Friday, September 30, 2016

Friday, September 30, 2016 — DT 28140

Puzzle at a Glance
Puzzle Number in The Daily Telegraph
DT 28140
Publication Date in The Daily Telegraph
Tuesday, June 14, 2016
Setter
Unknown
Link to Full Review
Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 28140]
Big Dave's Crossword Blog Review Written By
Big Dave
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 28139 which was published in The Daily Telegraph on Monday, June 13, 2016.

Introduction

The National Post has skipped over a rather challenging Rufus creation to get to this quite gentle offering from one of the mystery "Tuesday" setters.

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   Opposition /from/ Royal Engineers is over policy (10)

"Royal Engineers" = RE (show explanation )

The Corps of Royal Engineers[7], usually just called the Royal Engineers (abbreviation RE), and commonly known as the Sappers[7], is a corps of the British Army that provides military engineering and other technical support to the British Armed Forces.

hide explanation

6a   Wedge lobbed over // bunker (4)

For the benefit of any non-golfers among readers, a wedge[5] is a golf club with a low, angled face for maximum loft or a shot made with a wedge ⇒ Davies hit a wedge to within a yard of the hole. A bunker[10] (also known, especially in the US and Canada, as a sand trap) is an obstacle on a golf course, usually a sand-filled hollow bordered by a ridge.

9a   Loud stringed instrument -- /or/ one in the woodwind section (5)

"loud" = F (show explanation )

Forte[5] (abbreviation f[5]) is a musical direction meaning (as an adjective) loud or (as an adverb) loudly.

hide explanation

10a   Alert lover abroad to get rid of old // tourist (9)

12a   Parrots // are pets up in the air (7)

13a   Discrimination // son's shown in gallery (5)

"gallery" = TATE (show explanation )

15a   Polished // table leg -- antique, to an extent (7)

17a   New place to film rears in bed /creating/ clash (7)

What did he say?
In his review on Big Dave's Crossword Blog, Big Dave refers to a cot as a child’s bed.
In Britain, a small bed with high barred sides for a baby or very young child is called a cot[5] rather than a crib[5] as it is known in North America.

19a   Keep // dropping opener in jam (7)

21a   Compiling, // gets agitated about money (7)

It sounds like the setter of the puzzle had monetary concerns on his mind as he worked.

Tin[5] is a dated informal British term for money ⇒ Kim’s only in it for the tin.

22a   Quiet expression of pain knight // displayed (5)

"knight" = N (show explanation )

A knight[5] is a chess piece, typically with its top shaped like a horse’s head, that moves by jumping to the opposite corner of a rectangle two squares by three. Each player starts the game with two knights.

N[5] is the abbreviation for knight used in recording moves in chess [representing the pronunciation of kn-, since the initial letter k- represents 'king'].

As an aside, it is interesting to note that the Chambers 21st Century Dictionary defines: 
  • K[2] as an abbreviation used in chess for knight. 
  • K[2] is a symbol used in chess to represent a king. 
  • N[2] is a symbol used in chess to represent a knight.
The dictionary fails to specify how one differentiates an abbreviation from a symbol.

On the other hand, both The Chambers Dictionary and the Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary list K or K.[1,11] as an abbreviation for knight without specifying the specific context in which this abbreviation is used. However, the context may well be in an honours list rather than in a game of chess. In the UK, for instance, KBE[5] stands for Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire.

hide explanation

24a   Prior to university, teach about a // castle (7)

27a   Pole chose to keep side of garden // uncared-for (9)

28a   Develop // thick hair? Not at first (5)

29a   Delighted // prison term's reduced by 50 per cent (4)

30a   Teenager/'s/ party surrounded by beer smell (10)

Down

1d   Right behind // basic river vessel (4)

2d   Without question, sir lures wild // animals (9)

Scratching the Surface
It is common practice for British school students to address (or refer to) their male teachers as "Sir", as in To Sir, with Love[7], a 1967 British drama film starring Sidney Poitier that deals with social and racial issues in an inner-city school.

3d   Animal // the woman kept trimmed at both ends (5)

4d   Pull // at vehicle, lifting bottom of boot (7)

I should have put a little more effort into parsing this clue. I got distracted by the wrong farm vehicle — TRACTOR — which left me in a quandary regarding the remainder of the wordplay.

Scratching the Surface
In the surface reading, "boot" might be an article of footwear or perhaps it is intended to be a part of a vehicle.

