Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31323
Hints and Tips by Gazza
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** Enjoyment ****
There’s nothing very obscure here (I assume that you all know the names of our cabinet ministers!) and I found it very enjoyable. Thanks to today’s setter.
In the hints below the definition element of each clue has been underlined, anagrams are CAPITALISED and indicator words (e.g. anagram indicators) are in brackets. The answers are concealed under the Click Here buttons.
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Across
1a Trust rotter to maintain right payment method (6,4)
CREDIT CARD: a verb to trust or believe and a dated informal word for a rotter containing (to maintain) the abbreviation for right.
6a Article in favour of advancing king’s hairstyle (4)
AFRO: one of our indefinite articles followed by a preposition meaning ‘in favour of’ with the abbreviation for king advanced one place to the left.
10a Letters on tombstone raised tear (3,2)
RIP UP: the abbreviation used on gravestones and an adverb meaning raised.
11a Great number from Beach Boys ultimately beyond you once (9)
THOUSANDS: a synonym of beach and the ultimate letter of Boys follow (beyond) an old word for ‘you’. Very neat!
12a She occasionally fixes locks (7)
SECURES: occasional letters from ‘she’ (not too tricky!) and a verb meaning fixes or remedies.
13a Canine bridge that is essentially implant (7)
SPANIEL: assemble a verb to bridge or cross, the usual abbreviation for ‘that is’ and the essential (central) letter of implant.
14a Problem for Murphy in top boat at sea by dawn (6,6)
POTATO BLIGHT: the falsely-capitalised murphy is an informal word for a common vegetable. We need an anagram (at sea) of TOP BOAT followed by a synonym of dawn (often preceded by ‘first’).
18a Shop hoarding silver opening place to keep things (7,5)
STORAGE SPACE: another word for a shop contains the chemical symbol for silver. Add a synonym of an opening or gap.
21a Moving swiftly on (7)
RUNNING: double definition, the second meaning ‘in operation’ .
23a Bar cryptic indication of “huts” (4,3)
SHUT OUT: this is a reverse anagram where the fodder and the indicator are in the answer rather than in the clue. If you take the answer as fodder followed by indicator and solve the anagram you should end up with HUTS.
24a When the news is on daughter introduces Dec’s partner and companion (9)
ATTENDANT: start with when the nightly TV news is on (2,3) and add the genealogical abbreviation for daughter and Dec’s partner.
25a Wedge shot at Royal Birkdale? (5)
SLICE: double definition. The first is a wedge or piece (of cake or cheese perhaps). The second is a wayward shot on a golf course (Royal Birkdale for example) which might end up in the rough.
26a Hi-tech ornithology protecting parrot (4)
ECHO: the first two words contain (protecting) a verb to parrot.
27a After undergoing surgery, prettiness should be lasting (10)
PERSISTENT: an anagram (after undergoing surgery) of PRETTINESS.
Down
1d Worries over son’s pet (6)
CARESS: in the surface pet is a noun but as the definition it’s a verb. A synonym of worries or anxieties precedes (over, in a down clue) the genealogical abbreviation for son.
2d Assume old court is boxing gym (6)
EXPECT: a prefix meaning old or former and the map abbreviation for court contain (is boxing) the abbreviation for gym in school.
3d Parodies of one’s individual deeds liberating Conservative (14)
IMPERSONATIONS: start with the contracted form of ‘one is’ from the viewpoint of the setter and add a synonym of individual or human being and another word for deeds without (liberating) the single-letter abbreviation for Conservative.
4d Static yet moving in Monaco? (4-5)
CITY-STATE: an anagram (moving) of STATIC YET. The question mark indicates that Monaco is just an example of the answer.
5d Beginnings of tracks broadcast (5)
ROOTS: a homophone (broadcast) of tracks or ways.
7d Results of loud noise enveloping popular centre for youngsters (8)
FINDINGS: the musical abbreviation for loud and an unpleasant noise contain (enveloping) an adjective meaning popular or trendy. Finish with the central letters of youngsters.
8d Only time to wear gong that’s out of date (8)
OBSOLETE: a synonym of only and the physics abbreviation for time are contained in (wear) one of the gongs handed out twice a year.
9d Parts of meal covered by batter, they could be tough to finish (7,7)
ASSAULT COURSES: parts of a meal (e.g. starter or main) are preceded by (covered by, in a down clue) a verb to batter or whack.
