Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30707(Hints)
The Saturday Crossword Club (hosted by crypticsue)
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A warm but grey and drizzly start to Saturday morning, ideal for staying indoors and solving crosswords.
This week’s Saturday Prize Puzzle has both a theme and a distinctly American feel to a lot of the clues and solutions (and the Quick Pun).
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 Turn up with barge and river’s easy challenge (8)
Reverse (turn) the first word of the clue, add a verb meaning to barge and the abbreviation for River
5a Ocean’s supported by salt perhaps (6)
Another word for the ocean plus the S (ocean’s) and a simple way of saying supported by
16a An unsatisfactory lawyer in Californian county? (7)
An indefinite article, a synonym for unsatisfactory and an American lawyer
27a Gold corporation first to notice 5 (6)
The chemical symbol for gold, an informal name for part of your body also known as a ‘corporation’ and the first letter of Notice
29a One getting in the way of graceful swimmer’s lovers? (6)
The Roman numeral for one inserted (getting in the way of) some graceful water birds
30a Harris say caught informer on march (8)
The cricket abbreviation for Caught and an informer go on or after an informal march
Down
1d Soup in cooking vessel long time (6)
A cooking vessel and a long time
4d Letter from Stone in English collection (7)
The abbreviation for stone inserted into the abbreviation for English and a mass or heap of things
15d In character I’m Frenchman offering fruit (9)
Insert into an individual or character represented, IM (from the clue) and an abbreviated Frenchman
17d Large Scotsman carrying a box south for Europeans (8)
The abbreviation for Large and a forename crossword setters often use when referring to a Scotsman ‘carrying’ A (from the clue) an abbreviated box found in many a living room, the result followed by the abbreviation for South
18d All for end in feud in Maltese capital (8)
Replace the END in a feud with ALL (from the clue)
20d Current where Royal Navy lost form (4)
Current or up to date without (lost) the abbreviation for the Royal NAVY
21D/24a One of The Four 5s cured freak in dale, they say! (7,5)
An anagram (cured) of FREAK IN followed by a homophone of a dale
26d Celebs magazine that man will love (5)
A way of saying ‘that man will’ followed by the letter representing love or nothing
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!
Please read these instructions carefully – they are not subject to debate or discussion. Offending comments may be redacted or, in extreme cases, deleted. In all cases the administrator’s decision is final.
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The Quick Crossword pun: TOPPED + HOLLER = TOP DOLLAR
Nicely themed SPP today, but 5a was a bit of a 1a, so the fun did not last long; very much a one cuppa solve. I did not know 16a, but for that level of GK I regard Google as fair play. 19a COTD by a country mile. Thanks to setter (an American friend from Jersey, perhaps?) and Sue for the blog.
A pleasant solve on a sunny Saturday morning while listening to Vivaldi.
As CS says there is an American theme apart from the answer to 27a.
Lots of the type of clue which I enjoy with 19a my COTD.
Thanks to the setter and crypticsue.
Did you see the first class Prom last night on Beethoven’s Ninth? A joy!
All completed, enjoyed the theme and the mix of clues. One or two answers needed checking after they were in as they were unfamiliar eg the California county.
Many thanks to the setter and to CS for the hints
Pretty straightforward although 16a had to be checked out. Suspect 19a will win by a country mile as a favourite. It was one of those “ of course” moments that must raise a smile. Many thanks to all involved.
Please can you explain why it was that answer for 19 A? I haven’t had an ah ha moment and it’s driving me mad!
Welcome to the blog
Look very carefully at the words meatballs and stale lamb
When the answers are released please could you explain it to me?
There’s only one word it can be once you’ve got all the other answers. I may have the reason for meatballs but not stale ram.
Many thanks.
As CS suggests, HD look very closely at “meatballs” and “stale lamb”.
The penny finally dropped at 5.12am this morning! Worrying it took so long! Thanks for the hints. Helen.
It took me quite a while to solve 5a so a number of clues were closed to me at the beginning. Once I twigged it, I was away although I did spend too long on 21d & 24a because I was thinking of an incorrect 5a. I didn’t know the Californian county but the clue gave the instructions. My COTD is 29a with its graceful lovers.
Thank you, setter for the fun. Thank you, CS for the hints.
The paper didn’t arrive until 10am so morning coffee was ruined!
