Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31083
Hints and tips by Shabbo
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****
Good morning, fellow puzzlers.
I really enjoyed this perfectly pitched Thursday back page puzzle. Some great surface reads and plenty of clues requiring us to drop or add letters to keep us on our toes. Loads of ticks on my page, including 9a, 22a, 27a, 4d, 6d, 15d and 17d, with my CoD going to 12a – a clever construction and a great word. I will leave you to play “Guess the Setter” as I have no idea. Perhaps he/she will drop in later to take a bow.
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 mystery setter and to the DT Crossword Team.
Across
1a Attendant carrying too much soup (7)
POTTAGE: synonym of attendant outside (carrying) three-letters signifying too much.
5a Carpet at the end enthralling American doctor (7)
LAMBAST: synonym of “at the end” outside (enthralling) single-letter abbreviation for American + abbreviation for doctor (or Medicinae Baccalaureus)
9a Love cycling back to grand capital stadium (9)
VELODROME: the “cycling” technique involves putting all letters in a circle and then starting the word in a different place. Cycle LOVE then add final (back) letter of granD + the eternal city (capital).
10a Crook in make-up you heard moving east (5)
ROGUE: take a type of face powder and move the U towards the end of the word (heading east).
11a Fat poet having left for Belgium (4)
LARD: take a word meaning poet and change the initial letter from B to L (having left for Belgium) .
12a Rubbish detective by barrier inside supermarket (10)
CODSWALLOP: abbreviation for a rank of detective + synonym of barrier inside a four-letter hyphenated supermarket. A lovely word with a couple of possible and plausible derivations.
13a Exile over by street facing discrimination (9)
OSTRACISM: cricket abbreviation for Over + abbreviation for STreet + synonym of a form of discrimination.
16a Total of five hundred after promotion (3)
ADD: Roman numeral for five hundred following (after) abbreviation for promotion or advertisement.
19a Vehicle kept back in reserve (3)
SUB: a large motor vehicle backwards.
20a Vulgar son visiting gallery with two thirds of class (9)
TASTELESS: abbreviation for Son inside (visiting) our favourite gallery + two thirds of a six letter synonym of class or lecture.
22a Celebrant wandering around a place of worship (10)
TABERNACLE: anagram (wandering) of CELEBRANT outside (around) A.
25a Student might take this flower (4)
TEST: double definition. The second definition is something that flows in Hampshire.
27a Exposed X-ray finally identified two bones (5)
RADII: expose (x)RA(y) by removing the first and last letters. Then add the final letter of identifieD and “two” in Roman numerals.
28a Company further involving MOD officer (9)
COMMODORE: abbreviation for COmpany + synonym of further outside (involving) MOD. The solution is a naval officer.
29a Sham figure put in power by socialist (7)
PRETEND: a cardinal number (figure) inside abbreviation for Power + the colour associated with socialist politicians.
30a Astronomical features from North Derby uploaded regularly (7)
NEBULAE: abbreviation for North + the even letters (regularly) of dErBy UpLoAdEd.
Down
1d Relative very irate at first with cat in Oval building? (8)
PAVILION: abbreviation for father + initial letters of Very Irate + a big cat. The Oval building has nothing to do with the White House. It is, of course, the home of Surrey County Cricket Club.
2d Endures taster Leo prepared (9)
TOLERATES: anagram (prepared) of TASTER LEO.
3d One who assists attacker without shelter (4)
AIDE: synonym of attacker or invader without the first and last letters (without shelter).
4d Pass old soldiers occupying centre of Gretna Green? (9)
ECOLOGIST: a well disguised definition. Synonym of mountain pass + abbreviation for Old + abbreviation for American soldiers inside (occupying) the centre of grETna. Very clever.
5d City blazes a trail according to reporter (5)
LEEDS: homophone (according to reporter) of a synonym of “blazes a trail”.
6d Spread stuff about a lot of illness on base (9)
MARMALADE: synonym of stuff (a verb) backwards (about) a synonym of illness without the final letter (a lot of) + the letter signifying the base of the natural system of logarithms. How dare you suggest that I looked that one up?!
7d Article covers styling product for Guardian? (5)
ANGEL: indefinite article on top of (covers – this is a down clue) a styling product for hair. We can ignore the italics and capitalisation of Guardian as the solution has nothing to do with the newspaper.
