Puzzle at a Glance
|
|---|
Puzzle Number in The Daily Telegraph
DT 28580 | |
Publication Date in The Daily Telegraph
Thursday, November 9, 2017 | |
Setter
Unknown | |
Link to Full Review
Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 28580] | |
Big Dave's Crossword Blog Review Written By
pommers | |
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
Those still recovering from an overdose late night and early morning Olympic viewing may be grateful that today's puzzle is not overly challenging.I invite you to leave a comment to let us know how you fared with the puzzle.
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.
Primary indications (definitions) are marked with a solid underline in the clue; subsidiary indications (be they wordplay or other) are marked with a dashed underline in semi-all-in-one (semi-&lit.) clues. All-in-one (&lit.) clues and cryptic definitions are marked with a dotted underline. Explicit link words and phrases are enclosed in forward slashes (/link/) and implicit links are shown as double forward slashes (//).
Primary indications (definitions) are marked with a solid underline in the clue; subsidiary indications (be they wordplay or other) are marked with a dashed underline in semi-all-in-one (semi-&lit.) clues. All-in-one (&lit.) clues and cryptic definitions are marked with a dotted underline. Explicit link words and phrases are enclosed in forward slashes (/link/) and implicit links are shown as double forward slashes (//).
Across
1a Spray // a rose growing wild over back of wall (7)
"over" = O (show explanation )
On cricket scorecards, the abbreviation O[5] denotes over(s), an over[5] being a division of play consisting of a sequence of six balls bowled by a bowler from one end of the pitch, after which another bowler takes over from the other end.
hide explanation
On cricket scorecards, the abbreviation O[5] denotes over(s), an over[5] being a division of play consisting of a sequence of six balls bowled by a bowler from one end of the pitch, after which another bowler takes over from the other end.
hide explanation
9a Screenplay /shows/ bouquet last character's dropped by a Spanish river (8)
The Spanish word for 'river' is rio[8].
10a One longing apparently to take in first sign of Himalayan // wild cat (7)
11a Eastern European journalist // of impeccable appearance (8)
12a Worries shown by son /giving/ affectionate gesture (6)
13a Note trail winding around river // with a rushing stream? (10)
15a Toy /with/ cricket side, leading to duck (4)
"cricket side" = LEG (show explanation )
In cricket, the leg[5] (also called leg side) is the half of the field (as divided lengthways through the pitch) away from which the batsman’s feet are pointed when standing to receive the ball ⇒
Another name for the leg is the on[5] (also known as on side).
The other half of the field is known as the off[5] (also called off side).
hide explanation
In cricket, the leg[5] (also called leg side) is the half of the field (as divided lengthways through the pitch) away from which the batsman’s feet are pointed when standing to receive the ball ⇒
he played a lucky stroke to leg.
Another name for the leg is the on[5] (also known as on side).
The other half of the field is known as the off[5] (also called off side).
hide explanation
"duck" = O (show explanation )
In cricket, a duck[5] (short for duck's egg) is a batsman’s score of nought [zero] ⇒
In British puzzles, "duck" is used to indicate the letter "O" based on the resemblance of the digit "0" to this letter.
hide explanation
In cricket, a duck[5] (short for duck's egg) is a batsman’s score of nought [zero] ⇒
he was out for a duck. This is similar to the North American expression goose egg[5] meaning a zero score in a game.
In British puzzles, "duck" is used to indicate the letter "O" based on the resemblance of the digit "0" to this letter.
hide explanation
Scratching the Surface
| |
|---|---|
| The surface reading alludes to a situation in which a bowler on a fielding cricket team completely and utterly outplays (toys with) a batsman on the opposing team, dismissing the batter without giving up a run. |
16a Bird // fluttering in part, game that's tailless (9)
21a Roundish figure // not viable, regularly discounted (4)
22a Youth in black, Essen's outsiders, rejected food /in/ European city (10)
A goth[5] is a member of a subculture favouring black clothing, white and black make-up, and goth* music.
* Goth[5] is a style of rock music derived from punk, typically with apocalyptic or mystical lyrics.
