ST 3155 (Hints) – Big Dave's Crossword Blog
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ST 3155 (Hints)

Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 3155 (Hints)

Hints and tips by Senf

+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +

A very good Sunday morning from Winnipeg, where we have been having April showers with most varieties of precipitation!

Keep staying safe everyone.

For me, Dada seems to have upped the ante compared to the last couple of weeks.  I counted 5 anagrams (2 partials), 1 lurker, and one homophone – all in a symmetric 28 clues; with 14 hints ‘sprinkled’ throughout the grid you should be able to get the checkers to enable the solving of the unhinted clues.

Candidates for favourite – 9a, 20a, 4d, 7d, and 10d.

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 Supporting pipes, very hot features turned off (11)
A single word for very hot (in reference to a liquid?) contains (features) OFF from the clue reversed (turned).

11a Sense organ is aware, by the sound of it? (4)
The homophone (by the sound of it) of a single word for is aware.

13a Weaponry secure when turned over (4)
A synonym of secure (in reference to fit?) reversed (when turned over).

19a Fat sovereign in store (6)
A four letter fat (used in cooking) and sovereign in the form of HM’s regnal cypher.

23a Country that’s fragile (5)
Items found in the home can be fragile.

27a Yes! Trick entertains us, good day for object of schoolboy humour (7,7)
A seven letter word that can be equivalent to Yes! as an exclamation of delight, and a synonym of trick contains (entertains) all of US from the clue and a two letter term equivalent to good day (as a greeting) – perhaps there should be a ‘?’ at the end of the clue.

28a One’s cut after two are joined (7,4)
As illustrated.

Down

2d Team player after little time runs SUV (7,7)
A round ball team that resides in SW6 and a (stage) player placed after the single letters for Time and (crickety) Runs.

4d First test in which I drink (8)
An (unwritten) test containing (in which) I from the clue and a drink (that goes with 15d).

7d Where hands go incessantly? (6-3-5)
Not hands at the end of our arms but the hands on an analogue time indicating device.

8d Sharp pegs or otherwise for small jumper (11)
An anagram (otherwise) of SHARP PEGS OR.

10d Joint wretched, get to work (7,4)
A type of joint of which we have several in our hands and a synonym of wretched.

15d Note refreshing substance (5)
A double definition – the first refers to the first note of a scale.

26d Fashionable, some kitsch, I confess (4)
We finish with the lurker (some) found in three words in the clue.

Quick Crossword Pun:

WHEEZE + HILLS = WEASELSI think


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We have had this tune before, about four and a half years ago, but not a full orchestra version.  Ennio Morricone’s The Good, The Bad and The Ugly played as part of a Film Music Prom during the 2011 Prom Season.  The BBC Concert Orchestra is conducted by Keith Lockhart who is perhaps better known as the conductor of the Boston Pops but, from 2010-2017, was also principal conductor of this orchestra.  Another occasion when the percussionists are having fun.  I wonder what Sir Henry Wood thought of it from his ‘bust’ position behind and above the orchestra:

35 comments on “ST 3155 (Hints)

  1. Light and great fun. Favourites….the four perimeter ones.
    Pity it’s a prize puzzle as there’s such a cool song by the late great Meat Loaf relating to 9a I’d like to have posted.
    Many thanks to Dada and Senf for the fun.

    1. I think I know the one you mean, I have just been listening to an early Marillion song that would fit 11a.
      Not read Senf’s hints yet as I am still solving it

  2. Quickly on wavelength for my fastest solve of the week after having found his Friday puzzle in the Graun impenetrable & harder than Elgar. I thought 7 of the 8 long ‘uns all nice clues but didn’t care for the clunky surface read at 27a. 16a my pick from a pleasantly gentle puzzle.
    Three quarters of Robyn’s Toughie done & mercifully easier than last week’s brain mangler.
    Thanks to D&S
    Wordle in 3

      1. I am on a good run. Finished Friday’s Paul without too much difficulty then to my amazement completed and fully parsed Elgar unaided for the first time in years. This morning’s Toughie did not present any problems and have just completed Dada without pause.
        After your comment above I am tempted to have a go at last Sunday’s Toughie which I did not have time to tackle before.

        1. I eventually managed Elgar for only the 2nd time ever but didn’t know Disraeli’s novel. Might have another bash at Paul.

  3. Like Huntsman above, quickly on wavelength with no particular hold ups. Yesterday never saw my horse at all but in the paper see it fell at the 15th. There is a distinction of FO – Fell Off and UR – Unseated Rider, am I ignorant but doesn’t that mean the same thing – rider fell off? Perhaps MP will tell us who won the fantastic prize of admiration of all of us. Wordle today in 4 and Quordle yesterday in 7. Thanks to Senf and Dada

    1. What do I know Manders? You can add Brought Down to Fell Off and Unseated rider. I understand pulled up. One of the commentators said yesterday that The Grand National always provides a story. This is true but what a story yesterdays was. And what wonderful words Sam Waley-Cohen said immediately after the race had finished “It’s a dream. I can’t believe it, I’ve got to say thank yous, because it’s my last-ever ride. To Dad, for unwavering belief and love over 23 years – never a cross word, nothing but a dream. It has been a love affair. To my wife, long-suffering! They aren’t all good days. There are bad days in this sport. She’s always there to support me. This is beyond words. It’s a fairy tale, it’s a fantasy, and I’m just full of love, and happiness and gratefulness.” He will never make a footballer with an attitude like that. Wordle in 2 for Saint Sharon today. 3 for me. I use yesterday’s answer to start the next Wordle. It sometimes makes it more difficult but sometimes it’s a great help. I’m watching the temperature rising in anticipation of a seafood platter in your neck of the woods and a crab salad. And some steamed mussels. And a couple of jars. Oh bring it on

      1. An amazing story MP which you couldn’t make up. You will have to hurry up for your mussels as they will stop at the end of the month. On Saturday bought Sharrington’s first bunch of 2022 asparagus – complete heaven for 6/7 weeks and then the samphire season begins.

