Puzzle at a Glance
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Puzzle Number in The Daily Telegraph
DT 28719 | |
Publication Date in The Daily Telegraph
Saturday, April 21, 2018 | |
Setter
Unknown | |
Link to Full Review
Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 28719 – Hints]Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 28719 – Review] | |
Big Dave's Crossword Blog Review Written By
Big Dave (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
This puzzle — not without justification — got a pretty scathing review on Big Dave's Crossword Blog. I was able to explain — or at least rationalize — the wordplay in most cases. However, 23a eludes me yet.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 Admit home help for puzzle solvers will get 500 entering (7)
5a Flower requiring small spades digging in // to come out (7)
I would say that this clue could be parsed in either of two ways. I parsed it as BLOOM (flower; verb or noun) containing (requiring ... digging in) {S (small; abbrev.) + S (spades; abbrev.)} with the solution being BLOSSOM (to come out; to mature or develop in a promising or healthy way). After reading the comments on Big Dave's Crossword Blog, I see that Gazza, in his response to Comment #42, has also parsed the clue in this manner.
However, crypticsue has parsed it as:
- Flower /requiring/ small spades digging in to come out (7)
I do wonder whether, for crypticsue's parsing to be correct, the clue should read "digging into" rather than "digging in to".
9a After large glass, regular's /making/ unfair demands on women? (6,9)
I believe the word "making" is a link word rather than part of the definition.
10a Place and time /for/ strike on course (4)
11a Goes to sea, /with/ trouble getting in ship (5)
"ship" = SS (show explanation )
In Crosswordland, a ship is almost invariably a steamship, the abbreviation for which is SS[5] ⇒
hide explanation
In Crosswordland, a ship is almost invariably a steamship, the abbreviation for which is SS[5] ⇒
the SS Canberra.
hide explanation
12a In error, learner's missed // recess (4)
"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
15a Tail girl? On the contrary, // he's a responsible lad (4,3)
A head boy[5]is a senior male student who is chosen to represent his school ⇒
this is not the kind of behaviour the school expects from its head boy.
By Convention
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| The phrase "on the contrary" tells the solver to reverse the logic or meaning of the statement immediately preceding it. |
16a Well-formed // plays he gets rewritten (7)
17a Taking part out of sentiment, ice dancer // was alluring (7)
As the solution is a past participle, the word "was" must be included in the definition.
19a I must get in lift up that's broken down -- /it's/ pathetic (7)
21a My // independent state (1,3)
The definition and solution are exclamations.
"independent" = I (show explanation )
I[1] is the abbreviation for independent, in all likelihood in the context of a politician with no party affiliation.
hide explanation
I[1] is the abbreviation for independent, in all likelihood in the context of a politician with no party affiliation.
hide explanation
22a Heath perhaps follows account /that's/ appeared in 26? (5)
Sir Edward Heath[5] (1916–2005) [commonly known as Ted Heath] was a British Conservative statesman, Prime Minister 1970-4.
The
numeral "26" is a cross
reference indicator (show more ).
To complete the clue, a solver must replace the cross reference indicator with the solution to the clue starting in the light* identified by the cross reference indicator.
The cross reference indicator may include a directional indicator but this is customarily done only in situations where there are both Across and Down clues originating in the light that is being referenced.
* light-coloured cell in the grid
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To complete the clue, a solver must replace the cross reference indicator with the solution to the clue starting in the light* identified by the cross reference indicator.
The cross reference indicator may include a directional indicator but this is customarily done only in situations where there are both Across and Down clues originating in the light that is being referenced.
* light-coloured cell in the grid
hide
23a What cocks did // that cox won't do? (4)
I tried to make the solution be CROW rather than CREW. Furthermore, I must admit that I do not understand the wordplay.
My rationale for CROW was that, in sculling, C might be an abbreviation for cox and the cox doesn't ROW. However, not only could I not see the wordplay for this charade in the clue but — for it to be correct — the clue should have read "what cocks do" rather than "what cocks did".
