Eimi compiles the jumbo General Knowledge puzzle in the Independent on Saturdays. This standard puzzle also required a wide knowledge of many fields.
Given that today is Boxing Day, it is not surprising to find a number of entries with pugilistic leanings. There are the obvious long ones, BEATEN TO THE PUNCH (1a/31a), OUT FOR THE COUNT (5a/9a), and SAVED BY THE BELL (15a). There are also a number of others, some of them where the connection to the actual sport of Boxing and the Queensberry Rules is less obvious than others – BOXER REBELLION (19)a, THUMPER (25a), SOUTHPAW (28a), BASH (11d), BATTER (23d) and TAP (29d)
Boxing isn’t the only sport that gets a mention. Football is represented as well – in the clue at 15a and 16a where there are clear references to trouble at Tottenham Hotspur. I suspect the puzzle was compiled after Manchester City beat Tottenham 6-0 in late November. Whether it was compiled before or after Daniel Levy sacked André Villas-Boas as Tottenham manager is not so clear. If it was after, the clue is topical. If it was compiled before, then the clue shows great prescience. (Of course some may argue that Levy dabbles with the management so often, that a clue of that nature could be written any time and still be topical)
The puzzle provided a very satisfying solve following Christmas indulgences.
Favourite clues for me today were those for MIDRIB 10a, because of the nested construction) and INGROWTH (18d, because of the use of ‘throwing up’)
|
Across |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Clue | Wordplay |
Entry |
|
1 / 31
|
At the pub once then thrown out, having failed to act decisively (6,2,3,5)
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Anagram of (thrown out) AT THE PUB ONCE THEN
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BEATEN TO [THE PUNCH] (having failed to act decisively)
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5 / 9
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Like an active vampire hunter, not 15 (3,3,3,5)
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OUT FOR THE COUNT (reference Count Dracula, a well known vampire. The vampire element of his life would have him be out and about representing the Count )
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OUT FOR [THE COUNT] (knocked out so not SAVED BY THE BELL [15 across])
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9
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See 5
|
|
THE COUNT
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10
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Doctor bringing in a different doctor in team to find vein (6)
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MB (Bachelor of Medicine; doctor) containing (bringing in) (DR [doctor [a different form] contained in [in] 11 [eleven; team]) M (I (DR) I) B |
MIDRIB (the greater vein along the middle of a leaf))
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|
12
|
Anatolian ambassador’s written about sex with bird (7)
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HE (His Excellency, the form of address for an ambassador) containing (written about) (IT [sex] + TIT [bird]) H (IT TIT) E |
HITTITE (an extinct language belonging to the Anatolian group of languages)
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14
|
A childish refusal one encountered somewhere in Ghana (7)
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A + SHAN’T (‘no’ as said firmly by a child; a childish refusal) + I (one)
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ASHANTI (Ghanian people)
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15
|
Relieved by timely intervention as Levy dabbles with the management (5,2,3,4)
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Anagram of (management) LEVY DABBLES and THE
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SAVED BY THE BELL (relieved by timely intervention)
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18
|
Uprising Barbara Woodhouse might have out down (5,9)
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BOXER REBELLION (Barbara Woodhouse [1910 – 1988] was a well known dog trainer who featured on the television. She stood no nonsense and would have faced dwon a rebellious Boxer dog)
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BOXER REBELLION ( violent anti-foreign and anti-Christian movement which took place in China between 1899 and 1901; uprising)
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23
|
Some group playing Do the Strand?
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A BAND (some group) + ON (playing)
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ABANDON (strand)
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25
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Unionist politician is in the right, an animated 8 (7)
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(U [Unionist] + MP [Member of Parliament; politician]) contained in (is in) (THE + R [right]) TH (U MP) E R |
THUMPER (an animated rabbit in the films Bambi and Bambi II)
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27
|
A novel hat (6)
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TRILBY (novel by George du Maurier)
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TRILBY (hat) double definition
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28
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Left-hander ordered to wash up (8)
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Anagram of (ordered) TO WASH UP
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SOUTHPAW (a left-handed person, especially in sport; a boxer who leads with his right hand.
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30
|
Crime writer published A Question of Blood (6)
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RAN (published) + KIN (people belonging top the same family; having a blood relationship; a question of blood?
