Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31132
Hints and tips by Mr K
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BD Rating - Difficulty ** - Enjoyment ****
Hello, everyone, and welcome to Friday. This puzzle was a quick solve that managed to be very enjoyable. I congratulate our setter.
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. Please leave a comment telling us how you got on.
Across
1a A padre is prepared for heaven (8)
PARADISE: An anagram (prepared) of A PADRE IS
5a Photograph largely enjoyable meal out (6)
PICNIC: An informal word for a photograph with all but the last letter (largely) of a synonym of enjoyable
9a Dexter's lead character in an oeuvre beaten up and shot (9)
ENDEAVOUR: The first letter (…’s lead character) of DEXTER inserted in an anagram (beaten up) of AN OEUVRE
11a Lure agency worker with Tango (5)
TEMPT: An informal word for an agency worker with the letter represented in the NATO phonetic alphabet by Tango
12a Stretch hats gingerly, every so often twisting (6)
LENGTH: Alternate letters (every so often) of HATS GINGERLY, all reversed (twisting)
13a Dramatic scheme reduced smell near a South American port (8)
SCENARIO: Link together all but the last letter (reduced) of a synonym of smell, A from the clue, and the short name of a South American port
15a One emerges from cell to achieve what Canute couldn't? (6,7)
DIRECT CURRENT: What comes out of a battery is also, whimsically, what Canute tried and failed at
18a Maintain storm creates additional damage for diner (7,6)
SERVICE CHARGE: Synonyms of maintain and storm
22a Parisian is trapped by cycle stand (8)
PEDESTAL: IS in French contained by (trapped by) a verb synonym of cycle
23a Giving voice to group of chatbots? (6)
AIRING: The answer split (2,4) might, whimsically, describe a group of chatbots
26a Single run involving women's title holder (5)
OWNER: Another word for single and the cricket abbreviation for run containing (involving) the single letter for women
27a Delving into energy price, fancy I'm no financial expert (9)
ECONOMIST: An anagram (fancy) of I’M NO inserted in (delving into) the fusion of the physics symbol for energy and a synonym of price
28a Neckwear frequently sported by Trump, Donald, in banks (6)
TIERED: A (3,3) phrase for the neckwear often worn by Donald Trump, with the word order reversed (Trump, Donald instead of Donald Trump)
29a Duchess mentions cuddling more than one bishop? (8)
CHESSMEN: DUCHESS MENTIONS is hiding (cuddling) the answer
Down
1d Rule out opening boxing clubs (8)
PRECLUDE: A musical opening containing (boxing) the playing card symbol for clubs
2d Element of song and dance in Royal Navy (5)
RADON: Another word for “song and dance” inserted in the abbreviation for Royal Navy
3d Severe Republican given fizzy drink in Washington (7)
DRASTIC: The single letter for Republican and a usual sparkling wine inserted in an abbreviation used for the Washington on the east coast
4d Nothing interrupting quiet day in flats? (4)
SHOD: The single letter for nothing inserted between (interrupting) an interjection meaning “quiet” and the single letter for day
6d How green bottles come close to blue, deep? (7)
INTENSE: A (2,4) phrase describing how the green bottles on the wall in a well-known song come is followed by the last letter of (close to) BLUE
7d Man with router breaking one in half (9)
NUMERATOR: An anagram (breaking) of MAN ROUTER. The definition is mathematical
8d Against eating too much fibre (6)
COTTON: Against or not pro containing (eating) an abbreviation meaning “too much”
10d One gets blown about in both directions, gripping rope (8)
RECORDER: A short word meaning about or concerning and its reversal (in both directions) sandwiching (gripping) a synonym of rope
14d Switch on aircon and television around one, brewing tea (8)
ACTIVATE: Link together the abbreviation for aircon, the abbreviation for television containing (around) the Roman one, and an anagram (brewing) of TEA
16d Sincere about taking retiring editor's place (9)
RESIDENCE: An anagram (about) of SINCERE containing (taking) the reversal (retiring) of the abbreviation for editor
17d Reinforce layer protecting crew (8)
HEIGHTEN: A female bird that lays eggs (hence a layer) containing (protecting) a rowing crew
19d Book suggests what to do following a fault? (7)
RESERVE: The answer split (2-5) is a what a tennis player might do following a fault
20d Monstrous bats in house (7)
HEINOUS: An anagram (bats, as in crazy) of IN HOUSE
21d French author promoting small green vegetable (6)
SPROUT: A well known French author with the single letter for small moved to the front of the word (promoting small)
24d Fool wasting time over minute piece of cake, say (5)
IDIOM: Another word for a fool minus the physics symbol for time (wasting time) and followed by the single letter for minute
25d Why deli doesn't make delish food? (4)
NOSH: A (2,2) phrase for the difference between DELI and DELISH
Thanks to today’s setter. Which clues did you like best?
