Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31289 (Hints)
The Saturday Crossword Club
(hosted by crypticsue)
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When I sat down early this morning to solve the Saturday Prize Puzzle over my breakfast porridge, I wasn’t sure what I was going to get for lunch when I went off to Sainsburys after scheduling the Hints – it soon became clear that there was only one ready meal variety to choose. A nice, friendly, puzzle, even if the theme didn’t really go with porridge!
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 Mentioned fish carried in the sack (8)
A type of fish ‘carried’ in a piece of furniture, the slang name for which is ‘sack’
12a Wish to travel – minimal cost when cycling (5,4)
Take a phrase meaning very small and a price paid for services and ‘cycle’ the first letter to the end
14a Hook’s first mate brings me empty boxes (4)
Easy if you know your Peter Pan. I wrote in the solution before I looked at the wordplay to find him ‘boxed’ in words 4,5 and 6
16a Playwright once called an Algonquian speaker (7)
A Native American – a playwright and an adjective used to refer to a woman’s maiden name (once called)
25a Performers’ private parts? (9)
Parts of a theatre not open to the public
30a Actors following characters only given limited roles (8)
A group of actors following some characters (used in printing perhaps)
Down
1d 3 Down cold – extremely so! (6)
A type of 3d and the abbreviation for Cold, the latter doing double duty as both part of the wordplay and the definition
4d Last unopened message about your setter (7)
A type of message without its first letter (unopened), the usual about or on the subject of and how our setter might refer to himself
11d Old husband deserting this regretful socialite (4)
The abbreviation for Old and the abbreviation for Husband ‘deserting’ the fourth word of the clue gives us the socialite who is the subject of a 1934 Cole Porter song telling the darkly ironic story of a society woman who murders her unfaithful lover and is lynched, all conveyed through the polite formality of a servant
21d Tied house Diana missed in phone book (7)
A house that is tied to the employment of a clergyman
22d Spice mix used in 3 Down, and in taramasalata! (6)
A strange addition to a taramasalata recipe, but the Greek dish does make a nice hiding place for the mix
26d French composer‘s link with Pretoria? (5)
A link goes after the abbreviated country where Pretoria is the administrative capital
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: WOOSTER + SHEER + WORCESTERSHIRE
A great puzzle once the theme was found and that meant solving 3d but the clue was quite straightforward. All clues with references to 3d then became doable and the puzzle fell at a stead pace. The Algonquian speaker at 16a held me up for a while and I had to await the checkers. I did like the French composer’s link at 26d and the Let it Be group at 23d. How many other, I wonder, tried to make it an anagram of three words despite there being no indicator? At the risk of showing how depraved I am, my COTD is 25a with the performers private parts.
Thank you, Big Apple Door Fitting for a suitable challenge for a prize guzzle. Thank you, CeeSoo for the hints.
I did edit my post to change “Stead” to “Steady” but it disappeared into the ether.
Enjoyable, thankfully 3d was an early win but I did get a bit held up by 14a. Thanks to today’s setter and CS.
I do like a themed sprawling crossy but, for some reason, this one didn’t grab me.
It was a DNF jobbie as I wouldn’t have got 16a in a zillion years. I also biffed 11d not having a clue who it was. Well, there was a clue….if you know what I mean.
10a with ‘down’ has to be one of the most common pleonasms going.
My picks are 28a (great fun), 3d/5a (excellent clue) and 23d.
Many thanks to Rood Bonk and she of the Kent crypt.
3*/3*
Having woken up feeling hot and bothered, I could have done without the heavy emphasis on linked clues. l usually avoid them ando alo the others first but it was almost impossible today. On the bright side, at least they were linked to something I knew somehing about . I did like the cryptic playwright meld at 16a, the musical anagram at 6d and the quasi-geographical composer at 26d. Thanks to the compiler for the challenge Nd to CS for the hints
For me, and I stressWrong day.
After Sue’s mysterious absence last week (I have long suspected that she has links with the secret service, and thus was on a mission), it is good to see the return of my fellow ‘gruel for breakfast’ consumer.
I have held secret talks with Mathias Döpfner and I can advise everyone that entering for the prize is a waste of time. I have received a promise of special treatment, and that I will be announced as the proud winner of this week’s crayon and colouring book. I urge you not to enter, as a matter of courtesy.
