Puzzle at a Glance
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Puzzle number in The Daily Telegraph
DT 29381 | |
Publication date in The Daily Telegraph
Thursday, June 4, 2020 | |
Setter
Unknown | |
Link to full review
Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 29381]
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Big Dave's Crossword Blog review written by
Miffypops | |
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
Several comments on Big Dave's Crossword Blog suggest that this puzzle was set by Giovanni (Don Manley) who once set the Friday puzzles in The Daily Telegraph. Chris Lancaster (the Daily Telegraph puzzles editor) has confirmed that Giovanni does continue to set the occasional puzzle which can appear on various days of the week, not necessarily Friday.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 | Silly frolic -- we'd // created a false impression (5,4) |
| 6a | 'Purple lady' // in silly diamonds (5) |
Lydia of Thyatira[7] (known as “The Woman of Purple”) is a woman mentioned in the New Testament who is regarded as the first documented convert to Christianity in Europe. Several Christian denominations have designated her a saint. She is believed to have been a merchant of purple cloth, a commodity for which Thyatira (located in what is now western Turkey) was famous.
| 9a | Criticise // a doctor in a certain mould (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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A last[5] is a shoemaker’s model [of the foot] for shaping or repairing a shoe or boot.
What is he talking about?
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In his review on Big Dave's Crossword Blog, Miffypops describes the mould in question as oneThe cobbler should stick to his last is a proverb meaning one should do what one is familiar with, experienced in, or skilled at, rather than trying something different and risking failure.a cobbler might use and should stick to according to the old adage. |
| 10a | Team showing no enthusiasm, we hear -- absence of trophies in this, then? (9) |
I consider the entire clue to be a cryptic definition in which we find embedded wordplay.
"team " = SIDE
Side[5] is a British term for a sports team ⇒
* Note that, in Britain, a player is said to be "in a side" or "in a team" rather than "on a team" as one would say in North America.
In North America, the term side[3] is used in a very general fashion that can denote one of two or more opposing individuals, groups, teams, or sets of opinions. While this same general usage is also found in the UK, the term side[5] is also used there in a much more specific sense to mean a sports team, as we can clearly see from the following usage examples ⇒ (i)
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Side[5] is a British term for a sports team ⇒
there was a mixture of old and young players in* their side.
* Note that, in Britain, a player is said to be "in a side" or "in a team" rather than "on a team" as one would say in North America.
In North America, the term side[3] is used in a very general fashion that can denote one of two or more opposing individuals, groups, teams, or sets of opinions. While this same general usage is also found in the UK, the term side[5] is also used there in a much more specific sense to mean a sports team, as we can clearly see from the following usage examples ⇒ (i)
Previous England rugby sides, and England teams in many other sports, would have crumbled under the weight of such errors.; (ii)
They'll face better sides than this Monaco team, but you can only beat what's put in front of you.
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A sideboard[5,10] is a flat-topped piece of furniture intended to stand at the side of a dining room, with drawers, cupboards, and shelves to hold silver, glasses, china, table linen, etc.
Although not specifically designed for the purpose, I suppose some sideboards might provide a suitable location to display trophies. However, as many comments on Big Dave's Crossword Blog suggest, they might be displayed to better effect "on" the sideboard rather than "in" it.
| 11a | Clothes /making/ Martine look fancy (7) |
| 12a | They may barely enjoy being in a camp (7) |
| 13a | Ostentation /of/ spinster seen out in new guise (15) |
| 17a | Sugar // cost changing in brewing of ale (7) |
| 19a | Travelled in vehicle /and/ rushed into lad on bike maybe (7) |
Mod[5] is a British term for a young person, especially in the early 1960s, of a subculture characterized by a smart stylish appearance, the riding of motor scooters, and a liking for soul music.
| 22a | Liquid accidents? // One will dry things up (9) |
| 23a | Fidgety /and/ not totally at ease around 4 (7) |
In this case, the numeral "4" is not a cross-reference to 4d.
Post Mortem
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| I knew the 8-letter synonym for fidgety but not the 7-letter alternative. |
| 24a | This weather is too much -- // get agitated (5) |
| 25a | I had trouble ultimately in inadequate // form of illumination (9) |
Down
| 1d | Storage space /allows/ length of cloth to fit in vehicle (6) |
The ell[5] is a former measure of length (equivalent to six hand breadths) used mainly for textiles, locally variable but typically about 45 inches in England and 37 inches in Scotland*.
* Did the parsimonious Scottish textile merchants purposely hire clerks with small hands?
Delving Deeper
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Surely, six hand breadths cannot equal 45 inches (or even 37 inches). Those would be incredibly large hands. (show more )
In fact, Lexico (formerly Oxford Dictionaries Online) is the only source I found that claims the ell derives from the breadth of the human hand. Other sources attribute the measure to the length of the forearm from elbow to fingertip. According to Wikipedia, an ell[7] is a northwestern European unit of measurement, originally understood as a cubit (the combined length of the forearm and extended hand). The word literally means "arm", and survives in the form of the modern English word "elbow" (arm-bend). Later usage through the 19th century refers to several longer units, some of which are thought to derive from a "double ell". Several national forms existed, with different lengths, including the Scottish ell (≈37 inches or 94 centimetres), the Flemish ell [el] (≈27 in or 68.6 cm), the French ell [aune] (≈54 in or 137.2 cm),[9] the Polish ell (≈31 in or 78.7 cm), the Danish alen (24 Danish inches or 2 Danish fod: 62.7708 cm), the Swedish aln (2 Swedish fot ≈59 cm) and the German ell [Elle] of different lengths in Frankfurt (54.7 cm), Cologne, Leipzig (Saxony) or Hamburg. hide |
| 2d | Yours truly's on the phone, // not going anywhere (8) |
Mobile[5] (short for mobile phone) is a British term for a cell phone[5] (short for cellular phone) ⇒
we telephoned from our mobile to theirs.
