Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31314
Hints and tips by Falcon
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****
Greetings from my lakeside retreat near Ottawa where we have had a beautiful sunny Sunday. No, you did not sleep through a whole week. I’m back this week while Smylers enjoys a holiday road trip with his family.
Today’s puzzle is perfectly pitched for a Monday although some solvers may be caught out by a few rather whimsical definitions. I’m wondering whether this might be an X-Type creation (as usual my predictions are subject to the caveat that they are usually wrong).
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 Made deer act strangely (7)
CREATED – an anagram (strangely) of DEER ACT
5a Helps musicians releasing book (7)
ASSISTS – remove (releasing) the academic footnote abbreviation for book from musicians who play a particular instrument
9a Singer very quietly hurried over (7)
SOPRANO – link together a synonym of very, the abbreviated musical notation for quietly, hurried on foot, and the cricket scorecard notation for over
10a High-pitched sound rocks church (7)
SCREECH – rocks found at the foot of a slope and the mapmaker’s abbreviation for church
11a Conservative, firm policeman (9)
CONSTABLE – abbreviation for Conservative and firm or steady
12a Los Angeles writer back in Asian country (5)
NEPAL – reverse (back) all of the abbreviation for Los Angeles and a writing implement
13a Magazine on whiskey and grain (5)
WHEAT – an English entertainment magazine follows (on in an across clue) the letter represented by whiskey in the NATO phonetic alphabet
15a City re-elects criminal probed by head of Interpol (9)
LEICESTER – an anagram (criminal) of RE-ELECTS contains (probed by) the initial letter (head) of INTERPOL
17a Went down late to cross river (9)
DECREASED – place late or passed from this world around (to cross) the mapmaker’s abbreviation for river
19a Narrow piece of Sellotape removed (5)
TAPER – hidden in (piece of) SELLOTAPE REMOVED
22a Boldness of new court action dismissed at first (5)
NERVE – the mapmaker’s abbreviation for new and action on the tennis court missing its initial letter (dismissed at first)
23a Statesman‘s settlement mostly protecting drama school (9)
COLORADAN – a distant settlement minus its final letter (mostly) wrapped aound (protecting) the acronym for a London drama school; hint for definition a resident of a western US state
25a Extremely gradual French love charm (7)
GLAMOUR – the outer letters (extremely) of GRADUAL and the French word for love
26a Recent delivery of gas consumed (7)
NEONATE – an inert gas and consumed by mouth
27a Source of oil processed in Leeds (7)
LINSEED – an anagram (processed) of IN LEEDS
28a Large cars? I’m out of guesses (7)
ESTATES – remove (out of) IM (I’m) from a synonym of guesses
Down
1d More or less demonstrate boxing clubs making a profitable venture (4,3)
CASH COW — a Latin abbreviation denoting more or less or approximately followed by another word for demonstrate containing (boxes) the playing card abbreviation for clubs
2d Former lover writes and essentially accepts cost (7)
EXPENSE — link together the usual former lover, a synonym of writes, and the middle letter (essentially) of ACCEPTS
3d Breakfast option when visiting child (5)
TOAST — another word for when contained in (visiting) a synonym for child
4d Ring these scruffy bordellos (9)
DOORBELL — an anagram (scruffy) of BORDELLOS
5d A key passage (5)
AISLE — A from the clue and a small speck of land in the ocean
6d Precise way hospital department secures phone (9)
STRINGENT — the abbreviation for an urban way and the most commonly visited hospital department in Crosswordland surround (secures) phone or call
7d Two pets ruined saucepan (7)
STEWPOT — an anagram (ruined) of TWO PETS
8d Student in cold hotel captivated by renewable energy (7)
SCHOLAR — the water tap symbol for cold and the letter represented by hotel in the NATO phonetic alphabet contained in (captivated by) a form of renewable energy
14d As a result, brief party hosted by you long ago (9)
THEREFORE — a British political party minus its final letter (brief) contained in (hosted by) an archaic word (long ago) for you
16d Dislike of working at home – do the French regularly snicker? (9)
INDOLENCE — line up the usual at home, DO from the clue, a French definite article, and an alternating sequence of letters (regularly) from SNICKER
17d Cheated on young lady in part of Ireland (7)
DONEGAL — cheated or swindled and an informal term for a young lady
18d Nice art restored, for sure (7)
CERTAIN — an anagram (restored) of the first two words of the clue
20d Digital release from group of actors supporting school (7)
PODCAST — a group of actors appearing in a production follows (supporting in a down clue) a school of marine mammals
21d Referee initially annoys football team (7)
RANGERS — the first letter (initially) of REFEREE and another term for annoys
23d Worried son leaves frightened (5)
CARED — remove (leaves) the genealogical abbreviation for son from a synonym of frightened
24d Perch in river east of Germany inhaling oxygen (5)
ROOST — wrap the mapmaker’s abbreviation for river and the German word for east around (inhaling) the chemical symbol for oxygen
Thanks to the setter for a fun solve. You can tell us what clues you liked in the comments below.
