Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 3291 (Hints)
Hints and tips by Senf
A very good Sunday morning from Winnipeg where it continues to be unseasonably ‘warm,’ relatively speaking of course, for November and we have had no snow and very little other precipitation for several weeks.
For me, and I stress for me, Dada reasonably friendly with several groans – one long ‘un, six anagrams (three partials), one lurker, and one homophone all in a slightly asymmetric 29 clues; with 15 hints, ‘sprinkled’ throughout the grid, you should be able to get the checkers to enable the solving of the unhinted clues. And, remember, the Naughty Step is OPEN!
Candidates for favourite – 11a, 16a, 27a, 2d, 3d, 15d, and the Pun – one of Dada’s best ever.
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
9a First of all, left and right get exchanged – great! (5)
One of Dada’s favourite clue types which usually appears towards the bottom of the Downs – initial letters (first of all) of five words in the clue.
11a Pig heading for Gatwick Airport munching last of breakfast (7)
The first letter of (heading for) Gatwick, and a different airport (beloved of package holiday makers and presumably now Ryanair passengers?) containing (munching) the last letter of breakfasT.
16a Appear callous – as would closed down penitentiary? (4,2,9)
A double definition(?) – the first may refer to achieving objectives at any cost.
19a Tailored robes carried by steed – the rear of it? (9)
An anagram (tailored) of ROBES contained (carried) by a synonym of steed (although a steed may object to being called the synonym).
21a Name bird, wings on ledge (5)
A generic term for a small songbird and the outer letters of (wings on) LedgE.
27a Carriage alongside blue European lake (9)
A synonym of carriage (as in posture) placed after (alongside) the abbreviated form of the (UK) political party represented by the colour blue – groan.
28a Two-way detector? (5)
Palindromic (two-way) detection equipment.
Down
1d Advertise bathroom item (4)
A double definition – the illustration ‘describes’ the second better than I can put into words.
3d Old killer when steps into field arrested by coppers (10)
A single word that can apply to steps into (a) field contained (when . . . arrested) by a synonym of (numismatic) coppers.
5d Seasoned meat where I shop, idiot served up (8)
The reversal (served up) of all of I from the clue, the dreadful 4 letter synonym of shop (which I thought was N American but, apparently, Old Bill Shakes used it), and a synonym of idiot.
7d Is island south of capital in Dakar separate? (8)
IS from the clue and guess an island (quite some distance from Dakar) all placed after (south of – it’s a Down clue) the first letter of (capital in) Dakar.
15d Tal? (5,5)
A descriptive(?) phrase for TAL if there had been a fourth letter (vowel) which has been removed – groan.
18d Chap supporting proposal, deep and mournful (8)
A synonym of chap placed after (supporting) a 4 letter synonym of proposal.
24d Nothing in it, a tiny amount (4)
The letter that can represent nothing inserted into (in) IT from the clue and A from the clue.
26d Go and go off! (4)
A double definition to end – do I really need to add more?
Quick Crossword Pun:
AMOUNT + INTO + CLIME = A MOUNTAIN TO CLIMB
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As it was BBC Children in Need day two days ago, in 2019, Shaun Dooley, who, amongst other things, appeared in Series 2 of Broadchurch, was one of ten actors who came together to record an album of cover versions of songs personal to them for Children in Need. Shaun chose to sing a Taylor Swift song Never Grow Up. He was completely unaware that fellow Broadchurch actor Olivia Colman had arranged for Ms Swift to make a surprise appearance during the recording session:
A much more straightforward challenge than yesterday but with a more consistent level of intensity. I enjoyed the humour and smiled several times, 20d, 22d, 26d, 16a.
I was grateful for the lack of GK required, I will forgive 6d as there could only be one solution.
COTD 15d as I spotted it on my first scan of the grid as an outlier and it was the last one in.
Thanks to the setter and for the hints.
I found Dada at the trickier end of his spectrum today. A lot of the parsing was not obvious immediately and was only seen after the clue was answered. For example, I don’t see how 19a works. I did like the closed down penitentiary at 16a and the fish on the bed at 20d. My COTD has to be 15d because it took me an age to see it then, when the PDM came, it caused a huge “Doh” and a grin.
