June 14 2011
Duplicity
For your last chance to snag a game of Which – with a possible three decks up for grabs – we turn to a Storm that embodies ambiguity, which seems only fitting. In fact fitting too is also part of the challenge, where you must fill the mini-grid seen here with six interlocking words.
The essence of this week’s Storm is to create two sets of solutions, using the same mini-grid. Crucially the two solutions, both with three Across answers, and three Downs, will each rely on the ONE set of Quick Clues. Here’s one I prepared earlier. First the clues, and then the two sets of answers:
ACROSS
1 Integral part of Les Mis
4 Title character of Shakespeare
5 Crash
DOWN
1 Fly-by-nighters?
2 Dance
3 Something seen at water’s edge
SOLUTION A:
SOLUTION B:
At first glance, this may seem rocket science – it’s not. Best way to have a crack is to play with the 5x5 grid, and see if you can interlace six adaptable words. Then make another, and mould your clues to accommodate both results. When done, submit your entry this way:
1 Integral part of Les Mis (PARIS/MUSIC) 2 Title character of Shakespeare (ROMEO/TIMON) etc
Even if you fudge one entry, your dual dabble could be enough to grab glory, and a prize. Yes, it’s an odd Storm, but thought it time to reward any Stormer with the knack for a crosswording fundamental: the fit, with a dash of duplicity. Dead/line late/Thur, good/luck.
STOP PRESS: If the interlock challenge is too tough, then you can claim a prize with an ambiguous cryptic clue. Just invent a clue, with wordplay of course, where two solutions are possible. For example: Walk in the park to get fresh air = PICNIC, STROLL or BREEZE?
Comments
DC — 14 June at 03:32PM
How's this for a go:
1a. Satanic creature (DEVIL/DEMON)
4a. Sees the future? (TAROT/AUGUR)
5a. Actor suffered meltdown (SHEEN/HECHE)
1d. Obsolescence (DATES/DEATH)
2d. Words to move you (VERSE/MAGIC)
3d. Old language (LATIN/NORSE)
DA — 14 June at 03:42PM
Excellent, DC, with only 1d a tad off the boil, as duplicitous goes. All the rest have very strong claims. Great grid.
DC — 14 June at 04:05PM
Maybe I should go for something like this instead:
1d. Obsession of the single Goth
I shall consider.
SK — 14 June at 04:41PM
Holy moly DA...may need some thinking music for this one!
But a quick bid for the ambiguous challenge, from a recent real-life experience. Clue for an 8 letter word (where I had the fifth letter only as "S"), the clue was (roughly) as follows-
Unmarried female spider in action? (SPINSTER/HUNTSMAN)
DA — 14 June at 04:47PM
That's the spirit, SK - real-life examples of ambiguous clues, or coined examples, will both be in the running for a Which prize.
While the best ambiguous interlock, as DC as posted, will be attract the judge's appraisal first. May the most duplicitous prevail.
dg — 14 June at 06:02PM
paris
e_u_t
romeo
p_b_r
stack
Hmm so the grid's like above rather than the grid you have above? Now it's making sense.
DA — 14 June at 06:05PM
My problem, dg, was trying to create that very picture, with the four black inward squares, so creating a cross.
I can make that on a page, but I failed to install the image onto the blog post. Any suggestions, people?
It does beleaguer a tough-enough Storm, as it stands. However, I do know I have a bunch of savvy regulars to figure it out.
SK — 14 June at 07:10PM
1a. Sound (NOISE/RIGHT)
4a. Adjust (SCALE/SHIFT)
5a. Fully sick (SEEDY/SWELL)
1d. Settles (NESTS/RESTS)
2d. Appearance (IMAGE/GUISE)
3d. All (EVERY/TOTAL)
These ain't easy....
Mr X — 14 June at 07:29PM
Here we go:
ACROSS
1 Caledonian writer (SCOTT/BURNS)
3 Former obsession of teenagers (ATARI/ALBUM)
5 African country (EGYPT/KENYA)
DOWN
1 Harry Potter character (SNAPE/BLACK)
3 Egg producer (OVARY/ROBIN)
5 Dance (TWIST/SAMBA)
DA — 14 June at 07:31PM
Dear Mr X - my apologies. I hit the wrong tab when sorting through the spam filter, and accidentally deleted your entry. Could you please re-submit. Lo siento.
And gracias to DC, the man to supply the Screenshot version of the chequered grid. Suddenly my meanderings should seem a lot clearer. Appreciate your co-curating, DC.
Here's an ambiguous clue from a recent Times:
Run, having said this (3)
You could make a fair debate for either BYE, or SIC.
