ST 3216 (Hints) – Big Dave's Crossword Blog
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ST 3216 (Hints)

by Senf  

Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 3216 (Hints)

Hints and tips by Senf

+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +

A very good Sunday morning from Winnipeg, where I am trying to decide if going outside in June when the temperature is plus 32 degrees, feels like plus 38, is better or worse than going outside in February when the temperature is minus 30 degrees, feels like minus 35.

So far, we have not had the impact of the wild fires and poor air quality that are especially being experienced to the East of us.  With more than 400 wildfires, more than half of them ‘out of control,’ across the country I can only say that in my 31 years in Canada I have not seen anything like this before.

For me, etc, helped by four long ‘uns, Dada a lot friendlier than he has been for quite a while – with five anagrams (two partials), two lurkers (one reversed), 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 – 11a, 13a, 20a, 27a, 3d, and 4d.

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 the 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

8a Footwear on your bike, did you say? (4)
We start with the homophone (did you say?) of a single word equivalent to on your bike (as an exhortation).

9a Female cells in Govan neither opening nor closing (3)
An ‘extended’ way of saying delete the first and last letters (neither opening nor closing) of gOVAn.

12a Figure crack in the pan fixed (8)
A synonym of crack (as in attempt) inserted into (in) an anagram (fixed) of THE PAN.

13a The ground ain’t electrified (8,7)
An anagram (ground) of AIN’T ELECTRIFIED gives what the is grammatically.

23a Wisest hunter hosts a presentation (8)
A synonym (from Dada’s thesaurus?) of wisest and an avian hunter contains (hosts) A from the clue.

26a Boy in underground network? (6)
A double definition(?) – the illustration may help on the second.

28a Biblical garden in Gethsemane deadly, looking back (4)
The reversed lurker (in . . . looking back) found in two words in the clue.

Down

1d Ask for amount of electricity (6)
A double definition – the first is related to submitting an account.

2d Price on grotty old sheep’s cheese (8)
A cheese that we have seen before – an anagram (grotty) of PRICE ON followed by O from the clue.

5d Astronomy in part confusing, take what help you can get! (3,4,2,1,5)
An anagram (confusing) of ASTRONOMY IN PART.

6d Have a go at munching a starter of Irish sausage (6)
A single word for have a go at (as in criticise?) containing (munching) A from the clue followed by the first letter (starter) of Irish.

19d Look inside trophy for shell (7)
The two letter synonym of look inserted into (inside) a synonym of trophy (claimed by North American tribes?).

22d Fairly sure thing! (6)
A double definition – the second is an exclamation.

24d Highest note raised in test (4)
An abbreviated form of a synonym of highest and a letter for a (musical) note all reversed (raised).

Quick Crossword Pun:

EARNEST + HEMMING + WEIGH = ERNEST HEMINGWAY

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Singer-songwriter and producer Lynsey de Paul, remember her, was born on this day in 1948, she passed away in October 2014. Apparently she came second in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1977 with a song she wrote herself but this is her first and best performing single from 1972 – No 5 in UK and No 1 in the likes of the Netherlands and Spain:

75 comments on “ST 3216 (Hints)”

  1. Very enjoyable indeed, completed pre early morning sea swim. I thought after the first three or four clues it was going to be a write-in but the South proved a bit of a stiffer test.
    I liked several including 20&23a plus 19&21d with top spot going to the very smart 25a.
    Many thanks to Dada and Senf.
    Ps.. Huge congratulations to Manchester City, treble winners and Champions of Europe.

  2. I found this quite tricky, with lots of Dadaesque misdirection and an unhelpful grid (if you couldnt get the long clues quickly). Nevertheless, unlike some of the puzzles last week, it was actually an ebjoyable guzzle. I loved 15a, 5d, 13a, 22d andc23a. I can’t pick a favourite as they were all too good. Thanks to Senf for the hints and to Dada for a very clever SPP.

  3. This was a touch of ‘after the Lord Mayors show’. A deeply unpleasant puzzle full of obscure poets, religious clues and bizarre synonyms.
    For me one of the worst Dada puzzles for a while. A real shame as I am a fan of Dadas work usually.
    *****/*
    Thx for the hints

          1. Those were my initial thoughts, too, Hrothgar, but then I reflected on a recent puzzle which required one to know of a film director who died 75 years ago and was known for a film he’d made 100 years ago.

