Thursday, December 31, 2020

Thursday, December 31, 2020 — DT 29357



Puzzle at a Glance
Puzzle number in The Daily Telegraph
DT 29357
Publication date in The Daily Telegraph
Thursday, May 7, 2020
Setter
Unknown
Link to full review
Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 29357]
Big Dave's Crossword Blog review written by
Miffypops
BD rating
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

Introduction

While not overly difficult, the puzzle does contain a few words that are new to me. Fortunately, I was able to get most of them through the wordplay. With all the checking letters in place for 1a, I was even able to arrange the remaining letters in the correct formation on my first attempt.

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
  • "//" - marks the boundary between wordplay and definition when no link word or link phrase is present
  • "/[link word or phrase]/" - marks the boundary between wordplay and definition when a link word or link phrase is present
  • "solid underline" - precise definition
  • "dotted underline" - cryptic definition
  • "dashed underline" - wordplay
  • "double underline" - both wordplay and definition
Click here for further explanation and usage examples of markup conventions used on this blog.

Across

1a Bitter moan about // plant in garden (10)

Montbretia[5] is a plant of the iris family with bright orange-yellow trumpet-shaped flowers.

6a Posed outside back of shop /in/ row (4)

9a Abandon girl /in/ shrub (6,4)

I discovered there are two plants going by the name desert rose[5]:
  • a succulent plant with pink tubular flowers and a woody stem containing toxic milky sap, native to East Africa and Arabia
  • (also Sturt's desert rose) a dense shrub with pinkish-lilac flowers and black spotted leaves and fruit, native to arid regions of Australia
The latter would seem to be the one mentioned in the clue. However, I suspect the former is the one with which most people are familiar — thus the comments on Big Dave's Crossword Blog about it not being a shrub.

10a American native /given/ greeting outside work (4)

"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 ⇒ he was writing an opus on Mexico.

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The Hopi[10] are a Native American people of northeastern Arizona.

12a In middle of lesson get unfriendly // rebukes (6)

13a Awful trouble with EU showing no love /for/ diehard Tory? (4,4)

"love " = O [nil score in tennis]

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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In the UK, the term true-blue[5] (also true blue) denotes a staunchly loyal supporter of the Conservative Party.

15a Special collection /of/ least well-regarded artist? (6,6)

Bottom drawer[5] is a dated British* term for household linen stored by a woman in preparation for her marriage.

* the equivalent North American term is hope chest

18a Buffoonery /of/ liar had Queen troubled (12)

21a Exercises to get bit of money by bankrupt // college (8)

"exercises " = PE [physical education]

PE[5] is an abbreviation* for physical education.

* In my experience, phys ed[3,11,12,14] is the more common shortened form in North America.

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Pembroke College[7] is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. The college was founded in 1624 by King James I of England and was named after William Herbert, 3rd Earl of Pembroke, Lord Chamberlain and then-Chancellor of the University.

22a German fellow/'s/ regimen accepted with bit of hesitation (6)

Dieter[7] is a German given name, a short form of Dietrich.

24a Emotion /reated by/ speed getting heart going (4)

25a Prisoner on top level said /to be/ hiding away (10)

26a Gait /of/ the old man going to church (4)

"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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27a Determined // little girl, ten, saucy on the outside (10)

Down

1d Way holy person /is/ unassuming (6)

2d Small numbers -- in what way // is that something bothering restaurant? (2-4)

I had a bit of difficulty finding a role for the word "that" in the clue. I first considered — and rejected — making it part of the wordplay with the phrase "in what way is that" cluing the word HOW. My second attempt was to make it part of a link phrase "is that" but ended up tossing out that idea as well. I finally concluded that the definition is being presented in the form of a question which one could interpret to mean "something that might be of concern to a restaurant".

3d Like a drippy type showing no interest whatever? (5,2,5)

Drippy[5] is an informal term meaning weak, ineffectual, or sloppily sentimental.

Surely the solution to the clue would be more accurately applied to those dealing with the "drippy type" than to the "drippy type" themself or itself. I think Collins COBUILD explains the word drippy[14] well: "If you describe someone as drippy, you mean that they are rather stupid and weak. If you describe something such as a book or a type of music as drippy, you mean that you think it is rather stupid, dull, and sentimental".

