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Malone

I am sure you were delighted to see the "daily" clue in the Times today.

jigjag

I hadn't done today's Times puzzle. I would have sighed, grimaced, tutted, all sorts of things if I'd bumped into that 'daily' clue!

Malone

It is only 3 weeks since the last "daily" clue, so are they really doing it to wind us up?

Jigjag,

Maybe it's the same setter who has a little game with us - sneaking 'daily' into every puzzle set? The rotation of Times setters means that there's a little bit of time in-between? (I'd prefer a time gap of 'once every five years, if at all - and take your debs and your SA and your IT with you'.)

From yesterday's DT Quick Crossword:

Unexpectedly gain an advantage over. The answer is STEAL A MARCH ON. But I always think that that is done by design and not by accident.

Also:

Pious. Answer: SANCTIMONIOUS. I think that's stretching things too much. Calling someone sanctimonious is a criticism, but that's not the case with pious. I think, anyway.

Orson, I thought your Pious thoughts were interesting. I checked Chambers and it seems to be valid - sanctimonious doesn't have to be a criticism, as sanctimony is 'outward, affected or simulated holiness; holiness (obs)'. Still, the 'obsolete' means the clue should really contain some indication of old usage.

You're right, malone, but who likes to be called sanctimonious?

Thanks, Orson. I wouldn't like to be called Sanctimonious - but nor would I want to be called Pious! That's almost as bad, even though I know 'pious' isn't (technically) insulting.

Malone

...................and another IT today!!

Jigjag

I seem to have picked the right week to be too busy to do the Times puzzles! Maybe it'll be SA today, or something involving Deb, socialite... or perhaps a dodgy (to me ) homophone.