Comments on: FT 12,575/Adamant – “Somewhat” Inappropriate?

By: Visa Merchant

Visa Merchant — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 12:43:32 +0000

Great post about FT 12,575/Adamant – “Somewhat” Inappropriate?!

By: Pete Maclean

Pete Maclean — Sat, 29 Sep 2007 16:47:27 +0000

I share your reservations about 10A and 18A. I left 18A unfinished.

By: smiffy

smiffy — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 20:29:15 +0000

Your theory about 10A seems plausible enough, although I’d still be pretty niggardly about awarding it many style points!

“On the contrary” is certainly one of more versatile tools available to setters. As well as the two usages you cite, I’ve also seen it used in &lit clues as a kind of antonym-rejection device. (e.g. “Have obscenely pessimistic expectations initially? On the contrary”). Kinda like the old Wayne’s World trick of adding “………NOT!” disclaimers to the end of statements.

By: Paul B

Paul B — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 16:53:50 +0000

Re 10ac

Could it be THO is a hidden element? As in
‘some whaT HOt’?

By: Paul B

Paul B — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 16:49:19 +0000

EIGHT/ SOME: the ‘on the contrary’ device is used frequently in container & contents clues, but this usage – with ‘any number’ becoming ‘number any’ – seems very good.

By: Paul B

Paul B — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 16:45:33 +0000

26ac PORTIA

A name shared by two female heroines, one a daughter of nobility in Julius Caesar, the other, umm, a wealthy heiress in Merchant. The lawyer reference is from the latter play, wherein Portia appears in drag as Balthasar, a young ‘doctor of the law’.