Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31129
Hints and tips by Huntsman
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BD Rating – Difficulty * Enjoyment ***/****
As with last week I reckon that even by Tuesday standards today’s puzzle is on the gentle side so I doubt it will detain many for too long. Much like yesterday it was all over a bit too quickly but was nevertheless a pleasant & enjoyable solve & perfect for the less experienced solver. I assume it’s a Plumb production & as ever nicely clued throughout. For those looking for a further challenge Dada is over in t’other place with a puzzle that’s really no more difficult than his Sunday prize ones & worth looking at if only for 13a – plus I’m sure Whybird will be delighted to hear from you.
As usual there are an assortment of musical clips to enjoy or ignore
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 Errand boy bored by a ship’s journey (7)
PASSAGE: place A from the clue & the usual ship prefix into (bored by) an errand boy/attendant.
5a Things sold abroad former lover left with son (7)
EXPORTS: the usual informal term for a former lover + a nautical left + Son.
9a Fierce winds ripped tops off all dancers outside (7)
TORNADO: a synonym for ripped followed by the 1st letter (tops off) the last 3 words in the clue.
10a Gossips about student’s spectacles (7)
GLASSES: a synonym for gossips/chatters placed around (about) the single letter for student/Learner.
11a Cross and melancholy after end of programme, dear? (9)
EXPENSIVE: the letter that could represent a cross followed by a synonym for melancholy/contemplative both preceded by (after) the last letter (end) of programmE.
12a Steel section of container vessel (5)
NERVE: hidden (section of).
13a Tense requests for jobs (5)
TASKS: the single letter for Tasks + a synonym for requests.
15a Short woman’s dressing gown not oddly slack (9)
NEGLIGENT: a truncated (short) item of nightwear followed by the alternate (oddly) letters of NoT.
17a A ballet, eg. involved light piece of music (9)
BAGATELLE: an anagram (involved) of A BALLET EG. I wasn’t familiar with musical context of the answer.
19a Looked towards female with wicked daughter (5)
FACED: Female + a synonym for a modern context of wicked + Daughter.
22a Simultaneous combination of notes almost enthralling one group of singers (5)
CHOIR: shorten (almost) a word for a simultaneous combination of notes & place around (enthralling) the Roman numeral letter for one.
23a Put off by tunnel’s mould (9)
DETERMINE: link synonyms for put off/discourage + tunnel/dig.
25a Soldier not retreating around island state (7)
MENTION: a term for soldiers followed by a reversal (retreating) of NOT from the clue & placed around the single letter for Island.
26a Mediocre answer doctor gave her missing husband (7)
AVERAGE: the single letter abbreviation for Answer + an anagram (doctor) of GAVE [h]ER (Husband missing).
27a Final drink, remember? Not half! (7)
SUPREME: a verb synonym for drink + 50%(not half) of REME[mber].
28a Far end of the theatre? Moving seat is most simple (7)
EASIEST: the last letter of theatrE followed by an anagram (moving) of SEAT IS.
Down
1d Sick person conspicuous in India? On the contrary (7)
PATIENT: it’s the single letter for India (NATO alphabet) that goes inside of (on the contrary) a synonym for conspicuous/obvious.
2d Fight with European finally produces grazes (7)
SCRAPES: another word for a fight/fisticuffs + European + the last letter (finally) of produceS.
3d Stove hot once more (5)
AGAIN: the stove of choice in country kitchens + hot in the context of fashionable/trendy.
4a Poignant email not changed, Oscar’s admitted (9)
EMOTIONAL: insert (admitted) Oscar (NATO alphabet) into an anagram (changed) of EMAIL NOT.
5d Texan golfer regularly gets score of 2 under par (5)
EAGLE: the alternate letters (regularly) of the opening 2 words of the clue. Been a long time since I’ve had one.
6d Obvious argument for someone bringing a legal action (9)
PLAINTIFF: link synonyms for obvious/patent & argument/spat.
7d Book about what a waiter might do (7)
RESERVE: the usual preposition for about/regarding + what is the principal job of a waiter.
8d Shady criminal pauses leaving a court (7)
SUSPECT: an anagram (criminal) of P[a]USES (leaving/less A) then append CourT.
14d Grave vandalised near Tunis (9)
SATURNINE: an anagram (vandalised) of NEAR TUNIS.
