Puzzle at a Glance
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Puzzle number in The Daily Telegraph
DT 29415 | |
Publication date in The Daily Telegraph
Tuesday, July 14, 2020 | |
Setter
X-Type
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Link to full review
Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 29415]
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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
I certainly found this puzzle more challenging than the two stars awarded it by Mr K. Like most people, I came to grief in the northwest corner.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 | Pale // protestor (6) |
Pale[5] is used in the sense of a wooden stake or post used with others to form a fence.
| 4a | Restrained /having/ sat back and broken flute (8) |
| 10a | Getting this upset may cause bother (5-4) |
| 11a | Cruise ship/'s/ tarry? Not good! (5) |
Scratching the Surface
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| In the surface reading, I think we are expected to see (and pronounce) "tarry" as meaning covered with tar. |
| 12a | Top performer in 11, maybe, // one seen in pool (3,4) |
The
numeral "11" is a cross
reference indicator pointing to clue 11a (show more ).
To complete the clue, a solver must replace the cross reference indicator with the solution to the clue starting in the light* identified by the cross reference indicator.
The cross reference indicator may include a directional indicator but this is customarily done only in situations where there are both Across and Down clues originating in the light that is being referenced.
* light-coloured cell in the grid
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To complete the clue, a solver must replace the cross reference indicator with the solution to the clue starting in the light* identified by the cross reference indicator.
The cross reference indicator may include a directional indicator but this is customarily done only in situations where there are both Across and Down clues originating in the light that is being referenced.
* light-coloured cell in the grid
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Sea star[5] is another name for a starfish.
| 13a | Join after Tory // mistake (7) |
"Tory " = CON [Conservative; member of British political party]
A Tory[10] is a member or supporter of the Conservative Party in Great Britain [or, for that matter, in Canada].
The abbreviation for Conservative may be either C.[10] or Con.[10].
The Conservative Party[5] is a major right of centre British political party promoting free enterprise and private ownership that emerged from the old Tory Party* under Sir Robert Peel in the 1830s and 1840s.
* Historically, a Tory[10] was a member of the English political party that opposed the exclusion of James, Duke of York from the royal succession (1679–80). Tory remained the label for subsequent major conservative interests until they gave birth to the Conservative Party in the 1830s.
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A Tory[10] is a member or supporter of the Conservative Party in Great Britain [or, for that matter, in Canada].
The abbreviation for Conservative may be either C.[10] or Con.[10].
The Conservative Party[5] is a major right of centre British political party promoting free enterprise and private ownership that emerged from the old Tory Party* under Sir Robert Peel in the 1830s and 1840s.
* Historically, a Tory[10] was a member of the English political party that opposed the exclusion of James, Duke of York from the royal succession (1679–80). Tory remained the label for subsequent major conservative interests until they gave birth to the Conservative Party in the 1830s.
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| 14a | Meal without starter // situated inside (5) |
Scratching the Surface
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| Starter[3,5] is another name* for an appetizer or the first course of a meal. |
| 15a | Things with points, small, // lacking point (8) |
| 18a | Goes away slowly, // like blind mice? (5,3) |
| 20a | Current car? (5) |
Cryptic definition of a car powered by electric current. After all, if a car powered by diesel is a diesel car then, in Crosswordland, it must logically follow that a car powered by electric current is a current car?
| 23a | Court official /sees/ Jack absconding from prison with strike over (7) |
| 25a | Charge to go up, /then/ down (7) |
I read a bit more into this clue than did Mr Kitty in his review on Big Dave's Crossword Blog — or, for that matter, than anyone commenting there. Am I really that insightful or am I merely overthinking the clue?
I interpret part of the wordplay to be implied. Were one to insert the implied portion, the clue would read:
- Charge to go up, /then/ [charge to go] down (7)
Thus, split the solution (3,4) and you have what is intended to go down (be eaten) and held by an airline passenger's stomach [which, from my experience, is usually less than its full capacity].
It seems that everyone else sees the clue as merely a cryptic definition of what it costs one to take off and eventually land.
| 26a | Former president // seen in mob -- amazing! (5) |
| 27a | Record /of/ queen, perhaps, with a chap who helped with king's speech (9) |
A queen[5] is an adult female cat that has not been spayed.
Lionel Logue[7] (1880–1953) was an Australian speech and language therapist who helped King George VI manage his stammer.
| 28a | Invoice north-west town, we're told, /for/ fruit (8) |
Bury[7] [pronounced berry*] is a large market town in Greater Manchester, England, on the River Irwell 7.9 miles (12.7 km) northwest of Manchester.
