Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31159
Hints and tips by Huntsman
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty * Enjoyment ***
Well it’s not raining yet here in Harpenden but it’s on the way & none too warm out there either.
Next week I’ll leave you in ALP’s expert hands as I’m off to 17d in Shabbo’s excellent Toughie to see if I can remember how to play golf & hopefully catch a bit of sunshine in the process. I’m sure his music choices will be more eclectic than mine.
No reverse anagrams to trip me up in today’s pretty gentle puzzle, which I’m sure is an Anthony Plumb production. As ever nicely clued throughout without for me quite hitting the heights of last week.
As usual there are an assortment of 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 Study and invite scorn (8)
CONTEMPT: link a synonym for study/read with one for invite/lure.
5a Pop singer’s admitting parking diggers? (6)
SPADES: insert (admitting) P[arking] into the stage name of a Nigerian-born British soul singer + the ‘s – Tom’s name for Silvanus which is a reference to her song, Smooth Operator.
9a Components made from steel men forged (8)
ELEMENTS: an anagram (forged) of STEEL MEN.
10a Sobs absorbing Mike’s offences (6)
CRIMES: insert (absorbing) the NATO phonetic alphabet letter, M[ike] into sobs/weeps.
12a Most attractive pert bust, couples finally admit (9)
PRETTIEST: an anagram (bust) of PERT followed by a verb synonym for couples/links then append the last letter (finally) of admi[T].
13a Abhor catching last of trains – hurry! (5)
HASTE: place the end letter of train[S] into (catching last of) a synonym for abhor.
14a Accelerate as yacht welcomes a breeze (4)
EASY: hidden (welcomes). The music clip is considered a yacht rock classic apparently.
16a Sack’s diameter is not a hit? (7)
DISMISS: the single letter for D[iameter) + IS from the wordplay + what something could be said to be if it is not a hit.
19a Record unfinished and pop group break up (7)
DISBAND: truncate (unfinished) a term for a record + a term for a pop band.
21a Assistant said he shuns leaders (4)
AIDE: an acrostic (leaders). Ignore that twaddle – I’m getting worse. Remove the 1st letter from words 2&3 in the clue (shuns leaders).
24a Grown-up’s mostly uninteresting after a time (5)
ADULT: an abridged (mostly) synonym for uninteresting/boring is preceded by A from the clue & followed by the single letter for T[ime].
25a Grandma swallows a lolly, something eaten with a curry? (4,5)
NAAN BREAD: insert (swallows) A from the clue into one of the many informal terms for grandma + another slang word for what lolly is an informal term for.
27a The man’s in church with large cutting tool (6)
CHISEL: place a third-person singular masculine personal pronoun with the possessive S for ‘the man’s’ between the abbreviation for the Anglican church then append L[arge].
28a Jumbos perhaps look cunning (8)
AIRCRAFT: link a synonym for look/appearance with one for cunning/guile. Nowt to do with elephants.
29a Moans about teenager’s first spots (6)
SIGHTS: moans/audible exhalations with T[eenager] (first) inserted (about).
30a Check tall grass repelled animal (8)
REINDEER: a verb synonym for check/constrain + a reversal (repelled) of a type of grass primarily found near waterways.
Down
1d Cuckoo speech? (6)
CHEEPS: cuckoo here also functions as an anagram indicator.
2d Resort city’s hosting European relations (6)
NIECES: the resort city is France’s 2nd largest on the Mediterranean coast. Again you want the possessive S. Insert (hosting) the single letter for E[uropean].
3d Up before court (5)
ERECT: a rather poetic word for before + the usual abbreviation for court.
4d China’s crazy about old queen (7)
POTTERY: another informal term for crazy goes around the official royal cypher for our recently departed monarch.
6d Picked up cap and rushed out (9)
PURCHASED: an anagram (out) of CAP RUSHED.
7d Servant heads towards Italian capital, initially (8)
DOMESTIC: a synonym for heads/cupolas followed by the 1st letters (initially) of the next 3 words in the clue.
8d Feeling encapsulating US pressure? Apprehension (8)
SUSPENSE: insert (encapsulating) US from the clue + P[ressure] into a synonym for feeling/awareness.
11d Pupils half ignored hunk (4)
STUD: 50% (half ignored) of a word for pupils.
15d Dwelling alone, bishops maybe tense (9)
APARTMENT: alone/separated + what bishops may be termed on a chess board (hence maybe) + T[ense].
17d Notice American vice-president’s overtures (8)
ADVANCES: an abbreviated synonym for notice/commercial + Trump’s VP, again with the possessive S.
18d Seizing whisk ma’s using (8)
ASSUMING: an anagram (whisk) of MA’S USING.
20d University teacher with little energy is carried out (4)
DONE: the name for a university teacher + E[nergy].
