DT 31211 (Full Review)

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31211

A full review by Rahmat Ali

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This puzzle was published on 11^th April 2026

BD Rating – Difficulty * – Enjoyment *****

Greetings from Kolkata. A pretty straightforward Saturday puzzle from Twmbarlwm that I enjoyed solving and thereafter writing a review of the same for your kind perusal and significant feedback.

AYE AYE, the answer to the clue at 5d, was an interesting one. While I was aware of ‘roger’, I felt the urge to know more about it and so, after solving the puzzle, I searched the internet and got to learn and update myself with a load of information. Both are similar in meaning such as “I understand” or “I will comply”, but they are used in different communication systems and contexts. While ‘aye aye’ is used mainly in naval or maritime communication, ‘roger’ is used in radio, aviation and military voice communication. While ‘aye aye’ means “I understand and I will obey the order”, ‘roger’ means “Message received and understood”. Since ‘roger’ does not mean agreement to act, but serves as only as an acknowledgement, ‘aye aye’ is stronger than ‘roger’ because it includes intent to comply. For example, “Secure the lines” to which the response comes “aye aye” denoting ‘understood and doing it’, whereas “Proceed to waypoint Bravo”, if the answer is “roger”, it denotes ‘I heard you’. Modern radio procedure often prefers ‘roger’ to mean ‘received’ and ‘wilco’ to denote ‘will comply’.

Please leave a comment telling us what you thought.

Across

1a           Not bothered about complex clue to “slanders” (7,4,4)
COULDN’T CARE LESS: The definition of an informal phrase used to express complete indifference or in other words, not bothered, worried or interested is reached from C (about) as the abbreviation for the Latin word circa meaning ‘about’ or ‘around’ followed by an anagram (complex) of CLUE TO “SLANDERS”

9a           Throw fishing-line – a small fish rejected (4,5)
CAST ASIDE: CAST (throw) as to throw something, especially to throw out a lure or bait at the end of a fishing-line followed by A from the clue, S (small) as an abbreviation for small and IDE (fish) as another name for orfe that is a silvery freshwater fish of the carp family, Idus idus, occurring in two colour varities, namely the silver orfe and the golden orfe takes to the definition of a verb in the past tense meaning disposed, discarded or rejected

10a         Sign acceptable in unfinished temporary shelter (5)
TOKEN: The definition of a sign, mark or something serving as an indication, proof or expression of something else is reached from OK (acceptable) as the colloquial adjective meaning satisfactory, adequate or acceptable placed inside (in) TEN[T] (temporary shelter) as a portable or temporary shelter of canvas, plastic or other waterproof material supported on poles and fastened to the ground by pegs and ropes that is without its last letter (unfinished)

11a         Play every second of soft Lionel Richie song (7)
OTHELLO: The definition of the play that is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare is reached from every second letter (every second) of [S]O[F]T followed by HELLO (Lionel Richie song) as the famous song of the American singer and songwriter Lionel Richie from his second solo album “Can’t slow down”

12a         Boats in variable current initially heading to shore (6)
YACHTS: The definition of sailing boats equipped for pleasure, cruising or racing is reached from Y (variable) as a variable, unknown or yet to be ascertained quantity or factor as used in mathematics, especially in algebra, AC (current) as the abbreviation for alternating current and the initial or first letters each of (initially) of H[EADING] T[O] S[HORE]

15a         “Dunce” is unexpectedly grand and charming (8)
SEDUCING: DUNCE IS from the clue subject to an anagram followed by G (grand) as a slangy shorthand for grand, a term used to mean a thousand dollars takes to the definition of an adjective meaning attractive, alluring, captivating or charming

16a         Small breed of dog – some escape kennels (4)
PEKE:   The definition of the colloquial short form of Pekinese or Pekingese, referring to a dwarf pug-dog of a breed brought from Peking is part of or hidden inside (some) [ESCA]PE KE[NNELS]