Thank you, Dada for the struggle. Thank you, Mr. Mustard for the hints.
There is a hint for 19a.
Thank you, Senf – I now understand it although I agree with your sentiments regarding steed.
I don’t think I have ever seen Dada in such a friendly mood, a contrast to last Sunday’s, with which I struggled greatly.
Thanks to him for an enjoyable puzzle.
1*/4*
1.5*/3*. This was good fun apart from the hideous 15d.
Thanks to Dada and to Senf.
A hugely enjoyable puzzle for a chilly bright Sunday morning, and pretty much on the same level as today’s Toughie. Plenty of wit, humour and groan-worthy PDMs, lovely variety of clues.
Many thanks to Dada and Senf
Like Steve, I found it hard to get a start on rhis guzzle and the parsing got easier as more checkers went in.I likedd the 6a cryptic definition and the 8d anagram. 5 d , with its PDM was, however my COD. thanks to Senf for the hints and to Dada for an unteresting SPP.
Brilliant puzzle that contained a real groaner in 20d and a v clever clue that made me smile in 16a. Lots of anagrams which help getting started and well constructed clues. Dada at his best for me. The great thing about Dada puzzles which cannot be said for some setters is that when you have the answer the clues make sense.
Thx to all
***/*****
I thought that this was going to be a swift finish until I ground to a halt in the SE. Had to resort to the hints for 15d as I was both clueless and definitely “answerless” but the hint did open up the rest to completion. My podium comprises 11a for the great misdirection, 16a with5d in top place. Thanks to Dada and Senf.
Like SC, I think that the clue for 19A is clunky, bordering on incorrect but will say no more as it’s a prize puzzle.
Lots to like with 16A and 20D raising a smile but the prize has to go to the brilliant (for me) 15D. The sound of the coin hitting the floor must have echoed all over the Cotswolds! 😺
Thanks to Dada and Senf
For me most of this was relatively straightforward, only needing the hints to help parse one. For me 3d was the last in, I was on the wrong track completely. I also had an accidental incorrect letter appear in 11a (a problem with completing digital puzzles) which held me up for ages. I had 16a as my favourite and rather liked 19a because it was very misleading (for me at least)
Many thanks to Dada and to Senf for the hints.
I thought our setter was in quite playful mood this morning, he certainly gave me plenty to smile about even though I did start out with a different ‘tal’ which confused the grid for a while.
My favourite clue was 16a with the quaint upper-class person hard on its heels.
Thanks to Dada, who doubtless isn’t fat or bitter, and to Senf for the hints – anybody else struggle to see what the magnetic quality is that Ms Swift seems to possess?
I don’t even know any of her songs.
Neither do i!
I just listened to a few of TS’s “best” tracks and they did nothing for me. I think a lot of people just jump on her bandwagon to look cool.
I also can’t understand how that moronic duo A** and D** have achieved a god like status whilst lacking any noticeable skills.
Rant over.
Classic Dada – lots of lateral thinking required. 15d definitely COTD for me….
Dada at his friendliest and most amusing – thanks to him and Senf.
I particularly liked 11a, the clever 6d and the quirky 15d.
For me, and I stress for me (™ Senf), this was quite a tricky assignment, but good fun to unravel.
Last night (I like to support local amateur theatre groups) we popped down to see the latest production from Peaslake Players, where the standard of performance was, as ever, very high. I admire those who put their heart and soul into a dramatic production, simply for the fun and pleasure of it.
Big bonus – the grumpy man behind the bar was nowhere to be seen yesterday, so drinks could be procured without being snapped at.
In other news, I find international break weeks so very tiresome.
Thanks to Da-doo-ron-ron and The Man From Manitoba
Not tempted by Che W vs MC W at the Bridge yday then? Great game that filled the void!
I found this quite tricky in places but a great puzzle nonetheless.
I needed help to parse the first part of my LOI 27a.
Top picks for me were 15d, 3d and 11a. I also liked the quickie pun.
Thanks to Senf and Dada.
