Puzzle at a Glance
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Puzzle number in The Daily Telegraph
DT 29930 | |
Publication date in The Daily Telegraph
Wednesday, March 9, 2022 | |
Setter
Jay (Jeremy Mutch) | |
Link to full review
Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 29930]
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Big Dave's Crossword Blog review written by
2Kiwis | |
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
In their review on Big Dave's Crossword Blog, the 2Kiwis describe this puzzle as "Jay at his sparkling best".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 | What Jack Sprat's wife might do /for/ rabbit? (4,3,3) |
Jack Sprat[7] is is an English language nursery rhyme. The most common modern version of the rhyme is:
- Jack Sprat could eat no fat.
- His wife could eat no lean.
- And so between the two of them,
- They licked the platter clean.
Rabbit[5] is an informal British term meaning:
- (noun) a conversation ⇒
we had quite a heated rabbit about it
- (verb) to talk at length, especially about trivial matters ⇒
stop rabbiting on, will you, and go to bed!
The term rabbit[5] (meaning talk) is Cockney rhyming slang arising from the expression
"rabbit and pork"[5]. (show more )
Cockneys[5,10], the natives of that part of East London known as the East End[5], speak a dialect (also known as cockney) that is characterized by dropping the aitch (H) from the beginning of words as well as the use of rhyming slang.
In Cockney rhyming slang, a word (in this case, "talk") is replaced by a phrase with which it rhymes (in this case, "rabbit and pork"). Although the entire rhyming phrase may sometimes be used, it is more often the case that the rhyming word (in this case, "pork") is dropped leaving the slang word (in this case, "rabbit"). Thus, through this process, "talk" becomes "rabbit".
The word "pork" , when pronounced in a non-rhotic accent* typical of dialects found in many parts of Britain (especially southeastern England), more or less rhymes with "talk" .
* Non-rhotic accents omit the sound < r > in certain situations, while rhotic accents generally pronounce < r > in all contexts. Among the several dozen British English accents which exist, many are non-rhotic while American English (US and Canadian) is mainly rhotic. This is, however, a generalization, as there are areas of Britain that are rhotic, and areas of America that are non-rhotic. For more information, see this guide to pronouncing < r > in British English.
As for the expression "rabbit and pork", apparently it is common practice to combine these two meats in a dish (as a Google search for 'rabbit and pork recipe' will quickly attest)). One recipe I found sheds some light on why these meats often appear together: "Rabbit can be dry some times so here it is cooked with belly pork and cyder [archaic spelling of cider] to create a warming substantial casserole".
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Cockneys[5,10], the natives of that part of East London known as the East End[5], speak a dialect (also known as cockney) that is characterized by dropping the aitch (H) from the beginning of words as well as the use of rhyming slang.
In Cockney rhyming slang, a word (in this case, "talk") is replaced by a phrase with which it rhymes (in this case, "rabbit and pork"). Although the entire rhyming phrase may sometimes be used, it is more often the case that the rhyming word (in this case, "pork") is dropped leaving the slang word (in this case, "rabbit"). Thus, through this process, "talk" becomes "rabbit".
The word "pork" , when pronounced in a non-rhotic accent* typical of dialects found in many parts of Britain (especially southeastern England), more or less rhymes with "talk" .
* Non-rhotic accents omit the sound < r > in certain situations, while rhotic accents generally pronounce < r > in all contexts. Among the several dozen British English accents which exist, many are non-rhotic while American English (US and Canadian) is mainly rhotic. This is, however, a generalization, as there are areas of Britain that are rhotic, and areas of America that are non-rhotic. For more information, see this guide to pronouncing < r > in British English.
As for the expression "rabbit and pork", apparently it is common practice to combine these two meats in a dish (as a Google search for 'rabbit and pork recipe' will quickly attest)). One recipe I found sheds some light on why these meats often appear together: "Rabbit can be dry some times so here it is cooked with belly pork and cyder [archaic spelling of cider] to create a warming substantial casserole".
hide
| 6a | Teeth must be fixed in these // cements (4) |
| 10a | Extremely // powerful tradition at heart (5) |
The solution is not only lurking, it is positioned precisely in the centre (heart) of the fodder.
| 11a | Storms // revealed source of rust in sculptures (9) |
| 12a | Traditional // form since using regulars (7) |
In Britain, a form[5] is [or, perhaps more correctly,was] a class or year in a school, usually given a specifying number. This is somewhat similar to the North America concept of a grade although the numbering systems for forms and grades are vastly different. (show more )
The term "form" seems to have become passé as Miffypops in his review of DT 28163 on Big Dave's Crossword Blog refers to "sixth-former" as "What a schoolchild would be during the year before university back in the old days. This would now be known as year 13 or 14." Furthermore, Wikipedia (see table below) characterizes the term "form" as an "alternative/old name".
