The Crossword Centre Clue-Writing Competition

CCCWC June competition voters’ comments

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A clue to FLUTTER.
40 comments were received for this competition (from 8 competitors, 3 others)
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Here is the text

Comments on the competition
1.
Use of Fl and utter by many.
Butterfly was a slightly better variation.
#32 used alternative letter, only person to do so.
2.
'Flutter' with its many alternative meanings has prompted much inventive clueing but not all with plausible surface stories. Variations of the F L + state/say/sheer (utter) are present in number and of these I like clues 4 and 11 the best. My runner-up is clue 49 for pulling off an &lit using a less well-known definition but my winner is clue 26 for its topical surface story, excellent word play and disguised definition.
 
Comments on the clues
2. Agitation in Florida state(7)
1.Neat and clean
2.good succinct clue; I'm not entirely sure about agitation as def.
3.Good succinct clue but whilst 'state' is vital for the wordplay it is redundant in the surface story which weakens its disguise
3. Appalling left turns Poles avoided to see fan
1.Not exactly something I expect anyone would utter. It's nicer when the surface reading is a natural(esque) sentence
4. Backing financial tips? Sheer speculation ! (7)
1.‘Backing’ is redundant
2.Different surface story / word play providing a well-disguised definition
5. Bat chewed butterfly, discarding the wings
1.nice deletion
6. Bat following turtle all around is what peacocks do! A small bet?
1.Adding multiple definitions has rendered the surface nonsensical
7. Beat Florida state (7)
1.Best of the Florida clues
9. Bet musician keeps time.
1.Neat with a good surface
2.Seems like an odd thing to bet on.
10. Bet of gutless fool, say
1.nice deletion
11. Both sides in final say it’s a gamble
1.Very good straightforward word play with a good surface story
12. Both sides in Final speak of feeling nervous.
1.Utter is synonymous with ‘speak’ but not ‘speak of’
14. Butterfly swimming losing by a long shot? Could be (7)
1.Best of the butterflies
16. Dance bar’s appropriate after I methodically fill up (to the brim)
1.I’m not sure any solver would work out the wordplay that removes the m
17. Dance foxtrot with Mock Turtle!
1.Nice, playful surface sense
21. Female turtle's wiggle (7)
1.I can’t think of any sense in which a turtle might flutter
22. Fine line between this and sheer chaos.
1.Not convinced the def of 'flutter' stretches to 'chaos'. Otherwise its different and appealing word play would make this a very good clue
25. Following learner driver, complete gamble
1.Amusing surface
26. Following mess, Conservative leader quits leading to speculation
1.Almost nice clue but I’m a stickler for accuracy: C is ‘Conservative’s leader’
2.Conservatives’ leader or just Conservative would be better
3.Stand out clue with excellent word play providing a topical surface story and disguised definition
27. Football League leaders provide a sound bet
1.I’d prefer League’s leaders
29. Frisky turtle going after female is a racing sensation
1.Nice definition, doesn’t quite describe a turtle
31. Jack might do this easily, in a breeze!
1.Good clue but too many other words could be valid answers
33. Left turf without a farthing, this having been misplaced?
1.Lovely, but 'this' is superfluous in the cryptic reading
2.Excellent.
3.Nicely constructed & lit.
35. Loud struggle in Paris caused a tremor (7)
1.I think 'lutter' is too obscure of a French word
2.'Causes/causing' would have been preferable.
36. Movement of Zebra Longwing from Florida state (7)
1.Good clue. The name of the butterfly does turn this is more of a trivia clue. Technically, this would be a semi-&Lit
2.Good knowledge!
38. Occasionally felt state of excitement! (7)
1.“Of” as connector doesn’t work
42. Sensation with heart adrift, say?
1.Sensation = *feeling*.
48. We heard you flatter indiscriminately without a bat of an eye.
1.impressive complexity
49. What flautist deploying tip of tongue produces?
1.Pulls off using a less well-known definition with accurate wordplay to produce &lit – bravo!
50. What Spooner's butterfly does after shedding its cocoon (7)
1.Creative, but 'its cocoon' would be FY