Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31196
Hints and Tips by Deansleigh
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** Enjoyment ***/****
Good morning everyone, and welcome to the Wednesday back-pager blog. I started fairly quickly with this one but was held up in the NW corner by the cryptic definitions and the Spoonerism, pushing me into 2* time. There are some excellent clues in today’s puzzle, with plenty of smooth surface readings. I had ticks all over the page, but my favourite clue today, and the one that gave me the biggest laugh, was the superb 26d. Many thanks to today’s 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.
Across Clues
1a Mouse-like creatures cover the town (10)
SHREWSBURY: A word for long-nosed mouse-like mammals is followed by a synonym of ‘cover’ (with earth, for example), to reveal a Shropshire town.
6a Vacuous Drogheda politician, rather wet (4)
DAMP: The first and last letters of the second word in the clue, leaving it ‘vacuous’, are followed by an abbreviation for a parliamentarian.
9a Cast, beginning to fly fish (5)
FLING: The first letter (beginning to) of ‘fly’ is followed by a cod-like fish.
10a Curry dish, Charlie? Drink lots of cold water! (6,3)
BALTIC SEA: The name of a curry originating in Birmingham (and also the name of the dish it is served in) is followed by the letter represented by Charlie in the NATO phonetic alphabet and a word for a large body of water for which ‘drink’ is an informal synonym.
12a Avoid duty? For what reason? According to Spooner – lazy (7)
WORKSHY: Take a word meaning to avoid duty or responsibility, and a word meaning ‘for what reason?’, and ‘Spoonerise’ them for a homophone of the answer.
13a A wanderer, actor Matt heads west (5)
NOMAD: The surname of an American actor famous for playing Jason Bourne in the Bourne film franchise is reversed (heads west, in an across clue).
15a Try a bit of latte MP tasted (7)
ATTEMPT: A lurker, forming ‘a bit of’ the last three words of the clue.
17a Yes, Bud’s terrible – French barman (7)
DEBUSSY: An anagram (terrible) of YES BUDS produces this ‘barman’ – a cryptic definition of a composer.
19a Prudent match official wearing protective covering for the head (7)
CAREFUL: The abbreviation for a match official is surrounded by (wearing) a word for a type of historical female headdress.
21a Applaud when saving a penny? It’s less costly (7)
CHEAPER: A word that can mean to applaud or vocally indicate approval is placed around (saving) ‘A’ from the clue and the abbreviation for a penny.
22a Speak slowly, attract large following (5)
DRAWL: A word that can mean to attract or entice is followed by the abbreviation for ‘large’.
24a Clubs play remixed singular old song from the Caribbean (7)
CALYPSO: The abbreviation for the suit of clubs in cards is followed by an anagram (remixed) of PLAY and the abbreviations for ‘singular’ and ‘old’.
27a Doctor operates, implanting new tongue (9)
ESPERANTO: Here you need to ‘doctor’, or make an anagram of, the word OPERATES, and insert the abbreviation for ‘new’, resulting in an international language.
28a Distinguished public school retired Head of Drama (5)
NOTED: The name of the English public school near Windsor is reversed (retired) and followed by the first letter (head) of ‘Drama’.
29a Staunch second XI leaving America (4)
STEM: Take the abbreviation of ‘second’ and a word describing a cricket or football eleven without (leaving) the single-letter abbreviation for America.
30a Shock recording: drunken Miss Margo taking ecstasy (10)
SEISMOGRAM: An anagram (drunken) of MISS MARGO into which the abbreviation for the drug Ecstasy has been inserted.
Down Clues
1d Drunkard guzzling fine mild (4)
SOFT: A three-letter synonym of ‘drunkard’ is surrounding or ‘guzzling’ the abbreviation of ‘Fine’.
2d Cloudy liquid? (9)
RAINWATER: A cryptic definition of the liquid that comes from clouds.
