Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31213
Hints and tips by Huntsman
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BD Rating – Difficulty * Enjoyment ***/****
Well if yesterday was a good bit trickier than usual today’s Anthony Plumb (I assume) production was, as Senf would say, Typically Tuesdayish. Fun for the short time it lasted & as ever concisely clued throughout. I have to dash off for golf so hopefully no mistakes & unlike last week, when I needed my trusty phone a friend option (today’s Toughie setter) to unravel Anthea’s mysteries, all of the parsing was straightforward too. Do give Shabbo’s puzzle over in t’other place a whirl – it’s very gentle & good fun.
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 Turning old page by German and American writer (5)
POUND: reverse (turning) the single letter abbreviation for O[ld] & for P[age] then append the German for ‘and’.
4a New easel isn’t necessary (9)
ESSENTIAL: an anagram of EASEL ISN’T.
9a At the very place where teenager’s ointment might be applied? (2,3,4)
ON THE SPOT: a reference to the facial affliction suffered by teenagers.
10a Children’s first hint of being cross (5)
BROOD: the initial letter of B[eing] (first hint of) + cross/crucifix.
11a Bring in European stone for grave (7)
EARNEST: bring in/bank + E[uropean] + the two letter abbreviation for ST[one] (imperial weight).
12a Press announcement about student comfort (7)
RELEASE: the usual preposition for about/in respect of + student/L[earner] + a synonym for comfort/simplicity.
13a Sweep’s friend admitting note’s snobbish (6)
SNOOTY: insert (admitting) the single letter for N[ote] into the glove puppet’s buddy.
15a Considering boss annoying? Not half! (8)
STUDYING: the context of boss here is the term for something on the centre of a shield for example then append 50% (not half) of [anno]YING.
18a Guards small doorways (8)
SENTRIES: S[mall] + doorways/access points.
20a Church wrath reduced contents of collection? (6)
CHANGE: CH[urch] + an abridged (reduced) synonym for wrath.
23a Reaches a river moving south (7)
ARRIVES: an anagram (moving) of A RIVER then append S[outh].
24a Is copper enthralled by little cookie? (7)
BISCUIT: insert (enthralled by) IS from the clue + the chemical element symbol for copper into a synonym for little/portion of.
26a Hate Arab horses to some extent (5)
ABHOR: hidden (to some extent).
27a Eager aunt’s naughty word (9)
GUARANTEE: an anagram (naughty) of EAGER AUNT.
28a Edges regularly smoothed down (9)
DEPRESSED: the even letters (regularly) of e[D]g[E]s + smoothed/ironed.
29a Doctor requests no black sediment at the bottom of the liquid (5)
DREGS: the usual abbreviation for doctor followed by a synonym for requests/implores less its initial letter (no B[lack]).
Down
1d Declares methods fine for Conservative (9)
PROFESSES: find a synonym for methods containing the single letter for C[onservative] & replace it with the one for F[ine].
2d Perfect mouth (5)
UTTER: straightforward double definition.
3d River menace? Most bass (7)
DEEPEST: pick a river – there are actually 4 of these so named in the UK, the main two being in North Wales & Cheshire and in Aberdeenshire. Append a synonym for menace/nuisance.
4d Former lover playfully knocks those who have moved abroad (6)
EXPATS: the usual prefix for ‘former’ + a verb synonyms playfully knocks/makes gentle contact with.
5d Overwhelm us with a treat, possibly (8)
SATURATE: an anagram (possibly) of US A TREAT.
6d Part of pen top in bank was first bitten gently (7)
NIBBLED: the writing point of the pen + B[ank] (top of) + was first/ahead of.
7d Seclusion is over? Joy follows, though not at first (9)
ISOLATION: IS from the clue + the cricket abbreviation for O[ver] + a synonym for joy/euphoria without its initial letter (not at first).
8d Large spoon some held almost upside down (5)
LADLE: hidden in reverse (some/upside down).
14d Whisper no novel title (9)
OWNERSHIP: an anagram (novel) of WHISPER NO.
16d Sergeant’s unusual distinction (9)
GREATNESS: another anagram (unusual) of GREATNESS.
17d This man finally reads wise man’s emails? (8)
MESSAGES: a personal pronoun for ‘this writer’ + [read]S (finally) then a term for wise men/savants.
19d Disallow rude, vacuous poetry (7)
REVERSE: R[ud]E (vacuous) + poetry/non prose.
