Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31161
Hints and Tips by Senf
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BD Rating – Difficulty 2.5* – Enjoyment 4.5*
A very good Thursday morning from Winnipeg where with rising day time temperatures but below zero overnight temperatures we are getting into freeze-thaw cycles.
For me, etc© (I have to say that for Terence), the Master of Brevity has given us a very enjoyable puzzle. The usual one word clues and answers in the Quickie, but only the sweetheart appearing in the back pager with an average of 5.27 words per clue. I hope you have your Crimson Tomes at hand!
Remember that Reading the Hints before commenting can be beneficial!
Candidates for favourite – 11a, 27a, 29a, 3d, 4d, and 8d.
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 Reputation could be suffering (8)
STANDING: A double definition – the second might refer to the right or capacity to sue or maintain an action (suffering?).
5a Upset admitting love is corrupted (6)
SPOILT: A synonym of upset (of a liquid?) containing (admitting) the letter that can represent the score of love in a racquet game.
9a Possibly forward adult wearing ruddy frock! (9)
READDRESS: the single letter for Adult contained by (wearing) synonyms of ruddy (as a colour) and frock.
11a One is vertical in flight (5)
RISER: One of the vertical ‘elements’ in a flight (of stairs).
12a One gushes in speech for man (6)
GEEZER: A homophone (in speech) of a geological hydrothermal feature (from which hot water and steam spouts periodically).
13a Abandoned, showed bottom taking a run (8)
MAROONED: A slang term for showed one’s bottom (to public view) containing (taking) all of A from the clue and the letter for a crickety Run.
15a Extraordinary rendition case is unkind (13)
INCONSIDERATE: An anagram (extraordinary) of RENDITION CASE.
18a Humiliation as member rants insanely (13)
EMBARRASSMENT: An anagram (insanely) of AS MEMBER RANTS.
22a Cracking, grassing about criminal, finally (8)
RATTLING: A synonym of grassing (as in informing on) containing the last letter (finally) of criminaL.
23a Doodle of small fawn (6)
SCRAWL: The single letter for Small and a synonym of fawn.
26a Occasionally admit purchasing sexy loincloth (5)
DHOTI: Alternate letters (occasionally) of admit, I’ll let you decide if it is odds or evens, containing (purchasing) a synonym of sexy.
27a Whipping boy‘s head start during day (9)
SCAPEGOAT: All of a geographical head and a synonym of start inserted into (during) the abbreviated form of one of the days of the week (on which a PP appears).
28a Group penning single’s making progress (6)
RISING: A (circular) synonym of group containing (penning) the letter that can represent single and the ‘S from the clue.
29a Grand answer by Josh interrupting Mike (8)
MAJESTIC: All of the single letter for Answer and a verbal synonym of Josh (ignoring the upper case J) inserted into (interrupting) a synonym of Mike (ignoring the upper case M).
Down
1d Place for women galore is smashing! (8)
SERAGLIO: An anagram (smashing) of GALORE IS.
2d A battle with sweetheart is sensitive (5)
AWARE: A from the clue, a synonym of battle, and (with) the centre letter (heart) of swEet.
3d Outrage seeing fake news about nothing (7)
DUDGEON: A (3,3) phrase equivalent to fake news containing (about) the letter that can represent nothing.
4d Votes against feature on the radio (4)
NOES: A homophone (on the radio) of a (facial) feature.
6d Assumed character of rapper’s on album (7)
PERSONA: A lurker (of) found in three words in the clue.
7d Hollow veins in cerebellum’s covering (9)
INSINCERE: Another lurker in quick succession (covering) found in three words inn the clue.
8d Outburst in traffic around island (6)
TIRADE: A verbal synonym of traffic (goods and services?) containing the single letter for Island.
10d Distance overwhelms top male astronaut (8)
SPACEMAN: A synonym of distance contains (overwhelms) all of a synonym of top and the single letter for Male.
14d Smarting about seeing travellers (8)
MIGRANTS: An anagram (about) of SMARTING.
16d Origins of cold food conserving energy (9)
CREATIONS: The single letter for Cold and a term for food (allowance) containing (conserving) the single letter for Energy.
17d Wild cat, lithe and powerful (8)
ATHLETIC: An anagram (wild) of CAT, LITHE.