4d They hear // corny things (4)

5d What may be played // in tents that's naughty and full of spirit (10)

7d Bad legislation? // Such would supposedly help the needy (4,4)

Historically in the UK, a poor law[5,10] was a law providing for the relief or support of the poor from public funds. Originally the responsibility of the parish, the relief and employment of the poor passed over to the workhouses in 1834. In the early 20th century the Poor Law* was replaced by schemes of social security ⇒ The Poor Laws passed during the reign of Elizabeth I played a critical role in the country's welfare.

* A workhouse[5] was a public institution in which the destitute of a parish received board and lodging in return for work.

8d Attempt to get hold of liquid, out-of-this-world // bathroom item (8)

ET[5] is the abbreviation for extraterrestrial.

11d Naval officers // raised alarm at sea after first sign of rocks (4,8)

Rear admiral[5] is a rank of naval officer, above commodore and below vice admiral.

14d Attacked dwelling /and/ was effective (6,4)

16d Quickly /providing/ two portions of meat (4-4)

Chop-chop[5] (or chop chop[2,10]) is slang from pidgin English meaning quickly or hurry up ⇒ they decided that pictures were needed, and chop-chop.

17d A passionate knight going out /is/ fragrant (8)

"knight " = N [chess notation]

A knight[5] is a chess piece, typically with its top shaped like a horse’s head, that moves by jumping to the opposite corner of a rectangle two squares by three. Each player starts the game with two knights.

N[5] is the abbreviation for knight used in recording moves in chess [representing the pronunciation of kn-, since the initial letter k- represents 'king'].

As an aside, it is interesting to note that the Chambers 21st Century Dictionary defines: 
  • K[2] as an abbreviation used in chess for knight. 
  • K[2] is a symbol used in chess to represent a king. 
  • N[2] is a symbol used in chess to represent a knight.
The dictionary fails to specify how one differentiates an abbreviation from a symbol.

On the other hand, both The Chambers Dictionary and the Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary list K or K.[1,11] as an abbreviation for knight without specifying the specific context in which this abbreviation is used. However, the context may well be in an honours list rather than in a game of chess. In the UK, for instance, KBE[5] stands for Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire.

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19d Street on fire -- terrible // conflict (6)

The clue published in the National Post is the one which appeared in the print edition of The Daily Telegraph and on the Telegraph Puzzles website in the UK (see the box below for a discussion of the various platforms on which the puzzle appears in Britain).

As reported on Big Dave's Crossword Blog, a second version of this clue appeared in the online version of The Daily Telegraph:
  • Conflict? // It’s upset ref badly (6)
Note that this version doesn't parse correctly, being a reversal (upset) — or possibly an anagram (as indicated by Miffypops in his review) — of IT'S followed by an anagram (badly) of REF which would produce the result STIRFE.

It boggles the mind why a correct clue would be changed to an incorrect one, and then on only one of the several platforms on which the puzzle appears.

How do I reach thee ... Let me count the ways
The Daily Telegraph puzzles are available via several platforms in the UK:
  • the printed newspaper version (an electronic facsimile version — similar to the National Post ePaper — is also available through the Press Reader service)
  • The Daily Telegraph online version — this would seem not to be an electronic facsimile of the printed version of the paper; this version apparently provides the full editorial content of the paper but not all the puzzles (visitors to Big Dave's Crossword Blog often complain about The Toughie crossword not being included)
  • Telegraph Puzzles website (puzzles only)
  • Apple app
  • Android app
For a variety of reasons, a clue may occasionally differ across these numerous platforms. This can be due to a change being made after the printed version goes to press, to a production error on an individual platform, or failure to implement a change on a particular platform, etc.

The National Post carries the syndicated version of the puzzle. Although we are currently seeing the puzzles in Canada nearly nine months after they first appeared in the UK, I believe the syndicated puzzle is actually distributed to newspapers prior to its publication in the UK. Unless a change is made in the puzzle following its distribution in syndication and before The Daily Telegraph goes to press, the syndicated version will be identical to the printed version in the UK — barring a production error by the National Post.

20d Traditional manufacturer /needs/ entitlement to be heard (6)

23d Stars // in disgrace sometimes (4)



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

Wednesday, December 30, 2020

Wednesday, December 30, 2020 — DT 29356


Puzzle at a Glance
Puzzle number in The Daily Telegraph
DT 29356
Publication date in The Daily Telegraph
Wednesday, May 6, 2020
Setter
Jay (Jeremy Mutch)
Link to full review
Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 29356]
Big Dave's Crossword Blog review written by
2Kiwis
BD rating
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

Introduction

The general consensus seems to be that this puzzle is a rather gentle one.

