Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31229 (Hints)
The Saturday Crossword Club
(hosted by crypticsue)
+ â + â + â + â + â + â + â +
A warm sunny morning, with mist creeping in over the marshes, brings a crossword that was just right for a Saturday Prize Puzzle – my particular favourite was 9a
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 â 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 âSee alsoâ. Where the hint describes a construct as âusualâ 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 Sheepâs 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          Ring and chatter excitedly, wanting king to lead dangerous expedition (4,3,3)
Encountering great person hazard for the sake of others â a verb meaning to ring and an anagram (excitedly) of CHATTEr (without â wanting â the Latin abbreviation for king
9a          Police leader? Smart! (5)
Nothing to do with Chief Constables! The leader of Police or a sharp pain (smart)
15a        Spoonerâs destiny: coastal city thatâs horrible (7)
Spooner muddling up destiny with the name of a city on the coast of Yorkshire
17a        Officer housed by fine homeless charity (7)
An abbreviated officer âhousedâ by very thin (fine)
22a        Old people snap tigers on vacation (5)
An informal photograph (snap) and the outside letters (on vacation) of TigerS
27a        One times spinner cutting sample of fabric (9)
Something that spins âcuttingâ a fabric sample
30a        Eighty red fans going after black â thatâs keen (6-4)
An anagram (fans) of EIGHTY RED goes after the abbreviation for Black
Down
1d          Badenoch initially remains in party (4)
The initial letter of Badenoch and some burnt remains
3d          Animal in childrenâs game here, having shed its skin (5)
A childrenâs game of chase and the inside (having shed its skin) letters of hERe
4d          Just this Roman and others around (7)
A Latin phrase meaning and other people and things goes âaroundâ the Latin (Roman) word for this
16d        Worries over wife cut by a sharp tool (7)
Worries about goes over (in a Down solution) the abbreviation for Wife âcutâ by A (from the clue)
18d        Everything extremely suspect in Conservative lie (4,5)
Everything and the extreme letters of SuspecT inserted into Conservative
23d        Near dead-end road (5)
Very near or a dead-end road
26d        Drove that woman mad at last (4)
That woman and the last letter of maD
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The Quick Crossword pun:Â KNOT + WHELK + HOME = NOT WELCOME
3*/2.5*. A mixed bag for me today which, overall, I found quite challenging.
Iâve never heard of 1a but it was fairly clued. I was surprised both to see Spoonerâs city in 15a described as coastal, and to find one answer appearing in another clue. I canât make any sense at all out of the surface for 27a.
I suppose I should be grateful that we havenât had a vague person for some considerable time (but I certainly wouldnât dream of describing the 29a woman today as vague!)
It often crops up in Rookie Corner that âtailâ means only the last letter of a word, so I donât think 25d works.
Thanks to the setter and to CS.
Hi RD
Replace âOneâ with âHe or sheâ in 27a.
The tail works for me, ie two letters not one, as there is more than one in a batting line-up and a peloton. I appreciate that isnât the tradition but Iâm okay with the setters trying to break new ground with this one.
I know Iâve said it before but I do find it intriguing that you have an aversion with names but not other categories, many of which are bigger.
I’d prefer ‘it’ to He or she’ – i.e. ‘this thing’.
Youâre right, Harry. Apologies.
Ok to break new ground in this instance but not so with anagram indicators. Is one being contrary or just arbitrary! đ
Hi RB
I am hugely up for new anagram indicators. I have said many times that I love setters pushing the envelope.
Iâm always praising Mr Tumble for this.
Unfortunately, sometimes, in my eyes, they get it completely wrong, using synonyms of anagram indicators instead which is one too far.
This was a fairly straightforward solve with nothing to scare the proverbials.
I havenât heard of the alternative term for the childrenâs game nor the dangerous expedition (Iâve just seen its origin which is a goodie)
My pody picks are 6a, 1d and 18d.
MTT the non-New York setter and she of the crypt.
2*/4*
The dialect map for the game would suggest that you live south of a line from the Wash to the Severn estuary (or Welsh!)
