CCCWC Christmas Special competition voters’ comments

Back to competition result | Other competitions

A clue to A “FIVE GOLD RINGS” word.
152 comments were received for this competition (from 15 competitors, 2 others)
Move your mouse pointer over any bold clue number to see the clue.

Here is the text

Comments on the competition
1.
Please ignore clue 21. This was submitted after an idiotic misreading of the instructions. I blame the brandy sauce!
2.
There were a lot of very obscure words clued in convoluted (and often unsound) ways. Not a success as a competition, I thought. I simply awarded a handful of single points. Roll on 2016!
3.
A really impressive set of clues this month – makes a change from last month!
4.
I'm afraid I was not very impressed by most of the entries. Only two 4 and 21 struck me as worthy of points. Admittedly 21 did not really make sense, but it conjured up an amusing image.
5.
The fact that lots of differen words were clued meant that good ideas didn't get dimmmed by repetition. This gave a more entertaining judging session than usual. I loved clue 40 (and I don't even watch football).
6.
This month 42 entries clued 18 valid words, with a further 3 clueing FIVE GOLD RINGS (6, 21, 24). Appropriately, clue words subdivided neatly into groups of 5. More than half the clues (25) led to the 5 most popular words, or variations thereon: DEJA VU (1, 5, 8, 12, 13, 25, 42) (7), AVULS/E (9, 19, 31, 36) /D (18) /ION (3) (6), BRAVURA (7, 37, 40, 44) (4), NUNAVUT (28, 35, 38, 39) (4) and SHAVUOT (17, 32, 41, 45) (4). Another 5 clue words or variations resulted from a further 12 clues: CLAVUS (11, 14, 27) (3), HELIO/GRAVURE (43, 10, 30) (3), AVUNCULAR ([20, 33) (2), CLAVULATE (15, 34) (2), and FAVUS (22, 23) (2). There were 5 other singly represented clue words which were generally more obscure (A VUESTRA SALUD (4), CHAVUTTI THIRUMAL (26), DAVUTOGLU (2), GUSTAVUS (16) and LAGAVULIN (29)). The average length of the 18 different clue wards was 8.4 letters, dropping to 7.4 letters when their relative frequencies was taken into account. In general it appeared to be easier to construct a good clue, and thereby score more highly, when a shorter clue word was chosen (the best 5 clues all had answers of 5 or 6 letters).

Comments on the clues

1. A familiar feeling when looking back – it sounds like you've aged?

1.	Nice idea, but who's to say how French expression in reverse might be pronounced?
2.	A bit of a nonsense clue.
3.	or sounds like "oover jed" so it does not really work – shame
4.	Wordplay is rather challenging !

2. A foreign premier cut Dave out coarsely, getting endless stick.

1.	Topical surface reading but the definition is a bit too vague and the clue word rather obscure perhaps.
2.	Sadly topical clue word :-(

3. A quick break off of 50 from an in form O'Sullivan.

1.	A quick break off of 50; – is that right? Maybe it works cryptically, but not normal language (a quick starting break of 50); good idea, BTW
2.	don't like 'in form' as anagrind
3.	It would be a break of 50, not a break off of 50 – even if it was from the break off, which seems unlikely…
4.	Very clever surface – maybe a very slight quibble with the definition but excellent clue.
5.	Clever anagram but surface reading is spoiled by "off" ,'in form' isn't really an anagram indicator and the removal wordplay seems awkward.

4. A US star, valued after transforming “Cheers” (1,7,5)

1.	Nice clue but the answer isn't found in English dictionaries.
2.	'after' is a non-op in this instance as you need a qualifier to what it becomes; "…after transforming {equals/makes/becomes/is} cheers.
3.	A good anagram. Many stars were valued for their performances in Cheers, but did anyone transform it?
4.	Surface reading seems a little strained and definition could be a little more precise ("Cheers" in ……)

5. Afflicted Judea is the setting for very familiar story?

1.	Nice surface but not convinced by the definition.
2.	Kudos for the seasonal theme
3.	Good clue.
4.	Simple and neat! Best of the deja-vu clues.
5.	Definition seems a little loose perhaps ?

6. After 96 hours of delivering various birds, my sweetheart despatched a handful of Heavy Metal bands

1.	You were supposed to clue a word containing AVU.
2.	Please read the competition instructions
3.	Utter twaddle.
4.	firstly you are meant to clue a word or phrase containing 'AVU' letter sequence. That apart the clue is long, clumsy and does not work
5.	REMEMBER: your chosen clue word MUST contain the sequence AVU contiguously.
6.	An ingenious approach !

7. Brilliant feeling after Britain secures victory

1.	Very good surface reading
2.	About time we won something.
3.	where is the definition – the whole is not, so not an &lit
4.	Very nice – a Davis Cup ref.?
5.	As an adjective perhaps should be 'Brilliantly executed' ?

8. Bush, perhaps, set back by average rating — have we seen this before?

1.	It's Jeb Bush I'm afraid.
2.	JED Bush? It's JEB, surely
3.	A nice idea, but it's Jeb Bush – the nickname is based on his initials: John Ellis Bush.
4.	Surface reading seems strained and wordplay a bit too obscure.

