Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 3354 (Hints)
Hints and tips by Senf
After a relatively brief visit to Baby Brother in Wincanton and yesterday’s excursion to BB17, a very good Sunday morning once again from the former Staines, Middlesex.
Thinking of BB17, another very enjoyable event so thanks to SJB for exhibiting his organisational skills again. A good attendance featuring a number of ‘old stagers’ including Weekend Wanda (I hope you found your way to Paddington Station without any problems), Gazza, and Rabbit Dave, and some ‘newbies’ as far as attending a BB for the first time is concerned including ALP, Steve Cowling, and Huntsman.
For me, and I stress for me,© Dada quirkily friendly with three long ‘uns, seven anagrams (three partials), two lurkers, and no homophones in the most asymmetric grid of 30 clues I have ever seen; 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!
Remember that Reading the Hints before commenting can be beneficial!
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, or it would be if I was not ecclesiastically socialising with my Big Sister, and the Naughty Step is OPEN! I imagine that crypticsue and Gazza could be standing by with their electronic blue pencils in hand.
Candidates for favourite – 8a, 12a, 15a, 2d, 18d, and 24d.
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
8a It’s tricky to handle this stew, small amount unfinished (3,6)
A stew, often associated with a North-Western county of England, and a ‘small amount’ of an element with the last letter deleted (unfinished).
10a Wanton ladies and gentlemen, chaste finally (5)
An informal term for facilities for ladies and gentlemen and the last letter (finally) of chastE.
11a A bit short, and being tweaked? (7,3,5)
A double definition(?) – the first refers to being short of cash.
12a Lines read in poem by nipper recalled (7)
A type of poem placed after (by) the reversal (recalled) of a decapod crustacean often referred to as a nipper.
15a Celestial body, if not OK, hit rocks by the way (4,2,5,2,2)
A celestial body (composed of rocky fragments and ice) followed by an anagram (rocks) of IF NOT OK, HIT.
27a Vacuous clerk read through review of a poorer musical show (4,5)
ClerK with the interior letters removed (vacuous) inserted into (read through) an anagram (review of) A POORER.
Down
1d Might one make a little lunch efficiently? (4)
A lurker (a little) found in two words in the clue.
2d Tile floor in bathroom, accomplishin’ nothing outside (6)
A synonym of accomplishin’ with a similar truncation and the letter that can represent nothing containing (outside) the last letter (floor in) of bathrooM.
4d I see love in abridged novel, alas and alack! (3-3)
A two letter interjection equivalent to I see and the letter that represents a score of love in a racquet game inserted into (in) a synonym of novel with the last letter deleted (abridged).
6d Island endured occupation originally (6)
A synonym of endured and the first letter (originally) of Occupation.
12d County revenue earned abroad (5)
A double definition – the first is the abbreviated name of a county.
16d Real book, one turned up in jumble (8)
The single letter for Book and the Roman numeral for one reversed (turned up) before being inserted into (in) a synonym of jumble.
18d King’s ransom assigned to music (7)
A three letter synonym of assigned to and a type of music.
21d Step down, or go upstairs? (6)
A double definition – the first might refer to giving up an appointment.
25d Feeder in fact eating! (4)
A lurker (in) found in two words in the clue.
Quick Crossword Pun:
AUNTIE + PURSE + PRINT = ANTIPERSPIRANT
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No video this week. The ‘system’ kept asking me to sign in without explaining where and how.
What a great puzzle, lots of smiles and some head-scratching moments. Took me ages to parse 4d.
Top picks for me were 12a, 2d, 16d, 11a and 1a.
Thanks to Senf and Dada.
An enjoyable and gentle puzzle. Many thanks to setter and Senf
Firstly, and most importantly, some slightly more encouraging news about Jane this morning. After several days of being kept in A&E due to lack of beds, they were finally able to move her to a proper ward. This has been beneficial according to her daughter and she is showing some signs of improvement.
Secondly, what a good day it was yesterday at The Bridge House. Lovely to meet old and new friends in convivial surroundings. Incidentally, Robyn has popped in to claim yesterday’s excellent SPP.
Finally, today’s puzzle was a 2*/3* for me. This was generally good fun but the surface of 2d is rather clunky and 7d simply doesn’t work as “I” and the first two letters of the answer are not synonymous.
Thanks to Dada and to Senf.
Hi RD
It works if you’re a Navajo.
Quirky or not, I found this quite tough in places and on the first read through I had just one entry on the grid. The three long across clues then helped to open the remainder. 4d was my loi but took an age for the parsing to dawn on me. Cotd is 10a as it raised a smile. Thanks to Dada and Senf
Good fun from Dada – thanks to him and Senf.
For my podium I selected 11a, 12a and 16d.
It was great to meet old and new friends at Bridge House yesterday and to put faces to pseudonyms.
For me, and I stress for me (© Senf), as soon as a guzzle is described as gentle, I will find it tougher than the oldest boots you can locate. My gruel and orange juice with no bits were but a distant memory by the time I plonked in 4d as my last digital clunk.
