Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31244
Hints and Tips by Gazza
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** Enjoyment ****
Deansleigh is on holiday (and probably without Internet access) this week so I’m standing in for him.
Thanks to today’s setter for a very enjoyable challenge which is fairly gentle. All three of the long anagrams fell quickly based on the enumerations and a few checkers so that was a big help in completing the grid.
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 Tell fib about retired supermodel being flexible (7)
LISSOME: a verb to tell a fib contains (about) the reversal (retired) of the surname of an English supermodel.
5a Cure-all somewhat cheap, an ace alternative (7)
PANACEA: hidden (somewhat) in the clue.
9a Cyclists make pod cast – chaotically funny scenes! (9,6)
SLAPSTICK COMEDY: an anagram (cast) of CYCLISTS MAKE POD.
10a 3 witches in a gathering failing at the outset (4)
OVEN: the definition refers to 3d. We need a word for a gathering of witches without its first letter (failing at the outset). A very neat clue because, thanks to the Bard, we tend to think of witches in groups of three.
11a Trouble occupying very advanced, superior house (5)
VILLA: a synonym of trouble or pain goes inside (occupying) abbreviations for very and advanced.
12a First half of the alphabet, something very small (4)
ATOM: the first half of the alphabet is 1,2,1.
15a Line that touches bronzed chap? (7)
TANGENT: charade of an adjective meaning bronzed and another word for a chap.
16a Our Tim goes out, ending in awful commotion (7)
TURMOIL: an anagram (goes out) of OUR TIM followed by the end letter of awful.
17a Connery’s lost somewhere to rest his butt (7)
ASHTRAY: how Sir Sean would have pronounced an adverb meaning lost or ‘off course’.
19a Leave a group of musicians working (7)
ABANDON: assemble A (from the clue), a word for a musical group and an adjective meaning working or in operation.
21a Convict’s first time in prison (4)
CAGE: the first letter of convict and a word for a period of time.
22a Convent always storing odd bits of Bible (5)
ABBEY: a (mainly Scottish) adverb meaning always contains (storing) the odd letters of Bible.
23a Sudden twinge leads to Annie needing to have PG Tips (4)
PANG: the leading letters of Annie needing are contained in (tipped by) P and G.
26a Branch of US Govt affirmed European role meant ignoring America (5,10)
STATE DEPARTMENT: string together a verb meaning affirmed or declared, an abbreviation for European, a synonym of role and MEaNT with the abbreviation for America left out.
27a Show with cops and drama (7)
DISPLAY: the abbreviation for senior CID officers and a synonym of drama.
28a Postgrads spotted cycling in enormous numbers (2,5)
EN MASSE: stick together postgraduate qualifications and a past participle meaning spotted or noticed then cycle the final two letters to the front.
Down
1d Act violently, like husband punching ruffian (4,3)
LASH OUT: a preposition meaning like and the genealogical abbreviation for husband go inside (punching) a ruffian or yobbo.
2d Traitor taking harnesses off (5,2,3,5)
SNAKE IN THE GRASS: an anagram (off) of TAKING HARNESSES.
3d Kiln starts to overheat after setting temperature (4)
OAST: the starting letters of four words in the clue.
4d Exclusive English literature topped list (7)
ELITIST: abbreviations for English and literature followed by ‘list’ without its first letter (topped).
5d Stupid boy allowed crumpet (7)
PIKELET: the name of the ‘stupid boy’ in Dad’s Army and a verb meaning allowed. I know we’ve all seen this classic clip many times but it’s worth another viewing:
6d Element of Tube lighting? (4)
NEON: my initial thought was that this clue was a double definition but I now think it’s a cryptic definition of the element (a noble gas) which is used in fluorescent tubes.
7d IKEA makes these amazingly shrewd forecasts (6,2,7)
CHESTS OF DRAWERS: an anagram (amazingly) of SHREWD FORECASTS.
8d Very bad baby’s ma lost bottles (7)
ABYSMAL: hidden (bottles) in the clue.
13d Shuttle service runs aboard iron railway (5)
FERRY: the cricket abbreviation for runs goes between (aboard) the chemical symbol for iron and the abbreviation for railway.
14d Fear doctor each day (5)
DREAD: weld together abbreviations for doctor, each and day.
17d Hancock regularly employed individual in dock (7)
ACCUSED: the even (regularly) letters of Hancock and a verb meaning employed.
