ST 3225 (Hints) – Big Dave's Crossword Blog
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ST 3225 (Hints)

by Senf  

Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 3225 (Hints)

Hints and tips by Senf

+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +

A very good Sunday morning from Winnipeg, where it seems to be almost pre-autumnal.  I might have to put the shorts away and get the long trousers out.

For me, and I stress for me, solving this was like eating an elephant – one bite at a time!  A stingy three anagrams (one partial), two lurkers, one homophone, and one not a homophone (explained) – all in a symmetric 30 clues; with 15 hints ‘sprinkled’ throughout the grid, you should be able to get the checkers to enable the solving of the unhinted clues.

Candidates for favourite – 8a, 14a, 21a, 13d, 15d, 18d .

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 Sweet English writer, incautious (9)
A type of sweet (as in dessert) and an English writer (as in author) who set his major novels in Wessex.

8a Nose surgery behind some nasal orifice, primarily (5)
A two letter abbreviated form of a synonym of surgery placed after (behind) the initial letters (primarily) of Some Nasal Orifice.

11a Male bird split by a chopper (8)
A male domestic feline(?) and a generic term for a bird of prey containing (split by) A from the clue.

14a Perfect sound for broadcast (6)
A quick read of the clue might suggest a homophone, but it isn’t – the letter and number used to indicate perfect and the sound from a bell(?).

17a Rapid writer (5)
A double definition – the second was an Irish satirist.

21a Myth for example written in advance (6)
The two letters for the abbreviated form of for example in Latin inserted into (written in) a synonym of advance (money).

26a Hammer action (6)
A double definition – the second is industrial in nature.

28a Scum in office retired — oh well! (5,4)
A synonym of scum (when describing an obnoxious person) inserted into (in) the reversal (retired) of a single three letter term for (home) office.

Down

1d Captured by generalissimo, untethered horse (5)
A lurker (captured by) found in two words in the clue.

3d Pharaoh possibly: mummy’s bandaged heading for sarcophagus (6)
A synonym of mummy (often used by public schoolboys, I wonder if they still do) containing (bandaged) the first letter (heading for) of Sarcophagus.

6d Opening in door’s first covered by dog (3,6)
I have a vague recollection that Dada has used the dog before – IN from the clue and the first letter of Door all contained (covered) by a childish synonym of dog.

9d Top mark in German? (6)
The modification of a vowel sound in Germanic languages indicated by the use of a diacritical sign.

15d Member’s supporter hosting tour, young man (9)
The supporter of an injured member containing a synonym of tour.

20d Dialect in soap, it proving incomprehensible (6)
An anagram (proving incomprehensible) of SOAP, IT.

25d Come across food for the audience? (4)
The homophone to finish (for the audience) of a type of food (that might be accompanied by two veg?).

Quick Crossword Pun:

TAILORS + WHIFFED = TAYLOR SWIFT

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American disco and funk band KC and the Sunshine Band had only one UK number one, for three weeks starting on this day in 1983, and I think I can understand why. Here it is:

70 comments on “ST 3225 (Hints)”

  1. I thought this was quite tricky for a Sunday, not helped by a rather unfriendly grid.
    A bit of a mixed bag for me as I wasn’t keen on 3&6d but there were lots of clever and amusing clues in there, of which I’ll highlight 11,14,21&28a plus 13&22d.
    Many thanks to Dada and Senf.

  2. I really couldn’t make very much headway with this puzzle, 8 clues at the bottom and two at the top. After staring at it in bewilderment for a while, I left it, while I made Jim’s breakfast. When I came back to it, I still couldn’t get any further, so, having lots of other things to do, I gave up and it’s a DNF. Enjoyment didn’t really come into it and I couldn’t select any favourites, since I didn’t get far enough. Not my cup of tea obviously.

  3. Extremely difficult for me but finally finished with several bung ins. Thanks to all but not really my cup of tea.

  4. I thought that this was trickier than the usual Sunday Dada and I enjoyed it. Thanks to him for the puzzle and to Senf for the hints.
    The definition 3d seemed rather woolly.
    My ticks went to 21a, 6d and 15d.

  5. Not a lot of fun along the way but got there in the end. NE was stickiest corner. 6d is clever construction but opening rather broad definition. Suppose blessed tallies with 12a. Failed to parse 14a bung-in. Fav 15a. Thank you Dada and Senf.

  6. Not a great start to the day for me, got up, had breakfast, showered, and drove to Camberley for the classic car show….. only to discover it was yesterday!
    Oh well, there’s always next year.
    Not too tricky a puzzle today, but can’t say I liked 14a, got the answer (as it couldn’t be much else) but had to see the hint as to how it worked. Liked all the rest though, favourite for me was 6d, many thanks to our setter today, good honest fun.

