Puzzle at a Glance
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Puzzle number in The Daily Telegraph
DT 29361 | |
Publication date in The Daily Telegraph
Tuesday, May 12, 2020 | |
Setter
X-Type | |
Link to full review
Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 29361]
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Big Dave's Crossword Blog review written by
Mr K | |
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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Introduction
Today's puzzle is a nice gentle offering from the setter known as X-Type.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 | Firmly fix // length of wood, blue (6,4) |
A batten[5] is a long flat strip of squared timber or metal used to hold something in place or as a fastening against a wall.
To a sailor, a batten[5] is a strip of wood or metal for securing a tarpaulin over a ship's hatchway. Batten down the hatches[5] is a nautical term meaning to secure a ship's tarpaulins (to prevent entry of water from waves breaking over the ship in rough seas) ⇒
Sailors hop to it, and in an emergency, they can be counted on to reef the mainsail and batten down the hatches. The expression is also used metaphorically to mean prepare for a difficulty or crisis ⇒
a natural tendency in times of recession is to batten down the hatches.
One could say that the current COVID-19 restrictions are an instance of authorities battening down the hatches to prevent the healthcare system from being overwhelmed.
| 6a | Losing time, walk /to find/ way up? (4) |
| 10a | Circle, // or segment (5) |
| 11a | Tito again in turmoil, /showing/ nervousness (9) |
Scratching the Surface
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Tito[5] (1892–1980) was a Yugoslav Marshal and statesman, prime minister 1945–53 and president 1953–80; born Josip Broz. (show more )
He organized a Communist resistance movement against the German invasion of Yugoslavia (1941). He became head of the new government at the end of the war, establishing Yugoslavia as a non-aligned Communist state with a federal constitution. hide |
| 12a | Nightie // e.g. in centre of bed, tangled with leg (8) |
| 13a | Period /that's/ quiet in trade (5) |
| 15a | Was ruler // pelted, as stated? (7) |
| 17a | Swell railway: // just the place for a doctor (7) |
Surgery[5] is the British term* for a place where a doctor, dentist, or other medical practitioner treats or advises patients.
* North American term: doctor's office
| 19a | Affected by bacteria round top of commode? // One's not convinced (7) |
| 21a | Go it alone /and/ the sky's the limit! (3,4) |
Initially, I marked only the precise definition (as does Mr K in his review on Big Dave's Crossword Blog as "go it alone". But one is then left pondering what to make of the rest of the clue — I don't see how it can be considered to be either independent wordplay or a second definition.
After due consideration, I believe we have to treat the entire clue as a cryptic definition that alludes to the aviation roots of the expression that is the solution to the clue. That is, when one graduates as a pilot and can finally fly solo, the sky is the limit. Embedded within the clue is what could be considered a precise definition which denotes the metaphorical use of the term beyond aviation contexts.
| 22a | Embroiled in conflict, // some draw tanks retreating (2,3) |
| 24a | Soundly pack timber /for/ this expensive china (8) |
Wedgwood[5] is a trademark for ceramic ware made by the English potter Josiah Wedgwood (1730–1795) and his successors. Wedgwood is most associated with the powder-blue stoneware pieces with white embossed cameos that first appeared in 1775.
| 27a | Sort of headgear to use when one is smoking? (9) |
Similar to 21a (but even more self evident than that clue), this clue embeds a precise definition within a cryptic definition. The latter part of the clue does not provide an independent route to the solution but provides additional information (elaboration) that helps the solver narrow down the possibilities encompassed by the precise definition.
A stovepipe hat[5] is a silk hat resembling a top hat but much taller.
| 28a | Problem when Queen leaves, /creating/ fuss (5) |
"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.
hide
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.
hide
| 29a | Sailor heads north /for/ lake (4) |
A tarn[5] is a small mountain lake.
| 30a | Does their work make them go totally up the wall? (10) |
Down
| 1d | Either way, it's a careless mistake (4) |
Another precise definition embedded in a cryptic definition. Here the cryptic elaboration tells us that the solution is a palindrome.
Boob[5] is an informal British term for an embarrassing mistake ⇒
the boob was spotted by a security expert at the show.
| 2d | Plonk! // Put down for discussion and heard complaint (5,4) |
In Britain, as in Canada, table[5] means to present formally for discussion or consideration at a meeting ⇒
more than 200 amendments to the bill have already been tabled.
On the other hand, in the US, the term table[5] has essentially the opposite connotation, meaning to postpone consideration of ⇒
I'd like the issue to be tabled* for the next few months.
* In Canada, we might say that the issue has been shelved or put on the back burner — expressions that I suspect may also be well-known in both the US and the UK.
Plonk[5] is an informal British term for cheap wine of inferior quality ⇒
we turned up at 8 p.m., each clutching a bottle of plonk.
Origin: 1930s (originally Australian) probably an alteration of blanc in French vin blanc ‘white wine’
| 3d | Praise // former tax cut (5) |
| 4d | Pulled, /when/ cross-dressed? (7) |
I would say this is a double definition in which the second definition is whimsical. The setter supposes that if wearing one's hair "in braids" can be described as it being "braided", then it must logically follow that being dressed "in drag" must mean that one is "dragged".
| 5d | Who might waste a lot of time // serving people? (7) |
In the second definition, the present participle "serving" is acting as an adjective with "serving people" being "people who serve".
| 7d | Emerge /with/ a pay increase (5) |
Here and There
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Rise[5] is the British term* for an increase in salary or wages ⇒ non-supervisory staff were given a 5 per cent rise. |
| 8d | Fine case // in which footballers might be seen? (7,3) |
In soccer (known to the Brits as football), penalty box[5] is another term for penalty area[5], the rectangular area marked out in front of each goal, within which a foul by a defender involves the award of a penalty kick and outside which the goalkeeper is not allowed to handle the ball.
| 9d | Pressure as Balkan approaches unknown // man in the street? (6-2) |
A Serb[5] is a native or inhabitant of Serbia[5], a republic in the Balkans that was once part of Yugoslavia.
"unknown " = Y [algebraic notation]
In mathematics (algebra, in particular), an unknown[10] is a variable, or the quantity it represents, the value of which is to be discovered by solving an equation ⇒
In mathematical formulae, unknowns are typically represented symbolically by the letters x, y and z.
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In mathematics (algebra, in particular), an unknown[10] is a variable, or the quantity it represents, the value of which is to be discovered by solving an equation ⇒
3y = 4x + 5 is an equation in two unknowns.
In mathematical formulae, unknowns are typically represented symbolically by the letters x, y and z.
hide
| 14d | Short delay after call, then fix // old radio (7,3) |
A crystal set[5] is a simple early form of radio receiver with a crystal touching a metal wire as the rectifier (instead of a valve [tube] or transistor), and no amplifier or loudspeaker, necessitating headphones or an earphone.
| 16d | They're authorised to certify stuff: // not something to do with astrology (8) |
In astrology, Aries[10] (also called the Ram) is the first sign of the zodiac, symbol ♈, having a cardinal fire classification, ruled by the planet Mars. The sun is in this sign between about March 21 and April 19.
| 18d | Terrible income, so finally choose // to save (9) |
| 20d | Two females: // one employed to herd cattle (7) |
| 21d | Unusually gifted, initially schoolboy // is restless (7) |
| 23d | One barking, not loudly, /could be/ Romeo? (5) |
| 25d | Used to be tense, discontented? // Rubbish! (5) |
| 26d | Runners // touch, with third (or fourth) moving into first place (4) |
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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