Puzzle at a Glance
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Puzzle Number in The Daily Telegraph
DT 29206 | |
Publication Date in The Daily Telegraph
Tuesday, November 12, 2019 | |
Setter
Unknown | |
Link to Full Review
Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 29206] | |
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
An Americanism or two insinuate themselves into today's puzzle which generates the expected 26a from the Brits.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.
| Markup Conventions | |
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| Click here for further explanation and usage examples of markup conventions used on this blog. | |
Across
| 1a | Nick/'s/ hesitancy to leave Delaware (8) |
In official postal use, the abbreviation for the US state of Delaware is DE[5].
Be careful how you read the clue. It is not "hesitancy" exiting from "Delaware" but rather "hesitancy" leaving (behind) or disposing of "Delaware".
| 5a | Editor defaced book? /It's/ ok to scoff (6) |
| 10a | Artist // Dali craved onion rolls (8,2,5) |
Leonardo da Vinci[5] (1452–1519) was an Italian painter, scientist, and engineer. (show more )
His paintings are notable for their blended colour and shading in the technique known as sfumato; they include The Virgin of the Rocks (1483–5), The Last Supper (1498), and the enigmatic Mona Lisa (1504–5). He devoted himself to a wide range of other subjects, from anatomy and biology to mechanics and hydraulics: his nineteen notebooks include studies of the human circulatory system and plans for a type of aircraft and a submarine.
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His paintings are notable for their blended colour and shading in the technique known as sfumato; they include The Virgin of the Rocks (1483–5), The Last Supper (1498), and the enigmatic Mona Lisa (1504–5). He devoted himself to a wide range of other subjects, from anatomy and biology to mechanics and hydraulics: his nineteen notebooks include studies of the human circulatory system and plans for a type of aircraft and a submarine.
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Scratching the Surface
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Salvador Dalí[5] [LISTEN] (1904–1989) was a Spanish painter. (show more )
A surrealist, he portrayed dream images with almost photographic realism against backgrounds of arid Catalan landscapes. Dalí also collaborated with Buñuel in the production of the film Un Chien andalou (1928). Notable works: The Persistence of Memory (1931). hide |
| 11a | Bins occasionally taken in by brave person going round yard // far from quietly (7) |
Scratching the Surface
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| Bin[10,14] is a British term for a garbage can or trash can. |
| 12a | Snake // upset rook (7) |
R[5] is an abbreviation for rook that is used in recording moves in chess. (show more )
A rook[5] is a chess piece, typically with its top in the shape of a battlement, that can move (if not obstructed by another chess piece or pawn) any number of spaces in any direction along a rank or file on which it stands. Each player starts the game with two rooks at opposite ends of the first rank.
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A rook[5] is a chess piece, typically with its top in the shape of a battlement, that can move (if not obstructed by another chess piece or pawn) any number of spaces in any direction along a rank or file on which it stands. Each player starts the game with two rooks at opposite ends of the first rank.
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| 13a | Rush after a cat -- // it could cause immense damage (4,4) |
| 15a | Some sober up then // throw up (5) |
| 18a | American politician not ultimately /giving/ consent (5) |
The term green[5] (usually Green) denotes a member or supporter of an environmentalist group or party ⇒
A Green party[7] is a formally organized political party based on the principles of Green politics, such as social justice, grassroots democracy, nonviolence, and environmentalism. Green parties exist in nearly 90 countries around the world; many are members of Global Greens, an international network of Green parties and political movements that works to implement the Global Green Charter. In the UK, there are separate Green parties for Scotland, Northern Ireland, and England and Wales.
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the Greens' remarkable 15 per cent vote. (show more )
A Green party[7] is a formally organized political party based on the principles of Green politics, such as social justice, grassroots democracy, nonviolence, and environmentalism. Green parties exist in nearly 90 countries around the world; many are members of Global Greens, an international network of Green parties and political movements that works to implement the Global Green Charter. In the UK, there are separate Green parties for Scotland, Northern Ireland, and England and Wales.
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| 20a | A contemptuous person imbibing what // alcohol is sold here (8) |
I see from the discussion at Comment #2 on Big Dave's Crossword Blog that I am not alone in thinking that the intended word is contemptible rather than contemptuous.
Alehouse[5] is a dated term for an inn*[5] or public house**[5].
* in the sense of a pub, typically one in the country, in some cases providing accommodation
** formal British term for pub
| 23a | Artist to leave after much // chaos (7) |
"artist " = RA
A Royal Academician (abbreviation RA[10]) is a member of the Royal Academy of Arts[5] (also Royal Academy; abbreviation also RA[10]), an institution established in London in 1768, whose purpose is to cultivate painting, sculpture, and architecture in Britain.
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A Royal Academician (abbreviation RA[10]) is a member of the Royal Academy of Arts[5] (also Royal Academy; abbreviation also RA[10]), an institution established in London in 1768, whose purpose is to cultivate painting, sculpture, and architecture in Britain.
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Far[5] is used as an adverb denoting by a great deal ⇒
he is able to function far better than usual.
A farrago[5] is a confused mixture ⇒
a farrago of fact and myth about Abraham Lincoln.
| 25a | Excite // stylish sweetheart (7) |
| 26a | Finds waistcoat is tight? Losing weight at first /creates/ frustration (15) |
Waistcoat[3] is the British name for the garment that North Americans would call a vest.