A form[7] is a class or grouping of students in a school. The term is used predominantly in the United Kingdom, although some schools, mostly private, in other countries also use the title. Pupils are usually grouped in forms according to age and will remain with the same group for a number of years, or sometimes their entire school career.
Forms are normally identified by a number such as "first form" or "sixth form". A form number may be used for two year groups and differentiated by the terms upper and lower [in general, this would seem to apply primarily for the sixth form]. Usually the sixth form is the senior form of a school [although this apparently does not hold true for New Zealand where they would appear to have a seventh form]. In England, the sixth form is usually divided into two year groups, the lower sixth and upper sixth, owing to the 3-year English college/university system. In Scotland or North America, the 6th form is usually a single year, owing to the 4-year college/university system. If there is more than one form for each year group they will normally be differentiated by letters, e.g., "upper four B", "lower two Y". Schools do not follow a consistent pattern in naming forms [in the foregoing quotation witness Miffypops' reference to "year 14", a term which does not appear in the table below].
Wikipedia would appear to be at best ambiguous and at worst inconsistent on the relationship between the British and American systems of naming school years. The article from which the table below is excerpted shows that the British first form is equivalent to the American 6th grade. On the other hand, the article cited above states "In North America, the 1st Form (or sometimes 'Form I') is equivalent to 7th Grade." However, this latter statement may in fact be a comparison between the few North American schools to use the form system and the vast majority of North American schools that don't rather than a comparison between British and American schools.
hide
The term "form" seems to have become passé as Miffypops in his review of DT 28163 on Big Dave's Crossword Blog refers to "sixth-former" as "What a schoolchild would be during the year before university back in the old days. This would now be known as year 13 or 14." Furthermore, Wikipedia (see table below) characterizes the term "form" as an "alternative/old name".
A form[7] is a class or grouping of students in a school. The term is used predominantly in the United Kingdom, although some schools, mostly private, in other countries also use the title. Pupils are usually grouped in forms according to age and will remain with the same group for a number of years, or sometimes their entire school career.
Forms are normally identified by a number such as "first form" or "sixth form". A form number may be used for two year groups and differentiated by the terms upper and lower [in general, this would seem to apply primarily for the sixth form]. Usually the sixth form is the senior form of a school [although this apparently does not hold true for New Zealand where they would appear to have a seventh form]. In England, the sixth form is usually divided into two year groups, the lower sixth and upper sixth, owing to the 3-year English college/university system. In Scotland or North America, the 6th form is usually a single year, owing to the 4-year college/university system. If there is more than one form for each year group they will normally be differentiated by letters, e.g., "upper four B", "lower two Y". Schools do not follow a consistent pattern in naming forms [in the foregoing quotation witness Miffypops' reference to "year 14", a term which does not appear in the table below].
Wikipedia would appear to be at best ambiguous and at worst inconsistent on the relationship between the British and American systems of naming school years. The article from which the table below is excerpted shows that the British first form is equivalent to the American 6th grade. On the other hand, the article cited above states "In North America, the 1st Form (or sometimes 'Form I') is equivalent to 7th Grade." However, this latter statement may in fact be a comparison between the few North American schools to use the form system and the vast majority of North American schools that don't rather than a comparison between British and American schools.
Naming of School Years (British System vs American System)[7]
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| Age Range | British System | American System | |
| Name | Alternative/Old Name | Name | |
| 11-12 | Year 7 | First form | 6th grade |
| 12-13 | Year 8 | Second form | 7th grade |
| 13-14 | Year 9 | Third form | 8th grade |
| 14-15 | Year 10 | Fourth form | 9th grade |
| 15-16 | Year 11 | Fifth form | 10th grade |
| 16-17 | Year 12 | Lower sixth form | 11th grade |
| 17-18 | Year 13 | Upper sixth form | 12th grade |
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| 13a | Carbon before new age not // related (7) |
" carbon " = C[5] [chemical symbol]
| 14a | Unstable structure // had of course to be rebuilt with son (5,2,5) |
" son " = S [s[5]; genealogy]
| 18a | Equine service provider // extremely involved in lean fit (6,6) |
A livery stable[5] (also livery yard) is a stable where horses are kept at livery or let out for hire.
* The phrase at livery[5] denotes (of a horse) kept for the owner and fed and cared for at a fixed charge.
| 21a | Boss must be short, employing one Republican // beast with a lot of neck (7) |
Gaffer[5] is an informal British term for a person in charge of others; in other words, a boss ⇒
street cleaners stopping for a smoke when their gaffer isn’t in the vicinity.
" Republican " = R[5] [member or supporter of the US Republican Party]
| 23a | Elaborate // European currency cut by vote (7) |
" European " = E[2]
The pound[5] (also pound sterling) is the basic monetary unit of the UK, equal to 100 pence.
| 24a | Bare all in dancing? Not this dancer (9) |
One could consider the entire clue to be a cryptic definition in which the wordplay is embedded.
