Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 3223 (Hints)
Hints and tips by Senf
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
A very good palindromic Sunday morning from Winnipeg, where, with apparently serious discussions on UFOs taking place to the South of us, it was gratifying to be advised that Manitoba’s vast and sparsely populated wilderness, along with its resilient and resourceful communities, position it as a province, second only to Nova Scotia, most likely to survive an alien invasion with an alien survivability score of 7.50/10.
For me, etc, Dada more friendly than usual today although the grid is somewhat strange, with five anagrams (three partials), three lurkers, and two homophones, – all in a very asymmetric 31 clues; with 16 hints ‘sprinkled’ throughout the grid, you should be able to get the checkers to enable the solving of the unhinted clues.
Candidates for favourite – 16a, 28a, 21d, 23d, and 24d.
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
7a Books written after novel ready — long time ago (4,3)
One of the sets of two well known sets of books placed (written) after an anagram (novel) of READY.
11a French city has better device for photographer (4,3)
A city in Northern France and a verbal synonym of better.
15a Entire space for the audience? (5)
A homophone (for the audience) of a synonym of space.
16a Defensive strategy — of golfer in trap? (6,9)
How a golfer might ‘approach’ playing a shot when his or her ball is in a (sand) trap.
23a Non-alcoholic drink, abundance found in last few bars? (5,4)
A synonym of abundance contained by (found in) the term for the last few bars (of a piece of music).
25a Pertinent European directive, ultimately (7)
A European from a particular country and the last letter (ultimately) of directivE.
28a Doctor in rush, running (7)
A synonym of rush and a two letter synonym of running (as in working).
Down
1d Busy cooks entertaining party served up alcoholic dessert (8)
An anagram (cooks) of BUSY containing (entertaining) the reversal (served up) of a type of (usually very formal) party.
3d Pig stuffed with first of trimmings, cook meaty snack (3,3)
A type of male pig (one that has been ‘fixed’) containing (stuffed with) all of the first letter of Trimmings and a synonym of cook.
6d Coin on cross (6)
The smallest unit of currency (coin) almost everywhere except the UK and our favourite two letters equivalent to on.
14d German physicist well meaning, originally (3)
A two letter interjection equivalent to well and the first letter (originally) of Meaning.
17d African country, Asian country not right (8)
Guess a five letter country (that just happens to be in Africa) followed by a four letter Asian country with its letter R deleted (not right).
18d Born in Eastbourne, Englishman (3)
A lurker (in) found in the last two words of the clue.
19d Male blocks a more ghastly suitor (7)
A from the clue followed by the single letter for Male inserted into (blocks) a comparative form (more) of a synonym of ghastly.
23d Tasteless, as is fondue? (6)
How one might describe fondue because of it’s main ingredient.
26d Box, for example (4) or Box, for example (4)
A double definition – the first is a synonym of box as a type of container.
Quick Crossword Pun:
MISSUS + HIPPY = MISSISSIPPI
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Singer, songwriter, record producer, and dancer Catherine, better known as Kate, Bush CBE is 65 years young today. However, I understand that, because of the gradually increasing pension age, she cannot apply for a bus pass until next year. With her debut single, in 1978, Wuthering Heights she became the first female artist to achieve a UK number one with a self-written song and here it is:
2*/4*. For me, this very enjoyable puzzle was at the easier end of the Sunday spectrum.
Senf, you may well be right about 26d, but I can’t see how “for example” is synonymous with the answer. Possibly wrongly, I assumed “for” was just a link word between the two definitions.
My top picks were 13a, 16a, 4d & 14d.
Many thanks to Dada and to Senf.
Me too RD – example being **** in point I assumed
I did dither over 26d and ‘mentally’ tossed one of my half-crowns to help me make a decision but I was not and still am not completely decided so I have now offered both ‘versions’ in the hint.
I had overlooked the in point version so opted for parsing as a container.
Nicely challenging if not a barrowload of fun. SE was my toughest corner. 13a is a nice word so faute de mieux I’ll make it Fav. Thank you Dada and Senf.
