Puzzle at a Glance
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Puzzle number in The Daily Telegraph
DT 29871 | |
Publication date in The Daily Telegraph
Thursday, December 30, 2021 | |
Setter
NY Doorknob aka Donnybrook (Paul Bringloe)
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Link to full review
Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 29871]
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Big Dave's Crossword Blog review written by
Miffypops | |
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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* In a rare move today, Miffypops has actually applied a BD rating for the puzzle. However, his setting reflects not the difficulty of the puzzle itself but the difficulty he encountered in solving the puzzle without his glasses.
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Introduction
Sometimes I work out a solution from the wordplay only to look at it and say "That can't possibly be a word." However, I have learned to check such results in the dictionary no matter how unlikely they may appear to be. Such is the case today where the solution may well be the most improbable word that I have ever deduced in this manner.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| 1a | Satisfied drink's withdrawn -- // point made? (4,4) |
Pot[3,10] is used in the sense of a large mug or tankard, as for beer, or a drink contained in such a mug.
I would say that "point made" is a terse way of saying "You've made your point, we don't need to discuss it further".
The punctuation mark (.) known as a period[5] in North America is called a full stop[5] by the British.
In Britain, the term full stop[5]—like the term period in North America—is used to suggest that there is nothing more to say on a topic ⇒
I just prefer it, full stop!
| 5a | A church removed from God? // Count on it! (6) |
" church " = CH [ch[2]]
In Greek mythology, Bacchus[5] (another name for Dionysus) is a god, son of Zeus and Semele; his worship entered Greece from Thrace c.1000 BC. Originally a god of the fertility of nature, associated with wild and ecstatic religious rites, in later traditions he is a god of wine who loosens inhibitions and inspires creativity in music and poetry.
| 9a | Rambling rector and his endless // oratory (8) |
A rector[3,4,11] is a member of the clergy in the Anglican, Episcopal, or Roman Catholic churches.
| 10a | Fool around with poem /in/ Ukrainian city (6) |
Odessa[5] is a city and port on the south coast of Ukraine, on the Black Sea.
| 12a | Drive away to enter plain /and/ go too far? (9) |
| 13a | Could she be Ernie after transformation? (5) |
A cryptic definition containing embedded wordplay.
| 14a | Light touch /from/ one X represents (4) |
| 16a | Love can mean this // on flipping stormy night (7) |
In tennis, squash, and some other sports, love[5] is a score of zero or nil ⇒
love fifteen.
Scratching the Surface
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Flipping[5,10]
(adjective
or adverb) is an informal British term used for emphasis or to express mild annoyance ⇒ (i) are you out of your flipping mind?; (ii) it’s flipping cold today. Origin: a euphemism for the taboo word f**king |
| 19a | One caught it sitting by poorly // criminal (7) |
"caught " = C [cricket notation]
Poorly[5] being used in a chiefly British sense meaning unwell or in poor health.
Here and There
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| The surface reading, while sounding odd to the North American ear, would be quite natural for Brits. According to Lexico (Oxford Dictionaries), poorly[5] (adjective) is a British* term meaning unwell ⇒ she looked poorly. * Despite Lexico claiming this to be a British usage, US dictionaries define poorly[3,11] (adjective) as meaning in poor health or somewhat ill ⇒ feeling poorly. In fact, the American Heritage Dictionary characterizes poorly used in this sense as a chiefly Southern US term. A statement such as "I am feeling rather poorly today" is likely the only context in which one would encounter this term in North America. Not so in the UK; Lexico provides examples of British usage that I am sure one would never encounter on this side of the pond:
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| 21a | Dead // good with United (4) |
" good " = G [g or g.[1]; a grade of numismatic coin perhaps]
| 24a | Digit // so short, doctor must attend (5) |
"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.
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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.
