Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31090
Hints and tips by Mr K
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BD Rating - Difficulty *** - Enjoyment ****
Hello, everyone, and welcome to a solid and enjoyable Friday puzzle. I’m afraid that work and other commitments meant that I started solving and hinting today very late, meaning that I was once again left with no time to hunt for suitable pictures. I hope that the commentariat will provide a few. I shall try to do better in the future.
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. Please leave a comment telling us how you got on.
Across
1a Drink with discontented international broadcaster (6)
WHISKY: Link together the outer letters (dis-contented) of WITH, the single letter for international, and a satellite broadcasting company
4a Strong fishing nets catching Atlantic tuna primarily about (8)
STALWART: Some fishing nets that are dragged along the seabed containing (catching) the initial letters (primarily) of ATLANTIC and TUNA, all reversed (about)
9a Law match official previously bent (6)
REFLEX: A Latin word for law is preceded by (… previously) an informal name for a match official
10a Jeopardise close to ten grand earned building houses (8)
ENDANGER: An anagram (building) of EARNED contains (houses) both the final letter (close to) of TEN and the single letter for grand
12a Swimmer enjoys going around lake (4)
MERE: SWIMMER ENJOYS is hiding (going around) the answer
13a Reportedly destined to be honoured (5)
FETED: A homophone (reportedly) of another word for destined
14a Short female cut cheese (4)
BRIE: In a word meaning short the single letter for female is deleted (cut)
17a Time I missed potentially having skiing holiday (12)
THANKSGIVING: The physics symbol for time with an anagram (potentially) of HAVING SKIING minus an I (I missed). The holiday is celebrated next week in my part of the world, followed by a crazy and hype-filled shopping day which I believe has now reached the UK. Sorry about that
20a Rubbish inside quiet eastern railway terminus causes outcry (12)
PROTESTATION: Another word for rubbish is sandwiched by (inside) the musical abbreviation for quiet and the single letter for eastern, and that’s all followed by a common word for a railway terminus
23a Know Musk ignoring all outsiders shows common sense (4)
NOUS: The inner letters (ignoring all outsiders) of KNOW and MUSK
24a Turn towards celebrity making comeback (5)
PIVOT: Synonyms of towards and celebrity are joined and reversed (making comeback)
25a Fruit, not round as it happens (4)
LIVE: A Mediterranean fruit that is often used to make oil has the round letter deleted (not round)
28a Determined to use our steel abroad (8)
RESOLUTE: An anagram (abroad) of OUR STEEL
29a Lowers belt, tactfully turning clasps (6)
CATTLE: The reversal (turning) of BELT TACTFULLY hides (clasps) the answer. The definition is cryptic, with lowers being things that low
30a Those moaning seeing footballers tackling hard (8)
WHINGERS: Some speedy footballers who often play on the edges of the pitch containing (tackling) the pencil abbreviation for hard
31a Mimic perhaps Henry's wife books (6)
PARROT: One of Henry VIII’s wives with the abbreviation for a usual collection of religious books
Down
1d Fellow employee Mark two interns essentially replaced (8)
WORKMATE: An anagram (re-placed) of MARK TWO and the central letter (essentially) of INTERNS
2d During class advanced student becomes relaxed (8)
INFORMAL: Concatenate another word for during, a synonym of class, the single letter for advanced, and the single letter indicating a student or learner driver
3d Was familiar with novel being broadcast (4)
KNEW: A homophone (being broadcast) of novel or not old
5d Single-minded determination that Stonehenge road planners had? (6,6)
TUNNEL VISION: The answer phrase could, whimsically, also describe what those planning a new road configuration for Stonehenge had
6d Metal star (4)
LEAD: A straightforward double definition
7d Bishop leaves Welsh city, area that produces wool (6)
ANGORA: A Welsh city minus the chess abbreviation for bishop (bishop leaves) is followed by the single letter for area. The wool producer is a rabbit
8d Fare for 17 Across to get to holiday destination (6)
TURKEY: The traditional centrepiece of the 17a meal is also a destination for holidaymakers and those seeking cheap cosmetic surgery and hair transplants
11d Olympian raising the bar? (12)
WEIGHTLIFTER: A cryptic definition of a sportsperson who raises a massive bar
15d Avoid confronting flipping cheats, caught out (5)
SKIRT: The reversal (flipping) of cheats or fools, minus the cricket abbreviation for caught (caught out)
16d Steal small article Barbie's boyfriend's carrying around (5)
SNEAK: The single letter for small with the reversal (around) of Mattel Barbie’s boyfriend containing (carrying) a grammatical article
18d Left relative sandwiches at home (8)
SINISTER: A close female relative contains (sandwiches) “at home” or “not out”
19d Concern for profit (8)
INTEREST: Another straightforward double definition
21d Doctor is visiting again, he's a saint (6)
ANDREW: An abbreviation for doctor is inserted in (visiting) again or afresh
22d Greek character given occasionally less plain breakfast food (6)
MUESLI: A Greek letter that might be heard coming from the best pet animal is followed by alternate letters (occasionally) of LESS PLAIN
26d Sell VW car in retirement (4)
FLOG: The reversal (in retirement) of a compact and sporty Volkswagen model
27d How's it going in France making wine? (4)
CAVA: The (2,2) French phrase for “how’s it going” minus its space and accent
Thanks to today’s setter. Which clues did you like best?
