Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31293
Hints and Tips by Senf
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty 3*Â – Enjoyment 5*
A very good Thursday morning from Winnipeg where yesterday I visited my GP for my annual ‘MOT Inspection’ and the verdict is that, as long as I keep taking the tablets, I am fit for purpose for another 12 months.
Apologies for the false start yesterday but there was nothing to see in terms of hints and the necessary ‘adjustment’ was quickly made. I have given myself a severe talking to and it will not happen again, at least not until the next time, as I do not want to lose my Christmas bonus! 
For me, and I stress for me© (I have to say that for Terence), there is no doubt that this is the work of the Master of Brevity but he seems to have upped the ante compared to recent weeks. The usual one word clues and answers in the Quickie, and an appearance from the Queen, Ray T’s swEetheart, but not the plain sweetheart, in the back pager with an average of 5.06 words per clue. Also, like Dada, Ray T still seems to be making occasional use of a personal thesaurus. I hope you have your Crimson Tomes at hand!
Remember that Reading the Hints before commenting can be beneficial!
Candidates for favourite – 6a, 12a, 15a, 1d, 2d, and 14d.
In the hints below, the definitions are underlined. The answers are hidden under the Click here! buttons, so don’t click if you don’t want to see them.
Please leave a comment telling us what you thought.
Across
1a Revolutionary sects are in opposition (10)
RESISTANCE: An anagram (revolutionary) of SECTS ARE IN.
6a Backed plans for unwanted messages (4)
SPAM: The reversal (backed) of a type of plans.
10a Old playful spooks coming back (7)
ARCHAIC: A four letter synonym of playful and the reversal (coming back) of the abbreviation of the organisation for (USA) spooks.
11a Celebrate after time scrubbing (7)
ERASING: How one might vocally celebrate placed after a synonym of time (as in a historical period?).
12a Tipping hat, single man is attentive (8)
DILIGENT: The reversal (tipping) of an informal synonym of hat, the letter that can indicate a (crickety?) single, and an abbreviated synonym of man.
13a Doctor’s holding, for example, remains (5)
DREGS: The abbreviated form of doctor’s (don’t forget the ‘s) containing (holding) the Latin based abbreviation of for example.
15a Muddled account swallowed by one later (7)
INEXACT: The two letter abbreviation of (financial) account contained (swallowed) by the Roman numeral for one and a synonym of later.
17a Possibly last round of French drink (7)
DECIDER: The French for of and an apple based (alcoholic) drink.
19a Clientele mentioned purchasing gold? (7)
ELEMENT: Definition by example indicated by ‘?’ and if all else fails . . . . A lurker (purchasing) found in the first two words of the clue.
21a Security is returning in store (7)
DEPOSIT: The reversal (returning) of IS from the clue inserted into (in) a synonym of store.
22a Trunks stood, rustic occasionally (5)
TORSI: Alternate letters, and as usual I’ll let you decide if it’s odds or evens, of STOOD RUSTIC for, the BRB says, a rare form of a plural.
24a Dispatch using route taking motorway (8)
TRANSMIT: A synonym of route containing (taking) the alpha-numeric designator of the second UK motorway.
27a Speech is over before budget (7)
ORATION: The letter for a crickety Over placed before a (probably) verbal synonym of budget.
28a The woman’s accepting rows getting harsher (7)
HOARSER: The possessive pronoun based on the woman’s containing (accepting) a verbal (aquatic) synonym of rows.
29a Language is blunt, losing head (4)
ERSE: A synonym of blunt (as in brusque) with the first letter removed (losing head).
30a Dodgy seller paid for some footwear (10)
ESPADRILLE: An anagram (dodgy) of SELLER PAID – as the answer is singular, only one in the illustration!
Down
1d Perhaps raise buttocks (4)
REAR: Perhaps a double definition – the first might refer to raising various types of offspring.
2d Almost fire anger about, say, blasphemy (9)
SACRILEGE: A synonym of fire (from employment) with the last letter deleted (almost) and a verbal synonym of anger containing (about) the Latin based abbreviation that can be equivalent to say.
3d Sage with amazing mystical inspiration, initially (5)
SWAMI: First letters (initially) of five words in the clue.
4d Old canine barking on time (7)
ANCIENT: An anagram (barking) of CANINE placed before (on) the single letter for Time.
5d Was unfaithful, cold and passionate (7)
CHEATED: The single letter for Cold and a synonym of passionate.
