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Help me figure out two confounding cryptic clues (self.crossword)

submitted 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) by cliambrown to c/crossword

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These are two clues from an old Globe and Mail cryptic. I know the answers to both, but the answers don't make any sense to me.

Silly things but capital savers (5)

spoiler

GEESE

Mimi's was frozen on watch (6 4)

spoiler

MINUTE HAND

Any ideas for either of these?

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[–] mars 2 points 2 years ago (3 children)

The second one apparently requires you to have knowledge of popular Italian operas of the early 1900s. (I don't. I just found via Googling) 😂

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Che_gelida_manina

[–] cliambrown 2 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (2 children)

Wow, that is a pretty obscure reference AND a complex pun.

spoiler

"minute" as in small — although I would argue that adding in "on watch" doesn't make a ton of sense here

Thanks!

[–] mars 1 points 2 years ago (1 children)

No problem! It was a fun little journey through Google. 😄

spoiler

I'm guessing that "on watch" is a double and just simply refers to being in the opera's audience and watching the scene play out in front of you? Maybe? 😅

[–] Loet 1 points 2 years ago

Could it refer to the minute hand on an analogue watch ⌚ ?

I've never understood the cryptic xword even when I saw the answers. The Globe's quick crossword is hard enough for me 😂