Scratching the Surface
| |
|---|---|
| Essen[5] is an industrial city in the Ruhr valley, in northwestern Germany. |
What are they talking about?
| |
|---|---|
Among the comments on Big Dave's Crossword Blog, there are several mentions ofa city with a name like a multi coloured cake.  The cake was purportedly named in honour of the marriage of Princess Victoria, a granddaughter of Queen Victoria, to Prince Louis of Battenberg in 1884. The name refers to Battenberg, a town in central Germany that is the seat of the aristocratic Battenberg family. During World War I, members of the Battenberg family residing in the UK changed their name to Mountbatten[7] due to rising anti-German sentiment amongst the British public. |
24a Bring out // priest before start of church appeal (6)
In the Bible, Eli[5] is a priest who acted as a teacher to the prophet Samuel (1 Sam. 1-3).
"It"[7] (written in quotation marks) is a term that has come to mean sex appeal — although, in its earliest manifestation, it seems that the term pertained more to personality than to glamorous looks. Despite having been used as early as 1904 by Rudyard Kipling, the term was popularized in the 1927 film It starring Clara Bow (who became known as the "It Girl").
25a Rice, perhaps, // strictly cooked with time once taken for one (8)
Sir Tim Rice[5] is an English lyricist and entertainer. Together with Andrew Lloyd Webber he co-wrote a number of hit musicals, including Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (1968), Jesus Christ Superstar (1971), and Evita (1978). He has won three Oscars for best original film song (1992, 1994, and 1996).
27a Swore by // shed adjoining rear of garden (5,2)
28a Article about posh parliamentarian -- // losers may get it (8)
"posh" = U (show explanation )
In Britain, U[5] is used informally as an adjective (in respect to language or social behaviour) meaning characteristic of or appropriate to the upper social classes ⇒
The term, an abbreviation of upper class, was coined in 1954 by Alan S. C. Ross, professor of linguistics, and popularized by its use in Nancy Mitford's Noblesse Oblige (1956).
In Crosswordland, the letter U is frequently clued by words denoting "characteristic of the upper class" (such as posh or superior) or "appropriate to the upper class" (such as acceptable).
hide explanation
In Britain, U[5] is used informally as an adjective (in respect to language or social behaviour) meaning characteristic of or appropriate to the upper social classes ⇒
U manners.
The term, an abbreviation of upper class, was coined in 1954 by Alan S. C. Ross, professor of linguistics, and popularized by its use in Nancy Mitford's Noblesse Oblige (1956).
In Crosswordland, the letter U is frequently clued by words denoting "characteristic of the upper class" (such as posh or superior) or "appropriate to the upper class" (such as acceptable).
hide explanation
"parliamentarian" = MP (show explanation )
In Britain (as in Canada), a politician elected to the House of Commons is known as a Member of Parliament[10] (abbreviation MP[5]) or, informally, as a member[5].
hide explanation
In Britain (as in Canada), a politician elected to the House of Commons is known as a Member of Parliament[10] (abbreviation MP[5]) or, informally, as a member[5].
hide explanation
29a A rest organised around two lakes /is/ excellent (7)
Down
2d English chap with date arranged // came out (8)
Chap[3,4,11] is an informal British[5] or chiefly British[3] term for a man or boy (show explanation ) — although a term that is certainly not uncommon in Canada.
Chap[3,4,11] is a shortened form of chapman[3,4,11], an archaic term for a trader, especially an itinerant pedlar[a,b].
[a] Pedlar is the modern British spelling of peddler[14] which, in most senses, is a US or old-fashioned British spelling. The exception is in the sense of a dealer in illegal drugs which the Brits spell as drug peddler.
[b] The current meaning of chap[2] dates from the 18th century. In the 16th century, chap meant 'a customer'. The dictionaries do not explain how a shortened form of 'chapman' (pedlar) came to mean 'customer'.
hide explanation
Chap[3,4,11] is a shortened form of chapman[3,4,11], an archaic term for a trader, especially an itinerant pedlar[a,b].
[a] Pedlar is the modern British spelling of peddler[14] which, in most senses, is a US or old-fashioned British spelling. The exception is in the sense of a dealer in illegal drugs which the Brits spell as drug peddler.