        1. You are making me drool. If it were not for this Covid business we would have made a trip up next week! We did have some delicious mussels last week from Waitrose.

      2. I thought that yesterday’s blog, with the very attentive and irrepressible MP drawing lots, was a real gas. And I had a lot of fun watching each horse enter its gate. Don’t know where my Mighty Thunder of a horse finished but I was reminded of the first time I ever bet on a horse, at the Canandaigua Race Track (up in the Finger Lakes of NY): He was named ‘Natural Piety’ (after Wordsworth’s line in My Heart Leaps Up, I naturally thought, and he was a dead-cert to win). Finished absolutely last.

  4. 2.5*/4*. This was good fun and reasonably light on the whole, although the last few clues took a bit of teasing out with 16a my last one in and favourite. I can’t make much sense out of the surface for 10d.

    Many thanks to Dada and to Senf.

  5. Lots of good, light fun with Dada today. My 4th Sunday of finishing one of his on my own, and it’s very comforting, especially after struggling with about a third of Robyn’s Toughie #11 last night, still undone. But this one was quite pleasant, especially the perimeter clues (and 27a made me laugh even if it took me a while to work it out). Glad I remembered that SUV from a previous iteration, nothing like it this side of the pond. I think 16a & 10d finished in a dead-heat for top honours. Thanks to Senf and Dada.

  6. Done on the train on the way to watch the other team in SW6.
    Pleasantly straightforward, just needed to check my bung in at 17a.
    Favourite was 27a, you can’t beat a bit of schoolboy humour.
    Thanks to all

  7. Often, I struggle on Sundays, but not today (except for a quiver over 17a, but with the checking letters it fell into place).

    Always delighted to see 2d – for the obvious reason, and also because I own one.

    We are going out for a lovely walk, with the aim of returning in time for the Man. City v Liverpool match, and, of course, the denouement of The Masters.

  8. Thanks Senf & Dada. Smooth sailing this morning with just a little pause to untangle and memory-dredge for 17a. Off to the hills with the hellhound.

  9. What a difference from last weeks’ Dada puzzle … talk about chalk and cheese! Sailed through this in record time… 1.5*/4.5*
    Podium contenders include 1a, 9a, 19a, 28a, & 10d with winner 9a, but 10d was a close second.
    11a & 7d made me smile.
    Haven’t seen 2d for a while but another oldie but goodie.

    Thanks to Dada and Senf

  10. What a glorious day! Miffed not to go to Palm Sunday service but standing in our drive I saw the procession going round the church with Noah the Donkey and waved, and lively neighbour brought us back two palm crosses. Talking of crosswords, this was sheer pleasure all the way. I liked 16 and 17a and 8d. Many thanks to Senf and the setter. Our four vaccinations have paid off because I think, despite feeling knocked sideways by a zonking cold, we have got off lightly. Fingers crossed I am ok for the dentist next week!

  11. Straightforward but enjoyable best sums this up. Favourite was 28a. Thanks to Dada and Senf.

  12. I found this a little harder than a usual Sunday, but still very solvable and fairly clued. 1a was my final entry, and my favourite was 16a with an honourable mention for 27a for the smile it brought.

    Thanks to Dada and Senf.

  13. I don’t think that I’ve finished a Sunday crossword since that the blasted head went wrong for nearly a year now so feeling smug!!
    I’ll probably be in trouble but I think that 9d was a clue in a very recent clue – don’t remember which day so that might rescue me from the naughty step.
    Thank you to Dada for the crossword and to Senf for the hints.

    1. It’s good to hear from you again Kath and well done on the solve.

      I think you meant 9a, rather than 9d, and it is an oldie but goodie that did appear in the last week or so with it’s ‘more usual’ cluing. Like you, I have no idea which day it did last appear.

      P.S. A bit of research reveals that the oldie but goodie I was thinking of is not the same as today’s 9a (and that’s all I can say).

  14. I always struggle with Dada but today I went through this like a hot knife through butter. I only needed e-help with 10d, I had another word in mind and couldn’t get past it. I even remembered 2d, we had that not long ago, I hadn’t heard of it then. How do I choose a fave in this treasure trove? I think it has to be 17a, I’ve always liked the word.
    Thank you Dada for the fun, and thanks for your hints and tips Senf. Wordle in 4.

  15. 2/4. Another very doable Dada puzzle. Not a lot of pen sucking needed. 2d seems familiar and 27a was a bit clunky. Either way thanks to Dada and Senf.

  16. Really enjoyed this puzzle, nice mix of smiles and misdirection.
    Thanks to Dada, and Senf for hints…not needed this week which makes a change.

  17. I thought I had already replied to this post. I rather enjoyed this when I got a round tuit. I can’t choose between any of the eight peripheral clues so I won’t Thanks to Dada and Senf (not tempted to hint 16a?)

  18. Dada has been kind to us today and I found this painlessly doable. Initially went for wrong 23a solution without satisfactorily parsing fragile. Had enough checkers for 27a to preclude need to fathom surface. Joint Favs 17a and 7d. Thank you Dada and Senf.

  19. Thanks to Dada and to Senf for the hints. Super puzzle today, not too tricky. I liked 1a, but my favourite was 16a. Was 2* /4* for me. Great fun.

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