This puzzle was originally published Wednesday, February 25, 2009 in The Daily Telegraph
Introduction
Although it was difficult to find a starting point in today's puzzle, once I finally did manage to get under way, the solution unfolded fairly smoothly. However, I did have an incorrect solution for one clue and missed some wordplay on one or two others.
Today's Glossary
Some possibly unfamiliar abbreviations, people, places, words and expressions used in today's puzzle
hook - a type of cricket stroke
make the running - Brit. to be the person who causes things to happen and develop
OR - military other ranks (abbrev. defn. 3)
ratty - Brit. informal bad-tempered and irritable (defn. 4)
River Forth - a major river in Scotland
River Test - a river in Hampshire, England
Tourist Trophy (TT) - a motorcycle racing event held on the Isle of Man
trad - traditional jazz or folk music
Today's Links
Big Dave's efforts to promote his site may be paying off as I found no questions on AnswerBank discussing today's puzzle. Or maybe the Brits just found this puzzle to be very easy.
Libellule's review of today's puzzle may be found at Big Dave's Telegraph Crossword Blog [DT 25861].
Commentary on Today's Puzzle
23ac Otter represented in colour by old painter (10)
By my reading, the wordplay in this clue is slightly more complex than the review on Big Dave's blog would tend to suggest. Rather than being simply an anagram-type clue, I believe it is a combination of an anagram-type clue and a containership-type clue, as illustrated by the following parsing:
23ac {OTTER represented (anagram indicator) → TORET} {in (containership indicator) colour [TIN^T]} {by (positional indicator)} old [O] /\ painter [TIN(TORET)T|O] (10)
While the the wordplay in a clue may sometimes be such that the order of operations is not clearly specified, I don't think that is the case with this clue. However, I always stand ready to be corrected.
As an aside, it may be informative to consider a couple of variations on this clue:
Variant 1: Represented otter in colour by old painter (10)
In this (admittedly, not very elegant) variant, the order of the operations is ambiguous. One could justifiably first execute the containership operation specified by "otter in colour" (producing, say, [TI(OTTER)NT]) and then perform the anagram on the result or one could first perform the anagram operation on OTTER (producing [TORET]) followed by the containership operation (as in today's actual clue).
Another variant might be:
Variant 2: Otter in colour represented by old painter (10)
In this clue, the order would clearly be the containership operation first followed by the anagram operation.
6d Firm on the up organized a social round noon? It's infrequent (10)
As I am writing this, Big Dave's blog shows a couple of extra letters appended to the solution (i.e., OCCASIONALLY, rather than OCCASIONAL). However, judging by past experience, this may well have changed by the time you check his blog.
8d State-of-the-art description of East End gardener with shears? (7, 4)
I followed the wordplay well enough to get the correct solution, but I missed the bit about the dropped "h". Instead I wasted time searching fruitlessly for a district named Cutting in the East End of London.
25d Leo, say, has token Al discarded (4)
I thought Leo might be the name of a LION - which of course turned out to be a red herring in this clue.
Signing off for today - Falcon
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Monday, June 29, 2009 (DT 25860)
This puzzle was originally published Tuesday, February 24, 2009 in The Daily Telegraph
Introduction
For the remainder of the summer, the National Post will not produce a printed edition on Mondays. For this week, at least, the puzzle that would normally appear on Monday has been included in Saturday's paper - thus explaining why you are seeing this post a couple of days earlier than usual.
Today's puzzle was a fairly easy effort, although I did make a couple of wrong choices early on that slowed my progress until I discovered them. And I failed to solve one clue due to my ignorance of British baby-talk.
Having spent the afternoon pruning a large maple tree in my back yard, I am going to go out on a limb once again and suggest some differences in the wordplay on one or two clues from what appears on Big Dave's site.
Today's Links
I found only one question on AnswerBank discussing today's puzzle. It (together with the clues to which it relates) are:
AnswerBank [DT 25860]-a: 4ac, 23ac, 2d, 3d, 13d
Gazza's review of today's puzzle may be found at Big Dave's Telegraph Crossword Blog [DT 25860].
Commentary on Today's Puzzle
10ac Wire cable (8)
This has to be about the weakest double definition that I have ever seen - the two words ("wire" and "cable") mean exactly the same thing, don't they!
I have always understood that the two elements of a double definition should each be synonyms of the solution without being synonyms of each other.
18ac Turning Labour leader in rebellion (10)
Speed bump #1 - I thought the solution might be REVOLUTION - it isn't.
22ac Passes on for strikers (8)
Author's Note: The following is not an explanation of the correct wordplay for this clue - which can be found on Big Dave's blog. Rather, it describes the round-about route that I took to arrive at the solution, having overlooked the obvious wordplay. Although the first sentence was intended to be tongue-in-cheek, the effort seems to have fallen flat. Furthermore, on rechecking the references, I see that one of the individuals is not even British. My sincere apologies to British football fans. - Falcon
Could these strikers be British footballers Jamie Ward and Stephen Ward? - "for strikers" then becoming "for wards". And, of course, I expect that "passes" itself may be intended to strengthen the football (soccer) reference.
23ac Horse, say, in Lego components creates wonder (6)
Apparently British children refer to a horse as a GG - a fact that was totally unknown to me.
Big Dave's blog suggests that "components" is an anagram indicator. However, I would like to propose a different interpretation. I see the components of "Lego" as LE and GO. If we insert GG in the components of Lego (the order being unspecified in the clue, but only one of the two possible orders makes sense), we get GO(GG)LE. So, if I am correct, this is a container-type clue rather than an anagram-type clue. [And I am also sure that Greenhorn might feel much better if it is true.]
26ac Risk bitterness following scrap (8)
In addition to the wordplay suggested by Gazza on Big Dave's blog, "scrap" can also mean END in the sense of a small piece left at the end of a roll of carpet or fabric - as in the expressions "odds and ends".
7d Force to confess, say (6)
Talk about a twisted clue! This is a "sounds like" clue, as indicated by the word "say". However, I hazard to say that the solution likely rolls off the British tongue easier than it is picked up by the North American ear - sounding a bit wrenching to us, I'm afraid.
19d Post's cancelled preceding frost (6)
Speedbump #2: My initial choice of NOTICE as the solution to this clue messed me up until I found the error.
21d Empty pub with topless bird (6)
To fully appreciate the wordplay in this clue, North Americans should keep in mind that "bird" in the UK is an informal term for a young woman (although that knowledge may only prove distracting - especially to male readers).
Solution to Today's Puzzle
A full review of today's puzzle is published on Big Dave's blog (see link above).
I have stopped producing solutions for the DT puzzles as it seems to me that the review on Big Dave's site is likely more than sufficient for most readers. However, I am giving readers an opportunity to comment on this decision. You will find a survey gadget at the top of the sidebar to the right where you can indicate whether or not you agree with this decision.
Signing off for today - Falcon
Introduction
For the remainder of the summer, the National Post will not produce a printed edition on Mondays. For this week, at least, the puzzle that would normally appear on Monday has been included in Saturday's paper - thus explaining why you are seeing this post a couple of days earlier than usual.
Today's puzzle was a fairly easy effort, although I did make a couple of wrong choices early on that slowed my progress until I discovered them. And I failed to solve one clue due to my ignorance of British baby-talk.
Having spent the afternoon pruning a large maple tree in my back yard, I am going to go out on a limb once again and suggest some differences in the wordplay on one or two clues from what appears on Big Dave's site.
Today's Links
I found only one question on AnswerBank discussing today's puzzle. It (together with the clues to which it relates) are:
AnswerBank [DT 25860]-a: 4ac, 23ac, 2d, 3d, 13d
Gazza's review of today's puzzle may be found at Big Dave's Telegraph Crossword Blog [DT 25860].
Commentary on Today's Puzzle
10ac Wire cable (8)
This has to be about the weakest double definition that I have ever seen - the two words ("wire" and "cable") mean exactly the same thing, don't they!
I have always understood that the two elements of a double definition should each be synonyms of the solution without being synonyms of each other.
18ac Turning Labour leader in rebellion (10)
Speed bump #1 - I thought the solution might be REVOLUTION - it isn't.
22ac Passes on for strikers (8)
Author's Note: The following is not an explanation of the correct wordplay for this clue - which can be found on Big Dave's blog. Rather, it describes the round-about route that I took to arrive at the solution, having overlooked the obvious wordplay. Although the first sentence was intended to be tongue-in-cheek, the effort seems to have fallen flat. Furthermore, on rechecking the references, I see that one of the individuals is not even British. My sincere apologies to British football fans. - Falcon
Could these strikers be British footballers Jamie Ward and Stephen Ward? - "for strikers" then becoming "for wards". And, of course, I expect that "passes" itself may be intended to strengthen the football (soccer) reference.
23ac Horse, say, in Lego components creates wonder (6)
Apparently British children refer to a horse as a GG - a fact that was totally unknown to me.
Big Dave's blog suggests that "components" is an anagram indicator. However, I would like to propose a different interpretation. I see the components of "Lego" as LE and GO. If we insert GG in the components of Lego (the order being unspecified in the clue, but only one of the two possible orders makes sense), we get GO(GG)LE. So, if I am correct, this is a container-type clue rather than an anagram-type clue. [And I am also sure that Greenhorn might feel much better if it is true.]
26ac Risk bitterness following scrap (8)
In addition to the wordplay suggested by Gazza on Big Dave's blog, "scrap" can also mean END in the sense of a small piece left at the end of a roll of carpet or fabric - as in the expressions "odds and ends".
7d Force to confess, say (6)
Talk about a twisted clue! This is a "sounds like" clue, as indicated by the word "say". However, I hazard to say that the solution likely rolls off the British tongue easier than it is picked up by the North American ear - sounding a bit wrenching to us, I'm afraid.
19d Post's cancelled preceding frost (6)
Speedbump #2: My initial choice of NOTICE as the solution to this clue messed me up until I found the error.
21d Empty pub with topless bird (6)
To fully appreciate the wordplay in this clue, North Americans should keep in mind that "bird" in the UK is an informal term for a young woman (although that knowledge may only prove distracting - especially to male readers).
Solution to Today's Puzzle
A full review of today's puzzle is published on Big Dave's blog (see link above).
I have stopped producing solutions for the DT puzzles as it seems to me that the review on Big Dave's site is likely more than sufficient for most readers. However, I am giving readers an opportunity to comment on this decision. You will find a survey gadget at the top of the sidebar to the right where you can indicate whether or not you agree with this decision.
Signing off for today - Falcon
Saturday, June 27, 2009 - Canada Day Fireworks
IntroductionIn honour of the upcoming celebration of Canada Day on July 1, Cox and Rathvon provide plenty of fireworks in today's puzzle.
Solution to Today's Puzzle
| Legend: | "CD" Cryptic Definition; "DD" Double Definition |
| "*" anagram; "~" sounds like; "<" letters reversed | |
| "( )" letters inserted; "_" letters deleted |
1ac AC(ROB|A)T
5ac BOL(ET)US
9ac S(K|YR)OCKET
10ac G(RE)ER - feminist author Germaine Greer
11ac S(TUCK) ON
12ac A(R)CADIA - Acadia: name given by French to area that is now Canada's Maritime Provinces
13ac TOUR|BILLIONS
18ac PYROTECHNICS* - {NIP SCOTCH RYE}*
21ac CAN(A)STA
23ac CO|WE|RED
24ac L|ET ON
25ac G(I)RAND|OLE
26ac DE(COD)ED
27ac MUSKRAT* - {US KMART}*; Kmart: North American department store chain
Down
1d ASSES|S
2d {RAY GUN}~ - sounds like REAGAN
3d B(LOCKS) OUT
4d TO|KEN - Griffey: Major League Baseball player Ken Griffey (Sr. or Jr.)
5d BAT|TAL(I)ON
6d LOG|IC
7d T(HE IDI)OT
8d SARGASSO* - {GROSS AS A}*
14d RECHARGED* - {HER CD RAGE}*
15d LA|C|EWINGS - Dallas: American prime-time television soap opera about the Ewing family that ran from 1978 to 1991
16d S(PECK)LED - Iditarod: annual Alaskan sled dog race
17d GRANITIC* - {CIGAR TIN}*
19d A(R)MOUR
20d A|D(V)ENT
22d {SYN|OD}< - Do: get along (as in, "How is she doing in her new job?")
23d CAROM* - MACRO*
Signing off for today - Falcon
Friday, June 26, 2009
Friday, June 26, 2009 (DT 25859)
This puzzle was originally published Monday, February 23, 2009 in The Daily Telegraph
Introduction
I found the puzzle today to be a bit more of a challenge than the one yesterday - but a more satisfying one as it contained a lot of fairly clever wordplay. However, as usually seems to be the case, my opinion seems to run contrary to the Brits. While I was not able to solve today's puzzle especially quickly, I did do so relatively unaided - being down to three or four unsolved clues before digging into my tool chest.
What do Readers Value?
