Puzzle at a Glance
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Puzzle Number in The Daily Telegraph
DT 28339 | |
Publication Date in The Daily Telegraph
Wednesday, February 1, 2017 | |
Setter
Jay (Jeremy Mutch) | |
Link to Full Review
Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 28339] | |
Big Dave's Crossword Blog Review Written By
2Kiwis | |
BD Rating
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| 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
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Introduction
After yesterday's humongous leap forward, let's hope that the editor's at the National Post have got the jumpiness out of their systems and will settle down into a regular pattern of behaviour.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.
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
1 Company progress should include medium // range (7)
9 Continue /being/ in favour of diplomacy when interrupted by king (8)
"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
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
10 Warm layer /for/ person not of the faith (7)
11 Preference /for/ swansong being split in two? (8)
A pen[5] is a female swan.
12 Go away /with/ best Italian (4,2)
Best[5] is used as a verb meaning to outwit or get the better of (someone)* ⇒
she refused to allow herself to be bested.
* Ironically, in this sense best is a synonym of worst[5], a verb meaning to get the better of or defeat ⇒
this was not the time for a deep discussion—she was tired and she would be worsted.
"Italian" = IT (show explanation )
This cluing might be explained in a couple of ways:
This cluing might be explained in a couple of ways:
- 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
.
13 Seafood platter? (4,6)
The main[5] is an archaic or literary term for the open ocean.
15 Game politician /gets/ seat (4)
"game" = RU (show explanation )
Rugby union[10] (abbreviation RU[5]) is a form of rugby football played between teams of 15 players (in contrast to rugby league[5], which is played in teams of thirteen).
Rugby union[7] is is the national sport in New Zealand, Wales, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga and Madagascar.
hide explanation
Rugby union[10] (abbreviation RU[5]) is a form of rugby football played between teams of 15 players (in contrast to rugby league[5], which is played in teams of thirteen).
Rugby union[7] is is the national sport in New Zealand, Wales, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga and Madagascar.
hide explanation
"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] (abbreviation MP[5]) or, informally, as a member[5].
hide explanation
In Britain (as in Canada), a politician elected to the House of Commons is known as a Member of Parliament[10] (abbreviation MP[5]) or, informally, as a member[5].
hide explanation
16 Looking around the outskirts of Tintagel /is/ surprising (9)
Scratching the Surface
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| Tintagel[5] is a village on the coast of northern Cornwall. Nearby are the ruins of Tintagel Castle, the legendary birthplace of King Arthur. |
21 Country // gent chasing love (4)
"love" = O (show explanation )
In tennis, squash, and some other sports, love[5] is a score of zero or nil ⇒
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
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
Oman[5,7], officially the Sultanate of Oman, is an Arab country at the southeastern corner of the Arabian peninsula; population 3,418,100 (est. 2009); official language, Arabic; capital, Muscat.
22 Make sense of // reporting to base (10)
24 Pale, /but/ superficial cut by hospital (6)
Cut[10] is used in the sense of to to absent oneself from (an activity, location, etc), especially without permission or in haste ⇒ (i)
to cut class; (ii)
to cut and run.
25 Relevant // information (8)
27 Soft soap // that may be used on the face? (7)
Soft soap[3,4,11] denotes flattering, persuasive, or cajoling talk.
Flannel[10] (noun) is an informal British term for;
- indirect or evasive talk; or
- deceiving flattery.
* Actually, I would consider the terms face cloth and washcloth to be interchangeable and would personally be far more apt to use the former.
28 Laughs, /seeing/ time left during tasks (8)
29 Views mineral deposit /as/ a blight (7)
Down
2 Revealed work developing need to increase (6,2)
"work" = OP (show explanation )
In music, an opus[5] (plural opuses or opera) is a separate composition or set of compositions.
The abbreviation Op.[5] (also op.), denoting opus, is used before a number given to each work of a particular composer, usually indicating the order of publication. The plural form of Op. is Opp..
Opus[5] can also be used in a more general sense to mean an artistic work, especially one on a large scale ⇒
hide explanation
In music, an opus[5] (plural opuses or opera) is a separate composition or set of compositions.
The abbreviation Op.[5] (also op.), denoting opus, is used before a number given to each work of a particular composer, usually indicating the order of publication. The plural form of Op. is Opp..
Opus[5] can also be used in a more general sense to mean an artistic work, especially one on a large scale ⇒
he was writing an opus on Mexico.
hide explanation
3 Worst and best // breaks a driver may get (3,5)
4 Charming encounters on air /must be/ such treats (10)
Sweetmeat[5,10] is an archaic term for a sweetened delicacy, such as a preserve, sweet, or, formerly, a cake or pastry.
5 Right // time on road to Paris? (4)
The French word for 'street' is rue[8].
6 Wounds used up commanding officer/'s/ plaster (6)
7 A sailor runs into church, /showing/ evidence of cold (7)
"sailor" = TAR (show explanation )
Tar[5] is an informal, dated term for a sailor. The term, which dates from the 17th century, is perhaps an abbreviation of tarpaulin, which was also used as a nickname for a sailor at that time.
hide explanation
Tar[5] is an informal, dated term for a sailor. The term, which dates from the 17th century, is perhaps an abbreviation of tarpaulin, which was also used as a nickname for a sailor at that time.
hide explanation
On cricket scorecards, R can signify either run or runs. However, in the crossword today it signifies the former and is repeated to get " runs". (show explanation )
On cricket scorecards [not to mention baseball scoreboards], the abbreviation R[5] denotes run(s).
In cricket, a run[5] is a unit of scoring achieved by hitting the ball so that both batsmen are able to run between the wickets, or awarded in some other circumstances.
hide explanation
On cricket scorecards [not to mention baseball scoreboards], the abbreviation R[5] denotes run(s).
In cricket, a run[5] is a unit of scoring achieved by hitting the ball so that both batsmen are able to run between the wickets, or awarded in some other circumstances.
hide explanation
Catarrh[5] is excessive discharge or build-up of mucus in the nose or throat, associated with inflammation of the mucous membrane.
8 Complete support for good man/'s/ struggle for words (7)
11 War game /is/ agony, and unlikely to include bishop (9)
"bishop" = B (show explanation )
14 Peter Pan perhaps /is/ a piece of cake (6,4)
Peter Pan[5] is the hero of Scottish dramatist J. M. Barrie’s play of the same name (1904), a boy with magical powers who never grew up.
17 Young birds // shot with catapults (8)
Scratching the Surface
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| Catapult[5] is the British term for a slingshot[5]. I think "catapults" is used in the clue as a verb, although the 2Kiwis suggest that it is noun. A sling[5]. is a simple weapon in the form of a strap or loop, used to hurl stones or other small missiles. A catapult[5] (or slingshot) is a forked stick with an elastic band fastened to the two prongs, used by children for shooting small stones. |
18 Doctor bears out // destroyer of schemes (8)
19 Murmur and ridicule // such a hill (7)
20 Tide turns and no one is up -- /that's/ the issue (7)
23 Right pretentious, clutching one/'s/ unusual find (6)
26 Amazed /to be/ united under America's leader (4)
Key to Reference Sources:Signing off for today — Falcon
[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)
[12] - CollinsDictionary.com (Webster’s New World College Dictionary)
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