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DT 30947 (Hints)

by crypticsue  

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30947 (Hints)

The Saturday Crossword Club (hosted by crypticsue)

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Even with all the anagrams to assist the solve, I was delayed a little by two clues.   I can’t quite make my mind up as to who might have set it, so we will have to wait and see if anyone turns up to claim 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           William regularly left party, we hear, to find love letter (6-4)
The diminutive form of William, the regular letters of lEfT and a homophone (we hear) of a party

9a           Man made? (5)
Even with the checking letters, it took me a while to realise that I was looking for a ‘made’ man

10a         Women’s trendy skirt collection (4-5)
The abbreviation for Women, an informal way of saying trendy and a verb meaning to skirt

21a         European tie, due to late foul, that might be attractive? (3,2,8)
The abbreviation for European and an anagram (foul) of TIE DUE TO LATE

25a         `Meat that one may bring home? (5)
A type of meat used in an expression meaning to successfully accomplish

27a         Foolish to seize ultimately risky opening, no matter what (2,3,5)
Foolish or senseless ‘seizes’ the ultimate letter of Risky, the result followed by an opening

Down

1d           British ship in bay (4)
The abbreviation for British and a ship – here bay is a verb relating to a noise made by a dog (especially a large one)

4d           Spooner’s settlement, ten cents for break from work (8)
How the Reverend Spooner might say a large settlement and a coin worth ten cents

5d           Followers set up naked couple (5)
Reverse (set up) a body of people accompanying an important person (followers) and then remove the outside letters (naked)

7d           Big punch? It’s a cracker! (7)
A stupefying blow or something very attractive

16d         Prisoner stopped by old Scottish river vessel (8)
An informal prisoner into which is inserted (stopped by) the Scottish word for old and the abbreviation for River

23d         Insect bite coming up (4)
A reversal (coming up) of a biting flavour

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.

If you don’t understand, or don’t wish to comply with, the conventions for commenting on weekend prize puzzles then please don’t leave a comment.

The Quick Crossword puns:

Top Row: SPAYS + HOOTS = SPACE SUITS

Bottom Row: NECKS + STORE = NEXT DOOR

69 comments on “DT 30947 (Hints)”

  1. I messed the grid up today by trying to put the wrong third word into 21a so no chance of The Mythical for me – not that there ever is. I did like the guzzle although it didn’t feel like NYKD to me but I’m useless at setter spotting. I’m not sure about 9a but I can’t see it being anything else unless there is an obscure word, worthy of The List, that I don’t know. My COTD is the prisoner in the Scottish river at 16d.

    Thank you, setter for a fun challenge. Thank you, CS for the hints.

    I liked the Quickie pun.

    1. By the way Steve – thanks for posting the Led Zeppelin / Fred Astaire clip yesterday!
      If anyone missed it (posted late last night) go to yesterday’s blog and enjoy it!

      2. I came across it by accident and couldn’t resist it. Whoever compiled it had the timing right.

    2. When in doubt, may I recommend using a pencil on Saturdays and Sundays? 😌

  2. I think I am a “Rainmaker” as I am stood in a downpour at Anfield waiting for the Bruce concert, just like I was at Sunderland.
    The puzzle was a brief but pleasant diversion, but I still have a few hours to drip dry.
    1a and the Spoonerism get my vote today
    Thanks to Setter and Sue
    P.S. I think you have made a slip of the keyboard in 1d,

        1. Presumably our regular blog contributor Arthur Dent would have had no need to Google that!

      2. The Cowlings have a similar rain induction. A Barbecue. Whenever we decide to have one it rains. Eventually, our friends and neighbours would ring us on a sunny day to see if we were having a BBQ. If we said no the response was “Great we’ll have one then”.

  3. Loved it, a bit of everything in this one, I can still vividly remember 6a winning as clearly as if it was yesterday.

    Took a while to see how 5d worked, but got it after I’d bunged it in.

    Last one for me was 16d, very clever clue, take a bow Mr setter, a real gem!

  4. All completed but not without some head scratching, it comes to something when the spooner went in easily. Not sure about 9a but I think I got it in the end and 16d was my favourite.

    Many thanks to the setter and to CS for the hints

  5. A lovely puzzle this morning but it always seems to be the short answers that fox me. I think I have 6a but can’t for the life of me parse it. Anybody able to put me out of my misery?

  6. I was also held up by two clues, so I’ll make them joint COTDs: 10a and 5d.
    Otherwise a straightforward and enjoyable puzzle, with The Reverend relatively simple to decipher.
    Thanks to the setter and CS.

  7. Certainly more friendly than the last couple of days. Witty and entertaining. 1a went in off the bat and whilst I didn’t think the Spoonerism was one of the best this, too, fell reasonably easily. I particularly liked the trendy women’s clothing and Chuck in 8d, but cotd must go to the prisoner in 16d. Thanks to NYDK (?) and CS.

