Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31373
Hints and Tips by Gazza
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** Enjoyment ****
We have an entertaining puzzle today with a mixture of pretty straightforward clues and a few needing a bit more thought. Many thanks to our setter.
In the hints below the definition element of each clue has been underlined, anagram fodder is 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 Ultimately, Kingsley Amis has claimed silly bloomer in plot? (10-5)
MICHAELMAS-DAISY: an anagram (silly) of the ultimate letter of [Kingsle]Y and AMIS HAS CLAIMED.
9a Following pub party, short row over wine (9)
BARDOLINO: after a synonym for pub we need a festive party, another word for a row or column without its last letter (short) and the cricket abbreviation for over.
10a Card made by Josh and Rex (5)
JOKER: a verb to josh or wisecrack and the abbreviation for Rex.
11a Confined in university, fibbed about it (7)
LIMITED: the abbreviation for the university in Cambridge, Massachusetts has a verb meaning fibbed around it.
12a Steal extremely essential metal (6)
NICKEL: an informal verb to steal and the outer letters (extremely) of EssentiaL.
15a Tools Dawn has lost – spades (8)
HANDSAWS: an anagram (lost) of DAWN HAS followed by the abbreviation for the cards suit spades.
16a An honour to hold ball for music producer (4)
OBOE: one of the honours awarded for service contains the ball-shaped letter.
19a Government ministry checking oxygen in atmosphere (4)
MOOD: the abbreviation for a government ministry (current head: W Streeting) contains (checking) the chemical symbol for oxygen.
20a Grow fat, initially undermining sporting contest (3-2-3)
TUG-OF-WAR: an anagram (sporting) of GROW FAT and the initial letter of U[ndermining].
23a Encounters European returning favour (6)
ESTEEM: stick together a verb meaning encounters and an abbreviation for European then reverse (returning) it all.
24a Einstein possibly beginning to admire province in Canada (7)
ALBERTA: a forename (that of Einstein for example) followed by the first letter of A[dmire].
26a Meal starting late in part of Oxford? (5)
UPPER: oxford here is not the city but a type of footwear. We need an evening meal without its first letter (starting late).
28a Hair accessory I dab clean for a new style (5,4)
ALICE BAND: an anagram (for a new style) of I DAB CLEAN.
29a Back a railway service going around fashion school (9,6)
SECONDARY MODERN: assemble a verb to back or endorse, A (from the clue), the abbreviation for railway and the abbreviation for our senior armed service. That contains (going round) a synonym for fashion or style.
Down
1d Phone in camper van? (6,4)
MOBILE HOME: a type of phone (not a landline) and another word for ‘in’ (i.e. not away).
2d Use nice room to relax official (11)
CEREMONIOUS: an anagram (to relax) of USE NICE ROOM.
3d In Insta post, a sycophant’s falseness? (8)
APOSTASY: hidden in the clue.
4d Turning up, ring on swallow recorded (4,4)
LAID DOWN: reverse (turning up, in a down clue) a verb to ring or call on the phone and add an informal verb to swallow or neck.
5d A snort from pig briefly close to piglet – bless! (6)
ANOINT: glue together the alternative word for ‘a’ as an indefinite article, the noise a pig makes without its last letter (briefly) and the closing letter of piglet.
6d Dishearten exile needing to support daughter (6)
DEJECT: a verb to exile or kick out follows (to support, in a down clue) the genealogical abbreviation for daughter.
7d Female singer lacks piano and something to write with (3)
INK: drop the abbreviation for piano from the start of the stage name of a female American singer,
8d City‘s thick royal palms rising (4)
YORK: hidden (indicated by palms, i.e. conceals) and reversed (rising, in a down clue).
13d Vigorous physical effort of turn introducing musical (5-6)
ELBOW-GREASE: a word used for a sharp turn in a road followed by the title of a 1970’s musical (and film starring Olivia Newton-John).
