Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31214
Hints and Tips by Deansleigh
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BD Rating – Difficulty **/*** Enjoyment ****
Good morning everyone, and welcome to the midweek back-pager blog. I found today’s puzzle to have just the right level of difficulty for a Wednesday workout, and the perfect antidote to a miserable morning here on the South Coast of England. There were a couple of words that were new to me, and a reasonable amount of general knowledge is required, but but everything is fairly clued. I had ticks all over the page, but amongst my favourites are 1a, 24a, 1d, 8d, 16d and 18d, with first prize going to the stranded passenger in 17a. Many thanks to our 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 Spooner said to cycle past the Savoy, as conductor might? (6,2,3,4)
STRIKE UP THE BAND: This description of how a conductor might get an orchestra to start playing is also how the Reverend Spooner might ask someone to ride their bicycle along the London thoroughfare in which the Savoy hotel is located.
9a Young actors like empty city (9)
NEWCASTLE: A synonym for ‘young’ (when describing wine, for example) is followed by a word for a company of actors and the outer letters (empty) of ‘like’.
10a Artefact Shiloh priest introduced to Roman Catholic (5)
RELIC: The name of the biblical High Priest of Shiloh is inserted into (introduced to) the abbreviation for Roman Catholic.
11a Falling asleep when showing approval (7)
NODDING: This visible method of indicating agreement can also describe someone who is falling asleep.
12a Egghead undressed wife, a colourful display! (7)
RAINBOW: An informal term for someone who is extremely clever loses its first and last letters (undressed) and is followed by the abbreviation for ‘wife’.
13a Garden implement regularly seen in 5 Down (3)
HOE: The alternate letters (regularly seen) of the answer to 5d.
14a Chopping tool requires right, not hard, mechanical device (7)
RATCHET: Take another word for a small axe, and replace the letter H (hard) with the letter R (right).
17a Olive might get stuck in this westbound tram in Italy (7)
MARTINI: Reverse the word ‘tram’ (westbound, in an across clue) and follow this with IN from the clue and the international vehicle registration code for Italy.
19a Uneasy, Alan discharged ten debts (7)
ANXIOUS: The outer letters (discharged) of ‘Alan’ are followed by the Roman numeral for ten and a term for written acknowledgements of debts.
22a Cunning Comet finally got behind Santa’s conveyance (7)
SLEIGHT: The last letter (finally) of ‘Comet’ goes after Santa’s reindeer-powered mode of transport.
24a Cut times sitting in casualty dept? (3)
AXE: The mathematical symbol for ‘multiplied by’ (times) is placed inside the abbreviation for Accident and Emergency.
25a Make ton (7)
FASHION: A double definition. I’d not come across this other sense of ‘ton‘ before – in Regency England it was used to mean high society, style, or in vogue.
26a Put on trial retired US soldier held in Scottish isle (7)
ARRAIGN: An informal term for a soldier in the US army is reversed (retired) and placed inside the name of an island situated off the west coast of Scotland.
28a Muslim Council in Istanbul e-mailed (5)
ULEMA: A lurker, hidden in the last two words of the clue. This word for a body of Islamic scholars and expounders of the law was new to me.
29a Environment specialist building igloos etc (9)
ECOLOGIST: An anagram (building) of IGLOOS ETC.
30a Brew hot tea in kitchen, swallow it (4,2,2,3,4)
TAKE IT ON THE CHIN: An anagram (brew) of HOT TEA IN KITCHEN. ‘Swallow’ here means to accept a difficult situation.
Down Clues
1d Small, fresh, natural and safe shakes from here in the US (3,7,5)
SAN ANDREAS FAULT: The abbreviation for ‘small’ is followed by an anagram (fresh) of NATURAL AND SAFE.
2d Shoved one’s oar in and had an argument (5)
ROWED: A heteronymic double definition. The first one is a cryptic way of writing ‘took part in an activity requiring oars’.
3d Fraudulent, like Jack? (7)
KNAVISH: The answer could be a way of comparing something to (another word for) a Jack in a pack of playing cards.
4d Tense, excited, having had a few (7)
UPTIGHT: A word that can mean ‘in an excited state’ is followed by an informal word for ‘drunk’.
5d Demonstrable principle covered by Goethe or Emerson (7)
THEOREM: A lurker, ‘covered by’ the last three words of the clue.
6d Former noble that is king (7)
EARLIER: A term for a British nobleman is followed by the abbreviation for ‘that is’ and the abbreviation for Rex (king).
