Confused by DA? Disconfuse yourself here by asking questions and getting yourself some answers.
89 thoughts on “DA Confusion for the 18/19th of May, 2012”
I think 2D should be (5’1,5), not (6,5). Either way, I’m offended, now that I’ve looked it up and know what it means.
I have all the answers, and for once, all the wordplay. But I only have 16 clues that fit the theme. Does anyone have the 17th? Or does he mean 17 answers, rather than clues?
Favourites were 1D, 25A, 17A and 6D.
my favourite
23d – see 23d…..
now thats crytic !
hehe
Yeah. That’s a typo. Had me thinking of 6-letter words for “recursive” before I read on to 28D.
Personally I thought 2D was hilarious. Great fun once the theme fell in place.
All done. Not sure of the “Four” part of 18A.
Re18A: maybe it’s just 4 of the 6.
18A: Yes, the first four
Thanks Rupert. But “offended” ? Perhaps if you took a 4D occasionally ……..!
Re:27A Is DA again resorting to the Urban Dictionary (ie slang) for the so-called vitamin?
27A: I don’t think so. Although the “vitamin” in question is actually a group of at least 8 vitamins, identified by a numerical suffix.
Got all but 11 ac. Help needed for that – suggestions please?
Whoops, got it – it’s “inset” in the clue. Silly me!
11A: Inset is a hidden indicator. The answer is a word for the forewings of a beetle that have hardened to form a wing case.
@Gil: Glad you managed without help. Did you find all 17 thematic elements? I can still only see 16.
Rupert, you didn’t mention 5D in your list
Re Rupert’s spoilers list – you get 17 when counting 28/23 down as two, not one! Might ask DA, see what he says.
As easy as pie today. Laughed out loud at 2d (how insensitive). Also liked 1d.
Haven’t read any comments yet, as I don’t want any spoilers. Just dropped in to say this week’s DA looks like fun. 12a, 28/23d, 27a and 31a came instantly – but I haven’t actually read all the clues yet. Anyway, see you on the other side!
Only 19A and 20A to go.
Am I stuck on the easy ones?
only 20A now.
20A is the juvenile form of 18A that walks on land.
Saterted as slow as a wet week, until I peeked at the first of Rupert’s spoilers then I caught on to the theme as quick as a flash. Certainly not as easy as pie though.
I still need help with 16a.
That should have been ‘Started…’
Thanks Rupert.
All done
So AJ, can you help me with 16a?
16A: It’s a sort of basket used by anglers. Last letters of dynamic and qualifier followed by a slippery thematic element.
Finally looked again at Rupert’s spoilers and irked it out. A word I had never heard of.
Also realized I had accidentally let out a spoiler before. Sorry.
Was wondering if in one way 30a could also be seen as a reverse of the theme?
Oh the typos. That should have been ‘worked it out’
30A: Not seeing it, Sandy. I have 27A as the reverse of the theme.
I agree that 27a is. I conjectured about 30a as an extra because of ASAP.
Is 27A a country? I got 2/3 of the way through this one and got stuck.
Came here to get more hints and got another five out. (Thanks!)
Very frustrated by 4A, 10A, and 24A. Have guesses fir 17A and 22D.
Might be time to look at Rupert’s spoilers.
Thanks to Rupert’s list I have 24A (new one for me), confirmation of my guess for 17A (but cannot work out the wordplay).
4A, 10A and 22D to go. Any help appreciated.
Yes 27a is a country. Need the theme for the word play.
4a has a Hollywood actress (whose name wasn’t known to me) wrapped around an extinct 19a.
I only got 10a when I looked up a list of Manhattam neighborhoods. It is a word for what Algonquins is an example of with a current ‘spurned’ after it.
22a is a small keyboard. I haven’t been able to get the word play myself.
@Sandy. Thanks, With all the hints (and I needn’t lots!) I have 27A. I was guessing LIBERIA or ALBANIA for a while before I realised there was another 7-letter country with a third letter of B.
Didn’t realise the significance of ‘activated’ in this clue until right at the end.
@Sandy, thanks again. Never heard of that small keyboard. My general knowledge is not extensive in the musical area.
22D first two words are definition. Last word of clue part of theme. I am stuck on 2 down
.hanks Chamollie. Got that word play now. The whole thing reminded me of an old exam blooper: “Bach had a wife and 12 children. He used to practice on an old spinster in the attic.”