DA — 14 June at 07:32PM
Oh look, X - it lobbed. Phew.
RK — 14 June at 08:57PM
Much harder than I thought it would be.
1ac. Vehicles (JEEPS/AUTOS)
4ac. Seen leaving the chimney? (SMOKE/SANTA)
5ac. From an underclass (NEEDY/PROLE)
1dn. A fabled Greek? (JASON/AESOP)
2dn. What lovers do when swept away? (ELOPE/TANGO)
3dn. Past its prime (SEEDY/STALE)
DA — 14 June at 08:59PM
You say that, RK, and then you create a marvel. Fine duality all round.
RK — 14 June at 09:07PM
Thanks DA, that's very sweet. But I think I can do better.
SK — 14 June at 11:33PM
One with an intermittent theme, signaled by 1ac...
1a. Golfer (TIGER/WOODS)
4a. Stuff (ABORT/THEME)
5a. Can't stand the sight of these (PESTS/HATED)
1d. Evil woman (TRAMP/WITCH)
2d. Blatant (GROSS/OVERT)
3d. Ranks (RATES/STEAD)
LR — 15 June at 12:26AM
Fun, fun, fun, fun! Five-across worries me though...
1a. Trips (FALLS/TREKS)
4a. Blueblood (NOBLE/ROYAL)
5a. Went out for beverages? (DRANK/DATED)
1d. Taxed (FINED/TIRED)
2d. African hotspot (LYBIA/EGYPT)
3d. Common restaurant order (STEAK/SALAD)
SK — 15 June at 09:41AM
A tidy up of my last post....4a was too dodgy by half.
1a. Celebrated golfer (TIGER/WOODS)
4a. Reference to subject matter (ABOUT/THEME)
5a. They are disliked (PESTS/HATED)
1d. Wicked woman (TRAMP/WITCH)
2d. Blatant (GROSS/OVERT)
3d. Ranks (RATES/STEAD)
JD — 15 June at 10:28AM
Finally managed to put something together:
1A - Lack of colour (BLACK/WHITE)
4A - Source of deadly outbreak (EBOLA/GULAG)
5A - Explosive (DELTA/NITRE)
1D - Type of cart (BREAD/WAGON)
3D - Small oceanic feature(ISLET/ATOLL)
4D - Creature in a tree (KOALA/EAGLE)
Now to think about some switchonyms. Oh, and also to do some work.
RK — 15 June at 12:27PM
Here's another attempt:
1ac. Might bring luck (CHARM/SEVEN)
4ac. Chef's essential (APRON/FLOUR)
5ac. Found in a galley (ROWER/SLAVE)
1dn. For sitting on (CHAIR/SOFAS)
2dn. Used with a bow (ARROW/VIOLA)
3dn. Shift worker (MINER/NURSE)
SK — 15 June at 12:31PM
Couldn't let the 5/5 combo of our fearless leader go untouched...
1a. Crossword compiler (DAVID/ASTLE)
4a. Take place (ENSUE/ARISE)
5a. Pests (DRAGS/MITES)
1d. Fear (DREAD/ALARM)
2d. Aspect (VISTA/TWIST)
3d. What's left after all the wine has been poured? (DREGS/EWERS)
DC — 15 June at 03:15PM
These aren't all pretty, given that the words weren't designed with this in mind, but how about:
Succubus veiled, about drug free (5)
Words that move seer, a Roman figure (5)
Actor's disturbed snicker: bound/snatch extreme pair (5)
Respectively
DEVIL (ana of veiled - E)
DEMON (NO MED backwards)
VERSE (ana of SEER/V)
MAGIC (MAGI + C)
SHEEN (HEE in SN)
HECHE (CH in HEE)
DC — 15 June at 04:25PM
And similarly:
Saddled after changing primary language (5)
LATIN (SAT IN change first letter)
NORSE (HORSE ditto)
Diviner sounds transcendent alarm, backs colourful covering (5)
TAROT (sounds like AWE backwards in TATT)
AUGUR (sounds like AWE + RUG backwards)
Boniface — 15 June at 04:29PM
1A Neuters (FIXES/SPAYS)
4A Formed a border (LINED/EDGED)
5A Yearns(HANGS/LONGS)
1D Pinch (FILCH/STEAL)
2D Noble gas (XENON/ARGON)
3D Dinner accompaniments (SODAS/SIDES)
DC — 15 June at 04:57PM
A neater one for SHEEN/HECHE:
This actor changes gender, bearing revolutionary (5)
DC — 15 June at 05:22PM
And for the set:
Tomb marking (DEATH/DATES)
LR — 15 June at 05:29PM
Very tidy work Boniface.