19d Target centre, one touching gold perhaps (7)
BULLION: A term for the centre of a target (on a dart board?), the Roman numeral for one, and a two letter synonym of touching.
20d Cover up leak (7)
SECRETE: A double definition – the second may relate to emission by means of bodily functions.
21d Clubs, more obscene and more indecent (6)
CRUDER: The single letter for Clubs (in a pack of cards) and the comparative (more) of a synonym of obscene.
24d Back trouble on exercise (5)
ADOPT: A three letter synonym of trouble placed before (on) one of the two letter abbreviated forms of exercise (in school?).
25d What parent’s called twice a year (4)
PAPA: The abbreviated form of a Latin based term for once a year repeated (twice).
Quick Crossword Pun:
LEAD + STANCE = LET’S DANCE – thanks to all, not a fan of Bowie so totally unfamiliar with his repertoire.
Given the brevity of the clues, I am going to go out on a limb and suggest that this is a Jay Tea production? However, guessing the setter is not one of my strengths! Nevertheless, I enjoyed this immensely. I found the southern half easier than the northern half with the NE requiring quite a bit of thought. And, as there are too many to like, picking a podium is not possible. 9, 13 and 29 are my top likes for the across clues and 1, 24 and 25 my top downs! 13a is hilarious and my COTD. Many thanks to Senf for the hints and the setter for the excellent puzzle
I had Lead and Status for the quickie
Your comment went into moderation because you used a different alias compared to you only other comment 16 months ago.
The Puzzles Web Site reliably informs me that the Quickie Pun uses Lead and Stance.
But, what did you think of the puzzle?
I got Lets Dance for the pun
I had the opposite experience to Conor. It was the SE that gave me the most cause to scratch my crumpet. There was much to like in this elegant puzzle and in choosing a podium I went to my trusty pin and blindfold. 1d, 13a and 27a came out of the process, but many others were fine contenders. Thanks to Ray T and Senf.
‘Scratch my crumpet…’ I like that 🙂
An archetypal Ray T cryptic guzzle, with sparsely worded clues, unusual synonyms and asweetheart. There were some clever anagrams (1d, 5a), a stonking good lurker at 6d and greatego clue at 27a. Thanks to Mr T for a most enjoyable solve and to Senf freezing/thawing Canada for thhe hints .
A lovely puzzle with the SE falling last for me. I needed Senf’s help to parse 27a.
Top picks for me were 23a, 3d and 25a.
I couldn’t work out the Quickie pun. Best I could do was let us dance which doesn’t quite work.
Thanks to Senf and Ray T.
A couple in the SW (16d&22a) edged the solve into **time & the longest of the week thus far but otherwise fairly straightforward. As ever very enjoyable with podium places awarded to 27a + 3&25d. Had no idea about the Quickie pun & never heard of the coding theory metric.
Thanks to Ray T & to Senf.
Ps Stephen’s puzzle over in t’other place was a tough nut to crack but a rewarding solve.
Never really understood why 11a indicates just one direction – what goes up must come down again.
I’ll save the rest of the puzzle for supper time but thanks to Senf and Setter if I don’t get back later.
Working one’s way ‘to the top’
I suppose they could be called ‘uppers’ or ‘downers’ but that has connotations of recreational pharmaceuticals
The term “riser” comes from the traditional method of measuring/constructing a flight of wooden stairs, and goes back centuries. The total height/rise from the lower floor to the upper is taken on site and this has to be divided accurately to give a uniform/comfortable “riser” height – how much a person rises with each step. Usually about 200mm. In the construction industry it is customary (maybe one or two exceptions) to give/use height measurements, not drop measurements.
*I’m at a bit of a loose end this afternoon!
Drop kerbs and curtains perhaps, you tread on the tread wether you go up or down, but sometimes you drop down the stairs (depending on alcohol consumption)
*Same loose end now work is done.
Lets Dance? David Bowie?
Just back from an eye test, which went smoothly and nothing has changed.
A great Ray Teaser today with all the usual hallmarks and a couple of c cheeky ones such as the Botton showing at 13a and the sexy loincloth at 26a. I have ticks all over the paper. The outrage at 3d is such a great word especially when preceded by “High”. My COTD is, for once, a short one and that’s the parent’s at 25d.
