XIMENES CROSSWORD No. 936

MINI SKIRTS

1.  M. C. Raphael: Abbreviations not in Chambers, but should not be looked up anyway! (cryptic def.; not in contemporary ed. of C.).

2.  R. E. Kimmons: Lift going up: Number One—Ladies’ clothing, teen-age fashions—going up (nim (= steal) (rev.) + I + skirts).

3.  G. Johnstone: Take no more up, girls—about middle of thigh will do for us ((th)i(gh) in nim (= take, obs.) (rev.) + skirts, & lit.).

V.H.C.

C. Allen Baker: They’re so Parisian, up to the minute, and just right with the young cats around (min + si (Fr.) (rev.) + r in kits, & lit.).

Maj A. S. Birt: There’s a dreadful risk in mist: try engaging bottom gear (anag.).

Mrs F. Castle-Knight: “Unspecified number of inches is between bottom of them and top of knees” is about right (in. is in m k + rt. in is, & lit.).

N. C. Dexter: They show one skin naughtily in dress rising above stocking-top (I + anag. all in trim (rev.) + s).

K. Gibson: Fashion for young girls or old to take up—and risk it shocking society (nim (= take, obs.) (rev.) + anag. + S).

S. Goldie: They are always fetching on girl-skaters, inducing chronic rink-itis in masculine society (anag. in m S).

R. McD. Graham: There’s one frightful risk in Scottish ventures—they leave most of the stocks out in the open (I + anag. all in mints; mint³; stock = stocking).

J. Hardie Keir: We’re fashionable, eye-catching—and teeny-weeny? Not half! Sit around carelessly and there’s a shocking risk involved (min(ute) + anag. in anag., & lit.).

Mrs B. Lewis: When they’re in a breeze, 1000-1 it’s kni…rs you’ll be able to see. (M I + anag., & lit.).

A. Loudon: I trim skins in order to make small seat-covers (anag.).

A. A. Malcolm: Note about fashionable dress items:—they’re up to date, but far from down to earth. (mi + in (rev.) + skirts).

D. W. G. Matthew: Brief borders for up-to date seat covers (mini skirts).

C. J. Morse: With these you have to lift up and, disregarding the awful risk involved, sit askew (nim (= steal) (rev.) + anag. of risk, sit , & lit.).

M. Newman: Our upward movement is affectin’ ’Arry—curved shape within (S in strikin’ ’im (rev.), & lit.).

G. Perry: Scanty garments impress no end—pity I’m had up (strik(e) sin I’m (rev.)).

Mrs N. Perry: We can’t go much higher in mist and risk having a crash (anag.).

Rev E. G. Riley: They’re affectin’ ’im strongly rising round the top of the stocking (s in strikin’ ’im (rev.), & lit.).

Mrs K. M. Russell: In money-making concerns, one possible risk may cause you to feel the draught (I + anag. all in mints).

L. H. Stewart: There is a mist risk in some parts, and brief showers which may move northwards later (anag.; i.e. showing briefs).

F. B. Stubbs: We’re almost restricted to bottom gear in mist—risk must be reduced (anag.).

J. G. Stubbs: Two-thirds of a bikini, with further trims, is enough material for one of these (anag., incl. (bi)kini, & lit.).

H.C.

R. B. Allnutt, D. B. J. Ambler, Mrs W. I. Anderson, N. S. Barrett, E. A. Beaulah, D. L. Betts, Mrs K. Bissett, Mrs H. Bowser, A. Bristow, Rev C. M. Broun, C. O. Butcher, A. N. Clark, Maj B. P. Connors, P. M. Coombs, V. A. R. Cooper, J. Crowther, Cdr H. H. L. Dickson, J. H. Dingwall, FIt Sgt J. Dromey, A. S. Everest, J. A. Fincken, B. Freedman, E. Gomersall, S. Holgate, E. Hunter, J. G. Hurst, A. L. Jeffery, L. W. Jenkinson, A. H. Jones, J. A. Knowler, A. Lawrie, L. F. Leason, A. D. Legge, Mrs S. M. Macpherson, T. A. Martin, H. S. Mason, Mrs E. McFee, D. P. M. Michael, S. C. Norman, S. H. Olorenshaw, R. O’Donoghue, F. R. Palmer, S. L. Paton, W. H. Pegram, R. Postill, Lady Reay, L. Reece, T. E. Sanders, E. O. Seymour, Mrs E. M. Simmonds, B. D. Smith, R. A. Smith, L. W. Stanton, G. M. Stark, Brig R. F. E. Stoney, A. Sudbery, J. Sutton, P. H. Taylor, Mrs C. M. Theodorson, Mrs J. Thomas, D. J. Thorpe, A. F. Toms, B. C. Westall, G. H. Willett, C. E. Williams, G. Williams, R. F. I. Williams.
 

COMMENTS:—A very big entry of nearly 700: very few mistakes, many laughs, but much inaccuracy of wording, e.g. (a) nouns indicating anagrams:—“I risk deformity”, “I’m in confusion”, etc.: these simply don’t say what they mean in correct English; (b) “back” for “up” in a down word; (e) use of hyphens not required except for misleading sense:—“is trim and skin-tight”, where “tight” must indicate that all three words must be mixed—not fair; (d) redundant apostrophes:—“Can’t” = “cant”—not fair; (e) first or last letter unsoundly indicated:—“first man”=“M”—“first man” simply cannot mean “first letter of man”. But there were very many good clues, as the long lists show. Perhaps not all will agree with my choice of first prizewinner. His clue is a “straight” clue, not so ingenious as many others; but this is justified with a familiar word, and it gave me my best laugh, so I couldn’t resist it; I hope it isn’t too shocking.
 
Queries about ISTER:—I’ve said often that proper names don’t have to be in C.; I don’t indicate this in a footnote, but if the word may be unfamiliar, like this ancient name of the Danube, I always give a really easy subsidiary clue, so that no one need worry—no one got it wrong. Why did I label MINI SKIRTS as “2 words”? Because they aren’t in C. yet, but the separate words are. Back to MALAPROP:—there were a few complaints that most of the clues rewarded were to “Mrs. Malaprop,” not to “Malaprop.” This is strictly true, but I think to insist on this point would have been hair-splitting; and it would have cut out 90% of the entry. Finally, I don’t quite like Mr. Stewart’s indication of the anagram above; but his clue was too good otherwise to be excluded.