Puzzle at a Glance
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Puzzle number in The Daily Telegraph
DT 29419 |
Publication date in The Daily Telegraph
Saturday, July 18, 2020 |
Setter
Unknown
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Link to full review
Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 29419 – Hints]
Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 29419 – Review]
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Big Dave's Crossword Blog review written by
Big Dave (Hints)
gnomethang (Review)
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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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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.
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Introduction
I almost completed this puzzle unaided before finally throwing in the towel.
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 |
- "//" - marks the boundary between wordplay and definition when no link word or link phrase is present
- "/[link word or phrase]/" - marks the boundary between wordplay and definition when a link word or link phrase is present
|
- "solid underline" - precise definition
- "dotted underline" - cryptic definition
- "dashed underline" - wordplay
- "wavy underline" - whimsical and inferred definitions
|
| Click here for further explanation and usage examples of markup conventions used on this blog. |
Across
| 1a | The setter is no longer cool, /coming to/ standstill (7) |
"
the setter is " = IM [
I'm]
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 is" which must be replaced by "I'm" (a
contraction of "I am").
hide
| 5a | Advertising a trade // which is rather nutty? (7) |
| 9a | Internet in uproar about adult // host (9) |
"
adult " = A [
former British film certificate]
The
A (
Adult) certificate is a former
film certificate[7]
issued by the British Board of Film Classification. This certificate
existed in various forms from 1912 to 1985, when it was replaced by the
PG (Parental Guidance) certificate. [
Despite its demise in the real world, it continues to find widespread use in Crosswordland.]
hide
| 10a | Level // playing field (5) |
In the first definition,
pitch[5] could be used in the sense
* of a level of the intensity of something, especially a high level
⇒ the media furore reached such a pitch that the company withdrew the product
.
* In his review on Big Dave's Crossword Blog, gnomethang takes a different approach by placing this definition in a musical context.
In Britain, pitch[5] is another term for field[5] in the sense of an area of ground marked out or used for play in an outdoor team game ⇒ a football [soccer] pitch
.
| 11a | Cove // in film next to lake (5) |
"
film " = ET [
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial]
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial[7] (often referred to simply as
E.T.)
is a 1982 American science fiction film co-produced and directed by
Steven Spielberg. It tells the story of a lonely boy who befriends an
extraterrestrial,
dubbed "E.T.", who is stranded on Earth. He and his siblings help
the extraterrestrial return home while attempting to keep it hidden from
their mother and the government.
hide
| 12a | Where traffic is // moving from place to place (2,3,4) |
Note that I have split the clue differently than did gnomethang in his review on
Big Dave's Crossword Blog. After writing this, I see that Big Dave, in his hints, splits the clue in the same manner as I do.
The first part of the clue is a
descriptive definition rather than one that would be be expected to be found in a dictionary.
The phrase
on the road[5] (in reference to a person) denotes without a permanent home and
moving from place to place ⇒
he was trying to survive on the road and failing
.
Is It or Isn't It?
|
|---|
I struggle with classifying this type of clue. Is it a double definition
or is it wordplay and definition? As the solution to the first part of
the clue matches the numeration given, I tend to look at it as a double
definition. However, sometimes the solution in such a case produces the
same sequence of letters as the accompanying precise definition but does
not match the numeration given (as is the case in 21d in today's puzzle). In that case, I would not consider the
clue to be a double definition — which leads me to question why I mark
this clue as one. I guess the wavy underline is very appropriate as it
illustrates that I am wavering on the call.
|
| 13a | Student stops engineer working /in/ shade (4,5) |
"
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.
 |
| Automobile displaying an L-plate |
hide
Nile green[5] is a pale bluish green.
| 16a | Nothing fantastic /in/ Greek letter (5) |
is an informal term that would seem to have a broader range of meanings in the UK than in North America:
- (adjective) very large or huge ⇒
he has signed a mega deal to make five movies
- (adjective) excellent ⇒
it will be a mega film
- (adverb) extremely ⇒
they are mega rich
Omega[5] is
the last letter of the Greek alphabet (Ω, ω).
| 17a | Charles and Mike // split (5) |
"
Mike " = M [
NATO Phonetic Alphabet]
In what is commonly known as the
NATO Phonetic Alphabet[7]*,
Mike[5] is a code word representing the letter
M.
