DT 31018 – Big Dave's Crossword Blog
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DT 31018

by Mr K  

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31018

Hints and tips by Mr K

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BD Rating  -  Difficulty *** -  Enjoyment ***

Hello, everyone, and welcome to Friday. 

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. Please leave a comment telling us how you got on.

 

Across

1a    One stays covered up even when it's baking (6,6)
JACKET POTATO:  Cryptic definition of a vegetable cooked whole in the oven

9a    Restored boots  with a traditional surface? (7)
COBBLED:  A double definition

10a   Broadcast chap heard coming from overseas? (7)
AIRMAIL:  A synonym of broadcast with a homophone (heard) of another word for chap or man 

11a   One getting even returns in after e.g. Nevada's taking off 50 per cent (7)
AVENGER:  The answer is hidden in the reversal of (returns in) AFTER E.G. NEVADA’S, and revealed exactly if seven of those fourteen letters are removed from the outside of the phrase (taking off 50 percent) 

12a   Old French article carried by riverboat, rolling in it (7)
OPULENT:  The single letter for old is followed by a French definite article inserted in (carried by) a flat boat that might be seen on the Isis river 

13a   Jazz star one's seen in station (5)
BASIE:  The Roman one inserted in (‘s seen in) a synonym of station 

14a   Remote possibility of audible shouts for a red card? (3-6)
OFF-CHANCE:  A homophone (audible) of a phrase that could describe shouts from a crowd calling for a football player to be given a red card

16a   Surprise tail-enders for Yorkshire formerly were first to bat (3-6)
EYE-OPENER:  The last letters (tail-enders for) of YORKSHIRE FORMERLY WERE with a cricketer who is first to bat 

19a   Letter that's mispronounced if you hear it? (5)
AITCH:  The answer is a phonetic representation of a letter in the alphabet which is sometimes heard mispronounced 

21a   Liquidate fair located by south-west river (7)
EXECUTE:  Fair or pretty comes after a usual river 

23a   Figure perfectly represented by seabird (7)
PATTERN:  A word meaning “perfectly represented” with a seabird that’s not a gull 

24a   Niece upset about conclusion of bequest after grand inherited (7)
GENETIC:  An anagram (upset) of NIECE containing (about) the final letter (conclusion of) BEQUEST comes after the single letter for grand

25a   Working pump perhaps carrying river to the beach? (7)
ONSHORE:  Working or not off is followed by what a pump defines by example (perhaps) containing (carrying) the single letter for river 

26a   Conceivably, I fled in place of fun and games! (7,5)
PLAYING FIELD:  The answer viewed as wordplay can give (conceivably …) I FLED 

 

Down

1d    They inoculate  rabbits? (7)
JABBERS:  Double definition, both informal 

2d    Account goes into what emanates from pine fragrance (7)
COLOGNE:  An account or record inserted in (goes into) things that fall off (what emanates from) pine trees 

3d    I wondered, curiously, what goes on in the bedroom? (9)
EIDERDOWN:  An anagram (curiously) of I WONDERED 

4d    It's played in any national orchestra, for starters (5)
PIANO:  The wordplay tells us to take the first letters (… for starters) of PLAYED IN ANY NATIONAL ORCHESTRA. The entire clue can serve as a definition

5d    What a wayward golfer lands in, lacking energy to get across (7)
THROUGH:  A (3,5) phrase for the bit of a golf course outside the fairway, minus (lacking) the physics symbol for energy

6d    This accompanied artefact being brought back partly used? (5-2)
TRADE-IN:  The wordplay directs us to an answer hidden in the reversal of (… being brought back partly used) of ACCOMPANIED ARTEFACT. The entire clue can serve as a definition 

7d    Mixed up breakfast order? (9,4)
SCRAMBLED EGGS:  Cryptic definition of a breakfast food that’s seriously mixed up 

8d    Dope the man's given with hot needle that gets stuck in both arms (7,6)
CLOTHES HANGER:  Link together a dope or idiot, a pronoun for “the man is”, the single letter for hot, and needle or upset 

