Wednesday, October 27, 2010
IDIOMS 2
Each Clue explanation is divided into Analysis, Aesthetics and Afterword.
Visual Key to Clue Analysis :
Definition : BOLD
Wordplay : Italics with keywords underlined as well
Link : Normal
____________________________________________________________________
A1. Greeting to right girl not having consistent effect. (3-2-4) _ I _ _ _ _ _ _ S
Analysis : Greeting to right girl not having consistent effect.
Greeting = Hi
to is unaltered
right = r
girl = miss
Answer is Hit or miss
Aesthetics
Surface reading is a recognizable situation.
Afterword
Hit or miss is to either achieve success or completely fail.Another form of the idiom comes as hit and miss.The origins of this idiom are unclear.Some say its from baseball and some say its from the gent's.
B1. Return fixture football team to play at last , no matter what ! (3,4,2) _ _ _ N _ _ _ I _
Analysis : Return fixture football team to play at last , no matter what !
fixture = tie
football team = man u
to play ( at last ) = oy
reverse them (return) and you have you name it.
Aesthetics
Pretty impressive arrangement as the setter is using charades mainly.
Afterword
However, I feel the definition is not quite right.
"no matter what" is "whatever the conditions" but "you name it" is "whatever you say or choose"
C1. The conifers' weight eclipsed by potato : brilliant ! (2,3,5,5) _ _ _ _ E _ I _ _ _ _ _ T _ _
Analysis : The conifers' weight eclipsed by potato : brilliant !
the conifers' = of the firs
weight = w
potato = tater
weight eclipsed by potato = t w ater ( eclipsed by is a containment indicator )
answer is of the first water - meaning Brilliant.
Aesthetics
Excellent use of the apostrophe to indicate possession.
Afterword
This idiom refers to a grading system for diamonds for their color or luster (compared to the shininess of water).
Here's the second set of idioms.
D1. Let me tell you what my tutor will do. (4,2,5) _ A _ _ _ _ _ _ R _ _
E1. Desolate on a break with nothing to do. (2,1,5,3) _ _ _ L _ _ _ _ _ N _
F1. Faltering guards pursuing one won't, strangely. (2,3,5) _ _ _ _ O M _ _ _ _
Jay.
Visual Key to Clue Analysis :
Definition : BOLD
Wordplay : Italics with keywords underlined as well
Link : Normal
____________________________________________________________________
A1. Greeting to right girl not having consistent effect. (3-2-4) _ I _ _ _ _ _ _ S
Analysis : Greeting to right girl not having consistent effect.
Greeting = Hi
to is unaltered
right = r
girl = miss
Answer is Hit or miss
Aesthetics
Surface reading is a recognizable situation.
Afterword
Hit or miss is to either achieve success or completely fail.Another form of the idiom comes as hit and miss.The origins of this idiom are unclear.Some say its from baseball and some say its from the gent's.
B1. Return fixture football team to play at last , no matter what ! (3,4,2) _ _ _ N _ _ _ I _
Analysis : Return fixture football team to play at last , no matter what !
fixture = tie
football team = man u
to play ( at last ) = oy
reverse them (return) and you have you name it.
Aesthetics
Pretty impressive arrangement as the setter is using charades mainly.
Afterword
However, I feel the definition is not quite right.
"no matter what" is "whatever the conditions" but "you name it" is "whatever you say or choose"
C1. The conifers' weight eclipsed by potato : brilliant ! (2,3,5,5) _ _ _ _ E _ I _ _ _ _ _ T _ _
Analysis : The conifers' weight eclipsed by potato : brilliant !
the conifers' = of the firs
weight = w
potato = tater
weight eclipsed by potato = t w ater ( eclipsed by is a containment indicator )
answer is of the first water - meaning Brilliant.
Aesthetics
Excellent use of the apostrophe to indicate possession.
Afterword
This idiom refers to a grading system for diamonds for their color or luster (compared to the shininess of water).
Here's the second set of idioms.
