Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31239
Hints and Tips by Gazza
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** Enjoyment ****
Thanks to today’s setter for an enjoyable and reasonably gentle challenge.
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.
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Across
1a Stalls behind Globe stage for writers (9,4)
BALLPOINT PENS: a synonym for stalls or cubicles follows a synonym for a (falsely-capitalised) globe and another word for a stage or juncture.
9a English PM Liz inspiring May and old Italians (9)
ETRUSCANS: an abbreviation for English and Prime Minister Liz’s surname containing (inspiring) an auxiliary verb like ‘may’ (falsely-capitalised in the clue).
10a Goods carried back by yobbo gracelessly (5)
CARGO: hidden in reverse (carried back).
11a Relative in charge of sound (5)
SONIC: a male relative and the abbreviation for ‘in charge’.
12a Husband leaving from Cork perhaps – that’s a bloomer (4)
IRIS: start with how someone from Cork may be described and remove the genealogical abbreviation for husband.
13a I was in front looking back in food shop (4)
DELI: stick together I (from the clue) and a verb meaning ‘was in front’ then reverse it (looking back).
15a Make fun of Oscar winner’s bony frame (7)
RIBCAGE: join together a verb to make fun of or tease and the surname of Oscar winner Nicolas.
17a Areas for e.g. football and golf, games of golf (7)
GROUNDS: the letter that golf represents in the Nato Phonetic Alphabet followed by what games of golf are called.
18a Greet criminal, admitting hesitation? One’s in a sticky situation up here (3,4)
GUM TREE: an anagram (criminal) of GREET contains an expression of hesitation.
20a Meat in oven’s ruined (7)
VENISON: an anagram (ruined) of IN OVEN’S.
21a Perhaps trunk and niece’s case will contain old seconds (4)
NOSE: the outer letters (case) of NiecE contain abbreviations for old and seconds.
22a Shrub expert’s seen by river (4)
ACER: a synonym of expert and the abbreviation for river.
23a Change key on returning (5)
ALTER: the inscription on one of the keys on a computer keyboard followed by the reversal (returning) of a preposition meaning on or concerning.
26a Female water bird is vulnerable (5)
FRAIL: the abbreviation for female and a small brown/grey bird that lives in marshy ground.
27a These people rioting occasionally, uproar and sirens? (9)
PRISONERS: an anagram (rioting) of occasional letters from uPrOaR and SIRENS.
28a Strong emotion about fine European eatery (9,4)
TRANSPORT CAFÉ: a word for a strong emotion or ecstasy followed by a 2-letter abbreviation for about or approximately, the pencil abbreviation for fine and an abbreviation for European.
Down
1d Forget beans, sadly unavailable, and get another dish (4,10)
BEEF STROGANOFF: an anagram (sadly) of FORGET BEANS followed by an adverb meaning unavailable.
2d Actress learning lines, essentially (5)
LOREN: a synonym of learning or traditions and the central (essentially) letter of liNes.
3d Promote president’s vehicles for small charges (10)
PUSHCHAIRS: an informal verb to promote or hype followed by a president (i.e. someone presiding) with the ‘S.
4d Proclaim a gin excellent, somewhat fancy (7)
IMAGINE: hidden (somewhat) in the clue.
5d Sampling T’Pau now and then, and Police singer (7)
TASTING: alternate (now and then) letters from T’pau followed by the lead singer of The Police.
6d Cut, grumpy having lost skin (4)
ETCH: drop the outer letters (skin) from an adjective meaning grumpy or cantankerous.
7d Officers get near waves on board ship (9)
SERGEANTS: an anagram (waves) of GET NEAR is found inside (on board) our usual abbreviation for ship.
8d One meeting Friday in work? (8,6)
ROBINSON CRUSOE: a delightful cryptic definition – the answer is the eponymous hero of an eighteenth century work of fiction.
14d Fairground Attraction, band beginning to argue and fight (10)
ROUNDABOUT: assemble a synonym of band or circle, the first letter of argue and an arranged fight.
16d First of breakdowns and Trump sat fidgeting, car needing this? (4-5)
BUMP-START: the first letter of breakdowns followed by an anagram (fidgeting) of TRUMP SAT.
