Collaborative crossword writing

Kirk Bevins · Post by **Kirk Bevins** » Fri Aug 29, 2008 3:54 pm

Mikey Lear wrote:In order of easiness:
Lexonerd timewaster liable to rouse confusion. (8)
A class of mineral returned to us without columns. (8)
Pterosaur with no right to fly, maybe? (8)
Fast tissue plasminogen activator comes back round to end selector gene. (8)

Number 3 is APTEROUS.

David O'Donnell · Post by **David O'Donnell** » Wed Sep 03, 2008 3:57 pm

Sorry Mikey, I think you over-estimated our intelligence.

Dinos Sfyris · Post by **Dinos Sfyris** » Wed Sep 03, 2008 5:07 pm

APTEROUS for the 3rd one

2 chemistry clues:

1. What you do with a dead chemist (6)
2. Spoon bender in Soulja Boy's element (9)

Dinos Sfyris · Post by **Dinos Sfyris** » Wed Sep 03, 2008 5:09 pm

And before Corby replies to number 1 the answer is not munging!

Mikey Lear · Post by **Mikey Lear** » Wed Sep 03, 2008 5:11 pm

1. A*******
2. **T*E*O**
3. Kirk was right
4. ********

Mikey Lear · Post by **Mikey Lear** » Wed Sep 10, 2008 12:59 am

1. Barium?
2. Tellurium?

Dinos Sfyris · Post by **Dinos Sfyris** » Wed Sep 10, 2008 9:01 am

Absolutely correct

Here's another

We hear of Jeff's fat compound event (11)

David O'Donnell · Post by **David O'Donnell** » Wed Sep 10, 2008 9:32 am

Why not solve Mikey's first?

Dinos Sfyris · Post by **Dinos Sfyris** » Wed Sep 10, 2008 9:48 am

I CAN'T GET THEM IS WHY!!!

David O'Donnell · Post by **David O'Donnell** » Wed Sep 10, 2008 9:59 am

Dinos Sfyris wrote:I CAN'T GET THEM IS WHY!!!

No need to shout, dear.

Dinos Sfyris · Post by **Dinos Sfyris** » Wed Sep 10, 2008 10:22 am

Sorry. Don't know what came through me. *deep breath*....... There all better.

On further inspection is the answer to all of Mikey's clues APTEROUS? I'm not sure on the exact reasoning behind them but I think I may have solved the first two partially. Clearly at first I wasn't trying hard enough!

1. Liable = APT. ROUSE confusion = EROUS
2. Mineral = ORE returned to US = EROUS.
4. I have no idea about most of the words in this clue!

Joseph Bolas · Post by **Joseph Bolas** » Wed Sep 10, 2008 10:31 am

Dinos Sfyris wrote:On further inspection is the answer to all of Mikey's clues APTEROUS?

4. I have no idea about most of the words in this clue!

Mikey Lear wrote:Fast tissue plasminogen activator comes back round to end selector gene. (8)

Looking at the clue, I would assume that "tissue plasminogen activator" would suggest the initials so you get TPA, which when comes back around, you get APT, but not sure where the EROUS comes into it, but I think its right.

David O'Donnell · Post by **David O'Donnell** » Wed Sep 17, 2008 1:02 pm

So looks like we are waiting on Mikey to confirm your answer

However, would that make the hint given here, for No. 2, a goof?

Mikey Lear wrote:1. A*******
2. **T*E*O**
3. Kirk was right
4. ********

Here's another one in the meantime:

Bum bent soldier at country rendez-vous (11)

Dinos Sfyris · Post by **Dinos Sfyris** » Wed Sep 17, 2008 1:38 pm

Why don't you solve mine first David, dear

Dinos Sfyris wrote:We hear of Jeff's fat compound event (11)

C'mon this one's easy!

Paul Howe · Post by **Paul Howe** » Wed Sep 17, 2008 4:07 pm

Dinos Sfyris wrote:Why don't you solve mine first David, dear
Dinos Sfyris wrote:We hear of Jeff's fat compound event (11)
C'mon this one's easy!

CHOLESTEROL

No idea with David's, I was thinking "bum" might be a strange anagram clue but couldn't think of anything for bent soldier.

David O'Donnell · Post by **David O'Donnell** » Wed Sep 17, 2008 4:14 pm

I am not really sure how Dinos's clue makes sense, care to enlighten me, matey!

