By way of reminder, the object of this game is to solve the clue presented by the previous poster and then set your own clue.

Anything from the (worldwide) crossword arena is acceptable by way of clue style, but if you stray from the pure path beware the scourge of... ...Pandora's WET NOODLE!

The puzzle could be an old favourite or something of your own making. Don't be shy: this is for everyone, not just the old hands!

There is nothing to prevent (say) a couple of related clues if offering a single clue cramps your style.

If there are multiple answers involved, there is no restriction against one person solving all and the solver of the final clue/part is the one who goes next.

Obviously you need to await confirmation of a correct answer before posting your own puzzle, but please then do so reasonably promptly (preferably within about 36 hours). If having answered correctly you are not going to be able to set a follow-up clue within about the next 24 hours, please pass your turn to someone else so that the game does not stall.

To save the poor demented solvers from excessive brain damage , you should consider revealing one letter of the answer (in any position) when the question is set, unless the answer is very short so that provision of a letter hint at the outset would spoil the sport!

If no-one is biting within about 24 hours you probably need to start dropping hints.

To try to give everyone a fair crack of the whip, the immediately previous setter is asked not to post a solution to the current clue within the first 24 hours.

The weighty trophy to be passed to whoever successfully solves your clue is the jewel-encrusted World Clue Federation championship belt
===[**WCF**]===

Constructive criticism and cheerful badinage are to be expected, not to mention a certain amount of national rivalry, but above all, have a bit of fun!

I know Denis will get this next clue in 24 hours and one second if no-one else gets there first, and those from the antipodes may have the edge...

Badly shocked, picking up a couple of characters from Vancouver to break the cab-rank rule (9 or sometimes 4,5) - 3 vowels all different

SHOCKED + vAnCouver = codehacks ?

Right approach but wrong answer.

hackcodes (at least Google has heard of those!)

Hint: it's an Australian expression about behaving badly.

Guess we'll leave that one for Koala !

First letter is D.

I shudda known: d---s---- ; let George do it!

By Jove I think you've got it!

Duckshove...not "by Jove"!

OK; a FULLY legal one(!):

Sounds like right place for a tattoo shop ? (3,4) No e's

I have never heard the expression "Duckshove" in my life.

Day1 clue : the "sound" part involves "right" = write

Ink Spot

Denis, I believe you're using the homophone incorrectly.

The word that you're clueing should be a homophone of a synonym, not a synonym of a homophone.

Sounds like right = REEL (RIGHT=REAL, REEL sounds like REAL)
Sounds like right = INK (WRITE sounds like RIGHT, INK=WRITE)

All yours; ===[**WCF**]===

Yer right, of course...

OK Pandora: I'm bending down....yee eee outch!!

Double dose at least after the boast that it was going to be a fully legal clue!

That's always a clue.

Johnny, I think we are waiting for you to defend your title!

Perhaps we should bring in a new rule asking anyone who is unable to post a follow-up clue within about 24 hours of a successful solve to pass the baton to someone else. Otherwise, some of our number start to experience withdrawal symptoms...

I know that this has already happened on a few occasions without prompting.

What do you all think?

I'll second that motion

Here's a 'bridging' crypt while we wait (if that's ok Johnny?)

As it's turned out, the works should be acceptable (12) No 'e'

Satisfactory

Anag. AS IT'S + FACTORY

Good solve Hawkeye

Temporary belt (minus a couple of stars) until Johnny comes back ===[*WCF*]===

OK. Just a quick one while we wait for Johnny.

Not original but I thought it was cute.



I say nothing. (3)

I say nothing. (3)

I = Ego (direct)
say = eg
nothing = o

Perfectly done, Koala!

===[*WCF*]=== Over to you.

Why does 'say = eg'?

eg = e.g. = for example = say

Thanks Hawkeye

I had 'ego' too but couldn't justify the 'eg' bit.

Thank you Mr. Hawkeye

Complete one page with anything to excite (6)

Hey...where be the day1 clue?

Clues???
You want clues???
I'll give you clues!!!

1. It's a strange and unusual word.
2. No 'e's
3. Rarely used word ('cept by my mother[ Pandora])
4. The direct is not at the beginning.
5. The word also has another meaning.

nice clues

That's what I call clues!

How about FILL 1p (fillip)?

Outch! It's also a verb:
fil⋅lip
–verb (used with object)
1. to strike with the nail of a finger snapped from the end of the thumb.

We used to do that when kids: put spit on the
nail of the snapped finger and aim it at someone;
Curly was the best at it; had the longest fingers!

