Puzzle at a Glance
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Puzzle number in The Daily Telegraph
DT 29904 | |
Publication date in The Daily Telegraph
Monday, February 7, 2022 | |
Setter
Campbell (Allan Scott) | |
Link to full review
Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 29904]
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Big Dave's Crossword Blog review written by
pommers | |
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 will admit this puzzle is on the easier end of the spectrum, but I wouldn't go so far as to give it one star for difficulty as does pommers in his review on Big Dave's Crossword Blog.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 | Extremely reprehensible landlord, // one who voted for Trump? (10) |
A landlord[5] is a man who keeps lodgings, a boarding house, or a pub.
Publican[5] is a British term for a person who owns or manages a pub.
What did he say?
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In his review on Big Dave's Crossword Blog, pommers describes the second part of the charade asLocal[5] is an informal British term for a pub convenient to a person’s home ⇒a word for the landlord of your local. had a pint in the local. |
Donald Trump[5] is a US Republican statesman, 45th president of the US 2017–21. (show more )
He is the first US president ever to be impeached more than once, first in 2019 on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of justice, and again in 2021 for incitement of insurrection. He was the host of the reality TV programme The Apprentice, and as a real estate developer is noted for building Trump Tower (1982) in New York City.
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He is the first US president ever to be impeached more than once, first in 2019 on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of justice, and again in 2021 for incitement of insurrection. He was the host of the reality TV programme The Apprentice, and as a real estate developer is noted for building Trump Tower (1982) in New York City.
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| 6a | Have a wager against a // Greek character (4) |
Beta[5] is the second letter of the Greek alphabet (Β, β).
| 9a | Mandarin, // endless stream, a curate translated (10) |
In Scottish and Northern English dialects, a burn[5] is a small stream.
Scratching the Surface
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| A curate[5] (also assistant curate) is a member of the clergy engaged as assistant to a vicar, rector, or parish priest. |
| 10a | Good sense shown retaining original of Russian // legal document (4) |
What did he say?
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In his review on Big Dave's Crossword Blog, pommers describes the container asNous[5] is an informal British term meaning common sense or practical intelligence ⇒a word for good sense or nous. if he had any nous at all, he’d sell the film rights. |
| 12a | Work hard to get a new // advertising phrase (6) |
A curate[5] (also assistant curate) is a member of the clergy engaged as assistant to a vicar, rector, or parish priest.
| 13a | More rum /for/ visitor (8) |
Rum[5] is a dated informal British term meaning odd or peculiar ⇒
it’s a rum business, certainly.
| 15a | King, or fine // British author (6,6) |
George[5] is the name of four kings of Great
Britain and Ireland, one of Great Britain and Ireland (from 1920 of the
United Kingdom), and one of the United Kingdom, the most recent being
George VI (1895–1952) – the father of Elizabeth II – who reigned 1936-52. (show more )
He came to the throne on the abdication of his elder brother Edward VIII. Despite a retiring disposition he became a popular monarch, gaining respect for the staunch example he and his family set during the London Blitz.
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He came to the throne on the abdication of his elder brother Edward VIII. Despite a retiring disposition he became a popular monarch, gaining respect for the staunch example he and his family set during the London Blitz.
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George Orwell[5]
(1903–1950) was a British novelist and essayist, born in India;
pseudonym of Eric Arthur Blair. (show more )
Orwell’s work is characterized by his concern for social injustice. His most famous works are Animal Farm (1945), a satire on Communism as it developed under Stalin, and Nineteen Eighty-Four (1949), a dystopian account of a future state in which every aspect of life is controlled by Big Brother.
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Orwell’s work is characterized by his concern for social injustice. His most famous works are Animal Farm (1945), a satire on Communism as it developed under Stalin, and Nineteen Eighty-Four (1949), a dystopian account of a future state in which every aspect of life is controlled by Big Brother.
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| 18a | Computer place /in/ centre, neat if in need of refreshment (8,4) |
One could well deem the entire clue to be a cryptic definition – a point to which pommers seems to allude in his comment on Big Dave's Crossword Blog ⇒
Indeed it would be a neat place to go if you were in need of refreshment!
| 21a | Herb // that may be found in most of NE Spanish region (8) |
Tarragona[7] is a province located in the Catalonia region of north-eastern Spain. The province includes several World Heritage Sites and is a popular tourist destination.
