Puzzle at a Glance
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Puzzle number in The Daily Telegraph
DT 29948 | |
Publication date in The Daily Telegraph
Wednesday, March 30, 2022 | |
Setter
NY Doorknob aka Donnybrook (Paul Bringloe) | |
Link to full review
Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 29948]
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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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Notes
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This puzzle appears on the Monday Diversions page in the Saturday, July 30, 2022 edition of the National Post. | |
Introduction
On the day this puzzle was published in the UK, the regular setter Jay was appearing elsewhere in The Daily Telegraph under his other pseudonym, Logman. In his place, we have an offering from NY Doorknob.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
| 6a | Extraordinary // pattern designed with a ruler (13) |
| 8a | Dig // a grave Mike must occupy (6) |
" Mike " = M[5] [NATO Phonetic Alphabet[7]]
| 9a | Reverend in eastern capital around // always (8) |
" Reverend " = REV (Rev[2])
" eastern " = E[5]
Rome[5] is the capital of Italy, situated on the River Tiber about 25 km (16 miles) inland.
| 10a | Old woman cold /in/ raincoat (3) |
" cold " = C [c[1]; as in 'h and c'[1] (referring to water supply)]
Mac[5] is an informal name for a mackintosh[5], a British name for a full-length waterproof coat ⇒
Those planning to go to Blackpool or North Wales for the bank holiday are most likely to need their macs and umbrellas with the coast and hills favourites for a shower.
| 11a | Delight /as/ property initially let (6) |
The indicator "initially" is a direction to use the initial letter of a word in the fodder.
"let " = LEASE
Let[5] is a British* term meaning to allow someone to have the use of (a room or property) in return for regular payments ⇒ (i)
* However, based on its appearance in US dictionaries[3,11], I seriously doubt this word is as exclusively British as Lexico (Oxford Dictionaries) would have us believe.
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Let[5] is a British* term meaning to allow someone to have the use of (a room or property) in return for regular payments ⇒ (i)
she let the flat [apartment] to a tenant; (ii)
they’ve let out their house.
* However, based on its appearance in US dictionaries[3,11], I seriously doubt this word is as exclusively British as Lexico (Oxford Dictionaries) would have us believe.
hide
| 12a | Open late -- that's for making // quick buck! (8) |
A buck[5] is the male of some horned animals, especially the fallow deer, roe deer, reindeer, and antelopes.
| 14a | Helps // plucky players missing their intro? (7) |
The indicator "missing their intro" is a direction to discard the initial letter of a word suggested by the fodder.
A bassist[5] is a person who plays a double bass[10], a stringed instrument that is the largest and lowest member of the violin family. It is normally bowed in classical music, but it is very common in a jazz or dance band, where it is practically always played pizzicato [plucked with the finger].
| 16a | Greek breaking link /displays/ annoyance (7) |
" Greek " = Gr.[2]
| 20a | Embarrassed soldier capturing GI /gets/ star (3,5) |
A red giant[5] is a very large star of high luminosity and low surface temperature. Red giants are thought to be in a late stage of evolution when no hydrogen remains in the core to fuel nuclear fusion.
| 23a | Victim // tense in Mary Rose at the front (6) |
" tense " = T [t or t.[1]; grammar term]
The indicator "at the front" is a direction to use the initial letter of a word in the fodder.
| 24a | Beer: // Guinness served shortly? (3) |
Sir Alec Guinness[5] (1914–2000) was an English actor. He gave memorable performances in films such as Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) and Star Wars (1977).
The indicator "served shortly" is a direction to discard the final letter of a word suggested by the fodder.
Scratching the Surface
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Guinness[7]
is an Irish dry stout that originated in the brewery of Arthur Guinness (1725–1803) at St. James's Gate, Dublin. (show more )
Not only is it the best-selling alcoholic drink in Ireland, it is brewed in almost 50 countries worldwide and is available in over 120. Despite its close association with Ireland, the company's headquarters has been located in London since 1932. In 1997, it merged with Grand Metropolitan to form the multinational alcoholic drinks producer Diageo. hide |
| 25a | With river coming in, the setter's shelter /is/ inadequate (8) |
The Po[7] is a river that arises in the Cottian Alps and flows eastward across northern Italy entering the Adriatic Sea through a delta near Venice.
"the setter's " = IM
It is a common cryptic crossword convention for the creator of the puzzle to use terms such as (the or this) compiler, (the or this) setter, (the or this) speaker, (this) author, (this) writer, or this person to refer to himself or herself. To solve such a clue, one must generally substitute a first person pronoun (I or ME) for whichever of these terms has been used in the clue.
Today, the the creator of the puzzle has made the scenario more complicated by combining "the setter" with the verb "to be"* producing "the setter's" (a contraction of "the setter is") which must be replaced by "I'm" (a contraction of "I am").
