ordStats| Clues in archive | First Prizes | Other Prizes | VHCs | HCs | Hons points | First mention | Latest mention | Career span |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| N. C. Dexter | 241 | 30 | 21 | 190 | 150 | 292 | Mar 1972 | Dec 2012 | 40y 9m |
| Clue word | Award | Clue | Explanation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010-2011 | ||||
| 2027 | THRENETICAL | VHC | Such as the recital warbled about cock-robin’s end | n in anag., & lit.; ref. traditional song |
| 2014 | HACKETTE | VHC | E.g. Whitehorn? Kath involved with the most frequent feature in The Observer, etc | anag. incl. e, & lit. |
| 2010 | A COMING OF AGE | VHC | Love a jar? Love a ciggy? When one may embrace both | 0 Ming, 0 fag all in ace, & lit. |
| 2000 | TWO THOUSAND | VHC | Work out what’s Azed’s latest no. | anag. incl. d, & lit. |
| 1992 | FOULARD | VHC | What may become heads of ladies at upper-class do [Fr] | anag. incl. l, a, u, & lit. |
| 2009-2010 | ||||
| 1988 | PERIQUE | First | Partly a pauper, I queued for possible refill of bowl. (Twist, maybe) | hidden; ref. Oliver T. |
| 1984 | ORWEL(L)IAN (Doublethink) | VHC | Such as Napoleon, say: one the French backed on war spreading round | I le (rev.) in anag.; ref. Stalinist pig character in ‘Animal Farm’ |
| 1979 | FAR-OUT | VHC | After start of Feb. a change for our temperature: rather more than just ‘cool’! | F + a + anag. + t |
| 1975 | SEPTENTRIONAL | VHC | Potent side of note Sir Alex almost entirely rebuilt in the North | anag. incl. n less x; ref. Man. United |
| 1962 | ANADEM | VHC | Find, say, a head of Nero and notice me around? | a N ad + me (rev.), & lit. |
| 1949 | PALFRENIER | VHC | I could produce real fine starters for point-to-point races | anag. incl. p, r, & lit. |
| 2008-2009 | ||||
| 1936 | LITMUS TEST | VHC | Alkali finally settles tum upset with no end of flatulence (I told you so!) | anag. incl. i less e |
| 1918 | PALAMPORE | VHC | You could find one from Asian realm pop off – under this? | anag. incl. A, & lit. |
| 1910 | BARPERSON | Second | I’ll get a bit of rollicking with no spare barrel around | anag. incl. r, b, & lit. |
| 1908 | WE THREE KINGS | VHC | After the kine grew restless, the stable’s opening for us | anag. + s, & lit. |
| 2007-2008 | ||||
| 1879 | LITTER BASKET | VHC | Untidy bit of bumf? Let’s take it right here! | anag. incl. b, r, & lit. |
| 1875 | GOUTTE / UPREAR (Right and Left) | VHC | Partial to stingo? Utterly! A nip giving us from the word go curiously rare power to elevate spirits | hidden; u + anag. incl. p |
| 1871 | FAIRY GOLD | VHC | What use such money if a grand or £500 end in leafy withering? | anag. incl. g, LD, y, & lit. |
| 1856 | LITAS (Printer’s Devilry) | VHC | Do paedophiles dream of seeing an under-age lo/t? Ripping! | |
| 1853 | ANTIQUITARIAN | VHC | Against changing ain’t I – square at heart | anti + anag. incl. (s)quar(e), & lit. |
| 1840 | W(I)NN(I)E-THE-POOH (Letters Latent) | Second | He won hearts of happy wee beginners, tho’ placing letters wobbly-wise | anag. incl. p, e, n, & lit. |
| 1836 | POSTHASTE | VHC | Fantastic start for Hamilton – set to finish in championship as speediest? | anag. incl H, p; ref. Lewis H. |
| 2006-2007 | ||||
| 1831 | MARGINALIA | VHC | They could give a reading, at the sides, in Lamia, perhaps | anag. incl. r, g, & lit.; ref. Keats poem |
| 1814 | HIPSTER | VHC | Fan of Billie Holiday – still excited with her power, though the 50s are gone | anag. less LL, incl. P; ref B.H., jazz singer |
| 1810 | HARE / POSEUR / SERINETTE (DLM) | VHC | Rise at dawn – no longer dash around for rehashed breakfasts, no further fake diarising (‘Rose punctually’, e.g.) – when in trees etc songbirds follow my arrangement. | |
| 1806 | INEBRIANT | VHC | Double in the bar, without a modicum of H2O, could be this | anag. less H, & lit. |
| 1804 | CLOTHES SENSE (Spoonerisms) | VHC | Fear glare after onset of cataracts? Get those lenses changed! | gear flair; c + anag. |
| 1801 | RUSE DE GUERRE | VHC | For which, infantry au front being blocked, use a couple of guns derrière possibly? | anag. incl. gu less l, & lit. |
| 1797 | HEART | VHC | Eros’s target? I’m getting carried away when he takes aim right here! | he a(I’m) rt, & lit. |
