Puzzle at a Glance
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Puzzle number in The Daily Telegraph
DT 29881 | |
Publication date in The Daily Telegraph
Tuesday, January 11, 2022 | |
Setter
Unknown | |
Link to full review
Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 29881]
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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
I didn't get off to a fast start, what with the first few clues involving a mythological creature, a UK politician and a British athlete—all of which were unfamiliar to me.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 | Staff covered in leaves given to leading lady // that could be fiery (10) |
"leading lady " = 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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Salamander[5] refers to a mythical lizard-like creature said to live in fire or to be able to withstand its effects*.
* The salamander, as with many real creatures, often has been ascribed fantastic and sometimes occult qualities by pre-modern authors (as in the allegorical descriptions of animals in medieval bestiaries) not possessed by the real organism. The legendary salamander[7] is often depicted as a typical salamander in shape with a lizard-like form, but is usually ascribed an affinity with fire, sometimes specifically elemental fire.
The Story Behind the Picture Behind the Picture
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| The "hidden illustration" in Mr K's review on Big Dave's Crossword Blog is a cooking device known as a salamander. A salamander[7] (also salamander oven or salamander broiler) is a culinary grill characterized by very high temperature overhead electric or gas heating elements. It is used primarily in professional kitchens for overhead grilling. Salamanders are generally similar to an oven without a front door; the heating element is at the top. They are also more compact: typically only half the height and depth of a conventional oven. For convenience, they are often wall mounted at eye level, enabling easy access and close control of the cooking process. Modern salamanders take their name from the 18th century salamander, the tool of choice for toasting the top of a dish. It consisted of a thick plate of iron attached to the end of a long handle, with two feet, or rests, arranged near the iron plate for propping the plate over the food to be browned. Its name in turn was taken from the legendary salamander, a mythical amphibian that was believed to be immune to fire. |
| 6a | Revolutionary final destination /for/ posh car (4) |
Crem[10] is an informal British short form for crematorium.
In the UK, Merc[5] is an informal name for a Mercedes car*.
* I would say that North Americans (at least those of a certain age) would think of a Merc as a different automobile, the Mercury — even though this brand has been defunct since 2010 (show more ).
Mercury[7] is a defunct division of the American automobile manufacturer Ford Motor Company. Marketed as an entry-level premium brand for nearly its entire existence, Mercury was created in 1938 by Edsel Ford. Forming half of the Lincoln-Mercury Division, the brand was intended to bridge the price gap between the Ford and Lincoln vehicle lines. In a similar context, Buick and Oldsmobile played the same role within General Motors while the Chrysler Division did so within Chrysler Corporation (following the end of DeSoto and the creation of Imperial).
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* I would say that North Americans (at least those of a certain age) would think of a Merc as a different automobile, the Mercury — even though this brand has been defunct since 2010 (show more ).
Mercury[7] is a defunct division of the American automobile manufacturer Ford Motor Company. Marketed as an entry-level premium brand for nearly its entire existence, Mercury was created in 1938 by Edsel Ford. Forming half of the Lincoln-Mercury Division, the brand was intended to bridge the price gap between the Ford and Lincoln vehicle lines. In a similar context, Buick and Oldsmobile played the same role within General Motors while the Chrysler Division did so within Chrysler Corporation (following the end of DeSoto and the creation of Imperial).
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| 9a | Support cheese-loving politician? (5) |
Elizabeth "Liz" Truss, Dame of Thames[7] is a British Conservative politician who has served in various cabinet positions under Prime Ministers David Cameron, Theresa May, and Boris Johnson. As Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs from 2014-2016, she promoted the production and export of British food, including cheese. Her remarks at the Conservative Party conference in 2014 that "We import two-thirds of our cheese: That! Is! A! Disgrace!" were widely mocked.
| 10a | Farah running with a black eye doesn't finish? Nonsense! (9) |
Mo Farah[7] (full name Mohamed Farah) is a Somali-born British long-distance runner and the most successful British track athlete in modern Olympic Games history.
