Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31268
Hints and Tips by Deansleigh
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** Enjoyment ****
Good morning everyone, and welcome to the midweek back-pager blog. I found today’s crossword to be a step up in difficulty from the last two days. I thought it was a cracking puzzle, with plenty of wit and misdirection. Amongst my favourite clues today were 11a, 26a and 9d, but first place goes to 19d, for making me laugh out loud when the penny dropped. Many thanks to our setter.
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.
Across Clues
1a A term for Oxbridge festival? (10)
MICHAELMAS: A double definition. The name for the autumn term at Oxford and Cambridge is also the name of the quarter-day that falls on 29th September.
6a Starts to strut wildly after getting hot goods? (4)
SWAG: The initial letters (starts to) of ‘strut wildly after getting’.
10a Fight a bit (5)
SCRAP: A double definition.
11a Eddy breaks Ishmael’s trombone (9)
MAELSTROM: A lurker, hidden in the last two words of the clue.
12a Stuffy husband denied being bald (7)
AIRLESS: A synonym of ‘bald’ without the abbreviation for ‘husband’ (husband denied).
13a Feature of tart remarks from actors? (7)
RHUBARB: A double definition. A possible filling for a pastry dish is also a word for background conversation in a crowd scene.
14a Don’t arrest Mo, disorderly protestor (12)
DEMONSTRATOR: An anagram (disorderly) of DON’T ARREST MO.
18a Angry NBC here upset impartial politician (12)
CROSSBENCHER: A synonym of ‘angry’ and an anagram (upset) of NBC HERE.
21a Recap a couple of bits of play from Lord’s? (3,4)
RUN OVER: Two cricketing terms (from Lord’s). The first is the unit of scoring, the second is a series of deliveries.
23a Novel, e.g. Hornblower, features coastal city in Italy (7)
LEGHORN: The phrase formed by the first three words of the clue hides or ‘features’ the English name of a Tuscan port.
24a CIA, NATO manoeuvres round a large region of Spain (9)
CATALONIA: An anagram (manoeuvres) of CIA NATO is placed round ‘a’ from the clue and the abbreviation for ‘large’.
25a Fireplace ad on the radio a non-starter (5)
INGLE: A word for a catchy tune used in a radio advertisement, without its initial letter (a non-starter).
26a Missile launching zone that’s based at Ally Pally? (4)
OCHE: A cryptic definition. The world championships of the game in which the projectiles are launched are held at Alexandra Palace. The ‘zone’ is the line behind which the players stand.
27a Early noughties boy band with mawkish material, possibly Danish (4,6)
BLUE CHEESE: The name of an English boy band formed in 2000, and a word for something sentimental and of inferior quality.
Down clues
1d Spirit initially served cold during dinner? (6)
MESCAL: The first letters (initially) of ‘served cold’ are placed inside a word for an occasion of which ‘dinner’ is an example, giving us a Mexican alcoholic drink.
2d Poison copper? That’s unusual (6)
CURARE: The chemical symbol for copper and a synonym of unusual or scarce. The poison is a plant-based paralysing agent used by indigenous peoples in Central and South America.
3d Heavenly pipers played with a few nerves (14)
APPREHENSIVELY: An anagram (played) of HEAVENLY PIPERS.
4d This compiler’s established in unaccompanied rock (9)
LIMESTONE: The first person form of “he’s” or “she’s” (this compiler’s) and the three-letter abbreviation of ‘established’ are inserted into a synonym of ‘unaccompanied’.
5d In the morning exercise drained king, Middle Eastern ruler (5)
AMEER: The abbreviation for ‘ante meridiem’ (in the morning), the first and last letters (drained) of ‘exercise’, and the abbreviation for the Latin word ‘Rex’ (king).
7d With unmitigated year guarantee (8)
WARRANTY: The abbreviation for ‘with’, a synonym of unmitigated or outright, and the abbreviation for ‘year’.
8d Plucky offer to acquire rook, maybe pheasant (4,4)
GAME BIRD: An adjective meaning plucky or willing to have a go at something, and a three-letter word for an offer (made at auction, for example) into which the abbreviation for ‘rook’ in chess has been inserted.