| 1792 | APPALOOSA / ESTAMINET (Right and Left) | VHC | Almost all in a racy soap op nag tipsily at ‘Time!’ closures of the Rovers Return bar | al(l) in a + anag.; anag. incl. e, s, n; ref. ‘Coronation Street’ |
| 1784 | TEARAWAY | Third | One’s needing bit of telling off and ear boxed? | ear in t away, & lit. |
| 2005-2006 | ||||
| 1775 | ROUGH-AND-READY | VHC | With no finishing touches added, you go and hurry work? With such an outcome! | anag. less final letters |
| 1766 | GEST (Printer’s Devilry) | First | Panel of jud/o OK decision and settle ‘dan’ award | … judges took … settled an … |
| 1762 | DUDDERY | VHC | Where buyer wanting pair of breeches gets threepence out? That’s about right! | r in anag. less br incl. 3 d’s, & lit. |
| 1758 | BIMBETTE | VHC | Bubbly ‘it’ babe without a scrap of acumen met here | anag. less a, & lit. |
| 1753 | DIAGONAL | VHC | An oblong’s extremities I’d obliquely join with a line | anag. incl. o, g + a l, & lit. |
| 1752 | MIDWINTER | VHC | Now ’tis time dormice regularly get curled up | anag. of alternate letters, & lit. |
| 1737 | ANIMUS | VHC | I am Sun mad: it’s a male characteristic being partial to females! | anag. |
| 2004-2005 | ||||
| 1728 | EIDOLA def. NULLAH (Wrong Number) | VHC | Ecstasy! Leaders of IOC ditch other lands’ athletics dreams | first letters; ditch |
| 1724 | MONEYBAGS | VHC | My bank, e.g.? So composed when a thousand’s withdrawn | anag. less K, & lit. |
| 1719 | ANHELATION | Second | Heal it on termination of Craven ‘A’, possibly? | anag. incl. n, & lit. |
| 1711 | MINUS | First | This degree makes nudism shivery | anag. incl. d, & lit. |
| 1702 | WORDSMITHERY | VHC | Terribly shoddy writer’ll need a bit of a miracle for a degree in this | anag. with m for d, & lit. |
| 1700 | FIVE-O’CLOCK SHADOW | VHC | Facial hair spoils chic looks – female avowed | anag. inch |
| 1694 | MISINTERPRET | VHC | English, met with a bit of Russian in trips abroad, fail to decipher | anag. incl. E, R |
| 1680 | PILLOW-CUP | First | What’s maybe downed before one’s about to get aloft? | pillow c up, & lit; downed = filled with down |
| 2003-2004 | ||||
| 1667 | CLARINI | First | Some brass monkey about with air nil C! | anag.; C = Celsius |
| 1659 | SCAREDY-CAT | VHC | One shaking at Crecy as danger’s beginning? | anag. incl. C, & lit. |
| 1648 | MAGIC LANTERN | First | Item gran arranged family slides in? | clan in anag., & lit. |
| 1646 | BLACK | VHC | Deadly half back able to get English going delirious | anag. less E; ref. Jonny Wilkinson |
| 1641 | GADGETEER | VHC | One’s excitedly greeted introduction of gismos around one | a in anag. incl. g, & lit. |
| 1633 | EMPATRON / WINTERLY (Right and Left) | VHC | To cheer unhappy men with a port wine? Try mixing a dash of lemon in when needing cheer | anag.; anag. incl. l |
| 1628 | ENCOMION | VHC | It’s encompassing foremost feature of individual on passing away | encom(passing) + i + on, & lit. |
| 1624 | BELAY | VHC | Secure by a short line twisted round middle of cleat | a in dnag. incl. I, & lit. |
| 2002-2003 | ||||
| 1615 | RUGATE | VHC | Showing – sadly enough – initial signs of ageing? True! | anag. incl. ag, & lit. |
| 1606 | TEOSINTE / INTELSAT (Overlaps) | VHC | Lent is a time for trimming long grass | anag. incl. t |
| 1593 | MANSUETE | VHC | For this archaic adj, what’s now primarily in use? ‘Tame’, possibly | n in anag., & lit. |
| 1589 | JOKESMITH | VHC | Another way to put him? ‘King o’ Jest’ | anag. incl K, & lit. |
| 1580 | MARGENT def. BEETLES (Wrong Number) | VHC | As a rule, in motor transport, interior bits of bangers break down | bangers; anag. in MT (for which see New SOED) |
| 1576 | FACADE | Second | Female, half clad, outstanding around front, with just a little behind | f + ad in ace |
| 2001-2002 | ||||
| 1567 | QUEEN | VHC | For whom it’s now annus non ingloriosus – neque horribilis | anag. & lit.; neque (Latin) = and not |
| 1554 | PEARL | VHC | Resounding clap about 3rd of March (Azed’s anniversary) | r in peal |
| 1550 | MEMORITER | VHC | By heart being exercised more I’m not half fitter! | anag. + ter |
| 1537 | CAFTAN | First | Dress with not much leg showing – in fact possibly just a pair of ankles | anag. + an, & lit. |
