Monday, March 31, 2014

Monday, March 31, 2014 — DT 27350

Puzzle at a Glance
Puzzle Number in The Daily Telegraph
DT 27350
Publication Date in The Daily Telegraph
Monday, December 2, 2013
Setter
Rufus (Roger Squires)
Link to Full Review
Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 27350]
Big Dave's Crossword Blog Review Written By
Big Dave
BD Rating
Difficulty - ★★ Enjoyment - ★★★★
Falcon's Experience
┌────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┐
██████████████████████████████████
└────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┘
Legend:
- solved without assistance
- incorrect prior to use of puzzle solving tools
- solved with assistance from puzzle solving tools
- solved with aid of checking letters provided by puzzle solving tools
- solved but without fully parsing the clue
- unsolved or incorrect prior to visiting Big Dave's Crossword Blog
- solved with aid of checking letters provided by solutions from Big Dave's Crossword Blog
- reviewed by Falcon for Big Dave's Crossword Blog
- yet to be solved

Introduction

Rufus serves up another enjoyable offering today— sprinkled with delightful cryptic definitions, a style of clue for which he is the acknowledged master. As usual, I found myself struggling to categorize some of his clues, which often straddle the boundary between clue types. One often observes different reviewers placing such clues in different baskets.

Although Big Dave rated this puzzle as only deserving two stars for difficulty, I found it to be considerably more challenging. With some effort, I completed the right-hand-side unaided but needed lots of help from my electronic assistants on the left-hand-side.

Notes on Today's Puzzle

This commentary is intended to serve as a supplement to the review of this puzzle found at Big Dave's Crossword Blog, to which a link is provided in the table above.

Definitions are underlined in the clue, with subsidiary indications being marked by means of a dashed underline in semi-all-in-one (semi-& lit.) clues and cryptic definitions.

Across


1a   Bob finds two causes of power failure (3,5)

6a   Seizure, or an attempt at seizure (6)

9a   Excellent to include it, within limits (6)

10a   English football team at home getting penalty finally for foul play (8)

Aston Villa Football Club[7] (commonly known as Villa) is an English professional association football [soccer] club based in Birmingham that plays in the Premier League (the top level in the English football league system).

11a   One after another (8)

12a   Point to Elizabeth’s favourite part of old England (6)

Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex[7] (1565 –1601) was an English nobleman and a favourite of Elizabeth I.

Wessex[5] was the kingdom of the West Saxons, established in Hampshire in the early 6th century and gradually extended by conquest to include much of southern England. The name was revived in the 19th century by Thomas Hardy to designate the south-western counties of England (especially Dorset) in which his novels are set.

13a   As in pre-stage make-up? (6,6)

Greasepaint[10] is a waxy or greasy substance used as make-up by actors.

The entire clue is intended to be the definition, although it does seem a bit awkward to me. I think the sense the surface reading is along the lines of "How pre-stage make-up may be described".

Greasepaint is theatrical or stage make-up. I surmise that "pre-stage" may allude to the fact that it is actually applied prior to going on stage.

16a   Sort of error that could make one late (5,7)

19a   Club porter (6)

21a   Mentions how one rears children (6,2)

Above you see my third attempt to mark the definition in this clue. On the first attempt, I marked it — like Big Dave — as a double definition with the two definitions being "mention" and "rears children". On the second attempt, I extended the second definition to be "how one rears children".

In the first instance, the words "how one" are not accounted for and I don't think one can simply dismiss them as a link phrase. In the second instance, the second definition just does not seem to ring true.

Thus I have elected to categorize the clue as a cryptic definition — admittedly one having a subsidiary indication that is a play on the phrase "brings up" meaning "rears children".

I suspect that calling this clue a cryptic definition rather than a double definition may be perceived by many as splitting hairs. I find that Rufus often produces clues which seem to straddle the boundaries of clue types.

23a   Give an orderto paint? (8)

Here, order[5] refers to the insignia worn by members of an order of honour or merit.

24a   Take articles from magazine? (6)

25a   Desert fault (6)

26a   Girl’s second and he’s getting sporting prize (3,5)

The Ashes[5] is a trophy for the winner of a series of Test matches [which are also commonly referred to as the Ashes] in a cricket season between England and Australia. The name arises from a mock obituary notice published in the Sporting Times (2 September 1882), with reference to the symbolical remains of English cricket being taken to Australia after a sensational victory by the Australians at the Oval [an international cricket ground in Kennington, in the London Borough of Lambeth].

A Test match[5] is an international cricket or rugby match, typically one of a series, played between teams representing two different countries.

Down


2d   Agreement to give son in marriage (6)

3d   Accident to make light of? (5)

The structure of this clue is not unlike that of 21a. While the clue relies on two different meanings of "spill", it is not structured as a double definition. Rather, I would say that the clue is a cryptic definition in which one meaning of the word "spill" (viz. accident) is used as the primary indication (or definition) and the other meaning of "spill" (viz. something used to light a fire) is used in the subsidiary indication.

A spill[5] is a thin strip of wood or paper used for lighting a fire, candle, pipe, etc..

The entire clue is a cryptic definition alluding to the adage, "Don't cry over spilled milk".

