Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 3363 (Hints)
Hints and tips by Senf
A very good Easter Sunday morning from Winnipeg where I have been pondering on the origins of the Easter Bunny. I sort of assumed that it was a Hallmark Thing conjured up by my Southern neighbours but, apparently, that is not the case. That unimpeachable source Wikipedia suggests that the Easter Bunny is a folkloric figure and symbol of Easter originating among German Lutherans as early as the late 16th Century! Decorated Easter Eggs, not made of chocolate, go back even further.
For me, and I stress for me,© I might have been having an off day but somewhat reminiscent of ST 2978 on November 18th, 2018 – four long ‘uns (only one an anagram), five anagrams (one partial), two lurkers (one reversed), and one homophone in a symmetric 28 clues; with 14 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 – 11a, 171, 27a, 5d, 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 Symbol of victory in hand? (4)
A double definition – the second is part of a hand (that stops an arm from fraying at the end).
12a Island state, like isle I observed in word of gratitude (8)
All of a two letter synonym of like, an Isle (in the Irish Sea), and I from the clue inserted into (observed in) a two letter word of gratitude.
15a Cat – or weasel, by the sound of it? (7)
The homophone (by the sound of it) of a synonym of weasel (when applied to a deceptive person).
20a Poor introduction from Stevenson, Kidnapped? (8,3,4)
The first letter of (introduction from Stevenson) and a (7,3,4) phrase explaining kidnapped (as in caught for ransom).
25a Reckless winger invariably costing Arsenal, result uplifting Spurs, initially (6)
The first letters (initially) of six words in the clue.
26a Bulb I left in bank, screwed back (6)
The reversal (screwed back) of I from the clue and the single letter for Left inserted into (in) a synonym (out of Dada’s personal thesaurus?) of bank.
28a Some lover, ostensibly? (4)
A lurker (some) found in two words in the clue.
Down
1d It has circle, it has rings! (6)
An astronomical object which has a circular appearance and rings.
2d Drink and flirt? (8)
A double definition – the second is a nounal term for someone who is insincerely elegant or suave in manner.
3d Blunted needles applied to joint, immediate and painful punishment (5,5,5)
A synonym of blunted and a 6 letter synonym of needles, followed by (applied to) a 4 letter joint.
5d Not the winner, though hardly puffing? (5,3,2,5)
An expression which originated in the USA, where else, in the early 20th century that indicates that a person almost won a tobacco product in a game of skill.
18d He philosophised like that over cases (8)
A two letter synonym of like that placed before (over – it’s a down clue) a synonym of (wooden?) cases.
19d Damaging plug, number of lines (7)
A two letter abbreviated form of a synonym of plug (a product?) and a number of (poetic) lines.
24d Bread that also may rise? (4)
A palindromic (that also may rise) bread (from India).
Quick Crossword Pun:
BRITAIN + EASE + PEERS = BRITNEY SPEARS
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Swedish singer, songwriter, and a member of the pop group ABBA Agnetha Fältskog was born on this day in 1950. She first achieved success in Sweden with the release of a 1968 self-titled debut album and then rose to international stardom in the 1970s as a member of ABBA, which is one of the best-selling music acts in history. One of the group’s most successful songs was the 1976 hit Dancing Queen:
2.5*/4*. This was nicely challenging and very enjoyable.
My crowded podium consists of 17a, 20a, 25a & 1d. (Senf, I took the first three words of 1d to be wordplay).
Many thanks to Dada and to Senf.
Agree 1d feels much more like wordplay plus definition. As it’s already hinted, can anyone parse it properly?
I can, if I squint, see how it sort of works, but not satisfactorily.
See comment 19
Dada being quite quirky today I thought and I struggled to get going. Having said that, I am nursing a nasty cough and raised temperature so I am, no doubt, brain fogged. I entered an incorrect answer at 27a because I considered a different spring. Once the damaging plug at 19d revealed itself I saw the error of my ways. My COTD is 17a with its number of lies.
Thank you, Dada for the puzzle. Thank you, Colonel for the hints.
Happy Easter to everyone! 🐰🐰🥚🥚
Look after yourself, Steve.
Hope you feel better soon.
