DT 31048 – Big Dave's Crossword Blog
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DT 31048

by Mr K  

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31048

Hints and tips by Mr K

+ - + - + - + - + - + - + - +

BD Rating  -  Difficulty ** -  Enjoyment ****

Hello, everyone, and welcome to Friday. A grid fill using every letter but X suggests that this fine puzzle is the work of regular Friday setter proXimal.  Thanks to him for an entertaining crossword to solve and to hint. 

In the hints below most indicators are italicized, and underlining identifies precise definitions and cryptic definitions. Clicking on the answer buttons will reveal the answers. In some hints hyperlinks provide additional explanation or background. Clicking on a picture will enlarge it or display a bonus illustration and a hover (computer) or long press (mobile) might explain more about the picture. Please leave a comment telling us how you got on.

 

Across

1a    Cautious holding sides of table that's weak (6)
WATERY:  A synonym of cautious containing (holding) the outer letters (sides of) of TABLE 

4a    Garment deliveries by company essentially late (8)
OVERCOAT:  Link together six deliveries in a cricket match, an abbreviation for company, and the central letters (essentially) of LATE 

9a    Warnings when holding large weapon (6)
ALARMS:  Another word for when containing both the single letter for large and another word for weapon 

10a   Confined near back walls (8)
ENCLOSED:  Back or rear (of a train, perhaps) contains (walls) near or not far 

12a   Stirring up trouble in church with new record of past events (10)
INCENDIARY:  Concatenate IN from the clue, the abbreviation for the Church of England, the single letter for new, and a personal record of past events 

13a   Turning out of bed Right Reverend makes contented sound (4)
PURR:  The reversal (turning) of a word for “out of bed” is followed by the abbreviation for Right Reverend 

14a   Heard tune before (3)
ERE:  A homophone (heard) of a tune or melody. The definition is poetic 

15a   They keep one steady as blister is plastered (11)
STABILISERS:  An anagram (plastered) of AS BLISTER IS

18a   Climber on rocks concerning - source of many a drama (11)
SHAKESPEARE:  Putting the bits in order, join together rocks or quivers, a climbing vegetable plant, and concerning or regarding 

20a   Child star in auditorium (3)
SON:  A homophone (in auditorium) of the closest star to us 

21a   Decline following prisoner (4)
FLAG:  The single letter for following with an informal word for prisoner or inmate 

22a   Reporter Jack introducing our northern top celebs (10)
JOURNALIST:  The playing card abbreviation for jack is coming before (introducing) OUR from the clue, the single letter for northern and a (1-4) phrase for top celebrities 

24a   Lovely birch cue damaged (8)
CHERUBIC:  An anagram (damaged) of BIRCH CUE 

25a   At regular points, fanzine art is all around section of lines (6)
STANZA:  Alternate letters (at regular points) of the reversal (all around) of FANZINE ART IS 

26a   Acquire backing in casual plan (8)
STRATEGY:  The reversal (backing) of acquire or obtain is inserted in casual or isolated 

27a   Beetle in South Asian dish (6)
SCURRY:  The single letter for south with a generic Asian dish 

 

Down

1d    Untiring don is penning article in French (9)
WEARILESS:  Don or put on is followed by IS from the clue containing (penning) a French definite grammatical article

2d    The crane almost shifted block (7)
TRANCHE:  An anagram (shifted) of THE CRANE minus its last letter (almost) 

3d    Fondly recall bizarre mini scent bottles (9)
REMINISCE:  BIZARRE MINI SCENT hides (bottles) the answer 

5d    Plonk duck in Indian river after struggling (3,9)
VIN ORDINAIRE:  The score corresponding to a duck in cricket is inserted in an anagram (after struggling) of INDIAN RIVER 

6d    Regret accepting opening in Labour government (4)
RULE:  A synonym of regret containing (accepting) the first letter (opening in) of LABOUR

7d    Dim bishop entering wrong course (7)
OBSCURE:  The chess abbreviation for bishop inserted in (entering) an anagram (wrong) of COURSE 

8d    Royal once died in revolutionary defeat (5)
TUDOR:  The single letter for died inserted in the reversal (revolutionary) of a comprehensive defeat or thrashing 

11d   Critical inspector put on exhaust testing (12)
DISAPPROVING:  Put together the abbreviation for a Detective Inspector, exhaust or drain, and testing or demonstrating 

16d   Stiff tail since barking (9)
INELASTIC:  An anagram (barking, as in crazy) of TAIL SINCE 