21d I crave a spread, showing greed (7)
AVARICE: an anagram (spread) of I CRAVE A.
22d Be sitting on judge’s carpet (6)
BERATE: BE from the clue + (sitting on/down clue) a verb synonym for judge/assess.
23d Rubbish fish upset my boss (6)
EDITOR: a synonym for rubbish/claptrap + our setter’s oft used ray-finned freshwater fish read from bottom to top (upset in a down clue). By coincidence the fish makes an appearance in Shabbo’s puzzle too. The definition is our compiler’s boss.
26d Sailor turned up with con artist (5)
BACON: reverse (turned up/down clue) the usual two letter abbreviation for an experienced member of the deck crew then add CON in the wordplay.
No particular favourite for me today but I did rather like the servant off to Rome at 7d & being sat on the floor in the judge’s chambers at 22d. There was a wry smile at the proximity of 8&17d or was it a grimace. Please let us know which clues ticked your boxes.
Today’s Quick Crossword pun: RUN + TOO + CEDE = RUN TO SEED
Today’s puzzle was an absolute belter from the professor with a misdirection or two thrown in. In 3d, I spent ages trying to use “mate” somehow and, in 15d, I couldn’t let go of “hermit”. I liked granny swallowing a lolly at 25a and the vice president is rapidly becoming a setter’s useful politician along with POTUS. I was going to have the servant at 7d as my podium winner until along came the cuckoo at 1d, which immediately became COTD.
Thank you, Professor for a most rewarding puzzle. Thank you, Hintsman for the hunts.
If I get time, I’ll have a look at Shabbo’s Toughie later.
Back to the marking! These days, it’s bedevilled by students writing their essays with AI. No, I don’t mean Anagram Indicator. 😊
I feel a bit let down this morning, I was expecting you to comment that you had never heard of the singer at 5a. I had but needed the check letters.
I nice gentle Tuesday solve. My cotd was the curry accompaniment, but I’ve never liked the tern Nan … it was always gran or granny to me.
Thanks to setter and Huntsman.
I have heard of the singer, BE. 😊
I thought I had heard the name but did a quick google to check!
Good morning. Like yesterday`s effort, this was an exceptionally fast fill. But I enjoyed this more. It`s difficult to pick a podium but 1a, 5a, 10a, 13a and 19a raised smiles. Similarly, there is an equal number of down clues worthy of mention. As for my top picks, 22d and the very smooth 5a . Many thanks to H for the hints and the setter for the entertainment.
A lovely puzzle again this Tuesday.
I think Tom will like 5a as he often refers to the singer for a different setter.
Top picks for me were 30a, 4d, 16a and 7d.
Thanks to Huntsman and the setter.
I do indeed like 5a, Crazy River, as he is most certainly a smooth operator.
Oh, I thought it was a woman?!
she is – as the hint said it’s her song wot caused Tom to give him the moniker
The attribution in this thread is more convoluted than much of today’s puzzle but I got there in the end!!! ☺
She is (pronounced Sharday).
Her biggest hit was Smooth Operator which Silvanus is. I’m sure you know it. It’s very cool, helped by a sax, a fab instrument….
Found this to be at the easiest end of the spectrum. Is it just me, or are Monday and Tuesday puzzles getting ever-easier? The difference through the week seems wider than ever; much more so than in other broadsheets where the difficulty gradient is shallower.
Anyway, this was over far too quickly which somewhat blunted my enjoyment. */***
A typically gentle, but enjoyable, Tuesday puzzle. I’m still not entirely sure whether I admire or dislike 1d, but as time goes on I’m inclining more to the former. I did find the clueing somewhat repetitive, with six anagrams, lots of ‘A + B’ and insertion clues, or a combination of the three, but it was still a very pleasant accompaniment for the morning coffee.
Many thanks to Huntsman and setter.
1*/4*. Consistently light and good fun as we have come to expect on a Tuesday, with the added pleasure today of a Shabbo Toughie to follow.
Many thanks to AP and Hintsman.
I thought this was a tad harder than an average Tuesday, but it could be because I am struggling with back spasms and finding it hard to concentrate. It was still a fairly swift solve, however, and as enjoyable as ever, with 1d my favourite and 22d my final entry.
Many thanks to AP and The Hintsman.
Perfection.
He has the brevity of fortnightly Fred, well, almost, the smoothness of Silvanus and the wit and ‘wey hey!’ of the other regulars or should that be irregulars.
The constructions will be in the reach of all punters which is exactly what is required early in the week. A joy to solve. I even like his decision to put surface above difficulty by having ‘con’ in the answer for 26d.
Très difficile to pick a pody but I’ll go with 29a, 1d and 3d.
MTTTA and Hoots!
1*/5*
Film question for you Tom – name the Coen brothers film Willie Watson (1d clip) starred in?
