Friday, September 17, 2010 (DT 26269)

This puzzle, which Tilsit tentatively attributes to Campbell, was originally published in The Daily Telegraph on Thursday, June 17, 2010

Introduction

I thought that this was going to be an exceptionally easy solve when the solutions to the first two or three clues that I looked at came to me almost instantly. However, that rate of progress soon slowed markedly. There was a broad range of clues in this puzzle, some easy ones to allow one to gain a foothold and some fairly difficult ones to exercise the grey matter.

Today's Glossary

Some possibly unfamiliar abbreviations, people, places, words and expressions used in today's puzzle

Used in Clues:

recorder - noun 3

• (Recorder)(in England and Wales) a barrister appointed to serve as a part-time judge
• British historical a judge in certain courts

sapper - noun

• a soldier responsible for tasks such as building and repairing roads and bridges, laying and clearing mines, etc.
• British a private soldier in the Corps of Royal Engineers

Used in Solutions:

Everyman - a late 15th-century English morality play

mug¹ - noun

• 3 British informal a stupid or gullible person
• 4 US informal a hoodlum or thug

RE - abbreviation (in the UK) Royal Engineers

Toby - dog in traditional British Punch and Judy puppet shows

Today's Links

Tilsit's review of today's puzzle may be found at Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 26269].

Commentary on Today's Puzzle

6d Not where they serve in doubles? (7,3)

As I read Tilsit's review, I pounced on his comment "what is the purpose of “in”? Surely the clue would read better without it." "Aha!", I said to myself, "He's missed the tennis reference!". I continued reading, secretly hoping that none of the Brits would pick up on it - thereby leaving me a scrap for my blog. However, the point did not slip by Gazza unnoticed.

The setter serves up a surface reading that is intended to misdirect us into thinking about tennis (the puzzle was published in the U.K. a week prior to the start of Wimbledon). However, what the setter actually has in mind is a type of drinking establishment - one he imagines draws its name, not from its clientele, but from the restricted range of drinks served therein.

Signing off for today - Falcon