You are correct, Sloops.
Solid and gentle fare for a grey and dull but so far dry Saturday morning in the SW. 1a entirely new to me, but the directions were clear. Honours to COTD 27a – nicely misleading definition – with runners-up 6a (for the surface) and 4d because it made me smile.
Many thanks to the setter and the not in the least vague CS
I agree about the Spooner – not coastal IMO.
1a was my LOI and I had to refamiliarise myself with Aesop’s fables
30a earned a wry smile coming hard on the heels of an hour and a half frame of Snooker yesterday.
Nice nod to our blogger today too
Have been a few days behind all week and catching up today.
I found this straightforward until I reached my last clue 1a! Could not make any sense of it and even rechecked all the downs to see if that was the issue. Thanks for the hint above as a last it unravelled and then mr google explained what it means – made me smile.
COTD is definitely 6a although 9,13 & 21a were contenders
1a was my last in, not heard of it before. Otherwise a speedy solve, 27a gets my vote.
Thanks to CS and todayâs setter.
Brilliant puzzle, loved every minute of it.
Last one for me oddly enough was the one I looked at first, 1a. Even when I had all the checkers in, I still had the wrong first word for ages until the penny (very loudly) dropped.
God alone knows how I got 2d, but must have been hidden way back in the old noggin somewhere.
Not a bad clue to be found anywhere, so no real standouts for me today, as they’re all good.
Managed to do most of this on a sunny walk back from Worthing park run đđťââď¸, finished while watching this morningâs snooker đą
Some interesting bits indeed in this puzzle – didnât know the 1A expression but I like it a lot, didnât know the 3D game. I was writing here that I donât see how the second part of 24A works – then I got it đ, thatâs called rubber ducking in the software development world.
Pody poppers are 1Aâs new expression which Iâll be sure to use, 24Aâs sufferers (now Iâve parsed it), and 1Dâs surface.
Thanks to setter and to CS âď¸
I had a few too many raised eyebrows to fully enjoy this one. Like others, 1a was new to me, as was the alternative spelling in 3d. I didn’t have a particular favourite but I did like 24a.
Thanks to our Saturday setter and Sue.
A first look made me wonder whether a solve, whilst highly desirable, might prove to be impossibleâŚonce I solved 1a all was well.
The trips back to Roman and Iron Age times solved via the clues but had to be looked up for confirmation.
I was pretty sure I had the right answer, but I struggled to parse 15a because I thought there was a letter missing. Likewise, I am still trying to parse 6a and will continue to do so before submitting – the penny will drop eventually.
Top of my list for COTD is 24a with 14d as a runner up.
Many thanks to the setter and crypticissue
Re 6a, if you take the first letters (‘at first’) of the antepenultimate word in the clue and its three preceding words (‘sent over’ = reversed), you will arrive at the name of a person who wrote in ‘bars’.
Thanks HarryâŚ.I had an answer that used 75% of the right letters in the right order and was 100% wrong! I was very cleverly deceived but can now rest easy. Appreciate you help
What a curious puzzle. Never heard of the 1a phrase so had to check my answer via Snr G. Never came across its use either. Something learned. The east was relatively straightforward, but the west was a different kettle. Still not sure of the parsing of 14d so will have to make a mental note to check mid-week. Cotd is the witty 9a. Thanks to NYDK (?) and CS
Yes I had a very lop-sided grid at one stage, a full house on the east and very little on the western front đ¸
A real curate’s egg for me starting with 1a which was a ‘it has to be’ with e-confirmation! Ditto on RD’s comment on 29a! ***/***
Candidates for favourite – 6a, 17a, 27a, 4d, and 25d – and the winner is 6a.
Thanks to whomsoever and CS.
What a great puzzle for a Saturday morning , just enough to disturb the grey matter . Thought 14 , 9 and 27 pick of a good bunch . Didn’t know the game, (so kicked it down the road ! ) sorry frivolous .North East last quadrant to fall . Fans ,30, is a new one for me . Thanks to all .