I'm sure he'll thank you for that, Denis!

Yep... and as a noun from dictionary.com

fillip
6. anything that tends to rouse, excite, or revive; a stimulus.

Over to you Rog.

===[**WCF**]===

TYVM, Koala

This should cause no problems:

"Low-down stomach upset caused by a gourd reportedly" (11)

Four vowels

low-down = melancholic
stomach upset = colic
gourd = melon
reportedly = homophone indicator

Indeedy - back to you, Johnny!

===[**WCF**]===

1. Leader put name tag in here (9)
2. Used to be observed from the rear (3)
3. No night shift, not at all (7)
4. Rare spice enhanced meat ball (7)
5. Perfect number for Zeus's dear (2)
6. ? ? ? ? (?)

Solve #6 to win the belt

Very cute, Johnny.


1. President

Direct = leader
Name tag (I.D) in here (present)

2. Was

Direct = Used to be
Observed from the rear = saw backwards

3. Nothing

Anag. No night

4. Special

Rare = direct
Anag. spice (speci) + meat(middle) of bALl

5. Io

Perfect number = 10 Zeus daughter Io

And so:

6. President was nothing special (10)

Washington


anag. was nothing

Hey nice one Hawkeye; and you said some 2 years
ago you hated crypts!

Did I really say that? Wow, you have quite a memory, Denis.

I must have mellowed. Now I only hate the ones I can't solve.

Johnny redeems himself splendidly with that offering!

You got it, Hawkeye ===[**WCF**]===

In case you didn't notice, that was also a limerick

I hadn't noticed the limerick. Wow! That was really clever.

This one is much more mundane and probably very easy but I figured Denis needs an easy one to get back in the game

Back to a town rebuilt by someone like CanukDenis (7)

Ottawan - to reversed (back) + anag (rebuilt) of a town

Of course you are correct, Lex.

Yout turn ===[**WCF**]===

Back to a town rebuilt by someone like CanukDenis (7)




I'm confused...(which is not unusual).

'Ottawan' has two 'a's and one 'o'.
'to a town' has two 'o's and one 'a'.

Good catch, Koala.

That's what happens when you make up a clue before breakfast. I anagrammed Ottowa instead of Ottawa, whoops. Amazing that Lex solved it without noticing the error.

I'm obviously the Lex from dyslexic!

Here's one from a recent paper which stretches the direct a bit:

Carrying gym bag before class (11) - two es

...also an a and an i.

Carrying is the direct.

What, still no bites?

_e_e_ _a_i_ _

Carrying gym bag before class (11)

Well, with all the clues the answer must be:

Penetrating

PE ( gym) + NET (bag) + RATING (class)

but I am still struggling how penetrating = carrying.

Maybe as in a voice... ?

Crikeys !!!

It's no wonder you got no bites.

Correct, Hawkeye. we struggled with the direct but it must relate to sound carrying/penetrating (although these are not quite the same thing in my view).

For someone who Denis recalls as not liking cryptic clues, you seem to be doing okay!

Here you go again ===[**WCF**]===

Not sure I deserve this since I didn't understand the direct. You did warn us it was a bit of a stretch and you were not kidding.

OK, next one. Two clues both with the same answer.

1) Angry Left supporter promises to engage in debate. (5,6)

2) Dispute puzzzles' misspelling. (5,6)

cross swords

1. Cross(angry) + s(left 's'upporter) + words (promises)

Not sure of #2
dispute = direct
Is it a misspelling of 'crosswords'?

Correct, Treval.

#2 is a misspelling of crossswords as in puzzzles.

Your turn. ===[**WCF**]===

Thanks

I would return in a boat as an expert (6) No 'e'

I = id

would return = di

in (indicator)

boat - PUNT

expert = direct = PUNdiT

Yep Shroeder, all yours ===[**WCF**]===

The original clue had 'should' instead of 'would'? I didn't think that was legal saying I should = I'd! What do you all think?

I think you changed it perfectly, Treval.

Hopefully Pandora won't wet noodle me for this (I think it's OK but...)

===[**WCF**]===

Po holds back heart throbs for first woman (7)

No "e"s

Also one of the words is a filler only

Ahh... Chop those noodles Mr Kung Fu man

2 "a"'s and on "o"

I knew the answer had to be PANDORA but just couldn't figure out why....

first lady = Pandora = direct

panda = po (from the film Kung Fu Panda)
holds = contains
ro = heart (middle of) thRObs
back = reversal of 'ro'

Well done Master Treval

Here tis

===[**WCF**]===

Thanks

Choosy as a matter of fact (10) No e

Particular


Double definition

That was a great one, shroeder!

