Friday, January 18, 2019 — DT 28818

Puzzle at a Glance

Puzzle Number in The Daily Telegraph DT 28818
Publication Date in The Daily Telegraph Wednesday, August 15, 2018
Setter Jay (Jeremy Mutch)
Link to Full Review Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 28818]
Big Dave's Crossword Blog Review Written By 2Kiwis
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

While this puzzle was probably mid-range in difficulty for a Jay offering, I became mired in the southeast corner due to entering a North American term instead of a British term and needed help from my electronic assistants to extricate myself.

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.

hide explanation

Across

1a   Less is written about one British // form of transport (7)

5a   Fish // people oddly want? (7)

The pollack^[5] (plural pollack or pollacks)^* or pollock (plural pollock or pollocks)^* is an edible greenish-brown fish (Pollachius pollachius) of the cod family, with a protruding lower jaw. Found in the northeastern Atlantic (i.e., European coastal waters), the fish is popular with anglers.

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^* Pollack would appear to be the preferred British spelling and pollock the preferred North American spelling.

Delving Deeper

Two other species of fish are also known as pollock in North America: the coalfish[10] (Pollachius virens) which is known in the UK as the saithe[10] or coley[10]. To confuse matters further, in Canada, the sablefish[7] (Anoplopoma fimbria) also goes by the name coalfish. the Alaska pollock[7] or walleye pollock (Theragra chalcogramma), an important food fish of the North Pacific. The Alaska pollock is said to be "the largest remaining source of palatable fish in the world." Alaska pollock is the world's second most important fish species in terms of total catch. The Norwegian pollock (Theragra finnmarchica), a rare fish of Norwegian waters, is likely the same species as the Alaska pollock.

9a   Room // that's a credit, mostly -- about time (5)

Tick^[5] (used in the phrase on tick) is an informal British term meaning credit ⇒ the printer agreed to send the brochures out on tick.

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Origin: The term apparently originates as a short form for ticket in the phrase on the ticket, referring to an IOU or promise to pay.

10a   Trouble aboard vessel /for/ part of the army (9)

11a   Nut mostly found on reels /for/ fish (4,6)

Rock salmon^[10] (now called rockfish) is the former British name for any of several coarse fishes when used as food, especially the dogfish (a small shark) or wolffish.

12a   Handle // line during strike (4)

"line" = L [publishing] (show explanation )

In textual references, the abbreviation for line [of written matter] is l.^[5] ⇒ l. 648.

hide explanation

14a   An idiot getting upset about quiet // process of producing alcohol (12)

18a   School // rent gear out by type (12)

21a   Many // schemes must ignore parking (4)

"parking" = P

22a   Device that scans // a person afraid of motor vehicles? (4,6)

25a   Time that hurt depressed // land (5,4)

26a   Prepare /for/ the best (5)

27a   Making a profit /from/ open-weave material (7)

28a   Ruin one short story // of marriage (7)

Down

1d   Agree to change after millions /becomes/ inadequate (6)

2d   Review // advice that's given at work? (6)

Notice^[5] (usually notices) denotes a short published review of a new film, play, or book ⇒ she had good notices in her first film.

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Notice^[5] is a formal declaration of one's intention to end an agreement, typically one concerning employment or tenancy, at a specified time ⇒ (i) she handed in her notice; (ii) his employers gave him two weeks' notice.

3d   Support teams accepting student // reverts to type (10)

"team" = SIDE (show explanation )

Side^[5] is a British term for a sports team ⇒ there was a mixture of old and young players in^* their side.

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^* Note that, in Britain, a player is said to be "in a side" rather than "on a team" as one would say in North America.

In North America, the term side^[3] is used in a very general fashion that can denote one of two or more opposing individuals, groups, teams, or sets of opinions. While this same general usage is also found in the UK, the term side^[5] is also used there in a much more specific sense to mean a sports team, as we can clearly see from the following usage examples ⇒ (i) Previous England rugby sides, and England teams in many other sports, would have crumbled under the weight of such errors.; (ii) They'll face better sides than this Monaco team, but you can only beat what's put in front of you.

hide explanation

"student" = L [driver under instruction] (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

4d   Second unlikely // delay (5)

5d   Book written to make money on // grass heating unit (9)

Like Kitty at Comment #26 on Big Dave's Crossword Blog, the analyst in me initially frowned at the “on” in this clue. I eventually concluded that the word "on" is part of the definition (which is a colloquial way of saying "book written on which to make money" or, in other words, the author hopes to make money on the book) as I do not believe it can work either as a link word nor as part of the wordplay in a down clue (see box).

