Puzzle at a Glance
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Puzzle number in The Daily Telegraph
DT 29806 | |
Publication date in The Daily Telegraph
Thursday, October 14, 2021 | |
Setter
RayT (Ray Terrell) | |
Link to full review
Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 29806]
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Big Dave's Crossword Blog review written by
StephenL | |
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 must have spent as much time—or more—on the southwest quadrant as I did on the entire remainder of the puzzle. Although it was a tough struggle, it was very satisfying to complete the puzzle without having to resort to outside help.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 | Support for capital punishment? (7) |
| 5a | Element // illuminated with current in buzz (7) |
Lithium[5] is the chemical element of atomic number 3, a soft silver-white metal. (show more )
The lightest of the alkali metals, lithium occurs widely as a minor component of silicate rocks, and in some rare minerals. The metal and its compounds are used in alloys, lubricating greases, chemical reagents, batteries, and other products.
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The lightest of the alkali metals, lithium occurs widely as a minor component of silicate rocks, and in some rare minerals. The metal and its compounds are used in alloys, lubricating greases, chemical reagents, batteries, and other products.
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| 9a | Strangely bluer and almost // cloudlike (7) |
| 10a | Grand girls /producing/ spectacles (7) |
G as an abbreviation for grand is one North American usage that the Brits would appear to have embraced (show more ).
While the abbreviation G for "grand" is deemed by British dictionaries to be an Americanism, it seems to be one that is well known to Brits — undoubtedly from American gangster films. It is frequently seen in British crossword puzzles and never seems to garner the abuse that usually greets the appearance of American terms.
Grand[5] is an informal term for a thousand dollars or pounds ⇒
G is defined in various British dictionaries as follows:
While the abbreviation G for "grand" is deemed by British dictionaries to be an Americanism, it seems to be one that is well known to Brits — undoubtedly from American gangster films. It is frequently seen in British crossword puzzles and never seems to garner the abuse that usually greets the appearance of American terms.
Grand[5] is an informal term for a thousand dollars or pounds ⇒
he gets thirty-five grand a year. While the term "grand" itself would seem to be commonly used in the UK, the informal abbreviation G[5] meaning grand appears to be regarded as a North American usage ⇒
I was up nine Gs on the blackjack tables.
G is defined in various British dictionaries as follows:
- Oxford Dictionaries: (North American informal) abbreviation for grand, a thousand dollars)[5].
- Chambers 21st Century Dictionary: (North American slang) abbreviation for a grand, 1000 dollars[2].
- Collins English Dictionary: (mainly US slang) a symbol for grand (a thousand dollars or pounds)[4,10].
| 11a | Smooth // singer's first with rubbish Queen (9) |
Rubbish[3,4,11] (noun) is used in the sense* of nonsense (foolish words or speech).
*Note: Lexico (Oxford Dictionaries) considers rubbish[5] (in all senses) to be British — despite it not being characterized as
such by American dictionaries. I would think that, as a noun, the
word has long ago become naturalized in North America. That is not the case, however, when it is used as an adjective or verb. (show more )
In North America, the word rubbish[3,11] is employed only as a noun whereas, in the UK, it is also used as an adjective or verb:
In North America, the word rubbish[3,11] is employed only as a noun whereas, in the UK, it is also used as an adjective or verb:
- Rubbish[5] (adjective) is an informal British term denoting very bad; worthless or useless ⇒ (i)
people might say I was a rubbish manager
; (ii)she was rubbish at chemistry
.
- Rubbish[4,5] (verb) is an informal British term meaning to criticize severely and reject as worthless ⇒
he rubbished the idea of a European Community-wide carbon tax
.
"Queen " = ER [regnal cipher of Queen Elizabeth]
The regnal ciphers (monograms) of British monarchs are initials formed from the Latin version of their first name followed by either Rex or Regina (Latin for king or queen, respectively). Thus, the regnal cipher of Queen Elizabeth is ER[5] — from the Latin Elizabetha Regina.
