Puzzle at a Glance
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Puzzle number in The Daily Telegraph
DT 29764 | |
Publication date in The Daily Telegraph
Thursday, August 26, 2021 | |
Setter
Giovanni (Don Manley) | |
Link to full review
Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 29764]
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Big Dave's Crossword Blog review written by
Miffypops | |
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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This puzzle appears on the Monday Diversions page in the Saturday, November 20, 2021 edition of the National Post. | |
Introduction
There is a mixed bag of opinions on Big Dave's Crossword Blog concerning this puzzle. I would say the majority—the vast majority even—found it difficult in the extreme. However, there are a few outliers who report finding it easy.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 | Bone /in/ fish -- meal putting me off (6) |
| 5a | Country singer returned /offering/ a few notes maybe (8) |
Johnny Cash[7] (1932–2003) was an American country singer.
Note[5] is a British term for a banknote ⇒
a ten-pound note.
Cashback[10] is (1) a service provided by some supermarkets in which customers paying by debit card can draw cash or (2) the cash so drawn.
| 9a | A reason for empty chairs in our country? (5,5) |
Chair[5] is used in the sense of a professorship ⇒
he held a chair in physics.
| 10a | Scottish poet, not the first, /to make/ pots (4) |
Robert "Rabbie" Burns[5,7] (1759–1796) was a Scottish poet, best known for poems such as ‘The Jolly Beggars’ (1786) and ‘Tam o' Shanter’ (1791), and for old Scottish songs which he collected, including ‘Auld Lang Syne’.
| 11a | Strip of metal /or/ wood to chuck outside (8) |
| 12a | Game with helpful person endlessly /offering/ set of rules (6) |
Brick[5] is a dated informal British term for a generous, helpful, and reliable person ⇒
‘You are really a brick, Vi,’ Gloria said.
| 13a | Bridge // partner of North facing censure (4) |
In the card game bridge, North[5] (N) and South[5] (S) comprise one partnership and play against East[5] (E) and West[5] (W) who form the other partnership.
| 15a | /It's/ certainly not helping // mother, getting old (8) |
Despite its position at the beginning of the clue, the word "it's" acts as a link word.
| 18a | Asian // fellows taken in by heretic (8) |
An Arian[5] is an adherent of the doctrine of Arianism[5], (in Christian Theology) the main heresy denying the divinity of Christ, originating with the Alexandrian priest Arius (c.250–c.336). Arianism maintained that the son of God was created by the Father and was therefore neither coeternal nor consubstantial with the Father.
An Armenian[5] is a native of Armenia*, or a person of Armenian descent.
* Armenia[5], a landlocked country in the Caucasus of south-western Asia which, until 1991, was part of the former Soviet Union.
| 19a | Plant // knocked over in dark office (4) |
Okra[5] is a plant of the mallow family with long ridged seed pods, native to the Old World tropics. The immature seed pods are eaten as a vegetable.
| 21a | Trick needed with very good // sea food (6) |
Pi[5] is an informal British short form for pious.
Scampi[2] are large prawns.
Delving Deeper
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| This is a case of "The more one digs, the more confused one becomes." Some sources define scampi as strictly a style of cooking while others extend the definition to include a type of marine crustacean when prepared and cooked and still others stretch the definition to encompass the marine crustacean itself. The marine crustacean in question may variously be described as a prawn or a shrimp or even a Norway lobster (a European lobster—really a large prawn—lacking the large claws characteristic of North American lobsters). Here is what Wikipedia has to say about the terms "prawn" and "shrimp"[7]. The term "prawn" is used particularly in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Commonwealth nations, for large swimming crustaceans or shrimp, especially those with commercial significance in the fishing industry. In North America, the term is used less frequently, typically for freshwater shrimp. The terms shrimp and prawn themselves lack scientific standing. Over the years, the way they are used has changed, and these days the terms are almost interchangeable. The terms shrimp and prawn are common names, not scientific names. They are vernacular or colloquial terms—terms of convenience with little circumscriptional significance—which lack the formal definition of scientific terms. According to the crustacean taxonomist Tin-Yam Chan, "The terms shrimp and prawn have no definite reference to any known taxonomic groups. Although the term shrimp is sometimes applied to smaller species, while prawn is more often used for larger forms, there is no clear distinction between both terms and their usage is often confused or even reverse in different countries or regions." Writing in 1980, L. B. Holthuis noted that the terms prawn and shrimp were used inconsistently "even within a single region", generalising that larger species fished commercially were generally called shrimp in the United States, and prawns in other English-speaking countries, although not without exceptions. |
| 23a | Close friend -- // solitary, it's said, facing position of defeat (4,4) |
In chess, mate[5] is short for checkmate (as either a noun or a verb). As a noun, checkmate[5] denotes a position in which a player's king is directly attacked by an opponent's piece or pawn and has no possible move to escape the check. The attacking player thus wins the game. As a verb, checkmate[5] means to put one's opponent into checkmate.
| 25a | Pollution maybe // from industry (4) |
| 26a | Odd bits of old material specially // fashioned for customer (6-4) |
| 27a | We will be not half embarrassed /and/ polite (4-4) |
| 28a | Polish /or/ north European language being heard (6) |
Down
| 2d | Sound coming through the mouth? // Through the ear! (5) |
I can't be certain if the wordplay is:
sounds like (sound coming) ORAL (through the mouth)
or
To my mind, either is a bit sketchy—but that may be why the question mark is present.