19d Bolts engineer sees with cap (7)
ESCAPES: an anagram (engineer) of SEES CAP.
20d Picture of yogi Trevor’s holding up (7)
VERTIGO: this film (picture) is hidden in reverse (holding up, in a down clue).
24d Two articles absorbing tense character from Athens (5)
THETA: two grammatical articles contain (absorbing) the grammatical abbreviation for tense.
25d Small jumper, feminine, bound to be too short (4)
FLEA: the abbreviation for female and a verb to bound without its final letter (too short).
I liked 15a, 3d and 8d. Which one(s) came up to scratch for you?
The Quick Crossword pun: PILL + EACH + HOLE = BILLY JOEL
Quite straightforward for a Thursday but most enjoyable, nevertheless. Hands up those who put “Rump” in at 6d. I did until the checkers came along to show me the error of my ways. Lots to like such as the old Italians at 9a and Fairground Attraction at 14d. It’s difficult to pick a favourite but I will plump for the president’s vehicles at 3d.
I loved the Quickie pun. I had to repeat it several times before it clicked.
Thank you, setter for a satisfying solve. Thank you, Gazza for the hints.
I like your rump suggestion, SC. It’s not often that there is a perfect alternative answer.
I did too Steve!
Glad I’m not alone, Manders.
It was so perfect, Tom I assumed it was correct. A pity I missed the lurker in 10a otherwise I would have known.
If it was an Anthony Plumb puzzle, it would have been the answer.
But, at this end of the week, setters tend to have the synonym as fodder.
As you are a wordsmith, Tom I’m surprised you wrote “If it was”. 😊
Doh!
As many of my school reports said: C minus, Tom. Could do better.
I already had the 10a letter in, but so sure was I that it had to be rump I doubted if I had the lurker correct!
The more I think about it, Sim the more I consider 6d to be such a good clue and, perhaps, should have been my COTD. It’s the ultimate in misdirection.
.. I didn’t fall into that trap as I’d picked up the goods at 10a on the first pass.
Good puzzle today .. many good clues so no cotd per se.
Re the quick pun … for the life of me I cannot make that work … I think you would need some sort of speak impediment to make pill sound like bill!
I was disappointed because I had finished the guzzle by 10.30 in the coach on the way to visit Gainsborough’s house on an Arts Society trip. Of course i was far too early but I might have made history by beating you gentlemen! Lovely Xword and what’s more all done without recourse to any big red books. Just waiting for lunch to be served , but dropped by to tell you I was nearly a contender for first place!!! Many thanks to Setter and Hinter, I might tackle the toughie on the way home.
Yes, another one who biffed rump in until 10a said otherwise. I had the second word of 1a already in my head so I doubted rump anyway.
And I was so sure rump was right til it just wouldn’t work with 1a.
Another gentle offering from today’s setter resulting in a steady fill. I had to check post-solve that the synonym for emotion in 28a was correct, but otherwise straightforward. I liked the old Italians and the anagram at 16d, but COTD is 1a.
Many thanks to the setter and Gazza
1*/3*
The Quickie pun is a bit of a stretch, but it just about works.
Gentle and elegant for a Thursday. Lots to like so many ticks on my print out today. Spoilt for choice for podium places so, at random, they go to 9a, 8d and 20a. Thanks to compiler and Gazza.
I found this pretty gentle for a Thursday with only a couple of hold-ups as I worked my way around the grid. It was still a rewarding solve, though, with plenty of enjoyable clues to unravel, best of which, for me, was 1a.
Thanks to our setter and Gazza.
A nice solve on a friendly grid that didn’t cause too many headaches.
I am torn but am plumping for Silvanus.
8d reminds me of that joke:
‘He’s leaving Friday.’
‘Who?’
‘8d’
I forgot to say yesterday that queue is French for tail as it looks like one.
I discovered a truly shocking word yesterday: Instead of saying the noun ‘Opposition’ or ‘Resistance’ Demi Moore said ‘Against-ness’!!!!!
The hyphen is saying ‘Let me off?’.
Goodness me.
Silverware goes to 9a, 15a and 7d.
MTTTA and Gazza (love the Truss pic!)
2*/4*
Oh, the pun is a beaut.
