ST 2922 (Hints) – Big Dave's Crossword Blog
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ST 2922 (Hints)

 

Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 2922 (Hints)

Hints and tips by Senf

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A very good Sunday morning from Winnipeg where this week the weather has been ‘all over the map’ – very windy on Wednesday (not quite Ophelia or Brian levels) 40 mph with gusts to 50 mph, and a record 24.3 degrees on Friday.

My Saturday was very enjoyable, a brilliant NTSPP from Snape to start and a typically excellent Virgilius to finish in which he was, once again, being quite tricky. An enjoyable puzzle, the usual handful of anagrams, including partials, two lurkers, including one that I am describing as a ‘double,’ some double unches, and , for me, a new word.

My joint-favourites – 21a and 4d.

Don’t forget to follow BD’s instructions in red at the bottom of the hints!

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 Framed by narrow window, behold gallant knight (8)
A two letter synonym for behold contained in (framed by) a type of narrow window.

11a Creating distraction, wrongly directs a monarch (12)
Anagram (wrongly) of DIRECTS A followed by a type of monarch.

15a Place for putting European or English novelist (6)
Part of a golf course and the single letter for European.

17a Turned to leading man or lady, one playing central role (5)
TO from the clue and a type of celebrity all reversed (turned).

21a One or two girls providing shrub (8)
A girl’s name, that can be split into two girls’ names, gives a fragrant shrub.

23a Stupid person the day before helping to produce solemn statement (12)
One of the usually terms for a stupid person, a term for the day before (an important festival), and one of the usual synonyms for a helping – the new word for me.

27a That chap and I, holding pound, invest capital in Europe (8)
A two letter synonym for that chap and I from the clue containing (holding) the single letter for pound and an informal synonym for invest.

28a Apart from revolutionary in old hat, turned back (8)
One of the usual revolutionaries contained by (in) a single word for old hat reversed (turned back).

Down

2d One far from admirable character or another I upset (4-4)
Anagram (upset) of ANOTHER I.

3d A great deal of Tory party followed by half-hearted mob (12)
A three letter synonym for Tory, a synonym for party, and a synonym for mob with half of its middle letters removed.

6d Frank view about paintings put up (8)
A synonym for view containing (about) a descriptive term for paintings reversed (put up).

7d Fruit that bird can’t get in tree (4)
Double definition – the second is a flightless bird.

12d Habitual thief and policeman endlessly take off together (12)
Anagram (off together) of POLICEMAN and TAKe (endlessly).

19d Play in attempt to win a hand? (8)
A song or a tune with a romantic theme.

24d Going either way in metropolis, I located food store (4)
The ‘double’ lurker, the same word backwards and forwards (going either way) in the fifth to seventh words of the clue.

A ‘bonus’ picture clue just in case the video just above does not play.

25d Enthusiastic support, having very briefly contributed (4)
A type of support containing (having . . . briefly contributed) the single letter for very.


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This was the first complete record played 50 years 3 weeks and 1 day ago on the first day of the newly created Radio 1; I remember it well, I was staying in a pub/hotel in Scunthorpe before being best man at my older brother’s wedding (I had planned to play this video 3 weeks ago but I forgot (and the caption in the video is off by 2 years)):


 

38 comments on “ST 2922 (Hints)

  1. 2.5* / 5*. Another absolute joy of a Sunday puzzle. 23a was a new word for me too, but easily derivable from the wordplay and checked in my BRB. I must disagree with Senf that there is one double lurker today – there are two doubles!

    I could have a long list of favourites but, being mindful of the wrath of Kath, I will diplomatically say that my podium comprises 18a, 4d & 19d.

    Many thanks to Virgilius and to Senf.

    1. RD and neveracrossword – yes, I now see that there are two double lurkers. I saw the other one (18a) without reading the clue ‘completely’ and noticing that the answer was repeated, and then I checked it off as not tricky enough to qualify for a hint so it didn’t get looked at further.

  2. 16a just pipped 19d for my COTD in this typically brilliant and enjoyable puzzle from Virgilius. A terrific mix of elegant clues, and even the new word at 23a was comfortable to solve as RD says at #1. This great crossword certainly cheered up a blustery day here in the Marches. 2.5* /5*

    Thanks indeed to Virgilius for the challenge and to Senf.

  3. Either my lucky streak, wavelength- wise, continues or this was a fairly gentle offering from the maestro. Either way, it was most enjoyable and even the one ‘unknown’ (for me at least) was easily derived from the wordplay.
    Don’t think I have a particular favourite today but I do have to take Senf to task over the depiction of 7d. I will never look at that particular fruit in quite the same way again!

    Thanks to Virgilius and to ‘Senf on Sunday’ for the blog and the musical accompaniment to 19d.
    Looking at the blast from the past in The Move’s rendition of Flowers in the Rain made me realise just how far we’ve come in relation to filming over the last 50 odd years!

    1. Re 7d – a perfect illustration for the double definition! When I searched Google Images, there was another image along the same lines but less ‘tasteful.’

  4. As with RD I had a pause over 23a but the cluing led to the answer very fairly and the BRB or electronic equivalent provided the learning moment for me too. Last one in was 19d and needed Senf’s hint, I don’t know why as it seems obvious now I’ve put it in. 12d and 27a my joint COTD. Thanks to Senf and Virgilius.