DC — 15 June at 07:10PM
I keep wanting to fiddle, but for the sake of sanity, here's my final answer. A duplicitous crossword with cryptic clues each way.
Across
1. Succubus veiled about drug-free (DEVIL/DEMON)
4. Diviner sounds transcendent alarm, backs colourful covering (TAROT/AUGUR)
5. Troubled actor changes gender, bearing revolutionary (SHEEN/HECHE)
Down
1. Passes tomb marking (DATES/DEATH)
2. Words that move seer, a Roman figure (VERSE/MAGIC)
3. Saddled after changing primary language (LATIN/NORSE)
Boniface — 15 June at 08:05PM
@LR Cheers! Hoped someone would pick up on the X-play.
Nib — 15 June at 09:07PM
Blimey, some crackers here. Thinking cap ON.
Nib — 15 June at 10:38PM
Well, not half bad... not half good...
[Across]
1. Can of (HEINZ / WORMS)
4. Take on an obstacle (CLIMB / DELVE)
5. African nation (KENYA / EGYPT)
[Down]
1. Diacritical mark (HACEK / WEDGE)
2. Rebury (INURN / RELAY)
3. Followed by a lion (ZEBRA / SCENT)
Boniface — 16 June at 01:23AM
1A Cords (ROPES/LACES)
4A Muslim ascetic (FAQIR/SWAMI)
5A Superstar of the 70s and 80s (EVERT/REEVE)
1D Light weapon (RIFLE/LASER)
2D Rub the wrong way (PIQUE/CHAFE)
3D Physical support (STRUT/SPINE)
JD — 16 June at 12:41PM
Here's my no.2, which is attempted brilliance, coupled with some desperate straw clutching:
1 & 5 A: Aussie icon died doing what he loved best. (Peter Brock / Steve Irwin)
4A: Protective wear (Apron / Sabot)
1D: "There's no tempura left, we'll have to resort to...(Plan B / Sushi)"
2D: Body part (Torso/ Elbow)
3D: Reasonably satisfied? (Ran OK / Eaten)
RK — 16 June at 01:37PM
A third one from me:
(Not entirely happy with 5ac.)
1ac. Given by bride to her husband (HEART/DOWRY)
4ac. A thorny obstacle (TRIAL/BRIAR)
5ac. Looks high and low (HUNTS/TIDES)
1dn. Make first appearance (HATCH/DEBUT)
2dn. Strange (ALIEN/WEIRD)
3dn. Stories (TALES/YARNS)
RK — 16 June at 01:38PM
I also meant to say that I loved your tempura clue, JD.
DA — 16 June at 02:17PM
Came across an ambiguous clue, courtesy of an archival Paul puzzle:
Sharp like a fly, might you say? NATTY [the intended answer] and BITEY [mine]
Boniface — 16 June at 02:53PM
Hmm. I immediately thought of ZIPPY.
RK — 16 June at 04:40PM
OK, one more:
1ac. Lift notes? (MUZAK/STEAL)
4ac. Former US president (DUBYA/ADAMS)
5ac. Duck (EVADE/EIDER)
1dn. A creature with bite (MIDGE/SNAKE)
2dn. Savannah inhabitant (ZEBRA/ELAND)
3dn. An unreliable guy (KNAVE/LOSER)
DA — 16 June at 05:34PM
Addictive, right? Love 'Lift notes' for MUZAK + STEAL - a great gambit, RK.
Stylish double-header as well, JD - PETER BROCK and STEVE IRWIN, very smart.
I'm thinking HACEK may be too obscure, Nib. (See Wordplay column this week!)
In fact this forum is aglow with genuine pearlers. Some scintillating two-faced grids, people. Thanks for the Storming, as deadline looms this evening. Look forward to the assaying, as always. A welcome change from packing boxes with word books.
One Wheel — 16 June at 08:24PM
Tried to fit the following double in but was unable to finish it off...
Evil man, some say (DAVID ASTLE/DARTH VADER)
SK — 17 June at 01:46PM
@ One Wheel, I like your idea of blending DA and the Dark Side. I know the deadline has passed, but just for fun...
1a. Evil lord who causes pain and suffering to many (DAVID/VADER)
4a. Type of fabric (GAUZE/LINEN)
5a. Evil lord who causes pain and suffering to many (ASTLE/DARTH)
1d. Believed to be true? (DOGMA/VALID)
2d. Major source of cash (VAULT/DONOR)
3d. Regularly seen in rural landscape (DEERE/RANCH)
(ok, so 3d is a bit dodgy, having to refer to a farming equipment brand name...)
One Wheel — 17 June at 05:35PM
Haha... that's great, SK.