Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31264
Hints and tips by Mr K
+ - + - + - + - + - + - + - +
BD Rating - Difficulty **** - Enjoyment ****
Hello, everyone, and welcome to Friday. My dictionary got a lot more use today than on most Fridays. But of course, learning new words is one of the reasons we solve crosswords, and here they enabled some fun wordplay.
In the hints below most indicators are italicized, and underlining identifies precise definitions and cryptic definitions. Clicking on the answer buttons will reveal the answers. In some hints hyperlinks provide additional explanation or background. Clicking on a picture will enlarge it. Please leave a comment telling us how you got on.
Across
1a Sign Patty understands, reportedly (6)
PISCES: Homophones (reportedly) of synonyms of patty and understands a homophone of PIE SEES
5a Bequest mature student rejected, content to leave country (6)
LEGACY: The fusion of a verb synonym of mature and the single letter for a student or learner driver is reversed (rejected) and that’s followed by the outer letters (content to leave) of COUNTRY
10a Theft from person of faith initially ignored (5)
HEIST: A person of faith or believer in a god has their first letter removed (initially ignored)
11a Recommend limiting occasionally secret broadcast (9)
ADVERTISE: A synonym of recommend containing (limiting) alternate letters (occasionally) of SECRET
12a Means of conveying what Clive strangely claims (7)
VEHICLE: An anagram (strangely) of CLIVE contains (claims) an interjection meaning “what?”
13a Attempt to comprehend old work by Shakespeare? (7)
TRAGEDY: An attempt or go containing (to comprehend) another word for old
14a Large chain store's fashionable very quickly (4,1,4)
LIKE A SHOT: Link together the single letter for large, a Scandinavian chain store, and fashionable or trendy
17a Terrier is able to grab bird essentially (5)
CAIRN: A word meaning “is able to” containing (to grab) the central letters (essentially) of BIRD. Read about the definition here
18a Members of band making comeback (5)
PARTS: The reversal (making comeback) of a band or belt
19a Saying nothing, acquiring love for one showing rudeness (9)
INSOLENCE: In a (2,7) phrase meaning “saying nothing” or “making no sound”, the single letter for a love score in tennis replaces the Roman one (acquiring love for one)
21a For sale, running shoes (7)
LOAFERS: An anagram (running) of FOR SALE
23a Small iceberg off Labrador maybe? (7)
GROWLER: The answer is what a labrador (or other dog breed) who is a bit off might define by example (maybe). This was one clue that required a trip to the dictionary to check the definition
25a State of vote to block income we transferred (3,6)
NEW MEXICO: The single letter that might indicate a vote or choice is inserted in (to block) an anagram (transferred) of INCOME WE
26a Legends from the east and from the west (5)
SAGAS: We’re looking here for a palindrome, which is the same read forwards (from the west) and reversed (from the east), meaning legends
27a Honour time allowed for payment (6)
CREDIT: A straightforward double definition
28a Newfangled craze sailors will follow (6)
MODERN: The abbreviation for armed forces’ sailors will follow a word meaning craze or fashion
Down
2d Type of coffee house originally with flag above (5)
IRISH: The first letter (originally) of HOUSE is preceded by (with … above) a plant that is a flag
3d Strong swimmers and Parisian pilot aboard vessels (9)
CETACEANS: “And” in French and a really good fighter pilot are inserted together (aboard) some metal vessels that might contain food
4d Avoid royal memoir (5)
SPARE: A synonym of avoid is also the title of a recent royal memoir
5d Floats made from diverse tat I've left around (9)
LEVITATES: The answer is hidden in (from) the reversal (around) of DIVERSE TAT I’VE LEFT
6d Area south of climbing trail and Italian lake (5)
GARDA: The single letter for area comes after (south of, in a down clue) the reversal (climbing, in a down clue) of a verb synonym of trail
7d Rule one that's charged supports heartless creature (9)
CRITERION: An atom or molecule that is electrically charges comes after (supports, in a down clue) an informal (American) word for creature minus its central letter (heartless)
8d Tool shed, small at first (6)
SHOVEL: A shed in poor condition comes after the single letter for small (small at first)
9d African singer visits king at intervals (6)
KENYAN: An Irish singer inserted in (visits) alternate letters (at intervals) of KING
15d Three-year conflict in chaotic work arena (6,3)
KOREAN WAR: An anagram (chaotic) of WORK ARENA
16d According to Spooner, commiserate with secret affliction (4,5)
HAIR SHIRT: Apply the Spooner treatment to a (5, 4) phrase that could mean “commiserate with” Spoonerise SHARE HURT
17d Ring banker, day after having painful skin problem (9)
CALLOUSED: Join together ring on the telephone, a usual English river (a “banker” because it is a thing with banks), and the single letter for day
18d Fence becoming weaker (6)
PALING: A double definition. The fence is made of wood
20d Go back missing motorway's fifth exit (6)
EGRESS: A verb meaning “go back” or “return to a less developed state” minus (missing) the fifth letter in MOTORWAY
22d Correct pieces penned by journalist (5)
EMEND: Some pieces that might be found on a chess board are contained by (penned by) a usual abbreviated journalist
23d Man attending match in coach (5)
GROOM: A double definition, with the first being cryptic
24d Knocked over royal tipple? (5)
LAGER: The reversal (knocked over, in a down clue) of an adjective meaning royal
Thanks to today’s setter. Which clues did you like best?