7d Speaking spontaneously about bin bag lid? (2-7)
AD-LIBBING: An anagram (about) of BIN BAG LID.
8d Lad with cat, little Richard, opener for Worcester, making century (4,11)
DICK WHITTINGTON: A nickname for Richard is followed by the first letter (opener) of ‘Worcester’ and (split 7, 3) an informal way of saying ‘scoring 100 runs’ in cricket.
15d Kept Texas working, tbh, LOL? (9)
TEXTSPEAK: This informal way of writing SMS messages, of which the last two words are an example, is an anagram (working) of KEPT TEXAS.
16d Bird formerly seen around Hull? (3)
EMU: This flightless Australian bird was also the name of the puppet that was the sidekick of a British comedian from the 1970s and 1980s.
18d One boring everybody by the sound of it (3)
AWL: A homophone (by the sound of it) of a synonym for ‘everybody’.
20d Old Baltic city mass independent paper folding (7)
ORIGAMI: The abbreviation for ‘old’ is followed by the capital city of one of the Baltic states, the abbreviation for ‘mass’ and the abbreviation for ‘independent’.
21d A sermon broadcast somewhere on the Med (3,4)
SAN REMO: An anagram (broadcast) of A SERMON. This Italian seaside resort can also be spelled as a single word.
22d Marine mammal almost left on board in Dover? (7)
SEAPORT: A marine mammal loses its final letter (almost) and is followed by the nautical (on board) word for ‘left’.
23d Each part fitted with tip of heavy lug (3-4)
EAR-HOLE: The abbreviation for ‘each’ is followed by a word for a part played by an actor, into which the first letter (tip, in a down clue) of ‘heavy’ has been inserted.
27d “Whiskey, Ms Murdoch?” as Connery said (5)
IRISH: The ‘e’ in the definition is the clue to the country of origin of this spirit, which could also be the way that Sean Connery, with his distinctive accent, would have pronounced the first name of a famous novelist.
Which clues did you like best? Please let us know in the comments section below.
The Quick Crossword pun: KEEN + OATS + PEACH = KEYNOTE SPEECH
Wednesdays are my favourite crosswording day, and this puzzle lived up to those high expectations. Highlights included Spooner at 1a, the 12a egghead, being like Jack at 3d, the 8d century making, and Hull in 16d. A great Quickie pun, too. Thank you to Hudson (who has claimed it) for the entertainment, and Deansleigh for being there as a safety net.
PS: Deansleigh, that “other” meaning of ‘ton’ is in Big Dave’s The Usual Suspects — though it’s more commonly encountered the other way round, where 25a appears in the clue to indicate inserting the letters T-O-N in the answer. I don’t think I’ve seen it used outside of crosswords.
I seem to think it was used fairly recently. Any teenager reader of Georgette Heyer would be very au fait with ton/ fashion!
What a cracker! Thanks compiler for producing one for us “ mid ability” crossworders. I expect it will be described as a.” read and write.” offering for the speedsters, but today it’s our turn to be entertained magnificently. Even the Spoonerism was a little gem!
I found the grid a bit unfriendly and it was hard to get a start but, once I’d got a foothold, it didn’t take long to get going. My joint COTD’s were the geographical anagram at 1d Nd the Spoonerism at 1a. Id never heard of a 28a or the term at 25d. Rhe 2a lego clue was very clever too. Thabks to the compiler and to Deansleigh for the hints
The usual Wednesday crossword with much to enjoy including the Spoonerism which for once was a cracker and has to be my CoTD. Thanks to Hudson and Deansleigh for the enjoyment.
After the past 2 days of relative ease this bought me down to earth. The E went in without too much difficulty, but 1a and 1d kept me guessing for quite a while, until the Spoonerism cracked; what brilliant wordplay! 1d then fell permitting the remainder to tipple. The Muslim council is a new word for me
Podium places for 1a, 30a and my COTD is the naked egghead at 12a.
Thanks to the setter and Deansleigh with the sun just breaking through here in NW Hampshire.
2.5*/3.5*
After a quiet few weeks, the committee were delighted to be called together to consider 28A for The List. I’m pleased to report that it was voted in without even a murmur of dissent. The janitors are already creating a display area for it, between cheongsam and odalisque. May its presence bring much joy to visitors.
*Note – due to restrictions related to his ankle tag, Colonel Bagshot is only able to give guided tours on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
A thousand cheers for Hudson, and an enormous hooray for Single Head.