19a         Man possibly lives with revolutionary European student (4)
ISLE: The definition of an island or peninsula, especially a small one, an example of which is the Isle of Man, an island in the Irish Sea between Great Britain and Ireland and a self-governing British Crown Dependency with its own parliament and laws is arrived at from IS (lives) as the third person singular of the verb ‘to be’ denoting lives, for example, ‘he lives’ can mean ‘he is’ and (with) an anagram (revolutionary) of a combo of E (European) as the abbreviation for European as EU in European Union and L (student) as appearing in an L-plate denoting a learner driver i.e. a student learning how to drive vehicles

20a         Wrote music together (8)
COMPOSED: Double definition; the first being a verb in the past tense meaning wrote music or poetry and the second a colloquial adjective denoting together i.e. all put together, mentally balanced, well-organised or well-adjusted

23a         Stick present behind Bill (6)
ADHERE: The definition of a verb meaning to stick fast or stay attached to something is reached from HERE (present) as denoting present as used to answer a roll call preceded by or coming after (behind) AD (Bill) as an abbreviation for advertisement, an example of which is a bill i.e. an advertisement usually printed on a page or in a leaflet, intended for wide distribution

24a         Study gallery with pointed toothlike projections (7)
DENTATE: A charade of DEN (study) as a room, often secluded, in a house or apartment, designed to provide a quiet and informal atmosphere for conversation, reading, writing, academic work etc and TATE (gallery) as an institution that houses, in a network of four art galleries in the United Kingdom’s national collection of British art and international modern and contemporary art takes to the definition of an adjective denoting edged with pointed toothlike projections

26a         In Cornwall, see tourist slander menu for bistro last of all (5)
TRURO: The definition of the cathedral city, civil parish and administrative capital of Cornwall in southwest England is arrived at from each of the last or terminal letters of (last of all) [TOURIS]T [SLANDE]R [MEN]U [FO]R [BISTR]O

28a         The Salvation Army Uniform Trust’s inside reference book (9)
THESAURUS: THE from the clue followed by SA (Salvation Army) as the abbreviation for Salvation Army, U (Uniform) as the letter represented by Uniform in the NATO phonetic alphabet and the inner letters (inside) of [T]RUS[T] (Trust’s) takes to the definition of a reference book containing words, usually with their meanings

29a         Misinterpret what rookie taxi driver might do (4,3,5,3)
TAKE THE WRONG WAY: Double verbal definition; the second being the obvious response to what a rookie or inexperienced driver might do while taking their passengers to their destination that leads to the first meaning to misinterpret something, especially in such a way as to take offense at what is said or done

Down

1d           Froth on leaf tips rising, and nuts higher up (6-4)
CUCKOO-SPIT: The definition of a froth or sticky foamy substance found on plant stems, exuded by the young of certain insects like the froghoppers is got from a combo of TIPS from the clue seen in an upward direction (rising) as a reversal in the down clue and CUCKOO (nuts) as an adjective denoting irrational, foolish, crazy or nuts placed above it (higher up)

2d           Impromptu funny lunches, Dud entertaining Pete at last (11)
UNSCHEDULED: The definition of an adjective denoting not arranged or planned according to a programme or timetable, an example of which is impromptu i.e. prompted by the occasion rather than being planned in advance is reached from an anagram (funny) of LUNCHES, DUD bringing inside (entertaining) the last or ultimate letter (last) of [PET]E

3d           Insensitive tight hug leads to impasse (8)
DEADLOCK: A charade of DEAD (insensitive) as not mentally or morally sensitive or not responsive to physical stimuli and LOCK (tight hug) as a tight hug or embrace leads to the definition of an impasse, stalemate, standstill or a situation in which no further progress towards an agreement is possible

4d           Rector in silly three-pointed hat (8)
TRICORNE: An anagram (silly) of RECTOR IN guides to the definition of a style of hat in a triangular shape, which became popular in Europe during the 18th century

5d           Roger and last couple from Hawaii, it’s said (3,3)
AYE AYE: The definition of a nautical interjection expressing affirmation, agreement or compliance with an order, an example of which is roger i.e. a word used in signalling and radio communication for R, in the sense of message received and understood is reached from the homophone (it’s said) of the last two letters (couple) from [HAWA]II, heard by the audience as EYE-EYE