15d   Evidence to support spirit being non-combustible (9)
FIREPROOF:  A synonym of evidence comes after (to support, in a down clue) spirit or vigour

17d   Following Elijah's lead, convert learnt to become immortal (7)
ETERNAL:  Following the first letter (…’s lead) of ELIJAH comes an anagram (convert, as an imperative) of LEARNT 

18d   Turkey maybe set up hack defending university on trial (7)
POULTRY:  The reversal (set up, in a down clue) of hack or cut containing (defending) the single letter for university is followed by trial or attempt. The maybe indicates that the definition is by example 

19d   Performer, say Garfunkel, is the missing 19 Across? (7)
ARTISTE:  Concatenate the first name that Garfunkel defines by example (say), IS from the clue, and THE from the clue missing the letter that is the answer to 19 across 

20d   Modest opening do hotel arranged (7)
TOEHOLD:  An anagram (arranged) of DO HOTEL 

22d   Times exempted from text hoax villain released (2-3)
EX-CON:  TEXT minus both copies of the physics symbol for time (times exempted) with hoax or scam 

 

Thanks to today’s setter. Which clues did you like best?

The Quick Crossword pun:  JADE + EVE + ANTS = J.D. VANCE

81 comments on “DT 31018”

  1. I’m afraid I found today’s offering quite difficult. Not that I’m complaining because it was fairly clued with clever construction. I loved the two foodie ones at 1a and 7d but the clue I thought very clever and becomes my COTD is the mispronounced letter at 19a.

    The Quickie pun was neat.

    Thank you, setter for the Friday challenge. Thank you, Mr. K. for the hints.

  2. A great puzzle with lots of smiles. LOI was the brilliant 8d.

    Top picks for me were 8d, 25a and 5d.

    Thanks to Mr K and the setter.

  3. Wow! I thought ***/****. Spot on. We have already discussed in the past 19a which is our pet hate mispronunciation! It was cleverly linked with 19d and my COTD. 7d reminded me of a chap I went to College with whose father was the editor of the Times crossword and his favourite clue was gegs. An old favourite now. Thanks Mr K and the setter

    2. It was seeing something about GEGS in a crossword that first got me interested in cryptic puzzles. Still makes me smile.

  4. Well I did enjoy that one. Started at midnight, and stopped when stumped by the SE. I wake up with the answer to 23a and the parsing at the front of my mind, and the remainder of the corner then fell into place, with 8d as the LOI. Brains are weird. ***/****

    I think the clue to 9a across is wrong. The straight definition is the first two words of the clue, with the remainder being a play on another meaning of the answer. Also 16a needs a ‘were’ in capitals, after ‘formerly’.

    1. If I was going to point out an error, I could at least have had the decency to thank you for pulling the clues together! So: Thank you, Mr K!

      1. For the hints, not the clues!! Doh! Maybe they’re clues to the clues. Ahem.

        Anyway, for 16a the hint needs to include WERE after FORMERLY to spell out the first three letters of the answer.

  5. Pretty well flew through this one after getting 1a and 7d as toeholds, but struggled with my last one in, 8d.

    For ages I couldn’t see past ‘Clothes Handed’, the handed coming from the ‘given’ bit of the clue, anyway got there in the end.

    Good fun generally, but I did feel 9a was a bit strange, and also 11a had a lot of unneeded words at the end of it, but perhaps that’s just me, oh well can’t please everyone all the time :-)

  6. 3*/4*. I found parts of this quite challenging but overall it made a very pleasant end to the week in spite of a couple of convoluted surfaces.

    I rarely pick an anagram as my favourite, but 3d gets the nod from me today. It is joined on my podium by 1d & 8d.

    Many thanks to the setter and to Mr K.

  7. I found this quite tough, not helped by an incorrect bird in 23a which seriously delayed the answer to 8d which was my loi. I liked both food related clues at 1a and 7d, but my cotd is the 19a/19d combo. Thanks to compiler and Mr K.

