Puzzle at a Glance
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Puzzle number in The Daily Telegraph
DT 29852 | |
Publication date in The Daily Telegraph
Tuesday, December 7, 2021 | |
Setter
Unknown | |
Link to full review
Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 29852]
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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
Today's puzzle proved to be gentle while also amusing and enjoyable.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 | Lies endlessly about soft // food (4,3) |
Porkie (plural porkies) is a shortened variant* of pork pie[10], a mainly British and Australian rhyming slang (show more ) for a lie [in the sense of an untruth].
Rhyming slang[5] is a type of slang that replaces words with rhyming words or phrases, typically with the rhyming element omitted. For example, butcher’s, short for butcher’s hook, means ‘look’ in cockney** rhyming slang.
** A cockney[5,10] is a native of East London [specifically that part of East London known as the East End[5]], traditionally one born within hearing of Bow Bells (the bells of St Mary-le-Bow[7] church). Cockney is also the name of the dialect or accent typical of cockneys, which is characterised by dropping the aitch (H) from the beginning of words as well as the use of rhyming slang.
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* While one commonly sees only the shortened form of rhyming slang, pork pie is one of those cases where both the full expression and the shortened version seem to be in general use.
Rhyming slang[5] is a type of slang that replaces words with rhyming words or phrases, typically with the rhyming element omitted. For example, butcher’s, short for butcher’s hook, means ‘look’ in cockney** rhyming slang.
** A cockney[5,10] is a native of East London [specifically that part of East London known as the East End[5]], traditionally one born within hearing of Bow Bells (the bells of St Mary-le-Bow[7] church). Cockney is also the name of the dialect or accent typical of cockneys, which is characterised by dropping the aitch (H) from the beginning of words as well as the use of rhyming slang.
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* While one commonly sees only the shortened form of rhyming slang, pork pie is one of those cases where both the full expression and the shortened version seem to be in general use.
A British pork pie[5,10,14] is a round, tall pie filled with minced seasoned pork, which is typically eaten cold.
| 5a | Fighting vessel // was going round river with it (7) |
" river " = R [R or R.[2]; on maps]
| 9a | Sample of any longer // material (5) |
| 10a | Flower feeder? (9) |
Flower is used in the whimsical cryptic crossword sense of something that flows — in other words, a river.
| 11a | Finish off // a linen hat I fashioned (10) |
| 12a | Make fun of flipping old // pen (4) |
" old " = O[12] [linguistics;
OFr(Old French),
OE(Old English)]
Biro[5] is a British trademark for a brand of ballpoint pen. In the UK, the name is used as a generic term for a ballpoint pen (in the same way that kleenex has become a generic term for facial tissue).
Origin: named after László József Bíró (1899–1985), the Hungarian inventor of the ballpoint pen
| 14a | Coin // a phrase to describe an octet? (5,2,5) |
A piece of eight[2] is an old Spanish gold coin worth eight real.
The second part of the clue is a whimsical interpretation of the solution—a piece performed by a group of eight musicians where octet[5] is used in the sense of a musical composition for eight voices or instruments.
| 18a | I ensure visit's arranged /for/ where students might want to attend (12) |
| 21a | Shoots // aircraft (4) |
| 22a | Worrying // about the Queen with scamming going round (10) |
" about " = C [c.[2]; circa (Latin)]
"the Queen " = ER[5] [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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| 25a | Europe perhaps // happy restricting Northern Ireland, on reflection (9) |
"Northern Ireland " = NI [Northern Ireland]
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.
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| 26a | Sleep regularly abandoned after bird/'s/ call (5) |
The tits, chickadees, and titmice[7] constitute the Paridae, a large family of small passerine birds which occur in the northern hemisphere and Africa. These birds are called either "chickadees" or "titmice" in North America, and just "tits" in the rest of the English-speaking world.
| 27a | Crossword compilers -- // we're barking? (7) |
Scratching the Surface
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In the surface reading, barking[5] is used in an informal British sense meaning completely mad or demented ⇒ (i) we are all a bit barking; (ii) [as submodifier] has she gone completely barking mad?. |
| 28a | Crowded // hospital confused no head of medicine (7) |
Down
| 1d | One sending letters to China? (3,3) |
China[5] is an informal British term for a friend (or, as the Brits would say, a mate*).
Origin: Cockney rhyming slang (show more ) from china plate (rhymes with 'mate').
A cockney[5,10] is a native of East London [specifically that part of East London known as the East End[5]], traditionally one born within hearing of Bow Bells (the bells of St Mary-le-Bow[7] church).
The cockney[5] dialect is characterized by dropping the aitch (H) from the beginning of words as well as the use of rhyming slang[5].
