Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31234
Hints and tips by Mr K
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BD Rating - Difficulty *** - Enjoyment ****
Hello, everyone, and welcome to a fun Friday puzzle.
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 Drawback in recession, maître d' is pilfering sandwiches (8)
FLIPSIDE: The reversal (in recession) of MAÎTRE D' IS PILFERING hides (sandwiches) the answer
5a Changes plugs in apartment? Quite the opposite (6)
ADAPTS: Following the quite the opposite instruction to invert the wordplay, insert the abbreviation for apartment in some plugs intended to, for example, sell something
9a Take back incorrectly ordered espressos (9)
REPOSSESS: An anagram (incorrectly ordered) of ESPRESSOS
11a Colour copies on the counter around one (5)
SEPIA: The reversal (on the counter) of copies or imitates containing (around) the Roman one
12a Get combat rations regularly (6)
OBTAIN: Alternate letters (regularly) of COMBAT RATIONS
13a Party conference - leader ultimately gets hand (8)
LABOURER: A political party that did not do well in yesterday’s elections is followed by the last letters (ultimately) of CONFERENCE and LEADER
15a Picture of what I froze - roughly about 500 ounces (3,6,2,2)
THE WIZARD OF OZ: An anagram (roughly) of WHAT I FROZE containing (about) the Roman 500, all followed by the abbreviation for ounces
18a Sport with lanes in PE with Bolt winning stupidly ... (6,7)
TENPIN BOWLING: An anagram (stupidly) of PE BOLT WINNING
22a ... easy victory, with a fan keeping close to track (8)
WALKOVER: Link together the single letter for with, A from the clue, and another word for a serious fan that’s containing (keeping) the final letter (close to) of TRACK
23a Take out key men before time (6)
ESCORT: Join together a key on a computer keyboard, some usual abbreviated soldiering men, and the physics symbol for time
26a Greek character with a large bottle (5)
PHIAL: Cement together a letter in the Greek alphabet, A from the clue, and the single letter for large
27a Giro money's so wasted - loves going out - it's better with others (9)
SYNERGISM: An anagram (wasted) of GIRO MONEY’S SO with all the single letters for love deleted (loves going out)
28a Understand mine is in Paris (6)
DIGEST: A synonym of mine (minerals, for example) with the French (in Paris) word for “is”
29a Plastic bag from container ship (3-5)
BIN-LINER: A type of container followed by a big passenger ship
Down
1d Scottish river houses really old - old-fashioned indeed (8)
FORSOOTH: A Scottish river contains (holds) both a synonym of really and the single letter for old
2d Enter hot place (5)
INPUT: Hot or fashionable with place or set
3d Band I'm in snubbed Japanese food (7)
SASHIMI: Glue together a band one might wear diagonally across the chest and I’M IN from the clue minus its last letter (snubbed)
4d Expected to join with student for fight (4)
DUEL: A synonym of expected with the single letter indicating a student or learner driver
6d Criminal has to enter party, and two females run away (4,3)
DASH OFF: An anagram (criminal) of HAS inserted in (to enter) a usual word for party, all followed by two copies of the single letter for female
7d Eschewing topping, wrap a pizza badly for flash-mob (9)
PAPARAZZI: An anagram (badly) of WRAP A PIZZA minus the first letter in the phrase (eschewing topping, in a down clue)
8d Ringo's making one right international flight? (6)
STAIRS: In the surname of drummer Ringo change one copy of the single letter for right to the single letter for international
10d Supports or tolerates Times (6,2)
STANDS BY: Tolerates or bears with a synonym of times in the arithmetic sense
14d Fight with current head leads to caution (8)
WARINESS: Concatenate a serious fight, the physics symbol for electric current, and a head that sticks out into the sea
16d Former spouse ringing, celebrating (9)
EXTOLLING: A short word for a former spouse with another word for ringing a bell
17d Transfer goods from the south, beginning with electronic kitchen gadget (3,5)
EGG TIMER: The fusion of transfer or send and two copies of the single letter for good is all reversed (from the south, in a down clue) and that all comes after (beginning with) the single letter for electronic
19d Pasta in new bags (7)
NOODLES: The single letter for new with bags or lots
20d Ne'er-do-well? Used to be - but over the hill finally (7)
WASTREL: A short word meaning “used to be” is followed by the final letters of each word in BUT OVER THE HILL
21d Women's group, having rushed around, made a decision on Tinder (6)
SWIPED: A usual abbreviated women’s group contained by (having … around) a synonym of rushed
24d Bulb working - one that's electrically charged (5)
ONION: Follow working or not off with the word describing an atom that is electrically charged
25d Reportedly bet against (4)
ANTI: A homophone (reportedly) of a bet or wager
Thanks to today’s setter. Which clues did you like best?
