Puzzle at a Glance
| |
|---|---|
Puzzle number in The Daily Telegraph
DT 29783 | |
Publication date in The Daily Telegraph
Friday, September 17, 2021 | |
Setter
silvanus | |
Link to full review
Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 29783]
| |
Big Dave's Crossword Blog review written by
Deep Threat | |
BD rating
| |
| Difficulty - ★★ | Enjoyment - ★★★ |
Falcon's experience
┌────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┐
███████████████████████████████████ └────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┘ | |
|
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
| |
Introduction
Running late, I did not have the luxury of sleeping on the incomplete clue and so threw in the towel earlier than I would have wished.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 | |
|
|
| Click here for further explanation and usage examples of markup conventions used on this blog. | |
Across
| 1a | PM claims love /for/ country (8) |
David Cameron[5] is a British Conservative statesman, prime minister 2010-16 (2010–15 in coalition with the Liberal Democrats).
"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).
hide
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).
hide
Cameroon[5] is a
country on the west coast of Africa between Nigeria and Gabon. (show more )
The territory was a German protectorate from 1884 to 1916, after which it was administered by France and Britain, latterly under League of Nations (later United Nations) trusteeship. In 1960 the French part became an independent republic, to be joined in 1961 by part of the British Cameroon; the remainder became part of Nigeria. Cameroon became a member of the Commonwealth in 1995
hide
The territory was a German protectorate from 1884 to 1916, after which it was administered by France and Britain, latterly under League of Nations (later United Nations) trusteeship. In 1960 the French part became an independent republic, to be joined in 1961 by part of the British Cameroon; the remainder became part of Nigeria. Cameroon became a member of the Commonwealth in 1995
hide
| 5a | Bishop enters a lounge /that's/ brightly lit (6) |
| 9a | Payments to copyright holder /in/ Italy rose unexpectedly (9) |
| 11a | American coach chasing very big // award (5) |
After some rather exhaustive research, I can find no rationale for the "American coach" indication.
According to The Chambers Dictionary car[1] denotes:
- (in Britain, presumably) a railway carriage, especially of a specified type (as dining-car, sleeping-car, etc.)
- in North America, any railway carriage, wagon or truck
- a carriage[5] is a section of a train that carries passengers
- car[5] and coach[5] are other names for a railway carriage
- van[5] is a British name for an enclosed railway vehicle for conveying luggage, mail, etc.
- truck[1,5] is a British name for an open railway wagon for goods
- wagon[1,5] is a British name for a an open railway truck or a closed railway van
However, in his review on Big Dave's Crossword Blog, Deep Threat characterizes car as "what the Americans call a railway coach or carriage" and no no one offers a dissenting view.
Oscar[5] (trademark in the US) is the nickname for a gold statuette given as an award by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, presented annually since 1928 for achievement in the film industry in various categories.
| 12a | Skilful // Anderson oddly needs time to trap India's opener (6) |
Scratching the Surface
| |
|---|---|
| James Anderson[7], an English international cricketer who plays for Lancashire County Cricket Club and the England cricket team, is regarded as one of the greatest bowlers in the history of cricket. The holder of many bowling records, he has represented England in international competitions more often than any other player. He is also a part time cricket commentator at BBC. In cricket, an opener[2] is either of the two* batsmen who begin the batting for their team. * in cricket, batsmen always bat in pairs Trap may be a term that is commonly associated with bowling in cricket. I found the following example (although it pertains to a spin bowler rather than a fast bowler like Anderson): "the spin bowler ... bowls at a relatively slow pace and relies entirely on guile to deceive the batter. A spinner will often 'buy his wicket' by 'tossing one up' (in a slower, steeper parabolic path) to lure the batter into making a poor shot. The batter has to be very wary of such deliveries as they are often 'flighted' or spun so that the ball will not behave quite as he expects and he could be 'trapped' into getting himself out."[7] |
| 13a | Largest // threat to fruit crop? (8) |
What did he say?
| |
|---|---|
In his review on Big Dave's Crossword Blog, Deep Threat describes the threat asVictoria[10] (also called Victoria plum) is a large sweet variety of plum, red and yellow in colour, that is grown in Britain.something which could attack your Victorias. |
| 15a | Les and Tony rather agitated getting wind (5-8) |
A north-easterly[5] (also northeaster) is a wind blowing from the north-east.
| 18a | He designed spa resorts, /showing/ stubborn nature (13) |
As an anagram indicator, resort[1] (or re-sort[5]) is used in the sense of to sort (something) again or differently ⇒
children find pleasure in sorting and re-sorting boxes of buttons.
| 22a | Substantial // account correct, yet having occasional omissions (8) |
| 23a | Boris frantically pens article, // it indicates pressure? (6) |
In meteorology, an isobar[5] is a line on a map connecting points having the same atmospheric pressure at a given time or on average over a given period.
Scratching the Surface
| |
|---|---|
| In the UK, "Boris" will almost certainly be read as a reference to British prime minister Boris Johnson[5]. |
| 26a | Path /out of/ brush to cross river (5) |
A brush[5] is the bushy tail of a fox.
| 27a | Worried by honest // person standing for election (9) |
| 28a | Runs // special editions of newspaper (6) |
In cricket, an extra[5] is a run scored other than from a hit with the bat, credited (in most cases) to the batting side rather than to a batsman. The types of extra[7] are no ball, wide, bye, leg-bye, and penalty runs.
