Puzzle at a Glance
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Puzzle number in The Daily Telegraph
DT 29839 | |
Publication date in The Daily Telegraph
Monday, November 22, 2021 | |
Setter
Campbell (Allan Scott)
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Link to full review
Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 29839]
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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
Today's puzzle from Campbell is just what we have come to expect from him—consistency in both difficulty level (relatively gentle) and enjoyment level (relatively high).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 | Relish /having/ romp with dish right away (5-5) |
Caper sauce[10] is a sauce flavoured with capers ⇒
wild duck in caper sauce.
| 6a | Eager, // opera star to return (4) |
| 9a | Traveller /in/ Russian plane heading towards storm (7) |
A MiG[7] is a type of Russian jet fighter. The name comes from the initials of the two founders (Mikoyan and Gurevich) of the organization that designs the planes.
| 10a | Leonard redesigned // Montreal landmark (2,5) |
La Ronde[7] is an amusement park in Montreal, built as the entertainment complex for Expo 67, the 1967 World Fair. Today, it is operated by Six Flags under a lease with the City of Montreal. It is the largest amusement park in Quebec and second largest in Canada.
| 12a | Hymn /may make one/ feel it as deeds unfolded (6,7) |
"Adeste Fideles" is a Latin Christmas carol that has been translated to English as "O Come, All Ye Faithful"[7].
| 14a | Performer/'s/ skill is apparent at the end (6) |
| 15a | Spike attached to brass // choker, say (8) |
Brass is an informal term for bold self-assurance or effrontery[3]; bold self-confidence, cheek, or nerve[4]; or excessive self-assurance or impudence[11] ⇒
he had the brass to ask for more time.
Neck[10] is an informal [seemingly British] term meaning impudence or audacity ⇒
she had the neck to ask for a rise*.
* to a North American, a raise (in pay)
A choker[5] is a necklace or ornamental band of fabric that fits closely round the neck.
| 17a | Tense tailor nervously eating large // pancake (8) |
" tense " = T [t or t.[1]; grammar term]
" large " = L[5] [clothing size]
| 19a | Tooth decay -- // constant sign (6) |
In mathematics, C[5] (or c) is a symbol used to represent either the third fixed constant to appear in an algebraic expression, or a known constant. (show more ) Specifically in physics, c[5] is the symbol for the speed of light in a vacuum (which is a constant).
In mathematics, a constant[5] is a quantity or parameter that does not change its value whatever the value of the variables, under a given set of conditions.
In physics, a constant[5] is a number expressing a relation or property which remains the same in all circumstances, or for the same substance under the same conditions.
hide
In mathematics, a constant[5] is a quantity or parameter that does not change its value whatever the value of the variables, under a given set of conditions.
In physics, a constant[5] is a number expressing a relation or property which remains the same in all circumstances, or for the same substance under the same conditions.
hide
In astrology, Aries[10] (also called the Ram) is the first sign of the zodiac, symbol ♈.
| 22a | Endless tipples shaken, not initially stirred -- a possible result! (4,9) |
The entire clue is a cryptic definition in which the wordplay is embedded.
| 24a | Pigeons initially disconcert // rabbit (7) |
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
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
| 25a | Maigret playing // Joplin's sort of music (7) |
Scott Joplin[7] (c. 1867/1868–1917) was an African-American composer and pianist. Joplin achieved fame for his ragtime compositions, and was later titled The King of Ragtime. During his brief career, he wrote 44 original ragtime pieces, one ragtime ballet, and two operas. One of his first pieces, the Maple Leaf Rag, became ragtime's first and most influential hit, and has been recognized as the archetypal rag.
Scratching the Surface
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| Jules Maigret[7] (Maigret to most people, including his wife) is a fictional French police detective, actually a commissaire or commissioner of the Paris "Brigade Criminelle" (Direction Régionale de Police Judiciaire de Paris), created by Belgian writer Georges Simenon (1903–1989). |
| 26a | Extremely thin person // in bar, a Kenyan (4) |
| 27a | Simple way /responsible for/ comfortable circumstances? (4,6) |
Down
| 1d | Conservative politician describing a // holiday complex (4) |
" Conservative " = C[5] [member of a British political party]
" politician " = MP[5] [Member of Parliament]
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.
hide
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.
hide
Holiday camp[5] is a British term for a site for holidaymakers [vacationers] with accommodation, entertainment, and leisure facilities.