17d   Retreat from scary aunt going berserk (9)
SANCTUARY:  An anagram (going berserk) of SCARY AUNT 

19d   A dull foreign currency enthusiast (7)
AMATEUR:  Cement together A from the clue, dull or flat, and the abbreviation for a major currency unit 

20d   One turns round errant person holding power (7)
SPINNER:  Another word for an errant person containing (holding) the physics symbol for power 

21d   Expressions right to be censored from comedies (5)
FACES:  The single letter for right is deleted (censored from) from another word for comedies

23d   Leave queen, one of four in card pack but not spades (4)
QUIT:  The chess abbreviation for queen is followed by the word for the four groups of cards in a pack minus the playing card abbreviation for spades (but not spades) 

 

Thanks to today’s setter. Which clues did you like best?

The Quick Crossword pun:  WHACKS + SAND + WAYNE = WAX AND WANE

56 comments on “DT 31048”

  1. I did need help with a couple but, otherwise, it was an enjoyable solve. Getting 1a straightaway always puts one in a positive frame of mind despite getting only one other across clue on the first pass. As is often the case, the downs came to the rescue. I haven’t counted but there seemed to be a fair few anagrams but I’m not complaining because they help get into the puzzle. I’m not sure how “Climber” comes into18a so will need to look at the hints for enlightenment. No doubt I will kick myself when all is revealed.

    I wonder how many others tried to use “person p” as anagram fodder in 20d.

    My COTD is the trouble in church at 12a.

    Thank you, setter for the Friday fun. Thank you, Mr. K. for the hints and pusskits.

  2. Convoluted or what? there was far more ink around the sides of the grid than actually in it.

    First pass yielded nothing, nowt, sweet Fanny Adams, and damn near gave it up there and then.

    Glad I didn’t though, as it turned into a real gem, a Prince amongst puzzles with many very tricky but essentially very fair clues.

    Last one in for me was 18a, couldn’t get the idea that I had to get ‘stage’ into it somehow, but finally the inner eye made sense of the gaps and I had to reverse engineer it to see the why of the clue.

    Only one question, is the currency missing a letter? Oh well don’t really matter…

    Too many great clues to name them all, but 27a and 12a deserve a nod.

    Many thanks to our setter today, a real belter!

    1. All currencies have three letter abbreviations, even those which are four letters long! E.g. GBP, USD, JPY, BRL for the currencies of the UK, US, Japan, and Brazil respectively.

    2. 18a my last in to & like you saw stage from the checkers. Solving the clues in order to begin with I thought screenplays given scree/rocks but soon clear that didn’t parse

  3. 3*/5*. This extremely enjoyable puzzle was clearly the work of one of our now less regular Friday triumvirate as signalled by it being an x-less pangram.

    I had a plethora of ticks with 12a, 27a & 23d making up my podium selection.

    Many thanks to proXimal and to Mr K.

  4. What a great puzzle, chewy but doable. LOI was 18a as I also wanted it to contain stage.

    Lots of ticks on the page. Top picks for me were 18a, 12a, 27a and 11d.

    Thanks to Mr K and the setter.
    Loved the cat pics.

  5. Bet I wasn’t the only one who tried unsuccessfully to make my incorrect answer to 23d fit. Just couldn’t parse it properly. Then the PDM as I changed the first letter…doh!
    Just enough subtlety for a Friday backpager, my picks are the back walls in 10a, the backing in 26a and best of all, the plonk of the duck in the Indian river at 5d, super clue.
    My thanks to our setter and Mr K.

  6. Good morning. This is the third backpager in a row which required more effort than normal. The SE corner was the first to fall, followed by the SW, NE and finally the NW. No clues in particular stand out for me and if forced to choose a COTD, it would be a toss up between 1a and 1d. The Toughie is still not finished and the clock is ticking. Many thanks for the review and to the setter.

  7. What a great finish to the week with Proximal in fine form.

    I wonder if all his crosswords are X-less as it must be so hard to get get j, z and q into every puzzle he compiles. He must have other pseudonyms.

    My LOI was 5d as I was trying my upmost to crowbar Indus and Ganges into the answer. 18a also took a while to get as the climber escaped me.

    I too had 20d as an anagram of person and p thinking that Spooner was the answer as he turns round letters….ish (only having one p scuppered that idea)

    My podium is 12a, 22a and 5d.

    MT to Proimal and Mr K

    3*/5*

    1. In addition to x-less pangrams, proXimal has one other device we know of which is including 4Xs, one in each quadrant.

