Crossword Help Forum
Forum Rules

Step change this week: hard scrabble. FOI:1d, LOI:15a and much trouble in between. COI:9a

It was suggested last week that this puzzle might in some way be a celebration to mark the 300th puzzle by the current Everyman - I really don't think it is!

That's not to say there aren't some good clues, just that there are a few that leave me a tad perplexed.

12a - has this ever been used in the singular?

1a - I thought that maybe there was a another verse collection with the same first name but different second but, if there is I can't find it. So I think it must be referring to the D.... C..... - and yes, I know it's a T...... but that's not what it's called.

Also, and this isn't unique to this puzzle, but I've noticed a trend lately whereby clues indicating comparative forms are producing superlative answers.

Lastly, and this is a very minor gripe, but I'd have much preferred if the "a" in 6d was omitted - it makes a big difference.

Okay, now for the positives:-

9a - This was a difficult parse but a great clue and wouldn't have been out of place in a Prize or even some barred puzzles.

1d - I though this was a wonderful clue, both succinct and witty.

Thanks to Everyman.

I found this tougher than usual.
Some questionable clues, but a few very good ones.
COD 16 over 21, 20, 12 and 5.
FOI 3, LOI 25

A in 6d?

Sorry, I meant 4d:-)

Brendan… think of he of Hiawatha fame

Brendan, the dictator of 9 was once a regular guest in (even US) crosswords, but he's rarely seen nowadays. Agreed it's a good clue...I wrote in the answer but didn't parse until you mentioned it.

Forget that … I got A very good but incorrect answer to 1a

Same here Geeker, that first word in 9a took me about 20 minutes to parse, I'm not kidding.

Edc, I typed 1a followed by Hiawatha into Google and it just goes straight to the D.... C.... with no mention of T....., other than the D.... C...., - and round and round we go 😂

Sorry Edc, our posts crossed making my reply redundant:-)