David O'Donnell · Post by **David O'Donnell** » Wed Sep 17, 2008 4:15 pm

Paul Howe wrote:
Dinos Sfyris wrote:Why don't you solve mine first David, dear
Dinos Sfyris wrote:We hear of Jeff's fat compound event (11)
C'mon this one's easy!
CHOLESTEROL

No idea with David's, I was thinking "bum" might be a strange anagram clue but couldn't think of anything for bent soldier.

I will give the answer in a bit but it isn't an anagram, more a word exchange clue.

Paul Howe · Post by **Paul Howe** » Wed Sep 17, 2008 4:25 pm

David O'Donnell wrote:I am not really sure how Dinos's clue makes sense, care to enlighten me, matey!

Co-Leicester was just organised by Jeff Clayton, and cholesterol is a fat compound. I'm not sure where the we hear bit comes in so could use some enlightenment myself (hopefully I'm not going to enlightened that I'm completely wrong)

Charlie Reams · Post by **Charlie Reams** » Wed Sep 17, 2008 4:28 pm

Paul Howe wrote:
David O'Donnell wrote:I am not really sure how Dinos's clue makes sense, care to enlighten me, matey!
Co-Leicester was just organised by Jeff Clayton, and cholesterol is a fat compound. I'm not sure where the we hear bit comes in so could use some enlightenment myself (hopefully I'm not going to enlightened that I'm completely wrong)

I think it's just a hint that it's a "sounds like" clue.

Paul Howe · Post by **Paul Howe** » Wed Sep 17, 2008 4:31 pm

Oh yeah

Here's my first attempt at a clue, be gentle...

Commander Data's back injury, after being crushed by argon canister (4,5)

David O'Donnell · Post by **David O'Donnell** » Wed Sep 17, 2008 4:41 pm

Charlie Reams wrote:
Paul Howe wrote:
David O'Donnell wrote:I am not really sure how Dinos's clue makes sense, care to enlighten me, matey!
Co-Leicester was just organised by Jeff Clayton, and cholesterol is a fat compound. I'm not sure where the we hear bit comes in so could use some enlightenment myself (hopefully I'm not going to enlightened that I'm completely wrong)
I think it's just a hint that it's a "sounds like" clue.

Ah but it's out of order. The clue should mean the first word/phrase or the final word/phrase to make sense.

We hear Jeff's event (+ a clue for the bit that sounds like -ol) is a fat compound. This is really what I meant when I asked had I missed something.

Paul Howe · Post by **Paul Howe** » Wed Sep 17, 2008 4:59 pm

David O'Donnell wrote: Ah but it's out of order. The clue should mean the first word/phrase or the final word/phrase to make sense.

We hear Jeff's event (+ a clue for the bit that sounds like -ol) is a fat compound. This is really what I meant when I asked had I missed something.

Ah right, I've still got a bit of a cloth ear for the various conventions. I knew the definition was supposed to be at the start, but I'm not at the point where I get completely thrown by dodgy cluesmanship.

Dinos Sfyris · Post by **Dinos Sfyris** » Thu Sep 18, 2008 8:50 am

CHOLESTEROL is correct

Sorry about the order mix-up there Doddy. I make learnings on sentence together put at all times.

Mikey Lear · Post by **Mikey Lear** » Thu Sep 18, 2008 3:48 pm

Mikey Lear wrote: Lexonerd timewaster liable to rouse confusion. (8)
A class of mineral returned to us without columns. (8)
Pterosaur with no right to fly, maybe? (8)
Fast tissue plasminogen activator comes back round to end selector gene. (8)

They're all APTEROUS - sorry I messed up the second clue. What a div.
The last one breaks up like this: Fast (SURE) tissue plasminogen activator (TPA) comes back (APTERUS) round to end (O) selector gene (apparently there's a gene called APTEROUS).
Also, APTEROUS is an archetectural term meaning without columns, as well as more commonly meaning wingless (not common enough for me to know it before I wrote the clues though). And the lexonerd timewaster is Charlie's latest production which has sucked a good portion of my recent life away, of the same name.

Mikey Lear · Post by **Mikey Lear** » Thu Sep 18, 2008 3:56 pm

Using thesaurus.com

assignation

Paul Howe · Post by **Paul Howe** » Thu Sep 18, 2008 4:05 pm

Mikey Lear wrote:Using thesaurus.com assignation

Oh well done, that's the kind of clue I'm only able to work out after I know the answer. Although the definition seems to be at the end here. I'm not sure I'm ever going to understand how the clues are supposed to work.