8d Fools stow beer periodically outside of pubs (6)
TWERPS: every other letter (periodically) of sToW bEeR + the first and last letters (outside) of PubS.
14d Purple and gold cap almost sealing drink (9)
AUBERGINE: chemical symbol for gold + a type of cap worn by the French without the final letter (almost) outside (sealing) a distilled spirit.
15d Heavy delivery of shellfish north of isle (9)
MUSCLEMAN: the definition looks for all the world like an adjective, but here it is a noun. Put a homophone (delivery) of a type of shellfish on top (north) of an island in the Irish Sea.
17d Spotted object on land storing the Spanish fuel (6,3)
DIESEL OIL: a “spotted object” on top of a word meaning land or earth outside (storing) “the” in Spanish. Clever.
18d Sweatier in action so to speak (2,2,4)
AS IT WERE: anagram (in action) of SWEATIER.
21d Excite core of groupies at bottom of prison (4,2)
STIR UP: the middle two letters (core) of groUPies below (at bottom of – this is a down clue) a slang term for prison.
23d Flier avoiding current shift (5)
BUDGE: abbreviation for a domestic caged bird without the I (I = electrical current – don’t ask me – I was rubbish at physics at school).
24d Last month, artist from the south made a bow (5)
ARCED: abbreviation for the last month of the calendar year + abbreviation for artist upside down (from the south).
26d Vault tense with no storage space (4)
TOMB: abbreviation for Tense + how “no storage space” on a computer might be indicated.
Quickie Pun: ANT + HEAP + ASTI = ANTIPASTI
Really enjoyable, started in the NE, swiftly tuned-in to the setter’s wavelength, and made rapid clockwise progress, finishing with 1a. Cracking puzzle – from the surfaces, variety of clue types, fair clueing of what little GK there was, and general humour throughout. Honours to 30a, 15d & COTD 12a.
Many thanks to the setter (Silvanus for my money – we might not have reached Scotland and its fitba teams, but we got to Yorkshire) and to Shabbo
Not me, but thank you for the thought!
Ha, serves me right for gambling!
An enjoyable guzzle with a lot of, approachable clues and a few chewy ones to keep you on your toes. There were some clever lego clues, with 1a, 6d and 14d being g my personal favourites. It must be quite hard to mke a clever clue for a 4 or 5 letter word and 10a was a simple but effective example. Thanks to the compiler and to Sgabbo for the hints
Quite a lot going on in much of the wordplay here, as evidenced by the amount of ink I’ve scribbled to enable parsing of multiple clues.
The answers to 12a and 8d are two cracking words which raised a smile, and both were cleverly constructed.
The Green in 4d, spread stuff about in 6d and the spotted object in 17d were other highlights, but my COTD is the heavy in 17d.
A very enjoyable and amusing puzzle, my thanks to our setter and Shabbo.
Good morning. Like yesterday`s puzzle, I filled in the South quickly, but the North, took more time. Lots to like with the following being some of my favourites; 5a,9a,12a,20a and 28a. Hard to pick a COTD but it`s a toss up between the Naval Officer at 28a or the Balderdash at 12a. Thanks to Shabbo and the Setter.
Not my wavelength I don’t think! I have been staring at the grid for about an hour and put in about 8 answers!
Nor on mine. Struggling today and also struggling to get my head around some of the hints namely 17d which I just cannot fathom. No doubt it will come to me later !
Spotted objects. 😊
Lovely job. I just assumed this was Silvanus but I could easily be wrong. 12a, 29a and 4d all tickled me. I’ve a soft spot for 15d too. Best thanks to setter and Shabbo.
Based on his response to Mustafa G – yes!
At first it was looking like it was going to be a DNS* then two or three clues gave up their secrets and solving sped up – ***/***
I have a list of three possible setters, Silvanus wasn’t a fourth, but I cannot decide which of the three it might be so I will wait to see if anyone claims ownership.
Candidates for favourite – 1a, 11a, and 15d – and the winner is 1a, although I am more familiar with the ‘single T’ version.
Thanks to the setter and Shabbo.
*DNS = Did Not Start
A top-notch puzzle – thanks to our setter and Shabbo.
I particularly liked 9a (extra kudos for getting the word cycling into the clue), 10a, 27a and (my favourite) 4d.
After a slow start, a fairly rapid finish. There were so many excellent clues with some nice gentle humour that it was difficult to pick a winner, but I can’t really look further than our blogger’s selection of 12a. Super entertainment.