18d Bad behaviour by boy running around Exeter’s walls (7)
YOBBERY: an anagram (running) of BY BOY goes around the outer letters (walls) of Exeter.
19d Outstanding art gallery film material (7)
ACETATE: an adjective meaning outstanding and our usual art gallery.
20d Close cup game that goes on fairly late (7)
NIGHTIE: an archaic adverb meaning close or near followed by a match in a cup competition.
24d Kent port trade (4)
DEAL: double definition, the second the type of arrangement that President Trump is always keen to secure.
25d This compiler’s hosting extremely talkative couple (4)
ITEM: the contracted way the compiler would say that ‘he is’ containing (hosting) the outer letters (extremely) of talkative.
I liked 10a, 17a, 5d and 20d. Which one(s) made your highlights tape?
The Quick Crossword pun: GREY + THAI + DEER = GREAT IDEA!
I found this a lot more straightforward than yesterday’s and but very enjoyable. Thanks to the setter and Gazza.
I still don’t get 12a at all!
Welcome to the blog, Chris.
How would you list the first 13 letters of the alphabet (1,2,1)?
What did you think of the puzzle?
Oh dear! Yes, got it now. Being slow! Really enjoyed the puzzle and completed it with help on a couple of clues from you – 17a and 19d. Thank you! I did actually get 12a myself but just couldn’t work out why that was the answer so thank you for your help!
Welcome to the blog from me, as well, Chris. Please keep on commenting. 👍
A to M is the first half of the alphabet. I think that a very similar clue was set some time ago
Welcome to the blog, Chris clueless.
First part of alphabet is a to m.
When you put these together it says atom which is very small
A lovely puzzle, one of those (for me anyway) very rare instances where on starting with the downs all bar one went in on reading, with all the acrosses in order afterwards, leaving just the one left after the first full pass. Very satisfying indeed!
As Gazza said, the enumeration of the long clues (especially 2d & 7d) helped no end, and I thought the surfaces and humour were all top notch. I ended up with exactly the same clues on my podium: 10a, 17a, 5d, and 20d.
As to the witches, being an unrepentant Pratchett fan my first thought was of Granny, Nanny & Magrat!
Many thanks to the setter (Hudson?) and to Gazza
I’m with you on the witches
Mild and amusing. The long anagrams needed a bit of teasing out, but otherwise no problems and an unaided solve. Loved Connery’s accessory 17a and the close cup game 20d, but my COTD is Ikea’s product 7d.
Many thanks to the setter and Gazza
1*/4*
Light and fun. Thank you to the setter, especially for 10a with the 3 witches, Connery’s butt in 17a, PG Tips in 23a,
the 28a cycling postgrads, and the 20d cup game going on late.
And thank you to Gazza for confirming the 5d stupid boy.
Why is ‘IKEA’ in all-caps in 7d? It’s pronounced as a word, and written as ‘Ikea’ in Telegraph articles about the shops.
It’s an acronym, Smylers, and if it’s written as you say in the DT that’s possibly just lazy journalism.
Is ‘Ikea’ actually an acronym, though? Its name is formed from the initials of one person and two places, but it isn’t like those words are a known phrase. Nobody could say “I got this from Ingvar Kamprad Elmtaryd Elmtaryd,” in a way that they could refer to HSBC by its expansion, or KFC, or Nasa.
If you put IKEA in capitals, do you also write TESCo (TES + Cohen) and AsDa (Associated Dairies)? Or use a capital R in the middle of WaitRose?
Anyway, it’s a matter of style, rather than laziness: The Telegraph’s style book says: “acronym: If pronounced as a word (e.g. Nasa), cap first letter only. If said as letters (e.g. NHS, CPS), use upper case”. Obviously other plausible style options are available (that’s precisely why a style guide exists, for consistency), but choosing this one doesn’t make anybody lazy!
I removed my comment because I thought Mustafa had answered your question, but in view of your response, I’ll go back to saying that is how the company spells it on their website etc
Fair enough. I haven’t spotted similar treatment for TESCO, ALDI, and LEGO, or indeed for adidas, but perhaps I haven’t been looking properly or they haven’t cropped up in crosswords recently.
I’d suggest that in IKEA’s case not only is it an acronym (Ingvar Kamprad, Elmtaryd, Agunnaryd), but it is the proper name of the business and conveniently happens to be pronounceable as a coherent word (albeit usually mispronounced in the UK), while Tesco, Asda and Waitrose although also the proper names of their business are not individual letter acronyms (like HSBC) but rather abbreviations of longer components. FWIW I would write NASA rather than Nasa, which just looks … odd. Likewise CERN, which is not often/usually seen as Cern.
