===[**CDM**]===

By way of reminder, the object of this game is to solve (and briefly explain) 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 too far 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!

For those unfamiliar with crossword clues who want to give it a try, there is plenty of guidance online, for instance
http://www.gameboomers.com/Garden/CrypticCrosswordTypes.htm and
https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/premium/xword/cryptics.html as well as a quite entertaining and instructive book (not just for beginners) available from Amazon http://www.amazon.com/The-Times-Crack-Cryptic-Crosswords/dp/0007546521/ref=dp_ob_image_bk and no doubt elsewhere.

My own favourite source of crosswords is https://www.ft.com/crossword (free of charge and nicely varied, but not too mind-boggling) and for those who like British Crosswords you may like to try these (which are also free): http://www.theguardian.com/crosswords. English setter John Halpern's website may also be of interest www.johnhalpern.co.uk.

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: 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 when the question is set, unless the answer is very short/easy so that provision of a letter hint at the outset would spoil the sport!

If no-one is biting within about 24 hours you should start dropping additional hints, and 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.

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.

The weighty trophy to be passed to whoever solves your clue is the jewel-encrusted CanukDenis Memorial Championship Belt
===[**CDM**]===

This thread is so named in honour of our late dear friend Denis Borris (aka CanukDenis) who was an ever cheerful and quick-witted presence on this forum, posting many an iffy crypt just to stir the pot, and intrigued by all things linguistic, mathematical and beyond.
RIP CD - we hold you in our hearts as we play on!

Next clue:

Story Presley can ruin (10)

Anagram. Presley can = Screenplay

And the family Belt comes your way: ===[**CDM**]===

Merci Kev.

Girl born to misrepresent the facts in return.(6)

Bringing this up to date.

See 'Alterations and Combinations'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BODDyZRF6A - nee (born) + lie (misrepresent the facts) backwards (in return)

Merci kevin.

All yours.

Merci bien mon ami!

Austerity sees nerves shredded (10)

Severeness (anagram of sees nerves) 🙈

All yours (for a day or two, anyway): ===[**CDM**]===

Thanks, Kevin!

Some legal issue about farm production (6)

Direct on the right. 3 vowels, all different.

What do farms produce? cvcvcv

silage

l[egal is]sue

That's the one, Sue! ===[**CDM**]===
Sorry for the delay. It's convention time. UGH!

Thanks, Cheryl!

Mechanics' opera (6)

Carmen

You fixed that one quickly, Rog! ===[**CDM**]===

Thanks, Sue - one of the few operas I know!

Tub overturned so a letdown (5)

Sorry for the delay...

Direct on the right

Tub overturned so a letdown

Looks like bathos, give or take a letter (but what's the odd letter between friends...)

D'oh!

Have this wonderdful belt to make amends... ===[**CDM**]===

Thank you: I will treasure it (however briefly...)!

Food to set before a terrible heathen idol (4-2-3-4)

Anagram of 'to + heathen idol'

Salut Kev.

I'll give curly a hand: toad in the hole

Thanks Sue, I completely forgot to look for an answer. It must be old age!!

Correct team answer! I will leave you two to draw lots over who takes the cake: ===[**CDM**]===

Remi gets the cake. I'm looking forward to his clue.

Thanks Sue.

Mother, Jockhead and whale on a Mediterranean island. (7)

Ma/j/orca 😁

Thanks Cheryl. All yours. ===[**CDM**]===

Thanks, Remi! 😁

A little rainfall indicator? (6)

Shower? (Something that shows)

Shower yourself with this belt, Rog! ===[**CDM**]===

Thanks, Cheryl - apologies for the delay

Number to enjoy? (5)

Direct on the left, wordplay 3+2

And "number" is not any particular number...

Hm - what was a hip three-word phrase used in the late 50s to say that you liked something? "I --- --"

Think finger...

Digit - appropriate to remember recently deceased Richard Roundtree https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q429AOpL_ds (can you dig it?)

Still love that film, political incorrectness and all!

===[**CDM**]===

Thank you: a great film as you say, and great music!

