Daily Telegraph Puzzle Number DT 26344 | |
Publication Date in The Daily Telegraph Monday, September 13, 2010 | |
Setter Rufus | |
Link to Full Review Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 26344] | |
Big Dave's Review Written By Libellule | |
Big Dave's Rating | |
| Difficulty - ** | Enjoyment - *** |
Falcon's Performance ***** | |
Notes The National Post has skipped DT 26343 which was published in The Daily Telegraph on Saturday, September 11, 2010 | |
Introduction
Puzzles published on Monday in the U.K. (as this one was) tend to be on the less difficult side, but still highly enjoyable. And this one is no exception. The setter, Rufus, is an acknowledged master of the cryptic definition. As this is a style of clue for which I have a particular fondness, his puzzles are among the most enjoyable for me.
Today I thought I would come up a couple of clues short of solving the puzzle unaided. However, I went out and did some Christmas shopping, and upon my return was able to solve the two remaining clues - including correctly guessing the hitherto unknown British expression at 13d. I guess CrypticSue's advice to go away and cogitate works. I would think that my performance today entitles me to a temporary pass out of Mary's Clueless Club.
Today's Glossary
Selected abbreviations, people, places, words and expressions appearing in today's puzzle
Appearing in Clues:
Homer Simpson - fictional main character in the animated television series The Simpsons and the boorish father of the eponymous family comprising his wife, Marge, and three children: Bart, Lisa, and Maggie. The family resides in the town of Springfield where Homer works at the Nuclear Power Plant.
Horatio Nelson (1758 – 1805) - English flag officer famous for his service in the Royal Navy, particularly during the Napoleonic Wars. Of his several victories, the most well known and notable was The Battle of Trafalgar in 1805, during which he was shot, dying towards the end of the battle. In 1793, while fighting in Corsica, he had lost the sight in his right eye.
Winnie-the-Pooh (or, as Disneyized, Winnie the Pooh) - fictional bear appearing in a series of children's stories by English author A. A. Milne.
Appearing in Solutions:
Sir Arthur Bliss (1891 – 1975) - British composer.
form - noun 6 chiefly British a class or year in a school, usually given a specifying number: the fifth form
not a patch on - British informal greatly inferior to: he no longer looked so handsome — he wasn't a patch on Peter
Commentary on Today's Puzzle
This commentary should be read in conjunction with the review at Big Dave's Crossword Blog, to which a link is provided in the table above.
16a Stop for Jack to revive (5,2)
"Jack" is slang for sailor. I initially put HEAVE TO in here, but eventually realized the 'error' of my ways' and changed it to BRING TO. However, upon checking the dictionary, I find I may well have had good reason for my original solution. Heave to means "to stop (a vessel) or (of a vessel) to stop, as by trimming the sails, etc.", while bring to means "to cause (a ship) to turn into the wind and reduce her headway" (Collins English Dictionary). So, bring to would seem to mean 'to slow', whereas heave to means 'to stop'. However, given that the setter as well as several of the visitors to Big Dave's site seem to have naval experience (unlike myself), I have to assume that the wording of the clue is accurate in the eyes of a sailor.
Signing off for today - Falcon
Another excellent puzzle, many faves: 2d, 7d, 8d, 14a, 28a, 29a, 12d, but I liked 16d best of all. There is also a composer called Philip Bliss who I have heard of.
ReplyDelete17a: "run" is anagram indicator?
10a: no anagram indicator at all, but can be forgiven. :)
13d I have heard of, but just vaguely.
16a: same as you, first thought "heave to", then looked up "bring to".
I had a similar experience: stumped at about 80%, and finished it the next morning in no time. I think sometimes the cogitation happens while one is off in dreamland. :)
Cheers
- Pete