Puzzle at a Glance
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Puzzle number in The Daily Telegraph
DT 29807 | |
Publication date in The Daily Telegraph
Friday, October 15, 2021 | |
Setter
silvanus | |
Link to full review
Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 29807]
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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 came to grief in the northeast corner by prematurely accepting an answer about which I had serious doubts.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 | Loose cows on farm /creating/ potentially tricky problem (3,2,5) |
| 6a | Wild animal said /to be/ nuisance (4) |
A bore[5] is a person whose talk or behaviour is dull and uninteresting. The British have an expression, pub bore[a], denoting a solitary drinker in a pub who importunes others with lengthy reminiscences or other tedious monologues.
[a] Brewer's Dictionary of Modern Phrase & Fable
Post Mortem
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| I thought the definition would be "wild animal" with the only ones fitting the checking letters that I could think of being MOLE and VOLE. I settled on the former reasoning that this must not be a homophone clue but rather a double definition with a mole on the skin being a nuisance. I did think it rather unusual to clue "mole" as wild animal and was also suspicious of the second definition as moles are often considered to be a beauty mark rather than a nuisance. Moreover, in hindsight, "said" is quite clearly a homophone indicator. |
| 9a | It is hard backing second-rate horse essentially /in/ race (7) |
| 10a | Inclined to cry, // first of those facing reprimand (7) |
| 12a | Dance /with/ student also involved in tempestuous affair (8,5) |
"student " = L [driver under instruction]
The cryptic crossword convention of L meaning learner or student arises from the L-plate[7], a square plate bearing a sans-serif letter L, for learner, which must be affixed to the front and back of a vehicle in various jurisdictions (including the UK) if its driver is a learner under instruction.
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The cryptic crossword convention of L meaning learner or student arises from the L-plate[7], a square plate bearing a sans-serif letter L, for learner, which must be affixed to the front and back of a vehicle in various jurisdictions (including the UK) if its driver is a learner under instruction.
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| Automobile displaying an L-plate |
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High[2] is used in the sense of intense or advanced; more forceful than normal.
The Highland fling[5] is a vigorous Scottish dance consisting of a series of complex steps performed solo, originally to celebrate victory.
| 14a | Though appearing gutless, steals // pounds (6) |
Scratching the Surface
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| In the surface reading, pound[5] (also pound sterling) is the basic monetary unit of the UK, equal to 100 pence. |
| 15a | Accommodation /for/ sections of society (8) |
My best explanation for the second definition is that a quarter[1] is a town district inhabited by a particular class.
| 17a | Arabs, in theory, will secrete // potent drink (8) |
Absinthe[5,7,10] (also absinth) is a potent
green aniseed-flavoured alcoholic drink, technically a gin, originally
made with the shrub wormwood. (show more )
Absinthe has often been portrayed as a dangerously addictive psychoactive drug and hallucinogen. The chemical compound thujone, which is present in the spirit in trace amounts, was blamed for its alleged harmful effects. As a result, for most of the twentieth century, absinthe was banned in the United States and much of Europe. Recent studies have shown that absinthe's psychoactive properties have been exaggerated, apart from that of the alcohol.
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Absinthe has often been portrayed as a dangerously addictive psychoactive drug and hallucinogen. The chemical compound thujone, which is present in the spirit in trace amounts, was blamed for its alleged harmful effects. As a result, for most of the twentieth century, absinthe was banned in the United States and much of Europe. Recent studies have shown that absinthe's psychoactive properties have been exaggerated, apart from that of the alcohol.
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| 19a | Those originally inside Rolls-Royce /arriving at/ opera? (6) |
I guess those travelling by public transit are bus men!
I think John of Groats at Comment #35 on Big Dave's Crossword Blog may have hit the nail on the head with his suggestion that the wordplay alludes to Charles Rolls and Henry Royce, the founders (and therefore "those originally inside") of Rolls-Royce Limited. They were certainly "car men".
Rolls-Royce[10] is a make of very high-quality, luxurious, and prestigious British* car.
* Although the Rolls-Royce company is no longer British-owned.
Carmen[7]
is an opera by French composer Georges Bizet (1838–1875). (show more )
The opera was first performed in Paris in 1875, where its breaking of conventions shocked and scandalized its first audiences. Bizet died suddenly after the 33rd performance, unaware that the work would achieve international acclaim within the following ten years. Carmen has since become one of the most popular and frequently performed operas in the classical canon.
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The opera was first performed in Paris in 1875, where its breaking of conventions shocked and scandalized its first audiences. Bizet died suddenly after the 33rd performance, unaware that the work would achieve international acclaim within the following ten years. Carmen has since become one of the most popular and frequently performed operas in the classical canon.