  8. I fairly shot through this until I came to a grinding halt with just three left. One of these, 9a, kept me guessing for quite a while until I had the PDM. Very enjoyable, this certainly cheered up a dank morning here in Shropshire. For a favourite, I chose 16d.

    Thanks to our Saturday setter and Sue.

  9. This was a tad tougher than the usual Saturday fare but enjoyable as it was a fair challenge that has something for everyone.

    My LOI was the elegant 15d and my last to parse was 5d.

    I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, this sort of clue is too hard for The Telegraph, especially on a Saturday. I reckon the majority of people, like me, will biff it, with many not working out the parsing, as it’s brutal. Hats off to anyone who didn’t biff it.

    Regarding 18d, I can accept ‘upset’ being an anagram indicator (AI) but a synonym of it (angry) is nuts….isn’t it?

    It’s actually quite comical what words are AIs these days. I’m sure a setter from the 50s and 60s will think….eh?

    My podium is 19a (fun), 11d and 16d.

    MT to the setter and CS.

    3*/4*

    1. TDS do not get me started on AIs.

      Usually I go blathering on about the ones I don’t like, until someone points out that my own preferences are littered with examples that also don’t really smash up the letters. All the same, I love to rant about the ones I really dislike. Maybe Terence can compile another list?

      Great puzzle today, not one I can claim, I regret to say, so thanks to all concerned.

      1. Good to hear from you, NYPD Blue.

        There needs to be a committee, chaired by El Tel and you as the secretary, to what qualifies as an AI as it really is the Wild West out there.

        Do not forsake me, oh my darling…

        What a song.

        And what a film!

    2. Today’s setter is on reasonably ‘solid ground’ as ‘angry’ is in the list of Anagram Indicators in Chambers Crossword Dictionary.

      1. Hi S

        I don’t doubt that setters use accepted AIs.

        What I would love to know is who okayed ‘angry’ in the first place as it’s a nonsense really.

        1. The extant 4th Edition of the Crossword Dictionary is 10 years old so ‘angry’ has been around for at least that long.

          Anyway, for me, somewhat obscure/peculiar anagram and lurker indicators add to the challenge and enjoyment of the solve.

          1. I’m all for creativity and things evolving: it’s why I often applaud Mr Tumble for pushing the envelope but ‘angry’, to me, is nowhere near an AI.

            I occasionally explain how clues work to friends who don’t do crosswords and they look at me in bewilderment. And that’s when I’m talking them through a straightforward AI like ‘upset’. Goodness knows how they would react if I talked them through ‘angry’.

            It’s a shame that setters do this as a rookie would throw in the towel.

    3. Chambers says angry means excited with anger, so perhaps it is meant to create an image of the letters hopping about, agitated.

  10. LOI was 5d and even then I wasn’t sure so I was pleased to read SC’s hint for it. Very speedy solve once I got on the setter’s wavelength. Jolly cold again today and I’m sick of it! Thanks to the setter and CS.

  11. Entertaining and witty stuff, perhaps a little less flamboyant than your average NYDK.

    I’m plumping for the old Scots, always nice to see them, which I found a (neat and amusing) microcosm of the whole puzzle.

    Many thanks to setter and to Sue.

  12. I didn’t recognise the compiler’s style, like others but I found the guzzle a refreshing change. I liked the 16d Lwgo clue and the 13zd double meaning clue together with the 11d anagram. Thanks to CS for the hints and to the compiler for an enjoyable SPP.

  13. This was a strange mixture of “Oh, that’s too easy!” and “How the hell am I supposed to work that one out”?.
    But I found that as I gradually filled in the checkers, even the ones that had seemed impossible suddenly leapt out at me. Before I knew it I had finished, and in a quicker than usual (for me) time.
    I thoroughly enjoyed it – even the dreaded Spoonerism didn’t faze me – and fortunately no linked clues! (Yay!).
    I particularly liked 5d (and was quite proud of myself for solving it).
    Many thanks to the setter (NYDK?) and to CS.

  15. 3*/3*. As others have commented, this was a breeze until there were only a few clues left to solve which significantly ramped up the difficulty.

    Perhaps AI is the guilty party responsible for generating AIs?

    My podium selection is 1a, 10a & 16d.

    Many thanks to the setter and to CS.

  16. An enjoyable Saturday Prize puzzle which was much easier than the last few weeks. Thanks to CS and the setter. 10, 6 and 1a my favourites. Why do we have a spell checker which doesn’t accept English spelling?

  17. A hint as to the setter’s identity may be that there appears to be a second pun in the Quickie.

  18. Quite a jolly, though tricky, guzzle. One to snip away at, glue by glue.

    Related to half of 8d. 1973 or 1974, I was a teenager, working at a London music agency, and was tasked with the role of ‘tour manager’ (go-fer) for some gigs for half of 8d. Nobody else wanted to do it and I soon found out why. Quite simply the rudest, most ungracious musician/person I have ever encountered. He was suspicious of simply everyone. Each night before he performed for exactly forty-five minutes, I had to show him the night’s fee, in cash, in a brown paper bag, which I then handed to his ‘brother’.
    My final task was to stand at the side of the stage and use a watch to count forty-five minutes. I was tasked with signalling to him, and he would walk off, mid song, and head straight to the car that was waiting outside. Off he went.
    An education.

