The Times Crossword Friday Masterclass: Episode 39

** TODAY'S PUZZLE **
In the 39th edition of our attempt to solve a Friday Times crossword, Simon takes on today's puzzle which is harder than usual and includes two quite outrageous clues.
The puzzle is available to play on The Times crossword club website (which is behind their paywall):
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[@ninj1an]

5:00 "So far, we haven't uncovered the reason that this was difficult" -Quotes taken moments before disaster

[@MultiNacnud]

Congrats. I thought a fishgig was a Marrillion concert.

[@CrackingTheCryptic]

What a brilliant comment :)

[@gordonglenn2089]

Or a Phish gig?

[@toerag572]

Collins Dictionary defines FISHGIG as "a pole with barbed prongs for impaling fish".

[@altreusplays]

Impressed that he worked it out from the wordplay, despite not knowing it. I was curious and looked up the letter pattern and it was the only possible answer!

[@jackk5024]

I’m curious as to the validity and standards of different dictionaries. I know the collins has a lot of weird and obscure words but Simon always uses the chambers and makes it seem like the times crossword standard

[@tillydavvers]

​@jackk5024 I think different crosswords use different dictionaries as the standard. I think it's the listener that allows really obscure words and special vocabularies, but the Times is based on chambers, I think?

[@kempisthomasa7311]

My favorite line from Me and My Girl: -Aperitif? -No fanks, I’ve still got me own

[@richardlyons7582]

My Friday fix is here, thank you Simon.

[@Goryus]

The "Ye" in "Ye Old Coffee Shoppe" is not an old form of "You." It is an old form of "The" with a representation for the old Thorn character, which we no longer have but made a Th sound.

[@longwaytotipperary]

I didn’t realize that until it was covered in one of Rob’s Words videos! 😁

[@mikechappell5849]

there are two 'ye's. One as you say is just an old way of writing 'the', but the other IS an old form of you.

[@Anne_Mahoney]

Thank you for tidying that up: I *cringed* when Simon said "I've just used the old form of you." We used to have you for subjects, ye for objects, plural, and thou for subjects, thee for objects, singular -- "thou art a quick solver; we watch thee every week. you, O Simon and Mark, are quick solvers; we watch ye every week." Then somebody got the clever idea of importing "use plural for respect" from French and other languages, so one could say "thou art clever" to a friend, "you are clever" to a superior. We're used to it now but imagine how *barbaric*, how *wrong* that must have sounded in the 1300s! And then this perversion of the egalitarian spirit of the language elbowed singular "thou" right out of use! Dreadful! 😼

[@archivist17]

27a was an absolute beast, since fishing pole is basically a rod, not a harpoon. No shame in struggling with that, but kudos for working out the wordplay and having the courage to go with it. A very mixed puzzle, on the whole, with a few real gimmes, and some absolute stinkers. And how very British of you to enumerate what you will or won't forgive yourself for 😄

[@markgillespie3971]

I assume it's the spear/pole you see certain tribesmen use to 'harpoon' fish in the sea? I was suprised he was struggling to make the link.

[@onion013]

These videos are so useful! Here's to the KZbin algorithm hopefully realising that :)

[@PamelaSim-gz1px]

As someone still very much learning how to "crack the cryptic" I find these programmes invaluable! Thank you

[@lairdriin8513]

Fascinating solve! *Spoilers below* *** I was so proud of myself for figuring out Aperitif before Simon did - I've only ever gotten 2 other clues on my own during these videos, and I am in general very very bad at and new to cryptic crosswords! But these videos are GREAT and helping me learn how to do them. So I say, keep it up!

[@longwaytotipperary]

Congrats!

[@pstalcup117]

Peter Lorre is an actor that you will recognize his face if not his name! He was in Casablanca as the thief who stole the letter of transits

[@Landis963]

And in _The Maltese Falcon_ as Joel Cairo.

[@Stu_1977_SEmelb]

I haven't had this much fun solving cryptic crosswords... since I was a child!

[@richardlyons7582]

Simon Peter Lorre (1904-1964) was a Hungarian-American actor known for his distinctive voice and memorable performances in a variety of films. Born as László Löwenstein in Rózsahegy, Hungary (now Ružomberok, Slovakia), Lorre began his acting career on the stage in Vienna before gaining international fame in the 1930s. One of his great films "The Maltese Falcon" with Humphrey Bogart.