* In Britain, a vest[3] is an undershirt.
| 27a | Golfer // left to tee off (6) |
Tee off[12] is US slang meaning to make angry or disgusted.
As you can see from numerous comments on Big Dave's Crossword Blog, this expression was — as I expected — a mystery to many Brits.
Bernhard Langer[7] is a German professional golfer. He is a two-time Masters champion and was one of the world's leading golfers throughout the 1980s and 1990s.
| 28a | Reason for mischief-maker // to postpone session (8) |
Prorogue[5] means to discontinue a session (of a parliament or other legislative assembly) without dissolving it.
2019 British Prorogation Controversy
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| You may note there are many comments on Big Dave's Crossword Blog remarking on the newsworthiness of this clue. To set the scene, this puzzle was published in the UK in mid-November 2019, less than two weeks after Britain exited from the European Union. In the lead-up to Brexit, Prime Minister Boris Johnson triggered the prorogation of the British Parliament[5]. This suspension was to have lasted from mid-September to mid-October (less than three weeks before Brexit was to become final). This move was seen by many opposition politicians and political commentators as a controversial and unconstitutional attempt by the prime minister to avoid parliamentary scrutiny of the Government's Brexit plans in those final weeks leading up to Brexit. Following a series of court challenges, the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom ruled unanimously that the prorogation was unlawful. When Parliament resumed on the day following this ruling, the prorogation ceremony was expunged from the Journal of the House of Commons and business continued as if the ceremony had never happened. |
Down
| 1d | Man, perhaps, // is secure (6) |
The Isle of Man[5]
(abbreviation IOM[5])
is an island in the Irish Sea (show more ).
The island is a British Crown dependency having home rule, with its own legislature (the Tynwald) and judicial system. It was part of the Norse kingdom of the Hebrides in the Middle Ages, passing into Scottish hands in 1266 for a time, until the English gained control in the early 15th century. Its ancient language, Manx, is still occasionally used for ceremonial purposes.
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The island is a British Crown dependency having home rule, with its own legislature (the Tynwald) and judicial system. It was part of the Norse kingdom of the Hebrides in the Middle Ages, passing into Scottish hands in 1266 for a time, until the English gained control in the early 15th century. Its ancient language, Manx, is still occasionally used for ceremonial purposes.
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| 2d | His rector ordered // one will perform in church (9) |
A rector[3,4,11] is a member of the clergy in the Anglican, Episcopal, or Roman Catholic churches.
In Britain*, a chorister[5] is a member of a choir, especially a choirboy or choirgirl.
| 3d | I dust ma's mixing // bowl (7) |
Bowl[5] is a US term for a stadium for sporting or musical events.
| 4d | Strangely // overdrawn -- delay with regular withdrawals (5) |
In banking, OD (or O/D)[1] is an abbreviation for overdraft or overdrawn.
| 6d | Freak // to propose entering river (7) |
The Dee[5,7] could be any of several rivers in Scotland and England — not to mention Ireland and Australia — the most prominent being:
- a river in northeastern Scotland, which rises in the Grampian Mountains and flows eastwards past Balmoral Castle to the North Sea at Aberdeen
- a river that rises in North Wales and flows past Chester and on into the Irish Sea
| 7d | Put a stop to almost everything // trivial (5) |
| 8d | I'm taken aback after European initially gave cost // to settle abroad (8) |
"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.
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| 9d | Lovely, // talented, enthralling girl (8) |
| 14d | Musical piece /coming from/ speaker on bottom of hi-fi? Ordinary (8) |
"ordinary " = O [British scholastic qualification]
Historically, in the UK (with the exception of Scotland), O level[5] (short for ordinary level[5]) was a qualification in a specific subject formerly taken by school students aged 14-16, at a level below A (advanced) level. It was replaced in 1988 by the GCSE[5] (General Certificate of Secondary Education).
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Historically, in the UK (with the exception of Scotland), O level[5] (short for ordinary level[5]) was a qualification in a specific subject formerly taken by school students aged 14-16, at a level below A (advanced) level. It was replaced in 1988 by the GCSE[5] (General Certificate of Secondary Education).
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An oratorio[5] is a large-scale, usually narrative musical work for orchestra and voices, typically on a sacred theme, performed without costume, scenery, or action. Well-known examples include Bach’s Christmas Oratorio, Handel’s Messiah, and Haydn’s The Creation.
| 16d | Liberal // rings up an eccentric (9) |
Scratching the Surface
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In the surface reading, one might interpret "Liberal" as a reference to a member or supporter of the British Liberal Party[5], a virtually extinct entity in the UK (show more ).
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 never held a UK, Scottish or European parliamentary seat, though it has had representation on local councils.[7]. hide Ring[3] (often used with up) is a chiefly British term meaning to call (someone) on the telephone ⇒ (i) She rang me at noon; (ii) Let's ring her up. |
| 17d | Plant // laid off unfortunately about 500 (8) |
| 19d | Discharge /from/ outlet an American partly picked up (7) |
| 21d | One caught in grasp of tender // policeman (7) |
"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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| 22d | Nasty piece of work // that is below average (6) |
| 24d | Wrong to follow king round -- // it's essential to bow (5) |
Rosin[5] is resin, especially the solid amber residue obtained after the distillation of crude turpentine oleoresin, or of naphtha extract from pine stumps. It is used in adhesives, varnishes, and inks and for treating the bows of stringed instruments.
| 25d | At home, female starts to enjoy regular // work out (5) |
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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