The Quick Crossword pun: GEL + LEA + DEALS = JELLIED EELS
Having been tipped off by a friend as to who had set this Friday back pager, I just had to find time to solve the crossword
Lots and lots to enjoy in what I found to be a very friendly for a Friday crossword
Many thanks to Django and Mr K
Thanks for the hint to 3d Mr K as I didn’t understand that one. 1d was my COTD and 8d a close 2nd. The answer to 3d was a new one for me but easily parsed. I agree with Mr K – a *** but only just. Some nice anagrams. Thank you to our setter.
What a great puzzle. By no means a walk in the park but great enjoyment once the clues were parsed and the enlightenment dawned.
Top picks for me were 19d, 11a, 24d and the marvellous 1d.
Thanks to Mr K and the setter.
Not sure if its a ***! I was not feeling that well this morning but managed it without wondering why that was the answer. I like 15ac and 16ac anagrams, they got me going to solve the rest. I would put the puzzle at **.
I found this surprisingly straightforward for a Friday. Mostly a read and write, only requiring assistance to unravel the anagram at 27a.
Overall, very enjoyable for the time taken. Clear, smooth and concise surfaces. COTD is the bag at 29a.
Many thanks to the setter and Mr K
I was also amused by the Quickie pun.
1*/3.5*
A very straightforward puzzle today . Just held up by 8d even though the I had the answer . Very enjoyable especially liked 1d , 27 and 15 . Didn’t know the food but easy to work out.Thanks to all
Happy Friday! Completed this in one sitting – very chuffed with myself 😊 Just dipped into the BRB to confirm a couple of spellings, then came here to get help parsing a couple, but was too early for the hints! Figured them out after a bit more effort, hooray!
Could not have achieved this without the enlightenment, every day, from everyone on here, thank you.
Determined to use 1d in conversation today…
Well said. I too owe this site and it’s contributors a huge ‘thank you’ in helping my solving abilities to increase.
Gadzooks. Let us know how you casually drop it into the conversation.
Enjoyable Friday fare, not overly onerous and good company for the mid-morning coffee. Some lovely surfaces. Honours to 1a and 20d.
Surprised to see this credited to Django, to whom my thanks, and also to Mr K of course.
I thought this the best puzzle of the week, it required thought to solve and parse but I found the clues to be very fair.
Two particular favourites 1d and 27a
Many thanks to the setter and Mr K for confirming the parsing.
This was a fairly friendly solve for the sharp end of the week.
I don’t see how ‘snubbed’ can be an indicator to knock off the last letter? It means ‘ignored’ but why just the final letter? Maybe ‘snub’ has another definition meaning ‘curtailed’ or something.
In 4d, ‘with’ seems surplus to requirements. I was trying my utmost to work out an anagram of ‘pasta in’ to mean ‘bags’ in 19d until 26a put a stop to it. I liked the use of ‘goods’ in 17d.
Honours got to 1a (a splendid rekrul), 9a (nice surface) and 6d.
MTT Jang (Django Unchained) and Mr K.
2*/4*
If you snub someone you cut them was how I looked at it.
Hmm, interesting.
I see it meaning cut out completely as opposed to shortening.
