, my favourites being 12a and 25a.Thanks to the compiler and to CS for the hints
A lovely challenging puzzle that was very satisfying to (almost) complete. I was defeated by 4 d despite having all the checkers and having the right kind of agent. I loved 13a though I had never heard of one of the rabbits and the two guarding spies at 25a were fantastic too. In all my years practising medicine I don’t think I’ve ever heard 6d said out loud as in “he broke both 6d in the fall” but that’s crossword land I guess. Thank you setter and CS as always.
Some wonderfully flowing surfaces were the highlights of this amusing SPP.
The two spies in 25a, the florid jumper in 3d and the roadkill remorse in 22d stood out for me.
My thanks to our setter and CS.
What an enjoyable puzzle but still chewy in places. Just right for a SPP.
Top picks for me were 16a, 4d, 26a and 25a. I also liked the Quickie Pun.
Thanks to CrypticSue and the setter.
Enjoyable and surprisingly gentle for a SPP, and while nothing in particular stood out, the clues flowed smoothly and were finely crafted. Would usually spell the rabbit with an e, but ho hum. Had never heard of the chap in 6d and was even a little surprised to find it wasn’t a made up name to fit the clue!
Many thanks to the setter and CS
I have two possibles for 21d, can’t really see why it would either one over the other. Just me, or have I missed something?
The only thing I can say while avoiding the Naughty Step (I hope) is the clue needs to be read carefully. 😊
I explained the confusion to my wife and to my shame she immediately came up with yet another and far more satisfactory answer 😄
Very enjoyable and just about the right amount of thought for the SPP – **/****
The ‘double’ 29a/1d and the long 16a might indicate that the setter is NYDK but I am not so sure.
Candidates for favourite – 9a, 13a, 26a, and 4d – and the winner has to be 13a (I wonder if TDS will appreciate the ‘straight out of the BRB’ definition of the first ‘rabbit’ used by CS in the hint).
Thanks to NYDK(?), or whomsoever if it is not he, and to CS.
I found the north rather tricky as several of the synonyms were not the first I would have thought of. The south was better behaved and getting 16a early really helped. I enjoyed the challenge. It was easier than last week.
Many thanks to the setter and to CS for the hints
I found this to be very enjoyable but a DNF as although I parsed 12A correctlyand knew exactky what I was looking for I couldn’t get the answer and a search with Mr G proved fruitless. Thenks to CS for the hints and to the setter. COTD was 7D as I worked in retail for 40 years, (I hope this doesn’t get me redacted).
On the Thai theme if I haven’t set the scene for how challenging the task of learning it is with no spaces between words in its written form, vowels that are written above, below and before the consonants that they are pronounced after and the 5 tones, that completely change the meaning of identical words then welcome to classifiers. So learning Thai nouns is not enough you have to also learn the classifier that they belong to when you are talking about how many you are referring to. Every Thai noun belongs in a particular classifier group, some are obvious and mirror English e.g. paper comes in leaves as do most thin objects like cards, tissues etc but pots and pans belong to the same classifier. Fruits generally belong to a classifier best described as round things but not all. Bananas individually belong to one group but when they come as a hand they are in a different group. There is a catch all group called, ”an”, which means things, which I use on a regular basis.
I find your comments absolutely fascinating! Keep them coming.
An enjoyable breakfast challege. Absolute fave had to be the earworm Flanders and Swann reminder in 9a! (The garter adjuster)
V many thanks to the setter and the dutiful CS.
I too now have the Flanders and Swann earworm! I saw them live in their Drop of Another Hat revue many moons ago.
So that’s my favourite along with 19a and 16a
Thanks to both setter and Sue.
Oops I meant 12a!
Unfortunately never saw them live. Oh, Mud!
For some reason I was all over the place when I started and decided to take advantage of the weather and cut grass. Returning with a blank mind made things a bit easier but this still took far too long. For 16a, I knew what the 1939 film was but it took having the checkers in place before I twigged what the setter was looking for. I was completely misdirected by the clue for 12a until I associated the country with the colour.
Despite the time it took and the hash I made of it I enjoyed the challenge. COTD goes to 25a
Cor! Another tester from NYPD Blue with my LOI being 4d. Going through all the countries with five letters took a while.
I haven’t heard of the Rusky, the tea, the advertiser nor the rabbit (no problem with the first one so I’m not sure what Send’s comment means). So, learning all these new words gets a nod from me.
