Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31307 (Hints)
The Saturday Crossword Club
(hosted by crypticsue)
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A fairly cloudy and [relatively] cooler morning here in East Kent – according to my phone weather app, there’s a 40% chance of rain this afternoon but as we have only had literally three drops of rain since early June, I’m not holding my breath that the dust bowl that is our veg patch will get a chance to recover and perhaps even produce a vegetable or two.
Buying the paper at our local shop rather than as part of a supermarket shop, I see that the price of the Saturday paper has gone up by 50p – if the two of us didn’t get so much use out of the Saturday paper, I might consider giving it up
The crossword is, I think, a tricky little whatnot, even allowing for the anagrams and lurkers. I have a feeling I know who set it, but would invite you all to play Guess the Setter and then see if anyone turns up to lay claim to it
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 Right to sell wood going to queen’s joint (10)
A type of wood, the regnal cipher of our late Queen plus an S (queen’s) and a joint
9a Someone working on a commission? (5)
A cryptic definition of a person undergoing training for the armed forces to hopefully become an officer (get a commission)
10d Gangster has a flutter and cheats (9)
A slang name for a violent criminal (gangster) flutters an eye
14a Rolls, perhaps, and sweet food tucked into by a marine, right? (8)
A type of sweet food into which is inserted (tucked into by) A (from the clue) and an abbreviated Royal Marine, the result finished with the abbreviation for Right
17a Expose edges of double bed (6)
The ‘edges’ of DoublE and a type of bed
24a Place to eat where there’s no waiting? (9)
A serve-yourself eating establishment
27a Piece smashed by king’s uncle (10)
A chess piece, part of a verb meaning smashed and the Latin abbreviation for King
Down
1d Avoid Bob (4)
An informal verb meaning to avoid or a quick dip or dive
7d Tolerant of knight that is breaking fast (7)
The chess abbreviation for knight and the abbreviation meaning that is inserted into (breaking) a time of religious fasting
8d 50 entering party certain to gain admission (10)
The Roman numeral for 50 ‘entering’ or inserted into a party followed by a synonym for certain
11d Cleaner in part of building having a quiet dust (7,6)
A (from the clue) and an interjection to be quiet inserted into part of a large building followed by a type of dust
16d Look after chief, popular with old volunteers (8)
A synonym for chief, the usual two-letter popular into which is inserted (although I’m not sure the wordplay quite tells you to do this) the abbreviation for the former name of the army’s volunteer reserve military force
18d One shy of seven? (7)
The shyest member of a fairy tale septet
23d Look – escapee ripped trousers! (4)
‘Trousered’ by words two and three of the clue
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The Quick Crossword pun: SOCK + ROAR + TEES = SOCRATES
Like our blogger, I found this a good step up in difficulty from recent SPPs with the NW corner proving the most awkward. The simple yet elegant 18d was my favourite this morning.
Many thanks to both our setter and Sue.
I echo every word. Do not need to say anymore.
A tricky little whatnot sums it up nicely. On the first read through I had one answer but perseverance paid off. In the end I had quite a few ticks on my page including 1a, 10a, 17a and 18d, but cotd for me is 12a. Thanks to compiler (NYDK???) and CS.
Slow to get going with 21a being first in, but the remaining across clues went straight in followed by the downs from below. All in all, a well scripted and very entertaining SPP with 14a, 24a, 27a and 18d making my podium. Many thanks to the setter, I won’t hazard a guess, and crypticsue for the unused hints.
Tricky. 12a is an example of what I call “inexact clueing” . Anagrams usually have the fodder grouped together and the indicator either before or after. The rest were nice and precise.
Using just your first name sent you into moderation
I have seen many anagram clues written just like 12a is today
I didn’t see anything wrong in it. I have seen plenty of clues like that. It makes perfect sense.
Changing your alias again sent you into moderation (previously (in 2023, 2024 and 2025, you were John and Johnswan)
What did you think of the crossword?
There was a lot of reverse parsing for me with this one and I agree it’s a step up in difficulty. One of those guzzles where some of the answers seemed to “appear” rather being solved. It was these that needed to be reverse parsed. 1d was such a neat, compact clue and 20d is a lovely word. it took me far too long to see the sweet food in 14a not to mention the marine. Just a case of my getting things in the wrong order. My COTD is the one shy of seven.
