ST 3325 (Hints) – Big Dave's Crossword Blog
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ST 3325 (Hints)

by Senf  

Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 3325 (Hints)

Hints and tips by Senf

A very good Sunday morning from Winnipeg where we have another Province wide State of Emergency because of the once more increasing wildfire situation.  Some Northern communities are being evacuated for the second time and some for the first time.  Resulting from drifting smoke, air quality across the Province is very poor.  An Air Quality Index (AQI), on an 11-point scale, from 1 to 10 and ‘Plus’ is calculated using a very peculiar formula.  An AQI of 1 is Low Risk, 10 is High Risk, and Plus (anything more than 10) is Very High Risk.  For the last few days we have been at least 9.  Very unpleasant when one goes outside.

For me, and I stress for me©, Dada reasonably friendly until I had a cataclysmic senior moment in the SE – five anagrams (one partial), one lurker, and one homophone all in a symmetric 32 clues; with 16 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 – 13a, 17a, 28a, 3d, 18d, and 21d.

As is usual for the weekend prize crosswords, a number of the what I very subjectively perceive to be 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

1a Male twins, one’s beaten (3-3)
Guess a male name and repeat it (twins?) with a hyphen to ‘separate’ them.

10a Phenomenal destruction (8)
A double definition – the second might relate to the destruction of china or glassware.

13a Comedian on the fringes carries inferior joker (5)
The outer letters (on the fringes) of ComediaN contain (carries) a synonym of inferior.

17a Push free information that’s supplied to journalists (5,7)
I don’t think I have seen a five word definition before – verbal synonyms of push and free.

20a Especially fashionable and fussy (2,10)
Our favourite two letter synonym of fashionable and a synonym of fussy.

28a Barrel otherwise put in place for the gents, say? (8)
A synonym of barrel and a two letter synonym of otherwise all inserted into (put in) a synonym of place.

29a Great predator’s caged for example (6)
The two letter Latin based abbreviation of for example contained (caged) by a predator sometimes known as ‘king of the jungle.’

31a Crib that’s German rocked (6)
An anagram (that’s . . . rocked) of GERMAN.

Down

1d Ultimately, priest managed month in part of church (8)
The last letter of priesT, a synonym of managed, and a four letter abbreviated form of one of the months of the year.

3d Fine housing in farmyard sound? (4)
The two letters that can be equivalent to fine (as in satisfactory) containing (housing) IN from the clue.

5d More results produced, first of wins secured for very great competitor? (4,8)
The first letter of Wins contained (secured) by an anagram (produced) of MORE RESULTS.

8d Referring to spirit, a queen (6)
The two letter Latin based abbreviation equivalent to referring to, the spirit sometimes called ‘mother’s ruin’, and A from the clue.

11d American officer a trifle upset with medal (5,7)
With the correct identification, an anagram (upset) of A TRIFLE and (with) MEDAL for the most senior rank in one of the branches of the US military.

18d Total in flower (8)
A double definition – the first is probably an adjectival intensifier but then I only got a bare pass in English O-Level.

21d Many sketches initially erased (6)
Sketches that might be completed meaninglessly or aimlessly with the first letter deleted (initially erased).

27d Greek letter, guess second in fact (4)
I wanted to write ‘guess a guess’ but I will try to be a little more helpful – a guess, financially supported, on the result of a contest followed by the second (letter) in fAct.

Quick Crossword Pun:

BEYOND + SANE + KNOLLS + CARTER = BEYONCÉ KNOWLES-CARTER – the second ‘half’ is better than the first!

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Bereft of ideas for some music today, so here is a ‘new look’ at the Lone Ranger theme or the finale of the William Tell Overture, your choice:

30 comments on “ST 3325 (Hints)”

  1. I got on well to begin with but then I ground to a halt. Apart from 17a, the other long ones held me up for ages. I have two possible answers for 8d but, after following the instructions in the clue, I’m sure I have picked the correct one. My COTD is the cannibal at 2d.

    Thank you, Dada for the Sunday challenge. Thank you, Colonel Mustard in the dining room for the hints.

  2. I found this a bit of a mixed bag; some fairly straightforward clues with others decidedly quirky. Overall not sure I got much enjoyment from it. If I sit on this fence any longer I’ll get a sore bottom, so given that 2d made me smile I’ll make it my cotd. Thanks to Dada and Senf.

  3. I rather enjoyed today’s crossword. It took me an age to solve 1a – when the light dawned I had to laugh. 15d last in (a bit of a stretch for me). For anyone who plays Wordle I have recently found an interesting variation: octwordle. Just type octwordle into your browser.

  4. 2*/3*. Suitably Sundayish.

    Senf, I don’t think 1a is necessarily “guess a male name”.

    My podium comprises 20a, 2d & 18d.

    Many thanks to Dada and to Senf.

      1. No guess needed. Actually, the original Hindi word had a different vowel, also a (rarer) Scottish name. As already hinted, hope my picture is allowed. Confusingly, a single barrel version also has the double-barrelled name…

        IMG_2817

  5. I enjoyed this but had a few head scratches amongst the smiles.
    Top picks for me were 3d, 2d, 1a, 28a, 29a and 5d.

    Thanks to Senf and the setter.

  6. I thought this was a lovely relatively gentle puzzle. It helped that I got the long clues without too many crossers. 5d and 17a my two favourites mainly for the surfaces. Thank you Dada and Senf.

