Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31049
A full review by Rahmat Ali
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This puzzle was published on 4th October 2025
BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****
Greetings from Kolkata. A nice, lovely Saturday puzzle from NYDK that I enjoyed solving and thereafter writing a review of the same for your kind perusal and important feedback.
After solving the puzzle, I became inquisitive to know about the etymology of ‘Halloween’, the answer to the clue of 11a and explored the net to find that the word is of Christian origin, a term equivalent to ‘All Hallows Eve’ as attested in Old English. The word is derived from the Scottish form of ‘All Hallows’ Eve’ i.e. the evening before All Hallows’ Day; ‘even’ being the Scots term for ‘eve’ or ‘evening’ and is contracted to e’en or een: thus (All) Hallow(s) E(v)en became Hallowe’en. Further, Halloween is thought to have influences from Christian beliefs and practices. The English word ‘Halloween’ comes from “All Hallows’ Eve”, being the evening before the Christian holy days of All Hallows’ Day (All Saints’ Day) on 1st November and All Souls’ Day on 2nd November. Since the time of the early Church, major feasts in Christianity like Christmas, Easter and Pentecost had vigils that began the night before, as did the feast of All Hallows. These three days are collectively called Allhallowtide, a time when Western Christians honour all saints and pray for recently departed souls who have yet to reach Heaven. Commemorations of all saints and martyrs were held by several churches on various dates, mostly in springtime.
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Across
1a Too much where entrenched soldiers were made to go? (4,3,3)
OVER THE TOP: Double definition; the second being a prepositional phrase referring to the place where the WWI soldiers in the trenches were made to go i.e. they were supposed to go over the top or climb out of the trench so that they could charge into battle that takes to the first a phrasal adjective denoting excessive, extreme or too much
10a Mammoth damaged leg crossing a river (5)
LARGE: The definition of an adjective meaning of considerable or relatively great size, extent or capacity, an example of which is mammoth i.e. huge, gigantic or exceedingly large is reached from an anagram (damaged) of LEG going or cutting across (crossing) a combo of A from the clue and R (river) as the abbreviation for River, used especially for maps in an atlas or a geography book
11a Female bringing in own ecstasy: party time? (9)
HALLOWEEN: HEN (female) as referring to a female bird, especially of a domestic fowl admitting or putting inside (bringing in) a combo of ALLOW (own) as to own, concede or admit the truth of something and E (ecstasy) as the abbreviation for Ecstasy that refers to as the colloquial term for a drug taken for its stimulant and hallucinogenic properties takes to the definition of a Christian festive ‘party time’ on 31st October, celebrated by children by masquerading and dressing in costumes, trick-or-treating and carving pumpkins into jack-o-lanterns
12a Leaving minus Oscar bad actor checked material (7)
GINGHAM: G[O]ING (leaving) as leaving one’s residence or any other place not taking into account (minus) O (Oscar) as the letter represented by Oscar in the NATO phonetic alphabet followed by HAM (bad actor) as an actor who rants and overacts leads to the definition of a kind of cotton cloth, woven from coloured yarns into stripes or checks
13a Set sights and capture first-rate spy boss (4,3)
TAKE AIM: The definition of a phrase meaning to set sights i.e. to point a weapon’s sights towards a target is obtained from a charade of TAKE (capture) as to capture, seize or gain possession of by force or military means, AI (first-rate) as the symbol for a first-class vessel in Lloyd’s Register of Shipping, hence first-rate or excellent and read as A-one; I being the Roman numeral for one and M (spy boss) as a codename of a fictional character as the Chief of the Secret Intelligence Service for the agency known as MI6 in Ian Fleming’s James Bond book and film series
14a Caution: stars exploding in space science (12)
ASTRONAUTICS: An anagram (exploding) of CAUTION: STARS guides to the definition of the science and technology of space travel and exploration
18a Host summit in Scots isle with one large town (12)
