Puzzle at a Glance
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Puzzle number in The Daily Telegraph
DT 29377 | |
Publication date in The Daily Telegraph
Saturday, May 30, 2020 | |
Setter
Donnybrook (Paul Bringloe) | |
Link to full review
Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 29377]
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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
I again ran into trouble with several interlocking clues in one corner of the puzzle, this time in the southeast.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 | Bad mistake: error ousting old // Labour leader (4,7) |
I had never heard of this chap but did manage to correctly decipher his name from the wordplay and checking letters.
Sir Keir Starmer[7] is a British politician and former lawyer who has served as Leader of the Labour Party and Leader of the Opposition since 2020.
| 9a | Distinguished singer // keen to make comeback (4) |
| 10a | Lawless Moab -- one country /that's/ evil (11) |
| 11a | Latest /from/ all four corners? (4) |
| 14a | Host // politician, English, in centre (7) |
"politician " = MP
In Britain (as in Canada), a politician elected to the House of Commons is known as a Member of Parliament[10] (abbreviation MP[5]) or, informally, as a member[5].
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In Britain (as in Canada), a politician elected to the House of Commons is known as a Member of Parliament[10] (abbreviation MP[5]) or, informally, as a member[5].
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| 16a | Superhero grabs wheel /in/ transporter (7) |
| 17a | What fills this after downpour's onset? (5) |
No matter how many times I read this clue, it just does not seem right to me even though I was able to solve it fairly quickly. The wordplay works fine but the cryptic definition does not. To me, the cryptic definition wants to lead to RAIN rather than DRAIN.
| 18a | Former Italian banker /seen in/ trade fair (4) |
Banker is used here as a whimsical Crosswordland term for a river — something that has banks. After all, if a tanker is something that has tanks then does it not logically follow that a banker must be something that has banks.
The Po[7] is a river that arises in the Cottian Alps and flows eastward across northern Italy entering the Adriatic Sea through a delta near Venice.
| 19a | Giant // blunder on pitch disheartened Royle (4) |
In Britain, pitch[5] is another term for field[5] in the sense of an area of ground marked out or used for play in an outdoor team game ⇒
a football [soccer] pitch.
In soccer, an own goal[10] (abbreviation o.g.[10]) is a goal scored by a player accidentally playing the ball into their own team's net.
Scratching the Surface
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| I presume the surface reading of the clue may be referring to Joe Royle[7], an English football manager and former footballer. |
| 20a | Adult Glaswegian perhaps /in/ racing venue (5) |
"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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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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Ascot Racecourse[7] is a British racecourse, located in Ascot, Berkshire, England, which is used for thoroughbred horse racing — both flat racing (conducted on a course with no jumps) and National Hunt Racing (in which horses must jump obstacles). The course enjoys close associations with the British Royal Family, being approximately six miles from Windsor Castle.
What did he say?
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In his review on Big Dave's Crossword Blog, Tilsit describes the racing venue in question as theThe Gold Cup[7] is a Group 1* flat horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 2 miles 3 furlongs and 210 yards (4,014 metres), and it is scheduled to take place each year in June. It is Britain's most prestigious event for "stayers" – horses which specialise in racing over long distances.home of racing’s Gold Cup. * The highest level of flat racing in Britain. These races attract the best horses, and are for very large stake money. |
| 22a | One able to fill some of the time at work (7) |
| 23a | American doctor in excursion /to find/ instrument (7) |
"doctor " = MB
In Britain, the degree required to practice medicine is a Bachelor of Medicine[7] (MB, from Latin Medicinae Baccalaureus), which is equivalent to a North American Doctor of Medicine (MD, from Latin Medicinae Doctor). The degree of Doctor of Medicine also exists in Britain, but it is an advanced degree pursued by those who wish to go into medical research. Physicians in Britain are still addressed as Dr. despite not having a doctoral degree.
Historically, Bachelor of Medicine was also the primary medical degree conferred by institutions in the United States and Canada. Throughout the 19th century, North American medical schools switched to the tradition of the ancient universities of Scotland and began conferring Doctor of Medicine rather than Bachelor of Medicine.