| 1528 | STROP (Spoonerisms) | VHC | Weather for letting sun top right off | leather for whetting; S + anag. incl. r |
| 1519 | CARRY-ON | VHC | Dodgy printing of any sequels to ‘Q’ & Co? | anag. incl RR, & lit.; ref. Quiller-Couch |
| 2000-2001 | ||||
| 1515 | SNIDE | VHC | Like supposedly ‘silver-plated’ ware – thought mostly to be covered with tin? | Sn + ide(a) |
| 1511 | DEEP-SEATED | VHC | Out fencing épée’s not normally so embedded | anag. in dated |
| 1506 | BARE(-)BONES | VHC | We’d little breadth and are persons needing middle of doublet taken in | b in b are ones, & lit. |
| 1502 | RAPPEL | Second | A tense drop from parapet possibly with line | anag., less a t, + l, & lit. |
| 1494 | MARATHON | VHC | A run taking around a month possibly – for me! | a r in anag., & lit! |
| 1489 | FRONT-BENCHER | VHC | Name for Brown – the CE, New Labour, say | n for br the CE n anag., & lit; labour (verb) |
| 1485 | BOURSE / TIFOSO (Right and Left) | VHC | With Footsie mostly unstable, one follows others playing a European exchange, beginning to barter Euros abroad | anag. less e; b + anag. |
| 1480 | SAMARITAN | VHC | Possibly a man at the end of his tether finally rings one | I in anag. incl. s, r, & lit. |
| 1476 | LIGNIPERDOUS | VHC | Gore leads in latest polls in US: I’d fancy it’s destroying Bush, perhaps | anag. incl. l, p |
| 1467 | CANAPÉ | VHC | Davenport perhaps settles end of Championship with an ace? | anag.; ref. US tennis player |
| 1999-2000 | ||||
| 1459 | GREATEST (Spoonerisms) | VHC | In his own opinion, clot was way way behind at Greek – endlessly confused | what… Clay; anag. less k + St. |
| 1450 | PRETENDANT | First | He’s hanging round on true-love’s threshold, perhaps | pendant + re t. & lit. |
| 1446 | NEWSPAPERDOM | VHC | Women with drapes off occupy a page in the Sun etc | p in anag. |
| 1441 | Word containing MM displaced by a bug (Millennium Bug) | VHC | Handicap – Dome being constructed? For minister it’s a benefit | commendam/aphid; anag. |
| 1439 | JOHN CANOE | VHC | WI dancing can-can? The present time knows no bounds! | john, can + (N)oe(l) |
| 1437 | MISTLETOE | First | Attachment to branches – uncommonly to ilex stem – yielding a kiss | anag. less x, & lit. |
| 1424 | HEIST | VHC | This breaking and entering ending in porridge? | e in anag. & lit. |
| 1419 | SPLODGE | VHC | Cause of Constable, say, turning back of canvas to front | Plod + e.g. (rev.) after s, & lit. |
| 1415 | MANATI (Printer’s Devilry) | Second | At mention of Pete beating best of the English? Menti/on ‘sorrows’! | |
| 1998-1999 | ||||
| 1411 | LOOK-SEE | VHC | Dressing like goose’s? Is good possibly with this gander! | comp. anag.; ref ‘What’s sauce…’ |
| 1402 | PENTOSE (Definition of Anagram) | VHC | Standing – still! – after imbibing ten liberal whiskeys | poteens; anag. in posé |
| 1398 | PERMETHRIN | VHC | Touch of rose-blight? Then prime spray with this, perhaps | anag. i r, & lit. |
| 1394 | BERGAMOT | VHC | It makes taste of tea bag more exotic | anag. |
| 1389 | ALL-OVERISH | Second | What maiden perhaps is in nervy ‘Shall I …? ’ | over in anag., & lit. |
| 1387 | Dylan Thomas: A Child’s Christmas in Wales (Anagram) | VHC | ‘Silly with cash a/c,’ admits rash Mandelson. | |
| 1380 | RAPPORT (Misprints) | VHC | Bill’s finding such sympathy with Tory Right and Left apparently accommodated | ap. in r port; Tony |
| 1376 | LOGO | VHC | With tails on Boeing (Anglo) so controversial, it’s getting redesigned | anag. of last letters, & lit.; ref row over BA’s tail-fin logos |
| 1997-1998 | ||||
| 1360 | BOG-ASPHODEL | VHC | Slough-dweller in dubiously good shape in Betjeman’s first line | anag. in B I |
| 1355 | DIACATHOLICON | Third | Ingredients of a ‘no-ail’ chit doc concocted? | anag. & lit. |
| 1351 | NEATEN (Printer’s Devilry) | VHC | Now clinic’s dismissed obnoxious otologist, everyone feels fi/t again | |
| 1346 | PHARISEE | VHC | The Pentateuch primarily he’s well up in | P + arise in he, & lit. |
| 1342 | ALIENS / RAPINE (Right and Left) | VHC | Sack a Pres. discounting hint of scandal in devious answer containing untruth for outsiders? | anag. less s; lie in ans. |
| 1338 | SMART ALEC | VHC | One’s clever – but always out to clash with a master | anag. less ever, & lit. |
