Puzzle at a Glance
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Puzzle number in The Daily Telegraph
DT 29771 | |
Publication date in The Daily Telegraph
Friday, September 3, 2021 | |
Setter
proXimal (Steve Bartlett) | |
Link to full review
Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 29771]
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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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Introduction
I didn't find this puzzle to be quite the easy exercise that Deep Threat suggests in his review on Big Dave's Crossword Blog. I did manage to finish unaided, but the final few were—as the saying goes—like pulling teeth.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 | Copper and cleric's fight /for/ prime arena location (9,3) |
"copper " = DI [detective inspector]
A detective inspector (abbrevation DI[5]) is a senior police officer in the UK. Within the British police, inspector[7] is the second supervisory rank. It is senior to that of sergeant, but junior to that of chief inspector. Plain-clothes detective inspectors are equal in rank to their uniformed counterparts, the prefix 'detective' identifying them as having been trained in criminal investigation and being part of or attached to their force's Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
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A detective inspector (abbrevation DI[5]) is a senior police officer in the UK. Within the British police, inspector[7] is the second supervisory rank. It is senior to that of sergeant, but junior to that of chief inspector. Plain-clothes detective inspectors are equal in rank to their uniformed counterparts, the prefix 'detective' identifying them as having been trained in criminal investigation and being part of or attached to their force's Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
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A rector[3,4,11] is a member of the clergy in the Anglican, Episcopal, or Roman Catholic churches.
The directors' box[a] is a small area that is separate from the other seats in a sports ground [stadium], where important people connected with the team sit to watch games as contrasted with an executive box[a] which is a small area that is separate from the other seats in a sports ground, where people, especially business people, can sit to watch a game.
[a] Cambridge Dictionary
| 8a | Representative // for unknown figures (5) |
"unknown figures " = XY [algebraic symbols]
In mathematics (algebra, in particular), an unknown[10] is a variable, or the quantity it represents, the value of which is to be discovered by solving an equation ⇒
In mathematical formulae, unknowns are typically represented symbolically by the letters x, y and z.
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In mathematics (algebra, in particular), an unknown[10] is a variable, or the quantity it represents, the value of which is to be discovered by solving an equation ⇒
3y = 4x + 5 is an equation in two unknowns.
In mathematical formulae, unknowns are typically represented symbolically by the letters x, y and z.
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| 9a | Strains on exterior of cherry // trees (9) |
The cypress[5] (is any of many species of evergreen coniferous tree with small rounded woody cones and flattened shoots bearing small scale-like leaves One species in particular, the Mediterranean cypress[7] is known for its very durable, scented wood, used most famously for the doors of St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican City.
| 11a | Is plum off? I have // rash (9) |
As an anagram indicator, off[10] is used in the sense (said of food or drink) of having gone bad, sour, etc (i.e., of having been transformed) ⇒
this milk is off.
| 12a | Measure // space rock that's out of the ordinary (5) |
"ordinary " = O [British academic qualification]
Historically, in the UK (with the exception of Scotland), O level[5] (short for ordinary level[5]) was a qualification in a specific subject formerly taken by school students aged 14-16, at a level below A (advanced) level. It was replaced in 1988 by the GCSE[5] (General Certificate of Secondary Education).
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Historically, in the UK (with the exception of Scotland), O level[5] (short for ordinary level[5]) was a qualification in a specific subject formerly taken by school students aged 14-16, at a level below A (advanced) level. It was replaced in 1988 by the GCSE[5] (General Certificate of Secondary Education).
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| 13a | 'They're divine' -- // some obsessed dog-lovers reflected (9) |
| 16a | African native /bringing/ foreign money into centre of Chad (5) |
The yen[5] is the basic monetary unit of Japan.
Scratching the Surface
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| 18a | Confessed // wearing dress to need front scrubbed (5) |
As a deletion indicator, scrub[5] (past participle scrubbed) is used in the informal sense of cancel or abandon (something).
Own[5] means:
- to admit or acknowledge that something is the case or that one feels a certain way ⇒
‘she owned to a feeling of profound jealousy
- take or acknowledge full responsibility for (something) ⇒
I emphasize the importance of owning our anger and finding ways to control it
- (archaic) acknowledge paternity, authorship, or possession of ⇒
he has published little, trivial things which he will not own
| 19a | Maybe the French // Open and US are to be rearranged (9) |
Scratching the Surface
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| The French Open[7], officially known as Roland-Garros, is a major tennis tournament held over two weeks at the Stade Roland-Garros in Paris, France, beginning in late May each year. The tournament and venue are named after the French aviator Roland Garros. The French Open is the premier clay court championship in the world. It is the second of the four annual Grand Slam tournaments—the others being the Australian Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open. The French Open is the only Grand Slam tournament currently held on clay. Between the seven rounds needed for a championship, the clay surface characteristics (slower pace, higher bounce), and the best-of-five-set men's singles matches, the French Open is generally considered the most physically demanding tournament in the world. |
| 20a | Part of helicopter // shelled from hill (5) |
"hill " = TOR
A tor[7] is a large, free-standing rock outcrop that rises abruptly from the surrounding smooth and gentle slopes of a rounded hill summit or ridge crest. In the South West of England, the term is commonly also used for the hills themselves – particularly the high points of Dartmoor in Devon and Bodmin Moor in Cornwall.
