ST 3317 (Hints) – Big Dave's Crossword Blog
View closed comments 

ST 3317 (Hints)

by Senf  

Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 3317 (Hints)

Hints and tips by Senf

A very good Sunday morning from Winnipeg where yesterday’s high temperature of 5 degrees was 33 degrees cooler than it was on Tuesday, all in Celsius of course.  Thankfully, the cooler temperatures and the rain that we have had since Thursday have helped with the ‘battle’ against wildfires East of Winnipeg in which, sadly, two people have died.

For me, and I stress for me©, Dada quite friendly with some ‘creative’ anagram indicators.  Six anagrams (two partials), three lurkers (one reversed), and no homophones all in a symmetric 30 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, my electronic blue pencil is at the ready and the Naughty Step is OPEN!

Candidates for favourite – 10a, 18a, 19a, 1d, 5d, 18d, and 20d.

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 Idiotic shower maybe overwhelmed by praise (9)
A synonym of shower maybe (of liquid from the heavens) contained (overwhelmed) by a verbal synonym of praise.

10a Recording device captivating old space traveller (6)
A type of recording device (for indicating measurements?) containing (captivating) the single letter for Old.

11a Roasting nuts, one pulling out all the stops? (8)
An anagram (nuts) of ROASTING.

16a Perfect confection (4)
A double definition – the first could be an indication of condition when new.

19a Move a whopper stopper! (6)
A synonym of move (as in turn on a board game), A from the clue, and a synonym of whopper (as in a terminological inexactitude).

26a Journalist after those things on the same topic (6)
Our usual two letters for journalist placed after a single word term for those things.

28a See a broken canister (9)
A from the clue and an anagram (broken) of CANISTER.

Down

1d Where flag found in colour (5)
A double definition – there are several of the first when carrying out aerodynamic testing of small, usually, white spherical objects.

5d World where leader of universe ruled over us (6)
The first letter (leader) of Universe, a three letter term equivalent to ruled over, and US from the clue.

6d Wrecked – as walls might be? (9)
Another double definition – the first might relate to severe inebriation.

15d Diamonds, say, thousand in gold case (5,4)
The single letter for thousand (based on the Latin word), IN from the clue, heraldic gold, and a synonym of (legal) case.

17d One circled by drawer of diagrams, a capital city (6)
The Roman numeral for one contained (circled) by the developer of the diagram system used to show the logical relation between sets, followed by A from the clue.

18d Dark-haired animal defending web (8)
A generic synonym of (large?) animal containing (defending) a three letter synonym of (the electronic) web.

22d In decline the results lower (6)
A lurker (in) found in three words in the clue.

25d Bowl a beauty? (4)
A double definition to finish – the second is an informal synonym.

Quick Crossword Pun:

BARBER + ARREST + RICIN = BARBRA STREISAND – Hmm.

Could new readers please read the Welcome post and the FAQ before posting comments or asking questions about the site.

As this is a Prize crossword, please don’t put any ANSWERS, whether WHOLE, PARTIAL or INCORRECT, or any ALTERNATIVE CLUES OR HINTS in your comment.

Please read these instructions carefully – they are not subject to debate or discussion. Offending comments may be redacted or, in extreme cases, deleted. In all cases the administrator’s decision is final.

If you don’t understand, or don’t wish to comply with, the conventions for commenting on weekend prize puzzles then save yourself a lot of trouble and don’t leave a comment.

Beat group The Tremeloes, formerly Brian Poole and The Tremeloes, were founded in 1958 in Dagenham. They initially found success in the British Invasion era but achieved their greatest success after Poole’s departure in 1966. The quartet had 13 top 40 hits on the UK Singles Chart between 1967 and 1971 with the most successful being Silence is Golden which reached number one for three weeks on this day in 1967:

Fun Fact(?), according to that unimpeachable source Wikipedia – On New Year’s Day, 1962, Decca Records, looking for a beat group, auditioned two promising young bands, Brian Poole and the Tremeloes, and another, from Liverpool, The Beatles. Decca chose Brian Poole and the Tremeloes over The Beatles, reportedly, in part, based on location.  In June 1962, The Beatles signed with Parlophone (EMI) who did quite well out of Decca’s and their own decisions, until Apple Corps was created in 1968!

