Friday, February 1, 2019 — DT 28828

Puzzle at a Glance

Puzzle Number in The Daily Telegraph DT 28828
Publication Date in The Daily Telegraph Monday, August 27, 2018
Setter Mister Ron (Chris Lancaster)
Link to Full Review Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 28828]
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

Again today, a fairly light workout to end the week. After an extremely busy weekend caused me to fall behind in my blogging schedule and struggling all week to catch up, I have finally succeeded in doing so.

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   Assistant/'s/ strange idea on leave (4-2-4)

6a   Report from suburban GP (4)

9a   Staff includes great lecturer on international // language (10)

It took me a while to parse this clue; the "staff" is not a mace — in fact, its not even a noun.

A don^[10] is a member of the teaching staff at a university or college, especially at Oxford or Cambridge.

"international" = I (show explanation )

I.^[10] is the abbreviation for International.

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Macedonian^[5] could denote either of two languages:

• the Southern Slavic language of the republic of Macedonia and adjacent parts of Bulgaria
• the language of ancient Macedonia, probably a dialect of Greek

10a   Mostly chicken // gangland boss (4)

A capon^[3] is a male chicken castrated when young to improve the quality of its flesh for food.

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Capo^[5] is a North American term for the head of a crime syndicate, especially the Mafia, or a branch of one ⇒ the Sicilian capo claims he controls most of the world's heroin trade.

12a   Something to eat // caught by Windermere maybe, not using line (4)

"caught" = C [cricket term] (show explanation )

In cricket, one way for a batsman to be dismissed is to be caught out^[5], that is for a player on the opposing team to catch a ball that has been hit by the batsman before it touches the ground.

On cricket scorecards, the abbreviation c.^[2,10] or c^[5] denotes caught (by).

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Windermere^[5] is a lake in the English county of Cumbria, in the south-eastern part of the Lake District. At about 17 km (10 miles) in length, it is the largest lake in England. The town of Windermere lies on its eastern shores.

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

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

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13a   Make drunk // brew a beer in it (9)

15a   Distortion in sound // response (8)

16a   Prisoner // in China (6)

In Britain, china^[5] is an informal term for a friend (or, as the Brits would say, a mate^*). This meaning comes from cockney rhyming slang (show explanation ), where china is the shortened form of china plate which rhymes with 'mate'.

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^* In Britain, mate^[5] — in addition to being a person’s husband, wife, or other sexual partner — is an informal term for a friend or companion ⇒ my best mate Steve.

Rhyming slang^[5] is a type of slang that replaces words with rhyming words or phrases, typically with the rhyming element omitted. For example, butcher’s, short for butcher’s hook, means ‘look’ in cockney rhyming slang.

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18a   Flood // in French part of the Middle East? (6)

The French preposition en^[8] means 'in'.

The Gulf^[5] is a term that refers to the Persian Gulf^[5] (also called Arabian Gulf)^*, an arm of the Arabian Sea, to which it is connected by the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman. It extends north-westwards between the Arabian peninsula and the coast of south-western Iran.

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^* which name one chooses to use likely depends on the side of the gulf on which one finds oneself. Iran^[5] was known as Persia until 1935.

20a   Upset a model during PR /for/ film award (5,3)

The Palme d'Or^[5] (also Palme d'or or Palme D'Or) is an award given annually to the film judged as the best shown at the Cannes Film Festival.

23a   American // politician? (9)

A double definition; the first whimsical.

24a   Founder // that's normally given a plug (4)

26a   Sharp // answer by detectives (4)

"detectives" = CID (show explanation )

The Criminal Investigation Department (seemingly better known by its abbreviation CID^[2]) is the detective branch of a British police force.

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27a   Insult team playing // with time nearly up (4-6)

The word "with" must be included in the definition to make it an adjective.

28a   Pound, perhaps, /for/ old book (4)

Ezra Pound^[5] (1885–1972) was an American poet and critic, resident in Europe 1908–45. Initially associated with imagism, he later developed a highly eclectic poetic voice, drawing on a vast range of classical and other references and establishing a reputation as a modernist poet. Notable works: Hugh Selwyn Mauberley (1920) and Cantos (series, 1917–70).

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Ezra^[5] is a book of the Bible telling of Ezra^*, the return of the Jews from Babylon, and the rebuilding of the Temple.

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^* Ezra^[5] was a Jewish priest and scribe who played a central part in the reform of Judaism in the 5th or 4th century BC, continuing the work of Nehemiah and forbidding mixed marriages.

29a   Mike cannot let out // somebody who's unhappy (10)

Mike^[5] is a code word representing the letter M, used in radio communication.

Down

1d   Host/'s/ mad when bishop leaves (4)

Barmy^[5] (adjective) is an informal British term meaning:

• mad; crazy ⇒ I thought I was going barmy at first
• extremely foolish ⇒ this is a barmy decision

"bishop" = B [chess notation] (show explanation )

B^[5] is an abbreviation for bishop that is used in recording moves in chess.

A bishop^[5] is a chess piece, typically with its top shaped like a mitre. Unless obstructed by another piece, a bishop can move any number of spaces in any direction along a diagonal on which it stands. Each player starts the game with two bishops, one moving on white squares and the other on black.

