Wednesday, March 6, 2019 — DT 28851

Puzzle at a Glance

Puzzle Number in The Daily Telegraph DT 28851
Publication Date in The Daily Telegraph Saturday, September 22, 2018
Setter Unknown
Link to Full Review Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 28851 – Hints] Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 28851 – Review]
Big Dave's Crossword Blog Review Written By Big Dave (Hints) gnomethang (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

One is unlikely to break a sweat with today's very gentle 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   Diana given emphasis /when/ much troubled (10)

Without a doubt, Diana (often appearing in its diminutive form Di) is the most popular female name in Crosswordland.

6a   Method of transmitting data // initially with information found inside (2-2)

8a   Melting a disintegrating // fibrous tissue (8)

9a   Flat entrance partly // concealed (6)

10a   Pay again /and/ move house (8)

I would say that the first part of the clue fails to qualify as a second definition as the numeration would almost certainly be (2-6) — although gnomethang does not appear to concur with me on this point.

11a   Part of speech a student/'s/ not written (6)

"student" = L [driver under instruction] (show explanation )

The cryptic crossword convention of L meaning learner or student arises from the L-plate^[7], a square plate bearing a sans-serif letter L, for learner, which must be affixed to the front and back of a vehicle in various jurisdictions (including the UK) if its driver is a learner under instruction.

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12a   Insect, queen /having/ drink (4)

"queen" = R (show explanation )

Queen may be abbreviated as Q, Qu. or R.

Q^[5] is an abbreviation for queen that is used especially in describing play in card games and recording moves in chess.

Qu.^[2] is another common abbreviation for Queen.

In the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms^*, Regina^[5] (abbreviation R^[5]) [Latin for queen] denotes the reigning queen, used following a name (e.g. Elizabetha Regina, Queen Elizabeth — often shortened to ER) or in the titles of lawsuits (e.g. Regina v. Jones, the Crown versus Jones — often shortened to R. v. Jones).

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^* A Commonwealth realm^[7] is a sovereign state that is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations and shares the same person, currently Elizabeth II, as its head of state and reigning constitutional monarch, but retains a crown legally distinct from the other realms. There are currently sixteen Commonwealth realms, the largest being Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom with the remainder being smaller Caribbean and Pacific island nations.

Thus Queen Elizabeth signs her name as 'Elizabeth R' as seen here on Canada's paint-stained constitution.

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14a   Be wrong about // motorway hazard (7)

The M1^[7] is a north–south motorway^* in England connecting London to Leeds.

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^* Motorway^[2,5] (abbreviation M^[5]) is a British, Australian, and New Zealand term for a dual-carriageway road [divided highway] designed for fast-moving traffic, especially one with three lanes per carriageway [direction of travel] and limited access and exit points [controlled access].

Hazard^[5] is used in the sense of to put (something) at risk of being lost ⇒ (i)  the cargo business is too risky to hazard money on; (ii) You hazard your good name and very nearly ruin the reputation of others.

Stake^[5] is used in the sense of to gamble (money or something else of value) on the outcome of a game or race ⇒ (i) one gambler staked everything he'd got and lost; (ii) [figurative] it was risky to stake his reputation on one big success.

18a   Car Lily damaged // -- wax it, perhaps, if feeling enthusiastic? (7)

Wax^[5] is used in the sense of begin to speak or write about something in the specified manner. The expression wax lyrical^[5] means to talk in a highly enthusiastic and effusive way ⇒ he waxed lyrical about his splendid son-in-law.

20a   Margin // found in middle of accounts book (4)

23a   Top two in class are taking temperature /of/ wine (6)

In his hint on Big Dave's Crossword Blog, I am sure gnomethang intended to write The top two letters of CL(ass) ... . rather than The top two letters of CL(aret) ... .

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Claret^[5] is a red wine from Bordeaux, or wine of a similar character made elsewhere.

