Tuesday, March 20, 2018 — DT 28596

Puzzle at a Glance

Puzzle Number in The Daily Telegraph DT 28596
Publication Date in The Daily Telegraph Tuesday, November 28, 2017
Setter Unknown
Link to Full Review Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 28596]
Big Dave's Crossword Blog Review Written By Mr K(itty)
BD Rating
Difficulty - ★★	Enjoyment - ★★★
Falcon's Experience ┌────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┐ ███████████████████████████████████ └────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┘ Legend: █ - solved without assistance █ - incorrect prior to use of puzzle solving tools █ - solved with assistance from puzzle solving tools █ - solved with aid of checking letters provided by puzzle solving tools █ - solved but without fully parsing the clue █ - unsolved or incorrect prior to visiting Big Dave's Crossword Blog █ - solved with aid of checking letters provided by solutions from Big Dave's Crossword Blog █ - reviewed by Falcon for Big Dave's Crossword Blog █ - yet to be solved

Introduction

The word most frequently used to describe this puzzle on Big Dave's Crossword Blog would seem to be "stretched" which is employed by many of those leaving comments in reference to definitions which fall outside the usual range of familiarity.

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.

Click here for an explanation of conventions and symbols used in explaining the parsing of clues.

The purpose of this article is to explain the conventions and symbols that I use on this blog in explaining the parsing of clues.

Legend: The following symbols are used in reviews: "*" anagram "~" sounds like "<" indicates that the preceding letters are reversed "( )" encloses contained letters "_" replaces letters that have been deleted "†" indicates that the word is present in the clue

The review of a clue takes the following general structure:

#a/d   Clue containing parsing markup (num^*)

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^* num = numeration

Explanations pertaining to the wordplay (or first definition in a double definition)

(Horizontal separator)

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Explanations pertaining to the definition (or second definition in a double definition) and solution.

Explanatory Box

An explanatory box provides additional information about the clue. In most cases this information will not necessarily help in solving the clue but provides information about the clue. In the case of the weekday syndicated Daily Telegraph puzzles, such information is often intended to help the North American solver appreciate how the clue may be perceived by a British solver. These boxes may also provide information on people, places, films, television programmes, works of art and literature, etc. mentioned in the clue. Although the titles of these boxes will usually be drawn from a standard list, I do occasionally throw in a title specifically suggested by the subject at hand. The standard titles include: Scratching the Surface - an explanation of the surface reading of the clue Delving Deeper - in-depth information pertaining to a subject mentioned in an explanation Behind the Picture - for weekday puzzles, information about an illustration found on Big Dave's Crossword Blog What did he/she/they say? - for weekday puzzles, an explanation of a remark made in a review or comment on Big Dave's Crossword Blog What are they talking about? - for weekday puzzles, an explanation of a discussion on Big Dave's Crossword Blog One box that may provide information that could prove helpful in solving the clue is the following: Here and There - for weekday puzzles, discusses words whose British meaning differs from their North American meaning

Note that there are many types of cryptic crossword clue and it is not my intention to exhaustively go through all of them here. I will only deal with clue types to the extent necessary to explain the conventions and symbols used on the blog. Furthermore, be aware that, in the world of cryptic crosswords, there seems to be an exception to every rule.

With one exception that I can think of, cryptic crossword clues provide two routes to the solution. These are commonly referred to as the definition and wordplay. While these terms serve well for most clues, there are some cases where the more formal terms of primary indication and subsidiary indication may be more appropriate.

Most cryptic crossword clues consist of a definition (primary indication) and wordplay (subsidiary indication). The definition may be a "precise definition" (a definition that is either taken straight from a dictionary or at least phrased in a non-misleading fashion) or it may be a "cryptic definition" (a definition misleadingly phrased so as to misdirect the solver either with respect to the meaning of the definition as a whole or to an incorrect sense of a word used in the definition).

The only type of clue that I can think of where there are not two ways of finding the solution are those in which the entire clue is a cryptic definition.

I identify precise definitions by marking them with a solid underline in the clue and cryptic definitions by marking them with a dotted underline.

In clues in which both definition and wordplay are present, the two parts of the clue combine to provide an overall meaningful statement (the surface reading) which usually bears no relationship to the underlying cryptic reading of the clue. In some cases, an extra word or phrase will be inserted into the clue to create a meaningful link between the definition and wordplay. I define clues which contain such a link word or link phrase as having an explicit link and clues which contain no link word or link phrase as having an implicit link.