14d Be enraged about drinking drop of rotgut here? (4,6)
BEER GARDEN: an anagram (about) of BE ENRAGED containing (drinking) the first letter (drop) of Rotgut.
17d US hotel uniform – it’s seen in heaps (8)
HUMANITY: the falsely-capitalised US is a cunning attempt to make us think of the land across the pond whereas it’s actually ‘Us’ (i.e. all of us on the planet). Start with the Nato Phonetic Alphabet letters represented by hotel and uniform then insert IT into a synonym of heaps or lots.
18d Annoyed, run out to grab doctor’s hat (8)
SOMBRERO: an informal (mainly US) adjective meaning annoyed and the cricket abbreviation for ‘run out’ contain (to grab) one of our 2-letter abbreviations for a doctor.
21d Note merchants essentially managed capital (6)
TEHRAN: cement together the seventh note of tonic sol-fa, the central (essentially) letter of mercHants and a verb meaning managed.
22d First of all, indoor market’s assistant wraps china animal (6)
IMPALA: the first letters of three words in the clue contain what china is a rhyming slang word for to make what we call an antelope and what a cheetah calls lunch.
25d Gents‘ appearance discussed (4)
GUYS: a homophone (discussed) of a synonym of appearance or likeness.
27d Prince’s odd parts for Purple Rain perhaps (3)
PIC: the odd letters of Prince give us what the 1984 film Purple Rain is an example of.
I liked 26a, 1d, 13d and 17d. Which one(s) tickled your fancy?
The Quick Crossword pun: JAG + CREATURE = JACK REACHER
Love it! Thanks to setter and Gaza. I had a mere 3 answers to start with and it really had to be teased out. The whole of the north went in before anything in the south, but slowly slowly it revealed itself. Love guzzles like this.
17d was my last in and my favourite.
My first thought with 26a was d(inner) but insole is probably the correct term!
Many thanks to the setter and to Gazza.
Ditto with inner, held me up for ages!
Me too!
Another 5* hits the back of the net. This is getting silly.
It smacks of Mr Smooth with plenty of excellent surfaces.
I’ve never heard of 1a (obvs) but it was easy enough to get. I’m struggling to justify ‘sporting’ as an AI. So, I took a look online and it said that it’s a synonym of ‘wearing’ and ‘exhibiting’ that are AIs. Are they? It doesn’t work for Tommy boy but I’ll turn a blind eye as it was such a fab puzzle.
My picks are 9a, 16a and 1d.
MTTTA and G.
2*/5*
Hi Tom
1a – as mother-in-law used to say “the last flower of summer”.
That makes sense. Thank you, Clix.
One day, I’ll get green fingers.
Tom. I think your online source was a little confused there. If “sporting” meaning wearing/exhibiting was used as an indicator it would be as a containment indicator (sporting is a common one). According to Google AI, “sporting” is a double-edged sword in cryptic clues causing ambiguity becasue it is a common containment indicator but also used an anagram indicator.
It reckons that “sporting” as an AI works because it can mean “to sport” – to frolic, play, display variations/undergo mutation.
I’m not particularly enamoured with it as an AI but it’s a good CI. And it’s given me something to ramble on about.
Thanks for that, J.
I didn’t know know the verb to frolic like this example I just found ‘puppies sporting in the garden’. So, I take that back. It gets the Tom ‘thumbs-up’ (you know it’s a goodie)
I thought of ‘Tommy’ right away when I saw ‘sporting’ … I do agree with you on this one.
Thanks, Gazza, for explanations. I needed them for 7d and 17d.
I’m unaware of the singer in 7d and was caught out by the US in 17d.
Do 29a still exist?
A thoroughly enjoyable puzzle – thanks to setter
Indeed 29a’s no longer exist. Gammars still do though. 29a’s have various names that Mr Google can describe.
Thumbs up
For me, etc©, one of those Thursdays when I am glad that it is my ‘week off.’ 3.5*/2.5*
Smiles for 10a, 12a, 26a, 5d, and 17d.
Thanks to whomsoever and Gazza.