4d   Too much rudder admits first watch to master (9)

5d   Servant troubles making these establishments harder to run nowadays (7)

Here we have yet another instance of a Rufus clue that is difficult to pigeonhole. I think one must consider this to be a semi-all-in-one clue — a clue in which the entire clue serves as the definition. Embedded within the clue is the wordplay which, in this case, is an anagram.

6d   Admit everything with cry of pain (5)

7d   Come about a printer’s setting (9)

As an anagram indicator, setting is used as in the term "place setting", an arrangement of dishes and cutlery at the dinner table.

8d   Musical piece that may take longer if cut short (8)

Another cryptic definition. The definition is "musical piece". The phrase "that may take longer if cut short" cryptically adds precision to the definition. This phrase is a subsidiary indication since, standing on its own, it is virtually meaningless. It only assumes meaning when considered in conjunction with the definition "musical piece".

13d   Planned on a magnificent scale, but badly organised (9)

14d   Given freedom at bottom of page — nothing new to say (9)

15d   Like Biblical swine, eager and wild (8)

The Gadarene swine refers to a story in the New Testament that occurs in Mark 5:1-13 Bible-icon.png. Jesus meets a man who is possessed by devils. Jesus orders the devils to come out of the man. They [the devils] beg him to send them into a nearby herd of 2000 pigs. Jesus does so, and the swine immediately jump off a cliff into the sea, where they drown.

17d   Topic for study may need pencil and paperno ruler (7)

The first definition could well have been merely "topic" or even "topic for study". However, Rufus decorates it with an extra flourish to create a meaningful surface reading.

18d   Copper to rebuke one coming between vicar and his flock (6)

The symbol for the chemical element copper is Cu[5] (from Latin cuprum).

Rate[5] is an archaic term meaning to scold (someone) angrily he rated the young man soundly for his want of respect.

A curate[5] is a member of the clergy engaged as assistant to a vicar, rector, or parish priest. A member of the flock might well deal with the curate rather than directly with the vicar.

20d   Spot-on old-time variety performance? (5)

22d   Key list put out for government securities (5)

Gilts[5]  are fixed-interest loan securities issued by the UK government.
Key to Reference Sources: 

[1]   - The Chambers Dictionary, 11th Edition
[2]   - Search Chambers - (Chambers 21st Century Dictionary)
[3]   - TheFreeDictionary.com (American Heritage Dictionary)
[4]   - TheFreeDictionary.com (Collins English Dictionary)
[5]   - Oxford Dictionaries (Oxford Dictionary of English)
[6]   - Oxford Dictionaries (Oxford American Dictionary)
[7]   - Wikipedia
[8]   - Reverso Online Dictionary (Collins French-English Dictionary)
[9]   - Infoplease (Random House Unabridged Dictionary)
[10] - CollinsDictionary.com (Collins English Dictionary)
[11] - TheFreeDictionary.com (Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary)
Signing off for today — Falcon

Saturday, March 29, 2014

Saturday, March 29, 2014 — Lighting Up the Edges


Introduction

Today's puzzle from Cox & Rathvon uses an interesting grid. As the white squares in a crossword grid are known as "lights", one might say that the edges of this puzzle are "well-lit".






Solution to Today's Puzzle

Legend: "*" anagram; "~" sounds like; "<" letters reversed

"( )" letters inserted; "_" letters deleted; "†" explicit in the clue

Definitions are underlined in the clue, with subsidiary indications being marked by means of a dashed underline in semi-all-in-one (semi-& lit.) clues and cryptic definitions.

Across


1a   Merchants gaining deck hands' support for ships' drivers (5,10)

S(CREW| PROP)ELLERS — SELLERS (merchants) containing (gaining) {CREW (deck hands) + PROP (support)}

9a   Stand while surrounded by fish (5)

E(AS)EL — AS (while) containing (surrounded by) EEL (fish)

10a   A client is awfully rigid (9)

INELASTIC* — anagram (awfully) of A CLIENT IS

11a   King sloppy on soprano horns (7)

K|LAX|ON|S — K (king) + LAX (sloppy) + ON (†) + S (soprano)

12a   Country road ran all over (7)

ANDORRA* — anagram (all over) of ROAD RAN

13a   Approaches northern canal sites (5)

N|EARS — N (northern) + EARS (canal sites)

14a   A box with bland sweetener (9)

A|SPAR|TAME — A (†) + SPAR (box) + (with) TAME (bland)

17a   Recited story — calm bit at the end (9)

{TAIL|PIECE}~ — sounds like (recited) {TALE (story) + PEACE (calm)}

19a   Toothpaste top (5)

CREST — double definition; "[brand of] toothpaste" & "top"

20a   Odd impetus for busy periods (7)

UPTIMES* — anagram (odd) of IMPETUS

23a   Poor bloke is getting the shaft? (7)

OBELISK* — anagram (poor) of BLOKE IS

24a   Grace embraces first of lads, performing a dance (9)

PO(L|ON|A)ISE — POISE (grace) containing (embraces) {L (first [letter] of Lads) + ON (performing) + A (†)}

25a   Drive around a part of Europe (5)

SP(A)IN — SPIN (drive) containing (around) A (†)

26a   A storm saturates twisted part of a bird's leg (15)

TARSOMETATARSUS* — anagram (twisted) of A STORM SATURATES

Down


1d   Old amplifier reaching the maximum in "Tramp" (8,7)

S(PEAKING) TRUMPET — PEAKING (reaching the maximum) contained in (in) STRUMPET (tramp)

2d   Jamaican cultist, a saint, way off in Rhode Island (9)

R(A|ST|AFAR)I — {A (†) + ST (saint) + AFAR (way off)} contained in (in) RI (Rhode Island)

Rastafari[5] is a Jamaican cult, not a cultist. A member of the cult is known as a Rastafarian[5], or Rasta[5] for short.

