Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31241
A full review by Rahmat Ali
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This puzzle was published on 16th May 2026
BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****
Greetings from Kolkata. A truly friendly and straightforward Saturday puzzle from NYDK that I enjoyed solving and thereafter writing a review of the same for your kind perusal and significant feedback.
I was aware of the meaning of ‘hot potato’, the answer to the clue at 17d, but this time I became interested in the etymology of the idiom. So, after solving the puzzle, I searched the internet and learned a great deal about it. Hot potato originated in the early nineteenth century. Literally, a freshly cooked potato is difficult to hold because of its heat, so people instinctively pass it quickly from hand to hand. This physical image gave rise to the figurative meaning of a controversial, awkward or sensitive issue that nobody wants to handle for long. The expression became especially common in political and public discourse, where difficult matters are often shifted from one person or institution to another. An earlier related phrase, ‘to drop something like a hot potato’ appeared in English before ‘hot potato’ itself became established as a noun phrase. Today, a ‘hot potato’ refers to any topic that provokes embarrassment, dispute or danger, prompting people to avoid responsibility for it. I further learnt that ‘hot potato’ is also a party game in which players gather in a circle and toss a small object, such as a beanbag or a soft ball, to one another while music is playing. The player holding the object when the music stops is eliminated. The origins of the ‘hot potato’ game are unclear. However, the game may date back as far as 1888, when Glossary of Sheffield Words describes a game in which several people sit in a row or on chairs arranged around a parlour. In this game, a lit candle is handed to the first person, who says, “Jack’s alive, and likely to live. If he dies in your hand, you’ve a forfeit to give.” The person in whose hand the candle goes out has to pay the forfeit.
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Across
1a Returning star: Bristol runner? (4)
AVON: NOVA (star) as a star that suddenly increases in brightness for a number of days or years coming from the other end (returning) as a reversal in the across clue takes to the definition referring to the river that continuously runs or flows through the city of Bristol
3a Flying machine triple echo interfered with (10)
HELICOPTER: The definition of a flying machine or an aircraft without wings but has large blades on top that go round, can fly straight up from the ground and can also stay in one position in the air is arrived at from an anagram (interfered with) of TRIPLE ECHO
10a Vessel carrying evil weapons (9)
ARTILLERY: ARTERY (vessel) as a tube or vessel that conveys blood from the heart to the body holding inside (carrying) ILL (evil) as evil or harm guides to the definition of offensive weapons of war
11a Hertfordshire town tango band (5)
TRING: The definition of a market town and civil parish in the Borough of Dacorum in Hertfordshire, England is obtained from a charade of T (tango) as the letter represented by Tango in NATO phonetic alphabet and RING (band) as a small circular band, typically of precious metal and often set with one or more gemstones, worn on a finger as an ornament or a token of marriage, engagement or authority
12a Exhausted writer in street (5)
SPENT: The definition of an adjective denoting exhausted or having being used and unable to be used again is got from PEN (writer) as an instrument used for writing placed inside (in) ST (street) as the abbreviation for street that is a type of paved way in a city, town or village
13a Carlos, El Muerto, initially disturbed everyone (9)
ALLCOMERS: An anagram (disturbed) of a combo of CARLOS, EL and the initial or first letter (initially) of M[UERTO] leads to the definition referring to everyone who wants to take part in an activity, especially a competition
14a Receptacle former PM brought in without delay (8)
SPITTOON: The definition of a container that is used to put or keep things in, an example of which is a spittoon i.e. a receptacle for spit, usually in a public place is reached from PITT (former PM) as referring to William Pitt who served as the last prime minister of Great Britain from 1783 until the Acts of Union 1800 placed inside (brought in) SOON (without delay) as early or without delay
