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

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.

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 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!

Next clue to follow shortly courtesy of current title holder Sherlock.

Thanks, Lex and Cue!

One who raises glass to flower (7) 1 e

Hints: direct on left, 3 total vowels, all different

Okay, this is easier than you think. cvvccvc

What does it mean to raise a glass?

to aster ! Nice!

I raise this belt to you, Denis! ===[**WCF**]===

Love that one! So simple. So devious.

Merci bocups Cheryl!

Letter container after container (7) no e

cvvccvc, cvvc=letter, cvc=container

There are so many possibilities: mailbox, mailbag, bookbag

I'll take mailbox! ===[**WCF**]===

Thank you, Denis!

Bits of nothing in broken stem (5) 1 e

Motes = bits - anagram (broken) of stem containing o (nothing)

Lex, here's a bit of something for you to wear. ===[**WCF**]===

Thank you.

Omen still represented heavy burden (9)

Millstone (anag "omen still")

"represented" - neat - makes a nice surface!

This should be less of a burden: ===[**WCF**]===

Thanks Lex! One that appealed to my sense of humour:

Told to choose an entrance for bullfighter (7)

picador

Nice one, young Sue! ===[**WCF**]===

Thank you, sweet Rog.

Boss dressed in shocking pink (7)

in shoc(king pin)k

Be the boss, Cue.

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

Thanks, Sue

Fool has lips of color (7)

Direct on right. The e's didn't come to the party.

ccvccvc

cRIMSon

I didn't fool you, Cheryl. ===[**WCF**]===

Thanks, Cue!

Mischievous child just started on a mess of pancakes (10) 1 e

Jackanapes = mischievous child - j (just started) + (on) a + anagram (mess) of pancakes

A word I've not seen or heard for a while!

Here's something you've seen before, Lex! ===[**WCF**]===

Thank you: it does seem familiar!

Found "feline" in Latin dictionary (7)

Direct on the left cvcvcvc no letters repeated

What, still here? Wordplay is 1,1,1,1 containing 3

(L)OcatED

Pretty sneaky using OED for dictionary!

OED seems to be used quite often in crosswords over here to mean dictionary, but then it is a British dictionary: I thought that the sneaky part of this clue was the misdirection in using Latin dictionary to mean LOED.

In any event, you can now locate this about your person:
===[**WCF**]===

Thanks, Lex!

Run back with stupid question and illogical conclusion (3, 8)

Direct on the right, 5 vowels total, one is an e

2 indicators, cvc cvcvvcvc vowels are e, i, o & u x 2

I guess I could have worded it: Run back about silly question and illogical conclusion

Aha! That helps!

Non sequitUR

Whew! Good solve, Rog! ===[**WCF**]===

Thanks, Cheryl

Youngster met Eric adjusting volume (5,5) - 4 vowels

Apologies for the lateness of the hints

Direct on the right
One synonym, one anagram
cvcvc cvccv
Wordplay 3+7
"Volume" does not refer to loudness...

Extra clue:

This was set by a Brit - our transatlantic cousins would probably define it as cvcvc cvcvc

Ho-kay...
The vowels:
-u-i- -e-e- (UK)
-u-i- -e--e (US)

Methinks I hear the sound of water being heated

Still no takers - I fear the noodles are softening nicely

Looking for a 3-letter synonym for "youngster" which has a u in the middle, adding the adjusted letters of "met Eric" (not necessarily a true anagram in the strictest sense) and splitting these 10 letters to give two words which are a volume. And the second word is spelt differently is the US to what it is in the UK

This progression is too funny. How about cubic meter?

As Cheryl said - "whew"

It is with much relief I push this in your direction, Pandora ===[**WCF**]===

Thank you! The clue was perfectly legal, Rog, on both sides of the pond.

Manners may be extra special, at first (5)

direct on left

mores
extra=more
special at first=s

Well solved, manxman!

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

Thank you Sue

Move it along to find math quantity (7)

Antilog (anag "it along")

Good job UW

Thanks, manxman

Still not quite believing I got away with the last one:

Area for unhip legend? (6,4) 1 e

Early hints:

1. Direct on the left
2. cccvcv cvvc
3. Might help to pronounce "legend" with a hard "g"

square foot (feet)
oops......I guess u is not a consonant
and I broke the 24 hour rule

My fault manxman - apologies. And you were only a teensy bit early

Nice solve! ===[**WCF**]===

Thank you UW.

Housepet eats part of cheese (9)

Ca(member)t

Sherlock
and I thought mice ate cheese

Thanks, manxy!

