Monday, April 2, 2018 — DT 28605 (Published Saturday, March 31, 2018)

Puzzle at a Glance

Puzzle Number in The Daily Telegraph DT 28605
Publication Date in The Daily Telegraph Friday, December 8, 2017
Setter Giovanni (Don Manley)
Link to Full Review Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 28605]
Big Dave's Crossword Blog Review Written By Deep Threat
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
Notes
This puzzle appears on the Monday Diversions page in the Saturday, March 31, 2018 edition of the National Post.

Introduction

Appropriately, there is a bit of cricket flavour to this puzzle as it appeared it the UK while the England national cricket team was in the midst of a tour of Australia. Although during this tour (which lasted from November to February) England played matches under various formats against several Australian and New Zealand teams, the premier event was the Test series (see explanation at 25a) against Australia (a series known as The Ashes). At the time the puzzle was published in The Daily Telegraph, England had lost the first two matches in the series to Australia and was to go on to lose the third match, tie the fourth match and then lose the final match for a 4-0 loss in the series. Thus, we see comments from the Brits bemoaning the state of modern-day British cricket.

At Comment #19 on Big Dave's Crossword Blog, Angellov remarks that she completed the puzzle on her "Jack Jones". On one's jack^[5] (or on one's Jack Jones) is a bit of Cockney rhyming slang (see explanation at 3d) denoting 'on one's own'.

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.

Click here for an explanation of conventions and symbols used in explaining the parsing of clues.

The purpose of this article is to explain the conventions and symbols that I use on this blog in explaining the parsing of clues.

Legend: The following symbols are used in reviews: "*" anagram "~" sounds like "<" indicates that the preceding letters are reversed "( )" encloses contained letters "_" replaces letters that have been deleted "†" indicates that the word is present in the clue

The review of a clue takes the following general structure:

#a/d   Clue containing parsing markup (num^*)

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^* num = numeration

Explanations pertaining to the wordplay (or first definition in a double definition)

(Horizontal separator)

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Explanations pertaining to the definition (or second definition in a double definition) and solution.

Explanatory Box

An explanatory box provides additional information about the clue. In most cases this information will not necessarily help in solving the clue but provides information about the clue. In the case of the weekday syndicated Daily Telegraph puzzles, such information is often intended to help the North American solver appreciate how the clue may be perceived by a British solver. These boxes may also provide information on people, places, films, television programmes, works of art and literature, etc. mentioned in the clue. Although the titles of these boxes will usually be drawn from a standard list, I do occasionally throw in a title specifically suggested by the subject at hand. The standard titles include: Scratching the Surface - an explanation of the surface reading of the clue Delving Deeper - in-depth information pertaining to a subject mentioned in an explanation Behind the Picture - for weekday puzzles, information about an illustration found on Big Dave's Crossword Blog What did he/she/they say? - for weekday puzzles, an explanation of a remark made in a review or comment on Big Dave's Crossword Blog What are they talking about? - for weekday puzzles, an explanation of a discussion on Big Dave's Crossword Blog One box that may provide information that could prove helpful in solving the clue is the following: Here and There - for weekday puzzles, discusses words whose British meaning differs from their North American meaning

Note that there are many types of cryptic crossword clue and it is not my intention to exhaustively go through all of them here. I will only deal with clue types to the extent necessary to explain the conventions and symbols used on the blog. Furthermore, be aware that, in the world of cryptic crosswords, there seems to be an exception to every rule.

With one exception that I can think of, cryptic crossword clues provide two routes to the solution. These are commonly referred to as the definition and wordplay. While these terms serve well for most clues, there are some cases where the more formal terms of primary indication and subsidiary indication may be more appropriate.

Most cryptic crossword clues consist of a definition (primary indication) and wordplay (subsidiary indication). The definition may be a "precise definition" (a definition that is either taken straight from a dictionary or at least phrased in a non-misleading fashion) or it may be a "cryptic definition" (a definition misleadingly phrased so as to misdirect the solver either with respect to the meaning of the definition as a whole or to an incorrect sense of a word used in the definition).

The only type of clue that I can think of where there are not two ways of finding the solution are those in which the entire clue is a cryptic definition.

I identify precise definitions by marking them with a solid underline in the clue and cryptic definitions by marking them with a dotted underline.