“Againstness”!!!!! We’re going to have to ask Terence to set ups new room for incorrect “..ness” words!!!!
Irregardless was looking good for word of the year but this bad boy could be the one.
Like others I found today’s guzzle enjoyable and accessible . I liked the anagram at 1d, the lego clue at 1a, the aticky predicament at 18a and the literary cryptic definition at 8d. Thanksto the compiler for a very pleasant solve
How forgetful of me.. thanks to Gazza for the hints.
Another enjoyable start to the day – I followed SC in looking for a quick starter and opting for ‘rump’ at 6d. I liked 9a the old Italians and the 3d the Presidents chairs but my COTD was 1a where I should have know better than to allow the capital G to throw me off course.
I lost myself on the parsing of 27a – I took ‘rioting” as an anagram indicator and ‘occasionally’ led me to the even letters in “uproar”. That left me trying to understand why “these people” was a definition of the solution.
I could not see what ‘in work’ added to the 8d clue, but I expect to be educated fairly swiftly.
My thanks to the setter and Gazza for the hints
8d … in a literary work.
Thank you Gazza, much appreciated…as always the answer is in plain sight.
Although this was a very gentle solve I found it hugely enjoyable. Lots of humour and clever surfaces. There does seem to be a thing in the world of crossword setting where ideas and words appear in clusters. I believe Gordon Sumner was involved in a clue recently as was the flower in 12A and 24D is a regular visitor. I struggle to nominate a COTD as I enjoyed so many but 8D has my final vote.
A couple of English loan words which the Thais have mangled and adapted to their own ends which I find amusing.
‘Ver’, is the shortened version of, ‘over’, which the Thais use to describe something which is excessive in any way. Your behaviour can be, ‘ver’, as can, your appearance or your views.
‘Wape’, is a word you will hear several times a day if you visit a 7/11. It’s the Thai version of, ‘to microwave’, and is used to ask if you want any of the ready meals 7/11 sell, to be heated up as a take away.
‘Pretty’, is an adjective that the Thais have adopted as a noun and refers to the promotional workers who frequent the numerous shopping malls, trying to sell you, mainly beauty products.
Thanks to Gazza for the hints, I needed confirmation of the parsing of 14D and to the setter for a very enjoyable challenge.
Super puzzle, for which both Gazza’s summary (an enjoyable and reasonably gentle challenge) and honours board (15a, 3d, 8d) chimed exactly with what I felt.
Having tackled the puzzle broadly clockwise and starting with the downs, like SteveC & GrahamP I put “RUMP” for 6d since it parses perfectly, until seeing 10a made me realise it had to be something else – it became my LOI, after 1a. A little surprised the clue made it through the editorial review.
Many thanks to the setter for a fine puzzle, and to Gazza for the review.
Enjoyable and not too taxing although I struggled with 27a despite all checkers – LOI.
3d and 8d favourites today.
I’m not sure 18d entirely works for me as the cap remains a cap and not part of the anagram.
Thanks to Gazza and Setter
With this being RayT’s Thursday off the setter is anyone’s guess. I found this puzzle was less difficult than I had thought it might be.
2.5*/3.5*
Favourites include 11a, 12a, 21a, 8d, 16d & 20d — with winner 8d
Thanks to setter & Gazza
A pleasant solve but the conclusion is Silvanus-like but not quite Silvanus – 2.5*/3.5*
I agree with SL8 on ‘cap’ in 19d and there’s a definite Hmm over the Pun.
Candidates for favourite – 9a, 17a, 28a, and 8d – and the winner is 8d.
Thanks to Silvanus, or whomsoever if it is not he, and Gazza.
Obeying the request to read the clues before commenting, I thought Gazza’s cartoons were excellent, especially that for 16d and also 9d, even if it was rather unkind. I enjoyed the crossword, with a slight questionmark against 3d where I tend to think of the two positions as quite separate. Favourite clue was 8d.
A lovely and surprisingly gentle puzzle.
Top picks for me were 3d, 9a, 15a, 1d and 8d.
I also liked the Quickie pun.
Thanks to Gazza and the setter.