No ideas, Harpenden Hoots.
Put me out of my misery…
if you’ve not seen it then you really should
It looks marvellous and has therefore been duly noted. This Friday night is favourite.
Yippie ki yi yay…
As Typically Tuesdayish as ever. Good to see the four letter ‘version’ of 25a! 1.5*/4.5*
Candidates for favourite – 1a, 30a, 3d, and 23d – and the winner is 3d.
Thanks to Mr Plumb and Huntsman.
I absolutely loved this but I wish the definitions were a bit more opaque because I had solved so many of the clues before I read on and appreciated the wit and craft of the cryptic part, which I only used for the parsing. COTD 1d, how can so many levels be fitted into two words.
Thanks for the hints and to the setter.
An enjoyable but swift solve today. I thought 1d was rather clever. I’ll give Shabbo’s toughie a go now maybe. I’m 3/4 through one from last week that I started yesterday, and it’s making my brain ache, so I’ll pause that for the time being. Thanks to the setter and Huntsman. .
* / ****
No more difficult than yesterday, perhaps a tad easier. Lovely constructions, particularly liked the 12a pert bust, 14a breeze, 25a eaten with curry, yum, yum! Also ticked the 29a teenager’s first spots and 4d’s use of the old Queen! COTD will be 29a for raising a laugh.
Many thanks to AP and Huntsman.
Always enjoy spending time with Mr. Plumb and he has not let us down today. Top spot today goes to 1 down. Had not heard of the singer in 5 across but the answer suited me.
Thanks to Huntsman as well.
This was the first time I’ve ever completed a puzzle by filling in each clue as I came to it and not having any left to go back to after my first run through – and, thoroughly enjoying it at the same time!
An excellent puzzle with thanks to AP and Huntsman
Fairly light but elegant fare. I’ll nominate 25a as my COTD as it’s made me feel hungry and prompted me to cook some lunch.Thanks very much to the setter and to Huntsman for the clips etc. I intended to say hello in Stoke Newington on Saturday but somehow managed to lose you at the end of the gig.
Thanks to AP and Huntsman. Like others we found this a fairly swift solve. Not heard of the “fish” in 23d. COTD 25a. LOI 23d.
Make a note of the fish – a lot of it about in crosswordland ☺
Most of that slotted in nicely helped by the Doors
LA Woman 🎸
Today, I thought this Typically Tuesday puzzle was a little trickier than the last few have been.
2*/3.5*
Favourites 9a, 24a, 4d, 20d & 26d — with winner 4d
Thanks to AP & Huntsman
No problems this Tuesday, I did think there were several anagrams which might occasion some comment – but I like ‘em so no complaints from me. 5a was LOI as I was not sure of the singer and 19a worried me as The Beatles and Queen are about my limit but then I fell in. Many thanks to AP and Hintsman.
2.5* / 3.5* I found this trickier than others but very enjoyable. Held up by 1d and 1a surprisingly.
Favourites include the 5a diggers, the most attractive 12a and the jumbos at 28a
Thanks to setter and Huntsman
A very enjoyable puzzle for me today.
Favourite the servant at 7d.
Thanks to the setter and to Huntsman.
Still relentlessly raining here …….
All as should be for a Tuesday. Pleased to see the correct and only acceptable (for me) spelling in 25a. Was held up briefly by 1d as couldn’t decide what was the definition if the first part was an anagram indicator – finally decided it was an all in one. Glad to see Huntsman confirm. Thanks to him and of course the setter
A very nice puzzle completed before going out, I liked 25a best.
Many thanks to the setter and to Huntsman for the hints
Lovely puzzle. Thanks to all. Don’t understand the explanation given for 21a. Got the correct answer but it is not my understanding of what an acrostic is.
I think it’s Huntsman’s deliberate mistake to check if anyone’s reading the hints.
You have to remove (shuns) the leading letters from words 2 and 3.
If only
Nor mine. Heaven knows why I wrote that as I knew full well how it was parsed – think I must glaze over writing the hints. As Gazza says an acrostic it certainly wasn’t 😰
Thanks. I always try to read the explanations as I still often get the right answer but need to understand the parsing. Full credit to all the hinters and tipsters for their 99.99999% accuracy.
Off-topic, because I haven’t done today’s crossword, but it turns out I’m going to a funeral in Edinburgh on Thursday. I’ve booked somewhere on Queen Street to stay tomorrow night. If anybody has any recommendations for somewhere in the area for breakfast/brunch, somewhere near (at?) Waverley station to grab food for the journey back, or knows of anything to be aware of at Dean Cemetery or anything different about Jewish funerals from Church of England ones, I’d be grateful for the information. Thanks.
