Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 3296 (Hints)
Hints and tips by Senf
A very good Sunday morning from Winnipeg where we are on something of a temperature roller coaster; minus 20s in the week just completed, forecast to ‘warm up’ to minus 1 by ‘the day’ on Wednesday, and cooling down again for the start of 2025 with, of course, occasional sprinklings of the fluffy white stuff.
While I will be blogging the Christmas Day ‘back pager,’ I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all, fellow bloggers, all commenters, and the DT Puzzles Team, a Very Happy and Enjoyable Christmas. Looking ahead, flights booked for visit with family, especially my Big Sister, and to attend the BB – I wouldn’t miss a Birthday Party on my Semisesquicentennial Birthday!
For me, and I stress for me, and after feeding my brain with a little over three quarters of a pint of Arthur Guinness’s finest, Dada very friendly again! Two almost long ‘uns, six anagrams (one partial), no lurkers, and one homophone all in a symmetric 28 clues; with 14 hints ‘sprinkled’ throughout the grid you should be able to get the checkers to enable the solving of the unhinted clues. And, remember, the Naughty Step is OPEN!
Candidates for favourite – 1a, 9a, 13a, 20a, 24a, 5d, 7d, 19d, and the Pun.
As is usual for the weekend prize crosswords, a number of the more difficult clues have been selected and hints provided for them.
Don’t forget to follow the instructions in RED at the bottom of the hints!
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 Slip up – in the slips? (4,3,4)
A phrase equivalent to slip up that can be used universally or specifically in the (crickety) slips.
9a Huge battle with theory, oddly (7)
The battle which was the first major action of the British Expeditionary Force in the First World War and (with) the odd letters of ThEoRy.
13a What about mine, a page for final inscription? (7)
A two letter synonym of what (as an interjection) containing (about) all of a synonym of (coal?) mine, A from the clue, and the single letter for Page.
17a Fruit, low-fat, focus of attention (9)
A (citrus) fruit and the single word frequently used to describe a food product as low fat.
20a Smell second smell (5)
The single letter for Second (of time?) and a slang synonym of smell.
24a A stripe lit up, maroon (7)
A from the clue, a synonym of stripe, and a two letter synonym of lit up.
27a Kind that’s second-rate, I gathered (11)
An anagram (that’s . . . gathered) of SECOND RATE, I.
Down
2d On luxury flight (7)
The two letter Latin based term equivalent to on and a synonym of luxury (as in a source of pleasure).
3d Very cold at death’s door? (9)
A double definition – the first may be informal or dialectic usage.
5d Queen’s home, old style (7)
Another double definition – in the first, the queen is an insect.
7d Ice, in the end, still cold (11)
The last (in the end) letter of icE and a synonym of still (relating to lack of movement).
11d Still European discussed close result (5,6)
No blip on the repetition radar – a different type of still (from a camera) and a homophone (discussed) of a (Northern) European.
19d Only able to crawl then after pub crawl? (7)
An informal single word term to describe someone who has gone quite a way beyond one over the eight and is suffering accordingly.
23d Tiny character I had, like a mouse? (5)
The name of a tiny (Dickens) character and the contracted form of I had.
Quick Crossword Pun:
SLY + DROOL = SLIDE RULE
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Get the disco gear out of the back of the wardrobe! Two thirds of the Bee Gees, twins Robin and Maurice Gibb, Robin older by 30 minutes, were born on this day in 1949. The trio, older brother Barry was the third member, were successful in popular music in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and later as prominent performers in the disco music era in the mid-to-late 1970s epitomised by their participation in the soundtrack of the 1977 film Saturday Night Fever. Here is a hit from the film which was their third number one:
What a great puzzle with lots of penny dropping smiles. I thought it was going to be a tricky one at the start and then I managed to tune into the right wavelength.
Top picks for me were 5d, 23d, 13a and 20a.
Thanks as always to Senf and the setter.
Pretty gentle for a Sunday, a polished but unremarkable puzzle with, as ever, too many anagrams. No arcane knowledge required, all clueing very fair and sharp.
Thank you to Dada, presumably, and Senf.