As producing this blog every day requires a not inconsiderable investment of time, I would like to ensure that I am devoting my effort to areas that readers value. Therefore, over the next while, I will be asking for some feedback from readers about which features of the blog they find useful. As you have probably noticed, for the last few days I have not produced a Solution to Today's Puzzle section since Big Dave's site provides a very thorough review of the puzzle. Although Big Dave may provide hints rather than full solutions to some clues, I assume that is sufficient for most people. To support that notion, I point out that I have offered on numerous occasions to provide full explanations to anyone who needs them and I have yet to be asked to do so. So, please take a moment to respond to the survey question that you will find in the sidebar to the right.
Today's Links
I found two questions on AnswerBank discussing today's puzzle. They (together with the clues to which they relate) are:
AnswerBank [DT 25xxx]-a: 21ac, 23ac
AnswerBank [DT 25xxx]-b: 6ac
Big Dave's review of today's puzzle may be found at Big Dave's Telegraph Crossword Blog [DT 25859].
Commentary on Today's Puzzle
11ac Quotation on cost shows outlay required (5,3)
I missed "(Latin) quotation" being a reference to "tag". However, even without using this aspect of the wordplay, there are still two solid elements in the clue, since a "price tag" literally shows the outlay required and a "price tag" figuratively is an estimate ("quotation") of the cost (as in the expression, "Could you put a price tag on that?").
Solution to Today's Puzzle
See the review on Big Dave's site. And don't forget to respond to the survey question.
Signing off for today - Falcon
Introduction
I found the puzzle today to be a bit more of a challenge than the one yesterday - but a more satisfying one as it contained a lot of fairly clever wordplay. However, as usually seems to be the case, my opinion seems to run contrary to the Brits. While I was not able to solve today's puzzle especially quickly, I did do so relatively unaided - being down to three or four unsolved clues before digging into my tool chest.
What do Readers Value?
As producing this blog every day requires a not inconsiderable investment of time, I would like to ensure that I am devoting my effort to areas that readers value. Therefore, over the next while, I will be asking for some feedback from readers about which features of the blog they find useful. As you have probably noticed, for the last few days I have not produced a Solution to Today's Puzzle section since Big Dave's site provides a very thorough review of the puzzle. Although Big Dave may provide hints rather than full solutions to some clues, I assume that is sufficient for most people. To support that notion, I point out that I have offered on numerous occasions to provide full explanations to anyone who needs them and I have yet to be asked to do so. So, please take a moment to respond to the survey question that you will find in the sidebar to the right.
Today's Links
I found two questions on AnswerBank discussing today's puzzle. They (together with the clues to which they relate) are:
AnswerBank [DT 25xxx]-a: 21ac, 23ac
AnswerBank [DT 25xxx]-b: 6ac
Big Dave's review of today's puzzle may be found at Big Dave's Telegraph Crossword Blog [DT 25859].
Commentary on Today's Puzzle
11ac Quotation on cost shows outlay required (5,3)
I missed "(Latin) quotation" being a reference to "tag". However, even without using this aspect of the wordplay, there are still two solid elements in the clue, since a "price tag" literally shows the outlay required and a "price tag" figuratively is an estimate ("quotation") of the cost (as in the expression, "Could you put a price tag on that?").
Solution to Today's Puzzle
See the review on Big Dave's site. And don't forget to respond to the survey question.
Signing off for today - Falcon
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Thursday, June 25, 2009 (DT 25858)
This puzzle was originally published Saturday, February 21, 2009 in The Daily Telegraph
Tip of the Day
Today, I believe we have an example of a clue where a word is doing "double duty".
8d One who revises stories removing first and last bits democratically initially within (6)
In this clue, the word "revises" is part of the definition for EDITOR ("one who revises") as well as serving as an anagram indicator for the string TORIE (what remains after deleting the first and last letters from STORIES). In parsing the clue, I have included the word "revises" twice to illustrate this point.
8d One who revises [EDITOR] /\ {revises (anagram indicator)} {STORIES removing first and last bits (delete first and last letters) → [_T^ORIE_]} {democratically initially (first letter) → [D]} {within (containment indicator)} (6)
Today's Glossary
Some possibly unfamiliar abbreviations, people, places, words and expressions used in today's puzzle
Littleport - a village in Cambridgeshire
ram-raid - crash a vehicle into a shop to facilitate looting
up-and-under - a type of kick in rugby
Today's Links
It being a Saturday prize puzzle today, there is heavy traffic on AnswerBank. Aside from a carry over from yesterday of the discussion regarding the DT's "screw up" of the online puzzle and a rather spirited sparring match between Big Dave and Beatrice, it is the usual AnswerBank fare. Due to the large number of questions (there being some fourteen of them), I am providing only a link to a Google search list:
Big Dave's day-of-publication hints for today's puzzle may be found at Big Dave's Telegraph Crossword Blog [DT 25858] - Hints and Libellule's post-submission-deadline review is available at Big Dave's Telegraph Crossword Blog [DT 25858] - Review.
Commentary on Today's Puzzle
18ac Allowed to return during visit at this home (7)
I may be way out in left field (as I often find myself), but I have to question the structure of this clue. The solution, STATELY, would appear to be an adjective which replaces the word "this" in the clue. This would seem to violate the convention that the solution replaces either the first or last component of the clue. I don't see how STATELY could be considered to replace the phrase "this home" which is a noun - although the problem could be resolved (in my mind) by rewording the clue as:
Allowed to return during visit at this type of home (7)
where I think STATELY could legitimately be used as a substitute for "this type of home". Perhaps the argument may be that we should implicitly perceive "this type of home" when we see "this home".
23d This speaker is strongly audible (4)
Essentially the same device is used in this clue where the solution is obtained by substituting LOUD for "this". It may be inconsistent on my part, but I find it more acceptable in this clue - perhaps merely because "this" is the first word in the clue.
6d Composer mainly hidden (4)
Although I got the reference to an "iceberg", I must admit that I read this clue quite literally thinking that "mainly" meant merely "for the most part", missing the subtle wordplay involving the fact that "main" is also a synonym for "sea".
Solution to Today's Puzzle
For a full review of today's puzzle, see the link to Big Dave's site above.
Signing off for today - Falcon
Tip of the Day
Today, I believe we have an example of a clue where a word is doing "double duty".
8d One who revises stories removing first and last bits democratically initially within (6)
In this clue, the word "revises" is part of the definition for EDITOR ("one who revises") as well as serving as an anagram indicator for the string TORIE (what remains after deleting the first and last letters from STORIES). In parsing the clue, I have included the word "revises" twice to illustrate this point.
8d One who revises [EDITOR] /\ {revises (anagram indicator)} {STORIES removing first and last bits (delete first and last letters) → [_T^ORIE_]} {democratically initially (first letter) → [D]} {within (containment indicator)} (6)
Today's Glossary
Some possibly unfamiliar abbreviations, people, places, words and expressions used in today's puzzle
Littleport - a village in Cambridgeshire
ram-raid - crash a vehicle into a shop to facilitate looting
up-and-under - a type of kick in rugby
Today's Links
It being a Saturday prize puzzle today, there is heavy traffic on AnswerBank. Aside from a carry over from yesterday of the discussion regarding the DT's "screw up" of the online puzzle and a rather spirited sparring match between Big Dave and Beatrice, it is the usual AnswerBank fare. Due to the large number of questions (there being some fourteen of them), I am providing only a link to a Google search list:
Big Dave's day-of-publication hints for today's puzzle may be found at Big Dave's Telegraph Crossword Blog [DT 25858] - Hints and Libellule's post-submission-deadline review is available at Big Dave's Telegraph Crossword Blog [DT 25858] - Review.
Commentary on Today's Puzzle
18ac Allowed to return during visit at this home (7)
I may be way out in left field (as I often find myself), but I have to question the structure of this clue. The solution, STATELY, would appear to be an adjective which replaces the word "this" in the clue. This would seem to violate the convention that the solution replaces either the first or last component of the clue. I don't see how STATELY could be considered to replace the phrase "this home" which is a noun - although the problem could be resolved (in my mind) by rewording the clue as:
Allowed to return during visit at this type of home (7)
where I think STATELY could legitimately be used as a substitute for "this type of home". Perhaps the argument may be that we should implicitly perceive "this type of home" when we see "this home".
23d This speaker is strongly audible (4)
Essentially the same device is used in this clue where the solution is obtained by substituting LOUD for "this". It may be inconsistent on my part, but I find it more acceptable in this clue - perhaps merely because "this" is the first word in the clue.
6d Composer mainly hidden (4)
Although I got the reference to an "iceberg", I must admit that I read this clue quite literally thinking that "mainly" meant merely "for the most part", missing the subtle wordplay involving the fact that "main" is also a synonym for "sea".
Solution to Today's Puzzle
For a full review of today's puzzle, see the link to Big Dave's site above.
Signing off for today - Falcon
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Wednesday, June 24, 2009 (DT 25857)
This puzzle was originally published Friday, February 20, 2009 in The Daily Telegraph
Introduction
I personally found today's puzzle to be considerably more difficult than yesterday's. In fact, I nearly capitulated with four clues left to solve, but luckily I did stumble upon the correct Spanish resort - after which the solutions to the remaining clues fell rapidly into place.
Tip of the Day - Postscript
I see xwd_fiend has left a comment regarding my musings yesterday on the possible structure of a clue that references a second clue in the particular case where there are two possibilities for the referenced clue (i.e., both a down and an across clue). It seems that I was being far too creative in my imaginings and that the structure of such a clue would actually be much simpler than I had supposed.
I also should have pointed out that, in any clue which references another clue by clue number, one should expect the reference (i.e., the number of the referenced clue) to be written as a numeral (e.g., it should be written as "10" rather than "ten"). I do recall one case where it appeared that this was practice was not followed which led to a large hue and cry on the blogs regarding the failure by the setter (or editor) to observe this convention.
Update:
I note that Big Dave has recently left a comment to yesterday's post that "Some setters have been known to put the clue reference in words, not digits!" While this doesn't necessarily refute my own experience that I described above, it may indicate that such an occurrence may not be the isolated incident that I had assumed it to be.
Today's Glossary
Some possibly unfamiliar abbreviations, people, places, words and expressions used in today's puzzle
crumbs - colloq an expression of mild surprise, dismay, etc.
lam - Brit. slang to thrash or strike
palinode - a poem in which the poet retracts a view or sentiment expressed in a former poem
Rees - a Welsh name
Today's Links
I found three questions on AnswerBank discussing today's puzzle. They (together with the clues to which they relate) are:
AnswerBank [DT 25857]-a: 1ac
AnswerBank [DT 25857]-b: none
AnswerBank [DT 25857]-c: 26ac
Some of the chatter on AnswerBank concerned problems with the online version of the puzzle.
Big Dave's review of today's puzzle may be found at Big Dave's Telegraph Crossword Blog [DT 25857].
Commentary on Today's Puzzle
3d British leader, one held to be a stupid leader (8)
The wording of this clue seems a bit awkward to my ear. I also felt - similar to Peter Biddlecombe writing on Big Dave's blog - that one does not need to be a leader to be a BONEHEAD. However, Peter does appear to (somewhat grudgingly) accept the wording within the context of the clue. For a brief moment I had the thought that the wording might be improved by changing the word "leader" to "one" - then I realized that idea was pretty well precluded by fact that the word "one" already appeared in the clue.
Solution to Today's Puzzle
I have not produced a solution today, as Big Dave's review seems more than adequate. If you have difficulty deciphering any of the clues, please leave a comment asking for an explanation and I will be more than happy to oblige.
Signing off for today - Falcon
Introduction
I personally found today's puzzle to be considerably more difficult than yesterday's. In fact, I nearly capitulated with four clues left to solve, but luckily I did stumble upon the correct Spanish resort - after which the solutions to the remaining clues fell rapidly into place.
Tip of the Day - Postscript
I see xwd_fiend has left a comment regarding my musings yesterday on the possible structure of a clue that references a second clue in the particular case where there are two possibilities for the referenced clue (i.e., both a down and an across clue). It seems that I was being far too creative in my imaginings and that the structure of such a clue would actually be much simpler than I had supposed.
I also should have pointed out that, in any clue which references another clue by clue number, one should expect the reference (i.e., the number of the referenced clue) to be written as a numeral (e.g., it should be written as "10" rather than "ten"). I do recall one case where it appeared that this was practice was not followed which led to a large hue and cry on the blogs regarding the failure by the setter (or editor) to observe this convention.
Update:
I note that Big Dave has recently left a comment to yesterday's post that "Some setters have been known to put the clue reference in words, not digits!" While this doesn't necessarily refute my own experience that I described above, it may indicate that such an occurrence may not be the isolated incident that I had assumed it to be.
Today's Glossary
Some possibly unfamiliar abbreviations, people, places, words and expressions used in today's puzzle
crumbs - colloq an expression of mild surprise, dismay, etc.
lam - Brit. slang to thrash or strike
palinode - a poem in which the poet retracts a view or sentiment expressed in a former poem
Rees - a Welsh name
Today's Links
I found three questions on AnswerBank discussing today's puzzle. They (together with the clues to which they relate) are:
AnswerBank [DT 25857]-a: 1ac
AnswerBank [DT 25857]-b: none
AnswerBank [DT 25857]-c: 26ac
Some of the chatter on AnswerBank concerned problems with the online version of the puzzle.
