Comments on: Independent 6288/Mordred – Fishy

By:

rightback — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 11:48:00 +0000

I’ve just discovered that The Harry Lime Theme (see 6dn) was Christmas #1 in 1949.

For some reason I don’t seem to able to include a link in a comment, but it’s available here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__yo60V8Nzg

By:

eimi — Tue, 12 Dec 2006 09:22:39 +0000

I must admit that I didn’t see PEDDLE as an alternative when I was checking the puzzle, but I think that although both answers can work for ‘trifle’ (Chambers includes meddle under the definition of trifle), MEDDLE is clearly the better answer for the first part of the clue. But not a situation you’d want in a prize puzzle, certainly.

As many will know, Mordred is very well respected for his advanced cryptics and the blocked puzzle is a new departure for him. I tried cold solving the original version of this puzzle and got stuck. I ran a few clues past Monk on the I4 meeting weekend and he couldn’t understand them either, so this is the revised, simplified version. Clearly still very difficult, but it wouldn’t be Mordred without a bit of trickery.

By:

neildubya — Tue, 12 Dec 2006 08:46:09 +0000

I also dithered over MEDDLE/PEDDLE – and went for the latter. Didn’t get the wordplay for 26A but with D?L?X? your options are very limited. Agree with everyone else that much of the wordplay was subtle and complex but very enjoyable all the same.

By:

petebiddlecombe — Mon, 11 Dec 2006 22:21:27 +0000

27 Dog (like tail!) = is a verb meaning “to follow” – so LETS = “shall we” follows TRIP = dance. London and “up”: “up” is used in this way for any big or important place, especially in the phrase “up train”. Not a very easy Monday puzzle – 10:37 for me.

By:

nmsindy — Mon, 11 Dec 2006 22:06:11 +0000

This I found very difficult and, thanks Rightback for explaining 4 wordplay elements that I did not understand though I got the answer right viz:- EBULLIENT, DE LUXE, LIGHT and IMPINGED. Also saw the MEDDLE/PEDDLE alternatives and will find out tomorrow. After looking in dicts, went for MEDDLE. Solving time: 60 mins and am in awe of rightback for doing it in 12 mins plus some seconds.

Was stuck for a long time on the same pairs that he mentions.

I agree that wordplay and some vocabulary are much harder than usual for a daily cryptic, but I did enjoy this challenging puzzle quite a lot. Was there some discussion on this board about easy puzzles on Mondays?