Puzzle at a Glance
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Puzzle number in The Daily Telegraph
DT 29348 | |
Publication date in The Daily Telegraph
Monday, April 27 2020 | |
Setter
Campbell (Allan Scott) | |
Link to full review
Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 29348]
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Big Dave's Crossword Blog review written by
pommers | |
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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The National Post has skipped DT 29345 through DT 29347 which were published in The Daily Telegraph from Thursday, April 23, 2020 to Saturday, April 25, 2020.
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Introduction
It's another "leap ahead" Friday today. The National Post has skipped three puzzles this time, necessitating me to abandon another review in mid-preparation. Fortunately, I found today's puzzle fairly easy — less difficult, I thought, than the three stars that pommers awards it in his review on Big Dave's Crossword Blog. At one point, I did get that déjà vu feeling and almost convinced myself that I must have reviewed it for Big Dave when it originally appeared in The Daily Telegraph back in April. However, the last few clues dissauded me of that notion. Having been reviewing Campbell's puzzles since last spring, I guess I'm just naturally attuned to his wavelegth now.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 | The two of us saving money after chopping head off // fish (6) |
Brass[5] is a British informal term for money ⇒
they wanted to spend their newly acquired brass.
A wrasse[2,5] (plural wrasses or wrasse) is a bony marine fish with thick lips and strong teeth, typically brightly coloured with marked differences between the male and female.
Origin: from a Cornish word meaning 'old woman'.
Delving Deeper
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| The wrasses[7]
are a family, Labridae, of marine fish, many of which are brightly colored. The family is large and diverse, with over 600 species in 81 genera, which are divided into 9 subgroups or tribes. They are typically small fish, most of them less than 20 cm (7.9 in) long, although the largest, the humphead wrasse, can measure up to 2.5 m (8.2 ft). Most wrasses inhabit the tropical and subtropical waters of the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans, though some species live in temperate waters: the Ballan wrasse is found as far north as Norway. |
| 5a | Very wise to cover one/'s/ face (6) |
"very " = V [context uncertain]
The abbreviation v (or v.)[1,2,5,10] stands for very.
Although this definition is found in most of my British dictionaries, it does not appear in any of my American dictionaries. Unfortunately no explanation is given as to the specific context in which one might encounter this usage. The only possibility that I can imagine is when combined with G as a grade of VG (very good) on school tests or assignments.
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The abbreviation v (or v.)[1,2,5,10] stands for very.
Although this definition is found in most of my British dictionaries, it does not appear in any of my American dictionaries. Unfortunately no explanation is given as to the specific context in which one might encounter this usage. The only possibility that I can imagine is when combined with G as a grade of VG (very good) on school tests or assignments.
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| 10a | Writer about to move // house (5) |
House[5] is old-fashioned British term for bingo.
| 11a | As good as gold? Us, almost (7-2) |
I got the correct solution and I had an inkling as to the parsing, but must admit I didn't fully understand it.
In an Olympic event, the silver and bronze medal winners are "almost as good as gold". However, had the clue been worded "As good as gold? Almost", the solution would be the singular RUNNER-UP. The setter has added the word "us" to indicate that a plural solution "RUNNERS-UP" is required.
It is the first person pronoun that I find problematic. I think the clue would work much better were it to be worded:
- As good as gold? They are almost (7-2)
| 12a | Horse /in/ flat race, not Ascot's first (7) |
Eventer[5] is a British term for a horse or rider that takes part in eventing[5], an equestrian sport in which competitors must take part in each of several contests, usually cross-country, dressage, and showjumping.
Scratching the Surface
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Ascot Racecourse[7] is a British racecourse, located in Ascot, Berkshire, England, which is
used for thoroughbred horse racing — both flat racing (show more )
and National Hunt Racing (show more
). It is one of the leading racecourses in the United Kingdom, hosting
13 of Britain's 36 annual Group 1 horse races. The course enjoys close
associations with the British Royal Family, being approximately six
miles from Windsor Castle.
A flat race[5] is a horse race over a course with no jumps, as opposed to a steeplechase or hurdles. hide National Hunt racing[7] is the official name given to that form of the sport of horse racing in the United Kingdom, France and Ireland in which the horses are required to jump fences and ditches. National Hunt racing in the UK is divided into two major distinct branches: hurdles and steeplechases. Alongside these there are "bumpers", which are National Hunt flat races. In a hurdles race, the horses jump over obstacles called hurdles; in a steeplechase the horses jump over a variety of obstacles that can include plain fences, water jumps or open ditches. hide |
| 13a | Trio, initially, or duet, badly // taught (7) |
| 14a | Scold // manager when beaten in TT (9) |
A termagant[5] is a harsh-tempered or overbearing woman.