Just love your comments, always make me LOL, aka 15d!!
An absolute corker kicking off with the spoonerism at 1a and continuing with verve and wit right to the end. A total joy. Loved 27d and 8d as well but the spoonerism has to get top billing. Thanks to Hudson and Deansleigh.
Another cracker from Hudson. Ticks all over the shop – 1,10&17a + 1,8&16d particular likes. Tough to pick a winner but the opening Spoonerism gets the nod in part because it prompted a You Tube visit to watch the terrific closing scene of The Long Good Friday, which starts from outside of The Savoy – Bob & young future James Bond, no dialogue needed as the facial expressions say it all & a belting soundtrack.
Thanks to Hudson & to Deansleigh
A great film and a good prompt to watch it again. It’s interesting also as a document of a very different London in the not so distant past.
Interesting to read it was the first scene filmed which makes you realise what a great actor Hoskins was. I’m going to rewatch it too.
Much more difficult for me today but what a super puzzle, so it’s ***/*****. Loved the clues and the misdirection, which had me going down various dead ends! Favourite was 15d, although I had not heard it called that. Will have to drop it into the conversation with the grandchildren! !a was one of my last in as I seem to be incapable of solving Spoonerisms, but it suddenly clicked just as I was finishing. Like others I had never heard of fashion meaning ton but the BRB confirmed it. Will have to look through Big Dave’s usual suspects again (thanks Smylers). Thanks to Hudson for a terrific puzzle and to Deansleigh for the hints, which I love reading.
Thanks to setter for this gentle puzzle.
A very streaky point up in Yorkshire inches us towards a return to the second tier.
I’m letting Mrs Google select the tunes today 🎸
Great puzzle today. Steady paced solve until I was held up at 1d. I stared myself blind on it being “sun something fruit”, until the infamous penny finally dropped. That’ll teach me not to fill in words prematurely. So, 1d will have to fight it out with 1a and 16d for top spot. Many thanks to the setter and the hints.
Possibly the most enjoyment I’ve got from a crossword for quite some time with many a chortle along the way. Like others, I thought 1a was superb (though I am a fan of the good doctor) and I particularly enjoyed Ms Murdoch at 27d too. I was in any case in good humour having devised a decent looking circular walk from St Albans using the OS Maps app, which really is excellent and user friendly. Mind you, as always when mastering tech, I wonder if I’m a bit like a hereditary peer I met many years ago who spent a fair chunk of a meeting telling attendees of his delight at entering a petrol station (something he normally left to his chauffeur) and discovering that they sold all manner of things other than fuel, including digital watches. Anyway, many thanks to Hudson and to Deansleigh.
I thought this a very good puzzle, until I checked the hints.
I’d bunged in ail at 19d .. it works (sort of as an all in one 🤔) and ear lobe at 23d but couldn’t parse it. I now know why!
25a never heard of that as ton. I’ve read the “Usual Suspects” but can’t retain them all.
I also plead ignorance to 28a
Last in 3d
Cotd Rev Spooner at 1a … cos I worked it out and made me smile.
Thanks to setter and DL for the hints.
A highly entertaining puzzle with excellent clues of all varieties, it is impossible to pick one favourite but ai was proud of getting the spooner. I did not know 28a.
Many thanks to Hudson and to Deansleigh for the hints
I was expecting to say a very straightforward puzzle but got caught out by two clues, 3d and 25a, so had to resort to the hints. That said, I had made a mistake on 25a.
Enjoyed 1a, not normally a fan of Spoonerisms, but that brought a smile, so it becomes my COTD.
Thank you to the setter and to Deansleigh for the hints.
That was fun! 1.5*/4.5*
Candidates for favourite – 1a, 12a, 16d, and 23d – and the winner is 1a.
Thanks to Hudson and Deansleigh.
Super puzzle, as other have said. Cracking surfaces and so much humour. At first thought it might be from Twm (the excellent Spoonerism) but inclined towards Hudson as progress was made. The Muslim Council was vaguely familiar but so fairly clued (and checked) that I was happy not to seek confirmation elsewhere; for about 100 years now the Italian town is more properly just a single word; had forgotten the ton usage – as has been said more often used in an answer than a clue.
Honours to 1a, 9a and 3d. Many, many thanks to Hudson (or to whomever if not he) and to Deansleigh for the great blog.
