Puzzle at a Glance
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Puzzle number in The Daily Telegraph
DT 29827 | |
Publication date in The Daily Telegraph
Monday, November 8, 2021 | |
Setter
Campbell (Allan Scott) | |
Link to full review
Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 29827]
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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
It's always humbling to read a review that I have written months ago and discover a blatant error as at 25a in today's puzzle. It's even more humbling to take a closer look at the clue and discover I was right the first time.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 | Hard work to put a stop to // children's game (9) |
" hard " = H[2,5] [grade of pencil lead]
"work " = OP [opus]
In music, an opus[5] (Latin 'work', plural opuses or opera) is a separate composition or set of compositions.
The abbreviation Op.[5] (also op.), denoting opus, is used before a number given to each work of a particular composer, usually indicating the order of publication. The plural form of Op. is Opp..
Opus[5] can also be used in other contexts to denote an artistic work, especially one on a large scale ⇒
hide
In music, an opus[5] (Latin 'work', plural opuses or opera) is a separate composition or set of compositions.
The abbreviation Op.[5] (also op.), denoting opus, is used before a number given to each work of a particular composer, usually indicating the order of publication. The plural form of Op. is Opp..
Opus[5] can also be used in other contexts to denote an artistic work, especially one on a large scale ⇒
he was writing an opus on Mexico.
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| 6a | Racket /made by/ little monkey losing tail (4) |
| 10a | Inside barrel, I concealed // ancient artefact (5) |
| 11a | Difficult to make money playing // sport (9) |
| 12a | Chief steward /in/ rank bad mood (5-4) |
The major-domo[5] is the chief steward of a large household.
| 14a | Animal /emerging from/ outskirts of Pamplona? (5) |
Scratching the Surface
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| Pamplona[5] is a city in northern Spain, capital of the former kingdom and modern region of Navarre; population 197,275 (2008). It is noted for the fiesta of San Fermin, held there in July, which is celebrated with the running of bulls through the streets of the city. |
| 15a | Attack // doctor splitting commission (7) |
"doctor " = MB
In Britain, the degree required to practice medicine is a Bachelor of Medicine[7] (MB, from Latin Medicinae Baccalaureus), which is equivalent to a North American Doctor of Medicine (MD, from Latin Medicinae Doctor). The degree of Doctor of Medicine also exists in Britain, but it is an advanced degree pursued by those who wish to go into medical research. Physicians in Britain are still addressed as Dr. despite not having a doctoral degree.
Historically, Bachelor of Medicine was also the primary medical degree conferred by institutions in the United States and Canada. Throughout the 19th century, North American medical schools switched to the tradition of the ancient universities of Scotland and began conferring Doctor of Medicine rather than Bachelor of Medicine.
hide
In Britain, the degree required to practice medicine is a Bachelor of Medicine[7] (MB, from Latin Medicinae Baccalaureus), which is equivalent to a North American Doctor of Medicine (MD, from Latin Medicinae Doctor). The degree of Doctor of Medicine also exists in Britain, but it is an advanced degree pursued by those who wish to go into medical research. Physicians in Britain are still addressed as Dr. despite not having a doctoral degree.
Historically, Bachelor of Medicine was also the primary medical degree conferred by institutions in the United States and Canada. Throughout the 19th century, North American medical schools switched to the tradition of the ancient universities of Scotland and began conferring Doctor of Medicine rather than Bachelor of Medicine.
hide
| 16a | Mutter vaguely about parking /for/ member of orchestra (7) |
| 18a | Descriptive term // I applied to record Greek character cut (7) |
Theta[5] is the eighth letter of the Greek alphabet (Θ, θ).
| 20a | Relative // measures nothing new (7) |
" new " = N[5] [in place names on maps]
| 21a | Avid // listener, for example, back inside (5) |
| 23a | Unbeatable /in/ game against minor (9) |
| 25a | Forte associated with all in screwball parts? (9) |
Having taken a second look at the clue, I see that I was actually correct in my review on Big Dave's Crossword Blog. I'll blame my error this time on having had cataract surgery yesterday and my vision not being 100%.
| 26a | Careful, // cleaner close to crockery (5) |
Char[5] is an informal British term for charwoman[5] (or charlady[5]), a dated British name for a woman employed as a cleaner in a house or office.
| 28a | Playboy? // One may see croupier with one (4) |
| 29a | Colour /of/ ball you're playing (5,4) |
Royal blue[5] is a deep, vivid blue.
Down
| 1d | Damage surrounding eastern // women's quarters (5) |
Harem[5] can denote either:
- (in former times) the separate part of a Muslim household reserved for wives, concubines, and female servants ⇒
we were invited into the harem in the rear of the house
- the women occupying a harem; the wives (or concubines) of a polygamous man ⇒
the Maharaja of Delhi had a very fine harem of 18 young and nubile wives
| 2d | Mate, // sickly-looking, lacking energy (3) |
" energy " = E[2] [symbol used in physics]
In Britain, mate[5]—in addition to meaning a person’s husband, wife, or other sexual partner—can also be an informal term for a friend or companion ⇒
my best mate Steve.
| 3d | Spooner's type of music teacher /could be/ a pest (9) |
| 4d | Bid a lot, stupidly, /for/ newspaper (7) |
| 5d | Mostly horrible time /in/ refuge (7) |
" time " = T [t[1]]
| 7d | Astute keeping with previous // word-processing technique? (3,3,5) |
| 8d | Guy that redesigned an // area of New York City (9) |
Manhattan[5] is an island near the mouth of the Hudson River forming part of the city of New York. The site of the original Dutch settlement of New Amsterdam, it is now a borough containing the commercial and cultural centre of New York City.
Origin: Named after the Algonquin tribe from whom the Dutch settlers claimed to have bought the island in 1626.
| 9d | Backchat involving male, // not firm (4) |
Backchat[5] is an informal British term for rude or cheeky remarks made in reply to someone in authority.
North American term: back talk
| 13d | Toy figure // passing over flag (7,4) |
A jack[5] is a small version of a national flag flown at the bow of a vessel in harbour to indicate its nationality.
A jumping jack[10] is a toy figure of a man with jointed limbs that can be moved by pulling attached strings.
| 15d | One harvesting honey, perhaps // bitter about English preserve (9) |
Bitter[5] is a British name for beer that is strongly flavoured with hops and has a bitter taste ⇒ (i)
a pint of bitter; (ii)
the company brews a range of bitters.
" English " = E[2]
| 17d | Wicked // lunatic? He reformed (9) |
| 19d | /See/ acrobat /in/ glass (7) |
| 20d | Please // say if it's awkward without one (7) |
| 22d | Break // from cover if threatened (4) |
| 24d | Reportedly, rustic steps /in/ vogue (5) |
| 27d | Quite // a large lake (3) |
Quite[10] is used as an adverb meaning to the greatest extent; completely or absolutely ⇒ (i)
you're quite right; (ii)
quite the opposite.
* Ironically, quite[10] can also mean to a noticeable or partial extent; somewhat ⇒
she's quite pretty.
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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