Thursday, February 26, 2015 — DT 27594

Puzzle at a Glance

Puzzle Number in The Daily Telegraph DT 27594
Publication Date in The Daily Telegraph Saturday, September 13, 2014
Setter Unknown
Link to Full Review Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 27594 – Hints] Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 27594 – Review]
Big Dave's Crossword Blog Review Written By Big Dave (Hints) gnomethang (Review)
BD Rating
Difficulty - ★★	Enjoyment - ★★
Falcon's Experience ┌────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┐ ███████████████████████████████████ └────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┘ Legend: █ - solved without assistance █ - incorrect prior to use of puzzle solving tools █ - solved with assistance from puzzle solving tools █ - solved with aid of checking letters provided by puzzle solving tools █ - solved but without fully parsing the clue █ - unsolved or incorrect prior to visiting Big Dave's Crossword Blog █ - solved with aid of checking letters provided by solutions from Big Dave's Crossword Blog █ - reviewed by Falcon for Big Dave's Crossword Blog █ - yet to be solved
Notes
As this was a Saturday "Prize Puzzle" in Britain, there are two entries related to it on Big Dave's Crossword Blog — the first, posted on the date of publication, contains hints for selected clues while the second is a full review issued following the entry deadline for the contest. The vast majority of reader comments will generally be found attached to the "hints" posting with a minimal number — if any — accompanying the full review.

Introduction

Having been a Saturday puzzle in the UK, today's offering is rather gentle. Even without knowing the British cooking celebrity or the English children's author, I was able to solve the clues and correctly guess their names.

I invite you to leave a comment to let us know how you fared with the puzzle.

Notes on Today's Puzzle

This commentary is intended to serve as a supplement to the review of this puzzle found at Big Dave's Crossword Blog, to which a link is provided in the table above.

Primary indications (definitions) are marked with a solid underline in the clue; subsidiary indications (be they wordplay or other) are marked with a dashed underline in all-in-one (&lit.) clues, semi-all-in-one (semi-&lit.) clues and cryptic definitions. Explicit link words and phrases are enclosed in forward slashes (/link/) and implicit links are shown as double forward slashes (//). Definitions presented in blue text are for terms that appear frequently.

Across

1a   Exuberant actors recoiled /in/ false show of emotion (9,5)

Crocodile tears^[5] are tears or expressions of sorrow that are insincere ⇒ they weep crocodile tears for the poor and disadvantaged, but are basically happy with things as they are. The expression dates from the mid-16th century and derives from a belief that crocodiles wept while devouring or luring their prey.

Behind the Picture
In the illustration accompanying Big Dave's Hints, the gentleman dabbing his eyes with a handkerchief is South African Olympian Oscar Pistorius, during the second day of his trial for the killing of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.

10a   Criticise Mary who cooks on TV, receiving small // sound of disapproval (9)

I have never heard of this cook — but, then again, neither had gnomethang. Fortunately, her name was not too difficult to decipher.

Mary Berry^[7] is an English food writer and television presenter [host]. She has published more than seventy cookery books and hosted several television series for the BBC and Thames Television.

11a   Policeman getting tip off on Her Majesty -- a // work for the Met? (5)

The regnal ciphers (monograms) of British monarchs are initials formed from the Latin version of their first name followed by either Rex or Regina (Latin for king or queen, respectively). Thus, the regnal cipher of Queen Elizabeth is ER^[5] — from the Latin Elizabetha Regina.

In the definition, the Met^[5] refers to the Metropolitan Opera House in New York.

Scratching the Surface
In the surface reading, the Met[5] refers to the Metropolitan Police in London — otherwise known as Scotland Yard.

12a   Get keen on messy place // coming clean (7)

13a   Advertising European TV // with channel already selected? (6)

When I sat down to write the blog, I failed to notice that this clue had not yet been solved. I then inadvertently saw the solution in gnomethang's review. Consequently, I will never know if additional effort might have produced a result.

I think the word "with" is — or at least can be — part of the definition. If a device comes preset, it comes "with the channel already selected".

