Tuesday, May 1, 2018 — DT 28626

Puzzle at a Glance

Puzzle Number in The Daily Telegraph DT 28626
Publication Date in The Daily Telegraph Wednesday, January 3, 2018
Setter Jay (Jeremy Mutch)
Link to Full Review Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 28626]
Big Dave's Crossword Blog Review Written By 2Kiwis
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

My experience with this puzzle mirrored that reported by many of those commenting on Big Dave's Crossword Blog, namely a slow start, fairly rapid progress once a foothold had been established in the lower part of the puzzle, and ending up in the northeast corner where the resistance proved to be the strongest.

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   Unusual to capture house and river // close-up (5-5)

"house" = HO (show explanation )

Although not found in most of the dictionaries that I consulted, ho.^[10] is the abbreviation for house.

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6a   Almost break one's back working /for/ Eastern European (4)

A Slav^[5] is a member of a group of peoples in central and eastern Europe speaking Slavic languages.

9a   Where a mountaineer's often found // time to travel? (3-4)

One would split the solution (3,4) to satisfy the wordplay. The definition is at least mildly cryptic.

10a   One new reason, it's said, /for/ anger (7)

12a   Prisoner's put by standard allowance, /resulting in/ flare-up (13)

A standard^[5] is a military or ceremonial flag carried on a pole or hoisted on a rope.

14a   Go round dog /and/ leg it (4,4)

Leg it^[5] is an informal British term meaning to run away^* ⇒ he legged it after someone shouted at him.

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^* Alternatively, the expression can mean to travel by foot or walk ⇒ I am part of a team legging it around London.

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Turn tail^[5] is an informal expression meaning to turn round and run away.

I was not familiar with this abbreviated version of the expression, having always heard it as turn tail and run^[a,b] ⇒ (i) The burglars turned tail and ran at the sound of our security alarm; (ii) I couldn’t just turn tail and run, but I wasn’t going to fight that monster either.^* }

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^[a] Farlex Dictionary of Idioms 
^[b] McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions

15a   Queen's song /makes/ worker on edge (6)

"worker" = ANT (show explanation )

The word "worker" and the phrase "social worker" are commonly used in cryptic crossword puzzles to clue ANT or BEE.

A worker^[5] is a neuter or undeveloped female bee, wasp, ant, or other social insect, large numbers of which do the basic work of the colony.

In crossword puzzles, "worker" will most frequently be used to clue ANT and occasionally BEE but I have yet to see it used to clue WASP. Of course, "worker" is sometimes also used to clue HAND or MAN.

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"God Save the Queen"^[7] (alternatively "God Save the King", depending on the gender of the reigning monarch), in addition to being the national anthem of the UK, is also the royal anthem – played specifically in the presence of the monarch – in not only the UK, but also Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and a number of other Commonwealth realms, their territories, and British Crown dependencies.

17a   Weapon, // long thing pointing seaward, portrayed by artist (6)

"artist" = RA (show explanation )

A Royal Academician (abbreviation RA^[10]) is a member of the Royal Academy of Arts^[5] (also Royal Academy; abbreviation also RA^[10]), an institution established in London in 1768, whose purpose is to cultivate painting, sculpture, and architecture in Britain. 

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A rapier^[5] is a thin, light sharp-pointed sword used for thrusting.

What did they say?

In their review on Big Dave's Crossword Blog, the 2Kiwis describe a pier as something you might find at Blackpool or Brighton. Blackpool is a seaside resort in Lancashire, north-western England and Brighton[5] is a seaside resort on the south coast of England, in East Sussex. Pleasure piers (show more ) enjoy a long tradition at British seaside resorts. Pleasure piers[7] were first built in Britain during the early 19th century with the earliest structure being the Ryde Pier on the Isle of Wight, opened in 1814. At that time the introduction of the railways for the first time permitted mass tourism to dedicated seaside resorts. The large tidal ranges at many such resorts meant that for much of the day, the sea was not visible from dry land. The pleasure pier was the resorts' answer, permitting holidaymakers to promenade over and alongside the sea at all times. Providing a walkway out to sea, pleasure piers often include amusements and theatres as part of the attraction. The world's longest pleasure pier is at Southend-on-sea, Essex, and extends 1.3 miles (2.1 km) into the Thames estuary. Following the building of the world's first seaside pier at Ryde, the pier became fashionable at seaside resorts in England and Wales during the Victorian era, peaking in the 1860s with 22 being built in that decade. A symbol of the typical British seaside holiday, by 1914, more than 100 pleasure piers were located around the UK coast. In a 2006 UK poll, the public voted the seaside pier onto the list of icons of England. hide

19a   The French will be taken in by qentle touch, /being/ inattentive (8)

"the French" = LE (show explanation )

In French, the masculine singular form of the definite article is le^[8].

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21a   Space for a 180 - /or/ roundabout? (7-6)

Split (7,6), the solution would describe a roundabout in any of its various senses. Actually, most dictionaries — including The Chambers Dictionary — numerate the solution itself as (7,6).