Glad you’re back where you belong on the blog, even though Rabbit Dave pipped you to the post
Thank you, Ora. I’m sneezing, coughing, aching and have a temperature of 37.5. Hudson wants to take me to his vet! 🐶
I gave a deep sigh when I saw the grid. However picking off a few of the simpler clues allowed me to gain a foothold with the only real holdup being 2d; a real doh! moment. I had smiles for 11a, 15a (an oldie, but goodie) and the reckless winger at 25a. Cotd however is 4d. Thanks to Dada and Senf.
I really struggled with this offering today – just could not get on wavelength with Dada, struggling to parse several clues. It didn’t help that these were the long multi word answers.
I still don’t understand 17a although my answer is probably correct. Any chance of an extra clue Senf?
25a and 2d favourites today.
Thanks to Dada and Senf.
SL8, split your answer to 17a as (1,6) and look up the 6 letter word in the BRB.
Thank you – that’s a new expression for me
Kike Prawn I found this grid very unfriendly and it took ages to get going.things inproved as more of the short checkers went in.Joint top of my podiu m were the long Lego clue at 3d and the cryptic definition at 5d. I liked the Ancient Greek/Roman connection and the gloriously confusing 25a too . Last but not least, the homiphone at 15 and the island stare at 12a were well clued . Thanks to Dada for a challenging but ultimately, satisfying guzzle and to Senf for the hints. Heppy Easter eeveryone🐇🐰
This felt challenging but fair for a prize puzzle. Like Prawn I needed the simpler clues to complete the longer ones, all of which made me smile, then filled in the final gaps with LOI being 1d which I couldn’t parse and even with the hints feels a little out there!
My favourite was 20a although all of the 15 letter answers were contenders.
For 1d I had two synonyms of the first half to give the other half of the clue.
This one kept me on my toes but I got there in the end with not too many hold-ups. I liked the grid as it gave me a few ways to get into a quadrant.
I didn’t know the synonym for needles nor the expression ‘* ****** of lies’ in 17a.
My pody picks are 2d, 21d and the most excellent 5d.
MTT Radio and the Manitoban mountie.
3*/3*
I found that tough, although it should be on a Sunday I suppose, and allowed myself to peek at a couple of hints when about two thirds of the way through. I was pleased to see that I was at least along the right lines and the rest fell into place relatively easily, although I now feel like I’ve cheated and will donate my prize to a more worthy recipient. I thought 17a was very good and it’s my COTD (and at least I solved and parsed that one unaided). Thanks very much to Dada and to Senf for ensuring that I didn’t have to sit at my laptop for another half hour when I have other things to do.
Took ages to get going but then got steadily quicker as the answers went in, my favourite today was the very clever 20a.
Dada quite quirky but pretty enjoyable – thanks to him and Senf.
I particularly liked 20a, 25a, 1d and 5d.
I was right on wavelength this morning and thoroughly enjoyed what was for me a pretty straightforward solve. The four long clues helped me establish a good bridgehead then I was away. I could have selected any one of seven or eight really good clues as my favourite, but that honour fell to 25a.
My thanks to Dada and Senf.
I agree with Young Salopian as I thought this was possibly Dada’s friendliest yet. Hard to choose a favourite amongst so many good clues, so I won’t
Thanks to Dada and Senf
It’s Easter Sunday morning, the sun is shining in Telford, and I have spent far too long pondering and head scratching over today’s offering. The first read through was not encouraging but a long anagram, and a random selection of answers started the ball rolling. Once warmed up I particularly enjoyed 20a and 3d. Overall I wasn’t really on the right wavelength which at least increased the satisfaction level when I finally got there…17a being the LOI
Many thanks to the setter and Senf
For me, and I stress for me (© Senf), I found this H-A-R-D. I’m not ashamed to say that I needed a hint or two from The Winnipeg Wonder to get me going after a troublesome start. Consequently I owe Senf the nib of the pen when I deservedly, and undoubtedly, receive my reward.
For the first decades of my attempts at the gryptic guzzles, I printed it orf each day and thus never got round to entering the draw for the biro, but when my study was used as a store facility when the bathrooms were being refurbished, I started undertaking the guzzle online, and I have never gorn back. Thus it is simply a click of a button to send my entry in.
I am extremely surprised not to have won a handful of the biros yet, but I am sure this is simply an oversight.
Thanks to Da-doo-ron-ron, and The Man From Manitoba.
Thanks to Senf and Dada, If Sue liked this, I am looking forward to solving it now.
