Daily Telegraph Puzzle Number DT 26374 | |
Publication Date in The Daily Telegraph Monday, October 18, 2010 | |
Setter Rufus | |
Link to Full Review Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 26374] | |
Big Dave's Review Written By Libellule | |
Big Dave's Rating | |
| Difficulty - ** | Enjoyment - *** |
Falcon's Performance ┌────┬────┬────┬────┐ ████████████████████ └────┴────┴────┴────┘ | |
Notes The National Post has skipped DT 26373 which was published in The Daily Telegraph on Saturday, October 16, 2010 | |
Introduction
A less than stellar day today. Despite this puzzle being rated only two stars for difficulty, I had to resort to my Tool Chest fairly early - and even it let me down. I finally threw in the towel with two clues left to solve (10a and 6d). As indicated by the red zone in the performance bar above, I needed help from Libellule's hints to complete the puzzle.
Today's Glossary
Selected abbreviations, people, places, words and expressions appearing in today's puzzle
Appearing in Solutions:
rating2 - noun dated an angry reprimand
Abbreviations & Symbols:
inst. - abbreviation dated (in business letters) instant, adjective 3 of the current month: we are pleased to acknowledge receipt of your letter of 14 inst
it2 - noun British informal, dated Italian vermouth: he poured a gin and it
JP - abbreviation (in the UK) Justice of the Peace
The office of Justice of the Peace also exists in many jurisdictions around the world, including Canada and parts of the United States.M1 - noun 2 the Roman numeral for 1,000
Mini - a small car that was made by the British Motor Corporation (BMC) and its successors from 1959 until 2000 and produced by BMW from 2001 onwards.
MP - noun a Member of Parliament: more than 80 MPs have signed the Commons motion
post2 - noun 1 chiefly British the official service or system that delivers letters and parcels: winners will be notified by post; the tickets are in the post
- letters and parcels delivered: she was opening her post
- [in singular] a single collection or delivery of mail: entries must be received no later than first post on 14 June
In Canada, one would not expect to see post used as a noun in this sense. However, it would not be all that unusual to see it used as a verb.s - abbreviation [6th entry] (in genealogies) son(s)
St - abbreviation [2nd entry] (usually St.) Street: 10 Downing St
WI - abbreviation [3rd entry] British [but hardly entirely British] Women's Institute, an organization of women, especially in rural areas, who meet regularly and participate in crafts, cultural activities, and social work. Now worldwide, it was first set up in Ontario, Canada, in 1897, and in Britain in 1915.
Commentary on Today's Puzzle
This commentary should be read in conjunction with the review at Big Dave's Crossword Blog, to which a link is provided in the table above.
4a Supporter seen here and there on the move (8)
The wordplay in this clue is an anagram (on the move) of AND THERE which produces the result ADHERENT. The definition is clearly "supporter", but that leaves "seen here" unaccounted for.
Sometimes we are required to ignore punctuation in clues, and other times we must insert it. I think the latter is called for here. I suspect that we are intended to read the clue as:
- Supporter seen here (and there on the move).
- Supporter seen where? In 'and there on the move'.
- Supporter seen in 'and there on the move'.
- Supporter produced by 'and there on the move'.
13a True figure is in this region (5)
While one often sees larger Roman numerals (L, C, D, or M) clued as "large number" or "many", the use of "figure" to stand for the Roman numeral M has to rank among the vaguest substitutions that I have ever encountered.
28a Served a diet now in fashion (6,2)
The definition is "served" for which the solution is WAITED ON. The wordplay is an anagram (in fashion) of A DIET NOW. Here fashion is used in the sense of "to make into a particular form". As for the word "in", it appears to be a bit of padding to enhance the surface reading.
15d Feeling irritable? (5)
Like many of the Brits, I didn't find this clue very cryptic. I felt I must surely have overlooked something in the clue, but that would seem not to be case.
27d Meat for a prodigal son? (4)
This is another clue that I didn't much care for (although I am a bit less averse to it than I am to 15d). According to Libelluel, the solution is just "Another word for the meat of a “fatted calf”". Well, I saw that - but what is so cryptic about it?
Signing off for today - Falcon
Greets, Falcon.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that several of the clues were questionable.
4a: "seen here" is completely redundant. If you are thinking of inserting punctuation, how about this?
Supporter seen here: and there on the move
10a: maybe an attempt at an all-in-one, with the sense of "persistence"?
12a I didn't get at all, left it blank. Meaning is new to me.
20a seemed a bit weak. The answer would seem to be "was shortchanged".
15d: not cryptic at all.
7d: it seems to me there is quite a difference in pronunciation between "elicit" and "illicit". I would give the first a long "e". Is it just me?
13a: such an old chestnut, the "figure" is forgivable. :)
28a: I agree the word "in" is overused.
Second meaning of 22d new to me.
Not to take anything away from Rufus; I always enjoy his puzzles. Did you see his story? Setting puzzles since 1963!!
Many excellent clues as well, including 21d, 26d, 11d, 18d, 19d, 30a, and 27d my fave. :)
I liked 27d. I am starting to understand cryptic clues and even beginning to like them, and Rufus is better at them than almost anybody.
Despite everything, I would agree with enjoyment level of 3. :)
Cheers
- Pete
Hi Pete,
ReplyDeleteWelcome back to the blog,
Re 4a: Your suggestion for punctuation may be even better than mine. The point not to be overlooked is that the missing punctuation is a deliberate effort by the setter to create misdirection (which is what makes the clue 'cryptic').
Re 10a: I would say that it is what is known as a semi & lit. (all-in-one). As you quite rightly point out, the entire clue constitutes the definition while the wordplay comprises only a portion of the clue (as compared to a true & lit., in which the entire clue would also make up the wordplay).
Re 20a: I felt the same as you and spent a good deal of time in vain trying to construct an example that would work.
Re 7d: Again my thoughts mirrored your comment - until I checked the pronunciation at theFreeDictionary.com. If the sound samples found there (elicit, illicit) are to be believed, then - in each case - the British pronunciation uses a long 'e' and the American a short 'i'. This would appear to be the rare case where a homophone clue works on both sides of the Atlantic (even though the pronunciation varies between Britain and the U.S.). However, not unlike yourself, it doesn't work for me, since apparently - in typical Canadian fashion - I pronounce elicit in the British style and illicit the American way.
Falcon