Puzzle at a Glance
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Puzzle Number in The Daily Telegraph
DT 29170 | |
Publication Date in The Daily Telegraph
Tuesday, October 1, 2019 | |
Setter
Chris Lancaster (Telegraph Puzzles Editor, aka Mister Ron and Mr Ed) | |
Link to Full Review
Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 29170] | |
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
This puzzle was created by Chris Lancaster, a man with many identities. When his puzzles first appeared in The Daily Telegraph, he was often referred to on Big Dave's Crossword Blog by the name Mr Ron*, a catch-all term for unknown setters. He soon began leaving comments on Big Dave's blog using the pseudonym Mister Ron. Later, when he was appointed to the position of Telegraph puzzles editor, someone dubbed him Mr Ed.* Initially, unknown setters were referred to on Big Dave's Crossword Blog as "mysterons", presumably because their identity is a mystery. (The Mysterons[7] are a fictional race of extraterrestrials and the antagonists in the 1960s British Supermarionation science-fiction television series Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons.) I believe it was the 2Kiwis who morphed 'mysteron' into Mr Ron.
I invite you to leave a comment to let us know how you fared with the puzzle.
Abbreviations — Police, Crime, Law and the Courts
Today, in our ongoing investigation of abbreviations, we look at areas related to the law and law enforcement. I am surprised by how few examples I found in my archives. However, their limited numbers are well compensated for by the high frequency of use that many of them experience.| Abbreviation | Stands for | Additional Information |
| ASBO | antisocial behaviour order | British court order restricting the behaviour of a person likely to cause harm or distress to the public |
| CID | Crimanal Investigation Division | Detective branch of a British police force |
| DA | district attorney | US state prosecutor in a particular district |
| DC | detective constable | British police crime investigator of the lowest rank |
| DI | detective inspector | British police crime investigator at the second supervisory level |
| DS | detective sergeant | British police crime investigator at the first supervisory level |
| E | Ecstasy | Illegal drug |
| J | judge | |
| PC | police constable | British police officer of the lowest rank |
| PI | private investigator |
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
| 1a | Awful strain in the lead up to politician/'s/ passing (10) |
"politician " = TORY
A Tory[10] is a member or supporter of the Conservative Party in Great Britain [or, for that matter, in Canada].
Historically, a Tory[10] was a member of the English political party that opposed the exclusion of James, Duke of York from the royal succession (1679–80). Tory remained the label for subsequent major conservative interests until they gave birth to the Conservative Party in the 1830s.
The Conservative Party[5] is a a major British political party that emerged from the old Tory Party under Sir Robert Peel in the 1830s and 1840s.
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A Tory[10] is a member or supporter of the Conservative Party in Great Britain [or, for that matter, in Canada].
Historically, a Tory[10] was a member of the English political party that opposed the exclusion of James, Duke of York from the royal succession (1679–80). Tory remained the label for subsequent major conservative interests until they gave birth to the Conservative Party in the 1830s.
The Conservative Party[5] is a a major British political party that emerged from the old Tory Party under Sir Robert Peel in the 1830s and 1840s.
hide
| 6a | Wrong // men seen in empty tenement (4) |
"men " = OR [other ranks]
In the British armed forces, the term other ranks[5] (abbreviation OR[5]) refers to all those who are not commissioned officers.
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In the British armed forces, the term other ranks[5] (abbreviation OR[5]) refers to all those who are not commissioned officers.
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In law, a tort[5] is a wrongful act or an infringement of a right (other than under contract) leading to legal liability ⇒
public nuisance is a crime as well as a tort.
| 9a | Criticise pianist's somewhat // dark tone (5) |
Is that a "peeping tom" cat in the picture Mr K uses to illustrate his review of this clue on Big Dave's Crossword Blog?
| 10a | Scotsman caught wearing tech firm/'s/ device (9) |
Ian[7] (also Iain) is a name of Scottish Gaelic origin, corresponding to English/Hebrew John. It is a common name for a Scotsman — and especially so in Crosswordland.