Big Dave's review of today's puzzle may be found at Big Dave's Telegraph Crossword Blog [DT 25857].
Commentary on Today's Puzzle
3d British leader, one held to be a stupid leader (8)
The wording of this clue seems a bit awkward to my ear. I also felt - similar to Peter Biddlecombe writing on Big Dave's blog - that one does not need to be a leader to be a BONEHEAD. However, Peter does appear to (somewhat grudgingly) accept the wording within the context of the clue. For a brief moment I had the thought that the wording might be improved by changing the word "leader" to "one" - then I realized that idea was pretty well precluded by fact that the word "one" already appeared in the clue.
Solution to Today's Puzzle
I have not produced a solution today, as Big Dave's review seems more than adequate. If you have difficulty deciphering any of the clues, please leave a comment asking for an explanation and I will be more than happy to oblige.
Signing off for today - Falcon
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Tuesday, June 23, 2009 (DT 25856)
This puzzle was originally published Thursday, February 19, 2009 in The Daily Telegraph
Introduction
Having found today's puzzle relatively easy as compared to yesterday's puzzle, I was surprised to see the British blogs rate it as more difficult. In fact, I was able to get down to only three clues remaining before even opening my tool chest. Moreover, unlike yesterday, I was able to solve most clues based on the wordplay (rather than "reverse engineering" the wordplay after finding the solution). Maybe my brain is just wired differently than the British brain :-)
Tip of the Day
Today's puzzle contains a type of clue that occurs fairly rarely - one that incorporates the solution of another clue through a reference using its clue number.
4d Display of 24 on church show (6)
In clue 4d ("the referencing clue"), the number "24" is a "reference" to clue 24d ("the referenced clue"). Here, the wordplay indicates that the solution to the referenced clue is to be substituted for the reference in the referencing clue. That is, the referencing clue is to be read as:
4d Display of vein on church show (6)
for which the solution is:
4d {Display of (anagram indicator) VEIN → EVIN} {on (positional indicator)} church {CE (Church of England)} /\ show [EVIN*|CE] (6)
Note 1: This clue is dependent on there being only a single clue starting in cell 24 (i.e., there is no clue 24ac in this puzzle). Although I do not recall ever having seen this type of clue occurring in a situation where more than a single clue originates in the referenced cell position, it may be possible (see following section).
Note 2: Since this is a down clue, the positional indicator {on} shows that EVIN precedes (i.e., is on top of) CE.
Reference by Clue Number (Two Clues Starting at Referenced Cell Position)
I do not recall ever having seen a clue involving a reference by clue number in an instance in which there is both an across and a down clue starting in the referenced cell position, but I suppose it might be possible. Clearly, such a clue would need to incorporate wordplay to identify which of the two clues originating at the referenced cell position is the clue being referenced.
I have attempted to construct an example of such a clue. If my example is too outlandish, I am sure it will elicit a comment - or two.
In a puzzle, suppose the solution to clue 4d is POINT and there also happens to be a clue 4ac in the same puzzle (for the purposes of this discussion, we don't care what that clue is). I postulate that a referencing clue along the lines of:
Player 4 dropping watch (5, 5)
might be used to produce the solution POINT GUARD (a position on a basketball team, i.e., "player") where the word "dropping" is used to indicate which of the two clues starting in cell 4 is the clue being referenced (in this case, 4d) .
I emphasize that I have never seen a clue like this and I am only surmising that such a clue might be possible. Moreover, given that this is a hypothetical example, it may well fail to comply with cryptic clue conventions on other grounds.
Today's Glossary
Some possibly unfamiliar abbreviations, people, places, words and expressions used in today's puzzle
U - Brit. colloq. acceptable ( to the upper classes) (defn. 2)
Today's Links
I found three questions on AnswerBank discussing today's puzzle. They (together with the clues to which they relate) are:
AnswerBank [DT 25856]-a: 1ac, 13ac
AnswerBank [DT 25856]-b: 17ac
AnswerBank [DT 25856]-c: 20ac
Gazza's review of today's puzzle may be found at Big Dave's Telegraph Crossword Blog [DT 25856].
Commentary on Today's Puzzle
21ac Was undecided and fiddled around that place (8)
Before reading Gazza's review, I hadn't fully appreciated why "fiddled" means "did".
3d Appropriate remark left unfinished - almost certain to cover a source of tension (12)
In solving this clue, I had the same debate with myself that Big Dave and Gazza have on Big Dave's blog. My conclusion was the same as Gazza's final suggestion - that "almost certain" in this clue must have been intended to mean SURE.
5d Argument following fine after this, oddly (4)
"Following fine" producing FF - I got it, but it's hardly the most elegant of clues.
Solution to Today's Puzzle
Across
1ac W(AR CHES)T - [W]ai[T] + (ARCHES)
9ac {ICE CREAM}~ - sounds like {I SCREAM}
10ac A|TOM_ - A + [TOM]e
11ac MEN OF LETTERS - CD
13ac COUNT_ESS - [COUNTLESS] - [L]osses
15ac A|G|END|A
16ac MEN|U
17ac CUR(S)E
18ac DE_FY - [DEIFY] - [I]
20ac S(CRAM)S
21ac DI(THERE)D
23ac {HAVE COLD FEET}* - {CHEF VOTED ALE}*
26ac ERA*|S_ - ARE* + [S]aving
27ac EPITHETS* - {PISTE THE}*
28ac HARD SELL - CD
Down
2d ANTE|LOPE
3d COMMEN_|SUR(A|T_)E - [COMMEN]t + SUR^E + (A + [T]ension)
4d EVIN*|CE = VEIN* + CE
5d T_I_|FF - [T]h[I]s + FF
6d GEN|ERA|T|E
7d FE(T)E
8d E|MISS|A|R_Y - [R]ac[Y]
12d TREND|SETTERS
14d SH|RED
16d M(IS)CHIEF
17d C(USTOMER*)R - C^R + {SUE TOM}*
19d F|REE F|ALL
22d _TREMOR_ - withou[T REMOR]se
24d VEIN
25d D|A|S|H
Signing off for today - Falcon
Introduction
Having found today's puzzle relatively easy as compared to yesterday's puzzle, I was surprised to see the British blogs rate it as more difficult. In fact, I was able to get down to only three clues remaining before even opening my tool chest. Moreover, unlike yesterday, I was able to solve most clues based on the wordplay (rather than "reverse engineering" the wordplay after finding the solution). Maybe my brain is just wired differently than the British brain :-)
Tip of the Day
Today's puzzle contains a type of clue that occurs fairly rarely - one that incorporates the solution of another clue through a reference using its clue number.
4d Display of 24 on church show (6)
In clue 4d ("the referencing clue"), the number "24" is a "reference" to clue 24d ("the referenced clue"). Here, the wordplay indicates that the solution to the referenced clue is to be substituted for the reference in the referencing clue. That is, the referencing clue is to be read as:
4d Display of vein on church show (6)
for which the solution is:
4d {Display of (anagram indicator) VEIN → EVIN} {on (positional indicator)} church {CE (Church of England)} /\ show [EVIN*|CE] (6)
Note 1: This clue is dependent on there being only a single clue starting in cell 24 (i.e., there is no clue 24ac in this puzzle). Although I do not recall ever having seen this type of clue occurring in a situation where more than a single clue originates in the referenced cell position, it may be possible (see following section).
Note 2: Since this is a down clue, the positional indicator {on} shows that EVIN precedes (i.e., is on top of) CE.
Reference by Clue Number (Two Clues Starting at Referenced Cell Position)
I do not recall ever having seen a clue involving a reference by clue number in an instance in which there is both an across and a down clue starting in the referenced cell position, but I suppose it might be possible. Clearly, such a clue would need to incorporate wordplay to identify which of the two clues originating at the referenced cell position is the clue being referenced.
I have attempted to construct an example of such a clue. If my example is too outlandish, I am sure it will elicit a comment - or two.
In a puzzle, suppose the solution to clue 4d is POINT and there also happens to be a clue 4ac in the same puzzle (for the purposes of this discussion, we don't care what that clue is). I postulate that a referencing clue along the lines of:
Player 4 dropping watch (5, 5)
might be used to produce the solution POINT GUARD (a position on a basketball team, i.e., "player") where the word "dropping" is used to indicate which of the two clues starting in cell 4 is the clue being referenced (in this case, 4d) .
I emphasize that I have never seen a clue like this and I am only surmising that such a clue might be possible. Moreover, given that this is a hypothetical example, it may well fail to comply with cryptic clue conventions on other grounds.
Today's Glossary
Some possibly unfamiliar abbreviations, people, places, words and expressions used in today's puzzle
U - Brit. colloq. acceptable ( to the upper classes) (defn. 2)
Today's Links
I found three questions on AnswerBank discussing today's puzzle. They (together with the clues to which they relate) are:
AnswerBank [DT 25856]-a: 1ac, 13ac
AnswerBank [DT 25856]-b: 17ac
AnswerBank [DT 25856]-c: 20ac
Gazza's review of today's puzzle may be found at Big Dave's Telegraph Crossword Blog [DT 25856].
Commentary on Today's Puzzle
21ac Was undecided and fiddled around that place (8)
Before reading Gazza's review, I hadn't fully appreciated why "fiddled" means "did".
3d Appropriate remark left unfinished - almost certain to cover a source of tension (12)
In solving this clue, I had the same debate with myself that Big Dave and Gazza have on Big Dave's blog. My conclusion was the same as Gazza's final suggestion - that "almost certain" in this clue must have been intended to mean SURE.
5d Argument following fine after this, oddly (4)
"Following fine" producing FF - I got it, but it's hardly the most elegant of clues.
Solution to Today's Puzzle
| Legend: | "CD" Cryptic Definition; "DD" Double Definition |
| "*" anagram; "~" sounds like; "<" letters reversed | |
| "( )" letters inserted; "_" letters deleted |
1ac W(AR CHES)T - [W]ai[T] + (ARCHES)
9ac {ICE CREAM}~ - sounds like {I SCREAM}
10ac A|TOM_ - A + [TOM]e
11ac MEN OF LETTERS - CD
13ac COUNT_ESS - [COUNTLESS] - [L]osses
15ac A|G|END|A
16ac MEN|U
17ac CUR(S)E
18ac DE_FY - [DEIFY] - [I]
20ac S(CRAM)S
21ac DI(THERE)D
23ac {HAVE COLD FEET}* - {CHEF VOTED ALE}*
26ac ERA*|S_ - ARE* + [S]aving
27ac EPITHETS* - {PISTE THE}*
28ac HARD SELL - CD
Down
2d ANTE|LOPE
3d COMMEN_|SUR(A|T_)E - [COMMEN]t + SUR^E + (A + [T]ension)
4d EVIN*|CE = VEIN* + CE
5d T_I_|FF - [T]h[I]s + FF
6d GEN|ERA|T|E
7d FE(T)E
8d E|MISS|A|R_Y - [R]ac[Y]
12d TREND|SETTERS
14d SH|RED
16d M(IS)CHIEF
17d C(USTOMER*)R - C^R + {SUE TOM}*
19d F|REE F|ALL
22d _TREMOR_ - withou[T REMOR]se
24d VEIN
25d D|A|S|H
Signing off for today - Falcon
Monday, June 22, 2009
Monday, June 22, 2009 (DT 25855)
This puzzle was originally published Wednesday, February 18, 2009 in The Daily Telegraph
Introduction
A moderately difficult puzzle today - for myself, at least. However, in retrospect, I must admit that the clues really don't look all that difficult - but isn't that always the case? Although I was able to complete it, this was one of those puzzles where I was often forced to find candidate words that matched the checking letters and then work backwards to understand the wordplay. Interestingly, both Big Dave and Peter Biddlecombe (xwd_fiend) rated the puzzle as easy - I shudder to think how I might do when I run up against a difficult puzzle. At least, I can take satisfaction from having correctly deciphered all the wordplay - even though I still have reservations about at least one clue.
Today's Glossary
Some possibly unfamiliar abbreviations, people, places, words and expressions used in today's puzzle
Sir Michael Tippett - British composer
Tyneside - a conurbation in North East England
Today's Links
I found no questions on AnswerBank discussing today's puzzle.
Big Dave's review of today's puzzle may be found at Big Dave's Telegraph Crossword Blog [DT 25855].
Commentary on Today's Puzzle
1d Low wall having a drill in side (7)
Ironically, even though this was one of the first solutions that I found today - the wordplay eluded me until long after I had solved the rest of the puzzle. However, I do have somewhat of a quibble with the solution - to the best of my knowledge, while a "drill" is a monkey, it is not an ape.
Correction:
My original (and incorrect) solution for this clue was:
1d Low wall [PAR(APE)T] /having\ a drill [APE] in side [PAR^T] (7)
As Big Dave points out in his comment to this post, the correct solution is:
1d Low wall [PAR(A|PE)T] /having\ A drill [PE (physical education)] in side [PAR^T] (7)
2d Prize promoted in feast (5)
This clue works very well in American English, where both variants of "prize" have the same spelling. However, I was a bit surprised to see it in the Telegraph as I thought the British term for "lever" was spelled "prise". Is the language becoming Americanized (Americanised)? [Note: I see that Big Dave has a bit of a comment on this point in his blog, as well.]
