Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 3313 (Hints)
Hints and tips by Senf
A very good Sunday morning from Winnipeg where we are four weeks into an election campaign which feels more like four months! One week to go.
For me, and I stress for me, at times during the solve I was not sure that this is a Dada production at all but I concluded that it is – two long ‘uns, six anagrams (no partials), one lurker, and no homophones all in a slightly 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, my electronic blue pencil is at the ready and the Naughty Step is OPEN!
Candidates for favourite – 20a, 25a, 6d, and 21d.
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 Global force in petrol for transportation (8)
An anagram (for transportation) of IN PETROL.
10a Spanish dish bound to be sent back by the French! (6)
The reversal (to be sent back) of a synonym of bound placed before a French definite article (the) – the dish takes its name from the wide, shallow traditional pan used to cook the dish on an open fire.
11a Underwear – slips (8)
A double definition – the second could refer to embarrassing blunders.
19a Weed died: sleep well! (4)
The single letter for genealogical Died and a three letter abbreviation for sleep well – Hmm.
20a Where my ultimate suit was fitted, never! (4,2,4,4)
A double definition – the second is an emphatic statement that an event will not happen!
23a Poverty in blemished urban area? (8)
With my bare pass in O-level English Language, we need a noun based on the adjectival blemished (an 11a slip?) followed by a term for a large urban area.
28a Generate brewed drink (5,3)
An anagram (brewed) of GENERATE.
Down
1d Girl reading articles from opposite points of view? (4)
Two indefinite articles the second of which is reversed (reading . . . from opposite points of view) – on first reading the clue, I can just imagine RD getting ready to tilt at his Quixotic windmill of guess a girl.
3d Get emotional when hyacinth, say, pulled up (4)
As an example (say) of what a hyacinth grows from reversed (when . . . pulled up).
6d Consider when at home, time to cut goatee, say (4,2,4)
All of the simple two letter word equivalent to when at home and the abbreviated form of a unit of time inserted into (to cut) what goatee is an example of (say – again!).
13d For example, New York cab driver’s initial caution (6,4)
A generic description (for example) of the appearance of a New York cab and the first letter (initial) of Driver’s.
14d Vehicle went around without purpose? (5)
A double definition – the first is two wheeled, motorised, with pedals that can assist propulsion.
21d First miss (6)
Another double definition – the first could be the first occurrence, say (if Dada can use it so can I), of scoring a century in cricket.
26d Team were boastful (4)
We finish with yet another double definition – the first is a generic term for a team usually found on water – this one’s from Canada!
Quick Crossword Pun:
STERN + LIQUOR + BRICK = STANLEY KUBRICK – film director and producer responsible for, inter alia, ‘2001: A Space Odyssey’ and ‘A Clockwork Orange.’
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A somewhat random selection this week, a number one from 1961. Recorded amongst others by Johnny Tillotson whose version was the most successful. The song was written by Paul Kaufman and Mike Anthony, who said that the inspiration for it came from looking up from their work and seeing a procession of young ladies from a nearby school pass by on the sidewalk outside each afternoon – hmm. This video appears to be from a couple of years ago. Apparently T J Lubinsky, mentioned at the bottom of the screen, is an American television, radio and digital media host known for his association with oldies and Motown music – never heard of him, I wonder if Terence has:
Enjoyed this puzzle, very slightly more challenging than is usually the case on a Sunday. Some lovely surfaces, no obscure GK, everything scrupulously fair. A novel anagram indicator in one of the clues, I thought.
Honours to 20a, 4d & 24d.
Many thanks to the Setter and to Senf
All went swimmingly until I got to the SW, where I pondered for what seemed an age by over complicating and missing the obvious. Felt a complete dolt when the pennies dropped. Can’t decide whether 19a is a stinker or stonker, but will give it the benefit of the doubt and award it a podium place alongside 4d and 23a. Thanks to Dada and Senf.
A nice workout that should please most punters.