D1. Let me tell you what my tutor will do. (4,2,5) _ A _ _ _ _ _ _ R _ _
E1. Desolate on a break with nothing to do. (2,1,5,3) _ _ _ L _ _ _ _ _ N _
F1. Faltering guards pursuing one won't, strangely. (2,3,5) _ _ _ _ O M _ _ _ _
Jay.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Crossword 4 Answers Explanation
EXPLANATION FOR CROSSWORD 4
ACROSS:
1. HEAD: definition TOP; ‘part of’ indicating some letters of ‘the address’
4. LOST: definition MISLAID; ‘may get’ indicating anagram of ‘lots’
5. DIME: definition COIN; DULL=DIM, ENGLISH=E
8. ABET: definition HELP; ‘a’ + ‘wager’=BET
11. NAIL: definition FORM OF DIGITAL PROTECTION; ‘nothing’=NIL about ‘a’
13. LEXICON: definition BOOK; ‘upset’ indicating anagram of ‘Colin’ about
‘former spouse’=EX
14. ION: definition CHARGE; ‘out of’ indicating part of ‘stationer’s’
16. ROTOR: definition BLADE; ‘reversible’ indicating palindrome (word
reading same both ways)
18. VITAL: definition VERY IMPORTANT; ‘woman’= VAL, ‘takes it’ indicating
‘it’ in VAL
21. RINDS: definition SCRAPS OF ORANGE; ‘minces’=GRINDS, ‘topless’
Indicating removal of first letter
22. DONOR: definition CONTRIBUTOR; ‘entrance’= DOOR ‘around’ ‘noon’=N
24. LEO: definition A SIGN; ‘from the’ indicating part of ‘galleon’
25. SENEGAL: definition LAND; ‘off’ indicating anagram of ‘seen’, ‘by’
meaning next to ‘girl’=GAL
28. KEEN: definition ENTHUSIASTIC; ‘king’=K, ‘energy’=E, ‘space’=EN (printing
term)
30. DOLE: definition BENEFIT (social security term – unemployment
payment); ‘party’=DO, ‘by’ indicating next to ‘the French’=LE
31. ORES: definition RAW MINERALS; ‘from’ indicating part of word ‘forest’
32. TOWN: definition ADDRESS; ‘change’ indicating anagram of ‘won’t’
33. KEEP: double definition for ‘PART OF THE CASTLE’ and ‘MAINTAIN’
DOWN:
1. HEAL: double definition for ‘FIX’ and ‘PART OF FOOT’, ‘say’ indicating homophone
2. APEX: definition SUMMIT; ‘primate’=APE, ‘kiss’
3. MINOR: definition UNIMPORTANT; homophone of MINER=collier
4. LEI: definition FLOWERS; ‘in the’ indicating part of word ‘sleigh’
5. THEN: definition AFTERWARDS; ‘from’ indicating part of words ‘both ends’
7. MANOR: definition HOUSE; ‘style’ indicating anagram of ‘Roman’
9. BESIDE: definition APART FROM; ‘notes’ are B and E (musical), ‘to’ indicating next to ‘team’= SIDE
10. TITAN: definition GIANT; ‘bird’= TIT, ‘article’= AN
12. LION: pun/play on words (pride of lions)
15. ORDEAL: definition TRIAL; ‘or’ + ‘trade’= DEAL
17. TIMED: definition USED STOPWATCH; ‘bound’= TIED, ‘to have’ i.e. to include ‘month’=M
19. TOOK: definition STOLEN; ‘also’= TOO ‘has’ ‘kilo’=K
20. LOSER: definition NO-HOPER; ‘swap’ indicating anagram of ‘roles’
23. RENEW: definition CONTINUE; ‘concerning’= RE, ‘novel’=NEW
24. LIST: double definition of ‘table’ and ‘lean’
25. GORE: definition MAKE A KILLING; ‘leave’= GO, ‘engineers’= RE (British Army Royal Engineers)
27. LEAP: definition SPRING; ‘sort of’ indicating anagram of ‘pale’
John
Monday, October 18, 2010
IDIOMS
An idiom is a phrase where the words together have a meaning that is different from the dictionary definitions of the individual words.
Three examples follow. Each has the word "flesh" in it.
Pound of flesh
If someone wants their pound of flesh, they force someone to pay or give back something owed, even though they don't need it and it will cause the other person a lot of difficulty.