Re 4A: Never heard of the extinct 19A but I have heard of the actress. American Beauty is a beauty starring this person.
Got 10A now. Didn’t understand the function of ‘spurned’.
All done but feeling pretty stupid this week.
2D:
Last 8 letters are an anagram. ‘Launder’ is the anagram indicator (anagrind).
Letters 1 to 3 are a word that sortv means ‘clean’, reversed.
Late start today, after reading intro, was inclined to declare this a ‘DA free’ weekend. Have only SE corner thus far, seven solved. Haven’t looked above yet. But 20A? What sort of word is this?
Thanks. So easy with help. Now the earlier comments about 2 D, Rupert’s included make sense
Liked 30A when I finally saw it. Who uses these marbles terms nowadays, last time I played was about 72 years ago. Was looking for a synonym for sleeve in 24A. Seems there aren’t any. Can’t make any sense of clue anyway. Have about a dozen solved, no idea what the theme is as yet.
Have 4 so far, no idea of theme. Really struggling with the rest.
A welcome return to form – vintage DA!
For those struggling with theme, ponder the question with the intro, “As clear as mud?” it is designed to help as much as confuse.
Arthur, 24a relates to theme and the key word is ‘calm’ not ‘sleeve’.
28, 23 d was the first one I got. From the above it is part of the theme. I guess there is a bit of a connection between this and the “clear as mud” hint.
Have 27 a from hints above and it appears that the wordplay is connected to the theme. Can’t see the vitamin, reading it backwards as per hints doesn’t help either.
think I’m on to the theme now!
@nn, you have the theme, which is translating “snug” into the answer for 28/23. In 27A, “bean” must be translated in the opposite direction, then wrapped around a single letter that is a type of vitamin, then followed with a two letter word for “activated”.
As for the them now I see it another way, I smiles!
Re 27A I wasn’t translating the bean, so didn’t see the vitamin. Get the activated, get the vitamin, but can’t translate the bean. Very confused by this one.
that should have been as for the theme, not as for them. Seems we are all afflicted by typos today.
The word connected with bean via the theme reversed also rhymes.
I’m with you on 2d Rupert! Wonder if there is one to describe an Aussie’s inability to use the apostrophe correctly…
Thanks Sandy, got it now, was trying to reverse the bean and the word, should have been reversing the theme.
Still in state of bafflement, fourteen to go. Still have no clue as to theme, might have to check Rupert’s hint above. Would like to get 2D, no idea at present. Sandy, I tried putting bouffant in 24 across though the 18D clue makes clear it isn’t that, but it is a word applicable to sleeve. Getting close to abandoning it altogether, too many missing. 2D and 5D would be a help, if I can get a clue?
Well, I did go for a look, was surprised to see most of the answers I needed there. Will give it away now. Shouldn’t have looked. Back next week.
I have an answer for 24A relating to calm. It fits the two down clues that I have, but I can’t make any sense of the wordplay.
Arthur, I have fourteen to go too. Having lots of trouble working out if clues are themed or not, particularly when I’m not getting the wordplay for some of those that I think are the theme. Makes me very uncertain of some answers.
Sorry you gave it away Arthur. Too late for me to tell you that in 24a sleeve is a container indicator.
nn, a word for ‘light’ (or could be lite) is a sleeve for ‘record on’.
thanks Sandy, see it now
8 to go. No idea what that keyboard is in 22d. Have letters 2 and 4. Google not helping.
Is 30A a town or is one of the other words the def. Don’t fancy googling all the towns in NSW to work this one out.
Ground to a halt now. Stuck on 17A, 30A, 18d, 22d, 26d. Have found 14 themes, so presume three of the above are themed, but that hasn’t helped. Any hints before I give up and have some lunch?
checked Rupert’s list and realised I’d missed a theme. Not heard of 17a, don’t get the wordplay in it either (not having 30a probably doesn’t help)
Even with Rupert’s list and much googling, I can’t get the answer to 22D
gave up on the rest
@nn,
I almost gave up too. You must be close to finishing. Maybe after a break you can come back fresh as a daisy and with a mind as sharp as a tack the puzzle with become easy as pie.
