Puzzle at a Glance
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Puzzle Number in The Daily Telegraph
DT 29249 | |
Publication Date in The Daily Telegraph
Thursday, January 2, 2020 | |
Setter
Unknown | |
Link to Full Review
Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 29249] | |
Big Dave's Crossword Blog Review Written By
pommers | |
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
A more difficult puzzle than we have seen for a few days. It seems the British holiday period is over and its back to work for solvers.In an epilogue to his review on Big Dave's Crossword Blog, pommers writes
Just as an aside and nothing to do with the crossword – if you want a giggle have a google of “South Yorkshire Police Operations Complex” and have a look at their address.. The address is Letsby Ave, Tinsley, Sheffield S9 1XX, United Kingdom. Letsby is pronounced "Let's be" and the entire street address sounds like "Let's be 'avin' you"[7], a phrase made famous by British celebrity chef Delia Smith in a (some say drunken) halftime rant to the crowd at a home game of the Norwich City Football Club of which she is majority owner.
The phrase let's be having you is an idiomatic British expression to encourage someone to hurry up and move somewhere. I'm sure it would be used by British police officers to prod loiterers to get on their way.
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 | King, say, is keeping in mind // what soldiers should wear (11) |
"king " = R [Rex]
In the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms*, Rex[5] (abbreviation R[5]) [Latin for king] denotes the reigning king, used following a name (e.g. Georgius Rex, King George — often shortened to GR) or in the titles of lawsuits (e.g. Rex v. Jones, the Crown versus Jones — often shortened to R. v. Jones).
* 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.
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In the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms*, Rex[5] (abbreviation R[5]) [Latin for king] denotes the reigning king, used following a name (e.g. Georgius Rex, King George — often shortened to GR) or in the titles of lawsuits (e.g. Rex v. Jones, the Crown versus Jones — often shortened to R. v. Jones).
* 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.
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The term regimentals[7] denotes a military uniform, especially that of a particular regiment.
| 7a | Additionally provides // food to boy (5,2) |
Tack[10] is an informal term for food, especially when regarded as inferior or distasteful.
| 8a | Exercise when nothing gets off the ground, /there being/ a fog (3,4) |
| 10a | Completely // unfashionable element of the political spectrum? (8) |
| 11a | Provide new final bit to // trading activity? (6) |
I have always regarded the simplest explanation as the best one, and by that measure pommers explanation is certainly better than the one I concocted. He explains the wordplay thus:
This trading activity could be read as meaning to provide a new final bit or end, to a dog perhaps.
I looked for a word meaning "provide" that when the final letter is changed becomes a word meaning "trading activity". And I may have actually succeeded — or, at least, come very close to succeeding.
One meaning of provide[1] given by The Chambers Dictionary is to procure supplies, means or whatever may be desirable or necessary. Retain[5] can mean to secure the services of (a barrister) with a preliminary payment. Surely, these are synonyms within the limits often seen in cryptic crossword puzzles. So change the "N" in "RETAIN" to an "L" and and we have "RETAIL".
This may be a plausible explanation; but, as I said, the simpler explanation is always the better explanation.
| 13a | Three learners gathering round // to relax (4) |
"learner " = 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.
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| Automobile displaying an L-plate |
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| 14a | Lots of different things // thrown on mattress (10) |
| 16a | Yes, this Don can be tricky -- // it's not fair! (10) |
| 18a | Queen // to take over with no sign of affection (4) |
Anne[7] (1665–1714) became Queen of England, Scotland and Ireland on 8 March 1702. On 1 May 1707, under the Acts of Union, two of her realms, the kingdoms of England and Scotland, united as a single sovereign state, the United Kingdom of Great Britain. She continued to reign as Queen of Great Britain and Ireland until her death.
| 21a | Drinker disposing of pounds // -- one generous to restaurant staff? (6) |
"pounds " = L [British monetary unit]
The pound[5] (also pound sterling) is the basic monetary unit of the UK, equal to 100 pence. While the symbol for pound is £, it is often written as L[10].
