Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31156
Hints and tips by Mr K
+ - + - + - + - + - + - + - +
BD Rating - Difficulty **** - Enjoyment ***
Hello, everyone, and welcome to Friday.
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 Juvenile bully everyone must stop (6)
CALLOW: A verb synonym of bully containing (… must stop) another word for everyone
5a Writer circles somewhat empty bar (6)
BISTRO: An informal word for an ink-based writing instrument contains (circles) the outer letters (empty) of SOMEWHAT
10a Says yes to old gangsters right away (5)
OKAYS: The single letter for old with a famous pair of London gangster twins minus the single letter for right (right away)
11a Drunk cheering, swallowing whiskey in London borough (9)
GREENWICH: An anagram (drunk) of CHEERING containing (swallowing) the letter represented in the NATO phonetic alphabet by whiskey
12a Babybel cheddar sandwiches produced burps (7)
BELCHED: BABYBEL CHEDDAR hides (sandwiches) the answer
13a Tax demand ultimately deleted (7)
EXCISED: A type of tax with the final letter (ultimately) of DEMAND
14a Great man worked alongside tense overbearing woman (9)
TERMAGANT: An anagram (worked) of GREAT MAN is followed by the single letter for tense
17a Following large bone diners at last clean teeth (5)
FLOSS: Concatenate the abbreviation for following, the clothing abbreviation for large, the technical word for bone, and the final letter (at last) of DINERS
18a Turn to celebrity making comeback (5)
PIVOT: TO with another word for a celebrity, all reversed (making comeback)
19a Fruit Jimmy peeled for each child around (9)
PERSIMMON: A word meaning “for each” is followed by a male child containing (around) the inner letters (peeled) of JIMMY
21a Knew essentially Republican contender is more anxious (7)
NERVIER: Link together the central letter pair (essentially) of KNEW, the single letter for Republican, and a contender or competitor
23a Invalid ultimately had shocking treatment, without entertainment (7)
DEFUNCT: The final letter (ultimately) of HAD with the abbreviation for electric shock treatment containing (without) another word for entertainment
25a Gloom one spread about university speech (9)
MONOLOGUE: An anagram (spread) of GLOOM ONE containing (about) the single letter for university
26a Alternative that is left for Oxford college (5)
ORIEL: Stick together another word for alternative, the Latin abbreviation for “that is”, and the single letter for left
27a This author wears that lady's luxury fashion brand (6)
HERMES: A pronoun that the setter might use for themselves (this author) is inserted in (wears) a pronoun for “that lady’s”
28a Follow advice and cook lentils, removing lid (6)
LISTEN: An anagram (cook) of LENTILS minus its first letter (removing lid)
Down
2d Benefit claim Adam occasionally brought up, receiving very little (5)
AVAIL: The reversal (brought up) of alternate letters (occasionally) of CLAIM ADAM containing (receiving) the abbreviation (little) for very
3d Listen in secret, not about to get discouraged (4,5)
LOSE HEART: Listen or pay attention inserted in a word meaning secret or hidden with the single letter for about or approximately deleted (not about)
4d Carried on having regular paid employment (5)
WAGED: A double definition. Carried on a war, perhaps
5d Tower of London guide, non-vegan? (9)
BEEFEATER: A warder of the Tower of London split (4-5) could also be a non-vegan
6d Sort of boom in flipping casinos, since banned (5)
SONIC: CASINOS minus a synonym of since (since banned), all reversed (flipping)
7d Minor star out in bad weather (9)
RAINSTORM: An anagram (out) of MINOR STAR
8d Marsupial that hurt round, minute mammal (6)
WOMBAT: Combine together the reversal (round) of an exclamation meaning “that hurt”, the single letter for minute, and a nocturnal flying mammal
9d Island country, formerly one area overlooked (6)
RHODES: The former name of an African country minus both the Roman one and the single letter for area (one area overlooked)
15d Worship always in French church under review primarily (9)
REVERENCE: Putting the bits in order, cement together the first letter (primarily) of REVIEW, another word for always, the French word for “in”, and the abbreviation for the Church of England
16d Tips American resort to need money being raised (9)
ASPARAGUS: Assemble the single letter for American, a type of resort, and the reversal (being raised) of an informal word for money
17d Texan shows indecision in footwear choice (4-5)
FLIP-FLOPS: An informal word used by a Texan (and the rest of us Americans) to mean “shows indecision” is also a type of footwear
18d Both parents purchasing oddly neat headgear (6)
PANAMA: Informal contractions for father and mother (both parents) containing (purchasing) the odd letters of NEAT
20d Plant bug (6)
NETTLE: A double definition. Bug here is a verb
22d Religion Dennis lambasts to some extent (5)
ISLAM: DENNIS LAMBAST hides the answer (… to some extent)
23d Live prosperously, supporting daughter (5)
DWELL: Another word for prosperously comes after (supporting, in a down clue) the genealogical abbreviation for daughter
24d Sound of hooter I will interrupt (5)
NOISE: I from the clue inserted in (will interrupt) what hooter means informally
Thanks to today’s setter. Which clues did you like best?