  8. I woke up at 2am and couldn’t get back to,sleep, so I started on this rather difficult guzzle, aventually finishing it after drifting off tosleep a few times, at about 5am. So I have no idea how long it really took to complete it. I liked the reverse lurker at 11a, the Lego clue at 16a, the jazz icon at 13a and my COTD the 8d Lego clue. I did find it hard to get on the compiler’s wavelength, probably due to my supine condition, but persistence won out iin the end. Thanks to the compiler and to Mr K for the hints.

  10. Great puzzle. At first glance I thought this was going to be a Toughie, but 14a leapt from the page and then I was off to the races, E & then clockwise finishing with 10a.

    Many thanks to the setter and to MrK

  11. Great way to start a Friday. Just challenging enough and being taken up the garden path is a pleasure. Favourite was 19 a . The way a lot of people pronounce the letter really jars and to have it confirmed by our setter is most pleasing. 14 a. Was a bung in. Have only attended one football match in my life. Many thanks to today’s setter and Mr. K

  13. After yesterday’s concise and elegant cluing I found this to be a bit wordy and clunky. With many of the clues I found that I had no idea of where to begin, and had to leave them until I had some checking letters.
    That said, once solved, I had several “aha” moments and quite enjoyed the clue.
    With thanks to the setter and to Mr K

  14. Well I completed this in one sitting which is unheard of for me, although I admit I needed some e-help. 19a and 7d are joint favourites for me. Many thanks to the setter and Mr K for an excellent puzzle and blog.

  15. Great puzzle, very enjoyable – thanks to our setter and Mr K.
    Top clues for me were 1a, 14a and 19a with my favourite being 8d.

  16. A lovely puzzle – pitched just right for a Friday – in my humble opinion. Favs were 1a and 5d

    Thank you to the setter and to Mr K who’s hints I shall now read

  17. Definitely Friday level and it took me a while to gain a 20d. Progress thereafter was slow but, thankfully, steady. Favourite by a country mile was 8d with 14a not far behind.

    Thanks to our setter for an absorbing challenge and to Mr K for the review.

  18. This was a very enjoyable finish to what has been an excellent week of crossies.

    My money is on Mr Smooth though it could be a Zandio production.

    I love clues like 19a. Another one I saw for it is ‘A long letter’ which is a belter.

    My podium is the above, 7d and my LOI 8d.

    MT to the setter and Mr K.

    3*/4*

    1. I’m not surprised if anyone is struggling with the toughie today. I finished it earlier, but found it very difficult.

    2. Oh dear a non Elgar/Osmosis Friday is usually an opportunity not confined to the A team solvers – think I’ll pass.

      1. Huntsman – don’t be put off and do give it a go: today’s Sparks Toughie is much more approachable than an Elgar/Osmosis challenge, very fair, and hugely enjoyable. Only one answer had me reaching for the dictionary afterwards for confirmation that it was “what it had to be”.

  20. North East held me up and eventually conceded.I kept thinking ad instead of air on number10 and my mind went blank ( just like the current occupent of number 10). Thanks to all . Favourite 16a

  22. Hello, compiler here. Thanks very much for taking the time to solve, analyse and discuss.
    Can I offer some music to brighten up the day? I love the 4d in ‘Kon ni Hana’ (‘Flowers Now’) by the Japanese pop group Akai Ko-en. The 4d is played by Maisa Tsuno, their guitarist and songwriter, who died in October 2020, sad to say (after which the group broke up). The unofficial video uses footage of Akai Ko-en from their video for ‘Rinrin Ranran’.
    Thanks again and have a great weekend.

    2. Many thanks Mr Zed for a great guzzle I particularly enjoyed the misleading pump at 25a. And 1a was an excellent clue as well. Thank you.

  23. Like Chriscross this was a 2am solve – fortunately tuned in for brisk completion & the puzzle, along with a cuppa, did the trick as almost immediately back in the land of nod after lights out. Pick of a fine selection of clues for me the slightly risqué 3d with ticks elsewhere at 9,14,16&26a + 5,7,15&22d.
    Thanks to the setter & to Mr K

  24. A very gentle end to the week with this Friday puzzle, IMHO.
    Went in quite easily with a couple of head scratchers to contend with.

