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DT 31036

by Mr K  

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31036

Hints and tips by Mr K

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

Hello, everyone, and welcome to Friday.  Late start to the blog today, so no time to search for pictures I’m afraid.

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

 

Across

1a    Displays his tie in box in unusual fashion (11)
EXHIBITIONS:  An anagram (in unusual fashion) of HIS TIE IN BOX 

7a    Swing to superstar backing (5)
PIVOT:  TO from the clue with an abbreviation for a superstar or bigshot, all reversed (backing) 

8a    One goes round making music (9)
TURNTABLE:  A cryptic definition of a core part of an older music making technology 

10a   Raunchy part of act after robe stripped off (7)
OBSCENE:  A part of an act in a play comes after ROBE minus its outer letters (stripped off) 

11a   Anticipate MP Esther's gathering storm (7)
TEMPEST:  ANTICIPATE MP ESTHER is hiding (gathering) the answer 

12a   Conger eels - occasionally they're pretty ugly (5)
OGRES:  Alternate letters (occasionally) of CONGER EELS 

13a   Shakira, for one, having no limo, cab to be arranged (9)
COLOMBIAN:  An anagram (to be arranged) of NO LIMO CAB. The definition is by example (for one). Read about Shakira here 

16a   Spur joining United, starting with one million off the cuff (9)
IMPROMPTU:  Link together the Roman one, the single letter for million, spur or prod, and the single letter for united 

18a   Field takes an age to roll (5)
ARENA:  AN from the clue and age or period, all reversed (to roll) 

19a   Convert filed behind popular dissenter (7)
INFIDEL:  An anagram (convert) of FILED comes after popular or fashionable 

22a   Bulk-buy drink, adopting alternative to tick? (5,2)
STOCK UP:  A verb synonym of drink containing (adopting) the part of the sound of a clock that’s not “tick”

23a   For radio, cover Glasgow player's growth (9)
HYDRANGEA:  Homophones (for the radio) of a synonym of cover and a player in a Glasgow football team 

24a   Coming from France, the little bird's first call (5)
TITLE:  “The” in French comes after a little bird 

25a   They get a turn-on from A Place in the Sun (5,6)
SOLAR PANELS:  Cryptic definition of a green energy source 

 

Down

1d    Monitor what happens every autumn when pound goes west (9)
EAVESDROP:  A (6,4) phrase describing what happens to many trees in autumn with the single letter for pound sterling deleted (when pound goes west)

2d    That won't start, lower and top gear having gone? (7)
HATLESS:  THAT minus its first letter (won’t start) with a synonym of lower

3d    Plant of old days state's boarded up (9)
BUTTERCUP:  The abbreviation for the period ending a bit over 2000 years ago containing (…’s boarded) state or say, all followed by UP from the clue

4d    Pack tons, going on advanced hill climbing (5)
TAROT:  Join together the single letter for tons, the single letter for advanced, and the reversal (climbing, in a down clue) of a rocky hill 

5d    Model parent - prefer this person taking the lead (7)
OPTIMUM:  Putting the bits in order, assemble prefer or choose, a pronoun the setter might use for themselves (this person) and an informal word for a female parent 

6d    Heartbeat's rising unevenly obtaining soldier's equipment (5)
SABRE:  Odd letters (unevenly) of the reversal (rising, in a down clue) of HEARTBEAT’S

7d    Maybe draw conclusion after getting shot (5,6)
PHOTO FINISH:  Conclusion or end comes after a shot or pic

9d    Daughters observed doing this in dappled orchard object (6,5)
EATING APPLE:  The answer interpreted as wordplay is what the single letters for daughter are doing in DAPPLED. The definition might be the object or aim of visiting an orchard 

14d   State in liaison with new assembly restricting university area (9)
LOUISIANA:  An anagram (with new assembly) of LIASON containing (restricting) the single letter for university, followed by the single letter for area 