The Quick Crossword pun: GYM + PANSY = CHIMPANZEE
Good fun, if a bit trickier than other offerings this week. My favourite was the visual complaint at 5d although I thought the bovine misdirection (well it fooled me anyway) at 29a was excellent. Thanks very much to the setter and to Mr K.
Good morning. This is in the words of my children “a banger” of a puzzle. It was by no means a read and fill; in fact nearly every clue demanded 100% concentration. It’s impossible to pick three for the podium as so many of the clues are brilliant. 1, 10, 12, 14, 20, 23 and 30 across, 2, 5, 7 and 12 for the downs. Loved the protesting station and Olympian. Thanks to setter and reviewer.
That should be 11d, not 12d!
4*/5*. We are being royally spoilt on Fridays with what I assume is another super-smooth Silvanus masterpiece for the second week running.
It was very challenging in places with some complex parsing to unravel, but it was great fun from start to finish.
I have far too many ticks to list them all.
Many thanks to Silvanus (?) and to Mr K.
A generally smooth solve with some ‘Friday’ pauses for thought suggests that this is a Silvanus production so I will extract a couple of Toonies from my sock draw that, as Shabbo said, I didn’t need yesterday – 3*/4.5*
Candidates for favourite – 1a, 12a, 24a, 18d, and 25d – and the winner is 1a.
Thanks to Silvanus, or whomsoever if my Toonies go down the drain and thanks to MrK.
To go with my favourite:
Your cat in the picture is the spitting image of our ginger cat called King Vidor, who is sadly missed even though his replacements are just as charming….
Brilliant puzzle today, which for me was nipping at the heels of a toughie.
Great misdirection all over the place, especially with the skiing holiday, priceless!
Last in for me was 9a (we never done no La’in at the comp guv), but it couldn’t be much else from the letters already in it.
My two of the day are the aforementioned 17a, and the fishing 4a.
Great fun!
A challeenging puzzle for me but not impossie once I got a good start in the SW corner. My COTD was the excellent cryptic definition at 5d, followed by another cryptic definition at 9d. Joint third on the podium are the clever Lego clue at 18d and the double definition at 19d. Thanks to Mr K for the hints and to the compiler for a very absorbing puzzle.
For me this was an easier Friday puzzle than the last couple have been, but still not easy. Also, this is the second puzzle this week where the bottom was harder to complete than the top half. Did not get a lot of the parsing.
3*/3.5* for me
Favourites 20a, 25a, 5d, 7d, 11d & 26d — with co-winners 5d & 26d as both made me chuckle
Thanks to Silvanus(?) & Mr K
Top quality entertainment for a sunny Shropshire morning that was pleasingly tricky and an absolute delight to solve. I will select 1a and 5d as co-favourites but in truth it could have been pretty much any of them, such was the excellence on offer.
Thanks to whomsoever set this little gem, and to Mr K.
A tricky Friday offering from Silvanus and I needed to go away and let the subconscious continue working on 24a, the last to fall
3*/5*
Very satisfying to solve with the 17a/8d combo as favourite once the penny dropped. 21d made me smile as I did not picture a saint once solved.
Thanks to Silvanus and Shabbo
Sorry – thanks to Mr K for the hints
I’m sure the expert solvers here will have really enjoyed this, but for me the parsing was just too oblique in places and it was a bit of a slog.
It’s definitely Friday.
Perfectly pitched for a Friday and very entertaining – thanks to our setter and Mr K.
My rosettes were pinned to 1a, 4a, 29a, 5d and 21d.
Not too difficult considering it’s a Friday, though I did have to revisit and couple to fully parse them.
The fishy goings on in 4a and the dodgy refereeing suggested in 9a were my last two in, so I’ll nominate those for honours.
Best backpager of the week for me, my thanks to our setter and Mr K.
Friday could become my favourite crossword day of the week if we were treated to such a ‘smooth’ production every time but that’s sadly unlikely to happen so I’ll just have to make the best of it whilst it lasts. I certainly came across a couple of tricky bits of parsing today and also needed to check on the required definition of 9a – not one that’s familiar to me, but the ticks mounted up very quickly. My ‘long’ list included the likes of 25,30&31a plus 5&27d with eventual winners being 31a & 5d.