Joseph Bolas · Post by **Joseph Bolas** » Fri Sep 19, 2008 9:12 am

Mikey Lear wrote: The last one breaks up like this: Fast (SURE) tissue plasminogen activator (TPA) comes back (APTERUS) round to end (O) selector gene (apparently there's a gene called APTEROUS).

I like these types of clues as you have solve the words in separate parts and then put it together.

I got the TPA part

, but that was it

David O'Donnell · Post by **David O'Donnell** » Mon Sep 22, 2008 4:22 pm

Paul Howe wrote:
Mikey Lear wrote:Using thesaurus.com assignation
Well done Mikey, you seem to have a real knack of solving these!

Oh well done, that's the kind of clue I'm only able to work out after I know the answer. Although the definition seems to be at the end here. I'm not sure I'm ever going to understand how the clues are supposed to work.

The clue can come at the start or the end so that the sentence makes sense. For instance with this clue, that Mikey solved (albeit with thesaurus.com

), the word exchanges build together to form the answer at the end. This works equally well if the answer is at the start, because the smaller parts of the clue are being added together to form the word. If you put the synonym for the answer in the middle, in a word exchange clue especially, you are adding some of the smaller sub clues to your actual answer. Sorry, I am probably not explaining that very well

.

There are exceptions but these normally rely on a flight of fancy from the setter and every good setter is generally adept at these more imaginative clues. Michael's clue had this characteristic. However, if the setter is being tongue-in-cheek there tends to be a question mark at the end of the clue to give you some indication that you have to think outside the box, like "Ill-gotten gains? (8,7)" for instance.

Paul Howe · Post by **Paul Howe** » Mon Sep 22, 2008 9:21 pm

Cheers David, some good reading there.

Paul Howe wrote:

Here's my first attempt at a clue, be gentle...

Commander Data's back injury, after being crushed by argon canister (4,5)

Noone wants to have a stab at my clue then

Chris Corby · Post by **Chris Corby** » Tue Sep 23, 2008 9:01 am

We are trying, Paul.
4,5 - is the last word ORGAN, or is it more complicated than a simple anagram?
Hope you don't need a degree in 'Star Trek' to untangle it as I can only bear to watch the Bill Shatner episodes...............

Jon Corby · Post by **Jon Corby** » Tue Sep 23, 2008 9:21 am

Chris Corby wrote:Hope you don't need a degree in 'Star Trek' to untangle it as I can only bear to watch the Bill Shatner episodes...............

You do play the 'Next Generation' pinball machine though.

Paul Howe · Post by **Paul Howe** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 12:11 am

Chris Corby wrote:We are trying, Paul.
4,5 - is the last word ORGAN, or is it more complicated than a simple anagram?
Hope you don't need a degree in 'Star Trek' to untangle it as I can only bear to watch the Bill Shatner episodes...............

Well, if you haven't seen The Next Generation you're probably not going to get it, and I don't think knowledge scalped from the infamous pinball machine is going to help.

The last word isn't organ and it's not an anagram clue.

If Star Trek's a bit too nerdy, maybe you can true this one:

Golfer joins marathon runner's comeback (4,7)

Chris Corby · Post by **Chris Corby** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 10:12 am

Paul Howe wrote: I don't think knowledge scalped from the infamous pinball machine is going to help.

Thank you, Mr Data (that's 100.000 bonus points)

Tony Jacklin?

Marathons are held in New York so you go TO NY.... On a golf course you get a LINK and that's in the surname and that leaves JAC and, well, someone else pitch in here please....

Paul Howe · Post by **Paul Howe** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 12:10 pm

Chris Corby wrote: Marathons are held in New York so you go TO NY.... On a golf course you get a LINK and that's in the surname and that leaves JAC and, well, someone else pitch in here please....

Nope, not Tony Jacklin.

Paul Howe · Post by **Paul Howe** » Thu Sep 25, 2008 11:22 pm

I'm not sure anyone's going to get these clues so if they're not solved by tomorrow evening I'll post the answers

Paul Howe · Post by **Paul Howe** » Fri Sep 26, 2008 6:22 pm

Paul Howe wrote:
Golfer joins marathon runner's comeback (4,7)

Ok, the marathon runner is Paula Radcliffe, another word for comeback is zinger, joint them together and get PAUL AZINGER.

