A Puzzle by Synergy
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The puzzle is available by clicking on the above grid.
As usual, the setter will be delighted to receive feedback from you, the solvers. We do ask that you remember that for most setters this is a new experience, so please only offer constructive criticism.
A belated review by Prolixic follows:
Welcome to Synergy. Having a collaborative puzzle with two setters is a good idea but I wonder if some of the more obvious errors in this crossword were a result of the checking and double-checking falling between two stools. The commentometer reads as 8.5/33 or 25.6%. I have not taken the spelling errors in the ccw file into account or the unusual grid. The latter is not one you would normally see but there is nothing inherently wrong with it.
Across
6a Pinch metal, I hear (5)
STEEL: This should have been a homophone of steel to give steal as the solution but something went wrong. They say that the first clue in the crossword should be one of the best to grab the solver’s attention. Whilst this can be overstated, a slip in the first clue is somewhat unfortunate.
8a Investing into ventilation system (9)
INDUCTING: A two-letter word meaning into followed by a seven-letter word for part of a ventilation system.
11a IBM’s predecessors in blockbuster film (3)
HAL: The letters that precede each of I, B and M.
12a Point joins and comes out (7)
EMERGES: One of the cardinal points of the compass followed by a six-letter word meaning joins.
13a Cut tree and chopped up? Not with this instrument! (7)
CURETTE: An anagram (chopped up) of CUT TREE. I would omit the “and” from the clue as it spoils the anagram indicator.
14a Stripes around men of the cloth (7)
PRIESTS: An anagram (around) of STRIPES.
15a Soak the French tower (7)
STEEPLE: A five-letter word meaning soak followed by the French masculine singular for the.
16a In a tizzy when next to yours truly (6,7)
BESIDE ONESELF: Definition and cryptic definition.
21a Melissa wanders around without purpose (7)
AIMLESS: An anagram (wanders around) of MELISSA. Try to avoid repeating wordplay indicators. Around was used in 14a.
23a A trollop loses her head and blows her own? (7)
TRUMPET: A eight-letter word for a trollop without the first letter (loses her head).
25a Carriages carry queen into countryside (7)
TERRAIN: A five-letter word for a group of carriages includes the abbreviation for the late queen. Cryptically the clue resolves to A carry B into C which does not work grammatically. Perhaps Carriages carrying queen… would resolve the issue.
27a That’ll be the postman with your new machine gun! (3-1-3)
RAT-A-TAT: Semi-cryptic double definition of the sound made by both a postman at the door and a machine gun.
29a Father’s ship drifts away causing anger (3)
IRE: A five letter word (in the possessive form) of father’s without the abbreviation for steamship.
30a Tries out about dead transport (9)
REHEARSES: A two-letter word meaning about followed by the name of a funeral car.
31a Reduces weeds on moors (5)
DOCKS: Double definition. I don’t like the “on” as the link between the two parts of the definitions.
Down
1d Live tees broadcast golf? (8)
TELEVISE: An anagram (broadcast) of LIVE TEES. Unfortunately, broadcast is doing double duty as part of the wordplay and part of the definition. This should be avoided.
2d Puts in order after signal went wrong (6)
ALIGNS: An anagram (went wrong) of SIGNAL. Perhaps the present tense would be better for the anagram indicator with “goes wrong” rather than “went wrong”.
3d Obese nurses and older relatives (3,7)
BIG SISTERS: A three-letter word meaning obese followed by a seven-letter word for nurses.
4d Lyrical or partly melodic? (4)
ODIC: The final four-letters (partly) of melodic. With hidden word clues try to avoid the solution starting or ending at a word boundary.
5d Tumblers may be found in it (3,3)
BIG TOP: Cryptic definition.
6d Sounds like Sonny’s partner has assistant to climb Everest? (6)
SHERPA: A homophone of Cher (Sonny’s partner) followed by the abbreviation for personal assistant. Where you are using a regional pronunciation it would be fairer to indicate this. Avoid padding words. Quite a few clues have a noun clued with a partial verbal definition. Does “to climb Everest” work as definition unless you have assistant doing double duty.
7d Scotsman’s headgear is not wild out east (3)
TAM: A four-letter word meaning not wild without (out) the letter E.