16d Big twist, perhaps, extracting Charlie’s canine (5,4)
GREAT DANE: a synonym of big/large followed by what the twist is an example of (hence perhaps) removing (extracting) Charlie (NATO alphabet once again). Chubby gets the nod over the theme tune to Scooby Doo for the music clip.
17d Changes into suits (7)
BECOMES: double definition.
18d Adult’s wife not initially seen in crowd (5-2)
GROWN-UP: insert (seen in) Wife & Not (initially) into a synonym for crowd/gathering.
20d I left clubs upset with friend’s mood (7)
CLIMATE: reverse (upset/down clue) I + Left + Clubs (card suit) then append a synonym for friend/pal.
21d Problem after river gets most low (7)
DEEPEST: take your pick from the name of the one that flows through North Wales & Cheshire or the one that rises in the Cairngorms then append (after) a synonym for problem/nuisance. Can’t resist posting again a clip of the person who originally released the Cat Stevens song.
23d Poet finished penning note (5)
DONNE: a synonym for finished/over goes around (penning) the single letter for Note. Memories of A-Level English Lit & the metaphysical poets.
24d Small animal climbing long grasses (5)
REEDS: reverse (climbing/down clue) Small + a hoofed ruminant ungulate.
Pick of the clues for me today was the ouch dental surface read of 16d – didn’t sound like the 28a of 13a & no doubt 11a into the bargain. Please tell us which clues ticked your boxes.
Today’s Quick Crossword pun: TAB + EEK + HATS = TABBY CATS
This morning’s listening while preparing the blog has been some Warren Haynes music (of the Allman Brothers & Gov’t Mule fame). He’s a superb & in my view seriously underrated guitarist as this superb rendition, guesting with the Dave Mathews Band, of Neil Young’s Cortez The Killer shows
Good morning. I didn’t spend long enough on this puzzle to form an opinion as to whether I enjoyed it or not. And like Steve C yesterday, I had my best time with todays. It was a read and fill with zero hold ups. I am pretty sure that most people will print record times today. 15a made me smile as the clue is very similar to one that I saw in The Observer`s Everyman crossword last Sunday. Thank you Huntsman for the hints
Congratulations, Conor. There’s not much in it because both posts are times at 11.01. 😊
Congratulations, Conor. There can’t be much in it because both posts are timed at 11.01. 😊
What is going on with this site? I tried to post and was told there was a duplicate detected but I hadn’t pressed the button. Now I find I’ve posted twice.
Thank you Steve. It`s been while since I got pole position. Re error message; that happens to me a lot. I also had to edit my post as I forgot to thank Hintsman for the Hunts!
Nice work, Cons.
I plan to join the ”11:01 Club” soon but won’t be able to match you two throughout the year as you’re too quick on the draw. Gary Cooper in High noon – what a star…and what a song!
Thanks Mot!
I think I have said this before but High Noon is the only film that is in real time. Every time the clock appears, the time is correct.
What a great bit of film info!
Thank you, SC.
(v happy with ‘Mot’, btw – The Ministry of Tom)
Bow One’s Noggin to the Minstry of Tom (took as long as the crossword to think that up)!!!
A fine effort, AP.
Sorry to disagree with you Steve but there are others –
Most recently a fine film, Boiling Point, set in a kitchen starring Stephen Graham & also Richard Linklater’s utterly charming Before Sunset are 2 off the top of my head that both play out in real time.
No problem, H – always good to learn. 😊
It looks like High Noon was the first film of note to give the impression it was done in real time with the clock constantly being updated. So, it was definitely worth pointing out, SC.
Us solvers need to be careful when coming out with a film fact as ‘The Man’ is lurking in the wings.
We are not worthy.
Had the same message about duplicates a couple of times – and the post didn’t go through. (Maybe that was as well considering my posts. )
System also promised to store my email but I have to put it in each time.
Nice puzzle today.
The professor at his cruciverbal best giving us a straightforward, yet enjoyable, guzzle. I had the wrong poet at 23d until I looked at it again. I must remember not to put in an answer just because it fits the checkers. I also put a small animal in at 24d rather than long grasses but 23a soon put that right. Plenty to like but my COTD is 17d with its changing suits.
Thank you, Professor for a fun workout. Thank you, Hintsman for the hunts.
