Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 3183 (Hints)
Hints and tips by Senf
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A very good Sunday morning from Winnipeg where, at the end of the week, we had a mini-heatwave with high temperatures in the mid-teens!
For me, Dada reasonably friendly with four long uns, seven anagrams (three partials), one 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 – 12a, 20a, 28a, 2d, 14d, and 25d.
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 Stop right there and use a ruler? (4,3,4)
Perform a metaphorical act, perhaps, to indicate where someone should stop?
12a One pilfered by the felon, originally — here’s the culprit! (5)
The Roman numeral for One contained (pilfered) by THE from the clue and the initial letter (originally) of Felon.
16a Small boats welcome in new design (8)
A two letter word of welcome inserted into (in) an anagram (new) of DESIGN.
20a Artist’s boiling kettle? (8)
A double definition – the first is well known for a painting of his mother.
23a Old German boy has stolen a kiss (5)
The term for a boy as male issue containing (has stolen) A from the clue and the letter that is used to represent a kiss.
24a Join idiot in conversation? (4)
The homophone (in conversation) of a three letter synonym of idiot.
28a Cold counter with cod, plaice etc? (5-6)
A synonym of counter (as in display) and a (2,4) term equivalent to with cod, plaice, etc.
Down
2d Play whose characters go just beyond Quebec and India? (5,3,6)
Think phonetically – the characters that follow (go just beyond) Quebec and India in the phonetic alphabet.
3d Upward surge for wild animal (4)
A synonym of surge reversed (upward).
7d Appetisers with pork warmed up? (4,2,8)
The animals which pork comes from in an item of bedding to keep them warm? – this took a bit of research to establish the exact items and I believe that the illustration is the UK ‘version’ and, remember if you feel the need to discuss this, prize puzzle rules apply.
10d Immutable, as stone flying through the air, perhaps? (4-3-4)
How one might describe a stone in terms of solidity and the speed of something flying through the air.
14d A king, in retiring, all of a quiver (5)
A from the clue and the chess notation for King all inserted into (in) a synonym of retiring (as a personal characteristic).
21d Dance with two beers? (6)
A term for a beer in terms of its container (and, for once, not the down under version) repeated (two) – my first reaction was that the enumeration should be (3-3) but the BRB agrees with Dada, or should it be Dada agrees with the BRB.
26d Note remaining briefly, musical symbol (4)
A letter designation for a musical note and a synonym of remaining with the last letter removed (briefly).
Quick Crossword Pun:
JOIN + OGRE + OATS = JOHN O’GROATS
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A one hit wonder from August 1975, reasonably easy to understand why. Typically Tropical were, apparently, two recording studio sound engineers from Wales! –
As usual on Sunday these days, light but very enjoyable indeed.
My picks go to 12&19a plus the clever 15d, my LOI, but top spot has to go to the LOL 28a.
Many thanks to Dada and Senf.
A nice friendly puzzle for a miserably wet Shropshire morning. The long clues went in fairly easily and formed a good base for a rapid completion. 20a was my favourite, although I did enjoy 2d, as obvious as it was. The Quickie pun was so bad it was good.
Thanks to Dada and the ever-present Senf.
Had I noticed the pun before posting I’d have put it on my podium.
Very enjoyable and pretty straightforward, I agree with Y+S 20a was my favourite and made me smile ☺
Light though for me maybe a tad less straightforward than the last few Sundays. As usual still enjoyable while it lasted. Liked the long ‘uns but top 2 for me – 7d’s Christmas dinner essential & 18d. Hosing it down here in Harpenden – no starter duties today as the golf course closed so a rare Sunday off with my feet up before venturing out tonight for a gig by William The Conqueror at The Lexington in Pentonville Rd, which I’m looking forward to.
Thanks to D&S.
Ps shame Dada didn’t clue 13d in the Quickie differently as the missing X could easily have been accommodated.
1.5*/4.5*. Thus was light and a lot of fun.
Unless I’m missing something I’m not sure why “finally” is needed in 15d.
My favourite is 28a with 2d & 25d joining it on my podium.
Many thanks to Dada and to Senf.
15d Finally is identifying the final letter of tricks.
Thanks, Gazza and Angellov. I took the clue to be just a weakish cryptic definition, but it’s actually a very clever all-in-one.
RD – the ‘S’ is needed for 15d hence tricks finally.
Gazza you got in while I was posting!
Not a very good clue and this is how I saw it.
Not a ‘guess a card game with tricks’ – an anagram (played) of WITH and the last letter (finally) of trickS for a definition of card game.
I thought 15d was a brilliant clue, given the surface read and the nature of the game.
Very enjoyable with my morning coffee. 9a made me chuckle.
Very pleasant, amusing, and fun to do, with an interesting variation on clueing the Bard as well as some very clever long ones, but my favourite today is 28a, with 20a, 23a, & 25d the wily runners-up. Thanks to Senf and Dada. **/****
A very demanding Toughie today, but I got there finally.