5d One who benefits from a sacking? (9)
Unless I have overlooked some clever nuance, this seems a rather weak cryptic definition.
13d United followers beginning to take satisfaction (9)
Don't be fooled by focussing too intently on the improving fortunes of the Manchester football club
Solution to Today's Puzzle
Across
1ac PARATROOPER* - {A PROPER ROTA}*
7ac ARRIVAL~ - sounds like A RIVAL
8ac _THUNDER_ - you[TH UNDER]stood
10ac IM(P)EL* - MI^LE* + (P)
11ac _T|READ|MILL - studen[T]
12ac ESTUARY* - {SAY TRUE}*
14ac LAR(C)ENY* - NEA^RLY* + (C)
15ac D(ET)ROIT
18ac S(URGE)ON
20ac ZOOKEEPER - CD
21ac OT<|PIC
22ac N(AI|VET)E
23ac A|POLO|G_Y - [G]u[Y]
24ac E(N|TIT)LEMENT
Down
1d PAR(A|PE)T
2d REVEL<
3d TOLS|*TOY - LOTS* + TOY
4d O|A|T(_M)EAL - strea[M]
5d PLUNDERER - CD
6d RED-LINE
7d {A DIME A DOZEN}* - {D(ay) IN A ZONE MEDIA}*
9d RALLYING C(R)Y
13d AT|ONE|MEN|T_ - [T]ake
16d TWO-TIME
17d TIP|PETT_ - [PETT]y
18d SURF|ACE
19d EX|PLO(I)T
21d _TROVE_ - in[TROVE]rt
Signing off for today - Falcon
Introduction
A moderately difficult puzzle today - for myself, at least. However, in retrospect, I must admit that the clues really don't look all that difficult - but isn't that always the case? Although I was able to complete it, this was one of those puzzles where I was often forced to find candidate words that matched the checking letters and then work backwards to understand the wordplay. Interestingly, both Big Dave and Peter Biddlecombe (xwd_fiend) rated the puzzle as easy - I shudder to think how I might do when I run up against a difficult puzzle. At least, I can take satisfaction from having correctly deciphered all the wordplay - even though I still have reservations about at least one clue.
Today's Glossary
Some possibly unfamiliar abbreviations, people, places, words and expressions used in today's puzzle
Sir Michael Tippett - British composer
Tyneside - a conurbation in North East England
Today's Links
I found no questions on AnswerBank discussing today's puzzle.
Big Dave's review of today's puzzle may be found at Big Dave's Telegraph Crossword Blog [DT 25855].
Commentary on Today's Puzzle
1d Low wall having a drill in side (7)
Ironically, even though this was one of the first solutions that I found today - the wordplay eluded me until long after I had solved the rest of the puzzle. However, I do have somewhat of a quibble with the solution - to the best of my knowledge, while a "drill" is a monkey, it is not an ape.
Correction:
My original (and incorrect) solution for this clue was:
1d Low wall [PAR(APE)T] /having\ a drill [APE] in side [PAR^T] (7)
As Big Dave points out in his comment to this post, the correct solution is:
1d Low wall [PAR(A|PE)T] /having\ A drill [PE (physical education)] in side [PAR^T] (7)
2d Prize promoted in feast (5)
This clue works very well in American English, where both variants of "prize" have the same spelling. However, I was a bit surprised to see it in the Telegraph as I thought the British term for "lever" was spelled "prise". Is the language becoming Americanized (Americanised)? [Note: I see that Big Dave has a bit of a comment on this point in his blog, as well.]
5d One who benefits from a sacking? (9)
Unless I have overlooked some clever nuance, this seems a rather weak cryptic definition.
13d United followers beginning to take satisfaction (9)
Don't be fooled by focussing too intently on the improving fortunes of the Manchester football club
Solution to Today's Puzzle
| Legend: | "CD" Cryptic Definition; "DD" Double Definition |
| "*" anagram; "~" sounds like; "<" letters reversed | |
| "( )" letters inserted; "_" letters deleted |
1ac PARATROOPER* - {A PROPER ROTA}*
7ac ARRIVAL~ - sounds like A RIVAL
8ac _THUNDER_ - you[TH UNDER]stood
10ac IM(P)EL* - MI^LE* + (P)
11ac _T|READ|MILL - studen[T]
12ac ESTUARY* - {SAY TRUE}*
14ac LAR(C)ENY* - NEA^RLY* + (C)
15ac D(ET)ROIT
18ac S(URGE)ON
20ac ZOOKEEPER - CD
21ac OT<|PIC
22ac N(AI|VET)E
23ac A|POLO|G_Y - [G]u[Y]
24ac E(N|TIT)LEMENT
Down
1d PAR(A|PE)T
2d REVEL<
3d TOLS|*TOY - LOTS* + TOY
4d O|A|T(_M)EAL - strea[M]
5d PLUNDERER - CD
6d RED-LINE
7d {A DIME A DOZEN}* - {D(ay) IN A ZONE MEDIA}*
9d RALLYING C(R)Y
13d AT|ONE|MEN|T_ - [T]ake
16d TWO-TIME
17d TIP|PETT_ - [PETT]y
18d SURF|ACE
19d EX|PLO(I)T
21d _TROVE_ - in[TROVE]rt
Signing off for today - Falcon
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Saturday, June 20, 2009 - A Day on the Links
IntroductionThere is some exceptionally clever wordplay in today's puzzle - a very entertaining golf-themed creation by Cox and Rathvon.
Commentary on Today's Puzzle
Today's puzzle contains a couple of very nice anagrams built around the names of pro golfers Annika Sorenstam and Jack Nicklaus. The compilers also manage to work in lots of other golf references, including a bit of a false lead.
20d 501's worn by eccentric colony member? (6)
501's are Levi jeans or DENIMS which initially struck me as a possible anagram candidate. After this approach proved fruitless, I discovered the Roman numeral substitution.
Solution to Today's Puzzle
| Legend: | "CD" Cryptic Definition; "DD" Double Definition |
| "*" anagram; "~" sounds like; "<" letters reversed | |
| "( )" letters inserted; "_" letters deleted |
9ac FOREST|ALL - if you thought Tiger, you took the bait (which turned out to be a red herring)
10ac DRAM|_A - shot [DRAM] + {end of} lpg[A]
11ac SET|TEES
12ac CAME|LOT
13ac PONTI* - POINT* {out}; Italian film producer Carlo Ponti (husband of Sophia Loren)
14ac STRATAGEM* - {START GAME}* {off}
16ac {ANNIKA SORENSTAM}* - {wrongly} {MINNESOTA RANKS}*
19ac MACE|DON|I|A - club [MACE] teacher [DON] I grade at the top [A]
21ac CUP|ID
23ac COLLARD~ - {reportedly (sounds like)} COLLARED
25ac MAR|KING - pro golfer Betsy King
27ac STUNT
28ac SENT|IN|ELS - pro golfer Ernie Els
Down
1d UFOS - {nutty} {OF US}*
2d CRETAN* - {outspoken (sounds like)} CRETIN*
3d A|STE(RISK)ED - A horse [STE^ED] {taking} bet [RISK]
4d BA(S|SIS)TS - crazy [BA^TS] {about} "Small [S] Sister [SIS]"
5d SLICER* - {rotten} RELICS*
6d A|DAM
7d G|A|SLIGHT
8d PANTOMIMED* - {MOM PAINTED}* {remodeled}
13d PHARMACIST~ - {audited (sounds like)} FARM ASSIST
15d TO(NY C)URTIS* - TO^URIST* {travelling} + NYC
17d NICKLAUS* - {change of} {LUCK AS IN}*; pro golfer Jack Nicklaus
18d REAR|MING - this may be a reference to Evil Emperor Ming the Merciless from Flash Gordon comics, rather than a Chinese dynasty
20d NU(DIS)T - 501'S [DIS] {worn by} eccentric [NU^T]
22d P_|AIRED - {first of} [P]rogram + broadcast [AIRED]
24d _ARTS - roles played [PARTS] {after the first (delete first letter)} → [_ARTS]
26d _GUST_ - {in} a[GUST]a
Wishing all you Dad's a Happy Father's Day tomorrow - Falcon
Friday, June 19, 2009
Friday, June 19, 2009 (DT 25854)
This puzzle was originally published Tuesday, February 17, 2009 in The Daily Telegraph
Introduction
It was somewhat demoralizing to see Big Dave headline his blog "An easy puzzle today" after havng surrendered with two clues unsolved.
Today's Glossary
Some possibly unfamiliar abbreviations, people, places, words and expressions used in today's puzzle
Dave Cameron - leader of the Conservative Party in the UK and apparently not the British football (soccer) player and manager and most definitely not the obscure Canadian hockey player
dosser - slang a homeless person sleeping on the street
tiddler - Brit colloq a small fish
Today's Links
An indication of the ease of today's puzzle (at least in the mind of the Brits) may be the fact that I found only a single question on AnswerBank discussing today's puzzle. It (together with the clues to which it relates) is:
Commentary on Today's Puzzle
The clues that did me in:
1d A little dab? (7)
I knew that one meaning for "dab" was a kind of flatfish. However, this knowledge proved of little use, having never heard of the term TIDDLER. If I had persevered long enough, I may have eventually found the solution among the 76 possibilities suggested by Chambers Word Wizard based on the checking letters.
3d Taxing split by English leader (6)
In hindsight, this is not that difficult a clue. However, I got on the wrong path (and foolishly never left it) thinking that split was being used as a containment indicator. I spent a lot of time in a futile search for a word meaning "leader" that could be formed by inserting "E" into another word meaning "taxing".
Other clues of interest:
14ac Put in rinser to clean (6)
In his review, Big Dave seems to suggest the solution goes as follows:
14ac Put [INSERT] /\ {in (hidden word indicator)} {r[INSER T]o clean} (6)
Based on a feeling that "insert" means "put in" rather than "put", I came up with a slightly different explanation:
14ac Put in [INSERT] /\ {r[INSER T]o} {clean (delete the outer letters} (6)
That is, I interpreted the word "clean" to be an instruction to delete the first and last letters of the phrase "rinser to".
20ac He made "Small step" with crew (8)
I saw the connection to Neil Armstrong's pronouncement, "One small step ...", upon setting foot on the moon, as well as "crew" meaning MAN. However, the obvious "[S]mall step [PACE]" wordplay escaped me. To explain the solution, I resorted to using a definition for "space" meaning "one of the areas between or below or above the lines of a musical staff" which could presumably be thought of as a "step".
These latter two examples show, as the old saying goes, there is often "more than one way to skin a cat."
Solution to Today's Puzzle
Across
7ac CITADEL* - DIALECT*
8ac L|EARNED
10ac ADULT|E_|RATE - [E]ye
11ac V(IS)A
12ac REAPPEAR - CD
14ac _INSERT_ - r[INSER T]o
15ac DESPERATION* - {PAINTER DOES}*
19ac S(A|L)OON
20ac S|PACE|MAN
22ac BAN|E
23ac TREMENDOUS* - {SEEM ROTUND}*
25ac KERATIN - CD
26ac L|IGNITE
Down
1d TIDDLER - CD
2d C|ALL
3d SEVER|E
4d DERELICT* - {CIDER LET}*
5d GRAVE(S)TONE
6d ME|A|SURE
9d HAIRDRESSER - CD
13d P(HEN|O|MEN)AL
16d PONYTAIL_* {[PLAIT ONLY] - [L]ong}*
17d CA(DAVE)R
18d FA(C)ULTY
21d ACE|TIC
24d D|ONE
Signing off for today - Falcon
Introduction
It was somewhat demoralizing to see Big Dave headline his blog "An easy puzzle today" after havng surrendered with two clues unsolved.
Today's Glossary
Some possibly unfamiliar abbreviations, people, places, words and expressions used in today's puzzle
Dave Cameron - leader of the Conservative Party in the UK and apparently not the British football (soccer) player and manager and most definitely not the obscure Canadian hockey player
dosser - slang a homeless person sleeping on the street
tiddler - Brit colloq a small fish
Today's Links
An indication of the ease of today's puzzle (at least in the mind of the Brits) may be the fact that I found only a single question on AnswerBank discussing today's puzzle. It (together with the clues to which it relates) is:
- AnswerBank [DT 25854]-a: 26ac, 24d
Commentary on Today's Puzzle
The clues that did me in:
1d A little dab? (7)
I knew that one meaning for "dab" was a kind of flatfish. However, this knowledge proved of little use, having never heard of the term TIDDLER. If I had persevered long enough, I may have eventually found the solution among the 76 possibilities suggested by Chambers Word Wizard based on the checking letters.
3d Taxing split by English leader (6)
In hindsight, this is not that difficult a clue. However, I got on the wrong path (and foolishly never left it) thinking that split was being used as a containment indicator. I spent a lot of time in a futile search for a word meaning "leader" that could be formed by inserting "E" into another word meaning "taxing".
