(i probably didn't mean obscure. it's an odd name for a fish, sound's more like a human name)
― koogs, Tuesday, 2 July 2013 09:47 (ten years ago) link
i get your point but it's quite a common fish
― for many people a really special folder makes a huge difference (Noodle Vague), Tuesday, 2 July 2013 09:48 (ten years ago) link
Plastic capsule, which may be inserted into orifices (7)
From today's grauniad. I can usually get about ten guardian clues on Monday and a few on Tuesday. After that it's just too hard for me
― paolo, Tuesday, 2 July 2013 10:03 (ten years ago) link
i liked this from last week:
Mussels and lychees for starters at The Fat Duck? (7)
― lex pretend, Tuesday, 2 July 2013 10:09 (ten years ago) link
nice!
― woof, Tuesday, 2 July 2013 10:11 (ten years ago) link
brilliant
― ledge, Tuesday, 2 July 2013 10:17 (ten years ago) link
hint?
― kinder, Tuesday, 2 July 2013 17:26 (ten years ago) link
for starters = first letters of...
― koogs, Tuesday, 2 July 2013 17:54 (ten years ago) link
(stumbled on answer whilst looking up how to spell muscovy and it's obvious when you see it. (it's not 'muscovy'))
― koogs, Tuesday, 2 July 2013 17:56 (ten years ago) link
got it, i had the wrong duck at first and couldn't make it work
― for many people a really special folder makes a huge difference (Noodle Vague), Tuesday, 2 July 2013 17:57 (ten years ago) link
lol yeah i was wrestling with muscovy
Good clue, I got it instantly but I've never heard of a muscovy!
― sjuttiosju_u (wins), Tuesday, 2 July 2013 17:59 (ten years ago) link
ah
― kinder, Tuesday, 2 July 2013 18:00 (ten years ago) link
still haven't got the capsule one. think it's an anagram of capsule. but 'upscale' doesn't fit the clue (or does it?)
― koogs, Tuesday, 2 July 2013 18:02 (ten years ago) link
Specula.
― ledge, Tuesday, 2 July 2013 18:10 (ten years ago) link
damn
― sjuttiosju_u (wins), Tuesday, 2 July 2013 18:12 (ten years ago) link
internet anagram server in doesn't know the word 'specula' shocker.
― koogs, Tuesday, 2 July 2013 19:57 (ten years ago) link
The duck one is mallard right?
― paolo, Wednesday, 3 July 2013 10:15 (ten years ago) link
correct
― Neil S, Wednesday, 3 July 2013 10:18 (ten years ago) link
also liked this, from the same crossword:
Nancy’s first person with second person’s servant (6)
got it fairly swiftly (we had all the other letters) but struggled to parse it for ages UNTIL i remembered some obscure geography
― lex pretend, Wednesday, 3 July 2013 10:25 (ten years ago) link
Guardian, today, I suspect non-Britishers need not apply:
Morals in Violet Elizabeth's county (6)
― Neil S, Tuesday, 23 July 2013 12:43 (ten years ago) link
lol nice one
― what makes a man start polls? (Noodle Vague), Tuesday, 23 July 2013 12:48 (ten years ago) link
ha nice
― woof, Tuesday, 23 July 2013 12:51 (ten years ago) link
Think I've got this one but would appreciate a hand...
Player of loud music told to get packing (6), R _ _ _ E _
― Neil S, Tuesday, 23 July 2013 12:53 (ten years ago) link
sounds like WR---E-
― click here to start exploding (ledge), Tuesday, 23 July 2013 13:01 (ten years ago) link
some dodgy stuff in that gordius (emi = musical?) but the following got a grin:
Induct Roger to such knowledge (6)
― click here to start exploding (ledge), Tuesday, 23 July 2013 13:02 (ten years ago) link
i have no idea how to parse the violet elizabeth one, i think i have the answer but why????
― lex pretend, Tuesday, 23 July 2013 13:09 (ten years ago) link
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Just_William
Other recurring characters include Violet Elizabeth Bott, lisping spoiled daughter of the local nouveau riche millionaire (whose companionship William reluctantly endures, to prevent her carrying out her threat "I'll thcream and thcream 'till I'm thick")
fyi i read these timeless classics in the eighties
― click here to start exploding (ledge), Tuesday, 23 July 2013 13:11 (ten years ago) link
Violet Elizabeth Bott is a character in the Just William stories who famously has a lisp
― what makes a man start polls? (Noodle Vague), Tuesday, 23 July 2013 13:11 (ten years ago) link
i know who violet elizabeth is, i don't understand what she has to do with the answer...