The Quick Crossword pun: FALL + SALAAM = FALSE ALARM
Good morning. This is a peach of an X Word, absolutely heavenly from the outset! Anyone of the clues could make the podium including the anagrams. 12, 15 and 18 across, 1,2 and 3 down are all contenders for CoTD. There are too many to note, so I will leave it for now. Thanks to the setter and Mr k for the hints.
Well done, Conor. 👍
Thank you. Had 6 shreeded wheat for breakfast this morning!
Nice work, Cons.
I’m only making a note of the 11:01/11:02 efforts as it means you are both in the starting gate. So I didn’t include yesterday’s as Conor’s appeared at 11:04. So, he clearly couldn’t open the Shredded Wheat box in time.
So, I have it as 4:3 to SC.
I hope that tallies with you.
The bookies’ favourite is still Steve but it’s going to be mighty close.
🤣 I am not keeping score! I was quite busy yesterday hence the late post. Happy to concede as I don’t want to offend the “Old Guard”! On a lighter note, this was very light for a Friday. Similar to last week in terms of difficulty, but excellent clues from the off. The Saturday Prize Puzzle is proving to be my nemesis; strange, because I used to find them the easiest of the week……
If you want to carry on Conor then do so.
All you’re doing is submitting a post. It would be bonkers to not try to get there first as you’re enjoying the challenge. And a challenge it is because SC is a machine!
To bear in mind * comments from the Old Guard, I’ll give a score update every month and won’t congratulate you when you beat him.
* I see ‘bare in mind’ so often
A typical Friday puzzle that was challenging, frustrating and enjoyable in equal measure. 1a went in straightaway and I though the surface was terrific. I always forget that particular layer in 17d and booking after a fault at 19d caused a chuckle. It’s difficult to pick a favourite out of so many good clues but I’ll go for the French author and the small vegetable at 21d as COTD.
Thank you, setter for an entertaining puzzle. Thank you, Mr. K. for the hints.
There is snow in The Marches but not nearly the amount forecast. Nevertheless, a day to stay indoors.
Fed up of two grown men trying to be first to leave a comment. Grow up!
No one likes to be second, ask Buzz Aldrin!
It’s only a bit of fun, Lynne. 😊
Anyway, TDS65 is to blame.
A bit harsh, Lynn.
I tune in every morning to see who’s first, it’s the highlight of my day! (Admittedly, I don’t get out much).
Blimey, you females don’t half give us a hard time.
Now lavatorial humour is frowned upon, we have to amuse ourselves somehow…
I remember not so long ago Maureen Lipman saying ‘In a few years there will be no comedy at all, as everything will offend someone’ and it looks like she’s got it spot on!
Don’t t go down that route!
Hi Lynne
A lot of people like a bit of competition; it’s very normal. Even RD gave it a go yesterday.
I don’t know what you’re expecting from a man. There really isn’t much to us. I reckon with, what, 80% of us neanderthals, we have six tick boxes: food, humour, competition, music, money and ‘wey hey’!
Women are the much more interesting species.
They’re only “grown men” in a physical sense.
😊 I just don’t bother to read long threads Lynne.
I found this puzzle quite hard definitely more than **. I also found the quickie a bit harder than usual.
Yet another cracker to end the (non)working week, thought I’d never get a foothold, but as always it slowly came kicking and screaming to me.
