Tuesday, February 26, 2019 — DT 28845

Puzzle at a Glance

Puzzle Number in The Daily Telegraph DT 28845
Publication Date in The Daily Telegraph Saturday, September 15, 2018
Setter Unknown
Link to Full Review Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 28845 – Hints] Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 28845 – Review]
Big Dave's Crossword Blog Review Written By Big Dave (Hints) crypticsue (Review)
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
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.

Introduction

In her review on Big Dave's Crossword Blog, crypticsue gave this puzzle three stars for difficulty. I would say that it is definitely at the extreme top end of three star territory — if not edging into the four star region. It certainly gave my brain an excellent workout.

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   Recording everything /produced by/ pop act, high or tripping (12)

8a   Scribbling heartlessly after love // split (7)

"love" = O [tennis term] (show explanation )

In tennis, squash, and some other sports, love^[5] is a score of zero or nil ⇒ love fifteen. The resemblance of a zero written as a numeral (0) to the letter O leads to the cryptic crossword convention of the word "love" being used to clue this letter.

Although folk etymology has connected the word with French l'oeuf 'egg', from the resemblance in shape between an egg and a zero, the term apparently comes from the phrase play for love (i.e. the love of the game, not for money).

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9a   They steal // this, having cased day before (7)

11a   BBC or Channel 5, say? // Lad consumes rubbish one (7)

Rubbish^[5] is used in the sense of material that is considered unimportant or valueless ⇒ she had to sift through the rubbish in every drawer.

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^* Oxford Dictionaries Online considers the word rubbish^[5] (in all senses) to be British — despite it not being characterized as such by American dictionaries. I would think that, as a noun, the word has long ago become accepted in North America. That is not the case, however, when it is used as an adjective or verb. (show more )

In North America, the word rubbish^[3,11] is employed only as a noun whereas, in the UK, it is also used as an adjective or verb:

• Rubbish^[5] (adjective) is an informal British term denoting very bad; worthless or useless ⇒ (i) people might say I was a rubbish manager; (ii) she was rubbish at maths^*.

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  ^* In Britain, the short form for mathematics is maths^[5] ⇒ her mother was a maths teacher, rather than math^[5] as is the case in North America ⇒ she teaches math and science.

• Rubbish^[4,5] (verb) is an informal British term meaning to criticize severely and reject as worthless ⇒ he rubbished the idea of a European Community-wide carbon tax.

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Tat^[5] is an informal British term for tasteless or shoddy clothes, jewellery, or ornaments ⇒ the place was decorated with all manner of gaudy tat.

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The BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation^[5]) is a public corporation for radio and television broadcasting in Britain. (show more )

The BBC was established in 1927 by royal charter and held a monopoly until the introduction of the first commercial TV station in 1954. It is financed by the sale of television viewing licences rather than by revenue from advertising and has an obligation to remain impartial in its reporting.

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Channel 5^[7] is a British free-to-air television network. It was launched in 1997, and was the fifth national terrestrial analogue network in the United Kingdom after BBC One, BBC Two, ITV, and Channel 4.

Network or Station?
To my way of thinking, the BBC and Channel 5 are networks (groups of stations) and not stations per se. However, I suppose, were I to walk into a room where the TV was on and ask what station are you watching, the response might be BBC.

12a   Break // shower switching taps? (7)

Shower^[5] is used in the sense of to cause (a mass of small things) to fall in a shower ⇒ the young Maharajah rode on his elephant, showering gold and silver coins on jubilant crowds of his subjects.

13a   In essence, mystique enfolds // her (5)

I am less than enamoured with the definition here. Perhaps the setter intended the entire clue to be a cryptic definition containing embedded wordplay:

• 13a   In essence, mystique enfolds // her (5)

However, I'm not sure that I like that much better.

14a   Give up // on French -- translate (9)

In French, sur^[8] is a preposition meaning 'on'.

16a   Cuts out about 13 // physical jerks (9)

The numeral "13" is a cross reference indicator to clue 13a (show more ).

To complete the clue, a solver must replace the cross reference indicator with the solution to the clue starting in the light^* identified by the cross reference indicator.

The cross reference indicator may include a directional indicator but this is customarily done only in situations where there are both Across and Down clues originating in the light that is being referenced.

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^* light-coloured cell in the grid

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"Queen" = ER (show explanation )

The regnal ciphers (monograms) of British monarchs are initials formed from the Latin version of their first name followed by either Rex or Regina (Latin for king or queen, respectively). Thus, the regnal cipher of Queen Elizabeth is ER^[5] — from the Latin Elizabetha Regina.

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19a   Inputs // marks (5)

Although I initially had reservations concerning the second definition, mark meaning type is found in both British and American dictionaries:

• Mark^[5] (followed by a numeral) denotes a particular model or type of a vehicle or machine ⇒ a Mark 10 Jaguar.
• Mark^[3] (usually used with a number) denotes a specific model, type, or iteration, as of a product or machine, especially when part of a series ⇒ the mark IV model of this car.

