I’m a little confused by Australia’s first innings, but am loving it at the moment. And I’m assuming cruciverbalists all over the commonwealth are cheering too: AGAR I’m assuming fits into quite a few tight cryptic spots.
Anyway, have your cryptic confusions sorted out here too.
Too easy this week (and no cricket).
I’m confused on the wordplay for 8D, 18D and 27A (assuming I have it right). Help, please?
Hi Rupert, can’t help with 27 A but in 8D before the breakup is suggesting you remove a space from the clue and in 18D a word for round replaces part of a word for journo.
Not far in yet and don’t have crosses to check but the word I have for 8D is given by the deletion from ‘stale mate’ read as one word, as indicated by ‘before the breakup’.
As Annie said.
Thanks, Annie and Gayle.
27A. The same two models bail from two words. 1 -2 and 3-9.
I can’t get 5D.
Really incredible. Still have about four to go. But, is this a sign that DA is getting older and kinder?
One question: Is 1D a writer’s pseudonym? I need that and 27A.
1D is the surname of a Spanish writer of the 16th and early 17th centuries. You undoubtedly know his most famous work, sometimes called the first novel.
5D: Abbreviation for United plus word for supporters gets turned. Chaos is the definition, although the word is becoming more widely used as meaning a mistake.
1d is a real old Spanish author. Try putting a space between the two Rs in Carroll.
5d is a reversal of united supporters
27A: I see it now. Surely it’s “a model” removed twice, not two models?
I thought 1D was my favourite clue. I have finished in record time, but in spite of comments above am not sure my 27A is correct.
27A, yep, correct Rupert, ‘ a model’ twice removed. I miswrote that .
5D could see that ‘mistake’ , but couldn’t see the wordplay, and didn’t know it as chaos. Thanks for that.
Ann, maybe the parsing for 27A? ‘romantic evening’ 1-2, and ‘finish’ 3-9, both with ‘a model’ removed.
OK on 1D, clever clue. Of course, being elderly (84 today), I remember reading his story. I haven’t really determined the correct answer for 27A, not quite understanding the clues given above, but only one word seems to fit the ‘down’s.
Happy Birthday, Arthur! Up there with Agar’s test debut.
Your comment reveals you’ve definitely got the correct answer for 27a.
All out in record time for me. Still pondering a couple of wordplays
Happy Birthday, Arthur C! I’ve finished but baffled by the wordplay in 19A – any clues?
Prufrock – 19A – read answer as 1, 2, 1
Thanks, Ray – good old DA!
All done. Thanks to AnnieL and Ray helping me sort wordplay form18d and 19a. Still baffled by the wordplay form14d. I can see ‘us’ making an appearance in one word for 16d, but the rest has me baffled.
Sandy,16D. Is it the ‘twice’? My take on this is that the two parts to the name (with the addition of ‘us’ inverted on the first one) both independently describe 16D. But the two words together also make a related phrase, which could possibly be hyphenated. I think it has to be the first ..
Thanks Gayle. Now I see. The other one I don’t understand, an so am not sure i have correct (apart from the 50% that is the cross letters) is 12a. Any help here?
Newcomer finished in 2 hours – without ANY input from the trippers .
My favourite is 4dn – it has lots of techniques AND presumes acquired skills .
@Sandy re 12a. I think the first two words are the def. The answer is also a common abbreviation for another word. Sleevework is an example of this other word (look at the arms of footballers, especially Collingwood). I think the last word in the clue is a bit of a hint that it is an abbreviation.
Finished in good time today without looking here but I’m not sure how 1D works – I can see it’s a partial anagram but why leave out the last 4 letters of CARROLL? Probably obvious to everyone else!
I’ve just tumbled – roll the previous letter! Doh! (By the way, who used the word “Doh!” regularly before before Homer Simpson purloined it?)
Thanks, Gayle. Now I understand why my answer to 27A was correct.
All done, but I feel that 12A is a bit rubbery. Does “sleeve” really define the abbreviation?
