Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 3304 (Hints)
Hints and tips by Senf
A very good Sunday morning from Winnipeg where we remain in the deep freeze and the old adages that some believe that February is the coldest month of the year and that it can get too cold for it to snow appear to be true. So, tomorrow, Falcon will not be able to claim that the 60 cms or so of snow that has been dumped on Ottawa in the last few days has been sent from Manitoba!
For me, and I stress for me, Dada quirkily friendly with his personal thesaurus at hand. Three anagrams (two partials), two lurkers (one reversed), and three homophones, all in an asymmetric 28 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 – 11a, 13a, 17a, 6d, and 22d.
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
1a Fortunate description of doughnut, for example? (5)
A double definition – the second depends on the doughnut filling, if any.
10a Large number in pack, a fleet of ships (8)
A three letter term equivalent to large number inserted into a verbal synonym of pack followed by A from the clue.
11a Hard worker in Paris, maybe (6)
Nothing to do with the city across the English Channel. A descriptive term for a prince from a city in Greek mythology, or for anyone else from that city for that matter, who started a war when he eloped.
14a Left tucked inside novel is open letter to Socrates, say (7)
The single letter for Left inserted into (tucked inside) and anagram (novel) of IS OPEN.
17a Wet swan behind flood barrier (6)
A (female) swan placed behind a flood barrier.
22a Arachnid on mayo and ketchup etc, doing the backstroke? (6)
The reversal (doing the backstroke) of all of the Latin based synonym of on (as in concerning) and a generic collective noun for mayo and ketchup etc?
23a Get down narrow channel (6)
A double definition – the first relates to a slang term for disporting oneself with abandon!
26a Guide flowing well having missed introduction (5)
A term for a flowing (oil?) well with the first letter deleted (having missed introduction).
Down
2d Fugitive in the main (2,5)
Another double definition – this one is reasonably straightforward.
3d Religious leader heading for monastery further over lake (6,8)
The first letter of (heading for) Monastery and a synonym of further placed before (over) a (great) lake (the one in dark blue).
6d 3 Down? (9)
A term for the answer to 3d in a family setting?
8d King overwhelmed by financial concern? Nonsense! (6,8)
The single letter for (chess) King inserted into (overwhelmed by) a (5,8) phrase equivalent to financial concern.
19d Cover completely secured by crocodile clips, evidently (7)
A lurker (secured by) found in three words in the clue.
22d Warmer in winter, perhaps, therefore happy (4)
A two letter synonym of therefore and a two letter synonym of happy.
Quick Crossword Pun:
HARRY + KANE + LAMP = HURRICANE LAMP
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So, what does one do when one of the most respected and esteemed of the DT setters makes a ‘request’ (see Comment 8 of Friday’s blog) for some music to honour the centenary of a favourite composer? Simple, one abandons what one was working on for the Sunday video, it wasn’t much good anyway, and here we have, one day early, an English composer and conductor, very well known for his film music, Ron Goodwin who was born on February 17th, 1925. In 1969 he wrote the music for The Battle of Britain mostly replacing Sir William Walton whose music was not appreciated by executives at United Artists. This is the stirring Battle of Britain Theme:
My rating today is 2*/3* for a pleasant puzzle which didn’t involve much head-scratching.
My podium comprises 11a, 3d & 8d.
Many thanks to Dada and to Senf.
A very gentle and enjoyable start to the morning from Dada. All good other than the very dodgy definition at 15d.
Many thanks to both setter and Senf.
Nice gentle puzzle, with some clever misdirections. Slight issue justifying the favourite county but I think it works…
Thought there might be a nod to Valentine’s Day. However, I felt some 5 across this week.
Merusa would have loved this picture.
Just good fiends
25ac refers to Elizabeth 1 favourite courtier
Ooh careful – you may end up on the naughty step! 😊
I found it uite difficult to gwt a start in tthis guzzle, which may be due tothe geid. Once I got a couple of the long clues it all fell into place quite quickly. I liked the misdirection in the 18d gomophone amd the 21a lego clue. The historical references at 11a and 25a were uit cunning too. It was a really enjoyable SPP so thanks to Dada and to Senf for the hints
Am I alone in thinking this was not as gentle as some above thought it?
I found it quite tricky with some clues stretching the envelope almost to breaking point, my last one in was 22a, it’s always the short ones that get me stumped.
Very enjoyable nonetheless, with my two of the day being 14a and 6d.
May brave the cold and take the bike for a spin later if it’s dry…..
Gentle and enjoyable – thanks to Dada and Senf.
Top clues for me were 25a, 26a and 8d.