Quickie pun:: HIGH + PURR + LYNX = HYPERLINKS
On this day …
… in 1968, Tom Jones went to No.1 on the UK album chart with ‘Delilah’. The lyrics were written by Barry Mason, and the music by Les Reed, who also contributed the title and theme of the song. It earned Reed and Mason the 1968 Ivor Novello Best Song Musically and Lyrically award.
The Spirit of Rufus lives on! */*****
The 13a magazine was a ‘has to be’ but I did e-search it after completion to see what sort or magazine it is.
17d had a definite air of familiarity about it albeit with slightly different cluing!
Candidates for favourite – 9a, 26a, 3d, and 14d – and the winner is 14d.
Thanks to the setter and Falcon.
A gentle start to the working week that left the grey cell virtually intact. My only moment of stutter was the deciphering of the 23a statesman
COTD – 23a which I do feel would read and sound better with an ‘i’ inserted towards the end. I’ll write to the Governor and suggest it.
Many thanks to today’s setter and Falcon for the hints
No crossword action yesterday and so I’ll be tackling my Sunday nemesis this evening. I’ll avoid yesterday’s blog for as long as possible!
Yes, because of course the person would be from Coloradia.
Hi Uncle
Coloradan is obviously correct like Moroccan. But, that’s not where GP is coming from as it just doesn’t sound right which I agree with.
Off the top of my head, it’s probably the only one that ends dan.
One wants to insert an i like Canadian and Floridian though they end da not do.
The quirks of the English language.
Did you like the crossword? I thought it kicked off the week very nicely.
Enjoyable, very straightforward and over in a flash. Even the odd obscurity was easily gettable through the accurate wordplay. For a favourite I went for 17a.
Thanks to both our Monday setter and Falcon.
A very enjoyable start to the cruciverbal week that should please most punters, old and new.
You’re being a bit harsh on yourself, Falcs, as you predicted last week’s setter which I agreed with and I’m going to agree again this week. I haven’t seen enough of Weatherman’s puzzles to recognise his style, meaning that I only have Heron and X-Type to choose from.
My picks are 28a as ”I’m out of guesses” is brilliant, 4d and 23d.
MTTTA x 2
1*/4*
28a was an “it must be” but I couldn’t parse it.
I eventually convinced myself that after ‘stating’ options A, B, C, D, then “E state” was the last guess. Knowing the correct parsing leaves me feeling mildly embarrassed, and a bit dim.
Nonsense, Karona. We all have these blind spots.
Previous weeks I have suffered from the delusion that having successfully managed two or three puzzles I would wait before posting. Stupid boy as comes to mind as the obvious response to that as was proved over several weeks. Today’s puzzle was not a read and write but was finished in good time. 23a was the difficult one that delayed me and I definitely think it was there because, and I have no proof to substantiate this possible slander on the setter, there were no other words that could be used.
Many thanks to Falcon and the better.
1*/4.5*. This was very light and great fun. I’ve only stopped short of 5* due to the repetition of write(r)/write(s) in 12a & 2d.
My favourite is a toss-up between 26a & 14d.
