Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31207
Hints and tips by Huntsman
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BD Rating – Difficulty * Enjoyment ***
A pretty gentle offering today that ought not to present too many difficulties for most. That said I didn’t see the why at 28a & as I’m dashing off to play golf sought assistance so perhaps I’m being a bit cheeky giving it just the single * for difficulty. Fun while it lasted but all over maybe a wee bit too quickly. Thanks to Anthony Plumb, I assume, for another well clued puzzle.
I see Django is over in t’other place so that will be worth a visit.
As usual there is a selection of music to enjoy or ignore.
In the hints below the definition element of each clue has been underlined, anagrams are CAPITALISED & the crossword technique “indicator words” are in brackets. The answers are concealed under the Click Here buttons. Please leave a comment below telling us what you thought & how you got on with the puzzle.
Across
1a Donna could be this, periodically (2,3,3)
ON AND OFF: we kick off with a reverse anagram. Donna is the fodder (could be this) then think of & append a basic indicator.
5a Sunglasses husband exchanged for shop’s last suit (6)
SPADES: an informal term for sunglasses with the single letter for H[usband] swapped (exchanged) for the final letter (last) of shi[P].
9a Same hips, different weight (8)
EMPHASIS: an anagram (different) of SAME HIPS.
10a Avoids girls (6)
MISSES: double definition.
12a Sister angry about current nanny (9)
NURSEMAID: a medical, as opposed to a religious, sister followed by a synonym for angry that goes around (about) the symbol for electrical current.
13a Conservative underwear is selected (5)
CHOSE: C[onservative] + a somewhat old-fashioned term for tights & stockings.
14a Long leg he ignored at first (4)
PINE: an informal term for the leg + [h]E (ignored at first).
16a Old, smooth type of train (7)
EXPRESS: the usual prefix for old + smooth/iron.
19a Gets free pies with 50 per cent off wraps (7)
ESCAPES: [pi]ES (50% off) + wraps/sleeveless outer garments.
21a Inexperienced youth left in bed (4)
COLT: insert (in) L[eft] into an infant bed.
24a Guy’s tango with female relative (5)
TAUNT: T[ango] (NATO alphabet) + a parent’s sister.
25a Swift interpretation misinterpreted initially by referee (9)
IMMEDIATE: the opening letters (initially) of the 2nd & 3rd words in the clue + referee/arbitrate.
27a Raised concerning answer with socialist (6)
REARED: the usual preposition for concerning/in respect of + the single letter for A[nswer] + a common term for a socialist or communist.
28a Anthea potentially has three of these newspaper pieces (8)
ARTICLES: all I could see was that Anthea contains 3 of the letters featured in ‘these’ but knew that couldn’t be right so used my phone a friend option – split Anthea up 2/3/1 & you have 3 of ‘em (d’oh).
29a Essentially remonstrate about hospital department’s smells (6)
SCENTS: the central letter (essentially) of [remon]S[trate] + the single letter for about/C[irca] then append the usual hospital department with the possessive S.
30a Unique to ladies, strangely (8)
ISOLATED: an anagram (strangely) of TO LADIES.
Down
1d Old vessels crossing eastern waters (6)
OCEANS: O[ld] + vessels/tins around (crossing) E[astern].
2d Hope adult is on top of steeple (6)
ASPIRE: the single letter for A[dult) + (on top of/down clue) another word for a steeple.
3d Finally lobbed garden tool – duck! (5)
DRAKE: lobbe[D] (finally) + a garden tool.
4d Formation of masts, sails, etc in large European ship (7)
FRIGATE: insert (in) a term for masts & sails into a synonym for large/overweight then append E[uropean].
6d Most important rule we’re told (9)
PRINCIPAL: a homophone (we’re told) of a synonym for rule/concept.
7d Find out record with six balls?
DISCOVER: a term or a vinyl record + six balls in cricket.
8d Feeling surrounding American pressure? Apprehension (8)
SUSPENSE: insert (surrounding) a two letter abbreviation for American + P[ressure] into a synonym for feeling/awareness.
11d Somewhat timid leader’s not working (4)
IDLE: hidden (somewhat).
15d One masculine person requiring medical care is aching (9)
IMPATIENT: the Roman numeral letter for ‘one’ + M[asculine] + the term for one requiring & hopefully receiving medical attention.
17d Doctor greets us making signals (8)
GESTURES: an anagram (doctor) of GREETS US. Neat surface follow up to the previous clue.
18d Exact chapter covered by a member of the clergy (8)
ACCURATE: insert (covered by) the indexing single letter for C[hapter] between A (from the wordplay) & the term for a member of the clergy engaged as an assistant to a vicar or parish priest.
20d Prison commotion (4)
STIR: double definition.
21d Brownies perhaps arrived – treats regularly disposed of (7)
CAMERAS: arrived/appeared + the alternate letters (regularly disposed of) of the 4th word in the clue.
