DailyTelegraph Cryptic No 31177
Hints and tips by Huntsman
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BD Rating – Difficulty * Enjoyment ***
Well I don’t know whether or not strictly speaking spring is here but after yesterday’s warm sunshine & a similar start to the day here in Harpenden it certainly feels like it.
I thought today’s puzzle (from Anthony Plumb I assume) about on a par with X-Type yesterday. As ever tightly clued & perfectly enjoyable albeit for me at least not hitting the heights of last week so it’ll be interesting to see what others make of it.
As usual there is a selection of music 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 Assume nothing succeeded in unfinished meal (7)
SUPPOSE: insert the letter for nothing + the single letter for S[ucceeded] into a truncated (unfinished) evening meal.
5a Undergarment Edward adjusted (7)
SHIFTED: the undergarment here is a name for a chemise. Append a diminutive for Edward.
9a Graceful adult hugged by gentle drunk (7)
ELEGANT: place an anagram (drunk) of GENTLE around (hugged by) A[dult].
10a Clear up old tract of open land (7)
EXPLAIN: the usual prefix for old + a term for a large area of flat land with no trees.
11a Reports from half nude authors (9)
DESCRIBES: 50% (half) of [ru]DE + authors/writers.
12a Student found in widespread search (5)
RIFLE: place the usual single letter for student/L[earner] into a synonym for widespread.
13a Wines lifted spirits initially (5)
ROSES: lifted/elevated + S[pirits] (initially).
15a Makes references to hip positions (9)
INSTANCES: hip/fashionable + positions/postures. The definition here is a verb.
17a Immediately get a kick from a gun discharge (4,1,4)
LIKE A SHOT: get a kick from/enjoy + A from the clue + a gun discharge.
19a Radical left-wingers run scared at first (5)
TROTS: a synonym for run/ faster than walking pace at least + S[cared] (at first).
22a Drink beer regularly? Wicked! (5)
SUPER: drink/imbibe + b[E]e[R] (regularly).
23a His Excellency expounded about one’s getting delayed (9)
HESITATED: H[is] E[xcellency] + a synonym for expounded/set forth with the Roman numeral for one inserted (about).
25a Run over and peer at cuckoo (7)
OPERATE: the cricket abbreviation for O[ver] + an anagram (cuckoo) of PEER AT.
26a Fancy picture frames I note (7)
IMAGINE: a synonym for picture/representation goes round (frames) I from the clue & the single letter for N[ote].
27a Son is brusque, dismissing conclusion of the relatives (7)
SISTERS: S[on] (genealogical) + IS from the clue + a synonym for brusque/curt less the final letter of (dismissing conclusion) of th[E].
28a Vagrants dress so badly (7)
DOSSERS: an anagram (badly) of DRESS SO.
Down
1d Faint line dividing poster (7)
SLENDER: insert (dividing) the single letter for L[ine] into a poster – of letters maybe
2d Requests by European to put on small suits (7)
PLEASES: requests/entreaties + E[uropean] + S[mall].
3d Live in Barcelona irregularly (2,3)
ON AIR: hidden (in).
4d Prove his table’s wonky (9)
ESTABLISH: an anagram (wonky) of HIS TABLES.
5d The woman’s clothing daughter removes (5)
SHEDS: place a third-person singular, feminine personal pronoun with the ‘s around (hugging) D[aughter].
6d Significant ship in a series of books (9)
IMPORTANT: ship in/bring in + A from the clue + a biblical series of books.
7d Buying and selling vehicles (7)
TRAFFIC: double definition.
8d Threats from last of bed bugs (7)
DANGERS: be[D] (last of + bugs/annoys.
14d American enthralled by scariest bats in flight (9)
STAIRCASE: insert (enthralled by) A[merican] into an anagram (bats) of SCARIEST.
16d Fulfilled sad fetish I arranged without husband (9)
SATISFIED: an anagram (arranged) of SAD I FETIS[h] (without H[usband]).
17d To a smaller extent, head of state supports working classes (7)
LESSONS: to a smaller extent/not as much + the usual for working/operating then append S[tate] (head of).
18d Fish – these could be in the sack (7)
KIPPERS: referring to an informal word for those still in their beds.
20d Silhouette revealed crow’s foot (7)
OUTLINE: revealed/exposed + a crow’s foot/wrinkle.
21d Some scientists send a spaceship up in regret (7)
SADNESS: hidden in reverse (some/up in a down clue).
23d Pays attention to what upset editor – story’s beginning (5)
HEEDS: reverse (upset/down clue) a spoken interjection for what (defined as an interjectional interrogative particle – how’s that for a mouthful) + the usual for ED[itor] + S[tory’s] (beginning).
24d Guy almost captures 50 ducks (5)
TEALS: insert (captures) the Roman numeral for 50 into a truncated (almost) synonym for guy/rib.
I thought the lurker at 3d nicely disguised so I’ll give that one the nod with podium spots for 6&8d. Please let us know which clues you liked best.
