===[**CDM**]=== crossword clue chain

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 courtesy of current Belt holder, Cue, ever in among the balls...

Thanks so much, Lex

Wicked source of light (6)

I'm lying here in a bed of pain, covered in noodle scars, still trying to figure out why "acrostic"...

Sorry you're in such misery, Rog. Those noodle lashes can be rather painful.

(A)nd next - (C)lue text - (R)ight here? - (O)h dear! - (S)tand out - (T)o shout - (I) think - (C)lue stinks! (8)

a·cros·tic

noun: acrostic; plural noun: acrostics

a poem, word puzzle, or other composition in which certain letters in each line form a word or words.

Ah - TYVM!

If it's any consolation, I had heard of the word but had to look it up to find out precisely what it meant!

Hmmm..hope this one isn't noodle-worthy

CVCCCV

candle (has wicks) seems a bit of a stretch, doubled with source of power

ahh, past tense of putting a wick in a candle

Illuminating answer manxman ===[**CDM**]===

Thank you Cue

Delicacy existing after failure (7)

2 e's

direct on the left
cvcvccv

Hint: also known as a bridge term

I tried a lot of different things trying to figure this one out but never would have come to this answer without the last clue. I can put my Tylenol away...for now

finesse

(f) in esse
failure followed by the Latin in esse meaning in being

thank you Cue. As always answered with your due finesse

A well deserved ===[**CDM**]===

Many thanks, manxman

Dancer to measure spirits (6)

jigger

Nice solve, Cheryl. You can dance around wearing this ===[**CDM**]===

Thanks, Cue!

Self-driven gent, finally wearing gold ring, was married (9)

Automated = self-driven - t (gent finally) wearing (contained by) au (gold) o (ring) + mated (was married)

Here's a belt for this gent to wear. ===[**CDM**]===

Thank you!

Fine female feeding unfortunate people tea, a sticky confection (6,5)

Direct on the right, two indicators, three es

toffee apple (anag. with ff) Hi Kevin

Hi Ed: I hope that all goes well with you and the tribe.

I sometimes think of you and the other Canadian boomers as I enjoy Maple Syrup (bought by the litre on Amazon) on my porridge!

Your sweet tooth wins you the Belt ===[**CDM**]===

Thanks Kevin, we are all doing well.
Agree with Maple syrup especially on our pancakes and waffles.

Miserable actress enthralls us (5)

no 'e's

lo(us)y

Go on Sherlock ===[**CDM**]===

Thanks, manxy!

Minimal show of relief about lawyer's first trial (9)

Slightest = minimal - sigh (show of relief) containing l (about lawyer's first) + test (trial)

Well done, Lex! Here's a fitting reward for a fitting answer. ===[**CDM**]===

Thank you!

Here's one where the direct is a bit sneaky:

Desire for one small plane? Right, turn up! (9) - 2 es

Direct on the left

It's all in the name...

One thing that fits the direct and fits in with the hints is "streetcar", but neither Mrs W or I can do anything to explain the wordplay...

Any takers?

That is the correct answer: wordplay is 1 + 4 + 3 + 1 and fairly straightforward (the word "one" may just be surface or could perhaps refer to a first letter) - hope that helps!

I'll put you out of your misery tomorrow if you are still stuck...

That helps!

S (small) + Tree (plane) + [R(right) + act(turn)] reversed (up)

Guess this was a 'down' clue - "right back" would have made life easier!

On the money - and yes I should probably have changed up to back, assuming of course that I wanted to make your life easier...

Herewith the Bauble: ===[**CDM**]===

Thank 'ee, Lex

Maybe illness affected manufacturing process (8,4)

assembly line (anagram)

Certainly is!

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

Thank you UW

Check vessels heading west (4)

stop (pots reversed)

Well done Sherlock ===[**CDM**]===

Thank you, manxman!

A scourge, for the most part: stray cats

Cougars = cats - anagram (stray) of most of "a scourge"

Bonus points to Lex for solving without a letter count!

... interesting

Yep, I did that on purpose to keep everyone on their toes (fingers crossed behind back). I see that Kevin was up for the challenge! Great job!
===[**CDM**]===

Thank you: I was quite impressed with myself for managing that!

No doubt you were holding back the letter count to be the first hint...

Another one with a rather sneaky ingredient (probably worthy of Denis):

Mash representatives? (7)

Direct on right, 2 es, no other vowels

Mash is not a single word...

Hmmmm... I'm going to go with "letters" with letters being the representatives of the acronym M*A*S*H

When we saw this clue we thought of that MASH, but no (although 2 of your consonants are correct): the direct is representatives and you have to split mash into two parts...

I C...

ma's h representatives = members

Members it is - m + embers (ash), and here you go:
===[**CDM**}===

Ahhh....botched that one up twice! Makes perfect sense now.

Seducer of 51 sexy maidens (6,3)

Direct on left. A single 'e'

One sexy indicator

ladies man

anag of LI (51) + maidens

Pedantically speaking, 51 becomes LA...

Yes it is, Cheryl. Here's your reward ===[**CDM**]===

I had to look up pedantically....yes, 51 translates to L for 50 and A for 1

Actually, I thought it was Ladies Min.

Tipsy chef shows spirit (6) [I remembered this time!]

