Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31121 (Hints)
The Saturday Crossword Club (hosted by crypticsue)
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A beautiful sunrise on a very frosty morning – the blue sky was full of vapour trails too but we couldn’t decide whether they were planes bring people back from Christmas trips abroad, or taking them away for New Year breaks
I really enjoyed solving this Prize Puzzle from NYDK – a mix of 1960s pop and European geography with his usual sprinkling of clues to make the solver smile
Thank you to all the people who have stood in for me following my knee replacement. I’ve been preparing my knee for sitting at a desk to prepare a blog post by trying to do the annual jigsaw which is taking up most of the kitchen table. Today’s hints are a test of how long I can keep my knee at right angles and depending on how it feels later, I may be back to my usual blogging spots or I may need a bit more rest and recuperation.
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 Chestnut horse bearing black foal? (4)
A chestnut-coloured horse ‘bearing’ the abbreviation for Black
3a Pooch, pooch excited around noon, gets cut from rib (6,4)
An originally US slang word for a mongrel dog (pooch) and an anagram (excited) of POOCH going around the abbreviation for Noon
14a Who is going to consume such kitchen waste? (8)
Split this name for kitchen waste 4,4 and you should see who will consume this kitchen waste
16a Painter captures alien in part one needs to see (6)
An abbreviated painter ‘captures’ Crosswordland’s favourite alien and IN (from the clue)
22a Leaderless soldiers overtake worker by the way (2,7)
Some soldiers without the first letter (leaderless), a verb meaning to overtake and one of Crosswordland’s workers
27a Distress great with bishop involved in shooting game (9)
Distress or suffering and great in height into which is inserted (involved) the chess abbreviation for Bishop
29a Indefinite number aboard punt leaning (4)
The abbreviation for an indefinite number goes aboard one of the definitions of punt
Down
1d Part secures device emptied behind washer (5)
A part of something ‘secures’ the inside (emptied) letters of DevicE
2d Cool movement in transport for Beatles or Pink Floyd? (9)
This fashionable (cool) movement sounds like it could transport musical acts such as Beatles or Pink Floyd
6d Bird run over crossing motorway in German city (9)
A reversal (over) of a freshwater diving bird and RUN (from the clue) into which is inserted (crossing) the abbreviation for Motorway
14d Something held against war that’s dragged on? (5,4)
A clever cryptic definition of something Native Americans used as a token of peace
21d Perverse Pierre dropping guts among patients (6)
The outside letters (dropping guts) of PierrE inserted into a room for hospital patients
23d Seabirds not featuring in advertisements (5)
Some small seabirds without (not featuring) IN
25d Chapter in story reversed brilliant success (5)
The abbreviation for Chapter inserted into a reversed story
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
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The Quick Crossword pun: STAN + DWELL + BACH = STAND WELL BACK
Welcome home Sue
Hear hear! Nice to see you back at the helm.
A bit of a theme today with The Beatles and Pink Floyd both featuring twice. It took me a while to get into it with only three solved on the first pass but, once the coffee woke up the brain, it fell steadily. Plenty of ticks on the paper again by such as the pooch at 3a and the something dragged on at 14d. I have two vying for the honours – where customs officers search at 17d and who will eat the waste at 14a. After due deliberation COTD goes to 14a.
Thank you, NYDK for a most enjoyable Saturday solve. Thank you, CS for the hints and welcome back. 👍
I liked the Quickie pun today.
same here. Thought I was never going to get going, then it picked up. I don’t know anything about Pink Floyd or the Beatles, but I still prefer them to cricket related clues
14a was my favourite too, and I obviously took the opportunity to explore the early Beatles and Pink Floyd catalogue too. 28a was LOI today as it took me a while to realise that there wasn’t a 3d 🤓 I better go to Specsavers.
Thanks again to Sue and NYDK. The linked clues and musical references suggest so, but 28a could prompt an each way punt on Twm.
