The puzzle may be found at https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/cryptic/28280.
A very quick solve, with a few quibbles. 11A held me up looking for a cryptic element, but I cannot find any.
| ACROSS | ||
| 1 | BITE THE BULLET | Face up to unpleasant situation: eat lead? (4,3,6) |
| Definition and literal interpretation | ||
| 10 | POLARISED | Star and journalist sharply divided (9) |
| A charade of POLARIS (pole ‘star’ in the handle of Ursa Minor) plus ED (editor, ‘journalist’). | ||
| 11 | PRIME | Nine is the most popular time for broadcasters (5) |
| I cannot see any cryptic element here, just a straight definition. If nine were a prime number, there would be that consideration; but it is not. | ||
| 12 | IVORY | Coast of Africa once creamy white (5) |
| I am not sure what ‘once’ is doing here – Ivory Coast is still an African country, even if its official name is in its official language, French (Côte d’Ivoire); apart from that, a double definition. | ||
| 13 | ALICE BAND | An infesting ring that may be in girl’s hair (5,4) |
| A LICE BAND (‘an infested ring’). | ||
| 14 | DETENTE | One pitched in river for easing of tension (7) |
| An envelope (‘in’) of TENT (‘one pitched’) in DEE (‘river’). | ||
| 16 | ENDGAME | Men aged badly; this is the final stage (7) |
| An anagram (‘badly’) of ‘men aged’. | ||
| 18 | CONSORT | Partner of the right type (7) |
| A charade of CON (Conservative, ‘of the right’) plus SORT (‘type’). | ||
| 20 | MIRAGES | Unsound views? I go wild writing about them (7) |
| An envelope (‘about’) of I RAGE (‘I go wild’) in MS (manuscript, ‘writing’); the plural ‘them’ can only refer to ‘I go wild’ or I RAGE being more than one word. | ||
| 21 | SLAP-HAPPY | Delighted with make-up, but careless (4-5) |
| A charade of SLAP (‘make-up’) plus HAPPY (‘delighted’). | ||
| 23 | WINCH | Haul up weight a short distance (5) |
| A charade of W (‘weight’) plus INCH (‘a short distance’). | ||
| 24 | OUGHT | Has obligation, being hunted to hide head (5) |
| A subtraction: [s]OUGHT (‘hunted’) minus the first letter (‘to hide head’). | ||
| 25 | CLOUD NINE | Docile nun remarkably ecstatic on this (5,4) |
| An anagram (‘remarkably’) of ‘docile nun’. | ||
| 26 | CONSUL GENERAL | Shortly take advice with army officer or government representative (6,7) |
| A charade of CONSUL[t] (‘take advice’) plus GENERAL (‘army officer’). | ||
| DOWN | ||
| 2 | ILL-GOTTEN | Such gains not legit, criminal pocketing pounds (3-6) |
| An envelope (‘pocketing’) of L (‘pounds’) in ILGOTTEN, an anagram (‘criminal’) of ‘not legit’, with an extended definition. | ||
| 3 | EARLY | At great cost, heading off in good time (5) |
| A subtraction: [d]EARLY (‘at great cost’) minus the first letter (‘heading off’). | ||
| 4 | HOSTAGE | Prisoner‘s name sewn into socks (7) |
| An envelope (‘sewn into’) of TAG (‘name’) in HOSE (‘socks’). | ||
| 5 | BEDSIDE | Doctor’s first in nearby, in this manner? (7) |
| An envelope (‘in’) of D (“Doctor’s first’) in BESIDE (‘nearby’), with an extended definition.. | ||
| 6 | LIP-READER | One who looks for your comments (3-6) |
| Cryptic definition. | ||
| 7 | ERICA | Am leaving US girl (5) |
| [Am]ERICA (‘US’) minus AM (‘am leaving’). | ||
| 8 | SPLIT DECISION | Ver dict? (5,8) |
| Amusing, if a bit obvious. | ||
| 9 | DEAD MEN’S SHOES | Feigning madness, he does succeed to these (4,4,5) |
| An anagram (‘feigning’) of ‘madness he does’;for property or position achieved by inheritance. | ||
| 15 | NEOPHYTES | Recent converts see Python broadcast (9) |