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In Britain, the degree required to practice medicine is a Bachelor of Medicine[7] (MB, from Latin Medicinae Baccalaureus), which is equivalent to a North American Doctor of Medicine (MD, from Latin Medicinae Doctor). The degree of Doctor of Medicine also exists in Britain, but it is an advanced degree pursued by those who wish to go into medical research. Physicians in Britain are still addressed as Dr. despite not having a doctoral degree.
Historically, Bachelor of Medicine was also the primary medical degree conferred by institutions in the United States and Canada. Throughout the 19th century, North American medical schools switched to the tradition of the ancient universities of Scotland and began conferring Doctor of Medicine rather than Bachelor of Medicine.
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Tambour[5] is a historical term for a small drum.
| 24a | Uncertain // moment with Juliet disappearing (4) |
"Juliet " = J [NATO Phonetic Alphabet]
In what is commonly known as the NATO Phonetic Alphabet[7]*, Juliet[5] is a code word representing the letter J.
* officially the International Radiotelephony Spelling Alphabet
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In what is commonly known as the NATO Phonetic Alphabet[7]*, Juliet[5] is a code word representing the letter J.
* officially the International Radiotelephony Spelling Alphabet
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| 28a | City // vehicle carrying European lad around river (6,5) |
"European " = E [as in E number]
E[1,2] is the abbreviation for European (as in E number*).
* An E number[1,4,10,14] (or E-number[2,5]) is any of various identification codes required by EU law, consisting of the letter E (for European) followed by a number, that are used to denote food additives such as colourings and preservatives (but excluding flavourings) that have been approved by the European Union.
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E[1,2] is the abbreviation for European (as in E number*).
* An E number[1,4,10,14] (or E-number[2,5]) is any of various identification codes required by EU law, consisting of the letter E (for European) followed by a number, that are used to denote food additives such as colourings and preservatives (but excluding flavourings) that have been approved by the European Union.
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The Aire[10] is a river in northern England rising in the Pennines and flowing southeast to the Ouse. Length: 112 km (70 miles).
Buenos Aires[5] is the capital city and chief port of Argentina, on the River Plate; population 3,042,600 (est. 2008).
| 29a | Some near loathsome // British peer (4) |
A peer[5] is a member of the nobility in Britain or Ireland, comprising the ranks of duke, marquess, earl, viscount, and baron.
| 30a | Order airborne -- // dare pilot to break record held (11) |
"record " = EP [extended play]
EP[10] (abbreviation for extended-play) is one of the formats in which music is sold, usually comprising four or five tracks. An EP contains more cuts than a single[5] but fewer than an LP or long-playing[5] record.
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EP[10] (abbreviation for extended-play) is one of the formats in which music is sold, usually comprising four or five tracks. An EP contains more cuts than a single[5] but fewer than an LP or long-playing[5] record.
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The definition is a cryptic way of expressing 'a biological order of creatures that fly'.
Lepidoptera[5] is order of insects that comprises the butterflies and moths.
Post Mortem
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| I spent an inordinate amount of time trying to make HELICOPTERS parse. I see from the comments on Big Dave's Crossword Blog that I was far from being the only one to go down this road. |
Down
| 2d | Eels bred in odd places /in/ river (4) |
The Elbe[5] is a river of central Europe, flowing 1,159 km (720 miles) from the Czech Republic through Dresden, Magdeburg, and Hamburg to the North Sea.
| 3d | Play // concert with introduction deferred (4) |
The term prom[5] (or Prom) is short for promenade concert[5], a British name for a concert of classical music at which a part of the audience stands in an area without seating, for which tickets are sold at a reduced price. The most famous series of such concerts is the annual BBC Promenade Concerts (known as the Proms), instituted by Sir Henry Wood in 1895.
| 4d | Cheers -- drank liquid from this! (7) |
In the surface reading, cheers[5] is used as an informal expression of good wishes before drinking ⇒
‘Cheers,’ she said, raising her glass. However, in the wordplay, cheers[5] becomes 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.
