Comments on: Independent 7,595/Phi

By: PeeDee

PeeDee — Sun, 20 Feb 2011 09:55:57 +0000

I put in METATARSAL by mistake , then after that the whole SW corner went wrong…

Thanks Ali for the blog and explanation.

By: flashling

flashling — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 23:35:52 +0000

Late comment from me, still a fun solve, found it hard to get going, but once it broke it wasn’t too bad. Solve about 30 minutes. Can’t see any theme perhaps Phi will elucidate. Didn’t really understand fiat so thanks folks.

By: Lenny

Lenny — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 22:25:56 +0000

Thanks for clearing that up Ali. Definitely Phi in barred crossword mode.

By: Ali

Ali — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 21:01:58 +0000

Thanks all for the corrections, pointers and comments.

I should have done this before I blogged, but just checked in Chambers and access can be defined as “a fit (of illness or passion)”, so we’re all good!

By: rodders

rodders — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 17:31:09 +0000

Got you KD and thanks !
Like others I have doubts about Access = Fit but there you go !

By: walruss

walruss — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 17:00:29 +0000

Good to see THEM in ON END and MESON in THE G. A nicely-worked end to a dazzling week in the Indy, not to mention that sparkler in thE Guadrian by Johns. Have a nice week-end, eberyone.

By: Kathryn's Dad

Kathryn's Dad — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 16:48:32 +0000

rodders at no 7, I think this is AFFAIR, as in a minor battle/skirmish, less A1, excellent (clued as AI, with the I=1 equivalence) plus AY, which as Ali says is roughly equivalent to ‘certainly’, as in ‘Ay, marra, Sunderland are classier than the Mags’.

Someone may have a better explanation (about the clue, rather than Sunderland’s superiority over their neighbours).

By: Lenny

Lenny — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 16:39:23 +0000

This was a bit harder than usual from Phi. I kept on looking for the nina to help me but without any luck. Oh, well, I did have one bit of luck. As I was struggling with 16, Largo al Factotum came on the radio. I had trouble with the symmetrical crossings Affray/Useful and Weasel/Lissom but I enjoyed them when I got them. Last in was Fiat and, like Ali, I have doubts about Access=Fit.

By: nmsindy

nmsindy — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 15:43:23 +0000

Yes, another excellent puzzle for Phi, thanks for the blog, Ali. Not sure if I’d have known Birnam Wood if Macbeth had not been the Shakespeare play I just happen to be most familiar with. I too thought of the WEASEL words and never had any doubt really. Favourite clue, LISSOM. Thanks, Phi, for the puzzle.

By: rodders

rodders — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 15:40:25 +0000

Thanks all but still don’t understand affray in 10a ( although I got it right ). Please explain in more detail – thanks !