Puzzle at a Glance
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Puzzle number in The Daily Telegraph
DT 29440 | |
Publication date in The Daily Telegraph
Wednesday, August 12, 2020 | |
Setter
Jay (Jeremy Mutch) | |
Link to full review
Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 29440]
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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
Jay lays out a tempting spread of food and drink to get us started on today's puzzle.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 | Hermit/'s/ expert article on living? (10) |
Hermit*[1] is another term for a hermit crab[5], a crab with a soft asymmetrical abdomen, which lives in a cast-off mollusc shell for protection. In several kinds the shell becomes covered with sponges, sea anemones, or bryozoans.
* The Chambers Dictionary is the only reference work in which I found this specific definition for hermit. The nearest approximation I found was two dictionaries which define hermit[11,15] as a zoological term for an animal of solitary habits.
Crust[5] is an informal British term for a living or livelihood ⇒
Most of us work very hard to earn our daily crust.
| 6a | Source of Chardonnay -- a very American // drink (4) |
"very " = V [context uncertain]
The abbreviation* v (or v.)[1,2,5,10] stands for very.
* Although this abbreviation 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.
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The abbreviation* v (or v.)[1,2,5,10] stands for very.
* Although this abbreviation 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.
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Cava[5] is a Spanish sparkling wine made in the same way as champagne.
Scratching the Surface
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| Chardonnay[5] is (1) a variety of white wine grape used for making champagne and other wines or (2) a wine made from the Chardonnay grape. |
| 10a | Picked up post /and/ something for dinner (5) |
| 11a | Cooked most of tripe and onion, /getting/ wine (5,4) |
Pinot noir[10] is (1) a variety of black grape, grown especially for wine-making or (2) any of the red wines made from this grape.
Scratching the Surface
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| Tripe[5] is the first or second stomach of a cow or other ruminant used as food. |
| 12a | Dry /and/ press one, before short visit (8) |
| 13a | Rejecting free article /must be/ a low point (5) |
| 15a | Be left // in the air, struggling with no answer (7) |
| 17a | Travels after poor exam grades /for/ mocks (7) |
| 19a | Note // intended to keep detective (7) |
"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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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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In music, a mediant[5] is the third note of the diatonic scale of any key.
| 21a | Crazy // way out covered by rent (7) |
Hire[5] is a British term meaning:
- to obtain the temporary use of (something) for an agreed payment ⇒
we flew to San Diego, hired a car, and headed for Las Vegas
- to grant the temporary use of something for an agreed payment ⇒
most train stations hire out cycles
| 22a | Small Oval ground /producing/ such an outburst (5) |
As an anagram indicator, ground is used as the past tense or past participle of the verb grind[5]. An anagram indicator is typically a word that denotes movement or transformation. Grind denotes transformation, for example, in the sense of grain being ground into flour.
Scratching the Surface
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In the UK, ground[5] denotes an area of land, often with associated buildings and structures, used for a particular sport ⇒ (i) a football ground; (ii) Liverpool’s new ground is nearing completion.
The Oval[7] is an international cricket ground in south London. (show more )
The Oval has been the home ground of Surrey County Cricket Club since it was opened in 1845. It was the first ground in England to host international Test* cricket in September 1880. The final Test match of the English season is traditionally played there. * Test[5] (short for Test match)[5] denotes an international cricket or rugby match, typically one of a series, played between teams representing two different countries ⇒ the Test match between Pakistan and the West Indies. hide |
| 24a | Hand in notice, besieging editor /for/ new plan (8) |
| 27a | By and large // at sea? (2,3,4) |
The main[5] is an archaic or literary term for the open ocean.
I considered marking this clue as a double definition (as the 2Kiwis have done in their review at Big Dave's Crossword Blog). However, I elected not to do so as the latter part of the clue can be parsed as a charade:
- IN (at; in the sense of engaged in ⇒
children at play
) + THE MAIN (sea)
| 28a | Daughter's after dainty // fabric (5) |
Twee[5] is a British term meaning excessively or affectedly quaint, pretty, or sentimental ⇒ (i)
although the film’s a bit twee, it’s watchable; (ii)
I didn't want to make nice, twee little paintings.
| 29a | Peer /who's/ almost unprotected (4) |
A peer[5] is a member of the nobility in Britain or Ireland, comprising the ranks of duke, marquess, earl, viscount, and baron. (show more )
In the British peerage, earldoms and baronies were the earliest to be conferred; dukes were created from 1337, marquesses from the end of the 14th century, and viscounts from 1440. Such peerages are hereditary, although since 1958 there have also been non-hereditary life peerages. All peers were entitled to a seat in the House of Lords until 1999, when their number was restricted to 92 as an interim reform measure.