| 1336 | STOCKING | VHC | To GIs one of a couple available freely – with a pair of knickers? | anag. incl. c, kn; ref WWII |
| 1322 | CARPET | VHC | What’s starting price? See odds of three/one fixed | anag. of p c tre a, & lit. |
| 1316 | FINGERLICKIN’ | First | Taste of grub in nick lifer’s found quite otherwise! | anag. incl. g, & lit. |
| 1312 | REST-CURE | VHC | Poorly creatures’ll want one? | anag. less a, & lit. |
| 1996-1997 | ||||
| 1307 | AGILE (Spoonerisms) | VHC | In years of life, one’s 49 – ne’er 50! | fair nifty; IL in age |
| 1303 | PONIARD | VHC | It causes rapid suffering on being stuck in | on in anag. & lit. |
| 1294 | TRANSENNA | Third | Grill St Anne was screened within? | ran in anag. & lit. |
| 1286 | CHALET | VHC | Alternative to hotel with a/c too spent? | anag. less too, & lit. |
| 1277 | NOVE(M)BER (Letters Latent) | VHC | No bee, nor touch of vernal spring; no leaves | anag. less no; ref. Hood’s poem ‘No!’ |
| 1268 | ARGIE-BARGIE | Second | We find this mars the dissolution of Bigears’ marriage | comp. anag., & lit.; Di’s nickname for Charles |
| 1264 | TREDRILLE / FERVOROUS (Right and Left) | VHC | What may produce deal around school? Game with three only – so game with four and over’s Out | drill in tree; anag.; so game = very spirited |
| 1995-1996 | ||||
| 1255 | CATAFALCO | First | Coach covering the last fatal trip | anag. less h; & lit |
| 1250 | SONEOCARDIA (STENOCARDIA) (Ten to One) | VHC | Once a road is jammed, a bypass could be its answer | anag. |
| 1242 | KNOCKERS | VHC | Naughty necklines risk ‘Coo!’, if these are silicone-enhanced | comp. anag. & lit. |
| 1238 | ELASTIN (Printer’s Devilry) | VHC | Deciphering one memorial myopic found a real pigst/y (inscription illegible) | |
| 1232 | The world is too much with us; late and soon (Anagram) | VHC | Inn without dual rooms has to let cowshed. | |
| 1229 | GRUPPETTO | First | A turn from note F, say? E up to G and rpt start | anag. & lit; start vb |
| 1216 | CHAPERON | VHC | Her pa worried, little Constance goes round with me? | anag. in Con, & lit. |
| 1212 | HILDING | VHC | With hazard nigh, I’d left! | anag. incl. l, & lit. |
| 1207 | EPOCH-MARKING | First | Chap at odds with Rome – one named Martin Luther – signalling new era | anag. + King |
| 1203 | CLERICALISM | VHC | In Decline and Fall, it’s i/c all crimes! | anag. & lit.; ref Gibbon’s bitter anticlericalism |
| 1994-1995 | ||||
| 1200 | Nine letter word (C and T latent) (Letters Latent) | First | Hutton-follower in Oval’s delirious! | vol(c)anis(t); anag.; see Vulcanist in Ch.; ref. L. Hutton’s record-breaking innings of 364 at the Oval in 1938 |
| 1190 | DENARIUS | VHC | Possibly Barings (bags lost!) used a fair number of asses? | anag. less bags |
| 1181 | SLADE | First | Semi paludal’s the term for comparable ground | (palu)dal’s + e anag., & lit. |
| 1178 | BOOTLEG | VHC | Illicit goblet o’ rum? | anag. & lit. |
| 1169 | BLITHE / URSINE (Right and Left) | VHC | First and foremost, Brunel built gracefully, happy in labours in edifices like Paddington | B lithe; hidden |
| 1165 | YAPSTER | Second | I could make Pat start to run? Yes! | anag. & lit.; ref. Postman Pat |
| 1152 | PARACETAMOL | VHC | A recipe in a temp., high with a cold, being reduced by a degree | a r in anag. less d, & lit. |
| 1993-1994 | ||||
| 1147 | MAYDAY | VHC | What can occasion this? A yard breaking can | a yd in may, & lit. |
| 1143 | DEATH (Printer’s Devilry) | VHC | Many mums roast children, though it’s only inhuman me/at butchers issue. | |
| 1139 | BENJAMIN | VHC | In a cold month I’m fastened up under a peak cap, perhaps | ben + I’m (rev.) in Jan, & lit. |
| 1134 | TOVARICH | VHC | I could be at OR’s reunion with (hic!) drop of vodka | anag. incl. v, & lit. |
| 1126 | CHEATERY | VHC | Rogue heartlessly crafty hereat? | anag. incl. c, y & lit. |
| 1113 | EMPLASTRUM | VHC | Covering where boot’s made me rump bruised? | last in anag. & lit. |
| 1108 | GREEN | VHC | Crusading re environment? I’m right in there! | hidden & lit. |
| 1992-1993 | ||||
| 1087 | OLD SOLDIER | Second | What first shows in one? Dodging drill does | o + anag. & lit. |
| 1074 | DEMIREP | VHC | Fergie, e.g., with secret spread over half the Mirror? | Mir(ror) in deep |