    2*/4*

    Favourites today were 1a, 9a, 19a, 1d, 3d & 7d … and I have to say very one of them gave me a laugh/chuckle but in the end I chose 9a as the winner

    Thanks to Zandio & Mr K

  25. Started well with this, and completed the left hand side quite quickly. However found the second half more tricky, especially 8d. This was not helped by the fact I had the wrong answer for 10a so had an “e” where there should have been an “l”. Anyway, this was a most enjoyable puzzle and for me it’s a ***/****. Lots of good clues so difficult to decide on the best but will go for 1a, 13a, 8d (in spite of it being my LOI) and 15d.
    Many thanks to Mr K and Zandio

  26. An excellent puzzle for a Friday, I thought there was a lovely clue mix, the lurker was well hidden and the anagrams well written especially 24a. My loi was 8d which then became my favourite.

    Many thanks to Zandio and to Mr K for the hints.

  27. Fairly straightforward with a few head scratchers but just about right for a Friday with some laughs along the way. Great fun. Favourite was 26a, I like a good reverse anagram. Thanks to Zandio and Mr. K.

  28. Super puzzle, great fun. I particularly enjoyed the cryptic definition clues.

    Further to some comments above, and at the risk of being a killjoy, the Gegs clue was just a silly joke in the sitcom “Drop the Dead Donkey”, and not from any published puzzle. I doubt that we would see Lirgl or Atoopt in a puzzle either – essentially the same kind of thing.

  29. Tricky little number this and very enjoyable. Got stuck in the SE but on returning to it later, it fell in quickly. Like others, loved the 19a/d link. Like 11a too but would agree with an earlier poster that the ‘taking off 50 per cent’ seems unneeded. Also liked the 9a boot repairs and the 5d wayward golfer.

    All in all, a fine Friday workout. Many thanks to Zandio and Mr K!

  30. A tough but rewarding tussle this morning.
    19a raised a smile, as at least in one corner of the UK this was (is?) considered a shibboleth. Any suggestion that the non-h-dropped version is a ‘mispronunciation’ would be met with some stern looks by at least half the population.
    Its partner in crime at 19d my COTD. Very clever.
    Thanks go to Mr K and Zandio

    1. I totally agree Fred. As someone born and raised in the corner of the UK you are no doubt referring to, I fundamentally disagree the sentiment of 19a, and I won’t be told otherwise ????
      I’m well aware that it is a real pet hate of some people but I see it as no more than the idiosyncrasies of the diverse range of accents in the UK and an undoubted element of old fashioned class prejudice on the part of some people, just as is also often aimed at other regional accents like brummie and scouse.
      And coincidentally, I moved down to the south coast and have lived in a county beginning the offending letter for more than half my life now. And I should also add that when I pronounce my adopted home county, I most definitely do NOT drop the first letter as some may expect…????

      1. Something tells me you are pleased to have got that off your chest, Baj.

        My guess is it feels rather good.

  31. Thanks to Zandio and Mr K. COTD 7d Val enjoys them for breakfast and I hate them! Enjoyable puzzle with enough difficulty to make it a Friday challenge. LOI 8d. Gary and Val

  32. Good afternoon

    An excellent challenge thrown down this afty; I am not in the least surprised to see that today’s crozzie is the work of the Mind of Zandio.

    Oddly enough, 19a was my first to fall; the one that gave me the biggest headache was my last, 8d. I’m nominating three clues for joint COTD: 8d along with 11a and 6d – superb examples of lurkingtons!

    Many thanks to the MoZ and to Mr K.

  33. Thanks to Z and K.
    I found this the easiest Friday back pager for a very long time as 1a and 7d offered a 20d.
    1.5*/4*
    26a and 8d favourites today.

  34. I loved this guzzle with no particular hold-ups. Many thanks to setter and hinter. Our MP sent us all individual letters on 19 August saying he would be in the Village Hall on 28th August if we wanted to bring anything up. Our letter arrived at 12 today! and judging by the village WhatsApp site, everyone else’s did too so I guess there wasn’t a very big turnout.

