Puzzle at a Glance
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Puzzle number in The Daily Telegraph
DT 29335 | |
Publication date in The Daily Telegraph
Saturday, April 11, 2020 | |
Setter
Donnybrook (Paul Bringloe) | |
Link to full review
Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 29335]
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Big Dave's Crossword Blog review written by
Tilsit | |
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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As of March 28, 2020, The Daily Telegraph suspended the contests associated with its Saturday (and Sunday) puzzles due to logistical issues created by the COVID-19 situation. As a result, effective with the April 4, 2020 puzzle (published in the National Post on November 30, 2020) and continuing until such time as the contests are reinstated, you will find only a single post on Big Dave's Crossword Blog related to the Saturday puzzle. During this period, the post for the Saturday puzzle will be a full review in the same format as the posts for weekday puzzles.
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Introduction
The setter of today's puzzle is Paul Bringloe, who sets Toughies* for The Daily Telegraph under the pseudonym Donnybrook. We last saw one of his puzzles on Friday, November 20 (DT 29323). In a comment with respect to that puzzle on Big Dave's Crossword Blog, he identified himself as Slightly Bad Dog (an allusion to a setter being a type of dog).His reference in Comment #39 on Big Dave's Crossword Blog to having been an Extremely Bad Dog refers to DT 29317, one of the two puzzles that the National Post skipped on November 13, 2020.
The names Extremely Bad Dog and Slightly Bad Dog allude to the fact that those two puzzles both generated a fair amount of negative comment on Big Dave's Crossword Blog — the former more so than the latter.
He also compiled DT 29230 which appeared in the National Post on Thursday, July 16, 2020.
* The Toughie Crossword, another cryptic crossword published by The Daily Telegraph, is a puzzle intended to have a higher degree of difficulty than the Cryptic Crossword that the National Post carries.
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
| 9a | Ancient blubber /and/ unusual bone enthralling one (5) |
Blub[2,5,10] (short for blubber) is an informal (Lexico/Oxford)[5], colloquial (Chambers)[2] or slang (Collins)[10] British term meaning to cry noisily and uncontrollably; in other words, to sob. By extension, a blubber would be someone who blubs — or, more formally, a blubberer.
In Greek mythology, Niobe[5,10] is the daughter of Tantalus. Apollo and Artemis, enraged because Niobe boasted herself superior to their mother Leto, killed her children and turned her into a stone. Although turned into stone, she continued to weep.
| 10a | Roadside pillar /indicating/ Northumberland far away? (9) |
Northumberland[5] is a county in north-eastern England, on the Scottish border.
A milestone[5] is a stone set up beside a road to mark the distance in miles to a particular place.
| 11a | Greek character embodying powerful // scene (7) |
Tau[5] is the nineteenth letter of the Greek alphabet (Τ, τ).
A tableau[5] is a group of models or motionless figures representing a scene from a story or from history ⇒
in the first act the action is presented in a series of tableaux.
| 12a | Mum and dad, // not in Paris, touring Split (7) |
The French adverb pas[8] means 'not'.
The use of the word "touring" as a containment indicator is predicated on it meaning 'going around'. While this actually means travelling, crossword setters whimsically reinterpret it to denote surrounding or encircling.
Scratching the Surface
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| In the surface reading, Split[5] is a seaport on the coast of southern Croatia. Founded as a Roman colony in 78 BC, it contains the ruins of the palace of the emperor Diocletian, built in about AD 300. |
| 13a | Dance /in/ study with Georgia (5) |
| 14a | Graduate in leather mixed // drink (6,3) |
| 16a | Mashed potato father had // just like that (2,3,4,2,1,3) |
| 19a | Vain // Tory in chair for hearing (9) |
"Tory " = CON
The abbreviation for Conservative may be either C.[10] or Con.[10].
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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The abbreviation for Conservative may be either C.[10] or Con.[10].
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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| 21a | Man /who gives/ the okay? (5) |
Double definition; a man's name and a code word used in radio communication.
In radio communication, roger[5] is used to indicate (to the sender) that a message has been received ⇒
Roger; we’ll be with you in about ten minutes.
| 23a | Carlyle so thought to contain // kingdom (7) |
Lesotho[5] is a landlocked mountainous country forming an enclave in South Africa.
