Wednesday, March 31, 2021

Wednesday, March 31, 2021 — DT 29423


Puzzle at a Glance
Puzzle number in The Daily Telegraph
DT 29423
Publication date in The Daily Telegraph
Thursday, July 23, 2020
Setter
RayT (Ray Terrell)
Link to full review
Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 29423]
Big Dave's Crossword Blog review written by
Kath
BD rating
Difficulty - ★★★ / ★★★★Enjoyment - ★★★★
Falcon's experience
┌────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┐
███████████████████████████████████
└────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┘
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

Introduction

After several days of rather gentle workouts, today's puzzle from RayT provides a more substantial challenge.

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
  • "//" - marks the boundary between wordplay and definition when no link word or link phrase is present
  • "/[link word or phrase]/" - marks the boundary between wordplay and definition when a link word or link phrase is present
  • "solid underline" - precise definition
  • "dotted underline" - cryptic definition
  • "dashed underline" - wordplay
  • "wavy underline" - whimsical and inferred definitions
Click here for further explanation and usage examples of markup conventions used on this blog.

Across

1a Jerks taking on work // issues (6)

"work " = OP [opus]

In music, an opus[5] (Latin 'work', plural opuses or opera) is a separate composition or set of compositions.

The abbreviation Op.[5] (also op.), denoting opus, is used before a number given to each work of a particular composer, usually indicating the order of publication. The plural form of Op. is Opp..

Opus[5] can also be used in other contexts to denote an artistic work, especially one on a large scale ⇒ he was writing an opus on Mexico.

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4aStock controller? (8)

9a Hand turned around sleeve's end, touching // arm (6)

10a Lets cats out /being/ unfeeling (8)

12a Domestic // trainee prepared to face Queen (8)

"Queen " = R [regina]

Queen may be abbreviated as Q, Qu. or R.

Q[5] is an abbreviation for queen that is used especially in describing play in card games and recording moves in chess.

Qu.[2] is another common abbreviation for Queen.

In the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms*, Regina[5] (abbreviation R[5]) [Latin for queen] denotes the reigning queen, used following a name (e.g. Elizabetha Regina, Queen Elizabeth — often shortened to ER) or in the titles of lawsuits (e.g. Regina v. Jones, the Crown versus Jones — often shortened to R. v. Jones).

* A Commonwealth realm[7] is a sovereign state that is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations and shares the same person, currently Elizabeth II, as its head of state and reigning constitutional monarch, but retains a crown legally distinct from the other realms. There are currently sixteen Commonwealth realms, the largest being Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom with the remainder being smaller Caribbean and Pacific island nations.

Thus Queen Elizabeth signs her name as 'Elizabeth R' as seen here on Canada's paint-stained constitution[7].


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A retainer[5] is a servant, especially one who has worked for a person or family for a long time.

13a Keep // Labour's leader constrained by social class (6)

A keep[5] is the strongest or central tower of a castle, acting as a final refuge.

Scratching the Surface
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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15a Creating coal // fire and our bacon's cooking (13)

18a Wrongly see // nudism as trend to reform (13)

22a Expert going on about // unexpected rejection (6)

24a Wine // drunk neat? Sure (8)

According to The Chambers Dictionary, Sauterne (or Sauternes)* is a sweet white wine produced at Sauternes in the Gironde, France [specifically, in the Bordeaux region of Gironde].

* Other dictionaries show the spelling of the French wine as Sauternes[5,10] (or sauternes[10]) with sauterne[10] being a sweet to semi-dry Californian white wine blended from several kinds of grapes.

If you look carefully, you will see that the wine bottle in the illustration used by Kath in her review on Big Dave's Crossword Blog is labelled "Sauternes".

26a The vacant Republican without // limit (8)

Scratching the Surface
"Republican " = R [member or supporter of US political party]

A Republican[5] (abbreviation R[5] or Rep.[5])  is a member or supporter of the Republican Party[5], one of the two main US political parties*, favouring a right-wing stance, limited central government, and tough, interventionist foreign policy. It was formed in 1854 in support of the anti-slavery movement preceding the Civil War.

