Crossword Roundup: We all know the 'shabby', so what is a 'shabby'?
In the sample clues below, the links direct you to explanations from our series for beginners. The name of the smuggler is often linked to an interview with him, in case you want to know these people better.
The news in cluesWhen, Last time we said a tentative farewell to clues mentioning Liz Truss, there was one we couldn't discuss as the prize for the puzzle in question was still up for grabs. The handy annotated solution to Vlad's puzzle is now available. Earlier we referenced the Saudi LIV Golf shenanigans…
9a There might be a few bucks around a rebel golf tour - make it happen (7) [game words: what dollars are an example of, containing the name of a rebel golf round ][ DEER containing LIV ][ definition: make it happen ]
…in a clue for DELIVER which of course leads us to this clue…
23d Complaint raised an issue about Liz previously, who doesn't have 9 (5) [pun intended: reversed ("raised") synonym of mathematical "problem" containing the abbreviation. for the job title of "Liz before, who didn't deliver" ][ Reverse SUM containing PM ][ definition: a medical "complaint" ]
… for MUMPS. So is it now goodbye to Truss? Guess not, at least in crosswords.
In other news, in case the Twitter list of cryptic crosswords we've so lovingly put together should for any reason stop working feel free to greet me at @alanconnor@mastodon.online and we can build something similar.
Latest modelHere is Zamorca in the Financial Times with a clue…
2d Embarrassed sailor boy coming aboard scruffy (6)[ pun: synonym for “embarrassed” containing the abbrev. for able-bodied sailor ("sailor") & abbrev. for "boy" ] [ SHY containing AB & B ][ definition: scruffy ]
… for SHABBY. "Scraffy" is of course a word reminiscent of Scruff, the nasty beastly skin disorder. Is it the same for SHABBY?
Very often the answer is no. We had "ditzy" before anyone called "ditz", "glizty" before "glitz", and "dumpy" before the relevant "dump" type. With SHABBY, however, there is fortunately an earlier SHAB, also a skin disease in sheep. In fact, it's not so lucky if you're Samuel Johnson, whose feelings are clear:
In the sample clues below, the links direct you to explanations from our series for beginners. The name of the smuggler is often linked to an interview with him, in case you want to know these people better.
The news in cluesWhen, Last time we said a tentative farewell to clues mentioning Liz Truss, there was one we couldn't discuss as the prize for the puzzle in question was still up for grabs. The handy annotated solution to Vlad's puzzle is now available. Earlier we referenced the Saudi LIV Golf shenanigans…
9a There might be a few bucks around a rebel golf tour - make it happen (7) [game words: what dollars are an example of, containing the name of a rebel golf round ][ DEER containing LIV ][ definition: make it happen ]
…in a clue for DELIVER which of course leads us to this clue…
23d Complaint raised an issue about Liz previously, who doesn't have 9 (5) [pun intended: reversed ("raised") synonym of mathematical "problem" containing the abbreviation. for the job title of "Liz before, who didn't deliver" ][ Reverse SUM containing PM ][ definition: a medical "complaint" ]
… for MUMPS. So is it now goodbye to Truss? Guess not, at least in crosswords.
In other news, in case the Twitter list of cryptic crosswords we've so lovingly put together should for any reason stop working feel free to greet me at @alanconnor@mastodon.online and we can build something similar.
Latest modelHere is Zamorca in the Financial Times with a clue…
2d Embarrassed sailor boy coming aboard scruffy (6)[ pun: synonym for “embarrassed” containing the abbrev. for able-bodied sailor ("sailor") & abbrev. for "boy" ] [ SHY containing AB & B ][ definition: scruffy ]
… for SHABBY. "Scraffy" is of course a word reminiscent of Scruff, the nasty beastly skin disorder. Is it the same for SHABBY?
Very often the answer is no. We had "ditzy" before anyone called "ditz", "glizty" before "glitz", and "dumpy" before the relevant "dump" type. With SHABBY, however, there is fortunately an earlier SHAB, also a skin disease in sheep. In fact, it's not so lucky if you're Samuel Johnson, whose feelings are clear:
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