Friday, October 12, 2018 — DT 28748

Puzzle at a Glance

Puzzle Number in The Daily Telegraph DT 28748
Publication Date in The Daily Telegraph Friday, May 25, 2018
Setter Giovanni (Don Manley)
Link to Full Review Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 28748]
Big Dave's Crossword Blog Review Written By Miffypops (subbing for Deep Threat)
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

Today we find Giovanni without his religious hat.

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   Set with mishap at sea? They hope not! (9)

This is a cryptic definition with embedded wordplay. Cruciverbal taxonomists might call it a semi-&lit. (or semi-all-in-one) clue.

6a   Animal /with/ desire has briefly got outside (5)

9a   Dad -- gosh! -- beginning to nibble // cinema food (7)

Cor^[5] is an informal British exclamation expressing surprise, excitement, admiration, or alarm ⇒ Cor! That‘s a beautiful black eye you’ve got!.

What did he say?
In his review on Big Dave's Crossword Blog, Miffypops tells us that the second element of the charade is an exclamation similar to gosh, blimey or my. Blimey[5] (also cor blimey) is an informal British exclamation used to express surprise, excitement, or alarm. Another variant of this term is gorblimey[5], an informal expression of surprise or indignation.

10a   Box with crazy // old jokes? (9)

The phrase an old chestnut^[5] denotes a joke, story, or subject that has become tedious and uninteresting through constant repetition ⇒ the subject under discussion is that old chestnut, public or private financing of the arts.

11a   Skilled worker /is/ biased, wanting leader got rid of (7)

12a   A new husband in gloomy state -- // a male condition! (7)

13a   Admit defeat // now and then, sir? Oh, that's bad! (5,2,4,4)

18a   Removes risk element /from/ brilliant exercises (7)

Def^[5] (adjective) is an informal term meaning excellent ⇒ a truly def tattoo.

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Origin: 1980s: probably an alteration of death (used in Jamaican English as an intensifier), or shortened from definitive or definite.

20a   Applauds // a miser reforming, having hoarded pennies once (7)

In the British currency system used prior to the introduction of the current decimal currency system in 1971, a penny^[5] (abbreviation d^[5] [for denarius]) was a coin or monetary unit equal to one twelfth of a shilling or 240th of a pound.

The abbreviation d^[5,10] is used for penny, pence (plural of penny in the sense of a sum of money), or (according to Collins English Dictionary) pennies (plural of penny, usually in the sense of a number of coins)  ⇒ £20 10s 6d [20 pounds, 10 shillings and 6 pence (or 6 pennies)].

While I was familiar with the abbreviation d representing penny or pence, I must admit that I was a bit surprised to discover that it can also stand for pennies. Judging by his comments when reviewing this clue, I would suspect that Miffypops was also not familiar with the word "pennies" being abbreviated as d.

I took the word "once" in the clue to be an indication that we need the abbreviation for penny used prior to the introduction of decimal currency (d) rather than the abbreviation used today (p).

In his review, Miffypops sets forth a different interpretation ⇒ The clue asks for pennies which suggests two times the letter suggested. The word once tells us only one is required. However, given that the abbreviation d can stand for either penny or pennies, Miffypops' rather convoluted explanation would seem to be unnecessary.

22a   One can work a miracle? // The claim's false! (9)

23a   Severe // sort of wind heading for England (7)

Auster^[5] is a literary or poetic term for the south wind, frequently personified; (Roman Mythology) the god of the south wind.

24a   Most of cast starts to experience pressure // -- docile types? (5)

Although setters usually rely on p^[5] being a symbol used in physics to represent pressure in mathematical formulae, today Giovanni explicitly directs us to use the initial letter (start) of Pressure.

25a   Support one group /and/ tease kids naughtily (4,5)

Down

1d   Replace // inadequate substitute worker (8)

A supply^[5] (noun, usually used as a modifier) is a person, especially a schoolteacher, acting as a temporary substitute for another ⇒ a supply teacher.

"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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2d   Phoney person /gets/ nothing right, going after this person's job (8)

"this person's" = IM (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.

Today, the setter has made the scenario slightly more complicated by combining "this person" with the verb "to be"^* producing "this person's" (a contraction of "this person is") which must be replaced by "I'm" (a contraction of "I am").

