Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31360
Hints and tips by Mr K
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BD Rating - Difficulty ** - Enjoyment ****
Hello, everyone, and welcome to Friday. If you’re familiar with the entries in Big Dave’s Usual Suspects and Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing pages, you likely found this entertaining puzzle a smooth solve. If that’s not you, then you might have learned a few new word meanings making sense of it all.
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. In some hints hyperlinks provide additional explanation or background. Clicking on a picture will enlarge it or display a bonus illustration and a hover (computer) or long press (mobile) might explain more about the picture. Please leave a comment telling us how you got on.
Across
1a Cast off from small lake in Ireland (6)
SLOUGH: The single letter for small with the Irish word for lake or loch
5a Vicar perhaps Charlie caught hugging student recruit regularly (6)
CLERIC: The letter represented in the NATO phonetic alphabet by Charlie and the cricket abbreviation for caught are sandwiching (hugging) both the single letter indicating a student or learner driver and alternate letters (regularly) of RECRUIT
10a Flipping sauce by American close to Taylor Swift (5)
RAPID: A type of sauce, the single letter for American, and the final letter of (close to) TAYLOR are all joined and then reversed (flipping)
11a George, foremost one breaking gold auction item (9)
AUTOPILOT: A synonym of foremost and the Roman one are inserted between (breaking) the chemical symbol for gold and another word for an auction item
12a Abandoning son, Italian gentleman departs unnoticed (7)
IGNORED: The Italian word for a gentleman minus (abandoning) the single letter for son is followed by the single letter for departs
13a Draw large aquatic mammal back to quay (7)
LOTTERY: Join together the single letter for large, a cute aquatic mammal that lives on rivers, and the last letter of (back to) QUAY
14a Cocktail that will get mixed during tomorrow endlessly (9)
MANHATTAN: An anagram (will get mixed) of THAT inserted in (during) all but the last letter (endlessly) of a Spanish word meaning tomorrow
17a Dish from Germany unfortunately sent back (5)
SALAD: The IVR code for Germany and another word for unfortunately are joined and reversed (sent back)
18a Come across claims European's given parking penalty notice? (5)
FINED: Another word for “come across” contains (claims) the single letter for European
19a Bold of a French journalist to host adult party (9)
UNABASHED: A in French and a usual abbreviated journalist sandwiching (to host) both the single letter for adult and an informal word for a party or celebration
21a Charming codicil Lydia pens that's overturned (7)
IDYLLIC: CODICIL LYDIA hides (pens) the reversal of (that’s overturned) the answer
23a Spice Girls' hit, one aspiring to emulate it? (7)
WANNABE: A double definition, where one is a Spice Girls’ hit song
25a Ruin, for instance, good picnic snack (6,3)
SCOTCH EGG: Cement together ruin or end, the abbreviation for “for instance” or “for example”, and the single letter for good
26a Strive to raise state of happiness briefly (5)
HEAVE: All but the last letter (briefly) of an informal word for a state of happiness
27a Rejected loveless individual many will find hot (6)
STOLEN: Another word for individual minus the letter representing a love score in tennis (love-less) and a synonym of many are joined and reversed (rejected)
28a Scraps King visiting 1 Across supermarket originally (6)
SHREDS: The Latin abbreviation for king is inserted in (visiting) a synonym of the answer to 1a, and that’s followed by the first letter (originally) of SUPERMARKET
Down
2d Plant from garden I pulled up (5)
LUPIN: The answer is hidden in the reversal (from … up, in a down clue) of GARDEN I PULLED
3d Deceitful subordinate, worker on farm (9)
UNDERHAND: An adjective synonym of subordinate is followed by a worker on a farm or in a factory
4d Listened to one-time neat group on the radio (5)
HEARD: A homophone (on the radio) of a group of neat, where one-time indicates that the usage here is archaic
5d Foreign national heading off previously around Spanish region (9)
CATALONIA: An anagram (foreign) of [n]ATIONAL (heading off) is preceded by (previously) an abbreviation meaning around or approximately
6d Revolting recording involves ten resident abroad (5)
EXPAT: The reversal (revolting) of an informal word for a recording contains (involves) the Roman ten
7d Discovered Lille hospital treated late husband's sickness (3,6)
ILL HEALTH: Assemble LILLE minus its outer letters (dis-covered), the single letter for hospital, an anagram (treated) of LATE, and the single letter for husband
8d US president releasing article containing extremely insidious cliché (6)
TRUISM: A 20th century US president with a grammatical article deleted from his name (releasing article) is containing the outer letters (extremely) of INSIDIOUS
9d Remained sober, we hear (6)
STAYED: A homophone of a word meaning sober or restrained
15d Butter providing nourishment for kids? (5,4)
NANNY GOAT: A cryptic definition, where butter whimsically means something that butts
16d Criminal once hurt seizing northern police officer's weapon (9)
TRUNCHEON: An anagram (criminal) of ONCE HURT containing (seizing) the single letter for northern
17d Believe singer supporting troubled aunt's more loyal (9)
STAUNCHER: The singer of Believe comes after (supporting, in a down clue) an anagram (troubled) of AUNT’S
18d Weak movies promoting filth essentially unknown (6)
FLIMSY: Another word for movies lifting (promoting) the central letter (essentially) of FILTH is followed by a usual letter that can represent a mathematical unknown
20d This German left, getting train typically (6)
DIESEL: “This” in German with the single letter for left
22d Anaesthetic within easy reach (5)
LOCAL: A type of anaesthetic can also mean “within easy reach”
23d Pay wife over a long time (5)
WAGES: The single letter for wife with an informal word meaning “a long time”
24d Bill receives campaign medal (5)
AWARD: A bill that might be posted to sell something contains (receives) a military synonym of campaign
Thanks to today’s setter. Which clues did you like best?
