Monday, September 17, 2012 - DT 26908

Puzzle at a Glance

Daily Telegraph Puzzle Number DT 26908
Publication Date in The Daily Telegraph Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Setter Unknown
Link to Full Review Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 26908]
Big Dave's Review Written By Gazza
Big Dave's Rating
Difficulty - ★★★	Enjoyment - ★★★
Falcon's Performance ┌────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┐ ███████████████████████████████████ └────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┘ 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 █ - unsolved or incorrect prior to visiting Big Dave's blog █ - reviewed by Falcon for Big Dave's blog

Introduction

While overall not terribly difficult, there are a couple of clues in today's puzzle with quite tricky wordplay.

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.

7a  After breakdown, rev woeful hired vehicle (4-5,5)

A "breakdown" is what North Americans would be more likely to refer to as car trouble. In Britain, emergency roadside assistance would be called breakdown service^[10]. Sainsbury's^[7], mentioned by Gazza in his review, is the third largest chain of supermarkets in the United Kingdom.

9a   Pine by hill starts to overshadow wood for poet (10)

A fell^[5] is a hill or stretch of high moorland, especially in northern England.

11a   Decrease inflexible element in club (4)

I was expecting maybe a double definition. Having concluded that one definition was [golf] club, I was desperately trying to make sense of the rest of the clue. While I have occasionally seen triple definitions in the past, I believe that this is the first time I have ever encountered a quadruple definition. The four meanings of iron are "decrease" (cryptic description of removing creases from articles of clothing), "inflexible" (e..g., iron will), "element" (as a chemistry term), and "club" (used in playing golf).

12a   Take in celebrity magazine bar cover (3)

Heat^[7] is a British entertainment magazine published by German company Bauer Media Group. As of 2004 it is one of the biggest selling magazines in the UK, with a regular circulation over half a million. Its mix of celebrity news, gossip, beauty advice and fashion is primarily aimed at women, although not as directly as in other women's magazines. It also features movie and music reviews, TV listings and major celebrity interviews.

17a   Live in front of a filthy place round lake? That’s vile (7)

In Britain, beastly^[5] means very unpleasant ⇒ this beastly war.

23a   Face fool (3)

Mug^[5] is British slang for a stupid or gullible person ⇒ they were no mugs where finance was concerned.

25a   Care taken about poster with old racing driver subject to recruitment (10)

James Hunt^[7] (1947 – 1993) was a British racing driver from England who won the Formula One World Championship in 1976. Hunt's often action packed exploits on track earned him the nickname "Hunt the Shunt." After retiring from driving, Hunt became a media commentator and businessman. Hunt died in 1993 at the age of 45, of a heart attack.

28a   Criminal behind top site around Spain? It’s irrelevant (6,3,5)

The International Vehicle Registration (IVR) code for Spain is E^[5] (from Spanish España).

1d   Old fellow arranged to be with a person during time held up without a home (2,2,5,5)

Of no fixed abode^[5] is an expression [seemingly British] describing a person having no permanent residence ⇒ both defendants were said to be of no fixed abode. The North American equivalent would be no fixed address.

3d   Very sentimental daughter jumping out of river (4)

The Tweed^[5] is a river which rises in the Southern Uplands of Scotland and flows generally eastwards, crossing into NE England and entering the North Sea at Berwick-upon-Tweed. For part of its lower course it forms the border between Scotland and England. Twee^[5] is a British expression denoting excessively or affectedly quaint, pretty, or sentimental (although the film’s a bit twee, it’s watchable).

4d   Office employee still getting uppity about a boy (3,4)

In Britain, a tea lady^[5] is a woman employed to make and serve tea in a workplace.

5d   Fair source of sprays etc? (6,4)

My Fair Lady^[7] is a musical based upon George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion and with book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe. The story concerns Eliza Doolittle, a Cockney flower girl who takes speech lessons from professor Henry Higgins, a phoneticist, so that she may pass as a well-born lady.

15d   A large smoker’s resource seen around back of inn in event around the clock? (10)

The term all-nighter seems to have a different connotation in Britain than it does in North America. Collins English Dictionary defines all-nighter^[10] as an entertainment, such as a pop concert or film screening, that lasts all night (which is the sense in which it is used in the discussion on Big Dave's blog). Oxford Dictionaries (British and World English version) defines all-nighter^[5] as an event or activity that continues throughout the night [leaving the nature of the activity unspecified]. However, Oxford Dictionaries (US English) defines all-nighter^[6] as an event or task that continues throughout the night, especially a study session before an examination ⇒ he would do an all-nighter, the way he used to in school (which is the meaning with which I am familiar).

19d  Criticism curtailed by ambassador — or other member of embassy? (7)

HE^[2] is the abbreviation for His or Her Excellency, where Excellency^[2] (usually His, Her or Your Excellency or Your or Their Excellencies) is a title of honour given to certain people of high rank, e.g. ambassadors.

26d   Confidence shown by comic actor (4)

Bob Hope^[7] (1903 – 2003) was an English-born American comedian and actor. His name never came to mind and I ended up entering HYPE (perhaps attributable to having run out of letters).

