CCCWC April competition voters’ comments on Clue no. 9

CCCWC April competition voters’ comments

Clue no. 9: Fine, got from parking alongside pillbox, perhaps

Back to competition result | All the comments | Other competitions

A clue to PHAT.
1 comment refers to this clue
Move your mouse pointer over any bold clue number to see the clue.

Here is the text

Comments on the competition
1.
c) A difficult word to define other than straightforwardly. "Fine" perhaps offered the most potential for a disguised definition, but those who tried this approach either did not have very convincing surfaces (2, 7, 8, 9) or were unsound (38 - even with a question-mark, "Traffic warden's habit?" to indicate HAT surely won't do). The best clues all took the straightforward approach where the definition was concerned, some more successfully than others in this respect. 3.5 points each: 21. Nymph's rear moving in a way that's sexy A very apt surface and well-executed wordplay. 27. Rap's term for what's foremost? An accomplished &lit that (for a change!) does what it says on the tin, even if "foremost" is rather a staid word to convey the essence of "phat". 39. Up the ante, when the odds are dropping? That's fine! The way in which the subsidiary indicator is melded into the surface is masterly and a refreshing change from the now hackneyed "oddly". After such a beginning, the definition, though sound enough, is a shade pedestrian. It's a shame that a means could not have been found to extend the betting surface or to incorporate the definition a little more seamlessly into it (eg, "Best up the ante."). 2 points each: 4. Cool tango with a hot piano backing I don't claim to be at all musical, but to me the combination of cool tango and hot piano sounds a little bit odd. Otherwise, it would be hard to fault either wordplay or definition. 6. Excellent - hose's nozzle goes in perfectly The last three words of the subsidiary indication are very neat and well-disguised, but "nozzle" for "beginning" is pushing it a bit. 0.5 point: 12. Grand piano lid Although "grand" can mean "very good" or "excellent", like "foremost", it is at the opposite end of a spectrum of nuance from "phat", but otherwise the clue is sound and it would be hard to beat it for economy. On the other hand, it is just a little bit dull and lacking in sparkle. Some also-rans: 3. Certain pairs of physical attributes can make you this? This is almost very good, but a. "Certain" does not really indicate "first" or "leading" - something like "Prominent" would have been better; b. "you" works well in the surface reading, but not in the cryptic one: "phat" doesn't "make YOU this (ie, phat)". 11. Grand piano -- something you may associate with the shows of Flanders and Swann The bones of a good idea, but much too wordily executed. 16. 'Hot' in rap circles Unfortunately, "pat" and "rap" don't mean the same thing, while "rap circles" to indicate "put a word meaning 'rap' backwards" strikes me as iffy, especially after "Hot in". 25. Plump is said to be the new sexy Is "phat" really a NEW word for "sexy"? It strikes me as slightly dated. Including "the new" undoubtedly improves the surface, but it hardly seems justified from the point of view of the definition.

Comments on the competition

c) A difficult word to define other than straightforwardly. "Fine" perhaps offered the most potential for a disguised definition, but those who tried this approach either did not have very convincing surfaces (2, 7, 8, 9) or were unsound (38 - even with a question-mark, "Traffic warden's habit?" to indicate HAT surely won't do). The best clues all took the straightforward approach where the definition was concerned, some more successfully than others in this respect.

3.5 points each:

21. Nymph's rear moving in a way that's sexy

A very apt surface and well-executed wordplay.

27. Rap's term for what's foremost?

An accomplished &lit that (for a change!) does what it says on the tin, even if "foremost" is rather a staid word to convey the essence of "phat".

39. Up the ante, when the odds are dropping? That's fine!

The way in which the subsidiary indicator is melded into the surface is masterly and a refreshing change from the now hackneyed "oddly". After such a beginning, the definition, though sound enough, is a shade pedestrian. It's a shame that a means could not have been found to extend the betting surface or to incorporate the definition a little more seamlessly into it (eg, "Best up the ante.").

2 points each:

4. Cool tango with a hot piano backing

I don't claim to be at all musical, but to me the combination of cool tango and hot piano sounds a little bit odd. Otherwise, it would be hard to fault either wordplay or definition.

6. Excellent - hose's nozzle goes in perfectly

The last three words of the subsidiary indication are very neat and well-disguised, but "nozzle" for "beginning" is pushing it a bit.

0.5 point:

12. Grand piano lid

Although "grand" can mean "very good" or "excellent", like "foremost", it is at the opposite end of a spectrum of nuance from "phat", but otherwise the clue is sound and it would be hard to beat it for economy. On the other hand, it is just a little bit dull and lacking in sparkle.

Some also-rans:

3. Certain pairs of physical attributes can make you this?

This is almost very good, but

a. "Certain" does not really indicate "first" or "leading" - something like "Prominent" would have been better;

b. "you" works well in the surface reading, but not in the cryptic one: "phat" doesn't "make YOU this (ie, phat)".

11. Grand piano -- something you may associate with the shows of Flanders and Swann

The bones of a good idea, but much too wordily executed.

16. 'Hot' in rap circles

Unfortunately, "pat" and "rap" don't mean the same thing, while "rap circles" to indicate "put a word meaning 'rap' backwards" strikes me as iffy, especially after "Hot in".

25. Plump is said to be the new sexy

Is "phat" really a NEW word for "sexy"? It strikes me as slightly dated. Including "the new" undoubtedly improves the surface, but it hardly seems justified from the point of view of the definition.

CCCWC April competition voters’ comments Clue no. 9: Fine, got from parking alongside pillbox, perhaps

CCCWC April competition voters’ comments

Clue no. 9: Fine, got from parking alongside pillbox, perhaps