ST 3221 (Hints) – Big Dave's Crossword Blog
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ST 3221 (Hints)

by crypticsue  

Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 3221 (Hints)

Hints and Tips by crypticsue

+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +

Senf is suffering from some sort of horrible lurgy which I hope stays on his side of The Pond, because apart from other symptoms, it has affected his ability to solve cryptic crosswords so I’m afraid you’ve got me  providing the Hints again!

I thought this quite tricky for a Dada Sunday Prize Puzzle, especially on the left-hand side. I’ll be interested both to see what others think and whether the difficulty level is matched or exceeded in his Toughie on Tuesday

As is usual for the weekend prize crosswords, an assortment of clues, including some of the more difficult ones, have been selected and hints provided for them. It was hard to choose which clues to hint so I’m sure I’ll be providing more hints in the comments during the day

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

7a    Last of merchandise pilfered by peculiar female criminal (7)
The last letter of merchandise inserted between (pilfered by) a synonym for peculiar* and a dialect word for a female [*the dictionary definitions don’t quite match for me but Mrs Bradford does have the synonyms in her Crossword Solver’s Lists]

10a    A crooked sort in Swiss banker, bon vivant (10)
A (from the clue) and an anagram (crooked) of SORT Inserted into a facetious term for a power international banker

12a    Latin, might that get him in a tizzy? (8)
Split this adjective meaning relating to a person of Latin descent 3,5 and you’ll ‘see’ to what might get him in a tizzy

19a    Very old article, still (6)
An adverb meaning very, the abbreviation for old and the definite article combine to give a verb meaning to calm (still)

23a    Tree an Isle of Man company cut? (7,3)
A truncated (cut) reference to a company in the capital of the Isle of Man

25a    Delivery worker at club’s door (7)
A cricket delivery or a worker at the door of a nightclub

26a    Corny things in fodder for gossip (7)
Some parts of corn plants inserted into a type of fodder

Down

1d    Dump plate, if broken (7)
An anagram (broken) of PLATE IF

9d    Festival fare, snappy Chelsea sweater? (3,5,3)
If you look carefully at the name of this fare traditionally eaten at the time of a particular church festival (but now available all year round) it does look as if it might be a type of sweet roll (an example of which originated in Chelsea, of a temperature to both make one sweat and be snappy or irritable

13d    Position void, frankly (5-5)
A position and a synonym for void or empty or unfilled

17d    Thoughtless driver reportedly took vehicle over corner (4,3)
A homophone (reportedly) of a simple way of saying ‘took vehicle’ goes over (in a Down solution) a verb meaning to corner or take for oneself  [I’m not for one minute suggesting Daddy Pig is such a thoughtless driver but the picture made me smile]

18d    Health centre welcomes first of customers (7)
Intermediate (in the centre) ‘welcomes’ the first letter of Customers

21d    Solver of clues cracks around a thousand (6)
Some cracks put ‘around’ an abbreviation meaning a thousand

24d    Kind, somewhat generous, or thoughtful (4)
Hidden in the last three words of the clue

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As this is a Prize crossword, please don’t put any ANSWERS, whether WHOLE, PARTIAL or INCORRECT, or any ALTERNATIVE CLUES in your comment. If in doubt, leave it out!

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.

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The Quick Crossword pun: HUN + NEAT + RAPS = HONEY TRAPS

80 comments on “ST 3221 (Hints)”

  1. I found this hard and not very enjoyable. I didn’t understand one or two such as 7a, 11a and 12a but will refrain from discussion for fear of the Naughty Step. I am sure others will enjoy it but not me I’m afraid.

    Thank you, Dada for the guzzle but I’m afraid it proved too much for me this time. Not your fault, of course – I need to concentrate more. Many thanks to the hard working Crypticsue for the hints. Best wishes to Senf for a speedy recovery.

    Just as an aside, in The Quickie I thought 18d was a lake.

    1. We aren’t supposed to discuss other crosswords that people might not have solved yet but a trip to the dictionary should answer your query on the Quick 18d

      1. Thanks, CS. I wasn’t saying it was wrong just that I had another interpretation. :grin:

  2. My goodness, for a while there I thought I was beaten. Some real crackers in there. Special mention to 8, 10 , 19 and 25. 19 was LOI and favorite. Thanks.

