DT 31075 – Big Dave's Crossword Blog
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DT 31075

by Shabbo  

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31075
Hints and tips by Shabbo

+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +

BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****

Good morning, fellow puzzlers.

Don’t worry, you haven’t lost a couple of days.  I can confirm that it is definitely Tuesday today.  Huntsman has kindly agreed to swap blogging days this week, as I am away on Thursday.

I really enjoyed this puzzle.  I found it to be a straightforward solve, but it has some lovely smooth and humorous surfaces, proving once again that a puzzle does not have to be difficult to be enjoyable. My ticks are for 12a, 1d, 3d, 18d and 25d, but I could have listed many more. Which clues did you like?

In the blog below, the definition element of each clue has been underlined, anagrams are CAPITALISED and the crossword technique “indicator words” are in brackets. The answers are concealed under the “Click Here” buttons.  Please leave a comment telling us how you got on and what you thought of the puzzle.

Many thanks to our setter and to the DT Crossword Team.

Across
1a Flipping golf club cut a flower – sorry! (4-1-5)
OOPS-A-DAISY: my last one to parse. A very old term for a golf club without the final letter (cut) and reversed (flipping) followed by A + a type of flower (not a river this time).

6a Personal assistant wearing old, large gem (4)
OPAL: abbreviation for Personal Assistant inside (wearing) abbreviations for Old and Large.

10a Deal with danger leaving hotel (5)
TREAT: synonym of danger without (leaving) the abbreviation for Hotel. The definition reminds me of my student days doing basic contract law.  An invitation to ***** is a preliminary step inviting one party to make an offer.  It is not a binding contract.

11a Bad temper nan’s enduring (9)
PERMANENT: anagram (bad) of TEMPER NAN.

12a Report conclusions of crossword puzzle writer (8)
DESCRIBE: the final letters (conclusions) of crossworD and puzzlE + synonym of writer.

13a Weapon from Spain piercing box (5)
SPEAR: vehicle number plate abbreviation for Espana inside (piercing) synonym of box (as in fight).

15a No sign of nerves editor spotted (7)
NOTICED: NO + synonym of a sign of nerves + EDitor.

17a Parcel, for example, chaps wrapped in street (7)
SEGMENT: abbreviation of “for example” + synonym of chaps inside (wrapped in) abbreviation for STreet.

19a Constant unruly idleness one’s ignored (7)
ENDLESS: anagram of (i)DLENESS.

21a Anguish from the French piano melody (7)
DESPAIR: from in French + abbreviation for Piano + synonym of melody.

22a Drink beer – not half great! (5)
SUPER: synonym of drink + (be)ER.

24a Link user finally with ecstasy (8)
RELATION: final letter of useR + synonym of ecstasy.

27a Replying in anger about keeping second wife (9)
ANSWERING: anagram (about) of IN ANGER outside abbreviations for Second and Wife.

28a Rubbish material on roof? (5)
SLATE: double definition.  The first is a verb masquerading as a noun.

29a Carries out female animals (4)
DOES: another double definition.

30a Bishops maybe tense on bench in town (10)
SETTLEMENT: the bishops here are pieces on a chess board + abbreviation for Tense following (on) synonym of bench.

Down
1d Promise nothing before husband cheers up (4)
OATH: letter signifying nOthing + abbreviation for Husband + two-letter word meaning cheers (or thank you) upside down (up).

2d Frustrated criminal repented, framing Victor (9)
PREVENTED: anagram (criminal) of REPENTED outside (framing) abbreviation for Victor.

3d Room that ticks boxes (5)
ATTIC: hidden word clue. Our solution is hidden within words 2&3. Very neat.

4d Exerted pressure repeatedly after adult fibbed (7)
APPLIED: abbreviation for Pressure twice (repeatedly) after abbreviation for Adult + synonym of fibbed.

5d Televises vets (7)
SCREENS: double definition – both are verbs.

7d Bit food with both sides of canine (5)
PIECE: a type of food (normally meat covered with pastry) + the first and last letters (both sides) of CaninE.

8d Letters are utterly short, I suspect (10)
LITERATURE: anagram (suspect) of ARE UTTERL(y) + I.

9d Voyages go by Algiers, regularly (8)
PASSAGES: synonym of go + the odd letters (regularly) of AlGiErS.

14d Twig below bear (10)
UNDERSTAND: synonyms of below and bear joined together.

16d Whines about the woman’s fruit (8)
CHERRIES: synonym of whines outside (about) synonym of “the woman’s”.

