Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31198
Hints and tips by Mr K
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BD Rating - Difficulty *** - Enjoyment ***
Hello, everyone, and welcome to Friday.
In the hints below most indicators are italicized, and underlining identifies precise definitions and cryptic definitions. Clicking on the answer buttons will reveal the answers. Please leave a comment telling us how you got on.
Across
1a Losing Head of Recruitment employed in Surrey town (6)
WOKING: A synonym of employed minus (losing) the first letter of (head of) RECRUITMENT
4a Defamatory speech by one resident of Anglesey? (8)
ISLANDER: The Roman one with another word for defamatory speech
9a Wife maybe put pickle over pizza originally (6)
SPOUSE: A synonym of pickle containing (over) the first letter (… originally) of PIZZA
10a Spain blocks widespread employment producing rubber (8)
MASSEUSE: The IVR code for Spain is inserted between (blocking) synonyms of widespread and employment
11a Proved last month this writer's about to pen study (9)
EVIDENCED: The reversal (about) of the fusion of an abbreviation for the last month of the year and a contraction for “this writer’s” from their perspective is containing (to pen) another word for study
13a Exemplary type (5)
MODEL: A straightforward double definition
14a Following American trend, to a certain extent (5,1,7)
AFTER A FASHION: hint
17a Married Lois in Israel, amazingly wealthy lady (13)
MILLIONAIRESS: hint
21a Genuine lamp changing hands (5)
RIGHT: In a synonym for lamp change the single letter for one handedness to the single letter for the other handedness
23a Retired actor meets a PM and Hindu teacher (9)
MAHARISHI: The reversal of an (over) actor is followed by A from the clue and the first name of a recent Prime Minister
24a Allowing vacuous teenagers to give opinions (8)
THOUGHTS: A synonym of allowing with the outer letters (vacuous) of TENNAGERS
25a Where in New York one can see Cats? (6)
QUEENS: We’re looking for a part of New York City whose name can also describe (female) cats
26a Dark gold round hat (8)
SOMBRERO: A synonym of dark with the reversal (round) of the heraldic word for gold
27a Type of surgeon, name former Democrat holds back (6)
DENTAL: The reversal (back) of the fusion of a synonym of former and the single letter for Democrat contains (holds) the single letter for name
Down
1d Not all cadets awkwardly turned up drunk (6)
WASTED: The answer is hidden in (not all ..) the reversal (turned up) of CADETS AWKWARDLY
2d Clever clogs Kelvin will not fancy defending answer (4-2-3)
KNOW-IT-ALL: The single letter for Kelvin with an anagram (fancy) of WILL NOT containing (defending) the single letter for answer
3d Developing perfume after snag is discovered (7)
NASCENT: Another word for perfume comes after SNAG minus its outer letters (dis-covered)
5d Stall displaying seafood that's rather cold (11)
STANDOFFISH: The answer split (5,2,4) could describe a stall displaying seafood
6d Takes for granted Number 10 shortly will have reshuffle (7)
ASSUMES: An anagram (will have reshuffle) of all but the last letter (shortly) of the answer to 10a
7d Old priest completed enthralling game (5)
DRUID: A synonym of completed containing (enthralling) the abbreviation for a game played with a ball that isn’t round
8d White wine Sir Nigel ordered (8)
RIESLING: An anagram (ordered) of SIR NIGEL
12d Watch perhaps number cutting metal, they're periodically visible (11)
CHRONOMETER: An abbreviation for number is inserted in (cutting) a shiny metal, and that’s followed by alternate letters (periodically visible) of THEY’RE
15d Aim to involve nun, not half demanding attention (9)
INSISTENT: Aim or goal containing (to involve) one half of (not half) another word for nun
16d Times are flexible for airline (8)
EMIRATES: An anagram (flexible) of TIMES ARE
18d Whole of Bury for instance to visit (7)
INTEGER: The Latin abbreviation meaning “for instance” or “for example” inserted in (to visit) a synonym of bury (the capitalization here is for misdirection)
19d Broadcast about England cricketer on the way (2,5)
EN ROUTE: Homophones (broadcast) of a synonym of about and Joe the English cricketer
20d Train conks out - closure of Circle Line! (6)
DIESEL: A word meaning “conks out” with the final letter of (closure of) CIRCLE and the single letter for line
22d Person with a stable job? (5)
GROOM: A cryptic definition of a person who works in a stable
Thanks to today’s setter. Which clues did you like best?