27d   Expose as a lie Nationalist trouble (4)

Nail^[10] means to expose or detect (a lie or liar).

Key to Reference Sources: 

^[1]   - The Chambers Dictionary, 11th Edition
^[2]   - Search Chambers - (Chambers 21st Century Dictionary)
^[3]   - TheFreeDictionary.com (American Heritage Dictionary)
^[4]   - TheFreeDictionary.com (Collins English Dictionary)
^[5]   - Oxford Dictionaries (Oxford Dictionary of English)
^[6]   - Oxford Dictionaries (Oxford American Dictionary)
^[7]   - Wikipedia
^[8]   - Reverso Online Dictionary (Collins French-English Dictionary)
^[9]   - Infoplease (Random House Unabridged Dictionary)
^[10] - CollinsDictionary.com (Collins English Dictionary)

Signing off for today — Falcon

Saturday, September 15, 2012 - Lock, Stock & Barrel

Introduction

It would appear that nothing can be missing in today's puzzle from Cox and Rathvon as the setters toss everything at us lock, stock and barrel.

The problems earlier today with Google Docs would seem to relate to the switchover to Google Drive. It looks as if there is something else new to learn.

Solution to Today's Puzzle

Legend:	"*" anagram; "~" sounds like; "<" letters reversed
	"( )" letters inserted; "_" letters deleted; "†" explicit in the clue

Across

9a   AVER|AGE — AVER (declare) + AGE (how long you've been around)

10a   P(ROTE)IN — ROTE (routine) contained in (in) PIN (wrestling success)

Protein, being a nutrient necessary for muscle development, could be considered a "body builder".

11a   COMB(I|NATION) LOCK — {COMB (†) + LOCK (hair)} containing (holding) {I ([Roman numeral for] one) + NATION (country)}

The 's (a contraction for is in the cryptic reading) serves as a link between the wordplay and definition.

12a   DEF(ICI)T — ICI (here in Quebec; French word meaning "here") contained in (covered by) DEFT (expert)

13a   TWIN (B)ED — B (first [letter] of Brownies) contained in (in) TWINED (corded)

15a   {STOCK BROKERAGES}* — anagram (punk) of ROCKER TAKES GOBS

19a   ANTONY|M — ANTONY (Roman lover; Mark Antony^[7]) + M (married)

21a   H(A|BIT)UE — A BIT (somewhat) contained in (absorbed by) HUE (colour)

23a   {DOUBLE-BARRELLED}* — anagram (out) of BLUEBEARD ROLLED

25a   REDTAIL* — anagram (cuckoo) of TRAILED

26a   BITTER|N — BITTER (harsh) + N (piece of News; in fact, the very first piece)

Down

1d   {CASC|ADES}~ — sounds like (we hear) {CASK (rum keg) + AIDS (is of use)}

2d   PERMAFROST* — anagram (ruined) of FARMERS POT

3d   M(AN|I)AC — {AN ([indefinite] article) + I (†)} contained in (donated to) MAC (Apple computer)

4d   DE(CAN)TER — DETER (check) containing (about) CAN (fire; dismiss from employment)

5d   S|PRINT — S (small) + PRINT (letters on the page)

6d   POI(N)TIER — POITIER ([Bahamian American actor] Sidney [Poitier]^[7])

7d   HER|O — HER (the woman's) + O (love; a score of nil in tennis)

The love story of Hero and Leander^[7] is a tragic tale from Greek mythology.

8d   S|NAKED — S (someone frontally; the first, or front, letter of 'someone') + NAKED (exposed)

14d   B(A|GAT)ELLE — BELLE (Southern beauty) containing (is packing) {A (†) + GAT (gangster's gun)}

16d   KIN|G (L)EAR — L (left) contained in (in) {KIN (family) + GEAR (paraphernalia)}

17d   {KOHL|RABI}~ — sounds like (pronounced) {COLE ([American composer and songwriter Cole] Porter^[7]) + ROBBIE ([Scottish actor Robbie] Coltrane^[7])}

Robbie Coltrane portrayed Rubeus Hagrid in the Harry Potter films.

18d   SP|ENDING — SP (Spanish) + ENDING (finale)

19d   ADDERS — double definition; "people counting" & "vipers"

20d   MOBILE — double definition; "Alabama city" & "on the move"

22d   B(RE)ATH — RE (with reference to) contained in (sitting in) BATH (tub)

24d   UN|DO — UN (United Nations) + DO (party)

Key to Reference Sources: 

^[1]   - The Chambers Dictionary, 11th Edition
^[2]   - Search Chambers - (Chambers 21st Century Dictionary)
^[3]   - TheFreeDictionary.com (American Heritage Dictionary)
^[4]   - TheFreeDictionary.com (Collins English Dictionary)
^[5]   - Oxford Dictionaries (Oxford Dictionary of English)
^[6]   - Oxford Dictionaries (Oxford American Dictionary)
^[7]   - Wikipedia
^[8]   - Reverso Online Dictionary (Collins French-English Dictionary)
^[9]   - Infoplease (Random House Unabridged Dictionary)
^[10] - CollinsDictionary.com (Collins English Dictionary)

Signing off for today — Falcon

Friday, September 14, 2012 - DT 26907

Puzzle at a Glance

Daily Telegraph Puzzle Number DT 26907
Publication Date in The Daily Telegraph Monday, July 2, 2012
Setter Rufus (Roger Squires)
Link to Full Review Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 26907]
Big Dave's Review Written By Libellule
Big Dave's Rating
Difficulty - ★★	Enjoyment - ★★★
Falcon's Performance ┌────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┐ ███████████████████████████████████ └────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┘ 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 █ - unsolved or incorrect prior to visiting Big Dave's blog █ - reviewed by Falcon for Big Dave's blog
Notes The National Post has skipped DT 26906 which was published in The Daily Telegraph on Saturday, June 30, 2012.

