Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31171
Hints and tips by Huntsman
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BD Rating – Difficulty */** Enjoyment ***/****
Well the sunshine has actually put in an appearance here in Harpenden but it’s not Mallorca. Thanks again to ALP for filling in for me last week.
I thoroughly enjoyed today’s puzzle which I assume is an Anthony Plumb production. I found it reasonably straightforward with just a couple of pauses for the parsing. That said it remains to be seen whether I can avoid a hat trick of parsing errors so no promises. For any that make light work of this one there is a typically enjoyable & none too taxing Django puzzle over in t’other place that’s well worth a look at.
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 Giving up foreign food initially, it’s dodgy (10)
FORFEITING: an anagram (dodgy) of FOREIGN IT + F[ood] (initially).
6a Criticise some informal styles making a comeback (4)
SLAM: hidden in reverse (some/making a comeback)
10a Quietly cutting gentleman’s tree (5)
MAPLE: insert (cutting) a musical quiet/P[iano] into gentleman/fella.
11a Crackers seem moist on occasion (9)
SOMETIMES:an anagram (crackers) of SEEM MOIST.
12a Medic almost attempted embracing new philosophy (8)
DOCTRINE: an informal abbreviation for a medic + a truncated synonym for attempted that goes around (embracing) N[ew].
13a Horse’s leg too short (5)
PINTO: an informal word for leg followed by the 1st two letters (short) of the 3rd word in the clue.
15a Producing clubs with gold pipe (7)
CAUSING: the card suit single letter for C[lubs] + the chemical element symbol for gold followed by a synonym for pipe in the context of making a high-pitched, musical or whistling sound – think birds for example.
17a Where children might be digging and sitting in bit of land by the sea (7)
SANDPIT: insert (sitting in) AND from the clue into the term for a narrow strip of land that projects out into the sea or across a river mouth.
19a American holds bottom half of kitten with one large gadget (7)
UTENSIL: place (holds) the latter 50% (bottom half) of kit[TEN] between the usual two letter abbreviation for American then append the Roman numeral letter for one + L[arge].
21a Glib talk close to fashion model (7)
PATTERN: a word for glib talk/spiel + fashio[N] (close to).
22a A lesson mostly about fragrance (5)
AROMA: A from the clue + a truncated (mostly) synonym for lesson, as in the underlying principle of the story. Reverse (about) both elements.
24a Keep sea anemones primarily in metal container (8)
MAINTAIN: an archaic or poetic term for the sea then append a metal container into which you insert (in) the 1st letter (primarily) of the 3rd word in the clue.
27a One crude gentleman ignoring maiden is unsophisticated (9)
INELEGANT: start with the Roman numeral letter for one + an anagram (crude) of GENTLE[m]AN – the cricket abbreviation for M[aiden] ignored/omitted.
28a Poorly paid worker may want this result (5)
ARISE: split 1/4 for what the the poorly remunerated desire.
29a This is the same round bread (4)
NAAN: a palindromic (the same round) favourite in Indian restaurants.
30a Shows signs of hesitation returning gifts (10)
REPRESENTS: reverse (returning) the usual vocal interjection/expression of hesitation + another word for gifts.
Down
1d Celebrity, female, arrived topless (4)
FAME: F[emale] + a synonym for arrived less its 1st letter (topless).
2d Copy new procedure (9)
REPRODUCE: an anagram (new) of PROCEDURE.
3d Not disheartened after the first lady’s competition (5)
EVENT: the biblical first lady followed by (after) N[o]T (disheartened).
4d Proving difficult (7)
TESTING: a straightforward double definition.
5d Stupefied bear is oddly leaving tracks (7)
NUMBERS: a synonym for stupefied/anaesthetised + the even letters (oddly leaving) of words two & three in the clue. Think tunes rather than footprints.
7d Maybe defective car? Mike is stuck in centre of Spanish city (5)
LEMON: insert (is stuck in) M[ike] (NATO alphabet) into a city in northwest Spain. Can’t say I was familiar with the auto context of the definition.
