Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31283 (Hints)
The Saturday Crossword Club
(hosted by crypticsue)
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Another beautiful sunny day, this time with the East Kent breeze, so possibly it won’t be quite as hot today. Even with all the anagrams, I thought this was tricky for a Saturday Prize Puzzle and will be interested to learn from others as to whether it was ‘just me’
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 Unusually, need import for exchange (10)
An anagram (unusually) of NEED IMPORT
10a Complaint, having grasped the nettle? (9)
A type of itchy rash (complaint) which isn’t actually caused by grasping a nettle, but by an allergic reaction
14a Creatively design home without tax – Angela’s third fourth? (8)
The usual two-letter home, a two-word phrase meaning without a particular type of tax and a letter which is the ‘fourth’ of Angela The online clue was changed on Saturday morning to show that the required letter was the fourth of Angela, not the third as the clue originally read in both the paper and online, but there was nothing I could do to update the hint until the blog came back. Very frustrating
15a Order always withdrawn after the last month (6)
A reversal (withdrawn) of a poetic word meaning always goes after the abbreviated last month of the year
19a Slipped over having grabbed book offering puzzles (8)
A reversal (over) of a synonym for slipped into which is inserted the title of a book beloved by readers of Jane Austen and crossword setters
25a It may get endless representation (5)
Remove the ‘ends’ of the first three words in the clue
27a Footballer, big name, he’ll burst having eliminated Spain (10)
An anagram (burst) of BIG NAME HeLL without (having eliminated) the IVR Code for Spain
Down
1d Large number in service before time (4)
The abbreviation for one of our armed forces (service) goes before the abbreviation for Time. The BRB says that this large number is ‘Esp N Am’
4d Cut short drive with jazz fan in centre of Cheltenham (8)
Drive or travel with a slang name for a jazz fun inserted into the letters in the centre of chelTEnham
7d Dangerous leaving son close to heater in room (7)
An adjective meaning dangerous without the abbreviation for Son which is replaced by the ‘close’ to heateR
8d Green plan: recycle! (10)
A plan or map and, with a hyphen, another way of saying recycle
13d Freedom to pass that’s okay, following approach (5,2,3)
An informal way of expressing agreement, the abbreviation for following and an approach to something
20d Slander hospital, receiving stick for spa treatment? (7)
Slander or vilification and the abbreviation for Hospital, between which is inserted (receiving) a type of stick
23d Send bride-to-be amazing trousers (4)
A verb meaning to transmit or send forth is ‘trousered’ by bride-to-BE AMazing
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: ROBBER + DONE + HERO = ROBERT DE NIRO
What the flippin’ heck happened to the site today (Saturday) … what a mess.
I found this an easier Saturday puzzle than the last couple have been. Again, didn’t feel like a NYDK to me.
New word for me in 10a. Live and learn.
2.5*/3.5*
Favourites 6a, 12a, 21a, 26a, 8d & 13d — with winners 21a & 8d
Thanks to setter & CS
Hmmmm, it seems like full service hasn’t been resumed. I appreciate the hard work that goes in to maintaining this site but should we not have a back up for situations like this. I see there looks to be a historical Facebook site which has not been used for ages, would that not be a good alternative. I am not sure how much the problems I have encountered are specific to me so I will await the restoration of normality before commenting further. I’m sure there is frantic activity behind the scenes so good luck to everyone trying to sort this out.
I run a website for a PC golf game (Links Corner) and created a Facebook page for exactly that reason. It is really useful.
Welcome back. Thanks to MrK for putting the blog to rights.
I can confirm that sometime during the blog hiatus 14a was changed from Angela’s third to fourth
No worries about the blog being stuck in the ether, nobody or no thing is perfect and I am enormously grateful for the efforts of all concerned who make it as great as it is.
I found the NE corner, especially 10a, very tricky and it will take a little more time before I am satisfied I have a complete solution.
My thanks to the setter and crypticissue for the hints
No Sunday puzzling this week, the good lady and I will helping at our twice yearly PSA Screening event.
Missed you all.
Thank you to those who worked to bring the site back. Greatly appreciated.