Paul Howe wrote:
Commander Data's back injury, after being crushed by argon canister (4,5)

This was probably a case of me trying to be too clever by half, but the actor who plays Data is Brent Spiner, and the crushed by argon canister bit was a hint to take the r's out (argon = r gone

), so you're left with BENT SPINE.

David O'Donnell · Post by **David O'Donnell** » Mon Sep 29, 2008 10:57 am

Paul Howe wrote:
Paul Howe wrote:
Golfer joins marathon runner's comeback (4,7)
Ok, the marathon runner is Paula Radcliffe, another word for comeback is zinger, joint them together and get PAUL AZINGER.

Paul Howe wrote:
Commander Data's back injury, after being crushed by argon canister (4,5)
This was probably a case of me trying to be too clever by half, but the actor who plays Data is Brent Spiner, and the crushed by argon canister bit was a hint to take the r's out (argon = r gone ), so you're left with BENT SPINE.

The Paul Azinger clue is excellent and one of us should have got it. The Data clue is really clever but seems a little flabby in comparison and there is no hint that the argon is a soundalike. Please set a few more though include a few easyish ones some we can become more au fait with your style. Likewise, Dinos: feel free. **this is not an afterthought, repeat, this is not an afterthought**.

Here are some:

(Easy) Pound a drumbeat to foreshadow (9)

(Moderate)It's a complex idea to choose God (7)

(Hard) Almost unsuited? (2,6)

Paul Howe · Post by **Paul Howe** » Mon Sep 29, 2008 1:42 pm

David O'Donnell wrote:

The Paul Azinger clue is excellent and one of us should have got it. The Data clue is really clever but seems a little flabby in comparison and there is no hint that the argon is a soundalike. Please set a few more though include a few easyish ones some we can become more au fait with your style. Likewise, Dinos: feel free. **this is not an afterthought, repeat, this is not an afterthought**.

Here are some:

(Easy) Pound a drumbeat to foreshadow (9)

(Moderate)It's a complex idea to choose God (7)

(Hard) Almost unsuited? (2,6)

Thanks! I was definitely carried away with trying to be clever just for the sake of cleverness with my first clue, but when I've got some spare time I'll make some easier ones that avoid such pitfalls.

The first clue is ADUMBRATE, I'll think about the others.

David O'Donnell · Post by **David O'Donnell** » Mon Oct 06, 2008 10:42 am

David O'Donnell wrote:
Here are some:

(Easy) Pound a drumbeat to foreshadow (9)

(Moderate)It's a complex idea to choose God (7)

(Hard) Almost unsuited? (2,6)

The second one, on reflection, is a little flabby. The answer was ELECTRA - choose God = elect Ra and the Electra (sometimes Elektra too) complex being disguised by it's a complex idea to throw you off the scent a little.

The third one is far too tenuous and there are probably loads of answers that fit so again - apologies! The answer I was looking for was NO TRUMPS since no trumps in bridge refers to an unsuited contract, in a sense. The reason why the clue is "almost unsuited" is that no trumps can be read as not rumps. Sorry, I didn't really give these clues sufficient thought.

Michael Wallace · Post by **Michael Wallace** » Mon Oct 06, 2008 2:03 pm

So I've started trying to set tea-time teasers in bed to try and help me sleep, here are a few (without the anagrams, because that's too easy

):

1) Get a deal (8)
2) Luke and John - amongst others - seen before reading letters (8)
3) Made easy without a knife and fork (8)
4) A good shot of saint's servant (8)

They're not very good, but what do you expect from late night soporific tactics?

Dinos Sfyris · Post by **Dinos Sfyris** » Tue Oct 07, 2008 10:51 am

1. CONTRACT
2. APOSTLES?

Heres another TTT: A meal to go, minus the hassle.

Joseph Bolas · Post by **Joseph Bolas** » Tue Oct 07, 2008 11:01 am

Dinos Sfyris wrote:Heres another TTT: A meal to go, minus the hassle.

TAKEAWAY?

Dinos Sfyris · Post by **Dinos Sfyris** » Tue Oct 07, 2008 12:24 pm

Paul Howe · Post by **Paul Howe** » Tue Oct 07, 2008 12:30 pm

David O'Donnell wrote:
The second one, on reflection, is a little flabby. The answer was ELECTRA - choose God = elect Ra and the Electra (sometimes Elektra too) complex being disguised by it's a complex idea to throw you off the scent a little.