  3. I thought that Dada had upped his trickiness level a bit here and given us a proper, and very enjoyable, prize puzzle. Thanks to him and CS. I too look forward to comparing this one with his forthcoming Tuesday Toughie.
    My ticks went to 23a, 25a, 5d and 16d.

    I hope that Senf is well on the way to recovering from his horrible lurgy.

  4. Not surprised that poor Senf feels under the weather, didn’t feel at all well myself as I battled my way through this one!
    Dada not taking any prisoners this morning!
    Clues that amused were 26a plus 4&6d.

    Thanks to our challenging setter and to CS, whose dedication to the blog knows no bounds – we do appreciate you.

  5. Hard work indeed, at least a 3? Why don’t we get a score for competition crosswords? It gives nothing away?
    Enjoyed it though and will admit a few ” guess ins ” with explanation to follow! And it did.
    Thanks to Dada and pat on back to me!

  6. I feared that I might have to give up on this very tricky guzzle but made a breakthrough in the NEccorner and very slowly things fell into place, finishing in the NW. It was less enjoyable than the usual Dada fare but satisfying to finish it. My COTD was 25a, followed closely by 26a but I rhoughr 13d and 16d were very clever too. Thanks to Dada and particularly to CS, wh deserves a slap up meal at a restaurant of her choice, together with chocolates and a bouquet for stepping into the breach to do the hints again. 💐 soory it’s just a virtual bouquet.

  7. A mixed bag for me , 7a 11a , 17d not great clues , but enjoyed 10a , 12a and 23a . Thanks to Sue for helping me across the finishing line .

  8. This was certainly pretty tough but as enjoyable as ever apart from the non-synonym for “peculiar” in 7a which made that one my last one in.

    25a & 26a were battling it out for top spot.

    Many thanks to Dada and to CS, and get well soon to Senf.

    1. I did eventually find the non-synonym for 7a in mt thesaurus, way down on the list. However, I still don’t believe it.

  9. Dear me that was tough even for Dada. So many stretched synonyms and weird clues. Still cannot parse 11a and 18d does not right as a synonym for health. On the plus side I did like 25a, 20a and 10a.
    Not a puzzle to enjoy but perhaps one to admire for the sheer scale of the mind that produced it.
    *****/**
    Thx for the hints.

    1. Split the solution to 11a 1,3 and then say each bit out loud while reading the clue again

        2. Me neither! Maybe I’ve got the wrong answer but don’t see what else it can be.

        3. There is, I think, slightly more to it than that but I can’t say any more as I believe we must leave all hints that might take people even slightly in the right direction to the bloggers. Whether it is worth the strain to parse the clue, is another thing altogether! I can’t say I got any satisfaction out of it.

  10. OMG!
    Thanks for the workout Dada!
    But even more thanks to CS for doing double duty and for helping with the parsing of 9d (I’d forgotten the Chelsea association) and 17d.

  11. Can’t believe I
    Finished this very hard
    Puzzle.
    Albeit in 5*/ time.
    The crafty 15a enabled a start to
    A lengthy progress.
    The superbly clued 9d was
    Last in, a big Duh moment.
    Many gems eg 8, 10 and 25a.
    Many thanks Dada and CS.

  12. I have the lurgy too any chance of you doing triple duty today Sue?
    .
    .
    .
    .

    (only kidding – toughie blog is scheduled) time to watch the TDF while I try this tricky-looking Dada

    Get well soon Senf, I recommend a nice Dalwhinnie

  13. To me, this was a grim slog. If they were all like it, I wouldn’t bother – there’s enough frustration in life without voluntarily subjecting myself to drudgery. I thought this was so difficult, I tried the prize Toughie for once, wondering whether that could that be any harder. I finished in less time, with far less deliberation over the parsing, and fewer trips to the dictionary, thesaurus, Google. Never thought I’d say that. Not discussing any clues in case of the naughty step – landing there would be like adding insult to injury.

    Thanks for the hints though CC, as always.

