Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31124
Hints and Tips by Senf
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****
A very good New Year’s Eve morning from Winnipeg and welcome to the last back pager blog of the year 2025. Will the world be any different in 24 hours time? Heaven only knows.
But, what I do know is that at some time between midnight UK time and midnight Manitoba time this evening I will be raising a glass, not sure yet if it will be 15 year old Dalwhinnie or 12 year old The Balvenie so I will probably have to call on a shiny new King Charles Loonie to decide for me, to everyone involved with the blog in some way or other, including all of the DT Puzzles Team and Setters, and to the memory of our beloved founder and those who are no longer with us.
For me, etc© (I have to say that for Terence), an enjoyable puzzle. As I wrote two weeks ago, I have lost track of who set when on a Wednesday and no-one seems to have claimed ownership recently. This could be the work of Hudson or the work of Twmbarlwm or someone else. So, my Half Crowns are staying at the back of my sock drawer and I will just say thanks to whomsoever. As it is still the season of goodwill etc, I have tried to include as many illustrations and musical hints as Smylers and Huntsman – did I succeed?
Candidates for favourite – 8a, 12, 16a, 5d, and 18d.
In the hints below, the definitions are underlined. The answers are hidden under the Click here! buttons, so don’t click if you don’t want to see them.
Please leave a comment telling us what you thought.
Across
1a Rodent startled equerry’s girl (4,8)
GREY SQUIRREL: An anagram (startled) of EQUERRY’S GIRL.
8a Musical number, like one handled sensitively by Hamilton? (7)
HAIRPIN: A stage and film musical which, when I was but a lad, I saw twice at The Shaftesbury Theatre in London in 1969 and 1970, and the abbreviation for a number that you are supposed to remember without writing it down and not tell to anyone (and Hamilton is Sir Lewis of that ilk). This video is from the 1979 film:
9a One might transport billions in gold to America (7)
AUTOBUS: The single letter for Billions inserted into (in) chemical gold, TO from the clue, and the two letter abbreviation for America.
11a Impressive results of hedging technique? (7)
TOPIARY: The art of clipping hedges into imitative and fantastic shapes.
12a Pooch runs into my French upper-class young lady (7)
MONGREL: The letter for crickety Runs inserted into MY translated into French and a, perhaps facetious, rendering of an upper class pronunciation of a term for a young lady.
13a Periodically force down something kept in the fridge (5)
FREON: Five alternate letters (periodically) selected from FORCE DOWN (for something (kept) in the workings of a fridge).
14a Hussain famously spurning starter, tucking in to cabbage stew (9)
CASSEROLE: More crickety stuff – the first name of an English cricket commentator and former player, with the last name Hussain, with the first letter deleted (spurning starter) inserted into (tucking in to) a generic name for plants of the cabbage family.
16a Ace dog Daisy is delicately white in colour (9)
ALABASTER: The single letter for Ace (in a pack of cards?), the abbreviated form of a breed of dog named after a region of a Canadian Province, and a type of daisy (that flowers in late summer and autumn).
19a Sat back around banks of Guangzhou river (5)
TAGUS: SAT from the clue reversed (back) containing (around) the outer letters (banks) of GuangzhoU.
21a Flemish comic in good form (7)
HIMSELF: An anagram (comic) of FLEMISH.
23a British playwright entertaining Austria’s number one artist (7)
PAINTER: The last name of a 20th Century British playwright containing (entertaining) the initial letter (‘s number one) of Austria.
24a Cheesy snack, part at the front undercooked (7)
RAREBIT: A term for undercooked (especially of meat) placed before (at the front) a synonym of part.
25a Idiotic article retired Leninist exposed (7)
ASININE: One of the indefinite articles and a reversed lurker (retired . . . exposed) sandwiched by the indicators.
26a For starters, Brits love cooked pig and duck sausage (5,7)
BLACK PUDDING: The first letters (for starters ) of Brits and Love and an anagram (cooked) of PIG AND DUCK.
Down
1d Catch sight of curling, limp seafood sandwiches (7)
GLIMPSE: A lurker (sandwiches) found in three words in the clue.
2d Clearly describe former lover “not much to look at” (7)
EXPLAIN: The usual two letters for former lover and a single word equivalent to not much to look at.
3d Vessel used by sailor for a dry run? (4,5)
SAND YACHT: A small vessel used by a sailor adapted for use on land (dry run).
4d Make harmless peacekeeping troops take year off (5)
UNARM: Written as (2,4) a term for a host of peacekeeping troops with the single letter for Year deleted (take . . . off).