Well I think I must have the wrong answer to 19a but it can’t be anything else. I cannot see where meatballs come in or the stale lamb. OMG, penny drop moment, have just seen it as I am typing this. DOH. Anyway thanks for a great puzzle today. Seeing interlocking clues always depresses me but once I got 5a it all came together. Our ‘holiday’ has left us with such awful colds that D is now on antibiotics for a chest infection – moral is, don’t go on holiday. Thanks to CS for the hints.
Oh dear. Antibiotics usually means no alcohol 🙁
That’ll be the day!
So long as the antibiotic is not Metronidazole. 🤢
It’s Amoxicillin Steve, but I doubt he’d forego his nightly whisky!
That’s fine. Were it Metronidazole he would feel decidedly grim. Mind you, as a dentist, I should not condone having a drink with antibiotics but, don’t tell anyone, I do when I’m on them. 😊
I hope D soon improves.
So Dave P was listening to Vivaldi? That’s some coincidence, as I was thinking this might be a puzzle all about that fine musician. On that score, so to speak, and as that idea is not new, it was refreshing to see that the setter had taken things in a more modern direction.
This for me was a brisk solve, with the 5s falling from wordplay to allow me in. Certainly the device at 19A stood out as particularly good, but I’m handing the laurels to 25A for its brilliant definition and misleading w/p.
Thanks Myster and Sue.
Thought that I was risking the Naughty Step with the Vivaldi comment but it looks as if I got away with it 🤭
Oh hahaha. I’ve just fallen in. Forget I mentioned Beethoven!
I twigged right away, clever clogs!
On the money for a Saturday: four mini-crosswords with a bit of GK and a splendid theme made it a joy to solve. 21d/24a was a nice touch.
My podium is 17d, 18d and of course 19a (those clues are always a hoot).
Many thanks to the setter and she of the crypt.
2*/4*
That was fun and even I managed to detect the theme! Two of my shiny new King Charles Loonies on this being an NYDK production. **/****
Somewhat spoiled by having to know an LA county but it was fairly clued.
Candidates for favourite – 19a, 28a, 4d, and 15d – and the winner is 15d.
Thanks to NYDK, or whomsoever if my Loonies go down the drain, and thanks to CS.
Nice theme that came together lickety split once (as SC said) 5a revealed itself I could even bung in a couple of answers with little more than a glance at the clue
4d, 29a and 19a can fight it out for places on the podium
It took a while before the Tweedy detective from The Eagle escaped my thoughts
Thanks to Setter and Sue
Like others, I did need Mr Google’s help with the Californian county, but the theme was a great help in nailing most of the other clues. Difficult to ascertain where one 5a ends and the next one begins these days!
I’ll award COTD to 29a and stick my half-crown alongside Senf’s Loonies for the setter guess.
Thanks to NYDK, I think, and to CS for the hints.
I remembered the county from a Star Trek film where Chekov in a bad Russian accent, expected to find the “Nuclear Wessels”
An enjoyable and slightly easier than recent Saturdays. Enjoyed the theme and the twist of the theme in 21d and 24a. LOI and my COTD 19a just couldn’t see it until it suddenly slapped me round the face – as was said earlier DOH!
Thanks to setter and Sue
Found this Saturday puzzle on the same sort of level as last week. A couple of head scratchers as well as a couple of chuckles and smiles in there too. Nice Saturday offering.
2*/3.5* for me
Favourites include 10a, 19a, 28a, 6d, 7d & 21d/24a — with winner 21d/24a!
Smiles from 16a, 21a, & 11d (that made me laugh!)
I also liked all the clues associated with 5a. That was clever.
Thanks to setter & CS
That was great fun. Big penny drop moment for 19a but I liked the elegant 29a best. 8a also pretty cool. As is the temperature here today. Winter draws on, or almost certainly a vest soon.
Many thanks to the wily setter and CeeSue.
Slow start even with benefit of central theme but got there in the end with the exception of 21d/24a of which I was completely unaware as was the case with Stipe in 10a. 19a was an amusing Fav. Thank you Mysteryone and CS..
Have just done the Quickie and enjoyed it but have to say I did find it more cryptic than usual – not that that is necessarily a bad thing.
I notice it’s not called the Quickie just Crossword but I agree a bit More(!) cryptic that usual.
Further to my post yesterday about the overuse of ‘say’, 30a is a case in point.
The second I see ‘Harris’, I think…’Hmm, which one?’ and go through a couple. We all do. I understand why the word ‘say’ is there (rules schmules) but it makes not an iota of difference to me and weakens the surface.
