Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Tuesday, December 7, 2010 (DT 26336)

Daily Telegraph Puzzle Number
DT 26336
Publication Date in The Daily Telegraph
Friday, September 3, 2010
Setter
Giovanni
Link to Full Review
Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 26336]
Big Dave's Review Written By
Gazza
Big Dave's Rating
Difficulty - *** Enjoyment - ***
Falcon's Performance
****

Introduction

I seemed to be tuned into the setter's frequency today and thought I might complete the puzzle without opening my Tool Chest. Alas, I stalled on the last clue (which was 24a). Thus, I finished one solution short of a perfect five stars. Furthermore, my performance was tainted by failing to pick up on the subtlety in 5d that is explained by Gazza in his review.

Today's Glossary

Selected abbreviations, people, places, words and expressions appearing in today's puzzle

Appearing in Solutions:

elevatedadjective 5 colloquial [seemingly British] slightly drunk

Inca - [American Heritage Dictionary] noun 1b. A ruler or high-ranking member of the Inca empire

lag 3 - noun British informal a person who has been frequently convicted and sent to prison: both old lags were sentenced to ten years' imprisonment

red top (not hyphenated) - [Oxford Dictionaries Online] noun British a tabloid newspaper
Although Oxford does not hyphenate the word, Collins does. Search Chambers does not include it:
red-top (hyphenated) - [Collins English Dictionary] noun a tabloid newspaper characterized by sensationalism [from the colour of the masthead on these publications]
rural dean - noun 1 British a member of the clergy exercising supervision over a group of parochial clergy within a division of an archdeaconry

Territorial Army (abbreviation TA) - noun in the UK: a fully trained volunteer force intended to provide back-up to the regular army in cases of emergency

Commentary on Today's Puzzle

18d Prosperous region as horrible place for one stranded by the coast? (8)

The two most prosperous regions of the UK are London and the area located (ironically) to the south and west of it, South East England. The two regions together constitute what seems to be colloquially referred to as the South East. For a more detailed discussion of this topic see my review of DT 26324.

Signing off for today - Falcon

2 comments:

  1. Again the top left held me up, but completed it this time.

    Last in: 1a, 4d, 13a, 24a!

    Filled in 24a without knowing why, had to see the explanation on BD.

    Favorite clue: 5d. Also enjoyed 19a, 11a, 21a, 22a, 15d.

    Falcon, take note of 10a! :)

    -- Pete

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi Pete,

    Yes I noted my namesake in 10a. I doubt if there is any connection; however, a British setter once produced a puzzle having Big Dave as the theme.

    Falcon

    ReplyDelete

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