Thankee, Ray T for the puzzle. Thank you, Colonel for the hints.
No, the Quickie pun meant nothing to me.
I have an answer for the Quickie pun but don’t want to say it in case folk are still working on iy.
I have an answer for the Quickie pun but don’t want to say it in case folk are still working on it.
Why have I posted twice?
I’d thank you twice! But others have spilled the beans, shame there isn’t a way of giving the answer in a hidden form like the answers to the hints are.
Thanks Steve, and agree with Sim, but unfortunately the 🐈 has been let out of the bag multiple times and the 🛳 has long since sailed. Thanks to all 🤨
I had ‘let’s dance’ for the quickie pun.
Yes, that’s what I came up with, H.
And me
Agree with Senf over potential favourites today, especially 27a. Couldn’t parse 6d because I forgot about the rule: ‘ if all else fails look for a lurker’.
Quickie pun “Let’s Dance”? Said in a slurry sort of tone
“Let’s dance.. put on your red shoes and dance the blues”
You’ve just given me a David Bowie earworm!
Many thanks to RayT for the enjoyable puzzle
what a great song & a then virtually unknown Stevie Ray Vaughan played the solo
2*/5*. The master of brevity at his very best today.
I had masses of ticks with 1a, 13a, 27a, 3d, 10d & 20d my top picks.
Many thanks to RayT and to Senf.
Another 29a crossword hits the back of the net. The wordsmith wizards at Telegraph Towers are in rude health, that’s for sure. We are very lucky.
I’m a huge fan of contronyms like 20d. Great fun. I remember seeing, for the first time, about a year ago 1d and 3d that are both splendid words. Thanks to SC, I now know the expression ‘High 3d’.
My picks for the pody are the two ‘Wey heys!’ 13a and 26a along with 3d.
MTT RayT and Senf.
2*/5*
I love the phrase High 3d and often feel like taking it.
It’s a brilliant expression. I’ve made it my mission to use it somehow in the next month.
I’ve just looked up its etymology and there are many theories which makes it even better.
No need to wait. I am in high dungeon over the revealing of the quickie pun! 🤬
Hi RB
What do you think of my suggestion in post # 27?
Completed this earlier and then became distracted before commenting. I agree with Steve C and others that 3d is a great word (as well as an excellent and innovative producer), so that can be my COTD with the parent at 25d hot on its heals – not that any of my children have ever employed such an appellation, with “Chris” a much more likely choice these days. Thanks very much to Ray T and to Senf. I’m excited because I’ve been invited to two different work drinks tonight, making me feel like I’m 59 again. I miss stumbling round SW1 on a Thursday night, if not presiding over the team meeting early the following morning.
Another slog of a solve on a RayT Thursday. Not my cup of tea although I will continue to do them and await the seeing of the light as so many other seem to have done. I don’t know why I don’t enjoy them – I wish I knew.
Anyway thanks to the setter and to Send form the blog
Keep at RayT’s offerings, M. I found him impenetrable to start with but I now count him among my favourite setters.
Thanks for the advice Steve. I can do them most of the time – I just struggle to enjoy them and feel relief when I finish. I hope you are right tho. I was surprised to read on this blog that some people really don’t get on with Tuesdays back pager – which I consistently find my favourite of the week.
Only just got round to this after a trip to the osteopath. As usual, our setter has provided a very pleasant, well-clued puzzle that was packed with great clues, so picking a favourite is virtually impossible.
Many thanks to Mr T and Senf.
I may be an idiot but what is Crimson Tomes please?
A ‘fancy’ term for Chambers Dictionary, the dictionary of choice for DT crossword setters, commonly known as The Big Red Book.
Thank you for this explanation. I’ve been doing DT cryptics for 30 years ( won twice) and never heard of this.
Another nice puzzle from RayT on his fortnightly drop-in to the back pager puzzle slot. A couple of clues that gave me pause for thought, along with a new word for me in the NW, but all came through quite nicely in the end. Nice to see his sweetheart this week, but no queen today.