I thought the puzzle was excellent with my only reservation being 17a. I had two answers, both of which seemed plausible, so hope I’ve chosen the right one.
Thank you, setter and CeeSoo.
Me too with two possibles for 17a.
Me too re:17a!
I was happy with my answer to 17a…until now! 🙄😂
I think only one of the possibilities fits the definitions though?
What a mess. Re 10a. It really looks like the compiler was stuck but found a word that fitted. I am an occasional compiler and if I came across that word being the only one to fit I would scrap the whole thing and start again. This must be the worst ever.
10a is a perfectly good word.
I also thought it was well clued.
Thank you for all the comments. Was worried I couldn’t access the blog due to being overseas so glad that’s not the case. 10a made me smile, though I acknowledge is quite a niche word. I couldn’t parse 3d, so thank you CS. Favourite was 8d.
Thanks to setter and hinter.
This is an acceptable word. I’m not a medic but am familiar with it.
It works for me. I thought it was a fine crossword, 10A included.
There is another long-standing commenter who uses the alias ‘Sheila’ so, to avoid confusion, could you please add something (e.g. the first letter of your surname) to your alias.
Thanks for the efforts to successfully restore the site – much appreciated. Thought the puzzle a top notch SPP – the Rayner clue was my fav,
Thanks to Donny (methinks) & to Sue
Many thanks to all who worked so hard behind the scenes to restore the blog.
Thank you to Mr K for restoring the site. Just goes to show how much the site means to me as I felt lost not being able to see what others thought of the puzzle etc.
I, like CS, found it trickier than a normal Saturday but still enjoyable.
Top picks for me were 19a, 10a, 3d, 2d and my favourite 8d.
Thanks to CrypticSue and the setter.
Many thanks presumably to Mr K for restoring our wonderful site. A day without it is almost too much to bear!
It’s strange that both the setter and editor missed the glaring error in 14a.
8d was my favourite.
Thanks to the setter and to CS.
I cannot believe people are complaining about what happened yesterday. Shocked, in fact.
These superheroes work tirelessly behind the scenes to give us such joy but they are at the mercy of the internet. Glitches happen.
I could possibly understand it, possibly, if it was a paid service. Can we please have no more negative comments now and in the future were it to happen again?
I’ll post my thoughts on this crossy later.
Who is complaining? I just see appreciation and thanks
‘What a mess’ is a negative comment that the team don’t need to read, even when it’s sugar-coated.
They, and we, know that what happened wasn’t ideal. It doesn’t need to be said, even in passing.
Only when the blog went AWOL yesterday did I realise quite how much I enjoy it. So thanks very much to everyone who maintains it. I needed help with 8d because I knew the word in its other (related) meanings but not its usage in the puzzle. (I am being convoluted to keep off the naughty step). 10a a great clue and odd as almost a write-in for medics but tough otherwise (particularly US solvers where they use a different word for the rash). As CS says you
can get the rash as an allergy and also from stinging nettles. Clue of the day the brilliant and amusing 21a. Thank you Cryptic Sue and glad it was the internet and not you that was indisposed. And thank you to the setter too for a great puzzle.
PS 10a can be an allergic reaction to many things but it is commonly caused by touching stinging nettles
As mentioned by others above, I didn’t realise how much I really enjoyed the blog until it wasn’t there, so thank you to all concerned for its resurrection 😃
Many ticks on my grid for this one, but favourite has to be 21a. I am in awe of our clever, clever compilers, and, of course, our hinters.
“Put not your trust in princes in man in whom There is no salvation ” is what the Good Book says. Today substitute “internet” for “princes” and you have it. Shows how much we rely on our compilers and their colleagues. Carry on chaps!
What a great quote that is, CC!
You learn something new every day.
Found this more challenging than most Saturday ones. Being from a medical background 10a was OK. 22d stumped me until I thought of an alternative meaning for expedition. 24a was a neatly formed clue.
Welcome to the blog
Welcome, Mossy and another medic on the blog – we’ll soon have Big Dave’s Medical Practice.
Please comment again. 👍
Aaahh. Thank you Mossy for saying that about 22D. I have been wondering for the past 24 hours what expedition had to do with it. Now I get it!
