Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31105
Hints and tips by Huntsman
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty * Enjoyment ***
It’s looking like another thoroughly wet & miserable day in these & many other parts so a good job we’ve puzzles to entertain us.
Even by Typically Tuesday(ish) standards I’d rank today’s production on the gentle side. Perhaps it was a happy case of tuning in but it’s not often virtually all of the answers yield on the first read through – not I hasten to add that means there won’t be an error somewhere in the review. I assume Anthony Plumb is the setter & it was an enjoyable solve for the short time it lasted. After 2 days of crumpet scratching to no avail I was thankful for a Quickie pun even I could figure out.
As ever there are an assortment of tunes + a pic at 22a that some will understand the relevance of.
In the hints below the definition element of each clue has been underlined, anagrams are CAPITALISED & the crossword technique “indicator words” are in brackets. The answers are concealed under the Click Here buttons. Please leave a comment below telling us what you thought & how you got on with the puzzle.
Across
1a Huge bird with flap taking off quietly (7)
TITANIC: a small songbird + a synonym for flap/agitation less (taking off) the musical letter for quietly.
5a Cut diamonds found after sea captain docked (7)
SKIPPED: a term for a sea captain truncated (docked) then append (found after) Diamonds (card suit).
9a More distinguished relative ruddy knocked back (7)
GRANDER: an informal term for an older relative + a reversal (knocked back) of ruddy/rubicund.
10a Accept a little pressure before show (7)
APPROVE: A from the clue + the single letter for Pressure (little) precede (before) a synonym for show/verify.
11a Improving product, essentially after working with the chaps (2,3,4)
ON THE MEND: the usual synonym for working + THE from the clue + chaps/males + the middle letter (essentially) of pro[D]uct.
12a Checks rules having lost first of games (5)
REINS: a synonym for rules/on the throne less the initial letter of Games (having lost first of).
13a Greek character in debt, he taunts (5)
THETA: hidden.
15a Youngsters sneer and get a rollicking (9)
TEENAGERS: an anagram of SNEER GET A.
17a Again reported what better patient had done (9)
RECOVERED: a prefix indicating again + a synonym of reported in the context of a journalist’s piece.
19a Records parrots following end of flight (5)
TAPES: parrots/imitates preceded by (following) the last letter (end) of fligh[T].
22a PR bias engulfing a European country (5)
SPAIN: a term for PR bias particularly associated with politics goes round (engulfing) A from the clue.
23a What movie boss gives way? (9)
DIRECTION: a double definition.
25a Ace chapter and noble story (7)
ACCOUNT: the single letter abbreviation for Ace & for Chapter + a European rank of nobility equivalent to an earl in Britain.
26a Aida perhaps half late for work (7)
OPERATE: the musical drama that Aida is an example of + 50% (half) of la[TE].
27a Resists converting nuns (7)
SISTERS: an anagram (converting) of RESISTS.
28a Dazed zebras not oddly making tracks (7)
NUMBERS: a synonym for dazed/stupefied + the even letters (not oddly) of zEbRaS. Nowt to do with their hoofprints.
Down
1d Upset tummy? Enjoy leaving small vessel (7)
TUGBOAT: a synonym for tummy reversed (upset/down clue) + a (maybe not the first to spring to mind) synonym for enjoy minus (leaving) S[mall] – think for example Pebble Beach Links enjoys stunning vistas of the Pacific Ocean & Carmel Bay.
2d Pay tribute to diet cutting both ends off type of sandwich (7)
TOASTIE: pay tribute to (with bubbles preferably) + d[IE]t (cutting both ends off). Cheese & tomato with plenty of black pepper my order at the halfway house at our club.
3d Jog in the altogether enthralling grounds, initially (5)
NUDGE: in the altogether/starkers around (enthralling) G[rounds] (initially).
4d Bellyache? Go in chippy (9)
CARPENTER: bellyache/moan + a verb for go in. Nowt to do with where Elvis works.
5d Laurel perhaps next to daughter’s plant (5)
STAND: the forename of one half of a comedy duo + Daughter (genealogical abbreviation). The definition is in the context of set or place in a particular position.
