Puzzle at a Glance
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Puzzle number in The Daily Telegraph
DT 29715 | |
Publication date in The Daily Telegraph
Wednesday, June 30, 2021 | |
Setter
Jay (Jeremy Mutch) | |
Link to full review
Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 29715]
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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
You may recall that Jay was missing from the rotation last week and this has caused further trepidation amongst the blogging community when it comes to attributing authorship of "Wednesday" puzzles to him. However, there is no doubt about today's puzzle as Jay, himself, pops in to Big Dave's Crossword Blog to take responsibility for 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 | Curse // macho way of talking (11) |
| 9a | Eccentric hat priced /as/ a bargain? (4,5) |
| 10a | Blood is full of good // stuff (5) |
| 11a | Embarrassed about mistake /getting/ possible aperitif (6) |
Sherry[5] is a fortified wine originally and mainly from southern Spain.
| 12a | Illegally sells copies, with son in for grand, // to no avail (8) |
G as an abbreviation for grand is one North American usage that the Brits would appear to have embraced (show more ).
While the abbreviation G for "grand" is deemed by British dictionaries to be an Americanism, it seems to be one that is well known to Brits — undoubtedly from American gangster films. It is frequently seen in British crossword puzzles and never seems to garner the abuse that usually greets the appearance of American terms.
Grand[5] is an informal term for a thousand dollars or pounds ⇒
G is defined in various British dictionaries as follows:
While the abbreviation G for "grand" is deemed by British dictionaries to be an Americanism, it seems to be one that is well known to Brits — undoubtedly from American gangster films. It is frequently seen in British crossword puzzles and never seems to garner the abuse that usually greets the appearance of American terms.
Grand[5] is an informal term for a thousand dollars or pounds ⇒
he gets thirty-five grand a year. While the term "grand" itself would seem to be commonly used in the UK, the informal abbreviation G[5] meaning grand appears to be regarded as a North American usage ⇒
I was up nine Gs on the blackjack tables.
G is defined in various British dictionaries as follows:
- Oxford Dictionaries: (North American informal) abbreviation for grand, a thousand dollars)[5].
- Chambers 21st Century Dictionary: (North American slang) abbreviation for a grand, 1000 dollars[2].
- Collins English Dictionary: (mainly US slang) a symbol for grand (a thousand dollars or pounds)[4,10].
The G may find itself displaced here but it finds a home elsewhere in the puzzle.
Bootless[5] is an archaic term meaning (of a task or undertaking) ineffectual; in other words, useless ⇒
remonstrating with him seems ever to have been a bootless task.
Origin: nothing whatsoever to do with footwear (or lack thereof); from Old English bōtlēas ‘not able to be compensated for by payment’
| 13a | Athletic // drink that's fortified in case of scurvy (6) |
| 15a | Understand bottling a strategy /for/ such a transporter (8) |
| 18a | Overwhelm // island court holding sister (8) |
| 19a | Backed tabloid left in charge of // plant (6) |
Rag[5] is an informal term for a newspaper, typically one regarded as being of low quality.
"in charge of " = IC
| 21a | Assumptions /of/ the man surrounded by right-wingers (8) |
"right-wingers " = TORIES [members of British (or Canadian) political party]
A Tory[10] is a member or supporter of the Conservative Party in Great Britain [or, for that matter, in Canada].
The Conservative Party[5] is a major right of centre British political party promoting free enterprise and private ownership that emerged from the old Tory Party* under Sir Robert Peel in the 1830s and 1840s.
* Historically, a Tory[10] was a member of the English political party that opposed the exclusion of James, Duke of York from the royal succession (1679–80). Tory remained the label for subsequent major conservative interests until they gave birth to the Conservative Party in the 1830s.
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A Tory[10] is a member or supporter of the Conservative Party in Great Britain [or, for that matter, in Canada].
The Conservative Party[5] is a major right of centre British political party promoting free enterprise and private ownership that emerged from the old Tory Party* under Sir Robert Peel in the 1830s and 1840s.
* Historically, a Tory[10] was a member of the English political party that opposed the exclusion of James, Duke of York from the royal succession (1679–80). Tory remained the label for subsequent major conservative interests until they gave birth to the Conservative Party in the 1830s.
