◀  No. 1123 Clue list 30 Aug 1970 Slip image No. 1131  ▶

XIMENES CROSSWORD No. 1127

TRAYBIT

1.  C. Allen Baker: “A tip, this?”, the waiter snapped (tray bit).

2.  L. F. Leason: Such a tip would make a waiter bridle (tray bit, & lit.; bit, bridle (vbs.) = restrain).

3.  C. O. Butcher: This would account for waiter getting pained (tray bit, & lit.).

V.H.C.

W. G. Arnott: Bat I try to swing makes—how many?—six (anag.; make2 = ½d.).

Col P. S. Baines: In special appearance near to retiring—still good for some matches (by (rev.) in trait, & lit.; 3d. bit to be withdrawn in 1971).

T. E. Bell: Three wins may not amount to much—you’ll see me go some little time without one (a in try (n.) + bit1; win3).

Rev C. M. Broun: Young waitress, perhaps, might be caustic about one and near sending it back (i.e. tray bit (= young woman), I by in tart1 (all rev.), & lit.).

E. Chalkley: What could be tossed up by Illingworth on opening of Test? (T(est) Ray bit, & lit.; bit = snack; ref. Ray I., test cricketer).

J. Crowther: Backing skilfully—it’s what’s required twice for tester (by art (rev.) + it; tester2; driving test).

N. C. Dexter: What may not be converted without a scrap (a in try + bit, & lit.; rugby try; 3d. bit to be withdrawn in 1971).

R. E. Kimmons: In character reverse side illustrates thrift (by (rev.) in trait; side, by (adjs.) = subsidiary).

J. R. Kirby: It’s easy to recognise me with sharp edges all the way round (I by (me with) in tart1 (all rev.), & lit.; 12-sided coin).

Mrs B. Lewis: Tender being devitalised, alas, before end of Feb.—it will do for me ((t(ende)r + ay1 + (Fe)b + it, & lit.; vitals = inward parts; 3d. bit to be withdrawn in Feb 1971).

Lt Col D. Macfie: Peculiarly arty, somewhat small piece: not many round to-day (anag. + bit, & lit.; ref. old round, and current 12-sided, 3d. bits).

C. J. Morse: I go twice to tester—for test involving one minute (a in try + bit; tester2 = 6d.).

W. H. Pegram: Tommy’s first period dress part in “Half A Sixpence” (T(ommy) ray4 bit; ref. musical starring T. Steele).

R. Postill: I’m extremely abstemious: with a double I’m all of a tizzy: after three I need restraint (tray bit; i.e. has TT at extremities; tizzy = sixpence).

Mrs E. M. Simmonds: Waiter’s somewhat meagre tip? (tray bit; bit = somewhat).

D. J. Thorpe: Retiring piece—keeping one aside? (I by in tart (all rev.), & lit.; tart, piece (offensive) = woman; collector’s piece; 3d. bit to be withdrawn in 1971).

H.C.

R. H. Adey, F. D. H. Atkinson, J. M. Bennett, Mrs A. Boyes, J. C. Brash, E. J. Burge, A. H. P. Cardew, Mrs M. B. Carter, G. Cuthbert, E. Davies, A. S. Everest, B. Franco, J. Gill, G. P. Goddard, E. M. Hornby, A. H. Jones, Capt G. Langham, A. Lawrie, J. C. Leyland, B. J. McCann, Mrs E. McFee, A. G. McPhie, B. L. Meek, T. W. Melluish, D. P. M. Michael, W. L. Miron, D. G. C. Mockridge, P. H. Morgan, D. A. Myles, R. F. Pardoe, R. A. Russell, M. C. Souster, Brig R. F. E. Stoney, J. B. Sweeting, D. H. Tompsett, J. Webster, J. F. N. Wedge, C. E. Williams, M. Woolf.
 

COMMENTS:—Just under 400 entries, very few mistakes; the S.W. corner seems to have been harder than usual, and there were also fewer full anagrams than usual in the clues. For the second month running the three prizewinners are a bit alike—all very neat. There was some weakness in wording, e.g. “by rotation” and “by return” to indicate reversal of BY: neither says what it means. Indirect anagrams are, I’m glad to say, almost extinct, but there was one really awful one—“facile vicar” to indicate BRAY; this doesn’t begin to do its intended work. Competitors should remember that obsoleteness ought to be indicated or suggested, and also that “up” can’t indicate reversal in an across word. I couldn’t allow references to BY by means of a bye in cricket; that surely, always has an E, though Chambers doesn’t say so. I hope the “Misprints” puzzle on Sept. 27 won’t be too tough.
 

 
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