* Although according to Gazza in a review on Big Dave's Crossword Blog
As someone who used to live in said borough I have to say that this is not the way the locals pronounce it – they make it sound more like flurry than merry.
The bilberry[7] is a European berry closely related to and quite similar to* a North American blueberry.
* Wikipedia lists a long litany of differences but, all said and done, the two fruits certainly seem to have more in common than they do differences.
| 29a | Cross // hotel yard with injured bird (6) |
Down
| 1d | Tulip, say, spoiled // garment (8) |
| 2d | Leader /of/ school committee held by murderer (7) |
In Britain*, a parent-teacher association[5] (PTA[5]) is a local organization of parents and teachers for promoting closer relations and improving educational facilities at a school.
* PTAs also exist in the US (we probably all know of the notorious 'Harper Valley PTA'). Growing up in Nova Scotia, we had a similar organization but (as I recall) it was known as the Home and School Association rather than PTA.
In the Old Testament, Cain[5] is the eldest son of Adam and Eve and murderer of his brother Abel.
| 3d | System where 'first past the post' wins: // choose by word of mouth (9) |
| 5d | Official threat condemned /in/ church statement? (7,2,5) |
| 6d | Hook /giving/ thanks to half of capital (5) |
Ta[5] is an informal British exclamation signifying thank you ⇒
‘Ta,’ said Willie gratefully.
London[5] is the capital of the United Kingdom, situated in south-eastern England on the River Thames. (show more )
London was settled as a river port and trading centre, called Londinium, shortly after the Roman invasion of AD 43, and, since the Middle Ages, has been a flourishing centre. It is divided administratively into the City of London, which is the country's financial centre, and thirty-two boroughs.
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London was settled as a river port and trading centre, called Londinium, shortly after the Roman invasion of AD 43, and, since the Middle Ages, has been a flourishing centre. It is divided administratively into the City of London, which is the country's financial centre, and thirty-two boroughs.
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| 7d | Nuns playing with fur /in/ charity events (3,4) |
Fun run[5,14] is an informal British and Australian term for an uncompetitive run, especially for sponsored runners in support of a charity.
| 8d | The French run the German // food store (6) |
"run " = R [cricket notation]
"the German " = DER
| 9d | Old government department right to lock up shouting // sergeant-major? (7,7) |
The War Office[5] is a former department of the British government that was in charge of the army (incorporated into the Ministry of Defence in 1964).
A sergeant major[5] (or sergeant-major[2]) is a warrant officer in the British army whose job is to assist the adjutant* of a regiment or battalion (regimental sergeant major) or a subunit commander (company sergeant major, battery sergeant major, etc.).
* an adjutant[5] is a military officer who acts as an administrative assistant to a senior officer [does that not make the Sergeant Major an assistant to an assistant?]
| 16d | Really // healthy Republican friend (9) |
"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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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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| 17d | This could produce oil /from/ river and deep sea, possibly (8) |
Rapeseed[5] denotes seeds of the rape* plant, used chiefly for oil.
* In the 1970s, Canada adopted the invented word canola[5] for rape as a more palatable name for the crop. The name comes from Canada + -ola (based on Latin oleum 'oil').
| 19d | Girl/'s/ a massive pain (7) |
| 21d | Walk unsteadily /with/ celebrity carrying bomb around (7) |
Egg[1] is slang for a bomb or mine.
| 22d | Engross // sailors or bishop (6) |
"sailors " = ABS [able seaman]
In the Royal Navy, according to Lexico (Oxford Dictionary of English), able seaman[5] (abbreviation AB[5]), is a rank of sailor above ordinary seaman and below leading seaman. On the other hand, Collins English Dictionary tells us that an able seaman[10] (also called) is an ordinary seaman, especially one in the merchant navy, who has been trained in certain skills.
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In the Royal Navy, according to Lexico (Oxford Dictionary of English), able seaman[5] (abbreviation AB[5]), is a rank of sailor above ordinary seaman and below leading seaman. On the other hand, Collins English Dictionary tells us that an able seaman[10] (also called) is an ordinary seaman, especially one in the merchant navy, who has been trained in certain skills.
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| 24d | Silly /of/ son to leave crackers (5) |
Crackers[5] is an informal British term meaning insane or extremely angry.
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
Sorry but I think you are over analyzing 25a. What goes up must come down.
ReplyDeleteI agree, Puzzler. However, I think air lines only charge for taking us up. If they bring us down, that's a bonus.
Delete