15a   Polish // expert (4)

17a and 18a:   Toast in base tent, foolishly -- // take precautions! (6,4)

18a   See 17a (3,7)

20a   Leave out // captain? (4)

I'm not sure why gnomethang refers to "captain" as a cryptic definition for SKIP. It seems like a pretty straight forward definition to me (either in a nautical or a curling context).

22a   Diffuse // through cosmos eerily (6)

23a   Unnerves // retired lieutenant, restrained by judges (7)

26a   'Railway Children' author endlessly recalled // playwright (5)

The Railway Children^[7] is a children's book by English writer Edith Nesbit (1858–1924), originally serialised in The London Magazine during 1905 and first published in book form in 1906. It has been adapted for the screen several times.

Henrik Ibsen^[5] (1828–1906) was a Norwegian dramatist. He is credited with being the first major dramatist to write tragedy about ordinary people in prose. Ibsen’s later works, such as The Master Builder (1892), deal increasingly with the forces of the unconscious and were admired by Sigmund Freud. Other notable works: Peer Gynt (1867), A Doll’s House (1879), Ghosts (1881).

27a   It's a grand sight in Venice and in France to // this artist (9)

The Grand Canal^[5] is the main waterway of Venice in Italy, lined on each side by fine palazzos and spanned by the Rialto Bridge.

In French, et^[8]is a conjunction meaning 'and''.

Canaletto^[5] (1697–1768) was an Italian painter; born Giovanni Antonio Canal. He is famous for his paintings of Venetian festivals and scenery.

28a   Dirty tricks // investing thousand in finance company (6,8)

What did he say?

In his review, gnomethang says: Anyone who thought that a Monkey was a grand go to the foot of the Bow Bells. He is alluding to monkey being an informal British term (and, in particular, a cockney expression) for a sum of £500 — thus only half a grand. A cockney[5] is a native of East London [specifically that part of East London known as the East End], traditionally one born within hearing of Bow Bells (the bells of St Mary-le-Bow[7] church). Thus, were you to be under the misconception that a monkey is the same as a grand, a visit to the vicinity of the Bow Bells should quickly dispel that notion. The terms monkey, meaning £500, and pony, meaning £25, are believed by some to have come from old Indian rupee banknotes, which it is asserted used to feature images of those animals.[7]

Down

2d   Sticky stuff // keeps son in check (5)

3d   Picasso, for instance, // succeeded in old measure (6)

The abbreviation s^[5] stands for succeeded, in the sense of to have become the new rightful holder of an office, title, or property ⇒ he succeeded to his father’s kingdom. It might be seen, for instance, it charts of royal lineages.

The cubit^[5] was an ancient measure of length, approximately equal to the length of a forearm. It was typically about 18 inches or 44 cm, though there was a long cubit of about 21 inches or 52 cm.

Pablo Picasso^[5] (1881–1973) was a Spanish painter, sculptor, and graphic artist, resident in France from 1904. Picasso’s prolific inventiveness and technical versatility made him the dominant figure in avant-garde art in the first half of the 20th century. Following his Blue Period (1901-4) and Rose Period (1905-6), Les Demoiselles d’Avignon (1907) signalled his development of cubism (1908–14). In the 1920s and 1930s he adopted a neoclassical figurative style and produced semi-surrealist paintings using increasingly violent imagery, notably The Three Dancers (1935) and Guernica (1937).

4d   Bowler's tally /in/ local contest (5,5)

Derby^[5] is the North American name for a bowler hat — bowler^[5] (also bowler hat) being a chiefly British name for a man’s hard felt hat with a round dome-shaped crown. The North American name is said to arise from American demand for a hat of the type worn at the Epsom Derby [a British horse racing event].

Tally^[5] is used as a verb meaning to agree or correspond ⇒ (i) their signatures should tally with their names on the register; (ii) their books never tallied.

Derby^[5] (or local derby) is a British term for a sports match between two rival teams from the same area. Presumably such a contest might also be known as a derby match, although I failed to find this term in my reference sources.