Introduction

Once again, with time to kill and no access to electronic support, I completed the puzzle unassisted.

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.

1a   Shrewd fielder, a high flier (10)

In Britain, fly^[5] can mean knowing and clever  ⇒ she’s fly enough not to get tricked out of it. In cricket and baseball, a fielder^[5] is a player on the fielding team, especially one other than the bowler or pitcher. [Which sport did the setter have in mind? You have three guesses and the first two don't count!]

Libellule's hint is that a "shrewd fielder" could "possibly be a sharp [i.e., fly] slip fielder" — the role of a slip fielder being to catch balls hit in his direction. In cricket, slip^[5] is (1) a fielding position (often one of two or more in an arc) close behind the batsman on the off side [of the field], for catching balls edged by the batsman ⇒ (i) he was caught in the slips for 32; (ii) King is at first slip or (2) a fielder at slip [the way in which Libellule uses the term]. In cricket, the off side^[5]  (also called simply the off) is the half of the field (as divided lengthways through the pitch) towards which the batsman's feet are pointed when standing to receive the ball.  The other side of the field is known either as the leg^[5] (also leg side) or on (also on side). Note that the slip is positioned behind the batsman. Unlike baseball, which has a 90 degree field of play, cricket has a 360 degree field of play. Thus there are fielders completely encircling the batsman.

In baseball, a ball hit to the outfield is called a fly ball (or fly) ⇒ in his previous at bat, he hit a fly to centre field. Thus an outfielder could be called a "fly catcher" — even without being shrewd.

16a   Wild party with many a man of music (5)

Maurice Ravel^[7] (1875 – 1937) was a French composer known especially for his melodies, orchestral and instrumental textures and effects. he is perhaps known best for his orchestral work Boléro (1928), which he considered trivial and once described as "a piece for orchestra without music".

18a   He makes rings round road races (4)

The Tourist Trophy (TT)^[5] is a motorcycle-racing competition held annually on roads in the Isle of Man since 1907.

19a   A song from little Sarah in the afternoon (5)

Sally (and hence Sal) is a nickname for Sarah^[7].

27a   The first man to take over (7,3)

Another cricket-related clue. In cricket, an over^[5] is a division of play consisting of a sequence of six balls bowled by a bowler from one end of the pitch, after which another bowler takes over from the other end. The term bat^[5] can mean (1) a cricket bat, (2) a turn at playing with a bat, or (3) a person batting, especially in cricket (or, in other words, a batsman) ⇒ the team’s opening bat. Of course, it is the latter sense which is of interest with respect to this clue. The "opening bat" would be the first batsman for a team in the match (somewhat akin to a leadoff batter in baseball).

Libellule describes the "opening bat" as the "first player to take his guard in the first over". Take guard^[5] (said of a batsman) means to stand in position ready to receive the ball, especially having asked the umpire to check the position of one’s bat with respect to the stumps [wicket]. In cricket, the batsman "guards" or "defends" the wicket to avoid being "bowled out" (which occurs when a bowled ball hits and breaks the wicket).

28a   Three students seen around university in break (4)

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 countries (including the UK) if its driver is a learner under instruction.

29a   Landing area and stairs to decorate (6,4)

Perhaps one might see the wordplay as FLIGHT (stairs) + DECK (to decorate). However, I prefer to interpret it as FLIGHT (stairs) + (to; pressed against) + DECK (decorate). In the latter case, "to" is used in the sense of 'pressed against' as in the phrases "nose to the grindstone" and "shoulder to the wheel".

3d   Scrub cooker top and clean out (6)

Cooker^[5] is the British term for a gas or electric kitchen range^[5].

5d   Show that may need cutting? (4)

Hair: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical^[7] [usually referred to simply as Hair] is a rock musical with a book and lyrics by James Rado and Gerome Ragni and music by Galt MacDermot. The show debuted Off-Broadway in 1967, with Broadway and London West End productions opening in 1968. A product of the hippie counter-culture and sexual revolution of the 1960s, several of its songs became anthems of the anti-Vietnam War peace movement. The musical's profanity, its depiction of the use of illegal drugs, its treatment of sexuality, its irreverence for the American flag, and its nude scene caused much comment and controversy. The musical broke new ground in musical theatre by defining the genre of "rock musical", using a racially integrated cast, and inviting the audience onstage for a "Be-In" finale.

