ST 3180 (Hints) – Big Dave's Crossword Blog
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ST 3180 (Hints)

Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 3180 (Hints)

Hints and tips by Senf

+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +

A very good Sunday morning from Winnipeg where it is getting to be more and more autumnal especially as we have had at least two frosty mornings this week.

For me, Dada slightly more friendly than last week with a touch of quirkiness – three crackerjack long uns, eight anagrams (five partials), one not an anagram, two lurkers, and two homophones – all in a very asymmetric 29 clues; with 15 hints ‘sprinkled’ throughout the grid you should be able to get the checkers to enable the solving of the unhinted clues.

Candidates for favourite – 12a, 15a, 1d, 20d, 24d, and the Pun.

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

8a Carelessness evident, having cut right cheek (9)
A single ten letter word equivalent to carelessness evident with the single letter for Right deleted (having cut).

11a I’ll get this drink mixed with our spoon, say (5,4,6)
An anagram (mixed) of WITH OUR SPOON, SAY.

15a Cosmetic discovered, abhorrent to American (10,5)
A five letter synonym of discovered and an anagram (abhorrent) of TO AMERICAN – my five bob is telling me that it is unlikely that abhorrent will be found in a list of anagram indicators.

22a Country where I live, rail winding around it (7)
I from the clue and the two letter synonym of live, all contained by (around it) an anagram (winding) of RAIL.

24a Sailor qualified as tinker, tailor, soldier etc? (4,2,3,6)
A frequently used alternative term for sailor and a phrase which encompasses tinker, tailor, etc, etc.

27a An inebriated monarch, presenter of programme (9)
AN from the clue and an anagram (inebriated) of MONARCH.

Down

1d Prospect uplifting the four of us? (4)
Start by changing THE FOUR OF US (which uses the objective first person plural pronoun) into a (2,4) phrase (which uses the nominative first person plural pronoun). Next, convert the number word in the phrase into Roman numerals. Finish by reversing all of it (uplifting).

3d Sassy part of shoe, not unfilled (8)
The part of a shoe which is in direct contact with one’s foot and NoT with the interior letter deleted (unfilled) – I will let RD say that the definition is an Americanism.

5d One doubts I can go dancing around street (8)
An anagram (dancing) of I CAN GO containing (around) the abbreviated form of street.

7d College polished off, we hear? (4)
A homophone (we hear) of a single word for polished off (as in consumed).

16d Girl’s best friend in suit? (8)
A double definition – the illustration should help.

17d Soil slightly damaged, taste evidence of disaster? (3,5)
I wonder if Dada knows that I have a ‘thing’ about four letter anagrams, although he did use one in 22a – move one of the outer letters of SOIL from one end to the other (slightly damaged) and add a synonym of taste (by using one’s tongue?).

23d Rod and line in cart (6)
Not going fishing – a synonym of (usually metal) rod and a synonym of line.

24d Only gravy on last of meat (4)
A three letter synonym of gravy (‘borrowed’ or should it be ‘stolen’ from those fine folk across the Channel) placed before (on) the last (letter) of meaT.

25d Drop some plates in kitchen (4)
A lurker (some) found in three words in the clue.


Quick Crossword Pun:

FIDEL + STYX = FIDDLESTICKS


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Gordon Matthew Thomas Sumner CBE, better known as Sting, is 71 today.  He was the frontman, songwriter and bassist for new wave rock band The Police from 1977 to their breakup in 1986.  The video is from a Reunion Tour concert in Tokyo in 2008 of the 1983 Number One that came to be known as The Police’s and Sting’s signature song:

36 comments on “ST 3180 (Hints)

  1. I thought this was typical of what Dada is on Sundays… light but very enjoyable.
    I had to check the “drive down” in 14d and was “slightly” curious as to the exact role of “slightly” in 17d, but Senf has confirmed my suspicions, I don’t remember coming across that modification before.
    Anyway, great fun, I particularly liked the long ones at 11,15&24a plus 8a and 1d.
    Many thanks to Dada and Senf, seen the Police video many times but always enjoy it.

    1. Oddly popular at weddings given it is a dark tale of coercive control.
      If anyone finds my blue vinyl 45 Roxanne can they let me know? Probably worth more than my car now.

  2. A slightly quirky ,puzzle from Dada this week, with some interesting hybrid clues, which seemed to be part anagram, part lego and some nice cryptic definitions . I liked 5a, 12a, 22a and 24a, the latter being my COTD. Thanks to Senf for the hints And to our Sunday compiler.

  3. An enjoyable puzzle with a generous serving of anagrams – thanks to Dada and Senf.
    The clues I liked best were 13a, 24a and 1d.