Yepper Hawkeye

Only mine for an hour....===[**WCF**]===

Next one:

The works of Virgil I admire include a long poem featuring Paris. (5)

"Iliad" - embedded clue

Correct, Rog. I was hoping that my little ruse using "long poem featuring Paris" as a direct for Iliad would at least hold you up for a while but you are way too smart for that.

Well, the belt was mine for 79 minutes.

Over to you. ===[**WCF**]===

Thanks, Hawkeye. I only know two long poems, and when "Aeniad" didn't fit, I took a long hard look for "Iliad"

Next one:
"Record a time I’ve got giving shape" (9)

Since I'm all heart, two (count 'em, two!) clues:

1. Invoves a (mainly) Brit slang term
2. Four vowels, all different

Rog, is the word 'ok' part of the clue?

No - sorry for the confusion Treval. I'll edit it.

Guess: formative

form (record?) + a + t(time) + I've

Exactly! As in "that villain's got form" - has a record


Thoroughky deserved, Mr T - Over to you!

===[**WCF**]===

Thanks Rog

An easy one next:

Sailors love to go astray: grant a pardon (7) one 'o'

absOLVE = grant a pardon

Thought it might be a bit too easy.....

===[**WCF**]=== well done

Solve clue 5 to win this great belt...

===[**WCF**]===

[1] Headmasters buy out years supply of sprouts (4)

[2] Broken terms halve rouble (6)

[3] Strike back in correct number of strokes (3)

[4] Vatican expresses disgust about moratorium (4)


5. [1] [2] [3]. ([4])

1. no 'e's
2. three 'e's
3. no 'e's
4. no clue yet
5. one 'e'

No bites yet... (They're not that hard)

Directs:

1. Sprouts
2. Broken
3. Strike
4. Moratorium

"(They're not that hard)"

Really?. Could have fooled me?

Maybe we can do a team effort on these:

2. Feeble?

fee(terms)+ble(halve rouble)

Have to say I have never seen feeble and broken as synonyms

3. Rap

par (correct number of strokes) backwards.

Yes and Yes


Well... after your batteries one!

What I mean't was that I haven't tried to be really clever with the clueing - but I agree the directs may be difficult.

So an update on where we're at...

Solve clue 5 to win this great belt...

===[**WCF**]===

[1] Headmasters buy out years supply of sprouts (4)

X [2] Broken terms halve rouble (6) FEEBLE

X [3] Strike back in correct number of strokes (3) RAP

[4] Vatican expresses disgust about moratorium (4)


5. [1] feeble rap. ([4])

Guess 4 is "fi-V-e" (it's the only number that anywhere fits the clue), but never heard of "five" meaning moratorium

Only thing I can come up with for 1 is "buds". I can get the "bu" from "buy out years", but no idea on the d and the s.

Anywhere near, shroeder?

4. fiVe is correct



1. is not correct. The direct is a bit obscure and is described at thesaurus.com as informal usage!

But the clue itself is very clear and simple

NB: the word "of" is a filler word only

So now we have...

5. [1] feeble rap (5)

Seeing as this is a 'team effort'

[1] Headmasters buy out years supply of sprouts (4)

boys = sprouts (OUCH Shroeder!)

headmasters = 1st letter of 'Buy Out Years Supply)

so we now have....

Boys feeble rap (5)

Absolutely correct Treval.

5. Boy's feeble rap (5)

for the belt ===[**WCF**]===

(though you may have to somehow share it with those who helped!)

Thanksgiving day clue...

_ _ _ _ e

5. Boy's feeble rap (5)

Boy's = B
feeble = lame
rap = Blame (direct)...as in 'take the rap'

All yours my Aussie mate

===[**WCF**]===

Though you may have to work out which bits go to the others!

Thank you my Kiwi bro.

Honours shared on that last one, so...

Hawkeye...you get the ===[
Rog...you get the ]===
Treval...you get the WCF
And I'll keep the diamonds ** **

Next easy one ...

Fish hit hard? Nonsense! (10)

Codswallop!

Just because you don't know Lex, there is no reason to be nasty !!!

Oh wait....you're right.

===[**WCF**]===

Thanks Koala.

I needed a relatively straightforward clue to cool my brain after some of the recent excellent multiple efforts (to which of course we mere mortals must now all aspire...! )

Next clue starts bout 13.