Puzzle at a Glance
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Puzzle Number in The Daily Telegraph
DT 28749 | |
Publication Date in The Daily Telegraph
Saturday, May 26, 2018 | |
Setter
Unknown | |
Link to Full Review
Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 28749 – Hints]Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 28749 – Review] | |
Big Dave's Crossword Blog Review Written By
Tilsit (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.
This puzzle appears on the Monday Diversions page in the Saturday, October 13, 2018 edition of the National Post.
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Introduction
Not unlike the experience reported by many Brits, 9d was slow to fall. However, when it did, I'm sure that the sound of the dropping penny reverberated for miles.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 Big news story -- sad // end of space flight (10)
Splash[5] is an informal term for a prominent or sensational news feature or story ⇒
a front-page splash.
6a Get rid of / outbuilding (4)
10a Snake with space /on/ tree (5)
Asp is a name applied to at least four different species of snakes (show more ):
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- the European asp[7], a small southern European viper (Vipera aspis) with an upturned snout.
- the Egyptian cobra[7] (Naja haje), one of the largest cobra species native to Africa, second to the forest cobra (Naja melanoleuca).
- the Saharan horned viper[7] (Cerastes cerastes), a venomous viper species native to the deserts of Northern Africa and parts of the Middle East.
- the Saharan sand viper[7] (Cerastes vipera), also known as the Egyptian asp or Cleopatra's asp, a venomous viper species endemic to the deserts of North Africa and the Sinai Peninsula.
hide
In printing, the en[5] is a unit of measurement equal to half an em and approximately the average width of typeset characters, used especially for estimating the total amount of space a text will require.
11a Bits of squid etc // the French caught in net cast indiscriminately (9)
Note that "etc" is part of the definition and not part of the anagram fodder (as mistakenly* indicated by crypticsue in her review on Big Dave's Crossword Blog). The explanation should read simply "LE (French definite article) caught in an anagram (indiscriminately) of NET CAST".
* The thought did cross my mind that she might have thrown this in just to see if anyone is reading her review.
"the French" = LE (show explanation )
12a May see fool // seek support (7)
The Latin term vide[2] (abbreviation vid., v[2] or v.), used as an instruction in a text, denotes refer to or see, e.g. a particular page-number or section.
13a Consult expert about name // in quizzical way (7)
14a Shopkeepers/'/ basic cost not recovered (12)
As an anagram indicator, recover[5] is used in the sense of return to a normal state (of health, mind, or strength).
18a Dance from the 1960s // made a hotspot delirious (6,6)
The mashed potato[5] is a dance originating in the US in the early 1960s, characterized by repeated sideways steps ⇒
teenagers did the twist, as well as the mashed potato and the Watusi.
21a Colonist /taking/ dog round lake (7)
23a Slippery type rejected protection, // not being exposed (7)
Ward[5] is an archaic term denoting the state of being in the care of a guardian ⇒
the ward and care of the Crown.
24a Threatened // one legislator with abolition (9)
"legislator" = 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].
hide 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].
hide explanation
25a Bird of prey // heading off hunting dog (5)
Although I have never thought of this breed as being a hunting dog, I discover that a beagle[5] is a small hound of a breed with a short coat, used for hunting hares.
26a Cut // fuel for heating hospital (4)
27a Maybe shares // how cleric is dressed for service (10)
Down
1d Rare // blemish on church (6)
"church" = CE (show explanation )
The Church of England[10] (abbreviation CE[10]) is the reformed established state Church in England, Catholic in order and basic doctrine, with the Sovereign as its temporal head.
hide explanation
The Church of England[10] (abbreviation CE[10]) is the reformed established state Church in England, Catholic in order and basic doctrine, with the Sovereign as its temporal head.
hide explanation
2d Like a wild animal // at university, interrupting row (6)
In Britain, up[5] means at or to a university, especially Oxford or Cambridge ⇒
they were up at Cambridge about the same time.
a lupine howl.
3d Learning gossip when drunk -- with this? (9,5)
This is one of those "Oh dear, what do I underline" clues. As you may notice, three reviewers — Tilsit, crypticsue, and myself — have each chosen a different method.
There is certainly no problem in identifying the wordplay (which I have marked with a dashed underline).