Maybe I’m going down the semantics route and need to get a life.
Snub = to cut short, Tom. As in a snub-nosed gun, etc. Without the -nosed, it’s oft-used for a last-letter deletion.
Ah, thank you, Alpingtons.
It’s been duly noted.
You also get snub shapes in geometry, which I think are those with their pointy bits cut off (though maybe I’m confusing that with truncated shapes?) I believe Dave Gorman studied maths at university.
Thanks, S.
A relatively gentle work out for a Friday from Django but highly entertaining and a fun solve. Cotd is a toss up between 1d and 20d and 20d gets it by a short head. Thanks to Django and Mr K.
Most enjoyable. Some of the answers I stumbled on inadvertently. For 5 across plugs put me in mind of adaptors but Mr. K gave me the right route although I had gone down the wrong route to get the right answer. Did not finish by one clue and that was 27 across. As Eric Morecambe would say, “ I had all the right letters but not in the right order.” Favourite today was 24 down.
Many thanks to Django and Mr. K
A great puzzle which I completed in between some pretty impressive thunderstorms. Although I finished with a fair degree of certainty, I needed the hints for the parsing of 23A and 5A. Lots of contenders for COTD but the prize goes to 15A. Thanks to Mr K for confirming my guesses and to the setter for a great puzzle.
At the local market this morning my wife and I met one of the samlor (three wheeled pedal driven rickshaws) drivers who plies his trade around our village and noticed he had only one shoe on. When questioned about it he looked at us as if to say what a stupid question. He explained that as the car park was on a slope the most obvious and convenient chock to stop his tricycle rolling away was his left shoe. Obvious innit.
Love it!
I thought he was going to say he found it (that classic joke)
This was a nice way to end the working week, though there is still much to be done before the work and the week is over. As usual, I have ticks a plenty, perhaps too many, but I did enjoy this solve. 1,5, 12,15, 18, 22 and 29 for the across clues and 4, 8, 17 and 19 for the downs. I cannot pick a podium nor a COTD. Many thanks to the setter and Mr K
Perhaps an atypical Friday puzzle but a very pleasant end to the (non-)work week – **/***
I am not sure that I would consider 18a a sport – perhaps there should be a category of ‘Competitive Games’ for it, darts, and snooker. I suppose it could be an event at the Olympic Games.
Favourite – a toss-up between 26a and 1d – and the winner is 1d.
Thanks to Django and Mr K.
Superb puzzle, which I completed without Mr. G, hints or “other nefarious means”. 😊
I love the word at 1d and, like Libby, I intend slipping it into conversation this weekend. I have not heard of the food at 3d but it was gettable from the clue although I also wondered about “snub”. I couldn’t get “Tennis” out of my head for the first word of 18a and, having never used Tinder, I was lost for a while with 21d but the women’s group came to my rescue. My COTD is the fantastic reverse lurker at 1a.
The Quickie pun raised a smile.
Thank you, Django for a fun end to the week. Thank you, Mr. K. for the hints.
A pleasantly warm day in The Marches so I’m finally getting the runner beans in the ground. They need to be ready for Kinnerley village show in the summer.
Ah – me too this morning! The pocket rocket couldn’t make it this week and I just couldn’t leave the beans in the greenhouse any longer. I could hear Old Joe the gardener we had to take on with Lordship Farm saying “puddle ‘em in, gel, puddle ‘em in”. I thought as I stepped back to admire my handiwork- can there be a happier moment ! Anyone want a dozen leftover I don’t have room for?
I puddled away, DG! They’re all in now including a couple of bean seeds to ensure a continuous crop.
Nobody around here buys bean seeds. There’s a kind of “Bean economy” whereby we all supply each other every year.
I’m in the ‘surprisingly straightforward for a Friday ” camp. In fact, thoughthe clues were quite testing and thought-provoking, ithis backpagerwas my fastest solve this week. I liked the 1d lego clue because of the geographical element and because it’s a lovely expression. 18 was a fine anagram, although, like Senf I’m not sure it’s a sport. 27a, such a lovely woed was a well concealed anagram. Finally, the old but beloved movie at 15 was cleverlybput together . Thanks to Djangl and to Mr K for the hints.