6d           Occasionally meant to put on diamonds for allure (6)
ENTICE: The occasional or even letters (occasionally) of [M]E[A]N[T] placed upon in the down clue (to put on) ICE (diamonds) as a slang term for a diamond or diamonds leads to the definition of a verb meaning to allure, tempt or draw towards oneself by exciting hope or desire

7d           Seven days without whiskey? I’m alarmed! (3)
EEK: [W]EEK (seven days) as a period of seven days devoid of (without) W (whiskey) as the letter represented by Whiskey in the NATO phonetic alphabet takes to the definition of an interjection used to express alarm, horror, fear or the like, an example of which can be an utterance by someone, “I’m alarmed”

8d           Broadcast last part of Proms finale (4)
SEND: The definition of a verb meaning to broadcast over the airwaves, as in radio or television is reached from the last or terminal letter (last part) of [PROM]S followed by END (finale) as the finale or closing section of a musical composition

13d         Were parrots agitating another bird? (4,7)
TREE SPARROW: An anagram (agitating) of WERE PARROTS takes to the definition of a small European bird of the sparrow family, Passer montanus

14d         Goads Machiavellian unnecessarily (10)
NEEDLESSLY: A charade of NEEDLES (goads) as a verb in the third person singular present tense denoting goads, provokes or teases and SLY (Machiavellian) as clever or cunning, especially in the practice of deceit, an example of which is Machiavellian, an adjective denoting following Machiavelli’s principles characterised by unscrupulous cunning, deception or expediency takes to the definition of an adverb meaning unnecessarily or without need

17d         Cherish instruction from over-familiar telephonist? (4,4)
HOLD DEAR: The definition of a verb meaning to cherish, treasure or care for is got from HOLD (instruction from … telephonist) as an instruction to the caller denoting to hold the line i.e. to wait for a while from the telephonist who is DEAR (over-familiar) as beloved, cherished or over-familiar

18d         Spurn any badly twisted rope (4,4)
SPUN YARN: An anagram (badly) of SPURN ANY takes to the definition of a cord formed of rope yarns loosely twisted together, for serving ropes, bending sails etc

21d         Answer coming up: 22 Down, with some hesitation (6)
RETORT: The definition of a sharp, incisive and witty answer or reply, especially one that turns the first speaker’s words to their own disadvantage is arrived at from a combo of TROT (22 Down) as a short, colloquial and derogatory term for Trotskyist denoting a follower of Leon Trotsky who was a Russian revolutionary, Soviet politician and political theorist and hence a Leftie i.e. the answer to 22 Down and (with) ER (some hesitation) as an interjection expressing some hesitation or uncertainty in an upward direction (coming up) as reversals in the down clue

22d         Red port, case for Isabelle (6)
LEFTIE: The definition of an informal term for a person who is on the political left, an example of which is Red denoting a radical, revolutionary or leftist is got from LEFT (port) as an adjective denoting port, larboard or left-hand followed by the outermost letters (case) for I[SABELL]E

25d         Numerical fact a little understated (4)
STAT: The definition of an informal term for statistic that is a fact or piece of data obtained from a study of a large quantity of numerical data is arrived at from part of or hidden inside (a little) [UNDER]STAT[ED]

27d         King to the south of American river (3)
USK: K (king) as the abbreviation for king in chess notation placed below in the down clue (to the south of) US (American) as the adjectival abbreviation for the United States or belonging to the United States guides to the definition of the longest river flowing entirely within Wales, rising in the Brecon Beacons and flowing 78 miles to the Severn Estuary

There were several clues that I liked in this puzzle such as 11a, 19a, 20a, 28a, 1d, 5d, 14d, 17d and 22d; 17d being the best of the lot. My prayers to the Almighty for the eternal rest and peace of BD and my thanks to Twmbarlwm for the entertainment. Looking forward to seeing you here again. Have a nice day.