The Quick Crossword pun: RHINO + KNEEL = RYAN O’NEAL
2.5*/5*. What an absolutely lovely puzzle to end the week.
I would have said that the creature in 7d was American. Mr K and Collins agree, but the BRB tells us it is “dialect and informal; now esp US”.
I was slightly puzzled by “pilot” in 3d, but I assume Mr K’s explanation is the right one.
Selecting from a mass of ticks, my podium selection is 14a, 23a, 16d & 18d.
Many thanks to, presumably, Silvanus and to Mr K.
.. think Top Gun and Tom Cruise!
Pretty desperate this one with two new words for me at 3d and 23a. Failed to complete without Mr K because of the first which I couldn’t parse. I did enjoy 13a and 17d but otherwise this smacked of a Toughie. Thank you to the setter for the challenge which was not inconsiderable!
I found this quite chewy in places but then it is a Friday so I should expect that. Some great clues too. LOI was the Spoonerism.
Top picks for me were 14a, 17d, 4d and 2d.
Thanks to Mr K and the setter.
“Avoid Royal memoir”., good advise and a clever clue.
Thanks to all concerned.
A lot to ponder on which added to the enjoyment and created a puzzle that was for me on a par or slightly up a notch from yesterday.
Pleased we had been to Alaska a couple of years ago which helped 3d and 23a (is the second definition unkind to labradors?). An opportunity at 14a to create my first lurker although it wasn’t as well concealed as 5d. There are occasions when I struggle with Dr. S but 16d worked for me.
Today’s hesitations included 28a where I convinced myself ‘fad’ must be in there somewhere. 10a caused a check with Mr G that my memory had not failed me (I was called one by my local vicar in the late 80’s because of my support for a cup winning football team). I was not sure about the second definition at 18d (a bit of a stretch?) and the word ‘in’ at 23a (‘is’ perhaps?)
Today’s favourites were 25a and 14a
Many thanks to the setter and Mr K for the hints
For me, etc©, no doubts on who the setter might be for the smoothest puzzle of the week – **/*****
Candidates for favourite – 1a, 10a, 26a, 9d, 23d, and the Pun – and the winner is 1a.
Thanks to Silvanus and Mr K.
4d reminded me of a photo I took in a local book shop, probably pre-Covid. Apologies if I have used it before, but it ‘fits’ 4d so well.
Great photo.
This was a very enjoyable Friday challenge from Mr Smooth that I managed to finish unaided.
23a (great word), 2d (the flag), 3d and 16d have been added to the crib sheet. I’d say that 7d is an American term. Put it this way, I’ve never heard it said in dese parts.
I was trying to convince myself that 14a was a rare expression with ‘hip’ (for fashionable) being the last three letters. I did smile when I worked it out. 5d’s rekrul is right up Silvanus’ strasse and was very nicely done.
My picks are 14a, 21a and 4d which is brilliant.
MTTTA and Mr K
3*/4*
I didn’t notice that 5d was a reverse lurker! I got it from checkers.
That is a dream for a setter to read as most lurkers and rekruls stick out like a sore thumb.
…or should that be srekrul?
Oh that’ll do.
I prefer Srekrul as it means I can post this….
I found thissvery hard but completed all but the SE corner. I thought it was a wrong envelope Toughie and it was just out of my league really. I liked the geographical clues at 25 a at 6d. Thanks to Silvanus and to Mr K.
Hear, hear Chriscross but I threw in the towel early on. Thanks Silvanus and MrK however not my scene today.
That was a poser and no mistake. I needed Mr. K. to help with a couple particularly 23a and 3d. I got the understanding Patty straight off so thought it was going to be fair sail but I solved only two more on the first pass. These were the Terrier at 17a and the memoir at 4d. As for the rest, it was a slow crawl to the line and I did not cross it unaided. My COTD is the aforementioned 1a.