Today’s Quick Crossword pun: MEN + DIP + PILLS = MENDIP HILLS
Like yesterday`s , reasonably straightforward with no hold ups. No particular favourites nor stand out clues for me today with exception of 1a. Exceptionally busy at the moment so my mind is elsewhere. Many thanks to the setter and hinter
Obviously not my day as top end ** for me today. I also needed Huntsman for the hints to understand the solutions to 3d and 20d. I didn’t realise a shift was an undergarment in 5a. Hitherto I had understood it to be a type of dress. The 5 anagrams and the reverse lurker enabled a finish but not without a tussle.15a was my favourite. Thank you to the setter.
It was an undergarment in the ‘old daya’ until Twiggy possibly or Mary Quant made it a dress.
I have only ever known it to be a dress NAS – I’ve certainly never worn one to bed.
This was, as ever, a well-clued and enjoyable stroll through crosswordland with no potholes to slow up the journey. i thought 6d was very neat and that was my favourite this sunny morning.
Many thanks to AP and The Hintsman.
I found this trickier than yesterday’s offering with the NE holding out the longest.
I had the answer for 6d but just could not see the parsing, having spent an age attempting to insert a ship into a series of books.
This became my COTD
Thanks to PP and Hunts
2*/4*
It took me a while to get into this but then got going until an abrupt stop at 19a which seemed to take me ages to get.
Top picks for me were 24d, 23d, 27a and 6d.
Thanks to Huntsman and the setter.
Did it unaided but it took some teasing out so I rate it at least a 2 star for difficulty. Most enjoyable and as usual my favourite was the last one in 19 a. Having a tussle with Mr. Plumb is always interesting and fun and thank you to our stalwart Huntsman
I am four hours ahead in Dubai. Thank you to all the setters and solvers over the last few days , for keeping me busy as we wait to be evacuated. I loved today’s puzzle, right on my wavelength.
What horrible times. I hope you are managing to keep safe Val, it must be terrifying.
Stay safe Val & 🤞 that you’re well away from there soon.
Oh dear, Best of luck.
Hoping and praying that you remain safe, Val and that you will be out soon.
Wishing you and yours well Val, and hope you get out of there soon.
I hope you both get out safely.
Best of luck, and hope you are evacuated soon. Unlike Brit’s and Canadians, so far Americans have only been advised to leave and stay away from hotels. Not sure how they are supposed to do that.
It’s Tuesday, so we know what to expect and that is what we got! 1*/4* – light and enjoyable.
Many thanks to AP and to Hintsman.
20d. A crow’s foot is actually made up of the plural of the last four letters of the answer. Otherwise, a very enjoyable puzzle, which not too taxing.
I thought that too
A straightforward puzzle with nothing really controversial – thanks to our setter and Huntsman.
My ticks went to 17a, 19a and 6d.
1.5* / 3.5* A slight step up from yesterday but no real hold ups except strangely my last one in 8d.
Top three today 14d flight, 18a left wingers and the aforementioned threats at 8d
Thanks to the compiler and Huntsman
For some reason we sat down to lunch half an hour early! What a break in our routine. A bit of a struggle but we got there in the end without recourse to the hints, but I shall now check the parsing of some of my guesswork. Many thanks to the Setter and the Hintsman whom I will now consult. How worrying for people caught up in the Iranian business. I feel for you.
I was perusing the crossword whilst attending to a regular part of my morning routine, I regret to inform of a rather rude entry in 17a. In my defence I was dealing with an important discharge at the time
Apologies for lowering the tone. The rest of the crossword passed without incident and the hints, tips and music have been enjoyed. Thanks to AP and AH
All the best to Val and other Middle East correspondents
Thank you for your 17a entry – hilarious!
As Typically Tuesdayish as ever – 1.5*/4.5*
Candidates for favourite – 12a, 15a, 7d, 18d, and 24d – and the winner is 7d.
Thanks to Mr Plumb and Huntsman.
14d was my last one in. I must try and remember alternative meanings of flight which seems to have occurred a lot recently! I liked 17d as I was barking up the wrong tree for a while. I found this slightly more difficult than yesterday but I only needed to check one hint for the parsing, which was the fish. I wasn’t struck on the left-wingers – I have never heard that reference before. Many thanks to Huntsman and the setter. Having got this done in good time for me, I can now go out and enjoy the sunshine in peace.
This was a nice solve or should that be sssssssolve as the prof has used his year’s quota of S indicators with the count being seven: initially, beginning, head, first, son, succeeded and small. A fine effort.
15a as a verb has been duly noted and I agree with Vince: 20d needs ‘part of a’ inserted.
My pics for the podium are 9a, 25a and 17d.
MTTTA and Hoots!
1*/4*
Gentle and entertaining.
There were three garments I could think of that fitted the first five letters of 5a; fortunately only one of them is an undergarment!
Thanks to the setter and to Huntsman
I didn’t find this Tuesday puzzle particularly ‘Typical’ this week, but maybe it’s just me. Seemed trickier than normal.
