ST 3047 (Hints) – Big Dave's Crossword Blog
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ST 3047 (Hints)

Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 3047 (Hints)

Hints and tips by Senf

+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +

A very good Sunday morning from Winnipeg, where, with most things closing down as a result of you know what, I am very grateful for crosswords in general and Big Dave’s Blog in particular.

Dada less quirky than last week, but that still means there are some Hmms and even a groan or two with plenty of Lego required – I counted six anagrams (two partials), one reverse lurker, and no homophones – all in a symmetric 28 clues, with 16 hints ‘sprinkled’ throughout the grid you should be able to get the checkers to enable the solving of the unhinted clues.

Candidates for favourite – 1a, 4d, and 8d.

As is usual for the weekend prize crosswords, a number of the more difficult clues have been selected and hints provided for them.

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

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 Leg fractured originally: justifiable concern for player (5,6)
A synonym of leg (perhaps in reference to some endurance events), the first letter (originally) of Fractured, and a synonym of justifiable.

12a Short serial broadcast — you can bet on it! (9)
A synonym of short (perhaps in reference to a single malt) followed by an anagram (broadcast) of serial – the answer has a perhaps more common four letter abbreviated form.

14a Calling time, Harry locks up (6)
A verbal synonym of harry contains (locks up) an abbreviated form of a unit of time.

18a Welshman perhaps touring outskirts of garish resort (8)
A more generic term for a Welshman (or a Scotsman, or an Englishman) containing (touring) the first and last letters (outskirts) of GarisH.

20a Journalist applying spin to nonsense I had encouraged at first (6)
A three letter synonym of nonsense, the abbreviated form of I had, and the initial letter (at first) of Encouraged all reversed (applying spin to).

23a Knocked to the left in garret, lamp switch (5)
The reverse lurker (knocked to the left in) found in the rest of the clue.

26a Confidence in dieter cut after wobble (9)
An anagram (after wobble) of DIETER CUT.

28a Gain energy facing job — is one puffed up? (11)
A (fiscal) synonym of gain and the single letter for energy placed before (facing) a synonym of job.

Down

2d Dickensian character‘s unexpected turn of events? (5)
A double definition – the first is the surname of the Dickensian character who asked for more.

4d Minimum iron on bearing (6)
The chemical symbol for iron and a four letter (compass) bearing.

6d Shelter under roof of houseboat in port (7)
A type of (garden) shelter placed after (under) the first letter (roof) of Houseboat.

7d Parts of plane, for example, complete (4,3,6)
Two parts of a plane (tree) with the combining conjunction between them.

9d Reformingas ruler will be? (5,8)
A double definition – the first may apply to someone exiting the nick.

19d Avian canine (7)
A double definition – the first is a type of hawk and the second is illustrated below.

22d For example, painting walls in office, very enthusiastic (6)
What painting can be an example of containing (walls in) a type of (especially home) office.

25d The same English queens used another language, initially (5)
And we finish with the selection of a sequence of initial letters.


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Sir Michael Caine celebrated his 87th birthday yesterday.  This is the closing sequence from one of his best known films Alfie.  The singer is either Millicent Martin, who also appeared in the film, or Cher depending on whether it is the UK or US release of the film.  This, according to the credits, is the US release:


 

64 comments on “ST 3047 (Hints)

    1. I always thought that it was the greatest name to give a band! Never realised they were Canadian but a great ’band’.

  1. I really found this one more difficult than the average Dada offering (difficulty ****) and there were fewer outstanding clues than usual (*** for enjoyment. It had the merit of being time-consuming which is not a problem when you are sequestered at home, trying to avoid you know what. Thanks to Senf for the hints. Thanks to Dada also. Favourite clues were 7d,9d and 11a

  2. 7D and 14A took as long as the rest of the clues .
    My joint favourites 11A & 28A with quite a few others close behind .
    Enjoyed the challenge .
    Thanks again to Dada and Senf .

  3. Wasn’t sure I was even going to make it to an unaided finish as the bottom diagonal from NW to SE seemed impenetrable. Got there in the end I think in bang on ***** time but will need to look at Senf’s review to parse a couple.
    27a my COTD – so simple but took an age for the penny to drop.
    Thanks to all.

