Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 3349 (Hints)
Hints and tips by Senf
A very good Sunday morning from Winnipeg for my last Sunday blog of the year.
For me, and I stress for me,© Dada not as friendly as he has been recently apparently ignoring the fact that we are in the season of goodwill etc, with, unless I miscounted, six anagrams (two partials), no lurkers, and no homophones in a symmetric 32 clues; with 16 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 – 10a, 13a, 15a, 25a, 3d, 17d, and 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.
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 Plant herb so spreads around us (8)
An anagram (spreads) of HERB SO containing (around) US from the clue.
9a Note alien on part of one’s trousers! (8)
Our favourite film star alien placed after (on) part of one’s trousers (where the inside legs meet?).
15a I take my time quaffing last of ale, if possible (7)
I from the clue and a single word term equivalent to take my time containing (quaffing) the last letter of alE.
16a In the Navy singer? (4)
The historical term, not used since 1993, for a female member of the RN or a feathered singer.
25a Choice other than plastic, simple material (8)
If you are not using plastic you are probably choosing to use . . . (fill in the blank) and a synonym of simple.
26a Bag in a church possessed by Egyptian god (6)
One for the Egyptologists! All of A from the clue and the abbreviation for church (as an edifice?) contained (possessed) by the Egyptian god of deserts, storms, disorder, violence, and foreigners (just making sure that everything is covered!).
30a Feel the rage? Do that and stop driving! (3,3)
A double definition – the second is one of the reasons to stop driving (or risk being pulled over/get a picture taken).
31a Dim thing blurred when it’s dark (8)
An anagram (blurred) of DIM THING.
Down
1d Rapidly increase salad ingredient (6)
A double definition – the illustration may help for the second, if not I hope that you have the checkers from the three intersecting Across clues.
3d Behind, cheer on from the terraces? (8)
Written as (4,4) what one may do when cheering on from the terraces?
6d Great queen’s uplifting method (6)
The reversal (uplifting) of all of a synonym of great (in terms of scale?) and the regnal cypher of two queens.
8d Comprehensive school’s head in torment, it seems? (8)
The first letter (head) of School and a (lachrymal?) response (it seems) to being in torment.
14d Powerful unit – of artillery? (7)
A double definition (I think) – the first is probably more usually described as a source of power.
22d Put to death, the colour has drained from my skin (6)
A (1’1,4) phrase which is used to describe ones appearance when the colour has drained from one’s skin.
23d Crowd in front of room entertained by band (6)
The first letter (front) of Room contained (entertained) by a type of band (Crimson Tome verified).
27d Firstly, dried eggs located in food shop (4)
One of Dada’s favourite clue constructions. The first letters of four words of the clue – not difficult to determine which ones.
Quick Crossword Pun:
CHESS + DECKS + PANDA = CHEST EXPANDER
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French pianist Richard Clayderman (born Philippe Pagès) is, or should be, celebrating his 72nd birthday today. In 1976, he was invited by Olivier Toussaint, a French record producer, and his partner Paul de Senneville, to record a gentle piano ballad. De Senneville had composed this ballad as a tribute to his baby daughter, Adeline. The 23-year-old Pagès was auditioned along with 20 other pianists and got the job, but he had to change his name!:
A typical Dada today with his personal thesaurus left on the shelf. A very enjoyable solve with quite a number of smiles along the way. I nearly put the wrong salad ingredient in at 1d – I must remember not to jump to conclusions. Cheering from the terraces at 3d caused a grin and there was the usual criminal at 19d but it was neatly clued, I thought. I also liked the singer of “In the Navy” at 16a but my COTD is 17d with its nuts and how to open them.
Thank you, Dada for a great puzzle for the last Sunday of 2025. Thank you, Colonel for the hints.
The Quickie pun was amusing.
What a great puzzle, I really enjoyed it and my page has ticks all over it.
A struggle to choose just a few clues but will go with 25a, 9a, 15a, 6d and 11d. LOI was 16a.
I also had to say the Quickie Pun out loud numerous times before it clicked.
Thanks to Senf and Dada.
2*/3*. This was good fun with one exception. Surely no-one would reply with the answer to 17d to the question posed in the clue.
25a was my favourite and the Quickie pun was very good too.
Thanks to Dada and to Senf.
17d is just about OK isn’t it? I am thinking of two teenagers. One asking a question and the other answering in a sarcastic ‘how dumb can you possibly be” tone of voice. I hope this isn’t naughty step territory.
That’s a very creative attempt, Slowcoach, to justify something which, in my book, is unjustifiable!
We will have to agree to differ on this one.
Just want to say the Toughie by Beam is worth a look.
Thanks, I have some wet and muddy dogs just for you.
Very good puzzle indeed but a bit above my comfort level. I needed help with 2d, 8d, 16a and 26a. So many great clues though, 3d, 10a, 13a, 15a to single out just a few. Yesterday and today both quite tough I thought so hoping for a return to normal levels of challenge in the New Year! Thank you Dada and Senf.
A complete impasse in the North but after faring much better in the South returned northwards with more success. “Siinger” in 16a rather far-fetched as is “torment” in 8d or am I missing things? 6d was a bung-in. Fav 19d. No walk in the park today but rather a steepish climb. Thanks Dada and Senf for combining so well as usual.
‘Far fetched’ or just Dada?
🙂
I didn’t think our setter was being at all friendly, that little number has taken me ages! Perhaps I’m still in holiday mode but despite the dictionary definition I don’t think the answer to 11d is necessarily flat – bah humbug….
Top clues for me were the navy singer and the slow drinker in 15a.
