Monday, August 31, 2015

Monday, August 31, 2015 — DT 27733 (Bonus Puzzle)

Prologue

The National Post may be publishing on a reduced schedule for the summer. However, that doesn't mean you have to break your Monday puzzle habit. Here is DT 27733, one of three puzzles that the National Post skipped on Tuesday, August 11, 2015.
Puzzle at a Glance
Puzzle Number in The Daily Telegraph
DT 27733
Publication Date in The Daily Telegraph
Tuesday, February 24, 2015
Setter
Shamus (Philip Marlow)
Link to Full Review
Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 27733]
Big Dave's Crossword Blog Review Written By
Gazza
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
Notes
The National Post skipped this puzzle on Tuesday, August 11, 2015.

Introduction

I found today's puzzle to be the most difficult that I have encountered in a while. While three stars for difficulty is probably correct, I would put it near the upper end of the three star range.

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   Border cut off in fog that swirls? /It's/ ominous (10)

6a   Crawling // son, small (4)

Crawling ... like traffic during Queensway (show explanation ) construction.

The Queensway is the backbone of the transportation system in Ottawa. It comprises the portion of Ontario Highway 417 from Highway 7 in the west to the Highway 417/Highway 174 split and Highway 174 from the split to Trim Road in the east.

hide explanation

9a   Aggression /of/ copper facing short man, interrupting suspension of hostilities (10)

"copper" = CU (show explanation )

The symbol for the chemical element copper is Cu[5] (from late Latin cuprum).

hide explanation

10a   Part of boom anticipated /in/ ME state (4)

ME is the abbreviation for Middle East[11] — rather than Maine[3,4,11] or Montenegro (internet domain name)[4].

12a   Aspect of sea recalled? /That's/ correct (4)

13a   A port that's dilapidated with new decline /in/ custom (9)

Custom[5] is a British term for regular dealings with a shop or business by customers ⇒ if you keep me waiting, I will take my custom elsewhere.

15a   Mobile accessory in county /is/ precious item (8)

Mobile[5] is a British term for a mobile phone [North American cell phone[5]] ⇒ we telephoned from our mobile to theirs.

In the field of computing, an app[5] (short for application) is an an application, especially as downloaded by a user to a mobile device ⇒ apparently there are these new apps that will actually read your emails to you.

Shire[5] is a British term for a county, especially in England.

16a   Call for // dog to follow directions (6)

18a   Smooth // day leaving SA city to east (6)

SA is the abbreviation for South Africa[3,4,11], rather than South America[3,4,11], South Australia[4,11] or Saudi Arabia (International Vehicle Registration symbol and internet domain name)[4].

I spent far too much time on the wrong continent.

Durban[7] is A seaport and resort in South Africa, on the coast of KwaZulu-Natal; population 3,409,100 (est. 2009). Former name (until 1835) Port Natal.

20a   Aquatic creature // wrongly put, say, behind empty pool (8)

The platypus[5] is a semiaquatic egg-laying mammal (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) which frequents lakes and streams in eastern Australia. It has a sensitive pliable bill shaped like that of a duck, webbed feet with venomous spurs, and dense fur. Also called duckbill or duck-billed platypus.

23a   People in general who succeed? (9)

24a   Work painstakingly  -- /is it/ 'PC'? (4)

Before reading Gazza's review, I had no explanation for the second definition.

PC[5] is a British term for a police constablePC Bartholomew made his report.

Plod[5] (also PC Plod) is an informal British term for a police officer ⇒ a bunch of plods arrived, offering me a lift to the cop shop. The term is an allusion to Mr Plod the Policeman in the Noddy stories for children by English children's writer Enid Blyton[7] (1897–1968).

26a   Instant judge barred // suspect (4)

"judge" = J (show explanation )

J[2] (plural JJ) is the abbreviation for judge.

hide explanation

27a   European wearing sequins as fashionable? // Uncomfortable feeling (10)

28a   A German returns to cross lake /and/ river (4)

"a German" = EIN (show explanation )

In German, the masculine singular form of the indefinite article is ein[8].

hide explanation

The Nile[5] is a river in eastern Africa, the longest river in the world, which rises in east central Africa near Lake Victoria and flows 6,695 km (4,160 miles) generally northwards through Uganda, South Sudan, Sudan, and Egypt to empty through a large delta into the Mediterranean.

