Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31249
Hints and tips by Huntsman
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BD Rating – Difficulty * Enjoyment ***
Another infernally hot day here in Harpenden. I’m sure I used to cope much better with extremes of heat than I seem to now.
Today’s Anthony Plumb (I assume) production is a typically gentle affair & as ever nicely clued throughout. For whatever reason the solve took marginally longer than yesterday but I’d rate them at a similar level of difficulty.
For any looking for a further challenge Hudson is on duty over in t’other place with his usual excellence. Other than 2 answers that merit admission to the new wing housing The List it’s a fairly gentle affair & well worth a look at. I’m sure Whybird will be pleased to hear from you.
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 Mentions about sacred chest found in manuscript (7)
REMARKS: the usual preposition for about/concerning then append the abbreviation for manuscript inserting the sacred chest that held the Ten Commandments between the two letters.
5a Hopelessness of the French leader in Parisian broadcast (7)
DESPAIR: the French contraction of a preposition & a plural indefinite article meaning ‘of the’ + P[arisian] (leader in) then append a verb meaning to broadcast/transmit.
9a Papa with uniform – right outfit for work (7)
PURSUIT: the Nato phonetic alphabet letters + the single letter for R[ight] followed by a formal outfit/attire. Hands up any (like me) who initially thought the last 3 words the definition?
10a Forgives Conservative after former exploits (7)
EXCUSES: C[onservative] preceded by (after) the usual prefix for former then append a verb for exploits/takes advantage of.
11a Gets bigger screen, as I ordered (9)
INCREASES: our 1st anagram (ordered) of SCREEN AS I.
12a Naughty child not at first making mistake (5)
ERROR: remove the initial letter (not at first) from a term for a naughty child.
13a Takes off the woman’s enthralling diamonds (5)
SHEDS: insert (enthralling) the card suit D[iamonds] into a singular 3rd person pronoun with the possessive for the woman’s.
15a Nearest criminal aimed and hit me, not hard (9)
IMMEDIATE: an anagram (criminal) of AIMED [h]IT ME (not Hard).
17a Poorly Lucy exited, leaving university feverishly (9)
EXCITEDLY: another anagram (poorly) L[u]CY EXITED (not University). Bit of a shame perhaps that two 9 letter anagrams, both with a single letter abbreviation needing to be discarded from the fodder, come on top of each other.
19a Rubbish student’s lost motivation (5)
DRIVE: remove (lost) the single letter for student/L[earner] from a nounal synonym for rubbish.
22a Somewhat machinating state (5)
CHINA: hidden (somewhat).
23a Person swallowing story, very trusting (9)
BELIEVING: a nounal synonym for person/living creature goes around (swallowing) story/untruth + V[ery].
25a Young dogs quietly finished pastry dishes (7)
PUPPIES: link 3 elements in this charade – the single letter for quietly in music, an adjective for finished/over & savoury pastry dishes.
26a Drinking without husband complaining (7)
WHINING: drinking in this context is the imbibing of fermented grape juice that usually accompanies dining. Place around (without meaning outside of) the single letter for H[usband].
27a Son photographs hares (7)
SPRINTS: S[on] + developed photographs.
28a Snake with tail cut departs disconcerted (7)
RATTLED: remove the end letter (tail cut) from the informal name for a genera of snake that relies on its tail to deter predators then add the single letter for D[eparts].
Down
1d Affectation of superiority after salesman retires (7)
REPAIRS: the usual abbreviation for a salesman then append (after) a plural noun (with graces in the idiom) for an affectation of superiority.
2d A cold lake in marshy area? Marvellous thing (7)
MIRACLE: insert (in) A from the clue + C[old] + L[ake] into a another noun for a marshy area/bog.
3d Provoke arguments on the podcast (5)
ROUSE: a homophone (on the podcast) of a synonym for arguments.
4d Diet is as arranged, keeping female happy (9)
SATISFIED: insert (keeping) F[emale] into an anagram (arranged) of DIET IS AS.
5d Club subscription covers 50 fights (5)
DUELS: another word for subs/annual fees goes round (covers) the Roman numeral for 50. Ridley Scott’s first film is an excellent Napoleonic Wars saga based on a Joseph Conrad novella about a rivalry between two French Hussars who fight six of them. Highly recommended.
