Posted by ilancaron on 30th June 2008
Pretty good offering from Rufus: quite a few clues with a surprising twist in the surface. And not a cryptic definition in sight (OK, not many).
Across
| 1 |
LUCIFER - two meanings: a well-known match company thus “striking example”. |
| 9 |
P,RESERVE - I liked the way “specially for game” defines RESERVE, however, didn’t know that P could abbreviate “perhaps”. Rufus himself points out that perhaps is part of the definition — and that as well as game reserves there are game preserves. Same difference.
|
| 12 |
CHARTERHOUSE - HOURS* in TEACHER*. It’s a school I didn’t go to. |
| 15 |
COPENHAGEN - OPEN in change*; interestingly “round” is the anagrind not “change”. |
|
| 19 |
OWN - two meanings: my last clue (probably because I associate OWN up with concede rather than just OWN). |
| 22 |
LANDED GENTRY - an amusing cryptic definition. |
| 26 |
A,LB,I,ON |
| 27 |
IM(MODE)ST - MODE in mist* |
| 29 |
DETROIT=(tried to)* - another clever definition: “huge carport”. |
Down
| 1 |
LAPS=”lapse” |
| 2 |
CH[i]EF |
|
| 3 |
FREE HAND - a fine surface |
| 4 |
[d]RIVER - ref. RIVER Tees |
| 6 |
CRECHE - a surprisingly clever clue that is sort of a double cryptic definition playing on the two meanings of “mind” (it’s a Brit kindergarten). |
| 7 |
CO,RNUCOPIA=(our panic)* |
| 13 |
SCHOOLDAYS - I fear I’m missing an allusion (e.g. Tom Brown’s SCHOOLDAYS — were they happy?) |
| 14 |
OPENING BAT - requisite cricket cryptic definition |
| 16 |
AVENGE - I think this is another (non-obvious) cryptic definition. |
| 18 |
STAR,TOUT |
| 21 |
RECOIL - definition is “kick” and I guess rewind and recoil are synonyms as well. |
| 24 |
HE,[i]RO]n |
| 25 |
STET - printing term (thus “impressive”) to reinstate something. |
Posted in Guardian, Uncategorized | 9 Comments »
Posted by Octofem on 27th June 2008
Sorry - not yet uploaded. Will proceed as soon as it is available to me.
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Posted by petebiddlecombe on 5th June 2008
As nmsindy says in his Quixote report, this Sunday’s edition (8th June) will include a shortened version of Don Manley’s “Chambers Crossword Manual”. For UK solvers who don’t yet have a “how to solve cryptics” book and think it might help, this is a chance to get some very good advice cheaply.
Independent website page about the book: http://www.independent.co.uk/extras/article840232.ece
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Posted by Uncle Yap on 28th May 2008
Common abbreviations used
dd = double definition
cd = cryptic definition
ha = hidden answer
rev = reversed or reversal
cha = charade
ins = insertion
After my baptism of fire with The Master, I am equally blessed this week with my assignment, blogging Pasquale aka Don Manley, whose Crossword Guide (Chambers) was a trusted companion during my early crossword days. Quite an entertaining puzzle with some new words for me.
Across
8 CAMOMILE Cha of CAM (river/flower) O (old) MILE (lots of yards, 1760 to be exact)
9 TO A MAN Ins of A MA (a mother) in TON (fashion)
10 NARDOO Cha of NARD (aromatic plant) OO (ducks) I quite like the imagery of aquatic birds being drawn to an aromatic plant
11 RIGADOON Cha of RIGA (capital of Latvia) DO ON (party taking place)
12 EDGE dd
13 EPISTOLARY *(Italy prose)
15 FEBRILE Cha of FEB (month when it should be cold for the Northern Hemisphere) RILE (bother)
16 COLOGNE Ins of LOG (record) in CONE (something locking road) Could there possibly be a misprint and locking should be blocking?
18 OSTEOPATHS *(as the stoop)
19 CLEG Cha of C (circa/on) LEG (to dash away) Somehow I am uneasy with “at maximum speed” to indicate LEG
20 BANNERET Ins of ANN (girl) in BERET (hat)
22 REFUSE - referee use
23 CLOSET Ins of L (large) in CO (firm) + SET (group)
24 CONSERVE Cha of CON (Tory) SERVE (minister)
Down
1 SAN ANDREAS FAULT cd This earthquate-related geographic feature lies in the vicinity of Los Angeles where Hollywood is
2 COLDHEARTEDNESS What a clever and cheeky way to graphically show that C (cold) is in the middle of ICE
3 BIT ONES LIP Ins of I-TONES (one sounds) in BLIP (minor deviation) Devilishly clever clue that escaped me the first time …. this parsing due to collective wisdom of the community. Thank you.
4 GEORGIA This state anthem Georgia On My Mind was by Stuart Gorrell and Hoagy Carmichael. It was a huge hit for Ray Charles
5 STAG ha
6 DANDELION COFFEE *(no offence laddie) Is there really such a drink?
7 LABOUR-INTENSIVE Charade of LABOUR (party) IN (at home) ins of IV (4) in TENSE (nerve-racking)
14 TROUSERING How does one categorise this kind of clue? Punny definition? But I learned another meaning for ‘trouser’
17 STATICE Cha of STATIC (not going anywhere) E (energy)
21 ROTH Philip *(authors minus a us)
Posted in Guardian, Uncategorized | 20 Comments »
Posted by Pete Maclean on 22nd May 2008
Mudd gave me a very satisfying challenge this week. I especially like 13A, 20A, 24A, 6D and 18D. I found 4A tricky; I guessed the answer quickly but took a while to figure out the word play.
Across
1. POTENT - TEN (figure) in POT (crucible)
4. SPLATTER - PS (rider) backwards + LATTER (second)
10. CABINET - double definition
11. OIL WELL - [t]OIL (heading from work) + WELL (fine)
12. LEEK - homophone
13. FAR EASTERN - FARE (food) + ASTERN (at the back)
15. CLIMAX - C (cold) + LIMA (capital city) + X (cross)
16. MONARCH - ON (on) in MARCH (Spring)
20. KETCHUP - KETCH (boat) + UP (finished)
21. LAUNCH - A (article) in LUNCH (eat)
24. LOCOMOTIVE - LOCO (illogical) + MOTIVE (reason)
26. ONUS - [b]ONUS (extra pay, although not originally bringing)
28. CRICKET - double definition
29. CHAGRIN - CHA (drink) + GRIN (something cheesy)
30. REPORTER - RE (on) + PORTER (booze)
31. PROMPT - double definition
Down
1. PICKLOCK - PICK (best) + LOCK (shut up)
2. TABLE WINE - BLEW IN (wasted) in anagram of TEA
3. NONE - NO (unknown???) + N (number) + E (ecstasy)
5. PHONE BOX - P (president) + HONE (better) + BOX (fight)
5. ABLE SEAMAN - anagram of MABEL + SEAN + A
7. THERE - double definition
8. RELENT - RE (about) + LENT (40 days)
9. STRAP - PARTS (bits) backwards
14. MATCHMAKER - MATCH (equal with) + MAKER (God)
17. CONUNDRUM - CO (fellow?) + NUN (sister) + DRUM (beat)
18. SUBTITLE - IT (it) in SUBTLE (faint)
19. CHESTNUT - double definition
22. SLICER - ICE (rocks) in SLR (camera)
23. EVICT - E (European) + VICT[or] (champion stripped of gold)
25. CHIMP - M (male) in CHIP (golf shot)
27. FAIR - double definition
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