29a   Lovely // daughter with quality needed for a popular party (10)

Down

1d   Thick English // lot (4)

2d   Series of calls ahead /for/ collection of data (5-2)

Although I did have the correct solution, I had very little confidence in it being right.

Round[5] is a chiefly British term meaning a journey along a fixed route delivering goods as part of one’s job or a job involving such journeys ⇒ I did a newspaper round.

A round-up[5] is a summary of facts or events ⇒ a news round-up every fifteen minutes.

3d   Mercenary lawman /in/ mutinous ship, on watch (6,6)

HMS Bounty[5] was a ship of the British navy on which in 1789 part of the crew, led by Fletcher Christian, mutinied against their commander, William Bligh, and set him adrift in an open boat with eighteen companions.

A hunter[5] is a watch with a hinged cover protecting the glass.

A bounty hunter[5] is a person who pursues a criminal for whom a reward is offered.

4d   Does might dominate in this area? (4-4)

A deer park[5] is a large enclosed area of ground attached to a country house, in which deer are kept.

5d   Finesse // diamonds in no trumps play finally (6)

"no trumps" = NT (show explanation )

In the card game bridge, NT[5] is the abbreviation for no trump(s).

hide explanation

7d   Greek character hosting a // dance (7)

Lambda[5] is the eleventh letter of the Greek alphabet (Λ, λ).

The lambada[5] is a fast erotic Brazilian dance which couples perform in close physical contact.

8d   It shows with roaming around lands? True (10)

This is a semi-&lit. (semi-all-in-one) clue. The entire clue is the definition, while the portion with the dashed underline is the wordplay.

11d   Precise moment to indicate // cross-country event (5-2-5)

Point-to-point[5] is a British term for an amateur steeplechase for horses used in hunting, over a set cross-country course ⇒ a point-to-point meeting.

14d   Claim /in/ Catholic feast (10)

The Assumption[5] is (1) the reception of the Virgin Mary bodily into heaven (formally declared a doctrine of the Roman Catholic Church in 1950) or (2) the feast in honour of the Assumption, celebrated on 15 August.

17d   False pay suspected? // Act cautiously (4,4)

19d   Party almost packed /for/ one among celebrated seven (7)

I went way off track here, thinking that the "celebrated seven" might be referring to the Seven Hills of Rome[5].

Bashful is one of the seven dwarfs in Walt Disney's 1937 animated musical fantasy film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs[7] based on a German fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm. The story had earlier been made into a Broadway play that debuted in 1912. The dwarfs are not given names in the fairy tale. In the 1912 production, they were named Blick, Flick, Glick, Snick, Plick, Whick and Quee. Disney renamed them Doc, Grumpy, Happy, Sleepy, Bashful, Sneezy, and Dopey.

21d   Saw // car in lead (7)

"lead" = PB (show explanation )

The symbol for the chemical element lead is Pb[5] (from Latin plumbum).

hide explanation

Rover[7] was a British automotive marque used between 1904 and 2005. It was launched as a bicycle maker called Rover Company in 1878, before manufacturing cars in 1904. From 1967 onward, ownership of the marque changed many times as the result of a series of corporate takeovers, mergers, nationalisation, and de-mergers. In April 2005, Rover branded cars ceased to be produced when the MG Rover Group became insolvent.

22d   Very little /in/ official memorandum (6)

It was a doh! moment for me when the penny finally dropped.

25d   Man perhaps // deceived having left tips (4)

"Man" = ISLE (show explanation )

The Isle of Man[5] is an island in the Irish Sea which is a British Crown dependency having home rule, with its own legislature (the Tynwald) and judicial system. The island was part of the Norse kingdom of the Hebrides in the Middle Ages, passing into Scottish hands in 1266 for a time, until the English gained control in the early 15th century. Its ancient language, Manx, is still occasionally used for ceremonial purposes.

hide explanation
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, August 29, 2015

Saturday, August 29, 2015 — Rodent in Pain

Introduction

Although today's puzzle from Cox & Rathvon started off as a 'read and write', I did discover a few meatier clues in the lower half.