18d Bananas are able to expand (9)
ELABORATE: anagram (bananas) of ARE ABLE TO. Neat.

20d Maiden is enthralled by certain judge (7)
SURMISE: abbreviation for Maiden + IS inside (enthralled by) synonym of certain.

21d Perhaps reduce brightness, please (7)
DELIGHT: double definition, the first being slightly cryptic. Clever.

23d Dad’s almost fixed old hat (5)
PASSE: short form of dad + S + synonym of fixed without the final letter (almost).

25d Smack lass’s bottom in gallery (5)
TASTE: the last letter (bottom) of lasS inside crosswordland’s favourite gallery. Don’t try this at home!

26d Iron lieutenant’s fabric (4)
FELT: abbreviations for iron (or FErrum) + LieutenanT.

 

Quickie Pun:  JAY  +  WAR  +  KING  =  JAYWALKING


Thanks again to Huntsman.

59 comments on “DT 31075”

  1. A terrific puzzle from the professor, as ever. I must admit I don’t see where the golf club comes into 1a so will need the hints to enlighten me. The parcel in the street at 17a raised a smile as did the voyages in 9d. My COTD is the reduction of brightness at 21d.

    Thank you, professor for a great Tuesday workout. Thank you, Shabbo for the hints.

    1. In case you are still wondering as no-one has mentioned below – the golf club. Something you eat your soup with or what ‘good friends’ might do in bed 😉

  2. A lovely and enjoyable puzzle although I had to guess at the golf club part of 1a. If anyone thinks that the expression is not used nowadays I have to admit to saying it the other day and then I burst out laughing at myself. I’ve no idea why it came into my head.
    Top picks for me were 12a (my LOI), 21d and 15a.

    Thanks to Shabbo and Mr Plumb.

  3. Excellent fare as always from our regular Tuesday setter: not difficult, but beautifully clued with a smattering of humour throughout the grid. Tough to pick a favourite, but 1a gets the nod.

    My thanks to AP and Supersub Shabbo.

  4. A lovely quick solve which kicked off nicely with the golf club reference. Like our reviewer I had plenty of ticks & wouldn’t argue with his selection. Liked the clue pics to the Quickie pun – remember getting told off in Vegas by a very scary policeman for doing it.
    Thanks to AP & Shabbo – enjoyed my lie in this morning.

  5. This was on the money and perfect for a cheerful Tuesday with lots of excellent surfaces on a very friendly gridderoony.

    Isn’t 14d just a bonkers word? I know its etymology but how did it get traction! Bizarre.

    1a (a superb expression) reminds me of this great scene https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VC3thojIrFc

    My podium is 30a as it conjures up a Dave Allen sketch, 1d (neat) and 3d (clever).

    MT to the prof and shuffling Shabbs.

    1*/5*

  6. Mashie, niblick, brassie – how wonderful if we still used those ‘old’ names for the modern day golf clubs (plus the one featured at 1a). They immeditaely bring to mind the idyllic world of P.G. Wodehouse and his compendium of characters.
    Indeed in ‘The Salvation of George Mackintosh’, Celia Tennant hits George with her niblick.
    However, please don’t be concerned as there is a happy ending. I didn’t want your day to be clouded by thinking the niblick incident ended their relationship.

    Groovy guzzle, right at my level and therefore it is the greatest grossword guzzle ever compiled.

    Thanks to the setter and Shabba-dabba-doo

    2. I notice the date for the Birthday Bash (31st Jan 2026) clashes with Chelsea playing West Ham. Hopefully a late kick off, as it would be great to meet in Little Venice before the match.

    3. Then of course there is the Golden Goose (putter) made by my great uncle John Letters.

      Enjoyed the puzzle but late as ever.

      Thanks to Shabbo and setter.

      1. John Letters is your great uncle? How cool is that!

        I know my golf history and am well aware of him (I’ve learnt the winners of the four majors back to the inaugural Open in 1860. What a loser!)

        You should be very proud of him, SW, as luminaries like Palmer and Player used his equipment. I just found this article which I’m sure you’re aware of…..

        https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12352559.john-letters

        I am not worthy.

        1. He also made personalised clubs for Bing Crosby according to family legend. I met him in Glasgow when I was 5/6 but never again.

          1. Bing ‘ba ba boom’ Crosby??? That’s outrageous!

            Do you remember meeting him? My memory goes back to 4 or 5. So, my guess is you do.

            Either way, what a ledge.