Anyone care to explain the criminal element ASH of 6D?
You’ve changed your alias (from ifihadahifi) so this needed moderation. Both will work from now on.
Mr K has explained this in his hint. Criminal is an anagram indicator so we need an anagram (criminal) of HAS giving ASH.
Wonderful! This was the most straightforward backpager of the week for me (I still haven’t finished Tuesday’s, and I either took longer or needed hints or anagram help on the other days), yet is still fizzing with fun clues. I think I’ll print it out and try it on the children tomorrow; it doesn’t contain anything very obscure.
My highlights have turned out to be all in the down clues: 1d, indeed, the 7d flash mob, the 8d international flight, the 19d new bags, being over the hill in 20d, the 21d Tinder decision, and the 20d bulb. Thank you so much to Django. And thank you to Mr K for being there as a safety net; you’re needed more Fridays than not!
29a reminded me of my favourite Tim Vine joke. After a barrage of quickfire puns, he paused, then in silence carefully plucked a 29a from a pocket, held it up, and watched as it slowly drifted towards the stage. We’re all wondering what’s going on. Then, just before it landed, he pointed at it and explained: “One liner”.
Love it. My favourite Tim Vine joke is:
“I got rid of the hoover. Well, it was only gathering dust.”
Oh I do enjoy a Django puzzle! Lot’s of humour and amusing surfaces. This one certainly on the easier end of the spectrum for me but very enjoyable none the less. I also had a question mark next to snubbed in 3d but ALP has cleared that up.
Many thanks to Django and to Mr K for blogging duties
1*/4*. Having a very busy day, so a light Friday back-pager was very enjoyable was just the ticket for me today.
Must dash…
Many thanks to the setter and to Mr K.
A tougher puzzle than some recent Friday puzzles have been for this week. A fair amount of head scratching today for me.
2.5*/3.5*
Favourites 15a, 29a, 1d, 6d & 8d — with winner 1d
Thanks to Django & Mr K.
Just could not get the anagram at 27! 1a fixed me, knew it was a lurker but just couldn’t find it not helped by getting a wrong river at 1d🤦♂️
Enjoyable puzzle though, listening to a mix of Uriah Heep, Bob Dylan, Black Crowes and the Stones’ new song “In the Stars” – amazing what they can produce at their age 🎸
Lovely guzzle. I liked the electronically charged bulb and 27a tho’ I did toy with monogamy for a while. 15a and 9a and 11a all had daisies. I am fair wore out now after all that gardening, planted the leftover sweet peas as well so I deserve a nap. Many thanks to Django and to Mr K – I forgive him for the lack of kitty pics. Another week has flown by, it is all going too quickly. Have a good weekend.
“I did toy with monogamy for a while.” — Daisygirl, 2026
Don’t seem to be able to make head or tail of the clue (or indeed the hint) for 8d. I’ve got the answer but just can’t see how to get there. Please can anyone help?
Change one “r” in Ringo’s surname. Hope that helps.
Hi RF
I don’t know if the following will be any clearer than Mr K’s hint but ‘making one right’ means ‘changing (making) one of the Rs (one right) to an i’ (the abbreviation for international).
Suggest you find out Ringo’s surname, if you don’t already know it. Then add an S (Ringo’S). Then change the first R to an I (making one right international). The answer is a flight.
A great Friday puzzle – thanks to Django and Mr K.
Top clues for me were 23a, 29a and 19d.
Great end to the week and like others no real problems although I had to check the Japanese food and 21d was a bung in as I know nothing about Tinder. Favourite was 1d. Thanks to Django and Mr. K.
Thoroughly enjoyable with lots of clever clues. I needed help to parse a couple but completed it unaided. My favourite was 1a but the anagrams were top notch too.
Many thanks to Django and to Mr K for the hints.