9. Conflicting values cause break up (6)

1.	There's a typo in the explanation but I like the simple clue, all the same.
2.	Very neat.
3.	Definition seems a little imprecise (see clues 31 and 36).

10. Contents of boat yard swept away by river Plate (7)

1.	Convincing image with concealed definition – well done.
2.	Good surface and two clever misdirections (boat yard and river Plate)
3.	A good attempt but unfortunately 'boatyard' is one word.

11. Corn boil (6)

1.	This just uses the same sense of the word twice
2.	not really a proper double def clue, just 2 synonyms. surface does not really gel
3.	Not really a double definition, just the same definition twice? And surely corns and boils are different things?
4.	'boil' seems inaccurate as a definition and the surface reading is much too short to be entertaining.

12. Cunningly enter scrubbed surprisingly rejuvenated old stuff

1.	Not a very precise definition of deja vu.
2.	What?
3.	A clever compound anagram, but the surface is almost meaningless to me?
4.	The surface reads very awkwardly and the wordplay really requires 'scrubbed from'.

13. Czech story about five golden rings seems awfully familiar to me, like I've heard it before! (6, 2 words)

1.	Au=gold not golden. Also, you can't reasonably expect solvers to know the Czech word for story.
2.	Original, but we can't assume solvers are familiar with Czech
3.	DEJ – CZECH WORD FOR "STORY" – surely this is too obscure?
4.	Surface doesn't convince. Dej as Czech word for story may be too obscure for solvers.
5.	don't like use of a totally obscure Czech word. And you use 'golden' which is NOT 'au'. Either 'about' or 'rings' is redundant
6.	Nice surface though wordplay rather fiddly and a bit obscure, AU = 'gold' rather than 'golden' and definition rather long.
7.	Well composed (and a new word).

14. Digital growth leads to computerised libraries acquiring virtually unlimited storage (6)

1.	A good idea generally well executed, but "digital" means "of the fingers", while corns are found typically on the feet.
2.	Cleverly disguised definition; the first letters make for an easy clue, but its neatly done.
3.	Great play on the two meanings of 'digital' – bravo !

15. Distended at one end, copper cladding can start to look corroded

1.	Nice clue but with tough competition I ruled it out because distension and an appearance of corrosion are unrelated.
2.	A well worked clue… but not much fun?
3.	Definition and wordplay individually sound though not really combining to form a seemless surface reading.

16. E.g. Holst's wind section involves a very unusual opening

1.	Holst would be known to solvers as Gustav not Gustavus
2.	Wordplay requires 'involving' and surface reading sounds rather fragmentary.

17. Five gold rings in bowl for Jewish festival

1.	don't like 'five gold rings' in this wordplay context – 'Gold rings (five) etc' better describes the wordplay
2.	Surface reading and wordplay seem rather awkward ('Five gold rings' meaning 'Gold rings five').

18. Forced it out in lav used straining (7)

1.	Grammatically flawed – used must become using for this to make sense.
2.	I like a bit of toilet humour, but the grammar doesn't quite work?
3.	… and quite a forced surface reading which seems ungrammatical to me
4.	Definition seems imprecise and surface reading grammatically incorrect.

19. Forcefully remove criminal values

1.	I don't think values can be forcefully removed.
2.	How are you imagining this might be done?
3.	Definition seems imprecise and surface reading seems fragmentary (see clues 31 and 36).

20. Friendly, just like Uncle Remus (9)

1.	The two definitions are too similar in meaning
2.	not a good double def, just 2 synonyms of exactly the same word in the same sense
3.	'Relatively friendly ?' would have been neat ! (see clue 33).

21. Frog is delving dementedly to find glittering seasonal gifts

1.	You were supposed to clue a word containing AVU.
2.	Please read the competition instructions
3.	REMEMBER: your chosen clue word MUST contain the sequence AVU contiguously.
4.	Firstly you are meant to clue a word or phrase containing 'AVU' letter sequence. That apart the clue is ok but can't score any points

22. Fungal affliction visible upon scalp primarily (5)

1.	Pleasingly crisp – well done.
2.	One of two very similar clues – this one reads slightly better.
3.	Makes me itchy just reading it !

23. Fungal affliction viewed upon scalp, chiefly

1.	Unfortunately this loses out to 22 in my book.
2.	A good idea, but executed less happily than 22: "visible" preferable to "viewed" and "primarily" much sounder than "chiefly".
3.	Neat, but 22 is better.
4.	An excellent choice of clue word, brilliantly executed – well done !

24. Gloved by mistake, caught! Dismissals are a Christmas Day gift

1.	You were supposed to clue a word containing AVU.
2.	Please read the competition instructions
3.	REMEMBER: your chosen clue word MUST contain the sequence AVU contiguously.
4.	Firstly you are meant to clue a word or phrase containing 'AVU' letter sequence. Also, nothing to indicate that vgold goes inside firings

25. Light gets a Jedi (missing one) to return: haven't we seen that somewhere before? (4,2)

1.	Great surface, though I haven't seen the film yet
2.	Wordplay seems to give a rather disjointed surface and doesn't really blend with the definition unfortunately.