It has been quite a while since I was in Edinburgh but the cafe at Valvona & Crolla
https://www.valvonacrolla.co.uk/
Was always a treat – a sort of Scottish Italian version of Betty’s
Thank you. I’ll have a look.
Unfortunately, I chose “creepy” for 1d but now I understand it from the hint it is my COTD for its brevity and subtlety. Not convinced the “ ‘s” should have been in 16a but still solved it and otherwise an enjoyable solve throughout. Thanks to setter and Huntsman. */****
Hi JF
Setters use filler words, or ‘s in this case, to make the clue grammatically correct.
Thanks TDS but I think “sack diameter” is also grammatically correct.
This is true, JF.
What I should have said that the setter has gone with the one that’s grammatically a bit tighter.
For example, the building height and the building’s height.
Thanks again TDS; my other point, which I did not state earlier, is that the ‘s’ confuses because in previous possessive uses it has formed part of the answer.
Setters vary its use. It just depends on the structure of the sentence.
It’s like the word ‘is’ in the clue. Sometimes it’s in the answer, like today, other times it’s not.
Thanks yet again; suspect it was in part a deflection – which partly worked.
JF, 16a. If you mean the “s” in Sack’s then that’s fine – its a possessive apostrophe “s”. There’s no plurality involved.
Thanks Jose, I knew it was a possessive pronoun but did not think it was necessary (see also my above reply to TDS).
Managed a fairly rapid fill before I went out this morning and just like our man in Bangkok, failed to appreciate the subtlety of the parsing until I revisited it upon my return. With the checkers for 5a and reverse parsing I was able to recollect the singer from the depths of my aging grey matter. Podium for me are 1d, 4d and the sly elephants at 28a is my COTD.
I’ll also take a look at the Willie Watson film, sounds interesting for the music alone.
My thanks to AP? and Huntsman.
1*/4*
More Tuesday fun but if only we coiuld be spared the ever-increasing number of obtuse AI’s. Cryptic they may be but really not a satisfactory basis for a workout. Picked up in 6d is rather colloquial. 29a has amusing surface. Thank you AP and Hintsman.
I do enjoy the bonus music & film references and recommendations here 🙂 .. and this was my quickest solve of the season. Like others, didn’t know 23D’s fish but the checkers took care of that, then a quick google once done.
Pody paraders are 1D’s nice cuckoo usage (do I remember rightly from the BB that people don’t like ‘anagrind’ anymore? Pretty sure I learned that term here, many years ago!), 23D for an amusing surface and 25A’s curry-and-lolly-chomping Grandma.
Thanks to Huntsman and to setter ⭐
It would be good if people featured in crosswords added their comments in this blog – I guess the VP at 17D might be a bit busy, but perhaps the singer at 5A has time to do the puzzles. It’s always a joy when the setter contributes.
VMT to AP and Huntsman.
Mr. Consistent has produced another excellent and, in places amusing, Tuesday offering. You can’t ask more for a Tuesday. Favourite was 12a for it’s schoolboy humour. Thanks to AP and Huntsman. Back to Shabbo’s toughie with which I’m coming off second best at the moment, by a distant I might add.
Very gentle fare today, but fun while it lasted. 22d is the standout for me – I caught myself giggling, but fortunately The Present Lady W is used to that.
Thanks to our Setter and to Huntsman – I hope you enjoy chasing little white objects around Shabbo’s 17d
Hello! First time posting (though I’ve been reading as I’ve got into the cryptics- thanks for all the guidance!)
Could someone please explain how study is con in 1a? I can’t make the connection…
Thanks in advance!
Hi oxford fox, thanks for commenting. I wasn’t entirely sure why to be honest just knew it was the case. Apparently it’s archaic with Middle English derivation (connen as in to know/learn).
Please do keep commenting/asking questions now that you have de-lurked
Thanks for letting me know and for the welcome-I’ll join in when I can!
Welcome to this most glorious blog, OF.
Firstly, I’d love to know the story behind your alias but that’s none of my bee’s wax.
Secondly, con is one those words that is only seen in crosswords as it’s extremely handy for the prefix ‘con’.
I looked this up a while ago, praying it wasn’t a Latin root, a subject I studied at school. So, I was pleased to see that it derives from an old Engilsh verb cunnen meaning to learn.
Every day’s a school day and all that caper.
I, and others, await your next post.
Keep on solving!
Thanks for the welcome and answer. The name is fairly prosaic really, a combination of the city I’m in and the city I’m from. Enjoying the vocab enhancement, and the puzzles!
Welcome, Oxfordfox. Great to have you on board and do please keep on commenting. 👍😊
Thanks Steve, will do!
Cuckoos don’t cheep!
I wondered about that but the youngsters apparently make a distinct high-pitched sound or sharp cheep when wanting grub.
2*/4* …
liked 23D “Rubbish fish upset my boss (6)”