The US Postal Service abbreviation for the state of Rhode Island[7] is RI.

3d   Observed taking survey backing routs (7)

{WA(LLOP)S}< — reversal (backing) of {SAW (observed) containing (taking) POLL (survey)}

4d   London gallery, after control's put back (9)

REINS|TATE — TATE (London gallery) following (after) REINS (control's)

The Tate Gallery[5] (commonly known simply as the Tate) is a national museum of art in London, England founded in 1897 by the sugar manufacturer Sir Henry Tate (1819–1899) to house his collection of modern British paintings, as a nucleus for a permanent national collection of modern art. It was renamed Tate Britain in 2000, when the new Tate Modern gallery opened.

5d   Two Greek characters in religious artwork (5)

PI|ETA — PI ([one] Greek character) + ETA ([another] Greek character)

Pi[5] is the sixteenth letter of the Greek alphabet (Π, π).

Eta[5] is the seventh letter of the Greek alphabet (Η, η).

6d   Bank at times accommodating a legendary swimmer (7)

LE(A)NDER — LENDER (bank at times) containing (accommodating) A (†)

In Greek mythology, Leander[5] was a young man, the lover of the priestess Hero. He was drowned swimming across the Hellespont to visit her.

7d   Log found in green terrain (5)

_EN|TER_ — hidden in (found in) greEN TERrain

8d   Pouches full of noodle soup, smoking, for an NBA team (10,5)

SAC(RAMEN|TO KING)S — SACS (pouches) containing (full of) {RAMEN (noodle soup) + TOKING (smoking)}

The Sacramento Kings[7] are a professional basketball team based in Sacramento, California that plays in the National Basketball Association (NBA).

15d   Carrying chicken sign, Dad marvels (9)

P(HEN|OMEN)A — PA (dad) containing (carrying) {HEN (chicken) + OMEN (sign)}

16d   A guy's acquiring pitcher Gagne for Yankees (9)

A|M(ERIC)ANS — A (†) + {MANS (guy's) containing (acquiring) ERIC (pitcher Gagne)}

Éric Gagné[7] is a Canadian former professional baseball pitcher. His career included stints with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Texas Rangers, Boston Red Sox and Milwaukee Brewers — but, in the real world, he never played for the New York Yankees.

18d   Spotted horse eating Maine pepper (7)

PI(ME)NTO — PINTO (spotted horse) containing (eating) ME (Maine)

The US Postal Service abbreviation for the state of Maine[7] is ME.

19d   London neighbourhood more into tea (7)

CH(ELSE)A — ELSE (more) contained in (into) CHA (tea)

Here "more" is used as it would be in the query "What more can you tell me?"

Cha[5] is an informal British name for tea.

Chelsea[5] is a residential district of London, on the north bank of the River Thames.

21d   Floor layer spilled litre (5)

TILER* — anagram (spilled) of LITRE

22d   Mountain ridge's small tree (5)

S|PINE — S (small) + PINE (tree)
Key to Reference Sources: 

[1]   - The Chambers Dictionary, 11th Edition
[2]   - Search Chambers - (Chambers 21st Century Dictionary)
[3]   - TheFreeDictionary.com (American Heritage Dictionary)
[4]   - TheFreeDictionary.com (Collins English Dictionary)
[5]   - Oxford Dictionaries (Oxford Dictionary of English)
[6]   - Oxford Dictionaries (Oxford American Dictionary)
[7]   - Wikipedia
[8]   - Reverso Online Dictionary (Collins French-English Dictionary)
[9]   - Infoplease (Random House Unabridged Dictionary)
[10] - CollinsDictionary.com (Collins English Dictionary)
[11] - TheFreeDictionary.com (Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary)
Signing off for today — Falcon

Friday, March 28, 2014

Friday, March 28, 2014 — DT 27349

Puzzle at a Glance
Puzzle Number in The Daily Telegraph
DT 27349
Publication Date in The Daily Telegraph
Saturday, November 30, 2013
Setter
Unknown
Link to Full Review
Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 27349 - Hints]
Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 27349 - Review]
Big Dave's Crossword Blog Review Written By
Big Dave - Hints
gnomethang - Review
BD Rating
Difficulty - ★★★ Enjoyment - ★★★
Falcon's Experience
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└────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┘
Legend:
- solved without assistance
- incorrect prior to use of puzzle solving tools
- solved with assistance from puzzle solving tools
- solved with aid of checking letters provided by puzzle solving tools
- solved but without fully parsing the clue
- unsolved or incorrect prior to visiting Big Dave's Crossword Blog
- solved with aid of checking letters provided by solutions from Big Dave's Crossword Blog
- reviewed by Falcon for Big Dave's Crossword Blog
- yet to be solved
Notes
As this was a Saturday "Prize Puzzle" in Britain, there are two entries related to it on Big Dave's Crossword Blog — the first, posted on the date of publication, contains hints for selected clues while the second is a full review issued following the entry deadline for the contest. The vast majority of reader comments will generally be found attached to the "hints" posting with a minimal number — if any — accompanying the full review.