Extra[5] is a dated term for a special issue of a newspaper ⇒
she stood under an awning and read the extra.
| 29a | Goes along with // impression voiced following trick (8) |
What did he say?
| |
|---|---|
In his review on Big Dave's Crossword Blog, Deep Threat describes the the first element of the charade asI expect most readers realized that he presumably intended to write "a trick or cheat".a trick or chest. |
Down
| 1d | /It's/ the end /for/ some home furnishings (8) |
Despite being placed at the beginning of the clue, the word "it's" essentially functions as a link word.
| 2d | Irish county has right // person heading council (5) |
Mayo[5] is a county in the Republic of Ireland, in the north-west in the province of Connacht.
| 3d | Vivien, say, supports artist, // one of Elizabeth's favourites (7) |
Vivien Leigh[5] (1913–1967) was a British actress, born in India; born Vivian Mary Hartley. She won Oscars for her performances in Gone with the Wind (1939) and A Streetcar Named Desire (1951). She was married to Laurence Olivier from 1940 to 1961.
Sir Walter Raleigh[5] (c.1552–1618) was an English explorer, courtier, and writer. A favourite of Elizabeth I, he organized several voyages of exploration and colonization to the Americas, and introduced potato and tobacco plants to England. Imprisoned in 1603 by James I on a charge of conspiracy, he was released in 1616 to lead an expedition in search of El Dorado, but was executed on the original charge when he returned empty-handed.
| 4d | Poet // about to flee pandemic (4) |
Ovid[5] (43 BC–c.17 AD) was a Roman poet; full name Publius Ovidius Naso. He is particularly known for his elegiac love poems (such as the Amores and the Ars Amatoria) and for the Metamorphoses, a hexametric epic which retells Greek and Roman myths.
| 6d | Something baker's made with yeast // rose perhaps (7) |
Bloomer[2] is a British term for a longish crusty loaf of white bread, with rounded ends and several diagonal slashes across the top.
A bloomer[10] is a plant that flowers, especially in a specified way ⇒
a night bloomer.
| 7d | Classic // Jaguar car goes under bridge (9) |
The Jaguar E-Type[7] (branded Jaguar XK-E in the North American market) is a British sports car that was manufactured by Jaguar Cars Ltd between 1961 and 1975. Its combination of beauty, high performance, and competitive pricing established the model as an icon of the motoring world.
| 8d | Some bureaucrat arrested over // document inaccuracies (6) |
| 10d | Councillor essentially avoids anxiety /in/ retirement (8) |
Post Mortem
| |
|---|---|
| It was easy enough to see what the solution had to be but—despite having identified most of the necessary pieces—I was not able to figure out the assembly instructions. Solicitude is a word I have probably come across in the past but not one whose meaning I knew well. |
| 14d | Adult joke, one described by compere as sublime (8) |
"adult " = A [former British film classification]
The A (Adult) certificate is a former film certificate[7] issued by the British Board of Film Classification. This certificate existed in various forms from 1912 to 1985, when it was replaced by the PG (Parental Guidance) certificate. [Despite its demise in the real world, it continues to find widespread use in Crosswordland.]
hide
The A (Adult) certificate is a former film certificate[7] issued by the British Board of Film Classification. This certificate existed in various forms from 1912 to 1985, when it was replaced by the PG (Parental Guidance) certificate. [Despite its demise in the real world, it continues to find widespread use in Crosswordland.]
hide
Compère[5] is a British term for a person who introduces the performers or contestants in a variety show.
Fetching Up Short
| |
|---|---|
In his review on Big Dave's Crossword Blog, Deep Threat omits one component of the wordplay. His hint should read:
|
| 16d | Sorry // about dog maybe biting indefinite number attending function (9) |
"indefinite number " = N [mathematical symbol]
In mathematics, tan[5] is the abbreviation for tangent[5], the trigonometric function that is equal to the ratio of the sides (other than the hypotenuse) opposite and adjacent to an angle in a right-angled triangle.
| 17d | Republican appears regularly to visit pair of Americans, // those seizing power (8) |
"Republican " = R [member or supporter of US political party]
A Republican[5] (abbreviation R[5] or Rep.[5]) is a member or supporter of the Republican Party[5], one of the two main US political parties*, favouring a right-wing stance, limited central government, and tough, interventionist foreign policy. It was formed in 1854 in support of the anti-slavery movement preceding the Civil War.
* the other being the Democratic Party
Although, in the UK, republican[5] can refer to an advocate of a united Ireland, the abbreviation does not appear to apply to that usage.
hide
A Republican[5] (abbreviation R[5] or Rep.[5]) is a member or supporter of the Republican Party[5], one of the two main US political parties*, favouring a right-wing stance, limited central government, and tough, interventionist foreign policy. It was formed in 1854 in support of the anti-slavery movement preceding the Civil War.
* the other being the Democratic Party
Although, in the UK, republican[5] can refer to an advocate of a united Ireland, the abbreviation does not appear to apply to that usage.
hide
| 19d | Primate /is/ partisan when speaking (7) |
| 20d | Give notice // a little word is misspelled (7) |
| 21d | Blast // staggering cheats (6) |
| 24d | Brother with beard /displaying/ strength (5) |
In genealogy, the abbreviation for brother is br[10] and in a religious order the abbreviation for Brother is Br[10].
| 25d | Open // University refusal to admit daughter (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
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.