Puzzle at a Glance
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Puzzle number in The Daily Telegraph
DT 29391 | |
Publication date in The Daily Telegraph
Tuesday, June 16, 2020 | |
Setter
Unknown | |
Link to full review
Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 29391]
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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
The setter delivers a gentle workout today leaving one with lots of energy to tackle the overnight accumulation of snow.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 | Coat and bras exchanged /for/ jumpers? (8) |
Scratching the Surface
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While the word "jumper" is the name of an article of clothing on both sides of the
Atlantic, it is quite a different piece of apparel across the pond where it denotes a sweater rather than a dress. (show more )
In Britain, a jumper[5] is a knitted garment typically with long sleeves, worn over the upper body (in other words, a sweater). The dress that North Americans call a jumper[5] is known to the Brits as a pinafore[5] — defined as a collarless sleeveless dress worn over a blouse or jumper [sweater]. Thus, if a British lass were to wear a pinafore over her jumper and a North American gal were to wear a jumper over her sweater, they would be dressed identically. hide |
| 5a | Look // brave holding the man back (6) |
| 9a | Vessel west of region's // docks (9) |
| 11a | Forbid eating company // food (5) |
| 12a | Unnerve // snake, cutting its tail (6) |
| 13a | Best // garden oddly by a river (8) |
The River Test[7] is a river in Hampshire, England. It has a total length of 40 miles (64 km) and it flows through downland* from its source near Ashe to the sea at the head of Southampton Water. In its upper reaches it is a chalk stream, and is used for fly fishing for trout. The river plays a significant part in Richard Adams' novel Watership Down.
* A down[10] (also called downland) is a rolling upland [go figure], especially in the chalk areas of southern Britain, characterized by lack of trees and used mainly as pasture.
| 15a | Men are in tent dancing tango /for/ fun (13) |
"tango " = T [NATO Phonetic Alphabet]
In what is commonly known as the NATO Phonetic Alphabet[7]*, Tango[5] is a code word representing the letter T.
* officially the International Radiotelephony Spelling Alphabet
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In what is commonly known as the NATO Phonetic Alphabet[7]*, Tango[5] is a code word representing the letter T.
* officially the International Radiotelephony Spelling Alphabet
hide
| 18a | Voyeur on trial, dreadfully // subversive (13) |
| 22a | Scoffed after golf club // gave information in small doses (8) |
Spoon[5] is a dated term for a golf club with a slightly concave wooden head.
| 23a | Smell old // drunk (6) |
"old " = O [linguistics]
In linguistics, O[12] is the abbreviation for Old ⇒ (i)
However, a second entry from this same source shows o (lower case) meaning old (not capitalized) suggesting that the use of this abbreviation may not necessarily be confined to the field of linguistics.
Another possibility arises from the British abbreviation OAP[5] standing for old-age pensioner.
hide
In linguistics, O[12] is the abbreviation for Old ⇒ (i)
OFr[Old French]; (ii)
OE[Old English].
However, a second entry from this same source shows o (lower case) meaning old (not capitalized) suggesting that the use of this abbreviation may not necessarily be confined to the field of linguistics.
Another possibility arises from the British abbreviation OAP[5] standing for old-age pensioner.
hide
A number of commenters on Big Dave's Crossword Blog report not being familiar with the word stinko[12] meaning drunk or intoxicated. Although one US dictionary claims this word to be US slang*, this contention is not backed up by other US or British dictionaries.
* Webster’s New World College Dictionary shows stinko[12] as being US slang*. However, other US dictionaries[3,11] do not show it as such and this meaning of the word is found in several British dictionaries[1,4,5,10] without it being identified as an American usage.
| 26a | American faction losing weight // exercising (5) |
| 27a | Time to slip up -- I attempt to cross old // field (9) |
The "old" from 23a takes to the stage for another turn.
| 28a | Anger after hospital department/'s/ full (6) |
"hospital department " = ENT
| 29a | Irresponsible // pet restricting sleep regularly (8) |
Down
| 1d | Sailor almost angry on base, /getting/ arrested (8) |
I suspect the definition here may be a touch on the whimsical side.
Arrest and absorb can both mean to take in* but I would hardly call them true synonyms.
* e.g., a police officer taking in suspects and a sponge taking in water
I did consider that the setter might be using the words in the following senses:
- Arrest[5] meaning to attract the attention of (someone) ⇒
the church's stillness arrested her
. - Absorb[5] meaning to take up the attention of (someone) or interest greatly ⇒
she sat in an armchair, absorbed in a book
.
| 2d | Bishop, in essence? // Android (5) |
In science fiction, an android[5] is a robot with a human appearance*.
