Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31344
Hints and tips by Falcon
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BD Rating – Difficulty * – Enjoyment ***
Greetings from my lakeside retreat near Ottawa, where I have enjoyed a beautiful late summer weekend. Sadly, my time spent here will soon come to end and I will close it up until spring.
Once again, we have a gentle, fun puzzle to warm up the little grey cells to face the challenges headed our way later in the week. I’ll be checking Bluesky in the morning to see if it is the work of the setter I suspect.
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 Steered straight for Spooner’s warning sign (3,5)
RED LIGHT — instead of the answer, Reverend Spooner would be apt to say something that meant steered straight or directed correctly
5a Some Tabasco used for northern stew (6)
SCOUSE — a lurker hiding (some) in the second and third words of the clue
9a Those people including old record in religious study (8)
THEOLOGY — a subjective pronoun denoting those people containing (including) the single letter for old and a verb meaning to record information (generally in writing)
10a Roofer behind time after second run (6)
SLATER — placing the lego blocks in the correct order, we have the physics symbol for seconds, a word meaning behind time, and the cricket scorecard notation for run
12a Most limited and now rarest supply (9)
NARROWEST — an anagram (supply) of the fourth and fifth words of the clue; the indicator is used in the whimsical cryptic crossword sense of ‘in a supple manner‘
13a Mushrooms enjoyable with good sushi ultimately (5)
FUNGI — line up a synonym for enjoyable, the single letter for good, and the final letter (ultimately) of SUSHI
14a Man maybe in tennis lesson (4)
ISLE — another lurker, this one concealed in (in) the final two words of the clue
16a Nice breakfast for reliable fellow (4,3)
GOOD EGG — a synonym of nice and a food that might constitute a breakfast (but hardly a hearty one)
19a Calling hospital, feeling unwell (7)
HAILING — the road sign symbol for hospital followed by a word meaning feeling unwell
21a Alongside wife, I principally trust husband (4)
WITH — join together the genealogical abbreviation for wife, the I from the clue, the initial letter (principally) of TRUST, and the genealogical abbreviation for husband
24a Cook in right oven (5)
ROAST — the single letter for right and an oven for drying hops or malt
25a Cover plot, badly parsed (9)
BEDSPREAD — a garden plot and an anagram (badly) of PARSED
27a Central heating fixture beginning to burn fuel engineer’s jacket (6)
BOILER — the initial letter of (beginning to) BURN, a type of liquid fuel, and the outer letters (jacket) of ENGINEER
28a European capital excitedly into pasta (8)
RIGATONI — a Baltic capital city and an anagram (excitedly) of INTO
29a Picked up teams for voyage at sea (6)
CRUISE — the answer sounds like (picked up by the ear) another word for teams (especially in rowing and sailing)
30a I get mail edited for specific restriction (3,5)
AGE LIMIT — an anagram (edited) of the first three words of the clue
Down
1d Dodgy tear in tissue (6)
RETINA — an anagram (dodgy) of the second and third words of the clue; the tissue is anatomical in nature
2d Back in outskirts of Derby, it’s dull (6)
DREARY — a synonym of back contained in (in) the outer letters (outskirts) of DERBY
3d I start to gentrify small room in house (5)
IGLOO — I from the clue, the initial letter of (start to) GENTRIFY, and what is colloquially known as the smallest room in the house
4d Cleanliness of prominent inherited item remarked upon (7)
HYGIENE — a homophone (remarked upon) of all of a synonym for high or important and a biologically inherited item
6d Numbed nerve that might be pointed out on chart (4,5)
COLD FRONT — synonyms for numbed and nerve or impertinence
7d Half of amount stopped: not well managed (8)
UNTENDED — an unspecified half of AMOUNT and stopped or finished
8d Desires uncapped income (8)
EARNINGS — a synonym for desires with its initial letter deleted (uncapped)
11d Small label for animal (4)
STAG — the clothing label symbol for small and a type of label typically attached to an object by one end
15d Moves around important parts for computer user (5,4)
SHIFT KEYS — a synonym of moves containing (around) a word meaning important or vital
17d That woman in 3-D is like an angel (8)
CHERUBIC — a pronoun denoting that woman contained in an adjective pertaining to three-dimensional space
18d Is it a rum fancy for dessert? (8)
TIRAMISU — an anagram (fancy) of the first four words of the clue
20d Marsh lying around one desert (4)
GOBI — reverse (lying around) another name for a marsh and append the Roman numeral for one
21d Our group would shortly sound a bell for celebration (7)
WEDDING — concatenate how one would say ‘our group would’ using a pronoun and contracted verb (shortly) and the sound made by a small bell
22d Behave better in religious education class (6)
REFORM — the abbreviation for religious education and a school class
23d Compulsive fan did act strangely (6)
ADDICT — an anagram (strangely) of the third and fourth words of the clue
26d Fruit cordial ultimately a greyish colour (5)
PEARL a juicy fruit and the final letter (ultimately) of CORDIAL
Let us know which clues you liked best in the comments below.