  35. A call from the gardeners to say it was too wet, a call from the cleaner pleasing a migraine, so I went on strike and did the guzzle with my 11am coffee but then was distracted from commenting. So popping in now with my thanks to Setter & Hinter – I needed Mr K for 8 d which completely stumped me. I still have not got my flipping new Epson to talk to my computer despite an hour on the phone to someone in Morocco. I’m going to go and snatch a 7 year old child off the street, I’m sure they would fix it in a trice. (Only joking, Officer)

  36. I found some of today’s puzzle quite challenging but got there in the end (almost)! I failed to complete 8d. I was sure 1a was going to include pastry until getting some of the down clues. 7d made me laugh. Many thanks to Zandio and to Mr K. Have a nice weekend despite the mixed weather!

  37. Superb work from Zandio – I especially loved the pairing at 19A/19D. VMT also to Mr K.

  38. Another lovely puzzle. Thanks to Zandio and Mr K. Stand-out winner for COTD for me was the elegant, concise and witty 1D. So much packed into three words!

  39. 2*/4* I really enjoyed the twists and turns of this excellent Friday challenge. Loved the taties at 1a, restored boots at 9a and my last one in the brilliant 8d.
    Also liked the quickie pun once Mr K enlightened me.
    Thanks to Zandio and Mr K

  40. A very clever puzzle, just too clever for me on a Friday when I am late on parade and already tired. But happy I got about 50% done before I had to give in and look at some hints. I’m still wondering whether the second “e” comes from in 16a? I was an answer I had inked in, but unable to confirm why. Annoyed that I didn’t guess 1a, but happy I got the other three perimeter clues. Thanks for Zandio and Mr K.

    1. In 16a you need the last letters of three words so the second E is the last letter of werE.

  41. Another great Zandio offering. I raced through about half of this and then got a bit stuck. Had to give myself a talking to to apply myself and concentrate, and you know what , that actually worked. Once I had engaged too gear the second half fell into place. Thanks so much Zandio and Mr K

  42. Just finished this cracking puzzle, I found the South less challenging than the North. Too many fine clues to enumerate but I shall pick as my winner 8d. Thanks to Zandio and Mr K

  43. Lots of fun, with plenty of pleasingly twisty clues. Thank you to Zandio, and also to Mr K because I needed a little prodding to finish.

  44. Just finished off in bed with the obligatory cup of tea. An attritional solve, picking off clues here and there. A sudden moment of inspiration for 1a, my COTD along with 19a, and the grid began to fill more quickly. Came to an abrupt halt with 8d, even with all the checking letters so a peek at the hints was required. That said, very enjoyable.
    Thank you to the setter and to Mr K for the hints.

  45. A very difficult and cracking puzzle, which I couldn’t finish last night. Finished it this morning. Thanks Z and K.
    Captain’s day at the golf club today, so I’ll have to do the full 18 in the rain. Mind you, we stop for a pint at 9, so maybe that will be enough to play without blotting our copy books.

  46. Initially thought this was difficult but kept going back to it over the past day and a half and to my astonishment finished it without any assistance – although checked the hints afterwards for a little of the parsing. COTD 6d for its various layers. Thanks to Zandio and Mr K. ***/****

  47. Really enjoyable and ***/**** from me. 8d is brilliant and the pick of the bunch followed by 3d which raised a smile and so simple an anagram you feel it must’ve been used before somewhere.
    Gegs is the classic but somehow I’ve never come across HIJKLMNO before, I’m sure it’s staring me in the face and laughing at me as the lightbulb stays switched off.
    Many thanks to Zandio and Mr K

    2. I know, I had to stare at it for a while…
      Well the answer is a five letter word.
      Looking at the first letter and the last letter in the sequence you might say “from … to…
      Does that help?
      Has the sound of the penny dropping deafened you?

  48. 3*/5* …
    liked 16A “Surprise tail-enders for Yorkshire formerly were first to bat (3-6)”

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