Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31373 (Hints)
The Saturday Crossword Club
(hosted by crypticsue)
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
A very chilly start to the day but the sun seems to be trying to warm us up so hopefully the temperature will improve later. Another slightly trickier Prize Puzzle (well I thought so anyway) where the anagrams grouped fairly close together in the Downs made it difficult to pick which clues to hint, as I tend to mostly hint the non-anagrammed clues. I have an idea about the setter but will wait to see what others think and whether they turn up to claim ownership
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 Aussie resident recalled trim cricketer (6)
A reversal (recalled) of a verb meaning to trim followed by a word for a cricketer that will have caused muttering in the rabbit hutch
5a Something from the internet in blue pack (8)
Blue or miserable and pack or place compactly in a box perhaps
11a Island‘s energy and passion clear, on reflection (8)
A reversal (on reflection) of the symbol for Energy, some passion and clear (of all charges or deductions)
15a Women’s rage after outing? I can set off alarm (8)
The abbreviation for Women and some rage go after a pleasant excursion (outing)
21a Mother rejected exam with no right or wrong (6)
A reversal of an informal name for a mother followed by an exam
27a Distant sheep left by lake for so long (8)
Distant, a sheep and the abbreviations for Left and Lake
28a Yankee, Victor – individual adopting new female name (6)
The letters represented by Yankee and Victor in the NATO Phonetic Alphabet and an individual thing or person
Down
2d Start of Octopussy, Bond’s handy (2,3)
The ‘start’ of Octopussy and a verb meaning to bond
5d Spurs need lots of changes, or just a small amount? (15)
An anagram (changes) of SPURS NEED LOTS OF
14d Comrades at sea guzzling American drink (5,4)
Mr CS and I spent time at breakfast discussing whether this was an American drink (it did originate in Michigan apparently) but now I’m writing the hint, I realise that the abbreviation for American needs to be inserted into an anagram (at sea) of COMRADES
16d Motorhome we parked outside hotel secure, love? (9)
WE (from the clue) ‘parked’ outside a hotel, followed by an informal verb meaning to secure and the letter representing love
17d Singer embracing fantastic day in city down under (8)
A British female singer ‘embracing’ fantastic or first-class and the abbreviation for Day
20d Wild plot containing cucumbers in the middle (6)
A fictitious narrative into which is inserted (containing) the middle letter of cucuMbers
24d Large international beginning to excel during extra time, flat out? (3-2)
A definition that made me smile, especially considering that on Saturdays I get up earlier than in the week! – the abbreviations for Large and International, the ‘beginning’ to excel and a preposition meaning during
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The Quick Crossword pun: SOUR + THUMB + ERICA = SOUTH AMERICA
2*/3*. This felt anagram heavy, but that might be because four out of five successive down clues were anagrams.
24d was my favourite – great definition.
Thanks to the setter and to CS.
I loved 14d, it brought back memories of endless summer days sharing a bottle amongst many playing footie. Woe betide the poor soul who got to drink the crisp crumbs at the bottom of the bottle.
I seem to recall an ordinary as well as an American version, but my palate wasn’t able to detect a difference.
If it wasn’t a prize puzzle, I am sure Huntsman, ALP, Smylers et al., would have had a field day with 9a
Thanks to Sue and Setter
Did you get the “pop wagon” coming round when you were a kid? Where I lived it came once a week, always at the same time. A smallish box lorry with open sides containing large bottles of pop in sturdy, compartmentalised brown wooden crates all stacked up. Large,heavy glass bottles with hard,rubbery screw caps. You bought your pop and got a small refund on any empty bottles you returned. D & B was my favourite.
Exactly how I remember it, down to favourites. The answer here was probably least favourite as the “washback” from those before your turn was too visible
Yes we had those too. The brand was Alpine and we just called it the Alpine man. Green plastic crates but the bottle description was just the same!!! Birmingham 1960’s.
