So much fun this Thursday! A clever theme, fun clues, and good entries.
Let's start with the theme. Take standard phrases, and reinterpret the first part as if it were written in Roman numerals, and replace that part with the English version of that number.
Simple, right?
Okay, okay, we can do an example. The phrase "aye, aye, Captain!" can be reinterpreted as II Captain, or TWOCAPTAIN if the II were translated from Roman numerals to the English word.
So HUNDREDLEGS is "sea legs," FORTYSHEETS is "Excel Sheets," and FOURLEAGUE is "Ivy League." Very nice!
For clues, I enjoyed 33A: Met someone? (OPERAGOER). It's been too long since I saw an opera at the Met, but our friends recently saw Eugen Onegin. I am envious!
17A: It might have many sides (MENU) is a lovely example of a non-question mark clue (non-QMC, per our glossary, see side pinned post).
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| CHLOE Kim |
I'm not convinced by OPTICLOBE. As a Neurologist, I would instead refer to the Occipital lobe, where visual information is processed. The closest equivalent to the amphibian optic lobe is the superior colliculus, a tiny bump on the dorsal surface of the midbrain which helps reflexive eye movements get to where they need to get to. As such, it is not the human "mind's eye," but I get what we're trying to do here.
Dang, a lot of Neurologic information for a Thursday post! But that's what you get when you ask a Neurologist to review the NYT Xword. I blame Horace and Frances.
Anyhoo, a lot of fun. See you tomorrow!
- Colum
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