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
  • "//" - marks the boundary between wordplay and definition when no link word or link phrase is present
  • "/[link word or phrase]/" - marks the boundary between wordplay and definition when a link word or link phrase is present
  • "solid underline" - precise definition
  • "dotted underline" - cryptic definition
  • "dashed underline" - wordplay
  • "double underline" - both wordplay and definition
Click here for further explanation and usage examples of markup conventions used on this blog.

Across

1a Purists /needing/ education to wear trousers (7)

After more than a decade of doing British crosswords, I thought I was coming to grips with certain aspects of British usage. However, this clue makes me question everything I  thought I had learned.

It has been my long-held understanding that, in Britain, the word pants[5] does not mean trousers* as it does in North America. Rather, it refers to underwear — specifically men's undershorts or women's panties (the latter otherwise known as knickers[5] to the Brits). Although, there have been previous hints that this usage may not be longstanding and/or universal in the UK*.

* A reader using the pseudonym Lincoln Latic made the following observation in a comment on my review of DT 28909 on Big Dave's Crossword Blog:
I didn’t see this [pants used as a synonym for trousers] as an Americanism. I grew up in the northwest of England (before the big influx of Americanisms into the language) and ‘pants’ was the usual term for trousers. You had short pants as a real youngster then progressed into long pants as you got older which for most of us was when you were nearly at the end of primary school probably around aged 9 or 10. What most people consider ‘pants’ refers to now, were called underpants because they went under your pants.
I note that there is nary a hint of protest in the review of this puzzle on Big Dave's Crossword Blog to the word 'pants' being used as a synonym of 'trousers'.

9a Steep // service charge applied to staff (8)

10aA German trained as manager, for example (7)

11a Degree /of/ penalty skills? (4,4)

12a Shots // subdue son (6)

"son " = S [genealogy]

In genealogies, s[5] is the abbreviation for son(s) m 1991; one s one d*.

* married in 1991; one son and one daughter.

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13a Innovative thinker once dismissing king // not making sense (10)

"king " = K [playing card or chess notation]

K[5] is an abbreviation for king that is used especially in describing play in card games and recording moves in chess.

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15a Find missing past // record (4)

16a Inadmissible act after sailor/'s/ change of direction (5,4)

A turn[5] is a short performance, especially one of a number given by different performers in succession ⇒ (i) Lewis gave her best ever comic turn; (ii) he was asked to do a turn at a children’s party.

"sailor " = AB [able seaman]

In the Royal Navy, according to Lexico (Oxford Dictionary of English), able seaman[5] (abbreviation AB[5]), is a rank of sailor above ordinary seaman and below leading seaman. On the other hand, Collins English Dictionary tells us that an able seaman[10] (also called) is an ordinary seaman, especially one in the merchant navy, who has been trained in certain skills.

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21a State /that's/ back in within a month (4)

Oman[5,7], officially the Sultanate of Oman, is an Arab country at the southeastern corner of the Arabian peninsula.

22a Prone to tears, // student ruined scary home (10)

"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.

Automobile displaying an L-plate

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24a Tense, /being/ over border (2,4)

25a Remains confused about origin of rock // salts (8)

Salt[3,10] is an informal term for a sailor, especially one who is old and experienced.

27a V /can be/ progress, in a way (7)

28a Generally succeeded /finding/ something to wear (8)

"succeeded " = S [genealogy term]

The abbreviation s[5] stands for succeeded, in the sense of to have taken over a throne, office, or other position from ⇒ he succeeded Hawke as Prime Minister. It might be seen, for instance, it charts of royal lineages.

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While articles of clothing in Britain and North America may share the same name, they can sometimes be markedly different from each other.

In North America, overalls[3,11] are loose-fitting trousers*, usually of strong fabric, with a bib front and shoulder straps, often worn over regular clothing as protection from dirt. The British definition of overalls[4] is broader, encompassing not only garments with a bib and shoulder straps but also those having a jacket top. This latter garment is also known as a boiler suit[5] in the UK and would be called coveralls[3] in North America.

