I’m on holiday this week, and I struggled through this one over several sessions, before resorting to aids (my Dad) for 3d. There were a lot of comments on the forum about whether this was an acceptable clue or not, due to the obscurity of the answer. I didn’t know it, but I have no complaints about it. If I objected to every word or phrase I hadn’t heard of then I’d never get through a grid without one!
I did (and still do) have a problem with 5d though. This is issue was raised with the first comment on the forum and immediately answered by the editor (Thanks, PB). However, I still can’t see how it works as it stands – ‘as was masseur’ to me implies that the massuer was kneaded, and that makes no sense.
cd = cryptic def., dd = double def., rev = reversal, homophones are written in quotes, anagrams as (–)*, and removals like this
Across | |
---|---|
1 | COME + T |
4 | MAN + I(FE)S + TO |
9 | OS + CILLA + TE |
10 | LINE + N |
11 | DOWN IN THE MOUTH – dd – I’m not convinced about ‘Dicky’ for a definition, but it clearly adds a lot to the surface, so I’ll let it go. |
13 | NICKNAME = NICK (jug, i.e. prison) + |
15 | STERN + O |
17 | TOMATO = TOTO (in this is completely, i.e. ‘in toto’) about MA (mum) |
18 | TOMAHAWK = MA in (TO + HAWK) |
20 | GOT NOWHERE FAST = (HE WAS FORGOTTEN)* – a neat anagram |
23 | HYDRA – rev hidden |
24 | ANDALUSIA = (U + LAD) rev in (ASIAN)* |
25 | PUR(CHA)SER |
26 | RUMMY – dd |
Down | |
1 | COORDINATE = (DECORATION)* – another good anagram |
2 | M(AC)AW |
3 | TELL IT NOT IN GATH = (LITTLE)* + H about (NOTING + AT)* – I didn’t know this phrase and I probably would have had to resort to aids if my Dad hadn’t managed to dredge it up from somewhere. |
4 | ME ANTI-ME – I rather liked this expression of self-loathing |
5 | NEEDED = “KNEADED” – although surely it should be ‘as did masseur’ not ‘as was masseur’, the masseur will have been doing the kneading, not receiving it. |
6 | FELLOW TRAVELLER = FELT (thought) + RAVELLER (one would snarl, i.e. tangle) all about LOW (dirty) |
7 | SANATORIA = AIRS rev about (A + NATO) |
8 | OINK = OK (so-so) about IN (home) – I liked the clever use of ‘nursing home’ |
12 | ROCK-STEADY – a Spoonerism for STOCK READY (supply prepared) |
14 | CA + MC + ORDER |
16 | TOREADOR = TORE + A + ROD rev |
19 | SW(E)ATS |
21 | ASSAM = MASSA rev |
22 | W + HIP |
Many thanks for your excellent blogs.
Is it possible to know what PB said about 5 across?
Thank you,
Adrian Cobb
‘It depends what you mean by “read better”. If this is a polite way of saying you think the clue logic doesn’t work, then you’ve probably identified the same “mistake” as I did in editing the puzzle. But if you read it the right way, that mistake goes away. If you understand that but still think the obvious version is preferable, it’s a question of taste rather than logic.’
I think the argument could benefit from a little expansion!
Edited at 2014-04-13 06:12 am (UTC)
The 5dn argument never occurred to me but I now see the problem, and in my view obscurities such as 3dn demand clearer wordplay as an alternative way in. ‘All in enamel’ in my book is still ENAMEL.
Edited at 2014-04-13 06:25 am (UTC)
I was surprised 3dn was classed as obscure.. I suppose bible study is not as widespread nowadays as it was in my youth. But it is also a book title and even a tee-shirt!
I can see that 5dn works OK technically, but still not terribly keen on it
I stumbled at 15a, which I’d not heard of and now find is actually a brand name – is that allowed? Product placement perchance?
In my early teens I was kept off the streets by The Boys Brigade – an offshoot of the Baptist Church. In addition to lectures on the evils of drink, gambling and loose women our leader had an Amish-style way of speaking based on biblical quotes. That included the GATH stuff. I’d forgotten it but I’m certain it was resurrected in a crossword not too long ago. Trouble is I can’t recall which one!
The Gath bit forms the proem and is, I would venture, far less familiar to most people.
Edited at 2014-04-13 08:31 am (UTC)
I can’t see the problem with 5dn. The wordplay is ‘was masseur reportedly’. ‘As’ is just a linking word.
Edited at 2014-04-13 08:47 am (UTC)
Edited at 2014-04-13 11:48 am (UTC)
I gave it 3 days to see if 3d would come to me before resorting to aids. And even then I couldn’t get it. All my guesses were so far wide of the mark that Google couldn’t figure out what I was really searching for (so much for artificial intelligence, huh). Still I won’t forget TELL IT NOT IN GATH in a hurry.
I am in Victoria, Australia and I have never heard of sterno.