Puzzle at a Glance
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Puzzle number in The Daily Telegraph
DT 29722 | |
Publication date in The Daily Telegraph
Thursday, July 8, 2021 | |
Setter
RayT (Ray Terrell) | |
Link to full review
Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 29722]
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Big Dave's Crossword Blog review written by
Miffypops(BD Rating by crypticsue) | |
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 was rather surprised to see that this puzzle was given such a high difficulty rating on Big Dave's Crossword Blog. While a couple of days have passed since I solved it, I don't recall it being that difficult. Perhaps several years of reviewing RayT puzzles in a previous assignment have given me some extra insight into his technique.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 | Housing /is/ excessive in prison (7) |
| 5a | Reportedly catch a // disease (7) |
| 9a | Hurt embracing single // with a husband? (7) |
| 10a | Check // promotional stunt? (7) |
| 11a | Dead // prisoner clutching a nail, oddly (9) |
| 12a | Caught in constant // ceasefire (5) |
"caught " = C [cricket notation]
| 13a | Divine // man cut curvy shape (5) |
| 15a | Stink over splits about Queen // watchers (9) |
"Queen " = R [Regina]
Queen may be abbreviated as Q, Qu. or R.
Q[5] is an abbreviation for queen that is used especially in describing play in card games and recording moves in chess.
Qu.[2] is another common abbreviation for Queen.
In the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms*, Regina[5] (abbreviation R[5]) [Latin for queen] denotes the reigning queen, used following a name (e.g. Elizabetha Regina, Queen Elizabeth — often shortened to ER) or in the titles of lawsuits (e.g. Regina 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.
Thus Queen Elizabeth signs her name as 'Elizabeth R' as seen here on Canada's paint-stained constitution[7].
hide
Queen may be abbreviated as Q, Qu. or R.
Q[5] is an abbreviation for queen that is used especially in describing play in card games and recording moves in chess.
Qu.[2] is another common abbreviation for Queen.
In the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms*, Regina[5] (abbreviation R[5]) [Latin for queen] denotes the reigning queen, used following a name (e.g. Elizabetha Regina, Queen Elizabeth — often shortened to ER) or in the titles of lawsuits (e.g. Regina 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.
Thus Queen Elizabeth signs her name as 'Elizabeth R' as seen here on Canada's paint-stained constitution[7].
hide
| 17a | Rendered // senseless from drink (9) |
| 19a | What has oddly round loop, originally? (5) |
This is a hallmark RayT acrostic or initialism clue in which the entire clue is the wordplay in which the somewhat nebulous definition is embedded.
| 22a | Old wound /gets you/ trophy (5) |
"old " = O [linguistics]
In linguistics, O[12] is the abbreviation for Old ⇒ (i)
However, a second entry from this same source shows o (lower case) meaning old (not capitalized) suggesting that the use of this abbreviation may not necessarily be confined to the field of linguistics.
Another possibility arises from the British abbreviation OAP[5] standing for old-age pensioner.
hide
In linguistics, O[12] is the abbreviation for Old ⇒ (i)
OFr[Old French]; (ii)
OE[Old English].
However, a second entry from this same source shows o (lower case) meaning old (not capitalized) suggesting that the use of this abbreviation may not necessarily be confined to the field of linguistics.
Another possibility arises from the British abbreviation OAP[5] standing for old-age pensioner.
hide
| 23a | Department carrying the French // range (9) |
"the French " = LE [French definite article]
| 25a | Sign /of/ life going after gold (7) |
What did he say?
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In his review on Big Dave's Crossword Blog, Miffypops suggests we start withYou would be far better advised to use the chemist's symbol for gold.[t]he heraldic term used for gold .... |
| 26a | Provide backing following black // musician (7) |
| 27a | Attend lessons having // boring // content (7) |
The definition ("boring") is placed so that it splits the hidden word indicator ("having ... content").
| 28a | Good when device reduced // stomach (7) |
As the definition, "stomach" is an adjective (as in "stomach acid").
Down
| 1d | Arranging // birth holding baby's head (7) |
| 2d | Bank // record contains error after vacation (7) |
Terrace[1] is used in the sense of a raised level bank or walk; or, as the American Heritage Dictionary puts it, in this sense a terrace[3] is a raised bank of earth having vertical or sloping sides and a flat top.
| 3d | Excuse /of/ a party, formerly one (5) |
Once a political powerhouse in the UK, the Liberal Party[5] (abbreviation Lib.[5]) is now virtually a spent force (show more ).
The Liberal Party[5] (abbreviation Lib.[5] or L[2])* in Britain emerged in the 1860s from the old Whig Party and until the First World War was one of the two major parties in Britain. In 1988 the party regrouped with elements of the Social Democratic Party to form the Social and Liberal Democrats, now known as the Liberal Democrats.