    2. He has quite a few aliases “eXternal + arteXlen” amongst others. Several signature styles too. X less “pangra” just one. He has been known to go for four X’s 1 in each quadrant. In his Sunday Toughie guise he usually starts with a Spoonerism and 2 or 3 compound anagrams.

      1. Ta muchly, gents.

        I always admire setters who have rules like RayT as it must be a rod for their own back but a mighty fine challenge at the same time.

  8. What a birthday present of a puzzle ! Loved it . I will plonk for top spot with 5 down closely followed by 18 across. No help needed although admittedly it is flagged as middling in difficulty. Good to know that there are a few neurones still functioning when entering a new decade. Go to celebrate this weekend with 4 other family members who have a birthday this week.Many thanks to ProXimal and Mr. K. Often wonder at the dedication of our hinters and if they ever have a moment of panic where they just cannot parse a clue. Well done all.

    2. It doesn’t happen so much these days but when the blog started there was often a flurry of panicky emails prior to publication time.

      1. I remember this well. It didn’t happen that often to pommers but when it did he certainly did get a bit panicky

    5. Even though I get arguably the easiest day on Tuesday Shabbo has been known to get the occasional call & I’ve lost count of the number of duff explanations I’ve given.

  9. Relatively gentle for a Friday and very enjoyable – thanks to proXimal and Mr K.
    Top clues for me were 18a, 27a and the clever 23d.

  11. I found this much more difficult than MrK and most others here – however I very much enjoyed the challenge. So many top notch clues that can’t pick a favourite.

    Thank you setter & MrK

  12. For a Friday puzzle this week, it wasn’t as difficult as many can be, but I still had a few parsing issues and in reverse engineering them.

    2.5*/3.5*

    Favourites 12a, 13a, 15a, 5d, 7d & 17d — with winner 12a

    Thanks to proXimal & Mr K.

  13. Let off lightly this Friday I thought
    2.5*/4*
    10a and 12a favourites
    Thanks to proximal and Mr K.

  14. I was on wavelength today so got through this without any holdups. I was also very pleased with myself to have parsed ‘deliveries’ as ‘over’ for the first time. Usually I go through the word mail, post etc words, only for the penny to drop late on usually with an annoyed grunt. I also spotted the ProXimal calling card. A really enjoyable solve , thanks ProXimal and Mr K.

  15. Definitely on the easy side for a proximal and we romped through it. 2*/4* for us
    I have query on 1 and another I’m not keen on.
    26a never heard casual described as this.
    19d not happy with currency being used when in fact the answer requires the currency code to be used. But I’m a pedant. 😂🤣😅
    Thanks to MrK and proXimal

  16. I too needed a little help just because I’m learning, but I’m proud to say I got around 70% on my own. I loved 12a and 22a.

  17. Tough one for me today.
    Got there with a lot of guessing which always reduces the enjoyment.

    Thanks to the setter and Mr K. Great pics as ever.

  18. I agree with a previous writer.
    I found this puzzle convoluted and abandoned it in exchange for welcoming my two-year-old grandson into my study.
    A lot more straightforward.

      1. Hi BL

        Mustafa’s post this morning on Wednesday’s crossy alerted me to your 1066 comment.

        It’s brilliant.

        Apologies for missing it first time around.

  19. So annoying when you’ve entered a couple of answers that have to be right but simply can’t parse them – happened to me with 18a and 23d today and took ages for the candles to flicker into life. Elsewhere, there was much fun to be had with my top picks being 12&27a along with 2d.

    Thanks to proXimal and to Mr K plus the happy cats for the review.

  20. I managed to parse all my answers unaided … but in attempt to fit solving and commenting into my lunch break, I did use some electronic assistance for solving anagrams, which I generally find tricky. That you to ProXimal for the puzzle, and for teaching me how 14a is pronounced, and to Mr K for identifying it as such and the cat pictures. My favourite was the source of drama in 18a.

  21. A cracking puzzle to cheer up what has become a cheerless Shropshire afternoon. There were some terrific surfaces and the clues were all fairly put together with some gentle humour to help it along. Great entertainment, with 18a my final entry and favourite.

    My thanks to proXimal and Mr K.

  22. For me this was a struggle to get started with but I did get there in the end. The south west was my sticking point. There was a lot to like and 18a took ages to click. No stand out favourite but very enjoyable to have completed it.

    Many thanks to the setter and Mr K for the hints.