Boot[5] is the British term for the trunk[5] of a car.

5d   Traditional // girl supporting Conservative in charge (7)

"Conservative" = C (show explanation )

The abbreviation for Conservative may be either C.[10] or Con.[10].

The Conservative Party[5] is a a major British political party that emerged from the old Tory Party under Sir Robert Peel in the 1830s and 1840s. Since the Second World War, it has been in power 1951–64, 1970-74, and 1979–97. It governed in a coalition with the Liberal Democrats from 2010 until the general election of May 2015, in which it was returned with a majority.

hide explanation

"in charge" = IC (show explanation )

The abbreviation i/c[5] can be short for either:
  1. (especially in military contexts) in charge of ⇒ the Quartermaster General is i/c rations; or
  2. in command ⇒ 2 i/c = second in command.
hide explanation

7d   Luxury car // goes for a spin (5)

Rolls[10] is an informal name for a Rolls-Royce[10], a make of very high-quality, luxurious, and prestigious British car. The Rolls-Royce company is no longer British-owned.

8d   Salesman turns up with money! Time /for/ a share (10)

What did he say?
In his review on Big Dave's Crossword Blog, Big Dave refers to "cent" as some foreign money.
Well, it is foreign to the Brits — but hardly so to much of the rest of the world.

A cent[5] is a monetary unit in various countries[10], equal to one hundredth of a dollar, euro, or other decimal currency unit. However, in Britain — despite having adopted a decimal currency system — one hundredth of a pound is known as a penny rather than a cent.

Collins English Dictionary exhaustively defines cent[10] as a monetary unit of American Samoa, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Australia, Austria, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Bermuda, Bosnia-Hercegovina, Brunei, Canada, the Cayman Islands, Cyprus, Dominica, East Timor, Ecuador, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, French Guiana, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guam, Guyana, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Kenya, Kiribati, Kosovo, Liberia, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, the Marshall Islands, Martinique, Mauritius, Mayotte, Micronesia, Monaco, Montenegro, Namibia, Nauru, the Netherlands, the Netherlands Antilles, New Zealand, the Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Réunion, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, the Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, the Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Surinam, Swaziland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, Uganda, the United States, the Vatican City, the Virgin Islands, and Zimbabwe. It is worth one hundredth of their respective standard units.

11d   Dead // cross, being held by French and in court (7)

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

"court" = CT (show explanation )

Ct[2] is the abbreviation for Court in street addresses — and possibly in other contexts as well.

hide explanation

14d   Shows // sign of hesitation over gifts (10)

16d   Group // called in time to make a comeback (7)

18d   Tweet quite out of order -- women ignored // acceptable behaviour (9)

20d   Cold, having got left outside? // Hot! (7)

21d   Caught wearing lightweight shoe? // Malicious gossip (7)

"caught" = C (show explanation )

In cricket, one way for a batsman to be dismissed is to be caught out[5](phrasal verb,2), that is for a player on the opposing team to catch a ball that has been hit by the batsman before it touches the ground.

On cricket scorecards, the abbreviation c.[2,10] or c[5](1) denotes caught (by).

hide explanation

23d   Gold plating finally put on an // instrument (5)

"gold" = OR (show explanation )

Or[5] is gold or yellow, as a heraldic tincture.

In heraldry, a tincture[5] is any of the conventional colours (including the metals and stains, and often the furs) used in coats of arms.

hide explanation

25d   Spirit /from/ those ending up on top (5)

26d   Try // Southern baking (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

Thursday, September 29, 2016

Thursday, September 29, 2016 — DT 28138

Puzzle at a Glance
Puzzle Number in The Daily Telegraph
DT 28138
Publication Date in The Daily Telegraph
Saturday, June 11, 2016
Setter
Unknown
Link to Full Review
Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 28138 – Hints]
Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 28138 – Review]
Big Dave's Crossword Blog Review Written By
Big Dave (Hints)
gnomethang (Review)
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
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

Today we have a typically gentle "Saturday" puzzle.

With respect to cryptic crossword clues, the conventional wisdom is that the solver should ignore punctuation — except where it shouldn't be ignored. Several clues today include question marks. Most of them are irrelevant to the parsing, but a couple of them do convey information to the solver.

This puzzle appeared in the UK on the Queen's Official Birthday[7] which is celebrated there on the second Saturday in June. Her actual birthday is April 21.