Established writer curtails broadcast (8) - a bit of a groaner

Direct on the left, three vowels all the same and five consonants all different

vcccvcvc - broadcast = sounds like

Sounds like avccvr + dvccs

The vowels are all o, and the last letter is x...

What, still no takers? Sounds like writer cuts short

Putting all those hits together, has to be "orthodox" ("Author docks")

Got severely sidetracked assuming "broadcast" was an anagram indicator...

orthodox sounds like "author docks"?

This is why we had to leave

Yagottit Rog! ===[**CDM**]===

I did warn you it was a groaner, but I am not sure which (if any) of the words involved would be pronounced differently across the pond.

TYVM, Lex Must admit, to a Brit, "orthodox" and "author docks" sound very similar

Musical piece of furniture for a top stylist (11)

Perhaps the US cousins roll the r in orthodox (as part of a general rs rolling habit?)...

Direct on the right, wordplay 4 + 7

Musical piece of furniture for a top stylist

For "musical", what did we all go to see in the 60s?

hair/dresser

Indeeedy, young Cheryl! ===[**CDM**]===

Thank you, Rog!

Puzzle served half after a meal (6)

Direct on the left. 3 vowels, 2 of which are the same. 😁

Teaser = puzzle = tea (a meal) + ser (half of served)

Here's your belt, Kevin! ===[**CDM**]===
I think tea is only considered a meal in the UK.

Thank you Cheryl, I think tea is only a meal in the north of England where it probably equates to supper (dinner meanwhile being the midday meal).

Dispensed with current measure for gas (8) - 3 vowels, no letters repeated

Direct on the right cvcvcvcc wordplay 5 + 3

Fired amp

Well done Rog! ===[**CDM**]===

It is a word I'd just about forgotten until it cropped up in a recent puzzle

Thanks, Lex!

One I don't think we've had:

Put a limit on an urban area size (8)

Direct on the right, wordplay 3 + 1 + 4

cap/a/city

That's about the size of it, Cheryl!

===[**CDM**]===

Thanks, Rog!

On the border a month of malicious damage (6)

Mayhem = malicious damage - hem (border) on may (month)

This shouldn't cause you any mayhem, Kevin! ===[**CDM**]===

Thank you Cheryl!

Punter, going bust, can end in hope to be solvent (10)

Direct on the right - cvccvccvcv - two consonants and one vowei each repeated once

Wordplay 6 + 3 + 1, and there is an anagram involved

The repeated letters are e, n and t and the answer is not financial

First letter is t...

Looks like I'll have to put you out of your misery, Kevin.

turpen/tin/e

Thank you Cheryl - I was starting to wonder whether I had missed an error with spelling and/or letter count, etc!
Here you go: ===[**CDM**]===

Thanks, Kevin!

Go off to meet a mate around retro spot (8)

Direct on the left. cvcvcvcv

As no one else is biting (perhaps too full after a Thanksgiving feast...) detonate = go off - date (to meet a mate) containing (around) eton (spot = note retro)

That's it, Kevin! Here's your belt ===[**CDM**]===
It doesn't fit me anymore after that meal the other day!

Thank you, and apologies for a slow response; no doubt you will be dieting to make room for the Christmas blow out!

Fine spinach dish replaced traditional meal (4,3,5)

Hm...

Looks like it has to be fish and chips, but the anagram has too many letters

Ah - got it!

f for "fine". then anagram of "spinach dish"

Spot on Rog!
Don't spill any ketchup on this ===[**CDM**]===

No chance, Lex - I'm a salt and vinegar man

Supporter of light murder weapon (11)

Direct on the left, but probably could be thought of as a double definition

What - you don't have a Clue ?

Supporter of light murder weapon

I guess you're gettimg board with this game...

Let's see now... rope... knife... revolver...

...lead pipe...wrench... and candlestick

Good call, m'dear! ===[**CDM**]===

Cute cryptic and clues, Rog.

Grand time of year (6)

vvcvcc :)

August

Impressive! ===[**CDM**]===

Thanks, Sue!

Unintentional sort of invader gets temporary accommodation (11)

Anagram of "invader" + temporary accomodaion -> inadvertent

Let me inadvertently slip you this belt, Rog. ===[**CDM**]===

Thanks, Cheryl!