15d   Half of police performing tasks outside base? They go on foot (3,6)
ICE SKATES:  One half of POLICE with an anagram (performing) of TASKS containing (outside) the letter representing the base of the natural logarithms 

17d   Freak overdosed before dance (7)
ODDBALL:  A (2’1) abbreviation or overdosed with another word for a fancy dance party

18d   Saintly type in Bible Belt, so patently bound heavenwards (7)
APOSTLE:  BELT SO PATENTLY contains the answer hidden (bound) and reversed (heavenwards, in a down clue)

20d   Five hundred deposited in broken safe loses colour (5)
FADES:  The Roman five hundred inserted in an anagram (broken) of SAFE 

21d   Both sides briefly imbibing mellow drink (5)
LAGER:  Single letters (briefly) for each side of your body containing (imbibing) mellow or ripen

 

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

The Quick Crossword pun:  TRAY  + DEW  + NEON + LIEDER = TRADE UNION LEADER

49 comments on “DT 31036”

  1. The west fell first but it took some time to overcome the east. Despite that, it was an enjoyable solve with just the right amount of brain mangling as befits a Friday guzzle. 1a fell immediately and that always places the mind into positive mode. Plenty of lovely misdirection such as 4d where I pursued the wrong pack for too long. The reverse lurker at 18d was very well hidden and I almost missed it until I remembered the mantra – “If all else fails, look for a lurker”.

    A very satisfying solve with my COTD being the bulk buying at 22a with monitor at 1d taking silver.

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

  2. Great puzzle that was a challenge but not too tricky for me (unlike the last couple of days). I enjoyed the long outside answers though I couldn’t parse 9d. My favourite was the amusing homophone 23a. Thank you as always to setter and blogger.

  3. This wasnt’ as tricky as I first imagined and I found starting at the bottomm was helpful. 9d was my COTD because of the clever way it was worded but I also enjoyed the cryptic definition at 25a, the misdirected geographical anagram at 15a amd the missing letter clue at 1d.Thanks to the compiler for a nicely challenging Friday guzzle and to Mr K for the hints

  4. Really enjoyable, though needed e-help to get 2d, which I stared at for an eternity. So close, etc, etc.

    Favourites of the day were the fruity 9d, when I eventually parsed it, and the floral 3d and 23a. I’m normally terrified of ‘plant’ clues (there are so very many and I am not a gardener) so was mightily pleased to get all three. ***/****

  5. Great puzzle. As Steve says, it has a good level of difficulty, although on the first run I only got very few. But then it gradually opened up. Loads of candidates for COTD including 1d, 5d and the homophone in 23a. Thanks to the setter and to Mr K for hints.

  6. Like CC, I didn’t find this as difficult as I’d thought it was going to be at first, although the N fell into place well before the S. The turning point was the nags at 7d, which was also my COTD, closely followed by the Glaswegian plant at 23a. Thanks very much to the setter and to Mr K.

  8. For me, etc, for a Friday, this was quite a ‘gentle’ challenge not as challenging as yesterday’s back pager – 2.5*/4*

    Candidates for favourite – 23a, 1d, and 7d – and the winner is 7d.

    Thanks to whomsoever and Mr K; some wannabe DJs:

  9. 3*/5*. Excellent Friday fare, nicely challenging with 1d my favourite.

    Once again I can think of reasons why this was not the work of any of our usual Friday triumvirate.

    Many thanks to the setter and to Mr K.

  10. An excellent Friday puzzle – thanks to our setter and Mr K.
    My picks were 10a, 22a (alternative to tick – excellent), 1d and (my favourite) 9d.

  11. Agree with the comments on a very good puzzle – I really didn’t understand 9d but now I know ! Clever

  12. Fairly gentle for a Friday, my podium consists of bulk-buying booze (always a good idea) in 22a, the seasonal earwigging in 1d and the girls keeping the doctor away in 9d.
    Thanks to our setter and Mr K.

