Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31185
Hints and Tips by Senf
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****/*****
A very good Thursday morning from Winnipeg where, yesterday, I had the annual ‘delight’ of bending over and taking it like a man for my urologist. Still it was worth it; ‘Keep Calm And Carry On’ for another year!
For me, etc© (I have to say that for Terence), not half of a Dream Team Thursday, Mr Bringloe in the guise of Donnybrook is on Toughie duty, but no doubt that it is the work of the Master of Brevity. The usual one word clues and answers in the Quickie, and appearances from the Queen and his swEetheart appearing in the back pager with an average of 5.25 words per clue. Also, like Dada, Ray T seems to be making occasional use of a personal thesaurus. I hope you have your Crimson Tomes at hand!
Remember that Reading the Hints before commenting can be beneficial!
Candidates for favourite – 6a, 15a, 29a, 4d, 21d, 23d, and 26d
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 Crooked press cited for contempt (10)
DISRESPECT: What better way to start than with a straightforward anagram (crooked) of PRESS CITED.
6a Sleeping US president before Democrat (4)
ABED: The abbreviated form of the first name of the 16th US president placed before the single letter for Democrat.
9a Measure bottling old wine (5)
PINOT: An imperial (liquid) measure containing (bottling) the single letter for Old.
10a Inadvertent error is made about menace (9)
TERRORISM: You know the drill, when all else fails look for a lurker (about) found in four words in the clue.
12a Labour regularly wanting Tory help (7)
TRAVAIL: Alternate letters (regularly wanting), I’ll let you decide if it’s odds or evens, of Tory and a synonym of help.
13a One plays pibroch’s opening in support (5)
PIPER: The first letter (‘s opening) of Pibroch inserted into (in) a type of support (for a bridge?).
15a Old man in flat producing gas (7)
PROPANE: The two letter old man inserted into (the quickly repeated in) a synonym of (lying) flat.
17a Loot is piled so high? (7)
DESPOIL: An anagram (high) of PILED SO.
19a Desire concerned with small soft glows (7)
LUSTRES: A synonym of (passionate) desire, the two letter Latin based term for concerned with, and the single letter for Small.
21a Reduces lectures for the audience (7)
LESSENS: A homophone (for the audience) of a synonym of lectures.
22a Sage with almost mystical insight, initially (5)
SWAMI: Ray T’s favourite initial letter clue; the initial letters of five words in the clue.
24a Soaps after taking hot shower, firstly (7)
LATHERS: A synonym of after contains (takes) the single letter for Hot, all followed by the first letter (firstly) of Shower.
27a Plant, say, fronting border trapping insect (9)
EGLANTINE: I am sure that Terence’s Miss Abinger is familiar with this plant – the Latin based abbreviation equivalent to say followed by (fronting) a synonym of border containing an insect.
28a Argument’s ending with complete nonsense (5)
TRIPE: The last letter (‘s ending) of argumenT and (with) a synonym of complete.
29a Drunkard back with hard stuff (4)
TOSH: A three letter drunkard reversed (back) and (with) the single letter for Hard.
30a Particularly friendly covering Queen’s playing (10)
PERSONALLY: A synonym of friendly containing (covering) all of our dear late Queen’s regnal letters with the contraction of ‘S and a synonym of playing.
Down
1d Fool expected to seize power (4)
DUPE: A three letter synonym of expected containing (to seize) the single letter for Power.
2d Punishes Spassky’s initial moves capturing knight (9)
SANCTIONS: the first letter (‘s initial) of Spassky and a synonym of moves containing (capturing) the chess notation for knight.
3d Raising skill, kiss sweetheart for more (5)
EXTRA: The reversal (raising) of all of a synonym of skill, the letter that can represent a kiss, and Ray T’s swEetheart.
4d Footman carrying too much soup (7)
POTTAGE: A (junior?) footman containing (carrying) the three letter abbreviated form of a phrase equivalent to too much.
