Wednesday, April 4, 2018 — DT 28607

Puzzle at a Glance

Puzzle Number in The Daily Telegraph DT 28607
Publication Date in The Daily Telegraph Monday, December 11, 2017
Setter Rufus (Roger Squires)
Link to Full Review Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 28607]
Big Dave's Crossword Blog Review Written By Frosty the Snowman (aka Miffypops)
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

When this puzzle appeared in The Daily Telegraph, the UK had just been hit with a fairly major snowfall — at least by British standards. Young Salopian remarks at Comment #1 on Big Dave's Crossword Blog "About a foot of lying snow here in The Marches^* so not going anywhere for a few days". What would they do if confronted with a real snowfall? According to Brian (Comment#13) it was also a "bitterly cold day (-11)" which is certainly stated in Celsius (which has been in use in the UK since 1965 — a decade before Canada got around to making the changeover from Fahrenheit).

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^* The term "the Marches" can refer to the border area between either England and Wales or England and Scotland. In this case, it is the former, as a Salopian is an inhabitant of the English county of Shropshire (once known as Salop) which borders Wales.

I may even be starting to get on to British slang having correctly guessed that when Hoofityoudonkey says (Comment#9) that he is "Uncle Dick at the moment", he means that he is sick. Well, admittedly, it was pretty obvious from the context.

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   Replant or clip if // very productive (8)

As an anagram indicator, replant^[5] is an instruction to plant (a letter) in a new site.

6a   Two firms after gold backing /for/ decoration (6)

"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.

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Rococo^[5] is an elaborately ornamental late baroque style of decoration prevalent in 18th-century continental Europe, with asymmetrical patterns involving motifs and scrollwork.

9a   He reviles // a blockhead employer (6)

The word "blockhead" is used to clue the letter 'B', the initial letter (head) of Block.

10a   Very hungry // bird comes to love us (8)

"love" = O (show 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).

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11a   Film Ruth, merry /and/ uproarious (8)

As an anagram indicator, merry^[5,10] is used in an informal British sense meaning slightly and good-humouredly drunk ⇒ after the third beer he began to feel quite merry^*.

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^* In Canada, someone in this state would likely be described as feeling happy.

12a   Are in debt, /but/ managed to bring up the children (6)

13a   Travelling light? (8,4)

16a   Poorly educated /and/ not prepared to grow crops (12)

19a   It carries food for an animal -- // flea, maybe? (6)

And why might it be called that?
A hopper[5] is a funnel-shaped chamber or reservoir from which solid materials can be discharged under gravity into a receptacle below, especially for feeding fuel to a furnace, loading a railway truck [rail car] with grain, etc. Historically, a hopper[5] was a tapering container, working with a hopping motion, through which grain passed into a mill.

21a   Newspaper's deadline? (8)

23a   Account presented to member of clergy /is/ absolutely correct (8)

A curate^[5] is a member of the clergy engaged as assistant to a vicar, rector, or parish priest.

What did he say?

In his review on Big Dave's Crossword Blog, Miffypops informs us that this member of the clergy is the one who’s egg is regularly mentioned in the comments section below. Curate's egg[5] is a British expression denoting that a thing that is partly good and partly bad ⇒ this book is a bit of a curate's egg — an assessment often levelled at puzzles in comments on Big Dave's Crossword Blog. The saying has its origin in a cartoon that appeared in the now defunct British satirical magazine Punch (1895) depicting a meek curate who, given a stale egg at the bishop's table, assures his host that ‘parts of it are excellent’. Bishop: "I'm afraid you've got a bad egg, Mr Jones"; Curate: "Oh, no, my Lord, I assure you that parts of it are excellent!" "True Humility" by George du Maurier, originally published in Punch, 9 November 1895.

24a   Is elected to // boards (4,2)

25a   A bouquet /for/ mounting (6)

26a   Mythical king who never quite got what he wanted (8)

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 ("mythical king") combined with cryptic elaboration (the remainder of the clue).

Despite being termed a 'precise definition', the term "mythical king" could apply to any number of legendary rulers. The cryptic elaboration provides additional information that allows us to zero in on the correct solution.

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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In Greek mythology, Tantalus^[5] is a Lydian king, son of Zeus and father of Pelops. For his crimes (which included killing Pelops) he was punished by being provided with fruit and water which receded when he reached for them. His name is the origin of the word tantalize.

What are they talking about?
In the thread arising from Comment#7 on Big Dave's Crossword Blog, you will find a discussion revolving around another meaning of the word 'tantalus'. Tantalus[5] is a British term for a stand in which spirit decanters may be locked up though still visible [and thus tantalizing to those lacking the key]. On his blog, Big Dave provides a picture of one belonging to him.

Down

2d   Poor golfer perhaps // that still gets down the hole (6)

Rabbit^[5,10] is an informal British term for a novice or poor performer at a game or sport, in particular (in cricket) a poor batsman ⇒ he was a total rabbit with the bat.

3d   He composed // a catalogue, we hear (5)

Franz Liszt^[5] (1811–1886) was a Hungarian composer and pianist. (show more )

He was a key figure in the romantic movement; many of his piano compositions combine lyricism with great technical complexity, while his twelve symphonic poems (1848–58) created a new musical form.

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4d   Van // driver's warning on promenade (9)

Fore^[5] is an exclamation called out as a warning to people in the path of a golf ball.

A front^[5] is land along a seashore or large lake, especially a promenade.

5d   Protective garment // put right in wrong closet (7)

A corslet (variant spelling of corselet^[10]) is a piece of armour for the top part of the body.

6d   Wandering dog? (5)

Does an owner give this name to his dog because he wanders?

7d   Found out people's feelings // involving sand and caves (9)

8d   Motive and style // that one may use for walking across water (8)

13d   A form of art (9)

14d   The opposite of all dressed up /and/ nowhere to go (7,2)

15d   Broken fences or // implements (8)

17d   Wild // flower absorbs nitrogen (7)

The symbol for the chemical element nitrogen is N^[5].

18d   Rum loo embellished /with/ gilt decoration (6)

Ormolu^[5] is a gold-coloured alloy of copper, zinc, and tin used in decoration and making ornaments ⇒ (i) candlesticks in glass, bronze, and ormolu; (ii) an ormolu clock.

Scratching the Surface
Rum[5] is a dated informal British term meaning odd or peculiar ⇒ it’s a rum business, certainly. Loo[5] is an informal British term for a toilet.

20d   Respond — to an encore call? (5)

I see the entire clue as a cryptic definition comprised of an embedded precise definition ("respond") together with cryptic elaboration (the remainder of the clue). The cryptic elaboration on its own will not lead the solver to the solution but it does help the solver select the correct synonym for the so-called "precise definition" from a range of possibilities.

22d   It's very much used as a prefix (5)

I have marked this clue in a similar fashion to the previous one. In this case, the embedded precise definition is "very much" and the solution ultra-^[5] is a prefix meaning to an extreme degree or very ⇒ ultramicroscopic.

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