Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 3331 (Hints)
Hints and tips by Senf
A very good Sunday morning from Winnipeg where, on Friday, I got home in time to watch the last 30 minutes of the Red Roses ‘making a statement’ in the opening match of the Rugby World Cup against the USA. But they had better be careful, Canada demonstrated their second in the ‘World Rankings’ status with their impressive win over Fiji yesterday (OK, I know Australia did pretty well too).
For me, and I stress for me,© Dada still friendly, but with some foreign language knowledge required, with 4 long ‘uns, 8 anagrams (5 partials), 1 lurker, and 1 homophone all in 28 clues in a symmetric grid; 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 – 4a, 20a, 1d, 8d, and 20d, with an HM for the Pun.
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 A fuse blown, indefinite number plugged in – dangerous (6)
The single letter for an indefinite Number inserted into (plugged in) an anagram (blown) of A FUSE.
12a Top Ceredigion town (8)
Knowledge of one of the six Celtic languages required! A double definition – the second is a town in the county of Ceredigion.
15a Brief storm down there, rush out (13)
An anagram (out) of DOWN THERE, RUSH.
18a Room for procedure by the way in outdoor entertainment (6,7)
A room for a procedure (where at least one person doesn’t know what is going on!) placed after (by the) a type of way.
22a Important person‘s fairground ride? (3,5)
A double definition – the first is an informal term for an important person (in an organisation).
24a Rise in endowment: stop plugging it (8)
A synonym of stop inserted into (plugging it) a synonym of endowment.
27a Stick in salad her endives (6)
The lurker (in) found in the last three words of the clue.
Down
1d Cooking pan on top of cupboard in Britain, empty (6)
An anagram (cooking – oh dear, move one letter) of PAN placed before (on) the first letter (top) of Cupboard all inserted into (in) the two letters for Britain (and NI) – oh dear, Dada needs a geography lesson!
3d Observing mazy runs, I lift hero up – lovely finisher? (9,6)
What has to be the weirdest anagram indicator ever, I can’t imagine any other reason for it being in the clue – an anagram (observing mazy) of RUNS, I LIFT HERO UP.
6d Have fun and add a little colour to the place? (5,3,4,3)
An expression for having a very good time which probably/possibly originates from a specific incident in 1837 involving the Marquis of Waterford and his friends in Melton Mowbray – you will have to e-search if you want more details but don’t put what you find in a comment!
8d Constant arc, the bendy diagram (3,5)
A mathematical constant, sometimes attributed to the Greek who spent a lot of time in his bath, followed by an anagram (bendy) of ARC, THE.
17d Slow mover set about transporting load (8)
The answer is a foreign word! An anagram (about – oh dear move one letter) of SET containing (transporting) a type of load (carried by a ship?).
21d Warning signal, as marines would do it? (5)
A (1,2) foreign expression more or less equivalent to as . . . would do it followed by the two letters for Marines.
23d Be aware of negative broadcast? (4)
The homophone (broadcast) of a two letter term equivalent to negative when expressing denial.
Quick Crossword Pun:
BUSKING + DUCK + TOURS = BUS CONDUCTORS
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American classical guitarist, composer, singer, writer, comedian, and poet (very versatile) Mason Williams was born on this day in 1938. He is probably best known for his 1968 instrumental Classical Gas. Here he is as a special guest appearing with electronic harpist Deborah Henson-Conant on her Hip Harp Live tour in 2012. A little different from being accompanied by a full orchestra on the original recording:
A very benign Dada today, with only the sw causing any real delay caused primarily by my fixation on an incorrect slow mover. Other than that, lots of smiles and ticks on my page. The four long clues certainly helped to fix the solve. Tough to pick a podium, but I’ll plump for 20a, 21d and 17d in top spot. Thanks to Dada and Senf.
Very enjoyable – I did then have to look up the derivation of 4a just for interest. SW took me longer than the rest . Thanks Senf and Dada
This didn’t cause too many problems and was a pleasant solve though I have three question marks:
14d is missing the word ‘are’.
(Great) Britain isn’t a synonym of the answer in 1d.
There’s a rogue comma in 26a in the paper version, unless I’m missing something.
I’ve added mazy to the neverending list of AIs.
I can’t tell you the amount of times I’ve heard people tell me that 16d means just the first five letters not ‘why’.
My podium is, for a change, three short answers: 9a, 7d and 21d (I do like how setters use the three letters of this clue).
MT to Radio and the Manitoban Mountie.
We love, love, love Classical Gas, btw.
2*/3*
I did identify the need for Dada (and the editors) to have a geography lesson in the hint for 1d.
It’s a classic boo-boo but I’m surprised it got past the powers that be at Telegraph Towers.
We shouldn’t be called Team GB at The Olympics but, I guess, they couldn’t be bothered to change all the branding after the initial mistake or feel it’s more catchy to say.
The Olympic team is often referred to as GB and Northern Ireland
It very much is but they won’t bin Team GB which is very annoyance badoyance.
Do you feel the same way about “whenever” supposedly meaning only the first 4 letters ?
I certainly do.
Hmm, that’s a new one on my, OM. But, thinking about it, of course there is a difference.
Thank you for that.
Every day (not everyday!) is a school day….even a Sunday.
I agree this was mostly straightforward, I like others got stuck in the south west largely related to the wrong slow mover. Once that was sorted the rest fell into place.
Many thanks to Dada and to Senf for the hints.
Plenty of anagrams again from Dada (especially in the down clues) but an enjoyable puzzle – thanks to Dada and Senf.
The surface of 4a seems odd – would it not be better with the order of the first two words reversed?
My favourite clue was 20a.
