Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 3393 (Hints)
Hints and tips by Senf
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A very good Sunday morning from Winnipeg where we now have ‘vertical time zones.’ Our Southern neighbours ‘fell back’ at zero dark thirty but Manitoba Westwards to British Columbia, and NW Ontario did not (the rest of Ontario and Eastwards to Newfoundland did). So, as well as getting used to distances in kilometres, speeds in km/hr, and gasoline in litres, anyone coming North over the 49th parallel into Manitoba will have to adjust their time pieces by one hour (until they ‘spring forward’ next year). It will be interesting to see if laptops, mobile phones, etc are au fait with the changes and conformed to the new requirements.
For me, and I stress for me,© – Dada friendlier than he was last week with six anagrams (three partials), one lurker (not hinted, so don’t forget the ‘if all else fails look for . . .’), and two homophones, all in a slightly asymmetric 27 clues; with 14 hints ‘sprinkled’ throughout the grid, all BRB verified where necessary, 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! You might even need your favourite e-search ‘assistant’!
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Candidates for favourite – 12a, 13a, 22a, 3d, 15d, and an HM for the Pun.
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
1 Reportedly, American restaurant cut generator (6)
A two part homophone (reportedly) – the first part is of a type of American restaurant and the second is of a synonym of cut as shown below.
8 Haitian periodically ignored Nick, if pushed (2,1,5)
Alternate letters(periodically – I’ll let you decide if it’s odds or evens) and a verbal synonym of nick.
12 Fetter after strike, falling apart (10)
A synonym of fetter placed after a synonym of strike (with a vehicle?).
16 Transport peculiar pistol in jumper (12)
A type of transport (that is being re-introduced to many cities) and an anagram (peculiar) of PISTOL IN.
20 Old driver in comfort, stifling a laugh (10)
A synonym of comfort containing (stifling) all of A from the clue and nounal synonym of laugh.
22 Shocking word stops child as well (2,4)
A word that might shock (that you might have heard last night) inserted into (stops) a three letter synonym of child.
25 Single person on street, daughter out of it (6)
A three letter term for single person placed after (on) the abbreviated form of street and followed by the single letter for Daughter.
Down
1 Lad, teen and I edited text over article (8)
An anagram (edited) of LAD, TEEN and I.
3 Ruler, metre over vault (7)
The single letter for Metre, and synonyms of over and vault.
6 Approach family smuggling ecstasy – and confess (4,5)
A verbal synonym of approach and a synonym of family (from North of the border?) containing (smuggling) the single letter for Ecstasy (as a recreational pharmaceutical?).
9 Man with pie and mash soon stuffed! (4,7)
An anagram (stuffed – not in the list of 1400+) of PIE and MASH SOON.
15 Flower I had placed under old rock in space (8)
A flower (with its name derived from the Greek for star) followed by the contracted form of I had placed after (under) the single letter for Old.
17 A job north of Lancashire vacant for evangelist (7)
A from the clue, a synonym of job, placed before (north of – It’s a down clue!) LancashirE with the interior letters removed (vacant).
21 Tough back on ship (5)
A straightforward (well, I think so) double definition.
Quick Crossword Pun:
COOK + KOOK + LOCK = CUCKOO CLOCK
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I can’t find any memorable birthdays or number ones so it’s back to one of my favourites. The last track, written by Mark Knopfler, on his and Chet Atkins’s Neck and Neck album. I couldn’t find an ‘action’ video but that should not detract from enjoying the audio:
A fairly benign Dada today and very enjoyable for a grey Sunday morning. I enjoyed 5d but it misses out on a podium place to 12a, 23a and 19d. Thanks to Dada and Senf.
2*/4*. Good fun with 19d my favourite and a special mention for 12a, which is a lovely word.
Many thanks to Dada and to Senf.
A very gentle and enjoyable puzzle today.
Top choices for me were 10a, 13a, and 20a.
I also ticked 23a and 25a; only because I like it when setters follow the expected convention that ‘on’ in an across clue means A on B = BA.
Some setters have a different view….
Many thanks to Dada and to Senf.
Today’s offering deserves all of the plaudits awarded to yesterday’s challenge without the reservations expressed by those who weren’t fans of the linked clue.
I fought 19D and 22A valiantly until they finally surrendered, I was determined that I wasn’t going to record a DNF. I suspect my problem with 19D will be shared with others as there is a such an obvious synonym for the first definition it clouded my search for the second. For 22A, I had the correct word for child but the answer held out for an age. COTD award to 5D which for me seemed to have elements of double usage of elements of the clue. Thanks to XXX for the hints and to the compiler.
Thai corner.
My apologies to Frankiemillwall who I now recognise was the first Andy Capp fan on the blog to declare himself on a previous day’s blog on which I dedicated a scan of the Bangkok post cartoon to Alfiepops. To make amends here is a full colour scan of today’s clip from today’s Bangkok Post 8 page cartoon supplement.
My apologies to Senf for the XXXX
No need to apologise, mate.
Good of you to post those cuttings, I had no idea the strip was still going at home, let alone around the world!
Mild and pleasing for a dull Sunday with my favourite being the stuffed pie at 9d. I think ‘stuffed’ is quite a good AI so should be included with the 1400+.
I’ll add 1a and 19d, which was LOI, to my podium.
Very many thanks to Dada and Senf.
2*/3*
A fair enough challenge from Dada that didn’t cause too many issues.
