Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31238
Hints and Tips by Deansleigh
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BD Rating – Difficulty * Enjoyment ****
Good morning everyone, and welcome to the Wednesday back-pager blog. I must have tuned into the setter’s wavelength fairly quickly this morning, because I found today’s puzzle to be quite gentle for a Wednesday. (I even had time to complete today’s Toughie, which is well worth having a go at.) At one point I thought this was going to be a pangram, but I think it’s three letters short. Amongst some excellent concise and witty clues, my favourites were the angry Americans in 13a, the suspect material in 17a, and the plus-sized old flame in 4d. I also liked the Quickie pun. 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 A Prime TV broadcast about airline that sucks flying at night (7,3)
VAMPIRE BAT: An anagram (broadcast) of A PRIME TV is placed around the abbreviation for the UK’s national airline.
6a Obscene material corporation’s withdrawn (4)
SMUT: An informal abbreviation for a corporation or belly is followed by the possessive ‘s’ from the clue, and the result is then reversed (withdrawn).
10a Quote talking sense (5)
SIGHT: A homophone (talking) of a synonym for to quote, name, or reference someone or something.
11a American Republican, crazy sick old Texan resident? (9)
ARMADILLO: The abbreviations for ‘American’ and ‘Republican’ are followed by synonyms of ‘crazy’ and ‘sick’, and the abbreviation for ‘old’.
12a Having dislocated elbow, dad runs off (5,3)
BELOW PAR: An anagram (dislocated) of ELBOW precedes an informal word for a father and the cricketing abbreviation for ‘runs’.
13a Manuel’s gag starts to upset enraged line of Americans (5)
QUEUE: The Spanish interrogative that was a catchphrase of Manuel in Fawlty Towers is followed by the initial letters (starts to) of ‘upset enraged’.
15a Give life to a new friend touring Italy (7)
ANIMATE: ‘A’ from the clue, the abbreviation for ‘new’, and an informal synonym for a friend are placed round (touring)the International Vehicle Registration code for Italy.
17a Perrins’s saucy partner left dodgy marketing material (7)
LEAFLET: The surname of one of the partners in a famous brand of Worcestershire sauce precedes an anagram (dodgy) of LEFT.
19a Japanese warrior knocked back booze in Asia sozzled (7)
SAMURAI: A sugarcane-based alcoholic drink is reversed (knocked back) and placed inside an anagram (sozzled) of ASIA.
21a Lethargy of Maître Nicolas following retirement (7)
INERTIA: A reverse lurker, hidden and written backwards (following retirement) in ‘Maître Nicolas’.
22a Quiet road circling a London landmark (5)
SHARD: A two-letter interjection meaning ‘be quiet’ and the abbreviation for ‘road’ are placed round ‘a’ from the clue.
24a Debut for Apple phablet leading with large range of letters (8)
ALPHABET: The initial letter (debut) of ‘Apple’ is followed by the word PHABLET with the letter ‘L’ moved to the front (leading with large). I hadn’t come across ‘phablet’ before – it’s a hybrid of a smartphone and a tablet.
27a Private guarding tower, one in charge of The Crown? (9)
INNKEEPER: A word that can mean ‘private’ is surrounding (guarding) a word for a fortified tower within a castle.
28a In the morning, defending odd bits of Labour record (5)
ALBUM: The abbreviation for Ante Meridiem (in the morning) is placed round (defending) the alternate letters (odd bits) of ‘Labour’.
29a Provider of interbank liquidity in Egypt (4)
NILE: A cryptic definition of Egypt’s famous river.
30a American slogan on X translated into plain English (5-5)
ANGLO-SAXON: The abbreviation for ‘American’ and an anagram (translated) of SLOGAN ON X.
Down Clues
1d Huge profits ultimately swallowed up by tax (4)
VAST: The last letter (ultimately) of ‘profits’ is inside (swallowed up by) the abbreviation for Value Added Tax.
2d Attractiveness of chap embracing good times at play (9)
MAGNETISM: A word for an adult male is placed round (embracing) the abbreviation for ‘good’, and followed by an anagram (at play) of TIMES.
3d Opening bars: penny off pint, unlimited grog (5)
INTRO: Remove the abbreviation for ‘penny’ from the word ‘pint’, and follow this with the internal letters (unlimited) of ‘grog’.
4d Former lover, generously proportioned model (7)
EXAMPLE: An informal two-letter term for a previous lover, and a synonym of ‘generously proportioned’.
