Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 2863 (Hints)
Hints and tips by Big Dave
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As is usual for the weekend prize crosswords, a number of the more difficult clues have been selected and hints provided for them.
Most of the terms used in these hints are explained in the Glossary and examples are available by clicking on the entry under “See also”. Where the hint describes a construct as “usual” this means that more help can be found in The Usual Suspects, which gives a number of the elements commonly used in the wordplay. Another useful page is Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing, which features words with meanings that are not always immediately obvious.
A full review of this puzzle will be published after the closing date for submissions.
Some hints follow:
Across
1a Partner that means to manage economically (7)
Two definitions – a male partner and a rather dated verb meaning to manage economically
5a Start of Euroscepticism in British right and left as well (7)
The initial letter (start) of E[uroscepticism] splits B(ritish) and how right and left can be collectively described
10a Deliverer of stinging attack, a tirade about money one’s lost (4,3)
The A from the clue and a tirade around M[ONE]Y without (lost) the ONE
11a Persuasive speech on behalf of king that was held by revolting peasant? (9)
A persuasive sales speech is followed by a three-letter preposition meaning on behalf of and K(ing) – If you “bunged in” a word that fits the checking letters and can’t resolve the wordplay, like I very nearly did, then it is probably wrong and I hope you learn from the experience!
12a Fabric — what’ll need to be cut from that to make hat? (5)
A typical Virgilius clue – simply answer (1,4) the question posed by the wordplay
19a When we first see the light daily, no longer sleeping (5)
A daily newspaper followed by a two-letter word meaning no longer sleeping, hence out of bed
22a Variation of rumba in Eastern state recalled (5)
… this state is now known by a different name, which is why “recalled” is used
23a Get back from European capital, initially in great joy (9)
E(uropean) and the initial letter of C[apital] inside a word meaning great joy
27a Prepared to play, covering what’s on top of charts — met with derision (7)
A verb meaning prepared a piece for an orchestra to play around (covering) the compass direction found at the top of most charts
28a Casually draws lots, following first of decisions (7)
A colloquial word meaning lots preceded by (following) the initial letter (first) of D[ecisions]
Down
1d Son splitting stolen drug found in dangerous area (3,4)
S(on) between an adjective meaning stolen and a Class B drug – I had to look up that last bit!
3d A desire that Daphnis and Chloe have in common (5)
The A from the clue followed by a desire gives the expanded version of the only letter which is found in both Daphnis and Chloe
This version of Ravel’s Daphnis and Chloe, by the late Isao Tomita, is a recent addition to my CD collection
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5d Expressionless as pound gets deposited? (5)
Just deposit the symbol for a pound sterling inside a financial institution
6d Occasionally making an admiring remark about one of our rivals? (9)
I suppose that if you split this as (4,5) and say it in a particular way it could mean making an admiring remark about one of our (the Telegraph’s) rivals, but I don’t find it very convincing
16d Provided cosmetic treatment to my satisfied patient? (9)
Split as (3,1,5) this could mean my satisfied patient
18d Country in which work’s bound to be completed (7)
Two definitions – the second being a material used in bookbinding
21d American author set up second literary type (7)
The three-letter surname of an American author is followed by the reversal (up in a down clue) of SET and S(econd)
24d Heads for paved area that is outside, such as this (5)
The initial letters (heads) of five words in the clue give something loosely defined by those five words
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| Today we have a couple of early records. The one by Ike Turner under the name Jackie Brenston and his Delta Cats, recorded in 1951, is arguably the first ever Rock’n’Roll record. The other, a 1952 recording by Merrill Moore, is a particular favourite of mine. |
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I thought perhaps 6d worked better if split (2,2,5)?
4*/4.5*. I thought that parts of this were very tough but overall it was absolutely magnificent and really enjoyable! Parsing several of my answers took me quite a time, and although 6d was obvious I needed BD’s hint to understand the wordplay. I agree with BD that this seems a bit dodgy and I have knocked off half an enjoyment star as a result.
Special mentions, all of which are trademark Virgilian constructions, go to: 12a, 3d, 5d and 16d, but my choice as favourite is the LOL 11a.
Many thanks to Virgilius and to BD.
P.S. Great music selection, BD! House of Blue Lights is one of Mrs RD’s and my favourite jive tracks, although it’s a bit fast for us these days.
Maybe not quite as tricky as Sundays can be apart from a few answers that took me ages to see why, or if, they were right.
I wasn’t sure about 6d and didn’t know that 19a could be one word – hunted in BRB and missed it!
I got into a terrible muddle with 27a – my ‘what’s on top of charts’ was the second letter which meant I didn’t see why the answer was what if so clearly was.
