Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 2750 (Hints)
Hints and tips by Big Dave
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
As is usual for the weekend prize crosswords, I will select a number of the more difficult clues and provide hints for them.
Don’t forget that you can give your assessment of the puzzle. Five stars if you thought it was great, one if you hated it, four, three or two if it was somewhere in between.
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 a “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 Like chatting in company with citizen about poetry, mostly (14)
CO(mpany) followed by a citizen or subject around most of some poetry
9a Sun is awful — part of dilemma is still having woollen coat on (7)
An anagram (is awful) of SUN followed by one or other part of a what may impale someone, according to the well-known phrase meaning faced with a decision involving equally unfavourable alternatives
10a Monk holding naughty dance in South America (7)
A Buddhist monk around an adjective meaning naughty
12a Endlessly endangers health? That could make he-man so sick (5-6)
An anagram (that could make) of HE-MAN SO SICK
15a Like a good jumper, strongly built (4-4)
This adjective meaning strongly built or powerful is cryptically like a good jumper or sweater
19a How person jumping off Pont Neuf might be pronounced? (6)
Split as (2,4) this sounds like (pronounced) where someone who has jumped off the Pont Neuf in Paris might finish up, as (6) it possibly describes how their mentality might be pronounced or assessed
26a Cause of ill-feeling, friend pinching certain amount of work (7)
A friend around (pinching) the CGS unit of work
27a Lots come here on top of the sledge? Just the opposite (5,3,6)
Where auction lots come is the opposite of on top followed by a sledge or heavy tool used for such jobs as breaking rocks and driving in fence posts
Down
1d Reckon mere rearranging’s a positive preventive step (14)
A verb meaning to reckon or add up followed by an anagram (rearranging) of MERE, the A from the clue and an adjective meaning positive or certain
3d Having raised mark, pass English without support in school (4,7)
Reverse (having raised in a down clue) a verb meaning to mark or write down followed by a three-letter word for a pass and E(nglish) around a support, such as one for a table
5d A fast time in boat race Oxford finally accomplished (8)
The A from the clue and a time of fasting in the Christian calendar inside the final letters of three words in the clue
6d Circle ruler, initially, as measure of resistance (3)
The letter shaped like a circle followed by the two-letter abbreviation accorded to a ruler or monarch
16d Display rope that gives extra protection when camping (8)
A verb meaning to display or show, for example, a flag followed by a nautical term for a rope
20d For racing tipster, starting price, for example, is a sign about horse (7)
How do you get, for example, from RACING TIPSTER to STARTING PRICE (or vice versa)? To find the answer put the A from the clue and the three-letter English word for a particular sign of the zodiac around a three-letter word for a horse
21d Face very learned person taking one in (6)
V(ery) and a learned person around (taking … in) I (one)
25d Crop doubled in bumper year? Yes (3)
This type of grain crop is hidden not once but twice inside the final three words in the clue
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 in your comment.
Please read these instructions carefully. Offending comments may be redacted or deleted.
| Today it’s Happy Birthday to Katherine Jenkins (34) | ||||
 |
ARVE Error: need id and provider |
|||
A delightful intellectual breakfast for the Pangbourne crew, Audley, Hannam, Peter and Gill. Thx to v and bd for the acetyl choline.
Let’s see how Mrs T does…
My rating is 2*/4* for yet another superb Sunday crossword.
19a made me laugh out loud, and 20d was my favourite.
16d was my last one in and I think it should be enumerated (3-5) and not (8). My version of the BRB also gives it only as (3-5). The parsing of this clue eluded me in that I have never come across the last five letters being used as a term for “rope”, and I couldn’t find the nautical meaning referred to by BD in his hints in my BRB.
Many thanks to Virgilius and to BD.
Both of my copies of the BRB (12th and 13th editions) gives the enumeration of 16d as (8) and also definition 2 of the last five letters as a nautical term for a rope.
” Three ***** to the wind ”
Usual super puzzle .Thanks to all .
I have a million things to do this afternoon without having to edit posts and send people to the Naughty Corner.
There is only one rope on a ship and its attached to the Bell. All the rest have various names according to their useage.
Thoroughly enjoyed this puzzle and smiled at 26a as I was sneezing away having forgotten to take my tablet this morning. What a difference a day makes, heavy rain yesterday and glorious sunshine today. I hope your weather is as good, if not better, wherever you are. Thanks to setter and BD.