Perhaps my brain is still addled after the excesses of the festive season, but my solving time per quarter seemed to increase as I progresses with the NW going in smoothly but the SW putting up quite a fight with the clever 14d my favourite.
I’m not enamoured by the synonym for “great” in 27a.
Many thanks to the setter. Thanks too and a warm welcome back to blogging to CS.
Just about to start the guzzle but had to stop in and say ‘welcome home’s Sue!!
This was an enjoyable solve with NYPD Blue in fine form.
‘Behind washer’ is absolutely superb as is 3D in 28a and 14a and 14d are very clever.
I’ve never heard of 18d nor the Floyd song which will be the case with many solvers.
My podium is 14a, 6d and 8d.
MT to the aforementioned and she of the crypt (we’ve missed you!)
3*/4*
It wasn’t one of their better hits and was rather weird.
I like them but only know their later stuff.
90% won’t know it. But, at least it’s an anagram which gives people a fighting chance.
Didn’t realise it was an anagram!
Silly is a top word, Remands.
I liked 22a and I’m old enough to remember Pink Floyd songs of the earliest vintage. However I had to use a hint for 21d. How does ‘patients’ turn into a place/room ? Am I being pedantic…
The place for patients in a hospital…
Yes thanks – see that but why or what directs one to the place where patients stay..
Among patients is ‘in ****’.
I don’t know what 19a/24a sounds like, but I’m aware of it because another band with which I am familiar did a song with a slightly different title, riffing on Floyd’s. (That’s all it feels safe to say till after the deadline.)
There’s a fine rendition of it by none other than Gary Kemp (of Spandau Ballet fame) who handles most of the vocals for Nick Mason’s Saucerful of Secrets. Saw them at The Roundhouse in Camden & they were terrific. Am hoping rumours of a farewell tour this year come to fruition.
This took me a while to get into, but the struggle was very worthwhile as I really enjoyed cracking the puzzle. The two fourteens, across and down, were my clear favourites this morning.
Many thanks to Donny, and thanks and welcome back to Sue.
Welcome back Sue. I hope that today’s ‘test’ of your knee was successful and that you will be returning to your usual blogging spots.
A real curate’s egg for me not helped by 25d being a ‘widow’ or is it an ‘orphan’ on its own sheet of (North American) paper which I missed before I hit ‘Print’ – oh well, I can use that sheet for the NTSPP when it is published. I have zero knowledge of Pink Floyd songs so e-help was required for 19a/24a but I did enjoy reading the background story to the song and I had to check the spelling of 28a.
Candidates for favourite – 14a, 24a, 29a, 1d, 17d – and the winner is the ‘cheeky’ 1d.
Thanks to NYDK and CS.
I fought the crossword and the crossword won. Another DNF but I am not downhearted because it was so enjoyable and with family arriving shortly I didn’t want to be screenfiddling during the welcome and lunch. Enjoyed the musical offerings especially the Pink Floyd which was a Syd Barrett written song. A pity he left after Gilmour joined who then took them into pretentious prog rock which became a pain to listen to despite it being popular with all the trendies.
Like a lot of people 14a was my favourite which even my wife thought was clever rather than the product of a warped mind.
Many thanks to CS who I welcome back with profuse pleasure and NYDK for their fine work.
Barrett didn’t really “leave”. They just decided to carry on without him (after failing to pick him up for a gig), given his propensity for taking too much LSD and standing on stage in a stupor.
Agree re: Floyd
A steady fill, albeit I had to look up the discography of Pink Floyd to find a song I had never heard. LOI was 14d having wasted time with the wrong crittur in 14a.
My podium includes the deranged daughter at 10a and the leaderless soldier at 22a, but my COTD goes to the 3D arts festival, 28a.
Thanks to the setter and crypticsue for the hints – just needed to confirm that I had not been misdirected.
3*/4*
This one beat me too…..needed lots of help from the excellent hints.
