Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31253
A full review by Rahmat Ali
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This puzzle was published on 30th May 2026
BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****
Greetings from Kolkata. A nice and straightforward Saturday puzzle from the setter that I enjoyed solving and thereafter writing a review of the same for your kind perusal and significant feedback.
I became interested in the etymology of cassoulet, the answer to the clue at 15d. After solving the puzzle, I searched the internet and found a wealth of information about its origin. Cassoulet takes its name from the cassole, specifically the cassole d’Issel, a distinctive earthenware cooking pot made in the village of Issel near Castelnaudary. The word cassole comes from Cazouls-lès-Béziers, a town in southern France known for producing this type of pottery. Over time, the name of the vessel became the name of the dish cooked in it. Cassoulet itself is a slow-cooked casserole originating in the Languedoc region of France, especially associated with the towns of Castelnaudary, Carcassonne, and Toulouse. The dish is typically made with white beans and various meats such as pork, duck or sausage. Thus, cassoulet literally means that which is cooked in a cassole, illustrating a common linguistic process where the name of a container becomes the name of its contents.
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Across
1a Good time to restrain American Air Force (4)
GUST: G (good) as the abbreviation for good and T (time) as the symbol of time in physics to hold inside (restrain) US (American) as the adjectival abbreviation for the United States or belonging to the United States guides to the definition of a sudden gust of wind or a strong force of air
3a Marcel Marceau seemingly such a green activist? (4-6)
TREE-HUGGER: Part of or hidden inside [MARC]EL M[ARCEAU] demonstrating the celebrated mime Marcel Marceau appearing to be like (seemingly such) a tree-hugger because he is hugging ELM that is a tree inside his name that cryptically guides to the definition of a green activist or an environmentalist, especially one who is dedicated to preserving trees and forests
10a An important first for subversive? (9)
ANARCHIST: AN from the clue followed by ARCH (important) as chief, principal or most important and IST (first) as representing the ordinal number ‘first’ in which I symbolises the Roman numeral for one leads to the definition of a person who advocates the abolition of government and a social system based on voluntary co-operation, an example of which is a subversive i.e. a person tending to subvert or advocating subversion, especially in an attempt to overthrow or undermine a legally constituted government
11a All dwarfs small and equal? (5)
SEVEN: The definition of a number one more than six, an example of which referring to all the fictional seven dwarfs who live with Snow White in the classic fairy tale is obtained from a charade of S (small) as the standard abbreviation for small as seen on clothing sizes and EVEN (equal) as meaning equal in number, amount or value
12a Course taken by European film company (5)
PATHÉ: PATH (course) as the course, route or direction along which something travels or moves taking alongside (taken by) E (European) as the abbreviation for European as EU in European Union leads to the definition of a French major film production and distribution company, owning a number of cinema chains through its subsidiary Pathé and Cinemas and television networks across Europe
13a Check name in claim for dispute (9)
CHALLENGE: CH (check) as the standard abbreviation for check as seen in chess notation or in American banking and finance followed by N (name) as the abbreviation for name placed inside (in) ALLEGE (claim) as to claim, assert or maintain as a fact takes to the definition of a verb meaning to dispute, call into question or formally contest the legality or truth of a statement
14a 10 Across, no saint, deceptive Persian enemy? (8)
THRACIAN: ANARCHIST as the answer to 10a devoid of or not taking into consideration (no) S (saint) as the abbreviation for saint and then subject to an anagram (deceptive) guides to the historical definition by example of a native or inhabitant of Thrace, an ancient region in southeast Europe whose people were adversaries and fierce enemies of the Persian Empire
16a Four from Rome in vessels for turns (6)
PIVOTS: IV (four from Rome) as the Roman numeral for four placed inside (in) POTS (vessels) as the plural of metal or earthenware cooking vessel that is usually round and deep and often having a handle and lid that yields the definition of a verb in the third person singular present tense meaning turns, spins or revolves
19a Bats amused snake-haired monster (6)
MEDUSA: An anagram (bats) of AMUSED leads to the definition of a snake-haired monster from Greek mythology
20a Boys circling northern edge fall from cliff (8)
LANDSLIP: LADS (boys) as the plural term for a boy or young man surrounding or containing within them (circling) N (northern) as the abbreviation for northern as seen on a compass direction and followed by LIP (edge) as a projecting edge on a container or other hollow object takes to the definition of the sliding of a large mass of rock material, soil etc down the side of a mountain or cliff
22a Okay writer one sees regularly (9)
AUTHORISE: The definition of a verb meaning to okay, approve or sanction is got from AUTHOR (writer) as the writer of a book, article or other text followed by I (one) as the Roman numeral for one and the regular or oddly-placed letters (regularly) of S[E]E[S]
24a See 26 Across
26a, 24 Across and 27 Across Number pledging future constitutional support? (5,5,4,5)
YOU’LL NEVER WALK ALONE: A cryptic definition of a musical number that acts as a promise or pledge to accompany someone, ensuring they have support during a future walk morning constitutional or during a walk taken for one’s physical health e.g. going out for a morning constitutional
27a See 26 Across
28a Extremely reasonable request for copy (10)
REPETITION: The extreme or outermost letters (extremely) of R[EASONABL]E followed by PETITION (request) as a formal written request, typically one signed by many people, appealing to authority in respect of a particular cause leads to the definition of a replica or copy
29a Lewis for one is extremely louche
