Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31349 (Hints)
The Saturday Crossword Club
(hosted by crypticsue)
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A grey and cool start to Saturday morning cheered up by this Saturday Prize Puzzle. Lots of clever clues to really make the solver think, although I’m sure there will be mutterings about the general knowledge required for a couple of the clues.
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 Inner ear of my horse without name (7)
An interjection of surprise (my) and a strong horse go outside (without) the abbreviation for Name
5a Mister Bob Hope (7)
The abbreviation for the coin known in pre-decimal currency as a bob and then add a hope with a lower-case H
11a Staple feature of horror writer Vidal (4)
The staple feature of a horror film or the forename of the writer
13a Matchless leg cut breaking duck (9)
The leg side of a cricket pitch and a verb meaning to cut ‘breaking’ nothing (duck)
16a/1d/22a What causes daughter to appear in military ceremony? (3,8,2,3,5)
The first part of this military ceremony could tell you how to make an anagram of DAUGHTER to get the last part of the ceremony
25a American weakling with American SEALS at first (4)
Abbreviations for With and American followed by the first letter of Seals
29a Outgoing submarine docks in Devon river (7)
Covered docks for servicing submarines inserted into a Devon river
30a Insoles designed for Leah Williamson? (7)
An anagram (designed) of INSOLES – Leah Williamson is a football player for England
Down
2d Respect from cleric shortly before church (9)
Truncate a member of the clergy and then add the abbreviation for the Church of England
4d Welsh friend with brains capturing English coastal position (9)
A Welsh word for a friend and a synonym for brains ‘capturing’ the abbreviation for English
6d Governor degenerate with a gun sent heavenwards (9)
A reversal (sent heavenwards in a Down solution) of a verb meaning to degenerate, A (from the clue) and a type of gun
14d Greek commander soon brought about plucky Ilium’s end (9)
An archaic or literary word meaning soon ‘brought about’ an informal word meaning plucky or courageous and the end of IliuM
15d Weeping willow in centre covers ornate May arch (9)
A word that you really have to think about how to spell when writing it down in a crossword grid or more generally. The letters in the centre of wiLLow ‘cover’ an anagram (ornate) of MAY ARCH
18d Old god shelters unknown ship for latest 27 Across 26 Down (8)
The 26d of the latest film by 27a – the abbreviation for Old and the Latin word for god ‘shelters’ a mathematical unknown and an abbreviated ship
21d Singer Tyler so pretty? (6)
The forename of the late singer or a synonym for pretty
26d An Achilles in the room? (4)
Hidden in the last two words of the clue
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: FORE + LING + GOUT = FALLING OUT
A proper prize puzzle that I suspect I would have found easier if I possessed the ability to spell!
Not an easy solve, and a trickier parse but some terrific clues…5a; 1d; 14d and 18d kept me amused for quite a while but my COTD is the matchless 13a
Many thanks to today’s setter and CS for the hints.
I think the hint for 18d should read ‘god’ rather than ‘gold” ?
Indeed, it was “god” in the online version.
Delightfulingest puzzle of the week.
Mr & Mrs T
Boston
It was only gold in my original draft blog post
Ahhh – silly me.
Mr T
(stupid American)
One for the classicists! As a former brewer and currently refreshing our tired dining room, there was something in it for me too!
Well, that was a mixture of difficulty today with the matchless leg at 13a taking an age to sort out. I had only a few after the first pass then it was a case of waiting for inspiration to arrive. It did so gradually and I managed to get across the line. Not having heard of the lady at 30a that took a while to get. Still, it was an enjoyable solve and The Mythical will, surely, be winging its way to me.
Thank you, Big Apple Door Fitting for the challenge. Thank you, CeeSoo for the hints.
Some clever misdirections and a nod to Homer, what’s not to like?
The inner ear at 1a and Bob Hope next to it set a good platform. I don’t think I’ve ever seen the weakling at 25a in a crossword before, an hilarious word, I didn’t realise it’s an Americanism.
My thanks to our setter and CS.
A very entertaining puzzle from the Saturday doorknob with smooth surfaces and pdms at every turn. My personal favourites were the matchless 13a, the 4d Welsh coastal position and my COTD is Mister Bob Hope at 5a which was LOI.
