Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31259
A full review by Rahmat Ali
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This puzzle was published on 6th June 2026
BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****
Greetings from Kolkata. A friendly, fun Saturday puzzle from NYDK that I enjoyed solving and thereafter writing a review of the same for your kind perusal and significant feedback.
While solving 18d, I wondered whether the acronym ‘GOAT’ as part of the answer as a shorthand for ‘Greatest Of All Time’ and determining ‘the best ever’ in the clue is limited solely to the world of sport. After completing the puzzle, I searched the internet and discovered a wealth of information on the topic. The roots of the acronym are closely linked to the enduring legacy of the celebrated sportsman Muhammad Ali, who famously referred to himself as ‘The Greatest’ throughout his boxing career. In 1992, Ali’s wife and business manager, Lonnie Ali, incorporated Greatest Of All Time Inc. (G.O.A.T. Inc.) to manage his intellectual property and commercial rights. This is one of the earliest documented uses of GOAT as an acronym. The term entered mainstream popular culture in 2000 when LL Cool J released the chart-topping album G.O.A.T. featuring James T. Smith: The Greatest of All Time. LL Cool J has repeatedly stated that he drew inspiration from Ali’s reputation as ‘The Greatest’ and helped transform GOAT from a niche acronym into a widely recognised label. The album’s commercial success introduced the term to a much broader audience, after which it spread rapidly through sports media, hip-hop culture and online discussion forums. Ali’s prominence in the GOAT debate rests on achievements that extended far beyond boxing. He made history as the first boxer to win the world heavyweight championship on three separate occasions. He first captured the undisputed title by defeating Sonny Liston in 1964, regained the crown against George Foreman in the legendary ‘Rumble in the Jungle’ in 1974 and became the first three-time heavyweight champion by defeating Leon Spinks in their 1978 rematch. While later champions such as Lennox Lewis and Evander Holyfield also won multiple heavyweight titles, Ali was the pioneer who established the benchmark. Ali remains central to the GOAT debate because his claim to greatness transcended statistics. Besides being a three-time world heavyweight champion, he was also an Olympic gold medallist and one of the most recognisable athletes in history. Beyond boxing, his opposition to the Vietnam War, his civil-rights activism and his cultural influence made him a global figure whose impact extended far beyond sport. As a result, many regard Ali not merely as a GOAT within boxing, but as the original embodiment of the very idea behind the acronym itself.
Across
1a See 22 Across
3a Andi Peters renovated flat (10)
PEDESTRIAN: ANDI PETERS from the clue subject to an anagram (renovated) takes to the definition of an adjective meaning flat, dull and boring
10a Lawman has whiskey before riotous tea party (5,4)
WYATT EARP: The definition of an American lawman and an assistant marshal to his brother, Virgil Earp is reached from W (whiskey) as the letter represented by Whiskey in NATO phonetic alphabet placed in front of (before) an anagram (riotous) of TEA PARTY
11a Irishman seats Democrat in chair (5)
SEDAN: SEAN (Irishman) as a male given name of Irish origin takes inside (seats) D (Democrat) as the abbreviation for Democrat leads to the definition of a covered chair for one person, carried on two poles
12a Comfort Labour’s leader drawing support (5)
EASEL: EASE (comfort) as to comfort or lessen the pain of someone followed by the leading or beginning letter (leader) of L[ABOUR] (Labour’s) guides to the definition of a wooden frame used to support a painting or drawing while an artist works on it
13a Go with a b-business? (9)
ACCOMPANY: The definition of a verb meaning to be with or to go with, especially as a companion is arrived at from A from the clue and company as a business that makes and sells goods or provides a service written as C-COMPANY (b-business) as in the style of b-business as the clue provides
14a Model in quiet bar popped the question (8)
PROPOSED: POSE (model) as to model, sit or assume a posture for an artist placed inside (in) a combo of P (quiet) as the musical abbreviation for piano meaning soft or quiet and ROD (bar) as a slender bar or tube for draping towels over, suspending curtains etc takes to the definition of a verb in the past tense meaning popped the question or asked someone to marry him
16a Right numpties rolling drunk? (6)
