Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31284
Hints and tips by Falcon
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BD Rating – Difficulty * – Enjoyment ***
Greetings from Ottawa where we seem to have followed in the footsteps of those of you on the other side of the pond and have recently been enduring temperatures above 30 degrees C. On Canada Day, July 1, a storm dumped nearly 5 inches of rain on Ottawa in a couple of hours resulting in widespread flooding and the cancellation of all afternoon and evening festivities on our national holiday. Among the casualties was my basement which experienced a sewer backup. I now have a mountain of sewage contaminated material sitting on my front lawn awaiting pickup.
I won’t even attempt to guess the identity of today’s setter but, whoever it may be. has given us a gentle and fun introduction to the crossword solving week.
In the hints below, underlining identifies precise definitions and cryptic definitions, FODDER is capitalized, and indicators are italicized. The answers will be revealed by clicking on the ANSWER buttons.
Please leave a comment telling us what you thought of the puzzle.
Across
1a Accepting defeat, rabble returned flowers (7)
BLOSSOM — reverse (returned) another word for rabble or unruly crowd and insert (accepting) a synonym for defeat
5a Irreverent troublemaker promises to pay (7)
IMPIOUS — a typically young mischievous troublemaker and the usual brief promissory notes
9a Revealed codes and slid off (9)
DISCLOSED — an anagram (off) of CODES and SLID
10a Tear cover off paper magazine (5)
ISSUE — remove the initial letter (tear cover off) a thin piece of paper
11a Attack in a TV studio? (5)
ONSET — split (2,3), the answer could denote in a TV studio
12a Giver of dubious corner – ref? (9)
CONFERRER — an anagam (dubious) of CORNER REF
13a Slow movers jog back alongside French river, starting to sweat (9)
TORTOISES — string together a reversal (back) of another term for jog or run at a slow pace, a river in northern France, and the initial letter of (starting to) SWEAT
16a Current elected house rejected epic poem (5)
ILIAD — the physics symbol for electric current and a reversal (rejected) of an Irish elected house
17a Journeys using free diesel essentially (5)
RIDES — free or disencumber and the two middle letters (essentially) of DIESEL
18a Fake glass delivered for celebratory drink (9)
CHAMPAGNE — a homophone that sounds like (delivered or spoken) another word for fake and a section of window glass
20a Criminal continued under the radar (9)
UNNOTICED — an anagram (criminal) of CONTINUED
23a Section of proof Fermat’s put forward (5)
OFFER — a lurker hiding in (section of) PROOF FERMAT
25a Some plagiarisers stand up (5)
ARISE — another lurker, this one concealed in (some) PLAGIARISERS
26a Children not working well (9)
OFFSPRING — link together synonyms for not working and well or source of water
27a Lower down Scottish mountain dine on starter of haggis (7)
BENEATH — concatenate the Scottish word for mountain, another word for dine, and the initial letter (starter) of HAGGIS
28a Unfashionable people‘s particular powers (7)
SQUARES — double definition; for the second, think maths
Down
1d Teaching graduate with job gets support for retirement (7)
BEDPOST — the post-nominal academic honorific for a teaching graduate and another term for job
2d Expels from old university thoroughfares (5)
OUSTS — link the abbreviations for old, university and particular types of thoroughfares
3d Explanations lost on us unfortunately, first person overwhelmed (9)
SOLUTIONS — form an anagram (unfortunately) of LOST ON US and insert (overwhelmed) a first person pronoun
4d Leaders of most unions stand in corridors singing, perhaps (5)
MUSIC — the initial letters (leaders) of the five words preceding the definition
5d Subcontinent surrounding one’s country (9)
INDONESIA — an Asian subcontinent wrapped around (surrounding) ONES
6d Get ready for 11 or 13, say (5)
PRIME — double definition; again the second is a maths concept
7d Watching former pupil starting a tennis match (9)
OBSERVING — the usual abbreviated former pupil and the action involved in starting a tennis match
8d Cut some corn in outbuilding (7)
SHEARED — a measure of corn or maize contained in an outbuilding
14d Flag needs ring put around (3,6)
RED ENSIGN — an anagram (put around) of NEEDS RING
15d Dismiss fool over hot itchy fabric (9)
SACKCLOTH — cement together dismiss from employment, a colloquial term for a fool, and the water tap symbol for hot
16d Without preparation, I’m on time, you heard (9)
IMPROMPTU — join together IM from the clue, on time or punctual, and the letter that sounds like (heard) YOU
17d Regret insult on the radio? Nonsense (7)
RHUBARB — a homophone that sounds like (on the radio) another word for regret and a humorous but hurtful remark
19d A genre novel with lead character in Sussex infuriates (7)
ENRAGES —an anagram (novel) of A GENRE followed by (with) the initial letter (lead character) in SUSSEX
21d Time husband at last wrote thank you letter (5)
THETA — line up the physics symbol for time, the genealogical abbreviation for husband, the final letter (at last) of WROTE, and an informal expression of thanks
22d Removes police officer restraining a third of offenders (5)
DOFFS — an abbreviated police office containing (restraining) a third of the word OFFENDERS (I’ll leave it to you to figure out which third)
24d Martin‘s leaflet? (5)
FLIER — double definition; the first being ornithological
Thank you to today’s setter for providing this enjoyable diversion. Let us know in the comments below which clues especially appealed to you.