5d Dog guided around field finally turned (7)
CURDLED: A synonym of dog (as in a contemptuous person?) and a synonym of guided containing (around) the last letter (finally) of field.
7d Balloon beginning to be deflated (5)
BLIMP: The first letter (beginning to) of Be and a synonym(?) of deflated.
8d Discourage passing, taking exam (10)
DEMORALISE: A synonym of passing containing (taking) our favourite exam (that doesn’t require pen and paper).
11d Attacks friends with ease, oddly (7)
OPPOSES: An informal synonym of friends and (with) the odd letters (oddly) of EaSe.
14d Shot scene with a plot rewritten (10)
OPALESCENT: An anagram (rewritten) of SCENE and (with) A PLOT – and the answer describes a fabric.
16d Impeach a government, it’s said (7)
ARRAIGN: A homophone (it’s said) of A from the clue and a synonym of government.
18d Discovers pillagers pinching surplus (9)
OVERSPILL: If in doubt refer to the hint for 10a, a lurker (pinching) found in two words in the clue.
20d Possibly cure anger getting cross (7)
SALTIRE: A synonym of cure (as in preserve) and a synonym of anger.
21d Landlords perhaps providing B&Bs? (7)
LETTERS: A generic term (perhaps) for B and B (and any of the other 25 components of the alphabet).
23d World map eventually detailed (5)
ATLAS: A (2,4) term equivalent to eventually with the last letter deleted (detailed).
25d Consumed tuck, maybe in school, reportedly (5)
EATEN: A homophone (reportedly) of the school across the Thames from Windsor Castle.
26d Hot former partner in empty sensuality (4)
SEXY: The usual two letters for former anything, partner in this case, inserted into (in – again) SensualitY with the interior letters removed (empty).
Quick Crossword Pun:
DARED + LEASE + INN = DEADLY SIN
A typical RayTeaser that had a few curveballs to trap the unwary. All the usual trademarks and just enough pondering required to make for a satisfying solve. I had the wrong letter at the end of 10a, which is unforgivable as it is a lurker. For some reason, I couldn’t get “Ford” out of my head for 6a even though I knew it to be incorrect. You know how it is – the mind settles on a word and refuses to let it go? 4d is such a lovely word. My COTD is the B&B at 21d.
Thank you, RayT for another enjoyable guzzle. Thank you, Colonel for the hints.
I also thought Ford immediately.
2*/5*. Another typical offering from the master of brevity which was absolutely splendid and a pleasure to solve. 21d was my favourite of many ticked clues.
Many thanks to Beam and to Senf.
You will be interested to know that a lady called Jacquie posted an update about Jane on the blog yesterday evening. You can find it here, amidst the comments for ST3357:
Very many thanks to Jacquie for providing us with a ‘bulletin’ on Jane (in Comment 8 of the ST 3357 blog). Very sad news. My thoughts and prayers continue to be with and for her and her daughters.
I have just caught up on that. I had a funny old weekend. How very sad for Jane and her family – I hope they are aware of
the collective good wishes of the BD community.
I found this really quite tricky. I knew of shot silk but am still struggling to align that with the answer to 14d.
We haven’t had the 27a plant for a while.
Top picks for me were 5d, 8d, 7d and 24a.
Thanks to Senf and Ray T.
Shot silk is usually described as iridescent and 14d is considered to be a synonym on both sides of ‘The Pond’ (Collins and Merriam-Webster). The BRB plays it safe and defines 14d as a ‘milky iridescence’.
Thanks Senf. I’m more used to using opalescent with regards to glass so didn’t make the connection.
Brilliant entertainment as always from RT that was full of superb, concise clues with a nice dash of humour. Like earlier commenters, 21d was my favourite of many.
Many thanks to Mr T and Senf.