5d   Sets down // poems (4)

6d   Troon WI misused // golf club (3,4)

Scratching the Surface

Troon[5] is a town on the west coast of Scotland, in South Ayrshire; population 14,100 (est. 2009). It is noted for its championship golf course. Royal Troon Golf Club[7] is a links golf course founded in 1878. Its Old Course is now one of the host courses for The Open Championship [known outside Britain as the British Open], one of the major championships on the PGA Tour and European Tour. The Club has hosted the Open eight times, most recently in 2004. It is scheduled to host again in 2016. The Women's Institute[5] (abbreviation WI[5]) is an organization of women, especially in rural areas, who meet regularly and participate in crafts, cultural activities, and social work. Now worldwide, it was first set up in Ontario, Canada, in 1897, and in Britain in 1915.

An iron^[7] is a type of club used in the sport of golf to propel the ball towards the hole. The irons numbered from 2 to 4 are typically called the "long irons"; they have the lowest lofts and the longest shafts, and are designed to hit the ball long distances with a low launch angle. Long irons are traditionally regarded as the most difficult to hit, because their low loft gives them a very small striking face and "sweet spot" compared to higher-lofted irons. As such, they are less commonly seen in players' bags, usually replaced with higher-lofted fairway woods like the 5 and 7, or with hybrid clubs that have similar overall performance but are easier to hit. The 2-iron, like the driving iron, is virtually never seen in modern sets, due to both its difficulty and to a "de-lofting" of modern cavity-backed irons which increases the average distance of shorter irons.

7d   Australian landmark // broadcasts on radio with popular music (5,4)

Uluru^[7], also known as Ayers Rock and officially gazetted as Uluru / Ayers Rock, is a large sandstone rock formation in the southern part of the Northern Territory in central Australia. It lies 335 km (208 mi) south west of the nearest large town, Alice Springs, 450 km (280 mi) by road. Uluru is sacred to the Anangu, the Aboriginal people of the area and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

8d   Reporter at Olympics, perhaps, // could make last sprint go with it (8,6)

9d   Mini riot breaking out with bishop // banning alcohol (14)

It is a rare day indeed when "bishop" is not clueing the abbreviation for a chess piece.

14d   Soldiers /taking/ German gentleman in old military vehicles (5,5)

Herr^[5] (plural Herren) is (1) a title or form of address used of or to a German-speaking man, corresponding to Mr and also used before a rank or occupation ⇒ (i) good morning, Herr Weber; (ii) my trip with the Herr Doktor was postponed or (2) a German man.

In the British armed forces, the term other ranks^[5] (abbreviation OR^[5]) refers to all those who are not commissioned officers.

16d   Member of society // that's dispensed with forenames (9)

A Freemason^[5] is a member of an international order established for mutual help and fellowship, which holds elaborate secret ceremonies. The original free masons were itinerant skilled stonemasons of the 14th century, who are said to have recognized fellow craftsmen by secret signs. Modern freemasonry is usually traced to the formation of the Grand Lodge in London in 1717; members are typically professionals and businessmen.

19d   Want // expert to limit cattle disease heading north (7)

Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (abbreviation BSE^[5]) is a disease of cattle which affects the central nervous system, causing agitation and staggering, and is usually fatal. It is believed to be caused by an agent such as a prion or a virino, and to be related to Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in humans. Also (popularly) called mad cow disease.

21d   Scarf on top of neck /is/ hot (6)

24d   Place fortune on American // sports car (5)

Lotus Cars^[7] is a British manufacturer of sports and racing cars, famous for its Esprit, Elan, Europa and Elise sports cars and for the highly successful Team Lotus in Formula 1.

25d   Second taxi // to refuse to come out (4)

In other words, to refuse to down tools.

Key to Reference Sources: 

^[1]   - The Chambers Dictionary, 11th Edition
^[2]   - Search Chambers - (Chambers 21st Century Dictionary)
^[3]   - TheFreeDictionary.com (American Heritage Dictionary)
^[4]   - TheFreeDictionary.com (Collins English Dictionary)
^[5]   - Oxford Dictionaries (Oxford Dictionary of English)
^[6]   - Oxford Dictionaries (Oxford American Dictionary)
^[7]   - Wikipedia
^[8]   - Reverso Online Dictionary (Collins French-English Dictionary)
^[9]   - Infoplease (Random House Unabridged Dictionary)
^[10] - CollinsDictionary.com (Collins English Dictionary)
^[11] - TheFreeDictionary.com (Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary)

Signing off for today — Falcon