Comments on: Everyman 3463/17 February

By: Donna

Donna — Sun, 24 Feb 2013 15:10:38 +0000

Thanks, Pierre, for the link to the Old Man of Hoy. A very impressive fellow! Years ago when we lived in Connecticut, there was a landscape feature called “The Sleeping Giant.” It was a low-lying mountain that actually resembled a recumbent giant when viewed from a certain angle. Whenever we drive to Connecticut to visit our son I still always look for “the giant” as we drive past! It’s sad that they think “The Old Man of Hoy” will erode in time. I hope it won’t be for a long, long time.

By: Robi

Robi — Sun, 24 Feb 2013 12:45:06 +0000

Pierre @4; thanks for the info. about ‘tease’ in Collins. That seems to make much more sense now.

By: Pierre

Pierre — Sun, 24 Feb 2013 10:27:39 +0000

Robi, your comment has made me have a rethink about TEASER. I reckon the definition is more to do with working fabric. Collins has ‘tease: to separate the fibres of; comb; card’ so I think on reflection that’s probably what Everyman had in mind. Must remember when blogging not just to put down the first thing that comes into my head …

Donna, Hoy is perhaps better known to UK solvers, because it has a well-known feature, The Old Man of Hoy. You’ll find it at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Man_of_Hoy

By: Robi

Robi — Sun, 24 Feb 2013 09:05:38 +0000

Entertaining crossword as ever.

Thanks Pierre. I didn’t really know the card=tease. The nearest thing I could find in Chambers is: ‘a comical or eccentric person.’

I thought PINAFORE was well hidden, and I particularly enjoyed EVENING DRESS and DESPERADO.

By: michelle

michelle — Sun, 24 Feb 2013 04:32:56 +0000

This was enjoyable even though it took me a bit longer than I expected. My last 4 answers took half the time of the rest of the puzzle.

Favourite clues were ICARUS, EXIST, FLATFORD MILL, BEATNIKS and EVENING DRESS (last in). It took me a long time to switch my brain from thinking that DJ = disc jockey and I did smile when I finally parsed DJ = dinner jacket.

I had a few chuckles trying to justify 14a as “Flatbush Hill” but could not find a famous painting of that title. Luckily I “rediscovered” US President FORD and then it fell into place.

Thanks for the blog, Pierre.

By: Donna

Donna — Sun, 24 Feb 2013 00:43:09 +0000

Many thanks to Everyman for another enjoyable puzzle and to Pierre for another helpful blog. First answer in for me was 22 Down and the last in was 14 Across. I figured the latter out from the clue but then checked it on Google, as I’d never heard of this painting. I got 3 Down but couldn’t parse it, so, Pierre, thanks for the explanation of “Hoy.” (I’ll have to brush up on the Orkney Islands, I guess!) My favorite clues were 8 Down, 24 Across and especially 18 Across when the penny dropped! Wishing you a wonderful week ahead!