The Crossword Centre Clue-Writing Competition

CCCWC September competition voters’ comments
 
Clue no. 6: Canny Scots band isn't about to cut 'Flower of Scotland'

Back to competition result  |   All the comments  |   Other competitions

A clue to CLANDESTINE.
6 comments refer to this clue (from 4 competitors, 0 others)
Move your mouse pointer over any bold clue number to see the clue.

Here is the text

Comments on the clue
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)
 
Comments on the competition
1.
I thought that there were a lot of good clues this month with 6 and 8leading the pack.
2.
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.