This was just right for me today, as it provided some challenge, smiles, and eventual success without needing any extra help. Thanks to setter and BD :).
Pleasant solve today.
Faves : the four 14-letter externals and 8a,15a, 23a, 3d, 15d &18d.
19a is what I call a Sootongton clue (French pronunciation of Southampton) – there is a shade of difference between English **** and the river in Paris.
Sorry Derek but you can’t give away partial solutions without being edited and sent to the stoute hoek
Sorry Csue!
Ik zie dat U Nederlands spreekt!
I just put the words ‘Naughty Corner’ into Google Translate
A very good puzzle which was most enjoyable. I got away without using the hints but some got the grey matter working at full throttle. Lots of good clues, 8D and 22A for instance. However my Gold Award goes today to 19A. My thanks to Big Dave for well executed well illustrated review. My rating would be 3/4.5
I thought this was going to be tricky when I first started but finished it without many problems.
I was a bit slow to get 1a and 1d so didn’t have any starting letters to help things along.
9a was my last one and I needed the hint to understand 5d – only had the “Oxford” finally which gave me a couple of spare letters.
I’m getting better at spotting the hidden answers – managed both of them today!
I liked 1 and 27a and 4d. I thought 20d was really clever and my favourite was 19a – wonderful.
With thanks to Virgilius for yet another lovely crossword and to BD for the hints.
I am surprised you didn’t include 24a in your list of likes.
Careful – CS has already said she’s too busy to be sending people to the naughty corner – and anyway it’s not quite the right kind of last five letters!
It’s an in-joke , so anyone in on the in-joke can probably solve 24a themselves.
OK – you’re right. I really have to get over this and move on but . . . .
Cracking puzzle. Like Rabbit Dave 16d held me up until this morning as I thought this was two words but once the synonym for rope came to mind all was well. 20 d is one of the better clues I’ve seen in a while. A **/3.5* for me. Thanks to BD for the hints. Have to mow the lawns today – what fun!
I just got my lawnmower out from the shed, and, as if by magic, it started to rain :-(
“We” are about to cut ours too – I’m hoping that if I spend enough time fiddling about here husband might just have made a start . . .
It worked – result!
This is clearly a ploy that I should use more often!
Terrific puzzle although all those long framing words looked a bit daunting at first.19a -marvelous.Thanks Virgilius and BD, especially for explaining 20d.
I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of this solve and was sorry to finish – so many excellent clues even though for me perhaps OTT on anagrams. Hard to choose a fav but will plump for 19a which amused and 27a as runner-up. Thank you Setter for providing perfect relaxing Sunday entertainment in the garden and BD for your review with special mention for the performance by the birthday girl and Andrea Bocelli.
I just loved this, the top bits going in quite quickly but then slowing up somewhat.
Last one in was 19a, and after looking up all sorts of French words pertaining to drowning, it suddenly dawned on me. That is a very, very clever clue and is hands down my favourite. Others deserve mention, for instance 14a, 20d and 25d. Thanks to Virgilius, you are a star, and to BD for the review.
Good fun, the crossword equivalent of cricket’s fair balance between bat and ball. All there to be solved and often witty. Refreshingly light on abbreviations too so a bonus mark from me!
Well put, a fair balance indeed, tricky but achievable. But how do you all know the setter is called Virgilius, cannot see it in my newspaper, am I being dim?
The setter is Brian Greer, affectionately referred to on this site as Virgilius, one of his setting aliases (he is also known as Brendan in the Guardian). He has set every Sunday puzzle since 12th April 2009 and has a very distinctive style. He often pops in to say hello.
Virgilius is always my favorite puzzle of the week. Even better than usual today!
20d is brilliant … just beating 5d by a short head for my clue of the day.
Super puzzle, v enjoyable especially 19a which made both of use laugh. Took ages to see why those three letters meant pass then I realised it meant mountain pass!
Teach me to look a big more laterally at clues. Got 20d from the wordplay then realised why starting price etc, a brilliant clue!
Thx to all
CS, I know it’s committing a sin to talk about previous puzzles but just wanted to thank you for explaining the one clue of yesterday’s that was really bugging me.