I think 14d answer is one letter too many ? Remove ce snd put in a t .This was my last clue in and this corner held me up for quite a while. A typical Thursday offering .No particular favourites although 28 and 29 could be considered especially after the football results from yesterday .
It is an anagram of ‘scene a plot’.
Hi DG – Fran is probably referring to an incorrect word in the ‘hidden answer’ in the hint for 14d. See me response to SL8 below. My Christmas bonus is now at risk!
At least you got to March – I blew mine in January 😀
For me, and I stress for me (© Senf), I am very glad not to have undergone a similar day to The Man From Manitoba yesterday. We had luncheon in the Chilterns, a far more preferable way to spend the day.
How good of Jacquie (see Rabbit Dave at comment 2) to bring such a comprehensive update on Jane. Not quite the news that one hoped for. Very best wishes to Jane, a kind woman with a great sense of humour.
Thanks to RayTee and That Man From Manitoba (ouch)
Prompted by a question from Daisygirl yesterday, I prepared a report on visitor stats for the blog for last week. As it would have been early evening in the UK when I posted it, those who visited earlier in the day may well have missed it. It can be found at Big Dave’s Stats for March 2-8, 2026.
Oh thank you. I shall investigate!
Oh, Falcon. I am speechless. I read it all out to George. Am-az -ing. It is obvious that BD is fulfilling a social need! I noticed your comment at the end about the number of contributors who post extraneous comments and I know I am guilty of being one of them. Do you think I should belt up? I am sure it was Covid and Lockdown that made us all talk about what we were doing. We seemed just like a cosy family group during that strange time. Thank you so much for those statistics, BD must be smiling.
Don’t stop – it’s what makes the site what it is in my view – pets, books, music & T’s flights of fancy
Totally agree, Hintsman. It’s a snap shot into the everyday lifestyle of us all. During covid we even swapped recipes. 🍞🧀🌮🧆😀
DG, I never intended “chattier” to be taken in a negative sense. It was only meant as an observation of how the blog has evolved over the last five years. And it was most certainly not an attempt to muzzle you or anyone else.
Doh! I love you really. If I ditch George,
will you marry me?
DG, I am speechless. The first proposal I’ve ever received. (But I hope this is not just a ploy to make Terence jealous
).
A remarkable piece of work, Falcon, and very interesting. I do wonder at the decline over the last 7+ years, though, and whether it reflects fewer people doing (the Telegraph?) crosswords, or the wider variety of resources now available to people for checking answers, constructions, parsing etc.
My own view is that BD is peerless for DT crosswords, and similarly TfTT for The Times, without both of which sites my ability to tackle cryptics would be far less than it is today. And for that my thanks and appreciation to you and the rest of the BD blogging team!
Hear Hear!
My theory for the reason for the decline is that elderly crossword fans are passing on at a faster rate than younger people are becoming interested in the activity.
It could also be that the print version of the Telegraph is getting expensive (although they will reduce the subscription rate if you push for it), so fewer people are attempting the crossword. I am also very appreciative of the blog and have learnt so much since I discovered it. Many thanks to all involved.
Your comment went into moderation because of a typo in your e-mail address – an ‘o’ instead of a ‘p’ after the second ‘m’ – which I have fixed.
I only got going in the South for some reason. The North required considerable more thought. 6a and 21a share top honours. 27d is a new word for me, perhaps I came across it in the past, but I can`t remember. Nevertheless, It was very fairly clued and easy to get. Many thanks to Jay Tea and Senf
I hope that 15a was solved post-procedure. I am still giggling at the surface.
Thanks to Senf and RayT,
thanks too to Jacquie and RD, even if the news was not as good as we all hoped
Never heard of shot-silk so a post solve chat with Mr G was required to understand how 14d was synonymous with the answer. Otherwise pretty straightforward & a brisk completion. I see the V&A from his Prize Toughie on Sunday makes a swift reappearance as B&Bs today at 21d & 21a in various forms seems to be going for Serengeti status judging by the amount it seems to have cropped up of late.
