Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 2980 (Hints)
Hints and tips by Senf
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A very good Sunday morning from Winnipeg, where in mid-week we had 10 cm of snow which was enough of a snowfall to get the ploughs out for the first time.
:smile: Thank goodness that I only have to solve half of the clues to be able to complete the blog because I don’t think that my liver could stand the amount of Mouton Cadet (Rouge ou Blanc) that would be required to solve all of the clues of a Dada puzzle! :smile:
Although, I have to say that today’s puzzle is somewhat more gentle than the last two weeks with a homophone and five anagrams (two partials) in only 27 clues for which I am giving a generous 16 hints.
Joint favourites – 13a and 17d.
Don’t forget to follow BD’s instructions in red at the bottom of the hints!
As is usual for the weekend prize crosswords, a number of the more difficult clues have been selected and hints provided for them.
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 African, like that country (6)
A single two letter word for like that and an African country (but not the one that is the subject of the answer).
8a Buzzing sound can fool us (8)
Synonyms of can and fool and US from the clue.
10a Moderate class, we hear? (6)
The homophone (we hear) of a synonym of class.
12a Those taking a lot of interest in fishy deals? (4,6)
A slang term for usurers.
13a Sausage shortfall pathetic at first, promising sandwiches (5,7)
A synonym of promising contains (sandwiches) a synonym of shortfall and the initial Letter (at first) of Pathetic.
20a Switching train and cab, an Italian (10)
An anagram (switching) of TRAIN and CAB, AN – Based on the web site version, I think that Dada is in the wrong country, I think the definition should be Spanish. Early morning update – on-line definition has been amended to inhabitant of Spain – thanks CL.
24a Holiday houses or beach destination? (6)
A possible term for holiday containing (houses) OR from the clue.
25a Try to follow happy result (6)
A synonym of try after (to follow) a two letter synonym of happy.
Down
1d Easy to enter knowing a little bit (8)
A synonym of easy contained by (to enter) a synonym of knowing.
3d Permit carried by cricketer without thinking, say (3,4)
A verbal synonym of permit before (carried by) a close in fielder in cricket.
5d Cost in currency reduced, great figures? (7)
A type of cost contained by (in) a synonym of currency with the last letter removed (reduced).
7d Is one’s bottom so forward? (6)
The modified singular of a slang term for one’s bottom.
9d Aloof, bear and Piscean? (5-6)
A synonym of bear and written (2,4) how one might describe a Piscean.
15d Weapon in a catalogue causing needless worry (8)
A type of weapon contained by (in) A from the clue and a synonym of catalogue.
17d Judge shown filling of hard tooth? (7)
The middle letters (filling) of hARd and what could be a synonym of tooth.
21d Train carriage (5)
A double definition to finish – the first is nothing to do with any type of vehicle.
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The ‘real’ Queen, not the cinematic clones, 9 weeks at number one starting on November 29th, 1975:
Completed, with some electronic help, and enjoyed the challenge .
However , whether everything is correct remains to be seen . My answer to 2D seems to fit only part of the clue .
Will now look at the hints .
I expect a few grumbles to follow .
Favourites 7D&9D .
Thanks to everyone .
Because of the already generous clue to hint ratio, all I will give is the definition of 2d is champ.
I never heard of him before .
Thanks . My answer links that but it is the first part which is confusing .
You will have to tie a knot in your hanky as a reminder to check the full review on Thursday the 13th.
**/*** having moaned about last week’s puzzle I thought the least I could do was say how much more I enjoyed this one which was pitched at a much less daunting level and which I managed to complete without needing to check the hints.
I had the same thought as Senf re 20a.But you could not have “an Spanish”. Generally easier than the last 2 weeks, but no walkover. Thanks to Senf and setter.
On line, 20a has been amended to ‘. . . inhabitant of Spain.’
I think ‘someone’ was muddling up the solution required with a particular Italian and that’s all I’m saying as I have too much to do to spend time in the NC
The app version has “an Italian”.
Just what the Sunday cryptic crossword solver ordered. Didn’t take long to solve and with quite a bit of Halpernesque humour too.
Thanks to Dada for a nice Sunday level crossword and Senf for the hints
Haven’t started this yet – saving it for a long flight home tonight. But glad to see it’s apparently a bit more more fun and somewhat gentler than the past two weeks, which took me ages and I thought were horrid!
Back to my eternal grouse about sometimes receiving zero points for my submitted solutions on review, I may have discovered something. Last weekend I achieved full marks on both – and the solutions were submitted whilst I was in the UK. The previous 8 were sent during my absences abroad and all received zero marks. Something for our administrators to ponder – just wondered if others have had similar experiences?
We submit all the time from Spain with no problems.
Thoroughly enjoyed this one! Much happier bunnie this Sunday. Thank you all.