Many thanks to NYDK and CS.
A tricky but very enjoyable puzzle. I was defeated by 17d (the synonym seems a stretch to me) and couldn’t parse the military ceremony or 1a. Thank you CS for explaining. I think my favourite was 13a. Never heard of Leah W and needed google for that. Thank you setter for an excellent puzzle.
Hear, hear re 17d
Hi S&A
You and one or two others have mentioned that the synonym for ‘train’ is pushing it.
If you look up the definition of 17d, ‘train’ is one of the first to come up.
Apologies if I’m missing something.
Much like Quasimodo the name at 30a rang a bell, but remembering we had her goalkeeping teammate recently helped. I have always put a space or hyphen in 13a before. The 16a combo came to mind readily. 3d was my last one in, as I had bunged in a wrong answer. 4d made me think of our Welsh friend Twmbarlwm, but the 16a means it is probably NY Doorknob
Thanks to setter and Sue
Talking of Twm, he has given Rookie Corner a good plug on Bluesky. I hope it gets a few in the pipeline, especially as I hear The Indy is closing its cryptic crossword
https://bsky.app/profile/twm-barlwm.bsky.social/post/3mvubuixiak2e
I still can’t locate my PC!
I miss my pc, this chromebook is beginning to annoy me. I will be going back to a laptop as soon as I can afford it
There are quite a few budding setters there who may not have heard of RC so I thought it was worth publicising. Prolixic agreed and we collaborated on the post(s).
Let’s see how it goes.
I hope it works – it’s not the same without a rookie puzzle on a Monday.
H-A-R-D!
Oh my goodness.
It’s been an exhausting week. I have sent huge bunches of roses to senior Telegraph executives on a daily basis. Additionally, I have spent all my time on Buckingham Palace Road holding a banner reading:
‘Let Me Win The Prize Crossword Competition, Please!’
A lot of words to fit onto a banner, I think you’ll agree. Yet I hope my new approach proves successful. The police only moved me on for vagrancy eleven times.
Thanks to United States East Coast City Entrance Furniture and PC Security (anag). I am going to spend the rest of the day studying ‘A grey and cool start to Saturday morning cheered up by this Saturday Prize Puzzle.’ as I think it might be a clandestine code to her fellow secret agents. The mystery continues!
cs – 18d, I think you need the Latin word for god, not gold.
I did. I prepared the post extremely early this morning when my fingers were on automatic pilot when they should have been listening to my brain
2*/4*. This was a nicely challenging and fun SPP despite a few dodgy surface readings along the way.
My podium selection is 2a, 16/1/22 and 3d.
Many thanks presumably to NYDK and to CS.
Tricky, but enjoyable and entertaining to boot. 25a was my last one in, and I took some time to convince myself of the answer, but it had to be. I thought 3d was good and the 18d link excellent but cotd has to go to 13a. Thanks to NYDK (?) and CS.
And so the marvellous SPP series continues. I really enjoyed this one, which seems to include a nod in the direction of Homer and the recent release of a certain motion picture. And why not (though some are complaining that its edited plot strays too far from the original).
A long list of candidates for me today, with perhaps the reversed you-know-what idea at 16 1 22 winning by a nose. Bob Hope a very close second, with most of the rest tied for bronze (age) medals. Lovely to see an homage to a certain lady at 21D.
Many thanks for a super challenge, setter, and to Sue too for her usual splendid blog.
Oh dear, having nearly finished left the crossie to check Leah Williamsnon and wen I came back all my answers had vanished and don’ think I can face starting again! So enjoyed the first series of Ludwig but so disappointed with the latest offering, plots ridiculous and sister in law very annoying. Will not be entering for the mythical which will give Steve a chance! Left my phone on a bench in the village last weekend complete with credit cards. Having not found it rushed home and cancelled the cards and went to neighbour to put phone loss on village WhatsApp site just as a message came through to her saying it was safe. So now don’t keep CC with the phone as they are in the Wallet anyway. What a heart stopping hour though. Wondeful WhatsApp ite though.