Blood pressure slowly returning to normal after yesterday’s heart stopper at Stamford Bridge.
Thanks to Da-doo-ron-ron and The Man From Staines-upon-Thames. Encouraging news about Jane. Excellent.
I’ve got all but 24d (and I’ve even got 2 letters of that) I can guess at an answer that fits all but the last
7 letters of the clue, but it just doesn’t sit right with me.
Can anyone give me a clue without a cat-and-bag emptying?
You seem to be slightly confused. 24d is only 4 letters, so I am guessing that you are referring to 24a. Or are you referring to a completely different clue and have mis-identified it in your comment?
If you are referring to 24a, I would have hinted it as a double definition although I consider that the answer is a somewhat cumbersome definition of the ‘second half’ which I assume is the reason for the ‘?’ at the end of the clue.
No, tipcat is saying that their proposed answer (and mine) is a nice fit for the shorter clue “Turner in water”. The question is this; what is “watercolours” doing for us that “water” doesn’t…. other than misdirection, maybe.
Spot on Steve!
Nope, I’m not confused, I do mean 24d (which I have already got two of the four letters of the answer), the last 7 letters of the CLUE is ‘colours’, that’s the bit I can’t understand, if indeed my supposed answer is correct.
I think that you’re meant to home in on a work by Mr J M W Turner.
Is it a mark made by water?
Finished in reasonable time without help but I still can’t fully parse 4 Down. I shall watch further comments with interest!
4d is hinted!
WOW! Clever but sooooo tough. Still can’t parse 24d.
Dido at his most devious. Thx to all for a real workout.
Oh dear. I was not on the same wavelength as Dada. I got most of the clues hinted by Senf ( thank you) but struggled with the rest. Very clever cluing once I got the answers and now wonder why I struggled.
Not too tricky for us but still don’t fully understand 24d. We could have it wrong of course.
Thanks to Senf & setter.
This was a nice solve from Radio with my LOI being 24d which I took as something you would see in a painting by Turner who used watercolours. But, that could be rubbish.
The island in 6d has three syllables, one for each of the countries on it.
I need to add ‘floor’ to ‘term’ for a final letter denoter.
My podium is 19a, 24a and 9d.
MTTTA and the Manitoban mountie.
2*/3*
You & me too (& others so we’re not Bill Withers) with 24d. Came to the same can’t be owt else conclusion as you with the same reasoning. Not my fav clue.
Otherwise reasonably straightforward.
Meant to give you a couple of film recommendations. Finally got round to catching them earlier this week & well worth a look if you’ve not seen them. Pleased to see both received Bafta nominations
Mr Burton – on the iPlayer – Toby Jones excellent as always.
I Swear – tremendous lead performance.
I also saw Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another which I enjoyed though felt it was too long. It did climax with a superbly filmed car chase though.
Thanks for these nods, Hoots.
I saw Sinners last night which is great fun but no way deserves the record-breaking 16 Oscar nominations it garnered.
Thanks to the Setter and Senf for the hints. Comparatively easy for a prize puzzle. COTD 10a. LOI 2d. Val likes long ones and got all 3 early on which gave us plenty of checkers.
I found this tougher than some of the recent Toughies with only 2 of the across clues and 5 of the downs in on the first pass.
Then it started coming together, but stalled in the NE as a result of pencilling in
an incorrect object of the action at 11a. No wonder only half of it parsed! Senf came to the rescue with his picture for 6d, from which the error was identified and 5d easily seen. 4d was LOI
Podium places for all 3 long-uns 11a, 14a and 24a, but my COTD is 12a.
Many thanks to Senf and the setter.
3*/3*
Would seem this Dada puzzle, at least for me, was not overly friendly. Definite personal thesaurus use as well as quirkiness all over the grid.
3*/3* for me today
Favourites include 8a, 10a, 11a, 15a, 12d & 21d — with winners 11a & 15a
Smiles for 10a, 17d & 23d
Thanks to Dada & Senf
Sitting on the National Express coach at Digbeth in Birmingham so am able to post without being bounced around.
I found Dada to be a bit tricksy today but I see from the comments I’m not alone. I haven’t got the crossword to hand so can’t say much other than my COTD is 10a with its wanton ladies and gentlemen.
Thank you, Dada for the puzzle. Thank you, Colonel Mustard in the dining room for the hints.
I did not find this particularly friendly or enjoyable unfortunately.
24d LOI and as I see from previous comments has been discussed above. TDS makes me doubt my own answer so will have to wait for the full review.
3*/2*
Thanks to Senf and Dada
I found this tricky .. nothing in across on first pass. Then a couple downs went in and it started to open and eventually I was 13a.
I liked 12a but my cotd was 10a.
Like others have commented at 24d … is colours just pure misdirection?
Thanks to setter and Senf
*** / ****
Found this quite tricky but my brain is probably still a bit in recovery from the excellent birthday bash yesterday. That’s evidenced by clues dropping more quickly on my return to the puzzle this afternoon. What a weekend. Great company in Little Venice yesterday and a trip to Aldi, Asda and Tesco today – life just keeps on giving!!