9d They tend to charge south not east (7)
CAREERS: The clue does not work. It attempts to define “carers” CAREER (CHARGE) +S (SOUTH) without an E (East). Quite apart from the repetition of east from the previous clue, the solution is not what is defined in the clue.
10d Wow! Unknown eastern man on board delivers mate (6)
GEEZER: A three-letter word meaning wow followed by a letter used in algebra, the abbreviation for eastern and the abbreviation for rook (man on board). To have three uses of East in three clues is beyond excessive.
15d Bird under strain unites with another (4,6)
SONG THRUSH: A five-letter name of a bird under a four-letter word for a strain (in the musical sense). The clue suffers from the solution simply being another type of the definition.
17d Former president has embargo on a flower arrangement (7)
IKEBANA: The first name of President Eisenhower followed by a three-letter word for an embargo and the A from the clue.
18d Impudence by staff placed on face (8)
LIPSTICK: A three-letter word for impudence followed by a five-letter for a staff or rod.
19d Diner puts away starter of splendiferous feast (6)
EASTER: A five-letter word for a diner includes (puts away) the initial letter (starter) of splendiferous.
20d The changing tastes of America? (6)
STATES: An anagram (changing) of TASTES. The “The” in the clue could have been omitted. Some editors will not allow wordplay of definition as the structure of the clue.
22d A stylish prom goes back in and changes (6)
MORPHS: The answer is hidden and reversed (goes back) in the second and third words of the clue. Another hidden word clue where the solution starts at a word boundary. Perhaps (and it would also eliminate the unnecessary A at the start of the clue) “Stylish promenader goes back in and changes” but even then “goes back in” is a somewhat clumsy hidden reversal indicator.
24d Nudity can be messy (6)
UNTIDY: An anagram (can be) of NUDITY.
26d Haven aloft? Those that twitter think so (4)
NEST: Cryptic definition of the home of creatures that twitter.
28d Tarka holds vessel but cannot board on his own (3)
ARK: The answer is hidden (hold) in the first word of the clue. The final six words of the clue are padding and could have been omitted. Whilst they add atmosphere in that animals boarded two-by-two, I don’t think that this justifies so much padding in the clue.
Thanks Synergy! An enjoyable and fairly straightforward solve, held up a bit in the NE corner.
Ticks for 16a, 23a, 27a (hilarious mental image), 18d, 19d. A couple of unfortunate typos on 25a and 2d but nothing that detracted from the puzzle. Rabbit Dave might be tutting about the unindicated Americanism in 10d 😉
Hadn’t heard of 4d or 13a so that held me up a bit but that’s my own fault! I needed a reveal for 9d which I can’t parse so will await the review.
On the whole, good fun and more like this would be welcome 👍
I see what you mean about parsing 9d. The closest I’ve got is to interpret it as a perfectly fine clue … but for a different answer!
If ‘charge south’ = ‘career S’, then removing an E (for east) gives ‘carers’, which fits the definition ‘They tend’. But, obviously, that doesn’t work because it isn’t the word in the grid.
AB. I can see the (obvious) typo in 2d but can’t detect one in 25a?
Seen it now! Wasn’t there when I wrote it.
I believe you, Jsoe 🤣
Thanks Synergy and well done on your first Rookie but I suspect not your first puzzle. A slightly strange grid in the NW and SE and I will be interested to see if Prolixic makes a comment on that. As AgentB said, a couple of unfortunate missed letter typos and the 6d homophone doesn’t quite work for me.
The BRB does not have a single letter ‘S’ as an abbreviation for ship in 29a and I am not sure that the answer for 10d is a synonym for mate.
Smiles for 12a, 15a, 31a, and 15d.
Thanks again and thanks in advance to Prolixic.
6d can have the benefit of the doubt until we know whether or not the setter is from Liverpool 😅
I am but I don’t think Jose is! 😊
Aha! I remember you saying a while back that you had a joint puzzle on the go with someone… I thought the alias may have been you two but didn’t have the guts to stick my neck out 😅 Very enjoyable crossie though, look forward to the next one. And typos do happen, beliiiieeeve me!!
thy do! 😊
S. There’s a typo in 29a, it should be “ship” (SS drifts away).
The typos were not in the submitted puzzle. I think gremlins produced them!
Thank you for your comments, Senf. Very helpful.
