Tuesday, June 30, 2015

Tuesday, June 30, 2015 — DT 27699

Puzzle at a Glance
Puzzle Number in The Daily Telegraph
DT 27699
Publication Date in The Daily Telegraph
Thursday, January 15, 2015
Setter
Unknown
Link to Full Review
Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 27699]
Big Dave's Crossword Blog Review Written By
Kath
BD Rating
Difficulty - ★★★ Enjoyment - ★★★
Falcon's Experience
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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

Introduction

At Big Dave's blog, someone describes this puzzle as middle-of-the-road. I suppose that sums it up as well as anything.

Tomorrow being Canada Day, the National Post will not publish an edition. However, if you find yourself longing for your morning fix, stop by the blog.

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   Somewhat inferior // new Manchester United whizz kid? (6-4)

I initially thought that Manchester United might possibly have a new prospect with the surname Best? However, I believe the reference is meant in the sense that any superbly talented new player would be compared to George Best in the same way that outstanding young hockey players in Canada might be referred to as "The next Great One" or "The next Sid the Kid".

George Best[7] (1946–2005) was a Northern Irish footballer [soccer player] who played as a winger for Manchester United and the Northern Ireland national team. In 1968 he won the European Cup with United, and was named the European Footballer of the Year and the Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year as the best player in English football. He is described by the Irish Football Association as the "greatest player to ever pull on the green shirt of Northern Ireland".

Such was Best's talent and charisma that he became one of the first celebrity footballers, but his subsequent extravagant lifestyle led to various problems, most notably alcoholism. He often said of his career that "I spent a lot of money on booze, birds [women] and fast cars – the rest I just squandered". He died in 2005, age 59, due to complications from the immunosuppressive drugs he needed to take after receiving a liver transplant in 2002.

9a   Make // a record (4)

Form[5] is an informal British term for a criminal record ⇒ they both had form.

10a   Assesses // pans -- /for/ roasts? (10)

I recognized this as a triple definition — a clue type that I normally fail to see.

11a   Tantrum /shown by/ office worker about over (6)

No cricket is being played here. However, cricket fans, be patient. You haven't been forgotten.

12a   Shoots // the messengers? (7)

A runner[5] is a messenger, collector, or agent for a bank, bookmaker, or similar.

What did she say?
In her review at Big Dave's Crossword Blog, Kath describes runners as people working in theatres who fetch and carry things.
I found numerous job postings for positions as runners in British broadcasting, film, video and theatre. Of these, this job description provides the most comprehensive description of what such a job entails. It would appear to be what is commonly referred to as a gofer[5].

15a   Upper-class original Bond girl having taken top off /is/ déshabillé (7)

"upper-class" = U (show explanation )

U[5] is used informally as an adjective (in respect to language or social behaviour) meaning characteristic of or appropriate to the upper social classes ⇒ U manners. The term, an abbreviation of  upper class, was coined in 1954 by Alan S. C. Ross, professor of linguistics, and popularized by its use in Nancy Mitford's Noblesse Oblige (1956). In Crosswordland, it is frequently clued by words denoting "characteristic of the upper class" (such as posh or superior) or "appropriate to the upper class" (such as acceptable).

hide explanation

Ursula Andress[7] is a Swiss actress and sex symbol. She is best known for her role as Bond girl Honey Ryder in the first James Bond film, Dr. No, for which she won a Golden Globe.

It seems that the French past participle déshabillé has been adopted into the English language as a noun. As jean-luc cheval explains in his reply to Comment #29, this is far from being an unusual occurrence.

Déshabillé[5] (also dishabille) is a noun which denotes the state of being only partly or scantily clothed  the paintings of Venus all shared the same state of déshabillé.

Undress[5] as a noun denotes the state of being naked or only partially clothed  women in various states of undress.

16a   Wildebeest sent back after good man/'s/ bitten (5)

The gnu[5] (also called wildebeest) is either of two species of large dark antelope with a long head, a beard and mane, and a sloping back.

