Puzzle at a Glance
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Puzzle number in The Daily Telegraph
DT 29371 | |
Publication date in The Daily Telegraph
Saturday, May 23, 2020 | |
Setter
Unknown | |
Link to full review
Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 29371]
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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 did recognize fairly early that this puzzle was shaping up to be a pangram* — a rare occurrence (rare referring not to the fact that this is a pangram but to my recognition that it is one).* A pangram is a puzzle in which every letter of the alphabet appears at least once in the solutions to the clues.
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 | Exactly what is needed in employment (4,3,3) |
Just the job[5] is an informal British expression meaning exactly what is needed.
Double Definition . . . or not?
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| In his review on Big Dave's Crossword Blog, Tilsit marks this clue as a double definition with the second definition being the phrase "in employment". However, I don't see how "in employment" is synonymous with "just the job". Were one to treat the word "in" as a link word,
Therefore, I have marked the entire clue as a cryptic definition with an embedded precise definition. This marking is meant to convey the idea that the phrase "in employment" provides elaboration about an aspect of the precise definition (namely, that it relates in some way to employment) without actually providing an independent second route to the solution. |
| 6a | Business // not yielding to pressure (4) |
| 9a | Bill in the train transported // coal (10) |
Anthracite[5] is coal of a hard variety that contains relatively pure carbon and burns with little flame and smoke.
| 10a | Witches caught missing // something to cook? (4) |
The setter has attempted to lead us astray with the deceptive wording of the definition — which is why I have marked it with a dotted underline. Some comments on Big Dave's Crossword Blog suggest that the definition should have read "something to cook in". However, though that might be a clearer expression of what is meant, the setter has deliberately omitted the word "in" so as to make the meaning ambiguous (think "I need something to cook my food.").
"caught " = C [cricket notation]
In cricket, one way for a batsman to be dismissed is to be caught out[5], that is for a player on the opposing team to catch a ball that has been hit by the batsman before it touches the ground.
On cricket scorecards, the abbreviation c[5] or c.[2,10] denotes caught (by).
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In cricket, one way for a batsman to be dismissed is to be caught out[5], that is for a player on the opposing team to catch a ball that has been hit by the batsman before it touches the ground.
On cricket scorecards, the abbreviation c[5] or c.[2,10] denotes caught (by).
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| 13a | Coming from the desert, // Sarah, an eccentric (7) |
Saharan[5] is an adjective denoting relating to or characteristic of the Sahara Desert ⇒
a Saharan oasis.
| 15a | Duck not about /to become/ friend (6) |
A Friend[5] (also known as Quaker[5]) is a member of the Religious Society of Friends, a Christian
movement founded by George Fox c.1650 and devoted to peaceful
principles. (show more )
Central to the Quakers' belief is the doctrine of the ‘Inner Light’, or sense of Christ's direct working in the soul. This has led them to reject both formal ministry and all set forms of worship.
Origin: The name Quaker is perhaps an allusion to George Fox's direction to his followers to ‘tremble at the name of the Lord’, or from fits supposedly experienced by worshippers when moved by the Spirit.
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Central to the Quakers' belief is the doctrine of the ‘Inner Light’, or sense of Christ's direct working in the soul. This has led them to reject both formal ministry and all set forms of worship.
Origin: The name Quaker is perhaps an allusion to George Fox's direction to his followers to ‘tremble at the name of the Lord’, or from fits supposedly experienced by worshippers when moved by the Spirit.
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| 16a | Means to arrange // ambush (6) |
| 17a | Tried bringing famous racehorse back -- // it's criminal! (9,6) |
Red Rum[7] was a champion Thoroughbred racehorse who achieved an unmatched historic treble when he won the Grand National in 1973, 1974 and 1977, and also came second in the two intervening years. The world-famous steeplechase is a notoriously difficult race that has been referred to as being "the ultimate test of a horse’s courage". The horse was renowned for his jumping ability, having not fallen in 100 races.
| 18a | Aileen rattled // another woman (6) |
| 20a | Story about abstainer/'s/ gossip (6) |
"abstainer " = TT [teetotal]
Teetotal[5] (abbreviation TT[5]) means choosing or characterized by abstinence from alcohol ⇒
A teetotaller[5] (US teetotaler; abbreviation TT[5]) is a person who never drinks alcohol.
The term teetotal is an emphatic extension of total, apparently first used by Richard Turner, a worker from Preston [England], in a speech (1833) urging total abstinence from all alcohol, rather than mere abstinence from spirits, as advocated by some early temperance reformers.
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Teetotal[5] (abbreviation TT[5]) means choosing or characterized by abstinence from alcohol ⇒
a teetotal lifestyle.
A teetotaller[5] (US teetotaler; abbreviation TT[5]) is a person who never drinks alcohol.
The term teetotal is an emphatic extension of total, apparently first used by Richard Turner, a worker from Preston [England], in a speech (1833) urging total abstinence from all alcohol, rather than mere abstinence from spirits, as advocated by some early temperance reformers.
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| 21a | Hard work /keeping/ a number in tow (7) |
Here, the word "number" is used to clue* an unspecified Roman numeral.
* I don't recall having seen this once common cryptic crossword device in a long time.
Comments on Big Dave's Crossword Blog question the use of "trail" as a synonym of "tow". Trail[5] is being used in the sense of to draw or be drawn along behind someone or something ⇒
Alex trailed a hand through the clear water.
| 22a | NSW // money? (4) |
In the wordplay, we must deduce that three of the cardinal points of the compass are present but NOT E.
In Britain, note[5] is another name for banknote ⇒
a ten-pound note.