3d Bet wife a grand on last pair in poker (5)
WAGER: The abbreviation for ‘wife’ is followed by A from the clue, the abbreviation of ‘grand’, and placed above (on, in a down clue) the final two letters (last pair) of ‘poker’.
4d Took care of small issue (4-3)
BABY-SAT: A cryptic definition; ‘small issue’ here refers to young children.
5d Note amateur editor passed on (7)
RELAYED: The second note in the solfège scale made famous by The Sound of Music is followed by a synonym of ‘amateur’ and the abbreviation for’editor’.
7d Tea service adult knocked over (5)
ASSAM: A word for a type of religious service is followed by the abbreviation for ‘adult’ and then the whole thing is reversed (knocked over).
8d Penny arranged lurid YMCA party (5,5)
PLAID CYMRU: The abbreviation for ‘penny’ is followed by an anagram (arranged) of LURID YMCA, giving the name of a political party.
11d Worthless one gram old gold coin (7)
IGNOBLE: The Roman numeral representing ‘one’ is followed by the abbreviation for ‘gram’ and the impressive or worthy-sounding name of an old English gold coin with a value of six shillings and eightpence.
14d Syd and Frances going out in party clothes (5,5)
FANCY DRESS: An anagram (going out) of SYD and FRANCES.
16d Warmer section of Cadillac’s exhaust (7)
MUFFLER: A cryptic double definition. The name of a scarf worn around the throat to keep it warm is also the North American term for the silencer on a motor vehicle. “Cadillac’s” here indicates that we are looking for a word used on the other side of the pond.
18d Drink dark brown ale, one that cheers? (9)
SUPPORTER: A three-letter word meaning to drink is followed by the name of a dark beer.
20d Leave documentary permit in the UK (7)
LICENCE: A double definition. A word that can mean permission or ‘leave’ is also the name for a document authorising you to do something, such as to drive. ‘In the UK’ is needed for the surface reading to work, but also indicates that the answer can be spelt differently outside Britain.
21d Insensitive area of hard skin by mouth (7)
CALLOUS: A homophone (by mouth) of an area of thickened or hardened skin.
23d Generous specimen, not small (5)
AMPLE: Another word for a specimen, without its initial letter S (not small).
25d Kids show dad new toy endlessly (5)
PANTO: An informal term for a father is followed by the abbreviation for ‘new’ and the word ‘toy’ without its final letter (endlessly).
26d Partner of First Lady, American, flipping crazy (4)
ADAM: The single-letter abbreviation of ‘American’ is followed by a synonym for ‘crazy’ that has been reversed (flipping), giving us the name of the first man according to the Bible.
Which clues did you like best? Please let us know in the comments section below.
The Quick Crossword pun: CUR +TEN + RAZOR = CURTAIN RAISER
La hodiaŭa enigmo estis pli facila ol normale por merkredo (a nod to 27a)
Thank you, setter for 1a, which gives the proper pronunciation of our county town. 6a describes its current condition. All in all, a straightforward solve and it was over before I realised it. 17a threw me because that particular meaning of barman eluded me for ages. My COTD is the penny saving 21a.
Thank you, setter for a most enjoyable puzzle. Thank you, Dashing Lee for the hints.
Howling gales here in The Marches. I spent a good time of the morning retrieving wheelie bins.
In case anyone was wondering the Esperanto translates as “Today’s puzzle was easier than normal for Wednesday”. 😊
Thanks. I once accidentally set my web browser to Esperanto (it was next to ‘English’ in the list, and presumably my finger slipped), and I was surprised how much of it I could follow. Basic cognates used in English plus a smattering of French gives the following, which is most of the way there:
The [hodiaŭa] enigma is plus facile [ol] normal for Wednesday.
This is a masterpiece, at least for me. So many great clues from start to finish. The rodent town at 1a, one of my main pleasures at 9a, the freezing Curry at 10a, the fabulous barman at 21a and that’s just for the across clues. How could I forget 24a……
1,2,4,7 and are just some of the downs also worthy of mention. Impossible to pick a podium. Many thanks to the setter for the excellent entertainment and the hinter, whose efforts I will read later.