[@azrobbins01]

Also, Ren (of Ren and Stimpy) was inspired by Peter Lorre.

[@SolarEquinox]

he's also iconic as Ugarte in Casablanca

[@richardlyons7582]

Casablanca one of the greats😊

[@timsullivan4566]

I can't quite articulate just how delighted I am when greeted by this notification - thanks so much, Simon!

[@davidrattner9]

Hour plus cryptic video!! Much appreciated Simon for continous dedication to these every Friday!

[@Emmibean77]

That was brutal! Well done, Simon. These videos have quickly become a staple of my week, and I look forward to watching every Friday

[@stevewood8]

At 47:22, for the second week running, Simon's brain came up with the answer out of the blue but was ignored. Poor brain, he's trying to help. I do enjoy this weekly treat - please keep them coming. Now I need to go and listen to Year of the Cat, after the Peter Lorre reference...

[@louisesuth8141]

I find it quite extraordinary to watch SImon get the hardest clues (13 a, 27 a, 16 d), and yet i saw 2 down straight away!

[@YasminChopin]

I love these cryptic crossword classes, Simon. I've always been inept and totally afraid of cryptic crosswords but after watching your Friday videos I'm keen to maybe give them a go.

[@deniseiln]

One of the words in the definition for "harpoon" is "spear" - if the definition for "spear" includes "pole"... well, it's a bit buried, but that would justify it.

[@Antagony1960]

For ‘spear’ Chambers gives, “a long weapon made of *a pole* with a pointed head;” Also, under ‘gig’, sans ‘fish’, it gives, “a pronged spear for fishing, a fishgig”! So I think ‘pole’ is just about justified. But it's still a ridiculously vague definition for such an obscure word.

[@longwaytotipperary]

Always look forward to this!

[@johnmerriam8661]

"On a morning from a Bogart movie. In a country where they turned back time. You go strolling through the crowd like Peter Lorre Contemplating a crime." Al Stewart - Year of the Cat

[@maxstunner100]

Amazing reference

[@johnciolfi5085]

I did find the clue (and the Chambers definition) for Ueys interesting, because that’s also been an American term (pull a Uey or do a Uie) for decades now. Maybe it originated in Australia, I’m not sure, but it’s definitely used with some regularity in the States as well.

[@ConManAU]

In Australia you would more likely "chuck" a uey. Interesting to know it's made its way over to the States too!

[@Stu_1977_SEmelb]

@@ConManAU Hah! Exactly what I was about to say!! 😆 The two main things Aussies will chuck: ueys and sickies. 😄

[@philipbrooks402]

Thanks Simon once again for a pleasant hour of gentle, intellectual stimulation. I would be here next year trying to solve Ueys and Fishgig.

[@d4r4butler74]

Love the Crosswords!! I really look forwards to them every week.

[@DarklordZagarna]

I don't know any of Peter Lorre's films, but I know OF him from the absolutely picture-perfect opening lyric in Al Stewart's "Year of the Cat", which I think Simon might enjoy if he's not heard it before: On a morning from a Bogart movie In a country where they turn back time You go strolling through the crowd like Peter Lorre contemplating a crime She comes out of the sun in her silk dress running Like a watercolor in the rain Don't bother asking for explanations She'll just tell you that she came In the Year of the Cat

[@onijester56]

A harpoon is a spear-like weapon usually used in fishing. Spears are a long pole with a damaging/sharpened tip on the end.

[@Anne_Mahoney]

Uey is also used in New England -- the usual phrase is "hang a uey." I don't think I've ever seen it in writing, though. I do love watching these videos -- keep them coming, and to blazes with the algorithm! 😺💙

[@Prazzie]

I know the Friday crosswords are supposed to be challenging, but this one was diabolical. Thank you very much for filming and uploading these, this series has become my favourite content on your channel. It is both informative and entertaining.

[@bloodspatteredguitar]

For the "after contraction" indicator I read it as referring to pregnancy, so the idea that the answer is embedded in the following phrase still works that way!

[@azrobbins01]

The only place I have heard Fizzgig before is that it was the name of a girl's pet animal in the Dark Crystal movie. That was the first movie I ever saw in the theater back in the early eighties.

