Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 2764 (Hints)
Hints and tips by Big Dave
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Don’t forget to have a go at the October Prize Puzzle
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 University problem — way I’d agitated about learner moving to higher class (8,6)
U(niversity) followed by an anagram (agitated) of PROBLEM WAY I’D around L(earner)
11a Kind of dance that’s labelled as Haitian or Cuban, initially? (3)
This device is usually labelled with the initial letters of H[aitian] or C[uban]
15a Male brought in to make a meal in afternoon (5,3)
M(ale) inside a verb meaning to make and the A from the clue
17a Like records showing main competitor missing second run (8)
An adjective meaning main or chief and a competitor from which the second instance of R(un) has been dropped (missing)
22a Not using care, yet temperature reduced (11)
A six-letter word meaning yet followed by T(emperature) and an adjective meaning reduced
24a Tease about time that set of bones is found in chest (7)
A three-letter verb meaning to tease followed by the single-letter Latin abbreviation for about and a period of time
26a Perform in theatre in musical work they oddly selected (7)
This verb meaning to perform in a hospital theatre is a charade of a musical work and the odd letters of T[h]E[y]
27a After show, model is tense (7,7)
A verb meaning to show or display followed by an adjective meaning model or ideal
Down
1d Weak plant put under sun as it moved around (14)
A plant or workshop preceded by (under in a down clue) an anagram (moved around) of SUN AS IT
2d About which angler may tell one (7)
The story of the one that got away!
5d Spanish killers usually managing to avoid charges (8)
These Spanish killers usually manage to avoid the charging of a bull!
6d Don’t allow sequence of notes, except for local lawyers (3)
A rare quintuple definition.
8d Rifts could result from this initial extension of Constitution (5,9)
This could describe an anagram of RIFTS
13d Adjusts engagement, dresses differently (7,4)
Two definitions – the first being a verb meaning adjusts the engagement of the device that transmits the motion of a car
16d Criticise the combination of old and new in temple (8)
A three-letter verb meaning to criticise followed by THE, O(ld) and N(ew)
21d Get back and start to read Italian author at university (6)
The initial letter (start) of R(ead) followed by the surname of the Italian author of Il nome della rosa (The Name of the Rose) and the usual word for at university
25d Repeatedly in classes has surpassed dunce (3)
This dunce is hidden inside (in) the clue thrice (repeatedly)
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My rating today is 3*/4* for yet another wonderful Sunday puzzle. The SW corner was the final part to fall with the clever 17a my last one in.
I was uncertain why my answer for 11a was right, and was very grateful for BD’s hint for the explanation.
There were far too many good clues to list them all, but I very much liked the four long clues round the edge and the amusingly topical 23a. However, by far and away my favourite was the incredible 6d. What sort of a genius does it take to devise a quintuple definition with good surface reading for a three letter word? Answer: Virgilius!
Many thanks to setter and hinter.
Great stuff! Thanks to Virgilius, and to BD.
Great puzzle from Virgilius – many thanks!
25d – Repeatedly? Isn’t it more than twice?
It is indeed – thrice!
Agreed. I was in a hurry to get to our Harvest lunch!
Excellent puzzle to get to grips with this AM – was a slowish steady solve for me. As Rabbit Dave says – too many good clues to list them all. 2.5*/4.5*
….Forgot to say thanks to Virgilius and BD
A brilliant crossword – thanks to Virgilius.
I needed the hint to understand 11a – even got as far as looking up Haitian and Cuban to see if I was missing something there.
As others have already said, too many good clues to pick out any in particular – maybe the four long answers round the outside and 6d.
Thanks again to Virgilius and to BD for the hints, specially for 11a.
I did the outside long ones first, then the 3-letter ones. Loved the quintuple definition, and the H & C. I marked 2d 6d & 8d as favourites, 15a was last one in, I think I forgot about it.
Thanks for a great puzzle, and thanks BD for the write up
Virgilius has done it again! Lovely stuff. I did work out 11A though it took a bit of thought. 16D was my last one in. So many great clues, but 17A is my favorite. Thanks Virgilius, and thanks to BD for the review.
Wow! Am I improving, or wot? Great puzzle!
I just lurved 11a and 4d, they made me laugh. 27a took me right back to Latin at school.
Thanks Setter and BD.
Agreed! Tricky but delightful (unlike the quickie, which I found only the former, but that’s quite enough grumbling). I had an alternative word in for the second of 13d, which held me up for a short while in the south, but it was such fun that I didn’t mind the extra time at all. A bucket load of thanks to Virgilius, and another for BD.
Like others 11a held me up for a while, but I enjoyed the tussle. Thanks to setter & BD. If you’ve got some sunshine your way, I’ve been warned it might not last too long, so enjoy!
Brilliant as always from Virgilius.
Just agreement from me with the other comments. A bit of a slow start and some good thinking required for a very good puzzle. 2*/5* for me.
****/****. A real challenge today but very satisfying. Last in 17a. Too many great clues to get picky. Thanks to the setter and BD for the review.
Didn’t find it too tricky but there were some great clues in there which Mrs O and I enjoyed in peace and quiet this afternoon with all our children elsewhere.
2*/5* (with an extra star of enjoyment for the brilliant 6d – probably the best clue I’ve seen since starting to do these puzzles regularly just over a year ago.)
Thank you very much Virgilius, and also thanks to BD for the website in general.
I really look forward to my Sunday Virgilius’ puzzle, and he never disappoints. Thanks to Big Dave for helping me to understand 11a; how clever was that! Learned an Italian author today. As for 6d, five meanings for ONE word? That’s a first for me. I can’t choose a fave, thanks Virgilius, and many thanks to BD for the “why” of 11a.
That was nice. All has been said already, so I will just say thanks to Vigilius and BD for getting the hints out before the Harvest Lunch!
Oh, fave clue was 21 d
Lovely puzzle, many thanks Virgilius. I thought 6d and 11a were terrific ! Thanks as usual BD for your hints. Exciting day in N Norfolk with a visit from a rare bird !
Lovely puzzle.
Fave was 11a!
Great puzzle. Really liked 6d 25d and the longer ones around the edges. Thank you BD and Virgillus.
The rationale of 11a caught me out 6 months ago.
Blow me down, it caught me out today.
I am an idiot.
Many thanks Virgilius for an enjoyable and challenging puzzle.
Thanks BD for the review.
That makes me an idiot +++ as I’ve been caught out by it numerous times – every time it happens I swear (quite a lot) and that it will never happen again. Oh dear!!
Mo too! Is it senile decay why I get caught EVERY time?
Great puzzle, really enjoyed this one
Thx to all.
Thanks to Virgilius and to Big Dave for the hints. A super puzzle, some great clues. Just needed the hint to parse 11a. Favourite was 15a, last in was 16d. Was 3*/4* for me. Lovely day today, but rainy next week.
I am very grateful to know the relevance of Cubans and Haitians! Thanks to BD ( I did finally finish this without the hints but after some electronic help) and to Virgilus.
Did this one late tonight (hints not needed thanks BD) – Sublime. **/*****. So then I have just done Monday’s Rufus – and with respect – Ridiculous */* .
Each to their own as I know some people love Monday’s DT Rufus, but I am not one of them.
Really enjoyed this one. Needed a couple of the hints though.