The Sunday Crossword No. 3312 has once again challenged crossword enthusiasts with an array of cunning and intricate clues. This week’s puzzle, published in The Hindu Sunday Magazine, offers an engaging mix of wordplay, requiring solvers to draw on their vocabulary, general knowledge, and problem-solving skills. Let’s unravel the enigma clue by clue.
Across
1. Some artists use these small boat homes (6,4)
This clue points towards a specific kind of living arrangement popular among certain circles of artists. These quaint, cozy, floating homes provide both residence and inspiration for many. The answer? Houseboats.
6. Somewhat eastwards, on and off (1,3)
Here, solvers need to find a short phrase associated with the direction east. The clue “on and off” suggests alternating letters. The answer is E by E.
9. Far-off beasts found in a Paris slum, upsetting (10)
A complex clue requiring solvers to think about rearranging letters (“upsetting” indicates an anagram). The term for exotic, far-off creatures is Exotica.
10. Flower from flipping digital assistant (4)
A shorter, more straightforward clue where “flipping” suggests a reversal. The digital assistant gives us “Siri,” reversed becomes Iris, a type of flower.
11. Force entertaining government to become re-elected (7,5)
This compound clue blends synonyms and an inside or hidden component (“entertaining”). “Force” combined with another term for government and suggesting re-election yields “Returned Major.”
15. Spotted something that includes good tenor performer (7)
The term for a performer within the music domain associated with spotting or noticing. Including ‘G’ (for Good) in a related word gives us “Tenorist.”
16. Flimsy song, a metaphor for nothing (4,3)
An idiom meaning not substantial — “flimsy” and “song”. The metaphor for nothing: “Thin Air.”
17. One’s starting out as initially low wage recipient (7)
This clue suggests someone at the beginning level in a low-paying job. The answer forming a word starting with the initial letters of “low wage” is “Learner.”
18. Endlessly marketed daft insurance mascot? (7)
Here, the reference to an insurance mascot (without saying ‘endlessly marketed’ suggests trimming). The popular character is “Gecko.”
19. Oh, even Luther converted in final moments (8,4)
A historical and highly revered figure. The sequence involves rearranging “Luther” synonymously to his converted instead—”Mother Luth.”
23. Ill-natured help catching cold (4)
This clue’s simple wordplay involves “help” trap for ‘C’ for cold results in “Cross.”
24.
. Fail to prepare to fire cartridge with no bullet (4,1,5)
The idiom meaning unprepared or going to fail, used in shooting scenarios: “Shoot a Blank.”
25. Not quietly, removes skin from fish (4)
Solvers must decode a noisy action with fish. “Not quietly” can be “loud” – removing the skin or letters forming “Flay.”
26. Wildly eviscerate group holding gunpowder? (3,7)
A wild action suggesting detonation or dynamism connected to gunpowder: “The Exlvers.”
Down
1. Home match (4)
An alternative clue for home game or match-up in sports: “Ties.”
2. Nobleman seen in rear light (4)
Solvers will rethink terms for nobility aligned synonymously with light: “Earl.”
3. Brook’s features (11)
Detailed characteristic look of a waterbody involves terrain features: “Streamlining.”
4. Informed of second loo, did you say? (5,2)
A homophone suggestion clue suggesting “Second loo” as synonymously meaning “Told To”.
5. Initially didactic young lyricist (aged, now)? (5)
A young lyricist now aged can rephrase to popular music figures: “Dylan.”
7. Those two torture devices – for Spooner – they belong to bygone times (10)
Crossword solver’s legend Spoonerism implies wordplay rearranging cues. “Antiquated.”
8. Soldiers run away: traitors! (6,4)
The clue suggests military fleeing and correlated synonym for traitorous: “Deserters.”
12. 20 isn’t one – but here it is! (5,11)
Denoting chapter in puzzles coherent clue mapped to: “Missive Twenty”.
13. After period of maturity, fruit and cheese finally rot (10)
This wordplay implies decaying concepts coherent with: “Don’t Ripens.”
14. Everyman’s jokes? Of no significance (10)
A humor subtext with ordinary lead will phrase insignificant traits: “Pointless.”
18. Second aggressive fellow’s punky hairdos (7)
Slang scenario linked to rebellious hair fashion: “Mohawks.”
20. Ether, quaint number (5)
An archaic poetic numbering for age relevance synonyms: “Ninth.”
21. Globalism overwhelming island (4)
Political geography overwhelming small island specifics: “Isle.”
22. Island where you once sat next to small king (4)
Historic island synonymously meaning small reign: “Ulva.”
This batch of clues for the Sunday Crossword No. 3312 has definitely stoked the fires of logic and vocabulary prowess amongst solvers, truly reflecting the ingenious layouts synonymous with The Hindu’s puzzles. For enthusiasts, cracking these intricate clues is not just about solving a puzzle but wielding the zest for brain-teasers in leisure.