The Quick Crossword pun: CREW + SIR + WAIT = CRUISERWEIGHT
It’s been a great puzzling week, and today’s back-pager is the icing on the cake. I found it relatively light for a Friday, but it was absolutely superb from start to finish with ticks all over my page. My rating is 2*/5*.
I kept changing my mind about my favourite as each new answer was written in the grid but, on balance, 17d takes the honours.
This must surely be the handiwork of Silvanus. So many thanks to him and to Mr K.
A terrific end to the week although I have to declare a DNF because I just could not fathom out the German getting the train at 20d. Thank you, Mr. K. for the explanation and, as ever, I wondered why it had eluded me. George at 11a makes another welcome appearance along with the cocktail at 14a. The group at 4d took me back to Frampton Comes Alive although the meaning in the clue was different. My COTD is the adult party at 19a.
Thank you, setter for the puzzle. Thank you, Mr. K. for the hints.
I thought Mr K bang on with his rating. A very well compiled guzzle with 11a being my favourite although 10a and 17d also very enjoyable. Not sure who our setter is but thanks to him and Mr K. Great Friday fare.
Brilliant puzzle, take a bow Mr Setter!
I thought this was excellent, and very gentle for a Friday. If I were to select a scale of difficulty this week, my order would be Monday, Tuesday, Friday, Wednesday, Thursday.
Top clue for me was 5d, followed by 14a (I’ll overlook the tilde which obviously is impossible to show), 19a, and 27a.
Interestingly, the first clue that my eyes fell upon in the Elgar toughie has the same answer as one from here.
Many thanks to the setter and to Mr K.
1*/5*
What a great puzzle. I did have to look up the German word for this but otherwise no oddities for me.
Top picks for me were 4d, 13a, 27a and 15d.
Thanks to Mr K and the setter.
Terrific puzzle today with lots of great clues. 20d my last one in by a country mile. In fact all week we have had some great guzzling! Thanks to our setter and to Mr. K.
Super puzzle, if overly gentle for a Friday. I did wonder whether “one-time” in 4d was an editorial change, as it isn’t really necessary and the clue would read better (and be a little more challenging) without it; and just seeing “George” is now enough on its own for the answer to write itself in.
Huge smile at 14a – down here in Cornwall I guess the equivalent of the endless tomorrow would be (the much less urgent) ‘dreckl(y)’… Joined on the podium by 25a & 8d but, as ever, there could be many others receiving laurels.
Many thanks indeed to the setter and to Mr K – great to hear the wonderful Talking Heads!
Brilliant puzzle and a new overall PB. Many thanks to our setter and Mr K for the hints.
What a belter of a crossword from Sade to finish off what has been a very enjoyable week in Crissycrossyland. it was gentle but that absolutely works for me.
A couple of small observations which won’t affect my rating as there are far too many beans in the jar:
1. It would be good if a setter gave a subtle nod to today’s US president as there are 40+ to choose from. He isn’t one of the big five but famous enough. I just think it gives someone who doesn’t know many of them more of a chance of getting it. It would make the clue easier and may muck up the parsing. So, I understand if it’s a non-starter.
2. Words like ‘yes’, ‘no’, ‘the’ and ‘and’ in German are fine as most people know them or have seen them in crosswords. But, today’s is, in my opinion, too difficult. I certainly didn’t know it and I see there are three other ways of spelling it.
I reckon 21a is one of the top three most mispronounced words going, along with zoology and mischievous.