In clues in which both definition and wordplay are present, the two parts of the clue combine to provide an overall meaningful statement (the surface reading) which usually bears no relationship to the underlying cryptic reading of the clue. In some cases, an extra word or phrase will be inserted into the clue to create a meaningful link between the definition and wordplay. I define clues which contain such a link word or link phrase as having an explicit link and clues which contain no link word or link phrase as having an implicit link.

I mark the existence of an explicit link by enclosing the link word or link phrase between forward slashes (/link/) and mark the existence of an implicit link with double forward slashes (//) positioned between the definition and wordplay.

Examples

A few examples may help to illustrate these points more clearly.

The first example is a clue used by Jay in DT 28573:

• 4d   Fellow left work // a failure (4)

Here the definition is "a failure" which is marked with a solid underline to show that it is a precise definition. The wordplay parses as F (fellow; abbrev.) + L (left; abbrev.) + OP (work; abbrev. used in music) which gives us the solution F|L|OP. The double forward slashes (//) between the definition and wordplay indicate the existence of an "implicit link" between the two parts of the clue (that is, no extra words are inserted into the clue to form the link).

The second example is a clue used by Giovanni in DT 28575:

• 29a   Female going to match // travels with mother in advance (10)

Here the definition "female going to match" is cryptic (the setter is attempting to misdirect our thoughts to a sports event rather than a marriage ceremony) and thus is marked with a a dotted underline. The wordplay is {RIDES (travels) + (with) MA (mother)} contained in (in) BID (advance) giving us the solution B(RIDES|MA)ID. As in the first example, the double forward slashes indicate the presence of an implicit link.

The third example is a clue used by Rufus is DT 28583:

• 18d   Knight caught by misplaced big blow /is/ staggering (8)

Here the definition is "staggering" which is marked with a solid underline to show that it is a precise definition. The wordplay parses as N ([chess symbol for] knight) contained in (caught in) an anagram (misplaced) of BIG BLOW producing the solution WOBBLI(N)G. Finally, forward slashes mark the link word (/is/).

I also use distinctive underlining to mark &lit.^[7] and semi-&lit. clues. Note that the reviewers on Big Dave's Crossword Blog generally prefer to refer to these clue types by the less pretentious names of all-in-one or semi-all-in-one clues respectively.

In an &lit. clue^[7] (or all-in-one clue) the entire clue provides not only the definition (when read one way), but under a different interpretation also serves as the wordplay.

In future, I will mark such clues with a combined solid and dashed underline. Although this is a departure from past practice, it would seem to make more sense than using a dotted underline as I have in the past). Henceforth, the dotted underline will be reserved for cryptic definitions.

In a semi-&lit. clue (or semi-all-in-one clue), either:

• the entire clue acts as the definition while a portion of the clue provides the wordplay; or
• the entire clue acts as the wordplay while a portion of the clue provides the definition.

For these clues, I will mark the definition with a solid underline and the wordplay with a  dashed underline. This means that a portion of the clue may have a solid underline, a portion of the clue may have a dashed underline and a portion of the clue may have a combined solid and dashed underline.

One final clue type is what I characterize as a cryptic definition comprised of a precise definition combined with cryptic elaboration. For example, in DT 28560 (setter unknown) the following clue appears:

•  26d   Heroic exploit, whichever way you look at it (4)

As the entire clue is a cryptic definition, it is marked with a dotted underline. The 'precise definition' is "heroic exploit" and is indicated by a solid underline.

Given the numeration, the precise definition could give rise to at least two solutions, DEED or FEAT. However, the 'cryptic elaboration' ("whichever way you look at it") indicates that the solution is a palindrome thereby immediately eliminating one of the two obvious choices.

Note that the part of the clue that I have called 'cryptic elaboration' does not provide a second independent route to the solution (as the wordplay would do in most other types of clue). Rather it merely provides a piece of additional information (elaboration) related to the 'precise definition'.

Again, this approach is a departure from past practice, but like the other changes mentioned previously is intended to remove inconsistencies in the way that I have been applying parsing markup to clues. The markup rules that I have been using until now evolved bit-by-bit over a long period of time resulting in some degree of internal inconsistency.

hide explanation

Across

4a   Sections /of/ American agents in groups (8)

G-man^[2] (likely short for Government man) is US slang for an agent of the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation).

