Puzzle at a Glance
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Puzzle number in The Daily Telegraph
DT 29639 | |
Publication date in The Daily Telegraph
Friday, April 2, 2021 | |
Setter
proXimal (Steve Bartlett) | |
Link to full review
Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 29639]
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Big Dave's Crossword Blog review written by
Deep Threat | |
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
This puzzle was published in the UK on Good Friday.I find that proXimal's puzzles require a bit of thinking outside the box—and today's is no exception. The eastern half of the grid was filled fairly readily with the western half proving far more ornery. However, I did persevere and finish on my own although a call to my electronic helpers was certainly in the offing had the struggle continued much longer.
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 | Excellent // banger at Christmas dinner, standard (11) |
A cracker[5] is a party toy—associated, in particular, with Christmas celebrations—in the form of a decorated paper cylinder which, when pulled apart, makes a sharp noise and releases a small toy or other novelty.
A standard[5] is a military or ceremonial flag carried on a pole or hoisted on a rope.
A jack[5] is a small version of a national flag flown at the bow of a vessel in harbour to indicate its nationality.
Scratching the Surface
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Banger[5] is an informal British term for a sausage ⇒ bangers and mash*. Origin: from the sound made when they explode during cooking * mash[5] is an informal British term for mashed potato |
| 7a | Reportedly, underground worker/'s/ petty (5) |
| 8a | Old boy seeming discontented about dog at home // hiding (9) |
"old boy " = OB
In Britain, an old boy[5] (abbreviation OB[2]) is:
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In Britain, an old boy[5] (abbreviation OB[2]) is:
- a former male student of a school or college ⇒
an old boy of Banbury County School
- a former male member of a sports team or company ⇒
the White Hart Lane old boy squared the ball to present an easy chance from 12 yards
‘Look here, old boy,’ he said.
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| 10a | Side on settee regularly // getting ruffled (7) |
| 11a | Tradesperson // not so happy to accommodate learner (7) |
"learner " = 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.
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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.
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| Automobile displaying an L-plate |
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A saddler[5] is someone who makes, repairs, or deals in saddlery.
| 12a | Heading off some time around dusk, // not fixed (5) |
| 13a | Purple /and/ beige urn -- a potty (9) |
As an anagram indicator, potty[5] is used in an informal British sense meaning mad or crazy ⇒
he's driving me potty.
| 16a | Books about advances restricting to // reptiles (9) |
"books " = OT [Old Testament]
In Crosswordland, "books"—sometimes (although not today) accompanied by a modifier—is commonly used to clue either the Old Testament (OT) or the New Testament (NT).
Today, as is often the case, the clue provides no indication whether the reference is to the former or the latter.
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In Crosswordland, "books"—sometimes (although not today) accompanied by a modifier—is commonly used to clue either the Old Testament (OT) or the New Testament (NT).
Today, as is often the case, the clue provides no indication whether the reference is to the former or the latter.
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| 18a | Relaxed on British // craft (5) |
| 19a | Writes in code // to an anarchic group from the East (7) |
I think the definition could be considered to be a bit cryptic. The word "code" refers to a system of notation such as that which might be used by a composer of music.
Notate[5] means to write (something, typically music) in notation.
| 22a | Inexperienced // pair on a jury wanting tips (7) |
| 23a | Restrained catching stray, if // fearful (9) |
| 24a | Land // one left to enter river (5) |
The Tay[5] is the longest river in Scotland, flowing 192 km (120 miles) eastwards through Loch Tay, entering the North Sea through the Firth of Tay.
| 25a | One making living in revolutionary circles? (11) |
Down
| 1d | Discuss keeping in son, as // one tells all (9) |
So[5] is a synonym of as in the sense of to the same extent (used in comparisons) ⇒
he isn't so bad as you'd think.
In the secular world, the confessor is the one spilling the beans. However, in the Roman Catholic church, he is the one hearing the confession.
| 2d | Emergency procedure // if trial goes wrong (7) |
| 3d | Weed // failing to open cask with strong nuts (9) |
Knotgrass[2,5] and knotweed[2,5] are common names for an annual plant which is widespread throughout most of Europe. It has slender branched stems that bear small narrow leaves and tiny white or pink flowers. It is a serious weed in some areas.
| 4d | Deliverers of fine sprays /and/ wines (5) |
A rose[5] is a perforated cap attached to a shower, the spout of a watering can, or the end of a hose to produce a spray.
| 5d | Apart /from/ bras, underwear being sampled (7) |
Asunder[5] is an archaic or literary term meaning apart ⇒
those whom God hath joined together let no man put asunder.
| 6d | Aquatic creatures /from/ river involved in slaughter (5) |
| 7d | Stop individual wearing very // protective screen (8,3) |
Most meaning very in the sense of ⇒
You are most welcome.
| 9d | Pageantry moving across road /for/ outdoor event (6,5) |
| 14d | Witness // bear feeding beside monarch (9) |
"monarch " = 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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| 15d | I point and yell /being/ unsettled (9) |
| 17d | Giant // makes public views vocally (7) |
The sizes of clothing that North Americans would describe as plus-size[7] (or often big and tall in the case of men's clothing) would be called outsize[5] in Britain.
| 18d | Facing // genius penning volume on golf (7) |
| 20d | Cast /having/ hour in drag (5) |
| 21d | Shed // yet to receive power for tool's lead (5) |
Shed[5] is used in a British sense meaning to to accidentally allow (something) to fall off or spill ⇒
a lorry shed its load of steel bars.
Scratching the Surface
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| Lead[5] is a British term for a wire that conveys electric current from a source to an appliance, or that connects two points of a circuit together. |
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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