[@MarcMcMillin]

enjoying this at my leisure on my day off!

[@arthurcharest9061]

Thanks Simon, I was able to get two of them today!

[@watchmakerful]

Why is that "Pole" capitalized? "Pole" with a capital letter does not mean "pole", it means "Polish".

[@Math.Bandit]

Its capitalized for the surface reading, the punctuation isn't considered part of the clue.

[@azrobbins01]

Love these!

[@mjkluck]

These solves are great.

[@vinyl1Earthlink]

Based on the comments in TftT, you must be the only solver who saw uey right off the rip, but then you rejected it - so close! I constructed it from the cryptic as my LOI, and still didn't recognize it as a word. At least you have heard of the Red Arrows, and put it in right away - I had to imagine it was the UK equivalent of the Blue Angels. According to the Wiki, we got there first!

[@jeffdyke1718]

I love these Friday masterclasses, they have helped me so much. I only attempt the Crusader in the Express but finished in record time today thanks to your hints. Perhaps I should move on to something tougher.

[@bobblebardsley]

The whole time Simon was thinking about 27A I was just thinking of Fizzgog, the man who drives the boat on Rosie & Jim 😅

[@stuartsotheran6279]

I googled it and got that reference

[@yachtbubble7063]

Yes, Simon, it was indeed useful - extremely so. I am newish to CCs and am learning so much from your videos. And I didn’t get fishgig … it was daft of the Times to use such an odd word.

[@B1GB1RDB4G3L]

YAY I love the FRIDAY CROSSWORD VIDEOS!

[@emilywilliams3237]

Yes, I love these. Yes, they are helping me appreciate and (partially, slightly possibly) understand cryptic crosswords better. Thanks for doing them, Simon! (I agree, fishgig is preposterous.)

[@bryanroland9402]

"fishgig" was ridiculously hard. Such a recondite word ought to have a clearer definition and maybe wordplay that one could be more confident about having understood. The words "fish" and "gig" suggest all kinds of synonyms and combinations. "Bass performance" springs to mind. Love the Friday crossword videos!

[@martinopanevino5705]

Oh bobbins!

[@23myiah]

I googled fishgig and it came up straight away as a pole.

[@thescrewfly]

I suspect the 'Pole' in 27a was the verb 'to pole' which was in Simon's dictionary as 'strike with a pole' which sounds much closer in meaning if it's the verb 'to harpoon'.

[@maxstunner100]

I thought the aussy reversing clue might have used “Ute” - the Australian word for pick up truck.

[@Stu_1977_SEmelb]

My mind went there too.

[@SwimCycleRunCoach]

well done getting fishgig - bloody hard to get when it's a harpoon.

[@grenvillephillips6998]

Made a great start but then got skewered by that last one.

[@kevinmartin7760]

I know lawyers *write* briefs, I did not know they also actually *were* briefs!

[@rockhopper_penguin]

They might even wear briefs!

[@DarklordZagarna]

I was wondering if "lawyer" in this clue might be in its verb form, i.e. "to lawyer" meaning "to write a brief about." I guess it's a Britishism instead, but I think the clue still technically works even for American English.

[@tonyroberts3926]

In your part of Surrey I suppose you could afford a second R Where I live we could only stretch to one R in our caraway seed that we had with a glass of puddle water

[@vanessaosborne3175]

Gran danced with Errol Flynn when was in the local rep. He still has a debt at Montague Jefferys

[@LogiBizzle]

Me: "Wow, I managed to get aperitif before Simon! I'm so smart." Simon: "Oh of course it's aperitif, what an easy clue; how silly of me to not get it sooner." 😂😂😂 Seriously though, the fact I could parse it at all is a testament to how useful these crossword vids are, please keep them coming!

[@denhal1]

fishgig [ fish-gig ] noun a spearlike implement with barbed prongs for spearing fish in the water.

[@KalikiDoom]

Harpoon Pole - Fishgig (it's in a newer dictionary version) - That's EVIL!

[@oliverb4020]

A fishgig is a harpoon is a spear, which is a pole. I assume this kind of tiered definition is allowed.

