===[**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, 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:
Propose this to queen surprisingly succeeding father (3,3,8)

Pop the question

"this to queen" anagrammed after "father"

A good start to the week! ===[**CDM**]===

Thanks Lex!

2/3 of the rivers flourish (6)

thrive (THe RIVErs)?

You rowed that boat ashore, Rog! ===[**CDM**]===

I liked this one because it had that little twist in it. 2/3 of THE plus 2/3 of RIVERS

Aha - missed that subtlety...

Self-dedication for literary work? (4)

Early hint:

Direct on the right, wordplay 2+2

Hmm...

cvcv
In general, what is the first word of a dedication?
Slight modification made to original clue

Killing this one - a bit surprised nobody bit. "Tome" ("To me")

Some dictionaries have a word for "doctor" (5)

I was a bit distracted, so hadn't really been paying attention recently, but I think that this thread moves a little slower than in the often almost manic era of Denis: therefore no real need to fret if a clue hangs around for a few days.

In answer to your new clue: medic = doctor (hidden word)

Point taken. Any road up, good call ===[**CDM**]===

Thank you!

Old prison cell: it's abysmal, some recalled (8)

Bastille

Took me awhile to realize that 'some' was a hidden-word indicator, heh.

All yours again! ===[***CDM**]===

Thank you, Lex.

Paparazzi shot brutes, thugs (11)

shutterbugs (anag)

Snapped! Now picture yourself in this: ===[***CDM**]===

Thanks, Helmer! I'm going to frame this one.

Chopper makes ack-ack sounds (3)

Axe

Go to the choppa! To get your belt! ===[***CDM**]===

Thank you for chipping in!

Each dish fills one (6)

Each = APIECE

Nice!

... and your turn comes round again ===[**CDM**]===

Thanks, Lex. I like the belt.

Fool's sock left in drinks (10)

Dang -- just realized, I used slang that may be uncommon.

Hint: During fisticuffs in the original Batman TV show,
animated "bat-fight words" appeared on the screen.

Bigger Hint (Bat-fight words list):

BAM booz(l)es

Can't fool the detective! Here's to you: ===[***CDM**]===

Thanks, Helmer!

Writer's pony found within confines of stable (6)

Direct on the left. One indicator.

Scribe = writer - se (confines of stable) containing (within) crib (pony, a new meaning for me and I am still tying to work out the derivation beyond a reference to "cribbing")

Interesting, Lex. Your answer looks good! (I was stuck.)

I'd thought: direct='Writer' (ignoring the apostrophe) with 's' being the answer's first letter. I'd also considered: direct='Writers', so a plural answer. And with "confines of stable" meaning 'se', I'd thought the answer's last letter might be "found" as either 's' or 'e'. I couldn't progress.

I knew three kinds of cribs: bassinets, gang-slang and cheat sheets ('pony' as 'cheat sheet' is new for me, too).

Time to get back on the pony, Lex, it's your turn. ===[***CDM**]===

This is what I found in reference to pony. I didn't know that my college crib sheets were ponies.

pony (n)

Meaning "crib of a text as a cheating aid," especially a translation of a Greek or Latin author used unfairly in the preparation of lessons (1827) and "small liquor glass" (1849) both are from notion of "smallness" (the former also "something one rides," a translation being something that enables a student to "get along fast").

Ah, yes, a 'ponytail'. Makes sense, now.

PS: I see the belt has been gaining and losing jewels, in this thread, heh.

The reference to cribbing which I found was what some young horses apparently do, chewing on the manger rather than the hay or other feed in the manger...

pony can also mean £25 in cockney rhyming slang, apparently short for pony-and-trap for c**p (of little worth) and possibly on the same basis, the expression "pony up," for pay up.

...and yes, some jackdawish players have been known to nick the odd bit of bling from the belt, and/or even polish or otherwise embellish it!

Next clue:

Admonisher unexpectedly reconciled (10)

harmonised (anag.)

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

Thank you Lex

Ten sat up to write letters (5)

io(10)tas(sat reversed)

Well done Sherlock. You know your Greek letters

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

Thanks, manxy!