Thank you setter (silvanus?) for a real good mangle. Thank you, Mr. K. for the hints which I needed today. Thank you, also, for the pusskits.
Great Quickie pun.
A lack of northern hospitality caused me to head south and work my way up from there. As I got past the midlands and the odd checker appeared, I wondered what caused the problem in the first place, so I was surprised overall with the 4* difficulty rating.
Plenty of sharp wordplay to admire, along with the excellent rekrul at 5d.
The bequest at 5a, the shoes in 21a, 7d’s rule and the African in 9d were my other picks.
My thanks to our setter and Mr K.
The very first time I heard the Enya song, I thought it was about a woman called Orinoco Flo!
Love it!
Wasn’t she married to the South American
Andre Cappo
Like it, Sloops. Like it.
Pretty standard for me completed in my target time. Never heard of 23a which was obvious from the checkers and the clue but had to google the meaning. Bunged a wrong state in 25a at first but then corrected when other words wouldn’t fit. Particularly liked 3d which I thought was an anagram till I saw the reverse lurker, and 19a was also very neat. However favourite has to be 4d lol
Difficult but satisfying. Straying into Toughie territory
Found this harder than every toughie this week and needed hints . I made a complete Horlicks of the north west because my first clue in was wrong.I confidently put arson ( parson ) It never occurred to me to change this until I had nothing else in this corner.I didn’t get the sign , which might have helped . The south east was slightly held up by the Labrador.I have a golden retriever so should have perhaps got this earlier. A lot to enjoy but overall not for me.Favourites 17, 23 and 28 . Thanks to all
A couple of people have mentioned that this is, or is almost, a Toughie.
Just for clarity….a toughie appeared on Friday’s back page way before the daily one in the middle of the paper. It owns the term, i.e it didn’t escape from the middle or disguise itself. It can be a Toughie any Friday it chooses and may occasionally rock up on a Thursday or even a Wednesday.
I hope this post puts it to bed.
Just what does all that mean? From my point of view, this puzzle was misplaced, big time. It’s at the top end of Toughie difficulty, no question. I got no answers after three desperate trawls.
Hi PS
It’s not misplaced. Toughies have appeared on a Friday backpager since the year dot, with some of them being tougher than the puzzle section’s toughies combined.
Twas always thus and always thus will be.
The fact that they are now in the middle of the paper doesn’t mean they now don’t appear on today’s back page. If solvers want more of the same on a daily basis they can go to the puzzles section.
I agree, Tom. Personally, I have always expected a tough challenge on a Friday – Thursday occasionally, for that matter. Just because it’s tough doesn’t make it a Toughie. It has always been the case that puzzles get harder as the week progresses and this is a good thing because it develops the solving skills. If a Friday puzzle can be solved on a regular basis then it points to the fact that one might be “Toughie Ready”.
Anyway, some Toughies can prove to be easier than the corresponding back pager. It’s all subjective.
Who would be a puzzles editor? 😳
Sorry to disillusion you, Phil, but this puzzle was nowhere near the top end of Toughie difficulty. For those you need to try Elgar (see today) or Osmosis, both of whom are in an entirely different league.
In my view it was appropriately challenging for a Friday back page.
I agree Mustafa G
I thought it was straying that way
But never quite got there……
A challenge is great on a Friday
Hi Phil,
Don’t be disheartened. I’ve been retired for two decades and filled my time with a multitude of activities, only occasionally looking at a crossword. Eighteen months ago, having reduced the workload, I started looking at the DT back pager everyday…and rarely finished one (any day of the week). I came across this blog and over the course of the next year, thanks to the hinters and bloggers, my competence grew and now I’m disappointed if I don’t finish. I still get stuck and when I do I ask via the blog and someone always helps out. When I started I didn’t know that the difficulty level progressed through the week and to be honest I’ve been stuck on a Monday and sailed through a Friday – everything is subjective.
Please carry on and if on a day like today you struggle just have a quiet hour reading Mr K’s hints, I think I can safely say there will be penny drop moments.
A splendid comment. Your journey mirrors my own.
Sorry I disagree, if someone wants to describe a puzzle as an escaped toughie or whatever, they are quite entitled to do so. It doesn’t necessarily mean it is a toughie, just that it was tough for them. It’s not breaking any Big Dave guidelines as far as I can see.
I can’t comment on today’s puzzle…I’m still working my way through Elgar’s toughie and yes, it’s tough!
