Puzzle at a Glance
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Puzzle Number in The Daily Telegraph
DT 28865 | |
Publication Date in The Daily Telegraph
Tuesday, October 9, 2018 | |
Setter
Unknown | |
Link to Full Review
Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 28865] | |
Big Dave's Crossword Blog Review Written By
Mr K | |
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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Introduction
I — like many others, I see, after reading the comments on Big Dave's Crossword Blog — struggled in the southwest corner.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.
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Across
3a Magnificent having lots of money /in/ hand (5,5)
In the card game poker, a royal flush[5] is astraight flush including ace, king, queen, jack, and
ten all in the same suit, which is the hand of the highest possible
value when wild cards are not in use.
8a Power mad // buccaneer (6)
"power" = P [symbol used in physics] (show reference )
9a Historian/'s/ musical instrument? (8)
A double definition, with the first perhaps being slightly on the cryptic side.
10a Lots // lost weight (8)
Shedload[5] is an informal British term for a large amount or number ⇒
had she decided to join a rival, she would doubtless be earning a shedload of money.
Origin: a euphemism for 'shitload'
11a Ring and order // fruit (6)
12a Weighty book, not English dictionary, /gives/ this cocktail (3,7)
The Collins English Dictionary[7] is a printed and online dictionary of English. It is published by HarperCollins in Glasgow, Scotland.
A Tom Collins[5] is a cocktail made from gin mixed with soda, sugar, and lemon or lime juice.
Origin: sometimes said to have been named after a 19th-century London bartender
14a By lake, spotted pierid briefly fluttering -- that interests me? (13)
I pretty much concur with Mr K's assessment, seeing the entire clue as a cryptic definition which one could interpret as "I am someone who is interested in butterflies". The wordplay is embedded in the definition.
A pierid[5] is a butterfly of a family (Pieridae) which includes the whites, brimstones, and sulphurs.
A lepidopterist[5] is a person who studies or collects butterflies and moths.
20a Incomplete passage concerning // fielding position (5,5)
In cricket, extra cover[5] denotes either a fielding position between cover point and mid-off but further from the wicket or a fielder at this position.
22a Group round bar suffering reversal /in/ game (6)
23a Wears tie loose? // In a way (2,2,4)
24a Gas // discharged by a representative (8)
"representative" = MP (show explanation )
In Britain (as in Canada), a politician elected to the House of Commons is known as a Member of Parliament[10] (abbreviation MP[5]) or, informally, as a member[5].
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In Britain (as in Canada), a politician elected to the House of Commons is known as a Member of Parliament[10] (abbreviation MP[5]) or, informally, as a member[5].
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Firedamp[10] is a mixture of hydrocarbons, chiefly methane, formed in coal mines. It forms explosive mixtures with air.
25a Policeman arresting husband, extremely prickly /and/ rough (6)
26a Keen observer, // European, at present enthralled by river (7,3)
E[1,2] is the abbreviation for European (as in E number*).
* An E number[1,4,10,14] (or E-number[2,5]) is any of various identification codes required by EU law, consisting of the letter E (for European) followed by a number, that are used to denote food additives such as colourings and preservatives (but excluding flavourings) that have been approved by the European Union.
The Wye[5] is a river which rises in the mountains of western Wales and flows 208 km (132 miles) generally south-eastwards, entering the Severn estuary at Chepstow. In its lower reaches it forms part of the border between Wales and England.
A weather eye[2] is an eye watchful for developments. The expression keep a weather eye on[5] means to observe very carefully, especially for changes or developments ⇒
regular bank statements let you keep a weather eye on your finances.
Down
1d One who likes to stay up late // close to West End in capital? (5,3)
Nigh[5] is an archaic or literary term meaning near ⇒ (i)
the end is nigh; (ii)
a car weighing nigh on two tons.
2d Help one cover // obstacle (8)
3d Fly back /in/ rear of helicopter with E. Coli needing treatment (6)
4d Wagon carrying beer turned up /in/ quadrangle (4)
A dray[2,5,10] is a low horse-drawn cart without fixed sides, for delivering beer barrels or other heavy loads.
In Britain, a yard[10] is a piece of enclosed ground, usually either paved [covered with paving stones] or laid with concrete and often adjoining or surrounded by a building or buildings.
Here and There
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| Note that the land adjoining a house that is known in North American as a yard, would be called a garden in the UK. In Britain, a garden[2,10] is an area of land, usually one adjoining a house, where grass, trees, flowers and other ornamental plants, fruit, vegetables, etc, are grown. Note that a British garden includes the lawn as well as everything else whereas a North American garden would comprise only the flower and vegetable beds and any trees or shrubs contained therein and exclude the lawn and any trees or shrubs growing there. |
5d Game // lady, not half, scores freely (8)
Lacrosse[5] is a team game, originally played by North American Indians, in which the ball is thrown, carried, and caught with a long-handled stick having a curved L-shaped or triangular frame at one end with a piece of shallow netting in the angle.
6d Rope /appears once/ a trial is done (6)
In his review on Big Dave's Crossword Blog, Mr K identifies the anagram indicator as "appears once ... is done".
On the other hand, I viewed "appears once" as a link phrase with the anagram indicator being simply "is done".
As an anagram indicator, do[5] (past tense done) might possibly be used in an informal British sense meaning to do the cleaning for a person or household ⇒
Florrie usually did for the Shermans in the mornings. Thus one can think of the cleaning lady rearranging the letters as she straightens up the house.
7d The Parisian coming into view having lost little time /getting/ vehicle fit for use in snow (6)
"the Parisian" = LE (show explanation )
13d Contribution /from/ home deposited (5)
15d Get on after groom /in/ equestrian event (8)
Dress[5] is used in the sense of to arrange or style (hair) ⇒
Patrick dressed Michelle's hair in a sculptured, Japanese-type style.
Dressage[5] is the art of riding and training a horse in a manner that develops obedience, flexibility, and balance ⇒ (i)
she was learning dressage on a black mare; (ii)
Britain's top dressage rider.
16d Type of timber /in/ two golf clubs (8)
In golf, an iron[2] is any of various clubs with an angled iron head, used for shorter distance shots of about 100-200 yards.
In golf, a wood[2] is a club with a head traditionally made of wood, now usually of metal, used for driving the ball long distances.
Ironwood[5] is the name of any of a number of trees that produce very hard timber, in particular a North American tree (Ostrya virginiana) related to the hornbeam and a southern African tree (Olea laurifolia) of the olive family.
17d Male, Greek, breaking record /producing/ wine (3,5)
The grape[5] is an informal term for wine ⇒
It was through that and visiting vineyards while travelling with her husband that their love of the grape grew.
18d A red // employed by Spencer is eyecatching (6)
Cerise[5] is a light clear red colour.
Scratching the Surface
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Spencer is the surname of several British painters, including:
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19d Protest /could get/ wild if rained off (6)
Rained off[10] is the British term for rained out.
Post Mortem
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| Despite having the correct solution and, in general, correctly understanding the clue structure, I did not twig to the full parsing until I had read Mr K's review (which is difficult to understand as he really doesn't say anything of which I was not already aware). |
21d A bit // each (6)
23d Primate boxing in small // part of church (4)
"small" = S [clothing size] (show reference )
An apse[5] is a large semicircular or polygonal recess in a church, arched or with a domed roof and typically at the church's eastern end.
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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