* the other being the Democratic Party

Although, in the UK, republican[5] can refer to an advocate of a united Ireland, the abbreviation does not appear to apply to that usage.

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27a Supplies // online jokes? (6)

Double definition; the second being whimsical.

28a Stagger /from/ drink increase round mid-afternoon (8)

"drink " = SUP

As a verb, sup[5] is a dated or Northern English term meaning to take (drink or liquid food) by sips or spoonfuls ⇒ (i) she supped up her soup delightedly; (ii) he was supping straight from the bottle.

As a noun, sup[5] means
  • a sip of liquid ⇒ he took another sup of wine
  • (in Northern England or Ireland) an alcoholic drink ⇒ the latest sup from those blokes at the brewery
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"mid-afternoon" = R (show explanation )

A common cryptic crossword construct is to use the prefix "mid-" to designate the middle letter of the remainder of the word in which it occurs. Thus "mid-afternoon" clues the letter 'R', the middle letter of 'afteRnoon'.

hide explanation

29a Playing // part of lovers, uselessly (6)

Down

1d Tasteless // cheers, prohibitionist drinking whisky (6)

Cheers[5] is an informal British expression of gratitude or acknowledgement for something Billy tossed him the key. ‘Cheers, pal.’.

Ta[5] is an informal British exclamation signifying thank you ‘Ta,’ said Willie gratefully.

In what is commonly known as the NATO Phonetic Alphabet[7]*Whisky[2], Whiskey[1,4,10] or whiskey[1,5] is a code word representing the letter W.

* officially the International Radiotelephony Spelling Alphabet

Whisky or Whiskey
Although the setter has presented us with Scotch (whisky) in the clue, should he perhaps have served up Irish whiskey? I certainly found far more support for the US/Irish spelling than for the British spelling for this code word representing the letter W in international radio communication.

The Chambers DictionaryLexico (Oxford Dictionary of English) and Collins English Dictionary all show Whiskey[1,4,10] or whiskey[1,5] as the spelling. On the other hand, Chambers 21st Century Dictionary specifies the spelling as Whisky[2].

According to Wikipedia, the NATO phonetic alphabet*[7] is the most widely used radiotelephone spelling alphabet. The Wikipedia article uses the Whiskey spelling throughout with the exception of entries in two tables. In the section dealing with International aviation[7], a table shows the ICAO spelling as Whiskey prior to 1956 and Whisky from 1956 onward and in the section covering the International maritime mobile service[7], a table shows the spelling as Whisky beginning in 1965 (prior to which time the code word had been Washington). However, I would not entirely trust Wikipedia on this point but I was unable to find conclusive evidence to either confirm or refute it.

* officially the International Radiotelephony Spelling Alphabet, and also commonly known as the ICAO phonetic alphabet, and in a variation also known officially as the ITU phonetic alphabet and figure code


2d Customs // charges impounding fake (9)

3d Crook /is/ more hopeful after crime's beginning (7)

5d Mend // part of shoe soundly (4)

6d Servant carrying uncalled-for // soup (7)

"uncalled-for " = OTT

OTT[5] (short for over the top) is an informal British expression denoting excessive or exaggerated ⇒ presenting him as a goalscoring Superman seems a bit OTT.

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7d Upstanding // before court (5)

"court " = CT [in street addresses]

Ct[2] is the abbreviation for Court (in street addresses ... and possibly in other contexts as well).

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8d Dole out // some coppers, some coppers reportedly (8)

"some coppers " = DIS [detective inspectors]

A detective inspector (abbrevation DI[5]) is a senior police officer in the UK. Within the British police, inspector[7] is the second supervisory rank. It is senior to that of sergeant, but junior to that of chief inspector. Plain-clothes detective inspectors are equal in rank to their uniformed counterparts, the prefix 'detective' identifying them as having been trained in criminal investigation and being part of or attached to their force's Criminal Investigation Department (CID).