5d Train engineers to tackle revolutionary trade union (7)
RETINUE: Two letters for one branch of (military) engineers containing (to tackle) the reversal (revolutionary) of a trade union that represents workers in many industries.
6d “Oh take me in your arms!” I say after climbing barrier (7)
EMBARGO: The reversal (after climbing) of a (1,4,2) phrase equivalent to oh take me in your arms.
7d Wife clipped English dad around top of ear for sign of cowardice (5,7)
WHITE FEATHER: The single letter for Wife, a three letter synonym of clipped (as in struck), the single letter for English, and the formal synonym of dad containing (around) the first letter (top) of Ear.
10d Funny Elvis (the King) scene shot round the back of our cinema (6,6)
SILVER SCREEN: An anagram (funny) of ELVIS, the single Latin based letter for King, and SCENE containing (shot round) the last letter (back) of ouR.
15d Dump campaign slogan aimed at cancelling The Met? (9)
SCRAPYARD: Perhaps, written as (5,4) a campaign slogan (used by demonstrators?) for cancelling The Met(ropolitan Police).
17d Senior military officer, perhaps a wing commander? (7)
ADMIRAL: A colourful flying insect that has command of its wings.
18d Bitter cold after tossing caber first thing in Inverness (7)
ACERBIC: The single letter for Cold placed after all of an anagram (tossing) of CABER and the initial letter of (first thing in) Inverness.
19d Tab/bill Kirstin regularly ignored in the capital (7)
TBILISI: Alternate letters deleted (regularly ignored) from Tab/bill Kirstin to find a capital city of a former Soviet republic (not a US State).
20d Item of underwear found in King St, Ringwood (1-6)
G-STRING: A lurker (found in) contained by three words in the clue.
22d Fake charge by police force upset Putin no end (3-2)
FIT-UP: The single letter for Force and the reversal (upset) of PUTIn after the last latter is deleted (no end).
Quick Crossword Pun:
LIE + CAVER + GIN= LIKE A VIRGIN
A bonus, albeit a day early, the traditional second encore at the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra’s New Year’s Day Concert is the Radetzky March composed by Johann Strauss Sr. Someone has cleverly ‘sewn together’ elements from 2009 – 2024 to make one continuous performance, some changes of tempo that couldn’t be avoided. The year and the conductor shown in the top RH corner:
Absolutely agree with Senf’s rating. I found the SE hard but the NE best. 6d was magnificent and one of my favourite clues of the year. Special mention for 12a and 4d and 5d as well. Thanks Senf and the setter. A great end to the year.
Good morning. Hard to believe that this is the last back pager of the year. Thanks to all the setters and contributors of BD44 for their excellent work. This is a cracker of an X Word. Not very demanding but the NE corner required a bit of thought. 6,19 and 22d are my podium with 6d taking first place. 19d`s solution appeared earlier in the month or last month. Many thanks to the setter and Senf for the hints. Happy New Year everybody.
A step up with today’s offering but well received. Loved 6 down. The first answer that came to mind was not the answer. Always makes it more fun. Almost equal at the tape where 8 and 12 across. I thought this puzzle perhaps nearer to a 3 * but that probably just reflects my level of ability.
Many thanks to our setter and Senf .
Happy New Year to all.
Not sure who set this one but either they’re a fan of Ms Ciccone or they know her songs – spotted 4 in the Quickie including the pun & there may be more.
After two very gentle days this was a significant & welcome increase in difficulty & very enjoyable indeed. The grid fill took longer than the previous two combined but probably due to some woolly-headedness in the east. Was unfamiliar with 13a & couldn’t remember where the 19a was so they both required post solve investigation. Can’t decide whether or not there is a ricket in the wordplay at 12a – surely gal not gel is a posh young girl? Ticks aplenty – the 4 peripheral long ‘uns + 8,11&14a & 15d particular likes.
Many thanks to the setter (Hudson my punt which means it’s probably T) & to Senf. Happy new year to all.
Huntsman, according to TDS’s favourite reference book, “gel” is a facetious rendering of an upper-class pronunciation of girl. I seem to recall it crops up a lot in The Pride of MIss Jean Brodie.
Fair enough – I can hear Maggie Smith saying hers are the crème de la crème – just didn’t know you spelt it that way.
I found this guzzle a bit more difficult than those of the last few days, with two clues producing anwers that were unfamiliar to me at 9a and 13a. Fortunately rhey were ones that I could woek out. The four long clues , 1a, 26a, 10d andwere all great fun to work out and I liked the cryptic definition at 15d. Thanks to the compiler and to Senf for the hints. Happy New Year everyone🥂
An enjoyable tussle that was somewhat trickier than the last 2. Favourite was 26A. But I like black pudding! Some quirky clues made it fun.