Like AgentB I was held up in the NE corner and I’d also agree with him that this is probably not your first crossword. It did seem a bit anagram heavy while I was solving but having done a count, it is no more so than several DT cryptics of recent days.
A couple of bits of parsing took a bit of teasing out and I don’t think the homophone in 6d works. My favourite clue was 11a
Thanks Synergy and, in advance, to Prolixic
Welcome to Rookie Corner, Synergy. There were some good ideas on show here but also a lot of what I felt were “nearly but not quite” clues, as well as a few nonsensical surfaces.
I had scribbles on my page by about half of the clues (including the non-homophone and the two typos mentioned by others). I’ll make a few specific comments now but leave most of the details to Prolixic.
11a – This was very nearly a superb clue but it doesn’t quite work as an all-in-one as the answer is singular. Starting with “one of …” would have fixed this.
1d – Broadcast seems to be doing double duty as the definition and as an anagram indicator; and what part is “golf” playing in this clue?
4d & 22d – In both cases, the lurker is at the end of the fodder rather than within it.
9d – I can’t parse this answer.
10d – This was also very nearly a superb clue, but I can’t find any evidence that “mate” defines the answer.
15d – The “other” bird is a type of the first bird.
My top picks were: 31a (triple definition – nice!), 17d & 19d.
Well done and thank you, Synergy. Thanks too in advance to Prolixic.
RD. 11a. Now I thinking again about this clue. My idea was simply that the letters H, A, L precede I, B, M in the alphabet – how HAL was contrived for the film.
15d. One bird is a generic name for the species, the other is a specific bird in that group. The “another” just means another bird – it doesn’t have to be from a different species.
Jose, you appear to be missing both my points:
11a – HAL is singular and predecessors is plural but perhaps Synergy didn’t intend for this to be an all-in-one clue.
15d – Of course I understand the difference between the generic type and a specific bird. The clue is not wrong but is much less cryptic because of the direct link between the two, which is analogous to “same-sidey” double definitions.
11a. HAL and IBM are both singular “names/acronyms” made up of consecutive letters in the alphabet. “predecessors” is merely indicating that HAL precedes IBM in the alphabet. There’s no sense of “plural” involved. The clue is intended as a cryptic definition.
15d. A fair point, I see what you mean.
11a – again you are missing my point, Jose, which is that the clue would have made an excellent all-in-one clue (where the whole clue is the definition and wordplay) if you preceded it with “one of” which would be needed as the answer is singular. I agree the clue is OK as a cryptic definition, which I accept was your intention.
No probs, RD, I now see what you meant. Forgive me, I get intensely dogmatic and defensive regarding cryptic clues (especially my own). Always been the same with that subject.
:smile:
In defence of my partner, RD, I thought 11a was a great clue given that the computer in “2001 A Space Odyssey” was named by taking the letters before IBM. In other words, the previous letters giving HAL.
However, I do see your point. 👍
RD. 4d was “melodical” not “melodic” when I wrote it – not sure what went wrong there.
Aha! The only way I can make any sense of this comment is if you are none other than Synergy! If so, very well done in sticking your head above the parapet!
Seeing the further comments below, I assume now that you must be half (?) of Synergy joined by Steve Cowling?
You have us bang to rights, RD! 🤣
Two heads are better than one! :-)
But “melodical” is not a real word – at least it’s in neither the BRB nor Collins – so autocorrect may well have changed to “melodic”. :unsure:
It’s in the OED:
https://www.oed.com/dictionary/melodical_adj?tl=true
This is mutual dedication of the highest order – we’re debating the validity of a word that isn’t even in the clue (but should have been). :-)
:smile:
Welcome to Rookie Corner, Synergy and thanks for the fun puzzle.
My confident attempt at 17d (Barrack) turned out to be incorrect and held me up in the SW until I’d sorted it out.
I needed a couple of reveals to complete the NE corner.
My favourite clue was 16a.
Do pay heed to Prolixic’s advice – I look forward to your next puzzle.
Thank you, Gazza. Indeed, we are both looking forward to Prolixic’s sage counsel.
Welcome, Synergy.