16a Legendary ruler in craft endlessly upset (6)
ARTHUR: The definition of the legendary king of England who led the Britons in battles against the Saxons is reached from ART (craft) as a skilled profession or trade, craft or branch of activity followed by HUR[T] (upset) as to upset or cause distress to somebody devoid of the end or terminal letter (endlessly)
19a Score less than 100 (6)
EIGHTY: A cryptic definition of a number that is a group or set of twenty or its multiple is arrived at when such a number is mathematically translated to 100 minus 20
20a Salesman and consumer in Winchester? (8)
REPEATER: A charade of REP (salesman) as a short form for representative, especially in commerce, who is particularly a sales representative, essentially a travelling salesman or company salesperson and EATER (consumer) as a consumer who consumes or eats food for nourishment takes to the definition of a firearm that repeats, an example of which is a Winchester i.e. a tradename for Winchester rifle that is a repeating rifle and now a tradename for firearms etc, produced by the makers of the rifle
22a Cover tuna April cooked (9)
TARPAULIN: The definition of a heavy, waterproof piece of fabric that’s used as a protective cover or shelter is got from an anagram (cooked) of TUNA APRIL
24a The Dandy’s flipping entertaining old satire (5)
SPOOF: FOP’S (the dandy’s) as of or belonging to one particular dandy or a man who is preoccupied with and often vain about his clothes turning around (flipping) as a reversal in the across clue and taking inside (entertaining) O (old) as a synonym for old guides to the definition of a parody, take-off or satire
26a Revolutionary phase? (5)
CYCLE: A cryptic definition of a phase or period of a recurring motion or process, where revolutionary is used as a literal adjective meaning relating to a rotation, turning or revolution around an axis
27a Antagonistic Iran tests explosive (9)
RESISTANT: The definition of an adjective meaning capable of, offering or showing resistance, an example of which is antagonistic i.e. indicating opposition or resistance is reached from an anagram (explosive) of IRAN TESTS
28a One pair in front seeing what’s said (3-7)
LIP-READING: A charade of LIP (one pair in front) as referring to one of the pair of lips that is part of the face and READING (seeing) as construing, interpreting, deciphering or seeing takes to the definition of a verb in the continuous form denoting understanding speech from observing a speaker’s lip movements as to what’s said or watching what’s said by someone
29a Devil or demon embracing God (4)
LORD: Part of or hidden inside (embracing) [DEVI]L OR D[EMON] takes to the definition of a title given to God or Jesus Christ, as in the Bible
Down
1d First Lady’s partner’s an old president (5)
ADAMS: ADAM’S (First Lady’s partner’s) as of or belonging to Adam, the first man and partner of Eve, the first woman that leads to the definition of a Founding Father and the second president of the United States from 1797 to 1801, whose full name was John Adams
2d See 5 Down
4d Means to rise to the top in Washington? (8)
ELEVATOR: A cryptic definition of the American term that can be heard in Washington or any state or city of the United States for ‘lift’ that people in the United Kingdom uses as a means to rise or elevate to a higher floor or up to the topmost floor in a building or skyscraper
5d and 2 Down Move like filthy dogs circling knight in 21 29 18 26 (6,2,3,4)
IDYLLS OF THE KING: An anagram (move) of LIKE FILTHY DOGS surrounding or coming round (circling) N (knight) as the official standard abbreviation for a knight in chess notation leads to the definition of a cycle of twelve narrative poems by the English poet Alfred, Lord Tennyson which retells the legend of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table, or precisely, 21d 29a 18d 26a
6d Subcontract abroad before spring (9)
OUTSOURCE: The definition of a verb meaning to subcontract, especially work, to another company is reached from OUT (abroad) as away from home or outside the country of domicile, i.e. abroad e.g. ‘He is out in France’ meaning ‘He has gone out to France’ placed above (before) SOURCE (spring) as a spring that forms the starting point of a stream in the down clue
7d Kid adopted by the heartless race (5)
TRIBE: RIB (kid) as a slang term for a verb meaning to tease, ridicule or make fun of, an example of which is kid i.e. a verb denoting to tease, delude or deceive as a joke covered or embraced by (adopted by) T[H]E from the clue without its middle or central letter (heartless) leads to the definition of a race or people or a family who are all descended from the same ancestor