Sleeping on a ship is unsound with a big block
of ice around (8)

berthing

That's the one, Helmer! ===[**CDM**]===

Thank you, Sherlock!

Youth wrote e and reversed an integer (8)

Hint: Although symbol e represents a famous mathematical constant (Euler's number), no math knowledge is needed for this crypt.

one a

Teenager = youth - anagram (wrote) of e + integer with an substituted for in (reversed) - quite sneaky justification which it took me a while to work out!

By the way, thank you Helmer for becoming a strong contributor to this and other puzzle threads: fresh ideas help inspire the rest of us (in my not so humble opinion).

I agree with appreciating Helmer's strong contributions and I hope he continues with them.

But I'm not a fan of this cryptic because it's a bit murky. Assuming Lex's explanation is correct, "wrote" is not an anagram indicator, and "reversed" is not a substitution indicator.

I love a tough cryptic but it has to be fairly solvable and forehead-slapping once explained.

That's my answer, Lex. My wordplay is different, yet (AFAIK) the belt doesn't distinguish! ===[**CDM**]===

e and reversed an = ENA integer

teENAger

I hope that wasn't too much of a stretch, Pandora.

I don't have a lot of experience, under the belt. I'll take this opportunity to ask about "to write" in:

Ten sat up to write letters (5)

That's an example of what Denis told me are 'surface words', yes? Would "wrote" be the same, in mine?

I like your explanation, Helmer. Very sneaky, possibly illegal, but good fun.

Ten sat up to write letters (5) = iotas

"to write" and "wrote" are added words that add surface sense to a clue.

"Denis told me"? Are you a Boris?

That should be 'Borris' Sue. (lol)

Sorrry Remmi!!

It's ok Sue. I was nice, I only used one 'u'.

Nope -- if only I could be so lucky.

I knew Denis from another forum. He introduced me to cryptic clues. I'm still learning…

Thank you Helmer, or perhaps it should be Haunted Helmer (if Denis reached you from another forum beyond... ), and clearly from now on it must be Panda Swe

Hopefully we are all still learning!

A thingy: utensil used at once (14)

unhesitatingly (anag.)

Straight to the point
===[**CDM**]===

Thank you Lex

Stitched in all directions (4)

s-e-w-n

Well done UW ===[**CDM**]===

Thanks, manxman!

Making mistake about a piece of jewellry (7)

spellin' ?

(Just kidding!)

e(a)rring

And a matching belt to go with it, m'dear! ===[**CDM**]===

I'm stylin'! Thank you, Lex.

Fish not yet paid for? (3)

I was pulling UW's strings, but you obviously saw through the ruse...

Cod = fish - cash on delivery

Whoops! Maybe some cash will get me out of this? ===[**CDM**]===

Thank you Panda Swe!

At home daughter packs her hamper (6)

hinder

Quickly answered without let or hindrance!
===[**CDM**\===

Thank you, Lex.

Primates without clothing? I'm half in! (7)

no 'e'
punctuation may be ignored

"half in" = i

s(imi)ans

You got it bueno! ===[**CDM**]===

I read recently that humans first began wearing clothes around 170,000 years ago. (Talk about vintage.)

Thank you for this very fashionable belt!

Inspire in sound (6)

In/hale

Breathe in the win, Lex! (Got it right this time.) ===[**CDM**]===

Thank you ma'am!

We quite liked this one

Onboard expert with a verdict: brake's worn (8,6)

backseat driver
anag. of a+verdict+brakes

Correct young lady: I trust that's not a habit of yours!
You can strap yourself in with this ===[**CDM**]===

Thanks, Lex!
Quite the opposite. It's hard to be a backseat driver when one is behind the wheel.

Ways to collect train charges for a second time (7)

Direct on the right. 3 vowels, all different. One indicator.

r(el)oads

ways = roads
train = el
collect = container indicator

Sure is, Sue! ===[**CDM**]===

Thank you, Cheryl!

Plants in third row when the play starts (5)

Direct on the left

C-Act 1 = Cacti

Theatrically done, Koala! ===[**CDM**]===

Ah - in the theatre, row 3 is "C"

Thanks for enlightening a dim Brit...

Thanking you Panda Sue.

