# Crosswords **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 7, 2002, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crosswords/107762 "2002-05-07T19:26:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![manwithaplan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f1d935/32.png) [@manwithaplan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manwithaplan)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2002, 8:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crosswords/107762/101 "2002-05-10T08:13:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by dono \* > \*\* > Took me a while, too - and I’m still not absolutely certain. But It seems to be something like: > > look = lo > after > my duck = dip (if I duck down, I’m “dipping” - is that a Britishism?) > with a > graduate = M.A. > > dip + lo + ma = qualification > \*\* That was the way I was thinking but the ‘lo’ for look is a new one on me. That must be the construction though. Nice one on Helium, **Stimpson**. I was another of the poor unfortunates who was struggling with ‘helm’. Actually, I’m surprised the He=helium thing isn’t used more often. O=oxygen is a hardy perennial in the Irish Times but that’s the first time I’ve seen this. It’s much more subtle too. ---
**Author:** ![kabbes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e99b99/32.png) [@kabbes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kabbes)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2002, 9:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crosswords/107762/102 "2002-05-10T09:32:06Z")
I was thinking similar thoughts. It’s amazing really. My _very first thoughts_ on reading the clue were “helm” and “IU”. And yet in six hours I never thought to put them together. Incredible. Now to think about BO. So to speak. ::thinks… _body odour, battery operated… ooh missus_:: pan ---
**Author:** ![Reuben](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/54ee81/32.png) [@Reuben](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reuben)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2002, 10:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crosswords/107762/103 "2002-05-10T10:19:30Z")
I’m amazed no-one’s put in one of the classics : **S.G.E.G. (9,4)** Scrambled Eggs Does anyone else here regularly do The Times’ crossword? If so, would you agree it is becoming impossible? Today’s happens to be easy, but usually it’s a complete nightmare… they must have some new compilers or something. ---
**Author:** ![kabbes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e99b99/32.png) [@kabbes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kabbes)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2002, 10:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crosswords/107762/104 "2002-05-10T10:47:37Z")
I only do the Times occassionally. I do the Express every day, 'cos it’s easy enough to do in an hour’s lunch and is kinda cute. I do the Observer Everyman on sundays. And I _attempt_ the Guardian reasonably regularly, though if Auraucaria (or whatever the damn name is) has compiled it I;m lucky to get a single clue. Some compilers I get 3/4 of the way through on though. Oh - and I do the Telegraph on Wednesdays if someone has bought it for the fantasy football. It’s quite a nice one. I quite like the Independent but don’t try it very often. Frankly the Times crossword intimidates me. Like you, I think it’s got harder. That GEGS clue was in Drop the Dead Donkey a number of years ago. Do you remember? pan ---
**Author:** ![manwithaplan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f1d935/32.png) [@manwithaplan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manwithaplan)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2002, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crosswords/107762/105 "2002-05-10T11:34:46Z")
OK, as promised, here’s a few from today’s Irish Times. It wasn’t a classic and there was a lot clues referencing other clues so you’ll have to make do with the following. **[ol] [li]Sounds as if it’s a baron to conclude that one is on the roof (9)[/li] [li]How the fish brought the subject up in bed (8)[/li] [li]It’s wrong to hurry back like this (4)[/li] [li]How ruddy saucy this is thanks to the graduates & Co (7)[/li] [li]All the females in the Old Testament? No, the alternate ones (5,5)[/li] [li]It’s a bit of a fight to get both of them fired (3,7)[/li] [li]Your two at least (4)[/li] [li]The carp would, by the sound of it, work with this on the way in (5)[/li] [li]How the broken spoons are shortly to be backing (7)[/li] [li]The beast I make an appointment with in chemical fashion (7)[/li] [li]That’s not your man in there stuffing himself (8)[/li] [li]It’s open to one to leave and grant that place in Africa its independence (4,2,2)[/li] [li]How I had the tent, perhaps - silly me! (5)[/li]**[/ol] So, there’s the celtic challenge - knock yourselves out. ---
**Author:** ![Ximenean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/aca169/32.png) [@Ximenean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ximenean)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2002, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crosswords/107762/106 "2002-05-10T12:11:21Z")
Woohoo! I think I got B-O (the clue, I mean) Bottle-opener GEGS reminds me of another classic: **E** (13) Since this is virtually impossible if you haven’t seen it before, here are some checking letters: –N-E–S-N— ---
**Author:** ![kabbes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e99b99/32.png) [@kabbes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kabbes)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2002, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crosswords/107762/107 "2002-05-10T13:43:53Z")
Well mine was a washout today. I did it in about 25 mins - most were fairly obvious. I quite liked this though: **Bias that usually follows pride** (9) **manwithaplan** - number 4 is TOBASCO. **Usram** - I like the answer to B! Shall work on E. Try this one: **I** (6,3) pan ---