My picks are 19a, 27a and 17d.
MTTTA and the oh so Special K.
2*/5*
The reference in 8d isn’t to today’s president but surely to the one around 80 years ago.
Hi SC
When I say ‘today, I mean today’s crossword.
It’s a shame it wasn’t the incumbent, or should that be ‘incomebent’, as ‘insidious cliché is more poignant.
Unsurprisingly, Tom, I’m going to disagree with you – I know you are a worthy champion of the beginner’s cause, but there’s no need for dumbing down in the DT cryptic (which is already by no means one of the more challenging back-pagers), especially towards the end of the week. Over the course of a week the crossword needs to satisfy a very broad audience, from those who have just started on their cryptic journey to those who have spent as many as 7 decades “putting the words to lights”.
Some of the required GK is meant to be challenging, whether it’s remembering presidents & prime ministers or old films & film stars; knowing (or working out) the most basic basics of the four main European languages; recalling your arpeggios, a cappellas and andantes; the main rivers and mountain ranges of the world; the major authors, their works and characters.
I’m pretty bluddy lousy at recalling (or ever having heard of) many Dickens characters, but a good setter will make the clue solvable without such knowledge. Today’s setter has done the same with 20d – one might not know any German at all, but the answer was evident from the definition and checkers, and so a solver could now deduce that “diese” means “these” in German.
Today’s President may not be one of your “big five” but he’s a major post-war US president and served two terms – 10% of the post-war period. His name should come to mind for most people, surely?
It’s true (I had to). You can see that I said it would make it too easy and therefore a non-starter. It was more of a passing comment.
I do stand by the German comment though as I don’t want setters to go too far down this route of introducing more French and German words. Next we will see ‘sie’ (they) in a clue and it could go from there. I’m all for new approaches and setters going into uncharted waters (not unchartered). I welcome it. But, I think, in this case, we should stick this with the old classics. I just don’t think it’s necessary, especially as it’s a very parsable word.
I’m intrigued by your ‘unsurprisingly’ comment. The only thing that comes to mind is the cut-off with the number of anagrams even though I’ve got no problem with you not liking too many. I find it interesting more than anything else.
I thought we don’t disagree that often.
Isn’t that the case?
I love talking to Jose as he always answers my questions and observations, either countering, agreeing or adding to them. It’s great. I put you in the same category though you don’t reply to my stuff as often as he does which is absolutely fine.
Hi Tom
I agree with you about the German vocabulary. I know perhaps 5 words in German, which I have acquired from crosswords. That was only because it was an optional subject in my school (KCS), and most people didn’t choose it. French was compulsory.
In this puzzle, I knew what the answer was, and went to Google to confirm the German bit…
Hi J
A lot of people don’t like change. e.g today’s German even though I’m up for it. You’ll see in my post to MG that I’d prefer setters not to pursue this one though I have no right to tell these superstars what to do.
The German bit didn’t bother me because the wordplay gave it to me.
Some know French, some know German, and some know Spanish etc
I could write a book in Spanish, but obviously not in German.
Do you live in Spain?
Forgive me if you’ve mentioned that a zillion times.
Yes, Valencia. Moved here 11 years ago. It’s now my second language
I forgot to put the butter on the podium.
An excellent clue.
This was at the easier end of the setting spectrum for a Friday but what a brilliant crossword to end the week. Each clue was a little masterpiece, with my trusty pin selecting 13a as my favourite.
Thanks to our setter and Mr K.
A puzzle from the top drawer – many thanks to our setter and Mr K.
Top clues for me were 13a, 19a, 27a and 8d.
Well when the Friday puzzle **FINALLY** showed up due to a new month delaying the delivery … again, it was on two pages and a tough puzzle too IMHO
3*/3* for me
Favourites 1a, 11a, 13a, 15d & 22d — with winners 1a & 15d
Thanks to setter & Mr K.
Tthursday is looking like the new Friday and today’s puzzle, as Mr K indicated , was pretty straightforward .I liked 1a, reminded me of Betjeman’ s poem, ” Come friendly bombs and fall on 1a”, obviously no fan of suburbanisation, Mr Betjeman. The anagram at 16d, the geogrphical at 5d and 20d are also worth a mention, ny knowledge of the latter stemming from testing my son’s vocabulary, when he kernt Gernan and a Geography Field Trip to Marburg in 1968. Thanks to the compiler and to Mr K for the hints.
Undone by the 20d/26a pair for which I needed the hints. So a DNF from me, but other than being beat, I thought it an excellent Friday challenge. I liked the cocktail at 14a, but my cotd is 15d. Thanks to compiler and Mr K.