Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 3356 (Hints)
Hints and tips by Senf
A very good Sunday morning from Winnipeg where it is a holiday weekend and we are in the middle, almost, of our Winter Festival, Le Festival du Voyageur, which began on Friday and lasts until next Sunday. Naturally our two frozen rivers play a prominent role in the proceedings and the festival features outdoor winter activities, snow sculptures, historical characters, and warm tents filled with music, dance, traditional food, contests, and more.
For me, and I stress for me,© Dada has given us a very good example of a PP, a good mix of pauses for thought and gimmes, with four long uns, five anagrams (three partials), two lurkers, and two homophones in a symmetric grid of 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!
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Candidates for favourite – 17a, 21a, 24a, 25a, 1d, 4d, 8d, 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
1a Pages he writes, where energy lost, tossed aside (5,7)
An anagram (tossed) of PAGES HE WRITeS with one of the letters ‘E’ for Energy deleted (where . . . lost), I have chosen the one in ‘writes’.
9a Cherry knocked over by vicious wind (7)
This all depends on the pronunciation of the definition! The reversal (knocked over) of the generic colour that includes cherry placed after (by) a synonym of vicious.
11a Shaft left stuck in tool (4)
The single letter for Left inserted into (stuck in) a tool used for cutting or chopping.
17a Mosquito for example on river, most voluminous (7)
A descriptive term for a mosquito because, for example, it can be annoying placed after (on) a river, often used by Dada, of which there are five so named in the British Isles (and two in Australia).
21a Predict number and letter being read out? (7)
Homophones (being read out) of a (cardinal) number and a letter in the alphabet.
24a Item of clothing occupying mind (5)
The (in)famous three letter version of a supporting item of (ladies’) clothing and a two letter synonym of occupying.
25a Song, one of those from West Side Story without intro (4)
A song from the musical West Side Story without its first letter (intro) becomes a type of operatic song.
30a Nothing to wear for a special occasion? (8,4)
What we are deemed to be ‘wearing’ on the special occasion of our ‘entry’ into this world.
Down
1d Penny invested in more outdated office equipment (7)
The single latter for Penny inserted into (invested in) a term equivalent to more outdated (applied to bread that is several days old?).
4d Where chopper lands, edge cuts top (7)
A synonym of edge inserted into (cuts) a synonym of top.
6d Excitement primarily, reason for touching (7)
The first letter (primarily) of Excitement and a synonym of reason (for doing something).
7d Mudslinging ruined Americans’ map, capital of Georgia covered (5,8)
An anagram (ruined) of AMERICANS’ MAP containing (covered) the first letter (capital) of Georgia.
8d Completely drunk in secret (5,3,5)
I am not sure that I have seen a double definition in a long ‘un before, but we have one today – the second may refer to the conduct of secret, perhaps illicit, financial business.
19d Old warrior is holding a strange article up (7)
The reversal (up) of all of IS from the clue containing (holding) all of A from the clue, our favourite three letter synonym of strange, and one of the indefinite articles.
22d Arrange drink, or breaks (4,3)
OR from the clue inserted into (breaks) a drink which is a type of strong dark beer.
27d Lover in possession of Eros, we hear? (4)
A homophone (we hear) of an item that is owned by (in possession of) Eros.
Quick Crossword Pun:
YOLK + OWE + OH NO = YOKO ONO
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American composer of popular music Harold Arlen was born on this day in 1905. He composed over 500 songs, a number of which have become known worldwide. One of these is Paper Moon. Here it is being performed by Lena Zavaroni, remember her, a young singer who I have found out had quite a troubled personal life which lead to her passing at the early age of 35 in 1999:
Dada providing, for me, a slightly tougher crossword than usual. I must admit to finding it a bit of a struggle but perseverance paid off in the end. Still, there were some great clues and particularly liked the secret drunk at 8d and the special occasion at 30a. I’m not sure how 4d works so I hope that is hinted. My COTD is 1a.
Thank you, Dada for the challenge. Thank you, Colonel for the hints.
I found this hard to get into but persistence paid off and it turned out to be an enjoyable if chewy solve.
LOI was 1a.
Top picks for me were 26d, 4d, 29d, 17a, 2a and 1a.
