CCCWC January competition voters’ comments on Clue no. 34

CCCWC January competition voters’ comments

Clue no. 34: Mate very old cattle – a pointless exercise

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A clue to PALAVER.
1 comment refers to this clue (from 1 competitor, 0 others)
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Comments on the competition
1.
PALAVER was a friendly clue-word, offering numerous possibilities. This was reflected in the size of the entry, but it was disappointing that so few of the clues offered much originality or flair and that some of those that did were unsound. Many of the surfaces were rather feeble or even, in a few cases, perverse. “Rod” to indicate LAVER without any reference to tennis seems unsatisfactory to me: there are lots of other Rods, and it’s half a century since Laver was at his peak. 4 points each: 2 and 38 – two neat &lits, though “engage in” sails a bit close to the wind. 3 points: 18 – simple and economical. 1 point each: 15 – a clever idea quite skilfully executed, but rather too long. 37 – an excellent idea for the definition. A pity that the words chosen for their first letters weren’t a bit pithier and less vacuous – “long and very extensive”? Also, “starting” isn’t quite right as an indicator; some approach like “starts to pall…” would have been sounder. Much Ado would have been quite adequate, thereby shortening the clue to good effect. 0.5 point each 28 – “One who might arrange the flags…” would have been sounder 34 51 – the simplest and best of the lap-dancing clues. 61 Prox. ac.: 13 – sounder and/or less contorted than the other Carry On entries, but suffers from the fact that the film is imaginary. 20 – the surface of a promising comp. anag, spoiled by the inappropriate word “Convoluted”, which doesn’t suit the surface. 43 – quite neat wordplay, but the surface is unconvincing.

Comments on the competition

PALAVER was a friendly clue-word, offering numerous possibilities. This was reflected in the size of the entry, but it was disappointing that so few of the clues offered much originality or flair and that some of those that did were unsound. Many of the surfaces were rather feeble or even, in a few cases, perverse. “Rod” to indicate LAVER without any reference to tennis seems unsatisfactory to me: there are lots of other Rods, and it’s half a century since Laver was at his peak.

4 points each: 2 and 38 – two neat &lits, though “engage in” sails a bit close to the wind.

3 points: 18 – simple and economical.

1 point each:

15 – a clever idea quite skilfully executed, but rather too long.
37 – an excellent idea for the definition. A pity that the words chosen for their first letters weren’t a bit pithier and less vacuous – “long and very extensive”? Also, “starting” isn’t quite right as an indicator; some approach like “starts to pall…” would have been sounder. Much Ado would have been quite adequate, thereby shortening the clue to good effect.

0.5 point each

28 – “One who might arrange the flags…” would have been sounder

34

51 – the simplest and best of the lap-dancing clues.

61

Prox. ac.:

13 – sounder and/or less contorted than the other Carry On entries, but suffers from the fact that the film is imaginary.

20 – the surface of a promising comp. anag, spoiled by the inappropriate word “Convoluted”, which doesn’t suit the surface.

43 – quite neat wordplay, but the surface is unconvincing.

CCCWC January competition voters’ comments Clue no. 34: Mate very old cattle – a pointless exercise

CCCWC January competition voters’ comments

Clue no. 34: Mate very old cattle – a pointless exercise