Puzzle at a Glance
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Puzzle Number in The Daily Telegraph
DT 28888 | |
Publication Date in The Daily Telegraph
Monday, November 5, 2018 | |
Setter
Dada (John Halpern) | |
Link to Full Review
Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 28888] | |
Big Dave's Crossword Blog Review Written By
Miffypops | |
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
Today's very enjoyable puzzle from Dada has a bit of a Balkan flavour.This puzzle appeared in the UK on November 5th, or Bonfire Night[5] as it is known, on which bonfires and fireworks are lit in memory of the Gunpowder Plot*, traditionally including the burning of an effigy of Guy Fawkes.
* The Gunpowder Plot[5,7] was a conspiracy by a small group of Catholic extremists (one of the principals being Guy Fawkes) to blow up James I and his Parliament during the State Opening of Parliament on November 5, 1605 by detonating 36 barrels of gunpowder hidden beneath the House of Lords. The explosives were discovered during a search of Parliament at about midnight on November 4th.
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 program, 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 directly from a dictionary or at least phrased in a non-misleading fashion similar to one that would be found in a dictionary
- 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 (for example, defining topiary as "clip art")
- a "whimsical definition": a definition "invented" by the setter often by extrapolating a non-existent meaning for a word from a similar word (for example, defining a bird as a "winger" [something possessing wings] or a river as a ''flower" [something that flows] or to extrapolate that, since disembowel means 'to remove the innards of ', that discontent must mean 'to remove the contents of')
- a "definition by example": the presence of one of these is often flagged with a question mark (for example, defining atoll as "coral?" where an atoll is but one form that coral may take).
I identify precise definitions by marking them with a solid underline in the clue and other varieties of definition (such as cryptic definitions, whimsical definitions, definitions by example, etc.) 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
1a A piece of paper // under discussion (2,5)
5a Wonder /when/ I'm clear to move (7)
9a Track runs back // from an organ (5)
"run | runs" = R [cricket notation] (show explanation )
10a Motoring panel, // race directors (9)
Ask and ye shall receive (an answer)
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In his review on Big Dave's Crossword Blog, Miffypops pondersA dashboard[2] was originally a board protecting the driver of a horse-drawn coach from splashes of mud. Note that, according to The Chambers Dictionary, one meaning of dash[1] is to bespatter.Why [a dashboard] ever got this name I do not know. At Comment #30 on Big Dave's Crossword Blog, Maggie Waller provides an extended explanation. |
11a Failed actor sore about British // language (5-5)
Serbo-Croat[5] (also Serbo-Croatian) denotes the Southern Slavic language spoken in Serbia, Croatia, and elsewhere in the former Yugoslavia. Serbo-Croat comprises two closely similar forms: Serbian, written in the Cyrillic alphabet, and Croat, written in the Roman alphabet. Since the break-up of Yugoslavia the names of the individual languages have generally been preferred.
12a Hide // in desk, ingots (4)
14a Best // time, a hundred and one (6-2-4)
Ton[5] is an informal British term for a hundred, in particular a speed of 100 mph, a score of 100 or more, or a sum of £100 ⇒
Explanation: a cricket batsman had amassed 102 runs during his turn at batting when the innings ended (either as a result of his batting partner becoming the tenth player on his team to be dismissed or the innings having ended prematurely).
In the first instance, although he himself was not out, the team was out as he no longer had a batting partner. In cricket, batsmen always bat in pairs with one positioned at either end of the pitch. Unless terminated prematurely, the innings ends when ten of the eleven batsmen on the team have been dismissed and the remaining batsman is said to be 'not out'.
An innings may end early for a variety of reasons, as explained here[7], in which case both members of the batting team who are on the field at the time are said to be 'not out'.
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he scored 102 not out*, his third ton of the tour. (show explanation for this usage example )
Explanation: a cricket batsman had amassed 102 runs during his turn at batting when the innings ended (either as a result of his batting partner becoming the tenth player on his team to be dismissed or the innings having ended prematurely).
In the first instance, although he himself was not out, the team was out as he no longer had a batting partner. In cricket, batsmen always bat in pairs with one positioned at either end of the pitch. Unless terminated prematurely, the innings ends when ten of the eleven batsmen on the team have been dismissed and the remaining batsman is said to be 'not out'.
An innings may end early for a variety of reasons, as explained here[7], in which case both members of the batting team who are on the field at the time are said to be 'not out'.
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18a Perfect, looking /to/ double score (6-6)
I only realized as I was composing the review that the first part of the clue is a cryptic definition of "perfect" eyesight. [Note: I see that devartly at Comment #32 on Big Dave's Crossword Blog makes a similar observation, pointing out that he feels that Miffypops has fallen short on the underlining.]
As a link word, to[10] is a preposition used to indicate equality ⇒
16 ounces to the pound.
