Monday, January 28, 2019 — DT 28824 (Published Saturday, January 26, 2019)

Puzzle at a Glance

Puzzle Number in The Daily Telegraph DT 28824
Publication Date in The Daily Telegraph Wednesday, August 22, 2018
Setter Jay (Jeremy Mutch)
Link to Full Review Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 28824]
Big Dave's Crossword Blog Review Written By KiwiColin
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
This puzzle appears on the Monday Diversions page in the Saturday, January 26, 2019 edition of the National Post.

Introduction

I did need a bit of electronic help to uncover the solution to 17d — but I see from the comments on Big Dave's Crossword Blog that I was far from alone in finding that one difficult to spot.

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   Wrong about good job /for/ marker (8)

"good" = G [academic result] (show explanation )

The abbreviation G^[a] for good comes from its use in education as a mark awarded on scholastic assignments or tests.

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^[a] Collins English to Spanish Dictionary

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5a   Issues // summit discuss regularly (6)

9a   What to wear /if/ changing gear in sandhills? (9)

I presume "if" might be considered to be a link word here as I have marked it above. Otherwise, I believe one would need to look at this clue as a cryptic definition with embedded wordplay.

• What to wear if changing gear in sandhills? (9)

Here and There

While Brits and North Americans share many of the same names for articles of clothing, the meaning of those terms is often quite different on either side of the pond. In North America, the term dungarees[3,4,11] can refer to either denim trousers or denim overalls[3,11] (trousers with an attached bib and shoulder straps). In the UK on the other hand, the term dungarees[3,4,11] is used solely to mean the latter, i.e., a suit of workman's overalls made of dungaree [denim] consisting of trousers with a bib attached. The meaning of the term "overalls" also varies between the UK and North America. In North America, overalls[3,11] are loose-fitting trousers, usually of strong fabric, with a bib front and shoulder straps, often worn over regular clothing as protection from dirt. The British definition of overalls[4] is broader, including not only garments with a bib and shoulder straps but also those having a jacket top. These latter garments are also known as boiler suits[5] in the UK and would be called coveralls[3] in North America. Note that I have carefully avoided using the North American term "pants" in favour of the more universal term "trousers". In Britain, the term "pants" refers to underwear. Thus were I to take off my pants in the UK, I would be far more exposed than if I were to do so in North America!

11a   Private // meal with no end of food (5)

12a   Credit almost consumed -- // cause a furore (6)

Create^[5] is an informal British term denoting to make a fuss or complain ⇒ little kids create because they hate being ignored.

13a   Withdrew // material prior to broadcast (8)

Rep^[5] (also repp) is a fabric with a ribbed surface, used in curtains and upholstery.

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Repair to^[5] is a formal or humorous term meaning to go to (a place), especially in company ⇒ we repaired to the tranquillity of a nearby cafe.

15a   Check flower /for/ new life (13)

18a   Wonder about European crossing border /for/ scam (7,6)

The Seven Wonders of the World^[5] are the seven most spectacular man-made structures of the ancient world. Traditionally they comprise:

• the pyramids of Egypt, especially those at Giza
• the Hanging Gardens of Babylon
• the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus
• the temple of Artemis at Ephesus in Asia Minor
• the Colossus of Rhodes
• the huge ivory and gold statue of Zeus at Olympia in the Peloponnese, made by Phidias c.430 BC
• the Pharos of Alexandria (or in some lists, the walls of Babylon)

22a   Principled person/'s/ haze about exam (8)

23a   Spell // name to be kept in touch (6)

26a   The top of carpet pile /must be? tacky (5)

As an initial letter indicator, top^[10] is used in the sense of beginning ⇒ (i) the top of the hour; (ii) at the top of the programme; (iii) let's run through the piece once more time from the top.

27a   Programme // a religious leader and artist put on like this (4,5)

"artist" = RA (show explanation )

A Royal Academician (abbreviation RA^[10]) is a member of the Royal Academy of Arts^[5] (also Royal Academy; abbreviation also RA^[10]), an institution established in London in 1768, whose purpose is to cultivate painting, sculpture, and architecture in Britain. 