S. You’re overthinking this – and then some! Companies can use proper names to call themselves whatever they want. For example, YouTube uses one word with an odd-looking capital T in the middle. IKEA chose IKEA – it’s as simple as that.
HSBC isn’t an acronym it’s an initialism. Acronyms need to be pronounceable like NASA. BBC is an initialism.
You’ve changed your alias (you were Grazer in 2017) so this needed moderation. Both aliases will work from now on.
How did you like the puzzle?
Good puzzle, I enjoyed it!
The perfect, enjoyable, Wednesday backpager
Many thanks to the setter and Gazza
I found this easier than yesterday’s, a very enjoyable puzzle. Favourites were the very small thing at 12a and the 3d/10a linked clues. Mr Connery at 17a raised a chuckle too. Thanks Gazza and setter.
A very enjoyable crossword today and the Quickie pun was on target with no need to adjust for accent. Puzzle good too but nothing for the podium.
Forgot to thank the setter and Gazza. My apologies to both.
An enjoyablqe and straightforward guzzzle, which was rather enjoyable and finished innrecord time. I liked the supermmodel lego clue at 1a, the long anagram at 9a, the reference to thhe stupid boy in the tasty treat at 5d and the traitor t2d. Thanks to the compiler and to Gazza for the hints
Good fun all round – the 4 long ones went fairly easily thanks to some friendly checkers. I tried to turn 8a into an anagram, which made me smile, while 5d made me laugh at the thought of Mr Mannering using the words.
12a was new to me but I feel sure it will have appeared in crosswords before – very clever.
I’m going to for 28a as my COTD
Many thanks to the setter and Gazza for the hints
1.5*/4*. I found this light for a Wednesday but very enjoyable with 26a my favourite and 17a & 20d completing my podium.
Many thanks to the setter (Hudson?) and to Gazza.
Very enjoyable puzzle. Completed the right one today so that was a win.
The four long clues were great- although I did try to make enemy of the state fit two down at first doh!
Favourites today were 12a and 20d .
Apologies to the setter however I am not convinced by 17a. Finally got there after running through the alphabet in my head and then I struggled to parse it as there seemed to be a random letter H even looking at the helpful tips above still not completely convinced. Lots o you are though so I will just accept that one is not for me
Sir Sean had a slight speech impediment whereby he pronounced S as SH. In the film Goldfinger he pronounced Pussy Galore as Pushy Galore.
Very enjoyable today with 12a and 17a favourites today. 17a LOI and a real PDM.
Thanks to Gazza and Setter.
An excellent midweek puzzle with lots to like and amuse. I knew that 7a would have something to do with Mr. Connery’s pronunciation but I couldn’t see it for ages. Then the proverbial hit the top of my head and I laughed out loud. The long ones remained elusive until checkers came along and I wondered if 21a was an abbey but it’s in Chambers crossword dictionary. My COTD is the small something at 12a because it reminded me of the clue “HIJKLMNO (5)”.
Thank you, setter (Hudson?). Thank you, Gazza for the hints and cartoons.
HIJKLMNO – one of the best clues ever
A lovely puzzle with lots of smiles.
Top picks for me were 5d, 2d, 10a, 17a and 20d.
Thanks to Gazza for stepping in and the cartoons and of course to the setter.
Quickest solve of the week thus far no doubt helped by the 4 long ‘uns yielding without difficulty. All very enjoyable. Lots to like but 20d just pips 17a & 5d for top spot on the podium with a near miss for 10a.
Thanks to the setter (Hudson presumably) & to Gazza.
Ps The Silvanus Toughie is, as you would expect, a class act – not overly difficult & worth the price of admission for the Sadiq Khan clue if nothing else.
I agree about the Toughie, Huntsman – I’ve just finished it.
Third-ed’
Most enjoyable and not too challenging mid-week entertainment – 1.5*/5*
Candidates for favourite – 17a, 26a, 5d, 6d, and 18d – and the winner has to be the 5d stupid boy.
Thanks to the setter, Hudson seems to be a pretty safe bet, and Gazza.
Very nice, light and with many smiles along the way. The four long answers certainly anchored the solve. I’m awarding clue of the day to the Kent port trade in 24d. Thanks to compiler and Gazza.