* Note that I have carefully avoided using the word 'pants' in favour of the (perhaps) more universal term 'trousers' (see discussion at 1a).

29a On review, sign it, ideally retaining // process of redaction (7)

Down

2d Scientist /from/ site oddly imprisoned by a German twice (8)

"a German " = EIN

In German, the masculine singular form of the indefinite article is ein[8].

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Albert Einstein[5] (1879–1955) was a German-born American theoretical physicist, founder of the special and general theories of relativity. (show more )

Einstein is often regarded as the greatest scientist of the 20th century. In 1905 he published his special theory of relativity and in 1915 he succeeded in incorporating gravitation in his general theory of relativity, which was vindicated when one of its predictions was observed during the solar eclipse of 1919. However, Einstein searched without success for a unified field theory embracing electromagnetism, gravitation, relativity, and quantum mechanics. He influenced the decision to build an atom bomb but after the war he spoke out passionately against nuclear weapons.

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3d Innocent answer // that provides flavour (8)

Angelica[10], the the candied stems of the Angelica plant, is an ingredient used in cooking for decorating and flavouring sweet dishes.

4d Short-lived // politician suppressed by terrible strain (10)

"politician " = TORY

A Tory[10] is a member or supporter of the Conservative Party in Great Britain [or, for that matter, in Canada].

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.

* 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.

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5d Cheers team // transport (4)

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.

Eleven[5] (often appearing as a Roman numeral XI) is the number of players in* a cricket[7] side [team] or an Association football[7] [soccer] team — and is frequently used as a metonym for such a team ⇒ at cricket I played in the first eleven.

* Note that, in Britain, the words "side" and "team" are synonymous and a player is said to be "in a side" or "in a team" rather than "on a team" as one would say in North America.

6d Cut energy, /being/ harsh (6)

"energy " = E [symbol used in physics]

In physics, E[5] is a symbol used to represent energy in mathematical formulae ⇒ E = mc2.

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7dTop cover /from/ hospital broadcast on web (7)

"hospital " = H [symbol used on street signs]


H is a symbol for 'hospital' used on street signs.

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8d Poles overwhelmed by divine being/'s/ stupidness (7)

11d Amusing // aspects will include debt (9)

14d Tough foes do badly with no time /for/ church (5,2,3)

17d New first /for/ one who writes (8)

18d Interrupts /what may be/ wrong in a canal boat? (6,2)

Split the solution (5,3) to get a phrase that might be interpreted to mean an indiscretion committed in a canal boat.

19d Baffle // loud and clumsy oaf (7)

"loud " = F [music notation]

Forte[5] (abbreviation f[5]) is a musical direction meaning (as an adjective) loud or (as an adverb) loudly.

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20d Colour /of/ small runabout on lease? (7)

"small " = S [clothing size]

S[5] is the abbreviation for small (as a clothing size).

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 A runabout[10] is a small car, especially one for use in a town.

"lease " = LET

Let[5] is a British* term meaning to allow someone to have the use of (a room or property) in return for regular payments ⇒ (i) she lets the flat [apartment] to a tenant; (ii) they let out their house.

* However, based on its appearance in US dictionaries, I seriously doubt that this word is quite as British as Lexico (Oxford Dictionaries) would have us believe.[3,11]

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23d Part of airport /where/ fugitive loses heart? (6)

26d Regret accepting Liberal // convention (4)

"Liberal " = L [member of a nearly extinct British political party]

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]

* 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.

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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

Tuesday, December 29, 2020

Tuesday, December 28, 2020 — DT 29355


Puzzle at a Glance
Puzzle number in The Daily Telegraph
DT 29355
Publication date in The Daily Telegraph
Tuesday, May 5, 2020
Setter
Unknown
Link to full review
Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 29355]
Big Dave's Crossword Blog review written by
Mr K
BD rating
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

Introduction

Today's workout proved to be not overly taxing. In a couple of instances, the parsing presented by Mr K in his review on Big Dave's Crossword Blog differs slightly from mine which caused me to revisit those clues. However, after closely re-examining my parsing, I concluded it is valid.

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
  • "//" - marks the boundary between wordplay and definition when no link word or link phrase is present
  • "/[link word or phrase]/" - marks the boundary between wordplay and definition when a link word or link phrase is present
  • "solid underline" - precise definition
  • "dotted underline" - cryptic definition
  • "dashed underline" - wordplay
  • "double underline" - both wordplay and definition
Click here for further explanation and usage examples of markup conventions used on this blog.

