Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31237
Hints and tips by Huntsman
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** Enjoyment ***/****
A beautiful sunny, albeit slightly chilly, day here in Harpenden so a decent afternoon walk looks the order of the day.
I would have assumed today’s very enjoyable puzzle to be an Anthony Plumb production but Senf advises me that the Quick puzzle grid is not one that he uses so it remains to be seen if the setter pops in to claim ownership. I found the difficulty level about on a par with yesterday so continued respite after the challenges of the weekend prize puzzles.
For any seeking a further challenge the Beamer over in t’other place is more of a gentle long hop & well worth a look at.
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 Sailors might be entering these details? (5)
DOCKS: hyphenate details then think of a synonym to give you where they may be entering.
4a Gambler from France getting wealthier (6,3)
BETTER OFF: gambler/punter + a synonym for ‘from’ (perhaps usually preceded by out) then append the IVR code for F[rance].
9a Is sent out before this writer’s easily offended (9)
SENSITIVE: an anagram (out) of IS SENT followed by a personal pronoun contraction that this writer might use.
10a Bit quiet on the podcast (5)
PIECE: a homophone (on the podcast) of a synonym for quiet/calm.
11a King rejected story Edward told (7)
RELATED: the single letter for king/R[ex] + a reversal (rejected) of story/yarn + a diminutive for Edward.
12a Nurses accepting hospital dangers (7)
THREATS: insert H[ospital] into nurses/tends to.
13a Make unknown drink (6)
BRANDY: another word for a make/proprietary name then append a single letter unknown variable in maths.
15a Student being paid for what she’s doing? (8)
LEARNING: not entirely sure whether to underline just the last three words here as the definition or the lot & have opted for the latter. Not sure either why it’s a she as opposed to a he but it matters not. The usual single letter for student/L[earner] + being paid for/making a crust.
18a Condescending police officer going round South American city (8)
SUPERIOR: insert a Brazilian carnival city (going round) into an informal abbreviation for a senior police rank.
20a Continue slowly intimidating woman (6)
DRAGON: a two word (4,2) way of expressing continue slowly (memories of line meetings & conferences from my working days) when combined provide the definition synonym.
23a Vehicle fuel badly measured (7)
CAREFUL: pick a mode of transport then link with an anagram (badly) of FUEL.
24a Retailer apparently keeps back clothing (7)
APPAREL: hidden in reverse (keeps back).
26a Small vessel heading off, say (5)
UTTER: remove the initial letter (heading off) from a sailing vessel. I know nowt about boats but I thought some ‘em were quite large.
27a Opprobrium about organised crime – is it ignoring cause, ultimately? (9)
CRITICISM: the single letter for about/C[irca] + an anagram (organised) of CRIM[e] IS IT (ignoring caus[E] ultimately).
28a Had groups of constables primarily scared every delinquent? (9)
POSSESSED: a term for groups of lawmen followed by the 1st letters (primarily) of the last 3 words in the clue.
29a Urge, for example, almost vanished (3,2)
EGG ON: for example abbreviation + a truncated (almost) synonym for vanished.
Down
1d Editor picked up writer’s reports (9)
DESCRIBES: reverse (picked up/down clue) the usual abbreviation for editor + writers.
2d American alligators guarding watercourse (5)
CANAL: hidden (guarding).
3d Changed garment and was first topless (7)
SHIFTED: a loose straight-hanging style of dress followed by a synonym for ‘was first’ less its initial letter (topless).
4d Forms associations with Belgium for good (6)
BUILDS: swap out the initial letter (replace G[ood] with the IVR code for B[elgium]) in associations/organisations – popular with townswomen for example.
5d Doctor rates the rooms in hospital (8)
THEATRES: an anagram (doctor) of RATES THE.
6d Rome surprisingly enthralling for a leader there? (7)
EMPEROR: an anagram (surprisingly) of ROME goes around (enthralling) a preposition for ‘a’/ each.
7d Speaking about pens only half working (9)
OPERATING: speaking/making speeches goes around (about) 50% (only half) of PE[ns].
8d Does a runner initially like cutting costs? (5)
FLEES: insert (cutting) L[ike] (initially) into costs/expenses.
14d Strap up a wound holding adult’s equipment (9)
APPARATUS: insert (holding) the single letter for A[dult] into an anagram (wound) of STRAP UP A.
16d Chap’s soothing mother with note (9)
GENTLEMAN: soothing/tender + an informal diminutive for mother + the single letter for N[ote].
17d Assembles beds outside room upside down (8)
COLLECTS: beds for infants go round (outside) a reversal (upside down) of a type of room associated with confinement.
19d Match official Seles oddly dismissed after point (7)
REFEREE: the alternate letters (oddly) of S[E]l[E]s follow (after) a synonym for point/point out or reference.
21d Lizard, possibly, salesman found on hat (7)
REPTILE: the usual abbreviated term for a salesman + a slang/informal term for a stiff or top hat.
22d Went up and down a river in contest with daughter (6)
VARIED: insert (in) A from the clue & R[iver] into a verb synonym for contest/compete then append D[aughter].
23a Mug friend put on piano (5)
CHUMP: friend/pal + P[iano].
25d Regretting telephone call outside university (5)
RUING: place the call around (outside) of U[niversity].