Many thanks to Silvanus for the highlight of my day and thanks also to Mr K for another of his informative reviews.
I haven’t heard from Kath for a long time She was so kind to me when my daughter was diagnosed and I tried to email her last week, to no avail. Anyone any news?
No joy from any of my emails either, I do miss her comments.
Surely a Smooth production with all of the usual excellence we’ve come to expect as standard. Stick a tick next to pretty well all of ‘em so a challenge to isolate a top 10 never mind a podium.
Thanks to the setter & to Mr K
Quite a tricky one today or it may just be that I have a busy day and so felt under pressure, and it is Friday. I did have some help with parsing a few but it was an excellent puzzle which I learnt a lot from. My favourite was 5d once I figured it out.
Many thanks to the setter and to Mr K for the hints
I found this really tough although the bottom half went in quickly with the exception of 24a last one in . Couldn’t for the life of me see either of the 1’s daa ! . Some great clues but DNF needed too many hints . Favourite 30a , because that’s how I feel when it all doesn’t come together . Thanks to all .
I too found it like “Rich Dosho”:
‘A little too oblique’ but parts great fun
A dnf unaided for me. I got bogged down with about two thirds completed and resorted to Mr K’s hints. With the hints giving a nudge in the correct direction I did wonder why I missed the obvious. But, then everything is obvious once it has been pointed out. Certainly an elegant puzzle befitting a Friday. Just too good for me today. Hats off to the compiler especially for the linked 17a /8d and to Mr K.
Needed the hints to parse 9a and 27d as neither my latin or French are up to snuff, but they had to be what they were. Tricky in places, well quite a few actually. Favourite was 20a. Thanks to the setter and Mr. K.
Brilliant.
Silvanus just gets better and better.
I cannot possibly pick a favourite or even a podium. Each clue was a mini masterpiece of the setter’s art.
Research tells me that the 17a holiday is not just an American event, so no US indicator is required, of course!
More like this please.
Thank you Mr K and Silvanus.
This was ‘tough, i.e’ what we can expect on a Friday. Silvanus at his ‘Heath Robinson’ best.
I started off well but slowed down until I got the splendid 17a. Some of you won’t know that this holiday, in the good ol’ US of A, is always the fourth Thursday of this month. I reckon it will be, hmm, 2030 when setters stop using the country in 8d and replace it with its new spelling.
I think ‘abroad’ is a truly dreadful AI because its first few meanings are ‘overseas’, ‘away’, ‘out of the country’ or ‘on holiday’. I understand that it can be an AI but it’s too far down the list. However, it won’t affect my rating as it was a sublime crossword.
My podium is 17a, 5d and 11d.
MT to Sade and Mr K.
4*/5*
I forgot to include on my podium the brilliant enquiry about the wine-making across La Manche.
Talking of enquiry…the difference between it and inquiry is that the latter tends to be a formal investigation.
The i of inquiry the i of investigation.
Simples!
There endeth the lesson.
Fr Tom
Many thanks as ever to Mr K and to all those solving and commenting.
It’s very nice to have a puzzle of mine published today, as it was seven years ago exactly, on November 21st, 2018, that my very first Telegraph cryptic (Toughie 2,129) appeared, blogged by Gazza. It’s interesting to look back at who commented that day, many who are thankfully still with us, but others like Dutch who sadly no longer are, and some like Jean-Luc, Shopshirelad and LetterboxRoy who are fairly infrequent visitors nowadays.
May I wish everyone a very good weekend.
Happy anniversary. Don’t know how you roll ‘em out one after another to such a consistent standard.A shame the archive on the puzzles app only goes back to 2020 otherwise I’d have given your debut a go this evening – might as well as I’m getting nowhere with Osmosis. 🤔
I can scarcely believe it but hearty congratulations to you. Just promise that you won’t get the 7-year itch and move on to pastures new – I couldn’t face it!
Thanks to MrK and Silvanus. We struggled with this puzzle. Resorted to hints. LOI 31. COTD 5d.
***** / ***
A real struggle for me today. Second day this week of synonym blindness (someone should come up with a clue for that except it’s too many letters for one clue, maybe we’ll see it on a Saturday as a multi-light!) and an effective DNF due to needing the hints to get anywhere with 4a and 24a. Think it’s more down to the hell of a week I’ve had! Ticks went to the 20a eastern railway terminus, the 18d left and 27d wine. To exemplify just how ‘off wavelength’ I was, even the VW took ages to get and it’s obvious. Also wasn’t helped by coming up with another wool location for 7d that fitted but stopped the 14a cheese going in until a big re-think.