I mark the existence of an explicit link by enclosing the link word or link phrase between forward slashes (/link/) and mark the existence of an implicit link with double forward slashes (//) positioned between the definition and wordplay.

Examples

A few examples may help to illustrate these points more clearly.

The first example is a clue used by Jay in DT 28573:

• 4d   Fellow left work // a failure (4)

Here the definition is "a failure" which is marked with a solid underline to show that it is a precise definition. The wordplay parses as F (fellow; abbrev.) + L (left; abbrev.) + OP (work; abbrev. used in music) which gives us the solution F|L|OP. The double forward slashes (//) between the definition and wordplay indicate the existence of an "implicit link" between the two parts of the clue (that is, no extra words are inserted into the clue to form the link).

The second example is a clue used by Giovanni in DT 28575:

• 29a   Female going to match // travels with mother in advance (10)

Here the definition "female going to match" is cryptic (the setter is attempting to misdirect our thoughts to a sports event rather than a marriage ceremony) and thus is marked with a a dotted underline. The wordplay is {RIDES (travels) + (with) MA (mother)} contained in (in) BID (advance) giving us the solution B(RIDES|MA)ID. As in the first example, the double forward slashes indicate the presence of an implicit link.

The third example is a clue used by Rufus is DT 28583:

• 18d   Knight caught by misplaced big blow /is/ staggering (8)

Here the definition is "staggering" which is marked with a solid underline to show that it is a precise definition. The wordplay parses as N ([chess symbol for] knight) contained in (caught in) an anagram (misplaced) of BIG BLOW producing the solution WOBBLI(N)G. Finally, forward slashes mark the link word (/is/).

I also use distinctive underlining to mark &lit.^[7] and semi-&lit. clues. Note that the reviewers on Big Dave's Crossword Blog generally prefer to refer to these clue types by the less pretentious names of all-in-one or semi-all-in-one clues respectively.

In an &lit. clue^[7] (or all-in-one clue) the entire clue provides not only the definition (when read one way), but under a different interpretation also serves as the wordplay.

In future, I will mark such clues with a combined solid and dashed underline. Although this is a departure from past practice, it would seem to make more sense than using a dotted underline as I have in the past). Henceforth, the dotted underline will be reserved for cryptic definitions.

In a semi-&lit. clue (or semi-all-in-one clue), either:

• the entire clue acts as the definition while a portion of the clue provides the wordplay; or
• the entire clue acts as the wordplay while a portion of the clue provides the definition.

For these clues, I will mark the definition with a solid underline and the wordplay with a  dashed underline. This means that a portion of the clue may have a solid underline, a portion of the clue may have a dashed underline and a portion of the clue may have a combined solid and dashed underline.

One final clue type is what I characterize as a cryptic definition comprised of a precise definition combined with cryptic elaboration. For example, in DT 28560 (setter unknown) the following clue appears:

•  26d   Heroic exploit, whichever way you look at it (4)

As the entire clue is a cryptic definition, it is marked with a dotted underline. The 'precise definition' is "heroic exploit" and is indicated by a solid underline.

Given the numeration, the precise definition could give rise to at least two solutions, DEED or FEAT. However, the 'cryptic elaboration' ("whichever way you look at it") indicates that the solution is a palindrome thereby immediately eliminating one of the two obvious choices.

Note that the part of the clue that I have called 'cryptic elaboration' does not provide a second independent route to the solution (as the wordplay would do in most other types of clue). Rather it merely provides a piece of additional information (elaboration) related to the 'precise definition'.

Again, this approach is a departure from past practice, but like the other changes mentioned previously is intended to remove inconsistencies in the way that I have been applying parsing markup to clues. The markup rules that I have been using until now evolved bit-by-bit over a long period of time resulting in some degree of internal inconsistency.

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Across

1a   The fridge is rearranged to hold new // chicken (10)

6a   Small and close to the ground -- // like a tortoise? (4)

9a   Following // cattle regularly in both directions (5)

Don't fall into the trap of thinking that "regularly" always means the even letters. While it does today, it sometimes denotes the odd letters or, occasionally, some other 'regular' sequence of letters. (show more )

From a casual reading of Mr Kitty's review, one might leap to the conclusion that "regularly" automatically denotes the sequence of even letters. In actual fact, the term "regularly" merely indicates that a regular sequence of letters is required — which, in this particular case, happens to be the even letters.

