Puzzle at a Glance
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Puzzle number in The Daily Telegraph
DT 29933 | |
Publication date in The Daily Telegraph
Saturday, March 12, 2022 | |
Setter
Chalicea (Shirley Curran) | |
Link to full review
Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 29933 – Hints]Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 29933 – Review] | |
Big Dave's Crossword Blog review written by
Senf (Hints)Rahmat Ali (Review) | |
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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This puzzle appears on the Monday Diversions page in the Saturday, July 9, 2022 edition of the National Post. As this was a Saturday "Prize Puzzle" in Britain, there are two entries related to it on Big Dave's Crossword Blog — the first, posted on the date of publication, contains hints for selected clues while the second is a full review issued following the entry deadline for the contest. The vast majority of reader comments will generally be found attached to the "hints" posting with a minimal number — if any — accompanying the full review. | |
Introduction
This puzzle by Chalicea provides a very gentle start to the week.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 | Admonisher unexpectedly // reconciled (10) |
| 6a | Third note followed by second // note (4) |
In tonic sol-fa, me[5] (US mi) is the third note of a major scale.
"second " = MO [short period of time]
Mo[5] (abbreviation for moment) is an informal term* for a short period of time ⇒
* Identified by several British dictionaries as being a British[5][14], chiefly British[2][4], or mainly British[10] term. However, one British[1] and two US dictionaries[11][12] do not specify that it is British. This meaning of the word "mo" is not found in a third US dictionary[3].
hide
Mo[5] (abbreviation for moment) is an informal term* for a short period of time ⇒
hang on a mo!.
* Identified by several British dictionaries as being a British[5][14], chiefly British[2][4], or mainly British[10] term. However, one British[1] and two US dictionaries[11][12] do not specify that it is British. This meaning of the word "mo" is not found in a third US dictionary[3].
hide
| 8a | Phrase badly: editor // changed again (8) |
| 9a | Bishop leaves trash /in/ this place for housing vehicles (6) |
| 10a | Dogged // son had had a debt (8) |
" son " = S [s[5]; genealogy]
| 11a | Pressed // on in anger with Democrat (6) |
" Democrat " = D[5] [member or supporter of the US Democratic Party]
| 12a | Crafty // part of researches (4) |
| 14a | Essential constituent of diet // for one in ten (7) |
" one " = I[2] [Roman numeral]
| 18a | Environs of ancient area of land // captivate (7) |
| 20a | Astound // enthusiasts heading west (4) |
| 23a | Severely criticise // a small journey at sea? (6) |
" small " = S[5] [clothing size]
| 24a | Underage person grasping cross // bullish monster (8) |
Tau[5] is the nineteenth letter of the Greek alphabet (Τ, τ), the upper case version of which is shaped like a cross. A tau cross[5] is a T-shaped cross.
* A tau cross is also known as the St Anthony cross (also St Anthony's cross) ⇒
The type of cross actually used by Romans for crucifixion is now known as St. Anthony's Cross, shaped like the letter "T", unlike the traditionally depicted Latin cross.
In Greek mythology, the Minotaur[5] was a creature who was half-man and half-bull, the offspring of Pasiphaë and a bull with which she fell in love. Confined in Crete in a labyrinth made by Daedalus and fed on human flesh, it was eventually slain by Theseus.
| 25a | Exotic raptor // bird (6) |
| 26a | Different forms /of/ volume and notes from time to time limiting melody (8) |
An aria[5] is a long accompanied song for a solo voice, typically one in an opera or oratorio.
| 27a | International leaves footballer /in/ difficulty (4) |
" international " = I[2]
Lionel Messi[7] is an Argentine professional footballer [soccer player] who plays as a forward for Ligue 1 club Paris Saint-Germain and captains the Argentina national team. He is often considered the best player in the world and widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time.