| An anagram (‘broadcast’) of ‘see Python’. | ||
| 17 | ARGENTINA | Army head pressing to remove leader in a country (9) |
| A charade of A (‘Army head’) plus [u]RGENT (‘pressing’) minus its first letter (‘to remove leader’) plus ‘in a’. | ||
| 19 | TYPICAL | Usual problem in clay pit (7) |
| An anagram (‘problem’) of ‘clay pit’. | ||
| 20 | MAYPOLE | Is East European allowed to dance round this? (7) |
| MAY POLE (‘is East European allowed to’). ‘Dance round’ serves just to point to the definition. | ||
| 22 | AGGRO | Trouble as a horse runs over (5) |
| A charadde of ‘a’ plus GG (‘horse’) plus R (‘runs’) plus O (‘over’). | ||
| 23 | WEDGE | Dog, empty, tucks into small piece of cake (5) |
| An envelope (‘tucks onto’) of DG (‘DoG empty’) in WEE (‘small’). | ||
Pretty straightforward stuff. I also got a bit of a giggle at 8dn. Agree 11ac is a bit odd. Perhaps Vulcan had a moment and thought 9 was prime.
Must surely have heard dead men’s shoes sometime, but no bells rang, so a shrug. Ditto Peter re nine and prime, a loud Eh?, but the ‘once’ in 12ac was a momentary shrug, with the GoD going to maypole. Pretty much Mondayish, thanks V and P.
Meant to add, finding the Quiptic harder, still a couple to go..
Standard fare for a Monday, but as I’ve remarked for the past several weeks, the Quiptic was somewhat more challenging and enjoyable. Perhaps the crossword editor has his out-trays wrongly labeled? By the way, I agree with the comments above about the oddness of “nine” in 11a, and decided that it might indicate 9pm. Otherwise, everything quite obvious.
The simplest explanation of 11a is that Vulcan had a brain fart and thought 9 was prime, as D@1 said. If that were the case, it would be a perfectly good cryptic clue. (I disagree with PeterO here – as it stands it is not even a non-cryptic definition) When I finished the puzzle I had a look at the G. comments, and it looks like some posters there never noticed the problem, so maybe it’s not something that’s so obvious to the less numerically inclined. Is there anyone here who glossed over this?
Clever enough for Monday — CLOUD NINE from “docile nun” made me smile and I also enjoyed ARGENTINA and POLARISED, the latter being oddly familiar of late. Thanks to Vulcan and PeterO.
I agree that this was straightforward, that the Quiptic was tougher and more entertaining, and that Vulcan probably temporarily forgot some basic math. Otherwise not much to add except thanks to Vulcan and PeterO.
One Grauniad comment thought 11a a great clue. Even if the maths was right (Seven or even Six would work), it’s hardly a masterpiece.
So am I missing something?
I liked BEDSIDE at 5d, as well as a couple of others already mentioned. The inclusion of the phrase at 9d, DEAD MEN’S SHOES (my LOI), was interesting – I had to work on the anagram despite having all the crossers, and I didn’t really understand the definition in terms of the way it was worded. I think I am a bit dim today, as I also didn’t quite see in what context “make-up” might mean “SLAP” (SLAP-HAPPY at 21a).
PeterO and Vulcan, thank you for the Monday dalliance (as in a period of brief or casual involvement with something).
Julie@9, slap (Chambers defn 4) is a term for ‘stage make-up’ (I didn’t know that either!)
11ac – 9pm is prime time in TV land.
Penfold@11: yes – that is the only explanation that fits, as far as I can see. But I agree with others above that it makes for a very poor clue.
It’s like a double definition. The most popular time for broadcasters is called ‘prime time’ and that time is around 9pm.