30A: The town in NSW is letters 4, 8 and 9. The marble (very obscure) is letters 5 – 7.
22D is a small piano. The neat thematic element is inside a three-letter collective noun for equipment or tools.
17A: Red is the definition, cap is French (or Jamie Hyneman), 30A is an instruction to remove the middle letter of the cap.
iPuzzled, if that were true I’d be as happy as a lark, but the last three proved to be as obstinate as a mule and left me as mad as a hatter, particularly as they appear to be as plain as day to Rupert!
@nn, awesome reply. At least we got into the spirit of the puzzle’s theme even though we couldn’t solve the whole thing on our own. Gotta be happy as Larry with that.
Just finished, having looked up the Manhattan bit – I was aware I knew the word from somewhere but had no idea what it was.
Are you there now, nn? (No, not in Manhattan!)
Wasn’t happy with the use of pav in 12a – no way in my (recipe) book is it definable the way it is in the answer.
@Mary, I agree with your comment on 12A. I didn’t get the last three, had to look them up, but did pretty well (for me) on the rest of them once I’d twigged to the theme. Mostly fun today.
Mary, I too agree with your issue with pav!
Where the ‘ell did the “L” come from in 27A??
Doug and Gwyn re 27a, you probably had an anagram of the wrong four letters. This clue is the ‘in reverse’ one, and so the anagram is of the first part of the themed bit, not the second. (Difficult to explain without spoiling too much). You should then be asking ‘where did the ‘B’ come from, and the answer is the vitamin.
Oops – an apostrophe and a question mark missing from the last sentence above, but hope it still makes sense.
Doug and Gwyn re 27A
It isn’t really an anagram. Letters 1, 2, 4 and 5 are the themed bit, the vitamin is letter 3 and letters 6 and 7 are activated. The reversed bit refers to the order of the words in the simile, not a reversal of letters.
Haven’t been online since my earlier post on Friday, but in between winning a poker tournament, sailing on a tall ship while dressed as a pirate, going to see a friend’s band play, having a nice chat with Midnight Oil guitarist Jim Moginie and watching the South Sydney Rabbitohs win, I somehow managed to get this week’s puzzle done. 11a was the last to fall. I always miss the containers! Staring me right in the face.
Don’t have KM’s grounds for crowing, but am recovering from knee replacement surgery, and no access to computer until this evening. Got it all out bar two in the NE. Agree with Mary and others about the definition for pav, but then I remember thinking that last time DA called a pav a ‘cake’. (It’s not the medication is it? It wasn’t that long ago?)
‘Marble’, Rupert, is not so obscure if you didn’t grow up playing in the dirt with cats’ eyes, dibbles, and the steel ball bearings whose common names I can’t remember but they were lethal. Anyone?
We called them steelies. Cats eyes I remember. I can’t remember what we called the larger ones, but it wasn’t “taw”.
My memory isn’t failing, just slowing down!
We called the large ones “bullies”, although I vaguely remember there being a different name at one of my primary schools.
I reckon there must be as many names for marbles as there are primary schools. I recall tombolas and apparently the really big ones were often called bottle washers after their use in antique soft-drink bottles. According to Wikipedia, which is far from infallible, “taws” is the alternative name for the game of marbles in the north of England. Sounds somewhat Geordie.
Bulls-eyes. Maybe these are Rupert’s ‘bullies’? Then there’s the expression ‘we’re taws’ , meaning even/equal. But not from marbles apparently.
Unfortunately my Friday DA has been recycled but I’d be glad of the wordplay for EFTS which I got from quaint newts but can’t remember the rest.
Efts are a larval form of newt (not sure why DA thinks this is quaint). Bears = HEFTS, lose the horse => EFTS.
Ah, thanks Rupert. I seem to remember another hefts=bears possibly in the past 12 months, and a H=heroin=horse. Yes, I didn’t get the quaint/immature newts either, as quaint usually means archaic in crossword-speak.
I believe eft is the second stage (terrestrial juvenile) of newt development, between larva and adult. And Rupert mentioned this a few days ago.
Re 2D comments about whether the apostrophe should be indicated in the word length, we’ve had this discussion a while back. I believe some setters (including DA) only indicate the apostrophe if it signifies missing letter(s) (eg. don’t would be 3’1). If it signifies the possessive, the apostrophe is not indicated.