5d Endlessly esteem a student officer of the navy (7)
ADMIRAL: A word meaning to hold in high esteem without its last letter (endlessly), ‘a’ from the clue and the abbreviation for a learner.
7d Confused conflict – Middle East’s leaders shelter (5)
MELEE: The initial letters (leaders) of ‘Middle East’ and a word for shelter, for example from the wind.
8d Working on best hardwood, choice cut (1-4,5)
T-BONE STEAK: An anagram (working) of ON BEST, and a tropical hardwood tree.
9d Competent English queen escorted by a romantic partner (8)
ADEQUATE: The abbreviation for ‘English’ and a two-letter abbreviation for a queen are placed inside (escorted by) ‘a’ from the clue and a partner in a romantic tryst.
14d Extemporised notes of stereotypical WI meeting? (3,7)
JAM SESSION: This informal gathering of musicians could also be a humorous way of describing a meeting of the WI, featuring the fruit conserve with which that organisation is popularly associated.
16d Advanced tricky game daughter condensed (8)
ABRIDGED: The abbreviation for ‘advanced’, a trick-taking card game, and the genealogical abbreviation for ‘daughter’.
18d Improved security devices from Spooner where the envelope is pushed? (9)
LETTERBOX: Spoonerising synonyms of ‘improved’ and ‘security devices’ will give you a homophone of a slot for receiving post.
20d Confused again as Pinochet’s accepted (2,1,4)
IN A SPIN: A lurker, ‘accepted’ by the second, third and fourth words of the clue.
21d Endanger sovereign when evacuating area (7)
IMPERIL: Take an adjective meaning ‘relating to a sovereign or emperor’ and remove (evacuating) the abbreviation for ‘area’.
23d Abolish yearbook after deleting its second article (5)
ANNUL: Take a word for a book published each year, and remove the second occurrence of the indefinite article.
25d Collect first seen in Anglican service (5)
AMASS: The initial letter (first seen) of ‘Anglican’ is followed by a church service.
26d Warning sign seen at hen night? (4)
OMEN: Split (1,3) this would indicate the number of members of the opposite sex present at an all-female gathering.
Which clues did you like best? Let us know in the comments below.
The Quick Crossword pun: KERNEL + BEAU + GHEE = COLONEL BOGEY
I agree with Deansleigh about this puzzle – first class. 14d and 27a both magnificent. 20d was cleverly printed to conceal the lurker I thought. Have we not seen 26d very recently? I think so. Thanks Deansleigh as I didn’t quite follow 6d and of course our setter.
Pretty straightforward but hugely enjoyable. I did go back through the grid upon completion to appreciate fully the quality of the clues, and in so doing found my favourite, 27a.
Many thanks to our Wednesday setter and Deansleigh.
This was exceptionally gentle for a Wednesday and as close to a sequential fill as is possible. 6a took a moment to parse.
The flying menace at 1a, the American slogan at 30a and the generous Ex at 4d are my top picks. Other notable clues are 12a, 15a, 1,5,9 down and the brilliant spoonerism at 18d.
I hope newcomers and seasoned hands enjoyed this puzzle and didn’t encounter any hurdles along the way.
Many thanks to the setter and Deansleigh………
Light indeed for a Wednesday, with a delay-free N-S completion. Didn’t even need to print the second page as the answers to those clues helpfully sprang from the screen. Loved the surface read of 11a, and a broad smile at the description of the tricky game in 16d, but honours go to 14d, 29a and as COTD the superb 27a, candidate for clue of the month/year.
Many thanks indeed to the setter – torn between Hudson and Twm, but I’ll put my fiver on the latter, so I’m probably entirely wrong! – and to Deansleigh.
It’s the former, sorry!
I’m as content that it’s a Hudson as I should have been were it one of yours!
🙂 I have a book of Hudson’s Times Educational Supplement crosswords that I bought before I became a setter here!
So many entertaining clues, completed more quickly than most other crosswords of late (and considerably faster than Monday’s), with highlights including Manuel in 13a, the 22a quiet road, the private 27a, 30a’s slogan on X, the 14d WI meting, the tricky game in 16d, Spooner’s security in 18d, and the 25d collect.
And I’ve learnt that 11a’s are from Texas. Thank you to the setter and Deansleigh.
