Comments on: Independent 7522/Dac

By: Graham Pellen

Graham Pellen — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 03:14:24 +0000

In 14AC, the “read” is supplied by mostly prepared = “read[y]“.

By: flashling

flashling — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 18:32:36 +0000

Completely missed the cryptic stuff in BnB, otherwise got agreed as Scchua. An enjoyable wednesday puzzle over lunch. Thanks John for blog/DAC for puzzle.

By: Kathryn's Dad

Kathryn's Dad — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 17:01:59 +0000

Hi IanJ, I think you’re right; that’s certainly how I read the clue and John’s parsing is correct as far as I can see. Not sure there’s much of an &lit about it. But belated thanks to scchua for explaining AGREED, which I couldn’t see.

By: IanJ

IanJ — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 16:49:02 +0000

Surely 6D is defined by “Report of” so the homophone of ex – checker is correct – at least that’s how I got it, and the meaning is finances, hence exchequer, so I think John was right?

By: NealH

NealH — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 13:04:23 +0000

Bread and butter is very good when you see it. Like John, I was thinking it was something to with B&B. I also liked the excellent surface in 4 down.

By: Kathryn's Dad

Kathryn's Dad — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 10:48:33 +0000

Many thanks, John. Fine puzzle – like nms, I found it a bit harder than normal, but it was all eminently gettable and more important, very enjoyable. SEEN TO and BREAD AND BUTTER were my favourites today.

By: nmsindy

nmsindy — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 10:39:00 +0000

Thanks for the blog, John, and Dac for the excellent puzzle. Just a little trickier than usual for Dac, I agree with scchua’s explanations of BREAD AND BUTTER and AGREED both of which I too worked out first from the definitions.

By: scchua

scchua — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 05:39:49 +0000

PPS. Of course! 14A BREAD AND BUTTER, “mostly prepared” = READ(y). Duh!

By: scchua

scchua — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 05:27:33 +0000

PS. Apologies, I withdraw my comments about 6D EXCHEQUER being an &lit. Your definition is totally correct. Feel a bit of a 27A now.

By: scchua

scchua — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 05:22:00 +0000

Thanks for the blog, John and Dac for another fine offering.

14A BREAD AND BUTTER, the closest I can get to explanation is: READ [=mostly prep(ared)*] in B AND B (=guest house) + UTTER (=say), though I still have a reservation in that “ared” is only half and not mostly of “prepared”.

6D EXCHEQUER I think is an &lit with the definition being “one who audits finances”.

20D AGREED I think RE [=re(d), no end] with “drunk” to indicate it’s within AGED (=vintage). “Fine” as in a response to someone telling you eg. to do something.

MEATHEAD I think is an Americanism, most commonly used by Archie Bunker, the American spin-off of Alf Garnett, to describe his son-in-law, in the TV series “All in the family”. The word presumably stems from “dead from the neck up”.

Favourites were 25A CINEASTE, 6D CINEASTE, both nice &lits, and 18D SUBJECT, with its not often used equivalents of “transport”.