12d   Dish liable to be made without proper dressing (10)

Dishabille is an alternative spelling of déshabillé^[5] (or déshabille^[2] or deshabille^[10]), the state of being only partly or scantily clothed ⇒ the paintings of Venus all shared the same state of déshabillé^[5] or the state of being partly or carelessly dressed^[10].

14d   Female conveyed by old song cycle (5)

"Daisy Bell (Bicycle Built for Two)"^[7] is a popular song composed by Harry Dacre in 1892 with the well-known chorus "Daisy, Daisy / Give me your answer, do. / I'm half crazy / all for the love of you", ending with the words "a bicycle built for two".

15d   He’s holding a pound to get remedies (5)

The pound^[5] (also pound sterling) is the basic monetary unit of the UK, equal to 100 pence. While the symbol for pound is £, it is often written as L^[10].

19d   A decisive game or performance cancelled (4-3)

In Libellule's comments, RSC^[5] stands for the Royal Shakespeare Company^[5], a British professional theatre company founded in 1961. It is based at Stratford-upon-Avon and at the Barbican Centre in London.

20d   Oratorio is a new production in network (7)

George Frideric Handel^[7] (1685 – 1759) was a German-born British Baroque composer, famous for his operas, oratorios, anthems and organ concertos. Handel is regarded as one of the greatest composers of all time, with works such as Water Music, Music for the Royal Fireworks and Messiah remaining popular.

26d   It’s obtainable from capital chemists (4)

Chemist^[5] is the British term for either (1) a shop where medicinal drugs are dispensed and sold, and in which toiletries and other medical goods can be purchased (known as a drugstore^[5] in North America) or (2) a person authorized to dispense medicinal drugs (a druggist^[5] in North America).

Key to Reference Sources: 

^[1]   - The Chambers Dictionary, 11th Edition
^[2]   - Search Chambers - (Chambers 21st Century Dictionary)
^[3]   - TheFreeDictionary.com (American Heritage Dictionary)
^[4]   - TheFreeDictionary.com (Collins English Dictionary)
^[5]   - Oxford Dictionaries (Oxford Dictionary of English)
^[6]   - Oxford Dictionaries (Oxford American Dictionary)
^[7]   - Wikipedia
^[8]   - Reverso Online Dictionary (Collins French-English Dictionary)
^[9]   - Infoplease (Random House Unabridged Dictionary)
^[10] - CollinsDictionary.com (Collins English Dictionary)

Signing off for today — Falcon

Thursday, September 13, 2012 - DT 26905

Puzzle at a Glance

Daily Telegraph Puzzle Number DT 26905
Publication Date in The Daily Telegraph Friday, June 29, 2012
Setter Giovanni (Don Manley)
Link to Full Review Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 26905]
Big Dave's Review Written By Gazza
Big Dave's Rating
Difficulty - ★★	Enjoyment - ★★★
Falcon's Performance ┌────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┐ ███████████████████████████████████ └────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┘ 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 █ - unsolved or incorrect prior to visiting Big Dave's blog █ - reviewed by Falcon for Big Dave's blog

Introduction

I'm still playing catch-up in the blogging department. I needed to activate my electronic assistants to help out with a trio of clues in the northeast quadrant (5a, 6d, and 8d).

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.

16a   Lawyer giving advice to those who’ll miss live broadcast of Opening of Parliament? (8)

In England and Wales, a Recorder^[5] is a barrister appointed to serve as a part-time judge. The Opening of Parliament is marked by the reading of the Speech from the Throne, which is customarily done by the monarch. Thus should you miss the live broadcast of Her Majesty reading the speech, you might be advised to "record ER".

By tradition, British monarchs use initials formed from the Latin version of their first name followed by either Rex or Regina (Latin for king or queen, respectively). Thus Queen Elizabeth's initials are ER^[5] — from the Latin Elizabetha Regina.

19a  Liquid nourishment that’s knocked back for example at work (6)

An opus (abbreviation op.)^[10] is a an artistic composition, especially a musical work.

26a   Hardly seeing defacement around cathedral (8)

The Diocese of Ely^[5] is a Church of England diocese in the Province of Canterbury, headed by the Bishop of Ely, who sits at Ely Cathedral in the city of Ely.

6d   Composer unhappy, upset about country not his (5)

Paul Dukas^[7] (1865 – 1935) was a French composer, critic, scholar and teacher. A studious man, of retiring personality, he was intensely self-critical, and he abandoned and destroyed many of his compositions. His best known work is the orchestral piece, The Sorcerer's Apprentice (L'apprenti sorcier), the fame of which has eclipsed that of his other surviving works.

8d   Piling up in arena after match (7)

Chambers (but not Oxford^[5]) has tier^[2] listed as a verb — meaning to place in tiers.I thought match might mean tie in that a tie occurs when the scores of two teams match. I forgot about another British meaning. In Britain, a tie is a sports match between two or more players or teams in which the winners proceed to the next round of the competition ⇒ Swindon Town have won themselves a third round tie against Oldham. The example cited does not mean that Swindon Town and Oldham played to a draw; rather, it means that Swindon Town won their second round match and advanced to the third round in which they will play Oldham.