Organs or joints said to be coveted by the elderly (7)

Clues huh...?

1. Direct on left
2. Only 2 vowels
3. One of the aforementioned vowels is an 'e'

Bonus clue: 5 consonants

I think this must be kidneys - sounds like kid knees

There's no 'kidding' you Lex.

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

Thank you Koala

Good fellow in Row G has argument (4-4)

Definition on right, wordplay 3 + (1 + 3) + 1

I didn't think this would hang about, an English slang expression which could also be a doorbell chime...

That says it has to be "ding-dong", but can't explain it....

Anyone else take it?

Din(G-Don)G

Good = G
Fellow = Don
Row = din + G

Apparently, ding-dong can mean a violent exchange of words or blows.

Correct answer!

Interestingly not many modern dictionaries appear to carry this definition but the Cambridge and Collins dictionaries do: this was always the main meaning when I was growing up but now I see that there are a number of others.

Cheryl, the Belt comes your way as Rog was the only other contender on the thread and was leaving it up for grabs (although Helmer had sent me a private message about it)
===[**CDM**]===

Thanks, Kevin!

Draw old companion (9)

I'd thought 'Good fellow' was maybe a British (hence, "polite") form of Goodfella, so I was stuck with don in ding.

On the plus side, I discovered from Lex that, for decades, I've worked off and on as a don. (It never dinged on me.)

I'm going to guess: DUPLICATE

To draw is to duplicate, and people call identical items (like matching socks) 'buddies' or 'mates'.

Could "old" be a surface word?

Good guess, but you'll have to try again, Helmer.

Direct on the left. Only 2 vowels, each used twice.

Oh for Pete's sake! (I'd failed to consider draw=tie.)

staleMATE

Don't you just hate it when that happens? ===[**CDM**]===

I'm getting used to it, ha. Thanks for the belt.

Watch star rotate (7)

Direct on left, no 'e'

The answer is a device for keeping track of time.

sunDIAL

Right on time, manxman! ===[**CDM**]===

Thanks Helmer

Housecat's left footprint (4)

You're welcome, manxman. I'll post my answer to yours, if it's still open Tuesday.

step (pets reversed)

Good one Sherlock ===[**CDM**]===

Seems palindromic.

step (pets reversed)
pets (step reversed)

Thanks, manxman!

Pure cocaine's head rush (6)

Direct on the left. 2 vowels.

c-haste

That's a good answer, Sue! Here's your belt, made of pure gold. ===[**CDM**]===

So shiny! Thank you!

Approaches a hundred dollars spent (7)

Direct on the left

tackles

a hundred = AC
dollars = KELTS
spent = anagram indicator

(Thanks for the money, encyclo.co.uk)

A very nice try, Helmer, and partially correct. An anagram clue must provide the letters to be anagrammed. They cannot be clued. You've got the AC right.

ACCOSTS (Shoot-a-darn – I remember thinking about 'cost' for "dollars spent", but I didn't make the connection: accost=approach.)

Hi Sue. Are there exceptions to the anagram fodder rule? I saw these examples recently:

Farewell horrid lepidoptera – none seen for ages (6-3)
Before anagramming, "era" needs to be replaced with 'o'.

It's crazy changing what comes before pi (7)
Before anagramming, "what comes before pi" needs to be replaced with 'omicron'.

Neglectful having left off dicky bow (9)
Before anagramming, the "l" needs to be deleted.

Well solved, Helmer! This belt cost a lot! ===[**CDM**]===

I think the clues you're asking about are borderline, at best. The first one (toodle pip) is arguably fair because the letter replacement was cued.

The second one (moronic) is not a legal cryptic (to a purist) and is probably of British origin. They're often more relaxed with the rules.

Can't solve the third one off the bat so I don't know if it's legal.

Wash your mouth out with soap and water, Madame Noodlemeister! Anyone trying that one over hear these days would be run out of town

We do not allow the anagramming of a synonym (indirect anagram), but what we do allow is modification of the synonym by adding to it (either in the middle or on the ends) provided the letter order of the synonym is not altered and there is an appropriate indicator.

