DT 30941 (Hints)

74 comments on “DT 30941 (Hints)”

1. I found NYDK’s offering a bit on the tough side today and it took a while to sort out. There being somewhat of a musical theme helped a little but I struggled to get over the finish line. I had trouble with the spelling of 14d so spoiling the grid. No Mythical for me this week. Well, let’s face there never is a Mythical for me. An old favourite is back I see. My COTD because it raised a smile is 1d.

   Thank you for the brain challenge, NYDK. Thank you, CS for the hints.

   1. Doh. Don’t be downhearted, please. There is a pen there for you somewhere.

      1. After fifty years, DG? I don’t think there is. Anyway, it is a myth and exists in imagination only. No good your showing me your pens. I bet you bought them from Smiths and had them engraved yourself so as to perpetuate The Mythical! 🤣🤣🤣

         1. Hate to tell you this, Steve, but when it was the 10th anniversary of the blog, our esteemed editor gave me one which I then got engraved for BD, so they certainly do exist!

            1. 😊

         2. Oh that’s so cruel 😢 would I do a thing like that?

            1. Of course you wouldn’t, DG! I know that. ❤️

2. 16d again??????????????????????????????????

   I jest.

   Saying that, despite CS’s effort, I think there’ll be more comments about it than the amount of wildebeest that sweep majestically across it.

   This was perfect for a Saturday though, as Sue says, there’ll be a few 22as because of the multi-word howdy doodies.

   On that note, solving the 8d/27a was very satisfying because I got the surname with just one checker and worked out the forename with the remaining fodder (loved the composer theme, btw).

   Some of you may not know that the other character in 9a, beginning with the same letter, means ‘minor’. If you get rid of the initial in both cases you have the prefixes for major and minor (well, almost)

   I’m very happy with the word trepans and its meaning which therefore made a great surface. Ouch! I also hadn’t heard of 5d.

   The initials of the Great Lakes that Sue mentions spell the word ‘Homes’.

   My podium is 12a (clever), 7d and the splendid 17d.

   MT to NYPD Blue and she of the crypt.

   2*/5*

   PS I’ve hopefully trod carefully enough not to have any comments redacted.

   1. 16d is the Gnu spelling ?

      1. Forgive me if I’m being slow out of the traps, RM, but I’m not with you.

         The only connection I can see is that the wildebeest is a gnu and they are both outstanding words.

         1. Sorry but you asked for it! 😊

            1. That is tremendous! 👏👏

               Thank you for that.

               I’m a gnu…

               I’ll be counting gnus tonight not sheep.

               1. Wow – that muppet episode brought back memories!

                  Thanks for the reminder.

                  7d gets my vote and was the last to drop in an enjoyable grid.

3. Many thanks to NYDK for an enjoyable puzzle, and to CS.
   Last in was 8/27 – I guessed correctly the 6-letter part, but never heard of 27a .

   I put a tick against 19a because the surface made me smile; so that one gets my vote.

4. I found this very tricky indeed and a bit frustrating for some reason. I was defeated by the Parrot which like the Spanish wine I’d never heard of even in crosswords. I always like to see the favourite plain which always stimulates a PDM despite its frequent appearances. The musical theme didn’t quite get the legs I thought it would but was fun. 1D was my favourite. Thanks to NYDK and to CS.

5. Mythical entry sent off …🤞.. but I didn’t enjoy today’s offering, too many composer theme and I had a couple of “bung ins”.
   My cotd was 23d, short, clever with good read.
   Thanks to CS for the hints especially 1a I had it filled in but couldn’t parse the middle.

6. 3*/3.5*. I found parts of this quite tough but I did enjoy the quirky battle.

   I’m not convinced that “Eastern” is necessary in 26a.

   My favourite is a toss-up between 7d & 17d.

   Many thanks to NYDK and to CS.

   1. To differentiate from the ‘Western end’?

      1. I would have said that the Western end was the beginning …

         1. Hi RD

            I took Eastern to be there to tell us which end of the lake it’s spooky, ie not the west, north or south.

            I don’t know about you but I would sure want to know, when I’m lakeside, what end could give me the heeby jeebies.