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   Secrets spilled about power /and/ emblems of authority (8)

"power" = P (show explanation )

In physics, P[10] is a symbol used to represent power [among other things] in mathematical formulae.

hide explanation

A sceptre[10] is a ceremonial staff held by a monarch as the symbol of authority.

8a   Ailing // popular company (6)

10a   Reportedly rough // passage (6)

11a   Charming // volunteers repaired flutes (8)

"volunteers" = TA (show explanation )

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

hide explanation

12a   Male in desperation shakily // took off (12)

15a   Cheek given about maiden over /being/ tired (4)

Cheek[10] and lip[10] are both informal terms for impudent talk.

"maiden over"  = M (show explanation )

In cricket, a maiden[5], also known as a maiden over and denoted on cricket scorecards by the abbreviation m.[10], is an over in which no runs are scored.

In cricket, an over[5] is 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. On cricket scorecards, the abbreviation O[5] denotes over(s).

hide explanation

17a   Female wearing article, // very pale (5)

18a   Seldom viewed // artist, extremely reclusive (4)

"artist" = RA (show explanation )

A Royal Academician (abbreviation RA[10]) is a member of the Royal Academy of Arts[5] (also Royal Academy; abbreviation also RA[10]), an institution established in London in 1768, whose purpose is to cultivate painting, sculpture, and architecture in Britain. 

hide explanation

19a   Continually // elected? Clearly (12)

22a   Safe to slate // boyish man? (5,3)

The question mark at the end of the definition indicates that we need an example of a "boyish man" rather than a synonym for that phrase.

Peter[5,10] is [seemingly British] slang for a safe, till, cash box or trunk.

Slate[5] is an informal British term meaning to criticize severely his work was slated by the critics.

Peter Pan[7] is a character created by Scottish novelist and playwright J. M. Barrie. A mischievous young boy who can fly and never grows up. Peter Pan spends his never-ending childhood having adventures on the island of Neverland as the leader of the Lost Boys, interacting with fairies, pirates, mermaids, Native Americans, and occasionally ordinary children from the world outside Neverland.

24a   In favour of international // currency unit (6)

The forint[10] is the standard monetary unit of Hungary, divided into 100 fillér.

25a   A jolly woman /in/ navy (6)

Jolly[10] is British slang for a member of the Royal Marines[5] (abbreviation RM[5]), a British armed service (part of the Royal Navy) founded in 1664, trained for service at sea, or on land under specific circumstances.

26a   Old celebrity on French street, returning /for/ train (8)

The French word for 'street' is rue[8].

Eurostar[5] (trademark) is the high-speed passenger rail service that links London with various European cities via the Channel Tunnel.

Down

1d   Meagre // sum originally held in reserve (6)

2d   Electoral area undermining environmentalists /is/ common (10)

The term green[5] (usually Green) denotes a member or supporter of an environmentalist group or party ⇒ the Greens' remarkable 15 per cent vote.

Greensward[10] is an archaic or literary term for fresh green turf or an area of such turf.

3d   Audible disapproval // in church is sacrilegious (4)

4d   Volunteer to house complete // delinquent (8)

6d   Fried noodles, // food I must feed soldiers (4,4)

Chow mein[10] is a Chinese-American dish, consisting of mushrooms, meat, shrimps, etc, served with fried noodles.

7d   Turning honest about it, criminal /is/ to avoid being committed (3,2,3,5)

9d   Last character to wear striking // clobber (4)

Scratching the Surface
In the surface reading, clobber[5] is an informal British term for clothing, personal belongings, or equipment ⇒ I found all his clobber in the locker.

13d   Finn and Turk go out /to get/ a musical instrument? (6,4)

Note the question mark at the end of the definition. The setter is using it to flag to us that "musical instrument" may not mean what we think it does. We need an instrument used in performing acoustical calibrations.

14d   Dilapidated kraals in // country (3,5)

Sri Lanka[5] is an island country off the southeastern coast of India; population 21,324,800 (est. 2009); languages, Sinhalese (official), Tamil; capital, Colombo. It was formerly called (until 1972) Ceylon.

16d   Rate game? // This should show its worth (5,3)

20d   Wipe the floor with // this? Is to be scrubbed ahead of series (6)

Wipe the floor with[5] is an informal expression meaning to inflict a humiliating defeat on ⇒ they wiped the floor with us in a 3–0 win. The usage example almost certainly refers to soccer where such a score would be considered humiliating.