Thanks to our Thursday setter for an enjoyable challenge, and to Shabbo.
This is a non RayT week so this puzzle is from who knows?
I found it a difficult start with many clues a bung in as I could not work out parsing. Most of my bung ins worked with a couple tossed out in the end.
3*/3*
Favourites 12a, 16a, 5d, 8d, 14d & 26d — with winners 12a & 8d
Thanks to setter & Shabbo
Was it just me who saw the first word in 6d and bunged in a completely different spread beginning with the same letter? Only came to light when I couldn’t get 16a (stared at it for way to long before realising my error). When will I ever learn??!!
A super puzzle with just the perfect level of difficulty. Thanks setter and to Shabbo for the review which I shall now read
Me too!
Glad I’m not alone!!
No you weren’t – that is at least 3 of us.
And 4!
Trouble with watching the golf and doing the crossword is the concentration lapses . Once I went out to a quiet room it fell very easily . Good grid , favourites include 5,13 and 17 . thanks to all.
The shortage of believable surface reads rather spoiled this one for me but I managed to pick out four for the prizes – 12a plus 4,5&8d.
Thanks to our setter and to Shabbo for the review.
Another splendid puzzle to keep up the very high standard we’ve had this week.
My guess is Tumble me Jumbles as I think it is he who likes the cycling technique or is that Zands?
I didn’t know that sham can be a verb and of course I hate ‘in action’ as an AI.
Its first two meanings are performing or functioning, e.g is your machine in action? Next it says ‘at war’, e.g missing in action. So, is the setter using this one or another? For an AI to work, it needs to be the obvious meaning of a nailed on AI. A rookie doesn’t have a cat in hell’s chance.
This abuse of AI has got to stop. I say again, if there were only 20 or 30 to choose from then fair enough. But there are over a thousand!
Regarding the two splendid words in 12a and 8d, it is no coincidence that they end in p. 90% of short words with this final letter are are onomatopoeic. It’s such a satisfying letter to say.
My podium is 11a, 12a and 1d.
MT to Mr T (?) and Shabbs.
2*/4*
TDS65, 18d. I think you’re being a bit harsh (not least on yourself) regarding the AI. May I give my opinion to add some balance? An AI should convey some sort of suggestion that the letters of the fodder need to be moved about/rearranged – often a plain indication but sometimes more subtle or even rather cryptic/somewhat indirect. They don’t all have to be “nailed on”. “In action” can simply mean “moving”.
Was the machine working/moving when the accident occurred? Yes, it was was in action. In action is also a synonym of “on manoeuvres” – and that would have been another suitable AI (but maybe too obvious).
That’s how I see it …
Fair enough J but I don’t agree.
Moving (working) means it has some life in it (not necessarily physical) and that’s the difference. If ‘in action’ automatically meant physical movement, i.e move the letters, then I’m okay with it. But, it’s not the first meaning. Second or third or even fourth choice synonyms shouldn’t be used. They’re too far away.
‘In action’ doesn’t necessarily mean manoeuvres though, of course, it can.
It smacks of desperation and these legend setters are most certainly not desperate.
Hang on a minute buddy – you were ok with snap yesterday because of the association with crackle & pop 😀
Indeed. I’d say that snap is a much more indirect AI than in action.
The first meaning I think of when I hear the word ‘snap’ is ‘break’ which is an AI. It’s the first one, well, for me anyway.
‘In action’ means operating or functioning which doesn’t automatically mean ‘in motion’.
Like the Krispies reference, btw, Hoots. Whoever dreamt up ‘Snap, Crackle and Pop’ is a genius. Did you know that Murray Walker coined ‘Opal Fruits, made to make your mouth water’? He often gets credit for ‘A Mars a day etc’ but he said it was someone else at the company.
We love Murray.
The action of a watch is called its movement or motion if you like. Action is on some of the online AI lists. Have you got the official list (if there is one) and if so where is it to be found?
I would throw it in the bin as it would drive me potty (great word). Potty Time: what a programme that was.
If your mind is functioning/operating, it doesn’t mean it’s moving.
‘In action’ should not be on the AI list. It’s one too far and will put off rookies…..and me!
Didn’t know that – used to love Opal Fruits. Never watch ads now but amazing how the jingles from the days of yore lodge in your memory –
What has a hazelnut in every bite etc.
I loved them, Hoots.
