Comments on: Independent 7442 by Nitsy

By: Merlyn

Merlyn — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 09:49:40 +0000

OK – most clues referred to as DD on these blogs (which is what I base my understanding on) seem not fall into that more narrow definition.

By: nmsindy

nmsindy — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 14:31:02 +0000

I would take double definition to mean both parts of the clue were direct definitions of the answer e.g. to quote Don Manley’s book ‘University name on key’ (YALE). If the answer is got in another way, wordplay to some, subsidiary indication to others, it’s different. You have in the clue one direct definition combined with another way of working the answer out. I think DOUBLE STANDARDS in the Nitsy puzzle falls into that latter category as indeed do maybe 90% or more of cryptic clues.

By: Merlyn

Merlyn — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 08:55:47 +0000

Colin] My understanding of ‘double definition’ is a clue with 2 halves, each of which gives the same answer: “Unfair behaviour” and “that’s normal in a game of tennis” (though the second is slightly cryptic). However, I am happy to agree to disagree.

By: Colin Blackburn

Colin Blackburn — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 14:58:04 +0000

Merlyn, I know what DOUBLE STANDARDS means. I am arguing that the clue wasn’t a double definition. I don’t see how your explanation does anything other than clarify the definition in the clue. The rest of the clue was wordplay (STANDARD in DOUBLES), not a second definition.

By: Merlyn

Merlyn — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 13:06:24 +0000

NealH] 3A – I see!

Colin] 10A – Double standards are unfair rules or policies As defined by wikipedia “The term double standard, coined in 1912, refers to any set of principles containing different provisions for one group of people than for another, typically without a good reason for having said difference.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double_standard

By: Colin Blackburn

Colin Blackburn — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 11:42:14 +0000

That should be: game of tennis = DOUBLES

By: Colin Blackburn

Colin Blackburn — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 11:39:48 +0000

Merlyn, I don’t see how 10A is a double def. The wordplay is STANDARD in DOUBLES ie normal = STANDARD, game of tennis = DOUBLE. For it to be a double def tennis would have to be a pretty nasty game!

By: NealH

NealH — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 08:37:59 +0000

Eat can be a colloquial expression meaning to be worried about something, as in the title of the Johnny Depp film “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape?” It comes up quite often.

By: Merlyn

Merlyn — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 08:19:26 +0000

I found this quite hard, and only got a couple. Nitsy obviously has a different mind set to me… I think 10A is a Double Def (unfair behaviour/ normal in a game of tennis), though I put ‘Taking Advantage’ (which made all my efforts at the first 9 downs quite impossible!)

Could someone explain 3A? How is worried with criminal ‘ate’?

By: Colin Blackburn

Colin Blackburn — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 07:45:42 +0000

Scarpia: sure you’re not talking about Rufus on the other channel? There was only one CD in this puzzle.