    1. Sorry to hear about the car show. We’ve turned up a day early for events and wondered why the car park was empty 😊.

      1. Me too, the park car’s always a pretty good indicator, and it was nearly deserted today.

    2. We once drove down to the NEC from Aberdeen only to find we were a day early. Continued to Peterborough FC to see a distant cousin making his debut. We discovered that he was not playing due to being cup-tied but we saw him making the half time draw! At least we saw the NEC event on the following day.

      1. Better a day early than one late!
        Went on a training course to Aberdeen once, flew into Dyce, got stuck in a pub, came out at eleven in the evening and it was still light! Beautiful place though, all granite.

        1. It is good here for several months in the summer with plenty time for a leisurely evening game of golf. Occasionally used to drive up to Glenshee after work to do a circuit of three Munros midweek.

          There is a downside of course as we don’t get much daylight in mid-winter.

  7. Some clever clues but I got bogged down with about 5 to go. I used the hint for 5a and this helped me finish except for 14a ,which was very clever but tricky.I had to use the hints again. I’m not sure whether I enjoyed today’s offering or not.? Thanks for the hints.

  8. This took me longer to complete than my normal Sunday time, but I enjoyed it.
    Although I knew the answer to 3d, it was the one I wrote in last, as I thought the definition was a little vague.
    Thanks to Dada and to Senf.

  9. Very slow progress with only the south east corner coming together after 2 goes through. Gradually I did get there but had to look up a few synonyms along the way. It was a lot trickier for me than many Sundays and it was very stop start. Without the anagrams and lurkers I would not have finished. 6d took an age to fathom. That said I have finished so it was worth persevering.

    Many thanks to Dada and to Senf for the hints, which helped confirm some of my answers. I imagine 1 elephant will last you for many weeks of crosswords?

  10. Oh I hear you now! I can read your thoughts. I have powers, you know.
    You’re thinking, “Well! He’s suffering from ‘main character syndrome’ again. It’s so terribly sad. He thinks it’s all about him.”
    Wait! It is all about me, isn’t it?
    I have dictated letters of complaint to the most important people I can think of – Greta Thunberg, HH The Pope, and Ron DeSantis, for this crossword was designed, surely, to cause delay, distress, and disharmony in my household.

    Here’s the situation: today we are going to Stamford Bridge for the first game for ‘Super Chelsea’ in this season’s Premier League. We are dead posh so we have hospitality season tickets, so need to get there early for luncheon. Thus Darling H is murmuring, softly, that she will be ready shortly and perhaps we should soon be underway. Meanwhile I’m grappling with this Dada brain mangler.
    Had he no thought at all for my plans for the day? My orange juice with no bits and artisan bread toast have long been consumed, and here I have remained, unravelling this fellow clue by clue.

    H is a calm, reassuring presence, and it is only her delightful personality that has maintained a level of serenity here. Some women would be yelling, “For God’s Sake, Man! Let’s Go! Now!

    For me, and I stress for me (™ Senf), this was a delicious battle with each clue being wrenched out, and then clinging to the joy of a checking letter or two, I glided on to the next clue. A sense of achievement to complete this one.

    Thanks to Dada and The Man From Manitoba.

    “Ok! Ok! I’m ready, let’s go!” Come on Chelsea!

    2. My breath was all bated awaiting an addition to The List but no, that was you enjoying the torment?
      I shall never understand men.
      H is a Saint.
      Hope you enjoyed the strange afternoon watching 22 men kicking a ball about to the accompaniment of much shouting.

  11. Difficult for a Sunday but it is a prize puzzle, I suppose. I wasn’t keen on 6d because I have always known it by another name. No COTD for me but I did like 1a and 11a.

    Thank you Dada for the brain mangling. Many thanks to Senf for making sense of some of it.

    1. Maybe, just maybe Perks will help you win The Mythical, I’m sure we all hope so bearing in mind the horrid week you have just had.

      1. Thank you, Manders. It has been rather a stressful week. If Perks is looking down from cat paradise maybe he will put in a word about The Mythical. Who knows? After all he was a very inscrutable cat. 🐈

  12. We do dt every day! She “does” I ” help”. Started when commuting into London some 55 years ago, next month!! Must sort that out!
    Just to say “we” enjoyed this one!! She even got the German one! I claimed about 6 ! Not an easy one! Why should they be, just cannot understand objecting to having “fun”!!!
    Thanks to compilers and all who guide us on our way!! Hope you get some more uplifting comments today!!!

