CCCWC September competition voters’ comments

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A clue to CLANDESTINE.
103 comments were received for this competition (from 12 competitors, 1 other)
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Comments on the competition
1.
A very big, high quality entry for what turned out to be a friendly word to clue, and a pleasure to judge. Twelve clues were on my points shortlist, so I'm afraid a few good ones have missed out. Client* around Andes was one of the best ideas, and 'silent dance' about the least convincing.
2.
There seems to be an unnecesary and, to me, unattractive tendency to want to make references to popular culture, current affairs, or whatever, instead of constructing a clue based on words for themselves. The competition does not preclude specialism, and doubtless others find it fun, but I think words offer enough scope for inventive clueing without having to overlay stuff that belongs in a quiz. There were just a few accurate and succinct clues that appealed to me, and three of these were also entertaining: my favourite 30, with 21 and 43 joint second.
3.
I thought that there were a lot of good clues this month with 6 and 8leading the pack.
4.
Just to single out two (from a number of) clues that are not good: 51 because the anagram indicator doesn't link at all convincingly with the stuff being anagrammed. Why not: In Leeds can't travel underground ? Then 48 with a dodgy definition, a nounal anagram indicator and a pretty bizarre surface meaning. I admire those who take the time to analyse each clue, but I fear life is too short!
5.
Quite a large number of perfectly acceptable clues this month, but few with real sparkle. The ones that scored well from me were those with convincing and imaginative surfaces well integrated with the definition and s.i. – 4, 24, 36, 49 and, especially, 5. 6, an otherwise good clue, defines “clandestine” as “canny”, presumably on the ground that Chambers gives “sly” as a meaning for both. But the meanings of words don’t obey mathematical rules, and it does not follow from the facts that A = B and B = C that A = C. In this case, I don’t think that “canny” and “clandestine” are equivalent.

Comments on the clues

1. About to touch down on time at JFK, one of the Germans switched off the radar

1.	one of the Germans switched is an indirect anagram.
2.	The definition seems inaccurate; surface reading sound and each part of wordplay is accurate but too many words overall for my liking.
3.	Isn't EIN* an indirect anagram?
4.	indirect anagram; surface reading a little unlikely

2. Adam's top's not kept clean, instead crumpled in closet

1.	The word play says "A is excluded. Anagram this". I find this inaccurate.

3. At first, the English careworker and Niles fool around in secret

1.	The clue works but I don't enjoy 'specialist' references.

4. Behind-the-scenes coterie beginning to derail state seeking full UN membership (excluding China?)

1.	I enjoyed estine = Palestine – China.
2.	Nicely constructed and would have done well but for the stiff competition this month
3.	Too convoluted in my view. '…membership? China excluded' addresses the C/c better, I think.
4.	A good topical surface and clever matching s.i., but rather long

5. Candles confused with part of fork under the counter?

1.	Brilliant! I'd give 15 points if I could. And it's goodnight from him.
2.	Well spotted connection. I remember the sketch but it must be nearly 40 years ago.
3.	'Under the counter' (without hyphens) is a location, regardless of the '?', clandestine an adjective.
4.	Fabulous!
5.	Fantastic! But without explanation, surface reading would have mean nothing
6.	Stands out for an excellent surface well melded with sound s.i. & definition

6. Canny Scots band isn't about to cut 'Flower of Scotland'

1.	I really enjoyed this clue
2.	Dee = Flower of Scotland: reference needed (I couldn't readily find one).
3.	your understanding of 'canny' differs to mine. Canny means 'shrewd' or 'thrifty'.
4.	A good surface and s.i., but I’m not convinced that “canny’ & “clandestine” are synonyms (even though “sly” is of both)

7. Church holding manor with estate in secret

1.	I personally avoid 'with' unless it stands for 'W'. How about 'abutting'?
2.	Sound enough but obvious & uninspiring (discounted it myself for those reasons)

8. Client, bursting, pulls chain in privy

1.	Cracking clue
2.	Good idea but am I alone in not pulling the chain while still bursting (or desparate, etc)?
3.	If you're ready to pull the chain, you're no longer bursting!
4.	Amusing idea but not sure why it should be a client in surface reading

9. Client ordered clothing range for closet

1.	A lovely misleading surface
2.	The clothing might end up in the closet, but you wouldn't order it for there.
3.	Brilliant! Natural surface reading, misleading and clever

10. Cloak-and-dagger operation in which the criminal was nailed by the scent of the illicit drugs he was carrying!

1.	This is not a crossword clue at all!
2.	There are far too many superfluous words here, I'm afraid
3.	Too many superfluous words in this clue
4.	Too many words in my view, so I didn't look closely at it, I'm afraid

11. Concealed client-end program loads in a little time (11)

1.	I find 'client-end' a bit vernacular. Is 'short' better than 'little'?

12. Concealed in haste without a repeat performance (11)

1.	Too unfair – A ECHO is given indirectly, and these letters must be plucked from different points in the phrase before making an anagram
2.	The indirect anagram subtraction is a cryptic step too far. Unsolvable in my view.
3.	AECHO* (anagrammed) is required not just A ECHO, also implying a pre-anag substition which is regarded as unfair.
4.	I am surprised to see an indirect anagram in this competition.
5.	'Performance' not adequate as anagrind; also echo indirectly anagrammed

