Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 3342 (Hints)
Hints and tips by Senf
A very good Sunday morning from Winnipeg on this Remembrance Sunday where, courtesy of two Alberta Clippers in quick succession, we have had a couple of ‘dustings’ of fluffy white precipitation. And, oh dear, Santa is already building his grotto in at least one of the shopping malls in the city!
Thankfully, whatever it was that caused the delay in publishing yesterday’s puzzles did not reoccur. In fact, as often happens, today’s puzzles were available shortly after 11:30pm UK time (6:30pm in Winnipeg).
For me, and I stress for me,© Dada reasonably friendly with two long ‘un, seven anagrams (two partial), two lurkers (one reversed), and no homophones in a symmetric 28 clues; with 15 hints ‘sprinkled’ throughout the grid, you should/might be able to get some of the checkers to enable the solving of the unhinted clues.
If it is some time since you read, or if you have never read the instructions in RED below the hints then please consider doing so before commenting today as my electronic blue pencil is at the ready and the Naughty Step is OPEN!
Candidates for favourite – 10a, 11a, 20a, 6d, 14d, 16d, and 19d.
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.
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 Ring in miniature? Yes! (7)
A type of ring (used to amuse children?) inserted into (in) a synonym of miniature (commonly used North of the border).
10a Heart for example left, regularly, in part of church (5,4)
What a heart is an example of (in our bodies), the single letter for Left, and a mainly poetic synonym of regularly (nothing to do with letter selection!).
13a Passage from short story about dancers (9)
A type of story with the last letter deleted (short) containing (about) a synonym of dancers (who might stay out all night and ‘enjoy’ recreational pharmaceuticals?).
15a Men’s title inspires a little old bullfighter (7)
The abbreviated form of an honorific title used by men contains (inspires) a (1,3) term equivalent to a little, and the single letter for Old.
20a Splendid characters bordering on dishonesty? (5)
Listen very carefully, I will say this only once – how one might present the outer (bordering on) characters of DishonestY (you need a conjunction!).
21a Unpopular party in defeat (5)
A three letter term for unpopular and our usual two letter party.
25a Certainly not for me, English candidate (7)
A two letter interjection equivalent to certainly not, the genitive of a pronoun indicating for me, and the single letter for English.
Down
1d Bush perhaps regrown, it’s wild (10)
An anagram (wild) of REGROWN, IT’S.
4d Ray has penned end of prayer, sacred phrase (6)
An aquatic ray containing (has penned) the last letter (end) of prayeR.
6d Symbol in computing, I see, inverted (4)
The reversed lurker (in . . . inverted) found in the words sandwiched by the indicator.
7d Unspecific jumbo, old animal with tusks (6,7)
A synonym of unspecific and an adjectival synonym of jumbo.
16d I’d a wound, a long wound – slash, say? (8)
An anagram (wound) of I’D A and an anagram (wound) of A LONG – I will even let the three letter anagram pass without comment!
17d Greek character buried in flash mausoleum, for example (8)
The thirteenth Greek character contained by (buried in) a synonym of flash (as a brief period of time).
19d Player of music thus planting new tree (6)
A two letter synonym of thus containing (planting) an anagram (new) of TREE.
22d Probe quite stable, though not entirely (4)
The lurker (though not entirely) found in two words in the clue.
Quick Crossword Pun:
MINED + LIAR + CURSIVE = MIND LIKE A SIEVE – thanks to Helen and Jezza.
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For Remembrance Sunday:
Dada leaning towards his quirky side I thought with the grey cells being challenged. 1d had me searching through my limited knowledge of garden shrubs. I had the answer but couldn’t see what it had to do with garden plants. Then the proverbial dropped. My COTD is the bullfighter at 15a.
Thank you, Dada for the fun. Thank you, Colonel for the hints.
I’m afraid I could not suss the Quickie pun.
You are not alone on the Quickie Pun, but, after the reaction to my cri de cœur on Wednesday, I daren’t ask for suggestions today.
It “mindly occurs I’ve” completely misunderstood the quickie pun.
Mind like a sieve?
I think you’ve got it…
And so has Helen c
I didn’t even get to the pun without a letter reveal Steve – both the secretion & handwriting beat me before I revealed the C.
Slightly more devious than usual for a Sunday backpager, with some intricate wordplay.
Plenty of ticks, but I’ll go along with Steve, the bullfighter at 15a is best of the lot.
Thanks to Dada and Senf.
2*/2*. A curate’s egg for me today, although I imagine those that aren’t bothered by surface readings will have enjoyed this more than me.
See in 17a and emcee in 24a
My top picks were 13a, 20a, 21a, 1d & 14d.
Add me to the list of those who can’t decipher the Quickie pun.
Thanks to the setter and to Senf.