    1. Thanks Ian and Pat; such a refreshing comment. I too have been “completing ” the DT for many years and enjoy the challenge! I also play golf and some days its 25 over par and others just 18 or 19 ish! Never a complaint from me; the compilers work hard to provide the entertainment, for not much reward I believe? I’ve tried to set puzzles on a few occasions but I’m in awe of the regulars who seem to be able to find the nuances needed to stay fresh.
      My thanks to the compilers and Bloggers too; I’ve reccomended this site to many who have seen me enjoying puzzling over the years.

  13. Tough Dada today that needed both the hints and a couple of trips to Google. Loved the misdirection in 3d but don’t understand the “takes off” in 22d. Last in was 28a which took quite a bit of thought.
    ****/***
    Thx to Dada and for the hints.
    My apologies to anyone who was offended by my shouting on a previous post, it is something I generally abhor in blogs but I was feeling particularly annoyed by the clue in question. By the way to whoever quoted Allo Allo Herr Flic was German!
    But I make no apologies for my overall comments which upset at least one Troll.

    1. I’ll let you into a little secret on 22d, but don’t tell anyone else – ‘off’ is an anagram indicator!

      And, to politely correct you – Herr Flick was German.

        1. I’ve watched Peter replace many a 22d when he used to do our car maintenance himself, a long time ago when that was easier of course,

  14. Did a bit of 2d’ing with a couple of clues – 22d in particular, but finished up with a full grid, thanks in part to a couple of old chestnuts.
    Top three places went to 7&21a plus 13d.

    Thanks to Dada and to Senf for the hints and music – I can remember quite enjoying a dance to KC et al back in the day but I’m rather relieved that I didn’t see any video clip at the time, odd looking character!

  15. A fair bit more challenging than usual & very enjoyable. 6d just edges it ahead of 7a as my pick of the field.
    Thanks to D&S
    Ps Yesterday’s gentle NTSPP on this site well worth a visit

  16. Well I must say this puzzle took a long time to get into … almost didn’t seem like a Dada as it was just felt different it seemed. Some really quirky clues in this one for me. as well as parsing that was tricky. Definitely at the far reaches of his spectrum today.
    Maybe it’s just me this week, or maybe it was like Senf described … like eating an elephant.

    3.5*/3* for me today.

    Favourites include 7a, 11a, 14a, 19a, 27a & 5d — with co-winners 7a & 19a

    Thanks to Dada and Senf for hints/blog

  17. One of those puzzles that I had to put down and come back to after an hour or so’s break, when a burst of inspiration allowed me to finish. The NW corner held out the longest with 7a my LOI – I should have solved this sooner as I loved the Wessex author when I was young and even got one of his novels as a school prize. I can’t remember what for now – probably for being the class swot. COTD for me was 6d which I loved but seems to have divided opinion amongst the BD bloggers. Thanks to the (non-dog) setter and to Senf for the hints.

  18. Thanks Senf, needed your help in several areas of the grid today. I thought this was tough even by Dada standards and like Jane found myself 2d’ing at times and consequently completed at 27a pace.

    I particularly enjoyed 13d. I also learnt something about 6ds along the way (never heard them called this) and will have to start referring to mine accordingly!

      2. Not sure I’m allowed to say Daisy, but think tartan scarfs, long hair and terrible pop band 1970s or geographical area associated with Bengal.

  19. Definitely at the more difficult end of this setters spectrum with some clues taking us an age to solve. Nothing really stood out as favourite but we’ll go with 9d. Thanks to Dada and Senf.

  20. I really enjoyed this puzzle. It was one of those that just sit on the kitchen table to be mulled over each time I stop for a cuppa. 6d and 14a kept me guessing today. The relief when the penny drops! Thank you setter and hinter.

  21. Gosh, what a funny one. I though it was going to be a fiddle with the northwest being completed in no time at all, and then ran up against a brick wall. Got there in the end after lots of virtuous patience; a looong breakfast! Only one ! among all the ?s on my page, so 6d it is!
    Many thanks to Dada and Senf.

    1. Welcome to the blog. As this is your first comment I will make some allowance so I will answer your question but you do need to read and, in future, follow the instructions in RED underneath the hints.

      The answer to your question is it isn’t. You are on the wrong ‘track’ for 8a, did you read the hint, and you will not be able to solve 6d.

      That is as far as I can go.

    3. [redacted – it’s a prize puzzle – read the instructions in RED below the hints]. I put your answer in first also.

    5. Welcome, and don’t worry Sarah. I’ve been doing these since the dark ages and I still have trouble sorting out what is the definition and what is the clue. I do know the definition is usually at the start or end of the clue.