Press the flesh
When people, especially politicians, press the flesh, they meet members of the public and shake their hands, usually when trying to get support.
Flesh and blood
Your flesh and blood are your blood relatives, especially your immediate family.
Both in writing and in every day speech, sayings and expressions are repeated without any real thought to where they come from or why people say them.
But these combination of words have weathered centuries of usage and can only be supplanted by more current and effective combination of words.
An example might be " deer in the headlights" meaning too stunned to move.
Idioms might be a problem for those who are new to the language.To the crossword solver, the idiom is a regular feature in most 15 by 15 grids.
Try your hand at solving a few of them in this series.
But before that - can you spot the idiom that is the subject of a pun in the following dialogue from MASH , an old TV series based on the goings-on in an army medical unit in the Korean War?
Captain : He was dishonorably discharged.
Hawkeye : Why? Was he rotten to the corps?
A1. Greeting to right girl not having consistent effect. (3-2-4) _ I _ _ _ _ _ _ S
B1. Return fixture football team to play at last , no matter what ! (3,4,2) _ _ _ N _ _ _ I _
C1. The conifers' weight eclipsed by potato : brilliant ! (2,3,5,5) _ _ _ _ E _ I _ _ _ _ _ T _ _
Jay
Three examples follow. Each has the word "flesh" in it.
Pound of flesh
If someone wants their pound of flesh, they force someone to pay or give back something owed, even though they don't need it and it will cause the other person a lot of difficulty.
Press the flesh
When people, especially politicians, press the flesh, they meet members of the public and shake their hands, usually when trying to get support.
Flesh and blood
Your flesh and blood are your blood relatives, especially your immediate family.
Both in writing and in every day speech, sayings and expressions are repeated without any real thought to where they come from or why people say them.
But these combination of words have weathered centuries of usage and can only be supplanted by more current and effective combination of words.
An example might be " deer in the headlights" meaning too stunned to move.
Idioms might be a problem for those who are new to the language.To the crossword solver, the idiom is a regular feature in most 15 by 15 grids.
Try your hand at solving a few of them in this series.
But before that - can you spot the idiom that is the subject of a pun in the following dialogue from MASH , an old TV series based on the goings-on in an army medical unit in the Korean War?
Captain : He was dishonorably discharged.
Hawkeye : Why? Was he rotten to the corps?
A1. Greeting to right girl not having consistent effect. (3-2-4) _ I _ _ _ _ _ _ S
B1. Return fixture football team to play at last , no matter what ! (3,4,2) _ _ _ N _ _ _ I _
C1. The conifers' weight eclipsed by potato : brilliant ! (2,3,5,5) _ _ _ _ E _ I _ _ _ _ _ T _ _
Jay
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Monday, October 11, 2010
Neat Definitions Explanation
Each Clue explanation is divided into Analysis, Aesthetics and Afterword.
Visual Key to Clue Analysis :
Definition : BOLD
Wordplay : Italics with keywords underlined as well
Link : Normal
___________________________________________________________
G. Ridiculous two hours pay is on offer to one at bar. (5,4,6) _ _ A _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ O _
Analysis
Ridiculous two hours pay is on offer to one at bar.
Ridiculous (anagram indicator) rearranges two hours pay is on to what's your poison?
Aesthetics
A straight forward clue - this has a smooth reading to it.What makes it stand out is the definition which once again goes to show how efficacious the setter is.
Afterword
Phrases are regularly featured in cryptic crosswords.They provide opportunities for some neat definitions.The next series of clues will be about phrases.
H. British Rail in a struggle to find lender. (9) _ _ _ R _ _ _ _ _
Analysis
British Rail in a struggle to find lender
British = BR
BR + rail + in a becomes the wordplay to be manipulated ( indicated by the anagram indicator struggle ) to become LIBRARIAN which fits nicely with the definition of a lender.
Aesthetics
The clue could almost be a newspaper headline in these hard times.
Afterword
British can be substituted by B , Br, GB or UK . The crossword solver will become familiar with a whole slew of abbreviations in the course of solving hundreds of crosswords.