No maths involved.
12ac – the country formerly known as Ivory Coast is still there, but since 1986 it is formally called Côte d’Ivoire (or République de Côte d’Ivoire). Their government officially refuses to recognize any translation from French to another languages.
Per 11a, PRIME is the broadcasting service of Amazon (providing that you accept streaming as a form of broadcasting).
I (mistakenly) thought ‘prime’ was the canonical hour occurring at 9am (actually that’s ‘terce’, and ‘prime’ is around 6), so I thought it was a pretty clever clue.
Yes, 11a was a mess but otherwise a short but sweet Monday outing. I liked CONSORT and SLAP-HAPPY. Thanks to Vulcan and PeterO.
Mostly straightforward, but with a couple rough edges.
PRIME was certainly odd 😉 Perhaps it might have worked as “Is nine not the most popular time for broadcasters?”… but as published it just seems not fully baked.
PeterO, I saw “them” in 20a as referring to the set of letters resulting from the wordplay (i.e. I,R,A,G,E) rather than to multiple words.
COTD: NEOPHYTES, for the novel usage of the recently popular clue word Python, which made me smile.
Tip of the hat to our setter/blogger/commenters!
On PRIME, I agree with Desmodeus @1 (and DrW, Dave in NC) that Vulcan ‘had a moment’. We’ve all been there.
On IVORY, according to wiki “in April 1986, the government declared that Côte d’Ivoire (or, more fully, République de Côte d’Ivoire) would be its formal name for the purposes of diplomatic protocol, and since then officially refuses to recognize or accept any translation from French to another language in its international dealings”.
So Vulcan’s ‘once’ would please the Ivorian government at least.
I liked the ecstatic nun, thanks V & P.
Thanks Vulcan and PeterO
Not much to add – virtually a write-in, until PRIME gave me pause for thought – my first reaction was “but 9 isn’t a prime”.
I echo what others have said about the more challenging and entertaining Quiptic. It’s by Anto, but it’s still of good Quiptic standard.
Not too difficult, but I was another that struggled with DEAD MENS SHOES, even with all the crossers and the fodder – and I don’t even have the excuse that I hadn’t heard the phrase. I thought ‘Ver dict’ was cute. Thanks, Vulcan and PeterO
A possible explanation of 11A: maybe the clue is a straightforward definition and the fact that 9 is not a prime number is a nasty bit of “negative misdirection,” if that’s the term. I know I hesitated for ages before pressing the check button. Loved 21A, by the way.
I don’t know much about prime numbers, but I do know that 9pm is prime time for television, so had no problem with 11a.
As someone who has only recently reached the plateau of finishing most of the Guardian cryptics I am glad when I encounter the slightly easier puzzle. I particularly enjoyed 25ac; 16ac was a great clue but rather bleak.
Thanks PeterO and Vulcan.
I’m wondering if 11 was meant to be “Nine isn’t the most popular time for broadcasters.”
Lots to enjoy (HOSTAGE, BEDSIDE, CLOUD NINE, DETENTE, MIRAGES).
11a doesn’t work for me, and having misunderstood “hiding” in 24a I can now stop trying to work out what OUGT is all about…
BoLB @25
That’s a much better clue!
Julie-in-australia @9 and Jay @10; “Slap” as term for make-up is very common especially in the north of England. It was a theatrical term and may also be one of the roots of the word “slapper” but as with much slang there are many possible sources for that one…
Very easy sub 20 mins for me this morning but on what could be the start of a very difficult few weeks, exactly what was called for. I also found 11a somewhat strange and it tripped me up as I over-analysed but I’ll take all the breaks I can at the moment.
Thank you Vulcan and PeterO for the fun start to the week.
JinA @9 & Jay @10: ‘slap’ is certainly in usage in the UK as a slang/common term for make up and, as such, has popped up in crosswords before. It may well have originated on the stage but is by no means confined to that and would probably be associated with either inexpertly applied or too much make up.
