September 15 2010

Winter Wrap

colin Here they are – the answers to the 30 winter clues you’ve been “enjoying” this last while. The five sets of six appear below in the order of first appearance.

You’ll also notice the bonus words you need to clue. Namely UPWIND (or WIND-UP), COWARD, WHACKS, POMADE and AFFIRM. So don’t dilly-dally. You have till 6pm Friday to compose your best clues for each – with no more than two per player permitted.

(Post them here, by the way. Maybe piecemeal, so you get the suss the calibre of your esteemed rivals, with originality and concision – in that order – being the yardsticks.)

Don’t worry. I’ll include my own inklings, and later, in full impartiality, anoint the five best clues on the weekend some time.

So, the winter wrap:

Fixed rate? Mourn dividend = NUMERATOR
A measure of material for Peter? = DENIER
Unwise breaking limit – cop follows one = IMPOLITIC
Basic kinds of number, each without a point = PRIMORDIAL
Bend on road to Lancaster, say = WARPLANE
Wave adult off in marriage = UNDULATION

BONUS WORD: UPWIND [or WIND-UP]

In comic, kapow suggests this = WITH IT
Seed new grape – 80% pinot = ORANGE PIP
Old convicts first to be released from behind bars = AGED
Very angry missing start of exciting sporting event = RALLYCROSS
Take away bottle as the diner ordered = DISHEARTEN
Husband cheats – a woman harbours bit of resentment = CONSERVE

BONUS WORD = COWARD

Relief from dope, say = SUCCOUR
Fish withdrawing from the sound = KOI
First pair of knickers said to be hot stuff = CAYENNE
Measure of decay of lithium or iron? HALF-LIFE
Inclusion of demands of orthodoxy, etc = AND SO FORTH
Gas on for breakfast? = WAFFLE

BONUS WORD = WHACKS

Live without monster when his job’s done? = EXORCIST
Stress in the evening rush hour = DRIVE HOME
Fish sauce served up with vegetable = PILCHARD
Buzz derived from tropical drink = ALDRIN
Tight-lipped guards work in exhibition centre = MUSEUM
Poet writing about primo donno? = OVID

BONUS WORD = POMADE

Weak antenna almost receiving what BBC repeats? = FEEBLE
Male hanging around to enjoy festival = MARDI GRAS
Always go the wrong way, entering junctions = FOR KEEPS
Country singer not very popular at first = INDIA
Bond, spy carrying on with English maiden = AGREEMENT
Physicist’s routine for splitting mass? = RUTHERFORD

BONUS WORD = AFFIRM

Comments

JD — 15 September at 08:04PM

I'm glad this wasn't a school project or I would have scraped through with a bare pass. However, I did have India at first for 5/4, but wasn't happy with it and swapped it for Kenya which seemed better but still not ideal. There are a few which, even knowing the answers I wouldn't have guessed. Oh well, here's to better luck with the clueing.

DA — 15 September at 08:22PM

Loroso and Alberich in particular are crafty, while Paul/Mudd (one & the same) is often fiendish for his leanness.

JS — 15 September at 09:45PM

A first attempt at some clues:
Hear ye! Bow low at deity's first Noel.
Takes care of aural depilator.
English soft drink will keep in style.

Mr X — 15 September at 10:10PM

UPWIND: Chirpy doctor in poor Hunter location
WIND-UP: Spring powered tease
COWARD (1): Yellow bitter sweet source
COWARD (2): Chicken is source of hay fever
WHACKS (1): Murders reported to be on the rise
WHACKS (2): Sounds like the way to make Brazilian hits

Mr X — 15 September at 10:14PM

POMADE (1): Horror writer has crazy hairstyler
POMADE (2): Quiff maker wanted a mop-top, back part
AFFIRM (1): Some catchy chords back in the morning, OK
AFFIRM (2): Declare half of his rum, the even half

JS — 15 September at 10:23PM

A final couple:
AFFIRM: I maintain we give the boot to disgraced sporting body.
UPWIND: The place to be during an increase in gas.

SK — 15 September at 10:44PM

That was fun DA. I've been on the road so this series of brain benders has provided a handy diversion while waiting at airports. I got there on nearly all the clues (with a few helpful hints from Mr X and others), but had
no idea about Peter the Denier, and donno about some poet. So following are my entries for 3 of the 5 "superwords"...I will ponder the others at 35,000ft.

COWARD- Cold War version of "Noel, noel" perhaps?
COWARD- Yellow fightin' fish
WHACKS- Can ask why, without any trade-offs
WHACKS- Wax lyrical about striking features?
AFFIRM- Hold retro guitar, play in band
AFFIRM- Uphold condition in farm liquidation!

SK — 16 September at 02:16AM

Lufthansa just provided some inspiration for one of my remaining entries...

POMADE- Cockney compatriot took drug used by hairdressers
POMADE- Listen to Kraftwerk backwards, perhaps? It gels!

WIND-UP- Finish twin duplex interiors
UPWIND- Spun wide blowing nose, unable to smell anything here?

