Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 3326 (Hints)
Hints and tips by Senf
A very good Sunday morning from Winnipeg where the heat, humidity, and smoke continue!
For me, and I stress for me©, Dada quirkily friendly – four long uns around the perimeter, six anagrams (two partials), two lurkers, and one homophone all in a symmetric 32 clues; with 16 hints ‘sprinkled’ throughout the grid, you should be able to get the checkers to enable the solving of the unhinted clues. And, remember, my electronic blue pencil is at the ready and the Naughty Step is OPEN!
Candidates for favourite – 9a, 17a, 18a, 1d, 8d, and 17d.
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.
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 A Netherlands legend without end adapted for German tale (6,3,6)
An anagram (adapted) of A NETHERLANDS LEGend with ‘end’ deleted (without).
9a Dabbler, friend in Laura essentially (7)
Perhaps the use of essentially being taken to the extreme – a synonym of friend inserted into (in) not one ‘middle’ letter but three middle letters of LAURa.
13a Unsightly mark in cyst, yellow (4)
A lurker (in) found in the last two words of the clue.
16a Doctor follows on flight (7)
A verbal synonym of doctor placed after (follows) the usual two Latin based letters equivalent to on.
18a Initial word a friend muttered, initially! (7)
A from the clue, a synonym of friend (an intimate companion says the BRB), and the first letter (initially) of Muttered.
25a Resistant to nest builder, yours truly (4)
Not a feathered nest builder, but a six legged one, and the nominative singular form of the first person personal pronoun equivalent to yours truly.
28a Capital I left when back on tour, capital of Oslo (7)
I from the clue and the single letter for Left all reversed (when back) placed after (on) all of a synonym of tour and the first letter (capital) of Oslo.
30a Battle lost, aunt’s frightfully important, despite losing (4,3,3,5)
An anagram (frightfully) of BATTLE LOST, AUNT’S.
Down
1d Number in fifties upset over pension (10,5)
Here, number is a song – a synonym of (romantic?) upset placed before (over) a synonym of pension (continental accommodation?).
4d Feeling left for JFK, say (7)
A synonym of feeling and nautical left.
7d Destructive force of nature – dancer? (7)
A double definition – the first is a N Am Inf term for a force of nature and the second is a dancer performing a dance popularised by the illustrated individual who won me £115 in book and record tokens on BBC Radio 2’s John Dunn’s Mystery Voice Challenge about 40 years ago.
8d Possible result of appeal leaving barristers worried, first of all? (3,6,6)
A stack of tea trays for the PDM for this one – take the first letters (first of all) of Leaving Barristers Worried and ‘expand’ them into the possible result of a (crickety) appeal.
15d Material taken from under the ground, uphill (5)
The reversal (uphill) of a single word for the process of taken from under the ground.
20d Red figure observed after uprising in shopping centre (7)
After reversal (uprising), a three letter figure (numerically speaking) inserted into (observed . . . in) a four letter abbreviated form of a type of shopping centre
22d Boat almost unsalvageable, load destroyed (7)
A four letter synonym of unsalvageable with the last letter deleted (almost) and an anagram (destroyed) of LOAD.
27d Film star who’s out of work after audition? (4)
A homophone (after audition) of a single word synonym of out of work.
Quick Crossword Pun:
MACH + KEY + ART + TOE = MACCHIATO – one for the coffee connoisseurs!
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American singer and songwriter Kim Carnes was born on this day in 1945. One of her most recognisable songs is Bette Davis Eyes written and composed by Donna Weiss and Jackie DeShannon with which she had moderate success in 1981:
I don’t know why but this didn’t feel like Dada’s usual style but no doubt it is he as it’s Sunday. The long ones on the borders did not come easy apart from 1d. This, thankfully, gave sufficient checkers to open across clues. In 18a, I thought of every synonym for friend except the one that was needed. 21a missed a punt at Sean Connery and 7d makes another appearance. My COTD is the red figure at 20d, which was a satisfying solve.