21d Old man’s script found in American book? On the contrary (7)
HUSBAND: on the contrary tells the solver that it’s the two letter abbreviation for American + the single letter for B[ook] that needs to be inserted (found in) within a synonym for script/writing.
22d A committee on a boat? (6)
ABOARD: A from the clue + committee/panel.
23d Conflict after a daughter gets prize (5)
AWARD: conflict/armed struggle preceded by (after) A from the clue & followed by the genealogical single letter for D[aughter].
25d University collection of books that is free (5)
UNTIE: U[niversity] + a biblical set of books + the abbreviation for that is.
Please let us know which clues you liked best.
Today’s Quick Crossword pun: USE + TUN + ROWED = EUSTON ROAD
This morning’s listening while preparing the blog has been the debut album from Back Door Slam. Here’s a great track from it.
Another fairly gentle offering to start the week. Most of the across solutions went in straight away and with the resulting checkers, the downs followed in quick succession. The SE was the final hurdle with 20a, 29a and 21d being last to crack and a consequence I’ll nominate them for my podium.
Many thanks to AP and Huntsman
1.5*/3*
a gentle puzzle today.
Top picks for me were 29a, 13a, 3d and 21d.
thanks to Huntsman and the setter.
Another in a long line of well-clued, thoughtful Tuesday puzzles that we have come to expect. They are never particularly difficult, but they are consistently enjoyable and fun to solve. I had plenty of choices for a favourite, but I went for 29a.
My thanks to AP and The Hintsman.
A gentle, very enjoyable puzzle with a number of excellent clues. I am not familiar with the author at 1a but the clue was perfect. My clues of the day both come from my final resting place, the SE corner, where 21d and 24a both gave me a smile.
Many thanks to the setter and Huntsman
Very enjoyable. Cotd is 13a as it raised the biggest smile. Thanks to AP and Huntsman.
Gentle puzzle today. For me too the last two in were 20a and 21d. I nominate 3d for COTD. Thanks to the setter and for the hints.
1*/4*. TT with our regular Tuesday setter at the top of his game.
Some great surfaces to enjoy along with immaculate clueing. My top picks of many ticked clues were 12a, 13a,18a, 22a & 1d.
Many thanks to AP and to Hintsman.
Last in 1d ? I think the answer should read processes , although the explanation is correct . Another gentle run out but lots of fun along the way .9a and 10a my two picks.Thanks to all .
The answer is ‘professes’ as the clue tells us that F(ine) replaces (for) C(onservative).
Hi Gazza, I agree with you. The hint has it round the other way.
Also agree, the hint has the substitution the wrong way around. Let’s drag the Hintsman off the golf course!!!!!!
Heno, long time no “see”. Good to have you back. Do keep on commenting.
Thanks to our very consistent setter for another top puzzle and thanks to Huntsman for the review.
I could pick almost any of the clues for my podium but I’ll go with 10a, 11a and 21d.
Another relatively easy crossword */*** which I found really enjoyable. COTD is 13d – childhood memories of Sooty, Sweep and Sue with Harry Corbett! Think his son Matthew took over later. A good variety of clues. Thanks to Huntsman and AP.
Whilst I did need the hints to fully understand the obvious answers to 20a and 1d for which I thank Huntsman I do agree with his rating. Great fun. I think the setters should pile more fun at Trump though! Thank you setter for a nice guzzle.
Nice gentle but not too gentle puzzle thank you setter and Huntsman. PS In the hint for 1a ‘…by German and American writer’ the solution UND is clued as the German for AND (not BY)
Funny the things you remember from school. In my day we had lots of mnemonics which I remember, but don’t remember why I had to remember them. 1a brought to mind aus, bei, mit, nacht, zeit, von, zu, gegenuber. Does anyone know what they did ? Not that I’m going to use it any time soon!
Hi, Daisygirl. Those German prepositions are listed in the same order in this BBC revision guide, which suggests singing them to the tune of Good King Wenceslas — good recall!
From that, it looks like they need to be remembered as those for which the following noun needs to be in the dative case, a concept which our 13-year-old has patiently explained to me multiple times but I forget shortly afterwards. I’ll ask later if they know this list, or indeed can sing it!
Once again a good example to aspiring setters of how a straightforward puzzle can check all the boxes: precision, clear instructions, reasonably short clues, humour, and it prints to a single page. Other than slightly fewer anagrams, for what more could one ask?
Honours to 10a, 24a & 21d. Many thanks to the setter and to Huntsman.
