Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31339
Hints and tips by Huntsman
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BD Rating – Difficulty * Enjoyment ****
Well it’s been a damp start to the day here in Harpenden and there seems to be plenty more to come. Fortunately tomorrow looks ok for ⛳️ which I’m looking forward to having shot my lowest gross score for 3 years yesterday – no doubt a freakish aberration.
Today we have the usual gentle Tuesday puzzle from Anthony Plumb which as ever is nicely clued throughout & very enjoyable. I thought it a little trickier than yesterday so I’ll be interested to see what others make of it.
Ray T is on duty over in t’other place with a very gentle anagram free Beamer that really isn’t more, if at all, difficult than this one so well worth having a stab at. Whybird is on hand with some afternoon tunes & to provide a nudge if required.
As usual there is a selection of music to enjoy or ignore.
In the hints below the definition element of each clue has been underlined, anagrams are CAPITALISED & the crossword technique “indicator words” are in brackets. The answers are concealed under the Click Here buttons. Please leave a comment below telling us what you thought & how you got on with the puzzle.
Across
1a Rap over the knuckles? This could make gent ill (7-3)
TELLING OFF: we start with a reverse anagram – GENT ILL is the fodder then think of a suitable indicator.
6a Prevent beer bellies returning (4)
STOP: reverse (returning) an informal term for large stomachs caused by too much ale.
10a Prison’s thieves (5)
NICKS: a double definition – the former plural rather than possessive.
11a Cautioned about training (9)
EDUCATION: an anagram (about) of CAUTIONED.
12a Beginning to shed a bit of hair? Edward’s worried (8)
STRESSED: S[hed] (beginning to) + the term for a lock, curl or ringlet of hair & a diminutive for Edward.
13a Cheers the Parisian’s stories (5)
TALES: another informal way of saying cheers or thanks + the French definite article used before any plural nouns.
15a Go for scheme I’d oddly dismissed (7)
PROCEED: an adjective meaning ‘for’/in favour of followed by the alternate letters (oddly dismissed) of the 3rd & 4th words in the clue.
17a Editor rejected request for lecture (7)
DECLAIM: reverse (rejected) the usual abbreviation for the 30a boss + a synonym for request.
19a Regretting keeping small hotel running (7)
RUSHING: insert (keeping) the single letter abbreviation for S[mall] & H[otel] (NATO alphabet) into a gerund verb synonym for regretting.
21a Essentially political motive for crime (7)
TREASON: the central letter (essentially) of [poli]T[ical] + a synonym for motive.
22a The chap’s enthralled by court case (5)
CHEST: insert (enthralled by) a third-person pronoun + the possessive into the usual two letter abbreviation for court.
24a Typical celebrity – eating and drinking, primarily (8)
STANDARD: place AND from the clue (eating) inside another word for a celebrity then append D[rinking] (primarily). Neat surface & easy to miss the wordplay on the first read of the clue.
27a Dancing at nude rave, wanting a thrilling experience (9)
ADVENTURE: an anagram (dancing) of [a]T NUDE RAVE (wanting/less A).
28a Gran? Not an awful cook (5)
GRILL: GR[an] (not AN) + maybe not the first synonym to spring to mind for awful but ok I guess if answering a query as to how one is feeling.
29a Comfort guy scratching head (4)
EASE: remove the first letter (scratching head) from AP’s oft used verb synonym for ‘guy’.
30a Wraps pens we damaged, but not with rags (10)
NEWSPAPERS: an anagram (damaged) of [w] RAPS PENS WE (less/not W[ith]).
Down
1d Can opener in your mini (4)
TINY: another word for a can + Y[our] (opener in).
2d Places old cat gets surrounded by big ones (9)
LOCATIONS: O[ld] + CAT from the clue are inserted into (surrounded by) the plural of the 2nd largest of the wild cat species.
3d Children in the US signed up (5)
ISSUE: hidden in reverse (in/up)
4d Judged client in audition (7)
GUESSED: a homophone (in audition) of client in the context of hotel resident or restaurant customer maybe. The definition context is estimated rather than passed judgement on.
5d Discovered half of shed is built (7)
FOUNDED: an adjective meaning discovered + [sh]ed (half of).
7d Test result finally upset Den (5)
TRIAL: [resul]T (finally) + a reversal (upset/down clue) of a den/animal home or haunt for humans.
