Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31026
Hints and tips by Smylers
Hello. Here are hints and explanations for today’s Telegraph crossword, which has an unusual grid arrangement that I rather liked. I solved it more quickly than usual, but it does include some knowledge I didn’t have, so I didn’t think I could award it a single star.
Please do leave a comment — it’s lovely getting to know you all. See Big Dave’s etiquette guide for the house rules, and I’ve had a special request from somebody who solves the quick crossword after the cryptic and sometimes finds coming here spoils answers in the quick. It’s fine to mention the quick crossword; and if you had thoughts of admiration or otherwise on the quickie pun, then do of course mention those — but if you can do so in a way which doesn’t give away any of the answers, that’d be appreciated.
Across
1a Firm underwear for snakes (6)
COBRAS: A straightforward yet amusing clue to start with: we need an abbreviation used to indicate a firm (as in an organization that conducts business) and an item of underwear.
4a Sort of fuel for each cigarette? (6)
GASPER: This is a type of fuel followed by a word meaning ‘for each’. The definition includes the question mark because the answer is an example of a cigarette.
8a Prince hiding in grassland (3)
RAS: This is fairly obviously a lurker, with the answer being 3 consecutive letters of ‘grassland’. But which 3 letters? The definition was unknown to me, so I waited till I had the first letter from 8d to know which portion of ‘grassland’ to grab. The answer is an Ethiopian prince.
Pic credit: © Ignacio Gallego, CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
10a Could this help you to see better? Nonsense! (7)
EYEWASH: A colloquial term for ‘nonsense’ is also the name of a substance whose name if interpreted literally seems like it should remove impediments to the user’s vision.
11a European Union name such unruly falsetto singers? (7)
EUNUCHS: After the abbreviations for ‘European Union’ and ‘name’, put ‘such’ with its letters in an unruly order.
12a Sculptor has bar at home (5)
RODIN: The name of a famous sculptor can be formed from another word for a bar — as in a long piece of a rigid material, not a pub — and the usual word for ‘at home’.
13a Treat with contempt Russian leader and leader of Germany for not agreeing (9)
DISPUTING: Enter in order: a short word meaning to speak contemptuously of somebody; the surname of a Russian president; and the lead letter of ‘Germany’.
14a Something gripping for the papers, a short piece on dangerous reptile (9,4)
CROCODILE CLIP: The ‘the’ in the definition is there to mislead: the answer is something that literally grips sheets of paper. The answer could also whimsically be a short piece of video (extracted from something longer) on the subject of a particular dangerous reptile.
17a Write song and tend to get confused where leader lives (7,6)
DOWNING STREET: The letters of ‘write song’ and ‘tend’ get confused and spell something else.
22a One grail manufactured before new metal object (5,4)
ANGLE IRON: Manufacture the letters of ‘one grail’ and put them before the abbreviation for ‘new’. That gives a term which was new to me, for metal in a particular shape.
23a Slow movement in one of Florida’s islands (5)
LARGO: One of the musical terms for ‘slow’, which has been used as the name of various composers’ slow movements, is also the name of one of the Florida Keys.
24a Husband on island put on weight, somewhere in the West Country (7)
HONITON: Enter in order: the abbreviation for ‘husband’; the ‘on’ from the clue; one of the abbreviations for ‘island’; and a particular imperial weight. Together they spell out a market town in Devon.
25a Old instrument found in bar after fire (7)
SACKBUT: I do like it when I learn something from a crossword, so thank you to today’s setter for including this answer — a word I’d heard of, but I hadn’t known what it was (my guess would have been a trolley); I’m pleased to learn it’s an old instrument. Form its name from putting a word meaning ‘bar’ as in ‘except for’ after a word meaning ‘fire’ as in ‘terminate somebody’s employment’.
26a Discover uniform kept by second son (3)
SUS: Put the letter represented by Uniform in the Nato alphabet next to the SI symbol for ‘second’ (the clue doesn’t say in which order, so you’ll have to work that for yourself); end with the abbreviation for ‘son’.
27a Decline returning aboard velocipede? Certainly! (6)
RECEDE: Return the final two words in the clue so they read backwards, then find the answer aboard them, lurking in consecutive letters.