Very entertaining – many thanks to Dada and Senf,
Top clues for me were 20a, 28a and 7d.
A considerable improvement on the last four days in terms of enjoyment, this crossword came as a something of arelief. 27a was the best of the clues for me, followed by 2d and 17a. Thanks to Senf for the hints and to Dada for an approachable puzzle.
Phew – remission after a demanding cruciverbal week. South was gentlest half although was a bit slow in the uptake on 2d bung-in. Joint Favs 9a and 20a. Thanks Dada and Senf.
Good Sunday fare with a few laughs along the way. The small boats took a while to show up, just me having one of what Kath calls her dim days…….
Can’t see beyond 28a for the top spot with 7d slipping in behind it.
Thanks to Dada and to Senf for the hints but I refuse to accept the ear worm you proffered!
Excellent puzzle, just about the perfect level for a Sunday IMHO.
My favs were 27a, 18d and the best 20a.
Thx to all
***/*****
Nicely pitched 3* for difficulty.
20 and 27a brought a smile.
Very clever clueing eg 8a and 7d.
Many thanks Dada and Senf.
So many great clues in this great Dada offering for this week. Absolutely brilliant puzzle.
1*/5* for me with this one.
Favourites are again numerous but top contenders include 1a, 9a, 16a, 20a, 28a, 7d & 18d with winner 28a.
1a, 20a, 18d all made me laugh.
Not a single negative comment on this puzzle as it was to me what a cryptic puzzle should be. Nothing obtuse and no obscure GK clues. Thank you Mr H.
Thanks to Dada and Senf for double duty again this week.
Just right for a Sunday morning. Plenty of long clues to give lots of checkers for the others. I loved the misdirection in 9a which luckily didn’t hold me up too long unlike 27a and 28a which were very clever. In retrospect I don’t know why the penny took so long to drop but hindsight is a wonderful thing! I enjoyed the whole thing but particularly 9a, 20a 14d and 26d. Thanks to both Dada and Senf.
Well, I agree with everyone including Brian. Absolutely delicious with, I think, 27a taking my top spot though closely followed by 28a,9a, 12a,20a and 2d. So much to like. We were all set to go and visit DD1 but this morning were dissuaded by the dismal weather forecast- George didn’t fancy driving to Worcester and back (she’s been moved to yet another hospital) in pouring rain. And now here we are sitting in glorious sunshine south of Cambridge. Bother (that is a euphemism for something much stronger) Many thanks to Dada and Senf. For a while I was on pangram alert by it was a red herring!
I am amazed DG, some 60 miles NE of you and its freezing and pouring, all day!
Found this harder than the last two days puzzles and so not very enjoyable.
Thanks to Senf and Dada.
A nice light start to my Sunday with lots to like, but I’ll go for 28A and 27A (in that order) for my top picks. Thanks to Senf and Dada.
We found this perfectly straightforward after struggling with some yesterday. Tissues was much more fun. Favourite was 20a. Thanks to Dada and Senf.
Tissues should read this was.
This was enjoyable and v clever. 27a held me up for ages until I realised it was an anagram and I had 25 d wrong, now fixed. D on a very very limited diet for 2 days prior to an ‘investigation’ on Tuesday at Norwich so supper is 75g white fish and 2 Tbs of orzo and thats it. I guess I’ll have to follow it too. Thanks to Senf and the setter – a relief to finish the week with such a super and reasonable puzzle.
1/5. What a quality puzzle!!! After a difficult last few days this was so refreshing and cleverly constructed. Loved 9&28a and 2&21d. The podium belongs to 28a for the smile it created. Thanks to Dada and Senf.
Thanks to Dada and to Senf for the hints. A very enjoyable puzzle, very well constructed. Got 10d from the hint, but not sure if it’s right as it doesn’t seem to fit with 22a. Found this really difficult. Was 4* / 4* for me. Favourite was 2d.
This wouldn’t have been out of place on a Monday – surprisingly light for a Dada, such that even when outside a bottle of the red stuff, it fell swiftly. Sadly I realise it was literally an unremarkable puzzle – no ticks for Hon Mentions or podium places, nothing stood out for me.
1*/2*
Thanks to Dada – if it really was him – and to Senf
I agree Mustafa G, a bit Campbellish. Smooth and funny, a big, pretty grid, rotational symmetry. So much to love but favourites 16, 20, 27 & 28a.
Thanks Dada and Senf.
A great selection of clues, the doable and the headscratchers. I finished this, with help. 27a, after much mental effort, was my LOI. I realised from early on that this was an anagram but the answer eluded me for a very long time. Among others eligible for the podium this is quite definitely COTD. Thanks to the setter for an excellent puzzle and to Senf for hints and pictures.