As ever very enjoyable with lots to admire – thought the lurkers at 10a&18d well hidden.
Thanks to Ray & Senf + thoughts with Jane.
Ps Donny’s Toughie is nowhere near as difficult as the majority of his Doorknob SPPs so well work a look.
I thought the two lurkers in todays crossword were well hidden. For 10a I had the solution for a long time, but I couldn’t parse it properly until the penny dropped eventually. So 10a and 18d are my COTD.
A solid crossy from Arty with all his usual beautifully constructions on display.
I didn’t know the meanings of ‘shot’ and ‘stuff’ and the synonym of ‘mates’ still needs some work to embed.
My pody picks are 15a (of course), 2d and 21d.
MTTTA and the Manitoban mountie.
3*/4*
That was nicely challenging and almost a DNF until the penny dropped on 5d and 14d.
Thanks to Senf and Ray
3*/5*
Senf – your answer to 14d is incorrect
So it is, now was, thanks. I didn’t quite understand what Fran Walsh had written in Comment 5.
It probably came about from researching synonyms and the related but incorrect word ‘sticking’ in my brain.
Always look forward to alternate Thursdays, and this was delightful. Thank you RT for all the pleasure you bring; also to Senf – and proud of you for ‘taking things like a man’!
Lovely stuff except 5d – my fault for reading the clue too quickly and convincing myself that ‘circled’ was the right answer.
Favourite clues 14d, 20d and 15a
I enjoyed this RayT offering on his fortnightly drop in bringing his succinct clueing and brevity to the backpager. A fun solve for me with a couple of head scratchers, but no parsing issues today. Nice to see his sweetheart show up along with the Queen too.
2*/4.5* for me
Favourites 21a, 22a, 5d, 21d & 26d — with winner 5d
Smiles for 6a, 29a & 25d
Thanks to RayT & Senf
My fortnightly tussle with Ray T and, on this occasion, I completed it without resorting to the hints. It was one of those puzzles that demanded some persistence but all worth it in the end. Mind you, I now need a lie down in a dark room with a damp towel. Cotd for me was 4d. Thanks to Ray T and Senf.
** / ****
Enjoyed this immensely. I sometime struggle with Mr. T but not today. Had to check the synonym for 14d to justify writing the answer in. Favourites today were the 24a soaps in the shower, 23d map because for once I immediately spotted the meaning of ‘detailed’, the 26d Hot former partner and of course the 15a gassy old man!!!
Many thanks to RayT and Senf.
Absolutely brilliant guzzle – I loved it. I liked the dog that turned at 5d, the labour at 12, the cross at 30. It was right up my Strasse. My only worry is that I would have spelt the French soup with one ‘t’. I went for a checkup at the dentist this morning – all OK – and then on to Waitrose where I had some lovey conversations with complete strangers, I really am turning into my mother. Talking to the cashier about some crisp bread the lady behind me commented that she was Swedish. Oh, I said I visited Sweden often as a girl and named my first daughter after my friend. Did you learn any Swedish? she asked. Yes, I said – Jag alskar dig alskling, kyss mig. It got me into a lot of trouble. How can I remember that Swedish phrase when I cannot remember where I put my glasses? Anyway, many thanks to Clever Setter and my dear friend in the red scarf.
Having just looked it up, I can see why you got yourself into trouble with that phrase!
Very funny.
You said that to perfect strangers, DG? 😏
Where was George when all this was going on?
The only thing I learnt was “forlat, Jag talar inte Svenska”
My fortnighly spell of being a lone voice. Not for me and I’m getting to the point of believing it never will be with this setter. Still, have very much enjoyed the preceding days. Sorry to the setter – although i am quite clearly in a minority of one so they rightly shouldn’t give a hoot to what I think!