The Beam in t’other place is a treat.
Agreed re the Beam toughie.
I’ll comment on the other page later, when I awake from my (soon to be induced) beer-in-the-spanish-sunshine afternoon siesta.
Enjoy the siesta – the blog wont be out for an hour or so.
Hello I’ve been lurking for ages and am always grateful for the help with answers. I think the quicky pun is “mind like a sieve”
Welcome to the blog, Helen.
Now that you’ve de-lurked I hope that you’ll become a regular commenter.
Well done on unravelling the Quickie Pun which baffled me.
Thank you!
Welcome from me as well, Helen and well done on the pun. I would not have deciphered it in a month of Sundays.
Please keep commenting. 😊
I found this quite challenging and went down several dead ends. I did enjoy the tussle though and have lots of ticks on my page.
Top picks for me were 7a, 1d, 20a and 7d.
Thanks to Senf and Dada.
I hope CS’s knee improves.
I’m off to New Zealand tomorrow for nearly 5 weeks so will miss my daily fix of the puzzle and the community spirit of this blog. Play nicely while I’m away folks 😉
Have a great holiday Madflower, hope to see when you’re back to hear all about it!
Thanks Manders. Will definitely let you know next time I’m in your neck of the woods.
This all slotted in quite nicely with my LOI being 13a as I couldn’t get the dancers.
Parsing 20a took a while and I couldn’t get the razor sharp George W out of my mind for 1d.
My podium is 7a (great word), 21a and 9d.
MT to Radio and Senf.
3*/3*
I didn’t find Dada in a particularly friendly mood today. I disappeared down a number of rabbit holes before completion and found the solve a bit of a trial. Just not my day I suppose. 15a raised a smile, but my cotd is the wild bush in 1d. Thanks to Dada and Senf.
Not sure what happened today. My brain is on strike as I found that *significantly* harder than Friday’s puzzle. Stopped with eight clues unsolved. I think a large part of the problem was putting in the wrong answers to 14d and 17d (I had the latter as a labyrinthian bull. Sigh.). *****/***
And I’ve still no idea why 3d is related to 1d – can anyone kindly put me out of my misery (within the weekend rules)?
Hi Karona
The second and third syllables of 3d is a famous 1d from a while back.
Oooohhhhh. Got it. Thank you.
Something of a mixed bag for me from which I selected the unspecific jumbo, the worn ticker and the miniature ring to grace the podium.
Thanks to Dada and to Senf for the hints and Remembrance Day music – the festival televised from the Albert Hall last night was also a moving tribute.
Thanks to Dada and Senf. For a prize puzzle we found it a relatively speedy solve. COTD 7d. LOI 4d.
Took a while but completed (so l can’t be totally thick) but I don’t get 12A unless the final word of the clue in my printed online copy is a misprint. I know my answer is correct. It’s driving me mad so if anyone can help without breaking the rules -please. Enjoyed the crossword nevertheless with favourite 7A. Many thanks to Senf ( very much appreciated) and the Setter.
I didn’t understand it initially either.
Hi Longers
12a is an initial letter jobbie (acrostic) and an all-in-one though I’m not sure why the hyphen is there as the expression is ‘evidently so’.
Many thanks – I was thinking is was meant to be os not so. I’ll never learn!
As Longers you’re happy then I’m happy.
(not sorry)
Not one of Dada’s best but still enjoyable – thanks to him and Senf.
The clues I liked most were 1a and 20a.
To begin with, I couldn’t parse 12a either. But all went together well and although I had the answer to 1d I too was thinking of George B until I saw Senf’s picture then it all fell into place. All very clever, as was 10 & 15a, 9&14d. Many thanks to Messrs Setter & Senf and greetings to CeeSue. A really good turn out at The Cross in our village this morning, lots of youngsters in uniforms. Fortunately it was dry and sunny. I was proud as usual to wear my father’s cap badge, the skull & crossbones of the Death or Glory boys 17th/21st Lancers. There cannot have been many others there this morning who experienced WW2.
You will soon be joining the “Girls in Pearls” in Country Life.
3* / 4* A did not finish today, needed Senfs help with 19d, just couldn’t see it ! Apart from that plenty of cracking clues, among my favourites are 16d slash, 7a yes ! and lastly the 3d journalist
Thanks to Setter and Senf
Also couldn’t see the quickie pun, it’s a goodun though
*** / ***
A fine challenge with some great misdirection. Unfortunately for me, the way I wrote my answer to 7d meant the first letter looked like another letter, which meant I couldn’t get 7a or 1d for ages. Must improve my handwriting.
Thanks to those above for explaining what 3d has to do with 1d, I didn’t see that but the answers had to be what they were anyway.
Ticks went to the 14d worn ticker and 16d slash.