Borderline Toughie if ever I’ve seen one, took two stabs at it to get it finished and didn’t help by sticking ‘Inner’ in for 26a.
Pretty miserable in Sandhurst today as I’m suffering with two fractured ribs after falling over after getting up too quickly, apparently my standing blood pressure is a lot lower than my lying down reading, will have to watch it in future!
Do healing bones make you tired? as I feel absolutely knackered all the time, also have developed a craving for sweets, maybe I’m pregnant as well……
you weren’t alone with inner but fortunately pegged the correct alternative pretty quickly
Inner was my first attempt for 26a too.
Hope you feel better soon, Tipcat….but I suspect it will take a while. Rib fractures take a some time to heal and can be wretchedly painful. And yes, broken bones do make you tired.
I have no explanation for the craving for sweets, so perhaps you are with child.
Oh dear, we just never know what is around the corner. Hope you are feeling better on,
I made the mistake of going to A&E when I experienced extreme dizziness upon wakening. They admitted me, and put me in an “alarmed” bed… which means you are not allowed to get out of bed at all, and you have to summon (and wait for) a nurse every time nature calls. I found to my horror that just reaching for something on the bedside table also set it off. Might as well have handcuffed me to the bed. Next day, after they had run all their tests,I told them dizziness was completely gone (it wasn’t), so that they would discharge me.
Cracking puzzle. Loved the long ‘uns top & bottom, the 3d lurker (great cartoon) & the 20a contest where I was a bit slow to peg the indicator. That said if forced to pick a podium it’d be the downs at 1,13 + 17 (last in & fav). 4.5* entertainment in my book.
Thanks to the setter (Twm maybe) & as ever to Gazza.
Ps Karla over in t’other place is well worth a look at.
4*/2*. Down to earth with a bump today with this curate’s egg of a puzzle. A mixture of easy and hard, which is fine of course, but some excellent clues were offset for me by some hmms including a couple of dodgy anagram indicators and a few unconvincing surfaces,
I was nearly stumped by 17d which was my last one and favourite when the penny finally dropped.
Thanks to the setter and to Gazza,
A great puzzle which took a lot of teasing out. I thought at one point it was going to be a DNF as I only had about 4 answers but perseverance paid off. 9a was new to me but fairly clued. LOI was the fabulous 17d.
Top picks for me were 17d, 1d, 18d and 16a (only because I used to play one at school).
Thanks to Gazza and the setter.
I found this much less challenging than yesterday’s puzzle but still a DNF as for some unfathomable reason 25D just wouldn’t reveal itself. I know that words are quite often capitalised to confuse but I can’t recall a double capitalisation before as in 17D, I’m sure fellow bloggers will point out numerous examples I have forgotten. 22D also caused problems as having recalled an animal that ended a-a I convinced myelf there couldn’t be another one so bunged in the wrong answer without bothering to parse properly. Once I solved 23A I realised my error. Despite my quibble about the double capitalisation COTD is awarded to 17D. Thanks to Gazza for the hints and to the setter for a very enjoyable puzzle.
An absolute humdinger of a puzzle that tickled me in all the right places. As ever, held up by the botanical clue but the answer emerged from the darkest recesses of my brain after I’d put the puzzle down. That opened up a few more, eventually leaving only 17d. After munching on the end of my pencil for a while, the penny dropped like a manhole cover from Blackpool Tower, and it became the day’s runaway winner. ****/***
H-A-R-D but thrilling to see one of the greatest women to walk amongst us saluted at 1a.
I am going to need about a decade to understand the parsing but I really enjoyed the challenge today.
What’s that? Chelsea lost again? *puts fingers in ears and hums la-la-la-la* No, can’t hear a thing.
Thanks to the constructor and the former midfielder for Gansu Tianma.
Don’t understand where woman comes into 1a, what am I missing?
1a – The second word of the answer is also a woman’s name. My late grandmother had the same name.
Got it now, crossword Daisy!