ISLE: The definition of an island, especially a small one, an example of which is Lewis i.e. the Isle of Lewis that is the north part of Lewis and Harris, the largest island of the Western Isles or Outer Hebrides archipelago in Scotland is got from IS from the clue followed by the extreme or outermost letters (extremely) of L[OUCH]E
Down
1d See a little government file (5)
GRASP: The definition of a verb meaning to comprehend, understand or see is reached from a charade of G (a little government) as the abbreviation for government as G-Man in Government-Man and RASP (file) as a coarse type of file used for shaping wood or metal surfaces
2d Very tired and broken (9)
SHATTERED: Double adjectival definition; the second meaning broken into very small pieces that takes to the first denoting tired out and exhausted
4d Mac artist at home with paint (8)
RAINCOAT: The definition of a Mac, that is short for Macintosh, a type of waterproof raincoat is reached from a combination of RA (artist) as the abbreviation for Royal Academician, denoting a practising artist of the Royal Academy of Arts, IN (at home) as at or inside one’s home and (with) COAT (paint) as referring to a layer or coat of paint applied to a surface
5d Deceive mate endlessly sent up (6)
ENTRAP: The definition of a verb meaning to trick someone into committing a crime in order to secure their prosecution, an example of which is to deceive i.e. to intentionally cause someone to believe something that is not true, typically in order to gain some personal advantage is obtained from PARTNE[R] (mate) as a mate, consort or spouse devoid of its end or terminal letter (endlessly) and going in an upward direction (sent up) as a reversal in the down clue
6d Immaculate Lulu dines out (9)
UNSULLIED: The definition of an adjective meaning spotlessly clean, pure or untarnished, an example of which is immaculate i.e. perfectly clean, neat or tidy is got from an anagram (out) of LULU DINES
7d Journey on goods vehicle in Glasgow district (5)
GOVAN: GO (journey) as to journey, travel, proceed or move along a particular course placed upon in the down clue (on) VAN (goods vehicle) as a covered vehicle, usually a large truck or trailer, used for moving goods or animals leads to the definition of a district, parish and former burgh now part of southwest Glasgow, Scotland
8d Narrow carpets lifted in seconds? (7-2)
RUNNERS-UP: RUNNERS (narrow carpets) as referring to narrow carpets or rugs as for a passage followed by UP (lifted) as an adjective meaning lifted, raised or moved to a higher position takes to the definition of the plural of a contestant finishing a race or competition in the second place
9d Spots an East End carriage reportedly? (4)
ACNE: The definition of a skin condition characterised by pimples or spots, especially on the face, is reached from a homophone heard by the audience (reportedly) of HACKNEY (an East End carriage) as referring to a carriage pronounced by someone from the East End of London i.e. dropping the initial ‘h’ sound in Cockney dialect
14d Yes! Warm to mischievous adventurer! (3,6)
TOM SAWYER: An anagram (mischievous) of YES! WARM TO guides to the definition of a young character whose mischievous exploits are exhibited as he navigates childhood adventures in the celebrated novel of Mark Twain that he named ‘The Adventures of Tom Sawyer’
15d French dish, lost cause, failed (9)
CASSOULET: The definition of a French dish of white beans cooked slowly in a small amount of liquid with meat and herbs is obtained from an anagram (failed) of LOST CAUSE
17d Ignorant learner I marked externally (9)
OBLIVIOUS: The definition of an adjective meaning ignorant, unmindful or unaware of or unconcerned about what is happening around one is reached from a combo of L (learner) as appearing in an L-plate each displayed at the front and back of a vehicle denoting a learner driver and I (one) as the Roman numeral for one surrounded by or having on the outside (externally) OBVIOUS (marked) meaning clear or apparent, an example of which is marked i.e. clearly noticeable
18d Where one goes after class tracked location? (8)
WATERLOO: The definition specifically referring to Waterloo Station, a major railway station in London that obviously features numerous railway tracks, lines and platform is got from LOO (where one goes) as a widespread colloquial and informal term for a toilet or lavatory where one ‘goes’ to relieve themselves placed after or preceded by (after) WATER (class) as a class or quality, that is an old-fashioned usage, especially in the phrase ‘of the first water’, meaning of the highest quality, originally referring to diamonds
21d Lad I’m with, not all there: thicko (6)
DIMWIT: Not all to be taken in account i.e. part of or hidden inside (not all there) [LA]D I’M WIT[H] leads to the definition of an informal and derogatory term for a stupid or silly person, an example of which is a thicko i.e. an informal and derogatory term derived from the adjective ‘thick’, as in thick-headed, for a stupid or slow-witted person
23d Beginning of the end for POTUS (5)
TRUMP: The beginning or initial letter (beginning) of T[HE] from the clue followed by RUMP (end) as referring to the back end or hindquarters of an animal’s body where the thighs join the hips guides to the definition of the surname of the present President of the United States whose full name is Donald Trump, who is also referred to as POTUS, a shorthand or acronym for President of the United States used by operators and journalists, especially in telegraph and communications contexts, and now widely used in politics, news reporting and social media
24d Cattle interact periodically (4)
NEAT: The definition of an archaic term for a bovine animal or cattle is got from the periodical or alternate letters (periodically) of [I]N[T]E[R]A[C]T
25d Old official Chancellor finishing early (5)
REEVE: The definition of a historic term for a local official or chief magistrate in Anglo-Saxon England is arrived at from REEVE[S] (Chancellor) as referring to Rachel Jane Reeves, a British politician who has been serving as Chancellor of the Exchequer since 5th July 2024 not taking into account the last letter (finishing early)
There were several clues that I liked in this puzzle such as 1a, 3a, 10a, 11a, 12a, 16a, 19a, 8d, 18d and 23d; 3a being the best of the lot. My prayers to the Almighty for the eternal rest and peace of BD and my thanks to the setter for the entertainment. Looking forward to seeing you here again. Have a nice day.
Thank you Rahmat. I always read your posts on the prize cryptics but rarely comment on them. I just wanted to let you know that they are read and appreciated.