-The ues in this gda uzzle fell into place quite steadily until I reached the SE corner, where a wrong answer oncmy part left me baffled until the penny dropped. Many of my answers were educated guesses based on the checkers and the parsing, done retrospectively. There were a good few clues wirh question marks next to them so thanks to Senf for the hints, which helped confirm my parsing. Id and 13a were the best clues for my money. Thanks to Dada for the puzzle.
An enjoyable puzzle for a very wet Sunday here in North Devon – thanks to Dada and Senf.
Top clues for me were 23a, 14d and 22d.
Not one of his best in my view but still enjoyable & not overly challenging. Podium spots for 13&16a plus 1d.
Thanks to D&S
Not too tough this morning, yet most enjoyable. 6d was my final entry, and 23a was my favourite. Waiting for the rain here in Shropshire and hoping it doesn’t reach The Oval too quickly.
Thanks to Dada for the fun, and to Senf.
Took me longer than it should have done to parse 17d correctly and I needed a few checkers in place to nail 16a but otherwise OK. Top three here were 16a plus 4&23d.
Thanks to Dada and to Senf – still smiling at the thought of Ms Bush collecting her bus pass next year! Pleased to learn that you’re likely to survive an alien invasion – what are the odds for the rest of us?
For me, and I stress for me (™Senf) this is a terrific guzzle; all can be deduced without requiring knowledge of pithecanthropus or haragake.
What a lovely evening we had last night. All the way to Banbury but every mile was worth it to catch Zervas And Pepper on their tour ‘This Flight Tonight’ – a tribute to Joni Mitchell. It was so joyful and moving. We loved every second of it. This is a photo I took from our rather privileged spot.
Thanks to Dada and The Man From Manitoba
I didn’t get the parsing one some 6d, for example but it was a doable guzzle with not a lot of enjoyment for me. That could well be because I’m feeling just a little out of sorts today. For the first time, my COTD is a well hidden lurker. I can’t say where it is for fear of the naughty step.
My thanks to Dada for the fun and Senf for the hints. I wonder if my incantations to summon The Mythical are attracting UFOs.
Like Young Salopian, The Marches awaits rain.
A tad easier, perhaps
For a SPP.
A good mix, from the
Brilliant 11a and 7d to very
Old friends 23 and 25a.
Many thanks Dada and Senf.
An SPP on the less difficult end of scale, I think. So fingers crossed for the Amazon voucher. A number of amusing clues with my favourite being 16a which is definitely not my forte on the golf course. 23a reminded me of my youth when we used to nip across to the local pub to get bottles of this stuff, which we then returned empty later to cash in the deposit. This now seems to be heralded as a new concept for the environmentally conscious times we live in – what goes around, comes around! Thanks to Dada, thanks to Senf.
Why an Amazon voucher? Is that the alternative competition which I noticed when I occasionally solved on line. I am looking at the back page and am promised a notebook and pen if my solution is picked out of the emails or post bag.
WW, do you mean that The Mythical cannot be won from an online submission?
I fear that is the case, Steve….but check it out.
The Mythical (only it’s not as I have 2) comes with submission of the puzzle as a photo or scan of the grid.
It always tells me if I submit it from the Telegraph App, as I do when on hols, that the prize is a £50 Amazon voucher.
Maybe the way you submit it will be OK, though….I know nothing of the Puzzles App or whatever it is.
A much better effort by me today, I needed some help from Senf with the parsing of 17d but otherwise I got there. I desperately wanted to put a different word in 13a which I will have as my favourite! 28a took ages to click but was obvious when it did.
Many thanks to Dada and to Senf for the hints.
I thought this was going to be difficult when I only solved 2 of the across clues. Working from the SW I gradually filled in that corner. 16a was then obvious and I finally completed the rest in good time. So I am a happy man.
No complaints from me.
Thanks to all
**/****
Good afternoon
A pleasant solve this afty, with enough challenges for some gentle pen-chewing.
Thanks to Dada and Senf
Well, for me today I would say this is one of Dada’s quirkier offerings for a while. Also, the use of his personal thesaurus seems to have hit the light again this week. However, I still have a couple where I cannot suss out the parsing. When I get a chance to read Senf’s hints, maybe all will become clear.