This was teasingly tricky in places but an absolute delight to solve. No doubt about the winner this morning – the excellent 6d.
Many thanks to our midweek setter and to the hard-working Senf. Have a good one everybody.
Exactly what YS said @7.
I could not put it any better than @7.
Many thanks to the setter and to Senf for the hints.
Best wishes to everyone involved with this wonderful blog for 2026.
An excellent puzzle to round off the year – thanks to our setter and Senf.
The 13a answer was a new word for me but very fairly clued.
I particularly liked 8a, 14a, 25a and 15d with my favourite being 6d.
I thought Trade names ( Du Pont) were banned?
Welcome to the blog
What did you think of the crossword?
I made a complete horlics of the SE, but once I twigged 7d, a revisit sorted it out, but my printout is now very scrappy indeed. The remainder was relatively straightforward. Agree with 6d as cotd. Happy new year to all compilers, bloggers and the Big Dave family of commentators. Thanks to compiler and Senf
Very tough, very clever, loved it!
Rather trickier today but great fun. The four long solutions around the edges helped me on my way. the magnificent 6d was my COTD but special mentions also for 8a and 15d in a strong field. I would say that I’d learned a new river, only I now see from the usual trusted online source that I’ve walked along its banks – the perils of late middle age etc. etc.
I wasn’t quite as much a fan of 6d (once I’d finally twigged it) as others clearly were but it did prompt a play of the Doobies doing Holland, Dozier & Holland – gimme Tom Johnson over Kim Weston any day & great to see Skunk having a ball
Brilliant stuff. Funnily enough, my youngest messaged me earlier with a photo of a copy of Minute by Minute that he’d snagged at a bargain price from a small town record shop in NZ. Our trip to see the Doobies was a highlight of 2025, despite Skunk having long since disappeared into the world of missile defence systems. Simmons and Johnston were both in good voice and Mike McDonald has cult hero status with my sons.
Something else that I’ve clearly forgotten is my manners. Thanks very much to Hudson for a great puzzle and to Senf for the fulsome hints.
re 6d, does one not need to consider the “I” and “say”.
Yes, you are right that the review doesn’t mention “I say”. It’s there as a (mini) homophone indicator to convert “Oh grab me” to “O grab me”.
I thought that, but I’m not convinced “I say” works like that. By contrast, “say” could be seen as an anagram indicator (for “I” i.e. “me”) and also, possibly as a homophone indicator for “oh” in the brackets….and then one just has to substitute the rest of the words for just grab ( it’s not a homophone) – if you say “ grab me” you end up with two “me”. A bit strange.
Synonym indicator of course !!!!
Rattled that off in the time it took to listen to a Steely Dan album😎
Just got time to say Happy Hogmanay to you all.
Lang may your lums reek!
See you all next year.
Well, I have more question marks than ticks on the paper today. A decidedly tricky offering that took some time to unravel. I have never heard of the transport at 9a nor did I know the fridge content at 13a and I’m not sure where Hamilton fits in at 8a. I will look at the hints for enlightenment. I smiled at cancelling The Met at 15d but my COTD, by a short head, is the pooch at 12a.
Thank you, setter (Tumbledown Mountain?) for the workout. Thank you, Colonel for the hints.
I tried to add the following but the site rejected it.
Happy New Year to all setters, guardians of the blog and the bloggers. Your work is appreciated by us all. Happy New Year, also, to everyone who comments and those who don’t. Please make 2026 the year you decide to stop lurking and join our merry band.
Can’t really add anything to the previous comments. A very satisfying fill; fairly clued and entertaining. A titter for the Ringwood underwear, but can’t better 6d for COTD.
Thanks to the setter and to Senf for the unrequired hints
3*/4*
As others have already mentioned, this was slightly trickier than the last two puzzles this week and a more satisfying solve as a result.
I will go with the flow and nominate 6d as my CoD, even though I biffed EMBRACE initially without bothering to parse it. I have given myself a good talking to.
Thanks to our setter and Senf and HNY to you all.
Me too with embrace.
Fortunately I tend to solve on the app, and a quick “check grid” soon pointed me in the right direction.
I too have had words with myself.
Many thanks to Hudson and to Senf for excellent puzzle and hints respectively…
Thanks for the blog, dear Senf, and thanks to those who’ve left a comment. Best wishes for 2026 everyone, and I hope those of you who make it to The Bridge gathering next month have a blast.
My last home in the UK before leaving for Germany ~20 years ago was at the Tube station end of Warwick Avenue (always chortlesome to hear my dear German wife pronounce that) and I know the pub well.