Quickie pun:: CENT + SANDS + SENZA + ABILITY = SENSE AND SENSIBILITY
On This Day …
… in 1971, American jazz trumpeter, singer and bandleader, Louis Armstrong died. He had many hits including the 1964 US No.1 ‘Hello Dolly!’, 1968 UK No.1 ‘What A Wonderful World’ plus ‘When The Saints Go Marching In’, ‘Ain’t Misbehavin’, and ‘We Have All the Time in the World.’
He made frequent use of laxatives as a means of controlling his weight, resulting in Armstrong appearing in humorous advertisements for laxative product Swiss Kriss; the ads bore a picture of him sitting on a toilet, as viewed through a keyhole, with the slogan “Satch says, ‘Leave it all behind ya!”
A great puzzle to start the week but there were a couple of posers to set the grey cells alight. I had completely forgotten the “powers” at 28a what 11 and 13 are at 6d. I spent too long looking for bovines at 27a until I saw the light. My COTD is the attack in a TV studio at 11a.
Thank you, setter for getting the week off to a good start. Thank you, Falcon for the hints.
Just enough chewiness to awaken the brain cells after last night’s thriller. Everything accessible without any real standout clues, but if pushed I’d go for either the itchy fabric at 15d or the fake glass at 18a.
My thanks to the setter and Falcon.
1*/3*
A really enjoyable Monday puzzle. I am left with only 22d and 28a unsolved. Favourite was the fake glass at 18a. Thank you setter and Falcon
Thunderbolts and lightning, very very frightening in HK today, so was rather hoping for a challenge that would keep me from the rain for a while. Alas not; I zipped through it over my afternoon cuppa, with the exception of 6d and 10a, which eluded me. So, it was back out into the wilds to ponder the remainder of the NE quadrant. Mamma mia! Faves were 1d and 18a.
Figured that was the answer to 6d, but kept referring to 11a and 13a. And 10a, of course! Thank you, Falcon.
1*/4*. Great start to the week with 18a my favourite.
Many thanks to the setter and to Falcon.
A nice mix with a few chewy clues for a Monday. Honorable mentions go to 11a, 18a, and 15d, but cotd goes to 13a. Thanks to compiler and Falcon.
A solid start to the week with my LOI being 28a.
I didn’t know the river or the giver. The anagram of ‘continued’ was neat and 24d was fun.
17d is rapidly becoming the most popular answer of the year.
How satisfying it must have been for Sir Andrew Wiles to have proved Fermat’s Last Theorem, locking himself away from the world for seven years. His proof had a flaw. So, he teamed up with another mathematician to fix it. It only took someone 358 years to prove!
My picks are 1a, 26a and 27a.
Many thanks to the setter (no ideas) and Falcs.
2*/4*
What an enjoyable puzzle, I’ve ticks all over my sheet.
I also liked the Quickie pun.
Top picks for me were 28a, 26a, 24d, 15d and 6d.
Thanks to Falcon, sorry to hear about your flooding issues, and the setter.
