Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 3303 (Hints)
Hints and tips by Senf
A very good Sunday morning from Winnipeg, where I am still reflecting on the significant moments of my visit to the old country – arrival at the gate at Terminal 4 to driving away from Heathrow in my Avis rental car in record time with minimal time in passport control and the baggage hall; seeing my Big Sister at home looking much better than she did last October in St George’s Hospital, Tooting; a sideswipe from Storm Eowwyn and a full on hit from Storm Herminia while in Somerset; a very enjoyable Birthday Bash, meeting and re-meeting a wide cross section of our community; and last but by no means least the rendezvous with ‘The Pink Lady’ at Liverpool Street Station – thankfully there was only one ‘Pink Lady’; I was concerned that if there were two or more I might pick the wrong one and get whacked around the head with a weighty handbag for my troubles.
For me, and I stress for me, Dada not as friendly as he has been recently. Six anagrams (one partial), one lurker reversed, and one homophone, all in an asymmetric 29 clues; with 14 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 – 13a, 24a, 28a, 6d, 15d, 16d, 17d, and 25d.
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 and the blog’s Comment Etiquette – Big Dave’s Crossword Blog!
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
8a Folding paper note, a cheque rejected earlier (7)
A from the clue and a cheque produced by an electronic bank transfer system all reversed (rejected) and placed before (earlier) one part of the solfège system, which uses syllables to represent each note of a musical scale.
10a A job ends in final service for preacher (7)
A from the clue, a synonym of job, and the last letters of (ends in) finaL servicE.
12a Live in the lap of luxury, daughter next door (5)
A single word equivalent to in the lap of luxury placed after (next door) the single letter for Daughter.
13a Colour green’s back on top (5)
The last letter (‘s back) of greeN placed after (on) a synonym of top (when referring to a hill?).
17a Allotment getting harder to dig? Curiouser and curiouser! (3,4,8)
A (3,4) term for (gardening) allotment and a single word term for getting harder to dig.
24a Cricketing approach has joke backfiring on rugby (3-2)
A three letter type of joke reversed (backfiring) placed after (on – again!) the two letter abbreviation of 15-a-side rugby.
28a Book that man prepares (7)
The two letter pronoun for that man and a synonym of prepares (tea or coffee?).
Down
1d Party followed by wonderful talk (6)
The abbreviated form of a UK political party, I’ll let you decide which one, followed by the abbreviated form of a synonym of wonderful.
3d Incredible danger, even in low-level building (6,4)
An anagram (incredible) of DANGER and a synonym of even.
4d Mean to get a grip on a misfortune that may serve as a warning (4,5)
A synonym of mean (with money) containing (to get a grip on) all of A from the clue and a three letter synonym of misfortune.
6d Current king in power (6)
The single Latin based letter for king inserted into (in) a type of power (based on heating water).
15d A close encounter? (5,5)
A match between United and City?
17d Supporters in difficulty, standing for leaders (3,5)
The abbreviated form of supporters (that are items of lingerie) inserted into (in – again!) the reversal (standing) of a synonym of difficulty.
22d Prove most overweight, removing top (6)
A single word for most overweight with the first letter removed (losing top).
25d By the sound of it, top dog (4)
The homophone (by the sound of it) of a synonym of top.
Quick Crossword Pun:
FEE + THIGH + FOE + THUMB = FEE-FI-FO-FUM
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American singer-songwriter and musician Carole King is probably celebrating her 83rd birthday today. In 1967, she and then husband Gerry Goffin wrote Pleasant Valley Sunday named for a street in West Orange, New Jersey. Goffin and King wrote the song about their dissatisfaction with life in the suburbs. Initially recorded by The Monkees and this version by Carole King herself featured in her 2005 Living Room Tour double album:
Horribly religious today with some v poor clues and some good ones (4d and 17a as examples).
Not my favourite puzzle by a long way.
****/**
Thx for the hints
Horribly religious? I counted three that were very fairly clued and would count as general knowledge to most solvers.