I think 2D should be (5’1,5), not (6,5). Either way, I’m offended, now that I’ve looked it up and know what it means.
I have all the answers, and for once, all the wordplay. But I only have 16 clues that fit the theme. Does anyone have the 17th? Or does he mean 17 answers, rather than clues?
Favourites were 1D, 25A, 17A and 6D.
my favourite
23d – see 23d…..
now thats crytic !
hehe
Yeah. That’s a typo. Had me thinking of 6-letter words for “recursive” before I read on to 28D.
For those wanting spoilers, I’ve posted a list of the thematic elements.
Personally I thought 2D was hilarious. Great fun once the theme fell in place.
All done. Not sure of the “Four” part of 18A.
Re18A: maybe it’s just 4 of the 6.
18A: Yes, the first four
Thanks Rupert. But “offended” ? Perhaps if you took a 4D occasionally ……..!
Re:27A Is DA again resorting to the Urban Dictionary (ie slang) for the so-called vitamin?
27A: I don’t think so. Although the “vitamin” in question is actually a group of at least 8 vitamins, identified by a numerical suffix.
Got all but 11 ac. Help needed for that – suggestions please?
Whoops, got it – it’s “inset” in the clue. Silly me!
11A: Inset is a hidden indicator. The answer is a word for the forewings of a beetle that have hardened to form a wing case.
@Gil: Glad you managed without help. Did you find all 17 thematic elements? I can still only see 16.
Rupert, you didn’t mention 5D in your list
Re Rupert’s spoilers list – you get 17 when counting 28/23 down as two, not one! Might ask DA, see what he says.
As easy as pie today. Laughed out loud at 2d (how insensitive). Also liked 1d.
Haven’t read any comments yet, as I don’t want any spoilers. Just dropped in to say this week’s DA looks like fun. 12a, 28/23d, 27a and 31a came instantly – but I haven’t actually read all the clues yet. Anyway, see you on the other side!
Only 19A and 20A to go.
Am I stuck on the easy ones?
only 20A now.
20A is the juvenile form of 18A that walks on land.
Saterted as slow as a wet week, until I peeked at the first of Rupert’s spoilers then I caught on to the theme as quick as a flash. Certainly not as easy as pie though.
I still need help with 16a.
That should have been ‘Started…’
Thanks Rupert.
All done
So AJ, can you help me with 16a?
16A: It’s a sort of basket used by anglers. Last letters of dynamic and qualifier followed by a slippery thematic element.
Finally looked again at Rupert’s spoilers and irked it out. A word I had never heard of.
Also realized I had accidentally let out a spoiler before. Sorry.
Was wondering if in one way 30a could also be seen as a reverse of the theme?
Oh the typos. That should have been ‘worked it out’
30A: Not seeing it, Sandy. I have 27A as the reverse of the theme.
I agree that 27a is. I conjectured about 30a as an extra because of ASAP.
Is 27A a country? I got 2/3 of the way through this one and got stuck.
Came here to get more hints and got another five out. (Thanks!)
Very frustrated by 4A, 10A, and 24A. Have guesses fir 17A and 22D.
Might be time to look at Rupert’s spoilers.
Thanks to Rupert’s list I have 24A (new one for me), confirmation of my guess for 17A (but cannot work out the wordplay).
4A, 10A and 22D to go. Any help appreciated.
Yes 27a is a country. Need the theme for the word play.
4a has a Hollywood actress (whose name wasn’t known to me) wrapped around an extinct 19a.
I only got 10a when I looked up a list of Manhattam neighborhoods. It is a word for what Algonquins is an example of with a current ‘spurned’ after it.
22a is a small keyboard. I haven’t been able to get the word play myself.
@Sandy. Thanks, With all the hints (and I needn’t lots!) I have 27A. I was guessing LIBERIA or ALBANIA for a while before I realised there was another 7-letter country with a third letter of B.
Didn’t realise the significance of ‘activated’ in this clue until right at the end.
@Sandy, thanks again. Never heard of that small keyboard. My general knowledge is not extensive in the musical area.
22D first two words are definition. Last word of clue part of theme. I am stuck on 2 down
.hanks Chamollie. Got that word play now. The whole thing reminded me of an old exam blooper: “Bach had a wife and 12 children. He used to practice on an old spinster in the attic.”