15d Faces without appeal – apparently, they attract (9)
OPPOSITES: a verb meaning faces or defies contains (without, in the sense of outside) a short informal word for sex appeal.
16d Sure agitated European guy lying over ID (8)
USERNAME: an anagram (agitated) of SURE is followed by the reversal (lying over) of an abbreviation for European and a synonym of guy.
17d Excellent score after revolutionary snooker shot (3-5)
TOP-NOTCH: a synonym of a score or nick follows the reversal (revolutionary) of a successful snooker shot.
19d What’s given when quitting job as spy (6)
NOTICE: double definition, the first what you hand in when quitting your job.
20d Labour cabinet minister not in good way (6)
STREET: the surname of a Labour cabinet minister (currently Secretary of State for Defence) without (not) IN and the abbreviation for good.
22d Threatening head of Green party (5)
GRAVE: the first letter (head) of green and a loud and lively party.
I liked 11a, 24a, 15d and 17d. Which one(s) came up to the mark for you?
The Quick Crossword pun: JAW + WRIT + RILES = JURY TRIALS
11a was my winner this morning from this very nicely clued and enjoyable romp through a still bone dry crosswordland. It’s all around us but nothing yet. Perhaps they should appoint a minister for drought as they did in 1976 which produced almost immediate results.
Thanks to our Thursday setter and Gazza.
Fed up with all this flippin’ rain! We never get any sunshine in this country.
☺️
Relatively straightforward for a Thursday with plenty of amusing diversions. The canine at 13a and Murphy’s problem at 14a brought smiles.
Many thanks to the setter and Gazza.
1.5*/3*
A very enjoyable Thursday challenge. I liked 14a and 16d, especially after I followed the clue’s instructions having stared at it for some while. My podium comprises 1a, 24a and 9d. Thanks to compiler and Gazza.
This made for a fairly gentle stroll through crosswordland with no real hiccups on a friendly grid.
I liked ‘after undergoing surgery’ as an anagram indicator. I’ve decided to call a dubious anagram indicator an anagrrrrram indicator.
My picks are 21a (an expression I use a lot), 2d and 17d.
Many thanks to the setter (no ideas) and G.
2*/4*
I flew out of the traps this morning but then slowed down as I travelled south, rather like the rain (almost none so far here in Herts). 21 and 23a were my favourites. I wasn’t convinced that 14a was in the best possible taste. Thanks very much to the setter and to Gazza.
A great Thursday offering with superb surfaces and some very clever clueing. Lots of smiles and baht drop moments. 7D was the LOI as I wanted the definition to be the loud noise and with the checkers there was an obvious noise that fitted. 24A gets awarded second place for COTD with 11A on the podium. Thanks to Gazza for the hints as I needed assistance with some of the parsing and to the setter for an enjoyable challenge.
Thai corner.
We have become the owners of a smart T.V. I have ignored the box in the corner here for the last 3 years as my linguistic skills are not up to the challenge but they are sufficient to realise that Thai programming on free channels is awful. As a result I wasn’t aware that Smart T.V.s were a thing and also how cheap they are. As with most purchases of household goods the delivery comes with a free installation service. This proved to be quite a challenge as the installers although technically profficient weren’t able to set up the system using the menu in English. My wife then became the translator and although her English is advanced her technical knowledge is not. Once we established that not all email providers are Google and that Google is not a generic term for all things internet we made progress. Although the session became quite tense we are now however able to watch more media than it is possible to do in many lifetimes. My source of news and entertainment for the last three years has been online so this morning felt a bit nostalgic with Sky News in the backgound as I consumed breakfast After 45 minutes of coverage of the Harry and Megan return saga with the same thing being said repeatedly and no insight into anything important I returned to the laptop and realised at least in news coverage I had missed nothing.
Disappointed that today’s guzzle was constructed without mentioning any further members of The Clash, however we had Brian Wilson’s dreamlike harmony fellows instead.
Like the rest of the country I am beyond excited that Harry and Meghan are blessing us with their presence once again. The United Kingdom has felt empty without them among us.Great guzzle. Thanks to the excellent setter and the former midfielder for Gansu Tianma.
Wait until you see my ‘destructive’ video choice on Sunday!