Many thanks to Silvanus, you beat me yet again and to Mr K for the much needed hints.
The South provided a smooth run but the other half was quite a different story and MrG was called upon to help with several sticky patches. Holiday destination is a pretty unimaginative description for 8d. Failed to think of 9a component as law. 27d needs to be voiced with inflection for “how’s it going?”. Thank you Silvanus and MrK.
Good afternoon
It’s been a lousy week for me, crozzie-wise. As I’ve been training new colleagues at work, I’ve not had any slack time for a quick 5 minutes with the grid. Other stuff going on at home didn’t help! I got half-way through Monday’s, Tuesday’s, and Wednesday’s crozzies; I did finish yesterday’s (thank you to the Mighty Mr. T) but didn’t make it here. And so to today: a tremendous challenge, which, I am not surprised to learn, is the work of the legendary Brain Of Silvanus.
And I have to declare a DNF. Hoyed the sponge in with 12a and 4a still to fill in. I simply couldn’t summon up the word for 4a, despite having all four checkers in place. I could bloomin well kick myself for not spotting 12a.
COTD is 29a – sublime!
Many thanks to Silvanus and to Mr K.
I thought I was going to struggle on this and didn’t get started until halfway through the Across clues, but diligently going round the houses it slowly came together. A very friendly offering for a Friday from the setter. Living near to Stonehenge and suffering with glaucoma, 5d was a shoo-in for me!
The match official gets my thumbs up.
***/****
A DNF for me again but appreciated the top class clueing. Another good thing today is the superb Quickie pun. No questions about accents and dialects it just is.
Thanks to Mr K for the enlightenment and to Silvanus for a lesson in crossword solving.
Very enjoyable with Stonehenge as my CotD – thanks MrK and Silvanus … and congratulations on your 7 year milestone
Fun, smooth. Weirdly, given my day fragmented by grandchild care and work, this all fell in to place in ** time.
COTD 4a for the brain work-out and sweetest PDM.
Two things struck me: I always think of 4a as a noun; and I don’t think I’ve seen an elegant clue for 8d.
Many thanks MrK and the setter (who may live near the A303?).
Silvanus gave us another great puzzle today to mark his 7th anniversary. From the broadcaster at the top left to the remarkable 16th century lady at the bottom right, it was all superb. I think 17A has to be COTD … what on earth goes through the setter’s mind when producing a beauty like that. VMT also to Mr K.
I didn’t get chance to look at the puzzle until later this afternoon and really struggled. Checking almost every other hint! I spent ages thinking 11d was ‘pole vaulter’ but knew it couldn’t be because it was a letter short and hyphenated. COTD 5d. Many thanks to Silvanus and congratulations on your 7 year record. Thanks also to Mr K. Have a nice weekend everyone but wrap up warm!
A tricky puzzle today , and I did think maybe I wouldn’t complete , but slogged through it and got there in the end. I did do a few checks with the App on the way. I need to check a few parsings also. Thanks so much to Silvanus and to Mr K.
A dnf today despite having more time than normal for a Friday solve.
Needed the hints for several clues and the answers for a couple.
5d is a bit naughty as it requires specific knowledge of the road going past Stonehenge and the ongoing palaver around it.
Thanks to all.
I’m afraid Silvanus and I are on different planets, and not helped that I do not get to the Friday puzzles until mid afternoon, so little time to really think. But I didn’t expect an easy pass today so no surprise. Got only 4 answers at first pass. LOL at 22d as Kellogg’s version has recently been withdrawn in South Florida, and can find nothing that compares. Oh well such is life. Congrats to all the smart people above. Thanks to Silvanus and Mr K.
No time to look at the puzzle today. Still having issues with a broken down car and the AA not delivering. They said they would be with me by 3.00 but had not appeared by 4.30. When I rang them they said it would be another hour to an hour and a half. I had no coat and I was starting to shiver. 🥶 I cancelled their visit and asked them to reschedule it for tomorrow afternoon. They said they would be with me tomorrow between 1 and 3 o’clock, which is what they have said for the last two days. At least I have broken down in a pub car park so I get to have another pub lunch for a third day running.
I do hope normal service will be resumed ASAP because it seems I am missing some good puzzles.
Good evening Steve. It sounds to me that you have more time than most to look at the x word: Broken down car, Pub, Paper, Pen! The barmaid is a doll or the pints are nectar!
Trouble is, Conor I didn’t have my paper. 😕
The beer was lovely, the barmaid charming but the pub closed and all was lost!
Hellish indeed……glad you came out the other side!
4* / 3* V difficult, on reflection some good clues, but generally struggled.
Thanks to Mr K and Silvanus
4*/4* …
liked 31A “Mimic perhaps Henry’s wife books (6)”
That was one of my top picks as well – excellently contrived.
😊