Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31301
A full review by Rahmat Ali
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
This puzzle was published on 25th July 2026
BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****
Greetings from Kolkata. A delightful and straightforward Saturday puzzle from the setter that I enjoyed solving and thereafter writing a review of the same for your kind perusal and significant comment.
Ethiopia, the answer to 4d, particularly caught my interest this time. After solving the puzzle, I turned to the internet to learn more about the country and discovered several fascinating facts that I had not known before. I was especially impressed by Ethiopia’s rich history, unique culture and remarkable heritage, which made the clue all the more memorable. Ethiopia, officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is one of Africa’s most remarkable and historically significant nations. Situated in the Horn of Africa, it is renowned for its dramatic landscapes, ranging from the soaring Simien Mountains to the vast Danakil Depression, one of the hottest and lowest places on Earth. Ethiopia is widely regarded as the cradle of humanity, as some of the world’s oldest hominin fossils, including the famous 3.2-million-year-old skeleton known as ‘Lucy’, were discovered there. Unlike most African countries, Ethiopia was never formally colonised, successfully resisting foreign rule apart from a brief Italian occupation between 1936 and 1941, making it a powerful symbol of African independence. The country also boasts a unique calendar with thirteen months and a timekeeping system that differs from the international standard, earning it the nickname ‘the land of thirteen months of sunshine’. Addis Ababa, the capital, is not only Ethiopia’s largest city but also the headquarters of the African Union, underscoring the nation’s important diplomatic role on the continent. Ethiopia is believed to be the birthplace of coffee, with legend attributing its discovery to a goatherd named Kaldi, and the traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony remains an important aspect of social and cultural life. The country’s rich heritage is reflected in its ancient rock-hewn churches of Lalibela, the medieval castles of Gondar and the towering obelisks of Aksum, all of which testify to a civilisation stretching back thousands of years. Home to more than 80 ethnic groups and a similar number of languages, Ethiopia possesses an extraordinary cultural diversity expressed through its music, cuisine, festivals and traditions. Dishes such as ‘injera’, a sourdough flatbread made from teff, accompanied by richly spiced stews, are central to Ethiopian cuisine. Combining an ancient history, spectacular natural scenery and vibrant cultural traditions, Ethiopia remains one of the world’s most fascinating and distinctive countries.
Please leave a comment telling us what you thought.
Across
1a Accompaniment to biscuits too bad for you (4,6)
HARD CHEESE: Double definition; the second being an idiom denoting ‘tough luck’, ‘that’s unfortunate for you’ or ‘too bad for you’ that takes to the first referring to a type of cheese that is firm in texture, made with a low moisture content and often served with savoury crackers like biscuits as an accompaniment
6a On the counter, it’s a sparkling wine (4)
ASTI: IT’S A from the across clue coming from the opposite site (on the counter) as a reversal leads to the definition of an Italian white sparkling wine made round about Asti in the Monferrato hills in Piedmont
9a Bother with core ingredient of hot sauce? (5)
PESTO: PEST (bother) as a bother or a person or thing that causes fuss, trouble or annoyance followed by (with) the central or inner letter (core ingredient) of [H]O[T] takes to the definition of an Italian sauce made chiefly of basil and cheese, with nuts and olive-oil, originating in Liguria
10a Spooner’s timid sort loathing fellow resident (9)
HOUSEMATE: A combo of MOUSE (timid sort) as a shy, cowardly or timid person and HATE (loathing) as loathing or intense dislike that is subject to an utterance involving spoonerism (Spooner’s) as to utter a verbal error in which a speaker transposes the initial sounds or letters of two or more words, often to humorous effect, leading to the definition of a person who is not part of the same family, but who shares a house or dwelling as a fellow resident
12a Dress down and leave hastily before a small run (4,3,1,5)