  13. Another excellent crossword on a v friendly grid to finish off what has been a hugely enjoyable week for us cruciverbalists.

    With Karla and the X setters often appearing at the end of the week and the usual three popping up on other days, I think the term ‘Friday Triumvirate’ is now redundant.

    9d made me smile, once I twigged the parsing. We love the word ‘dappled’.

    I can’t tell you many times I’ve seen u as the 4th letter of 13a (nice surface).

    My podium is the cryptic definitions of 8a and 25a plus the clever 1d.

    MT to the setter and Mr K

    2*/5

  14. For a Friday puzzle, this week seemed to me to be on the gentler side and I agree with Senf, much easier than Thursday’s back pager.

    2*/3.5*

    Favourites 8a, 25a, 5d, 6d & 20d — with winner 8a

    Thanks to setter & Mr K

  15. Splendidly quirky — my favourite crossword of the week! Thank you to the setter, especially for the 3d boarded-up plant, the Glasgow players in 23a, what the daughters were doing in 9d, and for that fantastic quickie pun. And a special thank-you for 13a being an anagram, meaning I didn’t have to wonder what the 2nd vowel was.

    Thanks also to Mr K for being our Friday safety net. For those who don’t know who Shakira is, here’s her debut UK hit Whenever, Wherever (number 2 in 2002) — at least it was until these cats got their paws on it:

    1. … I was vaguely aware of the name Shakira but without knowing why, and wondered whether it was possibly even a type of coffee or drug given the Columbia connection! Thank you for the pusskit clip, Smylers, but I don’t feel my life has been diminished by not hearing her music/voice before now!

      1. Reckon this cracker, which I heard yesterday & can’t stop playing, more to your taste. The album due out in Feb – hope the other collaborations are as good as this

  16. Thoroughly enjoyable – and on the easier side for a Friday. 2*/3*
    I’m not keen on the abbreviation for overdosed but pommers was OK with it.
    Thank to MrK and setter for today

    1. I agree with you about the abbreviation, pommette. I was very surprised to find it in the BRB so fair game for the setter!

  17. Cleverly constructed puzzle but it didn’t score very highly here for enjoyment. Not to worry, I’m sure others felt differently. Ticks went to 22&25a plus 1&7d.

    Thanks to our setter, to Mr K for the review and Senf for the DJs!

  18. This was properly challenging for a Friday with the excellent 1d my favourite by a distance. After a slowish start, I got into the rhythm of the puzzle and finished it at a canter. Great stuff.

    Many thanks to our Friday setter and Mr K.

  19. A very entertaining puzzle with many elegantly constructed clues. I couldn’t see the parsing of 3d but otherwise it went smoothly which is a nice surprise for a Friday. I had 9d as my favourite with 1d in second place. I nearly missed the lurker in 18d.

    Many thanks to the setter and to Mr K for the hints,

  20. Reasonably gentle for a Friday, but still took some crumpet scratching in places so a very enjoyable end to the week. My podium comprises 1d, 6d and 25a, there is also an honorable mention for 9d and 23a. Thanks to compiler and Mr K.

  21. Thanks to the Setter and Mr K. We found this puzzle very easy for a Friday and sailed through it in record time. Must have been well in tune with the Setters mindset. COTD 23a. LOI 2d. NW fell into place last of all.

  23. Fairly straightforward with some head scratchers but it is Friday. Held up a bit by my inability to spell 23a but 24d soon put me right. A most enjoyable end to the crosswording week. Favourite was 1d. Thanks to the setter and Mr. K.

    1. An enjoyable solve today with some nice clues and fairly chewy in places. I spent ages on my last one in 1d, which was so obvious in the end as always. Thanks to the setter and Mr K.

  24. Great puzzle today. 1d LOI and I had to say it out loud several times before the penny dropped! Thanks to the setter and to Mr K.