I liked 15 and 17a and 3d (so Virgilius!) and 20d (reminds me of my sister – don’t ask!) My favourite was either 28a or 16d.
With thanks to Virgilius and to BD.
Back to Sunday crossword after short break and it was hard work but most enjoyable. Thanks BD for helping me with top right hand corner which eluded me until I read the blog. Struggled with 15a because misread my writing, could pick several as favourites but will play safe and say nothing. Thanks also to Vigilius, off to dish up lunch hope rest of weekend goes well for you all. Cooler here today think I might survive.
I thought this was quite tricky and I needed electronic help for some of the answers. It didn’t help that I’d put Brexits as the answer for 5a before having second thoughts 😳. Favourite is 11a with special mention to 2d and 28a. Thanks to setter for stretching the old grey matter and thanks to Big Dave for the hints.
No problems apart from having to check that 19a was one word.
Completely agree with RD that this was ‘absolutely magnificent and really enjoyable’. I’d also go along with his selection of special mentions and overall favourite.
Many thanks to the Sunday maestro and to BD – delightful recording of Daphnis and Chloe.
3 days of good crosswords – including Friday’s Grauniad as recommended by CS (in which I still can’t understand the answer ‘dosh’). Enjoy the remainder of the weekend all.
Hi Toadson,
At the risk of getting into trouble – I think the ‘rules’ are do’s and don’ts.
Have a look here http://www.fifteensquared.net/2016/08/26/guardian-cryptic-26973-by-brendan/ and see if that helps.
Thanks to you both. ‘Needful’ as in ‘necessary’ as in ‘cash’. A little tenuous that one!
I’ve left Mr CS in charge of the first of three batches of fig jam while I solve and then comment on this lovely Sunday puzzle.
I’ve looked at all my starred clues to try and pick a favourite and think I’m going to settle on 2d.
Thanks to BD for the hints. Now back to the jam
The fig festival is the weekend happening down here. The famous Violette from Sollies. Only 10 miles away from Hyeres.
Pleasant solve on this very pleasant day.
Might have a bit of rain finally on Tuesday but the heat wave will continue well into September.
19a was also new to me.
Loved 11a.
Thanks to Virgilius and to BD.
Haven’t had time to look at Brendan yet nor the typical Maskarade head scratcher.
Hi Jean-Luc! Will be back in Hyères next Wednesday. See you soon!
I had to do mental gymnastics to get a few of the answers but the workout was well worth it. The Sunday offering never fails to be enjoyable but there was a different slant on this week’s offering which, to my mind, added to the difficulty. Nothing wrong in that as if I am not stretched my ability to solve will not improve. I did need the hints on some clues. I particularly liked 16D and 17A Many thanks to BD for the blog. My rating is 3.5/4.5
First unaided Sunday finish so probably at the easier end of the spectrum for some. Lovely clues & very enjoyable.
At least there should be no problems with spelling 14d this time.
11a COTD for me.
Thanks to setter & BD for hints & journey into nostalgia. As you say arguably the earliest; Fats Domino was a favourite so I like to think it was him. Doubt if it matters, great music “of the time” to me whoever started it.
Well done, Virgilius is never all that easy.
Phew, Mr Virgilius sure knows how to use up some of my diminishing supply of brain cells!
If solving crosswords helps you to increase your knowledge then thanks to Dr Wikipedia I am now much more erudite in Ancient Greek literature and the Peasants Revolt, although in the latter case I felt quite well qualified already, being a Man of Kent whose local, many years ago, was a pub called The Wat Tyler. I realised somewhat belatedly that all this new found and rediscovered knowledge was rather superfluous but I’m sure it will come in handy in some future crossword 😂
A very enjoyable exercise. Thank you to everyone.
Great fun, but survey at the gentler end of this setter’s output. I make this 1*/4* or thereabouts. My favourites were 11a, 28a and 16d. 27a was my last in; the answer was obvious but I couldn’t parse it satisfactorily. I had fallen into the (no doubt deliberately laid) trap of choosing the wrong “top” – as a Naval man I hang my head in shame. Thanks to Virglius and BD.
I second Rabbit Dave’s comment. This was a super offering, a bit trickier than usual but definitely great fun.
I still don’t get 6d, but that’s all right, I think that is the first Virgilius clue that isn’t crystal clear.
I needed the hint for 27a, I used “top of the chart” differently and it confused me.
So many good clues, loved 3d, but fave was 11a, how clever was that!
Thanks to Virgilius and to BD for his hints, needed a couple today.
I’m slightly baffled by the parsing in 6d too , the rival is obvious , but the admiring remark ?
Perhaps split it as BD says (4,5) then put an exclamation mark after the rival paper. Works for me anyway.
Una, ta for the encouragement.
