Two disappointing DA cryptics in a row is not possible.
I’m expecting this week’s to be a corker.
(No spoilers on this thread until Monday)
Two disappointing DA cryptics in a row is not possible.
I’m expecting this week’s to be a corker.
(No spoilers on this thread until Monday)
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news AS…..hardly raised a sweat getting through this one. Longing for a really tricky one soon.
No monsters in this one.
I thought it was ok. i’ve done easier and some good surfaces and fun clues as always from DA.
As soon as I saw the above comments I knew that my strike rate would be under its customary pitiful average–and so it has proved! However the weekend is but yet young.
It was one of the easiest for a while, but some very nice clues: 21D, 22D appealed. And for the first time in a while I have not one quibble with a clue (aside from the typo in the Age for 20A).
Dunno what crossword you guys were doing but mine was hard! I have a few quibbles/queries over in the other thread.
I thought it was a good crossword, took me 3 or 4 sittings to finish, understand all the wordplay except possibly missing something in 18 across, no really obscure words (maybe 28 across – needed some dictionary confirmation), a couple of nice Australian literary & political references, 8d made me smile when I got all the wordplay and the disguised definition, just the thing for a winter Sunday.
JK, agree re. 8D – very nice! Not sure I agree with you about the Australian references: I can’t work out the word play for 23A but recognize the answer, and conversely (think I) can work out the word play for 27A, but (if I am right) have never heard of the answer (and wikipedia suggests the answer is obscure-at-best, no offence intended).
Re 8D, I agree that the wordplay is absolutely superb. But as for the answer as a bona fide word in its own right, I am less enthusiastic. It’s not in my Shorter Oxford. And neither is 22D. DA seems to using more and more “informal” words like these that are on the periphery of the language, as well as using more obscure words (only two this week for me: 16A and 28A).
MF, re 23A, I have a bit of a problem with the wordplay too. The best I can manage is:
“Western rumours” = WAYNE GOSS (presumably suggesting gossip about John Wayne).
Can anyone do better?
MF, for 27A I have Don Watson. He wrote satire for Max Gillies, and political speeches for John Cain and Paul Keating, plus several books.
RB, I too have Don Watson, but his is hardly a name of even minor notoriety. Or am I just a philistine who wouldn’t know a cultural shibboleth if it bit him on the tongue?
‘Fraid so, MF! But I know how you feel, as it happens to me regularly with DA’s Australian references. In this particular case though, I feel quite smug as I have heard Don Watson interviewed a few times on radio and have even read two of his books!
Don Watson wrote “Weasal Words” & hence perhaps description as wordsmith.
Can someone please explain the acht part of 18a – actually, just got it, acht is German for 8!
Is revenge =yap (ie payback) coined in this crossword (if so, brilliant) or is it an old chestnut known to long time DA solvers?
Actually it was “Weasel Words”. As for revenge=payback=yap, it’s the first time I’ve seen it. And I also liked the definition (too fond of trap)!