At first glance I thought this was going to be a struggle but once the outside four went in the rest fell like dominoes. The layout of this grid appeals to my sense of order for some reason. 28a was new to me but my favourite was the Spooner at 1a. Thanks to Deansleigh (religious leader preceding 22a with time off) and setter.
** / ****
A great mid-week workout just straying into 2* difficulty. Had to move to a double ticking regime again due to so many great clues. The double ticks went to the 8d Lad with cat, the 1d Shaky place (above which I worked for a while) and COTD of course to Dr. Spooner in1a. Perhaps the best of the Doctor’s sayings for quite a while.
Thanks to She Aligned for explaining 25a; like most, it’s too long since I read the usual suspects.
Many thanks to Hudson and She Aligned.
A very entertaining puzzle – thanks to Hudson and Deansleigh.
I particularly liked 9a, 12a, 22d (and the Quickie Pun) but my clear favourite was 1a.
I hadn’t heard of that meaning for ‘ton’ until watching the Netflix series Bridgerton recently where it is used liberally to describe high society.
An absolute belter, full of great clues and humour. I loved all of the long ‘uns with 1a, a perfect example of a spoonerism, being my COTD.
I am not sure that Connery, a proud Scotsman would have offered Ms Murdoch that particular Whiskey as suggested in 27d. My father, having been a carpenter helped with 18d, spotting the intended use of ‘times’ in 24a and having a wife who had read a Bridgerton novel so enabling me to parse 25a, collectively meant I did not get caught out by any of the three letter traps.
Thank you to the setter for what for me was a perfect puzzle and Deansleigh for the hints.
1*/4* I whizzed through this but it was a thoroughly enjoyable whizz.
Favourites include 1d shaky place, 8d lad with cat and it has to be the city at 9a
Many thanks to Hudson and Deansleigh
What a delightful puzzle with only the Muslim Council needing checking. I knew the ton from my teenage years reading the likes of Barbara Cartland.
Top picks for me were 1d, 1a, 8d, 17a and 12a.
Thanks to Deansleigh and Hudson.
Yes Madflower, and Georgette Heyer. Very racy reading in my youth, heaving bosoms and so on. Lovely guzzle, raced round the edges and savoured all the anagrams. Right up my strasse. I don’t think I would care to bike up the Strand these days, a first class Spoonerism wasn’t it? Many thanks to the Clever Setter and the Helpful Hinter.
I’ve lost count of the clues that have come to mind becuse i read Georgette Heyer. Names of carriages, types of horse, the Vauxhall Gardens, types of fabric, thieves’ alang, you name it, her attention ro historical accuracy was impeccable,, Daisy. I might start rereading them now!
A super puzzle as lots have already said. Never knew the word in that ton meant 25a – can anyone give me an example of hiw its used in a sentence – Im going to try to sneak it into conversation!
Loved 1a but my favourite was 16d which made me (in the spirit of next doors 15d) LOL.
Thank you setter and to Deansleigh for confirming 25a
The ton were the cream of high society during the regency era.
‘Her father’s connection to the king made her a valued member of the ton’
Thanks G, not sure that in this instance it is interchangeable with 25a. I apreciate you demonstrating the use of ‘ton’ in a sentence.
A fun puzzle today. A little trickier than the first two puzzles of the week, but still enjoyable.
Some good clues in this today and some smiles too.
2.5*/4* for me
Favourites 1a, 22a, 29a, 30a, 1d & 8d — with winner 1a
Thanks to Hudson & Deansleigh
Another lovely puzzle today although I had to check a couple of my answers – every day is a school day though. Having finally thrown off the lurgy, something pinged in my back while I was cleaning the bath yesterday and its really awful but manging to see my lovely physio friend tomorrow so hopefully will be sorted. I usually stand in the bath but this time I leant over it with disastrous results – I even heard the ping!! Anyway, thanks to the setter and Deansleigh. Btw, I know the Saturday Prize Puzzle winners are printed on Monday week in the paper, but when do the Sunday Prize Puzzle winners appear? Just in case I missed spotting my name for the mythical.
Along with everybody else I found this very enjoyable and enjoyed it immensely.IThe fact that it was over with very quickly was my only complaint.I wanted more but will have to settle for the toughie .30 my pick today followed by 12a and 23d . Didn’t know 28a , enjoyed the Spooner clue which was a notch up from most of this type of clue ( I’m not usually a fan )in my humble opinion . Thanks to all .