A small Liberal Party still exists (founded in 1989 by members of the original Liberal Party opposed to its merger with the Social Democratic Party)[7]. It has has never held a UK, Scottish, Welsh or European parliamentary seat, though it has had representation on local councils.[7]
* Although Lib.[5] may be the more common abbreviation for the Liberal Party in Britain — likely to distinguish it from the the Labour Party[5] (abbreviation Lab.[5]) — Chambers 21st Century Dictionary indicates that L[2] may also be used.
hide
The Liberal Party[5] (abbreviation Lib.[5] or L[2])* in Britain emerged in the 1860s from the old Whig Party and until the First World War was one of the two major parties in Britain. In 1988 the party regrouped with elements of the Social Democratic Party to form the Social and Liberal Democrats, now known as the Liberal Democrats.
A small Liberal Party still exists (founded in 1989 by members of the original Liberal Party opposed to its merger with the Social Democratic Party)[7]. It has has never held a UK, Scottish, Welsh or European parliamentary seat, though it has had representation on local councils.[7]
* Although Lib.[5] may be the more common abbreviation for the Liberal Party in Britain — likely to distinguish it from the the Labour Party[5] (abbreviation Lab.[5]) — Chambers 21st Century Dictionary indicates that L[2] may also be used.
hide
| 4d | Trouble over a nude // shot (9) |
The Story Behind the Picture
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| Miffypops illustrates his hint for this clue with a photo of English actor John Thaw[7], (1942–2002) who starred in the British television series Inspector Morse[7] as title character Detective Chief Inspector Endeavour Morse[7]. The programme, produced between 1987 and 2000, is based on a series of detective novels by
British author Colin Dexter (1930–2017). Morse is a senior CID (Criminal
Investigation Department) officer with the Thames Valley Police force
in Oxford, England. I expect Miffypops included the photo, at least in part, in the hopes that Kath might visit the blog. Kath, who wrote the reviews of the Thursday RayT puzzles on Big Dave's Crossword Blog before suffering a stroke, has always had a bit of a thing for John Thaw. |
| 5d | Grabs end of one // wood (5) |
| 6d | Put down // husband in public squabble (9) |
| 7d | Perform /with/ former sweetheart? Sweet! (7) |
"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'.
hide
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
| 8d | Frank // possibly callous in EastEnders (7) |
EastEnders[7]
is an award-winning British soap opera which has been broadcast on BBC
One since 1985. The programme is set in Albert Square in the East End of London in the
fictional Borough of Walford. (show more )
The show follows the stories of local residents and their families as they go about their daily lives. Consistently among the top-rated TV programmes in Britain, it has tackled many dilemmas that are considered to be controversial and taboo issues in British culture and social life previously unseen on United Kingdom mainstream television.
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The show follows the stories of local residents and their families as they go about their daily lives. Consistently among the top-rated TV programmes in Britain, it has tackled many dilemmas that are considered to be controversial and taboo issues in British culture and social life previously unseen on United Kingdom mainstream television.
hide
Cockneys[5,10], the natives of that part of East London known as the East End[5], speak a dialect (also known as cockney) that is
characterised by dropping the aitch (H) from the beginning of words as
well as the use of rhyming slang (show explanation ).
| 14d | Placed vase that is covering new // grave (9) |
| 16d | Excess weight put on ass? (9) |
Saddlebags[5] is an apt solution in both its senses (although one is an American usage):
- a pair of bags attached behind the saddle on a horse, bicycle, or motorcycle
- (US informal) excess fat around the hips and thighs
| 17d | Old man in flat /producing/ gas (7) |
Scratching the Surface
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| Flat[5] is the common British term for what would be called an apartment[5] in North America. |
| 18d | Top detective's first admitting copper's // charged (7) |
| 20d | Musical introducing current /and/ former actor (7) |
Oliver![7] is a British musical based on English writer Charles Dickens' novel Oliver Twist. It premièred in London's West End in 1960 and on Broadway in 1963 and was made into a musical film in 1968.
Laurence Olivier[5],
Baron Olivier of Brighton (1907–1989) was an English actor and director. (show more )
Following his professional debut in 1924, he performed all the major Shakespearean roles; he was also director of the National Theatre (1963–73). His films include Rebecca (1940), Henry V (1944), and Hamlet (1948).
hide
Following his professional debut in 1924, he performed all the major Shakespearean roles; he was also director of the National Theatre (1963–73). His films include Rebecca (1940), Henry V (1944), and Hamlet (1948).
hide
| 21d | In a cult, turning // bonkers (7) |
| 23d | Small dachshunds say, going up // stairs (5) |
| 24d | Performing groups // succeeded in musical (5) |
CATS[7] is a musical by English composer Andrew Lloyd Webber, based on Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats by American-born British writer T. S. Eliot (1888–1965) and produced by British theatrical producer Cameron Mackintosh. It premiered in London in 1981 and on Broadway in 1982.
Epilogue
A video clip that Jose includes in the thread at Comment #19 on Big Dave's Crossword Blog has gone missing. The clip shows a performance by a pair of Dublin street musicians, Allie Sherlock and Jacob Koopman. In case the ladies in the readership are interested in what all the fuss is about, here is the clip. By the way, I would say the young lady is worth a look in her own right.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
Completed sans help, but took some time, so 2 stars.
ReplyDeleteI'm usually hopeless at identifying setters, but Ray T's obscure synonyms often give him away. 17a is a classic. In the age of gyprock, who plasters walls anymore?
The Clement Freud joke is classic.