Act uncertainly to make changes after start of festivities (6) 1 e

Falter = act uncertainly - f (start of festivities) + alter (make changes)

That's the one, Lex! Unfortunately, I'm unable to pass along the belt since Manxman appears to be hogging it! But, here's a smiley face instead.

Thank you for the non-belt!

I cannot resist using this topical clue which had us foxed for a while recently:

Sneaky, as most female athletes are essentially? (15) - two letters are each repeated once but otherwise all are different

Direct on the left, contains 5 vowels all different.

Sherlock my bad.
Here you are Lex, Canada Post is very slow ===[**WCF**]===

vcccvccccvccvcv - if you are an athlete and not a man, what characteristic might you lack, making you this?

Unsportsmanlike

Now that mxm has sportingly passed on the Belt, I can duly reward your mental athleticism:
===[**WCF**]===

Thanks Lex!

To show my appreciation, a name-check:

I vilify Lex, for example (8)

Hint time:

Direct on the right
Wordplay 1+7
Synonym might be involved
For an extra hint, Lex's profile might bear examination

...and:

vccvccvc, all vowels different

i/slander

Yes indeedy, young Cheryl! ===[**WCF**]===

Thanks, Rog!

Before day's end a pair breaks out in hives (6) no e's

apiary

Hope you don't break out in hives from this belt, Sue! ===[**WCF**]===

That would bee awful, Cheryl.

Understanding the middle of XXX? (7)

Three vowels, all the same. vccvccv

All right, times up.

t(en ten te)n

You understood, Cheryl! ===[**WCF**]===

Thank you, Sue!

Spain threatens to impound oil, for instance (5)

Paint = oil for instance - hidden word (impound being the indicator)

That's the one, Lex! I impounded this for you. ===[**WCF**]===

I'm delighted to liberate it: thank you!

Authorities whose better path goes astray (3,6,4,2)

Anag ("whose better path") => The powers that be

I now have authority to let you receive the Belt:
===[**WCF**]===

Thanks, Lex!

One that both Mrs W and myself liked:

Car or taxi with city permit (9)

Hints a trifle early:

Direct on the left
Wordplay 3+3+3
"permit" is used as a verb, not a noun

Cab+rio+let

Yes Lex! Take this to wear as you bowl along with the wind in you hair: ===[**WCF**]===

Thank you: as it happens I do have access to a Mercedes SLK for just that purpose...!

Frost on icebox preserves fizz (5)

Direct on the right, and no e

Time's up!

"Preserves" is container indic -> "Frost on icebox preserves fizz"

Spot on: you can admire this as you sip your G & T.
===[**WCF**]===

"Sip "? More like "slurp". Thanks Lex!

Arch houses quiet ape (4) - completely e-less

co(p)y

Nice one, Sue - thought that was a sneaky little one!

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

Thanks, Rog. It was adorable.

Torrential shower - portent for equestriennes (10)

horsewomen (anag. of shower + omen)

Ride off with this, Cheryl. ===[**WCF**]===

Thank you, Sue!

Continue, for example, to feed Sue (5)

Segue = continue - eg (for example) contained in (to feed) Sue (what is she eating and does she need to watch her weight...?)

To continue the passing of the belt, I present this to you, Lex. ===[**WCF**]===

Thank you.

Draw out scandal at Tesla? (8) - two es and two other vowels, both different (apologies for previous error... )

Direct on left vcvccvcv

Who runs Tesla, and what might a scandal involving him be called?

Okay, I'll go with it again.

elon/gate

Cute one, Lex.

I Musk now send you this: ===[**WCF**]===

(I Musk now send you this) Sounds like one of my corny jokes. Love it.

Thanks, Lex!

Former animal loses tail to get bigger (6) 1 e

corps(e)

Long time no see. Welcome back!

Thanks! It's been [did the math, immediately regretted it] too long!

Sorry, Demosthenes, not my answer.

One other vowel, an a.

expand
ex + pand(a)

Ex-pand(a)

.. beaten by a minute

And Manxman edges out Demosthenes for the belt! ===[**WCF**]===

Thank you Sherlock. Close one Demo

Eye doctor is embraced by old religious group (7)

Demosthenes, it does my heart good to see your name pop up.

no e's

Thanks, Sue! It's good to be back.

Oculist = eye doctor - o (old) + cult (religious group) embracing is

..and welcome back to Mr D!

I see that manxman is hogging the Belt again , but I am sufficiently sure the answer is correct to set the next clue which will be on a new thread.