8d This writer’s picked up small packet? Bad luck (10)
MISFORTUNE: reverse (picked up/down clue) the contraction this writer might use to express identity or action + S[mall] + a synonym for packet/wealth.
9d What one might do seeing scary spider? Leg it! (4,2,2)
STEP ON IT: what arachnophobes may do. I need to take a deep breath, arm myself with a large duster & approach with extreme caution.
14d Calling copper in panic, too upset (10)
OCCUPATION: insert (in) the chemical symbol for copper into an anagram (upset) of PANIC TOO.
16d Emphatically wearing suit (2,6)
IN SPADES: wearing/dressed + a card suit.
18d Accuracy before coin is forged (9)
PRECISION: the usual prefix for before followed by an anagram (forged) of COIN IS.
20d One might swallow this story female servant told (7)
LIMEADE: link a homophone for story/untruth with one for a female servant.
21d Dog lead (7)
POINTER: another double definition – a dog breed & an indication/hint.
23d Aida perhaps got naked for each adult (5)
OPERA: g[O]t (naked) + a synonym for each + A[dult]. With topless celebrities at 1d & now these shenanigans it’s all getting a bit fruity for me.
25d Vehicles Sting held up (5)
TRAMS: nowt to do with Jane’s favourite Northumberland crooner. Ignore the capitalisation & reverse (held up/down clue) a synonym for sting/hurt.
26d Hardy character demonstrates stamina, to an extent (4)
TESS: hidden (to an extent). She was portrayed by Nastassja Kinski in Polanski’s fine film adaptation.
Lots to like today. I think I’ll just give 17a the nod over 9d as my pick of the clues with plenty of contenders for the last podium spot – 12&13a + 5&20d. Please let us know which clues ticked your boxes.
Today’s Quick Crossword pun: TAY + CAP + HUNCH = TAKE A PUNCH
A fine offering from the professor, which was a joy to solve. Not that it was all straightforward because a few curveballs were thrown in. The first pass resulted in answers spread evenly across the grid and these led into the rest of the puzzle. I loved the short-legged horse at 13a and the defective car at 7d. However, my COTD has to be the scary spider at 9d.
Thank you, Mr. Plumb for a most enjoyable puzzle. Thank you, Hintsman for the hunts.
But Steve, I do hope you would never do what 9d suggests. My mother was full of petit ditons one of which was “if you wish to live and thrive. let a spider run alive”. An upturned glass and a card slid underneath and the offending g creature can be hurled into the garden. Hang onto the glass.
No, DG I let them be. At the moment I’m trapping the mice that have taken over the airing cupboard. I started yesterday and caught one last night. I released it into the field and will set the trap again this evening. 🐭🐭🐭
Agree Daisy. I was horrified with the answer to 9d, do people actually do that? I was always taught that without spiders we would be in big trouble. We always catch in the way you describe, and similarly with the frequent small geckos that seem intent on coming inside when they see an open door.
I like to cradle them in my hands and take them to a good place and wish them well.
I’m very careful with my large duster but couldn’t manage bare hands without a very stiff drink & some hypnosis first
Haha. Big man!
For me, this was a straightforward, business-like puzzle. Not quite in R&W territory, but no head scratching required, probably because every surface was well engineered.
The servant’s story at 20d is my COTD.
My thanks to the setter and Huntsman
1*/3*
Gentlish but very enjoyable. My favourite also the spider at 9d.
I found this demanding than your typical Tuesday offering with the South requiring more time than normal. Nevertheless, it was an enjoyable solve with ticks aplenty. 7, 8, and 14 down are my top picks but 1, 10, 12 and 17 across are worthy podium contenders as well. 27a was my LOI. Many thanks to the setter and hinter
Omitted “more” before demanding
An enjoyable puzzle. LOI was the great 5d. Although I don’t like them, I’d never do 9d as my mother always told me it was unlucky and not just for the spider!
Top picks for me were 17a, 13a, 5d and 20d.
Thanks to Huntsman and the setter.