Hi MR.
Last year, Silvanus said that he would prefer solvers not use the term.
But, as you say, people can say what they want. Tiz a free world and all that.
I thought I’d mention it in case you weren’t aware that he said it.
Tom,
I was aware of Silvanus’s comment but I stand by mine. If someone says it’s a dreadful/awful/nasty etc crossword, I’d agree that would be out of order. Describing a tough cryptic as an escaped Toughie (it might even be said tongue in cheek) is ok in my books. Chalicea seems fine with her Toughies being described as ‘floughie’, surely no different?
You can absolutely carry on calling it an escaped toughie, MR.
Surely, as with an answer to any given question being easy or difficult – it’s only easy if you know it and difficult if you don’t, so likewise a toughie is only a toughie if one finds it to be tough. Personally, I found today’s cryptic puzzle very accessible and in no way tough, but as for Elgar? Hmmm, now there’s tough – for me at least. On any Friday.
Oh, we do sooooooooooooooo love the toughie discussion, yes, we do.
The debate isn’t if today’s was tough though, reading people’s comments, I find it fascinating how our minds work in different ways. Let’s assume it is a toughie. To me (and Mr Smooth) that’s absolutely fine. To others, not so.
We love the use of the royal ‘we’, Tom, toughie or not!
That, we do, Frankie baby. That, we do.
‘Toughie or not’ reminds me of titter ye not.
Nay, nay. Thrice nay.
Leg end.
Ooh err, missus!
They don’t make ‘em like they used ter.
I thought yesterday’s offering was tougher and once again it was at NW finish. Last in was 4d .. by I needed Mr K to confirm.
My cotd was 23a and one of my first in .. the navigation in ice class was well remembered. Incidentally, the icebergs shown above are not growlers, they are the type that sunk the Titanic!
Thanks ti setter and Mr K.
A proper Friday-level puzzle – thanks to our setter and Mr K.
My host of ticks includes 1a, 5a, 14a and 17d.
Cracking puzzle, and like an earlier commentator tackled from S to N. Nicely testing in places but very fairly clued and requiring lateral thought to see through some of the red herrings (eg the capitalisation of Patty), while none of the GK was too esoteric. 20d was wonderful if only because it brought to mind the peerless Terry Pratchett, who used the term in satirising PT Barnum’s American Museum:
“I know I wouldn’t pay money to see the egress,” said Tiffany. “It just means ‘the way out.’”
“Clever!” said Miss Level. “Monty put that on a sign to keep people moving though the Believe-It-or-Not tent. ‘This way to the Egress!’ Of course, people thought it was a female eagle or something, so Monty had a big man with a dictionary outside to show them they got exactly what they paid for! Have you ever been to a circus?”
Honours to 1a, 14a, 23a, 3d, 17d, but could have picked about twenty more.
Many thanks indeed to Silvanus (I lost all my money yesterday on what turned out to be a Donny production) and to Mr K
That was a shocker😱 Justifies the **** but not **** for enjoyment. ** For me.
Several new words learnt today.
I struggled today and needed the hints to finish. Can’t complain, everything was fairly clued but I just couldn’t “click” with a fair chunk of it. Of those unaided completions I’m choosing 14a as my cotd. Thanks to Silvanus and Mr K for the much needed hints.
My first thought was OMG this is tough, but persevered and got there in the end with a bit of side ways thinking and a strong cup of coffee. I needed to check 4d (my LOI) was correct as I wasn’t familiar with the memoir. Same with 23a. My fav was 15d.
Friday puzzles are more challenging, but to mind that is what makes them satisfying when the grid is completed….(or nearly sometimes!)
Many thanks to Silvanus for the challenge and Mr K for the hints
**** / ****
That was a struggle! Didn’t help that the first stretch was in the recovery room for Mrs AP after major dental surgery!! Need the hints for 6 parsings. Finished unaided but the effort was the most for a long time. So many answers had to be penciled until checkers arrived. Still very enjoyable though. Many thanks to Silvanus and Mr K
Excellent Friday puzzle that made us think a bit. And we added to our vocabulary- 3 down – who knew? Thanks to all.
I completed today’s offering slowly, partly because I was distracted by other matters but also because it was hard (I’m certainly not going to say tough in light of the debate above). Like others, I discovered, or at least was reminded of, words that had either never been within my lexicon or had dropped out of it many years ago – the swimmers and the iceberg for starters. 17d was my COTD. Thanks very much to the setter and to Mr K.
