Comments on: Everyman 3413/4 March 2012

By: Wolfie

Wolfie — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 19:52:02 +0000

Hi Richard and Pierre.

The OED indicates that ‘cracker’ as a contemptuous term for poor, Southern US whites goes back to at least 1766. The origin of the expression appears unknown or unclear. It seems to have no connection with ‘cracker-barrel’, which is first recorded in the mid-nineteenth century.

Thanks for the blog Pierre

By: Pierre

Pierre — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 18:41:01 +0000

Thanks for your comment, Richard. The solution, and your link to the poor from the Southern states, are both of American origin, but whether the terms are related, I can’t discover. We need a US-based solver to tell us, I think.

By: Richard

Richard — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 14:11:08 +0000

Regarding ‘cracker-barrel’ I wonder if there a recognition of ‘cracker’ to mean ‘poor Southern American whites’?

By: davy

davy — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 09:25:34 +0000

Thanks Pierre,

The last one in was LYFORD CAY which I’d never heard of but with the letters available, that seemed the only possibility. I haven’t ticked many clues but I did like PANTHEON particularly.

All-in-all, another very entertaining, accessible puzzle with the usual smooth surfaces.

Many thanks Everyman.

By: Robi

Robi — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 08:56:54 +0000

Smooth as ever.

Thanks Pierre; I don’t suppose many people would know LYFORD CAY, but Google man revealed all. Apparently, as a setter, it is best to start in the centre and work outwards. With L?F?R?C?Y, there is not much more that can be fitted in. Like you, I hadn’t heard of CRACKER-BARREL.

I particularly liked the clue for ASTHMA. Everyman clued the popular AIREDALE in January as: ‘Dog, adult one about to be put on tight lead.’

By: Bamberger

Bamberger — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 07:34:09 +0000

I got very little of the SW out and also failed on lyford cay, quarterstaff (though I got taff) and cracker barrel.

Thanks for the blog