And one of them is an oldie but goodie!
As my dad used to say to me all those years ago “change the record”!
Good job Giovanni doesn’t do Telegraph crosswords these days.😀
Brian … get a grip
Not religious just general knowledge.
2*/3*
Relatively benign today with no real hold ups. Had to check the dog at 25d as only aware a similar sounding breed with more letters in its name. Hope thats vague enough to avoid the dreaded step!
17a favourite today.
Thanks to Dada and Senf.
I didn’t get on with Dada today but I do seem to be going through a bad patch as far as solving is concerned at present. I didn’t understand 4d so I hope that is hinted by Mr. Mustard. Nor did I know the term at 11a. I did like the one that Brian will not like. Of the ones I managed I derived a wry smile from 17a and that is my COTD.
Thank you, Dada but you beat me today. Thank you, Senf for the hints.
Now I have seen the hint for 4d I see. it was a rather convoluted clue.
Hoping for a Z and V, as we had W X and Y, but none came.
I was amused by the top dog. The heteronormative * Lego clues were fun, preacher, warning and supporters.
Thanks to all here. Will get some grenadine asap. Cheers.
* New exhibition at Science Museum
I am not sure why Lego™ is heteronormative
As each piece has both “male” and “female” parts it is surely hermaphrodonormative. Either that or it is silly to ascribe sexuality to lumps of plastic 😉
Careful, Sloops. You’ll have the woke thought police after you. Oh and it’s going to be cold so wrap up warm and don’t drive.
I had a hard time getting started on the guzzle today, particularly the NW corner and it was skow-going for a while. I liked the long cryptic clue at 17a, which opened up many other clues and the crryptic definition at 15d. However, the best clue, for me, was the cleverly disguised 2d, my last one in. Thanks to Senf for the hints and to the compiler
3*/3*. I agree with Senf that this was tougher than the average Sunday particularly the top half.
My favourite is a toss-up between 17a & 15d.
Many thanks to Dada and to Senf.
Fairly straightforward stuff from Dada that was lacking a bit of his usual zing.
I’ve just looked up why people often pronounce 1d with an L after the 4th letter and the reason is rubbish: some guy from Kansas, in the late 19th century, thought that inserting it would make it a humorous alteration. Why?
I must be missing something.
My LOI was 4d that took me into the next time zone.
My podium is 14a, 19a and 15d.
Many thanks to Dada and the Manitoban mountie.
2*/3*
… I think the fact he was from Kansas which voted for Oor Donald sums it up!
Northern half of today’s offering was reasonably benign but I struggled in the south. Last in was 17d.
Cotd was 17a but I was disappointed that the answer didn’t come from “Wonderland” too.
Thanks to setter and Senf for hints.
Probably one of the least challenging I have seen for a prize puzzle. Sorry Dada but it didn’t quite do it for me; I found some parts rather prosaic.
Thanks anyway for the puzzle; as always very much appreciated!
I quite enjoyed this. Had to check 11a as it was new to me.
Top picks for me were 13a, 3d, 4d and 17a.
Thanks to Senf and Dada.
A lot of fun and those I was stuck on you had hints for, so thank you.
Doable, but not very enjoyable, can’t really say why though…..
I seem to have been bang on wavelength today, as I solved this with very few delays. In fairness, some of the stickier ones were a little time-consuming but my overall impression was of a fairly benign puzzle. There were some excellent clues, foremost among which was, for me, 17a.
Thanks to Dada for a most enjoyable challenge, and to the hard-working Senf.
An enjoyable outing – thanks to Dada and Senf.
I selected 17a, 15d and 16d for my podium.
Had a few ‘well I suppose so’ moments during the solve but it all came together reasonably well in the end. Top scoring clues were 17&28a plus 3&16d.
Thanks to Dada and to Senf for the hints and music. Have to say that Ms King is another of those song-writers whose compositions were far superior when sung by someone else.
