ST 3189 (Hints) – Big Dave's Crossword Blog
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ST 3189 (Hints)

Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 3189 (Hints)

Hints and tips by Senf

+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +

A very good Sunday morning from Winnipeg, where, at the beginning of the month, we already have enough snow on the ground and appropriate temperatures that will ensure that we will have a White Christmas.  It will be interesting to see if we actually get any snowfall on the day.

For me, and I stress for me, Dada gave me several pauses for thought, with four anagrams (two partials), one lurker (reversed), and one homophone, all in a symmetric 32 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, 12a, 22a, 5d, 8d, 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 Second pain, possible result of using needle? (10)
A synonym of second (as in support) and a type of pain (experienced during exercise?).

9a Flash gift, by the sound of it? (5)
The homophone (by the sound of it) of a synonym of gift (as in ability).

10a Furious scoter glad, having knocked out a warbler (9)
An anagram (furious) of SCOTER GLaD with the A removed (knocked out a) – I presume that Dada is using warbler as a generic term.

17a Kitchen device that’s old covered in small amount of food (7)
The single letter for Old contained by (covered in) a single word for small amount of food (as in sample).

21a Song plays when dancing in company (7)
An anagram (when dancing) of PLAYS inserted into (in) the two letter abbreviation for COmpany.

22a Publish bunch of lies, initially ignored (5)
A single word term (collective noun?) for a bunch of lies with the first letter removed (initially ignored).

27a General item in biscuit tin? (9)
It’s that man again – a double definition – the first is an Italian General from the 1800s.

30a European team very angry in America, eliminated (4,6)
A synonym of very, an (inf; orig US) synonym of angry, and a synonym of eliminated.

Down

1d Polish expert (4)
A double definition – the first refers to the act of making shiny.

2d Fellow student unfortunately came last , son claimed (9)
An anagram (unfortunately) of CAME LAST containing (claimed) the single letter for Son.

5d Gather there’s little room after turning round in bed (7)
A little room (used for incarceration?) reversed (after turning round) and inserted into (in) a type of bed.

8d Flip out, as might popped cork? (3,3,4)
A potential result of the release of a champagne cork?.

16d Vacated pub into which brought different fragrant plant (3,4)
The middle letter of PuB deleted (vacated) with a synonym of different inserted (into which brought) into what remains.

18d Cream in prize vessel tipped over (3,6)
A synonym of prize (as in bounty) and a type of vessel (for jam?) all reversed (tipped over).

25d Curry in the morning, right, fine to serve up? (5)
The reversal (to serve up) of all of the abbreviation of the Latin term for in the morning, the single letter for Right, and the two letters used for fine.

26d Classic dealings curtailed (4)
A synonym of dealings with the last letter removed (curtailed).


Quick Crossword Pun:

AUTUMN + ATTIC = AUTOMATIC

The Quick Puzzle on the ‘new’ puzzles web site indicates that there are three words required for the pun but, having consulted with one of our experts, that is probably an error and only the two indicated are required. If you have managed to use the third word, let us know.


Could new readers please read the Welcome post and the FAQ before posting comments or asking questions about the site.

As this is a Prize crossword, please don’t put any ANSWERS, whether WHOLE, PARTIAL or INCORRECT, or any ALTERNATIVE CLUES OR HINTS in your comment.

Please read these instructions carefully – they are not subject to debate or discussion. Offending comments may be redacted or, in extreme cases, deleted. In all cases the administrator’s decision is final.

If you don’t understand, or don’t wish to comply with, the conventions for commenting on weekend prize puzzles then save yourself a lot of trouble and don’t leave a comment.


Showaddywaddy were a rock and roll group, still are apparently with many changes of personnel, formed in the 1970s and specialising in revivals of hit songs from the 1950s and early 1960s, while also issuing original material. This, originally recorded by Curtis Lee in 1961, began three weeks at number one on this day in 1976:

 

42 comments on “ST 3189 (Hints)

  1. Loved this 18d puzzle, for me as good as, if not better than last week’s excellent offering.
    In a strong field my frontrunners are 15&30a plus 7&11d.
    Many thanks to Dada.and Senf

  2. 2*/4.5*. I really enjoyed this with a crowded podium of 1a, 12a, 5d, 7d & 11d.

    Many thanks to Dada and to Senf.

    P.S. in the Quickie in the paper only two clues are italicised.

      1. Nothing more is needed, Angelica. My comment was for Senf’s information as he reported that on the new puzzles website three words are specified for the pun, which he says (correctly it seems!) is probably an error.