Apparently 11 a’s are originally native to South America. Unfortunately I’m seeing quite a few dead on the roadside here in East Tennessee as of late. Many people here regard them as pests as they have a tendency to ‘tear up’ one’s yard – but as an expat from South London, I find them quite curious creatures.
Good fun from Hudson today – straightforward and entertaining. Thanks to the blogger too.
Welcome to the blog
Gentle but brilliant. For me almost the perfect puzzle. LOI was 7d which was also one of the best clues amongst many others noted above. Thank you Deansleigh and setter.
This turns out to be a DNF as I had, omit, for 6A which on reflection doesn’t quite parse. Despite that I loved the challenge, 13A was very well constructed but clue of the day goes to 26A. Thanks to Deansleigh, I guess, as without the hints, I would have believed I had completed correctly. Thanks also to the setter.
It’s a public holiday here today in Thailand to celebrate, the royal ploughing day. This involves two oxen pulling a plough controlled by a representative of the King, at a park in central Bangkok, whilst Bhramin monks sow seeds in the furrows. The oxen are then given the choice of seven different foods, rice, corn, green beans, sesame, water, whiskey, and grass. Their choice indicates the success of the future harvest.
A quick Thai language fact. Most Thai syllables are words in their own right, so Thai is a treasure trove for Lego clue fans. Hand bags in Thai are gloves, not a fashion accessory. Socks are foot bags. I will leave it to you to guess how the word for condom is formed.
Love the syllables info!
An enjoyable puzzle, with not too many difficulties, although I did start off thinking that Maitre Nicholas meant Santa! I did like 27A.
It took me less time than usual to complete this Wednesday puzzle, although it was absorbing and not without difficulties . My COTD was the complex double meaning clue at 14d. Although I have never been to a WI meeting, fortunately, have often purchased their products. I also liked the cleverly worded8d and the 30a anagram. Thanks to the compiler and to Deansleigh for the hints
I really enjoyed today’s puzzle, there was a lot to like, and smile about.
I thought that 20d, 21a and 18d were very good example of their respective types. 13a required, for me, a bit of lateral thought until I realised I only knew one Manuel and the penny dropped.
I refrained seeking advice from the current Mrs P when it came to parsing 14d which was my COTD.
My thanks to the setter and Deansleigh
As has already been said, quite light for a mid-week challenge helped, for example, by the frequently appearing 26d – */****
I know two ladies who would take umbrage at the stereotyping in 14d! The outdated image created by ‘*** and Jerusalem’ has been replaced, in part, by lobbying and focusing on environmental issues.
Pub(?) quiz time – where was the first WI founded?
Candidates for favourite – 11a, 27a, 29a, and 1d – and the winner is 29a.
Thanks to whomsoever and Deansleigh.
Sept 16, 1915. In LFPG.
Half right! The very first was founded in Stoney Creek, Ontario on 19th February, 1897. Llanfair PG was the first in The UK.
My WI wasn’t far behind being formed in 1919. We still sing Jerusalem (with gusto!) and always have a magnificent tea after the lecture. There are some quite fearsome ladies whom you wouldn’t want to meet on a dark night!
I often find Wednesdays tricky but today was very straightforward, though still very enjoyable. Thanks to Deansleigh and setter. Big grins at Manuel’s ‘Que?’ at 13a and the lack of men at 22d.
Can’t disagree with everything said, this was a fairly gentle romp for a Wednesday. My ticks go to 26a, 8d, 13d and a short, but witty 26d.
My thanks to the setter and DL
1*/3*
Now I can’t get the theme tune from the Quickie pun out of my head.
A very quick solve. A bit of a shame it didn’t last longer because I thought it a cracker. The definition at 13a was the only brief crumpet scratch until remembering that it’s one of the many things that they term differently over the pond. Can’t say that I knew that the nine-banded critter at 11a is the Texan state’s official small mammal, that they even race them or that they leap in the air when startled with the many unfortunate enough to perish on the roads termed Texas Speed Bumps.
Ticks all over the shop – 1,17,27,28(very topical)&30a + 7&14d the picks for me from a fine set of clues.
Thanks to the setter (Hudson my punt) & to Deansleigh, whose review I shall now read.
In the ten years that I lived in the Republic of Texas I saw one living 11a but I lost count of how many ‘Speed Bumps’ I saw!
Relatively straightforward where only a couple needed a slight crumpet scratch. This made for much enjoyment with a few giggles such as 14d en-route to completion. Liked the lego 11a and the TV broadcast at 1a, but cotd is the annoyed Americans at 23a. Thanks to compiler (could it be X-type?) and Deansleigh.
