Thursday, January 24, 2019 — DT 28822

Puzzle at a Glance

Puzzle Number in The Daily Telegraph DT 28822
Publication Date in The Daily Telegraph Monday, August 20, 2018
Setter Dada (John Halpern)
Link to Full Review Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 28822]
Big Dave's Crossword Blog Review Written By Miffypops
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

Its always humbling to see a puzzle rated one star for difficulty when I have had to call in the electronic reinforcements to complete it. Today, it was a handful of clues along the left-hard edge of the puzzle that proved troublesome.

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   King, say, // up against joker (7,4)

9a   Be able // to recognise a tear-jerker? (4,4,6)

Miffypops has clearly marked the definition incorrectly in his review on Big Dave's Crossword Blog by including too much of the clue in the definition.

The latter part of the clue is a whimsical literal interpretation of the solution that falls a bit short of parsing as a charade. A strict interpretation would give KNOW (to recognize) + ONION (a tear-jerker). However, interpreted as a complete phrase under the looser rules pertaining to a cryptic definition, it is fine.

Know one's onions^[10] is British slang meaning to be fully acquainted with a subject.

11a   Get // stick (4)

I got stuck from failing to twig.

Twig^[5] is an informal British^* expression meaning to understand or realize something ⇒ it was amazing that Graham hadn't twigged before.

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^* I would say that this expression is in common usage in Canada.

12a   A giant, // anyway (2,3)

13a   Odd bits missing, felt put in // sewing case (4)

Etui^[5] is a dated term for a small ornamental case for holding needles, cosmetics, and other articles ⇒ an exquisite etui fitted with scissors, bodkin, and thimble.

16a   Gas // ring not designed to save energy (8)

"energy" = E [physics term] (show explanation )

In physics, E^[5] is a symbol used to represent energy in mathematical formulae ⇒ E = mc².

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17a   Particular // deal -- it collapsed (6)

19a   Too // old, so about fifty! (6)

20a   Good laugh recalled about a // bird (5,3)

"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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The tits, chickadees, and titmice^[7] constitute the Paridae, a large family of small passerine birds which occur in the northern hemisphere and Africa. These birds are called either "chickadees" or "titmice" in North America, and just "tits" in the rest of the English-speaking world.

The great tit^[10] is a large common Eurasian tit, Parus major, with yellow-and-black underparts and a black-and-white head.

A Pair of Great Tits

22a   Measure // pay (4)

23a   Fast /and/ crisp (5)

I thought that BRISK was the perfect answer — until 18d proved me wrong.

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Nippy^[5] is an informal British term meaning:

• able to move quickly; nimble ⇒ a very nippy scrum half [rugby player] 
• (of a motor vehicle) able to accelerate quickly ⇒ the new Saab is very nippy and jolly safe when overtaking.

24a   Sign of hesitation before turn, // thus (4)

27a   Do nothing // to crush the manual workers? (3,2,4,5)

The latter part of the clue is a whimsical literal interpretation of the solution.

28a   Try jumper /in/ sporting contest (4,7)

Test cricket^[7] is the longest form of the sport of cricket and is considered its highest standard. Test matches are played between national representative teams with "Test status", as determined and conferred by the International Cricket Council (ICC) (show more ).

The two teams of 11 players each play a four-innings match, which may last up to five days (or longer in some historical cases). It is generally considered the most complete examination of teams' playing ability and endurance. The name Test stems from the long, gruelling match being both mentally and physically testing.

There are currently twelve Test-playing men's teams. The teams all represent individual, independent nations, except for England, the West Indies, and Ireland. The teams are listed below with the year of each team's Test debut: 

• England (1877) - represents England and Wales
• Australia (1877)
• South Africa (1889)
• West Indies (1928) - represents 15 primarily English-speaking Caribbean territories
• New Zealand (1930)
• India (1932)
• Pakistan (1952)
• Sri Lanka (1982)
• Zimbabwe (1992)
• Bangladesh (2000)
• Ireland (2018) - represents the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland
• Afghanistan (2018)

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Down

2d   Old // as Dracula? (4,2,3,5)

3d   Open up // North Street from below (4)

I think you have to reverse the order of the components of the charade from what Miffypops indicates in his review.

