ST 3100 (Hints) – Big Dave's Crossword Blog
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ST 3100 (Hints)

Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 3100 (Hints)

Hints and tips by Senf

+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +

A very good Sunday morning from Winnipeg where we continue to enjoy above seasonal average temperatures with very little precipitation so the farmers are complaining as they always do when it is too hot, too cold, too wet, too dry – but have you ever seen a farmer on a bike?  John Crisp hasn’t!

Keep staying safe everyone.

Well I think Dada has given us the stinker that I was expecting last week.  I counted four anagrams (no partials), one lurker, and three homophones – all in an  asymmetric 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, 19a, 24a, and 2d.

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 Make minimal effort while in bed (5)
A two letter synonym of while inserted into (in) a type of (small) bed.

10a A swine hiding in a load of wood (8)
A from the clue and a synonym of swine (the animal) all inserted into (in) a single word for a load of.

12a Nut overcome, reportedly? (6)
A homophone (reportedly) of a synonym of overcome (in battle).

14a Weakness in love borne by primate (7)
The single letter for love (in a racquet game) contained (borne) by the illustrated primate.

16a Bring together African country on the radio? (6)
A homophone (on the radio) of an African country (on the West Coast of said continent).

19a Weapon caused girl to bleed (7)
When written (3,4) the result of an action that would cause a (generic) girl to bleed.

23a River runs into all hills of Rome, say? (6)
The single letter for crickety runs inserted into the number (all) of the hills in Rome.

25a Pick up some lederhosen second-hand (5)
The lurker (some) found in the rest of the clue.

26a Condition, say (5)
Dare I say it, at the risk of drawing some ire, a reasonably straightforward double definition.

Down

2d Where blackberry jam, for example, may be spread in a purple patch? (2,1,4)
When enjoying “a purple patch” one can be said to be one option for where blackberry jam may be spread.

3d Present female member, possibly? (8,6)
We have seen this before – a double definition, the second could be (possibly?) a description for a female member (or lower limb).

6d Parrot, just intellectual property (9)
A four letter synonym of parrot and a synonym of just.

8d Sacred performance changing rate, or otherwise (9,5)
An anagram (otherwise) of CHANGING RATE, OR.

9d Envisage hosting a number, hundred — medium gathering (6)
A three letter synonym of envisage containing (hosting) all of A from the clue, the single letter for number, and the Roman numeral for hundred.

19d People carrying clubs, rat gets squished! (7)
A synonym of rat (as a person) and a single word for gets squished.

22d Party punch (4)
A double definition to finish – the first is an informal synonym of party used to describe the annual (well at least pre-pandemic) gathering of this ‘club.’


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Co-founder of the Bonzo Dog Doo Band Vivian Stanshall was born on this day in 1943 – this is the group’s best performing single, released in 1968, which reached number 5 in the charts:

113 comments on “ST 3100 (Hints)

  1. Struggled through but , unusually for Dada , did not enjoy . Cannot see why my answer to 22a is correct but it seems obvious .
    Thanks Senf and to Dada for the challenge .
    Just about recovered from Wales losing last night.

    1. KFB, for 22a take a word for a type of deer add a word for a baby animal and reverse (“lying back”) the whole thing.

      1. re:22a so the deer was not a 4 letter word for a male stag & that’s why I could not parse my answer. thanks RB.

  2. 1.5*/4*. I think Senf and I must have been solving different puzzles today as I found this very much at the easier end of Dada’s spectrum.

    My podium comprises 21a, 24a & 19d.

    Many thanks to Dada for the fun and to Senf.

  3. I found this quite challenging and it was the usual Dada mixture of great anagrams, the clever, the witty and the unexpected (3*/5*). However it provided a lot of enjoyment and I got great satisfaction from finishing it unaided. It’s hard to pick favourites from so many great clues but 12d and 3d had me laughing out loud so they are joint C(s)OTD and 8d was a stonking anagram, whilst 22a had superb midirection. Many thanks to Senf for the hints and to Dada, in good form this
    week.

  4. That was a struggle, even for a Sunday Dada. Completed eventually in ***/**** time. *** enjoyment, (* off as still suffering after Wales’ epic efforts coming to no avail in last night’s fantastic contest).
    3d took ages to see but it was an LOL clue and my COTD.
    Thanks to Dada and Senf.