Now look here! Please take my advice. Don’t bother entering for the prize. The Bic biro is definitely mine this week. I have undertaken lengthy discussions with the Axel Springer media group, and they have agreed that it is my turn this week. So, I repeat, please don’t bother sending in your entry. You are simply wasting your own time and that of Mathias DĂśpfner. He is far too busy packaging up my biro to trouble himself looking at your entries.
Thank you for your cooperation.
Additionally, thanks to the setter, and PC Security (anag) in the misty marshland. Love to Jane.
Is it only a biro ! Thought that it would be a fountain pen if in fact it ever existed.
As well as my two biros with DT embossed notebooks I have a biro and fountain pen set, which I am ashamed to say I donât use as my bottle of Quink has dried up! (Not boasting of course – but over a period of some 50 years, and bearing in mind for many of those yearâs submission involved an envelope and stamp – OK, am boasting đ¤)
Had a bad night after the Covid jab but received TLC from husband and rest in bed with the crossword.
It is complete but it has been a slog. I cannot see how 6 across is parsed. 4 down took me back to lessons where the mistress would knock oneâs head with the board rubber. The bald cockney raised a smile and 2 down was a challenge for spelling. Thanks to CS and setter and all the comments that confirmed that others found problems along the way.
Have a look at Post 10. I had the same issue with 6a and Harry kindly helped me out,
I had a bad reaction to my Covid jab on Monday and have been off colour all week.
Iâm sorry to hear that, Bendy Betty.
Keep powering through!
A rather uneven puzzle IMO. I had heard the rxpression at 1a, although it is not used that often nowadays and got it quitte quickly. Ialso loked the musical lego clue at 2d and the reverse lurker at12a. I think the town in the Spoonerism might have been more accurately called port. Thanks to the compiler and to Senf for the hints.
Sorry CS. I’ve got a day ahead of myaelf again. Thank you for the hints
The Spoonerism only really works if you pronounce the City/Port with a northern accent, so being a soft southerner it took me a while to get it. Never heard of 1a but the clue worked and 3d took me a while as my accent once again was at a disadvantage! 27a my COTD
Thanks to setter n Sue
1*/ 4* A light and enjoyable Saturday puzzle with lots of wit.
Like many 1a was new to me, but had to be and I had an alternative to 9a which almost worked!
Favourites today include the 10a note producer, the 6a barman and the 2d theme to complete a musical trio
Thanks to Sue and compiler
A steady non-sequential fill for me with 1a last in as I’d never heard the expression before, but fairly parsed. Also had to refer to MrG to confirm the alternate northern child’s game, but otherwise relatively plain sailing. My favourites were the timer at 27a and the eighty red fans at 30a, but just because I am a home baker, the fermenting poet is my COTD.
Many thanks to the setter and Sue.
2*/4*
This seemed a hard Saturday puzzle today, especially compared to Fridayâs offering. A lot of head scratching involved in this one. I’ve never heard of 1a either … last in.
Found a few clues/answers that made me chuckle though.
2.5*/3.5*
Favourites 9a, 10a, 24a, 27a, 5d & 18d â with winner with a laugh as the penny dropped ⌠24a
Also smiles from 9a, 27a & 5d
Thanks to setter & CS
This was a mixed bag for me. 1a I’d never heard of, 2d was also new and 3d game had a different spelling in SE London. I was also trying to justify a different answer for 29a.
Top picks for me were 27a, 24a, 6a and 10a.
Thanks to CrypticSue and the setter.
Once I’d got 1a from the clue and looked it up I vaguely remembered the origin but never seen it used like this.
Oh dear I just posted my comments and tried to put a photo of my lovely Lily of the valley as a post for CeeSue but the whole lot went into the ether. Great puzzle, had heard of 1a, liked 6a thanks to Setter and CeeSue
This is a DNF for me. Currently stuck in the SW quadrant. No problem with with 1a, but my UK geography is not up to the standard needed for todayâs solve. Put something in but canât parse it. Will look at it again later this evening, but as itâs 25 degrees, will head to the lake for a quick dip. Many thanks to the setter and hinter.