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   Cracked beer mugs /in/ sink (8)

SUBMERGE* — anagram (cracked) of BEER MUGS

5a   Surrounded by // 500 in a fog (6)

AMI(D)ST — D ([Roman numeral for] 500) contained in (in) {A (†) + MIST (fog)}

9a   Disorderly // pair of clowns spoke (9)

CL|UTTERED — CL (pair [initial two letters] of CLowns) + UTTERED (spoke)

11a   Ruth’s mother-in-law, // I complain, flipped (5)

{NAOM|I}< — reversal (flipped) of {I (†) + MOAN (complain)}

In the Old Testament, Naomi[10] is the mother-in-law of Ruth (Ruth 1:2).

12a   Some linen Tom Brokaw // put in a vault (6)

_EN|TOM|B_ — hidden in (some) linEN TOM Brokaw

Scratching the Surface
Tom Brokaw[7] is an American television journalist and author best known as the anchor and managing editor of NBC Nightly News from 1982 to 2004.

13a   On parade, // first of merrymakers making a curve (8)

M|ARCHING — M (first [initial letter] of Merrymakers) + ARCHING (making a curve)

15a   Bullfighters // adjusted to dramas (8)

MATADORS* — anagram (adjusted) of TO DRAMAS

16a   Hide // winter sports gear on the first of November (4)

SKI|N — SKI (winter sports gear) + (on) N (the first [initial letter] of November)

A cryptic crossword purist would argue that this clue flouts convention. The general practice is that in an across clue, A on B is used to clue BA. The rationale is that in order for A to be added to B, B must already be in place and, therefore, must have been written first. Nevertheless, today's setters are not the first to ignore this convention — and, undoubtedly, will not be the last.

19a   Rabbit // fur for the ears (4)

HARE~ — sounds like (for the ears) HAIR (fur)

20a   Employing language // terribly when circling globe (8)

VER(BALL)Y — VERY (terribly; I'm terribly hungry.) containing (when circling) BALL (globe)

23a   Latin cop turned // spiritual (8)

PLATONIC* — anagram (turned) of LATIN COP

24a   Carefully examined // company, and hurried outside (6)

S(CO)PED — CO (company; abbrev.) contained in (and ... outside) SPED (hurried)

27a   With the help of // university, divulge information (5)

U|SING — U (university) + SING (divulge information; in particular, to the authorities)

28a   Warrior // ape’s sound (9)

GUERRILLA~ — sounds like (sound [of]; 's sound) GORILLA

29a   Economist/’s/ walking sticks audited (6)

KEYNES~ — sounds like (audited) CANES (walking sticks)

John Maynard Keynes[7], 1st Baron Keynes (1883–1946) was an English economist. He laid the foundations of modern macroeconomics with The General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money (1936), in which he argued that full employment is determined by effective demand and requires government spending on public works to stimulate this.

30a   Accursed bats // prompting signs (3,5)

{CUE CARDS}* — anagram (bats) of ACCURSED

Down

1d   Pine in saint/’s/ scented pouch (6)

S(ACHE)T — ACHE (pine) contained in (in) ST (saint; abbrev.)

2d   Dull // opening of line in minor hit (5)

B(L)UNT — L (opening [initial letter] of Line) contained in (in) BUNT (minor hit; baseball term)

3d   Guess // I’m included in will distribution (8)

EST(IM)ATE — IM (I'm) contained in (included in) ESTATE (will distribution)

4d   Pierce // green, metallic rock (4)

G|ORE — G (green; abbrev.) + ORE (metallic rock)

6d   German city // lots around in back (6)

MU(NI<)CH — MUCH (lots) containing (around) reversal (back) of IN

7d   Practice I put into hockeyplaying // gadget (9)

DO|OH(I)CKEY — DO (practice; I do yoga several times a week) + {I (†) contained in (put into) anagram (playing) of HOCKEY}

8d   Hurting // hockey player engulfed by sound of a bell (8)

T(WING)ING — WING (hockey player) contained in (engulfed by) TING (sound of bell)

10d   Harangue // family after day in Spain (8)

DIA|TRIBE — TRIBE (family) following (after) DIA (day in Spain; Spanish word for 'day')

14d   Notice male band // forming a bond (8)

AD|HE|RING — AD (notice) + HE (male) + RING (band)

15d   Population statistic // Tim Taylor altered (9)

MORTALITY* — anagram (altered) of TIM TAYLOR

Scratching the Surface
Tim Taylor[7] is a fictional character from the American television sitcom Home Improvement[7] that aired from 1991 to 1999. The series centers on the Taylor family, which consists of Tim, his wife Jill and their three children.