A slightly easier puzzle today and much more to my standard. Still had to push the grey cells a fair bit but more enjoyable for me than the two previous Sundays.
Thanks to the setter and blogger as usual.
Finished with the help of the excellent hints. One point in the hints, in 3d infielder is one word.
Needed all the hints, vast amount of electronic help and some guesswork.
My very low opinion of this setters puzzles has not improved.
****/*
In 3d, it was written as a fielder who is close in, perhaps I should have written close-in.
Glad that your are back…. we need your wit and repartee!
Our very high opinion of your apostrophe use has deteriorated.
Thanks again to the confused dead fans.
Mrs and Mr T
Two weeks ago it took me ages; last week I did it in half the time, and this week I halved it again, so very much heading in the right direction. I also very much enjoyed this one, as it had real fun and great clues which were fair and doable. 9d my COTD.
Thanks very much to Dada and Senf.
Slow start – thought, here we go again, but once I got started it all went in quite smoothly. A very enjoyable challenge. My favourites today are 13a, 23a, 2d,7d and 9d.
I thought this was an excellent puzzle (except for the uncharacteristically sloppy clue to 20a in the paper).
I had quite a few ‘bung-ins’ which I couldn’t easily parse – so thanks Senf for explaining some of them. The few that were left I pondered over and did eventually crack – and found them to be superb clues that did accurately describe the answer I’d bunged in. So much so that I couldn’t then work out why I’d not seen the answer straight away!
Thanks Dada.
Didn’t do last week’s, but this was definitely easier than the one before that. I needed electronic help to get started, and did find it difficult, but eventually it fell into place and I really enjoyed it. A bit like one of the more ‘doable’ Guardian puzzles for me. Thanks to all.
Started with only two clues first thing, now up to seven.
Losing the will to live. Back later
Well finished it now thanks to the hints. Still not enjoying Sunday. May give it a rest.
Thanks to
Senf and Dada
Before I started this I printed the NTSPP in case I needed relief from another nightmare but I was pleasantly surprised by an easier time than the last couple of Sundays. I needed Senf for a couple and like KFB I am a little unsure about 2d. I have two plausible answers IMO but I have bunged one in. Thanks to Senf for the hints and thanks to Dada too. 6d 7d my faves today (_!
I will return to the NTSPP.
Definitely a notch down on the difficulty level from the previous two Sundays and probably much better suited to the Sunday slot.
I thought the construction of 8a was rather clever.
Thanks to Dada and to Senf – were you singing along to Queen as you quaffed the Mouton?
Do you mean were you warbling incomprehensible and idiotic lyrics in a silly falsetto voice? Freddie Mercury to a tee.
Too busy trying to multi-task on the puzzle and blog and watching the Winnipeg Jets win again!
jYou make it sound like a once in a lifetime event?
Well it made me laugh MP!
That is because you can differentiate between higher end music and pop pap.
Still looks like a Toughie masquerading as a Sunday Cryptic to me. A tad easier in that I actually solved 4 unaided. So if you are one of the many struggling out there, you’re not alone. Looking forward to tomorrow’s puzzle. Sad that the DT has stolen my Sunday crossword enjoyment. Thanks to Senf for the hints.
Despite what I stated last week I gave this a peek and lo and behold I’ve finished it. I also thought 20a was misleading but bunged it in anyway. I’m also hoping my bung in at 4a is correct as I can’t parse it. Thanks to the setter and Senf.
4a was the last one I parsed. It took me a long while to ‘get it’.
“As this is a Prize crossword, please don’t put any ANSWERS, whether WHOLE, PARTIAL or INCORRECT, or any ALTERNATIVE CLUES in your comment.”
I’ve read the comment etiquette and I hope explaining the parsing is acceptable:
The first three words of the clue describe your bung-in answer. The next word of the clue is the first letter of the answer. The last 4 words of the clue describe the remainder of the answer.
I thought it a really neat clue – when I finally worked it out!
Thank you for the parse. It was a bung-in for me until you turned on the (1 watt) bulb. It is very neat.
Think you should escape the naughty stair.
Well things can only get better. My first run through yielded but one solution and that the last clue (21d) so now I’ll have another go and see how far I get.
By fair means or foul I got there in the end but I have to say without much fun en route. Several clues rankled a bit such as 4a, 11a, 24a, 1d, 7d and 18d or perhaps I am missing something in these cases. 10a was Fav. Thanks Dada and Senf.
As the bears would have said, this one is just right (certainly compared to the previous two weeks), but far from a write in. I still can’t parse 4A but cannot see any other possible answer. I think I need a little more exposure to this setter before I am comfortable with his/her style.
Finally finished this, after coming back to it several times during the day. It was easier than the last two and I only needed electronic help for 1d, where the synonyms seemed rather oblique. Thank you for the hint in 1d.