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Pence[5] is a plural* form of penny[5], a British bronze coin and monetary unit. (show more ).

* Both pence and pennies have existed as plural forms of penny since at least the 16th century. The two forms now tend to be used for different purposes: pence refers to sums of money (five pounds and sixty-nine pence) while pennies refers to the coins themselves (I left two pennies on the table). The use of pence rather than penny as a singular (the chancellor will put one pence on income tax) is not regarded as correct in standard English.

Today, a penny is equal to one hundredth of a pound and is the smallest denomination in Britain's modern decimal currency system introduced in 1971. The abbreviation for the modern penny or pence is p[5].

In the British currency system used prior to 1971, a penny[5] (abbreviation d[5] [for denarius]) was a coin or monetary unit equal to one twelfth of a shilling or 240th of a pound.

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11d Sweetheart // left almost finished in sack (7)

14d Missile's point raised /creating/ noxious vapours (7)

SAM[5] is an acronym for surface-to-air missile.

16d Hospital attendants // repose in groups (9)

An order[5] (also Order) is a society of monks, nuns, or friars living under the same religious, moral, and social regulations and discipline ⇒ the Franciscan Order.

In her review on Big Dave's Crossword Blog, Kath seemingly takes a scientific rather than religious perspective seeing (I believe) order[5] being used in the sense of a principal taxonomic category that ranks below class and above family.

17d Goes abroad missing grand // airline (8)

G as an abbreviation for grand is one North American usage that the Brits would appear to have embraced (show more ).

While the abbreviation G for "grand" is deemed by British dictionaries to be an Americanism, it seems to be one that is well known to Brits — undoubtedly from American gangster films. It is frequently seen in British crossword puzzles and never seems to garner the abuse that usually greets the appearance of American terms.

Grand[5] is an informal term for a thousand dollars or pounds he gets thirty-five grand a year. While the term "grand" itself would seem to be commonly used in the UK, the informal abbreviation G[5] meaning grand appears to be regarded as a North American usage I was up nine Gs on the blackjack tables.

G is defined in various British dictionaries as follows:
  • Oxford Dictionaries: (North American informal) abbreviation for grand, a thousand dollars)[5].
  • Chambers 21st Century Dictionary: (North American slang) abbreviation for a grand, 1000 dollars[2].
  • Collins English Dictionary: (mainly US slang) a symbol for grand (a thousand dollars or pounds)[4,10].
hide

Emirates[7] is an international airline based in Dubai. The flag carrier of the United Arab Emirates and the largest airline in the Middle East, it ranks among the world's largest airlines.

19d Sharper // smell, practically rank (7)

Niff[5] is an informal British term that means (as a noun) an unpleasant smell and (as a verb) to have an unpleasant smell.

What did she say?
In her review on Big Dave's Crossword Blog, Kath refers to the required smell as a slang four letter word that means an unpleasant pong.
Pong[5] (adjective pongy[5]) is an informal British term meaning:
  • (noun) a strong, unpleasant smell ⇒ corked wine has a powerful pong
  • (verb) to smell strongly and unpleasantly ⇒ the place just pongs of dirty clothes

20d Clairvoyant I questioned about // past (7)

21d Cold comfort before illness finally // stops (6)

23d Comparatively empty // boozer, empty earlier (5)

In Britain, boozer[5] is not only an informal term for a person who drinks large quantities of alcohol but also an informal term for a pub or bar.

25dStarts to swallow using, perhaps, spoon (4)

Without doubt, this trademark RayT initialism clue can be deemed an &lit. clue[7], a clue in which the entire clue is both wordplay and definition.



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

Tuesday, March 30, 2021

Tuesday, March 30, 2021 — DT 29422


Puzzle at a Glance
Puzzle number in The Daily Telegraph
DT 29422
Publication date in The Daily Telegraph
Wednesday, July 22, 2020
Setter
Jay (Jeremy Mutch)
Link to full review
Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 29422]
Big Dave's Crossword Blog review written by
2Kiwis
BD rating
Difficulty - ★★Enjoyment - ★★★★
Falcon's experience
┌────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┐
███████████████████████████████████
└────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┘
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

Introduction

Today's puzzle was set by Jay. What more needs to be set? A puzzle from Mr. Consistency is always a joy to solve.