            I’d worked out the answer from the clue and had heard the name (Eisentein) but had no idea of the context. At the time I had harrumphed: rather esoteric knowledge to say the least. But to anyone with an interest in early cinema, that director would have been a familiar name. Fair’s fair, I have absolutely no interest in modern cinema, and even less in early cinema, but full respect to those who do have such an interest.

            And I think it’s no different in this context, really: OK, so familiarity with one of the best known of the War Poets (or even Dymock Poets if one goes a bit further) was part and parcel of studying O-Level/GCSE English for decades, but if one had never had that good fortune, or had no interest in poetry, or literature/the arts, why would Rupert ****** be anything but obscure?

            No comment re religious clues & synonyms, though: as I’ve said below, I enjoyed the puzzle!

            1. Muatafa,cBy their verynature, films are ephemeral and difficult to view once they pass out of fashion or technology advances. Poems, however, are found in both printed and electronic books, freely available in libraries in many places. Thepoets of the early 20th century still have relevance inmodern war-torn European countries like the Ukraine. They still have relevance to me because my Royal Engineer grandfather was gassed at Ypres. So I think the instances of poets and film dirwctors are some what different.

              2. Thanks Mustafa.
                This terrible war has brought Odessa to the fore and his famous film, Odessa Steps, has been mentioned etc.

  4. 26a not exactly a double definition. Otherwise a fair challenge. Thanks to Senf and Dada.

  5. I liked this a lot – thanks to Dada and Senf.
    For my podium I’ve selected 11a, 20a and 23a.

  6. Slightly on the tough side for me but doable and certainly a better Dada than of late. Getting 3d straight off gave entry to the rest of the puzzle. I have three favourites – 13a, 17a and 20a and of the three my COTD is 13a because it was, I thought, quite clever.

    Many thanks, Dada for the fun challenge. Thank you Senf for the hints and I do hope the wildfires stay away from you.

    It appears my name is no longer remembered despite ticking the box.

    1. The ‘not being remembered’ thing has been happening to me for days (I’m also ticking the box). You are not alone in your anguish.

            1. I used to have to type my name etc in too until I went to the https site rather than the http site. That seemed to solve it.

    2. Perhaps when you close your browser cookies etc are erased. Take a look at the settings.

  7. Fairly straightforward for me today and mostly enjoyable. like Brian I had to check up on a poet and a composer. For 23a, I don’t think that Dada meant a synonym of WISEST directly, rather how this particular hunter is known proverbially. This clue gets my podium vote. Thanks to Senf and Dada

      1. Thank you! I have been a fan of the Big Dave blog for some time and was so sorry to read of his recent passing. I have found the hints invaluable and the comments most entertaining. I doff my cap to the folks on here for some outstanding solves. Keep up the good work.

  8. Mercifully, a slight breeze for a short while this morning but the temperature still somewhat uncomfortable. The garden’s looking rather sorry for itself and crying out for rain – we seem to swing from one extreme to the other on the weather front these days.
    Bit of thought required to delve into our setter’s mind today but I did enjoy the challenge and awarded medals to 11&23a plus 5d.

    Thanks to Dada and to Senf for the hints and video clip – to my shame, all I really remember of the young lady is her name and her ‘beauty spot’!

    Thanks to Dada

  9. I was feeling a bit delicate this morning after Manchester City’s fine win treble last night so I thought it may all be a struggle – but actually an enjoyable and fun puzzle from Dada this morning. Despite a difficult grid, the 4 long clues were quite gettable early doors (including the excellent 13a) which gave a decent foothold. I totally echo Stephen’s comment @1 that the south presented the stiffer challenge, especially the SW and 23a which was my LOI. I liked 13a, 20a but my favourite today is 25a, which felt like a bung-in then a smile once I got the wordplay **/****

    Thanks to Dada and Senf

  10. A fine and reasonably straightforward puzzle for a Sunday morning. Basic GK only, clever and precisely-written clues, and plenty of tasty answers to give one an appetite! The 4 long and 4 short clues all gave early structure to the puzzle and it flowed steadily. Hon Mentions to 17a, 23a and 2d; COTD 13a.

    2* / 3*

    Many thanks to Dada and Senf

  11. Bless Brian – may he never change!

    For me, and I stress for me ⟨™ Senf⟩ this was a fascinating guzzle that allowed one to kick off with a few bung-ins, bringing enough checking letters to help with the rest. I enjoyed the clueing for the four long ones. Happily there was no Hanseatic League or bootless errands.

