ST 3332 (Hints)

50 comments on “ST 3332 (Hints)”

1. 2*/2.5* from me for a generally pleasant puzzle but with a scattering of hmms.

   Thanks to Dada and to Senf.

2. At first read through, I thought that this was going to be tricky, but the three long clues made for a firm start that then went on for a relatively smooth solve. I expect 19a is an oldie, but still raised a smile and I thought 21d slightly cheeky. My podium comprises 27a, 6d and 12d. Thanks to Dada and Senf.

3. I don’t know why but today’s offering did not feel like it was by Dada but, more than likely, I’m wrong. I solved 1a immediately but then nothing for ages. However, the next one to fall was the long one at 24a and that gave some checkers to work on. I took a ridiculous amount of time over 6d because I couldn’t get the “sense something isn’t new” part. I had a different fruit for 13a and I couldn’t get it out of my mind but it didn’t parse so I refrained from entering it. Plenty to like with my COTD being the receptacle confined to dump at 21d.

   Thank you, Dada (for it must be your good self) for the fun. Thank you, Colonel for the hints.

   1. Senf, the third word of the Quickie pun is wrong.

      1. The fourth word actually…

         1. So it is. I can’t count! 🙄

      2. Not any more – thanks.

4. I really enjoyed this puzzle. Significantly more challenging than the relatively gentle offering yesterday but within reach. I like puzzles like this with a relatively even difficulty. It can be frustrating to get through some relatively easy clues only to be completely stuck with ten to go say. The long cryptically clued expressions were fun and went in quite early. Favourites amongst some great clues were 24d (the small biter) 12a, 12d and 6d. Thanks to Dada and Senf.

5. Well I made heavy weather of this though, having completed it, I can’t see why. My first pass through opened up just three answers and I almost gave up. Many clues simply didn’t “click” with me and my reaction on solving them was more often “oh – so that’s it…” rather than “aha! that’s it!” A wavelength thing I suppose.
   Anyway, still much to enjoy, so, many thanks to Dada and to Senf, whose hints I definitely needed today.

6. Very enjoyable with 19a as such a neat clue. Thank you Dada and Senf … and happy birthday to Van the man!

7. That was hard work and I too felt that it didn’t feel like Dada. After a long time, I got a start with 6d and, slowky thhe other clues began to fall into place, speeding up as the checkees went in. Iiked the rather ceyptic Lego clue at 12d, the equally cryptic anagrams at 5d and 22a and rhe cryptic definition at 15a. Thanks to the compiler and to Senf for the hints. I shall now look at the latter to see if I can unravel a few of the more abstruse clues

   1. I take issue with 22a, not least because they are not nice at all. Probably the least favourite in the tin.

      Thanks to Dada and Senf

      1. My late mother loved them, so they were always left for her. Othersin the tin were more appealinng in my opinion.

8. Slow start for me but speed improved once the long ones fell. Still took far too long for the prince to materialise though so I can’t claim that this was my fastest Sunday solve. No particular favourite to mention but at least the old grey matter is now awake.

   Thanks to Dada and to Senf for the hints and video clip – never seen the attraction myself but he has such a following that it’s not likely to bother him much!

9. For me, and I stress for me (© Senf), this is my favourite kind of guzzle – in that I take a quick look and startle the household by exclaiming, “Wahhh!”, before slowly but surely unravelling the mystery of the enigma of the guzzle, as Winston Churchill nearly said.

   Yesterday, I shared a lift (elevator) with Todd Boehly, after the Chelsea game. We exchanged a cheery analysis of the match (“A game of two halves; still three points eh?”) while his burly bodyguard looked on with just the right amount of menace.
   As it was a lunchtime kick off (to suit the TV broadcaster – they pay billions to shuffle the fixtures around to suit their advertisers) we drove to Kensington Gardens (three miles, forty five minutes) and went for a lovely walk around half of the Serpentine; stopping off at the cafe at the Italian Gardens to dodge a brisk shower.
   Peter Pan was looking well. The parakeets continue to bombard tourists who hold fruit and breadcrumbs in outstretched hands.

   Thanks to Da-doo-ron-ron and, as ever, The Man From Manitoba.

   1. VAR assisted?

      1. I was going to make some comment regarding bungs to Mr Jones but was afraid of ending up on the naughty step! 🤣

   2. We were, indeed, somewhat fortunate. Very poor refereeing.

10. Thanks to Dada and Senf. We found this to be a fairly quick solve. Once the the three 15 letters clues fell in place there were sufficient checkers to race through the rest. No one clue screams out to be COTD. Gary and Val

11. I was on the right wavelength today but ground to a complete halt on 3D, I have an idea for it, but not sure it is correct, and as no one else has mentioned 3D, I am wondering if I am missing something obvious.

    1. 3d is a double definition and the answer is nothing to do with family although it looks as though it could.

       1. Thanks, I do have the right answer then

          1. Thanks, I was worried about that one too.

12. Loved the 3 long ‘uns. These were almost like double definitions, with phrases (rather than homographs) having the same meaning.

    Having hinted most of the recent vintage series (with help from Gazza) I now realise what hard work it is putting these blogs together. Also, the vast knowledge of the bloggers, especially the prize puzzles.