[b] The current meaning of chap[2] dates from the 18th century. In the 16th century, chap meant 'a customer'. The dictionaries do not explain how a shortened form of 'chapman' (pedlar) came to mean 'customer'.
hide explanation
3d Like a day-tripper with a bus pass, perhaps // unawares (2,3,3)
In his review on Big Dave's Crossword Blog, pommers appears to suggest that this entire clue is a cryptic definition. I would say that it is a double definition, with the first definition being a bit cryptic.
The first definition would seem to be a play on a melange of the following ideas. A hop[5] is a short journey or distance ⇒
a short hop by cab from Soho. Hop-on, Hop-off bus tours are fixtures in major cities around the world. A bus pass enables one to board such a service an unlimited number of times over a fixed period, usually one or two days. The phrase on the hop[5] denotes bustling about or busy.
On the hop[5] is an informal British expression meaning unprepared ⇒
he was caught on the hop.
4d Batches of deliveries by coach /producing/ labour excessively (10)
In cricket, an over[5] is a division of play consisting of a sequence of six balls bowled by a bowler from one end of the pitch, after which another bowler takes over from the other end.
5d Repetition, // one that precedes foxtrot? (4)
Foxtrot[5] is a code word representing the letter F, used in radio communication.
6d Restaurant // help served up in hostelry (6)
Indian[5] is an informal British term for an Indian meal or restaurant.
7d Old-fashioned // bridge based on excellent carbon (7)
"excellent" = AI (show explanation )
A1[4][5] or A-one[3] meaning first class or excellent comes from a classification for ships in The Lloyd's Register of Shipping where it means equipped to the highest standard or first-class.
hide explanation
A1[4][5] or A-one[3] meaning first class or excellent comes from a classification for ships in The Lloyd's Register of Shipping where it means equipped to the highest standard or first-class.
hide explanation
"carbon" = C (show explanation )
8d Try replacement for lad on // Italian vessel (7)
As an anagram indicator, "replacement" is used in the whimsical sense of 'repositioning'. Although dictionaries tell us that replace means to put (something) back in a previous place or position, the setter reasons that since place and position are synonyms then it must logically follow that replace must mean reposition or move (something) to a different position.
11d Supreme // soldier on horse (9)
Para[4,11] (short for paratrooper) is a soldier in an airborne unit.
14d Declaration anticipating union // battle (10)
17d Fanciful // Latin soon translated with no end of prowess (8)
18d Insanity, being about to book /in/ Canadian province (8)
19d Acrobat shows this // delicacy without leading duo (7)
What did he say?
| |
|---|---|
In his review on Big Dave's Crossword Blog, pommers writes that the solution isCrufts[7] is an umbrella term for an international canine event sponsored and hosted by The Kennel Club (the official kennel club of the United Kingdom) held annually in Birmingham, England. Crufts is centred on a championship conformation show for dogs but also includes a large trade show of mainly dog-related goods and services and competitions in dog agility, obedience, flyball and heelwork to music. Crufts is the largest show of its kind in the world, as declared by Guinness World Records.* }a skill shown by ... dogs at Crufts. * Crufts was named after its founder, Charles Cruft. His first first dog show, billed as the "First Great Terrier Show", took place in 1886. The first show to incorporate the name "Crufts"—"Cruft's Greatest Dog Show"—was held in 1891. The Kennel Club was criticised on the BBC programme Pedigree Dogs Exposed for allowing breed standards, judging standards and breeding practices which are said to compromise the health of purebred dogs. The programme led various sponsors to withdraw. The BBC dropped Crufts 2009 from their coverage after being unable to agree to terms with The Kennel Club. |
20d Fledgling company // to rise suddenly (5-2)
Although pommers marks this as a double definition in his review, I have not done so as the numeration would be (5,2) were the second part to be a definition.
A start-up[10] is a business enterprise that has been launched recently ⇒
For now the only bright spots in the labor market are small businesses and high-tech start-ups.[10]
Start up[10] means to to spring or jump suddenly from a position or place.
23d Save // piece of text right for deletion (6)
26d Feature of kitchen /in/ decline (4)
Key to Reference Sources:Signing off for today — Falcon
[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)
[12] - CollinsDictionary.com (Webster’s New World College Dictionary)
[13] - MacmillanDictionary.com (Macmillan Dictionary)
[14] - CollinsDictionary.com (Collins COBUILD Advanced English Dictionary)
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.