  3. Great Sunday offering.
    Good progress from the lower half.
    Last in 14d, took time as I was fixated, stupidly, on a 3,6 combination instead of the correct 4,6, my 3 being the word RED.
    Put me into 2.5* time.
    COTDs joint 27a and 11d.
    Thanks to Dada and Senf.

  4. Nearly gave up after two clues as I was going nowhere, but then steadily got into it and all became clear,…. except 11d. Stared at it for some while until just one answer would fit. Looked it up and it was correct, still, never heard of him (or her?) My favourite today was 24a, lets hope ours are on form tonight!

  5. Managed this as I had time for coffee after clearing up the breakfast clutter and found it the usual mixture of clues that came easily and others where words were only distantly related to the word in the clue and not in common usage. Still I solved them all with no electronic help which must be my first with a Dada puzzle.

    22a took a lot of parsing as the word beheaded is not in constant use in that context these days and is joint favourite with 21d. Honourable mentions also to 21a and 30a.

    My thanks to Senf and Dada for fine fare for Sunday.

  6. That was such a lot of fun and somehow had a fresh feel about it although apparently it was a Dada product with which I often struggle. SE was trickiest corner. Not quite clear about inspiring in 7d. 24a topically amused. Thank you Dada and Senf.

  7. Another run out for 12&27a today but I guess that’s a problem all setters have to confront. I note that the festive season didn’t get a look in but the football did!
    Tops for me were 5&7d.

    Thanks to Dada and to Senf for the hints, pics and music – made me smile to see those long jackets with velvet collars!

  8. Very enjoyable Sunday puzzle. Difficult enough to keep you interested but with enough easily solvable clues to encourage you.
    Last in was a pesky 4 letter clue 4d. My fav by a long chalk was 30a.
    ***/****
    Thx to all

  9. Like Brian, my favourite was 30a; I am still chuckling to myself.

    I had never heard of 11d, but the wordplay got me there.

    Many thanks to Dada, and to Senf.

  10. Terrific entertainment for a miserably grey Sunday morning. There were just enough tricky clues to keep this interesting throughout the solve, with 1a and 11d to the fore. Great stuff.

    My thanks to Dada and Senf.

  11. This was a topsy-turvy Dada for me. I usually start slowly and speed up towards the end. Today, I set off at a great pace only to slow down almost to a stop with about half a dozen to go. Perseverance paid off but I am not sure about the parsing of 14d, which means I submit on a Sunday more in hope than certainty. We have a 19a visit us regularly so it was a pleasure to come across it in the puzzle. 20d held me up for ages because I was hunting for the wrong synonym. My COTD is 18d because of the pennies that dropped around me.

    I would like to make a comment on 12a but it would put me on the Naughty Step, which is not a place to be in this dreary weather.

    Thank you, Dada for a most enjoyable puzzle. Thank you Senf for the hints and I wish we could have some snow. These days, our winters tend to be cold and wet.

  12. Started slowly yesterday evening and finished at a trot this morning. Favorites are 1A, 12A, and 11D. Thanks Dada and Senf. Hoping my grandson stops by before the match so he can log me into his sports subscription so I can see it live!

  13. I am still hung up on 14d and 19a. Steve says he is visited regularly by 19a so it could be a chiropodist or a carer or maybe an animal! I’ll walk away and come back to it. It is bitterly cold and my printer, although it will print, will not scan. It will not recognise the scanner so I cannot submit my puzzle anyway. Daisies for 12,22 &30a
    and 7,11&16d. Many thanks to the Setter and to Senf. Flipping football on television AGAIN (yes I know I am shouting) surely there is a sports channel they can put it on. I cannot stand all that screaming. ☹️

    1. I would suggest that Steve has made a typo and is regularly visited by a 10a not a 19a which, by the way, is a double definition. And, trying to be as cryptic as possible, if Elon Musk carries on as he is at the moment, the second definition might be an ‘endangered species’ :wink:

      1. Oh I do love this blog!
        That made me laugh. Your hint for 19 confirms what I thought it might be, thanks.

    2. Sorry to mislead you, Daisygirl. A Senf says, it was an error on my part and I meant 10a.

      BTW, I am totally in agreement with you regarding football.

      1. You are jolly lucky to have a visit from 10a, all I get is big black things these days.
        (being very careful not to get myself put out in the cold on the naughty step)

    3. DG re your scanner. Mine too is currently not working because Canon has not yet produced the software to synchronise with Apple’s new operating system – Ventura. Just in case you are using the same products.

