◀  No. 181 Clue list 23 Dec 1951 Slip image No. 183  ▶

XIMENES CROSSWORD No. 182

MISTLETOE

1.  R. J. Hall (Redbourn): I’m held in suspense at The Family Reunion. You’ll find me full of T. S. Eliot’s eccentric characters (anag. in me; ref. his play, “The F. R.”, 1939).

2.  C. J. Morse (Norwich): With me about, it’s wrong to hinder love (anag. + let + 0, all in me, & lit.).

3.  J. C. Chavasse (Rochester): An attractive home fixture at Christmas for Wolves—X is likely result (cryptic def.; wolves = womanisers, X = kiss and draw in football pools).

H.C.

C. A. Baker (Wishaw): A fine spray in the air is a good sign for fishing smacks (cryptic def.; i.e. obtaining kisses).

J. A. Blair (Brentwood): Fashionable title some cover girls like to go under (anag.).

D. L. L. Clarke (Oxford): To let in poor repair, needing expenditure on the outside. Scheduled to come down in a fortnight (anag. in mise).

A. E. Clayton (Weymouth): Overhead plant functions continuously for twelve days coping with face level pressure! (cryptic def., ref. to industry).

T. Dwyer (Leicester): I hang about where couples are kissing, making up lost time before the end of the dance (anag. + e).

Miss R. LeS. Filleul (Southampton): Totem lies shattered. Once sacred symbol now no longer revered (anag.; m. was sacred to ancient Druids).

D. J. Furley (New Barnet): High decoration (for gallantry): even great men are more familiar with lower orders just below it (cryptic def.; gallantry = devotion to ladies; lower orders = e.g. servants).

L. Johnson (N. Harrow): Spray covering the smacks—slight fog starting—put to into shelter! (mist + to in lee; smack = kiss).

F. P. N. Lake (Manchester): One way of getting “XXX” at Xmas is to let me arrange it (anag.; XXX rum / kisses).

G. G. Lawrance (Harrow): I live with my host throughout the year and get put up for Christmas (cryptic def.; m. is a parasite).

J. P. Lloyd (Swansea): A popular Home choice this season, but cover for 2, with the possibility of an X (cryptic def.; ref. football pools, i.e. home win, away win (2pts.) and draw (X)).

B. J. McCann (Manchester): If you want a surprise introduction to her at the party, the best thing is to let me arrange it (anag.).

M. B. McIlroy (NW11): Most élite houses sport seasonal decoration (anag.; houses (vb.), sport = variation).

T. W. Melluish (SE21): Miss Buss could hardly have understood? (cryptic def., understood = stood under; ref. anon. rhyme,“Miss B. and Miss Beale,” see ODQ.).

F. E. Newlove (SE9): At Christmas parties (most élite otherwise) toilets become ruffled with me around (anag., anag. in me; toilet = dress & appearance).

Rev E. B. Peel (Fleetwood): I sometimes cling to a peach, but just now necking is beneath me (cryptic def.; m. is a parasite of various fruit trees).

E. J. Rackham (Totton): Danger sign for ladies—toilets are disarranged with me embracing! (anag. in me; toilet = dress & appearance).

W. K. M. Slimmings (New Malden): What may cause unquiet lips to meet! (anag. less p, & lit.).

H. S. Tribe (Sutton): Il est Moët qui produit le “hangover” à Noël (anag.; ref. champagne).

E. W. Tulloch (Balcombe): Simply lives on apple but won’t always keep the doctor away—from the nurses? (cryptic def.; m. is a parasite of various fruit trees).

R. A. Wells (Doncaster): Green?—I’m a sucker! I get the bird and the sharp end of a boot! (mistle, toe; sucker = parasite).

Dr D. W. Williams (Glasgow): Suitably arranged, allows lips to meet (though you must have a little quiet) (i.e. mistletoe + p = anag. of lips to meet).

RUNNERS-UP

F. Allanson, F. A. J. Armstrong, D. Ashcroft, Mrs F. Begg, H. Bernard, M. Brown, Rev B. Chapman, H. Chown, H. P. Chubb, F. A. Clark, C. Davies, W. J. Duffin, Brig W. E. Duncan, W. M. Easther, S. Goldie, Rev J. G. Graham, S. B. Green, T. O. Hughes, Mrs L. Jarman, R. H. Lemon, J. P. Mernagh, D. P. M. Michael, D. A. Nicholls, C. Norfolk, Mrs A. M. Osmond, J. W. Parr, Mrs M. G. Porter, M. C. T. Reilly, H. B. Ridley, A. Rivlin, Mrs J. Robertson, A. Robins, O. Carlton Smith, J. A. L. Sturrock, F. L. Usher, J. F. N. Wedge, H. T. Young, J. S. Young.
 

COMMENTS—280 correct and very few mistakes. The entry was of high quality but not large, considering that the puzzle was easier. I hope the posts were not to blame. There were many good clues with great variety of treatment: the only popular idea that I didn’t care for was “busses.” Chambers supports this spelling of the vehicles, but the trouble is that it isn’t in common enough use to be misleading in a clue and would be quite ineffective.
 
Many thanks indeed for all the Christmas cards and good wishes: a very happy New Year to you all.
 

 
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