Thank you, setter for what was somewhat of a brain mangler. Thank you, CeeSoo for the hints and, unlike you, we have only 5% chance of rain in The Marches.
On Thursday, I played in a rain interrupted cricket match for the first time for months although we were only off the field for 30 minutes. We were just 10 miles from home where, sadly for our garden, no rain fell.
I can watch rain develop for five days on the app and I watch rain approach Knockin only to see it either disappear or go round. If the app is correct, we’re not going to get rain within the next week.
I agree that 14a was last one in. I was looking for something far more convoluted.
Me too with 14a
2*/3*. A bit of a mixed bag for me today with notably brief clueing (albeit not as brief as RayT).
10a was my favourite joined on my podium by 14a & 27a.
Thanks to the setter and to CS.
No standout favourite for me, but I would probably choose 18d, as did Young Salopian above.
I’m not sure about the wordplay order at 16d, but anyway….
Thanks to the setter and to CS.
Interestingly 31307 is Prime, I would suggest that could be a good punt for setter today, but he would have to be busy as 31319 31321 31327 31333 31337 31357 31379 31387 31391 31393 31397 are also prime. The cat and the cleaner took some crumpet scratching but sorted out over coffee with Mama Bee.
Thanks to Sue and setter
Back after a fabulous Nick Cave gig in Brighton yesterday, rounding off a brilliant birthday month.
Really enjoyed this puzzle, and my brain is seemingly intact, it was a steady journey from start to finish.
Pody awards go to 15A’s nice word and all round clue, 18D’s character and 12A’s amusing catty surface.
Thanks to setter and to CS ⭐️
** / ****
Strangely I found this on the simpler side for a Saturday. No great hold ups, no hints needed and no parsings to check. Must be my lucky day. Interesting aspect of solving came up with 8d where my usual go-to’s for party were not helping until concentration mode kicked in and the number of letter needed for the party became apparent after the use of 50 and certain. Perhaps that mindset change accounts as much for one’s perception of difficulty as the actual clues!!
Two favourites today: rolls at 14a and legged it at 6a.
Many thanks to Sue and the setter.
Having completed all bar 26a i am now officially annoyed as i have 2 answers that both semi-parse…
Welcome to the blog
If I tell you that the final word of 26a is an anagram indicator, does that help?
Welcome from me to the merry throng, AP. Hope to see you posting on a regular basis. 😊
Tricky for me today…..took me ages to get started. I always work down the Across clues first and I’m afraid 15a was my first one in. Fortunately the Downs were a bit kinder.
Got there without help eventually, though with a lot of guessing followed by reverse parsing.
Favourite has to be 18d.
Thanks to the setter and to crypticsue.
We are supposed to get some rain here this afternoon…..I have put some washing out on the line which often encourages it.
I love your last paragraph – how often have I thought the same!
All the Cowling family have to do is light a barbecue. Guaranteed to bring rain even in the Sahara. In fact, neighbours would ring up to see if we were having one. If we weren’t, they would feel safe to light theirs.
Once the DT computer had coped with the ‘double impact’ of the clock moving from Friday 11:59pm to Saturday 12:01am and the calendar moving from July to August, a perennial problem that seems even worse when the calendar moves from December to January, the puzzle ‘appeared’ at approximately 1:15am (7:15pm on Friday evening my time) and it was, for me, quite a gentle solve. There were a couple of pauses for thought but they did not have a significant on solving time.
Candidates for favourite – 10a, 17a, 27a, 4d, and 20d – and the winner is 20d.
Thanks to whomsoever and CS.
Like others it took a lot of head scratching, staring at the grid and retrograde parsing before I made progress. Some excellent anagrams I thought eg 15a/21a. My LOI was 27a, the synonym of which is not a word I am familiar with. I needed CS’s hint to decode the first part of the word which in retrospect should have been the easy bit!
Thanks to the mystery setter and CS for the help.
This was an enjoyable solve with some nicely constructed clues.