"This dancer" typically does not dance naked but wears a tutu*.
* A tutu[5] is a female ballet dancer's costume consisting of a bodice and an attached skirt incorporating numerous layers of fabric, this being either short and stiff and projecting horizontally from the waist (the classical tutu) or long, soft, and bell-shaped (the romantic tutu).
Well, did you know ...?
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| The word tutu[5] is originally French, a child's alteration of cucu, informal diminutive of cul ‘buttocks’. |
| 25a | Provoke // complaints, lacking boundaries (5) |
What did they say?
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In their review on Big Dave's Crossword Blog, the 2Kiwis advise us to remove the first and last letters from a word meaningWhereas North Americans merely whine, Brits both whine and whinge.complaints or whinges. Whinge[5] is an informal British term that means:
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| 26a | Relief // obtained from overseas earnings (4) |
| 27a | Attractive // daughter capable of winning votes (10) |
" daughter " = D [d[2]; genealogy]
Down
| 1d | Critical situation /could be/ credit, with meal lacking starter ... (6) |
" credit " = CR [Cr[5] or cr.[10]]
| 2d | ... more seconds /giving/ additional charges (6) |
" seconds " = S [s[2]; measure of time]
| 3d | Completely changed // form of ID for emigrants (14) |
Transmogrify[5] (past transmogrified) is a mainly humorous term meaning to transform in a surprising or magical manner.
What did she say?
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In a comment on Big Dave's Crossword Blog, Penny Turner wryly suggests transmogrified refers toMog[5] (also moggie or moggy) is an informal British term for a cat, especially one that does not have a pedigree or is otherwise unremarkable.a cat who had changed sex. |
| 4d | Drives out /to see/ trains using oxygen for energy (9) |
" oxygen " = O[5] [chemical symbol]
" energy " = E[2] [symbol used in physics]
| 5d | Room /with/ American -- one who doesn't drink in charge (5) |
" American " = A[1]
"one who doesn't drink " = TT [teetotaller]
Teetotal[5] (abbreviation TT[5]) means choosing or characterized by abstinence from alcohol ⇒
A teetotaller[5] (US teetotaler; abbreviation TT[5]) is a person who never drinks alcohol.
The term teetotal is an emphatic extension of total, apparently first used by Richard Turner, a worker from Preston [England], in a speech (1833) urging total abstinence from all alcohol, rather than mere abstinence from spirits, as advocated by some early temperance reformers.
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Teetotal[5] (abbreviation TT[5]) means choosing or characterized by abstinence from alcohol ⇒
a teetotal lifestyle.
A teetotaller[5] (US teetotaler; abbreviation TT[5]) is a person who never drinks alcohol.
The term teetotal is an emphatic extension of total, apparently first used by Richard Turner, a worker from Preston [England], in a speech (1833) urging total abstinence from all alcohol, rather than mere abstinence from spirits, as advocated by some early temperance reformers.
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" in charge " = IC [i/c[2]]
| 7d | What comes after flight? (8) |
| 8d | Tension // meaning to cover unique selling point briefly (8) |
A USP[5] is a feature or characteristic of a product, service, etc. that distinguishes it from others of a similar nature and makes it more appealing ⇒
you must come up with some sort of USP for your product.
Origin: abbreviation of unique selling point or unique selling proposition
What did they say?
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In their review on Big Dave's Crossword Blog, the 2Kiwis refer to anEstate agent[5] is the British name for a real estate agent.estate agent. |
| 9d | Alcohol providing morale in theatre? (8,6) |
Surgical spirit[5] is a British term for denatured alcohol, typically perfumed, used for cleaning and disinfecting the skin or medical instruments before an injection or surgical operation.
| 15d | Usually // working, say, with maturity (2,7) |
| 16d | Suitable // large island to the north protected by the Spanish and the French (8) |
" island " = I[2] [on maps]
"the Spanish " = EL [Spanish definite article]
"the French " = LE [French definite article]
| 17d | Generally small // item of clothing (8) |
" small " = S[5] [clothing size]
Here and There
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| In Britain, the term overalls[4] encompasses a wider range of garments than it does in North America, including not only garments with a bib front and shoulder straps (as in North America) but also those having a jacket top. This latter garment is also known as a boiler suit[5] in the UK and would be called coveralls[3] in North America. |
| 19d | Area of housing // problem raised in advance (6) |
The rub[5] is the central problem or difficulty in a situation ⇒
that was the rub—she had not cared enough[from Shakespeare's Hamlet ( iii. i. 65)].
Sub[5] is a British term for an advance or loan against expected income ⇒
‘I've got no money.’ ‘Want a sub?’.
| 20d | Head off on /getting/ stick (6) |
| 22d | Best // bits of Portuguese literature (5) |
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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