Sadly we lost our good friend Denis Borris (aka CanukDenis) on 27th June and we already miss his irreverent and clever puzzles and comments. He was a long time contributor to GB, especially here in the Garden, and one of the originators of this game. We have therefore decided to mark his passing by renaming the World Clue Federation Championship Belt as the CanukDenis Memorial Championship Belt and hope all of you (and especially his brother Curly and sister OrleansBelle) will approve.


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 and 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, and for those who like British Crosswords you may like to try these (which are free): http://www.theguardian.com/crosswords and https://www.ft.com/crossword.

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 18 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 to follow shortly...

Great idea, Urban Worrier! Great execution, Lex. It's only right to honour Denis.

Excellent idea Lex. Every time I enter the Garden I have fond memories of Denis. This change will ensure that we remember Denis as a supreme problem solver and clue setter.

Here we go, for the new Trophy:

Denis Borris initially a Cardinal? - Could be this type of fast mover! (5,6) (edited)

By the way, it was (Urban Worrier) Rog's splendid idea to use the WCF as our memorial to Denis!

Great idea. I am very impressed by this decision. Thanks a million guys.

What a lovely gesture. Greatly appreciated.

Super idea UrbanWorrier! Most outstanding execution Lex! You guys ROCK!!

Seems like a very fitting tribute to me, too. Bravo

Early hints for the clue (which appropriately is probably noodle-worthy!): direct on the right vccvc cvccvc

NB clue slightly edited

This is a hint

What still no takers?? Think of James Bond, and forget about religious cardinals

Denis would have been proud of the dodginess/deviousness of this one:

Aston Martin (DB + a cardinal number - DB4, DB5 etc)

Hi Rog, it is correct you are, and I am glad you approve!
Here is your pristine new Trophy:
===[**CDM**]===

Not only should you keep it well polished, but you probably need to watch out in case Denis's ghost nicks it (or at least the sparkly bits)...

I'm honoured, Lex!

Equality means distributed cheese (8)

Congrats Rog, you won the first CDM game.

Wow, I am impressed!!!!

Direct on the right, one indicator, wordplay 3+5...

parmesan (par + “means” anagrammed)

Nice one, Demosthenes - one lovely belt with all sparkly bits present and correct! ===[**CDM**]===

It is a truly lovely one.

nearly dwelling in grave (8)

&lit, 3 vowels, no e's

moribund?

nearly dwelling = rib (nearly crib)
grave = mound

A perfect solve! Take good care of this: ===[**CDM**]===

Thanks, Demosthenes.

Rooster as well as ox report incredible tale (4,3,4,5)

C ock and bull story = incredible tale - [blip] (rooster) and (as well as) bull (ox) report (story)

(a new synonym for rooster! )

Lex, a timepiece minus fifty

Also a synonym for much of my daily vocabulary, Lex.

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

Thanks CCb

Piers Morgan is pro-German suddenly thanks to this (7)

anagram

is pro-German is an anagram of Piers Morgan

On the money!
Herewith the Bling: ===[**CDM**]===

You can wear it to your party

Ooooo, it looks great, Lex! Thank you!

Holy one eats very little candy (5)

Direct on right. 2 vowels, both the same.

SweeT

That's the one, Demosthenes! Here's some eye candy for you. ===[**CDM**]===

Yay, thanks!

arthropod movies lost mad bucks (7)

Edited slightly because it was a little noodly.

Direct on the left, two vowels.

...because it was a little noodly..

Hhmmm - how about the well-known arthropod "lobster"??????

Now the tricky bit. Anagram (mad) of "lost" plus "ber" which is (er, just hang on a minute) er, the ancient Fredonian word for "dollar"

Lobster (blockbusters - b,u,c,k and s) is correct, which means I'm handing this over posthaste! ===[**CDM**]===

Okay, so it was a lot noodly.

Many thanks Demosthenes. Clever - I like it!

