Daily Telegraph Cryptic 31262

Stuck on a clue in Daily Telegraph Cryptic 31262? Every clue is solved below with the definition, wordplay, and answer explained — plus hints for the tricks that catch most solvers out.

Across

1A — A Bovril, if stirred, source of nutritious vitamin (10)RIBOFLAVIN

  • Definition
    Definition found: 'vitamin' — The definition is the last word — a B-group nutrient.
  • Indicator
    Indicator found: 'stirred,'
  • Operation
    'stirred,' signals a anagram operation
  • Fodder
    Fodder: 'A Bovril, if nutritious'
  • Indicator
    Indicator found: 'source of'
  • Operation
    'source of' signals a letter_selection operation
  • Fodder
    Fodder: 'nutritious'
  • Assembly
    A + BOVRIL + IF + N > ABOVRILIFN = RIBOFLAVIN

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6A — Reptile starts to chew really old carrion (4)CROC

  • Definition
    Definition found: 'Reptile' — The definition is the first word — short for a snappy river-dweller.
  • Indicator
    Indicator found: 'starts to'
  • Operation
    'starts to' signals a letter_selection operation
  • Fodder
    Fodder: 'chew really old carrion'
  • Assembly
    CROC = CROC

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9A — Tempt banks about wealth (5)LUCRE

  • Definition
    Definition found: 'wealth' — The definition is the last word — money, often the 'filthy' kind.
  • Indicator
    Indicator found: 'banks'
  • Operation
    'banks' signals a container operation
  • Fodder
    Fodder: 'Tempt about'
  • Synonym
    Synonyms spotted: 'Tempt' → LURE
  • Abbreviation
    Abbreviations spotted: 'about' → C
  • Assembly
    LURE + C = LU(C)RE

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10A — Park warden discussed plant (9)HYDRANGEA

  • Definition
    Definition found: 'plant' — The definition is the last word — a flowering shrub.
  • Indicator
    Indicator found: 'discussed'
  • Operation
    'discussed' signals a homophone operation
  • Fodder
    Fodder: 'Park warden'
  • Synonym
    Synonyms spotted: 'Park' → HYDE
  • Synonym
    Synonyms spotted: 'warden' → RANGER
  • Assembly
    HYDE + RANGER > HYDERANGER = HYDRANGEA

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12A — Silly act with balancer? I'm one getting the hump (8,5)BACTRIAN CAMEL

  • Definition
    Definition found: 'one getting the hump' — The definition is the tail — a two-humped beast literally 'gets the hump'.
  • Indicator
    Indicator found: 'Silly'
  • Operation
    'Silly' signals a anagram operation
  • Fodder
    Fodder: 'act balancer? I'm'
  • Assembly
    ACT + BALANCER + IM > ACTBALANCERIM = BACTRIANCAMEL

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14A — Famous college backed legal action – there's money in it (8)NOTECASE

  • Definition
    Definition found: 'there's money in it' — The definition is the closing phrase — a wallet holds this.
  • Indicator
    Indicator found: 'backed'
  • Operation
    'backed' signals a reversal operation
  • Fodder
    Fodder: 'Famous college'
  • Synonym
    Synonyms spotted: 'Famous college' → ETON
  • Synonym
    Synonyms spotted: 'legal action' → CASE
  • Assembly
    (ETON > NOTE) + CASE = NOTECASE

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15A — Area Mafia boss is a good-looking lad (6)ADONIS

  • Definition
    Definition found: 'a good-looking lad' — The definition is the tail — a strikingly handsome young man.
  • Wordplay
    Wordplay: Charade
  • Abbreviation
    Abbreviations spotted: 'Area' → A
  • Synonym
    Synonyms spotted: 'Mafia boss' → DON
  • Assembly
    A + DON + IS = ADONIS

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17A — Dog star? (6)LASSIE

  • Definition
    The whole clue is one cryptic definition — read it laterally.
  • Indicator
    Indicator found: ''
  • Wordplay
    Wordplay: Cryptic definition
  • Assembly
    LASSIE = LASSIE

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19A — Leg breaking ordeal tormented Italian genius (8)LEONARDO

  • Definition
    Definition found: 'Italian genius' — The definition is the closing pair — a Renaissance polymath.
  • Indicator
    Indicator found: 'breaking tormented'
  • Operation
    'breaking tormented' signals a anagram operation
  • Fodder
    Fodder: 'Leg ordeal'
  • Synonym
    Synonyms spotted: 'Leg' → ON
  • Assembly
    ON + ORDEAL > ONORDEAL = LEONARDO

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21A — 10 points: actor turning to phrase from Treasure Island (1,5,3,4)X MARKS THE SPOT