    Manchester City – easy to admire; hard to love (as an outsider). Pep Guardiola is, clearly, an outstanding coach (Oh! How I wish he didn’t do his spitting thing!) who has marshalled his squad into an incredibly well-drilled machine. Each player knows his role and what is expected of him. Those not on the ball understand they have to find space (quickly) and give the player on the ball at least two options every time he looks to play a pass.

    Kevin De Bruyne has developed into one of the best players in the world but he still knows he must play a team role and conform to Pep’s expectations, especially when the opposition has the ball.
    Rodri is the kind of midfielder that every top team around the world dreams of playing in their side. He strides through games as though insisting the ball, the pitch, the game, belong to him. He is a colossus; one of the eleven wonders of Manchester.

    And yet… much as there is to admire… one watches with the same sense of appreciation as one does when seeing a dog walk on its back legs, or a child skimming a stone across a pond. Yes, very good – but what’s next?
    This methodical supremacy is extraordinary, and a wonderful achievement, but, under Pep’s style, players who have the potential to lift crowds up from their seat (Grealish, Mahrez) are marginal figures in Guardiola’s micro-management methods. All must sacrifice to the machine.

    Easy to admire; hard to love.

    Thanks to Da-Doo-Ron-Ron and The Man From Manitoba.

    2. So sorry Terence, that was all Double Dutch and I have put Manchester United on My list. 😟

      2. I think it’s Manchester City DG and I couldn’t understand most of it either!

  12. Found this Dada at the easier end of his spectrum this week. Nothing too obscure or worrisome in the way of words.

    1*/4* for me.

    Favourites included 11a, 20a, 25a, 2d, 5d & 22d with winner 20a

    Thanks to Dada and Senf for hints/blog

  13. All went well unaided
    Until three to go
    In the SW
    Took an age.
    But once 23a was cracked
    26a and 24d followed immediately.
    Super puzzle.
    Thanks Dada and Senf.

  14. 2*/4* from me for a very enjoyable puzzle which all came together smoothly.

    My top two in no particular order were 11a & 20a with, of course, a special mention for 26a.

    According to the BRB, 19d is the whole creature not just the shell, but I would use them interchangeably.

    Many thanks to Dada and to Senf.

    1. RD. For 19d, the BRB also lists “a valve of its shell”. “Valve” meaning one half/leaf of its full shell.

      1. Thanks, Jose. I did see that in the BRB but I didn’t know that meaning of “valve” which put me off the scent.

  15. I was doing very well until I tackled 13a. I considered an anagram, but felt I didn’t have an anagram indicator. Even with 5 of the 6 checkers in place, the penny didn’t drop. Resorting to the hints I needed only to see the first word of the clue underlined for me to hear a very loud clang!! What a brilliant clue. The rest was fairly straightforward and very enjoyable. 13a is obviously my favourite with honourable mention for 12a, 23a and 19d. Thanks to Dada for the pleasure and Senf for his help.

  16. Much easier for me than last Sunday & a very enjoyable guzzle too. Liked all the long ‘uns with 13a my pick of ‘em & with ticks against 11,23&25a.
    Melting here on the tee at work & looking forward to a cooling shower & beer
    Thanks to D&S

  17. We liked this despite making heavy weather of parts of it and on completion couldn’t see why. Favourite was 20a. Thanks to Dada and Senf.

  18. Thankfully a less difficult crossword than the last few weeks – not sure I’d have coped with that and a hot weekend too.
    I have a couple of problems of the kind of having an answer but no logic behind it – it was the sort of thing that BD would have said that it you can’t it explain your answer then it’s probably wrong – 17a is one I’m reasonably sure it’s right but. . .
    I spent ages not seeing the 15a lurker.
    I liked all the four long answers – 5d took longer than the other three ones.
    20a was my favourite.
    Thanks to Dada for the crossword and to Senf for the hints.

    1. Kath – if what you have come up with for 17a ‘matches’ the first four words of the clue and split (5,2) ‘matches’ the last three words then you are more than probably right.

      1. Thanks – I would never have seen that – I’m definitely having a dim day! :roll:

    2. Thanks for the help with 15a, I hadn’t spotted that either. And I’m sure you are right about 17a. I sometimes get an answer that I cannot justify from the clue, but it invariably turns out to be correct.

  19. For me the south held me up longer than it should. I blame the sun & the early start to get my long run in this morning before it got too hot.

    3*/3.5*

    Fav 20a LOI 26a.

    Thanks to Dada and Senf.