The Chambers Dictionary defines the upper case L[1] as the abbreviation for pound sterling (usually written £) and the lower case l[1] as the abbreviation for pound weight (usually written lb) — both deriving from the Latin word libra* .
* In ancient Rome, the libra[5] was a unit of weight, equivalent to 12 ounces (0.34 kg). It was the forerunner of the pound.
hide
The pound[5] (also pound sterling) is the basic monetary unit of the UK, equal to 100 pence. While the symbol for pound is £, it is often written as L[10].
The Chambers Dictionary defines the upper case L[1] as the abbreviation for pound sterling (usually written £) and the lower case l[1] as the abbreviation for pound weight (usually written lb) — both deriving from the Latin word libra* .
* In ancient Rome, the libra[5] was a unit of weight, equivalent to 12 ounces (0.34 kg). It was the forerunner of the pound.
hide
| 22a | Stuff // mum mostly put back (8) |
Mater[5] [Latin for 'mother'] is a dated, informal British term for mother ⇒
the mater has kept on the house in London.
| 24a | Render song about maiden I left // looking happy (7) |
"maiden " = M [scoreless over in cricket]
In cricket, a maiden[5], also known as a maiden over and denoted on cricket scorecards by the abbreviation m.[10], is an over* in which no runs are scored.
* An over[5] is a division of play consisting of a sequence of six balls bowled by a bowler from one end of the pitch, after which another bowler takes over from the other end.
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In cricket, a maiden[5], also known as a maiden over and denoted on cricket scorecards by the abbreviation m.[10], is an over* in which no runs are scored.
* An over[5] is a division of play consisting of a sequence of six balls bowled by a bowler from one end of the pitch, after which another bowler takes over from the other end.
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| 25a | Sailors not out in boat /should be/ going off (7) |
"sailors " = RN [Royal Navy]
The Royal Navy[5] (abbreviation RN) is the British navy. It was the most powerful navy in the world from the 17th century until the Second World War.
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The Royal Navy[5] (abbreviation RN) is the British navy. It was the most powerful navy in the world from the 17th century until the Second World War.
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In cricket, a player who is batting is said to be in[5]. Conversely, a player
who is fielding is said to be out[5]. If you have not seen it before (or are need of a refresher), you may enjoy reading an explanation of cricket for a foreigner (which may well leave you unsure whether you are coming or going).
CRICKET: AS EXPLAINED TO A FOREIGNER...Now, should you have not quite followed that explanation, here is my attempt to clarify the "ins" and "outs" of cricket:
You have two sides, one out in the field and one in. Each man that's in the side that's in goes out, and when he's out he comes in and the next man goes in until he's out. When they are all out, the side that's out comes in and the side that's been in goes out and tries to get those coming in, out. Sometimes you get men still in and not out.
When a man goes out to go in, the men who are out try to get him out, and when he is out he goes in and the next man in goes out and goes in. There are two men called umpires who stay out all the time and they decide when the men who are in are out. When both sides have been in and all the men have been out, and both sides have been out twice after all the men have been in, including those who are not out, that is the end of the game.
Simple!