As for the definition, in her review on Big Dave's Crossword Blog, crypticsue has underlined merely the word "this". That is a fairly common practice among bloggers that I personally question as I don't feel that a lone pronoun can be considered to be a definition. To my mind, a definition is something from which one may derive the solution without any other knowledge. There is no way that a solver could be expected to determine the solution based solely on the word "this". The word "this" merely tells us that the solution is a noun but we are dependent on other information from the clue to actually solve the clue.
At a minimum, the definition might be considered to be "drunk -- with this" (as Tilsit has marked it in his hints on Big Dave's Crossword Blog), a cryptic way of expressing the idea that the solution is something on which one might become drunk. However, that would require the word "drunk" to be doing double duty (being part of both the wordplay and the definition), something that — to the best of my understanding — is not permitted (other than in structures such as &lit. or semi-&lit. clues).
Thus, despite the words "learning gossip when" contributing little of any real significance to the definition, I can only conclude that we must still consider the entire clue to be a cryptic definition. These words are not entirely out of place as one might certainly "learn gossip" when drunk — especially if the tongue of one's drinking partner has been sufficiently loosened by alcohol.
4d Go out with actor Terence -- // one might make an impression (4-5)
Terence Stamp[7] is an English actor who has appeared in more than 60 films.
5d Stick a // fish in film? (5)
A Fish Called Wanda[7] is a 1988 British-American heist comedy film directed by Charles Crichton and written by John Cleese. The British Film Institute has ranked it the 39th-greatest British film of the 20th century.
7d Pope's quality // of verse read in High School initially (8)
O'[5] is an informal short form for of, used to represent a pronunciation ⇒
a cup o' coffee.
8d Is penny invested in stupid // deal (8)
"penny" = P (show explanation )
In Britain's current decimal currency system, a penny[5] (plural pennies [for separate coins] or pence [for a sum of money]) is a bronze coin and monetary unit equal to one hundredth of a pound. The abbreviation for penny or pence is p[5].
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In Britain's current decimal currency system, a penny[5] (plural pennies [for separate coins] or pence [for a sum of money]) is a bronze coin and monetary unit equal to one hundredth of a pound. The abbreviation for penny or pence is p[5].
hide explanation
9d PC operating system rarely seen nowadays (7,3,4)
PC[5] is a British designation for a police constable ⇒
PC Bartholomew made his report.
15d List // unusual clue to Aga (9)
| The clue provides no clue as to what Aga means in the surface reading. In Muslim countries, especially under the Ottoman Empire, aga[5,10] (or agha[10]) could denote:
Origin: Mid 16th century: from Turkish ağa ‘master, lord’, from Mongolian aqa.
The AGA cooker[7] (trademark) is a high-end
gas stove popular in medium to large British country houses — not to
mention British crosswords (show more ).
Brits use the term cooker[10] in the sense that North Americans use the word range, namely a stove used for cooking food. In Britain, the term range[5] has a much more restricted meaning, being a large cooking stove with burners or hotplates and one or more ovens, all of which are kept continually hot. This latter characteristic ("kept continually hot") seems to be the determining factor in deciding whether or not an appliance is considered to be a range. Thus stoves heated by solid fuel (wood or coal) and oil would almost certainly be ranges while stoves heated by gas or electricity would generally not be ranges (provided that the burners and ovens could be turned off when not in use). As a heat storage stove, the AGA cooker works on the principle that a heavy frame made from cast iron components can absorb heat from a relatively low-intensity but continuously-burning source, and the accumulated heat can then be used when needed for cooking. Thus it is considered to be a gas burning range in Britain. Its popularity in certain parts of English society (owners of medium to large country houses) led to the coining of the term "AGA Saga" in the 1990s, referring to a genre of fiction set amongst stereotypical upper-middle-class society. hide |
16d Wonderful // son flirting once (8)
Mash[10] is an archaic term meaning to flirt with.
17d I call for help carrying most important electronic /and/ nuclear materials (8)
19d Use craft to obtain // foremost of white fish (6)
20d Notice archdeacon on time /for/ run-up to Christmas (6)
In the Anglican Church, Venerable[5] (abbreviation Ven.[5]) is a title given to an archdeacon* ⇒
the Ven. William Davies.
* In the Church of England, an archdeacon[2] is a member of the clergy who ranks just below a bishop.
22d What may stop cricket broadcast /as/ a rule (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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