Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 3347 (Hints)
Hints and tips by Senf
A very good Sunday morning from Winnipeg where approximately five hours after this puzzle is published the Winter Solstice will occur marking the start of astronomical winter and the beginning of increasing daylight hours for six months.
After a couple of evenings gallivanting around the Province it was very pleasant to spend a ‘quiet evening in’ undertaking my favourite pastime of imbibing a not see wee dram of The Balvenie.
For me, and I stress for me,© Dada still somewhat quirky, especially when it came to anagram indicators, with seven anagrams (three partials), two lurkers (one reversed), and one homophone in a symmetric, for a change, 30 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. I hope you have your Crimson Tomes at hand!
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 – 11a, 19a, 26a, 4d, 9d, 13d, and 18d.
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 Travelling say in African country, an Asian national (9)
An anagram (travelling – oh dear three letters, move one letter) of SAY inserted into (in) a four letter African country and AN from the clue.
10a Ultimatum which trammels leaders of Roman Empire (6)
A synonym of which contains (trammels) the first letters (leaders) of Roman Empire.
12a Shoe in place after fiddling, you finally slipping into it? (4-2)
An anagram (after fiddling, move one letter) of PLACE containing (slipping into it) the last letter (finally) of yoU.
14a Perplexed – as party may have been? (6)
A double definition – the second may refer to having arranged a party.
18a Centre covered in traffic, or empty? (4)
The lurker (covered in) found in three words in the clue.
21a Islander attributes grumble to South Africa (6)
A synonym of grumble is placed after (attributes to) the two letter abbreviation for South Africa.
24a Fashionista resigned, as scruffy (8)
An anagram (as scruffy) of RESIGNED.
28a Exact number embracing honest labouring (2,3,4)
The first number in the decimal system containing (embracing) an anagram (labouring) of HONEST.
Down
1d Stockpile money that’s recounted? (5)
The homophone (that’s recounted) of a term for (real) money.
2d Dance, kids’ stuff (8)
A double definition – the second might be describing something that can be accomplished very easily.
6d Conscious of facial feature? It’s very fragile (9)
A single word term for conscious of placed after a facial feature.
13d Capital city, where equality of condition exists (5)
A three letter word equivalent to the somewhat complex term of equality of condition and a two letter word equivalent to exists.
18d A cheat pursuing company finding things easy (8)
All of A from the clue and a slang verbal synonym of cheat placed after (pursuing) the two letter abbreviated form of company.
20d Business originally entering legal process of close-knit group (6)
The first letter (originally) of Business inserted into (entering) a legal process.
25d Nauseating eccentric doffs cap (4)
A synonym of eccentric with the first letter removed (doffs cap).
Quick Crossword Pun:
GANG + NUMBS + TILE = GANGNAM STYLE – a neologism that refers to the nouveau riche lifestyles associated with a region of Seoul, South Korea.
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.
In Winnipeg, we probably have enough snow on the ground to meet the ‘basic’ Canadian definition of a White Christmas of a depth of 2 cms on Christmas Day. It will be interesting to see if we achieve a Perfect Christmas of fresh snow falling on the morning of the big day. Dean Martin seems to think that it should happen:
A particularly gentle Sunday Prize Puzzle, which given the grid layout, I thought would be more problematic.
The quickie pun ensured I’ll probably have an annoying earworm for the rest of the day.
Thanks to Dada and Senf.
2*/3*. A pleasant Sunday puzzle albeit with a few raised eyebrows and some strained surfaces along the way. 16a is an unindicated Americanism; I don’t see how “attributes (to)” in 19a means “placed after”; and, as Senf points out, the “anagram” in 12a is rather feeble.
1d was my favourite – a nice twist on an old regular.
Thanks to Dada and to Senf.
You mean 21a (not 19a) and I guess it is a bit of a stretch.
On 16a I seem to remember that the answer was quite a common bullying threat on the school bus in Manchester in the 1970s! As in ‘I’ll 16a yer if yer don’t get out of my way’ etc
The term is well used down south, too. I’ve never considered it to be an Americanism.
Thanks, Slowcoach.
Yes, I did mean 21a not 19a.
16a is a double definition. The first definition “knock over” is fine. It’s the second definition “all the cards”, which is American.
So what is the British collective noun for cards then if not (redacted and sent to the « noddy » step)?
Mr & Mrs T
Bwosten
To stay out of trouble, I suggest that you do an e-search to find the answer to your question.
The same as the collective term [redacted –it’s a prize puzzle].
Oops, maybe I’m in trouble.
Yes you are!
Are they from Wolverhampton?
