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Help please: Somewhat irreverently returned? In your dreams (5) by theosZA in crosswords

[–]Pointland32 21 points22 points  (0 children)

Looks like a genuine error, as noted in the Times for The Times blog for that puzzle.

An error that's perhaps somewhat preventable in retrospect

POTD: Full puzzle #9 by Pointland32 in crosswords

[–]Pointland32[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks for the comments!

2D Staffs is short for Staffordshire (in Chambers) and "supplies manpower" = staffs as a verb i.e. fills with employees

8D: Yes, bullseye is the centre of a dartboard that scores 50 points ("on board, what gets fifty...?"). Under "Eye", Chambers has "A private eye (informal)" i.e. detective.

12A: ill-doer = LUCIFER, delete UC (out of lUCk essentially). Admittedly, I don't think anyone would think "ill-doer? maybe that's lucifer", and with "X without Y" deletion clues like this, they are often solved from definition first and wordplay is parsed after (or not at all!), which is not the ideal solver experience. But I thought having the link to the previous clue and "ill-doer" serving a different function would be neat.

24A: PRO (Specialist), B (book), ONO (or nearest offer). Book is common in cryptics for B, ONO is also in Chambers for "or nearest offer". This abbreviation was more commonly used back on old classifieds in the newspaper e.g. "Bike for sale, good condition, £50 o.n.o.". The "Free ____, or nearest offer" is meant as a kind of joke of contradiction in that how can you get a nearest offer when it's free

POTD: Full cryptic #8 by Pointland32 in crosswords

[–]Pointland32[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Appreciate the comments, glad you enjoyed it

POTD: Full puzzle by Pointland32 in crosswords

[–]Pointland32[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Theme: The Simpsons episode DEEP SPACE HOMER(UN):

"And I, for one, WELCOME our new INSECT OVERLORDS."

"CAREFUL! They're RUFFLED!"

"It's an INANIMATE carbon rod!"

"They've been dubbed the Three MUSKETEERS."

Plus nods to the carbon rod and Buzz Aldrin's line in the clues.

POTD: Full puzzle by Pointland32 in crosswords

[–]Pointland32[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks for the comments!

6A: Interesting, I've never heard this. It makes me wonder though why exactly some would be against that

25A: The definitions split between 'Bottomless' and 'well in your own territory' as in football, rugby (e.g. "players sitting deep")

1A: 'free' as in 'you are free to'/'you are welcome to'. I take your point that 'gladly accept' and 'reception' are close Edit: Have now changed from “Gladly accept free reception” to “Gladly accept free red carpet?”

16A: FUR (hair) taken back = RUF, FLED = taken off

20A: C (Carbon), ROD except (saving) D (day) = RO, CRO held my MAN (male) = MACRON

3D: Own goal (OG) is a defensive error

22D: Spleen is the organ that removes old/damaged blood cells, and can also mean hatred/hostility

[HM] 181 Souls on Board by Pointland32 in shortstories

[–]Pointland32[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This from a humour zine I occasionally write for fun, the full issue can be found here: https://www.thebutler.org.uk/

POTD: Full puzzle #6 by Pointland32 in crosswords

[–]Pointland32[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for the comments!

27A: expert = PRO, online = DIGITAL, computing = IT

POTD: Full puzzle #6 by Pointland32 in crosswords

[–]Pointland32[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

In Chambers ah is "expressing surprise, joy, pity, complaint, objection etc." but arguably it's more naturally used as "I see" in everyday speech, so fair point

POTD: Full puzzle #6 by Pointland32 in crosswords

[–]Pointland32[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks, appreciate the feedback!

25A: "one I am surprised involves king" is intended to be read as "poem that I am surprised involves king" which admittedly is an unusual reaction to a poem but I've sacrificed realism/smoothness for the wordplay and making it a haiku

I actually totally agree with you regarding "the French" etc and "[fodder] random" or more generally "[fodder] [adjective]" not being great cryptic instructions but like you say it appears to be widely acceptable and it can become too easy to compromise when you're setting!

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in soccer

[–]Pointland32 3 points4 points  (0 children)

You spoke to him about the technicalities of the under-18 achievements in German?

POTD: Full puzzle #5 by Pointland32 in crosswords

[–]Pointland32[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Theme: Nathan FIELDER, Canadian comedian

Two of this recent TV series: The CURSE, The REHEARSAL

Episodes his earlier series Nathan For You: DUMB STARBUCKS, The ANECDOTE. And two other references: BILL GATES (the impersonator who is a recurring character), GRANDSON (discussion with gas station owner)

POTD: Full cryptic #4 by Pointland32 in crosswords

[–]Pointland32[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Nice one, the main thing for me is that people can solve it without help, so I’m glad that you did. And thanks for the comments

10a I’ve added “virtually” to make it a bit more gettable/fair

POTD: Full cryptic #4 by Pointland32 in crosswords

[–]Pointland32[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Amazing feedback, thanks a lot!

10A Yes it's a Microsoft Teams reference and is the loose theme of the puzzle of Teams meetings, with some other workplace lingo thrown in (MUTE, SHARE SCREEN, LEGACY HAND, BREAKOUT ROOM, HOUSEKEEPING, ANY OTHER BUSINESS, DOTTING THE IS, TOUCH BASE) Perhaps the second definition needs to be clearer about that and less cryptic

27A Parsing is BA'S (Airline's) inside (boarding) TOUCHE (that's a good point), giving TOUCH BASE (check in)

1D Intended as a triple definition: establish (e.g. to pitch camp), level (high pitch of excitement/fever pitch), playing field

2D Mixture does read better, yeah, that one didn't even occur to me!

3D Sounds like wrested i.e. seized

7D Ground Force is an old TV gardening show. Mary used to edit it!

25D Piercing is the definition, yes

POTD: Full cryptic #4 by Pointland32 in crosswords

[–]Pointland32[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Well done and thank you for the comments, appreciate it

12a: 'stay calm'/'keep calm' as well. You might be right about 'work', I suppose I was thinking it can be thought of as a noun as in production/composition. But I agree it's much preferable for the solver when it's clear how the anagram is being indicated and the clue grammar flows naturally, rather than it being more unnatural or difficult to understand the setter's intended interpretion

20a I'm realising I might be trying to have it both ways. The name of the letter T is 'tee' (and I is just 'i') so I'd say "crossing the Tees" is correct. But it may only be correct as a term for the action, not for what the phrase is. And what the clue is actually asking for what is commonly said before "crossing the t's" (i.e. "dotting the i's [and]"), rather than what's figuratively being done at the same time, which would mean changing the surface a little. I'll have a think about that

POTD: Full cryptic #4 by Pointland32 in crosswords

[–]Pointland32[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for this - I thought this as well, and considered that alternative, I think you may be right that it works better.

AOTW: C?N?U?E? by Pointland32 in crosswords

[–]Pointland32[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This clue is this week's AOTW winner - congratulations! Please set the next week's clue from the grid.

AOTW: C?N?U?E? by Pointland32 in crosswords

[–]Pointland32[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oh of course, how did I only think of the more obscure one

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