Comments on: Financial Times 13,264 by Mudd

By: Eileen

Eileen — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 12:55:07 +0000

Hi again, Sil.

Sorry you’re still punch-drunk! I’ve posted you a response on the Pasquale.

By: Sil van den Hoek

Sil van den Hoek — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 12:01:36 +0000

Hi Eileen,

Of course, you’re right about PIDDLING and IDLE.
I shouldn’t have said ‘obscure’ in case of the first one.
The word just wasn’t in my vocabulary yet – but it is surely in Mudd’s ……
(at least in one sense)

[There's a lot that's not in my vocabulary yet, made worse by yesterday's Pasquale - still feel KO]

By: Eileen

Eileen — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 10:13:24 +0000

Hi Pete and Sil

Re 17ac: it’s a double / cryptic definition, I think. ‘Controlling person’ as in the saying, ‘I want to speak to the organ-grinder, not the monkey’ – and I’ll leave the possible ‘instrument of torture’ to your imagination!

[I don't think PIDDLING is obscure, in either meaning, and I've seen Eric Idle appear like this in crosswords several times.]

By: Sil van den Hoek

Sil van den Hoek — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 01:19:58 +0000

Re 1ac:
Chambers says: “to do better than, improve on or outdo someone or something”
for CAP – so that’s it then.

I didn’t find 18d and 26ac.
PIDDLING is, I think, rather obscure.
And IDLE, although fair, not really what you’re thinking of as a comedy actor.
(Pete, nice though, you met him)

I can’t make anything more of ORGAN-GRINDER than you did.
Twelve double definitions – a bit much, ay?
And I think, 1d is also one of them.

Not Mr Halpern’s best crossword, methinks.
But then …. there he is again – 13ac !!!