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Well, today's was my worst performance in a long time. I missed HEN RUN in the southeast, and everything ... EVERYTHING ... in the northwest. My main problem was that I put in TALENT instead of LATENT, and I was positive it was correct. I also had a tentative OLIVES in for DWELLS, adding to the challenge. Or maybe I just hit the ARRACK too hard earlier in the day ...
Today's Crosaire Aria
16A: TENORS
Long before the Irish Tenors, we had the Three Tenors. Famously, the threesome was Plácido Domingo, José Carreras and the late Luciano Pavarotti. The 1990 World Cup brought the three together for the first time, when they performed in Rome the night before the final. The concert was a charity affair, raising money for the José Carreras Foundation, formed by the singer after his recovery from leukemia. In this clip the trio perform one of the most popular arias in the repertoire, La donna è mobile (Woman is fickle!) from Verdi's Rigoletto. When I compare the voices of the three tenors side-by-side like this, I think I can discern the depth of Pavarotti's voice, as he puts all his (formidable) weight behind it ...
The Clue of the Day
16A: So many alternatives make them sound high (6)
This clue is to the point, I'd say. I like the smooth use of "alternatives" to point to ORS. So many (TEN) alternatives (ORS) = TENORS: make them sound high.
The Lookup of the Day12A: (FUR)UNCLES
Boils, also called FURNUNCLES, are a skin disease caused by infected hair follicles (that get very "icky"). When individual FURUNCLES cluster together they form a "carbuncle". The term FURUNCLE actually comes from botany, where a FURUNCLE is an abnormal growth on a vine. The name has its roots (pun!) in the Latin furunculus, meaning a petty thief. The reasoning is that a FURUNCLE "steals" the sap from the vine. Quite interesting ...
Here are my answers. As always, I welcome comments and explanations. Thanks!
Across
1: GLAD-IATOR
Happy (GLAD) where there's "a riot" in confusion (IATOR) = GLADIATOR: to be fighting.
Nice clue, classic structure ...
9: POT-ASH
Where the saucepan (POT) has been burnt (ASH) = POTASH: with the fertiliser.
10: STEEPENS
11: A-CUT-'ER
It will make a wound (A CUT) on 'er ('ER) = ACUTER: though only comparatively sharp.
12: UNCLES
Might have fur (FUR) them relatively (UNCLES) = FURUNCLES: on the boil.
FURUNCLE is another word for a boil, it says here ...
14: INCH
There's a ball (BALL) in a (IN A) hamlet (H) shortly (INCH) = BALLINAHINCH: in Galway.
I guess the suggestion is that H is an abbreviation for Hamlet? Anyone?
15: STERN
Strictly speaking (STERN) the STERN is not a bow (of a ship).
Nice one ...
16: TEN-ORS
So many (TEN) alternatives (ORS) = TENORS: make them sound high.
And another nice one ...
18: MUST-'ARD
It has to (MUST) get hard for the cockney ('ARD) = MUSTARD: to make it so hot.
21: BRISTLE
24: RUN-NEL
Hurry (RUN) little Leonard, Len, back (NEL) = RUNNEL: to the stream.
A RUNNEL is just that, a stream or a brook.
26: OUTER
30: LEAR
The playful King LEAR, and Edward LEAR wrote literary NONSENSE.
31: H-A(U)LED
In the lead (A-LED) were you (U) = -AULED: the "last" part of the answer, HAULED: what a drag it was.
32: LA(RD)ER
LEAR is about (LA-ER) where the doctor, Dr, will turn up (RD) = LARDER: near the kitchen.
33: SCISSORS
This pair will give a start to ACUT-ER (A CUT) = SCISSORS.
34: ICE MEN
It's hard to be so cold (ICE) points to ICE MEN: as their job makes them.
ICE MEN are MEN whose job it is to make, pack and deliver ICE, I just found out ...
35: I(SO-LATIN)G
To make it so Roman (-SO LATIN-) is "inside" the answer, ISOLATING: leaving it alone.
Down
2: L(AT)ENT
During Lent (L-ENT) what's at (AT) = LATENT: there's some potential for.
3: D-WELLS
With the oil (-WELLS) is the "bottom" of the answer, DWELLS: lives.
4: A-VERSE
Rhyme (A VERSE) = AVERSE: not in favour, the opposed way.
5: OUSTING
6: DOUCHE ... anagram of "hue" of a "cod".
M. Crosaire is sure fond of his French showers recently ...
7: LAST POST
8: C-HER-I-SHED
After a century (C) it's her (HER) I got rid of ( I SHED) = CHERISHED: so tenderly.
Classic ...
11: ACTOR
Nice clue ...
13: ETNA
Before (ANTE) from below = ETNA: Mount.
17: A-MAR-YLLIS
Give a (A) silly sheep, 'silly ram', a turn up (MAR YLLIS) = AMARYLLIS: blooming.
An AMARYLLIS is a popular houseplants.
