Puzzle at a Glance
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Puzzle number in The Daily Telegraph
DT 29886 | |
Publication date in The Daily Telegraph
Monday, January 17, 2022 | |
Setter
Campbell (Allan Scott) | |
Link to full review
Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 29886]
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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
The weather today certainly sits in marked contrast to what we were experiencing when I first reviewed this puzzle some four months ago.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 | Pastry, // extremely sweet, ruled out (7) |
Strudel[5] is a dessert of thin pastry rolled up round a fruit filling and baked.
Origin: From German Strudel, literally ‘whirlpool’.
| 5a | Invigorating // British sport (7) |
" British " = B [B or B.[1]]
| 9a | Do good adult // dance (5) |
Do[5] is an informal British term meaning to swindle ⇒
It was only after travelling to Amsterdam and meeting the fraudsters that she became suspicious and contacted police, who told her: ‘Sorry, but you've been done.’.
" good " = G [g or g.[1]; a grade of numismatic coin perhaps]
"adult " = A [former British film classification]
The A (Adult) certificate is a former film certificate[7] issued by the British Board of Film Classification. This certificate existed in various forms from 1912 to 1985, when it was replaced by the PG (Parental Guidance) certificate. [Despite its demise in the real world, it continues to find widespread use in Crosswordland.]
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The A (Adult) certificate is a former film certificate[7] issued by the British Board of Film Classification. This certificate existed in various forms from 1912 to 1985, when it was replaced by the PG (Parental Guidance) certificate. [Despite its demise in the real world, it continues to find widespread use in Crosswordland.]
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The conga[5] is a Latin American dance of African origin, usually with several people in a single line, one behind the other.
| 10a | Restrict the consumption of beer /in/ grounds (9) |
Scratching the Surface
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Ground[5] is a [seemingly British*] term for an area of land, often with associated buildings and structures, used for a particular sport ⇒ (i) a football ground; (ii) Liverpool’s new ground is nearing completion. * In North America, such a facility would generally be called a stadium or arena. |
| 11a | Shabbily dressed /in/ blue, slightly behind (4-2-4) |
Down-at-heel (also down-at-the-heel or down-at-the-heels)[5] is a mainly British expression[c] that means showing signs of neglect and deterioration or, in other words, shabby ⇒
a down-at-the-heels house.
[c] Easy Learning Idioms Dictionary
| 12a | Flowerless plant /in/ bog surrounding river (4) |
A fen[5] is a low and marshy or frequently flooded area of land.
Delving Deeper
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| Technically, a bog and fen do apparently differ – but maybe only a chemist could tell them apart. A fen[3] is an area of low wet land having peaty soil and typically being less acidic than a bog. |
" river " = R [R or R.[2]; on maps]
| 14a | Alcohol-induced boldness /of/ wife, about as old as us (5,7) |
Dutch[5] (usually one's old dutch) is an informal British term (especially among cockneys) meaning one's wife.
Origin: This is an example of Cockney rhyming slang (show explanation ). Dutch, an abbreviation for duchess, is believed to come from the
phrase "Duchess of Fife". Thus "wife" rhymes with "Duchess of Fife",
drop "Fife" leaving "duchess" which is abbreviated to "dutch".
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.
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.
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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.
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
" about " = C [c.[2]; circa (Latin)]
The phrase Dutch courage[5] denotes strength or confidence gained from drinking alcohol ⇒
I'll have a couple of drinks to give me Dutch courage.
| 18a | Furious // patron -- what he condemned (2,3,7) |
The phrase on the warpath[5] denotes angry and ready or eager for confrontation.
Origin: A description of North American Indians heading towards a battle with an enemy.
| 21a | Expected to hug daughter/'s/ chap (4) |
" daughter " = D [d[2]; genealogy]
Chap[3,4,11] (show more ) is an informal British[5] or chiefly British[3] term for a man or boy – although a term that is certainly not uncommon in Canada.
Chap[3,4,11] is a shortened form of chapman[3,4,11], an archaic term for a trader, especially an itinerant pedlar[a,b].
[a] Pedlar is the modern British spelling of peddler[14] which, in most senses, is considered by the Brits to be a US or old-fashioned British spelling. The exception is in the sense of a dealer in illegal drugs which the Brits spell as drug peddler.
[b] The current meaning of chap[2] dates from the 18th century. In the 16th century, chap meant 'a customer'. The dictionaries do not explain how a shortened form of 'chapman' (pedlar) came to mean 'customer'.
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[a] Pedlar is the modern British spelling of peddler[14] which, in most senses, is considered by the Brits to be a US or old-fashioned British spelling. The exception is in the sense of a dealer in illegal drugs which the Brits spell as drug peddler.
[b] The current meaning of chap[2] dates from the 18th century. In the 16th century, chap meant 'a customer'. The dictionaries do not explain how a shortened form of 'chapman' (pedlar) came to mean 'customer'.
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| 22a | Novel // fish store (5,5) |
The bleak[5] is a small silvery shoaling fish of the carp family, found in Eurasian rivers.
