Puzzle at a Glance
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Puzzle number in The Daily Telegraph
DT 29791 | |
Publication date in The Daily Telegraph
Monday, September 27, 2021 | |
Setter
Campbell (Allan Scott) | |
Link to full review
Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 29791]
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Big Dave's Crossword Blog review written by
Falcon | |
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 whizzed through this puzzle quickly the second time around—which is not always the case with puzzles I have reviewed for Big Dave's Crossword Blog. Sometimes they are just as much of a challenge on the return engagement as they were on the first encounter.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 | Exceptionally good // curiosities left (10) |
| 6a | Closely examine // small container for storing film (4) |
A can[10] is a shallow cylindrical metal container of varying size used for storing and handling film.
* The term may be familiar to most when used in the phrase in the can[10,12] (said of a film, piece of music, etc.) denoting recorded, filmed, taped, etc. but not yet released for sale, exhibition, broadcast, viewing, etc.
| 9a | Talk about European // do (5) |
"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.
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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.
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Do[5] is an informal British term meaning to swindle ⇒
It was only after travelling to Amsterdam and meeting the fraudsters that she became suspicious and contacted police, who told her: ‘Sorry, but you've been done.’.
| 10a | Always heard after goal /or/ try (9) |
Scratching the Surface
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| In the game of rugby, a try[5,10] (also called a touchdown[5]) is the act of an attacking player touching the ball down behind the opposing team's goal line, scoring points (in Rugby Union, five points or in Rugby League, four points) and entitling the scoring side to a kick at goal for a conversion[5], which (if successful) would score an additional two points. |
The Story Behind the Picture
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| The illustration accompanying the hint for this clue on Big Dave's Crossword Blog is a photo of English actor John Thaw[7] (1942–2002) who played Detective Chief Inspector Endeavour Morse[7] in the British television series Inspector Morse*[7]. The photo of her favourite heart-throb was included in the hopes of brightening the day a bit for long-time fellow blogger Kath who has been absent from the blogging chair after suffering a stroke. * The programme, produced between 1987 and 2000, is based on a series of detective novels by British author Colin Dexter (1930–2017). Morse is a senior CID (Criminal Investigation Department) officer with the Thames Valley Police force in Oxford, England. |
| 12a | What may cause danger if tossed by first to enter? (7) |
The entire clue as a cryptic definition in which the wordplay is embedded.
| 13a | Concede // match (5) |
| 15a | Take back // pamphlet produced by Royal Engineers (7) |
"Royal Engineers " = RE [Royal Engineers]
| 16a | Please // pay in full (7) |
| 18a | Titled lady // expected endless game (7) |
A duchess[5] is either:
- the wife or widow of a duke
- a woman holding a rank equivalent to duke in her own right
| 20a | Intimidate // a Parisian with bottle (7) |
"a Parisian " = UN
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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| 21a | On which notes may be written /for/ workforce (5) |
In standard Western musical notation[7], the staff[7] or stave is a set of five horizontal lines and four spaces that each represent a different musical pitch—or, in the case of a percussion staff, different percussion instruments—on which a musical score is written.
For British musicians, stave[4,5,10,14]
would seem to be the name of choice whereas in North America, staff[1,2,3,11,12] is likely the more commonly used term. (show more )
Among British dictionaries, both Lexico (Oxford Dictionaries)[5] and Collins English Dictionary[4,10,14] characterize stave as a British term, while The Chambers Dictionary[1] and Chambers 21st Century Dictionary[2] do not. American dictionaries[3,11,12], on the other hand, do not seem to consider stave to be a British term. Furthermore, most dictionaries show stave[1,2,3,4,10,11,12] as an alternative term for staff[1,2,3,4,10,11]. Lexico, on the other hand, takes a contrarian view, listing staff[5] as an alternative term for stave[5].