Preparing fish and sheep as a means of entry (9,3) - 4 vowels

Battering ram = means of entry - battering (preparing fish) + ram (sheep), and I enjoyed the recent Fredonian reference (had to google that)

Full Marx, Lex!

The belt heading your way: ===[**CDM**]===

Thanks UW

Son cherished? Not right, but superficially plausible (8) - one e amongst 4 vowels, all different

As an aside, in a recent crossword in the FT, the clue was "Marx brother or English golfer" and the answer was clearly Engels (of whose connection with Karl Marx I am aware): my problem is failure to understand the golfing reference and/or to fully justify the answer...any ideas? - Probably obvious to everyone else!

Ernie Els - a top South African golfer

specious (s + pecious, which with a short e sounds like precious )

All yours Demosthenes: ===[**CDM**]===

(always think of this when I see that you hail from there https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZL_tZxyBDo)

( I'll always *really* be from California, but I suppose this place is growing on me...)

dog turns back fellow loser from Mars? (9)

dalmatian

turns back fellow = lad <> dal
from Mars? = Martian
lose(r) = ma_tian

Well spotted! And on to you: ===[**CDM**]===

Nice pun Thanks

About time faulty device is thrown out! (7)

Anagram of "device" about t(ime) -> evicted

I see that was a tough one for you, Rog

Strap this non-faulty, fully-functional device about your hips ===[**CDM**]===

Thanks, Cue!

Food stolen by boxer perhaps? (3,3)

hot dog

Nice solve, Demosthenes! : ===[**CDM**]===

Thanks, Rog!

“Poor Wandering One” became popular (6,6)

Gained renown = became popular - anagram (poor) of wandering one

That's it. You're up, Lex! ===[**CDM**]===

Thank you kind sir!

Comic news bulletin from Spooner at Little Bighorn? (6,6)

Direct on left, cvccvc cvvcvc, one e in each word and all other vowels different

Buster Keaton (Custer Beaten)

Successfully busted, so you may take custody of this: ===[**CDM**]===

Thank you, Lex!

More disturbed about the unfinished dam (6)

mother (anagram of “more” around unfinished “the”)

Yes, Demosthenes! Here's your belt. ===[**CDM**]===

Hurrah!

Routine navy retreats preserve order--larger ones might whistle over the bright blue sea? (6,5,9)

Direct on the right, 7 vowels, 3 e's.

cvcvcc cvcvc cvcvcvcc; definition by example

I am completely stuck on this one (but then I had noticed your capacity to be quite tricky, even if perhaps not quite as devious as Denis...!)

I have been thinking of seabirds, missiles, sea shanties, shooting stars, and even oil rigs or wind turbines, all to no avail; to make things worse, I am not getting anywhere on the clue construction either, pondering possible synonym for routine + reversed synonym for navy containing synonym for/type of order...

I'll definitely take that as a compliment, Lex!

You're right that “retreats” is a reversal indicator--but in this case it applies to “preserve” rather than “navy.” “order” is an anagram indicator, which is mean of me because it's difficult to tell where the anagram ends and the definition begins.

Oh, and the synonym for “routine” is somewhat questionable, because of course it is...

I like this alternate version better:

Moderate port side navy retreats preserve order--larger ones might whistle over the bright blue sea? (6,5,9)

If preserve = jam, then the second word could be major, but otherwise I am still all at sea...

"major" is correct for the second word! (and in a previous iteration "at sea" was the anagram indicator )

I think that Modern Major Generals has to be the answer, but I am still a long way from justifying it!

Well actually perhaps I can: mode (routine, or left/port side of moderate) + rn (navy) + maj (jam reversed) + or generals (larger ones anagrammed), but I am not familiar enough with HMS Pinafore to entirely understand the direct

The very model! Here's your well-deserved reward: ===[**CDM**]===

The justification for the definition is in the lyrics...

Thank you!

