Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31312
Hints and tips by Mr K
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BD Rating - Difficulty *** - Enjoyment ***
Hello, everyone, and welcome to Friday.
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. Please leave a comment telling us how you got on.
Across
1a Sort of bank job Barry bored me about? (5,7)
ARMED ROBBERY: An anagram (about) of BARRY BORED ME
8a Vehicle's over cloud moving miles to the west (7)
OMNIBUS: The single letter for over with a rain cloud in which the single letter for miles has been moved to the left (moving miles to the west, in an across clue)
9a Refuse to take part if third lad touches too much (7)
BOYCOTT: A (3,1) phrase that could mean “third lad” with an informal abbreviation meaning “too much”
11a Bakery offering fundamental opinion to Spooner (7)
TEACAKE: Spoonerise a (3,4) expression that could mean “fundamental opinion” or “important interpretation”
12a Loose Women is appealing (7)
WINSOME: An anagram (loose) of WOMEN IS
13a Relaxes with guys dropping lead (5)
EASES: Guys or kids minus its first letter (dropping lead)
14a Ultimately most Pride parades will follow large musical floats (9)
LEVITATES: The last letters (ultimately) of MOST, PRIDE, and PARADES come after (will follow) both the single letter for large and a musical known for a song about not weeping
16a Transform poodle with CGI to be German Shepherd? (6,3)
POLICE DOG: An anagram (transform) of POODLE CGI. The ? indicates that the definition is by example
19a Sweetener found in sauces on the counter (5)
SUGAR: The reversal (on the counter, in an across clue) of some Italian meat and tomato sauces
21a To do with figures UN rejected, America discovered (7)
NUMERIC: The reversal (rejected) of UN with AMERICA minus its outer letters (dis-covered)
23a Mark Noble mishit? No and it should be ignored (7)
BLEMISH: NOBLE MISHIT with both NO and IT deleted (ignored)
24a Truth about representing Italy (7)
REALITY: About or concerning with an anagram (re-presenting) of ITALY
25a Gran assumes plug on Tesla for example is one from Vegas? (7)
NEVADAN: An informal word for gran contains (assumes) both what Tesla defines by example (for example) and another informal word for plug (with on indicating that the plug comes after the Tesla). Another definition by example (?)
26a Ours eat and drink in resort - it's far from a favourite (4,8)
RANK OUTSIDER: An anagram (in re-sort) of OURS EAT DRINK
Down
1d Cancels entertaining adult books? (7)
ANNUALS: Another word for cancels containing (entertaining) the single letter for adult
2d In seconds I'm told about acid rain spoiling Isuzu bonnets (3,4)
MOB CAPS: The second letters of each word in I’M TOLD ABOUT ACID RAIN SPOILING ISZUZU
3d Detective signalled and drove away (9)
DISPELLED: A usual abbreviated detective with signalled or indicated
4d Old games console docked with steer-control component? (2-3)
OX-BOW: Link together the single letter for old, all but the last letter (docked) of a Microsoft games console, and the single letter for “with”
5d Fitting type of burglar alarm, initially still working to break in (7)
BAYONET: The initial letters of BURGLAR ALARM with a synonym of still in which “working” or “not off” is inserted (… to break in)
6d Find native Australian solicitor (4,3)
ROOT OUT: A contraction for an animal native to Australia is followed by a solicitor who might be selling tickets
7d Daring top batsman means to get drink (6-6)
BOTTLE-OPENER: Daring or courage with the batsman at the top of the batting order
10d Nice one - term of endearment used by darling husband in party game (8,4)
TREASURE HUNT: A French (Nice …) word for one and the final letter (term of…) of ENDEARMENT both come after a synonym of darling and the single letter for husband
15d Rolling Stones and five ace bands go to perform (9)
VAGABONDS: The Roman five and the playing card abbreviation for ace with an anagram (to perform) of BANDS GO
17d Greek character holding a dance (7)
LAMBADA: A letter in the Greek alphabet containing (holding) A from the clue
18d Having a bad trip? Is crack involved? (3-4)
CAR-SICK: An anagram (involved) of IS CRACK
19d Romantic ballad adored after release of disc is delayed (7)
SHELVED: A Charles Aznavour romantic song that became a hit for Elvis Costello is followed by a synonym of adored minus the round or disc-shaped letter (after release of disc)
20d Look pleased with communist revolutionary worker who's dogged (7)
GRINDER: A facial expression that could be “looked pleased” is followed by the reversal (revolutionary) of an informal word for a communist
22d Beastly sort of firm may stop you conclusively (5)
COYPU: An abbreviation for firm or company with the final letters (… conclusively) of MAY, STOP, and YOU
Thanks to today’s setter. Which clues did you like best?
