Comments on: Financial Times 13,956 – Dante

By: Sil van den Hoek

Sil van den Hoek — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 13:06:38 +0000

Bamberger, I thought LINE to be a ‘short letter (or note)’ [it's in Chambers, def. #20 ....] as in ‘drop me a line’.

By: Bamberger

Bamberger — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 17:13:56 +0000

I failed on 4a,13a (never heard of him), 20a , 6d & 26d.

I assume line is a musical term for a short note?

By: John Newman

John Newman — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 09:17:56 +0000

Sorry Sil, I meant to write “Arms Race” is not cryptic enough.

By: John Newman

John Newman — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 09:16:08 +0000

Thanks Sil
I agree with you that this was as enjoyable as ever. I love Dante’s style.
Now, I am going to question one of your answers. Instead of ARMS RACE (25A) I would offer PROS RACE. I think gun runners is not cryptic enough. I am taking gun here to mean crack, top notch, which I think is more cryptic. In Australia every Easter we have the Stawell Gift which is a short distance running race open to professionals and the prize money is very good. I imagine you must have something similar in the UK.
cheers
John

By: Lenny

Lenny — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 07:40:01 +0000

Thanks Sil. I did this in bed last night and found it more difficult than any of yesterday’s other daily puzzles, as is often the case with Dante.

Last in was Rusted, which I read as a very laboured CD. The surface tries to conjure up an image of a military tank being attacked by an aircraft whereas the literal meaning is simply the condition of a metal vessel that has been corroded by exposure to the atmosphere.