Wednesday, February 27, 2019 — DT 28846

Puzzle at a Glance

Puzzle Number in The Daily Telegraph DT 28846
Publication Date in The Daily Telegraph Monday, September 17, 2018
Setter Dada (John Halpern)
Link to Full Review Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 28846]
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

The BD Rating for this puzzle is two stars for difficulty. Personally, I found it to be slightly more difficult than the typical "Monday" puzzle.

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   With opener dismissed, more than one drawing // lots (6)

5a   Jog by, around // border (8)

As an anagram indicator, jog^[5] might be used in one of the following senses, either of which could describe movements that might dislodge letters from their former positions:

• move in an unsteady way ⇒ the bus jogged and jolted;
• nudge or knock slightly ⇒ a hand jogged his elbow.

9a   Cursed // swindle set up (10)

Confounded^[5] is a dated, informal term used for emphasis, especially to express anger or annoyance ⇒ he was a confounded nuisance.

10a   A whip cut, // I'm sorry to say (4)

11a   Airmen prepared to be caught by US soldier, // writing on the wall (8)

"US soldier" = GI (show explanation )

A GI^[5] is a private soldier in the US army ⇒ she went off with a GI during the war.

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Origin: Contrary to popular belief, the term apparently is not an abbreviation for general infantryman, but rather derives from the term government (or general) issue (originally denoting equipment supplied to US forces).

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12a   So // I'm not convinced (6)

I think the two definitions cited by Miffypops essentially amount to the same thing. I would say that in the first definition, the word "so" is used as an intensifier ⇒ I am so pleased you could attend.

13a   Long // bag snipped at both ends (4)

15a   Comprehensive // done maintaining order, initially (8)

18a   Orange // tongue (8)

My first thought was that the "orange tongue" might be Dutch. I quickly realized that left me a bit short on letters.

19a   Type of rock // became hard (4)

"hard" = H (show explanation )

H^[2,5] is an abbreviation for hard, as used in describing grades of pencil lead ⇒ a 2H pencil.

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Goth^[5] is a style of rock music derived from punk, typically with apocalyptic or mystical lyrics.

21a   Little boy after somewhere for bathing // suit (6)

Des^[7] is a masculine given name, mostly a short form (hypocorism^*) of Desmond.

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^* I must say that this word sounds more like a disease than a term of endearment

23a   Great weight is in wood -- // stagger (8)

25a   House party? // Murder! (2,2)

26a   Muddle bad, go in and ask /for/ cleaner (6,4)

27a   Centre is repaired // privately (2,6)

28a   Finish // offering loans, capital spent (6)

Down

2d   Nothing forbidding /in/ reputation (5)

Odour^[5] is used in the sense of a lingering quality or impression attaching to something ⇒ The place still had an aura, and an odour, of corrupt bureaucrats and their intellectual lackeys about it.

3d   Radical // had been sent off? (4-5)

Left-field^[5] is an adjective denoting (in relation to an artistic work) radical or experimental ⇒ left-field guitar-based music.

Scratching the Surface
If a football [soccer] player is sent off[14], the referee makes them leave the field during a game, as a punishment for seriously breaking the rules ⇒ The player was sent off for arguing with a linesman.

4d   Error keeping shed // fenced off (4,2)

5d   Fraud in equestrian competition? // One's taken to court (9,6)

The Badminton Horse Trials^[7] is a 5 day event, one of only six annual Concours Complet International (CCI) Four Star **** events as classified by the Fédération Équestre Internationale (FEI). It takes place in April or May each year in the park of Badminton House, the seat of the Duke of Beaufort in South Gloucestershire, England.

6d   Outsider // grounded when misbehaving (8)

7d   Measure drunk before a // play (5)

A measure^[2] is a standard unit of size, etc; a standard amount ⇒ a measure of whisky.

Dram^[5] is a Scottish term for a small drink of whiskey or other spirits ⇒ a wee dram to ward off the winter chill.

8d   Stuffed by nobleman, Conservative /gets/ [xx] (4,5)

An earl^[5] is a British nobleman ranking above a viscount and below a marquess [in other words, the third highest of the five ranks of British nobility — duke, marquess, earl, viscount, and baron].

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Rear light^[5] (also rear lamp) is an alternative British name for a tail light^[5]* (also tail lamp), a red light (usually one of a pair) at the rear of a vehicle.

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^* spelled tail-light by Collins English Dictionary^[4,10] and Chambers 21st Century Dictionary^[2] (but tail light by The Chambers Dictionary^[1]). Chambers 21st Century Dictionary characterizes the term tail-light as North American, while The Chambers Dictionary says that tail light is especially North American.

14d   Attempt to suppress // principal in Cambridge, light blue (9)

Scratching the Surface

I'm not entirely sure how to interpret the surface reading. I believe I understand the various component parts, but they don't seem to fit together in a way that makes any sense. Principal[5] is likely used in the sense of the head of a school, college, or other educational institution. Cambridge University[5] is a university at Cambridge in England, founded in 1230. The university comprises a federation of thirty-one colleges. The school colour of Cambridge University is Cambridge blue[5], a pale blue colour. The 2018 Cambridge University Women's Boat Club crew (wearing the "light blue")

16d   Broadcast aired, song // in order (9)

As an anagram indicator, broadcast^[5] is used in the sense of to scatter (seeds) by hand or machine rather than placing in drills or rows.

17d   From pass and save, some goal? (8)

In soccer, a cross^[5] is a pass of the ball across the field towards the centre close to one's opponents' goal ⇒ Beckham's low cross was turned into the net by Cole.

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A crossbar^[5] is the horizontal bar between the two upright posts of a goal in football, rugby, hockey, etc.

20d   Position // held by Pakistan, certainly (6)

22d   Meeting covering new // poet (5)

Dante^[5] (1265–1321), full name Dante Alighieri, was an Italian poet. (show more )

His reputation rests chiefly on The Divine Comedy (circa 1309–20), an epic poem describing his spiritual journey through Hell and Purgatory and finally to Paradise. His love for Beatrice Portinari is described in Vita nuova (circa 1290-4).

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Post Mortem
I tried to make the solution be English metaphysical poet John Donne[5] (1572–1631). That left me trying to justify "done" as meaning "meeting" which I thought just might work in the sense of "fulfilling or satisfying".

24d   Old transporter /in which/ Irishman carries daughter (5)

Sean^[7] is a male given name of Irish origin. Its correct Irish spelling is Seán or Séan, while an older form is Seaghán or Seaġán. It is the Irish spelling of the Biblical name John. Seán is the source for Anglo Gaelic versions such as Shaun, Shawn and Shon. Séan reflects the Ulster pronunciation and is anglicized Shane, Shaine or Shayne.

"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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Historically, a sedan^[5] (also sedan chair) was an enclosed chair for conveying one person, carried between horizontal poles by two porters.

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