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A tor[7] is a large, free-standing rock outcrop that rises abruptly from the surrounding smooth and gentle slopes of a rounded hill summit or ridge crest. In the South West of England, the term is commonly also used for the hills themselves – particularly the high points of Dartmoor in Devon and Bodmin Moor in Cornwall.
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| 22a | We with a self-confidence gaining new // convert for hostile use (9) |
| 25a | Withdrawing /from/ holy place after sacrificing the last monarch (9) |
| 26a | It holds writer back /being/ useless (5) |
The
use of the word "writer" to clue PEN is likely to be slightly more
cryptic to the Brits than it is to us on this side of the pond. British
solvers will see "pen" as being a writing instrument rather than the person wielding that instrument. (show more )
In addition to defining pen[3,11] as a writing implement, North American dictionaries also define it as a writer or an author ⇒
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In addition to defining pen[3,11] as a writing implement, North American dictionaries also define it as a writer or an author ⇒
a hired pen, British dictionaries do not list this meaning although they do show pen[2,4] (or the pen[5,10]) as symbolically representing writing as an occupation (a sense of the word not found in US dictionaries).
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| 27a | Home designer revamped housing by following // pointers (5,7) |
Down
| 1d | Came by // doctor and Pope upset with row (7,2) |
| 2d | Regularly ignored droopy tail /of/ Rex? (5) |
"Rex " = king [Latin]
In the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms*, Rex[5] (abbreviation R[5]) [Latin for king] denotes the reigning king, used following a name (e.g. Georgius Rex, King George — often shortened to GR) or in the titles of lawsuits (e.g. Rex v. Jones, the Crown versus Jones — often shortened to R. v. Jones).
* A Commonwealth realm[7] is a sovereign state that is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations and shares the same person, currently Elizabeth II, as its head of state and reigning constitutional monarch, but retains a crown legally distinct from the other realms. There are currently sixteen Commonwealth realms, the largest being Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom with the remainder being smaller Caribbean and Pacific island nations.
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In the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms*, Rex[5] (abbreviation R[5]) [Latin for king] denotes the reigning king, used following a name (e.g. Georgius Rex, King George — often shortened to GR) or in the titles of lawsuits (e.g. Rex v. Jones, the Crown versus Jones — often shortened to R. v. Jones).
* A Commonwealth realm[7] is a sovereign state that is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations and shares the same person, currently Elizabeth II, as its head of state and reigning constitutional monarch, but retains a crown legally distinct from the other realms. There are currently sixteen Commonwealth realms, the largest being Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom with the remainder being smaller Caribbean and Pacific island nations.
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A royal[5] is a member of the royal family ⇒
the royals are coming under the TV microscope.
| 3d | Feat cutting 101 // plants (5) |
| 4d | Teacher dismissing of supporting work // one dictates (9) |
"work " = OP [opus]
In music, an opus[5] (Latin 'work', plural opuses or opera) is a separate composition or set of compositions.
The abbreviation Op.[5] (also op.), denoting opus, is used before a number given to each work of a particular composer, usually indicating the order of publication. The plural form of Op. is Opp..
Opus[5] can also be used in other contexts to denote an artistic work, especially one on a large scale ⇒
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In music, an opus[5] (Latin 'work', plural opuses or opera) is a separate composition or set of compositions.
The abbreviation Op.[5] (also op.), denoting opus, is used before a number given to each work of a particular composer, usually indicating the order of publication. The plural form of Op. is Opp..
Opus[5] can also be used in other contexts to denote an artistic work, especially one on a large scale ⇒
he was writing an opus on Mexico.
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| 5d | Second mate's at sea in // boat (9) |
| 6d | Attack /is/ concerning group (5) |
| 7d | Spa gets in // poolside bouncers (12) |
Get in[10] means to enter a car, train, etc. Personally, I would get in[10] a car but get on[10] a train.
| 10d | We might reckon on these // picnic blankets (12) |
| 14d | Doctor Anne cured // patient suffering (9) |
In the definition, "patient" is used as an adjective modifying the gerund "suffering".
| 15d | Crooked, // extremely slick partners above suspicion (4-5) |
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.
Skew-whiff[5] is an informal British term meaning not straight; in other words, askew ⇒
he knocked my wig skew-whiff.
| 17d | Testers // set up cutting tool with pit workers (9) |
| 21d | Wind engulfs island // city abroad (5) |
Turin[5] is a city in north-western Italy on the River Po, capital of Piedmont region. Turin was the capital of the kingdom of Sardinia from 1720 and became the first capital of a unified Italy (1861–4).
| 23d | High Street store contracted Northern // Gas (5) |
In the UK, high street[5] is the term used for the main street of a town, especially as the traditional site for most shops, banks, and other businesses ⇒
the approaching festive season boosted the high street. In the same way that many North American towns have a Main Street, many British towns have a High Street.
Argos[7] is a catalogue retailer operating in the United Kingdom and Ireland, acquired by Sainsbury's supermarket chain in 2016. It was established in November 1972 and is named after the Greek city of Argos. The company trades both through physical shops and online.
Argon[5] is the chemical element of atomic number 18, an inert gaseous element of the noble gas group. Argon is the commonest noble gas, making up nearly one per cent of the earth's atmosphere.
Scratching the Surface
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| Northern Gas Networks Limited[7] is the British company responsible for distributing gas to homes and businesses across Yorkshire, the North East and northern Cumbria, England. Northern Gas Networks Limited is one of eight gas distribution networks in the United Kingdom. |
| 24d | Venture /from/ old wood (5) |
"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.
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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.
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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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