9d Local dialect that comes from the mouth? (7,7)
ESTUARY ENGLISH: A cryptic definition of a regional British accent. The ‘mouth’ here is a geographical feature.
15d One seen with hammer on avenue getting time off work (4,5)
SICK LEAVE: The tool that, together with the hammer, forms the communist symbol, and the three-letter abbreviation for ‘avenue’.
16d Changing circs surrounding Old Firm? It’s just hot air (8)
SCIROCCO: An anagram (changing) of CIRCS around the abbreviation for ‘old’, and the two-letter abbreviation for ‘company’ (firm).
17d Prime cut, best quality (3-5)
TOP-NOTCH: A synonym of prime, and a word for a small cut or nick.
19d Extra housing grand upper-class space for those arriving late (6)
MORGUE: A synonym of ‘extra’ containing (housing) the abbreviations for ‘grand’ and ‘upper-class’. A brilliant cryptic definition!
20d Princess by East Wing (6)
ANNEXE: The name of the King’s sister, the symbol for [multiplied] by in mathematics, and the abbreviation for ‘East’.
22d Northern stuffing authentic, from the kidneys (5)
RENAL: The abbreviation for ‘Northern’ is inserted into (stuffing) a synonym of authentic.
Which clues did you like best? Let us know in the comments below.
The Quick Crossword pun: NICKEL + ASTHMA + DOURO = NICOLAS MADURO
The subject of the Quickie pun was in the news recently when he was ousted from power following the US intervention in Venezuela.
It’s Wednesday and the difficulty rises a notch, which is as it should be. Who knew 23a was an Italian city? I knew it as a chicken then, on looking it up, it became obvious. I didn’t know the spelling of the ruler having always thought it was a four letter word. Lots to like but my COTD is the one with the hammer at 15d.
Thank you, setter for the midweek fun. Thank you, Deansleigh for the hints.
The Quickie pun to some working out – for me, anyway.
I knew the italian city, I went there as a child with my parents. That was so long ago it used to be written on the signposts along with the italian name. Something to do with the war I think.
I knew it because they are famous for making hats there – if I remember aright.
What a fantastic puzzle with lots of smiles.
I didn’t get the Quickie pun and will have to look up the chap as I’ve never heard of him.
Top picks for me were 19d, 27a, 15d, 9d, 8d and 20d.
Thanks to Deansleigh and the setter.
Everything clear and fairly clued. Podium picks were the 7d guarantee, the mawkish boy band at 27a and my COTD is the housing for late comers at 19d.
My thanks to the setter and DL 1*/3*
Strange anagram at 18across
Thanks for pointing that out Christopher. – now corrected. What did you think of the puzzle?
Today was an object lesson in how the process of solving is a very subjective experience. I think I completed today’s puzzle in a very similar time to yesterday’s but found it a much more entertaining experience. All of the clues today were, ‘top notch’, but I thought 11A, 26A, 11A, 19D and 15D rank as some of the best I have encountered. COTD goes to 26A, which was inspired. Thanks to the setter and to Deansleigh for the hints.
Thai Corner. Thai oranges are green. Every day’s a school day.
The oranges on sale in Thai markets are generally green in colour and although orange coloured ones can be found these are generally on sale only in the western oriented supermarkets. The Thai word for the fruit though, is the same as the colour orange, as it is in English which seems strange. Mr G informed me that oranges are naturally green when ripe and only turn orange after a cold spell. It is common practice in the west to put green oranges through an artificial process which turns them orange in colour and thus acceptable to western tastes. This process is now followed by some Thai retailers.
Very interesting.
Thank you, Thaikingtons.
I look forward to the book ”A Hitchtyker’s guide to The Land of Smiles”
There’s better out there.
A cracker of a mid-week puzzle with much wit and elegance. The two spellings of 16d held me up for a moment, but otherwise it was a steady solve throughout. Honorable mentions go to 11a, 27a, 1d and 8d, but cotd goes to 9d. Thanks to compiler and Deansleigh.
2*/4*. This was a 17d midweek puzzle with 26a my favourite.
Many thanks to the setter and to Deansleigh.
