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, 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. 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 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:

Dismiss bears (4-4)

I rarely know these (and never want to incure the wrath of the wet noodle) but wonder whether this one is Pooh-Pooh?

To pooh-pooh something is to rubbish or dismiss it, and two PPoohs make bears

Great clue and solve!

Spot on flotsam! The Belt comes to you: ===[**CDM**]===

Thank you for participating and please don't be deterred by the wet noodle which was always a badge of honour for Denis

BTW that clue came from a puzzle we had done in a paper, so that I can only claim credit for repeating it here

Nice solve, flotsam!

Many thanks - now for the harder bit.

Five shiver imprecisely (5)

v/ague

Well done Sherlock. My belt is now yours

Thank you, flotsam!

Foolhardy cigar end (cigar end?) (4)

Direct on the left. Only one vowel.

Rash = foolhardy - r + ash (2 cigar ends) - clever!

That's it, Lex!
Shhhh..... I had to go steal the belt from flotsam so I can pass it along to you! ===[**CDM**]===

Thank you: was it hidden in his tucker bag?

Mash representatives? (7) - this one is a bit sneaky

Direct on the right, only two vowels both the same and two of the consonants are the same

My apologies - I was indeed hoping to keep it
In an effort to win it back, and to maybe get better at these things, what does direct on the right mean?

Hi flotsam: absolutely no apology needed.

The direct is the definition part of the clue [giving the meaning of the answer word rather than the part(s) of the clue containing wordplay]: the direct will nearly always be at one end or the other, unless the clue is a double definition type (as pooh-pooh which you previously solved).

Thus, in this case you are looking for a word meaning "representatives" which can somehow be deduced from "mash," or if I am being more helpful, perhaps M.A.S.H

I am not sure whether you are a crossword veteran and it was just my use of the word "direct" which confused you, but if you are a novice, this may help https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/premium/xword/cryptics.html - however beware some differences in approach between American and British puzzles (and for all I know, Australian ones)!


PS I think that I may only have started using the word direct rather than definition as a result of seeing it used here...!

One other thing - I seem to remember the Noodlemeister had a neat guide to cryptics. If you speak nicely to her, I'm sure she'll post the link

Found it!!

For those of you who might need instructions for cryptic crossword clues, check out this page .

Sue & Lex ... lost those links

I have added those links to the opening post of the thread for future reference

Thnaks heaps. It certainly wasn't your use of language Lex, I have never tried to do cryptics and don't tend to do crosswords much either, so the advice is much appreciated.
And thank you too Noodlemeister!

...so now we are all waiting to see whether you can solve the clue and reclaim the Belt, flotsam...

Happy Birthday, Lex!

Have a great day!!

Happy Birthday, Kevin! Make every candle count!

Thank you for the birthday greetings: my wife Linda suggests that the time has come to reverse the digits so that we can consider ourselves to be in our twenties again...

Happy Birthday Lex

Happy birthday Lex

Is it M plus embers (for ash) giving us members?

It is indeed, flotsam, my warning about sneakiness in the construction of this particular clue being because breaking a word in that fashion might (I believe) be slightly frowned upon in some purist crossword circles...

Two particular types of clue are fairly common on this thread and perhaps among the easiest of cryptic clue types to master at first, anagrams (probably my favourite) and container/hidden words (much favoured by Sherlock): in each case there will be an indicator word (or words) to let the solver know that the letters of some other words have to be mixed up, or that the answer word is simply hidden in the wording of the clue (sometimes backwards, but that would also be indicated somewhere within the clue).

Your turn again and here is the trophy (which you forgot/omitted to pass on but Sherlock sneaked up and took from you apparently )
===[**WCF**]===

...and thank you for the additional birthday reminders!

Methinks we're going to regret giving flotsam those links!

First of all, I loved this one. Elegantly sneaky. Not sure I'd call it completely legal because there's no indicator to break up "mash".

This bit though is harder than the other. Noodles beware.

Report about taking back what was written (8)

Does this help? I haven't yet mastered the more subtle or usual ways of giving hints.

Report about // taking back what was written (2-6?)

There is no particular rule about hints and some of us are less subtle than others, but some particular types of hint I have seen are numbers of vowels, positions of vowels/consonants (eg ccvccvc for flotsam), which end of the clue carries the direct/definition (or that it is a double definition type of clue if that is the case) and how many indicators the clue contains (by which I mean words which warn of an anagram or other device for moving letters within the clue about).

Reading that back , I may just be making things more complicated for you than they need to be...!

cvcccvcv

seven different letters

Describe = report about, looking like it should mean "unwrite"

I like it, but I would have added a question mark as a signal for slightly dodgy wordplay (as with my previous clue) - which I think is the only time punctuation is used in crossword clues for anything other than misdirection

Like it...

Well done Lex - and I will take on board the dodgy feedback
Here is your belt

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

Good one! I agree with Lex about the question mark.

Thank you flotsam

This is one I rather liked in a recent puzzle:

Approve of what twit here can be seen to do (4,4)

Direct on the left, one vowel in each word (not the same)

Answer starts and ends with the same letter, which is a consonant, all letters otherwise being different from each other cvcc cvcc

Sneaky!

Got it from the c/v layout - the last word could well be "with" 'cos that's present as a Cheryl (twit here)

If so, the other word begins with either a W or an H

The rest of the clue is a description of the Cheryl ("can be seen to do") which is to hold the word "with" -> hold with

Yes indeed, a quite neat but sneaky sort of reversed container clue: we worked out that the first word was likely to be hold, but it then took a while for the penny to drop on the second word and its justification!