  4. This took me a little longer than the normal Sunday time but I thoroughly enjoyed it.

    I had an answer for 22d which fitted the checkers but I needed Senf to parse it for me. Turns out it was the wrong answer, so no wonder. It fitted the definition but not the wordplay.

    I also confidently entered the wrong answer to 19d which held me up in that corner for a while until I saw the error of my ways.

    Last one in was 7d.

    Many thanks to Senf and Dada

  5. Tough but easier than yesterdays horror! Needed a certain amount of electronic help for the more difficult clues. Never heard of 26a and the BRB gives a different definition. However overall quite enjoyable. Still unable to submit electronically but I suppose the DT will have other things to worry about rather than electronic crosswords!! I hope the internet doesn’t go down whilst I am self-isolating being >70.
    Thx to all
    ***/***

  6. I hadn’t heard of the 7d phrase before today so that had to wait until most of the checkers were in place and it took a while before I had the correct time for 14a. Reasonably OK beyond those and I think my favourite was the fake flier.

    Thanks to Dada and to Senf for the review. Quite a shock to discover which birthday Mr Caine has just celebrated!

  7. I think Dada is currently my favourite setter of the back pager, even if at times there is a slight question mark over one or two clues (like 9d and 17d today). 7d was first in (I don’t know why but I always aim to start there with this grid layout) which gave a lot of entries. Overall, fairly gentle but very enjoyable. Favourite today is 28a. Thanks to Dada and Senf.

    1. He has been a favourite setter of mine for a long time (especially his Saturday offerings in another paper as Paul). I enjoyed having the free time to do this early on. I especially liked 8dn, 11ac, 13ac and 9dn. Needed the blog to sort out 14ac, duh!

      Thanks Senf and Dada

  8. Another great Sunday puzzle; always a challenge but always most enjoyable . Thanks to the setter. Strangely, last one in was 14a! 8d & 21d are my favourites. 3*/5* for me

  9. Really great puzzle, excellent mental workout.
    7d – and how often to we see a teasing play on a particular word?
    Too many excellent clues to single one out as the most excellent.
    Completed without help except for a meaning confirmation, in **** time for difficulty.
    Many thanks, Dada and Senf for the review.

    1. Your comment went into moderation as you used a different e-mail than that used for your previous comments – both should work from now on.

  10. 4*/3*. I found this a tough nut to crack today, but nevertheless good fun. One of the challenges today was actually finding where the puzzle was located in the paper.

    I’m not sure that 9d quite works even with the question mark.

    My podium comprises 7d, 8d & 21d.

    Many thanks to Dada and to Senf.

  11. Top puzzle from Dada this morning, with some nice misdirection and concise clueing. Trying to pick one favourite is virtually impossible but I will go for 4d. A thoroughly rewarding and enjoyable exercise.

    Thanks Dada for the challenge and to Senf. Our forthcoming trip to the Canaries is now off as the Foreign Office has banned all but essential travel. Disappointed but also a relief as with everything in lockdown it wouldn’t be much of a holiday.

  12. I found this really slow to start, but once I had found the wavelength, it was complete in *** time. 1a gets my vote for COTD.

    For those stuck in the house, I could point out that BBC2 has “The Cruel Sea” at 1400. A film well worth watching again.

    Thanks to all.

    1. My father was in the Merchant Navy during the war and thought The Cruel Sea was an excellent depiction of events. (He also witnessed the German warship, Graf Spey scuttle itself in the River Plate).

      1. I have a recording of ‘The Battle of the River Plate,’ – another realistic depiction of events – fortunately the recording is digital so it won’t ‘wear out’ with repeated viewings!

    2. Must run and tell my husband. He is forever being mistaken for Jack Hawkins, so much so, that he now goes all coy when asked about it and says ‘we don’t talk about Uncle John’, it really winds people up!

  13. I found this a bit of a struggle and needed more hints than usual, However, it was a most enjoyable workout with some really good clues. My favourites are 1a, 13a, 28a and 17d. My COTD is 7d because, after I had spent ages on aviation, the penny dropped.

    May thanks to Dada for the challenge and to Senf for the hints.

    At the moment, only three cases of the virus in this county. Local supermarkets are running out of toilet rolls but little else. Why the hoarding of toilet rolls? When I was a kid, we used torn up newspaper and it’s what we’ll do again if it comes to it.

