DT 31012

68 comments on “DT 31012”

1. 4*/5*. Our setter was making us work hard today but it was very well worth the effort with each and every clue to be savoured.

   Some of the parsing took quite a lot of teasing out and my podium comprises three clues from this category: 12a, 25a & 17d.

   Many thanks to the setter (my guess is Silvanus) and to Mr K.

2. Very nice Friday crossword. LOI in and COD the homophone at 22d. The Spoonerism and separate Apple were terrific too though parsing of latter took a while. The answer at 23a seems a stretch for the definition but I imagine there is a dictionary somewhere that supports the clue. Thank you setter and Mr K.

   1. Yes, Slowcoach, the BRB supports the definition for 23a.

      1. Thank you very much / I still think it’s a stretch but the BRB rules

         1. Think TWTWTW from the 60 and how Private Eye was till it became tame.

3. Fairly gentle (for a Friday) and enjoyable – thanks to our setter and Mr K.
   The clues I liked best were 25a, 27a and 3d.

   The many fans of Rufus (Roger Squires) may like to know that today’s Vintage Puzzle is a seasonal offering by him from 2005. We will be publishing a blog of it later today.

4. What a brilliant way to end the (non-working) week, with a puzzle that was quite tricky but beautifully clued. I had to rely on my trusty pin to pick a favourite, and the winner was 25a – yes, a Spoonerism as COTD.

   Many thanks to our Friday setter -RD could be accurate in his pick – and Mr K.

   Mrs YS and I are off to Kefalonia tomorrow so I won’t be around for the next fortnight. Keep well all of you.

   1. Lucky sticks! Have a wonderful time.

5. Nicely tough, but still doable. Perfect for me, at least. ***/****

   Mr K – a small error in 8d’s hint. The first ‘south’ should be ‘cold’.

6. This was excellent and has Sade written all over it. 17d is a case in point.

   Out of all the country name changes this century, 14a (the 3rd & 4th letters were changed to ‘bo’ in 2013), and Eswatini will be the last ones to be embedded as they rarely get in the news compared to Turkiye, Czechia and North Macedonia.

   1a, 28a and 4d are great words.

   My podium is 21a,17d and 18d.

   MT to Silvanus and Mr K

   3*/5*

   1. Tom, 1a. I’ve always had an interest in hand tools, especially old ones. 1a, gimlet, awl and bradawl are all somewhat similar-looking things. You like posers: what is the subtle difference between an awl and a bradawl?

      1. Brad?

         1. Like it, RD, Like it.

         2. This isn’t an occasion for levity!

            As my History teacher Mr Wilkinson once bellowed at me sometime in the mid 60s.

            1. You know me, J. Anytime is a good time for levity.

      2. Hmm, you’ve got me, J.

         I know a Brad has two definitions:

         1. A nail
         2. A dish

         An awl is chiefly for piercing leather. So, could it be that a bradawl is only for non-leather things?

         Talking of gimlet….a guy at university * wasn’t the tallest and was a tad dull. So, we called him gimlet as he was a small, boring tool!

         He took it well which made me like him more.

         * Uni has never passed my lips though I don’t know why as I love abbreviations.

         1. You’re on the right lines. An awl has a sharp point for piecring leather, canvas, etc. Or marking lines on softish materials. A bradawl is a joinery tool with a flat chisel-like end for making pilot/starter holes in wood to receive screws. The end shape parts/displaces the wood fibres and helps prevent splitting.

            Re uni. Remember the famous “unidexter sketch” from Cook and Moore in the 60s, where Dud (Mr Spigot) was auditioning for the role of Tarzan – with one leg! Is “unidexter” a real word?

            1. Brilliant!

               They were way ahead of their time.

      3. An awl is a type of Skipper butterfly and a bradawl is a woodworking hand tool

         Or:

         An awl (the tool) is pointed and a bradawl is like a flathead screwdriver.

         1. Brad nails are cut and have wedge shaped heads and points, the wedge shaped of a bradawl matches the wedge and as you say parts the wood fibres to reduce splitting.

7. Today is my wife’s 70th birthday so there were various distractions from visiting neighbours and family whilst I completed the puzzle, however I got there in the end. I enjoyed the challenge very much and I am still trying to understand how I understood exactky what was required to solve 11A when I first read it but it took 2 hours for me to have the courage to write it in and then it clicked. COTD 11A superb.

8. I found this difficult with some clues very hard to parse amid a few clunky surfaces. Sorry compiler, not really my cup of T.
   3.5*/2*
   No stand out favourites. Thanks to Mr K and setter

   1. I do agree. It took me longer than the last few toughies.

9. I also struggled to parse the apple, but found most of the problems in the Kent region. I thought knowing lesser hotel chains was a bit of a stretch but as the Paddington Hotel I use for the Birthday Bash is part of that chain I demur.
   (More of the next BB after the centenary puzzles finish…)

   Thanks to MrK and setter

10. Perfect for a Friday! A smooth approach required to be able to make smooth progress for what must be the work of the Master of Smooth – 3.5*/5*

    Candidates for favourite – 5a, 13a, 17a, 18d, and 24d – and the winner is 13a.