The Quick Crossword pun: TEES + TRAINER = TEA STRAINER
I really enjoyed today’s offering and it finishes off a great week of puzzles. I haven’t heard of the overbearing woman at 14a but knowing it was an anagram and having the checkers, I managed to get it. I did check my answer with Mr. G’s electrons just to ne sure. The juvenile bully at 1a raised a smile once I realised the sort of bully that was needed. I was reminded that I need to tend to my 16d bed before they start growing. My COTD is Jimmy’s fruit at 19a.
Thank you, setter (Silvanus?) for a great end to the week. Thank you, Mr K for the hints.
Here in The Marches, the rain goes on and on and on and on……..
Good morning. I don`t know what to make of today`s puzzle. I got a good bit done on the first pass, especially the Down clues, but the across clues required more thought. 10a, 15d and 18d make up my podium with 18d being my COTD. Many thanks to Mr K and setter.
A relatively clear run at this Friday puzzle. Everything parsable from the clues and nothing too strenuous. I had to confirm the acronym for the shocking treatment at 23a, but otherwise completed unaided.
First in was the London borough and LOI was the overbearing woman. My favourite was the fruit at 19a.
Thanks to the setter and Mr K.
1*/4*
This was 3*/5* for me for a magnificent end to the non-working week.
I had a plethora of ticks with my top top picks being 1a, 17a, 3d, 17d (thank you setter for the American indicator!) & 20d.
Many thanks presumably to Silvanus and to Mr K.
Once again I got the “you are posting too quickly” message so I waited and then refreshed the page. As my message still hadn’t appeared, I reposted it and then it showed up twice so I’ve edited out the duplicate.
Apart from confirming the fashion brand, the rest went in very nicely.
Many thanks to the setter and to Mr K.
1*/4* for me today.
I embarked upon today’s puzzle on the back of a few heavy days in Edinburgh and poor showings in both Plusword and Wordle but found it reasonably accessible for a Friday. 14a was a new word and one I doubt I shall be putting to use. 17d was my COTD, although I hadn’t realised it was a particularly American expression. Thanks very much to the setter and to Mr K.
Damn this site. Wrote a post earlier which if posted immediately would/could have been third. Just flipped back to what MrK had to say about 27a and wonder if today’s setter is Chalicea.
I didn’t find this particularly difficult but the parsing of several completely defeated me and I bunged in an answer that fitted. I shall now read the hints to make sense of it all. When, please, are more photos of the birthday bash going to be on view? I so enjoyed the first few and how utterly different everyone looked to how I imagined! I gather from the comments that Tom…65 is as shy and retiring as we are led to believe. Oooh, just seen the flying pigs going by the window. Anyway, thanks to the setter and to Mr K as always.
Very gentle especially for a Friday, but just what I needed after arriving back in Winnipeg – 2.5*/4.5*
Candidates for favourite – 1a, 10a, 20d, and 24d – and the winner is the double definition 20d.
Thanks to the setter, I agree that it is most likely Silvanus, and Mr K.