2.5*/4* for me
Favourites include 9a, 13a, 29a, 2d & 25d — with co-winners 9a & 13a
Thanks to RayT & Senf for hints/blog
What a brilliant guzzle! Great fun though Ifelt slight 18a by the bared bottom at 13a and retreated to my 1a in High 3d. I wanted to cover the bottom with a 26a. I have just had a bit of fun writing my. FIFTIETH (please note) annual report to the Parish Council as their representative of our Almshouses. I wrote the report without using the letter ‘e’ – just for fun – and challenged the clerk to publish it with a ‘guess what I just did – see page 43’. To my amazement and utter delight she is going to do it. What a lark! Very many thanks to the Setter and to Senf, desperately sorry about the awful disaster in BC. What sort of world is this?
I should, of course, just have said I had written a lipogram! (Before TomDis etc pops in).
I’ve never heard of that term. It’s brilliant.
My day was full with RayT’s masterpiece and you omitting the e. But, you have somehow made it fuller….if that’s possible.
I have never, and will never, say 110% (or variations of). What is that about!????
Grrrrrrr………
Not using the e? What a great challenge, Day Zee.
So, if you were a setter. your alias could be E-type.
Tom, you’re usually up for a challenge – how about posting a relavent comment without using any Es? E V Wright wrote a 50,000-word novel without using any!
An outstanding effort. I’ll give it a go tomorrow.
Whenever I see Wright, it makes me think of the three quadruple homophones (no plurals, no third person present tense nor abbreviations, e.g Peke and I’m not allowing tew and the karat/carat spelling variant):
right/rite/wright/write
awe/oar/or/ore
paw/poor/pore/poor
The last two highlight how difficult the English language is to learn as the sound ‘or’ is spelt seven ways. And there are more, e.g ought, taught, warm and autumn…..and possibly more!
And “Ghoti” is “Fish”.
Yep, a goodie.
More of a challenge today.
Last jn 14d as I didn’t twig initially that it was an anagram.
Cotd 13a .. made me laugh.
Thanks to setter and Senf.
* / ****
I often find RayT puzzles quite a challenge but today’s felt like every day this week. It’s either a lucky week for me or I’m just ‘in the mood’. This one flew by, which is not my usual experience. My podium places went to the 7d Hollow veins, 13a .. showed bottom .. and 9a ruddy frock! Also liked the humour in the Whipping boy and loin cloth. Just wondering where her late majesty has been of late?
Many thanks to Ray T and Senf.
Great fun
2*/4*
3d and 27a joint favourites
Thanks to Ray and Senf
Hello fellow puzzlers, I have a question : In clues like 12 across today, how do I know which spelling to use? I put the wrong one in today, am I missing something? Thank you Mr Senf for helping me out.
I have trouble with these clues as well, Val. Today, though, I took “in speech” to mean a homophone of the thing that gushes for the word for a man. However, I agree, I often put in the wrong word only to discover the checkers that come along don’t fit.
I agree with your explanation Steve.
There can only be two possibilities.
In this example, I think the word “for” in the clue could be exchanged with “in order to get/ or result in” man.
Steve. Whatever you do, don’t read Joyce’s second comment at #18 above. No, don’t do it!
Darn it! I just did! 😡
Darn it! I just did. 😡
What are my post duplicating? 🤔
Thank you for the reassurance Steve and the advice. It is much appreciated.
The usual high quality Thursday puzzle and I have learned a new word to boot. The lurker in 7d is superb
Firstly, I am in high 3d, because I haven’t started the Quickie yet and everyone has spilled the beans!
As for this backpager, I initially thought it was going to be tough as I only got 2 of the first 10, but got to the south and it just filled itself. A 22a good guzzle from the master himself. Favourites were 22a, 27a, 27a and 29a; COTD for me is the forward adult at 9a
Thank you RayT and Senf
2*/4*
Solvers talk about the quickie pun from time to time, mainly to help the blogger if they aren’t sure. I’m sure they’d like to get put out of their misery as soon as possible.
It would be a shame for that not to happen as it’s sometimes good fun seeing people’s guesses and how our minds work.
Would a solution be for people to take on the pun first before doing the crossword as it only takes two minutes? So, when they come on to the blog, people trying to help the blogger won’t be an issue. I appreciate that some solvers are creatures of habit but it’s not that drastic a change to the routine.
Btw, I’ve never scrolled past a post so quickly as I did with Senf’s reply to Joyce (no 18).