Other clues of interest:
14ac Put in rinser to clean (6)
In his review, Big Dave seems to suggest the solution goes as follows:
14ac Put [INSERT] /\ {in (hidden word indicator)} {r[INSER T]o clean} (6)
Based on a feeling that "insert" means "put in" rather than "put", I came up with a slightly different explanation:
14ac Put in [INSERT] /\ {r[INSER T]o} {clean (delete the outer letters} (6)
That is, I interpreted the word "clean" to be an instruction to delete the first and last letters of the phrase "rinser to".
20ac He made "Small step" with crew (8)
I saw the connection to Neil Armstrong's pronouncement, "One small step ...", upon setting foot on the moon, as well as "crew" meaning MAN. However, the obvious "[S]mall step [PACE]" wordplay escaped me. To explain the solution, I resorted to using a definition for "space" meaning "one of the areas between or below or above the lines of a musical staff" which could presumably be thought of as a "step".
These latter two examples show, as the old saying goes, there is often "more than one way to skin a cat."
Solution to Today's Puzzle
| Legend: | "CD" Cryptic Definition; "DD" Double Definition |
| "*" anagram; "~" sounds like; "<" letters reversed | |
| "( )" letters inserted; "_" letters deleted |
7ac CITADEL* - DIALECT*
8ac L|EARNED
10ac ADULT|E_|RATE - [E]ye
11ac V(IS)A
12ac REAPPEAR - CD
14ac _INSERT_ - r[INSER T]o
15ac DESPERATION* - {PAINTER DOES}*
19ac S(A|L)OON
20ac S|PACE|MAN
22ac BAN|E
23ac TREMENDOUS* - {SEEM ROTUND}*
25ac KERATIN - CD
26ac L|IGNITE
Down
1d TIDDLER - CD
2d C|ALL
3d SEVER|E
4d DERELICT* - {CIDER LET}*
5d GRAVE(S)TONE
6d ME|A|SURE
9d HAIRDRESSER - CD
13d P(HEN|O|MEN)AL
16d PONYTAIL_* {[PLAIT ONLY] - [L]ong}*
17d CA(DAVE)R
18d FA(C)ULTY
21d ACE|TIC
24d D|ONE
Signing off for today - Falcon
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Thursday, June 18, 2009 (DT 25853)
This puzzle was originally published Monday, February 16, 2009 in The Daily Telegraph
Introduction
I found it to be quite a difficult puzzle today - with lots of opportunities to go off on wild goose chases in search of solutions. With two clues remaining unsolved, I paid a visit to AnswerBank. Although I discovered through that visit that I had incorrect solutions for a couple of clues, it still did not help in finding a solution to the final two clues. I finally threw in the towel and sought out the solution at Big Dave's site.
Today's Glossary
Some possibly unfamiliar abbreviations, people, places, words and expressions used in today's puzzle
Arethusa - a wood nymph
Cerberus - a three-headed dog guarding the entrance to Hades
Offa of Mercia - 8th century King of Mercia (an Anglo-Saxon kingdom of central England) who built a dyke along the border between his kingdom and Wales
Oder - a river of Central Europe
on one's uppers - reduced to poverty
scarlet woman - a prostitute; many scholars interpret its usage in Revelation 17 as a metaphor for pagan Rome
tag - a trite or common quotation (noun, defn. 5)
Today's Links
I found seven questions on AnswerBank discussing today's puzzle. They (together with the clues to which they relate) are:
AnswerBank [DT 25853]-a: 3d
AnswerBank [DT 25853]-b: 15ac
AnswerBank [DT 25853]-c: 21ac, 2d
AnswerBank [DT 25853]-d: 8d
AnswerBank [DT 25853]-e: 6d
AnswerBank [DT 25853]-f: 5d
AnswerBank [DT 25853]-g: 1ac, 11ac
Big Dave's review of today's puzzle may be found at Big Dave's Telegraph Crossword Blog [DT 25853].
Commentary on Today's Puzzle
Here are the clues that gave me particular grief today.
1ac By no means on one's uppers (8)
The setter initially fooled me with this clue. I interpreted the phrase "by no means" is an indication of negation, so "by no means on one's uppers" would mean "by no means poor" or, in other words, "well to do". Based on that (later to be found faulty) rationale, I had settled on BANKABLE as the solution. After having found the correct solution to 5d on AnswerBank, I was then able to determine that the solution is actually BANKRUPT. I believe the setter is using "by" in the sense of "due to" and the phrase "by no means" therefore has the sense of "due to no means (of support)".
5d They are able to identify trite Latin quotations (4)
The meaning of TAGS as used in this clue is totally new to me. I originally considered that trite quotations might be SAWS, but - misled by my incorrect solution to 1ac - the only possibility that I could come up with was EARS - my thinking based on the use of "ear" to denote a sense of judgment or discrimination and "Latin" being a possible link to the famous Marc Antony speech ("Friends, Romans, countrymen ...").
18ac Who ditched England and Wales of all football clubs? (4)
Even knowing that the solution had the pattern O_FA did not help, as my knowledge of 8th century British history is admittedly weak. I did understand the reference to the Football Association (FA). However, I spent a lot of time looking for some governing body (other than UEFA or FIFA) that would fit. I even went down one rathole thinking that the O might relate to the Olympics and the clue be in reference to Great Britain's absence from Olympic football (soccer) competition.
I wonder if the setter has taken some liberty here in equating Offa's Dyke to a ditch. Although "dyke" can apparently mean either "embankment" or "ditch", from the picture that I saw, Offa's Dyke looked more like the former than the latter.
4d Makes a pretence a reality (6)
I missed this one entirely, although I did spend a great deal of time trying to contrive a justification for UTERUS being the solution. Even after discovering from Big Dave's review that the solution is USURPS, I had to think long and hard about the wordplay. I finally concluded that the clue must relate to the situation of a pretender to the throne usurping authority by overthrowing a monarch and thereby turning his pretence of being the rightful holder of power into reality.
Solution to Today's Puzzle
Across
1ac BANKRUPT
9ac ARETH*|USA - HEART* + USA
10ac MEN|U
11ac CO-RESPONDENT - CD
13ac CARL|ISLE
15ac EL|BOWS
16ac PE|RU
17ac COUNT - DD
18ac OF|FA
20ac RENDER
21ac PAMPHLET - CD
23ac SCARLET WOMAN
26ac O|OPS
27ac T(RAN)QUIL* - Q^UILT* + (RAN)
28ac LITERATE* - {A LETTER I}*
Down
2d ACER(BA)TE* - CREA^TE* + (BA)
3d KNUCKLE UN|DER
4d USURPS - CD
5d TAGS - DD
6d REDO<|LENT
7d RULE - DD
8d MANTISSA - CD
12d DEBT OF HONOUR - CD
14d E|QUIP
16d PARASITE* - {PARTIES A}*
17d CERBERUS - CD
19d FLESHPOT* - {TOP SHELF}*
22d MOMENT - DD
24d A|DAM
25d WELL - DD
Signing off for today - Falcon
Introduction
I found it to be quite a difficult puzzle today - with lots of opportunities to go off on wild goose chases in search of solutions. With two clues remaining unsolved, I paid a visit to AnswerBank. Although I discovered through that visit that I had incorrect solutions for a couple of clues, it still did not help in finding a solution to the final two clues. I finally threw in the towel and sought out the solution at Big Dave's site.
Today's Glossary
Some possibly unfamiliar abbreviations, people, places, words and expressions used in today's puzzle
Arethusa - a wood nymph
Cerberus - a three-headed dog guarding the entrance to Hades
Offa of Mercia - 8th century King of Mercia (an Anglo-Saxon kingdom of central England) who built a dyke along the border between his kingdom and Wales
Oder - a river of Central Europe
on one's uppers - reduced to poverty
scarlet woman - a prostitute; many scholars interpret its usage in Revelation 17 as a metaphor for pagan Rome
tag - a trite or common quotation (noun, defn. 5)
Today's Links
I found seven questions on AnswerBank discussing today's puzzle. They (together with the clues to which they relate) are:
AnswerBank [DT 25853]-a: 3d
AnswerBank [DT 25853]-b: 15ac
AnswerBank [DT 25853]-c: 21ac, 2d
AnswerBank [DT 25853]-d: 8d
AnswerBank [DT 25853]-e: 6d
AnswerBank [DT 25853]-f: 5d
AnswerBank [DT 25853]-g: 1ac, 11ac
Big Dave's review of today's puzzle may be found at Big Dave's Telegraph Crossword Blog [DT 25853].
Commentary on Today's Puzzle
Here are the clues that gave me particular grief today.
1ac By no means on one's uppers (8)
The setter initially fooled me with this clue. I interpreted the phrase "by no means" is an indication of negation, so "by no means on one's uppers" would mean "by no means poor" or, in other words, "well to do". Based on that (later to be found faulty) rationale, I had settled on BANKABLE as the solution. After having found the correct solution to 5d on AnswerBank, I was then able to determine that the solution is actually BANKRUPT. I believe the setter is using "by" in the sense of "due to" and the phrase "by no means" therefore has the sense of "due to no means (of support)".
5d They are able to identify trite Latin quotations (4)
The meaning of TAGS as used in this clue is totally new to me. I originally considered that trite quotations might be SAWS, but - misled by my incorrect solution to 1ac - the only possibility that I could come up with was EARS - my thinking based on the use of "ear" to denote a sense of judgment or discrimination and "Latin" being a possible link to the famous Marc Antony speech ("Friends, Romans, countrymen ...").
18ac Who ditched England and Wales of all football clubs? (4)
Even knowing that the solution had the pattern O_FA did not help, as my knowledge of 8th century British history is admittedly weak. I did understand the reference to the Football Association (FA). However, I spent a lot of time looking for some governing body (other than UEFA or FIFA) that would fit. I even went down one rathole thinking that the O might relate to the Olympics and the clue be in reference to Great Britain's absence from Olympic football (soccer) competition.
I wonder if the setter has taken some liberty here in equating Offa's Dyke to a ditch. Although "dyke" can apparently mean either "embankment" or "ditch", from the picture that I saw, Offa's Dyke looked more like the former than the latter.
4d Makes a pretence a reality (6)
I missed this one entirely, although I did spend a great deal of time trying to contrive a justification for UTERUS being the solution. Even after discovering from Big Dave's review that the solution is USURPS, I had to think long and hard about the wordplay. I finally concluded that the clue must relate to the situation of a pretender to the throne usurping authority by overthrowing a monarch and thereby turning his pretence of being the rightful holder of power into reality.
Solution to Today's Puzzle
| Legend: | "CD" Cryptic Definition; "DD" Double Definition |
| "*" anagram; "~" sounds like; "<" letters reversed | |
| "( )" letters inserted; "_" letters deleted |
1ac BANKRUPT
9ac ARETH*|USA - HEART* + USA
10ac MEN|U
11ac CO-RESPONDENT - CD
13ac CARL|ISLE
15ac EL|BOWS
16ac PE|RU
17ac COUNT - DD
18ac OF|FA
20ac RENDER
21ac PAMPHLET - CD
23ac SCARLET WOMAN
26ac O|OPS
27ac T(RAN)QUIL* - Q^UILT* + (RAN)
28ac LITERATE* - {A LETTER I}*
Down
2d ACER(BA)TE* - CREA^TE* + (BA)
3d KNUCKLE UN|DER
4d USURPS - CD
5d TAGS - DD
6d REDO<|LENT
7d RULE - DD
8d MANTISSA - CD
12d DEBT OF HONOUR - CD
14d E|QUIP
16d PARASITE* - {PARTIES A}*
17d CERBERUS - CD
19d FLESHPOT* - {TOP SHELF}*
22d MOMENT - DD
24d A|DAM
25d WELL - DD
Signing off for today - Falcon
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Wednesday, June 17, 2009 (DT 25852)
This puzzle was originally published Saturday, February 14, 2009 in The Daily Telegraph
Introduction
I found this puzzle to be of a moderate degree of difficulty. While I did manage to complete the puzzle, I had an incorrect solution for one clue.
I am taking a break today from my ongoing series on the Fundamentals of Cryptic Crosswords.
Today's Glossary
Some possibly unfamiliar abbreviations, people, places, words and expressions used in today's puzzle
fast bowler - Cricket a bowler skilled in fast bowling
full toss - Cricket a bowled ball that reaches the batsman without bouncing
Linslade - a small town in Bedfordshire, England
wideawake - a soft felt hat with a low crown and a wide brim (noun, defn. 1)
Today's Links
As is typical for a puzzle published on Saturday in the UK, AnswerBank was busy with 12 questions discussing today's puzzle. They (together with the clues to which they relate) are:
AnswerBank [DT 25852]-a: 8ac
AnswerBank [DT 25852]-b: 10ac, 28ac, 2d, 22d
AnswerBank [DT 25852]-c: 10ac, 5d
AnswerBank [DT 25852]-d: 12ac, 4d, 5d, 13d
AnswerBank [DT 25852]-e: 25ac
AnswerBank [DT 25852]-f: 25ac
AnswerBank [DT 25852]-g: 8ac, 10ac, 1d, 3d
AnswerBank [DT 25852]-h: 1d
AnswerBank [DT 25852]-i: 22d
AnswerBank [DT 25852]-j: 28ac
AnswerBank [DT 25852]-k: 18ac, 5d
AnswerBank [DT 25852]-l: 6ac, 12ac, 2d
Being a Saturday puzzle, Big Dave provides a few day-of-publication hints at Big Dave's Telegraph Crossword Blog [DT 25852] - Hints while Peter Biddlecombe has contributed a very comprehensive post-contest-submission-date review at Big Dave's Telegraph Crossword Blog [DT 25852] - Review. Regular readers of my blog will know Peter under the alias xwd_fiend from his numerous contributions here.