This will be a bit of a come down in comparison but I rather liked it in a recent puzzle:

Manage to bring B and H together (4,4,4,4)

Direct on the left, 6 vowels of which 4 are e

cvcv cvcc vccc cvvc - includes 2 each of m and t

...of course the clue tells you that two of the consonants are b and h, so you now have ten of the sixteen letters...
...but the b and h are not yet adjacent...

B and H are the first and last letters of one of the words in the answer, and it's a bit of a groaner!

make both ends meet

You made it in the end!
===[**CDM**]===

Thank you, Lex!

Intractable as ever about rent (5)

lease (hidden in “tractable as ever”)

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

Thanks, Sherlock! I'm in a silly mood, so....

Spineless birdbrain twice proves ornithologists have a sense of humor? (6-7,9)

(this seems like a good time to explain the rest of my *last* puzzle: any Modern Major Generals, as the song goes, should be able to "whistle all the airs from that infernal nonsense Pinafore." For instance, "Over the Bright Blue Sea." )

..,hints for *this* puzzle will go up in a couple of hours, if necessary.

Direct on right: 8 vowels, 4 e's.

I think it's got to be yellow-bellied sapsucker

spineless = yellow-bellied
birdbrain twice = sap and sucker

You're certainly no dodo! Your turn ===[**CDM**]===

Why, thank you!

Soaked and deepest in misery (7)

steeped anagram of deepest?? Hi Cheryl.

You definitely earned that one Cheryl: I gave up after trying to devise something along the lines of double-??? twitcher, and in the light of the previous Pinafore reference wondering about this https://www.ifagiolini.com/projects/the-birds/ ...Demosthenes is certainly testing our mettle!

(For some reason, I particularly like this thesaurus entry for "chump")

Hi Remi! I like that answer. Here's your belt. ===[**CDM**]===

Merci Cheryl.

“Tarnation!” snarled Pulp Fiction director (9)

Tarantino is the man (anagram of tarnation) and that is an excellent film

Good one. Voici la ceinture. ===[**CDM**]===

Merci bien, mon ami

A pair for the Belt this time (each containing one e):

1. Apparently 2 beg (7)

2. Moderate OK about cheers meeting Left's fibs (5,5)

1. vcccvcv

2. cvvcy cvcvc

Both directs on right, no repeated letters in 1, across both clues a e i l each appear twice (no other letters repeated)

2. If you are uttering fibs, how else might they be described?

1. Synonym of beg, with another meaning possibly similar to 2 if split into 3 + 4 letters

(relevant smilie)

1. implore (imp + lore)
2. fairy tales (fair + yes around, uh, "tal", which makes sense because , uh.....Sam Malone from Cheers used to be on the Red Sox, which are an AL team, and also there's a t?)

Probably "cheers" (ta) meeting L(efts)...

Or that....

Or that is correct, and here is the Trophy:
===[**CDM**]===

Thanks to Rog for the assist! Though you might regret it now....

Sage companion and equal, clout the front icy creature, or so it's said, for history marches onward. (4,3,4,4,3,2,3)

.....

Mucho devious!

Think I've got most of it:
Sage companion - thyme
Equal - tied
Clout - weight
Icy creature - snowman

Grab a "for" from somewhere, chuck them all together using a few industrial-strength homophones ("or so it's said") and you get:
"Time and tide wait for no man" (although can't explain the "front")

Neat!

Deftly done! (And in record time, too! )

[“For” is “fore,” because they're weren't enough homophones already.]

And 'fore I forget, I have the honor of bestowing this on you: ===[**CDM**]===

Thanks, Demosthenes!

Leaving after musical is being pedantic (13)

hairsplitting

Hair - Musical
splitting - leaving

No splitting of hairs about your eligibility for this: ===[**CDM**]===

Thanks, Rog.

First breaks then splits! (5)

Direct on right. Nary an e

cvccc

Rifts = splits - anagram (breaks) of first

I spent some time wondering about this being some kind of pool shot...