| 1056 | ENTRAIN def. ASTHORE (Wrong Number) | VHC | One’s to get aboard in King’s X possibly, bidding farewell first to sweetheart | sweetheart; a in anag. of in R’s ten, less s, & lit. |
| 1052 | AGANIPPE | VHC | For aping a poet, dash to this | comp. anag. & lit. |
| 1048 | GALLOPADE | VHC | After it’s danced, e. g. OAP’d appear all in? | all in anag. & lit. |
| 1991-1992 | ||||
| 1043 | PESTO (Printer’s Devilry) | VHC | Arabia-bound globetrotter expects belly-dancers and ho/uris – providing such entertainment! | |
| 1034 | BURLAP | VHC | Murals must be prepared replacing paper? This could do | anag. with BP for MS, & lit. |
| 1026 | LET-OFF | VHC | Chance missed by aged inside left a bit out of condition | of in anag. |
| 1024 | PRESENT (3 defs + sub. ind. of wrapping) (Parcels) | VHC | Major battle against Germans cut current Tory EEC revolt | Y(PRES ENT)RECOTE; anag. |
| 1017 | SCHAPSKA / PEARMAIN (Right and Left) | VHC | Military cap Pole has issued with pack often gets blown off in the wind: take Pole’s cap a degree in round ear | S + anag.; ear in P MA in |
| 1013 | ALVEARY | VHC | What’s early learner wanting if faced with a Latin verb | a L v + ear(L)y, & lit. |
| 1990-1991 | ||||
| 991 | BRASH (or BRUSH) | VHC | Bushy tail disappearing once Ranter’s poked his head in | R in bush(y) & lit.; R. one of J. Peel’s hounds |
| 978 | DOUBLE-CENTURY | VHC | Current span of the newspaper cultured Boney once conned? | anag. & lit.; Observer dates from Napoleonic era |
| 974 | AVANT-PROPOS | VHC | Possibly couple of pages or so at the front for introduction | van in anag. incl. pp, & lit. |
| 965 | EARBASH def. NECKLET (Wrong Number) | First | Go on an endless time after managing to collar Australian | collar; A in er(a) + bash, & lit. |
| 943 | BARAGOUIN | VHC | With British – or French – a tabloid’s written in trendy jargon | a rag in B, ou + in |
| 1989-1990 | ||||
| 934 | LACE-UPS | VHC | They’re beginning to undo within fifty paces if loose? | u in L + anag., & lit. |
| 930 | SABULOSE | VHC | Gritty youngster in control of jumbo starts to land on single engine | Sabu (the Elephant Boy) + first letters |
| 926 | NERD | VHC | One lacking headpiece to take degree? | (o)ne + r,d. & lit.; to = in contact with |
| 922 | REFORMADO | VHC | Sick of ramrod, one’s finishing? | anag. + e & lit. |
| 920 | CHRIST-CROSS-ROW | VHC | The alphabet so cows chits struggling with 3 R’s | anag. incl. r, r, r |
| 917 | HOOLIGANISM | VHC | What, with no goals for English, sailing home could occasion | anag. with O for E, & lit. |
| 913 | ARCHIBALD | VHC | It makes you crash? Bail out with seconds to go before ending up dead! | anag. less s + d, & lit. |
| 900 | (C)HARLATANIS(M) (Letters Latent) | First | Quack medicine? Crooked liar has bottles to flog | tan in anag. |
| 895 | TONE DEAF | VHC | Often getting a D and E confused | anag. & lit. |
| 1988-1989 | ||||
| 887 | MONSTER | VHC | Mrs T one to Labour? | anag. |
| 874 | BLUESTOCKING | VHC | Buckles into work – getting ‘First’ at Girton? | anag. + G & lit. |
| 869 | HOLD-UPS | VHC | Going round on horseback, they’d make you stop with a rough order for £. s. d. | ho + up in anag. & lit. |
| 868 | ROLAND (2 clues + def. of contents) (Parcels) | VHC | Watch, from portal, tragic Hero part from Leander – so nearly getting back | patrol, Anderson; anag.; hidden; ref. Viv A. , England full-back |
| 866 | NECTAREOUS | VHC | Ares etc on U fluid like this? | anag. & lit.; Greek god of war |
| 862 | OFF-AND-ON | VHC | With regard to frequency, starting then stopping – one has to assume | off an don, & lit. |
| 857 | REDCAP / NICETY (Right and Left) | VHC | Refinement may be produced by tiny touches of cosmetics, and employing rouge to add the final touch – it’ll increase charm | anag. incl. c, e; red cap |
| 853 | DEBACLE | Second | Elbe, with extremes of cold, possibly needs one to break it? | a in anag. incl. c, d & lit. |
| 1987-1988 | ||||
| 827 | MICKEY-TAKING | First | (M)urine-extraction? | 2 meanings; ref Mickey Mouse |
| 823 | SARBACANE | VHC | Cause of a nick in bear’s bum? | a can in anag. & lit. |
| 818 | EMBUSQUÉ | VHC | Bit of a bolshie – me! – about service involving Queen, perhaps | b me (rev) + Qu. in use & lit. |
| 805 | LITOTES | VHC | With this, what’s large to begin with could become so little | comp. anag. & lit. |