Finished today without needing the hints, so I think it must be pretty straight forward. Very enjoyable. Thank you to the Sunday Setter and to BD for the hints.
Yes: “if I can do it, it’s easy, and if I can’t I’m stupid!” … Well, the veteran solver of this household needed me to give him the last few answers, today, whilst I enjoyed every word. Why don’t you join me and feel the pride! :)
Well done to you. I’m still trying (unsuccessfully so far) to convert husband to cryptics, I’ll keep trying . . .
Thanks, Kath. I don’t actually have a husband, because I’m too picky! But it seems to me, that one who does the lawn instead might not be such a bad thing ;).
I was quite picky too but the one I’ve had for nearly forty years is pretty good so I’ll keep him for a bit longer!
As the wonderful (in my opinion anyway – and I don’t care who disagrees with me) Wogan would say “The present Mrs Wogan” he says it keeps her on her toes . . .
I always love Virgilius’s puzzle and this was no exception but I don’t know why it took me so long to finish it. Maybe I was just savouring it but then again maybe not ….just plain slow. My last one in was 16d and I thought 27a was going to be my favourite until second last one in 19a. Brilliant.. Thanks to Virgilius and BD for explaining 20d ,didn’t see it.
Oh dear! I’ve ground to a halt with 17a – so any permitted help will be very gratefully received. I’ve got all the checking letters but no lght bulb has switched on. Otherwise all done and, with several others, absolutely loved 19a. Thank you setter and BD.
17a – the definition is “wind” – the flower is actually a flower not a river!
Hope I will not be sent to the “stoute hoek”. (Looks very hot for the boys from the Nederlands!)
Hi Poppy you need a three letter city around a five letter flower (the plant variety) to get a type of wind blowing from a certain direction
Thank you, StanXYZ and Mary – I had the city, but was completely stuck otherwise. How silly of me. You’ve saved my sanity!
Usual lovely puzzle from Virgilius. Thanks to him and to BD for the review. Off to the train station for a few days business meetings further north. I won’t be able to print out at my usual early morning time so I’m taking a few of the early NTSPP puzzles along that I haven’t done.
I got the answer to 20d but I still don’t understand it!!??
I want to help, but just a little terrified of being sent to the naughty corner! Anyway … there is an example of the answer in the clue :).
Thanks Kitty I would hate you to be sent there especially as it seems there are no refreshments there!! At one time it was almost fun to be sent there – loads of people and loads of food
Refreshments and lots of naughty people. That does indeed sound like fun!
I’ll just quote Billy Joel:-
“I’d rather laugh with the sinners than cry with the saints
The sinners are much more fun”
I think he’s amazing.
Have you got it yet or is more help needed?
Can’t get the S TEL. Here in Paris. But loved the KJ clip. We are going to see her next w/e at an evening picnic concert. Have missed the puzzles !
I hereby award my first ever 5* enjoyment rating to Virgilius! That was a splendid puzzle – difficult enough for its solution to be very satisfying – with a lot of very good clues. I think I’m the first to go for 10a as favourite, but that accolade could very easily have gone elsewhere. Thanks too to Big Dave for the hints.
Think my old grey cells are working unusually well as I completed today’s puzzle without too much head scratching.
Most enjoyable with 19a inevitably being the favourite as most of my friends and work colleagues consider me to be thus and my mother has taken to calling me Dotty.
:wacko:
Thank you BD and Virgillus
Very enjoyable today – so many ingenious clues to raise a smile. Thanks to Virgilus, and BD for the review – luckily not needed but enjoyed it anyway. 3* difficulty and 5* enjoyment here.
Brilliant! 20D is my clue of the year so far. Ta to V & To BD.
Thanks to Virgilius and to Big Dave for the hints. Another super puzzle on a Sunday. Favourite was 8d. Was 2*/4* for me.
How do you all know the setter is called Virgilius? Am I being dim or unobservant as I cannot find it in the newspaper?
Finished it without looking up BD’s hints, but was stretched, really enjoyed it. 20d is superb, my favourite.
I think 8d and 24a are excellent clues too, because the anagrammed words suggest the meaning.
Also 25a. Thanks very much BD, so handy if stuck and it’s a lovely feeling when I have completed it to check it going through BD’s hints!
See an item in the FAQ area of this site
“How do you know the names of the setters? “
Aha, I see, Thanks Andy