Re 4A: Never heard of the extinct 19A but I have heard of the actress. American Beauty is a beauty starring this person.
Got 10A now. Didn’t understand the function of ‘spurned’.
All done but feeling pretty stupid this week.
2D:
Last 8 letters are an anagram. ‘Launder’ is the anagram indicator (anagrind).
Letters 1 to 3 are a word that sortv means ‘clean’, reversed.
Late start today, after reading intro, was inclined to declare this a ‘DA free’ weekend. Have only SE corner thus far, seven solved. Haven’t looked above yet. But 20A? What sort of word is this?
Thanks. So easy with help. Now the earlier comments about 2 D, Rupert’s included make sense
Liked 30A when I finally saw it. Who uses these marbles terms nowadays, last time I played was about 72 years ago. Was looking for a synonym for sleeve in 24A. Seems there aren’t any. Can’t make any sense of clue anyway. Have about a dozen solved, no idea what the theme is as yet.
Have 4 so far, no idea of theme. Really struggling with the rest.
A welcome return to form – vintage DA!
For those struggling with theme, ponder the question with the intro, “As clear as mud?” it is designed to help as much as confuse.
Arthur, 24a relates to theme and the key word is ‘calm’ not ‘sleeve’.
28, 23 d was the first one I got. From the above it is part of the theme. I guess there is a bit of a connection between this and the “clear as mud” hint.
Have 27 a from hints above and it appears that the wordplay is connected to the theme. Can’t see the vitamin, reading it backwards as per hints doesn’t help either.
think I’m on to the theme now!
@nn, you have the theme, which is translating “snug” into the answer for 28/23. In 27A, “bean” must be translated in the opposite direction, then wrapped around a single letter that is a type of vitamin, then followed with a two letter word for “activated”.
As for the them now I see it another way, I smiles!
Re 27A I wasn’t translating the bean, so didn’t see the vitamin. Get the activated, get the vitamin, but can’t translate the bean. Very confused by this one.
that should have been as for the theme, not as for them. Seems we are all afflicted by typos today.
The word connected with bean via the theme reversed also rhymes.
I’m with you on 2d Rupert! Wonder if there is one to describe an Aussie’s inability to use the apostrophe correctly…
Thanks Sandy, got it now, was trying to reverse the bean and the word, should have been reversing the theme.
Still in state of bafflement, fourteen to go. Still have no clue as to theme, might have to check Rupert’s hint above. Would like to get 2D, no idea at present. Sandy, I tried putting bouffant in 24 across though the 18D clue makes clear it isn’t that, but it is a word applicable to sleeve. Getting close to abandoning it altogether, too many missing. 2D and 5D would be a help, if I can get a clue?
Well, I did go for a look, was surprised to see most of the answers I needed there. Will give it away now. Shouldn’t have looked. Back next week.
I have an answer for 24A relating to calm. It fits the two down clues that I have, but I can’t make any sense of the wordplay.
Arthur, I have fourteen to go too. Having lots of trouble working out if clues are themed or not, particularly when I’m not getting the wordplay for some of those that I think are the theme. Makes me very uncertain of some answers.
Sorry you gave it away Arthur. Too late for me to tell you that in 24a sleeve is a container indicator.
nn, a word for ‘light’ (or could be lite) is a sleeve for ‘record on’.
thanks Sandy, see it now
8 to go. No idea what that keyboard is in 22d. Have letters 2 and 4. Google not helping.
Is 30A a town or is one of the other words the def. Don’t fancy googling all the towns in NSW to work this one out.
Ground to a halt now. Stuck on 17A, 30A, 18d, 22d, 26d. Have found 14 themes, so presume three of the above are themed, but that hasn’t helped. Any hints before I give up and have some lunch?
checked Rupert’s list and realised I’d missed a theme. Not heard of 17a, don’t get the wordplay in it either (not having 30a probably doesn’t help)
Even with Rupert’s list and much googling, I can’t get the answer to 22D
gave up on the rest
@nn,
I almost gave up too. You must be close to finishing. Maybe after a break you can come back fresh as a daisy and with a mind as sharp as a tack the puzzle with become easy as pie.
30A: The town in NSW is letters 4, 8 and 9. The marble (very obscure) is letters 5 – 7.