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
  • "//" - marks the boundary between wordplay and definition when no link word or link phrase is present
  • "/[link word or phrase]/" - marks the boundary between wordplay and definition when a link word or link phrase is present
  • "solid underline" - precise definition
  • "dotted underline" - cryptic definition
  • "dashed underline" - wordplay
  • "wavy underline" - whimsical and inferred definitions
Click here for further explanation and usage examples of markup conventions used on this blog.

Across

1a Look // more impressive having dismissed first of Republicans (6)

5a What might be left, // say, in frilly surroundings (6)

10a Name adopted // when following boxer (5)

Muhammad Ali[5] is an American boxer; born Cassius Marcellus Clay. He won the world heavyweight title in 1964, 1974, and 1978, becoming the only boxer to be world champion three times.

11a Many a time beset by evil -- good /to be/ mollifying (9)

"good " = G [academic result]

The abbreviation G[a] for good comes from its use in education as a grade awarded on school assignments or tests.

[a] Collins English to Spanish Dictionary

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12a Person serving Queen /may see/ European question about resistance (7)

"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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"resistance " = R [symbol used in physics]

In physics, R[5] is a symbol used to represent electrical resistance in mathematical formulae.

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An equerry[5] is* an officer of the British royal household who attends or assists members of the royal family.

* Historically, an equerry[5] was an officer of the household of a prince or noble who had charge over the stables.

13a Disappointed /and/ allowed to drink in one (3,4)

14a Detective reading /for/ fun (9)

"detective " = DI [detective inspector]

A detective inspector (abbrevation DI[5]) is a senior police officer in the UK. Within the British police, inspector[7] is the second supervisory rank. It is senior to that of sergeant, but junior to that of chief inspector. Plain-clothes detective inspectors are equal in rank to their uniformed counterparts, the prefix 'detective' identifying them as having been trained in criminal investigation and being part of or attached to their force's Criminal Investigation Department (CID).

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17a Raises game /and/ strikes (5)

Beat[5] means to move across (an area of land) repeatedly striking at the ground cover in order to raise game birds for shooting.

18a Expert appearing in newspaper // feature (5)

The Financial Times[7] (abbreviation FT) is a British international business newspaper that is printed on conspicuous salmon pink newsprint.

19a Is cat meat made // to chew? (9)

21a Informed by a couple of students // taking everything into account (3,4)

"student " = L [driver under instruction]

The cryptic crossword convention of L meaning learner or student arises from the L-plate[7], a square plate bearing a sans-serif letter L, for learner, which must be affixed to the front and back of a vehicle in various jurisdictions (including the UK) if its driver is a learner under instruction.

Automobile displaying an L-plate

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23a Tramp // stumbles across area with last of booze (7)

25a Pressing // new peers in appointment (9)

Scratching the Surface
A peer[5] is a member of the nobility in Britain or Ireland, comprising the ranks of duke, marquess, earl, viscount, and baron.

26a Incompetent // writer backed by one with time (5)

The use of the word "writer" to clue PEN is likely to be slightly more cryptic to the Brits than it is to us on this side of the pond. British solvers will see "pen" as being a writing implement rather than the person wielding that implement. (show more )

In addition to defining pen[3,11] as a writing implement, North American dictionaries also define it as a writer or an author ⇒ a hired pen, British dictionaries do not list this meaning although they do show pen[2,4] (or the pen[5,10]) as symbolically representing writing as an occupation (a sense of the word not found in US dictionaries).

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27a A challenge to accept women/'s/ promotion on the web (6)

The abbreviation for women or women's is W[2]. The latter designates a clothing size while the former might be seen on the door to the ladies' room.



Adware[5] (trademark in the US) is software that automatically displays or downloads advertising material such as banners or pop-ups when a user is online.