Fans of Silvanus should check out his debut in the Sunday Toughie today, and you can help me parse 3d – blog coming soon…
Have parsed 3d but not sure how to share without being sent to a naughty step
the blog is out now so try there. I think I have got it now too
Phew! I thought this was going to verge into Toughie country with the devious racket 23a, being first in. However, it slowly came together with 11a / 9a being LOsI after I had mistakenly entered an incorrect first word for 3d.
Overall, a very worthy and challenging prize puzzle which I made unnecessarily more difficult than it should have been.
20a is my winner.
Many thanks to Dada and Senf.
3*/4*
A satisfying solve although I did get held up a couple of times and came unstuck in the north west corner Thanks to all . Favourites 20, 23 and 5 .
Way way beyond me, therefore little fun.
Over to other solvers
Happy Easter everyone
This relatively friendly Dada puzzle had a lot of his trademarks embedded in this offering today, like his personal thesaurus use as well as some quirkiness drifting around the grid too.
2.5*/4* for me
Favourites include 13a, 20a, 23a, 5d & 19d — with winners 13a & 5d
Smiles for 10a, 15a 21d & 24d
Thanks to Dada & Senf
Thought this was going to be a DNF but slowly and circuitously got there in the end. A really fun battle – as it should be on a Sunday with some excellent clues. Don’t understand the parsing to 1d. Can anyone please explain. And before anyone asks, I have looked at the hint for it but still none the wiser. I have the answer but don’t ‘get it’ to a satisfactory level.
Thanks to the setter and to Senf and to anyone who can reply to the above
It and the first two letters of 1d are both used to mean sexual attraction. The remainder of the solution is another meaning of the verb circle
Thank you so much for putting me.out of my misery.
Whew, and the quickie was tough as well. Thank you Dada for the Easter workout and as always thank you Senf
I started at lunchtime , then gardened , then came back to it refreshed and finished. Not without Mr Senf’ s help of course. Thank you setter also.
Thanks Senf, it was only the smells wafting from the roast lamb that allowed me to twig the screwed back bank. I blame the Proustian brain fog. 1 and 4d can join 26a on my podium today
Thanks to Dada, as well
There is a tongue twister Anne Boleyn rhyme which starts “To sit in solemn silence in a dull dark dock” and mentions a cheap and chippy chopper which 3d brought to mind. I enjoyed this although it was hard work but satisfying. I was a bit dubious about the bank at 26a and 5d was a complete bung in so may be no pen this week. It is very bright and sunny here but cold and very windy, a friend has just called me – she was in Cambridge this morning and it was pouring with rain. Very many thanks to Dada and Senf.
I finally got there but needed help from Senf so I am definitely in the tougher than normal camp. Of course these things are totally subjective and it all depends if the required knowledge happens to be in one’s head at the time you need it or whether it was ever there in the first place! The long clues were very entertaining. It was mainly the north west that stumped me.
Many thanks to Dada and to Senf for rescuing me.
A tough one today but I got there eventually alone and unaided, despite the bulb with the bank.
Thanks to Dada and to Senf.
In Edinburgh at the moment. It was a bit windy last night, but nothing much really. Then today we have had beautiful sunshine with blue skies interspersed with blizzards. The snow did not lie. OK at the moment but the clouds may be gathering for more snow again. A bit cold outside but by no means bitter…..and 14C forecast for tomorrow….
1.5*/ 3.5* A good Sunday challenge with the little uns helping solve the big uns.
Favourites last one in the 2d drink, 5d not the winner and the philosophical 18d
Thanks to setter and Senf
Ps Thought the quickie pun was excellent
Dry much enjoyed this one today right on my wavelength despite the bulb in the bank that took me a while to unravel.
Lots of great clues but my COTD has to be 20a.
As many of the bloggers I was slow to start with this one , but once off , the grid filled steadily. I thought the 4 long clues were brilliant. An enjoyable solve. Thanks to Dada and Senf.
Lovely work from Dada … I’m supporting 20A as COTD. VMT also to Senf
1d was a bung in, thanks CS. The rest enjoyable and doable. Favourite was 20a. Thanks to the setter and Dada.
A quick grid fill but didn’t parse the wordplay at 1d & had to confirm 8d was indeed a symbol of victory. 2d was my fav.
Thanks to D&S
I thought 26a was stretching the synonym a wee bit.