| 801 | LINCHET | VHC | Form of chine separating alternate parts of plot | anag. in l,t & lit. |
| 788 | CROW | VHC | One that follows a bee line | i.e. C row & lit. |
| 1986-1987 | ||||
| 779 | MISSING LINK | VHC | Semi simian slinking up a gum tree, maybe? | anag. & lit. |
| 774 | VICTORINE | Third | Neckwear in civet or fox? | anag. & lit. |
| 770 | HERMITS | VHC | What quarters theirs? Molluscan, originally | anag. incl. m & lit. |
| 766 | GUBBINS | Second | Bunter’s interest is awfully big buns | anag., bunter = ragpicker |
| 762 | OBELISE | VHC | Thus mark Loeb’s translation that’s without first sign of sense | anag. + s in i.e. & lit.; ref. Loeb Classical Library, etc. |
| 757 | ETHEROMANIAC (Misprints) | VHC | Junks trafficking in more China tea | anag.; junky |
| 753 | SHEEPDOG | VHC | With hops, e.g., one’s tailed deb around | anag. less I, & lit. |
| 750 | SALMAGUNDY (750 themed clue) | VHC | Gaily one leaves Randolph (finally!) with tum well treated – tasty dinner | anag. less I incl. h |
| 1985-1986 | ||||
| 731 | STRING | VHC | It’s wound around wrapping-paper finally | r in sting & lit. |
| 727 | WELL-TO-DO | First | It’s this Littlewoods could make you | comp. anag. & lit. |
| 722 | SUPERNACULUM | VHC | It’s drunk as usual upon MC introducing ‘The Queen’ – nothing left over! | anag. less O round ER & lit. |
| 714 | MOTE | VHC | Last of the endless work with so many leaves, wheeling the old barrow | e tom(e) (rev.) |
| 709 | GINGER | VHC | The girl of girl-gent combination, both endlessly dancing | gir(l)-gen(t) anag.; ref. G. Rogers |
| 705 | MUSICOTHERAPY | First | What psychiater could effect with a trio of Moussorgsky’s? | M, o, u + anag., & lit. |
| 692 | FIDIBUS def. PRICKET (Wrong Number) | VHC | Being holder of one, following half suck, I’d top of bowl lit | holder; I in f su(ck) I’d b anag. & lit. |
| 683 | BANISH | First | Make inhabit abroad – it being the end of Alcibiades | anag. with s for it, & lit. |
| 1984-1985 | ||||
| 679 | ESTOVER (Printer’s Devilry) | VHC | Veteran go/allie’s kept now for forty years. | |
| 660 | Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse (Anagram) | First | East’s trio encounter new saviour at manger | |
| 653 | INTERNUNCIO | VHC | One linking Innocent I with a couple of rulers abroad? | anag. incl. r, u & lit. |
| 649 | AUSTRALORP | VHC | A free-range rural spot would satisfy me | anag. & lit |
| 644 | EASY STREET (or STAPELIA) | VHC | Where there’s a high rate set? Yes | anag. & lit. |
| 631 | INTERLOCK | VHC | Synchromesh e.g. of car like Citroen that’s eliminated grinding | anag. less i.e., & lit.? |
| 1983-1984 | ||||
| 618 | CRETISM | VHC | ‘Terminological inexactitude’ (coined by Mister Churchill initially) | anag. incl. C & lit.; ref. Churchill |
| 615 | HISTORIETTE | VHC | ‘Shortie’ little Decline and Fall with lines omitted? | anag. less ll, & lit. |
| 610 | DOUBLETHINK | First | By it ‘truth’ and ‘lie’ looked alternately interchangeable | anag. of alternate letters & lit. |
| 607 | CARNEY | Third | Sirens do so entice any crew at sea without women ! | anag. minus W & lit. |
| 603 | FIGULINE | VHC | Pot requiring Reardon’s extreme guile if snookered. | anag. incl. (Reardo)n |
| 600 | Into the jaws of Death / Into the mouth of Hell (Anagram) | Third | Jonathan? How oft he doth toil! Let us fête him! | |
| 1982-1983 | ||||
| 572 | SNAKE-OIL | VHC | Simple that doesn’t end in purge, perhaps? | nake(d) in soil, & lit. |
| 564 | PARAMENT | VHC | Pierpoint’s capital skill – last word in it – was hanging | amen in P art |
| 559 | EMBASE | VHC | Humble pie of deer’s entrails ma’s beginning to bake | anag. incl. (d)ee(r), b |
| 558 | MINCEMEAT (with one extra R) (Extra Letter) | VHC | Find me incorporated inside mater’s pie for Xmas fare | mate’s ; inc. in me + anag. & lit. |
| 552 | NOURICE-FEE | First | Tip for effective cure if one’s ill | anag. incl. e & lit. |
| 538 | INGRAIN | VHC | Soak rag in double dye | anag. & lit.; soak = beat |
| 534 | DODGEM | VHC | It’s extraordinarily odd me going round without bang in the rear | g in anag. + me |
| 1981-1982 | ||||
| 525 | PABOUCHE | VHC | It makes one roll about with cry of pain when applied to one’s back-side | bap (rev.), ouch, e |