I know what you mean Jane. Her studio output & Tapestry was such a great album I just prefer that set of songs sung by her. Having said that Roberta Flack’s cover is just gorgeous
I have the 2 CD album set for ‘The Living Room Tour’ and, having just listened to this track, also a live performance, and re-listened to the video both through my Bose headset, I don’t think she was on top form when this video was recorded.
I enjoy listening to her live but do think that she’s not an Aretha, Dusty, Dionne etc who can replicate their studio output effortlessly live. The problem with streaming is (& I’m guilty too) is that people don’t tend to listen to full albums anymore & I just think Tapestry is a wonderful collection of songs that I want to hear sung by her.
I a really late today and cannot add any more to all the nice things which have been said about a lovely character who was a valued part of BD. My sincere condolences to her family and Sadie.
Sad news, I’m afraid.
I have just heard from Richard, Merusa’s godson, that she passed away this morning. She was at home and her Labrador, Sadie was by her side.
Rest in peace, my friend.
Such sad news. Thank you for letting us all know.
RIP Merusa, you will be missed.
That is very sad news, I am glad she was at home and with her Sadie. My thoughts go out to her Godson and any other family.
Very sad news
RIP lovely lady. Condolences to Richard
God bless you Barbara. Thank you for 12 years of entertaining comments.
It was a pleasure to help you out with copies of puzzles when you were having connectivity problems.
We will miss you.
Condolences to Richard.
That is very sad news indeed. A lovely lady with kind thoughts for everyone.
RIP, Merusa. You were a shining light on this blog and will be greatly missed by us all.
Our thoughts are with Merusa. May she sail the starlit sea.
Mr & Mrs T
So sad. RIP Merusa.
Terribly sad to lose one of this wonderful commentariat. Condolences to Richard and other of Merusa’s family and friends.
Very sad to hear this news. RIP Merusa. All the blog family will miss you.
Such sad news indeed Steve but thank you for letting us know. Barbara has always been one of my favourite commenters on the blog and I shall greatly miss her contributions. My thoughts are with Richard, Jackie and Philippa at this time of mourning.
RIP Merusa. I always enjoyed your comments, you wrote with a kind heart.
How sad to hear of the passing of such a wonderfully kind and essentially fair lady leaving this world behind. RIP, Merusa and condolences to her family. I hope there are dogs in heaven.
Of course there are dogs in heaven CC. It would not be heaven if our dogs were not there. Dear Merusa will not be lonely.
Thanks for letting us know Steve. It is always sad when we lose a valued contributor to the blog. RIP Merusa.
Merusa will be much missed here, I always enjoyed her comments and I am pleased she went as she wished, with Sadie by her side.
My thoughts to her family
Such sad news. Merusa was always kind and thoughtful and will be missed. RIP.
What sad news.
Your posts were always full of energy, humour and passion, showing that you were clearly a character who must have been such fun company.
RIP Merusa or, as you lived in The Caribbean….’Praise rum’ (anag)
I am extremely sad to hear this news. A real stalwart of this Blog over so many years.
I shall always remember her beloved phrase that compared struggling with a puzzle (sometimes mine) to “wading through molasses”. My sincere condolences to her family and friends. I’m sure Sadie is already missing her devoted owner.
RIP Merusa.
Thank you for letting us know Steve. How sad. I can only endorse all of the sentiments expressed here.
Very sad indeed.
We have lost a great lady, and I have lost a dear friend. She put up a good fight this past year and it is comforting that she had Sadie with her to the end. Just what she wanted. I will miss sharing emails with her, two or three times a day, chatting about the crosswords, and Wordle etc. God speed Merusa, and may you rest in peace, out of pain.
What sad news … but thank you, Steve, for letting us know. Condolences to godson Richard. Poor Sadie will miss her too. RIP Merusa.
Sad news. RIP Merusa.
Condolences to the family.
Very sorry to hear this news … RIP
Thoughts with family and of course Sadie too.