Sublime. Quite sublime.
I have ticked nearly all of the clues for their surfaces. My money is on The Hud as he occasionally makes up names for people or places for the fodder of a clue. In this case, Maître Nicolas. I’m not really a fan of the technique but Hudson has far too many beans in the jar for it to be a problem.
I like ‘tricky game’ as a way of describing THE card games of all card games. Poker, as good as it is, is nowhere near.
I am guessing he’s having a bit of fun by using Americans in 13a instead of customers or people as they use the term line up?
The cryptic dooberry in 29a is hilarious! A fine effort.
The portmanteau phablet is a new one for me which, I assume, going on what he said last week, Senf despises.
Now you know that this animal is found in Texas, it will remind you that the similar-sounding Amarillo is also in this state. 11a literally means ‘little armoured one’ which I’m very happy with (the first two syllables sound the same). Every day’s a school day.
Nigh on impossible to pick three but official nods go to 11a, 17a and the outstanding 27a.
MMTTTA and Nigel Hades.
2*/5*
Fun fact – amarillo is the masculine form of Spanish for yellow.
That is indeed a fun fact.
Thank you, S.
* / ****
Very straightforward for a mid-seeker I thought. Full of humour though. Went onto pangram alert but it wasn’t to be. Podium places to the 11a Texan resident (every day is a school day), the 18d Improved security from the good doctor and 13a gets COTD for Manuel’s gag.
Many thanks to the setter and She Aligned.
Anyone spotted my letter in today’s DT?
What a splendid letter. Another one! Great stuff.
I’ve just found this from the ‘a-less 21d War museum’ https://www.iwm.org.uk/letters-to-loved-ones
You should definitely contact them.
My mother died last year at 95 and, luckily, we got her to talk about her experiences for two hours which we recorded.
She was coming home from her school in Plumstead with her father during The Blitz and saw that a house had been bombed. Theirs. Unfortunately, her mother was at home at the time (she usually did her weekly shop that day but wasn’t well). I asked her only a few years ago how she dealt with it and she replied, flippantly ”Oh, you just got on with it”.
What?????
She was also an only child and, amazingly, it didn’t affect her. She, like her youngest son, talked a huge amount and would often sit on the gate chatting to passers-by.
A legend.
But, I’m bound to say that, aren’t I.
Very interesting indeed, and I’m glad you still have the letters.
Perhaps you already have it, but I can recommend the book ‘Forgotten Voices of the Blitz and the Battle for Britain’ by Joshua Levine, based on first-hand narratives from the Imperial War Museum’s Sound Archive. (There are other books in the series.)
Mother not only wrote the loveliest letters, but when she moved the furniture around as she did frequently she would send a like drawing with notes “your chair, piano, wireless” etc so that he could imagine how the room looked!
Did you write your letter with one of your many Prize Pens?
Ouch. Don’t forget that this is over a period of 60 years and at HUGE cost when entries had to be posted. And, I might add, I modestly never mention the DT bridge cards I once won.🤭
I bet some people think the sooner that old bird falls off her perch, the better!
Did you see my reply to you the other day about Quink?
Great fun, excellent cluing but I don’t see why the line in 13a had to be American and I thought 24a and 18d gave the answers away as you read the clue – if that makes sense – but still, it didn’t detract from the enjoyment.
Thanks to setter and Deansleigh
The 13a answer is what Americans call a line.
On the contrary, G (see my post)
I thought the same as Gazza. The US dictionary Merriam-Webster has queue as “chiefly British … a waiting line of people”.
This is what AI says…
”Generally, Americans do not call a line a “queue”; they almost exclusively use the word “line” (e.g., “standing in line” or “waiting in line”). While Americans understand the word “queue,” it is rarely used in daily conversation, whereas in British English, a queue is the standard term”
I could well be wrong because AI, like dictionaries. ain’t the most reliable.
You’re probably right. It was just my first thought, but perhaps I’ve misinterpreted the intention as it’s not strictly necessary.
Its an interesting one.
I didn’t know until this morning that they don’t use it. I was therefore intrigued why the setter included it when ‘customer’ or ‘people’ would have sufficed.
A perfect example of two nations divided by a common language!
I understood it to be a what a queue here is over the Atlantic – a line (for americans). It seems perfectly fine to me, but a lot harder to explain what I mean!