6d Followed and reached the top (9)
SUCCEEDED: a double definition.
7d Capone perhaps leaving one country for another (7)
AUSTRIA: delete the first name of a mobster from one large country & you’re left with a much smaller one – not just by two letters.
8d Doubt inaccurate tennis player could do this? (7)
RESERVE: think (2-5) for what the tennis player is required to do if the opening shot fails to land cleanly in the required section of the court
14d Move to Tunisia for employment (9)
SITUATION: an anagram (move) of TO TUNISIA.
16d Former PM on river vessel (9)
MAYFLOWER: A 21st century PM + crosswordland’s favourite description of a river. Alternatively swap out a single letter in the nom de plume of one of our regular commenters.
17d Gets free garments after ends of the sales (7)
ESCAPES: sleeveless outer garments preceded by (after) the final letter (ends of) in the last two words of the clue.
18d Ammunition container for every ship (7)
CLIPPER: a receptacle for firearm bullets + a preposition meaning ‘for every’
20d First hammered nail – it supports cabinet, essentially (7)
INITIAL: an anagram (hammered) of NAIL IT & [cab]I[net] (essentially).
21d Busy English artist turned up, scratching bottom (7)
ENGAGED: the 3 letter abbreviation for English & the truncated reversal (turned up/down clue & scratching bottom/last letter) of a French impressionist artist.
23d Sordid small stations (5)
BASES: an adjective for sordid/vulgar + S[mall].
24d We admit ignoring every other court order (5)
EDICT: the alternate (ignoring every other) letters of the first two words in the clue + the usual abbreviation for court.
I’ll plump for a podium, in no particular order, of 23&26a + 21d. Please let us know which clues ticked your boxes.
Today’s Quick Crossword pun: MEN + YEW + CARD = MENU CARD
This morning’s audio while writing up the hints has been the 10th anniversary Live recording, with his band The 400 Unit, of Jason Isbell’s Southeastern album. I’m looking forward to seeing them at the Royal Albert Hall on June 11th & I’ll be very disappointed if this one doesn’t make the setlist.
This was similar to yesterday’s puzzle. Very gentle with easy clues throughout. 9,10 across and 16 down are my top picks. 17 and 18 across are worthy of note. After very difficult puzzles at the weekend, we have gone to the other extreme!
Many thanks to the setter and hinter
A nice gentle puzzle today which I needed as I really don’t like this heat.
Top picks for me were 26a, 8d, 18d and the lovely 16d.
Thanks to Huntsman and Mr Plumb.
Today’s offering took me a few minutes longer than expected predominantly through my stuttering over a couple of the clues.
26a – in my mind should be drinking with husband? Alternatively, ‘complaining without husband drinking’ (which makes it an Eric Morecambe – “all of the right words but not necessarily in the right order”
25a – I was trying to fit in too many Ps
21d – the parsing only worked for me if I took English ‘E’, the name of the artist reversed and the bottom of scratching ‘G’ as an anagram.
It all adds to the challenge and I really enjoyed it.
My COTD is 1d…old-fashioned use of words, I was reminded of the wonderful Patricia Routledge in her role as Hyacinth Bucket.
Huntsman – might I suggest that the salesman in 1d is not reversed?
Thanks to the setter and Huntsman for the hints.
It’s the heat Graham & sod all kip 🥵
Re 26a Graham – the Prof does like to use without (its archaic meaning is the opposite of within) now & again & having been caught out before am now wise to it – so the notes may not suit your ear but they’re definitely being played in the right order.
Snap with Patricia Routledge & the answer always reminds me of a mate who was fond of saying ‘what say we 1d to the local hostelry for a small libation’
Re 21d parsing Huntsman’s hint is correct. Your version doesn’t working as the artist has an S at the end which is the bottom which needs to be scratched (!) Straightforward but very enjoyable puzzle for me and a welcome relief from the rigors of the Sunday Prize Puzzled. Id is my clue of the day as I spent a lot of time looking for words with PER meaning affectation (rather than REP meaning retires). So clever misdirection. Thank you very much setter and Huntsman
Another splendid crossy from The Prof hits the back of the net.
