Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 3374 (Hints)
Hints and tips by Senf
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A very good Sunday morning from Winnipeg on this day of the Summer Solstice for which I timed the publishing of the blog to be the exact time, 9:24am BST, of the Solstice, although WordPress and the Internet in general may have ‘interfered’ with that by a minute or two. Anyway, from here, it’s all downhill to fog, ice, frost, rain, snow, and heaven knows what else!
For me, and I stress for me,© thankfully, after the brain mangling from the NTSPP, a very pleasant Dim Sum lunch and an afternoon nap put me in the right frame of mind for Dada being quite friendly with extreme quirkiness. A puzzle of two halves split diagonally, four long ‘uns, back up to eight anagrams (four partials, one reversed), one lurker, but no homophones, all in an economically 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!
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 and the Naughty Step is OPEN!
Candidates for favourite – 1a, 12a, 17a, 5d, 7d, 8d, 21d, and 25d.
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 Team on pitch is rocking, wickets taken now and then? (7,4)
An anagram (rocking) of ON PITCH IS with the letter for crickety Wickets inserted here and there (taken now and then).
Yes, it’s a football team but I am not going to make it that easy!
12a Where brothers or sisters found energy feeding new baby (5)
The single letter for Energy inserted into (feeding) an anagram (new) of BABY.
16a Bear or real cuckoo eaten by bear (8)
Nothing to do with furry animals – an anagram (cuckoo) of REAL contained (eaten) by a synonym of bear (as in carry around).
17a Man I go to town on beer initially! (6)
All of I from the clue and what some of us go to town to do placed after (on) the first letter (initially) of Beer.
20a Device attached to a killer gag? (8)
A double definition – the second is not gag as a joke, although I suppose it could be in some circumstances.
27a Don’t worry about the cost – travel restrictions lifted then? (4,4,4,2)
A saying that implies not worrying about cost perhaps when there are no travel restrictions?
28a Variety of starch often in eggy bread (6,5)
An anagram (variety) of STARCH OFTEN.
Down
2d Overlap ultimately seen with celestial pair shifting? (7,7)
Some double duty going on here, unless the clue has been changed in the middle of my night? The last letter (ultimately) of overlaP and (seen with) an anagram (shifting) of CELESTIAL PAIR.
5d You and I measure up? An insufficient amount (3,3)
The reversal (up) of all of the pronoun which ‘combines’ you and I and an imperial linear measure.
7d Make improvements – righten when this happens? (4,3,7)
A reverse anagram – a single word for when this happens that can be applied as an anagram indicator to RIGHTEN as the anagram material – I have probably made a mess of this, but, as far as I can recall, it is the first reverse anagram I have had to hint in 9 years and 4 months of blogging.
8d Cain, he? (5,6)
A double definition – the first describes where Cain figured in the line of the ‘first family.’
18d Unknown figure couple invested in this rare diamond (8)
All of one of the letters used for an (algebraic) unknown figure and a synonym of couple inserted into (invested in) an anagram (rare) of THIS – and rare is in Chambers’ list of 1,400+ anagram indicators.
21d Send for whole day (6)
A synonym of (mathematical) whole and the abbreviated form of one of the days of the week.
26d Capital nothing like that, pound invested (4)
The Latin based single letter for pound (sterling) inserted into (invested – again!) the letter that can represent nothing and the two letter word equivalent to like that.
Quick Crossword Pun:
JUGGLER + VANE = JUGULAR VEIN
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Sir Raymond Davies is, presumably, celebrating his eighty-second birthday today. He was the lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist, and primary songwriter for the rock band The Kinks from its formation in 1963 to its dissolution in 1996. Known for focusing his lyrics on rock bands, English culture, nostalgia and social satire, he is sometimes referred to as the Godfather of Britpop although he claimed that he was not the godfather but more of a concerned uncle. The Kinks first number one hit, written by Sir Raymond, which reached that position for two weeks on 10th September 1964, was You Really Got Me and here it is (but I have no idea how the dancing at the end is connected):
2*/4*. This was good fun but how on earth can “rare” in 18d be an anagram indicator?
Many thanks to Dada and to Senf.
Maybe it is a rare thing to achieve these days! I could tell you what I am due next year God Willing but I’d go on the naughty step!
And the same applies to us. And this was our last clue in!!! Bit slow on the uptake.