13d   One working at court? (9)

This clue must be interpreted as "one making or repairing court". Although I must proffer, that one would be more apt to say "one working on courts" rather than "one working at court" (but then there would be no opportunity for misdirection, would there?).

In Britain, a court shoe^[5] is a woman’s plain, lightweight shoe that has a low-cut upper, no fastening (i.e., no laces or straps^[4]), and typically a medium heel [and it is not a tennis shoe as was my initial thought when I first saw this term several months ago].

Has Gazza found the correct shoe for his illustration today? I have my doubts, as the shoe in the picture seems to have a strap which would violate the definition that I have just presented. However, if my suspicions are correct, then he successfully finessed it past the British fashion experts!

15d   Gear, as put out for soldier to wear (9)

In the UK, para^[5] is used as an informal short form for paratrooper.

17d   The Spanish wine, cold and ‘springy’ (7)

El^[8] is the masculine, singular form of the Spanish definite article. Asti^[7] (formerly known as Asti Spumante) is a sparkling white Italian wine that is produced throughout southeastern Piedmont but is particularly focused around the towns of Asti and Alba. Since 1993 the wine has been classified as a Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita (DOCG) and as of 2004 was Italy's largest producing appellation.

20d   Complained, finding duck in garden wandering around (7)

In cricket, a duck^[5] is a batsman’s score of nought [zero] • he was out for a duck. In cryptic crossword puzzles, duck is used to indicate the letter "O" based on its resemblance to the number "0".

Key to Reference Sources: 

^[1]   - The Chambers Dictionary, 11th Edition
^[2]   - Search Chambers - (Chambers 21st Century Dictionary)
^[3]   - TheFreeDictionary.com (American Heritage Dictionary)
^[4]   - TheFreeDictionary.com (Collins English Dictionary)
^[5]   - Oxford Dictionaries (Oxford Dictionary of English)
^[6]   - Oxford Dictionaries (Oxford American Dictionary)
^[7]   - Wikipedia
^[8]   - Reverso Online Dictionary (Collins French-English Dictionary)
^[9]   - Infoplease (Random House Unabridged Dictionary)
^[10] - CollinsDictionary.com (Collins English Dictionary)

Signing off for today — Falcon

Wednesday, September 12, 2012 - DT 26904

Puzzle at a Glance

Daily Telegraph Puzzle Number DT 26904
Publication Date in The Daily Telegraph Thursday, June 28, 2012
Setter Unknown
Link to Full Review Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 26904]
Big Dave's Review Written By Big Dave
Big Dave's Rating
Difficulty - ★★	Enjoyment - ★★★★
Falcon's Performance ┌────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┐ ███████████████████████████████████ └────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┘ 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 █ - unsolved or incorrect prior to visiting Big Dave's blog █ - reviewed by Falcon for Big Dave's blog

Introduction

I had to interrupt the writing of this review to do the one that appears today (September 13) on Big Dave's Crossword Blog. I have also solved today's puzzle from the National Post. Consequently, I have to admit that it is becoming a bit difficult now to remember specific details about this 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.

10a   One’s advance to embrace sailor left anchored (9)

I really don't see what possible justification there is for replacing "one's" (third person) by "I'm" (first person).

In the Royal Navy, able seaman (abbreviation AB)^[5], is a rank of sailor above ordinary seaman and below leading seaman.

11a   No one’s in the ‘ouse? That’s disgusting (7)

The phrase "in the house" means "home" (or "at home"). To a Cockney, that would be 'ouse and 'ome.

12a   Sample American beer with this? (5,3)

As Big Dave points out, the solution is "what might be used to sample" a brand of American beer. I might add "... with very little effect".

14a   Taxman getting it in angry tirade is a nuisance (8)

In Britain, inland revenue^[5] refers to public revenue consisting of income tax and some other direct taxes. In the UK, prior to April 2005, the government department responsible for assessing and collecting inland revenue was known as Inland Revenue (abbreviation IR^[2]).

15a   Clapton first to last a lyricist (4)

The clue makes reference to two very well known Brits. Eric Clapton^[7] is an English guitarist and singer-songwriter who is the only three-time inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: once as a solo artist, and separately as a member of The Yardbirds and Cream. Tim Rice^[7] is a British lyricist who is best known for his collaborations with Andrew Lloyd Webber, such as Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Jesus Christ Superstar, and Evita.

20a   Rumbling initially in stomach anticipating rice cooked in spice (8)

In Britain, tum^[2] is a colloquial term for stomach.

26a   Something to hold one’s gaze in revival of Uncle Vanya? (5)

Uncle Vanya^[7] is a play by Russian playwright Anton Chekhov which was first published in 1897 and received its Moscow première in 1899.

The solution is hidden (in) and reversed (revival; instance of bringing back) in "Uncle Vanya".

2d   Odd start and finish to ballerina’s dance (5)

Rum^[5] is dated British slang meaning odd or peculiar.

6d   No power without a peerage (8)

A peerage is the title and rank of peer or peeress ⇒ on his retirement as cabinet secretary, he was given a peerage. A peer^[5] is a member of the nobility in Britain or Ireland, comprising the ranks of duke, marquess, earl, viscount, and baron ⇒ hereditary peers could still dominate the proceedings of the House of Lords.