  14. Where words are scarce, they’re seldom spent in vain; For they breathe truth, that breathe their words in pain.

    Oh my gawd, my head is spinning. My brain has dived head first down Dada’s helter-skelter of anguish and angst. One day I shall be taken away by sturdy men and women from a secure institution. I shall be found clutching my pencil, slumped over Dada’s latest as I weep uncontrollably.
    I’m not even sure what day it is. Is it still Sunday? Am I still alive? My whole being has been rinsed inside and out by this dastardly guzzle of torment.

    Some may say that Dada should be imprisoned indefinitely for imposing such a formidable challenge upon us, but I say prison is too good for him. Let him be abandoned in some hellish place where he can ruminate upon his misdeeds. Manchester perhaps, or Swindon.

    Thanks to Dada; very best wishes to The Man From Manitoba; and all hats raised to the delightful PC Security (anag).

    3. Quite Churchillian Terence, nay, I might even say Shakespearean. Most eloquent and moving angst, I feel your pain. I suggest Mrs T takes you for a nice walk to regain your composure.

    6. I’ve read this twice and can’t stop laughing! You said it in spades, Terence.

  16. Somehow “fings ain’t wot they used to be” and recently I have found myself with regular DNFs as per today. I somehow managed the East but West was another story. I note I do have fellow dissenters. Among clues I did manage to solve several were IMHO too clever by half e.g. 8a, 5d, 9d and 21d. Enough said for today – it just wasn’t my scene. Thank you Dada and CS. Get well soon Senf.

    1. My request for deletion due to duplication somehow didn’t materialise – sorry.

  17. Somehow for whatever reason “fings ain’t wot they used to be” and recently I have found myself with regular DNFs as per today. I somehow managed the East but West was another story. I note I do have fellow dissenters. Among clues I did manage to solve several were IMHO too clever by half e.g. 8a, 5d, 9d and 21d. Enough said for today – it just wasn’t my scene. Thank you Dada and CS. Get well soon Senf.

  18. How can I compete with the Terence torment? This was a belter, very clever. A sideways mind at work. Many thanks CrypticSue for the clues I needed for 19&25 a, I managed to get the rest with the aid of the thesaurus. And I suppose I must grudgingly thank Dada for putting me through my paces. – though it might be considered a ‘digestif’ to my lunch. Favourite has to be my old idol. Off now to Wimbledon, home of my alma mater.

        1. One for the history books! What a great player. I think matches on grass courts are always better, much faster.

  19. Definitely not my bag today, I echo what has been said by some, too much like hard work. will have to wait until next week as there are many I can’t explain.

    Thanks anyway to Dada, and to CS for hints.

    Hope lurgy goes away quickly, Senf

  20. Dreadful.
    Too many actors, authors, composers, cities, States etc. Still don’t get 8a, 11a 18d, 13d. I’m sure I have the right answers, so we shall see.
    Thanks to CS. Although I did find some of her hints only reiterated the actual clue.
    Still without a setter what would we do on a wet windy Sunday.
    ****/***

  21. That almost got the better of me and certainly would have done without CS’s hints, several of them crucial to my solve. For me it was too challenging to be completely enjoyable, with some rather elastic synonyms and strange comparatives. That said there were clues where the supremacy of the compiler shone through. I especially liked 10a and 5d. Thank you Dada and hats off to Cripticsue for her steadfast dedication.

  22. Phew got there eventually but needed plenty of hints from the inestimable CS, thanks for that and to Dada too. Zandio gave me less of a workout on the pink pages today (does the dead tree still print the Sunday puzzles on pink? I am on the app)

  23. Very difficult. I was several away from finishing. In fact it has been quite a while since I managed to complete a puzzle unaided. Perseverantia omnia vincit, I hope.

  24. I am so relieved having finished this crossword after a fair old slog to find that fellow commenters also struggled, particularly with the LHS, and especially 7a. IMHO this puzzle would not have disgraced a Thursday Toughie slot. I have to say though, that I really enjoyed the challenge, and noted that 23 and 25a, plus 16d made it on to my podium.

    My thanks to Dada for the challenge, and to the hard-working CS. Best wishes to Senf for a speedy return to full fitness.