Many thanks to dada and Senf.
I got there in the end but found today harder than many to get into. However I enjoyed the battle and there were some cracking clues, particularly the long ones 7 and 14d.
Many thanks to Dada and to Senf for the hints.
Didn’t find this much fun, seemed like Dada was tougher than usual, and I couldn’t even process some of the hints. Been a pretty abysmal week on my part, so perhaps it is time to stop doing the cryptics, and content myself with Wordle, Spelling Bee, etc. where my brain still seems to work. Thanks for Dada me Senf. Just too clever for me.
Please don’t give up, BL. Just take the rough with the smooth because, if you left, you would be greatly missed. 🌹
I echo what Steve has said, don’t leave us!
Definitely don’t leave us!
Hear, hear Impatiens – the same thought is going through my mind with similar alternatives to hopefully keep the grey matter ticking over.
Don’t you leave as well, Angelov! 😟
Late on today as it has been a VERY busy weekend for myself and Mrs P.
quite quirky too.
Thought this was on the more difficult end of Dada’s spectrum this week with personal thesaurus use as well being
2.5*/3* for me
Favourites 1a, 10a, 18a, 7d & 2d — with 1a winner
Thanks to Dada & Senf
Can someone please explain the following:
When I submitted my answer to this, as ever, excellent challenge I received a commentary ‘the string did not match the expected…’
I’ve had this before. Does it mean my solution is incorrect?
Hi, No there is a problem which gives the error when you submit your entry. Technical Support at DT are looking into it they tell me! It’s been going on for a while. The entry is still submitted.
Thanks, Madflower.
I am perhaps not as incompetent as I thought. Then again…
Had the same problem, their advice was to delete the App then relogin, it worked for me.
Good luck.
Hello Brian, good to see you, Weekend Wanda was asking after you.
So was I!
We were all wondering. Great to see you, Brian.
Yes that may work for the app but I only use the website. Sounds like they have at least fixed it for some of their users.
Like quite a few people above I found this quite tough and above my comfort level. I was vey slow to get going and the answers never flowed. I struggled to parse a few too (3d, 12a, 20a) so thanks for the help above. Some favourites were 7d, 9d and 13a but there were a lot of excellent clues to choose from as others have noted. Thank you Dada and Senf.
Hi. I am new to commenting but have been lurking, reading hints and comments for over a year. Would someone be able to explain what ” with 15 hints ‘sprinkled’ throughout the grid” means. Many thanks!
Welcome, BCO and please do keep commenting.
As it’s a prize puzzle not all the clues can be hinted so the hinter gives hints to some “sprinkled” around the grid.
Ahhhh i seeeeee
Welcome to the blog, but why has it taken you so long to delurk?
Now that you have delurked please comment regularly.
Because it is a Prize Puzzle only about half of the clues are hinted. So, I try to sprinkle (spread) the hints, about the same number in each direction, around the grid so that checking letters are provided for unhinted clues. Nothing too mysterious I hope.
I am a mere amateur! I can only solver 1/3 – 3/4 depending on my mindset. It is definitely a learning process.
I was the same when I joined Big Dave in 2019. I have learned a lot from everyone and am now able to solve most days plus the occasional Toughie. Stick with us, ask as many questions as you like and you will soon be finishing them all (ish). 😊
I joined around about the same time as Steve & they’ve got me hinting on a Tuesday though I get it wrong far too often. You’ll be amazed at how quickly you’ll improve. Chris Lancaster’s book, How to Solve a Cryptic Crossword, is an invaluable aid. Love the moniker btw.
Good advice about Chris Lancaster’s book.
Another charmless workout for me for which I found the wavelength completely elusive although the East was in fact a little more malleable than the other half. Overall just too many strained definitions and lame anagram indicators. Oh dear I do seem to have become ultra picky but perhaps it’s my Anno DominiI because I do miss the fun challenges of yore.
Afraid I forgot my manners but a belated thank you to Dada and Senf of whom I have perhaps been impolitely critical above.
7a – After the struggles with Zandio & Donny over the last couple of days it was good to breeze through a puzzle without any real head scratch. Wouldn’t say I didn’t enjoy the puzzle but didn’t think it one from the top drawer. 1d was my fav + the link with 3d.
Thanks to D & S
Perhaps I am just getting it all wrong but 23a appears to be spelt differently to that which resides in my fridge in Switzerland (the h appears to be superfluous)?
Welcome to the blog. According to the Big Red Book (Chambers Dictionary) there are four ways of naming the cheese, two of which use an ER suffix, two use an H and two don’t. Perhaps the Swiss have other ideas.
Please comment often in the future.
Hard going today – not helped by my assumption that there is no h in the cheese, seems there are two spellings in use! Thanks Dada and Senf