An enjoyable and surprisingly straightforward puzzle for a Friday, though at first glance it threatened to be more challenging: a S to N solve followed and was unhindered. In 2d the appearance of “little” surprised me as it seems to do nothing other than enhance the surface read; given its widespread usage I was surprised to see the US indicator in 17d though when checking, while Collins just says ‘informal’, the BRB does say ‘US’.
Honours to 10a, 17a and 12a for the smile-inducing surface.
Many thanks to the setter and to Mr K
Back-to-back gentle crossies for the end of the week? Very rare, indeed.
Looking at 2d, this has to be a Sade concoction.
Even though 17d originates from the Lone Star state, it doesn’t need a septic indicator as it’s been used here for decades. I know that words for bone begin with those two letters but I didn’t know it was a word in its own right.
My podium is 10a, 14a and 3d.
MTTTA and Mr K
2*/4*
Septic indicator?
Septic is Cockney rhyming slang for an American.
See if you or anyone else can work it out, if you could be faffed.
It has to be septic tank. 😊
That’s the one.
So you’re saying I’m septic?
Of course not.
See my post from two minutes ago.
So if your “humour” offends me, it’s my problem?
You really cannot stop yourself, Tom. Can you ?
Can you try, please ?
Thank you Ora.
“Tom” might reflect on how Big Dave banned him when “Tom”‘s lame attempts at humour upset too many people too often. The next ban will be permanent.
I would never have understood the “Texan” reference without the rhyming slang explanation.
Mr K and Ora, I don’t think Tom means anything disrespectful. He is merely pointing out that “Septic” is Cockney rhyming slang. 😊
Goodness me, OM!
Steve is absolutely right. It’s like Pom (used in a recent crossword), Kiwi, Mountie or Roast beef.
I appreciate you aren’t a fan of me which is absolutely fine. Just scroll past my posts.
You are seriously trying to claim that calling someone septic is the same as calling them a Kiwi?
And that if people are upset by your insults, your solution is that they should just ignore you?
Hello, Steve. Are you saying that it’s my fault if comments like that bother me?
“Tom” has previous here and he knows exactly what he is doing.
I have no bad intentions, I really don’t. I sometimes just get carried away with wordplay.
I am a positive, cheerful chappie who never means to upset anyone which I’m sure the people last weekend will agree with.
I get cheeky chappie and happy go lucky thrown at me all the time.
I can only apologise that it’s caused offence.
Consider my knuckles well and truly rapped.
No, of course not, Mr. K. I obviously am in the dark about a few things so I will reserve my counsel.
A very enjoyable puzzle – thanks to our setter and Mr K.
I didn’t know the luxury fashion but the wordplay was crystal clear.
For my podium I plumped for 1a, 5a and 6d.
A Friday puzzle this week that was perhaps less frustrating than normal, that is, a little easier to my way of thinking. Some good clueing that made parsing sense today too.
2.5*/3.5*
Favourites 11a, 19a, 28a, 5d & 18d — with winner 11a
Smiles for 5d, 17d & 18d
Thanks to setter & Mr. K
I enjoyed this a lot. A nice bit of chew and some great clues. I also didn’t know the word for the overbearing woman at 14a. With most of the checkers in place I tried variants of the anagram asking ChatGPT if it was a word until I got it right. Pleased to have got the fruit at 19a, a word lurking in my brain somewhere as don’t think I’ve ever eaten one ! Thanks to the setter and Mr K.
I found this Friday puzzle far easier than normal – possibly because i started in the NE and then went clockwise around the grid. I did have to check 14a – new word for me.
1*/4.5*
1a and 28a favourites today
Thanks to Mr K and Setter
14a is a fine old word and like harridan is one I’ve picked up over the years by doing cryptic crosswords, though I’ve never heard either term used outside of historical literature.
The London borough revelry in 11a raised a smile and struck a chord as I lived there for ten years when I was much younger.
The invalid deception in 23a was cleverly done and I liked the money being raised in 16d, though the clue as a whole was rather clunky.
I thought this was set at about the right level for Friday, my thanks to our setter and Mr K.
A cracking puzzle to cheer up a very dreary Shropshire morning. As always with this setter, the quality and variety of the clues was outstanding, with no dodgy surfaces or wordplay. 17d was my pick of the excellent choice on offer (although my mind immediately transposed a current PM instead of Texan in the clue).