One of your main pleasures is having … oh, I see: you mean the surface reading, not the answer!
🤣🤣 Very good. J R Hartley’s pursuit!
Ooooo! So close, Cons. So close.
It must be nanoseconds sometimes that gets SC ahead of you. He must have a trick up his sleeve.
It was deliberate! I waited until I saw that he had posted.
Don’t wait, Conor! Good of you to do so, however but if I’m not first there is a very good reason, 😊😊
Good evening Steve. I am happy to concede. I am still a relative blow in, so it is not my place to take your place! Hope all is with you and H!
I accept your surrender with grace, Conor. You are a worthy opponent, sir and I salute you.
As for Hudson, it is a very slow healing process. The wound is about an inch wide and is healing from the outer edge. Each time the dressing is changed by the vet the healing seems to have advanced by mere millimetres. The vet is satisfied with progress but Hudson is going stir crazy. So am I! 🤪
I do hope to meet you at one of Big Dave’s Bashes one of these days. 👍
PS In a previous post, probably about a year ago, I revealed how I managed to post first. 🤔
I found this to be the easiest this week so no reason to extend my bald spot. Ca. 80% was virtually R&W with the remainder requiring minimal mental workout.
Too many smooth surfaces to mention, but 1, 10 & 12a stand on my podium with shocking Miss Margo being my COTD.
My thanks to the setter and Nigel Hades.
1*/4*
I found this to be the easiest this week so no reason to extend my bald spot. Ca. 80% was virtually R&W with the remainder requiring minimal mental workout.
Too many smooth surfaces to mention, but 1, 10 & 12a stand on my podium with shocking Miss Margo being my COTD.
My thanks to the setter and Nigel Hades.
1*/4*
Looks like I hit the button twice after I received the, ‘you’re going too quickly’ message !!!!
An excellent guzzle. I agree with SC about 1a which was my COTD. The 4 anagrams eased what I thought was a */**** which flowed wonderfully. Thanks Deansleigh and our setter.
This was fun and of a nice medium difficulty for me. Thank you to the setter. My favourite clue was the 2d cloudy liquid. Sometimes with cryptic definitions I accidentally see the required definition first, somehow missing the supposedly obvious one, but this one was definitely cryptic enough to avoid that.
The 19a head covering and the 11d old coin were new to me, but the answers were obvious enough from the other parts of the wordplay and the crossing letters that they didn’t hold me up. Thank you to Deansleigh for confirming them, including the exact value of the coin — what a curious denomination to have! — and for explaining why it was specifically a Cadillac in 16d.
I thought it unfortunate that 18d uses a word required in 21a’s wordplay, especially since they cross with each other.
The denomination is not odd at all to us oldies. It’s a third of a pound which I am sure would have been quite useful pre February 15th 1971. 😊
More Tuesdayish than yesterday’s I thought. A pleasant enough journey though perhaps lacking much wit or sparkle. Bit baffled by the gushing praise in some of the other comments, tbh, but horses for courses and all that. */**
This was a delight to complete, the spooner was last in. I had 17a as my favourite but there were many other excellent clues.
Many thanks to the setter and to Deansleigh for the hints.
An excellent puzzle let down, for me at any rate, by an unconvincing spoonerism. Shame because the rest was top rate. So much so that picking a podium is tough, but with the blindfold on and magic pin in hand, 11d, 16a and 10a in top spot get the places. Thanks to compiler and Deansleigh.
An enjoyable puzzle which was over all too quickly.
Top picks for me were 2d, 17a, 1a and 25d.
Thanks to Deansleigh and the setter.
A great puzzle that was just the right level of challenge for me. I really liked the Spoonerism which made me smile as they do (dsorry @prawn). I think the barman was my favourite. A simple clue but only once you get the cryptic definition. 2d also terrific. Thank you setter and blogger as always
Lovely and gentle puzzle, a bit of a sprint. Twm (for my fiver) in a very benign mood indeed.
