Puzzle at a Glance
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Puzzle number in The Daily Telegraph
DT 29816 | |
Publication date in The Daily Telegraph
Tuesday, October 26, 2021 | |
Setter
Unknown | |
Link to full review
Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 29816]
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Big Dave's Crossword Blog review written by
Mr K | |
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
The northwest quadrant put up strong resistance but I eventually overcame it, although I spent a considerable portion of the solving time in that corner.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 | Sharpness // wins fight -- heads are knocked off (7) |
| 5a | Use // penny Oscar kept in wallet (7) |
| 9a | Sacrifice // in the place of god, mainly (5) |
| 10a | Learner doctor does one's // unfinished jobs (5,4) |
"learner " = 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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| 11a | Not just // nuts (10) |
| 12a | One leads in mosque, aiding Muslims (4) |
This is an &lit. clue in which the entire clue is not only what I think of as a descriptive definition* but is also the wordplay.
* in this case, a rough description of the functions the cleric might perform rather than a precise definition such as one might find in a dictionary
In Islam, an imam[14] is a leader of congregational prayer in a mosque.
| 14a | False coin son forged -- // father may hear about it here (12) |
In the Christian Church, father[5] (often a title or form of address) denotes a priest ⇒
pray for me, father[5].
A confessional[5] is an enclosed stall in a church divided by a screen or curtain in which a priest sits to hear confessions.
| 18a | Stir fast? (6,6) |
Stir[5] is an informal term for prison [on both sides of the Atlantic] ⇒
I’ve spent twenty-eight years in stir.
A fast[5] is an act or period of abstaining from all or some kinds of food or drink, especially as a religious observance.
| 21a | Lamb perhaps // satisfied penning fourth of essays (4) |
Scratching the Surface
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| Charles Lamb[5] (1775–1834) was an English essayist and critic. Together with his sister Mary he wrote Tales from Shakespeare (1807). Other notable works: Essays of Elia (1823). |
| 22a | These words could make gent vamoose, possibly, with seconds to go (3,1,4,2) |
I would say the entire clue is a cryptic definition in which the wordplay is embedded.
| 25a | Romanians touring // small country (3,6) |
San Marino[5] is a republic forming a small enclave in Italy, near Rimini. It is perhaps Europe’s oldest state, claiming to have been independent almost continuously since its foundation in the 4th century.
| 26a | Massage // skin regularly each day (5) |
" each " = EA [ea.[2]]
" day " = D [d[2]]
| 27a | Turning up with diamonds and ring -- /that's/ sweet (7) |
" diamonds " = D[2] [card suit]
Sweet[5] is used in a British sense meaning dessert.
Here and There
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Whereas in North America, the term pudding[5] denotes specifically a dessert with a soft or creamy consistency, in Britain the term pudding refers to either:
What’s for pudding?could well be Apple pie. |
| 28a | Radical // former lover getting married in plane? (7) |
" married " = M [m[5]; in genealogies]
The plane[5] (also plane tree) is a tall spreading tree of the genus Platanus of the northern hemisphere, with maple-like leaves and bark which peels in uneven patches.
Down
| 1d | At home and cross after virus/'s/ arrival (6) |
| 2d | Reporter/'s/ small bed on base (6) |
" small " = S[5] [on clothing labels]
In mathematics, e[5] is the base of Napierian or natural logarithms, approximately equal to 2.71828.
Here and There
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| I am surprised to see "bed" being used to clue crib[5] as the latter is mainly a North American usage. To the Brits, a young child's bed is called a cot[5]. |
| 3d | Observer supporting smashing // dish (4-6) |
| 4d | Claw /from/ rabbit cut leg (5) |
Rabbit[5] is an informal British term meaning:
- (noun) a conversation ⇒
we had quite a heated rabbit about it
- (verb) to talk at length, especially about trivial matters ⇒
stop rabbiting on, will you, and go to bed!