I found Dada to be tricky today. It certainly wasn’t plain sailing for me so I’m with Tipcat. I had solved only one after the first pass but, fortunately, it gave me some useful checkers. It took me a while to see Elizabeth’s favourite and, surprisingly, the arachnid eluded me for a long time because I could not parse what I thought was the answer. My COTD is the financially challenged king at 8d.
Thank you, Dada for the workout. Thank you, Mr. Mustard for the hints. BTW, you have an “e” at the end of the third word in the Quickie pun. Not that it matters. 😊
Pun corrected, thanks. Sloppy editing and sloppy proof reading which can’t be tolerated – I will speak to those responsible.
The pedants are revolting!
And why do you Brits have to correct our spelling of “donut” – we invented the bloody thing in New York: “oylikoek” from Dutch.
A foot of snow here in Boston (304.8 mm for you ex-imperialists).
Grateful Dead Fans
USA
Hmm – introduced to New Amsterdam by the Dutch but invented in New York.
Anyway, just another example of two nations separated by a common language!
I found this far more enjoyable than last Sunday.
It’s 12.30 here in Valencia and the sun is shining, so an acceptable time for a preprandial libation.
Many thanks to Dada for the puzzle.
Another excellent puzzle from the Sunday maestro. My only issue was connecting the Old Maid with the answer to 24a. I am sure it is logical but beats me. Apart from that elegant and well clued crossword.
Thx to all
****/*****
The first 5 letters of the answer are what a very elderly lady is popularly assumed to be in relation to her attitudes to bodily functions.
You mean unpopularly?
Thx chaps, I see now although it does seem more than a little stretched. Dada had obviously not met one of my aunts!
I enjoyed this very much. I seem to have been on the setters wavelength. 22a goes on my list of good clues for the weird surface reading. But 13a and 22d (my LOI) can fight it out for COTD. Brilliant. Thanks to the setter and for the blog with hints.
Anyone help me understand 4a
A synonym of false and the start of effect.
Thank you Senf
Unlike our blogger, I didn’t think Dada was being particularly friendly today but I beat him down eventually. Top of my pile were 22&25a plus 8d with a nod to the wet swan at 17a.
Thanks to Dada and to Senf for the review.
Well I for one struggled to get over the line which I did eventually. Good fun though so thanks to the setter and hinter.
Glanced at it on the phone on a bitterly cold first tee & couldn’t seem to get started. Back home in the warmth with some 22d & it all went in lickety-split once into the 23a. Liked the two long ‘uns & 15d (a perhaps wouldn’t have gone amiss maybe) but top 2 for me were the pesky 4 letter fellas at 7&22d.
Thanks to D&S.
Ps well remember being taken to the Godiva cinema aged 7 to see the Guy Hamilton film.
Phone? On the golf course? Naughty!
I looked up your course, and it seems you can’t just pay a green fee and have a round. You never know when you’ve got a few hours spare!
Strictly members & their guests Jules. Phone is on silent – got to have something to amuse myself with between groups.
Were you the official starter?
Too damn cold in Sussex at the moment, and some of the courses have been too wet to play, although we’re hoping to get out on Thursday. No sun and a strong easterly don’t make for much fun!
I am yes. Get to do the Aramco Ladies event & did the LIV pro-am which is fun.
It’s pretty brutal in the winter standing around though.
A pleasant gentle Sunday puzzle that flowed nicely. 26a caused me a little head scratching, until the penny dropped and that became my final solution. Some general knowledge was sought from and provided by my better half for the parsing of 25a. However, all said and done, my favourite two clues today were 3 & 8d and my chuckle moment came from 22a. Thanks to Dada and Senf for both of you’s efforts. (is that good grammar? – maybe not)
The Apostrophe Police have handed over the case to Language Homicide…
🤣😂
“Yous” as a plural of “you” is used in some parts of the country.
👍 as indeed do my Scottish friends north.of the border. 😊
Not as hard as some recently but still a challenge. I was on the wrong wavelength I think
25a was my fav if only for it stalling me by my entering something Corgis do
I have known some very racey old maids in my time. Especially Great Aunt Florence who used to look after my brother and I when our parents went skiing!! I agree with Crisscross that on a first pass this looked tricky and then it all fell into place nicely with a little help from my good friend Senf on 8d. An enjoyable solve. On our way to lunch with DD2 – yeah, no cooking today – my thanks to The. Setter and Senf from Lady Penelope in Pink.
PS to the ladies, surprised to see in the DT today that three strings of pearls are now IN! I must dig out my mother’s necklace which hasn’t seen the light of day for some 40 years. Queen Mother look-alike here I come.
