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Jigjag, Grunger

A clue from a live puzzle, so maybe best not to state the answer...

Women who repay fools holding very odd green earth (12).



All sporty pedants...

Over the past week, I've had three or four clues with cricketing references, terms. Each time I just gave a brief 'tsk tsk' and carried on.

Another favourite topic is mothers-in-law.

It's occurred to me that we if we say: "This is my mother-in-law's house", there is no reason not to talk about two mother-in-laws. We would never say my mother's-in-law house, would we?

Another pet hate on Radio3 today:
"You can't underrate the effect on Beethoven of his developing deafness..."

malone

Yes there was one in the Times today which I managed to solve. I am sure you did not approve of the Ann Summers/it clue on Monday. Not one of my favourite shops.

orson

I talk about my brothers-in-law. if they lived together, I suppose I would say brothers-in-law's house.

chrise

yes the under-rating, under-estimating is irritating.

Orsom, Grunger et al.

I enjoyed the mother-in-law stuff, it made me think for a bit. I decided I would never use 'brothers-in-law's house' as it sounds so clunky. I'd probably just use circuitous phrase instead!

Grunger,

I don't do the Times puzzle every day - I don't know whether I missed the Anne S clue, tutted about it, ignored it ….

Cricket mentioned. Has this lengthy thread ever covered doing something 'off one's own back'? Seems to be quite common nowadays, but surely it should be a cricket analogy - 'off one's own bat'.

paulhabershon
"Off one's own bat" seems so obvious, but it seems that lots of crossworders (and others) disdain cricket. I don't know why - only snooker and F1 are more suitable for falling asleep to!

paulhabershon

Welcome to this thread. Yes the phrase is cricket-related but as with so much in modern sport, a commentator gets it wrong and a lot of sheep follow him. Similar are "Stonewall penalty" instead of "Stone cold" and the absurd "Day One of the Second Test".

By the way are you the great chess player my dad used to play against at Hastings etc?

Thanks, Grunger. I should have added that I have frequently heard 'off (my etc.) own back' rather than seen it written.

I am indeed the chess player, but 'great' only in the sense of lifelong. Am fascinated to know the name of your father.