Puzzle at a Glance
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Puzzle Number in The Daily Telegraph
DT 28592 | |
Publication Date in The Daily Telegraph
Thursday, November 23, 2017 | |
Setter
Unknown | |
Link to Full Review
Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 28592] | |
Big Dave's Crossword Blog Review Written By
Kath | |
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
There is no consensus among the commenters on Big Dave's Crossword Blog regarding the difficulty level of this puzzle — as one observer states fairly early on "we’ve already got two 5* for difficulty (one from a veteran/regular) and one 1* for difficulty from a newcomer!".I invite you to leave a comment to let us know how you fared with the puzzle.
Error in Tomorrow's Puzzle
Head's up. Watch out for an error in tomorrow's puzzle. Almost without fail, the National Post carries the puzzle as it originally appeared in the print edition of The Daily Telegraph. However, due to an error in the clue, clue 21a in the puzzle that I expect to be published tomorrow was replaced — at some point during the day of publication in the UK — with this new clue on the Telegraph Puzzles website:- 21a Getting rid of pop group at front of Underground station (7)
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:
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The review of a clue takes the following general structure:
#a/d Clue containing parsing markup (num*)
* num = numeration
Explanations pertaining to the wordplay (or first definition in a double definition)
(Horizontal separator)
Explanatory Box
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| 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:
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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.
ExamplesI 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.
A few examples may help to illustrate these points more clearly.
The first example is a clue used by Jay in DT 28573:
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).
- 4d Fellow left work // a failure (4)
The second example is a clue used by Giovanni in DT 28575:
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.
- 29a Female going to match // travels with mother in advance (10)
The third example is a clue used by Rufus is DT 28583:
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/).
- 18d Knight caught by misplaced big blow /is/ staggering (8)
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)
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.
hide explanation
Across
7a More than one serviceman // remains unreliable (7)
The Royal Marines[5] is a British armed service (part of the Royal Navy) founded in 1664, trained for service at sea, or on land under specific circumstances.
8a Yet to admit beer finally // finished (7)
10a Defender, bit of a pig, /in/ game (10)
A back[5] is a player in a team game who plays in a defensive position* behind the forwards ⇒
their backs showed some impressive running and passing.
* except, of course, in North American football where there are both offensive backs and defensive backs.
Gammon[5] is a British term that can denote either:
- ham which has been cured or smoked like bacon ⇒
gammon steaks
. - the bottom piece of a side of bacon, including a hind leg ⇒
a whole gammon on the bone
.
11a Place /in/ faculty under discussion? (4)
12a Person calling to restrict a newspaper, // more scheming (8)
The Financial Times[7] (abbreviation FT) is a British international business newspaper that is printed on conspicuous salmon pink newsprint.
14a Friendly // male interested in painting, say? (6)
15a Merry king inspired by victories /in/ game (11)
"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
K[5] is an abbreviation for king that is used especially in describing play in card games and recording moves in chess.
hide explanation
Merry[5,10] is an informal British term meaning slightly and good-humouredly drunk ⇒
after the third beer he began to feel quite merry*.
* In Canada, someone in this state would likely be described as
feeling happy.
Tiddly[5] is an informal British term meaning slightly drunk ⇒
we were all a little bit tiddly.
19a Careless // about girl (6)
20a Dog // shown, bitter (8)
Bitter[5] is a British name for beer that is strongly flavoured with hops and has a bitter taste ⇒ (i)
a pint of bitter; (ii)
the company brews a range of bitters.
22a End /in/ Indian state, heading for Lucknow (4)
Goa[5] is a state on the west coast of India; capital, Panaji. Formerly a Portuguese territory, it was seized by India in 1961. It formed a Union Territory with Daman and Diu until 1987, when it was made a state.
Scratching the Surface
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| Lucknow[5] is a city in northern India, capital of the state of Uttar Pradesh. In 1857, during the Indian Mutiny, its British residency was twice besieged by Indian insurgents. |
23a Dessert wine /getting/ another little shake? (10)
Afters[5] is an informal British term for the sweet course following the main course of a meal; or, in British parlance, pudding* ⇒
there was apple pie for afters.