  • Definition
    Definition found: 'phrase from Treasure Island' — The definition is the tail — the cry that finds buried treasure.
  • Indicator
    Indicator found: 'turning'
  • Operation
    'turning' signals a reversal operation
  • Fodder
    Fodder: 'to'
  • Abbreviation
    Abbreviations spotted: '10' → X
  • Synonym
    Synonyms spotted: 'points:' → MARKS
  • Synonym
    Synonyms spotted: 'actor' → THESP
  • Assembly
    X + MARKS + THESP + (> TO > OT) = X MARKS THE SPOT

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24A — Call tug "Campanile" (4,5)BELL TOWER

  • Definition
    Definition found: '"Campanile"' — The definition is the last word — Italian for a free-standing bell structure.
  • Wordplay
    Wordplay: Charade
  • Synonym
    Synonyms spotted: 'Call' → BELL
  • Synonym
    Synonyms spotted: 'tug' → TOWER
  • Assembly
    BELL + TOWER = BELL TOWER

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25A — Doorman when undressed is a unit (5)OUNCE

  • Definition
    Definition found: 'a unit' — The definition is the closing pair — a small measure of weight.
  • Indicator
    Indicator found: 'when undressed'
  • Operation
    'when undressed' signals a deletion operation
  • Fodder
    Fodder: 'Doorman'
  • Synonym
    Synonyms spotted: 'Doorman' → BOUNCER
  • Assembly
    BOUNCER = OUNCE

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26A — Noble, tragic king left at the back (4)EARL

  • Definition
    Definition found: 'Noble,' — The definition is the first word — a rank of the peerage.
  • Indicator
    Indicator found: 'left at the back'
  • Operation
    'left at the back' signals a ordering operation
  • Fodder
    Fodder: 'tragic king'
  • Synonym
    Synonyms spotted: 'tragic king' → LEAR
  • Assembly
    LEAR = EARL

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27A — Farewell greatest hits album? (3,3,4)ALL THE BEST

  • Wordplay
    Wordplay: Double definition
  • Assembly
    ALLTHEBEST = ALL THE BEST

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Down

1D — Expensive watch missing last part (4)ROLE

  • Definition
    Definition found: 'part' — The definition is the last word — an actor's part.
  • Indicator
    Indicator found: 'missing last'
  • Operation
    'missing last' signals a deletion operation
  • Fodder
    Fodder: 'Expensive watch'
  • Synonym
    Synonyms spotted: 'Expensive watch' → ROLEX
  • Assembly
    ROLEX - X = ROLE

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2D — Talked spitefully about support section (7)BACKBIT

  • Definition
    Definition found: 'Talked spitefully' — The definition is the opening pair — spoke maliciously of someone absent.
  • Wordplay
    Wordplay: Charade
  • Synonym
    Synonyms spotted: 'support' → BACK
  • Synonym
    Synonyms spotted: 'section' → BIT
  • Assembly
    BACK + BIT = BACKBIT

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3D — Continental insect – leg protection is essential here (6,7)FRENCH CRICKET

  • Definition
    Definition found: 'leg protection is essential here' — The definition is the back half — a garden game where you guard your legs.
  • Wordplay
    Wordplay: Charade
  • Synonym
    Synonyms spotted: 'Continental' → FRENCH
  • Synonym
    Synonyms spotted: 'insect' → CRICKET
  • Assembly
    FRENCH + CRICKET = FRENCH CRICKET

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4D — Saw leaders in Home Office grabbed by a solid figure (8)APHORISM

  • Definition
    Definition found: 'Saw' — The definition is the first word — a pithy saying, not a tool.
  • Indicator
    Indicator found: 'leaders in'
  • Operation
    'leaders in' signals a letter_selection operation
  • Fodder
    Fodder: 'Home Office'
  • Indicator
    Indicator found: 'grabbed by'
  • Operation
    'grabbed by' signals a container operation
  • Fodder
    Fodder: 'leaders in Home Office solid figure'
  • Synonym
    Synonyms spotted: 'solid figure' → PRISM
  • Assembly
    (PRISM + HO > P(HO)RISM) + A = APHORISM

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5D — Test side batting: 501 latest from Kolkata (5)INDIA

  • Definition
    Definition found: 'Test side' — The definition is the opening pair — a national cricket team.
  • Indicator
    Indicator found: 'latest from'
  • Operation
    'latest from' signals a letter_selection operation
  • Fodder
    Fodder: 'Kolkata'
  • Synonym
    Synonyms spotted: 'batting:' → IN
  • Abbreviation
    Abbreviations spotted: '501' → DI
  • Assembly
    IN + DI + A = INDIA

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7D — Government plane, MiG, erratically circles about (7)REGIMEN