No doubt Cheryl will try to make use of this twist on her favourite theme...

You can now hold this: ===[**CDM**]===

Too kind!

Making sure is putting king in danger (8)

checking

Love this one as well as Lex's

Hey, that was quick ===[**CDM**]===

Lucky timing. Thank you!

Went by cab, even when carrying hatchet (6)

Is it taxied?
A hatchet is an axe, and carrying the axe suggested it was within the answer and a cab is a taxi.
Apologies if that is a bit messy.

taxied

flotsam got it first! Here's your belt: ===[**CDM**]===

t(ax)ied

Axe can also be spelled ax. It's contained in tied (even)

Sherlock, I am passing the belt to you whilst I spend more time trying to understand the various nuances

Here tis ===[**CDM**]===

Thanks, flotsam. I'll consider it a Birthday gift!

Unclothed wench dons backwards slip and drawers? (7)

Pencils = drawers - enc (unclothed wench) contained in (dons) pils (backwards slip)

Yes, Lex! ===[**CDM**]===

Thank you!

Light composer changing temperature initially with one supporter (10)

Direct on the left, four vowels of which three are the same, clue wording slightly re-arranged

cvccvcvccv - clue was prompted by recent birthdays

Wordplay is 6 with changed initial letter + 1 + 3

Still no takers?? It's a big light made up of what is on a birthday cake...

C(h)andel-a-bra

("changing temperature initially" is H->C, clever)

Be careful not to set fire to this magnificent Trophy ===[**CDM**]===

Many thanks!

Spoil grown-up shaping a tree (10)

Direct on the left

Wordplay 5 + 5

adult/erate (a tree)

Your reward, Cheryl - one totally unadulterated belt! ===[**CDM**]===

Thanks much, Rog!

Three digits reach endlessly in a poem (4, 4)

Direct on the left. 5 vowels total with 2 repeating.

Area code = 3 digits - reac (reach endlessly) in a ode (poem)

I see you're pretty good with numbers, Lex! ===[**CDM**]===

Thank you, hopefully numerate rather than numbed...

Rule of law I care about damaged listener (11,3)

Direct on the right, one indicator cvvcvccvcvc vvc

Looks like a big anagram -> cauliflower ear

Here's a big reward ===[**CDM**]===

Many thanks!

Ordinary members are disgusting, sadly, if laden (4,3,4)

Direct on the left

One synonym, one indicator

cvcc vcc cvcv

Rank/ and file (ang of if laden)

A top rank solve! ===[**CDM**]===

Thank you, Rog!

Towns covering couple of avenue's potholes (8)

My daughter is getting married tomorrow (finally, due to covid) and the shenanigans begin tonight. Hope someone solves this quickly, otherwise I'll be away for a couple of days. Feel free to carry on if nobody gets it.

Cheryl, I hope all concerned have a great time at the nuptials, even if you are going to spend a couple of days clearing up and recovering afterwards!

Thank, Lex! It was a blast! One thing's for sure, my family knows how to have a good time. And, you're right about recovering. Moving very slowly today.

Back to the cryptic:
Direct on the right. 4 vowels, 2 of them the same.

c(vc)vcvvc

c(av)vcvvc (letters in parentheses are correct)

Word meaning towns covering couple of avenues (av)

Okay, this has gone on long enough. The answer is c(av)ities.

To keep the belt moving, here's an easy one, I hope:

Overhear casual sounds coming from a monastery, perhaps (6)

Chants = sounds from a monastery - sounding like (overhear) chance (casual)

That other clue probably needed a dental reference for us slowcoaches!

Here's your belt, Lex! Now, all you need is a robe and a wooden plank to hit yourself with. ===[**CDM**]===

Many thanks: it's the cold showers that are probably one of the main highlights of monastic life...

Friend of weed knocked over computer (6)

Direct on the right cvccvc

Laptop - pal pot backwards

Duly zapped, and here you go ===[**CDM**]===

Thanks, Lex!

Left one by company entrance (7)

port/i/co

You'll make a grand entrance in this, Cheryl! ===[**CDM**]===

Thanks much, Rog!

Narration is right: it was caught in tie-up (7)

Direct on the left. Two indicators. This one might be a bit tricky.

Recital = narration - r (right) + lace reversed (tie-up) and containing (caught) it

Hey Lex, maybe you could wear this to your next recital! ===[**CDM**]===

Thank you Sherlock!

In a stew - buttocks bitten by fierce mongrel (9)

Direct on the left, two indicators, one vowel repeated and one consonant likewise ccvcvccvv

fric(ass)ee

Well cooked Panda Sue - you can wrap this around yours
===[**CDM**]===

Thank you, kind sir.

Dance with a light on the end (5)

cvccc

Direct on left

c v cc c

Well, it's got to be waltz. So, w (with) a lt (light) z (the end)

It sure is! Well stepped, Cheryl! ===[**CDM**]===

Why, thank you, Sue!

Six greeting summer's end at square ➖ one sign of the end of summer (5)

Direct on the right. 2 vowels, no e's.

Six + summer's end + square one
2 + 1 + 2

Virgo - I had been stuck at vir.. but had not considered star signs and their relevant dates!

I guess you earning this belt was in the stars, Lex! ===[**CDM**]===

Thank you: you must be a descendant of Nostradamus...

Two Europeans finish (6,6)