TEAR OFF A STRIP: The definition of an idiom meaning to scold or severely reprimand someone, an example of which is to dress down i.e. to reprove or reprimand severely is arrived at from TEAR OFF (leave hastily) as to rush away or leave hastily placed in front of (before) a combo of A from the clue and TRIP (short run) as a short excursion, journey or run
14a Going after money, get rid of Rolls stored here? (5,3)
BREAD BIN: BIN (get rid of) as a verb meaning to discard or get rid of something preceded by or placed after (going after) BREAD (money) as a slang term for money takes to the definition of a wooden, metal or plastic container for storing bread rolls, loaves etc
15a Rules out drinking Tango in smart overcoat (6)
ULSTER: An anagram (out) of RULES taking inside (drinking) T (Tango) as the letter represented by Tango in NATO phonetic alphabet leads to the definition of a man’s long, loose overcoat of rough cloth, typically with a belt at the back that was first made in Ulster, Northern Ireland
17a Yobs in part of golf course legless at the end (6)
ROUGHS: The definition of rowdies or persons given to violent or disorderly behaviour, an example of which is yobs i.e. the plural term for an aggressive and surly youth, especially a teenager is reached from ROUGH (part of golf course) as the longer grass around the fairway and the green on a golf course followed by the end or final letter (at the end) of [LEGLES]S
19a Only partly consumes shallots where GIs eat (4,4)
MESSHALL: Part of or hidden inside (only partly) [CONSU]MES SHALL[OTS] takes to the definition of the dining facility used by military personnel such as GIs
22a Attack head for insolence (13)
OFFENSIVENESS: A charade of OFFENSIVE (attack) as a physical or military attack or assault and NESS (head) as a cape, promontory or headland takes to the definition of the quality of causing upset, insult, annoyance, or disgust through rude or disrespectful behaviour, an example of which is insolence i.e. the quality or state of being rude or impolite or having or showing a lack of respect for other people
24a Dried vine abandoned? That surprises me (1,5,3)
I NEVER DID: DRIED VINE from the clue subject to an anagram (abandoned) leads to the definition of an expression of shock or surprise, an example of which is ‘That surprises me’ or ‘I had no idea’
25a One grand, stolen money mostly, in modest house (5)
IGLOO: I (one) as a Roman numeral for one followed by G (grand) as a slangy shorthand for grand, a term used to mean a thousand dollars and most of the letters (mostly) of LOO[T] (stolen money) as stolen money or goods leads to the definition of a dome-shaped Inuit house, usually built of blocks and solid snow
26a Turning dead sunny occasionally, stripped off? (4)
NUDE: The occasional or alternate letters (occasionally) of [D]E[A]D [S]U[N]N[Y] read backward from right to left (turning) as a reversal in the across clue takes to the definition of an adjective meaning naked, not wearing any clothes or stripped off
27a Going on working as a publicist with formidable woman (2,8)
IN PROGRESS: The definition of a phrase meaning going on, under way or happening is arrived at from IN PR (working as a publicist) as working in public relations followed by (with) OGRESS (formidable woman) as a frightening or terrifying woman, an example of which is a formidable woman i.e. a woman who is intimidating or inspiring fear or respect
Down
1d Sleepy Hollow‘s revolutionary advertising (4)
HYPE: Part of or hidden inside [SLE]EPY H[OLLOW] in a returning fashion (revolutionary) as a reversal in the down clue guides to the definition of an advertising or promotion ploy
2d Old boring street revamped, getting prize (7)
ROSETTE: O (old) as the abbreviation for old getting inside (boring) an anagram (revamped) of STREET takes to the definition of an ornament or badge made of ribbon or silk that is pleated or gathered to resemble a rose and is awarded as a prize
3d Be inconsistent about dance with coppers, perhaps (4,3,6)
CHOP AND CHANGE: The definition of a phrase meaning to change one’s opinions or behaviour repeatedly and abruptly, an example of which is to be inconsistent i.e. to lack uniformity or regularity or to not behave in the similar way every time a similar situation occurs is obtained from C (about) as the abbreviation for the Latin word circa meaning ‘about’ or ‘around’ followed by HOP (dance) as an old-fashioned term for a dance, especially one at which popular music is played, AND (with) as a conjunction used to connect grammatically coordinate words, phrases or clauses denoting with, as well as or in addition to and CHANGE (coppers, perhaps) as coins of small denomination collectively, an example of which is coppers referring to copper coins
