Ximenes Competition No. 421 Ximenes Slip | ◀ 417 | 425 ▶ | Other competitions
| No. | Date | Clue word | Clue type | Clues |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 421 | Feb 1957 | DOVETAIL | normal | 26 |
| Award | Clue writer | Clue | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| First | H. Rotter | A tough joint is a devil to cut up! | anag. |
| Second | R. F. S. Chignell | A union that’s a devil to bust up | anag. |
| Third | C. R. Dean | To chisel two parts of a wedge shape and join end to end | do (=cheat) + ve(e) + tail, & lit. |
| HC | P. C. Barclay | How can you unite an Assembly which admits the confounded veto? | anag. in Dáil; ref. President’s power of veto |
| HC | C. M. Broun | It’s a devil to knit together, i.e., if not shaped properly | anag. & lit. |
| HC | C. O. Butcher | “Square”—an expression typifying “innocence” to a follower of the Comets—isn’t expected to rock and roll | dove tail; ref. Bill Haley & his C.s, in Britain Feb 1957 |
| HC | P. Cranmer | This is a swell joint: do try a ’49 Fin de Colombe | do vet a IL, dove tail; colombe (Fr.) = dove; ref. Chateau St. Colombe wines |
| HC | D. D. Cumming | Can one reach perfect agreement despite the abuse of the veto in the Assembly? | anag. in Dáil; ref. President’s power of veto |
| HC | J. C. B. Date | All the peacemaker has behind him to bring the two sides together is a doubtful vote in the Assembly | dove tail, anag. in Dáil |
| HC | N. C. Dexter | Feather-brush for use in the corner | dove tail; feather = birds collectively |
| HC | W. J. Duffin | Given a tonic by the doctor before indisposition, you should find yourself nicely fit | do vet ail; A1 = do (mus.) |
| HC | F. D. Gardiner | A joint of this kind is a devil to rent | anag. & lit. |
| HC | J. A. Maxtone Graham | How to hold your drawers together—make a gusset with a little elastic over the seat! | do ‘V’ e tail |
| HC | S. B. Green | Did a dive in New York follow the way of a common joint in Trafalgar Square? | dove3 tail; ref. T.S. pigeons |
| HC | E. J. Griew | Knit two together: make five: decrease gradually to end of needle | do V e tail |
| HC | P. H. Morgan | Though apparently a gentle bird and a bit backward, I keep members of the Cabinet in their place! | dove tail |
| HC | C. J. Morse | Get fit the artisan’s way—treat first and diagnose the disease afterwards | do vet ail |
| HC | F. E. Newlove | Veto misused in Assembly: take joint action or it’s the end of Peace! | anag. in Dáil, dove tail |
| HC | D. A. Nicholls | A bit of craftsmanship in the construction of the Cabinet has brought Macmillan’s sleep back! | dove2 tail; ref. PM Harold M., Cabinet reshuffle, 1957 |
| HC | J. W. Parr | Homer’s Ilium, not the later capital, is the vicinity for a stable fit for a wooden horse | dove tail; homer = a pigeon; ilium = haunches |
| HC | R. Postill | It’s a devil to put together—and a devil to pull apart! | anag. & lit. [see comments] |
| HC | K. Reed | A neat chiselling job: mark the two sides in a vice, finish off with a file and join end to end | do3 v(ic)e tail, 2 defs. |
| HC | C. Tilden Smith | Wedded state contrived by correspondence: personal expression of endearment to follow | dove tail |
| HC | J. G. Stubbs | American dived in front of the train. Fit? Exactly! | dove3 tail |
| HC | H. S. Tribe | Wooden wedding resolves violated | anag. |
| HC | J. F. N. Wedge | Joint veto exercised in Assembly—end of peace hope? | anag. in Dáil, dove tail |
Runners-Up in competition 421: