Comments on: Independent 7569 by DAC

By: Scarpia

Scarpia — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 10:38:59 +0000

Thanks nmsindy for clarifying that.I checked in Chambers before posting my comment and it only mentioned the rugby definition.I know the Indy uses Collins as its dictionary of choice but I don’t have a copy.
I should have trusted Dac,he is always so precise!

By: nmsindy

nmsindy — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 09:29:41 +0000

Collins gives maul as a ‘loose scrum’ so I think it is quite OK.

By: flashling

flashling — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 03:21:26 +0000

Scarpia, being a Leicester tigers fan I was wondering when someone would comment on that. But didn’t want to create a ruck(us). I agree though a scrum and a ruck and a maul are not the same things at all however I let that go for the blog.

By: Scarpia

Scarpia — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 00:02:36 +0000

Thanks flashling.
Usual good stuff from Dac,with,surprisingly,a couple of contentious clues – 18 and 2 down.Must be one of the first times I’ve seen any discussion here about any of Dac’s clues.
My (very minor) quibble would be with a different aspect of 2 down i.e. a scrum is not a maul.They are 2 totally different types of play in rugby.A scrum is a set piece whereas a maul forms in open play.

By: pennes

pennes — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 23:23:41 +0000

Agree with Stella Heath @16: de=about is ok ; I’ve looked in my french dictionary and of the 23 uses of “de” I can only find it in the context noted by Stella,so it’s not the most obvious.
Excellent crossword and liked 23ac roaster.

By: flashling

flashling — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 20:34:43 +0000

I had a phall once. I like hot dishes but that was something else! It’s impossible to describe. My best shot would be the difference between that and a vindaloo would be scanning the headline in the Sun and solving a Nimrod. And take longer to digest. I know TMI.

By: Paul B

Paul B — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 20:02:16 +0000

‘Phall’ as well, if you’re into a bit of curry now and again. Not always spelt that way, I’ll admit. And not necessarily in the English dictionaries either. But … oh, never mind.

By: Robi

Robi — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 19:19:10 +0000

Stella @15: shall

By: anax

anax — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 19:06:56 +0000

SHALL

Sorry, Stella! I have to admit it took me a while.

By: Stella Heath

Stella Heath — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 18:51:22 +0000

Hi Robi@11. I think ‘de’ for ‘about’ is acceptable, as in ‘parler de’='to talk about’ more often than ‘to talk of’

I’ve been thinking of monosyllables ending in ‘-all’ that might rhyme with ‘Al’ as in ‘Albert’, but none came to mind:

TALL
SMALL
HALL
FALL
SQUALL
CALL…

Pall Mall didn’t come to mind – could it be the exception that proves the rule, as we English teachers so often find ourselves saying?