38 comments on “ST 3317 (Hints)”

  1. I found Dada a little on the quirky side today and I took a while to sort out some of the clues. The lurkers were well hidden and not seen immediately. As the old saying goes “If all else fails, look for a lurker”. For the life of me, I cannot parse 19a so I hope that is hinted. I liked the dark-haired animal at 18d and this is my COTD.

    Thank you, Dada for the brain mangling. Thank you, Mr. Mustard for the hints, which I will now read for explanations.

    I have sent the guzzle off into the ether in search of The Mythical as Noah sent the dove – in hope.

    So, that’s how 19a works? Clever.

  2. This was a 2*/3* for me with a hmm for the supposed anagram indicator in 14a.

    My podium comprises 19a, 15d & 18d.

    Many thanks to Dada and Senf.

  3. Sound Sunday fare, it was a good warm-up for the crosswords that followed. Honours to 8a, 2d & 20d.

    Many thanks to Dada and Senf.

    I strongly recommend today’s truly excellent and approachable Toughie from Light – well worth the effort.

    1. I have just finished the blog, and found it tough (not to solve) but to choose which clues to hint. I hope I have picked the right ones

    2. Apuzzle of two halves for me, with the bottom half going in more easily than the top. I agree that it was a bit quirky. I liked rhe cryptic space traveller anagram at 10a, the Lego clue at 10a , the anagram at 11a and the lurker at 122d. Thanks to Senf for the hints and to Dada for this quirky SPP.

  4. I started off at a pace and then slowed right down. LOI was 15d.

    Lots of smiles on the way though with top picks being 19a, 11a, 17d and 2d.

    Can’t get the quickie pun to work.

    Thanks to Senf and Dada.

  5. A light relief after yesterday. Only needed a nudge for one clue, then it all fell into place. I learnt something new about a particular game. Tempted to try the Toughie, seeing SJB’s comments here, and time on my side.
    Thanks all

  6. Great, after two days of DNF this was a real treat. As was the case for Chriscross South was less of a challenge than North. Much fun – thank you Dada and Senf. Agree with hmms re Quickie slogan.

  7. Unlike our reviewer, I thought there were a few entries here that were anything but friendly. Ah well, some you win………..
    My favourite was 20d with a mention for the oldie but goodie at 25d.

    Thanks to Dada and to Senf for the hints – that clip of The Tremeloes took me back a few years!

  8. After a good crosswording week, today’s Dada was more of a trial and he won. I needed a hint for 1d as having tried all the flag permutations I had omitted the correct one and this held up parts of the NW. I am indeed 7a which tops my podium with 5d and 18d in supporting positions. Thanks to Dada and Senf.

  9. First pass I wondered if I should continue. Fresh eyes this morning plus the hints and it was achievable.

    Thanks for the hints

  10. For me, and I stress for me (© Senf), I ordered a grappling hook and it arrived yesterday. Looking forward to using it in the garden this afternoon. Is it to climb up huge oaks? To get rid of the neighbours in a Midsomer Murders styled crime?
    No, it’s to retrieve logs that have fallen (from their role as pathway markers), down the slope to the river. If you hear a splash, that will probably be me.

    Quirky guzzle indeed. Needed Senf to get me rebooted.

    Thanks to Da-doo-ron-ron and The Man From Manitoba in chilly Winnipeg.

    1. Be careful, Terence.

      That sounds dangerous to me.
      Like something Mr Meringue would do when I was out……

  11. Dada this week with some quirkiness noted, but overall in a friendly mood it seems.
    Lots to chuckle over as well as a couple of chestnuts too.

    2*/4* for me

    Favourites 7a, 11a, 28a, 5d, 18d & 21d — with winner 18d
    Smiles for 27a, 3d & 6d

    Thanks to Dada & Senf

  12. Dada in a fairly gentle mood today – thanks to him and Senf.
    For my podium I’ve selected 8a, 19a and 15d.

  13. Got off to a flyer then slowed down to finish in about average time. The two sporting referenced clues in 1d and 19a were my picks, with 19a being man of the match for his performance in yesterday’s Cup Final.
    Thanks to Dada and Senf.

