Puzzle at a Glance
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Puzzle number in The Daily Telegraph
DT 29358 | |
Publication date in The Daily Telegraph
Friday, May 8, 2020 | |
Setter
Zandio | |
Link to full review
Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 29358]
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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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This puzzle appears on the Friday Diversions page in the Thursday, December 31, 2020 edition of the National Post. | |
Introduction
I would like to start by wishing everyone a Safe, Healthy, Prosperous and Happy New Year. One week into the Ontario lockdown, things are not looking promising. However, I suppose what we are now seeing in real life is what the experts have been seeing in their models that prompted the authorities to impose the lockdown. Let's hope that the curves flatten and turn downward over the next three weeks.The puzzle is virtually two puzzles, a top half and a bottom half joined only by the two long down clues. As was the case for many others, judging by the comments on Big Dave's Crossword Blog, I found the top half to be pretty much a walk in the park and the bottom half quite a stiff workout.
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 | Days of old power studied /for/ big corporation (6-3,6) |
Read[5] is being used in a British sense meaning to study (an academic subject) at a university ⇒ (i)
I’m reading English at Cambridge; (ii)
he went to Manchester to read for a BA in Economics.
Corporation[5] is a dated humorous term for a paunch.
| 9a | Rip up root for replanting, /leaving/ petals in a bowl? (9) |
| 10a | Poem about // place of fantasy ... (5) |
Odeon[5,11] is another [seemingly British] term for a movie theatre or music hall. I suspect this may be a case of a brand name* having been genericized as in the British usage of 'hoover' to mean vacuum cleaner in general or our use of 'kleenex' to denote any facial tissue.
* Odeon Cinemas[7] is a British cinema company founded in 1928. Odeon is a variant spelling of odeum[5], which was (especially in ancient Greece or Rome) a building used for musical performances.
| 11a | ... it is featured in retro street // musical (5) |
Evita[7]
is a musical with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice.
It concentrates on the life of Argentine political leader Eva Perón [known familiarly as Evita],
the second wife of Argentine president Juan Perón. The story follows her early
life, rise to power, charity work, and eventual death. (show more )
Evita began as a rock opera concept album released in 1976. Its success led to productions in London's West End in 1978, winning the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Musical, and on Broadway a year later, where it was the first British musical to receive the Tony Award for Best Musical.
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Evita began as a rock opera concept album released in 1976. Its success led to productions in London's West End in 1978, winning the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Musical, and on Broadway a year later, where it was the first British musical to receive the Tony Award for Best Musical.
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| 12a | Venomous // African country midge bites unknown number (9) |
Mali[5]
is a landlocked country in West Africa, south of Algeria. Former name (until 1958)
French Sudan. (show more )
Conquered by the French in the late 19th century, Mali became part of French West Africa. It became a partner with Senegal in the Federation of Mali in 1959 and achieved full independence a year later, on the withdrawal of Senegal.
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Conquered by the French in the late 19th century, Mali became part of French West Africa. It became a partner with Senegal in the Federation of Mali in 1959 and achieved full independence a year later, on the withdrawal of Senegal.
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"unknown number " = N [mathematical symbol]
Pedants sometimes argue that N should be clued as "any number" rather than "unknown number" (you may note that Deep Threat describes it as the former in the hint in his review on Big Dave's Crossword Blog. The mathematical subtlety is that an "unknown number" (also known as a "variable"* and typically represented by the symbol x, y or z) has a specific value that can be found by solving the equation(s) in which it occurs. The letter N, on the other hand, does not have a specific value — it can assume any value.
* see 5d
An "unknown number" or "variable" is like a pseudonym — there is a real identity (value) behind it. N, on the other hand, is like Joe Bloggs in 26a — it can be anybody (any value).
Venomous[5] is used in the sense (said of a person or their behaviour) full of malice or spite.