Commentary on Today's Puzzle
12ac One taking reversible material found in the sea (4)
My reaction, on reading this clue, was similar to Peter's. To say the least, the setter has exercised a fair degree of license in creating this clue. I would think that saying "agar is found in the sea" is somewhat on a par with saying "flour grows on stalks of wheat".
22d Prompt delivery (6)
This is the one that I failed to solve correctly. Having totally missed the reference to childbirth in the wordplay, I tried to solve this clue as a double definition (perhaps a sign that I have been too obsessed with them of late). I settled on INFUSE as the solution where infuse can mean to "introduce [i.e., deliver] into the body through a vein, for therapeutic purposes" and "teach and impress by frequent repetitions or admonitions" which I thought might somehow be considered to constitute "prompting".
Solution to Today's Puzzle
Across
1ac FAST BOWLER
6ac RI(N)D
8ac LINSLADE* - {DEAN'S ILL}*
9ac CLUTCH - DD
10ac T(UTO*)RIAL - OUT*
11ac CUDDL_|_Y - [CUDDL]e + da[Y]
12ac A|GAR<
14ac SARA|W|A|K_ - [K]ebab
18ac ED|IF|I|ED
20ac BEAR = DD
23ac HAVE|TO~ - TO sounds like TWO
24ac A|S|SIGNOR
25ac MID-SEA - CD
26ac BANKRUPT - CD
27ac A|NT|I
28ac EX|PERTNESS
Down
1d FULL TOSS - CD
2d SANITY - CD
3d {BOLERO_}* - {[BLOO]m[ER]}*
4d WIDE|AWAKE
5d RACECARD - CD
6d ROUND OFF
7d NECK|LACE
13d AERO|SPACE - CD
15d A|VI|ATION* - {INTO A}*
16d {APRES-SKI}* - {ASK PIERS}*
17d ABROGATE* - {BOAT GEAR}*
19d DETRITUS* - {DUSTER IT}*
21d TICKET - CD
22d INDUCE - CD
Signing off for today - Falcon
Introduction
I found this puzzle to be of a moderate degree of difficulty. While I did manage to complete the puzzle, I had an incorrect solution for one clue.
I am taking a break today from my ongoing series on the Fundamentals of Cryptic Crosswords.
Today's Glossary
Some possibly unfamiliar abbreviations, people, places, words and expressions used in today's puzzle
fast bowler - Cricket a bowler skilled in fast bowling
full toss - Cricket a bowled ball that reaches the batsman without bouncing
Linslade - a small town in Bedfordshire, England
wideawake - a soft felt hat with a low crown and a wide brim (noun, defn. 1)
Today's Links
As is typical for a puzzle published on Saturday in the UK, AnswerBank was busy with 12 questions discussing today's puzzle. They (together with the clues to which they relate) are:
AnswerBank [DT 25852]-a: 8ac
AnswerBank [DT 25852]-b: 10ac, 28ac, 2d, 22d
AnswerBank [DT 25852]-c: 10ac, 5d
AnswerBank [DT 25852]-d: 12ac, 4d, 5d, 13d
AnswerBank [DT 25852]-e: 25ac
AnswerBank [DT 25852]-f: 25ac
AnswerBank [DT 25852]-g: 8ac, 10ac, 1d, 3d
AnswerBank [DT 25852]-h: 1d
AnswerBank [DT 25852]-i: 22d
AnswerBank [DT 25852]-j: 28ac
AnswerBank [DT 25852]-k: 18ac, 5d
AnswerBank [DT 25852]-l: 6ac, 12ac, 2d
Being a Saturday puzzle, Big Dave provides a few day-of-publication hints at Big Dave's Telegraph Crossword Blog [DT 25852] - Hints while Peter Biddlecombe has contributed a very comprehensive post-contest-submission-date review at Big Dave's Telegraph Crossword Blog [DT 25852] - Review. Regular readers of my blog will know Peter under the alias xwd_fiend from his numerous contributions here.
Commentary on Today's Puzzle
12ac One taking reversible material found in the sea (4)
My reaction, on reading this clue, was similar to Peter's. To say the least, the setter has exercised a fair degree of license in creating this clue. I would think that saying "agar is found in the sea" is somewhat on a par with saying "flour grows on stalks of wheat".
22d Prompt delivery (6)
This is the one that I failed to solve correctly. Having totally missed the reference to childbirth in the wordplay, I tried to solve this clue as a double definition (perhaps a sign that I have been too obsessed with them of late). I settled on INFUSE as the solution where infuse can mean to "introduce [i.e., deliver] into the body through a vein, for therapeutic purposes" and "teach and impress by frequent repetitions or admonitions" which I thought might somehow be considered to constitute "prompting".
Solution to Today's Puzzle
| Legend: | "CD" Cryptic Definition; "DD" Double Definition |
| "*" anagram; "~" sounds like; "<" letters reversed | |
| "( )" letters inserted; "_" letters deleted |
1ac FAST BOWLER
6ac RI(N)D
8ac LINSLADE* - {DEAN'S ILL}*
9ac CLUTCH - DD
10ac T(UTO*)RIAL - OUT*
11ac CUDDL_|_Y - [CUDDL]e + da[Y]
12ac A|GAR<
14ac SARA|W|A|K_ - [K]ebab
18ac ED|IF|I|ED
20ac BEAR = DD
23ac HAVE|TO~ - TO sounds like TWO
24ac A|S|SIGNOR
25ac MID-SEA - CD
26ac BANKRUPT - CD
27ac A|NT|I
28ac EX|PERTNESS
Down
1d FULL TOSS - CD
2d SANITY - CD
3d {BOLERO_}* - {[BLOO]m[ER]}*
4d WIDE|AWAKE
5d RACECARD - CD
6d ROUND OFF
7d NECK|LACE
13d AERO|SPACE - CD
15d A|VI|ATION* - {INTO A}*
16d {APRES-SKI}* - {ASK PIERS}*
17d ABROGATE* - {BOAT GEAR}*
19d DETRITUS* - {DUSTER IT}*
21d TICKET - CD
22d INDUCE - CD
Signing off for today - Falcon
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Tuesday, June 16, 2009 (DT 25851)
This puzzle was originally published Friday, February 13, 2009 in The Daily Telegraph
Introduction
I found today's puzzle to be moderately challenging. Although I had to open the Tool Chest fairly early today, I was able to complete the puzzle. Upon completion, I was fairly certain that I had missed nuances in the wordplay on a few clues, and Libellule's review on Big Dave's site not only confirmed my suspicions, but even brought to light some additional things that I had overlooked. I wholeheartedly echo Roy A. Farrant's sentiments, in his comments posted on Big Dave's site, that her review "‘fleshed out’ one or two clues where I had the correct answer but had initially (and unfairly) thought the clue a bit weak".
Fundamentals of Cryptic Crosswords - Part V
A Footnote to Parts III and IV
Neither of the last two installments of this series elicited any comments. I suppose that could indicate one of two possibilities - agreement or disinterest. I will hope for the former.
Like a birdwatcher, I merely attempt to record what I observe. I can no more influence the structure of puzzles than the birdwatcher can affect the design of birds. So if I pontificate about puzzles that I perceive as exhibiting some sort of imperfection (as I may have done in yesterday's piece), it is like the birdwatcher expressing a preference for swallows over grackles. Despite the biases of the observer, grackles and ugly clues are both likely to continue to exist. When we flip open our morning paper for our daily fix of puzzles we may hope for swallows but must be prepared to find grackles.
The components of wordplay
In this series, I have been attempting to build a coherent vocabulary (identified by italic font) with which to describe cryptic crossword clues. As a quick review, we have established that all clues consist of an envelope and payload. The structure of the payload determines whether the clue is a regular clue or an irregular clue. A regular clue consists of a left hand element and a right hand element separated by a fulcrum, which may be either implicit or explicit. Moreover, at least one of these elements is a standard definition. If both elements are a standard definition, the clue is known as a double definition. An element may also be a wordplay element, of which there are many types. We have already encountered one of these in Part I, namely the charade element.
Before delving into the other types of wordplay elements (which I intend to do in future parts to this series), I would like to look at the generic components of an element, which include:
13ac A silly girl, a sheep (6)
Expressed in my parsing notation, this becomes:
13ac A {silly (anagrind)} GIRL, A /\ sheep [A|RGALI*] (6)
All of the letters found in the solution to this clue appear in the clue itself. Note that this clue has an implicit fulcrum. I write the first "A" in bold font because it is used in the solution without any further manipulation. I write "GIRL A" in normal font to show that this string must be manipulated in some manner. The type of manipulation is defined by the indicator {silly} to be an anagram operation. This type of indicator may be called an anagrind (short for anagram indicator). I use italic font to distinguish indicators from other components of the clue. So the first step in the solution process is to execute the anagram operation on the string [GIRLA], thereby producing the string [RGALI]. This is then appended to the string [A] to produce the solution [ARGALI].
Now let's look at a second example:
25d Aboard boat there's hard criminal (4)
which we can parse as:
25d {Aboard ... (containment indicator)} boat [T^UG] {... there's} hard [H] /\ criminal [T(H)UG](4)
In this case, we must first perform a couple of substitutions to obtain the letters that we need for the solution. We replace "boat" with TUG and "hard" with H. The phrase "aboard ... there's" (i.e., "aboard ... there is") serves as an indicator of a containment operation. That is, it indicates that one part of the solution is acting as a container and the other part of the solution forms the contents of that container. As part of my notation, I place a circumflex symbol (^) in the container to indicate where the contents are to be inserted. In this example, we see an example of a split indicator. That is, the indicator "aboard ... there's" actually surrounds the container. Note that this clue also has an implicit fulcrum.
These two examples have demonstrated all of the generic components in the list above. I think that all wordplay elements can probably be built from these three types of generic components - although I stand ready to be corrected on that point.
Postscript to Yesterday's Installment
Regular reader's will recall that, yesterday, I had to backtrack on a statement that I had made in Saturday's blog declaring that the fulcrum of a double definition is "always" implicit. As if to further rub my nose in it, the setter of today's puzzle has also created a double definition with an explicit fulcrum:
20ac Bird's speed (4)
If this keeps up, I will be forced to further water down my revised declaration of "virtually always".
Today's Links
I found only one lone question on AnswerBank discussing today's puzzle. It (together with the clues to which it relates) is:
AnswerBank [DT 25851]-a: 22ac, 19d
It looks like the AnswerBank crowd must be migrating to Big Dave's Telegraph Crossword Blog [DT 25851], where Libellule provides a review of today's puzzle.
Commentary on Today's Puzzle
10ac A French sign in bar? Strange (9)
Overlooking the musical connection, I went straight to the tavern, where I surmised that the sign might somehow be connected with the "Natural Beer" movement. I guess my lack of culture is showing.
13ac A silly girl, a sheep (6)
Although Libellule has written a very good review (and certainly taught me a thing or two), she appears to have overlooked a key aspect of the wordplay in this clue. The solution is "A" plus an anagram of "GIRL A", not simply an anagram of "A GIRL", as she states.
3d Rodent on bark of oak, maybe, or palm (6)
The wording of the clue, as published in the National Post, is "bark of oak" rather than "back of oak", as shown in the review at Big Dave's site. As the Post seems to print the puzzle exactly as it appeared in the print edition of the Daily Telegraph (including errors), I wonder if there may be a typo on Big Dave's site. However, I do know that many of those frequenting Big Dave's site rely on the online version of the puzzle and there have been known to be discrepancies between the online and print versions.
Whatever the correct version, it does seem to me that the wordplay "bark/back of oak, maybe" is implying something that I may not be getting. As Libellule states there is a tree called the tan oak (Lithocarpus densiflorus). Oak bark is also a source of tannin and was traditionally used in the process of tanning hides (note: at this site you will have to scroll to the bottom of the page to see the text).
My thought is that "bark of oak, maybe" is merely indicating "tan" (as a colour). Despite the fact that "bark of oak" is used in the tanning process, I haven't been able to figure out how this might figure into the wordplay, so I tend to think that this line of attack is probably a "red herring" (or, perhaps, a "tan" herring). If the clue really was intended to be "back of oak, maybe" then would the wordplay be that, in the expression "tan oak", "tan" is (riding) on the "back of oak"?
7d Pursuit of Saracens leading to one country's downfall (9)
I did determine that the Saracens are a rugby club (allowing me to solve the clue), but I overlooked the fact that "pursuit" is being used in the sense of "an occupation or hobby".
