Comments on: DT 26006 http://bigdave44.com/2009/08/13/dt-26006/ Putting the words to lights – crossword clues explained in plain English Mon, 21 May 2012 15:39:20 +0100 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: gazza http://bigdave44.com/2009/08/13/dt-26006/#comment-19197 gazza Fri, 14 Aug 2009 13:02:06 +0000 http://bigdave44.com/?p=5469#comment-19197 I like that one - excellent. I like that one – excellent.

]]> By: Big Dave http://bigdave44.com/2009/08/13/dt-26006/#comment-19196 Big Dave Fri, 14 Aug 2009 12:54:15 +0000 http://bigdave44.com/?p=5469#comment-19196 One clue does not a puzzle make - but I have seen a lot worse! One clue does not a puzzle make – but I have seen a lot worse!

]]> By: Joel http://bigdave44.com/2009/08/13/dt-26006/#comment-19195 Joel Fri, 14 Aug 2009 12:50:56 +0000 http://bigdave44.com/?p=5469#comment-19195 OK. I've got it now, but I also understand how hard these must be to do. Is mine worthy of the DT do you think? OK. I’ve got it now, but I also understand how hard these must be to do.

Is mine worthy of the DT do you think?

]]> By: Big Dave http://bigdave44.com/2009/08/13/dt-26006/#comment-19194 Big Dave Fri, 14 Aug 2009 12:47:26 +0000 http://bigdave44.com/?p=5469#comment-19194 Yes - this one lent itself to a speedy reply, I had to think about the other one! Yes – this one lent itself to a speedy reply, I had to think about the other one!

]]> By: Big Dave http://bigdave44.com/2009/08/13/dt-26006/#comment-19193 Big Dave Fri, 14 Aug 2009 12:46:04 +0000 http://bigdave44.com/?p=5469#comment-19193 Could be a description of our Gazza! That's much better. Could be a description of our Gazza!

That’s much better.

]]> By: Joel http://bigdave44.com/2009/08/13/dt-26006/#comment-19192 Joel Fri, 14 Aug 2009 12:44:27 +0000 http://bigdave44.com/?p=5469#comment-19192 Did you see my previous post offering a second attempt? Did you see my previous post offering a second attempt?

]]> By: Big Dave http://bigdave44.com/2009/08/13/dt-26006/#comment-19191 Big Dave Fri, 14 Aug 2009 12:43:28 +0000 http://bigdave44.com/?p=5469#comment-19191 Dissociative identity disorder? Your Avatar is derived from your email address! Dissociative identity disorder?

Your Avatar is derived from your email address!

]]> By: Joel http://bigdave44.com/2009/08/13/dt-26006/#comment-19190 Joel Fri, 14 Aug 2009 12:40:05 +0000 http://bigdave44.com/?p=5469#comment-19190 By the way I am both Joel and MR B! By the way I am both Joel and MR B!

]]> By: Joel http://bigdave44.com/2009/08/13/dt-26006/#comment-19189 Joel Fri, 14 Aug 2009 12:39:27 +0000 http://bigdave44.com/?p=5469#comment-19189 OK I'm going to have another go He's mean, indecent, terrible! (6,3,6) OK I’m going to have another go

He’s mean, indecent, terrible! (6,3,6)

]]> By: Big Dave http://bigdave44.com/2009/08/13/dt-26006/#comment-19188 Big Dave Fri, 14 Aug 2009 12:25:14 +0000 http://bigdave44.com/?p=5469#comment-19188 Joel As Gazza has indicated, this class of clue is difficult to achieve. My test, as described in my Crossword Guide, is as follows: "The best way to check whether a clue qualifies is to cross out all of the elements of the wordplay. If nothing is left, then reread the clue to see if all of it defines the answer. Some clues fail this latter test, but that doesn’t mean they are not good clues." If you run your clue against the test you will see, as Gazza has pointed out, that the whole clue does not define tthe answer, We come across quite a few like this. Some examples, from Wikipedia, of all-in-one, or &lit, clues: God incarnate, essentially! (4) (ODIN) Spoil vote! (4) (VETO) e.g. Origin of goose (3) (EGG) Although they seem to fit the requirements, I personally don't like all of them. Joel

As Gazza has indicated, this class of clue is difficult to achieve. My test, as described in my Crossword Guide, is as follows:

“The best way to check whether a clue qualifies is to cross out all of the elements of the wordplay. If nothing is left, then reread the clue to see if all of it defines the answer. Some clues fail this latter test, but that doesn’t mean they are not good clues.”

If you run your clue against the test you will see, as Gazza has pointed out, that the whole clue does not define tthe answer, We come across quite a few like this.

Some examples, from Wikipedia, of all-in-one, or &lit, clues:

God incarnate, essentially! (4) (ODIN)

Spoil vote! (4) (VETO)

e.g. Origin of goose (3) (EGG)

Although they seem to fit the requirements, I personally don’t like all of them.

]]> By: Joel http://bigdave44.com/2009/08/13/dt-26006/#comment-19187 Joel Fri, 14 Aug 2009 12:08:21 +0000 http://bigdave44.com/?p=5469#comment-19187 Gazza mate - surely the point is that the anagram indicator is also the answer? Doesn't that make it all in one? Gazza mate – surely the point is that the anagram indicator is also the answer? Doesn’t that make it all in one?