The majority of current Saturday crossies tend to be the work of NYPD Blue and Mr T and this feels more Tumblesque. No multi-word howdy doodies also pushes me towards the latter.
I’ve made a mental note of height being a physical noun as opposed to a descriptive one and 20d is now on the crib sheet.
My picks are 10a, 12a and 18d.
MTTTA and CS.
2*/4*
🔮 Not me today!
Blast!
My streak of four has come to an end, even though three of them were nailed on.
Got there in the end but had to use a bit of reference to complete the last two clues, 14a and 27a. As regards the latter I was led to believe that the first bit of the answer was not what was referred to, that particular terminology referred to what was behind them. Sorry to be cryptic but do not want to get into CS’s bad books. That said I vaguely remembered the definition from some time ago.
Other than that very enjoyable and pleasing to be much more on the correct wavelength than I was yesterday when my mind was God knows where.
Thank you to the setter and to CS for the hints.
Favourites today were 11d and 18d.
Am I in a minority today? I thought this was rather easy for a prize crossword. I did get stuck at 1a though until the down checkers went in.
I note comment above re 12a .. I thought thus was clued fine and it was a “gift” even before unravelling the fodder.
My cotd was 18d.
Thanks to setter and CS.
It’s chucking it down here … so be careful what you wish for!
We in The Marches will take any amount of your chucking it down, BE. In fact, you would probably see folk out dancing in it.
I found this rather difficult and parsing largely impossible on most of the clues. Maybe it’s me but nonetheless it is how I found it.
Couple of clues I liked included 17a, 25a, 1d & 18d
Thanks to setter for the headache and CS for plowing through to offer hints
I’m in the easier than usual for a SPP camp but still found it very enjoyable.
We had a very short rain shower here just North of Bristol on Thursday but nothing worth celebrating. If I didn’t think I’d do myself an injury I would have a go at a raindance.
Top picks for me were 18d, 20d, 11d, 10a and my favourite 27a.
Thanks to CrypticSue and the setter.
I thought this was a fair Saturday challenge, but I am still feeling bruised after yesterday – for various reasons I did not tackle the guzzzle until late and boy, did it tax me! Whilst this was not a walk in the park I did not have that sinking feeling of having no idea what I was looking for. I laughed at 18d and it was a glorious moment when 12a dawned, I feel sorry for non- guzzlers who do not get that rush of satisfaction when the answer come! This was full of nice words which roll around the tongue. Many thanks to the Wily Setter braving the heat to bring us this lovely challenge and thanks to CeeSue for holding the reins.
BUT, DG, non guzzlers don’t have the fun of finding the elusive mythical going to another true guzzler!!!
Started off quick and then got quicker, easiest prize puzzle in ages, which will only lead to tomorrow’s being a right stinker!
Really pleased to have completed this with a little help from the BRB, as I found this quite tricky. Spent far too long trying to parse 14a, and it was only with all the checkers in place that the penny dropped. 12a too also took all the checkers for it to be again obvious. It’s one of those that you look back and wonder why I found it tricky. Thanks so much to the setter and to CS.
This was a very slow solve for me today taking 3 attempts in all. Not even sure why as usually it’s the wordy clues that fox me but today it was even the likes of 4 down, just not being able to think of a word that fit both ship and glass until I got ALL the checkers in
My last one in was 1a, staring at it for ages thinking it *must* be that, yet not knowing that term for wood. Oh well, you live and learn!
One shy of seven has to be my COTD.
Thanks to setter and cryptic Sue, & fingers crossed for something on my wavelength tomorrow!
Enjoyable puzzle with just 2-3 hold outs. Annoyingly I had a different type of light for 6a initially.
Lying in the sun with Springsteen 🎸
City beating Roma 👌
I wonder if your 6a alternative usually follows xxxxxxxxx
Spotlit rather than sunlit
We didn’t find this as tricky as some but a number of clues made us think hard, others less so. Favourite was 10a. Thanks to the setter and CS.
Nice little brain stretcher today. 27a was our last clue in. Unsure why as the answer was so obvious once it had dawned on us! Thanks to setter and Sue.