Quickie pun:: WARRANT + PIECE = WAR AND PEACE
On This Day …
… in 2018, Verve Records held a launch party at the Rainbow Room in New York City to celebrate the release of Tony Bennett and Canadian singer Diana Krall’s album Love Is Here To Stay. After the duo performed their rendition of ‘Fascinating Rhythm,’ Guinness World Records adjudicator Alex Angert announced Bennett – who first recorded the tune under the stage name Joe Bari over 68 years earlier – was now the title holder for “the longest time between the release of an original recording and a re-recording of the same single.”
Very gentle but enjoyable start to the week. Gave me a PB in half my usual time. A welcome relief after two tricky prize crosswords. Thank you setter and Falcon.
1*/4*. Another light and fun Monday puzzle to kick-start the week.
I think “lying” in 20d is surface padding.
I rather liked the Spoonerism in 1a, and it stands on my podium alongside 13a and 2d.
Many thanks to the setter and to Falcon.
Delightfully straightforward yet still very nicely clued, just right for a busy Monday morning. I loved the surface of 2d and that was my favourite.
Many thanks to both setter and Falcon.
A gentle start to the week that didn’t cause any problems.
I initially questioned ‘supply’ as an AI but soon realized that it’s an adverb.
I will resist the hackneyed joke in 13a. Be strong, Tom. Be strong.
My picks are 16a, 19a (nice surface) and 23d for its neatness.
Many thanks to maybe her, on a Monday, and F.
1*/3*
Yes, it is a Heron creation. She has just claimed it on Bluesky.
Splendid. Thanks, F.
HER ON a Monday ? Crafty one.
Thank you, Day Zee.
I can’t stop myself.
Swift and light fun for a Monday morning, a very well crafted puzzle and the clues were admirably concise. COTD 6d with other honours to 15d, 10a & 21a.
Many thanks to the setter and to Falcon – your lakeside retreat sounds marvellous and it must be sad leaving it for the long winter.
At the easy end of the spectrum but a DNF as my brain stopped functioning when recalling types of pasta. Serves me right for starting it at 12:45am.
*/****
Thanks to Falcon, though I must say the first cartoon it ruined, completely *ruined*, by the lights being upside down.
Come in No 69 your time is up…
No 96 are you in trouble?
Very enjoyable. Liked the Spoonerism and 25a, but cotd goes to the pasta in 28a. Thanks to the two avians, Heron and Falcon.
Very gentle and enjoyable – thanks to our setter and Falcon.
For my podium I’ve selected 1a, 4d and 6d.
Need the time today so it was great to have a straightforward solve .Thought 1 down very clever as the wording could relate to the answer with three connections. Never good with computer references but found the correct entry. Probably will not find time to post tomorrow and hoping it doesn’t rain as we need the garden.
Thanks Falcon and our setter for the morning fix.
I wonder how often Diane Krall has got a tune in the blog, and here she is two days in a row.
A good start to the week, thanks to Falcon and Heron – I woukd call you the 2Birds but 2Kiwis of our acquaintance got there first
A busy, crossword free, family day yesterday so a gentle start to the week was a perfect way to reignite the grey cell.
I like Dr S’s contribution, the nice breakfast and the central heating fixture but selected the 28a pasta as my COTD.
Many thanks to Heron for an enjoyable puzzle and Falcon for the hints.
More good fun on a Monday – */****
Candidates for favourite – 16a, 11d, and 17d – and the winner is 16a.
Thanks to Heron and Falcon.
I second Gazza’s comment and I also add 16a to it. Thanks to setter and Falcon.
A lovely start to the week, elegant clues and great entertainment. My favourite was 1a, I am getting better at spooners and they now longer fill me with total dread.
Many thanks to Heron and to Falcon for the hints.
Most of the clues were straightforwardly cryptic, which is how I like them. I did find “Our group would” in 21d a bit awkward, however; and I was slurping down the wrong pasta for a while, which held me up in the SW corner.
Was the question mark necessary in 18a?
An enjoyable puzzle from a hungry setter. Thanks to hinter as well.
18d
I now see that the clue was a question.
** / ***
A little strange for me today. Pretty typical Monday, except that many of the clues required more thinking than is usual at the start of the week; probably just me!