Are you not following the brazen wooing of DG by T? Unlike Siegfried with Mrs Hall in All Creatures Grunt & Smell he’s not been shy of making his feelings known. It can only be a matter of time before George intervenes……
Indeed. I was overthinking that one – and then some! I presumed that the erudite T was referring to some extraordinary and germane-to-the-clue woman from history or literature and had me racking my brains. Dastardly misdirection, I call it! Just to add to the pot: lots of cows are called Daisy and when I was a kid we had a sheepdog called Daisy.
Just looking through the comments in bed with a half completed guzzle after a busy day with Antique Roadshow Mark. Jose – are you calling me a cow? A bit brutal when you haven’t met me. The sheepdog I don’t mind. I’m actually a pussycat 🥲
Ha, ha
Wouldn’t dare think or do such a thing – T or G would be up here like a shot to sort me out!
Undone in the south, so a dnf unaided for me. 17d had me completely stumped but once explained, it’s a great clue and is my cotd. Thanks to compiler and Gazza for the much needed hints.
A very entertaining Thursday puzzle with good clues providing a decent-ish challenge and much enjoyment. Several ticks and I’ll specially mention 1d – elegant concision and 26a – although it’s a very old chestnut for me I still always like to see Oxford used to mean shoe. 3.5*/4*.
From my MRB:
Torpid: apathetic; sluggish.
Turbid: muddy; impenetrable.
Turgid: Swollen; bloated or bombastic; grandoise; pompous.
Love today’s ‘Mr B’.
Tom, btw. I couldn’t sleep last night so I got up to have a brew. I was at a loose end and what else better to do than rattle off some bloggers to stand in for Deansleigh – I came up with 12 new ones in 20 minutes. In intend to unleash them all in one go next time. I aim to win this competition and get the prize which, if I remember correctly, is an exotic holiday somewhere. Is that correct?
You bet it is!
I look forward immensely to the delightful dozen.
24 now! No e-help, all worked out by hand on the blank flyleaves of an old crossword book.
You can’t stop yourself!
What a delightful puzzle, so many excellent clues. 17d was last in and I did need help to parse 18d and had to check the answer to 27d. There were too many good clues to pick one favourite.
Many thanks to the setter and to Gazza for the hints.
Not my favourite Thursday this week as it is RayT’s back pager off and I found his stand in’s puzzle not particularly easy to complete.
3.5*/2.5*
Favourites 11a, 12a, 20a, 24a & 1d — with winners 11a & 12a
Thanks to setter & Gazza
Glad it wasn’t just me.
I couldn’t have completed this without the hints and like others, found the south much more challenging than the north. There were several answers that I’ve not encountered before, including the wine in 9a and the hair accessory in 24a. Nevertheless, a thoroughly enjoyable puzzle with my favourite at 29a. Thanks to the setter and to Gazza for the much needed hints.
I really didn’t like this. I finished it but found it tortuous and unsatisfying . SSE eventually went in and then I slowly got the rest. Maybe it’s just me! I did like 17D though. Thanks to all concerned.
I used the enumerations, the definitions and the checkers, together with a fair amount of guesswork to complete this tricky puzzle. Some ofthe parsings fell into place afterwards and some remain a m ystery
u ntil I red Gazza’s excellent hints. I liked the Lego clue at 13d and 21d, the anagram ar2d and the geographical clue at 24a. Thanks to the xompiler and to Gazza for the hints.
**** / ****
This was completed (apart from one) in 2* time and felt like 2/3* difficulty. However, I just couldn’t get 25d even though I had both checkers and understood the parsing!
Couple of tics went to Josh and Rex in 10a and the 1d camper van. Also needed Mr G to confirm the 9a wine. Didn’t know that Purple Train was a film either. Learning more every day!
Many thanks to the setter and Gazza
I found this harder than today’s toughie not on the setters wavelength I think a definite DNF. Never heard of the wine and for all the staring couldn’t get 25d.
