Puzzle at a Glance
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Puzzle Number in The Daily Telegraph
DT 28536 | |
Publication Date in The Daily Telegraph
Tuesday, September 19, 2017 | |
Setter
Mister Ron (Chris Lancaster) | |
Link to Full Review
Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 28536] | |
Big Dave's Crossword Blog Review Written By
Mr Kitty | |
BD Rating
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| 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
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Introduction
If your mental processes are still recovering from a surfeit of turkey, you will appreciated the gentle workout delivered in today's puzzle from Mister Ron.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 semi-all-in-one (semi-&lit.) clues. All-in-one (&lit.) clues and cryptic definitions are marked with a dotted underline. Explicit link words and phrases are enclosed in forward slashes (/link/) and implicit links are shown as double forward slashes (//).
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 semi-all-in-one (semi-&lit.) clues. All-in-one (&lit.) clues and cryptic definitions are marked with a dotted underline. Explicit link words and phrases are enclosed in forward slashes (/link/) and implicit links are shown as double forward slashes (//).
Across
1a Accept // what chess player might do (4,2,5)
Take (something) on board[5] is an informal expression meaning to fully consider or assimilate a new idea or situation ⇒
we've got to take accusations of sexism on board.
9a Continue // exercise with runs getting tough (9)
"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
PE[5] is the abbreviation for physical education [or Phys Ed, as it was known in my school days].
hide explanation
"runs" = R (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
10a Tea in // group of hotels? (5)
Cha (also chai) is an alternative spelling of char[5], an informal British name for tea [as a drink].
11a Boring // article in French by Dane, possibly (6)
"article in French" = LE (show explanation )
12a One holy with rage holds king /to be/ outsider (8)
"king" = R (show explanation )
In the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms*, Rex[5] (abbreviation R[5]) [Latin for king] denotes the reigning king, used following a name (e.g. Georgius Rex, King George — often shortened to GR) or in the titles of lawsuits (e.g. Rex v. Jones, the Crown versus Jones — often shortened to R. v. Jones).
* A Commonwealth realm[7] is a sovereign state that is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations and shares the same person, currently Elizabeth II, as its head of state and reigning constitutional monarch, but retains a crown legally distinct from the other realms. There are currently sixteen Commonwealth realms, the largest being Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom with the remainder being smaller Caribbean and Pacific island nations.
hide explanation
In the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms*, Rex[5] (abbreviation R[5]) [Latin for king] denotes the reigning king, used following a name (e.g. Georgius Rex, King George — often shortened to GR) or in the titles of lawsuits (e.g. Rex v. Jones, the Crown versus Jones — often shortened to R. v. Jones).
* A Commonwealth realm[7] is a sovereign state that is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations and shares the same person, currently Elizabeth II, as its head of state and reigning constitutional monarch, but retains a crown legally distinct from the other realms. There are currently sixteen Commonwealth realms, the largest being Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom with the remainder being smaller Caribbean and Pacific island nations.
hide explanation
13a Fawn /is/ more natural when passing over fifty (6)
As a deletion indicator, pass over[10] is used in the sense of to take no notice of or to disregard.
15a Self-determination, // a service offered by generous solicitors? (4,4)
18a Tot at lights out /in/ old-fashioned bed wear (8)
19a Exploited // sailor took drugs (6)
"sailor" = AB (show explanation )
In the Royal Navy, according to Oxford Dictionaries, able seaman[5] (abbreviation AB[5]), is a rank of sailor above ordinary seaman and below leading seaman. On the other hand, Collins English Dictionary tells us that an able seaman[10] (also called able-bodied seaman) is an ordinary seaman, especially one in the merchant navy, who has been trained in certain skills.
hide explanation
In the Royal Navy, according to Oxford Dictionaries, able seaman[5] (abbreviation AB[5]), is a rank of sailor above ordinary seaman and below leading seaman. On the other hand, Collins English Dictionary tells us that an able seaman[10] (also called able-bodied seaman) is an ordinary seaman, especially one in the merchant navy, who has been trained in certain skills.
hide explanation
21a Cocktail // dance, led by son today (8)
A snowball[5] is a cocktail containing advocaat* and lemonade.
23a Fear mad admiral is impeding // fleet (6)
26a Wet /and/ bright? Not at first (5)
27a Company abandons helpful // worker (9)
28a On dress, perfume /is/ evocative (11)
Down
1d Clue: regularly pilfer small // drinks (7)
"Regularly" indicates that we are to select a regular sequence of letters from the fodder. In most cases, this will be every other letter — although, as today, the setter often does not specify whether it be the evens or the odds. On rare occasions, I have seen setters use this device to denote every third letter.
2d Fate // that's more peaceful, reportedly (5)
Oh, dear. It is bad enough when a homophone involves one non-rhotic pronunciation but today both words require a non-rhotic pronunciation.
The words "CALMER" () and "KARMA" (), when pronounced in a non-rhotic (show explanation ) accent typical of dialects found in many parts of Britain, both sound like "KA-MAH".
