Puzzle at a Glance
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Puzzle number in The Daily Telegraph
DT 29742 | |
Publication date in The Daily Telegraph
Saturday, July 31, 2021 | |
Setter
chalicea (Shirley Curran) | |
Link to full review
Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 29742 – Hints]Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 29742 – Review] | |
Big Dave's Crossword Blog review written by
Tilsit (Hints)Rahmat Ali (Review) | |
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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As this was a Saturday "Prize Puzzle" in Britain, there are two entries related to it on Big Dave's Crossword Blog — the first, posted on the date of publication, contains hints for selected clues while the second is a full review issued following the entry deadline for the contest. The vast majority of reader comments will generally be found attached to the "hints" posting with a minimal number — if any — accompanying the full review.
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Introduction
Recently, I have frequently been left with a couple of vexatious clues at the the end. Today, it was only one — so that's a positive.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 | Shape epic jests, all exposed as // most joyous (8) |
| 5a | Stable // condition without English in command (6) |
"in command " = IC
| 9a | Renovated retreads // checked (8) |
| 10a | Hush-hush // religious education in cult (6) |
In the UK, religious education[10] (abbreviation RE[5]) is a subject taught in schools which educates about the different religions of the world.
| 12a | Some cruel destiny /for/ first-born (6) |
| 13a | Grieving /for/ break of day, we hear (8) |
| 15a | Unpleasant person /in/ bother over weird pet (7) |
Reptile is used in the informal, derogatory sense of:
- a base, malignant, abject or treacherous person[1]
- a mean or despicable person[2]
- a person regarded as contemptible or obsequious[3]
- a grovelling insignificant person[4,10]
- a person regarded with loathing and contempt[5]
- a groveling, mean, or despicable person[11,15]
- a mean, sneaky, groveling person[12]
| 16a | Passable // trade show (4) |
| 20a | Passion! // She's undressed with naked mate (4) |
| 21a | Trimming // fruit mostly during start of growth (7) |
| 25a | Jailbird and French cop facing tense // clash (8) |
Flic[5] is an informal term for a French policeman.
| 26a | Go /and/ make amends (6) |
Repair to[5] is a formal or humorous expression meaning to go to (a place), especially in company ⇒
we repaired to the tranquillity of a nearby cafe.
| 28a | Dawdle /and/ pretend to be ill with mum absent (6) |
| 29a | Furnishes // quality shop with lines finally lacking (8) |
| 30a | Frustrated // father embracing female (6) |
Frustrate[5] is used in the sense of to prevent (a plan or attempted action) from progressing, succeeding, or being fulfilled ⇒
the rescue attempt was frustrated by bad weather.
| 31a | Changing sides, beggar /becomes/ more hopeful (8) |
Beggar[2] is used in a colloquial, chiefly British sense as an affectionate or gently reproachful term for a person ⇒ (i)
lucky beggar; (ii)
cheeky beggar.
Blighter[2] is an archaic colloquial British term for a fellow, especially a man one feels some sympathy for or envy of ⇒ (i)
poor old blighter; (ii)
lucky blighter.
Down
| 1d | Better to accept European // doctor (6) |
"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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In his hints on Big Dave's Crossword Blog, Tilsit forgets to introduce European into the solution.
| 2d | Show off /in/ heaven: one's missed out! (6) |
| 3d | Firmly maintained // orderly tidiness (8) |
| 4d | Volte-face of moderates /creating/ fuss (4) |
Wet[5] is an informal British term meaning:
- (adjective) showing a lack of forcefulness or strength of character; in other words, feeble ⇒
they thought the cadets were a bit wet
- (noun) a person lacking forcefulness or strength of character ⇒
there are sorts who look like gangsters and sorts who look like wets
the wets favoured a change in economic policy. It is a term that was frequently used by former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher for those to the left of her in the British Conservative Party [which must have been just about everyone].
| 6d | Letters from oldest heir /showing/ what belongs to them? (6) |
| 7d | Phrase in advanced student // final (8) |
"student " = 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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| 8d | Reportedly see a Conservative without, say, // class (8) |
"Conservative " = TORY [member of British 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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| 11d | Going around primarily seeking little // water bird (7) |
| 14d | Environs of ancient region // captivate (7) |
| 17d | Thwarted // southern drudge called the shots (8) |
A hack[5] is a writer or journalist producing dull, unoriginal work.
| 18d | Income /from/ grannies at work? (8) |
| 19d | Irritating // uncovered dangers in golf (8) |
| 22d | Bit of gear you might have a hand in (6) |
Several visitors to Big Dave's Crossword Blog found this cryptic definition "a bit iffy" (in the words of one writer). I suppose you would have your hand in the solution briefly while dressing or undressing.
| 23d | Entrap criminal, // one with issue (6) |
Issue[5] is a legal term denoting children of one's own ⇒
the earl died without male issue.
| 24d | Rubber // ages Queen (6) |
"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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Rubber[5] is a British name for an eraser, a piece of rubber used for erasing pencil or ink marks ⇒
a pencil with a rubber at the end.
| 27d | Tolerate // ill-mannered type (4) |
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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