It feels sort of unnatural to have finished a DA before lunch. No football on telly. But had a nice birthday lunch with Margaret, also elder daughter and her gentleman friend. Had a ‘half-serve’ of roast chicken and vegies, but still more food than we’d eat in two normal meals. Anybody out there live in the Ballarat area?
@ Jack, my take on 12A is that “sleeve, say” isn’t a definition as such, but an example of the answer. In this case “say” means for example, not a homophone or synonym indicator.
Thanks nn, re 12a. I didn’t know that word for lace work. Only as the abbreviation. Jack the ‘say’ indicates it is an example of the abbreviation rather than the abbreviation per se.
@Victor, it took me a while to see Carroll after I had the answer, but I’m getting used to seeing DA run two words together to make another to misdirect. A few this week. Dandy took me a while to see too, although I’ve seen handy (h and y) used before.
Re 12 A discussion. I beg to differ and suggest that ‘say’ is a homophone indicator, double letter. Agree with nn about the sleeve and the abbreviation, which is the usual word in a certain milieu.
Gayle, the lace work and the sleeve are spelled the same way, so how can it be a homophone? ‘Say’ can often mean ‘for example’ and a sleeve is only an example, not a synonym (or homophone of synonym) of the abbreviation.
Well I’m delighted to say I’m all done bar 2, with no outside help, and just a few questions on wordplay. No doubt an easy one but still, an achievement for me. The two remaining are 23d and 27a; the wordplay queries are for 6a(2-4), 12a (sleeve say?), 25a/15d, 8d, and 18d. And now I’ll see whether entries so far cast the light I need.
Not sure what you mean by “double letter” Gayle.
All done – thanks to Gayle for 27a, which gave me 23d, and for wordplay on 14d. Thanks to nn for word play on 12a. (My previous post, 20 minutes ago, is still awaiting moderation – ah well)
And Happy Birthday Arthur!
Ah, there it is!
I’m scratching my head over 18 down:
I think the answer is something you’d find many of in a ship or you might find 1 or 2 on a back verandah or maybe attached to a tree.
But I can’t work out what the intermediate word is:
Is it the name of a journalist? Or is it a type of journalist?
I’m sure I’ll go “D’oh!” when I find out!
Got it: a 4-letter “journalist” & a 4-letter “round”!
Very clever, DA!
btw my favourite today was 10 across!
And 18 down was clued as journo not journalist
so I should have twigged! D’oh!
Sandy and nn,
Is it late enough (now that everyone is watching the Tour de France or the cricket)
to say tats/tatts?
Thanks Gayle, I see what you mean now. Is “say” doing double duty here?
I’m away and missed my DA yesterday. I’ve thought I would be able to find it with the online edition of SMH but can’t find it anywhere. Can anyone help, please?
I seem to remember 1 down from a DA several months ago, maybe even a year ago. Is this clue, or crossword even, a repeat?
Please help us decipher 4d wordplay. . . Stuck!
Don’t worry – Sir solved it!
@ Pat. Post your email address, if you don’t have one already.
Happy Birthday Arthur, I celebrated the start of my 48th year on Thursday.
With no computer use, my brother, Mum and I had a family brainstorm and solved it. Thanks trippers for the wordplay for 14d and 18d.
I haven’t grokked (genned ?) letters 3-4 of 16d …
Happy Birthday Arthur!
Ah Gayle, that’s where we differ. I spell both with one ‘t’.
Re 16D, I’m wondering why, Jupiter, you would be looking for letters 3-4. The clue refers to lawman not Rolling Stoness.
Okay, nn and Sandy, Wiki says the single t spelling is a variant, in very small print :)
http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/tatt#English
And I discovered it’s also doctor’s shorthand for a set of symptoms, TATT: Tired All The Time .. off for a nap now … too much early morning DA and late night cricket and cycling..
Mike – 16D – I agree with the confusion with just letters 3,4 but I took this as a typo by Mike in that I thought meant 3,4,5. But now I am confused by just your reference to just “lawman” so my thinking may be wrong. Could you help me understand your wordplay for 16D? Thanks.