Favourites were the 4d cleanliness, the 17d 3-D angel (the 3-D piece had me scratching my head a while) and the better behaviour in 22d.
Many thanks to Heron and Falcon
A gentle start to the week with nothing to scare the horses making for a speedy completion with smiles on the way. The ‘computer parts’ at 15d was LOI and the 25a cover was my COTD.
My thanks to Heron and Falcon
1*/4*
A nice gentle start to the week.
Top picks for me were 25a, 27a, 4d, 6d and 17d
Thanks to Falcon and Heron.
Another gentle Monday offering; thanks! Done and dusted in side one of Led Zep 1 🎸
Another nice start to the non-work week as the last day of summer looms just over a week away. Seems like we just started spring and now it is all but done.
Anyway a gentle start to the crossword week with a puzzle wit nothing to scare the horses and includes a few smiles around the grid too.
1.5*/3.5*
Favourites include 1a, 16a, 25a, 2d, 3d & 15d — with co-winners 1a & 15d
Thanks to Heron & Falcon
Very gentle but well crafted – thought that the anagram for compulsive fan was very well worded. As for pasta clues … just how many types are there!.
Very gentle start to the week, which I appreciated. Lots to like, so difficult to select favourites but I will go for 1a, 10a. 28a, 6d and 17d. Have never heard of a stew named Scouse, but it looks delicious (had to check there was such a dish!) Will put it down to me being born in Devon. Many thanks to the setter for a well clued puzzle and to Falcon for the informative hints.
Thanks to Heron and Falcon. Nice easy start to the week. Grey day hear in north Devon. COTD 15d. LOI 22d.
1* / 3.5* A swift finish to a Heron puzzle reviewed by Falcon, an excellent ornithological start to the week.
Favourites include the numbed nerve at 6d, angelic 17d and and celebration at 21d
Many thanks to Falcon and Heron
A light and delightful start to the week, just held up by 4d which became my cotd . Very clever . Thanks to all .
Great puzzle to kick off the week , gentle and enjoyable. Thanks to Heron and Falcon.
Lovely start to the week nothing too taxing though it took me awhile to see the lurker in 5a. I was so sure it was going to be hotpot! I didn’t realise until reading the hints at the end that ‘lying around’ meant reverse the answer but got the clue anyway. Loved the cartoon for 3d made me smile. Many thanks to the Setter and Falcon.
Really nice start to the week. A first class mixture of immediate responses and “just a minute, let’s sort this one out” clues. It is very clever the way you ease us into the week, turning the screw day by day. Many thanks to Lovely Setter and Friendly Falcon.
Probably my fastest ever solve, I’m not sure because I don’t keep records but it certainly felt like it and it makes a pleasant change from saying I found more difficult than everyone else. Not that it took anything away from the enjoyment because it didn’t. Pastas are fertile ground for crossword setters as the are hundreds if not thousands of them, most of which I’ve never heard of, happily this was not one of them. Favourite was 9a. Thanks to Heron and Falcon for being there just in case.
Could have been a PB, but I ruined it by putting 2 F’s in 6D and then looking right past it every time I checked the grid. Maybe time for new glasses!
Many thanks to Heron and Falcon
Very light but perfectly enjoyable & nicely clued throughout. Fav a toss up between 4&6d.
Thanks to the two birds – great illustration for the Spoonerism.
I was so enjoying this friendly start to the week, but then it was time to go for another one of those annoying annual tests. But here I am back again as this was just too fun to not finish it. Thanks very much to Heron (who has now joined Chalicea on my favorite setter list) and to Falcon. If only every day could be like this 😊.
Just finished, having been going at this puzzle on and off throughout the day. Brain not totally engaged having had to use some assistance for my final entry, 15d. Clues relating to computers are often my downfall.
Favourite today was 6d, the feature on a met chart.
Thank you to the setter and to Falcon for the hints.
Thanks Heron and Falcon for more Monday fun. North was friendliest half. 10a was a bung-in as I failed to suss behind time. Important parts in 15d is a rather broad description. 17d hung fire for a while as I was working on she rather than her.
This went down swiftly, with lots to like. My top couple are 15d moving important parts and the 3-D 17d. Thank you to Heron and Falcon.
A late solve today, long day at work.
18D and 28A are two favourite foods in our house, had bought the former just before solving this 🙂
Pody picks – the tasty 18D and its fun anagram, 21D’s jubilant surface for a happy occasion, and will go with another foodie clue, 5A – and I love hot sauces, far hotter than Tabasco 🔥
Thanks to Heron and to Falcon ⭐️
1*/4* …
liked 3D “I start to gentrify small room in house” … and …
the cartoon to the hint thereto.