21d   Period of time, // long, endless? (4)

23d   E.g. 22 // take part in a game (4)

The numeral "22" is a cross reference indicator directing the solver to insert the solution to clue 22a in its place to complete the clue. The directional indicator is customarily omitted in situations such as this where only a single clue starts in the light* that is being referenced. 
* light-coloured cell in the grid
Peter Pan; or, the Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up is a 1904 play by Scottish novelist and playwright J. M. Barrie that tells the story of Peter Pan (see 22a).
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

Wednesday, September 28, 2016

Wednesday, September 28, 2016 — DT 28137

Puzzle at a Glance
Puzzle Number in The Daily Telegraph
DT 28137
Publication Date in The Daily Telegraph
Friday, June 10, 2016
Setter
Giovanni (Don Manley)
Link to Full Review
Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 28137]
Big Dave's Crossword Blog Review Written By
Deep Threat
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

I found today's puzzle to be quite typical of what we have come to expect from Giovanni.

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   Bits of food // terrible, about to be eaten -- gosh! (11)

Crumbs[5] (a euphemism for Christ) is an informal British term used used to express dismay or surprise ‘Crumbs,’ said Emily, ‘how embarrassing.’.

9a   Heartless denier of his friend, // look (4)

St Peter[5] is an Apostle; born Simon. Peter (‘stone’) is the name given him by Jesus, signifying the rock on which he would establish his Church. He is regarded by Roman Catholics as the first bishop of the Church at Rome, where he is said to have been martyred in about AD 67. He is often represented as the keeper of the door of heaven. 

In the Christian Bible, all four canonical gospels recount that, during the Last Supper, Jesus accurately foretold that Peter would deny him three times before the following cockcrow ("before the cock crows twice" in Mark's account).[7]

10a   An attractive // number (11)

"Number" is used in the whimsical cryptic crossword sense of 'something that numbs'.

Aesthetic[5] is the British spelling of esthetic.

Anaesthetic[5] is the British spelling of anesthetic.

11a   Don't hunt him with dogs -- bring back the guns! (4)

Gat[10] is a mainly US slang term for a pistol or revolver (origin: shortened from Gatling gun).

Delving Deeper
The slang expression gat does derive — directly, or indirectly — from Gatling gun[5] (the first practical machine gun which was developed during the US Civil War). Most sources seem to suggest that the term arose as gangster slang and dates from the prohibition era (the 1920s and early 1930s) in the United States. Wiktionary claims that gat is additionally an archaic slang term for a Gatling gun which was used in old westerns. However, that may simply be a case of early 20th century screenwriters misapplying what was then current-day lingo to a past period of history. The American Heritage Dictionary, Oxford Dictionaries Online. and Collins English Dictionary all define gat[3,5,10] as meaning a pistol or revolver (despite its etymology) while Wiktionary says a gat is "Any type of gun; usually a pistol". Several entries at the Urban Dictionary claim that gat was coined by American gangsters during prohibition as slang for the Thompson submachine gun (or Tommy gun). Of course, the Urban Dictionary is likely among the most unreliable sources on the Internet. The Online Etymology Dictionary perhaps gives a hint as to the evolution of the word gat which it defines as a revolver, and dates the usage to 1904 (pre-prohibition). It also says that the etymology is a "slang shortening of Gatling (gun)". Furthermore, it goes on to say that "by 1880, gatlin was slang for a gun of any sort". So, it would seem to make sense that the word Gatling meaning a specific type of machine gun (from the 1860s) might first have been shortened to 'gatlin' which came to mean a gun of any sort (by the 1880s), and — in a second stage of evolution — was further shortened to 'gat' in the early 1900s. The word would now seem to have pretty much lost its sense of a gun of any sort and refer almost exclusively to a pistol or revolver.

14a   Proceeded with difficulty, // kitchen device having leaked (7)

Hob[5] is a British term for a cooking appliance, or the flat top part of a cooker [kitchen stove], with hotplates [heating elements of an electric range*] or burners [of a gas range*].
* Brits would not refer to these appliances as 'ranges'. To them, a range is a stove with a firebox and a stove with top-mounted elements or burners is known as a cooker.
16a   The German scoundrels returning // took leading roles (7)

"the German" = DER (show explanation )

In German, der[8] is one of the several forms that the definite article may assume.

hide explanation

17a   Unprofessional types /showing/ sloppiness, but don't get cross! (5)

18a   Causes 'urt /to/ members (4)

The clue is a play on the cockney[5] dialect spoken in the East End of London which is characterized by dropping H from the beginning of words.