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Among British dictionaries, both Lexico (Oxford Dictionaries)[5] and Collins English Dictionary[4,10,14] characterize stave as a British term, while The Chambers Dictionary[1] and Chambers 21st Century Dictionary[2] do not. American dictionaries[3,11,12], on the other hand, do not seem to consider stave to be a British term. Furthermore, most dictionaries show stave[1,2,3,4,10,11,12] as an alternative term for staff[1,2,3,4,10,11]. Lexico, on the other hand, takes a contrarian view, listing staff[5] as an alternative term for stave[5].
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| 23a | Witty response /from/ Republican that is passed round office (7) |
"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.
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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.
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| 25a | Artist imprisoned by a bitter travelling // judge (9) |
"artist " = RA [Royal Academician | Royal Academy]
| 26a | Find expression? Only part of it /in/ list (5) |
| 27a | Information: // a small amount brought back (4) |
| 28a | Year in orchestra -- great, // on the whole (2,3,5) |
Down
| 1d | What sounds like full // agreement (4) |
| 2d | Full of beans // in Greece, mad about temperature (9) |
| 3d | Where playing card displays pips, // seemingly? (2,3,4,2,2) |
A double definition, in which the first is descriptive.
| 4d | Stylish // article written after member appears in film (7) |
"film " = ET [E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial]
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial[7] (often referred to simply as E.T.) is a 1982 American science fiction film co-produced and directed by Steven Spielberg. It tells the story of a lonely boy who befriends an extraterrestrial, dubbed "E.T.", who is stranded on Earth. He and his siblings help the extraterrestrial return home while attempting to keep it hidden from their mother and the government.
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E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial[7] (often referred to simply as E.T.) is a 1982 American science fiction film co-produced and directed by Steven Spielberg. It tells the story of a lonely boy who befriends an extraterrestrial, dubbed "E.T.", who is stranded on Earth. He and his siblings help the extraterrestrial return home while attempting to keep it hidden from their mother and the government.
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| 5d | Lecture // a daughter over clothes (7) |
| 7d | Group of singers // sing endlessly about love (5) |
"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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| 8d | Guys taking care of blossoming business? (10) |
| 11d | A tense adult partnership, until now // going nowhere (2,1,10) |
"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.]
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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.]
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In cricket, partnership[5] denotes the number of runs added by a pair of batsmen before one of them is dismissed or the innings ends ⇒
their 176-run third-wicket partnership.
In cricket, a stand[10] is an extended period at the wicket [in other words, an extended period batting without being put out and thereby scoring runs] by two batsmen.
| 14d | Bishop and I disarmed desperate // female holding up a train? (10) |
| 17d | Almost certain to provide // yield (9) |
| 19d | Like some bacon, // variable in quality (7) |
Streaky bacon[5] is a British term for what we call simply bacon; that is, bacon cut from the sides and belly of the pig and having distinct strips of fat. To Brits, the term bacon[5] encompasses both streaky bacon and back bacon[5] (lean bacon from the back or loin of the pig). When the term bacon is used unqualified, Brits would likely consider it to refer to back bacon.
| 20d | Lots // devoured by plump teenager (7) |
| 22d | A British book on Old Testament // religious leader (5) |
"book " = B
The abbreviation for book is b[1] (or b.[1]) or B[12].*
* Although neither of the two dictionaries in which a listing for this abbreviation is found provide information on the context in which it is used, I would guess that it might be in publishing, in particular in bibliographies or footnotes and endnotes in academic works when referencing one or more books in a series of books ⇒
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The abbreviation for book is b[1] (or b.[1]) or B[12].*
* Although neither of the two dictionaries in which a listing for this abbreviation is found provide information on the context in which it is used, I would guess that it might be in publishing, in particular in bibliographies or footnotes and endnotes in academic works when referencing one or more books in a series of books ⇒
see b. 3, p. 233.
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An abbot[5] is a man who is the head of an abbey of monks.
| 24d | Rod/'s/ large cutting tool (4) |
In Britain, this tool is known as an axe[5] and in the US as an ax. One might encounter either spelling in Canada.
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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