Scratching the Surface
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| The surface reading may be an allusion to Scottish historian and political philosopher Thomas Carlyle[5]
(1795–1881). He established his reputation as a historian with his History of the French Revolution (1837). Influenced by German romanticism, many of his works, including Sartor Resartus (1833–4), celebrate the force of the ‘strong, just man’ as against the degraded masses. |
| 25a | See // one US soldier covered in hair (7) |
"US soldier " = GI
A GI[5] is a private soldier in the US army ⇒
Origin: Contrary to popular belief, the term apparently is not an abbreviation for general infantryman, but rather derives from the term government (or general) issue (originally denoting equipment supplied to US forces).
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A GI[5] is a private soldier in the US army ⇒
she went off with a GI during the war.
Origin: Contrary to popular belief, the term apparently is not an abbreviation for general infantryman, but rather derives from the term government (or general) issue (originally denoting equipment supplied to US forces).
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| 27a | Normally // one admits a grave wrong (2,7) |
| 28a | Vassal // for example tucking into pork pie (5) |
Pork pie[10] (often shortened to porky) is mainly British and Australian rhyming slang* for a lie [in the sense of an untruth].
* Rhyming slang[5] replaces words with rhyming words or phrases, typically with the rhyming element omitted. For example, butcher’s, shortened from butcher’s hook, means ‘look’ in cockney rhyming slang. Similarly, porky (shortened from pork pie), means 'lie'.
While one usually sees only the shortened form of rhyming slang, the definition above does specify "typically with the rhyming element omitted". Pork pie seems to be one of those cases where both the full expression and the shortened version are in common use.
Vassal[5] is a historical term for a holder of land by feudal tenure on conditions of homage and allegiance.
The term liege[10] can mean either a liege lord* or a liegeman** — in this clue, it is the latter.
* Liege lord[10] is a historical term for a feudal lord entitled to allegiance and service.
** Liegeman[5] is a historical term for a vassal who owed feudal service or allegiance to a nobleman.
Down
| 1d | Posh idiot /in/ military detachment (4) |
"posh " = U [upper class]
In Britain, U[5] is used informally as an adjective (in respect to language or social behaviour) meaning characteristic of or appropriate to the upper social classes ⇒
The term, an abbreviation of upper class, was coined in 1954 by Alan S. C. Ross, professor of linguistics, and popularized by its use in Nancy Mitford's Noblesse Oblige (1956).
In Crosswordland, the letter U is frequently clued by words denoting "characteristic of the upper class" (such as posh or superior) or "appropriate to the upper class" (such as acceptable).
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In Britain, U[5] is used informally as an adjective (in respect to language or social behaviour) meaning characteristic of or appropriate to the upper social classes ⇒
U manners.
The term, an abbreviation of upper class, was coined in 1954 by Alan S. C. Ross, professor of linguistics, and popularized by its use in Nancy Mitford's Noblesse Oblige (1956).
In Crosswordland, the letter U is frequently clued by words denoting "characteristic of the upper class" (such as posh or superior) or "appropriate to the upper class" (such as acceptable).
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Nit[5,10] (short for nitwit) is an informal British term for a foolish person ⇒
you stupid nit!.
| 2d | Sweetie // turned heads (6) |
Nob[5] is an informal term for a person’s head.
Sweet[5] and bonbon[10] are British terms for a piece of candy*[5].
* In Britain, candy[5] has a different meaning than in North American, denoting sugar crystallized by repeated boiling and slow evaporation ⇒
making candy at home is not difficult—the key is cooking the syrup to the right temperature.
Sweetie and bonbon[10] are terms of endearment, equivalent to dear or sweetheart.
Here and There
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| In Britain, bonbon[5] is another word for a piece of confectionery [candy] — or, in British terms, a sweet. In North America, a bonbon[3,11] is a specific type of candy, namely one that has a center of fondant, fruit, or nuts and is coated with chocolate or fondant. |
| 3d | One from Dakar perhaps // seen buffeted by winds close to village (10) |
Dakar[5], a port on the Atlantic coast of West Africa, is the capital of Senegal.
| 4d | Attack // in surfacing French submarine? (6) |
| 5d | Charlie having to drink gin? /That's/ nonsense (8) |
"Charlie " = C [NATO Phonetic Alphabet]
In what is commonly known as the NATO Phonetic Alphabet[7]*, Charlie[5] is a code word representing the letter C.
* officially the International Radiotelephony Spelling Alphabet
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In what is commonly known as the NATO Phonetic Alphabet[7]*, Charlie[5] is a code word representing the letter C.
