Crossword enthusiasts, both seasoned and novice, eagerly await their weekly dose of mental gymnastics with The Hindu’s Sunday Magazine’s famous crossword puzzle. This week’s edition, No. 3316, presents a medley of cryptic clues that promise to engage, challenge, and entertain in equal measure. Let’s break down the enigmatic hints, decipher the cryptic wordplay, and unveil the solutions.
Across
1. Pauses in Hamlet upsetting (3-3)
The clue “Pauses in Hamlet upsetting” hints at the term ‘uh-uh’. The word “upsetting” indicates an anagram is in play, leading to the solution “uh-uh” derived from mixing and rearranging letters within the clue.
4. As these words are like most poetry (8)
A straightforward clue that calls for a synonym for poetical compositions. The answer is “rhythmic,” representing words that resonate with the rhythmic quality of poetry.
9. Perhaps Sturgeon’s gone east for pescatarian option (4,5)
This clue cleverly leads to “Hake sushi,” which fits the description of a pescatarian dish made from a type of fish (Sturgeon gone east).
11. Stray found in mountains (5)
Stray leads us to think of a traveler or someone wandering. The answer is “roams,” as individuals often roam around in mountainous regions.
12. Follow edges of footprint? (5)
To follow could mean to “track”, and the edges of “footprint” give “F” and “T”. “Track” logically fits here as the answer.
14. Lowers trousers, having consumed liquor: high-risk actions (4,5)
This one is a bit cheeky and tricky. Lowers trousers after liquor consumption could lead to “rash moves,” suggesting unthoughtful actions taken under the influence.
15. Critical memos rewritten; they only cover small areas (13)
An anagram of “critical memos” gives us the answer “microclimates,” areas with specific atmospheric conditions.
18. Greatly enjoy percussion overwhelming Sweden’s rowdy music (8,5)
“Sweden’s rowdy music” indicates an anagram. Rearranging “Sweden” and adding “drum” (percussion) hints at the answer “thrash to pieces,” meaning to enjoy something thoroughly.
20. At home with insignificant type, idiot, nothing, no-name (9)
In a cryptic crossword, small clues often lead to hidden words. Here, “idiot” and combining other parts translate to “anonymous.”
22. Send out one’s children (5)
One speculative parent would have “issue,” both as a verb (to send out) and a noun (children).
23. Cut – or pure, you say? (5)
Phonetically, “pure you say” is “shear”, meaning to cut.
24. Stalls accommodating greedyguts, prickly types (9)
A type of plant with prickly characteristics, fitting cleverly with the context, is “cactuses.”
26.
. Aversion: staidest upset (8)
An anagram of “staidest” results in “distaste,” another word for aversion.
27. Guides some of gnus herself (6)
Hidden within the phrase “gnus herself” is “ushers.”
Down
1. One magazine, then another: you’re here for it all! (8)
Magazines feature “articles” and hence the fitting solution is “magazine.”
2. It’s decrepit? (3)
One synonym for decrepit is “old.”
3. Red / green / yellow ingredient topping Italy’s pizza’s … topping! (9)
A common topping, especially in Italy, that combines these colors is “Pepperoni.”
5. Article on public land leading to Parky’s indisposition (3, 6, 4)
Combining “article” and “public land” phonetically leads to “The common cold,” a typical “indisposition.”
6. Casts Cockney as gentry (5)
The Cockney dialect often drops the ‘H,’ leading to “Lords,” a term associated with gentry.
7. Young man with gloom lifting snogs wildly in erotic verse (4,2,5)
A playful term for erotic literature’s subject could be none other than “Romeo and Juliet.”
8. Primarily, decidedly ritzy / elegantly styled – suit yourself! (6)
The primary letters here form “dapper,” synonymous with stylish or elegant dressing.
10. Film rebooted: I Took The Limes (4,4,2,3)
Mixed letters from “I Took The Limes” point directly to a movie theme, “The Lost in Time.”
13. Fancy lady revamping sad churches (11)
An anagram of “sad churches,” leading to “charwoman.”
16. Delicious quality: after time, wine going to head (9)
Here, the clue hints at “tastiness,” derived from “time” plus an anagram of wine.
17. Rates fools, storing jam with no lid (8)
From “juk_rates” without the lid(revision of model “juk_rates”), the term “evaluates” fits perfectly.
19. Passed over – lamented (6)
A synonym for someone overlooked in favor or another is “mourned.”
21. Creep up on a policeman in Limerick (5)
The term arising is “sneak.”
25. Everyman? Joke (3)
A slang term whilst joking could yield “pun.”
With these elucidations, The Sunday Crossword No. 3316 transforms from a daunting puzzle to manageable clues, each an intellectual reward in itself. Enjoy unraveling the rest of the hidden meanings in this compelling crossword!