Roundabout^[3,4,5,11] is a British term for:

• a traffic circle or rotary
• a merry-go-round or carousel (either as a playground device or a fairground attraction)

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Turning circle^[1,4,5,10] (or turning-circle^[2]) is the smallest circle in which a vehicle or vessel can turn without reversing.

24a   Lots of // you heard adolescent grabbing politician (7)

"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].

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Depending on whether it is being used as an adjective or a noun, umpteen could mean either "lots of" as I have shown or simply "lots" as the 2Kiwis have opted to go with. This can be seen from the usage examples given by Oxford Dictionaries:

• Umpteen^[5] is an informal term^* meaning indefinitely many or a lot of ⇒ (i) you need umpteen [i.e., lots of] pieces of identification to cash a cheque; (ii) umpteen [i.e., lots] of them arrived at once.

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  ^* grammatically classified as a cardinal number

When using the 2Kiwis' approach, the word "of" becomes a link word:

• Lots /of/ you heard adolescent grabbing politician (7)

25a   Sparkle /shown by/ good little piggies? (7)

"good" = G (show explanation )

The abbreviation G^[10] for good likely relates to its use in grading school assignments or tests.

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26a   Friends // hot on equipment? (4)

Kith^[10] denotes one's friends and acquaintances (especially in the phrase kith and kin).

27a   Hid gear in a broken // amplifier (7,3)

Down

1d   Work to support quiet // retail outlet (4)

"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 ⇒ he was writing an opus on Mexico.

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2d   Volunteer to take in unprotected sick // policeman (7)

3d   One night I let off last of explosive, // being compliant (6,3,4)

The phrase toe the line^[5] means to accept the authority, policies, or principles of a particular group, especially unwillingly ⇒ he knew that he had to toe the official line because he couldn't afford to be put on the dole.

4d   All oak? I'd planned // organic compound (8)

In chemistry, an alkaloid^[5] is any of a class of nitrogenous organic compounds of plant origin which have pronounced physiological actions on humans. They include many drugs (morphine, quinine) and poisons (atropine, strychnine).

5d   Medal welcoming Italy's // departure (5)

Gong^[5] is an informal British term for a medal or award.

"Italy" = I [from IVR] (show explanation )

The International Vehicle Registration (IVR) code for Italy is I^[5] [from Italian Italia].

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7d   Wish his broadcast /could be/ extended, to an extent (7)

8d   National // struggle with half of team filled with celebrities (10)

11d   Restrict soldiers before battle, /producing/ series of events (5,8)

"soldiers" = RE (show explanation )

The Corps of Royal Engineers^[7], usually just called the Royal Engineers (abbreviation RE), and commonly known as the Sappers^[7], is a corps of the British Army that provides military engineering and other technical support to the British Armed Forces.

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13d   In awe /of/ Sun's commercial transport (4-6)

In their review, the 2Kiwis include the word "of" in the definition. However, I don't see that as being possible. I would say that "in awe" denotes "starstruck" while "in awe of" would be equivalent to "starstruck by".

Scratching the Surface
The surface reading may be alluding to The Sun[7], a daily tabloid newspaper published in the United Kingdom and Ireland by a division of News UK, a wholly owned subsidiary of Australian-born American publisher and media entrepreneur Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. I suppose The Sun would have to maintain a sizable transport infrastructure to deliver its newspapers throughout the UK.

16d   To swing the lead /is/ normal in Germany, to a limited extent (8)

Swing the lead^[5] is an informal British expression meaning to shirk one's duty or malinger.

18d   Trooper goes over favourite // line of defence? (7)

Para^[4,11] (short for paratrooper) is a soldier in an airborne unit.

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In a military sense, a parapet^[5] is a protective wall or earth defence along the top of a trench or other place of concealment for troops ⇒ the sandbags that made up the parapet had been blown away and the wall of the trench had caved in.

20d   Kind of complex // vote in Iran excluding outsiders (7)

In psychoanalysis, Electra complex^[5] is an old-fashioned term for the Oedipus complex (show explanation ) as manifested in young girls.

In psychoanalysis, the term Oedipus complex^[5] refers in Freudian theory to the complex of emotions aroused in a young child, typically around the age of four, by an unconscious sexual desire for the parent of the opposite sex and wish to exclude the parent of the same sex. (The term was originally applied to boys, the equivalent in girls being called the Electra complex.)

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In Greek mythology, Electra^[5] is the daughter of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra. She persuaded her brother Orestes to kill Clytemnestra and Aegisthus (their mother’s lover) in revenge for the murder of Agamemnon.

22d   Info that is /providing/ spirit (5)

Gen^[5] is an informal British term for information ⇒ you’ve got more gen on him than we have.

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A genie^[5] is a spirit of Arabian folklore, as depicted traditionally imprisoned within a bottle or oil lamp, and capable of granting wishes when summoned.

23d   Network /needing/ golf free? (4)

Golf^[5] is a code word representing the letter G, used in radio communication.

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