Thank you, Dada for the Sunday fun. Thank you, Colonel Mustard in the dining room for the hints.
I wanted to edit my post but it wouldn’t let me.
Just to say, I had no idea about the pun.
2*/4*. I enjoyed this with Dada on good form today I thought.
As Senf correctly points out, the first definition for 7d is an Americanism, which coincidentally last cropped up as recently as yesterday!
Re 9a, I have been told by someone whose opinions on these matters I trust implicitly, that “essentially” should only be used to refer to the middle letter or central two letters of a word.
18a was my favourite with a nod too to 20d.
Many thanks to Dada and to Senf.
I agree on essentially which is why I wrote the hint as I did. Our esteemed editor also agrees. In his How to Solve a Cryptic Crossword, having identified essentially as a middle-letter indicator, he writes ‘It is important to remember that a middle-letter indicator will return just one letter if applied to a word with an odd number of letters, but two letters if applied to a word with an even number of letters.’
Just saying… Zandio has a “Central” returning three of seven letters in today’s toughie.
Not specifically ‘central’ but CL’s list in his book includes ‘centrally’ and ‘centre of’. So it seems that by usage the rules are being rewritten. But would a Rookie get away with it?
I would hope so, at least with central and centrally, maybe essential implies as essential as possible i.e. 1 letter for words with an odd number and 2 for even.
.. but isn’t that the point, there are rules but the rules need to evolve to keep cruciverbalists on their toes, otherwise we would just follow the “rules”.
Reasonably friendly from Dada with only a few head scratchers along the way. I agree with Senf’s reaction to the parsing of 8d. I had the answer for ages, but…… Still not certain of 12a, I’m sure I’m missing something obvious. 20d gets my cotd. Thanks to Dada and Senf.
I really enjoyed this and found it pleasantly tricky. I was beaten by 12a and 26d mainly because I was being too slow so I timed myself out (also I find that the PDMs from short double definitions are much less than other types of clue). Really liked 8d (which I needed the hints to pars). The misdirection of ‘appeal’ with ‘barrister’ was clever. Also 18a, 5d and 21d were great. Thanks as ever to Dada and Senf
Lots of clever misdirection this week, so a trickier than usual for me.
Nice Lego’s ™ at 18a Initial word, 28a Capital, and a few others unclued.
Enjoyed the amusing homographs (words written the same, different meanings) via the double definitions. I counted four, but as they are unclued, I can’t identify them here, for fear of the dreaded STEP….
I was tickled by the Kingly 1d. I wonder how to categorise that clue. Two synonyms juxtaposed to form a new, unrelated entity.
Gratitude to all here.
This was very enjoyable, close to getting full marks.
My LOI was 12a. We hate five letter words whose checkers are the 2nd and 4th letters.
I’ve never heard of the pension dooberry in 1d and I would have had [redacted – alternative clue – it’s a prize puzzle] in 28a.
My podium is 17a for its construction, 27d for its simplicity with top honours going to 8d which is brilliant.
MT to Radio and The Big S.
2*/4*
I found this tricky but hugely enjoyable with lots of pennies crashing to the floor.
Top picks for me were 1d, 4d, 17a, 18a and 20d.
I also liked the Quickie pun.
Thanks to Senf and Dada.
Very enjoyable – thanks to Dada and Senf.
For my podium I’ve selected 17a, 1d and 8d.
As is often the way, it was a couple of the shorter answers that tripped me up and I’m still hesitant where 12a is concerned. Some real smilers elsewhere and my medals are pinned on 18a plus 1,8&20d.
Thanks to Dada and to Senf for the hints – I’m afraid I didn’t know either the American singer or her song but 1d has given me an ear worm!
