Puzzle at a Glance
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Puzzle number in The Daily Telegraph
DT 29651 | |
Publication date in The Daily Telegraph
Friday, April 16, 2021 | |
Setter
silvanus | |
Link to full review
Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 29651]
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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
I got fixated today on an incorrect answer to 23d and no amount of effort would let me get past it.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 | Fast food picked up /for/ townsfolk (8) |
Burgher[5] is a humorous archaic term for a citizen of a town or city, typically a member of the wealthy bourgeoisie.
| 5a | Stupid // honour essentially elitist American wears (6) |
"honour " = OBE
OBE[5] is the abbreviation for Officer of the Order of the British Empire.
The Order of the British Empire[5] is an order of knighthood applicable to the United Kingdom and certain Commonwealth realms which was instituted in 1917 and is divided into five classes, each with military and civilian divisions. The classes are: Knight or Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire (GBE), Knight or Dame Commander (KBE/DBE), Commander (CBE), Officer (OBE), and Member (MBE). The two highest classes entail the awarding of a knighthood.
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OBE[5] is the abbreviation for Officer of the Order of the British Empire.
The Order of the British Empire[5] is an order of knighthood applicable to the United Kingdom and certain Commonwealth realms which was instituted in 1917 and is divided into five classes, each with military and civilian divisions. The classes are: Knight or Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire (GBE), Knight or Dame Commander (KBE/DBE), Commander (CBE), Officer (OBE), and Member (MBE). The two highest classes entail the awarding of a knighthood.
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| 9a | Gift /from/ foreign criminal female intercepts (8) |
Intercept[2] is used in the mathematical sense of to mark or cut off (a line, plane, curve, etc) with another line, plane, etc that crosses it. Thus "female" cuts or divides the anagram result.
| 10a | Promise /of/ ketchup at last appearing on shelf (6) |
| 12a | Biscuit /is/ extremely vile after regularly adding yeast to it (9) |
Here and There
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| The British use the term biscuit[3,4,11] for a range of foods that include those that would be called either cookies or crackers in North America. A North American biscuit[5] is similar to what is known in Britain as a scone. |
Digestive[5] (also digestive biscuit) is a British term for a round semi-sweet biscuit made of wholemeal* flour.
* Wholemeal[10] is the British term for whole-wheat.
| 13a | World // famine beginning to be ignored (5) |
| 14a | Shoot // advertisement (4) |
| 16a | College study describing king/'s/ mythical creature (7) |
Uni[5] is an informal (originally Australian) abbreviation for university ⇒
he planned to go to uni.
"king " = R [Rex]
In the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms*, Rex[5] (abbreviation R[5]) [Latin for king] denotes the reigning king, used following a name (e.g. Georgius Rex, King George — often shortened to GR) or in the titles of lawsuits (e.g. Rex 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.
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In the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms*, Rex[5] (abbreviation R[5]) [Latin for king] denotes the reigning king, used following a name (e.g. Georgius Rex, King George — often shortened to GR) or in the titles of lawsuits (e.g. Rex 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.
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| 19a | Answer by friend upset cleric, /causing/ fuss (7) |
Palaver[2,10] is used in a seemingly British sense* of a tedious or time-consuming and seemingly pointless exercise, especially when of a formal nature; in other words, an unnecessary fuss ⇒
all the palaver of filling in forms.
* I did not find this sense of the word in US dictionaries
| 21a | Fruit /and/ vegetable wholesaler's closing (4) |
| 24a | At no time // content to postpone verdict (5) |
| 25a | Every one entering bar /is/ willing to learn (9) |
Like Deep Threat, I was unable to find bar directly defined as a table in the BRB* (or any other dictionary, for that matter). However, The Chambers Dictionary does define bar[1] as a counter across which liquor or food is served and counter[1] as a table over which ... food is served. So, I suppose, that amounts to indirectly defining a bar as a table.
* Big Red Book (a nickname for The Chambers Dictionary used on Big Dave's Crossword Blog)
| 27a | Writer /of/ a hot novel about upper-class Romeo (6) |
"upper-class " = U [upper class]
In Britain, U[5] is used informally as an adjective (in respect to language or social behaviour) meaning characteristic of or appropriate to the upper social classes ⇒
The term, an abbreviation of upper class, was coined in 1954 by Alan S. C. Ross, professor of linguistics, and popularized by its use in Nancy Mitford's Noblesse Oblige (1956).
In Crosswordland, the letter U is frequently clued by words denoting "characteristic of the upper class" (such as posh or superior) or "appropriate to the upper class" (such as acceptable).
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In Britain, U[5] is used informally as an adjective (in respect to language or social behaviour) meaning characteristic of or appropriate to the upper social classes ⇒
U manners.
The term, an abbreviation of upper class, was coined in 1954 by Alan S. C. Ross, professor of linguistics, and popularized by its use in Nancy Mitford's Noblesse Oblige (1956).
In Crosswordland, the letter U is frequently clued by words denoting "characteristic of the upper class" (such as posh or superior) or "appropriate to the upper class" (such as acceptable).
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"Romeo " = R [NATO Phonetic Alphabet]
In what is commonly known as the NATO Phonetic Alphabet[7]*, Romeo[5] is a code word representing the letter R.