Humour an old fool - is not LI Roman numerals for 51? Can't see where A = 1 comes in

...like Cheryl, I had a surfeit of "i"s

I think it's pretty similar to mash = m + ash. LI = 50 + 1 (a)

Ah - IC

Just a reminder that there's still one out there to solve.
Hint: Direct on right, 1 e

psyche (hidden)

And, there it is! ===[**CDM**]===

Thanks, Cheryl

Journalism band covers retracted figure of speech (9) one e

Direct on left, two indicators

Looks like it's my turn again:

r/eport/ing

Reported perfectly, Cheryl ===[**CDM**]===

Thanks, Cue!

Selfsame cryptic in dialect (9)

identical (anagram)

YAY!! Now you have a belt identical to mine! ===[**CDM**]===

It's so sparkly!

Remove odor from drop? (7)

Direct on the right and on the left

Descent (double def)

A decent answer! ===[**CDM**]===

Thank you kindly!

One we rather liked:

Conscientious old man at home killing vampires? (11)

Direct on the left, only four vowels being only two different letters

Love it!

pa-in-staking

painstaking

Well done gentlemen - Rog takes it by a nose!
===[**CDM**]===

Thanks Lex, apologies manxman

Peer to stop note being played (7)

bar/onet

Peerless solve, Cheryl! ===[**CDM**]===

Thanks, Rog!

Split personality's bad side rhymed poorly (2,4)

Direct on left. One indicator. One e.

Thanks Cheryl!

Dr Jekyll's alter ego, Mr Hyde (anag)

What's your alter ego's name, Rog? ===[**CDM**]===

Beaten to the punch: I was going to answer that one but was too busy yesterday having fun with my Steam account and setting up my iMac as a dual boot to play older games (Half-Life in particular)...!

Apologies Lex!

Many thanks, Cheryl

Skill might rest unexpectedly inside (7)

ma(ster)y

Exhibiting your usual mastery of the solve ===[**CDM**]===

Thanks, Rog

Formal costume I had (5)

Rigid = formal - rig (costume) + id (I had)

I formally hand over this fine belt. ===[**CDM**]===

Thank you: I will wear it with my boots and spurs!

As Panama is first to greet King and scotsman (8) - no e

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

vccccvvc and nothing to do with hats

I'm still distracted by the boots and spurs

My head hurts - wasted time and energy trying to fit R or K for "king"

is + t(o) + h(is) + m(ajesty) + Ian -> isthmian

That was evil

Well navigated, although I think the beginning is ist = first.

You mus' now take the Belt, so here it isth: ===[**CDM**]===

It took us a while to work it out in a FT puzzle (our regular lunchtime brain-training): I did not even know there was an adjective for isthmus! The plural of isthmus could also offer interesting crossword possibilities (isthmuses or isthmi), as well as probably being quite a challenge for anyone suffering from a lisp...

Thanks, Lex!

Interesting - "ian" was a gift, then I was stuck until your hint which meant the first letter must be "a" or "i". I then reckoned that "is first to" meant "is" plus the first letter of "to". It then had to be something to do with "isthmus" since from my practice making up the word chains I knew that this was the only common word beginning "ist"

Burn gourmand's last vegetable (5)

Good one, Rog. I was lost on that one How does scotsman = ian?

One of the many Brit crossword conventions. A Scot is usually "Ian" (a common Scottish name) or "mac"

We didn't stand a chance, Cue.

Just to make life more interesting, Ian is sometimes spelled Iain...

OK - hint time:

Direct on the right
Wordplay 4+1, one indicator
ccvcc

... and one (not for the belt) from today's paper just to check that you were paying attention:

Continental like a Scot (5)

Chard = vegetable - char (burn) + d (gourmand's last) and Asian = continental - as (like) + Ian, as no one else is biting

Not only a belt, but a virtual pair of braces for the bonus: ===[**CDM**]===

Thank you for those additions to my wardrobe.

You end up including everything pure (9) - only one of the letters is repeated

unALLoyed

Your pure genius is duly rewarded (or perhaps it was your pure thoughts...):
===[**CDM**]===

I thank you, Lex!

Error in records for money gambled away (7)

Direct on right. One indicator.

2 vowels, no e. The indicator is a container.
cvcvccc

losings

I was convinced it had to be LPs or EPs until the penny dropped

No losing with that answer, Rog! ===[**CDM**]===

Oh, the fun and frustration of using words with multiple meanings....

Thanks, Cheryl!

Lock up one by one, say (6)

intern sounds like in turn.

No Scottish bits on that one

Must remember to include Scottish wordplay
Must remember to include Scottish wordplay
Must remember to include Scottish wordplay
.
.
.
(with apologies to Matt Groening)

Your "tern" for the belt ===[**CDM**]===

Rog, I have to tell you. I did a crossword puzzle on my phone app this morning and one of the clues was "John across the pond" with the answer working out to "Ian"

Thanks, I can use a belt right about now

Sport fortune behind evil taking place (9)

Badminton = sport - bad (evil) + mint (fortune) + on (taking place)

Just had another clue for that in a puzzle, so it leapt out at me!

It is indeed, Lex. Let's have this leap on over round your gut! ===[**CDM**]===

Duly leapt: thank you!

About time for a new thread, so I will post the next clue(s) there.