Puzzle at a Glance
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Puzzle number in The Daily Telegraph
DT 29322 | |
Publication date in The Daily Telegraph
Friday, March 27, 2020 | |
Setter
Zandio | |
Link to full review
Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 29322]
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Big Dave's Crossword Blog review written by
Deep Threat | |
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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Notes
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In a comment left on Big Dave's Crossword Blog of April 10, 2020, the setter, Zandio, acknowledged being the setter of this puzzle. | |
Introduction
This was certainly a very challenging puzzle. Like many reported on Big Dave's Crossword Blog, the southwest quadrant was last in for me and likely took as long as the other three quadrants combined. Yes, it was difficult but completed unaided with an immense feeling of satisfaction. I think a puzzle such as this is a bit like climbing Mount Everest — one derives a huge sense of accomplishment from it but it is not something one would necessarily care to tackle on a regular basis.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 | Times following up proposition Queen /is/ not a good Samaritan? (6-2) |
Proposition[5] is used in the informal sense of an offer of sex made to a person with whom one is not involved, especially one that is made in an unsubtle way.
"Queen " = ER [regnal cipher of Queen Elizabeth]
The regnal ciphers (monograms) of British monarchs are initials formed from the Latin version of their first name followed by either Rex or Regina (Latin for king or queen, respectively). Thus, the regnal cipher of Queen Elizabeth is ER[5] — from the Latin Elizabetha Regina.
* A cipher[5] (also cypher) is a monogram[5] or motif of two or more interwoven letters, typically a person's initials, used to identify a personal possession or as a logo.
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The regnal ciphers (monograms) of British monarchs are initials formed from the Latin version of their first name followed by either Rex or Regina (Latin for king or queen, respectively). Thus, the regnal cipher of Queen Elizabeth is ER[5] — from the Latin Elizabetha Regina.
* A cipher[5] (also cypher) is a monogram[5] or motif of two or more interwoven letters, typically a person's initials, used to identify a personal possession or as a logo.
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From the Parable of the Good Samaritan:
In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him." (Luke 10:30-33)
| 5a | Beat // schoolmaster, getting time inside (4) |
It is common practice for British school students to address (or refer to) their male teachers as "Sir", as in To Sir, with Love[7], a 1967 British drama film starring Sidney Poitier that deals with social and racial issues in an inner-city school.
| 9a | Spring /in/ France -- nation rioting, university seized (8) |
| 10a | Fitting // bolster back on (6) |
| 11a | Time /of/ love, love? Love, love! (8) |
The time when your digital clock reads "00:00".
"love " = O [nil score in tennis]
In tennis, squash, and some other sports, love[5] is a score of zero or nil ⇒
Although folk etymology has connected the word with French l'oeuf 'egg', from the resemblance in shape between an egg and a zero, the term apparently comes from the phrase play for love (i.e. the love of the game, not for money).
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In tennis, squash, and some other sports, love[5] is a score of zero or nil ⇒
love fifteen. The resemblance of a zero written as a numeral (0) to the letter O leads to the cryptic crossword convention of the word "love" being used to clue this letter.
Although folk etymology has connected the word with French l'oeuf 'egg', from the resemblance in shape between an egg and a zero, the term apparently comes from the phrase play for love (i.e. the love of the game, not for money).
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| 12a | Oddly taking things off in train, Bob doing // strip (6) |
| 14a | Running hot and cold, // divine liquid covers ices, melting (10) |
| 18a | Victory number one turned // series (10) |
| 22a | Two Europeans having couple of pints inside run out /to see/ match (6) |
"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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"run " = R [cricket notation]
| 23a | Agreeable // rustic houses either side of Liverpool (8) |
Rustic[5] is used in the sense of an unsophisticated country person.
