Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31387
Hints and tips by Huntsman
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BD Rating – Difficulty * Enjoyment ***/****
A dampish typically autumnal start to the day here in Harpenden but it’s starting to brighten up & we have a largely dry day to look forward to.
I found today’s Anthony Plumb maybe a little more straightforward than the last couple of Tuesdays. I’d rate it pretty well on a par with yesterday’s puzzle in terms of difficulty & very enjoyable it was too. As ever it will be interesting to see what others make of it.
Ray T is on duty over in t’other place with one of his no anagrams Beamers. It is fairly gentle also & bob-on for the Tuesday Toughie slot so well worth having a stab at if looking for a further challenge.
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 Dull adult boring president, unfortunately (10)
PEDESTRIAN: insert the single letter for A[dult] into an anagram (unfortunately) of PRESIDENT.
6a Student wearing school uniform (4)
PLOD: the usual single letter for student/learner contained within (wearing) a marine school Uniform here is law enforcement & the answer an informal term for those entrusted with that responsibility.
10a A tough, short flower (5)
ASTER: A from the clue + a truncated (short) adjectival synonym for tough/strict.
11a Holiday makers might need these soft drinks after a couple of seconds (9)
PASSPORTS: 4 elements to this charade – start with a musical soft/P[iano] followed by A from the clue & the single letter for S[econd] twice (couple of) then finish with a plural alcoholic drink from the Douro region. One of those clues where the answer was pretty clear but the wordplay is a little more demanding.
12a More irritable about type of soldier protecting island (8)
CRANKIER: the usual for about/in respect of followed by a term for an enlisted/NCO soldier who subsequently gains a commission going round (protecting) the single letter for I[sland].
13a Wireless in newspaper ad I ordered (5)
RADIO: hidden (in).
15a Shutters that are closed when you’re out? (7)
EYELIDS: a cryptic definition. Twigging the context of shutters & out is key with this one – mine opened under protest when the alarm clock went off this morning.
17a Perhaps a craft I sculled on a regular basis (7)
ARTICLE: a synonym for craft/handiwork + the alternate letters (on a regular basis) of the following two words.
19a Result’s revealed ahead of show (7)
OUTCOME: revealed/public + a verb meaning to show/attend.
21a Want stomach muscles, thus second bit of cheese is abandoned (7)
ABSENCE: the usual abbreviation for stomach muscles + a conjunctive adverb for thus less its 1st letter (2nd bit of c[h]eese abandoned). Reckon the absence of any in my case may be down to more than an extra portion of brie.
22a TV programme perhaps initially depicting Hindu god (5)
DRAMA: D[epicting] (initially) + a Hindu deity who is one of the avatars of Vishnu.
24a Director caught husband with pilot (8)
CHAIRMAN: the single letter for C[aught] (cricket) & for H[usband] (genealogy) + a synonym for a pilot.
27a I’d let envy out in a glaring fashion (9)
EVIDENTLY: an anagram (out) of I’D LET ENVY.
28a Musical penned by Bernstein naturally making a comeback (5)
ANNIE: hidden in reverse (penned by/making a comeback).
29a Something golf ball might be resting on? Small flower (4)
TEES: the name for a hopefully wooden & not plastic peg golfers can mount their ball on to play their opening shot + S[mall]. After my round yesterday sand or twig would have been apt.
30a Drunk used tavern for antics (10)
ADVENTURES: an anagram (drunk) of USED TAVERN.
Down
1d Singer’s quiet if framing answer (4)
PIAF: the musical instruction/single letter again followed by placing A[nswer) between (framing) IF in the clue.
2d Prevent hospital department retaining good cleaner (9)
DETERGENT: a verb meaning prevent or at the least discourage + our usual hospital department & with the single letter for G[ood] placed in between (retaining).
3d Father sits on any bare temptress (5)
SIREN: a verb meaning to father precedes (above/sits on in a down clue) [a]N[y] (bare/outside letters removed). Thank heavens it wasn’t the bare temptress atop the father – Miss Abinger would have had a fit of the vapours.
4d Fibs after salesman comes back (7)
REPLIES: the usual abbreviation for a salesman followed by (after) untruths/porkies.
5d Mountainous place in Europe – it’s aura’s amazing (7)
AUSTRIA: an anagram (amazing) of ITS AURA.
7d Britpop band releasing book? Editor’s tempted (5)
LURED: remove (releasing) B[ook] from the name of the band that rivalled Oasis in the Britpop era then add the usual newspaper boss abbreviation.
8d Found out old penny is insured (10)
DISCOVERED: the Latin derived single letter for a penny in pre-decimal coinage + IS from the clue followed by a synonym for insured.
9d Runs over with crowns, enthralling old queen (8)
OPERATES: O[ver] (cricket) followed by a term for crowns/bonces going round (enthralling) the Royal Cypher for our late queen.
14a Somewhat inferior support, Trump? (6,4)
SECOND BEST: a synonym for support as in a proposal for instance + a verb meaning to trump or outdo.