After yesterdays defeat I thought another was on the cards but I got there in the end. More relief than enjoyment but thanks to the setter and to Mr K
This was a definite Friday puzzle from my point of you, lots of head scratching and a little help needed form Mr K to confirm answers and parsing. New words in 3d and 23a and the spooner was last in. The lurker at 5d was my favourite. Overall a very enjoyable challenge with some new words learnt.
Many thanks to the setter and to Mr k for the hints
I found this difficult but eminently doable, nothing I didn’t know for a change. Best puzzle of the week. Favourite was 19a. Thanks to the setter and Mr. K.
Many thanks to Mr K and to all solvers and commenters. Sorry to those who lost their notional bets on me yesterday.
As well as the Quickie Pun there is, unusually for me, almost a second, linked one. It doesn’t quite pass muster, but I couldn’t resist leaving it in for a bit of added fun. I wonder if Huntsman spotted it?
A good weekend to all.
Thank you, silvanus for a suitable Friday challenge. I always look for a second Quickie pun but never find one. I will now peruse it again.
Have a great weekend. 👍
Just got it! It’s ok with me but I suppose it’s how it’s pronounced.
Thanks Silvanus. As I normally only solve enough of the Quickie to get the ‘italicised’ pun. I have just looked for the second pun (by selecting the ‘reveal solution’ option – shame on me!) and it ‘leapt off’ my laptop screen without any problems.
Didn’t spot that, Silvo.
It’s a little bit tenuous, but where do I begin?
Only just got round to tackling today’s puzzles this evening & yes he did. Enjoyed the cryptic today though I made hard work of solving it. As ever ✅s aplenty & tough to pick a top 10 – 1,10,14,17&23a along with 2,3,7,16&17d will do with 14a in at Number 1.
Many thanks & for popping in as per. Thanks also to Mr K.
Well it’s Friday and I certainly had to work hard. I needed to check the hints to understand some of the parsing and despite having all the checking letters I didn’t get 3d or the Spoonerism at 16d. Liked 1a because I got it straight-away. It’s my birthday sign! COTD 5d the backwards lurker. Loved Mr K’s picture! Many thanks to Silvanus and I must admit to missing the second pun. Thanks to Mr K who’s help I definitely needed today. Have a nice weekend everyone. The rain abated this afternoon to glorious sunshine but now very blustery.
I was delighted to finish this crossword, because there were times when I thought it would get the better of me. The NW corner held out for quite a while and I had to leave it several times ans come back to it. I wouldn’t say it was tough but it definitely required lots of effort , considerably more than usual. 1a, 5a and 26a are my top picks with 1a being my COTD.
Many thanks to the setter and hinter
I have a dental appointment next week which I confidently expect to be more enjoyable than this. Thanks for the hints which I may peruse in more detail at a later date. I appreciate the effort, but not the result, setter.
I picked the paper up late today and initially thought it was going to be a DNF, but perseverance paid off and managed to complete unaided. I needed to confirm the climbing trail for the Italian lake and I had a vague recollection of the iceberg which needed MrG to verify, but otherwise with a bit of suck it and see and reverse parsing it all came together. Lovely puzzle, 14a is my top pick
Thanks to Silvanus and MrK
3*/4*
Gosh I found that one hard. I was interested to see the toughie debate , and also the difference in views . I found this to be more difficult than some toughies I have done , but personally am happy to see it on the back page as I like the challenge. I don’t do the toughie as a matter of course, and the difficult back pagers help me improve and give me confidence. I got a bit stuck in the SE , as I had a wrong checker for 28a which didn’t help so looked at the hints. 3d was a new word for me too! Think I’m glad to have got there in the end. Thanks to Silvanus and Mr K.
I enjoyed the puzzle as much as I enjoyed reading everyone’s comments, and thank you Mr K for helping me understand how we got to the answers we did.
I wish it could be Friday every day!
…..where the kids start singing and the band begins to play.
Just finished and that was a real challenge. For the more difficult offerings I would normally expect to complete about 75% before I needed assistance of one form or another. From about 50% onwards my dictionary was working overtime. However if you want to improve you have to take the rough with the smooth.
Favourites were 14a, 17a and 21a. As ever, thanks to the setter and to Mr K for the hints.
Found that very hard. Didn’t help that I had kensit for 1a for a long time!
Belated post – this was the longest solve time of year, by a mile. After working through many challenges,slowly, ultimately didn’t know the affliction but appreciated being tricked by the definition including the ‘with’.
Thanks to setter for this Toughie wannabe, and to Mr K. ⭐️
4*/3* …
liked 23A “Small iceberg off Labrador maybe? (7)”