My thanks to, I think, Silvanus for the fun and to Mr K.
An extremely quick grid fill for a Friday & a reasonably straightforward parse with the possible exception of 3d&23a, both of which took a moment to peg. That said hadn’t a scooby what Texas had to do with the footwear & didn’t bother to investigate as had to dash for a matinee performance of H is For Hawk at the Odyssey. A very enjoyable puzzle,
Podium spots for 10&23a + 9d,
Thanks to the setter & to Mr K – Silvanus did tell me at the bash when his next puzzle was scheduled but NTS I’ve forgotten what he said. He seems a fair bet for this one though.
A lovely puzzle for yet another rainy day. We are off bird-watching in Cornwall this weekend so I’m hoping it will be less soggy.
Top picks for me were 5a, 19a, 18d and 9d.
I didn’t understand the Texan connection to 17d.
Thanks to Mr K and the setter.
I thought that I found this Friday puzzle easier than usual because I had slept well, but it seems from the comments that it was just at the easier end of the Friday spectrum! A really enjoyable offering. Many thanks to the setter and hinter.
Somewhat against the run of comments, I found this quite tough. That said I did enjoy the challenge. I am still struggling with a couple of the parsings so am now off to check both my answers and the reasons. Cotd goes to the marsupial in 4d. Thanks to compiler and Mr K.
That took some teasing but with Chambers’ help I got there and did enjoy the challenge. 14a new to me. 3d and 16d (tips alone IMHO are not really synonymous) were not parsed but both bunged in. 7d out dodgy for anagram. Thanks setter and MrK.
An unexpectedly more straightforward Friday than usual and with some excellent and entertaining clues. I did not know the term in 14a but as it was an anagram I was able to guess it. There were too many great clues to choose one favourite.
Many thanks to the setter and to Mr K for the hints.
I went over for the paper at 8am in the rain and picked up the DT from the covered rack outside. When I went in, I said to the very nice young boy/girl behind the counter “ I’m always pleased when my paper is on the top shelf.” Ah, it said, I always put the Guardian and the Telegraph on the top ‘cos that’s what you lot read.
🤔
Lovely end to the week, of course all my handbags are 27a so that was easy, 16d would have sprung to mind more quickly if I had spelt the overbearing woman properly – I was too busy getting the man in place. 28a my favourite. Have a good weekend everyone and grateful thanks to Messers Setter and K.
Started at 19 and the east fell quickly .My favourite on this side was 17a .I knew the woman in 14 “” and this opened up the west .I needed help to understand 3d . Very plain sailing for a Friday but really enjoyed this one . Thanks to all . Favourite on the west 14a . Enjoyment*****
.. I know a few🤣
Is my wife one of ’em?
2.5* / 4* Definitely a step up for a Friday and rightly so, some cracking clues some of which had to be reverse parsed.
Favourites today include the 1a juvenile, clean teeth at 17a and top spot to the invalid at 23a
Thanks to setter and Mr K
** / ****
Almost but not quite 3* difficulty, the hold up being the 23a Invalid and 17d Texan indecision. When the answer became apparent, I remained unsure what Texas had to do with it. For “Jimmy peeled” in 19a, note to self: peel the word and use what’s left and not the peel!!!!! Spent ages trying to use “JY”. Duuurrrr! Also wasn’t aware until today that “Os” can be bone on its own so to speak. Ticks went to the old gangsters in 10a, the 9d Island country once I figured out the country and the 24d Sound.
Thanks for a great end to the week challenge to the setter (if I join the Silvanus voters, then it’s sure inmost to be) and Mr K.
Late on parade as usual. Started the crossword in the hairdressers and found it so engaging that I forgot to drink the cup of tea that had been provided. This is a sure indication of a fine crossword. John took me to lunch and have only just completed the grid. It proved to be OK but explanation for my bung – ins was needed for 16 and 17 across. Favourite was 23 across and last in was 9 down.
Can you believe East Grinstead area has a hose pipe ban !
Thanks to our setter and Mr. K for giving another term for money.
14a … new one for me … but every day is a learning day. I can think of a few too🤫
Four stars? you ain’t wrong there Mr K, this took me ages, and I still needed two cracks at it.
