Puzzle at a Glance
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Puzzle Number in The Daily Telegraph
DT 29156 | |
Publication Date in The Daily Telegraph
Saturday, September 14, 2019 | |
Setter
Unknown | |
Link to Full Review
Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 29156 – Hints]Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 29156 – Review] | |
Big Dave's Crossword Blog Review Written By
Big Dave (Hints)crypticsue (Review) | |
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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Notes
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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.
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Introduction
I'm afraid that I found this puzzle to be considerably more of challenge than did crypticsue. The first third went quite quickly, then progress slowed markedly and ground to a halt around the two-thirds mark. After a long hiatus, one or two more fell and then the rest surrendered fairly readily.I invite you to leave a comment to let us know how you fared with the puzzle.
Abbreviations — Part I
Yesterday, I wrote about the new format I have adopted for displaying frequently-encountered elements of clues which I hide so that those familiar with them do not need to see them unless they choose to reveal them. One type of information often found among them is abbreviations. You may wonder why I bother including them in the blog. After all, they are pretty obvious, aren't they? Well, not necessarily.
First, let me say that setters do not arbitrarily use the first letter of just any old word as an abbreviation. The abbreviation must appear in a reputable dictionary. In the case of the Daily Telegraph puzzles, the dictionary of record is The Chambers Dictionary.
Generally, I don't include abbreviations in common everyday use such as L(eft), R(ight), H(ot), C(old), etc., I do include those that come from specialized fields such as science and music. I also include those whose origin may not be clear to all readers.
For instance, B is an abbreviation for black that is used to designate a grade of pencil lead. When I first encountered this abbreviation in a puzzle, I supposed that it might come from the realm of photography (a B&W photo) but I have yet to find a dictionary entry to support B being a definition in its own right in that field (a B photo would be rather uninteresting!). Furthermore, I doubt that it would be considered acceptable to extract a single letter from a multi-letter abbreviation. However, the pencil lead definition is found in dictionaries and so justifies the use of this abbreviation.
Sometimes, an abbreviation may be used in more than one context. For example, K is an abbreviation for king both in chess and on playing cards. I don't attempt to exhaustively list every possibility. As long as there is at least one context to explain the validity of its usage, I am satisfied.
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.
| Markup Conventions | |
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| Click here for further explanation and usage examples of markup conventions used on this blog. | |
Across
| 7a | Bars // impressionist following personal problem (7) |
Edgar Degas[5] (1834–1917) was a French painter and sculptor. An impressionist painter, Degas is best known for his paintings of ballet dancers.
A bodega[5], especially in Spain and other Spanish-speaking countries, is a wine-shop or a warehouse for storing and maturing wine.
| 8a | Shakespearean prince, I save // swimmer (7) |
Prince Hal[7] is the standard term used in literary criticism to refer to Shakespeare's portrayal of the young Henry V of England as a prince before his accession to the throne, taken from the diminutive form of his name used in the plays almost exclusively by Falstaff.
| 10a | Fling one off // bedside table (10) |
| 11a | Sailor/'s/ pungent wit (4) |
Salt[2,10] is used in the sense of liveliness or pungency; interest, wit or good sense ⇒
her opinion added salt to the debate.
| 12a | Rebel // having certain amount of power overturned bank (3,5) |
Wat Tyler[5] (d.1381) was the leader of the Peasants' Revolt of 1381 in England. He captured Canterbury and went on to take London and secure Richard II's concession to the rebels' demands, which included the lifting of the newly imposed poll tax. He was killed by royal supporters.
| 14a | Sends // second clock back (6) |
| 15a | Minion touring Northern Ireland // showing stress (11) |
"Northern Ireland " = NI
Northern Ireland[5] (abbreviation NI[5]) is a province of the United Kingdom occupying the northeast part of Ireland.
According to Oxford Dictionaries, Northern Ireland[5] is the only major division of the United Kingdom to hold the status of province, with England[5], Scotland[5] and Wales[5] considered to be countries.
hide explanation
Northern Ireland[5] (abbreviation NI[5]) is a province of the United Kingdom occupying the northeast part of Ireland.
According to Oxford Dictionaries, Northern Ireland[5] is the only major division of the United Kingdom to hold the status of province, with England[5], Scotland[5] and Wales[5] considered to be countries.
hide explanation
| 19a | Expert having caught American /in/ charge (6) |
"caught " = C [cricket notation]
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).
hide
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).
hide
| 20a | Engineers safe capturing advanced // weapon (8) |
"Engineers " = RE [Royal Engineers]
The Corps of Royal Engineers[7], usually just called the Royal Engineers (abbreviation RE), and commonly known as the Sappers[7], is a corps of the British Army that provides military engineering and other technical support to the British Armed Forces.
hide
The Corps of Royal Engineers[7], usually just called the Royal Engineers (abbreviation RE), and commonly known as the Sappers[7], is a corps of the British Army that provides military engineering and other technical support to the British Armed Forces.
hide
Peter[5,10] is [seemingly British] slang for a safe, till, cash box or trunk.