I did like the simplicity of 23a and really liked 22d. However I also think 17d my last one in (before calling on assistance) was my favourite. I only got it with the checkers and it was a reverse parse, tip top clue and brilliant misdirection with the capitalisation.
Thanks to the setter and Gazza
Unsurprisingly, as we get towards the end of the week I found this puzzle more difficult today. LOI was 17d where some excellent misdirection had me heading off in the opposite way. I needed Gazza’s help for this clue! Even so I will rate it as one of my favourites along with 9a, 16a, 1d, and 13d. Many thanks to the setter and to Gazza for the hints.
Did not complete as did not find 17 down , which I see was last entry for some and just didn’t see 25 down.Had to have Gazza explain 5 down. Always think perhaps if I put more effort in puzzle might have been completed but puzzles have to be juggled with requirements of daily life.
Much thanks to Gazza and to our cunning setter
A DNF for me today sadly.
Managed the top half but was flummoxed by the bottom.
Thanks to the setter and to Gazza for the hints.
What a great week in crozzieland with another testing but enjoyable backpager. I managed to tease most of this out this morning, but annoyingly had to go out leaving just 17d unfinished. On my return the fodder revealed the solution, but I was still stumped by the US, so thank you Gazza. I’m another initially going for inner in 26a, but quickly switched parts when I came to Prince.
Many thanks to the compiler and Gazza
3*/4*
Didn’t enjoy this at all, must have been on a different planet from the setter. If I have to use more than a handful of hints it kind of defeats the object, IMHO. 3d was a new word for me, and I imagine there were more had I persevered. Thanks to setter and very smart Gazza.
3*/ 4* An excellent Thursday challenge which needed quite a bit of brainwork and reverse parsing. Last one in was the pesky little one at 25d, it took way longer than it should have.
Top three clues for me today are the 1a bloomer, the 1d camper van and the very clever US at 17d
Many thanks to compiler and Gazza
Good Thursday workout. I’ll vote for 29A. Many thanks to Setter & Gazza.
Found this on a par with yesterday’s bit easier to finish off. LOI was 17D.
Pody picks – the definition of 17D (cunning indeed), the rotgut (fabulously awful word!) drinking venue of 14D, and I’ll go 1A on account of all of it.
Thsnks to setter and Gazza ⭐️
4*/4* – a testing puzzle which took me quite a while. Even then, I struggled with the excellent 17d, which was my last in. My thanks to the setter, and to Gazza.
This grid took me a while to crack. The Mexican Hat was a bung in for me based on the checkers but makes sense now thanks to Gazza’s explanation. How come there are no Secondary Modern Schools any more? Did they get old? Thanks to the setter too. Best, 🦇
Setter here. Thank you all for your comments, and many thanks to Gazza.
Thanks for dropping in, Twmbarlwm, and thanks for the top-notch puzzle.
A great puzzle. Thank you.
Well beyong my abilities today. Solved 3 clues and a few more with checkers written in.
For me this is toughie territory. I dread to think what tomorrow will bring.
I started this late and was very much in the zone , so whilst I found it in places challenging I got through it at a reasonable pace. I always think it’s state of mind and things going on that can affect performance , and for some reason I was on form today. What a fantastic puzzle this was and was very much in awe of the setter today. I got the anagram of 1a straight away so that really helped. My favourite was 17d, an excellent clue. I parsed it and for a beat thought ‘why’? , then twigged the great bit of misdirection of US. Thanks so much to Twmbarlwm and Gazza.
Pretty tough even for a Thursday. Not heard of the wine but fairly clued. 20a reminded me of an old friend of mine who pulled 20a for a local team at a national level and won. 5′ 8″, slim build and pound for pound I reckon the strongest man I’ve ever known, he did kerb laying as a job. These things are 5″ x 10″ x 36″ long and weigh 150 lbs and he set them on his own. Unfortunately there’s no happy ending to this story, he got MS and died in his early 40’s. Sometimes life isn’t fair but I’ll choose that as my favourite for the memories nearly all of them happy. Thanks to Twm and Gazza.