Pic credit: Mike Baird
28a Mark from wet earth and grime initially, in the Home Counties? (6)
SMUDGE: We need a short word for ‘wet earth’ and the initial letter of ‘grime’, then to put both of them inside the usual term for ‘home counties’.
Down
1d Hurrah for toast! (6)
CHEERS: This isn’t the edible sort of toast.
2d Student in wild drinking binge gets a mixer (7)
BLENDER: The definition isn’t a component of a drink but a physical device that mixes. Insert the letter that represents a student of driving into a slang term for a wild session of drinking.
3d A win once more (5)
AGAIN: Start with the A from the clue. Append a word which can mean ‘win’ as a transitive verb.
5d Wildcat runs behind American news presenter (9)
ANNOUNCER: There are four components to this one — and note that the definition is just ‘presenter’, because we need all the other words for the wordplay: somewhere in the middle there’s the alternative name for a wildcat, specifically a snow leopard; after that goes the cricket abbreviation for ‘runs’; both of those go behind (that is, after), both of the remaining components, the first of which is the abbreviation for ‘American’; finally, just before the wildcat, we need multiple instances of the abbreviation for ‘new’. Phew!
Pic credit: © Smylers
6d Composer put up one dainty, incomplete trophy (7)
PUCCINI: Up the grid enter in turn: the Roman numeral for ‘one’; an incomplete word (that is, without its final letter) that can mean ‘dainty’ (as well as other vaguer positive senses); and a trophy, such as one awarded in some sports tournaments.
(Though I don’t think one person counts as a mob.)
7d Troubled singer to pack it in (6)
RESIGN: Make the letters of ‘singer’ troubled and they’ll spell the answer.
8d Bushes transformed Hendon doors around northerly road (13)
RHODODENDRONS: Transform the letters of ‘Hendon doors’ into a different order and place them around the abbreviation for ‘road’ which has been reversed, so it faces in a northerly direction.
9d Madness maybe a result of being knocked unconscious? (13)
SENSELESSNESS: A word which could be used to criticize a plan, say, as ‘madness’ could be literally what somebody knocked unconscious experiences.
14d Rotter has e.g. jack or ace, not queen (3)
CAD: Think what jack and ace are examples of and remove from it one of the abbreviations for ‘queen’.
15d Vain old lag taking his ease, one might say (9)
CONCEITED: The answer sounds like somebody saying a phrase which could describe a particular person in a particular position. The person is a different usual word for which ‘lag’ is sometimes used. The position is a description of somebody who has taken their ease.
16d Grass, something sold in garden centre (3)
POT: A double definition: the first is, like the answer, a slang term for a drug; the second is quite literally as described in the clue, though it isn’t a plant.
Pic credit: Lyndse Ballew
18d Using no pesticides, I can go mad about resistance (7)
ORGANIC: Make the letters of ‘I can go’ mad and put them around the physics symbol for ‘resistance’.
19d Wrapped up shattered red bone (7)
ENROBED: Shatter the words ‘red bone’ as re-assemble the pieces in a different order.
20d Hide, lacking energy, in a state of agitation (6)
LATHER: Here we need an animal’s hide (or the material made from it), from which we remove the physics abbreviation for ‘energy’ to get the answer.
21d Courage – and where it might come from (6)
BOTTLE: An informal word for ‘courage’ is also a container which can be used to hold a substance which gives some people courage.
23d This person may stand in, when you’re patient? (5)
LOCUM: This is a cryptic definition of a deputy you may see when you are a patient.
Quickie Pun
In today’s Quick Crossword the clues for the 3 answers along the top row are italicized, meaning their answers sound like another word or phrase. I had to say this one out loud a few times and listen to myself in order to get it (initially I wasn’t putting enough emphasis on the final syllable), but I really liked it when I did:
YEW + ROAST + ARE = 
Pic credit: © Eric Salard, CC BY-SA 2.0
Recent Reading
I read this book on our recent week in north Norfolk on my spouse’s recommendation as it’s set there — indeed the local marshland is as central as any of the characters — and mentions places we’ve been such as Cromer, Blakeney, and Hunstanton.
It’s a well-written crime fiction novel, neatly finding the middle way between too frivolous and too grizzly. The protagonist is Dr Ruth Galloway, an university archaeologist who gets asked by the police to assist when they discover some old bones — which is a more plausible way for an amateur to get involved in investigating a crime than in many books. Though it’s the first in a series of 15, so maybe that plausibility will drop as the stories go on?