Many thanks to the setter (could it be the nemesis of my koi?) and to Falcon.
Top half went in top gear then from 14 on this puzzle changed down and laboured. Needed that extra cup of coffee and some thinking time. I didn’t know the German for east and misspelt the city. However the checkers righted things. There were some very entertaining clues and I particularly liked 26 across for misdirection and 14 down for construction.
Thanks to Falcon and our setter.
A typo in your email address sent you into moderation
Hi D
Does this help with the spelling of the city?
The word ‘ice’ is in it. So…in the winter, it can get ice-cold in **ice****.
No worries if not.
A steady fill completed on the second pass once a few checkers had been inserted. 26a is a new word for me, but readily parsable. I thought the ‘scruffy bordellos’ was amusing and ‘I’m out of guesses’ quite brilliant. However, for 13a I took ‘ ‘magazine’ to refer to the slang term for a firearm which post-solve I find was exemplified in the 1995 film ‘Heat’, which depicts a rapid magazine change now used as a training video for US special forces.
Many thanks to the setter and Falcon.
1*/4*
That film is in my top 10. Absolutely superb.
My wife and I often look at each other on the sofa, saying ‘***?’ and nod every time. The three hours fly by.
This is brilliant (scroll forward to 2 mins)….
Thanks for sharing that clip 🙂, I will queue that film up for a watch sometime. Haven’t seen it since university cinema when it was released.
I was sure I remembered Coogan & Brydon trying to outdo each other doing Bob & Al impressions on The Trip but can’t seem to find it on You Tube.
A lovely gentle crossword which is just what was required on another very hot morning in the dust bowl
Many thanks to the setter and Falcon
I found my reaction to this puzzle was exactly like yours crypticsue and I too live in the same dust bowl area. I am in Sandwich and I wondered if we were near neighbours? This puzzle was ideal for me except for 23a which prevented me from a clean sheet. Many thanks to the setter and to Falcon for the hints.
An enjoyable solve for me.
My top picks were 23a, 5d, 20d, 1d and 5a. I also liked 28a.
Thanks to Falcon and the setter.
Started quickly, slowed down a little in the south, last two in were the 23A/24D combo, wasn’t thinking clearly and missed a key snippet in both.
Monday’s post prizes go to 5A aided by Falcon’s pics of standout musicians, 7D’s pets and 11A as I like his work.
Thanks to setter and to Falcon ⭐️
Light and entertaining with smooth surfaces throughout – thanks to our setter and Falcon.
My ticks went to 28a, 1d, 5d and 20d.
Surprisingly for me, not a struggle. Except for the medical term which was unfamiliar to me, in fact unheard of.
Some regulars, as mentioned in other comments, eased the way. And no allusion to cricket (I think).
Skilful setter and helpful hinter.
A good start to the week with this */**** puzzle. Gentle and entertaining. Favourite clues were 5a, 9a, 25a, 6d and 16d.
Many thanks to the setter and Falcon.
A perfectly pitched puzzle for the start to the week. Superbly crafted clues with a level of challenge that gave me sufficient time to appreciate them. COTD has to be 26A as the setter has used my comments from yesterday to create an excellent challenge, (only relevant if you read my, ”hatched, matched, dispatched”, comment yesterday. As always, thanks to Falcon for the hints , althought I think Lynott should have been the b…ist featured first, also to the setter for a very enjoyable solve.
Thai corner.
I hugely appreciate the positive comments that are made about this daft little addition to my comments. Those who read it will be aware that I have been overwhelmed by funerals and weddings which have given me enough material for several years of observations on the madness of Thai life. Today’s Thai corner is freshly brewed however as I couldn’t let it go stale. The Thais on the whole are hugely superstitious, they believe in numerology, fortune telling, palm reading, spirits etc. to a huge degree. Today I went shopping at MAKRO and as I was cycling there I saw a herd of goats in the side street two rows down from our alley. Even in Thailand, in an urban housing estate, this is not normal. When I got home I explained to my wife I had seen a bunch of goats in the next street and received a shrug of the shoulders in response, (so what?). I realised that she thought I had said ghosts, which to her would be an everyday occurrence when I made it clear that it was goats I had seen she said, ” bloody hell what are goats doing in the streets around here, I can’t believe it.”