― lex pretend, Tuesday, 23 July 2013 13:12 (ten years ago) link
pronounce a county with a strong lisp?
― what makes a man start polls? (Noodle Vague), Tuesday, 23 July 2013 13:12 (ten years ago) link
i realised as soon as i posted my last post. aaaaghhhhhh
― lex pretend, Tuesday, 23 July 2013 13:13 (ten years ago) link
hah yeah either you get it or not I suppose
― Neil S, Tuesday, 23 July 2013 13:15 (ten years ago) link
Doesn't stand up imo as she'd lisp on the X too.
― Kind regards, (onimo), Tuesday, 23 July 2013 15:12 (ten years ago) link
you don't lisp on an x/ck sound do you?
― Neil S, Tuesday, 23 July 2013 15:14 (ten years ago) link
I think lispers would have trouble with both sibilants and pronounce it ethicth.
― Kind regards, (onimo), Tuesday, 23 July 2013 15:32 (ten years ago) link
Mr. Botts's was an Earthworm (7)
I am absolutely astounded I got this one. Just seeing if anyone else knows the obscure reference.
― Byron E. Coli (Dan Peterson), Friday, 26 July 2013 15:47 (ten years ago) link
no.
http://www.farmcollector.com/Farm-life/The-Natural-Born-Salesman.aspx
clue a bit lacking imo.
― koogs, Friday, 26 July 2013 15:56 (ten years ago) link
Agree. Frank W. Lewis (The Nation has a lot of those purely cryptic clues that aren't anagrams or other wordplay, they're just arcane references to things. I guessed this one only because I had spotted the movie title Earthworm Tractors in Leonard Maltin's guide. (Joe E. Brown, 1936. I've never seen it.)
― Byron E. Coli (Dan Peterson), Friday, 26 July 2013 17:07 (ten years ago) link
Took my own stab at it. Don't know if this exactly works, but I think so?
Model T, cart or farm vehicle. (7)
― Byron E. Coli (Dan Peterson), Friday, 26 July 2013 17:35 (ten years ago) link
Flurry of penetrating rain washed away camping equipment (4,3)
― lex pretend, Friday, 2 August 2013 12:54 (ten years ago) link
you got it?
― phasmid beetle types (Noodle Vague), Friday, 2 August 2013 12:59 (ten years ago) link
yeah
arachne is vg today
― lex pretend, Friday, 2 August 2013 13:01 (ten years ago) link
i did yesterday's online and it took less than 10 mins. arachne is pretty good as i remember
― phasmid beetle types (Noodle Vague), Friday, 2 August 2013 13:01 (ten years ago) link
One for the lex from today's grauniad:
Going further shaking bottom, extremely cute singer (7)
And I wouldn't have got this if I didn't watch Family Guy:
Clam — 50p with a pig? (6)
― click here to start exploding (ledge), Thursday, 15 August 2013 13:33 (ten years ago) link
And this neologism:
One following chatter incessantly, partial to rubbish, their characters limited (10)
― click here to start exploding (ledge), Thursday, 15 August 2013 13:35 (ten years ago) link
Ha nice!
I liked this one from today as well:
14d Like this clue: "Bowel disorder" — its location? (4,5)
― Neil S, Thursday, 15 August 2013 13:36 (ten years ago) link
i liked the beyoncé one obv but this was my favourite clue in that crossword:
Change of heart in a little Australian prayer (5)
yesterday's enigmatist prize crossword was actually impossible beyond three obvious ones. completely stumped otherwise.
― lex pretend, Sunday, 18 August 2013 10:08 (ten years ago) link
Today's Guardian:
Coldplay's latest hit (newer compilation) (3,7,4)
― Neil S, Wednesday, 18 September 2013 12:19 (ten years ago) link
Beware of misleading David Essex influences.
― click here to start exploding (ledge), Wednesday, 18 September 2013 13:08 (ten years ago) link