| 517 | IMMORTELLE | VHC | Round 2000 ere it’ll wither? | anag. incl. O, MM & lit.; O = round |
| 513 | ETYMOLOGICON | VHC | Go look my note up – and figure the root | go lo my te (rev.) + icon & lit. |
| 508 | POSTURE-MAKER | VHC | You want acrobatic trouper? Ask me | anag. & lit |
| 506 | ELANET (Printer’s Devilry) | VHC | Provost (will-exp/onent) ran these – escheating | |
| 491 | SEVENTY-EIGHT | VHC | Yet this – gramophone’s first – wobbles round still!(even in anag. & lit. | |
| 478 | BIBLIOPEGIST | VHC | In books I toil getting pages fixed? I for one, yes | I in bb anag. with I for a, & lit. |
| 1980-1981 | ||||
| 469 | APLUSTRE | VHC | An addition, in moulded art, to trireme’s stern? | plus in anag. + e, & lit. |
| 460 | SWOOP | VHC | What does Owl do? Woos Pussy-cat when starting at sea | anag. incl. P) ref. Lear: ‘The Owl and the Pussy-cat’ |
| 443 | STEEPLECROWN | First | Enter low space carelessly – and you’ll knock one off! | anag. less a, & lit. |
| 434 | JARDINIÈRE | Second | ‘Grace before me?’ Ire roused in another English cricket captain | anag. in Jardine |
| 430 | TEGULA | VHC | Get climbing on hall if there’s one missing from top | get (rev.) + (a)ula & lit. |
| 423 | ACCOUTRE | VHC | Coat curée, possibly | anag. & lit.; ref. deriv. in SOED: ‘prob. f. à + coustre a sacristan, who robed the clergyman’ |
| 1979-1980 | ||||
| 419 | RAMILLIES | VHC | One following Marlborough’s first in series of hits at court | m + tin rallies & lit. |
| 410 | CUL-DE-SAC | First | What use a 550 c.c. model here? | anag. & lit |
| 404 | CANDLE-HOLDER (Spoonerisms) | VHC | Lord C. healed struggle with Nkomo’s front: his work brings pax to the war | wax to the paw; anag. incl. N; ref. L. Carrington, Rhodesia talks |
| 397 | BIJOUTERIE (Misprints) | VHC | Ile de France | ice=jewellery |
| 388 | ALEXIPHARMIC | VHC | Elixir a chap needed when mad enough to hold mamba’s head | anag. incl. m |
| 384 | OUTSPREADING | VHC | Like an old chestnut or aged pun – it’s corny | corny = tipsy |
| 379 | SCYTHEMAN | First | The doddery can’t shy me! | anag. & lit., Old Father Time |
| 375 | SPREATHE | First | To chap ’ee wi’ t’ sharp wind | ang. & lit.; wind = twist |
| 1978-1979 | ||||
| 358 | UPSTART def. NON-TERM (Wrong Number) | First | One outshining the rest, newly put in orbit | rest; star in anag. & lit |
| 354 | SHEER-HULK | VHC | Here’s dismantled hull, docked – deck three quarters gone | anag. + hul(l), (dec)k, & lit. |
| 349 | ODDCOMESHORT | VHC | Superfluous bit after having some edges of cloth cut up | odd + anag. incl. c—h + ort & lit. |
| 1973-1974 | ||||
| 57 | MINARET (Printer’s Devilry) | Second | I ran into a tree first time; examiner expressed hope I’d run into for/est | |
| 53 | ALEXANDERS | VHC | Unusual name ex salad recipe could provide | anag. incl. E.(?), n., r & lit. |
| 1972-1973 | ||||
| 50 | CORPULE(N)T (Letters Latent) | VHC | Such could well turn to P.E. – or cut last bit of the meal | anag. & lit. |
| 40 | FANTOCCINI | Second | We’d be out of action if ends of cotton tangled | anag. incl. c—n & lit. |
| 36 | CRUSADER | VHC | Without me and others like me barbarian’d take Acre | us in anag. incl. r & lit. |
| 23 | SCLERODERMIC | VHC | As hard skin circles me, Doctor, nothing is painful | anag. incl. Dr, O |
| 14 | Terrapin, hermit, elephant, armadillo, rhesus (Anagram) | First | Rain-storm plashed; all animals, put hither, keep drier | |
| 10 | LINGERIE | VHC | Men lose their head with girlie flirting in this | (M)en + anag. |
| 5 | SCEUOPHYLAX | VHC | Lose a pyx and church superior has me sacked | anag. incl. ch., U & lit. |
2012-2013
2113 PICAROON
2011-2012
2091 SNIFTER
2064 COLD TURKEY
2058 ROBUST
2045 CATENATE
2010-2011
2040 EASTER (Printer’s Devilry)
2036 AL CONTO
2023 CHAMBRANLE
2012 BLOATING
1997 FADO
2009-2010
1971 WATERMANSHIP
1967 SUBORDINATELY
1958 HANGDOG
1945 PRISON
2008-2009
1927 TONSURE (Spoonerisms)
1923 ELLIPTIC
1914 VE(S)TAL (Letters Latent)
1906 MORSE
1897 WASH-OUT
1893 EARTHY
2007-2008
1884 FREELOADER
1866 BINGE
1862 UNALIKE (Spoonerisms)
1858 HUMONGOUS
1849 AUXESIS
1845 UPBRAID
2006-2007
1827 AMAKOSI def. DENUDED (Wrong Number)
1823 KISS
1818 POISSO(N) D’AVRIL (Letters Latent)
1788 ETHEREAL OILS
2005-2006
1779 NEWIE (misprint of U) (Misprints)
1771 PARTERRE