17a   As many as // before (2,2)

18a   Resoundingly proud // streak (4)

19a   One having meal /in/ American restaurant (5)

Diner[5] is a North American term for a small roadside restaurant with a long counter and booths.

21a   Umpire /in/ crucial match? (7)

22a   Cast altered /and/ recounted (7)

24a   Some pop a question / that's/ hard to understand (6)

27a   No resistance to cavalry getting uniform replacement -- // it sends a warning (10)

"resistance" = R (show explanation )

In physics, the symbol R[5] is used to represent electrical resistance.

hide explanation

Uniform[5] is a code word representing the letter U, used in radio communication.

The term light horse[10] denotes lightly armed and highly mobile cavalry.

28a   India's Dravid initially at short leg // with nothing to do (4)

Contrary to Kath's explanation on Big Dave's blog, I believe the indicator "initially" applies only to "Dravid". The use of "India" to code the letter I relates to India[5] being a code word representing the letter I, used in radio communication. 

Scratching the Surface
The surface reading of this clue is all about cricket.

Rahul Dravid[7] is a former Indian cricketer and captain, widely regarded as one of the greatest batsmen in the history of cricket.

In cricket, short leg[10] refers to (1) a fielding position on the leg side (show explanation ) near the batsman's wicket or (2) a fielder in this position.

Leg[5] (also known as leg side) is the half of the field (as divided lengthways through the pitch) away from which the batsman's feet are pointed when standing to receive the ball ⇒ he played a lucky stroke to leg.

hide explanation

29a   Propel canoe /or/ larger craft (6,4)

Down

2d   Organs // appearing during rehearsals (4)

3d   Take possession of // renegade bastion without head of security (6)

4d   Cooks /for/ consultants (7)

Cooks ... as in cooks the books.

What did she say?
In her review at Big Dave's site, Kath describes "cook" as a verb that means to fiddle something.
Fiddle[5] is an informal, chiefly British term meaning to falsify (figures, data, or records), typically in order to gain money ⇒ everyone is fiddling their expenses [... a reference to the Senate, perchance?].

Consultant[5] is a British term for a hospital doctor of senior rank within a specific field ⇒ a consultant paediatrician.

5d   Stand for work, not getting left /in/ comfort (4)

6d   Lawrence: smart /but/ tiresome (7)

T. E. Lawrence[5] (1888–1935) was a British soldier and writer; full name Thomas Edward Lawrence; known as Lawrence of Arabia. From 1916 onwards he helped to organize the Arab revolt against the Turks in the Middle East, contributing to General Allenby’s eventual victory in Palestine in 1918. Lawrence described this period in The Seven Pillars of Wisdom (1926).

7d   Companion // ticket that's free allowed people to come in (10)

According to Oxford Dictionaries Online, comp[5] is a North American term [cue howls of protest!] for a complimentary ticket or voucher.

... and it certainly didn't take long for the howls to arise! ... however, they seem to have been rather quickly squelched.

8d   Put away // demon fiddle rosined (10)

12d   Plump bird // that's become part of Christmas for some (5,5)

A round robin[10] is a a letter that is copied and sent to a number of different people. Collins English Dictionary is the only source in which I found this definition — and then only in the more recent edition.

13d   Dancing albeit once /is/ impressive (10)

14d   Step /in which/ Fred shows no limits (5)

Fred Astaire[5] (1899–1987) was an American dancer, singer, and actor; born Frederick Austerlitz. He is famous for starring in a number of film musicals, including Top Hat (1935), in a successful partnership with Ginger Rogers.

15d   Milk producer without a dairy originally -- insert name // below (5)

19d   Five found in river by dock /making/ progress (7)

The Dee[5] is a river in northeastern Scotland, which rises in the Grampian Mountains and flows eastwards past Balmoral Castle to the North Sea at Aberdeen. Another river of the same name rises in North Wales and flows past Chester and on into the Irish Sea.

20d   Article about // concert (7)

23d   Understand // brother's degree is rescinded (6)

25d   Old // artist coming up short (4)

Edgar Degas[5] (1834–1917) was a French painter and sculptor. An impressionist painter, Degas is best known for his paintings of ballet dancers.