Thanks to Dada and to Senf for the hints and delightful music clip – didn’t know the back story until now.
Oh woe! After my wretchedness, misery, and sorrow at Stamford Bridge yesterday, comes this Dada ‘most challenging ever’ guzzle to add to my despair and despondency! Woe and again, woe!
I am so grateful to my old pal Senf, as his tips were needed by the bucketful today.
Oh the anguish and the torment! My heart aches, and a drowsy numbness pains my sense, as though of hemlock I had drunk, or emptied some dull opiate to the drains!
Meanwhile, we’re orf out for a lovely walk.
Thanks to Da-doo-ron-ron and, knotting his red scarf, The Man From Manitoba
Perhaps you should have gone to E20 yesterday to watch the better team from SW6 claiming 3 points
I found this to be on the tougher side of recent Dada Sunday offerings with 6 left unanswered and needed a couple of Senf’s tips to put me back on track.
Favourites were 28a, 29a and 17d, which I found to be a straightforward reply to a rephrased “what do you open nuts with?”
I still can’t parse 12a, so if someone can elucidate without running foul of the naughty step I’d appreciate it.
MT to Dada and Senf
3*/4*
As, on a Sunday, I am ‘naughty step proof’:
Definition is pass. Last letter (back in) of gamE followed by (then) a synonym of slip – first definition in The Crimson Tome.
Dada being a little ‘crafty,’ the answer and the synonym of slip can be used as synonyms but, without going into details, they have distinct nuances. An e-search will probably provide details.
Thank you Senf. I misdirected myself up a mountain pass, before I got the answer and wondered where the game came in. I live and learn, but whether these nuances stick in an 81 y.o. brain remains to be seen.
I dont think I can give you a proper hint without risking the naughty step but you’ll think the parsing is obvious as soon as you see it. (ie it’s not massively complicated at all)
This Dada puzzle was for me definitely not friendly and at the difficult end of his spectrum. Quirkiness and his personal thesaurus were blatantly evident … at least to me they were.
Almost a DNF until I came back to it a couple of hours after a dog walk.
3*/3* for me
Favourites include 9a, 13a, 16a, 30a & 7d — with winner 13a
Thanks to Dada for the brainache puzzle to see the year out & Senf for hints/blog
Tricky but a fun way to unwind after festivities! The navy singer gets my CotD vote for its neat brevity, thank you Dada and Senf
Frustratingly another dnf unaided as I got bogged down with two to go in the NW, and was glad for the extra hint above for 12a. Not the most friendly Dada but there were some gems to lighten the solve, especially the alien note in 9a, the dim thing in 31a and cotd the Navy singer in 16a. Thanks to Dada and Senf.
This took a bit of work but was a joy to solve with Radio in fine form.
The splendid 13a was my FOI as the capitalised ASAP caught my eye and it fairly flowed from there.
I saw the question mark in 17d playing its oft used role in crosswords like the clue above it. So, I’m with CD not RD.
My podium is 13a, 15a and 19d.
MT to the aforementioned and the Manitoban mountie.
3*/4*
Me too with the ? at 17d.
Oh dear, I found that hard and I needed all your help so thank you Senf , your guidance is much appreciated until I get better. Thank you to the setter too.
3.5* / 4* Definitely at the tricky end of the scale but nonetheless great fun. 2d took an age to see and had to check the Egyptian god.
Favourites today are the material at 25a, behind at 3d and the 16a singer
Thanks to setter and Senf
Thanks to Dada and Senf. At least it is not dark today when we tackled this puzzle! COTD 3d. LOI 2d.
I enjoyed lots of them today, but the best for me was 16D, which brought memories of a dalliance some, God help me, 61 years ago. Ahh!
As with Donny yesterday not the fastest of solves. I checked the Egyptian god at 26a post solve but otherwise nothing unfamiliar, just a case of slow to twig ‘em. No particular fav but enjoyed the puzzle nevertheless.
Thanks to D&S
Many thanks to Senf for the enlightening of too many of the clues which left me wondering whether it was a DNF or a DNGG. Luckily you provided enough checkers for me to finish. 9 and 16a made me smile and the Quickie pun was incredibly good. Thanks to Dada.
I’ve just dipped in to get a couple of hints to help me get the last few clues over the line. Dada is definitely not friendly today – also yesterday’ s was hard too. I blamed that on the brain fog from my cold but that will wear thin soon as an excuse. Onwards and upwards. Thanks to Dada and Senf.
Dada making us work today. 2!A and 22D my favourites in an excellent puzzle. VMT Dada & Senf.
Senf nailed it with “not very friendly”, in fact I think this was definitely very tricky today with some very strange definitions. I question 1a being an 8 letter word, only ever seen it as 4,4. Google advises that as one word it is acceptable in American English, but British English is 4,4? Plus I don’t think of 25a as a material, rather as something knitted, but I am probably wrong on that. All I know is I can’t wear it as it brings me out in a rash. Not the end of the week I was hoping for, but tomorrow is another day. Thanks to Dada for the challenge and to Senf, without whom I would not have got very far at all today.
The Crimson Tome shows 1a as a single word.
I seem to be suffering with post Christmas brain and was defeated by this and needed the hints to finish, but I see I was not alone.
Many thanks to Dada and to Senf for the hints.
12a the last one in for me and I am still struggling to break it down, if anyone can help me out?
Senf is probably sleeping. It’s time that is to pass, the rest is wordplay involving a back letter and a synonym.
You should read my response to Croye Dave in Comment 9!
And, what did you think of the puzzle overall?