* Although in the surface reading "the setter's" is showing possession, in the wordplay it is interpreted as a contraction of "the setter is".
hide
It is a common cryptic crossword convention for the creator of the puzzle to use terms such as (the or this) compiler, (the or this) setter, (the or this) speaker, (this) author, (this) writer, or this person to refer to himself or herself. To solve such a clue, one must generally substitute a first person pronoun (I or ME) for whichever of these terms has been used in the clue.
Today, the the creator of the puzzle has made the scenario more complicated by combining "the setter" with the verb "to be"* producing "the setter's" (a contraction of "the setter is") which must be replaced by "I'm" (a contraction of "I am").
* Although in the surface reading "the setter's" is showing possession, in the wordplay it is interpreted as a contraction of "the setter is".
hide
| 26a | Permissive character? (6) |
I see the entire clue as a cryptic definition in which a precise definition is embedded. Although they state it somewhat differently, this is effectively how the 2Kiwis describe the clue in their review on Big Dave's Crossword Blog.
| 27a | Gizmo /needs/ electron motor reset (6,7) |
Down
| 1d | One Tibetan animal in rite cooked /as/ food (8) |
" one " = I[2] [Roman numeral]
A yak[5] is a large domesticated wild ox with shaggy hair, humped shoulders, and large horns, used in Tibet as a pack animal and for its milk, meat, and hide.
Teriyaki[5] is a Japanese dish consisting of fish or meat marinated in soy sauce and grilled.
| 2d | Building // workers dividing opinion (8) |
| 3d | Born among wolves perhaps raised // round bone (7) |
| 4d | Barking setter /shows/ the way (6) |
As an anagram indicator, barking[5] is used in an informal British sense meaning completely mad or demented ⇒ (i)
we are all a bit barking; (ii) [as submodifier]
has she gone completely barking mad?.
| 5d | Most important // border in China (6) |
China[5] is an informal British term for a friend (or, as the Brits would say, a mate*).
* In Britain, mate[5]—in addition to being a person’s husband, wife, or other sexual partner—is an informal term for a friend or companion ⇒
Origin: Cockney rhyming slang (show more ) from china plate (rhymes with 'mate').
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).
The cockney[5] dialect is characterized by dropping the aitch (H) from the beginning of words as well as the use of rhyming slang[5].
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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* In Britain, mate[5]—in addition to being a person’s husband, wife, or other sexual partner—is an informal term for a friend or companion ⇒
my best mate Steve.
Origin: Cockney rhyming slang (show more ) from china plate (rhymes with 'mate').
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).
The cockney[5] dialect is characterized by dropping the aitch (H) from the beginning of words as well as the use of rhyming slang[5].
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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| 6d | Confuses group stopping for each // riverboat (6,7) |
| 7d | Lovers rapidly besmirched // cabinet minister (4,5,4) |
In the UK, a Lord Privy Seal[5] is a senior cabinet minister without specified official duties.
| 13d | Extremely long time // inside after assault (3) |
| 15d | Runner // outside unable to finish (3) |
The indicator "unable to finish" is a direction to discard the final letter of a word suggested by the fodder.
| 17d | House with male, 12, in mother country (8) |
" house " = HO [ho.[1,10]]
" male " = M [m or m.[2]]
The
numeral "12" is a cross
reference indicator pointing to clue 12a (show more ).
To complete the clue, a solver must replace the cross reference indicator with the solution to the clue starting in the light* identified by the cross reference indicator.
The cross reference indicator may include a directional indicator but this is customarily done only in situations where there are both Across and Down clues originating in the light that is being referenced.
* light-coloured cell in the grid
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To complete the clue, a solver must replace the cross reference indicator with the solution to the clue starting in the light* identified by the cross reference indicator.
The cross reference indicator may include a directional indicator but this is customarily done only in situations where there are both Across and Down clues originating in the light that is being referenced.
* light-coloured cell in the grid
hide
The eland[5] is a large spiral-horned African antelope which lives in open woodland and grassland.
| 18d | Road system // turning to north in grubby outskirts? (8) |
A gyratory[5] (likely a British term) is a road junction or traffic system requiring the circular movement of traffic, larger or more complex than an ordinary roundabout (rotary or traffic circle).
| 19d | Science needing a balanced approach? (7) |
Statics[5] is the branch of mechanics (itself a branch of science) concerned with bodies at rest and forces in equilibrium.
| 21d | Head from frozen residence, heavens // overcast (6) |
The indicator "head from" is a direction to discard the initial letter of a word suggested by the fodder.
| 22d | Moles /found in/ American facilities (6) |
" American " = A[1]
Facilities[2] is a euphemism for a lavatory [toilet].
The gents[5] is a British term for a men's public toilet.
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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