Delving Deeper

The phrase "on grass heating unit" (read as "on grass, heating unit") is equivalent to "heating unit on grass". In an across clue, this could be used to clue POTBOILER as "A on B" in an across clue can denote "A following B".  (show explanation ) However, in a down clue, "A on B" indicates "A preceding (on top of) B". "A on B" Convention An often ignored cryptic crossword convention provides that, in an across clue, the construction "A on B" is used to clue B + A. The rationale for this practice is that in order for A to be placed on B, B must already have been positioned (i.e., already have been written). Since the English language is written from left to right, this means that B must come first and A is then appended to it. It is apparent that not all setters subscribe to this convention — or, at least, they do not adhere to it religiously. Perhaps, they rely on the convention when it suits their purpose and ignore it when it becomes an inconvenience. [On second thought, perhaps that is typical of religious observance.] In any event, a solver must always be vigilant for instances where setters flout this convention. hide explanation

6d   Slump, /seeing/ money is short (4)

Lolly^[5] is an informal British term for money ⇒ you’ve done brilliantly raising all that lovely lolly.

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Loll^[5] means:

• to sit, lie, or stand in a lazy, relaxed way ⇒ the two girls lolled in their chairs.
• (of a part of the body) hang loosely; droop ⇒ he slumped against a tree trunk, his head lolling back.
• to stick out (one's tongue) so that it hangs loosely out of the mouth ⇒ the boy lolled out his tongue.

7d   Drink // provided after a serving of tripe (8)

Scratching the Surface
Tripe[5] is the first or second stomach of a cow or other ruminant used as food.

8d   Everything depends on this // pitch's quality (8)

13d   Occupation /of/ goalie after match? (10)

A "match" is a game (except in tennis).

Goalie^[5] is an informal term for goalkeeper or goaltender. From a British perspective, goaltender^[5] is a North American term for a goalkeeper, especially in ice hockey.

Keeper^[5] is short for goalkeeper^[5] (a player in soccer or field hockey whose special role is to stop the ball from entering the goal) or wicketkeeper^[5] (in cricket, a fielder stationed close behind a batsman's wicket).

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A gamekeeper^[5] is a person employed to breed and protect game, typically for a large estate.

Post Mortem
I fell into the trap for North Americans by entering (as a guess) GAMETENDER which then snared me on 26a. It was only when I could find no fit at 26a that I began to look for other possibilities here.

15d   Follows // a gang, lost in disarray (4,5)

16d   Asked to go naked, revealed // frame (8)

Let on^[5] is used informally in the sense of to reveal information ⇒ she knows a lot more than she lets on.

17d   Order // coach (8)

19d   Break after a day // at sea (6)

20d   Nightmare /of/ poor grades in exam (6)

23d   Dean regularly absorbed by obscure // material (5)

Scratching the Surface

"Dean" could be a reference to a cleric or an academic, or simply a male given name. A dean[7], in a religious context, is a cleric holding certain positions of authority within a religious hierarchy. The title is used mainly in the Anglican Communion*, the Roman Catholic Church, and the Lutheran Church. * In the Church of England and elsewhere in the Anglican Communion, the dean is the chief resident cleric of a cathedral or other collegiate church and the head of the chapter of canons. If the cathedral or collegiate church has its own parish, the dean is usually also rector of the parish. In a college or university (especially Oxford or Cambridge), a dean[5] is a senior member of a college, with disciplinary and advisory functions.

24d   Bond/'s/ rumoured nationality? (4)

Scratching the Surface
By positioning the word "bond" at the beginning of the clue, the setter is able to capitalize it making the clue appear to be a reference to James Bond[5] (known also by his code name 007), a fictional British secret agent in the spy novels of English author Ian Fleming (1908–1964).

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