I’m actually okay with ‘stuffed’ as an AI because I took it to mean ‘in trouble’.
My picks are 16a and 17d along with the aforementioned 9d.
MTTTA and S.
2*/3*
See 19d in the Zandio today for the correct use of AI
That’s one of the two I have remaining in the otherwise friendly Zandio.
It is hinted, if you can wait until 13:30
Thanks. I did however finish it a few minutes after I posted.
Hi Sloops
I’ve just seen your comment in the toughie about AI.
We started to use it a while back then stopped. However, one of the setters mentioned it in a comment on one of the blogs. So, everyone else followed suit. I wasn’t the first to follow but did after a few others began to use it.
I appreciate that the finger usually points at me when it comes to this sort of thing. But, it wasn’t so in this case.
Noted and amended
Thanking you
Mmmm ….. not sure about stuffed as an AI but, like Joan Armatrading, I am open to persuasion. I wonder if it is on that “official” list? It is used as an insertion indicator as in stufffed with/in.
*BTW. Interrobang was the latest entry in my MRB. So, thanks for that.
A pleasure. It’s a great word.
I got this from Twm the other day
Very good, Sloops.
Exclamaquest was an alternative suggestion but interrobang got the gig.
Dada’s very benevolent and enjoyable today – thanks to him and Senf.
I liked 25a and 19d.
For me, and I stress for me (© Senf), to be contrary I found this guzzle rather a tricky fellow. For anyone else struggling, I found it vital to get as many easier glues answered all in one go, before tackling the H-A-R-D ones, as (obviously) the checking letters helped immeasurably.
Yes, that is obvious, but thanks for the unsolicited advice
Today, basking in the glory of a 2-0 victory over the rufescent devils from Manchester yesterday.
12.30 kick off (decided by TV, of course) most peculiar. Having lunch in hostility/hospitality at 11.00 am compounded the feeling of other worldliness.
We are going out for a lovely walk™ but whether it is to be the Chilterns or the Surrey Hills – that’s a decision above my pay grade.
Thanks to Da-doo-ron-ron and The Man From Manitoba in his puzzling time zone.
What a great word rufescent is, T.
Thank you
I managed today’s puzzle without too much trouble although I did feel my brain was very switched on today, so there were a few that I felt pleased to have got so readily. I enjoyed 20a and 9d especially, and I had no problem with ‘stuffed’. Thanks to Dada and Senf.
I would say that although this puzzle wasn’t that friendly of Dada it was by no means at the unfriendly end either. However, some trickiness throughout the grid. Definite thesaurus use and the usual quirkiness showed up too.
2.5*/3.5*
Favourites (and all were in the across clues) include 11a, 13a, 16a, 22a & 25a — with winner 13a. As I was doing this on Saturday evening (Halloween in North America), 22a made me laugh!
Thanks to Dada & Senf
I cannot disagree with Senf’s ‘pick of the day’ but would add 9d which made me laugh. And I would love to have tried a 16! Church this morning was All Saints Day with lovely cheery hymns from school assembly memories and we are just off to lunch in a nearby village where they could not fit us in until 2pm. I am sure H’s walk with Terence is healthier but poor old George is too wobbly for much hiking. A great guzzle to end the week/launch November. Many thanks to our Setter and Senf.
I enjoyed this one very much, there were several trickier clues which held me up (both in the south west) but it kept me happily amused on a rather misty and dank day. I liked 12a because I like the word.
Many thanks to Dada and to Senf for the hints.
I got stuck in the SW with 19d and 20a but they eventually fell.
An enjoyable puzzle with lots of ticks on the sheet.
Top picks for me were 1a, 9a, 8a, 12a and 15d. I liked the Quickie pun too.
Thanks to Senf and Dada.
Steady solve and all fairly clued. Got held up at the end by the pesky 19d and 22a but got there in the end.
Lots to like in this as a great variety of clues and no unknown words or phrases.
9d and 13a were my favourites with 1a also being a great clue.
Thanks to the setter and to Senf
What a great crossword weekend, did not get a chance to post yesterday so a big thank you to NYDK and Dada and to CS and Senf. Top quality challenges
Fairly straightforward with head scratchers. Needed the hint to parse 1a. Favourite was 17d. Thanks to Dada and Senf.
2.5*/ 4* Another cracking prize puzzle, only a couple of hold ups, 22a added substantially to my time taken.
Top clues today include the 1a generator, the 20a old driver and the man at 9d
Thanks to compiler and Senf
Found this one very gentle but after yesterday’s struggle with Donny’s SPP I was quite thankful for a swift grid fill with the crumpet left unscratched. 12,16,20&25a + 19d were the clues I liked best.
Thanks to D&S
19d was my LOI, and it took quite a bit of loose change hitting the carpet before the grid was filled
Thanks to Dada and Senf
22a – I needed the hint.
19d – It took me ages to figure this one out, but when I did I exclaimed in an onomatopoeic cry (or was it; I’m thinking a large white water bird).
Great puzzle.
Thanks to setter and Senf’s hints
Quite gentle, but a pleasant stroll of a puzzle; call it 2*/3.5*. I liked 19d. Thanks to Dada and Senf.
How nice to have a cruciverbal challenge along traditional lines and devoid of setters’ ego trips. NE was last quadrant to go in. I didn’t cotton onto man cave in 21a. Altogether very entertaining. Thank you Dada and Senf.