Moonshine[3,5] is an informal term* for foolish talk or ideas ⇒
whatever I said, it was moonshine.
* Although not a usage with which I am familiar, it is found both British and US dictionaries. In the sense of illicitly distilled or smuggled alcohol, moonshine[5] is a North American term.
| 12a | Drench girl dancing around with // relatives (13) |
| 14a | One with a telling part in play? (8) |
| 15a | Tool // that's pieced together (6) |
| 17a | Bribe Europeans /for/ something bouncy (6) |
Bung[10] (noun) is British slang for a bribe.
"European " = E [as in E number] thus " Europeans " = EE.
Rationale: likely a whimsical inference modelled on the plurals of p (page) and f (following [page]) being pp and ff respectively
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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Rationale: likely a whimsical inference modelled on the plurals of p (page) and f (following [page]) being pp and ff respectively
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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| 19a | Complaint about undressed naked // hunk (8) |
| 21a | Somebody taking off // Monet, perhaps (13) |
Claude Monet[10] (1840–1926) was a French landscape painter and the leading exponent of impressionism. (show more )
His interest in the effect of light on colour led him to paint series of pictures of the same subject at different times of day. These include Haystacks (1889–93), Rouen Cathedral (1892–94), the Thames (1899–1904), and Water Lilies (1899–1906).
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His interest in the effect of light on colour led him to paint series of pictures of the same subject at different times of day. These include Haystacks (1889–93), Rouen Cathedral (1892–94), the Thames (1899–1904), and Water Lilies (1899–1906).
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| 24a | Natter anxiously about yours truly ahead of time /in/ therapy (9) |
| 25a | Most of winter, terrible wind (5) |
| 26a | Food // some rejected is horrible (4) |
| 27a | Engine dirt damaged // component (10) |
Down
| 1d | Spectacle for the audience /in/ place (4) |
| 2d | Slower accepting university // chair (7) |
" university " = U [U or U.[1]]
| 3d | Bungling //agent means I'm upset, accepting end of dream (13) |
| 4d | Try to impress // doctor following call with work (4-4) |
"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 ⇒
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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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| 5d | Age // sending up 'Carry On Hospital' (5) |
Scratching the Surface
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| The Carry On[7] series of 30 British comedy films was released between 1958 and 1978. A 31st film was released in 1992, though featuring only four members of the large ensemble cast who had appeared in the earlier films. Although several of the films had medical settings (Carry on Nurse, Carry On Doctor, Carry on Again Doctor, and Carry On Matron*), there is not a Carry on Hospital among the lot. * Matron[5] is a British term for the woman in charge of the nursing in a hospital (the official term is now senior nursing officer). |
| 7d | People from terrible regimes? (7) |
A cryptic definition of people who escape from oppressive regimes in which the wordplay is embedded.
| 8d | Conservative banks on cry /for/ success (5,5) |
" Conservative " = C[5] [member of a British political party]
| 11d | Cliff listened out // without help (4-9) |
How's That Again?
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| One can listen in or listen up; one can hear out; but can one listen out? |
| 13d | Irate Biden possibly // the worse for wear (10) |
Scratching the Surface
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| Joe Biden[5] is a US Democratic statesman, 46th president of the US since 2021. He served in the US Senate 1973–2009 and was US vice president 2009–17. |
| 16d | Journalist /getting/ on with hotel worker (8) |
| 18d | Young // crabs? (7) |
| 20d | Step inside hospital department /to find/ actor (7) |
A & E[5] is the abbreviation for accident and emergency[5] (also known as casualty department or casualty ward[5]), a hospital department concerned with the provision of immediate treatment to people who are seriously injured in an accident or who are suddenly taken seriously ill ⇒ (i)
a nurse at work told me I should go to A & E; (ii)
an A & E department.
| 22d | Back // authoritarian (5) |
| 23d | Point // we put before holy person (4) |
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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