Me too with another poet but I didn’t need to change it until reading Hintsman ‘s hints after finishing the guzzle.
1.5* / 3.5* No problems with this enjoyable Tuesday treat, south slightly trickier than the north. Favourites today include 17a (didn’t realise it was a musical term), 5d under par and the big dog at 26d
Thanks to Setter and Huntsman
Excellent guzzle! An easy but amusing solve. 11a clever and my favourite was 25a my COTD. The 4 anagrams oiled well and the SW. was my final corner with a few moments head scratching. Thanks to our hinter and setter.
An enjoyable gentle puzzle today.
Top picks for me were 16d, 22a and 17d.
Thanks to Huntsman and the setter.
Fast solve yes; record time no. Really good fun, though, and worth a second read through of the clues upon completion to appreciate the skill of the setter in compiling this little gem. 17d gets my nod of approval for favourite.
Many thanks to AP and The Hintsman.
Very enjoyable challenge for a cold and snowy morning. No real favourite today, so thanks to AP and Huntsman.
As Typically Tuesdayish as ever – 1.5*/4*
Favourite – a toss-up between 6d and 23d – and a shiny new King Charles Toonie says that the winner is 6d.
Thanks to Mr Plumb and to Huntsman.
Another leisurely perambulation through crossword land. Nicely clued with no standout favourite, but had to think a bit to verify the double synonym at 17d.
Thank you setter and Huntsman.
1*/3*
0.5*/4*. What else is there to say on a Typically Tuesdayish Tuesday (ack. Senf)?
Many thanks to AP (?) for the fun and to Hintsman.
Cryptically Tuesdayish?
A very approachable and very approachable guzzle. Careful, there Mr Editor, we might get spoilt or lulled into a false sense of security, pwrish the thought. I liked the obvious argument at 6d and the anagram at 14d and the double entendre at 17d. My COTD was 23d, my favourite poet. Thanks to the compiler andcto Huntsman for rhe hints.
This was outstanding. I have ticked so many clues for their surfaces and constructions.
It’s like a combination of the other midweek setters (I wouldn’t look too much into this): the straightforwardness of X Type (13a, 6d and 7d), the brevity and paucity of multi-worders of RayT, the constructions of Silvanus ‘lite’ (25a and 8d), the humour of Hudson and Mr Tumble (9a and 15a) and the cleverness of Zandio (1d and 17d).
Apropos of nothing at all, I love how difficult it is to say the plural possessive of people’s surnames, e.g the Griffiths’s house. This one though is the daddy….
Two guys in a pub talking to someone about their wives being late: ”The missuses’s tardiness does grate us”
Imagine Samuel Tweet or Sylvester the Cat trying to get their respective tongues around that bad boy!
My podium is 5d (nice part-l_u_r_k_e_r), 8d and 16d.
MT to the prof and Hoots!
2*/5*
Straightforward fun!
A swift and enjoyable solve. 14d was a new word for me . Thanks to the setter and Huntsman.
Pretty straightforward although the S was slower to go in than the N and a couple of the solutions were straining at the boundaries of my vocabulary (odd because I’m sure I am occasionally considered to be of a saturnine disposition…). No real favourites, although, typically for a Tuesday, it was neatly clued throughout. Thanks very much to the setter and to Huntsman. Good to see the Supremes appearing for a second day in a row, even if Phil Collins’ version was clearly superior (*looks for suitable emoji before losing interest*). I shall probably head for Toughieland in a while given that I’m slightly bored of inadvertently skating on thin ice in the local park.
I assume that you’re being sarcastic re the Collins cover
Or ironic. Reminds me of Matthews Southern Comfort’s cover of Woodstock in 1970 which was very succesfull at the time and is still well known even now. But it’s simply not a patch on Joni Mitchell’s original version.
Agreed, although as a veteran of many Fairport reunions, I have a soft spot for Matthews too. Saw Nash singing it at the Palladium recently after he’d told a few Joni stories and it was rather moving.
I was and, having just forced myself to watch the video for the first time in forty odd years, I hope Phil is pretty embarrassed by it now. Great drummer though.
Very gentle and enjoyable as others have said.
My favourite clue is 17d.
