Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 3028 (Hints)
Hints and tips by Senf
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A very good Sunday morning from Winnipeg where a week of confusion caused by the difference between Manitoba time and UK time being reduced to 5 hours, with the end of BST last Sunday, ended at 2:00 am when our clocks ‘fell back’ to Central Standard Time. It’s about time (sic) that all this ‘springing forward’ and ‘falling back’ came to an end!
Dada back to quirky, with a crickety touch, this week (perhaps he’s getting ready for his first anniversary in two weeks time) – I counted five anagrams, one lurker (reversed), and one homophone – with 28 clues and 16 hints you should be able to get the checkers to enable the solving of the unhinted clues.
Candidates for favourite – 15a, 1d, and 7d.
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
7a Secretive behavior in the last novel (7)
An anagram to start (novel) of THE LAST.
10a Look to probe English university for charging again (9)
An archaic synonymic interjection of look inserted into (to probe) an English university which when pronounced differently can sound like the term for learning activity at all universities.
11a In fear, crouch lower before Her Majesty (5)
A farm animal that lows placed before HM’s regnal cypher.
12a Test team batting, help to make a comeback? (5)
The two letter term for (crickety) batting followed by a synonym of help reversed (to make a comeback).
15a With nothing to lose, chase cherry for big innings (7)
A synonym of chase with the letter for nothing removed (with . . . to lose) and the colour that cherry is a type of.
18a Something electric, possibly, in country working independently (9)
What is shown in the illustration that can be electric contained by (in) a country that is our nearest European neighbour.
23a Fruity thing me cuddling member, a youth (9)
ME from the clue containing (cuddling) all of: a bodily member, A from the clue, and a synonym of youth.
25a Card revealed when turned over, bet initially lost (7)
A (3,2) synonymic phrase for revealed reversed (when turned over) followed by bET from the clue with the first letter removed (initially lost).
Down
1d Middle Eastern performance shaking corporation? (5,5)
A type of performance that involves ‘shaking’ the part of the body that can be informally known as corporation.
2d Seen looking to the north in zodiac, a playful animal (6)
The reverse lurker (seen looking to the north) found in the rest of the clue.
5d It’s hard to get on with family member nursing cold (8)
A (male) family member containing (nursing) a synonym of cold.
7d Wash beneath right hand (8,5)
A synonym of wash after (beneath) a synonym of right.
9d Equestrian affair venerated, they fancy (5-3,5)
An anagram (fancy) of VENERATED, THEY.
17d Promising vigorous music, organ installed (8)
An organ of the body inserted into (installed) a type of music that was very popular in the 1930s and 1940s.
20d Pound to secure vessel, barely enough (6))
A type of animal pound containing (to secure) a type of vessel.
22d Superb penalty (4)
A double definition to finish.
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A video of two Spanish ladies singing in English for a German audience, number one for one week starting on October 29, 1977:
An enjoyable puzzle (****) completed in ** time. As usual, with Dada, there are a few that I cannot parse and not ones shown in Senf’s hints. I shall have to wait for the review. There were so maby fine clues, it is difficult to pick a favourite. I liked 1d because it made me chuckle and 13a. Thanks to Dada and Senf.
Was your chuckle a belly laugh ?
3.5*/4*. Good fun from start to finish with a few tricky blighters taking me over my 3* time.
The Rufus-esque 1d was my favourite but there were lots of other goodies which came into consideration.
Many thanks to Dada and to Senf.
I pretty much concur with comments #1 and #2 about the trickyish nature of a couple of the partings, two of which I am still scratching my head over. My usual trick is to walk away, grab a coffee, then all will be revealed. Great fun as always from Dada, with 1d my favourite this morning.
Thanks to him and to Senf.
Spent a while considering various electrical appliances and wondering whether ‘vigorous’ was being used as an anagram indicator, elsewhere it was the lost bet that caused parsing problems.
All came good eventually and 1d took the honours.
Thanks to Dada and to Senf for the review. Don’t think I’ve ever seen those two Spanish ladies before today.
Finished in two attempts – before and after The Archers omnibus. Enjoyable and nothing too obscure. Some clues were complete giveaways eg 7a. Others more elusive eg 17d. Top favourite 1d although I suspect it is not its first appearance. Close second was 5d which was more difficult to work out, followed by 15 and 18a. Last corner to crack was SW once I’d mastered 7d. Thanks to Dada and Senf. I’ll now check the hints to ensure my parsing is correct.
Hard but very fair. Best clues for me 1d and 5d. As always this setters clues are very well constructed, just difficult to solve!
Thx to all
***/****
I enjoyed this tussle which took me slightly longer than normal, but all very fair clueing. I needed Senf’s help with the explanations for my answers to 15 and 25a – obvious once explained.
My favourite was 3d because I was slightly misdirected by the word ‘trouble’ in the clue – can’t say more on a Sunday.
Many thanks to Dada and Senf.
I thought this was very good today. Plenty to enjoy, but 1d gets my vote for the smile it produced.
Thanks to Dada, and to Senf.
I trotted through this in a steady **/*** time. Never really getting stuck anywhere, 5d was my COTD.
With 13a, 20a, 23a then 14d, I wonder if Dada was feeling a bit peckish when he compiled this one?
Thanks to him and Senf for the review.
Lovely puzzle 2*/4* finished in reasonable time, despite hangover, England loss and my soccer team, Southend United, breaking all records by winning just one of their last 16 matches.
I too fell victim to 18A. I hmm’d about 25A as I had not seen this definition, but I suppose it makes sense.
Thanks to Senf and Dada
I can see the lights of Roots Hall across the Thames estuary on a saturday. Neil Harris to be your next manager, I think.
