Puzzle at a Glance
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Puzzle number in The Daily Telegraph
DT 29831 | |
Publication date in The Daily Telegraph
Friday, November 12, 2021 | |
Setter
silvanus | |
Link to full review
Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 29831]
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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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Notes
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This puzzle appears on the Monday Diversions page in the Saturday, February 19, 2022 edition of the National Post. | |
Introduction
I made this far more difficult than it need be by using the wrong reptile at 7d. That resulted in all the intersecting across clues in the northwest quadrant being virtually impossible to solve until I twigged to the error.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
| 7a | Last piece of Arctic roll /for/ dessert (7) |
Roll[5] could be used* in the sense (said of a loud, deep sound) to reverberate ⇒
the first peals of thunder rolled across the sky.
* In his review on Big Dave's Crossword Blog, Deep Threat offers an alternative explanation.
| 8a | Military // order read out (7) |
Marshal[5] is used in the sense of to assemble and arrange (a group of people, especially troops) in order ⇒
the general marshalled his troops.
| 10a | Somehow depend on keeping agreement essentially // indeterminate (4-5) |
| 11a | Smart // chain mayor finally removed (5) |
| 12a | Start // working with firm (5) |
| 13a | Finished plan /creating/ bank facility for customers (9) |
| 15a | Arrest adult trio that's regularly expressed upsetting // language (7) |
"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.]
hide
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.]
hide
| 17a | Hound // immoral head of judiciary in Northern Ireland (7) |
"Northern Ireland " = NI
Northern Ireland[5] (abbreviation NI[5]) is a province of the United Kingdom occupying the northeast part of Ireland.
According to Lexico (Oxford Dictionaries), Northern Ireland[5] is the only major division of the United Kingdom to hold the status of province, with England[5], Scotland[5] and Wales[5] considered to be countries.
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Northern Ireland[5] (abbreviation NI[5]) is a province of the United Kingdom occupying the northeast part of Ireland.
According to Lexico (Oxford Dictionaries), Northern Ireland[5] is the only major division of the United Kingdom to hold the status of province, with England[5], Scotland[5] and Wales[5] considered to be countries.
hide
A basenji[5] is a smallish hunting dog of a central African breed, which growls and yelps but does not bark.
| 18a | Go // crazy around Eve (9) |
| 20a | Cast // finishes off brief rehearsal you began watching (5) |
| 21a | Unknown cuts record /for/ composer (5) |
"unknown " = Z [algebraic symbol]
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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| 23a | Wager Mark /will find/ something fast to drive? (6,3) |
According to The Chambers Dictionary*, one meaning of sport[1] is to wager.
* this being the only dictionary of the several I consulted in which I found this meaning
| 24a | Suggest // what experienced fashion model might exhibit? (7) |
| 25a | Unfortunately rudeness almost /is/ guaranteed (7) |
Down
| 1d | Rock band's also touring large // part of Australia (10) |
Queen[5] is a British rock group that in its heyday featured camp vocalist Freddie Mercury (1946–1991). Queen are known for their extravagant, almost operatic brand of rock, as exemplified by the hugely successful ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ (1975).
" large " = L[5] [clothing size]
Queensland[5] is a state comprising the north-eastern part of Australia. (show more )
Originally established in 1824 as a penal settlement, Queensland was constituted a separate colony in 1859, having previously formed part of New South Wales, and was federated with the other states of Australia in 1901.
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Originally established in 1824 as a penal settlement, Queensland was constituted a separate colony in 1859, having previously formed part of New South Wales, and was federated with the other states of Australia in 1901.
hide
| 2d | Worthless // article yields nothing for American (6) |
The Chambers Dictionary defines abject[1] (adjective) as meaning mean, wretched; worthless; grovelling; base or contemptible; cast away.
| 3d | Expel from university // without reason extremely shocked individual (4,4) |
Send down[10] is a British term meaning to expel from a university, especially permanently.
Related term: Down[5] is a British term meaning away from a university, especially Oxford or Cambridge ⇒
he was down from Oxford.
| 4d | Second European defends abuse over guitarist originally /in/ Blur (6) |
"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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Scratching the Surface
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| Blur[7] are an English rock band, formed in London in 1988. In the early 1990s, the band achieved mass popularity in the UK, aided by a chart battle with rivals Oasis in 1995 dubbed the "Battle of Britpop". In 1997, their single "Song 2"[7] went to #6 in the US and #1 in Canada on the alternative rock charts. |
| 5d | Campaigns // running scared, limiting empty undertakings (8) |
| 6d | Antipodean // principal, small of stature reportedly (4) |
Antipodean[5] is a term (used by inhabitants of the northern hemisphere) denoting, as a noun, a person from Australia or New Zealand and, as an adjective, relating to Australia or New Zealand.
Root: The Antipodes[5] is a term used by inhabitants of the northern hemisphere to refer to Australia and New Zealand.
Kiwi[5] is an informal name* for a New Zealander.
* The name presumably derives from the kiwi[5], a flightless New Zealand bird with hair-like feathers, having a long downcurved bill with sensitive nostrils at the tip.
* The name presumably derives from the kiwi[5], a flightless New Zealand bird with hair-like feathers, having a long downcurved bill with sensitive nostrils at the tip.
| 7d | Film excerpt about reptile, // current connection with it? (9,4) |
Crocodile clip[5] is the British name for an alligator clip.
Post Mortem
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| I struggled with the northwest quadrant of the puzzle as nothing seemed to fit. It was only when 10a finally fell that I realized I had the wrong reptile. |
| 9d | Inclined to steal // gin, the girl fed appallingly (5-8) |
| 14d | Newscasters /in/ US on CNN are changing (10) |
Scratching the Surface
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| The Cable News Network (CNN)[7] is a multinational news-based pay television channel headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. |
| 16d | Current lawsuit /leads to/ state where nothing's happening (8) |
| 17d | Person withdrawing library books, // one with 13 perhaps? (8) |
The
numeral "13" is a cross
reference indicator pointing to clue 13a (show more ).
To complete the clue, a solver must replace the cross reference indicator with the solution to the clue starting in the light* identified by the cross reference indicator.
The cross reference indicator may include a directional indicator but this is customarily done only in situations where there are both Across and Down clues originating in the light that is being referenced.
* light-coloured cell in the grid
hide
To complete the clue, a solver must replace the cross reference indicator with the solution to the clue starting in the light* identified by the cross reference indicator.
The cross reference indicator may include a directional indicator but this is customarily done only in situations where there are both Across and Down clues originating in the light that is being referenced.
* light-coloured cell in the grid
hide
| 19d | Competed in medieval combat re-enactment topless, /getting/ thrown out! (6) |
| 20d | Rearing cheetahs, it effectively inspires // obsession (6) |
| 22d | Son given powerful // injection (4) |
" son " = S [s[5]; in genealogies]
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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