ST 3288 (Hints) – Big Dave's Crossword Blog
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ST 3288 (Hints)

by Shabbo  

Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 3288
Hints and tips by Shabbo

+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +

BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***

Good morning, one and all.

Many thanks to Senf for his diligence in keeping us all on our toes on the Sunday puzzles.  I am proud to be standing in for him for one week only and if I give away too much in the hints below I can only apologise.  This is, of course, a prize puzzle, so I have only provided hints for a few key clues – the rest are down to you, dear solver. 

An enjoyable puzzle, which was just right for a Sunday prize puzzle in my opinion.  Thank you setter.

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In the blog below, the definition element of each clue has been underlined, anagrams are CAPITALISED and the crossword technique “indicator words” are in brackets. The answers are concealed under the “Click Here” buttons.  Please leave a comment telling us how you got on and what you thought of the puzzle.

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Across

1a Sensationalist news channel? (6,5)
a double definition, or a cryptic definition.  You decide.

12a Potential road hazard, but caught by beam (7)
abbreviated of synonym of “but” inside (caught by) synonym of beam (as in rod).

15a Clueless when blindfolded? (2,3,4)
double definition.

17a Current broadcast, class (9)
synonym of broadcast (think TV or radio) + a division of pupils.

22a Joy in English language filled with love (7)
abbreviation of English + classical language outside (filled with) love in tennis.  Hands up if you biffed “emotion”, like I did.

27a Creative intrigued at lack of appreciation (11)
anagram (creative) of INTRIGUED AT.

Down
2d The same peacekeepers, I figure (7)
peacekeeping organisation + I + synonym of figure.

3d Brown and one in green turned orange (9)
synonym of brown + I in an anagram of GREEN.

7d Wallowing type has cases for old physician (11)
large semiaquatic African animal known for wallowing + types of cases.

11d Lightweight character that’s animated (6-5)
double definition.

18d Right angle I bent, put straight (7)
anagram (bent) of R ANGLE I.

20d Nerve held by leader, landing place (7)
synonym of nerve or cheek inside (held by) synonym of leader.

 

Quickie Pun:  HARING  + BONUS   + TITCH   =  HERRINGBONE STITCH – unless someone else can come up with a better answer.

52 comments on “ST 3288 (Hints)”

  2. Typical Dada Sunday puzzle with one definition that makes you glad a certain Rabbit is on his holidays ;)

    Thanks to Dada and Shabbo

  3. A great puzzle for a Sunday morning with a hint of chewiness appropriate for the cryptic.

    Top picks for me were 17a, 20a and 21d.

    Thanks to Shabbo and the setter.

    Agree with Shabbo’s answer for the quickie pun but not all of the words are showing. For me it says G + S + Stitch.

  4. Struggled to get started but most entertaining once I managed to get going.

    Favourite for me has to be 1a irrespective of the type of clue.

    Thanks to setter and hinter on this sunny autumn morning in NE Scotland.

  5. Dada upping the ante this week. It took me ages to get a foothold and, once I had, it was a slow finish. I can’t say I enjoyed it that much but not to worry because I do get another opportunity to pitch for The Mythical. My COTD is the other half at 20a.

    Thank you, Dada for the challenge. Thank you, Shabbo for the hints.

  6. I did not find this as entertaining as I normally do most Sundays, but it was still pleasant to solve.
    Thanks to Dada and to Shabbo.

  7. Enjoyable puzzle from Dada – thanks to him and Shabbo.
    As CS says it’s lucky RD is on holiday otherwise he might have blown a fuse.
    Top clues for me were 1a, 10a, and the clever 23d.

    1. I don’t understand 10a at all. What am I missing please? I think I have it now. D’oh!

  8. Had my usual smattering of doubts over some of our setter’s definitions and, like Sue, I was glad that our rabbit’s equilibrium wouldn’t be disturbed as he’s likely got better things than crosswords to think about on his holidays!
    Top clues for me were 20&25a plus 20d.

    Thanks to Dada and to Shabbo for taking on Senf’s role this Sunday – I’m sure he’s very grateful to you.

  9. A right mixed bag of bang-ins and pencil chewing this morning – it took me a disappointing while to twig the US university / middle Eastern Capital clue pair, but overall it was a pleasant way to spend this morning’s extra hour!
    I suspect I will join the majority and put 1a as COTD. Oh, and at the risk of annoying Steve, I received my Mythical for my very first online submission – (nothing since of course!)
    Thanks to Dada and Shabbo for the stand-in blog.

  10. Without wishing to show any 27a, this became a bit of a grind to completion and I’d still be staring at 20d if it were not for Shabbo’s hint. I thought a stint in the garden might reboot the brain cells, but….no. maybe it is just one of those days when I failed to tune in to Dada’s wavelength. Thanks to him and Shabbo for the hints.