You really should write a book about living in Thailand, Thaike.
There are many on the market but my guess is a high percentage of the authors have spent only couple of months in the country. The brilliant anecdotes and observations will make it more appealing than the ones that contain just travel tips.
It also helps that you write well.
Hi TDS your comments made my day.
I need to get my act together to follow though with your advice inbetween the distractions of SENF, Cs, FALCON et al. I sense a Thai new year resoltion being made. Whether it will reach fruition I don’t know but I hope so.
For those who enjoy my meanderings GOOGLE Roger Crutchley. A journalist for the Bangkok Post who has written extensively about his experiences in Thailand, albeit 40 years prior to mine.
You’ve already written two or three chapters on the blog in 2026. Just copy and paste the posts and go from there.
To quote a TV resident of Peckham….you know it makes sense.
Maybe send a message to ‘The Dodger’, asking if he’ll meet you so he can give you some advice.
I love their belief in things ethereal. We seem to live in the here and now and if it can’t be explained it can’t be true or valid. I like to have an open mind and often have existential thoughts . This morning whilst dog walking I was thinking about someone who lost their pooch suddenly around 6 months ago who I haven’t seen since . I was just thinking I would knock on his door today , when he appeared, out walking too . It was an OMG moment – I was just thinking of you , and I wondered afterwards (again) if I could have some psychic ability. But … I could never share this with anyone seriously , and really ? Do I think that? Coincidence probably.
Who cares, JM.
It’s a great story.
Fabulous story, ATinB. Actually, I believe in ghosts because we had one at a house we lived in a few years ago. As a family we came to the conclusion separately that there was something strange about the place. Things disappearing, strange noises, the dogs barking at an empty staircase and such like. One day, I was in the orchard with my dogs and I saw a woman dressed in white carrying a bucket. I called out to her but she turned into the front garden. I ran after her to see what she wanted and there was nobody there. That weekend I was mowing the grass when I noticed a circle on the ground. I dug the grass away and discovered an old well. The woman in white was going to fetch water. We became quite fond of her.
That’s a top ghost story, SC.
I was sceptical for yonks but have heard and read so many stories that I’m open to it. It’s probably the mind getting up to all sorts but I do now given someone my full attention when they recount an experience.
I agree that it could be the mind but the whole family experiencing the lady? Electricity used to be thought magic.
Many years ago we took my mother in law on holiday with us, renting an old farmhouse in Devon. The next morning I mentioned to her that I was sure a someone flitted down the hallway in the night. My mother in law looked at me, nodding, and said she had also seen her. My husband was sceptical, and we never told our two young daughters.
Later, after we moved house, I felt a firm shove in my back when standing at the top of the stairs. This happended two or three times, until one day I loudly said “Just stop that!” and it never happened again. I suspected it was a child ghost, probably from many years before our house was built.
It is a fascinating subject. Thanks for that, BL.
A great start to the week with a gentle puzzle , so normal pants on today. Paused for a moment on 23a , but it parsed nicely. As someone else has commented it’s the only word that fits the checkers, so well done to the setter. 26a is such a great word , but never ever heard it used. Thanks to the setter and Falcon.
Enjoyable and straightforward start to the week, though I did think the answer to 23a was a new word to me meaning Statesman not, as I now see, someone from a certain US state. However the answer was still correct so it remains */****
Many thanks to Falcon and setter
What a great start to the week. I was, however, flummoxed by the statesman at 23a so will need to remember that. I had the wrong spelling for the city at 15a so thanks to TDS65 for the tip. Lots to like and, once again, I have ticks all over the paper. After careful, consideration, I am going for the quite brilliant (I thought) large cars at 28a.
Thank you, setter for a great guzzle and please do come and claim it. Thank you, Falcon for the hints.
Hi Steve good story ? I’ve had one or two encounters over the years and am a firm believer Just because we can’t explain it etc .As for the puzzle a typical Monday, very enjoyable and not too many stresses on the grey( and white) cells only 23 and 1d gave cause for concern. Thanks to all .
