Puzzle at a Glance
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Puzzle Number in The Daily Telegraph
DT 28827 | |
Publication Date in The Daily Telegraph
Saturday, August 25, 2018 | |
Setter
Unknown | |
Link to Full Review
Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 28827 – Hints]Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 28827 – Review] | |
Big Dave's Crossword Blog Review Written By
Big Dave (Hints)gnomethang (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.
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Introduction
This is certainly a very gentle mental workout on a cold, crisp day.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
2a Back with cord /used in/ alternative plan (6,6)
The expression second string[5] (often in the phrase a second string to one's bow) denotes an alternative resource or course of action in case another one fails ⇒
he was principally a batsman and bowling was the second string to his bow.
8a Initially, Frenchman eats the artisan // cheese (4)
9a Short-time worker delayed /producing/ pattern (8)
10a Hurry around /in/ this vehicle (8)
11a No Republican hit back, /as/ usual (6)
"Republican" = {R | REP} (show explanation )
A Republican[5] (abbreviation R[5] or Rep.[5]) is a member or supporter of the Republican Party[5], one of the two main US political parties*, favouring a right-wing stance, limited central government, and tough, interventionist foreign policy. It was formed in 1854 in support of the anti-slavery movement preceding the Civil War.
* the other being the Democratic Party
In the UK, republican[5] can refer to an advocate of a united Ireland but the abbreviation does not seem to apply to that usage.
hide explanation
A Republican[5] (abbreviation R[5] or Rep.[5]) is a member or supporter of the Republican Party[5], one of the two main US political parties*, favouring a right-wing stance, limited central government, and tough, interventionist foreign policy. It was formed in 1854 in support of the anti-slavery movement preceding the Civil War.
* the other being the Democratic Party
In the UK, republican[5] can refer to an advocate of a united Ireland but the abbreviation does not seem to apply to that usage.
hide explanation
12a Natural impulse about Diane // isn't clear (10)
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. Today's setter gives us a slight variation on the theme.
13a Reportedly drunken sailor /with/ takeover bid! (6)
As a link word, I would imagine that with[5,10] is being used in the sense of caused by or prompted by ⇒ (i)
shaking with rage; (ii)
trembling with fear.
"sailor" = JACK (show explanation )
The entry for jack in The Chambers Dictionary would fill a page if it were not spread over parts of two pages. Among the definitions, one finds jack[1] defined as (often with capital) a sailor.
hide explanation
The entry for jack in The Chambers Dictionary would fill a page if it were not spread over parts of two pages. Among the definitions, one finds jack[1] defined as (often with capital) a sailor.
hide explanation
What did he say?
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In his review on Big Dave's Crossword Blog, gnomethang tells us that the second part of the charade isA bit of a typo there. He clearly intended to write Jolly Jack Tar.JACK for a sailor (Jlly [sic] Jack Tar). In addition to jack (see above), both jolly and tar are informal terms for a sailor:
A Wikipedia article on English Folk Music[7] informs us that the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars (1797–1815) saw "the emergence of a stereotype of the English seaman as ‘Jolly Jack Tar’, who appeared in many ballads and on stage." |
16a In Colombo, he avoided // tea (5)
Bohea[5] is a black China tea that comes from the last crop of the season and is usually regarded as of low quality.
17a Sport is as frenzied /in/ the country (6)
"sport" = RU (show explanation )
Rugby union[10] (abbreviation RU[5]) is a form of rugby football played between teams of 15 players (in contrast to rugby league[5], which is played in teams of thirteen).
Rugby union[7] is the national sport in New Zealand, Wales, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga and Madagascar.
hide explanation
Rugby union[10] (abbreviation RU[5]) is a form of rugby football played between teams of 15 players (in contrast to rugby league[5], which is played in teams of thirteen).
Rugby union[7] is the national sport in New Zealand, Wales, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga and Madagascar.
hide explanation
18a Comedian unravelled a rope /in/ absurd emotional situation (5,5)
A comic opera[5] is an opera that portrays humorous situations and characters, enhanced by much spoken dialogue ⇒ (i)
a new recording of Rossini's frothiest comic opera; (ii)
he looked like a character from comic opera. The Chambers Dictionary also gives comic opera[1] the figurative meaning of an absurd emotional situation.