Took ages to get 15a, which is damned embarrassing for one who spent four years studying electronics at college.
Can’t see why 28a works, so another day for me looking at the hints.
My two of the day have to be 15a and the sublime 6d, truly a clue from the gods.
Many thanks to our setter for this offering today, take a bow.
28a, very clever.
3*/2.5*. This was a strange curate’s egg of a puzzle today which felt almost as if it had been set by two different compilers.
The NW corner proved to be almost R&W although I did struggle with the parsing of 9a having wrongly assumed that “Dexter’s lead character” was the definition. That excellent piece of misdirection made that clue my favourite.
The other three quarters of the puzzle proved to be much more challenging, not helped by some strange surfaces including a couple which read more like items on an army stores list.
Thanks to the setter and to Mr K.
Hmm – ‘set by two different compilers’ or compiled by two different setters
What a great puzzle with chewy bits amidst the gems. I’ve got so many ticks on my page. Needed help parsing 28a.
Top picks narrowed down to 15a, 7d, 19d, 24d and 25d.
Thanks to Mr K and the setter.
Hope everyone is keeping safe in the storms.
A smooth enough ride, but rarely have I enjoyed quite so many clues. Many thanks to the setter and Mr K.
Grown men never grow up:)
Their toys just get more expensive ☺️
We found this somewhat difficult, not helped in part with the incorrect spelling of 20d. Put in 1d but couldn’t parse it. Thought it included an anagram of rule! Got there in the end.
A veryappealing crossword and 2** seems about right for difficulty. Iiked the clever Lego cluue at 18a, the lurker at 29a, the green bottles clue at 6d and rhe anagram at 20d. Thanks to the compiler and to Mr K for the hints.
A very decent Friday workout, nothing too complicated or obscure, but plenty of clever wordplay to untangle.
My podium consists of what Canute couldn’t do in 15a, how green bottles come in 6d and what gets blown in 10d.
My thanks to our setter and Mr K.
A very entertaining puzzle – thanks to our setter and Mr K.
I liked 23a, 6d and 24d but my favourite is the outstanding 9a.
A fine way to end the week with ticks aplenty across the board. My two particular favourites were 9a and 6d.
Many thanks to our Friday setter and Mr K.
Went in fits and starts but got there in the end. This was good Friday level stuff and flitted between read & write and 30 second head scratching with 4d LOI.
Podium places for 18a, 6d & 21d, but as a retired electronics engineer, my COTD goes to 15a.
Thanks to the setter and MrK.
2*/4*
For me, etc© – not a typical Friday puzzle with no obvious ‘clues’ for who the setter might be. Nevertheless, quite enjoyable without being too challenging – **/****
Candidates for favourite – 22a, 26a, 17d, 24d, and 25d – and the winner is 24d.
Thanks to whomsoever and Mr K – some cartoon kitties enjoying a 5a:
I think this is one of the finest puzzles I’ve ever encountered. The surface readings were great and most of the definition parts came with a quirky cryptic twist. My LOI was 15A which also became my favourite.
By spending the last few weeks attempting to compile my own cryptic crossword I’ve gained a much greater appreciation of just how hard it is to do well. This puzzle was a masterclass!
My thanks to Mr K and the setter.
I’ve been doing the DT cryptic for over thirty years and this is probably the most enjoyable of the lot – not difficult but certainly ingenious. It cheered me up in spite of the weather.
That is quite an accolade, Harry! ⭐️
Mercifully much gentler than yesterday so a brisk(ish) completion for a Friday. Can’t say that I’ve paid too much attention to The Donald’s neckwear (make every effort to look at him as little as possible) so found the wordplay at last in 28a a tad bizarre. No shortage of ticks elsewhere – 9,15,23&27a + 6,8,10&24d particular likes.
Thanks to the setter (Karla my hunch) & to Mr K.
Hugely looking forward to going off to see a big man in a kilt playing the 229 Club this evening
Enjoy! I like 229, not least because I can wander to the Met line afterwards and be whisked home, and the band sound like they can overcome the slightly school gym surroundings.
Think there are still tickets available Chris – they are superb live.