Introduction

It took a fair amount of effort, but I eventually completed the puzzle without resorting to help from my electronic assistants.

Notes on Today's Puzzle

This commentary is intended to serve as a supplement to the review of this puzzle found at Big Dave's Crossword Blog, to which a link is provided in the table above.

Definitions are underlined in the clue, with subsidiary indications being marked by means of a dashed underline in semi-all-in-one (semi-& lit.) clues and cryptic definitions.

Across


4a   Aircraft making journey by road! (8)

8a   Using maximum effort, tenth wicket has been taken (3-3)

In cricket, to take a wicket[5] (said of a bowler or a fielding side) is to dismiss a batsman.

This clue would seem to escape being classified as a double definition only because the second definition does not match the numeration.

All-out[2] (spelled with a hyphen) is an adjective meaning using all one's strength, powers, etc.

All out[7] (with no hyphen) is a cricket term denoting that an innings is ended due to ten of the eleven batsmen on the batting side being either dismissed or unable to bat because of injury or illness.

In cricket, batsmen bat in pairs, one positioned at either end of the pitch. Once ten of the eleven batsmen have been dismissed, there are not enough batsmen left to constitute a pair.

9a   Stop to mend the lady’s old penny crock (8)

Crock[5] is used in the sense of a broken piece of earthenware.

A potsherd[5] is a broken piece of ceramic material, especially one found on an archaeological site.

10a   Raised voice in argument beside river in Cornwall (8)

The River Fal[7] flows through Cornwall, England, rising on Goss Moor and reaching the English Channel at Falmouth.

11a   Danger: Bill keeps caged rodent (6)

As gnomethang alludes to in his review, the hidden word indicator could equally well be deemed to be "keeps caged" with the definition being "rodent".

12a   Circuit avoided by motorcade upset politician (8)

Like gnomethang, I too questioned the use of "circuit" to clue the letter O.

13a   Problem — top teacher’s a revolutionary (8)

In Britain, head[5] is short for for headmaster[5] (a man who is the head teacher in a school), headmistress[5] (ditto for a woman), or head teacher[5] (the teacher in charge of a school).

Che Guevara[7] (1928 – 1967) was an Argentine Marxist revolutionary, physician, author, guerrilla leader, diplomat, and military theorist. A major figure of the Cuban Revolution, his stylized visage has become a ubiquitous countercultural symbol of rebellion and global insignia within popular culture.

16a   Sloppy sentimentality has space to grow quickly (8)

19a   In the open air, take clothes off — that’s better (8)

21a   One churchman or another going round Colorado (6)

A dean[7], in a religious context, is a cleric holding certain positions of authority within a religious hierarchy. The title is used mainly in the Anglican Communion, the Roman Catholic Church, and the Lutheran Church. In the Church of England and elsewhere in the Anglican Communion, the dean is the chief resident cleric of a cathedral or other collegiate church and the head of the chapter of canons. If the cathedral or collegiate church has its own parish, the dean is usually also rector of the parish.

In the Catholic, Anglican, and Orthodox Churches, a deacon[5] is an ordained minister of an order ranking below that of priest. On the other hand, in some Nonconformist Churches [Protestant Churches which dissent from the established Church of England], a deacon is a lay officer appointed to assist a minister, especially in secular affairs.

The US Postal Service abbreviation for the state of Colorado[7] is CO.

23a   Man casually meeting friend as a rule (8)

24a   Migrating bird is in Italian port (8)

Brindisi[7] is a city in the Apulia region of Italy, the capital of the province of Brindisi. Located on the Adriatic Sea, the city is a major port for trade with Greece and the Middle East.

25a   Cat not in life nine, frisky (6)

26a   The lengths a complete swine will go to? (5,3)

Down


1d   Skilful when holding a knife (7)

Believe it or not, this was my last one in! Judging by gnomethang's comments, I am in good company in that regard.

2d   Skip the whisky, it’s child’s play (9)

3d   Mount rotates, showing no energy for stationary part (6)

In a down clue, mount serves as a reversal indicator.

4d   11.59 am greeting? (3,2,3,7)

In Ireland, top of the morning[5] is a friendly morning greeting top of the morning to you, Inspectorand one that I am sure is well-known around the world.

5d   Essential to redraw triangle (8)

6d   Hungarian composer of memorable harmonies (5)

Franz Lehár[5] (1870–1948) was a Hungarian composer He is chiefly known for his operettas, of which the most famous is The Merry Widow (1905).

7d   See rich now in resort (7)

It would appear that gnomethang was a tad careless in his underlining. He has actually underlined the anagram fodder rather than the definition.

A see[10] is the diocese of a bishop, or the place within it where his cathedral or procathedral is situated.