[@gordonglenn2089]

Wonderful puzzle, and not actually that difficult for the most part, imo. I would never have come up with the opera name or U-turns, of course. Though, being from this side of the pond, Peter Lorre jumped into my head immediately.

[@deniseiln]

And I have just been earwormed... o/` On a morning from a Bogart movie In a country where they turn back time You go strolling through the crowd like Peter Lorre Contemplating a crime o/` Al Stewart, Year of the Cat

[@nfc153]

Well I got the anagram fodder for 25A fairly quickly but 8D would have taken time and 13A was beyond me. Still, small steps. Really enjoying this series.

[@andrewgrant6516]

There was a standing joke in the 40s that if you wanted to scare a spook on Halloween you would wear a Peter Lorre mask.

[@markcroxteth2108]

great

[@Raven-Creations]

Peter Lorre was the round faced, bug-eyed actor in Casablanca and the Maltese Falcon. He often played weaselly characters, a bit like the Steve Buscemi of his day. This was quite a mixture. Some clues were fairly simple, but others were really tough. How many people know the word fishgig? Pole wasn't really a full definition. I found a definition that said it was a pole with a barb or hook on the end, but that makes it more than just a pole. Note that of the definitions for fizgig, only the harpoon definition could be spelled fishgig. I Puritani isn't exactly a popular opera, and the wordplay didn't exactly give it away. I'm surprised you didn't get aperitif sooner, especially once you had all the crossing letters. Some of the wordplay for the relatively easy clues was quite complex, so it was only really useful for confirming the answer. Aperitif was like that - you're unlikely to be able to use the wordplay to get the answer.

[@timsullivan4566]

Of course I've heard of Peter Lorre and Errol Flynn... ...but Simon, who the heck is Lawrence Olivier? 😉

[@henrymarkson3758]

I used the word unscrambler to solve 'fishgig'. Not ashamed

[@WimmekeVL]

Capturing something with the help of a pole. FISHING ?

[@stuartsotheran6279]

An hour well spent, as usual, but I don't get TWANG (24d) at all

[@archivist17]

I have a feeling that opera was mentioned on Counterpoint this week. Could that be why it's near the front of your memory?

[@archivist17]

@@dogbreaththe3rd851 Dedicated. But I would never have the courage to enter. Congratulations on getting as far as you did!

[@archivist17]

Ye as in 'ye olde...' is actually the, spelled with a thorn to start. But the main point was correct.

[@archivist17]

@@dogbreaththe3rd851 Yes, that's the sense of it, but his example was just a bit erroneous.

[@missioncardiac7599]

A brutal one. Please keep them coming. Can someone parse the I PURITANI clue for me? I think Simon skipped that bit.

[@richardclegg8027]

He did but much before he solved it. It is an anagram of P (piano) TURN A (start of act) and III. Curious indicates the anagram.

[@MrPartylala]

😍

[@joeg451]

the "Ye" in something like "Ye olde butcher shoppe" isn't synonymous with "You"; it's "The".

[@brycecrux2730]

back to "normal"... I got a total of none of these

[@mikebrockmann7354]

Fishgig: "Rather good" is "is hg" (high grade)?

[@michaelpdawson]

Is there some British usage in which "brief" means lawyer? To me, a lawyer *files* briefs, but isn't a brief himself.

[@michaelpdawson]

Thanks, I had no idea.

[@Maenamburi1]

There's a joke, a bit off colour, about the FT and crosswords.

[@waynethomas7406]

I'd recommend callas and di Stefano for the opera

[@vinyl1Earthlink]

You are still a bit confused about you/ye. The full declension of the second person pronoun in English was thou/thee/thine/thee in the singular, and ye/eow/eower/eow in the plural. The 'ye' you see in Ye Olde Shoppe is an 18th century ligature, pronounced 'the'.

[@williambarnes3868]

The pole is the POLE STAR or possibly a Harpoon.

[@WimmekeVL]

Fig is a little illustration, and it has captured a shin ? Is that a good pole ?

[@tillydavvers]

R/unexpectedmontypython

[@gordonglenn2089]

I was howling after Simone said fishgig (or was it fizgig that he said the first time?) and then never tried to "fig-ure" out why it could work. A (fishing) rod is a (fishing) pole is a stick is a harpoon...

[@Sebablolsssssssss]

Love these!