8d Marrow right when screened by back doctor (9)
REGISTRAR: A combo of GIST (marrow) as the main or essential part or essence of a matter, an example of which is a marrow i.e. the inmost, essential or vital part of something and R (right) as the abbreviation for right covered or surrounded by (when screened by) REAR (back) as denoting the back or hind of something, as distinguished from the front takes to the definition of a hospital doctor senior to a houseman but junior to a consultant, specialising in either medicine or surgery
9d Fool caught by destiny (4)
CLOT: The definition of a stupid person or a fool is got from C (caught) as the abbreviation for caught by as in cricket followed by (by) LOT (destiny) as destiny, chance or luck
14d Dubious plastic recycled outside church (9)
SCEPTICAL: The definition of an adjective meaning dubious or fraught with uncertainty or doubt is reached from an anagram (recycled) of PLASTIC placed around (outside) CE (church) as the abbreviation for Church of England
15d Revolutionary film repeatedly inspires a discussion (4-1-4)
TÊTE-À-TÊTE: Overturning (revolutionary) as reversals in the down clue of ET (film) as simply known for the science fiction movie E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial quadruple times, or simply, in a repeated fashion (repeatedly) taking or breathing inside (inspires) A from the clue guides to the definition of a private conversation or discussion between two people
17d Dish given author regularly? Controversial matter! (3,6)
HOT POTATO: HOTPOT (dish) as a dish of chopped mutton, beef etc seasoned and stewed together with sliced potatoes followed by (given) the regular or oddly-placed letters (regularly) of A[U]T[H]O[R] produces the definition of a controversial issue or a tricky problem or assignment that one would prefer not to touch
18d Curious new trap set up laureate once (8)
TENNYSON: A charade of NOSY (curious) as unduly curious or inquisitive about the affairs of others, N (new) as the abbreviation for new and NET (trap) as a trap of netting to catch fish, birds or insects sequentially going upwards (set up) as reversals in the down clue takes to the definition of the English poet who was also the Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom during much of Queen Victoria’s reign
21d King Crimson supports a large following (6)
ALFRED: The definition of the King of the West Saxons from 871 to 886 and King of the Anglo-Saxons from 886 until his death in 899 who was famously known as Alfred the Great is reached from RED (crimson) as any of various colours resembling the colour of blood, an example of which is crimson i.e. a deep or vivid purplish red to vivid red having on the above in the down clue (supports) a combo of A from the clue, L (large) as the abbreviation for large that is usually referred to large size of shirt or other clothing and F (following) as the abbreviation for following
23d Run with raised speed – run over again! (5)
RECAP: R (run) as the abbreviation for run or runs scored in cricket followed by (with) PACE (speed) as speed of movement, especially of walking or running in an upward direction (raised) as a reversal in the down clue leads to the definition of the shortened form of the verb ‘recapitulate’ meaning to run over or state again as a summary or review
24d Elite soldiers bashing in middle window frame (4)
SASH: SAS (elite soldiers) as the abbreviation for Special Air Service that is a famous unit of elite British soldiers followed by the middle letter (in middle) of [BAS]H[ING] takes to the definition of the frame that holds glass in a window and that allows the window to open or close by sliding up and down
25d Offensively smelly G-man keeping it up (5)
FETID: The definition of an adjective denoting smelling extremely unpleasant or offensive is reached from FED (G-man) as a US slang for a Federal agent i.e. an agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, an example of which is a G-man holding inside (keeping) IT from the clue in a raised manner (up) as a reversal in the down clue
There were several clues that I liked in this puzzle such as 10a, 13a, 14a, 19a, 20a, 28a, 29a, 4d, 5d/2d, 7d, 8d, 15d and 18d; 28a being the best of the lot. My prayers to the Almighty for the eternal rest and peace of BD and my thanks to NYDK for the entertainment. Looking forward to seeing you here again. Have a nice day.