Comments on: Independent 7911/Dac

By: Paul B

Paul B — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 00:24:39 +0000

On the contrary Allan_C, ‘grammatical niceties’ are precisely what’s important in ‘Crosswordland’! That’s the whole point for me, anyway, whether or not I get it right.

By: nmsindy

nmsindy — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 22:59:16 +0000

It is very important tho as pennes suggests that the right part of speech is used in the definition.

By: Allan_C

Allan_C — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 22:28:20 +0000

pennes@10

Well, ‘helping’ in this sense is a gerund – the usage of a verb (in its -ing form) as a noun – and ‘share’ can be a noun as well as a verb. So a helping (as in ‘a generous helping’ or ‘second helpings’) is roughly the equivalent of a share (as in ‘this is your share’).

But don’t let’s get too tied up in grammatical niceties – they’re not too important in Crosswordland.

By: nmsindy

nmsindy — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 22:19:54 +0000

Re pennes’ comment at #10,I saw ‘share’ as ‘helping’ ie nouns as eg in a portion of dessert. I found this a little easier today than some here – not sure why. Excellent puzzle and blog – thanks, Dac, and John.

By: pennes

pennes — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 21:22:57 +0000

Sr is also an abrreviation for sister, as in hospital ward sister.
I was a bit slow to get going, but things went in well until the last one at 8 dn: I don’t really see “share” as “helping” since they are surely different parts of speech?

By: flashling

flashling — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 20:32:56 +0000

I struggled a bit in the NW corner, this seemed quite fair but tougher to break into than usual, I too fell in the tim trap in victimise, despite working for a Vic, last was NOOKS as the wrong meaning of sanction got suck in my head…

TY Dac & John, much appreciated.

By: Allan_C

Allan_C — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 15:53:37 +0000

Nothing too difficult here; thanks Dac and John. Held up a little on 3d thinking the ‘bridge player’ reference indicated N E W or S.

By: Paul B

Paul B — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 14:52:52 +0000

Well, possibly. IMO it would still depend on whether or not you agree with Dac’s opinion (for that is surely what it is) about Cage.

For pedantic folks, *political’s leader* really, at 20ac.

By: Pelham Barton

Pelham Barton — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 14:26:59 +0000

Thanks Dac for yet another really enjoyable crossword and John for the blog. Last in was 8dn for no good reason.

sidey @1 re 15dn: Thanks for that – obvious now you have explained it, but I too got stuck with the idea that the boy was going to be Tim.

4across@4 re 6dn: Sr for “sister” has the support of Chambers 2008.

4dn: I would have liked a question mark on the end of this, which in my view would make it a complete “& lit”.

By: NealH

NealH — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 14:05:49 +0000

Yes, apparently it refers to a religious sister. That one held me up for a long time because I kept looking for something with sis around it.