26d   Warship now and then confronts a // whole continent (4)
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

Monday, June 29, 2015

Monday, June 29, 2015 — DT 27698

Puzzle at a Glance
Puzzle Number in The Daily Telegraph
DT 27698
Publication Date in The Daily Telegraph
Wednesday, January 14, 2015
Setter
Jay (Jeremy Mutch)
Link to Full Review
Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 27698]
Big Dave's Crossword Blog Review Written By
2Kiwis
BD Rating
Difficulty - ★★ Enjoyment - ★★★★
Falcon's Experience
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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

Introduction

Today's puzzle from Jay is a more gentle workout than some of those we have been given recently. Nevertheless, I needed help from my electronic assistants to identify a couple of British expressions, one that was entirely new to me and one that (although I had encountered it before) did not come to mind immediately — or even after a lengthy period of reflection.

For the benefit of readers who may be new to the blog, I would like to offer a couple of notes of explanation. Boxes, such as those titled "Scratching the Surface" in today's post, provide information that is not directly relevant to the solving of the puzzle. For instance, "Scratching the Surface" boxes explain the surface reading of clues. Other boxes that you will often see here, such as "What did he say?" or "Behind the Picture", explain items found in the review and comments at Big Dave's Crossword Blog.

What did he say?
In Comment #3 at Big Dave's Crossword Blog, Rabbit Dave says I expect if Roy Hodgson does crosswords he would have picked something else [as his favourite clue].
Roy Hodgson[7] is an English former footballer [soccer player] who is the manager of the England national football team. What he would have picked — and why he would have picked it — remain a complete mystery to me. Obviously, the humour in the remark must have been clear to a British readership.

Secondly, information dealing with frequently used abbreviations, terms and cryptic crossword conventions is hidden. You can reveal this information by clicking on (show explanation ).

That's right! You've got it!

hide explanation

As a final note, you may be interested in crypticsue's suggestion at Comment #41 on Big Dave's site to check out a (15 minute-long) BBC Radio 4 programme where host David Baddiel Tries to Understand Cryptic Crosswords. There’s also a crossword by Arachne (pseudonym of British crossword setter Sarah Hayes) to download from the site and a whole lot of useful hints and tips she provides too.

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

8a   Fail to stress // carpet fitter's requirement, incorporating small change (9)

"small change" = P (show explanation )

In Britain's current decimal currency system, a penny[5] (plural pennies [for separate coins] or pence [for a sum of money]) is a bronze coin and monetary unit equal to one hundredth of a pound. The abbreviation for penny or pence is p[5].

hide explanation

10a   Alert /for/ what a ship may leave behind (5)

This is not considered to be a double definition as the numeration for the wordplay (1,4) does not match that given in the clue.

11a   Current bar // that might stop delivery of beer? (7,8)

Draught is the proper British spelling of what too often appears as the American draft in Canada.

Draught excluder[10] is a British term for a device (such as a strip of wood, or a long cylindrical cushion) placed at the bottom of a door to keep out draughts — as illustrated by the 2Kiwis in their review at Big Dave's Crossword Blog.

The definition for draught excluder[5] found at Oxford Dictionaries Online is a strip of foam rubber, metal, or other material inserted in a door or window frame to keep out draughts. This sounds suspiciously like weatherstrip[5] (or weather strip or weatherstripping[2,10]) — a term that Oxford Dictionaries Online characterizes as North American (although the other British dictionaries do not[2,10]).

12a   Fruit /with/ sharp taste the Spanish love (7)

"the Spanish" = EL (show explanation )

In Spanish, the masculine singular form of the definite article is el[8].

hide explanation

"love" = O (show explanation )

In tennis, squash, and some other sports, love[5] is a score of zero or nil ⇒ love fifteen. The resemblance of a zero written as a numeral (0) to the letter O leads to the cryptic crossword convention of the word "love" being used to clue this letter.

hide explanation

The tangelo[5] is a hybrid of the tangerine and grapefruit.

