===[**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 24 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!

The next clue is

Treasure, like Cher (7)

Direct on the left

cherish Hi Lex

Like it!

That's the one!

- greetings mxm: herewith The Treasure ===[**CDM**]===

Thank you Lex

Study about old boat in shade (6)

d(ark)en

Pandie, this should lighten your day ===[**CDM**]===

You lighten my day, manxie!

Play town (6)

Double definition

"Play" does not refer to a verb

Hamlet

“Doubt thou the stars are fire;
Doubt that the sun doth move;
Doubt truth to be a liar;
But never doubt I love.”

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

"The play's the thing..."

Stormy greeting (7)

Hailing

Well done Lex ===[**CDM**]===

Thank you!

Really bad deed by popular head (2,5,2,4)

Direct on the left - two each of f, i, n, o and t

vc cvvcc vc cvcc

(hint expanded)

Wordplay: popular + head + bad + deed = really

I didn't expect thias one to prove so tough: the answer is "in point of fact."

Replacement clue:

Looted her in G&S comic opera (3,10)

The Gondoliers

Interesting, Lex. I don't think I've ever heard the phrase except as "as a matter of fact". Again, we're dealing with British fudging of the word "off" plus a non-reciprocal fact/deed synonym. Denis would have loved it.

Isn't it "off act" being a "bad deed"

That works, Rog.

I certainly read it as "off act," and the phrase is slightly archaic, but "really" as a direct seems fair enough (as a synonym for actually).

... and yes mxm, you are correct and the Belt goes back to Canada ===[**CDM**]===

Thank you lex

Top center, and others (5)

direct on the left

c/rest

You were on top of that one Sherlock
===[**CDM**]===

Thanks, manxy!

Some slim men seem huge (7)

immense (hidden)

One huge belt coming your way, Sue! ===[**CDM**]===

Thank you, Cheryl!

Castaway is off course (6)

Recuse = cast off - anagram (off) of course

Admirable attempt, Lex, but recuse is not an anagram of course. You're on the right track, though.

Direct on the left, answer is a proper noun

Next time I will try reading the clue more carefully (maybe...!)

Crusoe

I've thought the same for myself, Lex, but why start now?

Henceforth and herewith your spoils ===[**CDM**]===

Thank you!

Idea people oddly rubbished about psychological disorder (7) - 4 vowels all different

Oedipal

idea + pol (people oddly)
rubbished = anag. ind.

Sherlock,

Well done Cheryl: I thought that clue was quite a tangled web!

Herewith your just desserts ===[**CDM**]===

Thank you, thank you!!

Fat boy? About right! (4)

Direct on the left. Only one vowel.

laRd

Another belt on it's way over to you, Rog! ===[**CDM**]===

Thanks, Cheryl!

Free film? (7)

Early hints:

Double definition
"Free" is a verb, not an adjective

... "film" is not the name of a specific film
4 vowels including 3 "e"s, cvcvvcv

Might possibly say direct on the left rather than double def. - not sure

release

I release this belt into your custody, young Sue! ===[**CDM**]===

Is it a double definition?

Thank you, good sir.

And yes, it's a double definition.

What the Tin Man did to cheer up (4,5)

Took heart (if I remember the Wizard of Oz correctly)

You're all heart, Lex. ===[**CDM**]===

Thank you m'lady!

Open circle's party line (9) - no letters repeated, 4 vowels, and as a bonus hint (to steal someone else's line) 5 consonants

Direct on the right, wordplay 8 + 1

manifest/o

Spot on m'dear! ===[**CDM**]===

Thanks, Kevin!

It doesn't matter if it's dis or dat duck? (5)

Eider

Quack, quack!

Very cute!

If it quacks like a duck.... Nice one, Rog! ===[**CDM**]===

Thanks, Cheryl!

Goes back about poems (8)

Reverses = goes back - almost double def

Good one, Lex - was hoping people would waste time using "about" as an anagram indicator...

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

Thank you UW.

This is one which made us almost give up until we solved the second clue and the penny eventually dropped once we had a few of the letters in the grid...

1. "That was delivery No.6!" wealthy Lord's partner squeals (hers is 2) (3,3,4,5,3,3,4,5) - vcc cvc vcvc vccvc ccv cvc cvcy cvccc (corrected)

2. Biggest game of tournament, perhaps? That settles it! (3,5,3)

and as a bonus from the same puzzle if you enjoyed the above (but not for the Belt) and if you have some knowledge of English football history:

3. Excited Kenneth Wolstenholme positively precipitates " Hoorah!" with it (4,6,3,2,3,5,4,5,3,3,4,2,2,3) - cvcv cvvccv vcv vc ccv cvccc ccvc ccvcc vcc vcc vcvc vc vc cvc

3. Some people are on the pitch, they think it's all over, it is now!
That's one heck of an anagram!! It helps to know a bit about "soccer".

Smoothly done Cheryl!

The first clue benefits from a little knowledge of cricket, and how many balls are delivered in an over, although the actual answer is not about cricket...

Direct for 2 is on the right ccv cvcvc cvy

Second word of 1 is not, and second word of 2 is final

In clue 1 wealthy = fat, and I belatedly see that I screwed up one of the word outlines (now corrected) for which humble apologies!

The answer to 1 is "it's not over until the fat lady sings" and to 2 "the final say."

As Sherlock adeptly solved the bonus clue, I think she should have the Belt, so here you go Cheryl: ===[**CDM**]===

I almost missed this. Thanks, Lex! I was a soccer referee for about 8 years and loved watching matches from across the pond.

The best selection from Japanese literature (5)

elite (hidden word)

That's the best, manxman! ===[**CDM**]===

Thank you Sherlock

Clever to hide a murder (4)

Direct on the right

sl(a)y

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

Thanks, manxy!!