  11. On the whole very enjoyable but the right def presented more of a challenge. Not keen on either 20a or 21d, both clumsy but I did like 11d, v clever. Still stumped for the explanation of my answer to 26a. I always find the 2 word clues v tricky but this one has got me beat. I have an answer which Google tells me is correct but can’t for the like of me make it fit either of the words!
    Hey ho!
    ***/****
    Thx to all

  12. Happy to report that Senf is alive and well about to enjoy Sunday lunch at the Red Lion in Thorpe.

          1. …but don’t forget, Jane, you can’t get warm, flat English bitter in Canada! 👍🏼🍻

      1. Prolixic on the left with a pint of Guinness and Senf to the right with a pint of London Glory.

    8. Far too late I know, but nice to see you having fun! And thank you (and the rest of the crew) for your dedication to The Cause!

  13. Kind of a strange Dada offering today. Seems to me to be a little higher up his difficulty spectrum this week. Definite use of his own thesaurus this week and a good handful of quirkiness thrown in too.

    2.5*/3.5*

    Favourites 20a, 25a, 5d, 7d & 19d — with winner 7d (again so soon!)

    Thanks to Dada & Shabbo, who standing in for Senf this week.
    I hope all is going well for him with his sister in the UK. Cheers!!

  14. I was 15a initially but eventually reached a 13a with some 22a. I thought some of clues to be 11d and thus have some 27a to setter. I’m not even going to bother sending it in. Cotd 25a a wee illustration on this might have cheered me up.

  16. As usual on Sundays I’ve got quite a few “yes, but why . . . s”
    I spent a while trying to decide which clue would rattle RD ‘s cage – think it has to be 8d or do we know him too well . . .
    I liked 14 and 15a and 5 and 21d. I think my favourite was the very simple 25a.
    Thanks to Dada and to Shabbo for the stand-in.

  17. A slowish start then a slow finish. I tended to overthink this in places rather than just follow the instructions, which were pretty clear in the main. The last half a dozen clues took as long as the rest of the grid. For a favourite, I have to look no further than the clever 23d.

    My thanks to Dada for the workout and to Shabbo.

  18. I have to echo Kath’s comment “got quite a few, but why?”, which pretty much sums up my experience today. Reminds of the early Dada days when it was all a complete mystery. I have too many ?? alongside my answers to feel that I really finished this one. I really only got a foothold with the anagrams, and helpful checkers. Thanks to Dada but definitely above my pay grade today, and to Shabbo.

    1. I often feel that way about Dada puzzles. The fact that I found today’s a little easier than most does not invalidate that comment. I know he is very clever but when he is feeling evil there is no living with him.
      I just wish he wouldn’t do the prize puzzles so you could learn about his clues. By the time the full answer is published I have usually forgotten all about the puzzle.

  19. Some tricky ones but mostly straightforward and generally fairly clued. All right on the enjoyment factor but hugely hugely so. Favourite was 7d. Thanks to Dada and Shabbo.

  20. Phew, I finally made it after stabs at it on and off during the day in between watching ATP tennis finals from Basel and Vienna – congrats to Jack Draper for flying the Union Jack with his victory. Once again South was least troubling half with NW relying on several unparsed bung-ins. Surely 8d doesn’t necessarily have battlements and isn’t 9a queen 5 letters (in which case where does an come from?). Thank you Dada and fill-in Shabbo.

      1. Have to say I find Rafa’s various rituals like adjusting his underwear, etc. before serving somewhat offputting. To me it seems like OCD which he apparently denies but claims they help him concentrate! Oh well, to each his own! 🫤.

        1. I too find it difficult to concentrate when I have my undies in a bunch but I am sure a better pair of boxers would alleviate the problem

  21. Well I got there in the end but not without looking at the hints for 11d. I was so sure it was going to be something horse! I enjoyed the puzzle but had to scratch the little gey cells a few times! Many thanks to Dada and Shabbo not forgetting Cryptic Sue!
    We have been lucky with the weather over the weekend but raining now. Have a good week everyone.

  22. Many thanks to Dada for going easy(ish) on the hungover And thanks to Shabbo for explanations for the ones where I struggled a bit – 12a I had the beam but couldn’t see the but until I looked again

  23. Like John the but bit in 12a was the head scratch otherwise a pleasingly brisk problem free solve on a gloriously sunny first tee this morning. I liked all 4 long uns round the edges – 1a my pick of ‘em & had it as a cryptic rather than a double def.
    Thanks to D & super sub S

  24. For me this was challenging but fun and I managed it unaided which for me on a Sunday is a triumph. Of course a full grid does not necessarily mean correct answers, but I will stick with the belief that I was right.

    Many thanks to Dada and to Shabbo for the hints.

  25. I seem to be slipping at the moment, not settling to the guzzle until far too late in the day. I have just put the last 3 answers in – 26 last to fall and it’s a bung in. Nice to see the photo of the boys having fun, I guess Senf has had decent weather for his hols. I hate 20a – does anyone say that these days? Yuk. Anyway – thanks to Shabbo for standing in despite not cluing the very ones I needed help for 😌 and to Mr Setter. 12a was my favourite despite being another hate.

  26. Completed this one mistaking it for the Monday backpager (wrong printout) and thought “hummm, slightly chewier than usual for a Monday” – then came here and learned why. Doh! Re 10a: it’s long past high time this particular synonym of dude bit the dust, indeed it’s time ‘dude’; itself went the same way. COTD 1a

    Many thanks to Dada and Senf

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