Corona or Barrs here, it was rumoured the driver kept bottles of “Adult pop” in a crate in his cab, no-one was brave enough to ask and I suspect it was just Shandy Bass anyway
Twm has claimed authorship
if you can believe it John 9a was actually my last in & an embarrassingly long time before the 💡 moment & that was even after eventually pegging the correct fodder. Prior to that the 1st 3 checkers & the Prince sent me up a blind alley after seeing the stage name of a Jamaican singer-songwriter & producer & one of the founders of ska.
Once the penny had dropped I rather wished Twm had opted for three kings rather than just the single one…
I have a preference for the left-handed one, but keeping it singular means it can be whichever one of the three you want. (I added the other name to be a little more helpful, and because I liked the idea of Charles and Wills writing a book together!)
subject – the ingrate & his missus. 😊
Maybe call it “The Harrying of the Spare by the Heir”
What a treat. As usual I thought this would be a DNF but the way the answers revealed themselves as the checkers went in was delightful. I thought the surfaces were first class and I don’t think there was a weak clue anywhere on the grid. I predict a riot regarding the second half of 1A and maybe a few adverse comments about 16D.
So many contenders for podium place with 1A just being pipped to the post by 18A for cramming so much into 3 words. Thanks to CS and the setter.
A bit of an anagram fest and a tad chewy, but overall a decent challenge for a SPP and worth the tussle. 24d and 1a were tied in my top spot this morning.
My thanks to both our setter and Sue.
A fair challenge for a SPP with clear parsing throughout. I don’t think there was a duff clue anywhere and once I’d sorted the long anagram at 5d everything fell into place quite quickly. My picks of a wide selection are the annoyed buzzer at 18a, the misplaced honestly at 23a and the island at 11a.
My thanks to the setter and Sue.
2*/4*
A good workout that got me scratching my head and pulling my beard.
The Australian and xxxxxx theme continues as does the need to watch US films and TV (16d). I don’t know who Prince and King are/were.
I liked 22d with Gerry and Terry – not too complicated but amusing to me.
Surprised Sue hasn’t sent you to the naughty step!!!
?
Hi Clix
The American music sensation Prince who could play every instrument like Jeff Lynne. A most-gifted artist.
I won’t say who King is as it may give it away. He won’t be that well known with the solvers.
Thanks DT.
Jeff Lynne?
ELO
Electric Light Orchestra?
There, I’ve heard of them, but don’t recall hearing them.
He wrote, arranged and produced all of their songs, playing all of the instruments until the recording itself.
Lennon and McCartney waxed lyrical about him all the time.
Indeed! He was composer, producer and session musician for many other artists also. An incredible guy.
He wanted ELO to be what The Beatles would have become had they stayed together.
could be one of three – all brilliant exponents
It is a close run thing, Manders but I think he might just get away with it.
He obviously has, I’m amazed, maybe Sue is chasing the tortoise!
Is it the word beginning with xx or the “pulling my beard” phrase. Anyway, how do you know I’m a “he”?
Only because Steve said ‘he’ and I assumed perhaps incorrectly Steve was right. If I answer your question I’ll end up with the lemon drizzle!
Sorry, Clicks – I should not assume.
No need for apologies, SC.
I was trying to make a joke – beard/he, but it may have backfired.
Well Clicker, didn’t like to mention the beard as ‘trans’ people can apparently sport beards. Did you see the Prince can’t kiss sleeping beauty awake as being asleep she did not give her consent!!
Oh, for goodness sake! I’m so glad I live in the countryside where there is no such thing as being “woke”.
I was working at the entrance to our museum and an old lady came in with a lovely full beard!
I tried hard not to stare….but you do think ‘Well done you!’…as the rest of us work hard to get rid of ours!