**Author:** ![kabbes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e99b99/32.png) [@kabbes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kabbes)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2002, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crosswords/107762/108 "2002-05-10T14:10:47Z")
**Usram** , what I really want to put for that E clue is: SENSELESSNESS (the -LESSNESS on the end seems a given)but there’s no reason for that to be “E” particularly. Bah. ---
**Author:** ![manwithaplan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f1d935/32.png) [@manwithaplan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manwithaplan)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2002, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crosswords/107762/109 "2002-05-10T14:12:36Z")
**Kabbes** - Bias=prejudice I wouldn’t have got bottle opener in a million years - I suspect the same is true of **E** and **I** ---
**Author:** ![kabbes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e99b99/32.png) [@kabbes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kabbes)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2002, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crosswords/107762/110 "2002-05-10T14:13:29Z")
Aha. **manwithaplan** : number 9 is SPONSOR ---
**Author:** ![kabbes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e99b99/32.png) [@kabbes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kabbes)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2002, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crosswords/107762/111 "2002-05-10T14:15:40Z")
“I” is\* a lot easier than B, which I too would never have got (at least without a lot more letters). In fact, if you think about typical crossword tricks, you might get “I” quicker than you think. “E” is a right ol’ stumper I think. pan \*I is? I am, shorely. ---
**Author:** ![manwithaplan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f1d935/32.png) [@manwithaplan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manwithaplan)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2002, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crosswords/107762/112 "2002-05-10T14:17:00Z")
**Kabbes** , if I may be so bold as to jump in on **Usram’s** clue, you’re right about ‘E’. It’s SENSE without the NESS, leaving E. Fair play to you. ---
**Author:** ![kabbes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e99b99/32.png) [@kabbes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kabbes)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2002, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crosswords/107762/113 "2002-05-10T14:21:48Z")
Ahhh. So I got it without knowing how, just by knowing that L—N--- is normally -LESSNESS and trying to fill in the gap! Clever clue though. Now. Any guesses for my one-letter wonder? ---
**Author:** ![dono](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e0b2c6/32.png) [@dono](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dono)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2002, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crosswords/107762/114 "2002-05-10T14:22:01Z")
Not much time to play today, guys ☹ Maybe I’ll get back later. But I did want to quickly respond to: _Originally posted by **MWAP** _ > [@](#): > > That was the way I was thinking but the ‘lo’ for look is a new one on me. “Lo, and behold!” ---
**Author:** ![kabbes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e99b99/32.png) [@kabbes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kabbes)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2002, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crosswords/107762/115 "2002-05-10T14:24:18Z")
Is "Your two at least " SOME? As in “so, me” for “your” and meaning “two at least”? ---
**Author:** ![kabbes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e99b99/32.png) [@kabbes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kabbes)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2002, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crosswords/107762/116 "2002-05-10T14:28:50Z")
Is it annoying, me doing these a post at a time? Let me know if so. I think 12. is FREE TO GO (Togo is in Africa, so a “free togo” would be one with independence) ---
**Author:** ![manwithaplan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f1d935/32.png) [@manwithaplan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manwithaplan)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2002, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crosswords/107762/117 "2002-05-10T15:10:50Z")
No problem with the post-by-post approach. Unfortunately, SOME is wrong, but your other three answers are right. Would your one be NUMBER ONE? ---
**Author:** ![Ximenean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/aca169/32.png) [@Ximenean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ximenean)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2002, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crosswords/107762/118 "2002-05-10T15:14:48Z")
Remind me not to buy the Irish Times next time I fancy a crossword. 1. is TORT, probably. Getting nowhere with **I** , though. Incidentally, my username is cryptic. You know how clues always use ‘point’ to mean N, S, E or W? Well Usram is supposed to be ‘pointless username’, geddit? Unfortunately, I realised too late that I had forgotten about the ‘S’ :D. Dickhead. You may call me ‘Uram’. ---
**Author:** ![kabbes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e99b99/32.png) [@kabbes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kabbes)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2002, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crosswords/107762/119 "2002-05-10T15:18:32Z")
Ding ding ding! We have a winner. Number one indeed. I rather like that. and I also like **Uram**. Not that I would have got it without being told. Now what the hell is “Your two at least”? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Great\_Unwashed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_great_unwashed/32/4791_2.png) [@The\_Great\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Great_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2002, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crosswords/107762/120 "2002-05-10T15:40:29Z")
Any one familiar with the “Printer’s Devilry” type of clue? It’s unchivalrous to make a woof your way. (9) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crosswords/107762.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crosswords/107762.md?page=7)