            Just saying ‘the end of the lake’ isn’t clear.

            1. I disagree, TDS. For me, the end of a word (in this case “the”) is the final letter.

               1. I agree. Eastern doesn’t need to be there for the clue to work.

                  I’m just saying that it’s there to describe which end in case anyone was wondering. I think it improves the surface a tad.

                  It’s something that Silvanus does occasionally.

7. H-a-r-d. Hard.
   I welcome 16d back as if an old pal. A pat on the shoulder and a reminisce about our other chum ‘orchestra’, sadly absent today.
   Meanwhile the committee met, over breakfast, and made a speedy decision to welcome 5d to THE LIST. It will be featured in the ante room reserved for small words. The custodians tell me it will be found between ute and coho.
   A new set of postcards are available in the gift shop featuring many favourites, including Hanseatic League and archimandrites.

   A tricky challenge. Didn’t know 5d.

   Thanks to NYDK and Emerson, Lake and Super Sue.

   1. I just love your posts Terence, they really make me titter!!

8. I enjoyed this very much, I think it is a great talent to be able to keep to a theme when setting a puzzle, I can’t manage to think up a clue let alone linked ones.

   Many thanks to the setter and to CS for the hints

9. Tricky little number. I spent as long trying to print out the puzzle as doing it. The puzzle was far less stressful than my printer that may yet have a flying lesson out of the window. Much to enjoy in the puzzle especially the composer theme. But cotd for me is 7d. Thanks to NYDK and CS.

   1. I like the flying lesson idea. My appliances get the threat of being wheeled down to the bottom of the driveway, where our local authority picks them up.

10. What an ingenious puzzle. Working so many clues to a theme and clueing it so well has to be admired. I actually stopped during the puzzle to listen to examples of each composer. Top ticks for 10,13 and 26 across and 1/ 20 down. Top of the podium though goes to 19 down. Fabulous artist and the holy mount was so clever. Hats off to all involved.

11. That was fun! The multis were not too troubling and no complaints about the plain – it’s been long enough since we last saw it. **/****

    Favourite – 12a.

    Thanks to NYDK and CS.

12. A bit of careful spelling required with this one but at least I was familiar with the parrot despite the poor thing having now been consigned to the bowels of THE LIST. Top three for me today were 10a plus 1&2d.

    Thanks to NYDK and to CS for the hints.

13. This was most enjoyable with the musical theme helping things along. I thought we had seen the back of 16d, but there it is again. My last one in and subsequent favourite was 17d. Typically quirky but good fun.

    My thanks to Donny and Sue.

    1. As I say in the introduction to be blog, it is the only word that fits the checking letters

    2. As I say in my comment, it’s long enough since we last saw the plain and how many times have we seen ‘orchestra’ in the meantime?

14. Just time enough to say fantastic puzzle. Thanks NYDK and CS!!!!!

15. What a great puzzle. I found it tough but oh so satisfying when the pennies dropped. I think I may be picking them up for days now. Good to see 16d back, I’d missed it.

    Top picks for me were 4d, 13a, 1a, 23d and 19d (loved the clever holy mount).

    Thanks to CrypticSue and NYDK.

16. Avery tricky guzzle and a bit of a curates egg for me as I enjoyed the musical theme and the geogrphical clues but nearly gave up in dis gust when I saw the multi -word clues hd reared their ugly head again.. I liked 1a, one of my favourites, the gegraphical clue at 14d and the old favourite at 16d which let me into the puzzle andorwvented an ignominious DNY. Thanks to the compiler and to CS for the hints.

17. A nice way to start a Saturday. A nice musical theme, the earworm for E.L.P was nice, but Flanagan and Allen was the better clue IMO.
    It was nice to see 16d again, as long as it doesn’t appear three more times this week. Biggest laugh was when the holy mount appeared

    Thanks to Cryptic Sue for the decryptions and thanks to NYDK for the puzzle

    1. I must admit, SJB the holy mount took a long time for me to see but what a laugh when I did. Superb clue and would have been my COTD had I seen it earlier.