Great fun but over a bit too quickly for a Wednesday. Add me to the ‘who knew 23a was an Italian coastal city’
Thanks to the setter and Deansleigh – my favourite, from quite a long list of candidates, was 26a
Me too with 26a, brilliant clue. Wonder how many of our friends over the pond got it?
Not many.
But, as we know, the crossword is targeted towards those who frequent this green and pleasant land.
1.5* / 4* Really enjoyed this midweeker, clever and witty clues everywhere.
Best of the day for me are time off work at 15d, place for the late at 19d and Eddy’s brilliant lurker at 11a.
Thanks to compiler and Deansleigh
Ps Got the quickie pun, now going to look him up, never heard of him
A very clever crosswprd, although my concussed brain is taking longer than usual to solve them. Like Deansleigh, i cracked up, when I finally got 19d and like others it took me a while to catch on that the Italian city has an alternative name. 11a and 18 across were pretty good too. Thanks to Deansleigh and the compiler
Enjoyed this immensely but have to hold my hand up to a DNF. Never heard of 26a and totally unable to get it by the wordplay – more a general knowledge clue. Ridiculous game IMHO seemingly played rather well by a teenager who looks about 30! Liked 11a and 19d. Went to see 11a in Norway and was rather unimpressed. I didn’t know the Italian city either but at least it was guessable. Thanks to setter and Deansleigh. Interesting that ripe oranges are in fact green.
Never heard of the quick pun person, I bet he is something to do with the football I am trying to ignore.
He’s a Venezuelan politician Lynne, who has been in the news recently. I’ve added a link in the blog.
I rather think that the former dictator of Venezuela would be delighted were he granted permission to leave prison in order to attend the World Cup…
Ha ha thanks for letting me know who he was everyone
Doubt he’ll get much opportunity to kick a ball after Trump nicked him unless he makes the Brooklyn prison football team.
A 17d puzzle & 5* enjoyment here. A quick grid fill that took about the same time as yesterday but I did then need to enlist Mr G to clarify the alternate 16d spelling & the Italian coastal city. Ticks all over the pitch but I’ll go for a Top Ten of 11,13,18,26&27a + 1,9,15,19&20d with 19d in at Number One. Loved the Quickie pun.
Thanks to the setter (Hudson methinks) & to Deansleigh
Great fun and just about right for a Wednesday.
Saw a film entitled 13a once where all they said was the title word, absolute rubbish, whoever thought that one up wants shooting!
Watching ‘Pointless’ yesterday afternoon, and one of the questions was ‘name a word of 6 letters or fewer that begins and ends with T’, did I get a mention? did I buffalo, that’s that Lucy Porter for you!
Light for a Wednesday but very enjoyable nonetheless. A swift completion having ruled out Hilary & Trinity very swiftly on seeing we needed 10 letters. Many good surfaces, all GK came to mind swiftly; the Italian coastal chicken was checked post hoc and confirmed with relief. Honours to 11a, 15d & 19d.
Many thanks to our setter and also to Deansleigh.
An entertaining midweek puzzle – **/****
I had heard of the Italian coastal city. 27a was solved with checkers as I was blissfully unaware of the noughties boy band and I hope to return to that state of unawareness as quickly as possible!
I also know of the subject of the pun having visited the country, 12 years ago, that the Orange One had him ‘kidnapped’ from earlier this year.
Candidates for favourite – 10a, 21a, 2d, and 20d – and the winner is 2d.
Thanks to whomsoever (Twm?) and Deansleigh.
Great fun. A very swift start, with 1a and a bunch of other early across answers going straight in … then it got hard and it took me quite a white to get the last few.
I shall try to learn the 25a fireplace; I did like that clue using “on the radio” not to indicate a homophone. I might remember the 1d spirit (makes a change from the various wines that crosswords have introduced me to). While the 2d poison has already fled from m memory.
Other highlights included 21a’s two bits of play; the 3d long anagram (not often I pick those; — I needed all the crossing letters); the compiler established in 5d; 15d with hammer on avenue; the 19d space for late arrivals; and the 20d princess by east wing. Thank you to the setter, and to Deansleigh.