Following Shabbo’s well-deserved promotion to the ranks of Telegraph setters we’ve had to tweak the midweek blogging rota a bit; Senf and I are moving our double act from Wednesdays to Thursdays and we have a new Wednesday blogger who’ll be starting tomorrow.
Typical Mr Plumb fare and very enjoyable. Needed 1d to fall before the 1a errand boy popped into my head and, like our reviewer, I was unaware of 17a in a musical sense. Top two for me were 17d and the rather neat 3d.
Thanks to AP and to Huntsman for the review and the clip of P.P. Arnold.
I would like to register a complaint. It has been snowing. I live in the Home Counties and this sort of weather is unwanted. People in the more heathen parts of the country probably expect snow and ice and deal with it in their sweet, shovelly, ways, but here in the sophisticated south, it is most irregular.
Great guzzle – fun to unravel.
Thanks to the setter and Andy On The First Tee.
Thank God not on the 1st tee & I fully concur with your thoughts on the weather – it even snowed, albeit very briefly, in Harpenden – most uncalled for
* / ***
Just stayed within 1* difficulty with the S being more problematic as others have said. Was not aware of the poet, so wanted Dante but of course that wouldn’t parse. Also not aware of the musical meaning for 17a. Got stuck for a while on 15a as I had nightie in my head but couldn’t do anything with that. Even rechecked all the crossers before the penny dropped. Ticks went to the 14d vandalised grave and the 23a mould with clue of the day going to the aforementioned 15a slack.
Many thanks to AP and Huntsman
This was very much read and write, which does take the enjoyment down a notch or two in my humble opinion.
0.5*/3*
14d and 16d favourites today
Thanks to AP and Hintsman
Quick solve (slower than yesterday) but that’s handy amidst other things to do. Checking letters helped in some places – giving myself a minor kick for not parsing the ‘group of notes’ in 22A while the answer came easily, and I confess to not knowing the poet (and very little poetry in general 😬).
As an occasional cryptic writer, really enjoyed and appreciated the surfaces especially, such as 11A (fave) , 1A, 9A and 27A. Also the answers of 17D and 14D, the latter a word I’ll try to remember and throw in during gloomy exchanges.
Thanks to setter and reviewer – particularly enjoyed the musical refs too. I was lucky enough to see three you mentioned – Van, Cat, Neil – at one of the (very hot) summer Hyde Park gigs last year.
I think it has all been said. I thought 17d was clever so I will call it my favourite. Many thanks to both Setter and Hinter – I was pleased with myself for getting the sporty 5d. I am still sulking because I really don’t think I can manage the 31st. ☹️
Would appear to be a Typically Tuesdayish kind of puzzle to me this week. Nothing too far out in left field and a few laughs along the way.
1.5*/3.5*
Favourites include 5a, 15a, 27a & 6d — with co-winners 5a & 6d
Thanks to AP & Huntsman
I prefer Tuesday when it’s slightly harder.Having said that I put Dante in for 23d .Juggled “end of poet “t” , finished plus N and moved on .Plus I’ve never heard of Donne .! Grrr . thanks to all.Nothing stands out although bagatelle was a new one for me.I had a bagatelle when I was a boy , it had small metal balls and lots of nails .
I’m with you on the poet, as I have said in Comment 2, but it didn’t cause any problem.
Straightforward and pleasant, as seems to be the (perfectly agreeable) norm for Tuesdays on the back page. 17a gets my prize for the surface and bring a nice word!
Thanks to our Setter and to Huntsman for the blog and musical interludes!
I thought that was a 17a. However, my last in was 23d and I bunged in the wrong poet… then pondered as to the parsing. How 15a of me!
Thanks to setter and to Huntsman for putting me right.
Happy New Year to all .. I’ve been away … in the cold and snowy Hebrides.
A nice, easy solve for me today **/**** Favourite clues included 11a, 17a and 16d. Thanks to the setter for an enjoyable puzzle and to Huntsman for the hints and excellent musical clips.
Don’t think they have to be difficult to be enjoyable … loved this one – nice and relaxing 🥰
Hi, Huntsman etc etc. For me (and so on) it was an enjoyable, relatively quick solve, but some commenters seem to think that DT crossword solving is only here for the active or retired MI5/6 agents who send in comments to BigDave, and seem to resent the somewhat easier Crossies, such as today’s. I am sure that there are thousands of people across the land who struggle to finish today’s and feel humiliated by some of the comments that appear on here. Fortunately Chris Lancaster et al appreciate the the DT crossword is for all. Thanks and Feliz dia de Reyes to all. I hope 2026 brings good fortune to you all, though I fear for the worst.