    4. I agree, why do they have to make so much noise? I don’t yell when I’m watching my tennis!

  14. There are very few things in life more annoying than almost completing the crossword unaided except for one indecipherable (by me) clue. I’ve never heard of the artist at 11d. Too add insult to injury there was no hint for it either, which must mean that it was considered too easy to merit one! Oh, well, there’s always tomorrow.

    1. To me, all clues merit a hint because there will be a ‘puzzled’ solver for every clue. However, within the guidelines for Prize Puzzle blogging that is not possible. But, I did provide three of the four checkers from the intersecting Acrosses.

      1. Thanks, Senf. I wasn’t complaining, just laughing at life’s vicissitudes and my own ignorance of French artists. I gathered that the rules don’t allow a hint for every clue on weekend prize puzzles. Thanks again.

  15. Great fun, nicely challenging as usual for me, with 30a making me laugh, with its good old American phrase. I especially liked 11d (one of my favourites), 5d, & 18d. Thanks to Senf and Dada. **/***

  16. Enjoyable puzzle, with extra pleasure to see the couple of topical sporting clues, 24a and 30a, making them my favourites. Today I was left with a few stragglers which required hinting – so thanks to Senf and setter for the fun.
    27a reminded me of my Nan who used to love said treat with a cheeky sherry – at any time of the day!

  17. All fairly straightforward today but no less enjoyable for that with some really good clues. Favourite was 18d. Thanks to Dada and Senf.

  18. I found this quite difficult in parts today, despite getting 1a almost immediately! Perseverance led me to an unaided finish but it’s a good job I wasn’t timing myself. Never heard of 11d, but the wordplay led me to an answer confirmed by a Google check. 14d held me up for a while until I remembered that Dada has a thesaurus all of his own so I tried a little lateral thinking. Still can’t fully parse 15a and, of course, it’s not clued so I’ll need to wait for a while to make sure that I’m correct. I very much liked 9a, 30a, 8d and 21d. Thanks to Dada for the Sunday morning workout and Senf for his confirmation of some of my answers.

  19. For me found this a relatively non-quirky Dada puzzle today.
    2*/4.5* for me.

    Lots of great clues including 12a, 13a, 27a, 30a, 8d & 18d with my winner 8d
    Smiles came from 13a, 20a, 27a & 14d

    Only word I had trouble with, that required a google search, was 11d

    Thanks to Dada and ‘Senf in the Winterpeg snow’!

  20. I managed this over coffee and scones with Mama Bee with just a peek at the Google and the hints to confirm the artist.
    Thanks to Dada and Senf.
    The white stuff is on our forecast this week but just a splotch here and there – not a patch on yours in Canada I am sure.

  21. Not easy but doable with some ehelp. I’d never heard of 25d and, natch, the footbally clue at 24a resulted in a DNF, only two missed, I think that’s quite good. I liked 12a but fave has to be 27a, took me ages to tumble to “general”.
    I must go, my aide is agitating for me to go in the pool to see if I get some relief from my bruised tailbone! I’ll read all the comments later.

  22. A rare appearance by me, I’ve been enjoying the Telegraph cryptic and this excellent blog for many years but these days I seldom start the crossword until the evening if not the day after, so usually a bit late to join in the discussions!
    I’m currently enjoying a much-needed break in St Mawes, Cornwall, with Mrs PVilly – we’ve been staying in the same apartment for the last 10 years and it was also not far from here that I saw my first ever 10a – I agree with Senf, ‘generic’ indeed.
    Dada’s recent benevolence continues, and I found this very enjoyable, the main challenges being in the NW corner – my favourite and last in was 11d, one of those clues that suddenly clicked after some head-scratching.
    Thanks to Dada and Senf as always.

  23. Well I really struggled with this but had another bash at it this morning and hey presto I’ve only got three more to do but will come back to it later. I like to start the crossword when I go to bed and then when I wake up no matter what time of the night! Like PVilly I think lots of people do this and I really enjoy reading the comments the following morning. I was really stuck on 16d and I enjoyed 7d. Many thanks to Senf and Dada. I was interested to read about reader’s experiences of sherry on the letters pages. I buy a bottle of Harvey’s every Christmas. Having spent much of my life in Bristol so seems rude not to! Very enjoyable and I have a glass about 5 o’clock.

  24. Thanks to the Post Office I’ve not received my latest book of vouchers. Where are they? The help desk has promised me some emergency ones. Great. How? By post!
    COTD 21a

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