  23. Yes, a definitely tricky one this week.
    I’ve still got a few that I’m not very happy about – 17d for eg – why?
    I’ve always called the first word of 6d slightly different.
    Lots of good clues including 8 and 21a and 5 and 15d. I think my favourite has to be 7a.
    Thanks to Dada and to Senf.
    Maybe I’ll have a go at the NTSPP while dodging wasps . . .

    1. Oh thanks Kath. I’ve been racking my brains to think what else 6d would be – I had done in my bedroom as a little girl. What you were thinking of is surely bigger?
      Hope you are keeping well by the way 😊

      1. Hello DG,
        No, what I’m thinking of is a slightly different shape – a bit rounder – oh, for goodness sake, what a nuisance is that we’re about to be put in the naughty corner – all we’re talking about is one letter!!!! :oops:
        And yes, thanks, I’m fine!!

  24. For some reason everything fell into place for me on this one, so 2*/4*. Particularly liked the “dogism” at 6d although I’ve never previously seen that particular terminology for the answer. Thanks to the setter and Senf.

  25. Well, something is decidedly odd here! The most difficult setter of the week, Dada, that I always struggle with, the seasoned solvers think very tricky, but I thought very doable! Not easy, mind you, but I finished. I needed a little ehelp in the NE, 11a, and 14a was a bungin. The sweet in 7a was a gimme, we’ve had that many times, as is the German top mark. I needed help for the why of 28a, but that is just me being thick, it’s so obvious. Fave was 6d, I think that’s a little Jane Austen-ish, but I liked many more.
    Thanks Dada for making me feel like a Brain of Britain, and Senf for unravelling some for me.

    1. P.S. just looked up the difference between the two, apparently they are different. I just thought our answer sounded a bit old-fashioned.

  26. Devilish tricky, I thought,
    For a Sunday SPP.
    28a and 18d superb clues.
    Took an absolute age to
    Fathom 6d as my original
    Rationale was wonky.
    Many thanks, indeed, to
    Dada and Senf.

  28. At first glance I thought this was going to be one of those Sundays, but slowly it came together. Decidedly tricky in places, but all overall quite doable, even if I did grow a few more grey hairs in the process. Forgot the writer at 17a so that held me up, trying to recall an author with other synonyms for rapid. COTD most definitely 15d. Thanks to Dada and Senf.

  29. Above my pay grade today.
    Needed almost all of Senf’s excellent hints plus some use of the electronic gizmo to finish.
    Liked 19a.

    Thanks to Dada and to Senf.

  30. Hmm. Took me quite a long time to crack this one but of course I am somewhat under par (note the sporty reference) with my Chalazion, which is slowly getting better since you are concerned. It was the south east corner that caused problems so many thanks for your help Senf, and thank you also to the setter who obviously has a sideways mind. I liked 9d but I think my favourite has to be 6d, I had one as a child, in which sat my prized red yacht which I sailed in the nearby lake. I lent it to my brother and never got it back.

    1. I do hope your chalazion will be better soon, DG. I had one (or two, I think, on the same eyelid) last year. I did go to the doctor but they got better on their own in the end. Stopped being painful after a fairly short time but the actual swelling took quite some time to go down.
      Just about to embark on the crossword – sounds as though it may be a struggle. Thanks in advance to Dada and Senf, whose hints I’m sure I will need.

      1. This blog never ceases to amaze me. I have never heard of a chalazion and then four or five turn up like the proverbial omnibus. They do not sound nice and I hope all those suffering recover soon. 👍

  31. Completed the Toughie first and it is difficult to decide which puzzle I found most challenging. Both were entertaining though.

    Favourites here were 19a and 13d.

    Also had a different ending to 8a which stopped me getting my LOI 6d until the penny dropped.

    Thanks to Dada and Senf.

  32. I found this very difficult. I’m still not entirely sure whether what I submitted is correct. I have done the prize Toughie for the last few weeks and they were no harder. By the way, while I didn’t like the clue for 6d, there is a difference between a 6d and what I suspect some commenters are thinking of when they say they don’t use that term. Not sure how far I can go in explaining, so perhaps I’d better stop there. Thanks for the hints Senf.

  33. For obvious reasons I too started with the Toughie and needed Senf’s help to finish in the NE. Most amused by the fact that I got the Wessex writer in 1a too and the female equivalent of the cat in 11a too
    I agree with Mark and Dave that as far a difficulty goes they are about on a par.
    Thanks to Senf and Dada

  34. That was a tough one today, just don’t think I got on the wavelength. Took coming back and puzzling over clues over several cups of tea to finish today. Like others had the wrong 8a, and really struggled with the 4 letter clues today – last ones in 16a and 18a. Thanks to Dada, and to Senf for the hints!

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