Puzzle at a Glance
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Puzzle number in The Daily Telegraph
DT 29830 | |
Publication date in The Daily Telegraph
Thursday, November 11, 2021 | |
Setter
RayT (Ray Terrell) | |
Link to full review
Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 29830]
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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
While StephenL may not have found "today’s Ray T too tricky at all", I certainly did. However, I persevered and managed to complete it without external aid.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 | Suitably // nifty clues, if solved (12) |
| 9a | English crack team with tense // tackle (9) |
" English " = E[2]
" tense " = T [t or t.[1]]
Tackle[5] is used in the sense of the equipment required for a task or sport ⇒
fishing tackle.
| 10a | Bone /seeing/ top part twisting back (5) |
| 11a | Weary embracing sweetheart // having rows (6) |
" sweetheart " = E ['heart' of swEet]
| 12a | Famous Democrat holding together with // flag (8) |
" Democrat " = D[5] [member or supporter of the US Democratic Party]
| 13a | Socialist accepts a politician // giving better access? (6) |
" politician " = MP[2] [Member of Parliament]
| 15a | Magnificent // concert's finale due to include Queen (8) |
"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 spelled 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 spelled 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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| 18a | Persistent // criminal's hit facing time (8) |
" time " = T [t[1]]
| 19a | Goddess, // advanced adult around at that time (6) |
"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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Athena[5] is the patron goddess of Athens, typically allegorized into a personification of wisdom.
| 21a | Dished up again, possibly // cold (8) |
| 23a | Diplomacy in charge of // subterfuge (6) |
" in charge of " = IC [i/c[2]]
| 26a | Offended /and/ judged in EastEnders (5) |
EastEnders[7]
is an award-winning British soap opera set in the East End of London which has been broadcast on BBC
One since 1985. (show more )
The programme follows the stories of local residents and their families as they go about their daily lives. Consistently among the top-rated TV programmes in Britain, it has tackled many dilemmas that are considered to be controversial and taboo issues in British culture and social life previously unseen on United Kingdom mainstream television.
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The programme follows the stories of local residents and their families as they go about their daily lives. Consistently among the top-rated TV programmes in Britain, it has tackled many dilemmas that are considered to be controversial and taboo issues in British culture and social life previously unseen on United Kingdom mainstream television.
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The solving of this clue depends on a knowledge of two characteristics of British speech. The first is that the word "err" , when pronounced in a British accent sounds like the "er" in the word "herd" or the "ear" in the word "heard". The second is that the cockney[5] dialect spoken in the East End[5] of London is characterized by dropping the aitch (H) from the beginning of words. Thus the word "heard" when pronounced in a cockney accent would sound identical to "erred".
| 27a | Sticky // slug out in wild (9) |
| 28a | Trailers lent out // between stars (12) |
Down
| 1d | Protection /of/ rank protecting lieutenant (7) |
| 2d | Fine instrument? (5) |
The entire clue is a (somewhat) cryptic definition in which the wordplay is embedded.
" fine " = F[2] [grade of pencil lead]
| 3d | Simple men trying to grip // tool (9) |
| 4d | Single sweetheart doesn't finish // proposal (4) |
| 5d | Egypt, say, employing books /in/ hieroglyphics? (8) |
"books " = OT [Old Testament]
In Crosswordland, the term "books"—sometimes (although not today) accompanied by a modifier—is commonly used to clue either the Old Testament (OT) or the New Testament (NT).
Today, as is often the case, the clue provides no indication whether the reference is to the former or the latter.
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In Crosswordland, the term "books"—sometimes (although not today) accompanied by a modifier—is commonly used to clue either the Old Testament (OT) or the New Testament (NT).
Today, as is often the case, the clue provides no indication whether the reference is to the former or the latter.
hide
| 6d | Initially language almost turned Italian now (5) |
The entire clue is both a cryptic definition as well as wordplay.
As a definition, the clue is a cryptic way of expressing "The ancient language that has now evolved into Italian".
| 7d | When describing supporter this compiler's // harsh (8) |
The word ''describing" is used as a containment indicator. (show more )
The use of the word "describe(s)" (or variations thereof such as "describing" or "described by") as either a containment indicator or a hidden word indicator is a common cryptic crossword device which relies on describe[1,2,12] being used in the sense of to trace out or delineate [in other words, form a boundary around] ⇒
* Although, to be precise, it is the tracks left by the skaters' blades that describe the circles.