21a Not good /to/ be knocked over (4)
22a Fake unearthed, covering indefinite number // below (10)
"indefinite number" = N (show explanation )
25a Vegetable // chap has to leave (9)
"chap" = MAN (show explanation )
Chap[3,4,11] is an informal British[5] or chiefly British[3] term for a man or boy — although a term that is certainly not uncommon in Canada. It is a shortened form of chapman[3,4,11], an archaic term for a trader, especially an itinerant pedlar[a,b].
[a] Pedlar is the modern British spelling of peddler[14] which, in most senses, is considered by the Brits to be a US or old-fashioned British spelling. The exception is in the sense of a dealer in illegal drugs which the Brits spell as drug peddler.
[b] The current meaning of chap[2] dates from the 18th century. In the 16th century, chap meant 'a customer'. The dictionaries do not explain how a shortened form of 'chapman' (pedlar) came to mean 'customer'.
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Chap[3,4,11] is an informal British[5] or chiefly British[3] term for a man or boy — although a term that is certainly not uncommon in Canada. It is a shortened form of chapman[3,4,11], an archaic term for a trader, especially an itinerant pedlar[a,b].
[a] Pedlar is the modern British spelling of peddler[14] which, in most senses, is considered by the Brits to be a US or old-fashioned British spelling. The exception is in the sense of a dealer in illegal drugs which the Brits spell as drug peddler.
[b] The current meaning of chap[2] dates from the 18th century. In the 16th century, chap meant 'a customer'. The dictionaries do not explain how a shortened form of 'chapman' (pedlar) came to mean 'customer'.
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Mangetout[5] is the British name for snow pea[5], a variety of pea with an edible pod, eaten when the pod is young and flat.
Origin: Early 19th century: from French mange tout, literally ‘eat all’.
26a Mistake // losing head in panic? (5)
27a Very raw, taste // Welsh dish (7)
Rarebit[5] (also Welsh rarebit) is a dish of melted and seasoned cheese on toast, sometimes with other ingredients. The name is an alteration of Welsh rabbit[5] (probably originally used humorously).
28a Conspicuous // lack of surface? (7)
Down
1d Still // treats to distribute (2,4)
2d Italian man disowning son -- // never mind (6)
Signore is an alternate spelling of Signor[5], a title or form of address used of or to an Italian-speaking man, corresponding to Mr or sir ⇒ (i)
Signor Ugolotti; (ii)
I am a man of honour, Signor.
"son" = S [genealogy] (show explanation )
3d Outline // renovation of hotel suite (10)
4d Stop climbing with little hesitation -- get down from this? (5)
5d Fluff // man held is foul (9)
Having deciphered what "down" means in the previous clue, one might easily assume that "fluff" might be a somewhat similar substance. Nice misleading juxtaposition, whether by intent or not.
Oops!
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| If Miffypops were to take inventory, he would see that he has used the word "is" twice in his explanation on Big Dave's Crossword Blog. The anagram indicator is merely "foul" rather than "is foul". |
6d Polish bottom of dirty // stone (4)
7d Crazy // attempt to sink snooker ball (8)
In billiards and snooker, pot[5] means to strike (a ball) into a pocket ⇒
he failed to pot a red at close range.
8d Put in precarious situation, // stop getting annoyed? (8)
13d Party // beginning in Ghana in Africa, say? (10)
15d Total // caught and bowled, perhaps? (3-3-3)
In cricket, one way for a batsman to be dismissed is to be caught[5] (also 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 ⇒
Jones was caught on the square-leg boundary for 96*.
* Explanation: Jones had scored 96 runs prior to hitting a ball that was caught at a point near the perimeter of the field (boundary) that was square with his batting position and behind him.
Another is to be bowled[5] (also bowled out). This occurs when the bowler knocks down the wicket with a bowled ball ⇒
Stewart was bowled for 33*.
* Explanation: Stewart had scored 33 runs prior to being dismissed by having his wicket broken by a bowled ball.
16d Ship bearing right // flag (8)
17d Couturier // resigned in a lather (8)
19d Ending in Vaduz, a tailless bird /in/ European capital (6)
The grebe[5] is a diving waterbird with a long neck, lobed toes, and almost no tail, typically having bright breeding plumage used in display.
Zagreb[5] is the capital of Croatia.
Scratching the Surface
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Vaduz[5] is the capital of Liechtenstein[5], a small independent principality in the Alps, between Switzerland and Austria. (show more )
The principality was created in 1719 within the Holy Roman Empire, becoming independent of the German confederation in 1866. Liechtenstein is economically integrated with Switzerland. hide |
20d Attack // bill (6)
23d Halved, each number // taken down (5)
24d Edible plant // has eight round bits, all at the top (4)
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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