* A cipher[5] (also cypher) is a monogram[5] or motif of two or more interwoven letters, typically a person's initials, used to identify a personal possession or as a logo.
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The regnal ciphers (monograms) of British monarchs are initials formed from the Latin version of their first name followed by either Rex or Regina (Latin for king or queen, respectively). Thus, the regnal cipher of Queen Elizabeth is ER[5] — from the Latin Elizabetha Regina.
* A cipher[5] (also cypher) is a monogram[5] or motif of two or more interwoven letters, typically a person's initials, used to identify a personal possession or as a logo.
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| 12a | Binge // shows playing repeats every evening, initially (5) |
| 13a | Use vision, including nose oddly /for/ feeling (5) |
| 15a | Dress up // bride with more fussing (9) |
| 17a | Gloomy clutching one's small // sack (9) |
| 19a | Crown in charge of // subject (5) |
"in charge of " = IC
| 22a | Resign // on account of work (5) |
Resign[10] is used in the sense of to give up (a right, claim, etc.); in other words, relinquish [or forgo] ⇒
he resigned his claim to the throne.
| 23a | Quiet about Conservative, popular, facing a // scrap (9) |
"Conservative " = C [member of British political party]
The abbreviation for Conservative may be either C.[10] or Con.[10].
The Conservative Party[5] is a major right of centre British political party promoting free enterprise and private ownership that emerged from the old Tory Party* under Sir Robert Peel in the 1830s and 1840s.
* Historically, a Tory[10] was a member of the English political party that opposed the exclusion of James, Duke of York from the royal succession (1679–80). Tory remained the label for subsequent major conservative interests until they gave birth to the Conservative Party in the 1830s.
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The abbreviation for Conservative may be either C.[10] or Con.[10].
The Conservative Party[5] is a major right of centre British political party promoting free enterprise and private ownership that emerged from the old Tory Party* under Sir Robert Peel in the 1830s and 1840s.
* Historically, a Tory[10] was a member of the English political party that opposed the exclusion of James, Duke of York from the royal succession (1679–80). Tory remained the label for subsequent major conservative interests until they gave birth to the Conservative Party in the 1830s.
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| 25a | Excluding tips, this compiler's // misleading (7) |
Panning for gold
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A quarter of my solving time may have been expended on this one clue alone. Before arriving at the correct one, I believe I tried every conceivable interpretation of the phrase "this compiler's":
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| 26a | Trails // fugitives, the fourth absconding (7) |
Runway[5] is used in the sense of an animal run, especially one made by small mammals in grass, under snow, etc.
| 27a | What supports new bloomers? (7) |
A bloomer[10] is a plant that flowers, especially in a specified way ⇒
a night bloomer.
Scratching the Surface
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| Bloomers[5]
are women's loose-fitting knee-length knickers [panties], considered old-fashioned. I believe that including the word "new" in the clue is a bit of an (intentional) red herring as the support structure would be equally applicable to "old bloomers". |
| 28a | Checks after covering of safety // procedures (7) |
Down
| 1d | Famous volume opening /for/ group (7) |
Genesis[5] is the first book ("opening") of the Bible ("famous volume"), which includes the stories of the creation of the world, Noah’s Ark, the Tower of Babel, and the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph.
Genesis[7] are an English rock band formed in 1967 that has undergone many changes* in both membership and musical style over the course of its existence.
* The most commercially successful and longest-lasting line-up consisted of keyboardist Tony Banks, bassist/guitarist Mike Rutherford and drummer/singer Phil Collins. Former members include original lead singer Peter Gabriel and guitarists Anthony Phillips and Steve Hackett. The band underwent many changes in musical style over its career, from folk music to progressive rock in the 1970s, before moving towards pop at the end of the decade.
| 2d | The French veto against // Asian country (7) |
"the French " = LE [French definite article]
| 3d | Men on dock /and/ deck (5) |
The orlop[5] (also orlop deck) is the lowest deck of a wooden sailing ship with three or more decks.