Across

1a Backlash /from/ Religious Education movement (8)

In the UK, religious education[10] (abbreviation RE[5]) is a subject taught in schools which educates about the different religions of the world.

5a Education shortened after girl // failed to attend (6)

10a Scratchier cat is spoiling // properties (15)

11a Stroke bird, /for/ example (7)

12a Complaint /from/ this writer as beer's missing head (7)

"this writer " = ME

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.

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As is the case more often than not in Crosswordland, the complaint is medical in nature.

13a Bill's // hands /and/ feet? (8)

I consider this clue to consist of wordplay (a charade of a synonym for bill and the S that follows the apostrophe) followed by a double definition. In his review on Big Dave's Crossword Blog, Mr Kitty ignores the apostrophe and treats the first word in the clue as a plural rather than a possessive. I know it is permissible to ignore punctuation in wordplay, but I'm not sure it's cricket to ignore it in definitions.



In the wordplay, measure is used in the sense of a legislative bill ⇒ the Senate passed the measure by a 48–30 vote.



A hand[5] is a a unit of measurement of a horse’s height, equal to 4 inches (10.16 cm).



A foot[5], of course, is a unit of linear measure equal to 12 inches (30.48 cm).



Not that it has any bearing on the clue, but it just occurred to me that a foot is equal to three hands.

15a The grasses -- regularly cut // short (5)

Again, in this clue, Mr Kitty differs from me in his approach.

I consider cut to be a removal indicator — like a player being cut from a team. Thus, in my explanation, a regular sequence of letters (the even-numbered letters) is cut from the fodder.

Mr Kitty chooses to use a regular sequence of letters (in his case, the odd-numbered letters) from the fodder and expand the definition to include the word "cut".

As far as the wordplay goes, both approaches seem equally valid as the odd-numbered letters and the even-numbered letters are both regular sequences. The question then becomes, which definition — 'short' or 'cut short' — best matches the solution 'terse''? Or, are they equally good synonyms? You be the judge.

Based on the entry in Lexico:

terse[5] — sparing in the use of words; in other words, abrupt ⇒ a terse statement,

I would say that 'short' is the better fit. However, I don't necessarily rule out the possibility that one might find a context in which 'cut short' might also be used.

18a In next Rambo? // One might get shot (5)

I believe extra[5] is being used in the sense of a person engaged temporarily to fill out a crowd scene in a film or play. On the surface, given this is a Rambo movie, the script may well call for this person to be shot. Looking for a deeper meaning, the definition may allude to the fact that an extra in a film might momentarily be featured in a shot and thus be recognizable on screen or, perhaps, that such a gig may lead to a shot at stardom.

20a Nude sadly ordered to leave area // at once (8)

23a Additional // help (7)

In the second definition, further[5] is used in the sense of to help the progress or development of (something); in other words, promote he had depended on using them to further his own career.

25a Show // article to be edited (7)

26a Family members ignoring large, round donation /for/ congressmen? (15)

"large " = L [clothing size]

L[5] is the abbreviation for large (as a clothing size).

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In the US, a congressman[12] is a [male] member of Congress, especially of the House of Representatives.

In the US, a representative[12] is a member of the lower house of Congress (House of Representatives) or of a State legislature.

27a Dirty place was first /to be/ given a makeover? (6)

28a Prisoner insists losing 'cool' // is made up (8)

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1d Repeats // expression of hesitation over headwear (6)

2d Flat // broke meant pinching to some degree (9)

Flat[5] is the British term for what would be called an apartment[5] in North America.

The term apartment is used in Britain, but seemingly in a more restricted sense than in North America, applying to either temporary or upscale accommodation.

As Lexico (formerly Oxford Dictionaries Online) puts it, an apartment[5] is:
  • (British) a flat, typically one that is well appointed or used for holidays [vacations] ⇒ self-catering holiday apartments;
  • (North American) any flat ⇒ the family lived in a rented apartment.
3d Tense composer's // journeys (7)

"tense " = T [grammar terminology]

Grammatically speaking, t.[10] is the abbreviation for tense.