Thank you crypticsue ..so good to see you back. I hope you continue to recover well.
Thanks also to the setter.
On with the pinny now as lemon drizzle will not bake itself
A few beastly answers to get our heads round today and I know nothing about Pink Floyd beyond the band name so that was a case of Mr G to the rescue. My favourite, as seems to have been the case for several others, was the kitchen waste consumers at 14a with 14d sitting just behind it.
Thanks to NYDK and to CS for the hints – nice to have you back, Sue, but please don’t get too over-ambitious.
A DNF for me today with the SW proving stubbornly elusive.
Is un indicated french allowed?
28a proved my bete noire as even though i understood the parsing I couldn’t find the answer.
Welcome back CS and thanks to NYDK.
I found this very very slow and tricky. Even with the excellent hints (thank you CS), I DNF. Never heard of the Pink Floyd song or the flower. 2d and 17d my favourites. Thank you NYDK.
Never mind the French, what about the Latin?
A bit more difficult than we’re used to for a SPP.
The kitchen waste in 14a, the behind cleaner in 1d and the thing held that’s dragged on in 14d were my podium, all amusing and clever clues.
I’m surprised the song by Pink Floyd was unknown to some, though I guess it’s an age thing. The song deals with the subject of cross-dressing, though I can’t remember anyone being outraged, even in those days.
My thanks to our setter and it’s nice to see CS back (literally) in the chair.
The song isn’t really about the subject of cross-dressing, but rather the much grimmer one of a man (“a nasty sort of person” to quote from the lyrics) who steals women’s clothes from washing lines and eventually gets caught and sent to prison. That aside, always nice to see PF get mentioned. (I assume the compiler is a fan as he’s a drummer in a prog rock band!)
You’ve quite right Michael.
Funny how the the mists of time can cloud and colour one’s memory.
The subject concerned indeed merely whipped the see-through baby blues etc. off the washing line: there appears to be no evidence that he actually used them to get kitted out.
If the gentleman in question’s solicitors are reading this, I am happy to retract my earlier comment regarding their client.
” … 🎶 don’t do it again.” 😃
I was never into Pink Floyd, so,having worked out a two word answer, I had to ask Mr Google if it was amongst Pink oyd’s works. Apart from this, it was a fair challenge of a guzzle, with some good clues. COTD was the wickedly clever 24a, with the cryptic definitions at 2d and 24d the runners up. The two geographical Lego clues at r6d and 20a are highly commended. I enjoyed rhis Saturday puzzle immensely, although it was by no means easy.Thanks to the compiler. Welcome back CS and hope the new knee is as good s both of mine have been.
Maybe I’m missing something but should the last word in thehint for 22a be ‘worker’
Welcome to the blog. Well spotted and now corrected
What did you think of the crossword?
Wah! No time to comment – orf to Stamford Bridge. I just want to say it is great to have Sue back.
Like others I had to resort to looking up the Pink Floyd discography to get the linked clues. This was a persistence paid off in the end type of puzzle. There was a great deal of crumpet scratching alongside the witty and straightforward. 1d was a giggle and 23d raised a smile but cotd must go to the kitchen waste disposal in 14a. Thanks to compiler (NYDK?) and welcome back to CS.
DNF. Not for me. Struggled to make head nor tail of it, and the hints didn’t help me either. Not sure if was the claret or the Gaelic Coffees…,,well done all, who completed it. Thanks to the setter and CS for the hints.
I am still struggling to find which day of the week it is. Must be Saturday though if there is a PoaP (Possibility of a Pen). And we had a boiled egg for breakfast. 1d was top of the list with 28a a close runner-up. Very many thanks to the Setter and NewKneeSue.
BTW have perfected my air fry boiled egg. 140C for 6 minutes!!😁
Had a good time the 25th & 26th and puzzles were not on the agenda.
Today’s NYDK production was a pleasant offering late Boxing Day for me. One multi word clue to deal with today.
