Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31137
Hints and Tips by Senf
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****
A very good Thursday morning from Winnipeg. No doubt that the Master of Brevity is today’s setter, but not the first leg of a Dream Team Thursday, Kcit is on Toughie duty, just a sprinkling of the usual indicators between this puzzle and the Quickie are in evidence. I haven’t calculated average words per clue – I am assuming it is 5 ± a decimal point or two.
For me, etc© (I have to say that for Terence), an enjoyable puzzle which caused several pauses for thought for solving and parsing. I hope you have your Crimson Tomes at hand!
Remember that Reading the Hints before commenting can be beneficial!
Candidates for favourite – 1a, 5a, 13a, 23a, 5d, and 22d.
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 Wedding tackle on a horse discussed (6)
BRIDAL: A homophone (discussed) of (part of) tackle on a horse.
5a Dog publicity held by Crufts, say (6)
SHADOW: The two letter abbreviated form of a type of publicity inserted into (held by) what Crufts is a an example of (say).
10a Bottom’s comprising soft bulges (5)
BUMPS: An informal synonym of bottom (in terms of one’s body) including the contraction for is (‘S) containing (comprising) the letter for musically soft.
11a Republican scoundrel in unrealistic story (9)
NARRATIVE: The single letter for Republican and a synonym of scoundrel (also a four legged animal) inserted into (in) a synonym of unrealistic (as a personal quality).
12a I’ve a son involved in subterfuge (7)
EVASION: An anagram (involved) of I’VE A SON.
13a Watching with husband caught in zip (7)
NOTHING: The single letter for Husband contained by (caught in) a synonym of watching.
14a Persuade sweetheart taking time is fair (9)
TEMPERATE: A synonym of persuade and the letter from Ray T’s sweetheart containing (taking) a synonym of (a period of) time.
17a Quiet beer, source of gas possibly (5)
SHALE: The two letters that can be used for quiet (as an interjection) and a synonym of beer.
18a Put out statement, implicitly true initially (5)
POSIT: The initial letters of the first five words of the clue.
19a Battery maybe run-down in motorway? (9)
ARTILLERY: A term for being run down perhaps (maybe) inserted into a term for the type of road that a motorway may be?
21a Some fear a chest pain? (7)
EARACHE: A lurker (some) found in three words in the clue.
23a Dirty relative with aunt, oddly (7)
UNCLEAN: A male relative and (with) the odd letters of AuNt.
25a Fleeting time passed one in shot (9)
TRANSIENT: The single letter for Time, a three letter synonym of passed, and the Roman numeral for one inserted into (in) a synonym of shot.
26a Bread filling that is empty (5)
INANE: A type of bread (traditionally baked in a tandoor) inserted into (filling) the Latin based abbreviation for That IS.
27a Witness in terrible state facing time (6)
ATTEST: An anagram (terrible) of STATE placed before (facing) the single letter for Time (again).
28a About right checking finish for plaster (6)
RENDER: The two Latin based letters that represent about (in a legal document?) and the single letter for Right containing (checking) a synonym of finish.
Down
2d Dance is almost pathetic after drink (5)
RUMBA: A synonym of pathetic with the last letter deleted (almost) placed after a three letter (alcoholic) drink.
3d Detectives face nastiest discontented agitator (9)
DISSIDENT: The abbreviation for at least two senior detectives, a synonym of face, and NastiesT with the interior letters removed (discontented).
4d Band introduces new material (5)
LINEN: A synonym of band placed before (introduces) the single letter for New.
5d Uncompromising line on hospital department (9)
STRINGENT: A synonym of line (as in cord?) placed before (on) the abbreviated form of one of our favourite hospital departments.
6d Female in a club showing behind (5)
ABAFT: The single letter for Female inserted into (in – again) A from the clue and a synonym of club (used in games).
7d Single US soldier wearing fancy issue (9)
ORIGINATE: The letter that can represent single (numerically) and the two letters for a US soldier contained by (wearing) a synonym of fancy.
8d Taxi won’t start, directed away (6)
ABSENT: A synonym of taxi with the first letter removed (won’t start) and a synonym of directed.
9d Some agreed to house poor (6)
MEAGRE: A lurker (to house) found in two words in the clue.
