Comments on: Guardian Quiptic 646 / Arachne

By: Big Dave

Big Dave — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 10:35:34 +0000

Crosser @7

19d Married man? The opposite! (7)
The wordplay leads to M(arried) and ANTONY. When the order is reversed (the opposite) the result is ANTONY M. The definition is “the opposite”. It can’t be &Lit as the whole clue doesn’t give the definition.

By: crosser

crosser — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 13:48:43 +0000

Thank you, BD, for your very pedagogical approach!

Robi @4 : “Antonym did make me smile, so the double duty was overlooked.” Where’s the double duty? I can’t see it.

By: Sil van den Hoek

Sil van den Hoek — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 12:13:14 +0000

Nothing too easy about many of the Quiptics, in my opinion, and certainly not when Arachne’s at the helm.
They can hold their own against [m]any Monday or Tuesday Guardian crossword[s].

A fine puzzle with an overdose of good surfaces.
I liked both hiddens (16d and 17), and thought 18d (CORPSES) to be particularly nice.
The latter was part of the SE which caused me some trouble.
Didn’t get REBUTS, because I was focused on a word for ‘reservation’ minus ‘er’ or ‘um’, perhaps leading to a word for ‘incorrect’. Therefore no BETEL for me (a clue that might also lead to BEETLE, although that is one letter too many of course).
I suspected 19d to be ANTONYM, but couldn’t see why.
So many thanks BD for enlightening me (and probably others).

And now for today’s Arachne ….

By: Kathryn's Dad

Kathryn's Dad — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 15:13:22 +0000

Thanks, Dave.

I’m not sure I’m in the intended audience for the Quiptic either, but there’s always some fun in solving an Arachne puzzle and there were many I liked today (although ANTONYM requires a bit of indulgence …)

As for the lack of comments, it was ever thus since 225 started blogging the Quiptic. I’m sure bloggers can be encouraged by the fact that newer solvers will lurk and learn, so their efforts are appreciated. That said, the Guardian crossword website, where the Quiptic will be found, has started to flag up in its right-hand column the various blogs that are available, so that might send some puzzlers here where they might be encouraged to contribute.

By: Robi

Robi — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 15:10:23 +0000

Thanks Arachne for an entertaining puzzle.

Thanks also to Big Dave. I thought there was a convention not to use tradenames like Peroni (?) Antonym did make me smile, so the double duty was overlooked. I thought the nanny in 20 referred to the person who looks after kids. PATH was the last in, which I didn’t parse properly.

By: stiofain

stiofain — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 13:51:12 +0000

Another great Arachne its worth mentioning that is was 100 years ago today that the Titanic left Belfast on her maiden voyage.

By: StanXYZ

StanXYZ — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 13:01:05 +0000

A very enjoyable puzzle from Arachne with a nice mix of clues. I particularly liked the “hidden” clues.

I wonder if those who solve the Quiptic each week know about this Blog? The paucity of comments would suggest not. Thanks to Big Dave – your words of wisdom have not fallen on deaf ears completely .

By: crypticsue

crypticsue — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 11:42:19 +0000

I usually give the Quiptic a miss, mainly because I am not really part of its intended audience. Having solved everything else, I had a look and was delighted to find an Arachne – I always make the exception and solve her Quiptics because as BD says they are such fun. Thanks to him and her for their part in my enjoyable morning.