2.5*/3* for me
Favourites 5a, 22a, 6d, 7d, 14d & 18d — with winner 18d
Smiles for winner as well as 5a, 22a & 7d
Thanks to AP & Huntsman
I also found this trickier than the usual Tuesday so glad that others have too . 19a was a new word for me in the context of left wing radicals and my last one in. Enjoying a wonderful sunny view at Hope Cove ! Thanks to the setter and Huntsman.
Enjoyed that very much, but teal are like sheep.
Except for the beaks, feathers and webbed feet, of course.
Many thanks to the Prof and to Huntsman.
see my reply to TG&Jimbob at 26.
I am another putting this on a par with yesterday. Started earlier today before going off for a round of golf, just leaving 2 clues unfilled, the left wingers and the flight. Just came back in and spotted the solutions straight away. All in all a very workmanlike Tuesday offering.
My thanks to AP and Huntsman.
*/***
A lovely puzzle which took a while to get into but then was completed relatively steadily. No stand out favourites
Many thanks to the setter and to huntsman for the hints.
Thanks to the Setter and Huntsman. Once again started well but needed a few hints to complete. Hope you get home soon Val. COTD 18d. LOI 25a.
Smooth solve today, I thought 3d contained a good lurker, thank you compiler and Huntsman
An enjoyable solve although I held back from entering my last 4 clues as wasn’t confident they were right until checking with the hints. Many thanks to the setter and Huntsman.
***/****
Found this trickier than usual for Tuesday. For reasons unknown, I needed the hint for 12a and the extra checker that gave for 7d. Been a super busy day, I’ll Put it down to that. Particularly liked the 3d irregularity and the 14d scary bats.
Many thanks to AP and Huntsman
Mostly enjoyed with a smooth run through.
Minor irritation is 24d having an s – like many duck the singular is the same as the plural.
My thanks to Dr Plum and the Huntsman
That slightly rankled me as well, as it did MG @ #19.
I’m clearly a bit slow-witted as I read that comment & thought MG’s on the wacky baccy again.
To be fair to the Prof (having just checked) teals (with an s) is correct when referring to multiple individual ducks or different types.
The collective noun (flock of teal) has no s nor should you use one when referring to the species in general.
None of which I knew but I know a blogger on duty over in t’other place who surely did.
OED gives teal (plural the same) and I have never heard a wildfowler refer to Mallard, Wigeon or Teal with an s – Just one of those things that grates. Many thanks though Huntsman
I’m always a little impressed when people say ‘slightly more difficult/easier than last weeks’. I can’t remember what I thought of yesterdays crossword let alone last weeks, do you make notes? If it comes to it I often walk into a room and can’t remember what I went in there for, maybe I should make a note of it before I go in. Enough of this nonsense. Another perfectly pitched Tuesday crossword from Mr. consistent. Favourite was 11a as my father when doing the monthly newsletter for a club we were both in always signed himself off as scribe. It just brought back some pleasant memories. Thanks to AP and Huntsman.
I don’t track or note down times, but I know broadly how the week’s grid-filling tends to progress, so I can say with confidence this was a slow Tuesday 🐌🙂
I struggled to get started on this, the North holding out much longer than the South, but once I got a couple of footholds, it went in smoothly. No idea why, as nothing is all that tricky viewed in retrospect. I like 24d for its surface.
Thanks to our setter, and to Radio Huntsman for the blog and tunes
Hmm, a second day in a row where I struggle with a straightforward solve. The NE corner was my downfall. 7d was beyond me and had to reveal the answer. Would never have got this otherwise. I was able to quickly complete the rest of the NE except 19a. A new term for me. Needed to reveal the answer for that as well.
Either my brain is on holiday or I have early onset dementia this week.
Thanks to all.
I’m another who found this harder than the average Tuesday, and in several places all over the grid rather than a pesky corner or two.
Pody possibilities are 14A’s flighty bats, 21D’s spacey rekrul (thanks TDS) and 20D’s silhouette, which my wife cracked, and it helped nail my LOI 19A.
Thanks to AP and to Huntsman – loving the music as always… I’ve really enjoyed ‘discovering’ Steely Dan over recent years ⭐️
Fings ain’t wot they used to be on Tuesdays for some reason and this was far from being plain-sailing for me but I did quite enjoy the tussle. As for others I don’t think of 5a component as being an undergarment but do recall wearing them as an outer garment. 5d is rather tortuous. Thank you MrP and Hintsman.
I came to check on my parsing of 11a, and found a different clue here to the version on my DT Puzzles app (‘…half of rude authors’ rather than ‘half nude’).
Does anyone else see that? It makes much less sense as a clue with rude and the superfluous ‘of’ in my enormously h. o.
It is rude rather than nude – now amended.
I’m hopeless at cuttting & pasting the clues from the puzzles app so type ‘em out. Probably still half asleep at 11a 🥱
Ah, completely sensible. I prefer the rhythm of your version… Thanks for the blog!
1*/4* …
liked 28A “Vagrants dress so badly (7)”