22d Battle wound? This might take away the pain (6)
TABLET: an anagram (wound) of BATTLE.
23d Stopped recording, possibly, keeping calm (6)
CEASED: place a synonym for calm/simplicity (keeping) between the two letter abbreviation for a digital optical disc data storage format type of recording. Can’t remember the last time I bothered to play one of the 300 or so I have since purchasing a streamer.
26d Day on the river, under the weather – this could be boring (5)
DRILL: the single letter for D[ay] & for R[iver] +under the weather/poorly.
1a was my pick of the clues even though I immediately had a 10cc earworm. Please let us know which clues you liked best.
Today’s Quick Crossword pun: AWL + INN + VANE = ALL IN VAIN
I found this gentle which is what I needed after a week away.
Top picks for me were 28a, 22d and 21d.
Thanks to Huntsman and the setter.
This felt more like a Monday puzzle. Not quite a sequential fill but not far off with the lower north requiring a little thought. 13, 16 and 21 across are my top picks. 12a was my LOI. Many thanks to the setter and hinter. Greetings from La Croix Valmer
I agree with Huntsman, a very gentle guzzle, apart from 28a. I could see what the answer was but couldnt pRse it. Having read tge hints it ends up as my COTD. I liked the crickety clue at 1a,the cryptic Lego clue at 21d and the homophone clue at 6d too. Thanks to Mr Plumb and to HuuntsmAn for the hints
A gentle walkthrough, but thanks for explaining 28A. It lost me.
An enjoyable romp through, just what is needed on a warm and sunny day. Life would have been easier had I not started by reversing the middle two letters in 21a ! I too struggled to parse 28a until I ignored the word ‘potentially’ . COTD is 4d, which I thought was very clever. Overall good fun and for me somewhat gentler than the past three days.
Many thanks to the setter and Huntsman.
I too reversed the middle of 21a! 28a fooled me so, although I was sure I was right by the checkers. Read the hint and penny plonked!
I liked 1a – very clever!
Long time lurker, hi everyone!!
No sweat bar a bit of a hold-up in SE. Surely 13a component is not exactly underwear. 28a and 23d not fully parsed. Altogether good fun. Thanks AP and Hintsman.
I made easier work of this than yesterday. Top clues 1a for cleverness and 9a for the smile. Thanks to Huntsman and setter.
This took a bit of work which is rare for the prof but it all fell into place in the end.
Is ‘potentially’ surplus to requirements in 28a or am I missing something? Either way, it’s a great clue that goes onto my podium.
1a is a nice clue but a rookie wouldn’t have a prayer.
Accompanying 28a are 1a and 9a.
MTTTA and Hoots!
2*/4*
A friend just showed me this which is superb…
“In one of the Bard’s best-thought-of tragedies, our insistent hero, Hamlet, queries, on two fronts, about how life turns rotten.”
is an anagram of
”To be or not to be: that is the question. Whether ’tis nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune”
Huge credit to the person who put it together.
It’s Tuesday, it’s the professor, it’s 1*/4* from me.
Thanks to AP and to Hintsman.
Enjoyable Tuesday fare – thanks to our setter and Huntsman.
I liked 19a, 28a and 21d with my favourite being the very neat 1a.
Just about Typically Tuesdayish – 1.5*/4.5*
After the tea trays hit the floor for the outsized ‘PDM’ for 1a I had to pick them up for a repeat for 28a!
Candidates for favourite – 1a, 9a, 28a, 1d, and 6d – and the winner is 1a.
Thanks to Mr Plumb and Huntsman.
* / ****
Back on duty after a few days too packed to comment! A rather gentle Plumb production this week but hugely enjoyable nonetheless. My ticks went to Donna at 1a and Anthea at 28a.
Thanks to AP and to Huntsman
Another great puzzle from the professor but, as I’m still very much under the weather, I struggled with it.
Thank you, AP. Thank you, Hintsman for the hunts. Thanks also for Nick Drake although I do prefer just him and his guitar. The orchestration tends to drown out his voice and playing. His sessions with John Peel are great.
Bon courage as they say across the channel, hope you feel better soon.
Feel better soon 😊
1.5*/4* A very enjoyable puzzle with plenty of quirky clues.
Favourites include the very clever 28a, the 4d ship and the 21d brownies
Thanks to compiler and Huntsman
Also must mention 1a, a great clue
Would have been OK but had the wrong ending for 6 down which scuppered 21 across. Top spot for 28 across Mr. Plumb is also a firm favourite and thanks to Huntsman.
A definite Typical Tuesday puzzle this week in my opinion.
Nothing too tricky to trip one up this week.
1.5*/3.5*
Favourites include 9a, 16a, 30a, 7d, 15d & 18d — with winner 7d
Thanks to AP & Huntsman
Thanks to AP and Huntsman for the hints. Easy solve without resort to hints. We had to dig back 50 years to grammar lessons to get 28a. COTD 29a. LOI 21a. Now to enjoy the Devon sunshine.