13a   Bits /of/ organ loaded on board (7)

"on board" = SS (show explanation )

In Crosswordland, a ship is almost invariably a steamship, the abbreviation for which is SS[10]. Thus "on board [a ship]" is code for 'contained in SS'.

hide explanation

15a   Reckless progress, // apparently mirage? (8,7)

My electronic assistants helped me find the the correct solution but they did not explain the wordplay to me. That latter task fell to the 2Kiwis.

Motorway[2] is a British, Australian, and New Zealand term for a major road for fast-moving traffic, especially one with three lanes per carriageway [direction of travel] and limited access and exit points.

Carriageway[2,5] is a British term for the part of a road used by vehicles, or a part used by vehicles travelling in one particular direction.

Motorway madness[1] is an informal term for reckless driving in bad conditions on motorways, especially in fog.

Despite mistakenly thinking the solution might be a British term for road rage (a term that appears to be in use on both sides of the Atlantic), I failed to decipher the wordplay.

If one splits "mirage" as (2,4), the result is M1 rage — the M1[7] being a north–south motorway in England connecting London to Leeds.

The use of the word "rage" in the clue almost certainly has nothing to do with "road rage" and is merely based on "rage" being a synonym for "madness".

19a   Scheduled exam // in theory (2,5)

Paper[5], is a British term for (1) a set of examination questions to be answered at one session ⇒ we had to sit a three-hour paper or (2) the written answers to examination questions ⇒ you need to test your students, mark their papers, and place them in the right class.

22a   It's over for European in turnaround of Iberian // capital (7)

"over" = O (show explanation )

On cricket scorecards, the abbreviation O[5] denotes over(s), an over[5] being a division of play consisting of a sequence of six balls bowled by a bowler from one end of the pitch, after which another bowler takes over from the other end.

hide explanation

Scratching the Surface
Iberian[5] is an adjective that means relating to or denoting Iberia, or the countries of Spain and Portugal.

24a   Freudian technique /offered by/ Liberal club (4,11)

In psychology, free association[5] is the mental process by which one word or image may spontaneously suggest another without any necessary logical connection. It is also the name given to a psychoanalytic technique — devised by Sigmund Freud[7] — for investigation of the unconscious mind, in which a relaxed subject reports all passing thoughts without reservation.

Scratching the Surface
The word "Liberal" is deceptively capitalized to suggest that is is referring to a political party. (show explanation )

The Liberal Party[5] in Britain emerged in the 1860s from the old Whig Party and until the First World War was one of the two major parties in Britain. In 1988 the party regrouped with elements of the Social Democratic Party to form the Social and Liberal Democrats, now known as the Liberal Democrats. However, a small Liberal Party still exists.

hide explanation

26a   Article includes it /showing/ 10 per cent levy (5)

27a   To what point /is/ a man used for renovation on area? (2,7)

Like the 2Kiwis, I too have misgivings about the underlining in this clue. However, just as "democ­racy is the worst form of Gov­ern­ment except for all those other forms that have been tried", the underlining that the 2Kiwis have chosen to use seems to be the worst choice except for all the others that I tried.

I suspect that this may have been intended to be a semi-&lit. (semi-all-in-one) clue with the latter part of the clue — in addition to serving as the wordplay — also providing some cryptic elaboration to refine the definition. However, I fail to see that it manages to do so.

Down

1d   Supply cash /for/ entertainment on date (4)

2d   Oxford // accent? (6)

3d   Large number /must find/ half of pleasure embracing god (8)

In Scandinavian mythology, Thor[5] is the god of thunder, the weather, agriculture, and the home, the son of Odin and Freya (Frigga). Thursday is named after him.

4d   Animals // only confused, missing love and reversing gender (6)

Several animals — including HYENAS and NYALAS — auditioned for the role, but the correct one only came forward once I had identified — with a little help from my [electronic] friends — all the checking letters. Furthermore, my efforts were not facilitated by mistakenly assuming that "reversing gender" meant substituting M for F (or vice versa).

If you are missing love, it can be found at 12a.