19: SUN-DRIES
Outside on a fine day (SUN) makes it dry (DRIES) = SUNDRIES: in various ways.
20: RULER
22: IDEA
With this thought (IDEA) of a list (LIST) = IDEALIST: he would try to make things perfect.
23: COR(PS)ES
Among a score (COR-ES) one afterthought (PS) = CORPSES: for the dead.
25: E-LEVEN
The Eastern (E) loch (LEVEN) = ELEVEN: the side.
Loch Leven is a dear friend, and was a Lookup of the Day earlier this month ...
27: TH-RILL
For there to be a stream (RILL) is "at the bottom" of the answer, THRILL: how exciting.
28: R(US)SET
Among all the rest (R-SET) us here (US) = RUSSET: brown.
29: HEN RUN
This pen (is for a) fowl (sounds "foul").
9 comments:
Hi Bill
Well, you're not a man to hang about when you get an idea! Nice to be able to comment without fear of ruining your puzzle!
...and talking about dishes...bet washing the dishes is a slightly more sophisticated operation in the Butler household than it is chez moi right now...bet you have the running water...or even one of them newfangled electric dishwashers I've heard people talk about?!!
Anyway less of my ramblings...
The top half of today's crossword was nice and easy...but I was slow as a snail down south! Fought hard for my tantara!!
MUSTARD was my breakthrough in the SW...I had a couple of others in first, but once I got the hot stuff, AMARYLLIS filled itself and helped me complete that quadrant...apart from RUNNEL...which I spotted early on from the clue but had never heard of...and was...(still am)...iffy about the 'men' part of ICE MEN?
I was very slow unscrambling the CORPSES anagram...I'll blame it on tiredness!...and worked hard for HAULED...but at least they were nice when I eventually got them!
HENRUN was my last...great clue but had me clucking around like a headless chicken!
Went back and filled in RUNNEL...left well enough alone with the dubious ICE MEN...and crossed my fingers!
Tougher crossword than yesterday's but some lovely clues....GLADIATOR, STERN, TENORS, MUSTARD, HAULED, CHERISHED, AMARYLLIS, RULER, CORPSES...
Hope you had a good Thanksgiving...and enjoy the puzzle!
Liz
Hi Bill
Just read your commentary...
If its any consolation I was also thinking OLIVES for 2d but fortunately didn't have the TALENT to see that alternative possibility for LATENT!...so managed to get GLADIATOR quickly...making me DWELL again on the oil situation!
Same thoughts on the H for BallinahINCH...
I reckon your downfall today was in no small part due to the fact that you don't suffer from ARRACKnophobia!!
Liz
Hi Bill, Liz,
I haven't posted in a while, but I still do the crossword when I get the chance. Today's went quite well for me after a VERY slow start (and a slow middle). All filled in and one wrong. My one mistake was having OTTER for OUTER! I presumed it was a darts reference...
Keep up the good work.
Hi Liz,
Yes, I think we'll try out the Midnight Crosaire Club posting for a few days, and see how it goes.
Still no water, eh? Hopefully it'll start flowing again by the weekend as promised.
It looks like you had a very different experience with today's puzzle compared to my disastrous foray. I found the top half far from easy, although my missteps with TALENT and OLIVES were probably my downfall. And you did get that tantara. Well done you!
The ICE MEN clue is a little iffy, I agree, although I was able to find out that the job of an ICE MAN does in fact exist.
Oh, and today, I am definitely suffering from ARRACKnophobia, a big throbbing ARRACKnophobia ...
Ken!
Long time no see. It's good to hear from you. I'm glad to see that you are still Crosairing away.
Bad luck with the OTTER/OUTER gaff. You're probably always hitting the bulls-eye, Ken, and never have to deal with that 25 in the OUTER!
Mmmmm,
Had TALENTfor LATENT for quite a while but got that sorted out only to have LAST NOTE instead of LAST POST thus preventing me getting BRISTLE.
However, I do have a problem with HENRUN. Surely it is two words??.
I also agree that ICE MEN is a dubious clue.
Mick H
Hi Mick,
Lucky you, getting out of the TALENT/LATENT trap. I wish I had gotten that far.
I didn't have LAST NOTE at any point, but I did start out with LAST WORD, before realizing that LAST POST made so much more sense.
And I think you make a good point about HENRUN. I agree, it should be two words. Another excuse for me doing so badly today!
Better luck tomorrow, Mick.
Hi All,
Sounds like a lot of us had similar experiences today. I too started with TALENT and OLIVES before I got GLADIATOR to sort out that corner. I put in LAST WORD first and nearly settled for BRINDLE. I would have thought you'd be having a close shave to avoid having bristle - so the gilette/wilkinson ads always convinced me! I also gave up on HENRUN and agree it should be 2 words. Better luck tomorrow hopefully.
Martina
Hi Martina,
It looks like you had an almost identical experience to me today. I went down the TALENT/OLIVES/LAST WORD roads, and was also considering BRINDLE.
You of course sorted all that out ... I did not.
Better luck tomorrow indeed ...
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