Am booked to see Thorbjørn Risager & The Black Tornado on Sunday there also – highly recommended too.
I’d be sorely tempted tempted, especially as I’ve been living like a hermit since the new year, but I have a pub trip planned for tonight and then I’m heading up to Coventry to see PiL like it was 40 odd years ago. I’ll check out Risager.
Well even though this is a Friday puzzle, it is a darn sight easier than Thursday’s puzzle turned out to be. Not to say it is easy, but parsing for the most part made sense to me. I found the top of the puzzle easier than the bottom.
3*/3.5* for me
Favourites include 5a, 13a, 18a, 2d, 14d & 16d — with top two being 2d & 14d
Thanks to setter & Mr K.
No lavatorial humour for me to gripe about and with some of our commenters in adversarial mood today it’s perhaps best that I don’t make reference again to that dreadful word for food. Top clue for me today was 15a.
Thanks to our setter – Zandio? and to Mr K for the review.
Sadly, fully completing this puzzle, like most of the DT Cryptic Crosswords these days, was beyond me.
They should be made less bewildering, and those who boastfully contribute to this site should concentrate of the Toughie instead !
Hi CPS
This is a toughie that has appeared on the back page way longer than it has in the middle of the paper.
There is no reason why we should lose it because others can be found elsewhere on a more regular basis.
they should be made easier because you can’t do them?
I feel your pain, and often wonder why those who complain at the start of the week that the Cryptic is too “easy” don’t do the Toughie instead. Hats off to those I see commenting there. I often skip Friday cryptics as they are routinely above my pay grade, and go find something more exciting, like the ironing, to do 😉.
Personally, I take puzzles as they come and have never moaned because I can’t solve one. All it does is make me more determined to explore the wonderful world of cryptic crosswords. To my mind, the days would be rather dull if I knew I would be able to solve every crossword.
Neither do I feel any of the commentariat are “boastful” although I don’t particularly like “Read and write” because I feel it deters those new to cryptics.
I’m sorry you find the site not to your liking but underlying all the comments is the basic foundation of Big Dave – to explain crosswords in plain English. Perhaps asking for help from the blog with your solving problems would be beneficial? 😊
Reasonably challenging, although a simpler solve than yesterday’s offering. So many superb clues that it would be difficult to list them all without giving the impression that I found the remainder dull. However, if pressed, I would go for Knut at 15a, the bots at 23a and the things in banks at 28a (although I agree with Huntsman in principle and I suspect my wellbeing would be enhanced by following his lead). Thanks to the setter for an excellent puzzle and to Mr K for the hints.
Another superb crossword to finish off what has been a brilliant week in Crossyland.
The three left from the usual suspects (what a truly outstanding film) are Mr T, The Big Z and Karla and I’ve got my money on Special K though it could easily be the other two.
I got 28a though I couldn’t quite parse it. Hmm, thinking about it, that’s Zandio’s sort of clue. Oh, I’m torn. No, I’m sticking to my guns. Karla, it is.
Picking a pody is an invidious task but I’ll go with 9a, 3d and the brilliant 25d.
MT to the world’s second highest mountain: K2.
3*/5*
I was at the Arsenal vs Liverpool game last night so just catching up as that is usually my solving window. Would you Adam and Eve it! I see you had a hard day’s night, yesterday, I suggest you let it be. You can please, please me but not all of the people, but I am sure you can work it out.
I better comment before I get barked at about what I thought of the crossword!
Another chewy one today, but less esoterical than yesterday, but I found all the clues were there you just had to unpick them!
Many thanks to setter and blogger as always.
Excellent work, RB.
You know you love them really…..
Nearly chucked in the towel on a couple of occasions today. Could not get a firm toe hold and consequently it left me somewhat flat. Mr K came to the rescue and I staggered over the line in the end. The only bright spot for me was 21d. Sorry compiler, not one for me today but thanks for the challenge. Thanks too to Mr K.
I am earlier than usual as we are about to go off to Addenbrookes to have G’s dressing done. I’ll be glad when he can drive again! Gorgeous Guzzle, I really think the French author has to take the Clue of the Day rosette. Many thanks to Very Clever Setter and to Mr K – oh I do miss having a cat – or a dog😢
At this moment, DG you can have Hudson – he made a right mess last night!