5d   Twist added to story on the radio /is/ a help to pilot (4,4)

To be precise, both parts of the wordplay are homophones since WIND is pronounced differently when it means the movement of air than when it denotes twist.

6d   Led off bearing unhappy // burden (6)

7d   Perhaps fallow // type of grass on the rise (4)

The fallow deer[5] is a Eurasian deer (Cervus dama) with branched palmate antlers, typically having a white-spotted reddish-brown coat in summer.

9d   Fisherman might have one // freely granted (7)

12d   Beat // up in barbershop, metaphorically (5)

14d   Dish /needing/ quiet in most of clubs, for example (5)

16d   Continual // red tape involved protecting Spain (8)

"Spain" = E (show explanation )

The International Vehicle Registration (IVR) code for Spain is E[5] [from Spanish España]. 

hide explanation

17d   Blokes getting a hole in one /must be/ threatening (8)

Bloke[5] is an informal British term for a man.

18d   Highly-charged // rationale to support source of energy (7)

20d   Fairly // small-minded? About right (6)

21d   Naughty boy, // a learner after crashing cars (6)

"learner" = L (show explanation )

The cryptic crossword convention of L meaning learner or student arises from the L-plate[7], a square plate bearing a sans-serif letter L, for learner, which must be affixed to the front and back of a vehicle in various countries (including the UK) if its driver is a learner under instruction.

hide explanation

23d   Routinely stuck // at home with car out, lacking company (2,1,3)

Here "routinely stuck" is to be interpreted as stuck in a routine.

24d   Able seaman's beginning // attacks (4)

Scratching the Surface
In the Royal Navy, according to Oxford Dictionaries Online, able seaman[5] (abbreviation AB[5]), is a rank of sailor above ordinary seaman and below leading seaman.

On the other hand, Collins English Dictionary tells us that an able seaman[10] (also called able-bodied seaman) is an ordinary seaman, especially one in the merchant navy, who has been trained in certain skills. 

Given the context of the clue, the former may be the more appropriate meaning.

25d   Married in centre, // feeling nothing (4)
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

Saturday, June 27, 2015

Saturday, June 27, 2015 — Painting Over the Writing on the Wall

Introduction

I thought today's puzzle from Cox & Rathvon was a cut above any we have seen in quite some time — more challenging with better composed wordplay.

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

Solution to Today's Puzzle

Falcon's Experience
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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
- yet to be solved

Legend: "*" anagram; "~" sounds like; "<" letters reversed

"( )" letters inserted; "_" letters deleted; "†" explicit in the clue

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 (//).

Across

1a   Grand temper tantrum about a // place to park (6)

G(A)RAGE — {G ([abbreviation for] grand; slang for a thousand dollars) + RAGE (temper tantrum)} containing (about) A (†)

4a   Would-be // pain reliever suitable for children (8)

ASPIRIN|G — ASPIRIN (pain reliever) + G (suitable for children; film classification)

9a   All but the foremost of fans were missing the final // comeback (6)

_ANS|WER_ — ANS (all but the foremost [first letter] of [F]ANS) + WER (WER[E] missing the final [letter])

10a   Tin pot so foul! (8)

SPITTOON* — anagram (foul) of TIN POT SO

This is an &lit.[7] clue (sometimes called an all-in-one clue). The entire clue (when read one way) is the definition, but under a different interpretation takes on the role of wordplay.

11a   Driver's low // after rig's modified (5,4)

{FIRST GEAR}* — anagram (modified) of AFTER RIGS

13a   Dodge // brink, taking notice (5)

EV(AD)E — EVE (brink) containing (taking) AD (notice)


14a   Fluff // started in this city (11)

THIS|T(LED)OWN — LED (started; made first play in a hand of cards) contained in (in) {THIS (†) + TOWN (city)}

18a   Exit toward Canada from the U.S., circling Western // U.S. penitentiary (11)

LEAVE|N(W)ORTH — LEAVE (exit) + NORTH (toward Canada from the U.S.) containing (circling) W ([abbreviation for] Western)

The United States Penitentiary, Leavenworth[7] (USP Leavenworth) is a medium-security United States federal prison for male inmates situated in Leavenworth, Kansas (25 miles northwest of Kansas City, Kansas). The prison is located on the property of  Fort Leavenworth, a United States Army post which is also the site of two military prisons — the United States Disciplinary Barracks[7] and the Midwest Joint Regional Correctional Facility[7].