28a Student failing to start // easy cash job (6)

Earner[10] is an informal British and Australian term for an activity or thing that produces income, especially illicitly ⇒ a nice little earner.

Down

2d Group of nations supporting aid fixed /for/ so long (5)

"group of nations " = EU [European Union]

The European Union[5] (abbreviation EU) is an economic and political association of certain European countries as a unit with internal free trade and common external tariffs.

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It would seem that the solution, a word of French origin, has been formally adopted into the English language. Adieu[5] (from French 'goodbye' or 'farewell') is a chiefly literary term that means (as exclamation) goodbye or (as noun) a goodbye ⇒ he whispered a fond adieu.

3d Abandon revolutionary sailor /and/ soldier (6,3)

"sailor " = TAR

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.

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Desert Rat[5] is an informal name for a soldier of the 7th British armoured division in the North African desert campaign of 1941–2. The badge of the division was the figure of a jerboa (a desert-dwelling rodent).

4d Dangerous // raid, oddly, on broadcaster (5)

Sky plc*[7] is a pan-European satellite broadcasting, on-demand internet streaming media, broadband and telephone services company with headquarters in London.

* the designation plc (standing for public limited company[7]) is used in the UK, some Commonwealth jurisdictions, and the Republic of Ireland. The term "public limited company" and the "PLC"/"plc" suffix were introduced in 1981; prior to this, all limited companies bore the suffix "Limited" ("Ltd."), which is still used by private limited companies.

5d Biographical tales about new // vital means of communication? (9)

Life[5] is another term for biography ⇒ a life of Shelley from which we can deduce that "biographical tales [of an untrue nature]" could be considered "life lies".

"new " = N [abbreviation used on maps]

N[5] is an abbreviation (chiefly in place names) for New ⇒ N Zealand.

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Lifeline[5] is used in the sense of a thing on which someone or something depends or which provides a means of escape from a difficult situation ⇒ the telephone has always been a lifeline for Gabby and me.

6d Person who's invited /may be/ judged in hearing (5)

7d Furiously tail chap pinching old banger (9)

Chipolata[5] is a British term for a small thin sausage.

8d What's left // after following schedule is cut short? (3,3)

"following " = F [publishing term]

In publishing, the abbreviation f.[10] (plural ff.) is used to denote following (page).

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Fag end[5] denotes the last part of something, especially when regarded as less important or interesting*.

* Brits refer to a cigarette butt as a fag end[5], from which a cigarette became known as a fag (Lexico/Oxford characterizes this process of language development as "elliptical"). The 'remnant' sense of the word fag predates the "cigarette" sense by a couple of centuries.

9d Spies /found in/ a men's toilet (6)

The gents[5] is a British term for a men's public toilet.

15d Criminal sold a vice /that's/ articulated (9)

16d Instant // act as broker to support firm regularly (9)

17d Officer/'s/ new bride touring Baltic port (9)

Riga[5] is a port on the Baltic Sea, capital of Latvia.



Brigadier[5] is a rank of officer in the British army, above colonel and below major general.

18d German wife and son outside Germany /must be/ impostors (6)

Frau[5] is a title or form of address for a married or widowed German-speaking woman ⇒ Frau Nordern.

"son " = S [genealogy]

In genealogies, s[5] is the abbreviation for son(s) m 1991; one s one d*.

* married in 1991; one son and one daughter.

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"Germany " = D [IVR code]

The International Vehicle Registration (IVR) country code for Germany is D[5] (from German Deutschland).

 
German Licence Plate Format
(The IVR code is on the left below the EU flag emblem)

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20d Emirates will be empty, hosting opening // occasions (6)

22d Love playing game /that's/ last of series (5)

"love " = O [nil score in tennis]

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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Omega[5]  is used in the sense of the last in a series ⇒ That's the beginning and the end, the alpha and the omega, and there's no exceptions.

Origin: Omega[5] is the last letter of the Greek alphabet (Ω, ω).