17d   Big piece split by silly imp /and/ small squirrel (8)

CH(IPM*)UNK — CHUNK (big piece) containing (split by) anagram (silly) of IMP

18d   Choose rice, mostly // having juice (8)

ELECT|RIC_ — ELECT (choose) + RIC (rice mostly; all but the final letter of RICe)

21d   Go gape at // search engine (6)

GO|OGLE — GO (†) + OGLE (gape at)

22d   One trade’s // models (6)

I|DEALS — I ([Roman numeral for] one) + DEAL (trade) + S ('s)

25d   Frozen // bagel left with standard wrapping (5)

P(O|L)AR — {O ([letter that looks like a] bagel) + L (left; abbrev.)} contained in (with ... wrapping) PAR (standard)

26d   Lover/’s/ tie mentioned aloud (4)

BEAU~  — sounds like (mentioned aloud) BOW (tie)

Epilogue

The title of today's piece is inspired by 8d 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

Friday, August 28, 2015

Friday, August 28, 2015 — DT 27752

Puzzle at a Glance
Puzzle Number in The Daily Telegraph
DT 27752
Publication Date in The Daily Telegraph
Wednesday, March 18, 2015
Setter
Jay (Jeremy Mutch)
Link to Full Review
Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 27752]
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

The 2Kiwis rated this puzzle as being deserving of four stars for difficulty, while I thought it was not more than two stars. I must have been tuned into the setter's frequency today.

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   March /will be/ heaven -- one's going away! (6)

4a   Supplied // last of tableware, cracked (8)

10a   Snappy technique /from/ corrupt email pest (4-5)

11a   Picture // young lad hides at home? (3-2)

12a   Quick -- // a couple of lines, say, with rope cut in half (7)

The musical direction allegro[5] means at a brisk speed.

13a   Huge // credit almost taking in Italian article (7)

Tick[5] (used in the phrase on tick) is an informal British term meaning credit ⇒ the printer agreed to send the brochures out on tick. The term apparently originates as a short form for ticket in the phrase on the ticket, referring to an IOU or promise to pay.

"Italian" = IT (show explanation )

A couple of explanations are possible:
  • It.[10] is an abbreviation for Italian or Italy.

  • Italian[10] is another name for Italian vermouth. It[5] is an informal, dated British term for Italian vermouth ⇒ he poured a gin and it.
hide explanation

14a   America, determined, arrests // soldier in training (5)

15a   Elementary variants // to posies after arrangement (8)

In chemistry, an isotope[5] is each of two or more forms of the same element that contain equal numbers of protons but different numbers of neutrons in their nuclei, and hence differ in relative atomic mass but not in chemical properties; in particular, a radioactive form of an element ⇒ (i) some elements have only one stable isotope: (ii) radioactive isotopes of caesium, strontium, and plutonium.

18a   Fantasise // mother is about ready with changes (8)

20a   They must lose regulars, and not // drift (5)

Tenor[5] denotes the general meaning, sense, or content of something ⇒ the general tenor of the debate.

23a   Plain // laminate with a core of gum (7)

25a   Drinking // game's beginning after son gets 11 tipsy (7)

The numeral "11" is a cross reference indicator directing the solver to insert the solution to clue 11a in its place to complete the clue. The directional indicator is often omitted in situations such as this where only a single clue starts in the square that is being referenced.

As a verb, sup[5] is a dated or Northern English term meaning to take (drink or liquid food) by sips or spoonfuls ⇒ (i) she supped up her soup delightedly; (ii) he was supping straight from the bottle. As a noun, sup[5] means (1) a sip of liquid ⇒ he took another sup of wine or (2) in Northern England or Ireland, an alcoholic drink ⇒ the latest sup from those blokes at the brewery.

26a   Shocking -- // very nearly draw one day (5)

27a   Analyse // collapse (9)

28a   Grave robber's first love /gets/ a hat (8)

"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.

