Comments on: Independent 7248 by Phi

By: Kathryn's Dad

Kathryn's Dad — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 13:11:38 +0000

Thanks, both. I rest my case. Cupid’s arrow has still not hit the spot about that one.

By: IanN14

IanN14 — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 11:19:38 +0000

Simon,
I think that’s understood, but suitable in the clue also has to define square, which, K’sD, it does in Chambers.
(I know, I didn’t realise either…).

By: Simon Harris

Simon Harris — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 02:39:02 +0000

Hi KD – I think that 9dn is deemed a “suitable” place for SQUARE NUMBER, since 9 is itself a square number.

By: Kathryn's Dad

Kathryn's Dad — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 17:44:46 +0000

Yes, an odd grid today indeed. I thought 6ac was clever and liked AMUNDSEN as well. But I failed on PART WORK; although it is indeed in Collins I had never come across the term before.

I wasn’t head over heels in love with 9dn. Square = suitable? It could just be me, but how does that work?

By: Simon Harris

Simon Harris — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 16:18:28 +0000

I’ll also admit to finding this tough. I think the grid didn’t help, with a relatively high proportion of unchecked squares. Some great clues though.

Still squinting at it, vainly looking a message to emerge…

By: Mick H

Mick H — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 15:40:09 +0000

I’m going to be really pedantic now. Surely boots have bootlaces – shoelaces should be put on shoes. If you use shoelaces on boots, they’ll be too short.
I think TACKLE’ fine for ‘try to eat’ though, and AMUNDSEN works for me too.

By: NealH

NealH — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 15:33:21 +0000

Yes, that was what I thought, although I don’t think it can have a verb form, so the definition must be “try to eat” rather than just try.

By: jmac

jmac — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 13:42:55 +0000

Re 15 across, I took “tack” to be military slang for food, as in “hard tack”, a dry biscuit.

By: nmsindy

nmsindy — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 13:25:20 +0000

Very tough puzzle, I too suspected a Nina from the shape of the grid and Phi has had very subtle ones in the past! Favourite clue SHOELACE, closely followed by AMUNDSEN (which I think is just the polar explorer contrasted with the hot desert as someone mentioned above) and HERMIT. I also think you are right about ELAN and TACKLE.

By: beermagnet

beermagnet — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 13:11:55 +0000

17D “Most of Widow’s donation” is HER MIT[e] and refers to the New Testament story of the Widow who gave all she had, two “mites”. A mite is a tiny copper coin of the time.
So, now a “Widow’s mite” is something very small.