15d Rogue worker supports revolting crimes (9)
MISCREANT: A worker insect placed after (supports) and an anagram (revolting) of CRIMES.
16d Sailor fed crew before temperature drop (9)
ABATEMENT: The abbreviated form of the entry-level rank for a sailor in the RN, a synonym of fed, a synonym of (a male) crew, placed before the single letter for Temperature.
17d Department carries the French range (9)
SELECTION: A synonym of department contains (carries) one of the versions of THE in French.
18d Quite nice (6)
PRETTY: A double definition – the second might refer to appearance.
20d American jerk cedes regularly (6)
YANKEE: A synonym of jerk and alternate letters (regularly) of cedes – I will let you decide if it is odds or evens.
22d Throw over English class system (5)
CASTE: A synonym of throw placed before (over) the single letter for English.
23d Pure voice (5)
UTTER: A double definition – the second might refer to speaking.
24d Cancel article in Celtic language (5)
ERASE: One of the indefinite articles inserted into (in) guess a Celtic language.
Quick Crossword Pun:
MUD + USER = MEDUSA
RayT at his amusing best with the wedding tackle at 1a causing all sorts of problems and the soft bulges at 10a raising a laugh. I have always thought the bread at 26a had two middle letters but the BRB has it with one. 18a is such a lovely word and I can hear Rowan Atkinson pronouncing it. My COTD is the run-down battery at 19a.
Thank you, RayT for the Thursday fun. Thank you, Colonel for the hints.
I had a problem with the bread too, as I only know it with two “a”s, and no search on this side of the pond reveals it with only one. Just one of the quirks of solving a British based puzzle.🧩
Good morning. This was testing, especially the NE corner. I don`t know if I enjoyed it, but I was glad when it was finished. No particular favourite clues other than 6d. Many thanks for the review and the hints which were not needed and the setter for the puzzle
I am with Conor on this one – except for the first time ever I didn’t particularly enjoy the Master. I struggled with most of what I thought was a ****/* edition. Sorry RayT. It was nice to finish it and thanks for the hints so I could make sense of 10&11a and 18d.
For someone who normally struggles with a Ray T puzzle, I must have been on his wavelength for once and progressed smoothly from north to south with the only slight delay caused by the Celtic language in 24d needing confirmation. Honorable mentions for 17d, 20d and 22d with podium places to 5a, 10a and 19a in top spot. Thanks to Ray T and Senf.
It looked like being a tricky one on first pass, but second go settled into a steady solve. An enjoyable one, and 1A has to be the winner.
Thought this was going to be very tricky, but it yielded piece by piece to be a very enjoyable solve (and a rather cheeky one, to boot). As always, when looking back over the clues, I’m puzzled why they caused me so much trouble. **/****
This was an enjoyable solve with plenty of nice constructions from Fortnightly Fred.
RayT is clearly in a ‘back row of the bus’ mood with 10a, 13a, 23a and 6d. I thought 21a, and 9d were perfect examples of a lurker as was the acrostic in 18a.
My podium is 11a, 27a and 16d.
MT to the aforementioned and Senf.
3*/4*
I added 1a we all know what wedding refers to. Sniggering boyishly.
Tackle
You’re right, TG. I missed that one.
RayT went for it today in a big way.
Perhaps more gentle than usual for Thursday with several clues which raised a smile. Podium
Places for 1a, 21a and the wince producing 13a. Thanks to the
A slow burner, but then the lower half fell into place, followed by NW. NE had me stalling until the synonym for Crufts became obvious. LOI was 4d because I had parsed 1a as the tackle and not the wedding.
No real favourite, but the fleeting moment at 25a stood out.
Thanks to RayT and Senf
3*/3
Very entertaining with a few that held me up in the North. My favourite was 19a but I thought the lurkers were excellent too.
Many thanks to RayT and to Senf for the hints.
This one was straight out of the top drawer and crammed full of wit and skillful clueing. There were so many potential favourites it is hard to pick just one, but I did enjoy 19a.
Many thanks to Ray T and Senf.