Delving Deeper
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The term rabbit[5] (meaning talk) is Cockney rhyming slang arising from the expression
"rabbit and pork"[5]. (show more )
Cockneys[5,10], the natives of that part of East London known as the East End[5], speak a dialect (also known as cockney) that is characterised by dropping the aitch (H) from the beginning of words as well as the use of rhyming slang. In Cockney rhyming slang, a word (in this case, "talk") is replaced by a phrase with which it rhymes (in this case, "rabbit and pork"). Although the entire rhyming phrase may sometimes be used, it is more often the case that the rhyming word (in this case, "pork") is dropped leaving the slang word (in this case, "rabbit"). Thus, through this process, "talk" becomes "rabbit". The word "pork" , when pronounced in a non-rhotic accent* typical of dialects found in many parts of Britain (especially southeastern England), more or less rhymes with "talk" . * Non-rhotic accents omit the sound < r > in certain situations, while rhotic accents generally pronounce < r > in all contexts. Among the several dozen British English accents which exist, many are non-rhotic while American English (US and Canadian) is mainly rhotic. This is, however, a generalisation, as there are areas of Britain that are rhotic, and areas of America that are non-rhotic. For more information, see this guide to pronouncing < r > in British English. As for the expression "rabbit and pork", apparently it is common practice to combine these two meats in a dish (as a Google search for 'rabbit and pork recipe' will quickly prove). One recipe I found sheds some light on why these meats often appear together: "Rabbit can be dry some times so here it is cooked with belly pork and cyder [archaic spelling of cider] to create a warming substantial casserole". hide |
"leg " = ON [cricket term]
In cricket, the leg[5] (also called leg side) is another name for the on[5] (also known as on side), the half of the field (as divided lengthways through the pitch) away from which the batsman’s feet are pointed when standing to receive the ball ⇒
The other half of the field is known as the off[5] (also called off side).
hide
In cricket, the leg[5] (also called leg side) is another name for the on[5] (also known as on side), the half of the field (as divided lengthways through the pitch) away from which the batsman’s feet are pointed when standing to receive the ball ⇒
he played a lucky stroke to leg.
The other half of the field is known as the off[5] (also called off side).
hide
| 5d | Teacher // in favour of oil company purchased by father (9) |
" father " = FR [Fr[5]; Father, courtesy title for a priest] (see 14a)
| 6d | European cutting socialist/'s/ grass (4) |
"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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| 7d | Decoration // or star, new on top of tree (8) |
" new " = N[5] [on maps]
| 8d | Male's been swimming without a // costume (8) |
| 13d | Choose Dickens character, // e.g. The Artful Dodger (10) |
Matthew and Herbert Pocket[7] are characters in English writer Charles Dickens' 1861* novel Great Expectations. Matthew Pocket tutors young gentlemen, such as Pip (nickname of the novel's protagonist, orphan Philip Pirrip) and his own son Herbert who becomes Pip's friend.
* first publication in book form; previously published in serial form in 1860-61
Jack Dawkins, better known as the Artful Dodger[7], is a character in English writer Charles Dickens' 1838 novel Oliver Twist. The Dodger is a pickpocket, whose skill and cunning in that occupation gave him his nickname. He is the leader of the gang of child criminals on the streets of London, trained by the elderly Fagin.
| 15d | Encouraging // shot -- golfer isn't losing length (9) |
" length " = L [l[2]]
| 16d | Seal of approval // consequently keeping medic excited (6,2) |
"medic " = 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
Here and There
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| Although US dictionaries define medic[3,11] as a member of a military medical corps, a physician or surgeon, or a medical student or intern, I feel most North Americans would tend to think of the term primarily in its military context. British dictionaries[5] characterize the military sense as a US usage. |
| 17d | German writer embraced by French one finally squeezed // without hands (8) |
Thomas Mann[5] (1875–1955) was a German novelist and essayist. The role and character of the artist in relation to society is a constant theme in his works. Notable works: Buddenbrooks (1901), Death in Venice (1912), and Dr Faustus (1947). He was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1929.
"French one " = UNE
| 19d | Worship // continually in Religious Education (6) |
In the UK, religious education[10] (abbreviation RE[5]) is a subject taught in schools which educates about the different religions of the world.
| 20d | Nervous // about my boss, for example, getting upset (2,4) |
The puzzle is published in a newspaper, so the setter's boss is an editor (abbreviation ed. or Ed.[2]).
| 23d | Superior to // Raab, overrules Houses (5) |
Scratching the Surface
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| Dominic Raab[7] is a British politician serving as Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor since 2021. "Houses" refers to the House of Commons and the House of Lords, the two Houses of the UK Parliament. I'm not sure even the Prime Minister has the power suggested by the surface reading of the clue. That may be the sole prerogative of the Queen. |
| 24d | African country // miles north of a large island (4) |
" miles " = M [m or m.[2]]
" large " = L[5] [on clothing labels]
" island " = I[2] [on maps]
Mali[5]
is a landlocked country in West Africa, south of Algeria. Former name (until 1958)
French Sudan. (show more )
Conquered by the French in the late 19th century, Mali became part of French West Africa. It became a partner with Senegal in the Federation of Mali in 1959 and achieved full independence a year later, on the withdrawal of Senegal.
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Conquered by the French in the late 19th century, Mali became part of French West Africa. It became a partner with Senegal in the Federation of Mali in 1959 and achieved full independence a year later, on the withdrawal of Senegal.
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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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