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| 23a | Whole /of/ Italy books performance (6) |
| 26a | Area of market // found by hotel in French resort (5) |
Nice[5] is a resort city on the French Riviera, near the border with Italy.
| 27a | Religious community chasing daily // purchase (4,5) |
An order[5] (also Order) is a society of monks, nuns, or friars living under the same religious, moral, and social regulations and discipline ⇒
the Franciscan Order.
The Daily Mail*[7] is a British daily middle-market and online news source newspaper published in London in a tabloid format. Founded in 1896, it is the United Kingdom's highest-circulated daily newspaper.
* I expect the paper would commonly be referred to as simply the Mail.
| 28a | Losing source of finance, grants in from new // paper (7,4) |
The Morning Star[7] is a left-wing British daily newspaper with a focus on social, political and trade union issues, and is both the largest and longest-running socialist newspaper in Britain. Originally founded in 1930 as the Daily Worker by the Communist Party of Great Britain (CPGB), ownership was transferred from the CPGB to an independent readers' co-operative in 1945. The paper was then renamed and reinvented as the Morning Star in 1966. The paper describes its editorial stance as in line with Britain's Road to Socialism, the programme of the Communist Party of Britain.
Down
| 1d | Creatures /coming from/ sea -- America beginning to shoot (7) |
The Med[5] is an informal, British name for the Mediterranean Sea.
A medusa[11] is the free-swimming body form in the life cycle of a jellyfish or other coelenterate, usually dome-shaped with tentacles.
| 2d | Ordered gravel -- not very // big (5) |
"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.
hide
| 3d | Honoured // Germany and European Commission -- spoke at length (9) |
The European Commission[5] (abbreviation EC[5]) is a group, appointed by agreement among the governments of the European Union, which initiates Union action and safeguards its treaties. It meets in Brussels.
| 4d | Cold cut /and/ sweet perhaps (4) |
Sweets[5] is the British term for what is known in North America as candy[5] with a sweet being a piece of candy*.
* In Britain, candy[5] denotes sugar crystallized by repeated boiling and slow evaporation ⇒
making candy at home is not difficult—the key is cooking the syrup to the right temperature. I think this may be what we call hard candy[5].
A chew[5] is a chewy sweet ⇒
a gobstopper or a chew could be bought for a farthing.
| 5d | Inappropriate // work contained in primer needing editing (8) |
"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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| 6d | Dark // spirit on the rise leads to high tension (5) |
"high tension" = HT[5] [electrical term]
| 7d | Keep an eye on // past bishop's responsibility (7) |
A see[10] is the diocese (show more ) of a bishop, or the place within it where his cathedral (show more ) or procathedral (show more ) is situated.
A diocese[5] is a district under the pastoral care of a bishop in the Christian Church — or, more precisely, episcopal churches.
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A diocese[5] is a district under the pastoral care of a bishop in the Christian Church — or, more precisely, episcopal churches.
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| 8d | A quick drop before opening time? (4,4) |
A cryptic definition of the period between stepping out of the door and pulling the ripcord.
| 14d | Couple in dispute about northern European // wealth (8) |
"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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| 16d | Worries about left working with grand // church music (9) |
The displaced G from 12a finds a home here.
Plainsong[5] (also known as plainchant[5]) is unaccompanied church music sung in unison in medieval modes and in free rhythm corresponding to the accentuation of the words, which are taken from the liturgy.
| 17d | Current content of mere // banner (8) |
| 18d | Proposes // international objectives (7) |
| 20d | Supplier /of/ three queens? (7) |
A queen[5] is an adult female cat that has not been spayed.
"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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| 22d | He's overcome by unusual // symptom of cold (5) |
Rum[5] is used in a dated informal British sense meaning odd or peculiar ⇒
it’s a rum business, certainly.
Rheum[5] is a literary term for a watery fluid that collects in or drips from the nose or eyes.
| 24d | Fraud itself must incorporate // check (5) |
| 25d | Dress /for/ the South of France? (4) |
A midi[5] is a woman's calf-length skirt, dress, or coat.
Midi[5,7] is a colloquial name for the south of France.
Origin: The term Midi literally means midday in French, comparable to the term Mezzogiorno for the south of Italy. The time of midday was synonymous with the direction of south because in France, as in all of the Northern Hemisphere north of the Tropic of Cancer, the sun is in the south at noon.
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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