Loved the 10a Wanton ladies, 15a Celestial body, the 7d Network and the 16d Real book.
Many thanks to Senf and Dada
Thought this was going to be difficult initially, but on the second read through I was able to solve several clues which gave me a start. After that it was a fairly steady and most enjoyable solve which I’ll rate as 2.5*/4* for me. I loved the phrases, especially 11a and 24a but 5d was my COTD, even though it was second to last one in. LOI was 2d on which I spent far too much time trying to think about types of mosaic tiles. Thanks to Senf for the hints, especially your help with 2d and thanks to Dada for an interesting and enjoyable Sunday solve!
Managed a 25km run in the muddy and hilly South Downs today – it was also an achievement to get up early enough after the BB17 frolics yesterday, and the rain I was greeted with outside.
Very much enjoyed this puzzle on the way back from the run. Did not parse 14D and 16D, the hint for the former was a D’oh! moment. LOI was 12D’s double definition, which came once I’d cracked 12A … a good segue into the Pody picks – 12A definitely qualifies for the challenging definition, enjoyed everything about 2D’s tile, and will pick 13A’s marge in a bronze tie with 8A’s stew.
Lovely stuff all round. Thanks to setter and Senf.
Hi, me novice here. I spent most of today working on this puzzle. Learnt a lot. I still can’t work out how you arrived at the second part. I got the book bit but the word play or construction doesn’t lead me to the second part? Can anyone help me. Thanks
Sorry 4d.
if you have the correct answer, you may well have allocated the wrong letters of your answer to “book”. Senf has given a hint. Have another look.
Hint for 24 down. Turners work included
The Tidal Theme: His works, such as Fishermen at Sea (1796) and Fishing upon the Blythe-Sand, Tide Setting In (1809), highlight his obsession with the changing, often turbulent, state of the ocean.
👍🏾
Hi Rookie Ram.
Forgive me if I misunderstand you but you say ‘I see’ when something has just dawned on you and ** is another way of saying it. You can precede ‘I see’ with ** to create a three word expression that means the same thing.
Thanks. I think i now understand. This didn’t occur to me a complete mental block.
Re 24d. My subconscious said the answer but I didn’t give it a second thought. Much later on I decided to apply it and it made sense when typed in the puzzle.
Appreciate your thoughts.
A pleasure.
24d is certainly an interesting one.
Difficult, particularly in the parsing department, with an eyebrow raised on several occasions. No outstanding favourite but if pressed we’d go with 11a. Thanks to Dada anyway and Senf.
As others have said – struggling to understand 24d with the watercolours. Apart from that an enjoyable afternoons puzzle.
I read through the clues first as I always do and thought that if I was able to manage half of them it would be an achievement greater than Prince Andrew proving beyond doubt that Royal breeding has been absent from him both physically and mentally. It was.
Solved about seven on three attempts then went to the hints and between those and the Word Wizard managed to finish in just under eight hours (is that a pass to the naughty chair?). Perhaps I am in the first stages of dementia.
Thanks to Dada and Senf.
Disappointed to see Dada’s recent run of Quickie pangrams come to an end. Needed Senf to tell me what the pun was too.
Liked the long ‘uns in the prize puzzle but 12a was my fav.
Thanks as ever to D&S
Like others, I wrestled with parsing 24d but came to the conclusion that watercolour could refer to that which has the colour of water – namely water, itself.
13A wins it for me in an excellent puzzle. VMT to Dada & Senf.
I didn’t think Dada was at all friendly and after a first pass down the clues I had none , so I am actually pleased to have completed at a steady pace once I started. Glad I wasn’t the only one to question the parsing of 24d. An enjoyable solve. Thanks to Dada and Senf.
I had a very busy day and this was a bit too tricky to complete unaided today. It was full of quirky clues and the long ones were very entertaining.
I was glad to hear the birthday bash was a success and hope that I will be able to attend one of the events as it would be lovely to put faces to some of the names.
Many thanks to Dada and to Senf for the hints
Like others I found this tricky and I can’t understand how colours really sits with the answer in 24d (though it certainly makes a nice surface). I needed a couple of hints so thank you Senf. I was planning to go to the BB today (!) as I was very nearby but only realised too late that it was yesterday…..May be next year? Thank you Dada too for lots of enjoyable clues.
A dnf for me today, lots of good devious clues but needed help for 2d, 4d and the much discussed 24d.
I’ll go for 12a for favourite, just made me smile.
Thanks to setter, Senf and other contributors for helping to complete this blighter
One long slog and I didn’t enjoy it at all which I find is increasingly the case with DT puzzles these days (perhaps I have just lost the wavelength!). Thanks anyway Dada for obviously pleasing many bloggers and particularly TVM Senf for being there for me otherwise I fear I would have thrown in the towel
The bathroom tile finally made sense after a day of thought interrupted by holiday pursuits in the Canaries, thank you Dada and Senf!
Glad to see I wasn’t the only one struggling to understand 24d! Thanks to the comments that helped me parse it eventually