6d This writer’s left social worker’s grave (9)
IMPORTANT: a pronoun/verb combo contraction for this writer + a nautical left + a social worker/colonial insect.
7d Fork out for five fish (7)
PROVIDE: an adverb meaning in favour of/for + the Roman numeral for five + a welcome reappearance for our setter’s oft used freshwater ray-finned fish.
8d Doctor, regularly tense, seeks bandages (7)
DRESSES: the usual abbreviation for doctor followed by the alternate letters (regularly) in the two words preceding the definition.
14d Exploit a rude criminal securing release (9)
ADVENTURE: insert (securing) a synonym for release/emit into an anagram (criminal) of A RUDE.
16d Colour that is rejected on blue quilt (9)
EIDERDOWN: think of a colour + the abbreviation for that is then reverse (rejected) them & append a synonym for blue/depressed.
17d Imps run and disrupt a class (7)
RASCALS: the cricket abbreviation for Run + an anagram (disrupt) of A CLASS.
18d Risks moving chicanes? Not I ! (7)
CHANCES: an anagram (moving) of CH[i]CANES (not I).
20d Talk idly about one very common soldier (7)
PRIVATE: a synonym for talk idly/babble goes around (about) the Roman numeral letter for one & Very.
21d Offenders getting intimate in ship (7)
SINNERS: a synonym for intimate/private is placed within (in) the usual ship prefix.
23d Courts shortened trial, supporting District Attorney (5)
DATES: remove the final letter (shortened) from another word for trial/examination which goes under (supporting/down clue) District Attorney.
24a Finest rock group of the 1960s (5)
CREAM: a double definition.
Podium spots for 1&23a along with 2d. Please be sure to tell us which clues ticked your boxes.
Today’s Quick Crossword pun: HOE + MAD + DRESS = HOME ADDRESS
I was very sad to read of the passing of Steve Cropper in the Telegraph’s Sat obituary column. He was one of the true greats of Stax Records & of course lead guitar for Booker T & the MGs. Here he is with Boz Scaggs
The usual Tuesday fare from the professor although it took me a while to get into it. However, that is down to me rather than the puzzle because I slept heavily last night and still feel woozy. The only clue I don’t understand is 28a as I can’t see were zebras come into it. No doubt I will groan when I see the hint. I liked the finest rock group at 24d but my COTD is the huge bird at 1a.
Thank you, AP for another fun puzzle. Thank you, Hintsman for the hunts.
Very wet and drear in The Marches so a day for staying indoors.
Re 28a, Huntsman explains it well in his clue
He does, indeed, Conor and I now understand it. 😊
This was a reasonably straight forward solve even though some of the clues were quite complex; Lego, I believe is what that they are called with 16d being a case in point. There were no hold ups and the solve was quick and enjoyable. Lots to like 19, 22 and 26 across 2, 4, 16, 17 and 21 down all contenders for places on the podium. 16d is my CoTD and 12a was my LOI. Thanks to Huntsman for the hints which were not needed and the setter for the entertainment.
Tuesday Toughie Blogger here just dropping in with a plug for today’s Dada Toughie. It is a belter, and very accessible without being a full-on Floughie.
I’ll be back later to see what Huntsman has in store.
I’ll happily second that recommendation – it’s very accessible & good fun too.
I will third it because I have just finished it. Not an unaided solve but I managed about 95% and there are some cracking clues from Dada.
WB
thank you for the tip which i always appreciate .
i’ll get on to it
This was just what I needed to cheer up what has been a thoroughly soggy and windy morning here in Shropshire. I think we have missed the worst of what Storm Bram is hurling at some of the country, but it is pretty grim. The puzzle was neatly straightforward with no obscurities to slow down the solve. For a favourite I went for 16d.
Thanks to AP and The Hintsman.