  7. 9a made me smile. I am having one fitted tomorrow; an occasion i have come to refer to as the x xxxxxx of the xxxxxx

    thanks Senf and Dada

  8. I got on well around the perimeter of rhis guzzle and soon filled in the perimeter. However, like some chocolates, ithad a hard centre and I lingered there rather longer, particularly over some of the long clues. Iiked the cryptic 1a, the 1d Lego clue, the anagram at 9d and rhe cryptic anagram at 19d. Thanks to Dada and to Senf and commiserations to the latter over the wildfire smoke problem.

  9. I found this easier than many Sunday puzzles but with a couple where although I have answers I am not sure they are right as I can’t make them quite parse eg 15d. I enjoyed the long clues and anagrams.

    A little cooler at the moment here as there is a breeze and it has been a bit overcast at times.

    Many thanks to Dada and to Senf for the hints.

  10. Off at a gallop in the NW and then quickly got on wavelength for the rest of this delightful puzzle with its no-nonsense clues. My only hitch was parsing 28a. A perfect kick-off to a hopefully relaxed Sunday. Thank you to whomever was the setter and to Senf (fingers crossed that the wildfires will soon subside – keep safe).

      1. Quickie is a different kettle of fish and contains several obvious results of dictionary searches. IMHO not up to the Cryptic standard.

  11. ‘It’s too darn hot’ and I feel really sorry for those who have to do battle at Wimbledon today even though they do stand to win an awful lot of money for their efforts!
    No real problems with today’s puzzle although it did get tougher in the lower reaches. Clues that appealed were those for the free information, the fussy fashion and the despicable insect.

    Thanks to Dada and to Senf for the hints and the fun musical score.

  12. Thanks to Dada and Senf. We found this relatively easy for a Sunday. Melting in what promises to be last day of heatwave in Devon. Iced drinks and staying cool for Wimbledon mens final later. Gary and Val

  13. 1.5*/4* A very pleasant solve with plenty of wit and misdirection. Favourites include 13a comedian, especially 20a and bunk at 7d
    Also enjoyed the very iffy quickie pun
    Thanks to Senf and Setter

  14. A healthy smattering of great double definitions today. Hope I’m not being naughty here, as only two were hinted. Better fun than Lego™ and lurker clues, imho. Long live the homographs!

    10a phenomenal destruction
    12a picture that’s the same
    14a average poor
    20a especially fashionable and fussy
    2d seductress and cannibal
    18d total in flower

    Worth a head count in the intro?
    Thanks all

    1. Not 20a – as I hinted, it is two word phrase equivalent to ‘especially’ made up of synonyms of fashionable and fussy.

      I have occasionally thought about including DDs in the head count but have always decided that anagrams, lurkers, and homophones were enough.

  15. This was a fairly gentle ride done in the garden with an occasional gentle breeze. George fast asleep in the swinging chair so no help from him. My only problem was 18d and I am not quite sure how the ‘total’ comes into it but hey ho. I agree with Jane in her sympathy with the players at Wimbledon. I am sure I will have said before (old folks tend to repeat themselves) but I went to School in Wimbledon and my brother went to Rutlish in Merton. That was in the days when The Season was still the thing and as the Debenture Holders left at about 4.30 to return to London for a dinner or a ball, provided we were in school uniform 6th formers would be allowed into Centre Court where we would watch the final sets of some amazing and iconic matches sitting in the best seats. Happy days! Many thanks to the Setter and the Man in the Red Scarf..

    1. [redacted –it’s a prize puzzle – come on SJB – follow the instructions in RED at the bottom of the hints] I think is how it works. It felt like a stretch to me too and was my second last in.

  16. I thought this Dada puzzle this week was definitely at the easier end of his spectrum. not even quirky in my opinion and no sign of his personal thesaurus either. Wow!!

    2*/4* for me

    Favourites 10a, 24a, 1d, 2d, 21d & 27d — with winner 21d

    Thanks to Dada & Senf

  17. I too thought that Dada was in a friendly mood today as I found this to be one of his most gentle in recent times. Last day of my holiday , and have completed the crosswords largely sat looking down at the most amazing view of a creek off the river Dart. The ever changing scenery due to the tides is a true wonder of nature. Thanks so much to Dada for today’s fun and Senf.

  18. Not too quirky today, I did notice that in the toughie I have exactly the same answer in the same lights in the SW corner.
    Thanks to Senf and Dada, it is all kicking off in the TDF

  19. A Sunday treat from Dada, and just needed a couple of hints to finish. My own fault, as I missed the intention of the clue in 24a, and I would say orange not yellow. If everyday was fun like this, I would be very happy, and I am confident Merusa would have enjoyed this also. Thanks to Dada and Senf.

    1. Doubtless Merusa would also have enjoyed today’s men’s Wimbledon final as we often exchanged tennis observations.

  20. We weren’t keen on several clues some have already been mentioned others not. Apart from those hums, fairly straightforward. Favourite was 20a. Thanks to Dada and Senf.

  21. Gentle stuff from Dada but an entertaining solve. I wasn’t wholly convinced by the 2nd definition synonym at 18d – isn’t it just the first 5 letters of the answer? On the fairly infrequent occasions I lapse into profanity (bad shot on the golf course mostly) I shall now justify it as an adjectival intensifier 😀.
    Thanks to D&S

    1. As used by Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady…
      [redacted –it’s a prize puzzle – come on SJB – follow the instructions in RED at the bottom of the hints]

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