DT 31133 (Full Review)

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31133

A full review by Rahmat Ali

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This puzzle was published on 10^th January 2026

BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****

Greetings from Kolkata. A challenging yet entertaining Saturday puzzle from Twmbarlwm that I enjoyed solving and thereafter writing a review of the same for your kind perusal and significant feedback.

The way the number and gender function in Italian grammar has always fascinated me. I am familiar with the English word ‘tutti’, the answer to the clue at 25d, which is a direct borrowing from the Italian language that I learnt a decade ago. In Italian, the word simply means ‘all’. In fact, there are four different forms viz. tutto, tutta, tutti and tutte. Tutto is used for masculine singular nouns e.g. tutto il giorno meaning ‘all day long’ or ‘the whole day’. Tutta is used for feminine singular nouns e.g. tutta l’acqua meaning ‘all the water’. Tutti is used for masculine plural nouns or with a mixed group of masculine and feminine nouns e.g. tutti i libri meaning ‘all the books’. Tutte is used for feminine plural nouns e.g. tutte le notti meaning ‘all the nights’. In fact, all these words stem from the Latin toti, conveying totality or entirety. In music, tutti indicates that all performers in an ensemble play together, in contrast to a passage meant for a soloist. For example, in orchestral scores, a section may alternate between solo, pertaining to one instrument or group and tutti the full ensemble. The term can also appear in choral music to signal that the entire choir should sing. Outside strictly musical contexts, tutti has inspired compound words and idiomatic expressions in English. Tutti-frutti, literally ‘all fruits’, refers to a confection or ice cream made from a mixture of different fruits, often brightly coloured and flavoured. Additionally, words beginning with tutti- often carry the connotation of completeness or plurality, reflecting the original Italian sense of ‘all together’. Its usage in both music and culinary contexts illustrates the linguistic and cultural migration of Italian terms into English. In English usage, tutti alone can also denote all performers collectively in an orchestral or theatrical setting as we see in 25d.

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Across

1a           Entertaining piece with a great view from seats in circle? (6,5)
FERRIS WHEEL: A cryptic definition of a fairground attraction, a large upright wheel having seats suspended on the circumference which remain horizontal while the wheel rotates

10a        Siren in hallway off and on – room emptied (5)
ALARM: The definition of a warning of danger, an example of which is a siren i.e. a device that makes a loud prolonged signal or warning sound is deduced from the alternate letters (off and on) in [H]A[L]L[W]A[Y] followed by R[OO]M having its inner letters vacated (emptied)

11a        Met son in fantastic American state (9)
MINNESOTA: An anagram (fantastic) of MET SON IN followed by A (American) as the abbreviation for American guides to the definition of a state in the Upper Midwestern region of the United States bordering Canada and Lake Superior

12a        Wearing navy perhaps, and working as a 28 Across? (2,7)
IN SERVICE: [Double definition; the second referring to a domestic servant higher than a maid, as represented from 28 Across, employed in a private household giving services like supervising the overall seamless functioning of household operations apart from her usual cleaning responsibilities that takes to the first describing someone employed in a uniformed service in the context of any of the national forces, an example of which is the navy – now corrected to:] IN (wearing) and SERVICE (navy perhaps) [Thanks to Smylers for pointing out that it wasn’t a DD and also to Twmbarlwm for the confirmation]

13a        Rob Lowe’s lead character entering all over the place (5)
RIFLE: The definition of a verb meaning to ransack and rob or to search with the intent to rob is arrived at from the leading or initial letter (lead character) of L[OWE] (Lowe’s) getting inside (entering) RIFE (all over the place) as an adjective meaning in widespread existence, everywhere or all over the place

14a        Figure in brown at the back – yellowish-brown (6)
NUMBER: The definition of a noun denoting a figure, numeral or digit is obtained from the back or last letter (at the back) of [BROW]N followed by UMBER (yellowish-brown) as any of the dark brown to greenish-brown colours, an example of which can be a raw or untreated umber, a yellowish-brown colour

16a        Foreign Office guard checking British timepiece (3-5)
FOB-WATCH: A combo of FO (Foreign Office) as the abbreviation for Foreign Office and WATCH (guard) as to guard, spy or keep surveillance on someone or something holding inside (checking) B (British) as the abbreviation for British produces the definition as timepiece or a pocket watch that is attached to a waistcoat by a chain or ribbon

