When I began doing the Cryptic Jumbo I was surprised at those solvers who would post, for example, "Help! last two!" Or, "Stuck on 47dn," a mere 24 hours after the puzzle was published. I envied those who had the time, and the skill, to sit and complete the crossword so speedily. I envy them still.
I usually dip in and out of the puzzle throughout the week as work, homework, and brain, allow. Thus I come to clues late on, and, now and again, up comes one that, for sheer dumbness, is a real doozy.
Such, in Cryptic 1221, is 10 down: "Advanced fast to cover area (5)".
I had L?A?T. "LEANT" immediately suggested itself, but where was the definition? "Fast", yes "Lent", "Area", yes "A". But where did the past participle of "LEAN" come into it.? My thoughts drifted unbidden to the gin rummy scene in the film "Born Yesterday," with the wonderful Judy Holliday, as the shrewd dumb blonde, telling Broderick Crawford, "You could use a little education yourself, if you ask me."
Well, Mr(or Ms) 1221 Compiler, if you think "LEANT" means "ADVANCED," you could use a little.....