       1. Cryptic Sue and Dyslex both beat me to the punchline for the holy mount but it did remind me of the time Jesus was “outed” as a biker…

          When he rode out on his Triumph

          

          1. 👍🤣🤣

18. Well, although I was glad to see this was a NYDK puzzle with a couple of multi-word answers, I certainly think he stepped up the difficulty level of the whole puzzle this week. Caused a fair bit of head scratching for me, I must say.
    Nice to see 16d again too!

    Favourites 17a, 4d, 5d, 16d & 18d — with winner 17a

    Thanks to NYDK & CS

19. I do so agree with you SJB regarding the Holy Mount. That was a piece of brilliance. As was 1d. The only clue I did not like (and I am usually very careful not to be negative about something I could not possibly achieve) was 20d. 7d caused the most headache but really, when the penny dropped it made me LOL as they say nowadays. I thought it meant lots of love! Many thanks to Messrs Setter and CeeSue – I didn’t need the hints but I did read them.

20. I thoroughly enjoyed this guzzle today, even the linked clues and especially the Holy Mount! Was meant to visit 14d years ago when Minerva was still operational (always reminds me of Robert who used to sail on her). The King of that country had died months before our visit but they decided to have his funeral on that day. So we ended up going to a wonderful craft village and had a fantastic lunch. About 12 of us round a circular table with a vast lazy Susan in the middle groaning with exotic food. Trouble was the woman directly opposite me kept trying to spin it the wrong way so our side was getting left out of the grub until a huge man next to me had other ideas and order was resumed. One of the best meals I’ve ever eaten and probably the cheapest. Anyway, I digress, happy days. Thanks to the setter of this lovely guzzle and to CS

21. I found that slightly weird today. It felt trickier than usual, but didn’t seem to take me any longer. The multi-word ones were the normal strategy of get enough checkers and bung something in, and there’s no way I was getting 22a from the word play. 1d, 4d and 7d my podium places.

    Thanks to CS and NYDK.

22. This didn’t float my boat, in fact I barely got I untied from the dock with only 7 answers going in before I looked at the hints. I mentioned a few months back that I wondered why Saturdays were mostly friendly, being a prize puzzle. I should have kept quiet. Somebody obviously decided to step up the tricky level. Thanks to NYDK and to the ever clever CS.

23. Pretty tricky in places but satisfying to finish. Favourite was 14d. Thanks to NYD and CS.

24. Enjoyable but tricky. First couple of passes, very little went in but a couple of eureka moments ensured I reached approximately 75% completion before needing to revert to the hints. Also, had to check for correct spellings on a couple of words. Favourite clue, 1d, succinct and made me smile when the penny dropped. Could anyone explain the second part of the wordplay for 23d about famine or am I just being thick?
    As always thank you to the setter and CS for the hints.

    1. ‘cancel’ the abbreviation for day from a synonym for famine

       1. Thank you.

25. Tricky but not enjoyable. relied on checkers and composers. But from what memory pit of horrors was 11/25a brought back to the surface? On 8d / 27a I once played the allegro of his 10th in assembly for primary children and was told off by the music supremo because she thought it was too scary for young children.

    Thanks to NYDK for the experience – I am now playing the 10th for the sheer joy of listening to great music. Thanks also to CS who provided pointers to completion. for which I was very grateful.

26. Superb puzzle. Loved the ‘holy mount’, and 7D, but 10A wins it for me.

    Many thanks NYDK and Sue.

27. Thought I was really going to struggle through but got a good foothold in the SW and moved steadily anti-clockwise to finish at 1a.
    1.5* / 4* Very enjoyable with favourites 14d Asian city, 27a dead chuffed to work out the anagram and last one in 1a very clever.

28. A fair bit trickier than usual I thought. Didn’t know/or had forgotten the bird (the wordplay was clear though) so not surprised the breakfast deliberations didn’t last long – a worthy new inmate. Didn’t know 27a’s first name either so that involved a bit of crossing off.
    A fun fuzzle (™Chriscross) – anything that prompts the playing of a bit Keith,Greg & Carl followed Bud & Chesney is ok in my book.
    Thanks to Donny & Sue

29. A dnf due to 5d which required another site to get the answer.

    With all the checkers managed to get 11a/25a but no idea why the answer is that.