Typical Monday fare, a warm up for week ahead. LOI 23a. COTD 20d. Mixture of anagrams and lurkers.
Once again a nice start to the non-work week for me. Especially after Dada yesterday…yeesh!
A typical Monday with some fun clues and many smiles.
1.5*/4.5* for me
Favourites include 11, 12a, 15a, 27a, 17d & 21d — with co-winners 17d & 15a
Thanks to setter & Falcon
1* / 4* A light and enjoyable start to the week with a plethora of fine clues.
My favourites today include large cars at 28a, digital release at 20d and the source of oil at 27a
Many thanks to compiler and Falcon
A great Monday puzzle. 24d eluded me for some time, can’t think why because I’m reasonably familiar with the German language. Love the anecdotes about ghosts and goats. Thanks to setter and Falcon.
Lovely gentle puzzle to start the week. Finished very quickly and all correct so that made me happy.
Did like the large cars at 28a however my COTD has to be 25a, I immediately thought of its meaning in Vampire fiction, to glamour someone is to cast a spell/charm over them. Same clue same answer but a different route to get there.
Thanks all
An enjoyable start to the week though I have to admit to not parsing 5a but just ‘bunged it in’! It all went very well until I put in Clarendon at 23a I knew that it didn’t include RADA in my answer but couldn’t think of anything else. Oh how much time I wasted on my last 3 clues! Re 17d I’m sure we had a similar clue involving Donegal recently? Many thanks to the setter and Falcon.
Another great Monday crossword!
I used to live in a house in Hampton Court and also had a house
in Cornwall, right next to the sea…………both had ‘other occupants’……….
Welcome back, sabrinastar – we’ve not seen you for a while. Our “other occupant” was just mischievous. I hope yours were as well.
Well – the Hampton Court one just used to walk by, but in Cornwall there were 3 of us talking about
a room and what we wanted to do with it – then I realised there were four of us in the room! The next
day I went up the stairs and was closely followed……….apparently houses close to the sea seem to
attract these things………..
My daughter first noticed something when she heard footsteps following her up the stairs. She was only eight at the time and told us she didn’t feel threatened. In fact, she felt comforted. I was working in my study one evening and heard a woman giggle over my right shoulder. I thought it was my daughter but there was nobody there and she and my wife were downstairs in the kitchen. I tell you, SabStar, there are more things in heaven and earth….
Like TDS65, I was a firm non-believer until our white lady graced us with her presence.
Well – I have been into a lot of places here in Shrewsbury and I can tell
immediately if ‘there is something there’……I almost cancelled a meeting I arranged
in one of our historic pubs because of that…..but…not sure anyone noticed, but I
left the door open it was so creepy!
Was that The Nag’s Head on Wyle Cop?
This is all great stuff.
No – although I knew someone who worked in the Nag’s Head, and they
refused to go up to the top floor……….my meeting was the room on the first floor
of the Prince Rupert……….no longer used as a bedroom – obviously!
That floor at The Nag’s Head is forbidden to the public. I would post a picture of the painting but, as it is supposed to have evil influence, I will refrain. Actually, a stage play has been written about it and I hope to catch it at Theatre Severn one of these days.
I didn’t know about The Prince Rupert.
I also lived in a house with a ghost in it. There was an area next to the landing at the top of the stairs with no outside walls flanked on the other three sides by a bedroom, the billiard room and a storeroom that was noticeably colder than the rest of the house. When we first moved there in 1968 my sister and I would stand at the top of the stairs in the middle of summer and huff our breath then step into that area and do it again, our breath would freeze like on a winters day. A young girl was frequently seen at the top of the stairs then disappear. Some years later my mother responded to a knock at the door and a woman said she was just back from South. Africa on a visit and she used to used to live in the house. My mother invited her in and gave her tea and biscuits and they chatted. The lady said her sister died here so my mother produced a drawing that she’d done of the girl and the lady said ‘that’s my sister’, my mother gave her the drawing. They parted company but the young girl was never seen again.