  5. Did a bit of darting around the grid to start with but everything came together quite satisfactorily once a few checkers were in place. 13a was the last to fall despite the anagram content.
    Top marks went to 1&24a plus 19&22d.

    Thanks to Dada and also to Senf for his second round of hints for the weekend. The Bonzo clip made me cringe but I did laugh at John Crisp. The words reminded me of a farmer who appears each week on Countryfile – perhaps I should say no more!

  6. I have only one thing to say about this puzzle and I quote my granddaughter.YUK!
    ******/-*
    Thx for the hints

    1. I have to agree with your granddaughter’s assessment Brian. No pleasure in this one today.

  7. I flew through this until I hit a brick wall with three to do. Having now finished, I cannot for the life of me see why I should have had so much trouble finishing it off, other than I was fixated on another primate and was looking at 1a the wrong way. 24a was my final entry.

    That said this was a fun challenge and 23a was my favourite for purely geographical reasons.

    My thanks to Dada and Senf.

  8. Loved this but I always enjoy Dada. So refreshing after the last three days. Thanks to the setter and for the hints

  9. On the whole, I think I’m glad I don’t have dada’s mind set! The quirky parts seem weird to me. It came together slowly. Not keen on 21a. 6d and the anagram at 8d were cracking clues. I don’t think the answer to 5d is a thoroughfare and the answer to 22d is a weak synonym. ***/** Favourite 3d. Thanks to all.

    1. Your comment about 5d Greta gives me some confidence I have the right answer – I don’t think it is either & I haven’t a scooby if it’s a blossom.

      1. Maybe Dada was rhinking if Monopoly board thoroughfares? Thats the only way I could rationalise it.

    2. Even I knew that 5d wasn’t a thoroughfare there, although I think we have one here, not far away from mi casa.

  10. Well I’m firmly in Senf’s ‘stinker’ camp. With the exception of Friday’s Osmosis Toughie I found this one comfortably the hardest of the week though to be fair I made much harder work of a number of clues than I ought to have – 3&6d prime examples. The NE corner held out the longest with 4a & finally 5d the last to yield & I’m not sure I’d bet my house on both of those being correct but can’t think of owt else so they’ll have to do. Enjoyed the 2 homophones & the 19d wordplay.
    Thanks to Dada & to Senf
    Ps BDDDB were something of an acquired taste & Viv Stanshall was a real character. A good friend of mine rented a flat in Muswell Hill directly underneath his top floor flat & suffice to say there was plenty of drama & she was always concerned about him. Thankfully she’d moved out by the time the fire led to his death.

  11. That ‘nut’, which I don’t think we have in these parts, has done me in before (even though I’ve seen plenty of them in the UK), and it did it again today. (Thought that ‘goober’ wasn’t a bad guess; turns out it was.) Finally, with a wee bit of an electronic nudge, I managed to finish, with my LOI being that naughty lady with the gorgeous gams. So I must award 3d the top honour, with 13a and 22a completing the podium. Thanks to Senf for his endurance and to Dada, who has finally bested me. **** / ****

    Does anyone else read Peter Robinson’s Alan Banks mysteries? The latest one, Not Dark Yet, is among the best of his Yorkshire series, with a satisfying Croatian finish.

    1. I’ve read them all, Robert. They get and better as the series has gone on over the years.

    2. Thanks for the tip. I read a lot of mysteries set in Britain, so I will add these to my list. Just finished the most recent Rutledge from Charles Todd. Is he the same Banks as the TV series?

      1. Speaking of Robert’s recommendations, if anyone hasn’t yet read Changing Places (David Lodge) I can promise you that it will have you ‘rolling in the aisles’. Haven’t laughed so much since I read the Walt series from Tom Sharpe.

      2. I also recently read A Fatal Lie, the latest Rutledge, but found it much less accomplished than previous ones. And to answer your question, I think it’s the same Alan Banks, BL, but I haven’t seen the TV series. Must try to find it.

  12. Sorry but I had to give up on today’s Dada. Far too beautiful a day to be sitting trying to solve a difficult puzzle. No enjoyment for me, which is unusual as I normally get on with Dada.

    Thanks to you, Dada but you beat me today, which is my fault not yours. Thanks to Senf for the hints and I am always amazed at how our hinters come up with the goods day after day.

    1. I decided to pick it up again and using Senf’s hints have managed to finish. Still not a great deal of enjoyment I’m afraid.

