Puzzle at a Glance
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Puzzle number in The Daily Telegraph
DT 29296 | |
Publication date in The Daily Telegraph
Wednesday, February 26, 2020 | |
Setter
Jay (Jeremy Mutch) | |
Link to full review
Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 29296]
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Big Dave's Crossword Blog review written by
2Kiwis | |
BD rating
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| Difficulty - ★★ | Enjoyment - ★★★★ |
Falcon's experience
┌────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┐
███████████████████████████████████ └────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┘ | |
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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
In Comment #15 on Big Dave's Crossword Blog, Omar relates that he "was also v slow to get started and then fairly quickly completed the right half with nothing at all on the left side". Well, that pretty well sums up my experience as well.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
| 7a | Dependent /may see/ trouble returning during split (7) |
| 8a | Succeed, // applying universal rate to most of journey (7) |
"universal " = U [British film rating]
Under the British system of film classification[7] a U (for 'universal') rating indicates that a film is suitable "for all the family" — or, at any rate, for those members over 4 years of age.
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Under the British system of film classification[7] a U (for 'universal') rating indicates that a film is suitable "for all the family" — or, at any rate, for those members over 4 years of age.
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| 10a | Under pressure after spat about // verb form (4,5) |
| 11a | Group // meet regularly after month (5) |
| 12a | Levels // pitches (5) |
As the solution to the first definition, roll[5] is used in the sense of flatten (something) by passing a roller over it or by passing it between rollers.
In their review on Big Dave's Crossword Blog, the 2Kiwis refer specifically to a roller[7] used to flatten the pitch before play or between sessions. Usually there are two rollers available, a heavy roller and a light roller, with the choice of which to use being given to the captain of the batting side.
In the second definition, I thought of roll[5] (said of a moving ship, aircraft, or vehicle) meaning rock or oscillate round an axis parallel to the direction of motion. Pitch (said of a moving ship, aircraft, or vehicle) means to rock or oscillate around a lateral axis, so that the front moves up and down. Other than having a different axis of rotation, the two motions are similar — so surely within the bounds of cryptic licence afforded to setters.
In their review, the 2Kiwis again suggest a cricket connection for the second definition. I believe they may be referring to a "pea roller"[7], a now illegal delivery where the ball is rolled along the ground rather than bowled over-arm.
However, I don't believe this works as one does not pitch a cricket ball, one bowls it (with an over-arm motion). Therefore, I don't think the term "pitch" in the clue could possibly refer to the throwing of a cricket ball.
The 2Kiwis further suggest that the clue could be interpreted alternatively as a cryptic definition as pitch[7] is the name of the rectangular surface in the centre of the field where most of the action takes place. Thus "levels pitch" could be cluing ROLLS.
| 13a | Muscle // resistance seen in retired player (9) |
"resistance " = R [symbol used in physics]
Retractor[5] is a zoological term for a muscle serving to retract a part of the body.
| 15a | Irreligious // young lad with no answer needing to be reformed (7) |
| 17a | Sucker riding small brown // horse (7) |
Mug[5] is an informal British term for a stupid or gullible person ⇒
they were no mugs where finance was concerned.
| 18a | Took off // tired, as is confused (9) |
| 20a | Chaste // line taken by church article (5) |
"church " = CE [Church of England]
The Church of England[10] (abbreviation CE[10]) is the reformed established state Church in England, Catholic in order and basic doctrine, with the Sovereign as its temporal head.
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The Church of England[10] (abbreviation CE[10]) is the reformed established state Church in England, Catholic in order and basic doctrine, with the Sovereign as its temporal head.
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| 21a | Sort of nerve /required, seeing/ credit cut after work (5) |
Tick[5] (used in the phrase on tick) is an informal British term meaning credit ⇒
the printer agreed to send the brochures out on tick.
Origin: The term apparently originates as a short form for ticket in the phrase on the ticket, referring to an IOU or promise to pay.
"work " = OP [opus]
In music, an opus[5] (Latin 'work', plural opuses or opera) is a separate composition or set of compositions.
The abbreviation Op.[5] (also op.), denoting opus, is used before a number given to each work of a particular composer, usually indicating the order of publication. The plural form of Op. is Opp..
Opus[5] can also be used in other contexts to denote an artistic work, especially one on a large scale ⇒
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In music, an opus[5] (Latin 'work', plural opuses or opera) is a separate composition or set of compositions.
The abbreviation Op.[5] (also op.), denoting opus, is used before a number given to each work of a particular composer, usually indicating the order of publication. The plural form of Op. is Opp..
Opus[5] can also be used in other contexts to denote an artistic work, especially one on a large scale ⇒
he was writing an opus on Mexico.