1750 PLOUGHMAN
1746 ENTOMIC
1741 LORD NELSON
1733 PALESTRA
2004-2005
1715 RELEASE / RASPING (Right and Left)
1707 GALENA (Definition of Anagram)
1698 CROSSTIE
1689 SYNOD
1685 MINO (Printer’s Devilry)
2003-2004
1676 CRINGE-MAKING
1672 IMPASTOS (Spoonerisms)
1654 CRESCENT / ENTHRALS (Overlaps)
1650 SAPHENA
1637 AMNESIC
2002-2003
1619 GISMO (Printer’s Devilry)
1611 LEISLER
1598 PHRASEMONGER
1585 SHIATSU
1572 SHIELD-MAY
2001-2002
1563 SLYBOOTS
1559 THEOLOGASTER
1546 TRANSPARENT
1533 MASTER-MARINER
1524 INGRATITUDE
2000-2001
1500 GIT (on board ship) (Ship of Fools)
1472 TORAN (Printer’s Devilry)
1999-2000
1463 REVERSIONAL
1454 GET-UP
1433 NEANDERTHAL
1998-1999
1406 CHASSEPOT
1372 MASTERSTROKE
1363 MAVIN def. THONG (Wrong Number)
1997-1998
1334 CATACHRESTIC
1325 UPROOTAL
1996-1997
1300 OXFORD (extra O) (Extra Letter)
1290 NITERIE
1284 STALE (3 defs. + sub. ind. of wrapping) (Parcels)
1281 ABLUTOMANE
1273 SIPOREX
1260 OUT-AND-OUT
1995-1996
1247 PREDICANT
1225 CURRY
1220 CASSANDRA
1994-1995
1194 DONET
1186 GRISELDA
1180 COLD TURKEY
1156 TERPSICHOREAN
1993-1994
1130 AGRESTAL
1128 CHRISTMAS PRESENT
1122 BASILIAN
1992-1993
1084 PIERCEABLE / SALESGIRL (DLM)
1078 KIRBEH
1076 PARLOUR GAMES
1069 (P)OSTICHE (Headpieces)
1065 TANDOORI
1061 MAGIC
1991-1992
1039 TOLERABLE
1030 PASTILLE
1000 ONE THOUSAND
995 STASIMA (Printer’s Devilry)
1990-1991
987 IRON CURTAIN
982 ALMANAC
972 Anagram of 28 letters (Anagram)
969 BUNTER
956 SPEAR-SIDE
952 STAR (Spoonerisms)
947 SHOULDER-SLIP
1989-1990
939 A-PER-SE / ESCROC (Right and Left)
908 INDIGO (Printer’s Devilry)
904 VOETGANGER
1988-1989
878 MOUSEPIECE
849 VISITE
840 SONDE
1987-1988
835 PROSAICAL
816 POTLACH (with extra O in word) (Extra letter)
792 DISTHENE (Printer’s Devilry)
1986-1987
783 CAMPESINO
764 CHILDERMAS
735 MALIGN
1985-1986
718 FLO(GG)IN(G) (Letters Latent)
712 PANTOMIME HORSE
701 BALUSTRADE
696 ANTIMNEMONIC
1984-1985
670 TURNIP-FLEA
666 Any word; subsidiary indicators to omit an animal (Beasts)
662 BARGE-COUPLE
657 SILLY-BILLY
640 MACHETE
635 ROSEMARY
1983-1984
627 AMBIENT
622 SIMP (Printer’s Devilry)
609 LUCKY-BAG
590 MINEVER
1982-1983
576 TOP-NOTCH
568 TETHER (Printer’s Devilry)
556 SWEAL (Misprints)
543 STAYING POWER
530 PROMETAL
1981-1982
521 ATTITUDINISE
504 SIMMENTHALER
482 BODY-SNATCHER
473 HERRING-BONE
1980-1981
464 SIMKIN
456 BALADINE
454 CHRISTMAS BOX
452 DISSENTERISM
447 URTICARIA / APOGRAPHS (Right and Left)
439 LINGA (Printer’s Devilry)
1979-1980
414 UNBOSOMER
406 BOIL
401 GO-AHEAD
393 INTRACARDIAC
371 GRADIN
1978-1979
366 MONKEY-SHINE
1972-1973
45 NEMORAL
27 VINEGAR
18 EPIGONE
1 ORGIAST
| Year | Prizes (1, 2, 3) | VHCs | HCs | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011-2012 | 0 | 0 | 4 | – |
| 2010-2011 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 15 |
| 2009-2010 | 1 (1, 0, 0) | 5 | 4 | 8 |
| 2008-2009 | 1 (0, 1, 0) | 3 | 6 | 16 |
| 2007-2008 | 1 (0, 1, 0) | 6 | 6 | 7 |
| 2006-2007 | 1 (0, 0, 1) | 8 | 4 | 3 |
| 2005-2006 | 1 (1, 0, 0) | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| 2004-2005 | 3 (2, 1, 0) | 5 | 5 | 1 |
| 2003-2004 | 2 (2, 0, 0) | 6 | 5 | 6 |
| 2002-2003 | 1 (0, 1, 0) | 5 | 5 | 8 |
| 2001-2002 | 1 (1, 0, 0) | 5 | 5 | 9 |
| 2000-2001 | 1 (0, 1, 0) | 9 | 2 | 4 |
| 1999-2000 | 3 (2, 1, 0) | 6 | 3 | 2 |
| 1998-1999 | 1 (0, 1, 0) | 7 | 3 | 4 |
| 1997-1998 | 2 (1, 0, 1) | 8 | 2 | 2 |
| 1996-1997 | 2 (0, 1, 1) | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| 1995-1996 | 3 (3, 0, 0) | 7 | 3 | 2 |
| 1994-1995 | 3 (2, 1, 0) | 4 | 4 | 3 |
| 1993-1994 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 11 |
| 1992-1993 | 1 (0, 1, 0) | 4 | 6 | 13 |
| 1991-1992 | 0 | 6 | 4 | 8 |
| 1990-1991 | 1 (1, 0, 0) | 4 | 7 | 10 |
| 1989-1990 | 1 (1, 0, 0) | 8 | 3 | 2 |
| 1988-1989 | 1 (0, 1, 0) | 7 | 3 | 4 |
| 1987-1988 | 1 (1, 0, 0) | 5 | 3 | 5 |
| 1986-1987 | 2 (0, 1, 1) | 6 | 3 | 1 |
| 1985-1986 | 3 (3, 0, 0) | 5 | 4 | 3 |
| 1984-1985 | 1 (1, 0, 0) | 5 | 6 | 5 |
| 1983-1984 | 3 (1, 0, 2) | 3 | 4 | 2 |
| 1982-1983 | 1 (1, 0, 0) | 6 | 5 | 3 |
| 1981-1982 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 5 |
| 1980-1981 | 2 (1, 1, 0) | 4 | 6 | 4 |
| 1979-1980 | 3 (3, 0, 0) | 5 | 5 | 1 |
| 1978-1979 | 1 (1, 0, 0) | 2 | 1 | 15 |
| 1973-1974 | 1 (0, 1, 0) | 1 | 0 | – |
| 1972-1973 | 2 (1, 1, 0) | 5 | 4 | 1 |