Although "regular" virtually always denotes every second letter, I seem to recall having seen — on rare occasions — the required sequence be every third letter. In today's clue, as is customarily the case, the setter does not specify whether we need the odd sequence or the even sequence — which is something we must figure out by trial and error. 

I have observed that some bloggers do seem to believe that "regular" means the even sequence and "irregular" means the odd sequence. However, both the even sequence and the odd sequence are regular in that the letters are periodically spaced and setters often use the term "regular" to indicate either of these sequences.

This misconception about "regular" always meaning an even sequence of letters likely arises because setters use the term "irregular" to denote an odd sequence of letters, based on irregular meaning 'peculiar' or 'odd'.

Therefore, solvers must be aware that "irregular" always denotes an odd sequence but "regular" can denote either an even sequence or an odd sequence — or perhaps some other 'regular' sequence.

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10a   Out of one's mind? (9)

12a   Shame // about detective on television (7)

Inspector Endeavour Morse^[7] is a fictional character in the eponymous series of detective novels by British author Colin Dexter (1930–2017), as well as the 33-episode British television drama series Inspector Morse^[7] produced between 1987 and 2000. Morse is a senior CID (Criminal Investigation Department) officer with the Thames Valley Police force in Oxford, England.

13a   Cheers, abandoning hot // military vehicles (5)

Cheers^[5] is an informal British expression of gratitude or acknowledgement for something ⇒ Billy tossed him the key. ‘Cheers, pal.’.

15a   Chapters containing King/'s/ expressions (7)

"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).

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^* 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.

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17a   Jeans perhaps missing rear // pocket (7)

Trouser^[5] is British slang meaning to receive or take (something, especially money) for oneself; in other words, to pocket ⇒ they claimed that he had trousered a £2 million advance.

19a   Spiteful // newspaper extract (7)

A cutting^[10] (also called, especially in the US and Canada, clipping) is an article, photograph, etc, cut from a newspaper or other publication.

21a   Organise // a river journey (7)

As a verb, range^[10] (over) means to traverse (an area) or roam (over).

22a   Cold greeting from Eastender? // Bow is appropriate for that (5)

An East Ender^[5,10] (or East-ender^[1] or Eastender^[2])^* is a native or inhabitant of the East End of London, an area traditionally associated with industry and the docks, and crowded living conditions whose residents are also referred to as cockneys. The cockney^[5] dialect spoken in this part of London is characterized by dropping the aitch (H) from the beginning of words as well as the use of rhyming slang (show explanation ).

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^* It would seem that one can justify most any spelling merely by consulting enough dictionaries.

Rhyming slang^[5] is a type of slang that replaces words with rhyming words or phrases, typically with the rhyming element omitted. For example, butcher’s, short for butcher’s hook, means ‘look’ in cockney rhyming slang.

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What is 'e talking about?

On Big Dave's Crossword Blog, stanXYZ comments Favourite: 22a with the Eastender being so close to his/her parish: Bow.. Bow[7] is a district in east London, England, in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. It is built-up and mostly residential, and 4.6 miles (7.4 km) east of Charing Cross [considered to mark the centre of London]. It is often said that to be a true Cockney you need to be born within earshot of the sound of Bow Bells which many take to be the bells of Bow Church in the heart of Bow. However, the saying actually refers to St Mary-le-Bow, which is approximately three miles west on Cheapside, in the City of London.

24a   American wearing tiara assembled // somewhere in Europe (7)

27a   A daughter calling /for/ entry (9)

28a   One enthralled by hooter/'s/ sound (5)

Here and There
In Britain, hooter[3,5,10,11,12] is an informal term for a person's nose rather than — as in North America — (somewhat or sometimes) vulgar slang for a woman's breast (usually used in the plural).

Scratching the Surface
From a North American perspective, a hooter[3] is one that hoots, especially an owl while, from a British perspective, a hooter[4] is a person or thing that hoots, especially a car horn. Hooter[5] is a British term for: a siren or steam whistle, especially one used as a signal for work to begin or finish the horn of a motor vehicle

29a   Blast back and forth (4)

Click here for an explanation of the parsing of and markup applied to this clue.

This clue is a cryptic definition comprising a precise definition ("blast") combined with cryptic elaboration ("back and forth").

