Puzzle at a Glance
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Puzzle number in The Daily Telegraph
DT 29762 | |
Publication date in The Daily Telegraph
Tuesday, August 24, 2021 | |
Setter
X-Type | |
Link to full review
Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 29762]
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Big Dave's Crossword Blog review written by
Mr K | |
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
This was a fun solve but a bit of a challenge to review as many of the clues have various layers of meaning. In a comment on Big Dave's Crossword Blog, the setter himself explains one instance (14d) where the underlying meaning had escaped me. It makes one wonder how much one may be missing.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 | Officer /who could get/ car crime initially confused with tip-off? (7,3) |
| 6a | From the east, // serves // in Lebanese cafe (4) |
Here we have an unusual clue construction in which the definition appears in the middle of the wordplay.
In tennis and similar games, ace[5] denotes:
- (noun) a service that an opponent is unable to return and thus wins a point
- (verb) to serve an ace against (an opponent)
| 9a | The German paint finish -- it is /giving you/ a skin complaint (10) |
"the German " = DER
From a British perspective, mat[5] and matte[5] are US spellings of matt[5] which denotes:
- (adjective) (of a colour, paint, or surface) dull and flat; without a shine
- (noun) a matt paint or finish
- (verb) give a matt appearance to (something)
| 10a | Old northern Conservative with ecstasy // a while back (4) |
"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
"Conservative " = C [member of British political party]
The abbreviation for Conservative may be either C.[10] or Con.[10].
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.
hide
The abbreviation for Conservative may be either C.[10] or Con.[10].
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.
hide
"ecstasy " = E [the illicit drug Ecstasy]
E[5] is an abbreviation for the drug Ecstasy* or a tablet of Ecstasy ⇒ (i)
* Ecstasy[5] is an illegal amphetamine-based synthetic drug with euphoric effects, originally produced as an appetite suppressant. Also called MDMA (Methylenedioxymethamphetamine).
hide
E[5] is an abbreviation for the drug Ecstasy* or a tablet of Ecstasy ⇒ (i)
people have died after taking E; (ii)
being busted with three Es can lead to stiff penalties.
* Ecstasy[5] is an illegal amphetamine-based synthetic drug with euphoric effects, originally produced as an appetite suppressant. Also called MDMA (Methylenedioxymethamphetamine).
hide
| 12a | Hastily fasten // bridle, etc (4) |
| 13a | Fish /and/ chips cooked with lard (9) |
The pilchard[5] is a small, edible, commercially valuable marine fish of the herring family*.
* Young pilchards or other young or small herring-like fish are known as sardines[5].
| 15a | Concerning the kitchen // Lucy and I ran badly (8) |
| 16a | It's curtains for the Yanks! (6) |
The entire clue is a cryptic definition in which a precise definition is embedded. The phrase "for the Yanks" does not provide a separate independent route to the solution but rather elaborates on an attribute of the solution—namely, that it is an Americanism. We'll see another example of this type of clue later in the puzzle.
From a British perspective, drapes[5] is a North American term for long curtains.
| 18a | Nitrogen associated with the clear upper air, /or/ lower? (6) |
| 20a | Stingy Edward // shut in the cupboard (8) |
Ted[7] is a diminutive form of the given name Edward—not to mention Edmund, Edwin, Edwina, Thaddeus, Theodora, and Theodore.
| 23a | Old 'tec was agitated: came out in this? (4,5) |
I see the entire clue as a cryptic definition of a sort in which the wordplay is embedded.
Tec[5] is a dated (seemingly British*) informal term for a detective.
* based on its absence from American dictionaries
| 24a | Taunt // European going after rock (4) |
"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.
hide
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.
hide
The Rock[5] is an informal name for Gibraltar[5], a British overseas territory near the southern tip of the Iberian peninsula, at the eastern end of the Strait of Gibraltar (show more ).
Occupying a site of great strategic importance, Gibraltar consists of a fortified town and military base at the foot of a rocky headland, the Rock of Gibraltar. Britain captured it during the War of the Spanish Succession in 1704 and is responsible for its defence, external affairs, and internal security.
hide
Occupying a site of great strategic importance, Gibraltar consists of a fortified town and military base at the foot of a rocky headland, the Rock of Gibraltar. Britain captured it during the War of the Spanish Succession in 1704 and is responsible for its defence, external affairs, and internal security.
hide
Gib[5] is a British short form for Gibraltar ⇒
we reached Gib in August and docked at Oran [a port on the Mediterranean coast of Algeria].
| 26a | A bad actor returning /to be/ servant (4) |
An amah[5] is a nursemaid or maid in East Asia or India.
| 27a | Crete: place designed /for/ a holdall? (10) |
Holdall[10] is the British name for the piece of luggage known in North America as a carryall.