21a Adversely criticise // assault (6)
23a Restrain // worker on strike (8)
24a Folk music /from/ one American during parade on island (8)
Mariachi[5] is a type of traditional Mexican folk music, performed by a small group of strolling musicians ⇒
But even love's lament is upbeat in mariachi, a musical genre bursting with the passion of Mexico.
25a It flies // north-east after little hesitation (4)
Erne[5] is a literary name for the sea eagle[5], a large Eurasian fish-eating eagle that frequents coasts and wetlands.
26a Not concerned /from/ tune resident played (12)
Down
1d Profit /from/ ticket (6)
Return[5] is a British term for a ticket which allows someone to travel to a place and back again ⇒ (i)
Commuter fares from the city centre to Raheny, for example, now € 1.50 for a single, will increase to € 1.55, while a €2.70 return will cost €2.80.; (ii)
From New York, Amtrak trains take about 13 hours to Toronto; returns cost £95.*.
* Of twenty-one usage examples given by Oxford Dictionaries Online, eighteen use the term "return ticket" rather than "return" — thereby hardly being illustrative of the point the site is attempting to convey. The two usage examples cited here use "return" in the sense of "return ticket" while the remaining one uses it in the sense of "return fare" ⇒
You can get to Strasbourg by Ryan Air for £29.09 return from Stansted.
2d Lustful // Sarah, with Bill, promises to pay (9)
Sal[7] is a diminutive form of Sally[7] — which, in turn, is a diminutive form of Sarah.
3d Actor confused about victor/'s/ frolic (6)
Victor[5] is a code word representing the letter V, used in radio communication.
4d Notts County (15)
Notts.[5] is the abbreviation for Nottinghamshire, a county in central England.
Scratching the Surface
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| Were I to know anything about the lower tiers of English football, this clue might have struck me as slightly more cryptic than was my initial bewildered impression. Notts County Football Club[7], nicknamed the Magpies, is an association football [soccer] club based in Nottingham, England. Founded in 1862, they are the oldest professional association football club in the world. They participate in League Two, the fourth tier of English football, as of the 2018–19 season. |
5d South African fellow removed hat /for/ a lady (8)
No Means of Support?
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| SA[5] is the abbreviation for South Africa — but nowhere did I find it listed as an abbreviation for South African. I even considered the letters separately but found no listing for A as an abbreviation for African (or Africa for that matter). |
As an anagram indicator, remove[5] (or remove to) is used in the dated sense of to change one’s home or place of residence by moving to (another place) ⇒
he removed to Wales and began afresh.
6d Overrule Robert hoarding // stationery (5)
While I tend to think of stationery[10] as writing paper and envelopes, it also includes other writing materials such as pens, ink, rulers, etc.
7d Produce egg after fruit /for/ songbird (8)
The nuthatch[5] is a small songbird with a stiffened tail, which climbs up and down tree trunks and feeds on nuts, seeds, and insects.
14d Stuffed // conserve in case (3-6)
A conserve[10] is a preparation of fruit in sugar, similar to jam but usually containing whole pieces of fruit.
15d Verse /from/ Iraq aunt translated (8)
A quatrain[5] is a stanza of four lines, especially one having alternate rhymes.
16d Support aircraftsman before he /is/ a pain (8)
AC[1,5] is the abbreviation for aircraftman[1,5] (or aircraftsman[1]) or aircraftwoman[1,5] (or aircraftswoman[1]), a man or woman who holds the lowest rank in the RAF, below leading aircraftman[1,5] (or leading aircraftsman[1]) or leading aircraftwoman[1,5] (or leading aircraftswoman[1]).
19d Is unable // to put girl into bed (6)
What did he say?
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In his hint on Big Dave's Crossword Blog, Big Dave refers to a cot asIn Britain, a small bed with high barred sides for a baby or very young child is called a cot[5] rather than a crib[5] as it is known in North America.a child’s bed). |
20d Clarify, // almost cultured (6)
22d Bring into line, // a line, say (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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