  13. Blimey, that was hard!
    Got there eventually unaided.
    Certainly ***** difficulty.
    Brilliant clueing, an overcrowded podium.
    Many thanks, Dada and Senf for the review.

    1. You have used my words. Just what I was going to say Hrothgar.
      I have spent an inordinate amount of time on it, but what else is there to do? Cold and grey outside, though we did have a drink in the garden next door before lunch very well wrapped up. Thanks to Senf and Dada. I think I deserve a little post prandial snooze.

      1. It certainly delayed, Daisygirl, doing my Census form online which, in fact, was very easy.

  14. As usual, Dada didn’t disappoint! Just love Sunday solving, although, once again, almost spoiled by the tortured homophone in 16a. This is a common complaint with Dada, and I do wish they would take heed of reservations made in previous week’s comments.

    1. I’m sorry Yvonne, but I really don’t know how you can call that homophone in 16a tortured.
      I was going to post samples, but that would get me the naughty step, wouldn’t it?

      1. In my pronunciation of that answer, there are xxxxx at all, Malcolm. So it’s tortured to me too. Am I on the Naughty Step here?

    2. I agree with MalcomR. If this was not a Sunday PP I would love to have a ‘discussion’ with you as to why you thought 16a was ‘tortured’ but it is so I can’t. In fact, I thought all three of today’s homophones were very good and there could be no ‘accusations’ of, for example, regional variations of pronunciation ‘spoiling’ the homophone ‘effect.’

      1. Surely Gazza will complain about the homophone in 16a … something to do with the xxx?

        1. Quite right, Jepi. I’m with Yvonne on 16a though I think that ‘tortured’ is rather a mild epithet for the ‘homophone’. Apart from that a very enjoyable puzzle from Dada – thanks to him and Senf.

          1. Gazza – if you have a handkerchief that you can tie a knot in can you comment on the Cryptic Sue/gnomethang review as to why you think this homophone is ‘beyond tortured.’

            1. Whilst I have no problem with the homophone myself, I knew G would have. And if he was born and raised in the area he retired to, then the reason is fairly guessable. If he hails from a more northern area of the UK, then I’ve no idea.

              1. * Like semantics and synonyms, homophones would appear to be subjects prone to much subjectivity.

  15. It looks like we’re split into Stinker and Non-Stinker camps. I’m firmly in the latter. In fact, this was the puzzle that I needed to complete my set of seven in a row, completed without any outside aids. It’s a month or more since I have been able to claim that.

    I had this one done in *** time, the NW was the last to fall, the two trees at 10a and 12a being the culprits.

    Many thanks to Dada and Senf.

    1. I’m only in the stinker camp because I struggled & certainly not any reflection on the fairness or quality of the puzzle or indeed my enjoyment. I’m certainly in your camp re the 16a homophone.

  16. A head scratcher for Sunday ***/*** had a read through a couple of times before some started to drop in, mostly on the right side. I over thought some like 2d and 6d.
    Favs today 12a, 16a with 22a getting my vote.
    Thx to Dada (enjoyed the Friday night Zoom 👍) and Senf.

  17. Amazing how there can be such divided opinions on this puzzle. Also how some could have found Friday’s toughie on a par with this. I failed miserably with the former but managed this delightfully clued puzzle in 2* time. I’ll give 4* enjoyment. So many great clues but as 3d was one of my last in, I’ll opt for that as favourite.

  18. I don’t often agree with Brian, but I do on this occasion. I certainly wouldn’t put blackberry jam or any other type of jam on a 2d. 14a was just a GK clue. You either knew the primate or you didn’t. I have lots of crosses rather than ticks, sadly. I usually enjoy Dada, but this one was not for me I’m afraid. Thanks to Dada anyway. It’s not possible to please all of the people all of the time. Thanks too Senf for the review on what I thought was a quite challenging puzzle.

    1. For 2d, not even if you had a desperate craving that had to be satisfied and that was the only type of that product that you had in your pantry?
      The 14a combination of weakness and primate is not uncommon in crosswords so some might regard it as a memory test rather than GK. And, I believe their pronunciations could make them candidates for a homophone clue – I wonder if that has ever been done.