Thanks to the setter and to PC Security (anag)
Thank you to the setter.
A wondefully inventive puzzle
Really enjoyable
Finished. Entertaining but difficult in parts. I found the continual use of 3d irritating to the point of being boring. Re 17a. It would have scanned much more smoothly if the word “to” had been added.
You used the alias ‘Catperson’ the only other time you commented back in August 2022
Both it and your full name will work in future
I struggled with 17a because my puzzle didn’t have one.
Presume you mean 17D? I don’t think adding “to” brings anything to the clue. It reads ok as is. IMO.
A great puzzle with lots of humour and Baht drop moments. I’m still struggling with the parsing of 27A so if anyone dares risk the naughty step I’d appreciate a nudge. I’m sure I am not alone in wanting 26D to be a philosopher not a composer but I got there in the end. I bunged in 23D but Mr G confirmed my guess at a word I was previously unaware of. Many thanks to CS and the setter for an enjoyable afternoon. It seems unfair to bestow a COTD but 20D gets it for provoking the biggest grin.
Thai corner.
Princess Anne is coming to visit Thailand next month which has given me endless joy ribbing my Australian exercise buddy about how excited he must be that he might get to see his princess. Then karma struck, a cousin of my wife rang me to say as part of her duties as a civil servant she was meeting the Princess at an official event and could I advise on the protocol involved. Unfortunately I was unable to offer much useful advice.
27a If you split your solution 3, 2, 5, you should see the uproar, the ‘home’ and an alternative definition of 3d
CS thanks for that, I would never have got the parsing of the last word. Maybe being bald for the last 30 years is a reasonable excuse.
Well that was fun. Linked clues that are about a familiar subject and most of the rest very straightforward.
16a was new to me but the clues gave it up.
And although I had the correct answer for 11d I came here to check and then the song hint made the penny drop.
My favourite today was the wish to travel – despite my urge to find a phrase that started with fancy.
Thanks all
A very enjoyable SPP which, once the theme was identified with the unravelling of 3d/5a, allowed for a steady fill. I didn’t know the socialite at 11d, but easily accessible from the clue. Picks aplenty with 12a, 24a, 30a and 26d vying for top spot with 16a which gets my gold star: I knew my childhood Saturday morning cinema visits would come in handy one day!
Many thanks to NYDK and crypticsue
2*/4*
I found the repeated 3d a bit wearying but other than that this was an enjoyable tussle.
Top picks for me were 11d (love the song), 16a, 27/21a, 23d and 26d.
Thanks to CrypticSue and the setter.
3*/2*. Although I frequently partake of the theme, I found this puzzle a bit of a curate’s egg.
Thanks to the setter and to CS.
For me, etc©, quite gentle compared to recent SPPs – 2.5*/4*
Candidates for favourite – 1a, 10a, 14a, 25a, 15d, 20d, and 23d – and the winner is 25a.
Thanks to NYDK, it has to be, and CS.
Today’s comments just go to show the truth of’ ‘you can’t please all of the people all of the time’. In over 70 years of crosswording starting with those set by the late, great Hubert Phillips I have rarely come across one with such a collection of poorly linked clues, particularly as the basic answer is something that given the choice (which doesn’t always happen) I would not pick. Put today’s offering down as a DNF as couldn’t be bothered
Your first comment is so true and shows how we are all different. I really enjoyed it ,and am always in awe of the setters when they have a theme as it must make it even harder for them.
Too hard for me today, beaten by 5 clues including the socialite, fair play to all who finished unaided.
A later than usual start today after an horrendous trip home from Edgbaston last night…A38/M6 interchange closed and stuck for over an hour!
I enjoyed today and am thankful that 3d/5a was straightforward. Favourites of the day were 21/27a… an alternative venue for a family drama perhaps… and 12a because I’m starting to understand cycling.
On the other hand – 16a was a real hold up but became clearer once the checkers were in place. Had a bung in from the wordplay at 11a, no idea what I was looking for, perhaps the current Mrs P could be classed as one!
Many thanks to the setter and crypticissue for the hints
I suspect the setter had as much fun doing his bi as we all did solving. 16A was a slow one, lots of smiles from the rest.
Very amusing puzzle, with a theme close to my heart, and (as 3D itself for me usually is) much enjoyed.