13. End ties after stumbling on family secret

1.	Neat way to incorporate 'clan' = family

14. Entices quivering drop in secret

1.	Surface a bit odd.

15. Family Fortunes is shot behind closed doors, Dennis eclat canned(11)

1.	Pity I S are not adjacent in DESTINIES. I think the additional anagram spoils the clue rather than adding extra credit
2.	Would have been just fine without the last three words
3.	What is thrown out is not IS but I S or IS*; I couldn't understand this clue overall, I'm afraid.
4.	I don't understand the subsidiary part nor the need for it – it ruins what to me was a good clue

16. Family head reveals secret (11)

1.	I couldn't justify destine=head as a transitive verb from Chambers
2.	I don't think to destine means to head, but I may be missing a subtle point.
3.	Pleasingly simple

17. Furtive, confused and silent in church

1.	Sound but a bit obvious

18. Furtive silent dance! (11)

1.	I'm not really sure furtive is a valid anagram indicator. Even if it were, can't be &Lit as 'silent dance' is not part of the definition
2.	Cannot be &lit if word is an adjective and clue requires a noun; I wouldn't consider furtive to be an anagram indicator; For &lit ? not !
3.	“Furtive” surely won’t do as an a.i. And &lit??!

19. Groom seen clad in tux, wanting wife for such a staged marriage

1.	The definition doesn't quite work. Needs 'such a marriage is staged' or similar.
2.	I find the definition a little strained, I'm afraid.

20. "Hidden Estate" is appearing in French movie houses

1.	Just a bit contrived although it works.
2.	Very accomplished s.i., but I can find no reference to a film of that name, which spoils the surface

21. Indecent lass cavorting (but not a hint of sex) in private

1.	Had there been a hint of sex, or some public cavorting, I would have knocked points off.
2.	Nice idea

22. Intend to go after family secret.

1.	Nice and simple.
2.	Sound but obvious

23. Kept secret about incest, admitted one out of denial, upset.

1.	'Kept secret about' (v) does not define clandestine (adj).

24. Neets with clan identity riot under cover of darkness?

1.	identity=ID in fodder is indirect anagram
2.	So NEETs not Neets? Also 'under cover of darkness' adv. / clandestine adj., inaccurate def.

26. Patsy keeps Dante's burning secret

1.	Not sure I agree with 'burning' as an anagram indicator. I suspect Patsy needs a 'for instance' or 'perhaps' to make it fair.

28. Private client excited about extensive range

Neat idea

29. Private dance isn’t kinky without sinister drug

1.	"Without" a clear omission indicator. Even accepting the "outside" version, I think one would need the LE together to justify the clue
2.	L is too indirect an indicator for sinister

30. Private doctor licensed antiserum – dispensing with compound I'm sure!

1.	Sorry; even with the explanation I'm pretty baffled.
2.	Very neat. Bravo!

31. Private family fortune is detailed by earl.

1.	I see no evidence that detail = 'de-tail'
2.	I happen not to like 'detail' meaning to remove the tail, I'm afraid.

32. Private injured Achilles tendon removing large oval bomb!

1.	Would have been much better if the letters to be removed were adjacent
2.	H-bomb is a bomb, H is not.

33. Private, kinky, silent dance (11)

1.	The best of the 'silent dances', though I'm not sure any of these are clever enough to win points from me.

34. Private land entices criminal

1.	I don't really accept "criminal" as anagram indicator
2.	Nice anagram and a good surface, but I think 'land' in anagram would make a more satisfying clue
3.	Admirably economical, but a bit dull

36. Private premiere cancelled for most insipid film around

1.	A good idea that no one else spotted.
2.	Very clever construction and surface reading tells an interesting story

37. Private property? For Proudhon, that is pinching what belongs to me. Monsieur, non!

1.	Nice idea. The cryptic instruction just doesn't seem to run very smoothly.
2.	Good idea, but a bit too complicated in its construction

38. Private property occupies Church Street's fashionable quarter

1.	Not keen on Street's (Church Street adjacent to fashionable quarter, perhaps); can a single street can include a quarter?

39. Private, self-contained field officer missing in action

1.	Pity F O are not adjacent in 'self-contained'
2.	FO is not present, but F O is: has to be 'minus FO*' with additional anagram indicator required for FO.

42. Secret Seven in Lace: Enid Blyton's last novel?

1.	S=7 seems a bit obscure, but a lovely surface.
2.	What a bizarre image!
3.	S for seven without a reference to its being obsolete is weak in my view, but a good & imaginative surface

44. Shady family group planned route to lose tail and get drugs (10)

1.	Nice idea, but shouldn't E be 'drug' not 'drugs'?

46. Sly hints can confuse us initially – with logic circuit solve at last!

1.	Very difficult for the solver, I'm not sure 'confuse' works as a substitution indicator
2.	It took me a while to get the wordplay, which is clever, but I still can't understand the surface reading

48. Two-faced since dental treatment (11)

1.	Nounal anagrind unsound

49. Underground leader leaves Bin Laden sect in disarray.

1.	Excellent anagram idea

50. Underground secure parking suspended, annoying person in nice convertible

1.	Clever construction; surface reading would benefit from "is" before "suspended"

51. Underground travel? Can't in Leeds (10)

1.	The anagram indicator doesn't work gramatically: cf. 'In Leeds, can't travel underground'
2.	Grammar would require e.g. 'Not in Leeds', so a different approach to 'Can't in Leeds' is required.
3.	Interesting, but I don't see "travel" as an anagram indicator
4.	I can’t accept “travel” as an a.i. A pity because this is otherwise very neat

52. Unseen Family Fortunes is out!

1.	Succinct & nice surface, in my view it is a weakness that I & S are not adjacent in 'destinies'