In his review on Big Dave's Crossword Blog, Tilsit marks the definition as merely the words "from this". I defy anyone to solve the clue based on that definition alone. In my view, one must consider the entire clue to be a cryptic definition in which the wordplay is embedded. The definition is interpreted as "Something from which one may drink following a toast".
| 5d | Religious words // just audible (4) |
| 6d | Energy movement /generates/ strong feeling (7) |
| 7d | Female takes long time in cooking // steak (5,6) |
| 8d | Justification for being in Paris? (6,5) |
The phrase raison d'être[5] (adopted from French) means the most important reason or purpose for someone or something's existence.
Origin: French, literally ‘reason for being’.
| 12d | Money earned by cabbie? // That should turn some heads! (11) |
Screw[5] is a dated informal British term for an amount of salary or wages ⇒
he's offered me the job with a jolly good screw*.
* I must say, for me, this usage example conjures up images of the Hollywood "casting couch"
| 13d | Musical work /having/ name for ship at sea (3,8) |
H.M.S. Pinafore; or, The Lass That Loved a Sailor[7] is a comic opera, with music by English composer Arthur Sullivan (1842–1900) and a libretto by English dramatist W. S. Gilbert
(1836–1911). (show more )
It opened at the Opera Comique in London, in May 1878 and ran for 571 performances, which was the second-longest run of any musical theatre piece up to that time. H.M.S. Pinafore was Gilbert and Sullivan's fourth operatic collaboration and their first international sensation.
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It opened at the Opera Comique in London, in May 1878 and ran for 571 performances, which was the second-longest run of any musical theatre piece up to that time. H.M.S. Pinafore was Gilbert and Sullivan's fourth operatic collaboration and their first international sensation.
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| 15d | Surrealist // in modern studio (5) |
Max Ernst[5] (1891–1976) was a German artist. He was a leader of the Dada movement and developed the techniques of collage, photomontage, and frottage. He is probably best known for surrealist paintings such as L’Eléphant de Célèbes (1921).
| 16d | Chauvinist/'s/ piece about good love (5) |
"love " = O [nil score in tennis]
In tennis, squash, and some other sports, love[5] is a score of zero or nil ⇒
Although folk etymology has connected the word with French l'oeuf 'egg', from the resemblance in shape between an egg and a zero, the term apparently comes from the phrase play for love (i.e. the love of the game, not for money).
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In tennis, squash, and some other sports, love[5] is a score of zero or nil ⇒
love fifteen. The resemblance of a zero written as a numeral (0) to the letter O leads to the cryptic crossword convention of the word "love" being used to clue this letter.
Although folk etymology has connected the word with French l'oeuf 'egg', from the resemblance in shape between an egg and a zero, the term apparently comes from the phrase play for love (i.e. the love of the game, not for money).
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| 20d | Normally // Laura's out with sweetheart (2,1,4) |
"sweetheart " = E
A common cryptic crossword construct is to use the word "sweetheart" to clue the letter 'E', the middle letter (heart) of the word 'swEet'.
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A common cryptic crossword construct is to use the word "sweetheart" to clue the letter 'E', the middle letter (heart) of the word 'swEet'.
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| 21d | Pancake containing a lot of fish // sauce (7) |
Surely, the pancake is not the taco but the tortilla with which it is made.
Tabasco[5] (also Tabasco sauce) is the trademark for a pungent sauce made from the fruit of a capsicum pepper.
Origin: named after the state of Tabasco in south-eastern Mexico, on the Gulf of Mexico
| 25d | Books in excellent // opponent (4) |
In his review on Big Dave's Crossword Blog, Tilsit neglects to mention that the books need an "excellent" cover applied.
| 26d | Fast // food one regularly consumes (4) |
In his review, Tilsit has not shown this as a double definition. The word diet can denote a restriction of food intake and a fast is certainly an extreme instance of this. The word diet can also simply refer to the food one regularly consumes.
| 27d | Troubled king // coherent, though losing head (4) |
King Lear[7]* is a tragedy written in 1605 or 1606 by English playwright William Shakespeare (1564–1616). The title character descends into madness after disposing of his estate between two of his three daughters (Goneril, Regan and Cordelia) based on their flattery, bringing tragic consequences for all.
* Lear[5], a legendary early king of Britain, is mentioned by the 12th century Welsh chronicler Geoffrey of Monmouth in his Historia Regum Britanniae (circa 1139; first printed in 1508), an account of the kings of Britain.
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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