No doubts from me as to authorship here, so everything is pretty neat, but while the themed entries are splendid, I’ll reluctantly single out 25A, as for me it is a fine example of that clue type.
Bravo setter, and thanks to Sue as always for the hints.
Mostly a stroll except for a trio in the SE. And I do love a 3D.
Pody picks go to 29A as one of my favourite 3Ds, 20D’s fine rhyming slang, and COTD is the roaming 12A.
Thanks to setter and CS ⭐️
Nicely themed and testing, too, in places, especially 11d and 16a. Honorable mentions go to all of the themed clues especially 1d, but cotd goes to 12a. Thanks to NYDK and CS.
Really liked the theme and was it 10 or 11 linked clues particularly 27a for the different link to 3d. I struggled with some of the general knowledge including 14a and 11d which I had to work out from the word play. Sadly I was defeated by the Alongquin speaker so a DNF. Favourite clue was 25a for its amusing surface. Thank you Cryptic Sue and setter.
The 3d linked clue got me off to a good start, but the rest of the north west was last to go in. Mr Google had to confirm 11d and 16a. 25a raised a smile. Many thanks to setter and crypticsue (not sure I could manage porridge when it’s already 20 degrees outside!).
I agree with David Coldicutt (unusual surname) that the setter must have had a lot of fun with this guzzle / although it obviously was not too everyone’s taste 😌 Once I got into the groove I just went with the flow and things more or less fell into place. Tomorrow we are going to a housewarming party at Junior Grandson and fiancee’s new house so probably won’t get a chance to guzzle until we get home. It is a sad thing when social activities interfere with cruciverbal pleasure. I liked the lurker, and thought 27a quite clever. And the sailor’s descent clever as well. Obvs (as the youngster’s apparently say) I cannot send my entry in as Terence has already bagged the pen. Many thanks to Not Your Daughter’s etc and to the matriarch CeeSue. No prizes for guessing what is on the menu on the naughty step this week)
I must say this Saturday puzzle, (appearing to be a NYDK offering), was substantially harder than normal for him … at leas for me it was.
Several new words in the mix for me today as well as head scratching linking some of the words associated with one of the multi-clue words.
3*/3* for me today
Favourites include 1a, 25a, 29a, 18d 21d & 23d — with winner 21d
Thanks to NYDK & CS
Once the penny dropped for 3d I found this a fun puzzle. Quite a lot of head scratching. Not sure if I’ve got 23d right though can’t seem to make the clue fit. Any chance of a hint?
Welcome to the blog
23d a vinyl record inserted into a proofreader’s instruction to let the original version of something be or stand rather than a later correction
This was a great puzzle and I loved the theme , which once I got started , helped fill the grid . I got stuck for a while at the end in the south east , then eventually twigged 28a and the rest fell into place. I had to look up the meaning of Algonquian, but managed to parse the clue. I thought the parsing of 27/ 21a was great so was my favourite clue. Thanks to the setter presumably NYDK and CS.
Sorry, I should have said that 23d was IMHO a truly inspired clue.
And I hope you admire this old lady’s with it jargon.
Obvs, DG! 😊
I quite liked the 3d theme, but don’t fancy one in this weather. I made this harder on myself, probably because I’m because I’m half watching the men’s doubles final… Can’t say I understand 11d but can’t come up with anything else that fits? Thanks to the setter and CS.
The hint tells you all about 11d
Doh! I missed your hint – must have have been distracted by the win for Patten and Heliovaara ( that’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it!) (redacted – it’s a Prize Puzzle)… Thanks CS
1.5* / 4* An excellent Saturday puzzle after two days of struggling. I loved the linked clues, clever misdirection and wit.
Favourites today out of many, 1d fffreezing, mentioned at 1a and the top spot to the 16a Algonquian speaker
Thanks to compiler and Sue
Well quite a divergence of views with this one. I’m in the ‘gentler than usual’ camp for an NYKD themed SPP. Didn’t find the themed reference back to 3d in the least bit irritating & rather enjoyed the solve.
25a was my clear fav with podium spots for 12a&11d – the last of ‘em because it prompted the playing of some great covers of Porter’s classic – Nat King Cole, Gregory Porter & Ella Fitzgerald
Thanks to Donny & to Sue.
