Puzzle at a Glance
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Puzzle number in The Daily Telegraph
DT 29398 | |
Publication date in The Daily Telegraph
Wednesday, June 24, 2020 | |
Setter
Jay (Jeremy Mutch) | |
Link to full review
Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 29398]
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Big Dave's Crossword Blog review written by
2Kiwis | |
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
Once again I needed a gentle push from my electronic aids to nudge me across the finish line.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 | Group // line should be held in general (7) |
George Armstrong Custer[5] (1839–1876) was an American cavalry general. He served with distinction in the American Civil War but led his men to their deaths in a clash (popularly known as Custer's Last Stand) with the Sioux at Little Bighorn in Montana.
| 9a | Proper nozzle for watering // a flower (8) |
A rose[5] is a perforated cap attached to a shower, the spout of a watering can, or the end of a hose to produce a spray.
The primrose[5] is a European plant of woodland and hedgerows, which produces pale yellow flowers in the early spring.
| 10a | Lack of restraint // shown by a group performing (7) |
| 11a | Beast from the east -- and there without her // to provide cover (8) |
| 12a | A residential area /may see/ problem rejected in advance (6) |
The rub[5] is the central problem or difficulty in a situation ⇒
that was the rub—she had not cared enough[from Shakespeare's Hamlet ( iii. i. 65)].
Sub[5] is a British term for an advance or loan against expected income ⇒
‘I've got no money.’ ‘Want a sub?’.
| 13a | Popular criminal dealers welcoming the Queen/'s/ conclusions (10) |
"the 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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| 15a | Started to lose heart -- /and/ head! (4) |
According to various British dictionaries, bean is:
- an informal term for the head[1]
- a dated informal term for a person's head, especially when regarded as a source of common sense[5]
- US slang for a head or brain[2]
- US and Canadian slang for head[10]
| 16a | Doctor able to speak /and/ explain further (9) |
| 21a | Sort of look /and/ stagger back (4) |
| 22a | Current // fixed terms must include answer after separation (4,6) |
The Gulf Stream[5] is a warm ocean current that flows from the Gulf of Mexico parallel with the US coast toward Newfoundland, Canada, and then continues across the Atlantic Ocean toward north-western Europe as the North Atlantic Drift.
| 24a | Counsel // notice moral shortcoming (6) |
| 25a | Woody /could be/ American, attached to foreign legion (8) |
| 27a | Monk perhaps // runs into trouble (7) |
"runs " = R [cricket notation]
In the Christian Church, a brother[2] is a man who is a member of a religious group, especially a monk.
| 28a | Determination /of/ town on Etna destroyed (8) |
Scratching the Surface
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| Mount Etna[5] is a volcano in eastern Sicily, rising to 3,323 m (10,902 ft). It is the highest and most active volcano in Europe. |
| 29a | Turn one's attention to // a day shift (7) |
Down
| 2d | Strained // party ends without regulars (8) |
The Labour Party[5] is a left-of-centre political party in Britain. (show more )
The party was formed to represent the interests of ordinary working people that since the Second World War has been in power 1945–51, 1964–70, 1974-9, and 1997–2010. Arising from the trade union movement at the end of the 19th century, it replaced the Liberals as the country’s second party after the First World War.
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The party was formed to represent the interests of ordinary working people that since the Second World War has been in power 1945–51, 1964–70, 1974-9, and 1997–2010. Arising from the trade union movement at the end of the 19th century, it replaced the Liberals as the country’s second party after the First World War.
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| 3d | Cheerful // article penned by disturbed genius (8) |
| 4d | Cycle stocked by old worker /is/ a rip-off (10) |
"worker " = ANT
The terms "worker" and "social worker" are commonly used in cryptic crossword puzzles to clue ANT or BEE.
A worker[5] is a neuter or undeveloped female bee, wasp, ant, or other social insect, large numbers of which do the basic work of the colony.
In crossword puzzles, "worker" will most frequently be used to clue ANT and occasionally BEE but I have yet to see it used to clue WASP. Of course, "worker" is sometimes also used to clue HAND or MAN.
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The terms "worker" and "social worker" are commonly used in cryptic crossword puzzles to clue ANT or BEE.
A worker[5] is a neuter or undeveloped female bee, wasp, ant, or other social insect, large numbers of which do the basic work of the colony.
In crossword puzzles, "worker" will most frequently be used to clue ANT and occasionally BEE but I have yet to see it used to clue WASP. Of course, "worker" is sometimes also used to clue HAND or MAN.
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| 5d | Region /seeing/ a listener finally getting promoted (4) |
| 6d | Universal anger about politician /and/ judge (6) |
"politician " = MP
| 7d | The Queen perhaps /may be/ working during month (7) |
| 8d | Always succeeded in case of rare // defeat (7) |
| 11d | Felt differently concerning small // amounts of surplus food (9) |
| 14d | A Democrat free to support province/'s/ team (4,6) |
"Democrat " = D [member or supporter of US political party]
Province[2] is used in the sense of someone's allotted range of duties or field of knowledge or experience, etc.
Realm[2] is used in the sense of a field of interest, study or activity.
Real Madrid Club de Fútbol[7] (Royal Madrid Football Club), commonly known as Real Madrid, or simply as Real, is a professional football [soccer] club based in Madrid, Spain that plays in La Liga, the top division of the Spanish football league system.
| 17d | European role developed about tax // that stops at different levels (8) |
"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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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)[7] are each instances of a value added tax.
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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)[7] are each instances of a value added tax.
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Didn't I Tell You So?
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| I wrote in my review of yesterday's puzzle that despite elevator being a North American term I had seen it used in British puzzles. I didn't imagine at the time that it would appear so soon again. Rabbit Dave can always be counted on to raise the Americanism alarm (Comment #4 on Big Dave's Crossword Blog). |
| 18d | The race's over /for/ such professionals (8) |
I suppose the rationale for the use of over as an anagram indicator is that were the collection of letters forming the phrase "the race's" to topple over, the letters would likely end up arranged in a different order.
| 19d | Talent that's good for British // briskness (7) |
| 20d | Catchy phrases /describing/ a name in high gloss (7) |
As an anagram indicator, high[2] is used in the sense of under the influence of drugs or alcohol alluding to the fact that such a state is characterized by being confused and mixed-up.
| 23d | Small fish // stink (6) |
Small from 11d does an encore performance.
The tench[5] is a European freshwater fish of the carp family, popular with anglers and widely introduced elsewhere.
| 26d | Capable of // leading time -- with oxygen! (2,2) |
The symbol for the chemical element oxygen is O[5].
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)
[15] - CollinsDictionary.com (Penguin Random House LLC/HarperCollins Publishers Ltd )
Signing off for today — Falcon
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