  25. More enjoyable than most Fridays as I could actually fathom most of this. Not a walk in the park, but satisfying to finish. A few questionable clues IMHO, such as 9d where I had the answer but not the parsing. Thanks to setter and Mr K.

  26. Most enjoyable and not too brain tangling for a Friday. A Place in the Sun is a brain dead program that I watch whilst ironing. Don’t even ask why and it didn’t help to get the answer although that fell into place with the checkers. Top spot goes to 1down – big brother is watching you and runner up was 7down.
    Thank you to today’s setter and to Mr. K for explaining some bung-ins.

  27. 1.5* / 3.5* an enjoyable end to the week after yesterday’s struggles. Favourites include 23a camouflaged Glaswegian, the dappled daughters in 9d and the popular earwigging at 1d
    Ps nice quickie pun as well
    Thanks to setter and Mr K

  28. Very enjoyable with the orchard object as a great clue – but surely 9d should be ‘feet’? Thank you compiler and Mr K

  29. 1.5* / 3.5* an enjoyable end to the week after yesterday’s struggles. Favourites include the camouflaged Glaswegian at 23a, dappled daughters at 9d and the popular earwigging at 1d, also liked the quickie pun
    Thanks to Mr K and setter

  30. A great end to the week and finished without hints – just! Loved 1d once the pound dropped and the ‘reverse cluing’ [have I invented a new or am I misusing a term] seems to be getting very popular as in 9d. Got the answer but took quite a while to parse it.

    Many thanks to the setter and Mr K.

  31. Hello, compiler here. Thanks very much for taking the time to solve, analyse and discuss. Always appreciated.
    If you liked this one, I hope you have a go at this weekend’s Sunday Toughie.
    Well done Smylers, finding a Shakira song with cats. If any solver doesn’t know Shakira, apologies. I write most of my clues in a cafe in Richmond with a largely Colombian staff and clientele, and Shakira is their patron saint.
    Here’s Shakira’s all-time classic:

    1. Thank you for a super puzzle, Zandio – had it pegged as one of yours early on and glad to see I was right for once.

      My own ignorance of who or what a Shakira is/was made no difference given how fairly the answer was clued!

    2. Yet again my comment on the puzzle appears to have vanished without trace so suffice to say thoroughly enjoyed it (1d my fav).
      Thanks & to Mr K for the review

    3. Thank you, Zandio for a most enjoyable puzzle and for popping in. It is always appreciated when the setter visits.

    4. Thanks from me, too. My heart sank when I saw the foorbally clue and I was just about to look up the hint when the penny dropped! Crafty, very neat. Thank you.

    5. Thanks from me too Zandio. I also suspected it was one of yours as my favourite compiler. I just popped back to the blog to see if you’d made an appearance and I was right.

  32. Having been out bird watching all day I’ve come to this late in the day for me. I didn’t really get into this but looking at my page I’ve got lots of ticks so maybe I’m just tired. Needed Mr K’s help to parse 9d.

    Top picks for me were 1d, 11a, 22a, 23a and 15d.

    Thanks to Mr K and Zandio.

  33. Sat down to do the guzzle before going off to man the monthly cinema event. Very satisfying, conquering a Friday challenge. I particularly liked 10a and 15d, but it was all good. Many thanks to The Setter and Mr Kay.

  34. Superb work from Zandio – great clues throughout, with 23A absolutely hilarious. Many thanks also to Mr K.

    Both yesterday’s and today’s ought to be on the list for Vintage Puzzles in 50 years.

  36. Thanks to Zandio for the puzzle and to everyone who commented above, especially those who provided pics or videos.

  37. Just finished off in bed with the obligatory cup of tea. A challenging puzzle but after about 75% completion had to resort to Mr K’s hints. I had no idea who Shakira was, being just about au fait with Taylor Swift! My daughters think my musical tastes are Neanderthal!
    Main struggles in the western hemisphere, misreading the clues does not help, perhaps the hallmark of a good puzzle.
    Thank you to the setter and to Mr K for the hints.

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