Great Sunday fun from Dada, but either I’m getting on his wavelength (which should be troubling for anyone!) or he’s feeling in a generous mood for Christmas! Lots of clever clues; I loved 9a,13a, 20a, 5d, 7d and 21d, but I chose 16d for COTD because it reminded me of a classic favourite joke.
Many thanks to Dada for enjoyable Sundays with the morning cuppa and Senf for all the blogs.
PS. The snowflakes on the website are a nice touch. Someone’s wishful thinking for Christmas snow?
The snowflakes are a long standing tradition on the blog.
2*/2.5*. A pleasant but chilly puzzle for a chilly time of year but not enough cold and ice to constitute a theme.
There were a couple of dodgy surfaces and 21d seems a bit weak with not much difference between “I’m going in” and the part of the answer it is referring to.
Thanks to Dada and to the hard working Senf.
Straightforward stuff from Radio but a pleasant solve.
My LOI was 3d which went on to my podium along with 10a and 13a.
My father loved saying 3d when it was chilly. A great term.
Many thanks to the aforementioned and Senf.
2*/3*
Super puzzle from Dada quite restoring my faith after yesterdays (not sure of the right word that won’t get me banned). For me this is how a crossword puzzle should be, elegant, clever and all the wordplay making sense without arcane knowledge of dead poets or Samarian priests. My fav not surprisingly is 1a.
Thx to all esp to Dada
***/*****
A bit too easy, with no real head scratchers. I enjoyed 25a, which could be parsed in two ways. Clever.
Festive greetings and gratitude to all.
We all wish Senf congratulations on that diamond birthday
Semi ½ * Sesqui 3/2 * Centi 100
Hopefully Santa will bring me a pair of these …
A fairly gentle challenge, apart from the NW corner, which was difficult to get into. I started at the bbottom and worked my way back to it. 14a was acgood hidden clue and 27a a nice anagram. I also liked the GK lego combination a14a. Thanks to Senf for the hints and to our Sunday compiler for a kindly prize cryptic guzzle
A pleasant Sunday puzzle – thanks to Dada and Senf.
I wondered whether the ‘lit up’ in 24a was a pointer as to how Dada intended last Sunday’s ‘satellite’ clue to be parsed.
Top clues for me were 26a, 5d and 7d.
A lovely puzzle at the easier end of Sunday Cryptic but still enough of a challenge for me. 1a and 11d my first and last in were my two favourites. Thanks for parsing 11d – that’s a new homophone indicator for me and I couldn’t bring to mind the synonym of still. Thanks to Dada and Senf and Merry Christmas
I enjoyed this one which I solved with a smile on my face. 2*/4*.
Many thanks and Merry Christmas to Dada.
A gentle, if somewhat chilly, SPP which should set me up nicely for an afternoon of mince pie baking with my granddaughter.
I’ll show favouritism towards the low fat fruit.
Thanks to Dada and to Senf – sorry to hear that you drew the short straw when it came to blogging on Christmas Day – any typing errors will be discounted!
A pleasurable stroll after yesterday’s gruelling forced march. Agree with our leporine friend that 21d was a bit iffy, but otherwise a pleasure with smiles from 5d and 15a. **/***
A “grueling forced march yesterday” – great description 😊.
A very benign Dada today, but just the ticket to restore some confidence after I got brain mangled yesterday. I’m going for a podium of 2d, 23d and 17a in top spot. Thanks to Dada and Senf.
For me, and I stress for me (™ Senf), this was a jolly guzzle; fun to unravel, with some delicious glues.
As the Chelsea game isn’t being televised in the UK (it’s too gruelling trying to watch on ‘unofficial’ streams; so much buffering and drop-outs) we plan to go for a lovely walk, and an hour in a pub. We are timing it so we can drive through Ripley in the twilight because, each year, their Christmas lights are a delight.
Thanks to Da-doo-ron-ron and the splendid Man From Manitoba.
And, I can (legally) watch both SW8 teams at the same time! Although I will probably only watch the one playing at home.