Rain again here after the brief respite yesterday.
Thanks to Senf and Dada.
Nicely chewy in places and, as Steve C says above, perseverance paid off in the end. The old chestnut at 30a raised a smile as did the secret drunk but cotd for me is the mudslinger at 7d. Thanks to Dada and Senf.
Fairly straightforward for me today, except… 26 down where my answer only half addresses the clue so I fear I may have it wrong – especially as I note it was one of Madflower’s favourites, so I’m definitely missing something!
Favourites were 4d and 30a.
And of course my thanks to Dada and Senf
I was the same
Check musical notation
Welcome to the blog – what did you think of the puzzle overall?
Half of 26d, it’s a double definition, is one for the musicologists. Look up accidental in the Crimson Tome or a similar source, or e-search.
Ta for that Senf, I also only understood the ‘even’ half, not being musical it’s not surprising really.
Great fun crossword, my last in was 24a, pure brilliance!
This was at my solving limit. I just made it. 9a, 5d and 15d were the last three in.
Four letter words given 2 vowels usually has me stumped. 13a is no exception Once I had corrected my spelling mistakes all the rest fell into place
You’ve changed your alias from ‘Si’ so this needed moderation. Both will work from now on.
2.5*/4*. This enjoyable puzzle crept above my 2* time having inserted a plausible but wrong answer for 11a involving a different tool and a different “shaft”.
For me, “somewhat” is too much of a stretch for the answer to 21d.
I had a lot of ticks: all four peripheral clues, 10a, 18a, 21a, 19d & 26d.
Many thanks to Dada and to Senf.
I did the same at 11a.
So did I.
11a ditto
Me too ..😀
A successful but not one providing bright lights and smiles. I just don’t get the surrealist ; the situationists were much more fun and some of their pranks were very humorous.
Thanks as usual to Senf and Dada.
*** / ***
Found this decidedly tricky. Not sure I have 26d correct. Is it a double definition or an all in one? If the latter then I might be right. Favourites were the 21a double homophone, 23a Legion, 19d old warrior and my COTD the 24a mind occupier!
Many thanks to Dada and Senf
26d – see my response to Phanciful at Comment 4.
Ok that confirms my answer. Thanks Senf!!
This all fell into place quite nicely, helped by quickly solving the brace of anagrams and DDs around the outside.
I had to biff 26d because I wasn’t aware of the accidental term and the clover had to be dredged from the deepest vault.
My podium is three of the four aforementioned longies other than 7d.
MTT Radio and Senf.
2*/3*
I found this to be slightly thought provoking but perfectly manageable. Spent a few minutes unraveling the anagram at 1a before I heard it drop, but otherwise no real issues. Somehow or other I was able to remember the meaning of ‘accidental’ in 28d from a music class which must have been 70 years ago. LOI was 13a.
Podium places for 1a, 8d with 7d my COTD
My thanks to the setter and Senf
2*/3*
For me, this week again, Dada seemed somewhat quirky as well at the more difficult end of his spectrum. In addition, definitely his personal thesaurus has been flipped open too.
3*/3.5* for me
Favourite candidates 17a, 18a, 21a, 30a & 8d — with winners 18a & 30a
Thanks to Dada & Senf for blog/hints
I found this tougher than sometimes maybe because we were driving/ floating along the M25 to visit relatives and I was quite distracted. I enjoyed completing it and the long outside clues were all entertaining with 1a my favourite.
Many thanks to Dada and to Senf for the hints.
Don’t think and drive!
Mr & Mrs T
Boston
I went from thinking this would be DNS, never mind about DNF, but eventually (amazingly) managed to finish unaided. Thanks for the additional hints to 26d – makes me realise I should always check the dictionary, not just the thesaurus.
Favourite was 30a.
Now off to visit the website rather than the app to submit (though still not sure that counts!)
Many thanks to Dada and Senf
The lover proved elusive, thank you Senf for explaining – and Dada for the great clues plus quickie pun
For me, and I stress for me (© Senf), I fell into the same (I’ll redact myself here) as some chums above regarding 11a.
A tricky guzzle but great fun to resolve.