9d Accepted as something worth discussing (minutes earlier?) (3,2,3,8)
I presume that the reference to "minutes earlier" relates to the standard order of business in which the "Reading and Approval of the Minutes of the Previous Meeting" is traditionally the first item of business, and is therefore dealt with earlier than any other item "put on the agenda".
21d A cross that's primarily a lucky charm (6)
I solved this clue solely on the basis of the standard definition element ("a lucky charm"), completely missing the wordplay associated with "a cross that's primarily". I thus thought this was a pretty lame clue, until I read Libellule's review at Big Dave's site. I also note that primarily is being used (rather sneakily) to indicate the primary (i.e., first) letter of "that's" instead of in its more customary sense of "for the most part".
Solution to Today's Puzzle
Across
1ac {COMRADES IN ARMS}* - {COMMANDER AS SIR}* {ind.: ordering}
10ac UN|NATURAL
11ac UNION - CD
12ac O|VERA|G|E_
13ac A|RGALI* - A + {ind.: silly} {GIRL A}*
15ac TACT~ - sounds like TACKED {ind.: we hear}
17ac CLEMENTINE - CD
18ac EX|PLAIN|IN|G
20ac KNOT - DD
22ac G(ER)ARD< - {ind.: back}
23ac I(MM)ORAL - {ind.: collecting}
26ac NIGH|_T - {ind.: back of} hu[T]
27ac HEAD|LINES - CD
28ac AUTO|SUGGESTION - CD
Down
2d OUNCE - CD
3d RAT|TAN
4d DAR(JEE_)LING - DAR^LING + ([JEE]r) {truncation ind.: curtailed} {containment ind.: brought around}
5d SILO* - {ind.: contaminated with} OILS*
6d NEUTRON - CD
7d RU|I|NATION
8d SENT|I|MENTAL|IST* - ITS* {ind.: ridiculous}
9d PUT ON THE AGENDA - CD
14d E|MAN|CI(PA)TE - {containment ind.: imprisoned}
16d CO(P)Y|RIGHT - {containment ind.: about}
19d AERATES* - {SET AREA}* {ind.: with new development}
21d A|MULE|T_ - [T]hat's {ind.: primarily}
24d RING|O
25d T(H)UG - {containment ind.: aboard}
Signing off for today - Falcon
Introduction
I found today's puzzle to be moderately challenging. Although I had to open the Tool Chest fairly early today, I was able to complete the puzzle. Upon completion, I was fairly certain that I had missed nuances in the wordplay on a few clues, and Libellule's review on Big Dave's site not only confirmed my suspicions, but even brought to light some additional things that I had overlooked. I wholeheartedly echo Roy A. Farrant's sentiments, in his comments posted on Big Dave's site, that her review "‘fleshed out’ one or two clues where I had the correct answer but had initially (and unfairly) thought the clue a bit weak".
Fundamentals of Cryptic Crosswords - Part V
A Footnote to Parts III and IV
Neither of the last two installments of this series elicited any comments. I suppose that could indicate one of two possibilities - agreement or disinterest. I will hope for the former.
Like a birdwatcher, I merely attempt to record what I observe. I can no more influence the structure of puzzles than the birdwatcher can affect the design of birds. So if I pontificate about puzzles that I perceive as exhibiting some sort of imperfection (as I may have done in yesterday's piece), it is like the birdwatcher expressing a preference for swallows over grackles. Despite the biases of the observer, grackles and ugly clues are both likely to continue to exist. When we flip open our morning paper for our daily fix of puzzles we may hope for swallows but must be prepared to find grackles.
The components of wordplay
In this series, I have been attempting to build a coherent vocabulary (identified by italic font) with which to describe cryptic crossword clues. As a quick review, we have established that all clues consist of an envelope and payload. The structure of the payload determines whether the clue is a regular clue or an irregular clue. A regular clue consists of a left hand element and a right hand element separated by a fulcrum, which may be either implicit or explicit. Moreover, at least one of these elements is a standard definition. If both elements are a standard definition, the clue is known as a double definition. An element may also be a wordplay element, of which there are many types. We have already encountered one of these in Part I, namely the charade element.
Before delving into the other types of wordplay elements (which I intend to do in future parts to this series), I would like to look at the generic components of an element, which include:
- Generic component 1: Words whose letters (in whole or in part) appear in the solution (with or without manipulation);
- Generic component 2: Words for which a substitution is to be made, with this substituted word (in whole or in part) appearing in the solution (with or without manipulation);
- Generic component 3: Words that indicate manipulations to be performed on words or strings of letters to obtain the solution or a part of the solution. These words are called indicators.
13ac A silly girl, a sheep (6)
Expressed in my parsing notation, this becomes:
13ac A {silly (anagrind)} GIRL, A /\ sheep [A|RGALI*] (6)
All of the letters found in the solution to this clue appear in the clue itself. Note that this clue has an implicit fulcrum. I write the first "A" in bold font because it is used in the solution without any further manipulation. I write "GIRL A" in normal font to show that this string must be manipulated in some manner. The type of manipulation is defined by the indicator {silly} to be an anagram operation. This type of indicator may be called an anagrind (short for anagram indicator). I use italic font to distinguish indicators from other components of the clue. So the first step in the solution process is to execute the anagram operation on the string [GIRLA], thereby producing the string [RGALI]. This is then appended to the string [A] to produce the solution [ARGALI].
Now let's look at a second example:
25d Aboard boat there's hard criminal (4)
which we can parse as:
25d {Aboard ... (containment indicator)} boat [T^UG] {... there's} hard [H] /\ criminal [T(H)UG](4)
In this case, we must first perform a couple of substitutions to obtain the letters that we need for the solution. We replace "boat" with TUG and "hard" with H. The phrase "aboard ... there's" (i.e., "aboard ... there is") serves as an indicator of a containment operation. That is, it indicates that one part of the solution is acting as a container and the other part of the solution forms the contents of that container. As part of my notation, I place a circumflex symbol (^) in the container to indicate where the contents are to be inserted. In this example, we see an example of a split indicator. That is, the indicator "aboard ... there's" actually surrounds the container. Note that this clue also has an implicit fulcrum.
These two examples have demonstrated all of the generic components in the list above. I think that all wordplay elements can probably be built from these three types of generic components - although I stand ready to be corrected on that point.
Postscript to Yesterday's Installment
Regular reader's will recall that, yesterday, I had to backtrack on a statement that I had made in Saturday's blog declaring that the fulcrum of a double definition is "always" implicit. As if to further rub my nose in it, the setter of today's puzzle has also created a double definition with an explicit fulcrum:
20ac Bird's speed (4)
If this keeps up, I will be forced to further water down my revised declaration of "virtually always".
Today's Links
I found only one lone question on AnswerBank discussing today's puzzle. It (together with the clues to which it relates) is:
AnswerBank [DT 25851]-a: 22ac, 19d
It looks like the AnswerBank crowd must be migrating to Big Dave's Telegraph Crossword Blog [DT 25851], where Libellule provides a review of today's puzzle.
Commentary on Today's Puzzle
10ac A French sign in bar? Strange (9)
Overlooking the musical connection, I went straight to the tavern, where I surmised that the sign might somehow be connected with the "Natural Beer" movement. I guess my lack of culture is showing.
13ac A silly girl, a sheep (6)
Although Libellule has written a very good review (and certainly taught me a thing or two), she appears to have overlooked a key aspect of the wordplay in this clue. The solution is "A" plus an anagram of "GIRL A", not simply an anagram of "A GIRL", as she states.
3d Rodent on bark of oak, maybe, or palm (6)
The wording of the clue, as published in the National Post, is "bark of oak" rather than "back of oak", as shown in the review at Big Dave's site. As the Post seems to print the puzzle exactly as it appeared in the print edition of the Daily Telegraph (including errors), I wonder if there may be a typo on Big Dave's site. However, I do know that many of those frequenting Big Dave's site rely on the online version of the puzzle and there have been known to be discrepancies between the online and print versions.
Whatever the correct version, it does seem to me that the wordplay "bark/back of oak, maybe" is implying something that I may not be getting. As Libellule states there is a tree called the tan oak (Lithocarpus densiflorus). Oak bark is also a source of tannin and was traditionally used in the process of tanning hides (note: at this site you will have to scroll to the bottom of the page to see the text).
My thought is that "bark of oak, maybe" is merely indicating "tan" (as a colour). Despite the fact that "bark of oak" is used in the tanning process, I haven't been able to figure out how this might figure into the wordplay, so I tend to think that this line of attack is probably a "red herring" (or, perhaps, a "tan" herring). If the clue really was intended to be "back of oak, maybe" then would the wordplay be that, in the expression "tan oak", "tan" is (riding) on the "back of oak"?
7d Pursuit of Saracens leading to one country's downfall (9)
I did determine that the Saracens are a rugby club (allowing me to solve the clue), but I overlooked the fact that "pursuit" is being used in the sense of "an occupation or hobby".
9d Accepted as something worth discussing (minutes earlier?) (3,2,3,8)
I presume that the reference to "minutes earlier" relates to the standard order of business in which the "Reading and Approval of the Minutes of the Previous Meeting" is traditionally the first item of business, and is therefore dealt with earlier than any other item "put on the agenda".
21d A cross that's primarily a lucky charm (6)
I solved this clue solely on the basis of the standard definition element ("a lucky charm"), completely missing the wordplay associated with "a cross that's primarily". I thus thought this was a pretty lame clue, until I read Libellule's review at Big Dave's site. I also note that primarily is being used (rather sneakily) to indicate the primary (i.e., first) letter of "that's" instead of in its more customary sense of "for the most part".
Solution to Today's Puzzle
| Legend: | "CD" Cryptic Definition; "DD" Double Definition |
| "*" anagram; "~" sounds like; "<" letters reversed | |
| "( )" letters inserted; "_" letters deleted |
Across
1ac {COMRADES IN ARMS}* - {COMMANDER AS SIR}* {ind.: ordering}
10ac UN|NATURAL
11ac UNION - CD
12ac O|VERA|G|E_
13ac A|RGALI* - A + {ind.: silly} {GIRL A}*
15ac TACT~ - sounds like TACKED {ind.: we hear}
17ac CLEMENTINE - CD
18ac EX|PLAIN|IN|G
20ac KNOT - DD
22ac G(ER)ARD< - {ind.: back}
23ac I(MM)ORAL - {ind.: collecting}
26ac NIGH|_T - {ind.: back of} hu[T]
27ac HEAD|LINES - CD
28ac AUTO|SUGGESTION - CD
Down
2d OUNCE - CD
3d RAT|TAN
4d DAR(JEE_)LING - DAR^LING + ([JEE]r) {truncation ind.: curtailed} {containment ind.: brought around}
5d SILO* - {ind.: contaminated with} OILS*
6d NEUTRON - CD
7d RU|I|NATION
8d SENT|I|MENTAL|IST* - ITS* {ind.: ridiculous}
9d PUT ON THE AGENDA - CD
14d E|MAN|CI(PA)TE - {containment ind.: imprisoned}
16d CO(P)Y|RIGHT - {containment ind.: about}
19d AERATES* - {SET AREA}* {ind.: with new development}
21d A|MULE|T_ - [T]hat's {ind.: primarily}
24d RING|O
25d T(H)UG - {containment ind.: aboard}
Signing off for today - Falcon
Monday, June 15, 2009
Monday, June 15, 2009 (DT 25850)
This puzzle was originally published Thursday, February 12, 2009 in The Daily Telegraph
Introduction
A fairly easy puzzle today; however, I missed some of the wordplay on a couple of the clues. Both of the British blog sites concluded that there is an error in one of the clues (see Commentary on Today's Puzzle below).
Fundamentals of Cryptic Crosswords - Part IV
Today is a day for revisionism. Before dealing with the matter that I alluded to at the conclusion of Saturday's installment, I will deal with an item that came to my attention over the weekend.
Revisiting Double Definitions
In Saturday's blog, you may recall that I defined a double definition to be a regular clue in which both elements are standard definitions. So far, so good. I then went on to state that the fulcrum in a double definition is always implicit. Well, the ink was scarcely dry (or the electrons had barely settled, or whatever the equivalent expression is in cyberspace), than I encountered a clue that seems to refute that latter statement. The following appeared in a syndicated The Sunday London Times cryptic crossword that was published yesterday in the Ottawa Citizen (the Citizen carries the puzzle six weeks after it appears in London):
[SLT 4327]-23ac Expert's fracture (5)
which I parse as:
[SLT 4327]-23ac Expert [CRACK] /'s\ fracture [CRACK] (5)
In this clue, I interpret the apostrophe-s to be an abbreviation for "is". Therefore, this clue would appear to indicate that, while rare, it is possible to have a double definition with an explicit fulcrum. That being the case, it seems that I will have to change my declaration of "always" to something less definitive such as "virtually always".
Revisiting the Generic Model for Regular Clues with Explicit Fulcrums
While I hope that it is not the case, I can understand if some readers feel that I am splitting hairs in the following discussion. I am trying to argue a fine point, and I do hope that I have managed to clearly articulate my thoughts.