@Huntsman…although Madonna and I are of a similar vintage (well past drinking time) I wouldn’t describe myself as a fan really although I confess to having bought Ray of Light in a moment of weakness. Thanks for spotting the additional material, always pleasing when someone does that.
Warmest regards to all, Rob/Hudson
Thank you, Hudson for the puzzle and for popping in. A Happy New Year to you and thank you for all your efforts over the last year.
Must have been a moment of weakness 😃. Thanks for popping in as per & for all of your consistently excellent puzzles over the past year – more of the same next please 🤞
Thank you Hudson. It’s always enjoyable to solve and hint one of your puzzles even if I cannot identify them as yours!
I found this tricky and needed Senf’s help parsing 15d but I still don’t see how campaign slogan is yard.
I didn’t know Geneva was gin for the Quickie pun and 13a in the cryptic was new to me.
I had vaguely heard of the cricketer.
Top picks for me were 6d, 16a and 17d.
Thanks to Senf and the setter.
M, 15d. You may have twigged it by now but I’ll explain anyway. Campaign slogan = “Scrap Yard”. A slogan that might be used by campaigners who wish the abolishment of (Scotland) Yard (or The Met).
Thanks Jose. I wasn’t reading it as the whole thing.
May I echo the applause for 6d, fantastic clue!
21a amused me as a cycling tour of Ireland involved an involuntary stop in Tralee for a broken spoke. Jim Caball Himself kept the shop open late, repaired my bike and stored my companions bikes. pointed us in the direction of the nearest b&b and opened up early the next day to be on our way. A good man indeed.
Thanks to Senf and Hudson, mines a Laphroaig.
My only real problem was not knowing the required Hussain so I had to consult Mr G who was none too sure either! Plenty of tricks in this puzzle with my ticks going to 21a plus 3,7&15d.
Thanks to our setter and to Senf for the review, pics and video clips – particularly those of the string quartet and the sewn – together Radezky march, very cleverly done.
Hope everyone enjoys their New Year’s Eve, whether you’re partying or having an early night!
Another satisfying solve to go with the others this week. What a great way to finish the year!
I wonder if Hudson is going to trademark ‘made-up’ streets for his lurkers as they’re a hoot.
Tab/bill is an interesting one. Would it be better if bill was bracketed or is this the right way to do it?
Good to see a cricketer in a crossy though it may have alienated some punters.
Gel has been duly noted as has 13a.
Now, to the questionable bits:
1. Is it okay for ‘number’ to mean the second part of 8a? Surely it needs a bit more context? ‘What’s your number?’ means your phone number. People say ‘What’s your ***?’ (some say ‘What’s your *** number. Grrrrr….). Maybe I’ve got this wrong and it’s accepted crossword etiquette.
2. Comic as an anagram indicator? This cannot be. Comic means funny but ‘ha ha’ not ‘weird’. Is it really okay to have a synonym of a homophone of an anagram indicator?
My podium is 26a, 6d and 17d.
MT to the Big H and Senf.
3*/4* (it keeps the run going)
As we saw with the ‘Vintage Puzzles’ during the Centenary Celebration DT puzzles have evolved and continue to evolve so we probably have to concede that if your ‘questionable bits’ are allowed by the residents of Telegraph Towers then they are acceptable.
Hi S
There are often points for discussion which is a big part of the blog as it’s great to get people’s views.
Possibly the most talked about topic this year is anagram indicators as a few offered up have not passed muster with various solvers.
So, I offered up another one today and I found the use of ‘number’ interesting.
Thank you to all compilers and bloggers. I get such great enjoyment not just from the crosswords but from the comments too. I’ve learned so much about solving crosswords by lurking. In 2026 I aim to be bold enough to comment more frequently.
That’s a resolution we’ll keep you to.
Looking forward to your comments in 2026, Lorraine and welcome.
** / ***
Finished in 2* time but felt like 3* difficulty with a few parsings that needed checking. Several clues got ticks and the winner today was 15d for dumping the met!!
Happy New Year everyone and thanks to Hudson and Senf.
Another pleasant Wednesday puzzle that was a tad harder than the first two of the week, but nonetheless not really tricky. A fun solve with some smiles along the way.
2*/4* for me
Favourites include 1a, 16a, 24a, 10d 15d & 20d — with top two winners being 16a & 15d
Thanks to Hudson & Senf
Always a pleasure to have a Hudson crossword to solve and this perfectly pitched backpager was an excellent warm up of the cryptic grey matter before tackling my first Toughie blog for ten weeks
Thanks very much to Hudson and Send and Happy New Year to you both
A lot of head scratching going on here but got there in the end and enjoyed the challenge. Favourite was 16a. Thanks to Hudson and Senf. Happy new year to one and all.