I always do the pun first. Second ritual of the morning after putting the kettle on. 😊
Or another solution is for commenters to follow the rules, now there’s a thought! 🤔 Otherwise what is the point of BigD rules. Thats how society breaks down and we descend into oblivion 😵
Eek, slap, but what did I think of the crossword!!!!!
The usual enjoyable Thursday fare. Thanks all for their comments, well nearly all 😉
Hi RB
Rules can be changed if there’s enough support for it.
Wotcha reck? Do you think you could do the pun first?
Go on Dodger. In the words of a TV resident of Peckham….you know it makes sense.
Whoa! I only made a gentle dig at the fact that the pun was publicised in the blog before I got round to doing the Quickie, simply because I was somewhat tardier than normal.
I have no wish to upturn the time honoured traditions of BD rules. I would stay with the status quo.
Did finish before getting a lift to Knitter Natter. Have only just got back home having watched a lot of the Olympic coverage. Great puzzle and it was a struggle to get it done before leaving the house. Several clues were so succinct that they needed a lot of chewing over.Could one say the length of a Ray T puzzle clue is inversely proportional to its difficulty. Probably not exactly true but veering that way. It is a great art.The N W corner was last in and came with joint favourites, 9 a and 3 d.
Ever grateful and much thanks to Ray T and Senf.
At the moment its Sim/me against you. Carried 2-1 🤣
I don’t think there are that many who do the pun after the crossword but I could be wrong. If it’s a handful, then maybe those five could give it a whirl?
Hope that you’re not following Sam Dean’s live Telegraph match report for the Arsenal game
At 8.24 he writes – Stunned he hasn’t scored – you’d back most to IRREGARDLESS of form
I’m debating whether or not to cancel my subscription 🤔
To quote the legend Droopy….that makes me mad.
Ah, the legend!
I loved those cartoons. Great memories.
Evening all. Many thanks to Senf for the analysis and to everybody else for your comments.
RayT
Thank you, RayT for another fun workout. Thank you for popping in.
Thank you for another Thursday puzzle that was as entertaining to blog as it was to solve.
A stinker, but beautifully done, TY. ****/****
Many thanks for a top quality puzzle, Ray. I’ll vote for 27A in a very strong field. VMT also to Ray.
1.5 / 4* A good Thursday challenge, haven’t heard of 1d before, but being an anagram made it doable.
Lots of witty clues to choose from today, I’ll go for the 25d parent, the cheeky 13a and last one in 27a whipping boy.
Thanks to Ray T and Senf
A very enjoyable Ray T puzzle with 27 a my favourite, the lurkers were very well hidden.
Many thanks to Ray T and to Senf for the hints.
Another excellent Rayt production. Slightly on the harder side but well within my compass, unlike the toughies this week. SW last in. Favourite was 3d. Thanks to Rayt and Senf.
25% of my solving time was spent on the LOI, 3D. A new one to me, and the parsing break only came when I realised what I needed for ‘fake’…I think i’ll remember this one, hope it comes up again.
Pody picks go to 1D’s nice word and surface, 3D’s drawn-out satisfaction and the memorable word, and 13A for raising a chuckle.
Thanks to Ray T and Senf ⭐
Another late finish for me . I got held up at the end for ages in the NW with 2 unfamiliar words. The anagram at 1d I confess to having to get some e help to solve in the end, and also 3d which I think I have heard before but now I hope will be well and truly lodged for next time. – The parsing of the term Fake News was excellent have to say. Thanks to Ray T for a great puzzle and Senf.
2*/5* …
liked 13A “Abandoned, showed bottom taking a run (8)”
Thank you so much for the clear explanations. I come here when I’m stuck and it’s so helpful.
I’m confused about the ‘seeing’ in the 14d clue ‘smarting about seeing travellers’. (Migrants). Why is the ‘seeing’ there? Thank you for any suggestions (relatively new to all this but loving that they’re getting easier though some answers only appear when I don’t look them in the eye).
I considered that ‘smarting’ was some ‘padding’ to help with the reading of the clue but not really needed for the solving. Although, it could be suggested that once you have unscrambled the anagram of SMARTING you ‘seeing’ MIGRANTS as the answer.
Thank you. That came to me too on the beach this morning. There seems to be an optimum looseness for reading these clues and I was gripping. Thanks again.