As far as I know, Tim the Tortoise is already tucked up for her winter hibernation
You would never know it, particularly as I have just drafted my fourth crossword blog post in four days, but I do have a life outside crosswords, not to mention that some of the comments are so long, I give up on reading them earlier before I should when a prize puzzle is involved
** / ****
Enjoyable and not too chewy considering it’s a SPP. not totally sure of a couple of unhinged parsings but confident of the answers nonetheless. COTD went to Garry and Terry, which for some reason the surface particularly amuses me. Many thanks to Sue and the setter.
Agree with you re. 22d.
I also spelt Gerry correctly above.
Well my iPhone auto-correct ruined that post!! Where did Garry and unhinged parsings come from?????
I found this quite tricky – had to look up 16d – is that fair to have in a crossword / needed help with a couple but did enjoy it / thanks as always Sue and Setter
Tougher than usual but enjoyable despite it. Anyway, it is a prize puzzle so no complaints from me. I took a while to sort out the cucumbers in 20d and I thought Gerry and Terry in 22d were great. My COTD is the woman’s rage at 15a.
Thank you, setter for a puzzling guzzle. Thank you, CeeSoo for the hints.
I loved the Quickie pun.
Now to get the carrier pigeon ready to take my entry to Telegraph Towers so The Mythical can be released.
For me, etc©, a friendly and very enjoyable SPP – 1.5*/3.5*
Like RD, the ‘gathering’ of anagrams in the Downs had me thinking that the puzzle was anagram heavy. But, assuming, I have identified and counted correcting, anagrams make up a smidge under 25% of the clues – not too outrageous in my book.
Candidates for favourite – 15a, 25a, and 3d – and the winner is 15a.
Thanks to whomsoever and CS. Now for the Chalicea NTSPP!
Still no clue about 11a even with Sue’s hint, any further would be welcome.
Hi TC
The synonym for passion is four letters. 15a may help.
The one for clear is not the first one off the rank. As CS says, it’s often used in the financial world, e.g what did you clear?
Cheers Tom, got it now.
Went there in 1972, really cheap holiday as my Dad worked for BOAC.
Stayed at a 5 star hotel called (redacted) learnt to swim in the pool there.
Happy days.
And v cheap ones, at that!
How lucky to have your pop working for them. Great perquisites (may as well use the word in all its glory, seeing as it got a recent outing in a crossy).
A perfectly pitched Saturday challenge that will please all-comers. Call it pitched-perfect.
The anagram count is fine, in my books, as it’s under 25% but it won’t be with Mr Anagrrrrrrrrrram. He won’t be posting until late this afternoon as he’ll be pacing up and down the room for hours lest he break the buttons on his keyboard. Four in five clues ain’t ideal but today’s setter has got enough beans in the jar.
I, obviously, loved 1a. I’m going to start calling RD ‘Rabbat Dave’ which he’ll either nip in the bud today or ignore forever. Which will it be? Hmm….it’s a close call….I’m going to go with…….ignore forever!
I love how the setter broke down 18a. Very clever. Cryptics are such a joy. My LOI was 11a which I finally got by working my way through the parsing, step by step. Very satisfying.
My picks are 27a (an excellent Lego clue), 2d (any clue that includes Bond gets on my podium) and 3d.
Many thanks to Mr T (?) and she of the Kent crypt.
2*/4*
‘Messing’ with others’ aliases is a bit third formish, don’t you think?
Of course it is, Senfingtons. As you know, I do it all the time…A-Pop, Wriggles, ‘She of the crypt’, Hoots, Day Zee, Splitseeze and many more.
I suspect that RD may have been pacified by Senf’s dramatic revelation that it’s listed in the BRB. But not holding my breath ….
I’m amazed that he’s not heard it seeing as he plays cricket so much.
Sportspeople are forever shortening names and this is simply one of those as it saves saying one syllable which is ridiculous. But, there it is.
I’m as guilty as anyone.
A dnf unaided for me today as I needed a couple of hints to get me finished. I’ll go against the majority of comments so far and say that it was not only tricky, but a bit of a slog towards the end. Not one for me today, alas. Thanks to compiler and CS for the hints.
