DT 31175 (Full Review)

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31175

A full review by Rahmat Ali

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This puzzle was published on 28^th February 2026

BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****

Greetings from Kolkata. A highly entertaining Saturday puzzle from NYDK that I enjoyed solving and thereafter writing a review of the same for your kind perusal and significant feedback.

I was very inquisitive to know more about dacha, the cryptic definition to the clue at 26a and so, after solving the puzzle, visited the internet. I learnt that a dacha is a seasonal or year-round second home, typically located in the exurbs of Russia and other post-Soviet countries. Unlike cottages or shacks serving as a family’s primary residence, dachas are often used for leisure or gardening, though some have been converted into permanent homes. The term originates from the verb ‘davat’ meaning to give, as dachas were historically land allotments granted by the tsar to nobles. During the Soviet era, similar plots were allocated to citizens for personal cultivation. Over time, the name shifted to the houses built on these plots and people living or spending time there are called ‘dachniki’, representing both residents and a distinctive lifestyle. Dachas are commonly clustered in colonies near large cities, initially intended as recreation retreats and small food gardens and remain widespread across Russia and the former Eastern Bloc. During the Soviet days, regulations strictly limited their size and features, favouring single-storey summer houses under 25 square metre without permanent heating, though these restrictions were gradually lifted in the 1980s and removed by 1990. Today, dachas continue to be a central aspect of Russian life, with around 62% of Russians visiting them in the summer and the government still maintains State dachas (gosdacha) for officials and the president.

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Across

1a           Senior regiment deployed to rescue bathers? (4,6)
LIFE GUARDS: The definition of the senior regiment of the British army and part of the Household Cavalry is reached from LIFEGUARDS (deployed to rescue bathers) as referring to persons employed to rescue bathers in difficulties

6a           Wader limb dips periodically (4)
IBIS: The definition of a large wading bird with a long down-curved bill, long neck and long legs is arrived at from the periodical or regular letters (periodically) of [L]I[M]B [D]I[P]S

10a        Rubbish loaded back into metal skip (5)
SLATE: The definition of an informal verb meaning to criticise severely, an example of which is to rubbish i.e. another informal verb meaning to criticise severely and reject as worthless is part of or hidden inside (into) [M]ETAL S[KIP] that is seen coming from the other side (loaded back)

11a        City Road swathed in morning mist? (9)
AMSTERDAM: The definition of the capital and largest city of the Netherlands is reached from RD (road) as the abbreviation for road used especially in addresses and on maps or signs wrapped in (swathed) in a combo of AM (in morning) as the abbreviation for the Latin phrase ante meridiem meaning before noon, that is, in the morning and STEAM (mist) as the vapour into which water is converted when heated, forming a white mist of minute water droplets in the air

12a        A certain Chris and Hazel maybe grabbing Victor from behind (5)
EVERT: The definition of the forename of the celebrated American tennis champion of the yesteryears is reached from TREE (Hazel maybe) as a tall, perennial woody plant with a main trunk, branches and leaves, an example of which is a hazel i.e. a small tree that produces nuts that can be eaten taking inside (grabbing) V (Victor) as the letter represented by Victor in the NATO phonetic alphabet and coming from the opposite side  (from behind)

13a        Primitive and others mobbing the French team? (9)
ELEMENTAL: The definition of an adjective denoting primal, original or primitive is arrived at from ET AL (and others) as an adverb meaning ‘and others’ packing or bringing inside (mobbing) LE (the French) as the definite article ‘the’ in French language used in front of a singular, masculine word and MEN (team) as a body of people forming a working group or side

14a        Copy line in saga artist incorporates (7)
REPLICA: The definition of an exact copy or reproduction that is not the original is got from RA (artist) as the abbreviation for Royal Academician, denoting a practising artist of the Royal Academy of Arts taking in (incorporates) L (line) as the abbreviation for line covered by or placed inside (in) EPIC (saga) as saga, legend or chronicle

16a        Very good joke (5)
CRACK: Double definition; the second referring to a slang term for a dig, poke or joke that takes to the first an adjective meaning excellent, first-rate or very good

19a        See 8 Down

20a        See 1 Down

22a        Become despondent as the role changes (4,5)
LOSE HEART: The definition of a verb meaning to lose heart or lack hope or courage is obtained when AS THE ROLE is subject to an anagram (changes)

26a        Retreat some miles from Moscow? (5)
DACHA: A cryptic definition of a country house or summer retreat typically located outside the city, often used by Russians on weekends or holidays

27a        Chap embraces Queen banning an American statesman (9)
MACMILLAN: MAN (chap) as an adult male, colloquially referred to as chap hugs or surrounds (embraces) C[A]MILLA (Queen) removing from it the first A (American) as the abbreviation for American leads to the definition of the British statesman and Conservative politician who was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1957 to 1963 and whose full name was Maurice Harold Macmillan

28a        Nation once unknown almost made known (5)
ZAIRE: The definition of the name of the nation from 1971 to 1997 that is now the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which it had before 1971 is arrived at from Z (unknown) as a variable, unknown or yet to be ascertained quantity or factor as used in mathematics, especially in algebra followed by AIRE[D] (made known) as a verb in the past tense meaning made known to others or expressed publicly having most of the letters (almost)

29a        Mouth actor’s role in reverse (4)
TRAP: The definition of the slang term for the mouth is got from PART (actor’s role) as the role of an actor coming from the other side (in reverse) as a reversal in the across clue

30a        Wife taken by Chandler excited English writer (1,1,8)
D H LAWRENCE: W (wife) as the genealogical abbreviation for wife placed inside (taken by) an anagram (excited) of CHANDLER followed by E (English) as the abbreviation for writer takes to the definition of an English novelist, short story writer, poet, playwright, literary critic, travel writer, essayist and painter

