Puzzle at a Glance
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Puzzle number in The Daily Telegraph
DT 29638 | |
Publication date in The Daily Telegraph
Thursday, April 1, 2021 | |
Setter
RayT (Ray Terrell) | |
Link to full review
Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 29638]
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Big Dave's Crossword Blog review written by
Kath | |
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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Notes
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This puzzle appears on the Monday Diversions page in the Saturday, June 12, 2021 edition of the National Post. | |
Introduction
Those of you who regularly follow the comments on Big Dave's Crossword Blog may well remember Brian's oft-stated opinion of RayT puzzles. Well, you may just be astounded by his comment on today's puzzle. Of course, this puzzle did appear in the UK on April Fool's Day.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 | Catch // husband, say, scratching head and reversing (6) |
As did many visitors to Big Dave's Crossword Blog, I noticed there seems to be a problem with the order in which operations are specified to be performed by the wordplay. To get the correct solution one would have to reverse the fodder before removing the initial letter (scratching head).
I thought the clue should have been worded:
- Catch husband, say, scratching rear and reversing (6)
Scratching the Surface
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| Reversing[5] is the British term for backing up (an automobile). |
| 4a | Rude // devil right to embrace guy (8) |
Guy[3] is used in the sense of a rope, cord, or cable used to steady, guide, or secure something.
| 9a | Begs, // seeing hints on page (6) |
| 10a | Hardworking // boss promises to pay (8) |
A boss[5] is a stud on the centre of a shield.
| 12a | Sensible /putting/ a boy in bulrush cover (8) |
| 13a | Rush // job (6) |
| 15a | Vital // spies blend in, adapting around America (13) |
| 18a | Show // people confined by record contagion (13) |
| 22a | Feebly // cheers this compiler, literally gutted (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.
"this compiler " = ME
It is a common cryptic crossword convention for the creator of the puzzle to use terms such as (the or this) compiler, (the or this) setter, (the or this) speaker, (this) author, (this) writer, or this person to refer to himself or herself. To solve such a clue, one must generally substitute a first person pronoun (I or ME) for whichever of these terms has been used in the clue.
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It is a common cryptic crossword convention for the creator of the puzzle to use terms such as (the or this) compiler, (the or this) setter, (the or this) speaker, (this) author, (this) writer, or this person to refer to himself or herself. To solve such a clue, one must generally substitute a first person pronoun (I or ME) for whichever of these terms has been used in the clue.
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| 24a | Struggle to accept Labour's leader /is/ perfect (8) |
Scratching the Surface
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The Labour Party[5] (abbreviation Lab.[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. hide |
| 26a | Breaking toe, cries // inside (8) |
| 27a | Minister /in/ bother about religious instruction (6) |
RI[10] is the abbreviation for religious instruction which in England refers to the teaching of a particular religion*.
* According to Wikipedia, "In secular usage, religious education[7] is the teaching of a particular religion (although in England the term religious instruction would refer to the teaching of a particular religion, with religious education referring to teaching about religions in general) ..."
| 28a | Match official's new skill backing // new signing? (8) |
In British professional football [soccer], transfer[2] (as a verb) means (for a player) to change clubs and (as a noun) denotes the player transferred.
| 29a | Sound of more impressive // kitchen utensil (6) |
Down
| 1d | Anger following English politician/'s/ rule (6) |
"politician " = MP
| 2d | Possibly shrink /from/ believer grabbing cuff (9) |
| 3d | Terminator, perhaps, // with immodesty firstly in bar (7) |
The Terminator[7] is a 1984 American science fiction action film starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. The title character is a cyborg assassin sent back in time from 2029 to 1984 to kill a woman whose son will one day save mankind from extinction by a hostile artificial intelligence in a post-apocalyptic future.
| 5d | Dull sweetheart /for/ partner (4) |
According to Lexico (Oxford Dictionaries), mat[5] and matte[5] are US spellings of matt[5] which denotes (of a colour, paint, or surface) dull and flat; without a shine.
"sweetheart " = E
A common cryptic crossword construct is to use the word "sweetheart" to clue the letter 'E', the middle letter (heart) of the word 'swEet'.