Busy day so grateful for a straightforward solve that gave a lot to smile about. 13 across will be difficult for those who cannot reference Sweep. Looking back on the past, 9 across held memories as well so give that podium position. Always enjoy AP’s puzzles and thanks to Huntsman
Most definitely Typically Tuesdayish – 1.5*/4.5*
Candidates for favourite – 1a, 9a, 15a, 21d, and 23d – and the winner is 1a.
Thanks to Mr Plumb and Huntsman.
1a. As well as the P O, you need the German for AND not BY.
* / ****
A very gentle but superbly clued Tuesday offering. I agree with Mustafa G at post #13 entirely. But now, does anyone have a sword and can they send it to me to fall on!!! I just didn’t think and wrote in the wrong answer to 1d so technically it’s a DNF. I’m not changing the difficulty rating but I’ll give myself 5* for stupidity.
My favourites were the 21d Old man, the 13a memory of Sweep’s friend (ideally in terms of how much noise he made – not Sweep!) and the nasty memory of the subjects of 9a!
Many thanks to Huntsman and AP
Certainly milder than yesterday’s puzzle.
Back Door Slam. New one on me; I’ll try them out. More Pink Floyd today – Obscured by Clouds 🎸
Oh dear – concentration leaves something to be desired. I’m already on a 1st written warning for incompetence 😀 Will amend later.
NTS fully aware of the correct parse for both.
On the plus side the golf after 5 holes going better than usual
Great Tuesday fare, neat clues and just enough pressure on the brain for this stage of the week. Second time we have had the Rood/cross in a few days, must be the Easter influence. 1d is interesting – declares = professes but methods = processes so which is the indicator? I’m a bit dense so just as well I am not competing for the one or I would be chewing my nails. Many thanks to our Setter and our man on The Links. (Is there a difference between golf course and golf links?).
I meant to say competing for the pen!
No real difference between course and links although links more usually refers to a seaside course based on a definition of link, sourced from Old English, as ‘gently undulating ground along a seashore’. Straight from the BRB, a good job that TDS is incommunicado out of the country!
Relatively straightforward.
I hadn’t heard of the writer at 1a but the “instruction” was clear.
1d was a bung in when all check letters were in place. I needed Huntsman hint to decipher wordplay.
Cotd 13a … hey ho .. etc! I used to watch the original with Harry Corbet (?) as a child and then the revival with my own kids. We never did get them a “Sooty Van”. Bullet dodged I think!
Thanks to setter and Huntsman
Another week with a Typical Tuesday puzzle for me again this week.
2*/4*
Favourites 9a, 13a, 3d, 4d & 6d — with co-winners 9a & 13a
Smiles for the winners as well as 22d
Thanks to AP & Huntsman
A very enjoyable puzzle which had the added bonus of giving me some extra time this afternoon to catch up-on what didn’t get done yesterday. The reason being I spent too long unable to complete almost half of yesterday’s offering. I must confess to not being sure whether to put ‘c’ or ‘f’ in 1d, so pleased to read the comments at 8. Lovely to see Sweep’s friend Sooty make an appearance. How I loved that programme. Now we just need a setter to give us clue for ‘Muffin the Mule’! For nostalgic reasons COTD 13a. Many thanks to Mr Plumb and to Huntsman. Huntsman, how you manage finding the time to do the Blog and insert so many videos before dashing to the golf course I do not know!
Thanks to AP and Huntsman. Easy quick solve, about right for a Tuesday. COTD 1a. LOI 15a. Dull day here in Devon. Birds are busy on the feeders while a rabbit hops around underneath. Very bucolic.
I think you mean the German for “And” rather than “by” (1 across)
Late on parade because of a resurgence of the chest infection. It’s come back with a vengeance and I’m so breathless I can’t walk more than fifty yards. Went for a chest X-Ray and am on antibiotics again. Still, others are far worse than I.
What a great puzzle from the professor! Not as easy as it first appeared but enjoyable all the way through. Like others, it was great to be reminded of a favourite puppet at 13a but I wonder if our friends across The Pond know of him. The writer at 1a caused me no problems because I remember him from a magazine I used to subscribe to. Difficult to pick a top clue but I will go for the annoying boss at 15a.
Thank you, Professor Plumb in the Library for a most enjoyable solve. Just right for my addled brain. Thank you, Hintsman for the hunts.