Down

1d and 20 Across              Such woodpeckers not so often seen? (6,7)
LESSER SPOTTED: Double definition; the second denoting a phrase meaning ‘not so often seen’ that guides to the first referring to a creature, often a bird, that is physically smaller than a similar, more common species, an example of which is the lesser spotted woodpecker vis-à-vis the great spotted woodpecker

2d           Soil under lowered pitch not a proven concept (4,5)
FLAT EARTH: EARTH (soil) as soil, especially the productive soil preceded by or coming after in the down clue (under) FLAT (lowered pitch) as musical term meaning a lowered pitch or below the right pitch guides to the definition of the outdated or discredited belief that the Earth, the planet, is flat that is not a proven concept

3d           Approaches table at Crucible but loses form? (4,2,3)
GOES TO POT: Double definition of a verbal phrase in the third person singular tense, the second denoting deteriorates, declines or loses form that brings to the first describing moves towards a snooker table at the Crucible Theatre with a view to playing the game i.e. goes to pot or sink balls in pockets while playing snooker

4d           Conscious in a Hertfordshire town (5)
AWARE: The definition of an adjective meaning conscious, mindful or cognisant is deduced from A from the clue followed by WARE (Hertfordshire town) as a historic market town and civil parish in the East Hertfordshire district of Hertfordshire, England

5d           Outlaw insane speed on winding road (9)
DESPERADO: The definition of a bold, reckless criminal or outlaw, especially in the early days of the American West is obtained from an anagram (insane) of SPEED placed upon in the down clue (on) another anagram (winding) of ROAD

7d           Papers Elizabeth keeps behind washer (5)
BIDET: ID (papers) as the abbreviation for identification that can be a card, badge or papers as a means of identification of the bearer in possession of any of these that BET (Elizabeth) as a diminutive form of Elizabeth retains or holds inside (keeps), taking to the definition of a basin on a low pedestal, for washing the genital and particularly the anal area i.e. a washer for the behind or backside area

8d and 19 Across              Film with a clue for Keith? (4,4,2,3)
SOME LIKE IT HOT: The definition of a 1959 comedy film serving as a cryptic clue that has the first word (some) as the lurker indicator, signalling that something or someone is hidden and the last three words (like it hot) as part of or hiding inside the phrase, manifesting something or someone is hidden i.e. Keith lurking within

9d           Wilder for one catlike mammal losing tail (4)
GENE: The definition of the forename of the iconic American actor, screenwriter and author renowned for his eccentric, high-energy comedic roles is fetched from GENE[T] (catlike mammal) as a small spotted cat-like predatory mammals with a long ringed tail letting go of its last letter (losing tail)

15d        Popular ruler accepting everything by God’s will (9)
INSHALLAH: IN (popular) as an informal term for fashionable, popular or trendy followed by SHAH (ruler) as the title of a ruler of Iran in the past taking inside (accepting) ALL (everything) as used to refer to the totality of things takes to the definition of an interjection among Muslims, meaning ‘if Allah wills it’ i.e. by God’s will or God willing, derived from Arabic ‘in sha Allah’

16d        Nice area dour Aztec developed (4,1’4)
CÔTE D’AZUR: The definition of a nickname given by France to the County of Nice after its annexation in 1860 is arrived at from an anagram (developed) of DOUR AZTEC

17d        Supplement about constant dependency (9)
ADDICTION: ADDITION (supplement) as a noun denoting extra, supplement or supplementary part or accessory placed around (about) C (constant) as an abbreviation for constant as used in maths leads to the definition of a noun meaning dependency or a persistent or compulsive need for something e.g., a substance or activity

18d        See mum interrupting bath-time negotiator? (8)
DIPLOMAT: A combo of LO (see) as an interjection denoting look, behold or see and MA (mum) as referring to mother and serving as a childish contraction for mamma getting inside (interrupting) another combo of DIP (bath) as a noun denoting a bath and T (time) as the symbol for time as in physics guides to the definition of a person skilled in diplomacy i.e. the art of negotiation, especially in relation between states or any negotiator who acts as a link between parties

21d        Composer Edgard changes not one note, ultimately (6)
VARÈSE: The definition of the surname of the French and American avant-garde composer who spent the greater part of his career in the United States is reached from VAR[I]ES (changes) as changes from one condition, form or state to another without (not) I (one) as the Roman numeral for one and followed by the ultimate or last letter (ultimately) of [NOT]E

23d        Bones in curving line when inverted (5)
SACRA: The definition of the plural of sacrum, a single, triangular-shaped bone located at the base of the spine that acts as a wedge between the two hip bones is got from a charade of ARC (curving line) as a curved line or something shaped like a bow and arch and AS (when) as an adverb expressing while or when, sequentially going up in the down clue (inverted) as reversals

24d        Welcome wintry weather (4)
HAIL: Double definition; the second being a noun referring to a precipitation consisting of small balls of ice suggestive of cold, stormy conditions typical of winter that takes to the first a verb meaning to welcome or greet enthusiastically, for instance, to hail a hero is to welcome a hero

25d        Country knight introduced to frisky goat (5)
TONGA: The definition of an island country in Polynesia, part of Oceania is reached from N (knight) as the abbreviation for knight in chess notation brought inside (introduced to) an anagram (frisky) of GOAT

There were several clues that I liked in this puzzle such as 12a, 26a, 27a, 1d/20a, 7d, 8d/19a, 18d and 21d; 8d/19a being the best of the lot. My prayers to the Almighty for the eternal rest and peace of BD and my thanks to NYDK for the entertainment. Looking forward to seeing you here again. Have a nice day.