Saturday Times Jumbo Cryptic 1111 Saturday September 20Th 2014

[Kapadeka]

29a, Initially how a blockhead rejected a sponge (6) looks like LOOFAH to me but that doesn't make sense as a loofah isn't a sponge.

[scorpiojo]

H(ow) a + fool reversed

[janbee]

seems like loofah to me

[Captain2]

loo•fah or loo•fa (ˈlu fə) also luffa

n., pl. -fahs or -fas.
1.
a. any of several tropical vines of the genus Luffa, of the gourd family, bearing large elongated fruit.
b. the fruit of such a vine.
2. the dried fibrous interior of this fruit, used as a sponge

[Kapadeka]

Yes, I see how it works but As I said, a loofah isn't a sponge. It's a non absorbent fibrous vegetable product, relative of the marrow family.

[scorpiojo]

Sorry, didn't read the whole question :(

[sandyRoe]

but doesn't a loofah sponge up liquid?

[scorpiojo]

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/loofah

[Kapadeka]

Thank you captain2, I disagree with the definition.

[SirOracle]

See def 2 given above by Captain.

[Captain2]

Sorry Kapadeka but you'll have to speak to thefreedictionary about that ;-))

[Kapadeka]

To sandyRoe......no, it doesn't. Try it! Loofahs are entirely non-absorbent...they exfoliate but don't absorb.

[Kapadeka]

Captain2, yes...have tried for years! Dealt with natural sponges and Loofahs for decades and struggled with this dodgy definition for decades. Lots of people think Loofahs come out of the sea!

[Captain2]

Or here

http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/loofah

[Captain2]

I think the clue is not looking to prove a loofah is a sponge in the natural world, but just that it is synonymous with items you would use as a sponge in the bath?