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| 22a | Place near London, // order fish there mostly for distribution (13) |
Hertfordshire[5] is a county of southeastern England, one of the so-called "Home Counties" surrounding London.
| 24a | About to enter English court, Edmond's case /is/ established (7) |
| 25a | Over time medic provided gear periodically /for/ vagrant (7) |
| 26a | Flipping insect // bite (4) |
Scratching the Surface
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In the surface reading, flipping[5,10]
(adjective
or adverb) is an informal British term used for emphasis or to express mild annoyance ⇒ (i) are you out of your flipping mind?; (ii) it’s flipping cold today. Origin: a euphemism for the taboo word f**king |
| 27a | Unknown's article replaced by vacuous story // expressing same idea (10) |
Down
| 1d | Caught boat regularly to circle posh // island (4) |
"caught " = C [cricket notation]
"posh " = U [upper class]
In Britain, U[5] is used informally as an adjective (in respect to language or social behaviour) meaning characteristic of or appropriate to the upper social classes ⇒
The term, an abbreviation of upper class, was coined in 1954 by Alan S. C. Ross, professor of linguistics, and popularized by its use in Nancy Mitford's Noblesse Oblige (1956).
In Crosswordland, the letter U is frequently clued by words denoting "characteristic of the upper class" (such as posh or superior) or "appropriate to the upper class" (such as acceptable).
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In Britain, U[5] is used informally as an adjective (in respect to language or social behaviour) meaning characteristic of or appropriate to the upper social classes ⇒
U manners.
The term, an abbreviation of upper class, was coined in 1954 by Alan S. C. Ross, professor of linguistics, and popularized by its use in Nancy Mitford's Noblesse Oblige (1956).
In Crosswordland, the letter U is frequently clued by words denoting "characteristic of the upper class" (such as posh or superior) or "appropriate to the upper class" (such as acceptable).
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| 2d | In no case /is/ Italy blocking new anaesthetic (7) |
| 3d | Employment perk, something a hairdresser might suggest? (6,7) |
In my view, the latter part of clue does not stand alone as either wordplay or definition and therefore the entire clue must be considered to be a cryptic definition—in this case, one with an embedded precise definition.
I think we may be expected to interpret the phrase "something a hairdresser might suggest" as indicating that 'hairdresser' is a word the solver might associate with the solution—or, at least, part of the solution.
| 4d | Postponed // number going around vessel's cargo area (2,4) |
| 5d | Second American admitting irregular unit /is/ insubordinate (8) |
"second " = MO [short period of time]
Mo[5] (abbreviation for moment) is an informal term* for a short period of time ⇒
* Identified by several British dictionaries as being a British[5][14], chiefly British[2][4], or mainly British[10] term. However, one British[1] and two US dictionaries[11][12] do not specify that it is British. This meaning of the word "mo" is not found in a third US dictionary[3].
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Mo[5] (abbreviation for moment) is an informal term* for a short period of time ⇒
hang on a mo!.
* Identified by several British dictionaries as being a British[5][14], chiefly British[2][4], or mainly British[10] term. However, one British[1] and two US dictionaries[11][12] do not specify that it is British. This meaning of the word "mo" is not found in a third US dictionary[3].
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| 7d | Decision affecting lawful position of striker? (7) |
In soccer [football to the Brits], striker[10] is an informal term for an attacking player, especially one who generally positions himself or herself near the opponent's goal in the hope of scoring.
Offside[5] (especially in soccer, rugby, or hockey) denotes occupying or taking place in a position where playing the ball or puck is not allowed, especially (in soccer) in the attacking half ahead of the ball and having fewer than two defenders nearer the goal line at the moment the ball is played.
| 8d | Praising // European Union record, good restricting international crime (10) |
| 11d | Inexpensiveness /of/ gold daughter accepted in good humour (13) |
| 13d | Love // file sent with email message (10) |
| 16d | Yard shut about when in the week? (8) |
I would say the entire clue as a cryptic definition of a sort in which the wordplay is embedded. The entire clue could be expressed less cryptically as "On which day of week is the yard shut?".
By sheer coincidence, this clue just happens to appear in the National Post on a very appropriate day of the week.
| 18d | Unusually generous fortune finally escaping // theatre worker (7) |
| 20d | Rising Oregon tenor's opening line /for/ skilled musician (7) |
| 21d | Familiar with // gripping, tense, uplifting poems you articulated (4,2) |
| 23d | Plant, // one supported by stake briefly (4) |
Stake[5] (verb) is used in the sense of to gamble (money or something else of value) on the outcome of a game or race ⇒
one gambler staked everything he'd got and lost.
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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