I seem to have precipitated a lot of discussion on 12A. Unfortunately, however, I still don’t understand the result. The answer certainly means “makes lace,” but I don’t get the sleeve association. Does an abbreviation for tattoos sound like a sleeve, or is it an example of a sleeve? The use of “say” could imply either, albeit no sleeve that I’ve ever come across.
Jack, those gruesome people with arms covered with “artwork” refer to a tattoo that covers from shoulder to wrist as a “sleeve”. Hence a sleeve is a tatt (obviously, short for tattoo) and to tat is to make lace. “Say” just means “sounds like”.
Jack – I don’t know, but took as your second explanation ie: an example. A “sleeve” tattoo is a type of several different “tats”.
@ Ray. The wordplay for 16D is: “Desert lawman” = MOSES – “Nursing Manx cat” = cat’o nine-tails – LASH – without the tail.
AND Happy Birthday Arthur!
Doug & Gwyn – thanks much – yes I was of the same thinking, that’s why I thought it was letters 3,4,5 were the ones in question. Appreciate the confirmation.
And yes Arthur – well done – and may there be many more.
After reading datrippers I am still mystified by wordplay for 5d and 17a. Help.!
5d –supporters (as of a football team) turned around with the symbol for United ( also as per a football team) . And I’m glad you don’t get 17a — thought it was just me. The ‘outsiders’ of sarcastic give letters 1-2, then in the middle is a 4 letter word for (h)allowed, but that leaves 4 letters conjured out of the ether! Just had another look at the clue– ‘gather round’ gives letter 4 or 5 . Input from a clever person appreciated!
nf – 17A – my read – As you say “Sarcastic outsiders” gives letters 1,2. “gather” gives a 5 letter word which are letters 3,4,8,9,10. “round” = container. ” ‘allowed” gives a 4 letter word with (same) first letter removed to give letters 5,6,7. “space for kids” = defn.
Thanks for 17a help Ray and nf. It was actually not 5d (silly me) but 8d I am still baffled by. The defn is 1 fir st 2 words. Does ‘me’ instead of ‘I’ desert something? If so it’s a total mystery to me.
Thankyou — the ‘gather’ was an excellent misdirection
Suet – 8D – defn = “Old hat”. “stale mate before the break up” means recombine “stale” and “mate” = stalemate. Word for stalemate is impasse. now have “I’m leaving” to leave the 5 letter answer.
Thanks Mike, Ray, Doug & Gwen – I did mean 3-5 of 16d. I knew what the answer was from the def and the Oz Actor reference. There are so many words to try to tak the tail off …
I first wondered if the actor knew Judy Garland …
LR took me almost as long today as DA did on Friday. Does anyone have the wordplay for 8D?
Rupert – LR 8D – Defn = 1st word. “adjusted” = anagrind. Fodder “rostered day off” which is shortened to “rdo”. That’s how I got there anyway.
Pretty good to get this out as quickly as you did Friday’s DA, Rupert .. not because it was difficult .. . but there were at least 6 Oz clues, if you include the fodder for 8D, which isn’t universal even amongst all Oz workers. And I don’t know if Mr Sheen (the misdirection) is universal either. … a well known jingle for a cleaning product in a can on Oz TV for some of a us of a certain age.
LR is very enjoyable, in my opinion. There is clever variety and the surface reading is quite neat. We might have fared better at Trent Bridge with someone like 23D. One query: was 1D cryptic?
Agree Bernie, like LR’s surfaces. Hughes’ verse had me stumped :) Thought LR was referring to the poet. Fun clue.
Yeah, think 1D was cryptic, play on ‘fixture’. For each side in a sporting fixture it would have been one or the other. (I’m no sports nut but when my son, who’s overseas, doesn’t put his footie tips in, he gets the second part, by default.)
PS If anyone’s wanting to comment on LR’s crossies, AS has started another thread. http://datrippers.com/2013/07/15/lr-for-the-15th-of-july-2013/
Thanks Gayle. I should have seen “fixture” as a sporting reference.
Thanks Ray.