Comments on: Guardian 25,159 – Araucaria

By: Gordon Roy

Gordon Roy — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 16:30:52 +0000

Both Giddy Limit and Dizzy Limit were used by my grandma in Stockport in the 1960s, so it is not simply an Australianism but both are probably mostly pre-1950s usage in Britain.

Neither expressions are known in the USA here I now live; interestingly in The American Heritage Dictionary [by Houghton Mifflin] which is just one of the several US dictionaries that I also have over here, [as well as all the British ones], it gives the root of Giddy as being from the German root Gud [meaning God] and specifically Gudigaz, which means possessed by God.

I don’t know if anyone is still reading this blog, but I thought I’d send the info anyhow.

By the way I also had in Dizzy Limit as the answer until I got Dynamics.

By: rfb

rfb — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 23:58:31 +0000

#33 – I have been resident in Canada for 40 years, and have never heard either “giddy limit” or “dizzy limit” used over here. I remember “giddy limit” from growing up in the UK, but not “dizzy limit”. So I assume the latter is an Australianism.

As you said, the puzzle was great.

By: Arthur Hay

Arthur Hay — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 22:14:25 +0000

Finding this puzzle published in the international _Guardian Weekly_ seven days later, I gave thanks that 17ac (dynamics) was such an obvious clue. Otherwise I’d still be trying to fit in “dizzy limit” for 12 dn.

Is this an Australianism, or more widely used? Still quite current here.

Loved the puzzle.

By: Sylvia

Sylvia — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 16:07:32 +0000

Did anyone else spend time pondering the rhyme ‘lily-white boy dressed all in greeno’for 13a? And no-one commented on ‘bath mat’ or ‘blue rinse’, both of which I loved. Great Araucaria!

By: otter

otter — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 10:51:22 +0000

I enjoyed this puzzle a lot. As has been said, a bit harder than a lot of recent Araucaria’s puzzles, but plenty to amuse and tantalise. Lots of good linking between clues, as well. I ended up with GIDDY LIMIT (a phrase I haven’t heard since childhood, I suppose) and INKY. When I saw that clue I immediately thought of Pinkie in Brighton Rock, decided it must be something to do with his surname, looked it up and found he is Pinkie Brown – another colour, hmm, interesting, but couldn’t do anything with that word. It was only right at the end, with the connecting letters in place, that I came back to it and realised it was a rhyme for ‘Pinkie’ rather than anything more convoluted.

By: Andrew

Andrew — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 09:28:27 +0000

The technical difference is that the TH is voiced in THE and unvoiced in THEODOLITE. See here for the gory details. There's also the question of whether you pronounce (rhotacise) the R in "odder".

By: Dynamic

Dynamic — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 09:13:52 +0000

Sil,

I agree there’s a subtle difference: ‘The’ is usually prounounced with a flatter, lower dh (as in those) while ‘theodolite’ is usually pronounced with a sharper, toothier th (as in theme).

I think to an English ear like mine, it’s not that noticeable especially in rapid speech, and it hadn’t occurred to me that it wasn’t a perfect homophone and it didn’t spoil the lovely clue. There might be regional or national accents where it’s a perfect match, but none spring to mind.

As for its definition, I was thinking one could argue that a theodolite is something which surveys, so it could be called a surveyor in crosswordland, though clearly it doesn’t have the power of sight in the same way as the human surveyor operating it, so you would just call it a surveying instrument in the real world.

By: Sil van den Hoek

Sil van den Hoek — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 00:36:41 +0000

This was a very good Araucaria, certainly nót [theodo]Lite .

But, that particular clue (8d), is it a perfect homophone?
Is the ‘the’ of ‘the’ really the same as the ‘the’ of ‘theodolite’?
[I know, a lot of the's]
My PinC thought it wasn’t – and I think I agree with her.

Oh, those homophones.

By: tupu

tupu — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 23:51:16 +0000

Hi Cholecyst
Like your question, it’s just something that arose out of this one.

By: Dynamic

Dynamic — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 20:19:50 +0000

A very enjoyable solve when it fell into place. Was stuck with 26,24 across, 6 & 22 down for ages before I started to make progress. I didn’t know ‘sere’ or the Hamlet quote and hadn’t come up with Pinkie, which I have heard of, but knew it had to be inky. I spent an age pondering 17 across before it dawned on me. Made me feel quite dim, being a physicist by education and using the alias I use!

Also, I’m typing with Nigella Lawson on TV in the background and she’d already mentioned “sear” (…in my brain) and “inky” (squid ink or “squink” risotto) while I’ve been typing, which is coincidental enough for me. Don’t imagine scrag end will make an appearance as she’s using a shin of beef for her stew, and cutting it with a knife rather than a dagger. That would be TOO weird.

Thanks to all above.