A very enjoyable puzzle for me today.
No particular favourite as all excellent clues .
Thanks to the setter and to Falcon
So sorry to hear of your sewage issues , Falcon. I really feel for you having had similar problems in the past. I hope the affected stuff gets picked up very soon and your drains are functional again. Ghastly time for you.
A very enjoyable and fairly gentle start to the week. I took a moment or three before I parsed 16a but otherwise there was nothing too problematic.
My COTD is 22d..it’s such a lovely word and reminds me of gentler times.
Many thanks to the setter and Falcon for the hints
Another fine example of The Spirit of Rufus is still with us – */*****
Candidates for favourite – 5a, 16a, 28a, 6d, 24d, and an HM for the Pun – and the winner is 6d.
Thanks to whomsoever (Heron?) and Falcon.
An excellent start to the week – thanks to our setter and Falcon.
Ticks from me for 13a, 18a, 28a and 6d.
Already feeling very hot. John took his daily walk very early this morning whilst I got on with today’s offering.Am in agreement with the comments so far, it was most enjoyable and had enough false leads to satisfy. No question marks which is unusual for me. This is why the site is such a boon. Last in was 28 across . Top clue was 16 down .
Commiserations Falcon . These extreme weather patterns are dreadful. Thank you for doing duty despite the difficulties and thanks to today’s setter for the enjoyable tease.
* / ****
The gentlest start the week for a while, for me © etc.
Didn’t know the French river and biffed in 6d without being able to parse as I was looking for connections to 11a and 13a!! COTD went to the 26a children.
Many thanks to Falcon and the setter.
This was a light and enjoyable introduction to the week’s puzzling, with a few trickier clues to keep us on our toes. My particular favourite was 18a closely followed by 6d.
Thanks to our Monday setter and Falcon.
Very enjoyable and a gentle Monday offering only held up by failure to notice the maths reference in 28a but I blame that on lack of sleep after staying up to watch last nights superb performance by our boys in Mexico even if the stress of the last 20 minutes or so was unbearable!
Didn’t watch live at 2am but was told by my dear other half around 6 in the morning that England had won.She didn’t reveal the score, thankfully so thoroughly enjoyed the replay at 7 am this morning . Also thoroughly enjoyed today’s offering although over far to quickly.Favourites the two maths clues 6 and 28 and the “sound” clue 22 . Thanks to all.
I spent way too long trying to think of a word that’s synonymous with 11a and 13a. A cup of coffee and a shopping trip later and I realised the error of my ways. Thanks to setter and Falcon (hope things are soon properly cleaned up; ghastly for you).
Only now enjoying my gruel and orange juice with no bits. This is my breakfast time due to staying up until 5.00am to watch England in a thoroughly exciting and absorbing match.
Thus, Falcon’s description of the situation on his front lawn was an unexpected addition to my consumption of the gruel. As the late Queen would have said, “How interesting…”
Thanks to the setter, and to The Bird Of Prey.
Nice to be back into the non-work week after the weekend prize puzzles and with the site crashing too, over the last two days.
Nice Monday offering this week again to ease into the week.
1.5*/3.5*
Favourites 9a, 11a, 18a, 25a, 27a & 6d — with winner 27a
Here’s hoping for England to win in Mexico. Canada was eliminated over the week-end. By the time I post this on Monday morning, I will have watched the England/Mexico match that starts at 6:00pm our time Sunday, so just over an hour away for me as I type this.
Thanks to setter & Smylers
PS Nice to see England win the game considering the red card they got … made my night! Kane & Bellingham came through … as did the rest of the team. Looking forward to the Norway match next.
Sorry … Falcon, not Smylers
So sorry to hear of your disaster. Was it just you – or the neighbours as well? If there are several of you in the same boat maybe things will be put right smartly. The guzzle gave us a few more pauses than usual on a Monday, perhaps it is the heat or perhaps struggling to get out velux mended. The humidifier is working overtime. Waiting on the phone with annoying music is ….. well, annoying. I particularly liked the slow movers, I’d love to have one again, Elopi had such a lovely character and would come racing over for a piece of apple. Anyway, thanks again to Clever Setter and to Falcon for clocking in against all odds.