Another Saturday opportunity to solve the PP before lunch, and nearly there but not quite before Sue came to parsing assistance. [redacted – a bit too ‘alternative clue’]9a took me a bit too long. Also enjoyed 22d and the minimalist 18a. Biggest cheer for 14d, mainly because you don’t see it so much these days – I’ll stick with the memory of the pop man delivering it to my grandma’s, and getting money back on the bottles.
Redaction accepted – so close to the naughty step…!
If you have been redacted, NAS then you are ON the Naughty Step. 😊
Oh to see the Corona man on his round once more – I miss their raspberryade as much as any – all raspberry drinks that I have found these days contain apple or some other fruit flavour – it’s just not the same. Anyway to the puzzle. So enjoyable after yesterday’s slog. Pitched about right for a Saturday with nothing too obscure. I did like 22d and 18a, but 23a floated my boat, because of how certain opposites works within it. All in all a very entertaining solve. As for the ELO – here sits a total fan. I think I have all their music in one form or another, plus stuff released by members of the group as individuals. I used to subscribe to their fanzine and buy from there. Many years ago, we got Dave Morgan (an occasional musician with ELO) to visit my wife’s school, almost quite anonymously and without fuss to help rehearse the children in singing a Christmas carol he wrote. He even took the trouble to transcribe the music so it could be played on the piano. Finally, thanks to today’s setter and CS.
Hi SB
Great to see you’re a fan of the boys. Being 61, they had a huge influence on me in my formative years. But, I lost interest when they went into the world of disco and synth. Richard Tandy called Discovery ‘Disco very’ which I thought was clever.
I recently read that Jeff did away with the string section, the orchestra bit, on recordings and even concerts! Concerts? Can you believe that. They were only used for photo shoots which is tragic. It left a bit of a sore taste in my mouth which is a shame as they were my heroes.
Yes, I can well empathise with that Tom. I did get to see “ELO” in 2015 or 16 in Birmingham, which at that time was Jeff, Richard Tandy (sadly no longer with us) and session musicians and singers. I can’t remember the drummer’s name, but it certainly wasn’t Bev (who I saw in his own show in Kidderminster, with Jasper Carrot as MC) It was a great evening, well, both were, but “ELO” were magical – a tremendous atmosphere.
Remember the 70s single Funkey Moped by Jasper Carrott – produced by none other than Jeff Lynne. Maybe not one of his proudest recollections ….
That’s for sure!
Good times, gentlemen.
We used to run a youth club in those days – many of the kids loved that song, which contrasted somewhat with the Sex Pistols stuff they tried to test our reaction with (we just turned a deaf ear and they stopped playing the worst of them, lol) I must admit that I never knew that Jeff Lynne had any input though
Ah, yes, Youth clubs….
Not the friendliest Saturday puzzle this week IMHO.
Can’t say I enjoyed it, but that’s just me.
3.5*/2.5*
Favourites 9a, 19a, 27a, 2d & 6d — with winner 6d, where this puzzle is going to end up
Thanks to setter & CS
Really enjoyed this esp the parsing (11a, 18a, 27a… I could go on!) Quite gentle for a Prize Puzzle but great clues throughout and some lovely surfaces.
Thanks to the setter and to CS for assisting those who needed it.
An excellent SPP with lots to enjoy. 11a was my last in as I struggled with the synonym for clear but I got there in the end. 15a was my favourite but there were several possibilities.
Many thanks to the setter and to CS for the hints
A great puzzle today and I was on the right wavelength so it didn’t cause me any headaches . Like others 11a was my last in and I had to use the brb to help. 18a was a good clue which made no sense until I got it. Thanks to the setter and CS.