7d Choice of prudish sweetheart (5)
PRIME: A synonym of prudish followed by Ray T’s swEetheart.
8d Judge ridiculous game with artist (10)
MAGISTRATE: An anagram (ridiculous) of GAME and (with) ARTIST.
9d Barrier is reportedly useful cover (8)
HANDICAP: A homophone (reportedly) of a synonym of useful followed by a synonym of cover.
14d Soup‘s the pits? Quality’s about right (10)
MINESTRONE: A synonym of pits (where minerals are found) and a synonym of quality containing the single letter for Right.
16d Nice drink before a meal? (8)
APERITIF: Nice being a city in the country across the English Channel indicates a term from that country for a type of drink.
18d Firing second with failure in ring (9)
DISMISSAL: All of the single letter for Second and a synonym of failure inserted into (in) a synonym of ring (using an old fashioned communication device).
20d Contracting this tautens terribly? (7)
TETANUS: An anagram terribly of TAUTENS.
21d 4 Down capital of Greece? (7)
DRACHMA: Just make sure that you are using the correct definition of capital!
23d Genuine shilling is old money (5)
REALS: A synonym of genuine and the single letter for shilling (but not necessarily only old money).
25d Flight from American in slammer (5)
STAIR: The single letter for American inserted into a slang synonym of the slang term slammer.
26d Queen in charge is sovereign? (4)
FREE: We had to wait for the very last clue but here is HM, the single letter from the Latin for Queen inserted into (in) a three letter type of charge (for services?).
Quick Crossword Pun:
MORE + GOOD + ISSUE = MOGADISHU
Has something gone wrong here…is this tomorrow (Thursday’s) puzzle…I’ve just completed 31,292
Oops – publishing day incorrectly set during advanced preparation.
It was only a game….
A surprisingly straightforward Thursday puzzle. Once a few checkers were in place the remainder slotted in quite steadily, albeit quite predictably. If I were to pick a favourite it would be a toss up between the 14d soup or the 16d drink.
Many thanks to the setter and Senf
1*/3*
The Donnybrook Toughie is also very accessible.
What a superb puzzle but by no means a walk in the park. Ticks all over my page.
Top picks for me were 20d, 9d, 16d, 17a and 11a
Thanks to Senf and Ray T.
An cracking puzzle from the master of brevity, one of the only setters whose work I feel confident to identify.
Starting in the NW corner there was an obvious anagram to get the ball rolling but most things leading off that seemed to require some thought…including 3d where we create a new word (for me anyway).
A steady march, at average pace, through some well-crafted clues until I reached the SE where 18d required another moment of head scratching.
Top picks for today were 2d and 9d
Many thanks to Ray T and Senf for the hints.
Brilliant as always with not a duff clue in sight. I didn’t find it particularly chewy, just enormous fun to complete. With this setter we are always spoiled for choice when it comes to selecting a favourite, and I went for 17a.
Many thanks to both Ray T and Senf.
I thought this was fairly benign for a Ray T, or it’s just me using my noggin correctly for a change. Doubtless in two weeks time, normal service will be restored. I liked the spooks in 10a and the gold in 19a, but I’m going to award cotd to the soup in 14d. Thanks to Ray T and Senf.
For me, and I stress for me (© Senf), this was Tricky McTricky, unlike the England tactics yesterday, which, after going a goal up, were Stupid McStupid. Every other seeded team in the world would have taken the approach of ‘we’re a goal ahead, let’s get a second and third, and kill the game.’
Not England. Full of fear, we take off attacking players, replace them with defenders and invite the opposition to our penalty area. Argentina are too skilful and experienced not to take advantage.
Bah!
Thanks to Raytee and The Man From Manitoba (pleased to hear about the outcome of your MOT)
Yep, just like the tactics Sven used to use, get a goal up and invite the opposition on to you. Dreadful.
Another nice fortnightly visit to the back pager by RayT with his brevity and succinctly written clues that are a pleasure to solve. Nice to see his sweetheart showed up, as the Queen did too.
2*/4* for me.
Favourites abound this week … 6a, 13a, 24a, 4d, 5d & 25d — with winners 24a & 5d
Thanks to RayT & Senf
A solid puzzle from fortnightly Fred with no hold-ups.
2d is one of those classic misspells with people mixing up the i and e either side of the l. Its etymology is to steal or gather (the second bit beginning with L) where we get ‘legend’ from and ‘sacred’ (the first bit).