You may recall that I suggested in Saturday's posting that the payload of regular clues with explicit fulcrums generally followed one of the following three patterns:
[DT 25846]-6d Lady [M|ARIA] /producing\ many [M] a song [ARIA] (5)
The logic of this clue, which is directly opposite to that of Case 2 above, is (in effect) saying:
I would see a clue with wording along the lines of "Many a song produces a lady" as being perfectly acceptable from a logic perspective (although the surface reading would undoubtedly be considered less elegant, to say the least).
I even had the (somewhat facetious) idea that since you have to put together the components in the right hand element to produce the solution defined by the left hand element, you would have to take apart the solution defined by the left hand element to produce the components in the right hand element. This might lead one to wordplay such as "Smashing lady produces many a song." :-)
There is perhaps one other approach that one might take to explain this clue. One might argue that the logic flows something like "substituting MARIA for 'Lady' produces the same result as performing the wordplay in the right hand element". However, this artifice also has the effect of making it possible to turn any word expressing "result" into one that effectively expresses "equality".
This being said, if clue [DT 25846]-6d is considered to be valid, then it would seem that we need to extend our generic model to include the inverse of Cases 2 and 3 above, namely:
I would certainly be most interested to receive comments on any of the points raised in today's installment.
Tomorrow, I plan to start looking at the components that constitute a wordplay element.
Today's Glossary
Some possibly unfamiliar abbreviations, people, places, words and expressions used in today's puzzle
bastinado - a beating of the soles of the feet as a means of punishment
brass - (Brit. colloq.) money (noun, defn. 8)
cap - to do better than (verb defn. 4)
Today's Links
I found three questions on AnswerBank discussing today's puzzle. They (together with the clues to which they relate) are:
A full review of today's puzzle, providing additional hints or explanations for all clues, is found at Big Dave's Telegraph Crossword Blog [DT 25850].
Commentary on Today's Puzzle
10ac Doing better, crossing line and getting applause (8)
I was not familiar with the use of "cap" to mean "to do better" and so missed this aspect of the wordplay. I had thought that the wordplay might involve "lapping" as in a row (or line) of shingles lapping the adjacent row. I must admit that I had little idea of how the "C" figured in the wordplay, other than the somewhat tenuous truism that a grade of C is better than a grade of D.
The Clue That Drove Us Mad
16ac Food with chestnuts stuffing drove us mad (4,1,7)
An attempt to solve this clue produces the following:
16ac Food [HORS D'OEUVRES] /with\ chestnuts [HORS^ES] {stuffing (containment indicator)} {DROVE US mad (anagrind) → [DOEUVR] + [S]} (4,1,7)
The problem is that there is an extraneous "S". There was a clear consensus on the British blogs that "chestnuts" should have been singular in this clue, which would resolve this problem. By the way, the reference in the clue is not to "horse chestnuts", but to "chestnut coloured horses" (a distinction that I must admit I missed). The revised clue would then read as follows:
16ac Food with chestnut stuffing drove us mad (4,1,7)
In addition to resolving the problem of the extra "S", I think it also gives the clue a better surface reading. However, the solution to the clue now becomes rather complex, in that one has to perform the wordplay operations in the proper sequence to achieve the correct solution. That is, one must first perform the containment operation and then execute the anagram operation on the result, as follows:
16ac Food [HORS D'OEUVRES] /with\ {chestnut [HOR^SE] stuffing (containment indicator) DROVE US → [HOR(DROVE US)SE]} {mad (anagrind) → [HORS DOEUVRES]} (4,1,7)
While one correspondent on AnswerBank suggested that the solution is merely an anagram of HORSE DROVE US, that simplistic perspective does not respond to the wordplay in the clue. In fact, if that were the case, there would be no need for the word "stuffing" to appear in the clue. I believe that the (rephrased) clue clearly implies that one must first "stuff" DROVE US into HORSE and then perform the anagram operation on the resulting string.
Solution to Today's Puzzle
Across
1ac SPACE BAR
6ac B|RAISE
9ac STRAWS - CD
10ac C(L)APPING
11ac OUT|POINT* - OUT + {IN TOP}*
12ac S_|TRAIN - [S]eeing + TRAIN
13ac S|MALL FORTUNE
16ac {HORS D'OEUVRES}* - {HOR(DROVE US)SE}* [Note: there is almost certainly an error in the clue, as published - see discussion above.]
19ac _EN|LIST - m[EN] + LIST
21ac CL(EAR)ING
23ac HACIENDA* - {CAN HIDE A}*
24ac V_I_|CARS - [V]a[I]n + CARS
25ac CYGNET~ - sounds like SIGNET
26ac PUS<|HOVER
Down
2d P|U~|TOUT - U sounds like YOU
3d C|LAMP
4d BASTINADO* - {A BAND IS TO}*
5d RECITAL - DD
6d B(R)ASS
7d ASPIR(A|T)ES_
8d SEN(T(I)EN)T - SEN^T containing (T^EN) containing (I)
13d S|US|PIC|{I|ON}<
14d _OURS|ELVES - t[OURS] + ELVES
15d BOUND|A|RY
17d {UNCLASP_}* - {[CUP FINALS] - [IF]}*
18d ENTREE
20d _TEN|ET_ - forgot[TEN ET]hical
22d RECT~|O - RECT sounds like WRECKED
Signing off for today - Falcon
Introduction
A fairly easy puzzle today; however, I missed some of the wordplay on a couple of the clues. Both of the British blog sites concluded that there is an error in one of the clues (see Commentary on Today's Puzzle below).
Fundamentals of Cryptic Crosswords - Part IV
Today is a day for revisionism. Before dealing with the matter that I alluded to at the conclusion of Saturday's installment, I will deal with an item that came to my attention over the weekend.
Revisiting Double Definitions
In Saturday's blog, you may recall that I defined a double definition to be a regular clue in which both elements are standard definitions. So far, so good. I then went on to state that the fulcrum in a double definition is always implicit. Well, the ink was scarcely dry (or the electrons had barely settled, or whatever the equivalent expression is in cyberspace), than I encountered a clue that seems to refute that latter statement. The following appeared in a syndicated The Sunday London Times cryptic crossword that was published yesterday in the Ottawa Citizen (the Citizen carries the puzzle six weeks after it appears in London):
[SLT 4327]-23ac Expert's fracture (5)
which I parse as:
[SLT 4327]-23ac Expert [CRACK] /'s\ fracture [CRACK] (5)
In this clue, I interpret the apostrophe-s to be an abbreviation for "is". Therefore, this clue would appear to indicate that, while rare, it is possible to have a double definition with an explicit fulcrum. That being the case, it seems that I will have to change my declaration of "always" to something less definitive such as "virtually always".
Revisiting the Generic Model for Regular Clues with Explicit Fulcrums
While I hope that it is not the case, I can understand if some readers feel that I am splitting hairs in the following discussion. I am trying to argue a fine point, and I do hope that I have managed to clearly articulate my thoughts.
You may recall that I suggested in Saturday's posting that the payload of regular clues with explicit fulcrums generally followed one of the following three patterns:
- Case 1: "The left hand element /is equivalent to\ the right hand element"; or
- Case 2: "The wordplay in the left hand element /results in\ the solution defined by the right hand element" (expressed in the active voice); or
- Case 3: "The solution defined by the left hand element /is the result of\ the wordplay in the right hand element" (expressed in the passive voice)
[DT 25846]-6d Lady [M|ARIA] /producing\ many [M] a song [ARIA] (5)
The logic of this clue, which is directly opposite to that of Case 2 above, is (in effect) saying:
- "The solution defined by the right hand element /results in\ the wordplay in the left hand element"
I would see a clue with wording along the lines of "Many a song produces a lady" as being perfectly acceptable from a logic perspective (although the surface reading would undoubtedly be considered less elegant, to say the least).
I even had the (somewhat facetious) idea that since you have to put together the components in the right hand element to produce the solution defined by the left hand element, you would have to take apart the solution defined by the left hand element to produce the components in the right hand element. This might lead one to wordplay such as "Smashing lady produces many a song." :-)
There is perhaps one other approach that one might take to explain this clue. One might argue that the logic flows something like "substituting MARIA for 'Lady' produces the same result as performing the wordplay in the right hand element". However, this artifice also has the effect of making it possible to turn any word expressing "result" into one that effectively expresses "equality".
This being said, if clue [DT 25846]-6d is considered to be valid, then it would seem that we need to extend our generic model to include the inverse of Cases 2 and 3 above, namely:
- Case 4: "The wordplay in the left hand element /is the result of\ the solution defined by the right hand element"; or
- Case 5: "The solution defined by the left hand element /results in\ the wordplay in the right hand element"
I would certainly be most interested to receive comments on any of the points raised in today's installment.
Tomorrow, I plan to start looking at the components that constitute a wordplay element.
Today's Glossary
Some possibly unfamiliar abbreviations, people, places, words and expressions used in today's puzzle
bastinado - a beating of the soles of the feet as a means of punishment
brass - (Brit. colloq.) money (noun, defn. 8)
cap - to do better than (verb defn. 4)
Today's Links
I found three questions on AnswerBank discussing today's puzzle. They (together with the clues to which they relate) are:
- AnswerBank [DT 25850]-a: 16ac, 18d
- AnswerBank [DT 25850]-b: 18d
- AnswerBank [DT 25850]-c: 18d
A full review of today's puzzle, providing additional hints or explanations for all clues, is found at Big Dave's Telegraph Crossword Blog [DT 25850].
Commentary on Today's Puzzle
10ac Doing better, crossing line and getting applause (8)
I was not familiar with the use of "cap" to mean "to do better" and so missed this aspect of the wordplay. I had thought that the wordplay might involve "lapping" as in a row (or line) of shingles lapping the adjacent row. I must admit that I had little idea of how the "C" figured in the wordplay, other than the somewhat tenuous truism that a grade of C is better than a grade of D.
The Clue That Drove Us Mad
16ac Food with chestnuts stuffing drove us mad (4,1,7)
An attempt to solve this clue produces the following:
16ac Food [HORS D'OEUVRES] /with\ chestnuts [HORS^ES] {stuffing (containment indicator)} {DROVE US mad (anagrind) → [DOEUVR] + [S]} (4,1,7)
The problem is that there is an extraneous "S". There was a clear consensus on the British blogs that "chestnuts" should have been singular in this clue, which would resolve this problem. By the way, the reference in the clue is not to "horse chestnuts", but to "chestnut coloured horses" (a distinction that I must admit I missed). The revised clue would then read as follows:
16ac Food with chestnut stuffing drove us mad (4,1,7)
In addition to resolving the problem of the extra "S", I think it also gives the clue a better surface reading. However, the solution to the clue now becomes rather complex, in that one has to perform the wordplay operations in the proper sequence to achieve the correct solution. That is, one must first perform the containment operation and then execute the anagram operation on the result, as follows:
16ac Food [HORS D'OEUVRES] /with\ {chestnut [HOR^SE] stuffing (containment indicator) DROVE US → [HOR(DROVE US)SE]} {mad (anagrind) → [HORS DOEUVRES]} (4,1,7)
While one correspondent on AnswerBank suggested that the solution is merely an anagram of HORSE DROVE US, that simplistic perspective does not respond to the wordplay in the clue. In fact, if that were the case, there would be no need for the word "stuffing" to appear in the clue. I believe that the (rephrased) clue clearly implies that one must first "stuff" DROVE US into HORSE and then perform the anagram operation on the resulting string.
Solution to Today's Puzzle
| Legend: | "CD" Cryptic Definition; "DD" Double Definition |
| "*" anagram; "~" sounds like; "<" letters reversed | |
| "( )" letters inserted; "_" letters deleted |
Across
1ac SPACE BAR
6ac B|RAISE
9ac STRAWS - CD
10ac C(L)APPING
11ac OUT|POINT* - OUT + {IN TOP}*
12ac S_|TRAIN - [S]eeing + TRAIN
13ac S|MALL FORTUNE
16ac {HORS D'OEUVRES}* - {HOR(DROVE US)SE}* [Note: there is almost certainly an error in the clue, as published - see discussion above.]
19ac _EN|LIST - m[EN] + LIST
21ac CL(EAR)ING
23ac HACIENDA* - {CAN HIDE A}*
24ac V_I_|CARS - [V]a[I]n + CARS
25ac CYGNET~ - sounds like SIGNET
26ac PUS<|HOVER
Down
2d P|U~|TOUT - U sounds like YOU
3d C|LAMP
4d BASTINADO* - {A BAND IS TO}*
5d RECITAL - DD
6d B(R)ASS
7d ASPIR(A|T)ES_
8d SEN(T(I)EN)T - SEN^T containing (T^EN) containing (I)
13d S|US|PIC|{I|ON}<
14d _OURS|ELVES - t[OURS] + ELVES
15d BOUND|A|RY
17d {UNCLASP_}* - {[CUP FINALS] - [IF]}*
18d ENTREE
20d _TEN|ET_ - forgot[TEN ET]hical
22d RECT~|O - RECT sounds like WRECKED
Signing off for today - Falcon