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So^[2] means in that [or this] state or condition [i.e., ‛like that’ or ‛like this’]  (i) promised to be faithful, and has remained so; (ii) She told him ‛I am single, and I plan to remain so.’.

The Story Behind the Picture

KiwiColin illustrates his review on Big Dave's Crossword Blog with a satellite image of the East End of London similar to that used in the intro to the award-winning British soap opera EastEnders[7] which has been broadcast on BBC One since 1985. (show more ) Set in Albert Square in the East End of London in the fictional Borough of Walford, the programme follows the stories of local residents and their families as they go about their daily lives. Consistently among the top-rated TV programmes in Britain, it has tackled many dilemmas that are considered to be controversial and taboo issues in British culture and social life previously unseen on United Kingdom mainstream television. hide

28a   I /may be/ a red, for example (6)

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, Jay turns the tables and uses the pronoun "I " to clue 'setter'.

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Although there are other breeds of setter^[7], this clue is clearly a reference to the Irish Setter^[7] (also known as the Red Setter).

29a   Landlord/'s/ silence worried last of clientele (8)

A landlord^[5] is a man who keeps lodgings, a boarding house, or a pub.

A licensee^[10] is a person who holds a licence, especially one to sell alcoholic drink.

Down

1d   One hurried to go up on board ship /for/ drinks (8)

"ship" = SS (show explanation )

In Crosswordland, a ship is almost invariably a steamship, the abbreviation for which is SS^[5] ⇒ the SS Canberra.

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A sidecar^[5] is a cocktail of brandy and lemon juice with orange liqueur.

2d   Information about // school of painting, say (5)

Gen^[5] is an informal British term for information ⇒ you’ve got more gen on him than we have.

3d   Material confronting some surgeons? (7)

I see this as a cryptic definition with an embedded precise definition.

4d   Tissue-type full of // fat? (4)

6d   Old pal from Paris stocking equipment /for/ such art (7)

Ami^[8] is the masculine form of the French word meaning 'friend'.

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Origami^[5] is the Japanese art of folding paper into decorative shapes and figures.

7d   One caring about // unfamiliarity (9)

8d   Casts off, crossing river /for/ scraps (6)

10d   Custodians /or/ cooks pinching a case of red (8)

14d   Building // bases for discussion (8)

16d   Seconds may be this // tense (9)

17d   Languish // in love? Get a teacher (8)

Post Mortem
Oh, had I only followed the advice given by Rabbit Dave at Comment #2 on Big Dave's Crossword Blog ⇒ when nothing else makes sense – look for a lurker!.

19d   Fall back /and/ soldiers leap off, surrounding son (7)

"soldiers" = RE [Royal Engineers] (show more )

The Corps of Royal Engineers^[7], usually just called the Royal Engineers (abbreviation RE), and commonly known as the Sappers^[7], is a corps of the British Army that provides military engineering and other technical support to the British Armed Forces.

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"son" = S [genealogy] (show explanation )

In genealogies, s^[5] is the abbreviation for son(s) ⇒ m 1991; one s one d^*.

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^* married in 1991; one son and one daughter.

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20d   Eat away, /seeing/ bar in centre (7)

21d   Fires across bow of motor // boats (6)

Smack^[5] is a British term for a single-masted sailing boat used for coasting^* or fishing ⇒ the village still harbours a few fishing smacks.

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^* Coast^[5] means to sail along the coast, especially in order to carry cargo ⇒ he coasted down the eastern shore.

24d   Requirements /of/ daughter employed in topless joints (5)

"daughter" = D [genealogy] (show explanation )

In genealogies, d^[5] is the abbreviation for daughter ⇒ Henry m. Georgina 1957, 1s 2d^*.

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^* Henry married Georgina in 1957. Their marriage produced 1 son and 2 daughters.

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25d   Team hiding under mother/'s/ skirt (4)

Eleven^[5] (often appearing as a Roman numeral XI) is the number of players in^* a cricket^[7] side [team] or an Association football^[7] [soccer] team — and is frequently used as a metonym for such a team ⇒ at cricket I played in the first eleven.

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

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A maxi^[5] is a skirt, coat, or dress reaching to the ankle ⇒ the maxi skirt lengthens the silhouette.

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