20d needed to be solved before the theme clues came to me, but I agree with Lanzlily that the weather is inappropriate.
Looking at the unches, halfway through the solve, I thought we were heading to The Uxbridge Dictionary for a while and the definition for Cormorant helped too.
Thanks to Donny and Sue
Brilliant!
Hook’s crewman was the boatswain, not the first mate. Apart from that *shocking* error, I though this was tricky for a Saturday. I needed a bit of e-help for the SE quadrant. ***\***
He was presented differently in different versions, see Wikipedia – I can’t link to it without incurring the naughty step.
Like many, but clearly not all, I enjoyed the theme. It wasn’t all plain sailing. I spent too much time trying to squeeze an unopened “letter” into the grid with the setter before the penny dropped. I came back to 16a and 23d after lunch and with the benefit of post prandial reflection all became clear. 14a is a guess, but the “boxes” is highly suggestive of the likely solution.
Thanks to CS and the setter
Did not get on well with the prize crossword and had to go to CS to get me over the line so Terence can have no fears for my entering. There is a big tick for 11 down. The short words can be a devil. (Redacted – it’s a Prize Puzzle)
Gave my puzzling all to a vintage jigsaw puzzle instead. Push fit, hand cut , early 1900’s and a joy.
Many thanks for the necessary help CS and to our setter
I enjoyed the puzzle even though I’m not a fan of any type of 3d so thanks to the setter and the hinter. I do not understand the clue for 10a. Hope for another hint.
Some abbreviated sailors and a reversed piece of fiction (tale)
Thanks. It helps when you put on your glasses and don’t see two “l’s” instead of just one.
Good afternoon
Nearly didn’t make it this afty – I was all set to hoy the sponge in with six or seven solutions to go, then I don’t know how, but 16a finally came to me. I had to look it up, though. 11d was a guess, quite frankly; I had to Google the story behind it. I had only myself to blame for the length of time taken to twig 1d; turns out I hadn’t read the clue properly – I didn’t spot the “3”. RTFC, as my Dad would have said. Read the clue!
Thank you to our setter, and to CS, without whose help I’d have been unable to parse 12a, my last to fall.
We found this difficult but stumbled over the line eventually. Didn’t mind the references to 3d as they at least gave a way in. Favourite was 1a. Thanks to the setter and CS.
A light and quite swift puzzle where for me the theme got rather repetitive after a while, and took the shine off might otherwise have been a much more enjoyable puzzle. I’ll go for 16a, 15d & 23d on the podium.
Thank you setter, and of course also to CS.
For those who have access to it, may I recommend today’s Times back-pager? Approachable and some cracking clues.
An enjoyable and teasing puzzle though was getting a bit fed up of the recurring 3d theme! Took me ages to get 16a. LOI 23d. I’m actually thinking of posting it to Telegraph Towers on Monday (I’m sorry Terence). If I send it 1st class I wonder whether it will arrive by Friday morning? Have a nice weekend everyone.
A rare opportunity to try to solve in one sitting this afternoon, and just about achieved with a tiny bit of assistance. Learnt some new things (eg the socialite and the Algonquian), and the alternative spelling of 6d. Enjoyed 26d, but top marks go to 23d. Thanks to you all (I tune in generally on Saturdays) and especially to CS and our setter.
Enjoyed this puzzle but got stuck in the SE corner for the last two or three clues so had to resort to CS’s hints. My one complaint was all the clues which were referenced to 3d, I thought it a bit tiresome but others may disagree. Some new bits of knowledge acquired today, I had no idea of the socialite but it could only be one thing from the wordplay. Much the same for the French composer.
In spite of my little rant 3d was my COTD.
Thank you to the setter and to CS for the hints.
I should have said the anagram of 3d/5a for my COTD. I thought the wordplay was admirable and highly misleading.
Not my cup of tea today I’m afraid.
Solved a fair amount at a second sitting but still either needed hints or had to go elsewhere for the answers.
I can’t parse 27/21a. A dnf for a couple in the SE as well as 16a.
Thanks to all.
Does what I said in reply to comment 8 help in parsing 27/21a?
won third prize at the church fete? 😊
See you all tomorrow.
Congratulations Steve, very impressive.
Thank you, GP and there were more than three entries! 🤣🤣