Malignant[5] is used in the non-medical sense evil in nature or effect; in other words, malevolent.
| 13a | Rough // National Trust walk ahead (8) |
In Britain, the National Trust[5] (abbreviation NT) is a trust for the preservation of places of historic interest or natural beauty in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, founded in 1895 and supported by endowment and private subscription. The National Trust for Scotland[7], a separate organization, was founded in 1931.
| 14a | Threaten // prankster with death (6) |
| 16a | Sack's covering penny /or/ something in river (6) |
| 18a | Take in case of broken limb /being/ blue (8) |
| 22a | About fifty, one is plain // absent-minded (9) |
| 23a | Catch up with rest /of/ fiction (popular) (3,2) |
Lie in[5] is a British term meaning to remain in bed after the normal time for getting up ⇒
if I’m not due anywhere I’ll lie in until something kick-starts the day.
| 24a | Personal accident cover, with strings attached (5) |
The cleverness of this clue is unlikely to be apparent to many — if not most — North Americans (see box).
Here and There
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| When it comes to describing insurance protection, while the same verb form is used in Britain and North America, we
use a different form of the noun on this side of the pond. As a verb, cover[5] means to protect against a liability, loss, or accident involving financial consequences ⇒ your contents are now covered against accidental loss or damage in transit. However, in the UK, the word cover[5] is also used as a noun to denote protection by insurance against a liability, loss, or accident ⇒ your policy provides cover against damage by subsidence. This is equivalent to the North American term coverage[5] meaning the amount of protection given by an insurance policy ⇒ your policy provides coverage against damage by subsidence. |
| 25a | Last act of Jesus -- // Son, in case uncertain? (9) |
In Christianity, the Ascension[5] is the ascent of Christ into heaven on the fortieth day after the Resurrection.
| 26a | Male detective with hound following // Joe Bloggs? (3,4,3,5) |
Dick[5] is a dated informal North American term for a detective.
Joe Bloggs[5] is an informal British* name for a hypothetical average man.
* the equivalent North American term is Joe Blow
Down
| 1d | Idiots // upset MP in reshuffle (7) |
Muppet[5] is an informal British term for an incompetent or foolish person.
Origin: 1990s from Muppet, the generic name given to various puppets and marionettes created by Jim Henson (1936–1990) for the children's television programmes Sesame Street and The Muppet Show.
Scratching the Surface
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| In the surface reading, MP[5] might allude to a Member of Parliament or a Military Policeman — or, in the shorthand employed by contributors to Big Dave's Crossword Blog, even to Miffypops (see Comment #3 on said blog). |
| 2d | More bananas /showing/ a higher number of speckles (7) |
Dotty is an informal British[5] or mainly British[10] term meaning eccentric or slightly crazy or mad ⇒
a dotty old lady.
| 3d | Famous Italian // represented cardinal on video (8,2,5) |
Leonardo da Vinci[5] (1452–1519) was an Italian painter, scientist, and engineer. (show more )
His paintings are notable for their blended colour and shading in the technique known as sfumato; they include The Virgin of the Rocks (1483–5), The Last Supper (1498), and the enigmatic Mona Lisa (1504–5). He devoted himself to a wide range of other subjects, from anatomy and biology to mechanics and hydraulics: his nineteen notebooks include studies of the human circulatory system and plans for a type of aircraft and a submarine.
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His paintings are notable for their blended colour and shading in the technique known as sfumato; they include The Virgin of the Rocks (1483–5), The Last Supper (1498), and the enigmatic Mona Lisa (1504–5). He devoted himself to a wide range of other subjects, from anatomy and biology to mechanics and hydraulics: his nineteen notebooks include studies of the human circulatory system and plans for a type of aircraft and a submarine.
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| 4d | Lilac rim on yam's inside /reveals/ bitterness (8) |
| 5d | In a bad way /in/ Spain, very unwell, variable (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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| 6d | Irish pool staff, small and large, getting into party drink /and/ food (10,5) |
Lough[10] [pronounced identically to and having the same meaning as the Scottish word loch[10]] is an Irish word meaning lake.
Ploughman's lunch[5] is a British term for a meal of bread and cheese, typically with pickle and salad.
| 7d | Eastern Fleet being shelled will swallow tax // boost (7) |
A value added tax[5] (abbreviation VAT)
is a tax on the amount by which the value of an article has been
increased at each stage of its production or distribution. (show more )
The European Union value added tax[7] (or EU VAT) is a value added tax on goods and services within the European Union (EU). The EU's institutions do not collect the tax, but EU member states (including the UK) are each required to adopt a value added tax that complies with the EU VAT code. Different rates of VAT apply in different EU member states, ranging from 17% in Luxembourg to 27% in Hungary. In the UK, the rate is 20%.