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2d   Say // what captain might do to end innings (7)

The latter part of the clue refers to a circumstance that can arise during the play of a cricket match.

In cricket, a team continues to bat until ten of the eleven players on the team have been dismissed^* unless the captain of a batting team declares the innings closed prematurely [the rationale for doing so is explained below]. In the event that the captain declares the innings closed, his team takes the field and the opposing team bats.

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^* batsmen always appear in pairs and once ten players have been dismissed there is no partner available for the lone remaining player

The primary objective of each team in cricket^[7] is to score more runs than the opposing team. However, in Test cricket (a match between national teams), it is not only necessary to score the most runs but also to dismiss the opposition twice in order to win the match, which would otherwise be drawn. Therefore, the captain of a batting team which has built up a large lead may declare the innings closed prematurely in order to allow the opposition to bat (and thus gain an opportunity to dismiss them). As a captain, the key to victory is picking the right time to declare. Should he declare too early, the other team may score more runs than his team has amassed and thereby win. On the other hand, if he were to declare too late (or not declare at all), the match may end before his team can dismiss the other team (resulting in a draw, even though his team may have a substantial lead in runs).

3d   Avoid some problem -- // John Wayne invariably managed to do it (5,1,6)

John Wayne^[5] (1907–1979) was an American actor; born Marion Michael Morrison. Associated with the film director John Ford from 1930, Wayne became a Hollywood star with Stagecoach (1939) and appeared in classic westerns such as The Searchers (1956) and True Grit (1969), for which he won an Oscar.

4d   Persuade // mixed-up novice to pen new chapter (8)

"chapter" = C [publishing term] (show explanation )

The abbreviation for chapter (likely in textual references) is c.^[2]

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5d   Person complaining // Lisa's often behind this, outspokenly (6)

The word "moaner" , when pronounced in a non-rhotic (show explanation ) accent typical of dialects found in many parts of Britain (especially southeastern England), sounds like "Mona".

Non-rhotic accents omit the sound < r > in certain situations, while rhotic accents generally pronounce < r > in all contexts. Among the several dozen British English accents which exist, many are non-rhotic while American English (US and Canadian) is mainly rhotic. This is, however, a generalisation, as there are areas of Britain that are rhotic, and areas of America that are non-rhotic. For more information, see this guide to pronouncing < r > in British English.

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The Mona Lisa^[5] is a painting (now in the Louvre in Paris) executed 1503–6 by Leonardo da Vinci. The sitter was the wife of Francesco del Giocondo; her enigmatic smile has become one of the most famous images in Western art.

7d   Like two graduates /in/ part of America (7)

8d   What might make a fool // somebody unwanted (10)

Fool^[5] is a chiefly British name for a cold dessert made of pureed fruit mixed or served with cream or custard ⇒ raspberry fool with cream.

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Gooseberry^[5] is an informal British term for a third person in the company of two people, especially lovers, who would prefer to be alone ⇒ they didn’t want me playing gooseberry on their first date.

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Origin: The term comes from gooseberry-picker, referring to an activity used as a pretext for the lovers to be together.

11d   Broadcast // teaches one to leave before operation (12)

14d   In pursuit of small bear /in/ Cologne (10)

"small" = S [clothing size] (show explanation )

S^[5] is the abbreviation for small (as a clothing size).

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Scratching the Surface
In the surface reading, the word "Cologne" has been deceptively capitalized so as to suggest the city of Cologne[5] in western Germany. It is deemed fair game for the setter to capitalize words that do not need capitalizing but considered not cricket to fail to capitalize a word that requires one. See 21d for a second instance of this practice.

17d   Attractive // cast acting with me (8)

As an anagram indicator, I would say that cast^[5] is used in the sense of to shape (metal or other material) by pouring it into a mould while molten ⇒ when hammered or cast, bronze could be made into tools.

19d   Tradesman // after golf not as hardworking (7)

Golf^[5] is a code word representing the letter G, used in radio communication.

21d   Depression on River // Plate (7)

The River Ure^[7] is a stream in North Yorkshire, England, approximately 74 miles (119 km) long from its source to the point where it changes name to the River Ouse.

Scratching the Surface

The River Plate[7] is a wide estuary on the Atlantic coast of South America at the border between Argentina and Uruguay, formed by the confluence of the Rivers Paraná and Uruguay. The cities of Buenos Aires and Montevideo lie on its shores. In 1939 it was the scene of a naval battle in which the British defeated the Germans. The Spanish name is Río de la Plata. Again the setter has deceptively capitalized a definition (see 14d), this time by incorporating it into the name of the South American river.

22d   Animal // kept in Blenheim Palace (6)

The impala^[5] is a graceful antelope often seen in large herds in open woodland in southern and East Africa.

Scratching the Surface
Blenheim Palace[5] is a palace in Woodstock in Oxfordshire, England: built (1705–22) by Sir John Vanbrugh for the 1st Duke of Marlborough as a reward from the nation for his victory at Blenheim; gardens laid out by Henry Wise and Capability Brown; birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill (1874).

25d   Batter // vegetable according to the radio (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