21a   Cowpoke at times // running through property (5)

_ROPER_ —  hidden in (running through) pROPERty

22a   Gossip with a single saint, // lying (9)

DISH|ONE|ST — DISH (gossip) + (with) ONE (a single) + ST ([abbreviation for] saint)

24a   Expecting // panel's initial ruling (8)

P|REGNANT — P (Panel's initial [letter]) + REGNANT (ruling)

25a   Pair of creases in spotted // partition (6)

S(CR)EEN — CR (pair [initial two letters] of CReases) contained in (in) SEEN (spotted)

26a   Officer // material: soldier in a colony? (8)

SERGE|ANT — SERGE (material) + ANT (soldier in a colony)

27a   Red Sea swimming // eliminated (6)

ERASED* — anagram (swimming) of RED SEA

Down

1d   Agassi's partner carefully placed love // message on a wall (8)

GRAF|FIT|O — GRAF (Agassi's partner) + FIT (carefully placed) + O (love; nil score in tennis)

Steffi Graf[7] is a German former World No. 1 professional tennis player. She is married to Andre Agassi[7], an American retired professional tennis player and former World No. 1.

2d   Check note and melody (8)

RE|STRAIN — RE ([musical] note) + STRAIN (melody)

3d   For the audience, took a shot at // talk show interviewee (5)

GUEST~ — sounds like (for the audience) GUESSED (took a shot at)

5d   Fashion icons // dine seldomer, sadly (11)

SUPERMODELS* — anagram (sadly) of DINE SELDOMER

Okay, let's try this one more time:

SUP|ERMODELS* — SUP (dine) + anagram (sadly) of SELDOMER

An allusion, perchance,to anorexia in the fashion industry.

6d   Hot new ink surprisingly // up to date (2,3,4)

{IN THE KNOW}* — anagram (surprisingly) of HOT NEW INK

7d   Sign of pressure: // I cry a river (6)

I|SOB|A|R — I (†) + SOB (cry) + A (†) + R ([abbreviation for] river)

... on a weather map.

8d   Red horse returned // look (6)

{GAN|DER}< — reversal (returned) of {RED (†) + NAG (horse)}

12d   In the veranda, no noise // from time to time (4,3,4)

E|VER AND A|NO|N — hidden in (in) thE VERANDA NO Noise

15d   In dazed state, cheer // ability to endure (9)

T(OLE)RANCE — OLE ([Spanish] cheer) contained in (in) TRANCE (dazed state)

16d   Like a plain // reel in Polanski movie (8)

T(REEL)ESS — REEL (†) contained in (in) TESS (Polanski movie)

Tess[7] is a 1979 romance film directed by Polish and naturalized-French film director Roman Polanski, an adaptation of the 1891 novel Tess of the d'Urbervilles by English novelist Thomas Hardy (1840–1928).

17d   When diet changed, // got lighter (8)

WHITENED* — anagram (changed) of WHEN DIET

19d   Doctor copies // window decor (6)

DR|APES — DR ([abbreviation for] doctor) + APES (copies)

20d   Show // short program with musical talent (6)

APP|EAR — APP (short [computer] program; short for application) + (with) EAR (musical talent; ear for music)

23d   Award // rings and automobile (5)

OSCAR — OS (rings; Os) + (and) CAR (automobile)

Epilogue

The title of today's piece was inspired by 1d and 17d.
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

Service Restored at Big Dave's Crossword Blog

Service has now been restored at Big Dave's Crossword Blog. The site was down all day yesterday (Friday, June 26, 2015). The server hosting the site crashed early that morning. All attempts to restore the failed server proved unsuccessful and this avenue of restoral was eventually abandoned. The hosting service then restored the accounts from the failed server on two other servers, completing the process early this morning (Saturday, June 27, 2015).