Thanks to them and of course to Senf
A great puzzle with RayT’s trademark succinctness. Nothing too bothersome and a relatively quick solve for a Thursday. Like others I am enlightened by the shot connection of 14d. The lurkers were well disguised and only revealed themselves on a second pass with a few checkers in place.
I’ll declare a tie between my 3 favourites, the turning dog at 5d, 8d and the old man’s gas 15a.
My thanks to RayT and Senf
2*/4*
Now to see what Donny has to say
Did they get this mixed up with the toughie? I wasn’t on the setter’s wavelength at all whereas I found the toughie a breeze. Thanks to the setter and for the hints which were desperately needed.
Too much for me and little fun.
I don’t understand Big Daves explanation for 14 D. And I have looked the word up in dictionaries
Do you have any family members or friends who are dressmakers? If you do, ask them about ‘shot silk.’
Found this harder than Senf suggests, a 3* at least, but maybe still feeling battered by the 40mph winds from the golf course today. 280yd drive in one direction with 100yds coming back! 😰 Interesting to say the least. Finally got there but certainly made to work. Thanks to all.
My bad – I meant to put in *** but I forgot.
That’s my Christmas Bonus gone for this year!
I am afraid I just didn’t enoy that at all but was reassured to find people like Helenc and Bozo had similar feelings but with MrG’s help I did battle through to the end. Wont waste time to make multiple relevant observations. Thanks anyway RayT for your time and to Senf too for your help.
Evening all. Many thanks to Senf for the review and to everybody else for your observations. Also, of course, all my best wishes to Jane.
RayT
Thank you once again for an very enjoyable challenge.
Thank you, RayT for another great puzzle. 👍
A mixed bag for me, after filling quite a few answers to begin with and being misled that I was on a roll, I soon realized there were quite a few more difficult clues to ponder over. 7d is my COTD for nostalgia reasons, brought back by the picture. When she was 12, and just a few weeks before we were due to leave England for our new life across the pond in 1982, she wrote an essay and won first prize, a ride on the Goodyear Blimp. The kindly people at Goodyear rearranged for her to take the ride over here instead at the Pompano Air Park that summer. Her 9 year old sister also went up with her. Mixed feeling watching them soar away. Happy with them getting that experience, but even happier when they made it back down again about 20 minutes later ☺️. Thanks to Ray T and Senf for today’s challenge. Time to get ready for our weekly Bocce matches now.
2* / 4* Thought this was quite difficult to get to grips with but surprisingly completed in a reasonable time.
Lots of devious clueing with plenty to enjoy.
Top three 15a old man’s gas, 2d punishing and 5d turned
Many thanks to RayT and Senf
14d was a bung in and needed not just the hint but the explanatory comment #3 to understand it. For me Rayt had his Beam head on today so this was the hardest for some time. Not that I didn’t enjoy it, I always enjoy a Rayt. Favourite was 5d. Thanks to the aforementioned and Senf.
A delightful puzzle completed this morning, 14d was a guess but otherwise the rest went in relatively straightforwardly.
Many thanks to RayT and to Senf for the hints
Blimey I am having issues today – about ten still unsolved! This is most irregular, will keep going…
Rattled through the rest this morning , with help from my wife. The west was most troublesome, then things got easier once wifey got 2D for me … if i had consulted the Crimson Tome I would have fared much better, but I try not to. Just wasn’t on the wavelength of this one, it seems.
Pody picks 👉, mostly for the enjoyable surfaces – the amusing Labour / Tory collab of 12A, the gassy man in 15A, 5D’s turning dog.
Thanks to Ray T for really challenging me (more than it should have!) and Senf ⭐
Enjoyed this, though I didn’t find it easy. Thanks to Senf and RayT.
One thing – how are “personally” and “particularly” synonyms in 30a, anyone?
Personally/particularly I consider that product A is better than product B.
I still find that synonym jarring, even with this example 🤔
4*/3* …
liked 15A “Old man in flat producing gas (7)”