Plenty to like here & the clues that stood out for me were 18,27&28a plus 4,6&22d. Please let us know which clues you liked best.
Today’s Quick Crossword pun: DRY + MAR + TEENY = DRY MARTINI
Very nice puzzle with many enjoyable clues. Thank you setter and blogger.
Another solid performance from Il Prof hits the back of the net with plenty of excellent surfaces.
23d is another one of those superb words ending in p. Definitely my favourite letter.
I wonder how many slams Seles would have won. She banked eight before her 20th birthday. Steffi, who I loved, wouldn’t have got anywhere near 22. Such a tragedy
My podium is 4a, 11a and 4d.
MTTTA and Hoots!
I still can’t believe Butch Cassidy didn’t win the Oscar. Midnight Cowboy, as good (and bizarre!) as it is, is nowhere near.
2*/4*
Agreed – Butch way better than The Sting which he won Best Director for.
A steady solve that came together more quickly in the south than the north. 1a may well be my favourite now I understand it fully. Thanks very much to the setter and to Huntsman for the hints and clips. I’m off to Antwerp first thing tomorrow and I’m rather concerned by the number of excellent looking bars within stumbling distance of our accommodation.
This was good fun and reasonably straight forward with no problems encountered.
Plenty to like. Starting with the horizontal clues, my top picks are 4,12,15,18 and 23. My top picks for the vertical clues are the following 1,7,8, and 17. For the podium, 4a, 12a and 17 d with 17d being my COTD.
Very strange to see no comments until 11 minutes after the review and hints were published…..,I held my fire……
Many thanks to the setter and hinter.
I found the unusual grid for this puzzle difficult to get into.Al5hough I eventually worked out the parsing, with many of them I had worked out the answers first using the definition and the checkers. I liked the double definition at 1a, the lurker at 2d and the two lego clues at 16d and 17d. Thanks ro the compiler, possibly not Me PLUMB AND TO Huntsman for the hints.
Just to let those who never venture into Toughie territory, the one by Beam today is quite accessible.
Sorry, I see Hintsman has already pointed this out.
I quite agree Steve. Well worth a visit.
I always try to drum up enthusiasm in the intro (if it’s gentle) & encourage those who never venture there. Thought today’s way easier than his Sunday prize Toughie + really no more difficult than this puzzle.
I agree and all the usual trademarks are present. For this who do not know Beam is the alter ego of RayT.
Another day when the first pass yielded very little but it all came into place in time. I failed to parse 10A and 27A, (couldn’t work out where the c came from), but the bung ins were correct. Thanks to Huntsman for sorting that out for me.COTD 1A as I had the answer for ages but not the parsing and then eventually the penny dropped with a huge clang.
Thai corner. A few more loan words that I find amusing when the Thais use them, with their free for all approach.
Fan is used widely as the description of a partner ranging from boyfriend to husband.
Ber a shortened form of number is the preferred word to describe counting words e.g. ” what is your telephone ber”, The Thais have a perfectly good word for number so when I challenged someone as to why they used ber and not the Thai word I was told the Thai word has two syllables whereas ber only has one. Go figure.
Loan words are so pervasive the Thais obviously don’t realise they are using them. I asked someone why they weren’t at school on a weekday and was told it’s mid-term. They then asked me what the English translation for mid-term was.
Thanks again to Huntsman for relieving the fail to parse frustration and to the setter for a very enjoyable puzzle.
Thanks for that, Tyke.
Did you mean to use the expression ‘Go figure’ when talking about numbers or is it a coincidence?
If so then…we love it!
I wish I was that witty.
Gutted!
It was a goodie.
Another perfect Tuesday puzzle that was not too taxing but very nicely clued. I found it hard to pick a favourite, but settled on 4d.
My thanks to AP and The Hintsman.
Apart from having to solve this on the app today (no dead trees in town this morning and no explanations either … Mrs Big Eck said they were holding the front page expecting a welcomed announcement from No 10!), thus was a very enjoyable solve.
Cotd 20a … there’s plenty around and the St Georges are getting fewer.
Last in 1a … of course … doh!
Thanks to setter and Huntsman …. but no hints needed today.
It took me a while to get into this but I enjoyed it once I got going.
Top picks for me were 28a, 4d, 14d and 23d (lovely word).
Thanks to Huntsman and the setter.
A small step up from yesterday with excellent clues that provided enough direction to make the solve a pleasure. I thought 24a was very clever, perfectly disguised. My favourites were 27a and 28a.
Crossword finished, sun still shining and managed to get some grass cut – the rest of the day’s weather not looking too promising though. Off to the Bucks Head Stadium this afternoon to support grandson in a school cup final.
Thanks to the setter and Huntsman for the hints.
It took me a while to get into today’s offering and, like others, I am not sure if it is by AP. As is often the case, the downs came to my aid and it became a steady solve but with a few sticky ones holding up progress. My COTD is the intimidating woman at 20a.
Thank you, Professor if it be you but to whomsoever if not. Thank you, Hintsman for the hunts.
Cold and windy in The Marches today.
If this is not by our usual Tuesday setter then whoever has produced it has made a good fist of following his entertaining style. Thanks to the setter and Huntsman.
For my podium I’ve selected 15a, 20a and 7d.