23d Subject /of/ note crossing border (5)

"note " = TE [in tonic sol-fa, the seventh note of a major scale]

From a perusal of entries in American and British dictionaries, I gather that the only recognized spelling of this musical note in the US would be ti[3,11,12] while British dictionaries split into two camps. Two British dictionaries give the principal spelling as te[2,4,10] with ti[2,4,10] as an alternative spelling while two others take the contrary position, giving the spelling as ti[1,5] with te[1,5] as an alternative spelling.

Note that the sister publications, The Chambers Dictionary[1] and Chambers 21st Century Dictionary[2], are diametrically opposed on the issue and Lexico[5] (formerly Oxford Dictionaries Online) has done a complete about face as I have notes in my files from a previous review showing that "Oxford Dictionaries decrees that te is the British spelling with ti being the North American spelling".

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24d Article written /for/ bishop on board perhaps (5)

A piece[5] is a figure or token used to make moves in a board game a chess piece.



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

Monday, March 29, 2021

Monday, March 29, 2021 — DT 29421 (Published Saturday, March 27, 2021)


Puzzle at a Glance
Puzzle number in The Daily Telegraph
DT 29421
Publication date in The Daily Telegraph
Tuesday, July 21, 2020
Setter
Unknown
Link to full review
Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 29421]
Big Dave's Crossword Blog review written by
Mr K
BD rating
Difficulty - ★★Enjoyment - ★★★
Falcon's experience
┌────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┐
███████████████████████████████████
└────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┘
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
Notes

This puzzle appears on the Monday Diversions page in the Saturday, March 27, 2021 edition of the National Post.

Introduction

For readers of the National Post, this may be a "Tuesday" puzzle appearing on a Monday — although, in terms of difficulty, it falls within the gentle range typical of "Monday" puzzles.

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
  • "//" - marks the boundary between wordplay and definition when no link word or link phrase is present
  • "/[link word or phrase]/" - marks the boundary between wordplay and definition when a link word or link phrase is present
  • "solid underline" - precise definition
  • "dotted underline" - cryptic definition
  • "dashed underline" - wordplay
  • "wavy underline" - whimsical and inferred definitions
Click here for further explanation and usage examples of markup conventions used on this blog.

Across

1a Stir one's pot with a // piece of cutlery (8)

5a Energy in deer's // legs (6)

"energy " = E [symbol used in physics]

In physics, E[5] is a symbol used to represent energy in mathematical formulae ⇒ E = mc2.

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9aPlace for dieter with weight going up and down? (9)

11a Coward might have written this // answer after drink (5)

Dram[5] is a Scottish term for a small drink of whiskey or other spirits ⇒ a wee dram to ward off the winter chill.



Sir Noël Coward[5] (1899–1973) was an English dramatist, actor, and composer. He is remembered for witty, satirical plays, such as Hay Fever (1925) and Private Lives (1930), as well as revues and musicals featuring songs such as Mad Dogs and Englishmen (1932).

12a Bird was first /to be/ named (6)

The tits, chickadees, and titmice[7] constitute the Paridae, a large family of small passerine birds which occur in the northern hemisphere and Africa. These birds are called either "chickadees" or "titmice" in North America, and just "tits" in the rest of the English-speaking world.

13a Daft // king in doorway? Not on a regular basis (8)

The definition here does seem — to put it mildly — stretched to the breaking point.

Daft[1,5] is an informal British term meaning silly; foolish; weak-minded; insane; unreasonably merry; very fond (of) or enthusiastic (about) ⇒ don't ask such daft questions.

15a Argue no cement that's mixed /can provide/ support (13)

18a Workers in this stable damaged // business (13)

22a While // a student, hard to enter firm (8)

"student " = L [driver under instruction]

The cryptic crossword convention of L meaning learner or student arises from the L-plate[7], a square plate bearing a sans-serif letter L, for learner, which must be affixed to the front and back of a vehicle in various jurisdictions (including the UK) if its driver is a learner under instruction.

Automobile displaying an L-plate

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"hard " = H [grade of pencil lead]

H[2,5] is an abbreviation for hard, as used in describing grades of pencil lead ⇒ a 2H pencil.