Here and There
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The British use the word holiday(s) for what North Americans (especially our neighbours south of the border) would call vacation[5]. (show more )
Holiday[5,10] (often holidays) is a chiefly British term for a period in which a break is taken from work or studies for rest, travel, or recreation ⇒ (i) I spent my summer holidays on a farm; (ii) Fred was on holiday in Spain. According to British dictionaries, the usual US and Canadian term for such a break is vacation. However, I am accustomed to hearing the two terms used almost interchangeably in this sense—in much the same manner that I would use fall and autumn interchangeably. This may not be the case in all parts of Canada, but I grew up in the Maritimes and have lived in Eastern Ontario for most of my life, both areas where British traditions are particularly strong. In Britain, the word vacation[5] has a very specific meaning, a fixed holiday period between terms in universities and law courts ⇒ the Easter vacation. In North America, such a period might be called a break[7]. hide |
| 2d | Show // maturity wearing short trousers? (7) |
Here and There
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| It is perhaps a bit surprising to see "trousers" used to clue "pants". In
Britain, the word pants[5] generally does not mean trousers* as it does in North America. Rather, it refers to underwear — specifically men's undershorts or women's panties (the latter otherwise known as knickers[5] to the Brits). * Then again, this may not have always been the case or may not be true in all parts of the UK as evidenced by the following observation made by Lincoln Latic in a comment on my review of DT 28909 on Big Dave's Crossword Blog: I didn’t see this [pants used as a synonym for trousers] as an Americanism. I grew up in the northwest of England (before the big influx of Americanisms into the language) and ‘pants’ was the usual term for trousers. You had short pants as a real youngster then progressed into long pants as you got older which for most of us was when you were nearly at the end of primary school probably around aged 9 or 10. What most people consider ‘pants’ refers to now, were called underpants because they went under your pants. |
| 3d | Family magazine // disagreed, unusually, with others around (7,6) |
Reader's Digest[7] is an American general-interest family magazine. For many years, the magazine—founded in 1920—was the best-selling consumer magazine in the United States; it lost the distinction in 2009 to Better Homes and Gardens. Global editions of Reader's Digest reach an additional 40 million people in more than 70 countries, via 49 editions in 21 languages. The periodical has a global circulation of 10.5 million, making it the largest paid circulation magazine in the world.
| 4d | Shrewd // like famous pharaoh, leader of Egyptians (6) |
King Tut[7], a colloquial name for Tutankhamen[5] (also Tutankhamun) (died c.1352 BC), was an Egyptian pharaoh of the 18th dynasty, reigned c.1361–c.1352 BC. His tomb, containing a wealth of rich and varied contents, was discovered virtually intact by the English archaeologist Howard Carter in 1922.
| 5d | Loss of confidence /arising out of/ previous charge in court (4,4) |
" court " = CT [Ct[2]; in street addresses]
| 7d | Article in large house, // something that adds taste (7) |
| 8d | What may be used to select the right gear? (5,5) |
Dress sense[5] denotes a good instinct for selecting garments which suit the wearer.
| 11d | A delight for some? // Thirty kegs, and free! (3,3,2,5) |
The definition alludes to a bit of weather lore[7] which I know as:
Red sky at night, sailors' delight.
Red sky at morning, sailors take warning.
However, there is also an alternate version which replaces "sailors" with "shepherds". I have a note in my files from a previous review that says the "shepherds" version is used in Great Britain and Ireland; however, that qualification now seems to have been deleted from the Wikipedia article.
| 13d | Refuse // to throw away rag (5,5) |
Rag[5] is an informal term for a newspaper, typically one regarded as being of low quality.
| 16d | A partner touring eastern area // plant (4,4) |
" area " = A[2]
The aloe vera[5] is a plant, grown chiefly in the Caribbean area and the southern US, that yields a gelatinous substance (also called aloe vera), used especially in cosmetics to soften or soothe the skin.
| 18d | Managed to get rid of // rifle (7) |
| 20d | Encourage // popular father to keep first of promises (7) |
| 21d | Slip up during attempt /to make/ fortified wine (6) |
Shy[5] is a dated term meaning:
- (noun) an act of flinging or throwing something at a target
- (verb) to fling or throw (something) at a
target ⇒
he tore the spectacles off and shied them at her
have a shy at putting the case to me.
My hint on Big Dave's Crossword Blog alludes to a British fairground game, coconut shy[2,5], a stall where people throw* balls at coconuts to try to knock them off stands and thereby win a prize.
Sherry[5] is a fortified wine originally and mainly from southern Spain.
| 23d | Examine // some in crate -- stout (4) |
Scratching the Surface
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| Stout[5] is a kind of strong, dark beer brewed with roasted malt or barley. |
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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