QuickLinks:
Jump directly to today’s Crosaire solution.
Jump directly to the explanations of today’s clues.
I thought that today's puzzle was a welcome relief after a tough start to the week. I stopped the clock at a very respectable 15m 35s, coming up with APERTURE as my last. Not too much trouble along the way, although GAMBOLLED is a word that needs to be looked up, for sure. And it helps to have the same answer twice in the same puzzle (SUSTAIN)!
Today's Crosaire Aria
6A: BARB
It's time for me to show my age and add another Barbra Streisand number to the collection of Arias. The song Somewhere is taken from the 1957 Broadway musical West Side Story. It has been recorded by many artists from Phil Collins to the Pet Shop Boys, but the most recognized version is by Barbra Streisand from 1985. This is the original music video released with the song, and is has a definite 1985 feel to it. It was filmed at New York's Apollo Theater, and apparently BARB did her own hair and makeup for the shoot. How times have changed ...
The Clue of the Day
29A: Sort of thing I do at the moment (4)
My choice for this Clue of the Day is purely driven by the image it creates in my mind's eye. I happen to know that M. Crosaire doesn't use a computer to help him with his construction of puzzles, and he types each one up for dispatch to The Irish Times. So, here we can think of Mr. Crozier doing this "sort (TYPE) of thing at the moment", pecking away at a typewriter. Charming in the extreme ...
The Lookup of the Day11A: GAMBOLLED
GAMBOLLED is a lovely word, with an equally lovely definition. To GAMBOL is to leap about playfully, or to frolic. GAMBOL comes from an archaic word "gambolde", meaning a leap or a spring, which came into English from the Middle French gambade. These words all derive from the playful actions of horses, as gambade has roots in the Latin gamba meaning a horse's hock or leg.
Here are my answers. As always, I welcome comments and explanations. Thanks!
Across
1: IN MOURNING
During the early part of the day (IN MORNING) by the sound of it = IN MOURNING: it's black.
6: BARB
The point of this (BARB) is to get 'er ('ER) = BARBER: for the hair.
10: CARAT
The root (CARROT) sounds as if = CARAT: has precious little weight.
11: GAMBOLLED
Laid a bet (GAMBLED) by the sound of it = GAMBOLLED: played.
GAMBOLLED means "leaped about playfully", as one does on finishing a Crosaire puzzle, or maybe that's just me ...
12: TH(REAT)EN
Then (TH-EN) about to "tear" it in bits (REAT) = THREATEN: promise.
A nice, classic clue.
13: NOT SO
In soon (NO-SO) tea (T) = NOT SO: no.
15: PL(AC)ATE
In the flat (PL-ATE) the accountant (AC) = PLACATE: appease.
17: L(EVER)ET
"Allow" it to be about (L-ET) always (EVER) = LEVERET: for a little hare ("hair" by the sound of it).
19: LITTERS
LITTERS: all the young, and they're for carrying.
21: S(US)TAIN
Make one's mark (S-TAIN) about us (US) = SUSTAIN: the answer to 21-down!
22: SIGHT
Place for building (SITE) sound = SIGHT: just see.
24: S-EVEREST
Most strictly (S-EVEREST) cut (SEVER) off the top (the S in S-EVEREST) = EVEREST: and it's still tops.
27: ENTERTAIN
28: CAR-GO
Carry on (CAR?) and go with it (GO) = CARGO: get a hold of it.
I am not sure if "carry on" maps into CAR, but I think it is meant to. Maybe someone could explain that for me.
29: TYPE
A TYPE is a "sort of thing", and right now I (as was M. Crosaire) am TYPING.
30: IN THE D(ERB)Y
IN THE D(ERB)Y we find "Erb", and he may have 25-down (RACED) IN THE DERBY.
Down
1: INCH
Is shortly (INCH) below this sounds as if "a core" (-ICORE) = INCHICORE: of Dublin.
2: MARCH PAST
3: UN-TIE
A French one (UN) the end of NIGH-TIE (TIE) = UNTIE.