22D is a small piano. The neat thematic element is inside a three-letter collective noun for equipment or tools.
17A: Red is the definition, cap is French (or Jamie Hyneman), 30A is an instruction to remove the middle letter of the cap.
iPuzzled, if that were true I’d be as happy as a lark, but the last three proved to be as obstinate as a mule and left me as mad as a hatter, particularly as they appear to be as plain as day to Rupert!
@nn, awesome reply. At least we got into the spirit of the puzzle’s theme even though we couldn’t solve the whole thing on our own. Gotta be happy as Larry with that.
Just finished, having looked up the Manhattan bit – I was aware I knew the word from somewhere but had no idea what it was.
Are you there now, nn? (No, not in Manhattan!)
Wasn’t happy with the use of pav in 12a – no way in my (recipe) book is it definable the way it is in the answer.
@Mary, I agree with your comment on 12A. I didn’t get the last three, had to look them up, but did pretty well (for me) on the rest of them once I’d twigged to the theme. Mostly fun today.
Mary, I too agree with your issue with pav!
Where the ‘ell did the “L” come from in 27A??
Doug and Gwyn re 27a, you probably had an anagram of the wrong four letters. This clue is the ‘in reverse’ one, and so the anagram is of the first part of the themed bit, not the second. (Difficult to explain without spoiling too much). You should then be asking ‘where did the ‘B’ come from, and the answer is the vitamin.
Oops – an apostrophe and a question mark missing from the last sentence above, but hope it still makes sense.
Doug and Gwyn re 27A
It isn’t really an anagram. Letters 1, 2, 4 and 5 are the themed bit, the vitamin is letter 3 and letters 6 and 7 are activated. The reversed bit refers to the order of the words in the simile, not a reversal of letters.
Haven’t been online since my earlier post on Friday, but in between winning a poker tournament, sailing on a tall ship while dressed as a pirate, going to see a friend’s band play, having a nice chat with Midnight Oil guitarist Jim Moginie and watching the South Sydney Rabbitohs win, I somehow managed to get this week’s puzzle done. 11a was the last to fall. I always miss the containers! Staring me right in the face.
Don’t have KM’s grounds for crowing, but am recovering from knee replacement surgery, and no access to computer until this evening. Got it all out bar two in the NE. Agree with Mary and others about the definition for pav, but then I remember thinking that last time DA called a pav a ‘cake’. (It’s not the medication is it? It wasn’t that long ago?)
‘Marble’, Rupert, is not so obscure if you didn’t grow up playing in the dirt with cats’ eyes, dibbles, and the steel ball bearings whose common names I can’t remember but they were lethal. Anyone?
We called them steelies. Cats eyes I remember. I can’t remember what we called the larger ones, but it wasn’t “taw”.
My memory isn’t failing, just slowing down!
We called the large ones “bullies”, although I vaguely remember there being a different name at one of my primary schools.
I reckon there must be as many names for marbles as there are primary schools. I recall tombolas and apparently the really big ones were often called bottle washers after their use in antique soft-drink bottles. According to Wikipedia, which is far from infallible, “taws” is the alternative name for the game of marbles in the north of England. Sounds somewhat Geordie.
Bulls-eyes. Maybe these are Rupert’s ‘bullies’? Then there’s the expression ‘we’re taws’ , meaning even/equal. But not from marbles apparently.
Unfortunately my Friday DA has been recycled but I’d be glad of the wordplay for EFTS which I got from quaint newts but can’t remember the rest.
Efts are a larval form of newt (not sure why DA thinks this is quaint). Bears = HEFTS, lose the horse => EFTS.
Ah, thanks Rupert. I seem to remember another hefts=bears possibly in the past 12 months, and a H=heroin=horse. Yes, I didn’t get the quaint/immature newts either, as quaint usually means archaic in crossword-speak.
I believe eft is the second stage (terrestrial juvenile) of newt development, between larva and adult. And Rupert mentioned this a few days ago.
Re 2D comments about whether the apostrophe should be indicated in the word length, we’ve had this discussion a while back. I believe some setters (including DA) only indicate the apostrophe if it signifies missing letter(s) (eg. don’t would be 3’1). If it signifies the possessive, the apostrophe is not indicated.