7d   Complicated rectal op a beauty (9)

Cleopatra VII Philopator (69 BC – 30 BC, known to history as Cleopatra^[7], was the last pharaoh of Ancient Egypt. Following her own death and that shortly thereafter of her son and co-ruler, Caesarion (whose father was Julius Caesar), Egypt became the Roman province of Aegyptus.

8d   It could be box on top of table blocking slender source of illumination (6,5)

Box^[5] (also box tree) is a slow-growing European evergreen shrub or small tree with small glossy dark green leaves. It is widely used in hedging and for topiary, and yields hard, heavy timber, formerly used for engraving and for musical instruments.

16d   Blimey! Got up around four and eating away (9)

Cor^[5] is an informal British exclamation expressing surprise, excitement, admiration, or alarm: Cor! That‘s a beautiful black eye you’ve got! Blimey^[5] (also cor blimey) is an exclamation used informally in Britain to express surprise, excitement, or alarm. Of course, one could also use the exclamation gorblimey^[5] as an informal expression of surprise or indignation.

17d   Biased like William Hague, say, and anything but black and white (8)

William Hague^[7] is a follicularly-challenged British politician, who is the current Foreign Secretary and First Secretary of State. He served as Leader of the Conservative Party from June 1997 to September 2001. Skewbald^[5] is an adjective used to describe an animal, especially a horse, having irregular patches of white and another colour (properly not black). Piebald^[5] is an adjective used to describe a horse having irregular patches of two colours, typically black and white.

19d   Fellow Nationalist replacing Liberal in Northern Ireland — joker! (7)

F^[2] is the abbreviation for Fellow (of a society, etc).

It would appear that Big Dave is wearing his pedant's hat today. After taking the setter to task in 14a for not referring to Inland Revenue as the "old taxman", he now finds fault with equating Ulster to Northern Ireland. Properly Ulster^[10] is an area that was a province and former kingdom of N Ireland which passed to the English Crown in 1461. Following centuries of conflict, Ulster was partitioned in 1921, with six counties forming Northern Ireland (a region within the United Kingdom) and three counties joining the Republic of Ireland. Despite this, Ulster is a widely-used (if inaccurate) name for Northern Ireland.

The Nationalist Party^[7] was a term commonly used to describe a number of parliamentary political parties and constituency organisations supportive of Home Rule for Ireland from 1874 to 1922. It was also the name of the main Irish nationalist Nationalist Party in Northern Ireland from 1921 to 1978.

22d   Lies in wait wanting first of kids’ pets (5)

"Wanting" is one of those strange English words which can be an antonym of itself (at least in British cryptic crossword puzzles). As an adjective, wanting^[5] can mean (1) lacking in a required or necessary quality ⇒ (i) they weren’t wanting in confidence; (ii) the English batting technique has been found wanting. As a verb form, it can be used in a chiefly British sense in which it means (in reference to a thing) require to be attended to in a specified way ⇒ the wheel wants greasing.

Thus this clue could be interpreted as a 6-letter word meaning "lies in wait" lacking (wanting) K (first of kids') giving a 5-letter word meaning "pets". Or it could be interpreted as a 4-letter word for "lies in wait" needing (wanting) K (first of kids) [to be included] to produce a 5-letter word meaning "pets". Unfortunately, I was stuck on the latter track when I should have been on the former.

The wordplay is SKULKS (lies in wait) lacking (wanting) K (first of kids') which produces SULKS (pets).

Key to Reference Sources: 

^[1]   - The Chambers Dictionary, 11th Edition
^[2]   - Search Chambers - (Chambers 21st Century Dictionary)
^[3]   - TheFreeDictionary.com (American Heritage Dictionary)
^[4]   - TheFreeDictionary.com (Collins English Dictionary)
^[5]   - Oxford Dictionaries (Oxford Dictionary of English)
^[6]   - Oxford Dictionaries (Oxford American Dictionary)
^[7]   - Wikipedia
^[8]   - Reverso Online Dictionary (Collins French-English Dictionary)
^[9]   - Infoplease (Random House Unabridged Dictionary)
^[10] - CollinsDictionary.com (Collins English Dictionary)

Signing off for today — Falcon

Tuesday, September 11, 2012 - DT 26903

Puzzle at a Glance

Daily Telegraph Puzzle Number DT 26903
Publication Date in The Daily Telegraph Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Setter Jay (Jeremy Mutch)
Link to Full Review Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 26903]
Big Dave's Review Written By Pommers
Big Dave's Rating
Difficulty - ★★ / ★★★	Enjoyment - ★★★★
Falcon's Performance ┌────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┐ ███████████████████████████████████ └────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┘ 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 █ - unsolved or incorrect prior to visiting Big Dave's blog █ - reviewed by Falcon for Big Dave's blog

Introduction

I completed this without outside help — largely due to the fact that I was required to spend a lot of time with very little to do in a location where I had no access to my electronic assistants.

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.