Honours to the wonderful Spoonerism in 12a, to 2d and 21d, with runner-up 26d.
Many thanks to Twm (or whomever else!) and to Deansleigh
As others have said before me a fairly gentle and quick solve. Not too convinced by “Drink” Synonym at 10a however very much enjoyed the spoonerism in 12a. Last clue solved was 30a needed everything else to enable a shuffle, never heard of the answer.
COTD is 14d i do enjoy a cheeky anagram.
1.5*/4.5*. What a delightful puzzle. My one slight reservation is “in the UK” in 20d, which looks to me like unnecessary surface padding. But, of course, I was very pleased to see the (necessary) American indicator in 16d.
From a page covered in ticks, my podium selection is 1a, 2d & 18d.
Many thanks to the setter and to Deansleigh.
Although it probably makes for a better surface read is the word ‘documentary’ required for that matter either, RD?
Marks, doesn’t documentary show that “permit” is a noun rather than a verb? Hence the answer is a noun and so spelt with a C rather than an S.
RD, surely the ‘in the UK’ reference is to differentiate the answer from the US spelling with an S, so technically is a non-american indicator?
CD, the default position in a UK Puzzle is “in the UK” so I believe it is unnecessary for that to be stated.
An unusually unchallenging but very enjoyable Wednesday puzzle – */****
Is 8d an indication of who the setter might be or is it a red herring? I don’t know.
Candidates for favourite – 29a, 2d, 18d, and 26d – and the winner is 18d.
Thanks to whomsoever and Deansleigh.
I thought this was fairly friendly for a midweek puzzle, but still very nicely clued throughout.
I have to go for 1a as my favourite this morning for the neat surface and the accurate pronunciation of our county town.
Many thanks to our setter and Deansleigh.
Like our hinter I was held up for a while in the NW, not helped by my failure to alight upon the correct town quickly. I’ve never been there so perhaps I should put that right soon. Having said that, my favourite clues were all at that end of the grid, including the cold water at 10a, the Spoonerism at 12a and the liquid at 2d. Thanks very much to Deansleigh and the setter.
Thanks for the blog, dear Deansleigh, and thanks to those who’ve left a comment. Commiserations to MustafaG whose fiver has alas turned to dust.
Best wishes to all from my home town Sheffield, where I’m making my first visit for about 15 years….nice to be back despite the lateral snow blowing down Division St. this morning.
Rob/Hudson
Thank you, Hudson for a terrific puzzle.
Thank you for an excellent puzzle, Hudson – that’s a fiver I was very happy to lose!
This was fun with lots to talk about.
I sooooooooooooooooo love the debate of how to pronounce 1a. I am in the traditionalists’ camp as the fourth letter in the old English name Scrobbesburh is an o not an e. The Normans replaced ‘cr’ with ‘al’ as they had trouble pronouncing Scr. Hence Salop. Goodness knows why the o got changed to an e. So, ‘oh’ not ‘oo’ it is. Let’s see your reasoning SC et al and surveys can shove it.
Re 6a, you’ve got to love the Gaelic language as Drogheda is pronounced Drawda. How children learn their spellings is beyond me.
The headdress has been added to the crib sheet as has the gold coin.
The idea of the language in 27a was a sweet idea but it was never going to take off as nations are too proud of their mother tongue.
I don’t understand the surface of 18d. Is it implying that the person who drinks it is saying ‘Cheers!’?
My podium is 10a (great fun), 17a, and, of course, 26d.
MTT The Hud and Nigel Hades.
2*/4*
Re 18d: The surface reading is some advice to drink a dark brown ale, specifically one that will cheer you up.
Whether you wish to obey that advice is entirely up to you …
I like your thinking, S. Thank you.