| 4d | Vessel, part sunken, holds up // unsupported (9) |
| 5d | Raise grand // drink (5) |
| 6d | Rapture /seeing/ sunset finally passed pool? (9) |
Pass[10] (past tense passed) is used in the sense of to run, extend, or lead through, over, or across (a place) ⇒
before the bypass was built, the highway passed through the centre of town.
| 7d | Sun with dire rubbish // covered (7) |
As an anagram indicator, rubbish[1] is used in the sense of nonsense. [See the discussion at 11a regarding the British usage of the word 'rubbish'.]
| 8d | Man who reportedly needs other people? (7) |
| 14d | Telegraph line? (9) |
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 originally appeared
| 16d | Game // bird is all dressed (9) |
| 17d | Left in revolt // change course (7) |
The first meaning given by The Chambers Dictionary for revolt[1] is to renounce allegiance. I would say that to defect[1] is to go a step further and transfer one's allegiance to another cause.
| 18d | Top // water-sport expert? (7) |
To fully appreciate the second part of the clue, split the solution (4,3) and read it as phrase rather than try to interpret it as a charade.
| 20d | Examine // china dish missing lid's top (7) |
China[5] is an informal British term for a friend (or, as the Brits would say, a mate*).
Origin: Cockney rhyming slang (show more ) from china plate (rhymes with 'mate').
A cockney[5,10] is a native of East London [specifically that part of East London known as the East End[5]], traditionally one born within hearing of Bow Bells (the bells of St Mary-le-Bow[7] church).
The cockney[5] dialect is characterized by dropping the aitch (H) from the beginning of words as well as the use of rhyming slang[5].
Rhyming slang[5] is a type of slang that replaces words with rhyming words or phrases, typically with the rhyming element omitted. For example, butcher’s, short for butcher’s hook, means ‘look’ in cockney rhyming slang.
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* In Britain, mate[5]—in addition to being a person’s husband, wife, or other sexual partner—is an informal term for a friend or companion ⇒
Origin: Cockney rhyming slang (show more ) from china plate (rhymes with 'mate').
A cockney[5,10] is a native of East London [specifically that part of East London known as the East End[5]], traditionally one born within hearing of Bow Bells (the bells of St Mary-le-Bow[7] church).
The cockney[5] dialect is characterized by dropping the aitch (H) from the beginning of words as well as the use of rhyming slang[5].
Rhyming slang[5] is a type of slang that replaces words with rhyming words or phrases, typically with the rhyming element omitted. For example, butcher’s, short for butcher’s hook, means ‘look’ in cockney rhyming slang.
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* In Britain, mate[5]—in addition to being a person’s husband, wife, or other sexual partner—is an informal term for a friend or companion ⇒
my best mate Steve.
| 21d | Body /of/ church unchanged welcoming Son (7) |
In an automotive context, body and chassis are quite distinct entities with the chassis[10] being the steel frame, wheels, engine, and mechanical parts of a motor vehicle, to which the body is attached.
However, think of chassis[10] as slang for the body of a person, especially a woman.
| 23d | Gets rid of // outhouses (5) |
Here and There
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| In Britain, an outhouse[5] is a
building such as a shed or barn that is built on to or in* the grounds
of a house rather than an outside toilet (as the term would be understood in North America). In North America, such a structure would be called an outbuilding[5] (a term that also appears to be used in the UK).
* note that Brits say "in the grounds" rather than "on the grounds"; they would also say that a player is "in a team" rather than "on a team" and that children are playing "in the road" rather than "on the road". |
| 24d | Looks after // the Yorkshire borders (5) |
In dialects spoken in Northern England (including Yorkshire), the word the is commonly shortened to t'. An old Yorkshire saying goes "The only good thing to come out of Lancashire is t’road back to Yorkshire".*
* Rivalry between these two northern counties dates back at least to the Wars of Roses[5], the 15th-century English civil wars between the Houses of York and Lancaster, represented by white and red roses respectively, during the reigns of Henry VI, Edward IV, and Richard III.
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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