9a   Unfashionable players in Coventry? (7)

Coventry^[5] is an industrial city in the west Midlands of England. Send someone to Coventry is a British expression meaning to refuse to associate with or speak to someone ⇒ some people ignore and send to Coventry individuals they disapprove of. The phrase, which originated in the mid 18th century, is sometimes said to stem from the extreme unpopularity of soldiers stationed in Coventry, who were cut off socially by the citizens, or because Royalist prisoners were sent there during the English Civil War, the city being staunchly Parliamentarian.

11a   I’m ready to face university with no preparation (9)

Ready^[5] may be a synonym for prompt when used in the sense of keen or quick to give ⇒ every time I rang up, she was ready with some excuse.

17a   Stops in abandoned side streets (7)

I presume that the rationale for using "abandoned" as an anagram indicator may come from abandon being used in the sense of complete lack of inhibition or restraint ⇒ she sings and sways with total abandon. However, I do recognize that the former is a past participle of a verb used as an adjective and the latter is a noun.

25a   Accessory for a formal suit with new cut around top of neck (7)

A dinner jacket (abbreviation DJ or dj)^[10] is a man's semiformal evening jacket without tails, usually black with a silk facing over the collar and lapels. It is known in North America as a tuxedo.

2d   Working with volunteers, parking freely available (2,3)

In the UK, the Territorial Army (TA)^[5] is a volunteer force locally organized to provide a reserve of trained and disciplined manpower for use in an emergency.

4d   Where one may write comment on pied-à-terre? (4-3)

A pied-à-terre^[5] is a small flat [apartment in North America], house, or room kept for occasional use.

7d   Wild rose, for example, on worker in queue (9)

Eglantine is another name for sweetbrier^[3,4] (or — should you prefer — sweet brier^[2], sweetbriar^[3], or sweet briar^[5]), a Eurasian rose (Rosa eglanteria) having prickly stems, fragrant leaves, bright pink flowers, and scarlet hips. Apparently, the scientific name may be either Rosa eglanteria or Rosa rubiginosa.

In Britain, a line or sequence of people or vehicles awaiting their turn to be attended to or to proceed is called a queue^[5] and people queue in a queue^[5] rather than line up in a line-up^[5].

14d   Sugar worried — not good with former PM and stars (4,5)

John Major^[7] is a British Conservative politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1990 to 1997.

17d   Reduce the value of French class (7)

North Americans have an additional route to the solution that is not available to the Brits. On this side of the pond, a grade is a class in school. In Britain, the term form is used instead of grade. In Britain, a form^[5] is a class or year in a school, usually given a specifying number. Thus the fifth form would be the linguistic counterpart to the fifth grade in North America and Form 1 would be like saying Grade 1. Thus Pommers must establish the equivalency of class and grade using other senses of the words.

De^[8] is a French preposition meaning of.

22d   Fish smell with no origin (5)

The tench^[5] is a European freshwater fish (Tinca tinca) of the carp family, popular with anglers and widely introduced elsewhere.

Key to Reference Sources: 

^[1]   - The Chambers Dictionary, 11th Edition
^[2]   - Search Chambers - (Chambers 21st Century Dictionary)
^[3]   - TheFreeDictionary.com (American Heritage Dictionary)
^[4]   - TheFreeDictionary.com (Collins English Dictionary)
^[5]   - Oxford Dictionaries (Oxford Dictionary of English)
^[6]   - Oxford Dictionaries (Oxford American Dictionary)
^[7]   - Wikipedia
^[8]   - Reverso Online Dictionary (Collins French-English Dictionary)
^[9]   - Infoplease (Random House Unabridged Dictionary)
^[10] - CollinsDictionary.com (Collins English Dictionary)

Signing off for today — Falcon

Monday, September 10, 2012 - DT 26902

Puzzle at a Glance

Daily Telegraph Puzzle Number DT 26902
Publication Date in The Daily Telegraph Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Setter Unknown
Link to Full Review Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 26902]
Big Dave's Review Written By Gazza
Big Dave's Rating
Difficulty - ★★★	Enjoyment - ★★
Falcon's Performance ┌────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┐ ███████████████████████████████████ └────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┘ 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 █ - unsolved or incorrect prior to visiting Big Dave's blog █ - reviewed by Falcon for Big Dave's blog

Introduction

The puzzle was definitely easier to solve than it was to blog. I only needed to seek help with the British equestrian team practicing at the Middle Eastern inn.

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.

5a   Fool, one taken in by her dressmaker? (8)

In Britain, clot^[5] is an informal term for a foolish or clumsy person ⇒ Watch where you’re going, you clot!

11a   Boozing from bar to bar, becoming crude in quiet club maybe (3-5)

Piano^[3,5] (abbreviation p^[5]), is a musical direction meaning either soft or quiet (as an adjective) or softly or quietly (as an adverb).