In 21a, if one splits the answer (2,4), the abbreviation for South Africa acts as a modifier for grumble, thus attributing the grumble to South Africa.
For something that originated in America to require an indicator, I tend to draw the line for when it arrived on these shores around the 70s and 80s (when I was in my yoof) e.g cool, okay and awesome that pass muster. They also may get the thumbs-up from RD. So, they may not be the best examples.
With RD, the hopeless Chumpers and Phil, it’s somewhere around the 50s.
I have heard and used 16a for decades. So, for me (and some others) it doesn’t require an Americanism indicator. For RD (and others), it does.
Each to their own.
Well said… and some of us never need such indicators.
A really enjoyable gentlish offering very welcome after yesterday when I managed 1 clue. 1d, 20d, 8a, 10a were amongst my favourites. I was defeated by 2d as I didn’t get the clue’s construction and had never heard of the definition (I am trying not to get on the naughty step). Thank you Dada and Senf
Finished, eventually!. Have an answer for. 27a but can’t parse it, what has caramel got to do with it? Thanks all.
27a is the one I sort of got but really not sure at all. I was hoping Senf would explain.
What is the ‘third’ of caRmel?
Doh! Thanks CS, I was trying to bark up the toffee tree. Hope that doesn’t land me on the naughty step as I doubt there’s lemon drizzle there as you are laid up but hope you are starting to feel more your old self.
Oh yes thanks, as Manders said DOH!
I asked Mrs T « like your make-up? » just before she thumped me.
Thanks to confused Deadfans
Mr T
This went in fairly easily apart from 27a which for some reason I couldn’t parse for ages. That aside, this was diverting enough but perhaps lacking the punch I normally associate with a prize puzzle on a Sunday. 1d was my top clue.
Many thanks to Dada and Senf.
A pleasant puzzle but not one out of Dada’s top drawer – thanks to him and Senf.
My favourite clue is 6d.
The winter solstices in Canada sure seem to be getting earlier every year!
I quite liked 12 Across. It doesn’t really have to be seen as a full anagram so much as one of those clues where one of the letters moves back a few places. Fiddling to me implies just a little adjustment.
It is highly probable that, within the constraint of the effect of time zones, you will find that Solstices, and Equinoxes, are on the same day on both sides of The Pond.
Except that I am a week early. Oops!
This is for the UK.
Thanks. I’m aware of the solstices’ dates, and that both occur at the same instant all over the world. I was just making a silly joke about Senf’s error in the preamble.
I was going to ask whether you’re somehow working a week ahead of the rest of us!!
I’m also in the can’t parse my answer to 27a camp. Dada definitely quirky today to the extent that it certainly reduced my enjoyment factor. But there were some excellent clues such as 6d which had me stumped for a while, and 3d. Overall the puzzle wasn’t a 2d, but that does get my cotd. Thanks to Dada and Senf.
For 27a, think of a word for [redacted – see below].
As BD used to say, if you start a comment with ‘think’ you are straying into Alternative Clue or Hint Territory. In any event, you wrote a hint for 27a in yesterday’s Prize Puzzle!
Yes I realised my mistake and requested a deletion during the five minute countdown which seemed to have taken effect, so am surprised it found its way through.
I was moved to investigate the origin of the 2d dance, rather fascinating, and got my knickers in a bit of a twist whilst working out 7a. No problems to report elsewhere and think my favourite was the little story told in 22d – sadly, only too true in this rapidly changing world of ours.
Thanks to Dada and to Senf for the hints – always nice to hear Mr Martin ushering in the festive season.
Many thanks to Dada for an enjoyable Sunday puzzle. My favourite was 6d.
I found this fairly straightforward, and the toughie from Zandio even more so.
Sadly, not for me, not much fun to solve.
Enjoyed this. The E went in rather easily but the W was decidedly more tricky. Needed G Oogle to confirm the derivation of 2d. cOTD went to 22d where I was thinking about our planet for far too long. Glad to have finished this a week ahead of the winter solstice 😀! Thanks to dada and Senf.
I likewise found 27a a curveball; I had the “third of caramel” but found the “cake” to be a holdup until I found the European which gave me the synonym. Otherwise a gentle amble for a SPP.
3d is my COTD
Quite a lot of aggressive and violent words today. Should have an 18 certificate!
Thanks to Senf and Dada and all
Can I put in a shout for Zandio’s toughie…it’s an enjoyable solve and not too tricky.
Thanks for the plug, an early start (about 23:30 allowed me to finish and submit before it was officially published
Today’s Dada took longer, but mainly because I was distracted by making dinner.