I’ve never really thought about the two ways to pronounce 14d and I didn’t know the variant spelling in 2d.
My podium is 10a, 12a and 5d.
MTT Radio and Senfingtons.
2*/4*
2*/4*. This was good fun despite a couple of slightly morbid references.
My top picks were 13d & 21d.
Happy Easter to all, and many thanks to Dada and to Senf.
Very gentle for a Sunday I thought but also very enjoyable. A fair few anagrams which will split opinions I’m sure, but they don’t bother me, although I haven’t heard anyone use the expression at 12a in a long time.
*/****
Thanks and Happy Easter to all.
Hi, Sim. I feel like 12a is a regular phrase I hear often enough that it doesn’t strike me as noteworthy — but as such, it means I can’t actually recall the last time I heard it! (I’ll now try to listen out for it.) As distinct from yesterday’s key phrase, which I hadn’t previously encountered at all.
Many thanks to Dada for a most enjoyable puzzle.
Terence and I will have our fingers crossed that Chelsea can produce something special at Craven Cottage this afternoon, and then I will be engrossed in the Saudi Arabian F1..
An afternoon of television with a drop of libation here and there.
Happy Easter to all!
An enjoyable puzzle with, as RD says, a couple of slightly funereal references – thanks to Dada and Senf (special thanks for sorting out the Quickie pun which had me scratching my head).
The clues I liked best were 10a, 3d and 14d with my overall favourite being 13d.
Had the same worry as our blogger about the part os speech used in 23a but, otherwise, thought this was an enjoyable Easter treat from our setter. Top of my pile were 13&18d.
Thanks to Dada and also to Senf for the review and the blast from the past which I well remember from the first time around!
In 23a consider the answer as a (4,4) phrase equivalent to the entire wordplay taken as a phrase rather than trying to analyze the elements independently. The result could be a nickname for such an area along the lines of “Fun Xxxx” for New York or “Sin Xxxx” for Vegas.
Hmm – I guess that would work, thanks Falcon.
Once I got going and got the two long clues this all came together, but I thought was a bit trickier than some I had to check 2d as that was not a spelling I was familiar with.
Many thanks to Dada and to Senf for the hints, Happy Easter to everyone.
An engaging puzzle for a sunny Sunday morning. The spelling of 2d was new to me.
Top picks for me were 19a, 20a, 9a, 14d and 22d.
Thanks to Senf and Dada.
For me, and I stress for me (© Senf) this fellow, T J Lubinsky, is not a name I have encountered in my life, to date. However, I send him, Mrs Lubinsky, and the three Lubinsky children, my very best wishes.
Tricky guzzle; got throught it without help but it stretched my aching brain.
I concur with Jezza up there. Come on Chelsea!
Zak Starkey has undergone the most confusing week. He was the drummer for The Who at the start of the week. By the middle of the week, he wasn’t the drummer for The Who. By the end of the week, he is the drummer for The Who again.
Thanks to Da-doo-ron-ron and The Man From Manitoba
The thing I found most surprising about Zak Starkey was the background he was introduced to drumming age 8 by Keith Moon — as though he’d spent the first 8 years of his life particularly incurious as to what his own dad did?
I had to check 2d with the dictionary but other than that it was a nice Easter egg to tackle before church. I am getting quite adept at the sporty ones but had daisies against 9,11 & 19a and 4d. But my favourite is 9a because it had me foxed for some time. Driving now to DD 2 for lunch, glorious day – you definitely wouldn’t need the red scarf if you were here Senf. Many thanks to Setter and Hinter and enjoy the rest of the day.
DG
I hope today’s lunch went well.
A very pleasant and relatively untaxing puzzle that was spot on for a busy Sunday morning. Plenty to enjoy, with 20a and 21d my particular highlights.
My thanks to Dada for the fun, and to Senf. Happy Easter to all on the site.
DG
I hope today’s lunch went well.
2*/3.5*
Quite good fun although a little morbid in places.