I am in the Community Hall, of which I am a trustee , which is empty for an hour – to use the internet. We have been off piste for five days now and the engineer won’t be back until Monday with a new router. You would think they would carry a spare router in the van! Anyway, I thought perhaps someone might be missing me (🥲) so thought I would come over here to comment on today’s lovely guzzle. So pleased to have completed it without any hints at all. I particularly liked 9a and 11a 14d and 22d but they were all first class. Many thanks for cheering me up. I didn’t realise how lost I would be without emails etc but the thing which has upset me most is losing my Wordle score. Many thanks to the Very Clever Setter and to CeeSue for manning the naughty step.
Yes we have missed you!! You can do Wordle on a mobile though if that helps.
Losing your Wordle score is so frustrating!
Good to have you back.
Yes, you have been missed, DG. Welcome back. 🌹
So frustrating about your Wordle score.
Don’t forget, DG, that you can use your mobile phone’s hotspot if your router is out of action.
My outside painter severed my internet cable on the first day of Wimbledon last year. Rang BT who could come 2 days later but asked me if I knew where my hot spot was. Thought it rather a personal remark but he then talked me through it to find my hot spot and watch Wimbledon on a device,, not a TV, but at least not a phone!
All done and parsed in fairly short order with very few hold ups. Favourite was 11a. Thanks to Twm and CS.
1*/4* Apart from a slight stall at 11a everything went smoothly with this superb Saturday puzzle.
Loads of top clues of which the 11a Island, 17a intensified and the small amount at 9d were my favourites
Also liked the quickie pun
Thanks to Twmbarlwm and Sue
For once in a very long time I didn’t need any hints!
In August 2024 when you commented for the first and until now the last time, you called yourself Martin. Both that and your new alias will work from now on
Well done on completing without hints. Don’t leave it so long until you come back again
Huge congratulations, Doctor!
I may have to opt for the anti-Tottenham clue as my winner among this nice selection of clues, as my allegiances (or those of my family, in fact) lie elsewhere in north London. No relegation worries here, and I rather enjoyed the quickie pun too.
Many thanks setter and Sue.
An excellent reason for making 5D Clue of the Day! Lovely puzzle – VMT to Setter & Sue.
Most enjoyable puzzle. Lots of fun cryptic ones and 5d a belter. Thanks to setter. Another outing today, twice this week, for Eric Clapton 🎸
A deserved point at M’boro today even after letting a 2 goal lead slip, no clean sheet again though.
Thanks to all solvers and commenters, and to Sue for the hints and write-up.
Portcoquitlambc @16, the solution at 6d isn’t glove box or jiffy bag. 😄
Thank you, Tumbledown Mountain for a real test of the grey cells.
Thank you, Tumbledown, for another fine bit of work.
Can’t say I pegged it as one of Twm’s productions. Enjoyed the solve despite making harder work of it than I suspect the level of difficulty warranted but then it always looks easier reading back through a completed grid. Like RD pick of the bunch for me was the extra time, flat out – unfortunately nowadays if required it’s at the start rather than at the end with only Thursday the exception. Other likes included 5,9,11,18&28a + 2&5d.
Thanks to T & CS
A pleasant, and not too taxing SPP. 2*/4* or thereabouts. Many thanks setter and CS. If I support any football team apart from the mighty Blues of Southend United, it would be Spurs, but I fear 5d is all too true.
3/4 of this grid was a breeze however for me the NW corner really held me up, I struggled with 9a even with the checkers in Place!
Lots of lovely clueing though, I particularly liked 23a being so succinct, and 18a was lovely.
14d brought back so many memories of Sunday lunch at my Auntie Pats house in St Helens. Mid 1970s, Auntie Pat had cream shag pile carpets and leather sofas and and endless supply of 14d!!
Enjoyed the chat above of ELO, Jeff Lynne, youth clubs and Tom tinkering with our names (I don’t mind).
This was a quick late night romp, I’m into Sunday before starting. Pody picks are 9A’s Prince and King, 27A’s construction so long, and I’ll pick 18A’s neat three-word but somewhat unusual charade.
Thanks to setter and CS ⭐️