Scratching the Surface
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Crete[5] is a Greek island in the eastern Mediterranean (show more ).
Crete is noted for the remains of the Minoan civilization which flourished there in the 2nd millennium BC. It fell to Rome in 67 BC and was subsequently ruled by Byzantines, Venetians, and Turks. Crete played an important role in the Greek struggle for independence from the Turks in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, becoming administratively part of an independent Greece in 1913. hide |
| 28a | Occasionally, this journalist /should get/ knotted! (4) |
| 29a | Easily disgusted? // Don't eat fish before ten with us (10) |
From The Chambers Dictionary:
id or ide noun a fish (Leuciscus idus), closely related to the chub, inhabiting fresh water in northern Europe
Origin: Swedish id
The Chambers Dictionary is the only reference source of several I consulted in which I found the former spelling.
The word "ten" is used to clue the letter combination IO which looks like the number "10".
Second Opinion
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| I took the question mark to be a flag showing that the definition may be a bit unusual in some respect and did some digging in an effort to confirm this. According to Lexico, fastidious[5] means:
Then I checked The Chambers Dictionary, where the first meaning given for fastidious[1] is easily repelled or disgusted. |
Down
| 1d | It goes in and out, // stirring up 28 (4) |
The
numeral "28" is a cross
reference indicator pointing to clue 28a (show more ).
To complete the clue, a solver must replace the cross reference indicator with the solution to the clue starting in the light* identified by the cross reference indicator.
The cross reference indicator may include a directional indicator but this is customarily done only in situations where there are both Across and Down clues originating in the light that is being referenced.
* light-coloured cell in the grid
hide
To complete the clue, a solver must replace the cross reference indicator with the solution to the clue starting in the light* identified by the cross reference indicator.
The cross reference indicator may include a directional indicator but this is customarily done only in situations where there are both Across and Down clues originating in the light that is being referenced.
* light-coloured cell in the grid
hide
| 2d | Communication /from/ one who should inherit (masculine), so it's said (7) |
| 3d | Finn knees car drunkenly: /it's/ a gift! (12) |
Frankincense[5], an aromatic gum resin obtained from an African tree and burnt as incense, is the second-mentioned among the three gifts that the Magi bestowed on the infant Jesus (Matthew 2:11).
| 4d | They could make waves in the beauty business (8) |
Post Mortem
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| I had CLIPPER rather than CRIMPER, having settled on clipper[10] being used in the sense of a person or thing that cuts or clips—which could be a hairdresser or their cutting implements. Furthermore, I saw a possible allusion to another meaning of clipper[10], a fast sailing ship—which would create waves in its wake. Admittedly, a hairdresser would not likely be creating waves while wielding a clipper or a pair of scissors. Nevertheless, CLIPPER did match the checking letters. I do take solace from comments on Big Dave's Crossword Blog showing that I was far from alone in my journey down this path. |
| 5d | 'A bird, // otherwise?!' I yell in Spanish (6) |
Olé[5] is a Spanish exclamation meaning bravo*.
* Could one not equally well define bravo as an Italian exclamation meaning olé.
| 7d | Not able to rest in peace, /with/ Scottish witch's spell (7) |
Cantrip[5] is an archaic Scottish term for a mischievous or playful act; a trick ⇒
My training isn't finished and most of my spells are weak cantrips.
Origin: Late 16th century (also in the sense ‘witch's trick’): of unknown origin.
| 8d | Moves over /and/ treads on assistant carrying son (5,5) |
| 11d | Brief exhalation of relief: 1950s troublemaker // unable to see at a distance (5-7) |
Ted[2] is short for Teddy boy[5], a slang term originally applied to a young man belonging to a subculture in 1950s Britain characterized by a style of dress based on Edwardian fashion (typically with drainpipe trousers, bootlace tie, and hair slicked up in a quiff* and a liking for rock-and-roll music. The name comes from from Teddy, pet form of the given name Edward (with reference to Edward VII's reign). Judging by the entry in the Chambers 21st Century Dictionary, it would appear that the term Teddy boy[2] is now applied to any unruly or rowdy adolescent male.