Oh Manders, how awful for you regarding the phone/cards. Always a heart-stopping moment when you can’t find them.
That must have been awful, Manders. I do sympathise and well remember having my wallet, with cheque book and credit cards taken out of my handbag at school, whilst I was teaching. Despite cancelling all the cheques and cards immediately, someone managed to pass a cheque for multiple white goods iems at an electrical store in Oxford They didnt 3ven aign my name, which was printed on the cheque. Luckily I didn’t have to pay as it was theshop that accepted a false signature it’s still a pain having to rush round cancelling everything
Yes its a horrible feeling but despite cancelling them my direct debits seem to be paid OK and Ive used the cards in the wallet on my phone which has surprised me as they should be cancelled!!
I’ve been in the exact same situation re losing phone and cancelling all cards in a panic. When said phone and cards reappeared I tried to cancel the cancellation, which I was told wasn’t possible. In future, said helpful lady, put a freeze on all cards until you’re absolutely positive they’ve been lost or stolen. A freeze can be lifted…. Praying there won’t be a next time! Glad you got everything back in the end.
That’s such an awful feeling when you lose something like your wallet, phone etc. Many years ago, when reaching into my bag for my purse, I discovered to my horror that it was no longer there. I left the store in a hurry, frantic to try to find it. In my haste, I blindsided and damaged a very expensive Mercedes, thankfully driven by an angel. I apologized at once, and explained my distraction. He told me not to worry, and to call him when I found it so that we could exchange insurance information. No angry words, and completely trusted me to get back to him. Long story short, I recovered my purse intact, and was able to reach out to that other driver. Bad luck losing my purse, but very good luck in meeting such a kind and understanding driver, of a very expensive car!
How awful for you, Manders. It is a terrible feeling. I’m pleased you have recovered it.
This was solid Saturday fare with nothing too much to worry about.
I needed a few checkers for the biggie that was a splendid clue and I’ve learnt what a submarine dock is called as well as the Welsh for friend. I was trying to convince myself that Irving Welsh Snr Snr Snr Snr Snr Snr was a pal of a classical composer!
I’m surprised I’ve never heard of 1a as it makes complete sense.
Some solvers won’t know the legend that is Leah in 30a but it shouldn’t cause an issue.
My picks are the biggie, 3d (good fun) and the magnificent 5a. I’ve seen it before but there’s no harm in wheeling out absolute screamers like that, every once in a while.
Many thanks to Rood Bonk and she of the crypt.
2*/3*
This was thoroughly enjoyable and pleasingly tricky in places as befits a SPP. I had loads of potential favourites, but I think my winner has to be Bob Hope.
Many thanks to, presumably, Donny, and Sue.
A lovely puzzle with the right amount of chewiness for a prize puzzle.
Top picks for me were 13a, 1a, 5a, 3d and 6d.
Thanks to CrypticSue and the setter.
A fun SPP with a few pauses for thought and associated PDMs – **/****
Candidates for favourite – 13a, 20a, 29a, 3d, and 15d – and the winner is 29a.
Thanks to NYDK and CS.
A nice brain mangler worthy of a Saturday done “all by my own” George being fast asleep in his chair. What a week, but he bounces back Deo Gratias. I am only stuck on 5d and of course by Murphy’s Law there is no clue. Anyway I am happy to let the others have a go at the pen. I liked the hospital ordering cold sausages ( we were offered nothing at all in a 12hour A&E session – they used to bring round teas and sandwiches) and the long 16a which I used to enjoy watching. Also Mr Hope and 17a train trip. (However, my clue of the week was in a brilliant toughie “Terse eccentric leaves home – 5) A first class guzzle week and many thanks to the Saturday Setter and Suecee for today’s workout.
Hi DG, have you followed the letters re the Tickel Arms? We used to go occasionally and enjoyed the banter, fortunately never directed at us!
Yes Manders and I wrote to the editor (what I thought was a very amusing story) but he didn’t publish my letter 😢
That was hard but very enjoyable come the finish. Having blithely tapped in [redacted – it is a Prize Puzzle so wrong answers are discouraged] at 1A, that threw me for a while!