* officially the International Radiotelephony Spelling Alphabet
hide
| 18a | Compere // now introduces Her Majesty (9) |
"
Her Majesty " = ER [
regnal cipher of Queen Elizabeth]
The regnal ciphers (monograms) of British monarchs are initials
formed from the Latin version of their first name followed by either
Rex or
Regina (Latin for king or queen, respectively). Thus, the regnal cipher of Queen Elizabeth is
ER[5] — from the Latin
Elizabetha Regina.
* A
cipher[5] (
also cypher) is a
monogram[5] or
motif of two or more interwoven letters, typically a person's initials, used to identify a personal possession or as a logo.
hide
Compère[5] is a British term for a
person who introduces the performers or contestants in a variety show.
Presenter[5] is a British
* term for a person
who introduces and appears in a television or radio programme.
* In North
America, more specific terms such as host, emcee, announcer or anchor might be used for such
a person. Some — or perhaps all — of these terms are also used in the UK but presenter is a general term that covers all the bases.
| 20a | Two articles on a menu revised /in/ London club (9) |
is a private members' club in London, founded in 1824. It is primarily a club for men and women with intellectual interests, and particularly (but not exclusively) for those who have attained some distinction in science, engineering, literature or the arts. Humphry Davy and Michael Faraday were the first chairman and secretary and 51 Nobel Laureates have been members.
| 23a | Leader to advise Democrat about campaign // medal (5) |
"
Democrat " = D [
member or supporter of US political party]
A
Democrat[5] (
abbreviation D[5] or Dem[5] or Dem.[5]) is a member or supporter of the
Democratic Party[5],
one of the two main US political parties (the other being the
Republican Party), which follows a broadly liberal programme, tending to
support social reform and minority rights.
hide
| 25a | Reportedly charge // native Americans (5) |
is another term for the
Dakota[5], a North American people of the northern Mississippi valley and the surrounding plains.
| 26a | Prompt // to redevelop giant site (9) |
| 27a | Bird in addition /reveals/ chest part (7) |
| 28a | Curl // right round fireplace (7) |
is an archaic or dialect term (originally Scots) for a domestic fire or fireplace.
Down
| 1d | One man, not the Messiah, embracing East // European (7) |
The clue alludes to the 1979 British comedy film
Life of Brian[7] starring and written by members of the Monty Python comedy group. The film tells the story of Brian Cohen, a young Jewish-Roman man who is born on the same day as—and next door to—Jesus, and is subsequently mistaken for the Messiah.
An
Iberian[5] is a native of Iberia
*, especially in ancient times.
* Iberia[10] is another name for the Iberian Peninsula, comprising the countries of Spain and Portugal.
| 2d | Piano not in time upset // sweetheart (5) |
"
piano " = P [
music notation]
Piano[3,5] (
abbreviation p[5]), is a musical direction meaning either (as an adjective) soft or quiet or (as an adverb) softly or quietly.
hide
Petal[2] is a term of endearment
*.
* Chambers 21st Century Dictionary is the only source in which I found this meaning. It is not present in my edition (11th) of The Chambers Dictionary (which is supposedly the "bible" for The Daily Telegraph crosswords).
| 3d | Plan /to have/ precious stone beneath rock layers (9) |
| 4d | Time and time again, love /is/ an inspiration (5) |
"
love " = O [
nil score in tennis]
In tennis, squash, and some other sports,
love[5] is a score of zero or nil ⇒
love fifteen
.
The resemblance of a zero written as a numeral (0) to the letter O
leads to the cryptic crossword convention of the word "love" being used
to clue this letter.
Although folk etymology has connected the word with French
l'oeuf 'egg', from the resemblance in shape between an egg and a zero, the term apparently comes from the phrase
play for love (i.e. the love of the game, not for money).
hide
In Greek and Roman mythology,
Erato[5] is the Muse
* of lyric poetry and hymns.
* The
Muses[5] are nine goddesses, the daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne, who preside over the arts and sciences.
| 5d | Regret // sounding bit stressed out? (9) |
is an obsolete British term for a coin, especially a small coin ⇒
threepenny bit*
.