A bit of a jump after the last two days and great fun. Thank you Hudson and Senf and happy New Year’s Eve to all
I just wanted to say thank you to all for your help and encouragement during the year. I have enjoyed solving the crosswords so much more now that I know I can call on a bit of assistance when needed. 😉
Thanks to Hudson and Senf. Happy New Year everyone. See you in 2026!
I’ve only just seen the pun….brilliant!
Happy New Year, one and all.
Just a quick nod to the people behind the scenes. I am so grateful of your tireless work. You may feel occasionally….’Is it worth it?’
Just know that, from our end…….it soooooooo is.
A nice puzzle slightly more chewy than the last couple as befits a Wednesday. Is it a Nina (?) is that the right term with the colours in the long clues ? Happy New Year all . Thanks to Hudson and Senf
Grey,black,white and silver … thanks JennyM.
Well spotted, JM!
Gosh! Well spotted, JM.
Thank you for all the confirmation and occasional enlightenment in 2025. I am a regular user of BD (to understand correct solutions I have entered but am not sure why they are right) but not a contributor.
Breaking that duck now I was intrigued that 11A was based on the whole clue rather than the ‘impressive results’ (top, 1, A) but I couldn’t make the rest of it fit…..
Happy New Year to all, wishing you all many happy hours of puzzling in 2026!
Welcome, Charlie and I hope we hear more from you in 2026. 👍😊
Welcome to the blog
Great puzzle from Hudson to round off a splendid year of Cryptics. I was delighted to discover that there is a King Street in Ringwood – not the Hampshire market town, but the suburb of Melbourne, Victoria. 6D absolutely hilarious.
VMT Rob and Senf.
Thanks and ATB to Hudson and Senf and all the other setters and contributors over the last 12 months . The offering today was a fitting end to the year , taxing but very enjoyable., Favourite today 16a .
A bit more challenging than the last 2 days but enjoyable, nonetheless. I had to look at the hints for 14a and consult the spelling for what is becoming a regular (?) at 19d. Many thanks to Hudson and Senf.
Wishing the Village Elders and everyone involved with this magnificent site Many Thanks for all your time and hard work and a very Happy, Healthy and Peaceful New Year!
1.5* / 4* A slight step up from the last two days but no real problems apart from having to confirm 23a. Lots of excellent clues with plenty of humour, favourites include the 14a stew, pooch at 12a and the clever lurker at 1d.
Thanks to Hudson and Senf
and a Happy New Year to all
Got nowhere in the West so went East and enjoyed that solve but West remained a problem and much support was needed there. Fav was 15d. 13a unheard of even with all the crossers and, as with 3d and 22d, didn’t ring a bell. Should have sussed 16a. 💐🌈 Thank you Hudson and a Happy New Year to all setters, hinters and bloggers 💐🌈
A bit of a tussle but enjoyable nonetheless. The left side went in smoothly, but I had to fight my way through on the right. I too had not heard of a 9a, and both Hussain and Hamilton were lost on me. Thanks to Hudson and Senf and Happy New Year to everyone. At least it feels like New Year’s Eve here as we are struggling through a cold snap, and had to unearth jumpers, hats and gloves this morning ☺️. At just below 7C this morning, that is unusually cold for here. I have 7 orchids currently sheltering in the living room as they quickly sulk and drop their buds outside in prolonged cold temps of more than a couple of hours.
Enjoyed all but the NE corner. Never heard of the cricket bloke and 9a is a term i never heard before. No doubt last used in 1857. Only got 6d once I had the checkers and was my loi. Kudos to people who can solve this sort of clue without the checkers.
Thanks to all.
Can someone explain why HIMSELF is “good form”? I don’t get that bit at all.
Welcome to the blog, MrDon.
If someone is ‘not himself’ he’s feeling below par.
How did you like the puzzle?
Thanks – and thanks for the explanation.
I was very much not on the wavelength yesterday – the previous two were the first I’ve ever completed unaided but I only got about half over the course of two sessions yesterday and today, not helped by being completely unable to think of ALABASTER. I felt AUTOBUS was a bit of a stretch, it’s pretty archaic in English now
Happy new year to all! An enjoyable solve, I saved this one for a quiet 2nd Jan. NE corner was last to do, struggled to find a dictionary with GEL as an upper class girl?
Favourite clues 5D and 18D, and enjoyed the surface of 10D, been fancying a trip to the cinema during this Xmas holiday.
3*/3* …
liked 18D “Bitter cold after tossing caber first thing in Inverness (7)”