A very enjoyable romp through Crosswordland that took a bit of teasing out, especially Tyne & Wear.
10a is an outstanding word that El Tel has to add to The List. Saying that, my far better ‘arf knew it. I got lucky when I biffed it as it could have been anything.
I’ve always liked that the number of letters in Cheltenham is in the middle of the word.
My podium are three excellent clues: 21a, 27a and 8d.
Many thanks to the setter (I can’t call it) and she of the crypt.
3*/4*
Hi Tom
Sorry to question, but how is the number of letters in Cheltenham in the middle of the word?
Contained within perhaps?
Hi J
My thinking was it’s in not at the start or at the end. I wouldn’t take it too literally.
Well, if you remove the front 4 and rear 4 letters you are left with the 2 letters that you need. That counts as middle in my book.
Incidentally, that is the first time I’ve seen my birthplace appear in a crossword clue!!
“In my book”, as you put it.. the three letter word that says how many letters the word Cheltenham contains, is not achieved by removing the “front 4 and rear 4 letters”.
Sorry, I misread your original query (blame the heat). Yes, the three letter word in question is indeed only contained in the name and not strictly in the middle.
Yes I missed the blog, but thanks to those with the restorative powers.
I was going to mention Angela’s third being fourth, but hey ho a bit late now. Otherwise a little trickier than Saturdays of late, but all manageable from the excellent surfaces. My favourites were 21a and 24a, don’t ask why! 8d was pretty good; green and recycle in a 3 letter clue is good going.
Thanks to the setter and CS
I haven’t decided which website to put beneath my name and email address when I comment. 😊
Thanks to the setter for the challenge. Thanks to the hinter for clearing a few things up. And thanks to all those who worked to restore the site and bring my withdrawal symptoms to an end!
My first ever comment here. What a splendid community this is!
Enjoyed today’s offering, though a little embarrassed that I had to guess at 27a based on the letters available. Does being a fan of the egg-shaped ball and living in Hong Kong provide sufficient mitigation to allow me to show my face here? Glad Angela now knows her e from her g. Poor lass.
Welcome to the blog
Thank you!
Welcome from me as well, CZ and please do comment again. We don’t care which ball you favour. 😊 As for being in Hong Kong, we have members all over the world so why should we block your city of residence?
All are most welcome. 👍👍
Thanks Steve!
I prefer rugby to football as well, and I now live in Valencia, Spain.
We’re all here for the same reason; our passion for crosswords.
Please continue to post and share your thoughts.
Thanks Jezza
I am not sure why but quite chewy for me – 2.5*/4*
Candidates for favourite – 15a, 1d, and 16d – and the winner is 1d.
Thanks to whomsoever and CS.
Indeed – many thanks to all those that keep this blog going. I already knew how much I loved and depended on this site, but was reminded again yesterday when I had finished three quarters of it in record time, only to be confounded by the NE. Just the situation where a hint or two can save the day.
Huge, huge thanks to everyone who keep this blog going. Just goes to show how much us lesser mortals rely on it. I didn’t realise the whole site was down, as it appeared normal on my iPad but obviously no hints available?! I was very worried something dreadful had happened to CS. Very relieved to find that wasn’t the case. Found the guzzle tougher than usual – definitely not on my wavelength. Thanks to the setter and the esteemed CS.
Found that a tad tricky for a Saturday puzzle, enjoyable as always but 5/10 for me.
Black Crowes today 🎸
Definitely are tougher end of the prize back pager scale for me. As a Dead Tree user, I just had to take a punt on 14a being an error. I’m also in the 17a ambiguity camp. I can justify both alternatives, so I’m afraid that’s a thumbs down from me. However, 24a is a cracker.
Thanks to CS and our Setter
I’ve been away with work and only just managed to look at this little beastie.
Glad I missed the website issues and am pleased they are resolved. Massive thanks to all involved in resolving!
Very hard but enjoyable solve for me.
Needed the hints for 19a and 20d.
I had to Google the spelling of 10a as I had one letter wrong.
Thanks to all.