As for CREW, while it does match the definition "what cocks did", I do not see how it possibly applies to "that cox won't do". The cox is most definitely a member of the crew*. Furthermore, I can find no hitherto unbeknownst-to-me sense of the word "crew" which, when used as a verb, could justify the clue.
* A crew[1] is the oarsmen or oarswomen (and cox, where appropriate) of a racing boat.
However, as there is nary a peep of complaint concerning this clue on Big Dave's Crossword Blog, I fear that I must be missing something extremely obvious.
26a Character shown by rugby-participating Lions maybe? // That's a charade (4-7,4)
While the parlour game is called charades[5], perhaps charade[5] could informally be considered to be a role-playing game in the sense of an absurd pretence intended to create a pleasant or respectable appearance ⇒
talk of unity was nothing more than a charade.
Scratching the Surface
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| The word "rugby" in the clue is introduced solely to enhance the surface
reading. Participation in any sporting activity (or, for that matter,
any of various other endeavours) would work equally well in the
wordplay. Lions could refer to several British rugby teams, including:
* Rugby union[10] (abbreviation RU[5]) is a form of rugby football played between teams of 15 players (in contrast to rugby league[5], which is played in teams of thirteen). |
27a Political doldrums? // It's where PM's placed by gossip-monger (7)
Midterm[5] is the middle of a period of office — after the initial enthusiasm of a new term has worn off and before one starts to gear up for another run at office.
28a If // not dry, accommodating husband should meet that woman (7)
Down
1d Pint he'd drunk // at length (2,5)
2d Yard man died covering up botched trial // prosecuted by Army? (5-10)
Here and There
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| In Britain, a yard[10] is a piece of enclosed ground, usually either paved [covered with paving stones] or laid with concrete and often adjoining or surrounded by a building or buildings. What North Americans would commonly call a yard would be a garden to the Brits. In Britain, a garden[2,10] is an area of land, usually one adjoining a house, where grass, trees, flowers and other ornamental plants, fruit, vegetables, etc, are grown. Note that a British garden includes the lawn as well as everything else whereas a North American garden would comprise only the flower and vegetable beds and any trees or shrubs contained therein and exclude the lawn and any trees or shrubs growing there. |
3d Ignore odd bits of dung and clay /being/ unsightly (4)
4d Cold stone etched in simple // pleasure (7)
The stone[5] (abbreviation st[5]) is a British unit of weight equal to 14 lb (6.35 kg) ⇒
I weighed 10 stone.
5d Hounds // black and golden birds? (7)
6d Chances // these will never be less than evens (4)
What did she say?
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In her review on Big Dave's Crossword Blog, crypticsue explains the second part of the clue thusConsider the following counting sequences:if you count to the end of time there will either be the [same] number of odd and even numbers, or one more odd number. 1 — one more odd number than even numbers [as there are none of the later] 1,2 — equal numbers of odd and even numbers 1,2,3 — one more odd number than even numbers 1,2,3,4 — equal numbers of odd and even numbers 1,2,3,4,5 — one more odd number than even numbers etc. |
Scratching the Surface
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The surface reading is intended to evoke a gambling scenario with evens[5] being a British term meaning even money[5], viz. odds offering an equal chance of winning or losing (or a 50-50 chance), with the amount won being the same as the stake ⇒ the colt was 4-6 favourite after opening at evens. If the odds are evens[7], the payout will be equal to the amount wagered plus the original stake, that is, "double-your-money". To a gambler, "better than evens" denotes a situation in which the chance of an event happening is less than 50-50 and so the payout will be greater than if the odds were evens. Conversely, "worse than evens" means that the chance of the event happening is greater than 50-50 resulting in a payout that is less than if the odds were evens. However, in popular parlance surrounding uncertain events, the expression "better than evens" usually implies a greater than 50-percent chance of an event occurring, which is exactly the opposite of the meaning of the expression when used in a gaming context. Of course, in a gambling context the odds can be less than evens. When flipping a coin, the odds of getting heads is evens (1 out of 2 or 50%). When rolling dice, the chance of getting a 6 is 1 out of 6 or less than 17%. We can say that this is "less than evens" but whether it is "better than evens" or "worse than evens" depends — are you or are you not a gambler? |
7d Broke /and/ beaten, professionally (8,3,4)
The second definition is a literal interpretation of the expression constituting the solution to the clue.