Scratching the Surface
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International[5] is a British term for a game or contest between teams representing different countries in a sport ⇒ the Murrayfield rugby international. |
| 28a | Resolves // to prevent explosive devices (10) |
Down
| 1d | Trouble /with/ stern on vessel (8) |
| 2d | Rogue // crashed cars going over a lake (6) |
" lake " = L[2] [on maps]
| 3d | Men supporting old renegade, // one who makes speeches (6) |
" old " = O[12] [linguistics;
OFr(Old French),
OE(Old English)]
| 4d | Popular English stage worker // lacking in good taste (9) |
" English " = E[2]
"worker " = ANT
The terms "worker" and "social worker" are commonly used in cryptic crossword puzzles to clue ANT or BEE.
A worker[5] is a neuter or undeveloped female bee, wasp, ant, or other social insect, large numbers of which do the basic work of the colony.
In crossword puzzles, "worker" will most frequently be used to clue ANT and occasionally BEE but I have yet to see it used to clue WASP. Of course, "worker" is sometimes also used to clue HAND or MAN.
hide
The terms "worker" and "social worker" are commonly used in cryptic crossword puzzles to clue ANT or BEE.
A worker[5] is a neuter or undeveloped female bee, wasp, ant, or other social insect, large numbers of which do the basic work of the colony.
In crossword puzzles, "worker" will most frequently be used to clue ANT and occasionally BEE but I have yet to see it used to clue WASP. Of course, "worker" is sometimes also used to clue HAND or MAN.
hide
| 5d | Struggle for supremacy of pair of boxers maybe (8) |
| 6d | Person making proposal involving source of metal // as a further matter (8) |
| 7d | Fascinating // spells describing web? (8) |
The word ''describing" is used as a containment indicator. (show more )
The use of the word "describe(s)" (or variations thereof such as "describing" or "described by") as either a containment indicator or a hidden word indicator is a common cryptic crossword device which relies on describe[1,2,12] being used in the sense of to trace out or delineate [in other words, form a boundary around] ⇒
hide
The use of the word "describe(s)" (or variations thereof such as "describing" or "described by") as either a containment indicator or a hidden word indicator is a common cryptic crossword device which relies on describe[1,2,12] being used in the sense of to trace out or delineate [in other words, form a boundary around] ⇒
skaters describing circles on the ice.
hide
| 13d | Ingenuous, worried // examinee (9) |
| 15d | Poison /that could make/ ten Arabs unwell (8) |
Ratsbane[5] is an archaic term for rat poison.
| 16d | The rates adjusted /in/ drama venues (8) |
| 17d | Lonely // single very excited to go topless (8) |
In cricket, a single[5] is a hit for one run.
| 19d | Trains regularly covered by ticket sellers /for/ holidaymakers (8) |
Tout[5] (or ticket tout) is the British term for scalper[5] (a person who buys up tickets for an event to resell them at a profit).
Holidaymaker[5] is a British term for a person on holiday [vacation] away from home.
Here and There
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The British use the word holiday(s) for what North Americans (especially our neighbours south of the border) would call vacation[5]. (show more )
Holiday[5,10] (often holidays) is a chiefly British term for a period in which a break is taken from work or studies for rest, travel, or recreation ⇒ (i) I spent my summer holidays on a farm; (ii) Fred was on holiday in Spain. According to British dictionaries, the usual US and Canadian term for such a break is vacation. However, I am accustomed to hearing the two terms used almost interchangeably in this sense—in much the same manner that I would use fall and autumn interchangeably. This may not be the case in all parts of Canada, but I grew up in the Maritimes and have lived in Eastern Ontario for most of my life, both areas where British traditions are particularly strong. In Britain, the word vacation[5] has a very specific meaning, a fixed holiday period between terms in universities and law courts ⇒ the Easter vacation. In North America, such a period might be called a break[7]. hide |
| 21d | Singular repugnance /for/ reactive element (6) |
" singular " = S [s[5]; grammar term]
Sodium[5] (symbol Na) is the chemical element of atomic number 11, a soft silver-white reactive metal of the alkali-metal group.
| 22d | We hear member of cathedral staff /is/ a great gun (6) |
A canon[2] is a member of the clergy* attached to a cathedral.
* in rank, below a dean
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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