I loved Bob Hope and the brilliant sausage anagram. The train trip and the governor also get an honourable mention.
A few thesaurus trawls to finish and despite getting Matchless, I really can’t 100% suss out how we get there, even with the hint above.
Cheers
We all have crossword feTures that do not play to one’s strengths. Mine are multi-word clues, football, golf and film related clues . Since this puzzle had 3 out of4, it isn’t surprising that I found it difficult and hard to like. Fortunately, the redeeming feature was the Homeric sequence of clues. I particularly liked the 18d, 26a link although I needed Mr Google’s help to figure out who 27a was. I hadn’t heard of 30a either. I also liked rhe Lego aclue at 13a Thanks to the compiler and to CS for the hints.
Finished but only achieved about 75% before I had to resort to the hints and other reference. That said, enjoyable with some new vocabulary to be retained. Perhaps helped to be a graduate from a Literae Humaniores degree programme today! Favourites today were 3d, made me smile, 15d, a condition to which Winston Churchill was susceptible and my COTD, the linked clue of 16, 1 and 22; I got the answer pretty much straight away but could not work out the parsing, then the penny dropped. Very good.
Thank you to the setter and to CS for the hints.
Well to me this seems like a NYDK puzzle today, based on the style of some of the clues he has written, (including the multi-word clue) … but I could be way out in my thinking.
2.5*/4* for me
Favourites include 12a, 16a/1d/22a, 3d, 7d, 23d & 24d — with winner 16a/1d/22a due to the clever clue wording and the solution
Thanks to NYDK & CS
Much enjoyed doing this up to lunchtime before a driving shift in the apostrophised carrot van later on around this corner of East Anglia . Completed almost unaided, but grateful to CS for the parsing of 5a which had me stumped. Had not heard of 1a, but it makes sense (and there are lots to be seen on my rounds).
Having lived round the corner once I much enjoyed seeing Frognal in 27a.
Splendid puzzle, great hints. Many thanks.
A game of two halves. On the whole good fare for the Saturday prize but I was bogged down with 1a (last in), 5a and 13a. I believe that the definition in 5a is an old chestnut in crossword land but it was new to me, but I have only been trying to solve for 30 odd years! The first half of my life being wasted!
Thanks to setter and CS.
Didn’t know the Welsh at 4d nor the Bob at 5a, I was born after decimalisation so that stuff is all Greek to me! Speaking of which, I always get the M’s and N’s mixed up in the fella at 14d.
Favourite was the multi answer reverse anag (i Incan say that?)
Thanks to the setter and to CS
Good afternoon
Phew! Finished – but, I’ll be truthful, with at least one solution whose parsing eludes me, and one solution that is a guess. So I think I’m finished!
5a and the biggie at 16a etc are my picks for joint COTD.
Many thanks to our setter and to CS.
Very enjoyable puzzle – I have never heard of the Welsh friend – I thought 5a was brilliant
Thanks as always to setter and Sue
A game of two halves for me with most going in okay but got quite stuck on a handful. Spent ages on 1a that I finally got with the help of the BRB – The use of the word ‘without’ in this context always gets me annoyingly, but have to say it’s an excellent clue. Following that the Welsh friend etc at 4d came good , however I am still puzzling over 13a my LOI so just checked the hint and it will come to me no doubt shortly. Glad that I got the cricket reference right at least. Meanwhile thanks so much to the setter and to CS.
I enjoyed this one. The long one starting at 16a came straightaway. What else could it be. Last one by several lengths was 17d. I didn’t know the American weakling but it came to me.i thought 1a was difficult. I only really know it when it is something made up with four words. Thanks NYdoorknob if it be thee and CS of course.
A few hmms from us that just about passed muster and didn’t know the footballer. Favourite was 13a. Thanks to the setter and CS.
Needed CS’s explanation of the military ceremony, some terrific clues from I assume NYDK
I found this a tricky enough solve. Wouldn’t have known who the lass at 30a was had it not been for the fodder & the wordplay at 4d, once I’d finally filled in the answer (I think) with the benefit of the initial checker, was a real head scratch – certainly never heard of the Welsh term for friend & I’m not overly keen on the synonym for brains though I can see how it works in the context of intelligence.