8a   Gender king switched over -- // one of the ancient kings (6)

Rex^[5] (Latin for 'king', abbreviation R^[5]) is used in the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms (show explanation ) to denote the reigning king, used following a name (e.g. Georgius Rex, King George — often shortened to GR) or in the titles of lawsuits (e.g. Rex v. Jones, the Crown versus Jones — often shortened to R. v. Jones).

A Commonwealth realm^[7] is a sovereign state that is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations and shares the same person, currently Elizabeth II, as its head of state and reigning constitutional monarch, but retains a crown legally distinct from the other realms. There are currently sixteen Commonwealth realms, the largest being Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom with the remainder being smaller Caribbean and Pacific island nations.

hide explanation

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Xerxes I^[5] (circa 519–465 BC), son of Darius I, was king of Persia 486–465. His invasion of Greece achieved victories in 480 at Artemisium and Thermopylae, but defeats at Salamis (480) and Plataea (479) forced him to withdraw.

9a   Woman of the upper classes, friend // when Christmas comes round (8)

"of the upper classes" = 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 ⇒ 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). 

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10a   Like hot desert home /that's/ most calm (8)

11a   In this there will be praying // mantis on the move (6)

Matins^[5] (also mattins) is a Christian service of morning prayer, especially in the Anglican Church.

Scratching the Surface
The mantis[5] (aka praying mantis) is a slender predatory insect with a triangular head, which waits motionless for prey with its large forelegs folded like hands in prayer.

12a   Man perhaps following car having left // city (8)

The Isle of Man^[5] (abbreviation IOM^[5]) is an island in the Irish Sea which is a British Crown dependency having home rule, with its own legislature (the Tynwald) and judicial system.

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Carlisle^[5] is a city in northwestern England, the county town of Cumbria.

What did he say?

In his review on Big Dave's Crossword Blog, Deep Threat tells us that the final part of the solution is something of which Man (or Wight) is an example. The Isle of Wight[5] (abbreviation IOW[5]) is an island off the south coast of England, a county since 1974; population 131,700 (est. 2009); administrative centre, Newport. It lies at the entrance to Southampton Water (show more ) and is separated from the mainland by the Solent (show more ) and Spithead (show more ). Southampton Water[5] is an inlet of the English Channel opposite the Isle of Wight. The Solent[5] is a channel between the northwest coast of the Isle of Wight and the mainland of southern England. Spithead[5] is a channel between the northeast coast of the Isle of Wight and the mainland of southern England. It offers sheltered access to Southampton Water and deep anchorage. hide explanation

13a   Unfashionable parts of city // away from the centre (8)

16a   Professional army officer keeping to // correct procedure (8)

19a   There may be pollutant gases here? /It's/ uncertain (2,3,3)

I'm uncertain about the definition here. It seems to me that "up in the air" would be a better match.

The phrase in the air^[5] denotes that an event is felt by a number of people to be happening or about to happen ⇒ (i) panic was in the air; (ii) you can tell there's an election in the air.

The phrase up in the air^[5] (said of a plan or issue) means still to be settled or unresolved ⇒ the fate of the power station is up in the air.

21a   Seem to change sides finally, /making/ request for money? (6)

23a   Selfish types, // say, to sit around and start to swank (8)

Scratching the Surface
Swank[5] (verb) is an informal British term meaning to display one's wealth, knowledge, or achievements in a way that is intended to impress others ⇒ he was swanking about, playing the dashing young master spy.

24a   Menacing /coming from/ the left (8)

Sinister^[5] (Latin 'left') is an archaic and heraldic term denoting of, on, or towards the left-hand side (in a coat of arms, from the bearer's point of view, i.e. the right as it is depicted or seen by an observer).

25a   Old cricketer // building three-figure score (6)

Ton^[5] is an informal British term for a hundred, in particular a speed of 100 mph, a score of 100 or more, or a sum of £100 ⇒ he scored 102 not out^*, his third ton of the tour.

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^* Explanation: a cricket batsman had amassed 102 runs in his turn at batting when the innings ended with the dismissal of the tenth player on his team. Although he himself was not out, the team was out as he no longer had a batting partner. In cricket, batsmen always bat in pairs with one positioned at either end of the pitch. Unless terminated prematurely, the innings ends when ten of the eleven batsmen on the team have been dismissed and the remaining batsman is said to be 'not out'.

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Sir Leonard Hutton^[5] (1916–1990) was an English cricketer. He played for Yorkshire (1934–55) and for England (1937–55), scoring a record 364 in the 1938 test^* against Australia.