* Whereas in North America, the term pudding[5] denotes specifically a dessert with a soft or creamy consistency, in Britain the term pudding refers to either:
- a cooked sweet dish served after the main course of a meal; or
- the dessert course of a meal ⇒
what’s for pudding?
.
What’s for pudding?could well be
Apple pie.
Hock[5] is a British term for a dry white wine from the German Rhineland.
25a Tricky grasping instrument // suddenly (7)
26a Sob loudly, /seeing/ whaler's product (7)
Down
1d Hansom going into horse, // ghastly (7)
A hansom[10] (also hansom cab) is a two-wheeled one-horse carriage with a fixed hood. The driver sits on a high outside seat at the rear.
2d Second // mark of approval (4)
Tick[5] is an informal British term for a moment ⇒ (i)
I shan’t be a tick; (ii)
I’ll be with you in a tick.
Tick[5] is a British* term for a mark (✓) used to indicate that an item in a list or text is correct or has been chosen, checked, or dealt with.
* although one that hardly sounds foreign to my ear
3d Asian // plane diverted over capital in Iran (6)
A Nepali[5] is a native or inhabitant of Nepal[5], a mountainous landlocked country in southern Asia, in the Himalayas (and including Mount Everest).
4d Metropolis // in saga composed around two hospitals (8)
Shanghai[5] is a city on the east coast of China, a port on the estuary of the Yangtze. Opened for trade with the west in 1842, Shanghai contained until the Second World War areas of British, French, and American settlement. It was the site in 1921 of the founding of the Chinese Communist Party.
5d Knocked sideways, /as/ mouth punched? (10)
Gob[5] is an informal British term for a person's mouth ⇒
Jean told him to shut his big gob.
Gobsmacked[5] is an informal British expression meaning utterly astonished or astounded ⇒
the locals were gobsmacked when us lot trooped in.
Behind the Picture
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| Kath illustrates her hint on Big Dave's Crossword Blog with a picture of English actress Helen Worth[7] (born Cathryn Helen Wigglesworth) as Gail Platt, a role she has played in the British soap opera Coronation Street since 1974. For her 40 years on the show, she received the Outstanding Achievement Award at the 2014 British Soap Awards. |
6d Stir // it into stone (7)
9d Wise guy /in/ sting, spy out to trap soldier (11)
A soldier[5] is a wingless caste of ant or termite with a large specially modified head and jaws, involved chiefly in defence.
13d Kept in order, drawer /showing/ butterfly (10)
Here the wordplay is expressed in an inverted sentence structure that, if written in a normal structure, would read simply "Drawer kept in order".
A friary[5] is a building or community occupied by or consisting of friars[5], members of any of certain religious orders of men, especially the four mendicant orders (Augustinians, Carmelites, Dominicans, and Franciscans).
16d Old PM, // Democrat from the Middle East (8)
"Democrat" = D (show explanation )
A Democrat[5] (abbreviation D[5]) is a member or supporter of the Democratic Party[5], one of the two main US political parties (the other being the Republican Party), which follows a broadly liberal programme, tending to support social reform and minority rights.
hide explanation
A Democrat[5] (abbreviation D[5]) is a member or supporter of the Democratic Party[5], one of the two main US political parties (the other being the Republican Party), which follows a broadly liberal programme, tending to support social reform and minority rights.
hide explanation
17d Nation // in trouble, so thoughtless (7)
Lesotho[5] is a landlocked mountainous country forming an enclave in South Africa.
18d Frozen mass /that's/ large, ice endlessly shifting (7)
One might easily consider the entire clue to be the definition, making this a semi-all-in-one clue as only a portion of the clue is wordplay:
- Frozen mass that's large, ice endlessly shifting (7)
21d Seldom // opening in reality, a bank (6)
24d Goddess // has essentially brought enlightenment, primarily (4)
In Greek mythology, Hebe[5] is the daughter of Hera and Zeus, and cup-bearer of the gods.
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)
[14] - CollinsDictionary.com (COBUILD Advanced English Dictionary)
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