My random guess of whodiddit turned out to be lucky (though I didn’t have why), but the main attraction of Crossing Places for me is the quality of writing (far better than often encountered in genre fiction) and the characters. I’m now committed to following Dr Ruth through 14 more adventures.
‘Elly Griffiths’ is a nom de plume for Domenica de Rosa who had some non-detective fiction published under her real name. For her first crime book, she was advised to use a different name, and picked a surname beginning with G because that’s often eye-level in shops and libraries with books shelved in alphabetical order!
What a delightful start to the week this was. Some clues needed a bit of thought. I didn’t know the prince at 8a so I checked the BRB and there he was in Ethiopia. I liked the dangerous reptile at 14a and the relaxed old lag at 15d. I have two contenders for the podium. These are 1a and 4a but I’m going to settle on the firm underwear at 1a for COTD.
The Quickie pun was great.
Thank you, setter for the Monday fun. Thank you, Smylers for the hints.
Perfect Monday crossword. Thanks to the setter and Smylers
I highly recommend Elly Griffiths’ Ruth Galloway books, although it is best to read them in order
Agreed it was a great start to the week. Many thanks to the setter and to Smylers.
I also agree about the Ruth Galloway books. The initial one, “Crossing Places”, is a bit dark but most of the rest of the series is less so. I also thoroughly recommend her other books, but I’m not so sure about her latest one “The Last Word”.
A lovely puzzle today start the week. The prince was unknown to me but the instrument stirred vague memories.
Top picks for me were 14a, 15d and 20d and the Quickie pun.
Thanks to Smylers and the setter.
No real sweat today but SE corner delayed things a bit. Think 25a was in back of my mind but couldn’t recall it. Not sure about dainty for 6d. 15d Fav once sussed. Not sure 11d is necessarily so and that meaning of first 3 letters for 13a is new one for me. Thank you setter and Smylers.
Hi, Angelov. I think 11a not necessarily being so is covered by the question mark at the end of its definition.
For 13a, I think it’s a clipping of those letters plus ‘respect’, though it’s perhaps more often encountered with double-S at the end. The rappers Drake and Kendrick Lamar seemed to spend much of last year releasing ‘(first-3-letters of 13a) tracks’ putting each other down — or so I’ve read; I couldn’t tell you what any of them sound like.
Hi Smylers, TVM for replying. I wonder why singers had to be involved at all in 11a. I still find 13a clue iffy and difficult to parse. Actually I don’t know anything about Drake and Kendrick or indeed their feud/”diss”!
A lovely if rather gentle start to the week but with some really excellent clues. 1a made me smile and 4a dredged up a word from way back as did 25a. My knowledge of musical instruments and Ethopian princes now expanded too! My favourites were 13a (the contemptible leaders) and 28a (the mark). . Thank you setter and Smylers.
I took a while to get used to the unusual grid but in the end found it a refreshing change. I enjoyed rhe 4 long clues, particularly the stonking anagram at 8d and the double definition at 9d. BothThe firm underwear at 1a and the old instrument at 25a were fun Lego clues too. Thanks to the comlpiler and ro Smylers for the hints.
I like the idea of a stonking anagram!
I love anagrams and that one was so well-done, Daisy, rhat it deserved that accolade.17a wasn’t too shabby either.
A great Monday puzzle with lots to enjoy and some learning about Ethiopian princes. I’m not sure I’d have spelled 26a like that (or indeed spelt like that). 15d was my LOI and possibly my favourite. Thanks very much to the setter and to Smylers.
Great fun! 4a – must be WW1 slang. 25a brings back memories of the late great David Munrow and his EMC of London.
It was a commonly used term for a Woodbine ((other brands were available)inthe post- WW2 world of the East End of London in which I grew up. Smoking was almost universally socially acceptable then and I was surrounded by adults who smoked
Yes very much re David Munrow – I remember being so sad when he committed suicide.