As RD says, there were quite a few “nearly but not quite” clues and lurkers that were only partly hidden, also there were several instances of superfluous words (padding) and a number of extremely unconvincing surfaces. 22d was arguably the weakest clue as it combined three of these elements, i.e. a dubious surface with padding words and a non-overlapping lurker! “Around” was repeated as an anagram indicator. Like others, I found the NE corner the most challenging area of the puzzle.
As I invariably recommend to all Rookie Corner debutants, please avoid home-made grids like this one, always try to select one that has appeared previously, preferably from a nationally-published setter. Without the 11a and 29a clues, this one would have been fine. With them, the grid just looks awkward and odd.
Far from the worst of debuts, Synergy, but lots to work on and areas that can be improved. Many thanks.
Thank you, silvanus for your helpful comments. The grid was down to me and I take your point about not using templates. In future, I will probably construct my own and steer well clear of three letters.
Nothing wrong with 3-letter clues in my view, Steve/Jose – they seem frequently to appear in The Times, far less often in the DT backpage, but occasionally in the Toughie. Such short clues can be just as challenging as any long clue, and equally polished.
What I didn’t like about the grid had nothing to do with 3-letter clues, and everything to do with the blocks of lights in the NW and SE – they are one of the reasons I never do that recent innovation by the DT of a transatlantic(?) semi-cryptic puzzle. But apart from those two blocks of 9 spaces, the grid was fine!
Agreed, grid may be slightly unconventional but nothing wrong with it as such. I’m sure there were 3-letter blocks like this in 90’s backpagers. I rather like them, gives a helpful foothold into a puzzle as well.
Some nice ideas and plenty of evidence of imagination, Synergy, so thanks for putting this one out there.
Some solid advice already from earlier posters, particularly Silvanus’ point about the grid. There were a couple where I felt the clue lost the direction in which it was going – 9d has already been mentioned where it is unclear whether ‘carers’ or ‘careers’ was your intent. 6a is another – you have clued ‘steal’ impeccably, but the answer is ‘steel’! 13a is another where you almost have it – ‘Chopped up cut tree …’ would have done the job – but ‘ … and chopped up’ doesn’t work as an anagram instruction.
I look forward to seeing your next and am sure you will have made progress.
PM, now I’m confused. I have written in “steal” for 6a which is surely the right answer not “steel”.
RD. 6a should indeed read STEAL. The original answer was STEEL, but the clue was re-written and the answer wasn’t altered.
Yes, RD, like you I confidently wrote in ‘steal’ but it came up as incorrect at the end of the grid. The solution in the grid is ‘steel’ unfortunately.
Me too. Must be a typo in the grid this time? Well spotted PM.
Thank you, PostMark. I could kick myself now about 6a. It would have been simple to have changed the second “e” to an “a”. I suppose I couldn’t see the wood for the trees.
I accept full responsibility for 6a! 😳
PM, 13a. I agree that your alternative suggestion is somewhat better. But would add:
The surface. Cut tree (down) and chopped up (into logs/stcks).
Word-play. Cut tree (the fodder) and chopped (the letters) up.
In that situation, I don’t think “chopped up” or “and chopped up” is such an unreasonable way of positioning/presenting the anagram indicator. Is it?
Thank you Synergy. Like others we had to reveal in NE corner and we didn’t know the word in 4d or the instrument in 13a. Nevertheless we enjoyed solving the puzzle and our favourite was 16a. More please and thanks in advance to Prolixic.
Welcome to the Corner, Synergy. I suspect that you have some good ideas which sadly didn’t quite come to fruition in many instances and you do need to pay a lot more attention to creating sensible surface reads and checking your finished work for typos. Clues that worked best for me were 15,16&31a plus 17&19d.
Please take careful note of the various comments from our experts and the full review from Prolixic and I hope we see your next compilation ‘ere long.
Thank you, Jane. To be honest, the typos weren’t there when the puzzle was submitted. At least, I’m pretty sure they weren’t. However, we will be taking careful note of all the helpful comments and especially those of Prolixic.
A fine effort gents. I applaud you.
And thank you to the solvers, including Sir Smooth himself, for their invaluable input.
You two and AgentB compiling crosswords is so exciting for all concerned: those at the House of Lancaster and the solvers on the receiving end.
I have so much respect for compilers.