Paul Mescal is all the rage having announced himself in the hugely successful Normal People, following it up with Gladiator 2, a v disappointing film. Some films need to be left alone like The Matrix. I hate it when art and business clash. He was very good in Hamnet and was unlucky not to be nommed.
I’m also fine with 26a as ‘out’ has been dropped by many people when using it as a verb and occasionally a noun.
16a is excellent as both films were released that year. Hoots, being a film buff, are you aware that 1939 was THE year, putting 1994 to shame? Check out the nine nominations for Best Film. Nearly every one is a winner.
My podium is the aforementioned 16a, 25a and the brilliant 6d.
MTTTA and Senf.
4*/4*
Well I am guessing this is likely a NYDK offering, but I could be out in left field this week. Several quite tricky clues to get through and work out parsing as well as several that I did not manage. Unusual for me if it is indeed NYDK.
2.5*/3.5*
Favourites 12a, 16a, 23a, 28a, 6d & 22d — with winner 12a
Smiles for 26a, 28a & 27d
Thanks to NYDK(?) & CS
As I can no longer access the puzzle digitally by downloading the paper (which I subscribe to) I have to go to telegraph puzzles to download. Today with 6 left stopped to check the Russian author, reloaded telegraph puzzles and zilch there! Really really annoying. T Towers insist I’ve never been able to access it through the paper – WRONG – been doing it since 2006 until a couple of weeks ago! Moan over. Great puzzle with some good chewy bits. Thanks setter and CS
Well, everyone has said it really. Ideal Saturday Prize guzzle, very chewy in parts, penny drop moments, misleading capitals. Just what we need. Many thanks to the Crafty Setter and to CeeSue as ever. 25a is my favourite. Or possibly the Dutch house?
I must be in the very very small minority then as I really did not enjoy this very much.
It’s a beautiful day though in the garden of England and it would be remiss of me to go into more detail.
So thanks to CS and Setter and have a good weekend.
Just getting back into cryptic crosswords this week after a break of many years, and really enjoying the DT ones. Useful to have the option to check on the answers in the ones in the week, this has really helped me get up and running again. 9A and 6D some of my favourites today. Have completed today’s prize except for 5D. Any little hints helpful!
Welcome to the blog
5d look up triads and then insert the abbreviation for English into what they are to get a river (banker)
Ah! I’d thought about rivers but then discarded that line of thought. Got it thank you!
Welcome, Ann. Please keep commenting and let us know how you’re getting on with your return to cruciverbalism. 👍😊
Thanks will do!
Brilliant puzzle. Can’t decide between 16A and 25A for COTD, in a very strong field. VMT Setter & Sue.
So difficult but loved the rabbits! Thank you compiler and CS
When I first looked at this shortly before 0600 this morning, I thought, this will be a DNF. The across clues gave little, but I did manage the films almost immediately. 13, 16 and 19 across are my top picks. 13a is absolutely fabulous. 9a was my LOI and I’m not even sure if my effort is correct. The NE I found quite testing and with 9a, I had to leave the puzzle for a while and come back to it. Many thanks to the setter and CS for the hints.
Yes, I use a pot, but only at official tea time: somewhere between 4pm and 5.30pm.
A dnf for me today. Most of the South went in straightforwardly. The North not so much.
9a – I had all the checkers and the letters, but still could not see this new word (for me).
The second word of 12a eluded me. A new term/thing for me.
7d also eluded me as the second meaning was new to me.
Enjoyed the challenge nonetheless.
Thanks to all.
Marvellous puzzle, full of wit and ingenuity.
I too loved those rabbits, but the film clue wins my special Exploitation of Coincidence Award.
Great stuff.
A day late to this so just popped in to say cracking puzzle, suitably challenging & with ticks all over the shop.
Thanks to the setter (Donny presumably) & to Sue
Enjoyable puzzle but 26a irritated me as I knew the answer but didn’t think it was right!
Enjoying Bob Dylan 🎸 and still basking in our promotion 🍾
I was out last night and just dropped in to get a hint for my last few which I am a bit stuck on – I’ll need to give them a bit of thought still. Other than that I didn’t think this was too bad especially if it was an NYDK offering – don’t get me wrong , still quite chewy . Enjoyable too. Thanks to assume NYDK and CS.