Unlike Senf, I found Dada very quirky today and I struggled to get over the line. Great puzzle, as usual, but I was slightly out of tune with the wavelength. 1a didn’t help and got me off to a bad start. I could see it was a football team but my knowledge of the sport is nil so I had to leave that until checkers arrived. My COTD is making improvements at 7d simply because I used to do it.
Thank you, Dada for the mangle. Thank you, Colonel for the hints, which I needed.
With temperatures set to go to 36 over the next few days I’m glad I cut the grass yesterday.
Poor old George cut the grass this morning and is knackered – if a lady can say that!
Give George beer, that’ll unknacker him!
Poor George – he has my sympathy. Get the supercool fan out! 🥵
A crossword to pick up then put down for a while while I did a few early loads of washing and put it out on the line. Several of the quirkier clues fell into place while enjoying the early moning sun between loads on the patio with a cup of Rosie Lee. I’m still not sure I have the whole puzzle right but I submitted it anyway as it’s worth a try. The cryptic 8d and 9a are my joint clues of the day with a little nod to the geographical cclue at 26d. Thanks to Dada and to Senf and to Me Google for providing more facts about beer than I ever wanted to know.
I enjoyed this and it certainly made me think.
Top picks for me were LOI 18d,16a, 8d, 25d and 21d.
Thanks to Senf and Dada.
An entertaining puzzle – thanks to Dada and Senf.
I liked 27a, 4d and 5d with my favourite being the clever 2d.
Thx for the much needed hints in what turned out to be the most difficult Dada I have ever encountered.
Agreed – that was a brain mangler.
I’m stuck on 15d. Got all the others though…
It’s a reversal (sent up) and the priest is an abbreviation of the honorific for a CofE minister.
Aha! Got it thanks
For me, and I stress for me (© Senf), quirky? QUIRKY? My goodness I found that a really tough assignment. Every answer had to be wrenched out of my bonce. It felt like a lobotomy in progress.
Well,
at least I can spend the afternoon, relaxing, watching the cricketWhat? Oh no!Thanks to Da-doo-ron-ron, and trundling downhill towards winter (cheery soul, ain’t he?) The Man From Manitoba
Hello Terence, watching the cricket was my plan for the rest of today after doing the crossword, but England sank so quickly and now Yorkshire are heading for an innings defeat … so maybe I will have to do something useful instead!
And as for the crossword, for some reason I could get nowhere with this, even after looking at the hints. Oh well,
Thanks to setter and hinter.
I thought Dada was just being himself with an eclectic mix of clues. The long’uns all went in quickly after which it was a steady solve. 15d/17a were my last ones in as I insisted on pursuing another priest to no avail. My favourites were 9a, 18d, 2d, 7d and COTD goes to 8d
Many thanks to Dada and Senf
2*/4*
Hi all! Long time enjoyer of this blog, first time posting…
My goodness, I needed some of those hints today… thank you, Senf!
12a and 16a (will I ever learn, it’s never A bear!) were fun, but by far my COTD was 8d (& still not sure I fully understand 7d!)
Welcome! And, now that you have ‘delurked’ please comment often!
For 7d, I am sure that Rahmat Ali will give an excellent decryption in the full review in 10 days time.
Thank you, I will try!
Welcome and keep contributing
Thanks, I will
Take the first two words and the answer is what it does. I hope that doesn’t put me on the naughty step but some cake would be nice. Welcome.
No cake but you might get an e-mail from Gazza inviting you to join the blogging team
Welcome from me as well, Lil. 👍 Good to have you joining the merry throng. Please do keep commenting. 😊
A dnf unaided from me. I found this decidedly quirky and frustrating in equal measure which I’ll put down to the heat. Good to get the excuses in early given the forecast for the week ahead. Cotd goes to 10d. Thanks to Dada and Senf for the much needed hints.
A dnf for me, needed help with 20a ! Lots of clever and off kilter clues, so 4* for enjoyment.
Favourites last one in the diamond at 18d, make improvements at 7d and the good and bad 10d
Thanks to Senf and compiler
This was tricky but I managed to crawl over the finish line with my LOI being the gag.
18d is a crossword in itself! Something Elgar would have been proud of.
I biffed 9a as I haven’t heard of it and 8d was good fun.
My podium is 3d, 25d and the brilliant 2d.
Many thanks to Radio and Senf.
4*/4*
Well for me, Dada well used his personal thesaurus for this Summer Solstice Sunday puzzle as well as throwing his quirkiness around today.