For more information, see Big Dave's Crossword Blog - Site Problems.

Signing off for the moment — Falcon

Friday, June 26, 2015

Server Failure Takes Big Dave's Crossword Blog Down


Big Dave's Crossword Blog has been down all day. The server hosting the site crashed early this morning. All attempts to restore the failed server proved unsuccessful and this avenue was eventually abandoned. The hosting service is now in the process of restoring accounts from the failed server on other servers. At last report, approximately fifty percent of accounts had been restored.

Signing off for the moment — Falcon

Friday, June 26, 2015 — DT 27697

Puzzle at a Glance
Puzzle Number in The Daily Telegraph
DT 27697
Publication Date in The Daily Telegraph
Tuesday, January 13, 2015
Setter
Unknown
Link to Full Review
Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 27697]
Big Dave's Crossword Blog Review Written By
Gazza
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

Introduction

I should feel pretty good about my performance on this puzzle. Gazza rated it four stars for difficulty and I only relied on electronic help to solve one clue. However, I did need to look up the meaning of a word appearing in one clue and the spelling of the solution to another clue.

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   Minor // computing device? (10)

I had to look up the spelling of the solution to this clue. It completely escaped me that there was a PH in the word and I tried all kinds of combinations of double-F and double-R to pad the word out to fill the available spaces in the grid — which really disrupted efforts on 3d and 4d.

6a   Singer /in/ traditional top (4)

10a   Theme /in/ film closed previously (5)

To[5] is an adverb meaning so as to be closed or nearly closed ⇒ he pulled the door to behind him.

11a   Top poetry composed /as/ an exemplar (9)

12a   Storm // to meeting with navy, anticipating fuss (7)

The Royal Navy[5] (abbreviation RN) is the British navy. It was the most powerful navy in the world from the 17th century until the Second World War.

What did he say?
In his review, Gazza refers to the Royal Navy as our senior service.
Senior Service[5] is a British term for the Royal Navy.

A standing "Navy Royal", with its own secretariat, dockyards and a permanent core of purpose-built warships, originated in the early 16th century during the reign of Henry VIII.[7] The English Army was first established as a standing military force in 1660.[7] I trust that it is self-evident that the Royal Air Force came into existence much later.


13a   Commend // a couple of pages with writing say almost finished (7)

"writing" = R (show explanation )

Together with reading and 'rithmetic, 'riting is a member of the Three Rs.

hide explanation

Approve[10], as an intransitive verb, (often followed by of) means (1) to consider fair, good, or right; or (2) to commend (a person or thing).

14a   Obstinate // article penned by unusually tart cleric (12)

18a   Superb lot up for recreation round island // specifically devised (7-5)

Purpose-built[5] (also purpose-made) is a British term meaning built or made for a particular purpose ⇒ purpose-built accommodation for the elderly.

"Recreation" is used in the sense of remaking (re-creation). Other than the omission of the hyphen, this word is not an invention of puzzle setters.

Re-creation[10] means (1) the state or instance of creating again or anew the re-creation of the Russian Empire or (2) a simulation or re-enactment of a scene, place, time, etc. a re-creation of a vineyard kitchen.

21a   Time in New York in group // not at work? (7)

In January, when this puzzle appeared in The Daily Telegraph, New York was on Eastern Standard Time (EST) — as were we here in Ottawa.

What did he say?
In his review, Gazza describes Eastern Standard Time as the standard time used in New York (and other bits of North America bordering the Atlantic).
True enough if one is speaking only of the US. Canada, of course, has two time zones that are east of the Eastern time zone.

23a   Querulous // comedian almost close to fury (7)

I had to look up "querulous" in the dictionary — and discovered that my guess as to its meaning was not even close.

Groucho Marx[7] (1890–1977) was an American comedian and film and television star. He was known as a master of quick wit and widely considered one of the best comedians of the modern era. His rapid-fire, often impromptu delivery of innuendo-laden patter earned him many admirers and imitators.

24a   Expression a good social worker /provided for/ bad-tempered woman (9)

Today's setter adds a nice touch by clueing ANT as "social worker" rather than merely the usual "worker".