Nice assortment of clues . Have to give 5 down the crown. Needed the explaination for 12 across although the answer was obvious. That clue is now filed away although the filing system can be a bit dodgy these days.if I can nominate a second best clue it goes to 20 down.
Thanks all round . It went down well with tea, coffee and some weeding.
Superb.
It’s very hard to decide between Mr Tumble and Hudson but I’m plumping for the latter.
Annoyingly, podcast isn’t two words but one. And, to put a smile on Senf’s face, it’s a portmanteau (iPod and broadcast). The Hud knows this and is asking us to let him have it which I will as it’s a great clue.
I love the dual use of 3 in 10a and the lurker in 8d was outstanding.
My hotly-contested podium is 1d, 7d and 20d.
MTTTA and stand-in Sid. We are so grateful to you and CS et al for your tireless efforts; we really are.
2*/5*
Tom, 9a. Using pod cast instead of podcast is the opposite of a “lift and separate” clue. A very contemporary type of clue called a “drop and combine”.
Hi J
I was referring to the surface which doesn’t work.
We love a Playtex clue or should that be Playtext.
Of course the surface works, Tom — some cyclists have encountered a pod of, say, dolphins and are creating funny scenes by making the dolphins cast rods to catch their fish. Obvious when you think about it!
Like it, S. Like it.
Gazza’s given a Playtex photo hint at 1a. From 2007, titled “Kate Moss Descending”.
*I was joking/being impish about 9a.Did you go researching for this new type of clue?
Forgive me for missing your joke, J.
We do like the term ‘drop and combine’.
A top choice of pic by The G.
This was very much a light delight that I completed earlier this morning then became involved in something else so forgot to comment. I loved the surface of 26a so that was my favourite.
Many thanks to our midweek setter and Gazza. Like others, I would heartily recommend the Silvanus Toughie which is up to his usual high standard and not too fiendish.
We are being spoiled this week. This was another fabulous crossword. The first pass allowed for a generous fill and the second, an almost clean sweep. There are so many great clues, a podium is impossible to select. My top picks are 1,9,15,17 and 22 across and 1,5,13,17,18,19 and 20 for the downs.
Just to make myself clear, this was absolutely top drawer and hugely enjoyable. Many thanks to the setter and hinter
A nice puzzle, a bit lightweight for a Wednesday but enjoyable enough. Some fine clues and I’ll go for 10a as my favourite. 2*/4*.
Lovely guzzle, we had that grid a few days ago and if you are fortunate enough to get the four long ones, you are up and away. I guessed at 26 and bunged it in so thanks Gazza for dismantling it for me and also explaining Connery’s ‘astray’. I liked the simplicity of 12a.
Listen up, folks. I had the most wonderful news this morning. A letter from the editor himself (or at least one of his staff) to say the had been approached by the Royal Lancers to say they were confident that they could provide a home for my parents’ wartime letters in their museum!
I cried with excitement, my father would be over the moon I do hope he is watching. He was so proud to have been a 17th/21st Lancer and had already given his silver cigarette case to them it had the route they took through N Africa and Italy scratched into the silver. DD1 transcribed the list and put it inside. Don’t you just love the power of the Daily Telegraph! I am so happy. And happy to thank Messrs Setter and Hinter for another Fine Mess to solve.
That’s wonderful news, Splitseeze.
How exciting for you and what a thrill!
Love the Hardy quote (not Thomas, this time)
Lovely news, Daisygirl. I need to meet you before joining in with some of TDS65’s nicknames for you!!! ☺
Hi A-Pop
No centenarian has done the splits.
A 99 year old five time gymnastics Olympic champion did it but she ain’t a patch on our Daze.
I look forward to recording it at The Bridge House in January 2034.
Yay — that’s great news, Daisygirl.
What great news! The old regimental museums are so important for preserving these mementos and how wonderful that the Lancers have stepped forward.
Good friend of mine was 17th/21st and then QRL, and so a splendid QRL flag (among others) with its skull and crossbones hangs in a barn where we have our rough and ready lunches during the winter.
How lovely ! It certainly is a striking emblem, I wear my Death or Glory badge with pride on 11th November every year!
That’s great news Daisy, so pleased for you.
That’s fantastic news, DG.
What lovely news – you must be thrilled to bits.
As Gazza says, 10a is a very neat clue. There was I, all set to remark that there was a possible misprint, with a missing definition. Very neat indeed. **/****
Such lovely and cheering news Daisygirl. So happy for you and your family. Bask in the glory!
That’s really lovely to hear DG. So pleased for you.