Although folk etymology has connected the word with French l'oeuf 'egg', from the resemblance in shape between an egg and a zero, the term apparently comes from the phrase play for love (i.e. the love of the game, not for money).

hide explanation

29a   Girl with a Latin // temper (6)

Down

1d   Inadequate payment /for/ bread once with no end of aggro (8)

Scratching the Surface
Aggro[5] (abbreviation of aggravation or aggression) is an informal British term for (1) aggressive, violent behaviour ⇒ they do not usually become involved in aggro or (2) problems and difficulties ⇒ he didn’t have to deal with aggro from the desk clerk.

2d   Discovered the truth /and/ growled (7)

Rumble[5] is an informal British expression meaning to discover (an illicit activity or its perpetrator) ⇒ it wouldn’t need a genius to rumble my little game.

3d   Pleased /with/ action taken to include illumination (9)

5d   Times Square not for posing? // He's the king of posers! (8,6)

Question master[5] is a British term for a person who presides over a quiz or panel game.

Scratching the Surface
Times Square[5] is a focal point of Manhattan in New York City, around the intersection of Broadway and 42nd Street.

Behind the Picture
The illustration used by the 2Kiwis in their review is of British question master Stephen Fry on the set of the British television programme QI.
QI[7] (Quite Interesting) is a British comedy panel game television quiz show created and co-produced by John Lloyd, hosted by Stephen Fry, and featuring permanent panellist Alan Davies. Most of the questions are extremely obscure, making it unlikely that the correct answer will be given. To compensate, points are awarded not only for right answers, but also for interesting ones, regardless of whether they are right or even relate to the original question. Conversely, points are deducted from a panellist who gives "answers which are not only wrong, but pathetically obvious," typically answers that are generally believed to be true but in fact are misconceptions, or for obvious joke answers. These answers are known as forfeits, usually indicated by a loud siren, flashing lights, and the incorrect answer being displayed on screen. In addition, bonus points may be awarded or deducted for various challenges or incorrect references to a certain thing or place, varying from show to show.


6d   Data // is not proven under trial, for starters (5)

7d   Writer to risk ignoring church // act of atonement (7)

It took some time to realize that "church" was not clueing the final two letters of the solution.

8d   Show // disheartened Dane and old Scot (6)

A Pict[5] is a member of an ancient people inhabiting northern Scotland in Roman times.

9d   Counterpart // to Pope is converted, supported by cardinal (8,6)

Cardinal[2,3,4,10,11] is another term for cardinal number.

16d   Blunt // stunned -- small fine in prison! (9)

A North American is most likely to solve this clue by recognizing that pen as a shortened version of penitentiary, but note that this is almost certainly not the way the Brits would see it. The word penitentiary is not used in the UK in the sense of a prison; this usage being characterised as North American by Chambers 21st Century Dictionary[2], Collins English Dictionary[10] and  Oxford Dictionaries Online[5]. The Brits would presumably equate PEN to "prison" simply based on pen[5] meaning any small enclosure in which someone or something can be confined.

17d   Novel // railing violently against love (8)

Of this we can be sure, "love" is constant — it has the same meaning here as it did in 28a.

19d   Possibly posted to depots as an example (7)

"Possibly posted to depots" is an example of a construct used in every cryptic crossword that I have ever solved. DEPOTS is an anagram (possibly) of POSTED.

21d   Offensive // racket around the heart of home (7)

22d   Periods /of/ magic? (6)

24d   English looking shamefaced, turned over after one /gets a/ duck (5)

The eider[5,10] (or eider duck) is any of several sea ducks of the genus Somateria, especially S. mollissima, and related genera, which occur in the northern hemisphere. The male has black and white plumage with a coloured head. The female is brown and is the source of eiderdown.

Scratching the Surface
The surface reading is likely an allusion to cricket, where a duck[5] is a batsman’s score of nought [zero] ⇒ he was out for a duck. This is similar to the North American expression goose egg[5] meaning a zero score in a game. In British puzzles, duck is used to indicate the letter "O" based on the resemblance of the digit "0" to this letter.
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

Thursday, August 27, 2015

Thursday, August 27, 2015 — DT 27751

Puzzle at a Glance
Puzzle Number in The Daily Telegraph
DT 27751
Publication Date in The Daily Telegraph
Tuesday, March 17, 2015
Setter
Unknown
Link to Full Review
Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 27751]
Big Dave's Crossword Blog Review Written By
Gazza
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
Notes
The National Post has skipped DT 27750 which was published in The Daily Telegraph on Monday, March 16, 2015.