Very sorry to hear the sad news about Medusa but comforting to learn that Sadie was by her side. My condolences to Richard her godson and family. Farewell lovely lady now you are at peace. Pats and solace to Sadie.
Many thanks for letting us know Steve.
My apologies, Merusa!
I’m so very sad to hear this news. Merusa’s light shone very brightly on these pages. I’m happy for her that Sadie was there to ease her passing. My condolences to those that loved her.
Such sad if not unexpected news to read on coming in this evening. A wonderful lady from her posts, and will be greatly missed. RIP, and condolences to Richard and family.
Very sorry to hear this news … RIP Merusa …..
as for the puzzle, 3*/4* …liked 16D “Brilliant directors right in the main (9)”
I struggled with this, but then it is that sort of day. My mind kept wandering so I don’t know if this was harder than usual or I was just not up to it. I needed Senf to help me unravel a couple. All were fairly clued.
I could have complained that there was quite a bit of sporting knowledge needed but I accept that there will always be areas of general knowledge that are weak areas for individuals and that is certainly not the setters fault.
Many thanks to Dada and to Senf for the hints
Think I’d better comment after biting earlier! I’m supposed to be back in Lurkersville but seeing as there are no lurkers in this today here I am. Struggled but got there eventually – enjoyed the tussle and had more ticks than “CP” (check parsing). Favourites 16d and 15d. Thanks to the Setter and of course to Senf for the hints. Just in case I return to the abyss – many thanks to all who contribute to this blog. I now finish a lot of crosswords unaided which is totally down to this site.
Have another look at 20d….
Ah – missed that one.
Be a lurker no longer, Longers.
The water’s lovely.
Steady solve today, and a good mix of clues.
Very enjoyable.
Thanks to Dada & Senf.
For me, and I stress for me (© Senf), I seem to have missed a lot over the last couple of weeks. The chance to meet Daisy and Senf, yes, but now we have the introduction of a mysterious ‘Pink Lady’ and a rendezvous at a London railway station. It’s like a modern day Brief Encounter. I mean to say…
Great guzzle with a very topical reference, though I may not say any more for fear of the BD Security Service smashing down the front door and whisking me away.
Very sad news indeed about Merusa. Always there with a kind and supportive word for others.
Thanks to Da-doo-ron-ron and The Mighty Man From Manitoba (pleased to hear your sister is improving) and, it seems, the Pink Lady.
What can I say, the BD Crossword Club is a dynamic environment, step away for a week or two and you just don’t know what you will find when you return!
So true!
I choose to imagine it was rather like this…
Yes, we will have to start calling her Lady Penelope.
She certainly is not Dolores Umbridge.
Dolores_Umbridge_Promo_still_from_HP5_movie_10-15-2009
Nice puzzle today. Got a bit stuck with the top right corner, and also with the long 17a. Glad when the penny finally dropped.
Sorry for the few questions from a newbie to this site, but…
1. how do we know/recognise who sets which puzzle? E.g. how do we know “Dada” set this one?!
2. how many different setters are there?!
3. have only ever done the Telegraph cryptic over the years. Is the Times one a different kettle of fish?!
(Is it “blasphemous” (excuse the religious reference) even to mention “the other one” (newspaper, that is)?)
Thanks!
Vic
Your comment went into moderation because you added a ‘C’ to your previously used alias – both should work from now on.
To try to answer your questions:
1. When Virgilius (Brian Greer) retired as Sunday setter in November 2018 there was an article in the DT announcing that Dada (John Halpern) would be taking over the Sunday chair and we have no reason to doubt that he has not vacated said chair. Other setters have particular styles, for example, Ray T, one of the Thursday setters writes very brief clues, usually includes ‘sweetheart’ in a clue with heart indicating the centre letter of sweet, and his Quick puzzles are always one word clues. Some setters will ‘pop in’ to the blog to ‘claim’ their work.
2. I am not sure how many setters there are as some appear more frequently than others and some prefer to maintain their anonymity.