Scratching the Surface
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Liverpool[5] is a city and seaport in northwest England, situated at
the east side of the mouth of the River Mersey. (show more )
Liverpool developed as a port in the 17th century with the import of cotton from America and the export of textiles produced in Lancashire and Yorkshire, and in the 18th century became an important centre of shipbuilding and engineering. hide |
| 24a | Heated // camphor used when going bye-byes, possibly? (6) |
According to The Chambers Dictionary, camphor[1] is a solid essential oil*, derived from the camphor laurel (a species of cinnamon tree) of Taiwan, etc, or synthetically manufactured, having an aromatic smell and bitter taste, used as a liniment in medicine, as a plasticizer, and as an insect repellent.
* I must say that the concept of a "solid oil" is new to me
However, camphor oil does exist in liquid form (although I strongly suspect it may not be pure camphor). According to the healthline website, "Camphor (Cinnamomum camphora) is a terpene (organic compound) that’s commonly used in creams, ointments, and lotions. Camphor oil is the oil extracted from the wood of camphor trees and processed by steam distillation. It can be used topically to relieve pain, irritation, and itching. Camphor is also used to relieve chest congestion and inflammatory conditions."
Bye-byes[2] (also called beddy-byes) is an informal term used to children meaning sleep or bed (especially go bye-byes or go to bye-byes).
"When going bye-byes" one is likely ("possibly") 'in bed'. Thus the wordplay translates to "camphor used in bed" which parses as OIL (camphor) contained in (used in) BED.
| 25a | Popular remix of 'So Vain' /becomes/ offensive (8) |
Scratching the Surface
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| Sometimes pieces of music or works of literature found in crossword clues are real and other times they are merely convenient inventions of the setter. I expect that occasionally the setter inadvertently uses the name of some obscure work that does actually exist. Today may be such a case. "So Vain" is the lead track on the 2008 album You Are Here[7] by the British alternative rock band Thenewno2. While unknown to me, the band has toured the US and appeared on Late Night with Conan O'Brien. Showing my age and musical inclinations, it was Carly Simon's 1972 hit "You're So Vain"[7] that popped into my mind. |
| 26a | Sparkle // -- // hurry // -- // drop // -- // shatter! (4) |
This may well be the first time that I have encountered a quadruple definition — or perhaps even a septuple definition (as the punctuation contributes three more instances of the solution)!
| 27a | Likely cost /of/ this person's cracking country pile (8) |
"this person's " = IM
It is a common cryptic crossword convention for the creator of the puzzle to use terms such as (the or this) compiler, (the or this) setter, (the or this) speaker, (this) author, (this) writer, or this person to refer to himself or herself. To solve such a clue, one must generally substitute a first person pronoun (I or ME) for whichever of these terms has been used in the clue.
Today, the the creator of the puzzle has made the scenario more complicated by combining "this person" with the verb "to be"* producing "this person's" (a contraction of "this person is") which must be replaced by "I'm" (a contraction of "I am").
* Although in the surface reading "this person's" is showing possession, in the wordplay it is interpreted as a contraction of "this person is".
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It is a common cryptic crossword convention for the creator of the puzzle to use terms such as (the or this) compiler, (the or this) setter, (the or this) speaker, (this) author, (this) writer, or this person to refer to himself or herself. To solve such a clue, one must generally substitute a first person pronoun (I or ME) for whichever of these terms has been used in the clue.
Today, the the creator of the puzzle has made the scenario more complicated by combining "this person" with the verb "to be"* producing "this person's" (a contraction of "this person is") which must be replaced by "I'm" (a contraction of "I am").
* Although in the surface reading "this person's" is showing possession, in the wordplay it is interpreted as a contraction of "this person is".
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A pile[2,3,4,5,10,11] is a lofty or large building or group of buildings* ⇒
the noble pile of Windsor Castle.
* Although not a term with which I was familiar before encountering it in crossword puzzles, it is apparently not a Briticism as this meaning is found in US as well as British dictionaries.
An estate[5] is an extensive area of land in the country, usually with a large house, owned by one person, family, or organization.