This all fell into place very nicely unlike the Toughie today which is not proving fluffy. 22d raised an eyebrow but I suppose it fits the bill and 15d is COTD because of the penny drop moment. George and I argued over the spelling of 7d but we both appear to be right. George got dressing from the avocado (we do the guzzle at lunchtime with the paper between us) on the paper so we may well be disqualified from the pen prize due to messy presentation so Steve is in with a chance. Many thanks to Messrs Setter and Senf. Another week gone! My life is racing by. ( Sunday blues!)
The two spellings have completely different meanings, DG – if my little word book tells me right. My references aren’t very sophisticated, though. :-)
My interpretation of the entries in the BRB is that the two spellings have ‘overlapping’ meanings; they do originate from the same Latin root word. However, I consider that the version that Dada has used, based on the island, is correct for the definition in the clue – would he have got it wrong?
I’m starting to think it is the way I submit for The Mythical, DG. I take a pic of the finished guzzle then attach it to an email before sending it into the ether. Maybe I should put the pic in the actual email?
Enjoyed solving this in pleasantly balmy sunshine on the first with surprisingly few golfers enjoying the lovely conditions before next week’s cold snap is upon us. Can’t quite decide if I’m in the RD camp or with Eeyore & Omar in respect of 15d or maybe just indifferent. Lots to like elsewhere – 10,11,16&27a + 7&24d got ticks.
Fav for me was the super Quickie pun.
Thanks to D&S
Dada puzzles always keep me well entertained and amused and they often leave me wishing for more – today was no exception. Thoroughly enjoyable and giving one (me at least) that little bit extra to test the old grey matter. Lots to like, but I’d say that 11a & 16a were my gold and silver awards. No accidental falling into giving any unintended extra clues today, but for those lurking in the stairwell of the naughty step, it’s Kashmiri Chilli and mustard seed curry today – no cake, but bring your own choice of rice, lol. Thanks to Dada and Senf, although I haven’t yet read your hints.
Well for Dada this week for the met part it was at the easier end of is spectrum, but then again, there were a half dozen or so clues that showed his personal thesaurus was used and a smattering of quirkiness abounded.
2*/4.5* for me
Favourites include 16a, 1d, 7d, 15d & 20d — with winner 15d
Smiles from the balance of favourites.
A fun solve with 15d last in. Took a while for the penny to thud to the ground!
Thanks to Dada & Senf
Enjoyed this one..Dada at his quirky best!
Thanks for the challenge and, as ever, to Senf for the blog ‘n hints.
Cheers!
Mostly fairly clued though personally I wasn’t keen on 19a or 22d for that matter. Favourite was 16a. Thanks to Dada and Senf.
One of those challenges where answers appeared without understanding why. Thank you Dada and Senf, and now it’s time to watch the rugby; can Wales 🏴 turn the corner this time!?
A bit of a slog, and one where I had most success when ignoring the clues. For instance, where in 15d does it say anything about removing a letter? Hadn’t run across 18d before, and not sure if I have 13a right as I can’t see what it has to do with fiddle. But I did finish so there is that. Thanks to Dada and to Senf.
Some lateral thinking or thinking like Dada required for 15d.
13a is the homophone (that sounds like) of a synonym of fiddle.
I found this pleasantly challenging but satisfying until I neared the end when I failed at 19a, 25a, 20d and couldn’t parse 15d and 27a….I thought 15d was about the text shorthand TAL but I can see now it wasn’t. With respect to 25a I seem to remember being told during training that the answer and the defining word in the clue should not be used as synonyms to avoid the risk of dehumanising. Still a great puzzle with lots of satisfying clues and I guess its only by being stretched that we improve. Thanks to Dada and to Senf where the parsing of two of the clues was beyond me without your explanation.
It took a while for some pennies to drop but I got there in the end particularly Tal
I think my favourite was 3d because of the same steps as I had in the toughie
Thanks to Dada and Senf
I fear I must have got(ten) out of bed on the wrong side because starting quite early this morning I became increasingly disenchanted with the humour which began to surface as I worked my way through this conundrum and, for instance, I am certainly in the RD camp as far as 15d is concerned. Can’t believe it is a Dada product but thank you anyway for so many delightful past goodies and thanks to Senf too for assisting penny-drops for me.
Good fun but found 15d a bit dubious.
3*/4* ….
liked 11A “Pig heading for Gatwick Airport munching last of breakfast (7)”