It is concerning that Steve has not been seen today, as we know he was feeling rather unwell. If you see this Steve I hope you are ok and if not that you are getting access to speedy treatment.
Yes. Seconded.
I’m a bit worried we haven’t heard from Steve today
Thank you all but I haven’t commented because we’ve experienced a six hour power cut. Only just had it restored.
Great puzzle but I was not feeling the Mae West this morning so I didn’t finish until about one o’clock, which is when the power went off. My COTD goes against the grain a bit because I’ve gone for the lad with the cat at 8d. The village where said lad came from is a few miles up the road.
Thank you, Hudson for the puzzle. Thank you, Deansleigh for the hints.
What a relief, all is now right with the blog!
Phew, good to have you back!
Late (for me) today, but never too late to thank Hudson for a terrific puzzle and Deansleigh for his usual excellent blog. My clear winner was the very good Spoonerism at 1a.
2.5*/4*. A fine midweek puzzle which was a pleasure to solve with 1a my favourite of many ticked clues. I’ve never heard of 28a but it was sympathetically clued.
Many thanks to the setter and to Deansleigh.
As others have said this was a super puzzle that I didn’t find too bad , but it was a notch up from the last couple. I loved the spoonerism at 1a – my heart always sinks when I see them but with checkers in place and a bit of thought it came to me in a flash. Ton was a new word for me too , and the Muslim council term. Lots of good words used in this one actually. I do like the term knavish although never used it. Thanks to Hudson and Deansleigh.
As quick as it was enjoyable.
Thank you to the setter, more please!
An enjoyable puzzle, though initially, my heart sank when I saw the Spoonerism. I was surprised at getting it so quickly but waited until I had all the checking letters just to be sure! Having said that I will make it my COTD! I wasn’t familiar with the term at 25a but it couldn’t have been anything else. LOI 1d as was certain the first word was going to be sun. Liked 8d and the anagram at 30a. Many thanks to the setter and Deansleigh.
Lovely puzzle with many chuckles, completed in 2* time but 5* enjoyment. Have to confess to have struggled with 1A and had to seek electronic help but had been too diverted thinking it was to do with cabbages. But what a superb spoonerism! Now to the toughie, which is always an unknown, some days easy, some days well beyond my level.
Superb entertainment from Rob. COTD has to be 1A, but 1D ran it close. VMT also to Deansleigh
What a splendid crossword, did this one while on train home from Brighton. I was impressed by many clues, even though it was a pretty swift solve without the kind of reward that head scratching often brings 🤯🏅
Pody picks – almost the same as Croye Dave (5), agreeing on the funny 12A wife (COTD), and 30A’s great surface, definition and anagram, and finally 3D as I like the word and the clue’s brevity.
Thanks to Hudson for an enjoyable and impressive grid, and to Deansleigh. ⭐️
That was a very fine crossword indeed. I used to detest Spoonerisms but there have been some belters recently and 1a was one of the best. Too many good clues to pick a favourite.
Thanks to Hudson for the fun and Deansleigh for the blog.
Loved this crossword. Having spent 7 years in California, 1d got me off to a flying start. 1a and 16d were brilliant. Many thanks and much respect to Hudson and Deansleigh.
I think I came across ton many moons ago in a toughie, never heard of 28a but fairly clued needed the hint to parse 16d very droll once pointed out. I hate 15d with a vengeance, I had to look up what tbh stood for thinking it was relavent. When people use those abbreviations and things like ‘U’ or ‘R’ in texts to me my hackles start to rise, they’re only 3 letter words for goodness sake, you’re not paying for it by the letter its free. Move with the times, adapt, get up to date I hear you say. Well no I won’t, it’s just an excuse for idleness, a descent into slovenlyness. I have my standards u c. 😁 Add me to the list of favourite being the Spoonerism. Thanks to Hudson and DL.
I totally agree with you, TG!
👍🏻
Another fun day in crossword land. Only stumped by 25a (having read Heyer – and never a fan of the genre anyway) and 3d. Had to tackle this one before and after the dentist this afternoon, but really glad I picked it up gain. Thanks to Hudson and Deansleigh.
Late to comment but this was excellent
2*/5*
The spoonerism was COTD but so many in contention. 8d ran it close for the parsing of century.
28a new but not too tricky once a few checkers in place.
Thanks to Hudson and Deansleigh
2*/4* …
liked 24A “Cut times sitting in casualty dept ? (3)”