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The use of the word "describe(s)" (or variations thereof such as "describing" or "described by") as either a containment indicator or a hidden word indicator is a common cryptic crossword device which relies on describe[1,2,12] being used in the sense of to trace out or delineate [in other words, form a boundary around] ⇒
skaters describing circles on the ice*.
* Although, to be precise, it is the tracks left by the skaters' blades that describe the circles.
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"this compiler's " = IVE
It is a common cryptic crossword convention for the creator of the puzzle to use terms such as (the or this) compiler, (the or this) setter, (the or this) speaker, (this) author, (this) writer, or this person to refer to himself or herself. To solve such a clue, one must generally substitute a first person pronoun (I or ME) for whichever of these terms has been used in the clue.
Today, the the creator of the puzzle has made the scenario more complicated by combining "this compiler" with the verb "to have"* producing "this compiler's" (a contraction of "this compiler has") which must be replaced by "I've" (a contraction of "I have").
* Although in the surface reading "this compiler's" is a contraction of "this compiler is", in the wordplay it is interpreted as "this compiler has".
hide
It is a common cryptic crossword convention for the creator of the puzzle to use terms such as (the or this) compiler, (the or this) setter, (the or this) speaker, (this) author, (this) writer, or this person to refer to himself or herself. To solve such a clue, one must generally substitute a first person pronoun (I or ME) for whichever of these terms has been used in the clue.
Today, the the creator of the puzzle has made the scenario more complicated by combining "this compiler" with the verb "to have"* producing "this compiler's" (a contraction of "this compiler has") which must be replaced by "I've" (a contraction of "I have").
* Although in the surface reading "this compiler's" is a contraction of "this compiler is", in the wordplay it is interpreted as "this compiler has".
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| 8d | Worshipper /of/ deity father left upset (6) |
| 14d | Short skirts make demands on // cloth (8) |
The cloth[5] denotes the clergy or the clerical profession ⇒
A man of the cloth commands respect. It is assumed that a man of god is somehow better than the rest of us.
| 16d | Banish // former partner over occupation about sex (9) |
"sex " = IT
It[2,5] (usually written in quotation marks, "it") is an informal term for sex appeal* or sexual intercourse ⇒ (i)
* Chambers 21st Century Dictionary considers this sense to be an "old use" (Chambers' terminology for archaic, obsolete or old-fashioned).
"It"[7] (written in quotation marks) is a term that has come to mean sex appeal — although, in its earliest manifestation, it seems that the term pertained more to personality than to glamorous looks. Despite having been used as early as 1904 by Rudyard Kipling, the term was popularized in the 1927 film It starring Clara Bow (who became known as the "It Girl").
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It[2,5] (usually written in quotation marks, "it") is an informal term for sex appeal* or sexual intercourse ⇒ (i)
the only thing I knew nothing about was ‘it’; (ii)
they were caught doing ‘it’ in the back seat of his car.
* Chambers 21st Century Dictionary considers this sense to be an "old use" (Chambers' terminology for archaic, obsolete or old-fashioned).
"It"[7] (written in quotation marks) is a term that has come to mean sex appeal — although, in its earliest manifestation, it seems that the term pertained more to personality than to glamorous looks. Despite having been used as early as 1904 by Rudyard Kipling, the term was popularized in the 1927 film It starring Clara Bow (who became known as the "It Girl").
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| 17d | Give line out /to show/ lure (8) |
| 18d | Drag carrying exercise // mat (6) |
| 20d | Plaintiff /with/ account copper's heard regularly (7) |
" account " = AC [a/c[2]]
| 22d | Dangerous element /from/ artist fellow (5) |
At Oxford and Cambridge universities, a fellow[10] is a member of the governing body of a college who is usually a member of the teaching staff.
A don[10] is a member of the teaching staff at a university or college, especially at Oxford or Cambridge.
Radon[5] (symbol Rn) is the chemical element of atomic number 86, a rare radioactive gas belonging to the noble gas series. Radon is a product of the radioactive decay of radium and is used as a source of alpha particles in radiotherapy. Small quantities of the gas are also emitted naturally from the ground in granite-rich areas—a health concern as radon can cause cancer.
| 24d | Someone being virtually insulting? (5) |
A troll[5] is a person who makes a deliberately offensive or provocative online post ⇒
one solution is to make a troll's postings invisible to the rest of community once they've been recognized.
| 25d | Makes fun of // blokes (4) |
References
Key to Reference Sources:
[1] - The Chambers Dictionary, 11th Edition
[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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