MULTIPLICITY: The definition of a host, large number or variety of something is reached from TIP (summit) as referring to the top, summit or apex, especially of a mountain placed inside (in) MULL (Scots isle) as the second-largest island of the Inner Hebrides and lying off the west coast of Scotland followed by (with) I (one) as the Roman numeral for one and CITY (large town) as a large town or an inhabited place of greater size, population or importance than a town or village
21a An ass making port in Belgium (7)
ANTWERP: AN from the clue followed by TWERP (ass) as a silly, weak-minded or contemptible person, an example of which is an ass i.e. a colloquial term for a fool or a dull or stupid fellow takes to the definition of the port city of Belgium that is one of the biggest in the world and ranking second in Europe after Rotterdam
23a Dancing nude almost felt necessary (7)
NEEDFUL: An anagram (dancing) of a combo of NUDE and most of the letters (almost) of FEL[T] leads to the definition of an adjective meaning necessary, required or requisite
24a Perhaps bonsai blossom in island’s cut (9)
MINIATURE: The definition of a small or reduced copy, type or breed of anything, an example of which is bonsai i.e. a dwarf tree growing in a pot, produced by special methods of cultivation is reached from MATURE (blossom) as to grow up, blossom, bloom or come of age separated or penetrated (cut) by a combo of IN from the clue and I (island) as the abbreviation for island
25a Regularly seen around in Dunnet Forest (5)
OFTEN: The definition of an adverb meaning often or at repeated times, with equal or similar amounts of time between one time and the next is part of or hidden inside (in) [DUN]NET FO[REST] coming from the other end (seen around) as a reversal in the across clue
26a First to defeat brilliant swimmer (4)
DACE: The first or initial letter (first) to D[EFEAT] followed by ACE (brilliant) as an informal term for an adjective meaning brilliant, outstanding or of highest quality guides to the definition of a small freshwater fish of the family Cyprinidae, especially Leuciscus leuciscus of Eurasia
27a Spokesperson opening with dramatic work (10)
MOUTHPIECE: The definition of one, such as a spokesperson, through which views are expressed is arrived at from a charade of MOUTH (opening) as the opening in the head of an animal or human by which it eats and utters sound or any opening or entrance eg of a bottle, river, cave etc and (with) PIECE (dramatic work) as a literary, dramatic, musical or artistic composition
Down
1d Over 50 in substantial European force (6)
OBLIGE: O (over) as the abbreviation for over or overs as denoted on cricket scorecards and L (50) as the Roman numeral for fifty put inside (in) BIG (substantial) as substantial, monumental or having great significance followed by E (European) as the abbreviation for European as EU in European Union takes to the definition of a verb meaning to compel or force somebody to do something
2d Wayward customer ran through stores (6)
ERRANT: The definition of an adjective meaning capricious, errant or unpredictable is detected from part of or hidden inside (stores) of [CUSTOM]ER RAN T[HROUGH]
3d One disappearing act changed after tricky hitches here (3,8,3)
THE CHESHIRE CAT: The definition of a character from ‘Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland’ known for disappearing, often leaving only its grin behind is arrived at from an anagram (changed) of ACT preceded by or coming after (after) another anagram (tricky) of HITCHES HERE
4d Passing border in record time, heading for Lusaka (9)
EPHEMERAL: The definition of an adjective meaning passing, fleeting or lasting for a very short time is obtained from HEM (border) as an edge or border or a border doubled down and sewed placed inside (in) a combo of EP (record) as an extended-play record that lasts for about eight minutes on each side and ERA (time) as a long and distinct period of history or a main division of geological time followed by the head or topmost letter (heading) for L[USAKA] in the down clue
5d Middle of grotto in which walker, oddly, is nestling (5)
OWLET: The innermost letters (middle) of [GR]OT[TO] having inside (in which) the odd letters (oddly) of W[A]L[K]E[R] leads to the definition of a small or baby owl, an example of which is nestling i.e. a bird that is too young to leave its nest
