My wife and I celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary yesterday. As a result, I’m giving myself a week off, but I thought I’d give fans a chance to get their hands dirty and write a few clues. I know most of you aren’t interested, but give it a go anyway. Even if you don’t end up posting a clue, I would like you to go through the process of trying to devise a clue.
I used to give my community college students the task of writing just one clue to open a window into my world. There’s no doubt they had a different appreciation of the art of clue-writing after trying to write their own.
Here are three words:
SEPARATE
RESTRAIN
AEROPLANE
Submit clues here for one or more of these words, and feel free to comment on what’s posted but remember this isn’t easy, so be constructive and nice.
You’ll need:
A definition
Wordplay
Nothing else
Best of luck.
The Stickler Weekly will return next week along with last week’s solution.
David
The Stickler
Restrain…A stoppage in the weather.
I would suggest a ? at the end. Otherwise I would be looking to put the stoppage inside rain.
Anyone else interested – I’m going with No 50 of September 8, 2014.
I’m with you, but can’t start until late tonight or tomorrow. Busy teaching again.
Got stuck on 9d Wendy & Ian B
Suspect you will be surprised by increase in Degree of Difficulty
over the years.
We are keeping up which is ***All Good***
Actually I’m finding #50 pretty difficult Richard! Haven’t spent as much time on it as usual though. Haven’t got 9d yet.
Richard, #50, 9d – Arrived at an answer from the wordplay, but I had to ask google to confirm it matched the definition.
Thought 24a was cute.
As always Ian, loved the Alphabet Soups (10a & 27a)
Others of note 12a (also cute), 18a, 24a (for sure)
3d (well – Aaah! memories of the poor ball-boy at US Open the other day who copped a full force Venus Williams serve – courageous lad, just grinned & bore it) – 5d & 17d.
Yes, 9d was a word I didn’t know. If I did it before, I clearly haven’t remembered it, or used it in my everyday vocab!
Nor I Wendy – did not recall – At All.
And, yes, the degree of difficulty has definitely increased, which is great-makes me work harder.
Sounds good.
Not so sure I will be demonstrating my cluing inadequacies for all to see.
Happy anniversary David and Linda
Restrain Arrest in disarray. (if I’m allowed to use part of the anagram as the definition) otherwise Hold back arrest in disarray.
Separate Diced pears consumed apart.
Aeroplane The Wright brothers invented a lone pear.
I like the diced pears one. Very concise.
+1 for the diced pears.
another vote for dices pears
Restrain I like the anagram but agree with the double up use of “in” being outside the paramaters.
I don’t see an indicator for the anagram in aeroplane. If it is invented it is really part of the. Perhaps a lone pear created by the Wright brothers invention. The Wright brothers makes it a little to obvious for me.
It is easy to criticise so here is my contribution to aeroplane
Without question a role play left out with direction may fly.
This includes a ploy I am not totally comfortable with, so I will be interested to hear responses.
Arthur – so “without question” means remove the “Y” (sounds like “why?”). It probably needs a “sounds like” indicator to be fair to the solver.
I was also tempted to use a device like DIRECTION = NE, but I was unsure whether it was Stickler-worthy. David?
Agree that there is no indicator. Good learning point here.
Asking without question might work? Also not sure about the “left out” of role play because I had already used role play in the “without question”.
Happy anniversary David and Linda! Ruth has offered the garden to come and shoot some ’30 years on’ wedding photos in the same spot : )
Thanks for this week’s challenge. Here’s an attempt from me…
Aeroplane: A roman emperor exiled new leader with ordinary sounding overseas travel option.
Like
Yes I like this too.
Restrain:
Stress again? Put your feet up beside water falls.
Good alternate dean of restrain. Tricky!
Separate: Mixed vegetables deserve to be unmixed
Separate:
Rip, spear and eat to pull apart.
Pull apart, rip, spear then eat.
Aeroplane: Cupid’s weapon, unadorned, sounds like it should fly a great distance
Arrow, aero – does not sound quite right to me. I do like the concept though.
Restrain…….Check about stress
Separate…….Tricky tease holding golf score is detached
Like both
Really like the stress one.
Aeroplane: Jumbo rope got tangled in a pathway.
These are great! I think we need a ‘like’ button.
Happy anniversary David & Linda. Party hard. ?????