"advanced " = A [advanced level]
In the UK (with the exception of Scotland), A level[5] (advanced level[5]) is a qualification in a specific subject typically taken by school students aged 16-18, at a level above GCSE[5] (General Certificate of Secondary Education).
hide explanation
In the UK (with the exception of Scotland), A level[5] (advanced level[5]) is a qualification in a specific subject typically taken by school students aged 16-18, at a level above GCSE[5] (General Certificate of Secondary Education).
hide explanation
A repeater[5] is a firearm which fires several shots without reloading ⇒
a fast-fire repeater.
| 22a | Flier /in/ difficulty (4) |
The knot[10] (Calidris canutus) is a small northern sandpiper with a short bill and grey plumage.
A knot[10] is a difficult problem.
| 23a | Characteristics /of/ what banks in Munich used to do? (10) |
Split (5,5), the solution denotes the sort of transactions that would
have been carried out by German banks prior to the introduction of the
euro in 2002. (read more )
Prior to the introduction of the euro in 2002, the mark[5] (also called Deutschmark[5] or Deutsch Mark) was the basic monetary unit of Germany, equal to 100 pfennig.
hide
Prior to the introduction of the euro in 2002, the mark[5] (also called Deutschmark[5] or Deutsch Mark) was the basic monetary unit of Germany, equal to 100 pfennig.
hide
| 25a | Caesar // rejected traveller in his city (7) |
Caesar[5] is a title of Roman emperors, especially those from Augustus (ruled 27 BC to AD 14) to Hadrian (ruled 117 to 138).
Note that this is not a reference to Roman general and statesman Julius Caesar[5] (100–44 BC). Despite a common misconception, Julius Caesar was not a Roman emperor. The Roman emperor[7] was the ruler of the Roman Empire during the imperial period (starting in 27 BC). Julius Caesar (who was assassinated in 44 BC) ruled during the republican period and held the title of consul rather than emperor.
| 26a | Fate // of French mistress's last minute (7) |
Down
| 1d | Leave // one in storage compartment a year (7) |
Here and There
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The British use the word holiday(s) where North Americans might say vacation[5]. (read more )
Holiday[5,10] (often holidays) is a chiefly British term for a period in which a break is taken from work or studies for rest, travel, or recreation ⇒ (i) I spent my summer holidays on a farm; (ii) Fred was on holiday in Spain. According to British dictionaries, the usual US and Canadian term for such a break is vacation. However, I am accustomed to hearing the two terms used almost interchangeably in this sense — in much the same manner that I would use fall and autumn interchangeably. This may not be the case in all parts of Canada, but I grew up in the Maritimes and have lived in Eastern Ontario for most of my life, both areas where British influence is particularly strong. In Britain, the word vacation[5] has a very specific meaning, a fixed holiday period between terms in universities and law courts ⇒ the Easter vacation. In North America, such a period might be called a break[7]. hide |
| 2d | Get engaged // in gameshow (4) |
| 3d | Subordinate // as slave endlessly mistreated (6) |
Vassal[5] is used in the sense of a person or country in a subordinate position to another ⇒
a vassal state of the Ottoman Empire.
| 4d | Official // person showin' courage (8) |
| 5d | Drunk is paid to go round Arab country // drinking too much (10) |
Dipsomania[5] is a type of alcoholism, specifically a form characterized by intermittent bouts of craving for alcohol.
| 6d | Property // set fire to in harbour (7) |
| 9d | Music-maker // such as ear drum put first (6,5) |
A barrel organ[5] is a small pipe organ played by turning a handle, which rotates a cylinder studded with pegs that open the valves to produce a preset tune, formerly much used by street musicians.
| 13d | Inarticulate // guide to net needs rewriting (6-4) |
| 16d | What Americans did to get Reagan in // charge (8) |
Split the solution (5,3) to see what American voters did in 1980 and 1984. (read more )
Ronald Reagan[5] (1911–2004) was an American Republican statesman, 40th President of the US 1981-9. He was a Hollywood actor before entering politics. His presidency saw the launch of the Strategic Defense Initiative and cuts in taxes and social services budgets, as well as the Irangate scandal and the signing of an intermediate nuclear forces non-proliferation treaty, both in 1987.
hide
Ronald Reagan[5] (1911–2004) was an American Republican statesman, 40th President of the US 1981-9. He was a Hollywood actor before entering politics. His presidency saw the launch of the Strategic Defense Initiative and cuts in taxes and social services budgets, as well as the Irangate scandal and the signing of an intermediate nuclear forces non-proliferation treaty, both in 1987.
hide
| 17d | Saving // company invested in money supply (7) |
As an anagram indicator, supply[5] is a variant spelling of supplely[5], an adverb meaning 'in a supple manner'.
| 18d | Knocking down // patio feature? (7) |
| 21d | Old copper // item found in kitchen (6) |
Sir Robert Peel[7], later to become Prime Minister of the UK, entered the Cabinet for the first time as Home Secretary (1822–1827), where he reformed and liberalised the criminal law and created the modern police force, leading to a new type of officer known in tribute to him as "bobbies" and "peelers".
| 24d | Car // valuation regularly disregarded (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 Advanced 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)
Crypticsue seems to be alone in her one-star rating. At least three for me. Too many strange anglicisms -- peter, peeler, salt.
ReplyDeleteYou're correct on the first two ... but I don't think that 'salt' is a Briticism.
ReplyDelete