Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31039
Hints and tips by Shabbo
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty * – Enjoyment ***
Good morning, fellow puzzlers.
It’s me again on Tuesday duty. Huntsman has kindly agreed to swap days this week, as we are off to Jersey at lunchtime for four days. If there are any errors in the blog, I’ll correct them when we get to St Helier. We have never been to the Channel Islands and are looking forward to it.
I found this puzzle to be very accessible with just a couple of clues which required a bit of thought at 28a and 26d. Although it was very light, there was much to enjoy. The artist scratching his bottom at 4d and the underwear infested with insects at 21a made me smile.
In the blog below, the definition element of each clue has been underlined, anagrams are CAPITALISED and the crossword technique “indicator words” are in brackets. The answers are concealed under the “Click Here” buttons. Please leave a comment telling us how you got on and what you thought of the puzzle.
Many thanks to our setter and to the DT Crossword Team.
Across
1a Wife feeding yellowish small birds (8)
SWALLOWS: abbreviation for Wife inside synonym of yellowish + abbreviation for Small.
5a Made fun of editor after drinks (6)
TEASED: abbreviation for EDitor after afternoon drinks.
9a Caviar Tom prepared, not very sweet-smelling (8)
AROMATIC: anagram (prepared) of CA(v)IAR TOM – remove the V (not Very).
10a Owls finally give a hoot and son panics (6)
SCARES: final letter of owlS + synonym of “give a hoot” + abbreviation for Son.
12a Agreed on descent round the bend (9)
CONSENTED: anagram (round the bend) of ON DESCENT.
13a Nothing planted in boy’s pots (5)
LOADS: letter signifying nothing inside another term for boys.
14a At ballet, every other character is skilful (4)
ABLE: the odd letters (every other character) of AtBaLlEt.
16a Respect new James Bond film (7)
SPECTRE: anagram (new) of RESPECT. OK, so Connery was not in this film, but Jane would never forgive me if I used an image of the “wrong” Bond.
19a Loving call after a party (7)
ADORING: synonym of call (or phone) after A + two-letter synonym of party.
21a Insects quietly coming out of underwear (4)
ANTS: an item of underwear without the initial P (quietly coming out).
24a Recruit in French Resistance over fifty (5)
ENROL: French word meaning “in” + abbreviation for Resistance + abbreviation for Over + Roman numeral for fifty.
25a Awkward matter hospital department’s handling (9)
TREATMENT: anagram (awkward) of MATTER + the three initials representing crosswordland’s favourite hospital department.
27a My word for bare husband? Sweet (2,4)
OH DEAR: (f)O(r) (bare – i.e. no “clothes”) + abbreviation for Husband + a term of endearment (sweet).
28a Entry to house? This could make you cross (4,4)
BACK DOOR: the solution is the rear entrance to a house. When read cryptically if you “back” DOOR you get ROOD.
29a Susie starts restricting sleep (6)
SIESTA: hidden word (restricting). Our solution is lurking within words 1&2 of the clue.
30a Memoranda from wise man in tight spot (8)
MESSAGES: four letter word meaning wise man inside a word meaning tight spot or dilemma.
Down
1d Nick‘s at church after disheartening sin (6)
SNATCH: AT + abbreviation for CHurch goes after S(i)N (disheartening).
2d Value adult put on horse (6)
AMOUNT: abbreviation for Adult + synonym of horse.
3d Let learner driver slowly manoeuvre (5)
LEASE: letter signifying a Learner driver + synonym of “slowly manoeuvre”.
4d Shrill sound from US artist scratching bottom (7)
WHISTLE: US artist without the final letter (scratching bottom).
6d Old room with 25 per cent off rent? Fantastic! (9)
EXCELLENT: two-letter synonym of old + synonym of room (think prison) + (r)ENT (25% off)
7d Second European delivers a tirade about five housekeepers, perhaps (8)
SERVANTS: abbreviations for Second + European + synonym of “delivers a tirade” outside (about) Roman numeral for fiVe.