26. Massage by foot won't eventually hurt much; avail it to be cured (8,8)

1.	I like this except for the use of 'eventually', which strikes me as awkward?
2.	A brave attempt at such an obscure clue word though the surface reading does seem rather strained unfortunately.
3.	Deserving of some points for tackling such a monster !

27. Maybe Santa has a very common problem brought on by pressure?

1.	Definition too obscure
2.	'a' redundant
3.	Definition perhaps a bit too vague (see clue 14) and wordplay might be better without 'a'.

28. Northern Territory sister picking up Australian television broadcast

1.	don't think AU is Australian – not according to Chambers anyway
2.	'picking up' seems inaccurate in the wordplay and the overall surface reading rather arbitrary.

29. Perverted, I'll lay 16 year old?

1.	I don't get the "Perverted I'll lay = Islay" bit? Oh, update on my comment – you mean I's ? Still don't work as I'II is a non-word.
2.	This is just wrong, on every level.
3.	A rather bad clue all round, notwithstanding the incorrect homophone of Islay ('I-la', not 'I-lay')
4.	Perhaps 'Sounds like I lay…' would be a better start.
5.	don't think the homophone works well – shouldn't it be "I lay" .. plus I don't like the homophone indicator either

30. Photographic image of destruction round ancient Middle Eastern city

1.	I don't think destruction = grave.
2.	Very good topical reference
3.	Topical, alas.
4.	Wordplay and surface seem to require 'around'.

31. Pluck off perfidious values (6)

1.	Surface meaningless?
2.	What does it mean ?

32. Present five gold rings in payment for holiday in Israel (7)

1.	Present seems unnecessary. May be 'Five gold rings presented in payment for holiday in Israel' would work better?
2.	don't like five gold rings in this wordplay context. 'Gold rings (five) in payment for holiday etc' may be cleaner wordplay
3.	Surface reading rather forced and wordplay seems awkward ('Five gold rings' meaning 'Gold ringing five' and 'payment' for 'shot').

33. Relatively nice?

1.	This is neat but perhaps 'friendly' or 'kind' would be more accurate ?

34. Somewhat club-shaped veal cut with the French broth.

1.	Strained surface. The French can be "LE", "LA" etc, so not precise enough wordplay.
2.	But who would describe a veal cut in this way?
3.	'broth' isn't really an anagram indicator and 'the French' rather vague (? LE/LA/LES)

35. Somewhat impromptu, van unwisely reverses in icy location

1.	Clever misdirect
2.	The construction 'somewhat … reverses' doesn't work grammatically.
3.	The surface reading seems rather forced to accommodate the hidden reversal and the definition is a bit vague perhaps.

36. 'Special value' crackers take a hard pull to snap

1.	I like this except for special=S, which is questionable in my book.
2.	Good surface, definition a bit 'stretched' perhaps!
3.	Nice and seasonal with a clever definition of a difficult word.
4.	I like the seasonal theme :-)

37. Spirited supporter describing a very topsy-turvy game (7)

1.	I don't know why game=ur here.
2.	I like this, but supporter = bra is such a crossword cliche…
3.	Definition seems inaccurate ('spirited display', see clues 40 and 44).

38. Teachers bag posh guide of northern territory

1.	That linking 'of' isn't ideal.
2.	Surface reading seems completely arbitrary and 'guide' for 'nav' rather oblique.

39. The Northwest Territories bear the beginnings of unfrozen northern Arctic – vastly uninhabited land.

1.	Definition seems too vague and the surface reading lacks real coherence.

40. Top of the bill: Gunners v United with Gunners giving a brilliant display

1.	Nicely constructed charade
2.	Excellent – come on you reds!
3.	spoiled by 'the'
4.	Topical surface reading though the wordplay is rather fragmentary and doesn't require 'the'.

41. Travelling south to have a very merry holiday

1.	A neat seasonal one – well done
2.	The definition really requires some indication of location (see clues 17, 32 and 45).

42. Unoriginal material derived from King James Bible found in new reading of Jude

1.	I'm perplexed. How does a new reading lead to unoriginality?

43. Vigour healer applied – picture the relief this achieves?(12)

1.	Well done with this unpromising word.
2.	The anagram indicator needs to convey a sense of rearrangement and why the question mark ?

44. Virginia's half rude, naughty underwear showing at the front in daring display

1.	Not a convincing surface. Naughty is padding.
2.	The wordplay for 'VURA' doesn't quite work unfortunately and 'half rude' seems out of place in the surface reading.

45. You may see a couple in Tel Aviv shout and dance around on this occasion?

1.	A couple in Tel Aviv could be TE, EL, LA, AV, VI or IV by this logic. Possibly ok for direct use, but not in anagram fodder.
2.	I'd prefer not to have to guess which couple of letters like this. And what is that 'and' doing?
3.	'a couple in Tel Aviv' seems rather arbitrary for AV and the wordplay would require 'AV and SHOUT' dance around.