Thanks to Dada and to Senf for the hints. After the previous two nightmare Sundays. I’m pleased to say that this was much more accessible. Still needed the hints for 1&6d and 10a. I got the answer to 20a, but Google said it was Spanish. I see it’s been amended online. Favourite was 4a. Lots of humour in this puzzle. I hope it’s a sign of Sundays to come. Was 3.5*/3.5* for me.
Hear hear… a lovely puzzle that has challenged the incumbents!
Sundays are dead, long live Sundays!
Completed without assistance but with a big doubt over 2d. This is the first Sunday puzzle I have tried since Virgilius departed. I struggled a bit perhaps because of the different style. It seemed a bit of a slog and produced as many groans as grins. Fell asleep at one point. Perhaps I am still grieving…
****/**
Thanks to snowbound Senf and Dada
Two weeks ago I found the crossword almost impossible but finished it, after battling for hours, and using up every scrap of my bloody-mindedness.
Last week I didn’t finish it but my excuse was that there were lots of people around.
I thought today’s was still pretty tricky but far more ‘doable’ and very enjoyable – I have finished it but it’s taken a long time.
My geographical knowledge is such that I didn’t even notice the problem with 20a! :oops:
I screwed up 23a but won’t go into detail for fear of the naughty corner.
I particularly liked 12 and 13a and 7d. My favourite was 9d.
With thanks to Dada and to Senf.
It took me a while to get a toehold but once I had everything seemed to come together quite smoothly. Admittedly 2d was a bit of a gamble but hey! I finished.
Certainly a bit more user friendly than the last couple of Sundays, so thank you Dada for being gentle with us, and thanks to Senf for the hints.
Many thanks to Dada and Senf . This was mostly doable although a bit of a slog. Like Kath, I didn’t even notice the geographical inconsistency with 20ac I was too excited at coming up with an answer! Even with the hints and 3 of the 5 letters of 2d I can still make no sense of it at all. I have several possible fits for the letters but cannot justify any of them. Stiil an’ all I shall continue to attempt Sunday’s Dada puzzles as this was much more friendly than the last 2 weeks.
Again thanks to Senf one addition to my meagre 6 answers set me going & was encouraged to keep plodding. Finished with 2 bung-ins (one now confirmed thanks to Uncle G). Only 2d not happy about. Still not over-thrilled but certainly as the weeks go on things are improving.
COTD definitely not 8a.
Thanks to Senf and DaDa.
Well my explanation of the parsing above has not been deleted, so I’ll assume it’s acceptable to do that.
2d:
A synonym of the fourth word of the clue ‘claims’ the final letter of the second word. The answer is a synonym of the fifth word of the clue.
You want to be careful. With hints as precise as these you may be called upon. Once ‘in’ there is no escape
Uncle G for president!
Thanks “Uncle” I had worked it out – I can’t explain why I got hung up as it would put me in NC (and show how stupid I can be).
Agree with MP below Both your hints were spot on BD will have taken note.
It is another example of the quality of contributors bloggers and hinters (and “grumblers”) that makes this site what it is for people like me, again thanks to all.
Just listen to MP and look what happened to me several years ago – but I’m still here! It’s fun!
I remember that night. Me and Pommers stitched you up like a kipper and you loved it.
Now that was more like it. At first I thought we were in for another slog – 11ac being my first one in – but from that point on the grid began to fill rapidly. No walkover – maybe ** and a bit for difficulty – but accessible, enjoyable, and engaging. More like this one please.
After the previous two Sunday offerings, I found this a fair challenge.
Some really excellent clues, no real ‘gimmes’ (imho).
****/****
Psyched up to expect this puzzle to be very difficult but found it was only approaching very difficult.
Possibly a *** for me.
I love Dada’s constructions.
Many thanks, and to Senf for the review.
Got an answer for 18d but for the life of me cannot see how it fits the clue. Any suggestions?
Welcome to the blog. 18d is an anagram with one letter removed from the word that provides the anagram material.
Not a common anagram indicator is it? I hadn’t seen it before (or if I have I’ve forgotten).
I think I have seen it before and the Chambers Crossword Dictionary does show it as an anagram indicator.
I seem to recall you both made exactly the same comment in 2014!
Having enjoyed the last couple of Sunday puzzles I readied myself for a tussle with this one. It took me a while to get going but once underway it was a steady solve and I found it less demanding than the previous two.
Thanks to Senf and Dada 3*/4*
Pleased some bloggers got something out of this. I am not a patient person and merely seeking ten or fifteen, even twenty minutes of good quality daily fun as we normally have in the week. This did not deliver, or for me frankly even work – stretching reality to say it did. Binned (after a couple of revisits to make sure I was not just being slow or grumpy) also read the Blog to make sure I was not falling apart. Now saving my future money on a Sunday for better things.