Comments on: Independent 7837 by Quixote

By: Pelham Barton

Pelham Barton — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 20:01:41 +0000

Re 21dn: I took this the same way as nms, but Chambers 2008 gives us nutty foolishly amorous (sl), which does just as well.

By: nmsindy

nmsindy — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 19:55:47 +0000

I think it’s ‘passionate’ = ‘nutty’ ie having a great interest eg football nut. The other part of it is, I think, just saying Brazil is so ie an adjective describing it ie nutty from ‘Brazil nut’, a dict phrase.

By: Kathryn's Dad

Kathryn's Dad — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 19:50:09 +0000

Fine puzzle, with IN WORKING ORDER and BRASSY my favourites. Still can’t quite see how we get to NUTTY at 21dn though …

By: Allan_C

Allan_C — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 18:10:24 +0000

I’d heard of ainu before (probably encountered the word in another crossword) but sagamore was new to me and needed a word finder. Otherwise a straightforward solve.
A possible quibble with 5d in that I doubt if any slot machines these days take pennies, unless you count the old ones in working museums where you can buy an old penny for rather more than its face value.
Thanks, Quixote and nmsindy.

By: bracoman

bracoman — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 17:02:43 +0000

Thanks for the blog.

There is an interesting definition for – ainu – in Chambers. It mentions that their abundance of bodily hair has often been the subject of remark.

By: Stella Heath

Stella Heath — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 16:07:34 +0000

Thanks nms and Quixote.

There was plenty to check in Wiki here, but as you say, the wordplay was clear and, on occasions, amusing.

I’m glad there was a ? at the end of 14d, as I object to any breed of dog being described as “vicious”. This adjective should only be used for particular dogs, or more appropriately to irresponsible or ill-meaning owners who bring them up to be so.

By: Pelham Barton

Pelham Barton — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 16:01:21 +0000

Thanks Quixote for an enjoyable puzzle and nms for the blog. A few obscure words and components, but I always found enough information to infer the answer. flashling @2: From Chambers 1998 and Collins 2000, it looks as though gammy (injured) and gam (leg) have completely different origins.

By: flashling

flashling — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 15:31:24 +0000

I know the expression having a gammy leg as being an injured leg which 25 implies a leggy leg hmm. yes was quite easy thanks Don & NMS, I say easy but sagamore had me thinking for a while.

By: Cumbrian

Cumbrian — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 14:46:37 +0000

Thanks nmsindy for the blog, and Quixote for a nice puzzle that I managed to solve despite my appalling ignorance in not knowing what a flying bedstead is (thanks for clearing that one up), not having heard of Kurt Weill, Sagamore or Ainu, not knowing Amos was a book in the OT and not knowing that gam was an archaic term for leg (obvious perhaps from gammon) and trying to fit in “ham” until I got 17 d and had a 5d moment.
Favourite was 12a