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^* Although in the surface reading "this person's" is possessive, for cryptic purposes it is interpreted as "this person is".

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3d   Indigenous people // wander north over island (6)

The Maoris^[5] (or, more commonly, Maori)^* are the aboriginal people of New Zealand. They arrived in New Zealand as part of a series of waves of migration from Tahiti, probably from the 9th century onwards. They lost large amounts of land in the colonization of New Zealand by the British, and now number about 280,000.

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^* see Comment #26 on Big Dave's Crossword Blog from the 2Kiwis

4d   Container /that's/ brown put outside home, third for recycling (3,3)

5d   Business guys // reconvened en masse, about fifty (8)

6d   Has to go around smart // coastal town (8)

Hastings^[7] is a town and borough in East Sussex on the south coast of England, 53 mi (85 km) south east of London. It gives its name to the Battle of Hastings, which took place 8 mi (13 km) to the north at Senlac Hill in 1066. The town later became one of the medieval Cinque Ports, and a popular seaside resort in the 19th century with the coming of the railway. Today, Hastings is a fishing port with a beach-based fishing fleet.

7d   Does wrong, pocketing copper // coin (6)

"copper" = CU (show explanation )

The symbol for the chemical element copper is Cu^[5] (from late Latin cuprum).

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The escudo^[5], equal to 100 centavos, was was the basic monetary unit of Portugal prior to being replaced by the euro in 2002.

8d   A maiden exploited, // unlike a famous queen? (6)

"maiden"  = M (show explanation )

In cricket, a maiden^[5], also known as a maiden over and denoted on cricket scorecards by the abbreviation m.^[10], is an over^* in which no runs are scored.

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^* An over^[5] is a division of play consisting of a sequence of six balls bowled by a bowler from one end of the pitch, after which another bowler takes over from the other end.

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The remark "We are not amused"^[7] is attributed to Queen Victoria but there is no direct evidence that she ever said it, and she denied doing so. Contrary to popular belief, her staff and family recorded that Victoria "was immensely amused and roared with laughter" on many occasions.

14d   Exhausted // wife, a female joining party in NI (6-2)

Northern Ireland^[5] (abbreviation NI^[5]) is a province of the United Kingdom occupying the northeast part of Ireland.

The Democratic Unionist Party^[7] (DUP) is the largest unionist political party in Northern Ireland. Founded by Ian Paisley and now led by Arlene Foster, it is the largest party in the Northern Ireland Assembly and the fifth-largest party in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom. Following the 2017 general election, the party has agreed to support a Conservative minority government on a case-by-case basis on matters of mutual concern.

15d   Out of sorts titaness /can be/ most unpleasant (8)

Scratching the Surface

In Classical Greek mythology, the Titans and Titanesses[7] were members of the second order of divine beings, descending from the primordial deities and preceding the Olympian deities. Based on Mount Othrys, the Titans most famously included the first twelve children of the primordial Gaia (Mother Earth) and Uranus (Father Heaven). They were giant deities of incredible strength, who ruled during the legendary Golden Age, and also composed the first pantheon of Greek deities.

16d   A situation where some may be brought down to earth (8)

Situation^[5] is used in the sense of the location and surroundings of a place ⇒ the situation of the town is pleasant.

17d   Little girl with emotional state, // extreme suffering (8)

I would dare say that Diana (usually appearing in its diminutive form Di) is likely the leading contender for most popular female name in Crosswordland.

18d   Road held up with animals hidden under // covers (6)

What did he say?
In his review on Big Dave's Crossword Blog, Miffypops describes the second element of the charade as a load of monkeys. The statement is technically not correct. monkey[2] is any mammal belonging to the primates other than a human, ape, chimpanzee, gibbon, orang utan or lemur.

19d   Superficial // account placed in record folder (6)

20d   A change of policy said /to be needed in/ military action (6)

Figuratively, with allusion to sailing^*, a tack^[10] is a course of action differing from some previous course ⇒ he went off on a fresh tack.

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^* In sailing, a tack^[5] is an act of changing course by turning a vessel's head into and through the wind, so as to bring the wind on the opposite side.

21d   Lots /of/ married fools (6)

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