"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[5] or c.[2,10] denotes caught (by).
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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[5] or c.[2,10] denotes caught (by).
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Apple Inc.[7] is is an American multinational technology company that designs, develops, and sells consumer electronics, computer software, and online services.
| 12a | Manufacturer // regularly signed American apprentice (13) |
I spent a not inconsiderable amount of time attempting to justify trialist meaning apprentice, and jumping through multiple hoops in an effort to do so, before doing what I should have done in the first place — which is to look up the word in The Chambers Dictionary. According to it, trialist[10] is a sports term for a competitor or player under consideration for a place in* a major team.
* note that in Britain, a player is said to be 'in' a team rather than 'on' a team
I suppose these trialists are members of the reserve team. In soccer [football to the Brits], clubs operate a reserve team[7] (informally known as the second eleven), a team composed of players under contract to a specific team but who do not normally appear on the team's roster during matches. Reserve teams are usually composed of young players who need playing time in order to improve their skills, as well as members of the first team recovering from injury. [A reserve team would be roughly equivalent to what is known as a farm team in North American sports.] In England, reserve teams of league clubs play in completely separate leagues and competitions from their parent club. However, in other countries, reserve teams sometimes play in the same football league as their senior team.
| 14a | Beast // bound to appear after intermittent rain at sea (8) |
| 15a | Married rogue in trouble // remains here (6) |
| 17a | Reader // who may vote, being 27 (6) |
The
numeral "27" is a cross
reference indicator to clue 27a (show more ).
To complete the clue, a solver must replace the cross reference indicator with the solution to the clue starting in the light* identified by the cross reference indicator.
The cross reference indicator may include a directional indicator but this is customarily done only in situations where there are both Across and Down clues originating in the light that is being referenced.
* light-coloured cell in the grid
hide
To complete the clue, a solver must replace the cross reference indicator with the solution to the clue starting in the light* identified by the cross reference indicator.
The cross reference indicator may include a directional indicator but this is customarily done only in situations where there are both Across and Down clues originating in the light that is being referenced.
* light-coloured cell in the grid
hide
| 19a | Admit accepting end /for/ bank (8) |
| 21a | Understanding // to reduce the weight of chaps admitted by hospital department (13) |
"chaps " = MEN
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'.
hide
"hospital department " = ENT
| 24a | Just // tell one student to hide answer (9) |
"student " = L [driver under instruction]
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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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.
hide
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| Automobile displaying an L-plate |
| 25a | Criticise tourists on vacation? // Rubbish! (5) |
The phrase "on vacation" is an indication to remove the contents (interior letters) from the word "T(ourist)S". Vacation[10] is likely used in the sense of the act of departing from or abandoning property, etc. Thus the setter would seem to be suggesting that the interior letters pack up and leave.
Pants[5] is an informal British term meaning rubbish or nonsense ⇒
he thought we were going to be absolute pants.
| 26a | Physician to ignore court // opening (4) |
| 27a | Lacking guidance, // Liberal released criminal before start of sentence (10) |
"Liberal " = L
The Liberal Party[5] (abbreviation Lib.[5] or L[2])* in Britain emerged in the 1860s from the old Whig Party and until the First World War was one of the two major parties in Britain. In 1988 the party regrouped with elements of the Social Democratic Party to form the Social and Liberal Democrats, now known as the Liberal Democrats.
However, a small Liberal Party still exists (founded in 1989 by members of the original Liberal Party opposed to its merger with the Social Democratic Party) although it has no representation in the UK Parliament, no Members of the European Parliament (MEP), no members of the Scottish Parliament, nor any members of the National Assembly for Wales. Today, the party holds only a handful of seats at the local government level.[7]
* Although Lib.[5] may be the more common abbreviation for the Liberal Party in Britain — likely to distinguish it from the the Labour Party[5] (abbreviation Lab.[5]) — Chambers 21st Century Dictionary indicates that L[2] may also be used.
show less
The Liberal Party[5] (abbreviation Lib.[5] or L[2])* in Britain emerged in the 1860s from the old Whig Party and until the First World War was one of the two major parties in Britain. In 1988 the party regrouped with elements of the Social Democratic Party to form the Social and Liberal Democrats, now known as the Liberal Democrats.
