Comments on: Financial Times 13,648 / Gurney

By: Steve

Steve — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 13:40:52 +0000

I think that the definition for 25d is incorrect – a ‘red-eye’ is a late night / overnight flight. I accept that it may arrive early in the morning, but that doesn’t fit with the surface reading.

By: Rishi

Rishi — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 10:56:49 +0000

Let me rewrite the last para in my post above:
For the same reason, the English that many Indians speak may be stilted as they are not used to English as she is spoke. And the English that they write may be bombastic.

By: Rishi

Rishi — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 10:48:21 +0000

bamberger

If I remember correctly, you often mention that certain words are new to you.

Pell-mell is a word that is frequently used in India, where English is only a second language or a language that is taught in school.

Similarly, even ‘factotum’ will be familiar to many. Maybe from the Raj days when the Company directors had punkah-wallahs, malis and other factotums.

I think that if Indians are familiar with many of the words that you think are uncommon it may be because they pick up these words from reading books – popular novels, if not literature.

For the same reason, the English that many Indian write may be stilted as they are not used to English as she is spoke.

By: bamberger

bamberger — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 10:45:15 +0000

Thanks Rishi -excellent awaken explanation.
I suppose that the roll is a bit like Harry Enfields “Loadsamoney” _”Look at my wad-I’ve got loadsamoney” =”Look at my roll”.

By: Rishi

Rishi — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 10:37:28 +0000

Re 1d
roll = wad of [currency] notes rolled together = money

By: Rishi

Rishi — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 10:34:26 +0000

bamberger
Re 5d
“Cause to remember” is the definition for AWAKEN.I may have a child by a woman as a result of a fling. If I were particularly bad, I might forget the fact. Some day I may awaken to the fact – perhaps in a court case after a paternity test.

By: bamberger

bamberger — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 09:39:15 +0000

Raced through most of this but would still be here until midnight getting
1a I thought this was stroll and could see st but all I could think of was money =bread=roll which seemed a bit far fetched. How does money =roll, please?
4a I knew tum =corporation from previous xwords but have never come across factotum.
12a Even with p??l ?e?l and an idea that m had to fit in somewhere, I couldn’t see the answer and pell mell is not an expression I can recall coming across.
5d Sorry-while I see the wordplay , why is the answer awaken?

This reminded me of some Daily Mail crosswords where you can rattle through most of it but can fail to finish because of a couple of incredibly obscure words.