I found this one quite enigmatic. Huntsman is bang on with the rating – I couldn’t decide if it was a * or a ** either! 28a was amusing. Thank you Huntsman for the explanation to 7d as I couldn’t quite decide what that one was about. Thank you he and setter.
Excellent all around. Ace videos. 5d COTD plus 21d.
Hintsman days have the bonus of either reminding me of some top music favourites or, happily, discovering new ones.
Enjoyable guzzle. I was still consuming my gruel and orange juice with no bits when the last one (29a) hopped in.
After the angst of Stamford Bridge on Saturday, we went to a christening in a lovely church in the Cotswolds on Sunday. Lenghty round trip but really worth it. I felt like I was in a Richard Curtis movie, with the delightful setting of the church, olde worlde vicar, and scones afterwards at our pal’s splendid new/old house.
Thanks to the setter and Andy back from Mallorca. Love to Jane.
This was a very gentle yet elegant puzzle from our regular Tuesday setter that was jam packed with enjoyable clues. From a goodly number of ticks I went for 9d as my favourite this morning.
My thanks to AP and The Hintsman.
This was, yet again, a very nice crossy from Il Professore with my LOI being 1a that was nicely constructed.
I didn’t know that a bird can pipe and am not aware of the defective car which I use when calling someone a bit of a clown.
29a and ‘editor’ are definitely the words of the moment. Serengeti, nevertheless and orchestra are soooooooooooooo 2025.
My podium is 1a, 19a (great image) and 20d.
MTTTA and Hoots!
2*/4*
Another fine puzzle from Mr Consistency – thanks to him and Huntsman.
My ticks went to 13a, 9d and 16d.
Django in the Toughie slot today is pretty gentle and very entertaining.
Thanks for the tip about the Toughie. When guided I do give it a shot.
Decent puzzle for a Tuesday, with the drink at 20d my favourite. The term at 7d was used in a self-deprecating print advert for the Volkswagen Beetle in the early 60s, which is featured in an early episode of Mad Men and was considered very daring given the advertising norms of the day. Thanks very much to the setter and to Huntsman for the clips etc.
Not quite as Typically Tuesdayish as usual but as enjoyable as ever – 2*/4.5*
Candidates for favourite – 10a, 12a, 17a, 29a, and 7d – and the winner is 10a!
Thanks to Mr Plumb and Huntsman.
** / ****
Enjoyable solve as usual on a Tuesday. Just one problem – I biffed the wrong answer into 1a and thought no more about it as it worked with all the checkers. But thanks to Huntsman for putting me right. My answer wouldn’t parse, had I checked.
Agree with TDS above that 29a is very frequently on the menu these days.
Can’t avoid ticking the 1d topless female and my clue of the day was the 8d bad luck.
Thanks to AP and Huntsman
1.5*/4*. Typically light and fun with 13a my favourite.
Many thanks to AP and to Hintsman.
It must be me with an off day as I found this decidedly 4d, and not much enjoyment either. Thanks to AP, but not one for me today. Thanks also to Huntsman.
Another Typical Tuesday offering in my book. As per normal, though, a couple of “hmms” until the penny dropped.
2*/3.5* for me
Favourite candidates 19a, 24a, 9d, 14d, 21d & 26d — with winner 21d
Smiles for 29a, 3d, 9d & 25d
Thanks to AP and Huntsman
Great music selection again! Can anyone please tell me where I can find some really easy Cryptics for my Spanish granddaughter, who really loved the idea but finds even Mondays/Tuesdays just beyond her?
The Guardian does a Quiptic crossword once a week which is a web-only, cryptic puzzle for beginners and those in a hurry. It is published on theguardian.com every Sunday
Thanks
Hi AL – There’s an easy daily cryptic online at
https://simplydailypuzzles.com/daily-cryptic/
Thanks. It’s good but it seems to be only on line so can’t be subtly slid under a sheet of paper during working hours….
Oh that’s so unfair! I wrote my two penn’orth at about 1.30 and must have omitted to less send. Silly old me. In a nutshell, I found it quite testing but did get there in the end. Thanks to Setter and Hinter.