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^* Test^[5] (short for Test match)^[5] denotes an international cricket or rugby match, typically one of a series, played between teams representing two different countries ⇒ the Test match between Pakistan and the West Indies.

26a   Festival flower, one left out /in/ the wind (8)

A coincidentally timely clue for today.

Down

1d   Some of those Vera loved -- // quite a number (7)

2d   No longer having little room, hospital department /is/ first-class (9)

"hospital department" = ENT (show explanation )

Should you not have noticed, the ear, nose and throat (ENT^[2]) department is the most visited section, by far, in the Crosswordland Hospital.

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3d   Officials, // people telling others to 'old their tongue? (6)

An aitch dropped by the setter in the clue indicates that the solver must also drop one in the solution.

A cockney^[5,10] is a native of East London. Cockney is also the name of the dialect or accent typical of cockneys, which is characterised by dropping the aitch (H) from the beginning of words (as Deep Threat alludes in his hint) as well as the use of rhyming slang (show explanation ).

Rhyming slang^[5] is a type of slang that replaces words with rhyming words or phrases, typically with the rhyming element omitted. For example, butcher’s, short for butcher’s hook, means ‘look’ in cockney rhyming slang.

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4d   Moving feebly, tourist at // famous sight in America (6,2,7)

5d   Heartless man is thug, horrible // person with weapons (8)

6d   Make law -- // stick up document finally (5)

7d   Irish politician going about unaccompanied /is/ somehow able to grasp things (7)

In the Republic of Ireland, TD^[5] stands for Teachta Dála, Member of the Dáil^* ⇒ Tom Meaney TD.

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^* The Dáil^[5] (also Dáil Éireann) is the lower house of Parliament in the Republic of Ireland, composed of 166 members (called Teachtai Dála). It was first established in 1919, when Irish republicans proclaimed an Irish state.

14d   Everybody I have upset scoffed, /revealing/ temper (9)

15d   One carving out a living? (8)

I would say that this is a cryptic definition with a more or less precise definition embedded in it.

17d   It's not original // material, article about tailless insects (7)

Rep^[5] (also repp) is a fabric with a ribbed surface, used in curtains and upholstery.

18d   Loud way of talking putting daughter off // stories (7)

"loud" = F (show explanation )

Forte^[5] (abbreviation f^[5]) is a musical direction meaning (as an adjective) loud or (as an adverb) loudly.

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20d   Leaders in public health in city once /getting/ prize (6)

In Homeric legend, Troy^[5] (also called Ilium) is the city of King Priam, besieged for ten years by the Greeks during the Trojan War.

Delving Deeper
Troy was regarded as having been a purely legendary city until Heinrich Schliemann identified the mound of Hissarlik on the northeastern Aegean coast of Turkey as the site of Troy. The city was apparently sacked and destroyed by fire in the mid 13th century BC, a period coinciding with the Mycenaean civilization of Greece.

22d   Poet /in/ small room, endlessly upset (5)

The small room^[5] (or the smallest room^[5]) is a way^* — variously described as rare, old-fashioned, humorous, informal, and euphemistic — of referring to the lavatory (the room rather than the fixture) ⇒ In our opinion, the smallest room can provide you with the greatest interior design challenge.

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^* Judging by its dictionary appearances, this would appear to be a British expression.

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T. S. Eliot^[5] (1888–1965) was an American-born British poet, critic, and playwright; full name Thomas Stearns Eliot. Associated with the rise of literary modernism, he was established as the voice of a disillusioned generation by The Waste Land (1922). Four Quartets (1943) revealed his increasing involvement with Christianity. He was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1948.

Delving Deeper

In 1939, Eliot published a book of light verse, Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats[7] ("Old Possum" was fellow American expatriate poet Ezra Pound's nickname for him). In 1954, composer Alan Rawsthorne set six of the poems for speaker and orchestra in a work titled Practical Cats. After Eliot's death, the book was adapted as the basis of the musical Cats by Andrew Lloyd Webber, first produced in London's West End in 1981 and opening on Broadway the following year.

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)
^[12] - CollinsDictionary.com (Webster’s New World College Dictionary)
^[13] - MacmillanDictionary.com (Macmillan Dictionary)
^[14] - CollinsDictionary.com (COBUILD Advanced English Dictionary)

Signing off for today — Falcon