18a        Nothing behind small sofa (4,4)
LOVE SEAT: A charade of LOVE (nothing) as O or nothing i.e. the score of zero in a game of tennis and SEAT (behind) as referring to that part of a body on which one sits i.e. the buttocks or behind guides to the definition of a small sofa or a soft seat with a back and arms that is only long enough for two people

20a        Recalled Greek character unwell after a plant such as garlic (6)
ALLIUM: A combo of MU (Greek character) as the 12^th letter of the Greek alphabet and ILL (unwell) as suffering from a disease or feeling unwell coming from the other end (recalled) as reversals in the across clue and preceded by or coming after (after) A from the clue takes to the definition by example of a plant of the Allium genus to which, onions, leeks etc belong

23a        Sinatra rereleases somewhat less common (5)
RARER: [SINAT]RA RER[ELEASES] as part of or hidden inside (somewhat) leads to the definition of a comparative adjective meaning more uncommon or unusually less common

24a        Full of beans and windy, get niece to bring in last of Alka-Seltzer (9)
ENERGETIC: The definition of an adjective denoting having or showing a lot of energy or determination, an example of which is the idiomatic expression ‘full of beans’ meaning lively, energetic, enthusiastic or full of vitality is got from an anagram (windy) of GET NIECE having inside (to bring in) the last or ultimate letter (last) of [ALKA-SELTZE]R

26a        Inferior candy store with no Tango, sadly (9)
SECONDARY: The definition of an adjective denoting inferior in rank or status is achieved from an anagram (sadly) of CANDY S[T]ORE without the use of (with no) T (Tango) as the letter represented by Tango in the NATO phonetic alphabet

27a        Strange and unpopular ref getting France eliminated? (5)
OUTRÉ: The definition of an adjective meaning highly unconventional, eccentric, bizarre or strange is got from OUT (unpopular) as unpopular, no longer in use or fashion followed by RE[F] from the clue having F (France) as the IVR code for France taken out (eliminated)

28a        According to Spooner, composer Gustav gave money to female servant (7-4)
PARLOUR-MAID: A combo of MAHLER (composer Gustav) as the surname of an Austro-Bohemian Romantic composer who was one of the leading conductors of his generation and PAID (gave money to) as a verb in the past tense denoting gave someone money that was due for work, goods received or a debt incurred is subject to an utterance involving spoonerism (according to Spooner) as to utter a verbal error in which a speaker transposes the initial sounds or letters of two or more words, often to humorous effect, guiding to the definition of a maidservant who waits at table

Down

2d           Old palmist regularly failing tests (5)
EXAMS: EX (old) as a prefix indicating of a person no longer what they were but still living or as someone with whom a person was once associated in a relationship or marriage followed by the alternate letters (regularly failing) of [P]A[L]M[I]S[T] takes to the definition of the plural of an official test that shows one’s ability or knowledge in a particular subject

3d           Shame about Flash, Queen single’s cover (7)
REMORSE: The definition of  a feeling of regret and guilt for past wrongdoing, an example of which is a shame i.e. a painful or distressing sense of guilt or regret is arrived at from RE (about) as a commercial jargon used to indicate ‘referring to’, ‘regarding’, ‘on’ or ‘about’ and MO (flash) as an abbreviation for ‘moment’ denoting a slang term for a second or a very short time, an example of which is ‘flash’ i.e. a moment or a very short time followed by R (Queen) as the abbreviation for regina, the Latin word for Queen and the outside letters (cover) of S[INGL]E (single’s)

4d           Problem with US university crest (6)
SUMMIT: A charade of SUM (problem) as a problem in addition or in arithmetic generally and (with) MIT (US university) as referring to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology that is in the state of Massachusetts in the United States guides to the definition of the crest or the highest point of a mountain or hill

5d           Ultimately, Sharon Horgan terribly bored by English sycophant (6-2)
HANGER-ON: A combo of the ultimate or terminal letter (ultimately) of [SHARO]N and HORGAN from the clue subject to an anagram (terribly) followed with the insertion of (bored by) E (English) as the abbreviation for English yields the definition of a person who associates with another person or a group in a sycophantic manner or for the purpose of gaining some personal advantage