  25. Steve C said it all at comment 1, and Terence said it poetically for our amusement. Strangely, I did solve it with huge help from google, in the end I had to visit our indefatigable Sue for hints in the NW. my first thought for 10a was correct but couldn’t see why … oh, those Swiss bankers! My fave was 25a, runner up 21d.
    Thanks Dada, and your help, CSue, which enabled me to finish. I doubt I would have persevered if it hadn’t been for the tennis and I’m glued to my chair.
    My very best wishes to Senf for a speedy recovery!

    1. My very best to Senf for a speedy recovery! We missed you today, please rest and come back soon.

  26. Difficult in places but in retrospect it’s hard to see why. Some really good clues, my personal favourite being 10a. Thanks to Dada and CS.

  27. Just popping on to say I have not relurked! but will be on holiday for this week and unlikely to comment/ have time for puzzles. I do hope Senf and all others suffering get well soon.

  28. Someone pass me the Tylenol, I feel a headache coming on… I’m slightly more than 50% finished, but only with help from CrypticSue, otherwise it would be in the bin by now. I was actually pleased I got 15a, before my time. Not the worst Dada we’ve had, but definitely one for the Mensa crowd. Hope the lurgy clears up Senf.

    1. Not the worst! 😬 Is there any way of identifying Dada’s crosswords before starting the crossword? I completed this with a lot of effort, but it wasn’t worth the candle.

      And, yes, also wishing you a quick recovery Senf.

      1. Dada is the only setter of the Sunday Telegraph cryptic crossword so you get one of his crosswords every Sunday

  29. Hardest Dada for a long time. Took us ages but got there in the end.

    Couldn’t get 20a for ages until I remembered my mother sipping sherry Saturday lunchtime in the pub but that was over 40 years ago! Easy if you are the right generation…

  30. Well above my pay grade today. Needed a.most all of CS’s most excellent hints and still struggling on with some. May give up soon.

    Thanks to Dada and crypticsue.

    Hope you feel better very soon, Senf.

  31. How strange. After a week of seeming to make hard work of solving the DT guzzles I didn’t have much of a problem with this one. I rather enjoyed it though concede it wasn’t possibly one of his very best. Though the answer was fairly obvious the parsing of the latter bit of 17d escaped me & I wouldn’t have liked to be tasked with providing a hint for 9d either. 5d my fav & with ticks for 10,23,25&26a plus 4&16d.
    Thanks to D & to CS for subbing – wishing S a swift get better.

  32. I’m in agreement with other commenters that this was a bit of a slog, there’s just too many here that I relied on DrGoogle to answer or parse. I’ve never heard of the actor for 15a and 10a, 20a and 9d still don’t make any sense to me. It’s shame because there’s some ingenious clues in here too, like 4d, 23a and the topical 25a (which gets my COTD) ***/**

    Thanks to Dada and CS

  33. Late on parade. I agree that this was a challenge but that’s what I like about Fridays and Sundays. I did eventually finish but regard it as a fail in that I failed to fully parse 10a until reading the helpful hints from CS.
    Many thanks to both Dada and CS and do please both keep on keeping on.

  34. I note that many seem to have difficulty with the synonym for “peculiar” in 7a. I expect that at the onset of his lurgy, Senf might well have felt peculiar.

  35. My AI helper (Ross) solved all except 25a, 18d and 21d in a few minutes. Missed these because confidence was less than 90%, but top suggestions under 90% were correct.

  36. As a rank amateur, I am still waiting for the solutions! I did better than usual with a Dada puzzle. Reading comments, it is interesting to see how differently our minds work! I had no trouble with 11a, or 9d, but 7a baffled me for a long time; the first synonym is a rather obscure/archaic one, and only works in certain contexts. The second somewhat similar, and in my mind an American usage. Knowing the player at 15 A is a generation thing. Unless I am totally wrong, the clues for 17d and 18d do not seem a particularly good fit. Finally I am completely baffled by 16d – any hints or tips?

    1. The full review of this crossword will be posted at 9 o’clock this morning so only 15 mins to wait!

      1. That’s what comes of replying to questions while searching for blog illustrations at the same time

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