4d Land cultivated: hope it starts to inspire agriculturists (8)
ETHIOPIA: The definition of a landlocked country located in the Horn of Africa region of East Africa is reached from an anagram (cultivated) of HOPE IT followed by the beginning letters of (starts to) I[NSPIRE] A[GRICULTURISTS]
5d With Cram on top, cross-country ultimately close (6)
STUFFY: The ultimate or final letter (ultimately) of [CROSS-COUNTR]Y preceded by or having above in the down clue (with … on top) STUFF (cram) as to cram or pack or fill a container tightly takes to the definition of an adjective denoting close, as in a room lacking fresh air, poorly ventilated or stifling
7d Outline of submarine a worry in coastal fog (3,4)
SEA FRET: The outermost letters (outline) of S[UBMARIN]E followed by A from the clue and FRET (worry) as a verb meaning to worry or be anxious or troubled guides to the definition of a coastal fog or a cold, damp mist or fog that forms over the sea and drifts inland
8d Short text in reply composed clumsily (10)
INEXPERTLY: An anagram (composed) of a combination of TEX[T] that has been truncated or shortened with the removal of its last letter (short) and IN REPLY takes to the definition of an adverb denoting clumsily, ineptly or in a way that shows little skill
11d MOR? Playing Genesis faintly, not loud (4,9)
EASY LISTENING: The definition of a category of modern popular music comprising pleasant but undemanding songs and tunes, often referred to as ‘MOR’ or the ‘middle-of-the-road’ music is arrived at from an anagram (playing) of GENESIS [F]AINTLY devoid of (not) F (loud) as the musical abbreviation for ‘forte’ meaning loud
13d Scottish citizen Charlie leaving caber with two chaps (10)
ABERDONIAN: The definition referring to a person from Aberdeen that is in Scotland and hence a Scottish citizen is reached from C (Charlie) as the letter represented by Charlie in NATO phonetic alphabet coming out of (leaving) [C]ABER from the clue followed by (with) DON and IAN (two chaps) as the names of two male persons
16d Extremely desirable car part is back (8)
DEFENDER: The extreme or outermost letters (extremely) of D[ESIRABL]E followed by FENDER (car part) as the North American term for a wing or panel surrounding the wheel of a motor vehicle takes to the definition of a player whose position is at the back of a team, especially in football or hockey
18d At university, competitors closer to the further away goal (7)
UPFIELD: A charade of UP (at university) as meaning to or at university, especially as a member of a particular British university and FIELD (competitors) as the contestants or competitors in a race or sports tournament collectively guides to the definition of an adjective and adverb denoting positioned further up the field of play toward the opponent’s goal line
20d Forgive sailor only stealing fiver, essentially (7)
ABSOLVE: The definition of a verb meaning to forgive or grant forgiveness is arrived at from AB (sailor) as the abbreviation for able-bodied that refers to a seaman or sailor followed by SOLE (only) as only or being the only one bringing inside (stealing) the essential or innermost letter (essentially) of [FI]V[ER] (fiver) as referring to a five-pound note
21d Actor Donald is going around new study (6)
SINDEN: The definition of the surname of actor Sir Donald Alfred Sinden who became highly regarded as an award-winning Shakespearean and West End theatre actor and television sitcom star is reached from IS from the clue coming from the other end (going round) followed by N (new) as the abbreviation for new and DEN (study) as a secluded room for study or relaxation
23d Drags parts of the feet, it’s said (4)
TOWS: The definition of a verb in the third person singular present tense denoting drags, hauls or draws is fetched from a homophone (it’s said) of (TOES) as referring to the digits of the feet
There were several clues that I liked in this puzzle such as 1a, 12a, 14a, 24a, 27a, 3d, 7d, 11d, 13d and 16d; 27a being the best of the lot. My prayers to the Almighty for the eternal rest and peace of BD and my thanks to the setter for the entertainment. Looking forward to seeing you here again. Have a nice day.