8d Nine thumps? Barbaric chastisement (10)
PUNISHMENT: an anagram (barbaric – I await Tom’s verdict) of NINE THUMPS.
9d I caught husband coated in adhesive mixture (8)
PASTICHE: I from the clue + the cricket abbreviation for C[aught] & the genealogical single letter for H[usband] are surrounded by (coated in) a type of adhesive.
14d Be aware of rise in value (10)
APPRECIATE: a double definition.
16d Being cross with one pop star after end of performance (8)
EXISTING: the letter that can represent a cross/multiplication sign + the Roman numeral letter for one followed by the Geordie ex-policeman are all preceded by (after) [performanc]E (end of). Neat surface.
18d Confident vet raises cuckoo (9)
ASSERTIVE: an anagram (cuckoo) of VET RAISES.
20d Wave perhaps gets moving on river (7)
GESTURE: an anagram (moving) of GETS + a river in N Yorkshire that flows into the Ouse.
21d Teacher initially goes on about student trips (7)
TRAVELS: T[eacher] (initially) + a verb meaning goes on/praises wildly or rants into which the usual single letter is inserted (about).
23d The King’s constrained by tunnel vision (5)
ELVIS: hidden (constrained by) – and here’s the Carl Perkins song that was track 1 off the debut album that kicked it all off.
25d Follow mother’s teaching (5)
DOGMA: follow/track + an informal term for mother.
26d Festivity’s no good, regrettably (4)
ALAS: remove the single letter for G[ood] from a type of festivity – plural or with the possessive.
My picks of the clues today would be 1&24a together with 2,9&16d. Please let us know which ones ticked your boxes.
Today’s Quick crossword pun: BOY + ALL + SLAW = BOYLE’S LAW
I’ve been working my way through the entire Black Keys discography since seeing them last week. Most lists of their albums from best to worst have Turn Blue ranked very low but I think it may be my favourite. Last week I had Weight of Love & here is another cracking tune from the album.
A typical professorial offering that I found to be somewhat trickier than usual. In fact, I had solved just four after the first pass and then it was slow going until the finish. It was still enjoyable, though, and I have ticks aplenty on the paper. I must admit that I didn’t know the word at 17a meant a lecture so that’s my something learned for the day. I liked the Yorkshire for motive at 21a and this is my COTD.
Thank you, AP for the puzzle. Thank you, Hintsman for the hunts and Bonamassa.
I wasn’t sure about 17a either!
The BRB gives “To make a set or rhetorical speech”, =lecture?
I’d looked in the smaller red book which has lecture as one of the solutions synonyms.
An early Tuesday solve for me as rain halted my visit to the golf course. This was pretty straightforward in a typical AP manner. Steady, enjoyable fare with the cats at 2d; the nude dancing at 27a and the barbarism at 3d being my pick of the clues.
Thanks to AP and Huntsman.
1*/3*
Another enjoyable front end of the week offering that I found to be broadly on a par with yesterday.
Plenty of straightforward anagrams to get the ball rolling, let’s just hope that the indicators pass muster!
I liked the construction of the 16d cross pop star and the 2d old cat but my COTD award goes to a clever 1a
Thanks to AP for a very smooth puzzle and Huntsman for the hints.
A damp start to the day and so, until it dries up, I shall return to ‘The Dentist’ for an hour.
I literally scampered through this and thought I was on for a personal best but then a couple held me up at the end. Very enjoyable so will now have a look at the Toughie. Summer seems to be over here and it is pretty chilly and drizzling. Thanks to the Professor and Huntsman
No pause for thought in this puzzle, although I did check the 17a lecture, as did SC above.
No particular favourite, although the ‘Typical celebrity eating and drinking…’ sounds about right.
Thanks to the setter and to Huntsman.
The old chestnut at 30a had me looking for ages without cottoning on. These rags catch me out every time.
Still an enjoyable puzzle with, for me, a bit of an iffy synonym at 28a.
Thanks to setter and hinter.
As others have said, another gentle puzzle.
Top picks for me were 28a, 21d, 9d and 26d.
Thanks to Huntsman and Mr Plumb.
A tiny step up in difficulty compared to yesterday.
30a LOI – fooled by this again for ages!
Great fun with 9d favourite today.