Introduction

I awoke to discover that the National Post had skipped yet another puzzle — sending me back to the drawing board with the blog. Fortunately, the puzzle did not take too long to solve, even with a fairly slow start. Of course, a speedy solve for me would be seen as a snail's pace by many British solvers. They often mention completing the puzzle in the time it takes to travel two or three Underground stops. If I were solving the puzzle on the train, I would be halfway to Montreal by the time I finished.

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

5a   First chess player attending match /in/ formal evening dress (5,3)

In chess, the "white" player always moves first. After the first move, players alternately move one piece per turn (except for castling, when two pieces are moved).[7]

"Match" and "tie" might be considered to be synonyms (meaning equal) when used as verbs as in ⇒ In his final run, the driver was able to match the best time posted so far in the competition. However, it certainly did not surprise me that Gazza sees these words as being nouns — in a particular British usage.

Tie[5] is a British term meaning a sports match between two or more players or teams in which the winners proceed to the next round of the competition Swindon Town have gained themselves a third round tie against Oldham.

The foregoing usage example does not mean — as a North American would presume — that Swindon Town and Oldham played to a draw in the third round. Rather, it means that Swindon Town defeated their opponent in the second round and will move on to face Oldham in the third round.

8a   Ape straddling an // awning (6)

10a   Soldier who carries the Colours // in -- gen's misleading (6)

In the British infantry, an ensign[10] is a colours bearer.

Scratching the Surface
Gen[5] is an informal British term for information ⇒ you’ve got more gen on him than we have.

11a   Liking // page with charm (8)

12a   Fail to win card game -- // become exasperated (4,8)

Patience[5] is the British name for solitaire[5], any of various forms of card game for one player, the object of which is to use up all one’s cards by forming particular arrangements and sequences.

15a   Bridge player // held in low esteem (4)

In the card game bridge, North[5] and South[5] comprise one partnership and play against East[5] and West[5] who form the other partnership.

17a   Element /causing/ trouble amongst our sailors (5)

"our sailors" = RN (show explanation )

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.

hide explanation

Remember, this puzzle originally appeared in a British publication.

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.

Radon[5] (symbol Rn) is the chemical element of atomic number 86, a rare radioactive gas belonging to the noble gas series.

18a   Stage // one in unhappy retirement (4)

19a   Frail head going round // food shop (12)

Ness[5] (a term usually found in place names) means a headland or promontory Orford Ness.

22a   Colour /of/ object surrounded by seaweed (8)

Laver[5] is an edible seaweed (Porphyra umbilicaulis) with thin sheet-like fronds of a reddish-purple and green colour which becomes black when dry. Laver typically grows on exposed shores, but in Japan it is cultivated in estuaries.

Delving Deeper
Laver[7] is an edible, littoral alga (seaweed). In Wales, laver is used for making laverbread, a traditional Welsh dish. Laver as food is also commonly found around the west coast of Britain and east coast of Ireland along the Irish Sea, where it is known as slake.

It is smooth in texture and forms delicate, sheetlike thalli, often clinging to rocks. The principal variety is purple laver (Porphyra umbilicalis). Purple laver is classified as a red alga, tends to be a brownish colour, but boils down to a dark green pulp when prepared. It is unusual amongst seaweeds because the fronds are only one cell thick. Laver has a high content of dietary minerals, particularly iodine and iron. The high iodine content gives the seaweed a distinctive flavour in common with olives and oysters.

Porphyra is also consumed in East Asia, where it is known as zicai in China, nori in Japan, and gim in Korea.

Ulva lactuca, a green alga, also known as sea lettuce, is occasionally eaten as green laver, which is regarded as inferior to the purple laver.

24a   Novel /from/ library, or borrowed? On the contrary (3,3)

Rob Roy[7] (1817) is a historical novel by Scottish writer Sir Walter Scott (1771–1832). It is narrated by Frank Osbaldistone, the son of an English merchant who travels first to the North of England, and subsequently to the Scottish Highlands, to collect a debt stolen from his father. On the way he encounters the larger-than-life title character, Rob Roy MacGregor. Though Rob Roy is not the lead character (in fact, the narrative does not move to Scotland until halfway through the book), his personality and actions are key to the novel's development.