I agree with OddOtter @18 that it’s nice to see Python being used other than to indicate Eric for once and NEOPHYTES is very good.
Definitely Vulcan back to standard Monday form but I’d give credit for the surfaces which are, on the whole, pretty good. And some of the clues earned definite ticks: I liked SPLIT DECISION (once I’d dismissed my first reaction which was ‘short sentence’), HOSTAGE, TYPICAL, BEDSIDE, MAYPOLE and the aforementioned ecstatic nun which brought a new perspective on ‘happy clappy’.
Thanks Vulcan and PeterO
Just a tiny point but I read HOSTAGE as TAG (name sewn) into HOSE. I was reminded of how, if we didn’t have all our clothes named at the beginning of the school year, the punishment imposed by the headmistress was to learn either a psalm or the dates of all the kings and queens of England from 1066.
Thanks to Vulcan and PeterO.
All been said [so what am I doing here?]
Hooray for Penfold at 11 for being much faster at solving and subsequent commenting than me – and for gently pointing out that 11a and 12a are not “incorrect”. The former has nothing to do with numbers and everything to do with the peak-time (prime-time) broadcasting slot of 9pm, the latter refers to the former (once) name of a country which is now called Côte d’Ivoire.
POLARISED and HOSTAGE were pleasing,
SLAP-HAPPY and SPLIT DECISION made me grin. Thanks to Vulcan for the fun and to PeterO for the blog
PS I agree that 11a is not especially cryptic.other clues were, though. A mixed-bag, then…
If 11a is simply meant to mean “Nine is the most popular time for broadcasters” it seems extremely feeble. I stick by the notion that Vulcan had a bad maths day.
[Starting today I’m taking a short sabbatical from all things cruciverbal. Just wanted to pop in and say ta-ta and best of luck with the latest lockdown. Au revoir, auf wiedersehen etc. Cheers]
Wellbeck (and a couple others), I doubt there’s disagreement re “prime time” as the connection to broadcasters in the clue. But I think many are struggling to parse the clue as a whole. Taken all together, from a broadcasting perspective, the clue is simply a statement of fact, not a defn… It might *imply* PRIME but, not being a defn, it doesn’t really suffice as a cd. Taken in parts, “the most popular time for broadcasters” makes a fine defn, but we’re left with head scratching re “nine is”… which doesn’t by itself lead to PRIME since, well, 9 isn’t prime (and on its own that snippet has no obvious link to broadcasting). Hope that helps clarify the confusion. And if there’s a different way to parse that provides clear defns and/or wordplay all leading to PRIME I’m sure all would love to see it 🙂
[bodycheetah – Thanks for giving notice. Good luck with converting your loft back into a loft or whatever you’ll be doing instead. Hope to see you (and 2Scotcheggs) again in the not too distant.]
[And best to you, bodycheetah, whatever you’re off to deal with… I’m sure we all look forward to your return when your sched. allows]
[bodycheetah @35: you’ll be missed so I echo Penfold’s hopes to see you again before long.]
[and Otter’s which came in while I was writing.]
Penfold @11 &13
Yes, 9pm. is television prime time, more or less, but you seem to suggest that the clue offers a second definition. What is it?
I don’t think 9pm is the prime time for broadcasters so I think this an error. It’s quite common for people to confuse odd and prime numbers so that could have happened here but I think it’s more likely that ‘not’ dropped out at some stage.
PeterO @41 PRIME time means ‘the most popular time for broadcasters’ and that period is around ‘nine’ o’clock each evening. So 9 is prime for TV schedulers, but not for mathematicians.
I’m not saying that it’s a great clue, just that PRIME doesn’t have to be a mathematical term.
… and as I previously commented @15 but no-one seems to have noticed (Amazon) Prime are broadcasters.
Having worked in broadcasting for the past thirty odd years I can confirm that prime time, at least in British TV, is 9pm. It’s when you’d put on the big dramas, especially if there’s swearing or violence, because the watershed is 9pm. There’s an argument for saying 7-10pm is prime evening viewing, but in a planning meeting if someone said ‘prime time’ everyone would understand that meant 9pm.