6d           One elevated to a higher position in disbelief? (7)
EYEBROW: A cryptic definition of the hairy arch above the eye that is raised (one elevated to a higher position) when incredulous (in disbelief) as in the common expression ‘to raise an eyebrow’ or ‘to raise one’s eyebrows’ meaning to show surprise or skepticism

7d           Conservationists hope to support inhabitant (8,5)
NATIONAL TRUST: The definition of the organisation of the United Kingdom dedicated to preserve historic buildings, land and natural heritage, an example of which are the conservationists i.e. organisations or institutions that are interested in conservation or the act of preserving or protecting valuable assets of the nation such as natural landscapes, wildlife, historic buildings, monuments and cultural heritage is arrived at from TRUST (hope) as hope or confident expectation of something supporting upon it or coming after in the down clue (support) NATIONAL (inhabitant) as referring to a person or inhabitant of a nation

8d           Match day paper? (8)
CONFETTI: A cryptic definition of the large strips of paper often released from cannons in the winning team’s colours as part of the post-game ceremony in order to celebrate a victory on a major sports match day like the Super Bowl or the UEFA Champions League Final

9d           Catch article on Rooney maybe in rag (4,3,6)
TAKE THE MICKEY: TAKE (catch) as to catch or come upon, especially suddenly or unexpectedly  followed by THE (article) as the definite article in the English language placed upon in the down clue (on) MICKEY (Rooney maybe) as referring to the forename of Mickey Rooney, the American actor who appeared in more than 300 films and was among the last surviving stars of the silent-film era, leading to the definition of an idiomatic expression meaning to tease or ridicule someone, an example of which is to rag i.e. to tease or taunt someone

15d        Swear into microphone? The essence of Cockney Rebel! (8)
MAVERICK: AVER (swear) as to avow, affirm or swear placed inside MIC (microphone) as the abbreviated version of microphone and followed by the innermost letter (essence) of [COC]K[NEY] takes to the definition of someone who does not conform i.e. a determined individualist, and by example a rebel i.e. one who refuses to conform to the generally accepted modes of behaviour, dress etc

17d        Team struggling to invade acclaim enemy lines? (4,4)
HATE MAIL: An anagram (struggling) of TEAM to get inside (invade) HAIL (acclaim) as cheer, salute or acclaim brings to the definition of correspondence or mail containing hostile or abusive lines, an example of which is ‘enemy lines’ i.e. lines or correspondence written by an enemy or hostile lines of writing

19d        A little prissy, ring assistant for lilac (7)
SYRINGA: Part of or hidden inside (a little) [PRIS]SY, RING A[SSISTANT] takes to the definition of a plant of the genus Syringa, especially the lilac

21d        Terribly glum about dispute over angler’s bait (7)
LUGWORM: An anagram (terribly) of GLUM placed around (about) ROW (dispute) as a serious dispute in an inverted position (over) as a reversal in the down clue leads to the definition of a bristle worm that lives in muddy sand by the sea, widely used as bait by anglers or fishermen

22d        So long in spot close to Banbury and Oxford University (3,3)
SEE YOU: The definition of a phrase said when parting from someone, an example of which is ‘so long’ used to mean goodbye till we meet again is reached from SEE (spot) as to spot, notice or mark followed by the closing or terminal letter (close) to [BANBUR]Y and OU (Oxford University) as the abbreviation for Oxford University

25d        It’s over, after initially thanking United trainer and all the players (5)
TUTTI: It’s over denoting it is over i.e. IT in an inverted position (is over) as a reversal in the down clue coming after or preceded by (after) a combo of initial or starting letters (initially) of T[HANKING] U[UNITED] T[RAINER] that leads to the definition of a plural adjective denoting all the players or performers, as in music

There were several clues that I liked in this puzzle such as 1a, 16a, 18a, 24a, 28a, 6d, 8d, 9d, 15d, 17d and 25d; 8d being the best of the lot. My prayers to the Almighty for the eternal rest and peace of BD and my thanks to Twmbarlwm for the entertainment. Looking forward to seeing you here again. Have a nice day.