A challenging puzzle from Ray aT, this week, with the bottom half of the guzzle being more approachable than the top half. I liked the wedding ttackle homophone at 1a, the lego clues at 5d and 20d, the lurker at 9d and the source of gas at 17a. Thanks to Mr T and to Senf for the hints
Having struggled with one or two Ray T back-pagers of late I was rather surprised to waltz through this one with barely a head scratch for the quickest completion of the week thus far. I did leave 6d to last & though the wordplay was pretty clear & the word rang a bell I looked it up afterwards anyway. As ever very nicely clued throughout. Wish I could have said the same over in t’other place but it was like wading through treacle.
Thanks to Ray & Senf
Good tussle but enjoyable in parts The south conceded quickly but the.N E .held out for a while.Favourite 1a and 17d . Never heard of 6d but it had to be ! Thanks to all .
2*/4.5*. It would have been 5* but for three “synonyms” which for me were overstretched:
11d – unrealistic
25a – passed (slightly) and “shot” (very)
19a was my favourite of many ticked clues.
Many thanks to RayT and to Senf.
Hi RD
11d – unrealistic optimism
25a – the idea passed through my mind
25a – he shot me an email
11d – my utter stupidity. I was looking for a synonym for “native”!
25a – I still don’t much like either. “Shot” just about passes muster, but “pass” is a no-no for me.
No problem.
Bleurgh.
For me, and I have to say for me (© Senf), I am tardy to the table after arriving home late last night. We attended a rather surreal cup semi-final at Stamford Bridge, where, as so often, The Mighty Chelsea displayed much generosity to our opponents. Mr Sanchez, our goalkeeper, was particularly benevolent.
However, our splendidly awkward Mr Garnacho scored a couple to keep us in the tie, of which this was the first leg of two.
Grand guzzle; thanks to RayTee and the ever-cheery Man From Manitoba.
Oh – here’s one of my favourite tunes, currently.
I was happy to let you have Mr G he was very erratic when he was with us !
Good luck in the second leg.
Nice tune T – misread the title & was expecting a cover of this William Bell song. Great game & particularly 2nd half btw.
No wind or rain today, just sunshine and the master of brevity – it’s a good day! Top clues for me were 11,17&27a plus 15d.
Devotions, of course, to Mr T and thanks to Senf for his Thursday review.
As per Annie O’s comment above, many examples of Ray T humour today, which I have perhaps come to take for granted over the years . Great stuff.
I don’t get this rating business. I’ve thought the ratings for this week were at least ** for difficulty.
Not particularly looking forward to this setters offering, I find some of his selection of synonyms a tad obscure. Today I breezed through until the home counties which held me up slightly especially the synonym for 25a
Thanks for the hints.
Ratings are very subjective and personal and us bloggers are not given any advice on how to rate for difficulty and enjoyment.
I have my own ‘system’ based on my solving time but I doubt that it matches any other ‘system’ used by bloggers or solvers.
What a smashing puzzle!
My cruciverbalistic juices were flowing freely as I ploughed through this one apace.
I’m a big fan of the Brevity Baron’s near-the-knuckle nuances, “fnarr, fnarr”-ing away here at the mentions of wedding tackle, soft bulges, husband caught in zip, source of gas, the dirty relative, club girl showing her sit-upon… plus others perhaps less obvious… and where was the queen today?
A treat for those of us who never quite grew up.
I’m also in tune with Mr T’s soft synonyms now, so was on top form for this delightful challenge, only held up by the urge to keep chuckling!
As per Annie O’s comment above, many examples of Ray T humour today, which I have perhaps come to take for granted over the years . Great stuff.
An enjoyable puzzle with some smiles along the way. 6d was a new word for me but gettable from the cluing.
Top picks for me were 13a, 19a and 26a.
Thanks to Ray T and Senf.
I’ve never hear zip as slang for nothing. Every day is a school day!
My brother and I have been describing a 0-0 draw in football as “zip-zip” since we were teenagers, which is a long time ago now 😀
Once again we come to my favourite day of the fortnight with a RayT puzzle to be had on the back page. Once again I was not disappointed and thoroughly enjoyed the slight tussle I had with this one in some parts of the puzzle. All came to light eventually as it always does in the end. Nice to see his sweetheart here today, but the queen is apparently resting this week.
2.5*/4.5* for me
Favourites 5a, 13a, 14a, 19a & 8d — with winners 5a & 19a
Smiles elicited from 1a, 17a, 23a & 2d
Thanks to RayT for an excellent puzzle & Senf for hints/blog
** / ****
Very enjoyable outing. Had to look up 6d before writing it in, I’ve never come across that word before but it had to be. Ticks went to the rogue at 15d and the 1a wedding tackle. Like the other “fnarr fnarr” clues as defined in earlier posts.