    1. As Senf said, 24d is a double lurker, one reading forward and the other backwards, overlapping one letter. The other lurker (BD prize rules prevent me identifying it, although obvious) has the same word appearing twice (repeatedly) and separately in the clue, so is technically another true double lurker.
      Clearly there are different styles of double lurkers…

  5. Did anybody know 23a before today? The on-line Collins gives examples of the subject word from common publications. For this word, there are none.

    Apart from that, I found this a pleasant Sunday jog, well, OK, stroll.

    Many thanks to Senf and Virgilius.

    1. It was once WOTD in Wiktionary in 2010, with a clear Latin derivation, and some context examples. However, I’d never heard of it ….and that’s my earnest affirmation!

    2. No. A new word for me, fortunately the wordplay was not difficult. Mind you, knowing Virgilius, I bet he deliberately made it easy, as the word was very unusual.

    3. This new word is obsolete and rare according to my OED. Last used in print in 1621 and 1657.

  6. A reasonably straightforward solve that was enjoyable as always from Virgilius.

    Thanks to Senf and Virgilius **/****

  7. A very nice puzzle and quite tricky – 23a was a new word to me also!

    I’e been putting it off but I’ve got to go out a collect up all the leaves left after the strong winds yesterday – it keeps me out of mischief!

  8. Great misdirection in several clues enhancing the fun, like the homophone “putting’ and the homograph for “insult”.
    Some deja vu from yesterday with the same “drug” and “support” reappearing.
    Fully concur with Senf on his COTDs
    2/3.5

  9. What can I say about this puzzle that has not been already said so well by RD. One word would suffice- excellent. I have come across 23a somewhere in my reading and remember looking it up. So many good clues to choose from but the 16a/16d twosome gets my vote.

  10. Tough but fair unlike that Giovanni horror on Friday (Mrs B says Let it go!)
    Learnt a new word today as well in 23a. Very enjoyable!
    Thx to all

    1. I too did miserably on Friday, but the weekend has been great. I think you had to be on a certain wavelength to understand the Friday puzzle, and I clearly wasn’t.

  11. Phew 😅, after a very slow start I surprised myself by managing to complete this really enjoyable exercise without Senf’s assistance although I have just enjoyed reading through the hints. 23a new to me but not hard to put together. Several goodies however 19d last to go in and that then became my Fav with 15a close behind. Thank you Virgilius and Senf.

  12. Thanks virgilius and senf

    Yes, 23a was new to me too.

    I really like 14d. I guess a have a soft spot for simple perfect clues.

  13. Another joyous Virgilius crossword, had to check 23a in BRB and a tiny bit of electronic help mainly because I could not read my writing. Silly me. Thanks to Senf for helpful notes. Just awarded myself a crumpet for tea.

  14. Well, another great treat, and I thought on the gentler side. Isn’t this wavelength thing strange, so hit and miss.
    I have come across 23a before in the written word but never spoken!
    I’m hard pressed for a fave, 21a? Maybe 4d, 12d? I dunno, toss a coin.
    Thanks to Virgilius and to Senf for the hints.

  15. Very enjoyable as always, my clue of the day has to be 4d, absolutely brilliant!

    Like London buses, you wait ages and ages for a double lurker, and then two come along together, what a treat.

    Many thanks to Mr Greer and to Senf.

    1. The wait for two double lurkers to come along together must be at least sixteen years because there are none to be found in my database.

      Virgilius truly is the master of the hidden word clue. In addition to today’s accomplishment and having created the eight longest back page lurkers (details in my blog for DT 28536), he is the only back-page setter to have produced any forward and reverse double lurkers (three of those before today). He also owns the only quadruple lurker, and six of the seven triple lurkers I’ve found are his.

  16. Thanks to Virgilius and to Senf for the hints. A real joy of a puzzle. So much to like, a real delight from start to finish. I loved the double lurkers in 18a&24d. Also 21a was so clever. Favourite was 1a, which really conjured up a mediaeval scene for me! Last in was 19d. Was 2 ✳/5 ✳ for me.

  17. I found this easier going than some recent Sunday puzzles. I’m another who had never heard of 23a, so I needed to verify him in the BRB. I particularly liked 27a, 12d, and 7d (although I’m not sure about your illustration, Senf). Thanks to Virgilius and to Senf.

  18. Wonderful puzzle, as usual for a Sunday.
    Started slowly, I think I was still getting over the torture scene in ‘Gunpowder’ last night.
    Great clues, my favourite was 15a, as The Third Man is just about my favourite film.
    Thanks Senf and Virgilius.

  19. A very enjoyable Virgilius offering , although a tad easier than usual .19d was my pick followed by 15a . Thanks Senf

  20. I enjoyed today’s offering from Virgilius.
    4d in particular.
    I thought it was a little easier on us than usual.
    Thanks to all concerned.

  21. Another good solve, unusual for me to do well on Saturday and Sunday. Didn’t need any hints except for 19d and unfortunately even though I recognize the music, I am having a total block on the answer. Will probably come to me at 2am and wake me up!

    1. If you have recognized the music (correctly) the answer should follow quite easily. I hope that your sleep is not disturbed.

  22. Thoroughly enjoyable, on the easy side I thought. I didn’t know 23ac, but the wordplay couldn’t have been much clearer. I did know 19d, but just couldn’t see it for an age and spent almost a quarter of the time on that one clue.

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