CCCWC March competition voters’ comments
Clue no. 34: Is draft I prepared an adequate treatment until the real doc's available?
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A clue to FIRST AID.
2 comments refer to this clue (from 2 competitors, 0 others)
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Comments on the competition |
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1. |
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I have discounted clues that simply substitute "help" or something similar for "aid", or use "Dr." in place of "doctor". Some questionable anagram indicators, e.g. 12 and 15, and some false &lit claims, e.g. 8, where the definition is just "immediate benefit" and not the whole clue. 34 verges on brilliance, although in the UK it's usually a literary "draft" but a medicinal "draught". However Chambers supports draft = draught "in various senses; occasional and US". I don't think many solvers would recognise the biblical allusion in 44 or the reference to Jeremy Paxman in 54. ("I find the Scottish national poet little more than a king of sentimental doggerel".) 58 combines originality and soundness and to my mind it's the best clue, just beating 47's neat &lit. |
2. |
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A good bunch this month, I suppose because 'first aid' lends itself both to devious wordplay and to cunning definitions.
(3 points) 48 (quite outstanding, if you can accept the anagram indicator, which I can; one hopes Derek won't take it too seriously)
2nd (2 points) 58 (very neat, not 100% happy with the definition, but it does make for an excellent surface)
3rd= (1 point each) 6, 10, 24, 27, 33, 34, 37, 45, 47, 54, all of which are very pleasing. |