But that surely can’t be the only way we’re meant to get to the answer. That’s not enough in a cryptic. Is it?
So, I’m not sure how the clue works. I don’t subscribe to the view that Vulcan thought it was a prime number, because you’d only need to know your three times table to know it’s not.
But, in the absence of any other context, is prime truly interchangeable with prime time? Is there any ref to support that? I think “nine is prime time” does clearly imply a broadcast context, but “nine is prime” just as clearly implies a math context, not broadcasting.
I was thinking there might not be much to comment on until my LOI PRIME. And now I see the blog is almost entirely devoted to it. Probably the weakest Guardian clue I’ve seen for some time, taking it at face value that is rather than an arithmetical error. Such a pity, as past weeks have had us all commenting on Vulcan’s improvement.
Well, we’ve got Who Do You Think You Are on the BBC with the amazing Liz Carr tracing her ancestral roots, going up against Don’t Rock The Boat on ITV with the ubiquitous Freddie Flintoff et al. On or after Prime Time TV. Take your pick, as the argument about 11ac rages on…
Van Winkle… yes, saw that, and sure we might take “broadcasters” as a defn… but again we’re left with what to do with the rest of the clue, which remains simply a statement, not a defn. The gist for me is that the clue isn’t a cd (being merely a statement), nor have I seen a proposal as a dd that splits it into two independently viable defns that each get to the answer on there own.
On 11a – doesn’t prime. as a canonical hour, extend from 6 to 9 in the morning?
Perhaps Vulcan meant to write: Ending at/Until nine (or indeed did, but a sub later ‘improved’ it).
No doubt all will be revealed.
Anyway: Thanks , V.
[Ronald @48 – …and then there was Not the Prime O’Clock News 😉 ]
[Hasta luego (hopefully), bodycheetah]
Thanks, PeterO.
Having read all the comments on PRIME, I begin to have a grudging admiration for it. If it is, as I think, a non-cryptic clue masquerading as a cryptic one, that shows more deviousness than the rest of the puzzle combined.
Re 21a: I think “slap” for make-up comes from Polari (e.g. “I’ll just zhuzh me riah and put some slap on”). It’s certainly in the glossary of Paul Baker’s excellent Fabulosa! The Story of Polari, Britain’s Secret Gay Language. It has escaped via theatre into common use, in the UK at any rate.
OddOtter @49 – I have no problems with the PRIME clue being a double definition – “the most popluar time” and “broadcasters”, with the nine being thrown in to assist the first definition but, more importantly, to bluff everyone into thinking “but nine is not a prime number”. But as Penfold said @13 – no maths involved.
VW @15 &44: You are right – until OddOtter no-one has responded to your point but I think he sums up the ongoing problem that remains, even with the ingenious idea of Amazon. I’m afraid you’re just one of a line of folk who are looking for a justification for what is surely a mistake. It’s a decent motive but I think the setter has failed you. I feel those trying to find a solution based on canonical hours might get closest but doubt that’s what Vulcan had in mind.
Subscription-based streaming is not the same as broadcasting in my opinion, so I don’t agree with those who have suggested that 11a might be an Amazon-branded clue.
Van Winkle: It’s that “thrown in to assist” bit that’s the deal breaker for me. Except for limited use of connectors, EVERYTHING matters, and should be part of a defn or wordplay; leaving “nine is” just dangling out there as a hint would never fly with any respectable editor, so there must be some other explanation, or there’s simply an error.
Probably (more than) enough said on my part, so will leave it there unless something really substantive comes up… and most importantly, no hard feelings… just differing opinions, but clearly a shared passion for cryptics 🙂
VW @53: we crossed but now I have an idea. If we accept there could be more than one prime time – which is a tad dubious but perhaps one could argue that 6 and 10 are also prime times (for news) – then 9 could be the most popular of them. Giving ‘Nine is the most popular [prime] time’ for ‘broadcasters’. Implying ‘Nine is the most popular [of these] time[s]…’ So not two definitions but a definition by example followed by a cd. Maybe?