I hope George is coming along well.
Further to my post yesterday about tackling Toughies and using the hints to, hopefully, improve my solving skills, I just had a quick look at Elgar. His puzzles are always beyond me but I surprised myself by solving 1a immediately. With a bit of perseverance and careful study of the hints, I might get on his wavelength. Or might pigs fly? 😊
Good luck with that buddy
You could be right, H. One clue does not a crossword make. 😊
I got the first 2 across then revealed the grid to see if I could parse ‘em all & couldn’t even manage that. Strictly the domain of Champions League solvers & (like my team) I’m Championship at best with Premiership aspirations
Yes, I agree, H. I will put Elgar on the back burner for now.
I’m confident you will get there.
I admire your faith in me, BL but I fear it might be misplaced as far as Elgar is concerned.
Tough for me today.
Needed help with 10d….easy when you see the hint….doh!
Favourite the French author.
Thanks to the setter and to Mr K.
Hope DaveP is OK….they still have lots of snow up his way and I haven’t seen him post for a day or two.
Still no snow here but the sky looks threatening. Thankfully the freezing fog has dispersed.
I am fine thanks – we had two full deep freezers and plenty milk. Plenty dog food for Lila too. Spent the last few days digging out neighbours round the village but there seems to be a thaw setting in.
Enjoyed today’s puzzle and thanks to setter and winter.
Hinter – auto correct is obsessed with winter which we are already fed up with!
Poor birds, their house is snowbound and their nuts are frozen.
Good to hear from you. Keep warm
Thanks, John.
The birds were fed and watered several times a day poor things.
We had no power cuts at all. Think the SW of England are probably suffering more than us.
I can see at least 6 flying and one perched on the van. They must know where the best titbits are to be found.
Gosh, this must be the easiest Friday ever, if only compared to yesterday’s DNF. Loved them all except for the colour of Donald’s Rump. I keep forgetting that Republicans are red across the pond. If I’m forced to chose a single fave I’ll go for the lovely 25d, with the rest at 2nd equal (apart from the aforementioned 28a!)
Very, very thanks to the setter, and to Mr K for the blog.
(Is it too late to wish you all a great 2026?)
I’m pleased I wasn’t the only one who found this challenging, certainly in places. Needed the hint to parse 28a. For favourite i need look no further than 6d. Thanks to the setter and Mr. K.
I thoroughly enjoyed this puzzle, it was challenging in places, particularly the south but there were some brilliant clues with 9a my favourite. I needed help to parse 28a.
Many thanks to the setter and to Mr K for the hints.
Today’s blog is almost as entertaining as the crossie! Wonderful stuff from our brilliant setter whose devious mind it was a joy to unpick.
Thanks to him/her and our hinter.
Wonderful! Unsurprisingly my favourite puzzle of the year so far — but I’m pretty sure it will still up there after we’ve had a more reasonable amount of year!
Thank you so much to the setter for all the humour and cleverness, while keeping clues to a level that I could just about solve. This wasn’t a quick solve for me, but I mostly got there in the end — thank you to Mr K for the hint for 23a, which enabled me to see I’d spelt 20d wrongly.
I managed to prune my list of favourite clues down to 9a (Dexter’s lead character), 15a (emerging from cell), 23a (chatbots), 28a (Trump, Donald), 29a (bishop cuddling), 6d (green bottles), 7d (breaking one in half), 19d (following a fault), 24d (piece of cake), and 25d (delish food).
A top-notch Friday puzzle, from Z? Great clues, a decent challenge and much enjoyment. Plenty of ticks and two I really like were 9a and 28a. 3*/4.5*.
*29a. A Duchess cuddling two bishops! There’s got to be a risque joke there.
There would have been had the lady been an actress. 😊
An actress or a Duchess with two bishops – I’m sure one of ’em mitre!
Any good?