An admiring remark about someone, such as “Your daughter is **** actress, Mrs Dench!”.
Thanks, Gazza, now I get it, but I still think it’s pretty obscure!
I think my 10a must be wrong, as I still don’t get admiring part of this clue. Rest of puzzle fell nicely into place; just had trouble with the north east corner.
I opt for 11a as my favourite.
Great puzzle , with thanks to Virgilius and BD.
Thanks to Virgilius and to Big Dave for the hints. A very enjoyable puzzle as usual from Virgilius. Was beaten by 21d, I thought that I should be looking for an American author. Favourite was 5d. Was 3*/4* for me. Great fun.
There is an American author in 21d.
Managed this alone and unaided except for 28a…then when I saw the hint there was head-slapping and doh! shouting.
Many thanks to the setter and to Big Dave for the hints.
Have to say, I did not understand the first part of 6d?? I can’t see the ‘admiring remark’.
Anyway, lovely challenge today. So much better when I get a good run at it rather than pick it up at 2200 after a day with the grand-children!!!
As ever, thanks BD and Virgilus….
In case you wondered about my comment yesterday it is an old family joke. Very earnest 4 year old when asked what she was looking forward to replied Tomorrow is Bonk Holiday and I’m going to see Grandma. Collapse of all grown-up in earshot.
How cute Hilary – she must have wondered what was so amusing!
As devious, clever and enjoyable as ever from Virgilius. Perhaps a little on the easier side, though along the way more than one clue felt like it would never fall. 28ac was my LOI, due to an inability to spot exactly where the definition ended and the wordplay began. Very nicely done.
Two excellent crosswords in a row, and over a weekend too; we are truly blessed!
Virgilius making us think a bit, as usual. My favourite was 3d; very clever.
3/3* overall.
Thanks to Virgilius, and to BD of course for the hints.
Ps. Did Kath really nominate two favourites? Surely not……
When Kath has more than one favourite she phrases it very carefully. Today she clearly stated that her favourite was either one or the other, but not both. We know what she means though.
Kitty’s right – I’d never suggest that I had two favourites – I just meant that I hadn’t quite decided which of the two would be it. Now that I’ve had time to think about it a bit more I’ll come down on the side of 16d but 28a is a pretty close runner-up.
Back after visiting family and having picked up a handful of visitors. My Bonk Holiday, as Hilary will have it, won’t begin until next Sunday.
The crossword was the usual excellence from this setter, but my answers have disappeared so I won’t bother trying to pick out a favourite. There’ll be too many contenders anyway – I do remember that much. I also remember that it took me ages to work out why the thing on top of charts was what it had to be.
Many thanks to Virgilius and BD.
Evening everyone. Mrs YS and I are down in The Smoke this weekend. Proms on Friday – magnificent Mozart – ODI at Lord’s yesterday and a family party today.
Loved this crossword. Tough but fair, a real challenge. Many thanks Virgilius and BD. 3.5*/4* from me.
A really lovely puzzle with plenty to get our teeth into. Many thanks to Virgillius and to BD for the blog and for help on 11a. ***/****
Pretty tough but an amazing puzzle. Top marks must go to 12a, I had the answer but could not parse the clue until the hints came up, utterly brilliant. Not too sure about 6d, seems rather weak for a setter of Virgilus quality. However, a minor point in an otherwise excellent crossword.
Thx to all
Best Sunday puzzle for some time. 2.5*/4*.
Lots to like but we’d pick out 17a and 28a for smiles, 5d as a little stunner, 10a for a lovely construction but pick of the bunch was 12a – fabulous.
Actually, 4.5* for enjoyment.
Thanks to Virgilius and BD for the (thankfully not needed) hints.
Have been very busy lately so have not been commenting and feeling guilty as a result as I invariably visit the blog. Pleased to have finished today’s puzzle without hints, starting very late. I seem to be able to do Virgilius’s puzzles and really enjoy the challenge too.
Thanks to BD today and to all the hint providers…I am always entertained and grateful for the help.
Just defeated by 15a, never heard of it, super crossword though, thanks all.
For an audiovisual hint, try Steadfast Loyal and True by Elvis!
Could somebody please explain how 15a is cryptic? Thank you.
How about because it has a definition followed by some wordplay inviting you to insert two lots of an abbreviation for a degree into a verb meaning to change something rather than leave it as it is.
Brilliant. Thank you. I knew the answer immediately but for some reason I just couldn’t work out the clue.(I didn’t mean to sound sarcastic)
Have only just had time belatedly to attack in haste (I want to go to bed!) this enjoyable puzzle. It was eminently solvable but with several solutions being unparsed prior to my seeking BD’s assistance and that of CS for 15a – d’oh! Thank you Virgilius, BD and indeed CS. ***/***.