Det…ach? (8)
Sleep and shower in jail (8)
Flyer about Opel Arena (9)
Restrain =
Uncoordinated trainers hold back progress.
Like
Actually, this one is possibly my favourite.
Now I know I won’t be demonstrating my cluing inadequacies.
Red hot competition here………
Section of duodenal pore ate up flyer
Nice one Greg, I have one for Restrain,
Part of Afghani art series came back to check.
And while we’re on a roll,
Distinct from a close par at eight.
Like
Single chair holding Norm (head of Exxon)
Simple clue. I had to work to understand the parsing – overlooked the bracketed section, which had to be there for a reason.
* Control unruly rats bound by strap
* A tangled rope presented by citizens of LA negates fighter, say
Hold back bewildered tears, appearing in band after losing $1000
Australian jelly is ordinary, I hear, after bubbly chocolate bar
People mover decapitated hero in a parking lane
Aeroplane.
An opera Lena composed enables travel at height (9)
Part time in chaotic area after September
Control research process
* Withdraw drug after apes back traitor
* Run rates agitated Ian (without a tie)
* Australian jelly fighter, for instance
I like separate, but feel the order is incorrect. As I read it, the drug follows apes back which leaves the traitor at the end. It can be read drug after “apes back traitor”, so for me the jury is out.
For restrain, I have “un” left over unless we take the initial for “run” which is a legitimate ploy.
Like so many Australians, I like aeroplane jelly.
A minor refinement to my second clue above:
Run rates agitated Ian (not wearing a tie)
David, please give us plenty of notice before the next clue-writing challenge – so I can take a day or two off work. I’ve found it very distracting over the past couple of days (as you can probably tell).
Like!
I’ve been distracted as well but in a good way. I’m fascinated by what people have come up with.
And David thought we weren’t interested.
for Separate: isolated as peer at party
I like this one. To the point with all three elements.
+1
I left this as part of a reply to an early clue, but the blog has flowed on a long way.
I have not had time to check out all the responses, so I will be back later.
It is easy to criticise so here is my contribution to aeroplane
Without question a role play left out with direction may fly.
I am loving the variety and ingenuity of most of these clues. They just get better as people like Greg and Ian get more ideas. I look forward to seeing David’s comments.
Now my contribution for restrain
Set out in luxury car with storm, starting late to curb enthusiasm.
Not certain about the comma though, perhaps it should not be there.
…and perhaps David could let us know if any of the clues are Stickler-worthy?
I really like that clue, Arthur. It’s very clever, and tells a story. IMHO the comma works. Would ‘before’ in place of ‘with’ go better with the story? I am quite a novice at this.
Separate
See! A part of the problem only will disunite?
Hi All,
I’m able to see all the great clues and fantastic response, but I’m a little limited in being able to contribute actively. I’ll let you know why next week. Keep up the good work.
Stickler
Sounds like an opportunity for a good blog once all the suggestions are in.
* Individual mushy peas placed in front of messy eater lacking energy
* Rule established before appearance of Egyptian god in bridle
* Ate gutted caviar, for instance, holding blueprint for transport option
I need to stop NOW. This is taking up way too much of my time.
I love this aeroplane and the peas are tastyu, but I need to work on the Egyptian bridle.
Separate
This month heard talk on getting divorced
Hold bridle
Craft flying near a pole
For me, the homonym is a bit off arate orate
I like the double definition.
Not sure about the indicator in the aeroplane. Is the plane a craft which gives flying as the indicator? Or is there the craft flying the plane.
Aeroplane
Perhaps Traviata by the way is uplifting
I think this would be better as
Perhaps La Traviata for instance by the way is uplifting.
The Opera deserves its full title and although it is an opera Itis not the only one, so it needs eg or similar.
I am amazed at all the options for just 3 definitions. David has to provide around 30 each time he sets a puzzle, and he is a stickler for accuracy. Imagine being his proofreader!
Looks like we’re all clued out.
Congratulations re wedding anniversary – hope you enjoyed your week off.
AEROPLANE
Jumbo ate damaged orange preparing for shortened test.
(test = NAPLAN)
I now have a much better appreciation of the work you put into The Stickler!
RGDS
DQ
I’ve just written a preliminary response on the main blog:
http://www.australiancrosswords.com.au/WPblog/the-stickler-weekly-clue-writing-challenge-1-response/