Puzzle at a Glance
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Puzzle number in The Daily Telegraph
DT 29789 | |
Publication date in The Daily Telegraph
Friday, September 24, 2021 | |
Setter
Zandio | |
Link to full review
Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 29789]
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Big Dave's Crossword Blog review written by
Deep Threat | |
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 Friday, December 24, 2021 edition of the National Post. | |
Introduction
I find with Zandio that one must definitely "think outside the box". However, his puzzles are a joy to solve.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 | How some spell // broomstick? (10) |
I've marked this as a double definition where both definitions are cryptic—the second more so than the first. The second part of the clue could be considered either a cryptic definition (if you assume it leads to a single word, like 'watercraft') or wordplay (if you assume it leads to two words, like 'pleasure craft'). Given that this is a whimsical usage, I suppose the spelling is however we fancy it to be.
I note that Deep Threat, in his review on Big Dave's Crossword Blog, also calls this clue a double definition despite numerating the second part (5,5) which does not satisfy the given numeration.
| 6a | Poles briefly following trendy // locals? (4) |
Local[5] is an informal British term for a pub convenient to a person’s home ⇒
had a pint in the local.
An inn[5] is a pub, typically one in the country, in some cases providing accommodation.
| 9a | Doctor is required /in/ absence of water (7) |
| 10a | Electrical item used in garret pad Amazon sent round (7) |
| 12a | Explicit gesture about French from // part of magazine? (7,6) |
It's not a physical aspect of the magazine we need, but a fundamental element of the publication's "look and feel".
What did he say?
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In his review on Big Dave's Crossword Blog, Deep Threat tells us we wantOf course, he undoubtedly meant to sayanother word for a sign. another word for a gesture. This is a good example of the blogger's bane, inadvertently using the word one is trying to avoid using. |
| 14a | Ready for a rendezvous // with it (2,2,4) |
| 15a | Watch, maybe /offering/ bottle (6) |
I think the second definition may stretch meanings to the breaking point—if not beyond.
Bottle[5] is an informal British term denoting the courage or confidence needed to do something difficult or dangerous ⇒
I lost my bottle completely and ran.
* Origin: bottle (from "bottle and glass") is Cockney rhyming slang for arse
(buttocks) [which in the non-rhotic dialects (show explanation
) found in many parts of Britain (especially southeastern England) is pronounced 'ass' and, thus, does rhyme with glass]. Apparently 'to lose one's bottle' originally meant to be so scared that one loses control of one's bowels.
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.
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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.
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Another term for courage is heart and a heart can also be referred to informally as a ticker. Thus we are expected to equate bottle with heart, heart with ticker, and therefore bottle with ticker.
While it may hold true in mathematics that if A=B and B=C then A=C, I don't believe this principle can necessarily be extended to the field of lexicography.
| 17a | /What's/ still // carried by nomadic alpacas from the East? (6) |
| 19a | All pearl clusters // aligned (8) |
"Clusters" is a new anagram indicator to me. As a verb, cluster does denote movement—however, I don't necessarily associate it with the formation of any sort of meaningful pattern.
| 21a | Unenthusiastically // using a fraction of 15, apparently (4-9) |
| 24a | Oddly glum -- so shy, dumpy // plain Jane should do this? (5,2) |
When many Brits indicated they were not familiar with the solution to this clue, I checked Lexico and discovered that, from a British perspective, gussy (someone/something) up[5] is an informal North American expression meaning to make someone or something more attractive, especially in a showy or gimmicky way.
However, comments from other Brits dispute the claim of the expression being an Americanism. Many of them attribute the expression to events at the Wimbledon tennis championships in 1949 when American tennis player Gussie Moran[7] wore a tennis dress that was short enough for her ruffled, lace-trimmed knickers [panties] to be visible during the match. Her outfit drew considerable attention; reporters covering the event began calling her "Gorgeous Gussie", and photographers fought for positions where they could get low shots of Moran, with the hope of glimpsing her lace knickers. The event scandalized Wimbledon officials—the committee of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club accusing Moran of bringing 'vulgarity and sin into tennis'—and prompted a debate in Parliament.
However, I found no source to support this claim and the expression may well predate the Wimbledon incident.
| 25a | Freezing // oldie runs about, getting caught in two places (3-4) |
"caught " = C [cricket notation]
| 26a | Retreat /from/ sierra getting web coverage (4) |
| 27a | What I make from the Telegraph! (5,5) |
The Daily Telegraph[7] is a daily morning broadsheet newspaper, founded in 1855 as The Daily Telegraph and Courier, which is published in London and distributed throughout the United Kingdom and internationally*.
* ... and the newspaper in which this puzzle initially appeared
Down
| 1d | Midweek, briefly // takes the plunge (4) |
| 2d | Conviction // however is followed by time (7) |
| 3d | Spaced out, also very // arrogant (4,3,6) |
| 4d | Chatters restlessly, /seeing/ some Turners? (8) |
I believe the misleading capitalization may transform an otherwise precise definition into a cryptic definition.
Scratching the Surface
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J. M. W. Turner[5]
(1775–1851) was an English painter; full name Joseph Mallord William
Turner. (show more )
He made his name with landscapes and stormy seascapes, becoming increasingly concerned with depicting the power of light by the use of primary colours, often arranged in a swirling vortex. Notable works: Rain, Steam, Speed (1844); The Fighting Téméraire (1838). hide |
| 5d | Reportedly genuine // item that circulated in Paris (5) |
The franc[5] is the former basic monetary unit of France (replaced by the euro in 2002).
| 7d | Wally has choice // split hairs (3-4) |
Wally[5] is an informal British term for a silly or inept person ⇒
I must have looked a total wally but I didn't care.
Origin: There are many theories of the origin: one story tells of a Wally who became separated from companions at a 1960s pop festival; the name, announced many times over a loudspeaker, was taken up as a chant by the crowd.
Nit[5,10] (short for nitwit) is an informal British term for a foolish person ⇒
you stupid nit!.
| 8d | Season and turn over // food (6,4) |
| 11d | Nation's ideal // Kentucky whiskey, possibly containing Ecstasy (8,5) |
Dram[5] is a Scottish term for a small drink of whisky or other spirits ⇒
a wee dram to ward off the winter chill.
If a drink of Scotch is a "Scottish dram", then a shot of Kentucky bourbon might be called an "American dram".
"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).
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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).
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What did he say?
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In his review on Big Dave's Crossword Blog, Deep Threat refers toShort[5] (noun) is a British term for a drink of spirits served in a small measure* or, as Collins English Dictionary puts it, a short[10] is a drink of spirits as opposed to a long drink such as beer.a phrase (8,4) which could describe Kentucky whiskey, or another alcoholic short made in the USA. Brits also use the word shot[5] to describe a small drink of spirits ⇒ he took a shot of whisky. |
| 13d | Start early -- // bound to go before hunt, e.g., set out (4,3,3) |
| 16d | Appearing now and then /in/ role before interval (4-4) |
| 18d | They show places // salt-filled sea is rising (7) |
| 20d | Dancing won lady/'s/ surrender (3,4) |
| 22d | Principal // record husband set in motorists' club (5) |
The Automobile Association[7] (The AA) is a British motoring association founded in 1905, which was demutualised in 1999 to become a private limited company which currently provides car insurance, driving lessons, breakdown cover [roadside assistance], loans, motoring advice and other services.
| 23d | For instance, going round Germany Yankee /becomes/ tense (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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