I found this a 3* for difficulty. Perhaps that has something to do with my fall and crack on the head. Got there in the end although I did have to check synonyms for “wedge”. I don’t know if checking synonyms is allowed ? Just taking things easy this week.
For 7 down the word tinnitus kept banging in my ear. The bottom left hand corner was obdurate but the brilliant 23 across got me there. Favourite though was those beach boys of 11 across. I’m sure Steve will have enjoyed canine bridge of 13 across.
Much fun and equal gratitude to Gazza and our setter
A bit of a slog for me and not much fun. I was pleased that it is my ‘week off’ from Thursday blogging. 3*/2.5*
I did have to e-confirm the Labour cabinet minister before modification. I don’t think that I can name any of Prime Minister Carney’s cabinet!
Smiles for 10a, 23a, and 17d.
Thanks to the setter and Gazza.
Needed help with some parsings in this lovely crossword. Liked it a lot.
Favourite 23a.
Last in 20d….could not think of the names of any ministers until the penny dropped. Shows how well I am keeping up with current affairs.
Thanks to Gazza and to the setter.
Lots of rain here last night. Grass is finally turning at least green-er.
This was a very interesting cryptic puzzle with some brilliant clues which took a while to work out but then made you smile, eg 11a and 14a, my favourite. I did slow myself down by being unable to stop my brain putting marks for the second word in 17d, which made the across clues impossible. In my head it made perfect sense.
Many thanks to the setter and to Gazza for the hints.
Well, I’m going to buck the trend here because I didn’t get on with this at all. I needed far too many of Gazza’s excellent hints to get over the line so not only a DNF but I didn’t enjoy it much. However, as Dyslex says I did enjoy the canine bridge at 13a.
Thank you, setter for your hard work but it completely bamboozled me. I put it down to having had a poor night’s sleep. Thank you, Gazza for the hints, which were needed today.
There has been rain in The Marches!!! Not enough but it’s a start. 🌦️🌦️
A fine Thursday offering that I received early for a change. Good, mostly pretty concise, clues provided a mildish challenge and plenty of enjoyment. Some ticks and we have a dead heat today: 1a and 21a. 2*/3.5*
From my MRB:
In my teens, and even now, I had a lot of trouble with these two, so they went in pronto.
PERJORATIVE: Derogatory; insulting.
PREROGATIVE: Choice; right.
Very enjoyable workout during my coffee break rather than at lunchtime
as I’m about to go out. Ia went straight in which always is a good start and I even managed to sort out the sporty ones. I thought the problem for Murphy was great (I wish the park and ride bus voice into Cambridge would not announce the next stop as “Marie’s” Lane. It is Maris after the potato,) and 24a , 1&2d also got daisies. Many thanks to both Setter and Gazza.
An enjoyable Thursday cryptic. I agree with his ratings and liked the same clues as he did
Thanks to him and the setter
I’m sat with my sou’wester and wellies to hand – there’s an impending deluge (apparently).
It may be just my opinion, but I found today’s offering one of the most interesting and enjoyable I have encountered for a long time. It was not easy and took me almost twice as long as usual with quite a few of the clues needing extra thought, dissection and reconstruction before revealing a solution.
Misdirection in 11a and 9d and the clever wordplay at 24a, 3d, and 16d kept the grey cells busy for quite some time.
I liked 25a and 20d, both caused much head scratching until many coins dropped but my COTD is the quite brilliant 23a
Many thanks to today’s setter and xxx for the hints.
I was so pleased with the outcome that I scooted off to Waitrose and stocked up on vin rouge with 25% off (other stores, wines and discounts may be available)
No idea what happened to this – it disappeared without trace then suddenly reappears just after I repost.
I’m sat with my sou’wester and wellies to hand – there’s an impending deluge (apparently).
It may be just my opinion, but I found today’s offering one of the most interesting and enjoyable I have encountered for a long time. It was not easy and took me almost twice as long as usual with quite a few of the clues needing extra thought, dissection and reconstruction before revealing a solution.
Misdirection in 11a and 9d and the clever wordplay at 24a, 3d, and 16d kept the grey cells busy for quite some time.
I liked 25a and 20d, both caused much head scratching until many coins dropped but my COTD is the quite brilliant 23a
Many thanks to today’s setter and Gazza for the hints.
I was so pleased with the outcome that I scooted off to Waitrose and stocked up on vin rouge with 25% off (other stores, wines and discounts may be available)