            1. I don’t remember much as we met many family members in a Glasgow tenament. The article you refer to is of his son who I don’t think I met. The olny reason I knew I met Uncle John is because I was told later on.

              1. Wrong, I have re-read article. Uncle John would have been born in 1915. And just to put it in context I met him in 1955/6

                1. Thanks, SW.

                  Does this mean you are exactly three quarters of the way to raising your bat?

                  If so, congratulations!

                  1. Indeef, my highest score😎

                    I also note from Wiki that among others Frak Sinatra played with Letters clubs🍾

      2. Always good to see you but it seems to be a rare occurrence these days. You’ll have to sort out those working hours of yours!

        1. Thanks Jane. Just finished harvesting my olives (i.e inside the fence around the house) but there is so much more to do that I have contracted out. It’s getting more difficult!

          Yes Tom he was indeed my great uncle.

          One of my olive trees this year:

  7. Very nice puzzle that I found hard to get going but it opened up as the crossers accumulated. Also enjoyed 21d and 1a (I am old enough to be familiar with the golf club). I couldn’t pars 30a as the term for bench was new to me. Thank you Shabbo and Mr Plumb.

  8. Morning Shabbo thanks for hints, must admit to needing them for 30a and 29d!!!
    My fav clue has to be 1a, got going quite quickly on this one but still a two star difficulty for me

  9. I made fairly short work of this puzzle, which wS clwverly crafted and enjoyable without being over-complicated. I liked the 1a Lego clue and think I understand the golf club reference (I shall check later). Other good Lego clues were the fruit at 1ydd together with 8d and 14d . Thanks to the compiler and to Shabbo for the hints

  10. Enjoyable as always on Tuesdays these days – thanks to our setter and Shabbo.
    The clues which I liked best were 1d, 3d and 21d.

  11. My usual tactic of starting by ‘going up the Downs’ was not very successful and I began to doubt that this was a Typically Tuesdayish offering from Mr Plumb but when I got to ‘going down the Acrosses’ there was a significant improvement and belief in Mr Plumb was restored – **/****

    Candidates for favourite – 1a, 13a, 29a, 1d, 9d, and 23d – and the winner is 29a.

    Thanks to Mr Plumb and Shabbo.

  12. Good morning. This was very enjoyable and almost a read and fill, save for the SW corner which took a bit longer than I would have liked. Lots to like and these are my favourites 1a, 6a, 16a, 28a, 3d, 7d, 21 and 23d. The podium is 6a, 21d and 28a with 20d being LOI. Thanks to Shabbo for the review and setter for the puzzle.

  13. 0.5*/4*. A perfect example of a puzzle which is very light yet extremely enjoyable with 1a, 3d & 21d making it onto my podium.

    Many thanks to the Prof and to Hintsman.

      1. I think what Rabbit Dave means is “Thank you to Hintsman for taking the day off so that we have the delight of Shabbo’s blogging today”?

  14. Thanks to the Setter and Shabbo. Our COTD 21d. LOI 30a. Needed the checkers on three clues to make educated guesses. As usual started like an express train before grinding to a halt over last few clues.

  16. Luverly stuff as ever when the prof makes his Tuesday appearance. Very tough to play favourites but I eventually gave the nod to 1&12a plus 14d.

    Thanks to Mr Plumb and to Shabbo for the review.

  17. * / ***
    Very light and enjoyable as has become typical for a Tuesday. I ticked the wonderful phrase at 1a and the 12a report. The whole thing was more or less a read and write with no recourse to a ‘read through’ today.

    The final word of 22a and the answer made me recall the Reggie Perrin sidekicks that said those two words together very often.

    Many thanks to AP and Shabbo.

  18. Waited for a Covid test result as I did today’s offering. Had felt so tired last night playing bridge that my friends sent me home early. Nice puzzle and favourite was 21 down followed by 15 across. Always enjoy Mr. Plumb and thanks to Shabbo. P.S. the test came back negative.

  19. A very enjoyable puzzle today. Lots to like.
    Favourite 1a. Haven’t heard that expression for ages.

    Thanks to the setter and to Shabbo.

  20. A 22a puzzle. I look forward to Tuesdays offering as although gentle it has bags of humour and super smooth surfaces that I think are unmatched any other day of the week. This setter is just brilliant and so is the versatile Shabbo! Thank you to both

  21. Tuesday brings yet more fun and games. Not over-anagrammed and with smooth surfaces. We will doubtless pay for it as the week progresses. Surely 30A is not necessarily a town. Presumed the first word in 1a but it took a while to recall the golf club. Many thanks MrP and Shabbo. 👍.

