Thursday, January 6, 2011 (DT 26363)

Daily Telegraph Puzzle Number DT 26363
Publication Date in The Daily Telegraph Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Setter Unknown
Link to Full Review Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 26363]
Big Dave's Review Written By Gazza
Big Dave's Rating
Difficulty - ***	Enjoyment - ***
Falcon's Performance ****

Introduction

After a slow start, I worked through this puzzle quite expeditiously until there was only one clue left to solve. However, this lone holdout proved to be very stubborn and even a lengthy period of cogitation away from the puzzle failed to produce results. Even my Tool Chest seemed that it might let me down. I was about to throw in the towel when a sudden inspiration led me to the correct solution - and, of course, it proved to be a new (to me) Briticism.

Today's Glossary

Selected abbreviations, people, places, words and expressions appearing in today's puzzle

Appearing in Clues:

Aldeburgh - a coastal town in Suffolk, East Anglia, England, located on the River Alde. The internationally renowned Aldeburgh Festival of arts, which takes place at nearby Snape Maltings, was created in 1948 by the resident and acclaimed composer Benjamin Britten.
bang to rights (or North American dead to rights) - informal (of a criminal) with positive proof of guilt: we've got you bang to rights handling stolen property.

chemist - noun 1 [1^st entry] British a shop where medicinal drugs are dispensed and sold , and in which toiletries and other medical goods can be purchased.

Harold Godwinson (or Harold II) (c. 1022 – 1066) - the last Anglo-Saxon King of England who reigned from 6 January 1066 until his death at the Battle of Hastings on 14 October of that same year, fighting the Norman invaders led by William the Conqueror during the Norman conquest of England.

Peter Grimes - an opera by English Composer Benjamin Britten, Baron Britten of Aldeburgh.

Appearing in Solutions:

AB² - abbreviation [1^st entry] able seaman, noun a rank of sailor in the Royal Navy above ordinary seaman and below leading seaman.

Ag¹ - symbol the chemical element silver.

[it's] a fair cop - phrase British informal an admission that the speaker has been caught doing wrong and deserves punishment.

d. - abbreviation 5. measurements degree.

ding-dong - noun informal 1 [in singular] British a fierce argument or fight: they had a bit of a ding-dong.

Fort William - the largest town [and second largest community] in the highlands of Scotland only being exceeded in size by the City of Inverness.

n² - abbreviation 6 noon.

OD² - noun an overdose of a narcotic drug.

pacy - (also pacey) [likely British] adjective moving or progressing quickly: a pacy thriller.

pi² - adjective British informal short for pious.

read - verb 5 chiefly British study (an academic subject) at a university: I'm reading English at Cambridge; [no object] he went to Manchester to read for a BA in Economics.

staggers - plural noun [usually treated as singular] [1^st entry] any of several parasitic or acute deficiency diseases of farm animals characterized by staggering or loss of balance.

A Word About "About"

The word "about" appears in four clues today (unless I have overlooked any), and takes on a variety of roles:

• Reversal indicator: 5a   Moan about having to guard silver dish (6)
  The wordplay is a reversal (about) of SIGH (moan) containing (having to guard) AG (silver) to give HAGGIS (dish).
• Part of the definition: 9a   Get cold feet about degree that must be got by studying (8)
  The definition is "get cold feet about" for which the solution is DREAD. The wordplay is D (degree) + (that must be got by; i.e., that must be placed beside) READING (studying).
  
• Containment indicator: 16a   Show here cancelled? Argument about notice in recess ensues (3-8)
  The definition is "show here" (i.e., a place where a show might be performed) and the solution is OFF BROADWAY. The wordplay is OFF (cancelled) + (ensues) {ROW (argument) containing (about) AD (notice), all contained in (in) BAY (recess)}.
  
• Charade element: 23a   Leave Virginia about ten, not noon (6)
  The definition is "leave" for which the solution is VACATE. The wordplay is VA (Virginia) + CA (about; i.e., circa) + TE(n) {TEN after deleting (not) N (noon)}.

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.

24a   Fight in ring (4-4)

This is the clue that caused me so much grief. I expect the clue would probably be considered to be a double definition with one definition being "ring" (the sound of a bell) and the second being "fight". The solution, DING-DONG is a British expression meaning "a fierce argument or fight".

12d   What Harold did, reportedly, in a Scottish town (4,7)

This is a homophone (sounds like) clue - as signalled by "reportedly". The definition is "a Scottish town" which happens to be FORT WILLIAM. The wordplay tells us that the solution sounds like "what Harold did", which is FOUGHT WILLIAM.

As is often the case with these type of clues - especially those that rely on the use of the soft British 'R' - this clue does not transport well across the pond. However, in Britain it seems to work very well - or maybe not, as Gazza says "... it sounds (a bit) like what King Harold did ...". You may judge for yourself by listening to the sound samples at TheFreeDictionary.com (fort, fought).

Signing off for today - Falcon