1.5* / 4* A thoroughly enjoyable midweeker with plenty of wit and misdirection.
Best clues of the day are the funny scenes at 9a, Connery’s lost at 17a and the very small 12a
Thanks to compiler and Gazza
Happy that this was a relatively easy puzzle but great fun. My son was staying with me and, though not a crossword regular, did it with me over breakfast, but meaning that I had to help him out upside down and sideways! As I said great fun, but no particular fave.
Many thanks to setter and to Gazza.
How lovely ! It certainly is a striking emblem, I wear my Death or Glory badge with pride on 11th November every year!
What a fun puzzle. Loved 17a and 12a and 20d. I for one would have forgiven the use of ‘podcast’ in 9a. Thanks to the setter and to Gazza for the excellent cartoons.
What a lovely puzzle. Just finished 8 holes and came back to this . What a fantastic start to the day .My favourites are Connery, Kate Moss and the mighty atom . Thanks to all.I might try the toughie now and see how that compares in enjoyment to this .
* / ****
Another fine offering today. Over pretty much as quickly as yesterday. The only holdup was Mr. Connery’s butt!!!!! Didn’t think of the pronunciation and even got diverted misreading and thinking of Billy Connolly to see if I could go anywhere with that. Ticks went to the superior house at 11a, which would have been even better if the clue ended “superior football team” – oo eeerrr, stay calm everyone. The other ticks went to the enormous numbers of postgrads at 28a and the superb stupid boy at 5a. No need for Gazza’s video link, it’s an unforgettable scene. I hear people use the phrase all the time – even those far too young to have watched the programme.
Many thanks to Gazza and the setter.
If someone asks for help with 5d .. don’t tell him! 🤣
What a delight, I don’t think I need say more.
Many thanks to the setter and to Gazza for the hints.
After struggling on Monday and Tuesday this all went in pretty smoothly, so I must have a few brain cells left, other opinions are available.12 was a bung in and it wasn’t till I read the hint that it became clear. There seems to be a bit of a theme going on with it but I haven’t twigged it yet.
Thanks to all.
A really enjoyable puzzle and all done on my own. No consulting the Thesaurus required! So many delightful clues, I loved the anagrams and lurkers. My only pause was the parsing of 17a. Many thanks to the setter and to Gazza whose hints I didn’t need today but please don’t stray too far!
The bigguns always play a part in how things go but I enjoyed this one.
Couple of quibbles – is bronzed a reasonable sub for the first part of 15A? I also wasn’t sure about the 20D definition starting with ‘that’, felt a little jarring.
Much to enjoy though – Pody prizes go to a fabulous trio – 17A’s Connery posterior, 1D’s ruffian getting come-uppance, and (COTD) 2D’s traitor, really like that menacing phrase as well as the surface anagram.
Many thanks to setter and to Gazza ⭐️
I did check that tan can be an adjective. The BRB calls it ‘tawny’. Collins says it means ‘of the colour tan’ and Merriam-Webster says it means ‘having a skin color that is darkened by exposure to the sun’s rays’.
Every day is a school day … thank you Gazza.
2D my favourite in a superb puzzle. VMT Setter & Gazza.
What a lovely and thoroughly enjoyable puzzle, it had everything. Favourite was 5d as it made me laugh, there were other contenders. If I ever have another dog I’m going to call him Pike so when someone says what’s his name I can say don’t tell him Pike. Well it amuses me and it’s not a bad name for a dog. Thanks to the setter and Gazza.
I’m never going to have another dog but if I did you’ve nailed its name. Made me chuckle – again!!!!
This was a delightful and fairly light puzzle. I started off parsing 1a straight away and feeling very pleased with myself as the definition is not a word I have ever used or consciously know so that was a good start. Finished the grid unaided , last on in being 6d , for which I just checked the hint for the parsing. Thanks to the setter and Gazza.
I’m in the US, so I couldn’t get 5d…I’ve heard of but never seen Dad’s Army, and I don’t know what the answer means…liked the puzzle a lot anyway!
The answer is another name for a crumpet although there are regional arguments as to whether they are the same. You could add muffin to the argument, Dad’s Army – Private Pike was asked his name. Captain Mannering said “Don’t tell him Pike”. Hilarious series. Brilliant puzzle. Thanks setter and Gazza.
Only just got round to this puzzle and what a joy it was; very cleverly put together 👏
Black Keys in the background 🎸
2*/4* ….
liked 20D “Close cup game that goes on fairly late (7)