Definitely a fun puzzle today for me. A couple of the clues when I did get the answer landed with a THUD! … including 8d
2.5*/3.5*
Favourites include 1a, 22a, 7d, 8d & 10d — with co-winners 8d & 10d
Thanks to Dada & Senf
I cannot believe it took me so long to get eggy bread! I struggled over 22a and looking at it just now see how clever it is. I am proud of myself for getting 1a, I’m becoming a real sport! I spent a happy hour this morning cutting back the mad Greenfinch rose (highly recommended) and tickling round the garden before it became too hot. All my pals are out with their families celebrating Fathers Day and the air is redolent with BBQ smells and noises and DD2 has accepted an invitation for a week in Provence flying off today and missing my 92nd birthday next week 😢 I’m really down in the dumps. Thank goodness for the guzzles. I’m halfway through the toughie but the lounger under the trees beckons! Many thanks to the clever Setter and Mr Mustard for explaining 18d. I was thinking of the Crown Jewels which also fitted in. I really must stop scattering exclamation marks it is so irritating but that, I suppose, is the way I talk! (Damn, there’s another one).
Great post, Day Zee. Very entertaining.
Your 92nd, Daisy! Congratulations! I say we all troop round to yours (bring a bottle). 🎂🎂🍻🥂🍹
You would all be most welcome 🥰 CeeSue will have to bring the cake.
Got 12 and gave up, I’ll stick it front of the cat, he can’t do any worse than me!
A very late start after a brunch with our family and then the first read through that told me I was onto a loser. With a couple of exceptions I’ve always found the Sunday PPs difficult and today was no exception. The late start meant I could read Senf’s hints which helped to get things underway, and eventually we got there but it was a first class struggle
Thanks to the setter and gratitude to Senf.
I came looking for help with 9a and 18d.
I really like 18d now it’s been explained! And I decided 9a must be easier than I thought as it was not hinted and then it came to me, so even a non hint worked for me!
I’m quite proud of myself today as other commenters have said they found it very tricky. There were lots of clues I really liked but 2d is my favourite with its &lit bit – I think they are my favourite clues as they are so clever.
Tough to get going tough to finish especially the south east.Needed hints after struggling for too long especially 18 ( although I put the right answer in) 20 and 23 .I hope the toughie is bit easier? Anyone? Favourites 1,8 and 10 . thanks to all .
Gosh! That was a struggle, even with the hints. I had two sessions on it, separated by mum’s lunch party to celebrate her 90th birthday. The cake and champagne helped not at all. Some fantastic clues, however, once the pennies dropped. Still unsure about 3d……
A pale colour with the last letter removed (when cut) then a dictionary check.
Of course! Thank you
With 8D having almost twice the number of letters in the answer as in the clue, that has to be winner. VMT Dada & Senf.
Well I’m just sat outside with a glass of wine , as been out and thinking I can complete the crossword before dinner. Mmm .. brain thinks otherwise at the moment. I am encouraged that others have found this challenging , so onwards and upwards for now. I ll say my thanks to Dada and Senf . I am sure to be needing a hint !
Only completed with the hints and a lot of help as I was way off wavelength today. For me this was the hardest Dada ever but I may just be having an off day. 7d was very clever once I got it.
Many thanks to Dada and to Senf for the hints.
An enjoyable solve in the Sussex sun earlier today..Two connecting clues prolonged things – 18D’s diamond and 20A’s device.
Pody poppers are 6D’s spouse, 8D’s Cain and my favourite is 7D and the nice ‘righten’ trick.
Thanks to Dada and Senf ⭐️
Dada on top form I thought with much competition for a Top Ten spot. I’ll go for 1,16,20&27a + 2,5,7,8,10&18d with 2d in at Number One.
Happy birthday to Ray Davies. Waterloo Sunset in my view is about as perfect a pop song as you can get.
Thanks to D&S.
Well said, The Kinks will make a nice Monday morning work soundtrack 🎵
Started this yesterday evening sat on the terrace with a glass of wine MrSC and William (stepson) thinking I would amble through the Sunday PP.
my goodness that was tricky – and so glad to read that many others found it hard.
The penny just dropped on my last clue 18d. Now completed I am very satisfied.
A very clever and esoteric puzzle that gave up its answers steadily (and slowly for me)
So many tip top clues, 8d, 10d, 23a (when I got it!), 2d, 16a, I think my favourite of these is 8d
Thanks all
Well I’m 2 days late with a comment because that’s how long it’s taken to solve a superb puzzle!