In 1d ‘perhaps’ is superfluous (rare for Brian Brevity) or maybe he included it for a bit of colour. Either way, it’s a fine clue.
I tried to convince myself that Eric was a sovereign!
Whenever I hear 16d I say to myself ‘a pair of teeth’.
My picks are 1a, 12a (nicely done) and 16d.
MTTTA and the oh so mobile Manitoban mountie.
2*/4*
I forgot to say that I love the 22a pic!
For 1d I took the first definition to relate to “**** up” like a horse.
Super and very gentle puzzle, a swift NS completion delayed only by getting to 26d before 30a and confidently writing in “Eric” – many Kings of that name in Denmark and Sweden, and even one King Eric of Northumbria! Surprised to see the same clue construction and insertion in both 2d & 13a.
Honours to 3d, 8d & COTD 20d. Many thanks indeed to the Maestro of Minimalism, RayT, and to Senf – delighted to hear that our Blogger is officially fit for purpose for another year – never in doubt my dear chap, never in doubt!
A very good puzzle today…though I have to admit being held up foe some time on 15a.
Thanks to Senf and to the setter.
For fear, nay terror, of reprisals I will refrain from commenting on the game last night…..
This was as good as England were bad last night. Terence hits the nail on the head.
4.5*
I’m docking 0.5* as 21d is GK.
20d is brilliant and an all in one? Maybe not. Can’t decide.
Thanks to all
Hi Slate
There is a bit of cryptic action going on as RayT wants you to think of an old city of Greece, e,g Sparta, Corinth or Thebes.
Succinct to the point of obscurity for me in the south east corner so did not finish without going to Senf for help. Was in my usual hurry this morning so that is why there is only one tick, although this puzzle deserves many more. So top answer was 9 down. Spent too long thinking about old capitals of Greece when Ray T was casting a red herring.
I use the crossword to improve my spelling, so today I finally learnt that the final letter of 16 down was not spelled with a V.
Fine puzzle as ever from Ray T and gratitude to Senf
Fast out of the stalls & sped down the track for the quickest grid fill of the week (the Quickie took longer) though did have to go back for the why with the soup. As ever very enjoyable with lots to like – 12,15&17a along with 14,18,20&21d the ones that stood out for me.
Thanks to Ray & to Senf
RayT being slightly tougher than usual I thought but as enjoyable as ever. I messed up 16d because I put the singular version in 22a – read the clue!! Like others, I went through as many Greek cities as I could at 21d before the capital dropped. My COTD is the tipping hat at 12a.
Thank you, RayT for a great puzzle. Thank you, Colonel for the hints.
The French drink is such a neat little clue. Thank you RayT and Senf
I liked the cold unfaithful one at 5d, the double definition at 1d, the cryptic defiinition at 20d and the French drink at17a. Like Terence I found the puzzle enjoyable but the parsing a bit chewy. I agree about England’s tactcics too and when are the Argentinians going to learn that sport and international politics don’t mix. Thanks to the compiler and to Senf for the hints
Evening all. Many thanks to Senf for the review and to all for your comments.
RayT
Thanks for another fine challenge. Keep ’em coming please.
Will do!
Tad tricky today.
Muse 🎸
Well, that has restored my long-held but waning faith in DT Cryptics. I really enjoyed the solve and felt cluing was less ridiculously obtuse than of late. NW brought up the rear although that did include my Fav 12a. Thank you RayT and Senf without whom I was pleased to manage today.
It’s Thursday, it’s RayT, it was a brilliant crossword!
Thanks to the RayT and Senf
I did briefly toy with the idea of king Eric until sense prevailed. Hard to judge the difficulty as I seemed to solve in bursts, ages spent staring at the clues then when I got one three or four or more would follow in quick succession. This was repeated until completion. I think this only increased the enjoyment. Favourite was 18d thanks to Rayt and Senf.
An excellent puzzle completed this morning before going out which means, for me, that I found it more straightforward than usual for a Thursday. I enjoyed the whole puzzle but had 14d as a favourite.
Many thanks to RayT and to Senf for the hints.
2*/5*. Out all day playing cricket so only just completed the crossword, which I found at the easier end of Ray T’s spectrum. Nevertheless it was great fun.
Thanks to RayT and to Senf.
2*/4* ….
liked 10A “Old playful spooks coming back (7)”