Norwich[5] is a city in eastern England, the county town of Norfolk; population 171,500 (est. 2009). It is the site of Norwich Cathedral[7], the cathedral church for the Church of England Diocese of Norwich.

14d   Shy relative (4,5)

Shy[5] is a dated term meaning, as a noun, an act of flinging or throwing something at a target and, as a verb, to fling or throw (something) at a target he tore the spectacles off and shied them at her.

Aunt Sally[5] is (1) a game played in some parts of Britain in which players throw sticks or balls at a wooden dummy; (2) a dummy used in this game; or (3) a person or thing set up as an easy target for criticism today’s landowner is everyone’s Aunt Sally.

15d   Kind of circular that’s run out covering United Nations course (8)

In cricket, run out[5] (abbreviation ro[2]) means to dismiss (a running batsman) by breaking the wicket with the ball, or with the ball in the hand, while he is out of his ground[10] (i.e., the area from the popping crease back past the stumps, in which a batsman may legally stand).

17d   Discover a foreign planet (7)

In French, un[8] is the masculine singular form of the indefinite article.

18d   Wild flower’s name included (7)

Once again I found myself in the same boat as gnomethang, this being one of my last to solve.

20d   Jack provided fellow’s price list (6)

Tar[5] is an informal, dated term for a sailor. The term, which dates from the 17th century, is perhaps an abbreviation of tarpaulin, which was also used as a nickname for a sailor at that time.

F[2] is the abbreviation for Fellow (of a society, etc). For instance, it is found in professional designations such as FRAIC (Fellow of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada).

22d   Old town lake and waterway (5)

Cana[5] was an ancient small town in Galilee, where Christ is said to have performed his first miracle by changing water into wine during a marriage feast (John 2:1-11).
Key to Reference Sources: 

[1]   - The Chambers Dictionary, 11th Edition
[2]   - Search Chambers - (Chambers 21st Century Dictionary)
[3]   - TheFreeDictionary.com (American Heritage Dictionary)
[4]   - TheFreeDictionary.com (Collins English Dictionary)
[5]   - Oxford Dictionaries (Oxford Dictionary of English)
[6]   - Oxford Dictionaries (Oxford American Dictionary)
[7]   - Wikipedia
[8]   - Reverso Online Dictionary (Collins French-English Dictionary)
[9]   - Infoplease (Random House Unabridged Dictionary)
[10] - CollinsDictionary.com (Collins English Dictionary)
[11] - TheFreeDictionary.com (Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary)
Signing off for today — Falcon

Thursday, March 27, 2014

Thursday, March 27, 2014 — DT 27348

Puzzle at a Glance
Puzzle Number in The Daily Telegraph
DT 27348
Publication Date in The Daily Telegraph
Friday, November 29, 2013
Setter
Giovanni (Don Manley)
Link to Full Review
Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 27348]
Big Dave's Crossword Blog Review Written By
Gazza
BD Rating
Difficulty - ★★ Enjoyment - ★★★★
Falcon's Experience
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███████████████████████████████████
└────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┘
Legend:
- solved without assistance
- incorrect prior to use of puzzle solving tools
- solved with assistance from puzzle solving tools
- solved with aid of checking letters provided by puzzle solving tools
- solved but without fully parsing the clue
- unsolved or incorrect prior to visiting Big Dave's Crossword Blog
- solved with aid of checking letters provided by solutions from Big Dave's Crossword Blog
- reviewed by Falcon for Big Dave's Crossword Blog
- yet to be solved


Introduction

It is a rather gentle offering from Giovanni today.

Notes on Today's Puzzle

This commentary is intended to serve as a supplement to the review of this puzzle found at Big Dave's Crossword Blog, to which a link is provided in the table above. The underlined portion of the clue is the definition.

Across


1a   Boss making blunder right at the end (6)

Gaffer[5] is an informal British term for a person in charge of others; in other words, a boss street cleaners stopping for a smoke when their gaffer isn’t in the vicinity.

4a   Lady one’s seen in pubs (8)

A baroness[5,10] may be either the wife or widow of a baron or a woman holding the rank of baron in her own right either as a life peerage or as a hereditary rank. Baroness is not used as a form of address, baronesses usually being referred to as ‘Lady’.

9a   Small room unruly adolescent once stole from (6)

Loo[5] is an informal British term for a toilet. 

Ted[2] is short for Teddy boy[5], a slang term originally applied to a young man belonging to a subculture in 1950s Britain characterized by a style of dress based on Edwardian fashion (typically with drainpipe trousers, bootlace tie, and hair slicked up in a quiff) and a liking for rock-and-roll music.The name comes from from Teddy, pet form of the given name Edward (with reference to Edward VII's reign). Judging by the entry in the Chambers 21st Century Dictionary, it would appear that the term Teddy boy[2] is now applied to any unruly or rowdy adolescent male. 

10a   Fence lacking colour protecting one grave (8)

11a   Rex, awfully tired around day before feast, recovered (9)

Rex[5] (abbreviation R[5]) [Latin for king] denotes the reigning king, used following a name (e.g. Georgius Rex, King George) or in the titles of lawsuits (e.g. Rex v. Jones, the Crown versus Jones — often shortened to R. v. Jones).