The Quick Crossword pun: MEGANE + NICKEL = MECHANICAL
I managed only three on the first pass so thought it would be either a DNF or a prolonged effort. I put it down, checked emails, made another mug of tea then returned to find my brain was in gear and it became a steady solve. The anagram at 17a took an inordinate amount of time to decipher. With anagrams, I either get them straight away or they remain elusive. I had to like 27a and the developing perfume at 3d raised a smile. My COTD is the seafood stall at 5d, which I thought quite brilliant.
I didn’t get the Quickie pun. 😳
Thank you, setter for the Friday fun. Thank you, Mr. K. for the hints.
you have to have a cold to get the pun!
🤣🤣🤣
Surprisingly gentle for a Friday, though thoroughly enjoyable.
The rubber in 10a was an amusing misdirection and I liked the construction of proved in 11a, the Indian teacher in 23a and clever clogs in 2d.
The standout clue for me though was the seafood stall in 5d, though I thought fish and seafood were an entirely different kettle of, er, something or other.
Took me back to Sunday lunchtimes when I’d go out for a couple of pints with the old man. He’d always have his best whistle on, and we’d take some prawns and shrimps home to my mum and sister for tea.
A sepia memory through the dust motes of time…
My thanks to our setter and Mr K.
What an absolute belter of a puzzle, I thoroughly enjoyed it and have ticks all over the page.
Top picks for me were 5d, 10a, 4a, 25a and 20d.
Thanks to Mr K and the setter.
This felt more like a Monday crossword, as in nice and gentle to start to the cruciverbalist’s week. Lots of great clues on the grid but 1a, 4a and 5d are my top picks. 7d took a moment to parse and the German wine at 8d is becoming ever more popular. Many thanks to the setter and hinter.
On the gentler side for a Friday but some excellent clues with the splendid 5d my favourite. I needed the hints to parse 6d. Thanks very much to the setter and to Mr K. Off to Birmingham later for the retirement drinks of a colleague from my Coventry days. I still regard him as a young lad, what with him being a couple of school years behind me.
Like Steve, I thought this was going to be really tricky but things began to fall into place quite quickly. My COTD was tge double meaning seafood stall at 5d. I also liked theclever anagram at,3d, the Lego hat clue at 26a and the ‘rubber’ at 10a . Thanks to the compiler anbd to Mr K for the hints.
Very entertaining – I like to look for anagrams to get things underway but 17a called for a change of strategy until the first two checkers were in place. I needed Mr K’s explanation to parse 6d, I was obsessed with a totally different No. 10. I thought today’s top clue was 5d.
Thanks to the setter and Mr K.
Definitely very gentle for a Friday – 1.5*/3.5*
Candidates for favourite – 25a, 5d, and 12d – and the winner is 5d.
Thanks to whomsoever and Mr K.
Very gentle for a Friday, but very entertaining with only a couple in the SE giving pause for thought. 18d nearly made the podium, but was ousted by 10a, 23a and 5d. Thanks to compiler and Mr K.
1.5*/3.5*. I agree with those who found this gentle for a Friday, but it was good fun to solve with 5d the outstanding clue.
Thanks to the setter and to Mr K.
Light, almost overly so, for a Friday, but plenty of gentle fun from a well-crafted puzzle. COTD 5d.
4a made me think of Jane – not that she is ever defamatory! – and I hope she is on the road to recovery and that we will see her again soon.
Many thanks to the setter and to MrK
I’ll have to agree with most others that 5d was quite brilliant, also thought it was far easier than Mr K’s three stars, all in all a great fun crossword.
