It's really a perfect day for GAZPACHO, given the heat index, and that answer along with POPASHOT made me feel in a Summer mood to start the solve. I haven't played Battleship in yonks, but I enjoy a good game of cribbage, which also uses a PEG or two. Horace, we need to renew our rivalry. It's been too long since we've been able to be face to face.
And speaking of faces, I liked the pair of clues at 33D: Spot on a face (PIP, referring to face cards) and 9A: Bad spot for a date (PIMPLE). That's some nice playing around with expectations. My other favorite clue was 43A: Sta4nce, for instance (REBUS). The four is in stance, thus, "for instance." Although perhaps it should have been "Sta4nce, for for instance."
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| The British REGALIA |
There are some great long answers in the grid, such as BLACKSABBATH (not my favorite kind of music, but it's a good entry) and 38A: Climactic court moment (MATCHPOINT) - Cece got that off of the MA____. That last one has its own minitheme with 34D: Cause for a replay (LET).
Wait, I just remembered another good clue! It's at 10D: It won't react well (INERTGAS). Indeed it won't. Very nice.
Why is this puzzle not quite as lovely as yesterday's? It's a personal taste sort of thing, I guess. SACBEE is an odd thing to find on a Saturday, and perhaps not even necessary with a little work in that corner. INARUG is a peculiar partial. These are small things, but when you're operating on a high level, the bar is raised. Or perhaps your hoist by your own PETARD.
- Colum
For the longest time, I thought PETARD was some kind of item of clothing - and to be hoisted by it was akin to getting a wedgie. ha ha! 9:03 today, after a sluggish start. Once RHEA was in, it all flowed from there...
ReplyDeleteSheesh! Nice time, Philbo. I had quite a slow start today - and also a slow finish. :) Tried "spacejam" instead of POPASHOT, and UPPEDTHEantE in the SE, which didn't help things.
ReplyDeleteLovely puzzle once it was filled in. 21:00.
Oh, and I think it should have been "St4nce, for 'for instance,' for instance." :)
ReplyDeleteSounds kind of recursive!! Recursion is good :)
DeleteKind of reminds me of "The Department of Redundancy Department."
DeleteAmazing puzzle, fiendish but eminently fair clues. For the longest time I thought "St4nce" was yet another band I'd never heard of. :-) My time? About a day...
ReplyDeleteSolved on paper, so I don't know my time, but relatively fast for me for a Saturday since I had no slowdowns. I entered ____SHOT off of the clue, but needed the crosses for the "POPA" part. I didn't like SACBEE at all, and no one likes PREGGO, but other than that the fill was fine. I'm watching "Better Call Saul" but did not know the name RHEA; her character is excellent. And when we have a PIZZAPARTY here at the YBH, it is not an "order in" event.
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