You have two sides [teams], one out in the field and one in [batting]. Each man that's in the side [in Britain, one says "in a side" rather than "on a team"] that's in [batting] goes out [I believe this means that he forgoes the cucumber sandwiches in the clubhouse in order to go out to the playing area to bat], and when he's out [dismissed] he comes in [returns to the clubhouse for more cucumber sandwiches] and the next man goes in [bats] until he's out [dismissed]. When they are all out [all players (but one) on the batting side are dismissed], the side that's out [fielding] comes in [bats] and the side that's been in [batting] goes out [fields] and tries to get those coming in [to bat], out [dismissed]. Sometimes you get men still in [batting] and not out [Since batsmen must always bat in pairs, the team is dismissed once ten of the eleven players have been dismissed, leaving no partner for the lone remaining player. Although the team is "out" (dismissed), the eleventh played is said to be "not out".].hide
When a man goes out [from the clubhouse to the playing area] to go in [bat], the men who are out [fielding] try to get him out [dismissed], and when he is out [dismissed] he goes in [returns to the clubhouse] and the next man in [scheduled to bat] goes out [from the clubhouse to the playing area] and goes in [bats]. There are two men called umpires who stay out [on the playing area] all the time [(they never get to eat cucumber sandwiches)] and they decide when the men who are in [batting] are out [dismissed]. When both sides have been in [batted] and all the men have been out [dismissed], and both sides have been out [dismissed] twice after all the men have been in [batted], including those who are not out [the eleventh player who has batted but not been dismissed], that is the end of the game.
Note: In cricket, the division of play is called an 'innings', rather than an 'inning' as in baseball. The word "innings' (like the words 'fish' or 'sheep') can be either singular or plural. A cricket match consists of four innings* (or sometimes two innings) with ten "outs" (dismissals) per innings. In cricket, each team's at bat is called an innings whereas, in baseball, each team's at bat constitutes a half inning. Thus, in baseball, the visiting team bats in the top of each inning and the home team bats in the bottom of each inning. In cricket, one side bats in the first and third innings and the other team bats in the second and fourth innings.Simple! (although the remarks concerning the cucumber sandwiches may not be entirely accurate)
As the definition, "going off" might refer either to milk souring or a vehicle exiting a highway.
| 26a | Sam ordering bananas, // one who enjoys scoffing (11) |
Down
| 1d | Article about // musical event (7) |
| 2d | Talk // from bishop is so good, uplifting (6) |
| 3d | City // fellow to applaud going round street (10) |
Manchester[5] is an industrial city and metropolitan district in north-western England. Founded in Roman times, it developed in the 18th and 19th centuries as a centre of the English cotton industry.
| 4d | Turn up /for/ small drinks (4) |
| 5d | A horse given time to // drink (8) |
Amaretto[5] is a brown almond-flavoured liqueur produced in Italy.
Origin: Italian 'a little bitter' (with reference to bitter almonds)
| 6d | Son to get angry // keeping in cupboard? (7) |
| 7d | Resorting to godly rest, // they shelter in caves (11) |
A troglodyte[10] is a cave dweller, especially one of the prehistoric peoples thought to have lived in caves.
| 9d | Stop // to let the water out? (4,3,4) |
| 12d | Given a legal document /that's/ shortened? (10) |
| 15d | One offering accommodation /in/ small house with phone? That is right (8) |
"little house " = HO
| 17d | Something wet falling on to heather /from/ young tree (7) |
Ling[5] is another name for the common heather[5], a purple-flowered Eurasian heath that grows abundantly on moorland and heathland [especially in the UK].
| 19d | Number one gentleman, full of energy, // creating more commotion (7) |
| 20d | Explosive star disrupted // football team (6) |
HE[5] is the abbreviation for high explosive.
Heart of Midlothian Football Club[7], commonly known as Hearts, is a professional football club in Edinburgh, Scotland.
| 23d | Silver Sun personified /in/ Indian city (4) |
In Egyptian mythology, Ra[5] is the sun god, the supreme Egyptian deity, worshipped as the creator of all life and typically portrayed with a falcon's head bearing the solar disc. From earliest times he was associated with the pharaoh.
Agra[5] is a city on the Jumna River in Uttar Pradesh state, northern India. The capital of the Mogul empire 1566–1658, it is the site of the Taj Mahal.
Key to Reference Sources:
[1] - The Chambers Dictionary, 11th Edition
[2] - Search Chambers - (Chambers 21st Century Dictionary)
[3] - TheFreeDictionary.com (American Heritage Dictionary)
[4] - TheFreeDictionarycom (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)
Signing off for today — Falcon
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