21a   Outfit // uniform this person's found beyond price (7)

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

"this person" = ME (show explanation )

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.

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23a   Idea that's a non-starter -- seabird // that carries a light! (7)

The tern^[5] is a seabird related to the gulls, typically smaller and more slender, with long pointed wings and a forked tail.

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In her review on Big Dave's Crossword Blog, crypticsue shows the definition to be merely the word "light". However, in order to account for all the words in the clue, I believe the the definition must be "[something] that carries a light" which is based on the first definition of lantern^[1] given in The Chambers Dictionary:

• a case for holding or carrying a light;
• a lamp or light contained in such a case.

Otherwise, the words "that carries" must be interpreted as a link phrase — which, in my view, does not work well.

24a   Notice cutter/'s/ sails repeatedly up and down (7)

Here sails^[5] is used — not in reference to the movement of a ship — but in the sense of to move smoothly and rapidly or in a stately or confident manner ⇒ she sailed into the conference room at 2:30 sharp.

25a   Original // sign (7)

26a   Restlessly lie in -- neglect /to give/ reason (12)

Scratching the Surface
Lie in[5] is a British term meaning to remain in bed after the normal time for getting up ⇒ if I’m not due anywhere I’ll lie in until something kick-starts the day.

Down

1d   Set up // rapper to get busted with drug (7)

"drug" = E (show explanation )

E^[5] is an abbreviation for the drug Ecstasy^* or a tablet of Ecstasy ⇒ (i) people have died after taking E; (ii) being busted with three Es can lead to stiff penalties.

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^* Ecstasy^[5] is an illegal amphetamine-based synthetic drug with euphoric effects, originally produced as an appetite suppressant. Also called MDMA (Methylenedioxymethamphetamine).

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2d   Cause of tears when knife is wielded, with unusual number arrested /getting/ conviction (7)

Pi^[5] is the numerical value of the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter (approximately 3.14159).

3d   More than one living being /made from/ India following keyboard text service (9)

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

 SMS^[5] (abbreviation for Short Message Service or Short Messaging Service) is a system that enables mobile phone users to send and receive text messages.

4d   Traitors, retaining European // judges (5)

5d   Tommy/'s/ secret (7)

In the UK, tommy^[5,10] (also Tommy or Tommy Atkins) is an informal term for a private in the British Army.

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Origin:  19th Century: originally Thomas Atkins, a fictitious name representing a typical private in British Army specimen forms.

6d   Had round // in time to meet journalist after six (7)

The definition is used in the sense of 'had (guests) round to your home'.

7d   Crime series /creates/ results (12)

10d   Grisly pun Sir Dicky /makes/ in a funny way (12)

... funny strange not funny ha-ha!

As an anagram indicator, dicky^[5] (or dickey) is an informal British term meaning in bad condition; shaky, unsteady, or unreliable ⇒ I feel a bit dicky today.

Scratching the Surface

This may be a bit of a stretch, but there was once a British naval officer known as Sir Dicky. Sir Richard Strachan, 6th Baronet[7] (1760–1828) was a British officer of the Royal Navy during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, eventually rising to the rank of admiral. Sir Dicky, as his friends referred to him, was the last Chief of Clan Strachan. The Baronetcy became dormant in 1854 as he died without male heir.

15d   On offensive, not in at the beginning /or/ ending (9)

17d   Like Tibet /and/ Nepal, banning anything odd, authoritarian (7)

Tibet^[5] is a mountainous region in Asia on the northern side of the Himalayas, since 1965 forming an autonomous region in the west of China.

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

18d   Pluck // our nestling in aviary? (7)

19d   Worry // no one's bag will turn up (7)

Bag^[5] (verb) means:

• to succeed in killing or catching (an animal) ⇒ Mike bagged nineteen cod;
• to succeed in securing (something) ⇒ (i) we’ve bagged three awards for excellence; (ii) get there early to bag a seat in the front row.

Net^[5] (verb) means:

• to catch (a fish or other animal) with a net ⇒ (i) damage caused when netting the fish; (ii) rabbits can be netted all the year round;
• to acquire or obtain in a skilful way ⇒ customs officials have netted large caches of drugs.

20d   Abbreviation -- abbreviation of 17, /to be/ exact (7)

The numeral "17" is a cross reference indicator to clue 17d (show more ).

To complete the clue, a solver must replace the cross reference indicator with the solution to the clue starting in the light^* identified by the cross reference indicator.

The cross reference indicator may include a directional indicator but this is customarily done only in situations where there are both Across and Down clues originating in the light that is being referenced.

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^* light-coloured cell in the grid

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22d   Moderate undermined by Left -- // that holds up work (5)

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