      1. Re 2d. The answer doesn’t automatically spring to mind as where I’d put jam. I could list a lot of other things first, but that would mean a trip to the naughty step for suggesting an incorrect answer, and the cake in the freezer wouldn’t defrost in time to take it with me. At the end of the day, I would eat jam on 2d if it was all I had. I’ve had worse. I take your point about remembering the name of the primate. It is always good to learn. It just seems that we have had a dearth of obscure animals/fish/birds lately. Now I’ve had my own little rant, an extra special thank you goes to you Senf for coming to the rescue yesterday, and for today’s review as well. Two days of reviewing must have taken a considerable chunk of your time. You are much appreciated.

        1. I would have thought that the 2d answer was an eminently reasonable suggestion and a quite common place for jam to be spread, including blackberry.

      1. Jam may be eaten with a spoon straight out of the jar in the middle of the night, followed by a spoonful of Greek yoghurt. Yum.

        1. I used to have a girlfriend who, when making a tomato sandwich, didn’t butter the bread with butter or spread – she used to plaster it with tomato ketchup! It takes all sorts, I suppose…

          1. That reminds me of Marlon in the Daily Mirror cartoon strip “The Perishers”. He loved one inch thick tomato ketchup sandwiches and would splat everyone near him in the face when he bit into one.

            I loved The Perishers and have many volumes.

            I never bought the Daily Mirror just annuals of The Perishers.

  19. Managed to solve this Dada fairly quickly … but I’m still not sure about one of my answers in the census.

    :unsure:

    1. I wonder why those Census people wanted to know if my 93-year-old mother had “completed an apprenticeship”?

  20. After a slow start things started to fall quickly into place after solving the two long down clues – 8D and my favourite of the day 3D that made me smile.
    I seem to get on ok with Dada, so keep ‘em coming!
    Thanks again to busy Senf for today’s blog ‘n hints – good work! 👍
    Cheers!

  21. Great crossword. I love Sundays.
    I was unsure about 22a because I thought I had the deer but couldn’t find the baby. Thanks for the hint which made me revisit it. I was right but wrong deer.I used the hints for most of the SE corner so maybe its a bit harder than usual.
    Thanks Dada and Senf.
    ****/****

  22. Managed to finish with *** difficulty but like others found little to enjoy except for finally solving a Dada puzzle.

    When Dulin went over for the final French time both my wife and I stood up and cheered Two events are the reason for this.

    The only great player for England in the late sixties and seventies was David Duckham ; and the Welsh not satisfied with Davies, JPR, Bennet, John, Davies (M) et al called Duckham Dai and adopted him as one of their own. During Duckham’s time as an England player England won four wooden spoons and the Welsh rubbed our faces in it.

    The other was much later when a few of us in Cardiff for a conference went to what is claimed a great rugby pub. Six Nations but only five featured with their colours. That is prejudice Taffy so don’t patronise us.

    Allons enfants de la Patrie
    Le jour de gloire est arrivé !
    Contre nous de la tyrannie
    L’étendard sanglant est levé
    Entendez-vous dans nos campagnes
    Mugir ces féroces soldats?
    Ils viennent jusque dans vos bras.
    Égorger vos fils, vos compagnes!

    My thanks to Senf and Dada and the French.

    1. Hope you feel better having got that off your chest Corky. I too was delighted when France nicked it so late. Brilliant.

      I think 3D is an old (well it has to be, really) Tommy Cooper gag. Please do the voice. Apparently, he

      “ bought the wife a wooden leg for Christmas. It wasn’t her main present, just a xxxxxxxx”

    2. If France had won by 50 points I would have been happy. The fact that they won it with the last touch of the game made me ecstatic.

  23. I liked this puzzle a lot. *** for difficulty. Having foolishly put 25a in 26a I got a little held up with the 8d anagram. Gently completed watching a Poirot case that, unusually, I hadn’t seen before.
    Many thanks Senf, and Dada as well.

  24. Knife through butter – but then I have my wife batting for us, who seems to click with Dada.

  25. Found this Dada puzzle in the easier range of his offerings. A few quirky clues but overall a fun solve. Took a little bit of time to get started in the NW area but then this fell into place in a clockwise fashion. 2.5*/***** for this one.
    Favourites include 12a, 13a, 23a, 2d & 5d with winner 12 … a fond reminder of a school playground activity in the autumn at Stradbroke school in Gorleston.

    Thanks to Dada and Senf for the hints.