Sorry to hear that you are have such a bad time with the chest infection Steve. I just wanted to tell you that tomorrow is our Guy’s reunion. We have met up every year since 1969 . You may remember Andy Brown who was a resident house surgeon about your time and of course Steve Challacombe will be there. We must have passed each other so many times in the Colonade. Hope you don’t mind my using this platform but just wanted to make the contact and to wish you well.
I used to attend the clinical day in March but all my friends from Guy’s no longer go so I gave up. I do recall Andy and, of course Steve Challacombe loomed large then and does now. I meet up twice a year with my close friends for Guys and I am hoping to meet up with them later this month. Thank you for your good wishes.
I do hope you soon feel better.
Oh dear Steve, it’s a bad one, I do feel for you, think I’m finally on the mend.
Pleased to hear you are getting better, Manders. I was feeling better but I crashed this morning.
Thank you, MTF. 👍
Oh dear, feel better soon Steve. I wonder if they changed your antiobiotics, sometimes it takes a while to get the right formula.
They have, BL and I have been given a seven day course. If I’m not better by a significant margin within three days, I have to go straight back to my GP.
That took slightly longer than it should have done, perhaps because my brain was numbed by spending two and a half hours this morning in a meeting connected with some new voluntary work. I’d probably have walked out after an hour if it had been my old job but that might have seemed excessively rude in the circumstances. Anyway, I’m going to award COTD to 13a, not least because it sent me down a rabbit hole which resulted in me learning such facts as Harry Corbett being the nephew of famous fish and chip man Harry Ramsden. Thanks very much to the setter and to Huntsman.
Well that little nugget has brightened my day a little 🙂 🍟
Thanks for that. Was once driven 60 miles to a Harry Ramsden’s for fish and trips. A dour Yorkshire man in the back seat was not amused 😊.
He wouldn’t be. “Tha can get land ant sea anywhere, tha nows!”
For me it has to be The Magpie in Whitby.
An excellent Tuesday puzzle, just right in my opinion. 13a was my favourite.
Many thanks to the setter and to Huntsman for the hints.
An enjoyable and gentle solve for a cold and rainy Tuesday. Thanks to setter and Huntsman.
UND is German for ‘and’ not ‘by’.
Thanks to our setter and to Huntsman. I thought I was going to struggle with getting my head round this, but despite a bit of initial bemusement, it went in easily enough. 1d was the standout for me.
A snappy solve indeed, I came back to a few in the north, checkers presented no further issues. I read the clues again after, to enjoy them more thoroughly.
Pody picks are 13A’s boisterous puppet – a pleasure to see him in the pics as much as Mott the Hoople or Ray Charles, 19D’s brevity (even as an anagram) and 11A’s Lego, my LOI.
Typically Tuesday thanks to AP and Huntsman ⭐️
1d is methods=processes, and then substitute f (fine) for c (conservative) to get professes=declares
Yes, a gentle and enjoyable puzzle. Now with regard to 6d of the Quickie and at the risk of bringing down a firestorm on my own head, I must point out that “woman” and “lady” are not synonymous. Not all women are ladies.
Very pleased to find this very friendly crossword waiting for me, having had to forgo breakfast this morning because of a scheduled 11am CT Angiogram. Tuesdays is rapidly becoming my favorite puzzle day. I too enjoyed the nostalgic 13a, and especially the picture. I still have my Sooty and Sweep hand puppets all these years later. Thanks very much for Mr Plumb and Huntsman.
Back home after a great game of golf with good weather & company. A few jars then fish UND chips (the fish was BY the chips) in a rather nice restaurant in Barnet.
Hints amended. Must resolve to proof read what I’ve written before pressing publish.
Steve, hope that you’re feeling better soon.
The usual old guys football this morning and a hard fought 0-0 it turned out to be. Feeling as stiff as a board this evening. Worked at the puzzle on and off throughout the afternoon and evening and a much kinder offering than yesterday. Finished without the need for any external reference and, for me, in a respectable time. The American author at 1a and the zit application at 9a were my favourites.
Thank you to the setter and to Huntsman for the hints.
1*/3.5* I think It’s all been said already, a gentle and very enjoyable solve.
Favourite 24a cookie
I must be the only one who found the 13a puppet irritating!
Thanks to setter and Huntsman
I made harder work of this than I should have and nodded off half way through, not bored but an involuntary post prandial forty winks. Oh dear that’s age for you. On awakening i finished with almost indecent haste. Favourite was 9a. Thanks to AP and Huntsman.
2*/4* …
liked 24A “Is copper enthralled by little cookie? (7)”