Comments on: Everyman 3439

By: slartibartfast

slartibartfast — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 17:11:40 +0000

Never mind “improving solvers” – as a noobie this was a bit of a knock-back from previous weeks, although several of the clues are blindingly, and in some cases beautifully, obvious when explained – thanks Pierre.
Got lucky on some – SHAGREEN came in a rare burst of inspiration. Unlucky on others – considered ADELAIDE from crossing letters, but couldn’t make the Queen link; Totally flummoxed on DOGBERRY, DE TROP, HOT GOSPELLER and EYEBRIGHT. Everyman is fond of his Shakespear it seems. Hopefully better luck this week.

By: Davy

Davy — Sun, 09 Sep 2012 12:33:50 +0000

Thanks Pierre,

Another very enjoyable Everyman with the usual struggle over the last three or four. This time these were CROSSBENCHER, SHAGREEN and CROTCHET
which took quite a while to get. I particularly liked RIFLE, MALLORCAN, IRON CROSS and DUMMY RUN.
I’m suprised that the term ‘hot gospeller’ is not more familiar. Think of evangelists like Jimmy Swaggart and other con-men, but best of all
think of Burt Lancaster in Elmer Gantry which is a wonderful film by the way.
Thanks Everyman.

By: Bamberger

Bamberger — Sun, 09 Sep 2012 07:19:44 +0000

I gave up with huge amounts unsolved -probably the least amoutn solved in an Everyman for over a year. I’d say it was too hard for an Everyman which is supposed to encourage he less able .
I’m sure the solvers who do the Grauniad daily in 20 minutes would wonder what the problem was is but it isn’t aimed at them.
A few highligts (or should it be lowlights?)
2d Even with d? t?o? and knowing that it was likely I had to fit in e,p & r I just couldn’t see it. I simply cannot recall this ever coming across this phrase.
8d Having only d to start with , I was looking for pc reversed or cop anagrammed. If you asked me what a dogberry was, I would have guessed a wild fruit. No doubt the entire planet has heard of him apart for me but I’m not impressed by the need for Shakesperean knowledge.
25a All I knew was that I had to make an anagram of has treated but I’d never heard of shagreen and couldn’t get it.
6d I simply hadn’t heard of this and n???? didn’t help.
Hopefully this weeks is easier.

By: Donna

Donna — Sun, 09 Sep 2012 00:59:42 +0000

Thank you, Everyman and Pierre! This Everyman also gave me much more of a tussle than usual, though I’m happy to say that I finally did finish it (with some help from my dear husband!) on Friday morning! There were some things I just didn’t know: 16 Down “Dummy Run” (we call them “dry runs” in NJ!), but that one was easy enough to get from the cryptic definition. The same can be said for 25 Across. I’d never heard of “shagreen,” but the cryptic part of the clue was easy enough and then I just checked “shagreen” in Chambers. I got 1 Down, “morose” from the straight definition and the crossing letters, but I had to look up “OS” in Chambers. I’d also never heard of “eyebright” at 15 Down, but finally managed it from the cryptic definition and crossing letters. 14 Across, “Hot Gospeller” is totally new to me and I struggled with the crossing letters and the cryptic definition, finally got it, but definitely had to check it in Chambers. 13 Across threw me because I kept thinking that “Old Hebrew king” was Eli! Eventually I figured it out. The 3 remaining clues were 11 Down, 8 Down, and 27 Across. Thursday night right before bed I looked at 11 Down and finally came up with “crossbencher” though I’d never heard the word before. Chambers once again to the rescue! On Friday morning my husband asked me if I’d finished and was surprised to hear that I hadn’t. He doesn’t enjoy solving cryptics but understands how they work, and after 40 years of marriage I still think he’s the brainiest dude ever! He got 8 Down pretty quickly because his mother was from Ireland and he knows his Shakespeare. (Speaking of which, your Globe Theatre is coming to New York City in October and we’ve got tickets to see “Hamlet.” Last time they were here we saw “The Merry Wives of Windsor” and it was divine: to quote “The Black Adder,” I laughed at a Shakespeare comedy!)27 Across was really hard, but between us both, we finally got it! I felt as though I’ve been in the “Everyman” Olympics and was very happy to have finished! I must say, I struggle more with your “easy” British cryptics than I do with many of our tough American ones, but I have been enjoying them immensely! And I hope you all immensely enjoy your week to come, and “see ya” here next Sunday!