13a   Ace bloke for being representative (5)

Bloke[5] is British slang for a man ⇒ he’s a nice bloke.

14a   It’s trend of novice sadly to be cocksure (4-9)

17a   _______ with ‘bursary’ in certain poetry (7,6)

21a   That woman concealing yen quietly becomes over-excited (5)

Piano[3,5] (abbreviation p[5]), is a musical direction meaning either (as an adjective) soft or quiet or (as an adverb) softly or quietly.

23a   Replace what sounds like great garden-centre product (9)

24a   Something potentially lethal in news report (8)

25a   Say, Dorothy’s brought round some filling food! (6)

Stodge[5] is an informal British term for food that is heavy, filling, and high in carbohydrates she ate her way through a plateful of stodge.

26a   People receiving gift from member of family by river (8)

The Tees[5] is a river of northeastern England which rises in Cumbria and flows 128 km (80 miles) generally south-eastwards to the North Sea at Middlesbrough.

27a   Bright old coin with name scratched out — old penny (6)

On 15 February 1971, known as Decimal Day[7], the United Kingdom and Ireland decimalised their currencies.

In the system used prior to Decimal Day, a penny[5] was equal to one twelfth of a shilling or 240th of a pound (and was abbreviated d, for denarius). In Britain's current decimal currency system, a penny is equal to one hundredth of a pound (and is abbreviated p).

A florin[5] is a former [pre-Decimal Day] British coin and monetary unit worth two shillings. A shilling[2] was a monetary unit and coin worth one twentieth of a pound or 12 old pence.

Down


1d   Gangster covered in blood abundantly (6)

Al Capone[5] (1899–1947) was an American gangster, of Italian descent. He dominated organized crime in Chicago in the 1920s and was indirectly responsible for many murders, including the St Valentine’s Day Massacre. He now dominates organized crime in Crosswordland.

2d   No way to receive the tradesman? (5,4)

A tradesman's entrance[10] (or tradesmen's entrance) is the entrance to a large house used by tradesmen to deliver goods and services; usually at the side or rear of the house.

3d   Religious type before getting a bit of money (7)

A mite[5] is a small coin, in particular a small Flemish copper coin of very low face value. A widow's mite[5] is a small monetary contribution from someone who is poor this is indeed the widow’s mite—it’s a whole shilling I’m giving you.

An eremite[5] is a Christian hermit or recluse.

5d   Is AB on hand working before onset of panic when this order’s given? (7,4)

As Gazza points out in his review, this is a semi-all-in-one clue. The entire clue is the definition, while the portion that I have marked with a dashed underline provides the wordplay.

In the Royal Navy, able seaman[5] (abbreviation AB[5]), is a rank of sailor above ordinary seaman and below leading seaman.

6d   The art of early plane manufacture? (7)

7d   What’s boarded a vessel the wrong way with clipped wings? Duck! (5)

8d   Copper full of energy participating in country watch (8)

In Britain, PC[5] is the abbreviation for a police constable ⇒ PC Bartholomew made his report.

12d   I put in chives and soys, stirring soup (11)

Vichyssoise[5] is a soup made with potatoes, leeks, and cream and typically served chilled and, judging by my experience, often spelled incorrectly!

15d   London resident, he, as kind to drop ‘h’? (4-5)

Another semi-all-in-one clue where, as in 5d, I have marked the wordplay with a dashed underline.

An East Ender[5,10] (or Eastender[2]) is a native or inhabitant of the East End of London, also known simply as the East End. A resident of the East End is also known as a cockney[5]. The cockney dialect is characterised by dropping H from the beginning of words and the use of rhyming slang[5].

16d   Secure as cat before secret has been divulged? (2,3,3)

I have marked this as a cryptic definition having one part ("secure") which is a standard definition and a second part (the remainder of the clue that I have marked with a dashed underline) which provides additional information to narrow the scope of the definition.

18d   Serious listener needing cosy spot (7)

19d   Graduate female (educated) beginning to languish in marriage (7)

The definition could certainly be merely "marriage" but I would think that it could equally well be "in marriage" as "marital happiness" might also be expressed as "happiness in marriage".

Educating Rita[7] is a 1980 stage comedy by British playwright Willy Russell that was the basis of a 1983 Academy Award winning film featuring Michael Caine and Julie Walters.

20d   Exist as CEO, top (6)

Top is used as a verb.

22d   US president leads a dance (5)

James Knox Polk[5] (1795–1849) was an American Democratic statesman, 11th President of the US 1845-9. His term of office resulted in major territorial additions to the US: Texas was admitted to the Union in 1845 and conflict with Mexico resulted in the annexation of California and the south-west two years later.
Key to Reference Sources: 

[1]   - The Chambers Dictionary, 11th Edition
[2]   - Search Chambers - (Chambers 21st Century Dictionary)
[3]   - TheFreeDictionary.com (American Heritage Dictionary)
[4]   - TheFreeDictionary.com (Collins English Dictionary)
[5]   - Oxford Dictionaries (Oxford Dictionary of English)
[6]   - Oxford Dictionaries (Oxford American Dictionary)
[7]   - Wikipedia
[8]   - Reverso Online Dictionary (Collins French-English Dictionary)
[9]   - Infoplease (Random House Unabridged Dictionary)
[10] - CollinsDictionary.com (Collins English Dictionary)
[11] - TheFreeDictionary.com (Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary)
Signing off for today — Falcon