That’s exactly what crosswords should be like – possible to work out the solution from the wordplay, possible to see the long anagrams with a few checkers in place and wonderful humour.
I did not know the 23a Italian city, the 1d spirit or the 7d synonym for unmitigated but none of them held me up, the clue did its job.
COTD was 19d – a real laugh out loud moment, quite brilliant.
Many thanks to today’s setter and Deansleigh for the hints.
I posted this and it didn’t appear, assumed it was lost and had a second attempt…the inevitable outcome, both turn up!
* / ****
Very enjoyable and educational experience. Read 3d and wrote it off as I don’t think I know of any such long words for Heavenly pipers, thus completely missing the obvious. As checker followed checker rapidly, when I went back to it the answer popped up immediately. Education provided by the 1d spirit, the 2d poison, the theatrical use of the word in 13a and the city in Italy! Ticks went to the 25a fireplace, the 12a stuffy husband and 19d extra housing.
All in all, a brilliant crossword. Many thanks to She Aligned and the setter.
A perfect example of a crossword – super wordplay, an interesting mix of lurkers and anagrams and real humour.
Had to check 1d, not a spirit I’m familiar with, did not know the 7d synonym of unmitigated or the 23a Italian City but none of those held me up – the solutions were obvious.
COTD – 19a – laugh out loud brilliance.
Many thanks to today’s setter and Deansleigh for the hints.
A splendid midweeker from, I reckon, Mr Tumble, that was a joy to solve.
I assumed circs was a Gen Z abbreviation but, no no, it dates back to 1880!
Why, on God’s earth, did we change the name of Livorno??? I can understand a tweak like Rome/Roma but Livorno to Legorno to the rooster? Eh? Just leave it as Livorno! Most bizarre. Chickens were exported to North America in the 1800s which is where the cartoon character came from. I suppose that’s the one good thing to come out of it as it’s a top name for a very funny character. I say, I say.
Re 1a, there’s a nice pattern with the quarter days (months 3, 6, 9 & 12): March 25th, June 24th, September 29th & Christmas Day.
March contains 5 letters therefore the 25th, June 4 letters hence the 24th and September 9 letters meaning it’s the 29th. Simples! And why, like Christmas, doesn’t 1a end with two Ss?
I haven’t heard of 1d or 2d. So, they’ve been added to the list. The noughties band won’t be on many silver surfers’ playlist, that’s for sure!
My picks are 11a (excellent lurker), 26a and 3d.
MTTTA and Nigel from hell.
2*/5*
Thanks for the blog, dear Deansleigh, and thanks to those who’ve left a comment.
I remember driving on the Autostrada which links Firenze, Pisa, and Livorno, known as the FI-PI-LI. Its English equivalent (Florence, Pisa, Leghorn) is FLO-PI-LEG which has a pleasing sound to it.
Best wishes to all, Rob/Hudson
Thanks for a hugely enjoyable crossword, H.
Love Floppy leg!
Thanks for popping in – another cracker.
Curious – was last Wednesday one of yours also?
Guilty, yer honour
An excellent and witty midweek puzzle – thanks to our setter and Deansleigh.
I wasn’t tremendously impressed with 1a because the first definition is presumably based on the second. Would “Daisy’s term at Oxford (6)” have worked?
Top clues for me were 13a, 26a and 15d with my favourite (and candidate for clue of the month) being 19d.
Thanks to the Setter and Deansleigh for the hints. We as usual didn’t come to this until after lunch. Quick and largely straightforward. COTD 15d. LOI 20a.
Feel i must present the housewife bet of the day, the answer to 4d is running at Ascot, horse number 4 in 2nd race, Queen’s Vase.
Clue of the day 26a.
I’m getting quite sporty in my old age and actually got both the crickety and the darty clues. The green oranges in Thailand suddenly brought to mind rounding a curve on a mountain road and seeing a cascade of oranges pouring down into the valley and a row of lorries waiting to tip more over the edge. Our host told us the farmers were ditching their crops rather than accept the low prices being offered at market. Much to like here, the stuffy husband, the lurker at 11a, and 9d. Many thanks to the Setter and to Deansleigh