8d Daughter is sitting on plant – catastrophe! (8)
DISASTER: abbreviation for Daughter + IS + plant (sometimes referred to as a Michaelmas-daisy)
11d Unbiased observer holds up poems (4)
ODES: hidden word upside down (holds up). Our solution is hidden backwards within words 1&2.
15d Superb fish ain’t swimming (9)
BRILLIANT: a fish related to the turbot + anagram (swimming) of AINT.
17d Very hungry birds circling old university (8)
RAVENOUS: very large black birds outside (circling) abbreviations for Old and University.
18d What you might have at breakfast time (8)
PORRIDGE: double definition. Time as in prison sentence.
20d Pull up shirts, primarily showing bellies (4)
GUTS: synonym of pull reversed (up) + initial letter (primarily) of Showing.
21d State answer and get cut short? Mean! (7)
AVERAGE: synonym of state + abbreviation for Answer + GE(t) (cut short).
22d Fit in bottom half of tube then ache (6)
BELONG: (tu)BE (bottom half) + synonym of ache.
23d Ran inside ship’s shops (6)
STORES: synonym of ran quickly inside abbreviation for SteamShip.
26d Extracts from stories changed in the middle (5)
TAKES: synonym of stories with the middle letter changed to a different random letter. The definition is a verb.
Quickie Pun: TAY + LAM + AID = TAILOR-MADE
This was almost like solving four separate puzzles with one in each corner. After the first pass, I had a lot of checkers but they were all at the ends of words so proved to be of little help. However, it all came together slowly with the southwest falling first followed by the northeast. I don’t understand 29a so will need the hints for explanation. My COTD is the breakfast item at 18d because of its great surface and well-hidden definition.
Thank you, Professor for a slightly more challenging (to me) puzzle than usual but very enjoyable, nevertheless. Thank you, Shabbo for the hints.
A very Happy Birthday to Orphan Annie. 🎂
29a, when in doubt……. enough said!
Thanks, TC – you got in just as I realised my error.
I seem to be missing lurkers these days as in 29a. 🙄
I was defeated by 29a after finding the rest quite gentle. So frustrating but very clever clueing. Thank you setter and Shabbo
It was my LOI as well. I, too, should have remembered ‘when in doubt ……..’
Slightly more challenging for me too Steve.
Good morning. Like yesterday’s, this was a read and fill. 1d is my clue of the day followed by 27a. Many thanks to the setter and the review.
Went through this one like a does of salts, but the only thing a can’t fathom is why the answer to 28a would make you cross?
Will have to see the hint to see what our setter was up to, anyway, great fun nonetheless.
Still hiding from the sunlight after my second cataract operation on Saturday, so just taking it easy for a few days.
A-ha, 28a very clever!
Just occasionally, it helps to be a churchgoer
I found this to be an unusually friendly Tuesday crossword, which, as Steve said, was like 4 mini kpuzzles. I liked the lurker at 29a, the kego clue at 17d and the double definition at 18d. Thanks to the compiler and Shabbo for the hints.
A gentle jaunt. My podium comprises 1d, 15d and 17d in top spot. An honorable mention to 4d. Thanks to AP and Shabbo.
A little slow out of the blocks but fast progress to a swift finish & only a tad slower than yesterday. As ever succinctly clued & enjoyable but for me still lacking the humour that characterises this setter’s best puzzles. 28a gets my vote as pick of the clues.
Thanks to AP & to Shabbo – enjoy Jersey.
Like those above, it was a slow start but once I went up the downs it fell nicely.
I did like the infested underwear in the preamble. It reminded me of something Grandma and Mama Bee accused me of having when restless.
Thanks to Shabbo and Mr Plumb.
A lovely puzzle. LOI was 29a as I couldn’t see it for ages. Lots of smiles elsewhere.
Top picks for me were 28a, 15d and 30a.
Thanks to Shabbo and the setter.
Enjoy Jersey Shabbo. If you get the chance I’d recommend a visit to St Matthew’s Glass Church which is full of wonderful glass sculptures and panels by Rene Lalique.
Thanks for the tip.