I’m in the gentler than usual camp with this one. A brisk grid fill with 14a, last in & my pick of ‘em, the only real head scratch though also a bit slow to peg 24a as an all-in-one. Other contenders for podium places were 27a + 2,11&18d.
Thanks to the setter (like Tom I thought Twm) for an enjoyable puzzle & to CS.
Phew! That was difficult or perhaps it’s just me having a thick day…. probably the latter. I definitely needed the extra clues. Thank you!
Thanks to CS I completed this – 14a I had all the pieces but couldn’t seem to make a word of it! Also parsing 11a got me in a muddle. Thanks to CS and Setter
Just dropping in to own up as the setter of today’s puzzle. Thanks for the positive comments!
Excellent puzzle, thanks
Thank you so much for an excellent puzzle, Chris and I hope you are managing to get out and about. You are held in high esteem by this blog. My very best wishes to you and your family.
Thank you for a very enjoyable crossword, Il Duce, and thrilled to see you’re still working your magic.
I hope all is well.
Thank you for another lovely puzzle. Such an unexpected treat.
I sailed through about half of the puzzle without any problem and then I got stuck. Another 3 or 4 came begrudgingly and now I have 7 left. Therefore, I’ve not yet read CS’s review or any of the comments. I like to complete the puzzle without help, if I can. I will try a little bit longer on my own, but I might have to throw in the towel and read the hints on this page. I make it a rule that if I can’t complete the prize crossword on my own, then I won’t enter it in the prize draw. So far, my COTD is 2d owing to the brilliant misdirection (for me at least) and the wordplay. I thank CS in advance for the review, as I’m sure that I will need to rely on you to complete today’s crossword. My thanks also to the setter for some cunningly clever clues providing me with quite a challenge
2* / 4* I thought this was an excellent prize puzzle with quite a few tricky clues.
Favourites today the moggy at 12a (used to have an unfriendly one called Trixie), the Roll at 14a and the shy little fella at 18d
Many thanks to Chris and Sue
A very early solve this morning before her ladyship and I set off for a double helping of cricket at Edgbaston…I have no idea how the Lords founding fathers would view The Hundred..it’s all wham, bang and thank you in the midst of bright colours, loud music and fireworks On the other hand there was a full house and Joe Root to bring a touch of class to proceedings.
Nothing left to say about the puzzle.. In mulling over 14a I did manage to create a thing called a xxxxxxx (apparently it’s a Scottish delicacy) but had a marine right left over. A touch of reorganisation solved the problem.
Overall very enjoyable.
Many thanks to the setter and CS for the hints.
Shocked to find I could again do most of this one today, but do confess to needing some of CS’ hints to finish. I so wanted xxxxxxxx to be the answer in 14a, even though it was clear that it was wrong. Thanks to setter and the clever lady.
Wonderful crossword by Mr Lancaster – the Queen’s joint at 1A was superb, as was 27A.
VMT Chris & Sue.
Recent SPPs have lacked a certain something for me. This one seemed a tad more difficult however, and the up-spicing helped. There were certainly some enjoyable clues here, and I’m going with the wonderful 1D as champ.
Many thanks CS and setter.
What an absolute joy to solve a Chris Lancaster puzzle, many thanks. Lots of good clues but I also like 1a.
Thanks too to Cryptic Sue.
Due to a very busy and enjoyable day co hosting a family party I only got to this late and tired. I thoroughly enjoyed it but did need the hints to complete it, It was tricky in places but there were some excellent clues. I liked 18d best.
Many thanks to C Lancaster for the puzzle and taking the time to visit the blog and to CS for the hints.
I found this on the gentler side, completing it while eating my morning toast. Favourite was 9a. Though I seem to be missing a supplied ‘a’ in 13d?
The first three letters of the solution to 13d are an abbreviation for a particular accountant, so that’s where the third A comes from
I didn’t get the chance to comment on this yesterday, as a flight home from holiday was diverted and I was too tired to do anything. I found this chewy but enjoyable and just needed to google check a couple of things. Thanks to CS for the hints and CL for the puzzle. Sheila (the other one).
I enjoyed it all except for 14a, I’ve never considered that to be a single word.
Welcome to the blog