  • Definition
    Definition found: 'Government' — The definition is the first word — a system or order of rule.
  • Indicator
    Indicator found: 'erratically'
  • Operation
    'erratically' signals a anagram operation
  • Fodder
    Fodder: 'MiG, circles about'
  • Synonym
    Synonyms spotted: 'circles about' → ERNE
  • Assembly
    MIG + ERNE > MIGERNE = REGIMEN

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8D — The King put on a lot of weight in US city (10)CHARLESTON

  • Definition
    Definition found: 'US city' — The definition is the closing pair — a city in South Carolina.
  • Wordplay
    Wordplay: Charade
  • Synonym
    Synonyms spotted: 'The King' → CHARLES
  • Synonym
    Synonyms spotted: 'a lot of weight' → TON
  • Assembly
    CHARLES + TON = CHARLESTON

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11D — Clumsy Geordie perhaps collecting papers lying on the floor (8-5)ACCIDENT-PRONE

  • Definition
    Definition found: 'Clumsy' — The definition is the first word — forever having little mishaps.
  • Indicator
    Indicator found: 'collecting'
  • Operation
    'collecting' signals a container operation
  • Fodder
    Fodder: 'Geordie perhaps papers'
  • Synonym
    Synonyms spotted: 'Geordie perhaps' → ACCENT
  • Synonym
    Synonyms spotted: 'papers' → ID
  • Synonym
    Synonyms spotted: 'lying on the floor' → PRONE
  • Assembly
    (ACCENT + ID > ACC(ID)ENT) + PRONE = ACCIDENT-PRONE

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13D — Rigid line FBI applied around law (10)INFLEXIBLE

  • Definition
    Definition found: 'Rigid' — The definition is the first word — unbending.
  • Indicator
    Indicator found: 'applied'
  • Operation
    'applied' signals a anagram operation
  • Fodder
    Fodder: 'line FBI'
  • Indicator
    Indicator found: 'around'
  • Operation
    'around' signals a container operation
  • Fodder
    Fodder: 'line FBI law'
  • Synonym
    Synonyms spotted: 'law' → LEX
  • Assembly
    INFIBLE + LEX = INF(LEX)IBLE

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16D — We arrest suspect Tube pest (5,3)SEWER RAT

  • Definition
    Definition found: 'Tube pest' — The definition is the closing pair — a rodent of the underground drains.
  • Indicator
    Indicator found: 'suspect'
  • Operation
    'suspect' signals a anagram operation
  • Fodder
    Fodder: 'We arrest'
  • Assembly
    WE + ARREST > WEARREST = SEWERRAT

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18D — Ryman's first to carry main item of office equipment (7)STAPLER

  • Definition
    Definition found: 'item of office equipment' — The definition is the tail — a desktop fastener.
  • Indicator
    Indicator found: 'first'
  • Operation
    'first' signals a letter_selection operation
  • Fodder
    Fodder: 'Ryman's'
  • Synonym
    Synonyms spotted: 'main' → STAPLE
  • Assembly
    R + STAPLE = STAPLER

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20D — Engineers can uncouple empty train (7)RETINUE

  • Definition
    Definition found: 'train' — The definition is the last word — a following of attendants.
  • Indicator
    Indicator found: 'empty'
  • Operation
    'empty' signals a letter_selection operation
  • Fodder
    Fodder: 'uncouple'
  • Abbreviation
    Abbreviations spotted: 'Engineers' → RE
  • Synonym
    Synonyms spotted: 'can' → TIN
  • Assembly
    RE + TIN + UE = RETINUE

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22D — Absorbent cloth – keep changing hands (5)TOWEL

  • Definition
    Definition found: 'Absorbent cloth' — The definition is the opening pair — what you dry off with.
  • Indicator
    Indicator found: 'changing'
  • Operation
    'changing' signals a substitution operation
  • Fodder
    Fodder: 'keep hands'
  • Synonym
    Synonyms spotted: 'keep' → TOWER
  • Abbreviation
    Abbreviations spotted: 'hands' → L
  • Assembly
    TOWER - R + L = TOWEL

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23D — Exploit European article in newspaper (4)FEAT

  • Definition
    Definition found: 'Exploit' — The definition is the first word — a notable achievement.
  • Indicator
    Indicator found: 'in'
  • Operation
    'in' signals a container operation
  • Fodder
    Fodder: 'European article newspaper'
  • Abbreviation
    Abbreviations spotted: 'European' → E
  • Abbreviation
    Abbreviations spotted: 'article' → A
  • Abbreviation
    Abbreviations spotted: 'newspaper' → FT
  • Assembly
    FT + EA = F(EA)T

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