Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31179
Hints and Tips by Gazza
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** Enjoyment ****
A really enjoyable puzzle which ticked all the boxes. Thanks to our setter.
In the hints below the definition element of each clue has been underlined, anagrams are CAPITALISED and indicator words (e.g. anagram indicators) are in brackets. The answers are concealed under the Click Here buttons.
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Across
1a Soap star needs to work on posture finally (10)
EASTENDERS: an anagram (to work) of STAR NEEDS follows (on, in an across clue) the final letter of posture.
6a Achieve exam success while away (4)
PASS: double definition, the second a verb to while away (time).
9a Set report about four allowed to retire (10)
TELEVISION: a report or loud sound containing the Roman four is followed by a synonym of allowed. Reverse it all (to retire).
10a Singer, in key or right to be sacked? (4)
ALTO: a key usually on the bottom row of a keyboard and OR without the abbreviation for right.
12a Tutorial cut by a third? Not so much (4)
LESS: a tutorial or teaching session loses the final two of its six letters.
13a Handling banker suppressing bad temper regularly (9)
TREATMENT: a major English river (banker, i.e. something having banks) contains (suppressing) the even letters of ‘bad temper’.
15a Appearances of old uniform, flipping wear Charlie plugs (8)
OUTCROPS: the abbreviation for old and the letter that uniform represents in the Nato Phonetic Alphabet are followed by the reversal (flipping) of a verb to wear or flaunt into which the Nato Phonetic Alphabet’s Charlie is inserted (plugs).
16a Composer said to be UK citizen (6)
BRITON: a homophone (said) of an English composer.
18a One barely believes in it? (6)
NUDISM: cryptic definition in which ‘barely’ is significant.
20a Son and family, following attack, hide from nanny perhaps (8)
GOATSKIN: the genealogical abbreviation for son and a word meaning family follow a phrasal verb (2,2) to attack.
23a Genuine article relative keeps, one cherished originally (9)
AUTHENTIC: a female relative contains a grammatical article. Append the Roman number one and the original letter of cherished.
24a Departed behind schedule (4)
LATE: double definition.
26a Hit back in tie (4)
KNOT: reverse (back) an informal verb to hit hard.
27a Riled, funny eccentric becomes hostile (10)
UNFRIENDLY: an anagram (eccentric) of RILED FUNNY.
28a Old archbishop in France you put down twice (4)
TUTU: repeat the familiar form of ‘you’ in French.
29a Think better of Republican doctor I censored (10)
RECONSIDER: the abbreviation for Republican precedes an anagram (doctor) of I CENSORED.
Down
1d Consumes food items vegans reject, except starter (4)
EATS: a word for items that are a no-no for vegans without the first letter.
2d Striking revolutionary that Neil astonishingly defends (7)
SALIENT: hidden (defends) and reversed (revolutionary) in the clue.
3d The King somehow is very sleepy, shortly after crossing lake (5,7)
ELVIS PRESLEY: an anagram (somehow) of IS VERY SLEEP[y] (shortly) containing (crossing) the abbreviation for lake.
4d Sees journalist upset receiving a thousand for computers (8)
DESKTOPS: reverse (upset) a verb meaning sees or notices and our usual abbreviated senior journalist. Finally insert an abbreviation for a thousand.
5d Island needs huge crowds having promoted run (6)
RHODES: start with a word for huge crowds and move the cricket abbreviation for run to the top (promoted, in a down clue).
7d 8 Down no rudely brief complaint (7)
AILMENT: a synonym of the 8d answer (CURTAILMENT) without the brusque adjective meaning brief.
8d Reducing fat in pastry (10)
SHORTENING: double definition, the second a type of fat used to produce a crumbly texture in pastry.
11d Traders describing Conservative cabinet ultimately as liars (12)
STORYTELLERS: a synonym of traders contains (describing) a word for a Conservative and the ultimate letter of cabinet.
14d Cheap place to shop in Northern Ireland? (10)
DOWNMARKET: split 4,6 this could be somewhere to shop in one of the six counties of Northern Ireland,
17d Musical work at intervals Costa Rica mounts, entertaining formerly (8)
CONCERTO: regular (at intervals) letters from the reversal (mounts, in a down clue) of Costa Rica contain (entertaining) an adverb meaning formerly.
