◀  No. 116 Clue list 27 Nov 1949 Slip image No. 118  ▶

XIMENES CROSSWORD No. 117

LION

1.  A. H. Taylor (Peterborough): For my part, one swallow is certainly not sufficient sign that summer is here (2 mngs; Zodiac sign Leo Jul–Aug).

2.  A. F. Lerrigo (Pinner): One of the signs of pride? (2 mngs; Zodiac sign Leo, pride of lions).

3.  S. B. Green (NW10): Preference shareholder who attempts to intimidate auditors (2 mngs; ‘lion’s share’, roar; auditors = listeners).

H.C.

F. Aylmer (Weybridge): The state of Britain is represented by:— Nil returns
Nil
(nil (rev.) divided by 0; ref. post war trade gap).

Maj P. S. Baines (W11): 74 shillings for an old Scotsman—51, 11 and 12 exactly! (LI + O (11, medieval) + n. (noon)).

Mrs Caithness (Ambleside): Brave? Why, he’s floored if turned on and goes flat out for home! (lion with “on” turned = lino).

C. H. Devonald (N21): Terrorist in Africa! Red may delay British travellers! (2 mngs.; Red Lion, popular name for inn).

S. R. Gibbs (Sheffield): Not quite a full pack—one short: it’s the Heart King! (LI + on(e); 52 cards in a pack; Richard the Lionheart).

L. R. Huxtable (Oldham): As a possible reason for an Albert Memorial in Blackpool, he is a roaring success (ref. Marriott Edgar, ‘The Lion and Albert’, created for Stanley Holloway).

G. G. Lawrance (Harrow): A word in Pygmalion which, among ladies, is a most dreadful thing! ((Pygma)lion; ref. Bottom in M.N.D. III.1, “a lion among the ladies …”, and use of “bloody” in P.).

T. A. Martin (SW12): Some hero! He’s no pride when alone and a bundle of nerves when with the gang ((gang)lion).

W. G. Morris (Bridport): A carpet-knight whose head may be turned. Twist his tail and you may have him floored (lion with “on” turned = lino; lion-skin rug; knight = brave man; heraldic lion regardant).

F. E. Newlove (SE9): I’m often asked out, but with a gang I’m just a bunch of nerves! ((gang)lion).

F. P. Pickering (Sheffield): Not a drawing-room favourite when dandified, one gathers ((dande)lion; lion-skin rug).

R. Postill (Jersey): Generally speaking, Aurora in the spring is the sign of a late summer! (‘a roarer’!; Zodiac sign Leo, Jul–Aug).

A. J. C. Saunders (Sanderstead): The man’s a hero: give him a medal and make it a big one ((medal)lion).

W. K. M. Slimmings (New Malden): Take Bob now: he’s attached to the Crown, yet as a Red he opposes it (bob = shilling; Red Lion and Crown inns; lion(s) and crown appear on shilling coin).

Miss D. W. Taylor (New Malden): If you twist his tail he’ll floor you (lion with “on” turned = lino).

H. S. Tribe (Sutton): Had a sweet issue—a big share—a pound and a half ration! (L + (rat)ion; Judges 14:14, “Out of the strong [lion] came forth sweetness”; ‘lion’s share’).

Capt C. Tyers (Elstead): Beneath Nelson’s notice, but a V.I.P. all the same (lions of Trafalgar Sq.).

M. A. Vernon (N4): He fought a fellow-supporter: players feared he’d scare lady onlookers (ref. nursery rhyme ‘The L. and the Unicorn’; heraldic supporters; Bottom in M.N.D. III.1 - “a lion among the ladies …”).

R. A. Whitley (Beverley): His tail is sometimes twisted; then he’s floored (lion with “on” turned = lino).

 

COMMENTS—238 correct in a smaller entry, the few mistakes being chiefly distributed between SCRUDGED and NAWANAGAR. SCRUDGE is in Chambers, s.v. scrouge. Some of those who don’t know their “Ranji” (Jam Sahib of N.) may have failed through their atlases giving the alternative spelling “Navanagar.” The puzzle proved hard—more rare words than usual. The clue to BICUSPIDS seems to have been popular. The clue-entry was full of variety; I was expecting much play to be made with “pride,” but it was used very little, and “50 to 1 on” was the only thing which was rather overworked. It may interest solvers to know that I changed the prize word at the last moment from LAP-STONE, for fear of getting too many “lasts.”
 
RUNNERS-UP—D. Ambler, C. A. Baker, J. Buist, Rev B. Chapman, A. J. Croft, F. E. Dixon, A. L. Elliston, C. E. Gates, C. C. M. Giffin, J. H. Grummitt, J. Jones, E. E. R. Kilner, C. Koop, T. W. Melluish, D. G. C. Mockridge, C. J. Morse, J. D. P. O’Leary, Rev E. B. Peel, Mrs M. G. Porter, G. W. Pugh, D. W. Reed, H. Ingram Rees, T. E. Sanders, T. N. Simpson, J. A. Stafford, J. Thompson, J. S. Young.
 
HALF-YEAR—R. Postill has the championship to himself this time with 3 prizes and 3 H.C.s: L. C. Wright has 3—2: D. P. M. Michael 2—3: E. S. Ainley, Maj. Baines. F. E. Newlove and D. L. Tuckett, 1—4: T. W. Melluish (who is out by himself for the only Consolation Prize with 6 H.C.s—a record) ranks with this last group. A. C. Norfolk and T. E. Sanders have 1—3: S. B. Green, H. J. Howells, A. F. Lerrigo and Rev. E. B. Peel have l—2, equal with A. H. Taylor, 2—0. The 11 runners-up to T. W. Melluish, with 3 H.C.s each, are:—C. A. Baker, F. L. Constable, Cdr. H. H. L. Dickson, H. C. Hills, Mrs L. Jarman, C. Koop, G. G.Lawrance, D.G. C. Mockridge, Miss D. W. Taylor, P. H. Taylor, Capt. C. Tyers.
 

 
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