Shakespeare did not write a play entitled “The Taming of the Shrow”. 😊
Shrew has a different root.
I wouldn’t say that to the natives. It has divided the population for centuries! 😊
Rules of the English Language pronunciation of city/town/village names:
Rule 1 – There are no rules.
Rule 2 – If in doubt refer to Rule 1.
But, it does mainly depend on where and when which group of Europeans invaded.
Long ago, in a past life, I had rooms for a year in a part of college called “Drawda Hall”, a C17th building on the site of an earlier building in which a certain William Drogheda was supposedly murdered in the mid C13th, and after whom the Hall was named.
Excellent story, you Oxonian, you.
I would love to have been an Oxbridge student with Oxford being the preferred choice, of course.
An older college always wins the day.
Thanks to Hudson and Deansleigh.
Quick solve for a Wednesday, felt more like a Monday, but not complaining. COTD 1a. LOI 5d
All done to the background of a raging gale!
Great friendly fun for a Wednesday. My favourite was 2d.
No 2 son and his family live near Drogheda and we’ve been there a couple of times but not noticed anything about their politicians
Many thanks to Hudson and Deansleigh
I have some relatives in Julianstown, a few miles from Drogheda. Apart from the Cathederal, the only other thing Drogheda has going for it, is the Bypass!
A highly entertaining puzzle – thanks to Hudson and Deansleigh.
The cream of the crop for me were 10a, 12a, 16d and 21d.
Lots to like in this Wednesday puzzle … almost on par with the first two backpagers of the week in my opinion.
1.5*/4* for me today
Favourites 1a, 17a, 27a, 30a, 2d & 18d — with winner that made me laugh as soon as read it … 2d!! … 1a was a close runner up.
Smiles for many including the winner as well as 1a, 9a, 18d & 26d
Thanks to Hudson & Deansleigh
Quickly, on my way to an old friend’s funeral – jolly good Wednesday guzzle. Thanks to Setter and Hinter.
Hope the funeral goes well, Daisygirl, and is a suitable tribute to your friend.
2* / 3.5* A good midweeker, with plenty of humour and misdirection.
Best of the day for me are the 8d Welsh party,
the French barman at 17a and the freezing water at 19a
Thanks to Deansleigh and Hudson
Many thanks to Hudson for the entertaining puzzle and to Deansleigh for the write-up.
Favourite was 2d, followed by 30a my last one in.
I enjoyed this one today, especially completing it on a dead tree for the first time in over a week (been away and wish I hadn’t bothered .. Sunny Canaries … really!).
I rattled it in but needed the checks for Steve’s county town.
I’m still struggling to make the Spoonerism at 12a “work” though .. I think I just about get it … if I pretend to be English.
Thanks ti setter and DL for the hints (I did bung it sit instead of sat at 4d)
An enjoyable puzzle for me today completed on the train down to Edinburgh. (Going to see Death on the Nile tonight…..the play, not the film…..hurrah!)
Lots to like except for the Spoonerism which was my last one in…..not my favourite type of clue.
Favourite 1a .
Thanks to the setter and to Deansleigh.
Cold here in Auld Reekie with a very cold wind…..but that is nothing new…..
A virtual Read ,think, write but very enjoyable with super clues last one in 29a , a bit iffy for me . Liked the curry and what could follow after 30a ?.19a favourite , learned a new word here. Thanks to all . The toughie today would have been fine for today, as a back pager
Fun engaging puzzle from start to finish. No real hold ups today, which is not always the case on a Wednesday!
Favs 1a , 10a 14d and 21a. LOI 29a.
My intitial thought for the protective covering in 19a was car related, but the helpful match official put me straight.
Many thanks to Hudson and Deansleigh for the blog.
On the bus from terminal to plane! Goodbye Malta, it’s been great.
Nailed most of this while having last breakfast, by Sliema harbour. LOI was 11A as I had typo’d.