STINKO: A charade of OK (right) as an adjective denoting right, correct, permissible or acceptable and NITS (numpties) as referring to nitwits or stupid or silly persons, an example of which is numpties i.e. a light-hearted, informal Scottish slang denoting stupid or ineffectual persons coming from the other end (rolling) as reversals in the across clue guides to the definition of an adjective meaning intoxicated or drunk
19a Delight where properties initially let? (6)
PLEASE: The definition of a verb meaning to delight or to give great satisfaction or keen pleasure to is fetched from the initial or beginning letter (initially) of P[ROPERTIES] followed by LEASE (let) as to let or rent for money
20a Some characters move a table round pub (8)
ALPHABET: The definition of a system of characters or symbols representing sounds or things is obtained from an anagram (move) of A TABLE placed about (round) PH (pub) as a shorthand for ‘public house’ seen on old signs, maps or listings especially in the United Kingdom, the contracted form of which is pub and is regarded as a more traditional or formal term for a pub
22a and 1 Across Short book is good to adapt, about right for a film (9,4)
RESERVOIR DOGS: Most of the letters (short) of RESERV[E] (book) as a verb meaning to arrange for, hold or book followed by an anagram (to adapt) of IS GOOD placed around (about) R (right) as the abbreviation for right guides to the definition of a 1992 American independent heist film written and directed by Quentin Tarantino in his feature-length directorial debut
24a Son caring for insect population (5)
SWARM: A charade of S (son) as the genealogical abbreviation for son and WARM (caring) as caring, kind or affectionate brings the definition of a large group of insects like bees or ants moving together
26a High city wall has anaemic guards (5)
LHASA: The definition of the second most populous area on the Tibetan Plateau at an altitude of 3,656 metres and one of the highest cities in the world is part of or hidden inside (guards) [WAL]L HAS A[NAEMIC]
27a Biscuit and drink with German fan (6,3)
GINGER NUT: The definition of a hard, sweet biscuit flavoured with ground ginger is arrived at from GIN (drink) as an alcoholic drink distilled from grain or malt and flavoured with juniper berries or other aromatic substances followed by (with) GER (German) as the abbreviation for German as in G-agents representing German agents and NUT (fan) as a fan, enthusiast or buff
28a Historical region spread to preserve a language (10)
PALATINATE: The definition of the historical region of the Holy Roman Empire located in Germany is obtained from PÂTÉ (spread) as a savoury paste or spread to keep inside (preserve) a combo of A from the clue and LATIN (language) as the language of ancient Rome and the Roman Empire and of the educated in medieval Europe, which achieved its classical form during the 1st century BC
29a Carbon-free load in mythical ship (4)
ARGO: [C]ARGO (load) as the load of goods carried by a ship having C (Carbon-free) as the chemical symbol for carbon removed or made free from it takes to the definition of the ship in Greek mythology in which Jason sailed in search of the Golden Fleece
Down
1d Search for water – amount round wicket (5)
DOWSE: The definition of a verb meaning to search for underground water, minerals etc, using a divining rod is reached from DOSE (amount) as an amount of something likened to a prescribed or measured quantity of medicine placed about (round) W (wicket) as the standard abbreviation for wicket used in cricket scores
2d Old agents worked for statesman (9)
GLADSTONE: OLD AGENTS from the clue subject to an anagram (worked) leads to the definition of the surname of the British statesman who served four times as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom during the nineteenth century and whose full name was William Ewart Gladstone
4d Established a title that’s raised issues (8)
EMANATES: A combo of SET (established) as a verb in the past tense denoting established, found or instituted, A from the title and NAME (title) as the title or the word or words by which one is called and identified going in an upward direction (that’s raised) as reversals in the down clue takes to the definition of a verb in the present tense third person singular form meaning issues or proceeds from or as from a source
5d Lover no longer kissed, did you say? Imagine! (6)
EXPECT: EX (lover) as a colloquial term for someone who is no longer what he or she was, especially a person’s former lover or spouse followed by a homophone heard by the audience (did you say?) of PECKED (kissed) as a verb in the past tense denoting kissed briefly and casually guides to the definition of a verb meaning imagine, suppose or reckon
6d Try out striker in Old Trafford game? (4,5)