7d A very English Mass with song and prayer (3,5)
AVE MARIA: A from the clue, V (very) as the abbreviation for very, E (English) as the abbreviation for English, M (mass) as the symbol for the quantity mass as in physics and ARIA (song) as a song that is sung by only one person in an opera or oratorio takes to the definition of the first two words of the Latin version of a prayer in the Roman Catholic Church, based on the salutation of the angel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary and the words of Elizabeth to her
8d Vast area sweetheart tours with male (8)
LANDMASS: The definition of a vast area i.e. a large continuous extent of land is reached from LASS (sweetheart) as a young woman or a sweetheart or loved one going around (tours) a combo of AND (with) as a conjunction denoting with, together with or along with and M (male) as the genealogical abbreviation for male
9d Ridicule swimmer thus leading course (4,6,4)
MOCK TURTLE SOUP: A charade of MOCK (ridicule) as a verb meaning to tease, ridicule or taunt, TURTLE (swimmer) as any of various aquatic and land reptiles having a bony shell and flipper-like limbs and capable of swimming, SO (thus) as an adverb meaning thus or in a way described or demonstrated and UP (leading) as another adverb denoting ahead or in a leading position in a competition takes to the definition of an imitation of turtle soup, made of calf’s head or veal
15d Clubs in midday match without serious competition (2,7)
NO CONTEST: C (clubs) as the abbreviation for clubs that represent the playing cards placed inside (in) NOON (midday) as midday or twelve o’clock in the day followed by TEST (match) as referring to a cricket test match that takes to the definition of a phrase denoting a situation where one side is so dominant that there is no real competition
16d Like mummy‘s fragrance in sea around Cyprus? (8)
EMBALMED: The definition of an adjective describing the state of especially of a dead body that is preserved from decay by aromatic drugs i.e. like mummy, an adjective describing an embalmed or otherwise preserved body, especially as prepared for burial by the ancient Egyptians is arrived at from BALM (fragrance) as an aromatic fragrance placed inside (in) EMED (sea around Cyprus?) as the abbreviation for the Eastern Mediterranean that is a loosely delimited region comprising the easternmost portion of the Mediterranean Sea that could be, among other places, around Cyprus
17d Knight visiting Capitol strangely eschewing Congress? (8)
PLATONIC: N (knight) as the abbreviation for knight in chess notation going in (visiting) an anagram (strangely) of CAPITOL leads to the definition of an adjective meaning intimate and affectionate but not sexual, especially of love or friendship, similar to eschewing congress i.e. abstaining from the act of meeting together or sexual intercourse
19d and 6 Across Eccentric no longer keen on Pink Floyd masterpiece? (3,3,4)
OFF THE WALL: The definition of an adjective meaning highly unusual, bizarre or eccentric is fetched from OFF (no longer keen) as not interested anymore or no longer keen placed upon in the down clue (on) THE WALL (Pink Floyd masterpiece) as the eleventh studio album by the English rock band Pink Floyd that is widely considered a masterpiece and a monumental rock opera
20d Look good on knight’s arm (6)
GLANCE: The definition of a momentary or quick look is reached from G (good) as the abbreviation for good as used in grading placed upon (on) LANCE (knight’s arm) as a weapon or arm traditionally wielded by a knight in the down clue
22d Left in place old Disney character (5)
PLUTO: L (Left) as the abbreviation for left placed inside (in) PUT (place) as to set or place something in a specified location and followed by O (old) as the abbreviation for old takes to the definition of a beloved Disney character known as Mickey Mouse’s loyal and playful pet dog, whose expressive antics and curious nature make him a timeless favourite without ever saying a word
There were several clues that I liked in this puzzle such as 18a, 21a, 23a, 24a, 3d, 4d, 9d and 20d; 18a being the best of the lot. My prayers to the Almighty for the eternal rest and peace of BD and my thanks to NYDK for the entertainment and to Gazza for the encouragement. Looking forward to seeing you here again. Have a nice day.
3*/4* …
liked 13A “Set sights and capture first-rate spy boss (4,3)”