19d Almost too tired to play for City (7)
DETROIT: an anagram (to play) of TO[o] (almost) TIRED.
21d American six-footer Perry possibly cheated (7)
KATYDID: stick together the forename of American singer Ms. Perry and a verb meaning cheated or swindled.
22d Princess abandoning aloofness in attitude (6)
STANCE: remove (abandoning) the short forename of “the people’s princess” from a synonym of aloofness or remoteness.
25d Reportedly dreadful 1 Across actor (4)
DYER: the actor’s surname is a homophone (reportedly) of dreadful or appalling.
I liked 6a, 18a and 14d with my favourite being ‘hide from nanny’ in 20a. Which one(s) did you favour?
The Quick Crossword pun: KURD + SAND + WAY = CURDS AND WHEY
Up a few notches in difficulty today and I didn’t find it that enjoyable. Still, it is getting towards the end of the week so no complaints from me. I have never watched 1a so 25d was a problem but, once the checkers arrived, it could be nothing else. Fortunately, I remembered the American six-footer at 21d because, whenever I see the word, I want to put “What” in front of it and “Next” after it. My COTD is Nanny’s hide at 20a.
Many thanks, setter for the brain mangle. Thank you, Gazza for the hints.
After a beautiful warm and sunny day yesterday in The Marches, it is now back to a misty morning with rain forecast later. I can’t remember a wetter start to a year.
Very jolly and a tad tougher than Beam’s Toughie. 6a, 7d and 14d stood out and 21d certainly gave me pause for thought. Best thanks to setter and Gazza.
The first pass went well especially in the East and South but the NW took a little longer. I found myself getting the answer immediately after having read the clue, but before parsing on a couple of occasions, which I don`t like; for example 6a and 10a. Top likes are 2, 3, 4 and 5d. All in all, good fun for the little time that it took. Saturday`s PP will no doubt be a real test. Many thanks to the setter and hinter
Thanks for the hints Gazza – I needed them to understand 10a 26a and 17d and 22d! I thought 4d 15d and 21d all excellent – the latter my COTD. I hadn’t thought striking = salient but one lives and learns…..Thanks to our setter for good sport.
Sorry but I still don’t understand 7d. Can I have another clue please
Gazza’s given a second “click here” option for 7d which gives the synonym you need, but if you would rather not click on it then you need to think of a long-ish word which means the bringing to an end (sometimes prematurely) of something, the act of abridging or cutting short. And from the beginning of that word you need to remove (or dock) a synonym for being somewhat terse or abrupt, though I would not say it was overly rude, just a bit ill-mannered!
Ah sorry and thank you . I thought the ‘ click here’ was just telling me what 8d was. Enjoyed the crossword with my sister
Thanks for asking about 7D, I had no idea either!
Nor me!
A good and challenging puzzle – for me the most chewy of the DT puzzles this week, whether back-page or Toughie. Tackled clockwise, took 25d on trust (having a vague recollection of an actor or actress by that name), raised an eyebrow at 15a (but justifed in the BRB so the eyebrow went back down), and finished with 4d when the penny dropped with a loud clang.
Not the most humorous of puzzles, but some cracking clues with a podium comprising 14d, 20a, and 18a. Many thanks to the setter and Gazza.
For some reason,I was really on wavelength tod ay and finished in short order. I thoufht the two anagrams at 1a and 3d were cleverly misdirected and the geographical clue with rearranged letters was clever. However my clue of the day was the double definition at 8d. Thanks to the cimpiler for an e guzzle and to Gazza for rhe clues
I also appeared to be on the wavelength. Maybe **/**** for me. Filled the grid before my Pilates class but had to revisit for the parsing of four clues. 22d needed the hints – thank you. I liked 3d and 8d, the latter reminding me of my late dad who was a professional baker. I used to watch him cutting the massive blocks of shortening (looked like lard, but wasn’t) agent to put in the giant mixers.
20d was the third on my podium
This one needed some teasing out but very enjoyable. I needed Gazza’s explanation for 7d as I could not relate the answer to 8d. Otherwise I didn’t think this was verging into Toughie territory and completed in good time.