I think the "may not sound like" in the clue means that the -TIE in UNTIE is pronounced differently than the -TIE in NIGHTIE. Anyone?
4: NIGH-TIE
Near (NIGH) is the "start to" the answer, NIGHTIE: having it in bed.
5: NO-M-IN-A-L
No (NO) thousand (M) in a (IN A) fifty (L) = NOMINAL: there's a theoretical.
7: ALL-OT
The whole of it (ALL) to turn (OT) = ALLOT: give.
8: BAD FOR-TUNE
To be no good (BAD) musically (FOR TUNE) = BAD FORTUNE: how unlucky.
9: CONNIVES
How Con (CON) to get the cutters (KNIVES) = CON KNIVES by the sound if it = CONNIVES: plots.
14: O-PALE-SCENT
Oh (O) that faint (PALE) perfume (SCENT) = OPALESCENT: is just a shade precious.
16: APERTURE
The hole (that sounds like "the whole").
18: REASSURER
20: SUSTAIN ... anagram of "us" up with the "saint".
21: S(EVENT)H
Keep quiet (S-H) about what will happen to one (EVENT) = SEVENTH: not one over the eighth.
I am not sure I agree with the maths, but that's me being pedantic ...
UPDATE: One of the Blog's email followers has pointed out that "one over the eight" is old military slang, meaning "having had one too many drinks".
23: GET UP
25: R(A-C)ED
In the red (R-ED) to get a hundred (A C) = RACED: in a hurry.
26: PONY
Too small to be IN THE DERBY.
23: GET UP
25: R(A-C)ED
In the red (R-ED) to get a hundred (A C) = RACED: in a hurry.
26: PONY
Too small to be IN THE DERBY.
9 comments:
Hi Bill,
Happy Thanksgivig Day to you .
Nice one today and tantara too. O PALE SCENT is just brilliant and LITTERS is very clever.
Most enjoyable.
Tommy
Hi Tommy,
Not being an American, I have never been able to fully appreciate Thanksgiving the way a native does. It sure is big over here.
Yes, a nice puzzle today, that just GAMBOLLED along, I thought. Hope you're enjoying your day off ... oh that's right, you don't have one! :)
Hi All,
I give thanks for finishing today with APERTURE my last also.
Martina
Hi Martina,
And I give thanks to you for checking in with us. Good to see you on that winning streak again :)
Hi Bill & Co.
Cool Aria...sent a shiver through me when she hit those high notes!
I can see why you like her!
Happy Thanksgiving Day to you too Bill!
It was on the news here that a lady from Chicago came to Dublin to celebrate the day with her daughter...so not 'Only in America'!
We still have Christmas to look forward to..so there!
Cheers, Moley
Hi Moley,
Glad you liked Barb singing today's Aria. I've long been a fan of her singing (and her politics). I could probably do without all the drama that surrounds her singing though.
And Happy Thanksgiving back at ya. My American family and I have celebrated TG in a few different places around the world, and have always found some orphan yanks to drag in for dinner :)
And don't head to the shops tomorrow. It'll be packed. Black Friday ...
Hi Bill and all,
Hope you're enjoying the Thanksgiving celebrations Bill...Mr. C. gave you another reason to say thanks today...I felt like I'd joined ERB in the derby...raced home...an unusual occurrence for me!
Really liked OPALESCENT, CONNIVES, PLACATE and GAMBOLLED.
Easy on the ARRACK today, Bill!
Liz
Hi Liz,
I did have a good Thanksgiving, thank you, Liz. A little too much ARRACK admittedly, but a good day was had by all :)
Congrats on the speedy solving. It's a great feeling to race through the occasional puzzle ... although I don't like it to happen too, too often.
Hi all,
Re SEVENTH
I just wanted to note that one of the Blog's email followers has pointed out that "one over the eight" is old military slang. Someone who has had one over the eight has had one too many drinks. The assumption is that eight drinks are fine, but that ninth one is one too many!
Post a Comment