Late to start today as I had the 8d to wake up to a rather unpleasant drain to unclog – Autumn leaves and a nascent fat berg caused the back yard to flood, I was glad to escape to work.
This was a gentle accompaniment to lunch and even left time for a bite to eat.
Thanks to AP for reducing my stress levels and also to AH for adding some cracking tunes to his Spotify playlist.
Harder than normal for a Tuesday with several requiring some thought.
2*/4*
20d favourite. Held up in the north by 9d – added an incorrect word ending in P that made 11a impossible for a while.
Very stressful doing it on my phone in the car to meet friends at Anglesey Abbey . My fingers too plump😂. Thank goodness it wasn’t too tricky so thanks to setter and Huntsman. On way home now with car making weird noises and juddering badly . 🤞we get back ok.
Mama Bee would always ask for three tinkles on the phone to let us know you have got home safely, I don’t know the protocol for doing that on a blog but my fingers crossed too
Likewise SJB, we always had a 3 rings code. I also hope all goes well with the journey back Manders. I imagine Anglesey Abbey with all it’s snowdrops was lovely.
I have to give three rings in the morning to my neighbour to let him know I’m up and about. I hope you get home ok, Manders.
Another friendly puzzle, and much appreciated after an early morning to see a specialist. Thanks to setter and Huntsman.
Always enjoy a puzzle from Mr. Plumb .9 down was a great clue but a terrible sentiment.
Have been absent for some while because we have been hacked and our BT account compromised. It has caused mayhem with friends and family thinking we have met with a terrible accident or need a loan to replace our old car.
Good to join the chat and thanks to Huntsman for 7 and 8 down.
A lovely Tuesday puzzle with 9d my favourite, the entertaining Boris the spider came to mind immediately as our children loved singing along to it in the car. I needed to clarify parsing of a couple.
Many thanks to the setter and to Huntsman for the hints and music.
An enjoyable solve with nothing to frighten the horses. LOI 20d. Having problems messaging so will sign off and thank the setter and Huntsman.
I always find Tuesday’s guzzles hard going and this one was harder than usual, with the middle of the grid causing me most problems. The best of rhe clues were the anagrams, notably 1a, 2d and 18d. Thanks to the compiler and to Huntsman for the hints.
VMT to the Prof & Huntsman. Medic at 12A my favourite
1.5* / 3.5* A nice light humorous Tuesday puzzle.
My favourites today include 1a giving up, 13a horse and last one in the drink at 20d
Thanks to Huntsman and compiler
Back home after a weekend with friends and dogs which was enjoyable, but in the quiet of my home and with just my doggie sat in front of the fire with an enjoyable puzzle it feels blissful. Managed to complete this one without too much trouble as not so tired today. I need to revisit the 2 I couldn’t get my woolly brain around at the weekend. Maybe tomorrow. Thanks to the setter and Huntsman.
I made quite hard work of this but on completion, as is frequently the case, I couldn’t really see why. I thought the last part of 15a was a bit of a stretch and I didn’t know 7d in that sense so they probably added to my feeling it actually a bit harder than it was, but in fairness, they couldn’t have been anything else. LOI was 25d probably due to it being the last but one clue. Favourite was 24a. Thanks to AP and Huntsman.
This was a curate’s egg for me with the usual selection of Tuesday winners combined with some unusually weak/vague clues e.g. 15a, 17a, 7d and 20d. 16d Fav. Thank you AP and Hintsman.
I’ve got considerably better with spiders over the years.
Anyway, an enjoyable solve, just a couple held me up at the end, LOI was 20D’s ingestible treat, not a word I knew was real and I enjoyed the homophonic word play. That’s a pody placer alongside 13A’s horse and 5D’s musical bear.
Thanks to Huntsman and AP ⭐️
Rather arduous. It’s clearly a case of “One man’s meat…” ***/1
3*/4* …
liked 9D “What one might do seeing scary spider ? Leg it ! ( 4,2,2)”