Or perhaps Argyll
Always nice to complete a Friday offering. The lights went in steadily, only the oft-mentioned 15A and 28A taking me time. For the latter, identifying the right definition came after 10 mins of staring at the grid, even with 3 checking letters, I enjoyed that part; but is ‘Trump, Donald’ really an indicator to switch two words around? I guess so as I got there in the end.
In a strong line-up I was glad to ‘5D on’ to the layer in 17D as well as the fault in 19D, and 29A just pips 7D for favourite clue. A very enjoyable solve.
I don’t think it would work in general as an indicator to swap the order of any two words. But I think it works fine here for noun, adjective — where the second word is narrowing down the first one. Neither names nor objects are normally written that way, but there are circumstances (names on registers, items in an inventory) where they are.
It reminds me a bit of Hudson using “V. Lake’s frequent co-star” to clue “A. Ladd” in this Toughie (29a): a name is written in a particular way in the clue, so that’s guidance to write the corresponding part of the answer in the same way.
Thank you for explaining 🙂 I would have spotted the Hudson example on the name, seen them before, will try to be more open to these sorts of techniques! 🕵🏼
A record time of ********** due to the still awful state of this area and nothing else to do. I usually give up after twice reading through the clues and only getting a single figure number of clues and am bemused by the rest of the clues. But perseverance did reward me but will only be repeated if I am in the same situation.
I did finish it but only by consulting Chambers and
thinking of words that fitted the checkers until one seemed right or pointed in the right direction. It would have been just as rewarding to count the hairs on my left leg.
Mind you the madeleine man was a good clue.
[Please remember Comment Etiquette #6 which asks us not to discus solving times]
Thanks to the Setter and Mr K for the hints. We struggled with what others seem to have found a relatively easy Friday puzzle. Hopefully we shall return to form soon.
I’m obviously on the wrong wavelength today. DNF by a long chalk but I did enjoy the explanations.
At first pass I was convinced this would be a DNF but it slowly came together and I thought pitched just right for a Friday.
28a LOI, 15a and 7d Favourites today.
3*/4*
Thanks to Z,T or K – can’t decide…..and K for the hints.
Late appearance today as we had funeral to attend. The crossword has been a nice diversion and although it felt tough going at times it was only 28 across that finally eluded full completion. Like someone else commenting I really do not look at Trump if at all possible. Needed the hints for some of the parsing as well.Down clues came out well with 25 down favourite followed by 10 and 21 down
Grateful to our setter and Mr. K who had his work cut out today.
A stressful start to the day trying to fix a broken dinosaur windows 7 PC that I needed for work this morning meant a late afternoon look at this.
I thought it was a superb puzzle. I lost count of how many times I muttered the word “excellent” to myself.
Many thanks to the setter for putting me in a better mood, and to Mr K for the write-up.
Yep – an absolute classic of a crossword, that will merit inclusion in a Vintage series some time in the 2100s. 9A was utter genius, far too good for a simple COTD accolade. 15A and 21D magnificent, 28A hilarious, and numerous other great clues.
VMT to the Setter and to Mr K.
A late start for me today. Clearly Mr K has a bigger brain than me (easy actually😀) as I found this one quite tricky in places but got there slowly but surely . Some really great clues actually. I loved the delish clue best as it was so simple . I still have a few gaps from yesterdays that I need to revisit – That. WAS a real brain ache , Thanks to the setter and Mr K
2* / 3.5* This was a pleasure to complete after yesterday’s fiendish puzzle. Loads of top clues and humour.
Favourites today include the lurker at 29a, rule out at 1d and the “instrument “ at 19d
Thanks to the setter and Mr K
Evidently unlike the majority I am getting nowhere with this so I am throwing in the towel and going to bed. Goodnight. 🥱
This was a classic crossword as many have pointed out. For me, the top half went in easily but I slowed down greatly on the bottom. A DNF as I got 23a wrong and I don’t think I’d have got that answer in a month of Friday’s. Other than that, there were many many great clues so thanks to the setter and Mr K for the hints.
Just looked in to see if anyone claimed ownership – presumably not Zandio as he always drops. Guess we’ll never know
3*/4* ….
liked 29A “Duchess mentions cuddling more than one bishop ?(8)”