Puzzle at a Glance
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Puzzle number in The Daily Telegraph
DT 29751 | |
Publication date in The Daily Telegraph
Wednesday, August 11, 2021 | |
Setter
Jay (Jeremy Mutch) | |
Link to full review
Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 29751]
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Big Dave's Crossword Blog review written by
KiwiColin | |
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 puzzle proved to be a rigorous mental workout—though I certainly did enjoy it. As some commented on Big Dave's Crossword Blog, I did think some of the synonyms were a bit stretched when I encountered them during the solve. However, when I checked them in the dictionary while composing the review, I found most of them to be well-known to me—something which I oft-times recognized only upon reading them in context in the usage examples in the dictionaries.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 | One who knows everything // later changed in taste (5,5) |
Smack[5] is used in the sense of a flavour or taste (of) ⇒
anything with even a modest smack of hops dries the palate.
| 6a | Sign /of/ importance dispensing with protection (4) |
Moment[5] is used in the sense of importance ⇒
the issues were of little moment to the electorate.
| 10a | A Spanish greeting reciprocated in Hawaii? (5) |
The entire clue is a cryptic definition in which the wordplay is embedded. The definition can be interpreted as "A greeting in Hawaii that is given by the wordplay".
The informal exclamation hola[5] is a Spanish greeting used when meeting someone.
The exclamation aloha[5] is a Hawaiian word used when greeting or parting from someone.
| 11a | Drink // expert taken in by yarn (5,4) |
| 12a | Passage /from/ broadcast losing millions (7) |
| 13a | A poor loser full of love // can, under pressure (7) |
"love " = O [nil score in tennis]
In tennis, squash, and some other sports, love[5] is a score of zero or nil ⇒
Although folk etymology has connected the word with French l'oeuf 'egg', from the resemblance in shape between an egg and a zero, the term apparently comes from the phrase play for love (i.e. the love of the game, not for money).
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In tennis, squash, and some other sports, love[5] is a score of zero or nil ⇒
love fifteen. The resemblance of a zero written as a numeral (0) to the letter O leads to the cryptic crossword convention of the word "love" being used to clue this letter.
Although folk etymology has connected the word with French l'oeuf 'egg', from the resemblance in shape between an egg and a zero, the term apparently comes from the phrase play for love (i.e. the love of the game, not for money).
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| 14a | Convinces after workers completed // reform (4,4,4) |
| 18a | Flattery /may be/ sort of tasteless, and intended to be heard (12) |
| 21a | Daily // runs -- after seeing list in church (7) |
"runs " = R [cricket notation]
Daily[5] is a dated British term for a woman who is employed to clean someone else’s house each day.
| 23a | Star making a comeback had // issue (7) |
Name[5] is used in the sense of a famous person ⇒
the big race will lure the top names.
| 24a | Looking embarrassed before reprimand /and/ such special treatment (3,6) |
Carpet[5] is an informal British term meaning to reprimand severely ⇒
the Chancellor of the Exchequer [British minister of finance] carpeted the bank bosses.
* Although we do not use this expression in North America, we certainly do use the related expression on the carpet[5] meaning being severely reprimanded by someone in authority.
| 25a | State // Florida hopes to assume (5) |
| 26a | Answer required for one in terrible // challenge (4) |
| 27a | Clear and decisive // poll on religious education (10) |
In the UK, religious education[10] (abbreviation RE[5]) is a subject taught in schools which educates about the different religions of the world.
Down
| 1d | Self-conscious about worker /getting/ rough accommodation (6) |
"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.
hide
| 2d | Obsessive sort /of/ habit? (6) |
In his review on Big Dave's Crossword Blog, KiwiColin marks this clue as a cryptic definition. I agree that it could be considered as such and considered marking it that way myself. However, it does take the form of a double definition.
Habit[5] is an archaic term for clothes ⇒
the prince has lately visited the copper mines of that kingdom, in the habit of a miner. The term continues in use today as the name of a long, loose garment worn by a member of a religious order (
nuns in long brown habits, black veils, and sandals) and as a short form for riding habit[5], a woman's riding dress, consisting of a skirt worn with a double-breasted jacket (
Most of us have Victorian-style riding habits that we use for historical events.).