This week seems to be one of gentle and enjoyable crosswords
Thanks to the setter, I don’t think this was the work of Silvanus, and to Gazza
All very pleasant for a Thursday. Needed the hints to parse 27a. Don’t think I’ve seen that construct before (alternate letters and then another word as fodder).
Even though its surely been 40 years since they released anything, its surprising how frequently that ‘Policeman’ crops up.
Anyway thanks to the setter and of course to Gazza for the blog and the cartoons.
I typed a comment and it’s disappeared into the ether, so I’ll be brief for my second attempt …
2*/4* for a light and fun puzzle with 8d my favourite.
Many thanks to the setter and to Gazza.
Seems an odd thing to complain about, but there are too many easy puzzles these days. Obviously a few are welcome, and Mon/Tue should be at that end of the spectrum, but that’s four on the bounce that have been straightforward. Considering the DT puzzles are the easiest of the broadsheet cryptics, the odd tricky-to-hard puzzle is surely not too much to ask.
[I’m going to be punished heavily for this moan, aren’t I, probably by tomorrows puzzle]
Yep, I bet tomorrow’s will have teeth. 😊
Thinking about this again, I should have remembered the DT has a Toughie, too, which other papers don’t have. I never even look at it on the app, having been put off by miserable performances when I last tried. That was over a year ago, and as (I think!) I’ve got better, maybe I’ll give it another go.
The Toughies this week have been very approachable, Anorak, and today’s from Kcit is a snorter with some superb clues, though I should not trust ALP’s 1-star difficulty rating!
Hi, Anorak. The other thing to remember is that different people find different puzzles easier or harder. Like you, I found this one and Wednesday’s fairly fast to solve … but Monday’s took me much longer, and I didn’t even dare attempt Tuesday’s after struggling with it so much wast week when other’s said it was easy. Yet Sunday’s, which several commenters reported finding hard, I finished faster than Monday’s.
If anybody ever finds a run of crosswords too easy or too hard, I recommend presuming there are other solvers out there for whom they are just right.
And good luck with the Toughies!
* / ****
A very gentle Thursday, I’d agree with most above. Some super surfaces and only double checking the Italians led to any post solve nefariousness (another ‘ness’ word but correct, unlike Demi Moor’ – see out #5). Also, as above, “rump” went into 6d until 1a and 10a proved otherwise. 1a got a tick as did 1d for their constructions. The rest was enjoyable throughout.
Many thanks to (I’m not guessing) the setter and Gazza.
Enjoying Blood on the Tracks by Mr Dylan 🎸
Frustrating puzzle today as mistook 6d as taking away ends of grumpy for rump and 16d as I couldn’t get J in to start as to me it’s not a bump start🤷♂️
A jump start is with another another battery and jump leads a 16d is with a push.
It’s a bank holiday in Zurich today. Nevertheless there’s still a lot to be done. Was expecting to be tested by today’s puzzle but it was exceptionally gentle. God help us tomorrow.
1a, 1d and 3d are my top picks. Enjoyable throughout but I will refrain from highlighting half the clues.
Many thanks to the setter and hinter
So at first I thought this was going to be a struggle but I gained traction in the NE and then continued clockwise. I was pleased that learning the Greek alphabet at the weekend paid off straight away as I got 24d off bat by reciting it , considering all characters with a T. Very satisfying 😀. (Of course I would have got it anyway as I knew theta , but you know what I mean. ) I just checked the hint for the parsing of 23a , and a ‘doh’ moment ref the key , that often crops up. I also spent ages on my last one in 27a , as I couldn’t figure the parsing and the definition didn’t make sense. All clear now from the hint. A enjoyable solve . Thanks to the setter and Gazza.
I just finished Sundays prize puzzle – I was away at the weekend , and pleased that my Greek alpha team learning also came into play there too ! Found it quite tough in places so pleased to have got there in the end.
Alpha team ??😳
A gentle Thursday indeed, nice to find the time to do this before 10pm for a change, has kept me company on the train to Brighton for a little social.
LOI was 9A, timely while I’m planning an Italy trip for my birthday in a couple of months.
Pody selections are 20D’s rekrul as TDS calls ‘em (I probably suffer from 20D too), 27A’s all in oner, and 5D’s nice 80s-tastic musical surface.