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A common cryptic crossword construct is to use the word "sweetheart" to clue the letter 'E', the middle letter (heart) of the word 'swEet'.
hide
| 6d | Ruddy crude stand-up initially // does sketch again (7) |
Scratching the Surface
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| Ruddy[5] is an informal British expression used as a euphemism for ‘bloody’. In British slang, bloody[5,10] is an intensifier used to express anger, annoyance, or shock, or simply for emphasis ⇒ (i) you took your bloody time; (ii) bloody Hell!—what was that?; (iii) it’s bloody cold outside. Origin: Mid 17th century. The use of bloody to add emphasis to an expression is of uncertain origin, but is thought to have a connection with the ‘bloods’ (aristocratic rowdies) of the late 17th and early 18th centuries; hence the phrase bloody drunk (= as drunk as a blood) meant ‘very drunk indeed’. After the mid 18th century until quite recently bloody used as a swear word was regarded as unprintable, probably from the mistaken belief that it implied a blasphemous reference to the blood of Christ, or that the word was an alteration of ‘by Our Lady’; hence a widespread caution in using the term even in phrases, such as bloody battle, merely referring to bloodshed. |
| 7d | Quietly got up /to give/ tedious speech (5) |
Prose[5] is used in the sense of plain or dull writing, discourse, or expression.
| 8d | Kept // cool (8) |
| 11d | The man's transgression finding answer in // sackcloth? (7) |
Hessian[5] is a British term for a strong, coarse fabric made from hemp or jute, used for sacks and upholstery.
| 14d | Change euro in new // French region (7) |
Réunion[5] is a volcanically active, subtropical island in the Indian Ocean east of Madagascar, one of the Mascarene Islands. A French possession since 1638, the island became an administrative region of France in 1974.
| 16d | Most hostile // piece, Queen, used in check (9) |
"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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| 17d | Feeling // excited, that is, not without love (8) |
| 19d | Waves /from/ posh cars, commonly (7) |
Roller[5] is an informal British name for a Rolls-Royce[10], a make of very high-quality, luxurious, and prestigious British* car.
* Although the Rolls-Royce company is no longer British-owned.
| 20d | Temper originally consuming // Caligula? (7) |
Caligula[5] (AD 12-41) was Roman emperor 37-41; born Gaius Julius Caesar Germanicus. His reign was notorious for its tyrannical excesses.
| 21d | Guide // chaps on mountain (6) |
"chaps " = MEN
Chap[3,4,11] is an informal British[5] or chiefly British[3] term for a man or boy — although a term that is certainly not uncommon in Canada. It is a shortened form of chapman[3,4,11], an archaic term for a trader, especially an itinerant pedlar[a,b].
[a] Pedlar is the modern British spelling of peddler[14] which, in most senses, is considered by the Brits to be a US or old-fashioned British spelling. The exception is in the sense of a dealer in illegal drugs which the Brits spell as drug peddler.
[b] The current meaning of chap[2] dates from the 18th century. In the 16th century, chap meant 'a customer'. The dictionaries do not explain how a shortened form of 'chapman' (pedlar) came to mean 'customer'.
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Chap[3,4,11] is an informal British[5] or chiefly British[3] term for a man or boy — although a term that is certainly not uncommon in Canada. It is a shortened form of chapman[3,4,11], an archaic term for a trader, especially an itinerant pedlar[a,b].
[a] Pedlar is the modern British spelling of peddler[14] which, in most senses, is considered by the Brits to be a US or old-fashioned British spelling. The exception is in the sense of a dealer in illegal drugs which the Brits spell as drug peddler.
[b] The current meaning of chap[2] dates from the 18th century. In the 16th century, chap meant 'a customer'. The dictionaries do not explain how a shortened form of 'chapman' (pedlar) came to mean 'customer'.
hide
"mountain " = TOR
A tor[7] is a large, free-standing rock outcrop that rises abruptly from the surrounding smooth and gentle slopes of a rounded hill summit or ridge crest. In the South West of England, the term is commonly also used for the hills themselves – particularly the high points of Dartmoor in Devon and Bodmin Moor in Cornwall.
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A tor[7] is a large, free-standing rock outcrop that rises abruptly from the surrounding smooth and gentle slopes of a rounded hill summit or ridge crest. In the South West of England, the term is commonly also used for the hills themselves – particularly the high points of Dartmoor in Devon and Bodmin Moor in Cornwall.
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| 23d | Money // made on one's large account principally (5) |
| 25d | Resistance providing last of vaccine /for/ pandemic (4) |
"resistance " = R [symbol used in physics]
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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