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Maurice Ravel[5] (1875–1937) was a French composer. His works are somewhat impressionistic in style, employing colourful orchestration and unresolved dissonances. Notable works: the ballets Daphnis and Chloë (1912) and Boléro (1928) and the orchestral work La Valse (1920).

4d Frequently // dull without leader (5)

6d Isn't worried by insect/'s/ heartbeat (7)

7d Son to take out // gift (5)

"son " = S [genealogy]

In genealogies, s[5] is the abbreviation for son(s) m 1991; one s one d*.

* married in 1991; one son and one daughter.

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8d Good-looking person cutting end off flower // -- catastrophe! (8)

What did he say?
In his review on Big Dave's Crossword Blog, Mr K refers to the first part of the wordplay as denoting a dated good-looking person.
While the intent of his statement is that the term is passé, I can't help but note that the description is also very apropos as such a person would likely rarely be lacking for suitors. However, I am surprised that Mr K employs a masculine pronoun as I always think of this word as applying only to a female.

9d For 50% of medics, bandaging is // guaranteed (8)

14d Kept // cool (8)

16d Awfully versatile // folks? (9)

17d What entertainer does // for each class so nothing is forgotten (8)

In Britain, a form[5] is [or, perhaps more correctly,was] a class or year in a school, usually given a specifying number. This is similar to the North America concept of a grade although the numbering system for forms and grades are vastly different. (show more )

The term "form" seems to have become passé as Miffypops in his review of DT 28163 on Big Dave's Crossword Blog refers to "sixth-former" as "What a schoolchild would be during the year before university back in the old days. This would now be known as year 13 or 14." Furthermore, Wikipedia (see table below) characterizes the term "form" as an "alternative/old name".

A form[7] is a class or grouping of students in a school. The term is used predominantly in the United Kingdom, although some schools, mostly private, in other countries also use the title. Pupils are usually grouped in forms according to age and will remain with the same group for a number of years, or sometimes their entire school career.

Forms are normally identified by a number such as "first form" or "sixth form". A form number may be used for two year groups and differentiated by the terms upper and lower [in general, this would seem to apply primarily for the sixth form]. Usually the sixth form is the senior form of a school [although this apparently does not hold true for New Zealand where they would appear to have a seventh form]. In England, the sixth form is usually divided into two year groups, the lower sixth and upper sixth, owing to the 3-year English college/university system. In Scotland or North America, the 6th form is usually a single year, owing to the 4-year college/university system. If there is more than one form for each year group they will normally be differentiated by letters, e.g., "upper four B", "lower two Y". Schools do not follow a consistent pattern in naming forms [in the foregoing quotation witness Miffypops' reference to "year 14",  a term which does not appear in the table below].

Wikipedia would appear to be at best ambiguous and at worst inconsistent on the relationship between the British and American systems of naming school years. The article from which the table below is excerpted shows that the British first form is equivalent to the American 6th grade. On the other hand, the article cited above states "In North America, the 1st Form (or sometimes 'Form I') is equivalent to 7th Grade." However, this latter statement may in fact be a comparison between the few North American schools to use the form system and the vast majority of North American schools that don't rather than a comparison between British and American schools.

 Age RangeBritish SystemAmerican System
NameAlternative/Old NameName
11-12Year 7First form6th grade
12-13Year 8Second form7th grade
13-14Year 9Third form8th grade
14-15Year 10Fourth form9th grade
15-16Year 11Fifth form10th grade
16-17Year 12Lower sixth form11th grade
17-18Year 13Upper sixth form12th grade

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19d Adult allowed to wear the // jumper, perhaps (7)

"adult " = A [former British film certificate]

The A (Adult) certificate is a former film certificate[7] issued by the British Board of Film Classification. This certificate existed in various forms from 1912 to 1985, when it was replaced by the PG (Parental Guidance) certificate. [Despite its demise in the real world, it continues to find widespread use in Crosswordland.]

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21d Former lover refers to // thrills (7)

22d Bishop survives // reprimands (6)

"bishop " = B [chess piece]

B[5] is an abbreviation for bishop that is used in recording moves in chess.

A bishop[5] is a chess piece, typically with its top shaped like a mitre. Unless obstructed by another piece, a bishop

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24d About to provide // answer (5)

Ply is used in the sense of to provide someone with (food or drink) in a continuous or insistent way ⇒ she plied me with tea and scones.

25d Relation // in Detroit arranged to be picked up (5)



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