    How anyone can remember 8d/25a across is beyond me. However the genius required to get it to fit in a crossword is impressive.

    Thanks to all.

    1. If you put the solution to 11/25a into a search engine you should soon find out about the “air”

       As for the other linked solution, you probably either know him, as I did, or you don’t

       1. Many thanks for your help. I had searched that before but didn’t get it. The penny dropped after searching again as you suggested.🤦‍♂️

          The second linked solution is not just knowing him, but remembering the spelling.

30. A good prize-level puzzle. I’m still not sure about parsing 11a/25a but what else can it be? The 5d bird us is unusual, but fine for the birding world. I’m always interested in the rationale behind puzzles with a nominal theme (composers here) but that only have a few themed clues, as here. Whatever, this made for a fun Saturday.

31. Hello!
    Struggling with 5D and also I don’t understand what ‘The List’! Intriguing…..

    1. Hang on! I think I take the abbreviation for river out of a 5 letter sort of transport????
       Still would love to know what The List is!
       Cx

       1. Hi Cathy

          Terence started making a note of rare words that many of us have never heard of us and, as a bit of fun, called it The List.

          It’s his choice what words get the honour of becoming an entry.

          He should publish it someday as there are some goodies. So, it would make for interesting reading if you like your words.

          1. As someone who has always loved words and, if I haven’t heard of them, finding out all abut them, and if I have, then enjoying them again, I believe seeing them appear in a crossword just adds to the pleasure. As far as I can tell, most of the words on the List are actually well-known and, as there are already several lists – I believe people call them dictionaries – it is really just an attention-seeking exercise. But then as NYDK says below ‘who am I to say?’

             1. Thanks Tom and Sue! I did spend a little while searching this site for “the List’ before I posted, but feel calmer now I know what it is LOL

32. I think it is a list of words that Terence compiles. They are like detested ornaments displayed on a shelf of solidified bile, I think, but you should really ask him. In my opinion the Alessi Brothers can’t be wrong, but who am I to say?

    Many thanks to him (as usual), and all who posted, and the circus type*.

    Cheers
    NYDK

    1. I now have an indelible image of CrypticSue/PC Security/Circus Type baking Lemon Drizzle cake in impractical shoes

       

33. Four bites of the cherry and only just finished.
    5*/3*
    The holy mount may stand out clue and lots to enjoy, not heard of the air – from 1932! Which upped the difficulty somewhat.
    Thanks for the hints and NYDK for the workout. Onto the Dada.

34. As with 30,938, far too many General Knowledge Solutions & Clues!

    As the late, great Big Dave used to say regularly: This is not a General Knowledge Crossword!

    1. Hi Lewis

       Weekend crossies tend to have more GK than midweekers but I don’t think six is too bad. Maybe it’s one too many, possibly two? I wouldn’t say ‘far too many’ though we, of course, have our own thresholds.

       I would understand it if they are obscure and you haven’t got much to work with or you have to guess the order of the vowels in a non-English word. Only two needed a bit of teasing out.

    2. Oh, forgive me. I thought you were talking about today’s crossword.

       Admittedly, there was a surfeit in yesterday’s though I loved the composer theme which, I appreciate, some won’t.

35. Not so sure that three of something constitutes a theme! I am fairly certain, however, that someone mentioned the answer to 8 27 on the SPP thread a few weeks ago, and that its inclusion here is possibly a response to the challenge issued in that comment. Am I right?

    Apologies for missing you all on Saturday. Thanks NYDK and CS.

36. You ARE right JV.

    I’ve tried searching for that comment, but I’m not really sure how to go about doing so successfully. Anyway, it was a red rag to this bull, who felt honour-bound to take a shot.

    Many thanks
    NYDK

    1. That was me in a reply to Terence on including famous people on his LIST – Comment 23, DT 30917 – May 3rd.

37. Completely 22a because I cant complete this with15a. What am I not seeing.

    1. When in doubt, look for a lurker – the solution to 15a is hidden in reverse (holding back)

       1. Thanks CS but I got it when I realised a slight(?) error in my 4d which put the first letter ‘right’. And I missed the lurker .. what on 23d was I doing.

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