    Thanks to the setter and Sensational Sue.

  19. Pretty straightforward other than a bit of a crumpet scratch where the whys for 5d & particularly 9a were concerned. Very enjoyable & plenty of ✅s – 1(made me think I must watch the Pinter/ Losey film adaptation of The Go-Between again),9,10&27a plus 1,16&18d particular likes.
    Thanks to the setter (X-Type possibly) & to Sue.

  20. Very enjoyable. Obviously not the work of NYDK even before I read his comment above. I was musing between Cephas and Chalicea but, now I know that there are two puns, CL probably needs to be added to the mix. 1.5*/4.5*

    Candidates for favourite – 25a, 8d, and 16d – and the winner is 16d.

    Thanks to whomsoever and CS.

  21. I found this very easy once I realised that the first word in 10A wasn’t xxxx, which did seem to fit. Very enjoyable but a very quick solve.
    Thanks for the hints and to the setter.

      1. I daresay you both did but should either of you have said so when it is a Prize Puzzle?

        1. Nice one,Sue.
          The hand of steel in a velvet glove. I bet they would even get cake on the naughty step.

    2. I think I originally had the same (wrong) first part of 10a, which of course made it even harder to solve 5d. Needed the hint, and even then felt it was rather obscure! My favourite was 19a which I just thought very neat and stylish.
      Have now spotted the second pun in the Quickie!

  22. An enjoyable guzzle to distract me from the pouring rain.

    Top picks for me were 1a, 1d, 2d and the brilliant 16d.

    Soon 13d will be one of the things which the “yoof of today” will have no understanding of.

    Thanks to CrypticSue and the setter.

  23. Loved it. Some great clues and thanks to CS for the 5d hint which was my last one that I got the wrong way round. Sometimes overthinking it too much.

  24. Another curate’s egg but the goodies made up for the brain twisters. 5d bung-in still baffling me. Nearly plumped for wrong kind of vessel in 16d. Altogether not among my favourite challenges. Thank you setter and CS.

  25. No multiword clues this week … too bad.
    Overall went in smoothly except for me mis-spelling two words as I entered the answers. That just slowed things up!

    2*/4*

    Favourites 10a, 12a, 14a, 1d, 2d & 13d — with winner 13d as it made me laugh.

    Thanks to setter & CS

  26. I too was looking for the wrong vessel and as someone else said, it is often the short words which catch you out. Thoroughly enjoyed this from the outset when 1a went in straight away, swiftly followed by 21a. In my clearing out I recently found the white telephone I had in my bedroom as a child, with the old Derwent number. Such a satisfying instrument to use and it never got lost or needed charging. George used to call me from a phone box in Twickenham and recite poetry to me as I lay in bed, I thought marriage was going to be so romantic…….. Anyway, forget the ramblings of an old lady, many thanks to the Clever Setter and our Kindly Controller.

  27. I found this to be a relatively straightforward challenge but enjoyable nonetheless . Spent far too long on 16d my last one in getting hung up on variations of the words old Scottish river vessels. Anyway it came to me in flash finally. Thanks to the setter and CS.

  28. As straightforward as they come for me today, I was on wavelength from clue one, although I did need the hint to parse 5d. Doing it on my own today so I’ll revert to my solo pseudonym. Favourite was 16d. Thanks to the setter and CS.

  29. I really enjoyed today’s puzzle and was amazed how quickly the answers came but I dithered with 6a and 5d eventually deciding I was right! I actually managed the Spoonerism but admittedly it was on the easy spectrum. Many thanks to the setter and CrypticSue

  30. Must have been on the setter’s wavelength as got all but two in my usual stop start fashion. Last two were 6a and 7d, both of which I deserve a good talking to about! Much enjoyed 8d and 17a. Many thanks to the setter and CS (and all of you from this long time lurker)

    1. Welcome to the blog, a motley, but generally friendly bunch as you’ve no doubt gathered. Hope to hear from you again now you’ve ‘broken the ice’.

  31. Last one in 16d and I didn’t understand 5d (although I got the solution) until I read the clue and, even then, it took a while! Many thanks to all.

  32. Did the puzzle without any help so I can enter it. Have been away for a few days but returned exhausted because I wanted to experience everything about the Jurassic Coast. Walking miles out over pebble beaches has caused the Achilles tendons to complain bitterly. Learned lots of new words that would be fun for a puzzle though.
    Last one in was 16 d and favourite was 13 d. Thought angry was perfectly acceptable as an anagram indicator. Thanks all round.

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