Many thanks to Ray T and Senf.
6d threw me otherwise very enjoyable thank you RayT and Senf
I did quite well on this to start with then got stuck. I am interested that a lot of people liked 19a. Can someone explain it to me please? I get the rundown but but not the motorway bit at all.
Hi, GJF – A major road, such as the M1, is often known as an arterial road.
But probably not as common in these ‘enlightened’ times.
Ah, I see. A bit contrived I still think . Thank you very much. (Call me G 😀)
Enjoyable yet quite tricky 😃****/*** Favourites 5a & 19a Thanks to Ray T and to Senf for assistance 👍
Evening all. Many thanks to Senf for the analysis and to everybody else for your comments. Much appreciated.
RayT
Thank you for an entertaining challenge and for ‘popping in.’
Thank you, RayT for a very enjoyable puzzle.
Good evening, Mr T, always a pleasure when you call in to see us.
2* / 4* Excellent Thursday challenge, thoroughly enjoyable. Lots of top clues to choose from including 6d behind, the rogue at 15d and the simple but effective 18d
Thanks to RayT and Senf
Super puzzle from Ray. I’ll go for 19A as my favourite. Unfortunately the Telegraph website obliterated my entry entirely, so I had to retype – am now saddled with a personal best of 3m59s. VMT to Ray & Senf.
Brevity indeed on the clue front and often amusing to boot, very impressive. I had to read through several clues before I got one on the board, then it was a steady, satisfying flow from there. Favourites were 11A (answer also a favourite word of mine), 20D and 6D. Like others, didn’t know the motorway reference in 19A and found the two synonyms in 25A’s construct hard to line up. A big thanks to setter and reviewer.
Although I rather enjoyed this tussle today, I’m glad my life did not depend on me solving it unaided…. Friendly in parts, and tricky in others. The spelling in 26a threw me, and several others were solved mostly from the checkers. Thanks for Ray T and Senf.
Got to hustle now and cover up my big pots of begonias. We are expecting a very unusual (but thankfully short) dip down to slightly below 4C tonight, which plays havoc with our subtropical plants. Have already moved orchids indoors and now need to go outside and cover the begonias with sheets as those pots are much too large to move. Fingers crossed for the inground shrubs. 🥶
That was a bit of a struggle but got there in the end. Hit a brick wall with the right hand side but finally got 19a (an excellent clue) and suddenly the rest fell into place. Not sure about the synonym in 25a but it couldn’t be anything else. I liked 16d, eventually!
I started this one late this evening and found most of it nicely chewy then got stuck on a few at the end. I did resort to going through the alphabet which did help push me on and I eventually did get it over the line with a few questionable parsings such as 19a . I had never heard of the arterial road thing ! My last one in was 6d , a new word for me. I also had a laugh out loud moment with 13a , which was a brilliant clue , coming up with the word ‘noshing’ at first – which some of you may know has a rude connotation.Sorry – potty brain Jenny. Thanks so much to Ray T and Senf.
The usual excellence from my favourite setter with no major hold ups as I was following the instructions. Lots of innuendo, nudge nudge wink wink, to appeal to my schoolboy sense of humour. Favourite was 1a as I could see where this was going from clue 1. Thanks to Rayt and Senf.
First crozzie I have tried for a while due to Christmas and general busyness. Unfortunately, was a DNF as even with the checkers I couldn’t solve 11a. All the others were ok although I battled with the parsing of 14a and 19a. Also, I think “about” is used as a synonym and to spin the synonyms in 28a but I might be wrong as it’s getting late. COTD 16d for its construction and surface. Thanks to RayT and Senf. ***/***
Finally got to the end but only after having a need to use the hints after about 75% completed. Initially got 1a the wrong way round but realised my error and totally missed the hidden at 9d. I suppose 10a, 19a and 15d were my favourites today.
Thank you to the setter and to Senf for the hints.
Ray T at his stretched synonym best.
Thanks to Senf for parsing 25a, which was beyond me.
3*/3* …
liked 15D “Rogue worker supports revolting crimes (9)”