🎄That was great fun and such a welcome change after yestetday’s horror. No messing about and all very fair clues of which 13a and 16d particularly appealed. NW corner last on board. Many thanks to Dada and Senf, the ideal couple, to whom best Christmas wishes. 🎄
Can someone with the newspaper please confirm that the closing date for this crossword is Wednesday 1st January. Thank you
No Sue, it’s Tuesday December 31.
9am on the 31st December.
Thank you both. I will make a note so that I schedule the review for the correct day
Good job I asked
Thanks for the info, I will make a mental note to do the same for the Toughie
Well that was a breeze compared to Donny’s one yesterday. Pleasant enough though I wouldn’t put it up there with Dada’s best. 11d&22a my top two. Just back from a bracing walk in strong winds round Loch Achray but no rain & the sun was shining so very enjoyable.
Many thanks to Dada & to Senf
This Sunday Dada puzzle was, for the most part, very friendly. Seemed to have left his thesaurus alone this week. I did have some difficulty in the NW in that it took as much time to complete as the rest of the grid. Very strange state of affairs.
2*/4* for me
Favourites 1a, 17a, 22a, 5d, 8d & 16d — with winner 5d
Chuckles from 1a, 22a, 8d & 19d
Thanks to Dada & Senf and Happy Christmas to you both.
A lighter offering today which was appreciated as there is plenty to do to prepare for the annual invasion, which is fun but hard work. I thought this had a lovely mix of clues with no obscurity.
I enjoyed the anagrams particularly.
Many thanks to Dada and to Senf for the hints not just today but for the rest of the year (and now doing Wednesdays too), I hope you have a Happy Christmas.
Something of a breeze on a breezy day here in Shropshire. It was certainly less of a challenge than yesterday’s but no less enjoyable. 15a and 7d were my co-favourites.
Many thanks to Dada and Senf.
The usual top quality from Dada, thank you Senf for my new word of the week … Semisesquicentennial!
As others have said an easier than usual Dada today. I did need a hint in the NW though and thank Senf for his efforts and look forward to what Christmas Day has to offer. It will be good to see you at the Birthday Bash as well
Now that’s how to write a cryptic. A thoroughly enjoyable solve from start to finish, with no deep GK dives, no obscure or convoluted hints, and hurray, no linked clues. There is no such thing as “too easy”, a phrase we might not want to use if we want to attract new solvers. COTD goes to 5d, I’ll have to remember that one. But every clues was great, just waiting to be solved. Big thank you to Dada and to Senf. My word Senf, you do make me feel cold. We are true wimps down here in South Florida, where we were tossing an extra blanket on our bed when it dipped into the low 50s last night.
‘Pon my life it is cold today! Late to the guzzle as we have been to lunch with friends. Everything fell into place nicely, particularly liked the Queen’s home – nice one! As usual, heartfelt thanks to Setter & Hinter and another Happy Christmas to all.
I’m also in the just what was needed after yesterday camp! A fine crossword and clue of the day is 5d, my last one in but made me chuckle.
Thanks to Dada for the Sunday fun. And thanks to Senf for all the blogs this year and Merry Christmas.
Loved the guzzle, which I solved while waiting at Manchester airport for our daughter to arrive. I had expected huge traffic delays after recent news reports but it was a breeze. Hardly any traffic at all on the M56. The greatest hold up was leaving the car park! Anyway, it’s good to have Faye with us and the festivities can now begin. 🎉🍾🥃
Thank you, Dada for the fun. Thank you, Mr. Mustard for the hints and all your hard work. The work you do and all the bloggers is greatly appreciated. A very Merry Christmas to you and your family.
I didn’t find it as gentle as most others: I needed Senf’s hint to explain 9a, and I didn’t know the battle, so had to check that after getting the answer from the crossing letters. I shall try to remember the battle (for being less ignorant about history, as much as for crosswords).
I’ve also learnt what a quickie pun looks like; I’d heard of them, but growing up in an era where calculators have log buttons, hadn’t seen one before.
My favourite was 13a with “What about mine”. Thank you to Senf and Dada.
V straightforward but good fun favorite 16d
3*/3* …
liked 15A “Awkward swerving, get in lane (9)”