All went in at typical mon/tues speed until 28a. I just couldn’t for the life of me get it. Eventually gave up and looked at the hint. So thank you to Huntsman for putting me out of my misery.
Like others I’m glad of the Monday feel to this one, with plenty of surfaces and nice cluing to enjoy.
Pody picks – 1A was a fine start, 28A’s Anthea and 3D’s ducking.
Many thanks to AP and Huntsman. ⭐️ Nice to see Black Keys among your clips, will be seeing them in the Summer.
Me too – Brixton or Hammersmith?
A very typical Plumbesque production that was both straightforward and enjoyable. As the cricket season is now with us I will go for 7d as my favourite this afternoon.
Thanks to AP and The Hintsman.
Very enjoyable on this day with the most beautiful weather. My favourite was 1a.
Many thanks to the setter and to Huntsman for the hints.
A lovely gentle solve on a sunny day. Thanks to all.
Late on parade. Realised I had misidentified the definition in 5a which held up matters. No real favourite today. Thanks to AP and Huntsman.
Gentle but fun while it lasted, so thanks to our setter. 1a is clever, and I also liked 17d, 21a and 23d. Thanks to Huntsman for the blog, and tunes for later. I hope the golf went well!
Like Huntsman, golf got in the way of completing this puzzle, hence the late posting. All in all, a tad easier than yesterday which I thought was a tad more difficult than a typical Monday, so they balance out.. No problem with any of the parsing and I thought 1a and 28a were very clever.
My thanks to the honourable Plumb and Huntsman.
1*/3.5*
An enjoyable puzzle and I made reasonable progress throughout. Just what I needed with a busy schedule. 1a was my COTD. Many thanks to Mr Plumb and Huntsman.
I was listening to Radio 5 whilst out in the car during the morning and they played the background music to Morse. I immediately thought of Daisy Girl. I do hope you and George have had a lovely weekend. I thought of you again whilst out in the garden in the sunshine busy planting bulbs and the laundry getting a good blow 🌞
All credit to Mr Plumb for the genius clue 28a. Hands up who Googled Anthea Turner for inspiration, before realising that that was a cul-de-sac. A truly light bulb moment occurred soon after. Very satisfying.
Oddly enough the Anthea that sprang to mind was Brucie’s assistant on the Generation Game
Anthea wins it for me in a most enjoyable puzzle from the Prof. VMT also to Huntsman.
Oh what joy, after yesterday’s which was a real pain and I was beginning to wonder if my cryptic days were over. I enjoyed this one from start to finish, with an extra smile at 3d. Thanks to the setter for not making me feel like a right idiot, and to Huntsman.
I was a consonant away from an “Uptown Top Ranking” earworm, quickly lining up Huntsman’s other choices avoided that.
3/4 fairly flew in but the SW slowed things a little
Thanks to Mr P and Mr H
This was a great puzzle and definitely more gentle than yesterday. I loved the 2 girls names clues , Donna at 1a and Anthea at 28a which were both excellent. I was thinking that anyone out there called Anthea can proudly proclaim their name is composed of 3 articles, and wishing it was me ,as I would truly milk it for the rest of my life , sad that I am ! Thanks to the setter and Huntsman.
I made harder work of this than most. SE last in. On the plus side everything parsed. Hose is definitely not underwear, I’m from Leicestershire the centre of the hosiery industry, it is clothing worn on the legs. Think doublet and hose, footballers socks, ballerinas tights. I could go on, so a boo and a hiss for that one. I wasn’t convinced by 30a either. I don’t mean to be critical but things have to be said otherwise it might appear we’re not paying attention. Enough of that nonsense, favourite was 28a. Thanks to AP and Huntsman. Ps that clip at 1a always makes me laugh as does the whole film.
Sorry for the late posting. I’ve been watching tennis and trying to solve the guzzle as well as keeping up with the games. So I was pleased that it was a Mr Plumb special and a delight to solve. Thankyou to Huntsman for help where needed.
Nothing to apologise for, Bijou Better late than never!
As a beginner, very happy to complete this enjoyable puzzle without help. Better late than never! Thank you to the setter and for the hints.
Well done & especially so if you parsed both Donna & Anthea, which is better than I managed 🤔
Thank you!
2*/3* …
liked 28A “Anthea potentially has three of these newspaper pieces (8)”
Sorry – bit late. Busy week. Still don’t understand “reverse anagram” a la 1a… Does it mean the anagram is incomplete and we have to make a semi-random guess?
Hi David – in an ordinary anagram clue you are given the anagram fodder (the letters to be rearranged) as well as an anagram indicator (the instruction to do so). With a reverse anagram you are given the anagrammed word/fodder (in this case DONNA = ON AND) but the solver needs to come up with a suitable anagram indicator (in this case OFF) to complete the answer.