  23. This was a great end to another great week. I have several daisies, but the biggest is for 25a because although I got the letters at regular points it took a moment to reverse it – very smart. Also noted 12a 15a 5d and 23d. You setters are SO clever! I wonder if they have guzzles in heaven, or maybe I should say the afterlife? Anyway, huge thanks to ProXimal and to Mr K for the kittypics- the purring sequence was such a joy, I do miss my cats and dogs! Thanks to all for yesterday as well – I did finish it but very late.

  24. 1.5* / 4* An excellent end to the week, cheering up a miserable afternoon. Loads of top clues and misdirection, my favourites include my last one in, the source of drama 18a, stirring up trouble at 12a and untiring at 1d, a word I’ve never used before.
    Many thanks to Mr K and ProXimal

  25. An excellent end to the week. Thank you Proximal and Mr K.
    The only slight delay for me was parsing 23d, after I had convinced myself that queen = QU.
    Good fun.

  26. Straightforward until it wasn’t, and I ground to a halt about three quarters of the way through. I managed to up my game and got there in the end. Lots of contenders for favourite but I’ll go with 12a. Thanks to ProXimal and Mr. K.

  27. Thanks to ProXimal and MrK. As ever we do the puzzle later in the day than most. Completed it without resorting to hints. No particular favourite clues.

  28. I rather spoilt this puzzle by solving it on the phone (during the breaks between teeing golfers off (rather them than me) on a thoroughly miserable & wet 1st tee. Now back home in the dry & warmth much better able to appreciate its merits & it’s the full 5* enjoyment rating here. Found it trickier than many, didn’t notice it was an X-less pangram & a good few of the whys needed teasing out. Heaps of ticks – 10,12,18,22a + 1,3,5&11d particular likes with the Stratford scribbler the pick of ‘em.
    Thanks to proXimal & to Mr K

  29. Good evening

    Having failed to get anywhere near yesterday’s crozzie (too busy!) it was a delight to be able to get stuck into today’s, although, like Tipcat at comment no. 2, I almost hoyed the sponge in early on; I was baffled!

    However, time, tea (then beer), and my Lucky Green Pen saved the day!

    Many contenders for COTD; 18a wins!

    Thank you to proXimal and to Mr K.

  30. Great Friday puzzle. I’d go for 12A as best of a fine set of clues, with 5D for absolute hilarity. VMT proXimal and Mr K.

  31. A dnf due to 18a, 5d and 11d. Even getting one of those would added a checker for the others.

    Not heard of the plonk, probably because I doubt I would ever drink it. Not a wine snob, but I still have standards…

    As others have mentioned, as much ink outside the crossword as in it.

    I certainly word score it more than ** for difficulty.

    I need to have a lie down after than workout.

    Thanks to all.

  32. I found that more difficult than the previous two day’s offerings. It didn’t help that I went for chronicles in 12a, realised my mistake but forgot to erase a couple of stray letters. Was a bit all over the place with this one and had to resort to the hints at about 70% completion. And yes I was also thinking anagram for 20d.
    No particular favourites for me today but if I had to choose then I would go for 25a.
    Thank you to the setter and to Mr K for the hints.

  33. I thought this was a very mild back pager for a Friday. But it took longer than it should due to issues with the website version. Not sure if anybody else has found this but it has happened to me several times with my Vivaldi browser. Halfway through and I clicked something while filling in a clue, not sure what, and the whole page went blank. Tried everything including clearing cache/cookies whatever and couldn’t get it back. Opened Edge, rarely used, and all is well and I complete fully.

    Last in was the chap in 18A, a nicely worded clue led to deceive.

    Yesterday had a lovely walk up in London right along the Regents Canal from Paddington to Kings Cross with a circular tour of Regents Park half way. Passed our venue for the January gathering, seems to be all sorts of roadworks going on outside the Bridge at the moment. Hopefully that will be gone by the time we meet.

  34. I had chronology for 12a for a while and puzzled as to why it didn’t work. I am not sure that I have heard of 1d before. I needed a few hints today but then I was babysitting… My favourite is 23d. Thanks to all concerned.

  35. Started this last night and picked it up again this evening. As often, it initially looked very difficult but I almost finished without assistance: I needed the hint for 27a, which with hindsight is an easy one, but I couldn’t see it. Also afterwards, I had to confirm some of the parsing on the other clues – and I essentially was correct. COTD 27a for the construction and surface. Thanks to setter and Mr K. ***/****

  36. 3*/4* …..
    liked 27A “Beetle in South Asian dish (6)” …
    was sure that the answer to 18A was “cliffhanger” .

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