Rhyming slang[5] is a type of slang that replaces words with rhyming words or phrases, typically with the rhyming element omitted. For example, butcher’s, short for butcher’s hook, means ‘look’ in cockney rhyming slang.
hide
* In Britain, mate[5]—in addition to being a person’s husband, wife, or other sexual partner—is an informal term for a friend or companion ⇒
Origin: Cockney rhyming slang (show more ) from china plate (rhymes with 'mate').
A cockney[5,10] is a native of East London [specifically that part of East London known as the East End[5]], traditionally one born within hearing of Bow Bells (the bells of St Mary-le-Bow[7] church).
The cockney[5] dialect is characterized by dropping the aitch (H) from the beginning of words as well as the use of rhyming slang[5].
Rhyming slang[5] is a type of slang that replaces words with rhyming words or phrases, typically with the rhyming element omitted. For example, butcher’s, short for butcher’s hook, means ‘look’ in cockney rhyming slang.
hide
* In Britain, mate[5]—in addition to being a person’s husband, wife, or other sexual partner—is an informal term for a friend or companion ⇒
my best mate Steve.
| 2d | Ease off // religious education ahead of Christian period (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.
"Christian period " = LENT
In the Christian Church, Lent[5] is the period preceding Easter, which is devoted to fasting, abstinence, and penitence in commemoration of Christ’s fasting in the wilderness. In the Western Church it runs from Ash Wednesday to Holy Saturday, and so includes forty weekdays [including Saturdays]*.
* This is rather oversimplified as the beginning and end of Lent actually varies among churches. In the Eastern Orthodox Church, Lent begins on Clean Monday (the Monday preceding Ash Wednesday) and ends on the Friday preceding Palm Sunday (however, fasting continues through Holy Week). In the Roman Catholic Church, Lent ends on Maundy Thursday (the Thursday preceding Good Friday).
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In the Christian Church, Lent[5] is the period preceding Easter, which is devoted to fasting, abstinence, and penitence in commemoration of Christ’s fasting in the wilderness. In the Western Church it runs from Ash Wednesday to Holy Saturday, and so includes forty weekdays [including Saturdays]*.
* This is rather oversimplified as the beginning and end of Lent actually varies among churches. In the Eastern Orthodox Church, Lent begins on Clean Monday (the Monday preceding Ash Wednesday) and ends on the Friday preceding Palm Sunday (however, fasting continues through Holy Week). In the Roman Catholic Church, Lent ends on Maundy Thursday (the Thursday preceding Good Friday).
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| 3d | Hit with bars -- // the cause of being in stitches? (10) |
| 4d | Heap praise on // former lover, upsetting group (5) |
| 5d | Item of clothing /from/ week at Ascot, I fancy (9) |
" week " = W [w[2]]
Waistcoat[3] is the British term for the garment that North Americans call a vest*.
* In Britain, a vest[3] is an item of underwear for the upper body.
| 6d | Rake // to agitate small leaves (4) |
" small " = S[5] [clothing size]
| 7d | Anger with his criminal // trials (8) |
| 8d | City // play, avoiding Arsenal's first trap (8) |
Plymouth[5] is a port and naval base in Devon, south-eastern England. In 1620 it was the scene of the Pilgrim Fathers' departure to North America in the Mayflower.
What did he say?
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In his review on Big Dave's Crossword Blog, Mr K explains that trap is used in the sense ofCakehole[5] is an informal British term for a person's mouth ⇒cakehole. Every once in a long while, he actually shuts his cakehole. |
Scratching the Surface
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| Manchester City Football Club[7] (often referred to simply as City) and Arsenal Football Club[7] are English professional football [soccer] clubs—the former based in Manchester and the latter in Islington, London—that play in the Premier League (the top level in
the English football league system). |
| 13d | Famous // Beetle car shot by Disney initially (10) |
| 15d | Doctor cures most // clients (9) |
| 16d | Pupils study these // citizens (8) |
| 17d | Individual // is tense after day in court (8) |
" tense " = T [t or t.[1]; grammar term]
" day " = D [d[2]]
" court " = CT [Ct or ct[2]; in street addresses]
| 19d | Under pressure I almost pinched // gun (6) |
" pressure " = P [p[5]; symbol used in physics]
What did he say?
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In his review on Big Dave's Crossword Blog, Mr K explains that pinched is used in the sense ofNick[5] is an informal British term meaning to steal ⇒nicked. he'd had his car nicked by joyriders. |
| 20d | Admitted // a craving (6) |
| 23d | Discover // animal sitting on church (5) |
" church " = CH [ch[2]]
| 24d | Rise and fall of the sea // temperature above fish (4) |
" temperature " = T[2] [symbol used in physics]
Ide[5] is another name for the orfe[5], a silvery freshwater fish of the carp family, which is fished commercially in eastern Europe.
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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