"worker" = ANT (show explanation )

A worker[5] is a neuter or undeveloped female bee, wasp, ant, or other social insect, large numbers of which do the basic work of the colony.

In crossword puzzles, "worker" will most frequently be used to clue ANT and occasionally BEE but I have yet to see it used to clue WASP. Of course, "worker" is sometimes also used to clue HAND or MAN.

hide explanation

25a   Impractical /and/ off presumably? (3,2)

26a   Restricted cheer /in/ parliament (4)

I was trying to make the wordplay be a truncated version of a word meaning "cheer". Thus I spent some time trying to establish that DIETS might be considered to fit the bill.

Cheer[5] is food and drink provided for a festive occasion ⇒ they had partaken heartily of the Christmas cheer.

Who knew? I always supposed that "Christmas cheer" referred to a spirit of happiness and good will that prevails during that season.

Diet[2] is is the name of the legislative assembly of certain countries, e.g. Japan.

27a   Love, maybe, // expensive board items put in department (10)

"department" = ENT (show explanation )

In the Crosswordland Hospital, patients rarely — if ever — find themselves anywhere but in the ear, nose and throat (ENT[2]) department.

hide explanation

The definition, "love, maybe", informs us that love is one example — others might be honey, sweetie, darling, etc.

Down

1d   It's often baked /and/ apt too to be battered (6)

2d   Account /for/ explosive noise (6)

I interpreted "account" to be a noun. Gazza, on the other hand, has the first definition as a verb "account for". However, I am afraid that I am having trouble seeing "account for" as a synonym for "report".

3d   Load get on grass fringing rank /in/ prearranged break (7,7)

Gazza describes PACK as being a load or consignment — which doesn't mean much to me. I wonder if I might be missing some British connotation here.

However, if one thinks about hiking, then a pack might well be called a load. Perhaps this also explains the surface reading of the clue — a soldier on a forced march who, during a break, lays his pack down on the grass beside the group of marchers (who march in rank and file).

4d   Agent's work? (9)

5d   Scent /from/ a capital resident not new (5)

7d   Ordinary female /in/ yard embraced by Hollywood actress? (8)

8d   Patience, perhaps, /in/ operation before tense volunteers (8)

Op[5] is an informal short form for (1) a surgical operation ⇒ a minor op, (2) a radio or telephone operator, or (3), in the plural (ops), for military operations ⇒ the ops room.

"tense" = T (show explanation )

Grammatically speaking, t.[10] is the abbreviation for tense.

hide explanation

"volunteers" = TA (show explanation )

In the UK, Territorial Army (abbreviation TA)[5] at one time was the name of a volunteer force founded in 1908 to provide a reserve of trained and disciplined military personnel for use in an emergency. Called since 2013 Army Reserve.

hide explanation

Patience[7] (in full Patience; or, Bunthorne's Bride) is a comic opera with music by Arthur Sullivan and libretto by W. S. Gilbert.

9d   Loop rash cretin mishandled -- /and/ part of sheet? (8,6)

15d   Obtain in enclosed space first sign of edible // vegetable (9)

Courgette is the British name for zucchini[5].

16d   Lively // trip -- side let loose (8)

17d   Keep // parking on wildlife area (8)

19d   Blade /in/ sack, yet sheen showing, oddly (6)

The wordplay parses as the odd letters (showing oddly) of SaCk YeT sHeEn.

20d   Young bird /and/ seal mentioned (6)

22d   Small quantity /of/ drink cut by artist (5)

"artist" = RA (show explanation )

A Royal Academician (abbreviation RA[5]) is a member of the Royal Academy of Arts[5], an institution established in London in 1768, whose purpose is to cultivate painting, sculpture, and architecture in Britain. 

hide explanation

The grain[5] (abbreviation gr.) is the smallest unit of weight in the troy and avoirdupois systems, equal to 1/5760 of a pound troy and 1/7000 of a pound avoirdupois (approximately 0.0648 gram). [Because originally the weight was equivalent to that of a grain of corn].
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