Favourites include 14a, 19a/24a, 1d, 8d, 17d & 18d — with winners the two that made me chuckle 17d & 18d
And I have certainly never flippin’ well ever heard of 28a … good grief!?
Thanks to NYDK & CS … nice to hear the knee is coming along. It was the best thing I ever did. I had both done (2023 and the other in 2024) and have had no issues at all after the initial recovery.
What a great puzzle, I really enjoyed it and even knew the Pink Floyd song.
Lots of smiles throughout with my top picks being 14a, 1d, 28a, 3a, 10a and 21d.
Thanks and welcome back to Sue and thank you to the setter.
I did not enjoy this. It was a struggle from the outset. Gave up after 20 minutes, with half the grid still requiring solutions. A second visit, some hours later with the hints to help, yielded no more . As such, this will go down as a DNF. Well done to those who finished it. Thanks to the setter for the puzzle and CS for the hints.
Well that was a goodie wasn’t it. Thanks and lovely to have you back (hopefully) Sue and thank you NYDK. Not great at pop but there’s help for that.
We did so badly on this one that I can honestly say that my husband‘s impersonation of 14d was the highlight of my evening. Must try harder.
I’m just over half way through and finding it a struggle so thought it’d get a hint or two to help me on my way. I did know the Pnk Floyd song though. Glad that some of you also found it a bit of a head scratch. Have a bad cold and what with Christmas , maybe that’s why brain isn’t in gear ?? Welcome back CS and thanks to NYDK for the workout.
A sluggish start but gradually managed to unravel this knotty challenge. Like Jane Pink Floyd means little to me apart from the name. Not sure about chestnut in 1a. Favs 14a and 1d but to what is the DT coming! 18d new to me. Thank you NYDK and Sue (so good to have you back) – do stay strong.
2.5* / 4* A cracking prize puzzle, although a fail for me as I put an alternative answer which I wasn’t happy with for 14d ( thanks to Sue, the pic explained my error).
Favourites are 3a cut from rib, the 10a market town and the cheeky 1d
Thanks to setter and Sue
Thought I was never going to get going, and I was right. Looked at a couple of hints and decided this was above my pay grade, and knowing nothing about Pink Floyd, I’d do better getting on with my new jigsaw puzzle instead. Thanks to setter anyway, and to CS, very happy to see you back solving for us.
Absolute classic from NYDK. So many great clues – but 1D wins it for hilarity. VMT also to Sue.
Super puzzle. A straightforward enough parse but by no means an easy grid fill for me with holdouts at 14a&d + 15d the principal head scratchers. Wasn’t familiar with either the precise meaning of 18d or the advertising context of 23d & had to think twice about where to position my 3Ds.
Ticks aplenty – 3,10,14&27a plus 1,8&14d particular likes.
Thanks to Donny (I assume) & to Sue – lovely to have you back blogging & hope no ill effects.
I really struggled to get into this offering and very nearly threw in the towel.
Glad I persevered in what was the hardest solve of the year that I solved unaided, less Mr G to confirm a couple of answers and spellings.
Thanks to all.
Yay, great to have you back, CrypticSue — especially since I needed a few of your hints to get this finished, for which: thank you. I did much of it on paper on the train to and from seeing the Living Advent Calendar in Saltaire, then typed it in the answer I had and finished it off on getting home — meaning that my ‘solving time’ recorded on the website is artificially low.
A fantastically fun puzzle, with my top few including the 3D 18a, the bird run over in 6d, the Beatles writer in 8d, the customs officers in 17d, and my favourite being 29a’s leaning punt. Thank you to NY Doorknob.
It’s great to see you back Sue, I have not had time to look at the puzzle beyond a quick glance which told me my brain was too addled to even start!
Last to the table as always and just want to say that this is a brilliant puzzle – thank you NYDK and CS (hope your knee is ok). Cannot stop humming that Floyd song, forgotten for so many years