Prologue
On Friday, August 3, 2018, the National Post skipped puzzles DT 28694 and DT 28695. Unfortunately, this date happened to coincide with the first day of a camping vacation in an area with very limited Internet access. In anticipation of my retreat from civilization, I had prepared a number of reviews in advance based on the long-established publication pattern* of the National Post. As a result, my reviews appeared several days late from August 3 to August 13. I have retitled the reviews to reflect the date on which the puzzles were published by the National Post.* Prior to August 3, I believe that the National Post had not skipped a puzzle since Tuesday, December 19, 2017 on which date two puzzles (DT 28529 and DT 28530) were skipped.
Puzzle at a Glance
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Puzzle Number in The Daily Telegraph
DT 28701 | |
Publication Date in The Daily Telegraph
Saturday, March 31, 2018 | |
Setter
Unknown | |
Link to Full Review
Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 28701 – Hints]Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 28701 – Review] | |
Big Dave's Crossword Blog Review Written By
Gazza (Hints)crypticsue (Review) | |
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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Notes
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As this was a Saturday "Prize Puzzle" in Britain, there are two entries related to it on Big Dave's Crossword Blog — the first, posted on the date of publication, contains hints for selected clues while the second is a full review issued following the entry deadline for the contest. The vast majority of reader comments will generally be found attached to the "hints" posting with a minimal number — if any — accompanying the full review.
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Introduction
While this puzzle is certainly not overly difficult, it does contain enough British references to make it challenging for one who has not previously encountered them.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:
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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
1a Steal and finish up here? (4)
The entire clue is a cryptic definition (or, perhaps, a not-so-cryptic definition) which has a precise definition embedded within it. In both cases, the solution is British slang.
Nick[5] is an informal British term meaning to steal ⇒
she nicked fivers from the till.
The thieve will now follow a three-step process, first being nicked by the police:
- Nick[5] is an informal British term meaning to arrest (someone) ⇒
Stuart and Dan got nicked for burglary
.
- Nick[5] is an informal British name for a police station ⇒
he was being fingerprinted in the nick
.
- The nick[5] is an informal British term for prison ⇒
he’ll end up in the nick for the rest of his life
.
3a Ring for service in Jewish bakery? (5)
I think this clue is intended to be structured much like the first one, with the entire clue being a cryptic definition with an embedded precise definition (or, perhaps, not-so-precise definition). Another way to describe the clue is a precise definition combined with cryptic elaboration (the latter provided by the portion of the clue without a solid underline).
I interpret the overall clue as a cryptic way of expressing "Ring that may be served in a Jewish bakery".
In reference to Gazza's remark in his review on Big Dave's Crossword Blog, this clue certainly does not work as smoothly as the first one.
6a Son remains /in/ frame (4)
8a Making progress // where folk meet? (9,6)
To gather ground[1] is another way of saying to gain ground.
9a Unusually muted, embracing the speaker/'s/ boredom (6)
"the speaker" = I (show explanation )
It is a common cryptic crossword convention for the creator of the puzzle to use terms such as (the or this) compiler, (the or this) setter, (the or this) speaker, (this) author, (this) writer, or this person to refer to himself or herself. To solve such a clue, one must generally substitute a first person pronoun (I or me) for whichever of these terms has been used in the clue.
hide explanation
It is a common cryptic crossword convention for the creator of the puzzle to use terms such as (the or this) compiler, (the or this) setter, (the or this) speaker, (this) author, (this) writer, or this person to refer to himself or herself. To solve such a clue, one must generally substitute a first person pronoun (I or me) for whichever of these terms has been used in the clue.
hide explanation
10a One whose intake is sound (8)
11a Column /from/ this writer, penetrating wall-to-wall coverage? (8)
For an explanation of "this writer", go back to 9a and substitute it for "the speaker" in the explanation given there.
A pilaster[5] is a rectangular column, especially one projecting from a wall.
13a Detective, // 50, breaking into houses (6)
Sherlock Holmes[7] is a fictional character created by Scottish author and physician Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859–1930). A London-based "consulting detective" whose abilities border on the fantastic, Holmes is known for his astute logical reasoning, his ability to adopt almost any disguise and his use of forensic science to solve difficult cases.
15a Right to head left, diverting more /in/ shock (6)
17a City with west-facing heath, // setting for soap action? (8)
Bath[5] is a spa town in southwestern England. The town was founded by the Romans, who called it Aquae Sulis, and was a fashionable spa in the 18th and early 19th centuries.
Heath[5] is a British term for an area of open uncultivated land, typically on acid sandy soil, with characteristic vegetation of heather, gorse, and coarse grasses.
Moor[5] is a chiefly British term for a tract of open uncultivated upland, typically covered with heather.
19a Sword -- // I am against it going into wound mark (8)
A scimitar[5] is a short sword with a curved blade that broadens towards the point, used originally in Eastern countries.
21a That man caught cold touring island, /getting/ feverish (6)
Apparently the setter intends CT to be an abbreviation for caught, although I did not find it listed in any of my dictionaries (either British or American), including The Chambers Dictionary.