Canada's Goods and Services Tax (GST) and Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) are each instances of a value added tax.[7]
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The European Union value added tax[7] (or EU VAT) is a value added tax on goods and services within the European Union (EU). The EU's institutions do not collect the tax, but EU member states (including the UK) are each required to adopt a value added tax that complies with the EU VAT code. Different rates of VAT apply in different EU member states, ranging from 17% in Luxembourg to 27% in Hungary. In the UK, the rate is 20%.
Canada's Goods and Services Tax (GST) and Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) are each instances of a value added tax.[7]
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Scratching the Surface
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| The Eastern Fleet, later called the East Indies Fleet, was a fleet of the Royal Navy which existed between 1941 and 1952. I suppose one could interpret the surface reading to mean that the cost of repairing or replacing the damaged ships would use up all of the revenue generated by the tax increase. |
| 8d | Stood for // flipping parade -- tone-deaf taking part (7) |
Scratching the Surface
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Flipping[5] is an informal British term used for emphasis or to express mild annoyance ⇒ (i) are you out of your flipping mind?; (ii) it’s flipping cold today. |
| 15d | Kind of French // clubs with dodgy casino Romeo inhabits (8) |
"Romeo " = R [NATO Phonetic Alphabet]
In what is commonly known as the NATO Phonetic Alphabet[7]*, Romeo[5] is a code word representing the letter R.
* officially the International Radiotelephony Spelling Alphabet
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In what is commonly known as the NATO Phonetic Alphabet[7]*, Romeo[5] is a code word representing the letter R.
* officially the International Radiotelephony Spelling Alphabet
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Corsica[5] is a mountainous island off the west coast of Italy, forming an administrative region of France. It was the birthplace of Napoleon I.
While the solution to the clue, Corsican[5], might seem to be referring to the language of Corsica, the Corsican language originated as a dialect of Italian — not French. Perhaps Corsican is is meant to be an adjective meaning relating to Corsica, its people, or their language. After all, Corsicans are "kind of French" — being citizens of France but speaking an Italian dialect.
| 16d | There's always a lapse before it's read (4,3) |
To read (someone) the Riot Act[5] is a British expression meaning to give (someone) a severe warning or reprimand ⇒
he read the riot act to his players after hauling them in for extra training.
* Although undoubtedly originating in Britain (most likely in the 18th century), the expression has crossed the Atlantic and become well established in North America.
A certain Ontario cabinet minister was on the receiving end of just such a reading earlier in the week.
The expression has its roots in the Riot Act[5], an Act passed by the British government in 1715 and repealed in 1967, designed to prevent civil disorder. The Act made it a felony for an assembly of more than twelve people to refuse to disperse after being ordered to do so and having been read a specified section of the Act by lawful authority.
| 17d | One has faith one will go far (7) |
| 19d | Retail confused lies about English // artist's place in Paris? (7) |
The French word for 'workshop' or 'studio' is atelier[8].
| 20d | House-keeping? It could be a flat occupation (7) |
Here and There
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Flat[5] is the British term for what would be called an apartment[5] in North America. (show more )
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:
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| 21d | Second bird, // one from America originally (6) |
"second " = MO
Mo (abbreviation for moment) is an informal term* for a short period of time ⇒
* Identified by several British dictionaries as being a British[5,14], chiefly British[2,4], or mainly British[10] term. However, one British and two US dictionaries do not specify that it is British[1,11,12]. This meaning of the word "mo" is not found in my third US dictionary, the American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language[3].
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Mo (abbreviation for moment) is an informal term* for a short period of time ⇒
hang on a mo!.
* Identified by several British dictionaries as being a British[5,14], chiefly British[2,4], or mainly British[10] term. However, one British and two US dictionaries do not specify that it is British[1,11,12]. This meaning of the word "mo" is not found in my third US dictionary, the American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language[3].
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I have marked the definition with a dotted underline, as I see it as a cryptic way of saying "an original (or indigenous) inhabitant of North America".
The Mohawk[10] are a Native American people formerly living along the Mohawk River in central New York State.
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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