Old moss formation is a gradual assimilation (7)

Direct on the right, not an anagram of "old moss"

Osmosis, I venture

A rewarding venture, young Lex! ===[**CDM**]===

Thank you UW!

Here's one I rather liked from a recent puzzle:

Charming group granted free place in London (6.6)

Direct on the right, and famous enough to probably be known to those across the pond - cvcvcc cvccvc - e and one consonant each repeated once but all other letters different

Wordplay 5 + 7 (one of which is anagrammed)

... and the repeated consonant is n

Coven/t Garden

You can wear this to the opera: ===[**CDM**]===

Why, thank you, Kevin!

A little lower - a little lower than the knee (4)

My apologies, I'm a little late with clues.

Double def, only one vowel.

Calf - love it!

You'll have to wear this a little higher, Rog! ===[**CDM**]===

Thanks, Cheryl!

Composer unexpectedly paroled in his home (8,3)

Direct on the right, wordplay 4 + 7

Hm.. Four-letter composer + anagram of "paroled"

Again hmm...

cvccvcvc cvc

Mebbe "Composer unexpectedly paroled in his single home" might help.
And the "home" might be regarded as a bit dated - maybe back to the hippy days

OK -time to kill this one. It was "bachelor pad '

Reportedly influenced material (5)

Direct on the right

I think this year quite a few of our main players have been offline more than usual (including myself): I had not seen your previous clue, and this one seems tougher so far...

In any event Happy New Year!

Try using a thesaurus for alternatives to "influenced:...

suede

Phew!

I am swayed to award you this wondrous belt: ===[**CDM**]===

Thanks, Rog!

Transparent stuff: part of film unit about quiet laughter (10)

Direct on the left. 4 vowels, two of which are the same.

cvcc + v(c + cv)cv

Cellophane = transparent stuff - cell + o(p+ha)ne

Good thing this belt isn't transparent, Lex! ===[**CDM**]===

I am indebted - thank you!

Bridging loose to start with, cracked teeth wobble - not fair! (5,3,4)

Direct on the right - cvcvc ccv cvcc - three of the vowels are the same, and three of the consonants each appear twice

It was originally a boxing term

What, still no takers??

The repeated consonants are blt, and there are three indicators (container, first letter, anagram)

The "boxing" was the giveaway, but I needed the last hints to explain why

Below the belt

It's a knockout! The Belt is yours for now ===[**CDM**]===

Thanks, Lex!

Shouldn't cause any grief:
Record is let out in letter (7)

Direct on the right, one anagram

ep/is/tle

Letter perfect, youung Sue! ===[**CDM**]===

Thank you, Rog!

Note mistake - there's no "e" in "glass" (6)

Direct on the right

Is guessing the number of letters a seperate puzzle?

Whatever do you mean? Looks fine to me.

I obviously need new glasses...

Standard charade clue includes subtraction: cv/ccvc

Slight reclue:

Note / mistake - there's no "e" in / "looking glass" (6)

"Note" will come from the solfege scale

Last clue: "note" (see above) + "mistake" - leading e = reflective surface

Mirror = glass - mi (do, re, etc) + error (error without e)

That particular note is often written as me (probably as a result of the song), but when I looked up the solfege scale, I saw mi and reflected upon it...

Well reflected, Lex. ===[**CDM**]===

Thank you, m'dear!

A challenging read: fans weakening terribly! (9,4)

Direct on the left, one indicator cvccvcvcc cvcv

Finnegans Wake

That's the one, Cheryl ===[**CDM**]===

Thanks, Kevin!

Treat tripe and fish that's sent back (6)

Direct on the left. One indicator. 2 vowels, both the same.

Word play = cvc + cvc

doc/tor

Cute one!

You got it, Sue! Here's your reward!! ===[**CDM**]===

Thank you, Cheryl!

Thin new pointer (6)

Direct on the left

That helps!

N-arrow

Straight to the point, Rog! ===[**CDM**]===

Thank 'ee, Sue

Expert note about being solvent (7)

Acetone = solvent = ace (expert) + tone (note about)

Ace solve, Lex! ===[**CDM**]===

Thank you kind sir!

Time for a new thread which I will duly set up.