Crossword Help Forum
Forum Rules

A "woman who does". There's an old term for a cleaner which I doubt malone and grunger would approve of.

At least the "doing" refers to nothing more than housework but there was a radio programme in the 1940s called ITMA in which a Mrs Mopp's catch phrase was "can I do you now, sir?" It always got a laugh because the audience read something salacious into it.

Jigjag, I'd had enough of the 'ough' stuff, so skimmed over some of that. I remember you were underwhelmed with the recent Government use of 'furlough'. I didn't mind it as Chambers allowed it. I pronounce it 'furlow'. If I'm reading the symbols, in Chambers, correctly, that's OK. I have, though, found it easier to avoid using the word altogether.

jigjag

I have heard it pronounced fur-lug here, so you could put "on furlough" into the sentence to give 11 oughs in 20 words.

Malone orson

Daily, ****, Mrs Mopp, woman who does - what is wrong with cleaner? I suppose they were introduced as "cleaner" was felt to be insulting, but it is the other way round.

Orson, i have always hated the 'woman who does' phrase and deliberately didn't mention it when I wrote about the other two archaisms. It always struck me as a meaningless phrase, and slightly insulting.

Grunger, most of the cleaners I know are perfectly happy to be called cleaners. Some of those in my area are highly sought-after, one of them even had a waiting list!

I asked my cleaner this morning if she would be like to be known as a "woman who does". She gave me a funny look. "I am a woman who doesn't" she said.

Malone

Yes, some cleaners are highly sought-after and well-paid. A friend pays her cleaner £40 for 2 hours, which seems excessive, but the cleaner has plenty of work.

JIgjag

If you had asked me that, I would have asked you to explain what you mean.

Malone Paul

Re the other thread ,I thought anorexic was OK, and I liked "mod" and we have a rocker today, though I have not solved it yet. Nor have I got the Romeo clue but no doubt it involves SA/IT.

Jigjag,

I had only a moment or two musing on 'anorexic', it didn't bother me unduly. Romeo's not got IT or SA today...

jigjag

Done it but there were 2 hidden clues. Paul said recently you cant have that.

Thought the golf course clue was wrong as the person is 6 letters not 5 which is something else

Lot of sex in it today.

This is just a moan - and as it relates to one of today's prize puzzles, it'd be better not to give the answer.


Reported error in puzzle (5).


It's definitely NOT reported anywhere near me!