16d One criticised admitting phone essentially is cut off (8)
ISOLATED: the Roman numeral letter for one followed by a verb for criticised or panned going around [ph]O[ne] (essentially).
18d At sea on certain vessel (9)
CONTAINER: an anagram (at sea) of ON CERTAIN.
20d Former lover alluded to getting aroused (7)
EXCITED: the usual for a former lover + a verb for alluded to/referenced.
21d Study any seal swimming (7)
ANALYSE: an anagram (swimming) of ANY SEAL.
23d Brook, maybe, oddly missing fish (5)
ABIDE: [m]A[y]B[e] (oddly) + the Prof’s oft used ray-finned fish, also known as an orfe.
25d Strongly heat pan (5)
ROAST: a straightforward double definition.
26d Understands chap’s losing heart (4)
GETS: remove the central letter (losing heart) from an alternative for chap’s.
Plenty to like here including 17,21&29a plus 3,14&23d but my pick of the clues was the shutters at 15a. Please let us know which clues you liked best.
Today’s Quick crossword pun: JAM + BOW + LIAR = JAMBALAYA (I think)
Another fine puzzle to treat us all on a Tuesday with a good clue mix and some neat surfaces. Like our blogger my favourite was the clever 15a. Off to check out the Toughie now.
Many thanks to Mr P and The Hintsman.
A curates egg for me today. Although all forgiven if the apparent mid-term satire was intended. I found this as challenging as yesterday’s puzzle but not as well compiled. I solved 6A but is the answer really a synonym for the definition? I solved 17A from the cryptic element but have been unable to parse it, (a massive d’oh, having read the hints). I thought 5D had a weak surface that might as well have read this is an anagram of xxxxxx. I thought some of the clues were very strong, 8D, 9d, 15A, 21A being my favourites with 9D awarded COTD.
Thanks as always to Huntsman, for the hints, which were needed for the parsing and to the setter and my apologies to those involved for failing to thank them in my post of yesterday.
I think it is still widely used – comes from the name of the constable in the Noddy books
A very nice puzzle.
My favourite was 6a, for the surface and the definition.
Many thanks to the setter and to Huntsman.
Relatively straightforward Tuesdayish puzzle. Smiles from the surfaces of 21a and 3d, but otherwise the whole thing was a bit middle-of-the-road. Extremely annoyed to have been defeated (smited, smitten?) by the Hindu god which I absolutely should have got, and would have – honest! – if the train hadn’t pulled into Victoria and prompted me to resort to e-help. */***
Edit: smoted!! No, still sounds wrong.
Smited – 100%. Smitten something different.
A tiny Tuesday teaser for me with, as yesterday, 6a being last in after playing all the possibilities in my head and then parsing the likely contenders. The rest of it was up to AP’s usual smoothly clued standard. I particularly enjoyed 22a and 12a, but my COTD goes to the shutters at 15a.
Many thanks to AP and Huntsman
1*/3*
I tried, without success, to find a clip of Arthur Daley using it which he did often –
Get **** on the phone Terry or on spotting his nemesis, DS Chisholm, while on a train in France “Bloody hell it’s Interp**d”
I am from the same era as Arthur Daley so quite familiar with the term. However, I was erring down the “wearing” line but thought CAD School, of which there are many, was too obscure. Then I twigged the marine school and the resulting uniform.
I think the hint for 3D may need reviewing. At least it proves I read them.
Ta – now amended for the 2nd time. Any changes I made following a quick pre post read through haven’t saved so I’d better read through again.
6a, last one in took ages for the penny to drop, should have twigged the pod bit earlier being a scuba diver an’ all…….
This was a beautifully crafted puzzle on a friendly grid that should please all punters. My LOI was 9d as ‘crowns’ took a while to get.
I’m surprised I haven’t heard of the soldier as it makes sense and I love brook’s meaning.
I don’t know why but I found it interesting the first two across clues have very similar meaning. It would make a great name for a character in a children’s TV show.
My picks are 1a, 24a and 9d.
Many thanks to il professore and Hoots!
1*/4*
Brook – I think of “rill” in the first instance, a word I like the sound of.
It is indeed a splendid word, 66 (clickety click).
A quickish solve today with the uniform at 6a my favourite. Thanks very much to the setter and to Huntsman for a selection of some of my favourite tunes. I picked up a copy of The Last Waltz in Salisbury recently, although the vinyl doesn’t allow the listener to appreciate the impact of the backstage refreshments on Van and various other performers in the way that the film does. Good to hear the JTQ too.
Coyote’s my favourite off that one.
Agreed. A fantastic performance of a great song, despite the lack of rehearsal time.
2*/4*. I found this a smidgeon harder than normal for a Tuesday but as much fun as ever.
I have never come across 12a meaning more irritable only more eccentric, so I looked it up in the BRB and, lo and behold, it’s “N American”. Tsk! Tsk!
15s was my favourite of many ticked clues.
Many thanks to AP and to Hintsman.