I agree, relatively benign for a Friday with nothing to strain the grey cells. 6d went in from the first part of the clue, but didn’t see the relevance of number 10 until Mr K enlightened me.
The rubber 10a was LOI. I usually manage anagrams with relative ease and the wealthy lady was no exception, 11a as soon as I transcribed the letters and the watch at 12d is my cotd.
Thanks to the setter and Mr K
2*/4*
A very entertaining puzzle – thanks to our setter and Mr K.
I particularly liked 4a, 10a and 3d.
Notabilis makes a very welcome return as today’s Toughie setter. The puzzle is not too tricky and very enjoyable so do give it a go if you have time.
I thought it was Elgar’s turn this week, which is normally above my capability.
Now I know it’s Notabilis I will definitely have a look later, as he was one of my favourite toughie setters along with Myops.
Thanks Gazza for pointing out the setter.
Just read through a few clues but John wanted a pedicure so time to get the scalpel out. How I love to use a scalpel. Book club done and came back to finish a most enjoyable crossword. Very much more gentle than expected. The answers came easily but some of the parsing needed teasing out and some anagrams needed work. Laughed out loud to 5 down followed by 23,24 and 25 across. Happy Day !
No notion who the setter is but a big thank you and of course Mr. K for being able to check the parsing.
I’m a little worried about your enthusiasm for a scalpel …….
What a great finish to the week with lots of excellent surfaces and constructions. Looking at 11a, I’m leaning towards Silvanus. But 5d is the sort of clue Zandio comes out with.
I got 6d fairly quickly but the parsing eluded me. Nicely done.
One question: why do some clues have ‘ex-Pm’ when referring to a previous Prime Minister and others just PM like today’s 23a? Maybe, it’s just personal preference.
My pody picks are 2d, 20d and, of course, 5d.
MTT Mr K and….hmm….who can it be…I’m going for….Silvanus!
3*/5*
This Friday puzzle didn’t seem as difficult as normal, but it was still tricky but do-able for me. Some clever clueing as well as some real head scratchers too.
2.5*/3.5*
Favourites 1a, 4a, 10a, 5d, 18d & 20d — with winner 20d as it made me laugh out of all the favourites.
Other smiles for 4a, 8d & 16d
Thanks to setter & Mr K.
What a delight, I started off rather slowly but once I got going it was such fun, 5d was my favourite but 10a came in close behind. I did need the hints to parse 6d.
Many thanks to the setter and to Mr K for the hints.
A curate’s egg of a puzzle , most flew in but got stuck on the cats and the rubber , which I put in but didn’t parse .Both would be on my podium along with 5d.A super puzzle to end the week .I struggled with yesterday’s toughie and I never do well on a Friday but I might have a sneaky look and see what it looks like .
I too found this puzzle to be on the easier end of the Friday spectrum of difficulty. It certainly caused me less brain ache than yesterday’s Ray T. Some excellent clues. My favs were 5d, 23a and 10a (which was my LOI.)
Thanks to the setter and Mr K for unpicking the parsing of 6d. I see I wasn’t alone in wondering what the solution had to do with Number 10!
Yup. I agree with everyone that this was very enjoyable. I have so many ticks, 3d 5d 27a etc in but the best was the rubber – oh how I would like one now working on my neck! Many thanks to Messrs Setter & Hinter and hope everyone has a good weekend.
The most straightforward Friday puzzle I can remember but that didn’t detract from the enjoyment. Favourite was 5d but several others ran out close. Thanks to the setter and Mr. K.
It.
I agree that it was very enjoyable but I found it much trickier than most.
Held up by the rubber and number 10 combo.
5d was my favourite today.
Thanks to all
3*/4*
Gave up on this, SE corner had me beat. I got 10a with the check letters and it was a light bulb moment the connection! 6d was a bung in not realising the connection between the two.
Cotd has without a doubt the stand of fish. Brilliant!
Thanks to setter (you beat me) and to Mr for the hints. I needed them today.
What an enjoyable solve. Lots of humour and lovely surfaces. 5d simply brilliant. Thanks to the setter for brightening up an otherwise miserable day.