Good morning. This is my second attempt to comment! As others have noted, this was very gentle. 24a and 25a were the only problems and I needed an atlas and encyclopaedia to finish the grid. Many thanks for the review and to the setter
Thoroughly enjoyable guzzle today which I romped through so thanks muchly to the setter. I love the Ruth Galloway books and as CS says you must read them in order. They are very much on my home ground so it is slightly annoying when someone goes from A to B in 10 minutes rather than the actual half hour it would take but that is small beer. Smylers, you said the sea at Wells was ‘closed’ when you were up here – did you mean that the beach was closed for some reason? BTW, Norfolk Restaurant Week is in November and this year Wells Crab House is back on the list having taken a break last year. We will definitely be going there and to two or three of the others but will give the Dales a miss as it was terrible last year. Thanks to all.
The sea was open, but the coastguard had put up signs saying not to go in the water that day because of pollution.
Checking the local press, it happened at least a couple of times in August. A Holkham estate spokesperson made a statement clarifying this was naturally occurring organic pollution from bird droppings, and not that common sewage that’s found in less classy resorts. (I paraphrase, but not much.)
The most Mondayish back pager we have had for quite a while; a Toonie on it being the work of X-Type – 1.5*/4.5*
Candidates for favourite – 12a, 25a, 15d, and 21d – and the winner is 15d.
Thanks to X-Type, or whomsoever if my Toonie goes down the drain, and Smylers.
Yep – you guessed right! (I spent a lot of time in Canada in the 90s and noughties, so I know what a Toonie is!). Thanks all, for the nice comments: you know by now that I try to amuse with my clues. BTW: the unusual grid is one of those we setters have to use, taken from a limited batch of grids provided by the DT – but I selected it, as it was a bit out of the normal type… See you soon, I hope!
Did you know 8 across or did you have to look it up too? Great crossword. Like Mondays used to be and should be.
Yes, I knew that it meant a prince – but I’ve been trawling Chambers Dictionary for several decades, in my puzzle-setting career; so I’ve absorbed many odd words and definitions. One of my favourites is “Angekkok” – look it up!
Out of context, but glad you picked me up late last night! (Not literally, of course)
A nice and gentle start to the week in an unusual and interesting grid. 11a raised a smile (or should that be a wince?) As did 21d. My Monday podium comprises 15d, 23a and 13a in top spot. Thanks to compiler and Smylers.
Great fun for a sunny Monday morning that was relatively straightforward with a couple of pauses for thought along the way. The prince was a bung-in, and 1 and 13a were clear favourites for me, with the latter sneaking ahead by a nose.
My thanks to our Monday setter and Smylers.
I found this trickier than most on here – although looking back through the completed grid I’m not sure why. Never heard of 8a nor 25a – good to learn something new. I can only put my struggles down to it being a Monday. That’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it!
Thanks to the setter and to smylers who’s book recommendations I always endeavour to try out.
BTW, thanks to everyone who responded to my query about avatars yesterday. It must have happened while we were away, hence my question.
An excellent start to the puzzling week – thanks to our setter and Smylers.
I particularly liked 13a, 14a, 25a and 15d.
Almost a R&W for me – first time for a while. I was very slightly irked by the GK required, but I knew all of it so it didn’t bother me unduly. Unfortunately it was over too quickly so now I have to go and do some chores! Thanks to the setter and Smylers.
I suppose it’s too much to hope that this puzzle heralds a return to the gentle Mondays of yore but it’s nice to dream….
The occasional strange surface read as in 17a but plenty of fun throughout. Tops for me were 2,15&21d with a mention for the Quickie pun.
Thanks to our setter, X-Type sounds like a reasonable guess, and to Smylers for the review – love that old Hovis ad.
The answer to 14a is used for electrical connections. The first word of the device for holding sheete of paper together is bulldog.
You’re right, Vince — that’s also my expectation of those terms, yet somehow I failed to spot that while writing the hint.
Searching the web, there are pictures of bulldog/foldback items being captioned as 14a, so maybe that word is now being used for both types?
In Canada they are usually called alligator clips when used for electrical purposes.
My thoughts exactly.
A gentle and enjoyable Monday puzzle, somewhat less challenging than we have come to expect of late. Indeed the hardest part was trying to make head or tail of the Dilbert cartoon above, and I’m still nowhere on that one.