PostPrimemark you’re obviously craving a Half Man Half Biscuit lyric to help you out, so I’ll just say:
In the kingdom of the blind
It’s said the one-eyed man is king
And in the kingdom of the bland
It’s nine o’clock on ITV
I think that tallies with the viewing options that Ronald gave us @48. It isn’t always the case though. Prime Suspect wasn’t bland in the 9pm slot on ITV, but I think we can all agree that the clue for PRIME is a bit suspect.
Penfold @58: that’s spooky. I was thinking earlier today I hadn’t seen an HMHB reference for a while and, as always, there’s a lyric for every occasion.
We occasionally see clues that seem wrong at first (or themes that seem not to exist), but when explained the near-universal reaction is Of Course! This is not happening here, which tells me it is just an error (and I’ll agree that a missing “not” is just as viable as a mathematical error). The bigger point, though, is that there is no channel by which to tap the setter on the shoulder and ask them what they meant.
[PostMark @57: how about a lift-and-separate quadruple def, referencing the primacy of Geordieland, primetime TV, Amazon, and the Knights who say Ni?]
[bodycheetah @35; hoping to see you back here before very soon and echoing the “good luck” sentiments to everyone that is about to go through 4 weeks+ of emotional, financial and/or medical hell.]
Good Monday puzzle with largely pleasing surfaces.
I liked the clue for MIRAGES, having spent some time trying to wrangle an anagram of ‘I go’ into the answer. To me, the clue for PRIME seems to be either a very weak cd or a mistake – enuff said.
Thanks Vulcan and PeterO.
I just noticed this in the online puzzle:
Special instructions: 2/11/2020 Clue for 11 across has been corrected
The clue for 11 Across now reads:
11 is the most popular time for broadcasters (5)
Reading all the doubts about PRIME, my first thought is that I’m apparently the only one here who struggled with LIP-READER. But then I always struggle with cryptic definitions, so perhaps it’s no surpise that those two took me longer to solve than the rest of the puzzle.
If I were Vulcan I don’t know whether I would be laughing or crying at the oft-repeated suggestion that he doesn’t understand prime numbers. The idea, propounded by several different commenters, that the probable explanation for this clue is that today’s setter is really, really thick is a bit insulting, is it not? Myinitial idea was the hours of the monastic day, immediately followed by the thought that while it might be my first hour, it was unlikely to be sufficiently early for monks. (Don @16 got there before me: nine is terce, not prime.) Although I am slightly tempted by Bear of little brain’s notion @25 that it was meant to be “nine isn’t”, I think Van Winkle @53 is probably closest to Vulcan’s wavelength (double definition with misdirection). I remain to be convinced that it’s a good clue, though.
Penfold @64 arrived while I was typing. Apologies to those I have criticised for saying that Vulcan had made a mistake over nine being a prime number.
The new clue is still clumsy. As it’s 11a, he could have said “This is one of the most popular times for broadcasters (5”, or something similar.
“11 is the most popular time for broadcasters.” still doesn’t work as 11 isn’t, I would suggest, “the most popular time for broadcasters”.
Pentman @68. It’s now a double definition: “11 is” and “the most popular time for broadcasters.” But wouldn’t seven have worked better?
Thanks both.
Even the corrected clue is wanting as it is a DBE and needs an indicator thereof. Inserting ‘not’ after is would be the easiest correction.
Mostly a fill-in, but I did not get AGGRO – guess I’ve never heard of this word to describe trouble…
Sheffield hatter @68
What I was trying to say was that the double definition doesn’t work because “11” isn’t “the most popular time for broadcasters”. As you suggest, 7 might have been a more appropriate choice of prime.