10a and 14d my favourites today
I’m unaware as to the alternative spelling of 2d – or my answer is incorrect?
Happy Easter everyone
Thanks to Dada and Senf
Pleasant and reasonably straightforward for a Dada puzzle. I knew the variant spelling in 2d because somebody in a previous job used to address me as that over email; I wasn’t keen at the time, but I see that 21 years later it’s come in handy. I don’t understand how “never mind” yields those letters (but having written that it’ll hopefully remind me to check on Wednesday week).
13d’s cab driver is my favourite. Thank you to Dada and Senf. Happy Easter, everybody!
In 2d, “those letters” could be something one utters when the light bulb blinks on immediately after asking a question.
Thanks. That feels more adjacent to “never mind” than interchangeable with it, but I presume you’re right.
The most enjoyable Sunday guzzle for some time, it had just the right mixture of accessible clues and challenging ones. I soon realised my spelling error in 2d and loved the knotty anagram at 12a, the cryptic definition at 20a and the Lego clue at 6d. Many thanks to Dada and to Senf for the hints
I thought this Dada puzzle was quite friendly this week with his thesaurus untouched and quirkiness nowhere to be seen … an Easter treat perhaps!
1.5*/4* for me
Favourites 7a, 12a, 20a, 25a, 14d & 22d — with winner 25a
Smiles for 11a, 12a & 20a … actually a laugh for this one.
Thanks to Dada & Senf
Happy Easter to one and all.
For me Dada felt very gentle today and I finished it pretty swiftly , which was welcome after yesterday’s and Fridays both felt on the tough side. I’m always think I’m ‘losing it’ when that happens . Actually it’s a lot to do with how busy I am and state of mind , how the puzzles pan out. Thanks to Dada and Senf .
The weed got me, thanks Senf for the hint. The usual good Sunday challenge from Dada although the quickie pun does not work well for me!
The pun didn’t quite work for me either but I am satisfied that it is correct. If I drew up a table of best all time punners Dada would probably not be in the top five.
Nothing held us up for very long leading to a rapid, if undemanding, solve which didn’t detract from the enjoyment. Favourite was 20a. Thanks to Dada and Senf.
A lovely Sunday treat, with three smiley faces in the across margins, 9a, 12a and 20a, with the last two deserving special mention for their nostalgic value. Perfect example of a well composed crossword, one where you can work steadily through it and gather enough checkers to help out with any clues that put up a fight. Although I do agree with Senf’s hmm at 19a. Never been able to develop a taste for 28a. Thanks very much Dada and Senf.
Nice puzzle for me today. Tricky in places but eventually doable.
Enjoyable solve.
No favourites but not very keen on the weed…..
Thank to Senf and to Dada.
Glorious day here today…..hope it lasts….
Fairly gentle but fun nevertheless.
Almost a dead heat for my COTD: 6d just dipped at the line to win it from 19a.
Many thanks Dada and Senf.
I’m obviously not firing on all cylinders yet ‘cos I found this quite a struggle particularly in the South. IMHO there were several hmms or rather far-fetched clues. Thanks anyway Dada for the work-out and Senf for much elucidation.
Very enjoyable for the short time it lasted. 6d&20a vie for favourite. Gave up trying to sort out the Quickie pun – one of my all time favourite directors & he lived just a couple of miles down the road too.
Thanks to D&S
1.5* / 3* Enjoyable puzzle, favourite has to be the quickie pun which I couldn’t see until Senf illuminated me. The iffier the better for me when comes to the pun.
Easter eggs to Senf and Dada
I have noted the various comments in relation to 2d but, whatever any dictionaries may say, I personally do not consider the answer to this clue to be a proper English word. It arises only because of the sloppy pronunciation of the correct word.
Senf, just noticed your comment about 1d. This one is not “guess a girl” as the girl’s name is the answer derived from the wordplay.
2*/3* ….
liked 18D “Tiresome parties-wearily go (7)”