    Thanks to Silvanus, for it must be he, and to Mr K; a solo 18d and friend:

    

11. Found this an awkward solve. Didn’t really float my boat I’m sorry to say. I’m sure all the synonyms are in the BRB but I thought quite a few questionable. Also parsing clues such as 12a felt like homework not a cryptic!
    Thank you to the setter (sorry for being a sourpuss) and to MrK for the review

    1. Ahem!
       2D is not an Opera – more an operetta. 25A could lose the first three words and the dreaded Spoonerism and be a neater and shorter clue. 19A not on my colour card.
       Thanks for an interesting and challenging puzzle otherwise.

12. A top-notch Friday puzzle which I found a pretty tricky challenge. Great clues and an enjoyable tussle. Several contenders, but I’ll pick 17d as my favourite today. 3.5*/4.5*.

    1. *Here’s a remarkable acoustic rendition of Sultans of Swing. Could Knopfler play it like this?:

       1. Probably. Have you noticed that the great Mark never uses a plectrum.

13. I, too, found this a bit of a struggle, especially in the south. Worth the effort though. I did need Mr K to give me the courage of my inclinations on two, so a dnf unaided from me. My podium comprises 11a, 28a and the spoonerism in 25a. Thanks to compiler and Mr K.

14. A very enjoyable puzzle, with an interesting variety of clues. I liked the sewuing implement at 1a, the Lego cluee at 11a, the geographical anagram at 14a an the Spoonerism at 25a. Thanks to Sylvanus for the best Friday solve for a while and to Mr K for the hints.

15. First pass and I had nothing. I found this quite hard but in the end acheivable. Eg 6d with checkers the answer was obvious. Thanks for the tips though.

    1. 9d oops not 6d

16. Strange how we see things differently, I thought this to be a very decent puzzle, with some fine flowing surfaces.
    The Spoonerism at 25a was a snorter, while
    the hidden track blocked by a vagrant in 5a was an amusing image. I’ve also picked the available fruit in 12a and 19a.
    My thanks to our setter and Mr K.

17. After some deliberation, I am also in the Silvanus camp for this excellent Friday puzzle.
    Appropriately challenging and a most enjoyable solve.
    I made life difficult for myself by biffing NATTY at 4d, NO END at 10a and PORTER at 28a. Oh well! Take your time, Shabbo!
    The excellent 25a Spoonerism was my LOI and for my COD, the apple at 12a was just pipped (one for you TDS) at the post by the rising bill at 16d.
    Great stuff.
    Thank you Silvanus (?) and Mr K.

    1. Of course I love it, Shabbs baby.

18. I took an age to get going with 15d being my starter and my favourite because of that. It was a great and very suitable for a Friday challenge and now it’s completed I am not sure why I struggled so. I did need help in parsing the apple and 25a.

    Many thanks to the setter and to Mr K for the hints.

19. Ahem!
    2D is not an Opera – more an operetta. 25A could lose the first three words and the dreaded Spoonerism and be a neater and shorter clue. 19A not on my colour card.
    Thanks for an interesting and challenging puzzle otherwise.

    1. 2D is a light opera aka operetta. 25A I guess Spoonerisms are the marmite of crossword clues – I love them though a lot don’t. 19A not on my colour card either but it is on Dulux’s :):)

       1. Oh, we do so love a roonerspism, Cowsloach, yes, we do.

    2. Hi Fi Mac

       Operetta is Italian for light opera.

       Its definition is a short, typically, light-hearted version of an opera.

       So, it is an opera.

       1. Yes indeed, opera it is.

20. Great guzzle, if ever so slightly beyond my skill level. I felt like a 25+ handicapper playing Carnoustie. Got round in the end but it shows.
    Lots to like on a personal level. I grew up in 12a country, my better half eats 5d for breakfast every morning, and I finally got to grips with my nemesis, ‘crossword er’, in 19a and 6d.
    Thanks to Mr K (today was a day when I really needed some of the hints for parsing) and our esteemed setter.

21. Thanks to the Setter and Mr K for the hints (of which we resorted to just one). Found this hard going but fair for a Friday. No standout clues. Now to enjoy the sunshine. Gary and Val

22. I found this Friday puzzle quite tough to get going, but eventually a few cracks showed. Many clues with parsing difficulties, yet again today, that I just could not fathom out.

    3*/3* for me

    Favourites 11a, 13a, 19a, 5d & 15d — with winner 11a
    Smiles from 3a, 19a & 23d

    Thanks to setter & Mr K

23. What a delightful Friday puzzle which could only have been penned by Mr Smooth. Fighting it out for the top spot were 13&19a plus 3,8&23d with hon. mentions for the dreaded Reverend and the Quickie pun which really made me laugh.