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| 23a | Rioters rioting about races /for/ coffee (9) |
"races " = TT [Tourist Trophy (motorcycle time trials)]
The Tourist Trophy[5] (abbreviation TT[5]) is a motorcycle-racing competition held annually on roads in the Isle of Man since 1907.
For many years, the Isle of Man TT[7] was the most prestigious motorcycle race in the world. The race is run in a time-trial format on public roads closed for racing. Since, in a time trial, each competitor races alone against the clock, the event could be described as a "series of races".
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The Tourist Trophy[5] (abbreviation TT[5]) is a motorcycle-racing competition held annually on roads in the Isle of Man since 1907.
For many years, the Isle of Man TT[7] was the most prestigious motorcycle race in the world. The race is run in a time-trial format on public roads closed for racing. Since, in a time trial, each competitor races alone against the clock, the event could be described as a "series of races".
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Ristretto[5] is a drink of very strong, concentrated espresso coffee.
| 24a | Top // ticket perhaps requiring time (7) |
Single[5] is used in a British sense denoting a one-way ticket[10] — one that is valid for an outward journey only, not for the return ⇒
I could have bought a single on the train.
Singlet[5] is a British term for a sleeveless garment worn under or instead of a shirt; another name for a vest [British term for an undershirt].
| 25a | Stickers /of/ Independent politician found during checks (7) |
"independent " = I [politician with no party affiliation]
I[1] is the abbreviation for independent, in all likelihood in the sense of a politician with no party affiliation.
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I[1] is the abbreviation for independent, in all likelihood in the sense of a politician with no party affiliation.
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"politician " = MP
In Britain (as in Canada), a politician elected to the House of Commons is known as a Member of Parliament[10] (abbreviation MP[5]) or, informally, as a member[5].
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In Britain (as in Canada), a politician elected to the House of Commons is known as a Member of Parliament[10] (abbreviation MP[5]) or, informally, as a member[5].
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A let[10] is an impediment or obstruction especially in the phrase without let or hindrance[5], a formal term meaning without obstruction or impediment ⇒
rats scurried about the house without let or hindrance.
The limpet[5] is a marine mollusc which has a shallow conical shell and a broad muscular foot, found clinging tightly to rocks.
Down
| 1d | Escape, grabbing whip /and/ torch (10) |
Torch[10] — in addition to its historical meaning — is the British name for a flashlight. I expect there may be some protests voiced on Big Dave's Crossword Blog regarding this unindicated Americanism.
| 2d | Experiences /of/ son supporting discrimination (6) |
| 3d | Mean to eat mainly raw // fish (8) |
| 4d | Bear witness // in appointment set tactfully up (6) |
| 5d | Bishop providing topless pubs /and/ glasses (8) |
Local[5] is a British informal term for a pub convenient to a person’s home ⇒
had a pint in the local.
| 6d | Black bits // found in butcher's mutton (4) |
Smut[5] is used in the sense of a small flake of soot or other dirt or a mark left by one ⇒
all those black smuts from the engine.
| 7d | Consequences /of putting/ soldiers on the drums succeeded (13) |
"soldiers " = 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.
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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.
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| 9d | Strange rote -- see enough // of different parts (13) |
| 14d | Parodies // efforts to pinch a waistcoat for the Americans (10) |
In contrast to 1d, the Americanism in this clue is indicated.
Waistcoat[3] is the British term for the garment that North Americans would call a vest. In Britain (as we saw in 24), a vest[3] is an item of underwear for the upper body.
A travesty[10] is a farcical or grotesque imitation; in other words a mockery or parody.
| 16d | Immediately /and/ with fatal consequences holding court (8) |
| 17d | Melody dances across street // without pretension (8) |
| 19d | Fairy // godmother ultimately enveloped in rancour (6) |
| 20d | Italian city underpinning church // element (6) |
Chrome[10] is another word for the element chromium*, especially when present in a pigment or dye.
* Chromium[5] (symbol Cr) is the chemical element of atomic number 24, a hard white metal used in stainless steel and other alloys.
| 22d | Tie up /and/ hit hard (4) |
The word "up" is a reversal indicator and not part of the fodder as the 2Kiwi's hint on Big Dave's Crossword Blog might suggest.
I would say that the solution is an "unindicated Briticism". Not only is it not identified as a British expression by my British dictionaries, the word is not even found in my US dictionaries.
Tonk[5] is an informal term meaning to hit hard ⇒
He tonked the third ball he faced in international cricket into the stands over long-on*, and followed that up with a bludgeoned straight drive that gave mid-off* no chance.
* long-on and mid-off are fielding positions in cricket
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] - Lexico (formerly Oxford Dictionaries Online) (Oxford Dictionary of English)
[6] - Lexico (formerly Oxford Dictionaries Online) (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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