Comments on: Guardian 24186/Araucaria definitely today!

By: Judy Bentley

Judy Bentley — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 08:50:30 +0000

Thank you David.

By: linxit

linxit — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 19:42:32 +0000

AlanR – A Welsh dresser is a type of cupboard with shelves above, and a dresser is someone who dresses up the actors in the theatre.

I also thought the clue for Ibsen was brilliant, although I got it quite quickly by thinking U,PROF for posh professor, and it just dawned on me in a flash.

By: AlanR

AlanR — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 19:10:14 +0000

I loved Ibsen! At first I was wondering how such a long clue was going to lead to a five-letter word and finding it made me laugh out loud on the tube!
Still haven’t got 2 down though… Is it dresser? If so, why?

By: Stan

Stan — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 18:49:46 +0000

Didn’t solve 26a – but I think I understand it – a “touchstone” is a basis of comparison (a criterion) and there’s a theatre called The Criterion.

Don’t mind being beaten by 21d though – lovely clue

By: David

David — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 15:11:55 +0000

(sorry, linxit, posted No. 7 before reading your blog!)

By: nmsindy

nmsindy — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 15:10:50 +0000

Yes, I’ve heard it a lot, but not so much in recent times, perhaps.

By: muck

muck — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 15:05:54 +0000

1ac: “Dodge the column” is in Chambers

By: David

David — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 14:45:37 +0000

(Judy, try this!
http://talk.guardian.co.uk/WebX?14@324.UtNzbZAEaE9.7@.ee73ec9)

10a “A Fish Called Wanda”

By: Testy

Testy — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 14:44:50 +0000

It doesn’t seem to be a very common expression and it’s new to me but it does appear to be genuine one with an origin in the armed forces. If a column of men were asked to perform a task anyone “dodging the column” was trying to get out of doing the task.

By: beermagnet

beermagnet — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 14:20:35 +0000

I had never heard of “dodge the column” and when googling for a definition this site was returned as the number one hit!