Podium places for 23a, 20a and now I know the why, 7d.
Thanks to the setter and Gazza.
3*/4*
I thought this was great fun and just challenging enough for a Thursday – completed in two sittings
2.5*/5*
11d favourite with 20a LOI and a close second.
Thanks to setter and Gazza
2* / 3.5* Took a while to get into and thought I was going to struggle but turned out to be a steady solve.
Favourites include the 8d pastry, 3d king and the 11d liars.
Thanks to Gazza for explaining 7d, had to be but couldn’t see it and to setter
3*/5*. A perfect puzzle which was nicely challenging with great clueing and super-smooth surfaces throughout.
My page is covered in ticks with 20a, 23a, 7d, 11d & 21d being awarded double ticks.
Many thanks to the setter. My money is on Silvanus. Many thanks too to Gazza.
Thank you for the hints Gazza. I definitely needed them. Some of the clues seem like a bit of a stretch?
So, the question of the day, with Beam on Toughie duty is this a Dream Team Thursday? I have two shiny King Charles Loonies which are saying that it is, confirmed by the smoothness of the Quickie Pun. **/*****
Candidates for favourite – 10a, 18a, 29a, 17d, and 21d – and the winner is 18a.
Thanks to Silvanus, or whomsoever if my Loonies go down the drain, and to Gazza.
I just wanted to say thank you for all your good wishes the other day regarding my situation in Dubai. It was touching . We are booked to fly on Saturday so fingers crossed. I am just about to tackle today’s puzzle.
Oh fo let us know when you are home safely.
God speed Val🤩👩🌾👼
Sending good wishes for a safe return, Val. Please let us know that you once you have arrived safely.
So glad to hear that. What a worry for you both.
I enjoyed this puzzle but needed Gazza’s help to parse 7d and 22d.
Top picks for me were 10a, 20a, 4d and 8d.
Thanks to Gazza and the setter.
Many thanks to the setter for a top-notch puzzle and to Gazza for the write-up.
My last answer to parse was 7d.
This was a good test for a Thursday with Silvanus in fine form.
I’ve never heard of the culinary term in 8d and 7d is a nigh-on impossible clue to solve. I’m all for setters referencing other clues. But, to ask us to think of a synonym for it that is certainly not the first one off the rank and another tough one (rudely brief) is out of my league.
I’ve never heard of 21d but, for me, it was perfectly solvable as I knew the singer. Others won’t. Its name piqued my interest. So, I had to find out the entomological etymology. It’s onomatopoeic which is even more intriguing. I therefore needed to listen to it. Here it is….
I can’t hear it saying the k but who cares. What a great word origin!
Re 2d, I’ve always liked that the reverse of ‘alien’ is the first five letters of Neil Armstrong.
My podium is 18a, 11d and 19d..
MTTTA and Gazza.
3*/4*
Momma’s little baby loves shortening, shortening –
Momma’s little baby loves shortening bread!
Come on Tom. Has no one ever sung that to you? Poor lad.
No, they haven’t and I’m gutted!
Check this out https://www.songsforteaching.com/sft/s/shortninbreadvocal.mp3
Oi, John! Paul! Who are yer!
Great fun.
Definitely chewy and needed a fair bit of crumpet scratching and, on finishing, I wondered why I made such heavy weather of it as all is fairly clued. My podium is 11d, 20a and 14d. Thanks to compiler and Gazza.
For me on this week off for RayT, as per usual I found his replacement puzzler quite tricky and hard to get into. Again for me, parsing issues were among the trials and tribulations.
3*/3* for me
Favourites that made sense include 16a, 18a, 24a, 27a, 28a & 3d — with winner that included a smile 3d
Thanks to setter & Gazza
I had to turn to the hints for 7d although I knew it must be ailment. And 15a had me worried. And I have never come across giving someone a Tonk on the head. Heavy blow? Anyway, apart from that it was a nice romp for after having spent the morning in Xray department. Many thanks to both Setter and Hinter. And that is another week gone!