* although I question whether the mascot for the Android operating system has "a human appearance"
| 3d | One with hot possessions trying to avoid the heat? (7) |
In the thread at Comment #12 on Big Dave's Crossword Blog, Gazza states
The heat is a US slang term for the police.
* This statement is supported by one British dictionary[1] and one US dictionary[12] . However, two US dictionaries[3,11] as well as two British dictionaries[4,10] do not show this sense of the word as being American. On the other hand, some support for it being an American expression may come from the absence of this term from two British dictionaries[2,5].
As a slang term for police investigative activity after a crime, heat does appear to be used on both sides of the pond being found in four British dictionaries[1,2,4,10] and two US dictionaries[3,11]. However, one US dictionary[12] characterizes this usage as American and this specific sense of the word is absent from one British dictionary[5].
| 4d | Mo/'s/ ploy to abandon run (4) |
"run " = R [cricket notation]
Mo[5]
(abbreviation for moment) is asomewhat British informal term for a short period of time ⇒
Mo is 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].
hide
hang on a mo!.
Mo is 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].
hide
Tick[5] is an informal British term for a moment ⇒ (i)
I shan’t be a tick; (ii)
I’ll be with you in a tick.
| 6d | Hug // eastern doctor before contest (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.
hide
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.
hide
| 7d | Pitmen perhaps // manoeuvring horse and cart (9) |
This is a whimsical extension of the definition to encompass another group of people who may work in a pit. In reality, pitman[10] is a mainly Scottish and Northern England term for a person who works down a mine, especially a coal miner.
| 8d | Mark // departs European school, upset (6) |
"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.
hide
"school " = ETON
Eton College[7], often informally referred to simply as Eton, is an English independent boarding school for boys located in Eton, Berkshire, near Windsor. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor". It is one of ten English schools, commonly referred to as public schools, regulated by the Public Schools Act of 1868.
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Eton College[7], often informally referred to simply as Eton, is an English independent boarding school for boys located in Eton, Berkshire, near Windsor. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor". It is one of ten English schools, commonly referred to as public schools, regulated by the Public Schools Act of 1868.
Here and There
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| In Britain, an independent school[10] is a school that is neither financed nor controlled by the government or local authorities; in other words, an independent school[2] is not paid for with public money and does not belong to the state school system. In Britain, a public school[2] is a particular category of independent school, namely a secondary school, especially a boarding school, run independently of the state and financed by a combination of endowments and pupils' fees. Another category of independent school is the private school[2,5] which is a school run independently by an individual or group, especially for profit and supported wholly by the payment of fees. What we in North America would call a public school[2], is known in the UK as a state school[5] or a maintained school*. * In England and Wales, a maintained school[5] is a school that is funded by a local education authority. |
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| 10d | Peace // is here in city with no leaders (8) |
| 14d | Most former // ateliers rebuilt (8) |
| 16d | Is tense after naughty child /becomes/ radical (9) |
| 17d | Sonny improperly starts to yawn, mocking sir/'s/ airs and graces perhaps (8) |
| 19d | Condiment // very popular with English on fish (7) |
"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.
hide
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.
hide
Gar[2] is another name* for a garfish[2,10] or garpike[2,10] which are any of various slim fast-swimming fishes with a long beak-like mouth containing many sharp teeth.
* It seems that depending on species and location various European, North American and Central American fish go by one or the other or all of these names.
| 20d | Summarise // what batsman might be before boundary (7) |
Scratching the Surface
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In the wordplay, the word boundary[10] needs only be interpreted in a generic sense. However, in the surface reading it takes on a specific cricket connotation where it can mean any of the following:
* If the ball touches the ground before crossing the boundary (similar to a ground rule double in baseball), four runs are scored. However, if the ball crosses the boundary without touching the ground (similar to a home run in baseball), six runs are scored. |
| 21d | Convince // Salvation Army to turn up? Certainly (6) |
Like some of those commenting on Big Dave's Crossword Blog, I initially questioned convince and assure being synonyms. However, after some consideration I managed to convince myself that they may be — at least when used reflexively ⇒
she assured herself that he was asleep. Nevertheless, I don't think this is true in relation to another party: I can give you all the assurances in the world without you being convinced.
| 24d | Not a single person /from/ Spain under twelve (2-3) |
| 25d | District // in Far East (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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