Arrgh, I nearly had that one, I was looking for ways to make Oedipus fit. What a dolt

Michael Wallace · Post by **Michael Wallace** » Tue Oct 07, 2008 1:25 pm

Dinos Sfyris wrote:1. CONTRACT
2. APOSTLES?

1. Yep
2. Nope - I'm pretty happy that the clue fits the solution neatly for this one, but am not really happy with the clue itself in terms of neatness.

I like the TAKEAWAY clue

I figure I'll put the answers to mine in some magic colour to encourage discourse, assuming I can work out how to do it...

1. CONTRACT
2. POSTMARK
3. SPOONFED
4. MARKSMAN

Dinos Sfyris · Post by **Dinos Sfyris** » Thu Oct 16, 2008 2:00 pm

Recent run of events rubs off on you (9)

Dinos Sfyris · Post by **Dinos Sfyris** » Tue Oct 21, 2008 8:40 am

Dinos Sfyris wrote:Recent run of events rubs off on you (9)

C'mon I thought this one was easy!

Kai Laddiman · Post by **Kai Laddiman** » Wed Oct 22, 2008 8:34 am

Here's an easy one:

No, no, no sweet for Scrooge, fruit instead! (6) BANANA

Dinos Sfyris · Post by **Dinos Sfyris** » Wed Oct 22, 2008 8:38 am

HUMBUG?

Since nobody's said it, I've put the answer to "Recent run of events rubs off on you (9)" below in faint.

NEWSPRINT

Kai Laddiman · Post by **Kai Laddiman** » Wed Oct 22, 2008 8:45 am

Dinos Sfyris wrote:HUMBUG?

Since nobody's said it, I've put the answer to "Recent run of events rubs off on you (9)" below in faint.

NEWSPRINT

Not quite.

David O'Donnell · Post by **David O'Donnell** » Wed Oct 22, 2008 9:23 am

Kai Laddiman wrote:Here's an easy one:

No, no, no sweet for Scrooge, fruit instead! (6) BANANA

That's an excellent clue, Kai - highly impressed. Is it your own?

Kai Laddiman · Post by **Kai Laddiman** » Wed Oct 22, 2008 9:50 am

David O'Donnell wrote:
Kai Laddiman wrote:Here's an easy one:

No, no, no sweet for Scrooge, fruit instead! (6) BANANA
That's an excellent clue, Kai - highly impressed. Is it your own?

Yes, it is, thanks

Joseph Bolas · Post by **Joseph Bolas** » Fri Nov 07, 2008 9:17 pm

Lets revive this thread

Here's a cryptic clue:

Getting a bishop in support is bright (6)

Dinos Sfyris · Post by **Dinos Sfyris** » Tue Nov 11, 2008 4:31 pm

Ground my clue into a gruff manner (12)

Jon Corby · Post by **Jon Corby** » Tue Nov 11, 2008 4:40 pm

Dinos Sfyris wrote:Ground my clue into a gruff manner (12)

Curmudgeonly

Dinos Sfyris · Post by **Dinos Sfyris** » Tue Nov 11, 2008 4:42 pm

Jon Corby wrote:
Dinos Sfyris wrote:Ground my clue into a gruff manner (12)
Curmudgeonly

Bingo Corby. Excited again?

Kai Laddiman · Post by **Kai Laddiman** » Tue Nov 11, 2008 4:43 pm

Dinos Sfyris wrote:Ground my clue into a gruff manner (12)

Will do. What's the 12 bit on the end for?

Charlie Reams · Post by **Charlie Reams** » Tue Nov 11, 2008 5:11 pm

Kai Laddiman wrote:
Dinos Sfyris wrote:Ground my clue into a gruff manner (12)
Will do. What's the 12 bit on the end for?

It means you have to be at least 12 to understand what it's for. Unlucky mate.

Kai Laddiman · Post by **Kai Laddiman** » Tue Nov 11, 2008 5:35 pm

Charlie Reams wrote:
Kai Laddiman wrote:
Dinos Sfyris wrote:Ground my clue into a gruff manner (12)
Will do. What's the 12 bit on the end for?
It means you have to be at least 12 to understand what it's for. Unlucky mate.

3 days now, and I'm getting more impatient by the nanosecond.

Joseph Bolas · Post by **Joseph Bolas** » Sat Nov 15, 2008 6:01 am

Joseph Bolas wrote:Lets revive this thread Here's a cryptic clue:

Getting a bishop in support is bright (6)

I don't think anyone is going to get this, so I will reveal the answer, which was STARRY.