The Quick Crossword pun: PET + TEAK + ASH = PETTY CASH
Just right for a Friday I thought, plenty to think about and untangle.
Barry’s bank job at 1a wasn’t a hold-up and I enjoyed the ex-Hammer taking his eye off the ball at 23a.
Charles Aznavour’s song at 19d was recalled more fondly than in 1974 when it was played to death, though 20d raised the biggest smile as the definition can mean something completely different if the solution is treated as a homophone. No coincidence I’m sure.
Great fun, my thanks to our setter and ALP.
A tough one but it is Friday. It was a while before I managed to solve one on the first pass and I only had four by the end. Then the daring batsman at 7d arrived with its six checkers allowing me to gain further entry into the grid. We seem to be having a run of the good reverend recently but today’s took some figuring out. Even with the hint, I’m not sure about it. My COTD is Mark Noble at 23a.
Thank you, setter for the brain mangler. Despite that, it was a pleasure to gradually solve it. Thank you, Mr. K. for the hints.
I did like the pun today.
3*/4*. This proved to be an enjoyable Friday challenge although I struggled with the very obscure 2d. I looked up in my BRB the only three-letter possibility which fitted the checkers for the first word to find that the answer is “historic” and so, for me, this should have had an historic indicator. Even knowing the answer, I still failed to parse it because I was utterly transfixed by “in seconds” leading to MOS.
I had plenty of ticks and my crowded podium comprises 14a, 23a, 4d, 7d & 10d.
Many thanks to the setter – my punt is on Django. Many thanks too to Mr K.
Me too with the MOS part of 2d.
Ditto
Disposable 2d’s still used extensively in food production.
Me too with the mos ! 🙄
I found this very tough but I did eventually managed to solve enough to create the checkers necessary to fill the grid.
Dr. S was not at his friendliest today and I must have recited 11a a dozen times before I came up with something feasible.
A couple of anagram indicators seemed a little strange but that’s my fault for not memorising all of the 1,400 on the official list.
Did anyone else have a nostalgic moment at 15d recalling Jimmy James?
2d had the lot…in (lurker); told (homophone) and spoiling (anagram) so not a surprise that it was none of those.
So, after all that exertion there was just one word left…second word of the nice 10d. Thank you to Mr. K for the hint.
COTD – a tie between 14a and 25a
Many thanks to today’s setter and Mar K for the much needed hint.
I’ll go where the music takes me all I could remember
Much head scratching but finished despite a lot of liberty taking.
I found this a good bit more straightforward than Twm yesterday other than being embarrassingly slow to twig where the C came from in 9a. Very enjoyable with lots to like – 11&23a + 4,15&18d the ones that stood out for me. Solved in the break between morning & afternoon tee times on day 2 of the PIF London Championship.
Thanks to the setter & to Mr K.
A nice workout for a Friday that was satisfying to finish.
Burglar Barry put a smile on my boat race as did the great term in 2d.
I failed to parse the second part of 10d and I need to note the Tesla term as I keep forgetting it.
My picks are 14a, 16a and 18d.
Many thanks to the setter (no ideas) and Special K.
3*/4*
A chewy puzzle as it right for a Friday. I needed Mr K’s help to parse 2d. I parsed 23a incorrectly as I just saw it as a lurker but did wonder where the indicator was!