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| 25a | Crouchback say // thrown in road by king (9) |
"king " = R [Rex]
In the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms*, Rex[5] (abbreviation R[5]) [Latin for king] denotes the reigning king, used following a name (e.g. Georgius Rex, King George — often shortened to GR) or in the titles of lawsuits (e.g. Rex v. Jones, the Crown versus Jones — often shortened to R. v. Jones).
* A Commonwealth realm[7] is a sovereign state in the Commonwealth of Nations that has Elizabeth II as its monarch and head of state. Each realm functions as an independent state, equal with the other realms and nations of the Commonwealth. There are currently fifteen Commonwealth realms, the largest being Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom with the remainder being smaller Caribbean and Pacific island nations.
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In the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms*, Rex[5] (abbreviation R[5]) [Latin for king] denotes the reigning king, used following a name (e.g. Georgius Rex, King George — often shortened to GR) or in the titles of lawsuits (e.g. Rex v. Jones, the Crown versus Jones — often shortened to R. v. Jones).
* A Commonwealth realm[7] is a sovereign state in the Commonwealth of Nations that has Elizabeth II as its monarch and head of state. Each realm functions as an independent state, equal with the other realms and nations of the Commonwealth. There are currently fifteen Commonwealth realms, the largest being Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom with the remainder being smaller Caribbean and Pacific island nations.
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Edmund Crouchback[7], Earl of Lancaster and Earl of Leicester (1245–1296) was a member of the House of Plantagenet. He was the second surviving son of King Henry III of England and Eleanor of Provence.
| 27a | Corrupt legality when two learners go // merrymaking (6) |
"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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| 28a | Distinctive theory about alternative // map line (8) |
Ism[5] is an informal, mainly derogatory term for a distinctive practice, system, or philosophy, typically a political ideology or an artistic movement ⇒
he loathed isms and any form of dogma.
An isotherm is a line on a map connecting points having the same temperature at a given time or on average over a given period.
| 29a | Potatoes // very cold in London? (6) |
The phrase "in London" is an indication that the solution involves 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]]. The cockney[5] dialect is characterized by dropping the aitch (H) from the beginning of words as well as the use of rhyming slang*.
* 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.
Taters* is cockney rhyming slang for cold in the context of ambient temperature ⇒
Whoa, it's the coldest day of the winter so far - really taters.
* The full expression is "taters in the mould" where the rhyming component mould[5] is used in the mainly British sense of soft, loose earth or the upper soil of cultivated land, especially when rich in organic matter. Thus "taters in the mould" means "potatoes in the ground".
| 30a | Journalists in tea shop regularly // drink (8) |
Down
| 1d | Female on flight /bringing/ piglets (6) |
A flight arrow[10] (often shortened to flight) is a long thin arrow used for shooting long distances.
A farrow[5] is a litter of pigs.
| 2d | Do we hear number one // songs? (6) |
A lied[5] (plural lieder) is a type of German song, especially of the Romantic period, typically for solo voice with piano accompaniment.
| 3d | Is it berth suggested /for/ Glaswegians? (5) |
In his review on Big Dave's Crossword Blog, Miffypops initially explained the wordplay as an imitation of Scots dialect (which also happens to be the way that I interpreted the clue). However, as the setter explains in Comment #54 on Big Dave's Crossword Blog "A berth is a bed on a ship y’see. COT (a hammock-like bed with a stiff frame) in SS. It wasn’t an attempt to imitate a Scot!".
The wordplay "Is it berth suggested" is to be interpreted as a cryptic allusion to (suggestion of) "a bed on board ship*".
* In Crosswordland, a ship is almost invariably a steamship, the abbreviation for which is SS[5], Thus phrases such as "aboard ship" or "on board ship" (or sometimes merely "aboard" or "on board") are Crosswordland code for 'contained in SS'.
A Glaswegian[5] is a native of Glasgow, Scotland.
What did he say?