Last in was the fruit, never seen one, so will look it up (may even buy one)
My two of the day were the shocking 23a, and 9d, hottest place I’ve ever been, 43 degrees C in the main town, parked, drank one Coke, went back to our villa and the pool…..
Jeez, just read the other comments, am I the only person who found this tough?
No TC, you’re certainly not alone. It took me much longer to complete than I would normally expect, but that said, crosswording with umpteen other things on my mind isn’t always the most simple pastime. Most enjoyable, though. Never heard of the luxury fashion brand, but easy to solve with the checkers in place. 12a raised a titter, but no real standout favourites today. Thank yous to today’s setter and Mr K
My ratings always include the time needed to parse every clue because, in my view, a complete grid fill with any number of unparsed clues is still a DNF. I suspect that others consider only the time and effort needed to fill the grid with correct answers, which can lead to lower difficulty ratings. I thought this was a challenging puzzle.
I had my first 19a fruit just a couple of weeks ago. Definitely worth trying.
The hottest place I’ve ever been to was Mombasa back in 1998. With temperatures around 48 degrees my face got quite badly burnt in less than an hour, despite the high factor sun cream.
I spent the next few days looking like Una Stubbs from Worzel Gummidge!
The hottest place I have been to was my back garden last year when the temperature reached 40. 🥵
Many thanks to Mr K for his Hints and Tips and to all solvers, especially of course those leaving comments. It doesn’t seem quite right not to see a contribution from Jane, but I hope she is getting better and will be back before long.
It was a pleasure to see several familiar faces last Saturday at The Bridge House, but I was particularly glad to meet Steve Cowling, Huntsman, ALP, Alfiepops and Simon Rigler for the first time.
Wishing everyone a good weekend and I shall see you all again soon.
Thank you for a very entertaining puzzle, silvanus and for popping in. Yes, last Saturday was most enjoyable and it was good to meet you also. Have a great weekend, yourself.
At the bash, I looked at my watch and saw it was twenty to five so thought I had better get going. When I looked at my watch again on the tube I saw it was only three o’clock! I could have stayed another hour or so. 🙄
Doh!
As you couldn’t tell the time, Cowling, maybe it was time to go, you lightweight.
Guilty as charged, TDS65, guilty as charged! 😊
Thanks for dropping in, and thanks for a fine crossword to solve and to hint.
Top work from Silvanus. 19A my COTD. VMT also to Mr K.
Can just about claim to have solved this unassisted but needed the hints to fully understand the parsing of 3d, 9d and 23a, which were largely solved from the checkers. COTD 18d for the parsing and surface. Thanks to Silvanus and Mr K. ***/****
I found this a bit tougher than most others seem to have.
Needed the hint for 23a which I doubt I would have solved in a month of Sundays.
Although I guessed 16d correctly I was totally unaware of the slang term for money.
Favourite 27a….see Daisy above.
Thanks to the setter and to Mr K for his excellent hints.
Good stuff all through! My main puzzle was dealing with the unnecessary Texan/US indicator in 17d (Septic or otherwise). I did know of the luxury brand (they crop up in the Telegraph’s fashion pages regularly, although not in any wardrobe in my house).
Thanks to Silvanus and Mr K
I reckon the film I saw today about training a goshawk right up you street.
If Chambers (rightly or wrongly) says a word is specifically American, I always feel it is only fair to have an indicator reflecting that. If I had omitted it today, then certainly RD and possibly others would have complained, so I cannot win!
Hi S
Firstly, thank you for another enjoyable puzzle. I know, for a fact, I’ve never given you fewer (not ‘less’ as I said at the pub!) than four stars.
There are people either side of the fence with this one. So, as you say, a setter can’t win.
How long a word has to be in circulation in The UK for it not to be an Americanism is a debate that will never get settled.
I would go with what you feel as opposed to what it says in various dictionaries as I know that setters don’t always stick to what they say.
Either way, I wouldn’t worry about it.
I look forward to your next challenge.
Sweet dreams!
2*/3* ….
liked 18D ” Both parents purchasing oddly neat headgear (6)”