Top picks for me were 14a, 25a, 6d, 5d, 15d and 19d.
Thanks to Mr K and the setter.
After yesterday’s challenge, normal service has been resumed and we have a good example of an end of the (non-)work week puzzle – ***/****
Candidates for favourite – 13a, 23a, 24a, 6d, and 7d – and the winner is 7d.
Thanks to the setter, I was thinking Silvanus but having read the comments so far my half-crown and florin are staying in my sock drawer, and Mr K.
This was pleasingly difficult as befits the end of the week. Like SC, my first pass yielded a very low number of correct entries and I had to go through again to get any sort of foothold. Once I was underway it all went in fairly smoothly apart from falling into the elephant trap at 2d. For a favourite I went for 23a.
Many thanks to both our Friday setter and Mr K.
Super puzzle, and after a slowish start soon became a rapid completion just as the coffee mug was being emptied. A little heavy on the anagrams but cracking surfaces and plenty of humour, with no esoteric GK.
Honours to 9a (my LOI and a groan on parsing it), 25a & 18d (great surface read) with COTD the superb 2d for the surface and ingenuity. I used to have an Isuzu Trooper: superb workhorse, even the paintwork on the bonnet was tough!
Many thanks indeed to the setter (I was wrong with silvanus yesterday, but am going to double down & attribute it to him again today, just don’t think this is Z or NYDK) and of course to Mr K.
Hi MG
Mr Smooth said last week that he is off for a while.
I have no ideas who it is.
Thanks Tom. I’ll still credit puzzles to him on a regular basis until he returns and proves me right once again. Stopped clocks and all that!
Fairy nuff
Just right for a Friday. The parsing of 2d had me totally flummoxed; a clever clue. Thanks to setter and Mr K.
For a Friday this was a rather tricky puzzle, much like the Thursday offering was too.
Some came relatively easy but many had to wait for enough cross check letters to suss it all out.
3*/3* for me
Favourites include 1a, 16a, 7d, 10d, 18d & 20d — with winners 16a & 7d
Thanks to setter & Mr K.
Very entertaining stuff with a few tricky bits appropriate for Friday – thanks to our setter and Mr K.
I had ticks on my printout for 1a, 9a, 23a, 6d, 7d and 20d.
This was a good challenge and I had to resort to the hints for20d and 4d – I still do not understand what 4d is – steer control? Had there been reference to a lake I would have known straight away. First drawing in my Geography book in Form 1. I liked the idea of Loose Women having a respectable appeal, I liked 14a which is a lovely word and Mark Noble was cleverly hidden. We have seen several spoonerisms lately, I hope he goes off on his summer vacation soon! I am going to try and send you an odd
photograph of a sunflower which suddenly and inappropriately appeared in a flower trough.. I did not have the heart to pull it out.
But I have had a lot of trouble with me phone being unable to progress further than the first part of the Hinter’s spiel. When I click on continue it says the server has gone! Anyway, nice end to the guzzle week. Many thanks as always to Setter and HInter.
I’ve had one of those appear in the wildflower patch I sewed this year. Sunflower?
Did the flower patch need darning Steve? 😉
Flippin’ spell checker! Sowed!! 🤣
Good afternoon DG – a 4d is a wooden collar attached to the shoulder of the beast that helps to manoeuvre it. On the phone front – when the message indicates the server is not responding it most often means that the connection to the internet (WiFi ?) has been lost
I didn’t know that, GP so another thing learned. I’m with DG in that the only Ox Bow I know is this.
I only know Steve because my grandfather had one hanging up in the old cow shed.
We had a similar rogue sunflower in one of our patio pots. We knew which culprit planted it though as we saw the field mouse go backwards and forwards with his stash of seeds from the birdfeeders.
It’s the shape and name of a collar used on oxen apparently (new to me too).
Just re=read this. DG, when WILL you learn to read through
before you press send. Trouble with me phone! Dear, dear.
Another struggle for me, stumbling at the last two hurdles:-
9 across, because it involved cricket
5 down, because it was a bit devious
I did manage to solve them and finish.
