Wednesday, November 18, 2009 (DT 25988)

This puzzle was originally published Thursday, July 23, 2009 in The Daily Telegraph

Introduction

I initially thought that today's puzzle was going to be relatively easy (at least when compared to what was served up to us yesterday). I got off to a great start, rapidly completing most of the bottom half. But, as for the upper half, I found it to be almost as difficult as yesterday's puzzle. Since the Brits thought today's puzzle was much easier, perhaps my problem was due to the fairly large number of British terms (and British spellings, e.g., whinger) with which I was unfamiliar. I completed the puzzle - but with somewhat of a question mark regarding the wordplay at 7d.

Today's Glossary

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

bung - Brit. slang a bribe

feel the draught - to be short of money

flexitime - Brit. (?) alternative spelling of flextime

may - (entry 2 or 3 - depending on how one chooses to count, defn. 1) the blossom of the hawthorn tree. Also called mayflower in the UK. In North America, the trailing arbutus (which you may recall from yesterday's puzzle) is what we call a mayflower.

May queen - a young woman crowned with flowers, chosen to preside over May Day festivities

po-faced - Brit. humourless and disapproving

pull - (verb, defn. 16) Brit. (?) slang to pick up (a sexual partner)

tin - (noun, defn. 6) Brit. slang money

the tube - (noun, defn. 4) Brit. the underground railway system in London, England

underground - (noun, defn. 1) Brit. an underground railway (i.e., subway)

whinger - Brit. one who complains persistently and peevishly (spelled whiner in North America)

Today's Links

Gazza's review of today's puzzle may be found at Big Dave's Telegraph Crossword Blog [DT 25988].

Commentary on Today's Puzzle

17a Pretty girls seeing bees on blossom (3,6)

Gazza indicates in his review that May 1 is "the day when workers are honoured all over the world". Maybe everywhere but North America, where Labour Day is celebrated in Canada and Labor Day in the U.S. on the first Monday in September. Furthermore, May Day in its other sense is also not widely celebrated in North America. That is such a pity, as I could definitely go for a holiday where pretty girls wear flowers in their hair and dance around a maypole.

Apparently, May Day is (or was at one time, at least) celebrated in some parts of the U.S. Wikipedia says "May Day was also celebrated by some early European settlers of the American continent. In some parts of the United States, May Baskets are made. These baskets are small and usually filled with flowers or treats and left at someone's doorstep. The basket giver would ring the bell and run away. The person receiving the basket would try to catch the fleeing giver. If they caught the person, a kiss was to be exchanged." Definitely, a custom worth reviving.

19a Rumoured to be full of promise initially, and tasty (5)

I have always had difficulty with the word "sapid" as, for some unknown reason, just the sound of the word conveys to me the exact opposite sense to what the word actually means.

4d Contract on single enemy - hours to suit! (9)

The solution is FLEX (contract) before (on, in a down clue) I (single) TIME (enemy) produces FLEXITIME (hours to suit).

According to the Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898), "How goes the enemy?" or "What says the enemy?" are (or were at the end of the 19th century) ways of asking "What time is it?" (or, apparently in the language of the day, "What o'clock is it?"). This allusion seemingly arises from the adage, "Time is the enemy of man, especially of those who are behind time." I presume that E. Cobham Brewer was the compiler of the Dictionary and not the originator of the expression. As no other attribution is provided, perhaps the origin of the phrase is unknown.

7d Material for publication, for example, on South Africa (7)

If only I had taken the trouble to visit Big Dave's Mine, my question would have been answered. ZA is the international vehicle registration code for South Africa.

Signing off for today - Falcon