ST 2729 (Hints)

48 comments on “ST 2729 (Hints)”

1. Enjoyed this but am stuck on 11d. Help please!

   1. A noun meaning making new – a reversal (up) of an offence inside an way of saying that something is done within reasonable limits.

2. 2.5*/4* rating. The extra ½* for difficulty came from the NE corner, which held me up after the other three quarters went in fairly smoothly.

   My only minor quibble with this very enjoyable puzzle is that some plastic items are specifically designed to be 12a, so I think the clue is misleading. Perhaps it should read “as opposed to some plastic, for instance”?

   There was a lovely balance of clues with excellent surface readings sprinkled with nice touches of humour. I particularly liked 14a, 15a and 26a.

   Many thanks to Virgilius and to BD.

   P.S. BD you’ve duplicated your hint for 27a.

   1. Thanks – now sorted.

3. The usual superb start to Sunday, thank you Virgilius. The highlight has to be the ‘two couples holding hands’ – brilliant!! Oh… I also loved the way 10a made me think of Kath – I bet it’s her favourite clue today.

   Thanks to BD too.

   1. I thought of Kath too immediately I saw that clue!

   2. You mean 9a (n’est pas)?

      1. Cheeky so and so

         1. Oops I meant 10a!

   3. Definitely a Kath clue!

   4. Thanks to all with the possible exception of Tantalus !

      1. Sorry – I was feeling a bit frisky with these pics of lambs and spring in the air here in Boston (42f)

         1. I really was only joking – it made me laugh.

4. Thank you Virgilius – another puzzle giving great enjoyment ! Thanks BD for your hints.

   1. Hear hear!

5. Thanks to Virgilius and to Big Dave for the hints. A very good and enjoyable puzzle from Virgilius. Great fun, no major holdups. Some really good clues 14a&9a,2d, but my favourite by a mile was 15a which was last in. Was 2*/4* for me. Lovely day in Central London, hope the storms are not too severe for everyone next week.

6. Best Sunday puzzle for some time IMO and that’s saying something as they’re all brill. Reckon 14a is the clue of the year so far.

   Many thanks to Virgilius and BD

   1. We’re with Pommers! One of the best in a long time, certainly this month.

   2. PS Forgot to say – **/***** from me

7. I loved this one, and wholeheartedly agree that 14a is without doubt the best yet. Last one in was 27a, but that was because I carelessly used the wrong ending to 20d. All good stuff. Thanks to Virgilius and to BD for the review.

   Super Bowl this evening, but unlike most Americans, I won’t be glued to a wide-screen TV eating chicken wings and chips, and drinking beer and shouting. I don’t even know who’s playing. I wish I could watch some of your rugby.

   

   1. Get a VPN into the UK and you can. It is well worth the $5/month. Or try ‘hola’ on Chrome.

   2. Hi Merusa

      Try this site for the rugby, and lots else. It’s the site I’ll use tonight to watch the Superbowl as channel 4 (where it’s on UK TV) is a bit dodgy here.

      http://www.stream2watch.me/

      1. Thanks, I’ll give it a shot.

         1. Does anyone have any ideas how we are going to watch the MotoGP now that big business has hijacked the sport (BT), trying to make their offering seem more appealing. There must be a way on the net but it will not be in glorious HD as it was with Beeb2. I have already cancelled one phone line in protest.

            Who am I kidding.. I’ll be amazed if anyone other than Steve_the_Beard has ever watched MotoGP.

            1. Try the link I posted above.

               1. Thanks, site added to my Favourites tab for when the season starts in April. MotoGP not listed presently though.

8. Having been up early, left Oughtibridge at 8am, travelled to Preston, played in brass band contest, got home 3.30ish was looking forward to some Easy Rider and a good crossword. Disappointed by neither. Excellent puzzle. Excellent beer. Love my daughter- Rachel- who did her first contest today.

9. What a lovely crossword – I seem to say that every Sunday. It feels like a very long time ago that I couldn’t do Sunday puzzles – thanks BD et al.
   For once I didn’t have any major hold-ups apart from 14a which was my last one.
   Another first for me is that I found the hidden answers quite easily.
   I was a bit doubtful for a while about the first part of 13d.
   I liked too many of these to write them all down so just a few are 9, 15 and 26a and 3 (even though I’ve never heard of it) 4 and 20d.
   My favourite was, needless to say, 10a.
   With thanks to Virgilius and BD.
   I’ve been in the garden all afternoon – it really felt as if Spring is on its way. On the other hand Christmas feels like yesterday – am I getting old?

   1. Sunday puzzles are always lovely. Are you sure you didn’t make a 3d at school? I can remember making one and we are ‘of the same era’!

      1. Oh – I see what you mean – bits of paper and solar eclipses? I was thinking more of surgery – I certainly don’t remember ever making one at school although we are definitely of the same era.

   2. Having transgressed I seem to have escaped the naughty corner – only just spotted my sins.
      Sorry BD – completely unintentional.

10. I’d love to try my hand with this one, but I can’t find it! It’s usually at the end of the “Life” section, but there’s no sign of it on the e-telegraph site today. Still, fear not, fellow cruciverbalists, l’m with you in spirit.

    1. You can download it from here:

       Click to access Sun_Feb_2_C_GK_272_2808922a.pdf

       1. You’re a star, BD. I’m on to it as soon as the trusty old PC has rumbled into life.

11. Spent ages on 23 down and then, as always, when the answer appears I couldn’t see how I’d missed it for so long. Have never encountered 14 across in that context but Roget says it’s ok! Everything was pretty straightforward until those two last clues. Very satisfying

    1. Glad someone else had problems with 23d because that still prevents me finishing. I realise it must be a homophone. Thanks Virgilius for this entertaining puzzle and BD even though your hint doesn’t do the trick for me with this one. I’m sure I will kick myself eventually.

       1. Concentrate on the, usually outdoor, charitable function.

          1. Many thanks but I’m afraid the penny still didn’t drop so I admit to resorting to another blog however, in my defence, I don’t necessarily think of it as a “charitable” function. Phew now I can relax!

12. Another great Sunday serving from the Master of fluent surface readings – in the DT at least. Loved 14a which was my last one in. Dead easy gimmies like 9a are big on entertainment and let you get a start with a smile. 15a a firm favourite. Big thanks Virgilius for a weekend highlight. **/****.

    1. I realise I have short-changed Mr Virgilius – highlight of the week’s crosswords!

13. Lovely crossword, just the right amount of ‘tension’ for me.
    14a brilliant,
    Strangely, because I had the wrong answer to 2d, I struggled with 1a until the penny dropped for both.
    Many thanks to Virillius and BD for the review.
    PS
    Can’t find the Thread about the DT’s IT.
    It’s still not working, I sign in OK but when I proceed to play, I get a blank screen, not even the little clock.
    I despair, DT.

14. Thanks to Virgilius for a very enjoyable solve, and to BD for the blog (and for telling me where to download the crossword in the first place). Favourite clues were 27a and 11d.

15. Can anyone help me with 6a please? Completely stuck!

    1. Welcome to the blog Melissa.

       6a Starts off building line of command in multinational group (4)

       It’s the starting letters from words in the clue.

       1. Thanks gazza is it ****?

          1. Yes, but please read the instructions in red regarding commenting on current prize puzzles.

16. 15A my favourite, such a neat pairing in the first sentence and then the use of ‘odd’ (usually anagram) cleverly misdirects. Lovely clue. Really enjoyed this week’s crossword.

    1. Welcome to the blog Chillin

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