19a   Work needed -- // this joint // has got restricted (4)

In this unusual clue construction, the setter has managed to place the definition in the middle of the clue between the hidden word fodder and hidden word indicator..

20a   Book // a sailor brought back (5)

22a   Money for job when worker is in // town (7)

"worker" = ANT (show explanation )

The word "worker" is commonly used in cryptic crossword puzzles to clue ANT or BEE.

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

Wantage[7] is a market town and civil parish in the Vale of the White Horse, Oxfordshire, England that is situated15 miles (24 km) south-west of Oxford.

Historically part of Berkshire, it is notable as the birthplace of King Alfred the Great in 849. In 1974 the area administered by Berkshire County Council was greatly reduced, and Wantage, in common with other territories South of the River Thames, became part of a considerably enlarged Oxfordshire.

23a   Is yours truly coming in skinny? // Organic substance // needed (7)

Once again, the setter contrives to position the definition in the middle of the clue. The word "needed" — despite coming at the end of the clue — plays a role identical to that of the link word "needing"in 12d.

Thiamin[10] is an alternative spelling of thiamine (also known as vitamin B1), a soluble white crystalline vitamin that occurs in the outer coat of rice and other grains. It forms part of the vitamin B complex and is essential for carbohydrate metabolism; deficiency leads to nervous disorders and to the disease beriberi.

24a   Famous South African /in/ a short skirt (4)

Desmond Tutu[5] is a South African clergyman. As General Secretary of the South African Council of Churches (1979–84) he became a leading voice in the struggle against apartheid. He was Archbishop of Cape Town 1986–96. Nobel Peace Prize (1984).

28a   Vigorous /and/ in no need of a transfusion? (4-7)

29a   Cross /and/ offensive, by the sound of it (4)

Rood[2,3,10] denotes:
  1. a crucifix, especially a large one set on a beam or screen at the entrance to the chancel of a church; or
  2. (archaic or literary) the Cross on which Christ was crucified.
30a   Promotion /from/ publicists not ultimately enthralling Packard (11)

Vance Packard[7] (1914–1996) was an American journalist, social critic, and author.

Scratching the Surface
In The Hidden Persuaders[7] , first published in 1957, Packard explores the use of consumer motivational research and other psychological techniques, including depth psychology and subliminal tactics, by advertisers to manipulate expectations and induce desire for products, particularly in the American postwar era. He identified eight "compelling needs" that advertisers promise products will fulfill. According to Packard these needs are so strong that people are compelled to buy products to satisfy them. The book also explores the manipulative techniques of promoting politicians to the electorate. The book questions the morality of using these techniques.

Down

2d   Managed to come before king in status (4)

"king" = K (show explanation )

K[5] is an abbreviation for king that is used especially in describing play in card games and recording moves in chess.

hide explanation

3d   Wild person at party losing head, // say (4)

4d   Strange dialect /in/ SA hall (7)

The Salvation Army[5] (abbreviation SA) is a worldwide Christian evangelical organization on quasi-military lines. Established in 1865 by William Booth, an English Methodist revivalist preacher, it is noted for its work with the poor and for its brass bands. A Salvation Army meeting hall is known as a citadel[5].

5d   Chemical // stuck in your ears (4)

Urea[5] is a colourless crystalline compound which is the main nitrogenous breakdown product of protein metabolism in mammals and is excreted in urine.

The surface reading certainly evokes a rather amusing — if distasteful — image.

6d   By carrying torch, maybe, /you can see/ home from afar (7)

Torch[10] — in addition to its historical meaning — is the British name for a flashlight.

Blighty[5,10] is an informal British term for Britain or England, used by soldiers of the First and Second World Wars. For troops serving abroad the term signified 'home'.

What did he say?
In his review on Big Dave's Crossword Blog, Deep Threat refers to the solution to the clue as Tommy Atkins’ term for Britain when serving abroad.
The word tommy[5,10] (also Tommy or Tommy Atkins) is an informal British term for a private in the British Army. The term originates from the use of the name Thomas Atkins in specimens of completed official forms in the British army during the 19th century.