I. Labour Party unlikely to split? (5,4) _ _ A _ _ _ _ N
Analysis
Labour Party unlikely to split?
You will notice that the above clue is left as it originally was without recourse to splitting it up into definition,link and wordplay.
This is because the clue is entirely a definition as well as wordplay.I am unsure as to whether it qualifies as &lit.
Answer is Chain Gang.
Aesthetics
This clue epitomises neat definitions.The image of a bunch of prisoners manacled and doing hard labour outside prison comes to mind when you get the answer.Its a world away from politics and yet there is a genuine connection when labour and party are both capitalised.
Afterword
Pure &lits are hard to come by.Partial ones are more common.Yet in the above clue there is no wordplay in the classic sense.So its probably the hardest to solve among the three.
Jay
Visual Key to Clue Analysis :
Definition : BOLD
Wordplay : Italics with keywords underlined as well
Link : Normal
___________________________________________________________
G. Ridiculous two hours pay is on offer to one at bar. (5,4,6) _ _ A _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ O _
Analysis
Ridiculous two hours pay is on offer to one at bar.
Ridiculous (anagram indicator) rearranges two hours pay is on to what's your poison?
Aesthetics
A straight forward clue - this has a smooth reading to it.What makes it stand out is the definition which once again goes to show how efficacious the setter is.
Afterword
Phrases are regularly featured in cryptic crosswords.They provide opportunities for some neat definitions.The next series of clues will be about phrases.
H. British Rail in a struggle to find lender. (9) _ _ _ R _ _ _ _ _
Analysis
British Rail in a struggle to find lender
British = BR
BR + rail + in a becomes the wordplay to be manipulated ( indicated by the anagram indicator struggle ) to become LIBRARIAN which fits nicely with the definition of a lender.
Aesthetics
The clue could almost be a newspaper headline in these hard times.
Afterword
British can be substituted by B , Br, GB or UK . The crossword solver will become familiar with a whole slew of abbreviations in the course of solving hundreds of crosswords.
I. Labour Party unlikely to split? (5,4) _ _ A _ _ _ _ N
Analysis
Labour Party unlikely to split?
You will notice that the above clue is left as it originally was without recourse to splitting it up into definition,link and wordplay.
This is because the clue is entirely a definition as well as wordplay.I am unsure as to whether it qualifies as &lit.
Answer is Chain Gang.
Aesthetics
This clue epitomises neat definitions.The image of a bunch of prisoners manacled and doing hard labour outside prison comes to mind when you get the answer.Its a world away from politics and yet there is a genuine connection when labour and party are both capitalised.
Afterword
Pure &lits are hard to come by.Partial ones are more common.Yet in the above clue there is no wordplay in the classic sense.So its probably the hardest to solve among the three.
Jay
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Crossword 3 Answers Explanation
EXPLANATION FOR CROSSWORD 3Fellow Cryptonites, welcome back, and I hope that by now you are starting to get into the swing of cryptic crosswords! Our third crossword was a little tougher than the first two, but hopefully you have managed the increased degree of difficulty OK.
This week we have a lot more hidden words than before (7 clues), and less pure anagrams (2 clues). There are also a number more combination clues (8), which reflects the increase in difficulty. There are lots of double definitions (6 clues) but there is also a homophone, a sandwich, a couple of reversals and a deletion. All in all, a little something for everyone.
ACROSS CLUES
1. Guide a bullock (5). STEER. Double definition. To “guide” is to “steer”. Also, a “bullock” is another name for a “steer”.
4. Crawler in charge of jelly (5). ASPIC. Combination clue. “Jelly” is the definition. An “asp” is a type of crawler, and IC is an acceptable abbreviation for “in charge”. Add the two together and you get “aspic”, which is a type of jelly.
9. Come out East and join (6). EMERGE. Combination clue. The definition is “come out”. “E” is used as an abbreviation for “east”, and “merge” is a synonym for “join”.
11. Instrument not initially out of tune (4). HARP. Combination clue. The definition is “instrument”. “Out of tune” is “sharp”, and if you take off the first letter (“not initially”) you get “harp”.