Many thanks to the setter and to Smylers
Re Dilbert: they needed some Unix programmers (Unix is a technology; precisely what is irrelevant to the joke) but the pointy-haired boss misunderstood is as requiring answer-to-11a programmers. Before the misunderstanding was corrected, the boss had already arranged for the company nurse to call by Dilbert, presumably to perform a procedure that would have helped with what he thought was required …
Smylers has substituted “11a” for the answer to 11a in the speech bubbles. Dilbert’s boss has made arrangements with the company nurse to turn Dilbert into an 11a — a procedure he now realizes is no longer necessary.
You beat me to it.
Ah-ha, makes sense now, thank you both.
Afternoon Smyler, this is more my type of puzzle but even so I was stumped on a couple, so thanks for the hints 👍🏻 I’d never heard of a sackbut or a cigarette called gasper, this I do tend to remember people saying ‘give us a gasp’! My fav simple one 16d
1*/ 4* a nice cryptic lite start to the week, favourites include 13a disagreeing, 1a snakes and the excellent quickie pun
Thanks to setter and Smylers
A very gentle and hugely enjoyable start to the week. Massive thanks to Smylers for the explanation of 5d. I didn’t need the hint but it was a pleasure to read and must’ve taken more effort than solving the puzzle! It also confirmed the very devious way of cluing the double ‘N’!
Hadn’t heard of the prince but the checkers drove the answer. Really liked holding the papers together at 14a and the unusual grid.
Thanks to the setter and again to Smylers.
Just a note about Elly Griffiths and her Ruth Galloway books. Then first is quite good but she then goes on to repeat the formula ad nauseum with increasingly unreal incidents and last gasp escapes which become just ridiculous.
The ghost of Campbell hanging over today’s crossword which was a proper Monday puzzle. Thanks to Smylers and the setter.
Why can’t the snooper on writing your email wait until you are finished writing. Is is assuming all doing the crossword are senile?
Lovely to have a straightforward (for me) puzzle on a Monday again. No less enjoyable for being easier. Thanks to hinter and setter.
As others have said, a gentle start to the week. 13a my pick ot the day. Thanks to the setter and Smylers
Gentle start to the week .. never heard of the Prince at 8a but the checks solved it. Inthought 24a was a bit random and I’d never have gotten it apart from the fact I visited the place once on business. Last in was 25a and Mrs Big Eck came to the rescue “an old instrument starting with S” … bingo … that’s what music teaching brings. Cotd 4a .. I recall the word being used many years ago and the user is now suffering the consequences. Thanks to setter and Smylers .. angle iron eh imagine!
This Monday puzzle definitely was a notch up the difficultly scale this week IMHO. One new word for me in the SE.
Lots to like as the clues revealed themselves and a couple where the parsing escaped me.
2.5*/4*
Favourites 1a, 14a, 17a, 24a, 28a, 16d & 23d — with co-winners 17a & 28a
Smiles for 1a, 16d & 23d
Thanks to setter & Smylers
A fun puzzle for the start of the week, 2 new words in 9a snd 25a which needed checking. 13a was my favourite.
Many thanks to the setter and to Smylers for the hints.
2*/4*
I had to check the instrument and the prince but few holdups today.
23d favourite
Thanks to all
The horse racing tipster who based his pseudonym on 8 across was as colourful a character as one could imagine.
Is that the fellow who was always on a railway station shouting ‘I’ve got a horse!’ I remember seeing him years ago.
I think so. He came up when I was searching ‘Prince’ plus the answer earlier, and seems to’ve been quite the character.
I seem to remember he was called Prince Monolulu ?
A fine start to the week 😃 ****/** the two three letter answers were most unusual 🤔 Thanks to X-Type for a nice solvable puzzle in an interesting grid and to Smylers for his excellent blog👍
1*/4*. Short and sweet – just right for a Monday!
I didn’t know either the Prince in 8a or the old instrument in 25a, but both were very fairly clued so didn’t present any delay.
Many thanks to X-Type and to Smylers.
Excellent puzzle, thank you X type.
The Dilbert cartoon is very funny indeed now you’ve explained it to me.
My favourite insert however, was the flash mob video at 6d. What a singer he is!
btw i think the flash mob refers to the women that walk through the scene, singing, after about 1m 45 secs. the whole thing was lovely.
might read the book too.