TEST MATCH: A charade of TEST (try out) as to try out, attempt or essay and MATCH (striker) as a wooden matchstick that is used as a striker against a rough surface of any of two sides of a matchbox to ignite a flame or to light something takes to the definition of an international match in various sports, especially one of a series in cricket, an example of which is the international cricket match frequently hosted at the Old Trafford Cricket Ground
7d Home help up country (5)
INDIA: IN (home) as at or inside one’s home and not gone out followed by AID (help) as to help or assist in an upward direction (up) as a reversal in the down clue guides to the definition of the seventh-largest country by area and the most populous country in the world that is in South Asia
8d Butter from children’s nurse the best ever? (5,4)
NANNY GOAT: The definition of a female goat that may also be cryptically referred to as a butter or an animal that can butt with its horns is got from a charade of NANNY (children’s nurse) and GOAT (the best ever) as specifically referencing the legendary acronym “Greatest Of All Time” legacy of Muhammad Ali, the first celebrated boxer who won the World Heavyweight Championship three separate times and is widely regarded as the single most significant and best ever sportsman in history
9d Lead removed from gold, say, and the rest (2,2)
ET AL: The first or the leading letter (lead) taken away (removed) from [M]ETAL (gold, say) as any of a class of elementary substances, all of which are crystalline when solid and many of which are characterised by opacity, ductility, conductivity and a unique lustre when freshly fractured, an example of which is gold leads to the definition of the Latin abbreviation for et alia meaning ‘and others’ or ‘and the rest’
14d Daily trim? That keeps things tidy (5,4)
PAPER CLIP: A charade of PAPER (daily) as referring to a daily or a newspaper that is published every day and CLIP (trim) as to trim or make shorter by cutting takes to the definition of an everyday office tool designed to hold loose sheets of paper together tidy and organised
15d Dutiful man supporting old bishop (9)
OBSERVANT: The definition of an adjective meaning diligent in observing a duty or custom (dutiful) is obtained from SERVANT (man) as a male servant or attendant physically underneath and having on the above (supporting) a combination of O (old) as the abbreviation for old and B (bishop) as the abbreviation for bishop in chess notation
17d Knight airborne, thrown: trivial problem (2-7)
NO-BRAINER: N (knight) as the abbreviation for a knight in chess notation followed by an anagram (thrown) of AIRBORNE guidesto the definition of a problem or a decision that requires a minimum of thought
18d Instrument at home opening red wine (8)
CLARINET: The definition of a woodwind instrument in the form of a cylindrical tube with a single reed attached to its mouthpiece is obtained from IN (at home) as at or inside one’s home cutting through or getting in (opening) CLARET (red wine) as a dry red wine produced in the Bordeaux region of France
21d French writer leaving cheese for monstrous female (6)
GORGON: ZOLA (French writer) as referring to Émile Zola leaving or coming out of GORGON[ZOLA] (cheese) as a pungent, blue-veined Italian cheese with a soft, crumbly texture, made of cow’s milk leads to the definition of any of the three monstrous sisters Stheno, Euryale and the mortal Medusa who had snakes for hair and eyes that if looked into turned the beholder into stone
23d Covering line written by playwright (5)
SHAWL: The definition of a square or oblong usually fabric garment or wrapper used especially as a covering for the head or shoulders is got from L (line) as the abbreviation for line coming after or preceded by (by) SHAW (playwright) as referring to George Bernard Shaw, the famous Irish playwright, critic, polemicist and political activist
24d Fix some pot-au-feu for instance? (4)
STEW: Double nounal definition; the second being a dish cooked by stewing, especially a mixture of meat or fish and vegetables with stock, an example of which is some pot-au-feu, referring to a traditional French stew of vegetables and beef that takes to the first referring to a difficult or a worrying situation or a troubled state, an example of which is a fix i.e. an informal term for a difficult situation
25d Temperature in Rome disrupted rail system (5)
METRO: T (temperature) as the symbol for temperature in physics placed inside an anagram (disrupted) of ROME guides to the definition of an underground or largely underground railway system in certain cities, especially in Europe, such as that in Paris
There were several clues that I liked in this puzzle such as 10a, 13a, 20a, 22a/1a, 28a, 8d, 14d, 17d, 18d and 21d; 21d 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.
Thank you for another entertaining and informative review, Rahmat.