12. Enjoy some archaeology (3). DIG. Double definition. To “enjoy” something is to “dig” it, and an archaeology site is known as a “dig”.
13. Set off, getting called odd (6). STRANGE. Sandwich/anagram clue. The definition is “odd”. The anagram indicator is “off”, and an anagram of “set” forms the outside of the clue.
The hint for this is the word “getting”, which suggests that a synonym for “called” (in this case, “rang”) is put in the middle of an anagram of “set”. As I said above, the clues are now getting a little harder!
15. Kitty shot off first to lively club (3,4). HOT SPOT. Combination clue (anagram and addition). The definition is “lively club”. “Shot off first” indicates an anagram of “shot” (“off” is the anagram indicator) forms the first part of the answer.
And another word for “kitty” is “pot”. Join the two parts of the clue together and you get “hot spot”.
18. But returned a container (3). TUB. Reversal clue. This one is nice and easy, but it is the first reversal we have used to date. The definition is “container”. The reversal indicator is “returned”, which suggests reversing the letters in “but” to give you “tub”.
19. Time to order something (4). ITEM. Anagram. The definition is “something”. “To order” is the anagram indicator, and if you shuffle the letters in “time” you get “item”. Note – I have to say that “something” is not a great definition, as a synonym for “something” could be “anything”!
20. Diagnose nine as mad (6). INSANE. Anagram. The definition is “mad”. The anagram indicator is “diagnose”, and the words to be shuffled are “nine as”, which can be re-arranged to make “insane”.
This is a bit tricky, as in this case, “mad” could also be an anagram indicator, and hence the definition could also have been “diagnose”. Sometimes you will find you need some letters (from other answers) before you can correctly ascertain the definition (and hence the answer).
23. The end of stipulation (3). TIP. Hidden word. The definition is “the end”, and in this case “of” indicates that the answer is hidden inside “stipulation”, which is where you will find the word “tip”.
24. Whole time alto was performing (5). TOTAL. Combination clue. The definition is “whole”. The answer starts with the letter “t”, which is an accepted abbreviation for “time”.
Then follows an anagram of “alto” (“performing” is the anagram indicator), which can be re-arranged to give the last four letters in “total”.
25. Remnant worn over the eye (5). PATCH. Double definition clue. A “patch” is worn over the eye, plus a “remnant” could also be described as a “patch”.
DOWN CLUES
1. Exhausted, having third problem with fellow miser (11) SPENDTHRIFT. Combination clue. The definition is “miser”.However, spendthrift is the opposite of miser. Freudian slip, maybe? Another word for “exhausted” is “spent”.
“Having” suggests that “spent” forms the outside of the clue, and that inside is an anagram of “third” (“problem” is the anagram indicator).
In addition, “F” is a recognised abbreviation for “fellow”, and this follows the anagram of “third”, on the inside part of the sandwich. Hence the answer is: SPEN, followed by DTHRI (anagram of “third”), followed by F, followed T (the last letter in “spent”. Phew!
2. Hearsay about an organ (3). EAR. (Type of) organ is the definition. The answer is hidden in the word “hearsay”, but the hidden word indicator (“about”) is misleading. It sometimes happens that clues (such as this one) are not as tightly defined as they ought to be.
3. The brigade’s gear. (3) RIG. Hidden word. The definition is “gear”, and the answer is hidden inside “brigade”, which is indicated by the possessive apostrophe.
5. Unattractive land (5) PLAIN. Double definition. Another word for “unattractive” is “plain”, and “plain” is a form of “land”.
6. Tree of metal and sand, say (6,5). COPPER BEECH. Combination clue with homophone. The definition is “tree”, and the wordplay is made up of a type of metal (“copper”), and a homophone (“say” is the homophone indicator) for a word that indicates “sand”, which is “beech”.
8. Hire in Brentwood (4). RENT. Another hidden word clue. The definition is “hire”. The hidden word indicator is “in”, and the answer is inside “Brentwood”.
10. Encourage dairy produce (3). EGG. Double definition again. An “egg” is a form of dairy produce, and to encourage someone is to “egg” them on.
13. Fool returned out of compassion (3) SAP. Hidden clue/reversal. The definition is “fool”. “Returned out of” suggests a hidden word and a reversal, in “compassion”.