Tarragon[5] is a perennial plant of the daisy family, with narrow aromatic leaves that are used as a culinary herb.
| 22a | Refuse to accommodate husband/'s/ party (6) |
" husband " = H [h[2]; genealogy]
Thrash[5] is an informal British term for a party, especially a loud or lavish one ⇒
Henry's charity ball had been one hell of a thrash.
| 24a | Facts involving large // valley (4) |
Gen[5] is an informal British term for information ⇒
you’ve got more gen on him than we have.
" large " = L[5] [clothing size]
A glen[5] is a narrow valley, especially in Scotland or Ireland.
| 25a | Mate in capital hugging daughter /in/ top spot, perhaps (10) |
In Britain, mate[5] – in addition to meaning a person’s husband, wife, or other sexual partner—can also be an informal term for a friend or companion ⇒
my best mate Steve.
Rome[5] is the capital of Italy, situated on the River Tiber about 25 km (16 miles) inland.
" daughter " = D [d[2]; genealogy]
| 26a | Combat vehicle/'s/ brown and khaki, primarily (4) |
| 27a | British want to protect // the old scoundrel (10) |
" British " = B [B or B.[1]]
Blackguard[5] is a dated (ergo "old") term for a man who behaves in a dishonourable or contemptible way.
Down
| 1d | Sturdy // vehicle showing decay externally (6) |
Taking the Wrong Path
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| It took me a while to parse the wordplay as I initially thought the "decay" must be RUST. |
| 2d | Standards concerning // minister (6) |
Parson[5] is an informal term for any member of the clergy, especially a Protestant one. In the Church of England, a parson[5,10] is a parish priest, formerly applied only to those who held ecclesiastical benefices* – that is, a rector or a vicar.
* A benefice[5] is a permanent Church appointment, typically that of a rector or vicar, for which property and income are provided in respect of pastoral duties.
| 3d | Attend American sanctuary // to withdraw (4,1,7) |
" American " = A[1]
| 4d | Popular Chinese // island (4) |
" Chinese " = CH [Ch.[1]]
Inch[7,10] (an anglicisation of the Gaelic innis) is a Scottish and Irish term for a small island (usually found in placenames).
| 5d | A tap losing pressure -- reach // with some difficulty (2,1,7) |
" pressure " = P [p[5]; symbol used in physics]
In addition to its meaning as a verb to extend an arm in a specified direction in order to touch or grasp something, reach[5] as a noun denotes a continuous extent of water, especially a stretch of river between two bends, or the part of a canal between locks ⇒
the upper reaches of the Nile.
| 7d | Rex is inside eagerly brewing // tea (4,4) |
"Rex " = R
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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Earl Grey[5] is a kind of China tea flavoured with bergamot*.
* Bergamot[5] is an oily substance extracted from the rind of a dwarf variety of Seville orange, used in cosmetics and as flavouring in Earl Grey tea.
Origin: Probably named after the 2nd Earl Grey (1764–1845)
| 8d | Behind everybody, // nevertheless (5,3) |
| 11d | What may be wanted after a night on the tiles // destroyed her good faith (4,2,3,3) |
On the tiles[5] is an informal, mainly British, expression for having a lively night out.
The hair of the dog[10] (or hair of the dog that bit one) denotes an alcoholic drink taken as an antidote to a hangover.
| 14d | Public brawl -- // nobody's charged (4-3-3) |
I have not marked this clue as a double definition – unlike pommers in his review on Big Dave's Crossword Blog – as I believe the numeration of the latter part of the clue is (4,3,3) and therefore does not match the numeration given in the clue.
| 16d | Model intoxicated? // Take no action (3,5) |
Tight[5] is used in the informal sense of drunk ⇒
he got tight on brandy.
| 17d | Naval doctor describing head of terrifying // fish (8) |
Surgeon[10] is used in the sense of a medical officer in the Royal Navy.
The Story Behind the Picture
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| In his review on Big Dave's Crossword Blog, pommers illustrates this clue with a picture of Nicola Sturgeon[7], the First Minister of Scotland and the Leader of the Scottish National Party. She is the first woman to hold either position. |
| 19d | Some worship a god at // temple (6) |
In India and East Asia, a pagoda[5] is a Hindu or Buddhist temple, typically in the form of a many-tiered tower.
| 20d | Screen // student in cast (6) |
"student " = 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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Shy[5] (past tense shied) is a dated term meaning to fling or throw (something) at a target ⇒
he tore the spectacles off and shied them at her.
| 23d | Leaders in Dallas Invitational set course // record (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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