  20. I got a satisfying number of answers unaided, which for a Dada puzzle, made this quite enjoyable. And I might get a few more later when I have time to ponder. I believe it was hotter in Wokingham yesterday than it was here in Boynton Beach, which is crazy. I particularly liked 2d as I love that cheese, and also 3d and 5d as they helped me fill in a lot of squares. Thanks to Dada and Senf.

    1. It is exactly what it says on the label. Dismiss first and last letters of an English composer. It gives you a singer.
      Am I on the naughty step?

  22. Good afternoon
    Made it in the end, despite several head-scratching episodes…
    13a is COTD by a mile!
    Thank you to Dada and Senf

  23. Lying in the garden in the shade, not a cloud in the sky, little aircraft from Duxford buzzing over head and a super guzzle to keep me awake. Drinks next door at 6. Perfick. 11a my favourite as he is almost local and 20 amused me. Because I am horizontal I made a bish of entering a couple so Steve, the pen is yours today. Many thanks to Setter & Hinter.

    1. If the mythical arrives on my doorstep, DG the whole blog will hear of it.

      Without the aid of computers! :grin:

    2. Daisy, Peter would trade our house for yours any day of the week. He’s rather a plane buff, which he mostly satisfies with building and flying rather large RC models. But to sit in the garden and watch them from Duxford, pure heaven. We’ve been to Duxford, and Shuttleworth of course on visits home, and to Rhinebeck in upstate NY.

  24. I did OK on this one , given it is a Dada. Needed help on 4d of all things…..strange how some clues fox you when they are relatively easy whilst the complicated ones (ssometimes) unravel pretty quickly.

    Thanks to Senf and to Dada.

    Our lovely sunshine yesterday was replaced by overcast skies, rain and cool temperatures today. By now, late atternoon , the sun has struggled out but there us still a bit of haar about. Who’d live on the East coast ? Me, actually, it’s drier than the West.

  25. I feel that I’m in a dream and I don’t want anyone to wake me up! That delightful Chalicea yesterday, and now a very doable Dada. I have got a couple wrong and I did have to use ehelp for a couple, but I enjoyed the solve! The long ones were gimmes, that helped a lot. I had a Brit boss in Montego Bay in the ’70s and he always said 20a, so that’s my fave for the memory of a happy time.
    Thank you Dada for the fun. I did need some help unravelling a couple, so thanks to Senf for that. Altogether a very successful end to the week. I suppose tomorrow we resume escaped Toughies again, oh dear.

  26. Like Stephen L., my early thoughts of read and write quickly vanished and solving the puzzle proved to be a very enjoyable exercise. While I wouldn’t necessarily view Senf’s parsing as incorrect, I had a slightly different parsing for 1d, with the two definitions being “ask” (“How much do you ask for the apples?”) and “amount of electricity” (as the amount of electricity remaining in a battery). Thanks to Dada and Senf.

  27. Completed with the hints and some e help as I was not on form today. I was pleased with what I managed as I often find I need all my faculties to complete a Dada puzzle.

    Some rain this evening which the garden desperately needed.

    Many thanks to Dada and to Senf as ever

  29. Not in the mood for Dada today when everyone has to congratulate a football club which has received £2.5billion pounds of Abu Dhabi money from its owner Sheikh Mansour and has bought the world’s best players. The coach of an under 11 team would be hard pressed not to make a success with that amount of funny money. Nothing to admire here except the supine response of the English FA to the destruction of English football. The sooner there is a European Super League and we can get rid of these mercenary clubs the better.

    I am glad everyone thought Dada was friendly today as I certainly wasn’t. Thanks to him and Senf.

    1. I agree with you, Corky. To me, English football disappeared the moment silly money was involved and teams no longer consisted of local players. English teams today consist of prancing, overpaid idiots who know nothing about the towns or cities they play for. English football died decades ago and I lost all interest, not that I had that much anyway, but I did keep a wary eye on the goings on at Blundell Park.

      1. You have much the same relationship to Steve.I was a fan of Huddersfield Town until a few seasons ago. We were struggling to avoid relegation and the Cowley brothers were appointed with the task of keeping Town in the Championship. They achieved this in the penultimate match of the season and were then sacked. This to avoid paying them the bonus of keeping them up at the end of the season. Football has lost all morality.

        You might be interested in a book by Gary Imlach titled ‘My Father and other Working Class Football Heroes’. His father was Stuart Imlach the Scottish International but it’s about many more big names in the postwar period. It is a very good read.

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