7d   Tudor yeomen looking silly /in/ old book (11)

In Crosswordland, the phrase "religious books" — or often merely the word "books" — is commonly used to clue either the Old Testament (OT) or the New Testament (NT). Today the setter very specifically zeroes in on an individual book within one of these set of books.

Deuteronomy[10] is the fifth book of the Old Testament, containing a second statement of the Mosaic Law.

Scratching the Surface
A Yeoman of the Guard[5] (also called beefeater) is a member of the British sovereign's bodyguard, first established by Henry VII, now having only ceremonial duties and wearing Tudor dress as uniform.

8d   Generate din, going mad /as/ one sort of actress (11)

12d   Seabirds /needing/ rare wash set out (11)

The shearwater[3,5,11] is a long-winged seabird related to the petrels, often flying low over the surface of the water far from land in search of food. Its long slender wings appear to shear the water as the bird flies along the surface.

13d   A nasty smell on road --- country // thing that's disgusting (11)

The M1[7] is a north–south motorway [controlled access, multi-lane divided highway] in England connecting London to Leeds.

15d   Old Italian // smoker died making ascent (5)

Mount Etna[5] is a volcano in eastern Sicily, rising to 3,323 m (10,902 ft). It is the highest and most active volcano in Europe.

Dante[5] (1265–1321), full name Dante Alighieri, was an Italian poet. His reputation rests chiefly on The Divine Comedy (circa 1309–20), an epic poem describing his spiritual journey through Hell and Purgatory and finally to Paradise. His love for Beatrice Portinari is described in Vita nuova (circa 1290-4).

16d   Animal // rested before getting tucked in (5)

The two-letter word means "before" when one is telling time.

The stoat[5] (also known as the ermine, especially when in its white winter coat) is a small carnivorous mammal (Mustela erminea) of the weasel family which has chestnut fur with white underparts and a black-tipped tail. It is native to both Eurasia and North America and in northern areas the coat turns white in winter. In North America, it is known as the short-tailed weasel.

20d   A good lot of drinks /gets one/ unable to move somehow (7)

"good" = G (show explanation )

The abbreviation G[10] for good likely relates to its use in grading school assignments or tests.

hide explanation

21d   Something unpleasant in bag /is/ a resin (7)

A sac[10] is a pouch, bag, or pouchlike part in an animal or plant.

25d   Run away briefly when meeting a // bloodsucker (4)

26d   Big sound /from/ the heart? Not the heart (4)

27d   Writer said /to be/ a founder of state (4)

William Penn[5] (1644–1718) was an English Quaker, founder of Pennsylvania. Having been imprisoned in 1668 for his Quaker writings, he was granted a charter to land in North America by Charles II. He founded the colony of Pennsylvania as a sanctuary for Quakers and other Nonconformists in 1682.
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

Tuesday, September 27, 2016

Tuesday, September 27, 2016 — DT 28136

Puzzle at a Glance
Puzzle Number in The Daily Telegraph
DT 28136
Publication Date in The Daily Telegraph
Thursday, June 9, 2016
Setter
RayT (Ray Terrell)
Link to Full Review
Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 28136]
Big Dave's Crossword Blog Review Written By
Kath
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
The National Post has skipped DT 28134 and DT 28135 which were published in The Daily Telegraph on Tuesday, June 7, 2016 and Wednesday, June 8, 2016.

Introduction

The National Post has taken a leap forward today, landing on a fairly gentle "Thursday" puzzle from RayT. I checked and there seem to be no printing errors in the puzzle today — unlike the egregious situation yesterday where two "fielders" found religion and became "elders".

At the time that this puzzle appeared in The Daily Telegraph, parts of France — including Paris — were experiencing severe flooding. Thus the comment in the intro to Kath's review expressing her hope that RayT (a resident of Paris) has survived unscathed.

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   Spoilt star with nerves /getting/ cross (10)

6a   Stunner // starts to bare all becoming excited (4)

As Kath says in her review, this is "a Ray T special" — on two counts. Not only is it a trademark RayT initialism style clue but it has a mildly risqué surface reading.

The "robes" that Kath uses to illustrate the clue — while certainly stunning — are hardly ones that I would call "dresses".