  4. Quite slow to get into this today, maybe still a little fuzzy headed as it’s a lazy Sunday morning, but once I had a few, the rest came easily. No real stand out favourites but liked both of the 15 letter clues. Thanks to the setter.

  5. Once I found a way in, this flowed nicely and raised quite a few smiles.
    Top three here were 8,11&24a – been a long time since I heard 11a used.

    Thanks to Dada and to Senf for the hints and the music – played at full volume!

  6. A very friendly puzzle this morning, bright and cheerful like the weather. Nothing too tricky, one just had to follow the instructions and all became clear very speedily. I, too, will nominate 24a as my favourite.

    Many thanks to Dada for the fun, and to Senf.

  7. Very enjoyable puzzle. Last one in 23, but only because I parsed it incorrectly.
    My cotd 11a

  8. An enjoyable Sunday treat with South leading the field but 11a was Fav. Bunged in both 15a and 14d. Thank you Dada and the omnipresent Senf.

  9. I would say this is light for Dada. I completed the bottom half including the long one across the middle quickly. Top half followed aided by 11a once I had the first letter. Was then even quicker than the bottom but leaving 4d. I thought I may have to resort to a hint but there wasn’t one. I then latched in to a possible synonym but I was only satisfied when I looked again at the last four letters. Thanks Dada and Senf. Will now peruse the hints.

  10. For me the quickest solve of the week, such that I was questioning whether it really was Dada. Very enjoyable, great partial and full anagrams, good surfaces and nothing esoteric. Hon Mentions to 19a, 24a and 5d.

    Many thanks to Dada and Senf.

  11. Last one in was 4D and to my shame I had to reveal a letter. Oh, well. Favorite for me was 11A. Thanks Dada and Senf.

  12. It’s all been said: quirky, light. But lots of ahs, the anagrams were more than fun due to some lovely surfaces and a little misdirection.
    3d & 8a were all the better for their transection.
    Favourite 15a for the penny- drop of disentanglement.

  13. Slow at first but rapidly gained momentum.
    The long anagrams helped considerably.
    And they were very good surfaces.
    A friendly */*****
    24a my COTD.
    Many thanks Dada and Senf

  14. Came here just to find out how 15a worked – it was obvious what the answer was, but I just wasn’t getting the wordplay there! Nice and straightforward one otherwise!

  15. What’s not to like about this splendid puzzle? The hardest thing being to pick a favourite but we’ll go with 15a. Thanks to Dada and Senf.

  16. A relatively gentle puzzle today from Dada, but a touch of his quirkiness comes out in some of the clues today.
    For me 2*/4* today.

    Podium favourites today include 11a, 12a, 24a, 3d & 23d

    Fun solve for this Sunday morning where we are expecting 25-27C weather on this 2nd Oct

    Thanks to Dada and Senf for the hints

  17. Looked intractable at the start but turned out v straightforward and we finished in double quick time after finishing Saturday’s first.

  18. After 10 hours of sleep, post-Hurricane Ian, I finally got some rest and today’s Dada was just the further tension-easer I needed. Loved the long ones but I think the simple but very clever 24d is my pick of the day. Thanks to Senf and Dada. ** / ****

      1. I was thinking the same. I hope he’s ok & pops in to let us know. We also have heard from LabradorsRuleOk for a long time.

    1. Thank goodness you are OK – I expect we have all been checking in regularly to see if you have posted!

  19. Been busy last couple of weekends and had been missing the Sunday Dada enjoyment! This one was a delight to solve – on first reading, it seemed beyond me, but slowly, and having the long 24A as a starter (I was a sailor after all😜) the puzzle started to fill in bottom up.
    Some classic Dada-esque mis-direction and others with a bit of clever wit – as ever…brilliant!
    Thoroughly enjoyed!
    Many thanks Mr D and, of course to Senf for a great blog ‘n hints including the Police video 👍
    Saw Sting last month here in Virginia Beach – fantastic show with all the old Police hits sounding just as good as they ever did…just brilliant!!
    Cheers!

  20. Thoroughly enjoyed this although it took me 2 sessions to finish it. It was more of a challenge than yesterday’s. I liked 21d which hasn’t had a mention so far. ***/****

  21. Where is everyone – the comments look a bit thin on the ground today – I wonder why!
    It took me too long to get 15a – it had to be what it was but couldn’t see why.
    I thought it was a really good crossword – now to pick out some particular clues – I think the long ones and 14d.
    Thanks to Dada and to Senf.

  22. Like MG I found this one as straightforward as you’re ever likely to get with Dada & waltzed through it in a shade over * time. Enjoyable but it doesn’t feel the same if there’s not a couple of head scratchers in there. Liked the 3 long ‘uns.
    Thanks to D&S

  23. The usual excellent standard from Dada.
    Always half a dozen head-scratchers for me, always satisfied to finish.

    ***/*****

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