I have similar doubts about 12a, but I suspect Dada’s personal thesaurus is at work again
Liked the rest – thanks to Dada and Senf
Proper Sunday back pager, super puzzle, thank you to Dada and Senf
Honours to 1a, 18a, 1d & 20d
Thank you Dada and Senf. We sailed through this one. The exception being 12a which was our LOI. The 15 letter clues (our favourites) set us going on what was a quick solve. Gary and Val
Great puzzle – with lots of enjoyment to be had
. Some super smooth surfaces. And top spot for me is the exquisite 8d.
Thank you setter – another cracker. And to Senf who’s hints I shall now enjoy with a beer and the golf in the background.
An enjoyable challenge, set at a decent degree of difficulty for a prize puzzle.
To avoid the long anagrams, I ignored the four outside clues until very near the end when I had so many checkers in they unscrambled easily, though obviously 8d wasn’t an anagram at all.
LOI was the double definition in 12a, which required a lot of thought.
After a photo finish, 18a dipped at the tape to get the verdict from 20d.
My thanks to Dada and Senf.
Very enjoyable especially the anagrams. 1a got me on the right track and apart from 12a which was last in it went pretty smoothly. 8d was my favourite, but 1a was a close second.
Many thanks to Dada and to Senf for the hints.
Somewhat surprised that our blogger has chosen not to hint 12a – seems to be the last in for a number of commenters thus far & Jane remains hesitant with her answer. It’ll be my last in too when/if the penny drops – I’ve a possibility in mind but not really happy with it. It was a painfully slow start so can’t say I found it particularly benign but once the peripherals yielded things fell into place.
Thought it top drawer Dada & agree with MG’s top 4 picks.
Thanks to D&S
Agreed. The dodgiest of the four DD’s today. I only accepted it as it appeared in both sets of synonyms in my dictionary, and it was a pretty weak homograph anyway IMHO
Perhaps too controversial to hint…
12a, definitely a tricky one!
The first definition is clear to me, the second I think is a nounal contraction of a more common synonym. Can’t say much more without going to the naughty room!
Don’t think it’s a contraction but ‘twas the nudge I needed ta – my initial thought was codswallop.
I may get excommunicated for this but my two penn’orth regarding 12a is:
“Word A” is not synonymous with “Word B”
HOWEVER
“Word A + to” is synonymous with “Word B + to”
Is that good enough for a cryptic crossword? I’m not convinced …
Agreed
I agree I would have appreciated a prompt re 12a on which I drew a complete blank.
Like yesterdays puzzle, only had a couple after first read through but very slowly it all came together. I’m also not happy about my answer to 12a. As there seems to be several of us, perhaps Senf could give us a gentle hint? Anyway thanks to all. On our way home from Suffolk on Friday, we were all turfed off the A47 after queuing for ages. No signs were in place telling us where to go so we just followed the satnav going down tinier and tinier lanes etc., until the satnav chappie said ‘you are lost’ and gave us no further information!
Eeek on the non-diversion, Manders. I didn’t know satnavs would even do that.
But your comment did remind me to research where we’re stopping for lunch on the A47 on a forthcoming trip, so thank you for that!
I don’t think I have come across the clue at 21a before which is rather strange. I cannot say more for fear of punishment but has that come up before? Anyway, a very pleasant diversion with 1a going in straight away which was helpful. As you all know, I am not much of a sport but I really did like 8d and 20d was clever. LOI was 12a as seems to have been the case for others. The big fig tree overhanging the churchyard is laden with ripe fruit so I have been scrumping – hope no one saw me! Don’t tell on me. Many thanks to Setter and Senf my man in the red scarf though hopefully not 20d!
Well, the ‘team’ colour of the party I voted for in our recent General Election is red but I don’t think that makes Mark Carney, or me, a 20d!
3.5* / 5* The best of an excellent week of puzzles and I’m giving it top marks! Like others 12a last in and still not 100% sure it’s correct. Plenty of favourites to choose from 18a initial word, 21a simple but effective anagram, 1d number and 8d appeal
Many thanks to setter and Senf
Top drawer from our regular Sunday setter and a very pleasant and relatively straightforward solve. 20d was my final entry and favourite.