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Wednesday, March 26, 2014 — DT 27347

Vacation Edition
Puzzle at a Glance
Puzzle Number in The Daily Telegraph
DT 27347
Publication Date in The Daily Telegraph
Thursday, November 28, 2013
Setter
Unknown
Link to Full Review
Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 27347]
Big Dave's Crossword Blog Review Written By
Big Dave
BD Rating
Difficulty - ★★ Enjoyment - ★★★
Notes
I am currently on vacation. Today's abbreviated posting was prepared prior to my departure and provides a link to the review at Big Dave's Crossword Blog for the puzzle that I expect to be published today. However, the National Post has been known to alter its publication schedule unexpectedly, so there is no guarantee that my forecast will necessarily prove to be accurate.


Signing off for today — Falcon

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Tuesday, March 25, 2014 — DT 27346

Vacation Edition
Puzzle at a Glance
Puzzle Number in The Daily Telegraph
DT 27346
Publication Date in The Daily Telegraph
Wednesday, November 27, 2013
Setter
Jay (Jeremy Mutch)
Link to Full Review
Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 27346]
Big Dave's Crossword Blog Review Written By
Big Dave
BD Rating
Difficulty - ★★ Enjoyment - ★★★
Notes
I am currently on vacation. Today's abbreviated posting was prepared prior to my departure and provides a link to the review at Big Dave's Crossword Blog for the puzzle that I expect to be published today. However, the National Post has been known to alter its publication schedule unexpectedly, so there is no guarantee that my forecast will necessarily prove to be accurate.


Signing off for today — Falcon

Monday, March 24, 2014

Monday, March 24, 2014 — DT 27345

Vacation Edition
Puzzle at a Glance
Puzzle Number in The Daily Telegraph
DT 27345
Publication Date in The Daily Telegraph
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
Setter
Unknown
Link to Full Review
Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 27345]
Big Dave's Crossword Blog Review Written By
Deep Threat
BD Rating
Difficulty - ★★ Enjoyment - ★★★
Notes
I am currently on vacation. Today's abbreviated posting was prepared prior to my departure and provides a link to the review at Big Dave's Crossword Blog for the puzzle that I expect to be published today. However, the National Post has been known to alter its publication schedule unexpectedly, so there is no guarantee that my forecast will necessarily prove to be accurate.


Signing off for today — Falcon

Saturday, March 22, 2014

Saturday, March 22, 2014 — Back to Basics


Introduction

I didn't spot any clear theme in today's puzzle from Cox & Rathvon. I did feel that it posed a bit more of a challenge than usual. It certainly didn't help that my grasp of first principles was found wanting.






Solution to Today's Puzzle

Legend: "*" anagram; "~" sounds like; "<" letters reversed
"( )" letters inserted; "_" letters deleted; "†" explicit in the clue
Definitions are underlined in the clue, with subsidiary indications being marked by means of a dashed underline in semi-all-in-one (semi-& lit.) clues and cryptic definitions.

Across


1a   Ire Douglas Wilder causes conversationalists (10)

DIALOGUERS* — anagram (wilder) of IRE DOUGLAS

Douglas Wilder[7] is an American politician, who served as the first African American to be elected as governor of Virginia and first African-American governor of any state since Reconstruction. Wilder served as the 66th Governor of Virginia from 1990 to 1994. When earlier elected as Lieutenant Governor, he was the first African American elected to statewide office in Virginia. His most recent political office was Mayor of Richmond, Virginia, which he held from 2005 to 2009.

6a   Some sheep employ speaking (4)

EWES~ — sounds like (speaking) USE (employ)

9a   Talk with Jerry Seinfeld's friend, "the Queen of her domain" (10)

CHAT|ELAINE — CHAT (talk) + (with) ELAINE (Jerry Seinfeld's friend)

Elaine Benes[7] is a fictional character on the American television sitcom Seinfeld (1989–1998), played by Julia Louis-Dreyfus. Elaine's best friend is her ex-boyfriend Jerry Seinfeld.

10a   Key is left by entrance at front (4)

IS|L|E_ — IS (†) + L (left) + E (entrance at front; initial letter (at front) of Entrance)

11a   Dinosaur stepped on back of coin (10)

DIME|TROD|ON — {TROD (stepped) + ON (†)} following (back of) DIME (coin)

12a   Tree used in landscape architecture (4)

_PE|AR_ — hidden in (in) landscaPE ARchitecture

14a   Shelter the French band in prison? (7)

SHACK|LE — SHACK (shelter) + LE (the French; masculine singular form of the French definite article)

16a   Gas consumed recent arrival (7)

NEON|ATE — NEON (gas) + ATE (consumed)

17a   Huge variety of cocaine (7)

OCEANIC* — anagram of (variety of) COCAINE

19a   Place in Iraq caught commercial's sound (7)

BAGHDAD~ — sounds like ('s sound; sound of) {BAGGED (caught) + AD (commercial}

20a   Looks at end of the agreement (4)

E|YES — E (end [final letter] of thE) + YES (agreement)

21a   Latinesque dancing in a row? (10)

SEQUENTIAL* — anagram (dancing) of LATINESQUE

24a   Gemstone belonging to Hopalong (4)

_OPAL_ — hidden in (belonging to) HOPALong

Hopalong Cassidy[7] is a fictional cowboy hero created in 1904 by American author Clarence E. Mulford (1883–1956), who wrote a series of popular short stories and many novels based on the character.

