XIMENES CROSSWORD No. 53

SHIN

1.  R. Postill (Jersey): Tramp, well fitted for conversion into light cutter (Shin(well); ref. Emanuel S., Min. of Fuel and Power, and power cuts of winter 1946-7; tramp vb. and n. (cargo boat)).

2.  Maj D. P. M. Michael (Newport): Climb up! It’s only a shilling in the gods (sh in; shin (Jap.) = spirits, gods).

3.  T. W. Melluish (SE24): Tramp getting on well may become a Cabinet Minister (Shin(well); ref. Emanuel S., Min. of Fuel and Power; tramp, vb.).

H.C.

C. B. Daish (Swindon): Used to kick up no end of a shindy? (shin(dy)).

J. H. Dingwall (N12): Climb a tree! It well may be said to a Minister of the Crown! (Shin(well); ref. Emanuel S., Min. of Fuel and Power).

C. E. Gates (Kettering): This bone, when grafted on to a broken leg, will be cut short (i.e. shingle (short haircut) = s. + anag.).

S. B. Green (NW10): Bone revealed by pushing the dog away (pushing less pug).

S. Holgate (Durham): Bit of a leg show. Quiet in the gods! (sh in, 2 defs.; shin (Jap.) = spirits, gods).

Mrs L. Jarman (Brough): See “The Drunkard’s Crime” for a shilling in the gods (i.e. ‘sin’ pron. with a slur; sh. in; shin (Jap.) = spirits, gods).

Mrs D. M. Kissen (Lanark): Variety for a shilling in the gods (sh. in; shin (Jap.) = spirits, gods; variety of meat[?]).

R. H. Lemon (Cheltenham): This tramp would get on well in the Ministry of Fuel (Shin(well); ref. Emanuel S., Min. of Fuel and Power; tramp vb.).

Rev W. McEntegart (St Asaph): Gashing’s no joke when it’s “cut to the bone” (gashing less gag).

W. O. Robertson (Marlow): A dog would be very self-assertive about such a bone (i.e. s. in pug = pushing).

A. Robins (Mundesley): Straight enough in the leg, but contrariwise in between the shoulders (i.e. s. in withers = withershins).

J. E. Smith Wright (SW7): Pushing the dog away reveals the bone (pushing less pug).

Miss D. M. Taylor (W5): If you do this well, you may get to the top of the tree, and become a Minister! (Shin(well); ref. Emanuel S., Min. of Fuel and Power, and ‘Sir Joseph Porter’s Song’, HMS Pinafore).

Miss I. M. I. Twells (Pembury): Bone of contention? It starts a row anyway (shin(dy)).

P. Walton (Dollar): May be a good god in Japan or China, but —— well, not God with us (shin (Jap.) = spirit, god; ref. Emanuel (=‘god is with us’) Shinwell, Min. of Fuel and Power).

G. E. P. Wood (Carlisle): “How’s that? Leg before?” “Be quiet; not out” (sh! in).

W. J. Wright (Canterbury): I may get a nasty kick, but if I’m well-treated I don’t care a tinker’s cuss (Shin(well); ref. Emanuel S., Min. of Fuel and Power: “As for the rest [non-organised labour], they don’t matter a tinker’s cuss.”).

Comments.—275 correct solutions. Though some failed to find “fons” (Chambers) and others missed the anag. at 15 dn. and wrote “en marble,” there were not a great many mistakes. But, for the first time since this competition started, the clue which would definitely have won first prize was ineligible because of one wrong letter in the solution. The unlucky competitor was D. G. Owen (High Wycombe), and his clue—beautifully simple—was “Evidence that there is a bonehead in the Cabinet?” As one expected—dare one say “intended”?—the Minister of Fuel came in for plenty of attention. There was no lack of clues deserving mention: the following ran the successful competitors close:—G. W. Bain, Capt N. H. Beall, T. M. Brash, D. L. Clements, Dr W. H. Hamilton, R. C. Macfarlane, C. R. Malcolm, F. E. Newlove, W. K. M. Slimmings, W. H. Thorne, F. L. Usher.