    Many thanks to Silvanus for the fun and thanks to Mr K for the review.

24. I’d agree with the Silvanus camp although I usually struggle but this one flew in. I don’t generally have qualms over Spoonerisms but this one still doesn’t quite sit right with me. I’d never heard of the 5a track believe it or not! Gave ticks to the drunk in 13a, the crackpot in 19a, the 6d appeal and the 8a region. COD goes goes to 13a, I love clues that read differently in their constructed answer to how the final answer has to be read and in this case, the 4 letter word of the 3,4 constructed answer is the opposite of the 5 letter word in the 2,5 answer itself – brilliant!

    Many thanks to Silvanus and Mr K.

25. Pretty tricky but doable with some application. I thought we might be on for a pangram but ended up a few short. All good fun. Lots of candidates for favourite but I’ll go with 15d. Thanks to the setter and Mr. K.

26. I’m in the it may be a Smooth production camp but wouldn’t risk a wedge of folding on it. Very enjoyable indeed & quite tricky in places to nail down the wordplay. Didn’t recall the G&S work so that needed a post solve check & found the LHS a good bit trickier than the right. The Spoonerism was my pick with the apple in the runner up spot.
    Thanks to the setter & to Mr K

    1. Just read the hints. Does the one for 8d not need amending slightly?

27. Sitting in J L with a pot of Earl Grey and a large slice of coffee walnut cake having successfully bought a new liquid ink printer which, at the age of 91. You must agree is a leap of faith. Health to use, as they say in Ireland. So I snitched the outrage of the DT before I left home and have just finished this very smartly clued guzzle. I particularly liked 11a. I certainly needed Mr K for one or two hints so thank you for being there for me and thanks to yet another smart setter. I am too ladylike to lick the crumbs from the plate but it is a temptation!

    1. Throw caution to the wind Daisy – ‘‘tis but a small step from a knife to plate – but check George isn’t looking

28. Amazingly, found this much friendlier than yesterday’s puzzle, although I do confess to using more hints than I like. But mostly to verify my answers, some of which I had a few doubts. Forgot the apples, my excuse being that they are not sold over here, and we have to made do with Granny Smith’s when making apple pie. Some other American apple is recommended, I forget which, but that is not nearly tart enough. Of course I fell at the Spooner clue. Overall enjoyed. Thanks to setter and Mr K. Feeling very relieved here that Hurricane Erin didn’t pay us a visit, and also that new generator arrived this week as standby for the rest of this season.

    1. Gravenstein apple?

       1. Not ever seen that one here in South Florida. Lots of recipes recommend McIntosh which I find too mushy.

29. Worked my way through that methodically and thought I had a completion without any external reference. However, two stupid spelling mistakes, the philosopher and the situation, spoiled my celebration. My excuse is that I am full of a cold. That said a really enjoyable puzzle and challenge. Two favourites today, 19a and 6d.
    As always, thank you to the setter and to Mr K for the hints.

30. A really entertaining puzzle for Friday, particularly with five grandchildren running around at the same time!

31. Many thanks to Mr K and to all solvers and commenters.

    I hope you all have a good weekend!

32. Excellent Friday workout. 18A and 26A hilarious. VMT Silvanus and Mr K.

33. The North was OK, admittedly after a struggle, but I called it a day in the South and turned to MrK’s hints to finish. Although the majority seem to have enjoyed this I am reassured to find I am not alone in feeling otherwise. IMHO there are overall just too many stretched synonyms. Nevertheless thank you both, setter and MrK, for your efforts on our behalf.

34. Found this hard but this is to be expected on Friday.

    A few new words to me. I was also surprised that the first meaning of term was new to me. I cannot recall ever seeing it used to mean end. Terminus and terminal of course. Would someone say “at the term of term” for instance?

    My loi was 22d as I wasn’t convinced the seen means understood. Apparently it does.

    I needed the hint for 28a.

    Thanks to all.

    1. Term is the end of a pregnancy as in “carried to term”.

35. Loved this puzzle, unusually for a Friday got further than usual before turning to hints.. Favourite 11a, clever wordplay raised a smile . 12a was a ” bung in” , found the parsing rather convoluted but got it eventually!Thanks to Silvanus for puzzle and Mr K for the hints

36. Did not enjoy this one at all.

37. Really needed MrK for explaining a couple of these – thank you Silvanus for a terrific challenge

38. Good morning

    I was so close to hoyin in the sponge, but I persevered, to the point where my Lucky Green Pen has only just entered 7d, my last to fall. Very much held up in the NE quadrant.

    Not surprised to see that the Brain Of Silvanus has been at work here. Thanks to Silvanus and to Mr K.

39. 3*/3* …
    liked 3D “Tease sweetheart about grand spent originally for leather items (3,6)”

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