25a   Policeman determined // to avoid responsibility (3,3)

Out[10] is used in the sense of desirous of or intent on (something or doing something) He was out to get revenge for the humiliation he had endured.

26a   Sample // mushrooms brought back by me after breaking in (8)

The cep[5] is an edible European mushroom with a smooth brown cap, a stout white stalk, and pores rather than gills, growing in dry woodland and much sought after as a delicacy. Also called penny bun.

Down

1d   Punch // clock (6)

Similar to Gazza, I too was baffled by this double definition where the two definitions would appear to be the same — a clear flouting of cryptic crossword convention. Given that Gazza reports having searched fruitlessly for another meaning of clock, I spent little effort in investigating the matter further.

Clock[5] is an informal, chiefly British expression meaning to hit (someone), especially on the head someone clocked him for no good reason.

2d   A tall nurse treated // film comedian (4,6)

Laurel and Hardy[5] were an American comedy duo consisting of Stan Laurel (born Arthur Stanley Jefferson) (1890–1965) and Oliver Hardy (1892–1957). British-born Stan Laurel played the scatterbrained and often tearful innocent, Oliver Hardy his pompous, overbearing, and frequently exasperated friend. They brought their distinctive slapstick comedy to many films from 1927 onwards.

3d   Picture /of/ forged coin (4)

4d   On reflection, // partaking in absinthe endures (2,3,3)

I initially had difficulty seeing the definition, but — in the end — came to accept it.

The phrase in the end[5] means eventually or on reflection in the end, I saw that she was right.

Scratching the Surface
Absinthe[5,7,10] (also absinth) is a potent green aniseed-flavoured alcoholic drink, technically a gin, originally made with the shrub wormwood. For most of the twentieth century, absinthe was banned in the United States and much of Europe.

6d   Deliver // diamonds in German city (4,4)

"diamonds" = D (show explanation )

Diamonds[2] (abbreviation D[2]) is one of the four suits of playing-cards.

hide explanation

Hanover[5] is an industrial city in northwestern Germany, on the Mittelland Canal; population 516,300 (est. 2006). It is the capital of Lower Saxony.

7d   Coppers stride off /in/ a display of team spirit (6,2,5)

9d   Stake // boat (4)

Punt[2,3,4,5,10,11] is a mainly British term which, as a verb, means to gamble or bet, especially against the bank, as in roulette, some card games, or on horses and, as a noun, denotes such a gamble or bet.

A punt[5] is a long, narrow flat-bottomed boat, square at both ends and propelled with a long pole, used on inland waters chiefly for recreation.

13d   Scratched one? (3-7)

A non-starter[2] is a horse (or other animal or person[5]) which, though entered for a race, does not run.

14d   Trying // more ties out (8)

16d   Changing of editor, // highly desirable (2,3,3)

20d   Tender // doctor returned wearing costume (6)

"doctor" = MB (show explanation )

In Britain, the degree required to practice medicine is a Bachelor of Medicine[7] (MB, from Latin Medicinae Baccalaureus), which is equivalent to a North American Doctor of Medicine (MD, from Latin Medicinae Doctor). The degree of Doctor of Medicine also exists in Britain, but it is an advanced degree pursued by those who wish to go into medical research. Physicians in Britain are still addressed as Dr. despite not having a doctoral degree. 

hide explanation

21d   I attempt to arrest a // villainous character (4)

Iago[7] is a fictional character in Othello (c. 1601–04), a tragedy written by English playwright William Shakespeare (1564–1616). The play's main antagonist, Iago, is the husband of Emilia, who is in turn the attendant of Othello's wife Desdemona. Iago hates Othello (who is also known as "The Moor") and devises a plan to destroy him by making him believe that his wife is having an affair with his lieutenant, Michael Cassio.

23d   Tax // office (4)

What did he say?
In his review, Gazza refers to a duty as the sort of tax that the Chancellor may well be reducing slightly on alcohol tomorrow in an attempt at a pre-election bribe.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer[5] is the chief finance minister of the United Kingdom, who prepares the nation’s annual budgets — the British counterpart to the Minister of Finance in Canada or the Secretary of the Treasury in the US.

The United Kingdom general election of 2015[7] was held on 7 May 2015 to elect the 56th Parliament of the United Kingdom [this was approximately seven weeks after this puzzle appeared in The Daily Telegraph].
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