Scratching the Surface
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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. |
| 17a | Chronicler // sneaks a look at broadcast (5) |
To solve this clue, one must know the correct pronunciation of the surname of English diarist Samuel Pepys (show more ).
Samuel Pepys[5] (1633–1703) was an English diarist and naval administrator. He is particularly remembered for his "Diary" (1660–9), which describes events such as the Great Plague and the Fire of London.
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Samuel Pepys[5] (1633–1703) was an English diarist and naval administrator. He is particularly remembered for his "Diary" (1660–9), which describes events such as the Great Plague and the Fire of London.
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| 18a | Splendid // beer knocked back (5) |
| 19a | Can the German, leading strike /in/ explosive situation? (9) |
"the German " = DER
| 21a | Talk about a name /for/ a dog (7) |
| 23a | Father carrying in // rope (7) |
Pater[5] (Latin for father) is a dated, informal British term for father ⇒
the pater gives her fifty pounds a year as a dress allowance.
A painter[5] is a rope attached to the bow of a boat for tying it to a quay.
| 25a | Late news: // 'Jam following work on street' (4,5) |
"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 ⇒
hide
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.
hide
Stop press[5] is a British term for late news inserted in a newspaper or periodical either at the last moment before printing or after printing has begun (especially as a heading) ⇒
Last week, our editor slipped in a bit of stop press news on the front page about the long-awaited announcement on collection centres.
| 26a | Pick // English literature course, ultimately (5) |
| 27a | Answer involving a // repeat fixture (6) |
| 28a | Somewhat // sooner (6) |
Down
| 2d | Intense anger surrounding new // series (5) |
A range[5] is a line or series of mountains or hills.
| 3d | Sharp drop /in/ deficit (9) |
| 4d | Mistake // admitted by juror, really upset (5) |
| 5d | Vetting, at sea, a French // pontoon (5-2-2) |
Pontoon[5] is a British name for the card game blackjack or vingt-et-un.
| 6d | The man wearing usual // coat (5) |
Set[5] is used in the sense of (with respect to a view or habit) unlikely to change ⇒
Everyone, from the chief executive down, had become trapped in a set pattern of behaviour.
| 7d | Place to eat // grub, so apt abroad (9) |
Gastropub[5] is a British term for a pub that specializes in serving high-quality food ⇒
we've built our reputation on searching out obscure ethnic restaurants, gastropubs, cutting-edge bars, and superlative food venues.
| 8d | A bishop posted // elsewhere (6) |
| 9d | Fictional detective Sam, seen originally /in/ a suit (6) |
Sam Spade[7] is a fictional character and the protagonist of American author Dashiell Hammett's 1930 novel, The Maltese Falcon. Spade also appeared in four lesser-known short stories by Hammett.
| 15d | Doctor and academic having part /in/ complex procedure (9) |
| 16d | Major road blocked by hostile // heavy guns (9) |
| 17d | Quiet, living in a place // such as Lincoln? (9) |
Abraham Lincoln[5] (1809–1865) was an American Republican statesman, 16th president of the US 1861–5. (show more )
His election as president on an anti-slavery platform helped precipitate the American Civil War; he was assassinated shortly after the war ended. Lincoln was noted for his succinct, eloquent speeches, including the Gettysburg Address of 1863.
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His election as president on an anti-slavery platform helped precipitate the American Civil War; he was assassinated shortly after the war ended. Lincoln was noted for his succinct, eloquent speeches, including the Gettysburg Address of 1863.
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Scratching the Surface
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| The city of Lincoln[5] is the county town of Lincolnshire[5], a county on the east coast of England. The county is also referred to in short as Lincoln[10]. |
| 18d | Oppose // all others across South Island (6) |
Scratching the Surface
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| South Island[5] is the more southerly and larger of the two main islands of New Zealand, separated from the North Island by Cook Strait. |
| 20d | Persian ruler, // former king, turned up trumps, ultimately (6) |
"king " = 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.
hide
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.
hide
Xerxes[5] (c.519–465 BC) was the son of Darius I, king of Persia 486–465. His invasion of Greece achieved victories in 480 at Artemisium and Thermopylae, but defeats at Salamis (480) and Plataea (479) forced him to withdraw.
| 22d | Rogue on the Spanish // force (5) |
"the Spanish " = EL [Spanish definite article]
| 23d | Difficult question /for/ model (5) |
| 24d | Fine base -- // yours years ago (5) |
In mathematics, e[5] is the transcendental* number that is the base of Napierian or natural logarithms, approximately equal to 2.71828.
* A transcendental number[5] is a number such as e or π that is real but not a root of an algebraic equation with rational coefficients.
Thine[5] is an archaic form of yours.
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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