So thanks (I think) to the setter and thanks for the hints Mr K.
Not so much cricket as 19th century Irish history, Clicker! In this context it’s an eponym derived from the Captain of the same name.
To me, MG, B*****t and “third” in the clue involve cricket. I had an unfortunate experience when attending a day’s play at an Ashes match in 1960 at Maine Road (is that the Manchester cricket ground?). England were batting and they spent the whole day trying not to get out without scoring!!! After that, it wasn’t my favourite sport.
It must have been Old Trafford.
Before coming here I was ready to complain about the obscure word play in a lot of clues but I can see that I have a very long way to go.
10d frustrated me because I thought it used far too many words to say the same thing but how wrong I was. The best I got was SURE HUN (term of endearment) ‘in’ TREAT (‘nice one), completely missing the far more elegant Nice and term indicators. The coin has never dropped so hard.
I will also mention others I got by default but foxed me until I saw the explanation here
9a. I couldn’t work out how the ‘third’ indicator was not put immediately before its fodder of ‘touches”. Now I know.
I was going to give this ****/* but, humbled, I now award it ****/****.
Roll on Monday
(EDITED: I can see that I can’t even count letters now. I’m blaming jet lag as I only got back to Thailand yesterday)
A dnf from me. Whilst I romped through a good half of the clues, mainly in the west, I ground to a halt. Walking away for a while works sometimes, but not today so resorted to the hints. This was a tough challenge but there was not a duff clue, just a duffer trying to solve them. 2d was clever as was 14a, but my cotd was 17d. Thanks to compiler for the brain mangling and Mr K for the hints.
Got there in the finish but then had to see the hints to see the ‘why’ of some of them (boy C completely fooled me), loved the whole thing, take a bow Mr setter!
Found today a real test. Was fearing the worst after a first pass left the grid almost unblemished! Got there in the end but by the skin of my teeth – and I need a lie down in a dark room (or perhaps a nice stiff drink!)
Thanks to the setter and to MrK
Very tricky. I , being a retired geography teacher, knew the meaning of 4d in Geomorphology but not in animal husbandry. 2d baffled me because of the odd surface read and I learnt some interesting facts about jokes and 710 petrol caps on Isuzu motor cars which confused me still further. However, I got there in the end.1a was well-misdirected, the lego clue at 14a was verycleverly put together as was15d. However, my favourite wS the geographical clue at 25a. Thanks t Mr K for the excellent hits and to the compiler for a reLly chalkengingset of clues and real learning experience.
Needed the hints to fully parse 9a, 3d and 10d. Never heard of a 2d but I got it from the parsing and 20d was and remains a bung in. I made slow progress with this throughout but got there in the end. Favourite was 14a. Thanks to the setter and Mr. K.
A tough work out but everything south of levitates flew in , not so the rest .2d last one in and is still a bit hazy, even with the hints .4d complete mystery, I have no idea what a games consul is , and the knock on effect stopped me from getting sir Geoffrey.Sir Geoffrey my clue of the day ..4a . Thanks to all
This was a nicely chewy puzzle for a Friday. For me it was a steady solve , although got held up with a few and there were a few parsings that I could not get , mainly 2d which I looked at for ages , being cleverly misdirected thinking seconds was mos , but then not being able to work the rest. I usually can spot if there’s a weird word like ‘Isuzu’ that it would be a lurker or something , but just didn’t see it. Nice clue . Learnt a few things along the way too such as the other meaning of ox bow, and I also missed boy c. Nice clue too ! All in all a really smart puzzle which I was pleased to have solved even if a few parsings passed me by. Thanks to the setter and Mr K.
Found this harder than yesterday. Left it with 7 gaps and went off for lunch at N.T. Standen.
Feeling more reckless on return and with some bung-ins got the grid completed without help. I do not understand the spoonerism although it could not be anything else. Add to that the bung in for the bonnets in 2 down.There were more question marks than ticks. So although I got all the right letters in all the right places it doesn’t really count if some are just guesses.