Thanks to setter and Gazza ⭐️
Was not one of those who were in the American line for rump, although it still makes sense. The clues were queuing up to be answered and were in no way disappointing. Plaudits go to 8d.
Thanks to all. I usually struggle with Silvanus so maybe someone else?
Those completing the crossword electronically, are your ticks imaginary?!🤔
Another enjoyable solve almost perfect but for the “close but no cigar “ when I finished- caused by a misspelling of 7d.
Sadly I am not part of the rump club having gone straight for synonyms of grumpy to start. My problem was 27a I got the word and couldn’t parse it, now I have seen the working out above I still don’t think I would get that from the cluelng another time.
COTD has to be 3d for me.
Mr SC does the quickie and we both have struggled with this mornings pun the best we can come up with is Village Hall ? Can anyone help
The answer is given under the hints by Gazza, SC.
It’s very groan worthy. 😊
Thanks I totally missed that!
Makes a lot more sense than Village Hall what duffers we are.
Off the the pub for Thursday club now!
I will not say much as my posts have not been coming up. Great puzzle. Ticks everywhere and many thanks.
Am I on the naughty step and banned ?
No, not banned. For some unknown reason your recent comments were going to the spam folder. I have released them all.
I was slow off the mark but got going and eventually, with a bit of outside help, made the grade. I was another 6d rump. Was slow in the uptake on 1d which hampered things for a bit. Stupidly tried for a while to use er for 18a hesitation. Took a while for 8d work penny to drop. Didn’t know 20d film although it had to be. Not one of my favourites and, as per several others, can’t name the setter whom I thank anyway along with hinting Gazza.
Thanks all.
Apologies to those who didn’t enjoy the elephant trap at 6d. As long as the crossing letters deny the wrong solution, it’s all part of the game.
Thank you Gazza for the review.
6d was a brilliant clue, Tumbledown and elephant trap is a good description. Thank you for an enjoyable puzzle.
Many thanks for the enjoyable puzzle, Twmbarlwm.
Well that was a surprise, a Thursday puzzle that I was able to do without help for the most part. It was a nice distraction, helping keep me away from packing for our upcoming trip, which usually sends my BP into the stratosphere. Stupid I know, and should just be glad that this trip is actually happening when it seemed likely to be canceled until very recently. Lots of lovely clues today and can’t really pick a COTD. Thanks to Twmbarlwm and Gazza.
Finished without any assistance but had to check the hints afterwards to fully parse 18d, 23a, 27a and 28a. COTD 27a for its construction although it is almost too clever by half. Thanks to Twmbarlwm and Gazza. **/****
Gentle for a Thursday but good fun for the short time it lasted. 8d was my pick of the peripheral long uns & also particularly liked 9&15a plus 3&14d. 👎 for the dreadful Quick pun.
Thanks to the setter & to Gazza.
Ps 2 great lesser known perhaps Nicholas Cage films to recommend – Raising Arizona & Red Rock West
This was a highly enjoyable puzzle with too many excellent clues to pick one favourite, I enjoyed all the long outsiders.
Many thanks to Twmbarlwm and to Gazza for the hints.
Thank you to Twmbarlwm for this enjoyable puzzle with lots of fun references. I didn’t know the 26a bird nor that 15a had won an Oscar, but that didn’t impede solving them; maybe I’ll retain them for next time, or maybe I’ll forget them again. I avoided the ‘rump’ trap simply by setting 1a straight away; the other long ones round the outside took longer, however.
My top couple were the English PMs in 9a and the musical acts sampling 5d. Thank you to Gazza for being on explaining duty.
Just finished but not quite a complete solve without needing reference. Like others, I nearly fell into the trap posed by 6d/10a but I had seen the reversal in the latter of the two. It did make me doubt myself.
Favourites then were 1a, 3d and 6d.
Thank you to the setter and to Gazza for the hints.
Never commented before. But was dumbfounded by 1 across and 10 across for ages because I had RUMP as the answer to 6 down instead of ETCH.
On the quickie – I got the PILL EACH HOLE to mean Village Hall not Billy Joel…..so two in a day.
Welcome to the blog, Dick.
Welcome from me as well, Dick and do please comment again. 👍
Enjoyable with a good few amusing clues 😄