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23a One following boss round // workplace (6)

A boss[5] is a stud on the centre of a shield.

26a Abandon // bushy area (5)

27a Sign of the cold // winter in Paris with rat outside (9)

Hiver[8] is a French word meaning 'winter'.

What did he say?
In his review on Big Dave's Crossword Blog, Mr K writes The French word for winter has rat or grass wrapped around it ....
Grass[5] is an informal British term meaning:
  • (noun) a police informer
  • (verb, often grass on or grass up) to inform the police of someone’s criminal activities or plans ⇒ (i) someone had grassed on the thieves; (ii) she threatened to grass me up.
This expression may derive from rhyming slang (grasshopper being rhyming slang (show explanation ) for 'copper').

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.

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28a In cupboard is he stacking // plates? (6)

29a Guys count // in their heads (8)

Down

1d Turn over and fetch the woman // at the same time (8)

TO[1,3], to[12], or t.o.[11,15] is the abbreviation for turnover[3,11,12,15] or turn over[1,11,15].

* In an exercise of apparent internal inconsistency, The Chambers Dictionary lists TO as the abbreviation for turn over, then spells this term as turnover in its own entry.

In his review on Big Dave's Crossword Blog, Mr K interprets TO as "the financial abbreviation for turn over". I thought it might come from the athletic world, where the term is used in several sports including rugby, American and Canadian football, basketball and hockey.

Turnover[1] is ... the total amount of money changing hands in a business; the number of employees starting or finishing employment at a particular place of work over a given period; the money value of total sales over a period; (in sports such as rugby and American football) loss of possession of the ball by a team, due to error or the breach of a rule.

2d Allow // a doctor turning up on strike to leave hospital (5)

"hospital " = H [symbol used on street signs]


H is a symbol for 'hospital' used on street signs.

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3d Even out // a uniform following crooked pleat (7)

"uniform " = U [NATO Phonetic Alphabet]

In what is commonly known as the NATO Phonetic Alphabet[7]*Uniform[5] is a code word representing the letter U.

* officially the International Radiotelephony Spelling Alphabet

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4d Leave out // some breakfast -- I'm officially rising (4)

6d Little European // swimmer in pond? (7)

7d Agree aunt breaks // promise (9)

8d Begins // pastries after son (6)

"son " = S [genealogy]

In genealogies, s[5] is the abbreviation for son(s) m 1991; one s one d*.

* married in 1991; one son and one daughter.

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10d Alluring // witchcraft concealing trap (8)

14d Pop group starts to get extra stroppy after cold // vegetables (8)

Abba[5] is a Swedish pop group that became popular in the 1970s with catchy, well-crafted songs such as ‘Waterloo’ (1974) and ‘Knowing Me Knowing You’ (1977).

Scratching the Surface
Stroppy[5] is an informal British term meaning bad-tempered and argumentative ⇒ Patricia was getting stroppy.

16d Disturb rare, cute and small // animals (9)

"small " = S [clothing size]

S[5] is the abbreviation for small (as a clothing size).

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17d US -- it wrongly will remove leaders // with force (8)

19d Trader's first currency // problems (7)

Rouble[5] is the British spelling of ruble, the basic monetary unit of Russia and some other former republics of the USSR, equal to 100 kopeks.

20d Most warm -- /and/ most cool? (7)

21d Left by part of church, daughter // fell from the faith (6)

An apse[5] is a large semicircular or polygonal recess in a church, arched or with a domed roof and typically at the church's eastern end.

"daughter " = D [genealogy]

In genealogies, d[5] is the abbreviation for daughter Henry m. Georgina 1957, 1s 2d*.

* Henry married Georgina in 1957. Their marriage produced 1 son and 2 daughters.

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24d Training // doctor badly (5)

25d Delightful // new diamonds (4)

"new " = N [abbreviation used on maps]

N[5] is an abbreviation (chiefly in place names) for New ⇒ N Zealand.

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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