Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31109
A full review by Rahmat Ali
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This puzzle was published on 13th December 2025
BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****
Greetings from Kolkata. A nice, challenging Saturday puzzle from NYDK that I enjoyed solving and thereafter writing a review of the same for your kind perusal and significant feedback.
Checkpoint Charlie, the definition to the clue at 22a-5a combined was the most famous crossing point at the Berlin Wall between East and West Berlin during the Cold War, symbolising the stark division between communist East and democratic West, a tense spot for spies and escape attempts, and a major tourist site today that represents freedom’s struggle and the end of the Cold War. The name comes from Nato phonetic alphabet such as Alpha, Bravo, Charlie for border crossings, with ‘Charlie’ being the Friedrichstraße crossing. Checkpoint Alpha was on the West German side, near Helmstedt/Marienborn and the entry point into East Germany for traffic heading to Berlin, Checkpoint Bravo was on the West Berlin side, at Dreilinden/Drewitz and the exit point from East Germany into West Berlin and Checkpoint Charlie was in Central Berlin, at Friedrichstraße and used mainly by Allied military personnel, diplomats and foreigners. Checkpoint Charlie became the most iconic crossing of the Cold War. Together, Alpha → Bravo → Charlie formed the main Allied access route from West Germany into West Berlin. Checkpoint Charlie gained symbolic weight because It was the only crossing between East and West Berlin for non-Germans and was the site of the 1961 US-USSR tank standoff. Western media focused heavily on it and Charlie (C the third letter) made it memorable and human sounding. So while Alpha and Bravo were equally important strategically, Charlie became culturally iconic.
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Across
1a Whence man about town? (7)
SUBURBS: A cryptic definition referring to the residential areas from which a ‘man about town’ would come i.e. the districts surrounding or on the outskirts of a town or urban centre, near enough for regular movement into the town itself
5a See 22 Across
9a Improvised article German newspaper sent back (2-3)
AD-LIB: The definition of an adjective meaning improvised, impromptu or extemporaneous is reached from A (article) as one of the indefinite articles followed by BILD (German newspaper) as a specific, very popular German tabloid newspaper seen returning from the other side (sent back) as a reversal in the across clue
10a and 24 Down Tank tracks in Tarantino film (9,4)
RESERVOIR DOGS: A charade of RESERVOIR (tank) as a tank or a receptacle or part of a machine designed to hold fluid and DOGS (tracks) as a verb in the third person singular present tense meaning tracks, pursues or follows closely or persistently guides to the definition of a 1992 American independent heist film written and directed by Quentin Tarantino in his feature-length directorial debut
11a From book will learn about long division? (6,4)
BERLIN WALL: B (book) as the abbreviation for book followed by an anagram (about) of WILL LEARN leads to the definition of a guarded concrete barrier wall, the construction of which was commenced by the government of German Democratic Republic, East Germany on 13 August 1961 and which formed a long physical division between East and West Berlin; ultimately falling on 9 November 1989 leading to German reunification in 1990
12a Order to have noticeable effect (4)
TELL: Double verbal definition; the second denoting to have a noticeable effect or impact on someone as in ‘this will tell on him’ that takes to the first meaning to order or advise someone to do something
14a Question friend answers? (3,4,5)
WHO GOES THERE: A cryptic definition of a phrasal question denoting a traditional sentry’s challenge to an approaching, unidentified person and in fiction it’s commonly followed by ‘Friend or foe?’ and the question is famously used as a challenge to a stranger ‘friend’ and the ‘friend’ must answer it.
18a Pop sensation – no two ways about it! (3,9)
ONE DIRECTION: Double definition; the second describing a single, unified course or path that takes to the first referring to an English-Irish pop boy band formed in London in 2010 that became a global sensation, the group selling over 70 million records worldwide, making them one of the best-selling boy bands of all time, before going on an indefinite hiatus in 2016
21a Leave old computer equipment (4)
EXIT: The definition of a verb meaning to leave or go out is arrived at from a charade of EX (old) as old or no longer current and IT (computer equipment) as the commonly used abbreviation for Information Technology, which broadly represents the overall field of computing i.e. computers and associated equipment and systems
22a and 5 Across Stop twice: fool crossing (10,7)
CHECKPOINT CHARLIE: A charade involving CHECK (stop) as a verb meaning to stop or slow the progress of something undesirable and POINT (stop) as a noun denoting a full stop at the end of a sentence and represented by a punctuation mark as a dot, hence stop twice and CHARLIE (fool) as an inefficient, ineffectual person, a fool and the letter C being represented by Charlie in the Nato phonetic alphabet takes to the definition of the most famous historical crossing point at the Berlin Wall between East and West Berlin during the Cold War
25a Found reduction surprisingly (9)
INTRODUCE: The definition of a verb in the present tense denoting to bring something, especially a product, measure or concept into use or operation for the first time, an example of which is to found i.e. to bring something into existence is yielded after REDUCTION from the clue is subject to an anagram (surprisingly)
26a Stand: move gradually left (5)
EASEL: The definition of a stand or frame for supporting or displaying at an angle an artist’s canvas, a blackboard etc is obtained from a charade of EASE (move gradually) as to move, something heavy or awkward, gently or gradually in or out of position and L (left) as the abbreviation for left
27a Endlessly sweet daughter reversed in gear (7)