Mr Lancaster, if you see a follicularly-challenged man outside Telegraph Towers this week, parading up and down with a placard, shouting…Say no to ‘Say’. Say no to ‘Say’….you’ll know who it is.
There’ll be someone on the other side of the street with a placard saying ‘Say No To No Say’. That was a GLC strapline of yore btw.
Anyway it was me today. Thanks all as ever, and Super Sue.
She is most certainly Super Sue as we are lost without her.
I didn’t know about the GLC strapline. Very funny.
Thanks for an excellent crossy, Mr Knobby (tell me to stop using that one if you’d prefer).
19a is such a great clue and must have been very satisfying to dream up. As the yoof of today would say….props to you.
Many thanks, NYD for the guzzle and for popping in. Have a good weekend.
That was the most fun I’ve had with a cryptic puzzle in ages. I caught on to the theme quite quickly and couldn’t wait to see how the compiler would follow it through . I remembered 16a from the old Star Trek film where Checkhov was asking for directions to the base with the’ nuclear wessels’ in adodgy Russian accent. My favourite clue. 21d and 24 were such a clever combination clue and 16a, my last one in kept me guessing ubtil the end That’s without mentioning all the brilliantly themed clues . Thanks to the compiler for a thoroughly enjoyable SPP and to CS for the hints
D’OH that’ll teach me to read to the end of the comments before mentioning Star Trek films
I could claim Great Minds Think Alike but I was at least 4 hrs behind you
A great guzzle today. I didn’t get 5a straightway so went round the houses a bit. Like others, had to check 16a.
Top picks for me were 16a, 21d and 24a and 8d.
Thanks to CrypticSue and the setter.
It took me an age to twig 5a and then I got totally side tracked by a theme with variation in the 21d/24a combo. That was very clever indeed. I liked the construction of both 1a and 29a, but my cotd is 19a. Thanks to NYDoorknob and CS.
DNF today
Geography letting me down. Must try harder!
19ax favourite
Hints much appreciated to get over the line
Doing the acrosses I thought I was in trouble, but the downs came to my rescue. Not only an American theme but it took us back quite a few decades! I don’t usually like linked clues, you are stuck unless you get the first one, but I thought this was clever and fun! Except 25a which I thought was a tad macabre. I liked lots, so I’ll shorten the list and go for Harris … girl power!!
Thank you setter, great stuff for our Saturday fun, and to CS for her hints and tips.
This was fun and twigging the theme early meant a few clues solved quickly. Confess I did need some electronic help for 16a. Last one in and big Doh , was the wonderful 19a. Thanks to setter and CS.
Having sussed the theme I must admit some of my answers were just ‘bung ins”. Sloppy I know!
19a is clever after I’d stopped thinking of the current craze for air fryers
Good puzzle which took us a while. Last one in 19a, which took ages before the penny dropped as manders says.
I thought this was really original and liked the theme around 5a – thank you NYD and CS
Brilliant puzzle with many very clever clues my favourite of which is 21d/24a, a real smiler.
So good to see a Saturday puzzle that is within most people’s reach and doesn’t require intimate biblical knowledge, familiarity with various foreign languages and US slang.
Very enjoyable
***/*****
Thx to all
17a. (Redacted) Please read the instructions in red at the end of the blog before commenting
An entertaining, but mostly straightforward solve in the end. I got the connected answers very early on, but then ground to a halt for a while.
Favourite being 19a – nicely done, although I think I’ve seen that construction before.
Made harder work of this than I ought to have done really. Slow to twig both of the indicators in 21d/24a & the unsatisfactory synonym at 16a (the county needed confirmation too) & even slower to figure out the recipe for my meatballs so not quite the 1a it threatened to be. As ever a thoroughly enjoyable guzzle from Donny.
Thanks & to Sue.
I’m very late again today with my crosswords partly because I have been extremely busy and partly because my paper wasn’t delivered. In the end I completed the puzzle online and inadvertently submitted it, which I have never done before. I promise not to tell Steve Cowling if I win the fountain pen!
Although I knew neither the county in 16a nor the lovers in 29a, both were very fairly clued. Whilst I was solving I had the feeling that this was compiled by NYDK and indeed that proved to be correct.
This was a lot of fun, nice and quirky, and not too difficult. Thanks to the setter and to CS.