This was on the money.
I have ticked so many clues for their surfaces that it makes picking a top three v tricky. But, I’ll go with 27a, 4d and 18d.
MT to Il Professore and Shabberoony.
1*/5*
Oh, I’m assuming that AP is referring to the caviar not me.
Quite straightforward apart from a slight delay in the Kentish corner.
I liked the owls who gave a hoot in 10a, Nick repenting at 1d and the breakfast time gruel in 18d.
Thanks to Shabbo and our setter.
Like our glue dragoman today, my last two were 28a and 26d. When I aha’d! 26d that led me to the answer to 28a.
I understand the troubles that beset Colonel Bagshot caused some scratching of heads.
“Who breaks a butterfly upon a wheel?” is a quotation from Alexander Pope’s “Epistle to Dr Arbuthnot”, and later used in a memorable leader (by William Rees-Mogg) in The Times, in July 1967, upon the occasion of the jailing of Sir Mick Jagger. Colonel Bagshot believes it was previously used to describe his circumstances after being fined £5.00 for throwing a policeman’s helmet on to the railway track in Egham, Surrey, on VE day. This has not been verified. Colonel Bagshot is still wearing an ankle tag after the incident in the church when Miss Abinger was arranging the flowers, and Colonel Bagshot interfered with her hollyhocks.
Thanks to the setter and Shabba-dabba-doo
You really do bring a few moments of broad grins and great amusement to the day, thank you so much, Terence!
Agreed
Completely bonkers, but we love it!
Perhaps take a drop more water with it?
imagine the flights of fancy if he did drink
Terence, thank you for clearing that up. I was certainly in the dark.
A very interesting article about Mick Jagger and now I understand the expression I can understand why Mr Rees Mogg used it. I wonder if he’s proud of his son by the way.
I was very amused to read about Colonel Bagshots recent past with Miss Ebinger, but not quite sure I should have been.
Like others, I forgot one of the golden rules of solving cryptics; when stuck, look for a lurker. Annoyingly, therefore, 29a was my last one in during what was a fairly rapid solve. As is often the case with a quickish finish, I went back and saw the real quality of the clues second time round. 4d was my favourite ahead of 27a.
Thanks to AP for a great puzzle and to Shabbo.
Gentle enough Tuesday puzzle although I did stumble when it came to parsing 27&28a. Nice to see a few of our feathered friends making an appearance – always very welcome. Top three for me were 1,6&17d with a smile for the poor girl in 8d.
Thanks to Mr Plumb and to Shabbo for the review – pleased to see that you referenced the REAL James Bond! Have a wonderful few days in Jersey.
Super stuff as ever on a Tuesday. Like a few others I took a while to spot 29a. As YS already commented the real quality shines when going back through on completion and just enjoying the craft of the setter. Thank you setter and to the Jersey bound Shaboo
Gentle and enjoyable as we’re accustomed to on a Tuesday – thanks to our setter and Shabbo.
For my podium I’ve plumped for 10a, 28a and 4d.
Gazza,
Did you try to e-mail me this morning? I had an odd e-mail from your address that seemed out of character and potentially phishing.
Hi Prolixic,
No I didn’t. It sounds as if my email has become compromised. I’d better change my passwords.
I got one too, was that not your good self?
No it wasn’t John. My email has obviously been hacked. I’ve now changed my email passwords so I hope that will fix it.
I had one too but I knew it had to be phishing and so deleted it
I’m feeling left out! Apparently scammers don’t consider me to be worth scamming …
You and me both, Smylers. 😏
Sympathise with you on this. When we got back from a cruise, and using their onboard WiFi, we both started received spam emails (up to 100 each per day), so have been going through the oh so time consuming process of creating new email addresses.
As enjoyably Typically Tuesdayish as ever – 1.5*/4.5*
Standout favourite – 28a!
Thanks to Mr Plumb and Shabbo – profitez de votre visite de la plus grande des îles anglo-normandes!
Merci, Monsieur Moutarde.
Senf has saved me the trouble of deciding what to write as I agree completely with his sentiments @16.