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In the British peerage, earldoms and baronies were the earliest to be conferred; dukes were created from 1337, marquesses from the end of the 14th century, and viscounts from 1440. Such peerages are hereditary, although since 1958 there have also been non-hereditary life peerages. All peers were entitled to a seat in the House of Lords until 1999, when their number was restricted to 92 as an interim reform measure.
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| 30a | Privately // friendly, hugging Queen and heir (10) |
"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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Down
| 1d | Expense /of/ keeping son in bed (4) |
What did they say?
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In their review on Big Dave's Crossword Blog, the 2Kiwis describe the bed as beingCot[5] is the British name for a crib[5] — a small bed with high barred sides for a baby or very young child.often for a baby. |
| 2d | A plug may be so // discovered (9) |
In Britain, earth*[5] means:
- (noun) an electrical connection to the ground, regarded as having zero electrical potential ⇒
ensure metal fittings are electrically bonded to earth
- (verb) to connect (an electrical device) with the ground ⇒
the front metal panels must be soundly earthed
* Being an electrical engineer, I can't help but note the irony that earth[5] is defined as a British term meaning an "electrical connection to the ground" and ground[5] as a North American term meaning an "electrical connection to the earth".
Thus a British "unearthed plug" is the equivalent of a North American "ungrounded plug", or a plug with only two prongs.
| 3d | Voucher for purchase // of no real value (5) |
| 4d | Whip accepting work with Young Conservatives /is/ an imitator (7) |
Cat[5] is short for cat-o'-nine-tails[5], a rope whip with nine knotted cords, formerly used (especially at sea) to flog offenders.
"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 ⇒
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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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YC[10] is the abbreviation for Young Conservative[10], a member of the youth section of the United Kingdom Conservative Party.
| 5d | Worm /found by/ queen once on hat (7) |
Anne[7] (1665–1714) was Queen of England, Scotland and Ireland from 1702 to
1707 and Queen of Great
Britain and Ireland from 1707 until her death. (show more )
She became Queen of England, Scotland and Ireland on 8 March 1702. On 1 May 1707, under the Acts of Union, two of her realms, the kingdoms of England and Scotland, united as a single sovereign state, the United Kingdom of Great Britain. She continued to reign as Queen of Great Britain and Ireland until her death.
Anne was plagued by ill health throughout her life, and from her thirties, she grew increasingly ill and obese. Despite seventeen pregnancies she died without surviving issue and was the last monarch of the House of Stuart.
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She became Queen of England, Scotland and Ireland on 8 March 1702. On 1 May 1707, under the Acts of Union, two of her realms, the kingdoms of England and Scotland, united as a single sovereign state, the United Kingdom of Great Britain. She continued to reign as Queen of Great Britain and Ireland until her death.
Anne was plagued by ill health throughout her life, and from her thirties, she grew increasingly ill and obese. Despite seventeen pregnancies she died without surviving issue and was the last monarch of the House of Stuart.
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An annelid[5] is a segmented worm of the phylum Annelida, such as an earthworm or leech.
| 7d | Enthusiastic about love, // duck? (5) |
"love " = O [nil score in tennis]
In tennis, squash, and some other sports, love[5] is a score of zero or nil ⇒
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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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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Scratching the Surface
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| Duck[10] (also ducks) is an informal British term of endearment or of general address meaning dear or darling. |
| 8d | Taken out of the picture? (10) |
| 9d | Cooking in gas, try // fish (8) |
| 14d | Letter supporting Germany is // lacking consideration (10) |
| 16d | Argued // about when on weed regularly (8) |
| 18d | Cheating before spring, /and/ making good progress (5,4) |
Do[5] isis an informal British term meaning to swindle ⇒
It was only after travelling to Amsterdam and meeting the fraudsters that she became suspicious and contacted police, who told her: ‘Sorry, but you've been done.’.
| 20d | Short term career /making/ patio (7) |
| 21d | Sign off after concealed // beatings (7) |
| 23d | Time must be invested in genuine uprising // in due course (5) |
| 25d | Pants regularly found in wrong // material (5) |
Scratching the Surface
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| In Britain, the word pants[5] does not mean trousers as it does in North America. Rather, it refers to underwear — specifically men's undershorts or women's panties. |
| 26d | Energy drink gets youth initially // nervous (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)
[15] - CollinsDictionary.com (Penguin Random House LLC/HarperCollins Publishers Ltd )
Signing off for today — Falcon
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