| 3d | What is green in river // bank? (6) |
The Dee[5,7] could be any of several rivers in Scotland and England — not to mention Ireland and Australia, the most prominent being:
- a river in northeastern Scotland, which rises in the Grampian Mountains and flows eastwards past Balmoral Castle to the North Sea at Aberdeen
- a river that rises in North Wales and flows into England, past Chester and on into the Irish Sea
A drawee[5] is the person or organization, typically a bank, who must pay a draft or bill.
| 4d | Unfashionable group /from/ the word go (6) |
Although Miffypops, in his review on Big Dave's Crossword Blog, includes the word "from" in the definition, I have excluded it. The phrase "from the word go" is equivalent to "from the outset".
| 5d | Enthusiast goes round and starts to get out /for/ lively trip (8) |
Trip[5] (noun) is being used in the archaic sense of a light, lively movement of a person's feet. This sense of the word is still commonly used as a verb meaning to walk, run, or dance with quick light steps.
The fandango[5] is a lively Spanish dance for two people, typically accompanied by castanets or tambourine.
| 6d | Greek characters having area inside /for/ dances (8) |
Lambda[5] is the eleventh letter of the Greek alphabet (Λ, λ).
The lambada[5] is a fast erotic Brazilian dance which couples perform in close physical contact.
| 7d | Daughter has head stuck in books? /Result of/ fears (6) |
| 8d | A group of investigators round little girl -- // medical problem (8) |
Acidosis[5] is a medical term for an excessively acid condition of the body fluids or tissues.
| 13d | Fighters for a cause, // chums suppressing a noise (8) |
A paladin[5] is a knight renowned for heroism and chivalry.
| 14d | Dispeller of evil /has/ to be strangling monster (8) |
An orc[10] is a member of an imaginary race of evil goblins, especially in the fiction of English writer J. R. R. Tolkien.
| 15d | Plates // one put out for dogs to eat (8) |
A nail[7] is a claw-like keratinous plate at the tip of the fingers and toes in most primates.
What is he talking about?
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In his review on Big Dave's Crossword Blog, Miffypops informs us that the clue hasPlates[1] (shortened from plates of meat) is rhyming slang* for feet.nothing to do with Cockney rhyming slang. * Rhyming slang[5] is a type of slang that replaces words with rhyming words or phrases, typically with the rhyming element omitted. For example, butcher’s, short for butcher’s hook, means ‘look’ in cockney rhyming slang. |
| 16d | Putting into the ground // the grain to sprout (8) |
| 18d | Function /of/ church, hiding old wickedness? (6) |
"church " = CE [Church of England]
The Church of England[10] (abbreviation CE[10]) is the reformed established state Church in England, Catholic in order and basic doctrine, with the Sovereign as its temporal head.
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The Church of England[10] (abbreviation CE[10]) is the reformed established state Church in England, Catholic in order and basic doctrine, with the Sovereign as its temporal head.
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"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.
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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.
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In mathematics, a cosine[5] (abbreviation cos[5]) is the trigonometric function that is equal to the ratio of the side adjacent to an acute angle (in a right-angled triangle) to the hypotenuse.
| 19d | Tiny boy turning up, looking embarrassed, // wearing a special hat (6) |
Timothy Cratchit, called "Tiny Tim"[7], is a fictional character from the 1843 novel A Christmas Carol by English writer Charles Dickens (1812–1870). He is a minor character, the young son of Bob Cratchit, and is seen only briefly, but serves as an important symbol of the consequences of the protagonist's choices.
A mitre[5] (US miter) is a tall headdress worn by bishops and senior abbots as a symbol of office, tapering to a point at front and back with a deep cleft between.
| 20d | Guy, 50, // a prickly type (6) |
Guy[3,4,11] is used in the sense of to make fun of, to hold up to ridicule, or to mock.
Teasel[5] (also teazle or teazel) is a tall prickly Eurasian plant with spiny purple flower heads.
| 21d | 'Brill' old form of therapy? /There's/ something wrong /here/ (6) |
The words "there's ... here" effectively constitute a link phrase even though they don't merely separate the definition from the word play but also envelope the wordplay.
Brill[5] is an informal British expression meaning excellent or marvellous ⇒ (i)
a brill new series; (ii)
‘She says I can spend half-term [midterm break] with you.’ ‘Hey, brill!’.
Def[5] is an informal term meaning excellent ⇒ (i)
a truly def tattoo.
Origin: 1980s probably an alteration of death (used in Jamaican English as an intensifier), or shortened from definitive or definite.
Electroconvulsive therapy[10] (abbreviation ECT; also known as electroshock therapy) is the treatment of certain psychotic conditions by passing an electric current through the brain to induce coma or convulsions.
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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