* Quiff[3,4] is a chiefly British term for a prominent tuft of hair, especially one brushed up above the forehead.
| 14d | I detest established imagery: // I study nothing about object personifying cobblers (10) |
A last[5] is a shoemaker’s model [of the foot] for shaping or repairing a shoe or boot.
Although the term is now applied to a person who attacks established or traditional concepts, principles, laws, etc., the original meaning of iconoclast[10] is a destroyer of religious images or sacred objects.
More Than Meets The Eye
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| As X-type explains in a comment on Big Dave's Crossword Blog, "the reference to 'object personifying cobblers' is poking fun at imagery in general ('cobblers' = 'nonsense' as well as literally the cobbler’s implement)". Cobblers[10] is British slang for rubbish or nonsense ⇒ a load of old cobblers; it is also British slang for balls (testicles). Origin: from rhyming slang* cobblers' awls ⇒ balls * Rhyming slang is formed by rhyming a phrase (in this case "cobblers' awls") with a word (in this case "balls"); the rhyming word in the phrase is then typically dropped (with the result, in this case, being "cobblers"). In a usage note, Collins English Dictionary informs us "The use of cobblers meaning 'nonsense' is so mild that hardly anyone these days is likely to be offended
by it. Most people are probably unaware of its rhyming-slang association with 'balls',
and therefore take it at its face value as a more colourful synonym for 'nonsense'.
The classic formulation 'a load of (old) cobblers' seems to be particularly popular
in the tabloid press." By the way, balls[10] itself is a (more universal) slang term for nonsense or rubbish. In a usage note pertaining to the word balls, Collins English Dictionary informs us "Both its anatomical senses and its various extended senses nowadays have far less impact than they used to, and seem unlikely to cause offence, though some older or more conservative people may object." |
| 17d | Not well: provide care /for/ abuse (3-5) |
| 19d | Working the land, // up to a certain time in life (7) |
| 21d | Plant // to mostly support firm (7) |
| 22d | Spirit /of/ place, in Switzerland? (6) |
Geneva[5,15], a variant spelling of genever (also called Hollands), is a gin, originally made in Holland, in which the juniper is mixed in the mash.
Origin: From Dutch genever juniper, from Old French genevre, from an alteration of Latin juniperus (gin being flavoured with juniper berries). The variant spelling is due to association with Geneva.
Delving Deeper
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| Gin[10] is an alcoholic drink obtained by distillation and rectification of the grain of malted barley, rye, or maize [British name for corn], flavoured with juniper berries. Origin: shortened from Dutch genever juniper The Dutch word for 'juniper' (which is also the name of the Dutch liquor) can be spelled either jenever or genever. The latter may possibly be a variant spelling—but appears to be the one preferred by foreigners if not by the Dutch themselves. Jenever[7] was being produced by the Dutch as early as the 16th century. Gin was later developed in Britain after introduction of jenever from Holland. Geneva was the Anglicized name for jenever (even though the drink has no relation to the Swiss city of Geneva), a name that English soldiers had brought back with them when returning from battle in the Low Countries.
The word "genever" , when pronounced in a non-rhotic accent (show explanation
) typical of dialects found in many parts of Britain (especially
southeastern England), sounds like "geneva".
Non-rhotic accents omit the sound < r > in certain situations, while rhotic accents generally pronounce < r > in all contexts. Among the several dozen British English accents which exist, many are non-rhotic while American English (US and Canadian) is mainly rhotic. This is, however, a generalisation, as there are areas of Britain that are rhotic, and areas of America that are non-rhotic. For more information, see this guide to pronouncing < r > in British English. hide Although the dictionaries do not say so, I would almost think that "geneva" is simply a phonetic spelling of the non-rhotic British pronunciation of "genever". |
Geneva[5] is a city in southwestern Switzerland, on Lake Geneva. It is the headquarters of international bodies such as the Red Cross, various organizations of the United Nations, and the World Health Organization.
Scratching the Surface
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| In Comment #35 on Big Dave's Crossword Blog, Omar suggests that this clue may be an allusion to The 'Geneva Spirit', the improved Cold War atmosphere following a 1955 meeting in Geneva of the Heads of Government of the four Great Powers (the United States, the United Kingdom, France and the USSR). |
| 25d | Looks up and down (4) |
Similar to 16a, the entire clue is a cryptic definition in which a precise definition is embedded. The phrase "up and down" does not provide a separate independent route to the solution but rather elaborates on an attribute of the solution—namely, that it is a palindrome.
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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