Friday, October 2, 2009 (DT 25932)

This puzzle was originally published Tuesday, May 19, 2009 in The Daily Telegraph

Introduction

Like the Brits, I had the most difficulty with the lower right-hand corner. After completing the other three quadrants unaided, I needed to make extensive use of the solving aids in my Tool Chest to finish the puzzle.

Today's Glossary

Some possibly unfamiliar abbreviations, people, places, words and expressions used in today's puzzle

Desperate Dan - a character in the British comic strip The Dandy

fag - Brit. a cigarette (a term that at one time was also common in Canada but seems to have fallen into disuse - supplanted by another meaning)

Today's Links

Gazza's review of today's puzzle may be found at Big Dave's Telegraph Crossword Blog [DT 25932].

Commentary on Today's Puzzle

13a Grand tipping back beer (5)

It is clear that the wordplay contains a reversal, but the trick is to decide which is the definition ("grand" or "beer"). One could interpret the clue as:

13a Grand (REGAL) /\ tipping back beer (LAGER) (5)

or

13a Grand (REGAL) tipping back /\ beer (LAGER) (5)

14a Turn over - it's not working (4)

Before reading Gazza's review, I was puzzled by the wordplay in this clue, having missed the automotive allusion in "turn over".

21d More thoughtless gossip (7)

I originally tried BLATHER as a solution, but this proved to be erroneous.

Signing off for today - Falcon