  14. Jolly good!
    Slow start then off to the races with several ‘Aha!’ moments and a few ‘Dohs’ as the penny dropped!
    Enjoyable & quirky Sunday Dada fare – thoroughly enjoyable.👍
    Thanks, as ever, to Senf for another fine blog ‘n hints.
    Cheers!

  15. Quite tough for me today.
    Needed some help from Senf to get to the finish line.
    Liked the well hidden lurkers best.

    Thanks to Dada and to Senf.

    Off out to check on Mr Meringue and his extendable chain saw…..why did I agree to him getting that ?
    Love or stupidity I guess…..

    1. I am the same with George. Cannot bear to see him with the chain saw or chopping logs. I anticipate the worst. And WHY won’t he shut the garage door when he comes in for dinner then has to stagger out in the dark at eleven o’clock? Men are strange creatures.

      1. Ah but you need to air out the garage – at least that is what I am told when I ask why the door is still open hours after himself comes indoors 🤨.

  16. I thought Dada was quite friendly today , finishing without any holdups and plenty of enjoyment. A relief after yesterday’s that I found a slog and am still to finish. Meanwhile thanks to Dada and Senf.

  17. Mainly straightforward with some real head scratchers thrown in. Favourite was 10a. Thanks to Dada and Senf.

  18. As others have said, I charged in with great gusto filling squares right, left and centre and then suddenly met my match. I needed your help, Senf, for 19a – I would never have got that. I liked the rather neat duo at 3d/12a and the capital city. Many thanks to both Setter and Senf.

  19. I’m with Daisy et al who started great and then fizzled. I also fared better on the right than the left. Thanks to Dada and Senf.

  20. ‘Twas all going along swimmingly well until 7a with two to go which extended the solve into ** time. Eventually twigged the 19a stopper & then pegged the first word of 15d with the help of the additional checker – never having played bridge I hadn’t appreciated they were. Like RD I thought the indicator at 14a was dubious to say the least. No particular favourite but an enjoyable puzzle nevertheless.
    Thanks to D&S

  21. I haven’t started the puzzle yet, but thank you to Senf for the Tremeloes song and information. I saw them on my birthday in 2003 at Whitley Bay ice rink, on a shared bill with The Barron Knights and Marmalade (and somebody else I didn’t know). Their drummer really wanted to be the front-person, and kept popping out from behind the drum kit to address the crowd. After my sibling and me, it really wasn’t clear who the third-youngest person in the audience was …

    My dad had previously seen The Barron Knights as a student, so experienced seeing the same band exactly twice with a gap of several decades. He said he recognized them as the original band members, though.

    1. In the mid-1960s, whilst at university, I played in a very mediocre pop group. On one occasion in 1966, we were booked as support to Marmalade. They were not particularly famous at that time and were only just starting out under that name, having previously been known as the Gaylords.

  22. I made heavy weather of this an early spelling mistake meant that I got completely stuck in the north. I got there in the end but if rather spoiled my enjoyment of what was actually a rather fun puzzle.

    Many thanks to Dada and to Senf for the hints.

  23. After day of being interrupted by events. Started off at a pace, got stuck then really struggled on the last few: 16a perfect, 15d diamonds and 8a figure. Very enjoyable though. Thanks to dada and Senf for confirming a few parsings.

  24. Grids like this fill me with dread. But, I managed to work my way through it reasonably unscathed and enjoyed the solve.

    My LOI was 19a which went straight on to the podium as ‘whopper stopper’ is genius.

    At school, one was either a Bridge or Poker player, one, an official club the other not. I was in the former camp as, to me, it’s ’The Game’. My father’s favourite part was defending 3 No trumps, winning the last trick with a soppy 6 of Spades to get them down.

    My podium is 19a, 20d and 25d.

    MT to Dards and Senf.

    3*/4*

    P.S Anagram indicators are well and truly out of control.

  25. 3* / 4* Found this harder than most seemed to, a bit of struggle but couldn’t really see why when completed
    Favourite capital at 17d

    Thanks to Dada and Senf
    Ps also liked the tenuous quickie pun

  26. After a nights sleep I finally got the diamonds clue … but once again the quickie pun made littl sense! Thanks Senf and Dada

Comments are closed.