9a   Sweetheart wearing sacks /for/ dresses (5)

"sweetheart" = E (show explanation )

A common cryptic crossword construct is to use the word "sweetheart" to clue E, the middle letter (heart) of swEet.

hide explanation

10a   Stop swallowing most of beer, /it's/ common (9)

12a   Insignificant // balls in over seen in Test (7)

In cricket, an over[5] is 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.

Scratching the Surface
In the surface reading, Test[5] (short for Test match)[5] denotes an international cricket or rugby match, typically one of a series, played between teams representing two different countries ⇒ the Test match between Pakistan and the West Indies.

13a   Knight perhaps // clear in front of Queen (5)

"Queen" = ER (show explanation ). This is another RayT trademark. Her Majesty almost invariably makes an appearance in his puzzles — although Queen is apparently actually a shout out to his favourite rock band.

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](3) — from the Latin Elizabetha Regina.

hide explanation

15a   Paragraph's opening covered /and/ checked (7)

17a   Fantastic man? Not half! (7)

After due consideration, I have decided to mark this clue a bit differently than Kath did as "fantastic" is an adjective and the solution is a noun. I would think the clue is a cryptic definition which we need to interpret as "fantastic half-man".

19a   Most indiscreet // break around tree (7)

21a   Folds /and/ quits holding King (7)

"king" = R (show explanation )

Rex[5] (abbreviation R[5]) [Latin for king] denotes the reigning king, used following a name (e.g. Georgius Rex, King George) or in the titles of lawsuits (e.g. Rex v. Jones, the Crown versus Jones — often shortened to R. v. Jones).

hide explanation

Before being corrected, there was an error in this clue on the Telegraph Puzzles website. However, it appeared correctly in the print edition of The Daily Telegraph and it is printed correctly today in the National Post.

22a   Surprised expressions, catching front of perfect // body (5)

Cor[5] is an informal British exclamation expressing surprise, excitement, admiration, or alarm ⇒ Cor! That‘s a beautiful black eye you’ve got!.

24a   Body /of/ motor first off contains dipstick (7)

Motor[5] is an informal British term for a car we drove out in my motor.

Corps[5] may denote either:
  1. a military body with a specific function ⇒ (i) intelligence corps; (ii) medical corps; or
  2. a body of people associated together the diplomatic corps.
27a   France possibly consumes the compiler's // life (9)

"compiler's" = IM (show explanation )

It is a common cryptic crossword convention for the creator of the puzzle to use terms such as (the or this) compiler, (the or this) setter, (this) author, (this) writer, or this person to refer to himself or herself. To solve such a clue, one must generally substitute a first person pronoun (I or me) for whichever of these terms has been used in the clue.

Today, the setter has made the scenario slightly more complicated by combining "compiler" with the verb "to be" producing "compiler's" (a contraction of "compiler is") which must be replaced by "I'm" (a contraction of "I am").

hide explanation

28a   Supporter, very ordinary // one provides uplift (5)

The solution is something (one) [that] provides uplift, i.e., a shout of approval.

Historically, in the UK (with the exception of Scotland), O level[5] (short for ordinary level[5]) was a qualification in a specific subject formerly taken by school students aged 14-16, at a level below A (advanced) level. It was replaced in 1988 by the  GCSE[5] (General Certificate of Secondary Education).

"very" = V (show explanation )

The abbreviation v (or v.)[1,2,5,10] stands for very. Although this definition is found in most of my British dictionaries, it does not appear in any of my American dictionaries. Unfortunately no explanation is given as to the specific context in which might encounter this usage. The only example that I can think of is when combined with G as a grade of VG (very good) on school tests or assignments.

hide explanation

29a   Greek god/'s/ angry being overthrown (4)

In Greek mythology, Eros[5] is the god of love, son of Aphrodite — the Roman equivalent being Cupid.

30a   Measure // beat in heart (10)

Down

1d   Hasty repair securing // part of car (4)

Tyre[5] is the British spelling of tire, in the sense of a part of an automobile.

2d   Bird /by/ altar sobs uncontrollably (9)

3d   Initially some uncooked seafood's hidden in // dish (5)

I would say that this is a simple clue with wordplay and definition as marked above.

Although in other circumstances "uncooked seafood" (as Kath shows in her review) would make a fine definition, in this clue it is part of the wordplay and could, at most, be only part of the definition were one to consider this to be a semi-&lit. (semi-all-in-one) clue:
  • Initially some uncooked seafood's hidden in dish (5)
in which the entire clue would serve as the definition.