  22. Most enjoyable as seems to be the consensus of opinion. I liked 1a – George saw the reversed truncated club, 12a was last in, a very smart clue that. Sunny day here, the pocket rocket has been and raked over the poor excuse of a lawn and reseeded. But despite netting etc the birds are having a great time and I guess ‘twas all for nothing. Many thanks to both Setter and Shabbo.

  23. I found this Tuesday puzzle trickier than normal this week so for me it was not as Typically Tuesdayish as I would expect.
    Just took me a while to get things moving.

    2.5*/3*

    Favourites 1a, 7d, 14d, 18d, 21d & 26d — with winner 1a

    Thanks to setter & Shabbo

  24. Annoyed that as a so-called golfer 1a was the last one in, thank you compiler for a smooth set of clues – and as always (even on a Tuesday) Shabbo

  25. Poor lad for 15a. It looks like Chicken Pox – Unlike me he should be safe from Shingles in adulthood though.
    Thanks to Shabbo and Mr Plumb.

  26. An excellent puzzle with the usual wide variety of entertaining clues. I needed the hints to help parse a couple, I am afraid the golf club has completely passes me by. I had no standout favourite.

    Many thanks to the setter and to Shabbo for the hints.

    1. 2* / 3.5* Quite a gentle and very enjoyable Tuesday puzzle. Lots of potential favourites to choose from, 1a sorry, 9d voyages and the very neat 3d room
      Thanks to Shabbo and setter

  27. I managed this over breakfast before I went to play golf and probably the first and last puzzle I’ll finish on virtually one pass. Skipped 1a to start with, but once the down checkers were in place it jumped out at me. Clues were clever and entertaining so thanks to the setter. Thanks Shabbo for the answers which were used to confirm I wasn’t deluding myself.
    1*/4*

  28. Got off to a great start but slowed down with half done so I went off to do some admin and returned to do a quick finish. Got 1a but didn’t know there was a golf club of said name. Now I have heard of a Driver, Niblick, Wedge etc. 1a is one to store in my little grey cells for the future. Many thanks to the setter and Shabbo. Rained all day again today. We are certainly going to need an Ark before too long!

  29. Enjoyable once I got 1a, after which I sped through – until I got to 30a, which I could not solve as I had forgotten that word for bench. COTD 12a for the construction and surface. Thanks to Prof P and Shabbo. */****

  30. Good evening

    Not a good start to the week crozzie-wise yesterday; I got home from work at 00:45 with almost all of the SE quadrant looking bare and inkless, so I hoyed the sponge in. Thankfully I’ve fared a darn’ sight better this afty, despite a few dodgy moments.

    COTD is the neat little lurkington at 3d.

    Many thanks to The Prof, and to Shabbo and those above who knew all about 1a.

  31. Drat. Defeated by 12a which necessitated a glance at the hints and an explanation of the parsing for which I could have kicked myself. Otherwise a steady solve in not too bad a time, for me at any rate. COTD for me 1a and 12a since that is the one that duped me.
    Thank you to the setter and to Shabbo for the hints.

  32. A pleasant and straightforward solve for me although I couldn’t parse the golf club bit of 1a. Back from my travels today and hoping to catch up the puzzles I did t get to do whilst away. Thanks to the setter and Shabbo.

  33. I think it’s all been said. A few needed a bit of thinking about. Favourite was 29a. Thanks to AP and Shabbo.

  34. Very good stuff today. We’ve been treated to a very good Back Page and Toughie combination. 25d gets my prize for its lack of political correctness.
    Thanks to The Prof (presumably) and to Shabbo for the Blog,
    PS a bit of a head on the 22a image… but it looks Stein-sized, and I wouldn’t argue with the Munich Frau/Fraulein who delivered it, not when they deliver 3 of 4 minimum in each hand!

  35. What a perfectly enjoyable puzzle today. I printed it up and took with me to the car dealership this morning, to occupy myself as we sat and waited for our car to be serviced. I resisted the urge to look at the site as I needed something to fill up my time, and was more than happy to finish without any aid whatsoever. Hurray! Thanks for setter for a lot of fun and satisfaction, and for Shabbo although for once I didn’t need any hints.

  36. What a great guzzle today from one of my favourite compilers. So many lovely glues, my favourite was 1a, I think the expression needs to be revised! Thankyou for the hints today Shabbo.

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