Scratching the Surface
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Cracking[5] is an informal British* term meaning excellent ⇒ (i) he is in cracking form to win this race; (ii) a cracking good story. * Although British dictionaries consider this usage to be British, this meaning of cracking[3] is also found in the American Heritage Dictionary. Thus the surface reading of the wordplay is "this person's excellent large house in the country". |
Down
| 2d | Rather thick, // putting an R in 'investigate' (6) |
| 3d | Demand // rising, business gathering cheers (6) |
Cheers[5] is an informal British expression of gratitude or acknowledgement for something ⇒
Billy tossed him the key. ‘Cheers, pal.’.
Ta[5] is an informal British exclamation signifying thank you ⇒
‘Ta,’ said Willie gratefully.
| 4d | Radiance /of/ British justice (10) |
| 6d | This writer involved in craftier novel, not a // great (8) |
" this writer " = I [see explanation at 27a]
| 7d | 'Bottled in Devonshire', pub licences // state (8) |
| 8d | Frenzied // title boxing gave a buzz (8) |
| 9d | Celebrity // footballers on camera, taking centre (4) |
The Football Association[7], also known simply as the FA, is the governing body of football [soccer] in England. Formed in 1863, it is the oldest football association in the world and is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the amateur and professional game in England.
| 13d | They fly around // stormy Polar Sea, bearing north-east (10) |
Aeroplane is the British spelling of airplane[5].
| 15d | Gather // disorder splits island where Boney was held up, ... (8) |
"Boney"[7] is a British nickname for Napoleon Bonaparte.
Napoleon I[5] (1769–1821) was emperor of France 1804–14 and 1815; full name Napoleon Bonaparte; known as Napoleon. In 1799 Napoleon joined a conspiracy which overthrew the Directory, becoming the supreme ruler of France. He declared himself emperor in 1804, and established an empire stretching from Spain to Poland. After defeats at Trafalgar (1805) and in Russia (1812), he abdicated and was exiled to the island of Elba (1814). He returned to power in 1815, but was defeated at Waterloo and exiled to the island of St Helena.
| 16d | ... captured /and/ tied up (8) |
| 17d | Anxious // struggle to get wife off ship (8) |
| 19d | One joining military force since getting over // shooting expedition (6) |
"military force " = RAF
The Royal Air Force[5] (abbreviation RAF) is the British air force, formed in 1918 by amalgamation of the Royal Flying Corps (founded 1912) and the Royal Naval Air Service (founded 1914).
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The Royal Air Force[5] (abbreviation RAF) is the British air force, formed in 1918 by amalgamation of the Royal Flying Corps (founded 1912) and the Royal Naval Air Service (founded 1914).
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| 20d | We can admire the craft in this // Bernstein song about November (6) |
"Maria"[7] is a song from the 1957 Broadway musical West Side Story. The music was written by Leonard Bernstein and the lyrics are by Stephen Sondheim.
"November " = N [NATO Phonetic Alphabet]
In what is commonly known as the NATO Phonetic Alphabet[7]*, November[5] is a code word representing the letter N.
* officially the International Radiotelephony Spelling Alphabet
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In what is commonly known as the NATO Phonetic Alphabet[7]*, November[5] is a code word representing the letter N.
* officially the International Radiotelephony Spelling Alphabet
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| 21d | Overcome // in Lourdes, one supporting saint (4) |
Lourdes[5] is a town in south-western France, at the foot of the Pyrenees; population 15,698 (2006). It has been a major place of Roman Catholic pilgrimage since 1858 when a young peasant girl, Marie Bernarde Soubirous (St Bernadette), claimed to have had a series of visions of the Virgin Mary.
"in Lourdes, one " = UN [how one would say "one" in the French town of Lourdes]
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
I can't decide how many stars to rate the difficulty of this puzzle. Like you, I finished unaided, but it took such a long time. Not surprisingly, Brian was fit to be tied.
ReplyDeleteBig Dave's blog would certainly not be the same without Brian's comments — although he has noticeably mellowed compared to his behaviour from earlier days.
Delete