Introduction
Thank you to Henry for providing the solution to the puzzle which can be found in the comments below.
I invite you to leave a comment to let us know how you fared with the puzzle.
Signing off for this week — Falcon
Toughie 3383
10 hours ago
Good Saturday morning to all! How is it going, Falcon? getting close to check out time?
ReplyDeleteAt last, an easy puzzle today from C&R. We're playing a numbers game today, but not like last week.
Last in was 16a.
Favourite was 18a (funny about that curved character!)
Making progress but in here for another 5.5 weeks, I'm afraid.
DeleteSometimes (e.g. Dec 28/2019) the title of the puzzle is an important guide, so I hope you will provide it when you know it. I like the "charm" of this puzzle, a common feature of puzzles by Cox & Rathvon and few other setters.
ReplyDeleteFor example, 7-down has nothing to do with a two-base hit getting stuck in protective netting, and I smiled when I solved that clue.
It's called the surface read, and often the surface read is there to either misdirect you or to hold the components of the clue.
DeleteHi Keith,
DeleteI saw your comment on last week's puzzle. When it comes to a title, I try to avoid using words that appear in the solution. Ideally, the title is a cryptic allusion to elements in the puzzle that does not "let the cat out of the bag".
By the way, while in hospital, I do not dolve the puzzle until I get a hard copy which may be a day or two after it has been published.
Good morning,
ReplyDeletePleasant start to the new year. Plenty of references to music. 16a was last in for me too. Happy 2020 to everyone, especially to Falcon!
Peter
A nice way to start the year. How about "4/4 Time" hence the musical references. What was it about 16a that held it back.
ReplyDeleteBest wishes Falcon. Good 2020 all.
Here is the solution to this week’s puzzle from Cox and Rathvon. You shouldn’t find that it is too much of a challenge. I call this one “Four for the Fourth of January.” Sal’s idea for a title is good too, except there aren’t that many musical references. This was an enjoyable puzzle without last week’s digital complexity.
ReplyDeleteAcross
1a BU|COLIC BU=but (apart from) with out the last letter (endless), COLIC=childhood disease an attack of acute abdominal pain
5a DE(C|AGO)N C=Roman Numeral for 100 or a century, AGO=in the past, contained in (including) DEN=a study(
9a {ONE-ARMED BANDITS}* Anagram (playing) of “Mobster and Diane”
10a {TWO-POINT LANDINGS}* Anagram (damaged) of “wing tip at London”
11a TACKED˜ Homonym, (for auditing) of TACT=diplomacy
13a CR(A|GG)Y A+, GG=pair of G(enerals) (film ratings), contained in (absorbing) CRY=shout
16a ALB|ANY ALB=a white vestment worn by clergy and servers in some Christian Churches, ANY=some, (the Duke of Albany is the husband of Lear’s eldest daughter, Goneril, and becomes ruler of half of England in the play ‘King Lear’)
18a CO(S)MIC S=a curved character (in typography), contained in (about) COMIC=funny
22a {THREEPENNY OPERA}* Anagram (silly) of ‘Reran Popeye then’
24a {FOUR-LEAF CLOVERS}* Anagram (different) of ‘solve clue for far’
25a SCHERZO Hidden in (in) videodisSC HERZOg
26a S(ED)ATED ED(itor) contained in (in) SATED=full
Down
1d B|LOTTO B=B(ishop) shortform used in chess, before (starting with) LOTTO=game of chance
2d CHE|ROOT CHE (Ernesto "Che" Guevara was an Argentine Marxist revolutionary, a major figure of the Cuban Revolution), ROOT=to rummage
3d L|ARGO L(arge) shortform used in clothing etc, ARGO=a mythical ship, (In Greek mythology, Argo was the ship on which Jason and the Argonauts sailed to retrieve the Golden Fleece)
4d CLEA(NSE)R NSE=three (compass points) contained in (about) CLEAR=unambiguous
5d DA(BB)LE BB=B&B (shortform for Bed and Breakfast), contained in (around) DALE=valley
6d CON(UND)RUM CON=swindle, UND=the word ‘and’ in German (in Germany), RUM=strange
7d GA(IN|IN)G IN IN =double in, contained in (about) GAG=joke
8d N(OS|EG)AYS O’s=rings (letter shaped like a ring), EG=shortform of ‘for example,’ all contained in (accepted by) NAYS=some voters
12d CONCEALER Hidden in (in) paniC ONCE ALERted
14d MAS(TIFF)S TIFF=fight, contained in (in) MASS=pack
15d CORN(ICE)S ICE+, contained in (surrounded by) CORNS=grains or seeds
17d B(OR)OUGH OR=postal code for Oregon, contained in (on either side) BOUGH=branch
19d C(L)EMENT L(eft) contained in (in) CEMENT=concrete, (Pope Clement was the name of a number of popes; e.g. Pope Clement I, also known as Saint Clement of Rome, holding office from 88 to his death in 99)
20d LE(GAT)O GAT=revolver, shortform for Gattling Gun, contained in (carried by) LEO=Leo Tolstoy (Count Lev Nikolayevich Tolstoy , usually referred to in English as Leo Tolstoy, was a Russian writer who is regarded as one of the greatest authors of all time); Legato means to play music in a smooth flowing manner, without breaks between notes.
21d RAISED˜ Homonym (at hearing) of RAZED=torn down
23d O|VOID O(ld), VOID=vacuum
Or how about, simply 'Four for Four"?
Delete(the first words of the long across clues are the numbers 1-4, on the fourth of January.
16a was my stickler as well. But once I solved 17d, I got it. So nice to have something a little less mind-bending first thing in the morning.
ReplyDelete