Meh 14
1 December, 2011
To hell with Cryptic Court this time round – I declare today’s seven clues just stink. While I love to grapple with UK setters, and often adore their work, sometimes they err on the side of shamateur.
For Exhibits a to F, read below, and see if you agree. Provide a counterview if you don’t, or a niftier clue if you do. That’s how the Meh category operates. So am I right or am I right?
Not like being mislaid sir? = DISSIMILAR [So where’s the anagram signpost, Cinephile?]
Burdensome responsiblty taking queen round = ONEROUS [Surely Alberich, onus derives from onerous. They are closer than two hillbilly cousins.]
Explain meaning of popular palindrome = INTERPRET [Less testy about Neo’s gimmick, but if TERPRET can be clued as a palindrome, then so too can the OTATO in POTATO, or RAMMAR in GRAMMAR.]
Centre for missionaries = IONA [From Times 8911, which suggests a centre for racehorses is Aceh, and Stimorol chewing gum has its HQ in Timor. Not happy.]
Writer of science has pruned currant = SCRIBE [Araucaria, I love ya. Science for SC is OK at a push, but Ribena as currant, and that to be pruned to RIBE is risible.]
Help a farm labourer after loan = LEND A HAND [Times 9151 not only uses A in both clue and solution, but also falls for a false double meaning. HAND is both an aide, and to help, because they are are much the same thing.]
Wordsworth lines? Yes = POETRY [Where do I start, Orense? Meh with a big M.]
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