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In his review on Big Dave's Crossword Blog, Miffypops describes cots asIn addition to being the type of bed described by NY Doorknob in his comment, cot[5] is the British name for a crib[5]—a small bed with high barred sides for a baby or very young child.babies (sic) beds. |
| 4d | Sinister // old male in the States accepting Oscar (7) |
" old " = O[12] [linguistics;
OFr(Old French),
OE(Old English)]
" Oscar " = O[5] [NATO Phonetic Alphabet[7]]
| 6d | Bishop dominant having moved /in/ game (9) |
| 7d | Firms paid in charge // for appearances only (8) |
" in charge " = IC [i/c[2]]
| 8d | No guts for chase, vegans sabotaged // hunt (8) |
| 11d | Fanatics taking lift // to floor (4) |
Lift[10] is the British name for an elevator[10]. "Taking lift" indicates that the synonym for "fanatics" is reversed (going up* in a down clue).
* Despite the reality that lifts go down as often as they go up.
| 15d | Visiting communist land, Tory almost // sitting duck? (9) |
This duck would be sitting on a clutch of eggs.
| 17d | Having no weak point, // excellent fitting secures tons (8) |
" tons " = T [t[2]]
| 18d | Musician/'s/ shortcoming discussed is evident in tangos (8) |
" tango " = T[5] [NATO Phonetic Alphabet[7]] thus " tangos " = TT
A flautist[5] is a flute player.
Pronunciation: FLAW-tist
| 20d | Order // to have noticeable effect (4) |
In the second definition, tell[10] is used in the sense of to have or produce an impact, effect, or strain ⇒
every step told on his bruised feet.
| 21d | Start // progressive rock band (7) |
Genesis[7]
are an English rock band formed in 1967 that has undergone many changes
in membership over the course of its existence. (show more ) The band also underwent many
changes in musical
style over its career, from folk music to progressive rock in the 1970s,
before moving towards pop at the end of the decade.
The most commercially successful and longest-lasting line-up consisted of keyboardist Tony Banks, bassist/guitarist Mike Rutherford and drummer/singer Phil Collins. Former members include original lead singer Peter Gabriel and guitarists Anthony Phillips and Steve Hackett.
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The most commercially successful and longest-lasting line-up consisted of keyboardist Tony Banks, bassist/guitarist Mike Rutherford and drummer/singer Phil Collins. Former members include original lead singer Peter Gabriel and guitarists Anthony Phillips and Steve Hackett.
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| 22d | Capital // A followed by S? (6) |
Athens[5] is the capital of Greece. (show more )
A flourishing city state of ancient Greece, Athens was an important cultural centre in the 5th century BC. It came under Roman rule in 146 BC and fell to the Goths in AD 267. After its capture by the Turks in 1456 Athens declined to the status of a village, until chosen as the capital of a newly independent Greece in 1834.
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A flourishing city state of ancient Greece, Athens was an important cultural centre in the 5th century BC. It came under Roman rule in 146 BC and fell to the Goths in AD 267. After its capture by the Turks in 1456 Athens declined to the status of a village, until chosen as the capital of a newly independent Greece in 1834.
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| 23d | Messiah, initially seen in manger, given 16 /for/ his birthday? (6) |
The
numeral "16" is a cross
reference indicator pointing to clue 16a (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
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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
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A manger[10] is a trough or box in a stable, barn, etc, from which horses or cattle feed.
A crib[5] is a barred container or rack for animal fodder; in other words, a manger.
The word "his" in the definition refers back to "Messiah" in the wordplay.
In Christianity, the Messiah[5] is Jesus Christ regarded as the Messiah of the Hebrew prophecies and the saviour of humankind.
Crimbo is a variant spelling of Chrimbo[5], an informal British name for Christmas.
| 26d | Powerless minister? // Pioneering MP! (5) |
" power " = P[10] [symbol used in physics]
Nancy Astor, Viscountess Astor[5], (1879–1964) was a US-born British Conservative politician. She became the first woman to sit in the House of Commons when she succeeded her husband as MP for Plymouth in 1919.
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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