4d   English politician confined /then/ cleared (7)

"politician" = MP (show explanation )

In Britain (as in Canada), a politician elected to the House of Commons is known as a Member of Parliament[10] (or MP[5] for short).

hide explanation

5d   The woman will put on endless // varnish (7)

7d   Change // commercial about knights perhaps (5)

8d   Kirk's ship/'s/ log on power increase (10)

"power" = P (show explanation )

In physics, P[10] is a symbol used to represent power [among other things] in mathematical formulae.

hide explanation

James T. Kirk is a fictional character in the Star Trek franchise. As the captain of the starship USS Enterprise, Kirk leads his crew as they explore "where no man has gone before".

Scratching the Surface
In Star Trek, the scene was commonly set by a voice-over reading from the Captain's log as described in this entry from Wikipedia on a related subject:
A stardate[7] is a fictional system of time measurement developed for the television and film series Star Trek. In the series, use of this date system is commonly heard at the beginning of a voice-over log entry such as "Captain's log, stardate 41153.7. Our destination is planet Deneb IV..." While the general idea resembles the Julian day currently used by astronomers, writers and producers have selected numbers using different methods over the years, some more arbitrary than others. This makes it impossible to convert all stardates into equivalent calendar dates, especially since stardates were originally intended to disguise the precise era of Star Trek.

11d   Set out for Himalayas, maybe touring Everest's // heart (7)

The Himalayas[5] are a vast mountain system in southern Asia, extending 2,400 km (1,500 miles) from Kashmir eastwards to Assam. The Himalayas consist of a series of parallel ranges rising up from the Ganges basin to the Tibetan plateau, at over 3,000 m above sea level. The backbone is the Great Himalayan Range, the highest mountain range in the world, with several peaks rising to over 7,700 m (25,000 ft), the highest being Mount Everest.

14d   Tapas recipe changed, missing Southern // relish (10)

Scratching the Surface

A tapa[3,11] (often tapas, especially in British dictionaries where the singular — for the most part — does not exist [explore further ]) is any of various small, savory Spanish dishes, often served as a snack or appetizer (typically with wine or beer) or with other tapas as a meal.

Oxford Dictionaries explains the etymology as Spanish tapa, literally 'cover, lid' (because the dishes were given free with the drink, served on a dish balanced on, therefore ‘covering’, the glass).[5]

Among my regular online reference sources, the singular version (tapa[3,11]) is found in the two American dictionaries, but not in the three British dictionaries (which list the word only in the plural, tapas[2,4,5,10]). However, the singular version tapa[1] is found in my hard-copy edition of The Chambers Dictionary.

close

16d   Delivers excellent rearing // plant (7)

"excellent" = A1 (show explanation )

A1[4][5] or A-one[3] meaning first class or excellent comes from a classification for ships in The Lloyd's Register of Shipping where it means equipped to the highest standard or first-class.

hide explanation

Freesia[5] is a small southern African plant of the genus Freesia with fragrant, colourful, tubular flowers, many varieties of which are cultivated for the cut-flower trade.

18d   Pass is tantalisingly going round // teammate (9)

20d   Substantial // moggie up on roof (7)

Moggie[5] (or moggy) is an informal British term for a cat, typically one that is does not have a pedigree or is otherwise unremarkable ⇒ I have three other cats (two moggies and one Bengal/Tonkinese cross).

Tile[10] means to cover (in this case, a roof) with tiles (a common roofing material in Britain).

21d   Gold item seen in court? (7)

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.

"gold" = OR (show explanation )

Or[5] is gold or yellow, as a heraldic tincture.

hide explanation

"court" = CT (show explanation )

Ct[2] is the abbreviation for Court in street addresses — and possibly in other contexts as well.

hide explanation

A coronet[5] is a small or relatively simple crown, especially as worn by lesser royalty and peers or peeresses.

23d   Greek character holding smart // beast responsible for charges? (5)

Rho[5] is the seventeenth letter of the Greek alphabet (Ρ, ρ).

25d   Work /for/ a pound, with hesitation (5)

26d   Model, // outsize, getting into exercise (4)

The sizes of clothing that North Americans would describe as plus-size[7] (or often big and tall in the case of men's clothing) would be called outsize (abbreviation OS[5]) in Britain.

"exercise" = PE (show explanation )

PE[5] is the abbreviation for physical education [or Phys Ed, as it was known in my school days]. 

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