Shabbo, Jersey is a great place for a cruciverbalist as it can be an island, a cow or a jumper!
Great minds think alike. I have already bored the current Mrs Shabbo with all of them.
And the Royals are all 🥔 potatoes.
Or indeed, a fabric.
And the residents like to be called Crapauds – well, that’s what Guernsey people call them 😂
Lovely puzzle. 18d my favourite today. Thanks to Shabbo for the hints (especially at 28a) and the setter
I think everyone has said it for me. A great guzzle from a Smooth Setter. Daddy Potato had three daughters. The eldest came to him and said ‘Daddy, I want to get married. He’s a King Edward’. What a brilliant match my dear. Good stock – You have my blessing. Second potato daughter came to him and said ‘Daddy, I want to get married – he is a Jersey Royal’. Well my dear, not such a good match as your sister, but still of noble lineage- you have my blessing. Third, youngest sister came to him and said ‘Daddy, I’ve fallen madly in love with a man. I want to marry Desmond Lynam’. Daddy potato threw his hands up in horror. You are out of your mind, girl. You cannot marry him – he’s a common ‘tater. Hope you enjoy Jersey Shabbo. -and, as recommended, the church.
Wunderbar!
Is Daddy Potato is factually correct there — was Des Lynam actually a commentator? I thought he was a sports presenter and TV anchor, but handed over to others to do the actual commentating on matches and events.
(What do you mean it’s only a joke and I’m overthinking it?)
You certainly are, S!
He has done a fair bit of commentary in his time as well as being a presenter, of course.
My guess is that Daisy chose him as he is a potato of the ‘hot’ variety.
Cut me a little slack, Smylers – you know I’m not a ‘sporty’ type ( although I hope I am a sport)
Sports presenter, isn’t that a commentator? I’m only a girl.
I just like jokes to be factually accurate — is that so bad?!
To be perfectly honest with you, I have to admit that none of it is accurate! There isn’t really a Daddy Potato,
nor three daughter potatoes. It is all a big fib. 💕
Glad you told it now?
Quick off-topic question, Daisy. What did your book club think of ‘A Long Petal of the Sea’? I’ve just bought a copy from the Amazon ‘used’ section and am interested to get the opinions of other readers.
As my Latin Master ‘Moses’ Mulholland would say ‘droll, very droll’!
There are many common taters on the verge outside dropped from the trailers taking them to the farm. I’m enjoying wonderful chips and roasts at the moment both eating and freezing. 🥔
I found this Tuesday puzzle somewhat different to the norm in that some of the clueing was quite challenging.
Maybe it is just me.
2.5*/3*
Favourites 16a, 25a, 27a, 1d & 6d — with winner 25a
Thanks to AP & Shabbo
Thanks to the setter and Shabbo for the hints. Quick solve. Like others we missed the lurker and it was our LOI 29a. Both under the weather today and thought we did quite well considering.
Well, this proves I still haven’t got the hang of Tuesday puzzles! Unlike yesterday’s crossword — featuring many words outside my vocabulary which I managed to get anyway — I knew all of today’s answers, but still struggled to work them out. Thank you to Shabbo for the hints, of which I used at least 7 for a combination of ‘solving’ and parsing.
Enjoy Jersey! We went last year and loved it. I can recommend the Elizabeth Castle tour: no additional charge on the entry, and you learn so much more hearing it from a local. Our guide was born on the island, as was his mother, who had been a child during the Nazi occupation. The Jersey War Tunnels are fascination, with the Nazis having invaded expecting military resistance which didn’t happen, so found themselves with a large number of soldiers over a population of largely peaceful locals, who found more ingenious ways to undermine their oppressors. For instance, the local newspaper included articles the Nazis told them to — but purposefully didn’t correct their English, so that readers could easily distinguish the propaganda from the genuine articles!
Black butter is delicious, but counts as a liquid for airport security, so put it in hold luggage. We had ours confiscated, then ended up buying some more, at airport prices, from the shop just after security.