    Double thanks to the sterling work by Senf, and all the great hinter-explainer-bloggers on this special site, and well deserved gratitude given by the commentators. Also, respect to the setters for their ingenuity, hard graft, and humour.

    1. Hear, hear 👍

    2. Thanks for the thanks and for your excellent blogs of the vintage puzzles. I hope Deansleigh SC and yourself get a chance at another blog soon.

13. Gentle and enjoyable – thanks to Dada and Senf.
    As our blogger notes Dada didn’t have to resort to anagrams for any of the 15-letter answers – that’s a bonus as far as I’m concerned.
    My ticks went to 1d, 12d and 24d.

    1. Great to see you still here Gazza. Big D and yourself were the two that really helped me along when I started doing these cryptic, woukd have given up without your help!!!!
       I can’t remember how to get my little dog avatar back I remember Dave did it for me once, never mind, hope all is well in your world 🌻

       1. Hi Mary,

          Information on how to set up your own avatar is given in FAQ #22.

          1. Thanks Gazza will have a look 👍🏻

          2. Couldn’t find my original one but happy with this 👍🏻

14. Avatar test

    1. Whoops,
       will have to put summat in that Gravatar thing, never mind, BH will do for now…..

15. This was a pleasant stroll through crossyland with nothing to trouble the gee-gees.

    My podium is 11a, 15a and my LOI 16d.

    MT to Radio and Senfingtons.

    2*/3

16. Good afternoon

    All done, after a few scratches of the head! An enjoyable solve this afty, with top marks for a classic piece of misdirection to 22a.

    Many thanks to Dada and Senf.

17. 1*/4* a gentle and very pleasant romp today which i wasn’t expecting. Loads of excellent clues, favourites include observant cornfield at 19a, prince at 18d (I knew GCE Henry V would eventually pay off) and lastly the Nice thing at 22a
    Also a good quickie pun
    Thanks to setter and Senf

18. Pretty gentle with just a few head scratchers. The wrong organ got into my head for the cornfield at 19a, which slowed down the 16d judge a while. Silly me!
    Happy with my answer for 12a but can’t parse it.

    Overall enjoyable with no standout ticks except perhaps the 2d flower.

    Thanks to dada (presumably) and Senf.

    1. Re 12A – contains a 4-letter synonym for a (usually) small pice of paper that can allow the owner some benefit or service…Navy slang had a pink one to mean we were being allowed out (by our other half) for a lads evening 😜

       1. That sorts it, thanks Bruce H’

19. Enjoyed this challenge from Mr D, thank you 👍
    As often happens, it took some time to get going until the 3 long ‘uns fell into place. From there…with a few head scratches along the way…it was a fairly steady finish!
    My last one in, but also my favourite (once the penny dropped..doh!) was 2D.
    Thanks, as ever, to Senf for another fine blog ‘n hints.
    Cheers!

20. Fun solve in the East but more head scratching required in the other half so relieved to get there in the end – phew! 3d had to be but I failed to properly parse it. Without meaning to be ungracious am hoping for better entertainment next week. Thank you Dada and Senf,

21. A perfectly pitched crossword, chewy enough to require some thought, but not so much as to make me set it aside. Lovely to finish almost unaided over breakfast. Thanks for Dada and Senf.

22. Perfectly pitched today, chewy enough to require some thought, but not so tough as to make me set it aside. Thanks to Dada and Senf.

    My second attempt into commenting, as first attempt said “already commented” and disappeared into the ether?

23. I thought this Dada puzzle was relatively easy this week. Not really quirky nor personal thesaurus use to my way of thinking,

    2*/4*

    Favourites 11a, 19a, 1d, 2d & 12d — with winner 2d

    Thanks to Dada & Senf

24. A very enjoyable puzzle which felt a bit different to usual Dada to me. The long answers, once the fell were a gift.

    Many thanks to Dada and to Senf for the hints.

25. Back again today but must admit to struggling with top half !! No trouble with the long ones at all 15a favourite, hi to RD, Gazza, Jane and all my old friends that said Hi yesterday, thanx for the welcome back👍🏻👍🏻🌻

26. Decent Sunday fare. Surprised by the love given to 19a. It earned a ‘hmm’ from me as I cant see how you ‘observe’ with the sensory organ in the solution. I’ve not checked the dictionary, mind, so perhaps the phrase is broader than my literal interpretation. ***/***

27. A brisk & enjoyable solve. No real fav but did quite like the 3 long ‘uns.
    Thanks to D&S.

28. So I accidently started the prize toughie by mistake. No surprise found it hard to get going but then found traction in the south and managed to finish half the grid. I then decided to dip into the blog to see if everyone else was finding it ‘tough’, when I then realised my mistake. Having switched to the right puzzle it was a blessed relief. Feel pleased to have completed half of the toughie so will resume that later to see if I can finish it. So… really enjoyed the solve , funny though how you get word blindness. I had a few left to mull over on my dog walk like 3d, 2d, and 20d , and given a bit of thought and fresh air all seemed obvious. Thanks so much to Dada assuming it’s his and Senf.

29. I found this prize crossword to be at the less taxing end of Dada’s work and my favourite like yesterday is a short one, 24d. Also like yesterday I was struggling with the quickie so switched to the main event but will now see if inspiration will come and allow me to finish the optimistically named quickie. Thanks to Senf and Dada

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