    1. Trouble with that is the print used for modern newspapers comes off very easily with the warmth of your hands – lord knows what state your derriere will finish up in!
      PS I have a theory that the loo-roll hoarders are also the ones buying up all the baked beans – probably explains a great deal!

      1. Last week, I read that one of the Australian newspapers had included 8 blank pages for people to use when they run out of the soft stuff!

    2. I can remember helping to cut up the newspaper and threadle it onto a piece of string through a hole in the corner. It was then hung in the outside lavatory. It’s not ideal but it works.

      1. I remember having to do that too, and the greaseproof paper at school. Ugh! I thought that was normal until I went to tea at a posher schoolmate’s house and I confess I nicked some

        Michael Parker, born April 18th 1969 – if you are reading, I apologise (albeit half-heartedly) :smile:

        1. I remember using the greaseproof paper loo roll as an impromptu tracing paper. It was a school joke that the comment on each sheet to “Now wash your hands” actually should have read “Now wash your Back”

          1. When I joined the RAF, every sheet of the ‘greaseproof’ loo roll was marked ‘Government Property’ presumably to dissuade people from ‘nicking it’ but who would want to nick it in the first place?

          1. Oh Gosh…. I was waiting to see if anyone mentioned Izal. A reminder of visiting my grandmother.

            1. Do you remember Bronco of the same ilk? That poor cowboy ‘tearin’ across the Texas plain’ only a few years later didn’t stand a chance where those of us of a certain generation were concerned!

              1. I remember both Bronco and Bronco Layne…..I loved Ty Hardin .
                I also remember the greaseproof stuff which was standard in the health service when I first worked in it…..and, as a child saving the tissue paper that tangerines were wrapped in then for use in the bathroom later…..Try that , Snowflakes , then tell us how good we had it.

        2. I remember immigrating to England in 1960, I’d never come across the Izal stuff and was horrified!

    3. See what you’ve gone and started now, Steve?!
      I don’t know… only on this blog – or is there an extraneous L in that…

  14. Pleasant Sunday Fare enjoyed while eating some delightful macarons from Malton (probably our last trip out/ treats before we get locked down. https://www.florianpoirot.com/ I know he does a very nice 28a too but they are so light and fluffy they don’t travel well. 18a biggest penny drop today and became favourite at the same time.
    Thanks to Senf and Dada. Thank God for BD too and let’s hope the puzzles don’t dry up before we are freed. I think the puzzles site has more than enough puzzles to keep me occupied.

  15. Thank goodness we have puzzles such as this to take our minds of the dreaded virus. Only 2 cases in Norfolk but we will be flooded with incomers in North Norfolk over Easter which will no doubt put us at more risk. No gel to be found anywhere, so selfish to take so much.

  16. I’m fed up with sorting and tidying so it was a relief to sit down with a nice teaser. I would not have guessed 7d without your help but it is not in everyday parlance is it? My young neighbours came to see if it he could get some shopping for us and we asked for two bottles of gin, four of Shhh tonic water and cat food. They were slightly surprised.

  17. Needed help with 14a and 7d from the excellent Sent. Quite pleased with my effort today especially as it’s a Dada. Enjoyed it in some measure but will I hope gain more enjoyment as I gain more skill in solving. At the moment the struggle when successful is the main reason to feel pleased. Thanks to Senf and Dada.

  18. What a workout, and I made hard nails of it, even while enjoying the labours immensely. Had to resort to electronic help for some of that lower diagonal, NW to SE, that Huntsman cites. Probably for me the toughest Dada yet, but I finished it in **** time, though it seemed longer. Never did parse 14a until Senf’s help. Maybe the state of things around here and the world is beginning to affect my ognitive abilities (but thank God for the puzzles! I nearly finished the GK puzzle today without any research). Winners today: 11a, 18a, and 9d. Never heard of 7d and 9a (backwater Yank that I am), so thanks again to Senf and to Dada. **** / **** Stay well, everyone.

  19. I found this at the least quirky end of the Dada scale, but still a great solve.
    3*/4.5*
    Very enjoyable, with some cracking clues.
    Thanks to Dada & Senf for review

  20. Very enjoyable, as usual, but :phew: difficult or what?
    The blasted ‘plane’ in 7d foxed me again.
    1a was OK but the two other long ones took a long time.
    14a had to be what it was but seeing why was a bit tricky.
    Anagrams are usually the answers I get first of all but even they wouldn’t play today.
    I’m not concentrating very well – because of everything shutting down it’s beginning to look as if our Younger Lamb’s wedding next Saturday might have to wait – she’s in pieces! :sad:
    I think my favourite was either 8 or 22d but lots of other good clues too.
    Thanks to Dada and to Senf.