* officially the International Radiotelephony Spelling Alphabet
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A gin[5] (also gin trap) is a trap for catching birds or small mammals ⇒
She was rescued by the RSPCA after becoming caught in an illegal gin trap.
| 6d | Employer // the manipulative sort? (4) |
| 7d | Better score/'s/ excellent (3-5) |
| 8d | TV personality // about to appear in remade westerns (10) |
| 13d | Opportunity to turn up /for/ finance minister (10) |
The Chancellor of the Exchequer[5] (Chancellor[5] for short) is the chief finance minister of the United Kingdom, who prepares the nation’s annual budgets — a counterpart to the Minister of Finance in Canada or the Secretary of the Treasury in the US.
| 15d | Pleasant housing over road // within budget (10) |
| 17d | North African // unsettled in Austin (8) |
A Tunisian[5] is either a native or inhabitant of the North African country Tunisia[5] (show more ) or its capital city Tunis
or a person of Tunisian descent.
Tunisia has a Mediterranean coastline and extends south into the Sahara Desert. Phoenician coastal settlements developed into the commercial empire of Carthage (near modern Tunis). The area was conquered by the Arabs in the 7th century and became part of the Ottoman Empire in the 16th century; a French protectorate was established in 1886. The rise of nationalism led to independence and the establishment of a republic in 1956-7, with Habib ibn Ali Bourguiba becoming the country’s first President. In 2010–11 a series of popular demonstrations led to President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali, who had succeeded Bourguiba in 1987, leaving office.
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Tunisia has a Mediterranean coastline and extends south into the Sahara Desert. Phoenician coastal settlements developed into the commercial empire of Carthage (near modern Tunis). The area was conquered by the Arabs in the 7th century and became part of the Ottoman Empire in the 16th century; a French protectorate was established in 1886. The rise of nationalism led to independence and the establishment of a republic in 1956-7, with Habib ibn Ali Bourguiba becoming the country’s first President. In 2010–11 a series of popular demonstrations led to President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali, who had succeeded Bourguiba in 1987, leaving office.
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Scratching the Surface
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| Austin[5] is the state capital of Texas. First settled in 1835, it was named in 1839 after Stephen F. Austin, son of Moses Austin, leader of the first Texas colony. |
| 18d | Helping advanced student /is/ reasonable (8) |
" advanced " = A [advanced level academic qualification]
In the UK (with the exception of Scotland), A level[5] (advanced level[5]) is a qualification in a specific subject typically taken by school students aged 16-18, at a level above GCSE[5] (General Certificate of Secondary Education).
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In the UK (with the exception of Scotland), A level[5] (advanced level[5]) is a qualification in a specific subject typically taken by school students aged 16-18, at a level above GCSE[5] (General Certificate of Secondary Education).
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"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.
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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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| 20d | Club // chauffeur? (6) |
| 22d | Covering carried in short German // aircraft (6) |
| 24d | Affected // material daughter ignored (4) |
Twee[5] is a British term meaning excessively or affectedly quaint, pretty, or sentimental ⇒
although the film’s a bit twee, it’s watchable.
| 26d | First Lady having concern ultimately // quits (4) |
"First Lady " = EVE
In the Bible, Eve[5,10] is the first woman, mother of the human race, fashioned by God from the rib of Adam, companion of Adam and mother of Cain and Abel* [Gen 2:18-25].
* not to mention Seth and her other sons and daughters [Gen 5:4]
Disobeying God, Eve[7] succumbs to the serpent's temptation to eat the forbidden fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and shares the fruit with Adam. As a result, the first humans are expelled from the Garden of Eden.
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In the Bible, Eve[5,10] is the first woman, mother of the human race, fashioned by God from the rib of Adam, companion of Adam and mother of Cain and Abel* [Gen 2:18-25].
* not to mention Seth and her other sons and daughters [Gen 5:4]
Disobeying God, Eve[7] succumbs to the serpent's temptation to eat the forbidden fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and shares the fruit with Adam. As a result, the first humans are expelled from the Garden of Eden.
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Quits[5] is an adjective meaning (of two people) on even terms [in other words, even], especially because a debt or score has been settled ⇒
I think we’re just about quits now, don’t you?.
What did he say?
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In his review on Big Dave's Crossword Blog, Tilsit describes the solution to the clue asI suppose once the debt or score has been settled, the parties are quits and the obligation is over. However, I'm not convinced that is what Tilsit intended by his remark — which I suggest would be best ignored completely.a word meaning something is over. |
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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