The problem is I never watch adverts anymore. The minute they come on, I start doomscrolling which is, I admit, a disgrace. I restrict it to just this and have yet to double screen though I’ve been close.
I am hanging my head.
A Topic or squirrel s – – t !
Nope, you’ve got me there, Impy.
Care to run it by me again…
Reply was meant for Huntsman, a Topic had a hazelnut in every bite
Tom, I also believed for a long time that Murray Walker coined “Made to make your mouth water” until I saw a letter in The Times shortly after he died https://www.thetimes.com/comment/article/letters-to-the-editor-rn7g96cpl
“WALKERING BACK
You are correct to say that, in spite of the popular myth, my former colleague Murray Walker did not write “A Mars a day helps you work, rest and play” (Sport, last week). I know that for a fact because I did, together with another colleague, Francis Harmar-Brown. But, contrary to your report, Walker did not write “Opal Fruits: Made to make your mouth water” either. Again, that was me and Harmar. Indeed, I was awarded £5 for coming up with the name Opal Fruits. Credit where it’s due.
Peter Phillips, Loudwater, Hertfordshire”
The letter doesn’t seem to have made an impact on the myth on the internet though.
As you probably know, other famous slogan writers included Fay Weldon – Go to work on an egg, and Salman Rushdie – Fresh cream cakes: naughty, but nice.
(Today’s puzzle isn’t mine, btw.)
Fascinating what you learn (then probably forget) on this site – from a cream horn to the Satanic Verses – who’d ’ave thunk it.
Good to hear from you, Mr T.
I’m fairly sure Murray said on the radio – I think Desert Island Disceroonies – that he came up with it.
I’ll do some online digging tomorrow.
Keep up your oh so tremendous work.
Yes, I’ve definitely heard MW claiming it. I get the feeling that Peter Phillips was letting off steam at the long-standing injustice after he read the tribute that mentioned it yet again. (Of course, he himself could be mistaken!)
It was me that came up with “Simples” for that meerkat. Pass it on.
Like it, Tumbledown. Like it.
It’s all good fun.
Action = movement/activity. That can include the physical/real action/movement of shifting letters about, surely. An AI needs to suggest some/any sense of movement (of letters in this case).
See my comment I just posted.
I hate abbreviations .. here was me thinking AI was artificial intelligence (now isn’t that the greatest oxymoron ever) before the penny dropped. In action implies motion so I don’t so what is wrong with that. Also both sham and the solution at 29a can be adjectives so no need to get your undergarments in twist over it being a verb.
A good solve however I got bogged down by bunging in elopement for the Gretna Green clue at 4a.. that’ll teach me!
Hi BE
I was saying that I didn’t know sham could be a verb which I’ve now learnt.
Solved on the train coming back from a great gig late last night. Not the quickest solve but thoroughly enjoyed it & probably appreciated the puzzle’s merits even more so reading back through again this morning. A plethora of ✅s – 9,12,13,20,22,27&28a + 4,15&17d my top 10 of particular likes with the inept store security top of the hit parade.
Thanks to the setter (T or Karla probably high up in the betting but I’ll have a sporty few bob on Dharma) & to Shabbo, whose review I will now read.
An excellent Thursday offering, about average difficulty for this day. Fine clues and an enjoyable solve. Several ticks and the best two for me: 9a and 4d. 3*/4*.
Thanks to the Setter and Shabbo. We could not get on the setter wavelength today and struggled to progress. Eventually resorted to using the hints. Mangled brains back refreshed tomorrow!
* / ***
Must’ve been right on wavelength today as this flowed quickly building out from previous answers with little to have to go back to. Just a few parsings to check – thanks Shabbo – otherwise very straightforward but no less enjoyable for that. Probably spent longest trying to use “after promotion’ in 16a to move a letter around rather than the obvious! Ticks went to the 12a rubbish – love that word, the 29a sham socialist and the 30a astronomical features. COTD went to the 8d fools – another lovely word.
Thanks to the setter and Shabbo.
I’m afraid I’m going to upset the boat today because I simply did not get on with today’s offering. In 5a, I did not realise “enthralling” meant to surround and I completely forgot the expression for too much in 1a. I have not come across the word at 24d before. Needed far too many hints for it to be enjoyable.
Thank you, setter but my brain was not in gear so I could not do your clever puzzle justice. Thank you, Shabbo for the hints, which I needed today.