    1. Oh dear that’s not good. I’m just wondering about the new ‘rule’ coming in that over 70s must self isolate. I just said to Mr CS that I’ll still be able to go out but apparently have to be a couple of metres away from him when I get back.

  21. Yes Senf, thank goodness for the crosswords. Our essential supplies included printer ink, paper and pens. We also have a few DT cryptic books.

  22. It took a little while to get my teeth into this one, but I really enjoyed it. I am beginning to wonder whether to set up a WhatsApp group in our lane to do the crossword. I know that several neighbours get the DT, and do the crossword, but we’ve never got together over it. If we end up in lock-down, it might slow down the boredom. Many thanks to Dada and Senf.

  23. Wow I found that a real struggle 🥵. Like RD had to search a bit to find the “Games” pages – why in the Money section I wonder? Some of the clues really were too clever by half and others somewhat far-fetched however I did gradually get on top of the overall quirkiness. Fav 8d. Thank you Dada and Senf. Many Happy Returns Alfie.

  24. Above my pay grade today. I did struggle to the end with a lot of bung-ins and electronic help, but not much pleasure to be had for me.
    Relieved to see that others also found it difficult.

    We have just been commanded by our son to stay indoors as we are both (only just) over 70. Feels strange to be on the other side of the orders.
    Thanks to the setter and to Senf

    1. Just finished in ** unaided much to my surprise! Thoroughly enjoyed it. Favourite 28a.
      We are both a long way into the “vunerable” age bracket , so our son also phoned today to make sure we were OK, well prepared and ready to follow the medics advice. Yes it’s strange but very nice the instructions coming the other way!
      Expect I’ll be doing the cryptic a lot earlier in the day than usual in the next few weeks. Thanks to all.

  25. Blimey, I followed every striking red herring by a full length, e.g. 7d and more. I got quite testy half way through and, if I hadn’t been confined to quarters, might have given up.
    I had several interruptions and every time I got back to it, I got to like it more and more. I did finish with copious e-help, I now have to admit that was one of the most enjoyable puzzles ever!
    Choosing a fave is hard, I liked 11a, 13a, 7d, oh heck, loved them all. Not forgetting 28a, delish! Chip fat, really?
    Thanks Dada, loads of fun, and huge thanks to Senf for my last in, 25d.

  26. Tougher than recent Dada puzzles, and needed quite a bit of help to finish. Never can spell 24a. And not heard the 7d phrase before. Took me ages to parse 22d. Smiled at 16a. Thanks to Dada and Senf. So nice to having something to work on in a world gone mad. Going to dust off the jig saws if us oldies are all going to end up in house arrest.

  27. Not a bad time consuming puzzle for Sunday and a good day to stay away from the ‘panic buyers’ that are in the stores. Keep away from others, but let’s all cram into a store together … hmmm … some just don’t get it.
    Fantastic cloudless sunny day on the west coast of British Columbia today … even though below zero celsius first thing.
    Hard to get started on this puzzle, but when I managed to suss up a couple of clues including one anagram, things started to fall into place. Did need a little electronic help part way through. 22d last in. 7d was unknown to me, so I learned something today.
    Favourite COTD 13a & 18a
    Thanks to a “not too quirky” Dada today & Senf

  28. Thank you B D for founding this blog. It has given such pleasure on what has been an otherwise depressing day, due to that which must not be mentioned. I may be 70+ with “underlying health problems”, but I have no intention to stop walking my dog! The reminiscences about Bronco and Izal brought back many long forgotten memories. As regards the crossword, yet another superb offering from Dada, completed only with help from Senf’s excellent hints. Thanks to all concerned.

  29. I needed far too many hints today, but finished – with Senf’s help! My favourite is 1a – it brought back many memories! Many thanks to Senf, and the setter! 🙃

  30. All done, I have never heard of the plane in 7d or the expression, so a total bung in, I was amazed that it was correct.
    Apart from that, tricky in places, good misdirection in several clues.
    Thanks Senf and Dada

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