Pody picks go to 12A’s enjoyable Spooner, 7A for seeing my favourite tea as an answer, and 14D for being a surface of fun stuff (guess I’m in that mood).
Many thanks to setter and Deansleigh ⭐️
Most pleasant and quick solve . Had to head off to Food for Thought followed by Tai Chi this morning. Now enjoying the comments. I too am not convinced by the spoonerism although that was the answer that jumped out. Favourite was 2 down. 8 down was a challenge to my spelling inability. 10 across gave a surprise of an answer. Perhaps a little more accessible than yesterday’s puzzle by the splitting if a hair.
Thanks to Hudson and Deansleigh
An early solve before going out for the day…to 1a. It’s 10 miles from home and a lovely town for a walk round and lunch in one of the many fine restaurants. No real favourite, with one exception I thought it was very fairly clued. The exception was 12a, the spoonerism – the answer was easily spotted when the checkers were in but as a spoonerism it did not quite work for me.
Many thanks to the setter and Deansleigh.
I too am 10 miles from 1a. 👍
We’re 4,270 miles as the crow flies… ☺️
Just a short hop, then? 😊
I thought this was brilliant today
2*/5*
Thanks to Dean and Hudson
Favourites the cryptic definitions that held me up in the north. Unaware of the head covering but the answer was clear. I do keep forgetting that definition of barman!
Very enjoyable puzzle ***/**** full of very amusing and clever clues 😃 Favourites 1a, 10a & 17a and 18d 👍 Thanks to Deansleigh and Hudson for an enjoyable morning 🤗
Many enjoyable clues here, thanks Hudson. Charlie’s curry and partner of First Lady were my favourites. 2d took me longer than it should have – I was looking for a double definition!
* / ****
Very quick but highly enjoyable Wednesday fare! The gold coin was new to me. Ticks went to the 28a Distinguished school, the superb 8d lurid YMCA party and the mandatory instruction of 18d – don’t mind if I do; perhaps a guzzle (see what I did there) rather than ‘sup’ though!!!
Thanks to She Aligned and Hudson
Finished but with one error, 30a. Having worked out the necessary formulation for the clue, the actual answer defeated me; I had plumped for a ‘Messiogram,’ after the footballer, which would be a bit of a shock if you received one! Totally misled in not thinking of earthquakes.
Couple of favourite clues today, the French barman at 17a and the cloudy liquid at 2d.
Thank you to the setter and to Deansleigh for the hints.
Can’t say I had this one pegged as a Hudson production – don’t know why because thought it top notch. The swiftest grid fill of the week thus far though not without the odd brief parsing crumpet scratch – the Spoonerism (beautifully explained incidentally) & the DDs at 16&20d. That said both the 19a head covering & 11d’s gold coin sort of rang a bell but still warranted post solve confirmation with Mr G. Lots to admire – particularly liked the 2 cryptic defs at 2&4d but like our reviewer top of the podium had to be the Don & Mel surface at 26d.
Thanks to Hudson & Deansleigh
Forgot to say – great Quickie pun too.
Lovely clues start to finish – can’t decide between the lurid YMCA party and the drunken Miss Margo for COTD.
VMT to Rob & Deansleigh for great entertainment.
A lovely puzzle and a quick solve with lots of good clues including 1a, 2d, 10a, 17a, 8d, 16d with 30a COTD and LOI! Many thanks to the setter and Deansleigh
Top notch puzzle, only the head covering needed confirming. Lots of candidates for favourite but I’ll go with 2d. Thanks to Hudson for the pleasure and DL just for being there if needed.
A nice gentle and very enjoyable puzzle a notch up from yesterday I thought. Thanks to Hudson and Deansleigh.
A joy to solve as the clues were clear and not too convoluted.
1*/4* …
liked 27A “Doctor operates, implanting new tongue (9)”
I’m still puzzling over the answer to 12A in 31196 on 25th April. Just can’t figure out the Spoonerism.
SHIRK (avoid duty) + WHY (for what reason?)