False Friends
January 31, 2012
Learning a new language, you will encounter what teachers call false friends, or faux amis on the Seine. In Spanish, speaking from red-faced experience, I can tell you that embarazada doesn’t mean embarrassed, but pregnant, while finger in Yiddish means toe, and korn in Swedish means barley.
Cryptopia has false friends too, where a clue seems to answer to one formula, only to operate by another. A wonderful example in the Times – as toasted by The Guardian’s excellent crossword blog – looked for all the world like a homophone clue:
Tailor may destroy suit with this, we hear = AUDITORY SYSTEM [Anagram of MAY DESTROY SUIT]
Another may suggest anagram, and yet be a homophone:
Villains rendered so in the ear? = ANTIHEROES
Or then again, you may encounter what looks like a Spooner clue, only to be ambushed by a hidden:
Softball caught in Spooner family = NERF
To file your false friend, please supply the solution too, as the red herring can be more promptly enjoyed. Keep your eye on brevity, and authentic ambiguity – where each recipe can be argued. Likewise an answer of suitable length – for either approach – will also impress.
Let’s create a coterie of bogus mates this week, with a deadline by 8pm this Thursday, where all players are invited to submit their favourite three (with or without friendly tweaks and edits from this forum’s genuine friends.)
Comments
One Wheel
31 January at 11:11AM
Spooner about small start of poverty (8): POORNESS
Trim in mixed gingerbread (6): EDDIES
Mr X
31 January at 11:17AM
Approval or penalty contains violence = SANCTION
It's not a "hidden", it's an anagram. Also interesting that sanction has those two contradictory menaings.
RobT
31 January at 11:46AM
Segue about, say = GUESS
RobT
31 January at 11:46AM
(where say = guess = definition)
Anthony
31 January at 03:53PM
Not quite a category nasty, but more a case of the false friends being in the crossing squares:
(a recent Times, so still to come here)
Shot dead: turn off that camera! (4, 3)
And you have L... C..
And you desperately want to find some way to make it LENS CAP (shall I cap 'im for you guv'nor?), but it's LATE CUT.
SK
31 January at 05:06PM
Used to be shut into a box with label! (11,4) = EXCLAMATION MARK
Looks like an &lit, but it's not.
Used to be = EX
shut = CLAM
into a box = fodder + anagrind = ATION
label = MARK
! = def
SK
31 January at 05:32PM
Spooner displayed tendancy to limp? (10) = DROOPINESS
Spooner dis = fodder
played = anagrind
tendancy to limp? = def
RK
31 January at 06:48PM
This clue works two ways, but obviously only one of them would fit the grid:
About note: extra annotation reveals tips (4)
VERSION 1 answer is CAPS
About = C
note = A
extra annotation = PS (clunky I know)
reveals = link
tips = def
VERSION 2 answer is NEAR
About = def
'tips' indicates first letters of 'note extra annotation reveals'
One Wheel
01 February at 04:07PM
Nice one for EXCLAMATION MARK, SK.
SK
01 February at 04:51PM
Thanks One Wheel.
Heard that "E.T." production technique may be used by "Terminator"? (5,6) = DEATH THREAT
Looks like a homophone, but it's an anagram.
Heard that E.T. = fodder
production = anagrind
technique may be used by Terminator? = def
Boniface
02 February at 01:28AM
It acts up on the radio! (6) STATIC
JD
02 February at 10:19AM
A rearrangement of a new mausoleum site at Maidenhead. (7) Anagram
Boniface
02 February at 01:37PM
Back up in cricket, say (7) SUPPORT
Back - def
S(UP)PORT
Sam
02 February at 03:10PM
Exulted monster overheard (BIG-NOTED)
One Wheel
02 February at 04:32PM
Charlie on the radio roughly went by carriage (9): CHARIOTED
Boniface
02 February at 04:48PM
Misfortunes sounding terrible (8) UNDOINGS
DA
02 February at 05:03PM
Possibly lyrical gear? = REVERSE
Lucasta
02 February at 05:19PM
Sham character of Spooner's at zoo (6)
Answer 1: DONKEY
sham = con
character = d
which Spoonerise to donkey
at zoo = dubious def
Answer 2: ERSATZ
sham character = more dubious def
Mr X
02 February at 08:59PM
Cockney drug, playing and hurting (4,5) EAST ENDER
No dropped h's, it's a straight charade e/as/tender
Em
03 February at 12:11PM
Hats off to everyone who had a crack this week. Seems my brain is determined to stay in holiday mode, but I've enjoyed reading all of the entries.