3. I can’t comment on this, like you I have only ever solved DT puzzles.
Great, Senf, thanks so much for taking the time to answer and explain.
And many thanks for your clues today!
Cheers,
Vic
Hi Vic
I posted something to you yesterday but in the wrong place.
If you haven’t seen it, take a look under post #6 Lanzalily
Ray T who also sets as Beam is in the Sunday Toughie chair today along with his sweetheart and other trademark™ clues Well worth a punt and not very toughie either
I found this a cracking guzzle today although it did take me an age to get started. Although I solve on a Kindle I have to do the anagrams in little circles on paper unless they leap out at me which today they didn’t so only solved about half in bed. Having seen the programme Amandaland was highly recommended in several papers, watched it on catch-up yesterday. What a complete load of very unfunny drivel. Won’t be watching again – am I the only one? Anyway, thanks to Dada for a great guzzle and to Senf.
I think if you had watched Motherland and got involved in their lives you might have viewed Amandaland differently I’m prepared to give it another shot.
A typical Dada today I thought with a little use of his personal thesaurus, but overall in the mid level of his spectrum.
2*/3.5*
Favourites 17a, 19a, 4d, 16d & 25d — with winner 17a
Thanks to Dada & Senf
I’m in the trickier than the recent past camp. Took a couple of goes to get it finished and at points I felt I was wading through cruciverbal mud. But I got there so all’s well. 28a was a “really?” Moment, but as it also made me smile is my cotd. Thanks to Dada and Senf.
It’s the little clues that get me, this time the spelling of that dog in 24d. Lovely puzzle though and thank you Senf for the carol King clip. So sorry about the news of Merusa, will miss her contributions
If proof were indeed needed, I proved to myself at least, that when solvlng a cryptic crossword, particularly a Dada puzzle, it’s nigh on impossible to be concentrating on something else whilst solving it. I’ve been transferring files from my pc hard disk to flash drive in order gain some space since this morning and struggling to solve many clues whilst doing it. Having completed my “IT” related chores, I’ve concentrated solely on today’s puzzle and fairly zipped through it. I did like 17a and 17d, but personal favourites were 10a & 28a – they did make an old ex-Baptist chuckle. My thanks to Dada for an entertaining puzzle and also to Senf for one or two very much needed parsings.
I’ve only just seen the very sad news of Merusa’s passing – RIP dear lady.
Held up a bit in the SE but otherwise OK. Favourite was 17d. Thanks to Dada and Senf.
Like Steve I’m bang out form with the back-pagers of late. Looked blankly at the first few clues & fled south. Pedestrian progress up through the grid (even the straightforward anagrams requiring some effort) but got there & with all parsed ok though once again into ***time. Can’t decide whether or not I like the first bit of 17a & I’ll pick 4d as fav with podium spots for 13&28a
Thanks to D&S
I started this at 22.30 then DD2 arrived at 1 with husband and dogs and they have just left. They seem to have no concept of time and turned down an offer of food, it’s a good job G had a cooked breakfast! We are now full up with chilli crackers, dips and nuts. I had no real holdups with the guzzle although I have no idea whether my answer for 11a is correct. I thought I was pretty clever to get the crickety 24a! I think there is a well known cracker joke about 28a and I thought Brian’s other anathema at 10a was nicely clued. Many thanks to Dada and Senf, it sounds as though you are settled back into your normal routine with no Pink Ladies to worry about. I am still talking about that Special Day!
I will be telling the ‘Pink Lady’ story when I meet some friends for lunch on Thursday!
I found Dada to be quite kind today as I was right on the same wavelength. Held up with a few at the end for a little while. It not for too long. Glad to be back in the saddle after a busy 10 days. Thanks Dada and Senf.
Quite a friendly Sunday prize puzzle with lots to like 2* / 3* rating. My favourite was the simple but effective 19a and the very dodgy quickie pun
Thanks to setter and Senf
Found this relatively straightforward. Favorite 17a.