Oh no it isn’t. I thought it was Friday! Silly me, the perils of growing old – days merge into weeks and I don’t know where I am. 🤔
Getting more into these puzzles so got through without looking anything up. For 16 across my spelling got into a right muddle because of the mild dyslexia I suffer. My sister is much more afflicted . Gazza did a fine job with the explanations. We do not seem to have settled on the setter today but he / she certainly gave us a challenge. Today’s puzzle was up there with birdsong and sunshine. Thanks all round.
I am glad I am not the only one to have found this tough going! Got there in the end and all fairly clued, so no complaints but right at the top end of my ability range.
Thanks to the Setter and Gazza for the hints. Quite gentle for a Thursday with a few sticky ones towards the end. COTD 20a. LOI 15a.
Setter here, many thanks to Gazza for his Hints and Tips (and superb cartoons, as always) and to all those solving and commenting.
See you all again soon.
Thanks for the excellent puzzle, Silvanus.
Thank you, silvanus for a great puzzle that very nearly beat me. Got there in the end, though.
I managed this this morning and then went out and enjoyed the sunshine. Whilst out my notes app lost my comments and I cannot remember what I wrote exactly. It was tricky in places and I could not parse 7d, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Many thanks to Silvanus and to Gazza for the hints.
Solved at silly o’clock early this morning but out all day (1st game back on a golf course in the UK & played very badly) so first chance to comment. I too thought this very enjoyable puzzle had Mr Smooth’s dabs all over it but unlike Senf wouldn’t have been sufficiently confident to back it up with hard cash. For me a distinct notch up in difficulty from the opening 3 days with completion edging into **time & the why at 7d the last penny to drop. That said the 2nd bit of the related 8d double def wasn’t a gimme here either – I can eat ‘em but don’t ask me to make ‘em. As ever tough to pick a podium but 2,11&21d particular likes. I’m no expert but if memory serves KP has been around the block with a few six-footers & she wasn’t always the one doing the dumping & first became aware of the critter from the sleeve of Steely Dan’s 4th album, Katy Lied.
Thanks to S&G
Note to self – play some more Steely Dan tomorrow while working …
Rather too much on the tough end of the spectrum for me today. However, I did know the insect, and like many of you I am sure the cooking term in 8d was familiar, or perhaps from the Andrews Sisters song. Awarding a three way tie as COTD to 16a, 20a and 28a. Thankful for the checkers that helped with a lot of the rest. Definitely a day when I was glad my life did not depend on solving this puzzle. Thanks to Silvanus and Gazza. Hope to do better at our weekly Bocce game this afternoon.
An excellent puzzle Silvanus , and nicely chewy too , although I had my brain in gear today thankfully so didn’t find it too onerous. I also couldn’t parse 7d , so needed the hint . I hadn’t heard of the 6 footer , but managed to parse the clue, but will bank it for later. Thanks Silvanus and Gazza.
A very satisfying puzzle, which was well above Thursday back-page standards in parts. It could easily have been a Tuesday Toughie, but I’m glad it wasn’t as I ran out of inclination to try to parse 7d!
14d gets my prize. I laughed and groaned when the penny dropped.
Thanks to Silvanus and to Gazza for putting me out of my 7d misery.
I’m not sure that I ever got on the setters wavelength on this or as I eked out the checkers what was impenetrable became blindingly obvious, I suspect the latter as I solved in clusters drying up for a while when I had none. I needed the hints to parse 10a, 7d, 8d and 17d. I’ve never seen a single episode of 1a so I needed a visit to professor Google to confirm what had to be the answer to 25d. Favourite was 14d. Thanks to Silvanus and Gazza.
A difficult week so far for me. Yesterday was the first I solved unaided. Today is a non starter. Possibly solved half a dozen and am calling it a day.
Thanks to all.
Didn’t manage to comment yesterday, today’s took me twice as long but pleased of course to complete it. Needed the hints for 7D (couldn’t parse) and didn’t know the second definition of 8D. Also missed the rekrul in 2D … I think I’m distracted this week 🤔
Pody picks go to 3D’s king (just because), 11D’s liars and the lovely 21D that I didn’t know was a word – I love these discoveries through cryptic crosswords.
Thanks to setter and Gazza, needed these hints multiple times today ⭐️
3*/4* …
liked 20A “Son and family, following attack, hide from nanny perhaps (8)”
One mistake but otherwise good puzzle. Thank you