This took me ages to get started for some reason. After that it was a steadyish solve. COD was 5a. Thanks to setter and Huntsman
Unusual for me – coming in so early! I’ve done the guzzle and a good one it was. I particularly liked the chippy and the nuns but favourite was the large bird at 1a. Well. Now what. We’ve been in Addenbrookes since 20 to 8 and George has only gone down to theatre half an hour ago. I have successfully negotiated buying a cup of coffee with the help of a much bandaged child showing me what to do on an electronic board. How hard everything is. I shall now turn my attention to the toughie whist I drink out of a cardboard cup. Many thanks to setter and Hintsman.
Good luck, George.
All the best to George (and you!) x
Best wishes to you and George, DG. I hope all goes well.
Best wishes to you and to George
Hope all has gone well with George DG. Years ago David drove to a v early appointment at Addenbrookes. He was the only car in the large car park on the RHS as you go in (if its still there). Very icy morning and an elderly chap with a flat cap on drove in, drove round the car park and drove straight into D’s car – 1500 spaces and he hit D’s car, unbelievable, I gather the language was more than a bit frosty!
Hope everything goes well for George.
I hope everything turns out well.
Fairly gentle for me and completed in short order. Is it just me but I always find the down clues easier than the across, or is it because by the time I get to the downs there are a few checkers in place? Not just today, but most days.
4d and 16d are my tops.
2*/3*
You’re not alone, CD. I often find the downs easier than those across, even when I haven’t solved an across on the first pass. My theory, for what it’s worth, is that the brain is more attuned to deciphering by the time the downs are reached.
I am probably the only solver here who always starts with the last down clue in every puzzle, and works backwards in reverse order to the first across clue.
I adopted this approach roughly 10 years ago, when for my first 30 years of solving cryptics, I used to become despondent at not being able to solve the first few across clues. My new technique has (for me) made crossword solving a lot more enjoyable.
Exactly my technique Jezza. Maybe it’s my imagination but it seems compilers might have have used up their quotient of clue styles by the time they get to setting the last few clues and go easy on us for these. It does often seen to be an easier place to start as I think it was today
I do this too. I think somebody mentioned it on here about 10 years ago. I nearly always get the first 2
I remember watching a BBC programme about cryptic crosswords and the Telegraph’s Val Gilbert suggested tackling the downs first as they were often easier.
1*/4*. In a rush today as it’s our squash club Christmas lunch, but I just wanted to say many thanks to AP for an excellent puzzle and to Hintsman for the review and particularly for the wonderful Can’t Find My Way Home.
A very straightforward solve from the prof which flowed from the off. And what an off.1a is a very nice clue.
The other two to go on the podium are 12a and 24d.
MT to the aforementioned and Hoots!
1*/4*
Typically Tuesdayish – 1.5*/4*
Candidates for favourite – 12a, 22a, 28a, 6d, and 7d – and the winner is 7d.
Thanks to Mr Plumb and Huntsman.
A steady Tuesday solve which was a perfect distraction from listening to the big, bad wolf aka Storm Bram trying to blow the house down. Favourite was 7d and the reminder of the boy working in the chippie.
Thanks to Mr Plumb, presumably, and to Huntsman for the review.
Straightforward Tuesday fun puzzle. I particularly liked the witty clue for the oft seen 15a.
Thanks to the Prof and Huntsman
Very benign today, solved steadily from north to south.
1a, 22a and 7d favourites today.
Thanks to PP and Huntsman.
A steady solve that on completion left me feeling somewhat flat. The grim weather is doubtless to blame for my contrary mood. Cotd for me is 24d. Thanks to AP and Huntsman.
* / ***
Had to read through about 5 or 6 clues before getting one but then worked back from that to the top NW and then back out from there in pretty much read and write fashion until completed. Liked the Dazed zebras and the Jog in the altogether! My COTD went to the 16d blue quilt.
Many thanks to the Prof (I presume) and Huntsman
Another winner from our consistently excellent Tuesday setter – thanks to him and Huntsman (extra thanks for the reminder of Kirsty MacColl).
My podium boasts 1a, 12a and 1d.
What is there not to like in this most pleasant puzzle today?
1d was my last to write in, as I was trying to justify the synonym for enjoy, less the letter s (it does work, but it’s not my favourite clue).
Many thanks to the setter and to Huntsman.
