Comments on: Guardian Prize Puzzle 25,628 by Araucaria

By: Paul B

Paul B — Sat, 12 May 2012 17:55:32 +0000

Absolutely, pangapilot: a really nice clue.

By: pangapilot

pangapilot — Sat, 12 May 2012 16:59:02 +0000

Among the criticism of the Master’s lesser achievements, I’d like (as a language teacher) to voice my admiration for “You must be Eve” (SECOND PERSON) – a perfect clue, IMO.

By: Gervase

Gervase — Sat, 12 May 2012 14:34:33 +0000

Thanks, PeeDee.

I found this a pleasant stroll. There are some very good surfaces here (not always the case with the good Rev) – 25a, 2d, 6d, 7d, 9d particularly. Favourites were SECOND PERSON and NUTS IN MAY.

I agree with Sil on the best way to parse 4d (a word which I have come across somewhere before, probably in a crossword!)

By: Paul B

Paul B — Sat, 12 May 2012 12:12:52 +0000

Well spotted, Sil. The sort of clue likely to spark a debate on technique (though perhaps not in a 15^2 Guardian thread) until folks realise they’ve been had – and by the very Father of Libertarianism!

By: Sil van den Hoek

Sil van den Hoek — Sat, 12 May 2012 11:54:19 +0000

We have had this “X on Y” issue many times before.
In an across clue, it is preferably “Y then X” but setters use it either way.
In a down clue, like here, it is common use to put “X on top of Y” (as Crosser @14 says). One will not see it very often the other way around: “Y on top of X” (i.e. X attached to Y). There are even people who will not accept the way Araucaria uses it here (if indeed he does, see below)
So, yes, as Miche @17 says: “it’s a versatile little word”, I would say especially in across clues ….

As to this puzzle as a whole, one of Araucaria’s easier offerings perhaps.
But always enjoyable, with 9d (SECOND PERSON) for me a particular highlight.
While 7d (DUCAT) is almost a giveaway, it is, IMO, quite a nicely written clue.
Oh, and BTW, the ON issue mentioned above can easily be avoided when we see MIDINETTE as an M1-DINETTE (with adjectival use of M1), which for me makes complete sense. Better sense too.

Many thanks PeeDee for blogging.

By: Miche

Miche — Sat, 12 May 2012 10:30:47 +0000

Crosser @14: I read “on” as meaning “after” rather than “on top of” – it’s a versatile little word, especially in down clues.

By: PeeDee

PeeDee — Sat, 12 May 2012 10:17:55 +0000

crosser@14 – I think constructions of the form ‘X is on Y’ can be used either way round. X could be sitting on Y (so X is first), or Y could be first and X is on it (X added to it).

By: PeeDee

PeeDee — Sat, 12 May 2012 10:03:46 +0000

Thanks Miche, corrected now. I think of midinettes like flocks of small birds descending on a place, chattering away and then just as suddenly disappearing again. I suspect the days that shops shut for lunch, even in Paris, are long gone.

PaulB @3 – RCW’s comment seems quite reasonably expressed to me. You may not agree with him of course, but ‘ingorant spouting’ ? Hardly seems fair.

By: crosser

crosser — Sat, 12 May 2012 10:02:11 +0000

Surely in 4d, the parts of the solution are the wrong way round? The clue was “eating area ON (not under) the road”. Could somebody explain, please?

By: Miche

Miche — Sat, 12 May 2012 09:49:35 +0000

Thank you, PeeDee. As a freelancer, I'm barely aware of bank holidays, so I wasn't expecting anything extra special. This was an enjoyable puzzle, not too taxing. My only previous encounter with MIDINETTE was on an episode of the old radio programme My Word!. As I recall it, the explanation they gave for its derivation from midi and dinette was slightly different from Chambers': that the shopgirls had a quick, light midday meal in order to spend the rest of their lunch break promenading and gossiping in the streets. A small thing, PeeDee: you've omitted L for left in your explanation of 6d.