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RANKIN (reference Ian RANKIN, Scottish crime writer, best known for his series of novels featuring Detective Inspector Rebus. One of the novels in the series is entitled A Question of Blood)
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| 31 | See 1 | THE PUNCH | |
| Down | |||
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1
|
Most manly strike about unfinished game (8)
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BUTT (strike with the head) containing (about) (CHESS [game] excluding the final letter [unfinished] S) BUT (CHES) T |
BUTCHEST (most manly)
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2
|
Spy‘s a Red, but not extremely (5)
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MAGENTA (reddish-purple colour; a red) excluding the first and last letters (not extremely) M and A
|
AGENT (spy)
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3
|
Musician getting single promoted (3)
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ONE (single) reversed (promoted; down clue) ENO< |
ENO (reference Brian ENO, musician, member of Roxy Music from 1971 to 1973)
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4
|
Attempt to get girl into skin treatment facility (7)
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TRY (attempt) containing (to get…into) ANNE (girl) T (ANNE) RY |
TANNERY (a place where hides [skins] are converted into leather; skin treatment facility)
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6
|
12 officer in uniform locks up (5)
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U (uniform) + (HAIR [locks] reversed [up; down clue]) U RIAH< |
URIAH (reference URIAH the HITTITE [12 across], a soldier/officer mentioned in the second Book of Samuel)
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7
|
Old singer in travelling fair, a little Dickensian one (9)
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(I [a] + NELL [reference Little NELL, a Dickens character in The Old Curiosity Shop) contained in (in) an anagram of (travelling) FAIR FAR (I NELL) I* |
FARINELLI (FARINELLI (1705 – 1782), was the stage name of Carlo Maria Michelangelo Nicola Broschi,
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8
|
Poor player in Nesbitt part? (6)
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RAB (reference RAB C Nesbitt, a comedy part played by Gregor Fisher) + BIT (part)
|
RABBIT (poor player, particularly at golf)
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11
|
A hit as a social event (4)
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BASH (hit)
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BASH (party; social event) double definition
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13
|
Some mind-readers in a French department (5)
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INDRE (hidden word in [some] MIND READERS)
|
INDRE (Department of central France)
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16
|
Six-nil to City and into disarray, this is an outrage (9)
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VI (Roman numerals for six) + O (nil) + LA (Los Angeles; city) + an anagram of (disarry) INTO VI O LA TION* |
VIOLATION (abuse; outrage)
|
| 17 |
Lugosi with unlikely certificiate for one of his films in Pacific island, according to the locals (5) |
BELA (reference BELA Lugosi, Hungarian-American actor famous for playing Count Dracula and other ‘horror film’ characters) + U (film classification representing ‘suitable for a ages’, so unlikely to to be applied to a Bela Lugosi film
|
BELAU (the local name for the Pacific Island nationPalau)
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18
|
Throwing up seeing ganglion for example (8)
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Anagram of (up) THROWING
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INGROWTH (ganglion is defined as ‘a tumour in a tendon sheath; a nerve centre, collection of nerve cells; a centre of energy or activity; INGROWTH is defined as ‘growth within or inwards; a structure formed in this wa’. I think ‘tructure’ is the key word associating the two definitions).
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20
|
Jewellry item that’s sound as a bell (4)
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RING (jewellry item)
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RING (sound as a bell) double definition
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21
|
Something risked on US novelist’s contract (7)
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BET (something risked) + ROTH (reference Philip ROTH [1933 – date], American novelist)
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BETROTH (to contract or promise to marry a woman)
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22
|
Beat a sportsman (6)
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BATTER (beat)
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BATTER (a sportsman in a variety of games – cricket, baseball …) double definition
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24
|
Name first class Middle East destination (5)
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DUB (confer any name or dignity upon) + A1 (first cals)
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DUBAI (city in the United Arab Emirates, an important airline hub)
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26
|
Call Post Office number (3,2)
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PO (Post Office) + PIN (Perwsonal Identification Number)
|
POP IN (visit; call)
|
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29
|
Dancing that’s less hard than 11 or 22 (3)
|
TAP (reference TAP dancing)
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TAP (gentle knock, less hard than BASH [11 down] or BATTER [22 down])
|
5/9 I think “out for the count” is the definition “like an active vampire hunter”, who would be out (and about) looking for the count (Dracula); which I think makes this a whimsical DD when linked to “not 15D”.
8D RABBIT a common animadversion on inept tail-end batsmen in cricket; not heard of it in relation to golf, but then I don’t follow that sport closely.
Thanks to Eimi and duncanshiell.
gwep @1 and @2
I guess 5/9 is a double definition where the Dracula reference can be interpreted in different ways.
For RABBIT at 8 down, Chambers mentions golf first, then cricket. Both Collins and the Shorter Oxford apply the definition to a poor performer at any sport or game.
Thanks Eimi for a crossword with much to enjoy and Duncan for the blog. My favourite clue was 18dn for the same reasons that Duncan has already stated.
gwep@2 re 8dn: Chambers 2011 gives rabbit an inferior player at golf, cricket, etc. I knew the golfing connection from the short story Rodney has a Relapse, one of P.G.Wodehouse’s many golf stories, in which reference is made to the “Rabbits Umbrella, a local competition open to those with a handicap of eighteen or over”.
My usual mixed feelings about the double definitions – I was completely happy with 11dn, 20dn, 22dn, and 29dn, but much less happy with 27ac – given that the hat is named after the novel, or possibly its eponymous character, 27ac could be regarded as a barely cryptic single definition. Anyway, is it not a bit of a crosswording cliché?
Crossed with Duncan @3 re 8dn, although I hope I have provided a little bit of extra information. I checked for other comments part way through drafting mine, but then spent some more time on it, and did not check again before submitting.
For the reason that Duncan has already outlined – the broad range of knowledge required – this was a tough one to finish, although there were enough clues to get you started and give you a chance.
Good fun, though, and of course the theme completely passed me by as usual. As did the footie references with Levy and Manchester City. Although TRILBY brought back memories of Bob Stokoe’s hat worn during Sunderland’s immense 1-0 victory over Leeds in the 1973 FA Cup. But let’s not mention Sunderland. Or the cricket (which is the only sport I’ve ever associated ‘rabbit’ with).
Let’s just say thank you to eimi and to Duncan.
I enjoyed this puzzle. MIDRIB was my LOI with fingers crossed, which was pretty stupid of me because although I had seen “MB” and “DR” as the two doctors I didn’t see “II” as eleven for the team, being far more used to seeing “XI”.
Thanks to setter and blogger, and compliments of the season to all.
Incidentally Brian Eno played on Roxy Music’s ‘Do the Strand’, my favourite piece by them. I interrupted my puzzling to look it up on YouTube. Classic stuff.
People can mention Sunderland again now if they wish.
Most enjoyable. 15 and 16 were brilliant.
Merry Christmas everyone and thanks to Duncan for the knockout blog and to all for their comments. The Spurs references were written, through the suffering, in response to recent events at Spurs. I had intended Hittite (a whimsical idea of a definition of a boxer) and rabbit (as in rabbit punch) to add a little to Boxing theme.