Thanks to Dada and Senf ( whose hints I did need for a few)
I am enjoying my first Betty’s Stollen of the year, I wonder how long before we get a slice in the crossword.
Like Gazza I didn’t think this one from our setter’s top drawer. Didn’t find it particularly easy either – like Jane the 7a parse didn’t come easy & I also had to look into the dance. What with 10,11,16,17&19a it was all a bit too violent for my tastes. 6d was my fav.
Thanks as ever to D & S
There was a lot to like with this puzzle with 28A being my favourite. I think I have the correct answers for 8A and 27A but the word play is a bit more tenuous than I’d like. I’d overlooked the violent theme until others pointed it out! Off to tackle the Toughie now.
Failed to finish without help – stuck on NW corner until the hints revealed that the answer I’d confidently bunged in at 1d was wrong – that’ll teach me not to be cocky! Thanks to Dada and Senf. Favourite was 6d, enjoyed the sound of the penny dropping.
I thought this was a Dada puzzle at about the mid range of his spectrum. A few quirky areas for me and a little personal thesaurus use this week too.
2.5*/3.5*
Favourites 11a, 16a, 28a, 1d, 8d & 15d — with winner 15d
Thanks to Dada & Senf
All done – quite a challenge today with several ‘head scratchers’ but eventually arrived on Mr D’s wavelength.
Like others I struggled to parse 27A until the ‘Doh!’ with ‘third’ getting the penny to drop’!
Many thanks to Dada for the Sunday workout and, as ever, to Senf for the blog ‘n hints – always enjoyed!
…and I applaud your dram of choice – my favourite too!
Cheers!
Pretty straightforward with no major holdups and not a quirky as he sometimes is. No standout favourite but if pushed we’d go for 7a. Thanks to Dada and Senf.
Thanks to Dada and Senf. Dark here so the latest ever we have got round to solving the puzzle. Moving on swiftly to light the wood turning stove!
Hmm, not the easiest Dada puzzle, with some questionable parsing, at least for me. I believe my answer to 20d is an adjective not a noun, but I am sure someone will correct me. I was also befuddled by 27a, but LOL at 11a as I had almost forgotten that use of the word, not having heard it over here. But although I found it on the tricky side, it was 100% more enjoyable than the last two days. Thanks to Dada and the ever reliable Senf.
Hi Busy L
You are right!
Senf, one extra word needs to be underlined in the hint!
Hope that dram is still on the go Senf! Excellent puzzle as always Dada but what a tough quickie pun
I struggled with today’s Dada but writing Christmas cards is rather brain deadening. Like others, I became stuck on 27a and 6d took a bit of fathoming. I liked the perplexed party at 14a and the cheat at 18d. My COTD is the equality of conditions at 13d.
Thank you, Dada for what was, for me, a tough challenge. Thank you, Colonel for the hints.
Like Moonraker, I encourage folk to look at the Toughie. If I can finish it so can others who don’t normally look at Toughies.
Not my favourite puzzle today but at least I finished it….which is a step up from yesterday.
Favourite was 16a .
Thanks to Dada and to Senf.
Approve of the tipple….as does Mr Meringue
It will probably be Dalwhinnie on my Tuesday evening when I am preparing Wednesday’s blog – does that meet with approval?
The grid filled me dread and, sure enough, it was a tough challenge which I thoroughly enjoyed.
Lots of nicely crafted clues that took a bit of thought. Fair play to those who didn’t find it a challenge. Saying that, the anagrams in 12a & 24a were so ridiculously easy that even Smylers could have cracked ’em!
My podium is 26a, 9d and 15d.
MT to Radio and the Manitoban mountie.
4*/4*
1.5* / 3.5* Seemed trickier than it actually was if that makes sense, with a 1.5* time. Plenty to enjoy, with favourites being the 37a European, 2d dance and the 7a Asian
Thanks to setter + Senf
27a may be easier if you think of cake as a verb rather than a noun – if something is caked with, say, mud, it is ….. I liked 3d, and 10a introduced me to trammels which might come in useful one day
Again, a busy day visiting family and a painful journey on the m25 with 4 lane stoppages due to accidents meant I did not do justice to this. I did finish with a hint or two. I found it tougher than some weeks but not as tough as the toughie which I discovered I had done half of by accident.
Many thanks to Dada and to Senf for the hints.
I have just finished this and the Toughie after a busy day yesterday – just the odd one or two stubborn clues. Thank you Senf for the hint on 28a fir which I had a different word beginning with the same letter, which made 23d incomprehensible. Now I have sniffed it out all is in place for another pen – which I have promised to Steve! Many thanks you you and, I gather, Dada.