24a   Beastly time /in/ the cheapest accommodation? (8)

Historically, steerage^[5] was the part of a ship providing the cheapest accommodation for passengers ⇒ poor emigrants in steerage.

25a   A fish I caught -- /or/ mushroom? (6)

Gar^[5] is another name for the freshwater garfish of North America — garfish^[5] being a name given to a number of long, slender saltwater and freshwater fish with elongated beak-like jaws containing sharply pointed teeth.

"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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An agaric^[2] is any of various fungi [including mushrooms and other fungi having a similar structure] that produce an umbrella-shaped spore-bearing structure with a central vertical stem supporting a circular cap.

Delving Deeper

A toadstool[5] is the spore-bearing fruiting body of a fungus, typically in the form of a rounded cap on a stalk, especially one that is believed to be inedible or poisonous. A mushroom[5] is a fungal growth that typically takes the form of a domed cap on a stalk, with gills on the underside of the cap. Mushrooms are fruiting bodies that produce spores, growing from the hyphae of fungi concealed in soil or wood. Proverbial for rapid growth, many varieties are edible and toadstools are often called mushrooms when they are considered to be edible.

26a   Vegetable /giving/ brother terrible colic (8)

Here and There

In the UK, bro[5] is simply short for brother ⇒ his baby bro. In addition, Bro. is used as an abbreviation for Brother (used before a first name when referring in writing to a member of a religious order of men) ⇒ Bro. Felix. In North American usage, bro[5] denotes a male friend (often used as a form of address) ⇒ (i) they’d never choose a girl over their bros; (ii) not cool, bro. In this sense, bro is used in North America much like the word mate[5] in the UK.

27a   Remain // second highest (4)

28a   Chicken-hearted eccentric/'s/ official warning (6,4)

In soccer and some other games, a yellow card^[5] is a yellow card shown by the referee to a player being cautioned ⇒ Eddis was shown the yellow card for a late tackle^* on Candlish.

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^* In soccer and field hockey, a tackle^[5] is an act of playing the ball, or attempting to do so, when it is in the possession of an opponent — not, as in rugby and North American football, an act of seizing and attempting to stop a player in possession of the ball.

Down

1d   Lied about drink I swallowed /producing/ wild excitement (8)

2d   Son fixed gates -- /that's/ most wise (6)

"son" = S [genealogy] (show explanation )

In genealogies, s^[5] is the abbreviation for son(s) ⇒ m 1991; one s one d^*.

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^* married in 1991; one son and one daughter.

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3d   Concerning speck // far away (6)

4d   Place one can retire to (6,3)

5d   It comes from the postman /in/ a manner of speaking (8)

6d   Capsizing, risk a wet // runner (5-3)

Runner^[5] is used in the sense of a rod, groove, or blade on which something slides. While I have seen snow skis referred to as runners, I believe this to be the first time that I have encountered water skis described as such. However, I suppose they do allow one to slide over the surface of a lake.

7d   Enthusiast played it as a // free musical composition (8)

A fantasia^[5] is a musical composition with a free form and often an improvisatory style ⇒ The finale is a joyous fantasia on much of the music deployed earlier with such skill and evident delight.

13d   Choose examination // of voters (9)

15d   Fashionable retreat // provided during aeroplane journey (2-6)

16d   Very little evidence that one has been crying (4,4)

17d   County fortunate not starting /to become/ a state (8)

Kent^[5] is a county on the south-eastern coast of England.

19d   Nothing to cap flier/'s/ romantically demonstrative partner (8)

"nothing" = LOVE [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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21d   Main milk supplier? (3,3)

The main^[5] is an archaic or literary term for the open ocean.

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A sea cow^[5] (or sirenian^[5]) is a large aquatic plant-eating mammal of the order Sirenia, such as a manatee or dugong.

22d   Silver found in case on a // temple (6)

The symbol for the chemical element silver is Ag^[5] from Latin argentum.

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In India and East Asia, a pagoda^[5] is a Hindu or Buddhist temple, typically in the form of a many-tiered tower.

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