We went to a flooring warehouse yesterday (kitchen being remodelled soon) and I found it a thoroughly depressing experience. It was a bleak cathedral of commerce, where it was clear the staff had no motivation and did not want to be there, and I felt the same way. So we went to a pub. That was better. Log fire and the rugby being screened (not so good).
Thanks to Da-doo-ron-ron and The Man From Manitoba – I understand he is a member of the ice skating display team at Le Festival du Voyageur. Love to Jane.
I did that with 11a too, until I realised 7d must be an anagram. 7d became my favourite clue when I worked it out.
A fairly pedestrian solve on the plane to a sunny Mallorca & with the weather looking set fair for the week ahead. Can’t say I’d have been able to explain the precise musical meaning of last in 26d but knew it was something to do with music theory. The alternative tool at 11a didn’t occur & can’t think what it might be. No real fav but liked the peripherals.
Thanks to D&S
As I have said before, DD2 has no concept of time and arrived with dogs at 12.55. Lovely to see her of course but lunch became liquid. And guzzle only just tackled. Some nice anagrams no wobbles apart from 2d which I think I have correct. It poured with rain until about 10 minutes ago, now it is just damp and cold. Definitely a light the fire day. Many thanks to The Setter and to Senf
I also inserted left into the wrong garden tool before realising that 7d then wouldn’t work. I then spent a while thinking that 18a was a cryptic definition of a type of upper degree that might be more suited to the owner of a hound. So not the fastest solve by any means, but I’m pleased I got there eventually. I shall nominate 22d as my COTD. Thanks very much to the setter and to Senf.
A steady solve for a PP – I too had to check the musical notation. Probably spent longer trying to work out what the alternative is for 11a that a number of folk have mentioned. Thanks to the setter (who has been identified on these pages as dada- I can never tell!) and Senf for the blog.
Like others, I insweted ‘L’ into the wrong tool at 11a. For a while, I got nowhere until I moved to the bottom half of the guzzle and finally back to the top, where I rectified my error. It was tough going. However, I liked the long anagram at 7d, the double definition at 8d and the muaixal clue at 26d. Thanks to Dada and to Senf for the hints.
I also had the wrong tool to start with but realised the first letter wasn’t part of the down anagram.
Thanks to Dada and Senf. As usual we didn’t start the puzzle until the afternoon. Needed a couple of hints to push us over the line. COTD 30a. LOI 2d. Nearly sunset here in North Devon.
A slow but steady solve today, I made similar mistakes to others re 26d 11a 7d etc but my LOI was 15d where I had to resort to going the long way through the alphabet until I was satisfied.
I see Dada has been in Ray’s underwear drawer again!
Thanks to Dada and SuperSenf
4*/ 4* Well that was tough but strangely enjoyable! Used the wrong tool, didn’t know the musical term, but it had to be and the drunk at 8d took way too long.
Still lots of fantastic clues including the mudslinging at 7d, 17a big dog and 24a mind
Thanks to setter and Senf
So , the word perseverance is definitely the case for me also . It’s always encouraging to read others have had a bit of a struggle too. I did it in a few goes in the end so just finished and pleased to have got it over the line. I also made the mistake at 11a with the wrong tool and struggled with my last one in 27d , of course obvious in the end. Thanks to Dada for the workout and Senf.
I thought it was fairly gentle today, though I got stuck on a couple…….needed help on the accidental for parsing, though the answer had to be, and I couldn’t see the lover at 27d for ages for some reason, my LOI. My favourite was the misdirection in 9a.
With so many mentioning they saw the wrong tool, it’s frustrating me trying to think what you were all thinking, as I got it correct and can’t see the alternative now 🤦♂️😂
Thanks to the setter & Senf for hinting
Overall this was a reasonably standard solve time wise, but if felt a bit more of a sludge than that, getting stuck then having a breakthrough of a few more clues, then stuck again, etc.
Trio of LOIs were 25A, 26D and, most annoyingly, 6D – they synonyms for both ‘reason’ and ‘touching’ were escaping me. On another day I think I’d have got that instantly.
Pody picks go to 12A’s scholarly dog, getting to the bottom of the amusing 15D surface and into 24D’s mind – almost a LOI and a satisfying one when it dropped.
Thanks to Senf and to setter ⭐️