I came on here to have a mini-moan about the coastal city not being coastal as others have mentioned.
I too had a completed RHS and almost blank LHS.
I won’t be winning Terence’s biro as I’ve just discovered I submitted with one answer having a triple letter in it rather than two double letters.
I liked 13a.
You’ve used your name when commenting in the past. That and or your new alias will work in future
*** / ****
Liked this a lot. Never heard of 1a hence it was last one in. No problem with the 3d game where I grew up in Birmingham. Liked the use of barman in 6a and note producer in 10a. On the podium are the non electronic car parts in 24a, the aforementioned barman in 6a and Dr Spoonerâs destiny in 15a with the good Dr taking the honours.
Thanks to the setter and the âcalled outâ Sue.
This was possibly a little uneven, but I did rather fancy the dead-end road among a fair few good ‘uns.
Many thanks CS and setter.
As has been the case for most of the week another laboured solve where for whatever reason I struggled to see the obvious. 1a was last in & was completely unfamiliar with the idiom so needed Mr G to tell me about Aesop & his Fables. Wouldnât number the puzzle one of my favourite of recent SPPs but still lots to like – 27&30a along with 8,14&25d the clues I liked best.
Thanks to the setter & to Sue.
Now that was a nice puzzle with several exclamation marks put against clues that made me smile.
Last one in was 1a which I figured out from the clue then had to look it up then vaguely remembered it but not the use.
Initially I just could not get started but once I did it fell into place except 1a which I had not heard of but e checked after guessing it. It was very enjoyable and I am glad I did persist when I thought I would never find one I could get. Raining heavily now which my garden will be pleased about.
Many thanks to the setter and to CS for the hints.
This was a straightforward solve but my last two in 2d and 1a took me a while as had not heard of either and struggled with the parsing. Agree with Sim – the spoonerism being a bit of a stretch for southerners , I had to say it out loud a few times before I got itđ. Still very enjoyable puzzle. Thanks to the setter and to CS.
A dnf for me due to 29a. Never would have got this for reasons I won’t say here.
Not heard of 1a but was able to work it out from the checkers. First part of 3d was also new to me.
Rather stupidly, I put the checkers for 1d in 6a. Say no more. đ
Enjoyable end to a good week.
The stodgy 29a was last to fall in line. The rest completed either side of a golf competition, held in glorious sunshine. Thanks to all.
A lovely challenge and like CS the police clue gets my vote for favourite for its deceptive simplicity. Thank you compiler
Not my cup of tea at all.
Not even Bob Dylan đ¸ could give me inspiration.
Well thatâs it for the third tier now – local derbies return next campaign.
Just finished. Like others I was ignorant of 1a for which I needed CSâ hints. I am in agreement that the coastal city at 15a is not a coastal city. Although aware of the word at 2d I would have been stumped had it not been for some electronic assistance. That said I can see how it works.
However, there were some pleasant clues with 6a and 27a being my favourites, although I thought the definitions of 6a and 10a were quite similar.
Thank you to the setter and to CS for the hints.
Why is no-one complaining about 15a which doesn’t work. The ‘coastal city’ has a double final letter but the solution only has a single.
Because it is a Spoonerism so it has more to do with the sound than the spelling
I really struggled with 29a, my last one in. But when I eventually got it-what a corker, I think it was my favourite for the day.
Catching up on old puzzles as usual! 1a and 2d were beyond me. Not heard of either of them. Shame as it spoiled an otherwise enjoyable puzzle. Sometimes I wonder if the setter gets stuck towards the end and googles to find a word or phrase that fits, however obscure.
I enjoyed reading through these clue breakdowns because they explain the logic behind the answers instead of just revealing them outright. The Spoonerâs clue and the âCHATTErâ anagram example were especially clever, and itâs interesting to see how much wordplay is packed into such short clues. Cryptic crosswords always feel intimidating at first, but explanations like this make the solving process a lot more approachable and fun to learn. Articles like this are also why I occasionally browse puzzle-related discussions on https://linkedinpinpointanswer.com/
Welcome to the blog, Wilbert.