Favourite was 25 across and will post it to my friend in who lives not far from Vegas.
Heartfelt thanks to Mr.K for the explanations and grovel before today’s setter
Loved it. I fair romped through this before going out this morning and certainly found it easier than the last 2 days. 1a went straight in and I rembered the relevance of ‘seconds’ in 2d and the ‘third lad’ in 9a from recent puzzles. The only delay in parsing was for 10d where I was ‘un’ short before twigging the Nice connection. I’ll go with 14a, 26a and 25a as favourites.
Many thanks to the setter and Mr K.
1*/4*
I’ve taken a look at the Elgar in t’other place and am totally stumped bar 2. It’s like looking at a brick wall.
I found this tough with the North being most troublesome, there were several that I needed clarification of, eg 2d and 4d which were terms I did not know in the context given, I could not parse 10d but Mr K helped me. That said the rest was clever with lots of different clue types and it was enjoyable to wrestle with, it is Friday so a tougher challenge is appropriate.
Many thanks to the setter and to Mr K for the hints
… gave up on this today! I blame the distress of a new fridge freezer arriving fitted with a moulded European two plug! Try sorting that out with the supplier. I am however of a generation that I can fit and wire my own plug!
Well I’d never heard of 2d and 4d and was somewhat piqued by the profession I’ve been in for nearly 40 years (being generous unwittingly I hope) being sullied by 6d, albeit accepting the literal meaning.
Anyway ‘rant’ over, thoroughly enjoyed the puzzle today, loved the Rolling Stones one.
Mr Spooner and Greek letters could perhaps back their bags and go on holiday!
All was needed for 19d was a reference to Cliff Thorburn😉
On another point, a disappointing day on the links today, who invented bunkers?
Having a well deserved 🍺 with the Killers 🎸
This went really well on a post work Friday evening with a beer and R.E.M. providing soundtrack … except for 2D! Like others I assumed MOS but it didn’t help that I didn’t know this word. Great also that Isuzu bonnets gets lots of search results.
Pody picks – I imagine 4D’s console surface took a bit of work, 7D’s thirsty batsman, and 18D’s trippy excursion.
Thanks to setter and to Mr K ⭐️
2.5* / 3.5* Quite wordy clues with some excellent misdirection, really had to work to get the answers.
Best of a great bunch of clues are the party game at 10d, bad trip at 18d and the stubborn boring batsman at 9a
Thanks to compiler and Mr K
Superb clues throughout this excellent puzzle. I’ll vote for the native Australian solicitor. VMT Setter & Mr K
A typically challenging Friday puzzle – had to check the parsing for 2d, though the answer was clear enough.
For a recent version of the Charles Asnovoice (was that Ronnie Barker?) song, check out the Archers 75th anniversary ‘Friday Night is Music Night’ on Radio 3 about a month ago – Ryan Kelly (aka Jazzer) sings a memorable version.
Thanks to the setter and Mr K for his hints.
Good evening
Well, quite the worst result for me in ages: a DNF with the sponge hoyed in at 8 unfilled solutions (7 if you allow me 10d, which was written in the margin because the parsing eluded me completely)
Whoever set today’s crozzie has beaten me into submission. Not even my Lucky Green Pen could save me!
Thank you to our setter for the undoubted challenge and thank you to Mr K for his invaluable explanations. I’m off to cry in my beer!
Root out and then Sir Geoffrey walks to the crease … all the spectators have gone to bar!
Enjoyed the majority of this, but was befuddled by some of the clues.
9a, 14a and 5d beyond my abilities.
10d was also beyond me. Has anyone used treasure as a term of endearment since 1950? 😜
19d involved an obscure singer and his song from the 1950s? Can’t stand the Costello bloke and his offerings too.
Glad to have solved what I could though.
Thanks to all.
I’m with you on Costello, Bent Banana.
Thanks to everyone who has commented today, and thanks again to our setter.
3*/3* ….
liked 18D “Having a bad trip? Is crack involved ? (3-4)”