The usual abbreviation for caught used on cricket scorecards is c (show explanation ). I unsuccessful tried to find a justification for TI being clued by "island".
In cricket, one way for a batsman to be dismissed is to be caught out[5], that is for a player on the opposing team to catch a ball that has been hit by the batsman before it touches the ground.
On cricket scorecards, the abbreviation c.[2,10] or c[5] denotes caught (by).
hide explanation
In cricket, one way for a batsman to be dismissed is to be caught out[5], that is for a player on the opposing team to catch a ball that has been hit by the batsman before it touches the ground.
On cricket scorecards, the abbreviation c.[2,10] or c[5] denotes caught (by).
hide explanation
However, in a response to Comment #14 on Big Dave's Crossword Blog, Gazza states (or, at least, implies) that ct is the abbreviation for caught (in cricket).
22a October -- glacial melting enthrals one // concerned with microscopic things (15)
23a Slight // mumble (4)
24a Crew at sea coming alongside prow of keel /in/ ruined ship (5)
25a Food // left in cooler (4)
Here and There
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| In Britain, a flan[2]
is an open pastry or sponge case with a savoury or fruit filling,
usually round in shape. In North America, in addition to the meaning given above, flan[3,11] is an alternative name for crème caramel, a custard that is baked in a caramel-lined mold and served chilled with the caramel side up. |
Down
1d Another thing -- caps must be raised /in/ place of entertainment (9)
Cap[3] (verb) means to to follow with something better; in other words, to surpass or outdo ⇒
capped his last trick with a disappearing act that brought the audience to its feet.
2d Guided a jerk over // castle (7)
3d Pub with old gadget for measuring // glass (9)
Glass[5] is another term for weather glass[5], a dated name for a barometer.
4d Toff, defenceless clerk, /becomes/ more kind (7)
Toff[5] is a derogatory, informal British term for a rich or upper-class person.
5d Record Ordnance Survey // trademarks (5)
In the UK, the Ordnance Survey[5] (abbreviation OS[5]) is an official survey organization, originally under the Master of the Ordnance, preparing large-scale detailed maps of the whole country.
6d Duck // person doing spadework (9)
A shoveller[2] (or shoveler) is a duck with a long rounded spade-like bill that inhabits marshes and muddy shallows.
7d Frank // seeing that engineers will come later (7)
"engineers" = 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.
hide 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.
hide explanation
12d Old school // a learner with two degrees attends short time (4,5)
"learner" = L (show explanation )
The cryptic crossword convention of L meaning learner or student arises from the L-plate[7], a square plate bearing a sans-serif letter L, for learner, which must be affixed to the front and back of a vehicle in various jurisdictions (including the UK) if its driver is a learner under instruction.
hide explanation
The cryptic crossword convention of L meaning learner or student arises from the L-plate[7], a square plate bearing a sans-serif letter L, for learner, which must be affixed to the front and back of a vehicle in various jurisdictions (including the UK) if its driver is a learner under instruction.
hide explanation
13d Film director/'s/ thumb on part of gun (9)
A cock[5] is a firing lever in a gun which can be raised to be released by the trigger.
14d Monocle is adjusted // half a stop (9)
Although the Brits refer to a period as a full stop, I don't think they call a semicolon (or, for that matter, any other punctuation mark) a half stop.
My interpretation is that "half a stop" is a cryptic definition to be deciphered as SEMI (half) + COLON (a stop; any punctuation mark is apparently a stop to the Brits). As this actually amounts to a charade, do we not have a clue with two instances of wordplay (an anagram and a charade) and no definition?
Stop[5] is a dated British term for a punctuation mark, especially a full stop*.
* The punctuation mark (.) known as a period[5] in North America is called a full stop[5] by the British.
16d Swing over the whole /of/ shipping area (7)
Rockall[5] is a shipping forecast area in the north-eastern Atlantic, containing the islet of Rockall* near its northern boundary.
* Rockall[5] is a rocky islet in the North Atlantic, about 400 km (250 miles) north-west of Ireland. It was formally annexed by Britain in 1955 but has since become the subject of territorial dispute between Britain, Denmark, Iceland, and Ireland.
Scratching the Surface
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| The Shipping Forecast[7]
is a four times per day BBC Radio broadcast of weather reports and
forecasts for the seas around the coasts of the British Isles. It is
produced by the Met Office [the United Kingdom's national weather
service which, prior to 2000, was known as the Meteorological Office]
and broadcast by BBC Radio 4 on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard
Agency. The waters around
the British Isles are divided into 31 sea areas, also known as weather
areas. The unique and distinctive sound of these broadcasts has led to their attracting an audience much wider than that directly interested in maritime weather conditions. Listeners across the UK have reported that the late night broadcast helped them get to sleep after a long day. An announcer who regularly reads the Forecast has described it as "Like a lullaby, almost". |
17d Checkout lines (7)
18d Capitol to be rebuilt // from a visual perspective (7)
20d Cast // finished, as one might say (5)
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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