Hi Alasdair – your comment prompted me to read back through those posted thus far & can’t see any comments that would humiliate those accessing the hints to help them complete the puzzle. Inevitably there will be those whose preference is for a slightly more challenging puzzle (I’m probably one of them) & I don’t think there’s necessarily anything wrong in saying so. On Tuesday there is of course the option of a more difficult puzzle but currently not on a Monday.
Well said Alasdair. Very smooth set of clues but now realise that for many years I have misspelled the name of that old poet 😥. Thank you compiler and Huntsman
Thanks to AP and Huntsman. Not quite as late getting round to the puzzle. Straight forward with just a couple of hold ups. No snow in North Devon (so far)!
A nice gentle one, with only SATURNINE unknown to me though easy enough to construct from the anagram fodder with all the crossers in.
A big fan of 5d, not so much of 6d (they haven’t been called that in English courts for over 25 years!)
Methinks Alasdair is being a little harsh. Lots of commenters have said they enjoyed the puzzle. We are from diverse backgrounds which adds to the enjoyment. I have never felt the more able solvers resent an easier puzzle; they can – and do – also solve the Toughies. For the record I grew up on a small farm with a hand-to-mouth existence, went to a comprehensive school and had a short career in nursing before doing a music degree. I don’t often comment, mainly because of health reasons. I love this site and have never felt I don’t belong. I’m truly grateful to the bloggers and commenters, and of course the setters.
You are right, Sheila, in saying what a great site this is. It was a lifeline during lockdown and I think of all the contributors as friends. I wish we could have regional meetings!
A very nice puzzle for a cold snowy day. No immediate favourite just good consistent fun. I did find the south more of a challenge.
Many thanks to the setter and to huntsman for the hints.
I tried to post earlier but post failed. The click here answers button didn’t respond either. Only thing to do was to go out and get on with life. Gentle and perfect for a cold snowy day. Favourite was 6 down.
Thank you Mr. Plumb and Huntsman.
Nice Tuesday Puzzle 😃**/**** Favourites 15a, 7d & 24d👍 Thanks to the Huntsman
I presume course closed ⛄️ and to AP ( this was the real Mc Coy 😬)
14D is such a lovely word – pity it doesn’t mean something more upbeat. VMT to the Prof and to Huntsman.
More undemanding Tuesday fun which is always a great morale boosting prelude to the tougher end to the cruciverbal week. SW required rather more grey matter exercise than the rest. 16d brought back jolly memories of the 60’s in London and New York. Was pleased to get parsing for my 18d bung-in. Thank you MrP and Hintsman. Thinking cap at the ready for the rest of the week.
Finally getting back into some routine after being away for the weekend and then getting all the festive decorations put back in storage. After waking up to a wintery scene in the north-west this morning its now busy raining. Now to today’s which wasn’t tackled until late this afternoon. So relieved we had another gentle start to the week. Though I was delayed with a couple in the South. Hadn’t realised until reading the hints that I had the wrong answer for 23d. No wonder I was struggling to parse it! Many thanks to the setter and Huntsman.
Another completion without reference to any external sources and in a reasonably fast time. Felt it was slightly more tricky than yesterday. Other than that enjoyable with my COTD being a lady’s nightwear at 15a.
Thank you to the setter and to Huntsman for the hints.
Although the north went straight in I was held up a bit in the south by not knowing the musical association with 17a so had to check, synonyms for 23a and 27a weren’t the first ones to spring to mind and entering an unparsed Dante into 23d, the actual poet I’d never heard of so technically a dnf unaided. That completes a fairly bad day for me. No doubt things will not improve in the rest of the week. Thanks to AP and Huntsman
Enjoyable solve. I did complete it quickly.
My favourites were 25ac , 16dn and 3dn which made me smile.
I hadn’t heard of 14dn or 23dn but I managed to work them out pretty quickly anyway.
Thanks to setter and reviewer!
Best wishes to all!
2*/3* …
liked 16D “Big twist, perhaps, extracting Charlie’s canine (5,4)”