    1. I’m in the tough but enjoyable camp. After yesterday’s delight, this brought me back down to earth ****/***, requiring 3 sittings and a hint for 22d to get across the line.
      Spent some time trying to parse 22a before the penny finally dropped, that makes my podium along with 3d and 19d.
      Thanks to Dada for the workout and Senf for the help.

  26. Oh dear I’m still struggling with 17a/18d. These two have definitely edged this into stinker territory for me, otherwise enjoyed it v much. Thank you blogger and setter.

    1. The attraction in 17a is one of the oldest in crossword land, I think originated in the 1930s.

      1. I had certainly never heard of it, Merusa. A presume you mean the last three letters?

          1. Thanks, never seen that for ‘attraction’. Have seen it used as a synonym for *** before.

  27. I started out very well, I’ve not been on Dada’s wavelength in the past. Luckily I solved enough to give me checkers, also solving the long ones at 3d and 8d early on. The first four letters of the anagram at 8d gave me the hint I needed to solve it. In the end I needed way too much e-help to complete it, a big disappointment, but I’ve accepted that I’ll never finish a Dada without help of some sort.
    I liked lots, 19a and 19d amused, my Mum was from 23a, but I think 3d was my fave.
    Thanks to Dada, and rosettes to Senf for his two-day stretch, all for our amusement.

  28. Running along like a good ‘un, then I hit 3d, which I never got. Mainly because 12a and 17a eluded me. Enjoyable, just about right for a Sunday.
    1st earlies planted in the allotment today the start of the allotment year, I’m sure no-one will be interested to know.
    Thanks Senf and Dada.

    1. The season’s started. Our large greenhouse gas loads growing, including 200 onion seedlings. Planted sprouted garlic in veg garden today. All go on that front!

        1. We were given ours 15 years ago by a customer we cleared an overgrown hedge for. 14 X 6 old crittal. Had to replace a few sheets of glass, but it’s a godsend

        2. An allotment, a greenhouse, a patch of grass or even a window that doesn’t face north ten feet from the main road would do me!
          Great for growing mould though

          1. I sympathise LbR, sitting here with a view South to the Cairngorms 60 miles away. However it brings drawbacks too but on balance……

    2. It might be the start of the growing season with you down South. Up here we have just got the daffodils coming up.

      1. Yes, nice sunny day today dahn saaff today. Daffs even out for a couple of weeks…tulips on the go too…

    3. My first earlies are still chitting but the trench is dug, composted and fertilised. Seed beds are ready having been similarly prepared and the asparagus bed has been mulched and top dressed. Grass has had its first cut. Sorry, the moss has had its first cut. The pergola has been rebuilt and is ready for the climbers – that is the ones that have survived the upheaval of being cut back.

      Shredder arriving on Tuesday for the pruned growth to be turned into mulch.

      A greenhouse is being given serious consideration.

      Who says no one will be interested, Hoofs?

  29. Now that was a good crossword and a very enjoyable solve. Many thanks to Dada and Senf.

  30. Not a lot of fun to be had today but then Dada and I rarely hit it off. Smoother ride in the East than West where I had to succumb to a hint or two e.g. 1a, 3d and 5d (perhaps not strictly West). Glad when this slog was finally completed. 24a was my Fav. Thank you Dada and Senf.

  31. A pleasant puzzle completed in ** time. Last one in was 24a. Favourites were 3d and 23a, the latter one definitely had me confused until the penny dropped about the using the right deer. And so the end of another weekend which, being retired, shouldn’t matter…. but somehow it does!

  32. Very hard work, but why complain – we can surely appreciate Dada’s great ability to provide a very clever and elegant puzzle. I finished in what was probably **** time, made longer by the need for electronic help, but I felt that was better than just giving up. Thank you Dada, and thanks too to Senf for weekend overtime.

  33. Please can anybody give me a hint as to the second word in 24 across – it’s my only one left

    1. It’s difficult, Janie without ending up on the naughty step. The only thing I think I might just get away with is – think of a pack and what it is divided into.

      Think I’ll go and get some cake to take with me! :grin:

      1. Thanks a million Steve – it was driving me mad but hope I’m not the cause of rapped knuckles

      2. Thanks Steve Cowling – you made me realise I had the wrong answer for 24a. I’ve put it right and am glad you escaped the naughty step.

  34. Definitely a stinker for me. Barely completed half of it without hints/electronic help.

    Thanks to Senf

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