2*/4* for me
Favourites include 13a, 27a, 14d, 18d & 23d — with winner 18d
Thanks to Dada and Senf for blog/hints
I often have wavelength issues with Dada but today I found this most enjoyable and fun. Unfortunately, the voucher/pen will elude me again as I now realise I’d made a typo in 23d when reading through the hints – d’oh! I had a number of ticks today, with 23a the COTD, closely pursued by 13a and 1d **/****
Thanks to Dada and Senf
Is it possible for someone to email me as I am not receiving my Big Dave Cryptic and Toughie update, I want to see if it is my Email, I have posted this on the Sunday Toughie page as well, sorry for any problems this may cause.
TIA
If you are referring to the e-mails that ‘announce’ when a blog has been published – they have not been available for a while.
This is being investigated by Mr K and we expect a resolution some time soon.
Anyway – as you requested, I have sent you an e-mail.
Big thanks for the hints got there in the end.
Enjoyed today’s puzzle despite many interruptions. Perhaps they helped to clear any brain fog as there were a few head-scratching moments! Famous last words but the rain has held off since a few light showers this morning. Whizzed out some washing to dry as dire forecast for beginning of the fourth week? By the time one can enjoy an aperitif in the garden without getting soaked we will be back to dark nights. Many thanks to the setter and Send.
Apologies as my edit to take out the duplication of dark nights didn’t work!. Apologies also to Senf who I mistakenly referred to as Send? I blame the interruption from my husband who had just returned from a long walk and who needed sustenance!
Your removal of the duplication does seem to have worked. I think it’s necessary to refresh the page after you click save edit and close the edit dialogue box to see the edits take effect. I suspect the real culprit for ‘Send’ is the spell checker. I suspect it has caught us all out at some point!
I always find Dada a little tricky but I did finish this one with some ehelp in the SE. I sometimes write the crossing letters on paper, I seem to “see” them better when I write it out, and I seemed to have to do this a little more often today! I came across 16a recently, otherwise I don’t think I’d have got that. I love the “sound” of words, so 13a and 1d are top of the pops, but 23d amused!
Thank you Dada, and many thanks to Senf for explaining so much!
Almost done, but all rather a struggle and joyless, no ahah moments. Day is wasting so I’m off to attend to chores. Might see if brain has worked out the rest over lunch later. Thanks to Dada for the struggle and to Senf for the necessary hints. Hopefully if any UFOs land here, it will be in the Everglades and the alligators or pythons will see them off 🤭.
I thought this was easier than Somme of Dada’s recent offerings. S was last in for me. Getting 17d helped. Favourites 7a and 21d. Thanks Dada and Senf. Last in and least favourite is 6d.
Yes, all is safely gathered in although I am not sure about my answer for 22d , last one in. Oh, I think I have seen it even as I type. Promoted is going up. Yup, OK. Very late at lunch today as DD2 arrived with dogs just as we were about to sit down to our salad (just as well nothing to get cold) She has no notion of appropriate meal times. However she left laden with 3 pairs of hardly worn Russell & Bromley shoes, two dozen ramekin dishes, a box of Oneida cutlery and various pieces of china – a boot load. Yeah! She turned her nose up at shirts and tops but graciously took away a Hobbs evening skirt. Many thanks to Dada and Senf for the diversion – another couple of days and it is August, where has this year gone?
I’ve pretty well emptied out my China cabinet and given away some silver. I still have a lot of family silver left that has been allocated, but don’t want to clean the stuff, so it has been cleaned, wrapped in newspaper and bunged in a cupboard! I had some huge Victorian plates, belonged to my Gran who had seven children.
Oh for a daughter to take some of our stuff.
Darling Son has no interest at all…..except for 6 Edinburgh Crystal Whisky tumblers…..hm…..
When I mentioned to a neighbor that when I am pushing up the daisies one set of china would go to one daughter, and one to the other, I was admonished that “they won’t want it, nobody uses china any more” ??? What, am I living in a world of paper plates? Perish the thought. And anyway, I double checked and they do want them.
Quick romp home for Dada.
I think I enjoyed this one more than I have for quite a while – – maybe partly as it was a bit easier than recently.