Thanks Smylers
A good start to the week, and would have finished sans help had it not been for the Prince, and I thought 14 a was an attachment for electrical wires, not papers. Live and learn. Thanks to setter and to Smylers.
Nah, BusyLizzie, I think you (and Vince at comment 19) are right about 14a, so please don’t unlearn!
Oh I do love this site! I finished the crossword unaided but still had the pleasure of reading Smyler’s lovely hints, watched a great flash mob, saw one of my favourite cartoons, and … maybe, just maybe …. found a new author with a significantly large back catalogue to keep me going for years!
Many thanks to Smylers and X-type (and indeed all the bloggers and setters).
Fun and very light.
Like Jane, I thought there were a couple of unusual surface reads. I’ll offer 8d to add to the list.
As others have commented, I also associate 14a with a device for making electrical connections.
These are minor observations rather than gripes and there was much to enjoy in this Monday puzzle.
Thank you X-Type and Smylers.
Delightful start to the week started over coffee at 11 and finished over a 4 o’clock cup of tea, with Royston Ladies Luncheon Club in the middle. Thus do we old folks pass the day. I’m pleased to see there is discussion over 14a as I would have called them bulldogs, but what the heck. I enjoyed the unusual grid and I think I have to go with CC’s stonking anagram at 8d for favourite. Many thanks to Xtype and to Smylers – as a young father I admire your energy. That seems to read oddly, I’m not a young father. You are.
That made me laugh! Though I’m nowhere near counting as ‘young’ for a parent, especially with both of ours now at secondary school. Hope your luncheon was good.
A gentle start to the week ,and really enjoyed the grid. That said I spent longer on it than I should , as I was multitasking …thinking it was a nice easy Monday puzzle , but actually some of the clues needed some thought.I realised that I had to pay attention a bit more to get it over the line which I did. Thanks to X-Type and Smylers.
Thanks to X-Type and Smylers. We only got round to doing the puzzle at about 6.00 pm. Very swift solve for us. Just what we wanted after a rather hectic Monday. 1a and 13a both contenders for COTD. LOI 10a.
Very enjoyable – 2D and 15D were best laughs. Great work from X-Type. VMT to Smylers too – loved the classic Dilbert.
A splendid and surprisingly gentle start to the week from Bartlett (what a film!)
The new words and terms are always well-received. Sackbut is truly outstanding.
I always find words that end ‘lessness’ as clumsy and rarely use them which is probably a tad harsh.
My podium is 13a, 2d and 5d.
Many thanks to X-Type and S.
1*/4*
25a has a different spelling from this fabulous group here: https://www.hmsc.co.uk/
Hi, PipR. Welcome, and thank you for sharing that with us.
And good to know there’s at least one solver here familiar with the instrument that was new to so many of us!
Welcome, PipR and I do hope you will comment again. All the more the more the merrier!
As for 25a I did know it having come across it when I was a teenager. A gang of us had formed a group and we wanted a name. We decided we needed the name of an old instrument, I can’t recall why, and we thought The Sackbuts sounded great. The name was great but the group flopped.
Defeated by 13a, trying to think of titles of Russian leaders instead of the obvious. Most annoying. Other than that, about 75% filled in pretty quickly then slowed down a bit. No real standouts for me today, maybe the composer at 6d. Nonetheless, an enjoyable but ultimately frustrating solve.
Thank you to the setter and to Smylers for the hints.
2*/4* …
liked 21D “Courage-and where it might come from (6)”
I didn’t do myself any favours by going and having a few beers with an old friend before attempting this. I did better than I expected. Two bung ins 8a, couldn’t be bothered to look it up and 15d. Favourite was 23a, not the the ‘gentleman’ in question is a favourite of mine. Thanks to X-Type and Smylers.
Good evening
I saved the crozzie for my break at work today (plus a little sneaky solving while working, but shhh…all is calm at work at the moment, so it’s between thee & me…)
Although I felt that much of today’s crozzie was straightforward, the old adage still holds true that you never take a Monday puzzle for granted. There were a few sticky moments, especially when dealing with the SW quadrant; and I had to look up 8a to check my deduction was correct. For some reason, 20d eluded me until the very end.
COTD: I’m plumping, if plumping is allowed, for the reptilian 14a.
Many thanks to X-type and to Smylers.