Thanks to all
I thought for a while I might beat my PB, which was set just yesterday, but I was help up briefly by thinking of the wrong meaning of the definition 30a (I see I was not alone), despite walking past the recently closed Trinity Mirror printworks within the last hour or so. Like our blogger on the golf course, I assume this is just a brief aberration from my normally mediocre form. 1a was my COTD. Thanks very much to AP and to Huntsman. That Black Keys tune is another cracker and I really should give them a listen.
As Typically Tuesdayish as ever – 1.5*/4.5*
Candidates for favourite – 10a, 24a, 1d, 3d, and 25d – and the winner is 25d with an HM for the Pun.
Thanks to Mr Plumb and Huntsman.
This was sublime with nearly every clue being ticked for its surface. I don’t doubt the prof can compile crosswords at any level but he’s a real master of putting together one for this time of the week. Wonderful stuff.
‘Guy’ is having an excellent run out at the moment. It can’t get enough!
The AIs were expertly chosen, with none causing me to raise an eyebrow, not even for a squillisecond. ‘Rudely’. I ask you.
My picks are 11a (neat), 27a (great surface) and 16d though I could have picked a whole heap more.
MTTTA and Hoots!
1*/5*
I was expecting a disapproval of 8D’s barbaric as a clue to move letters … I think I am clearly not that tuned in to AI of the cruciverbalist kind 🤔
Actually, Wriggles I was surprised at that AI especially as it was separated from the anagram by a question mark.
It looks like AIs are tougher to get by you than me, Wriggles, which is ironic as wriggles must be one.
I’m pretty sure it’s fine to have punctuation anywhere in a clue, SC.
Maybe you’re right! Albeit inspired …
I had no problem with the ? I liked the anagram fodder too.
It was a goodie.
No it’s not! I am a fully paid up member of APS and apostrophes know their place. All they ask is that we use them correctly! 😊
I’m lost.
Are we talking about 8d as it doesn’t have an apostrophe?
Sorry. I have a bee in my bonnet about apostrophes and got carried away! 🤭
* / ****
Very ‘typically Tuesdayish’ at the gentle end of the professorial spectrum for me © etc.
Favourites were the 11a training, the 24a Typical celebrity and the 20d wave – all great surfaces in sea or very good surfaces!
Many thanks to the Professor and Huntsman
1*/4.5*. The seemingly never-ending run of superb, light Tuesday back-pagers continues. I had too many ticked clues to pick a podium selection.
Bravo AP and thanks to Hintsman.
Another top-notch Tuesday delight – thanks to our setter and Huntsman.
I particularly liked 1a, 24a and 16d.
Lots of clues ticked on this one …
amused by the balding Edward in 12A.
I thought this was a lovely guzzle – one which you could use as a great example of crypticity (I think I made that up) if you were trying to sell the hobby to someone. Hobby! It isn’t a hobby it is a way of life, Catching the husband in an adhesive was lovely and I liked the no good gala, the typical celebrity- well, I just enjoyed the whole thing. Good to get back to guzzling over our lunch. Many thanks to the Setter and the Golfy Hintsman.
Hi bendy Beth.
I don’t think crypticity is a word but it should be! (now, no referencing dictionaries anyone as they mean jack to me)
I would go with crypticness even though it’s not really what you’re getting at.
I think crypticity probably is valid, Tom. I prefer it to crypticness because cryptic is a Latin based adjective and the -ity suffix is also Latin in origin, whereas the -ness suffix is German / Saxon.
I agree. I don’t think it’s out there but it should be as it’s a top word.
I never really like nouns that use the ness suffix.
For me this week this seemed a Typical Tuesdayish sort of puzzle.
A new word for me in 17a too.
2*/3.5*
Favourites 10a, 12a, 21a, 27a, 30a & 25d — with winners 10a & 21a
Thanks to AP & Huntsman
Hi PCBC.
The only time I see it is in the bunch of anagrams of the following letters: a c d e l m i – medical, claimed, maliced (archaic), camelid and decimal.
Always full of admiration for this setters skill at creating sublime surfaces. Enjoy going through on completion to really savour them.
Thanks to them and to Huntsman for the soundtrack.