Bleak House[7] is a novel by English writer Charles Dickens, first published as a 20-episode serial between March 1852 and September 1853.
| 25a | Moving, // a line by English Poet Laureate (9) |
" line " = L [l.[5]; in textual references ⇒
l. 648]
" English " = E[2]
Sir Andrew Motion[5] is an English poet, novelist, and biographer, who was Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom from 1999 to 2009.
| 26a | Short brisk // outing (5) |
| 27a | Clock /and/ watch (7) |
Clock[5] is an informal British term meaning to notice or watch ⇒
I noticed him clocking her in the mirror.
| 28a | Discipline // issue (7) |
Down
| 1d | Withdraw /from/ diocese that includes church close to Bradford (6) |
A see[10] is the diocese (show more ) of a bishop, or the place within it where his cathedral (show more ) or procathedral (show more ) is situated.
A diocese[5] is a district under the pastoral care of a bishop in the Christian Church*.
* or, more precisely, in episcopal churches
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A diocese[5] is a district under the pastoral care of a bishop in the Christian Church*.
* or, more precisely, in episcopal churches
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Scratching the Surface
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| Bradford[5] is an industrial city in West Yorkshire, northern England. |
| 2d | Reputation // our sailors have around east (6) |
| 3d | One prone to histrionics /in/ play group (5,5) |
Queen[5] is a British rock group that in its heyday featured camp vocalist Freddie Mercury (1946–1991). Queen are known for their extravagant, almost operatic brand of rock, as exemplified by the hugely successful ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ (1975).
| 4d | Tree /having/ large span (5) |
" large " = L[5] [clothing size]
The larch[5] is a coniferous tree with bunches of deciduous bright green needles, found in cool regions of the northern hemisphere. It is grown for its tough timber and its resin (which yields turpentine).
| 5d | Foremost of botanists, say, shown with prize // flower (9) |
Things I Never Knew
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| I guess if I'd grown up on livestock farm I would have known this, but as children we never gave a second thought to playing with buttercups. The buttercup[5] is a herbaceous plant with bright yellow cup-shaped flowers, which is common in grassland and as a garden weed. All kinds are poisonous and generally avoided by livestock*. * All buttercup species are poisonous when eaten fresh, but their acrid taste and the blistering of the mouth caused by their poison means they are usually left uneaten. The toxins are degraded by drying, so hay containing dried buttercups is safe[7]. Furthermore, when buttercup plants are handled, naturally occurring ranunculin is broken down to form protoanemonin, which is known to cause contact dermatitis in humans and care should therefore be exercised in extensive handling of the plants. |
| 6d | Soon // rule clubs out (4) |
A canon[5] is a general law, rule, principle, or criterion by which something is judged ⇒
the appointment violated the canons of fair play and equal opportunity.
" clubs " = C[1] [card suit]
| 7d | In all likelihood // papers are South American, latest from Uruguay (1,4,3) |
A Fine Distinction
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| By convention, abbreviations and spellings used in The Daily Telegraph puzzles are those found in The Chambers Dictionary (affectionately known as the Big Red Book or BRB on Big Dave's Crossword Blog). Although The Chambers Dictionary lists SA as an abbreviation for South America, it does not show it as an abbreviation for South American. Therefore, in strict adherence to this convention, we must consider the letters separately with S being an abbreviation for South and A an abbreviation for American, both of which are listed. |
| 8d | Young eat nuts /and/ drink (5,3) |
| 13d | Exactly what's needed, // impartial article on piece of work (4,3,3) |
Just the job[5] is an informal British expression* meaning exactly what is needed ⇒ (i)
companionship from fellow walkers was just the job; (ii)
it is just the job for getting rid of stains.
* While I am not familiar with this expression, I have heard similar ones such as just the thing/the very thing[14] and just the ticket[14].
| 15d | Question // revolutionary about everybody English (9) |
"revolutionary " = CHE [Guevara]
Che Guevara[7]
(1928–1967) was an Argentine Marxist revolutionary, physician, author,
guerrilla leader, diplomat, and military theorist. A major figure of the
Cuban
Revolution, his stylized visage has become a ubiquitous countercultural
symbol of rebellion and global insignia within popular culture.
hide
Che Guevara[7]
(1928–1967) was an Argentine Marxist revolutionary, physician, author,
guerrilla leader, diplomat, and military theorist. A major figure of the
Cuban
Revolution, his stylized visage has become a ubiquitous countercultural
symbol of rebellion and global insignia within popular culture.hide
" English " = ENG [Eng.[2]]
| 16d | So long, // as well, endless strips of pasta to be consumed (6-2) |
Toodle-oo[d] is a quaint, informal, and lighthearted expression of farewell that is primarily heard in the UK.
Origin: perhaps an alteration of French à tout à l'heure ‘see you soon’[5]
[d] Farlex Dictionary of Idioms
| 17d | Showing great care /in/ artist's workroom with us (8) |
| 19d | Tense // time ahead (6) |
| 20d | Get away // at one in punt (4,2) |
Punt[2,3,4,5,10,11] is a chiefly British term which means:
- (verb) to gamble or bet, especially against the bank (as in roulette and some card games such as faro) or on horses or other sporting events
- (noun) such a gamble or bet
| 23d | Book // a sailor brought over (5) |
| 24d | Current breaking through // wharf (4) |
" current " = I[2] [electric current; symbol used in physics]
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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