A choice of one in two, or possibly one in three (6)

Direct on the left. 3 vowels, 2 of them e's.

Either - anagram of three with i inside

Nice one, Kevin! ===[**CDM**]===

Thank you Cheryl!

A pair of linked clues (both for the Belt), the first probably helping solve the second:

1. 2 are standing (3) - vcv

2. Criminal Court case covering drug period (10) - all vowels present except i

1. Direct on the left

2. Direct on the right, two indicators - ccvcvcvvvc

1. Something of which 2 is an example

2. An anagram containing an extra e for a very long time ago

I should have said that 1 was a down clue: the answer is era, which hopefully leads you to the answer to 2...

Aha - cretaceous.

Anagram "court case" + e (ecstasy)

Devious!

All yours m'boy! ===[**CDM**]===

Many thanks, old chap!

Drug is a nuisance to assassin (10)

Direct on the left, wordplay 4+6

Painkiller

A killer solve, Cheryl! ===[**CDM**]===

Thanks, Rog!

I can't answer, I'm here and there (6)

Direct on the right. Wordplay 4 + 2

What do you say when you can't answer a question, like on a game show?
cvcc + vc

Passim - clever!

Smart one!

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

Thanks, Cheryl!

Means of entry for Spooner's headgear? (3,4)

Direct on the left
Spoonerism is (4,3)
"headgear" is not "hat"

Hokay - for the direct, think domestic pet

Cat flap = means of entry (Spoonerised flat cap)

Tried to come up with a Spoonerism for the handover but failed miserably, so "nice solve, Lex" ===[**CDM**]===

Sice nolve, Lex!

Thany Manks!

Having made a deal, lawyers profited (9)

Direct on the left, two as with no other letters repeated, cvccvvcvc

(corrected - cannot tell my left from my right today... )

bar/gained

Of course they did! Wrap this round your Easter Egg ===[**CDM]===

Thanks, Kevin!

Round - round round the top (6)

ro(t)und

Here's something to wear 'round the house, Sue! ===[**CDM]===

It's just what I wanted, Cheryl!

Show one during party (6)

Direct on left

One = a

cvcv(a)c

Reve(a)l

You got that in a flash, Lex! ===[**CDM]===

Thank you Panda Sue!

Run off with nameless convict? That's allowed (10) cvcvcvcvcv

Direct on the right - wordplay 3 + 2 + (6 - 1)

leg-it-i(n)mate

Consider yourself tagged: ===[**CDM**]===

Thank 'ee, Lex lad!

Should't cause any grief:

Donate a pheasant and reveal a secret (4,3,4,4)

As no one else is biting, give the game away!

Love it! Loved the previous one, too.

Not giving anything away to say "nice solve"!

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

Thank you!

Small weight is placed on a hotel floor (8) - three vowels all different

Direct on the right, wordplay 1 + 1 + 3 + 2 + 1, vccvcvcc

Floor is the direct and it is not a noun

a/s/ton/is/h

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

Thank you, Kevin!

Unpleasant debts after broadcast on box (9)

obnoxious

broadcast = anagram indicator "on box"

Nothing obnoxious about that answer, Sue! ===[**CDM**]===

Thank you, Cheryl!

Plans epic story the wrong way - around climax (7)

Direct on left

vc(vcc)vc

Ag(end)as

We can cross that one off the list, Lex! ===[**CDM**]===

Thank you Pandora!

Perennial articles about space by extremely thorough American (10) - three of the four vowels are the same and no other letters are repeated

Direct on the left vcvcvcccvc

Could be reclued as:

Plant cooking vessel on stove like this

With help from my head gardener,

Aga-pan-thus

Wouldn't have got it without the re-clue!
(and Mrs Worrier)

Plant this somewhere appropriate ===[**CDM**]===

(I was quite impressed with myself for solving the original clue a-gap-an-th-us )

Thanks, Lex - spent a lot of time om the original faffing about trying to fit "en" or "em" for the space

Composer listens to "Fuel and Beer" (4,6)

Cole Porter?

What took you so long?

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

Thanks, Rog!

Becoming stronger, ensign in epee duel holds back (9)

Deepening = becoming stronger - reversed hidden word

Strong solve, Lex! ===[**CDM**]===

Thank you Pandora!

Louche tar oddly avoided Norway's waters (5)

Direct on the right, three vowels and no letters repeated

ocean (O C E A + N) waters

Swimmingly solved mxm!
And here is something to help fasten your lifejacket ===[**CDM**]===

Thank you Lex

Just an exhibition (4)

fair

Right you are Pandie ===[**CDM**]===

Thank you, Manxie

Spinning globe, I have a duty to perform (6)

oblige
anagram (spinning) globe + I

You sure spun that one around quickly, Sherlock! ===[**CDM**]===

Thanks, Sue!

Clergyman coming in to guide a congregation (6)

Deacon = clergyman - hidden word (of course! )

Can't fool you, Kevin! ===[**CDM**]===

Thank you Cheryl - I get fooled most days, probably usually by myself...

Bribe Liberal with English fudge (6)

Direct on the right, two vowels, no letters repeated

Bung-l-e

Spot on! ===[**CDM**]===

Thanks, Lex!

Old bore reportedly makes old sword (9)

Direct on the right, wordplay 2+7

Hmmm - one "x", 4 vowels (all different), vccvcvcvc

Excalibur

Looks good to me! ===[**CDM**]===

Thank you, Rog!

Like to eat maize and nuts (6)

a(corn)s

You squirreled that one out quickly, Cheryl! ===[**CDM**]===

About time for a new thread, so Cheryl please post your next clue on the one I am about to set up