Must say I struggled when writing the hint to come up with a sentence where they were interchangeable. Usually I’d have just biffed the answer in & assumed it they were synonymous however loosely.
I think your 1d example works fine.
Works for me too, but the correctness of the synonym did take a bit of thought!
Very enjoyable. Thank you gentle setter and Huntsman.
My ticks are for 5a, 12a, 15a, 7d, 16d and 23d.
I would wager that Huntsman’s picture accompanying 22a refers to cricketer Ashley Giles ordering some commemorative coffee mugs for his benefit season. They were supposed to say “Ashley Giles – King of Spin”, but the samples came back with a predictable mistake in the spelling. Subsequent mugs were made to commemorate this rather amusing error.
Quite right. Chatted to him at length when he golfed at Centurion – lovely fella so a thrill for me as a Warwickshire CCC follower. It’s the title of his biography
Oops. That image was much bigger than I anticipated. Does anyone know how to reduce it in size, please?
There should be an adjust size button in the Tools tab when you “save as”. Mind you, that’s on a MacBook so I could well be wrong.
The picture isn’t that big, though.
A super puzzle as.ever – great surfaces that conjure up humourous scenarios. I frequently find it the most enjoyable and light-hearted crypto of the week.
Thanks as ever to the setter.
And thanks to Huntsman especially for the memory of the Ashley Giles typo.
A Typically Tuesday(ish) puzzle. Lots to like and lots of smiles too.
1.5*/4* for me
Favourites 1a, 28a, 1d, 7d & 24d — with winner 24d
Smiles from 19a, 27a & 23d as well as my winner today.
Thanks to AP & Huntsman
Thanks to the Setter and Huntsman for the hints. As usual late to start let alone finish the puzzle! Fairly straightforward but resorted to a couple of hints while it is still daylight! COTD 1a. LOI 10a
Late to the party today, owing to a young adult sleeping on the sofa after a trip to Spoons. Anyway, a simple enough puzzle with 1a my favourite. Thanks to the setter and to Huntsman. I spent some time this morning looking through old NMEs from the 80s and 90s so had already been reminded about Kirsty McColl and many others from the era.
Lovely guzzle today which I flew through. All these puzzles do take a lot of time though because I have to Wordle, Waffle and Squaredle before I start my day! And if I am really in the mood Quordle as well. Hell of a waste of time. Still can’t get over £3.40 to post a small card to France. Thanks to setter and hinter and now off to try the Toughie.
Like others a very smooth ride, always good for restoring confidence before the end of week challenges,
Very enjoyable and it’s really all been said.
Many thanks to the setter and to huntsman for the hints.
Very enjoyable. Nothing too tricky, but some thought needed in places either to find the synonyms or to sort the parsing. 15a gets my prize for its clever fit of surface and solution.
Thanks to our setter, and to Huntsman for the blog, and especially expanding my musical experiences!
Some lovely clues here from the Prof .., particularly liked the huge bird, the sandwich, and the rock group. VMT also to Huntsman.
1d was a bung in which is still a bit of a hmm as is 5d which I kind of got but was reluctant to write in. The rest was the usual Tuesday fun as were the comments. Favourite was 4d. Thanks to AP and Huntsman.
A nicely gentle and enjoyable puzzle for a wet Tuesday. Thanks to setter and Huntsman.
Started late after elderly gentleman’s football this morning and a very soggy affair it was. Had difficulty getting into this puzzle but got there in the end without the need for the hints. So pleased about that since, having been on fire a couple of weeks ago, it has been downhill since, until today. Favourite clues today were 28a, those dazed zebras and 1d, the vessel and chippy at 4d.
Thank you to the setter and to Huntsman for the hints and the uploads, especially the Steve Winwood/Eric Clapton duo. Often gets forgotten what a great and accomplished musician Winwood is. Pity no upload for 24d.
I agree about no upload for 24d, FB so for us alone. 😊
I’m trying to pick tunes that don’t necessarily give the answer away but was sorely tempted to add in a clip & be. damned. Had I done so it would probably have been this one
3*/4* …
liked 27A “Resists converting nuns (7)”