Many thanks to Dada and Senf.
Add us to the ever growing list of contributors unsure about the second synonym for 12a, it spoiled the whole crossword for us. Of the rest the best was 8d. Thanks to Dada anyway and Senf.
I’m with Steve Cowling in this one, it just doesn’t feel like a Dada. But as it is Sunday I guess it must be. If so, he has spoilt us the last few weeks and now upped the difficulty. I got three of the four long perimeter answers so should have sailed through, but still pondering a few so will set aside for later. Thanks to Dada and Senf.
OK 12a! While trying to imagine what may or may not be in Dada’s personal thesaurus and the ‘elasticity’ of the contents, after careful research of the BRB and elsewhere, I offer the following examples for usage of the answer. You may not agree, but it’s the best I can come up with, and remember it’s a Prize Puzzle so, if you have to comment, comment carefully .
Certain – I am xxxxx to say . . .
Edge – relating to the ancient custom, which is still apparently performed in some parts of the country on Rogation Sunday, of Beating the xxxxxs.
Where I lived in Cheshire, the ancient custom was still alive and well. A huge number of us took part and it was an excellent outing fuelled by plenty of alcohol!
Hmm, I was not aware that alcohol was an essential component; but, knowing you as I do . . .
I think I saw a program about The Tower of London, where the children of the Beefeaters performed a similar ritual (without the alcohol – I hope)
A number of golfers on here will be aware of sending the little white thing out of xxxxxx!
Don’t you just love it when 1A goes straight in and gives you the false impression that the whole crossword is going to surrender as easily!
I got held in in several places including the dreaded 12A, but when I cracked it, I had no problem with either synonym. I don’t know why, but I was familiar with the expression ‘Beating the *****s.
Thanks to Dada and Senf.
Yes indeed 1a and 30a went in pronto which did help a bit with remainder of puzzle although it has overall taken some fathoming however by fair means or foul I finally got there. Thank you Dada and Senf.
I started well but after getting 1 Down and not much else for a while I felt like leaving the building. After much toil and the hint for 18 Across I didn’t need to go AWOL and completed the puzzle.
Very enjoyable today, with the same struggle as others on 12a, although I got there eventually. I loved all four of the perimeter solutions, plus a mention for the clever boat at 22d. I wasn’t sure about the wording of “Capital of Oslo”, although I got it, it didn’t seem to make sense as a cryptic (to me).
Thanks to the setter for a fun puzzle 🤗
Late to the party today, but liked this friendly Dada puzzle today. Seems he left his personal thesaurus closed this week and no quirkiness to be found.
2*/4* for me
Favourites 1a, 21a, 24a, 4d & 15d — with winner 24a
Thanks to Dada & Senf
Thank you, Senf, for the hints which I needed to complete this. Like Eeyore, I got 1a straight away (from the enumeration, mainly; I’m still as bad at anagrams as ever) and then 1d from just 2 crossing letters, so got a false impression this was going to be more straightforward than it turned out to be.
Lots of fun, though, and it felt Dadaesque to me. My top few included 17a (“I see you!”) and 18a (“Initial word”). My last in wasn’t 12a but 24a, the other 5-letter word with only 2 crossing letters, and that immediately became my favourite — possibly through relief at having finished. Thank you to Dada for the entertainment and work-out.
As others have said lots of enjoyable misdirection – 21a especially! Thank you Dada and Senf with 24a as my stand out favourite
Like many others, I enjoyed this cryptic very much.
Agreed! There was quite a bit of ‘enjoyable misdirection’!
The clues that stood out most for me are 18a, 21a, 23a, 29a and 1d, 15d and 20d.
Fortunately, 12a didn’t give me too much of a problem.
Many thanks to Dada for a lovely entertaining puzzle.
Many thanks to Senf for the excellent hints which I have enjoyed reading but didn’t need.
3*/3* ..
liked 8D “Possible result of appeal leaving barristers worried, first of all ? (3,6,6)”