Well that certainly got the little grey cells working overtime. I needed two nudges from Shabbo to get me over the line and also giving me the parsing for 17d which I just couldn’t see. Cotd goes to the elegant 9a. Thanks to compiler for the mental workout and Shabbo.
I am in the very slow to start camp and initially also put the wrong spread at 6d (which I couldn’t parse). It was not until I got to the last few downs that I managed my first clue and then slowly and surely the rest suddenly became clearer and I really felt a sense of achievement when I finished it. My favourite was 12a. This would have been an easy puzzle to dismiss as impossible if I had been in a rush.
Many thanks to the setter and to Shabbo for the hints
A 2*/4* puzzle today with 12a & 8d my top picks – both great words.
Many thanks to the setter and to Shabbo.
An enjoyable Thursday level puzzle that started slowly and picked up speed as it progressed. I was spared the spread trap at 6d by already having a checking letter in place that ruled it out. Thank you to the setter and Shabbo.
Shabbo, re why the letter I represents electric currant, it stands for “intensité du courant” (current intensity) and was first used by French physicist and mathematician André-Marie Ampère who also gave us the name of the unit used to measure electric current, the ampere (or amp for short). The letter C could not be used because it had already been allocated to “capacitance”.
Merci beaucoup.
All done bar 4 down into which two words would fit but I couldn’t for the life of me see why either worked – and then I resorted to the hints. Brilliant!
Another vote for 12a as COTD
A good puzzle although I was beaten by some of the word play today. Almost went for margarine at 6d with some checkers in place before malady seemed more appropriate.
Thanks to Shabbo and Setter.
Got my contrary head on today. Managed to get a foothold at first pass and then ground to a halt. Regulars will know that I try to restrict myself on the number of hints by only using the pictured ones. There were a nice sprinkling of those today, but I had already correctly answered 6 of those… hence contrary. Assuming above my pay grade today. Setting aside until lunch time by when I hope to find the right wavelength. Thanks to setter and Shabbo.
Really loved this puzzle today which was a notch up from the last few days. Luckily I managed to get on the mystery setters wavelength. Thanks to the setter and Shabbo.
For me (and in contrast to Shabbo & Co.) this was a completely joyless solve but I battled on and somehow sorted it however I was minus numerous parsings and do question some solutions which had to be. Reassured to find there were other sceptics. The only guess above at the setter could well be right as I can never get onto his wavelength. Thank you unidentified setter and Shabbo.
1.5* / 4* Another cracking puzzle, loads of witty clues and great misdirection. I personally like all the varying anagram indicators, it makes it more interesting.
Favourites today include the very clever 9a stadium, 12a rubbish and the green 4d.
Thanks to the mysterious setter and Shabbo
12A and 15D are great, but ‘no storage space’ at 26D was hilarious.
VMT to our excellent Setter and to Shabbo.
Good evening
One of those crozzies where I sat and stared at the grid for ages before tentatively picking up my pen and twigging one or two…. then a couple more…then grinding to a halt. Then repeating. Got there in the end – just!
One or two parsing issues, so grateful for Shabbo and his helpful hintingtons. Some tremendous clues; the stand-out for me (and I stress, for me 😉) being 12a.
No way am I hazarding a guess at the setter; I will end by saying thank you to whomsoever.
Enough straightforward clues to give a start then came the difficult job of teasing out the less obvious ones. Got there after much head scratching. Several candidates for favourite but I’ll go with 12a, splendid word. Thanks to the setter and Shabbo.
That was a slog but got there in the end. Struggled to get more than half a dozen clues or so but kept getting the odd answer then after a break quite a few others fell into place. Misidentified the definition for 14d, trying to think of a drink, amber something or other kept springing to mind, rather than a shade.
COTD for me was 4d which I thought very clever.
Thank you to the setter and to Shabbo for the hints.
No doubt on my own on not finishing this offering as well as not enjoying it a great deal.
I couldn’t get past margarine for 6d even though it didn’t parse. Not a fan of this clue.
Also didn’t like 17d. Many oils will work in petrol and diesel engines… Unless I’m missing something.
Despite my whinging above, thanks to all.
Lovely puzzle. Thanks to the setter and Shabbo for explaining the last 3 letters of 26d.
My, that was a juicy puzzle ! Regarding 25a (Student might take this flower), can I offer “LEAT” as an alternative answer, Shabbo?