Laddie[5] is an informal, mainly Scottish term for a boy or young man (often as a form of address) ⇒
The Pope[5] is the Bishop of Rome as head of the Roman Catholic Church [that is, Rome is the see or diocese of the Pope].
A syndrome[5] is a group of symptoms which consistently occur together, or a condition characterized by a set of associated symptoms.
Had it been up to me, I might have worded this clue as "If you depended on me in an emergency, I'd let you down!".
From a British perspective, a groomsman[5] is a North American term for a male friend officially attending the bridegroom at a wedding.
In cricket, a single[5] is a hit for one run.
Despite its position at the end of the clue. the word "needed" acts as a link word.
Mo[7] is a common diminutive for Maureen.
A to-do list[5] is a list of tasks that need to be completed, typically organized in order of priority.
One may infer that each item on the list is a to-do and that the items collectively are to-dos.
sounds like (sound) ORAL (coming through the mouth)
To my mind, either is a bit sketchy—but that may be why the question mark is present.
| 3d | Power // one observed in catty type leading a new church (9) |
| 4d | Boy/'s/ story probed by a theologian (6) |
"theologian " = DD [Doctor of Divinity]
Doctor of Divinity[7] (abbreviation D.D. or DD, Divinitatis Doctor in Latin) is an advanced academic degree in divinity.
Historically, the degree of Doctor of Divinity identified one who had been licensed by a university to teach Christian theology or related religious subjects. In the United Kingdom, Doctor of Divinity has traditionally been the highest doctorate granted by universities, usually conferred upon a religious scholar of standing and distinction. In the United States, the Doctor of Divinity is usually awarded as an honorary degree.
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Doctor of Divinity[7] (abbreviation D.D. or DD, Divinitatis Doctor in Latin) is an advanced academic degree in divinity.
Historically, the degree of Doctor of Divinity identified one who had been licensed by a university to teach Christian theology or related religious subjects. In the United Kingdom, Doctor of Divinity has traditionally been the highest doctorate granted by universities, usually conferred upon a religious scholar of standing and distinction. In the United States, the Doctor of Divinity is usually awarded as an honorary degree.
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Laddie[5] is an informal, mainly Scottish term for a boy or young man (often as a form of address) ⇒
he’s just a wee laddie.
| 5d | Heads condemning wrong // decided on a new course of action? (7,4,4) |
Scratching the Surface
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| In the surface reading, head[5] may be used in a British sense as a shortened version of headmaster*, headmistress*, or head teacher. |
| 6d | Unhealthy group // erred, from what we hear and see (8) |
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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The Pope[5] is the Bishop of Rome as head of the Roman Catholic Church [that is, Rome is the see or diocese of the Pope].
A syndrome[5] is a group of symptoms which consistently occur together, or a condition characterized by a set of associated symptoms.
| 7d | Something indistinct and black // that may be on book's cover (5) |
| 8d | Deliverer of goods // tricks uninformed worker needing dispatch (9) |
"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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| 14d | You'd want me in an emergency? I'd let you down! (9) |
Had it been up to me, I might have worded this clue as "If you depended on me in an emergency, I'd let you down!".
| 16d | One fellow helping another at an American match (9) |
From a British perspective, a groomsman[5] is a North American term for a male friend officially attending the bridegroom at a wedding.
What did he say?
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In his review on Big Dave's Crossword Blog, Miffypos describes a groomsman asThe best man is actually the principal groomsman; I have no idea what Brits call the other groomsmen.The American equivalent of our best man at a wedding. |
| 17d | Cleric // involved in secret sin immediately shown up (8) |
| 20d | Single old females // escape for adventure perhaps (3,3) |
In cricket, a single[5] is a hit for one run.
| 22d | Maureen is on phone -- // somewhere for overnight stay /needed/ (5) |
Despite its position at the end of the clue. the word "needed" acts as a link word.
Mo[7] is a common diminutive for Maureen.
| 24d | Fusses, /there being/ a list of upcoming jobs? (2-3) |
A to-do list[5] is a list of tasks that need to be completed, typically organized in order of priority.
One may infer that each item on the list is a to-do and that the items collectively are to-dos.
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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