Thursday, September 13, 2018 — DT 28725

Puzzle at a Glance

Puzzle Number in The Daily Telegraph DT 28725
Publication Date in The Daily Telegraph Saturday, April 28, 2018
Setter Unknown
Link to Full Review Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 28725 – Hints] Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 28725 – Review]
Big Dave's Crossword Blog Review Written By Big Dave (Hints) gnomethang (Review)
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
Notes
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.

Introduction

Most of those commenting on Big Dave's Crossword Blog report getting bogged down in the southeast corner — and the experience was certainly no different for me.

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 The Story 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   Damage // clothes (4)

3a   Arrest aunt running // place to eat (10)

8a   Support whip /producing/ retaliation (8)

9a   Bear // to undergo pain (6)

I have no idea why gnomethang, in his review on Big Dave's Crossword Blog, refers to this double definition as "Two very similar cryptic definitions". Perhaps the word "cryptic" slipped in unintentionally. Big Dave, in his hints, merely characterizes the clue as "Two similar definitions".

10a   Very much liking posh English // sauce (6)

"posh" = U (show explanation )

In Britain, U^[5] is used informally as an adjective (in respect to language or social behaviour) meaning characteristic of or appropriate to the upper social classes ⇒ U manners.

The term, an abbreviation of  upper class, was coined in 1954 by Alan S. C. Ross, professor of linguistics, and popularized by its use in Nancy Mitford's Noblesse Oblige (1956).

In Crosswordland, the letter U is frequently clued by words denoting "characteristic of the upper class" (such as posh or superior) or "appropriate to the upper class" (such as acceptable). 

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The Chambers Dictionary (affectionately known on Big Dave's Crossword Blog as the BRB [Big Red Book]), defines fondue as:

• a sauce made by heating a mixture of cheese and wine, etc, eaten by dipping pieces of bread, etc in the mixture (also Swiss fondue)
• a dish consisting of small cubes of meat cooked at the table on forks in hot oil and served with piquant sauces (also fondue bourguignonne)
• a soufflé with bread or biscuit crumbs

11a   Left single part // desolate (8)

13a   Non-union lady? (8)

14a   Allow old clock with centre removed to be put in // ornamental case (6)

Read the wordplay as if it were a series of steps in a recipe ''Allow; old clock with centre removed to be put in" or "Step 1: [Start with (a synonym for)] Allow; Step 2: old clock with centre removed to be put in [the result from Step 1]".

16a   It limits animal's movement /or/ range of endurance (6)

The expression the end of one's tether^[5] (North American the end of one's rope) denotes having no patience or energy left to cope with something ⇒ (i) I don't know what to do. I'm at the end of my tether; (ii) these individuals have reached the end of their tether.

19a   Be around Selina in trouble /with/ Mark on court? (8)

The word "Mark" is deceptively capitalized. It is generally regarded as acceptable to misleadingly capitalize words in a clue but it is a definite no-no for a setter to omit to capitalize words that are required to be capitalized.

In tennis, volleyball, and other games, a baseline^[5] is the line marking each end of a court.

Scratching the Surface
Had the player been named Serena (rather than Selina) and the official been named Carlos (rather than Mark), this would have been a very timely clue given the recent incident at the US Open[7].

21a   New tramline/'s/ destination (8)

22a   We will be hugged by American brother, // one making drinks (6)

In the southern US dialect, brer^[5] (meaning brother) is used as an informal title before a man's name ⇒ Brer Rabbit.

23a   Sign to receive adult books /in/ shelter (4-2)

In astrology, Leo^[10] (also called the Lion) is the fifth sign of the zodiac, symbol ♌, having a fixed fire classification and ruled by the sun. The sun is in this sign between about July 23 and Aug 22.

"adult" = A (show explanation )

The A (Adult) certificate is a former film certificate^[7] issued by the British Board of Film Classification. This certificate existed in various forms from 1912 to 1985, when it was replaced by the PG (Parental Guidance) certificate. [Despite its demise in the real world, it continues to find widespread use in Crosswordland.]

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In Crosswordland, the term "books" — or phrases such as "collection of books" or "religious books" — are commonly used to clue either the Old Testament (OT) or the New Testament (NT). Today, as is often the case, the clue provides no indication whether the reference is to the former or the latter.

24a   Render unfit for consumption // article in plate (8)

25a   Unusually wary in predicament, // one could be dramatic (10)

26a   King succeeded capturing extremely large // dependency (4)

"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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"succeeded" = S (show explanation )

The abbreviation s^[5] stands for succeeded, in the sense of to have taken over a throne, office, or other position from ⇒ he succeeded Hawke as Prime Minister. It might be seen, for instance, it charts of royal lineages.

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"extremely large" = OS (show explanation )

The sizes of clothing that North Americans would describe as plus-size^[7] (or often big and tall in the case of men's clothing) would be called outsize (abbreviation OS^[5]) in Britain.

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The Ross Dependency^[5] is the part of Antarctica administered by New Zealand, consisting of everything lying to the south of latitude 60° south between longitudes 160° east and 150° west.

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Origin: named after its discoverer, British explorer Sir James Clark Ross

Down

1d   Method of printing // network from radio, perhaps (3,6)

Web offset^[5] is offset printing^* on continuous paper fed from a reel.

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^* Offset^[5] is a method of printing in which ink is transferred from a plate or stone to a uniform rubber surface and from that to the paper.

2d   How croupier became successful? (5,2,3,5)

3d   Get near fused // substance used in chemical test (7)

A reagent^[5] is a substance or mixture for use in chemical analysis or other reactions ⇒ this compound is a very sensitive reagent for copper.

4d   Sunday neckwear, we hear, /for/ learned person (7)

5d   Team // learns a complicated formation? (7)

Arsenal Football Club^[7] is an English professional association football [soccer] club based in Islington, London that plays in the Premier League (the top level in the English football league system).

6d   Say no to charity worker, // one who works for the council (6,9)

I presume a collector (in the sense of a "charity worker") is a canvasser. However, I could find neither collector nor canvasser specifically defined in my dictionaries as one who solicits charitable donations.

The council^[10] (sometimes capitalized) is a British term for the local governing authority of a town, county, etc. In North America, one would likely say "one who works for the city (or town, county, etc., as the case may be)".

7d   Time with Irish maybe // short (5)

Erse^[5] is a dated term for the Scottish or Irish Gaelic language. The word "maybe" is included as Irish is but one variant of this language.

12d   Mother heads East /for/ Ms West (3)

Mae West^[5] (1892–1980) was an American actress and dramatist. She made her name on Broadway in her own comedies Sex (1926) and Diamond Lil (1928), memorable for their spirited approach to sexual matters, before embarking on her successful Hollywood career in the 1930s.

15d   Nervous complaint that’s progressive? (3,6)

I see this as a cryptic definition with an embedded precise definition. The latter part of the clue ("that's progressive") does not lead to the solution directly but, rather, provides cryptic elaboration relating to the precise definition.

17d   Girl // develops clothes (3)

18d   Row articulated our // bitterness (7)

19d   Male animals // breed! (7)

A dog^[5] is the male of an animal of the dog family, or of some other mammals such as the otter ⇒ a dog fox.

20d   One vehicle turned up first, // it's part of something larger (7)

Similar to 14a, we must read the wordplay in this clue as though it were the steps in a recipe "One; vehicle turned up first".

21d   Flower /in/ rubbish dump about middle of July (5)

As a noun, tip^[10] is a British term for a dump for refuse,  etc. and, as a verb, it means to dump (rubbish, etc.).

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