]]> By: gazza http://bigdave44.com/2009/08/13/dt-26006/#comment-19186 gazza Fri, 14 Aug 2009 06:34:52 +0000 http://bigdave44.com/?p=5469#comment-19186 <b>Mr B</b> It's a nice anagram, and it satisfies the condition of the whole of the clue being the wordplay, but it's not really an all-in-one because the clue is not really the definition of the answer, i.e. 'enigma' does not relate to a problem with a piece of jewellery. All-in-ones are terribly difficult to write, which is why you see so few good ones, and why you'll often see phrases like "an attempt at at all-in-one" and "a partial all-in-one" in our reviews. Good luck! Mr B
It’s a nice anagram, and it satisfies the condition of the whole of the clue being the wordplay, but it’s not really an all-in-one because the clue is not really the definition of the answer, i.e. ‘enigma’ does not relate to a problem with a piece of jewellery.
All-in-ones are terribly difficult to write, which is why you see so few good ones, and why you’ll often see phrases like “an attempt at at all-in-one” and “a partial all-in-one” in our reviews.
Good luck!

]]> By: gazza http://bigdave44.com/2009/08/13/dt-26006/#comment-19185 gazza Fri, 14 Aug 2009 06:25:12 +0000 http://bigdave44.com/?p=5469#comment-19185 <b>Rufus</b> Well done. We certainly had a bumper crop of 'first time solos' on this puzzle! Rufus
Well done. We certainly had a bumper crop of ‘first time solos’ on this puzzle!

]]> By: Rufus http://bigdave44.com/2009/08/13/dt-26006/#comment-19184 Rufus Thu, 13 Aug 2009 21:57:53 +0000 http://bigdave44.com/?p=5469#comment-19184 Yet another newbie - also my first solo success. Great blog, you appear to be encouraging many of us novices! Yet another newbie – also my first solo success. Great blog, you appear to be encouraging many of us novices!

]]> By: Mr B http://bigdave44.com/2009/08/13/dt-26006/#comment-19183 Mr B Thu, 13 Aug 2009 21:15:46 +0000 http://bigdave44.com/?p=5469#comment-19183 Problem in a gem (6) Problem in a gem (6)

]]> By: gazza http://bigdave44.com/2009/08/13/dt-26006/#comment-19182 gazza Thu, 13 Aug 2009 19:50:34 +0000 http://bigdave44.com/?p=5469#comment-19182 .. Dave and I were not colluding on those replies (honest). Why not give us an example of one of your all-in-one clues? .. Dave and I were not colluding on those replies (honest).
Why not give us an example of one of your all-in-one clues?

]]> By: Big Dave http://bigdave44.com/2009/08/13/dt-26006/#comment-19181 Big Dave Thu, 13 Aug 2009 19:49:42 +0000 http://bigdave44.com/?p=5469#comment-19181 You get your replies in stereo now! You get your replies in stereo now!

]]> By: gazza http://bigdave44.com/2009/08/13/dt-26006/#comment-19180 gazza Thu, 13 Aug 2009 19:47:22 +0000 http://bigdave44.com/?p=5469#comment-19180 <b>Mr B</b> <i>Chambers</i> gives one of the meanings of the transitive verb to shed as: to cast; throw (e.g. light), and it also gives one of the meanings of the transitive verb to cast as: to shed or moult (hair, etc.) So, I think we're covered on that one, but I take your point generally, and I'll try to be more careful in future. Mr B
Chambers gives one of the meanings of the transitive verb to shed as: to cast; throw (e.g. light), and it also gives one of the meanings of the transitive verb to cast as: to shed or moult (hair, etc.)
So, I think we’re covered on that one, but I take your point generally, and I’ll try to be more careful in future.

]]> By: Big Dave http://bigdave44.com/2009/08/13/dt-26006/#comment-19179 Big Dave Thu, 13 Aug 2009 19:44:11 +0000 http://bigdave44.com/?p=5469#comment-19179 <b>Mr B</b> <i>Chambers</i> gives "(of animals) to shed or moult (hair, etc)" as a definition of cast as a verb, but not in cast off as a phrasal verb. I do, however, take your point that we may have allowed this in other contexts and will look out for it in future. Mr B

Chambers gives “(of animals) to shed or moult (hair, etc)” as a definition of cast as a verb, but not in cast off as a phrasal verb.

I do, however, take your point that we may have allowed this in other contexts and will look out for it in future.

]]> By: Mr B http://bigdave44.com/2009/08/13/dt-26006/#comment-19178 Mr B Thu, 13 Aug 2009 19:35:04 +0000 http://bigdave44.com/?p=5469#comment-19178 I loved today's, nice easy one, just the ticket for my business trip up north. Can I ask a question to the experts....? I'm not sure I'm happy with 19a. I don't think you can use the word cast to mean shed, I think it needs a preposition, like off, or away, or down. I've often noticed in your clue assistance that you've (not just you Gazza, but Dave and Tilsit as well) ignored these phrasal verb constructions and just accepted them. Any thoughts? By the way - I'm really falling in love with the all-in-one clues! I've even tried to write a few. They're really beautiful when they're done well. I loved today’s, nice easy one, just the ticket for my business trip up north. Can I ask a question to the experts….?

I’m not sure I’m happy with 19a. I don’t think you can use the word cast to mean shed, I think it needs a preposition, like off, or away, or down. I’ve often noticed in your clue assistance that you’ve (not just you Gazza, but Dave and Tilsit as well) ignored these phrasal verb constructions and just accepted them. Any thoughts?

By the way – I’m really falling in love with the all-in-one clues! I’ve even tried to write a few. They’re really beautiful when they’re done well.

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