* Before
the introduction of decimal currency in Britain in 1971, the
threepence coin[7], usually simply known as a threepence, thruppence, or threepenny
bit, was a unit of currency equaling one eightieth of a pound sterling,
or three old pence sterling.
| 6d | Fat // politician consumed by booze (5) |
"
politician " = MP
In
Britain (as in Canada), a politician elected to
the House of Commons is known as a
Member of Parliament[10] (
abbreviation MP[5]) or, informally, as a
member[5].
hide
| 7d | Dog's entered in races /as/ one withdrawn (9) |
"
races " = TT [
Tourist Trophy (motorcycle time trials)]
The
Tourist Trophy[5] (
abbreviation TT[5]) is a motorcycle-racing competition held annually on roads in the Isle of Man since 1907.
For many years, the
Isle of Man TT[7] was the most prestigious motorcycle race in the world. The race is run in a time-trial
format on public roads closed for racing. Since, in a time trial, each
competitor races alone against the clock, the event could be described
as a "series of races".
hide
I believe gnomethang, in his review, includes too much in the definition. If it were (as he indicates) "as one withdrawn", the solution would be an adjective INTROVERTED.
| 8d | Forest creature // can hide bananas (7) |
The
echidna[5]
(
also called spiny anteater) is a
spiny insectivorous egg-laying mammal with a long snout and claws, native to Australia and New Guinea.
| 14d | Look in to restrain son /being/ obnoxious (9) |
"
look " = LO [
archaic]
Lo[5] is an archaic exclamation used to draw attention to an interesting or amazing event ⇒
and lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them
.
hide
"
son " = S [
genealogy]
In genealogies,
s[5] is the abbreviation for
son(s) ⇒
m 1991; one s one d
*.
* married in 1991; one son and one daughter.
hide
| 15d | One's left us for dead? (9) |
| 16d | Manage without Conservative helping // process (9) |
"
Conservative " = C [
member of British political party]
The abbreviation for Conservative may be either C.[10] or Con.[10].
The
Conservative Party[5]
is a major right of centre British political party
promoting free enterprise and private ownership that emerged from the old Tory
Party
* under Sir Robert Peel in the 1830s and 1840s.
* Historically, a
Tory[10]
was a member of the English political party that opposed the exclusion
of James, Duke of York from the royal succession (1679–80). Tory
remained the label for subsequent major conservative interests until
they gave birth to the Conservative Party in the 1830s.
hide
| 17d | Husband tucked into liqueur // that strengthens body (7) |
"
husband " = H [
genealogy]
The abbreviation for husband is
h[1,2] or h.[3,4,10,11,12] or H[12] or H.[4,10,11,12]) [
although no context is provided, it may well come from the field of genealogy].
hide
Cassis[5] (
also known as crème de cassis[5]) is a syrupy blackcurrant liqueur produced mainly in Burgundy.
| 19d | Soviet team prepared // protein-rich food (3,4) |
| 21d | President, disgraced, /having/ more time to spend with family? (5) |
Split the solution (3,2) to see why he might have had more time to spend with family (after resigning, now having *** ** [
his agenda]).
Nix[5] is an informal term denoting nothing ⇒
Apparently their trade value had sunk to nil, nix, nothing at all
.
Once again, Big Dave and gnomethang split the clue differently. This time I'm siding with gnomethang.
| 22d | Scrooge // is in sea abroad (5) |
Ebenezer Scrooge[7] is the focal character of Charles Dickens' 1843 novella,
A Christmas Carol.
At the beginning of the book, Scrooge is a cold-hearted miser who
despises Christmas. Towards the end of the novella, Scrooge is
transformed by ghosts into a better person who changed his ways to
become more friendly and less miserly. Despite this transformation, his name has come to epitomize miserliness.
| 24d | Use // excellent line with King James Bible (5) |
"
excellent " = AI [
ship classification (A1)]
A1[4][5] or
A-one[3] meaning first class or excellent comes from a classification for ships in
The Lloyd's Register of Shipping where it means equipped to the highest standard or first-class.
hide
"
line " = L [
publishing notation]
In textual references, the abbreviation for
line [
of written matter] is
l.[5] ⇒
l. 648
.
hide
The
King James Bible[5] is an English translation of the Bible made in 1611 at the order of
James I and still widely used. In Britain, it is also known as the
Authorized Version[5] (
abbreviation AV)
[5]
despite never having been formally ‘authorized’.