Non-rhotic accents omit the sound < r > in certain situations, while rhotic accents generally pronounce < r > in all contexts. Among the several dozen British English accents which exist, many are non-rhotic while American English (US and Canadian) is mainly rhotic. This is, however, a generalisation, as there are areas of Britain that are rhotic, and areas of America that are non-rhotic. For more information, see this guide to pronouncing < r > in British English.
hide explanation
Non-rhotic accents omit the sound < r > in certain situations, while rhotic accents generally pronounce < r > in all contexts. Among the several dozen British English accents which exist, many are non-rhotic while American English (US and Canadian) is mainly rhotic. This is, however, a generalisation, as there are areas of Britain that are rhotic, and areas of America that are non-rhotic. For more information, see this guide to pronouncing < r > in British English.
hide explanation
In Hinduism and Buddhism, karma[5] (from the Sanskrit word for 'fate') is the sum of a person’s actions in this and previous states of existence, viewed as deciding their fate in future existences. Informally, the term has come to mean good or bad luck, viewed as resulting from one’s actions.
3d Work too hard // crossing river, right? (9)
The River Exe[7] rises on Exmoor in Somerset, 8.4 kilometres (5 mi) from the Bristol Channel coast, but flows more or less directly due south, so that most of its length lies in Devon. It reaches the sea at a substantial ria, the Exe Estuary, on the south (English Channel) coast of Devon.
4d One that buzzes around picking stuff up following // complaint (4)
In publishing, the abbreviation f.[10] (plural ff.) is used to denote following (page).
5d Opening/'s/ curiously premature, losing millions (8)
6d House // in Russia, definitely with a supporting church (5)
"in Russia, definitely" = DA (show explanation )
In Cyrillic, the Russian word for yes[8] is да which transliterates into English[7] as da.
hide explanation
In Cyrillic, the Russian word for yes[8] is да which transliterates into English[7] as da.
hide explanation
A dacha[5] (also datcha) is a country house or cottage in Russia, typically used as a second or holiday home.
7d Most important, // as she is to Bolshevik? (7)
Scratching the Surface
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| Historically, a Bolshevik[5] was a member of the majority faction of the Russian Social Democratic Party, which seized power in the October Revolution of 1917. Today, the term is derogatorily applied to a person with politically subversive or radical views; in other words, a revolutionary. |
8d Pub profits -- selling these? (8)
This clue proved to be a nightmare to markup in any sort of meaningful way. While the pronoun "these" actually represents the solution in the clue, I maintain that a pronoun in its own right can rarely — if ever — stand alone as a definition. Therefore, I consider the entire clue to be a cryptic definition. However, there is also wordplay (in the form of a charade) embedded within the clue. If not for the presence of the wordplay, I would have marked the entire clue with a dotted underline to signify a cryptic definition. However, the wordplay gets a dashed underline. The absence of separators (//) shows that this is an all-in-one style clue.
14d Colour /making/ animal go mad (8)
Magnolia[5] is a pale creamy-white colour like that of magnolia blossom ⇒
the woodwork is in magnolia gloss.
16d Doctor bears arms -- // shame! (9)
17d Start to make trouble over space /in/ sorting office (8)
18d Last of bitumen or silt damaged // air-intake (7)
20d Citadel deployed // specific form of language (7)
22d Queen succeeds by keeping posh /and/ one's stocking up (5)
"Queen" = ER, the regnal cipher of Queen Elizabeth (show explanation )
The regnal ciphers (monograms) of British monarchs are initials formed from the Latin version of their first name followed by either Rex or Regina (Latin for king or queen, respectively). Thus, the regnal cipher of Queen Elizabeth is ER[5] — from the Latin Elizabetha Regina.
hide explanation
The regnal ciphers (monograms) of British monarchs are initials formed from the Latin version of their first name followed by either Rex or Regina (Latin for king or queen, respectively). Thus, the regnal cipher of Queen Elizabeth is ER[5] — from the Latin Elizabetha Regina.
hide explanation
"posh" = U (show explanation )
In Britain, U[5] is used informally as an adjective (in respect to language or social behaviour) meaning characteristic of or appropriate to the upper social classes ⇒
The term, an abbreviation of upper class, was coined in 1954 by Alan S. C. Ross, professor of linguistics, and popularized by its use in Nancy Mitford's Noblesse Oblige (1956).
In Crosswordland, the letter U is frequently clued by words denoting "characteristic of the upper class" (such as posh or superior) or "appropriate to the upper class" (such as acceptable).
hide explanation
In Britain, U[5] is used informally as an adjective (in respect to language or social behaviour) meaning characteristic of or appropriate to the upper social classes ⇒
U manners.
The term, an abbreviation of upper class, was coined in 1954 by Alan S. C. Ross, professor of linguistics, and popularized by its use in Nancy Mitford's Noblesse Oblige (1956).
In Crosswordland, the letter U is frequently clued by words denoting "characteristic of the upper class" (such as posh or superior) or "appropriate to the upper class" (such as acceptable).
hide explanation
24d Put up with // papers penned by president (5)
Abraham Lincoln[5] (1809–1865) was an American Republican statesman, 16th President of the US 1861-5. He was affectionately known as "Honest Abe"[7]. His election as President on an anti-slavery platform helped precipitate the American Civil War; he was assassinated shortly after the war ended. Lincoln was noted for his succinct, eloquent speeches, including the Gettysburg Address of 1863.
25d Cut // when working (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)
[13] - MacmillanDictionary.com (Macmillan Dictionary)
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