14. Traitor in the fraternity (3) RAT. This is a relatively straightforward hidden word. “Traitor” is the definition, “in the” is the hidden word indicator, and the hidden word is in “fraternity”.
16. Deal with a nice surprise (5) TREAT. Double definition. A “nice surprise” is a “treat”, and to “deal (with)” also means to “treat”.
17. Leave out of the room itself (4) OMIT. Another hidden word – you’re getting lots of practice at these! “Leave out” is the definition. “Of” indicates a hidden word, and the answer is hidden in “roOM ITself".
18. Drink of character, say (3) TEA. Homophone. The definition is “drink”, “say” is the homophone indicator, and “tea” sounds the same as the letter (or character) “T”.
21. Pinch the pin back (3) NIP. Reversal. The definition is “pinch”, the reversal indicator “back”, and it is simply a matter of reversing “pin” to find the solution.
22. Betting on a spring (3). SPA. General clue. The definition is “spring”. “SP” is a term used for a “bookie”, or “betting”, and “SP” precedes “A”.
Craig & Mary
Monday, October 4, 2010
Neat Definitions 3
Each Clue explanation is divided into Analysis, Aesthetics and Afterword.
Visual Key to Clue Analysis :
Definition : BOLD
Wordplay : Italics with keywords underlined as well
Link : Normal
D. Work in a cause : that's the aim of running mates. (9) _ _ O _ _ _ _ _ _
Analysis
Work in a cause : that's the aim of running mates.
With an O present in the answer, it is likely the word OP which stands in for Work. A Cause can be substituted(!) by Element. OP in ELEMENT gives us ELOPEMENT which is what running mates aim for!
Aesthetics
The surface reading is tight.On the first reading,you would think of running mates as those who are vice-presidential candidates in an upcoming election.This is because work in a cause reinforces the impression of people committing themselves publicly to win an election.
Afterword
The hardest feature in the clue is the substitution of a cause with element.This synonym is uncommon and not all thesauruses have it. Are they truly interchangeable? Can you construct a sentence where either word can be used without changing the meaning of the sentence?If you can, do share.
E. How reactor may be occupied reproducing relatively closely? (10) _ _ _ R _ _ _ _ _ _
Analysis
How reactor may be occupied reproducing relatively closely?
There are several types of reactors, among which breeder might catch your eye.Reproducing is breeding.And reproducing relatively closely would qualify as inbreeding.
Aesthetics
The phrase of how a reactor may be occupied suggests that the answer is connected with its function - since occupied hints at what it does. The answer to this phrase is " in breeding" since its a breeder reactor.The wordplay portion is a definition of sorts. Hence the clue comes under "double definitions" category. The neat definition, however, is reproducing relatively closely which is a nifty way of describing "inbreeding".The setter separates in from breeding to fashion the wordplay portion with just five words coming up with an alternative definition!
Afterword
Notice that the setter used may be instead of "is".The first expresses possibility while the second expresses certainty.Because there are a few types of reactors, he cannot use "is". Only the breeder reactor fits the wordplay perfectly.The clue is fair to the solver in that may be is a pointer to looking up the range of reactors. From that range, the solver can narrow down a candidate which fits nicely with the definition.
F. Check plant for new life. (13) _ _ _ N _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Analysis
Check plant for new life.
Check = Rein and Plant = Carnation
New Life = Reincarnation
Aesthetics
Reincarnation is the rebirth of a soul in a new body."Start a new life" is a term commonly used after a big change in one's life. Think about it! The biggest change to one's life is death. Then you start a new life - which is precisely what reincarnation is. This neat definition is a vivid example of exaptation - a term mostly used in evolutionary biology. Two sets of words, previously unconnected, find new life in one another!
Afterword
The substitution of plant with carnation will tut-tut tongues,snort noses,raise eyebrows or shake heads in some quarters.
After all, carnation is an example of a plant. The clue should have read plant,say or plant, for example.
Look at clue E where "may be" qualified the accuracy of the definition.
Here there is no such qualification. Is this valid? I would say so.