8d Command, // apparently like some schoolteachers (7)
Master[5] is a British term for a male schoolteacher.
I believe the second definition is a whimsical invention of the setter. The suffix -y added to a word denotes like or having the properties of. Thus the words "milky", "creamy", and "buttery" denote like milk, cream, or butter respectively. The setter carries this idea to the illogical conclusion that the word "mastery" must therefore necessarily denote "like a male school teacher".
13d One's shocked when one's taken this (5)
14d Drink/'s/ unpunctual, with limited temperature (5)
17d Saw // two farm animals after 4, in short (7)
Similar to what we encountered in 22a, the numeral "4" is a cross reference indicator.
"Ecstasy" = E (show explanation )
E[5] is an abbreviation for the drug Ecstasy* or a tablet of Ecstasy ⇒ (i)
* Ecstasy[5] is an illegal amphetamine-based synthetic drug with euphoric effects, originally produced as an appetite suppressant. Also called MDMA (Methylenedioxymethamphetamine).
hide explanation
E[5] is an abbreviation for the drug Ecstasy* or a tablet of Ecstasy ⇒ (i)
people have died after taking E; (ii)
being busted with three Es can lead to stiff penalties.
* Ecstasy[5] is an illegal amphetamine-based synthetic drug with euphoric effects, originally produced as an appetite suppressant. Also called MDMA (Methylenedioxymethamphetamine).
hide explanation
18d Rant // of the French about Conservative I am following (7)
"of the French" = DE LA (show explanation )
In French, de[8] is a preposition meaning 'of'' or 'from' and the feminine singular form of the definite article is la[8].
hide explanation
In French, de[8] is a preposition meaning 'of'' or 'from' and the feminine singular form of the definite article is la[8].
hide explanation
"Conservative" = C (show explanation )
The abbreviation for Conservative may be either C.[10] or Con.[10].
The Conservative Party[5] is a a major British political party that emerged from the old Tory Party* under Sir Robert Peel in the 1830s and 1840s. Since the Second World War, it has been in power 1951–64, 1970-74, and 1979–97. It governed in a coalition with the Liberal Democrats from 2010 until the general election of May 2015, in which it was returned with a majority.
* Historically, a Tory[10] was a member of the English political party that opposed the exclusion of James, Duke of York from the royal succession (1679–80). Tory remained the label for subsequent major conservative interests until they gave birth to the Conservative Party in the 1830s.
hide explanation
The abbreviation for Conservative may be either C.[10] or Con.[10].
The Conservative Party[5] is a a major British political party that emerged from the old Tory Party* under Sir Robert Peel in the 1830s and 1840s. Since the Second World War, it has been in power 1951–64, 1970-74, and 1979–97. It governed in a coalition with the Liberal Democrats from 2010 until the general election of May 2015, in which it was returned with a majority.
* Historically, a Tory[10] was a member of the English political party that opposed the exclusion of James, Duke of York from the royal succession (1679–80). Tory remained the label for subsequent major conservative interests until they gave birth to the Conservative Party in the 1830s.
hide explanation
19d Vicar: 'One must sit in seat in church /and/ look ahead' (7)
A vicar[5] is a member of the clergy, although the meaning of the term varies
among religious denominations (show more ).
The term vicar may mean:
The term vicar may mean:
- in the the Church of England, an incumbent of a parish where tithes formerly passed to a chapter or religious house or layman;
- in other Anglican Churches, a member of the clergy deputizing for another;
- in the Roman Catholic Church, a representative or deputy of a bishop;
- in the US Episcopal Church, a clergyman in charge of a chapel;
- a cleric or choir member appointed to sing certain parts of a cathedral service.
20d Sound of animal rage -- in frenzy, // this drives one uphill (3,4)
24d Eastern European adopting exercises // that can be used in personal combat (4)
"exercises" = PE (show explanation )
25d Beastly person, // so contrary (4)
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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