DA — 16 September at 06:32AM

Fantastic, SK - solving on the run. Cheered I can be of service. Turning to the DIY clues, one from Puzzled I love -

WHACKS: On the radio, get bigger hits

And two originals, taking similar paths as Mr X and others perhaps:

AFFIRM: Stress about tune in jam, first off
UPWIND: Place to cut a considerate amount of cheese?
COWARD: Quaker, perhaps he left cows to follow another?

Will file a few more tonight, after Quiztopia. But congratz gang on some great clues already in the bag - and thanks for playing along. Look forward to those inspired late entries, if you have any ammo left.

SB — 16 September at 09:23AM

I got the first 3 words after some playing on the weekend, but was a few letters short in 4 and 5. I'm still working out the wordplay on a couple of them! Anyway, the first 3:

COWARD: Business district featured in The Italian Job
COWARD: Yellow Daisy transformed dray when finally picked
WHACKS: "Smacks now a no-no", journalists decry
WHACKS: Flogs hired horse in point-to-point
UPWIND: Lapwing took off in Germany and satyed north of Bora

SB — 16 September at 01:05PM

Okay - I need help! Can someone explain how the following clue works?

Physicist’s routine for splitting mass? = RUTHERFORD

Thanks for any assistance

JS — 16 September at 01:31PM

I am also confused about this - I thought rut might be routine but couldn't get any further than that!

js — 16 September at 01:33PM

Just got it: rut is routine, herd is mass with for in the middle splitting it.

SB — 16 September at 01:35PM

Thanks - so simple when you spell it out for me!

PRS — 16 September at 02:18PM

A couple of quickies, before I go to work (sob)

POMADE: Sound British assistance goes flat
POMADE: Uplifting German hair-styler

JD — 16 September at 02:45PM

A few for starters:

COWARD: He allegedly hid in fear.
POMADE: Bad rhyme about promo for hair gel.
POMADE: Flower created scented oil.
WHACKS: Rumour has it Ruby is abusive.

philth — 16 September at 05:39PM

Admittedly this is my first time holding the carving knife...

WIND-UP: Dare not Darwin dupe for punch line?
COWARD: Baby struggle between fish.
POMADE: Hear Englishman back product?
WHACKS: Vigorously wash over that perfume or else...blows.

DA — 16 September at 07:29PM

Thanks JS for clearing RUTHERFORD for SB. It is an elegant construction, all that mass splitting echoing the good doc's atomic work.

Been under the klieg lights all day, so may need some grizzly zeds to start making cryptic sense on the morrow.

Some pearlers to assess as well. Cheers -

PRS — 16 September at 10:33PM

For SB, JS and DA: I stirred the pom further!

Mr X — 17 September at 12:02AM

I might make the tiniest tweak to my second Whacks clue and change "Brazilian hits" to "Brazilian beats". Don't know why, but it seems to read better.

SB — 17 September at 09:10AM

Words 4 & 5

POMADE: Stooge got the bill for hair product says Spooner
POMADE: Teletubbie did hair stylist
AFFIRM: Verify type of leaf fir might shed

PRS — 17 September at 10:03AM

Caffeine is starting to kick in:

WHACKS: Rising western writers, we hear
COWARD: Retreat from commander?
AFFIRM: Theme in degree, retrograde for sure.

Not sure of you want new clues for the WWs
RUTHERFORD: Atomic scientist used further rod.

PRS — 17 September at 10:10AM

COWARD: He first comes out with a regrettable decision.

DA — 17 September at 10:13AM

You're right, Mr X. Brazilian beats has much better rhythm. And SB, a nifty hidden for AFFIRM. Good stuff.

PRS, no need to create clues for words beyond the 'acronym' quintet, as fine as FURTHER ROD reads. Mind you, I'm struggling to see the definition in your first WHACKS hit-out. (Don't muddle target word with its possible homophone angles - )

My dash at POMADE: Hair oil in a shampooed style has nothing cut

PRS — 17 September at 10:27AM

AFFIRM: Even half of diorama is correct.

JD — 17 September at 10:30AM

A few more:
WINDUP: Widens up bruised nose to finish.
AFFIRM: At first,find it rather maudlin,agree?
WHACKS: Workout who packs punches.

JD — 17 September at 10:33AM

Correction. Work out who packs punches.

DA — 17 September at 10:39AM

Lovely clue, JD.

PRS — 17 September at 10:43AM

DA: I was attempting a d.def - homophone: RISING = WAX, charade W+HACKS - hopefully time will improve things.

dg — 17 September at 03:37PM

State approval needed before PM can hook up?
Rubber stamp a company report

dg — 17 September at 04:03PM

oops! Both of those are for 'affirm'

Chicken or beef on a bean, rice and salad base?
COWARD

dg — 17 September at 04:51PM

Baby found on hospital package?
c/o Ward

DK — 17 September at 05:06PM

WHACKS: Thumps in the ear.

dg — 17 September at 05:16PM

It helps make do when work is overdone.POMADE
Diggers, say, at hair stylist.

dg — 17 September at 05:28PM

Finish off drunk in canal? WIND-UP
Get dessert back at the very end.

dg — 17 September at 05:40PM

remove "?" from....
Finish off drunk in canal WIND-UP

Polish report on homicides. WHACKS
She attempts murder of son

dg — 17 September at 05:42PM

Polish report on strikes. WHACKS

dg — 17 September at 05:43PM

Attempts murder of son. WHACKS