Today’s Vintage Puzzle is a superb Sunday Telegraph Prize Puzzle from 2009. Since Big Dave had started earlier that year I’ll publish links to our hints and full review for the puzzle later.
I too put a wrong answer in the SW, which held me up for a while. Other than that, it was a wwell balanced puzzlee, which didn’t hold me up for long. I liked the geographical clue at 12a and the craftily clued 17d, my COTD. The well- misdirected anagram at 3d and the lego clue at 26a werefun too. Thamks to Senf for the hints and to Dada for another thoroughly enjoyable SPP.
Great puzzle today.
Favourite 26a with the green fairy good runner up.
Thanks to Dada and to Senf
By the way, Senf, Scotland did pretty well too…..
Gentle stuff but an enjoyable solve nevertheless. The Beamer over in t’other place is also none too taxing so I’m hoping the Vintage puzzle recommended by Gazza will keep me occupied in the gaps between golfers on a very quiet Sunday tee sheet. Podium spots here for 18,20&26a
Thanks to D&S
Nice one for a Sunday morning. Towns in foreign parts are a no go for us dumplings but in a northeast wind here you certainly need a 12a.
Favourite 10a ’cause it fitted the surface read exactly I thought.
Thanks to the setter and Senf. Have the wildfires died down?
A lovely puzzle today. I also liked the Quickie pun.
Top picks for me were 9a, 17d and 21d.
Thanks to Senf and Dada.
2*/3.5*. I agree with Huntsman – gentle but enjoyable.
I assumed that “mazy” was the anagram indicator for 3d and that “observing” must be surface padding. Whilst not great, the surface would just about work without the first word.
Many thanks to Dada and to Senf.
PS. Mason Williams went out with Mrs RD’s sister when he was living in London in the late 60s and she remembers him playing Classical Gas in her parents’ back garden! Personally I think the orchestra spoils a great song, and the version with the harp is delightful.
Love the sister-in-law story!
Anyone one know what this is? Growing in my flowerbed
It looks like it could be a nightshade, possibly deadly nightshade. I think it’s something in the solanum family. Be careful with it!
I think it might be black nightshade. Be aware thT the green, immature berries are poisonous to dogs as they contain a chemical called solanine
Possibly deadly nightshade?
Blimey, thanks to all who identified this, I will pull it up tomorrow, just after making Mrs TC a nice infusion…………
Thanks to Dada and Senf. Found this easy for a Sunday. 20a our favourite as we spend a lot of money there! Gary and Val
I found this Dada puzzle at about the middle of his spectrum this week. However there was some definite use of his personal thesaurus along with a touch of quirkiness as is his wont.
2.5*/4* for me.
Some many candidates for favourites this week. I chose 4a, 20a, 25a, 15d, 17d & 19d — with winner 17d
All the rest get smiles for being runners up as any one of them could have been the winner.
Thanks to Dada & Senf
Thoroughly enjoyable but all over a bit too quickly…must have been right on Dada’s wavelength today!
Several great clues but my COTD was 20A ????
Thanks Mr D for the challenge and, of course, to Senf for another fine blog ‘n hints.
Cheers!
Like many above, I didn’t have any problems apart from the SW corner, not helped because I failed to think of the right type of flower… I know better ????. Bishop also threw me off in 11d and was my LI. Otherwise a perfect accompaniment to Sunday breakfast and very much enjoyed. Thanks to Dada for not making me feel stupid, and to Senf.
Meant to put … and not ???? after better above. But when I try to correct I get a message saying I do not have permission to edit?
I get that a lot as well, BL.
I flew through most of this and then like some others got held up in the SW . I was convinced that the lovely finisher 3d was going to be xxxxxxxxxxxxh the alphabet, spending a moment trying to make a word from xxxx .. I got there in the end. Thanks so much to Dada and Senf.
Dada on the tougher side I thought but my mind is elsewhere. Having said that, it was a steady solve. I managed to get 6d straight away so that helped me get going. My COTD is the short and sweet 12a after I had surfed all the Welsh towns I could.
Thank you, Dada for the Sunday fun. Thank you, Colonel for the hints.
Unlike the above majority I didn’t warm to this and thought some of the clues felt a bit rookieish although I realise Dada is far from that. 3d mazy is a new one on me but had to be. Not sure I get 11d or is it just a broad description of what some bishops are? Does a shepherd remove a 19d? 25a dance didn’t occur to me. Knowledge of French certainly helped today. Thank you Dada and Senf.
11d definition is order, think chess for bishop
Add me to the list of those who opted for the wrong slow mover but then wondered why I couldn’t parse it! Finally the light dawned and the flower delivery also slotted into place. Gold star awarded to 17d and I also rather liked 26a & 7d. Have to agree with Gazza about the word order in the clue for 4a – the version he proposed would have earned it a tick.
Thanks to Dada and also to Senf for the hints and music clip – a delightful piece of playing by two musicians at the top of their game.
Just listened to the music clip – fully agree. Great piece – thanks Senf
Not easy, but an enjoyable Sunday challenge, favourites the two big ones at 3d and 6d.
Couldn’t see the quickie pun but it’s a good one
Thanks to Senf and setter
How is 20a even a cryptic clue? I’d understand if it was xxxxxxxx
Welcome to the blog
The ‘flower’ is what makes it a cryptic clue
Aah. That is sneaky. Thx
So what was 14 d ?
Welcome to the blog. If you are going to become a frequent commenter, I suggest that you add at least the first letter of your last name to make your alias unique.
So 14d, perhaps the setter should have included ‘are’ between ‘soldiers’ and ‘in’ – the definition is country, ‘where’ is padding, a three letter term for soldiers inserted into (in) a tune (usually heard in an opera).