In his early writings, Mulford portrayed the character as rude, dangerous, and rough-talking. Beginning in 1935, the character—as played by movie actor William Boyd in films adapted from Mulford's books—was transformed into a clean-cut on-screen hero. A total of sixty-six immensely popular films were released, only a few of which relied on Mulford's original story lines. Mulford later revised and republished his earlier works to be more consistent with the character's new, polished on-screen persona.

25a   Puzzled zebras initially headed behind grass (10)

BAMBOO|Z|LED — {Z (zebras initially; initial letter of Zebras) + LED (headed)} following (behind) BAMBOO (grass)

26a   Shuffled okay deck (4)

KAYO* — anagram (shuffled) of OKAY

27a   Write city on the Loire about YMCA poker games (5,5)

PEN|N(Y) ANTES — PEN (write) + NANTES (city on the Loire) containing Y ([shortened form of] YMCA)

Nantes[5] is a city in western France, on the Loire [river], capital of Pays de la Loire region; population 290,871 (2006).

Down


1d   Chopped down on the rocks (5)

D|ICED — D (down) + ICED (on the rocks)

2d   Frighten Albert with weapon (5)

AL|ARM — AL ([shortened form of] Albert) + (with) ARM (weapon)

3d   Passing undisguised, a monarch (10)

OVERT|A|KING — OVERT (undisguised) + A (†) + KING (monarch)

4d   Confused Louanne with somebody else (7)

UNALONE* — anagram (confused) of LOUANNE

5d   Where some Burmese are controlled by thug (7)

RAN|GOON — RAN (controlled) + (by) GOON (thug)

Rangoon[5] is the former capital of Burma (Myanmar), a port in the Irrawaddy delta; population 4,088,000 (est. 2007). For centuries a Buddhist religious centre, it is the site of the Shwe Dagon Pagoda, built over 2,500 years ago. The modern city was established by the British in the mid 19th century and was the capital from 1886 until it was replaced by Naypyidaw in 2005.

7d   Tossed salad went nowhere? (9)

WASTELAND* — anagram (tossed) of SALAD WENT

8d   Lead in parade she organized (9)

SPEARHEAD* — anagram (organized) of PARADE SHE

13d   Writer going after hideous woman's cheese (10)

GORGON|ZOLA — ZOLA (writer) following (going after) GORGON (hideous woman)

Émile Zola[5] (1840–1902) was a French novelist and critic. His series of twenty novels collectively entitled Les Rougon-Macquart (1871–93), including Nana (1880), Germinal (1885), and La Terre (1887), attempts to show how human behaviour is determined by environment and heredity.

A gorgon[5] is a fierce, frightening, or repulsive woman. In Greek mythology, the gorgons were three sisters, Stheno, Euryale, and Medusa, with snakes for hair, who had the power to turn anyone who looked at them to stone. Medusa was killed by Perseus.

Gorgonzola[5] is a type of rich, strong-flavoured Italian cheese with bluish-green veins. 

14d   Knew roots damaged masonry (9)

STONEWORK* — anagram (damaged) of KNEW ROOTS

15d   Act as wood in a yellow primer (9)

A(BE|CEDAR)Y — {BE (act as) + CEDAR (wood)} contained in (in) {A (†) + Y (yellow)}

An abecedary[Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary] is a primer; the first principle or rudiment of anything.

18d   Burn bit of metal in forge (7)

CRE(M_)ATE — M (bit [initial letter] of Metal) contained in (in) CREATE (forge)

19d   Piece of beef with our good French liquor (7)

B_|OUR|BON — B (piece [initial letter] of Beef) + (with) OUR (†) + BON (good French;)

Bon[8] is the masculine, singular form of the French adjective meaning good.

22d   Bay leaf at first put in one bag (5)

I|N(L_)ET — L (leaf at first; initial letter of Leaf) contained in (put in) {I ([Roman numeral for] one) + NET (bag; as a verb}

23d   Rich sources for long poems (5)

L|ODES — L (long) + ODES (poems)
Key to Reference Sources: 

[1]   - The Chambers Dictionary, 11th Edition
[2]   - Search Chambers - (Chambers 21st Century Dictionary)
[3]   - TheFreeDictionary.com (American Heritage Dictionary)
[4]   - TheFreeDictionary.com (Collins English Dictionary)
[5]   - Oxford Dictionaries (Oxford Dictionary of English)
[6]   - Oxford Dictionaries (Oxford American Dictionary)
[7]   - Wikipedia
[8]   - Reverso Online Dictionary (Collins French-English Dictionary)
[9]   - Infoplease (Random House Unabridged Dictionary)
[10] - CollinsDictionary.com (Collins English Dictionary)
[11] - TheFreeDictionary.com (Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary)
Signing off for today — Falcon