* officially the International Radiotelephony Spelling Alphabet
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In what is commonly known as the NATO Phonetic Alphabet[7]*, Romeo[5] is a code word representing the letter R.
* officially the International Radiotelephony Spelling Alphabet
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| 28a | Castle /in/ France with turrets is periodically housing soldiers (8) |
| 29a | Very simple task // comedian will read out (6) |
Ken Dodd[7] (1927–2018) was an English comedian, singer and occasional actor. He was described as "the last great music hall entertainer", and was primarily known for his live stand-up performances.
What did he say?
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In his review on Big Dave's Crossword Blog, Deep Threat describes Dodd asDodd was born in Knotty Ash, Liverpool, Lancashire, England — a place that apparently figured prominently in his comedy routines.the late squire of Knotty Ash. |
Doddle[5] is an informal British term for a very easy task ⇒
this printer’s a doddle to set up and use.
| 30a | Lots keen to change // basic scheme (8) |
Down
| 1d | Minor routes /leading to/ Eastern holiday location (6) |
In Great Britain, B roads[7] are numbered local routes, which have lower traffic densities than the main trunk roads, or A roads. This classification has nothing to do with the width or quality of the physical road, and B roads can range from dual carriageways [divided highways] to single track roads with passing places.
The Broads[10] is a a group of shallow navigable lakes*, connected by a network of rivers in Norfolk and Suffolk in eastern England. It is also the name of the region around these lakes, a tourist centre that is home to several bird sanctuaries.
* In East Anglia dialect, a broad[10] is a shallow lake. East Anglia[5] is a region of eastern England consisting of the counties of Norfolk, Suffolk, and parts of Essex and Cambridgeshire.
| 2d | Deny receiving grand for time /in/ resort (6) |
| 3d | Anger between husband and son /results in/ charges (5) |
| 4d | Continuous // performance (7) |
| 6d | Some footballer in Austria, // one displaying elegant movement? (9) |
| 7d | Dicky, grounded // little man? (8) |
As an anagram indicator, dicky[5] (or dickey) is an informal British term meaning in bad condition; shaky, unsteady, or unreliable ⇒
I feel a bit dicky today.
| 8d | The plane mistaken /for/ jumbo (8) |
Jumbo[5] was the name of an elephant at London Zoo, sold in 1882 to the Barnum and Bailey circus.
| 11d | Argentinian president, about to depart, united // country (4) |
Juan Perón[5] (1895–1974) was an Argentinian soldier and statesman, president 1946–55 and 1973–4. He participated in the 1943 military coup, and was later elected president, winning popular support with his social reforms. The faltering economy and conflict with the Church led to his removal and exile.
| 15d | Penny loves being inspired by organ lessons primarily /in/ city (9) |
"love " = O [nil score in tennis] (thus "loves" = OO)
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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Liverpool[5] is a city and seaport in northwest England, situated at
the east side of the mouth of the River Mersey. (show more )
Liverpool developed as a port in the 17th century with the import of cotton from America and the export of textiles produced in Lancashire and Yorkshire, and in the 18th century became an important centre of shipbuilding and engineering.
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Liverpool developed as a port in the 17th century with the import of cotton from America and the export of textiles produced in Lancashire and Yorkshire, and in the 18th century became an important centre of shipbuilding and engineering.
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| 17d | European // bridge, one over a road (8) |
| 18d | Somehow leave education following complaint ultimately /that's/ raised (8) |
| 20d | Expression of annoyance /from/ celebrity performing U-turn (4) |
| 21d | Vain character / from/ top firm about to be employed (7) |
| 22d | Missing // worker rings bosses from time to time (6) |
"worker " = ANT
The terms "worker" and "social worker" are commonly used in cryptic crossword puzzles to clue ANT or BEE.
A worker[5] is a neuter or undeveloped female bee, wasp, ant, or other social insect, large numbers of which do the basic work of the colony.
In crossword puzzles, "worker" will most frequently be used to clue ANT and occasionally BEE but I have yet to see it used to clue WASP. Of course, "worker" is sometimes also used to clue HAND or MAN.
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The terms "worker" and "social worker" are commonly used in cryptic crossword puzzles to clue ANT or BEE.
A worker[5] is a neuter or undeveloped female bee, wasp, ant, or other social insect, large numbers of which do the basic work of the colony.
In crossword puzzles, "worker" will most frequently be used to clue ANT and occasionally BEE but I have yet to see it used to clue WASP. Of course, "worker" is sometimes also used to clue HAND or MAN.
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| 23d | Air of sailor briefly /showing/ temper (6) |
Post Mortem
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| From the checking letters and definition, I erroneously came to the conclusion that the solution might be LESSEN and found it impossible to move on from there. |
| 26d | Visiting Hull's outskirts, books European // place to stay (5) |
"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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"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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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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Scratching the Surface
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| Hull[5] is a city and port in northeastern England, situated at the junction of the Hull and Humber Rivers. Official name Kingston upon Hull. |
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
Managed to enter the correct answer for 23d without really understanding why. Thought the sailor might enjoy the “sea” air but couldn’t parse the last syllable. Thanks and Happy Canada Day
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