Hi MHUK
If it was ‘line for Americans’ then I can maybe see where you’re coming from. But, it’s line of Americans.
I don’t understand why The Hud has mentioned Americans at all as it’s confusing. Just have the word ‘customers’ or ‘people’. The former works well as Manuel was a waiter.
I was using ‘for’ to try to illustrate my point – that justbseems to have muddied the waters!!!
I can only hope the setter pops in as it really does seem clear to me but perhaps I’m seing something that isn’t there
I agree with you that it’s very clear. I can’t see where the difficulty lies.
Thank goodness for you gazza – I was starting to question my sanity!!
Hopefully The Hud will explain why he used the word Americans when it adds nothing to the clue.
A hugely entertaining puzzle – many thanks to our setter and Deansleigh.
Like Mustafa I avoided having to print a second page and then completed the puzzle from the bottom up.
I liked masses of clues including 1a, 13a, 24a, 27a, 14d and 18d.
It has all been said above. I have not heard of “phablet” and thought it was a misprint. So many clues to like that it is difficult to pick a fave but I will go for the private guarding the tower at 27a.
Thank you, setter (Hudson?). Thank you, Deansleigh for the hints.
Off to the theatre now to see The Last Laugh about Tommy Cooper, Bob Monkhouse and Eric Morecambe. 😊
Have a great evening.
It looks a hoot!
What a great puzzle. I’ve ticks all over the page.
Top picks for me were 18d, 27a, 7d and 17a.
I also liked the Quickie pun.
Thanks to Deansleigh and the setter.
A lovely puzzle. Extremely gentle for a Wendesday but crammed with belters. Especially liked the banker at 29a and the tricky game at 16d but my favourite was the line of Americans at 13a.
Many thanks tonthe setter and to Deansleigh for blogging duties
I have had 48 hours of non-stop irritations which have curtailed my cruciverbal activities. Although I solved yesterday’s back-pager and not-at-all-tough Toughie both of which were excellent, I didn’t get time to post.
One of my issues has been my smartphone giving up the ghost, buying a new one, and now transferring everything over. Makes you realise how much we use the wretched things …
Today’s back-pager very good fun with 14d my favourite. My one reservation, which is not something I can recall cropping up before, was the use of an unnecessary American indicator in 13a.
Thanks to the setter and to Deansleigh.
Comment threads 16 and 19 explain the inclusion of American in 13a
Once again this weeks Wednesday puzzle very approachable and do-able puzzle. Some great clues in the assortment along with some smiles too.
2*/4* for me
Favourites 1a, 11a, 17a, 22a, 27a & 18d — with co-winners 1a & 18d. Once again, all these clues gave me a chuckle when I worked out the answers involved.
Thanks to Hudson & Deansleigh
Thanks to the Setter and Deansleigh.
At first glance it looked like it was going to be difficult. Turned out to be straight forward with no real hold ups.
COTD 18d. LOI 9d.
Great guzzle though I had to look up phablet and it wasn’t in the book, one for Terence’s list? I went into Cambridge yesterday and spent a great deal of money on a 24a watch which will call someone if I don’t answer and tells me what my heart is doing. It didn’t help that I refused to have an ugly rubber or plastic strap but it’s magical and even told me 17 mins ago it would start raining again and it has! So clever, emails and notifications. 1a went in straight away and everything just fell beautifully, 30a was a clever anagram and I agree with Conor that 18d was a really good Spoonerism. Many thanks to our Setter and to Deansleigh.
Like both of today’s Telegraph crosswords – great fun but over far too soon.
I particularly liked the American line in 13a and 29a
Many thanks to Hudson and Deansleigh
What an excellent puzzle, it’s all been said and I really can’t pick a favourite.
Many thanks to the setter and to Deansleigh for the hints
Fun solve with the quote and the innkeeper as my favourite clues but like others I was thrown by the American queue. Thank you Deansleigh and compiler
A really enjoyable puzzle with some challenging moments. Lots of good clues so difficult to name just one. Will go for 8d, 14d, 11a, 27a and 30a. Many thanks to the setter and Deansleigh.
Great puzzle today so thank you. Managed to complete before a visit to the dentist so now, having read the comments on the Toughie, will have a go at that. 14d my favourite and, as I said above, we do still sing Jerusalem before our meetings although I fear our once green and pleasant land is rather going to the dogs, or rather solar farms and wind turbines.