Gazza comments on the use of the word "becoming" as a link word, "Strictly speaking the wordplay should become or lead to the definition, not the other way round." However, as is the case today, one often does see it used "the other way round". After repeatedly seeing this, I have concluded that there may be some justification for the reverse approach. Think of the wordplay leading to the definition as being a case of synthesis (the combination of components or elements to form a connected whole). The reverse process would be analysis (the process of separating something into its constituent elements). Thus analyzing the definition would lead to the constituent elements (i.e., the wordplay) and today's clue could be interpreted as "Boozing from bar to bar, becoming [through analysis] crude in quiet club maybe". Of course, whether one needs to apply a process of synthesis or analysis is left unstated (as are many things in cryptic clues).

13a   One may find me in a casino in Oxford, say (4)

Oxford is a city in central southern England, situated about 50 miles (80 km) north-west of London. It is the county town of Oxfordshire and home of the University of Oxford. Oxford is certainly better known for its university than for its casino — if it even has one (it seems that Oxford city council showed no interest in seeking a casino licence in 2006).

18a   Exercises at Eastern inn before a riding event (8)

In the Middle East, a khan^[5] is an inn for travellers, built around a central courtyard. Gymkhana^[4] is a chiefly British term for an event in which horses and riders display skill and aptitude in various races and contests.

23a   Swing he composed, with bit of ragtime thrown in? (8)

George Gershwin^[7] (1898 – 1937) was an American composer and pianist whose compositions spanned both popular and classical genres.

25a   Up endlessly making wine (4)

Asti^[7] (formerly known as Asti Spumante) is a sparkling white Italian wine that is produced throughout southeastern Piedmont but is particularly focused around the towns of Asti and Alba. Since 1993 the wine has been classified as a Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita (DOCG) and as of 2004 was Italy's largest producing appellation.

28a   Buys it on the Spanish train (6)

Gazza explains the meaning and possible derivation of the expression "buys it". El^[8] is the masculine, singular form of the Spanish definite article.

5d   Big old British-born actor makes one chuckle during dance (7,8)

Charles Laughton^[7] (1899 – 1962) was a [heavyset] English-born American stage and film actor and director. "One chuckle" is a laugh, two chuckles would be laughs.

6d   Closed small company at Inverness, for example (8)

Inverness (from a Scottish Gaelic phrase meaning "Mouth of the River Ness") is a city in the Scottish Highlands. An Inverness^[10] (sometimes not capitalized) is also an overcoat with a removable cape.

7d   Leave work in the course of strike (3,2)

Hop it is an informal British expression meaning go away quickly ⇒ I hopped it down the stairs. In the field of music, Op. (also op.)^[5] is an abbreviation meaning opus (work). It is used before a number given to each work of a particular composer, usually indicating the order of publication.

8d   Oriental Queen engaging a novelist from Ireland (9)

By tradition, British monarchs use initials formed from the Latin version of their first name followed by either Rex or Regina (Latin for king or queen, respectively). Thus Queen Elizabeth's initials are ER^[5] — from the Latin Elizabetha Regina. Laurence Sterne^[7] (1713 – 1768) was an Anglo-Irish novelist and an Anglican clergyman. He is best known for his novels The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman, and A Sentimental Journey Through France and Italy; but he also published many sermons, wrote memoirs, and was involved in local politics.

14d   The osprey materialised suddenly, as if by magic (3,6)

Where an American conjurer might say "Presto^[5]", a British conjuror would say "Hey presto^[5]" — a phrase announcing the successful completion of a trick, or to suggest that something has been done so easily that it seems to be magic ⇒ press the start button and, hey presto, a copy comes out the other end.

20d   Bloomer over getting child in free (6)

Bloomer often takes either of two British meanings unfamiliar to most North Americans — (1)

a serious or stupid mistake ⇒ he never committed a bloomer^[5] or (2) a large loaf [of bread] with diagonal slashes on a rounded top^[5]. But today bloomer^[5] is just a plant that produces flowers at a specified time ⇒ fragrant night-bloomers such as nicotiana. An over (abbreviation O)^[5] is a division of play in cricket consisting of a sequence of six balls bowled by a bowler from one end of the pitch, after which another bowler takes over from the other end.

22d   Child and I must go into farm building (5)

Bairn^[5] is a chiefly Scottish and Northern English term for a child.

24d   United at home, supported by everyone initially (2,3)

In one^[10] (or all in one) means combined or united. The wordplay is IN (at home) + ON (supported by) + E (Everyone initially; i.e, the initial letter of "everyone"). I was thinking of the phrase as one (the crowd cheered as one) which I guess would be considered to be an adverb. An example of the use of the phrase in one might be "The artist's cabin served as living quarters and studio in one".

Key to Reference Sources: 

^[1]   - The Chambers Dictionary, 11th Edition
^[2]   - Search Chambers - (Chambers 21st Century Dictionary)
^[3]   - TheFreeDictionary.com (American Heritage Dictionary)
^[4]   - TheFreeDictionary.com (Collins English Dictionary)
^[5]   - Oxford Dictionaries (Oxford Dictionary of English)
^[6]   - Oxford Dictionaries (Oxford American Dictionary)
^[7]   - Wikipedia
^[8]   - Reverso Online Dictionary (Collins French-English Dictionary)
^[9]   - Infoplease (Random House Unabridged Dictionary)
^[10] - CollinsDictionary.com (Collins English Dictionary)

Signing off for today — Falcon