A decent number of all the things that help along “seeing” the answers – I mean such as numbers of anagrams, lurkers etc.
I liked 7 and 15a and 3 and 17d. My favourite was 13d or perhaps it was 21d – not sure . . .
Thanks to Dada and to Senf.
. . . rubbish, there isn’t a 13d – I obviously meant 13a!
As you will have seen several of us agree with your selection of 13a for Fav.
4/2. Romped thru the first three quadrants but totally stymied by the SE. thanks to Dada and Senf.
A very disappointing Dada … I much prefer Paul in the Guardian.
I have never eaten a 1d, and probably never will. I don’t follow the ‘better’ synonym in 11a. 6d was difficult for me, as I can think of a whole host of countries covering billions of people who don’t normally spend the coin referred to and I still don’t know why the answer is a synonym of cross (nor does my Chambers dictionary or Chambers thesaurus, it seems). I also don’t know what the Lord’s plan has to with 4d. Still, I have filled it all in with, I think, the right answers. Fortunately you don’t have to show your workings to win the mythical. But for the most part, that’s where I was with this crossword – filling it in, rather than enjoying it.
I thought 11a an excellent clue, a WINner in fact :)
Thanks Hrothgar. I can see the sense in which it is used now, although, to me, the synonyms don’t seem interchangeable.
I didn’t get the synonym with cross either.
I looked at 5 dictionaries, t’aint there.
A nice Dada for Sunday, 23a brought back Proustian memories of following the “pop” man after he broke up the street football games although the drink in question was my least favourite – I much preferred Dandelion and Burdock.
Thanks to Dada and Senf
I’ve never drunk a 23a. So I was postulating different kind of drinks until the checkers forced the actual answer. I looked the answer up and the ingredients of the first of its kind sound gross. But I imagine it has probably evolved into something more palatable since then!
Lemonade with a hint of vanilla, but as most lemonade hasn’t been in the same postcode as a lemon and most vanilla is created in a chemistry lab rather than an orchid, it probably remains much the same
My I am quite the cynic today, I was rather rude about a certain chain of restaurants over in the toughie. Message to self – be more positive
You’ve sparked my interest. Perhaps I’ll head over the Toughie!
🤣
Are we the only family who used to drink the said beverage half and half with milk ?
Utterly delicious.
Eew🤢 sounds disgusting but Buckfast Abbey Tonic wine mixed with Irn Bru may have numbed my palate
I’ve never heard of that before! But intrigued, I put it into Google and it turns out there’s even a film called [redacted] (made in Hong Kong, released 1981).
Oops. Apologies. Shouldn’t have recited the title of the film. I was overwhelmed by surprise!
I’ve never heard of that before! But intrigued, I put it into Google and it turns out there’s even a film called [redacted] (made in Hong Kong).
Please ignore this. I thought I had deleted it! 😖
Needed the hints for 6d and to check my thought for 26d. Other than that all went well for me…..which is unusual on a Sunday.
Thanks to Dada and to Senf.
What a blinking day today….spent most of it trying, in vain, to get a printer to work. It worked perfectly yesterday until,
it ran out of ink then has stubbornly refused to align itself. (Whatever that means.) I feel a trip to Currys coming on.
Then phone calls from people I didn’t want to speak to blocking the calls from that people that I did ! No consideration some folks.
However, we are off to Auld Reekie on Tuesday to see some of the Fringe ….cunningly timed so we can get either preview price tickets or 2-for-1s . (You can tell we’re Scottish). So I shall focus on that from now.
Way out of my league!
So glad to see you 👍😊
Ditto! 🙂
So glad you are back, Brian . I missed you.
Welcome back, Brian! :good:
Whew! Where’ve you been, Brian? Don’t you DARE disappear like that again, you had us worried!
Just a thought – shouldn’t 17d read ‘englishwoman’ as the answer is feminine
Welcome to the blog.
In short – No.
17d is a lurker (in) for a definition of born. The answer is contained within two words in the clue, the beginning of the first and the ending of the second have no ‘influence’ on letters to be selected for the answer. Probably, some obfuscation on Dada’s part.