Over time, the presence of words like plant,tree,bird,fish,dog,cat,bone,etc in clues has come to imply that what the setter is asking for as a substitute is an example.
So regular crossword solvers no longer tut-tut tongues,snort noses,raise eyebrows or shake heads.They hunker down and open up their crossword dictionaries to look for suitable substitutes.
Here is the final triplet of neat definitions.
G. Ridiculous two hours pay is on offer to one at bar. (5,4,6) _ _ A _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ O _
H. British Rail in a struggle to find lender. (9) _ _ _ R _ _ _ _ _
I. Labour Party unlikely to split? (5,4) _ _ A _ _ _ _ N _
Jay
Visual Key to Clue Analysis :
Definition : BOLD
Wordplay : Italics with keywords underlined as well
Link : Normal
D. Work in a cause : that's the aim of running mates. (9) _ _ O _ _ _ _ _ _
Analysis
Work in a cause : that's the aim of running mates.
With an O present in the answer, it is likely the word OP which stands in for Work. A Cause can be substituted(!) by Element. OP in ELEMENT gives us ELOPEMENT which is what running mates aim for!
Aesthetics
The surface reading is tight.On the first reading,you would think of running mates as those who are vice-presidential candidates in an upcoming election.This is because work in a cause reinforces the impression of people committing themselves publicly to win an election.
Afterword
The hardest feature in the clue is the substitution of a cause with element.This synonym is uncommon and not all thesauruses have it. Are they truly interchangeable? Can you construct a sentence where either word can be used without changing the meaning of the sentence?If you can, do share.
E. How reactor may be occupied reproducing relatively closely? (10) _ _ _ R _ _ _ _ _ _
Analysis
How reactor may be occupied reproducing relatively closely?
There are several types of reactors, among which breeder might catch your eye.Reproducing is breeding.And reproducing relatively closely would qualify as inbreeding.
Aesthetics
The phrase of how a reactor may be occupied suggests that the answer is connected with its function - since occupied hints at what it does. The answer to this phrase is " in breeding" since its a breeder reactor.The wordplay portion is a definition of sorts. Hence the clue comes under "double definitions" category. The neat definition, however, is reproducing relatively closely which is a nifty way of describing "inbreeding".The setter separates in from breeding to fashion the wordplay portion with just five words coming up with an alternative definition!
Afterword
Notice that the setter used may be instead of "is".The first expresses possibility while the second expresses certainty.Because there are a few types of reactors, he cannot use "is". Only the breeder reactor fits the wordplay perfectly.The clue is fair to the solver in that may be is a pointer to looking up the range of reactors. From that range, the solver can narrow down a candidate which fits nicely with the definition.
F. Check plant for new life. (13) _ _ _ N _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Analysis
Check plant for new life.
Check = Rein and Plant = Carnation
New Life = Reincarnation
Aesthetics
Reincarnation is the rebirth of a soul in a new body."Start a new life" is a term commonly used after a big change in one's life. Think about it! The biggest change to one's life is death. Then you start a new life - which is precisely what reincarnation is. This neat definition is a vivid example of exaptation - a term mostly used in evolutionary biology. Two sets of words, previously unconnected, find new life in one another!
Afterword
The substitution of plant with carnation will tut-tut tongues,snort noses,raise eyebrows or shake heads in some quarters.
After all, carnation is an example of a plant. The clue should have read plant,say or plant, for example.
Look at clue E where "may be" qualified the accuracy of the definition.
Here there is no such qualification. Is this valid? I would say so.
Over time, the presence of words like plant,tree,bird,fish,dog,cat,bone,etc in clues has come to imply that what the setter is asking for as a substitute is an example.
So regular crossword solvers no longer tut-tut tongues,snort noses,raise eyebrows or shake heads.They hunker down and open up their crossword dictionaries to look for suitable substitutes.
Here is the final triplet of neat definitions.
G. Ridiculous two hours pay is on offer to one at bar. (5,4,6) _ _ A _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ O _
H. British Rail in a struggle to find lender. (9) _ _ _ R _ _ _ _ _
I. Labour Party unlikely to split? (5,4) _ _ A _ _ _ _ N _
Jay
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