Like RD I thought a couple of the surfaces left something to be desired but thoroughly enjoyed the puzzle nevertheless. Ticks aplenty – 1a prompted a You Tube visit to watch the great seduction scene with Smithy & Nessa in Gavin & Stacey, Bob Hope at 7a & the reverse anagram multi worder are cracking clues, liked the 27a/26d/18d trio but I’ll give the crickety surface at 13a top spot.
Thanks to Donny (presumably) & to Sue.
I enjoyed today’s puzzle and would have been getting it into the post on Monday for ‘the Mythical’ but delayed on 4d for what seemed forever. Eventually, tossing it over to my husband for his scrutiny within a couple of minutes he carefully suggested that perhaps I should check the spelling of 13a! Doh! Got the answer to 4d straight-away but paper copy will now not pass muster. 1a was a new word to me and I did have to check-up on the film director. Many thanks to the Setter aka NY Doorknob(?) and CrypticSue.
2.5* / 4* A terrific, if not straightforward end to an excellent week of crosswords. Last one in 13a took an age, really wanted to put a ducks name at the end!
Favourites include the 16,1 and 22 military ceremony, 30a Leah Williamson and the popular mister at 5a
Many thanks to the compiler and Sue
Hello seekers of The Mythical.
Thank you for engaging with this SPP, and for all the comments.
Thanks also to Sue.
NYDK
Great puzzle, NYDK and thank you for popping in. I feel The Mythical is mine this time despite the efforts of Terence.
I’m afraid I had another bash at it and have also entered!! I check the winners’ names on Monday and don’t seem to recognise any of ‘our’ lot ever mentioned.
That could be because we all use pseudonyms, Manders – apart from me but I’ve never been a winner.
This was an excellent puzzle which kept me entertained and I completed all bar 3 clues which in the end I needed to use the hints or google for. As they were all due to gaps in my GK I don’t feel bad as I have learnt some new things. I liked 16a very much.
Many thanks to NYDK and to CS for the hints.
This took me far too long to complete and demonstrated my poor general knowledge. However those clues I did solve raised a few smiles along the way, with 1a and 2a sharing top spot for favourites. Many thanks to CS for her much-needed hints and to the setter.
As gentle as they come but hugely enjoyable, with all GK coming to mind, even the 30a person.
Many thanks to Donny & CS
Many thanks to NYDK for an excellent Saturday puzzle. The military ceremony was very clever, and I rather liked the Welsh friend. VMT also to Sue.
This NYDK was a struggle for me, but it gave me some good mental exercise and I learnt a couple of new words. COTD for me is the linked 16a etc. Thanks for NYDK and CS.
It seems ages ago that I completed this puzzle although I wouldn’t like to guarantee that it is faultless. Have driven around the M25 and down windy roads to get to my meeting of “The Benevolent Confraternity of Dissectologists.” John put his being a member of the Confraternity of Dissectologists on his CV and none of his medical friends ever challenged him. One day that word will pop up in a crossword. Now 10 hours later I can praise today’s offering. Difficult to choose a winner but give the laurel to 14 down.Thanks all round and hopes rise yet again to win the mythical.
Hello from The New Forest. A challenging number, this one, not much of it came easy.
Never heard of 13A, LOI but mostly as I always forget the blimmin’ cricket leg 🏏. And 4D, I don’t know the Welsh friend, so I only *think* I have the answer …
Pody picks – 1A’s inner ear foxed me (wife got that one), not helped by intersecting with 4D. 5A’s mister, though I needed Hong to parse Bob. And finally one I did actually fully solve – the splendid daughter appearance of 16A etc.
Many thanks to NYDK and CS ⭐️
Couldn’t begin to find the wavelength again today probably due to having recently celebrated a yardstick birthday and a feeling of being from a different generation! Got there in the end but not on my Jack Jones. 16d etc. were the only ones which leapt off the page. Thank you anyway NYDK and CS.
Top notch crossword. re 5a. Even when I had all the checkers it has me beat until the penny finally dropped. Clue of the year so far froe me.