As far as I can tell, my immediate neighbours have not been affected but a number of homes one street over were. The city says that it has received reports of over 3000 flooded basements. (The population of Ottawa is a bit over one million.)
Like others, I was glad that wasn’t too challenging after a very long day and night. What a game though! My favourite clues were the maths at 28a and 6d. Thanks very much to the setter and to Falcon.
Os others have said mercifully light given the early hours agony. Not sure I could have managed anything more than a 1 star difficuly. Very enjoyable nonetheless. Favourites were 18a and the misleading 6d and the hitherto unknown (by me) anagram at 20a
Thank you setter and to Falcon for the blog
Just to get into the spirit of things, check this out (the Gadirova twins are British gymnasts)….
If you forward it to your children and grandchildren they will be most impressed that yor soooo dan wiv der kidz.
It’s very cool. I love them saying Bukayo Saka.
I hope you don’t mind me posting it, Falcs. Take it down if it’s a no-no.
Good grief!
I lasted all of 5 seconds.
That long?
I can’t stop watching it!
What am I like???
Lock me up!
1.5* / 3.5* Just right for a Monday, only real hold up was 28a. Plenty of nice clues to choose from, favourites being under the radar at 20a, lower at 27a and the slow movers at 13a
An excellent quickie pun as well.
Thanks to Falcon and compiler
An excellent start to the week, a little trickier than some, 28a last in and my favourite once I saw it.
Many thanks to the setter and to Falcon for the hints.
Thankfully a light puzzle today. I have had slow brain the last couple of days I think due to tiredness – not due to footie ! I ve been away for a couple of nights , staying with my train geek friend in an old railway carriage at St Germans station in Cornwall. I was reluctant to go have to say , but for a couple of nights – he was there all week , it was delightful with a gorgeous garden, and full of character . He had picked the one right next door to the platform , so having drinks outside and eating was a bit disconcerting when the trains pulled up. I would throughly recommend though for any train fanatic ,or if you just want a bit of an unusual holiday. Meanwhile I enjoyed today’s puzzle , as it restored my faith , as I have said before I always worry when I struggle that I am ‘losing it’. Thanks to the setter and to Huntsman.
I didn’t stay up for the match but qoke at 3am and noticed noticed that my 5thoughtful neighbours had ensured that the rest of us woke up to get the result with their usual display of light pollution. Why would anyone needaline of full dized light bulbs strung from their roof to th grdenfenceifttheywere inside watching thetelly?. Anyway it was a lovely crossword, just right for Monday. I liked the geographical clues at 5d and 13a and thelego clues at 15d and 27a
Thanks to the compiler and to Falcon for the hints. Sorry to hear about your flood, Falcon and hope you didnt llose anything really precious
An enjoyable half an hour puzzling whilst listening to Eels 🎸
Well that didn’t take long but it was very sweet.
Didn’t find this as straightforward as some but not overly so. Needed the hints to parse 17a and 6d, just couldn’t see them. Enjoyed the challenge though. Favourite was 16a which I’ve read and not at school I might add and I knew the Irish parliament. Thanks to the setter and Falcon. Ps what’s the box labeled ‘Website’ for?
I can’t find the box to which you are referring.
It’s beneath the name and email boxes when we post, Falcon.
I also am sorry to hear of you sewage woes and hope it is resolved soonest.
It’s beneath the boxes for name and email when we make a comment, Falcon so you may not see it.
Also, I am sorry to hear of your sewage woes and I hope it is resolved swiftly.
Sorry for the duplicate post but the website refused my first one.
We’re still none the wiser Steve.
Very light but enjoyable for the short time it lasted – the setter’s Quick puzzle took nearly as long due to my ignorance of Italian in musical scores. That said I did need Mr G to tell me where the Franco Belgian flower flowed. The homophones at 17d&18a were my picks.
Thanks to the setter & to Falcon – hope that your post heavy rain damage is soon sorted 🤞.
Thank you to Heron for this puzzle, which I solved before bedtime but ran out of time to post. My favourite clue was the 17d insult on the radio. And thank you to Falcon for confirming the French river in 13a.
2*/4* …
liked 26A “Children not working well (9)”