4d   Period of time // Einstein transformed (8)

Scratching the Surface
Albert Einstein[5] (1879–1955) was a German-born American theoretical physicist, founder of the special and general theories of relativity. His name has become synonymous with genius ⇒ you won't have to be an Einstein to use it.

5d   Man // given role starts to look exasperated (6)

A man^[5] is a figure or token used in playing a board game — in this case, the game is chess.

In chess, castle^[5] is an old-fashioned informal term for a rook^[5], a chess piece, typically with its top in the shape of a battlement, that can move (unless obstructed by another chess piece or pawn) any number of spaces in any direction along a rank or file on which it stands. Each player starts the game with two rooks at opposite ends of the first rank [i.e., at the corners of the chessboard].

The Castle Debate

I have learned from discussions pertaining to past puzzles that chess purists hold that the proper name for this piece is a rook and that under no circumstances whatsoever is it ever to be referred to as a castle. Furthermore, they take great umbrage should those of us less attuned to the niceties of the game happen to commit this cardinal sin. Today, at Comment #9, Rabbit Dave merely gives an initial exasperated shrug. However, Sir Linkalot stirs the pot and sets off another spirited clash. Though, I must say, this one is undoubtedly the most interesting and informative debating session on this topic that I recall.

6d   Offensive /and/ honest, but not loud (4)

"loud" = F [music notation] (show explanation )

Forte^[5] (abbreviation f^[5]) is a musical direction meaning (as an adjective) loud or (as an adverb) loudly.

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7d   Catch, bit of a fiddle /in/ game (8,6)

The bridge^[5] is the part of a stringed instrument over which the strings are stretched.

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Contract bridge^[10] is the most common variety of the card game bridge, in which the declarer receives points counting towards game and rubber only for tricks bid and made, with any additional tricks (overtricks) counting as bonus points.

8d   Colonialist abroad // going back and forth (11)

10d   Cool // place in Billingsgate Market? (11)

Billingsgate Fish Market^[7] is located in Poplar in London. It is the United Kingdom's largest inland fish market. It takes its name from Billingsgate, a ward in the south-east corner of the City of London, where the riverside market was originally established. In its original location in the 19th century, Billingsgate was the largest fish market in the world.

14d   Very // merry (5)

Jolly^[5] (adverb) is an informal British term meaning very or extremely ⇒ he is jolly busy.

15d   Plane diverted /to find/ country (5)

Nepal^[5] is a mountainous landlocked country in southern Asia, in the Himalayas (and including Mount Everest).

18d   One asking a question, // paid model? (8)

The question, should it garner a positive response, is the first step toward the altar.

21d   Sounding like baby bird, // old seal (6)

A cygnet^[5] is a young swan.

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Historically, a signet^[5] was a small seal, especially one set in a ring, used instead of or with a signature to give authentication to an official document.

25d   Queen // able, not needing equerry initially (4)

Anne^[7] (1665–1714) became Queen of England, Scotland and Ireland on 8 March 1702. On 1 May 1707, under the Acts of Union, two of her realms, the kingdoms of England and Scotland, united as a single sovereign state, the United Kingdom of Great Britain. She continued to reign as Queen of Great Britain and Ireland until her death.

Why the Nursery Rhyme
I can see no particular reason for the inclusion of the nursery rhyme "The Queen of Hearts"[7] in Miffypops' review. I had initially supposed that the personage featured in the rhyme might have been based on Queen Anne. However, she is not among those suggested by Wikipedia as possible sources of inspiration[7] for the character.

Scratching the Surface
An equerry[5] is* an officer of the British royal household who attends or assists members of the royal family ⇒ he became equerry to the Duke of Kent. * Historically, an equerry[5] was an officer of the household of a prince or noble who had charge over the stables.

26d   Powder // hidden in ornamental casket (4)

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