Oh boy! I’ve never seen that Al Green clip before. What a wonderful, confident performance – live too. There must a zillion Midnight Special or Soul Train clips on YouTube. I must explore ’em.
One of the advantages of Chelsea not taking part in a European competition this season is that we swerve freezing nights at Stamford Bridge as The Mighty Chelsea struggle to contain Sporting FC de la Malta or Honved Allstars. It’s certainly warmer sitting on the sofa at home watching Man Utd v Roma and not being bothered about the outcome.
Groovy guzzle. Thanks to Mr Perpendicular and Andy In The Former Straw-Weaving Capital Of England
I found this to be a typical Tuesday for me I.e. harder than most others found it. Not sure why that is looking back at it.
Top picks for me were 6a, 17a, 23d and 7d.
Thanks to Huntsman and Mr Plumb.
A nice quick solve, made for a welcome tea break in very busy times.
Pody picks – 12A’s soldier was unknown to me, turns out I didn’t parse that quite right. Also 24A’s director Lego and the cheeky 3D.
Thanks to AP and Huntsman ⭐️ I recall that REM song being released and the public wondering where the radio-friendly tunes had gone. It stands up well though I think… thirty years on, yikes!
It’s quite possibly my fav REM song & the Blur tune my pick from their catalogue too
Super Tuesday as usual. Much to be admired here with 6a getting the plaudits. LOI 9d. I knew the answer but could not work out why. Thanks to the Setter and to Huntsman for the tips.
Good fun as we’ve come to expect on a Tuesday – thanks to our setter and Huntsman.
I particularly liked 15a, 17a, 14d and 23d.
Another puzzle a bit like Monday’s offering, in that it is a tad more difficult than the norm. Maybe not quite a Typical Tuesday puzzle this week.
2.5*/3*
Favourites include 13a, 15a, 2d, 18d & 21d — with winner 15a
Thanks to AP & Huntsman
Struggled today managed all the clues except for 6a
This is the fourth alias you’ve used (after Compo, Beeny and Paul Benson) – please remember that every time you use a different alias a moderator has to check that you’re not a spammer and authorise your comment.
After three sessions I managed to cross the finishing line without being run out. It didn’t help that I’d not heard of the word “Britpop” in 7d. I’m vaguely aware of the band, but probably have never listened to them.
A good all-round puzzle with 23d being my most likeable.
How can “brook” have such different meanings? My first thought is always “rill”.
The Ray T (Beam) toughie is very good and not that tough. Definitely worth a look.
2* / 4*
Enjoyable solve today and had to resort to double ticks, so the second podium contains the 15a shutters, 17a ‘Perhaps a’ and 9d runs. Needed confirmation of the parsing for 21a so thanks Huntsman. Many thanks to the Professor for a great puzzle.
2.5* / 3.5* A good challenge and I thought a good few steps up in difficulty from yesterday.
Favourites from a fine bunch of clues include 15a shutters, 21a want and the 2d temptress.
Also liked the quickie pun
Thanks to The Huntsman and compiler
Nice puzzle, thanks to both setter and Hinter.
The News in Pics in the Times today has an aerial photo of golfers on a green in Harpenden, couldn’t see if himself featured….
I thought was easier than the usually gentle Monday puzzle. A few old chestnuts today – 6a,15a but had to parse 29a as hadn’t heard of the flower.
Most enjoyable doing this listening to early Roxy Music 🎸
Hi BB
The flower in question is the one in the North East that flows out to the North Sea in the area known as ****ide.
I agree with Imposter, it was a good challenge. Iliked the Lego clue at 23a for the great misdirection, the missing lwttwr Lego clie at 7d and the Hindu god clue at 21a, all three small but beautifully formed. 12a also joins the podium for being such lovely word. Thanks to Mr Plumb and to Huntsman for the hints
Enjoyable challenge but for me a harder than a 1 * .
Finally got 9 down and left staring at 6 across. That very last one defeated me. I see many reviewers liked it and yes I can see the construction but it does seem a stretch. I have checked the synonyms for uniform and yes I know my Enid Blyton but I am ill at ease with it. Also I had never heard of the soldier in 12 across but the checkers and definition from the clue gave the answer. Not wanting to sound too negative the favourite was 15 across.
Mr. Plumb you are one of my favourite setters but today I failed and needed Huntsman.
My experience mirrors many above, very enjoyable but a few head scratchers eg 6a and the soldier in 12a which I had not heard of. 15a was my favourite.
Many thanks to the setter and to Huntsman for the hints.
After yesterday’s walk in the park unusually for a Tuesday this was a bit of a slog with several ‘iffies’ e.g. 6a, 9d and 23d. Considering crossers 17a had to be but I stupidly failed to parse it.
Thanks AP and Hintsman
In the main I found this mostly quite gentle and enjoyable, but got stuck on a few , like many 6a was one of my last ones in , where I resorted to the brb for a synonym for school. Good to see a Trump reference on midterm polling day at 14d. Thanks to Anthony Plumb and Huntsman.