In Britain, anorak[5] is an informal, derogatory term for a studious or obsessive person with unfashionable and largely solitary interests ⇒
with his thick specs, shabby shoes, and grey suit, he looks a bit of an anorak. The term derives from the anoraks* worn by trainspotters (see below), regarded as typifying this kind of person.
* An anorak[5] is a waterproof jacket, typically with a hood, of a kind originally used in polar regions. Although the terms anorak and parka[7] are sometimes used interchangeably, they are actually quite different garments. Strictly speaking, an anorak is a waterproof, hooded, pull-over jacket without a front opening, and sometimes drawstrings at the waist and cuffs, and a parka is a hip-length cold-weather coat, typically stuffed with down or very warm synthetic fiber, and with a fur-lined hood.
Trainspotter[5] is a British term for a person who collects train or locomotive numbers as a hobby*.
* The name is also often used in a derogatory sense to refer to a person who obsessively studies the minutiae of any minority interest or specialized hobby ⇒
the idea is to make the music really really collectable so the trainspotters will buy it in their pathetic thousands.
| 3d | Spiritual // books included in 17 sent off (14) |
The
numeral "17" is a cross
reference indicator pointing to clue 17d (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
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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
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| 4d | Lines /from/ overworked phrases lacking power (9) |
| 5d | Government committee /needing/ horse artist (5) |
A cob[5] is a powerfully built, short-legged horse ⇒
he’s got a nice young bay cob if you want to hack*.
"artist " = RA [Royal Academician | Royal Academy]
In the UK, COBRA[5] (also COBR) denotes a government committee that is specially convened as a result of a major emergency in order to coordinate the response of the various government departments and agencies responsible for handling the situation ⇒
another meeting of the emergency COBRA committee will be held today to discuss how to tackle the floods.
Origin: From the initial letters of Cabinet Office Briefing Rooms, the place in Whitehall* where the committees meet, with COBRA standing specifically for Cabinet Office Briefing Room A.
* Whitehall[5] is a street in Westminster, London, in which many government offices are located. The name is commonly used as an allusive reference to the British civil service or to the British government, its offices, or its policy ⇒
critics claim that councils are being railroaded by Whitehall into approving the schemes.
| 7d | Support // mother during visit? (8) |
A mainstay[5] is a stay [a large rope, wire, or rod used to support a ship's mast] that extends from the maintop* to the foot of the foremast of a sailing ship. The term is also used figuratively to denote a person or thing on which something else is based or depends.
* A maintop[5] is a platform around the head [top] of the lower section of a sailing ship's mainmast.
| 8d | Annoys son -- /that's/ uncalled-for! (8) |
| 9d | MP should provide this // dramatic performance (14) |
I thought the second definition might be a bit iffy; however, I find it comes straight from the dictionary.
Representation[10] denotes a a dramatic production or performance.
| 15d | Without feeling, wrote off // assistant (6,3) |
| 16d | Confused // old boys restored to health (8) |
"old boy(s) " = OB(S)
In Britain, an old boy[5] (abbreviation OB[2]) is:
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In Britain, an old boy[5] (abbreviation OB[2]) is:
- a former male student of a school or college ⇒
an old boy of Banbury County School
- a former male member of a sports team or company ⇒
the White Hart Lane old boy squared the ball to present an easy chance from 12 yards
‘Look here, old boy,’ he said.
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Obscure[5] (verb) is used in the sense of to make unclear and difficult to understand ⇒
the debate has become obscured by conflicting ideological perspectives.
| 17d | Credit has to cover a loan with a // schedule of dates (8) |
| 19d | Country // code found in post, mostly (6) |
Malawi[5] is a
country of south central Africa, in the Great Rift Valley. (show more )
As Nyasaland, Malawi was a British protectorate from 1891, and from 1953 to 1963 was a part of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland. It became an independent Commonwealth state in 1964 and a republic in 1966.
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As Nyasaland, Malawi was a British protectorate from 1891, and from 1953 to 1963 was a part of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland. It became an independent Commonwealth state in 1964 and a republic in 1966.
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| 20d | Fit in // marathon -- after beer, oddly! (6) |
| 22d | Regret accepting void Portuguese // currency (5) |
The rupee[5] (abbreviation R[10]) is the basic monetary unit of India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Mauritius, and the Seychelles, equal to 100 paise in India, Pakistan, and Nepal, and 100 cents in Sri Lanka, Mauritius, and the Seychelles.
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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