17a isn’t the most difficult anagram to work out, it has to be said.
16d is almost a name check for the crazy river above. Close but no cigar (great expression)
My podium is 25a, 8d and 21d.
MTTTA and Hoots!
1*/4*
Re 16d – as noted in the hint
I meant to thank you for mentioning it and then totally forgot!
Tom has previously called me 16d before settling, thank goodness, on crazyriver.
Know whatyou mean, Conor, middle of the road difficulty bckpagers seemto be a bit thin on tthe ground. However, i quite enjoyed this straightforward one, especially the geographical missing letter clue at 7d, the historical lego clue at 16d and the other nautical lego clue at 18d. Thanks to Mr Plumb and to Huntsman for the hints
Everything fell in apart from 3d. I just could not see it and needed the hint so a DNF for me. I didn’t realise that “Podcast” was a homophone indicator. Lots to like in this gentle offering from the professor. The young dogs at 25a and the drinking husband at 26a raised a smile but my COTD is the former PM at 16d.
Thank you, Professor in the library. Thank you, Hintsman for the hunts.
I had “Fir” as the second word in the Quickie pun so it made no sense until I saw the error of my ways.
Very hot in The Marches today and the temperature in the bedroom when I went to bed last night was 31! 🥵🥵
Another gentle offering, and very enjoyable too. No particular favourite today. Thanks to AP for the fun and Huntsman for the hints and music.
Straightforward and fairly clued. Started like a rocket but then stalled on a few in the S which needed teasing out.
My podium picks are 3d, 27a and 15a
MT to AP and Huntsman.
1.5*/3*
A pretty simple Tuesday solve which I rather wish had occupied more time as I now need to find something else to do. My top floor flat is almost unbearably warm already and the gym is out of the question (not that I’m too disappointed by that). My COTD was the vessel at 16d. Thanks very much to the setter and to Huntsman. I love the Central Park version of American Tune and am about to play PS’s Hearts and Bones, which I think is seriously underrated.
Completely agree Chris – The Late Great Johnny Ace is a wonderful song off it. Dave Alvin approaches the subject somewhat differently
Ps why not give Hudson a bash while you’re listening to it.
I agree about Hudson – I’m nearly half way through.
A very slow start but then the Warp Drive engaged for a speedy finish – 1.5*/3.5*
Candidates for favourite – 12a, 25a, 1d, 2d, and 16d – and the winner is 1d.
Thanks to AP and Huntsman.
P.S. Ditto to Huntsman’s comment on Hudson’s Toughie.
Jason Isbell, one of my late wife’s favourites and highly underrated. Thanks for that. Usual complaints about too easy or too hard. No pleasing everyone!
As others have mentioned, I found this crossword very similar to yesterday’s in terms of difficulty – ie 2*. The clues were excellent and my particular favourite was 25a with the dogs eating pies! Reminded me of our Labradors who were always partial to any food, including our Christmas turkey, squirrels and various dead, decaying carcasses of wildlife they found in the woods! 3d eluded me at first, as I thought podcast had some other technical meaning until I realised the indicator could have easily been radio! I must try and move into the 21st century! Many thanks to Mr Plumb(?) and Huntsman.
Re 21d parsing Huntsman’s hint is correct. Your version doesn’t working as the artist has an S at the end which is the bottom which needs to be scratched (!) Straightforward but very enjoyable puzzle for me and a welcome relief from the rigors of the Sunday Prize Puzzled. Id is my clue of the day as I spent a lot of time looking for words with PER meaning affectation (rather than REP meaning retires). So clever misdirection. Thank you very much setter and Huntsman
Re 21d parsing Huntsman’s hint is correct. Your version doesn’t work as the artist has an S at the end which is the bottom which needs to be scratched (!) Straightforward but very enjoyable puzzle for me and a welcome relief from the rigors of the Sunday Prize Puzzled. Id is my clue of the day as I spent a lot of time looking for words with PER meaning affectation (rather than REP meaning retires). So clever misdirection. Thank you very much setter and Huntsman