Not a bad shout, Hoofit. Though Harris is ‘Mr Millwall,” I believe he’s a Southend native ?
Actually, we could do with him sorting out the Stratford shambles !
Pleased to see some locals here 😊, we are currently stuck with Sol Campbell 3 games 3 losses
Well, I live 35 miles from Southend, Chris ! We’re not suffering as badly at Stratford as you are at Southend, I’m guessing Campbell will do no good, maybe Hoofit’s suggestion of Harris is a fair shout ?
Dead fans delivering another delightful romp thru the synapses. Mr T and I are arguing about 6d, amongst other things. Help please (or recommendations for good divorce lawyer).
Mrs T
Ps. In the days of the Commonwealth, how did British Summer Time work south of the equator?
I don’t know any divorce lawyers so I’d better tell you that ‘by the sound of it’ usually indicates a homophone. There aren’t that many words to fit those checking letters so hopefully the penny will drop soon
I am sure there will be some who will say it’s not a very good homophone.
Not me!
Me neither – a great homophone IMHO.
The clocks go the other way in the Southern Hemisphere even during the days of the Commonwealth or so I believe.
A very entertaining puzzle that had had all levels of solve from straightforward (7a) to the obscure – (3d – I still cannot parse it. I will have to wait for the review).
Great anagrams that were satisfying and my COTD is 25a, which was quite clever.
Grateful thanks to the setter and to Senf for the hints and Baccara.
I missed the repeated “had” – too busy watching Baccara!
The Capital letter of T rouble. The action needed to call a Cab. followed by crossword version of also (not too but ..) this …that.
Some great clues. Liked 7d very clever I thought. Last one in 25a in spite of excellent hint. The first part of 24a is not a dynasty according to BRB. Thanks to Senf for excellent hints and to Setter of course.
Thank you for a nice accompaniment to a bowl of leek and potato soup in cold, damp Cambridge. 17a was the last in, for some reason I didn’t spit the obvious hint. I liked 5d – I have often wondered how to get on! Never tried, too late now. Thanks to all.
Well there’s quirky & then there’s Dada quirky!
A fantastic puzzle that really led me around the houses & back again.
3.5*/4.5* far too many good clues to mention but 1 & 7 down really stand out.
Grateful thanks to Dada for another Sunday cracker & Senf for his review & guidance
Cracking puzzle as usual on a Sunday. 7d was the pick of an exceptional bunch.
I took longest in the SE corner with 25a/20d combination, but making the afternoon tea just now, the penny dropped.
Thanks to Senf, a few parsings to double check and of course, Dada.
Great puzzle.
Can’t parse the last part of the answer to 8a though??
Welcome to the blog Ian
Try reversing (the second way of the two ways) the last three letters
Right at the edge of my ability, this one. Don’t care anyway as still getting jumping/ freezing screen and not able to submit my brain-aching solution without sending an email with a screen shot. How antiquated is that? Have at last received a reply (2 weeks later) acknowledging that they are ‘aware of the difficulties some subscribers are having’ and are trying to fix the bugs. I might just go away and not bother in the future. Delighted that Brian enjoyed it though!
Massive storm in Majorca today, much damage.
****/**
I’m having those problems too John, not connected with us being in Mallorca is it? Incredible wind and sea today in Palmanova.
Welcome to the blog Barry
Hi Barry. No – this has been going on far longer than my time here, alas. exacerbated with an iOS update many weeks ago. My wife’s iPad, a newer model, doesn’t suffer from it. When I could submit my solutions I used to get zero marks, perhaps 50% of the time, whether I was home or abroad and several other visitors to this site also suffer from this. But since the update I also have a jumpy screen with all puzzles and have to refresh frequently to stop it. I have cancelled the app. and reloaded several times, to no avail.
I found this very tricky but most enjoyable.
There were so many bung ins, I really needed Senf’s unravelling for me; 15a and 25a in particular.
I don’t think that 22d is really a synonym of the first word, is it?
My fave is 1d, winning all the way.
Thanks to Dada for the fun, and Senf for sorting my bung ins.
I’m struggling with 8a got the answer (I think) but can’t get why the last 3 letters mean way or ways – any hints please.
Look at comment 17 above
The penny has finally dropped! Thank you.
A very enjoyable puzzle which was solved without needing the hints. A first, possibly, for a Sunday puzzle which is pleasing. 1d,7d, and 23a my favourites among an excellent set of clues. My thanks to Dada and Senf.
Steady progress til the NE corner but got there in the end.
Don’t know why now but I really struggled with this one – it’s taken ages.
I got held up everywhere and I’m not even going to admit which my last answer was – I’m too ashamed.
I could go on about all those that caused trouble but think it might be better to just mention the particularly good ones – 11 and 23a and my favourite, because it rings so many bells, 5d.
All this sounds as if I didn’t enjoy the crossword – I did, but just found it really difficult.
Thanks to Dada and to Senf.
As someone who usually solves the Ray T Thursday puzzles, you have nothing to be ashamed of Kath. I found this one tough today, and did finish but only with electronic help, which I am loath to use. Didn’t care for 8a, 25a and 20d where I thought the clues were not up to par. But otherwise very much enjoyed, thank you Dada and Senf. Grey, rainy day here in South Florida today, a welcome relief after the August like heat we have had the last few days. Hopefully back to the chilly 80sF next week so I can start planting geraniums and petunias, great winter plants here.
Yes, glad of the rain but meant no pool! Not complaining, we spend too much of the year praying for it.
I had a slow start, then a race to the finish. 1d was favourite. Thanks to Dada and Senf.