Given that I didn’t look at the crossword until 11ac’s clue had been amended, I’m rather ashamed (as a bit of a maths geek) that it took what felt like half a lifetime to get it, and it was my LOI after LIP READER. I’d tried every which way to get axiom or exile, or anything else with an “xi”, to fit. Ho hum, onwards and upwards 🙂
I only started this after 11 across had been corrected and I agree with Tyngewick@70. Some new (for me) anagram indicators feigning in DEAD MEN’S SHOES and problem in NEOPHYTES. I am not in the camp who can’t stand Vulcan’s cryptic and double definitions, but sometimes you just can’t see them till all the crossers are in, which was the case with LIP-READER for me
Jay in Pittsburgh, you weren’t alone; AGGRO (a Britishism) was my LOI, and mostly a guess, having only a vague memory of *maybe* having seen it once before in a cryptic some time ago.
Re 11a, at least we know they acknowledge it was problematic 🙂 Patching a clue quickly AND cleanly can be challenging, so not surprised the revision is still clunky. Some interesting alternatives on offer above. Here’s another, replacing the rather blunt “11 is” with some wordplay: “One might recall, 8-11 is the most popular time for broadcasters”, with the “one” referent being primes, “might” indicating DBE (and covering any grammatical laxity), and “recall, 8-11” = (11-8) = (3) = a PRIME.
Jay @71 and OddOtter @75 – as you indicate AGGRO is a common Britishism (I have a feeling it might be an Aussie-ism as well, or it might just be that anything ending in -o strikes me as having an Aussie flavour).
Not being from these shores you will likely have missed out on this piece of UK cultural heritage – I wouldn’t wish you to be deprived one moment longer…
essexboy @76 – I think of AGGRO as Pommy, but then – having lived in the UK at times and having a Pom for a wife – I have been known to get mixed up about what is Aussie and what is Pommy. [PS – thinking of all of you who live in the Home of the Brave today. May the forces of light win through!]
[essexboy: Now that’s just silly… :). Particularly amused by the happily shameless pre-recorded (or dubbed) music track, not missing a beat while the drummer is stage left AND preoccupied by dental tortures. Thx for sharing.]
Thanks to PeterO and to Vulcan. Dead Mens’s Shoes – a very fine British film so long as you don’t mind them dark with a little swearing. Paddy Considine made a most convincing psycho !
So my pre-prime time viewing this evening included Only Connect, where a group on one of the connecting walls was Number, Time, Meridian and Suspect. Their connection: PRIME.
By the time I got to the puzzle, 11ac had been corrected, and I got it without much difficulty. But the corrected clue still seems slightly flawed, at least if we hold to the convention that a definition by example needs to be indicated in some way.
I didn’t know the expression “dead men’s shoes”, and I’d forgotten that “slap” can mean “make-up”, although I’m fairly sure I knew that at one point. The rest went in easily and enjoyably.
[Pemfold @80; maybe the connection is that Vulcan was on Only Connect incognito?]
There isn’t, and never was, a problem with 11ac since all odd numbers are prime. There are various proofs including:
physicist: 3 is prime, 5 is prime, 7 is prime, 9 is measurement error, 11 is prime, 13 is prime, random test 41 is prime. All odd numbers are prime.
engineer: 3 is prime, 5 is prime, 7 is prime, 9 is prime. All odd numbers are prime.
sociologist: 2 is prime, 3 is prime, 4 is prime. All numbers are prime. So all odd numbers are prime.
politiican: 3 is prime, 5 is prime, 7 is prime, 11 is prime, 13 is prime. All odd numbers are prime.
simon jenkins: maths (unlike the punic war and triple jumping) is of no use in later life and should be banned at school. Also, I have a friend who has a nephew who does not like maths. I don’t understand, and it hurts, so all odd numbers are prime.
chemist: 3 is prime, 5 is prime, 7 is prime. All odd numbers are prime.
11 ac could make more sense if you think about the canonical hours, of which prime is one. But that happens around daybreak, not 11, so perhaps not.