Scratching the Surface
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| NSW[5] is the abbreviation for New South Wales[5], a state of south-eastern Australia. |
| 25a | Valuation that could be taxing (10) |
| 26a | The lady's love // idol (4) |
"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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| 27a | One searching for gold /has/ wide view on most of raw material (10) |
In reply to Tilsit's comment in his hint on Big Dave's Crossword Blog, I would point out that gold — and the search for it — extends beyond the borders of California and Australia.
Down
| 1d | Frenchman /in/ short trousers (4) |
In French-speaking countries, Jean[7] is a common male given name (equivalent to John in English).
| 2d | Reportedly takes a seat /in/ bath (4) |
Given that so many comments on Big Dave's Crossword Blog identify the following as an unfamiliar term, I decided to add it to the review.
A sitz bath[5] is a bath in which only the buttocks and hips are immersed in water.
| 3d | Jack twice /finds/ deposit (6) |
The entry for jack in The Chambers Dictionary would fill a page if it were not spread over parts of two pages. Among the definitions, one finds jack[1] defined as (often with capital) a sailor.
Tar[5] is an informal, dated nickname for a sailor. The term came into use in the mid 17th century and is perhaps an abbreviation of tarpaulin, also used as a nickname for a sailor at that time.
| 4d | Wives apparently /in/ angry or frank discussion (8,2,5) |
Do you remember Monday's puzzle in which "polo possibly" was used to clue SWIMMING POOL? Well, this is another clue of the same ilk.
It would be apparent to a cruciverbalist that WIVES is an anagram of VIEWS and could be clued by "exchange of views" — an anagram of (exchange of) VIEWS. This construct, in which the anagram result is found in the clue and the anagram indicator and anagram fodder appear in the solution is commonly known as a reverse anagram*.
* In a "normal" anagram, things are the other way around with the anagram fodder and anagram indicator being found in the clue and the anagram result appearing in the solution.
| 5d | Bandit // released code (6) |
| 7d | Overrule // patient loathing leaving hospital (10) |
What did he say?
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In his review on Big Dave's Crossword Blog, Tilsit describes the first part of the solution as theThis is a particularly British usage of the word "poorly".name for a poorly patient. According to Lexico (formerly Oxford Dictionaries Online), poorly[5] (adjective) is a British* term meaning unwell ⇒ she looked poorly. * Despite Lexico claiming this to be a British usage, US dictionaries define poorly[3,11] (adjective) as meaning in poor health or somewhat ill ⇒ feeling poorly. In fact, the American Heritage Dictionary characterizes poorly used in this sense as a chiefly Southern US term. A statement such as "I am feeling rather poorly today" is likely the only context in which one would encounter this term in North America. Not so in the UK; Lexico provides examples of British usage that I am sure one would never encounter on this side of the pond:
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| 8d | Payment method /that could make/ Rodney more confused (5,5) |
| 11d | Small measure, it's as broad as it's long (6,4) |
I think the entire clue is a cryptic definition as I don't see how the latter part provides a second independent route to the solution — it merely elaborates on a characteristic of the definition found in the first part of the clue.
| 12d | Male history teacher? (4,6) |
The setter gives us a whimsical reinterpretation of the term past master[5] which, in reality, means a person who is particularly skilled at a specified activity or art ⇒
he's a past master at keeping his whereabouts secret.
Master[5] is a British term for a male schoolteacher.
| 13d | FBI agents appearing in set // piece (7) |
G-man[2] (likely short for Government man) is US slang for an agent of the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation).
Scratching the Surface
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| A set piece[5] is a passage or section of a novel, play, film, or piece of music that is arranged in an elaborate or conventional pattern for maximum effect. |
| 14d | Frank /is/ unaffected (7) |
This is one of those double definitions that is marred by one of the definitions having multiple meanings one of which is synonymous with the second definition. A prime requirement for a double definition is that the two definitions must each be a synonym of the answer without being synonyms of each other.
One meaning of unaffected[5] is without artificiality or insincerity. While this is a synonym of natural, it is also a synonym of frank. Thus it cannot be the sense being used by the setter.
A second meaning of unaffected[5] is feeling or showing no effects or changes. This is also a synonym of natural (in a different sense than the one previously mentioned) but is not a synonym of frank. Therefore this must be the sense intended by the setter.
| 19d | One gets rid of letters /from/ Queen after ages (6) |
The first part of the clue cryptically defines the predecessor to the 'Undo' function.
"Queen " = ER [regnal cipher of Queen Elizabeth]
The regnal ciphers (monograms) of British monarchs are initials formed from the Latin version of their first name followed by either Rex or Regina (Latin for king or queen, respectively). Thus, the regnal cipher of Queen Elizabeth is ER[5] — from the Latin Elizabetha Regina.
* A cipher[5] (also cypher) is a monogram[5] or motif of two or more interwoven letters, typically a person's initials, used to identify a personal possession or as a logo.
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The regnal ciphers (monograms) of British monarchs are initials formed from the Latin version of their first name followed by either Rex or Regina (Latin for king or queen, respectively). Thus, the regnal cipher of Queen Elizabeth is ER[5] — from the Latin Elizabetha Regina.
* A cipher[5] (also cypher) is a monogram[5] or motif of two or more interwoven letters, typically a person's initials, used to identify a personal possession or as a logo.
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| 20d | What's good at absorbing blows? (6) |
A cryptic definition of an item one might put to use during cold season.
| 23d | Attend // strike (4) |
Not all two-word clues are double definitions!
| 24d | Mix thoroughly /in/ jug (4) |
The jug[5] is an informal term for prison ⇒
three months in the jug.
Stir[5] is an informal term for prison ⇒
I’ve spent twenty-eight years in stir.
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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