Wow! What a story, TG.
I’m also very impressed with your knowledge of Leicester farther down the blog.
A good friend of mine had a similar experience when she and her then husband owned a shop, TG. I wrote a long reply to you describing her experience but the site gave me an error message.
Just found out that the play “The Nag’s Head” is on at Theatre Severn in October so I’ve booked.
Every word of it is true but I forgot to mention that the cold place was never cold again.
Born and bred in Leicester with an inquiring mind so it’s the sort of stuff I’d find out about. Some say that Leicester was called Ratae but that’s more likely to be Ratby a few miles away.
Very enjoyable Monday puzzle, solve able and quite clever 😃 **/**** Favourites 10a, 25a & 8d
Thanks to the Compiler and of course to the Falcon 👍
Very pleasant start to week. I’ll vote for the Denver resident at 23A. VMT Setter & Falcon.
What a lovely crossword to start the week. Only caught out by 13a but it was a “had to be” as I didn’t know the magazine and 14d. Thanks to setter and Falcon. Younger daughter got back from Derbyshire yesterday after travelling there to see our grandson Cameron performing with his heavy metal band. Can’t wait g,hear what her husband thought of his first trip to England.
I’m trying to reply to a comment using my iPad but I get a message saying the requested URL could not be found. This often happens when I try to comment using my iPad. Any ideas?
Just a thought Steve, If you are using a bookmark delete it and search for bigdave44.com on Google. Open the blog and then resave the bookmark. The bookmark may well be corrupted.
Thanks, Graham – I’ll give that a go.
Mind you, I’m replying on my iPad so let’s see if this posts.
Oh, it did. How weird. 🤔
A great and enjoyable start to the week, with only 23a defeating me, I would not have got it without the hint, Too many enjoyable clues to pick one as a favourite.
Many thanks to the setter and to Falcon for the hints.
Leicester was originally known as Caerleir meaning Leirs city. The Romans called it Leicester, camp at leirs city. He is said to be buried there below the river Soar. There is also a village next to me called Leire. All this from a crossword clue which I enjoyed.
Like Steve & Simon 23a proved a bit of a head scratch – I only clocked the wordplay once I’d twigged the correct kind of statesman despite having seen a number of RADA student productions at the Vanbrugh. The remainder went in without problem for an enjoyably brisk solve.
14d my clear fav with 23&26a on the podium.
Thanks to the setter & Falcon.
Finished with only the statesman at 23 a causing some difficulty. There was me thinking of my Cannings and Castlereagh but to no avail, until a look at the hints helped the penny to drop. Otherwise quite straightforward . Favourites today were 15a, not because of any difficulty but earlier today had a walk around the Bosworth battlefield site, how would England have looked had Richard been victorious, and 23a.
As ever thanks to the setter and to Falcon for the hints.
I would be very grateful for help either parsing 5d (though I fear I will feel very dim when someone explains). I have the answer from the crossers, but why are the last four letters “key”!
A key is a low-lying island (as in the Florida Keys).
It’s a very fair question, you extremely rare internal combustion engine, you (six-stroke).
A key is a small, low island, e.g Florida Keys.
(sorry, I’ve only just seen G’s post)
It’s late and I have to admit I have tried unsuccessfully all day to get on the wavelength. My bugbears were 13a (I’ve never heard of the magazine), 23a, 1d, 2d, 20d and 24d. Just hoping Tuesday will, as usual, be more productive and entertaining. Thanks anyway setter and Falcon.
Good evening
Just on my way home after another somewhat trying day at work on the Iron Road!
I managed to get the crozzie done but shhh! – it was in work time 🤭
One or two little stumbles along the way; I wasn’t 100% sure of the parsing for 5d, and I kicked myself when I figured out the “brief party” in 14d, which was my last to fall. I thought 28a was top contender for COTD.
Many thanks to our setter and to Falcon.
23a and 26a were new words to me which is why it took until after breakfast on Tuesday to finish what until then had been a smooth ride.
2*/4* …
liked 8D “Student in cold hotel captivated by renewable energy (7)”