DRESSED: A combo of DESSER[T] (sweet) as the final course of a meal, pudding or other sweet item without the end or terminal letter (endlessly) and D (daughter) as the genealogical abbreviation for daughter coming from the other end (reversed) as reversals in the across clue leads to the definition of an adjective meaning ‘in gear’ i.e. equipped, clothed or ready for action
28a Hideous building that has one seeing red? (7)
EYESORE: The definition of something, especially a building, that is ugly or unpleasant to look at is got from a charade of EYE (one seeing) as the organ of sight or vision and SORE (red) as red and inflamed, painful or aching especially describing a wound
Down
1d Quiet cat, dropping head, old and worn out (6)
SHABBY: SH (quiet) as an interjection used to tell someone to be quiet followed by [T]ABBY (cat) as referring to a tabby-cat i.e. any domestic cat with a coat pattern distinguished by an M-shaped marking on its forehead and removing (dropping) the head or topmost letter in the down clue (head) takes to the definition of an adjective meaning threadbare or worn out
2d Ringing up here hardly toll-free? (6)
BELFRY: A cryptic definition of the top part of a steeple or tower at which bells are hung and from where ringing and tolling happen and can be heard
3d Refuse to go here: criticise bishop at home (7,3)
RUBBISH BIN: The definition of a container for refuse or waste used for discarding unwanted items like household garbage, paper or packaging until collection is reached from a charade of RUBBISH (criticise) as to criticise, condemn or attack verbally, B (bishop) as the abbreviation for bishop in chess notation and IN (at home) as at or inside one’s home
4d One to lock up son leading gang (5)
SCREW: The definition of a slang term for a prison warder or jailer, one who locks people up is arrived at from a charade of S (son) as the genealogical abbreviation for son and CREW (gang) as a gang or a group of people working together
5d Scott’s novel involves story most dear (9)
COSTLIEST: An anagram (novel) of SCOTT’S from the clue having inside (involves) LIE (story) as story, yarn or myth guides to the definition of an adjective in the superlative degree meaning most dear or most expensive
6d Expert flyer to trap rook and land (4)
ACRE: ACE (expert) as a colloquial term for an expert airman or a military aircraft or fighter pilot accredited with destroyed several enemy aircraft taking inside (trapping) R (rook) as the abbreviation for rook in chess notation leads to the definition of a measure of land equivalent to 4840 square yard
7d Playing solo, need to be relaxed (8)
LOOSENED: An anagram (playing) of SOLO, NEED takes to the definition of a verb in the past tense meaning relaxed or became less strict or tense, as in one’s demeanour
8d Registered nurse turned over (8)
ENROLLED: The definition of an adjective meaning registered or recorded in a register book is got from a charade of EN (nurse) as the abbreviation for Enrolled Nurse and ROLLED (turned over) as a verb in the past tense meaning turned over and over
13d Mood cheers up with doctor on department (10)
ATMOSPHERE: The definition of a general pervasive feeling or mood is arrived at from TA (cheers) as an informal interjection for ‘thank you’, often used in the same contexts as ‘cheers’ in an upward direction (up) as a reversal in the down clue and (with) MO (doctor) as the abbreviation for Medical Officer who is a doctor in charge of the health services of a civilian or military authority or other organisation placed upon in the down clue (on) SPHERE (department) as a department, field, range or area
15d Ground dry enough for rabbit chaser? (9)
GREYHOUND: An anagram (ground) of DRY ENOUGH guides to the definition of a tall, slender dog of an ancient breed, known for their great speed and keen sight and traditionally used for chasing rabbits
16d Parrot to delight in being caged? (8)
LOVEBIRD: The definition of a very small African and Madagascan parrot with mainly green plumage and typically a red or black face, noted for the affectionate behaviour of mated birds is arrived at from a charade of LOVE (to delight in) as to delight in with exclusive affection and BIRD (in being caged) as to serve a prison sentence i.e. to delight in serving a prison sentence or being caged with exclusive affection
17d Disparage French peach, one dry inside (8)
BELITTLE: The definition of a verb meaning to disparage or to regard or portray as less impressive or important than appearances indicate is reached from BELLE (French peach) as the French word for peach when meaning an attractive girl keeping inside (inside) a combo of I (one) as the Roman numeral for one and TT (dry) as the abbreviation for teetotal i.e. abstaining totally from alcoholic drink or being dry
19d Racing ahead of a second business failure (6)
FIASCO: A charade involving FI (racing) as representing F1 or Formula One, the highest class of worldwide racing for open-wheel, single-seater formula racing cars run by Formula One Group and sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile; F being the abbreviation for Formula and I representing the Roman numeral for one preceding or coming before (ahead of) A from the clue, S (second) as the abbreviation for second and CO (business) as a short version for company that is a commercial business takes to the definition of a noun meaning a complete failure or disaster
20d Leader abandoning fight with European PM (6)
ATTLEE: The leading or the first letter (leader) leaving or going away from (abandoning) [B]ATTLE (fight) as a sustained fight between large organised armed forces followed by (with) E (European) as EU in European Union guides to the definition of the British statesman who was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1945 to 1951 and whose full name was Clement Attlee
23d Make fuss when avoiding a Greek island (5)
CRETE: CRE[A]TE (make fuss) as a slang term meaning to make a fuss or uproar not taking into account (when avoiding) A from the clue takes to the definition of the largest and most populous of the Greek islands and the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea
24d See 10 Across
There were several clues that I liked in this puzzle such as 10a-24d, 11a, 14a, 22a-5a, 2d, 15d and 17d; 15d 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. Looking forward to seeing you here again. Have a nice day.