For example:
Giant can, accepting thanks -> Titan
Walk holding universal jeweller's tool -> loupe

Can't figure the last one either - all I can come up with is "genuflect"

Now now, Rog - no offense meant. I don't think you, personally, have ever been guilty.

Thanks, UW. "Genuflect" is correct, so the same could be said about anagram-fodder deletions, it seems.

Thank you for the clarifications, Pandora – and the belt, too!

Expand big showstopper (6)

(Penny drops) I see - "dicky" as an indicator! Don't know what Lex thinks but I would say that was perfectly legit over here. What about in the States, Sue?

Dicky is fine as an indicator, so anagram of neglectful with one l removed (left off) = genuflect

I see that Helmer is becoming a very diligent student of crossword lore...

Dicky is a British word. Over here, it's a neckpiece. Excuse me, I have to put on my trainers and pop round to the chemist to buy crisps.

Get me some biscuits and chips while you're there...

What a nice thing to say. Thank you, Lex. Maybe I can live up to that.

For me, the learning curve seems similar to picking up a foreign language. I'm not well-read. I don't care about literary classics or entertainment industry details. I'm not interested in geography or history, either. Add British idioms, unfamiliar abbreviations and slang to the mix, and solving clues becomes a real challenge.

My learning plan is: Make mistakes! Ask questions!

Here's another question. Are synonyms directional? For example, revamp=change. That is, reference books list change as a synonym of revamp, but they do not list revamp as a synonym of change. How do setters determine whether their choice of synonyms is fair?

The current cryptic clue in this thread is mine:

Expand big showstopper (6)

I can't tell whether 'expand' is a good choice because some references don't list the answer as a synonym of my direct, but they do list my direct as a synonym of the answer.

Perhaps, this is more fair:

Fill out big showstopper (6)

Interesting. I would've guessed it's a pejorative adjective for a jerk's behavior.

The meaning of dicky may depend upon spelling: I think dickey may be the more usual spelling for a clothing item, and I wonder whether dicey is related to dicky for the wobbly/uncertain meaning.

Helmer, I think that a US purist would probably say that the synonym had to be listed both ways, but the GB approach would probably be more relaxed/tolerant.

Denis and I locked horns over this many times. As a US purist, I think the synonym has to be listed both ways. The point being that a cryptic should be solvable and fun, not obscure and frustrating. A well written cryptic clue is something to be admired.

I think I ought to toss the current cryptic and start over (although maybe "to sweeten a deal" could've been the direct for FATTEN). Excuse me.

Impoverished Lola captivated by surgeon's bills (7)

My turn to be dense: why is ten a showstopper? (Ten out of ten perhaps, or even a perfect ten, but that does not seem strong enough to me)

I think fatten is fine as a synonym of expand, and I remember the clashes between Pandora and Denis over some of his rather far-fetched synonyms...!

Hi Lex! I'd chosen "showstopper" as a synonym for 'ten' because each of those words is listed as a synonym of the other in a Merriam-Webster thesaurus. My plan now is to verify that synonym choices are listed bi-directionally in a valid reference book. Does the forum have any official reference catalog?

dollars

Impoverished = anagram ind.
Surgeon's = dr
captivated = container ind.

You cleared those bills nicely, Sherlock (surgeons=drs): ===[**CDM**]===

Thank you, Helmer!

Drops in after God (4)

Ra+in

Here's your belt, Sue! And may the fourth be with you. ===[**CDM**]===

Thank you, Cheryl! May the fourth be with you, too.

Continuing with your theme...

God riding draft horse (4)

Direct on the left

drafthorse

By thunder, that's correct! ===[**CDM**]===

Thank you, Sue. Here's another link in the chain. The surface is a skosh weird, yet the imagery is fun.

Gods slid (with love) all over the place (5)

Idols

Anangram "slid" and "o" (0, love)

Slide into the belt, UW, and love it! ===[**CDM**]===

Thanks, Helmer!

Never being one to let a band-wagon pass unjumped-on:

Posture I would take on to be God (8)

Pose/id/on

Spot on, Lex!

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

Thank you UW!

Charm smuggler into bath when naked (6)

Direct on the left, 3 vowels all different

amulet

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

About time for a fresh thread, so Helmer please post your next clue there.