However, a small Liberal Party still exists (founded in 1989 by members of the original Liberal Party opposed to its merger with the Social Democratic Party) although it has no representation in the UK Parliament, no Members of the European Parliament (MEP), no members of the Scottish Parliament, nor any members of the National Assembly for Wales. Today, the party holds only a handful of seats at the local government level.[7]
* Although Lib.[5] may be the more common abbreviation for the Liberal Party in Britain — likely to distinguish it from the the Labour Party[5] (abbreviation Lab.[5]) — Chambers 21st Century Dictionary indicates that L[2] may also be used.
show less
Down
| 1d | What's the point of some animals? (4) |
A cryptic way of asking the question
What pointed feature do some animals possess?.
| 2d | Choose // a quiet spot (7) |
| 3d | Random glances could become // source of gossip (13) |
| 4d | Strange patterns /in/ part of church (8) |
In a cross-shaped church, a transept[5] is either of the two parts forming the arms of the cross shape, projecting at right angles from the nave.
| 5d | Grave message supported by queen /that's/ more mature (5) |
"queen " = ER [regnal cipher of Queen Elizabeth]
| 7d | Being a swine, by the sound of it? (7) |
A mildly cryptic way of saying "Acting like a pig by uttering its characteristic sound". I searched in vain for something more profound, but came up short.
| 8d | Sent matter for analysis /to find/ cures (10) |
| 11d | Unusually poor gent aimed /to become/ cheerful (2,1,4,6) |
| 13d | Lag // first to find completely live deer (4,6) |
A hind[2] is a female red deer*, usually older than three years of age.
* The red deer[10] is a large deer (Cervus elaphus) formerly widely distributed in the woodlands of Europe and Asia. The red deer closely resembles a North American elk (known to Brits as a wapiti)[7]. The animal that those of us in eastern North American know as a deer is the white-tailed deer[7] (Odocoileus virginianus), also known as the Virginia deer, while those in western North America would be familiar with the mule deer[7] (Odocoileus hemionus). The females of those species are called does.
Scratching the Surface
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Lag[5] is an informal British term for a person who has been frequently convicted and sent to prison ⇒ both old lags were sentenced to ten years' imprisonment. |
| 16d | Streaky // bacon on top with rind already oddly missing (8) |
Here, There and Elsewhere
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| Streaky bacon[5] is a British term for what we call simply bacon; that is, bacon cut from the sides and belly and having distinct strips of fat. To Brits, the term bacon[5] encompasses both streaky bacon (from the sides of the pig) and back bacon[5] (lean bacon from the back or loin of the pig). By the way, the US term for back bacon is Canadian bacon[3,4,11]. |
| 18d | Song // drunk plays in company (7) |
As well as being a genre of music, calypso[5] can also denote a song of that style ⇒
a man was playing a calypso on a double bass.
| 20d | Agreement /of/ new number during summer in France (7) |
The French word for summer is été[8].
| 22d | Rubbish // outing supported by European (5) |
"European " = E [as in E-number]
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.
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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.
hide
Tripe[5] is an informal term* meaning nonsense or rubbish ⇒
you do talk tripe sometimes.
* "Formally" [if that word can apply to tripe], tripe is the first or second stomach of a cow or other ruminant used as food.
| 23d | Unchanged // part of Christmas Island (2,2) |
Scratching the Surface
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| Christmas Island[5]
is an island in the Indian Ocean 350 km (200 miles) south of Java, administered as an external territory of Australia since 1958. It is also the former name (until 1981) of Kiritimati[5], an island in the Pacific Ocean, one of the Line Islands of Kiribati. The largest atoll in the world, it was discovered by Captain James Cook on Christmas Eve 1777 and was British until it became part of an independent Kiribati in 1979. |
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)
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