Despite being termed a 'precise definition', the word "blast" is hardly very precise as it could define any number of potential solutions. It is the cryptic elaboration that allows us to identify the particular type of "blast" we need from among the many possibilities that exist.

As the entire clue is a cryptic definition, it is marked with a dotted underline. The precise definition (embedded within the cryptic definition) is indicated by a solid underline.

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30a   Calls: // 'Son, peel the bananas!' (10)

Down

1d   Knock down // chap with no exclamation of pain (4)

Chap^[3,4,11] is an informal British^[5] or chiefly British^[3] term for a man or boy (show more ) — although a term that is certainly not uncommon in Canada.

Chap^[3,4,11] is a shortened form of chapman^[3,4,11], an archaic term for a trader, especially an itinerant pedlar^[a,b].

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^[a] Pedlar is the modern British spelling of peddler^[14] which, in most senses, is a US or old-fashioned British spelling. The exception is in the sense of a dealer in illegal drugs which the Brits spell as drug peddler.
^[b] The current meaning of chap^[2] dates from the 18th century. In the 16th century, chap meant 'a customer'. The dictionaries do not explain how a shortened form of 'chapman' (pedlar) came to mean 'customer'.

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2d   Read // Pinter beginning to end and retain only 50% (9)

Scratching the Surface
Harold Pinter[5] (1930–2008) was an English dramatist, actor, and director. His plays are associated with the Theatre of the Absurd and are typically marked by a sense of menace. Notable plays: The Birthday Party (1958), The Caretaker (1960), and Party Time (1991). Nobel Prize for Literature (2005).

3d   Women's quarters in which are Muslims? (5)

This is a semi-all-in one clue (more formally known as a semi-&lit. clue) in which the wordplay is embedded in the definition (which constitutes the entire clue).

Harem^[5]  can denote either:

• (in former times) the separate part of a Muslim household reserved for wives, concubines, and female servants ⇒ we were invited into the harem in the rear of the house
• the women occupying a harem; the wives (or concubines) of a polygamous man ⇒ the Maharaja of Delhi had a very fine harem of 18 young and nubile wives

4d   Attempts // loudly to enter English citadels (7)

"loudly" = F (show explanation )

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

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5d   Organ gang /is/ burning (7)

7d   Fool upset following the Parisian/'s/ language (5)

Nit^[5] (short for nitwit)^[10] is an informal British term for a foolish person ⇒ you stupid nit!.

"the Parisian" = LA (show explanation )

In French, the feminine singular form of the definite article is la^[8].

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8d   Car in Sweden manufactured without a // bit at the front (10)

Here and There
Windscreen[5] is the British term for a windshield.

11d   Best for female to go // in the open air (7)

For cryptic purposes, "best" here is a verb.

14d   Engineer accepts housing air force // rocket, perhaps (10)

"air force" = RAF (show explanation )

The Royal Air Force^[5] (abbreviation RAF) is the British air force, formed in 1918 by amalgamation of the Royal Flying Corps (founded 1912) and the Royal Naval Air Service (founded 1914).

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16d   Mariners /could make/ trouble with other ranks on board (7)

"other ranks" = OR (show explanation )

In the British armed forces, the term other ranks^[5] (abbreviation OR^[5]) refers to all those who are not commissioned officers.

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"on board" = 'contained in SS' (show explanation )

In Crosswordland, you will find that a ship is almost invariably a steamship, the abbreviation for which is SS^[10]. Thus phrases such as "aboard ship" or "on board ship" (or sometimes merely "aboard" or "on board") are Crosswordland code for 'contained in SS'.

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18d   Feeling // tension developing around South America (9)

"South America" = SA (show explanation )

SA^[5] is the abbreviation for South America.

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20d   Rock // climbing in secret in Argentina (7)

21d   Seaman oddly seeing crew /showing/ non- attendance (7)

"seaman" = 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.

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23d   Prison // wing exposed in the centre (5)

Limbo^[5] is a prison or confinement.

25d   Take stock in this // bombed church (5)

26d   The first person singular repeated /in/ confusion (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)
^[12] - CollinsDictionary.com (Webster’s New World College Dictionary)
^[13] - MacmillanDictionary.com (Macmillan Dictionary)
^[14] - CollinsDictionary.com (COBUILD Advanced English Dictionary)

Signing off for today — Falcon