As the yoof of today would say……props to you, ‘Sinner Gee’ (Day Zee Gee’s naughty younger brother)
Proud to be Day Zee Gee’s naughty brother! 🤣
Thank you Synergy/SC – though I was confused on reading the comments and at first thought this came courtesy of Jose. Warm congratulations on compiling a complete grid, and all credit to you ( both?) for putting your head(s) above the parapet. There are many armchair critics like me who have not taken that huge step.
Many comments already made – the grid put me off as soon as I saw it, there were quite a lot of typos in the clues and strange surfaces, with rather a lot of padding, but lots of good ideas and, with the exception of a few in the NE corner, I found it all eminently achievable. A few didn’t really work for me, most noticeably 27a & 6d. On the other hand, some lovely clues – 11a was very clever despite the singular/plural issue, while 15a, 21a (my wife would sniff at that clue …) and 5d made it to my podium.
A really interesting effort and I do look forward to having a go at your next puzzle.
Thank you (both?), and thanks in advance to Prolixic.
We chose the joint pseudonym because Synergy = alliance, symbiosis, etc.
Well, it was better than Jostev!
Thank you, Mustafa. Your comment about the grid is pertinent. As Silvanus commented it was a poor grid. His excellent comments show why it is. As I produced the grid that is down to me, I have taken on board both yours and his comments.
BD’s policy is to publish RC puzzles exactly as received. Synergy first sent me the puzzle as a PDF file. Since that would require manual work to get it into the formats we publish, I asked if they could send it to me as a Crossword Compiler file. The CC file had typos in 25a, 29a, and 2d, but I now see that the PDF version did not (the solution to 6a is the same in both formats). Since the PDF version was the original submission and the CC file was generated at my request and I should have checked the two versions against each other, the setters shouldn’t be dinged for those typos. I have fixed the published versions so they agree with the original PDF submission. My apologies to Synergy.
Asian-sounding flower found not to be a bloomer! (4) 😅
Not a problem, Mr. K. We are grateful for your help. Anyway, I was fully prepared to take responsibility for the typos and put it down to my not being familiar with Compiler.
A big thank you for all the comments and advice. And, of course, to Mr K and in advance to Prolixic.
I’ve only just got round to this. Great double act, guys. It was, indeed, a brave grid! But it was really good fun. I’m assuming 13a’s debriding tool was one of Steve’s? Marvellous. I thought 16a was especially strong. Ta lots. Bravo.
I have used a 13a many times, ALP. Many times!
Thank you, everyone for your helpful comments. Thank you Mr. K and we await Prolixic’s verdict.
Steve – haven’t looked at the puzzle but will do tomorrow & look forward to it.
Hope you enjoy it, Huntsman. Ignore the typos – these occurred because of a combination of my not being fully au fait with Crossword Compiler and Mr. K accepting the submission at face value.
No one is to blame. It’s part of the learning curve.
The typos annoyed me a little because I’m spending my working day pointing them out in the post grad essays I’m marking.
Anyway, Synergy hopes you enjoy it and looks forward to your thoughts. 😀
I’ve actually just completed it. Breezed through three quarters of it then had to put my thinking cap on the NE & will admit to a couple of letter reveals as lights out beckon as it’s the blog in the morning. Have just read the analysis from those who know what they’re talking about. Enjoyed the solve & well done the pair of you for producing. Look forward to your next. 16a was my favourite
Thank you for your input, Huntsman. It’s appreciated. 👍
Thank you for your review, Prolixic. Excellent advice as expected and all has been taken on board. I note that “padding” is superfluous and I must admit I did use too much. Your comment about the first clue grabbing attention is noted and I will bear it in mind. The slip is entirely my fault.
Thank you again, for your valuable input.
Many thanks for the review, Prolixic. Plenty for our duo to consider before setting their next one.
The feedback from everyone has been most constructive, Jane and I have taken it all on board.
Speaking for myself, I never thought I would have a puzzle in Rookie Corner. It’s down to this fantastic blog and all the encouragement it gives that has made it possible.
Well done, Steve and Jose, for submitting this puzzle. It may not have been perfect, but it was enjoyable to solve.
17d was my favourite.
I’m afraid I couldn’t work out 9d.
Big thanks to Prolixic for an excellent review. Plenty for you to think about, Synergy. It’s great to read you have ‘taken it all on board’. I look forward to seeing you back here again. Hopefully the gremlins won’t have got at the spellings!