Oh Daisygirl, I do love your comments. Alas, my pearls only have 2 strings. Still holding onto my brooches! Hope you had an enjoyable lunch with DD2.
Struggling to finish today’s re 8d &26a. Many thanks to the setter and Senf.
Got them!
As a newbie can anyone explain’the hint sprinkled across the grid help solve the unhinted clues’
I am struggling to understand this- cheers
Welcome to the blog.
Exactly as I write in the preamble – ‘you should be able to get the checkers to enable the solving of the unhinted clues’ where checkers are letters ‘shared’ by intersecting answers. So, for example, today assistance, if required, from five of the hints for ‘Across’ clues will give five of the letters in 3 Down.
But, what did you think of the puzzle?
Welcome, Andrew. Please do visit us again. 👍
A nice neat puzzle I thought. Interestingly, if you read eastwards from the second letter of 2d, and the 12th letter of 3d, a dedication to another setter appears! Is he away? Maybe coincidental…. Maybe not. I could add more, but am aware the Naughty Step is always nearby!
Very good. How on earth did you come to spot that?!
Strangely trained brain I suppose! Not sure if it’s relevant though. (Not the brain, the um Nina? If that’s the right terminology?) !
For me this week, Dada not at his friendliest and at the harder end of his spectrum. Liberal usage of his personal thesaurus and quirkiness raises its head here too.
2.5*/3.5*
Favourites 13a, 23a, 3d, 6d, 8d & 19d — with winner 3d
Smiles for 1a, 13a & 19a too.
Thanks to Dada & Senf for blog/hints
A gentle Dada today with no real hold ups.
2*/4*
17a fav today
I’m not sure about 15d – or am i being overly pedantic?
Thanks to Senf and Dada
Very enjoyable, last one in the 4 letter warmer in winter ! Lots of top clues 14, 21 and 23a being favourites. Not “sure” the homonym works in 18d if you’re a northerner but fair enough.
2* / 4*
Thanks to Senf + setter
Oh for heavens sake…
I found today’s offering somewhat challenging and came here to check the parsing on my last three clues ( and let me say I spent considerable time to get this far!)
A Quick Look at the hints and I realised something was up, it turns out I had inadvertently clicked on the Sunday prize Toughie by mistake. That explains my travails.
Checking the hints for that one I find that all three are excluded from hinted selection – ah well, sent it off anyway!
Now at least I can turn my afternoon to this puzzle…
Easily done, it’s a relief to know you haven’t been struggling through a standard Sunday Prize Puzzle
if you had told me what your doubts were maybe I could have helped
Well after further rumination it is only the parsing of 9a that eludes me, but given this is a prize toughie I do not expect any further hints or illumination.
Thanks tho for the hints you did give SJB.
Hooray! I managed to print off the puzzle before we left at 0430 and completed it sat in the relative warmth of the car while his nibs went on the beach to see the glaucous gull. I did venture out earlier for the lovely long eared owl and the bean geese though. He is now patiently waiting for a pallid harrier to come into roost before we can go to our digs.
I enjoyed the crossword and my top picks were 17a, 25a, 11a and 22d.
Thanks to Senf and Dada.
Late today due to family commitments, but this was worth the wait and pleasingly tricky in places to keep me interested throughout the solve. Everything was fairly clued, no obscurities and with just a smattering of GK sprinkled across the grid. The simple yet elegant 22d was my favourite.
Many thanks to Dada and Senf.
We found parts of this pretty tricky but well pitched for difficulty. Lots to like and lots of contenders for favourite but we’ll go with 11a. Thanks to Dada and Senf.
A bit of a challenge in places but very enjoyable and a great sense of achievement to have finished it. I particularly enjoyed the long linked down clues.
Many thanks to Dada and to Senf for the hints.
I enjoyed this very much and didn’t find it too bad. I did struggle on my last one in 22d – that little blighter, and couldn’t work it out , so just looked at the hint and of course it’s all then obvious ! Thanks so much to Dada and Senf.
Well I found this an enjoyable struggle and before sending off in hope of the mythical I looked at the hints to check my answers and found that the solution to 22d thatI had decided on was wrong, I was never confident of it anyway. This all means that by my own rules I won’t be submitting an entry. Thanks to Dada and Senf
Yet again we have a clue at 18d that doesn’t work for my birth accent and I can’t explain the answer I’ve put for 25a. Any help would be much appreciated.
Refer to Comment 3 for 25a.
I am honoured that a Winnipegian chose a picture of a dam from the the finest county and city in the world to illustrate their hint.
V straightforward.