Overall the island is a delightfully curious mix of being part of the British Isles but not the UK, meaning it often isn’t clear whether UK or international rules apply. As such “I didn’t know you could fly to Jersey using your driving licence instead of a passport,” is a perfectly reasonable sentiment, though a little surprising when said by a member of the check-in staff at the airport — especially in a perfectly friendly “Well, you learn something new every day” tone of voice, as they waved me through! The BBC claim IPlayer isn’t available outside the UK, but they’re wrong because it does work there. The Jersey pound is a separate currency from sterling, but it has a 1:1 exchange rate and identically shaped coins; one of our card providers said it counted as sterling (so no foreign-currency fee) and t’other said the opposite.
Thank you Smylers. Much to do in 4 days!
Very entertaining and enjoyable, completed too long ago to remember details except 29a was last in and was unparsed due to completely forgetting the important crossword mantra….when will I learn!
Many thanks tot the setter and to Shabbo for the hints
Super crossie today which I flew through in a record time for me. We had a company conference in Jersey years ago in November. The weather was horrid and on the day of ‘team building’ I remember two of us being blindfolded and having to erect a tent in the pouring rain following the rest of the teams verbal instructions. It was actually quite fun and our team won that particular ‘trial’. The marketing director was in our team and we had to hold him suspended over a circle while he collected items from within the circle. I so, so, so wanted to let go of my rope and watch him fall flat on his face! Hey ho, good memories. Anyway many thanks to the setter for a brill puzzle and to Shabbo.
Two solvable crosswords to start the week hurrah! 😃 (thanks to X-type for yesterday’s gem) **/**** Favourites 1a, 28a & 17d 👍 Thanks to AP and to Shabbo
Mercifully straightforward as I’m short of time so I haven’t read the comments yet. Favourite was 28a. Thanks to AP and Shabbo.
2*/4* …
liked 21D “State answer and get cut short ? Mean ! (7) “
I found yesterday’s ** difficulty to be a *, and today’s * to be a **, but enjoyable nonetheless. I had to verify that several of my answers were right, e.g. 27a = sweet. Thanks to setter and Shabbo.
Very enjoyable, and not too hard, although 27a and 27a took a bit of head-scratching. For some reason, spotting the anagram in 12a and decoding the horse in 2d took as long as the rest of the puzzle. Just dimness…
4d, 20d and 29a take my awards. Thanks to our Setter and to Shabbo.
A nice gentle and enjoyable puzzle for a Tuesday . I’m glad it wasn’t just me who forgot the ‘when in doubt’ rule , as my LOI was also 29a. I even thought maybe Susie was a word like George, used for an object or something. I got it in the end with a big …duh moment. Thanks so much setter and Shabbo.
I always do the DT Puzzles on-line. Today, I cannot look at my completed Cryptic or Panagram.
No one else has complained … so it must be me? Help!
There seems to be a new feature on the Telegraph website that invites you to share your completion time (we dont usually encourage that here – it may put off new solvers)
I have just had a go at the quick and it takes me to the page attached as a screenshot.
At the bottom there is a tiny View puzzle button – click there to see your completed puzzle
Once again Tuesday brings a fun challenge devoid of mind-bending. I completed three quarters but then floundered a bit in the SE so left and, as so often happens, had no problem on my return. IMHO 27a is a bit iffy but was nevertheless an unparsed bung-in for me. Favs 10a and 15d. Thank you so much MrP for another super puzzle and Shabbo for being on hand in case of need.
1* / 3.5* Similar level and enjoyment to yesterday, plenty of wit and misdirection.
Favourites include James Bond (over hyped nonsense) at 16a, the sweet smelling 9a and the excellent cross at 28a
Thanks to Shabbo and setter
Feel ill because I didn’t see you know what in 29a. Also, needed the hint for 3d as I was distracted by “driver”: I have become used to “L” simply being clued as “learner” and wondered what the driver was. COTD 24a for managing to create a five letter clue from a French word, a physics symbol, a cricket abbreviation and a Roman numeral. Thanks to Prof P and Shabbo. **/***