I dont always find this setter easy to interpret and today was one where, having had a poor night’s sleep, I was especially slow on the uptake . That’s on me, not the setter. Itvwas a typical Tuesday puzzle and I particularly enjoyed the sueface read of the anagram at 8d, the double definition at 14d and the crime at 21a thanks to mr Plimb N3d to Huntsman for the hints
A brilliant puzzle, enjoyable from start to finish. 16d was my favourite and like others 17a caused pause for thought,
Many thanks to the setter and to Huntsman for the hints and music.
Tuesdays no longer give me the walk in the park of times gone by however most clues were in fact doable today with a bit of application but 15a, 17a and 24a held me up. Nowadays Mondays are usually a smoother solve. Thank you AP and Hintsman.
A typically fun, gentle Tuesday offering which was offer too soon. Lots of clever clues, but I’m giving my prizes to 9d, 27a and 28a. Thanks to our Setter and Huntsman for the blog and musical assortment. I failed to guess the tunes, although I’m kicking myself about 10a.
The Quick Pun is a cracker, I thought. Wonderfully expounded by Flanders and Swann in First and Second Law (which I hope attaches itself – I’ve never tried this before)
Love it – not heard that before
Transport of Delights is a great album. I was played 1st and 2nd Law at my first Thermodynamics lecture (bit of declaiming?) back in 1982. If I’d listened more carefully, I’d have done whole lot better at the subject!
Brilliant Whybird!
Superb! Thank you, Whybird. Like HIntsman, I’ve not heard it before.
A very enjoyable puzzle which was almost one of my best solving times except for not correctly deciphering the anagram at 30a which caused me much angst! Many clues to like but will choose 1a as my COTD. Many thanks to Mr Plumb and Huntsman.
Top drawer. Slowed down slightly at the end but that is the sign of a good puzzle.
Just back from Celtic Manor. Must say was (under)whelmed with the Twenty Ten course which is being monetised into submission. Buggies not allowed on the fairway led to endless traipsing back and forth. Would have been quicker to walk! Preferred the challenge of the Roman Road with much truer greens.
Thanks to both.
This was such a great crossword. A little bit challenging for me but very doable in a typically Tuesday tiime. Anyone who argues that English grammar isn’t important should be asked to have a go at this.Thanks to Huntsman and Prof Plum.
English grammar is very important to me, JennyNLFTG. My “blue pencil” is often in evidence when I am marking postgrad essays. One of the recurring errors is mixing “Less” with “Fewer” as in “There will be less extractions if root canal treatment is performed to a high standard.” 😡
Hear, hear! Which may be a surprise given my ramblings… Are you an Eats, Shoots and Leaves fan?
Very much so, Whichbird! 😊
The other one, which I have mentioned before, is the apparent confusion between “Its” and “It’s”
My wife, an English teacher, goes mental at the incorrect use of apostrophes.
As usual, took me a while to get into this crozzie but eventually solved it on and off throughout the day. COTD 1a but it was nearly too clever. Thanks to AP and Huntsman. **/****
A enjoyable puzzle a notch up in difficulty than yesterday. New word for me at 17a. Thanks to Anthony Plumb and Huntsman.
A second rapid scoot for the week.
Pody picks go to 9A as a lovely word that picked up in my teens from reading about pop charts and hit songs, 12A’s amusing hairy surface and let’s go 1A.
Thanks to AP and Huntsman ⭐️
I think I made harder work of this than I should have and on completion I couldn’t see why. Everything was fair and above board and most importantly, enjoyable. LOI was 14d, I don’t know why it just was and is my COTD. Thanks to AP and Huntsman.
Can somone please tell me what is the verb synonym of “guy” as per 29a.
You were Simon B before so this needed moderation. Both will work from now on.
The verb to guy is ‘tease’.
Ah. Thanks. The only verb I could think of involved supporting a mast by ropes!
1.5* / 3.5* A slightly trickier puzzle than yesterday, held up for a while by 25d and 28a for some reason.
Favourites today include 28a cook, the 1a rap and the 21a crime
Thanks to Huntsman and compiler
Just finished, usual old guys football on a Tuesday and feel stiff and shattered in the afternoon. Like yesterday I thought this was slightly more tricky than a 1* so pleased to finish without the need of any reference. A couple of favourites today were 24a and 25d.
As ever, thank you to the setter and to Huntsman for the hints, which I will now peruse.